Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:05:46 GMT

Sampson's snakeroot

With my woefully inadequate plant identification skills, I have decided that this just might be Psoralea psoralioides, sometimes called Sampson’s Snakeroot (though that seems to be the common name for a different thought similar plant).

I found this growing on the south-facing slope, which makes sense since the references I have found for this say it likes dry conditions.

It is another in my continuing discoveries at Roundrock. Though I’ve been going to my woods for nearly a decade, I’m still finding new things to see.

Missouri calendar:

• Young beavers emerge from lodges.

Posted by: Roundrockjournal      Read more     Source

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:40:22 GMT

Etched In A Bubble

Every Sunday, we select and feature a Toronto photo that we really like, from the blogTO Flickr Pool.

Here"s "Etched In A Bubble" by The Taste of Waste. Click the photo to see it larger. Posted by: Jerrold      Read more     Source

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:47:55 GMT

The perfect summertime cocktail

Looking for the perfect drink for summer? Look no further than the citrus-y, sweet caipirinha (pronounced kai-per-een-yah), a signature drink for Brazil"s Carnivale where revelers really need something to help them cool down after hours of dancing in the hot sun!

While articles like this one in the Chicago Sun Times talk about caipirinha variations made with raspberry and other flavours, I see no reason to reinvent an already fantastic drink that"s easy to make. There are four ingredients in a classic caipirinha: fresh limes, fruit sugar, crushed ice and cachaça (pronounced ka-shah-sah), which is made from sugar cane and tastes similar to white rum.

Want to make one right now? Follow these easy steps:

1. Cut half a lime into four pieces. Place in a cocktail shaker or sturdy glass. Sprinkle over 2 tbsp (30 mL) sugar and muddle the limes using a wooden cocktail muddler or a wooden spoon until the mixture is juicy and a lot of the sugar has dissolved.
2. Pour in two shots of cachaça and stir well. Transfer to a double old-fashioned glass and top with enough crushed ice to fill the glass. Stir before serving.

By the way, my friend and professional food photographer Tracy Cox took the photo for today"s post. After this shot was taken, she and I and Sabrina took these very drinks outside to our Test Kitchen patio and toasted the sunshine on Victoria Day Monday. After all, if you"re working on a holiday, there should be some perks, right? You can see more of Tracy"s work on her website. Posted by: danamccauley      Read more     Source

Wed, 13 May 2009 22:57:39 GMT

Consumer List

At Data Depot, we do more than just sell consumer lists for targeted marketing efforts. We offer your business the chance to expand its reach and grow in a strategic fashion through direct marketing campaigns. We put volumes of information at your fingertips so that you can better communicate with your core customers while simultaneously gaining fresh contacts and adding new markets. Our selection of consumer lists is unrivaled in the industry when it comes to accuracy and relevance. We pride ourselves on constantly updating our pool of available consumer lists so that your business can benefit from our diligence. Data Depot’s products enable you to search by type of business, SIC code, city, county, state, number of employees, sales volume, executive title and other useful criteria.

If you’re seeking that competitive advantage at a price that will fit your budget, then Data Depot is the perfect source when you’re looking to buy consumer lists. Customers can attest that our selection of consumer list is an impressive array of the latest data available that will aid your business on the road to excellence. Direct communication is key in today’s market and our email lists will put the latest information in your hands. We provide the most relevant data in a convenient, easily searchable directory that will infinitely simplify your marketing campaign with the click of a button. With countless satisfied customers, Data Depot is the answer to your direct marketing challenges. Call our customer service representatives today for the opportunity to build your business quickly and economically through our information resources. Posted by: Susan      Read more     Source

Sat, 02 May 2009 14:51:11 GMT

Swine flu and markets

So world markets have been hammered by the swine flu outbreak with airlines leading the charge. The New York Times reports that countries are now tightening their borders and the World Health Organisation has just upped its pandemic flu alert level. But how serious will it get? And what does it tell us about the fragility of the global economy?

