April 05, 2007
One of my favorite yummy passover treats (yes, my brain knows I'm not Jewish, but my tummy doesn't) which I used to make for my elderly neighbor & co-workers from time, was cocunut macaroons. I made a batch last night, with my son's help, using a recipe from the Barefoot Contessa cookbook noted below, that also happened to be online.1
I needed the online version to send my co-workers the link, who threatened me with bodily harm (after eating my macaroons) if I didn't share the recipe with them by tonight. A word of caution: these babies are sinfully delicious because they commit major transgression against all nutritionally sound principles.
My favorite Easter dish and recipe will be posted later on today. Okay, now it's your turn to share with me, what's your favorite Passover/Easter dish?
1. Barefoot Contessa Family Style 2002 Clarkson Potter/Publisher
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April 04, 2007
Coney Island, a historic amusement park that has always been a cross between a carnival and a freaky circus side show, gave the strip of beach in Brooklyn it's famed name. Well, this much beloved amusement park and the birthplace of the hot dog in the US (1867), was sold a week ago to a group of developers for over 30 million dollars. As a result, Astroland will be shutting down it's rides for good at the end of this summer. What will come in its place? A glitzy, Vegas-style complex that includes condos and upscale shops.
I'm sure Brooklynites will have plenty to say on this when they get back from their holydays. As a New Yorker, Coney Island was where I went as a child during hot summers for some sand, surf and sun, a lot of fun on the 15 different kiddie ride (including a kiddie roller coaster) and interesting food. ThatÂ’s where I had my first taste of cotton candy, caramel corn, corn on the cob, candied apples, ices, fish & chips and where my taste buds grew up by eating my all time favorite: Fried Calamari with spicy marinara sauce!
For the past 3 summers IÂ’ve taken my son there, starting in the spring and ending in September, hoping to stretch out the summer as much as possible. On hearing the news I got a bit wistful, because a bit of my past will be gone when it's demolished. It will only live on in film (over 200), novels, and photographs. IÂ’ve done my share by taking pictures and posting them whenever IÂ’ve been able to at my NYC Postcards site and here (can't find the pics right now). Actually, without the amusement park there really is no reason for me to visit Brooklyn. Sorry Erica, but as they say from where I live, "that's a long-ass trip from Queens!"
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April 03, 2007
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April 02, 2007
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getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks
into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one."
~ Mark Twain
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April 01, 2007
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) Hope you are feeling MUCH better!March 31, 2007
Well, needless to say I have found a parenting guru and a mentor and one that will give me an upper hand when my son goes through this stage. If you have boys [or girls] you really need to read this post on one way to deal wth the condom talk with kids. Personally I would have also done the banana demonstration but that might have been going too far.
It's priceless stuff and great fun reading for a Saturday, so go read Boobs, Injuries & Dr. Pepper! Laughs are guaranteed.
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March 30, 2007
Also in the news, is Rudy's recent testimony to a grand jury, investigating charges of mob corruption and bribery of the former mayor's Police Commissioner, Bernard Kerik.
I've been saying for over a month that Rudy has too many skeletons in his closet to be a viable Presidential candidate. Ironically, most of the Press corp and city hall insiders know of these skeletons, but I believe they have remained under wraps because Rudy truly is a powerful fearless man (after all, he went after the mob) and he did accomplish a great many positive things for our city.
So, we'll see how much dirt comes out this weekend and how the Giulianis handle it. Polls so far, without the news of his political indiscressions, shows that he leads McCain by almost 15 pts in the polls. We'll see if Jon's political assesments are right in the end, and that America doesn't care about a candidate's marriage or family.
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March 29, 2007
Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic Intelligence |
 You are excellent with words and language. You explain yourself well. An elegant speaker, you can converse well with anyone on the fly. You are also good at remembering information and convicing someone of your point of view. A master of creative phrasing and unique words, you enjoy expanding your vocabulary. You would make a fantastic poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, or translator. |
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March 28, 2007
So, is there anyone in the BAD Example clan who wishes to get on the phone this Friday night at 10:00pm Eastern/9:00pm Central/8:00pm Pacific Time. I can have as many as 24 people on the line. Just one thing though, I currently have laryngitis and although I can be on the call, it would only be to listen, since I can't talk.
So.... anyone interested? Daddy? Some of you blog siblings both near, far, and in between? Let me know in the comments and I'll send you via email the info with the toll free number . So what say you Richmond, Friction, Mrs. Who, & Lemon Stand?
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Y'all take care, and if there's a next-time, I'll be happy to join you then. I'm going back to bed!
Thanks for the invite, and my humblest apologies for not taking you up on it. I wish I could be there!
-BitterrootYou Should Be a Poet |
 You have a way with words... and a talent for drawing the pure emotions out of experiences. Your poetry has the potential to make people laugh and cry at the same time. You just need to write it! |
Yes, I just need to write... I just need a little inspiration. Something that will get the blood pumping, the creative juices flowing... a little something something. I'll sleep on it and see if I can find it. In the meantime. It's Wednesday, which means a horde of people descending on NYC for Mattinee Theater Shows. I never go out for lunch on Wednesdays because the sidewalks are packed. Tomorrow is a day I'll make an exception as my boss invited me out for lunch. Maybe I'll wave at you when I'm walking past the cameras.
