De Profundis

Boys will Be Boys ~ Its In Our jeans

2011-08-26T07:30:00.004-04:00

Look mom "We Are Being Good"! ( for now)

Fiestas of San Fermin - Running Of the Bulls - Spain

2011-06-28T08:51:00.001-04:00

The fiestas of San Fermin are celebrated in Irunea/Pamplona, in the region of Navarra, every year from the 6th to the 14th of July. They have become internationally known because of the running of the bulls, where the bulls are lead through the streets of the old quarter as far as the bull ring by runners.

The fiestas are celebrated in honor of San Fermin, patron saint of Navarra, although the religious aspect would seem to have taken on a secondary role over the last number of years. Nowadays, the fiestas are seen as a mass gathering of people from all the corners of the world and where the partying, the fun and the joy of it all are the most outstanding ingredients.

Running of the Bulls Will open with wild celebrations as SPAIN shrugs off its economic woes with tens of thousands of Spaniards and foreigners jamming Pamplona's city plaza and spraying each other with wine as a firecracker rocket blasted off to launch the famed San Fermin bull-running festival, as is tradition each year.

The Encierro ... The Running of the Bulls

The Encierro is the event at the heart of the Sanfermines and makes the fiesta a spectacle that would be unimaginable in any other place in the world.

It was born from need: getting the bulls from outside the city into the bullring. The encierro takes place from July 7th to 14th and starts at the corral in Calle Santo Domingo when the clock on the church of San Cernin strikes eight o"clock in the morning. After the launching of two rockets, the bulls charge behind the runners for 825 metres, the distance between the corral and the bullring. The run usually lasts between three and four minutes although it has sometimes taken over ten minutes, especially if one of the bulls has been isolated from his companions.

Chants to San Fermin

The bull run has a particularly emotional prelude. It is when the runners, just a few metres up the slope from the corral where the bulls are waiting, raise their rolled newspapers and chant to an image of San Fermin placed in a small recess in the wall in the Cuesta de Santo Domingo. Against the strongest of silences, the following words can be heard: "A San Fermin pedimos, por ser nuestro patron, nos guie en el encierro dandonos su bendicion." (We ask San Fermin, being our patron saint, to guide us in the bull run and give us his blessing). When they finish they shout "Viva San Fermin!, Gora San Fermin." This chant is sung three times before 8am first, then when there are five minutes to go before 8am, then three minutes and one minute before the gate of the corral is opened.

Rockets in the bullring

The third rocket, fired from the bullring, signals that all the bulls have entered the bullring. A fourth and final rocket indicates that all the bulls are safely in the corral located inside the bullring, and that the bull run has ended.

A fence of 3,000 parts

For security reasons, a double fence marks out the route of the bull run through the streets. It is made of over 3,000 wooden parts (planks, posts, gates, etc.). Part of the fence stays put throughout the fiesta but other sections are assembled and disassembled every day by a special brigade of workers.

The role of the pastores

A large number of pastores (bull "shepherds") cover the entire bull run. They place themselves behind the bulls, with their only protection being a long stick. Their main role is to stop the odd idiot from inciting the bulls from behind, to avoid the bulls turning round and running backwards, and to help any bulls that have stopped or have been separated from their companions to continue running towards the bullring.

The dobladores

Other key people in the bull run are the dobladores, people with good bullfighting knowledge (sometimes ex-bullfighters) who take up position in the bullring with capes to help the runners "fan out" (in other words, run to the sides after they enter the bullring) and "drag" the bulls towards the corral as quickly as possible.

The two groups of mansos (bullocks)

The six fighting bulls that will take part in the evening bullfight start the run accompanied by an initial group of mansos, which act as "guides" to help the bulls cover the route. Two minutes after leaving the corral in Santo Domingo, a second group of bullocks (the so-called "sweep-up" group), which are slower and smaller than the first one, are let out to lead any bulls that might have stopped or been left behind in the bull run towards the bullring.

Useful information about the bull run

The encierro is an unrepeatable experience for spectators and runners alike. It is a spectacle that is defined by the level of risk and the physical ability of the runners.

An inexperienced runner should learn about the characteristics of this dangerous "race" (although it should not be considered as a race) before starting, and also about the protective measures to be taken for his/her own safety and that of the people running alongside.

Not everyone can run the encierro. It requires cool nerves, quick reflexes and a good level of physical fitness. Anyone who does not have these three should not take part. It is a highly risky enterprise.

Runners should start somewhere between the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (City Hall Square) and the pink-slab Education building in the Cuesta of Santo Domingo, and they should be there before 7:30am because entry to the run is closed from that time on. The rest of the run, except for the stretch mentioned above, must be completely clear of runners until a few minutes before 8am.

What is not allowed in the bull run

• People under 18 years of age, who must not run or participate.

• Crossing police barriers placed to ensure that the run goes off smoothly.

• Standing in areas and places along the route that have been expressly prohibited by the municipal police force.

• Before the bulls are released, waiting in corners, blind spots, doorways or in entrances to other establishments located along the run.

• Leaving doors of shops or entrances to apartments open along the route. The responsibility for ensuring these doors are closed lies with the owners or tenants of the properties.

• Being in the bull run while drunk, under the effects of drugs or in any other improper manner.

• Carrying objects that are unsuitable for the run to take place correctly.

• Wearing inappropriate clothes or footwear for the run.

• Inciting the bulls or attracting their attention in any manner, and for whatever reason, along the route of the run or in the bullring.

• Running backwards towards the bulls or running behind them.

• Holding, harassing or maltreating the bulls and stopping them from moving or being led to the pens in the bullring.

• Stopping along the run and staying on the fence, barriers or in doorways in such a way that the run or the safety of other runners is jeopardised.

• Taking photographs inside the run, or from the fences or barriers without due authorisation.

• Carrying objects that are unsuitable for the good order and security of the bull run.

• Installing elements that invade horizontal, vertical or aerial space along the bull run, unless expressly authorised by the Mayor"s Office.

• Any other action that could hamper the bull run taking place normally.

Lonely Planet ~ Irresponsible promotions of Travel to The Increasingly Dangerous Destination ,,Mexico

2011-05-07T09:19:00.005-04:00

How to write about Mexico’s drug war? There are only a limited number of ways that readers can be reminded of the desperate acts of human sacrifice that go on every day in this country, or of the by now calamitous statistics: the nearly 28,000 people who have been killed in drug-related battles or assassinations since President Felipe Calderón took power almost four years ago, the thousands of kidnappings, the wanton acts of rape and torture, the growing number of orphaned children. As long as travel agencies continue to promote travel to Mexico with no regard for the general welfare of citizens that travel there I will continure to do these news posts.

On 5/7/ 11 I found, to my dismay, a post on Facebook from lonely planet promoting travel to Mexico and prefacing the article with a statement indicating that it is safe. I have purchased Lonely Planet Travel Books for years but I now question the acuracy of the information promoted by them. I will add the following news briefs to the posts already done here. You read and judge for yourself if you think Mexico is a safe place to send your son or daughter for spring break, to take your wife or to do a family vacation.

More than 500 women have been killed in Juarez since 1993, with the majority of the cases going unsolved.

For reasons they themselves probably do not completely understand, the various Mexican drug clans and organizations responsible for so much bloodshed have acquired a liking for public attention, and to hold it they have developed a grisly theatrical performance of death, a roving display of grotesque mutilations and executions. But for all the constant innovations, one horrifying beheading is, in the end, much like the next one. The audience’s saturation point arrives all too quickly, and news coverage of the war, event-driven as all news is, has become the point when people turn the page or continue surfing.

Feb, 11,11 Ciudad Juarez – A group of suspected cartel hit men burst into a bar in this violent Mexican border city and gunned down eight people, four of them women, officials said.

The shooting occurred Thursday night inside the Las Torres bar, located on a main avenue on Ciudad Juarez's southeast side, according to Arturo Sandoval, spokesman for the Chihuahua state Attorney General's Office.

AP

Dec. 14: A woman is held back by police as she reacts while seeing a relative dead lying on the ground after he and another man were killed by gunmen in the northern border city of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico – The embattled border city of Ciudad Juarez had its bloodiest year ever with 3,111 people killed in drug violence, an official said Saturday.

The city across from El Paso, Texas, has seen its homicide rate soar to one of the highest in the world since vicious turf battles broke out between gangs representing the Juarez and Sinaloa cartels in 2008.

That year, 1,587 people were killed in drug violence, and the toll increased to 2,643 in 2009.

Ciudad Juarez's bloodiest month last year was October, when 359 people were killed, said Arturo Sandoval, a spokesman for prosecutors in Chihuahua state, where the city is located.

Sandoval did not give statistics on murders unrelated to the drug war.

In spite of thses facts and many more notstated here the following is an excerpt from a recient Lonely Planet Article:

Before brushing a Mexico trip aside this year, consider that about 245,000 square miles are free from the State Department’s warning list (for a visual, check this CNN map) and it neatly matches areas people usually visit (Cabo, Cancún, Cozumel, Tulum, Mexico City, Oaxaca, San Miguel de Allende).

*** Of course at the conclusion of the article they would like you to buy their travel guide to Mexico where you can travel (saftely).

2/11/11 have never done a repost before but current news out of Mexico has prompted me to do so. Again, If your thinking about a winter break you might reconsider going to Mexico even if you have been there before. Take a moment and put the bargin hunting aside and consider your safety. Encourage college kids to go elsewhere for spring Break. Mexico is no longer safe. Here is the previous news that prompted my intial post.

TIJUANA, Mexico – The severed head of a young man was found hanging from a bridge in the Mexican border city of Tijuana on Monday.
In a previous comment this woman who objects to this article says:

Felicity Snow said...

Mexico, for the most part, is no more dangerous than any other country. Millions of tourists visit every year without incident. Mexico has a large number of Europeans, Canadians and Americans living there, in fact the largest number of Americans living in a foreign country live in Mexico, The same rules apply there as anywhere, be careful of your surroundings, watch your back, etc, etc, just like you would back home. It's a beautiful country, friendly people, lovely ladies, and great food. Enjoy yourself, you'll love it.

Ms Snow is grossly out of touch. Here is the latest news:

Three teens, including two Americans, killed in massacre at car dealership in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

Two American Catholic school boys and another teen were shot and killed after gunmen attacked a car dealership in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, part of a deadly spree that killed nine people over the weekend.

The boys had crossed the border from El Paso, Tex., for a party on Friday night and were gunned down on Saturday afternoon while checking out a used car that one of them was interested in buying, the Chihuahua state attorney general's office said.
The two Americans were identified as Carlos Mario Gonzalez Bermudez, 16, a sophomore at Cathedral High School, an all-boys private school in El Paso, and Juan Carlos Echeverri, 15, who had attended Cathedral last year but was in school in Juárez, the school's principal said.

The third teen was identified as Cesar Yalin Miramontes Jimenez, 17, but his nationality wasn't known.
Chihuahua prosecutors' spokesman Arturo Sandoval told CNN that the three were friends who had known each other for a long time.
Family members told MSNBC that the boys were having something to eat at a restaurant near the U.S.-Mexico border when they decided to stop at the dealership, which was across the street.
Shortly thereafter, a gang of thugs showed up and asked for the dealership's owner.
When they were told the owner was not there, they opened fire.
Two of the victims were found in a courtyard, while a third was in a white Jeep Cherokee.
Police found at least 60 bullet casings at the scene that appeared to have been fired from an AK-47, the weapon of choice for drug gangs in northern Mexico.
Sandoval said there were no leads or suspects in the massacre.
Cathedral Principal Nick Gonzalez said the school's student body was praying for the victims.
"It's a lot of pain, a lot of sorrow, a lot of tears, a lot of coming together as a community to try to hold each other up and to try and make sense today," Gonzalez told MSNBC.

