Saturday, October 31, 2009

Scareware on the Rise - Lookout Sucka

How do you get a jaded computer user to fork over money when he's already wise to spam come-ons and other digital scams?

Scare him into it.

That's the lesson learned from the latest round of malware attacks: So-called "scareware" which tricks an infected user into thinking he has a virus or some other infestation on his computer, then extorts money from the user in exchange for "fixing" the issue.

Scareware is nothing new -- people are convinced they have some kind of infection that can't be remedied unless they send $30 to a Bulgarian company -- but its virulence is now becoming severe. Symantec says that 43 million people have been hit by scareware scams in the last year, and it's now a million-dollar-a-year business for some 250 practitioners of the art of selling phony security software.

Why is scareware so popular? First, the attacker gets cash from you in exchange for the "fix," so that's money straight off the top. Next comes the identity theft problem: By giving up your personal information you open yourself up to an ID theft risk, and your data can be resold to another crook, netting the original attacker a little bonus cash and victimizing the user further.

Then there's the capstone: Once you've paid for your fix, the attacker has no reason to actually remove the scareware. The initial pop-up could go away, but then it could lay dormant for six months and crop up again, asking for another 50 bucks. Or it could open a door for different malware to be installed, leaving the user no better off than before he paid his extortion money.

So head's up: Scareware apps can be extremely convincing, and many programmers go to extreme lengths to make their alerts look like part of the Windows operating system. But remember that no legitimate security application will ever ask you for money as a term for fixing a problem. Remember that if you ever get a "Pay $$$ to fix this problem immediately" come-on, you're being victimized by a scareware app. Download a real anti-malware application to fix the problem, or follow tried and true steps to repair things.


Don't give out personal information to anyone you are not 100% sure is legitimate and never buy anything you don't really want or don't understand. Surfing the net is now like living on a very mean street. Watch your back and don't allow strangers in your "hood."

"Halloween Trick or Treating Flood Style"

Water everywhere, Shreveport/Bossier City , Louisiana is devastated by the storms.
Boats carry people and supplies to dry ground.
We are having the the worst weather in a very long time, maybe since I was a child.That's a while back.
We won't let it get us down. We'll clean up and take care of the ones that need help, and we will have a big party until the next time; which may be soon.
Are they carrying him trick/treating or hopefully to high ground? We are used to the tornadoes and twisters in North Louisina, and hurricanes in South Louisiana....we only get the aftermath of the hurricanes here in the North.
You know the old saying..."Buyer Beware"...just look at the weather patterns of the last few years and see if you still buy the theory that there's no Global Warming. The ice caps are melting and the water has to go somewhere.
Take a minute and think about it.....just keeping it real....

CSI Crossover Trilogy


I've been a CSI fan from it's inception.I loved Grissom from the first show. The Las Vegas version remains my favorite but I enjoy some of the gritty,tough drama from the New York cast.CSI Miami was a bit of a disappointment.They chose some hack actors and the writing can be terrible but I like the beautiful people and scenery and they used to have cool music.I don't know why they discontinued that.The new guy on the show looks like he has some potential once he develops his character a bit more.
The crossover trilogy is intriguing.The plot may have some intricate twists and turns.They certainly have a large writing pool of talent to draw from.
I believe the first installment is november 9th.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN


Global Jump in Swine Flu Deaths - Also - Useful Information

The number of swine flu deaths reported worldwide has jumped by more than 700 in a week, latest World Health Organization figures reveal. More than 5,700 swine flu deaths were reported by 25 October, compared to 5,000 the week before. The biggest rise was in the Americas where 4,175 deaths have been reported, up 636 from the week before. The latest WHO figures showed there had been 440,000 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus worldwide.
But the organization said that as many countries have stopped counting individual cases, the actual number is likely to be significantly higher.


The WHO has warned for months that as winter sets in, the northern hemisphere can expect swine flu cases to rise. Now that appears to be happening.
The virus emerged in Mexico in April and was declared a global flu pandemic on 11 June.
In the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere, influenza transmission continues to intensify, marking an unusually early start to winter influenza season.


SWINE FLU SYMPTOMS
Typical symptoms: sudden fever (38C or above) and sudden cough
1. Other symptoms include: Tiredness and chills
2. Headache, sore throat, runny nose and sneezing
3. Stomach upset, loss of appetite, diarrhoea
4. Aching muscles, limb or joint pain

Swine flu is a respiratory disease, caused by a strain of the influenza type A virus known as H1N1. H1N1 is the same strain which causes seasonal outbreaks of flu in humans on a regular basis. But this latest version of H1N1 is different: it contains genetic material that is typically found in strains of the virus that affect humans, birds and swine. Although the strain may have originated in pigs, it is now a wholly human disease. It can be spread from person to person by coughing and sneezing. Symptoms of swine flu in humans appear to be similar to those produced by standard, seasonal flu.
As with normal flu, the severity of symptoms will depend on treatment and the individual. Many people have only suffered mildly and have begun to recover within a week. People are most infectious soon after they develop symptoms, but they cease to be a risk once those symptoms have disappeared. The incubation period may be as little as two days.


Apparently healthy people are dying from the virus. Does that means it is getting worse?
Experts say this does not change anything. Apparently healthy people can die of any flu-related virus if it causes complications such as pneumonia so these latest deaths do not give any extra cause for concern. Indeed, so far, many people who have developed symptoms of infection have not needed drugs to make a full recovery, according to the WHO. About one in every three people who become infected will not realise they have had swine flu because they will have had no or only very few symptoms. About 98% of people who get infected will recover fully without any hospital treatment so the public needs to be reassured.


The real fear is that the strain will mutate and become more virulent which would pose a greater threat. This has been the feature of previous flu pandemics. But this has not yet happened - and in any event it is worth remembering that seasonal flu often poses a serious threat to public health - each year it kills 250,000 - 500,000 around the world.

Why are younger people more affected?
The infection has been found to affect younger people more due to it spreading quickly in schools where there is a lot of mixing and where infections can quickly spread. This is not unusual and children are known to be instrumental in the spread of flu. It is thought that older age groups may have some immunity as they have been exposed to previous H1N1 viruses.

What should I do if I think I have it?

Anyone with flu-like symptoms who suspects they might have the swine flu virus are being advised to stay at home, rest and treat it like any other flu. Have contact with as few people as possible.However, those with underlying health conditions, pregnant women and parents of children under one are still being advised to contact a doctor. In the initial phase of the outbreak, lab testing was done to diagnose the flu but this is no longer happening routinely.

How is it treated?
Two anti-viral drugs commonly used to treat flu, Tamiflu and Relenza, are effective at treating infection, reducing the length of the illness and cutting the chances that people will have serious complications. Use of these drugs may also make it less likely that infected people will pass the virus on to others. However, the drugs must be administered at an early stage to be effective.
Researchers have also questioned whether the drugs are helpful in children aged between one and 12, saying the risk of side effects might outweigh any benefits.

