no, you're a knob and tube

Progress made!!<br /><br />I can cross #4 off my <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/01/2012-goals.html" target="_blank">2012 goal list</a>! That blasted crooked, crappy, creaky (and any other c adjectives you can think of) chandelier is gone.<br /><br />You may remember it was a lovely 80's brass when we moved in.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbXCnLoT4tUHdKFRWhpUBpYB1M-nslXgfmV-qR758H9g6hzZ05zHkGWgm4OuKeIGBpgDQ7qzf-nTai2oKFa0aZz8lNZ4CqQ-M7QN3wwCMzPI8DQ2gQmSGNzZP2dN2oIYXbb0nJzT8WU5L/s1600/-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbXCnLoT4tUHdKFRWhpUBpYB1M-nslXgfmV-qR758H9g6hzZ05zHkGWgm4OuKeIGBpgDQ7qzf-nTai2oKFa0aZz8lNZ4CqQ-M7QN3wwCMzPI8DQ2gQmSGNzZP2dN2oIYXbb0nJzT8WU5L/s640/-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I sprayed it black immediately and it stayed that way for a few years.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCelAn84D0LgA27D4zX5cwBW65FczMqRr42JnDwA7HnniiZihCmT5vzU25FMd7d8FLp1z1CKf4tEurn3dL-diZE-ciXJlMlgH0DNGvtMxNWPSVUA7YxONjbxoxm7i3Knk8GnPQvCHYzzZ/s1600/IMG_0708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCelAn84D0LgA27D4zX5cwBW65FczMqRr42JnDwA7HnniiZihCmT5vzU25FMd7d8FLp1z1CKf4tEurn3dL-diZE-ciXJlMlgH0DNGvtMxNWPSVUA7YxONjbxoxm7i3Knk8GnPQvCHYzzZ/s640/IMG_0708.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />Until its most recent life in white.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6g9E1ggLNNK848ZDMwDD8t4m5pb-qDAmv8Uh9_gSy_9xd4JD6bUz9mygsr4vsHuJjdvZpgJngyhgau4-44Nf_pWGIPzfgTv4LyXdEPzVvu7fjvsgwCIDuFYATu1NJrjpcv5FXMSe8rja/s1600/PA300415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6g9E1ggLNNK848ZDMwDD8t4m5pb-qDAmv8Uh9_gSy_9xd4JD6bUz9mygsr4vsHuJjdvZpgJngyhgau4-44Nf_pWGIPzfgTv4LyXdEPzVvu7fjvsgwCIDuFYATu1NJrjpcv5FXMSe8rja/s640/PA300415.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Its had shades, no shades, round bulbs, candle bulbs. You named it, I've tried it. I should say here that this is a classic chandelier shape, and in many cases I really do like it. However in this instance it always felt like putting lipstick on a pig.<br /><br />It had also been hung way too high and, the cherry on top, several of the arms were loose and crooked and all tightening attempts would fail. Usually resulting in a shade popping off and landing in your salad. True story.<br /><br />So after years and years of hearing me complain about it, my parents were kind enough to give me a new chandelier for Christmas. WAHOO!<br /><br />Now normally this would be an hour project on Saturday as my husband has hung many a light in his day.<br /><br />However, since the table is off center, I wanted the light centered over the table, rather than centered in the room. We've had many guests bang their head on that chandelier, so it was really for the safety of those I love. I know, I know, I'm a giver.<br /><br />Luke, being the wonderful husband he is, said no problem (while rolling his eyes) and headed up to the attic. Not a problem was the verdict. We measured, figured out where the new hole needed to be and he got to cutting. A perfect hole for a plaster ceiling I would say.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYBMdCqe6X-0ROl0M1wIbRAFishfBkAOz5CRirFNYTmF1wu4pW9-biBW5n7jsqRODWFwSgDB-s_Ja45f_iUymt6G9u_JRJOFxeFJ1BRiUfeGJSaAsOIguUhyphenhyphenXX-lvcVJcu1nvkoAqHAwI/s1600/P1143101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYBMdCqe6X-0ROl0M1wIbRAFishfBkAOz5CRirFNYTmF1wu4pW9-biBW5n7jsqRODWFwSgDB-s_Ja45f_iUymt6G9u_JRJOFxeFJ1BRiUfeGJSaAsOIguUhyphenhyphenXX-lvcVJcu1nvkoAqHAwI/s640/P1143101.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Now all he needed to do was move the wiring over a few inches, drop it thru the new hole, install and enjoy.<br /><br />It was all going just too well.<br /><br />Enter <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knob_and_tube_wiring" target="_blank">knob and tube</a> wiring. For those not familiar with it, its kind of like asbestos - best not bother it if you don't have to. And really, comparing something in your home to asbestos? Never a good sign.<br /><br />Apparently the wire was just a few inches short of reaching the new hole. And my husband's many attempts at getting a new wire to connect to the old wire were just not working. Something about the grounding of the wire blah blah blah. All I heard was 'electrician needed'.<br /><br />Damn.<br /><br />So while we waited for the electrician, we patched the old hole and painted the ceiling. And when I say we I mean Luke did the work and I said "looks great babe."<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijguEv5Sfzh789rPt4I1v0XLcwOZGm3BR0TQKyIvOiOQ4TrhzkquW3ztBOBC3E8MwPa6AvtjLkV-i5XvIhMQCeRMG_AVJnvC1Lq-5KNv06RjxchtfWh1poXc_mFrzeNQSNQZmNKrIHhmR4/s1600/P2053686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijguEv5Sfzh789rPt4I1v0XLcwOZGm3BR0TQKyIvOiOQ4TrhzkquW3ztBOBC3E8MwPa6AvtjLkV-i5XvIhMQCeRMG_AVJnvC1Lq-5KNv06RjxchtfWh1poXc_mFrzeNQSNQZmNKrIHhmR4/s640/P2053686.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />A week later the electrician finally arrives and after a lot of grumbling and several "You sure you want me to do this lady? You know that whole ain't in the center of the room?" I had my new wired and ready hole.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7KGLv9XSsmS5bsrZs_uEB76jFvusKIM-KpoPvsIrfA2yqeg4R2FteX2dNxoQSf9WMs7VGDWnZ3s0Fq7ytbaiZs_5kYexfyZV5gIF4GVe7xw32C1UF-1-Iq7hhH1wUS7kB5Ta9uTthWld/s1600/P2113785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7KGLv9XSsmS5bsrZs_uEB76jFvusKIM-KpoPvsIrfA2yqeg4R2FteX2dNxoQSf9WMs7VGDWnZ3s0Fq7ytbaiZs_5kYexfyZV5gIF4GVe7xw32C1UF-1-Iq7hhH1wUS7kB5Ta9uTthWld/s320/P2113785.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />And now....<br /><br />tahdah!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xo28L5GlUc8hWd7twe2_YQytkVeaeUEeuy1xEac0kPm8TGh74s_rJ1flsr32RRzuNtRR4WIMAMNdyjpPVrETSWzBvKtHI7W2ynSpJwFwf-hr4D24rxJw8o800fM902vow0Qrc_j0WQn_/s1600/P2214521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xo28L5GlUc8hWd7twe2_YQytkVeaeUEeuy1xEac0kPm8TGh74s_rJ1flsr32RRzuNtRR4WIMAMNdyjpPVrETSWzBvKtHI7W2ynSpJwFwf-hr4D24rxJw8o800fM902vow0Qrc_j0WQn_/s640/P2214521.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />I love it! Its warm, more to scale for the room, and it gives off a really great glow.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8y-llprd4r_HIN5nRgZVH0oUvfjiScds6MbDldlJgRgod8jvExbFYDBQ9sJ_ouSbwUi2YFWlbXSJM4_-aYxmDKMMjx01NacN1rbeKHrWrCoYsbN-9kgCNiCEe7JrYb2c3OGMIlsn5f1E/s1600/P2224531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8y-llprd4r_HIN5nRgZVH0oUvfjiScds6MbDldlJgRgod8jvExbFYDBQ9sJ_ouSbwUi2YFWlbXSJM4_-aYxmDKMMjx01NacN1rbeKHrWrCoYsbN-9kgCNiCEe7JrYb2c3OGMIlsn5f1E/s640/P2224531.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />It also gives off a saucy reflection in the mirror.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiExwTH32cfJHTDvHJOphtv2KGQUjTD0uSy5yQK_KOqAL_3F49mTGVZPrv6_YUN5Wf2vLhghw7ZzgK4gYhIkF3AnDSIbRtjIoPvlZV_axSFblQrWQdQ-02nUwVNVPO4rEUEzk7k-gQA_8N/s1600/P2224533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiExwTH32cfJHTDvHJOphtv2KGQUjTD0uSy5yQK_KOqAL_3F49mTGVZPrv6_YUN5Wf2vLhghw7ZzgK4gYhIkF3AnDSIbRtjIoPvlZV_axSFblQrWQdQ-02nUwVNVPO4rEUEzk7k-gQA_8N/s640/P2224533.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />But of course, nothing is ever 'done'. Now I've got to fix the curtains. But that's another story for another day.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfyYTBHLDMcwoeDB0FGKNsnO4YrPZIX1E1BTGrxNxb0XhIFVTh_gXRHaGvSfLKp_loIG_IQsV57VnIQdePlxqdtLe6FCuW9YW5tSlDW-BWlHYAxzC5Z01jBKLI76NSU1ze93mD8xu5-TB/s1600/P2224539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfyYTBHLDMcwoeDB0FGKNsnO4YrPZIX1E1BTGrxNxb0XhIFVTh_gXRHaGvSfLKp_loIG_IQsV57VnIQdePlxqdtLe6FCuW9YW5tSlDW-BWlHYAxzC5Z01jBKLI76NSU1ze93mD8xu5-TB/s640/P2224539.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>For now, I'll just enjoy my new lovely lady. Have you had any electrical projects lately? Been able to cross anything off your resolution list yet? Ever had an electrician tell you "whatever lady, I guess its your house."?