The principal told CNN that Bermudez was “a good kid” whose family had lived in Juárez but had recently rented an apartment in El Paso for safety reasons.

Both Bermudez and Echeverri were U.S. citizens, Gonzalez said.
The students were killed in one of three triple homicides that took place this weekend in Juárez. A 13-year-old boy was among the slain in one of those attacks.
At least eight other people were killed in northern Mexico this weekend.
Juárez has become a central battleground for warring drug cartels in Northern Mexico.

Nearly 2,900 people were killed there in 2010, including more than a dozen Americans.

More than 30,000 people have been killed across Mexico since 2006, when the government launched a crackdown on the drug trade, and three times as many people have been murdered in Juárez than in any other city in Mexico, according to the U.S. State Department.

Italian VS American TV

2011-04-17T09:50:00.006-04:00

Sexy Italian Show Host

American Show Host

Need I say more?

Was this Blackbeard’s sword?

2011-01-16T09:43:00.001-05:00

Is this the hilt of Blackbeard's sword?

It's one of the latest finds aboard the remains of the ship the Queen Anne's Revenge, known at one time to be the flagship of Edward Teach, a.k.a. Blackbeard. The vessel ran aground on a North Carolina sandbar in 1718 and was abandoned; modern archaeologists have been excavating the shipwreck for more than a decade. The design and ornamentation of this newest discovery have led the researchers to believe it likely belonged to the notorious pirate himself.

An imposing figure to begin with, according to historians, Blackbeard cultivated a ferocious appearance to seem even more menacing: a long dark beard, numerous knives, swords and pistols strapped to his chest -- even lighted fuses in his hair. In May of 1718, he used the ship to blockade the port of Charleston, S.C., and effectively hold the city hostage until he collected a considerable ransom.

He was eventually killed in battle off North Carolina by the Royal Navy, his head suspended from a naval sloop to warn other pirates

“Amor Fati – “Love Your Fate”, which is in fact your life.”

2011-01-11T13:32:00.000-05:00

Thus spake Friedrich Nietzsche

“There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.”

“I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you”

“Love is a state in which a man sees things most decidedly as they are not”

Mexico ~ a Very Bad Vacation Destination ~

2011-01-04T04:57:00.002-05:00

If your thinking about a winter break you might reconsider going to Mexico even if you have been there before. Take a moment and put the bargin hunting aside and consider your safety. Encourage college kids to go elsewhere for spring Break. Mexico is no longer safe. Here is the latest news.

TIJUANA, Mexico – The severed head of a young man was found hanging from a bridge in the Mexican border city of Tijuana on Monday.

The Baja California state attorney general's office said the head belonged to a man between 25 and 30 years old.

It had several bullet wounds and was hung using a metallic ring and a nylon rope. A threatening message was found nearby on the bridge.

Hours earlier, a woman between 30 and 35 years old was found shot to death in another Tijuana neighborhood, also with a threatening message left nearby.

Authorities have blamed recent cartel-style violence in Tijuana on feuding between rivals and loyalists of Teodoro "El Teo" Garcia Simental, an alleged drug lord arrested last January.

Farther east along Mexico's border with the United States, Mexican soldiers on Monday found an unfinished tunnel under a house in the city of Nogales, across from Nogales, Arizona.

The army's 45th Military Zone command said the tunnel was dug about 5 feet (1.5 meters) beneath the surface and stretched almost 100 feet (30 meters), apparently just far enough to reach U.S. territory.

The command said in a statement the tunnel ended abruptly and had probably been intended to move drugs across the border.

The mouth of the tunnel was found in one of the rooms of the house in Mexico, which appeared abandoned. There were no arrests nor were any drugs found at the scene.

Nogales is located in northern Sonora state, and on Monday unidentified gunmen shot to death the state's interim prison director, Erasto Ortiz Valencia, outside his home.

State prosecutors' spokesman Jose Larrinaga said Ortiz Valencia died of three bullet wounds. He had been in office only 10 days when he died; his predecessor was fired after he was linked to the escape of a murder suspect.

The assistant police chief of the city of Empalme, near the coastal city of Guaymas, was also shot to death Monday by a gunmen who fired an assault rifle from an SUV.

In the Pacific coast state of Guerrero, police reported Monday that two boys ages 14 and 17 were shot to death in the remote mountain town of Alcozahuca, near the Oaxaca state line.

The assailants fled after killing the boys with assault rifles late Sunday. While there was no immediate evidence the killings were drug-related, Mexican cartels have been recruiting youths as young as 14.

Also in Guerrero, police in the resort of Acapulco reported Monday they had found the bound bodies of four young men dumped on a main boulevard.

The men had been killed with guns and knives and were found blindfolded and their hands or feet tied. Handwritten messages of the kind frequently left by drug cartels were found near the bodies, but Guerrero state police, in keeping with policy, did not release the contents of those messages

Just When You Think Youve Seen It all !

2011-01-03T02:07:00.000-05:00

Some photographs are to be admired, some are to be celebrated, but this one has the potential to give you goose bumps.

Bedi says it was photographed when he was working on a new feature in Bishnoi in Rajasthan. The Bishnois worship nature in all its manifestations, and are a conservative community.

"It was hard for an outsider like me to come with my camera to photograph them. One day, I saw that a village dog had killed a chinkara fawn's mother. So the Bishnoi family had adopted him before he becomes prey to other predators in wild and nursed him as if it was their own child.

"I was looking for one picture that can tell the story of their community's strong feeling for the environment. After great difficulty, some six months later, I could get this picture showing how human beings live in harmony with nature."

by reporter

Vijay Bedi

Vijay and his brother Ajay Bedi are the only Indians whose wildlife film has been nominated for the Emmys. They are also the youngest Indians to be honoured with the Green Oscar.

Mad Knitters Of Tokyo ~ Warming Hearts One Piece At A Time ~

2010-12-31T06:35:00.002-05:00

Warm hearts: A knitted human heart from Miquraffreshia. © MIQURAFFRESHIA

This year, people strolling through a park in Ebisu, Tokyo, were baffled: Several benches there had been covered with colorful knitwear, many wildly curling around the wooden poles of backrests and armrests. Next to the benches, more wondrous knitted entities were hanging from the branches of a tree.

A bench in Ebisu's Yebisu Garden Place, decorated by the Surprise Attack Knitting Group. © HANAKOMET

It was an attack by the newly founded Surprise Attack Knitting Group, or Ami Kishu Dan in Japanese.

There are, of course, various other knitting groups in Japan, but this kind of "guerrilla knitting" only started in August this year. Spread all over Japan, the Surprise Attack Knitting Group now has around 15 knitting activists, all of whom found each other over the Internet. Behind the movement is Que D'accord, a collaboration originally of three but now five knitters, who have been working together since 2006.

First seen in America in 2005, guerrilla knitting took off when a couple of knit-loving artists formed Knitta (knittaporfavor.wordpress.com ), a group of like-minded people who decorated lamp posts, street signs and other public monuments with knitted wraps or crocheted ornaments. But this "Knit graffiti" was not vandalism. It was more of a peaceful sister to spray-paint graffiti, a form of ephemeral art meant as public installation and making temporary statements. Even the process of knitting defies antagonism — it's a meditative, time-consuming hobby. The movement spread quickly to like-minded activists around the world, recently reaching the Japanese Que D'accord collective.

The French-sounding nom de guerre, "Que D'accord," is a wordplay on its pronunciation, "ke da ko," which in Japanese means "woolen octopus." The three founding members — who want to only reveal their aliases — are 203gow (blog.livedoor.jp/m203gow/ ) from Gifu Prefecture, Takoyama (krakendesign.blogspot.com) from Sado island in Niigata Prefecture and Miquraffreshia ( miquraffreshia. blogspot.com) from Tochigi Prefecture.

They met over the Internet and founded the group after all three exhibited at the 2006 MAKE Magazine Meeting in Tokyo. Named after the American do-it-yourself magazine, the meeting is a popular yearly gathering of craftspeople and inventors who like to make unusual innovations — anything from the creative use of Arduino open-source electronic platforms to knitting strange objects such as alien masks, lifelike human hearts . . . and giant octopuses. "Before we even met, we all liked knitting octopuses," recalls Takoyama, explaining how Que D'accord came about, "It was as if we'd arranged it beforehand."

Maybe they were on to something. The art blog "We make money not art" pointed out a trend of activist knitters around the world choosing to create sea creatures — "because squids are the new skulls," it said. Last year, the group displayed their octopuses in a street car running through the Arakawa neighborhood of Tokyo. A one-day exhibition event, the sea creatures dangled from the hand railings and a band played to the passengers.

Not surprisingly for this digital age, as a typical grassroots coalition, Que D'accord communicate and organize their events mainly over Twitter. This serves especially well when the group started to rally their members for something new: the Surprise Attack Knitting Group. 203gow says, "We communicate through Twitter and decide on members — anyone can join. There are various people who participate; those who provide knitted goods and others who provide knitting materials."

Surprise Attack Knitting Group has even tried to expand overseas: One of the members lives in British Columbia in Canada. "Although she hasn't taken part in any events, she sends us her knitted objects," says Takoyama.

Octopus attack! Knitted octopuses dangle from handrails as a band (below, left) entertains passengers on a street car running through Arakawa in Tokyo. © TAKOYAMA © TAKOYAMA

The group staged their first attack in front of an Isetan department store window in Shinjuku this August. Takoyama recalls, "Four members, 203gow, Miquraffreshia, Hanakomet and Emmaruri gathered, guerrilla-style, in front of a window in which 203gow already had a window-display of her knitting, and started to work."
The "work" involved dressing up the ordinary railings in front of the window in elaborate knitwear. Passersby who paused to take a closer look at the knitted animals in the shop window would also stop to look at the unusual ornamentation in front of the display.

Since then, Que D'accord has been busy. 203gow held a knitting workshop at a Pac-Man themed exhibition in the 3331 Arts Chiyoda art center in Soto-Kanda in October. Shortly after, the group was approached by Yebisu Garden Place, a shopping mall and museum complex in the Ebisu area of Tokyo. Having seen the guerrilla attack at Isetan, Yebisu Garden Place wanted the Surprise Attack Knitting Group to "attack" their premises, too. And willing to oblige, the group struck again in November with a public art installation of decorated benches in the complex's park area.

"The attack went very well. The locals enjoyed trying out the knitted benches to see what they felt like, and many took photographs," Miquraffreshia says, "Also people interested in knitting approached us and talked to us."

The shoppers in Ebisu who stopped to look at the benches, which were covered in knitted stripes and other colorful wools, often sat on them for a long time. "Knitted things warm up cold and damaged hearts. It has an appeal to the body, the heart and the mind," 203gow says. "Guerrilla knitted objects can make people a bit more aware of things."

G uerrilla knitting, admittedly, isn't quite the kind of activism that galvanizes pedestrians for political action — but it is a movement, just one of softer intentions. It wants to bring more color in people's lives. That might seem a little woolly, but it's not a bad thing, and is only the beginning. "We have only just started, I don't know what we will do next," says Takoyama.