What measures then can I take to prevent infection?

People are being advised to avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever and cough. General infection control practices and good hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses, including the swine influenza. This includes covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible and disposing of it promptly. No tissue? Cough into your sleeve. It is also important to wash your hands frequently with soap and water or antiseptic hand wash to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people, and cleaning hard surfaces like door handles, tables and counters frequently using a normal cleaning product.
In Mexico masks have been handed out to the general public, but
experts are sceptical about how useful this is. Some suggest it may even be counterproductive.
Don't forget, a flu shot needs two weeks to fully protect you.
Protect yourself out there.Get a flu shot when you can and stay healthy. We care.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Beast Halloween Tricks Ever

" CSI Crossover Event....Hmmmmmm"

Well, look who dropped in for a visit, the redhead himself and brought a friend along. On November 9th,Csi:Miami , Ray Langston (Laurence Fishburne) and Horatio Caine (David Caruso) join forces on a murder investigation in the first CSI three-part crossover in history.(The event continues on CSI:NY on November 11th and concludes on CSI November 12th) After discovering a severed leg in the Everglades that belongs to a girl missing in Las Vegas, Horatio calls on Ray to come to Miami, where they soon realize they have stumbled onto a nationwide case of human trafficking. The intense collaboration between the two actors on the set left Caruso wanting more.
Caruso says,I wish I could have gone to New York and ended up in Vegas and been there for the conclusion. He smiles and says I just love the crossovers.
My take on this: There's not much news on you lately Dave, you are keeping a very low profile, I guess you are getting a bit smarter. I am wondering what Dave's telling Fishburne, oh I know, how to get rid of a woman real cheap when a cheaper woman comes along. Dave you just may pick up some pointers from Laurence, he did quite well in movies before moving to television. The word is out Dave you may jump-start Greta Films here, now that would be a hoot. An after-thought folks about what Dave is saying....Hey Laurence you want to see my birthmark? The girls like looking and rubbing it, betcha you can't guess where it is. More to come, will keep you posted if Dave decides to open his film studio here, we do have a lot of talent here, even the kind he's so fond off.Stay tuned: The Saga continues>
Looking good and having fun.

"Pregnant Nun & Devil Babies " WTF !!

Octom0m Nadya Suleman is no stranger to controversy.(To say the least)
This Halloween, the Angelina Jolie wannabe celebrated by dressing up as---wait a damn minute---you ready--"a pregnant nun !" Even better she dressed her entire baby brood as devils.
This ridiculous photo captures only one third (1/3) of the crazy family in action. Was this a publicity stunt ? A cry for attention ?Or could she have thought this was a fun idea ?
Octomom loves the spotlight and knows exactly what she was doing when she chooses the costumes.
A pregnant nun , which is controversial enough, combined with eight (8) devil babies, was bound to get the paparazzi snapping.
My spin on this crap: Wonder what's next, Maybe this shit is funny to Octomom and a way to get rich quick, it's not a cute little sweet act. As we follow Octomom's shenanigans with her kids and how they were conceived, the kids may grow up to be a threat to themselves and others, Octomom's oldest son has proven to be uncontrollable by attacking his grandmother with a knife. I have noticed that children learn from watching the ones closest to them. I also wonder what kind of childhood Octomom had growing up. Most of the kids I grew up with listen to their elders, in my case my sister raised me, when she says listen, I listen. If I pulled some crazy shit like that, I would get knocked on my musty butt in a New York minute.Stay tuned: the saga continues.
Kicking it with : Cupcake

Last Minute Halloween Costumes - Get in the Spirit

Let's face it; even though we're no longer kids, Halloween is still a blast. We can eat candy guilt-free (it's practically expected!) and become someone else for the night. Whether you want to rent a costume, whip up a DIY his and hers, or throw something cute together at the last minute, we've got you covered. So grab a few treats and read on for our no-fail costume ideas, guaranteed to turn heads at this year's Halloween bash. If you decide to go to that party at the last minute and have a couple of hours to pull something together, fear not. Easy Peesy.

CLASSIC COUPLES: If getting your guy into a costume is a scary task, these retro couples are your best bet. His part requires fun props without the frills, and you'll get to channel your inner seductress.The best places to find the right materials are second-hand shops and dollar stores

Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio: - All he needs is a baseball uniform - number five from the New York Yankees to be specific - and you get to be as sultry as you want in a curvy, fifties-inspired dress, red lips and blond wig.

Bonnie and Clyde : - Check out the 1967 classic Bonnie and Clyde, starring Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty, for inspiration. Look for twenties-inspired separates, and don't forget Bonnie's signature beret. For your Clyde, a three-piece suit and a classic fedora will do the trick. Add a few plastic guns and some attitude.

Cleopatra: - This is a classic for women who want to look more sassy than scary. Wrap a gold belt around a long, gauzy (but still decent!) nightgown and break out a pair of sexy summer sandals. Buy an inexpensive black wig and headdress, line your eyes with black eyeliner and accessorize with dollar store gold bangles. Spend the evening searching for a Greek or Roman warrior to conquer with a single, smoldering glance.

Stephen King's Carrie: - If you like a bit of mess and lots of attention, this is for you. Buy a tiara and a cheap prom dress - preferably in a light colour - and a few vials of fake blood. Pour the blood over your head and down your dress, get a crazed look in your eye and be prepared to have people shy away from hugging you. (If you haven't seen this horror classic from 1976, starring a young Sissy Spacek and John Travolta, then get to your nearest video store!)

Gypsy fortune teller: - This costume is easy to put together - all you need is a long skirt, a colourful head scarf and lots of gold jewelry (hit up your friends if your closet is lacking). Use lots of mascara and dark eyeshadow for a mysterious, smoky look, and finish off with red lips. Make a "crystal ball" out of aluminum foil and you're ready to reveal the fortunes of everyone at the party.

A hippy costume: - Easy to make. You already own a pair of flairs . Use your oldest pair and slit the outside seams up to the knees. Use an old floral tablecloth or sheet from a thrift shop. Cut out two equal sized triangles to fit in the slit seams to make bell bottoms( use a glue gun from the dollar store). Cut out a few of the flowers from the remaining fabric and scatter them (using the glue gun) on the legs of the jeans or pants. Wear a teeshirt or buy a floral shirt from that thrift shop. Put on lots of your mother's old long necklaces and bracelets ; you can't over-do. Cut out a peace sign from cardboard and paint it black or gold and hang it on a string around your neck. If you are really ambitious, you can get some black or any color fabric paint and using the carboard peace sign for a stencil, place it on an old white teeshirt and spray as many peace signs as you think appropriate. Put a flower in your hair or make an Indian head-band and you are all set. Long hair works best with this costume. This costume is unisex.