no, you're a knob and tube

Progress made!! I can cross #4 off my 2012 goal list ! That blasted crooked, crappy, creaky (and any other c adjectives you can think of) ch...

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Persevering

Sometimes there are just no words. Given that I tend to be such a "chatty Cathy" at times, this might seem unimaginable to those who really know me.  I'm going to try to find the words though. <br /><br />I once said that if I could accomplish my weight loss goals, I could accomplish anything life threw at me.  I would know that I had the perseverance necessary to get through <i>anything </i>at all.  It's a really hard journey for us at times... losing weight.  It takes hard work, dedication, heart, self love, discipline, focus, and most importantly, time.    <br /><br />When things don't go the way we want them to <i>when </i>we want them to, <i>those </i>are the most important times for us on this journey.  Afterall, when things are going well, there is nothing to worry about right?   Our character isn't being challenged.  But when we hit those stumbling blocks along the way, we need to know that we will get through it eventually.  It is during <i>those</i> times that our character is being developed.  Do we choose to react to our emotions, and eat away the pain of our current problem{s}, in other words, do what we've always done?  Or do we choose to be positive and know that in God's bigger plan for us is something better - a bigger loss next week, perhaps, if we stay obedient to the plan we've been asked to follow.<br /><br />We didn't put on The Big Weight over night, so the troubles are not going to go away over night either.  Still, we have to really work at achieving what we want and when challenges come along, <i>as they always will</i>, we need to face them head on.  We need not run away.  We need not get angry.  We need not feel hopeless. <br /><br />Someday The Big Weight will be no more.<br /><br />Someday I will look back and say instead:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"> <i>"</i><i>It wasn't weight loss that was my greatest accomplishment in life.  It was that after having my heart broken into a million pieces by someone whom I trusted would never do that, I still managed to put a smile on my face and trust in God that it would get better.......and it did!"</i>  </blockquote><br /><i>That </i>will make me unstoppable.

Inspiration Persevering

Sometimes there are just no words. Given that I tend to be such a "chatty Cathy" at times, this might seem unimaginable to those w...

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Library Director - Clark Memorial Library

<strong>Library Director</strong> - <span style="color: #48286d;"><strong>Clark Memorial Library</strong></span>, Bethany, Connecticut. The Bethany Library Association is seeking a part-time Library Director who can plan, organize and direct the town library program in Bethany, Connecticut, a rural community of 5,575 residents. The Board is seeking an applicant who possesses a Master’s Degree in Library Science and has skills in a broad range of current library technologies. In addition, the applicant should be able to plan innovative, creative and responsive programs to meet the needs of the community. Salary: $35,000 for 28-30 hours /week. Interested candidates should send their resumes to Deborah Demander, Chairperson, Bethany Library Association, 538 Amity Road, Bethany, CT 06524.

Library Director - Clark Memorial Library

Library Director - Clark Memorial Library , Bethany, Connecticut. The Bethany Library Association is seeking a part-time Library Direct...

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Catalog Librarian - Trinity College

<strong>Catalog Librarian</strong> - <span style="color: #48286d;"><strong>Trinity College</strong></span>. The Catalog Librarian provides leadership and guidance in developing and maintaining the library’s cataloging and metadata services. He/she collaborates on reviewing and prioritizing projects, developing appropriate cataloging/metadata standards, database maintenance routines and staff training. Work includes responsibilities for the library catalog and other local databases including our e-resource knowledge base and digital repositories. May assist with other library technical services activities based on areas of expertise. Requirements: ALA accredited master’s degree in library science; cataloging experience, preferable in an academic library; thorough knowledge of AACR2, Library of Congress Subject Headings, Library of Congress classification, MARC formats, and OCLC cataloging input standards; familiarity with tools for handling batch files and metadata standards such as Dublin Core VRA Core, and EAD; good organizational and interpersonal skills; creativity, adaptability, and an aptitude for learning new technological tools and techniques; working knowledge of one or more non-English Western European language. Review of applications will begin immediately, and will continue until the position is filled. To apply, please submit cover letter, resume and the names and telephone numbers of three professional references to: <a href="mailto:resumes@trincoll.edu">resumes@trincoll.edu</a>. Trinity College is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Applicants with disabilities should request, in advance, any needed accommodation in order to participate in the application process.

Catalog Librarian - Trinity College

Catalog Librarian - Trinity College . The Catalog Librarian provides leadership and guidance in developing and maintaining the library’s ...

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Head Librarian - Pequot Library

<strong>Head Librarian</strong> - <span style="color: #48286d;"><strong>Pequot Library</strong></span> in Southport CT. The Head Librarian reports to the Executive Director and supervises and coordinates library adult and children’s public services and technical services. The Head Librarian: Helps the Library keep abreast of the highest professional standards in the library world and takes initiative to implement those standards; Ensures friendly, encouraging, professional reference, research and circulation services for all library users; Represents the Library to the community both inside the institution and outside at community events, conferences, etc.; The Head Librarian also oversees and maintains and develops the Library’s popular reading collection of books, periodicals and other materials. The Salary for this position meets CLA recommended minimum standards and will be based on experience and previous positions held. Responsibilities: Assists the Executive Director in the creation of long-range, strategic, and annual plans to help ensure the Library meets the informational needs of the community it serves and to determine appropriate staffing levels. Participates with the rest of the staff and the Committee of the Library in the development and presentation of a wide range of educational programming for children and adults. Hires, trains, schedules, evaluates and supervises circulation, reference, adult and children’s public service and technical service staff. Ensures that all public access technology is up to date and functioning properly. Evaluates and modifies service procedures to meet the needs of the library patrons. Coordinates and participates in the development, evaluation, and selection and deaccession of library materials for the adult popular reading collection and reference services. Supervises and participates in ordering cataloging, circulation, repair and maintenance of material. Submits to the Executive Director timely narrative and statistical reports on the use of the library. Pequot Library: For over 120 years, Pequot Library has been a pillar of Fairfield County, providing professional, encouraging library services and diverse programming to the local and regional community. Pequot Library: Helps adults and children alike to develop a life-long interest in reading and learning through engaging programs and special activities; Presents concerts, exhibits, lectures, and a wide range of cultural, educational and community events in both its auditorium and Perkin Art Gallery; Engages the pressing issues of the day with its collections and adult programs; Integrates its internationally important Special Collections into its day-to-day service to the community through exhibits, programs and hands-on events; Preserves its original 1889 building, one of Connecticut’s historic treasures, as an ideal setting for all these activities. A MLS from an accredited Library School is required, and a minimum of five years of increasing management responsibility strongly recommended. Please submit material by <span style="color: red;">April 1, 2012</span>. Please email a cover letter and a resume along with three recommendations to <a href="mailto:Snydacker@pequotlibrary.org">Snydacker@pequotlibrary.org</a>.

