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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Quotes for the Day



February 29th
 

Quote of the Day
Imagination is the wide-open eye which leads us always to see truth more vividly.
Christopher Fry

Love Quote of the Day
Absence from those we love is self from self - a deadly banishment.
William Shakespeare

Art Quote of the Day
It is not in life, but in art that self-fulfillment is to be found.
Wilson Mizner

Nature Quote of the Day
The ocean is a mighty harmonist.
William Wordsworth

Funny Quote of the Day
Life is not having been told that the man has just waxed the floor.
Ogden Nash

February 29th Birthdays
Balthus, Bart Stupak, Dee Brown, Dennis Farina, Dinah Shore, Gioachino Rossini, Howard Nemerov, Ja Rule, Morarji Desai, Pope Paul III, Saul Williams, Tony Robbins

Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes_of_the_day.html#ixzz1nmnOoiDb

Google-a-Day Puzzle for Feb. 29

 Leapday Puzzle

TODAY’S PUZZLE:
The ancient Romans didn’t know me, but the Mayans did. What numeral am I?
YESTERDAY’S ANSWER (mouseover to see):
Search [electoral tie 1801] to find that a tie for president between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr was broken by a vote in Congress. Jefferson was declared president and Burr became vice president. Search [12th Amendment] to learn that it requires the Electoral College to vote separately for the president and VP. So Aaron Burr would not have automatically become VP.
[source]

Word of the Day

February 29, 2012

  • bosky
  • \BAH-skee\
  • DEFINITION
  • adjective    
  • 1 : having abundant trees or shrubs 
  • 2 : of or relating to a woods
  • EXAMPLES
  • As we drove away from the city, apartment buildings gave way to homes with yards, then at last to a bosky landscape dominated by tall pines.
  • "In 1863, when two brothers were abducted by armed gangsters and marched into a forest, their appeal to a local saint resulted in their abductors letting them go. Amusingly, though, the artist's skill extends only to the most crucial details: the blindfold, the guns, the bosky scene."—From an article by Jenny Gilbert in The Independent (London), November 20, 2011
  • DID YOU KNOW?
  • "Bosk," "busk," "bush"—in Middle English these were all variant spellings of a word meaning "shrub."
  •  "Bush" is still familiar to the modern ear, and "busk" can still be heard in a few places in the dialects of northern Britain. 
  • "Bosk" too survived in English dialects, although it disappeared from the written language, and in the early 17th century it provided the root for the woodsy adjective "bosky." 
  • Since its formation, "bosky" has been firmly rooted in our language, and its widespread popularity seems to have resurrected its parental form. 
  • By 1815 "bosk" (also spelled "bosque") had reappeared in writing, but this time with the meaning "a small wooded area."

Test Your Vocabulary: What is the meaning of "arboriculture"?
Read more at http://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/1969/12/31#xZG9KaeioghgkpwB.99

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Glee Inspires Trevor Project Traffic

Last weeks Glee episode has inspired a record amount of traffic to the Trevor Project's website. 'The site now has a PSA from Daniel Radcliffe way to go Glee.  [source]

Mini Pig plays with Toy Pig


Interview with Emmanuel Delcour


Candi Fox: First, I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to do this interview. Can you tell me a little about your family and where you grew up.
Emmanuel Delcour: I grew up in the country side in the south of France with lots of animals and  nature. It was beautiful. My dad was a veterinarian so we had horses, cats and dogs around all the time . That's one of the reasons I love animals so much. My mom is a Nurse and we always had lots of friends coming over for dinner parties. So Friendship always has been an important value in my Life.



Fox:  I was fortunate to grow up in nature as well,  though it was not the South of France *smiles*. When did you become interested in fitness and modeling?
Delcour: I started to Workout very early when I was 12 years old. My parents always worked out and were very into sports. They never drank or smoked, and lived a very healthy lifestyle. So we had dumbbells at home and I wanted to be strong like my dad from a young boy. I am passionate about this sport especially because it comes with the nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, which keeps you balanced and strong mentally and physically. I really really Love it.


I started modeling when I was 20 years old going back and forth in Paris for auditions. It's really Fun and you get to work with amazing photographers that are able to capture people's beauty. I always felt lucky and honored to be able to do that as a Job .

Fox:  I love that your parents were your role models. Can you tell us some of your favorite music/musical artist?
Delcour:My Favorite Rock Band ever is AC/DC They are BAD ASS !! I started to listen to them at age 14 and they always inspired me and gave me lots of energy all along my Life .
I saw them 2 times Live in Concert, last Time was in Paris with my best friend. I even got to meet the guitarist Angus Young .They are the best ! I also Love house music and Hip-hop to dance in Clubs .

Fox: AC/DC is one of my favorite bands. They have a lot of incredible and memorable songs. Now to get to something a bit more intimate. What is your idea of a romantic evening?
Delcour: Candles, sexy food, and something adventurous.