Trinity from The Matrix: - Sometimes movie character costumes are difficult to recognize—unless they’re characters from cult classics, that is. Not only is Trinity sexy and sleek, her outfit is super simple to pull off.
Key items:
Black topBlack skinny pantsBlack leather beltKnee-high boots (worn over pants)Long black trench coatSleek, oval-shaped sunglassesFake plastic gun (optional)
Pull your hair back into a sleek, low ponytail (this outfit works especially well if you have naturally dark hair). Now walk with an attitude worthy of Carrie-Anne Moss!

Candy Fairy: - This is an original way to dress up, and although it’s not actually a famous character or typical costume, it’s a lot of fun to wear—you’re bound to get some great reactions from people (and maybe a few requests to magically make more candy appear, too).
Key items:Pastel-coloured dress or outfitDifferent kinds of individually wrapped candy
Magic wand
The idea is to pin or glue different types of candy to your outfit, accessories and shoes. For a cute, girlie girl candy fairy look, pull your hair into pigtails with large, 80s style scrunchies and pin lollipops, Rockets, Starburst—or any other kinds of candy—to them. Another option is to use a large headband and stick different kinds of hard candy (unwrapped) to it with a glue gun. Have fun with the look, but the idea is to be as extravagant as possible—it’s Halloween, after all!

Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s: - If you’re a total glamazon, then chances are you’ve got exactly what you need to dress up as Audrey Hepburn’s character from this classic film right there in your wardrobe!
Key items:Little black dressFake (or real!) rows of pearls worn closely to the neckHeavily-jewelled hair accessory or tiaraLong black glovesOld fashion cigarette-holder
Pull your hair up into a pretty bun on the crown of your head, letting a few locks fall loose at the front (if you have bangs, leave them down). Place a fake tiara, or big barrette with jewels on it at the front of your updo. As for makeup, go heavy on the liquid liner (Halloween is the perfect time to experiment) and create a chic cat’s eye effect by drawing the line slightly upwards on the outer part of your eye.

Good luck with your project and enjoy yourself. You can be proud of your creation.

P.S. - One of my kids just suggested two more ideas : A zombie costume - ( torn up clothes with dirt and fake blood on them, black circles around your eyes,blood on your face and messy hair)And try to look crazy and hungry for brains.

- The other suggestion is Heath Ledger as the Joker. It's a pretty old idea but so quick to pull together. Have fun.

Sugar Free Applesauce Raisin Cake For CC

2 c. raisins
2 c. water
3/4 c. oil
4 tbsp. artificial sweetener (remember,one packet of Splenda or Equal = 1 teaspoon of sugar)
2 eggs
2 c. flour
1 tsp. soda
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. nuts (if desired)(walnuts or pecans)
1 c. unsweetened applesauce

DIRECTIONS:
Sift all dry ingredients together and set aside. In a separate bowl mix all wet ingredients. Mix wet and dry ingredients together and mix well, then fold in applesauce, nuts and raisins. Pour in a greased and floured cake pan unless using a non-stick pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 –30 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched in the middle.
Diabetic Frosting
INGREDIENTS
1 pint Whipping Cream
1 box Sugar Free Pudding
16 ounces Cream Cheese
3TBSP Splenda

DIRECTIONS
Whip Whipping Cream in cold bowl until stiff (chill paddle too).
Add softened cream cheese, pudding mix
and Splenda.
Mix on medium speed until well blended.
Can be colored and piped

This icing will cover and decorate an 8-inch 2-layer round cake. Enjoy

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Tasty Halloween Party Treats - Mouthwatering - MMMMM

HAZLENUT, WHITE CHOCOLATE, PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE:

Ingredients:
CRUST
3/4 cup vanilla-wafer crumbs
1/2 cup ground hazelnuts
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons butter, melted
CHEESECAKE FILLING
3 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice
1 cup canned pumpkin
4 eggs
1 cup coarsely chopped white chocolate
1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts (toasted, if you like)

INSTRUCTIONS:
Heat the oven to 325 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the crust ingredients and mix well. Press the mixture into the bottom and a half inch up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then remove it from the oven and set aside. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees.
In a large bowl, blend the cream cheese, sugar, flour, and pumpkin-pie spice with an electric mixer on low speed (at low speed, less air will get into the batter and the cheesecake will be less likely to crack while baking). Add the pumpkin and eggs and beat until well combined. Stir in the white chocolate. Pour the filling into the crust-lined pan, then sprinkle on the chopped hazelnuts.
Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour. Then turn off the heat and leave the cheesecake in the oven with the door closed for another 30 minutes or longer until set. Remove the cheesecake from the oven and chill. Makes one 9-inch cheesecake. Boy, it's GOOOOOD!!


PUMPKIN RAISIN WALNUT BREAD:

Ingredients:
2 cups brown
sugar
2 cups
pumpkin puree
2 eggs
1 cup oil
1 cup apple cider
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons
baking powder
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 cup raisins
1 cup walnuts
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine brown sugar, pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, and cider. Add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture and mix until moistened. Add raisins and walnuts and mix thoroughly. Divide the batter into 2 portions and pour into 2 greased loaf pans. Place in oven and bake for 50 minutes. Cool in pans on a rack until room temperature. Remove from pans and serve.
I have not tried this recipe so I can't vouch for it. It sounds good and the ingredients go together well. If you try it please let us know how it turned out.

WHITE SPOOKIES:
Making Halloween food doesn't have to be scary! Here is a simple spooktacular idea for handout treats or school parties.

With just three ingredients, these cookies are easy to make and delicious.
INGREDIENTS:
1 package Nabisco Nutter Butter cookies
1 package white chocolate chips or Baker’s white chocolate (6 ounces)
½ cup semisweet chocolate chips for decorating

Melt white chocolate in microwave for one minute or until melted, on high (in microwave safe bowl). Stir and spread melted white chocolate one side of each cookie and lay on cookie sheet or tray. Decorate with chocolate chip “eyes.” You can get more elaborate and dress up your ghosts with decorator’s icing, but chocolate chips make for quick and easy faces.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Forbes LIst of Top Earning Dead Celebs

The money might be drying up in Hollywood, but there's still plenty of cash to be made in the graveyard. The 13 iconic figures on Forbes' list of the Top-Earning Dead Celebrities grossed a collective $886.5 million in the past 12 months.