Wangfujing snack street in downtown Beijing

2010-12-31T02:22:00.000-05:00

Chinese food is famous for two reason: its extreme deliciousness and its weirdness. The later characteWángfǔjǐng (simplified Chinese: 王府井; pinyin: Wángfǔjǐng), located in Dongcheng District, Beijing, is one of the Chinese capital's most famous shopping streets.

Much of the road is off-limits to cars and other motor vehicles, and it is not rare to see the entire street full of people. Since the middle of the Ming Dynasty there have been commercial activities in this place. In the Qing Dynasty, ten aristocratic estates and princess residence were built here, soon after when a well full of sweet water was discovered, thereby giving the street its name "Wang Fu" (princely residence), "Jing" (well). In 1903, Dong'an market was formedristic has a perfect example, the Wangfujing snack street in downtown Beijing.

Just google it or YouTube it and you can find a lot of of videos and photos of foreigners amazed by what Chinese people are eating. You can find skin-piled sparrow, cicada, silk worm, inside-out snake, giant grasshopper, penis of various kind of animals and star fish. You name it. Just think of something you don’t dare to eat and they would probably have it on sale on Wangfujing snack street.

Judging from videos of this street’s visitors, they are absolutely enjoying themselves. Maybe not enjoying the food but the weirdly exotic atmosphere where people cook and eat anything.

Some were playing truth or dare there:

The Awakening Of My Spirit

2010-11-13T15:19:00.001-05:00

(Author unknown)

A time comes in your life when you finally get it…when, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out…ENOUGH!
Enough fighting and crying and blaming and struggling to hold on. Then, like a child quieting down after a tantrum, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes.

This is your awakening.

You realize it’s time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change, or for happiness, safety and security to magically appear over the next horizon.

You realize that in the real world there aren’t always fairy tale endings, and that any guarantee of “happily ever after” must begin with you…and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are…and that’s OK. They are entitled to their own views and opinions.

You learn the importance of loving and championing yourself…and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.

You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you – or didn’t do for you – and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.

You learn that people don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and everything isn’t always about you.
So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself…and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties…and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. You begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.

You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you’ve outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with.

You learn that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a “consumer” looking for you next fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don’t know everything, it’s not you job to save the world and that you can’t teach a pig to sing. You learn the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You learn that alone does not mean lonely.

You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs.

You learn that your body really is your temple. You begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drinking more water, and take more time to exercise.

You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And, just food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you deserve, and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen.

More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You learn that no one can do it all alone, and that it’s OK to risk asking for help.

You learn the only thing you must truly fear is fear itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms.

You learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom.

You learn that life isn’t always fair, you don’t always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people…and you lean not to always take it personally.

You learn that nobody’s punishing you and everything isn’t always somebody’s fault. It’s just life happening. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls.

You lean that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.

Then, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than you heart’s desire.

You make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility.

You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind.

Finally, with courage in you heart, you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.

Look out Apple iPhone ~ China’s ZTE Blade Smartphone Launched In France

2010-11-11T12:38:00.004-05:00

China’s ZTE Blade Smartphone Launched In France

China’s ZTE Corp has launched its ZTE Blade smartphone in France on Tuesday. After its successful launch of mobile phones in Western markets at significantly lower prices, the ZTE Corp is now entering the France market with its Android-based Blade model.

The company is likely to ship about 3 lakh units of the Blade smartphones to Europe this year.

The phone comes with 3.5 inches wide touch-screen with a resolution of 480x800 pixels, Android 2.1 and 3.2 million pixels camera. In addition, the Blade model features all the standard features of a smartphone video player / recorder, MP3 player, 2GB micro SD card, FM radio and is equipped with internet features including Wi-Fi, internet, GPS, email and Bluetooth.

ZTE is a China-based leading provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions. The company has widest range of products in the world covering almost all the sectors including wire-line, wireless, service and terminals markets. ZTE is known for offering custom-made products and services. It has more than 500 operators in more than 140 countries.

China's World Cup Girls (32 pics)

2010-10-26T16:13:00.002-04:00

Definately an art form !

Village elder shoos away nude photography model, “don’t make a spectacle of yourself here”

2010-10-10T22:05:00.000-04:00

Elegance and vulgarity has always been sworn enemies of each other in popular culture over the years. Guo Degang once said, drinking coffee is elegant and eating garlic is vulgar; nude photography is elegant and couple telling dirty jokes is vulgar… Now, in a scenic spot of Xinmi, Henan Province, elegance and vulgarity crashes again.
Planed to dedicate herself to the art, the nude photography model never thought she was going to get shooed away by tree branches. On June 9, 2010, at the scenic area of Xinmi, a naked female model posing for nude photography was shooed away by the local villagers.

June 9, at 9 am, 10 photography enthusiasts and 3 women came to a scenic spot in Xinmi to shoot human body photography. As the model, a woman took off all her clothes and posed nude on top of a giant rock. The photography enthusiasts started shooting.

This scene was observed by a local villager. He quickly ran down the mountain and briefed all the other villagers what he just saw. Soon, villagers heard the news one by one came to the spot and stood on the nearby hills watching the naked girl. Some even took out their cell phones to get ready to take pictures. The nude model saw these villagers were also taking pictures and stopped the photo shoot. Then the photography enthusiasts had to disperse the villager crowd. But the villagers did not leave, they just stood far away and watching from far away. Soon more and more people gathered. The woman kept changing her poses, some tourists also began crowding and taking pictures.

Once hearing someone is shooting body art, some male villagers followed them “showing their support”. In order to not let the model feel embarrassed, some villagers hid behind the trees and watched from there.

Villager Mr. Gu was one of them, but as he watched, he heard a loud shouting sound from far away “This shameless girl, Mr. Gu! are you still watching? Hurry up and get your ass back over here!”

Mr. Gu said, “I am finished, my wife came!” Then, Ms. Gu grabbed Mr. Gu by the ear and dragged him back home. Seeing this, villager Mr. Zhang said, “She is dedicated to art, not shameless. This is the beauty of body art.”

11:10 am, suddenly a couple of men rushed down the hill led by an elderly person. He held a tree branch, walking and shouting, “No more shooting, go anywhere else but don’t make a fool of yourself here. In order to shoot here you must get all 300 villagers permissions.”

The old man shouted and swung the tree branch at the nude model. Luckily the photographers protected her in time, the model “survived”.

The old man claimed that his name is Shen Guixian, 60 years old and lived in Shen Xiandong village at the Forest Park in Xinmi. He said, “These people coming here to shoot nude photos are too indecent, turning the village into chaos.”

A photography enthusiast from Zhengzhou, Mr. Wang said, after the 90’s of last century, both society tolerance and the diversity of artistic expression are quite different than before. According to Mr. Wang, in January 2001, the first nude photographic art show was held in Guangzhou. Almost at the same time, several nude photography exhibitions were held in the ancient city of Xi’an. During one of the Xi’an exhibition, after viewing the show a husband said “shooting these things are too dirty.” And his wife contested “What do you know, you only look at the photos other people read the photos.”

“For this incident today, I can only say, that the villagers in this small and closed-off village could not accept the concept of nude photography. But the story I told earlier shows that many people actually appreciate it from the art point of view”

Another photography enthusiast Mr. Ma said, “Body art is an elegant art, excluding ethics and feudalism, just from a purely technical point of view, I think human body photography needs to go into nature in order to create high quality work.”

New Iron Man exoskeleton robotic suit revealed - Its Not Sci Fi Its Real !!

2010-10-01T20:13:00.000-04:00

Boffins have revealed the latest version of an Iron Man-esque exoskeleton robotic suit which gives a wearer superhuman powers.

The Exoskeleton XOS2 is said to be lighter, faster and stronger than its predecessor while at the same time using only half the energy.
Developed for the U.S. Army the wearable robot is built from a combination of structures, sensors, actuators and controllers, and it is powered by high pressure hydraulics.
Makers say it allows a wearer to easily lift 200lbs hundreds of times without tiring and repeatedly punch through three inches of wood… so it they're wearing it we are not going to argue with them.

New Iron Man exoskeleton robotic suit revealed - Its Not Sci Fi Its Real !!

2010-10-01T20:11:00.000-04:00

"Getting exoskeletons deployed (with the army) is inevitable in my view," said inventor Dr. Fraser Smith.

"They are desperately needed, and I believe the military looks at them as viable solutions to a number of current issues they are trying to address.
"With a sustained commitment, they could be in place within five years."

Wisdom of any Color Is Wisdom

2010-09-25T07:15:00.001-04:00

“Not nakedness, nor matted hair, nor fasting nor sleeping on the ground, neither rubbing the body with dust nor sitting like an ascetic can purify a man who has not solved his doubts.” The Buddha verse 141 The Dhammapada

Funny Bathroom Graffiti

2010-08-22T09:46:00.000-04:00

South China Normal University listed having special relations with a married person (homewrecking)” into the new school rules as punishable behaviors.

2010-08-22T09:28:00.002-04:00

The phenomena of university students being mistresses of wealth men has become a growing social issue in China. Chongqing Normal University and Southwest Normal University are the first two Universities which started to include “being an escort (三陪 sex workers), a mistress (二奶 Ernai) and having one-night stands” into the school rules. Student with such bad behaviors are subject to expulsion. And South China Normal University also listed “messing around with opposite sex and having special relations with a married person (homewrecking)” into the new school rules as punishable behaviors.

(QQ) Recently the “Chongqing Normal University Student Disciplinary Process Management Regulations” is to be implemented in the school. One of the rules was “student who is found to be working as an escort; or is a mistress, male mistress, or having ‘one-night stands’ will to be expelled” which caused uproar among the students.

Teacher Zhang of the Chongqing Normal University Students Affairs said that the “Regulations” was revised strictly based on the spirit of the City Board of Education’s “Developing and Modifying Colleges and Universities student Management System” article number forty second: “Damaging the image of the university students, undermining social morality”. On May 22, the “regulations” was formally in trial, and was made into a display panel in mid-June. It was placed in a building where more teachers and students can see, hoping students would express their views. However until yesterday, not one student gave feedbacks to the Students Affairs.

“We did not conduct online surveys because the involvement of the students would be smaller.” Teacher Zhang said, the time period for commenting on the “Regulations” ends on the 28th of this month. If no major changes, it will be formally written into the “Student Handbook”. Zhang also said that this move is to regulate and eliminate students’ bad behaviors.

“No participation does not mean we don’t want to participate” A junior student of the history department said, because we think “there is no use”, so we want to use the power the media to carry out a wide range of discussion and give students a compelling conclusion.

Second year student Cao believes no matter what the students do are their own business, school should follow the rules but there is no need for admissible rules.

A student named Gu thinks school’s approach is very meaningless, because there will be no effect using rules and regulations to restrain moral codes. For example one-night stand is a vague concept, who is going to verify and how to determine such thing?

A graduate student Xie Heping who is just visiting Chongqing said, now university students are allowed to get married, these “regulations” have no practical effect. Expelling students for one-night stand means lack of respect for the students. Ethical issues should not be controlled by administrative rules.

As for the definitions of mistress, male mistress and one-night stand etc. phenomenon, Teacher Zhang said they rely on the public security organs. Once the public security departments clearly determine the situations school will process them accordingly. However, when students are found to have sexual relations, whether it is “one-night stand” or not, Zhang said “is difficult to determine”.