 Fox:  Love that answer !  I know that you starred on Bravo's Chef Academy and  you have appeared on CSI: Las Vegas as well as other shows. What are your long term goals?
Delcour: I am definetely developing my Chef skills as much as I can, I want to learn everyday about good food and the amazing passionate people around it( Chefs, farmers , foodies ). It's taking me through an amazing journey in my Life and I love it !


Also traveling and discovering new cultures will stay a big part of my Life. I really want to create a Brand based on my Lifestyle that I can share with people that are seeking a more exiting Life. Food Beauty and Traveling are the key components of a successful existence and I really want to share it. Making a person happy and feel better makes me Happy.
For the rest, I like to let Life surprise me.

Fox: "For the rest, I like to let life surprise me", that may be my new favorite quote. If you could have dinner with anyone (including people who are no longer with us), who would it be and where?
Emmanuel: I would give everything to have my dad back again for a dinner together with my family ( he past away ten years ago ). I miss him a lot. I dream about that sometimes and it makes me very happy.


Interview With Justin Utley

My co-host, Randy Slovacek ( of The Randy Report) and I recently had the good fortune of interviewing Justin  Utley.

Justin Utley - OUTmusic Award winning singer/songwriter - joins Candi & Randy to talk about his new critically acclaimed CD "Nothing This Real."

SiriusXM OutQ Radio named him "Artist of the Year"

Next Magazine called him "New York's hottest up-and-coming musician."

Good Morning Maine: "Exceptional songwriting... Outstanding and groundbreaking music. This is what you've been looking for."

Tune in to hear Justin tell his story, the story "behind the songs," his approach to songwriting and his candid thoughts about life in the honest lane.
Justin will be on the Candi & Randy Show Wed. Feb 29th 9pm EST

The Kiss Seen Around the World Take 2

Most of us are familiar with the kiss seen around the world from World War II with the sailor and the nurse. Thanks to President Obama we now have a new homecoming kiss: That of Sgt Brandon Morgan being greeted by his boy friend of four years Dalan Wells.  Ty you President Obama [source]

Quotes for the Day





February 28th

Quote of the Day
Good company and good discourse are the very sinews of virtue.
Izaak Walton

Love Quote of the Day
To love and win is the best thing. To love and lose, the next best.
William Makepeace Thackeray

Art Quote of the Day
I do not want art for a few any more than education for a few, or freedom for a few.
William Morris

Nature Quote of the Day
Nature is a good name for an effect whose cause is God.
William Cowper

Funny Quote of the Day
A consultant is someone who saves his client almost enough to pay his fee.
Arnold H. Glasgow

February 28th Birthdays
Bernadette Peters, Dean Smith, Frank Gehry, Gilbert Gottfried, Hayden Fry, John Fahey, Linus Pauling, Marcel Pagnol, Mario Andretti, Mary Lyon, Michel de Montaigne, Paul Krugman

Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes_of_the_day.html#ixzz1nh8ld7jP

Google-A-Day Puzzle

TODAY’S PUZZLE:
Had the 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution been passed prior to the 1801 electoral tie, which candidate would’ve been out of a job?
YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
Search Google Maps for [Rachel, Nevada] and you’ll see that Nevada State Route 375 is also called the “Extraterrestrial Highway.” People who trek there know its history of UFO sightings and are likely science fiction fans.
[source]

DWTS Season 14

Dancing With The Stars Season 14 was announced Today.  Among them is ( Mexico's Brad Pitt) William Levy, Melissa Gilbert, Jack Wagner and more...

Word of the Day

February 28, 2012 

livelong 

\LIV-lawng\

  • DEFINITION
  • adjective
    : whole, entire
  • EXAMPLES
  • They worked hard all the livelong day and finally fell into their beds, exhausted, well past sundown.
  • "The sass and vigour of American politics and attendant media coverage is a thing to behold. All you have to do is turn on the darn TV and there it is … playing out in late-night shows, in prime time and all the livelong day on the all-news channels." -- From an article by John Doyle in The Globe and Mail (Toronto), November 9, 2011
  • DID YOU KNOW?
  • "I've been workin' on the railroad, all the livelong day." So goes the American folk standard, and nowadays when we encounter the word "livelong" it is typically in the phrase "all the livelong day" or something similar. 
  • Although we don't see "livelong" much in prose anymore poets still love the word, possibly for its two distinct, alliterative syllables. 
  • Despite the resemblance, "livelong" does not mean the same thing as "lifelong" (as in "a lifelong friend"). In fact, the words are not closely related: the "live" in "livelong" derives from "lef," a Middle English word meaning "dear or beloved."