Narayanan Viswanathan who now heads the global supply chain practice of Boston consulting firm Aberdeen Group has told BusinessWeek the dangers are overblown, although retail and airlines will suffer. People stop travelling and they stop eating out and gathering in public places.

At this stage, it's too early to say whether we are looking at a serious pandemic or not. But what's clear is that the biggest economic effect will come from people avoiding contact with potential flu sources, not from the flu itself.

And yes, the world did cope quite well and markets bounced back after the SARS and bird flu outbreaks. But then, the world economy was a lot stronger then. Posted by: leon      Read more     Source

Sat, 02 May 2009 13:22:49 GMT

Darwin Live in Concert

Richard Milner is an anthropologist and former Senior Editor at Natural History magazine at the American Museum of Natural History. He also happens to be the foremost practitioner of Darwinian entertainment.

Between April 24th and May 3rd, you can catch Darwin Live in Cambridge, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and elsewhere.

I"ll be catching Darwin Live April 29th at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. The New York Times" John Tierney published an article on the show earlier this year.
“Everyone should find his own Darwin,” Mr. Milner says. “The man was so large. He was a zoologist, a botanist, an explorer, a travel writer, a philosopher, an abolitionist, a doting father, a radical intellectual revolutionary with an utterly conservative and blemish-free lifestyle. He revolutionized every field he touched, and he was trained in none of them.”If you can"t make the show, you can get a copy of the CD.

Milner grew up with famous evilutionary biologist Stephen Jay Gould in my current hometown of Bayside, where they were known to classmates as Fossilface and Dino. Below is a photo of Gould (l) and Milner at age 12. Posted by: Dennehy      Read more     Source

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:27:42 GMT

Social Media Marketing - how I made it

Social media marketing starts with getting links tactically placed on few blogs, where viewers are insisted to use several social book marking sites. Through NuReach Global I realized that the social bookmarking sites are quite convenient ways for viewers to pass along their useful information to other persons looking for similar data, and is extremely popular in social marketing. I also found email advertising as a very successful way of reaching a huge numbers of people online. The latest and one of the most successful methods of social marketing is the use of social networking sites. NuReach Global helped me widely in promoting product branding and to increase visibility. Social networks are also quite efficient at reaching targeted audiences and a brilliant process to boost the recognition of a service or product.

Before starting my first social media project, few important considerations was suggested to me by the NuReach Global. With the help of this site, before implementing my first social media marketing plan I judged the following considerations and helped me a lot to carry my business afterwards.

Online customers needed to find my site among a host of marketing websites. So, I needed to know what items they wished to put their money on, and tailor my website likewise, especially highlighting those items. The most important concept I got from NuReach Global is that time is one of the most important factors in social media marketing. While starting my online marketing business, I did not have enough time to spend on my online business and I was really worried about that. But then one of my friends advised me to appoint a social marketing expert and suggested the name of NuReach Global. I also realized that success does not come overnight and I also had to spend enough time on my online marketing business.

Another important thing was that I had to recognize was the motive and the overall goal of my business. I got enough guidance from NuReach Global on how to set some achievable and applicable goals to my employees, and I also felt that the social media objective should always be aligned with overall goals of my business.

The NuReach Global also helped me to build my presence in front of my customers. They always highlighted the differences of my online marketing business with other online marketing companies in the campaigns, making my business stand out in an ocean of those.

All these actions by NuReach Global made me able to avoid social media burnout and my marketing campaigns started reaching the right audience and became more targeted. My business has flourished since then and I have only the people at NuReach Global to thank for it. Posted by: Sue      Read more     Source

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:37:21 GMT

Ponderosa's Back!

Great news: my favorite CBS web extra Survivor Ponderosa has returned! That"s right, those IDIOTS in Brazil voted off their first jury member last night (I did not agree with the choice), and now we get to see all the behind-the-scenes action at the jury house, or as it"s formally known, Ponderosa. Call me silly, but I still get a strange thrill watching these videos.