With 30 years experience in Higher Education, Southwest China Normal University Li Dawu thinks there has been decline in moral values of the students due to bad social influences. Schools have every right and are necessary to regulate the behavior of the students.

“This is a moral issue but not in the scope of administration…” lawyer Zheng Jie believes even if putting moral issues into the “Student handbook” will have no good practical use. Moreover, the punishment of expulsion is inappropriate. Depriving the students from leaning is excessively harsh. The Ministry of Education explicitly states the punishment of expulsion is only for someone who committed crimes. He believes that the schools cannot exceed the general rules and regulations of the Ministry of Education.

The views of people who are in favor of the regulation: the purpose of the students is learning, and the “evil trends” should be fought against. The trend of university students becoming mistresses has been more and more serious, if we don’t do anything, it will only harm more students.

The views of the opposed: Expulsion is inappropriate. Depriving the students from leaning is excessively harsh. The Ministry of Education explicitly states the punishment of expulsion is only for someone committed crimes. Plus all of these are students’ personal business, schools will not even be able to properly define them, and also have no right to interfere.

South China Normal University introduced the new school rules. “Messing around with opposite sex and damaging (married) families” etc. are listed as breaking the rules. Illegally cohabit, messing around opposite sex, damaging married families and such behaviors will be subject to be punished by the new sanctions promulgated by South China Normal University.

The school said that the new rules will guide students’ ethics; at the same time it also stated when the students are to be punished with “placing in school under observation”, “expulsion” and so on, they have the right to request a hearing. South China Normal University’s new “Provisional Measures of Student Disciplinary Action” categorized student’s bad behaviors into seven categories, and clearly defined disciplinary actions for each. The school said this reduces subjective judgment when the student is being punished. “Illegally cohabiting with opposite sex, messing around with opposite sex in the name of dating, knowingly keeping a special relationship which is not accepted by the laws or ethics of our country with a married person… students with these serious bad behaviors will be punished with “placing in school under observation”. “Often on the internet, watch DVDs or playing games during late night… which bothers other ‘normal people’ from resting, serious offenders which are also to be given the same punishment”. These are all actions which break the rules and were written into the “Provisional Measures of Student Disciplinary Action”.

South China Normal University Student Affairs Minister, Xi said many regulations may not be possibly to be implemented, because if students really have such behaviors, sanctions would be more difficult for forensic investigation; second, the number of people being punished by disciplinary action is only about twenty to thirty in each year, so these addition to the regulations formulated evidence-based actions, but more importantly is for regulating students’ ethics; using legal education materials in a form of warning to clearly define the danger zone in order to guide the students to restrict their behaviors.

Students of South China Normal University have different views on the new regulations, some agree and some believe that the school is making a mountain out of a molehill. But many students think these regulations will be difficult to enforce.

LIVING ON THE EDGE..whether we watch dare-devils..witness a silly moment or an awkward moment we all enjoy seeing OTHERS having harmless near misses or compromising moments. .

2010-07-25T16:45:00.004-04:00

The Irate bank Customer and the livid Bank Teller..From China Hush News

2010-07-18T11:17:00.000-04:00

"You don’t mess with me!" Mr. Peng in Changsha City, Hunan Province deliberately withdrew 49,000 yuan out of his bank account and deposited them back 100 yuan at a time, as a way to express his anger towards the bank teller who, with equal unbending personality, handing over depository receipts again and again. The two didn’t stop exhausting each other until half an hour later the bank shifted the teller.

It was 3 o’clock in the afternoon when Mr. Peng stood in line in one Construction Bank. The man at the head of the line failed to input the right combination of his account and went outside to make some calls which lasted assumably long. So Peng suggested the bank teller rendering the next one’s business before the first one comes back, which is rejected. According to Peng, the teller said he should make use of his eyes to see that someone’s in the middle of the procedure.
When it finally came to his turn, Peng decided to pick some bones.
"I want to withdraw 50,000 cash." said Peng to the teller.
"You can’t withdraw above 50,000 without prior appointment." replied the teller.
"Why not? 50,000 isn’t above 50,000. Give me 49,000 then."
The teller then handled the 49,000 yuan withdrawal Peng asked for. Instead of leaving with the money, Peng took out a piece of 100 note and asked the teller to redeposit them into his account. When it was done, another 100 note was handed over the counter to render deposition all over again, 30 times in a row.
Peng would have winded up with more than 30 depositary receipts in hand had not for the intervention by the manager of the bank. The teller wouldn’t let go either at first and insisted that the game continued.
At last the manager had to replace the teller to separate the two. Peng left with his 30 depositary receipts.
"If the teller didn’t apologize to me, I will give every single one of my employees 10,000 yuan to flock up these counters making withdrawals and deposits. Let’s fight on." Peng was still mad when he talked about this the next day.

Iniesta proves key Player ~ Spanish joy unbridled in Soccer City

2010-07-11T19:17:00.001-04:00

"It can't be, it must be a dream," shouted Enrique, 48, from Madrid, red and yellow scarf wrapped around his head to guard against the biting cold of the Johannesburg winds. "This is our first World Cup and I never thought I would see this day," he added breathlessly to FIFA.com before darting for a corner of Soccer City's hulking frame, frantically dialling family back home in the Spanish capital.

Andres Iniesta proved just how important he was to Spain's World Cup campaign on Sunday as the Barcelona playmaker scored the winner in a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands.

Iniesta, his ghostly pale face shining on the dark South African night, blasted a shot across Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg with four minutes of extra-time left to seal Spain's first World Cup triumph.
Iniesta, one of the creative midfielders who inspires Spain's attack, arrived in South Africa struggling from an injury-plagued season. But he proved to be one of the keys to victory as his second goal of the tournament delivered Spain from a challenging game of few chances.

Congratulations Spain!

Congratualtions Spain!! World Cup Winners

2010-07-11T19:12:00.003-04:00

Hey Mister Can you Lend a Hand??

2010-07-08T18:50:00.000-04:00

Running Of The Bulls ~ Spain ~ July ~ Rite-of-Manhood

2010-06-28T20:22:00.000-04:00

Running Of The Bulls ~ Spain ~ July ~ Rite-of-Manhood

2010-06-28T20:21:00.003-04:00

SPAIN, Pamplona, Los Sanfermines [Bull Running] - don't be bored, be gored! Six bulls are released into the streets every morning of this seven day Basque rite-of-manhood party. You too can battle the big horns. See the excellent Sanfermin website. Spain Guide

WARNING from Pamplona Town Council

As well as being the best known act of the Sanfermines the Bull Run is also the most dangerous. In order to ensure that the Run goes off successfully and to avoid danger it is advised that the spectators and runners bear in mind certain minimal rules which guarantee the normal running of the Bull Run. they are as follows:

1.- To admit anyone under the age of 18 into the course as minors are totally prohibited from running or participating.

2.- To go over the police barriers which the authorities see fit to erect.

3.- To place oneself in the zones and areas of the itinerary which are expressly indicated by the agents of the authorities.

4.- To hide oneself before the release of the bulls in corners, dead angles or doorways of houses or establishments located throughout the length of the course.

5.- To leave open the doors of the houses along the course, the owners or tenants of the said property being responsible for this.

6.- To enter into the route in a state of drunkenness, under the effects of drugs or in any inappropriate state.

7.- To carry objects which may impede the correct running of the Bull Run.

8.- To wear clothes or shoes which are not appropriate for the run.

9.- Call the animals or distract them in any way and for whatever reason in the course or during the rounding up in the Bull Ring.

10.- To stop in the Bull Run or station oneself on the walls or barriers or in the doorways in such a way as to impede the run or the defence of the runners.

11.- To grab onto, harass or mistreat the animals or obstruct their exit enclosure by any action during the amateur bullfight.

12.- To take photographs from the streets, walls or barriers without due authorisation.

13.- Any other action which may impede the normal running of the Bull Run.

So run ..enjoy the thrill of the Run and come back to write about it!

Rio - Brazil -Bonfire Festival -June

2010-06-03T01:11:00.002-04:00

This is a New World twist on an old European tradition. In Mediterranean countries, the Fiesta de San Juan (Saint John) falls on the summer solstice, and is celebrated with bonfires. The party city of Rio extends this June festival to include Saint Anthony and Saint Peter as well. On three separate evenings, in private homes and clubs right across Rio, in the streets, squares and public places, stalls are set out to resemble village market places and are decorated with streamers and lanterns. Against the glow of bonfires there is much dancing, eating and drinking. In mock weddings, couples follow the old tradition of leaping the flames. All this takes place against a fairly continuous crackle and flash of fireworks.

“Festas Juninas” are as popular as Carnival. It should be noted that, like for Carnival, these festivities involve costume-wearing (in this case, peasant costumes), dancing, drinking, and visual spectacles (fireworks display and folk dancing). Like the original European Midsummer celebrations, during the two-week June festivities in Brazil, bonfires are lit. They can be seen everywhere in Brazil.

Bonfire Festival - Rio- June

2010-06-03T01:07:00.000-04:00

For years two Northeastern towns in particular have competed with each other for the title of "Biggest São João Festival in the World", namely Caruaru (in the State of Pernambuco) and Campina Grande (in Paraíba State). In fact, Caruaru features in the Guinness Book of World Records for holding the biggest outdoor country festival. However the States of Bahia and Maranhão (as elsewhere in Brazil) have invested in promoting their own way of celebrating the June Bonfire Festivals. Thus, there are enough options to enjoy it!

Rio In June ~ Bonfire Festival

2010-06-03T01:04:00.000-04:00

Against the glow of bonfires there is much dancing, eating and drinking. In mock weddings, couples follow the old tradition of leaping the flames. All this takes place against a fairly continuous crackle and flash of fireworks.

Visit Southern Spain - The Andalucians in the Month of May

2010-05-02T14:35:00.001-04:00

Andalucia is extremely proud of its rich history of fiestas and festivals.

Andalucians in Spain in The Month of May

2010-05-02T14:30:00.003-04:00

There is no better way to get to know the Andalucians than through their many and fascinating feast days. The local fiesta is the moment when every town and village strives to put on a splendid show, not only for themselves but also for those who come from afar to admire and enjoy. Over 3,000 fiestas are celebrated every year in Andalucia, including fairs, pilgrimages, carnivals, mock battles between Moors and Christians and religious processions, throughout the some 800 communities of the region.

Every spring Córdoba bursts into bloom with special festivities for the month of May. Starting off with a parade known as the “Battle of the Flowers”, the city officially launches into its spring celebrations with the May Crosses festival usually taking place during the first week of the month, followed by the Patio Contests that can easily continue well past the middle of the month – which just gives residents time to get ready for the annual fair at the end of May!

As would be expected, the May Patio Contest in Córdoba is more than just a contest. At the city’s tourism website, it is officially the “Córdoba May Patio Festival” and, true to form, the locals offer a host of entertainment throughout this spring celebration. Some of the best names in flamenco are known to travel to Córdoba this time of year to add sound to the sights, smells, textures and tastes enjoyed by locals and visitor alike. Yes, Córdoba is genuinely a feast for all five senses this time of year – but don’t miss the year round sightsto see in Córdoba while you’re there.

May Schedule

Corpus Christi celebrations take place throughout the region.

Patio Contests in Córdoba take place close in time to Corpus Christi.

The May Crosses Festival is called the Cruces de Mayo in Spanish.