Topping the list for the first time is Yves Saint Laurent, who earned $350 million care of a much-heralded estate sale. In February, auction house Christie's sold many of the French fashion icon's possessions, including expensive art, antiques and furniture, garnering $443 million in proceeds over the course of three days. After commissions, the cash was split between the Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent Foundation and a soon-to-be-created philanthropic group aimed for scientific research and the fight against AIDS. YSL died of brain cancer in June 2008.

Debuting on the list in third place is musician Michael Jackson. In the four months since his untimely death, the King of Pop's estate has brought in $90 million. Though his afterlife earnings didn't land him atop the list, as many had anticipated, few celebrity deaths have garnered more media attention. Since his June passing, Jackson's estate has sold an estimated 9 million albums worldwide plus more than 5.5 million digital downloads.Sony shelled out $60 million for the rights to produce 'This is It', the highly anticipated movie featuring rehearsal footage of what was to be a 50-date concert engagement at London's O2 arena.
The $60 million advance will be split between Jackson's estate and concert promoter AEG. The estate, AEG and Sony will divvy up any profits from the movie. Merchandise created for the tour has been selling briskly online.

At No. 2, between Saint Laurent and Jackson, are Broadway legends Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. The songwriting duo, who wrote the music and lyrics to widely successful shows like Oklahoma, South Pacific, The King and I and The Sound of Music, made the bulk of their $235 million in combined earnings from the sale of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization and the rights to music they wrote together. Royalties from other works further fattened their wallets over the course of the year.

To place on this year's list, a deceased celebrity—or "deleb," as industry insiders have dubbed them—needed to rake in at least $6 million between Oct. 1, 2008 and Oct. 1, 2009.

Behind Jackson is longtime list-topper Elvis Presley. The King of Rock 'n' Roll earned $55 million during the year-long span. That's more than some of the music industry's biggest living acts command—Bon Jovi brought in $50 million for the 12 months ending in June; Britney Spears grossed $35 million during the same period.
Unlike Jackson, Presley doesn't count music royalties among his revenue streams; his manager famously sold the rights to the King's pre-1973 recordings to RCA (now part of Sony) for $5 million. The handlers of his estate have found other means of expanding the fortune, from merchandising to admissions to Graceland.Expect the estate's income to expand next year as Graceland celebrates Elvis' 75th birthday with new exhibits and a massive birthday celebration.

Rounding out the top five is author J.R.R. Tolkien, whose estate banked $50 million in the past 12 months. While he still sees book royalties from his vast collection, the majority of his earnings this year came from settling a long-standing suit with New Line Cinema over profit participation on The Lord of the Rings trilogy.How can dead celebrities continue to earn millions every year? The short answer is merchandising and licensing deals struck in exchange for their name and likeness, along with sales of their recorded music, books or films.

Falling off this year's list are several Dead Celebrities mainstays, including Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Steve McQueen. Despite inking new deals over the past year, these icons couldn't keep up with their peers. Jackson, on the other hand, will likely make tens of millions of dollars every year from sales of his merchandise and memorabilia as well as royalties from his stake in the Sony ATV catalog of songs, which includes music by a range of artists like the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Taylor Swift.

Industry brokers say it's only a matter of time before Jackson also makes posthumous appearances in new advertisements. Technology has made feasible the practice of putting late stars in new commercials. In recent years, Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn have appeared in ads for MasterCard and The Gap, respectively. In addition to name recognition and broad appeal, deceased celebrities offer the marketing community something living entertainers do not: peace of mind.
"Albert Einstein isn't going to get busted for drunk driving and Steve McQueen is not going to have an affair and be in the tabloids,” says David Reeder, vice president of Corbis' GreenLight, which represents Einstein, McQueen and many others. "Anything that's happened is behind them, making them a safe harbor for advertisers."

Along with these safe and very quiet clients come limitations: regardless of what technological changes have occurred, you're still dealing with personalities who are deceased. They can't make personal appearances, make new movies, new records or write new books. Unless their representatives can contact them in the afterlife, they have to keep re-issuing their old material.

Daddy's Little Angel

I gotcha again...Ha!

Michael's Ghost??

While filming an actual segment for the Larry King Show, a spectre showed up on the film. No one provided an explanation for it. The film has been studied by millions of people who have come up with assorted theories. You be the judge.

Philip Garrido's Website -Incoherent Ranting

Philip Garrido, the sick f***, who abducted , raped and imprisoned an eleven year old girl, had a website called ' Voices Revealed' ( http://voicesrevealed.blogspot.com/ ) and styled himself as 'the manwhospokewithhismind'. It has not been shut down . Go and investigate for yourself the quasi-religious drivel that he spouts. He invented a religion he called 'GOD'S DESIRE'.

This psychotic kept Jaycee Dugard captive for eighteen years, got her pregnant at thirteen and made her give birth in a soundproof shed in his backyard. A second baby was also delivered this way. All three were kept prisoner in a squalid assortment of tents and sheds in his back yard.

He thinks of himself as a direct link to God, a prophet of sorts and wants to deliver his message to the world and set up his own church. I copied and pasted a couple of excerpts from his archive but I was not the only visitor.There were hundreds of comments from people who had seen the name of his religion in news articles and found their way to the website. Oh,the language and the nature of the comments were quite shocking. But every one had the same sentiment as the rest of us. They want that man put away with no possibility of parole. Many of them wanted bad things to happen to him in the shower while in prison. Can't say I disagree with them.

The thing I found interesting in the first excerpt, called 'a disclaimer', is that he said God lifted a problem from his shoulders that behavioral scientists believed was not possible to remove. According to Jaycee, Garrido had not touched her sexually in years. I wonder if that was the problem he was referring to. I'm convinced that's what he was talking about. He mentioned often to the police that he turned his life around. Jaycee has also mentioned this big change. I guess he found a kind of religion in his own warped and twisted way .Whatever; if he left Jaycee alone after that, it can't be all bad, voices notwithstanding.

Posted by themanwhospokewithhismind at 9:24 AM 40 comments
Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Disclaimer
DISCLAIMER : THIS FREEDOM HAS NOT COME ABOUT DUE TO SOMETHING GREAT ABOUT MYSELF, INSTEAD THIS ABILITY IS TO OPEN DOORS THAT WILL HONOR THE CREATOR AND HIS ETERNAL PURPOSE FOR MANKIND.

THIS ALL BEGAN BY GOD REMOVING A PROBLEM FROM MY SHOULDERS THAT BEHAVIORAL SCIENTIST BELIEVE IS NOT POSSIBLE TO REMOVE. SINCE THEN MY LIFE HAS SEEN MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS ALLOWING ME TO STAND HERE TODAY A FREE MAN.

THIS WITNESS IS TO GAIN THE ATTENTION OF UNBELIEVERS WORLD WIDE, INCLUDING SCIENTIST, PHYSICIST AND EDUCATORS. WHY? TO BEGIN A MAJOR WAKE UP CALL THAT ALLOWS THE REST OF THE WORLD TO TURN AND KNOW THAT HE EXISTS AND IS DESIRING THAT EVERYONE COME TO KNOW HIM.