Test Your Memory: What word completes this sentence from a recent Word of the Day piece: "The play opens with the heroine's lover awakening her with a sweet __________"?
Read more at http://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/1969/12/31#Ax1gYZjYFOK8IbVo.99

Girl's Generation


Girls' Generation is a nine-member South Korean pop girl group formed by S.M. Entertainment in 2007.[1][2] They are also referred to as SoShi (ģ†Œģ‹œ) or SNSD by their fans, both abbreviated forms of the group's Korean name.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Fireman


Quotes for the Day





February 27th

Quote of the Day
Never elated when someone's oppressed, never dejected when another one's blessed.
Alexander Pope

Love Quote of the Day
Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks, shall win my love.
Washington Irving

Art Quote of the Day
I think you can leave the arts, superior or inferior, to the conscience of mankind.
William Butler Yeats

Nature Quote of the Day
No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.
Voltaire

Funny Quote of the Day
There's one thing about baldness, it's neat.
Don Herold

February 27th Birthdays
David Sarnoff, Dexter Gordon, Elizabeth Taylor, George H. Mead, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Hugo Black, Irving Fisher, John Steinbeck, Lee Atwater, Paul Ricoeur, Peter De Vries, Ralph Nader

Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes_of_the_day.html#ixzz1nbEu6dS3

Google-a-day Puzzle





TODAY’S PUZZLE:
The highway that runs through Rachel, Nevada draws enthusiasts who probably enjoy what movie genre?
YESTERDAY’S ANSWER
Search [half-life cesium-137] to find that it’s 30 years. Search [half-life uranium-238] to learn that it’s 4.5 billion years, which is just a bit longer.

[source]

Word of the Day

February 27, 2012

  • viva voce
  • \vye-vuh-VOH-see\
  • DEFINITION
  • adverb
    : by word of mouth  
    : orally
  • EXAMPLES
  • According to the town's bylaws, members of the town council must vote viva voce or by a show of hands.
  • "He was examined according to standard inquisitorial procedures derived from Roman law and medieval practice. Interrogators put questions to the accused who answered viva voce, in writing, or both, as demanded." -- From Donald Weinstein's 2011 book Savonarola: the Rise and Fall of a Renaissance Prophet
  • DID YOU KNOW?
  • "Viva voce" derives from Medieval Latin, where it translates literally as "with the living voice." 
  • In English it occurs in contexts, such as voting, in which something is done aloud for all to hear.
  • Votes in Congress, for example, are done viva voce -- members announce their votes by calling out "yea" or "nay."
  •  While the phrase was first used in English as an adverb in the 16th century, it can also appear as an adjective (as in "a viva voce examination") or a noun (where it refers to an examination conducted orally).

Test Your Memory: What is the meaning of "vade mecum," our Word of the Day from February 12?
Read more at http://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/1969/12/31#CWYthikGBoBE9RCT.99

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Christopher Plummer Best Supporting Actor

Octavia Spencer Best Supporting Actress


Hugo Cinematography Winner

The Help Oscar Nominated


The Artist Oscar Nominated


Mirror Mirror


Wrath of the Tiians trailer, Sequel of Clash of the Titans

[source]

John Carter movie trailer

[source]

Dr. Suess's The Lorax

[source]

Quotes for the Day


Quote of the Day
Let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
Khalil Gibran

Love Quote of the Day
Love is only a dirty trick played on us to achieve continuation of the species.
W. Somerset Maugham

Art Quote of the Day
I dream of painting and then I paint my dream.
Vincent Van Gogh

Nature Quote of the Day
The breaking of a wave cannot explain the whole sea.
Vladimir Nabokov

Funny Quote of the Day
The older I grow the more I distrust the familiar doctrine that age brings wisdom.
H. L. Mencken

Catching Up With Star Trek's Apollo


By StarTrek.com Staff
February 26, 2012
Who was the original Star Trek’s biggest guest star? That’s easy: Michael Forest. The actor, already a tall and rugged and handsome guy, played the super-sized would-be god Apollo in the second-season episode “Who Mourns for Adonais??”

[Full Story]

Sunday's Author: R. A. Salvatore

Robert Anthony Salvatore (born January 20, 1959, Leominster, Massachusetts), who writes under the name R. A. Salvatore, is an American author best known for The DemonWars Saga, his Forgotten Realms novels, in which he created the popular character Drizzt Do'Urden, and Vector Prime, the first novel in the Star Wars: The New Jedi Order series. He has sold more than 15 million copies of his books in the USA alone and twenty-two of his titles have been New York Times best-sellers.

 Biography

Robert Salvatore was born in Leominster, Massachusetts, the youngest of a family of seven. A graduate of Leominster High School, Salvatore has credited his high school English teacher with being instrumental in his development as a writer. During his time at Fitchburg State College, he became interested in fantasy after reading J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, given to him as a Christmas gift. 
 He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications and later a Bachelor of Arts in English. Before taking up writing full time he worked as a bouncer.
He is noted for his intense and descriptive battle scenes which have been attributed to his history as a bouncer.
In 2000, Salvatore's collected papers, including correspondence and unpublished works, were donated to his alma mater Fitchburg State College to create the 'R.A. Salvatore Collection.'