The Jerez Horse Fair or Feria del Caballo de Jerez may run into this month.

Moors and Christians Festival, Moros y Cristianos - check our calendar to find out which towns celebrate this month.

The San Isidro Pilgrimage takes place in Montefrío and Estepona.

The Rocío Pilgrimage could take place at the end of this month or the beginning of next

Thanks Maria for all of your good information on Google Blog "Just Because"

http://justbecausecarmen.blogspot.com/

Mary Lou and family have a wonderful trip! I hope this information was helpful to you.

Take This Amazing World Clock

2010-04-17T14:04:00.001-04:00

World Clock

2010-04-15T19:18:00.002-04:00

The "Hora" of Romania ~ Folk Dance

2010-04-13T19:49:00.006-04:00

The Hora is a social dance found in many cultures. The Romanian Hora has a special place in its culture as a symbol of unity--unity of a village and unity of the country. The way dancers join arms to dance together represents this, as does the fact that anyone can join the hora: It is simple, and does not require partners or an even number of dancers.

Style:
The hora does not have a particular style in the sense that it represents a particular mood or tone. It is performed at all types of ceremonies, from weddings to funerals to religious occasions, but it is also danced at other, less formal social gatherings, such as parties or festivals. The dance is circular--all dancers form a circle and either join hands or place their hands around one another's shoulders or waists. This is called a closed circle dance. In some parts of regions of Romania, the dance is done as an open circle. This means the dancers are in formation, but their arms are not joined, and a leader may move the circle around or turn it into a spiral.

At its most basic, the Romanian hora involves just moving your feet in time to the music and knowing which way the circle is moving. In addition to going around in a circle, dancers sometimes move in toward the middle, contracting the circle, or move outward and expand the circle. The direction of the dance may change once or several times. When traveling around the circle, the traditional step is a grapevine step, in which the left foot crosses in front of the right, the right steps out, the left crosses behind the right, and the right steps out again.

Many variations exist on this basic cross-step, some that are choreographed into the dances, and some that are simply invented spontaneously as the dance is going on. In addition to changing directions, steps can be added or altered to add variation to the dance. As well as changing the form of the dance by making it an open circle dance or a spiral, dancers may choose to form two circles, one inside the other. The inner circle can follow the direction of the outer, or it can turn in the opposite direction.

The grapevine movement around the circle can be varied with a skipping motion, and a common addition is one or two hops in place at the end of the musical phrase (usually two or four bars ). Another variation is to add a kick at the end of a step, making the movement left-right-left-kick (with the right foot) or right-left-right-kick (with the left). Kicks can also be done as "scissor" kicks, in which the dancer kicks both feet in an alternating pattern, kicking in the right foot while hopping on the left, and then kicking the right while hopping on the left.

Happy Easter

2010-04-03T14:19:00.000-04:00

The Dance ~ Flamenco

2010-03-27T16:47:00.004-04:00

As I communicated with Spanish friends, reflected on my internal process around Flamenco, as I became more aware of the artists, current and in the past, I have found a deeper understanding for myself about this wonderfully moving and intriguing dance called Flamenco. Its exact origins are disputed. Many say it’s a tradition belonging to the gypsy people, while others still insist on an Arabic heritage, or an Indian Hindu lineage – many of the moves are reminiscent of Hindu dance today.

In my search for the true meaning of Flamenco, historical roots aside, all of the diverse opinions and perceptions have led me to understand that like all things of passion each person feels their own, in their own way and hence this aspect or aspects become the reality of Flamenco for them; it is the passion of Flamenco that is a consistent quality throughout the world today. This is particularly evident in the dance of the great Mario Maya and his interpretation of the dance. Unequaled is this also true with the great Paco de Lucia as the spirit of Flamenco flows through his guitar to our ears. As for the amazing Rocío Márquez one will have to see her performance to understand. She states ” When you close your eyes there is a precious connection to the elf that makes us witness his great angel filled with beauty and freshness that dominates the space while the viewer enjoys listening spellbound as trace vocal arabesques and turns great they are pure gold.”

For my friend Duna from the “ Flamenco Triangle” Flamenco is a melding of music and dance in such a way as it forms a relationship or communication between the musicians, the dancers, the richness of history ; as is in the comments, she describes it as a “courtship”. Beautiful!

The passion, as I see it and feel it, comes from strength in the face of adversity, unbending will to survive, pride in the uniqueness of culture and communication of both pain and victory to any observer. It is presented with the grace and elegance of a butterfly and the power of “the stomp” to the rhythmic time of the “pick” on the strings and thump of the guitarist.

In 2001 The first U.S. Flamenco Festival in New York, Boston and Washington brought the full range of Flamenco , from traditional to modern, to American audiences for the first time
I was first introduced to Flamenco on a summer night here in Upstate New York a few years ago. I was fasinated immediately and have loved it since. For me Flamenco is one of our cultural treasures in the world.

Some will say that Flamenco has been perverted to accommodate the a wider audience base. However, currently, Flamenco has been taken a stage further. Artists like Paco de Lucia appeal to a mass modern audience while maintaining the core tradition. For me like antique wood Flamenco’s history and roots are not diluted by the changes but instead alternative presentations lay down a richer, larger history than before. Purest or not Flamenco is exciting!

This has been my perspective, the prospective of one American who fell in love with this phenomenon call Flamenco. Thanks for your interest to read. Please enjoy the following videos.

PAUSE MIX-POD TO VIEW VIDEOS

Mario Maya Drama

2010-03-27T16:44:00.000-04:00

Baile Flamenco Mario Maya y gruppo en Sevilla

2010-03-27T16:43:00.002-04:00

Paco de Lucia ~ Flamenco

2010-03-27T16:41:00.000-04:00

Palo Rosa & Palo Santo ~ Flamenco

2010-03-27T16:38:00.000-04:00

Duna made an intresting obversation that Noble woods are used in the manufacturing of the castanets of palo rosa and palo santo. Also I have found that gutars are made often from the finest woods including various types of Rosewood or Palo Rosa. They are very beautiful as you can see from the pictures here on the following posts. If you are interested in seeing more of these beautiful, handmade insturments go to the link on that post.
Most interseting I found the other wood used for castanets, Palo Santo.
Palo Santo is used by healers and shamans in ayahuasca ceremonies, rituals, and healing and cleansing sessions. It has an amazingly strong, sweet aroma when burned, so the palo santo is used as incense to cleanse and purify the air.

It should be noted that not all wood serves the Palo Santo tree. Its benefits are only good when the tree has died of natural causes, for their own old age. If we cut a tree in Palo Santo, we will have no benefit. Besides the dead tree in his old age, must spend a time about 3-4 years, performing their natural way of decomposition. It is in this curious period when internally the timber from this tree is resulting in an essence, an oil that burned when benefisioso turns into a rich, spiritual and white smoke that will cleanse us from our evil energies.
So in the collection of the Palo Santo tree, no forests are cleared, only collects the trees and dead, thus clearing the jungle, in an act 100% ecological and protector of natural resources.
Another use of the Palo Santo is medicinal. Its essence is used to cure skin wounds and a decoction of the bark to treat stomach ailments. Also used to treat hot fomentation muscle aches.
The Tongue-Maskoy have the belief that a fire made with wood Rosewood prevents evil spirits come to the homes. They attribute this particular property due to the clarity of the flames that emerge from the wood burning. In fact, one can see that many language-Maskoy make their fire almost exclusively with wood Rosewood. If someone from the indigenous population has seen an evil spirit or has had contact with someone who has seen a spirit purifies all the people with this wood-fire smoke.

This tree is also present in the Indian marriage ritual. The couple must plant a seedling of this tree in the absence of witnesses to link their destinies and that the union lasts forever.
You can often see old Palo santo trees that are hollow inside. In these holes is conserved rainwater. The Paraguayan Chaco, where this species is distributed naturally, has a dry climate and seasonal water shortages.
The Tongue-Maskoy resorted during their migrations or hunting this reservoir of water when their supplies were exhausted. Nivaclé Indians, however, never took the water found in the hollows of the trunk.
The women used in infusion as a contraceptive and ash wood is used for the treatment of external wounds.
Indeed this is special wood and it is not suprising that it is used for Flamenco.

Flamenco Gutar Maker

2010-03-27T16:15:00.000-04:00

The flaming Hawaiian koa that is used to build this guitar gives the instrument a stunning appearance and a acoustic profile that lies between that of a "blanca" and a "negra" flamenco guitar. By modifying the set-up and strings, this instrument can be used to project a clean, well-sustained, balanced tone that works well when playing a classical repertoire ... or it can be easily re-configured for a "Southern Spanish" sound and feel for the "traditional" flamenco guitarist.

To complement the Hawaiian koa ... Brazilian, Madagascar, or Cocobolo rosewood is used for the bindings along the edges of the guitar. The soundboard is usually made from bear-clawed Sitka or creamy-white alpine spruce. The Oro is a versatile instrument that works equally well in an acoustic setting or when amplified with its optional internal wireless pickup system.

Daniel Turner
Flamenco Guitarmaker

Bulería Sabates ~ Flamenco

2010-03-27T16:09:00.000-04:00

Zapatos Bulería Sabates

Bulería Sabates is a Spanish shoe manufacturer specialised in flamenco dance shoes. All the products are hand-made from top quality materials. Based in the province of Alicante (Spain), birthplace of top quality footwear for women, Bulería Sabates’ shoes are the preferred accessory for flamenco dance professionals. The designs standout for their originality.

Ainhoa flamenco shoes

Manufactured in maestro Ángel Blanco's small workshop in the Malasaña neighbourhood in Madrid, Zapatos Ainhoa opens its doors to the world through esflamenco.com. With this new project, any Internet user can purchase a veritable masterpiece of craftmanship. Moreover, by buying them directly from the shoemaker, you can have your 100% handcrafted flamenco shoes for a very competitive price.
Ainhoa flamenco shoes

Manufactured in maestro Ángel Blanco's small workshop in the Malasaña neighbourhood in Madrid, Zapatos Ainhoa opens its doors to the world through esflamenco.com. With this new project, any Internet user can purchase a veritable masterpiece of craftmanship. Moreover, by buying them directly from the shoemaker, you can have your 100% handcrafted flamenco shoes for a very competitive price.

Sara Baras will take a temporary break from the stage with "Esencia" ~

2010-03-27T16:00:00.000-04:00

Sara Baras has announced that from May she will take a hiatus from dancing "because I want to be a mother, and, apparently my dancing isn’t compatible with pregnancy". Even so, she hopes that the pause will be brief and that she will return with renewed strength. But before she goes on hiatus she takes a look back over her career with "Esencia".