After the jump, two videos of life after Tribal.... Posted by: B-Side      Read more     Source

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:31:13 GMT

Sarah Brown Steals the Show with Her Astley Clarke Jewellery

Mrs. Michelle Obama arrived at Downing Street accompanied by Mrs. Sarah Brown who looked gorgeous and pretty in her armada suit and astley clarke jewellery. Both the outfits and the jewelries had been carefully chosen to support their native fashion industry. The two ladies visited Maggie's Cancer Caring Center located in London's Charring Cross.

The visit coincided with the first anniversary of the centre since it was opened last year by Mrs. Sarah Brown, who is the patron of the center. The center is a home for many cancer patients that provide guidance and emotional support to the patients.

Every woman who shops on the high street knows that accessories make or break an outfit. Sarah Brown made the correct fashion statement with her Russell & Bromley shoes and Astley Clarke Jewellery. Her selection in outfits and Jewellery showed off her political as well as fashion nous. Mrs. Brown's outfit was made by Britt Lintner and was matched with a moonstone drop necklace made by the famous designer Astley Clarke.

The Jewellery reflected Mrs. Brown's own style and personality and made her look even more stunning to the press and audience. The credibility to all this goes to the Jewellery designer who carried it off so well. The Astley Clarke Jewellery is designed to suit any occasions and its credibility is vouched by many famous personalities including the prime minister's wife. Mrs. Brown definitely stole the show but looking so attractive.
Posted by: Heather      Read more     Source

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:06:23 GMT

When should you decant wine?

How many of you own decanters but don"t know what to do with them? I love this picture (thanks for taking it for me Martin!) because it shows you exactly why you need to decant some aged red wines.

See that sludgy stuff up near the neck of the bottle? That"s sediment. Sediment forms as highly tannic (read dry) wine ages. It is the grainy deposit that is the result of the separation of bitartrates (acids), tannins and colour pigments that occurs as wines age.

Although sediment is not a bad thing to find in a wine bottle (it can indicate that a wine is well enough aged to be ready to drink), you don"t want to drink the sediment itself. So, here"s how to decant a wine so that you get just the good stuff in your glass:

1. If a wine has been laying on its side in a wine rack, it"s best to stand it up for several hours or overnight to let the sediment sink to the bottom.
2. Uncork the bottle gently so that you don"t disturb the sediment and redistribute it throughout the wine.
3. Light a candle or position a strong light behind the wine bottle. Set a clean, dry decanter or pitcher next to the bottle.
4. Gently and slowly pour the wine into the decanter keeping an eye on the light shining through the bottle to ensure that you are pouring only liquid into the decanter (the light will shine through the wine but not as well through the sediment).
5. As you get closer to the sediment, slow down your pouring to ensure the sediment doesn"t flow into the decanter.
6. If any sediment does make it into the decanter, let it stand for a few minutes and settle to the bottom.

Besides sediment there"s another common reason to decant red wine. "Tight" wines (the ones that make you pucker and crave a glass of water) can sometimes benefit from being decanted since the process of transferring the wine from one container to another can aerate the wine so that it goes down more smoothly.

Cheers! Posted by: danamccauley      Read more     Source

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 03:59:45 GMT

Sara Sanskara

I"m really glad this street style photo of Sara Sanskara caught my attention, because I think her clothing line is quite beautiful.

Pretty, huh? I love how the lace, ruffles, and floral prints are tempered by asymmetrical hems for a sorta funky hippie appeal. I"d wear these dresses with chunky, tough-looking boots and messy hair. Yum. Posted by: Kori      Read more     Source

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:42:14 GMT

Sessile Lopez Covers Latina Magazine!