Writing


In 1982 he started writing more seriously, developing a manuscript he titled Echoes of the Fourth Magic. He created the setting of Ynis Aielle for the novel, writing it in longhand by candlelight. In an interview with comic book website Project Fanboy, Salvatore said he landed the deal for his first book when, after finishing the script for Echoes of the Fourth Magic in early 1987, he sent the work to TSR and several other publishers. TSR was looking for an author to write the second book in the The Forgotten Realms line and asked Salvatore to audition. In July 1987, Salvatore won the spot to write the book.[10] He went on to publish several series of books in the Forgotten Realms campaign world, while lately his popularity surged due to his Demon Wars sagas and his two Star Wars books.
One of his most popular characters is Drizzt Do'Urden, a drow, or dark elf, portrayed against the stereotypes of his race, who defied a nation of evil enemies with his swordsmanship and courage. He abandoned the Underdark, a merciless and barren land of unmarked and limitless tunnels where deadly creatures continually lurk. His journey for freedom leads him to the surface where he faces discrimination at every turn because of his dark heritage. Drizzt stumbles along in a harsh world until he finally comes upon friends who understand the kindness of his heart. Together, they fight for justice against sinister enemies who dare to disrupt the peace of Drizzt's newfound homeland.
In 1999, Salvatore was tasked with writing Vector Prime, the first novel in the Star Wars: The New Jedi Order series. Vector Prime was extremely controversial among Star Wars fans in that its plot called for the death of Chewbacca, making the Wookiee the first major character from the original trilogy (and one of the most popular characters in the franchise) to be permanently killed off in the Expanded Universe novels. Salvatore was ordered by Lucasfilm Ltd. (specifically George Lucas himself) to kill off the character. Many fans thought that Salvatore himself had made this decision, but it was actually Randy Stradley, the then-editor at Dark Horse Comics.
In February 2008, Devil's Due Publishing published Spooks, a comic book about a U.S. government anti-paranormal investigator/task force created by Larry Hama and Salvatore. Hama created the military characters and plots, and Salvatore covered the monster characters.
In 2010, Wizards of the Coast announced a new deal with R.A. Salvatore to write six more Drizzt books, to be released between 2011 and 2016.
 [source]


How to Write a Damn Good Fight Scene
   Nothing gets your pulse pounding like a good fight scene. It's better than coffee in the morning, and worse than a Red Bull at night especially if you're trying to get to sleep sometime before dawn. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who would confess to missing more than one lunch bell while engrossed in the middle of a particularly riveting fight scene.

A hallmark of the fantasy tradition, fight scenes are as common as whimsical six-syllable names in fantasy books, and yet, despite their frequency, there's nothing harder to write. So when it came time to write this column, I knew I was going to have to call on the big guns, if I wanted to get it right: R.A. Salvatore. Read the entire interview by Susan J. Morris at shelfari.

Read Entire Story 



Google-a-day puzzle

A new feature. A brain teaser each day courtesy of wired.com
The answer will be provided the following day.
For Feb. 26, 2012:

 If you compare the half-lives of cesium-137 and uranium-238, which one outlives the other?

[Find out more here]


Word of the Day

February 26, 2012

  • empirical
  • \im-PEER-uh-kul\
  • DEFINITION
  • adjective
    1: originating in or based on observation or experience 
    2: relying on experience or observation alone often without due regard for system and theory 
    3: capable of being verified or disproved by observation or experiment 
    4: of or relating to empiricism
  • EXAMPLES
  • The students have collected plenty of empirical data from their experiments.
  • "Those empirical studies have found that teens are up to three times more likely than adults to falsely confess under police interrogation to crimes they never committed." -- From an editorial by Laura H. Nirider in the Chicago Tribune, December 23, 2011
  • DID YOU KNOW?
  • When "empirical" first appeared as an adjective in English, it meant simply "in the manner of an empiric."
  • An empiric was a member of an ancient sect of doctors who practiced medicine based exclusively on experience, as contrasted with those who relied on theory or philosophy. 
  • The name "empiric" derives from Latin "empiricus," itself from Greek "empeirikos" ("experienced"). It ultimately traces back to the verb "peiran," meaning "to try, attempt, or experiment."

Word Family Quiz: What relative of "empirical" refers to someone who commits robbery on the high seas?
Read more at http://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/1969/12/31#dqJhq1uvkBvabqoW.99

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Word of the Day

February 25, 2012 

conclave

  • \KAHN-klayv\
  • DEFINITION
  • noun
  • 1: a private meeting or secret assembly 
  • 2: a gathering of a group or association
  • EXAMPLES
  • "The shadowy world of Ministers' meetings and security service conclaves ... was never explored." -- From an article by Mary Riddell in The Observer, February 2004
  • "On Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Lin and other village leaders met to discuss their options and decided to call off the public protests and to reopen access to the village.… After that conclave, the village leaders held a rally with more than 1,000 residents in a public square and told the audience about the new agreement." -- From an article by Edward Wong in The New York Times, December 22, 2011
  • DID YOU KNOW?
  • Ever wonder what happens behind locked doors? The etymology of "conclave" begs this question as the word comes from a Latin term meaning "room that can be locked up."
  • The English word formerly had the same meaning, but that use is now obsolete. 
  • Today, "conclave" refers not to the locked rooms but to the private meetings and secret assemblies that occur within them. 
  • "Conclave" is especially likely to refer to a meeting of Roman Catholic cardinals who have secluded themselves to choose a pope, but it can refer to other types of private or secret meetings as well.
  •  The meaning of "conclave" has also expanded to include gatherings that are not necessarily secret or private but simply involve people with shared interests.

