Quotes, URL's, Links And References-by:older Femmes, Butches, Ftms, Mtfs, Queer, Etc. [Archive] - Page 15

sweetlady

02-09-2007, 02:06 AM

(f) (f) (f)

"She Defined How America Ate: Meet Clementine Paddleford"

November 1998
By Bobbie Athon

A monthly series from the Kansas State Historical Society

"Tell me where your grandmother came from and I can tell you how many kinds of pie you serve for Thanksgiving," wrote Clementine Paddleford in How America Eats. Paddleford was known as "America's Number One Food Editor" for her ability to make good cooking read as fine literature. Paddleford's love for food began on a farm in Riley County where she was born in 1900.

"In the Midwest two is the usual, mince and pumpkin," Paddleford wrote. "In the South no pie but wine jelly, tender and trembling, topped with whipped cream. Down East it's a threesome, cranberry, mince and pumpkin, a sliver of each, and sometimes, harking back to the old days around Boston, four kinds of pie were traditional for this feast occasion-mince, cranberry, pumpkin and a kind called Marlborough, a glorification of everyday apple."

Paddleford was known for food descriptions that stimulated the senses. To her, the perfect souffle responded "with a rapturous, half-hushed sigh as it settled softly to melt and vanish in a moment like smoke or a dream." She covered the food stories behind the great events of the era, such as Queen Elizabeth II's coronation and Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain speech. And yet she maintained a taste for the simple. "It'll be good to be home where the ice water flows like champagne," she commented after an assignment with French royalty.

Paddleford's first book, A Flower for My Mother, reflected on her early years in Kansas where she developed an interest in food. "Stirred-in joy" was the secret of her mother's cooking. "Every last dish seasoned well with love," Paddleford wrote. "She knew that eating was more than just filling hollow legs, just as environment is more than a place. This is one of the things she tried to teach her daughter. Cooking should never be made a chore."

How America Eats, published in 1960 from a compilation of Paddleford's earlier writings, highlighted culinary traditions in each of the fifty states. In her research, Paddleford traveled thousands of miles visiting with the nation's best cooks. "I have eaten with crews on fishing boats and enjoyed slum gullion at a Hobo Convention," she wrote. "How does America eat? She eats on the fat of the land. She eats in every language. For the most part, however, even with the increasingly popular trend toward foreign foods, the dishes come to the table with an American accent."

Clementine Haskin Paddleford was born in Stockdale, Kansas. She graduated from Kansas State University in 1921 with a degree in journalism and studied at New York University's school of journalism. Paddleford joined the New York Herald Tribune in 1936, and stayed until its demise in 1966. She concurrently wrote for This Week from 1940 until her death, served as the woman's editor for Farm and Fireside magazine, and wrote for Gourmet magazine from 1941 until 1953. She died in New York City in 1967.

Paddleford is among the hundreds of people with Kansas roots who found fame for a time. The Kansas Museum of History will highlight some of these interesting stories in its new exhibit Leading the Way: Famous Kansans, opening January 22 in the Special Exhibits Gallery. Underwritten by Western Resources, Inc., the exhibit will feature numerous famous Kansans and explore Kansas's role in their achievements. An interactive exhibit will offer visitors a chance to view a list of famous Kansans through a computer database. The museum is open 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Saturday, 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Information about other famous Kansans is available through the holdings of the Center for Historical Research, open 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Saturday. Both the museum and the research center are located in the Kansas History Center, 6425 SW Sixth Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615-1099; 785-272-8681; TTY 785-272-8683; www.kshs.org

The Kansas State Historical Society does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to, access to, or operation of its programs. The Society requests prior notification to accommodate individuals with special needs or disabilities.

http://www.kshs.org/features/feat1198.htm

(k) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-09-2007, 02:06 AM

(f) (f)

http://www.lib.ksu.edu/depts/spec/findaids/pc1988-19tw.html

"Ms. Paddleford flew solo in a single-engine Piper Cub airplane to check out what the people were eating in the sticks." ("IN Ward's Cove, Alaska, I went to a new kind of party - called a crab feast."

(y) (y) (y) (y) (y) (y) (y) (y)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-09-2007, 02:07 AM

:o :o

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/050815/15intro.htm

GREAT article!

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-09-2007, 02:09 AM

8o|

http://wonkette.com/politics/george-w.-bush/we-hate-to-bring-up-the-nazis-but-they-fled-to-south-america-too-208549.php

Our paranoid friends over at Bring It On have put together a story that hasn’t exactly made Washington Whispers. It’s real short and real simple:

* The Cuban news service reports that George W. Bush has purchased 98,840 acres in Paraguay, near the Bolivian/Brazilian border.

* Jenna Bush paid a secret diplomatic visit to Paraguayan President Nicanor Duarte and U.S. Ambassador James Cason. There were no press conferences, no public sightings and no official confirmation of her 10-day trip which apparently ended this week.

* The Paraguayan Senate voted last summer to “grant U.S. troops immunity from national and International Criminal Court (ICC) jurisdiction.”

* Immediately afterwards, 500 heavily armed U.S. troops arrived with various planes, choppers and land vehicles at Mariscal Estigarribia air base, which happens to be at the northern tip of Paraguay near the Bolivian/Brazilian border. More have reportedly arrived since then.

What the hell, after the jump. Plus a BREAKING UPDATE involving, of course, The Moonies!

Now, Prensa Latina is a Cuban-government operation that is not exactly friendly toward Washington, what with Washington trying to kill Castro for 50 years and all.

http://wonkette.com/politics/george-w.-bush/we-hate-to-bring-up-the-nazis-but-they-fled-to-south-america-too-208549.php

But Prensa Latina didn’t invent the story. It’s all over the South American press — and not just Venezuela and Bolivia.

Here’s a version from Brazil.

Here’s one from Argentina.

And here’s one from Paraguay itself.

As far as we can understand, all the paperwork and deeds and such are secret. But somehow the news leaked that a new “land trust” created for Bush had purchased nearly 100,000 acres near the town of Chaco.

And Jenna’s down there having secret meetings with the president and America’s ambassador to Paraguay, James Cason. Bush posted Cason in Havana in 2002, but last year moved him to Paraguay.

Cason apparently gets around. A former “political adviser” to the U.S. Atlantic Command and ATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, Cason has been stationed in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama … basically everywhere the U.S. has run secret and not-so-secret wars over the past 30 years.

Here’s a fun question for Tony Snow: Why might the president and his family need a 98.840-acre ranch in Paraguay protected by a semi-secret U.S. military base manned by American troops who have been exempted from war-crimes prosecution by the Paraguyan government?

Here’s a little background on the base itself, which Rumsfeld secretly visited in late 2005:

U.S. Special Forces began arriving this past summer at Paraguay’s Mariscal Estigarribia air base, a sprawling complex built in 1982 during the reign of dictator Alfredo Stroessner. Argentinean journalists who got a peek at the place say the airfield can handle B-52 bombers and Galaxy C-5 cargo planes. It also has a huge radar system, vast hangers, and can house up to 16,000 troops. The air base is larger than the international airport at the capital city, Asuncion.

Some 500 special forces arrived July 1 for a three-month counterterrorism training exercise, code named Operation Commando Force 6.

Paraguayan denials that Mariscal Estigarribia is now a U.S. base have met with considerable skepticism by Brazil and Argentina. There is a disturbing resemblance between U.S. denials about Mariscal Estigarribia, and similar disclaimers made by the Pentagon about Eloy Alfaro airbase in Manta , Ecuador. The United States claimed the Manta base was a “dirt strip” used for weather surveillance. When local journalists revealed its size, however, the United States admitted the base harbored thousands of mercenaries and hundreds of U.S. troops, and Washington had signed a 10-year basing agreement with Ecuador.

BREAKING, UPDATE, LITTLE SIREN GRAPHIC:

We’ve been directed to yet another parapolitical theory here at Rigorous Intuition, where it is reported that Rev. Moon bought 600,000 hectares — that’s 1,482,600 acres — in the same place: Chaco, Paraguay.

Another twist: The first story, from Paraguay, apparently refers to the senior George Bush as the owner of the 98.840 acres in Moon’s neighborhood.

Bush 41 was the first bigshot politician to go prancing around with Rev. Moon in public. Especially in South America:

“In the early stages of the Reagan Revolution that embraced the Washington Times and Moon’s anti-Communist movement, it was embarrassing to be caught at a Moon event,” wrote The Gadflyer last year. “Until George H.W. Bush appeared with Moon in 1996, thanking him for a newspaper that ‘brings sanity to Washington.’” That was while on an extended trip to South America in Moon’s company. A Reuters’ story of Nov 25 of that year describes the former president as “full of praise” for Moon at a banquet in Buenos Aires, toasting him as “the man with the vision.” (And Moon helped Bush out with his own vision thing, paying him $100,000 for the pleasure of his company.) Bush and Moon then traveled together to Uruguay, “to help him inaugurate a seminary in the capital, Montevideo, to train 4,200 young Japanese women to spread the word of his Church of Unification across Latin America.”

Isn’t that special?

Oh, and both the Moonie and Bush land is located at what Paraguay’s drug czar called an “enormously strategic point in both the narcotics and arms trades.” And it sits atop the one of the world’s largest fresh-water aquifers.

^o) ^o) ^o)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-09-2007, 02:11 AM

8-)8-)8-)8-)8-)

:| Let's see, Butch & Sundance went to Bolivia; the Nazis went to Argentina and Venezuela; Bush goes to Paraguay?:|

http://news.netscape.com/story/2006/10/15/bush-buys-land-in-northern-paraguay

http://www.politicalcortex.com/story/2006/10/14/11926/843

Hideout or Water Raid? http://www.counterpunch.org/cp10202006.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1928928,00.html

http://agonist.org/20061024/bush_paraguay_land_grab_incites_unease

Bush Paraguay land grab incites unease: http://dallaspeacecenter.org/?q=node/1570

http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/article.asp?ID=5324

http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/view/2479/1/140/

Jenna Bush to Serve UNICEF in Paraguay, Not US Forces in Iraq:

http://digg.com/politics/Jenna_Bush_to_Serve_UNICEF_in_Paraguay_Not_US_Forc es_in_Iraq

Why might the president and his family need a 98840-acre ranch in Paraguay protected by a semi-secret US military base manned by American troops who have:

...http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0610/S00308.htm

http://www.einnews.com/paraguay/

http://www.rawstory.com/comments/21481.html

Somehow, though, the notion that "Paraguay Is Bush Country"

...http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2006/10/what-will-bush-do-steal-election-flee.html

LMAO PHOTO!! http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2601/1108/400/falling2.jpg

+o( +o( +o(

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-09-2007, 02:12 AM

;) ;)

http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/archive/2004/06/21.html

http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19961014

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/deipnosophist

http://eutrapelia.blogspot.com/2007/01/live-without-me-ill-understand.html

British Viewpoint: http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-dei1.htm

http://presence.baltiblogs.com/2004/06/21/deipnosophist.html

I liked this version: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=deipnosophist

Carpe Diem,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-09-2007, 02:13 AM

(l) :| (l) :| (l) :|

:o

Published: December 17, 2006

MODERN LOVE

Live Without Me. I'll Understand.

By KATHERINE FRIEDMAN

WE are flying to a resort south of Cancún for the wedding of my husband's cousin. As we rise into the cloudless Los Angeles sky, I try, as always, to suppress my unease. I have always been afraid of flying, but today I am tired enough to doze off as we make our way south. I wake briefly to refuse the beverage service and then settle back to sleep.

Just over an hour into the flight there is a slight bump followed by a distinct click as overhead panels fall open and the oxygen masks unfurl. Then the plane begins to plunge.

''This is an emergency,'' the captain announces. His English is accented, but perfectly clear. ''Please put on your oxygen mask and fasten seat belts. This is an emergency.''

I look pleadingly at my husband of six months.

''It's O.K.,'' he says, just as he has on so many other flights when I panicked at an unfamiliar noise or dip. ''We're going to be O.K.''

But this time is different. The plane is racing downward, my seat belt pulling taut against my lap. My mind fumbles to assemble a picture of what is happening, but each piece of information seems disconnected, absurd. The cabin is eerily quiet, as if there is not enough air for noise. Shouldn't someone be screaming?

I think I hear a muffled sob, but I cannot look at the other passengers. The flight attendants, doubled against gravity, pull themselves up the aisles by the armrests, bent over like mountain climbers, one holding an oxygen mask to her face, the man behind her cradling the portable tank in his arm.

No one speaks. There is the smell of something smoldering. A fire? Engine failure? I look into my husband's eyes, begging for reassurance or an explanation. Again he says, ''We're O.K.''

The smoldering smell is strong now. And so we say what people say when they think it is the last thing the other will ever hear.

Speaking through our masks, we sound like we're underwater: ''I love you.'' ''I love you, too.''

So this is it. The scene in the diving plane seems choreographed, rehearsed, as if I have been waiting for it to happen my entire life, yet my reactions are alien.

Yes, my heart is pounding through my fingers and my pupils feel as if they are about to burst, but the sense of panic, the urge to scream or cry, is absent. There is no instant replay of my life. No existential secrets are revealed to me. Could the moments before death really be this banal?

I feel a deep and penetrating sadness for our parents and my sister. A wave of empathy for our friends when they hear the news. But I know life will go on for them. They have no choice. And so, in a falling plane, over the sand-coated Mexican canyons, I look out the window into the endless orange afternoon, and I wait.

And then the plane stops falling. It levels, dips, levels again. Our seat belts slacken. The captain's shaky voice informs us that we will be making an emergency landing. We can remove our masks. There is no need to assume crash position; it will be a normal landing. Some time later, we touch down at a small domestic airport three hours south of the American border.

If my imagination had tried to prepare me for dying in a plane, it had not prepared me for living through a near crash. As the plane taxies, the cabin is silent. A flight attendant wipes away tears.

Without speaking, we shuffle along the aisle and climb down the metal stairway. There are no exclamations, no hugging, no kissing the ground. Just the plodding of weary travelers debarking from a long flight. The pilot stands ashen-faced in the cockpit, nodding as we file past, but no one speaks to him and he offers no words of explanation.

In the tiny airport lounge, we scatter into clusters, not making eye contact, seemingly embarrassed to have shared this near tragedy. I try to reach out to a young girl who is traveling alone to meet friends for spring break. I can tell she has been crying.

''That was my worst nightmare,'' she says.

''Mine, too,'' I reply. But when I say it out loud, it doesn't seem to have any real meaning.

I don't cry until I hear my father's voice on the pay phone, and then I am afraid I won't stop, so I hand the phone to my husband, but not before saying to my father, ''I can't get back on a plane.''

''Yes,'' he says. ''You can.''

Still, my husband tries to rent a car, but the woman at the rental desk discourages us (particularly because we do not speak Spanish) from driving all the way back to Los Angeles from central Mexico.

So we wait for word. An airline official appears and says perhaps they will try to fix the plane and fly us out later in the evening, but the passengers rumble collectively in protest -- no one wants to board that plane again.

Instead, the airline detours a flight half-full of mildly surprised passengers to pick us up and take us to Mexico City. From there they put us on another plane to Cancún, where we are greeted at the airport by no one. I watch the other passengers from our original flight drift out the doors of the baggage terminal.

The hotel is colonial and enormous. We are tagged with white plastic wristbands for the all-you-can-eat-and-drink buffets and then we head to our room to sleep.

The next morning, predictably, is washed in sunshine. People are lined up at the activity desks and clotted in the revolving doors. At the breakfast buffet, the other guests crowd around the aluminum trays of glossy food, piling their plates with eggs, sausage, pancakes, waffles.

I stand and watch, transfixed. My husband and I have barely spoken since the events of the day before, and when we do, it is in low tones, as if we are watching a performance we don't want to disturb.

At the beach, children shriek and tumble in the gentle surf, their hair braided tightly into cornrows affixed with plastic beads. Everyone rejoices in the delights of this paradise, but I feel as if I am visiting purgatory.

There are meals to eat. Tours to take. There is a wedding, beautiful in its simplicity. Vows are exchanged and a marriage begins. There is dancing and music. We drink a little too much. My husband has a cigarette for the first time in months.

THAT night in bed I cling to him, much as I did on the plane, and he tells me the same thing as when we were falling through the sky: ''We'll be O.K.''

We try to talk about what happened on the plane, try to reconstruct it, and then we stop. He wants to move past it, I can tell. ''We're lucky,'' he repeats.

I nod. But the truth is, I don't feel lucky. Or even alive. I feel indifferent. All I can do is watch everyone around me experience what I should be feeling. No, it's worse: I watch them and condemn them for the utter uselessness of their joy.

I tell myself that this feeling will pass. I am still absorbing the shock. Give it a few days.

But the next day is much the same, as is the rest of our stay. I am still waiting for the wash of relief, the thrill of feeling reborn, of escaping death.

When it is time to go, we take the shuttle to the airport, where we stand amid bulging suitcases and overstuffed tourists. I wait for the familiar tingle of anticipation about returning home and the surge of anxiety upon boarding the airplane. But I feel neither.

For the first time in my life, I am not afraid to fly. In fact, I am not afraid of anything.

But the feeling is not one of liberation. I am still searching for something -- even my old fear -- to tether me to my previous life, but there is only this feeling of utter remove.

And suddenly, as our plane pushes skyward, its engines roaring, I am taken back to that moment when the universe tightened its grip, threatening to peel me from my family, my friends, my memories, a future I would never know.

For a second, I resisted. I asked: How can my loved ones and I exist apart? How can I be lost to the world? We spend our lives binding ourselves to one another, attaching ourselves to this life like mollusks clinging to the reef.

But as that plane dropped from the sky, I knew that the world would go on without me. My friends would grieve and move on. My loved ones would endure. All I had to do was accept this and let go.

SO I did. I looked down at the staggering carbon canyons, which were cut like ribbons across the landscape -- beautiful and steep and no place for a soft landing -- and I let go. But we didn't crash.

And here I remain -- among friends and loved ones, at the beginning of my marriage and all the fierce entanglements of life. Yet in letting go, it seems I created a break between my former and current selves that isn't so easily bridged.

At home, I go to the grocery store, rub the dog's belly, fold the laundry, return my mother's calls -- all the routines and rituals that are supposed to give life structure and meaning. But week after week I am still in that other place, a half step removed, wondering when and how I am ever going to come back from this.

A month after my return, the answer comes in the form of a phone call summoning me to the emergency room: my father has had a heart attack.

And it is not until I am beside him in the intensive care unit, gripping his hand as he battles his weakened heart for each breath, that I feel my own heart pounding again for the first time since that day. It's all so familiar: the panic, the terror, the threat of imminent loss.

But this time I don't let go. My father, laced with wires and unconscious, is pulling me back.

Katherine Friedman, a freelance writer, lives in Los Angeles.

http://eutrapelia.blogspot.com/2007/01/live-without-me-ill-understand.html

(y) (y) (y) (y) (y)

(f) (f) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-09-2007, 02:15 AM

;) ;)

http://www.cestsoparis.com/

A French Tourism agency is using the stereotype of French rudeness to lure British visitors. At the web site listed above, the Web site of the Ile-de-France tourism board, Brits can learn how to pass as French by emulating typically snooty Gallic expressions.

These include the exaggerated French pout, which is mostly used by women, and its male counterpart, the "Gallic shrug". achieved by raising the shoulders and eyebrows simultaneously. That move, when sufficiently vigorous, expresses total denial of responsibility for any problem. "The English often label us as arrogant" said tourist board director Jean-Pierre Blat. "Our goal is to show them that we can have a British sense of humor and laugh at ourselves."

Cop the Parisian Attitude Game: http://www.cestsoparis.com/attitude-game.php

SWAG: What You Need to Be a True Parisian:

http://www.cestsoparis.com/swag.html

Paris Humor, View the Ad Campaign:

http://www.cestsoparis.com/paris-humour.html

:| :| So where is the "American" version? Probably never since so few of us would ever want to "walk like a Parisian"!......;) And why in hell would the Brits want to? ;)

:) :)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-09-2007, 02:16 AM

:| :|

(n) (n) I am absolutely appalled!! Honorary Chair my ass:

http://www.feministsforlife.org/

Patricia Heaton Stirs More Controversy on A&E "Biography":

http://www.feministsforlife.org/news/heatonona&e.htm

http://www.patriciaheatononline.com/pharticles2000-01/feminists.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Heaton

(n) Shame on her.

:s

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-09-2007, 02:18 AM

:o :o

January 6, 2007

With Mild Winter, the City Revisits Fall Fashion and the Record Books

By ANTHONY RAMIREZ

The last recorded time the snowfall in Central Park came so late in the season, the date was Jan. 4, 1878.

Rutherford B. Hayes was president, the tallest building in the city was Trinity Church (281 feet), and there was no Statue of Liberty. (It was erected in 1886.)

In a sense, there was no New York, either. The boroughs consolidated in 1898. Before then, the Bronx was called the Annexed District, Queens was farms, Staten Island was nearly empty, and Brooklyn was the nation’s third-largest city.

Yesterday, with parts of the nation shivering and the Rockies and the Midwest pummeled by another snowstorm, the record for the latest appearance of snow in New York City was broken with little fanfare.

For now, not even a flurry is in the immediate forecast. Indeed, today the temperature might reach 71 degrees, which would be another record. According to the National Weather Service, it will not even come close to freezing until Tuesday night, when the temperature could go down to 30 degrees.

For many people interviewed yesterday — a warm day of mist and gray skies — the city without snow was both a bewilderment and a delight.

There was scarcely a fedora, a knit cap or a hoodie to be seen. Therese Kahn, an interior decorator on the Upper East Side, was wearing what she described as “comfortable” Stuart Weitzman patent-leather boots, rather than Gore-Tex snow boots.

“It’s amazing that it’s so nice,” said Ms. Kahn, 50, who also had on a thin white parka, unzipped. “I have two teenage daughters and I’m always worried that they’re not dressed warmly enough, so this lifts the pressure.”

Jan Khan, 53, has been a doorman at 88 Central Park West for 21 years. “This is the first year I see no snow coming down,” he said. “I don’t like it. It’s not normal.”

Mr. Khan, originally from Mansehra, in northern Pakistan, said winter was invading usually warmer countries of Asia. On Thursday, more than 30 people were reported dead in Madhya Pradesh, in central India, and at least 20 in Bihar, in northeastern India, because of a severe cold snap.

“In Pakistan that is the problem now,” Mr. Khan said. “Two feet, three feet of snow. The Arctic is happening in my country, and India and Bangladesh and Nepal and China, all under snow.”

In East Harlem, at the Three Kings Day Parade, which commemorates the arrival of the Magi in Bethlehem, Carlos Canales, 36, from Glendale, Queens, worried about the weather.

“People aren’t really ready for the winter anymore,” he said. “We’re going to get caught off guard when winter finally hits us and a lot of people are going to get sick.”

Nearby, in Central Park, Patrick Denehan, 36, a furniture mover from Washington Heights, sipped coffee and watched geese waddle near an ice-free Harlem Meer.

“It feels,” Mr. Denehan said, “like the Twilight Zone.”

There is one positive aspect to the warm weather: the pothole situation. The city’s Department of Transportation said that work crews paved 17,357 potholes last month, about a quarter fewer than the 22,685 during the much snowier December of 2005.

In December 1877, when The New York Times took note of the snowless Christmas, the day was described as crisp and sunny.

The headline said, “A MILD CHRISTMAS DAY — THOUSANDS OF PERSONS IN THE CENTRAL PARK.”

The Times account read, “It is estimated, and the estimate is thought to be moderate, that fully 50,000 persons were in the Park during the afternoon, nearly all of whom visited the new Museum, opened by the President on Saturday.”

The Times noted, however, that the weather did hurt certain businesses. “Dry-goods houses, clothiers and coal dealers have been the heaviest sufferers,” the newspaper said. “They have seen their Winter’s supplies lie on their hands almost undiminished.”

When snow finally fell for the first time that winter in Central Park on Jan. 4, 1878, The Times did not report it. The newspaper did say that Poughkeepsie had four inches of snow.

The National Weather Service was cautious yesterday about how snowless is snowless. Jeffrey Tongue, science and operations officer at the service’s Upton office on Long Island, said the Jan. 4, 1878, date is based on the best available records.

“When we’re talking about a snow flurry that might last 10 minutes,” Mr. Tongue said, “there’s a question whether those were fully documented. We believe the 1878 date is accurate, but of course there’s nobody alive to actually ask about it.”

Stephen Fybish, an amateur weather historian, contends that the record for late snow in Central Park occurred far later than 1878, indeed nearly a century later, on Jan. 29, 1973.

“This is also true,” said Mr. Tongue of the weather service. “The 1878 date is for a trace of snow, which doesn’t stick to the ground, and the 1973 date is for measurable snow, which was 1.8 inches.”

So, whether the start date for the snowless record should be Jan. 5 or Jan. 30 is a matter of keen scholarly interest.

But, please, the weather service urges, no wagering.

:| :| Two big snow storms coming next week.....at least that's what the weather folks are saying. :o Payback time for all of that Spring-like weather. ;)

:) :) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-09-2007, 02:19 AM

:) :)

http://www.lct.org/calendar/event_detail.cfm?id_event=80195535

(f) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-09-2007, 02:19 AM

(y) (y) (y) (y) (y)

Every woman needs her personal fragrance wardrobe.. To fit her mood. To blend in with the nuances in her personality.

Getting ready for some romance?

You could go for a heady fragrance or one that is feminine, rose based. Incidentally, rose and jasmine are the classic floral scents for romance.

In a carefree mood?

Go for something fresh. Citrusy. A fragrance that is fruity, especially one with notes of grapefruit or orange or neroli would be wonderful for that optimistic outlook.

Perfume is all about your individual taste. My cousin loves patchouli but that smell makes me want to throw up.

The trick is to get something you simply adore which smells great to other people too. The easiest way out is to buy a brand name perfume off the shelves. But would that mean someone else would probably be wearing the same scent as you?

If that is your concern, you need not worry too much. That same fragrance smells different on different people as the day progresses. The fragrance mixes with the oils your skin produce and the end result is something that is subtly, uniquely yours.

If you do want to mix your own fragrance, go ahead.

When I was in my teens, my pals would mix their own fragrance by mixing 2 or more of their favourite perfumes. That could turn out to be a hit, or a total waste of good perfume if the result stinks.

The other way is to mix your own fragrance from essential oils. Each essential oil provides a note in the complete fragrance.

A beautiful fragrance consists of at least 3 notes. A top note, a middle note and a base note.

The top note evaporates the most quickly. Meaning, your first whiff of the fragrance would be the top note. Mints and Citrus scents like grapefruit and lemon are top notes. It is also the first note to disappear, meaning as the day progresses, the top note would have evaporated off, which lets the fragrance develop, showing off the other notes.

The middle note forms the body of the fragrance. That means, for most of the day, this is the note that dominates the fragrance. Lavender, tea tree, geranium and nutmeg are some examples of middle notes.

The base notes are the most lasting parts of the fragrance. Long after the fragrance has faded, the base notes remain. These would be the woody and the musky scents like musk, sandalwood and vetiver.

Some scents are complete perfumes by themselves. Rose for example is made of hundreds of components. It can be used as the top note, body and even the base note in a fragrance. I used to keep a tiny bottle of Rose Otto. Very expensive stuff but a single drop goes a long way. 1 drop of that in 5 ml of jojoba oil lasted me for a very long time as a personal perfume that was also therapeutic. It was also a complete perfume on its own.

Experiment with different scents, diluting them in a massage oil, to create your personal fragrance

For starters, you could put 1 teaspoon of sweet almond oil or a carrier oil into a small bottle, add 1 drop of essential oil for the top note, 1 drop for the middle note and 1 drop for the base note and see how it goes.

Have fun!

http://perfumechannel.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html

(k)(k) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-09-2007, 02:20 AM

:o

http://www.miravalresort.com/main.php

:| :| Oh no!! If Opra found this place - it is time to discover other, more isolated places........

:) :)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-09-2007, 02:22 AM

(h) (h) (h) (h)

Dancing With The Stars

Well, it's that time of year again for some serious dancing. And no, I'm not referring to the televised celebrity dance competitions! I mean the light shows in the northern winter sky where the sky appears to dance with color. That's right, the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights.

An Aurora is a beautiful natural phenomenon that often occurs in the polar regions of Earth. It appears as colorful clouds and rays of green and red (and sometimes blue) light that dance across the sky. The Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis (Latin for "northern" and "southern" dawn, respectively) occur in symmetric ovals centered on the northern and southern magnetic poles of Earth. Weatherplus.com has a great blog entry on how Auroras are formed, along with a slideshow of Northern Lights photos.

Those of us who live too far south to catch the Northern Lights from the comfort of home have to travel north to see them. Sure, you could head south in summer to catch the Aurora Australis -- but by south, I mean all the way to Antarctica. Most Americans find it easier and less expensive to catch the Northern Lights.

Though the further north you travel, the better your chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis, nothing is guaranteed when it comes to nature. So here are some tips to improve your odds if you're planning a Northern Lights trip.

1. Sunspots Are Good. Auroral activity correlates with the activity of the sun, which changes according to an 11-year solar cycle. In general, the more active the sun, the greater the number of auroras. (Keep in mind that bright and active auroras can be observed at any time during the solar cycle.) For a chart showing the solar cycle and sunspot activity, click here.

http://www.sec.noaa.gov/SolarCycle/

2. Clean And Clear. Even if you're far from city lights, air pollution can affect the sky's clarity. The further away you are from big cities, the better your chances of seeing the Northern Lights.

3. Dark Of The Moon. The light of the silvery moon can be beautiful, but it can also ruin the intensity of an aurora. Plan your trip for when the moon is new or waning. Click here for a calendar of the moon's phases in 2007.

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/MoonPhase.html#y2007

4. The 27-Day Rule. If your vacation schedule is flexible, find out when the last auroral display was for your intended Northern Lights get-away. It takes the sun 27 days to rotate one time around its axis, so 27 days after an aurora display, the active region on the sun that caused the aurora will face Earth again. Although solar activity in that region on the sun might have decreased in the mean time, there is still a greater chance of aurora 27 days after the last period of increased auroral activity.

Not much for planning trips to freezing far-away locales? Keep an eye on the solar cycle -- when it's active, you can sometimes see the Northern Lights in parts of the United States!

http://wcau.weatherplus.com/alrokersblog/index.html

(h) (h) (h) (h)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-09-2007, 02:23 AM

(y) (y) (y)

http://www.dogsledadventures.com/

Travel at the speed of Dog - dogsledding/dog sledding tours through the Teton , Shoshoni , and Targhee National Forests that surround Jackson Hole, Wyoming and the Greater Yellowstone Area. Hosted by Iditarod veteran Billy Snodgrass.

Our Dogs: http://www.dogsledadventures.com/our_dogs.htm

Tours and Schedules: http://www.dogsledadventures.com/tours.htm

(h)(h)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-09-2007, 02:24 AM

:) :)

http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/index.htm

GREAT Video - Link is on the right.

View to Heaven:

http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/NR/rdonlyres/DFE1842D-8C6E-4CD0-BA21-A87D391D884A/0/Jan24_1_sm.jpg

Lots of Photos (Scroll down a little):

http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/weather/gallery/jan07/index.htm

(y) (y)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-09-2007, 02:38 AM

(f) (f) (f)

The choice of fragrances and scents seems to grow wider every day, as manufacturers fight for our attention and try ever harder to distinguish their offerings from the competition. With such a selection to choose from, how does one even begin to know where to start when it comes to buying perfume?

Broadly speaking, all perfumes fall into one of six different categories based on their dominant top notes. Different categories will suit different people or occasions.

Earthy or woody type perfumes evoke smells of the forest, and are usually very refreshing. They often tend to appeal to the older generation, and may make ideal gifts.

Oriental fragrances use strong spicy scents, and are ideal for special social occasions, but be cautious giving them to anyone you don’t know well /no spamming of other sites/ these intense perfumes can be a very personal choice.

The so-called “greens” are much lighter than the orientals, and are well suited to more casual wear. Because they make a less dramatic assault on the nose, they are also safer to give as gifts!

Modern “oceanic” fragrances are becoming more and more popular, particularly among younger people who appreciate the intense but often quite unusual scents, which instantly bring to mind seaside scenes. Naturally these are an excellent choice in the warmer months when thoughts turn to holidays.

Spicy fruity perfumes are also a good warm-weather choice, and can be a good all-round choice for the woman who wants to wear something with some traditional base-notes but is a little different to the classic floral scents.

Finally, those classic floral fragrances are suitable for almost everyone and any occasion. But be wary of cheaper brands; this most feminine of all the main groups works best when the ingredients used are of high quality, and that means less expensive brands can smell exactly that.

Ultimately, choosing a fragrance is a very personal choice, and many women prefer to stick with what they know and buy the same thing year after year. But by trying different fragrances from the same group as your favourite smell, you may just discover a new gem.

About The Author

Sara Blackmoore is a relationship councellor, and a freelance writer. She lives in London, England with her husband and two children. Sara buys her perfume from:

http://www.fragrancegopher.co.uk

http://perfumechannel.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html

(y) (y) (y) (y) (y) (y) (y)

(f) Have a lovely Friday!

Peace,

Sweetlady & Wyatt the Boxer (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-09-2007, 02:42 AM

(h) (h) (h)

http://www.chrisyates.net/reprographics/index.php?page=424

(y) (y) (y)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

Ulysses

02-10-2007, 04:15 AM

:) :) :)

(y) (y) (y)

December 31, 2006
Surfacing
For Lesbians, the Party Never Stopped in Bangkok
By MEGAN COSSEY

ON the night of Sept. 19, military leaders in Thailand suspended the constitution, seized control of Bangkok and imposed martial law. Someone forgot to tell the lesbians.

Several nights after the nonviolent coup, a crush of cheering women crowded around the stage at Shela, a lesbian nightclub near the city's major downtown park, Lumpini, where a popular singer, Palmy, was performing. Fans crammed the balcony, imported whiskey was flowing at every table and a lone tom, local slang for a butch lesbian, was dancing by herself behind the pool table.

Coup or not, it was just another night out for Bangkok's puying rak puying, or women who love women.

Five years ago, this scene would have been unthinkable. Lesbians either met each other at non-gay establishments or through word-of-mouth parties and restaurants. But thanks to the rapidly expanding Thai Internet, and a growing number of younger, more self-possessed lesbians, two nightclubs and several weekly parties catering exclusively to lesbians have opened in Bangkok in the past two years.

The grandmother of lesbian parties is Lesla, held every Saturday at the Chit Chat Club, a hangar-sized beer hall in Bangkok's sprawling northern outskirts (Soi 85, Lad Phrao Road; 66-089-218-9119 or 66-2-618-7191 or 7192; www.lesla.com). If you show up after 11 p.m., you might find Munthana Adisayathepkul, the party's exuberant organizer, at the top of the balcony, throwing stuffed toys to the masses below. The hours are 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., with a 200-baht cover charge (less than $6 at 36 baht to the U.S. dollar) that gets you a bottle of Heineken.

While Lesla is still going strong, smaller bars have opened in the more convenient downtown area. Shela (106 Lang Suan; 66-2-254-6463, www.shelacorner.com) is among the most popular, and its candlelit, modern décor attracts a sophisticated 30s-and-over crowd. It's hours are 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., with no cover.

Younger lesbians, meanwhile, are heading to Zeta (29 Royal City Avenue; 66-2-203-1043 or 1044; www.zetabangkok.com). It's at the slightly uncool end of Royal City Avenue, but don't tell that to the trendy 20-somethings who cram the smoke-filled room to split a bottle of whiskey and flirt. To keep things going, the house band, Mister Sister, plays Western and Thai pop music. Hours are 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., with no cover.

The new lesbian scene isn't limited to bars and clubs. Zub Zip (674 Soi 101, Lad Phrao Road; 66-081-734-2759), an airy restaurant in northern Bangkok, opened in October and caters to older toms and dees, femme lesbians. The owner, Priyanan Bupa, greets visitors with a motherly smile, Chinese-Thai fusion food and, at least on a recent visit, fresh oranges. Two hundred baht will get you a heaping plate of Hong Kong noodles and a large bottle of Singha beer.

And the party keeps growing. Numerous Web sites have popped up to help local lesbians and travelers stay current. Among the best is in English, the Lesbian Guide to Bangkok (www.bangkoklesbian.com). The Web site's creator, Caitlyn Webster, 27, arrived from New York City a year ago with her girlfriend, Jett Charnchoochai.

“In New York, everyone has to be cool,” Ms. Webster said. “Here, they're just being cute.”

http://travel.nytimes.com/2006/12/31/travel/31surfacing.html?ref=travel

(k) (k) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

I (l) Bangkok

This is a great article and there are alot of truths in it .... my favourite dyke bar in Bangkok is Zeta, although it gets very busy at the weekends so I prefer it Tuesdays to Thursdays. It hasn't been open long and is very popular with Thai dees (femmes) and toms (butches / bois).

When I am not looking for a nightclub, I would often go to a dee-owned restuarant called Vega which ispopular with the LGBT community in Bangkok .... its really good and the karaoke can be fun late at night :)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 09:35 AM

I (l) Bangkok

This is a great article and there are alot of truths in it .... my favourite dyke bar in Bangkok is Zeta, although it gets very busy at the weekends so I prefer it Tuesdays to Thursdays. It hasn't been open long and is very popular with Thai dees (femmes) and toms (butches / bois).

When I am not looking for a nightclub, I would often go to a dee-owned restuarant called Vega which ispopular with the LGBT community in Bangkok .... its really good and the karaoke can be fun late at night :)

Hello Ulysses,

(f) Thanks for taking the time to post about your experiences in Bangkok. It was fun learning about some new places to try. Vega sounds especially lovely! :)

(f) Have a delightful Valentine's Day! (f)

Virtual ({)(}) 's,

Sweetlady & Wyatt the Boxer (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 09:38 AM

:o :o :o :o

8 FEET of snow?

:| :| I am definitely re-thinking the moving north anyplace near the Great Lakes, at least northern NY state....;)

This guy is on his ROOF: http://wcau.weatherplus.com/2007/0210/10979794.jpg

This might decrease this SUVs mileage:

http://wcau.weatherplus.com/2007/0210/10979792.jpg

Waiting for the bus in a freezer: http://wcau.weatherplus.com/2007/0210/10979783.jpg

Where's the rest of this house? http://wcau.weatherplus.com/2007/0210/10980488.jpg

The USPS's motto in action: http://wcau.weatherplus.com/2007/0210/10980491.jpg

Clearing the roof from INSIDE the building:

http://wcau.weatherplus.com/2007/0210/10980495.jpg

The last time I saw icecicles like these were when I was much young (er):

http://wcau.weatherplus.com/2007/0210/10980497.jpg

:s :s Big snow storm coming our way this week. :o

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 09:40 AM

:) :)

Survey Names America's Fittest Cities

Albuquerque Tops List

POSTED: 3:24 pm EST February 10, 2007

Where are the fittest people in America?

Albuquerque, N.M., has been cited as the fittest U.S. city. The bragging rights are based on an unscientific survey by Men's Fitness magazine.

The magazine surveyed 50 cities in its March issue. It lists Seattle as No. 2.

The survey also listed the 10 fattest cities. Las Vegas leads the beefy category. Four Texas cities are in the top 10: San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and El Paso. The heavyweights also include Mesa, Ariz.; Los Angeles; Detroit and San Jose, Calif.

The survey examines lifestyle factors in each city, including fast-food restaurants per capita and availability of gyms or bike paths.

Top 25 Fittest

1. Albuquerque, N.M.
2. Seattle, Wash.
3. Colorado Springs, Colo.
4. Minneapolis
5. Tucson, Ariz.
6. Denver
7. San Francisco
8. Baltimore
9. Portland, Ore.
10. Honolulu
11. Washington, D.C.
12. Omaha, Neb.
13. Tulsa, Okla.
14. Boston
15. Virginia Beach, Va.
16. Milwaukee
17. Sacramento
18. Louisville-Jefferson, Ky.
19. Columbus, Ohio
20. Philadelphia
21. Austin, Tx.
22. Nashville-Davidson
23. Charlotte
24. Atlanta
25. Oakland, Calf.

Top 25 Fattest

1. Las Vegas
2. San Antonio
3. Miami
4. Mesa, Ariz.
5. Los Angeles
6. Houston
7. Dallas
8. El Paso
9. Detroit
10. San Jose
11. Long Beach, Calf.
12. Memphis
13. Chicago
14. Arlington, Texas
15. Oklahoma City
16. Indianapolis
17. Forth Worth
18. New York
19. Fresno, Calif.
20. Wichita, Kan.
21. San Diego
22. Phoenix
23. Jacksonville, Fla.
24. Kansas City
25. Cleveland

:) :)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 09:43 AM

:) :)

http://visitbath.co.uk/

(f) (f)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 09:44 AM

(l) (l)

http://www.discoverdevon.com/

(l) (l)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 09:45 AM

:) :)

http://www.edgeofwaleswalk.co.uk/

(f) (f) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 09:46 AM

:) :)

http://www.visithebrides.com/

The Hebrides

"Near the sea we forget to count the days..."

Standing majestically at the northwest edge of Europe, this 150 mile-long island chain of beaches, culture, wildlife and adventure is a haven for outdoor activities, and a great place to unwind.

Nowhere else will you find such diversity of landscapes and species, arts, crafts and music: the islands have an abundance of beautiful habitats... peaceful, unspoilt and natural. Fresh water and sea lochs unsurpassable in their beauty and abundance provide a great resource for fishermen and bird life. Traditional music and crafts live on in a lively and modern culture, which is civilised in the true sense of the word. Pioneering sporting and cultural events attract people from all over the world to experience this Gaelic heartland. Get even closer to nature: a boat trip to spot whales, dolphins, seals or puffins or a guided walk to mix with otters, buzzards or deer. And for those who like an adrenalin rush, expert or not, try out our surfing, climbing, diving or power boating. Come home with a new hobby!

he Hebridean Gaels always provide a friendly welcome, making the visitor share the sense of belonging and freedom - one of the great traits of the local heritage. The sense of being surrounded by the fresh Hebridean air carries the visitor into a world of serenity.

The Hebrides is an oasis of calm in a chaotic world.

(y) (y) (y) (y) (y) (y) (y)

(k) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 09:57 AM

(*) (*) (*) (*) (*)

1. Rules: (That is the NAME if the restaurant...;)

Come, escape from the 21st century. Opened in 1798, London's oldest restaurant -- and gorgeous institution -- has welcomed everyone from Charles Dickens to the current Prince of Wales. It's one of the single most beautiful dining salons in London: plush red banquettes and lacquered Regency yellow walls crammed with oil paintings, engravings, and Victorian cartoons. The menu includes fine historic dishes -- try roast beef and Yorkshire pudding or the steak-and-kidney pudding for a taste of the 18th century. Daily specials will, in season, include game from Rules' Teesdale estate. AE, DC, MC, V. Tube: Covent Garden.

Address: 35 Maiden La., London, England
Phone: 020/7836-5314

http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresults.cfm?destination=london@91&cur_section=din&property_id=55787

http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/Restaurants-For-Pies-In-London--recommended-london.html

http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/Non-Smoking-Restaurants-In-London-recommended-london.html

2. Veeraswamy: Britain's Oldest Indian Restaurant

In 1926, Veeraswamy was founded by Edward Palmer, the great-grandson of an English general and an Indian princess. The restaurant was named "The Veerasawmy" in honor of Palmer's grandmother; after a menu printer's typographical error in 1934, the restaurant acquired a new name by default.

Over the decades, Veeraswamy's celebrity guests included the kings of several countries, Indian prime ministers Nehru and Indira Gandhi, and actors such as Charlie Chaplin and Marlon Brando. Its legendary status faded after the 1960s, until the owners of Chutney Mary acquired Veeraswamy in 1996 and gave the 70-year-old restaurant a top-to-bottom overhaul.

Today, the owners describe describe Veeraswamy as a "reincarnation" of the historic restaurant. The old colonial decor is gone, having been replaced by a stunning modern interior that makes use of colored laquer on the walls, frosted glass, golf leaf, and beautifully polished wood floors. The new restaurant is billed as "smart and casual," and it's the kind of place where you can feel comfortable whether you're dressed in your Sunday best or in club gear on a Saturday night.

Veeraswamy

Britain's Oldest Indian Restaurant

The "purple area" of Veeraswamy in London, which has operated in Victory House on Regent Street for nearly 70 years.

In 1926, Veeraswamy was founded by Edward Palmer, the great-grandson of an English general and an Indian princess. The restaurant was named "The Veerasawmy" in honor of Palmer's grandmother; after a menu printer's typographical error in 1934, the restaurant acquired a new name by default.

Over the decades, Veeraswamy's celebrity guests included the kings of several countries, Indian prime ministers Nehru and Indira Gandhi, and actors such as Charlie Chaplin and Marlon Brando. Its legendary status faded after the 1960s, until the owners of Chutney Mary acquired Veeraswamy in 1996 and gave the 70-year-old restaurant a top-to-bottom overhaul.

Today, the owners describe describe Veeraswamy as a "reincarnation" of the historic restaurant. The old colonial decor is gone, having been replaced by a stunning modern interior that makes use of colored laquer on the walls, frosted glass, golf leaf, and beautifully polished wood floors. The new restaurant is billed as "smart and casual," and it's the kind of place where you can feel comfortable whether you're dressed in your Sunday best or in club gear on a Saturday night.

Style with sustenance

Enough about atmosphere: The true measure of any restaurant is what arrives at your table, and Veeraswamy's kitchen has been good enough to win a "Best Indian Restaurant" citation from Time Out and favorable reviews from such British periodicals as The Times, the Sunday Telegraph, the Spectator, and Harper's & Queen.

The head chef, Gopal Kochak, works with a team of cooks from regions throughout India, so that dishes are prepared by experts who know how to prepare their native cuisines--and, in some cases, creative variations of traditional dishes--from the northwestern frontier to the tropical shores of the Indian Ocean.

Owners Ranjit Mathran, Namita Panjabi, and Camellia Panjabi are quick to pont out that spices (which are a critical part of Indian cooking) are ground fresh daily and mixed to order for each dish. They claim that Veeraswamy is one of the few Indian restaurants in Britain to do this, and I'll take them at their word--especially after an impeccably cooked dinner at Veeraswamy with the PR team from Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, and the Tower of London.

http://europeforvisitors.com/europe/countries/uk/veeraswamy.htm

http://www.londontown.com/LondonInformation/Restaurant/Veeraswamy/b9e3/

3. Gordon's Wine Bar:

London's oldest wine bar and family-run underground tavern.