Head Librarian - Pequot Library

Head Librarian - Pequot Library in Southport CT. The Head Librarian reports to the Executive Director and supervises and coordinates libr...

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Assistant Librarian – Beacon Falls Public Library

<strong>Assistant Librarian</strong> – The <span style="color: #48286d;"><strong>Beacon Falls Public Library</strong></span> is seeking a friendly, outgoing and well-organized team player with exceptional customer service skills to fill a 30-hr. /week full-time vacancy. The Assistant Librarian must possess a jack-of-all-trades background with proven proficiency in math, Microsoft Excel and Word, familiarity with web-based library automation systems, preferably Evergreen, and cataloging know-how. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, all library bookkeeping and record keeping functions, monthly financial and statistical reports, interlibrary loans, a full range of circulation desk duties, cataloging, preparing CLC audio and video circuit packets for shelf/exchange, and supervision of library volunteers. The Assistant Librarian reports directly to the Library Director and fills in for the Director during periods of absence. The ideal candidate will also possess proficiency in Web 2.0 applications including, but not limited to, Facebook and Twitter, and the ability to update the library’s website using the content management platform, Drupal. Regular hours include one evening per week until 8 P.M. and 1-2 Saturdays per month. Some flexibility in scheduling will be necessary. Starting salary is $19.74/hr. Generous benefit package applies. MLS degree preferred, but not required. Submit resume, cover letter, two professional and one personal letter of reference by email attachment in word or pdf format please to Marsha Durley at <a href="mailto:director@mybflib.org">director@mybflib.org</a>. Applications accepted until the position is filled. EOE.

Assistant Librarian – Beacon Falls Public Library

Assistant Librarian – The Beacon Falls Public Library is seeking a friendly, outgoing and well-organized team player with exceptional cus...

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Part-Time position at the Circulation Desk - Avon Free Public Library

<strong>Part-Time position at the Circulation Desk</strong> - <span style="color: #48286d;"><strong>Avon Free Public Library</strong></span>. 23 hours/week including one evening and one Saturday rotation. Candidates will also be considered for substitute positions. Closing date: <span style="color: red;">March 6, 2012</span>. Job description, salary, and Employment Application at <a href="http://www.town.avon.ct.us/" target="_blank">www.town.avon.ct.us</a> (under job opportunities) or call (860) 409-4301. EOE.

Part-Time position at the Circulation Desk - Avon Free Public Library

Part-Time position at the Circulation Desk - Avon Free Public Library . 23 hours/week including one evening and one Saturday rotation. Ca...

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Another Goal Reached

I'm down another 5 lbs this week, bringing me to a total loss of 33.8 lbs.  I am really proud of myself that this weight is continuing to come off.  I'm also thrilled that I have chosen to deal with the cards I've been dealt lately, instead of eating away the pain.  <br /><br />Right now weight loss is the easiest it's ever been.  I never imagined I'd find myself saying that.  Only one other time in recent history do I remember not having an interest in food, and that was when I had food poisoning in the fall.  Since Wednesday, I can count the number of things I've eaten on two hands.  I know things will get back to normal soon enough with my eating habits, but for now I am going to be thankful that at least this good is happening :).<br /><br />Still searching for a charm to add to my weight loss bracelet.  I have some ideas in mind and hope to make a purchase this week.<br /><br />I have also decided to drop my nursing classes this semester since there are some other life situations taking precedence right now, so you should be seeing a lot more of me around these parts.  I'm okay with it.  In fact, I'm okay with this breakup too.  It is necessary, for now.  As each day goes on God reminds me of other blessings I have in my life and those are bringing me happiness.   <br /><br />Thank you all for your support.  I appreciate it more than you know.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

Another Goal Reached

I'm down another 5 lbs this week, bringing me to a total loss of 33.8 lbs.  I am really proud of myself that this weight is continuing t...

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THE ‘THATCHERON’ YEARS: HOW DAVID CAMERON HAS ADOPTED AN ‘IRON FIST’ Article by Suswati Basu via anti – box