Test Your Memory: What recent Word of the Day means "bad spelling" or "bad handwriting"?
Read more at http://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/1969/12/31#H64GE3Jzy8trzBuO.99

Friday, February 24, 2012

Brave An Intro


Glee Teen Suicide

I wasn't so much into the songs this week as I was Karofsky's story line. After years of bullying Kirk, Karofsky admitted he is gay.  The students at his new school got wind of it and the hating began.  Karfosky feeling hated and alone tried to  hang himself. :(

For some great commentary go to joemygod.blogspot

For an amazing interview with Max Adler (Karofsky) go to therandyreport.com 

Art of the Day: Kagaya

Artist: Kagaya 

Fantasy Friday Dita Von Teese


Date of Birth
28 September 1972, Rochester, Michigan, USA

Birth Name
Heather RenƩe Sweet

Height
5' 4" (1.63 m)



Trade Mark
Her "woman in a giant martini glass" routine

Raven coloured hair

Measurements: 34C-23-33 (Source:Celebrity Sleuth magazine).

Named herself Dita after Dita Parlo.

Often compared to Burlesque artist Gypsy Rose Lee, not only for their work in burlesque, but also for their shared love of haute couture fashions.

Thanked at the end of Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) because she helped train them for their dance routine.

Posed nude for the December 2002 issue of Playboy magazine. She was photographed by her then-future husband, Marilyn Manson.

Born at Crittenton Hospital in Rochester, Michigan.

Filed for divorce from Marilyn Manson, citing irreconcilable differences. [December 2006]

Ranked #82 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2007 list.

Ranked #87 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2008 list.

The family relocated from Michigan to Orange County, California when her father's job moved. She attended University High School in Irvine. In college, she studied historic costuming and aspired to work as a stylist for period films. She is a trained costume designer, often designing (and copyrighting) the photoshoots herself.

Was classically trained as a ballet dancer from an early age and danced solo at age thirteen for a local ballet company.

Middle of three daughters. Her mother was a manicurist and her father was a machinist at a company that made graphite.

Is of Armenian heritage through her grandmother.

Sherilyn Fenn's December 1990 Playboy pictorial was the original inspiration for dying her hair from blonde to black.

She collects classic cars and and drives a BMW Z4 and a 1965 Jaguar S-type. And she sold her 1939 Chrysler New Yorker with an autographed photo of herself for $23,403 on eBay in 2010.


Personal Quotes
I always get billed as 'Dita, internationally known fetish supermodel'.

I'm really a small town girl from Michigan who has a good laugh that being a fancy-pants stripper got me here!

Some people say what I do isn't very liberating. I say it's pretty liberating to get $20,000 for 10 minutes work.

Neither of us is ready. I don't feel that we need to have children to validate our marriage and I don't need children to claim I'm a fulfilled woman.

I advocate glamour. Every day. Every minute.

I've lost my luggage before and not had my makeup, and he's lost his luggage and not had his makeup - so it's great that we're always covered.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Adele Flies a Bird at British Award Show



We give her six Grammy's and her own country cheats her out of an acceptance speech. 

Word of the Day

February 23, 2012

  • exegesis
  • \ek-suh-JEE-sis\
  • DEFINITION
  • noun
    : exposition, explanation; especially : an explanation or critical interpretation of a text
  • EXAMPLES
  • For his senior thesis, John wrote an exegesis of the novels of D. H. Lawrence.
  • "Were it not for another mini-exegesis hanging alongside 'Witness,' uninitiated viewers might have trouble interpreting this large-scale painting as a response to Ethiopia's drought and famine of the 1980s." -- From a review by Kevin J. Kelley in Seven Days (Burlington, Vermont), October 5, 2011
  • DID YOU KNOW?
  • Theological scholars have long been preoccupied with interpreting the meanings of various passages in the Bible. In fact, because of the sacred status of the Bible in both Judaism and Christianity, biblical interpretation has played a crucial role in both of those religions throughout their histories. 
  • English speakers have used the word "exegesis" -- a descendant of the Greek term "exegeisthai," meaning "to explain" or "to interpret" -- to refer to explanations of Scripture since the early 17th century. 
  • Nowadays, however, academic writers interpret all sorts of texts, and "exegesis" is no longer associated mainly with the Bible.
Read more at http://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/2012/02/23#UewtZz7KqaIAyEXf.99

Brave "The Prize"