Home to Samuel Pepys in the 1680s, the building housing Gordon’s is now home to a regular, thriving crowd of drinkers of all ages and all walks of life, united in their love of this unique venue and of good wine. Buried deep and dark beneath the streets with only a small doorway and a subtle sign indicating its presence, Gordon’s Wine Bar is one of central London’s best hidden gems. The subterranean setting is accessed by a steep, wood-panelled staircase which leads into a rickety old room plastered with centuries old newspapers cuttings and dusty wine bottles. Once you’ve made the somewhat perilous descent, be prepared for a crowded crawl to the bar through throngs of office workers supping on glasses of vino. Having chosen your tipple from the award-winning wine list (this isn’t the place for lagers and spirits) head right to the back and find the low-ceilinged arches, under which tables and chairs huddle together, bathed in gentle candlelight. You’ll probably have to wait a while for a table, but there’s no great hardship in propping yourself up in a corner and waiting for one to become available or, alternatively, asking to share the corner of someone else’s. Gordon’s wine list includes a wide-ranging collection from the New and Old World, to suit any palate. The friendly Gallic bar staff know their stuff, so don't be afraid to ask. Sturdy tumblers of port or sherry served straight from casks behind the bar are an unusual but welcome detail as is the delicious, home-cooked food available (try a plate of pongy cheese, some pate or a hearty ploughman’s). The oldest wine bar in London, this friendly, family-run establishment has resolutely resisted change and its merit is demonstrated by its immense popularity. There’s certainly not enough room to swing a cat here, and probably not even enough to open a newspaper, but this is all part and parcel of drinking at Gordon’s. Enjoy, but remember you’ll have to climb back up those steep stairs on your way out.

Best for:

Schooners of sherry, beakers of port, tumblers of wine, dusty bottles and barrels in candlelit caverns.

Name: Gordon's Wine Bar
Address: 47 Villiers Street
Phone: 020 7930 1408
Times: Mon to Sat 11:00-23:00, Sun 12:00-22:00

http://www.londontown.com/LondonInformation/Bars_and_Clubs/Gordons_Wine_Bar/b994/

4. Ye Old Mitre:

Address: 1 Ely Place
Phone: 020 7405 4751

http://www.urbanpath.com/london/pubs/ye-olde-mitre-tavern.htm

Secret London: Ye Olde Mitre Tavern

‘This is London’s most hidden pub,’ says barman John Wright, with just a hint of insane pride. ‘We had a gentleman in the other week who said he’d worked around the corner on Hatton Garden for six years and never found the place.’

That’s something you can have some sympathy with, especially if you ever come seeking out a discreet sherbet in this quaint old corner of Cambridgeshire that’s tucked away in the heart of the City of London.

When you pass the security barrier and guardpost into Ely Place from Charterhouse Street, there’s no longer a top-hat and frock-coated beadle on guard to point out that you’re technically no longer in London. There’s also no longer a sign to hint at the whereabouts of the Mitre Tavern. Personally, I wandered on until I came across the medieval St Etheldreda’s church further down Ely Place, stopped to squint at the model palace in the undercroft, and passed on, publess, to the end of the cul-de-sac. In search of an alley of some description, I let myself through a gate and found myself unexpectedly in the backyard of the Bleeding Heart Tavern in Bleeding Heart Yard. Four or five left turns later, I came across the other end of the elusive alley on Hatton Garden. If I mention it’s between numbers 8 and 9, it might save you some valuable drinking time.

Some way down Mitre Place, the black brick alley widens out a yard or two, opens up to the sky, and reveals a tiny pub with a frontage of oak and opaque leaded windows. The date on the sign says 1547, but this version of the Mitre was actually built around 1772, soon after the demolition of the nearbyPalace of the Bishops of Ely /no spamming of other sites/ the origin of all the geographical and historical anomalies in these parts.

Built in 1291, St Etheldreda’s Church /no spamming of other sites/ aka Ely Chapel /no spamming of other sites/ is the oldest Catholic church in England and the only surviving part of Ely Palace. With 58 acres of orchards, vineyards and strawberry fields, plus fountains, ponds and terraced lawns stretching down towards the Thames, the Palace was the London residence of a long line of Ely Bishops, and a seat of great power. The Bishop of Ely and his strawberries feature in Shakespeare’s ‘Richard III’, while Ely Palace itself provides the setting for John of Gaunt’s ‘This scepter’d isle’ speech in ‘Richard II’. In 1531, a five-day feast was attended by Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, the Lord Mayor of London, sundry foreign ambassadors, barons and aldermen: between them, they tucked away ‘24 great beefs, the carcase of an ox, 100 fat muttons, 91 pigs, 34 porks, 37 dozen pigeons, 340 larks’ and the King’s contribution of 13 dozen swans.

The original Mitre Tavern was built for servants at the Palace 11 years into the reign of Elizabeth I. In 1576 she commandeered a gatehouse and a goodly portion of the Palace grounds for her court favourite Sir Christopher Hatton, and regularly came visiting. After stints as a prison and a Civil War hospital, the Palace reverted to the Crown in Georgian times and was demolished /no spamming of other sites/ although the rebuilt pub had built into its front wall a stone mitre from a palace gatepost and a cherry tree, which once marked the boundary separating the ground gifted to Hatton and the Bishop’s remaining diocese.

The tree is still here, preserved in the corner of the cosy panelled front bar /no spamming of other sites/ in fact, according to John, it was throwing out leafy branches and blossom up until the end of last century, when structural subsidence led to the decapitation of the tree once used as a maypole by Good Queen Bess. John Wright first found his way to the Mitre Tavern back in 1953, but it wasn’t until the ’70s that he got a job here pulling pints. In those days the pub closed at 10pm along with the gates of Ely Place, and the drinks licence was still issued in Cambridgeshire rather than London, and that’s about all that’s changed since: certainly not the stained-glass mitre or the toy-size furniture in the crooked little front bar, nor the settles, skylight and ‘Ye Closet’ micro-snug in the back. The Mitre still only opens one weekend per year, but now it corresponds with the Great British Beer Festival at Olympia (August 5, 6) rather than St Etheldreda’s annual charity Strawberry Fayre on June 25.

Ely Place remains quite literally a law unto itself, and long may it continue to do so. ‘Many times we’ve had robbers run in here from Hatton Garden,’ Wright recalls fondly. ‘They know the City police don’t have the right to follow them. It’s still the same today: the police just have to seal all the exits and ring the Cambridgeshire force, then wait around ‘till they jump in their cars and get down here’.

http://www.timeout.com/london/bars/features/1614.html

(y) (y) (y) I love all of these places! (l)

(c) (c) Need to make a second cup.....Wyatt the Boxer and I got up late this morning since we went to bed in the wee hours after I was getting work done that I couldn't when the cable modem service was down for many, many hours this past week. :|

8-| 8-| I'm trying to get work (client and an article due for publication) and that last PhD course work done as well as posting here today before this snow storm comes in (at least that's what the weather folks are saying) late tomorrow night. I have a hair appointment Wednesday - I thought it would feel nice to get my hair done on Valentine's Day - but the worst of the snow is supposed to fall Tuesday into Wednesday.

:) I might have to re-schedule that salon appointment for next week. Those drums that I hear are pretty faint at this point - "roots", get it? ;)

Warm virtual hugs,

Sweetlady & Wyatt the Boxer (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:00 AM

(f) (f) (f)

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/7/71953.jpg

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/4/41820.jpg

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/7/73907.jpg

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/7/74003.jpg

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/4/44351.jpg

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/4/40180.jpg

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/4/42110.jpg

Gorgeous Entrace Walk with Lavender Hidcote:

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/7/73998.jpg

Breathtaking! http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/4/45170.jpg

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/1/10332.jpg

A Childhood (and still) Favorite: http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/7/73918.jpg

Deep maroon almost black Rose: http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/6/65727.jpg

I Want These: Rose - Blue Moon: http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/6/67530.jpg

Rose - Claude Monet: http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/6/68677.jpg

Spicy sweet fragrance exudes from the remarkable blooms, creamy white centres are surrounded by strawberry red outer petals. A truly outstanding Hybrid Tea that also makes superb cut flowers owing to their sturdy upright stems.

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/6/67523.jpg

The Osiria rose has one of the most striking colour combinations you will ever find. The inside of the petals are deep velvety red whilst the outside is a beautiful silver-white. With a moderate growing habit, Osiria is welcome in even a small garden where it does best in a sunny position.

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/6/67860.jpg

My Heart Stood Still! Rose - Weeping Standard - Blue Veil:

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/1/11820.jpg

An outstanding beautiful standard rose that cascades with a profusion of blue flowers. This fairytale rose can carry so many flowers that you may need to stake it for support.

(f) (f) (f) I hope others enjoy seeing these as I did. (f)

(k) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:01 AM

(f) (f) (f)

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/2/22640.jpg

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/2/23517.jpg

Different: Daffodil Apricot Whirl: http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/2/23515.jpg

Daffodil Las Vegas: Very fragrant, very durable flowers with crisp white petals with a sumptuous yellow trumpet, appear in mid-spring to add warmth and scent to your garden. Cut and enjoy their wonderful fragrance indoors as well.

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/2/23497.jpg

PINK! Daffodil Passionale: Sweetly fragrant, slightly frilled rose pink cups appear in mid-spring to add warmth and scent to your garden. Cut and enjoy their wonderful fragrance indoors as well.

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/2/23620.jpg

Daffodil Unique: With superb double, white petals liberally interspersed with bold yellow, this variety is something a bit special for your spring show to add a delightful contrast to your borders.

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/2/23524.jpg

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/2/22500.jpg

Hyacinth Duo - Kronos & Woodstock: Kronos - For weeks of fragrance and colour in early spring you can get no better than the hardy Hyacinth. Kronos will delight with bold royal purple compact heads of bloom in March to April.

Woodstock - Wonderfully scented magenta blooms appear above handsome blue green foliage. This superb specimen is equally suited for growing indoors or any sunny position in your garden borders or containers.

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/2/27632.jpg

I LOVE THESE! Japanese Rose - Lilac/Blue: Multitudes of beautiful rose-like lilac/blue flowers on the most elegant of stems adorn this rich flowering plant. The large rosette-like flowers are perfect for cutting for the home where they will last for over a week in a vase. Grow them in your beds and borders for that opulent look.

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/7/71953.jpg

Narcissus Pink Parasol: Magnificent, large pink frilled cups contrast with the pure white petals. Very pleasing, flowers in mid spring. A superlative cut flower.

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/pix/s/2/23642.jpg

For anyone interested where I found all of these and countless more:

http://www.vanmeuwen.com/list/az.html

(f) (f) Remarkable! (y) (y)

(k) 's,

SWeetlady & Wyatt the Boxer (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:02 AM

:| :|

:o

:)

http://dictionary.reference.com/wordoftheday/archive/2004/06/21.html

http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19961014

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/deipnosophist

http://eutrapelia.blogspot.com/2007/01/live-without-me-ill-understand.html

British Viewpoint: http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-dei1.htm

http://presence.baltiblogs.com/2004/06/21/deipnosophist.html

I liked this version: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=deipnosophist

;) ;) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:04 AM

:| :| :|

http://wonkette.com/politics/george-w.-bush/we-hate-to-bring-up-the-nazis-but-they-fled-to-south-america-too-208549.php

Our paranoid friends over at Bring It On have put together a story that hasn’t exactly made Washington Whispers. It’s real short and real simple:

* The Cuban news service reports that George W. Bush has purchased 98,840 acres in Paraguay, near the Bolivian/Brazilian border.

* Jenna Bush paid a secret diplomatic visit to Paraguayan President Nicanor Duarte and U.S. Ambassador James Cason. There were no press conferences, no public sightings and no official confirmation of her 10-day trip which apparently ended this week.

* The Paraguayan Senate voted last summer to “grant U.S. troops immunity from national and International Criminal Court (ICC) jurisdiction.”

* Immediately afterwards, 500 heavily armed U.S. troops arrived with various planes, choppers and land vehicles at Mariscal Estigarribia air base, which happens to be at the northern tip of Paraguay near the Bolivian/Brazilian border. More have reportedly arrived since then.

What the hell, after the jump. Plus a BREAKING UPDATE involving, of course, The Moonies!

Now, Prensa Latina is a Cuban-government operation that is not exactly friendly toward Washington, what with Washington trying to kill Castro for 50 years and all.

http://wonkette.com/politics/george-w.-bush/we-hate-to-bring-up-the-nazis-but-they-fled-to-south-america-too-208549.php

But Prensa Latina didn’t invent the story. It’s all over the South American press — and not just Venezuela and Bolivia.

Here’s a version from Brazil.

Here’s one from Argentina.

And here’s one from Paraguay itself.

As far as we can understand, all the paperwork and deeds and such are secret. But somehow the news leaked that a new “land trust” created for Bush had purchased nearly 100,000 acres near the town of Chaco.

And Jenna’s down there having secret meetings with the president and America’s ambassador to Paraguay, James Cason. Bush posted Cason in Havana in 2002, but last year moved him to Paraguay.

Cason apparently gets around. A former “political adviser” to the U.S. Atlantic Command and ATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, Cason has been stationed in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama … basically everywhere the U.S. has run secret and not-so-secret wars over the past 30 years.

Here’s a fun question for Tony Snow: Why might the president and his family need a 98.840-acre ranch in Paraguay protected by a semi-secret U.S. military base manned by American troops who have been exempted from war-crimes prosecution by the Paraguyan government?

Here’s a little background on the base itself, which Rumsfeld secretly visited in late 2005:

U.S. Special Forces began arriving this past summer at Paraguay’s Mariscal Estigarribia air base, a sprawling complex built in 1982 during the reign of dictator Alfredo Stroessner. Argentinean journalists who got a peek at the place say the airfield can handle B-52 bombers and Galaxy C-5 cargo planes. It also has a huge radar system, vast hangers, and can house up to 16,000 troops. The air base is larger than the international airport at the capital city, Asuncion.

Some 500 special forces arrived July 1 for a three-month counterterrorism training exercise, code named Operation Commando Force 6.

Paraguayan denials that Mariscal Estigarribia is now a U.S. base have met with considerable skepticism by Brazil and Argentina. There is a disturbing resemblance between U.S. denials about Mariscal Estigarribia, and similar disclaimers made by the Pentagon about Eloy Alfaro airbase in Manta , Ecuador. The United States claimed the Manta base was a “dirt strip” used for weather surveillance. When local journalists revealed its size, however, the United States admitted the base harbored thousands of mercenaries and hundreds of U.S. troops, and Washington had signed a 10-year basing agreement with Ecuador.

BREAKING, UPDATE, LITTLE SIREN GRAPHIC:

We’ve been directed to yet another parapolitical theory here at Rigorous Intuition, where it is reported that Rev. Moon bought 600,000 hectares — that’s 1,482,600 acres — in the same place: Chaco, Paraguay.

Another twist: The first story, from Paraguay, apparently refers to the senior George Bush as the owner of the 98.840 acres in Moon’s neighborhood.

Bush 41 was the first bigshot politician to go prancing around with Rev. Moon in public. Especially in South America:

“In the early stages of the Reagan Revolution that embraced the Washington Times and Moon’s anti-Communist movement, it was embarrassing to be caught at a Moon event,” wrote The Gadflyer last year. “Until George H.W. Bush appeared with Moon in 1996, thanking him for a newspaper that ‘brings sanity to Washington.’” That was while on an extended trip to South America in Moon’s company. A Reuters’ story of Nov 25 of that year describes the former president as “full of praise” for Moon at a banquet in Buenos Aires, toasting him as “the man with the vision.” (And Moon helped Bush out with his own vision thing, paying him $100,000 for the pleasure of his company.) Bush and Moon then traveled together to Uruguay, “to help him inaugurate a seminary in the capital, Montevideo, to train 4,200 young Japanese women to spread the word of his Church of Unification across Latin America.”

Isn’t that special?

Oh, and both the Moonie and Bush land is located at what Paraguay’s drug czar called an “enormously strategic point in both the narcotics and arms trades.” And it sits atop the one of the world’s largest fresh-water aquifers.

:o :o

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:08 AM

:s :s

Let's see, Butch & Sundance went to Bolivia; the Nazis went to Argentina and Venezuela; Bush goes to Paraguay?

http://news.netscape.com/story/2006/10/15/bush-buys-land-in-northern-paraguay

http://www.politicalcortex.com/story/2006/10/14/11926/843

Hideout or Water Raid? http://www.counterpunch.org/cp10202006.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1928928,00.html

http://agonist.org/20061024/bush_paraguay_land_grab_incites_unease

Bush Paraguay land grab incites unease: http://dallaspeacecenter.org/?q=node/1570

http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/article.asp?ID=5324

http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/view/2479/1/140/

Jenna Bush to Serve UNICEF in Paraguay, Not US Forces in Iraq:

http://digg.com/politics/Jenna_Bush_to_Serve_UNICEF_in_Paraguay_Not_US_Forc es_in_Iraq

Why might the president and his family need a 98840-acre ranch in Paraguay protected by a semi-secret US military base manned by American troops who have:

...http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0610/S00308.htm

http://www.einnews.com/paraguay/

http://www.rawstory.com/comments/21481.html

Somehow, though, the notion that "Paraguay Is Bush Country"

...http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2006/10/what-will-bush-do-steal-election-flee.html

(y) (y) LMAO PHOTO!! http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2601/1108/400/falling2.jpg

(*) At the end of the day, who cares? I am a strong believer in karmic balance. Mother of God/Dess, will dubya, family and cronies ever get theirs! (y)

(okay, I'm off the soap box....) ;)

(k) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:10 AM

(y) (y) (y)

The Scotsman Fri 9 Feb 2007

Milestone as new turbines put Britain seventh in world league of wind power

IAN JOHNSTON ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT

THE United Kingdom will today become only the seventh country in the world able to produce more than two gigawatts of electricity from the wind - enough to power nearly half the homes in Scotland - with the commissioning of new turbines near Stirling.

Giving the seal of government approval, Alistair Darling, the Trade and Industry Secretary, was due to cut a ribbon to mark the occasion at the Braes of Doune wind farm today.

While the UK is in seventh place in the world wind-farm league table, Scotland by itself is in 14th position with close to one gigawatt of capacity, ahead of countries such as Australia and Norway.

And according to a study by the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA), the amount of wind power generated in Scotland could treble by 2010, rising from 988 megawatts now to more than 3,000 megawatts (three gigawatts).

The BWEA chief executive, Maria McCaffery, who was due to attend the commissioning ceremony, described the event as "a tremendous step forward for harnessing our abundant natural resources for clean and sustainable energy production".

This was "essential", she said, as part of the fight against climate change and also to secure the UK's energy supply.

"This is a day for celebrating the achievement of a significant milestone for our industry and underlining the position of wind energy as the true leader in the renewables revolution," Ms McCaffery said.

Two gigawatts of electricity is enough to power 1.1 million homes - about a third of London homes and almost half of those in Scotland. BWEA said this amount of wind energy saved 4.6 million tonnes in emissions, equivalent to taking 1.5 million cars off the road.

The BWEA study, which assumes that half the current planning applications for wind farms will be approved after a 36-month delay, shows wind-farm capacity increasing rapidly over the next three years, with an extra 2.3 gigawatts in Scotland out of 4.4 gigawatts created in the whole of the UK.

Scotland is expected to meet its 2010 target of 18 per cent renewable energy some time this year - mainly due to wind farms and hydro-electric - and could also hit the 40 per cent target for 2020 - estimated at 6.4 gigawatts - about five years early.

It is hoped wave and tidal energy will also play an increasing role in renewable energy production in Scotland.

Jason Ormiston, of Scottish Renewables, said: "It's very important to state that this target of 40 per cent should not be seen as a cap. If we want to capture the benefits of wave and tidal, we need to go beyond that 40 per cent target."

Mr Darling said the UK wind industry was "to be applauded" for its part in boosting renewable energy.

"This is central to our efforts to tackle climate change, highlighted again last week by the United Nations' International Panel on Climate Change," he said.

"Wave, tidal and offshore wind power can make a significant contribution in future, but onshore wind energy is delivering capacity here and now."

The Braes of Doune wind farm, which was built by Airtricity, has 36 turbines capable of generating 72 megawatts of electricity, enough for around 45,000 homes. Airtricity's chief executive, Eddie O'Connor, claimed that wind power was helping to cut people's bills, as well as making the world "a safer place".

"Wind is free," he said. "Wind energy has a fixed price and so mitigates the risk of fossil-fuel price fluctuations. In a study carried out on the Scottish market, it has been shown that the customer gets a reduction in price of 6 per cent because of the risk reduction that wind entails.

"If the wind blows strongly for a long winter period, then the price of next summer's fossil fuels is reduced," he added.

However, some remain implacably opposed to wind farms.

David Bruce, the chairman of Views of Scotland, insisted wind energy did not help to reduce emissions. He said: "Wind power is free of carbon dioxide at the point of generation, that's true.

"But when working in conjunction with a grid system, it's not."

He added that an official report into a major power cut across central Europe found that Germany's high level of wind power was partly to blame.

And on the effect of wind farms on the landscape, Mr Bruce said: "If people find the Braes of Doune site attractive, there's not much I can do. If that's your idea of beauty, there's not a lot I can do about that."

£500m isles wind-farm project clears local hurdle

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a huge island wind farm took a major step forward yesterday with unanimous backing from a committee of councillors.

The £500 million plan to build 181 turbines on Lewis was approved by Western Isles Council's environmental services committee in Stornoway, despite ongoing opposition from some islanders and environmental groups.

The application will now go to the full council next week and a final decision will be taken by the Scottish Executive.

The council previously signalled its intention to support the scheme as part of efforts to make its area a centre of excellence for renewables. But Councillor Annie Macsween, of Ness, described the proposed wind farm as "pillaging our natural heritage".

The estimated value of the land leases is £3.4 million a year, and the developer also proposes to make payments into trust funds of about £1.85 million a year. Councillor Angus McCormack said the money could help other projects throughout the Western Isles which are waiting for funding.

Catriona Campbell, of the protest group Moorland Without Turbines, said of yesterday's decision: "We are very disappointed but not surprised.

"We just hope that councillors will start to listen to what people are saying in the areas affected."

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=212932007

(y) (y) (y) (y)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:12 AM

;) ;)

Caught Napping: http://images.scotsman.com/2007/02/04/04sleb.jpg

Scotland on Sunday Sun 4 Feb 2007

DANI GARAVELLI

IT'S Friday afternoon and your boss has insisted on holding a brain-storming session about your company's new contract. But it's warm inside and you feel as if you haven't slept since Tuesday. Gradually your thoughts become blurred, your eyes begin to close and your head lolls forward. You quickly jerk it back into place. Has anyone noticed? Are you drooling? Can you kiss your career goodbye?

It's a common scenario played out in conference rooms across the UK as working hours get longer. But imagine if, instead of seeing your exhaustion as a sign of weakness, your boss urged you to get 15 minutes' shut-eye to enhance your creativity. Or if, rather than grabbing a sandwich at your desk, you were encouraged to chill out in a sleep pod, where soothing smells and sounds transported you off to the land of nod.

An impossible dream? Not in France where, last week, the government threw its weight behind plans by some companies to introduce a quarter-hour nap after lunch. "Sleep must not be trivialised," says health minister Xavier Bertrand, announcing the pilot scheme. "Why not a lunchtime siesta? The question should not be taboo."

There is, in fact, a difference between the siesta - often a two-hour rest in the wilting afternoon heat of Mediterranean countries - and the power nap. The latter is short and oh-so-sweet, a refreshing break which experts say gives an energy boost for the rest of the day. It has long been a feature of Japanese industry and is now catching on in America, where workers pay up to $25 for the pleasure of cat-napping in tiny capsules designed to lull even the most stressed-out executive into unconsciousness. There's MetroNaps - the first of which was located at the top of the Empire State building - and there's YeloNaps, a complete "sleep therapy system", which uses chromatherapy, aromatherapy and purified air, along with chairs that raise the legs above the torso to slow the heart rate.

In the UK, however, the fashion has stubbornly refused to take hold - despite the fact that 18% of British people admit they never get a good night's sleep, and despite the efforts of sleep specialists who have tried to overcome our cultural blindspot when it comes to the power nap.

When Dr Chris Idzikowski, director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre, tried to encourage UK companies to introduce napping rooms, his pleas fell on deaf ears. "Even where we could convince the boardroom of the merits of allowing employees a 15-minute sleep, there were problems with the unions: did the time sleeping count as work time and all that," he says. Idzikowski became something of a power nap evangelist after discovering research from Harvard University which showed workers allowed 15 minutes' sleep in the middle of the day were still performing more efficiently two to three hours later than those who worked through. But the closest he has come to securing an afternoon sleep for workers involved a health and wellbeing consultancy: an experiment that proved something of a disaster.

"The employees were tired," he says. "Some of them fell asleep during the presentation."

When nap rooms were finally introduced they were underused. Idzikowski says: "There seemed to be a perception that going for a sleep in the middle of the day was a strange thing to do. People have the attitude: 'We'll just soldier on.' I think it's as much a question of worrying about internal competitors as external ones. You know, who is going to do what to you, while you are sleeping?"

So will we Brits ever take to incorporating a snooze into our afternoon schedule? It's not as if it's a newfangled idea. Dozens of famous figures have sworn by the restorative powers of sleep. Salvador Dali used to doze off with a spoon in his mouth and a bowl underneath so if he began to sleep too deeply, the spoon would fall out with a clatter and wake him back up. Winston Churchill had his ravelled sleeve of care knitted up every afternoon as war raged in the wider world. And Orinoco the Womble was never too busy picking up litter to snatch 40 winks.

Nor is it that we are all so well rested we have no need for daytime slumber. Every week fresh surveys suggest sleep deprivation is endemic. One GMTV poll suggested 65% of us have trouble sleeping, with one in three getting less than five hours a night. If it isn't mothers complaining about their wakeful babies, it's high-fliers whingeing about their stressful jobs.

Our relationship with sleep seems to have become dysfunctional. Bookshops creak under the weight of self-help guides for insomniacs, chemists' shelves are stacked with sleeping aids and GP surgeries are choc-full of people suffering from TATT (as in "Doctor, I'm tired all the time"). Most of us have dozed off in embarrassing places: on a short bus journey, in a library or even standing in a queue, our heads flopping in an undignified manner on to our neighbours' shoulders. We are obsessed by sleep or the lack of it and yet we refuse to make it a priority.

According to Jessica Alexander, of the Sleep Council, our once sacrosanct night's slumber has fallen victim to the 24/7 culture. "We now have shops open all night, we have the internet and e-mails, so it is much more difficult to switch off from work," she says. "And we have a global economy which means many people will be working across time zones. Sometimes a daytime nap is necessary to allow us to catch up on what we have lost the night before."

This should be a worry for British businesses, as lack of sleep clearly affects both performance and profit margins. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia looked at the effects of sleep deprivation on 48 healthy men and women, aged 21 to 38. Those restricted to six hours' sleep a night for two weeks had cognitive performance deficits - a decrease in the ability to carry out higher mental processes such as thought and perception - equal to two nights' sleep deprivation.

Sleep deprivation is also linked to obesity, not only because being awake longer gives you more time to eat, but because interrupting sleep patterns is thought to interfere with hormones that suppress the appetite.

A recent study estimated that fatigue costs US employers more than $136bn a year in lost productivity. Idzikowski believes we are proving slow to recognise that a relentless work ethic can be self-defeating."Take barristers and lawyers," he says. "Their guiding principle seems to be that you work as hard as you can through the night on cases. But then you think about all the mistakes that are made in court, and you wonder if they wouldn't perhaps do better if they took just a little time out to sleep."

The problem is that if you have been sleep-deprived for long enough you forget how it feels to live any other way. "You think you can survive on less," Idzikowski says. "It's only when you go on holiday you realise you can sleep longer, and feel better."

Across the Atlantic, the preoccupation with napping has reached fever pitch. There is even a book - The Art Of Napping At Work by Bill and Camille Anthony - which gives readers seven rules to follow to derive maximum benefit from their 15-minute kip.

The relationship between sleep and productivity is even being taken seriously by American businesses, many of whom accommodate their employees' desire to catch some zeds during the day. Just as in the UK some companies have their own gyms, so in the States, it is not uncommon for businesses to have purpose-built napping rooms. One firm has set up a series of small tents, while another has installed a Queen-size bed in an upstairs loft.

In Britain, however, it's a very different story. The government has kept a low profile on the importance or otherwise of daytime snoozing, except when it comes to driving, where it has issued advice on taking regular naps and coffee breaks.

A handful of entrepreneurs have recognised a market in our hang-ups about sleep. Former city slicker Richard Walker, owner of the private club Shed, has installed two Zzed sheds where over-worked members can check in for 20 minutes' respite. But by and large, businesses remain sceptical about the commercial benefits. Certainly CBI Scotland finds it hard to muster much enthusiasm for the French government's pioneering move.

"Power napping is obviously one practice which is open to employers and their employees, but whether it will catch on remains to be seen, particularly if it requires dedicated facilities within a workplace," says assistant director David Lonsdale.

"At the end of the day, the job still needs to get done, but we would be concerned if government felt this was an area ripe for onerous new rules and regulations affecting firms."

There are others who view our obsession with sleep as little more than a modern self-indulgence if we compare our lives now with those of our forebears nearly a century ago. "I don't think we suffer from sleep deprivation any more now than we ever did," says Professor Jim Horne, author of the book Sleepfaring: A Journey Through The Science Of Sleep.

"Perhaps if you were one of the idle rich or had a nice, professional job. But if you were a miner or a factory worker your life was arduous. Fifty-hour weeks were not uncommon.

"And our sleep environment is so much better today. In the thirties, you might have been sleeping several to a bedroom in damp conditions, with little sound insulation. Today, we have our big beds and our duvets."

What has increased is our access to leisure pursuits: restaurants, nightclubs, the cinema, online gambling, all activities that may keep us from our beds. And therein lies the dilemma for businesses whose employees lobby to be allowed to put their heads down in company time.

"If workers have bona fide family reasons for being exhausted, or if it's their company's working practises that are causing their sleep to be interrupted, then it is reasonable for them to expect support," says Horne. "But the idea that businesses should provide napping rooms for workers who have been out all night having a jolly old time is nothing short of preposterous."
Turning a blind eye to a spot of shut eye

Sleeping in the afternoon? It's just not British, is it? Scott McCulloch took to the streets of Edinburgh to find out...

Sleeping in public places during the day is a luxury normally reserved for the wine, cider and butane gas connoisseurs among us. So it came as something of a surprise to find that public napping in the middle of the afternoon is met by languid indifference.

At Edinburgh Waverley, my afternoon snooze managed to take up an entire bench, but that didn't seem to bother anyone. Those waiting for trains seemed happy enough to stand by and let me sleep off whatever it was that was making me so tired.

I next had a power nap in a bus stop on Princes Street. Not the most comfy bed I've ever slept on, but not the worst either. Again, no one seemed to take any notice, despite the fact I was sleeping on a bench the width of a brick - in a bus shelter, in the middle of the afternoon, on Princes Street.

On The Mound it was no different. The school kids who congregate there seem quite used to seeing people having a nap, so I was left to get on with it.

In Princes Street Gardens, only the squirrels seemed remotely interested in my impromptu hibernation habits. It has to be said, though, that sleeping on a bench in the gardens is hardly a new concept - even at this time of year - so I was once again left in peace.

At the top of the gardens leading onto Princes Street, I even managed to rest my weary head on a nice lady's shoulder for a brief moment, though this was definitely a test of public tolerance towards innocent power napping, which can so easily be mistaken for the less socially acceptable drunken pass-out.

This article: http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/opinion.cfm?id=184092007

|-) |-) |-) |-) |-)

:) :)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:13 AM

:o :o :o

Edinburgh Evening News Thu 8 Feb 2007

THE FOOD OF LOVE: Chef Danny Owen advises you to cook your Valentine's meal yourself. Picture: KATE CHANDLER:

http://images.scotsman.com/2007/02/08/0802recb.jpg

(l) It's romance in the stove

Top tips on how to cook up a little culinary magic

GARETH EDWARDS

CREATING the atmosphere is the easy part - a few candles, a little music, some fresh-cut flowers.

But when it comes to whipping up a home-cooked meal for the first time for a special someone, if the food isn't spot-on, it doesn't matter if you've hired Robbie Williams himself to croon softly in the background.

A well-done romantic meal says so much about the person behind the apron - that you're practical (you can chop veg without losing fingers) and organised (it's all ready and hot at the same time) yet creative (not a baked bean in sight).

It goes without saying that something which involves the words "pierce film lid" and a microwave won't do.

As Danny Owen, head chef at Palmerston's restaurant in Morningside, says: "The first thing would be to make it yourself. If you serve up some kind of ready meal or pre-cooked dinner it doesn't say much about you and it certainly isn't going to seem like you've made an effort.

"Using fresh ingredients and making the meal from scratch, however, shows how much you care, and also will mean you get a far tastier dinner."

And while whipping up the perfect romantic meal may sound a daunting prospect to those more used to re-heating than cooking, there is no need to panic.

"It doesn't need to be that hard," says Palmerston's owner Simon Lloyd. "Ideally, what you want is something that you can do quite quickly. You'll want to spend as much time as possible with your partner, so you don't want to be in the kitchen the entire night slaving away over a hot stove."

With this advice in mind, dishes that can be prepared in advance, such as a simple salad with sliced orange and pomegranate, drizzled in a light vinaigrette, or some carpaccio of raw tuna, thinly sliced and served with lemon juice, are definitely a good idea.

With the main course, the best advice is again to keep it light, as you don't want to be feeling bloated and fat at the end of the meal.

Seafood is generally a perfect Valentine's dish, and something slightly exotic such as king scallops can, if properly prepared, be a real taste experience. "If you are going for scallops, I would recommend getting hand-dived scallops, as it is a bit more ethical than those that have been dredged from the bottom," says Simon.

"They are slightly more expensive, but generally come with the shell, which can make a good decoration for the plate."

For those who aren't fond of seafood, Danny suggests a chicken breast, stuffed with red peppers, basil and mozzarella and roasted, which could be served up with some fresh vegetables and a light salad.

"Really, anything that is light and has lots of flavour to it is perfect," he says. "Using slightly exotic ingredients or flavourings can make it seem that little bit special, so you could use something like truffle oil to flavour a risotto or some pasta, and just give it a special lift."

Of course, presentation is all important as well, and laying the dish out carefully on the plate can make prospective diners start to salivate even before they've tasted a bite.

For dessert, a creme brûlé is the ideal choice according to the experts - "It's something women always order when they come in," says Simon. "It's really popular, and it's a nice simple desert that most people enjoy."

And Simon's final advice for couples looking to ensure they have a St Valentine's night to remember is to make sure that a few glasses of nice wine with the meal does not turn into a few bottles.

"I think people would have a nicer time if they went easy on the wine, as most wines are very strong these days," he says.

"Instead of opening a bottle straight away, start of with a nice light pink champagne, then maybe have a few glasses of pinot noir or a sweet muscat, nothing too strong."

• Palmerston's, Morningside Road, 0131-466 7665

RECIPES

Pan-fried scallops with a celeriac and apple remoulade with a smoked salmon salad

YUM! http://images.scotsman.com/2007/02/08/0802rec1.jpg

Ingredients

• 6 king scallops and a knob of butter
• For the remoulade:
• Celeriac
• 1 apple
• 1 anchovie
• 8 baby capers
• 1 whole lemon, juiced
• 1 tbsp crème fraiche
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tsp fresh chopped chives
• salt and pepper

For the salad

• Handful of red chard and rocket
• 1 tsp of fresh washed, chopped parsley
• 1 tbsp of sunflower seeds toasted
• tsp of olive oil
• Handful of chopped cucumber, deseeded
• 1 thin slice of smoked salmon, cut into thin slices

Dressing

• 2tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 leaf of chopped dill

Method

Grab a peeler and peel the skin off the celeriac. Grate the celeriac with a fine grater. Peel the skin off the apple and grate into the celeriac. Squeeze the whole lemon into the mix, watching out for the pips. This will stop the mix turning brown. Chop the anchovies, capers and chives and add this to the mix along with the crème fraiche, and mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper and put this in the fridge until later.

Meanwhile, toast the sunflower seeds in a frying pan with a touch of olive oil until they are lightly brown. Take off the heat and set aside. Once cool add to the chopped parsley and smoked salmon. Give the lettuce leaves a good wash and add to the salmon and put this in the fridge.

Now let's put the dish together. Put the oil in a frying pan and wait until hot. Season the scallops and add to the pan and cook for two-three minutes, turn over and add a knob of butter and cook for another two minutes then they will be ready. Dress the salad and add a touch of salt and pepper. Place the salad in the centre of the plate, add three tbsps of the remoulade round the salad and add the scallops on top of the remoulade.
Strawberry, raspberry and chocolate brûlé

Ingredients:

• 250ml double cream
• 1 vanilla pod, slit in half vertically and scrape out the seeds
• 2 strawberries
• 4 raspberries
• 10 chocolate drops
• 20g caster sugar, and extra for the brûlé topping
• 3 egg yolks
• 2 shallow brûlé dishes

Method

Preheat the oven to 175C. Chop the strawberries in half and put in the brûlé dishes along with the raspberries and chocolate drops. Put the cream in a small saucepan along with the vanilla seeds and pod. Separate the eggs, retaining the egg yokes in a bowl and add the sugar. Whisk this until thick and creamy. Bring the cream to the boil and add this to the egg mixture. Leave the mixture to rest and scrape off the froth. Add the froth-free mixture to the brûlé dishes and put them in a deep roasting tray. Add 400ml of hot water to the roasting tray, and make sure no water goes near the brûlés. This stops the eggs from scrambling. Put in the oven and cook for 30-40 minutes until they are set. You can test by tapping the side of the tray and there should be a little wobble in the mixture. Remove from the oven and leave the brûlés to cool. Once cool, sprinkle a little caster sugar over the brûlés and either using a cooks' blowtorch or a medium-heated grill until the tops are golden brown.

(y) (l) (y) (l) (y) (l) (y) (l)

(k) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:15 AM

:) :)

Scotland on Sunday Sun 4 Feb 2007

Supper heroes

SUE LAWRENCE

IF THE prospect of planning midweek suppers leaves you in a state of either panic or apathy, opt for tasty meals that are simple to make. Here are three recipes for delicious dishes that are easy to rustle up - and even easier to eat.

Halloumi is the national cheese of Cyprus. Usually made from a mixture of goat's and ewe's milk, it is far lower in both fat and calories than our own national staple, cheddar. The name derives from an ancient Greek word meaning salty, and it is indeed a fairly salty mouthful, but not excessively so, provided that you don't add extra seasoning to recipes.

In Cypriot tavernas, locals eat halloumi in omelettes, ravioli or as a stuffing for birds such as partridge - it's great as a stuffing or filling as it doesn't melt into a runny goo, the way mozzarella does, even though you can grill it until it is golden. My bacon-wrapped halloumi dish can be made in two minutes and cooked in quarter of an hour, while you pour yourself a glass of Cypriot wine and warm up some pitta bread to accompany it.

Another very easy dish to assemble is a fritatta, a sort of thick omelette, which looks even better when made with duck eggs as their yolks are a wonderfully lurid yellow. Duck eggs are excellent in cooking, making rich, golden scrambled eggs and omelettes and superb, moist cakes - perhaps because of the higher proportion of yolk to white, or perhaps because they have a higher fat content. This recipe is topped with smoked salmon, but if you prefer to keep it veggie then simply strew it with colourful grilled or roasted peppers.

The chicken dish is one you can also keep up your sleeve for entertaining, as it is sophisticated yet very easy to make. I have come up with a sauce that is quicker to make and so much tastier than a gloopy parsley sauce. You can serve it with chicken, gammon or any white fish.

YUMMY: http://images.scotsman.com/2007/02/04/0402rec2.jpg

BACON-WRAPPED HALLOUMI

Serves two to three

• 250g halloumi, cut into 6 cubes
• 6 slices of smoked back bacon
• olive oil
• salsa verde, to serve

Lay each rasher of bacon on a board and then, starting with the narrow end, wrap it round a piece of cheese. Secure the end with a cocktail stick.

Heat two tablespoons of oil in a frying pan and brown the bacon parcels on all sides for a couple of minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and place it in a preheated oven (220¼C/425¼F/gas 7) for about ten minutes - this heats the cheese right through. Serve with pan juices, salsa verde and good bread.

:) :) :)

CHICKEN WITH CREAMY HERB-AND-MUSTARD SAUCE

Looks Exquisite: http://images.scotsman.com/2007/02/04/0402rec1.jpg

Mashed potatoes and garlicky sautéed spinach make a great accompaniment.

Serves four

• 1 chicken, jointed into 8 pieces (or 4 large chicken breasts)
• olive oil
• 300ml double cream
• 25g flat-leaf parsley, chopped
• 1 level tbsp Dijon mustard

Heat two tablespoons of oil in a large ovenproof pan. Once hot, add the chicken, then season and brown all over. Transfer the pan to a preheated oven (200¼C/ 400¼F/gas 6) for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the chicken is just cooked.

To make the sauce, heat the cream until bubbles appear and then cook it over a medium heat until reduced by about a third and slightly thickened. Watch the pan carefully in case it boils over.

Add the parsley and tip everything into a food processor with the mustard. Whizz until smooth, then add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with the chicken. (You can make the sauce in advance and reheat it gently).
DUCK-EGG FRITATTA

Linda Dick duck eggs are available from delicatessens and butchers throughout central Scotland.

Serves two to three

• 4 duck eggs
• 200ml crème fraîche
• 4-5 spring onions, finely chopped
• 50g rocket
• 25g butter
• 4-6 slices smoked salmon
• juice of 1 lime

Lightly whisk the eggs and crème fraîche with a little seasoning. Heat some butter in a frying pan and lightly sauté the onions and half of the rocket (torn) for a minute or so, until just softened.

Then, over a medium heat, tip in the eggs. Leave the pan for a couple of minutes and then push the mixture in from the sides with a spatula. Cook for seven to eight minutes, or until almost set, and then lay the smoked salmon slices over the top.

Place the pan under a hot grill for two to three minutes, until just set, then squeeze the lime juice over the fritatta. Pile the remaining rocket on top, then cut into wedges to serve.

http://living.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1259&id=171412007

(y) (y) (y) (y) (y)

(f) (f) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:21 AM

:) :)

Scotland on Sunday Sun 4 Feb 2007

Sandro Giovanazzi

SIGNATURE DISH

Sandro Giovanazzi is the head chef and proprietor of La Parmigiana, 447 Great Western Road, Glasgow (0141 334 0686)

I've chosen braised pheasant with Italian sausage stuffing as my signature dish. It's a particular favourite of mine as it combines Italian and Scottish ingredients. Pheasants are in season at the moment, and the other ingredients are always easy to find.

The Italian sausage mixed with the subtle sweetness of the chestnuts complements the pheasant perfectly, but you must be careful not to burn it when browning. Pheasant is a very tasty alternative to chicken. It's inexpensive and low in fat. This dish is a great winter warmer - and good for you!
Braised pheasant with Italian sausage stuffing

This is good served with potatoes roasted with garlic and rosemary.

Serves two

• 1 small pheasant, including the liver
• 2 freshly made Italian sausages (these are all made the same weight and size, and best found in an Italian deli)
• 4 roasted chestnuts, peeled and chopped
• 125g butter
• 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• small bunch flat-leaf parsley
• 5 tbsp breadcrumbs
• 1 3/4 glasses white wine
• 6 slices pancetta or streaky bacon
• 1/4 glass cognac

Prepare the stuffing by mixing the meat from the Italian sausage with the chopped pheasant liver. Add the roasted chestnuts, 75g of butter, a large pinch of chopped parsley, the breadcrumbs and a generous splash of white wine.

Wash and dry the pheasant, removing any remaining feathers, then fill the cavity with the stuffing. Wrap the bird with the pancetta or bacon, and truss with string. Brown the pheasant in a casserole with the remaining butter and the olive oil. Add a glass of white wine and the cognac. Cover and cook in a hot oven (220¼C/ 425¼F/gas 7) for 45 minutes. Remove the string and the pancetta and serve with the remaining juices.

http://living.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1259&id=171482007

8-| 8-| Only with the powerful Internet could so many topics, recipes, restaurant reviews and countless other things be found and shared. All of it ones and zeros but my, what remarkable digital combinations...... (y) (l) (y)

(c) (c) Definitely time for that second fresh cup and breakfast/lunch. Wyatt needs to have one of his Fodo Fleece jackets put on him.....it's cold in this office over the garage! :o

Have a lovely Sunday! (f)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:23 AM

(l) (l) (l)

Edinburgh Evening News Fri 9 Feb 2007

Getting into the swing

LIAM RUDDEN, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

S.W.A.L.K! Valentine's Day is synonymous with love. But how will you celebrate? Send a card or a fluffy toy, or venture out to one of the many special events being held throughout the Capital.

On Wednesday, Savoy Swing say let there be love when they take over Club Ego on Picardy Place to present The Valentine's Day Swing Ball, featuring The Diminished Fifth swing jazz band and DJ Lenny Love.

Although it has managed to remain under the radar of the mainstream clubbing, over the past few years there has been a genuine revival of the swing music scene across the UK.

For lovers of music and dancing, this has come as no surprise, given that swing dancing - or as it was originally known, Lindy Hop - is easy-to-learn and a great way of keeping fit and healthy.

Consequently, novices and old hands alike are welcome at Club Ego, where they will discover that, today, swing comes in many forms. "Apart from the much-loved original big band/swing era of the late 30s and 40s, which you may already be familiar with, there are numerous contemporary neo-swing artists who have brought the music bang up to date with, among others, hip-hop and house crossover recordings and re-mixes, which has also helped to popularise swing with the current generation of young clubbers," says Sandy Simpson of Savoy Swing.

"The tribute album from Robbie Williams, G-Swing from France with their house re-mixes of classic swing, neo-swing outfits Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Royal Crown Revue, and The Cherry Poppin' Daddies, to mention just three, and, following-on from Dynamo Rhythm Aces and Australia's Frank Bennett, the fabulous Rock Swings album from Paul Anka last year brought the biggest rise in audience awareness for swing with his superb versions and swing arrangements of contemporary popular songs," he says.

On Wednesday, two sets of live music will be provided by The Diminished Fifth. The band who have played their swinging blend of jazz, boogie-woogie and blues all over Scotland have also performed in a huge variety of venues.