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mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXKEPIcMGwYY7qsKNgD6AEBiLNPBtpzCrLxCkjKxtWGSf4xRP0aCcb06sP7-OdS779839ll1Q8Ipc_x4pp5uohgXyyd7-KRqKeHxYQyEP7KT17MiQ9BeJwSN18nsWfNOhF3_nGPfjxGAW/s1600/lady-thatcher-with-david-cameron-at-10-downing-street-pic-dm-815342747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXKEPIcMGwYY7qsKNgD6AEBiLNPBtpzCrLxCkjKxtWGSf4xRP0aCcb06sP7-OdS779839ll1Q8Ipc_x4pp5uohgXyyd7-KRqKeHxYQyEP7KT17MiQ9BeJwSN18nsWfNOhF3_nGPfjxGAW/s320/lady-thatcher-with-david-cameron-at-10-downing-street-pic-dm-815342747.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;">HISTORY REPEATING? BRITAIN VERSUS ARGENTINA</span></span> </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It seems as if someone has hit the replay button in BRITAIN. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Strikes, austerity measures, tax increases for the underprivileged</b> with a hint of the FALKLANDS creeping back to the surface. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No, it isn’t the 1980s’ with Thatcher holding the reins</b>. It is 2012 and DAVID CAMERON is the driving force behind the wheel. The LIBERAL DEMOCRATS are skirting around the TORY’S coalition government, anxious to keep a smidgen of power and a ROYAL has been sent to the FALKLANDS in the uniform of a ‘<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/feb/01/argentina-prince-william-falklands"><span style="color: blue;">conqueror</span></a>‘.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BRITAIN’S HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN 17 YEARS</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With the highest rate of unemployment in 17 years, affecting a staggering <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/feb/15/uk-unemployment-high-economy-flatlines?newsfeed=true"><span style="color: blue;">2.67</span></a> million people, and welfare being reduced to only those already in poverty; capitalism is at its most discriminatory, as the middle-classes are sectioned off with the rest of the population under the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-15242103"><span style="color: blue;">breadline</span></a>. And though the working class may have changed in appearance, they still bear the sign of a disgruntled mob with the police being the government’s own army of soldiers.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><em style="color: blue;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">BRITAIN’S ECONOMIC DÉJÀ VU</span></b></em><span class="st" style="color: blue;"> </span><span class="st"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: blue;">OF THE EIGHTIES</span> </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When THATCHER came to power in 1979, the economy was generally considered to be facing severe structural problems, paralleling current issues. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Unemployment reached an unprecedented level of <a href="http://www.economicshelp.org/macroeconomics/jsa-cc.png"><span style="color: blue;">3 million</span></a> by 1984</b>, a post war record, and the country faced a crippling recession. THATCHER was heavily influenced by the idea of <a href="http://www.econweb.com/MacroWelcome/monetarism/notes.html"><span style="color: blue;">Monetarism</span></a> and free market economics, (partially inherited from the previous Labour government), the belief of controlling inflation by controlling the money supply. Reducing the government deficit became the principal factor in managing the supply of money.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Therefore, extreme deflationary policies were implemented. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Firstly taxes were raised and government spending cut</b>. Interest rates were also increased, as the government sought to reduce inflation. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">In the middle of 1980, the economy had been plunged into full scale recession, but the government still pursued its deflationary policies</b>. During 1981, in a famous letter to the Times, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/4803858.stm"><span style="color: blue;">365 economists</span></a> signed a letter calling on the government to alter its economic policy and put an end to the recession.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the one hand, inflation was reduced, but arguably it could have been done with much less pain. In seeking to meet spurious money supply targets they caused an unprecedented level of unemployment. This unemployment caused not only personal loss but widespread social problems. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red;">The mass unemployment, associated with inner cities, was very closely responsible for the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/aug/09/tottenham-2011-brixton-1981"><span style="color: red;">riots</span></a> which sparked across BRITAIN in 1981, comparable to the LONDON RIOTS seen last year</span></b>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BRITAIN WANTS TO BE “GREAT” AGAIN</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Apart from the hideous fashion-sense from the 80s’, it seems we have adopted far too many Conservative quirks from the THATCHER era. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fresh aggravation from the tiny SOUTH ATLANTIC ISLANDS suggests another colonial war brewing, in true sense of the BRITISH EMPIRE</b>. And a feeling of desperation to <a href="http://www.margaretthatcher.org/speeches/displaydocument.asp?docid=107332"><span style="color: blue;">devolve connections</span></a> with the EUROPEAN Union and deny proposals from the EUROPEAN community; only reiterates BRITAIN’S need to be ‘GREAT’ again. But clearly, now is not the time for stuffed shirts and pomp with the country facing a debilitating recession.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://antiboxdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/david-cameron-as-thatcher-with-a-tardis-4660184761.jpg"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><br /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfYqxCVfSE65AZd8w7OQbTJQ5FpucnW13eJvDB9Iipdebm_Nbmu76MxoYPp0M3r0EMr8Gi1yF8Z7e6SoNA60XvW7jJeoqmu7Z-MbAIujPIpuv8VJMBZUf9YTNVofGuWBBjt8EpDcInaym/s1600/david-cameron-as-thatcher-with-a-tardis-4660184761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfYqxCVfSE65AZd8w7OQbTJQ5FpucnW13eJvDB9Iipdebm_Nbmu76MxoYPp0M3r0EMr8Gi1yF8Z7e6SoNA60XvW7jJeoqmu7Z-MbAIujPIpuv8VJMBZUf9YTNVofGuWBBjt8EpDcInaym/s320/david-cameron-as-thatcher-with-a-tardis-4660184761.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">David Thatcheron, the man who rules with an 'Iron fist'</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="http://antiboxdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/david-cameron-as-thatcher-with-a-tardis-4660184761.jpg"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">ARGENTINEAN GOVERNMENT HIT THE NAIL ON ITS HEAD STATING THAT BRITAIN WAS DISTRACTING ITSELF FROM THE GRAVITY OF THE ECONOMIC SITUATION</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Are the FALKLANDS really our priority right now? Sending envoys to the archipelago seems rather futile, with people camped out in front of St. Paul’s Cathedral, desperate to get basic human rights. But in a sense, the ARGENTINEAN government may have hit the nail on its head stating that BRITAIN was ‘<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/falklandislands/9058760/Argentina-accuses-Britain-of-using-the-Falklands-as-a-distraction-from-economic-woes.html"><span style="color: blue;">distracting</span></a>’ itself from the gravity of the economic situation.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: red; line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MONEY INJECTIONS AND BONUSES FOR BANKS AND EXECUTIVES</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With £1 million <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/01/27/uk-rbs-pay-reaction-idUKTRE80Q0Y720120127"><span style="color: blue;">bonuses</span></a> being given out left, right and centre to bailed out bank’s chief executives such as the ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND and now BARCLAYS CAPITAL; I have to ask how it even came about that the Government are prioritising profits over their population? The BANK OF ENGLAND recently announced a further £50 BILLION is going to be injected into the economy, as part of their <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/9073196/Quantitative-easing-Pensioners-are-paying-the-price-for-Sir-Mervyns-funny-money.html"><span style="color: blue;">quantitative easing</span></a> programme, without taking into consideration the long-term effects on retirees, who will be the victims of recession. This money isn’t being injected into the welfare system, rather the bankers who are part and parcel of gambling the country’s wealth away.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: blue; line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DEVASTATING IMF FORMULA APPLIED </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The policy of <a href="http://www.margaretthatcher.org/essential/biography.asp"><span style="color: blue;">privatisation</span></a> has been called “a crucial ingredient of THATCHERISM”. After the 1983 election, the sale of state utilities accelerated; more than £29 billion was raised from the sale of nationalised industries, and another £18 billion from the sale of council houses. Although THATCHER never put QE in place, she increased interest rates to slow the growth of the money supply and thereby lower inflation, introduced cash limits on public spending, and reduced expenditures on social services such as education and housing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THATCHER’S cuts in higher education spending resulted in her being the first Oxford-educated post-war Prime Minister not to be awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Oxford, after a 738 to 319 vote of the governing assembly and a <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/29/newsid_2506000/2506019.stm"><span style="color: blue;">student petition</span></a>. Her new centrally-funded City Technology Colleges did not enjoy much success, and the Funding Agency for Schools was set up to control expenditure by opening and closing schools. 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Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif][if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Normale Tabelle"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style><![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">DAVID CAMERON, on the same spectrum, has been <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/cameron-seeks-to-push-one-million-workers-out-of-the-public-sector-6261605.html"><span style="color: blue;">accused</span></a> of bringing in ‘privatisation by the back door’ for many public services including the NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE as well as higher education.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">An equally massive backlash has been seen under the Prime Minister’s term in power. An unparalleled increase in tuition fees in 2010, initiated one of the largest student protests in BRITAIN since the Labour government first proposed the Teaching and Higher Education Act in 1998. Students were seen to be <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/nov/30/student-protests-london-tanya-gold"><span style="color: blue;">holding banners</span></a> that read Don’t Put the Kettle On, Mr Cameron and I Can’t Believe It’s Not Thatcher.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So is CAMERON repeating the same mistakes that THATCHER’S government made? Undoubtedly. However, the Conservative coalition government have had an opportunity to look back in hindsight and learn that wearing a humanitarian mask may keep the public at bay.</span></div>

THE ‘THATCHERON’ YEARS: HOW DAVID CAMERON HAS ADOPTED AN ‘IRON FIST’ Article by Suswati Basu via anti – box

HISTORY REPEATING? BRITAIN VERSUS ARGENTINA   It seems as if someone has hit the replay button in BRITAIN. Strikes, austerity measures, tax...

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Noir City X...and a look at upcoming classics festivals