On My Way: Glee


Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Word of the Day

  • abjure
  • \ab-JOOR\
  • DEFINITION
  • verb
  • 1
    a : to renounce upon oath 
     b : to reject solemnly 
    2: to abstain from : avoid
  • EXAMPLES
  • The expatriate solemnly abjured his allegiance to his native land. 
  • "Gingrich delivered a lengthy speech to a Jewish Republican organization during which he abjured even the mention of Romney's name." -- From an article by Niall Stanage at thehill.com, January 30, 2011
  • DID YOU KNOW?
  • Just as a jury swears to produce an unbiased verdict, and a witness swears to tell the truth on pain of perjury, those who abjure their former ways "swear them away." 
  • "Abjure" (as well as "jury" and "perjury") comes from Latin "jurare," which means "to swear" (and which in turn is based on the root "jus," meaning "law"), plus the prefix "ab-," meaning "away."
  • These days, we can casually abjure (that is, abstain from) vices such as smoking or overeating, but in the 15th and 16th centuries to abjure was a matter of renouncing something under oath--and sometimes a matter of life and death. For example, during the Spanish Inquisition, individuals were given the choice between abjuring unacceptable beliefs and being burned at the stake.

Name That Synonym: Fill in the blanks to create a synonym of "abjure": f_r_w_a_. The answer is ...
Read more at http://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/1969/12/31#8aIyBRQ3cxOOxzl1.99

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Orc Stain

An interesting fantasy comic.  Check out the sneak preview. [ source ]

Out Magazine Joe Manganiello



Joe Manganiello graces the cover of Out Magazine. Oh Joe you are so smokin. 

Joe Manganiello Surprises Ann Rice


Furry Angels

I was two when she came to me.  A beautiful cockapoo Named RC Chocola aka Chocolate.  She was two as well and still a spry puppy in her actions and love.  She slept at the foot of my bed during most of my life. There were days when her coat was wet with my tears as I struggled to grow up and understand life.

Chocolate was a patient teacher. She was always ready to give love and listen. She was my rock. When I was 21 she had a stroke. At that time my apartment did not allow pets so she was with my mom. I would get off of work and head straight to mom's house every day to hold my precious baby. Weeks went by and one day she went missing. For months my mother and I combed the streets, posted flyers, offered awards, and prayed.

My little girl never did show up again. I think now she didn't want me to see her die. Her stroke had been heart breaking enough.  Chocolate was 21...She was the best furry angel a person could ever ask for. 

Art of the Day: Ann Stokes

Oak King by Anne Stokes
About the Artist: Anne lives in Yorkshire County in the  United Kingdom with her family.  Anne has spent the last 12 years honing her artistic skills. Learn more about Anne Here. 

About the Art: The Oak King is the Lord of the Greenwood and rules between Midwinter to Midsummer.  


The Oak King

Represents: Growth, Expansion

Gods: Jupiter (Roman god of light and sky)

Janus (Roman god of planting, marriage, birth, and other types of beginnings)

Dagda (Irish-Celtic god of the earth)

Frey (Norse fertility god)

Pan (Greek god of fertility, unbridled male sexuality and carnal desire)

Colors: Red, green, yellow, purple

Plant: Oak, mistletoe

Bird: Robin

Associated myths: Robin Hood, King Arthur, Gawain (when he meets the Green Knight), Jesus, Balder, Green Man.

Word of the Day

February 21, 2012

copious

pronunciation \KOH-pee-us\

 DEFINITION

 adjective
1 a : yielding something abundantly
   b : plentiful in number
2 : full of thought, information, or matter
3 : lavish, abundant

 EXAMPLES

 After a copious harvest, the tribe holds a lavish feast accompanied by lively dancing and rituals honoring the gods.

 "In addition to beer and popcorn, football fans who crowded into the Super Bowl stadium in Indianapolis over the weekend were consuming copious amounts of data from wireless networks." -- From a post by Brian X. Chen on the New York Times' Bits blog, February 7, 2012

 DID YOU KNOW?
 "Copious" derives from Latin "copia" ("abundance"), which in turn combines the prefix "co-" and "ops" ("wealth" or "power").
"Copious" and "opulent" (also from "ops"), along with "ample," "plentiful," and "abundant," all mean "more than sufficient."
"Ample" implies a generous sufficiency to satisfy a particular requirement ("ample proof").
"Copious" puts emphasis upon largeness of supply more than on fullness or richness ("copious toasts to the bride and groom").
"Plentiful" implies a rich, and usually more than sufficient, supply ("a plentiful supply of textbooks"). "Abundant" suggests a greater or richer supply than "plentiful" does ("moved by the abundant offers to help"). But use "opulent" when the supply is both abundant and infused with a richness that allows an extra measure of gratification ("the opulent blossoms of the cherry trees").

 Word Family Quiz:

What relative of "copious" refers to a habit of expecting everything to turn out for the best? The answer is ... Read more at http://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/2012/02/21#YzRFutyT7bUIXffu.99

Monday, February 20, 2012

Cinnamon Challenge


Eye Candi Pete Michael Stellato



Tell me a little about your family and where you grew up. 
A little…? (laugh) My Nonno and Nonna had 7 children. My Opa and Omi had 4 children. The most memorable event in my family’s life was getting together and enjoying each others company with many delicious homemade plates. You name it! My father and mother were very protective of their children even though we caused “some” trouble. (laugh) My mother is very strong woman in and out especially when her father and mother passed away. She is very sweet, caring and everyone would say, “Your mother could’ve been a model!” Springfield, MA is where I was born. The center where my family and I grew up was near an intersection called “The X.” We then moved to Springfield St. in Agawam. I had many memories throughout my childhood on Springfield Street.