DJ Lenny Love of Vegas fame, will keep the joint jumping with a selection of Lindy-Hop, swing and jive classics. With cabaret style seating, a nice big dancefloor and bottles of Cham-pagne for the best outfit, get there early, dress to impress and make sure that you are in the mood.

• Valentine's Day Swing Ball, Club Ego, Picardy Place, Wednesday, 7pm, £10, 0131-220 3234

FEEL THE LOVE

SWING: Todd Gordon - Songs for Swingin' Lovers!

WIDELY regarded as one of the UK's top jazz/swing vocalists, Todd Gordon was the first Scottish singer to be booked for the London Jazz Festival since Carol Kidd. To celebrate Valentine's Day the new King of Swing presents a special concert featuring some of the most romantic songs ever written. Ten per cent of all ticket sales will be donated to Maggie's Cancer Care Centres.

• Queen's Hall, Clerk Street, Wednesday, 7.30pm, £15, 0131-668 2019

STORYTELLING: Stories From The Heart

The Storytelling Centre re-discovers the meaning of true love and explores the bitter-sweet nature of human friendships. In The King Of Hearts, a family storytelling session unfolds into fairytale adventure - find out just who is the King of Hearts, in a gentle, uplifting tale. Later, in the Storytelling Cafe, Love Stories continues the theme with a broader take on romance. Mending broken hearts, friendship, and the humorous side of love are likely to feature in this monthly storytelling night.

• Storytelling Centre, High Street, The King of Hearts, Wedneday, 3pm-4pm, £4, Age 4+. Also, Love Stories, Wednesday, 7pm, £3, 0131-556 9579

COMEDY: Anti-Valentine's Day Special

DIDN'T get a single card? Then this could be for you. "Whether you're single or attached, this is one day with high nightmare potential. So why not forget the whole thing and come visit us? We'll hide you."

That's the invitation, and the promise, from The Stand Comedy Club on the most romantic day of the year. Featuring Stewart Francis, Poetry Pete and Bruce Devlin.

• The Stand, York Place, Wednesday, 8.30pm, £5, 0131-558 7272

CLASSICAL: RSNO - Je t'aime Valentine's

CELEBRATE Valentine's Day early as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra present a romantic musical evening full of French passion and charm, lovingly crafted by conductor Stephane Deneve. The programme Includes French film music by Michel Legrand and Georges Delerue, as well as Bizet's Carmen Suite, Massenet's Mediation from Thaos and, of course, Ravel 's Bolero. With violinist Edwin Paling.

• Usher Hall, Lothian Road, tonight, 7.30pm, £10-£28, 0131-228 1155

DINE OUT: Indigo Yard Love Package
LOVE will definitely be in the air for one lucky couple at Indigo Yard on Valentine's night, when the Charlotte Lane establishment offers diners the chance to cap off the night with a luxury stay at Scotland's sexiest boutique hotel, Tiger Lily.

Every couple who chooses to spend the year's most romantic evening being wined and dined at Indigo Yard will be entered into a free prize draw to win a night's accommodation in Tiger Lily's fabulous Black Suite.

To be in with a chance of winning you must take advantage of the Indigo Yard love package which consists of a glass of Moet & Chandon rose Champagne, a three- course meal and coffee and chocolates to finish, for just £25 a head. A draw for the Tiger Lily stay will be made at 9.30pm. To book a love package phone 0131-220 5603 and quote the love package.

• Indigo Yard, Charlotte Lane, Wednesday, £25, 0131-220 5603

http://living.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=769&id=217012007

:) :) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:25 AM

(k) (k) (k)

Edinburgh Evening News Thu 8 Feb 2007

Pretty Lady: http://images.scotsman.com/2007/02/08/0802valb.jpg

Give your gifts the kiss of life

SARAH HOWDEN

You're sure to fall in love with these Valentine's ideas

THE red roses, the lacy lingerie, the heart-shaped tokens . . . Somewhere in the background, Renee and Renato are crooning about saving their love as a beautiful woman chomps her way through her box of chocolates without putting on an ounce of weight or developing a single shiny red spot.

Ah, Valentine's Day. When it's not the thought, but the buying of a present, that counts. Red roses, tick. Fancy pants, tick. Box of chocs, tick. For a bloke buying for a woman, that's job done, right? Wrong.

Now there's nothing wrong with gifts of underwear, confectionery and flowers. Good roses give off a heavenly scent. Underwear - as our fashion spread today shows - can be tasteful and pretty. And a box of chocolates from an exclusive little store is a wonderful indulgence. If the woman in question will appreciate them.

As one thirty-something Edinburgh woman complains: "I really can't stand the smell of roses - I find them quite sickly. But I still get bought them even though I spend the weeks leading up to February 14 dropping broad hints about other flowers I prefer."

So with Valentine's Day next Wednesday, you've got nearly a week to listen out for hints. Don't buy chocolate if your loved one is trying to lose weight and, if you're buying for a woman with the aim of sparking a relationship, skip the underwear as a gift - it says pervy stalker, not romantic wooer.

Women don't always get it right when they are buying for men either, usually because they pick something they'd like him to like, rather than what will actually please him. If his passions in life - apart from you - are football and pubs, tango lessons for two aren't going to light his fire.

For Her:

Do you love anyone enough to give them your last Rolo? Make the gesture a permanent one with a gift-boxed silver Rolo (£39 from www.memorisethis.com) that will melt hearts and deliver the sentiment in a fun way.

For a touch of elegance and style, Jenners pashminas (£20) are a good option. Colours include Valentine red.

Thorntons has created a selection of handcrafted treats to spoil that special person, from an anonymous chocolate heart (£3.99) to a Chocolate Plaque (£4.49), made even sweeter by icing on that special message.

And if you want to make her smile, grab a heart box full of Love Hearts sweets for £5 at Debenhams.

If she's more into pampering check out the Marks & Spencer's Pamper Set (£19.50) which contains chocolates, cava, pomegranate bath essence, moisturiser and a candle.

For Him/Hym:

Net the winner with a black leather-look notebook inscribed with football quotes on the front in gold gilt. The notebook is £6 from Marks & Spencer.

Or give him a M&S Handsome Devil bottle opener (£3.50) with a six-pack of beer. The matching beer cooler is also £3.50.

John Lewis has a range of silk ties at £15, Debenhams a range of understated sterling silver cufflinks at £20, TK-Maxx a range of black Calvin Klein, Pringle and Boss boxers from £7.99-£15.99.

However, if he's happy with a good cooked meal then head to Crombie's and buy him a fillet steak for under £10.

For Her:

Le Monde, George Street, is offering a four-course meal plus a bouquet of flowers, chocolates and champagne cocktails for £49.95 per couple.

Treat her to a bright red enamel and sterling silver heart charm from Links in Multrees Walk (£40), or a faceted Bordeaux crystal heart pendant on cotton cord (£79) from the Swarovski shop on Princes Street. Or if she prefers sparkle, try the rhodium-plated pendant with heart in clear crystal pavé, also £79.

Diamonds are the ultimate symbol of love. And thankfully these precious gems are now available in mini prices. Ernst Jones has a 9ct white gold diamond love heart necklace for as little as £68.

Set the mood with a sensual fragranced Space NK Behind Closed Doors candle (£28), or show her you pay attention by opting for the cult Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb perfume (£65, Harvey Nichols), Vivienne Westwood Boudoir perfume (£47, Harvey Nichols), Chanel Chance parfum (£54, Perfume Shop) or Coco Mademoiselle parfum (£64, Perfume Shop).

Or pamper her at One Spa at the Sheraton. The award-winning spa is offering couples a "Serail Mud Chamber" experience followed by use of the thermal Suite, Rooftop Hydropool, Cleopatra baths and gym. The Escape At One package costs £75 per couple.
For Him:

Inject some true romance with Ralph Lauren's fresh woody fragrance for men (£29.99, Perfume Shop).

Or make him stand out from the crowd with the Le Vainqueur eau de parfum by Rance (£60, Harvey Nichols).

Indulge his love of sport with the Champions league football table (£89.95, John Lewis) or make sure he captures all your memories with an Olympus FE170 digital camera (£99).

For Her:

Designer handbags are a good option. Statement bags are at Mulberry from around £350, but if it has to be bling then head to Harvey Nichols and splurge on a Chloe Betty at £959.

Choose a sparkling diamond encrusted white gold eternity ring which signifies everlasting love (£325, Ernst Jones). Also try Fraser Hart on Princes Street, H Samuel and Lime Blue on George Street. But if you want something cheaper, the Love Struck Pave Pendant (£130, Links) will have the same impact.

For Him/Hym:

A sleek Gucci stainless steel G Round Chronograph watch with black dial costs £850 from Mappin & Webb, or keep it within budget with a Emporio Armani Slimline stainless steel watch (£175, Ernst Jones)

If he is a music lover then get him up-to-date with the new Apple video iPod (£189). Or indulge his inner child with a Nintendo Wii (£179.99, Argos) which comes with a motion-sensitive remote.

Become a football widow and get him a hospitality package for the next Hibs or Hearts game. At Easter Road, for £175 he'll get a four-course meal, a free bar, executive seating, half-time snacks, a programme and player appearances thrown in. The same deal is also on offer at Tynecastle.

http://living.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=769&id=207602007

(f) (f) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:27 AM

;) ;)

Edinburgh Evening News Thu 8 Feb 2007

Pretty Lady (another one) with Chocolate:

http://images.scotsman.com/2007/02/08/0802chob.jpg

How a cheeky nibble can stimulate desire

SANDRA DICK

IT was way back in the second century AD that the Romans identified oysters as an aphrodisiac, with one satirist describing how wanton women used to down large quantities of them.

Ever since oysters have been seen as the food of love, a romantic culinary treat which will send pulses racing and hearts a- fluttering.

But according to Dario Pacifici, of catering experts The Devil's Kitchen, the Romans may well have been on to something - oysters really do have the vital ingredients to give men a boost where they need it most.

"Oysters are full of life-enhancing minerals such as copper, iron and zinc - critical to male fertility," he says.

So how did the Romans know all those centuries ago that oysters contains vital elements for good romantic health?

Well, perhaps it was just a lucky guess, as they also counted turnips, skink flesh (a type of lizard) and the roots of gladioli as foods of love, none of which have stood the scientific test of time like oysters have.

Oysters' reputation as an aphrodisiac was only enhanced when 18th-century Venetian lover Casanova indulged in at least 40 oysters a day. He was also a fan of chocolate - and according to chocolatier Rebecca Knights-Kerswell, who runs Coco of Brunstfield, Casanova may well have inadvertently picked a food stuff with a science behind it.

"Chocolate sets off the endorphins in the brain in the same ways that being in love makes you feel good," she explains.

Of course, if the oysters and chocolates fail, you could always gaze into your would-be lover's eyes and suggest a nibble of horny goat weed. It's another aphrodisiac with a supposedly long history - it grows in China and was said to have been discovered 2000 years ago by goatherds watching what plants their most promiscuous goats munched.

While following the diet of your average goat isn't likely to promote anything like normal health among most humans, there is apparently, some evidence that the weed does work.

According to health food shop Holland & Barratt, clinical trials have revealed it may boost testosterone production, stimulate the sensory nerves, and even boost your sex drive - in a recent study, 13 out of 20 men reported an overall improvement in sexual satisfaction and an increase in sexual desire.

It's not just said to be good for lifting the libido. Horny goat weed (£19.99 for a month's supply) can treat a number of complaints including kidney and liver disorder, joint, back and knee problems. If that fails to hit the spot, there's always Muira Puama, a supplement thought to restore and revitalise desire, and Damiana leaves, which are believed to improve the libido. And don't forget Avena Sativa - it's said to stimulate desire - or Ginkgo Biloba, which, is thought to help blood flow to the sexual organs.

Some people swear by asparagus, but over at Juiced Up in Bruntsfield you can sample the Brazilian acai berry - which has been dubbed "natural Viagra" - along with the maca root.

The juice bar's owner Jonathan Oag uses horny goat weed and maca to make a love potion he's called the Libido Booster.

Maca has been nicknamed Peruvian Viagra, although Jonathan admits there is no specific reason why the acai berry has also gained this moniker. But the humble fruit does, he says, have some very good claims to it.

"Acai is the world's richest botanical source of iron," he says. "It improves the blood flow through the whole body."

Given this, and combined with its energy-boosting and cholesterol-lowering abilities, it's little wonder the fruit has become known as a "super-berry".

Maca, a root which grows in the mountains of Peru, is described as a natural hormone balancer, packed with potassium and calcium. It has a high nutritional value too, so it's good for energy and stamina.

Meanwhile, Dee Atkinson, medical herbalist and director of Napiers in Bristo Place, suggests a course of ginseng to get the juices flowing.

"It's a tonic to the adrenal system, and while it has a big reputation as a male aphrodisiac, it is also useful for women," she says.

"It tones the system, helps the body deal with stress and basically gets you in the mood. Just don't take it for more than a couple of months at a time - it can affect the hormones."

For a mood-enhancing effect, she suggests Napier's Aphrodite Oil (£7.95 for 100ml) - an aromatic blend of cedarwood, frankincense, rose absolute and ylang ylang - which sends messages to the brain that you're in the mood for love.

"Cedarwood and frankincense help you to relax and deal with stress. Ylang ylang has been considered to be an aphrodisiac for centuries while the rose absolute is warming and comforting.

"Use it either as a massage oil or pop a few drops in the bath and drench yourself in the aroma."

Women can have their own specific libido issues - the old joke about the wife with a permanent headache is now known as PBC, post-baby coolness - while previous relationship issues can also led to a loss of sexual appetite.

For this, Dee suggests a course of vitamin B complex to deal with stress and relax tired minds and body.

St Valentine's Day wouldn't be the same without flowers, but don't stick them in a vase - drink them. At Neal's Yard Remedies in Hanover Street, Sexuality Bush Flower Essence (£8.50 for 30mls) is said to heighten the passion in relationships.

So with all that in mind, St Valentine's Day should go with a bang. As long as you don't follow the aphrodisiac advice of Henri IV of France who would prepare for a spot of lovemaking with a clove of garlic, a piece of onion and a swig of Armagnac.

Someone pass the aspirins - I feel a headache coming on . . .

http://living.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=769&id=207532007

;) ;) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:28 AM

:o :o

http://images.scotsman.com/2007/02/08/0802carb.jpg

Edinburgh Evening News Thu 8 Feb 2007

A special day is on the cards

Make the right choice and send hearts racing

CONSIDERING it's going to cost less than a tenner - unless you shop in some very exclusive places - and consists of a folded bit of paper with a picture or slogan on the front, there's an awful lot riding on your choice of Valentine's card.

It's easy to be too vulgar, for a start - just a quick glance across the pink and red array cluttering up a fair section of the card chain shops is enough to tell you that you need to know the object of your affections very well to risk buying many of their offerings.

And as Valentine's cards are traditionally given by secret admirers, it's vitally important to strike the right note, as that card is all your would-be beloved has to go on.

It's no less of a fraught choice if you are happily settled in a long-term relationship - the wrong card can provoke all kinds of questions. Too cheap? Taken for granted? Too flashy?

But all the inherent dangers haven't put us off popping to the nearest newsagent - Valentine's day now ranks second only to Christmas in number of greeting cards sent.

For something up-to-date and value for money try the chain stores where there will be some bargains lurking. And your best bet, if you are willing to shell out, is to check out local gift shops and galleries, where some more original offerings can be found.

http://living.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=769&id=207952007

(f) (f) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:30 AM

:o :o

Taste of love: Oysters are high in zinc, essential for boosting the sexual impulse.

(l) (l) I LOVE these:

http://images.scotsman.com/2006/02/14/1402aphrodisiacb.jpg

IF YOU don't use it, you lose it, as they say, or at least that's how it can feel. So, if you are returning to the dating game, you might need some help to get you into a romantic frame of mind. We are not talking little blue pills, though. Food can be the best fuel of love, according to the latest scientific studies into how diet can affect our libido. So, make a date with a supermarket trolley to get yourself in the mood for love.

ZINC

VITAL for the production of sex hormones, zinc is great for boosting a low sexual impulse and is necessary for healthy sperm production.

"Oysters are a particularly good source of zinc," says nutritionist Natalie Savona, author of Wonderfoods (Quadrille, £12,99). "They have a celebrated aphrodisiac reputation. The texture of them has a seductive feel." Other good sources include spinach, broccoli, lean red meat and sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

IODINE

A CHEMICAL found in seafood and cheese, iodine is a component of the thyroid hormones that help to regulate growth, development and metabolic rate.

"An underactive thyroid is linked to fatigue and low sex drive, but iodine is an important player in the body's hormonal system," says Savona. "Seaweed is a fantastic source, and given its other cancer-protective properties, we would all do well to include seaweed in our diet." Sushi anyone?

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS

IF YOU have a low sex drive, it may be that you have a sluggish nervous system, and EFAs, which help to relay the messages from brain to body, can make a big difference.

"The incorporation of EFAs into cell membranes means they are better able to receive hormonal messages," says Savona.

By stimulating the body's pathways, they help to heighten our sensitivity. Pumpkin seeds and nuts are excellent sources of EFAs.

B VITAMINS

STRESS is a common cause of low libido, so if you can crack the stress, you eradicate the problem.

"The B Vitamins are particularly helpful in combating the impact of chronic stress," says Savona.

"B6 (pyridoxine) supports the adrenal gland as well as fatty-acid metabolism, and therefore high levels will help to boost your energy and nervous system."

Natural sources include bananas, broccoli, and chicken breast.

L-ARGININE

THIS amino acid - found in almonds, cashew nuts and grains - is often used to combat male impotence and infertility.

"L-Arginine is commonly prescribed in quite high doses to help to facilitate erection and it boosts sperm count and motility," says Atkinson.

The amino acid is necessary for the production of nitric oxide - which, in turn is necessary for erectile function.

Clients are advised to take up to a whopping 5g daily on an empty stomach.

http://living.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=769&id=228092006

(*) (*) (*) As Emeril always says, "Oh yea, babe!"

(k) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:32 AM

(l) (l)

The Scotsman Sat 11 Feb 2006

(p) http://images.scotsman.com/2006/02/11/11yumb.jpg

Love in a cup

FOOD & DRINK

CLAIRE MACDONALD

FEBRUARY is a bleak month. So it is a real blessing that Valentine's Day falls right in the middle, giving us all the excuse for a party. You can have a full-blown "do" with a collection of your friends - Champagne, pink and red food, balloon hearts, the lot! - or you can have a peaceful celebratory dinner for two. I know that shops go all-out to ensnare us for a further commercial binge, but for me there is no better way to celebrate than with home-cooked food.

This year 14 February falls midweek, so I suggest a simple feast. Most of us will be working, so the food we eat must be made quickly, and preferably in advance. Light candles on the table, have Champagne or a pink sparkling wine - supermarket wine departments and specialist shops are full of the most delicious sparkling wines at reasonable prices - but my colleague Rose Murray Brown gives the best advice on this subject.

Roast Beetroot Mousse with Dill Crème Fraîche

Set and serve these in teacups, or use moulds lined with clingfilm and turn on to a plate to serve.

Serves 6

• 1 red onion, skinned and chopped
• 4 fresh beetroot, peeled and chopped
• 1 to 2 cloves of garlic, skinned and chopped
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 pint/285ml stock, either chicken or vegetable stock (or Marigold stock powder made up with boiling water)
• 4 sheets of gelatine, soaked in cold water for 10 minutes
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 3 teaspoons best horseradish sauce (I use Isabella's Relish or Moniack's)
• a good grinding of black pepper
• 2 large egg whites
• a pinch of salt
• 1/4 pint/140ml crème fraîche to garnish
• 6 fronds of dill

Cover a baking tray with a sheet of baking parchment and put the chopped onion, beetroot and garlic on it. Pour on the olive oil and, with your hands, mix together thoroughly. Scatter the salt over the lot and roast in a hot oven, 400F/200C/Gas Mark 6 for 20 minutes. Shuffle the vegetables around on the tray, then continue roasting them for another 20 to 25 minutes, or until when you stick a fork into a chunk of beetroot it feels quite tender. Remove the tray from the oven and allow to cool.

Heat the stock in a pan, then drain the soaked gelatine sheets and drop them into the hot liquid - swirl it around and the gelatine should dissolve almost instantly.

Place the roasted vegetables in a food processor and whiz them to a smooth puree. Then whiz in the gelatine stock, the lemon juice and the horseradish. Taste, and add more salt if you think it is needed, and a good grinding of black pepper.

In a bowl, whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt (to give an increased volume) until the whites hold peaks. With a flat metal whisk or a large metal spoon, fold the whisked whites into the beetroot purée. Divide the mixture between the teacups or moulds, cover each with clingfilm and place in the fridge. Make them up to two days in advance, but bring to room temperature for at least half an hour before serving. If you are using teacups, spoon a dollop of crème fraîche on top of each one, or if you are turning out moulds on a plate, put a spoonful on the side. Decorate with a dill frond.

(l) (l)

Hot-smoked Salmon and Leeks au Gratin with Rice

This all-in-one dish can be made a day in advance.

Serves 6

• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1oz/28g butter
• 8 medium to large leeks, each trimmed at the ends of their outer leaves, and the leeks sliced thinly
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 11/2 pints/850ml milk
• finely grated rind of 1 lemon - first, scrub the lemon under running hot water, to remove the preservative, and dry well
• a grating of nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• a good grating of black pepper
• 2lb/900g hot-smoked salmon (we use Salar) - flake the fish into a bowl and discard the skin
• 6oz/170g grated Parmesan

Prepare a large ovenproof dish by rubbing with a little olive oil. Heat the oil and melt the butter in a large and preferably non-stick saucepan. Add the leeks and fry, stirring occasionally, over a moderately high heat - not too high, or you will scorch the leeks - until they are quite soft. Prod them with a fork to be sure they're properly tender, then stir in the flour, mixing in thoroughly, and cook for a minute. Gradually add the milk, stirring all the time, until the leeks in their sauce bubble. Allow them to bubble gently for a minute, then draw the pan off the heat and stir in the grated lemon rind, the nutmeg, salt and pepper.

The sauce will be fairly thin - it's meant to be. Fold in the flaked hot-smoked salmon. Cover the surface with grated Parmesan, cover the dish with clingfilm and put it in the fridge.

To reheat, take the dish from the fridge half an hour before baking it in a moderate oven, 350F/180C/Gas Mark 4, for 30 to 35 minutes. The sauce should be bubbling gently around the edges. Heat the grill then place the dish under it to melt the surface Parmesan to a thick, golden crust. I like to serve boiled Basmati rice and a mixed leaf salad with this.

(l) (l)

BLOOD ORANGE JELLY WITH PASSION FRUIT SYLLABUB

These look lovely in individual glasses. If you can't get blood oranges, buy ordinary oranges.

Serves 6

For the jellies:

• 1/2 pint/285ml cold water
• 6oz/170g granulated sugar
• pared rind of 1 lemon (well washed first, and use a potato peeler to pare the skin without the pith)
• juice of 1 lemon
• 6 sheets of gelatine, soaked in cold water for 10 minutes
• 1 pint/570ml orange juice squeezed from six blood oranges. If the amount isn't quite enough make it up with a tablespoon or two of cold water - but no more.

For the syllabub:

• 1 pint/570ml double cream
• 1/4 pint/140ml Marsala (if you can't get Marsala, use medium dry sherry)
• 3oz/85g caster sugar
• the pulp from 4 passion fruit

Make the jellies by starting with the syrup. Put the water and granulated sugar into a saucepan with the pared lemon rind and, over a moderate heat, stir until the sugar has dissolved completely. Then raise the heat and let the syrup boil fast, for five minutes.

Take the pan off the heat and add the lemon juice, lifting out the strips of lemon peel and throwing them away. Stir in the drained soaked sheets of gelatine, which will dissolve almost immediately on contact with the hot syrup. Mix the lemon gelatine syrup into the orange juice, mixing well, then divide this between six serving glasses. Cover each glass with clingfilm and leave to set, preferably overnight in the fridge.

When you are ready to serve, whip together all the syllabub ingredients until the mixture has the texture of soft whipped cream. Spoon the mixture carefully on top of each jelly, dividing equally between the glasses.

http://business.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=769&id=195922006

(f) (f) (f) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:33 AM

:o :o :o

Edinburgh Evening News Thu 9 Feb 2006

Brief encounters sure to please

SARAH HOWDEN

ED nylon knickers and edible thongs; pink padded satin bras and matching pants embroidered with the words "BE MINE"; lace garters, feather boas, fluffy handcuffs - you get the idea. It's hard not to when the shops are full of Valentine's Day tat as the annual day of romance nears.

Yes, it's the time of year when men mistake women for sex shop mannequins, and in a kind of self-induced hysteria believe anything red with lacy bits is a one-size-fits-all lingerie option.

February 14 has become the traditional time for buying a loved one some nice new undies, but it shouldn't mean picking the most garish option available.

"All too often men get confused as to what is sexy," says Clare Thommen, of Frederick Street lingerie boutique Boudiche. "It's as if they see red and lace and forget about style, cut, the look and who they're buying for. Yes, you can get lovely red lace lingerie, but you can also get some tacky horrors.

"Lingerie for a woman should be something she feels and looks fantastic in. To define it as sexy means it is about it being luxurious, decadent and something special. Yes, it costs a bit more, but that is down to the quality of the materials and design."

She continues: "Mind you, you can hardly blame them when some high street shops dictate that 'sexy' is red, scratchy and uncomfortable. My advice is go to the sort of place your girlfriend or wife would go to and ask for advice."

Edinburgh stylist Laura Wilton agrees. "A woman knows what she likes and what she looks good in, so it's important not to stray too far from her comfort zone. A gift should be what she wants, not what the man wants."

So where should men be looking? George, at Asda, has an indulgent range that looks chic rather than cheap. Padded bras, balcony bras, French knickers and ruffled shorts come in luxurious lace, flirty, frilled mesh and delicate fabrics in a monochrome palette. Choose from crisp white, polka dots, black, or black with a flash of white for flirty lingerie fashion.

The more pricey Valisere range has taken glamour to the extreme with dramatic red in soft tulle, with matching suspenders, while Caprice at Debenhams shows that hot pink can work on occasions.

At La Senza, the Valentine's Day collection is full of satins, silks, laces and sophisticated embroideries. Lightly padded balcony bras with French knickers are in abundance in whites, blacks, light pinks and deep purples.

There are also kitsch black bras with patterned love hearts and bows, flirty beribboned lingerie sets and even shimmering pants complete with long, beaded fringes. And for those who want even more glam there's a range of bustiers too.

M&S has gone for girly prettiness with its range of pastel sets with intricately embroidered lace hearts, available in white, cream, pink and blue.

Oasis is stocking a Valentine's collection from Odille, with a wide selection of delicately sculpted bras, camisoles, thongs and French knickers. Once again polka dots feature, as well as sexy simple silhouettes with vintage detailing, and accessories including sequin garters and suspender belts as well as robes.

And if you want to bring a touch of naughtiness to Valentine's Day, do what those Channel 4 Desperate Housewives do and invest in some Spolyt lingerie. Head to Boudiche where the famous satin tool belt is currently in stock. Gabrielle Solis would be proud.

http://business.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=769&id=205412006

:o :o :o

;)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:35 AM

:o

Cooking is a good way to a woman's heart.

(p) (p) http://images.scotsman.com/2004/02/12/1202coob.jpg

The Scotsman Thu 12 Feb 2004

The way to a woman's heart ...

JANE LAIDLAW

Whether it is the quickest, the easiest, or the sneakiest way to someone’s heart, the route via their stomach has got to be worth a try on Valentine’s Day.

Boxes of chocolates, or retro packets of "Love Hearts," might be traditional edible tokens of affection, but if you plan to go the gastric route, a bit more effort is required. Which means breakfast or dinner. Not lunch. Lunch can turn out to be a hot date but generally only during holidays. Asking someone over for lunch, no matter how you word the invitation, just isn’t sexy. Going out is an option, of course, but as restaurants tend to get attacks of puns on the menu and red balloons around 14 February, it is safer, and less mortifying, to stay in.

Food for Valentine’s Day must impress either by its rarity, its expense or the effort expended in preparing it. Better still if it contains some aphrodisiac. Including aphrodisiacs on the menu for the big night, either surreptitiously or blatantly, can only add to the sense of occasion and help to deliver the swift result following the meal that most who indulge in foodie festivities on the sauciest saint’s day will be hoping for.

Oysters are the best known aphrodisiac but as they are an acquired taste it is best to check if your Valentine likes them before going to the expense of buying. Those of us on whom the charm of raw molluscs is lost would find a bacon sandwich a lot sexier than an overpriced mouthful of chilled snot. Asparagus, also said to be an aphrodisiac, would be far more tempting. In 19th-century France, bridegrooms were fed three courses of asparagus at their prenuptial dinner. Serving a ripe fleshy avocado (without dreary prawns and Mary Rose sauce) would be another good way to start the meal. The Aztecs called the avocado ahucatl, meaning testicle, and its powers were thought to be so great that centuries ago some Catholic priests forbade their parishioners eating it. The high zinc content in caviar is said to be what gives the tiny fish eggs their aphrodisiac powers as zinc aids the production of testosterone.

That is about as scientific as explanations of the supposed powers of aphrodisiacs get. Most are simply foods that were attributed aphrodisiac powers by our frolicsome forefathers, usually because they resembled male or female naughty bits. Like asparagus, bananas and even carrots have been said in various cultures to improve male desirability and performance. Powdered rhino horn is said to do amazing things for men. (As this is tricky to get hold of in Scotland, powdered antler might do!) Detailed research would probably prove that anything long, firm and edible or red, fleshy and edible had been used as an aphrodisiac in some culture or tradition at some time. Figs were said to be Cleopatra’s favourite fruit and the ancient Greeks celebrated their fig harvest with a ritual of vigorous copulation. Tomatoes were considered an aphrodisiac in many parts of 18th-century Europe, where the French called them the apple of love.

However, traditional aphrodisiacs also exist that are not in the least bit aesthetically suggestive. Truffles, which are said to contain a chemical similar to a male sex hormone were used by the Romans but disappeared after the fall of the Empire before their powers were rediscovered in the 18th century. The ancient Egyptians believed that the humble radish increased their ardour. Eating chocolate is also said to improve the appetite for more than just more chocolate. Believing it made him virile, the Aztec King Montezuma drank 50 cups of a chocolate drink each day before visiting his harem of 600 women. Chocolate was banned in some monasteries in previous centuries.

Perhaps the most surprising vegetable to be regarded by some as an aphrodisiac is the everyday onion, which has been widely used as a sexual enhancer since prehistoric times. Mentioned in Hindu texts on the art of lovemaking, it was also highly thought of by the ancient Greeks, the Romans and in many Arab countries. Egyptian priests at the time of the Pharaohs were forbidden onions in their diet because of the potential effects and French newlyweds were offered onion soup on the morning after their wedding to restore their libidos.

Although effort is the most important ingredient of a successful Valentine’s dinner, there are a few dishes so romantically ruinous that they must be avoided. Being the favourite staple of male occasional cooks everywhere, spaghetti carbonara is a huge turn-off for women. Anything similar to shepherd’s pie, which could just as easily show up for tea in front of the telly, must be struck off the menu too. Even if you don’t usually cook and hope the thought will count, it will count for more if you do something unexpected or unusual. Sharing a pizza is a treat but unless you are under 16 it isn’t a very exciting one - even if it is home made, a pizza with an over-exotic topping is the sign of an over-fussy mind.

However, if cooking is likely to be the last thing on your mind on Valentine’s Day, go out to a restaurant with a special Valentine’s menu. And try not to blush as you order the Simply the Breast or the Oh, What a Lovely Pear in front of someone you are trying to impress.

(l) (l) The perfect Valentine's menu

TO EMBRACE the essentially twee nature of Valentine’s Day really wantonly, an entirely red meal or a completely pink meal would be perfect.

A pink feast might start off with figs with prosciutto, continue with langoustines or lobster and follow up with raspberry ice-cream or little pink fairycakes - all washed down with Sea Breezes or pink Champagne.

A red dinner with red wine could start with marinated cherry tomatoes, progressing to rare beef - Jamie Oliver’s seared carpaccio of beef with roasted baby beets looks and tastes amazing and would be perfect - and finish with strawberries.

Naff but nice, go for heart-shaped food from Lakeland Ltd (015394 88100), which sells large and small heart-shaped cake moulds and heart-shaped ice cube trays.

Another option for Valentine’s Day is breakfast or dinner in bed. If you’re going for this option remember, the menu must be practical. A bed picnic is what is required: nothing drippy, slurpy or crumby and preferably requiring only minimal cutlery. Cocktail sticks should be avoided because of the potential damage discarded ones could do. Wraps, miniature homemade pasties and non-disintegrating tapas or sushi would all be good. And for pudding, sweeties.

For a nostalgic treat, aquarterof.com sells just about every kind of delicious sweet ever made. Let’s face it, it’s much more romantic to sit in bed sharing a bag of cider apples than to produce chocolate body paint or edible underwear. No doubt there will be some who will call me a prude but eating and sex are separate pleasures that should be kept apart. Eating together is the oldest form of foreplay but licking food from someone else’s belly button, however fond you are of them, is no sexier than licking the remains of a kebab from your own hand.

http://business.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=769&id=168442004

(y) (y) (y) (y) (y)

:)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:36 AM

(k) (k) (k) (k) (k)

Scotland on Sunday Sun 16 Feb 2003

Why the humble kiss deserves a little more than just lip-service.

SIMON MILLS

THE least passionate kiss to be captured on film was that time Prince Charles had to accept a trophy off Princess Diana after a triumph on the polo field. What should have been a touching moment turned into a silent but deadly display of dirty laundry. Taking the cup, Charles affected a manoeuvre that was more of a spasm than a gesture of affection. He moved his face violently to Diana’s right-hand side, wincing his facial muscles and affecting a gruesome, lopsided pucker until his face resembled that of a severe stroke victim. It confirmed what we suspected: the royal fairytale was over.

Now, a study conducted by a German psychologist has revealed that Charles and Diana’s style of kiss is pretty much the norm. Herr Gunturkun (whose name sounds like an austere Teutonic breakfast dish) studied amorous couples and discovered that most turn to the right when they kissed. But you can’t apply the theory of Vorsprung Durch Technik to something as visceral and spontaneous as kissing. What I would like to ask Gunturkun is this: could Charles and Di have made their marriage work if they had kissed more? I think he would say "yes".

Kissing is the world’s most underrated sexual practice. Even when she has bad breath, kissing is unadulterated halitosex. Nothing is more passionate than stopping your loved one in the street for a tongue kung-fu session. How people can find such behaviour repulsive is beyond me.

Yes, observing a close-up of a pair of duelling tongues lubricated by copious amounts of Smirnoff Ice can be like watching the Alien wrestling a saveloy. Then again, considering what a permissive society we live in, it’s amazing just how rarely you do spot a kissing couple these days.

Apparently, this is because snogging virtually stops a year or so into a romantic affiliation. This was confirmed by a quick poll of my married friends. "Snogging seems silly when you’ve been married for seven years," one woman told me. Which is sad. It’s the small things in life that make the difference.

Despite Charles’s dubious technique, the royals, I have it on good authority, love to kiss. "When you are in an informal situation with a member of the royal family - male or female - you do this thing they call ‘kiss, bob, snog’," says the socialite and interior designer Nicky Haslam. "Which means you peck, bow then hug," he explains. "But you have to know them well, of course."

You can also use the act of not kissing as a way of making yourself more attractive. The legendary fashion photographer Terence Donovan once told me that, during his sexual heyday in the 1960s, he would take out dozens of models but never kiss them on the first date. Or the second. Or the third. "By the fourth date they would be desperate to kiss me - and do anything else I wanted them to do."

Perhaps we should take note from David and Victoria Beckham, who kiss in public like a couple of lovelorn teenagers. Sorry if this sounds smug and over-intimate, but my wife is a really great kisser, too.

She has this fat, squishy section on her bottom lip, like an upside-down Cupid’s bow that just begs to be kissed. Even now we kiss in the park and in cinemas. The relief I felt all those years ago after my first kiss with her was akin to getting the all-clear after a prostate examination.

I just couldn’t have married her if she hadn’t been such a good kisser. And we’ve been together for 10 years.

http://business.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=769&id=195632003

(k) (k) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:37 AM

:) :)

The male penguin presents a female with a pebble, signalling the start of a life-long partnership at Edinburgh Zoo.

http://images.scotsman.com/2003/02/14/1402penb.jpg

The Scotsman Fri 14 Feb 2003

Valentine pebbles for soft-hearted penguins

CLAIRE SMITH

ACCORDING to Marilyn Monroe, diamonds are a girl’s best friend - but for the female penguins at Edinburgh Zoo, a simple pebble will suffice.

As humans exchange cards and send presents to their loved ones on Valentine’s Day, the gentoo penguins at the capital’s zoo are engaging in their own romantic ritual. In a courtship display repeated every year, male birds present their prospective partners with a smooth, round pebble. If the female penguin accepts it, the couple will mate for life.

Alison MacLean, the head penguin keeper, supplies her charges with a mound of smooth, round pebbles, from which the male penguins will pick out their love offering. She said: "If the female accepts the pebble then she is effectively accepting the penguin as her mate.

"Pebbles are extremely important in the lives of this species of penguin.

"The females collect the stones from the males so that they can build secure nests for their chicks. It is crucial for them to build a high, round nest to ensure that the chicks are kept well away from the cold ground."

Edinburgh Zoo is world-famous for its breeding and care of gentoo penguins, which are known for their monogamy and dedication to their mates.

But while female penguins may be easily impressed, they are no pushover when it comes to pebbles.

Amanda Alabaster, of Edinburgh Zoo, said: "One year, I witnessed a female reject several rocks before the young male succeeded."

After the pebble ritual, the male and female will begin to build the nest - in exactly the same spot as the year before.

http://business.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=769&id=181632003

:) :)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:38 AM

(y) (y)

http://www.mms.com/us/dark/index.jsp

Find ALL of the dark M&Ms in the dark painting:

http://www.mms.com/us/dark/dark_game.jsp

Where to find them near you: http://storefinder.mmmars.com/m-ms/mm.htm

(l) (y) (l) (y) (l)

(k) (k) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:40 AM

:D :D

Nymphomaniacs Convention

A man boarded an airplane and took his seat. As he settled in, he
glanced up and saw the most beautiful woman boarding the plane.
He soon realized she was heading straight towards his seat. As
fate would have it, she took the seat right beside his. Eager to
strike up a conversation he blurted out, "business or pleasure?"

She turned, smiled, and said, "Business, I'm going to the Annual
Nymphomaniacs of America Convention in Brockton, Mass."

He swallowed hard. Here was the most gorgeous woman he had ever
seen sitting next to him, and she was going to a meeting of
nymphomaniacs. Struggling to maintain his composure, he calmly
asked, "What's your business role at this convention?"

"Lecturer," she responded. "I use the information that I have
learned from my personal experiences to debunk some of the
popular my ths about sexuality."

"Really?" he said, "and what kind of myths are there?"

"Well," she explained, "one popular myth is that African-American
men are the most well endowed of all men, when in fact it is the
Native American Indian who is most likely to possess that trait."

"Another popular myth is that Frenchmen are the best lovers, when
actually it is men of Jewish descent who are the best."

"I have also discovered that the lover with the best stamina is
the Southern Redneck."

Suddenly the woman became a little uncomfortable and blushed. "I'm
sorry," she said, "I shouldn't really be discussing all of this
with you. I don't even know your name."

"Tonto," the man said, "Tonto Goldstein, but my friends call me
Bubba."

Ba-da, Boom!

;) ;) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:42 AM

(f) (f) (f) (f) (f)

NPR.ORG

Weekend Edition Saturday

Simon Says
by Scott Simon

10 Feb 2007

Vickie Lynn Marshall, 1967 - 2007

You know what I like even less than the excess coverage of Anna
Nicole Smith's untimely death, and circus speculations about the
paternity of her child? All the smug jokes that assume she was
dumb, because she was a full-figured blond, or a callous,
calculating fortune hunter, because she married a wealthy man 63
years her senior.

People who think they're too smart for stereotypes, placed all
kinds on her. Should Anna Nicole Smith have tried to become a
rocket scientist just to shatter their self-righteous assumptions?

She was a tall, lusty small-town Texas siren of a girl who got
married and had a son by the time she was 16. She worked in a
roadside strip club, not a spot where she could calculate to meet a
man like J. Howard Marshall, who by the way, was no typical Texas
oil tycoon. He was a Philadelphia lawyer who taught at Yale Law
and drafted America's energy policies as a member of Franklin
Roosevelt's wartime cabinet.

Perhaps we should be humble about judging someone's life from
appearances, but it seemed like Anna Nicole Smith loved her son, who
died recently, loved her new baby, and tried to play the hand that
nature gave her. Sometimes the only right thing to say is Rest in
Peace.

(f) (f) Amen.

(f) (f)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-11-2007, 10:48 AM

(y) (y) (y)

http://content.techrepublic.com.com/2346-10878_11-33277.html?tag=gald

(p) http://i.techrepublic.com.com/gallery/33278-500-375.jpg

(y) (y) This link provides access to many, many astoundingly beautiful photos...(p) (p) ; definitely worth taking the time to visit this web site IMHO:

http://content.techrepublic.com.com/2346-10878_11-33277.html?tag=gald

(h) 8-| (h) 8-| Fractals are definitely near the top on my favorites' list! (l) Fractals (l) (Sigh)

;)

(f) (f) Warmest thoughts,

Sweetlady & Wyatt the Boxer (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-14-2007, 02:54 PM

:o :o

(8) (8) (8) (8) (8)

"This is no longer the age of 'having a face for radio.' This is a visual medium now." Those words from Dianna Jason, marketing director at Power 106, a Los Angeles hip-hop radio station, should be accompanied by a sound effect of the shattering dreams of those who are mellifluous but modestly blessed in the looks department (although Howard Stern seems to have managed). Stern, along with Don Imus, have long incorporated video into their shtick, but the New York Times reports that a growing number of radio stations are, however belated, starting to branch out into moving pictures. Traditional radio, troubled by declining listenership and flat revenues, now sees possible salvation in serving up band clips, user videos and strong local personalities with their wacky stunts on the Web for the YouTube crowd. "People are either going to have to get with the program or get lost," Fatman Scoop, a disc jockey on Hot 97, an FM station in New York, told the Times. "People don't sit in front of a radio for three hours like they used to. If they don't hear a song they like, they go to the Internet."

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/14/business/media/14radio.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5088&en=ae6d3f4a5004258f&ex=1329109200&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

http://www.clearchannelmusic.com/

http://www.power106.fm/music/halloween.aspx

(y) (y) (y)

:) (l) Happy Valentine's Day!

Sweetlady & Wyatt the Boxer (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-14-2007, 02:56 PM

(y) (k) (y) (k) (y) (k) (y)

http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2007/02/2gb_chapstick.html

:) :) Definitely cool storage....;)

(k) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-14-2007, 02:58 PM

8-| 8-| 8-|

Send a Valentine that's Out of This World!

http://www.yournameintospace.org/step1_gift.php

(y) (y)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-14-2007, 03:02 PM

(y) (l) (y) (l)

http://www.4colorrebellion.com/archives/2007/02/13/valentines-day-cards-for-the-geeks-in-your-life/

(l)

http://4cr.earthdies.com/img/vday_cards/07/4-s.png

(h) 8-|

Sweetlady & Wyatt the Boxer (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-14-2007, 03:09 PM

^o) I don't think so!

;)

http://www.bitquabit.com/2007/02/14/smart-guys-date-in-parallel/

:D :D :D Definitely made me smile/laugh with the old-fashioned circuitry - but I still believe stupid guys/bois parallel date.

(*) (*) Bravo for brave, loyal, dependable serial daters! (y) (l) (y) (l) (y) (l) (y)

Muchos/Muchas (l) (l) 's,

Sweetlady & Wyatt the Boxer (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-14-2007, 03:11 PM

:s :s

:)

Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away,
think of this:

It's a security alarm system you probably already have and requires no
installation.

Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside
your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic
button for your car. The alarm will be set off and the horn will continue
to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies.

Start keeping your car keys next to your bed on the night stand when you
go to bed at night.

Test it !! It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will
keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the
button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or
garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your
house, odds are the burglar or rapist won't stick around. After a few
seconds all the neighbours will be looking out their windows to see who is
out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that.

Try yours to make sure it works before you rely on it. Just know that you
must press the alarm button again to turn it off.

And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking
lot. The alarm can work the same way in this situation.

:| :|

(y) (y)

:) :)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-14-2007, 03:12 PM

:) :) :)

Show Jumping

Fun, free online game

Forget about your laser blasts, mutants, and exploding planets—this interactive game is truly down to earth. Indulge in equitation, the sport of royalty, the dream of young girls everywhere. Just you, a beautiful horse, a sunny day, and a challenging course.

Whoa, Nelly!

http://www.miniclip.com/games/show-jumping/en/

(y) (y) (y)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-14-2007, 03:18 PM

:) :)

Presidential Libraries

National treasures

Through the portal of the National Archives online, visit the prestigious libraries and museums of past presidents: Reagan, Kennedy, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and more. Research, search for historic documents, enjoy.

Hail to the librarian: http://www.archives.gov/presidential-libraries/

(*) (*) Too bad there isn't another Kennedy-like person (like during the 1960's) to run in 2008. :o

(c) (c) Brrrr......snow and ice yesterday, another ice storm, winter mix and 50 m.p.h. wind gusts today. :| :| I already have the heat turned up since early this a.m. just in case the power (and the furnace) goes out yet tonight. :o

(l) (l) Stay warm and safe wherever you are!

(f) (f) (f) Happy Valentines!

SWeetlady & Wyatt the Boxer (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-14-2007, 03:19 PM

:o :o

Normal Room

Uh, nice wallpaper

What does an ordinary dining room in Oslo look like? Or, how about a bedroom in Ames, Iowa? Finally, you can put to rest your curiosity about the décor of other people's homes by viewing these galleries of, well, normal rooms.

Don't wait for an invitation!

http://www.normalroom.com/

:) :)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-14-2007, 03:22 PM

:) :)

World Coins

Money makes the world go 'round

Ever seen a Kroner from Denmark? I'll bet you a Romanian Bani you don't know how many Indonesian Rupees make up 10 Turkish Lira. Doesn't matter—these coins of the world are just for looking, not exchange. Now, is it Euros or Gyros…?

Heads or tails?

http://www.worldcoins.org/gallery/

(*) (*) Definitely intersting, IMHO.

(k) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-14-2007, 03:23 PM

:) :) :) :)

PsychTests

Think you're up to it?