"Esencia" opened in December 2009 at the theatre of the Champs Elyssees of Paris and is a tribute to the career of Sara Baras. The performer from Cadiz has selected some of the most representative and unforgettable moments of the 9 shows that she has staged in the 11 years of her time in the Dance Company . She has given them a new reading, re-working the choreographies and giving it a new stage design, wardrobe and lighting, with a running theme: the essence of flamenco itself.
Among the numbers recovered by Sara Baras is "Martinete y Rondeña" from "Baras Carreras", "Bulería" from "Mariana
Pineda", the unforgettable "Farruca" from "Sensaciones", her "Alegrías" from "Cai-la isla" and the essence of "Soleá" from "Juana La Loca", along with the beauty of "Tangos" by Paco de Lucía in "Carmen", where she dances as a duet with José Serrano, guest star also present in "Alegrías" from "Sabores".
Coming dates for "Esencia"
16 and 17 March – Granada. Palacio de Congresos
23 March to 11 April – Madrid. Teatro Häagen- Dazs
Calderón.
17 and 18 April – Palma de Mallorca.
Auditorium
21 to 25 April – Cadiz. Gran Teatro Falla

The Golden Age Of Flamenco Continued

2010-03-24T18:45:00.001-04:00

A male flamenco singer is known as a cantaor, a female singer is referred to as a cantaora. Flamenco dancers are bailaor/a. Most songs and dances are played with a thumping guitar rhythm, and percussion provided by tapping feet, clapping hands or the brassy clink of castanets. The traditional flamenco costume for women is a shawl, a long frilly bata de cola dress and a fan. Men are adorned in flat Cordoban hats and tight black pants.

More Of The Golden Age Of Flamenco

2010-03-21T01:20:00.000-04:00

A synthesis of dancing, singing and instrumental accompaniment, the flamenco dance appeared in recognizable form in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. What became the dance of the gitanos (gypsies) of the Guadalquidvir Valley, may have originated in the music of Moslem Andulucia during the Medieval period, or even as far back as Byzantine chants used in Visigothic churches.

The Golden Age Of Flamenco

2010-03-18T23:28:00.001-04:00

Flamenco can be seen and heard in all of Spain's regions (especially the larger cities), but it remains an Andalucian specialty and it is here during the summer festival season that tourists can see it performed in all its forms. During the rest of the year, your best bet for authentic flamenco, is to find penas (flamenco clubs) where live performances are staged in intimate settings.

It is said that Seville, Jerez de la Frontera, and Cadiz are all flamenco hotbeds and offer the best chance to catch the purest, and often the most passionate, flamenco dance in the entire world.

Flamenco Fever

2010-03-18T00:36:00.003-04:00

2010-03-17T20:20:00.009-04:00

"My passion for the art, and music of Flamenco has enriched my life. It channels, grounds, inspires me and fuels my energy."

Flamenco Fever

2010-03-15T02:38:00.003-04:00

Flamenco Fever

2010-03-15T01:40:00.002-04:00

Flapper

2010-03-08T18:42:00.001-05:00

LOVE has crept out of her sealed heart

As a field-bee, black and amber

Breaks from the winter-cell, to clamber

Up the warm grass where the sunbeams start.

Mischief has come in her dawning eyes,

And a glint of colored iris brings

Such as lies along the folded wings

Of the bee before he flies.

Who, with a ruffling, careful breath,

Has opened the wings of the wild young sprite?

Has fluttered her spirit to stumbling flight

In her eyes, as a young bee stumbleth?

Love makes the burden of her voice.

The hum of his heavy, staggering wings

Sets quivering with wisdom the common things

That she says, and her words rejoice.

~ D.H. Lawrence

The Gypsy Violin

2010-03-03T20:04:00.004-05:00

I love music, especially violin music, but when I hear the gypsy violin something magical happens to me. All I have to do is close my eyes and I am amid the gypsies. I can almost smell their campfire and feel the music luring, tempting, craving - dance, dance, please dance for me.

The Gypsy Violin

The compelling violin lures

With an irresistible yearn

Dance, dance, please dance for me

I can no longer adjourn!

Ethereal notes float from its strings

Caressing like a lover's hand

Sensual music, Angel's touch

Leading the way to wonderland

Embracing with utter delight

Craving, beckoning me

Tempting my lonely heart

Dance, dance on my melody!

Faster, faster the music escapes

Without compassion to body or soul

Seducer of lonely hearts

Until dancing is my only goal

Faces gyrate while I dance on passion

Flashes of fire in the corner of my eyes

The violin plays like never before

Until I become one and loneliness dies

With a final cry and a final touch

The violin stops, the music ends

Leaving behind an emptiness

We'll meet again, my violin friend ...

We'll meet again.

The Oven Bird - Robert Frost Poetry

2010-02-25T20:07:00.002-05:00

The Oven Bird

There is a singer everyone has heard,

Loud, a mid-summer and a mid-wood bird,

Who makes the solid tree trunks sound again.

He says that leaves are old and that for flowers

Mid-summer is to spring as one to ten.

he says the early petal-fall is past

When pear and cherry bloom went down in showers

On sunny days a moment overcast;

And comes that other fall we name the fall.

He says the highway dust is over all.

The bird would cease and be as other birds

But that he knows in singing not to sing.

The question that he frames in all but words

Is what to make of a diminished thing.

Robert Frost

Choices

2010-02-20T18:53:00.001-05:00

by Junglecookie

Abasement, degradation is simply the manner of life of the man who has refused to be what it is his duty to be.

Jose Ortega y Gasset

Silkworm Moths

2010-02-17T18:55:00.002-05:00

Kitagawa Utamaro, Ukiyo e, silkworm moths

by Elaine Cheung @ Delineating Art
see her banner on Carlsvilleproject Health

In this day and age, we take it for granted that we can hop on a plane and be in another country in less than a day. Even with all the hassles of flying, it's really no big deal anymore. But, back in the day... back in the day... (no, I'm not going to talk about walking ten miles to school, through the snow...) I mean, back in the time of Lafcadio Hearn, before there were airplanes, before the famous first flight of the Wright brothers, the only way to really get around the world was by ship. And, it wasn't a pleasant journey. One could be overrun by pirates, the ship could be lost at sea, tossed in storms, sunk; it was a rather dangerous way to travel. So, it's particularly remarkable, I think, when someone from the late 19th century went from Europe to America, and then finally settled in Japan. And, then to top it all off, he learned the language and customs and settled down to write and share it with the Western world. Language is not an easy thing. Learning basic phrases for travel is easy, but actually learning a language and the nuances and cultural references take a lifetime. His thoughts on Buddhism as compared to the Judeo-Christian traditions stemmed from an old Chinese proverb. He writes, "I WAS puzzled by the phrase, " silkworm-moth eyebrow," in an old Japanese, or rather Chinese proverb : — The silkworm-moth eyebrow of a woman is the axe that cuts down the wisdom of man. So I went to my friend Niimi, who keeps silkworms, to ask for an explanation." From here, he goes with his friend to see the silkworms and eventually he comes to his musings:
"First of all, I found myself thinking about a
delightful revery by M. Anatole France, in which
he says that if he had been the Demiurge, he
would have put youth at the end of life instead
of at the beginning, and would have otherwise so
ordered matters that every human being should
have three stages of development, somewhat cor-
responding to those of the lepidoptera. Then it
occurred to me that this fantasy was in substance
scarcely more than the delicate modification of a
most ancient doctrine, common to nearly all the
higher forms of religion.
Western faiths especially teach that our life on
earth is a larval state of greedy helplessness, and
that death is a pupa-sleep out of which we should
soar into everlasting light. They tell us that
during its sentient existence, the outer body
should be thought of only as a kind of caterpil-
lar, and thereafter as a chrysalis; — and they
aver that we lose or gain, according to our be-
havior as larvae, the power to develop wings
under the mortal wrapping. Also they tell us
not to trouble ourselves about the fact that we
see no Psyche-imago detach itself from the broken
cocoon : this lack of visual evidence signifies
nothing, because we have only the purblind vision
of grubs. Our eyes are but half-evolved. Do
not whole scales of colors invisibly exist above
and below the limits of our retinal sensibility?
Even so the butterfly-man exists, — although, as
a matter of course, we cannot see him.

But what would become of this human imago
in a state of perfect bliss? From the evolutional
point of view the question has interest; and its
obvious answer was suggested to me by the history
of those silkworms, — which have been
domesticated for only a few thousand years. Consider
the result of our celestial domestication for — let
us say — several millions of years : I mean the
final consequence, to the wishers, of being able to
gratify every wish at will.

Those silkworms have all that they wish for, —
even considerably more. Their wants, though
very simple, are fundamentally identical with the
necessities of mankind, — food, shelter, warmth,
safety, and comfort. Our endless social struggle
is mainly for these things. Our dream of heaven
is the dream of obtaining them free of cost in
pain; and the condition of those silkworms is the
realization, in a small way, of our imagined
Paradise. (I am not considering the fact that a vast
majority of the worms are predestined to torment
and the second death; for my time is of heaven,
not of lost souls. I am speaking of the elect —
those worms preordained to salvation and rebirth.)
Probably they can feel only very weak sensations:
they are certainly incapable of prayer. But if
they were able to pray, they could not ask for
anything more than they already receive from
the youth who feeds and tends them. He is their
providence, — a god of whose existence they can
be aware in only the vaguest possible way, but
just such a god as they require. And we should
foolishly deem ourselves fortunate to be equally
well cared-for in proportion to our more complex
wants. Do not our common forms of prayer
prove our desire for like attention?' Is not the
assertion of our "need of divine love" an
involuntary confession that we wish to be treated
like silkworms, — to live without pain by the help
of gods? Yet if the gods were to treat us as we
want, we should presently afford fresh evidence,
— in the way of what is called " the evidence from
degeneration," — that the great evolutional law is
far above the gods.

An early stage of that degeneration would be
represented by total incapacity to help ourselves;
— then we should begin to lose the use of our
higher sense-organs; — later on, the brain would
shrink to a vanishing pin-point of matter; — still
later we should dwindle into mere amorphous
sacs, mere blind stomachs. Such would be the
physical consequence of that kind of divine love
which we so lazily wish for. The longing for
perpetual bliss in perpetual peace might well seem
a malevolent inspiration from the Lords of Death
and Darkness. All life that feels and thinks has
been, and can continue to be, only as the product
of struggle and pain, — only as the outcome of
endless battle with the Powers of the Universe.
And cosmic law is uncompromising. Whatever
organ ceases to know pain, — whatever faculty
ceases to be used under the stimulus of pain, —
must also cease to exist. Let pain and its effort
be suspended, and life must shrink back, first
into protoplasmic shapelessness, thereafter into
dust.

Buddhism —which, in its own grand way, is a
doctrine of evolution — rationally proclaims its
heaven but a higher stage of development through
pain, and teaches that even in paradise the
cessation of effort produces degradation. With equal
reasonableness it declares that the capacity for
pain in the superhuman world increases always
in proportion to the capacity for pleasure. (There
is little fault to be found with this teaching
from a scientific standpoint, — since we know
that higher evolution must involve an increase
of sensitivity to pain.) In the Heavens of
Desire, says the Shobo-nen-jo-kyo, the pain of death
is so great that all the agonies of all the hells
united could equal but one-sixteenth part of such
pain.

The foregoing comparison is unnecessarily
strong; but the Buddhist teaching about heaven
is in substance eminently logical. The suppression
of pain — mental or physical, — in any conceivable
state of sentient existence, would necessarily
involve the suppression also of pleasure; — and
certainly all progress, whether moral or material,
depends upon the power to meet and to master
pain. In a silkworm-paradise such as our mundane
instincts lead us to desire, the seraph freed from the
necessity of toil, and able to satisfy his every want
at will, would lose his wings at last, and sink back
to the condition of a grub. . . . "

Haitians Weep for 200,000

2010-02-13T00:33:00.000-05:00

PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Thousands of Haitians prayed, wept and danced among tent shelters in the capital's main square on Friday as President Rene Preval asked his people to "dry their eyes" and rebuild a month after the catastrophic earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people.