In the last few months, due to the economy, many magazines that we love have had a hard time or had to shut down all together.
On the flip side however, we have seen some truly collector worthy magazine covers. From Russian Vogue"s amazing Naomi Campbell and Victoria Beckham covers to the American Vogue"s 1st Lady Michelle Obama in March to American Vogue"s April Beyonce Cover.
Of course, we also love a second Michelle Obama cover - this time with Oprah in April"s O magazine!
But this stunning cover from March"s Latina Magazine with Dominican supermodel, Sessile Lopez, is without a doubt our favorite. This issue also features a fantastic fashion spread with Sessile inside!And for those of you who are wondering, we"ve gotten the exclusive details from our friends at Latina Magazine on the super cute nail color Sessile is wearing on the cover! It"s OPI"s nail lacquer in "A Grape Fit", pictured, left.

This is definitely one of our picks for spring - so fun, flirty and a great alternative to pink!

Posted by: Palacinka Beauty      Read more     Source

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 19:54:41 GMT

Astley Clarke

Under the existing market condition it would be a very wise thing to invest your money on the jewels. It would be great if you get to buy the most unique and trendy jewels for the price you are investing for. It is definitely a long term and dearest investment. I chose to buy all my jewels from Astley Clarke and I am extremely pleased with the wide varieties and brands they offer. It is easy to purchase all brands of jewels from their website. It is one stop shop for all the latest fashion jewellery of all ranges and styles. They offer all kinds of accessories like necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, cufflinks, jewellery boxes, children's jewel boxes, brooches and more. Astley Clarke website has wide collections for beaded, bridal, contemporary, charm and diamond jewellery. Astley Clarke websites offers fabulous customer service to their buyers. You can get all the free updates about the latest fashion jewels, prices and discounts once you are the member of the Astley Clarke website. You can buy the jewellery available around the world from the comfort of your home and avoid wasting time on visiting different stores for different brands. The products you order will be delivered to you safely in one day. It is extremely easy to make payment for the product you have purchased. You can make a payment over the internet by using your debit or a credit card. Astley Clarke also offers their customer "return it" service within 7 days of delivery if you are not happy with the product. What you waiting for? Just register your self on Astley Clarke and order for beautifully packaged fine jewellery you ever dreamt of. Astley Clarke adds to your beauty and you can enjoy all the attention in the public. Posted by: Lucia      Read more     Source

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 01:24:19 GMT

Louis Vuitton wallets - give your man something priceless

Men are quite unlike women - and thank God for that! When it comes to fashion, women like to pick up a wide variety of odds and ends. Their wardrobes, cupboards and dressing tables are near to overflowing with knickknacks and items picked up at random. For most men, this kind of profligate shopping is beyond rational thought. They might indulge their women, but left to their own devices, they are quite happy to own a small number of items - of good value.

When I first met my husband (then boyfriend), I was shocked that he could spend a thousand bucks on something just for the brand name! For some reason, Gucci, Lacoste, Nike and Pure Spirit had a charm. He really didn't seem to mind the quality, color or texture so long as the famous insignia was there. At that time, we could afford to spend money on these items, even though buying a pair of jogging shoes or a new T-shirt literally sliced through our savings account.

But, after the birth of our three daughters, we started looking for options. That was about the time we discovered Highreplica. One of my girlfriends came to the office with a Bottega Veneta shoulder bag from Highreplica. We couldn't stop admiring it. She let slip that the bag was a replica. A mini-storm and several cups of decaf later, all of us agreed that the bag looked just as good as the original. Being women, it didn't take us long to compare costs - and what we discovered left us numb. An original Bottega costs upwards of $1,500 and my friend had bought her bag for less than a third. That evening, every woman who went out the door of our office had pure joy written all over their face!

That's how my husband got his first Louis Vuitton wallet from me. The wallet I selected was made of monogram canvas and had grafted leather lining inside. Three credit card slots, a couple of extra slots in a removable pouch and a largish compartment for bills and papers (he is an avid collector of bills and slips of papers). The best part was the size. The whole thing was a cute and sexy 4x3 inches! When the package arrived from Highreplica, I knew he'd love slipping this into his pocket. Only problem was - how do I break it to him?