If you need some direction in your career, perspective on your relationships, or just learning a bit more about your level of self-confidence, this site is loaded with simple tests you can take to gain a little insight. What you do with it is up to you.

Find out about yourself...

http://www.psychtests.com/

:| :| .............:o :o ........:s ....:) :)

;) ;) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-14-2007, 03:25 PM

:| Wha? :|

Game: Outwit—Windows

Get smart!

Tired of the simple-minded trivia games with questions everyone already knows? They might be filled with cool graphics and images, but…no challenge, right? With Outwit, you get bare-bones graphics, multi-player functionality, and questions that require both sides of your brain. Less flash, more panache!

Learn more and download: (or not since it's Windows.......:| :| ......)

http://www.freewarefiles.com/program_1_27_22433.html

:) :) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-14-2007, 03:27 PM

:) :)

Sidenote—MAC OSX

Note to self...

In the spirit of "Stickies," Sidenote provides a multi-document drawer that hides in the corner of your screen. Use it for all your daily notes, modify text, font, color. And, true to the world of Mac, you can use it to hold images and PDF files—and Sidenote automatically expands so you can easily drag them in. You can even print or export to .rtf.

Learn more and download today!

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/productivity_tools/sidenote.html

(l) (l) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-14-2007, 03:29 PM

Cat's Back Alley

"Because I could not stop for mouse..."

Before you start hacking hairballs at the thought of "cat poetry," remember that even hard-drinking, fist-fighting poet Charles Bukowski published verse praising his beloved feline, as did hipster icon Jack Kerouac. So, give your gag reflex a rest; we won't tell.

What rhymes with meow?

http://www.catsbackalley.com/poetry/

(l) (&) (l) (&) (l) (&) (l) (&) (l) (&) (l)

(k) (k) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-14-2007, 03:31 PM

(l) (l) (l) (l)

LOVE BYTES

Spreading Valentine's love on the Web

by Armeen Youssefian

Birds do it. Bees do it. Apparently, even educated fleas do it. I've never quite understood what smart fleas have to do with falling in love. But I do understand that love is indeed what makes the world—and the World Wide Web—go 'round.

http://www.earthlink.net/elink/issue115/focus.html

(f) (f) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-14-2007, 03:42 PM

(l) (l) (l) (l)

....or those who waited until the last minute.....;)

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/valentines/cards.htm

(l) (l) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:10 AM

(l) (l) (l)

BIG sigh: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/02/11/travel/11hours600.1.jpg

February 11, 2007

36 Hours

Sedona, Ariz.

By KERIDWEN CORNELIUS

ASK five people to sum up Sedona, and you'll probably get five wildly different responses. Art lovers exclaim over the galleries specializing in Southwestern tableaus. Shopaholics rave about boutiques selling Western duds and American Indian jewelry. Pessimists rue the rash of T-shirt shops, while enlightenment-seekers wax spiritual about its “vortexes.” And outdoor enthusiasts rhapsodize about hiking among red rock spires and ancient Indian ruins. All of this is great news for visitors, who can sample it all — even a U.F.O.-viewing site — in a quirky city that some call the most beautiful place in the United States.

Friday

5 p.m.
1) RED ROCK ROVER

Sedona's cinematic red rocks have been zipping across your windshield like scenes from a Hollywood western. Now it's your turn to ride off into the sunset. Turn up Airport Road to Airport Saddleback — you want the tiny parking lot on the left, not the chockablock Airport Vista farther up the road. Slip on hiking boots and hit the Airport Loop trail for close encounters with the towering crimson sandstones: Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, Coffee Pot Rock and the Cockscombe. It's a 90-minute ramble, but if your energy flags, just turn back and scramble up Overlook Point to watch the paprika-red sunset.

7 p.m.
2) ARIZONA SPICE

Good Southwestern food can be hard to find in Sedona, which is why the upscale El Portal inn is a godsend (95 Portal Lane, 800-313-0017; www.elportalsedona.com). On Friday and Saturday evenings, the inn opens its doors to nonguests, who can dine on creative Arizona-accented cuisine under a courtyard bower or by a flickering fireplace made of large river rocks, depending on the season. With an emphasis on local produce, the chef, Eden Messner, turns out dishes like butternut squash and poblano chili soup with cinnamon lime cream ($9) and cumin-encrusted marlin topped with a tower of tomatillo avocado salsa ($28). Reservations are highly recommended.

9:30 p.m.
3) WINE GALLERY

Sedona isn't known for its night life. Most bars, in fact, shut down at 10 p.m. For a little art to go with your nightcap, swing by the Gallery on Oak Creek inside the Amara Resort and Spa (310 North Highway 89A, 928-340-8900; www.amararesort.com). Sample a boutique shiraz from a 200-strong wine list or a green tea and vodka cocktail called an Enlightened Nirvana, as you peruse a collection of paintings and sculptures culled from local galleries. The outdoor fire pit is just as picturesque.

Saturday

8 a.m.
4) BREAK AN EGG

Kick-start your day in classic Sedona fashion with breakfast at the Coffee Pot Restaurant (2050 West Highway 89A, 928-282-6626), which serves 101 “famous” omelets. Locals and tourists pack the kitschy, eclectic joint, so you may have to peruse the gift shop for jewelry and coffee mugs while waiting for a table. But once you're seated, the friendly waitresses are swift and might even leave the coffeepot on your table for convenient refills. Overwhelmed by the choices? Try the hearty huevos rancheros, smothered in green chili ($6.50). If you have kids, dare them to order the peanut butter, jelly and banana omelet ($5.95).

9:30 a.m.
5) CRYSTAL PERSUASION

If you're in the market for chimes and gypsy-chic dresses, head for the Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village (336 Highway 179, 928-282-4838; www.tlaq.com), a Spanish- colonial-style shopping arcade with fountains and muscular sycamores. Environmental Realists (928-282-4945) sells everyday objects with clever twists, like a compass-embedded walking stick ($24 to $100). El Prado by the Creek (928-282-7390; www.elpradogalleries.com) carries a forest of copper-and-stainless-steel wind sculptures and rustic furniture made from river rocks. And across the street is Crystal Castle (313 Highway 179, 928-282-5910), the place for rhodochrosite, chrysoprase and other crystals that are said to promote metaphysical healing, whether it's mental clarity or finding the love within. Apparently, the right crystal for you is the one you can't put down.

11 a.m.
6) SUNSETS, POTTERY AND FRAMES

Galleries dot the city. The biggest of them is Exposures International (561 Highway 179, 928-282-1125; www.exposuresfineart.com), a sprawling space overflowing with paintings, sculpture, jewelry and more. Check out Bill Worrell's prehistoric-art-inspired sculptures (from $975) and photographs by the owner, Marty Herman, like “Monsoon Sunset” (from $229, depending on size). Other interesting galleries can be found at Hozho Center, including Lanning Gallery (431 Highway 179, 928-282-6865; www.lanninggallery.com), which specializes in contemporary art. To learn more about the local art scene, visit the Sedona Arts Center (15 Art Barn Road, 928-282-3865; www.sedonaartscenter.com), a nonprofit gallery that holds exhibits and poetry readings

1 p.m.
7) A CREEK RUNS THROUGH IT

Sedona is cradled in a fragrant riparian valley through which Oak Creek gently runs. Weather permitting, dine creekside at L'Auberge de Sedona (301 L'Auberge Lane, 928-282-1667; www.lauberge.com), a contemporary American restaurant “with French roots,” with a stone patio perched at the water's edge. Indulge in a Kobe beef burger ($22), or the “Red Rock plateau” with various kinds of seafood and a half ounce of caviar ($65) or go light with a shrimp gazpacho with avocado cream ($12). Cottonwoods rustle, the creek burbles and ducks waddle between the linen-draped tables.

2:30 p.m.
8) SPIRITED AWAY

You can't get far in Sedona without hearing about the vortexes, places where the earth supposedly radiates psychic energy. Believers claim that they induce everything from heightened energy to tear-inducing spiritual enlightenment. Whether you're a skeptic or believer, a guided tour of the vortexes by Earth Wisdom Jeep Tours (293 North Highway 89A, 928-282-4714; www.earthwisdomjeeptours.com) is definitely scenic (two and a half hours for $68 a person). If vortexes aren't your thing, the tour also explores the area's history, geology and American Indian culture, and there are several other tours. They'll explain how the rocks became rust-colored: add a dash of iron, let it oxidize for several million years and voilà!

6 p.m.
9) CACTUS ON THE ROCKS

A prickly pear margarita — made from a local cactus — is the must-drink cocktail in Sedona, and one of the best spots to try it is the terrace at Tii Gavo at Enchantment Resort (525 Boynton Canyon Road, 928-204-6366; www.enchantmentresort.com). Tii Gavo means gathering place in the Havasupai Indian language, and it is a restaurant where well-heeled spa-lovers rub elbows with hikers fresh off the trail. Afterward, move inside to the Yavapai Dining Room (928-204-6000; reservations required for nonguests). The restaurant, with its American Indian pottery and views of Boynton Canyon, is no stranger to celebrities like Sharon Stone and Robert DeNiro. Favorites include a smoked and grilled buffalo tenderloin ($40) or sea bass with watercress risotto ($40). The wine list is extensive and far-ranging, but consider one of the local Echo Canyon reds.

9:30 p.m.
10) A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY

Thanks to strict ordinances on light pollution, the dark skies over Sedona are ideal for stargazing (or U.F.O. spotting). Take a cosmic journey with Evening Sky Tours (866-701-0398; www.eveningskytours.com; $60, $20 ages 6 to 15), which offers professional astronomers who can point out those elusive constellations, as well as an eyeful of spiral galaxies and the rings of Saturn. They'll meet you at a dark spot or even take a telescope to your hotel.

Sunday

6 a.m.
11) ROCK YOUR WORLD

Soar over Sedona valley in a hot air balloon at sunrise for jaw-dropping views of rose-tinted buttes. Northern Light Balloon Expeditions (800-230-6222; www.northernlightballoon.com) offers three- to four-hour trips for $190 a person that include a Champagne breakfast picnic in a remote spot. If you prefer to stay earthbound, pack your own picnic and set out on the 3.6-mile Broken Arrow Trail ($5 for Red Rock Day Pass, which allows entry to a number of natural areas, available at most hotels and convenience stores). Hike along red rocks stained with desert varnish, weave through cypress forests and climb up a doughlike outcropping for commanding views of Casner Canyon.

10 a.m.
12) MORNING SPIRITUAL

Take a peek inside the Chapel of the Holy Cross (780 Chapel Road, 928-282-4069; www.chapeloftheholycross.com), a modernist icon that looks like a concrete spaceship jutting out of the craggy boulders. Designed in 1932 by Marguerite Brunswig Staude (but not built until 1956), the chapel is sandwiched between soaring concrete walls that bookend a gigantic glass window with a 90-foot-tall cross. Prayer services are held on Monday evenings, so don't worry about interrupting. The chapel affords spectacular photo ops and another chance to have a psychic moment. The chapel sits on — you guessed it — a vortex.

The Basics

American flies into Phoenix from Kennedy Airport, and Continental and America West fly from Newark. A Web search found early-March fares from $218. Sedona is a two-hour drive to the north.

The Enchantment Resort and Mii Amo Spa (525 Boynton Canyon Road, 800-826-4180; www.enchantmentresort.com) has dozens of adobe casitas strewn along Boynton Canyon. The 220-room resort offers nature walks, an American Indian cultural program and star gazing. Casita bedrooms start at $295.

Tucked into Oak Creek Canyon, L'Auberge de Sedona (301 L'Auberge Lane, 800-272-6777; www.lauberge.com) blends log cabin-styling with a touch of France. Lodge room rates start at $175. Cottages with fireplaces start at $275.

Ed and Kris Varjean will make you feel at home at Lantern Light Inn (3085 West Highway 89A, 877-275-4973; www.lanternlightinn.com), a French-style bed-and-breakfast that sleeps 10, with two intimate fireplaces, five fountains and four patios. Rooms start at $105.

(y) (y) (y)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:17 AM

:) :) :) :) :)

Beautiful! http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/02/11/travel/11oxford600.1.jpg

February 11, 2007

Day Out

Time-Traveling in Oxford, England

By HENRY SHUKMAN

OXFORD'S first museum was a kind of cabinet of curiosities (elephant molar, sawfish bill and so on) known as Tradescant's Rarities, displayed in the 1630's, and later housed in the city's second museum, the Ashmolean. In the late 19th century the Pitt Rivers Museum was built, a neo-Gothic brick hall crammed — crammed in a way no other museum on earth is — with tribal treasures from around the world. There are cases of shrunken heads, canoes of every design hang from the ceiling, crowding the vaulted space, and unnumbered axes, plows, arrows, swords, pipes, staffs, tunics, paddles, shoes and all manner of witching paraphernalia occupy glass cases, drawers, cabinets and display windows. The building heaves with the collective juju of the known world, gathered by Victorians as they traveled their vast empire and beyond.

But even this museum is as nothing to the cabinet of curiosities, the embarras de richesses, that is Oxford itself. The three earliest colleges were founded in the mid 1200's (Balliol, Merton and University, attended by Bill Clinton) and by the mid 16th century many of the eventual 39 colleges had been built. The result was and remains a square-mile warren of stone architecture, bristling with spires, pinnacles and finials (the spikes beloved of Gothic architects), abounding with quadrangles, passageways, chapels, halls and alleys.

Within the mostly lost medieval city walls, within this labyrinth of Gothic architecture, there are paintings by Botticelli, Uccello and Frans Hals; there is a genuine dodo's beak; early astrolabes from the Arab world; the room where England's first cup of coffee was drunk (in 1637 in Balliol); Convocation House where Charles I's Parliament met during the Civil War; buildings by Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor; and more fine silver and glassware for lavish college feasts than you could find in any royal or imperial palace.

One beautiful building after another — and all of them built of Cotswold sandstone, which changes color with the light, from pale cream to an apricot glow. You can lose yourself here and forget there ever was a century other than the 16th — except when you have to emerge briefly to get across the High Street, which with its “sublime curve” has been called the most beautiful street on earth. In late dusk, when the sky is luminous and the streets are already dark, the stone walls acquire the sumptuousness of a bowl of oranges in candlelight.

I grew up in Oxford. Both my parents were academics, which I liked to think gave me a free pass throughout the college domains (strictly, I'm not sure it did). I still like to think I know Oxford as well as anyone. (It's possible: the boundaries of some colleges are so tangled that not even the infamous bulldogs, the bowler-hatted university police, know them precisely.) I'm biased, but to my mind one of Europe's great pleasures is to weave your way aimlessly through Oxford's cloisters and passages. You leave contemporary life behind. The clock and the calendar recede. The colleges were after all religious institutions until 1870, part monasteries, part schools. (Though the spirit of rebellious philosophy was always there too, and still is: among recent prayer requests on a board in Magdalen Chapel I saw this, addressed to God: “Good luck to you!”)

A guided wander, then.

Coming from the train station, a first stop is Worcester College's delightful quad, with its sunken lawn, and string of what look like Gothic stone cottages on one side facing a neoclassical block on the other. Then while making your way up the grand, short Beaumont Street toward the center, take a quick look at St. John's Street: two simple rows of 18th-century houses clad in sandstone that has aged into rich tea-colored stains.

J. R. R. Tolkien (“Rings”) lived here, and used to meet his friend C. S. Lewis (“Narnia”) in the Eagle and Child pub round the corner. From the 1930's to the 60's they met with friends weekly, often in the pub, and called their gatherings the Inklings. Lewis recalled the “golden sessions” they enjoyed by the fire. It's still an oak-paneled hive rich with the aroma of yeast and hops, with my favorite beer, the local Old Hooky, on tap. (Ale doesn't get hazelnuttier.)

In the Ashmolean Museum, where Beaumont meets St. Giles, go upstairs to the Italian Renaissance room for a squint at works by Mantegna, Bellini and especially Uccello and his mystical “Hunt in the Forest,” where hounds leap into the darkness of a seemingly endless wood; then down again, and up Magdalen Street to Broad Street. Lined with three colleges and rows of 18th-century shops (among them the labyrinthine Blackwell's bookstore), it ends with Wren's Sheldonian Theater, with its distinctive white cupola and 12 startled busts of Roman emperors.

You're now in the heart of Oxford. There are treasures wherever you turn: the roseate stone tank of the quadrangle at the Bodleian Library; the stone Bridge of Sighs over Queen's Lane; the Radcliffe Camera (or “chamber”), a 90-foot-high rotunda that wouldn't be out of place in Renaissance Florence; All Souls College, home of the sinecure par excellence, where the only duties are to dine at college every so often and to converse brilliantly over the port.

If you happen to be in town on a Wednesday during term time, Queen's College has free organ recitals at lunchtime in its Rococo chapel (designed by Hawksmoor), a short walk down the High. The large stained-glass windows cast glitters of colored light on the plain stone walls while the gathering in the pews will be as somber as a group of scholars bent over a manuscript, as they unravel the intricacies of a Bach fugue.

Then head up cobbled Brasenose Lane to the Covered Market, Oxford's answer to the bazaar, fragrant with delicatessens, florists, coffee and tea merchants and butchers that hang carcasses of venison, hare, pheasant and woodcock outside their stalls. The crowds will tell you which are the best sandwich counters.

Oxford is thick with pubs. What is this link between alcohol and academia, books and beer? One 20th-century student reputedly demanded a flagon of claret during his exams, having discovered an ancient rule in the University Statute Book entitling him to. The invigilator was able to annul the request because the student was improperly dressed: according to another statute, he should have been wearing a saber.

New College's Cloisters with their ancient ilex tree; Magdalen's herd of deer; Corpus Christi's slightly wild organic garden by the old city wall, where you can see nothing that wouldn't have been there 500 years ago; Merton's library like an inverted ship on Mob Quad, the oldest academic library in the world (1373); Christ Church's Tom Quad and Great Hall, famous now as Hogwart's Hall in Harry Potter; and the Venetian moments of stone and water created by unexpected channels. The profusion of trees that make Oxford look like a forest from the air and caused the French poet Mallarmé to complain of Oxford's “green sickness,” the oaks in Christ Church Meadow, the willows along the rivers and the unlikely Mediterranean pine tucked in a square at the back of University College, in front of a white stucco villa like an ice cream about to melt. In the end, what can you do with this city but sing its praises?

(l) I've spent many, many, lost hours in the stacks at Blackwell's Bookstore,
all 3 floors of it. And there's the best hamburger joint in all of
England (run by a couple of Canadians), right in front of the train
station.

(*) I remember a wonderful Belgian waffle place not far from there, as well.
And, if you like Chinese food, I recommend The Opium Den, now called the
Opium Cafe, near the Ashmolean.

(l) For an informal dinner, there's Brown's, on the Woodstock Road, and don't
forget pizza at Sweeney Todd's, in Little Clarendon Street, just a few
doors down from the Oxford University Press office.

(c) Brrr! Sunny and bitterly cold.......but Wyatt enjoyed the snow during his morning walk; actually hardened snow and ice that neither of us fell through! ;) He was like a small puppy again, putting his nose and chops into the snow, remembering playing in the snows of Michigan with lots and lots of boxers - the breeder had two "mamas" with two litters of puppies within a two-week period. Talk about delightful chaos! (l) (&) (l)

Stay warm and safe travels driving (or whatever mode of transportation you're using) today.

(k) (k) 's

Sweetlady & Wyatt the Boxer (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:24 AM

:) :) :) :) :)

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/02/08/travel/escapes/09american_span.jpg

February 9, 2007

American Journeys

In Arizona, a Railway Town Rediscovers a Touch of Past Glory

By SUSAN MORGAN

THE words “standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona” have swirled in American imaginations since 1972, when the Eagles recorded “Take It Easy.” What you’ll see from those corners today is an old railroad town of one-way streets and two-story buildings resting on a high grassland plateau beneath spacious skies. In the distance, snow-capped mountains, volcanic buttes and flat-topped mesas appear sharply silhouetted in the clear air.

Jackson Browne’s song was a breezy tune about feckless love back when hitchhiking was a way of life, gas was in the 30-cents-a-gallon range and Winslow’s slice of Route 66 was still a vital segment of the way west. When Interstate 40 arrived, a long period of decline followed.

If that story sounds vaguely familiar, you may have seen the animated Disney-Pixar feature “Cars,” in which the once thriving town of Radiator Springs is bypassed by the Interstate and falls on hard times. Pixar’s founder, John Lasseter, and his chief animator spent a research week in Winslow, and several “Cars” scenes — a motel with cabins shaped like tepees, a great historic hotel designed like a Spanish hacienda — were inspired by their visit.

“Cars” has a happy ending — Radiator Springs bounces back to life. And although Arizona is not Hollywood, Winslow, too, has reawakened, recapturing some of a glorious past that dates from well before Route 66.

“Winslow was built in the 1880s by the Santa Fe Railway Company,” Mayor Allan Affeldt said. “Until the 1960s, it was the largest town in northern Arizona.” Only one passenger train a day stops in Winslow now, but travelers can still stay at La Posada, a magnificent 1930 hacienda-style inn and one of the last remaining great railway hotels. Once marked for demolition, it has been saved and restored.

And just as travelers discovered some 70 years ago when they detrained at Winslow and bundled into one of La Posada’s chauffeured Packard touring cars, the surrounding countryside is a revelation.

East of town, near Holbrook, you might want to ramble through the Petrified Forest National Park. First designated as a national monument in 1906, the 94,000-acre park is scattered with fossilized vegetation dating from 225 million years ago. West of town, you can visit Meteor Crater, where an asteroid left a giant hole 50,000 years ago and NASA astronauts rehearsed their moon walks in the 1960s. Just three miles outside Winslow, the Homolovi Ruins State Park holds the preserved remains of a 14th-century pueblo along the Little Colorado River and well-signed trails tracing the paths of a 13th-century Hopi migration.

Downtown, 21st-century travelers stop at Standin’ on the Corner Park at Kinsley Avenue and Second Street. There’s not much to see there — a bronze statue of a ’70s rambling man and a trompe l’oeil mural of the song’s dream girl cruising in a flatbed Ford. But it’s a photo opportunity the Eagles faithful can’t resist. If you think you hear “Take It Easy” playing in the quiet streets, it’s not a flashback. Route 66 Roadworks, a Winslow-centric souvenir shop, broadcasts Eagles tunes.

Empty storefronts still dot downtown, but there are also art spaces, a lively contemporary coffee shop, restaurants and bars and antiques stores where you can find a mint condition LP of “The Magic Organ Visits Hawaii” or a birdhouse made from reclaimed barn wood and rusted ceiling tin. The old Rialto, a 1927 Art Deco vaudeville house, has been renovated and reopened as the Winslow Theater.

On Historic Route 66, Winslow’s Main Street, a nifty little eight-seat, red-and-white diner is under restoration across from La Posada. Manufactured in 1946 by Valentine Lunch System in Kansas, the diner was shipped on flatbed railroad cars in prefabricated parts fitted with everything from stools to grills. “I’ve discovered that a lot of people are interested in Route 66 and the old Valentine Diners,” said Jessica O’Neal, who owns this one with her mother, Linda Thacker. They hope to open for business in the summer.

Winslow’s wave of restoration started with La Posada. In 1993, Mr. Affeldt was working on a doctorate in cognitive science and leading an architectural research center in Southern California when he learned about plans to demolish the hotel, which was designed by Mary Jane Colter, the architect of Bright Angel Lodge and the Desert View Watchtower at Grand Canyon.

La Posada was the final masterpiece in the empire of genteel railroad hotels owned by the Fred Harvey Company, whose staff of carefully selected young women, properly dressed in immaculate black and white uniforms, were called Harvey Girls. Judy Garland was playing one when she belted out “On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe” in the 1946 Hollywood musical “The Harvey Girls.”

Housed in a former bank building downtown, the Old Trails Museum, which chronicles Winslow history, has a Harvey Girl exhibition as well as ancient Indian pottery, relics of frontier life and medical paraphernalia that belonged to the town’s first doctors (who reported a busy practice treating gunshot wounds).

In 1997, Mr. Affeldt; his wife, the artist Tina Mion; and their friend Dan Lutzick, also an artist, began restoring the 70,000-square-foot Posada, which the railroad had converted into unlovely office space. Now, Colter’s beautifully designed interior has re-emerged: arched doorways, hand-painted glass windows, glittering tin chandeliers, Southwestern hand-built furniture and whimsical jackrabbit ashtrays.

Mr. Affeldt reopened the hotel in November of that year with 10 rooms; today it has 37 rooms and suites.

On a night in December, La Posada’s restaurant, the Turquoise Room, had sprays of orchids on its leather-topped tables and was serving Southwestern hummus and a cassoulet with tender churro lamb raised on Navajo lands. John Sharpe, the chef and owner of the restaurant, also offers box lunches — chicken and tomatillo salad, for example, with house-made chipotle-spiced potato chips — to fuel a drive into the country.

North of town, an undifferentiated plain suddenly breaks into a striated pattern, slipping deliriously from chartreuse to rose — the Little Painted Desert. Eighty miles farther is the Hubbell Trading Post, established in the late 19th century. In the cool darkness of the old store, with its wood-planked floor and iron stove, you can buy a cold drink or an ice cream, an exquisite rug or a handmade saddle. Under tall cottonwoods, you can picnic by a stream bed and pleasantly drift in time.

At the edge of Winslow is its small general aviation airport, designed in 1928 by Charles Lindbergh. Patrons at its cafe, E and O Kitchen, eat enchiladas montados (fried eggs served on a stack of tortillas dipped in chili sauce) as they watch small sleek planes come in for landings.

Linda Chambers, a hostess at the Turquoise Room, suggested a destination just beyond the airport. “Come back in summer,” she said. “There’s a beautiful park outside of town where you can swim in Clear Creek and kayak up into canyons so narrow you can touch the stone walls.”

PERHAPS Winslow’s most spectacular hidden treasure is Rock Art Ranch, a working cattle ranch that also serves as a sort of homemade museum of the first order, with a resident herd of buffalo and riches of the Old West like arrowheads, pottery, covered wagons and a vintage bunkhouse. The owner, Brantley Baird, and his friend Clem T. Rogers, a swift-footed octogenarian cowboy, lead tours by appointment.

Call ahead and arrange to follow them over the ranch and into Chevelon Canyon, a place of amazingly verdant beauty, with a clear stream twisting through tall grasses and desert willows. Look up at the steep sandstone canyon walls, and another astonishing landscape is revealed: geometric shapes and spirals, antlered animals, lumbering woodland creatures, a woman in childbirth. These are ancient petroglyphs, made by people who lived in this area 5,000 years ago. Archaeologists have documented more than 3,000 of the images in the canyon.

A wondrous yet overwhelming sight, as Mr. Baird and Mr. Rogers well know. “Come back,” Mr. Rogers said after a tour earlier this winter, “when you can spend some time here.”

Back on Track | And Such a Fine Sight to See

WINSLOW is off Interstate 40. The nearest major airport is in Flagstaff, 60 miles west. Amtrak’s Southwest Chief, from Los Angeles to Chicago, stops daily at the Winslow depot, which was designed by Mary Jane Colter.

La Posada (303 East Second Street, 928-289-4366; www.laposada.org) has 37 rooms starting at $89.

The Wigwam Motel (811 West Hopi Drive, Holbrook; 928-524-3048; www.galerie-kokopelli.com/wigwam) has 15 tepee-shaped units starting at $48.

The Turquoise Room and Martini Lounge (at La Posada, 928-289-3873) serves three meals daily. Dinner for two with wine is about $80.

E and O Kitchen (703 Airport Road; 928-289-5352) serves northern Mexican food. Lunch for two is $15 to $20.

Petrified Forest National Park (928-524-6228; www.nps.gov/pefo) is accessible from Interstate 40, Exit 285, and Route 180. Admission is $10 a car.

Homolovi Ruins State Park (928-289-4106; www.pr.state.az.us) is three miles northeast of Winslow, off Highway 87. The visitor center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 a car.

Meteor Crater (Exit 233, Interstate 40;800-289-5898; www.meteorcrater.com) is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in summer and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the year.

Hubbell Trading Post (928-755-3475; www.nps.gov/hutr) is on Highway 264 in Ganado.

The Old Trails Museum (212 Kinsley Avenue; 928-289-5861) is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Admission is free.

Rock Art Ranch (Joseph City, 928-288-3260) offers customized tours at varying fees.

^o) I stayed in Winslow once while driving cross country and needed to stop on I40. Although this was back in late 1999 - I was SO not impressed with either the hotel (horrible) or the town (only ONE restaurant was open at 7:30 p.m., thank goodness I love Chinese food...). I remember being sorely disappointed in the town.

Things must have changed since! Or the article author was paid to write good things...;)

(*) (*) (*) (*) Now Holbrook? Damn near perfect. Outstanding breakfast first and then visted a few rock shops. I love rocks. There's a couple I bought in Holbrook here on my desk. (l)

(f)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:25 AM

(f) (f) (f) (f) (f) (f) (f)

Helen Mirren, without the tweed and sensible shoes but still regal:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/11/magazine/11oscars.t.html

(f) (f)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:26 AM

(f) (f) (f) (f) (f)

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/02/07/magazine/11oscars.slide8.jpg

(f) (f)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:28 AM

:o :o

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/02/07/magazine/11oscars.slide10.jpg

(f) (f) (f)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:29 AM

(f) (f) (f)

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/02/07/magazine/11oscars.slide12.jpg

(f) (f)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:30 AM

(y) (y) (y)

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/02/07/magazine/11oscars.slide13.jpg

(*) I hope that he wins the Best Actor Academy Award. (y) (y)

(f) (f) (f)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:31 AM

(f) (f) (f) (f) (f)

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/02/07/magazine/11oscars.slide21a.jpg

(f) (f)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:32 AM

(f) (f) (f)

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/02/07/magazine/11osca_benning.jpg

(f) (f)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:32 AM

(*) (*) (*) (*) (*)

http://nytimesshorts.feedroom.com/ifr_main.jsp?nsid=a-4cd3c5d8:110c2fd95e6:-4657&st=1171503004062&mp=FLV&cpf=false&fvn=7&fr=021407_083003_w4cd3c5d8x110c2fd95e6xw4656&rdm=421524.02094638266

Terrific little interviews of many actors including some of my favorites.

Seven actors talk about the movies that made early impressions on them. A short film by Jake Paltrow. (Gwen's brother) made the film.

(f) (f) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:38 AM

:| :| :| :| :| :| :|

February 11, 2007

Idea Lab

Asylum for the World’s Battered Women

By ALEX KOTLOWITZ

This past fall, a United Nations report denounced the extraordinary number of women who are victims of domestic violence — and for whom protection from the authorities is often nonexistent. In some nations, like Bangladesh and Ethiopia, the U.N. found that as many as 6 of every 10 women interviewed had been beaten or sexually assaulted by their husbands or partners. The report called for better protection for abused women, but it didn’t address how first-world nations like the United States should treat those women who manage to escape their abusers and flee their countries. Should victims of domestic violence be eligible for asylum, a protection that has traditionally been preserved for those persecuted as a result of political turmoil?

At times we’ve said yes; at other times we’ve said no. And in some cases, as with Aruna Vallabhaneni, we’ve just said, hold on until we make up our mind. Vallabhaneni is a tall, distinguished-looking woman who came to the U.S. from Hyderabad, India, in March 1997 on a tourist visa. She in fact had no intention of returning home. She was wed at age 17, through an arranged marriage, to a man who it turned out had a gambling problem and who would regularly demand that Vallabhaneni, who came from a prosperous Hindu family, request money from her parents. When she refused, he beat her. She was once hit so hard that she lost her sense of smell. Another time, she said her husband kicked her with such force that she experienced vaginal bleeding. She did file a complaint with the Indian police, who held her husband overnight, but when he was released, she testified, he beat her so severely that she was hospitalized for two days. She was afraid to report him to the authorities after that. So she ran. She was so desperate to find safety that she left her two children — a son, 12, and a daughter, 10 — with her parents, assuming that they would be able to join her once she arrived in the U.S. and applied for asylum. Her claim, though, was denied.

It is now a decade later, and Vallabhaneni, who lives in Chicago, remains in a kind of suspended animation. On appeal, her case was sent back to the immigration judge for reconsideration, but at the request of her attorney, the judge put off deciding her case until there’s a clearer understanding as to how to treat victims of domestic violence.

It’s not, however, as if the courts and the authorities haven’t already wrestled with this question. The U.N.’s Refugee Convention of 1951, which a majority of countries, including the United States, eventually adopted, established guidelines for deciding who should be offered refuge. Essentially the convention and its subsequent protocols said that individuals with a well-founded fear of persecution for one of five reasons — political opinion, race, religion, nationality or membership in a particular social group — should not be sent back to their home countries. The category “particular social group” was added at the last minute, and so no one is certain of the authors’ original intentions. Sex was not specifically mentioned.

But in the 1990s, U.S. immigration authorities began to recognize sex-based persecution as grounds for asylum. First, the Board of Immigration Appeals took up the asylum claim of a Salvadoran man who feared the guerrillas because he belonged to a taxi-driver cooperative. In rejecting his claim, the board laid out a definition for “social group” that seemed rather straightforward: individuals with immutable characteristics that they can’t change or shouldn’t be asked to change. A short time later, Fauziya Kasinga, who fled Togo because she feared undergoing genital cutting, a cultural practice of her tribe, applied for asylum. The board granted it, ruling that as a young woman and as a member of this particular tribe, she clearly had characteristics she couldn’t change. And, the board ruled, having intact genitalia is “so fundamental to the individual identity of a young woman that she should not be required to change it.”

Then came the jumbled thinking. In 1996, Rodi Alvarado, a young Guatemalan, sought asylum because, she claimed, her husband had brutally beat her and had repeatedly raped and sodomized her. Moreover, the Guatemalan authorities had refused to protect her, saying it was a domestic matter. Like Vallabhaneni, she so feared for her life that she left her children behind and fled to the U.S. There has been profound disagreement among U.S. authorities over how to deal with Alvarado, whose credibility was never in question. An immigration judge granted her asylum, but the government attorneys appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals, which ruled that Alvarado’s husband didn’t brutalize her because she was a woman but rather because she was his wife. The board ordered her removed to Guatemala. Then Attorney General Janet Reno stepped in, as she was permitted to do, and vacated Alvarado’s deportation order. In her last days in office, Reno also proposed a set of regulations that recognized that a credible claim for asylum could be made based on domestic violence if it was severe and if the country in question was unwilling to do anything about such abuse.

That was more than six years ago. These administrative regulations — despite their support from an unlikely coalition of politicians, from Sam Brownback on the right to Hillary Clinton on the left — have still not been approved. Immigration judges have interpreted this logjam in conflicting ways. There have been grants as well as denials of asylum for domestic-violence victims, and there have been many cases that, like Alvarado’s and Vallabhaneni’s, have been placed in limbo until there’s some clarity about our policy. At a recent gathering with Attorney General Gonzales, immigration judges reiterated their longstanding request for clear regulations so that they’d have some guidance. But there appears to be an impasse. Three years ago, the Department of Homeland Security came out in support of Alvarado’s bid for asylum, but it’s apparent that there has since emerged internal disagreement over how to handle domestic-violence claims. Last month, a D.H.S. spokesman assured me that the agency in conjunction with the Department of Justice “is diligently working on publishing a final rule.” The agency has told reporters this before.

The D.H.S. spokesman told me that before a rule can be issued, there are still “a lot of complex analytical questions to be answered” revolving around how to think about social groups. This, it seems, has been central to the debate: Does beating your wife rise to the level of group persecution? Some argue that a husband brutalizing a wife may do so because he’s a drunk or a bully and not because he wants to beat all women. The upshot, says James Hathaway, the director of the program in refugee and asylum law at the University of Michigan, is that “if you can’t prove intent of the guy with the stick, then you don’t get asylum.” And that, he adds, is pretty hard to do. In immigration circles, this is what’s called the nexus question, which essentially asks asylum seekers: Are you being persecuted on account of your membership in a particular social group? Hathaway points out that some countries, like Britain and Canada, grant asylum if you can show that you’ve been seriously abused and that your government is unwilling to protect you because of your membership in a particular social group, that is, because you’re a woman. In essence, says Hathaway, these nations’ refugee laws consider domestic violence more than just a private matter.

Behind these legal arguments, though, is a practical one, especially in these times when immigration is such a hot political issue. Some believe that if we freely used sex to define a social group, it would open the floodgates to victims of domestic violence, who in many countries, as the U.N. study suggests, can be found in large numbers. Deborah Anker, a clinical professor of law at Harvard, says that such a fear has “always underlined every concern about asylum.” During the cold war, when the U.S. quite readily granted asylum to political dissidents from the Soviet bloc, there were some who worried that tens of thousands of people who were unhappy under Communism would seek refuge in the U.S. It never happened. And Canada, which began granting asylum to victims of domestic violence in 1993, never experienced the surge that critics worried about.

There are a number of reasons that today’s floodgate concerns are a red herring. Asylum seekers need to provide corroboration of their stories, and in the case of domestic violence, that could mean obtaining evidence like hospital records or affidavits from family members (which is what Vallabhaneni provided). They also must be able to show that they can’t get governmental protection from their abusive husbands. What’s more, it is especially difficult for women, who often have little or no resources, to leave their home countries. It has also become more difficult to enter this country post-9/11.

For Harvard’s Anker, the Ping-Pong approach to domestic-violence victims seeking asylum — sometimes yes, sometimes no — is reflective of an immigration system that is marked by inconsistencies. A comprehensive study last year found huge disparities among immigration judges and their rates of approval for asylum seekers. “What I think is at stake,” Anker says, “is whether asylum is going to be governed by a rule of law or whether we go back to an ad hoc, politicized regime,” which it was before the U.S. formally adopted the international standards of refugee law in 1980. Stephen Knight, an attorney with the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies at the University of California’s Hastings College of Law, suggests that it boils down to a rather simple divide: “There are people who just don’t believe that these women are refugees.”

Not long ago, I met Vallabhaneni for coffee. She has been able to secure a work permit, and this was her day off from her job as a customer-service agent for Southwest Airlines at Midway Airport. At one point, she caught me glancing at a bar of milk chocolate that she’d been nibbling on. She laughed. “It makes me sturdy,” she told me, “and I didn’t want to cry in front of you.” She then began showing me photographs of her children, whom she speaks to three times a week and who she told me are now grown and living with her parents. At that point, Vallabhaneni began to tear up. “I feel like I betrayed my children,” she said. “I dream about them almost every day.” But she told me that if she returned home, her family would force her to return to her husband, and she feared that would be the equivalent of a death sentence. I asked her what she would do if in the end she was denied asylum. She had clearly given this a lot of thought and so was ready with her answer. “I can’t go back,” she said.

Alex Kotlowitz, a regular contributor to the magazine, is a writer in residence at Northwestern University.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/11/magazine/11wwlnidealab.t.html?ref=magazine

:o :o I agree with the author, however - what about the millions of American women/womyn who are battered and need help? ^o) ^o) Grrrrrr. Damn academics in their Ivory Towers........:-#.....who can't speak their minds without endangering their tenure.

:) Okay, I stepping off the soap box now.

(f)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:39 AM

:) :) :)

February 11, 2007

True-Life Tales

Whos the Jerk Now, Jerk?

By JON GLASER

I was walking my dog late one night. It was pouring rain. As I was passing a few parked cars, some jerk in an S.U.V. was backing up to get out. It was one of those gigantic S.U.V.’s that are even larger and more obnoxious than regular-size S.U.V.’s. For example, the Cadillac Escalade. Or as I like to call it, the If You Drive This Car You Are One of the Worst People on Earth.

Not only did this guy bump the car behind him, he smashed into it. Hard. I stopped in my tracks and literally laughed out loud at how pathetic his driving was. I walked on because I figured he would get out and inspect the damage. But when I looked back, I saw that his car was angled into the street, just waiting for traffic to clear. I couldn’t believe it. It might as well have been a commercial for his S.U.V.: “It’s not just a car. It’s a car for the worst people on earth.”

As he drove away, I made sure I got his license plate. Why? Because I had decided to write a note and leave it on the car that got hit. I started repeating the letters and numbers over and over so I wouldn’t forget. I was close to home, but still managed to start jumbling the last couple numbers as I neared the front door. Was it 8455 or 8445? No matter. Surely the police could look up both license plates, see which one was the S.U.V. and, boom, one S.U.V.-driving jerk nailed. Street justice.

I got home and quickly toweled off my dog. I then grabbed a pen and note pad. The note pad was from an old writing job at a television network. It had my name, and the name of the network, in the upper right-hand corner, which I proceeded to tear off. I wanted to help but didn’t want to get involved. I wrote a short note stating what happened, explained that I had seen the entire thing while walking my dog and wished him luck in trying to nail this jerk. The note was pitch perfect, but here is where my plan got completely amazing: Bingo, I put the note inside a small Ziploc baggie. Bango, I zipped it shut and put the baggie inside a self-sealing envelope, on which I had written “READ THIS” in giant letters. Blongo, I put the envelope inside a second Ziploc baggie and zipped it shut — 100 percent guaranteed water protection.

Feeling very impressed with myself for the rain-protection idea and the fact that I was actually doing something about this, I headed back out into the rain. I walked up to the damaged car and stuck the envelope under a windshield wiper. I stood there and took a well-earned moment to enjoy watching the rain not penetrate the baggie. But as I turned to walk away, I had a moment of panic and stopped. What if I had forgotten to tear my name and the name of the network from the letter? Even though I had just torn it off minutes ago and knew very well that I hadn’t forgotten, still . . . what if I had? I took the envelope off the car. Across the street, the doorman for a very nice building was watching me. Feeling suspicious, I walked away.

I found a doorway to a storefront where the rain wasn’t coming down. I opened the outer Ziploc baggie and took out the envelope. I broke the seal and looked at the note inside the second Ziploc baggie. Of course, I had ripped off my name and the name of the network.

I began to wonder if all was really as it seemed here. Maybe it wasn’t a case of some jerk in an S.U.V. backing hard into some random car. Maybe they knew each other and the driver of the S.U.V. was getting some justified revenge. Maybe the owner of the S.U.V. was that guy Jared who had lost all the weight eating Subway subs and the owner of the car was a guy in high school who had called him “Fatso.” Or “Fat Jared.” Or “Tubs.” Or “H. R. Stuffin’ Cheeks.” Or “Captain Food.” Or “One if by Sandwich, Two if by Brisket.” Or all of those.

Whatever the case, and whatever they called him, I decided not to leave the note. First of all, I hadn’t noticed what make and model and color the S.U.V. was. And upon closer inspection, the damage wasn’t even that bad. And would the owner of the car even do anything? He’d probably just casually throw the note away. Without a single ounce of appreciation for the Ziploc baggies.

All of which brought me to wondering what I was doing out in the rain in the first place. I wanted to believe it was because I had decided to take a stand against the injustice of the situation. Deep down, though, I knew I was simply judging someone because of the car he drove. Deeper down from that, however, I knew I enjoyed judging people, and with another S.U.V.-driving jerk judged, I headed home.

The next morning, I told my wife what happened. I showed her the envelope. I showed her the note with the torn corner. I showed her the baggies. I told her about the nicknames for Jared. Rightfully, I was mocked.

Jon Glaser is a former writer for “Late Night With Conan O’Brien.” His last True-Life Tale was about George Clinton and Garfield.

(y) (y) (y)

:)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:40 AM

;) ;)

February 11, 2007

The Way We Live Now

Here, There and Everywhere

By WALTER KIRN

I am an American consumer, and the battle to catch the corner of my eye is growing more desperate by the hour. Desperate and counterproductive, it now seems clear. We all know what happened in Boston the other week, when the guerrilla marketing of a cartoon series triggered a grand mal metro seizure, but only I know what happened in Los Angeles several days earlier. I was standing in an airport security line when I spotted an advertisement for Rolodexes printed across the bottom of the tub into which I was about to set my shoes. The ad bewildered me for a couple of reasons. First, I didn’t expect to see it there (even though, by now, I should have, since researchers estimate that the average city dweller is exposed to 5,000 ads per day, up from 2,000 per day three decades ago). The second and greater mystery, however, was why a major company would want me to associate its product with the experience of being searched. Rolodex — the official corporate sponsor of airport paranoia. It didn’t make sense.

Then again, I’ve never quite understood who advertisers think I am, how they think my mind works or why they believe that it’s finally worth their while to chase me so doggedly through life’s labyrinths. I don’t have a lot of money, I’m not a trendsetter and, to be candid, I’m rarely in a buying mood. More often, in fact, I’m in the opposite mood. I’m stuck in an airport, my bag has just been sullied by some numbskull wearing rubber gloves and I don’t want strangers to talk to me — even disembodied, symbolic strangers. If they try to address me, I probably won’t like them. I can guarantee that I won’t like them. Sure, it’s flattering to be pursued, and yes, I realize that the price of liberty is to be fair game for commerce except in church or while undergoing rehab, but do my free-market pursuers appreciate the sort of impressions that they’re creating?

Or are all impressions equal to advertisers? They act as if they are. A few weeks back, for example, I read that the auto-insurance company Geico was trying to close a deal (scuttled at the last minute by the Port Authority) to post its logo on the George Washington Bridge. If Geico had succeeded in this endeavor, the firm might have forever linked its image to the sound of honking horns and the stress of being stuck in traffic. Then there was the friend who told me recently of being haunted by an advertisement (I don’t remember for which product) that hangs in a dental office above the chair where he and his fellow patients have their teeth cleaned. What is the reasoning behind this placement? Has research found that consumers high on laughing gas are powerless to resist a sales pitch?

The ad in the dental office got me thinking. It got me thinking like a modern marketer. If the new goal is to pierce, by any means necessary, the layered defenses of potential customers, why not start dispensing promotional leaflets with every cash withdrawal from strip-club A.T.M. machines? This tactic wouldn’t work for everyone, just a certain adult male demographic, and it wouldn’t work for every product. It might work for condoms, though, and even Rolodexes. Men in strip clubs often feel deeply guilty that they’re not at the office or not at work, and sometimes they entertain clients in those joints.

Still, I think marketers are playing with fire by ambushing people at every turn. The more varied the places in which their ads appear, the more diverse the human situations in which they’ll be received. A result may turn out to be anger, not a sale. Any male computer owner these days who doesn’t associate reading his morning e-mail with nagging concerns about erectile dysfunction has a better spam filter than I do. I resent being woken up this way each day. Oddly, however, the target of my resentment isn’t the folks who push Viagra and its numerous herbal substitutes, but the big online portals like AOL that let these hucksters’ e-mail through their systems. I hear that AOL is sagging now, and frankly I’m fine with it. I think it’s fitting. AOL has been letting me know for years that I may be sagging a bit myself. It’s their turn.