THE CREATOR'S WORK IS ALL OVER THE WORLD AND BELONGS TO HIM ALONE, TO SPEAK FOR HIMSELF, AND NOT FOR ME, OR ANY ONE PERSON TO ACT AS THOUGH WE SPEAK FOR HIM.

CONTROVERSY IS NOT WELCOME FOR I CHALLENGE NO ONES PERSONAL BELIEFS CONCERNING GOD. THIS IS TO PROVIDE A WAKE UP CALL THAT WILL BEGIN SAVING LIVES AND OPEN THE NEXT CHAPTER OF DEVELOPING HIS PURPOSE.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXAMINE HAS COME IN PEACE THROUGH SOUND REASONING TO MATURELY ADDRESS HIS WISDOM IN AN ORDERLY AND KNOWLEDGEABLE MANNER.

(JEREMIAH 9:24)"LET HIM WHO BOASTS BOAST ABOUT THIS: THAT HE UNDERSTANDS AND KNOWS ME, THAT I AM THE LORD, WHO EXERCISES KINDNESS, JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS ON EARTH, FOR IN THESE I DELIGHT."
Posted by themanwhospokewithhismind at
1:12 PM 216 comments

Garrido claimed that God spoke to him through a box of some sort. In fact he tried to get a patent and went to the offices of the F.B.I. to show them his invention.The next excerpt is a document he wanted someone to sign, pretty much stating that he wasn't crazy.

This document is to affirm that I Phillip Garrido have clearly demonstrated the ability to control sound with my mind and have developed a device for others to witness this phenomena. by using a sound generator to provide the sound, and a headphone amplification system, ( a device to focuc your hearing so as to increase the sensitivity of what one is listening to) I have produced a set of voices by effectively controlling the sound to pronounce words through my own mental powers.
So I __________________________________ state that in the month of June 2006, I witnessed Phillip provide a demonstration at my place of business, controlling a voice or set of voices that are unearthly in nature. I have signed this affirmation to confirm my witnessing of this event.
Concerning the state of Phillips' mindfulness and his freedom to conduct himself appropriately: I will confirm that out of the many years I have interacted with him, business or otherwise, he has always acted mature and intelligent. He has had a steady personality throughout the many years I have known him and is fully capable of handling himself respectfully regardless of the possible out come of any given event. He has never displayed an unsuitable, incoherent or improper cognitive behavior all the years I have known him, nor has he ever mentioned the subject of him hearing voices to my staff or me.

Some of the other posts were too garbled and rambling to make sense of but it is worth a trip to the website to read some of the comments and thoughts of John and Jane Q Public.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

" The Duggars Are Going Strong"


It's one grandkid and counting as Josh and Anna Duggar welcome Mackynzie Ren`ee --to the delight of Jim Bob and Michelle and her 17 aunts and uncles. With a scrunch of her tiny button nose, 2 day old Mackynzie Ren`ee duggar opens her pink lips and pulls off an unseemingly impossible task: She lets out a shriek that drowns out all 17 of her aunts and uncles ( plus Grandma and Grandpa Duggar), who have packed into her parent's Fayetteville, Ark. living room to meet their ner niece. It;s hard to get louder than that, honey ! says her beaming moyher, Anna. New dad Josh scoops her into the crook of his arm and smiles as she grabs his finger. Even when she's awake at 3:am, he says it's a blessing. Even for a family that's accustomed to baby arrivals--after all, they star in "TLC" reality show 18 Kids and Counting--the newest Duggar is truly one of a kind. Born October 8, Mackynzie Ren`ee ( Mackynzie after Josh's cousin, and Ren`ee is Anna's middle nametoo) is the first grandchild for Jim Bob 44, and Michelle, 43, who themselves are expecting a new baby in the spring. The Duggar's children range in age ..21 years to 9 months, only one set of twins and all their names start wit the letter "J". "I can't believe I'm old enough to be a grandfather" says Jim Bod laughing, all these kids are kepping us young and busy.
While Mackynzie sleeps and Anna rests, Michelle, Jim Bob and the older kids wash dishes, fold laundry and get lunch prepared, and the younger ones play with toys on the floor. Until I saw everyone here at once, I hadn't really realized how many aunts and uncles Mackynzie has, says Anna, 21. "There's a huge team of people caring for us." Yet when Anna went into labor October 8th, that team was MIA, participating in a family church camp in Texas. With their doctor also out of town, the couple opted to labor at home for as long as possible with the support of doula ( birthing assistant). When they got wordof Anna's labor, Michelle and Jim Bob hopped a plane home, arriving just minutes before Mackynzie was caught by Josh, who helped clamp and cut the cord. Josh says it was "an incredible moment." And one he hopes to relive as often as possible.Following in the footsteps of his parents.We accept the children we have as blessing from "God", says Jim Bob---Josh says he and Anna will welcome as many children as "God" will give us, Anna agrees: Anna says she can't wait to see what happens with the next one!" But for now it's all about Mackynzie, after a busy day of meeting all her aunts and uncles, she snuggles up with Anna, snoozing while her youngest uncle, Jackson, quietly looks on. Meanwhile,Anna is brushing up on parenting tips from her seasoned mother-in-law. She's like a living birth encylopedia , says Anna. Counterd Michelle: "Anna's doing so well. She's a wonderful mother. Josh aurveys his new family and nods. Time is really flying by, and kids grow so quickly, he says. Josh says he wants to live in the moment and cherish it. Even if it happens at 3:am.
My take on this: What a wonderful and loving family. Wouldn't it be nice if the rest of these so call reality shows would take lessons from the Duggars. All their kids are talented and at the top of their class in school. Ma nad Pop duggar is still going strong in the baby making business...expecting the next one this spring...wonder will she fine another "J" to name this one. Stay tuned: the saga continues.
Kicking it wit Cupcake:

It's Too Late to Save the World's Coral Reefs

'Freezer plan' bid to save coral

Coral reefs are a key source of food, income and coastal protection .The prospects of saving the world's coral reefs now appear so bleak that plans are being made to freeze samples to preserve them for the future.
A meeting in Denmark took evidence from researchers that most coral reefs will not survive even if tough regulations on greenhouse gases are put in place. Scientists proposed storing samples of coral species in liquid nitrogen. That will allow them to be reintroduced to the seas in the future if global temperatures can be stabilised.

Legislators from 16 major economies have been meeting in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, to try to agree on the way to go forward on climate change. The meeting has been organised by the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (Globe). One of the issues they have been considering is what to do with coral reefs, which make up less than a quarter of 1% of the ocean's floor. Yet the reefs are a key source of food, income and coastal protection for around 500 million people worldwide.They are also habitats for many species of aquatic life and things of great beauty.