Haitians joined in a national day of mourning and prayer amid the rubble a month to the day after the magnitude 7 quake wrecked the capital, Port-au-Prince, and surrounding towns and cities, and left 1 million people living in the streets.

In his first live, nationally broadcast speech to the impoverished Caribbean nation since the quake, Preval said Haitians' courage had sustained their government as it looks for ways to relieve the suffering of some 300,000 injured and those living in hundreds of spontaneous tent encampments.
"Haitians, the pain is too heavy for words to express. Let's dry our eyes to rebuild Haiti," Preval said at a ceremony held on a flower-decked platform at the University of Notre Dame's nursing school in the capital.
"Haitian people who are suffering, the courage and strength you showed in this misfortune are the sign that Haiti cannot perish. It is a sign that Haiti will not perish," said Preval, wearing a black armband of mourning over his white shirt.
Thousands took part in the prayers and dancing in front of the wreckage of the National Palace and in the Champs de Mars, the main downtown square, which after the quake became a sprawling city of shanties, tents and shelters made of rope and bedsheets.

Little girls dressed in their Sunday finest were a stark contrast to the squalor of the camps, where a woman tossed a blanket over her shoulders and bathed from a bucket as people prayed and danced around her.

Published by Ruters..see link abouve for full article

Enduring Love

2010-02-07T00:36:00.000-05:00

At the break of day ,

and by the morning light you cling to me.

In my prickly moments,

You bring me peace and harmony.

When day is done;

With tight shut eyes I see your adoring face before me,

And feel your trembling, midnight lips upon my burning flesh.

Though time and space is etched with fire upon my soul,

it matters not for me.

I do not question why,

Nor would I ask or answer this.

For you are too my strength, in time.

For you are truly

my enduring love.

cbruce

Finally Ready For Love

2010-02-01T19:24:00.003-05:00

Take my hand and lead the way;

tell me all you want to say.

Whisper softly in my ear,

all those things I want to hear.

Kiss my lips and touch my skin;

bring out passions deep within.

Pull me close and hold me near;

take away my pain and fear.

In the darkness of the night,

be my beacon, shine your light.

In the brightness of the sun,

show me that you are the one.

Give me wings so I can fly;

for I can soar when you're nearby.

Enter my heart, break down the wall,

it's time for me to watch it fall.

I've been a prisoner, can't you see?

Break my chains and set me free.

Strip me of my armor tight;

you'll find I won't put up a fight.

Release my soul held deep within . . .

I'm ready now, let love begin.

by Ruth Kephart

Nothing Gold Can Stay

2010-02-01T19:13:00.005-05:00

Nature's first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf,

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day

Nothing gold can stay.

Robert Frost

Analysis /Critique

Nothing Gold Can Stay

We believe this lyric poem means when you are born and are a child you are gold or innocent and pure. You are unaware of the world as a child. Your childhood is the hardest thing to hold on to. Childhood is the first part of your life. But it only last a while. As you grow up you loose that innocence, you learn to be strong and confident. You face hardships throughout your life. You begin to loose the golden innocence of your childhood and build a layer of confidence and security as you go into adulthood to fight and protect yourself from the world.

Robert Frost uses nature to argue that when you are born your gold and slowly as you get older the gold fades. Sooner or later you're going to die. So don't take life for granted. Like the poem says "So dawn goes down to day" means when your gold your a kid and everything is new to you. That is dawn. when you get older you lose your innocence and that is day; when nothing is new anymore. Nothing gold can stay. Robert Frost shows through this poem that he believes that: Youth doesn't last forever. Also it means to cherish your life because one day we will die. We choose this poem over the thousands upon thousands of choices because we also believe that life is gold and it is worth to cherish.

This poem includes many literary terms such as alliteration, repetition, consonance, mood, figure of speech and many more.

Thank You for this controbution

Brown Bess

2010-02-01T18:48:00.002-05:00

In the days of lace-ruffles, perukes and brocade

Brown Bess was a partner whom none could despise--

An out-spoken, flinty-lipped, brazen-faced jade,

With a habit of looking men straight in the eyes--

At Blenheim and Ramillies fops would confess

They were pierced to the heart by the charms of Brown Bess.

Though her sight was not long and her weight was not small,

Yet her actions were winning, her language was clear;

And everyone bowed as she opened the ball

On the arm of some high-gaitered, grim grenadier.

Half Europe admitted the striking success

Of the dances and routs that were given by Brown Bess.

When ruffles were turned into stiff leather stocks,

And people wore pigtails instead of perukes,

Brown Bess never altered her iron-grey locks.

She knew she was valued for more than her looks.

"Oh, powder and patches was always my dress,

And I think am killing enough," said Brown Bess.

So she followed her red-coats, whatever they did,

From the heights of Quebec to the plains of Assaye,

From Gibraltar to Acre, Cape Town and Madrid,

And nothing about her was changed on the way;

(But most of the Empire which now we possess

Was won through those years by old-fashioned Brown Bess.)

In stubborn retreat or in stately advance,

From the Portugal coast to the cork-woods of Spain,

She had puzzled some excellent Marshals of France

Till none of them wanted to meet her again:

But later, near Brussels, Napoleon--no less--

Arranged for a Waterloo ball with Brown Bess.

She had danced till the dawn of that terrible day--

She danced till the dusk of more terrible night,

And before her linked squares his battalions gave way,

And her long fierce quadrilles put his lancers to flight:

And when his gilt carriage drove off in the press,

"I have danced my last dance for the world!" said Brown Bess.

If you go to Museums--there's one in Whitehall--

Where old weapons are shown with their names writ beneath,

You will find her, upstanding, her back to the wall,

As stiff as a ramrod, the flint in her teeth.

And if ever we English had reason to bless

Any arm save our mothers', that arm is Brown Bess!

Rudyard Kipling

How Hitler Would Repond to the Apple iPad

2010-01-30T13:08:00.003-05:00

UShaka Marine World

2010-01-29T19:51:00.000-05:00

Largest Aquarium in Africa

UShaka Marine World, located on the strip of land between the beachfront and the harbor in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; a beautiful amusement park and at the same time the worlds fifth largest aquarium with 32 water tanks.

The sea creatures found in the aquarium range from small sea horses all the way through to sharks and dolphins. The Aquarium is built to look like an old wreck.

A Mother's Prayer

2010-01-27T04:04:00.001-05:00

May you always have enough;

Happiness to keep you sweet..

Trials to keep you strong..

Sorrows to keep you humble..

Success to make you eager..

Friends to give you comfort..

Wealth to meet your needs..

Faith to vanquish depression..

Determination to make each day better than the day before.

What is it that I love

2010-01-24T19:22:00.000-05:00

What Is It That I Love?

If asked why I love her I would say

It’s the sway in her hips,

the thickness in her thighs.

It’s the lust in her lips,

the love in her eyes.

It’s the softness of her skin,

the silk in her hair.

It’s the twist in her walk;

it’s the sweetness in her talk.

It’s the way she loves me

that makes me love her each day.

That is what I would say.

- Justin Hutchins -

Seventh Heaven

2010-01-18T22:32:00.001-05:00

As the heavens swirled above our heads,time stood still..

Only the sound of our breath sturred the frothly silence and the thump of 2 hearts beating in perfect harmony gave rhythm to the hot summer's night.

cbruce

Our Magnificence – Our Right

2010-01-17T17:58:00.003-05:00

In this age we are always mindful of the political correctness of our style, our language, and our innuendo whether intentional or not. We have become a people of super sensitivity to race, gender, disability, age, religion, the rich, and the poor, educated, non educated and sexual preference. It seems we have become a species that may not be allowed to have a preference about anything. After all if we express our opinions or preferences than there will always someone somewhere who might be offended by it. I wonder if we will stifle generations of free thinkers by society dictating how we may express ourselves. Where will be our next Leonardo di Vinci or Michael Angelo? Will we recognize the great thinkers of our time or will these men and women be so weighted by the appearance of impropriety that they will not reveal themselves to us; at least not in a way they we can appreciate them. It appears that we are to be so homogenized that individualization is unacceptable. I ask to what benefit is all of this machination. It seems not to have benefited blacks, whites, people with disabilities, or races or nationalities and religions. There is still on the streets and the news the same rhetoric about the oppression of the black community; are they happier? it appears not to be so. Every category of people continues to experience the same dissatisfaction with their life that makes me wonder about what is existing internally rather than externally.

I now understand more the humor of George Carlin when he shouted from the stage every unacceptable word that he could think of. I used to feel offended that he would do this and was a little miffed that he got away with it. I now would like to do the same. To break the bonds of this oppressive, nonsensical , supra sensitivity of 2010.

It is my hope that we all, irrespective of our corner of the world, do not bow to the pettiness that has been forced upon us and is currently indoctrinating our children; That we always will embrace the magnificence of creativity and the freedom of thought in our journey of life. We may be rewarded or punished for our opinions and expressions but let this not be for the mere exercise of individuality.

cbruce

The Hunt

2010-01-16T22:30:00.008-05:00

What is this idea of a perfect love?

In what hidden place does he so cleverly reside?

Where is this perfect love that is found within me?

In what corner of my heart does he so cleverly hide?

How does he appear?.. I ask..

Who can describe this tenant that I might require that he show himself ?

Instead he taunts from his reclusive place with fleeting images without a trace.

Yet he shows not his face to me,

nor does his presence nourish me.

I will hunt him down with dogs..if they will hunt!

Still they bark and sniff but he is not dislodged.

I will command to no avail.

And all is silenced beneath the clatter of the hunt;

Torrents washed this fateful trail.

And so I am still here astride my steed.. prepared to hunt..

And yet… there is no track or trace

to lead me to this hiding place.

cbruce

Charity Navigator

2010-01-14T21:50:00.007-05:00

As I watched the suffering of the Haitian people I felt helpless and small in the wake of this human disaster. I watched mothers who had lost children, children who had lost parents, volunteers who had lost limbs and nearly their lives and felt sick because I cannot be there, I cannot pass out water, give bread or wash a face.

So I prayed and realized that I am doing what I can do. These stricken people need us so much..all of us. Please all my friends do what you can do as well. A prayer..a thought..a dollar, a phone call, a post…Lets show our humanity in any way we can.

Thanks
I love you all

Carl

What is your time?

2010-01-10T20:30:00.002-05:00

May I take a moment of your Time?

They say to never ask for a moment of a man’s Time; just take it..is that robbery?

A theft of Time?

Time and Time again you say?

Is it then more Time ?

Going big Time?…

Time piling up… Time after Time?

or repeating itself…. Time and again..

Father Time?

No Mother Time or Sibling Time…Time for me or Time for you..Time for us..?

Don’t waste Time!..

We have all the Time in the world..

Time cut short?..

That was Good Timing or maybe… it was Bad Timing..

Timing is everything they say..

A Time to laugh a Time to cry… A Time to live…

A Time to die..

A Time for everything under the sun, they say..

Not Enough Time?

Too much Time on your hands?....Both hands?

Short hand or Long hand?

A moment in Time..A moment can cast long memories..In Time ..Over Time …In due Time….

Why does everything take too much Time? Or sooo.. much Time?

Where did the Time go?..

How do we stay In Time or is it On Time?

Can we synchronize Our Time?

Will we have the Same Time?

Is this a Good Time?

Do you have The Time?

Do you have Extra Time?