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March 27, 2007
Night after night her purple traffic
Strews the landing with opal bales;
Merchantmen poise upon horizons,
Dip, and vanish with fairy sails."
~ Emily Dickinson, 1830-1886 ~
Photo credit: JSK Lee
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March 25, 2007
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March 24, 2007
The truth is, the total number killed only tells a small part of the story. There are far more numbers that would help paint the whole picture of what the cost of 9/11 has been to this city, and to our country in general. In other words, though some of you may not have been impacted by the attacks directly, its cost you. These numbers are important because they are what legislative analysts, insurance analysts, risk and security analysts will use to guide their decisions when creating policy in their respective fields. 1
Please keep in mind that some of these numbers are fluid and are still changing. 2
I have first listed the economic and then the human cost of the attacks, to make an important point as politicians consider funding cuts and removing troops from Iraq. It is meant as an objective reminder of the cost of choosing to go back defewnsively to a pre-9/11 world.
56 minutes and 102 minutes: The amount of time each tower stood burning.
12 seconds: The time it took for the towers to collapse from the moment they buckled.
7: Number of buildings destroyed when the World Trade Center collapsed
99: Number of days the fires continued to burn at Ground Zero
2,973: Total number killed in the attacks (official figure as of 9/5/06)
19: Total number of hijackers (not included in the above figure)
24: Total number of individuals who are still missing3
343: Number of firefighters and paramedics killed and missing
23: Number of NYPD officers killed and missing
37: Number of Port Authority police officers killed and missing
274: Number of FDNY firefighters who retired between January–July 2001
661: Number of FDNY firefighters who retired between January–July 2002
300: Number of FDNY firefighters on leave for respiratory problems by January 2002
98: Number of FDNY vehicles destroyed
1,506,124: Tons of debris removed from site (including over 1 ton of asbestos):
4,822: Number of people diagnosed & suffering from Ground Zero Lung disease
3, 4110: Number of apartments in lower Manhattan certified eligible for asbestos cleanup
146,100: Number of jobs lost in NYC by Sept. 30th, 2001 as a result of the attacks
6: Days New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ & American Stock Exchange were closed
1369.7: Biggest cumulative point drop in Dow-Jones Industrial after index re-opened
1.2 Trillion: Total value loss of U.S, stocks in the week after market re-opened
105 Billion: Economic loss to New York City in month following the attacks
600 Million: Estimated cost of cleanup by NY State agencies
970 Million: Total FEMA money spent on the emergency
40.2 Billion: Estimated amount of insurance paid worldwide related to 9/11
7.5 Million: Estimated amount of money needed to overhaul lower-Manhattan subways
4.55 Million: Money granted by U.S. government to rebuild damaged subways stations
60: Number of WTC companies that lost people
115: Number of nations whose citizens were killed in attacks
3:1: Ratio of men to women who died
35 to 39: Age range of the greatest number who died
289: Number of bodies found "intact"
19,858: Body parts found: 19,858 (official figure as of 9/5/06)
1,717: Number of families who got no remains
1609: Number of people who lost a spouse or partner in the attacks
3, 051: Estimated number of children who lost a parent
20: Percentage of Americans who knew someone hurt or killed in the attacks
200: Number of funerals attended by Rudy Giuliani in 2001
1.4 million: Number of Americans who changed their 2001 holiday-travel plans from plane to train or car
525,000: Number of NYC residents suffering from post-traumatic-stress disorder as a result of 9/11 [I'm still one of them, hence the therapeutic value of this blog!]
1. These stats are culled from various sources, some of which are proprietary, so IÂ’m unable to quote all these sources directly. Some of the information was culled from Wikipedia and the NY Times (which I will not link to as it requires membership and means being subjected to lots of spam mail for you and me).
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2. All these years later, the clean up and recovery continues but on a smaller scale. Body parts are still being found (as recently as January ‘07) and the identification of the dead thus continues to shift numbers from one column to the next.
3. Remains for one of my friends have yet to be found. Until they do, this topic will remain active on this blog.
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March 23, 2007
You are The Empress
The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents,
beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home
decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.
The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, thAn sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.
Take the Test to Find Out.
Hat tip to Mark of Knocking on the Golden Door.
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March 22, 2007
Voting Trends and Rudy's Chances
First, there are several groups of Presidential voters in this country;
- The Non-Voters (who will never vote)
- The May-Voters (who vote if theyÂ’re really motivated - note that Republicans, Democrats, & Centrists/Libertarians/Independents may be in this group)
- The Centrist / Libertarian / Independent (CLI) Voters (are swing voters, who vote for either Republicans or Democrats depending on the issues of the day)
- The Democrat Voters (always vote their party line, and usually vote)
- The Republican Voters (always vote their party line, and usually vote)
(There may be others... [but I agree w/Jon are few in numbers and therefore inconsequential to his point])
Who will vote for Rudy vs other candidates and why?