At this meeting, politicians and scientists acknowledged that global emissions of carbon dioxide are rising so fast that we are losing the fight to save coral and the world must develop an alternative plan. Freezing samples for the future may be a necessary option.
''Well it's the last ditch effort to save biodiversity from the reefs which are extremely diverse systems," said Simon Harding from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
"It may be a next to impossible effort to reconstruct the reef so that you can start the process of building up the coral again again," he said.
"That is something that needs to be looked at in detail, but we can definitely store the species and save them in that way."
According to recent research, one of the world's most important concentrations of coral - the so-called Coral Triangle in South East Asia - could be destroyed by climate change before the end of this century with significant impacts on food security and livelihoods.

Why did we let this happen? We were ever a foolish species. If we're not killing each other we are destroying the planet we live on. Will the self destruction continue until there is no trace of humankind left but some crumbling concrete, a few styrofoam cups and of course...duct tape??

Monday, October 26, 2009

Is Dave A Flirt or Predator???

While David is concerned about his job and his reputation, his main concern shold be repairing his marriage to wife Regina Lasko, and the mother of his son, Harry. A close friend of Regina says that what has "cut her to the bone" is the knowledge that if it wasn't for the alleged extortion, David wouldnt have ened the affair with " Birkitt. "Dave's cover was blown and it forced him to cut things off with Stephanie and to come clean to Regina says the friend, who says that Stephanie has been part of the family's life since 1996, when she was an intern for the "Late Show." Stephanie went on family vacations with them, she looked after their son, she came by the house, and she befriended Regina. There was a huge amount of trust involved, David would often call Regina and say he'd be working late with Stephanie, and she would think nothing nothing of it. But now the friend says , Regina's devasted.
David knows that more may come out and there's nothing he can do to stop it. This could be the best thing to happen to their relationship, says Dr. Gilda Carle*. For the first time in their lives, they need to be truthful with each other as they've been before. Regina's friend says the relationship will never be the same. They can never forget this didn't happen. Dave is a serial cheater and how can Regina trust him again?
My spin on this cheating crap: Dave has been a sex perdator long before he met "Regina", Dave had a long string of failed affairs. After his first marriage ended in 1977,he hooked up with Merrill Markoe, now 58, a fellow comedian and staffer of hos former NBC show, Late Night, they dated for a decade , and was briefly engaged. On October 2, the comic joked on her blog about Dave being unfaithful.Earlier this year, David admitted he bagan dating Regina in 1986, so it seems Dave cheated on Merrill with Regina ! My advice , if a man/woman cheat on the one they are with, you can bet your last dollar they will cheat on you.A leopard don't change his spots just because you bath him. So beware, leave the cheaters along , remember , if he cheat with you... hon , he will cheat on you. But hey, that's just me. Stay tune:
Kicking it with: Cupcake

Windows 7 - Lucky 7

Just days after its launch, I’ve made the leap to Windows 7. Initially reluctant, I was pretty soured by the release of Windows Vista and was still sticking with good old XP. But when my geek friends started professing their love for Microsoft’s newest operating system, I decided to take a closer look.
Yes,
Windows 7 is as good as the rumours say. It runs fast and looks great – everything that Vista was supposed to be, but better. Mind you, I had to do my research. These are some of the questions that I asked about Windows 7 before switching over…and things you may want to consider if you’re contemplating an upgrade.
Q: What are the computer requirements for running Windows 7?
A: From Microsoft, the requirements are:
- 1 Gig processor (32 or 64 bit)- 1 Gig of RAM- 20 Gigs of hard drive space
These are surprisingly low. I was expecting Windows 7 to be a resource hog. (Can you tell I’m still bitter about Vista?)
I installed Windows 7 on my netbook (an ultra-tiny laptop) that is barely better than these minimum requirements and it runs great! On this bare bone computer, Windows 7 runs better and faster than Windows XP did.
Q: How is connectivity managed with Windows 7?
A: The Network and Sharing Center in Windows 7 is very well done. It seamlessly manages all of your connectivity options (wired, wireless, Rocket Stick, etc.) in one central interface.

One shortcoming of Windows XP is that it saw all of your connections to the Internet as separate items. It alerts you with “Your network cable is unplugged” when you unplug your laptop and switch to a wireless connection – a real “no kidding!” moment. Instead, Windows 7 has all connection types fully integrated. There is one connectivity icon in the System Tray (that little area in the bottom-right of the screen, beside the clock) that represents the connection type and status. Very nice.

Q: Is my existing computer compatible Windows 7 compatible?
A: Even if your computer meets the minimum requirements for Windows 7, you need to know if all of the individual components will work too. What about my printer? My webcam? My scanner?
If you are thinking about switching an existing computer to Windows 7,
download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.
This handy utility from Microsoft will deliver a report telling you if your computer is Windows 7 compatible and if there will be any compatibility concerns.
Before you begin, make sure all your external devices are connected or they won’t be scanned for compatibility.

Q: Are my programs Windows 7-compatible?A: Similar to the above question (but referring to software, not hardware). Again, run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. Software compatibility is also included in the report.
Q: Are my Rogers services/applications compatible with Windows 7?
A: For the most part they are. The Rogers Hi-Speed Internet service is fully compatible. Your Rogers Yahoo! Home Page, Rogers Yahoo! Mail and Flickr will also run fine on the new OS. Additionally, the
Rogers Technical Support desk including Live Support (Chat) is ready to assist you.
However, some programs provided by Rogers are not Windows 7-compatible at this time. Despite their best efforts to have new versions ready for the launch, these programs continue to be in development:
- Rogers Online Protection- Rogers Yahoo! Messenger- Rogers Yahoo! Toolbar- Rogers Self Help Software
So, should you upgrade? Well, that depends on your situation. If you are buying a new computer it will likely come with Windows 7. If your current computer is running Windows Vista, it is probably worthwhile to make the upgrade. However, if your current computer is working well for you, then there is no real need to change…in this case, you may want to just wait until it is time to buy a new computer and Windows 7 will be included.

If you have any other questions, capture a geek and tie him to your computer chair until he has installed the program, taught you how to use it and answered all your questions.They respond well if you promise them food or sex.

Sunday, October 25, 2009



"HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!"
PLEASE TRY OUR TIC TAC TOE








Saturday, October 24, 2009

The Chickenosaurus

After years spent hunting for the buried remains of prehistoric animals, a Canadian paleontologist now plans to manipulate chicken embryos to show he can create a dinosaur.
Hans Larsson, the Canada Research Chair in Macro Evolution at Montreal's McGill University, said he aims to develop dinosaur traits that disappeared millions of years ago in birds.