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjWxyAN5_HgjrtEC88z8bbm3WZzwRuajvyhICRGj2H0Q6W0Z1lPAwPynLpLmRTiuUFk_mdqO0GM8N0zWy_IWa7pJTQxCFxi0hGKyfM5h2zU3J1O9f3k8DbUPQK0oobf53aqkUMbKIaTMf/s1600/naked+alibi+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjWxyAN5_HgjrtEC88z8bbm3WZzwRuajvyhICRGj2H0Q6W0Z1lPAwPynLpLmRTiuUFk_mdqO0GM8N0zWy_IWa7pJTQxCFxi0hGKyfM5h2zU3J1O9f3k8DbUPQK0oobf53aqkUMbKIaTMf/s1600/naked+alibi+2.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><span id="goog_1955017720"><span id="goog_1955017728"></span><span id="goog_1955017729"></span></span><span id="goog_1955017721"></span><span id="goog_1955017733"></span><span id="goog_1955017734"></span></b></span><br /><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>Noir City X, San Francisco</u> </span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">January was a busy, busy month in my reel and real lives this year, but I still managed to squeeze in one night of lust and murder thanks to <i>Noir City X</i>, San Francisco's 10th annual film noir festival, a ten day event that ran from the 20th through 29th.</span><br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>Noir City</i>, presented by the locally headquartered Film Noir Foundation and masterminded by the organization's founder, Eddie Muller, is the one festival I'll never miss...even in the midst of a serious case of <i>Vertigo</i>. The line up for <i>Noir City X</i> featured many well-known classics: <i>Dark Passage</i> (1947) with Bogart and Bacall, Otto Preminger's genre defining <i>Laura </i>(1944), <i>Gilda </i>(1946) - wherein Rita Hayworth sizzled her way to film immortality, Preston Sturges' dark and hilarious <i>Unfaithfully Yours </i>(1948), <i>The Glass Key </i>(1942) based on a Hammett novel and starring the other iconic noir couple of the '40s, Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake. Two adaptations of <i>The Maltese Falcon </i>screened, the original Roy Del Ruth 1931 version with Ricardo Cortez and Bebe Daniels, and John Huston's 1941 Bogart-Astor-Greenstreet-Lorre masterpiece. In addition, on January 21, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">festival guest of honor Angie Dickinson was interviewed by Muller on stage between screenings of two of her crime thrillers, <i>The Killers </i>(1964) directed by Don Siegal and John Boorman's <i>Point Blank</i> (1967).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As always, the festival also presented many not-so-well-known, even obscure films noir. And it was to see one of these rough-cut little gems that a friend and I met at San Francisco's enduring movie palace, The Castro Theatre, on Thursday night, January 26.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>Naked Alibi </i>(1954) was a film unknown to me until I saw it listed on the festival program and the names of those top-billed got my attention. Sterling Hayden plays a cop out for vengeance, Gloria Grahame is the "border town bad girl" who gets under his skin and Gene (<i>Bat Masterson</i>, <i>Burke's Law</i>) Barry is a murder suspect released from custody for lack of evidence. Billed as an "ultra-rare potboiler," we chose <i>Naked Alibi</i> based on curiosity (the stars, that title) and its spot on the festival schedule (a good movie night for both of us).</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lXpKLYzYvps" width="420"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It may be ultra-rare, but <i>Naked Alibi</i> is also pretty slight stuff, even for a '50s B-movie. Hayden and Grahame deserve most of the credit for keeping things interesting - though Barry is an entertaining eyeful as an upstanding citizen/psycho with a hair-trigger temper. These three and the border town setting - plus an enthusiastic full-house audience - made <i>Naked Alibi</i> worth the price of admission.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Being in a festival frame of mind, I thought it timely to survey a few upcoming classics fests... </span><br /><br /><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghq5yb5yVXvP6lgAuLDeQaNyGaFmiT2UT_KEBK1tdIYY4vIPZFZV-2hd1uJhvsGgC8ElHdN4zVrZY-rnuY1jcXoiXM6m9NHQkeA9NaKRKRXoN67DasPTGw15Nb0cDyaGApbmWIswe8qLOd/s1600/moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghq5yb5yVXvP6lgAuLDeQaNyGaFmiT2UT_KEBK1tdIYY4vIPZFZV-2hd1uJhvsGgC8ElHdN4zVrZY-rnuY1jcXoiXM6m9NHQkeA9NaKRKRXoN67DasPTGw15Nb0cDyaGApbmWIswe8qLOd/s320/moon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A Trip to the Moon</i> (1902) in color</td></tr></tbody></table><u><b>T</b><b>he Kansas Silent Film Festival, Topeka, KS</b></u></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u></u></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />The 16th annual <a href="http://www.kssilentfilmfest.org/" style="color: #990000;">Kansas Silent Film Festival </a>begins this Friday, Feb. 24, and runs through Saturday, the 25th, at Washburn University in Topeka - and it's free to the public!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This year the festival will screen the newly restored hand-colored version of George <b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Méliès</span></span></b><span class="style53"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">' </span></b><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">classic short, <i>A Trip to the Moon </i>(1902) on Saturday night. It is believed this color version, featured during the opening of the 2011 Cannes film festival as well as in  Martin Scorsese's <i>Hugo</i> (2011), was not seen by the public for more than 80 years.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="style53"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Also on the schedule:</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="style53"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Maurice Tourneur's <i>The Wishing Ring (1914) </i></span></span></span><span class="style53"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">accompanied by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra</span></span></span><span class="style53"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><i> </i></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="style53"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><i>The Clinging Vine </i>(1926) starring <a href="http://eves-reel-life.blogspot.com/2011/08/father-and-mother-were-movie-stars.html" style="color: #990000;">Leatrice Joy</a>, with organ music by Marvin Faulwell</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="style53"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><i>The Cure </i>(1917) starring Charlie Chaplin and Edna Purviance, with music by Greg Foreman </span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="style53"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><i>Alice in the Jungle </i>(1925), a Walt Disney cartoon - with music by Phil Figgs</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="style53"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><i>Tramp, Tramp, Tramp </i>(1926) starring Harry Langdon, with music by Jeff Rapsis</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="style53"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><i>Way Down East </i>(1920) starring Lillian Gish, accompanied by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="style53"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><i>Sugar Daddies </i>(1927) starring Laurel & Hardy, with piano music by Marvin Faulwell</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="style53"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Fritz Lang's <i>Spies </i>(1928) - with music by Greg Foreman</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="style53"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><i>He Did and He Didn't </i>(1916) starring Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, </span></span></span><span class="style53"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">accompanied by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="style53"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><i>Monte Cristo </i>(1922) starring <a href="http://classic-film-tv.blogspot.com/2010/08/about-john-gilbertan-interview-with.html" style="color: #990000;">John Gilbert</a>, with organ music by Marvin Faulwell and percussion by Bob Keckeisen</span></span></span><br /><br /><b><u><span class="style53"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">Cinefest 32, Syracuse, NY</span></span></span></u></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHdpABA28Asgc1QkZAXeWUiNMg6Wq1exGXQYsm12mPvnCID25Udgl-oiPj5sHowJU7QJGwt9VBzYlrocWliyO54KBh1Hu-SQAxCj3JWueZNQM_BJhGXre9n9AxiEDvToVE2XXHuD0ktxW/s1600/Love-Thy-Neighbor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHdpABA28Asgc1QkZAXeWUiNMg6Wq1exGXQYsm12mPvnCID25Udgl-oiPj5sHowJU7QJGwt9VBzYlrocWliyO54KBh1Hu-SQAxCj3JWueZNQM_BJhGXre9n9AxiEDvToVE2XXHuD0ktxW/s320/Love-Thy-Neighbor.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>Coming up March 15 - 18 is <a href="http://www.syracusecinefest.com/" style="color: #990000;">Cinefest 32</a> in Syracuse, New York. The schedule promises a variety of screenings and much more for the dedicated classics buff.<br /><br /><span id="goog_1955017755"></span><span id="goog_1955017756"></span>A small sampling of the vintage motion pictures to be shown: Douglas Fairbanks in a film thought to be long-lost, <i>Mr. Fix-it </i>(1918), Clara Bow in <i>Get Your Man </i>(1927), Carole Lombard in <i>Matchmaking Mama </i>(1928), Sylvia Sydney in <i>Confessions of a Co-ed </i>(1931), Barbara Stanwyck in <i>Red Salute </i>(1936), Jack Benny and Fred Allen in <i>Love Thy Neighbor</i> (1940).<br /><br />Also on the bill: Eileen Bowser, former curator of the film department of the Museum of Modern Art, archivist/preservationists David Shepard and Ron Hutchinson of the Vitaphone Project and film historian Leonard Maltin, who will host a 'Sunday Morning Auction.' <br /><br /><b><u>TCM Classic Film Festival, Hollywood, CA</u></b><br /><br />The third annual <a href="http://www.tcm.com/festival/" style="color: #990000;">TCM festival</a> will run from April 12 - 15 this year - the setting is Hollywood and the mood glamorous...some schedule highlights:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7rzRlAQCTwsSVw6I18qupev_XnWrm-chO8xx1ddHFJy1-n8RMsccTPW1fIH_qNAmXzHW_K9ZfV0kNauxEHriSDFlEoGQ89aFXERdnEHU9n2NhLQxidgYWlabDIGV93pSfT8_2M_rzAes/s1600/funny+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7rzRlAQCTwsSVw6I18qupev_XnWrm-chO8xx1ddHFJy1-n8RMsccTPW1fIH_qNAmXzHW_K9ZfV0kNauxEHriSDFlEoGQ89aFXERdnEHU9n2NhLQxidgYWlabDIGV93pSfT8_2M_rzAes/s320/funny+face.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Audrey Hepburn will be saluted as a style icon with screenings of <i>Funny Face </i>(1957), <i>Sabrina </i>(1954) and <i>Two for the Road </i>(1967). Film noir will get a nod with <i>Cry Danger </i>(1951), <i>Gun Crazy </i>(1950) and <i>Raw Deal </i>(1948). The legendary costumes of iconic Paramount designer Travis Banton will be spotlighted with <i>Nothing Sacred </i>(1937) on the star he loved to dress most, Carole Lombard. Deco design will be highlighted with screenings of <i>Our Dancing Daughters </i>(1928), <i>Swing Time </i>(1936) and <i>The Women </i>(1939). The breathtaking list goes on: <i>Cabaret </i>(1972), <i>Casablanca </i>(1942), the two great American films of 1974<i> - Chinatown </i>and<i> The Godfather Pt. II,</i> <i>Grand Illusion </i>(1937), <i>Singin' in the Rain </i>(1952), <i>Wings </i>(1927). Guests will include Liza Minnelli, Rhonda Fleming, Debbie Reynolds, Marsha Hunt, Peggy Cummins, Joel Grey, producer Robert Evans, the Film Noir Foundation's Eddie Muller and others yet to be announced, plus TCM hosts Robert Osborne and Ben Mankiewicz.<br /><br />Meanwhile, beginning March 1, <i>The Road to Hollywood</i> will get under way and bring the TCM Festival to 10 cities around the U.S. and north of the border - New York, Minneapolis, Houston, Philadelphia, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, Toronto, Denver and Portland. I hope you live near one of them! <br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jYsu9UH2woQJkRnIWq4kYVMIAVc3Rvb_fXbAKQFlYgwScepDBpg7r3J5NlU4j8f54sfNiGa2zQPI4PXxkKSUeQyRySdUkXjUFXIZTzYyCciRyGyFfzrUyqW37RLMu2nDGnhXrcjyN4bv/s1600/Crashout+07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jYsu9UH2woQJkRnIWq4kYVMIAVc3Rvb_fXbAKQFlYgwScepDBpg7r3J5NlU4j8f54sfNiGa2zQPI4PXxkKSUeQyRySdUkXjUFXIZTzYyCciRyGyFfzrUyqW37RLMu2nDGnhXrcjyN4bv/s1600/Crashout+07.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Crashout </i>(1955) - Kennedy, Bendix and Talman</td></tr></tbody></table><b><u>The Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival, Palm Springs, CA</u></b><br /><br />The 12th annual <a href="http://arthurlyonsfilmnoir.ning.com/" style="color: #990000;">Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival</a> is set for May 10 - 13 in sunny Palm Springs. The schedule and guest roster aren't up yet, but in past years, the Lyons festival has featured such films as the ultimate Joan Crawford noir vehicle, <i>The Damned Don't Cry </i>(1950) with genre heavy and hunk-o'-man Steve Cochran,  <i>Loophole </i>(1954) with Dorothy Malone, Barry Sullivan and the sublime Charles McGraw, <i>Crashout </i>(1955) with Arthur Kennedy, William Bendix and another noir favorite, William Talman, and <i>The Underworld Story</i> (1950) with Dan Duryea and Herbert Marshall.<br /><br />The festival is a Palm Springs Cultural Center presentation and was founded by Arthur Lyons, mystery writer, film historian and author of <i>Death on the Cheap: The Lost B-Movies of Film Noir</i>. Lyons died suddenly in 2008 at age 62, but the festival that bears his name continues on.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~</div><br />More classics festivals loom in the future - in places like Columbus, OH, El Paso, TX, Chicago, San Francisco and, of course, Hollywood. I'll try to post updates from time to time and if there's a festival coming to your area that you'd like mentioned, just let me know: <a href="mailto:ladyevesidwich@gmail.com" style="color: #990000;">ladyevesidwich@gmail.com</a> ...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>

Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival Cinefest Film Noir Kansas Silent Film Festival Naked Alibi Noir City TCM Classic Film Festival The Lady Eve (author) Noir City X...and a look at upcoming classics festivals

Noir City X, San Francisco January was a busy, busy month in my reel and real lives this year, but I still managed to squeeze in one night ...

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News About Syria: Information or Propaganda?

<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">  <b style="color: blue;">Illusions</b></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3RUesZhNy7E?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This video was published the 19 Feb 2012. In it, PAUL Jay's question asked Sharmine Narwani, writer and Middle Eastern political analyst if indeed a humanitarian  crisis was about to unfold in Syria to which she responded that  she asked the International Committee of the Red Cross, how many requests for emergency medical assistance did they receive in 2011 from various towns and cities across Syria? And the answer absolutely shocked her. <b><u>The answer was one</u></b>. One day later, as if on command, BBC published a report citing ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross requesting a humanitarian truce in order to deliver aid packages and avoid a humanitarian catastrophe.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">  <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17095888">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17095888</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2000084697"><br /></a></div><div style="color: red; text-align: center;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/06/assad-dilemma.html%20">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/06/assad-dilemma.html </a></div><div style="color: red; text-align: center;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/06/syrian-regime-likely-to-survive-upraise.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/06/syrian-regime-likely-to-survive-upraise.html</a></div><div style="color: red; text-align: center;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/06/nato-rules-out-military-intervention-in.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/06/nato-rules-out-military-intervention-in.html</a></div><div style="color: red; text-align: center;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/08/food-for-thought.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/08/food-for-thought.html</a></div><div style="color: red; text-align: center;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/11/syria-international-war-mongering-or.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/11/syria-international-war-mongering-or.html</a></div><div style="color: red; text-align: center;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/11/food-for-thought.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/11/food-for-thought.html</a></div><div style="color: red; text-align: center;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/12/as-i-see-it.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/12/as-i-see-it.html</a></div><div style="color: red; text-align: center;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/12/syria-cause-and-effect.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/12/syria-cause-and-effect.html</a></div>

News About Syria: Information or Propaganda?

  Illusions This video was published the 19 Feb 2012. In it, PAUL Jay's question asked Sharmine Narwani, writer and Middle Eastern pol...

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Checking In

Happy Monday everyone! I have to say I'm *slightly* jealous of those of you who have the day off for President's Day! I wasn't ready to wake up this morning...Adelyn wasn't either, so we all piled in Mommy & Daddy's bed & snuggled! Ok...back to the point of my post...<br /><br />One of my monthly goals was to go to my Weight Watchers weigh in, no matter what. Well I couldn't go on my normal Thursday meeting because of being short staffed in my office. But I stayed true to my goal and weighed in on Thursday.<br /><br />Oh you wanted to know the results of the weigh in? Well thank you for asking...down 1.2lbs!!! I was pretty happy to see that! Only 1.8lbs and I'll meet my Feburary weight goal of 174lbs by 2.29.12. Totally doable!<br /><br />And I will leave you with some sweetness...but don't worry this sweetness doesn't have any calories and won't be added to your hips! Love her!! (this is her favorite toy these days, she could sit in front of the fridge & play for hours)<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711279884990478450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhC-m0LkFRwUy06QUoOhI8wqq05UquEPqNb6FtX1iU8KmpeIbA4YFyogRUbB2gK7k0eF4i_fqodNpwPF_ChvADwFPcheUZcGdKjME7jmCdmO8XH4DaF2ahXcqVghtz0JP5rGZA-YHdvePN/s400/IMG_10957.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 291px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />

Checking In

Happy Monday everyone! I have to say I'm *slightly* jealous of those of you who have the day off for President's Day! I wasn't r...