As it turned out, he loved the wallet, all the more because it was a replica! He turned it in his hands, ran his fingers over the lining, flipped through the slots and felt the canvas. It almost felt like the real thing, he said.

These days, we purchase a lot of designer stuff. We have Louis wallet, Prada handbags, 2 pieces of Jimmy Choos and a Versace - all high quality replicas of course.
Posted by: Jennifer      Read more     Source

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:08:15 GMT

Coloured Water by Alena Nikiforova

Russian artist Alena Nikiforova creates some wicked effects in these photos. Instead of setting her beautiful models in a typical bubble bath, it’s as if she dropped in some brightly-colored magical powder.

More pics here Posted by: mymodernmet      Read more     Source

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:06:20 GMT

Odile Gilbert and Eva Scrivo for Catherine Malandrino

The Inspiration for Catherine Malandrino"s fall 2009 collection, drew on the Surrealist movement, which emerged in the 1930s as a way for artistic ingenuity to uplift the community and inject life back into society. The new Malandrino collection is inspired by the colors of Surrealism, as well as the mood and feelings portrayed by the movement itself. We absolutely loved the details, textures and cuts of the clothes!

To achieve this Surrealist inspired look, Malandrino, Odile Gilbert, and Eva Scrivo collaborated for an end result both unexpected and curious—alluding to the artists of this era. The sleek, sophisticated chignons they sculpted pushed the creative envelope when crafting multiple shapes, while colored extensions and netting added dimension and life to make these updos anything but typical.

Here"s how to get the look Step-by-Step:
Odile suggests using a brushable, strong-hold hairspray to maintain control for structured updos, and used Sebastian Professional products in all the looks.

--Prepare hair with Shine Define to protect hair from hot tools used during styling and also leave a shinier finish.

--Tightly comb up hair to the front/top of the head into one ponytail; spray with Sebastian Professional hair spray: Shaper Zero Gravity as you comb, then Re-Shaper to hold.

--Separate the hair (if long) into three sections.
Using extensions, create three-four chignons interweaving pieces from your real hair.

Sebastian Professional RE-SHAPER: Brushable humidity resistant strong hold hairspray.
Sebastian Professional SHAPER ZERO GRAVITY: Dry, Brushable, Lightweight Control Hairspray.
Sebastian Professional SHINE DEFINE: The ultimate versatile hairspray.

For color, Eva Scrivo used Wella Color Touch and Wella Koleston Perfect on the extensions. Color Touch is a gentle and ammonia-free semi-permanent color that allows for bold expression with shades that last through 24 washes. -- RLB Posted by: Palacinka Beauty      Read more     Source

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:34:43 GMT

Jill Stuart Cosmetics US Launch Update

(image from www.jillstuart-beauty.com)

It seems that it has been a bit of a Jill Stuart week on my blog this week.... (It is certainly unintentional.)

First of all, many thanks to BA at Beauty Anonymous for posting about the article on Elle News Blog earlier today. According to the Elle article, the launch of the Jill Stuart beauty line will be slightly postponed to early summer this year. The line will be launched at the Jill Stuart flagship store in New York City.

Finally, for those of you in the US who are waiting for the launch, the end seems to be in sight. Hopefully you will be able to place a phone order if you can"t make it to the store. Posted by: PJ      Read more     Source

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:39:08 GMT

Whichbook

Whichbook is a completely new way to find books you might like to read. Whichbook lets you build a description of the kind of books you like and then matches that description against the books in the database.

Your description can be built either on a choice of moods, or on specific plot elements. The books that most closely match your requirements are then returned as a list.

I wanted a book that was funny and unusual but also a little bit disturbing and demanding. What I got was "Karloff"s Circus Accomplice Book 4" by Steve Aylett. Posted by: Gerard      Read more     Source