Larsson believes by flipping certain genetic levers during a chicken embryo's development, he can reproduce the dinosaur anatomy, he told AFP in an interview. Though still in its infancy, the research could eventually lead to hatching live prehistoric animals, but Larsson said there are no plans for that now, for ethical and practical reasons -- a dinosaur hatchery is "too large an enterprise."
"It's a demonstration of evolution," said Larsson, who has studied bird evolution for the last 10 years.
"If I can demonstrate clearly that the potential for dinosaur anatomical development exists in birds, then it again proves that birds are direct descendants of dinosaurs."
The research is funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Canada Research Chairs program and National Geographic.


The idea for the project, Larsson said, came about during discussions with renowned American paleontologist Jack Horner, who served as technical advisor for the Jurassic Park films. Horner recently wrote a book entitled "How to Build A Dinosaur," in which he refers to the embryo experiment as part of a quest to create a "chickenosaurus."

Larsson's team has previously worked to uncover prehistoric animal remains, including eight unknown species of dinosaurs and five new types of crocodile in Niger. He also recently uncovered the remains of a new carnivorous dinosaur in Argentina.


Dinosaur Cloning:
Besides using DNA from insects trapped in amber, there are several theories about how scientists might clone
dinosaurs. One involves finding DNA specimens in fossilized bones instead of in the bodies of insects. The problem with this idea is that DNA is a complex, delicate structure. The process of fossilization involves replacing the organic tissue in an animal's bones with minerals. This effectively destroys the cells that may contain DNA.

However, one team of paleontologists has discovered what appears to be soft tissue in the bones of a Tyrannosaurus rex. It was a discovery no one could have predicted -- until that point, scientists thought all soft tissue was destroyed in the
fossil process. However, the research team is still trying to harvest DNA from the soft-tissue samples. While the discovery doesn't necessarily guarantee that researchers will ever find intact DNA in fossils, it makes the idea more likely than it was just a few years ago. Imagine Jurassic Park as a reality in a few years. Is that even ethical? What would they do with these animals? Experiment on them?

It seems to me that whenever something new is introduced into the environment ( it's so old it's new again), it does more harm than good. We'll see won't we?

Low Fat,Low Calorie,No sugar Keylime Pie for CC

Ingredients
For Filling:

1 packet Knox unflavored gelatin
3 tablespoons lime juice
1/2 cup boiling water
9-1-gram packets Equal (aspartame, sugar substitute)


Lime zest
Thin lime slices
1 cup evaporated skim milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Juice of 1-1/2 limes
2 drops green food coloring

1 nine inch Graham cracker crust

Directions:
Sprinkle gelatin over lime juice and let it stand for 1 minute.
Add boiling water and sweetener to gelatin mixture and stir until gelatin is dissolved.
Refrigerate about 45 minutes or until slightly thickened.
Combine milk and vanilla and freeze 30 minutes.
Remove from freezer and whip at high speed until stiff.
Stir lime juice and food coloring into whipped milk. (Save remaining 1/2 lime for garnish.)
Slowly blend gelatin mixture into whipped milk.
Spoon pie filling into crust.
Chill until firm.
Garnish with lime zest and lime slices.
Cut into 8 even portions and serve 1 portion per serving.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)
Calories:
111
Protein:
4 g
Cholesterol:
14 mg
Fat:
5 g
Carbohydrates:
14 g
Exchanges:
1 Bread and 1 Fat
Eat all you want CC....Jeannie

Friday, October 23, 2009

Red Velvet Cupcakes - Oh Yeah!

I love holiday desserts and this is one of my favorites. Any holiday will do; just decorate them accordingly; sprinkles, Halloween candies, valentine heart candies, Christmasy things. It all works.
The combination of Allison's red velvet cupcakes and my cream cheese icing is a real attention-getter. This is something you really *need* to have in your repertoire so bookmark this post... print it out... tuck it away in your recipe box. Whatever method that works for you and however you save your favorites. But either way, make these cupcakes!!!
Allison's Amazing Red Velvet Cupcakes (adapted from the NY Times Red Velvet Cake recipe)

1c cake flour
1/3c cocoa
1/2tsp salt
2/3c vegetable oil
3/4c sugar
1 egg
1oz (2T) red food coloring
1/2tsp vanilla
1/2c buttermilk
1/2tsp baking soda
3/4tsp white vinegar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line 12-cupcake pans with cupcake liners and spray with cooking spray.
Whisk cake flour, cocoa and salt in a bowl.
Place oil and sugar in bowl of an electric mixer and beat at medium speed until well-blended.
Beat in eggs one at a time.
With machine on low, very slowly add red food coloring (and water or syrup, if necessary).
(Take care: it may splash.)
Add vanilla.
Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk in two batches.
Scrape down bowl and beat just long enough to combine.
Place baking soda in a small dish, stir in vinegar and add to batter with machine running.
Beat for 10 seconds.
Divide batter among 12-cupcake pans, filling each about 2/3 full.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. (Mine cooked for 27 minutes.)
Note: The recipe above has been scaled down to 1/3 of the original recipe. The original recipe yields 3 dozen cupcakes: 3½ cups cake flour ½ cup cocoa powder 1½ teaspoons salt 2 cups vegetable oil 2¼ cups white sugar 3 large eggs 6 tablespoons (3 ounces) red food coloring 1½ teaspoons vanilla 1¼ cup buttermilk 2 teaspoons baking soda 2½ teaspoons white vinegar.
Magnificent Cream Cheese Icing;
1 8oz pkg of cream cheese - room temperature, divided in three parts
2 tablespoons unsalted butter - COLD
1 tablespoon shortening
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup powdered sugar
Directions:
Beat sugar and butter in large bowl until light and fluffy.
Add vanilla and combine very well.
Add the first third of the cream cheese and combine very well.
Add the shortening and combine very well.
Add the remaining cream cheese one piece at a time, combining very well after each.
( you can add a bit more sugar if it's not quite sweet enough for you but then you may have to adjust the other ingredients a little if you want to use it to decorate.)
They are decadent, ENJOY!

.........RECIPES GALORE......