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very first birthday

Party people in the house! We had a birthday celebration this weekend to celebrate Eve's very first birthday. We've been getting a little stir crazy from the long winter, so we were in the mood for a party. And who wouldn't want to party with this girl?!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rNCJQQI_mE19t8qcO0egt-bRgvjuennnBifDIv1UefbtYmmrcuNX7RKNrqeC6EXT6TveavqYVeTerfn1uGk_Efz9WsQfz9DIWGwc6x0P6-Z0e2cY4mjXFvZInyhX72L_pL7J5EAtsH0z/s1600/-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rNCJQQI_mE19t8qcO0egt-bRgvjuennnBifDIv1UefbtYmmrcuNX7RKNrqeC6EXT6TveavqYVeTerfn1uGk_Efz9WsQfz9DIWGwc6x0P6-Z0e2cY4mjXFvZInyhX72L_pL7J5EAtsH0z/s640/-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />First up, alert the public. I went the <strike>lazy</strike> green route and used digital invites from <a href="http://www.paperlesspost.com/" target="_blank">Paperless Post</a>. This is one great site. We're talking well designed stuff people, not some crappy evite. Their selection is awesome and they manage your responses to boot. Two thumbs up to Paperless Post.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6M9PdwKMiOVUC6MBq16oJZMMQuawOUTXGt_45VjsO8TdeLZJl2PoLCRzTlfW-MRJtZuOw4m4nsEL2bv3SkDdWt9YIpbtFCCAxN6MIrnL0LjI623plhj8aW_DekOZGhEfO1E5lpz5zFstk/s1600/PaperlessPostInvite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6M9PdwKMiOVUC6MBq16oJZMMQuawOUTXGt_45VjsO8TdeLZJl2PoLCRzTlfW-MRJtZuOw4m4nsEL2bv3SkDdWt9YIpbtFCCAxN6MIrnL0LjI623plhj8aW_DekOZGhEfO1E5lpz5zFstk/s200/PaperlessPostInvite.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><br />Now let's raise the roof and get crafty. It was time to pull out all of those things I've pinned and thought "I'll try that someday."  First up, a DIY Yarn Wreath I saw on <a href="http://blog.effortless-style.com/2010/11/diy-yarn-wreath/" target="_blank">Effortless Style</a>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVVj96rA7-4TAHBm3QBFholZKgkI2t7kIhMEo2j8DstzbCdQX_HfQ1VxWXfaV0q46UzzIu_D9q16eqASw_2MnwY_AzpI9rYFc9zAneHbqOxHpyT7Byv6nR3Ox-T6sMtV9pbYz4z8LAWIk/s1600/P2184108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVVj96rA7-4TAHBm3QBFholZKgkI2t7kIhMEo2j8DstzbCdQX_HfQ1VxWXfaV0q46UzzIu_D9q16eqASw_2MnwY_AzpI9rYFc9zAneHbqOxHpyT7Byv6nR3Ox-T6sMtV9pbYz4z8LAWIk/s640/P2184108.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was really very simple - just a Styrofoam wreath form and some yarn. Wrap yarn until covered. Two things to note though - this does take a wicked amount of yarn. Being yarn ignorant I had no idea how much to get so I ended up having to go back for more. One super large yarn roll should suffice. Also, this is a 2 1/2 Top Chef episode project (for you non Top Chef fans, that's about 2 1/2 hours). So make sure to give yourself the time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXdq6_vyFBsXyd1XV4HcegTMmORj0SIiZz2Jd_boTbrY_QgYBIZpgbZ-6UrsA-7NJQOm4rmQKSGlTDjMNNlycUKHD2GwHQ8bmrtOfbyez5OIOYHYWMMv8gvbLr-me_2q9Hjc2fxnFslHx/s1600/P2194474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYXdq6_vyFBsXyd1XV4HcegTMmORj0SIiZz2Jd_boTbrY_QgYBIZpgbZ-6UrsA-7NJQOm4rmQKSGlTDjMNNlycUKHD2GwHQ8bmrtOfbyez5OIOYHYWMMv8gvbLr-me_2q9Hjc2fxnFslHx/s640/P2194474.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br /> Instead of several small flowers, I went with one big Carrie Bradshaw flower. Very season 3.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqv1uFRwIWEhK9Rjde8sMoR6A1y037nlkhbgzKvwoZxLBySLmm_dPJhxImN9VOSZCOUnf7Mm0nOO4Sl6J8-3ASNQKijK7liyo3Nqb7nfZOz4yz0dVvBxHeMxA64UW2_Mn3FCzH9Nye24K/s1600/P2184110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFqv1uFRwIWEhK9Rjde8sMoR6A1y037nlkhbgzKvwoZxLBySLmm_dPJhxImN9VOSZCOUnf7Mm0nOO4Sl6J8-3ASNQKijK7liyo3Nqb7nfZOz4yz0dVvBxHeMxA64UW2_Mn3FCzH9Nye24K/s640/P2184110.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />You may remember my Dollar Store obsession paying off with my <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2011/12/good-enough-to-eat.html" target="_blank">Peppermint Wreath</a>. Well that place rocked it again by supplying me with lots and lots of gum balls.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAv4ULq4Ezy2xrRIX_YkH7KHy41nM1IY-SSWBd5S3tJN0hrEyMBfHFSYyAmfMz89DZK7vWvo8Ou3dGvXXnzXGl6JobHl-OOlowWbrkHL4hGMS-wZDX1w6Fgv8eDKXCxGQAI1Ah8__-_JGs/s1600/P2184126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAv4ULq4Ezy2xrRIX_YkH7KHy41nM1IY-SSWBd5S3tJN0hrEyMBfHFSYyAmfMz89DZK7vWvo8Ou3dGvXXnzXGl6JobHl-OOlowWbrkHL4hGMS-wZDX1w6Fgv8eDKXCxGQAI1Ah8__-_JGs/s640/P2184126.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I'm not much of a 'theme' person, but I did find myself using polka-dot (surprise surprise) type things over and over again. So for those party people in need of a theme - let's go with polka dots. Colorful gum balls = polka dots.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9g9apFK8LrOS0IJLhA1mHfOs38KFp0MNVxauI2jILgs6vVUa5OuVTK9bGmZjXYwF1791z5r1bLdgeIhS6s-LB82gWoOraHOAP4O8y5Kw_0yr4DvhFdwO1n-SSHH6qXTnbRFSo2zWkteRv/s1600/P2184127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9g9apFK8LrOS0IJLhA1mHfOs38KFp0MNVxauI2jILgs6vVUa5OuVTK9bGmZjXYwF1791z5r1bLdgeIhS6s-LB82gWoOraHOAP4O8y5Kw_0yr4DvhFdwO1n-SSHH6qXTnbRFSo2zWkteRv/s640/P2184127.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />I found the wooden letters for $.99 and the wooden circle thingys (what would you call those) in the dollar bin at Michael's. They were originally naked wood, so I dressed them in white and attached them with some pink grosgrain ribbon and my trusty glue gun.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVM_-ZOALCNiqnDy1EEOowvRYeogI25krkdoA31R_ugVFjZrAhXX41oOFwpS5Xj86Xo7fq4bpJwehuq1RWrhxAm9pJE64mzfqZ6n7U4JasREMOPsxEF91cDORYeDcih4XfQGhT1OX_aGyE/s1600/P2194462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVM_-ZOALCNiqnDy1EEOowvRYeogI25krkdoA31R_ugVFjZrAhXX41oOFwpS5Xj86Xo7fq4bpJwehuq1RWrhxAm9pJE64mzfqZ6n7U4JasREMOPsxEF91cDORYeDcih4XfQGhT1OX_aGyE/s640/P2194462.