When did you become interested in fitness and modeling?
I became interested in fitness when I was 15 years old. Funny thing is it started as a test between my father and his friend Dave. They said the day I can pick up a wooden chair by one leg without taking my forearm off the ground is the day I prove what most couldn’t do. That motivated me to be the best for myself. It was an accomplishment that took me a few weeks. Next test was to be able to bench press double my weight and three months down the road I did it. Not only did that make me happy but it released so much stress. I only did it for myself because it made me feel real good and it wasn’t about me getting huge. I realized I wanted to keep my speed and be real defined but I also wanted to help people with their health, which made me look into Exercise Science.  Modeling…? I NEVER thought I would be modeling. Most of all I wasn’t confident with my image, I was more confident of who I was; a strong believer within. Now, when my girlfriend of almost 8yrs did modeling for Hawaiian Tropic it then caught my eye but I didn’t think I could do it... I’m being serious. The day I dropped off Ian Daviau at his photo shoot, Jorge Freire gave me a chance because he said he saw something in me. He showed me how to bring my confidence inside on the outside. Ever since then I learned about myself more and more with every photographer I worked with. God bless them all for the help they have given. Much love.

Can you tell us some of your favorite music/musical artist?
My girl said to me a few days ago, “You know so much about Hip-Hop/Rap.” I listen to the words of the wise as much as I can. Artists/Poets/lyricists that I like are Tupac Shakur, Common, Talib Kweli, Michael Jackson, Usher, Marques Houston, and many more. Music makes me move and feel good inside. Many emotions to show and that’s where dancing came into play. R&B relaxes me and it has romantic melodies but I do like different types of music too.

What is your idea of a romantic evening?
Simple and relaxing like a picnic on the beach. Making the ones you love feel special. This V-day I had rose peddles going to my girl’s room and some going to her mom’s room.  Mom got a big heart full of chocolate and my baby got two acupunctures with roses and a baby teddy bear monkey that she wanted for a pet. (laugh) I ended the night with a romantic dinner at Flemings Restaurant.

What are your long term goals?
My long term goals are to stay healthy, make my mother and girlfriend proud, be the best father I can be when the time comes and help my children to become better than me, and most of all is being financially stable.


If you could have dinner with anyone (including people who are no longer with us), who would it be and where?
I would have dinner with my father and tell him that all I ever wanted was to be heard and I truly forgive him. It would be at dinner with close family.



Word of the Day

February 20, 2012

  • duende
  • \doo-EN-day\
  • DEFINITION
  • noun : the power to attract through personal magnetism and charm
  • EXAMPLES
  • The magician was not only a talented illusionist; he also had the duende that kept the audience rapt throughout the entire show.
  • "It took all my nerve to dance in front of people who have been steeped in this tradition their whole lives. It was over in a flash, and in that moment tears filled my eyes. Maybe what I felt wasn't duende -- nobody ripped a shirt or slapped his face -- but it was close enough for me." -- From an article by Toni Messina on NPR.org, August 10, 2011
  • DID YOU KNOW?
  • The word "duende" refers to a spirit in Spanish, Portuguese, and Filipino folklore and literally means "ghost" or "goblin" in Spanish. It is believed to derive from the phrase "dueƱo de casa," which means "owner of a house." The term is traditionally used in flamenco music or other art forms to refer to the mystical or powerful force given off by a performer to draw in the audience. The Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca wrote in his essay "Teoria y Juego del Duende" ("Play and Theory of the Duende") that duende "is a power and not a behavior . . . a struggle and not a concept." Nowadays the term appears in a broader range of contexts to refer to one's unspoken charm or allure.
Read more at http://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/1969/12/31#Wj6MeFA89Xob7dD7.99

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Word of the Day

February 19, 2012

  • extemporaneous
  • \ek-stem-puh-RAY-nee-us\
  • DEFINITION
  • adjective
  • 1: composed, performed, or uttered on the spur of the moment : impromptu
    2: provided, made, or put to use as an expedient : makeshift
  • EXAMPLES
  • A group of revelers at the pub launched into an extemporaneous rendition of "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling."
  • "Members give prepared speeches at their own pace and receive constructive, supportive feedback from assigned evaluators. There also is an extemporaneous speaking session at each meeting to give members an opportunity to practice speaking without preparation." -- From the Club News feature in Times-Picayune (New Orleans), January 19, 2012
  • DID YOU KNOW?
  • "Extemporaneous," which comes from Latin "ex tempore" ("out of the time"), joined the English language sometime in the mid-17th century. 
  • The word "impromptu" was improvised soon after that. In general usage, "extemporaneous" and "impromptu" are used interchangeably to describe off-the-cuff remarks or speeches, but this is not the case when they are used in reference to the learned art of public speaking. 
  • Teachers of speech will tell you that an extemporaneous speech is one that has been thoroughly prepared and planned but not memorized, whereas an impromptu speech is one for which absolutely no preparations have been made.
Read more at http://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/2012/02/19#CAfU1SVeiTwvQDCy.99