Holidays are almost here, but you don't have to wait to try something different.
We realize that a lot of folks can't eat all types of foods...they might have allergies, or health problems. Maybe someone in your family is just a fussy eater. We strive to make everyone happy.
In our sidebar, under the weather forecasting gadget...4th down...you will find a recipe finder, just type in the kind of dish you want (cookies,soup etc.) and a lot of ingredients will come up to choose from. Choose the ingredients you like and the gadget will find a recipe that will suit you to a tee.
My "PIC" found the gadget and boy , I am so proud of her...you see I am diabetic , but now I can have the same fooods as the rest of my family.
Did you ever go to a restaurant and really enjoy a great dish, ask for the recipe and get told it was a restaurant secret....well folks , just remember the name and type it in and there you have it. I know a lot of guys like to cook, so surprise your favorite "LADY " fellows.
Please enjoy...From cupcake & Jeannie

Blondies - Yummmmmmm

This lighter cousin of the chocolate brownie won our vote for easiest-to-make holiday square. Then I came up with endless variations and finally whittled them down to my top four.
Preparation time 10 minutes. Baking Time 30 minutes
Makes 16 squares or 32 Bars


Ingredients

11/4 cups (300 mL) all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
1/2 cup (125 mL) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla
100-g pkg pecan pieces, about 1 cup (250 mL)
1/2 cup (125 mL) white-chocolate chips



1. Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Lightly butter or spray an 8-in. (2-L) square baking dish. In a small bowl, stir flour with salt.

2. In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter with sugar for 1 min.

3. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture. ((If you don't have a mixer, use a wooden spoon. Beat butter with sugar for 2 min. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture.))
4. Stir in pecans and chocolate chips just until evenly distributed. Turn into prepared baking dish and smooth the top as best you can.

5. Bake in centre of preheated 350F (180C) oven until top is deep golden and blondies come away from sides of pan, 30 to 35 min. Remove dish to a rack to cool slightly.

6. While still warm, cut into 16 squares or 32 bars. Store in an airtight container between layers of waxed paper at room temperature. They will keep well for 3 days or freeze up to 2 months.

CHOCOLATE-TOFFEE SQUARES

Omit white-chocolate chips. Add 1/2 cup (125 mL) each dark-chocolate chips and Skor toffee bits along with nuts. Continue as in main recipe. Just before serving, drizzle top with a little caramel sundae sauce. Makes 16.

CRANBERRY-WHITE-CHOCOLATE SQUARES

Replace pecan pieces with chopped walnuts and add 1 cup (250 mL) coarsely chopped frozen or fresh cranberries along with white-chocolate chips. Continue as in main recipe. When cool, place 1/4 cup (50 mL) chopped white chocolate in a small bowl. Microwave on medium until almost melted, 2 min. Stir until melted. Using the tines of a fork, drizzle over blondie. Makes 16.

GLACÉ-CHERRY-AND-CHOCOLATE BARS

Omit white-chocolate chips and pecan pieces. Stir 1 cup (250 mL) chopped mixed or green glacé cherries and 1/2 cup (125 mL) semi-sweet chocolate chips into dough instead. Continue as in main recipe. Just before serving, place 1/4 cup (50 mL) chopped dark chocolate in a small bowl. Microwave on medium until almost melted, 2 min. Stir until melted. Lightly spread overtop. Makes 32.

PINEAPPLE-CASHEW BARS

Omit chocolate chips and pecan pieces. Stir 1 cup (250 mL) finely chopped candied pineapple and 1/2 cup (125 mL) coarsely chopped toasted cashews into dough instead. Continue as in main recipe. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup (125 mL) shredded sweetened coconut for the last 10 min of baking. Makes 32.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

" IS PARIS OVER ?

There was a time when Paris Hiltin made a great living being famous simply for being famous. The heiress ruled an empire by playing the " dumb blonde " to perfection---starring in a hit reality show with her best friend, shilling everything from perfume to hair extenions, and earning $125,000 just for stepping into a nightclub. "As time went on ,she became more of a character than a socialite," public relations expert Vanessa Flynn says, and Paris has admitted as much. Paris says, she play up the image sometimes because it's just entertainment. That was the problem for LLoyd Grove, the "Daily Beat's " editor-at-large, who first banned Paris from his New York Daily News column way back in 2003. "It was a no-brainer," Grove said. "She was a silly person who wasn't particularly good at anything." Now her appearance fees have dropped, she hasn't been on Maxim's "Hot 100" list since2006, her new "BFF" Brittany Flickinger calls Paris a "disgusting, self-centered user " and Jon Gosselin boasts he's more famous. Paris has fallen into the shadow of stars like Jon and Kate, Randy Bauer of Bauer-Griffin Agency, a major photo resource said.
Pictures of Paris shopping are worth nothing because there are millions of pictures of her doing that over and over again the last couple of years, adds Flynn. People expect her to go to clubs, get into trouble and date celebs. I think at this point, they're bored. Courtney Hazlett, who writes "The Scoop" at Msnbc.com, says, there's literally no room for Paris Hilton coverage. She has totally disappeared. She could bounce back, while America may be tired of Paris, the rest of the world isn't. She's thought of as the epitome of the rich, beautiful socialite in other countries, says Flynn. Maybe it's time to hang up the party girl act.
My take on this : The rise of Paris Hilton....Paris's sex tape in 2003,video in bed with ex-boyfriend Rick Salomon surfaced, the scandal made her a household name.....A few weeks later ,Paris's reality show on Fox , "The Simple Life," with then un-known pal "Nicole Richie" scored high rating, now Nicole Is bigger than Paris.....In 2004, Paris released her memoirs , Confessions of An Heiress and one by her dog. The Tinkerbell Hilton dairies, she also launched her own jewellery and perfumes lines.....The fall of Paris Hilton....A "DUI" arrest in 2006, Paris was busted drinking and driving. Paris was jailed for 45 days in 2007, which she said she spent getting closer to God and higher self. Poor sales of her debut CD, "PARIS", led her record label to drop her in 2007, around the time she was "fired" from her namesake Florida club for missing scheduled appearances....Paris's movie, The Hottie and The Nottie, got scathing reviews and tanked at the box office in 2008, and she was also used for promoting the straight-to- DVD "Pledge This !Now you have it all in a nut-shell. Sometime it's better to be under the radar ! Stay tuned:
Kicking it with: CUPCAKE

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Future Basketball Star


Meet the best 13-year-old basketball player you'll ever see:
By Eamonn Brennan

Thirteen-year-old Andrew Wiggins will be a member of the 2014 recruiting class. It's far too early to project where he's going to go to college. Heck, it's probably far too early to even be talking about a 13-year-old basketball player. The whole thing feels weird and exploitative.
But I would be remiss if I didn't at least pass along the video of Master Wiggins -- already 6-feet-6-inches tall -- dunking the basketball with ease. Over and over again. In game situations.

At 13 years of age:
Mr. Wiggins appears to already have a fine-tuned post game; he's taking drop steps and hitting little baby hooks with both hands. This actually makes sense: Wiggins, a Canadian citizen, is the son of former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins and Marita Payne, an Olympic track star from Canada. The two met when they were student-athletes at Florida State.
Anyway, he's quite impressive. Unbelievably impressive, actually. I wonder how many times a weekend he has to show tournament organizers his birth certificate.