Besieged by promotions for products that I don’t need at moments when I’d rather be alone — at the airport, at the dentist, on a bridge — I find myself thinking back to simpler times, when advertisers had fewer designs on me and executed those designs more pleasantly. There was the jolly Goodyear blimp, of course, whose festive presence above college bowl games was almost always more exciting than the games themselves. Why was it floating there? Just to cheer folks up, it seemed. Then there was “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom,” which was one of my favorite TV shows when I was a kid. I found its footage of animals fascinating, though I didn’t yet find life insurance fascinating. This caused me to wonder — as I still do today — why Mutual of Omaha backed the show. I concluded that either the company was very nice and simply enjoyed amusing me or that its executives were very patient and didn’t mind waiting several decades until I was in the market for their products. Either way, I sensed that they weren’t getting their money’s worth, and now, in my 40s, I know they weren’t. I still don’t own life insurance — though there’s a chance, I guess.

But there’s no chance that I’ll ever buy a Rolodex.

Walter Kirn, a frequent contributor, is the author of “Up in the Air,” among other novels.

(y) (y) (y) (y)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:42 AM

(y) (y) (y)

On a below zero temperature night like tonight: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/02/08/magazine/11food.190.jpg

February 11, 2007

Food: Recipe Redux

1907: Soupe à l’Oignon Gratinée

By AMANDA HESSER

For reasons of tradition, and perhaps inertia, the custom of separating sweet and savory foods — begun when meals took on a more sequential structure and sugar was considered a digestive — largely continues, especially now that sugar is viewed as anything but health-giving. There has been some cautious overlap (chocolate soufflé and cheese soufflé), the occasional misfortune (bacon ice cream) and even a few revelations (pineapple tartare seasoned with chili and salt), but for the most part, cooks stick to the rules. They fear that if sweets start arriving too early in a meal, they will inspire doubt rather than surprise and pleasure.

It takes not only talent but also nerve to mix the two without disrupting people’s entrenched expectations. When I gave Amaryll Schwertner, an owner of Boulettes Larder in the San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace, a 100-year-old recipe for gratinéed onion soup and asked her to use it as a springboard for a new dish, she came back with the following peculiarity: a barely sweetened rice pudding scented with bay leaf, currants, pine nuts and sun-dried tomatoes, topped with bread crumbs and a pistachio praline. It wasn’t dessert, exactly, and it wasn’t dinner either, but it should definitely join pineapple tartare with chili in the book of sweet/savory revelations.

Although her rice pudding may seem utterly unrelated to its progenitor — the onion soup — it is not. The two dishes are prepared by layering ingredients and result in an array of brittle and delicate textures.

The onion soup originates from the French cookbook “Gastronomie Pratique,” which was written in 1907 by Henri Babinski. The Times published the recipe in 1974, when the book was first translated into English.

It is one of the strangest and most delicious soup recipes I’ve encountered. Baguette toasts are spread with butter and layered with grated cheese, sautéed onions and tomato purée. Then, in what seems to be a nod to stone soup, salted water is gently poured in. The dish is then simmered and baked, and by the time it is done, the “soup” is like a savory bread pudding and the top has a thick, golden crust that your guests will fight to the death over.

“It’s a variation on a litany of dishes based on those ingredients,” Schwertner says of the bread-based soup. Panade and ribollita are probably the most well known. Surprisingly, the leap from onion soup to Schwertner’s rice pudding is not a long one: in place of cheese, her pudding is topped with pistachio praline; instead of onions, it has currants; and instead of tomato purée, it has sun-dried tomatoes.

The rice pudding was just one of many hunger-provoking ideas Schwertner had. There was a cabbage-and-bread stew, and crepes layered with ragout. Ultimately, I couldn’t resist asking her to make a second variation: a fortifying “baked soup” made with grits and capped with a crust of bread crumbs and grated cheese. This time, Schwertner kept to the rules: it is decidedly savory.

1907: Soupe à l’Oignon Gratinée

From “Gastronomie Pratique,” by Ali-Bab. This recipe appeared in The Times in a 1974 article by Craig Claiborne.

1 baguette, cut into 1/2-inch slices (about 25 to 30)

9 tablespoons butter, softened

9 ounces Emmental cheese, finely grated

8 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced (about 12 cups)

1 tablespoon kosher salt, more to taste

1 cup tomato purée.

1. Toast the baguette slices and let them cool. Spread a generous layer of butter on each slice (you will need about 5 tablespoons), then lay the slices close together on a baking sheet and top with all but 1/2 cup of cheese.

2. In a large saucepan, melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add the onions, season with salt and sauté, stirring occasionally, until very soft and golden, about 15 minutes.

3. In a 5-quart casserole, arrange a layer of bread slices (about 1/3 of them). Spread 1/3 of the onions on top, followed by 1/3 of the tomato purée. Repeat for two more layers. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese. To avoid boiling over, the casserole must not be more than 2/3 full.

4. In a saucepan, bring 1 1/2 quarts water to a boil. Add the salt. Very slowly pour the salted water into the casserole, near the edge, so that the liquid rises just to the top layer of cheese without covering it. (Depending on the size of your casserole, you may need more or less water.)

5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Put the casserole on the stove and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, then transfer to the oven and bake uncovered for 1 hour. The soup is ready when the surface looks like a crusty, golden cake and the inside is unctuous and so well blended that it is impossible to discern either cheese or onion. Each person is served some of the baked crust and some of the inside, which should be thick but not completely without liquid. Serves 6.

2007: Baked Sweet-Savory Carnaroli-Rice Pudding

By Amaryll Schwertner, executive chef and an owner of Boulettes Larder in San Francisco

Mastic comes from the mastic tree and is often used as a spice. Here, it adds an herbal note. Mastic crystals and powder (sold as gum mastic) are available at kalustyans.com.

For the pistachio praline:

Vegetable oil for greasing pan

½ cup sugar

½ cup pistachios

For the pudding:

½ large loaf of challah bread, cut into 1-inch dice (about 5 cups)

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for greasing

2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts

½ stick cinnamon

Several threads of saffron

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon mastic crystals (optional)

1 teaspoon grains of paradise

¼ teaspoon sea salt

6 cups half-and-half, plus more for serving

¼ cup candied citron peel

1 bay leaf

Kosher salt

1 cup carnaroli rice

3 tablespoons sugar

½ vanilla bean, seeds scraped

2 tablespoons dried currants, soaked in warm water

8 sun-dried tomatoes, soaked in warm water

1 cup fresh ricotta.

1. For the pistachio praline: Oil a baking sheet. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, cook the sugar; swirl the pan as it begins to brown. When dark caramel, remove from the heat and stir in the pistachios. Spread on the baking sheet. Cool completely, then chop finely.

2. For the pudding: Grind the challah in a food processor. Add 3 tablespoons butter and pulse until mixed. In a mini processor, grind the pine nuts, then blend with 3 tablespoons butter. Using a spice grinder, grind the cinnamon, saffron, nutmeg, mastic, grains of paradise and sea salt. In a small pan, heat 1 cup half-and-half with finely chopped citron peel and bay leaf until steaming.

3. In a large pot, bring 2 quarts water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil and add the rice. Blanch for 1 minute, then drain. Pour 5 cups half-and-half in a saucepan over medium heat until just steaming. Stir in 3 tablespoons sugar, the vanilla bean and seeds and the ground spices. Add the rice and simmer uncovered on low heat until the rice is al dente, 45 to 60 minutes. Drain well and discard the vanilla bean.

4. Butter a 3-inch-deep, 4-quart casserole. Drain the currants. Drain and coarsely chop the tomatoes. Spread half the rice in the casserole, then spread the ricotta and sprinkle with the currants, tomatoes and pine nuts. Spread with the remaining rice. Discard the bay leaf from the citron-peel infusion and pour over the rice. Cover with bread crumbs, then the praline. Bake until the topping is crisp, 15 to 20 minutes. If desired, gently fold in half-and-half when serving. Serves 8.

2007: Savory Rice Grits Baked Soup
By Amaryll Schwertner, executive chef and an owner of Boulettes Larder in San Francisco

Coarse sea salt

4 cups Anson Mills Carolina Gold Rice Grits, or other grits

4 to 6 cups chicken broth

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter

3 onions, cut into 1/2-inch dice

2 leeks, white and light green parts only, cut into 1/2-inch dice

Extra-virgin olive oil

8 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, cut into 1/2-inch slices

1 1/2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper

1 whole bird's-eye or Tuscan chili, ground coarsely

8 ounces fontina cheese, thinly sliced

16 dried tomato halves, rehydrated in warm water and coarsely chopped

2 2/3 cups cubed crustless country bread

1/3 cup finely chopped parsley

1 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

White truffle, for garnish, optional.

1. In a medium stockpot or other large pot, combine 4 1/2 quarts of water and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil and add the grits while stirring and sprinkling them into the water. Cook at a gentle boil for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, heat the chicken broth and keep warm.

2. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. In a sauté pan, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter and add the onions and leeks. Sauté until translucent and transfer to a bowl. Wipe the pan clean and add 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the mushrooms and a pinch of salt and sauté until tender and caramelized; set aside. In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon sea salt, black pepper and chili; set aside.

3. In a deep, heatproof, 7- to 8-quart casserole, spread a third of the grits. Top with half each of the onion mixture, sliced cheese, tomato, mushrooms and salt mixture. Spread a layer of half of the remaining grits and all of the remaining onions, sliced cheese, tomato, mushrooms and salt mixture. Top with the remaining grits. Pour in enough of the hot stock to just cover the grits. Place a sheet of parchment paper directly on top of the grits, and cover the casserole with foil. Bake for 40 minutes.

4. Using a food processor, purée the bread with the remaining 4 tablespoons butter until finely ground. Add the parsley and pulse to combine; set aside.

5. Preheat a broiler or raise oven to 500 degrees. Remove the foil and parchment from the casserole. If the dish is dry, add enough broth so that the grits are very moist but not flooded. (The texture should be spoonable with a seeping stock and melted cheese.) Top with the bread crumbs and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Broil or bake until browned, about 5 minutes. To serve, spoon into bowls and drizzle with olive oil. If desired, garnish with sliced truffles. Serves 10.

(y) (l) (y) (l) (y) (l)

Carpe Diem,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:43 AM

(y) (*) (y) (*) (y) (*) (y) (*) (y)

Harvard Plans to Name First Female President

SARA RIMER AND ALAN FINDER

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 9 — Harvard, the nation’s oldest university, plans to name Drew Gilpin Faust, a historian of the Civil War South, to be the first female president in its 371-year history, university officials said Friday.

Her selection by a search committee, if ratified as expected by the Board of Overseers on Sunday, would make Harvard the fourth Ivy League university to name a woman. It comes two years after Lawrence H. Summers, then president of the university, set off a storm by suggesting that a lack of intrinsic aptitude could help explain why fewer women than men reach the top ranks of science and math in universities.

Some Harvard professors, particularly women, greeted the decision with euphoria. “Harvard’s waited a long time — since 1636,” said Patricia Albjerg Graham, an emeritus professor of the history of education at Harvard, recalling that when she was a postdoctoral fellow in 1972, she was not allowed to enter the main door of the faculty club or eat in the main dining room.

Mary Waters, the acting chairwoman of the Harvard sociology department, said: “It’s been a lonely place for women, very lonely. There aren’t many of us.”

Dr. Faust, 59, the author of five books and a former professor of history and women’s studies at the University of Pennsylvania, is the dean of the Radcliffe Institute of Advanced Study, the smallest of Harvard’s schools. It is the remaining remnant of Radcliffe College, once the women’s college at Harvard. Much of the research sponsored by the institute emphasizes the study of women, gender and society.

Dr. Faust emerged in recent weeks as a finalist among the candidates being considered by the university’s search committee, particularly after Thomas R. Cech, a biochemist who is the president of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and a Nobel Prize winner, took the unusual step of announcing publicly that he had withdrawn from the competition.

His withdrawal prompted some professors to raise last-minute concerns about Dr. Faust. While declining to speak on the record, they said they thought she lacked the toughness and vision to be a strong leader of an unruly and factionalized university and noted that the Radcliffe Institute, with about 80 staff members, is a tiny part of Harvard. Others wondered why it had taken nearly a year to choose someone who was already a Harvard dean.

“The real import of this choice is that it is a cautious pick, which seems targeted at healing the wounds of the Summers years and restoring Harvard’s momentum as quickly as possible,” said Richard Bradley, who wrote “Harvard Rules: The Struggle for the Soul of the World’s Most Powerful University” (HarperCollins, 2005).

Mr. Bradley said there were legitimate questions about Dr. Faust’s qualifications, like her lack of experience running a large university. “The fact that Harvard could not find someone who filled all their bases suggests to me the difficulty that Harvard had to fill the position,” he said.

One of the nation’s premier universities, Harvard has 12 schools and colleges with an annual budget of $3 billion and an endowment of nearly $30 billion.

John Longbrake, a university spokesman, said he would not comment on the presidential search. Dr. Faust also declined to comment until Sunday’s official announcement. Her selection was first reported by The Harvard Crimson late Thursday night on its Web site.

Faculty members and officials familiar with the search said Dr. Faust’s leadership style — her collaborative approach and considerable people skills — would be vital for soothing a campus ripped apart by the battles over Dr. Summers, whom many accused of having an abrasive, confrontational style.

“She combines outstanding scholarship with an uncanny ability to administer both well and with a heart,” said Judith Rodin, the president of the Rockefeller Foundation.

Dr. Summers turned to Dr. Faust two years ago to help calm the furor over his remarks about women in math, engineering and science. He asked her to oversee two committees he created to come up with ways to recruit, retain and promote women in those fields at Harvard.

Dr. Summers, a former Treasury secretary, stepped down a year ago after a five-year tenure in the face of widespread faculty discontent.

Dr. Faust will take the helm at a time when the university faces a challenging agenda, which includes transforming the undergraduate curriculum, re-emphasizing teaching and building a new campus in the Allston section of Boston that, among other things, will support stem-cell research.

She is seen as likely to be able to restore trust with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the university’s largest and among its most prestigious divisions, which had led the charge against Dr. Summers.

Dr. Faust has run the Radcliffe Institute since 2001. Before that, she taught American history for more than two decades at Penn, where she had gone to graduate school. An expert in Southern history and a native of Virginia, she has written books on Southern women during the Civil War and on intellectuals and ideology in the Confederate South, as well as a biography of a plantation owner.

In the end, some Harvard professors said, Dr. Faust’s management style might have been more important to the nine members of the presidential search committee than any desire to name a woman.

“My own sense is that it’s a new template for leadership, and that probably is not unrelated to gender, but it ought not get eclipsed by it,” said Richard P. Chait, a professor of higher education at Harvard.

Dr. Chait, who studies university management, noted that in several recent changes of leadership of major American corporations, tough, even bullying leaders were replaced by more mild-mannered consensus builders.

The presidential search began not long after Dr. Summers resigned last February. Derek C. Bok, a former president of Harvard, stepped in to serve as interim president.

News of Dr. Faust’s selection was greeted warmly by Harvard students. “It’s about time,” said Elisa Olivieri, a junior. “Talent is no longer ‘single, male, childless.’ It’s an excellent acknowledgement that the face of talent has changed.”

George Thampy, a freshman, said of the selection: “I think it’s a great step forward — a bona fide scholar who’s a woman. In some ways you could say it’s a reaction to the last president and that fiasco.”

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070210/ZNYT02/702100667

(*) (*) (*) (*) (*) Outstanding!

Carpe Diem,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:45 AM

(y) (y) (y)

http://www.nytimes.com/marketing/urbaneye/

(h) (h)

Adieu,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:47 AM

:o :o :o

February 11, 2007

Film

Where’d You Go to Film School? In My Bedroom

By JUSTIN PETERS

WHEN David Basulto decided to become a movie producer, the first thing he did was enroll in a class at a film school in Los Angeles. The second thing he did was drop out.

“I absolutely didn’t learn a damn thing from the course I took, so I went out and bought a couple of books,” Mr. Basulto said. Home-schooling worked where the classroom failed. After 45 days Mr. Basulto, who is 41, had raised enough money to produce his first feature, “18 Shades of Dust,” directed by Danny Aiello III, and had written off the traditional filmmaking education process for good.

Film schools “teach you a lot of theory, teach you to shoot on old, archaic systems,” he said. “They’re not cutting edge.”

The systems used at, say, the University of Southern California’s Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts are anything but archaic. But Mr. Basulto’s point is worth noting in the era of miniDV digital video cameras, Final Cut Pro editing systems and YouTube auteurs with development deals. Thousands of new filmmakers are just diving in, many with the help of instructional products claiming to provide low-cost, high-impact alternatives to film school.

Sold on DVDs and CDs, with names like “Film School in a Box” and “Make Your Own Damn Movie,” these programs, often conceived by people with no formal film training of their own, offer surprisingly detailed tutorials on a variety of film-related topics: blocking, editing, even fund-raising and distribution. Priced roughly from $50 to $500, they can instill confidence without the bother of hundreds of thousands of dollars of a formal education.

Whether they can really teach how to make a good movie remains open to debate.

“You’re talking about an education process that takes the teacher out of the process,” said Michael Taylor, chairman of the film and television department at the U.S.C. School of Cinematic Arts.

“I think you do learn by doing, and we teach by doing in our film school,” Mr. Taylor added, “except it’s guided by a faculty who sort of know what they’re doing.”

Still, some established film schools have welcomed these programs as supplements to their existing coursework. “I think that the DVDs are great support materials,” said Paula Froehle, associate chairwoman of “below the line” curriculum — technical skills like lighting and editing — at the film department at Columbia College in Chicago. “Certainly there are times that I reference them, because I think they can function as a more dynamic textbook than a lot of the written material that’s out there.”

Virtually all the available filmmaking software rejects traditional, theory-based education, offering instead what purport to be practical crash courses in how to make a cheap but professional-quality movie. “Film School in a Box,” a video editing program, for instance, offers its users 15 hours’ worth of unedited footage from “The Confession,” a suspense drama that was shot in one take from 11 different cameras. Using the completed film as a point of comparison, users can construct their own version.

“Let them learn to edit movies, not old TV,” said David Kebo, the program’s co-creator and co-director of “The Confession.” He means that literally: Mr. Kebo tells of working on another feature, “Mojave,” with an editor whose film-school training in the 1990s began with recutting old episodes of “Gunsmoke.”

Other programs derive from a sense that existing instructional materials are incomplete. When the director Per Holmes, for instance, decided to shift from nonlinear music videos to traditional narrative films a few years back, he ran through the existing literature in two weeks. Unfulfilled, he decided to create his own master class. The result was a comprehensive instructional DVD set called “Hollywood Camera Work,” which teaches advanced blocking and staging techniques. The course resulted from a “tremendous amount of watching, pondering and systematizing,” Mr. Holmes said.

Offhand dismissiveness of traditional education is an article of faith among the makers of such software. “You have the people who come out of the other end, and they don’t know anything, and they’re not ready to make movies,” said Mr. Holmes, who said he would rather not bash film schools, many of which use his product.

To Jason J. Tomaric, 30, a film director and creator of a DVD course called “The Ultimate Filmmaking Kit,” “the big problem I’ve seen in film schools is that you’re taught by academics who have never made a movie before, let alone had one distributed.”

Mr. Tomaric’s DVD, like most of its competition, claims to offer hard-won lessons from the trenches of independent film — in this case from his production of a feature film called “Time and Again,” which cost $2,000 to make and was released in 2003. “We actually did it,” he said. “We made a movie that got distributed and made a profit.” Not surprisingly, the distrust runs both ways. Many educators say that a few hundred dollars’ worth of software cannot replace years of study, never mind the network of industry connections that often pave the way from school to a first job in the industry. “Asking what role does the film school play is like saying what role does the liberal arts college play if one has access to an encyclopedia?” Mr. Taylor said. “The idea that you can do it yourself is, I think, rather ridiculous.”

Tom Denove, vice chairman for production in the film, television and digital media department of the film school at the University of California, Los Angeles, contended that educational software often misses the real point of making a film: the inherent power of a narrative. “What’s lacking in so many films from people without a film-school education isn’t the technical expertise,” he argued. “It’s the ability to turn that expertise into a compelling story.”

Even so, democratization appears to be an irreversible trend in cinema. The thousands of movies each year now submitted to festivals around the world are testimony to a guerilla mentality that says no one needs official permission to make a film; and the advocates of teaching software often see themselves not so much training, but liberating new filmmakers.

“We try to inspire people to understand that they do not just have to work for Paramount or Sony — that does not necessarily validate their lives,” said Lloyd Kaufman, the longtime president of Troma Entertainment, whose book-and-DVD combination program, “Make Your Own Damn Movie,” offers lessons on everything from script conferences to presentations to potential investors to creating inexpensive yet realistic special effects.

As Mr. Kaufman sees it, those who want to make a movie should, and avoid the studio system entirely: “They don’t have to pitch movies to 23-year-old idiots who have never heard of John Ford or Charlie Chaplin.”

:) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Carpe Diem,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:48 AM

:| :| :|

:o :o

Lost Trail Lodge is reached only on foot or with cross-country skis or snowshoes.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/02/06/travel/11journ190.1.jpg

February 11, 2007

Journeys | Remote Lodges

Some Getaways Are More Away Than Others

By CATHERINE PRICE

THE Lost Trail Lodge, nestled in the Sierra Nevada in California near Donner Memorial State Park, is meant for people who like to work for their rewards.

The lodge has four private cabins connected to a cozy common room, and a shared kitchen outfitted with a full set of antique cast-iron cookware and a six-burner gas stove. It has private Jacuzzis, and wooden lofts where the kids can sleep. It has large windows looking out on snow-covered trees, and a stone hearth that continuously glows with a fire.

But it is missing other amenities, like landline phones, an Internet connection or direct road access for most of the year. To earn your bubble bath, you have to hike, use cross-country skis or snowshoes (half a mile in the summer and four miles in the winter), and once at the lodge, you're cut off from the outside world. The isolation is particularly striking since, technically, the Lost Trail Lodge is only four and a half miles away from Interstate 80 and Truckee, Calif.

The Lost Trail Lodge and its brethren — similarly isolated hotels scattered across the United States and Canada — manage to make deprivation appealing. These are places that really force you to get away from it all. They allow no calls to the office or dashes to the computer “just to check in.” The only blackberries are the ones on the bushes.

David Robertson, 50, is the man behind the Lost Trail Lodge. He designed the lodge himself — on the back of a napkin — in 1997, and spent the next five summers building it. Since no real road leads to the Lost Trail, Mr. Robertson had to carry in all the materials and furniture piece by piece, including four hot tubs, 21 beds, a six-burner cast-iron gas stove and three refrigerators.

He also had to use his background as a civil engineer and a former public water agency owner to design the electricity and water systems for the lodge, which is completely off-grid. It gets its power from solar panels and a small refurbished hydroelectric plant powered by a nearby creek. (The lodge also has a small backup diesel generator, just in case.)

Mr. Robertson's guests used to be mostly hard-core backcountry snowshoers, but today he plays host to a combination of wilderness groups, vacationing couples and families and the occasional hiker who has stumbled off the Pacific Crest Trail, which passes about five miles south of the lodge.

Mr. Robertson usually putters unobtrusively in the background, but on Friday and Saturday nights he pulls out a songbook and encourages guests to gather in the living room to sing or play music on one of the lodge's numerous instruments, which include several guitars, an upright piano, percussion instruments, a stand-up bass and a banjo.

The Lost Trail Lodge is by no means the only off-grid place to vacation. In Banff National Park in Alberta, Brewster's Shadow Lake Lodge is nine miles by foot, cross-country ski or snowshoe from the trailhead. Once there, guests stay in one of 12 private cabins and share a central washroom that has hot showers and pit toilets.

Unlike the Lost Trail Lodge, where guests are responsible for bringing and cooking their own food, Shadow Lake's rates include three meals a day (including packable lunches for day hikes to nearby lakes and passes) and afternoon tea with homemade treats.

Originally built in 1930 as a rest house by the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Shadow Lake Lodge won the Heritage Tourism Award for Best Environmental Practice in 2003. Supplies for the lodge arrive twice a week by horseback in the summer and by snow vehicles in the winter, and to minimize environmental impact, the lodge treats and reuses the water used for dishes and showers for irrigation. The lodge is propane-heated and solar-lighted.

“It's really refreshing,” said Faye Domonkos, sales manager for the lodge and its sister hotel, the less rustic Brewster's Mountain Lodge in downtown Banff.

Her stay at the lodge was shorter than most — she hiked in one day and left the next. “I was dead tired when I got back, but I felt awesome,” Ms. Domonkos said. For people looking for an off-the-grid experience without too much physical exertion, there are also fly-in options —Brooks Lodge in Katmai National Park in Alaska is accessible only by float plane. It is one of three Anglers' Paradise Lodges constructed in Katmai by Ray Petersen, 94, an airline entrepreneur and sports fisher who was the first person to build sports lodges in the park (today the lodges are run by his son, Sonny Petersen).

Brooks's sister lodges —Kulik Lodge and the intimate, six-guest Grosvenor Lodge — are mainly oriented to fishing — but there's more at Brooks than abundant supplies of rainbow trout and arctic grayling. Once at Brooks, you can take a day trip to the nearby Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, created when a powerful 1912 eruption of the Novarupta Volcano left a 40-square-mile area covered in volcanic ash, where countless wisps of steam still seep out through holes and fissures from the heated ground below. Or you can replace the healthy flush of exercise with the adrenaline rush that comes from close-up viewing of one of the world's largest populations of grizzly bears, which like to fish for salmon in the nearby Brooks River. (Elevated walkways and platforms prevent the bears from fishing for tourists.)

But if you're really looking for a bare-bones, off-grid experience, you should forget about these lodges, with their teatimes and solar panels, and sign up for one of the Southwest Nordic Center's yurts, round, tentlike structures designed, in this case, specifically for winter use. The Southwest Nordic Center offers several options: four yurts in southern Colorado and one larger “luxury” yurt above Taos Ski Valley in northern New Mexico that can accommodate 6 to 10 guests.

The main activities at the yurts — which are open only in the winter — are snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing (the larger yurt in New Mexico also has a Twister game). The yurts in Colorado have a good mix of downhill and flat terrain that can accommodate groups with uneven skill levels; the New Mexican yurt, on steeper terrain, caters mostly to snowshoers and experienced skiers.

The yurts aren't as isolated as the other lodges (Southwest Nordic Center's are two to four and a half miles from the road) but once you're there, no homemade breakfast awaits. You have to carry in all your food yourself. Each yurt sits on a raised wooden platform and has a wood-burning stove, lanterns, mattresses without linens and a propane stove for cooking. There's no electricity or running water, but cookware and board games are provided. As a touch of comfort, the outhouse's toilet seat hangs on a hook by the stove to keep it warm.

Most Americans don't think of outhouses as a vacation perk, but there's a certain appeal in having to work for your vacation. A little bit of struggle, it seems, can make the escape more fun.

“Ironically, I get more repeat business from people who had the drama trip, the one with the snowstorm,” said Doug MacLennan, 48, the yurts' owner and builder. “You'd think it'd be the groups that came in under bluebird skies, but nope, it's the ones who had to bear down and work together to figure out how to get there. Those groups call me right away the next year.”

VISITOR INFORMATION

Lost Trail Lodge: Tahoe West Company, 8600 Coldstream Trail, Truckee, Calif, (530) 320-9268; www.losttraillodge.com. Rates are $69 a person a night. Two-night minimum. The Web site has listings for places to rent equipment.

Brooks Lodge: Katmailand Inc., 4125 Aircraft Drive, Anchorage, (800) 544-0551; www.katmailand.com. Rates are $630 a night, double occupancy. Reduced rates are available in package deals with air transportation.

Shadow Lake Lodge: Box 2606, Banff, Alberta, (403) 762-0115; www.shadowlakelodge.com. For reservations or to check availability, visit the Web site. Prices vary by season and include private log-cabin accommodation and three meals a day.

Southwest Nordic Center: Southwest Nordic Center, P.O. Box 3212, Taos, N.M., (505) 758-4761; www.southwestnordiccenter.com. Yurt rates are $65 to $125 a night for a group, depending on which night and which yurt you choose. The trails to the yurts are marked well, but those unfamiliar with finding routes might want to choose a guided trip, which includes the yurt rental, a professional guide and meals. Prices vary; call for details. Yurts are open only for the winter.

(y) (l) (y) (l) (y) (l) (y) (l)

(f) (f)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:49 AM

(*) (*) (*)

(p) http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/02/11/travel/11expl600.1.jpg

February 11, 2007

Explorer | Kashgar

Viewing Two Chinas From a Stop on the Silk Road

By HOWARD W. FRENCH

GLOBALIZATION has always been a dodgy term. As a clever neologism, it flatters our need to believe that the times we inhabit offer something truly new. Pause to think about it more clearly, though, and even a basic knowledge of geography or history turns up examples in almost every corner of the globe of the kinds of intercourse that turns global into globalization.

Better yet, there are places like Kashgar, an ancient Silk Road oasis town in the far west of China, where for centuries great swaths of disparate peoples have come together in a jumble just about as colorful as one could want or imagine.

My first experience of this came just yards from my hotel door on the groggy first morning of my stay in November. Groggy because I had flown there from Shanghai the night before, which meant seven hours in the air and a change of planes in Urumqi, the booming capital of China's Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.

Why bother coming to Kashgar at all, you might ask, given that it is neither the most obvious nor accessible choice for an additional stop beyond, say, Beijing or Shanghai on your average China trip itinerary?

For one thing, this city has few rivals in China for longevity when it comes to defining what it means to be a crossroads.

For at least two millenniums, Kashgar was one of the most prosperous market cities on what eventually became known as the Silk Road. Caravans of camels sometimes stretching for miles made their way through its walls, carrying silk or spices, silver and gold between East and West.

Separated from Pakistan by the Karakoram mountain range, whose 15,500-foot Khunjerab Pass is the world's highest paved border crossing, this area was also one of Islam's main points of entry into China. Ever traditionalist, conservative Kashgar remains perhaps the most important Islamic center for Chinese Muslims today.

The best answer to the question of why travel to China's westernmost city, though, is the visceral response you get from plunging into Kashgar's streets, as I did that first morning with my guide, Abdul. We made our way into the heart of the old city, once protected by an imposing earthen wall, whose sloping remains can still be seen.

As you leave the wide boulevards of modern Kashgar behind and ascend a small hillside lane, the jolt you receive constitutes one of the most powerful feelings that travel can provide — of leaving one world and entering another. In Kashgar's case it is a matter of a few yards from the familiar China of onrushing modernization to places that, but for a few details — like the occasional car nosing its way through streets thick with merchants and foot traffic — seem scarcely touched by time.

The high, old brick walls of closely spaced houses pressed in on us. Bearded men huddled in conversation, some working their prayer beads as they listened. A man in a battered barber's chair sat inclined, had his face lathered and massaged vigorously, and then was shaved with a straight razor.

A little way ahead, a clutch of women in veils approached, the first evidence of what I came to understand as a general rule here: once a woman is beyond her 20s, the veil is pretty much standard attire. That befits a place where in most old neighborhoods there is a mosque every hundred yards or so.

I knocked on the door at one and was welcomed by the friendly man with a beard combed to a fine white point. He was both groundskeeper and muezzin, or caller to prayer, and he sat with us for an hour, offering tea and then turning on the naked lanterns in the pillared and hitherto dark main prayer hall. The light revealed beautiful blue ceramic tiles at the altar etched with calligraphic prayers and a proud smile on the face of our host.

China's Uighur minority, which is the largest ethnic group in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, is almost entirely Sunni, and is subjected to very tight controls by a government wary of both terrorism and of longstanding separatist sentiments.

At the end of our visit with him, the muezzin climbed the rough cement staircase to a platform linking his twin minarets, explaining that it was from there that he called the faithful to prayer. What he didn't explain, careful to be discreet, is that the government doesn't allow the use of loudspeakers or megaphones, as is common in many Islamic countries.

At a small junction in the road, we came across a crowd of men standing engaged in a lively discussion. I wondered if there had been an incident but was told that they were making preparations for a wedding.

Around the corner, next to a bakery where freshly made flatbread lay cooling on an iron grill, a group of women — the female half of the wedding party — stood discussing their own arrangements.

When I turned the next corner in this maze of narrow streets, there was yet another discovery: Stalin lives. Or at least Stalin knickknacks do. All over China one can also find Mao memorabilia from the Cultural Revolution, from Little Red Books to pins and banners emblazoned with the Great Helmsman's image. Here, though, was a shopkeeper in a little hole in the wall. He had hung a vintage poster of Uncle Joe beaming confidently in front of his shop. It served as an appropriate reminder of the region's geography.

Indeed, as much as a Silk Road outpost, Kashgar was one of the main stalking grounds of the Great Game, as the shadowy competition between Russia and Britain for power and influence in Central Asia came to be called. The rival powers chose Kashgar as their listening posts for Afghanistan, India, China and the Islamic underbelly of the Russian empire, and from here each employed diplomat-spies to plot their moves from rival consulates.

In Kashgar today, as in much of China, one gets the impression that a very intense war has been waged on the country's cultural and tourism assets.

Signs of genuine local culture are so often poorly preserved, when they have not been destroyed altogether. China deserves credit for its formidable achievement of development, which has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty in a generation, but in most places the price for this has been the imposition of generic forms that are often tasteless and sometimes hideous.

Because of its remoteness, Kashgar is behind the curve, and for once that's good. But even Kashgar is coming under the pressure of Chinese-style homogenization, though, and that's another reason to visit soon.

The old Kashgar open-air market, which once drew as many 100,000 traders from all over the region each Sunday to haggle over everything from carpets to cattle, was a direct descendant of the trade brought here on the great camel trains. But it has fallen victim to what some will fancy is progress. In this case, progress has come in the form of a glorified hangar with cement floors, where bored-looking merchants tend regimented stalls all day. There may still be a big crowd on Sundays, but for the soul of the old weekly bazaar one must look elsewhere.

One place is a livestock market at the edge of town that used to be held in the main market but was moved when the cement was poured. Also held on Sunday, this is a place where thousands of rugged central Asian cowboys and peasants come to buy and sell cattle, camels, sheep and horses.

By midmorning, dust hangs thick in the air from all of the stamping hoofs, but coping with that is a small price to pay for the heaping doses of color as craggy-faced men come together in clusters and bargain loudly over the beast of their choice.

For my money, Friday prayer at the central mosque has become the week's new main event. Non-Muslims are not allowed to enter the mosque during the services, but the mosque sits in the middle of a huge square, which is surrounded by markets where foreigners are welcome.

About 20,000 people show up most Fridays for the midafternoon prayer, filling the mosque and spilling out on an apronlike staircase that wraps around the entranceway. Men to one side, women to the other, the faithful perform their rites, prostrating themselves repeatedly on little prayer rugs and standing, gazing into their palms, which they hold before them as the recite their prayers.

Beggars appear here by the dozens, too, many of them badly deformed. Their troubles are rewarded when the huge crowds of faithful emerge and drop coins and crumpled bills into their cups as alms.

Thirty minutes or so after the service is over, the mosque has fully emptied, but the square has not. There, people lay out goods for trade on sheets, and buy and sell shoes and clothing, prayer books and even eyeglasses.

For others, as for me, it was time for a late lunch of skewered lamb and noodles, and to savor the aroma of tea and freshly baked bread in the afternoon air.

VISITOR INFORMATION

GETTING THERE

Kashgar can only be reached by air from Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Urumqi, in turn, can be reached via a variety of Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Xian. Beyond the regular China visa, there are no special visa requirements for travel to Xinjiang.

Dollars are accepted but not preferred. A.T.M.'s around the city can connect travelers to their overseas bank accounts, and money can be changed in banks and hotels.

WHERE TO STAY

The former Russian consulate in Kashgar has been converted to the Seman Hotel (337 Seman Road; 86-998-258-2129). It is a dark, slightly down-at-the-heels affair that nonetheless still exudes the atmosphere of the era, with its look of a minor Russian palace with pastoral murals and Cyrillic inscriptions. Even if you don't stay there, a stop at the hotel's outdoor restaurant for a lunch of laghman, a tasty, mildly spicy Central Asian noodle dish, is a good excuse to visit. Standard rooms start at about 120 yuan a night, or about $15 at the rate of 7.9 yuan to the dollar.

The Chini Bagh Hotel (144 Seman Road; 86-998-298-3234) is a large, modern establishment set in a complex that also includes the British consulate. Deluxe rooms start at about 220 yuan a night.

Both the Seman and the Chini Bagh can arrange a guide for you, at a day rate of 150 yuan and 100 yuan, respectively.

WHERE TO EAT

Popular restaurants include the Orda (167 East Renmin Road; 86-998-265-2777), which specializes in local cuisine, like samsas (dumplings with mutton filling) and flatbreads. Four people could have a very large meal for about $20.

The same is true for the Intizar Restaurant (33 West Renmin Road, 86-998-258-5666), where in addition to meat dishes, patrons might also be offered a dish of mung bean noodles mixed with julienned radishes, carrots and cabbage, all tossed with a vinegar dressing.

In the old part of Kashgar, visitors will find a wide selection of bread stalls, noodle stands and small restaurants, as well as fruit and vegetable vendors.

(y) (y) (y) (y)

Carpe Diem,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 09:55 AM

:) :)

The Scotsman Sat 8 Feb 2003

Fishing for compliments

EAT HERE NOW

If you’re still struggling to think of somewhere special to take your other half for St Valentine’s Day (tut-tut - you should have sorted that by now), then we may have the place that will save you from relationship meltdown. As everyone knows, seafood is an aphrodisiac, especially the kind that involves lots of lip slurping and finger licking.

So just imagine your loved one’s delight, when (1) you take them out for a meal at one of Edinburgh’s top restaurants; (2) you order a platter of fresh, briny, sexy rock oysters; and (3) they crack open one of said oysters and find a shiny pearl inside.

Sounds too good to be true? Not if you book a table at Creelers this Friday. As well as a range of fresh and smoked seafood (the owners, Tim and Fran James, also own a very successful smokehouse on Arran) to choose from, you really will have a chance of finding a pearl in your oyster. The restaurant has teamed up with Edinburgh jewellers Hamilton & Inches to give away rare Scottish river pearls in its oyster platters.

Apparently, pearls are traditional wedding gifts and, as they’re worth £75 each, if that doesn’t get you a goodnight kiss, nothing will.

# Creelers, 3 Hunter Square, Edinburgh (0131 220 4447)

http://business.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=769&id=149462003

(*) (*) With the roads in 20 (U.S.) states still icy - I think there are many folks who will be going out for dinner late for Valentine's Day.....:) And restaurants that deliver can't get to their customers. I guess those who have big freezers and pantries (pantries, not panties) ;) are the ones who can whip up about anything for a romantic (or otherwise) dinner. :)

Carpe Diem,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-15-2007, 10:00 AM

(y) (y) (y)

Edinburgh Evening News Fri 7 Feb 2003

Put some passion into your cooking

Juliet Lawrence Wilson

IT is the third and final week of our baking series and we are going out with a bang. As this week’s recipes are for Valentine’s Day, that might have been an unfortunate choice of words.

Now I know we are a little bit premature with the Valentine’s celebrations, but I couldn’t resist making the gorgeous heart-shaped cake in the picture. Next week we are doing the big day properly with a Valentine’s feast for singletons.

I am sick of the whole thing already, to be honest, as we are fending off about half a dozen calls a day at the restaurant from desperate romantics eager to book a table ˆ deux (naturally). It is, of course, flattering that so many couples wish to experience the most important date of the romantic calendar ensconced in our restaurant, but the temptation to shout "you’ve left it too late!" down the phone is proving overwhelming.

Regular readers of this column might be aware that last Valentine’s Day I did not have a boyfriend (aagh!), but this year I do (hurrah!). The bloke did well at Christmas with a mixture of practical but thoughtful pressies, but with Valentine’s Day the pressure is on and he knows something frilly, sweet-smelling and highly romantic is required. Not only that, but it has to be expensive and well wrapped, preferably by the sales assistant in Harvey Nicks or Jenners where the purchase was made.

Suffice to say, the bloke has been well warned that if he doesn’t come up with the goods, my wrath will make Attila The Hun look like the Sugarplum Fairy. However, I would be pretty impressed should the bloke get the baking tins out and make me a cake, despite my high maintenance, materialistic leanings. A word of warning to the girls, though: if you do want to make the man of your dreams a Valentine’s cake, make sure that he is super-duper keen on you, as this display of affection and wifeliness is screaming out: "Marry me now!" So producing one on your second date would seem a tad desperate.

The lovely heart-shaped number is a passion fruit cake. I don’t know if passion fruit is an aphrodisiac or not, but it tastes nice and has an exotic aroma. You could fashion rose petals out of coloured icing or marzipan, but I decided to use real ones, which have a sexy intense colour.

Next up are cute little heart-shaped Florentines which I cover on one side with chocolate, because chocolate is the food of love, after all. Remember that you don’t have to bake these edibles for members of the opposite sex alone. Why not cheer up one of your single friends by making them something sweet for Valentine’s Day? The most evil day of the year should not only be reserved for expressing love in the Biblical sense but love between friends, family and those around us. OK, pass the sick bag.

Next week, you lovers will be on your own and I’ll be back to my cynical best with food for single women (who are only single because there are no decent men around, don’t you know!).

More seriously, I hope that in the last few weeks I have dispelled some myths about baking, especially that one about it supposedly being difficult.

And finally, a tip for the guys. If you are going to cook something for your loved one - for goodness sake, do the washing-up as well.

# Juliet Lawrence Wilson is head chef and proprietor of The Stockbridge Restaurant, 53 St Stephen’s Street, Edinburgh. Tel: 031-226 6766.

Recipes

Passion Cake

Heart-shaped tins are not hard to find, but as I wanted this cake to be for two people I have given instructions to make a round sponge then cut a heart shape out of it. Save the leftover sponge for making trifles. It will freeze well.

Ingredients:
- 4oz (115g) butter
- 4oz (115g) castor sugar
- 4oz (115g) self-raising flour
- 3 small eggs
- 2 passion fruit

To finish:
- 3/4 pint (430ml) double cream
- 2oz (60g) icing sugar
- 2 passion fruit

Method
Cut all the passion fruit in half and scoop out the seeds and juice. Set aside.

Pre-heat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. Grease an eight-inch round cake tin and put a circle of greased greaseproof paper at the bottom. Beat together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Whisk in the eggs one at a time and stir in half the passion fruit.

Sift in the flour and fold in. Pour the mix into the prepared tin and bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the cake is risen and firm and a skewer inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool and turn out. Cut into a heart shape using a template and then cut the cake in half horizontally, giving two layers.

Whisk the double cream until it has reached the soft peak stage, then fold in the icing sugar and remaining passion fruit. Sandwich the cake together and cover with the cream. Decorate with rose petals.

Chocolate Florentines (makes 25)

Ingredients:
- 11/2oz (45g) butter
- 4tbs double cream
- 21/2oz (75g) castor sugar
- 1oz (30g) hazelnuts
- 1oz (30g) flaked almonds
- 1oz (30g) mixed peel
- 1oz (30g) chopped glace cherries
- 1oz (30g) plain flour
- 4oz (115g) dark chocolate

Method
Melt the butter, sugar and cream in a saucepan, then bring to the boil. Take off the heat and add all the other ingredients, apart from the chocolate.

Grease a couple of baking trays and drop small spoonfuls of the mixture on to them. Flatten the mix with a fork and fashion into a heart shape. Leave space between the biscuits, as they will spread whilst cooking. Bake at 180C/350F/gas mark 4 for ten minutes, then allow to cool on the baking trays.

Melt the chocolate and spread a little on each biscuit, then make waves in the chocolate with a fork.

http://business.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=769&id=152242003

(y) (y) YES! YES! YES!

;) Geez, one would think I was "yes'ing" about something else. ;) (Like Meg Ryan's character does in the diner scene with Billy Crystal in "When Harry Met Sally".)

(y) I loved it when Rob Reiner (the director) had his mother play the character across the diner from Meg who says (after the "Big O" scene), telling the waitress, "I'll have whatever she had."

(y) Priceless!

(o) (o) Time to get going soon. Calls to make including one to the local auto dealership service department.(t)

(k) (k) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-16-2007, 09:28 AM

8-| (y) 8-| (y) 8-| (y) 8-| (y) 8-| (y)

Ongoing Learning Increases Longevity, Researchers Say

by Gabby Hyman

http://education.yahoo.net/degrees/articles/featured_ongoing_learning_increases_longevity.html

Education may be the long-sought-after fountain of youth. After decades of studies, researchers continue to find that those who keep their minds engaged in active education live longer and stave off the ravages of aging, such as memory loss and lethargy. The New York Times recently reported that having money or good health insurance "paled in comparison" to education as a crucial factor in graceful aging. "If you were to ask me what affects health and longevity," said City University of New York researcher Michael Grossman, "I would put education at the top of my list."

Comprehensive studies on the effects of ongoing learning on aging have been conducted for decades, and more recent studies by researchers called "health economists" only seem to support the contentions of 3rd Century BC philosopher, Aristotle, who said, "Education is the best provision for old age."

In 1999, Columbia University grad student Adriana Lleras-Muney focused her dissertation on 1969 research by three health economists who found that investing in education over the long haul yielded greater anti-aging effects than good medical care. In her ground-breaking study, Lleras-Muney found that when people reached age 35, their life expectancy was increased by 18 months if they completed an extra year of education.

Lleras-Muney's findings were supported by research conducted by Princeton's Anne Case. Case reported that "each additional year of schooling for men in the U.S. is associated with an 8 percent reduction in mortality, a result consistent with those found in many European countries. In surveys run in both the developed and developing world, people with greater levels of schooling report themselves to be significantly healthier."
Education and Brain Aerobics

Only two decades ago, most physicians and researchers felt that aging and its deleterious effects on the brain were inevitable. However, these recent findings offer hope to maintaining lifelong mental health. The Alzheimer's Association now sponsors "Maintain Your Brain" workshops throughout the country, encouraging people to stay physically and intellectually active. The workshop advises people to "enroll in courses at your local adult education center, community college[,] or other community group."

What is it about learning that arrests aging? Campus-based learning increases socialization and lessens loneliness and depression common among seniors. But that's only one factor. Even the very practice of taking online classes seems to activate parts of the brain that slow aging and increase memory, emotional engagement, and intellectual curiosity.