Thank you for Your Time

We just had..

a Little

Time.

cbruce

Our Journey

2010-01-04T19:41:00.011-05:00

Shall we, too, rise forgetful from our sleep,
And shall my soul that lies within your hand
Remember nothing, as the blowing sand
Forgets the palm where long blue shadows creep
When winds along the darkened desert sweep?

Or would it still remember, tho' it spanned
A thousand heavens, while the planets fanned
The vacant ether with their voices deep?

Soul of my soul, no word shall be forgot,
Nor yet alone, beloved, shall we see
The desolation of extinguished suns,
Nor fear the void wherethro' our planet runs,
For still together shall we go and not
Fare forth alone to front eternity.

by Sara Teasdale

Seven Wonders of Portugal

2010-01-02T18:44:00.034-05:00

Thanks to my friend at EuSouGourmet we are able to publish this information. Thank You..For me I applaude all countries, local municipalities and individuals who seek to beautify and protect our enviroment; our earth. So 3 cheers for Portugal for their" 7 Wonders of Portugal" concept. Phone #'s for those interested in directly participating can be found at EuSouGourmet. His link is listed as a contributor at Carlsvilleproject.

There are the 7 Natural Wonders of Portugal that will be chosen on 7 September 2010. We have givin you 7 examples here so you can see.

Marine zones, Caves and Caverns, beaches and cliffs, forests and woodlands, Great Reliefs, Protected Areas and marine wetlands are not the seven categories that the New 7 Wonders Portugal will put to the vote to elect the "7 Wonders of Portugal." An election will be announced in the idyllic setting of Ponta Delgada in Sao Miguel, Azores, in 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity.

This time the New 7 Wonders Portugal is still doing an exhaustive survey of the natural sites to be considered for the voting process.

So far 800 sites are selected, a list that will be released early next year.

Later, the list will be reduced to 77 sites by a panel of 77 experts. Re-examination will be made, this time by 21 notable personalities of the country, who will choose the 21 finalists Wonderland. At that time the public will be able to vote for the "7 Wonders of Portugal" in a vote which will run from March 7 to 7 September.

Here we list just one example of each category and what you can do in the surrounding 7 Wonders of these candidates. This is, indeed, a project that requires the involvement of local authorities in the dissemination and promotion of natural heritage ", as stated Segadães Louis, president of the New 7 Wonders Portugal. A project with an investment of 7 million, curated by Antonio Vitorino, and which enjoys the patronage of the Government of Azores.

Another possibility,brought to my attention by Duna, which will make example# 8 ( to make a departuture from"7") is, the Algarve.

The Algarve is the southern most region of the Portugal Continental; its capital is found in the city of Faro. Linda on the north by the region Alentejo, and the southwest by the Atlantic Ocean, and east by the River Guadiana and the Border Spain. The highest point is found in the Algarve Serra de Monchique, In Pico da Fóia, whose height is an awesome 902 meters.

In this region you can find amazing beaches and breath-taking natural landscape.
In the Algarve, the sea and the mountain is something that is always present, and one can tour the interior landscapes, enjoying the views, wonder at the manifestation of wealth, or become lost in the most beautiful coastlines Europe. A side note....Do not forget to visit the island of Tavira, A place with magic and enchantment. ~Thanks Duna~

It will be most difficult indeed to select just 7 "Wonders of Portugal".

MARINE

2010-01-02T18:39:00.001-05:00

AZORES - HORTA / PICO

Considered by the international community as "local" paradise of the Atlantic Ocean, diving or surfing in waters

Azores is almost mandatory! Observe whales or dolphins, dive diving to cross with manta rays, jacks, tuna. Swimming with dolphins, boat rides to the islands or sport fishing are some of the many sea and maritime activities that you can choose.

Horta

CAVES & CAVERNS

2010-01-02T18:36:00.000-05:00

Azores - Terceira

Terceira island to be discovered, is a place of great dining and tourist attraction. The Soups of the Holy Spirit were created on an act of good will of Queen Isabel and popularized by the parties of the Holy Spirit. A visit to this island can only be truly a breakthrough during the festivals, because in addition to live local traditions, will certainly taste the dishes. To stay, the Hotel do Caracol is always a safe bet.

Terceira

BEACHES & CLIFFS

2010-01-02T18:33:00.000-05:00

PRAIA DA URSA - SINTRA / CASCAIS

Closer to the ocean was only one boat. This extraordinary strength of 5-star hotel was built in sec. XVII on a cliff totally overlooking the sea, becoming the Hotel Fortaleza do Guincho. Combines the convenience and welfare of the odd beauty of the place. Vincent Farges is the chef who runs the kitchen of the renowned restaurant of the Hotel. The Guide Michelin gave it one star for the amazing work you do in this house.
Cascais

FORESTRY & FOREST

2010-01-02T18:29:00.001-05:00

LAURISSILVA - WOOD

It is probably the hotel with the most fantastic view of Madeira, is called the Cliff Bay and is located on top of the promontory, facing the bay of Funchal - loses nothing and see everything. The 5-star service excels,

giving to whom there is home to the tranquility and refinement at the highest level. The cuisine of Il Gallo D'Oro is nothing to fear house mother. Restaurant holds a Michelin star, is masterfully conducted by Benoît Sinthon creative chef.

MOUNTAINS, VALLEYS, & VOLCANOES

2010-01-02T18:25:00.001-05:00

VOLCANOES

SIERRA STAR

Casa Lagar Da Alagoa is a charming hotel and design the 1500 meters of altitude, in the Natural Park of Serra da Estrela. Surrounded by natural beauty that this park offers, is one of the hottest spots in Portugal. Rest, comfort and peace are the best service you can find this unit. It is also elected by many as the starting point for beautiful walks that only the mountains can offer.

BERLENGAS

2010-01-02T18:21:00.000-05:00

Speaking of this nature reserve is to go beyond ecology, is a visit to a natural paradise, an ode to brave local fishermen and a trip to history. Amid the rich fauna and unique species we can find the fortress of S. John the Baptist, the historical stage of bravery and endurance Lusitanian. For reasons of preservation, are not allowed more than 350 daily visits to the island. So be quick to be the next visitor.

AQUATIC MARINE AREAS

2010-01-02T18:17:00.000-05:00

There are numerous activities that can make the Tagus estuary: hiking, boating, among many others. It is one of the areas of Portugal's richest eco system where you can see an amazing number of birds. From mid-November to late March, seabirds such as tailors, flamingos, ducks, herons, plovers, sandpipers and geese. In spring and summer, during nesting, you can see mosquitoes, sandpipers, ducks, terns and dwarf sea-partridges-the sea.

Happy New Year

2009-12-27T19:48:00.003-05:00

Happy Holidays

2009-12-20T06:44:00.000-05:00

My String

2009-12-18T17:55:00.003-05:00

What is it that saddens me this year?

The family that once was?

The children grown?

What is it that wrenches me so much, this year?

A modest lunch instead of Christmas dinner?

My brother

In clouded memory does he remain,

Obscured by time and space..

His blurred face fades still more each year;

His picture with me on the floor

It takes me to another place..

As if transported by this trace.

Will I lose another?

Will this be our last, as well..

This year..Dear brother.

My sisters who used to cook and wrap the Christmas gifts ,

endured their little brother

While he holds the ribbon or spills his drink…they twist his ear…

I thought always there would be another..

Will it be our last..This year?

Sister dear

Why is it so hard to count my blessings of witch I have so many?

I can recount them in my brain….but there is no connection;

The string is broken..Lost somewhere in all the ribbon..This I fear;

What is it that saddens me this time of year?

Where is my string of hope...of gratefulness and inspiration..

Where is my string of laughter, excitement or even indignation?

In my mind’s eye..

Distant..Fading..

How do I retrieve it..

There is no picture..No picture..

Lost in ribbon is this I fear..My string..

I say this secretly..

hush..

Do not speak of it….

As if drifting, slippery blackness sticks to me,

As my fingers creak with hesitation quietly..

Without sign..or foot print does it come for me.

Then slowed and halted to a final stop.. Contributing no more..

Fingers motionless, frozen to the keyboard upon the floor..

hussssh

Liu Bolin and Modern Female Counterpart

2009-12-12T05:18:00.002-05:00

The House were I was Born

2009-12-09T21:28:00.006-05:00

I remember, it was a morning, in summer,

The window was half-open, I drew near,

I could see my father at the end of the garden.

He was motionless, looking for something,

I could not tell what, or where, beyond the world,

His body was already bent over, but his gaze

Was lifted toward the unaccomplished or the impossible.

He had put aside his pick and his spade,

The air was fresh on that morning of the world,

But even freshness can be impenetrable, and cruel

The memory of the mornings of childhood.

Who was he, who had he been in the light,

I did not know, I still do not.

But I also see him on the boulevard,

Walking slowly, so much weariness

Weighing down the way he now moved,

He was going back to work, while I

was wandering about with some of my classmates

At the beginning of an afternoon still free from time.

To this figure, seen from afar, moving on its way,

I dedicate the words that cannot say what they would.

(In the dining room

Of the Sunday afternoon, in summer,

The shutters closed against the heat,

The table cleared, he suggested

Cards, since these are the only pictures

In the childhood house to satisfy

The needs of dream, but he leaves,

And when he does, the child clumsily takes the cards,

He puts the winning ones in the other’s hand,

Then waits feverishly for the game to begin again,

And for the one who was losing to win, and so triumphantly

That he might see in this victory a sign, something

to nourish some hope the child cannot know.

After this, two paths part, and one of them

Vanishes, and almost immediately, forgetfulness

Sets in, avid, relentless.

I have crossed out

These words a hundred times, in verse, in prose,

But I cannot

Stop them from coming back.)

The house where I was born (07) by Yves Bonnefoy

Note:
The inspiration for this drawing came from Domenico Ghirlandaio's Old Man and Child in the collection of the Louvre, and an affectionate snapshot of Bill Durks with his young stepdaughter, Dorothy. In the original painting, an old man with a nose distorted by rhinophymic growths looks down at the tow-headed child in his lap. One might think of the painting as a meditation on youth and old age but I think it is an expression of love that transcends physical appearance and knows no reservation. For me it demonstrates the intrinsic purity of a child's love. I have seen this for myself and have been touched forever because of it.
I was at the home of a woman who was a burn victom. She had healed but had been burned on 90% of her body. Her scares were horrable. Her once beautiful face now layers of scar tissue; but as we talked over coffee in the kitchen I forgot about the scars and listened to her recounting aspects of her life with much respect for her courage and bravery. As we talked her little daughter ..about 4 years old came bounding into the room. She asked mommy if she could go into the yard and play. Mommy said she could go and spontaniously the little girl put her arms around her mother's neck and kissed her on her mother's scared face.

There was no reservation from this mother and the little girl saw only the beauty of her loving mommy. Togeather they were, in that moment, in perfect harmony. As for me I never forgot that demonstration of love, as in little Yves switching cards or as demonstrated in the drawing above, that spoke to me that day. It seems we never know when our lives will be touched in some profound way and sometimes we do not realize the full extent until our experiences are left to marinate for awhile.
cbruce

The Amazing Liu Bolin

2009-12-08T18:02:00.004-05:00

The 35 year old Liu Bolin, from Shandong, China manages to camouflage himself in any surroundings, no matter how difficult they might be. Here he uses a cannon for his subject.

Camouflage Art or body painting has been taken to a somewhat different dimension as of late and is contrasted by the following expression of body painting.