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Sexy Witchy Says….The Way to Attract Your Ideal Mate



Love. Of all the wants and needs in life, LOVE is the what fuels us ALL. We want it, we need it, we crave it - so much so that we possibly fear it too much to pursue. While it may 'look' different to each of us....TRUE LOVE is the most common quest of all.

Our desire to attract a mate affects fashion, finance, travel, music, and all aspects of the entertainment industry. The most commonly attended seminars are about relationships - more heavily attended even than business conferences. And of course the most commonly sought after magickal spells are love spells.

People often ask me (and just about every other metaphysical consultant and retailer) for our 'most powerful love spell'. Based on what they are looking for - love, more romance, a committed relationship, a proposal, passion, etc - I guide them towards the correct spell and supplies. Again I am always asked - "Is this the MOST powerful one you have? Will it work?"

That is when I share with my clients the same two part secret that I am about to share with you.

YES - the TRUE way to attract your ideal mate...and achieve your love goals.



1) Know what you REALLY want ~ Sounds simple but...do you REALLY know? Have you clarified it for yourself? Saying 'I want a good looking man/woman to love me' will NOT bring you ANYONE let alone whom you are looking for. We have to be SPECIFIC. What do you find physically attractive? What character traits are important to you? 
It is important to know exactly what type of a person - on all levels - physically, spiritually, emotionally, ethically, financially, intellectually - we are seeking AND what we mean by each descriptive word we list. Some of us want an intellectual equal, to others it is of prime importance for their mate to be of the same faith, others want someone who is self reliant while others seek someone who will be dependent on them.

What is it that YOU desire in a mate? 

Make a list and be as specific as possible (instead of just writing handsome - detail your favorite hair color, eye color, build etc) and make sure to list EVERYTHING. Being specific is NOT being picky. We tend to dismiss numerous partners - being 'picky' because we have not known what we are looking for!



The more specific you are the more quickly and precisely your wishes, intentions, prayers, and magick can attract your mate to you! The ideal or 'perfect' mate means that they are ideal or perfect for YOU!

Use this list in meditation, in your love spells, as well as on your dream boards...and read through it daily....to call your love to you.


2) Mirror Match Up ~ Whether your belief is that like attracts like, or whether you believe that opposites attract (not true - those cases are simply where differences complement and balance each other)...what we all must realize is that we have to be the ideal mate for our ideal mate. NO we do not need to be perfect, but we DO need to be suited to partner with the type of person we are seeking. As a (hopefully) far fetched example - if we say we want someone who is honest and trustworthy, we should be aware of our own honesty levels. Would a truly honest and trustworthy person be attracted to OUR traits in this regard?



I always suggest an exercise that I call 'Mirror Match Up'.  The list of traits you just made that describes your ideal mate - take that list and tape it on or next to your mirror. As you read through your 'ideal mate list', take a moment to look yourself square in the eye in your mirror. Does your reflection and your ideal mate 'look' like a balanced match? What do you need to change within you...or in your list to be a more accurate 'heart to heart' match?

There is nothing sexier then true love...with it comes the passion, excitement, comfort, security, and warmth we all are seeking.

Let's make our list - check it (at least twice) - try it on for size (does it truly fit US)....and get ready for love!

'Sexy Witchy Says' is brought to you weekly by Nadia Romanov, owner and creator of Sexy Witchy Online Boutique. Nadia is a hereditary witch of magickal lineage that includes a strong gypsy bloodline ~ as well as that of Russian royalty. In addition to being descended from a Magickal heritage, Nadia herself has practiced as a solitary witch in an eclectically mixed magickal path for close to 20 years. She has extensively studied many religious traditions and Magickal paths including (but not limited to) Gypsy Magick, Kabbalistic Magick, Celtic Witchcraft, the Druidic path, Faery Wicca, Hoodoo, Voodoo, Santeria, Green Witchery, and more. She has incorporated her knowledge from her studies, her lineage & family heritage, and years of dedication to the Path, into her own personal and rather eclectic spiritual practice. Sexy Witchy is the most popular facet of Nadia's main magickal shop By Light of the Moon where you can find supplies, kits, seminars, and readings for all of your magickal needs. Known for her precise and accurate intuitive tarot card readings, and her aromatic and magickally effective oils and spell kits, Nadia has been of magickal service to clients around the world - including some well known names in Hollywood. Nadia is the proud mother of three young adults. All are honor students and attending college, as well as pursuing their personal passions and life dreams. Nadia, her children, their crafty cats, melodic bird, and lush plants all reside in West Hollywood, California.