Dr. Gary Small, Director of the UCLA Center on Aging, has found a research niche in what he calls "Mental Aerobics." Using physical fitness training language, Small encourages everyone to "cross train" their minds to keep them in peak condition. Dr. Small's popular anti-aging book, The Longevity Bible, proposes an eight-step game plan to keep your body supple and your mind in peak condition. Number one on the list: "Sharpen Your Mind. Mental aerobics cross train your brain to significantly improve memory skills and brain efficiency. If you fix your brain for longevity, your body will follow in kind."

The New England Journal of Medicine published a study in 2003 revealing that seniors over 75 years old who continued to read actively along with engaging in other physical and artistic activities had demonstrably lower rates of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

Lifelong learning combined with exercises to stimulate the mind builds what Small calls a cognitive reserve. Small says, "It's the use-it-or-lose-it theory. If you keep your brain cells active it improves their efficiency."
Education and Memory

A landmark 2005 study conducted by Toronto's Mellanie V. Springer and Cheryl Grady, Ph.D. revealed that the brains of older adults rely on the frontal cortex for memory and cognitive activity. Grady reported, "The higher the education, the more likely the older adult is to recruit frontal regions, resulting in a better memory performance."

Researchers have showed that the idle mind, like muscles in the body, atrophies from nonuse. With the exponential explosion of online colleges and classes, even homebound adults can keep their minds at play in the fields of learning. A 2006 Harris Poll found that of the 172 million American adults online, some 14 million were over the age of 65. Now more than ever, people of all ages can access a wide variety of educational choices to help keep their minds active and engaged.
Back in School

Seniors can get discounts for online and traditional study--even seniors who pursue a high school diploma or GED. Readily available online, education programs give those who always meant to finish high school the chance to do so--even if they've meant to finish for decades now. Even with a few years (or decades) on those wide-eyed high school grads, a non-traditional student can find a lot of satisfaction in an investment in him or herself rather than just trying to advance a career.

Adult learners can expect to find plenty of company in a classroom--online or on campus. A U.S. Department of Education report found that 84% of students in higher education are non-traditional, meaning that they haven't gone straight to college after high school. Subsequently, returning to school a little bit later in life for a diploma or beyond--an associate's, bachelor's, or other degree--has become the norm rather than the exception.

Graduate or Ph.D. programs can also be avenues to fulfill lifelong dreams or interests for older Americans, and this upper-level academic delivers the metal challenges that keep the brain young. But here's the bottom line: Ongoing learning helps keep the mind in shape and can increase longevity. As such, education is proving to be the crucial ingredient in healthy living and long life.

Sources

"Almost 14 Million Senior Citizens Now Online." Senior Journal, May 28, 2006. Retrieved February 16, 2007 from:

http://www.seniorjournal.com/NEWS/SeniorStats/6-05-28-Almost14Million.htm

"Brain Health." Alzheimer's Association National Office, 2007. Retrieved February 16, 2007 from:

http://alz.org/we_can_help_brain_health_maintain_your_brain.asp

Case, Ann. "The Primacy of Education." Retrieved February 16, 2007 from:

http://www.princeton.edu/~rpds/downloads/case_primacy_education.pdf

Grady, Cheryl L., PhD, Mellanie V. Springer, MSc, Anthony R. McIntosh, PhD, and Gordon Winocur, PhD. "The Relation Between Brain Activity During Memory Tasks and Years of Education in Young and Older adults." Neuropsychology 19.2 (2005).

Hartman, Diana. "Life, Learning, and Longevity." BlogCritics Magazine, January 8, 2007. Retrieved February 16, 2007 from:

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/01/08/065617.php

Kolata, Gina. "A Surprising Secret to a Long Life: Stay in School." The New York Times, January 3, 2007.

Small, Gary, Ph.D. "Eight Essentials." 2006. Retrieved February 16, 2007 from:

http://www.drgarysmall.com/eight_essentials/

Stenson. Jacqueline. "A Workout For Your Brain." MSNBC, November 30, 2004. Retrieved February 16, 2007 from:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5811431

Stokes, Peter. "Hidden in Plain Sight: Adult Learners Forge a New Tradition in Higher Education." U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved February 16, 2007 from:

http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/hiedfuture/reports/stokes.pdf

(y) (y) I'm always a bit leery of what researchers say, including the breadth and depth of the study, research methodologies and other components of an unbiased study. This article came from the log-in page this morning on Yahoo, so the article was already suspect. However, I checked all of the sources listed and found the associated URLs, and there are some good references, IMHO.

:| Obviously, the above reference from MSNBC is about as respectable as one from Wikipedia - at least as far as scholars (these so-called academics tell me) are concerned. PhD learners (including me) are forbidden to use references like these. :o

;) Good thing those thirty articles in magazines that were published (and I wrote) are considered (by my professors as well as the university) to be valid! :)

(*) Have a spectacular day! I hope your Friday is filled will sunshine, if not overhead, then in your thoughts and heart.

Warmest thoughts,

Sweetlady & Wyatt the Boxer (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-16-2007, 09:37 AM

(l) (y) (l) (y)

Baz Luhrmann's Chanel No. 5 commercial (or 'film', as Luhrmann prefers it being referred to), reunited Luhrmann and his Moulin Rouge star, Nicole Kidman, in one of the most expensive and elaborate advertisements of all time. The film was screened in several countries around the world during 2004, 2005 and 2006.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/bazthegreat/chanel.htm

Chanel No 5 commercial (starring Nicole Kidman):

http://youtube.com/watch?v=HsdYPKGYxrI

(*) (*) (*) (*) (*) Definitely a 5 Star ad. One of my favorites. I also have worn this perfume several times in my life, so far. Nice synchronicity that I was looking on amazon.com just the other day to check prices for this and a couple of other perfumes.

The back story on this ad is that the post production was extensive - and this cost a bundle. :o

(c) (c) Time for my second cup. Hey - I went to bed around 4:00 a.m. :| Often my best thinking for a project or for graduate work - is late at night and into the wee hours of the morning when everything is so quiet. Well - except for last night when the wind was howling! ;) Brrr.....my office is over the garage so it's pretty chilly.

<:o) Horay for the two "Fs" or "F-Squared: Why, that's Flannel and Fleece, of course. ;)

Carpe Diem,

Sweetlady & Wyatt the Boxer (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-16-2007, 09:39 AM

(l) (&) (l) (&) (l) (&) (l)

Gold Mine of Fabulous Photos: http://photos.signonsandiego.com/gallery1.5/070213westminster

American Kennel Club News Article

The American Kennel Club Congratulates English Springer Spaniel James

Date of Article: February 14, 2007

- Same Dog Sweeps both Westminster and AKC/Eukanuba National Championship -

Last night the stunning English Springer Spaniel, Ch Felicity's Diamond Jim, known as "James" of Fairfax Station, VA handled by Kellie L. Fitzgerald won the 131st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. James is owned by Mr. & Mrs. Allen Patton, R. Dehmel and D. Hadsall. Best in Show Judge Dr. Robert A. Indeglia of Narragansett, RI awarded the honors to James.

Established in 1877, the Westminster Kennel Club was the first AKC member club. Its show, held every year at Madison Square Garden, is the second longest continuously held sporting event, behind the Kentucky Derby.

The pair was also honored months earlier by winning the prestigious AKC/Eukanuba National Championship where they beat out 2,500 dogs in every AKC-recognized breed and variety, including 116 competitors from foreign registries representing 16 countries, and earned a whopping $50,000 cash prize. James is the third dog to win top honors at both shows. Bichon Frise Ch. Special Times Just Right did it in 2001 and Kerry Blue Terrier Ch. Torums Scarf Michael won the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in 2002 and Westminster in 2003.

"James has had a long show career and can retire at the top of his game after these crowning achievements," said AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "This is the third dog who has won both events. It just goes to show that it takes a top contender, a truly special dog, to earn Best in Show at the country's premier venues."

Some facts about the English Springer Spaniel:

* The Breed ranked 26th in popularity in 2006 according the AKC's annual registration statistics.
* More than 8,200 English Springer Spaniels were registered by the AKC in 2006.
* The English Springer Spaniel was recognized by the AKC in 1910.
* The typical Springer is friendly, eager to please, quick to learn and willing to obey.
* The breed comes in the following colors: black or liver with white, blue or liver roan and tricolor.
* In 1902, the Kennel Club (England) granted English Springers and English Cockers separate breed status.

AKC registered purebreds are eligible to compete in a multitude of events. In addition to dog shows, obedience, rally and agility trials, English Springer Spaniels may also compete in limited breed activities such as field trials and hunting tests. To learn more about the English Springer Spaniel or about the breed's national rescue, visit the AKC parent club, the English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Association, Inc. at www.essfta.org.

http://www.akc.org/news/blocks/print_article.cfm?article_id=3137

(y) (y)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-16-2007, 09:46 AM

(l) (l) (l) (l)

http://gosw.about.com/od/santafenewmexico/p/artfeast.htm

Santa Fe's 10th Annual ArtFeast

Fine Art, Fine Dining, Fine Wine and Fine Homes: February 22 - 25, 2007

http://www.santafe.com/events/artfeast.html

Santa Fe, New Mexico, one of the nation's premier art markets and year-round art destinations, is celebrating the 10th anniversary of ARTfeast February 22nd /no spamming of other sites/ 25th. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and blessed with more than 300 days of sunshine, Santa Fe is the perfect travel destination for collectors and connoisseurs interested in a weekend of fine art, fine wine and fine food.

"Each year, Santa Fe’s finest galleries, restaurants and hotels join together for this special city-wide celebration of cutting edge art exhibits, gourmet dining, wine tasting and the art of home tour," said Mary Harbour, president of ARTsmart and one of the main ARTfeast organizers. "The growing number of well-known and new artists featured at the more than 200 galleries in Santa Fe continues to attract major buyers and collectors of contemporary and modern art from around the world."

As part of the special 10th anniversary ARTfeast festivities, sculptor, Tom Joyce will be honored at the gourmet dinner, on Saturday February 24.

2007 ARTfeast festivities include:

THURSDAY, FEB 22

Contemporary Encounter

Santa Fe Director/Curator Laura Heon discusses the provacative works of Barry X. Ball.

FRIDAY, FEB 23

Vintner's Luncheon & Style Show

Enjoy a style show by designer Paulette Martsolf of Allie-Coosh and savor selections from Sonoma's Charles Creek Vineyards & Winery and delectables by Chef Mark Kiffin at The Compound restaurant.

Edible Art Tour (EAT)

Enormously popular the Edible Art Tour is one of Santa Fe's most festive events. More than thirty of Santa Fe's top galleries partner with well known local restaurants to offer a night of art and gourmet food. Participants can view and purchase fine works of art from the galleries' special exhibits and enjoy samplings of the great foods from Santa Fe's finest restaurants.

SATURDAY, FEB 24

Art of Home Tour I

Santa Fe Properties, exclusive affiliate of Christie's Great Estates, has selected some of Santa Fe's most artistic and elegant homes to tour. Art on display in these homes is available for purchase.

Art of Wine & Cheese

Visitors can sample an array of wines from the world's classic wine growing regions and artisanal cheeses.

Gourmet Dinner & Children's Plate Auction

Created by Santa Fe's master chefs, participants can savor a multi-course gourmet dinner paired with a selection of outstanding wines. Ticket holders can bid on plates delightfully designed and painted by Santa Fe's public school students.

SUNDAY, FEB 25

Artists' Brunch & Silent Auction

Ticket holders meet and mingle with Santa Fe's top artists and gallery owners, while enjoying a lavish champagne buffet.

Art of Home Tour II

TICKETS:

Tickets can be purchased for these events at www.artfeast.com or by calling (505) 988-1234. Detailed information on individual events, the weekend ARTfeast package and hotel specials can also be found at the website.

ARTfeast is an annual event of ARTsmart, a 501c3 nonprofit organization established by members of the Santa Fe Gallery Association to benefit art programs in Santa Fe public schools. Since its inception, close to $400,000 has been raised from ARTfeast activities for public school art programs. These funds go to purchase pastels, mixed media, painting, pottery, print-making, assemblages, straw appliqué and many other needed supplies for Santa Fe’s young artists.

http://www.santafe.com/events/artfeast.html

(l) (h) (l) (h) (l) (h) (l)

(*) I love this place very much, although more recently when Indian Market and other crowded events are not going on. (Although I do miss meeting the Native American artists who have blankets with all kinds of artwork outside of the Palace of the Governors...):) I might go sometime that first weekend in August, despite the crowds. My favorite time of year to visit is Thanksgiving and the holidays when there are luminarias lining all of the adobe buildings all over town. Dry cold at 7,500 feet. The smell of pinon pine burning in kiva fireplaces.... Magical!

(f) (f) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-16-2007, 09:53 AM

(y) (y) (y) (y)

INHERIT THE WIND is a fictionalized retelling of the famous 1925 “Monkey Trial,” in which science teacher John Scopes was tried and convicted for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution, violating a Tennessee law that forbade teaching any theory that conflicted with the Biblical conception of Divine Creation. Two-time Tony Award Winner Brian Dennehy will play the role of attorney Matthew Harrison Brady (based on William Jennings Bryan), and two-time Tony Award Winner Christopher Plummer will play attorney Henry Drummond (based on Clarence Darrow).

http://www.inheritthewindonbroadway.com/home.html

(y) (y) Coming soon to Broadway and IMHO, definitely worth the PITA Factor (Pain In The Ass) of the Amtrak train ride, cab ride and crowds in NYC to get to the theater.

(l) I love a good play. Theater, especially in a small, community one, or while sitting closer to a larger stage provides such an interactive immediacy between actos and audience that films just cannot. (~)

Carpe Diem,
SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-16-2007, 09:58 AM

(f) (f)

Gay and lesbian life in the Middle East

by Brian Whitaker

http://www.al-bab.com/unspeakablelove/

Homosexuality is still taboo in the Arab countries. While clerics denounce it as a heinous sin, newspapers, reluctant to address it directly, talk cryptically of ‘shameful acts’ and ‘deviant behaviour’. Despite growing acceptance of sexual diversity in many parts of the world, attitudes in the Middle East have been hardening against it.

In this absorbing account, Guardian journalist Brian Whitaker paints a disturbing picture of people who live secretive, often fearful lives; of daughters and sons beaten and ostracised by their families or sent to be ‘cured’ by psychiatrists; of men imprisoned and flogged for ‘behaving like women’; of others who have been jailed simply for trying to find love on the Internet.

Amid all the talk of reform in the Middle East, homosexuality is one issue that almost everyone in the region would prefer to ignore, and yet there are pockets of change and tolerance. Deeply informed and engagingly written, Unspeakable Love draws long overdue attention to this crucial subject.

"It is high time this issue was brought out of the closet once and for all, and afforded a frank and honest discussion. Brian Whitaker's humane, sophisticated, and deeply rewarding book, Unspeakable Love, does exactly that."

- Ali al-Ahmed, Saudi reform advocate and director of the Gulf Institute, Washington

“This book is a compelling read. It captures with detail and with disturbing accuracy the difficulties and dangers facing lesbians and gay men across the Middle East. It helps us to understand the social pressure, the sense of isolation, the anxiety and fear and trauma. And through it all we glimpse also the possibility of hope, of remarkable courage, and perhaps even in the longer term the chance of a more open and accepting society.”

- Chris Smith, former Arts Minister in the British government

"This is an important, timely book, and lucid to boot - a must-read for anyone who believes in human rights."

-Rabih Alameddine, author of 'Koolaids'

"Brian Whitaker has given us a moving analysis of the hidden lives of Arab homosexuals. This genuinely groundbreaking investigation reveals a side of Arab and Muslim culture shrouded by the strictest taboos. Arab societies can no longer contain their cultural, religious, ethnic or sexual diversity within their traditional patriarchal definitions of the public sphere. Anyone interested in reform in the Arab world must read this book."

-Mai Yamani, Research Fellow at Chatham House and author of 'Cradle of Islam'

"A fascinating insight."

-Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall

"The book boldly delves into one of the biggest taboos in modern Muslim societies with subtlety and sensitivity, addressing both Arab reformers and interested Western readers. [It] provides fascinating insights into the lives of ordinary gays and lesbians, and how society views and treats them."

-Khaled Diab, Toronto Globe and Mail

"I learnt much from Brian Whitaker's book, which is excellent. It was inspirational to me on the challenges to international law, and the uses of nationalism to suppress dissent within countries."

-Fred Halliday, Professor of International Relations, London School of Economics

"While directing readers toward the pinpoint of light at the end of the tunnel, Whitaker clearly demarcates tradition and family honour as two powerhouses eternally keeping Middle Eastern alternative lifestyles in the dark. ... Strong, condensed, world-weary portrait infused with hope."

-Kirkus Reviews

(f) (f) (f) (f) (f)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-16-2007, 10:00 AM

:) :)

A Short History of 'Cut and Run,' Using the George W. Bush Definition

Calvin Trillin

When you pull out before the job is done, that's "cut and run" as far as I'm concerned.
--George W. Bush, on whether he's fairly characterized the Democratic position

1. Vietnam

We'd been well mired in a quag.
Our allies there were not too strong,
But Nixon left them to themselves,
And they were swamped by Vietcong.

That's cut and run. Yes, cut and run:
We left before the job was done,
And let Saigon get overrun--
A simple case of cut and run.

2. Lebanon

Marines were there to keep the peace.
Before their mission was complete,
There came an awful barracks blast,
And Reagan pulled them out tout de suite.

That's cut and run. Yes, cut and run:
We left before the job was done--
No matter how the news was spun,
A simple case of cut and run.

3. Gulf War

We could have gone to Baghdad, but
The role Bush One said we'd then fill
Was hated occupying force.
He was, of course, correct, but still...

That's cut and run. Yes, cut and run:
We left before the job was done.
Saddam had fun because Bush One
Did not remain but cut and run.

4. Texas

If sent to Nam, you might get killed.
Young Bush, to dodge his draft board's "Greetings!"
Used Daddy's clout to join the Guard,
And then finessed a year of meetings.

Talk about your cutting and running!

www.thenation.com

(y) (y) (y) (y) (y) (y) (y)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-16-2007, 10:01 AM

:) :)

http://www.madashellclub.net/

(y) (y) Sometimes it's good to vent. ;)

(f)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-16-2007, 10:02 AM

(y) (y) (y) (y)

http://www.ffrf.org/

(y) (y)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-16-2007, 10:03 AM

|-) |-) |-) |-)

http://www.northernsun.com/

(y) (y)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-16-2007, 10:04 AM

Definitely a coffee warning;

http://www.bellybuttonwindows.com/

(y) (y) Knew a few folks like this? I do. ;)

:) :)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-16-2007, 10:12 AM

:| :| :|

February 11, 2007

Ideas & Trends

My Not-Even- Remotely-Funny Valentine

By KATE ZERNIKE

IN Margaret Atwood’s story “Hairball,” the protagonist has just had a benign ovarian tumor removed when her married lover-boss informs her that she has been fired. When she arrives home to an engraved cocktail party invitation from him and his wife, she knows exactly how to respond. She goes to a fancy food shop and buys a box of chocolate truffles, the kind he gave her after their first tryst. She takes the tumor she has kept as a souvenir, dusts it with cocoa powder, nestles it in the elaborately wrapped box, and sends it to her lover with a note expressing her regrets.

Gruesome, bizarre, the kind of thing only fiction could imagine.

So why, then, is fact so often just as weird?

What novelist, after all, could have dreamed up the diaper that Lisa Nowak, the Navy captain, astronaut and married mother of three, put on so she would not have to stop to go to the bathroom as she drove 950 miles, the police said, to confront the woman she believed stood between her and the object of her affection?

Sure, Hollywood produced a runaway bride, but it took real life — a 32-year-old Georgia woman who fled west by bus in 2005 — to give us one who faked her own abduction. Then there’s the skydiver detained last month in Belgium after the police said she sabotaged another diver’s parachute, then watched her fall 13,000 feet to her death, all because she suspected the woman was having an affair with her boyfriend.

It’s a question for the ages, but hey, it’s almost Valentine’s Day: What is it about love that drives apparently rational people to such blindly irrational behavior?

No question, love reigns supreme in human behavior. “There’s very little in life we desire as much as to be connected with someone we love,” said Arthur Aron, a professor of social psychology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. “It trumps the desire for wealth, for power, even to live. People feel that if only this person would reciprocate, their lives would be just perfect.”

As science has become better able to analyze brain activity, some researchers argue it boils down to chemistry.

Helen Fisher, an anthropologist at Rutgers who has written extensively on love and mating, described a recent experiment in which she and colleagues put 15 people who had been madly in love and freshly rejected through M.R.I. scans. Their scans showed decreased blood to the area of the brain associated with decision-making. But the brains showed increased activity in the dopamine reward system, or what Dr. Fisher called “the wanting-seeking system,” associated with craving and taking big risks, as well as in areas associated with physical pain and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The overall picture was of what Dr. Fisher calls “abandonment rage.”

“You’ve got a person who has enormous energy and intense motivation and craving, with focused attention, willing to take huge risks, in physical pain, trying to control their anger, and obsessively thinking about someone,” she said. “It’s a bad combination.”

Love, in this interpretation, really is the drug.

“If you really want cocaine and you don’t have it,” Dr. Aron said, “you’ll do the same sorts of things.”

Others caution against blaming nature for “crazy love.”

When someone goes over the edge, it tends to be that they are missing some ability to make moral judgments, or suffering some mental disorder.

Of course, “being in love is not a mental disorder, thank God,” said Pamela Regan, a professor of psychology at California State University, Los Angeles.

People suffering an obsession may have developed a faulty attachment style. They grew up with an emotionally distant parent and become preoccupied with securing a close bond with someone else, even if, and perhaps especially if, that person is unavailable.

The documentary film “Crazy Love” tells the story of Burt Pugach, who in 1959 became so obsessed with the woman he was dating that he hired thugs to throw lye in her eyes, permanently blinding her. Crazier yet, when he got out of prison, she married him.

BOTH Mr. Pugach and his wife had suffered distant or emotionally harsh mothers. And to Dan Klores, who made the film, it made sense that they wanted to be together; both were intensely afraid of being alone. He saw parallels in Captain Nowak’s behavior.

“There was the same type of heightened fear, that skin-chilling fear of, ‘I’m going to lose him,’ ” he said.

There but for the grace of God go the rest of us. In 2003, when Clara Harris was on trial in Texas for running over her cheating husband with her Mercedes, lawyers had to strike several jurors from the pool because they told of similar experiences.

One woman recalled how she had nicked her husband with a truck after discovering him with another woman. A man recalled how he had been accused of assault after his wife cheated on him.

But most of us don’t buy a steel mallet, drive 950 miles and pepper spray someone in an airport parking garage in the middle of the night, as the police say Captain Nowak did.

There is what Dr. Regan called “a gray area between normalcy and obsession.”

“We don’t realize we’re being annoying when we e-mail or text-message someone, and oftentimes the objects are not clear in their refusal,” she said.

But when the rejection is clear, Dr. Regan continued, “the key thing is, people who have normal mental development realize that heartache happens, it’s painful, it’s going to hurt, but I’m going to be O.K.”

For Dr. Fisher, it comes down to better impulse control.

“It is my guess that just about everybody on this planet has wanted to stalk somebody at some point, but we contain ourselves,” she said.

That doesn’t mean you can necessarily screen for some flaw that will expose stalking behavior.

“For many people they simply won’t be in a situation that stresses them in such a fashion that their normal filtering process is overruled,” said James Hollis, the director of the Houston Jung Center and the author of “Why Good People Do Bad Things.” “They’re lucky, and they may be conscious of what they’re doing.”

Dr. Hollis speculated that Captain Nowak “got caught in a moment of unconscious vulnerability.”

It is not unlike road rage, he said: “It’s not about someone driving badly, someone cut me off. It hits an old wound: ‘They always disrespected me.’ What we do is not crazy. It’s logical based on the emotional premise from which it’s coming. The emotional premise may not be rational. But it’s truthful to the person in the moment.”

People in highly competitive environments may not be used to asking for the help that might steer them away from drastic behavior, Dr. Hollis said. And the drive to excel may extend to every area of their lives. “This is someone who would go to outer space to reach a goal,” Dr. Aron said of Captain Nowak, who has been charged with attempted murder.

But no one knows for sure yet why Lisa Nowak behaved as she did. And highly accomplished people — men or women — are no more or less prone to such behavior. As Dr. Fisher said, “Any police blotter could tell you this isn’t just astronauts.”

:o :o Whoa! Highly competitive environments indeed. Just because this lady astronaut dropped ALL of her marbles in space - doesn't mean that she can pick up more marbles than she dropped when she got back. ;)

:| :| This story gave me the heebie-jeebies. I have been stalked in the past and never want to experience that ever again. :| Thank goodness for current bleeding-edge technologies to track and catch the creep (or creep-ess) in the act.

8-| Bravo for those techies who develop these protective technologies. :) It keeps us all safe. Hopefully.

Oh, one more thing - Fleetwood Mac's "Just Crazy Love" was one of my favorite cuts on on album that I bought (and eventually wore out) during my sophmore year in college. Lots of great song on that album. (Geez - "album"? That definitely sounds like an old (er) person, doesn't it?) Celebrate inner youth!

:D :D

(f) (f) Have a lovely rest of your Friday, or early Saturday!

Sun Thoughts,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-16-2007, 10:19 AM

(l) (l) (l)

http://www.winterrailvacations.com/

(y) (y) Who's ready?

:)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-16-2007, 10:25 AM

:s :s

http://www.santabarbaracarfree.org/default.htm

(y) Santa Barbara is a wonderful place, although way, way too expensive. They're probably right - taking the Amtrak and getting around town without wheels might be (unusual) fun. Absolutely fabulous B&Bs and mom & pop types of (*) 5 Star restaurants. However, there was one time when I visited back in 1982 on business (yes, there is a university there who bought a video editing system) and I took the department chair and his wife out to dinner. Cost for three people back then? About $350. :| I wonder what dinner for two would cost today, or has competition driven prices down so folks can afford to visit and have an affordable (and not at a Denny's) meal? :)

;) Inquiring minds want to know. Or probably not.

(f) (f) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-16-2007, 10:29 AM

;) ;) ;)

February 11, 2007

Modern Love

Dear Editor, the Secret of Love Is ...

By DANIEL JONES

EACH year, as the day nears when we are expected to celebrate (or at least positively spin) the current state of our romantic lives, people start asking me what I, as the editor of this column, have learned about love. Surely, they assume, I’ve learned something from spending my days immersed in strangers’ relationship stories. But whenever this seeming softball of a question comes hurtling at me, my mind goes blank.

In need of an answer, I sift through hundreds of essays submitted for the column, searching for trends, clues, even a measly tip or two. This year, I relived the oddity of the middle-aged woman who couldn’t decide when best to inform her dates that she’s never had sex, and of the man who faced a similar quandary when it came to disclosing that he has only one testicle. I read cheery stories of those who found love only after giving up, and darker tales of philandering husbands, rebellious children, stalking lovers, flirtatious doctors and baffling breakups.

In these accounts I found exactly one common thread: Wisdom about love is sorely lacking. Over the millennia we Homo sapiens, with our ever-evolving intelligence and sensibilities, have made great strides on many fronts (human rights! space travel!), but when it comes to love, we don’t seem to evolve so much as revolve.

Given this history of futility, maybe we should stop asking each other what we have learned about love. The better question is: In what new and creative ways have we failed to learn? That I can answer. So here, with gratitude to the thousands of writers who every year send me their confessions of doubt and disorder, I offer my thoughts on those areas where we have made no discernible progress in learning about love since last Valentine’s Day.

1. HOW TO AVOID FEELING JEALOUS OVER REALLY DUMB THINGS

This year I heard from several wives who claim to be jealous of the relationship their husbands have with the woman’s voice on the car’s navigation device. Not only is it strangely seductive and somehow more sophisticated than the wife’s voice, it also provides flawless directions, an ability it unfairly flaunts to gain the husband’s admiration and trust. How, these wives wonder, are they supposed to compete with a dashboard dominatrix who has her own built-in Global Positioning System? And how are they to feel when their husbands shush them so they can better hear the advice of their leather-bound mistress of the console?

2. HOW TO REMEMBER THAT WHEREVER YOU GO, THERE YOU ARE

Online communities like SecondLife allow members to create animated versions of themselves called avatars that can go on dates, fly, carouse, even engage in prostitution. Theodora Stites wrote vividly in this space about how she conducts much of her romantic life this way and confessed to enlarging her avatar’s chest and perfecting its features to attract suitable male avatars.

You might assume that on SecondLife you are protected from the emotional upheaval of real relationships because the animated couplings tend to be, well, fake. But here’s the catch: They’re not fake. It’s still you behind the screen and you who is being accepted or rejected, with all the attendant joy and pain. As Theodora explained, “I’ve found that I act much as I do in real life, and my SecondLife relationships tend to fail the same way my real-life relationships do.”

3. HOW TO EMBRACE THE NO-FAULT BREAKUP

There surely is plenty of blame to go around in most breakups, but that’s not the way we tend to see it. We tend to believe only one person is at fault. The other person. Especially when that person is a man. Please don’t shoot the messenger on this one; I’m simply telling you what I have observed.

Among the truckloads of divorce and breakup stories I’ve received, the prevailing sentiment is that the man is either at fault or too incommunicative for fault to be properly established. What’s more, even the men blame the men.

“He was a jerk,” the women say. “He didn’t know what he wanted.”

“I was a jerk,” the men say. “I didn’t know what I wanted.”

Can the world actually be this tilted, or is that just how we choose to write about it? Are women apt to publicly seethe while men prefer to seethe in private? Or is it more acceptable for women to complain about men than the reverse? If you know the answer, send it to modernlove@nytimes.com, and together we’ll bust this case wide open.

4. HOW TO HAVE SEX IF YOU’RE A SEX COLUMNIST

This seemed to be the year of hearing from sex columnists who aren’t having sex. In case you didn’t know, it’s really embarrassing to be a sex columnist who isn’t having sex. The anxiety is three-fold: First, what am I supposed to write about if I’m not having sex? Second, how am I supposed to have any credibility? And third, why is this happening to me, anyway?

5. HOW TO FIND A LASTING RELATIONSHIP FOR YOURSELF IF YOU’RE A DATING COACH

Same as above, substituting dating coach for sex columnist and dates for sex.

6. HOW TO GET MARRIED WHILE REMAINING SINGLE

Hardly a week passes when I don’t hear from someone stewing about the anticipated gains and losses of marriage: how to handle the last name, the loss of personal space and identity, the permanent end to sex with others, the problematic vocabulary (“wife,” “husband,” “until death”), the merging of finances and religions, the issue of marrying when gays can’t, the questionable necessity of marriage in the first place.

Amid all this agonizing, I also hear of creative solutions, such as having an open marriage and sleeping with whomever you want, putting a Star of David atop your Christmas tree, and maintaining separate bedrooms or houses. As for the last-name problem, you could always try the technique of one enterprising couple: let your dog make the decision by building a contraption rigged with treats and levers that old Spot nudges with his nose during your actual wedding ceremony to select the name you, your spouse and your future children will have for the rest of your lives.

7. HOW TO BECOME A PARENT WHILE REMAINING CHILDLESS

From what I’ve observed, the real before-and-after divide in life is not getting married but having children (or not). The accounts of hand-wringing pour in: flamed-out friendships when one has a child and the other doesn’t, defensiveness from those who decide against but continue to feel pressure, and crushing ambivalence among couples who, year after year, simply can’t decide.

What are their pros and cons? Wanting a child for the anticipated bond and expansion of love that everyone promises versus the feared curtailing of career opportunities, travel, sleep and leisure, sometimes combined with worries of parental incompetence or of bringing a child into a world that is already overpopulated. But the greatest struggle often involves those couples where one wants a child and the other does not, even when, in some cases, they were in agreement before marrying.

8. HOW TO MAKE LOVE LIKE A PORN STAR

Since I’ve heard from only one person in 30 months who even vaguely seemed to make love like a porn star (in the sense that she films herself), it might be safe to assume this kind of activity is not a nationwide trend. But there’s a book out called “How to Make Love Like a Porn Star,” and it has been a huge best seller. So it’s entirely possible that thousands are making love like porn stars but are simply (understandably) not writing essays about it.

9. HOW TO COMMENT APPROPRIATELY ON YOUR GIRLFRIEND’S APPEARANCE

One would hope men had figured this one out by now. Yet in an account I received not long ago, a guy mused aloud to his girlfriend (who wrote the piece) about how he must have “grown emotionally” lately because she was the most “full-figured” woman he’d ever dated, and while in the past he wouldn’t have been attracted to such a body type, he had, with her, somehow managed to get over that hurdle.

But who am I to judge? They are now — you guessed it — married.

10. HOW TO FINALLY GET OVER THE LINGERING FANTASY OF THAT LONG-LOST LOVE

In one area, however, we are learning, at least according to various versions of this story that have come my way: You fell in love that summer in college. Or while studying in Rome. Or while milking goats in Bhutan. Whatever the case, your time together was magical, it ended prematurely, and you never forgot. And 20 years later, when the routine of your life (children, work, chores, little sex, no romance, not even a Valentine’s Day card for the spouse on your radar screen) starts to get you down, you find yourself wondering, What kind of glamorous life is he/she leading now? What if that had been my life?

At long last we are finding out, and we are doing so en masse, courtesy of Google text and image searches, even Google Earth (aerial shot of his house, anyone?). In time, we stumble upon an e-mail address, compose the perfect note, swallow hard and hit send. And soon we’re reading about the amiable husband/wife, the overscheduled children and the unsurprising career, all in a tone that’s breezy, passionless. “But it’s such fun to reconnect,” he/she blathers on. “And wouldn’t it be a scream if the next time we’re in the same city on business we could meet up for a cappuccino?”

And just like that, for many of us at least, the fantasy evaporates. The grass is not greener. It’s the exact same grass, or maybe even browner. So you log off, stand up, splash water on your face, and stride back into your life with fresh eyes. After all, you love the children you have, not the children you might have had. And the same goes for your spouse, who would never call anything “a scream” and who, for that reason alone, deserves a special card this year, perhaps even chocolates.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Daniel Jones is the editor of Modern Love. His latest book, “Modern Love: 50 True and Extraordinary Tales of Desire, Deceit and Devotion,” a collection of essays from this column, is just out from Three Rivers Press.

;) ;) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-16-2007, 10:34 AM

:s :s

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/02/11/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/rcover600.jpg

By WOODY HOCHSWENDER

Published: February 11, 2007

HERE come the planes.

Nearly everywhere you look in the Northeast, there are signs of increasing air traffic. Even in remote rural areas, 100 miles from a major New York airport, the thunder of jets routinely fills the air.

In Woodstock, N.Y., more than two hours’ drive from one of the three major airports in the New York City area, a jet passes overhead every two to five minutes, residents say, since 1997, when the area became part of a landing approach to Newark Liberty International Airport. To the residents, many of whom moved to the Catskills to escape pollution and the urban hullabaloo, the constant noise is especially irksome.

“It’s like having a highway over my head,” said Euphrosyne Bloom, a poet and filmmaker who lives in West Saugerties, N.Y., near Woodstock. “They are loud enough to wake you up in the middle of the night.”

At 10,000 to 20,000 feet, airliners seem small, but even the newer, more efficient jets can be loud. Like sparrows towing a freight train, they rumble across the sky, leaving feathery white contrails, ribbons of exhaust that slowly disperse and form their own pseudo-cirrus clouds. In the minute or so it takes for a jet to pass overhead, the sound gets louder, until finally it fades away, a thunder without rain.

Now, for many residents across the region, from Bergen County in New Jersey to Litchfield County in Connecticut, noise levels from aircraft could change significantly under a major reorganization of the highways in the sky that the Federal Aviation Administration is undertaking for the first time since the 1960s. It is called the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia Metropolitan Area Airspace Redesign Project.

After nine years of study, planning and public hearings, the F.A.A. is expected to make a decision this spring on how planes will be routed from the 5 major airports and 16 satellite airports within a 31,000-square-mile area that stretches from Delaware to Connecticut. The F.A.A. says it is part of an effort to address airplane delays in the nation’s busiest airspace and to minimize conflicts among planes in flight so controllers will not have to issue so many instructions. The proposed changes — combined with the steady increase in air traffic at satellite airports like Stewart International in New Windsor, N.Y., near Newburgh, Trenton-Mercer County in West Trenton, N.J., and Westchester County Airport in White Plains — have led to the creation of community organizations concerned about noise.

But many of these groups and elected officials say the F.A.A. is not adequately addressing concerns about noise levels on the ground. Representative Steve Rothman, a New Jersey Democrat, says the F.A.A.’s redesign plan does not include any meaningful provisions to reduce the impact of noise on people living below flight paths. “I am aware that our traffic patterns should be redesigned to reduce flight delays and allow more flights in and out of some of the busier airports,” he said. “I don’t believe F.A.A. officials have tried hard enough to do that.”

There are now four alternatives, and depending on the choice by the F.A.A., some people will hear more noise. Others will hear slightly less. Over all, those already noisy areas will stay the same. For example, New Jersey residents in the western edge of Warren County and in part of Somerset County could find a moderate reduction in noise levels, according to an F.A.A. projection of decibel levels. But residents in Bergen, Rockland and Orange Counties could experience a significant increase in air traffic noise.

Noise levels could also rise in and around Stamford and Danbury in Connecticut as well as nearly a dozen towns in Westchester, including Briarcliff Manor and Peekskill, because of changes at La Guardia Airport. Already, air traffic from the Westchester airport has prompted town officials in Greenwich to demand a mandatory ban on departures and landings from midnight to 6:30 a.m. after a voluntary restriction on overnight flights failed.

The four plans under consideration include modifying existing air space, routing air traffic over the ocean, making additional airspace available for air traffic controllers, or taking no action at all. Given the increased volume of air traffic nationwide — 739 million passengers last year, with the number expected to climb to 1 billion passengers in 2015 — the overall situation in the air is only going to get worse; not just in suburbs close to New York City but for miles, far beyond the city’s borders.

In Connecticut, in northern Litchfield County, jets taking off from Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, north of Hartford, cut across the countryside with increasing regularity. “It can get pretty loud,” said Roberta Memoli, a bank employee who has lived on Fuller Mountain, just outside Kent, for 17 years. “There are times when it’s like a traffic jam.”

Some 75 to 100 jets going to and from Bradley Airport fly over the area daily, according to F.A.A. officials, although local residents claim there are more. This number does not take into account additional overflights originating in Boston or Europe, which turn onto the same route, Victor 405, a kind of highway in the sky that connects the Bradley Airport area with the next ground-based navigational aid in Pawling, N.Y.

HIGHWAYS in the sky are somewhat analogous to highways on the ground, with large main routes that branch off into minor roadways. This is what the F.A.A. is rewriting. In the Northeast, a sectional aeronautical chart, or road map of the sky, looks almost as webbed and complex as road maps of the ground.

Each spur of the highway below 18,000 feet is known as a “victor airway.” Above 18,000 feet, they are called “jet routes.” The Catskill Mountains approach pattern that prompted citizen consternation is known as Victor 213. The takeoff pattern, Victor 405, which cuts through the Litchfield Hills, was changed in 1997 as part of a reshuffling of the Boston airspace, to accommodate many more planes.

“Aircraft flights are forecast to grow,” said Steven Kelley, the project manager of the F.A.A.’s airspace redesign project. “So there will be additional noise impacts.”

Unlike roadways on the ground, the virtual highways in the sky are three dimensional. This vastly complicates the job of the controllers and air traffic planners. For wherever you have heavy traffic, in and out, both horizontal and vertical separation of the traffic flows must be provided for. To airspace designers, controllers and the F.A.A., the paramount issue is separation — that is, keeping airplanes separate from one another in the air. This is their operational imperative, their higher calling.

After separation, the goal of air traffic professionals is efficiency, or the need to minimize delays, which any frequent flier can attest are endemic to the system.

It is therefore not surprising that the F.A.A. does not consider ground noise the first priority in its planning. Mr. Kelley said that the government’s current efforts are focused on two goals: safety and efficiency. If some noise mitigation were to result from the redesign of the airspace, that would be all to the good — but it would be, at best, a side issue.

Mark Allan Guiod, the air traffic manager at Bradley Airport, said that annoyance levels on the ground are generally not part of his team’s mission. “When we are dealing with traffic flows, we are not looking at what’s underneath them,” he said in his office at the Bradley control tower. “If you don’t like the noise now, think of the noise when two planes hit each other.”

Some opponents of aircraft noise have suggested rotating the traffic on victor airways, so that long-suffering areas can enjoy respites. They also propose rerouting planes along “transportation corridors,” places where the pattern of development has led to pre-existing noise levels that would mask aircraft sounds and not detract from the quality of life. They offer as an example the New York Thruway, with its booming truck traffic.

But such suggestions present their own problems, air traffic professionals contend, and do not come to terms with the three-dimensional structure of the system — and the cascading effects of delays at any one point along the line.

In New Jersey, community opposition to Newark Liberty International Airport operations has long been organized. The New Jersey Coalition Against Aircraft Noise has proposed that departing Newark westbound airplanes first wheel out over Raritan Bay, then turn around after gaining altitude to proceed across land. Early in the process, however, the F.A.A. has discounted this “ocean routing” option in its planning, saying it would not eliminate delays. Newark airport consistently leads the nation in delays.

From the standpoint of the airline industry and the F.A.A., it is much easier to make changes in the cockpit than in air routes. One answer to growing airplane noise may be technological: getting planes higher faster. Also, newer aircraft are less noisy.

In the Woodstock area, residents formed a group called Ulsterites Fight Overflight Noise and campaigned for more than a decade to get the F.A.A. to alter Victor 213. At first, Joyce Timpanelli, 70,a retired English professor who lives in Woodstock, said she felt she was getting the runaround from the F.A.A. But eventually the group achieved a 30 percent to 40 percent reduction in airline overflights.

“We held meetings,” she said. “My husband and I kept a log, with a stopwatch, tracking flights overhead. I gave something like 10 years of my life to this. It is still terrible.”

For the airspace redesign project, the F.A.A. will hold additional public hearings in the spring that focus on noise concerns, according to Jim Peters, a spokesman for the agency. In August, he said, the agency will issue its decision.

:| :| It's bad enough watching where you step while in the woods.......but now folks looking for peace and quiet away from cities need to ask about the FLIGHT PATH CHANGES of airplanes for take-offs and landings. I really felt for those people living in upstate NY but under that long final approach to a NYC area airport. :| :|

I grew up close enough to a major airport to hear take-offs and landings (depending on which way the wind was blowing. (seriously...) That kind of air traffic plus a major helicopter manufacturer building aircraft for the Vietnam War? The skies were pretty noisy in the 1960's and most of the 1970's. And with more recently-developed aircraft? The skies there are getting busier again. That plus airline captains taking shortcuts on take-offs and crossing over residential areas late at night and in the VERY early morning hours. Don't they realize there are people below them? Nah.

GLAD I don't live there anymore.

(i) (i) I definitely learned something new as I explore potential rural places to live. (y)

Warmest wishes,

Sweetlady & Wyatt the restless Boxer (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-16-2007, 10:47 AM

(y) (y) (y) (y) (y)

The Moral Minimum

by SASHA ABRAMSKY

[from the November 6, 2006 issue] The NATION

David Coss sits at ease behind his large desk, his long, wiry body draped in a gray-brown linen suit. A Georgia O'Keeffe poster of a horned animal's skull hangs on the wall behind him. A second poster, in pastels, shows off a glorious Southwestern desert and mountain landscape, evoking swirling dreams and endless possibilities. With his neatly coiffed hair and graying goatee, Coss looks like a high-end attorney or, perhaps, a CEO. In fact, he has a background as an environmental scientist and a union organizer, and he is currently the mayor of Santa Fe, New Mexico. He has risen to power at least in part because of his assertive championing of the most comprehensive living-wage statute in America.

Three years ago, after a decade-long campaign by social-justice activists, seven of the eight councilors in this chic--and expensive--desert town voted to raise the city's minimum wage to $8.50 an hour, with successive increases built in that would hike it up to $10.50 by 2008. In the years since, the courts have rejected legal challenges to the law, and public support for the change has remained high--notwithstanding doom and gloom prognostications from the town's tourism-dominated service industries. As of mid-2006, the lowest hourly wage permissible in Santa Fe was $9.50. It is, Coss avers, "basic economic fairness in making the economy work for everyone and not just the people at the top." When in 2004 the Chamber of Commerce ran candidates against the four councilors most outspoken in their support of the living wage, all four of the chamber's candidates were soundly beaten on election day.

Santa Fe's move followed those of dozens of other municipalities over the past decade. In 1994 Baltimore kick-started the process by passing a modest living-wage ordinance affecting about 1,500 workers. By the turn of the century, more than sixty other cities had followed suit. In the years since, dozens more have enacted such laws. In some cases the living wage affects only city workers, or businesses that contract with city and state governments; elsewhere they apply across the board. In some cases grassroots activists have convinced developers of large construction projects to abide by living-wage guidelines [see Bobbi Murray, "Minimum Security," July 12, 2004]. What makes Santa Fe's law particularly important is its breadth and ambition.

In a town with a high percentage of practicing Catholics, the living wage in Santa Fe has been pushed not just as a sensible economic move--as a way to stimulate spending-and-savings cycles at the bottom edge of the labor market--but as a moral imperative, backed up by the authority of papal encyclicals dating back to Leo XIII at the tail end of the nineteenth century. "No one who works full-time should have to live in poverty," Monsignor Jerome Martinez states. The monsignor is a middle-aged man with a shock of curly gray hair, a warm smile and a deeply suntanned, slightly pocked face. He shares his cluttered office next to the spectacular Cathedral of St. Francis with two large green cactuses and several oil paintings of Jesus. "The dignity of the worker is more than just being a cog in the industrial machine," he says. "The just wage provides sustenance, housing, minimum healthcare, retirement benefits and that the worker should have an opportunity to be generous. The ability to be generous is an important aspect of the church. It makes you feel more like a human being." Smiling broadly, Martinez proudly recalls that, at a time when living-wage advocates dreamed of the $8.50 earnings floor, the church in Santa Fe paid none of its sixty-five employees less than $11.50 an hour.

In September 1997 Congress raised the federal minimum wage to $5.15 an hour, where it has remained ever since. Their income eroded by inflation, America's lowest-paid workers now receive less per hour, in real terms, than at any time in the past fifty years. Working a forty-hour week, a minimum-wage worker earns about $11,000 a year, a pitiably small amount for a single person and one that is utterly degrading to a worker supporting an entire family.