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The design fairy was on my side as Eve works perfectly with the rule of threes.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFld5pWegKY77qzY9T828uUKDt2YYl9Qiv8j5evPKeK3qEAUdXg9_AwHugPqWTvCEm_gj7tUzPKS3wW-VRcup9ZZWM1A__jAqv75w98CMtlglI2UYXBSEQcFNscRZu7KUiEiVMHUFcBppH/s1600/P2184146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFld5pWegKY77qzY9T828uUKDt2YYl9Qiv8j5evPKeK3qEAUdXg9_AwHugPqWTvCEm_gj7tUzPKS3wW-VRcup9ZZWM1A__jAqv75w98CMtlglI2UYXBSEQcFNscRZu7KUiEiVMHUFcBppH/s640/P2184146.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The <a href="http://www.target.com/p/FAVOR-4PK-ICE-CREAM-BUBBLES/-/A-13582851" target="_blank">ice cream cone bubbles</a> from Target worked perfectly for favors, trimmed with polka dot ribbon. Hey, those hydrangeas could act as big huge polka-dots too. Oh this is getting fun. Kind of like Where's Waldo.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuaAzKeqxvaTkOWuwsBdw2LEG5OmcheQ4Q4pUfPnKRTth71y4jtyZ7NFPPd22Ubr46a3FwfaF4QmE72usWpOznvuGEmbmvkSWURtZoXL6gZ2qanDNqSqK1_sBX6EEwSLyQrpeYSnGYeEJ/s1600/P2184147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuaAzKeqxvaTkOWuwsBdw2LEG5OmcheQ4Q4pUfPnKRTth71y4jtyZ7NFPPd22Ubr46a3FwfaF4QmE72usWpOznvuGEmbmvkSWURtZoXL6gZ2qanDNqSqK1_sBX6EEwSLyQrpeYSnGYeEJ/s640/P2184147.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />Martha Stewart provided me with a paper pom kit that was easy enough for a craft challenged person like myself to follow with no problem. Thank you Martha.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_iFW-VMi1JvLjIi7OgzHb9GuaFI2b8RTqltYQPTgOpZbpJwDbkP-z8x3bnL_Tua9SfLLE9osD2JTtNVs4E_-m2fpYUuLxEAheC9BGO8ocHY2Ddrfs05j_ieNWy9puO-Kp4HfL-sBXdG6/s1600/P2194460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_iFW-VMi1JvLjIi7OgzHb9GuaFI2b8RTqltYQPTgOpZbpJwDbkP-z8x3bnL_Tua9SfLLE9osD2JTtNVs4E_-m2fpYUuLxEAheC9BGO8ocHY2Ddrfs05j_ieNWy9puO-Kp4HfL-sBXdG6/s640/P2194460.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />More polka-dot ribbon to keep with the non-theme theme.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0dRgTYbGuW640wwGgjDNtuJ-hI52VCC1OkCEoUGpuYaLRAQt1OUT5ThDOsfBNz3pfPmDFLnJtzTaQVFaQ5cldOYkxuATRBowUDtFtC3-2KVXSzjE2ZEBNV3iXNTR8C3LUjrel1cV6BxGW/s1600/P2194461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0dRgTYbGuW640wwGgjDNtuJ-hI52VCC1OkCEoUGpuYaLRAQt1OUT5ThDOsfBNz3pfPmDFLnJtzTaQVFaQ5cldOYkxuATRBowUDtFtC3-2KVXSzjE2ZEBNV3iXNTR8C3LUjrel1cV6BxGW/s640/P2194461.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />Eve is a hard core meat lover (we are so proud) so I made meatball sandwiches (polka-dots get it?) along with fruit kabobs and tomato, basil and mozzarella sticks. OK, so maybe I am getting into this polka-dot theme.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIkOrlDUp3EPVnFkzNMhL29DIXjuZGGoNHdWoKBEeiheGE4ZRGKbCaky7dg3dmXI8Ppmc_eEOwUbCn7-MUuogGzv3Ft-G6zPkkjQ89LWwj_fMLkFQIsG0TvLtxODtqnGlzUytdNxF_YdG/s1600/P2194498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIkOrlDUp3EPVnFkzNMhL29DIXjuZGGoNHdWoKBEeiheGE4ZRGKbCaky7dg3dmXI8Ppmc_eEOwUbCn7-MUuogGzv3Ft-G6zPkkjQ89LWwj_fMLkFQIsG0TvLtxODtqnGlzUytdNxF_YdG/s640/P2194498.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were vegetables on this spread, I promise. Mental note- make sure everything is on the table <i>before</i> taking pictures.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />And of course, what is a birthday party without a cake.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDoJof-lTodYaGDPHGGgIlexfvY9CPA0lhI83GjNMkTmbpJztjRs2ipvcp0cAmIbijEQItPuBbTt0WbWxyQXSYUi56YbDkwgb33zQ8QMZRbPjiu57lVPXWaRJ_IUxO01uZu2xG9IZ4rn6N/s1600/P2184138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDoJof-lTodYaGDPHGGgIlexfvY9CPA0lhI83GjNMkTmbpJztjRs2ipvcp0cAmIbijEQItPuBbTt0WbWxyQXSYUi56YbDkwgb33zQ8QMZRbPjiu57lVPXWaRJ_IUxO01uZu2xG9IZ4rn6N/s640/P2184138.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Most importantly the birthday girl approved.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYn6zutdqTqUgCuGQmboHI3NZQ7597jDF7B51AYMpKb8orEgZEwvYSu8MPXXOvs3chiiZQwEfQSNefafJb4YDrJyatgc-vdXkjKy9wcQl1Qmq3l17b6zrAmGkpuJhXPkFGbzx_7iZBsqtP/s1600/P2184401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYn6zutdqTqUgCuGQmboHI3NZQ7597jDF7B51AYMpKb8orEgZEwvYSu8MPXXOvs3chiiZQwEfQSNefafJb4YDrJyatgc-vdXkjKy9wcQl1Qmq3l17b6zrAmGkpuJhXPkFGbzx_7iZBsqtP/s640/P2184401.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAKetjH5ikkXm8Z7YY0Z97KA9aAo-W2UJ_w7avvdPeaVj-IACgn4TpNZa39SoEsIa3IyMo6qYWBnWR6Q5SR4Sp4uRhb4Wd5OlPY7ahXoxm00HE_wlBmMYe9ijs-6OCLPkuLbrrWWSKAVX/s1600/P2184141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAKetjH5ikkXm8Z7YY0Z97KA9aAo-W2UJ_w7avvdPeaVj-IACgn4TpNZa39SoEsIa3IyMo6qYWBnWR6Q5SR4Sp4uRhb4Wd5OlPY7ahXoxm00HE_wlBmMYe9ijs-6OCLPkuLbrrWWSKAVX/s640/P2184141.JPG" width="425" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4nWwSTTwTezyKpRlIo-gqftrvTPQ1YsU0nGQo2qknTkLqQWOudcuUsItdKayHmmTUPNqVH3paFVFRvsaNpqIuePwNTKcd2zD9An0H93aascMJ-E9Lq4HvGJNlS9Xrtd4_MGfpjUk5JNF/s1600/P2184240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4nWwSTTwTezyKpRlIo-gqftrvTPQ1YsU0nGQo2qknTkLqQWOudcuUsItdKayHmmTUPNqVH3paFVFRvsaNpqIuePwNTKcd2zD9An0H93aascMJ-E9Lq4HvGJNlS9Xrtd4_MGfpjUk5JNF/s640/P2184240.JPG" width="515" /></a></div>A good time was had by all but I have to say I'm glad its over.  I am pooped out! Thanks to everyone who joined in the celebration. My how quickly a year flies!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br />

very first birthday

Party people in the house! We had a birthday celebration this weekend to celebrate Eve's very first birthday. We've been getting a l...

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