The Republicans and CILÂ’s voters will put National Security *way* (^10) above other issues.
The Democrat voters will only look at who is supporting their personal (pet) issues.
The "swing" - if you will - are the Republicans & CLIÂ’s. They will support a Democrat if: a) The Republicans are really weak, b) The Democrats are really good, or c) National Security is not an issue. Most people don't want to have the FedGov actively involved in their life. Democrats do a pretty good job of that. Even the moderate Right Wing (which is different than Repub's) have a "leave everyone alone to live their lives as they see fit, God will decide their fate" attitude.
History has shown that a president who is active overseas will be active domestically. He will interfere with people's day-to-day lives and Republicans generally do that. So in order for a Republican to be elected, (against a strong Democrat) he has to be the type that people (Republicans & CLIÂ’s) believe will not interfere with their way of life while supporting National Security.
Republicans are a very forgiving bunch. I'd bet that nearly every R has a friend who has been re-married. And they are still friends. It isn't an "exclusionary" issue. Neither is adultery. While it is still bad, it isn't something that causes a person to exclude them from their life - like lying or stealing. Those things get you kicked out of a friendship. Relationships? Na. That's private stuff and Republicans & CLIÂ’s don't judge like that.
I predict Rudy will succeed because he crosses the bridge that Republicans, CLIÂ’s and some Democrats see as allowing him to be "acceptable". Remember, in a two-party system, the one who wins is the "lesser of two evils". He will be that.
A very important chunk of voting comes from the second group above, the "May-Voters". Within that are all three of the Democrats, Republicans, and CLIÂ’s. They follow politics but need a "motivation" to vote. They skew polls because they claim to be "likely to vote", but the usually don't. In this election, their motivation to vote will come from the two candidates - some a pull towards, some a push away. The pull towards is the Republicans who love Rudy and the Democrats who love Hillary (yes, she will come out of the DNC as the candidate). The push, however, is going to be a huge motivator. And it will be against Hillary. I've seen polls (yes, the polls I just said were skewed) where 45% of the likely voters would vote just to *oppose* Hillary. That's a _huge_ number. Even if it is skewed by a factor of 10, it is still 5% of the voters who will vote for whoever is running against Hillary. And 5% would have been decisive in the last two elections.
As always, the primary determinant between the R and the D will be which party gets their "base" out to vote. With the Electoral College the way it is (and that's a good thing), the Republicans will have more areas voting on the basis of National Defense than the Democrats will on their disparate issues. And with Rudy being the strongest imaginable on National Defense, he's got a huge chunk right there. If you throw in that he supports many things that CLIÂ’s and "may-vote" Democrats have (abortion, gay marriage) - heck and even the personal issues of many Democrats - he's going to win.
The issues you bring up may be a problem for him with the far-Right. But they are *huge* pulls for people from the center, center-left, and even into the middle-left. And those three groups are much bigger than the far-right.
I'm not saying he will be a _great_ president, I'm just predicting he will be our _next_ president.
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March 21, 2007
In the ongoing saga of "As the House Turns", a Judiciary subcommittee voted unanimously today to subpoena several senior current and former White House officials. They are seeking testimony regarding the firing of eight federal prosecutors which you have undoubtedly heard about. Some of those who will be served subpoena's are: Karl Rove, former White House Counsel Hariet Miers, their deputies, and Kyle Sampson, former chief of staff to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
In taking the vote, the committee rejected yesterday’s offer by President Bush to make his aides available to talk privately with the House and Senate Judiciary committees, but not under oath or on the record. Shortly before the vote, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said of the committee, “The question they’ve got to ask themselves is, are you more interested in a political spectacle than getting the truth?” Subcommittee Chair Linda Sanchez responded, “There must be accountability.” Tune in for tomorrow's episode of this intriguings saga which I will dubb: "Will they or won't they [testify]?"
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If you ever wondered what it would be like to hang out in New York City,
here's your very own window on Times Square, via 8 live webcams. It's like having your own corner office. Maybe someday, when I'm not so busy I'll go and stand in front of one of those cameras with a sign saying Hello World, so you can see me..... NOT! That is so not me. But it was a funny thought though.
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March 19, 2007
Portuguese is one of the 5 languages I understand & speak. If you ask me where I learned it I couldnÂ’t really tell you, because I was too young to remember. What I can tell you is when I returned 10 yrs ago to do volunteer work for a month in the Amazon region of Brazil, I was speaking Portuguese by the end of the first week.
It was then that I first heard the incredibly beautiful voice of Dulce Pontes. Last night as I lay in bed, the melody of Cancao de Mar / Song of the Sea, returned to haunt my sleep, as it does every so often when I think of my friends. I relate to the story she tells, that of the cruel sea snatching her loved ones away from her too soon.
My second favorite song is a duet she sings in Italian with Andrea Boccelli entitled O Mar e Tu / The Sea & You. The lyrics are so beautiful IÂ’ve translated them for you (my Italian is better than my Portuguese) in the extended entry.
more...
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