"I just barely paid my bills," recalls 49-year-old Mike Taylor, a burly man with uneven teeth and receding ginger hair, sitting in the offices of the local branch of ACORN, in a poor neighborhood of Albuquerque. Taylor is a community activist and one-time KFC worker who, before he became unemployed, pulled in a $300 weekly paycheck. "I wasn't able to go out and enjoy movies, didn't go out to dinner. I couldn't even afford KFC. And that's just a single person. I had guys over there worked two jobs and their wives worked two jobs, because they had children. There's only been a couple of times in my life I was able to save anything. There was a time I was working $10 an hour and I could pay my bills and still save up $1,000. I was 45 then. I'm 49 now."

Until recently, whenever Democratic politicians called for raising the minimum wage, Republicans in Congress blocked it. This summer the GOP changed tactics. Faced with an increasingly vociferous movement to raise it, and with attention focused on Chicago's passage of a living-wage ordinance mandating that big-box companies such as Wal-Mart increase pay and benefits, party strategists came up with a novel approach: Support a hike in the baseline pay scale, but tie it to a huge cut in the estate tax for wealthy Americans. Not surprisingly, this was unacceptable to Democrats and to moderate Republicans, and the push for a higher national minimum wage fizzled out. The maneuver served its purpose, allowing the GOP to claim they now were the party that favored raising the minimum wage, while leaving companies free to get on with the business of underpaying their employees.

While politicians have dithered and played strategy games around the issue, an increasing number of cities and states have begun stepping in, crafting their own minimum-wage and living-wage laws. "Raising the minimum wage appropriately belongs at the federal level," New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid argues. "But because they have failed to act in ten years, states and cities have taken on that role." "I'm quite happy city by city," Santa Fe's Mayor Coss argues. "The business community is soon going to want the federal government to do something, because the minimum wage is proving so successful locally." In other words, Coss believes, create a national standard or risk having electorates in many parts of the country pass initiatives raising local wages far more than Congress would ever contemplate doing.

This year legislators in Arkansas and Michigan have raised the minimum wage in their states; and California and Massachusetts now have minimum wages approaching Santa Fe's level. Somewhat surprisingly, however, the most dramatic minimum-wage campaigns are occurring in the interior Western states, in classic Barry Goldwater country, with trade unions, churches and community groups forming potent coalitions for change. "The hope is that with these minimum-wage campaigns, it's the first step to building economic-justice campaigns in these Western states," says Paul Sonn of New York University's Brennan Center for Justice. "There's this economic populist yearning that hasn't been recognized." Sonn and other organizers around this issue believe that it will take ten or fifteen years of work to get the federal government to restore the value of the minimum wage to the level it was at in the 1960s. In the meantime, local actions and political movements, they argue, will be key to keeping the pressure on politicians in Washington.

"That's the key to the West," argues Deanna Archuleta, a feisty county commissioner in New Mexico's Bernalillo County, which includes Albuquerque. "If you're not willing to do it for us, we'll do it ourselves, particularly in New Mexico. Across the board, we're just less afraid to take the risk."

In 2004 Nevada's voters passed a minimum-wage initiative, the first step in a two-stage election process to get the law onto the books. This November it's on the ballot again, and supporters believe its passage is a near certainty. A similar initiative in Arizona, backed by Governor Janet Napolitano, breezed to qualification for the ballot, with 209,000 signatures. An initiative is on the ballot in Colorado that would raise the minimum wage to $6.85 and index it to inflation, complementing an already existing living-wage statute in the city of Denver. And, although a minimum-wage increase died in New Mexico's state legislature last year, in several cities and counties, including the population hubs of Albuquerque and Santa Fe and the wilderness town of Gallup, such measures either have been passed or are on the verge of passage. Recently, Governor Bill Richardson has thrown his support behind a statewide minimum wage, and the betting money is on a statewide bill passing when the legislature next convenes, in early 2007. Since Washington, Oregon and California already have relatively high minimum wages, once this crop of initiatives passes, most of the American West will be far ahead of the standards set by the federal government.

In the West in particular, the framing of the minimum-wage debate is increasingly being turned on its head. Whereas in the past the minimum wage was portrayed by chambers of commerce and their political allies as Big Government intruding on the rights of businessmen to operate in a laissez-faire environment, today it is the absence of a viable minimum wage that is being discussed as a Big Government subsidy to corporate America. When companies like Wal-Mart pay too little for workers to meet their basic financial needs, and don't offer adequate health and pension benefits, government programs fill some of the gap, paying Medicaid bills, supporting elderly ex-workers, providing food stamps and other forms of welfare. Minimum-wage legislation is, in a sense, a way to insure that taxpayers don't have to clean up the messes left by private companies. In an era in which, for better or worse, many Americans are deeply suspicious of government, this way of framing the issue has allowed minimum-wage campaigns to garner huge levels of support even among conservative and upper-income voters in states like Arizona."[Employers] are asking state and federal governments to subsidize private business by providing welfare and food stamps," Monsignor Martinez expostulates. "It's a position the church feels is not fair."

The minimum wage, Western proponents emphasize, is a way of using government to temper the worst excesses of the market. It is, writes author David Callahan in his newly published book The Moral Center, a matter of "honoring work," something quintessentially a part of the American promise that if you put in the labor you'll have at least a chance at upward mobility.

In an era in which large numbers of working-class Americans have turned to the Republican Party because of its supposed fealty to "moral values," the minimum wage is proving fertile terrain for a more progressive brand of politics and a broader discussion of "values."

"We need to be appealing to blue-collar workers again," argues Martin Heinrich, president of the Albuquerque City Council and a leading supporter of minimum-wage legislation. "I grew up in a household where my dad worked for a utility company and my mom worked for the auto industry." Progressive politicians, Heinrich says, need to embrace "populist economics," and that means taking companies to task when they fail to pay their workers fairly. "Very few businesses will be willing to be the businesses singled out by the papers for failing to pay the minimum."

When restaurant owners bemoaned Santa Fe's living-wage ordinance, Coss was positively caustic in his response. "We didn't get the new Chili's restaurant because of the living wage. It's hilarious to me--I'm sitting in the culinary capital of the Southwest and I'm supposed to be concerned because we didn't get a new Chili's!" Unemployment in his city, he is quick to add, is at 4 percent, just under the New Mexico state average and lower than that of the country as a whole. And, he argues, drawing on a study by University of Massachusetts economists, across the country raising the minimum wage has not hurt employment and has raised the income of non-minimum-wage workers too. "It's that old saying," explains Robin Gould, president of the Northern New Mexico Central Labor Council, while sipping tea in one of Santa Fe's numerous upscale cafes. "A rising tide lifts all boats." All told, about 9,000 workers in Coss's city, many of whom either live in Albuquerque or in the poor, unincorporated areas southwest of Santa Fe itself, now receive larger paychecks because of the minimum-wage law.

"Every time a business closes now, they blame it on the living wage," Coss says in exasperation. "But if you look at annual openings and closings, there's no discernible impact of the living wage. It gives us an opening for saying that economic development is about all of us."

www.thenation.com

(y) (y) (y) Kudos to those who are actually doing something and not the politicos spouting B.S. (oops, did I really type that?)

(o) (o) for a break away from the digital screen and outside :| to blow those mental cobwebs away. It is a gloriously sunny day with really cold temps and chilling winds. Definitely a "bundle-my-ass-up" kind of day. But then, it's been that way now for almost two weeks. Next week, it's supposed to warm up and that's when all of this rock-hard ice and snow will start to melt.

(k) (k) 's,
SL & WTB

sweetlady

02-16-2007, 10:50 AM

:) :)

http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2007/02/ten_albums_in_t.html

"A radio station that bites back." ?

^o) ^o)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-16-2007, 10:52 AM

(8) (8) (8) (8) (8) (8) (8) (8) (8)

http://www.horntones.com/

(y) (y) (y)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-18-2007, 09:53 AM

(f) (y) (f) (y) (f)

The Scotsman Mon 12 Feb 2007

BAFTA crowns their royal highnesses

TIM CORNWELL

* Dame Helen Mirren wins best actress for her portrayal of the Queen
* British movie The Last King of Scotland wins three BAFTA's
* Scottish thriller Red Road wins the Carl Foreman Award

Key quote:"There's no chance of me winning this evening - I'm just here for the show. I'm a betting woman, so I'll put money on Helen." Dame Judi Dench

IT WAS a Royal Flush at the BAFTA film awards last night, as The Queen carried off two prizes and The Last King of Scotland took three.

Dame Helen Mirren picked up the best actress accolade for her title role in The Queen, which was also named best film.

Forest Whitaker, playing the former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland, won best actor, while the movie collected the Alexander Korda Award for best British film for the Scottish director Kevin MacDonald and his team. It also won the prize for best adapted screenplay.

Dame Helen was so clearly the favourite ahead of the ceremony at London's Royal Opera House that bookies had stopped taking bets. She was up against Meryl Streep for The Devil Wears Prada, Dame Judi Dench for Notes on a Scandal, Penelope Cruz for Volver, and Kate Winslet for Little Children.

"They're all great women. It's a battle of the dames and the broads," Dame Helen joked.

The 61-year-old has trounced the competition in every awards ceremony so far, but she said the BAFTAS were special. "It's pretty spectacular ... I haven't been to the BAFTA film awards much because I'm not usually invited. I've had TV BAFTAs but I think it's the first time I've been nominated for a film BAFTA so it's fantastic to be here."

Dame Helen is now considered a shoo-in for the Oscars, where Whitaker is also among the nominees - and the favourites.

As Dame Judi, 72, arrived for last night's ceremony, she said: "There's no chance of me winning this evening - I'm just here for the show. I'm a betting woman, so I'll put money on Helen."

She had been nominated for her role as a twisted history teacher in the adaptation of Zoe Heller's novel Notes on a Scandal.

Stephen Frears, who directed The Queen and was also up for an award, said: "It's wonderful to have all these nominations. To be chosen by your peers is the best thing in the world. And Helen is really great. She deserves to win."

The American star Whitaker, 45, beat Daniel Craig, the new James Bond, to claim the best actor title. The Departed's Leonardo DiCaprio, Peter O'Toole in Venus and Richard Griffiths in The History Boys had also been up for the award.

The gritty Scottish thriller Red Road, which swept the Scottish BAFTA awards last year, won the Carl Foreman Award for special achievement in a first feature film for the director Andrea Arnold.

But the young Scottish film-makers Karley Duffy and Paul Wright saw their hopes of winning the short film award with their student film Hikikomori dashed.

The big loser on the night, however, was Casino Royale. Craig had made BAFTA history with his best actor nomination - the first Bond ever to achieve that accolade - but of nine nominations, the film picked up only one, for best sound.

There was a big consolation prize for the Bond girl Eva Green. In a stunning full-length cerise gown, with a dramatic swept-up hairstyle she collected the Orange Rising Star Award - which is voted for by the public - for her role as the enigmatic Vesper Lynd.

The British director Paul Greengrass, 51, took the best director prize for United 93, the docu-style retelling of the hijacking and passenger revolt on 11 September, 2001, on United Airlines Flight 93, which failed to reach the terrorists' intended target.

The Queen, which was up for ten gongs, Little Miss Sunshine, United 93 and Children of Men received two BAFTAs each.

Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth won the award for best film in a foreign language - beating the Penelope Cruz movie Volver - as well as those for costume design, and make-up and hair.

Jennifer Hudson, 25, the American Idol finalist, was named best supporting actress for her role in Dreamgirls, the musical film starring Beyonce which is loosely based on the story of the Supremes. In an amazing victory for a film debut, she beat British actress Emily Blunt, 23, for her role as weight-obsessed and put-upon assistant in The Devil Wears Prada.

On the red carpet outside the Royal Opera House, all eyes were on the British actress Sienna Miller, who dazzled in a backless sheath dress covered in gold embroidery.

The Factory Girl star was not nominated for an award but was presenting the prize for best supporting actor. "The BAFTAs have grown such a lot and it's always nice to support British film," she said. "It's great to be here, although a bit overwhelming."
WHERE THE AWARDS WENT
Best Film

The Queen
Best British Film

The Last King of Scotland
Special achievement in first feature film

Andrea Arnold - Red Road
Best director

Paul Greengrass - United 93
Best original screenplay

Little Miss Sunshine
Best adapted screenplay

The Last King of Scotland
Best animated feature film

Happy Feet
Best actor

Forest Whitaker - The Last King of Scotland
Best actress

Helen Mirren - The Queen
Best supporting actor

Alan Arkin - Little Miss Sunshine
Best supporting actress

Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls
Best foreign film

Pan's Labyrinth
Best score

Babel
Best cinematography

Children of Men
Best editing

United 93
Best production design

Children of Men
Best costume design

Pan's Labyrinth
Best special effects

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Best make-up and hair

Pan's Labyrinth
Best sound

Casino Royale
Best short animation film

Guy 101 - Ian Gouldstone
Best short film

Do Not Erase - Asitha Ameresekere

Orange rising star award
Eva Green

(y) (y) (y)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-18-2007, 09:56 AM

:) :)

The Scotsman Fri 16 Feb 2007

Snow Patrol in 24-hour global warming gig

STAR-STUDDED concerts will be staged in London and six other cities worldwide on 7 July to highlight the threat of climate change.

Al Gore, a former vice- president of the United States, yesterday launched the 24-hour Live Earth event, which organisers hope will be viewed by two billion people. Among the bands taking part will be Scotland's Snow Patrol. Others include the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snoop Dogg, Bon Jovi and Duran Duran.

Other cities will be Shanghai, Johannesburg, Sydney and locations to be announced in Japan, Brazil and the US. There will also be a concert in Antarctica.

"We have to get the message of urgency and hope out," Mr Gore told a Los Angeles press conference, flanked by the actress Cameron Diaz and the rapper Pharrell Williams.

Other acts among more than 100 performers scheduled to appear include the Foo Fighters, Lenny Kravitz, Sheryl Crow and the Black Eyed Peas.

The proceeds will create a foundation to combat climate change led by the Alliance for Climate Protection, which is chaired by Mr Gore.

"In order to solve the climate crisis, we have to reach billions of people," he said.

"The climate crisis will only be stopped by an unprecedented and sustained global movement."

http://news.scotsman.com/entertainment.cfm?id=253932007

(h) (h) Putting on a global rock concert will definitely draw attention. (y)

(c) Good Sunday Morning!

(f) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-18-2007, 10:04 AM

:s

The Scotsman Thu 15 Feb 2007

Church faces wider split over gay unions

ROB CRILLY IN DAR ES SALAAM

THE Archbishop of Canterbury spent yesterday at the Whitesands Hotel beside one of Tanzania's palm-fringed beaches, welcoming 11 archbishops to their new positions as primates - leaders of the world's 77 million Anglicans.

Today, he will find out whether all 38 of his primates will sit down together in the same room, or whether tensions over same-sex unions and homosexual bishops will split the Anglican communion asunder.

Canon Jim Rosenthal, spokesman for the communion, the third-largest Christian denomination, said: "I anticipate this will be a very difficult meeting - very, very tense."

Dr Rowan Williams has travelled to East Africa with a handful of compromise proposals designed to stop Anglicans splitting along liberal and conservative lines.

Tensions have been growing for a decade. The struggle reached crisis point in 2003 when the Episcopal Church of the US consecrated its first openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.

The row pits the shrinking congregations of Europe and the US against the growing, vibrant Christian populations of Africa, Asia and South America.

Conservative bishops of the Global South grouping have spent two days at a neighbouring hotel working out a stance to present to Dr Williams.

Their leader, Bishop Peter Akinola, the primate of Nigeria, yesterday handed Dr Williams a letter spelling out the position of conservatives. It is understood it outlines conditions that would need to be met to keep the Global South within the Anglican communion.

In particular, they want the Episcopal Church of the US brought into line after sanctioning the election of gay bishops.

Primates from Africa, South America and Asia, who tend to take a more literal view of the Bible, also feel they have been sidelined by the western, developed world, which has traditionally provided the leaders of the Anglican communion.

Martyn Minns, a conservative vicar of a parish in Virginia who was recently made a bishop of the Nigerian church by Bishop Akinola, said

that if liberals were unable to recognise the primacy of scripture, then the only option would be an "amicable split".

Hardliners in the orthodox camp want the US Episcopal Church expelled. Others are seeking a "two-province" compromise, with American conservatives and liberals split into separate churches.

The difference has prompted a stream of conservative congregations in the US to opt out of their local diocese to join flocks led by bishops in Uganda, Nigeria and Rwanda. That stream accelerated in 2006 with the election of Katharine Jefferts Schori, who supports ordaining gays and is the first female leader of the Church in the US.

Observers believe that conservatives at today's meeting may refuse to accept the presence of Bishop Schori and walk out - the first step to schism. They are furious that Dr Williams did not consult before inviting her.

But Canon Rosenthal said: "Her presence here is absolute. She is here as the primate of the Episcopal Church. She is here by invitation."

http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=294&id=245162007

:-# I wonder if Scotland has the alternative types of churches that exist here in the U.S. You know, the ones that supposedly embrace everyone, regardless of differences? It's strange that countries that others view as "Catholic countries" do not all follow the conservative path. For example Spain allows abortions.

:s It really is a shame there a kids who need adoptive parents and the largest corporation in the world (Catholic Church) is pushing so strenuously against members of the GLTG community to become adoptive parents.

(okay, off the soap box).....;)

Stay warm and have a relaxing Sunday,

Sweetlady & Wyatt the Boxer (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-18-2007, 10:05 AM

:) :)

http://www.ilga.org/

(y) (y) (y) (y) (y)

(f) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-18-2007, 10:06 AM

:) :)

http://www.glasgay.co.uk/indexframes.html

(y) (y) (y)

(k) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

HYSterical HERnia

02-18-2007, 10:12 AM

http://www.new-year.co.uk/chinese/calendar.htm

<:o) <:o) <:o) <:o) <:o) <:o) <:o) <:o)

sweetlady

02-18-2007, 10:20 AM

:| :| :|

:o :o

The Scotsman Wed 31 Jan 2007

Counting the cost of rural dream

JASON CUMMING AND AURA SABADUS IN ABERFELDY

THE Scotsman's nationhood debate roadshow arrived in Aberfeldy yesterday while last night the first big debate was held in Glasgow.

Tomorrow the bus arrives at Portree, Skye, and on Friday the tour continues to Stornoway, Lewis.

Tickets are still available for other debates including the Albert Halls, Stirling, next Tuesday and the Ramada Hotel, Inverness, on 8 February.

For tickets, e-mail us on debate300@scotsman.com or write to Nationhood Debate Tickets, The Scotsman, 108 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8AS.

CRISP Highland air and picture-postcard surroundings have made Aberfeldy more than just a popular tourist destination.

It has become a lifestyle choice, an escape from the rat race.

And the town at the "heart of Scotland" is at now the centre of a major housing crisis. Huge demand for holiday homes - and buyers flushed with cash after selling up south of the Border - have fuelled pretty Perthshire's red-hot property market.

It is not unusual for homes built since 2000 in Aberfeldy to fetch double their original price. Former council houses routinely sell for £120,000 and "modest, standard-sized" dwellings often earn twice that figure.

"House prices are ridiculous - you can get more for your money in Glasgow than here," says Maggie MacKay, 49, the head housekeeper at a local resort. "An awful lot of people from down south and all over the world buy holiday homes that lie empty for much of the year."

Locals admit the situation has sparked resentment towards incomers as young families increasingly find it impossible to get on the property ladder.

Across Perth and Kinross there are only 7,000 council houses and a 5,000-strong waiting list. The situation is said to be most acute in Aberfeldy.

An advert for a nearby new development even promises "stunning new family homes with investment potential".

On her way home from a morning yoga class, Fiona Mill-Irving says there are now "lots of English here". Originally from Bridge of Weir, she returned from Dorset last summer after more than 20 years in exile.

"If you sell up down south, you can practically buy an estate up here, but the locals are having difficulty finding a one-bedroom anything," said the retired secretary, 62.

Linda Thomson, 43, also worries about what spiralling property prices will mean for her two children.

"When kids get to 18 or 19, a big percentage will leave to go to university, college or to travel but it's very difficult for them to come back to find a career or be able to afford to buy a home here," she said.

Ms Thomson, who is advertising and circulation manager for a magazine, admitted life in Aberfeldy was not idyllic.

Residents encounter the same problems with antisocial behaviour as in most places in Scotland.

She added: "It's a fantastic place to live but young people have nowhere to go and nothing to do. There's a lot of noise, vandalism and drinking. You can have four officers sometimes covering all of Highland Perthshire. They do their best.

"But if the kids are causing havoc in the Square in Aberfeldy and the nearest officers are in Dunkeld, it will be a couple of hours before police can attend."

But charity worker Susan Young, 46, stresses traditional values have been preserved almost untouched in Aberfeldy.

"We are an extremely tight-knit community," she says.

A group of volunteers called Move to Improve regularly pick litter, clean burns and raise money to plant flowers in the town centre.

Aberfeldy was also Scotland's first Fairtrade town - with such goods on sale at most shops and restaurants, and Breadalbane Football Club even using Fairtrade footballs.

Almost 25 years after what was meant to be a holiday from the Netherlands, Reverend Maryse Anand remains in the area, which boasts more art galleries and speciality shops than most towns twice its size.

"I feel more Scottish than most Scots," she says. "No matter how often I see the countryside driving from Aberfeldy to Perth it's breathtaking. Sometimes I cry. I feel Scotland has to be its own country," says the 72-year-old, who is establishing an eco-village near the town.

"I am still Dutch, but the moment Scotland can issue its own passports I will be first in line.

"I really do see the possibility of it happening."

She's not alone.

Represented at Holyrood by former SNP leader John Swinney, the town is a Nationalist stronghold - although support for the Tories remains strong.

There is a feeling that May's election will bring real change.

"We need to stand on our own feet," says Duncan Robertson, 66. "Independence is inevitable."

His wife, Sylvia, 59, a retired teacher, adds: "The difficulty is that people will expect the sun to shine every day and things to be rosy. It will be hard going but it will be worth it."

Only a few yards away, tourists Haydn Brown and his son Steven, from the Midlands, examine house prices at an estate agent.

"We find Scotland pretty cheap compared with England," Mr Brown says. "House prices are much lower and people seem very friendly."
High hopes and high prices in a crucial year

"There is much hopelessness in the poorer areas of the country and it's difficult to tell what the future holds in store.

"This is a very important year for Scots all over the country. Our future depends on the results of this year's elections."

Bill Struthers, 70, retired

"I think the NHS is not all that it could be. A lot of extra money has been invested into it but it seems to be going to GPs and consultants making £100,000 per year while waiting lists are far too long. A lot of people are having to go private."

Ken Lyall, 41, ambulance technician and SNP local councillor

"I'm so proud to be Scottish. But if I were abroad and someone asked what nationality I was I'd say. 'I'm British.'

"Independence? Will it make a difference? I think people don't know much about it at the moment."

Ellen McBride, 33, who runs an internet café

"Children need the belt nowadays. There is a lot of antisocial behaviour even here in Aberfeldy because children are not kept busy.

"There's not much to do here."

Sadie Fraser, pensioner

"There is a youthful enthusiasm here in Scotland about the future. I'm very proud to be Scottish.

"This country is beautiful, it's cosmopolitan and ahead in many areas - research, Fairtrade, medicine."

Donna Murray-Trail, 41, self-employed

"Free bus travel for pensioners is a fantastic thing. The Scottish Parliament is certainly making a difference but I think we're still far behind England."

Edward Sweeney, 64, retired army major who owns a timeshare in Aberfeldy

"House prices have gone up hugely. A two-bedroom flat can cost up to £175,000 - which is a lot of money. I love Scotland but it's an expensive country to live and to spend your holidays."

Maria Johnson, 37

http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1542&id=160682007

:s I have seen situations here in the U.S. while traveling and wish I bought (and then sold at a great profit) acreage in various places. One such place is south (between Williams - just off I40 and the entrance to the park) of the "South Rim of the Grand Canyon". Back in the 1980s, the per-acre price was really inexpensive.

:o And the skies there are filled with the roar of helicopters and small airplanes.

:| But then, this article is not just about tourists deciding to buy up homes in a rural area - and thus driving up the price of homes.

(o) (y) I am delighted to say that I have submitted this week's course "deliverable" already to the online course room and won't have to worry about getting it submitted before midnight tonight. EeeeHaaa..... (l) Showtime, 10:00 p.m. The L Word. New episode. (l)

:) Meanwhile? Getting out in the sun! It's cold but what a brilliantly sunny day!

Warm, safe travels - both digital and physical,

Sweetlady & Wyatt the Boxer (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-18-2007, 10:27 AM

:o It's been awhile!

(~) Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont (2005)

Joan Plowright takes the title role in this heartwarming drama, based on the best-selling novel by the same name. After traveling to London to be closer to her 26-year-old grandson (Lorcan O'Toole), the recently widowed Mrs. Palfrey moves into a local hotel while she waits -- and waits -- for him to return her calls. But when fate introduces her to a kindly young writer (Rupert Friend), she finds the family she's always wanted.

Cast:
Joan Plowright Rupert Friend
Anna Massey Zoe Tapper
Georgina Hale Millicent Martin
Marcia Warren Robert Lang
Michael Culkin Clare Higgins
Lorcan O'Tool

(~) Reviews:

I was fortunate enough to see this movie at a local indie film theatre. It was so beautifully made. It tells the poignant tale of two lonely people.. One an old widow with no family to care for her; And the other a young man struggling to make a living as a writer. The unlikely pair end up forming a strong bond that neither of them knew they needed so badly. This movie is just so beautifully simple and pure. The main point being cherish your friendships while there is still time. Rupert Friend really brought his character to life. The tale is touching, sad, funny and beautiful all at the same time. Definitely worth seeing if you get the chance.

(~) There are movies, and then there are experiences like MRS. PALFREY AT THE CLAREMONT. This was a total immersive experience, so much so that for weeks after I saw the film I dreamed about living in the Claremont every single night. I only met MRS. PALFREY in passing, but she was as charming, witty, and gorgeous as she is in the film. Ms. Plowright, you know how to brighten a young man's life. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

(*) (*) (*) (*) (*) I gave it 5 stars. (y)

(k) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-18-2007, 10:32 AM

:)

(~) French Twist (1995) Gazon Maudit

Laurent (Alain Chabat) thought he knew his wife, Loli (Victoria Abril), quite well. Chronically unfaithful, Laurent believes Loli is happy and will be hurt by news of his infidelities. But when a truck breaks down in front of their home and its owner, a female plumber (Josiane Balasko, who also directed this French film), asks to use the phone, Laurent discovers he and his wife have something in common: a sexual attraction to women.

Director: Josiane Balasko

Cast:
Victoria Abril Josiane Balasko
Alain Chabat Ticky Holgado
Catherine Hiegel Catherine Samie
Catherine Lachens

(~) Reviews:

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. The story moves along swiftly. And the developing relationship between Loli and Marijo is both sweet and comical. This movie is packed with quick wit and touched with a smidgen of steaminess. Completely entertaining to watch.

(~) A spanish wife, a french unfaithful man and a lesbian who comes into their lives to wake both of them up form their lethargic predictable life.I enjoy all european films because of their perspective of life, infidelity means heartache not law suit. Their way of dealing with even the most unusual personal and social situations translate into "human relationships" not legal or political issues.

(~) What a fun movie! Intelligent and engaging, a refreshingly honest look at sexuality, lesbians, passion, love! Funny and honest and liberated - as maybe only the french can be! Because the characters are developed and the dialog intelligent and interesting, and the story well crafted and thought provoking... this is a really good movie.

(*) (y) (*) (y) (*) (y) (*) (y) (*) (y)

(k) (k) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-18-2007, 10:37 AM

:)

Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing and Charm School (2005)

Writer-director Randall Miller's heart-achingly sweet drama finds at its soft center Frank Keane (Robert Carlyle), a baker deeply despondent over the death of his wife. Frank finds redemption and hope in tragedy after he helps a stranger (John Goodman) who's sidelined by a fatal accident. It appears the man was on his way to a fateful reunion, so Frank, sparked only by good intentions, decides to show up for the rendezvous in his place.

Director: Randall Miller

Cast:
Robert Carlyle Marisa Tomei
Mary Steenburgen Sean Astin
Donnie Wahlberg David Paymer
Camryn Manheim Adam Arkin
Sonia Braga Elden Henson
Ernie Hudson Miguel Sandoval
Danny DeVito John Goodman

(~) Reviews:

This film is a followup to the 1990 short film of the same name by the same writer/director. This full length feature weaves a story around what happens to two of the central characters of the short film (clips of which appear throughout) some forty years later, and how the promise of making connections can inspire us. The cast is consistently good, with Robert Carlyle providing the connection between fine performance by John Goodman, Mary Steenburger, Marissa Tomei and a host of other familiar actors. While some of the plot setup and character reactions require a wee bit of disbelief suspension to connect the episodes, the relationship of the characters to each other is touching, inspiring and ultimately uplifting.

(~) This story is essentially about a man (Robert Caryle) who through a chance meeting with a stranger (John Goodman) ends up taking a dance class. Frank Keane (Caryle) is still in mourning over the death of his wife and slowly he begins to come alive again. Also we learn the story of Goodman's character (done in the flashbacks)which is touching as well. This film shows how lives can change and be enriched just by making conections with other people. Don't expect to see a ton of dancing, although there is some, this film is more story driven, and worth watching.

(~) The story behind "Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing and Charm School" is just as unique as its title. Frank Keane (Robert Carlyle), a baker by trade, comes across a car accident. The injured man is Steve Mills (John Goodman) who was on his way to an appointment that was made forty years ago, one that he can no longer keep due to his critical condition. He commissions Frank to go in his place and to meet Lisa at the title dance class. He does not find her, but meets Meredith (Marisa Tomei) instead. Grieving for his dead wife, the class brings some quality to Frank's life, so he continues to attend each Thursday. The story is quite engaging. It's possible that once the credits start rolling, you might have doubts as to whether you liked it or not. But only because it really is different. I liked it. John Goodman, who can do no wrong, delivers a wonderful performance. Carlyle is solid as well; Tomei as cute as ever. There is warmth, comedy and some melancholy. Rounding out the cast are Mary Steenburgen as the quirky dance instructor and Donnie Wahlberg as a comically, over the top student.

(y) (*) Four stars. (y)

(f) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-18-2007, 06:32 PM

(y) (y)

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/2/4/102248/8958

Book Review: Jeff Kisseloff’s “Generation on Fire”

by SusanG

Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 07:24:24 AM PST

Generation on Fire; An Oral History: Voices of Protest from the 1960s

By Jeff Kisseloff

University Press of Kentucky

Lexington, 2006

[Update: The author has emailed me with the news that there is a website for this book that has additional interviews that didn't make it into the book, photos and contemporary magazine accounts of events, for those who want to explore further.]

I swear I didn’t mean to write this book review now. I meant to dip in from day to day and read each of the featured activists’ memories of the turbulent 1960’s one at a time; alas, once started, this collaborative oral history proved impossible to put down. The parallels to today’s often fractious progressive movements are striking, but more than that, there is a vibrancy to the interviews with integrationists, anti-war activists, environmentalists, and women’s and gay rights advocates that brings to life a decade that most of us reading here are far too young too have experienced directly. For the course of this book, one gets subsumed in the hopes and dreams of a previous generation in a way few other histories of the decade convey.

It’s tempting to assume that the collage of memories from different factions active in the 1960’s serves as a pointer to the almost duplicative arguments we see on Daily Kos each day, as if there were a direct bloodline of specific resentments and arguments that were passed down to today’s progressive movements. But after a couple of years of participating at this blog, I’ve come to the conclusion that many here /no spamming of other sites/ myself included /no spamming of other sites/ are unaware of many of the undercurrents and cross-currents from the previous protest generation. Thus, it seems to me that we are less carrying on old grudge matches inherited from our progressive forebears than we are re-creating the same old tired ones anew, with each progressive generation.

Now this is my own conclusion. I’m sure other readers will take different lessons from this amazing book; in a sense, because the author offers very little analysis himself beyond quick factual introductions to the interviewees, we each our allowed to form our own interpretation from the kaleidoscope of accounts presented. Think of it as a Rorschach test for what individuals can draw from the wide variety of contemporary oral histories presented here. Hard-core, life-risking integrationists and playful street artists offer alternate views and philosophies about what their experiences and hopes for the decade meant to them, and we are free to draw our own conclusions.

Most of the interviews presented are given by those deeply embedded in the formation of their respective movements but whose names are not familiar to those who are not historians of the period (with the possible exceptions of Daniel Berrigan and Barry Melton, "Fish" of Country Joe and the Fish). Freedom Rider Bernard Lafayette, SNCC organizer Bob Zellner, alternative press founder and humorist Paul Krassner, Vietnam vet activist David Kline, former St. Louis Cardinal linebacker David Meggyesy and feminist Marilyn Webb are featured. While I’d heard of a couple of them /no spamming of other sites/ Lafayette, Zellner and Krassner /no spamming of other sites/ I hadn’t know the details of their involvement until I read their accounts.

What becomes clear after reading even just a few of these oral histories is how simplistic it is to make any overall statement about the era or its more involved movement participants. Lumping all the different factions together and judging them as one mass movement of ineffectiveness or offensiveness or counterproductiveness is foolish. Some achieved their goals /no spamming of other sites/ either by defining them narrowly and realistically, or by sheer mundane, never-ending drudge work /no spamming of other sites/ and some did not. Some were oriented toward changing law or public policy; some aimed to change attitude and culture (and thus were much more difficult to assess). A great deal of isolation between pockets of activism was apparent from the beginning, and entirely different motivations led people to involvement.

So for my own Rorschach test of lessons drawn from the book (your mileage may vary), I drew the following:

There was an indirect influence of a linear timeline to activism, and the more successful and serious movements began earliest. The integrationist/voting rights in the South movement groundwork was laid by the most dedicated and serious activists earliest. Many avenues were explored before the tsunami of the 1960’s hit, and a lot of the more mundane education of activists took place under the radar in the 1950’s, with attendance at small, loosely affiliated venues such as American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville where Lafayette and John Lewis learned under Jim Lawson the tactics of Gandhi’s non-violent resistance. The risks were highest for these earliest activists /no spamming of other sites/ as evidenced by the murders later in Mississippi /no spamming of other sites/ and as Lafayette says:

I’m being honest with you when I say this: none of us expected to live to be twenty-five years old, particularly with the kind of behavior we were involved in. That was part of the understanding. You can’t practice nonviolence being afraid to die, and the training frees you from that fear.

Eventually, there was a spillover from the civil rights movement to the anti-war movement. Some civil rights activists stayed with voting and integration issues, some developed a hybrid (think King’s anti-Vietnam speech). As the anti-war activists became a second wave, they were joined by seasoned Vietnam vets such as those who founded Vietnam Veterans Against the War.(represented in this book by Dave Cline). The vets’ on-the-ground reports of the ineffectiveness of American military policy lent impetus to the draft resistors and were a bitter voice of authenticity that middle America found more and more difficult to ignore.

As protest movements spread out from the seminal civil rights movement and the anti-war vets, theorists and intellectuals most immediately affected by the draft /no spamming of other sites/ the college students at mostly elite universities /no spamming of other sites/ began to get pulled into the discussion of activism and strategy. While the previous movements had had some splintering over tactics /no spamming of other sites/ violence versus non-violence /no spamming of other sites/ for the most part, they had settled these differences by branching off and ignoring each other. This new "intellectualization" from the campuses, however, led to a lot of what we see here on the blogs today /no spamming of other sites/ purity tests and more investment in proving progressive rivals wrong than in effecting real change. Wasted energy went into stealing each other’s alternative press printing presses and declaring coups of organizations, and many who flocked to the exhilaration of the recognized historical moment stayed stuck forever in these purity wars.

Meanwhile, the third timeline wave /no spamming of other sites/ feminism /no spamming of other sites/ evolved out of some of this "stuckness" as the women involved with SDS and other radical campus organizations began to question why their roles were relegated to keeping the communal cooking pot going and providing "liberating" sex while the men argued Marxist theory until all hours and refused to clean the toilets. The viciousness of the men in these organizations to the women’s objections (and their subsequent departure from these movements) led to some really horrifying vilification, as recounted by Marilyn Webb, who was one of the first feminists to speak at a huge supposedly coalition-building joint anti-war rally in Washington in 1968:

I decided I would talk about equality, abortion, child care, and treating women with respect. It was a pretty mild speech. I wasn’t attacking men.... But when it got to be our turn to speak, Dave Dellinger got up and said, "The girls from women’s liberation are going to speak ...." Then, when I started to speak, I hadn’t gotten three sentences out when fistfights broke out. People were yelling, "Take her off the stage and fuck her." "Fuck her down a dark alley."

The final activist wave, according to gay rights pioneer Frank Kameny’s account, was that of his own movement; technically, Kameny claims, its prominence really broke during the early 1970’s and was a natural result of /no spamming of other sites/ not a part of /no spamming of other sites/ the previous movements.

A second lesson I drew from this book:

The more serious and successful the activists, the less credit they give to themselves and the more realistic (or cynical) they are about assessing the long-term impact of their part of the movement. Weirdly, the civil rights and hard-core anti-war vets and activists interviewed express more frustration /no spamming of other sites/ and take very less personal credit /no spamming of other sites/ for their accomplishments than some of the "avant garde" lifestyle activists interviewed.

Contsider this assessment from indicted Chicago Eight defendant Lee Weiner (a very serious activist indeed), who now works on staff in the New York office of the Anti-Defamation League:

... I began to lose faith in the outcome of what we were doing. I believed that the scope of the problems were such that they were not going to be addressed from the bottom up like that. I no longer thought that working within the system would succeed. I didn’t know what the answer was. Mostly, I was burned out. Then King and Kennedy were killed. Nineteen sixty-eight was the only year I ever thought that a revolution in the United States might actually happen. As Abbie used to say about 1968, "They don’t make years like that anymore."

...We continue [today] to have problems with racism, bigotry, sexism, ageism. Those things need to be fought on a day-to-day basis, and that’s what I do. The fact that these issues were raised in the 60’s and brought to the table are very positive legacies of the decade. That and good music.

Now contrast that with the interview from Pete Berg, a member of a San Francisco "guerilla theater" group known as "The Diggers." A typical Digger event was the "Intersection Game" in which flyers were passed out urging pedestrians to keep crossing street intersections in different configurations until traffic was stalled for twenty blocks. To be fair, Berg moved into the environmental movement, founding Planet Drum, which appears to be an effective, localized organization today. But his assessment of the Digger activity (from my view, of course), seems quite overblown:

What has flowed forward from it? I would say American society has been changed tremendously.... So many more things are acceptable today: the language that you hear, even on television, or read: sexuality.

There are a couple of interviews in here that reek of the well-known stereotype of dilettante hangers-on to more serious movements; a pretentious "artist" or "poet" or two who think the height of the "revolution" was dancing naked under strobe lights while passages from the Book of Revelations were read (and not knowing until the birth of their child who the father was). Of course, these hangers-on were part of the scenery too and deserve some voice; it’s simply unfortunate that their ego-serving has come to represent the main of the movements in modern minds today.

Taken as a whole, Generation on Fire is a study of both the goofiness of the times and the confusion that was present even as it was being lived by those in the forefront of the counterculture. For the most part, these were serious people wrestling with serious issues, and in many cases truly changing the world forever. These gathered oral histories point the way to reassessing the era in a kinder light than is usually offered today. More than anything else, study of the splintering, factions and failed coalition building /no spamming of other sites/ and those that succeeded, by the way /no spamming of other sites/ can serve as suggestions as today’s progressive movement struggles to overcome the same tendencies.

(y) (y) Bravo! (....on the history repeating itself and the progressive movement (or whatever folks may call the cultural shift to the left....and hopefully some of the mistakes made four decades ago can be avoided currently.)

:| With current GOP leaders in D.C. suffering from an acute case of cranial rectitis however MHO, it has been and continues to be at the grass roots level (the you's and me's) who will continue the seachange process. (z) (x)

(um) May your smile be your umbrella (um) ,

Sweetlady & Wyatt the Boxer (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-18-2007, 06:47 PM

(y) (y)

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/2/4/102248/8958

Book Review: Jeff Kisseloff’s “Generation on Fire”

by SusanG

Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 07:24:24 AM PST

Generation on Fire; An Oral History: Voices of Protest from the 1960s

By Jeff Kisseloff

University Press of Kentucky

Lexington, 2006

[Update: The author has emailed me with the news that there is a website for this book that has additional interviews that didn't make it into the book, photos and contemporary magazine accounts of events, for those who want to explore further.]

I swear I didn’t mean to write this book review now. I meant to dip in from day to day and read each of the featured activists’ memories of the turbulent 1960’s one at a time; alas, once started, this collaborative oral history proved impossible to put down. The parallels to today’s often fractious progressive movements are striking, but more than that, there is a vibrancy to the interviews with integrationists, anti-war activists, environmentalists, and women’s and gay rights advocates that brings to life a decade that most of us reading here are far too young too have experienced directly. For the course of this book, one gets subsumed in the hopes and dreams of a previous generation in a way few other histories of the decade convey.

It’s tempting to assume that the collage of memories from different factions active in the 1960’s serves as a pointer to the almost duplicative arguments we see on Daily Kos each day, as if there were a direct bloodline of specific resentments and arguments that were passed down to today’s progressive movements. But after a couple of years of participating at this blog, I’ve come to the conclusion that many here /no spamming of other sites/ myself included /no spamming of other sites/ are unaware of many of the undercurrents and cross-currents from the previous protest generation. Thus, it seems to me that we are less carrying on old grudge matches inherited from our progressive forebears than we are re-creating the same old tired ones anew, with each progressive generation.

Now this is my own conclusion. I’m sure other readers will take different lessons from this amazing book; in a sense, because the author offers very little analysis himself beyond quick factual introductions to the interviewees, we each our allowed to form our own interpretation from the kaleidoscope of accounts presented. Think of it as a Rorschach test for what individuals can draw from the wide variety of contemporary oral histories presented here. Hard-core, life-risking integrationists and playful street artists offer alternate views and philosophies about what their experiences and hopes for the decade meant to them, and we are free to draw our own conclusions.

Most of the interviews presented are given by those deeply embedded in the formation of their respective movements but whose names are not familiar to those who are not historians of the period (with the possible exceptions of Daniel Berrigan and Barry Melton, "Fish" of Country Joe and the Fish). Freedom Rider Bernard Lafayette, SNCC organizer Bob Zellner, alternative press founder and humorist Paul Krassner, Vietnam vet activist David Kline, former St. Louis Cardinal linebacker David Meggyesy and feminist Marilyn Webb are featured. While I’d heard of a couple of them /no spamming of other sites/ Lafayette, Zellner and Krassner /no spamming of other sites/ I hadn’t know the details of their involvement until I read their accounts.

What becomes clear after reading even just a few of these oral histories is how simplistic it is to make any overall statement about the era or its more involved movement participants. Lumping all the different factions together and judging them as one mass movement of ineffectiveness or offensiveness or counterproductiveness is foolish. Some achieved their goals /no spamming of other sites/ either by defining them narrowly and realistically, or by sheer mundane, never-ending drudge work /no spamming of other sites/ and some did not. Some were oriented toward changing law or public policy; some aimed to change attitude and culture (and thus were much more difficult to assess). A great deal of isolation between pockets of activism was apparent from the beginning, and entirely different motivations led people to involvement.

So for my own Rorschach test of lessons drawn from the book (your mileage may vary), I drew the following:

There was an indirect influence of a linear timeline to activism, and the more successful and serious movements began earliest. The integrationist/voting rights in the South movement groundwork was laid by the most dedicated and serious activists earliest. Many avenues were explored before the tsunami of the 1960’s hit, and a lot of the more mundane education of activists took place under the radar in the 1950’s, with attendance at small, loosely affiliated venues such as American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville where Lafayette and John Lewis learned under Jim Lawson the tactics of Gandhi’s non-violent resistance. The risks were highest for these earliest activists /no spamming of other sites/ as evidenced by the murders later in Mississippi /no spamming of other sites/ and as Lafayette says:

I’m being honest with you when I say this: none of us expected to live to be twenty-five years old, particularly with the kind of behavior we were involved in. That was part of the understanding. You can’t practice nonviolence being afraid to die, and the training frees you from that fear.

Eventually, there was a spillover from the civil rights movement to the anti-war movement. Some civil rights activists stayed with voting and integration issues, some developed a hybrid (think King’s anti-Vietnam speech). As the anti-war activists became a second wave, they were joined by seasoned Vietnam vets such as those who founded Vietnam Veterans Against the War.(represented in this book by Dave Cline). The vets’ on-the-ground reports of the ineffectiveness of American military policy lent impetus to the draft resistors and were a bitter voice of authenticity that middle America found more and more difficult to ignore.

As protest movements spread out from the seminal civil rights movement and the anti-war vets, theorists and intellectuals most immediately affected by the draft /no spamming of other sites/ the college students at mostly elite universities /no spamming of other sites/ began to get pulled into the discussion of activism and strategy. While the previous movements had had some splintering over tactics /no spamming of other sites/ violence versus non-violence /no spamming of other sites/ for the most part, they had settled these differences by branching off and ignoring each other. This new "intellectualization" from the campuses, however, led to a lot of what we see here on the blogs today /no spamming of other sites/ purity tests and more investment in proving progressive rivals wrong than in effecting real change. Wasted energy went into stealing each other’s alternative press printing presses and declaring coups of organizations, and many who flocked to the exhilaration of the recognized historical moment stayed stuck forever in these purity wars.

Meanwhile, the third timeline wave /no spamming of other sites/ feminism /no spamming of other sites/ evolved out of some of this "stuckness" as the women involved with SDS and other radical campus organizations began to question why their roles were relegated to keeping the communal cooking pot going and providing "liberating" sex while the men argued Marxist theory until all hours and refused to clean the toilets. The viciousness of the men in these organizations to the women’s objections (and their subsequent departure from these movements) led to some really horrifying vilification, as recounted by Marilyn Webb, who was one of the first feminists to speak at a huge supposedly coalition-building joint anti-war rally in Washington in 1968:

I decided I would talk about equality, abortion, child care, and treating women with respect. It was a pretty mild speech. I wasn’t attacking men.... But when it got to be our turn to speak, Dave Dellinger got up and said, "The girls from women’s liberation are going to speak ...." Then, when I started to speak, I hadn’t gotten three sentences out when fistfights broke out. People were yelling, "Take her off the stage and fuck her." "Fuck her down a dark alley."

The final activist wave, according to gay rights pioneer Frank Kameny’s account, was that of his own movement; technically, Kameny claims, its prominence really broke during the early 1970’s and was a natural result of /no spamming of other sites/ not a part of /no spamming of other sites/ the previous movements.

A second lesson I drew from this book:

The more serious and successful the activists, the less credit they give to themselves and the more realistic (or cynical) they are about assessing the long-term impact of their part of the movement. Weirdly, the civil rights and hard-core anti-war vets and activists interviewed express more frustration /no spamming of other sites/ and take very less personal credit /no spamming of other sites/ for their accomplishments than some of the "avant garde" lifestyle activists interviewed.

Contsider this assessment from indicted Chicago Eight defendant Lee Weiner (a very serious activist indeed), who now works on staff in the New York office of the Anti-Defamation League:

... I began to lose faith in the outcome of what we were doing. I believed that the scope of the problems were such that they were not going to be addressed from the bottom up like that. I no longer thought that working within the system would succeed. I didn’t know what the answer was. Mostly, I was burned out. Then King and Kennedy were killed. Nineteen sixty-eight was the only year I ever thought that a revolution in the United States might actually happen. As Abbie used to say about 1968, "They don’t make years like that anymore."

...We continue [today] to have problems with racism, bigotry, sexism, ageism. Those things need to be fought on a day-to-day basis, and that’s what I do. The fact that these issues were raised in the 60’s and brought to the table are very positive legacies of the decade. That and good music.

Now contrast that with the interview from Pete Berg, a member of a San Francisco "guerilla theater" group known as "The Diggers." A typical Digger event was the "Intersection Game" in which flyers were passed out urging pedestrians to keep crossing street intersections in different configurations until traffic was stalled for twenty blocks. To be fair, Berg moved into the environmental movement, founding Planet Drum, which appears to be an effective, localized organization today. But his assessment of the Digger activity (from my view, of course), seems quite overblown:

What has flowed forward from it? I would say American society has been changed tremendously.... So many more things are acceptable today: the language that you hear, even on television, or read: sexuality.

There are a couple of interviews in here that reek of the well-known stereotype of dilettante hangers-on to more serious movements; a pretentious "artist" or "poet" or two who think the height of the "revolution" was dancing naked under strobe lights while passages from the Book of Revelations were read (and not knowing until the birth of their child who the father was). Of course, these hangers-on were part of the scenery too and deserve some voice; it’s simply unfortunate that their ego-serving has come to represent the main of the movements in modern minds today.

Taken as a whole, Generation on Fire is a study of both the goofiness of the times and the confusion that was present even as it was being lived by those in the forefront of the counterculture. For the most part, these were serious people wrestling with serious issues, and in many cases truly changing the world forever. These gathered oral histories point the way to reassessing the era in a kinder light than is usually offered today. More than anything else, study of the splintering, factions and failed coalition building /no spamming of other sites/ and those that succeeded, by the way /no spamming of other sites/ can serve as suggestions as today’s progressive movement struggles to overcome the same tendencies.

(y) Bravo! ....on history repeating itself and the relatively "recent" progressive movement (or whatever folks may call the cultural shift to the left)....identify some of the mistakes made four decades ago which can be avoided currently. :o

:| With current GOP leaders in D.C. suffering from an severly acute case of cranial rectitis however, (IMHO) it has been and continues to be at the grass roots level (the you's and me's) who will continue the seachange process. (z) (x)

(*)

:| What is going on with the molasses-slow latency here on B-F the past several months? At what must be "busy-times" several times each week, it seems that if I can't log in, the response time is so slow, that it seems that I am being timed out. There are even times where "connection is refused", according to my browser. I have trying to post this post for what seems like a long time this evening. Perhaps the cosmic wink here is to "give it a rest" and do something else. ;)

:) I guess that's it for my posting here until either later on tonight or the wee hours Monday when the bandwidth is available (fewer users simultaneously online at B-F perhaps or some other reason) or later tomorrow.

(l) Have a lovely Sunday evening & start of your week! (f)

(um) May your smile be your umbrella (um) ,

Sweetlady & Wyatt the Boxer (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-18-2007, 06:49 PM

:) :)

http://www.madagascar-travel.net/

(y) :) (y)

(k) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-18-2007, 06:51 PM

(*) (*) (*) (*) (*)

Driving Planned Parenthood

by JENNIFER BAUMGARDNER

[from the November 13, 2006 issue] The NATION

Planned Parenthood is the nation's largest provider of sexual and reproductive healthcare, providing birth control, pap smears, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and pregnancy tests to 5 million people each year. It has an annual budget of $800 million, 860 clinics, at least one representative in each state and enough members and staff that its reach into the grassroots is unmatched by any other entity fighting for reproductive freedom and women's equality.

And yet, there is a gap between Planned Parenthood's reach and its grip: its ability to make politicians bend to its will or even inspire the communities it serves. This was obvious when Senator John Kerry recently announced that he believes that both sides--prolife and prochoice--obfuscate and exaggerate for political gain. It is obvious when state legislators all over the map work openly with prolife groups, defying the opinions of medical experts (the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists doesn't support any of the myriad restrictions on abortion). And it is obvious in South Dakota. The state has two Planned Parenthood clinics--but they have to fly their doctors (and, until recently, their nurses) in from Minneapolis, nearly 200 miles away, because the local community doesn't necessarily embrace the organization. In February South Dakota's legislature passed a law banning all abortions unless the life of the pregnant woman is in danger. There is no health exception and no exception for pregnancy due to rape or incest. On March 6 Governor Mike Rounds signed the ban, sparking a campaign to overturn it with an initiative on the ballot this November, as well as a flurry of fundraising, organizing and e-mails from groups like the ACLU, NARAL Pro-Choice America and, of course, Planned Parenthood.

Just a month earlier, Cecile Richards, a 48-year-old married mother of three teenagers, started her new post as the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). The selection of Richards was somewhat unusual in that she isn't a healthcare provider, nor did she work for a Planned Parenthood affiliate (as PPFA heads have almost always done). Instead, her pedigree is purely political. What this signals is that many of the decision-makers at the gigantic organization, from members of the board to the heads of influential affiliates, believe that the disconnection between reach and grip means that Planned Parenthood needs to lead a political movement--both at the grassroots (i.e., the people they serve) and in the smaller, crucial world of Beltway politics.

The daughter of the late Democratic icon Ann Richards, Cecile was raised amid high-level campaigns. She organized janitors as one of her first jobs out of Brown, was deputy chief of staff for Nancy Pelosi (and was vital to Pelosi's ascension as the first woman Democratic leader of the House of Representatives) and worked for the Turner Foundation when Jane Fonda (Ted Turner's spouse at the time) decided to tackle Georgia's teen pregnancy epidemic. Ellen Malcolm, founder of EMILY's List, the nation's largest political action committee, is a good friend. Richards founded America Votes, an attempt to bring thirty progressive organizations, like the Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, together to complement one another's political efforts. "I bring a lot of relationships to this job," Richards told me in August. "Anthony Romero from the ACLU, Andy Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union, Carl Pope of the Sierra Club...these are people I've worked alongside for years."

But she is no mere player, DC or otherwise. People really love Cecile Richards, from former boss Jane Fonda to regular gals who have seen Richards speak, like "Vanessa," a young woman posting on the influential blog Feministing (the header: "Cecile Richards rocks my world!"). For today's increasingly antichoice, burned-out climate, Richards is just what Planned Parenthood's legendary founder, Margaret Sanger, might have ordered: quietly confident, friendly and genuine. She doesn't speak in the prochoice clichés ("complex decision," "we are pro-family") that turn many people off or the organization-speak ("build our infrastructure") that means something to fellow bureaucrats but to no one else.

Even the diverse and notoriously ornery heads of the 118 local Planned Parenthood affiliates, which value their independence from the national organization, come together in praise of their new leader. "When she came in, the world went from gray and dismal to sunny and bright," says Sarah Stoesz, a veteran organizer and the CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota/North Dakota/South Dakota. "Cecile has 'it' the way some people just have it," Jatrice Martel Gaiter, the highly respected head of Planned Parenthood Metropolitan Washington, told me. "'It' being charm, class, beauty, brains and being tough as nails. Faye had it, too," Gaiter continued, referring to another charismatic glamazon, Faye Wattleton, who helmed PPFA from 1978 to 1992, and came out of an Ohio affiliate. "In [metropolitan Washington], we have some of the highest rates of teen pregnancy and HIV," says Gaiter, whom Richards visited while on a listening tour to dozens of affiliates to learn more about the communities she would be working with and for. "When she came to our teen event in Anacostia--which is like Harlem or Watts--she legitimately connected with the kids. It was not a drive-by, middle-class, do-good wave. I was so proud to have a colleague who wasn't afraid to come into the African-American community and who is comfortable with poor people."

A Texan, Richards is even from a red state, which gives her credibility (no latte-sucking Connecticut WASP, she) and demonstrates that she knows how to build a movement in a less than friendly environment--which, sadly, describes the United States in 2006. The forces eroding reproductive rights, from abortion to contraception, are many: an increasingly organized and growing prolife movement, millions of federal dollars dedicated to abstinence-only education and younger women and men raised with Roe v. Wade who increasingly don't identify with prochoice--as a term or a movement.

Cecile Richards wants to beat back all of those forces. During a June address to the progressive group Take Back America, Richards said: "We have the potential to swing the vote in 2006, 2008 and 2010, and that's a lot of power. The question is, What are we going to do with it? And the answer is, We're going to use it. We're going to marry our current reality as the largest reproductive healthcare provider in this country with our opportunity to be the largest kickass advocacy organization in the country.... We're taking on the opponents of choice in the states and the districts where they live. Planned Parenthood is going to become more political so that healthcare can become less politicized." (Cue thunderous applause.)

This election season Richards is targeting gubernatorial races in Wisconsin and Ohio, where having an ally in that office will mean not having to worry about abortion bans or restrictions being signed into law. To reach young activists, about whom she is glowingly impressed and excited, she is focusing on growing the organization's student groups, called VOX chapters. "In 1999 we had two campus chapters and now we have 180, including on historically black campuses," she says, noting that on her tour "the most incredible thing has been the students I've met in places like Kalamazoo, South-Central [Los Angeles], Sarasota." About the high school students trained by Planned Parenthood as peer educators, she says, "Any question you would ever want to ask, they can answer it without blushing, without apologies or stammering; they have taken on their school boards, their principals and sometimes their own parents. To me, they are the next movement and an unbelievable resource." To reflect the importance of that constituency, Richards is overseeing a revamping of the PPFA website so that people--especially teenagers--can find "confidential, reliable, safe information." She described the platform as being like Fandango, the movie website in which you type your ZIP code and the film you want to see. In this case you would type your ZIP code and the site would help you find the closest place for STI testing, birth control and GYN care.

PPFA's board chair, Esperanza Garcia Walters, told me that with Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood would grow exponentially as a presence on the political stage. "It's what is necessary for us to protect women's rights, to make the lives of women and families better," Garcia Walters, a nurse and consultant in Hollister, California, told me. "It was a gradual shift--a bit like an inch forward at a time. But we're not taking baby steps anymore. We understand this as our work."

Margaret Sanger might say, "What took you so long?" Sanger, who opened the first birth-control clinic in 1916 and saw it closed down ten days later, used any means necessary to give women a chance to control their bodies and their lives. She cultivated relationships with wealthy donors, married money, lobbied politically, published and broke the law in her quest. Despite Planned Parenthood's radical origins, the organization focused on providing services, keeping politics out of the clinic and out of the leadership, until about a decade ago. "Our excellent health provision gave us the credibility to be an advocate," says Gloria Feldt, an author and activist who led the organization from 1996 to 2005 (and is a veteran of the Arizona affiliate). Feldt says that presidents before her had attempted to establish an action fund (a 501(c)(4) organization that can endorse candidates) but until her tenure "had never been able to move the organization to use these strategies to play hardball." In 1998 the Planned Parenthood Action Fund formed its PAC. "When I became national president, the action fund was in the deficit position," she says. "From there we went to $10 million or $12 million in 2000, which we used for ads and on-the-ground, door-knocking work." During the 2004 presidential election it had only $8 million, but PPFA took a critical turn: It endorsed a candidate for the first time in its eighty-nine-year history. "Given the difference between the two candidates, and a Supreme Court that was one vote away from being able to overturn Roe," recalls Feldt, "I thought, If we don't make an endorsement, who are we?" Feldt addressed the 2004 Democratic convention on its first night and toured the country with big names like Gloria Steinem, Moby and Ann Richards campaigning for Senator Kerry and prochoice Democrats in key races.

Come January 2005, George W. Bush was still in office, although Gloria Feldt was not. Is Cecile Richards going to do more political advocacy while Planned Parenthood is under her rule? Gloria Steinem thinks yes: "To me, the very choice meant the board intended to do just that. Planned Parenthood is more trusted and has more credibility than either political party or any political candidate. It also has grassroots. The problem last time was that the big umbrella groups got almost all the money, then turned to local Planned Parenthood Action Funds to do much of the work on the ground. I hope donors realize this time that the Planned Parenthood Action Fund should be, at the very least, the NRA of the centrist-to-progressive 70 percent of the country." Becoming like the National Rifle Association is not a bad goal. Fortune, which has ranked the twenty-five most powerful lobbies, called it the most effective lobby in Washington. In the 2000 elections the NRA spent twice what Planned Parenthood did.

Charlton Heston, former president of the NRA, once commanded his squabbling chapters to "get together" to fight gun control "or get out of the way." Planned Parenthood's affiliates proudly do not speak as one voice, despite the fact that the public sees Planned Parenthood as a single unit. For instance, when former president Gloria Feldt caught heat by sanctioning the selling of an "I had an abortion" T-shirt (which I produced and many Nation readers helped to fund), the heads of several affiliates supported her while others openly pilloried her. "Our diversity is why we needed a leader who understood all aspects of movement building," says Sarah Stoesz of the Minnesota/North Dakota/South Dakota affiliate. "We are a federation of separate and distinct entities trying to knit ourselves into a movement. Before Cecile, we didn't have a chance. Now we do."

Stoesz has a background in healthcare, but she's clear that she's at her job to build a movement, a priority that is reflected in Planned Parenthood's 2005 move into its fiftieth state--North Dakota. The ND chapter isn't a clinic but an office manned by one organizer, 31-year-old Amy Jacobson. She attends any public event with a connection to the issues PPFA supports, speaks on campuses and organizes rallies. This is deliberate. When the affiliate opened the two South Dakota clinics in the 1990s and began to provide abortions in 1994, Stoesz says it was a case of "leading with our clinics rather than leading politically," meaning that Planned Parenthood was setting up shop in hostile territory--South Dakota is the only state to implement a more extreme version of the antiabortion Hyde Amendment, for instance--before assessing if and where there was support. "We have been playing catch-up in South Dakota ever since," she says.

Planned Parenthood has the reach, and Richards has the political grip, but there is a third element at play, which might be called "touch." How well Planned Parenthood clinics deliver their care has an effect on the community and its politics--and may be the one place that Richards is at a disadvantage. When advocates speak of a prochoice majority, they often include the millions of people who use Planned Parenthood's services, but these clients aren't necessarily activists or even prochoice. This is chalked up to either the women being ignorant and hypocritical or the right wing having gotten its hooks into them. Rarely does Planned Parenthood turn the question back on itself and ask what it could do to make a patient into an activist or at least a supporter.

The eight women I interviewed in South Dakota described abortion experiences that were far from something that would engage them politically on its behalf. Among the stories was a student who was shocked when her state-mandated counseling twenty-four hours before the procedure was a recording played over the phone (not lots of opportunities to ask questions there). The counseling is part of a twenty-four-hour waiting period--a restriction--but if the clinic has to do it, they should do it well. Another woman was very sad about her abortion, although she felt it was the right thing for her and her fiancé to do, and was at loose ends trying to find a counselor she could talk to afterward. Given their sometimes alienating language (such as "tissue" to refer to the fetus), and the fact that partners aren't allowed in the procedure room, many clinics don't meet women's needs, and it is into this breach that antiabortion activists have eagerly stepped. In fact, if you did need to talk after your abortion in South Dakota, the Alpha Center (right down the street) provides that resource. Unfortunately, the Alpha Center is run by Leslee Unruh, one of the architects of the abortion ban. Clinics have limited money and have to make hard choices, but making sure that clients know about Exhale--a nationwide after-abortion talk line--is inexpensive and increasingly necessary. The ban in South Dakota is based on a task force report that, while loaded with prolife activism, is nonetheless basing its case on abortion being bad for women first, and on fetal rights second. The report states, "Abortion hurts women physically, emotionally, and psychologically." In response, prochoicers must clearly demonstrate, with words and deeds, that they are the real advocates for women. "It's been really hard for the prochoice movement as a whole to deal with feelings about abortion, because back in the early days women didn't have forces making them feel guilty," Byllye Avery, the founder of the Black Women's Health Imperative, told me. "But it's been thirty years of people beating on us, and women now do feel guilty. If women need more [emotional resources], then the movement has to provide them."

The ballot initiative (and the coalition known as the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families) grew out of a legitimate citizen response to the abortion ban from activists and nonactivists alike. Taking the issue to the voters is a risky strategy, and not one that Planned Parenthood necessarily preferred. The established prochoice groups have always made a strong case that Roe is inalienable, that it isn't a right that can be figured out state by state, and thus Roe is correct in striking down all state laws banning abortion. Suing to uphold Roe--while expensive and not good for movement-building--has proved successful in overturning these laws in the past. Taking it to the people in South Dakota could fail, and it might be perceived as strengthening the notion that states themselves should have the right to decide whether to allow abortion.

In her constant travels since taking the job, though, Richards hasn't visited South Dakota. "The people who are going to go to vote in November are people who live and work every day in South Dakota," she told me when I asked why. "I really believe that and respect that and support that campaign, but this is not a national campaign." When I visited the Sioux Falls clinic, however, I got the impression that the staff there would have liked some direct contact and support from their new president, to go along with the fundraising pleas using South Dakota as a hook and the news reports that Richards's life was "South Dakota, all the time." When I suggested that a visit might provide insight to Richards about the state's particular issues and provide a shot in the arm to the prochoicers on the ground there, Sarah Stoesz, the Minneapolis-based affiliate leader, snapped, "Cecile's job is not to shore up the six people who work at the clinic."

At last look, the prochoice grassroots of South Dakota, while newly energized, may not be as large or willing to vote as the prolife grassroots. Kate Michelman, the former head of NARAL now fundraising in DC on behalf of the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families, thinks the ballot initiative is "the most unwatched political contest in 2006." "Everyone thinks the big organizations are taking it on," she told me. "They are helping, but they can't do the whole thing. We need ads, organizing and money." A September 20 Zogby poll of 531 likely South Dakota voters found that it's a toss-up: 47 percent of state residents oppose the abortion ban while 44 percent support it, an increase of five percentage points for the antiabortion position since July. Women are more likely than men to agree with the ban, and younger people--the ones Richards has been so impressed by in her travels--are the most likely to support it.

www.thenation.com

(y) (y) (y) (y) (y)

Carpe Diem,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-18-2007, 06:59 PM

:s

(p) http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/02/18/fashion/affection.190.jpg

February 18, 2007

A Kiss Too Far?

By GUY TREBAY

THE spot was only 30 seconds, almost a blur amid the action at the Super Bowl. Yet the hubbub after a recent commercial showing two auto mechanics accidentally falling into lip-lock while eating the same Snickers bar went a long way toward showing how powerfully charged a public kiss between two men remains.

Football is probably as good a place as any to look for the limits of social tolerance. And the Snickers commercial — amusing to some, appalling to others and ultimately withdrawn by the company that makes the candy — had the inadvertent effect of revealing how a simple display of affection grows in complexity as soon as one considers who gets to demonstrate it in public, and who, very often, does not.

The demarcation seemed particularly stark during the week of Valentine’s Day, when the aura of love cast its rosy Hallmark glow over card-store cash registers and anyone with a pulse. Where, one wondered, were all the same-sex lovers making out on street corners, or in comedy clubs, performance spaces, flower shops or restaurants?

“There’s really a kind of Potemkin village quality to the tolerance and acceptance” of gay people in America, said Clarence Patton, a spokesman for the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project. “The idea of it is O.K., but the reality falls short.”

Provided gay people agree to “play a very tightly scripted and choreographed role in society, putting your wedding together or what have you, we’re not threatening,” Mr. Patton said. “But people are still verbally harassed and physically attacked daily for engaging in simple displays of affection in public. Everything changes the minute we kiss.”

The lugs in the Snickers commercial recoiled in shock at their smooch, resorting to “manly” behavior like tearing out their chest hair in clumps. Alternate endings to the commercial on a Snickers Web site showed the two clobbering each other, and related video clips featured players from the Super Bowl teams reacting, not unexpectedly, with squeamish distaste. The outrage voiced by gay rights groups similarly held little surprise.

“This type of jeering from professional sports figures at the sight of two men kissing fuels the kind of anti-gay bullying that haunts countless gay and lesbian schoolchildren on playgrounds across the country,” Joe Solmonese, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement. A spokesman for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation condemned the advertisement as “inexcusable.” Masterfoods USA, a division of Mars and the maker of Snickers, withdrew the offending ads.

But for some the commercial left the lingering question of who owns the kiss? How is it that a simple affectionate gesture can be so loaded? Why is it that behavioral latitudes permit couples of one sort to indulge freely in public displays lusty enough to suggest short-term motel stays, while entire populations, albeit minority ones, live real-time versions of the early motion picture Hays Code: a peck on the cheek in public, one foot squarely planted on the floor?

The freedom to kiss in public is hardly the most compelling issue for most gay rights advocates, or perhaps even in the minds of many gay Americans. Yet the symbolic weight of simple gestures remains potent, a point easy to observe wherever on the sexual spectrum one falls. “Whose issue is it? Why is it only a gay issue?” said Robert Morea, a fitness consultant in New York.

Although Mr. Morea is heterosexual, his client list has long included a number of high-profile professionals, the majority of them gay women and men. “The issue is there because for so many years, people got beaten up, followed or yelled at,” he said. “Even for me as a straight man, it’s obvious how social conditioning makes it hard for people to take back the public space.”

After considering herself exclusively lesbian for decades, Sarah Van Arsdale, a novelist, not long ago found, to her surprise, that she had fallen in love with a man. At first, as she wrote last week in an e-mail message from a writer’s colony in Oaxaca, Mexico, “ Whenever we would hold hands in public, I felt a frisson of fear, waiting for the customary dirty looks or at least for the customary looking-away.”

In place of revulsion, Ms. Van Arsdale was startled to discover that, having adjusted her sexual identity, she was now greeted by strangers with approving smiles. “I felt suddenly acceptable and accepted and cute, as opposed to queer,” she said.

While few are likely to have shared Ms. Van Arsdale’s singular perspective, her experience is far from exceptional. “I’m a very openly gay man,” said Dane Clark, who manages rental properties and flies a rainbow flag from his house in Kansas City, Kan. “My partner and I don’t go kissing in public. I live in probably the most liberal part of the State of Kansas, but it’s not exactly liberal. If I was to go to a nice restaurant nearby and kiss my partner, I don’t think that would go over very well.”

As many gay men have before him, Mr. Clark chose to live in a city rather than the sort of small town where he was raised in the hope that Kansas City would provide a greater margin of tolerance and also of safety. Even in nearby Independence, Mo., he said, “if you kiss your partner in a restaurant, you could find somebody waiting for you outside when you went to the car.”

But haven’t things changed radically from the days when lesbians and gay men were considered pariahs, before gay marriage initiatives became ballot issues, before Ellen DeGeneres was picked to host the Oscars, and cable TV staples like “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” made a competitive sport of group hugs?

In some senses and in certain places, apparently, they have. The landscape of acceptance, as the Snickers commercial inadvertently illustrated, is constantly shifting — broadening in one place and contracting somewhere else. The country in which anti-gay advocates like the Rev. Fred Phelps once drew headlines for picketing Matthew Shepard’s funeral and preaching what was called “a Day-Glo vision of hatred” can seem very far away at times from the laissez-faire place in which an estimated 70 percent of Americans say they know someone who is gay.

“We don’t administrate public displays of affection,” said Andrew Shields, World Church Secretary of the Community of Christ, a Christian evangelical church with headquarters in Independence. “Homosexuality is still in discussion in our church. But our denominational point of view is that we uphold the worth of all persons, and there is no controversy on whether people have a right to express themselves.”

The tectonics of attitude are shifting in subtle ways that are geographic, psychic and also generational, suggested Katherine M. Franke, a lesbian who teaches law and is a director of the Center for the Study of Law and Culture at Columbia University. “I’ve been attacked on the street and called all sorts of names” for kissing a female partner in public, Professor Franke said. “The reception our affection used to generate was violence and hatred,” she added. “What I’ve found in the last five years is that my girlfriend and I get smiles from straight couples, especially younger people. Now there’s almost this aggressive sense of ‘Let me tell you how terrific we think that is.’ ”

Yet gay-bashing still occurs routinely, Mr. Patton of the Anti-Violence Project said, even in neighborhoods like Chelsea in Manhattan, where the sight of two men kissing on the street can hardly be considered a frighten-the-horses proposition. “In January some men were leaving a bar in Chelsea,” saying goodbye with a kiss, Mr. Patton said. “One friend got into a taxi and then a car behind the taxi stopped and some guys jumped out and beat up the other two.” One victim of the attack, which is under investigation by the police department’s Hate Crimes Task Force, was bruised and shaken. The second had a broken jaw.

“The last time I was called a faggot was on Eighth Avenue,” said Joe Windish, a longtime New Yorker who now lives in Milledgeville, Ga., with his partner of many years. “I don’t have that here, and I’m an out gay man,” said Mr. Windish, whose neighbors in what he termed “the reddest of the red states” may be fundamentalist Christians who oppose gay marriages and even civil unions, but “who all like me personally.”

Tolerance has its limits, though, as Mr. Windish found when he and his partner took a vacation on a sleepy island off the coast of Georgia. “I became aware that if I held my partner’s hand, or kissed him in public, the friendliness would stop,” he said.

What Mr. Windish calls a level of peril is possibly always in play, and this no doubt has something to do with the easily observed reality that a public kiss between two people of the same sex remains an unusual occurrence, and probably not because most are holding out for the chance to lock lips over a hunk of milk chocolate, roasted peanuts and caramel.

“We forget here, because New York has been relatively safe for a while, that hate is a problem,” said Roger Padilha, an owner of MAO public relations in New York. The reminders surface in everyday settings, he said, and in ordinary ways.

“My boyfriend and I always hold hands and, when we feel like it, we kiss,” Mr. Padilha said. Yet some weeks back, at a late movie in a Times Square theater, as Mr. Padilha went to rest his hand on his partner’s leg — a gesture it would seem that movie theaters were invented to facilitate — he recoiled as sharply as had one of the Snickers ad guys.

“He was like: ‘Don’t do that. It’s too dangerous,’ ” Mr. Padilha said. “And afterward I thought, you know, my dad isn’t super into P.D.A.’s, but nobody’s ever going to beat him up because he’s kissing my mom at a movie. I kept thinking: What if my boyfriend got hit by a car tomorrow? When I had the chance to kiss him, why didn’t I?”

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/fashion/18affection.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

"There's really a kind of Potemkin village quality to the tolerance and acceptance of gay people in America", said Clarence Patton, a spokesman for the New York Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project. "The idea of it is okay, but the reality falls far short."

^o) ^o) Things have certainly changed, but not as much as I thought in geographic locations where I assumed that it was always or almost always safe ... :| Well, when in doubt, be safe, right?

Warmest ({)(})'s,

SWeetlady & Wyatt the napping Boxer (S) (l) (&) (l) (S)

sweetlady

02-18-2007, 07:04 PM

:o

This was an epiphany for me:

February 18, 2007

Op-Ed Contributor

China’s True Dash of Flavor

By FUCHSIA DUNLOP

TODAY the Chinese Year of the Pig begins, and Americans across the country will venture to their local Chinatowns for a festive meal. Yet despite the enduring popularity of Chinese food, many still see it as strictly a down-market cuisine, more the stuff of cheap takeout than one of the world’s great culinary cultures. In the old days of chop suey and egg foo yung, this reputation may have been justified, but now that fine and authentic Chinese dining is available in the United States (if you know where to look for it), why do so many people still think of it as junky?

Looming large as an explanation is the use of monosodium glutamate, or MSG, in Chinese kitchens. For restaurant chefs and Chinese home cooks, MSG is a ubiquitous seasoning, considered as “normal” as salt, soy sauce and vinegar. Yet for many Americans, the fine white powder is a sinister food additive, tainted by association with industrialized food production and the garish, over-the-top flavors of packaged snacks.

And, ever since 1968, when The New England Journal of Medicine used the headline “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” over a letter from a doctor complaining that Chinese restaurant food gave him numbness in his neck and palpitations, it has also been fingered with medical suspicion.

While around a third of Americans say they believe that MSG makes them ill, reputable medical studies have shown that only a tiny proportion of people truly react to it, and then only when it is administered in large oral doses on an empty stomach. All this was explained, and the restaurant syndrome fully debunked, in great detail by the food writer Jeffrey Steingarten in a 1999 essay for Vogue magazine titled “Why Doesn’t Everybody in China Have a Headache?”

In the absence of medical evidence of any harmful physiological effects of MSG, the fact that the Chinese use it while Americans not of Chinese descent generally don’t creates a serious cultural barrier to the mainstream appreciation of Chinese food. Isn’t it time, perhaps, to cast off our prejudices and take a cool, steady look at MSG?

MSG is not, of course, a traditional Chinese seasoning. It was discovered in 1908 by a Japanese scientist, Kikunae Ikeda, who was trying to pinpoint the source of the intense deliciousness of broth made from kombu seaweed. In his laboratory, he isolated the natural glutamates in the seaweed, and to their marvelous taste he gave the name “umami,” derived from the Japanese word for “delicious.” His work led directly to the industrial manufacture in Japan and then worldwide of MSG.

Still, MSG was long considered simply to be a flavor enhancer, with little or no taste of its own. In recent years, however, there has been growing acceptance of the existence of a so-called fifth taste — an addition to the traditional quartet of sweet, sour, salty and bitter — known through an emerging consensus by Ikeda’s term, umami. Our tongues, biologists have shown, have distinct receptors that pick up on the taste of MSG and a wider family of umami compounds, and some of our brain cells respond specifically to umami.

The umami taste comes from the building blocks of proteins, amino acids and nucleotides, which include not only glutamates but also inosinates and guanylates. These delicious molecules appear when animal and vegetable proteins break down, for example in the ripening of Parmigiano cheese or prosciutto di Parma. Industrially made MSG is a chemically “neat” form of one of the umami compounds that delight our taste buds when they occur naturally in cheese, ham andseaweed, just as salt is a “neat” form of the saltiness of seawater and white sugar of the sweetness of sugar cane. Is it any worse for us than refined salt and sugar?

Western chefs, food writers and consumers are only now cottoning onto the existence of umami and its power as a culinary concept. In China, however, it has long been part of the daily vocabulary of the kitchen. Chinese chefs talk often of “xian wei” — their term for umami. They use many ingredients that are naturally rich in it — Yunnan ham, dried scallops and shiitake mushrooms — to enhance the flavors of their stocks and sauces (just as an Italian cook might use grated Parmigiano or truffles to enhance the umami taste of a dish of pasta). They talk of “ti xian wei” (“bringing out the umami”) in their cooking through the judicious application of salt, sugar, chicken fat and, nowadays, MSG.

Bad Chinese chefs, of course, just use MSG as a substitute for good ingredients and properly made stocks, just as bad American food companies cook up snack foods made from fat and carbohydrates laced with salt and sugar. But top Chinese chefs also use it, to refine and elevate flavors. There may be no need to add MSG to a delicate soup made from chicken, ham and dried scallops. But in some culinary contexts, it works wonders: a little MSG mixed with salt and sesame oil can lift the flavor of a simple bamboo shoot salad, or add a dash of ecstasy to a stir-fry of pea shoots and garlic. If you didn’t know it was MSG, you would simply find it delicious.

In the past, I was as closed-minded on the subject of MSG as the purists and hypochondriacs. When I started cooking and writing about Chinese food more than a decade ago, I decided not to use MSG. I wanted to stick up for proper ingredients and traditional cooking methods, and help to rehabilitate the reputation of Chinese cuisine by showing that it didn’t require this reviled additive.

But these days I’m not so sure. The scientific evidence for umami is persuasive, and as a concept it makes sense of a great deal of traditional culinary theory. I see brilliant chefs in China making subtle and skillful use of MSG. And if some outstanding Western chefs — like Heston Blumenthal, whose Fat Duck restaurant in England has three Michelin stars — are willing to risk ridicule and experiment with its culinary potential, perhaps it’s time I should as well. Intellectual curiosity is, tradition has it, a hallmark of the Year of the Pig.

Fuchsia Dunlop is the author of “Revolutionary Chinese Cookbook.”

:o Who knew? Dunlop makes strong arguments for its use, but I'd still prefer not having it in my Asian food. While traveling in China though, I can't imagine asking for anything without MSG - since it seems to enhance certain dishes.

By the way? <:o) <:o) <:o) HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!! <:o) <:o) <:o)

(k) 's,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-18-2007, 07:08 PM

http://www.new-year.co.uk/chinese/calendar.htm

<:o) <:o) <:o) <:o) <:o) <:o) <:o) <:o)

It was fun looking up my birth year and seeing what I was...;)

:) :o Those born in the Year of the Sheep are said to be charming, elegant and artistic, who like material comforts. A bit of a worrier they also have a tendency to complain about things. Jobs as actors, gardeners or beachcombers would suit.

Famous people born in the Year Of The Sheep:

Gene Hackman, Mikhail Gorbachev, Leonard Nimoy, Prunella Scales,John Major, George Harrison

(h) URL!

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-18-2007, 07:17 PM

:| :| :|

:o :o

February 17, 2007

Op-Ed Contributor

The Jingoism 500

By MICHAEL YAKI

San Francisco

TOMORROW, ordinary citizens will be bracing themselves against the howling sound of Japanese engines throttling up and bearing down on their beloved American heroes. No, it’s not a squadron of dive-bombing Zeroes re-enacting Pearl Harbor. It’s the Daytona 500, the kickoff to the Nascar season, and for the first time in Nascar’s history Dodge, Chevy and Ford will be joined by ... Toyota.

Japan’s biggest car company, which is poised to overtake General Motors as the largest car manufacturer in the world, has entered the hallowed tracks and pit rows of that most American of race circuits, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. But to hear some Nascar fans talk, when those engines fire up it will be Dec. 7, 1941, all over again.

The war metaphors have been brought to the fore by Jack Roush, a prominent racing team owner. Mr. Roush has said that “we’re going to war” and that he’s preparing himself “for siege.” He has accused Toyota of having bought its way in, of raising the costs of owning a team and generally spoiling the pot. Other Nascar columnists, pundits and fans, even a Web site dedicated to being “against racing Toyotas,” have chimed in against the auto maker’s entry into Nascar.

Nationalism and pride in one’s country can be admirable traits. Nationalism, however, is the razor’s edge in the American psyche, where just a push turns it into xenophobia. Nascar, like so many professional sports before it, may soon be faced with a situation where deliberate ignorance of simmering prejudice is not an option.

I am an American of blended Asian ancestry, including Japanese, and a certain insult — a word as odious as its counterpart for African-Americans — sets me off. That word has been flying fast and furious in many Nascar-related forums and chat rooms. It offends me so much I cannot even abbreviate it here. One person wrote that “we don’t need any foreign nameplate in Nascar.” Others have taken up the “if you love them so much go live in Japan” theme and, curiously, wondered that if the Iraqis built a car would drivers of Japanese cars “become fans of the terrorists?”

The drivers hired by Toyota have been subject to the same opprobrium. Dale Jarrett, whom Nascar has named one of the 50 greatest drivers in its history, has been called a sell-out. Michael Waltrip, a Daytona winner, has been invited to “leave America” with his Japanese truck. (His recent woes at Daytona, including accusations that his team was cheating during qualifying, have only increased the vitriol.) Nor have the up-and-comers Brian Vickers and Jeremy Mayfield been spared. In blogs and on fan sites all have been characterized as traitors for driving “rice burners.”

Although team owners like Joe Gibbs and Rick Hendrick have welcomed the competition from Toyota, Nascar itself has said little during the rants and grumblings, apparently hoping it will all die down. That is unacceptable. There are, of course, Asian-American Nascar fans, and several of Nascar’s races are held in California, the state with the highest population of Asian-Americans.

Nascar’s goal has always been to ensure competition from inside the cockpit, not on the outside. It is all about devising a race where one variable — human skill at 200 miles an hour — is prized above all. When I watch the races (I am a fan; my mother-in-law is an uber-fan), I am fascinated by the men and the occasional woman maneuvering around banked tracks at speeds I cannot fathom with the touch of scrimshaw masters. I am not thinking of a Chevy Monte Carlo or a Dodge Charger or a Ford Fusion — or a Toyota Camry. I am watching Jeff, Junior, Tony, Mark and all those others with the courage, talent and sheer guts it takes to withstand, much less win, a 500-mile race when my legs cramp up after a leisurely two-hour drive.

Nascar’s roots in the South’s “good ol’ boy” mentality are a part of its lore and charm that cannot be denied. Movies like “The Dukes of Hazzard” and “Talladega Nights” both spoof and glorify its origins. Its partnership with the American auto industry is also a part of this history, born in the myth that you can drive the same “stock” car that Richard Petty drove to victory. But Nascar has become a global superbrand, still undeniably American yet ubiquitous enough for the world’s best — not just auto manufacturers, but racers like Juan Montoya, the Colombian who has dominated Formula 1 — to want to test its drivers and its superspeedways.

More than 20 years ago, this country feared that Japan would take over American industry. It didn’t happen. But today the Big Three are still on the ropes and, combined with Chrysler’s recent layoffs, a Toyota victory in one of Nascar’s events could reawaken latent fears of Japanese domination. We cannot forget that in 1982 a young Chinese-American, Vincent Chin, was killed in Detroit because two autoworkers assumed he was Japanese. Apparently there remain embers just hot enough to re-ignite the flame of racism.

You can be pro-American, and you can declare that Americans should buy American cars. But doing so involves a degree of hypocrisy. Today an “American” car could have been assembled in Mexico, or had most of its parts manufactured offshore. And Dodge, part of the Chrysler brand, is owned by Daimler of Germany. Yet I don’t hear anyone disparaging the patriotism of the racers driving Dodges. It’s another indication that the opposition to Toyota is rooted not in patriotic pride, but racism.

Along with millions of others, I will watch the Daytona 500 tomorrow. There would be nice symmetry if the Great American Race also meant that in the arena of race relations, Nascar, like all major professional sports, were to take measures to reject the appearance and insinuation of intolerance and prejudice in its ranks.

Michael Yaki is a member of the United States Commission on Civil Rights.

^o) ^o) Somehow this will blow over.....eventually. The author certainly provides thought-provoking material and his experiences. It *is* interesting that he did not mention the extreme consensus and comformity culture in Japan - and the well, quite frankly, racist approach to immigration in that country as well. That information might have balanced his article IMHO, making it less an attack on American values.

At the end of the day, it just isn't brain surgery. It's NASCAR. ;)

Stay warm on a cold Sunday evening aka Two-Dog Night,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-18-2007, 07:20 PM

(f) (f) (f) (f) (f) (f) (f)

The Year of Magical Thinking on Broadway

Strictly Limited Engagement
Beginning March 6th

Booth Theatre
222 West 45th Street
New York, NY

http://www.magicalthinkingonbroadway.com/

(l) (l) (l) (l) (l) I might go and "experience" this once in a lifetime theater event. (h)

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)

sweetlady

02-18-2007, 07:22 PM

(y) (y) (y)

February 18, 2007

Lives in the Arts

By KATHRYN HARRISON

How many artists subscribe to the notion that creative success depends on input from the fickle muse or her modern avatar, mental illness? Probably very few. Like all romantic conceits, it fails to acknowledge the grubby reality of mortal life, in this case the dedicated, often torturous labor a writer or dancer or sculptor invests in what he or she makes. Among the lucid and often delightful observations Joan Acocella makes in her new collection of critical essays, “Twenty-Eight Artists and Two Saints,” none is more important than this: “What allows genius to flower is not neurosis but its opposite ... ordinary Sunday-school virtues such as tenacity and above all the ability to survive disappointment.” In fact, Acocella suggests, the remarkable and sustained career of a prodigy like George Balanchine, to name one of her subjects, proves this artist “not an example, but a freak, of ego strength.”

Which doesn’t make the creative process any less mysterious. What emerges from a reading of “Twenty-Eight Artists and Two Saints” is Acocella’s — and through hers our own — respect and in certain cases even reverence for the dogged faith on which an artistic career is built. We know the seductive alchemy of art. To transform private anguish into a narrative of truth if not beauty; to make sense where there was none; to bring order out of chaos: these are the promises art makes. Fulfilling them requires something else entirely, an attribute closer to blindness than to inspiration — the refusal to give up when the odds predict defeat, again.

In these highly readable essays, most of which appeared in The New Yorker (where, as a staff writer, their author covers dance and books), Acocella addresses not single works so much as whole lives in the arts, her point of entry either the most recent novel by, or a new biography of, the writer (or dancer, or choreographer) under consideration. Many of the essays draw on interviews with her subject as well as on the work itself. Knowledgeable without being a show-off, meticulous in her research and energetically conversational, Acocella leaps immediately into the piece at hand, offering a few toothsome biographical morsels as she unpacks text or dance steps. Then, having captured her reader’s interest, she goes back to the early life and earlier work, examining those experiences she sees as having had an impact on the art. Her typical essay thus functions as a tantalizing biographical sketch, as well as a critical study, inviting us to pursue a deeper exploration.

Ultimately, there are as many different forms of criticism as there are critics, but if one were to make the broadest distinction, on one side of which lie those hypercritical critics who tend to eviscerate and disable creative efforts, often while advertising their own erudition and good taste, Acocella would fall firmly on the other side of this divide. She is a celebrant of art, not blind to the flaws of what she admires nor so inclusive in her praise that she fails to discriminate between the lesser and greater novels of, for example, Saul Bellow, but a critic whose enthusiasm is infectious. Clearly, she reviews only what she finds worth her time to review — work she loves.

Particularly, Acocella is interested in artistic careers that include break and recovery, and how the work changes in the wake of trauma, including the chronic, compounding trauma of rejection. She is a keen and sympathetic observer of the ways in which corrosive disappointment can strip away the veneer of culture and refinement that an immature artist typically acquires, revealing the more genuine sensitivity, the art, beneath.

The most engaging of the essays collected here is “The Soloist,” which follows the career of Mikhail Baryshnikov. As Russian as he is, Baryshnikov has achieved the stature of an American icon by that most reliable means — his own bootstraps. We love stories of overcoming hardship; really, the only way to improve on them is to multiply the hero’s woes, and Baryshnikov endured decades of crises and abandonments that only his obdurate investment in ballet allowed him to transcend.

Twelve years old, Baryshnikov had been dancing for three years when his mother hanged herself and he became “a child workaholic.” Drudgery paid off: at 19 he was accepted into the Kirov Ballet as a soloist, and then, Acocella writes, “his troubles really began.” In the wake of Nureyev’s 1961 defection, the Kirov became, in effect, “a mini police state” that rewarded its dancers “less on the basis of merit than according to one’s history of cooperation” with Communist witch hunts. The pinnacle of success for Russian dancers, it left them vulnerable to a “mixture of impotence and cynicism” that destroyed one brilliant career after another.

In 1970, Alexander Pushkin, celebrated teacher and surrogate father to the young dancer (whose own father never understood or supported his ambitions), died suddenly and left Baryshnikov feeling bereft of protectors. That same year, Natalia Makarova defected and the Kirov descended into panic, with the result that the K.G.B. came calling whenever Baryshnikov had so much as a meal with a visiting Western dancer. It was clear that to remain in his homeland would amount to creative suicide and so in 1974, Baryshnikov, too, defected.

Summarizing his subsequent career with the American Ballet Theater, with Balanchine, with Twyla Tharp, Acocella says of Baryshnikov: “Homelessness turned him inward, gave him to himself. Then dance, the substitute home, turned him outward, gave him to us.” It’s an astute observation — the kind of simple and clearsighted remark that distinguishes Acocella’s criticism — and it applies to almost every artist, conscious or not of an alienation assuaged only by the consuming effort art demands. The sculpture of Louise Bourgeois; the wickedly funny, anguished novels of Hilary Mantel; the memoirs of Primo Levi, of M. F. K. Fisher; the choreography of Jerome Robbins: in each instance, Acocella shows us how artists live within their creations.

Three essays in particular demonstrate Acocella’s acuity as a cultural critic. There are her two meditations on female saints, Mary Magdalene and Joan of Arc, both so distant and ultimately unknowable that our shifting visions of these women and their roles in the church and society reveal more about the times in which particular views emerge than about the women themselves. And there is her wonderfully insightful history of writer’s block, which “like most of today’s recognized psychological disorders,” Acocella observes dryly, “is a concept that other cultures, other times, have done fine without.”

Of Susan Sontag’s “Against Interpretation,” Acocella observes that Sontag’s nonfiction performed the “essential function of criticism, that of introducing readers to new work, strange work, things they wouldn’t ordinarily encounter — a duty no major critic had undertaken consistently since Edmund Wilson quit regular reviewing in the late ’40s.” What’s more, “it did so in a notably unstrange manner.” This praise applies to Acocella’s criticism, as well.

“The relation between morality and imagination may be a complicated one, but it does exist,” she writes, analyzing the narrowness of Dorothy Parker’s vision, a function, she believes, of her selfishness. “Hope, forgiveness — these are not just moral actions. They are enlargements of the mind. Without them, you remain in the tunnel of the self.” Like Sontag, like every great critic, Acocella is subjective, uncompromising. She has a distinct point of view, a refreshingly not-fashionable one — she salutes Sunday-school virtues! — and writes from her conviction that beneath its hectic, irresponsible, even intoxicated surface, art makes singularly unglamorous demands: integrity, sacrifice, discipline. Hers is a vision that allows art its mystery but not its pretensions, to which she is acutely sensitive. What better instincts could a critic have?

Kathryn Harrison’s most recent book is a novel, “Envy.”

(y) (y) (y) I LOVED that first two sentences, "How many artists subscribe to the notion that creative success depends on input from the fickle muse or her modern avatar, mental illness? Probably very few."

8-| Indeed! 8-|

(k) 's on the cheek,

SL & WTB (l) (&) (l)