Anche se a primo acchito sembra solo un soprammobile o l'ennesima cianfrusaglia questa simpatica stelletta sorridente - realizzata in ceramica - è un SALVADANAIO....come come direte voi, un salvadanaio? Nell'era del trading on line, del e-banking, della gestione dei conti via sms, internet e chi più ne ha più ne citi esistono ancora questi piccoli oggettini? Ebbene si, esistono ancora!!! (Io oltre a questo possiedo un più classico porcellino dell'operazione patti chiari). Chi ha più o meno la mia età dovrebbe ricordarselo. Mi ricordo che c'era un periodo in cui la banca dove i miei avevano il conto li regalava se aprivi un conto "baby" (non è la dicitura esatta ma non mi ricordo adesso come si chiamava...l'etàaaaaa) oppure qualche zia un po' rinco te ne faceva dono così "capivi il valore del denaro"...

Ok, possiedi non uno ma ben due di questi oggetti...e allora perchè farci un post?...Mi direte voi, pregevoli lettori. La risposta è semplice e duplice: 1) non sapevo su cosa postare...ops magari questo era meglio evitare di dirvelo!!!...La ragione fondamentale è che questo salvadanaio stella (oltre al fatto che lo sapete che mi piacciono le stellette...) è che mi mette ottimismo. Mi rallegra l'idea di avere un posto dove mettere le monetine che mi avanzano e che ho sempre sparse nelle tasche dei jeans e nei meandri oscuri della mia borsa.  E' un modo stupido per conservare e quindi risparmiare quei soldini che altrimenti correrei il rischio di perdere e per dirla come un vecchio proverbio anglosassone "UN PENNY RISPARMIATO E' UN PENNY GUADAGNATO".

Comunque anche come soprammobile fa il suo bell'effetto...

]]> http://missjennabug09.wordpress.com/?p=85 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:43:03 +0000 jennabug09 http://missjennabug09.wordpress.com/?p=85 If your wondering my title was pig latin lol. It means Whats Up? Anywho, the new CP catalog came out today! I cant remember what the items were but they were awesome!! Does anybody have a Toontown account?! Rofl you would think its babyish but it isn't actually. Maddiebug09 has 100 laff points (or health) but I have 80 BUT I'm close to getting 84. Whenever you get a chance, go by toontown and take a free trial and decide whether you like it or not!!

So, I was up at 7:15 Monday Am, starting the coffee pot and lighting the charcoal in order to begin cooking at 8 AM.  This Boston butt was a bit over 8 lbs in weight and Gene said to give it one hour per pound.  He was right.

Then, I was back in the house, drinking coffee and waiting on the sleepers to awaken.  Aaron's sweetness, Rachel, had come down with him Sunday night, after they had visited with his sister Katie in Boone, watching movies, eating popcorn and hanging out.  My wifey-mae awoke, smelled the coffee, got up to get some and then a bit later in the AM the 2 young sweethearts emerged from their respective beds.  Naturally, Aaron was the last to get up, as is his usual custom.

I finally convinced Katie that she and Chaz should come down from Boone to partake in the BBQ that was to come.  They arrived about 3 or so, as Aaron & Rachel returned from Hickory.  They fiddled and played guitar, checked email and napped, as I was getting the meat off the smoker.

The house filled with the aromatic (that means good smelling) scents of the masterpiece of BBQ grilling, by yours truly.  Just as I had taken the meat into the house and was allowing it to rest before beginning to cut it up, Gene, the grillmeister, arrived on his new Ducati motorcycle.  He even parked it up on the porch.  His poor little wifey-mae had to work a long day at KMart and there was nobody cooking anything at Gene's house for supper.  So, he had invited himself.  That was all fine and good, since he was the one who had supplied the dry rub recipe and the vinegar-based BBQ recipe.

Now,  mind you, I'm 6'5" and about 270 lbs (in clothes) and eating has made me what I am today.  I have eaten my fair share of BBQ in my years and have eaten it from here across North Carolina, sampled the SC versions, the Texas versions and even the mutton version of Owensboro, KY.  And it's all good.  Some people hang up on the vinegar vs. molasses based sauces, dry rub, mustard based, etc., etc.

I've eaten a ton of good BBQ but I have NEVER eaten any as good as what i ate at the house on Monday.  AND I COOKED IT!  The dry rub was applied very liberally and I throwed much hickory smoke to it as well.  And it wuz guuuud!

Maybe next time, I'll pick a time to fix the one that is in the freezer on a weekend when there ain't going to be too many people at the house.  But that was fun, hearing everybody's compliments and seeing them enjoying the BBQ pigmeat.

An artist is preparing to exhibit pigs tattooed with Louis Vitton logos and designs in China. Wim Delvoye, a Belgian living in Beijing, raised and tattooed eight pigs himself - two of them with LV artwork, reports People's Daily.

The Shanghai Exhibition Centre has agreed to put the pigs on display in a temporary pig pen for the upcoming 2008 Contemporary Art Exhibition, on condition the pigs don't create an unpleasant odour.

[/caption]

Yes!!!

I admit it! 

  I am  a flower smeller & sometimes I even stop to smell the roses. :O)

I want to celebrate this particular love today & the last image will be my painting entitled, "Flower Smeller"

Enjoy!!!

YaY!!!
I love flowers & Pigs!!!

Shout OuT to WisDoM!!!

PROVERBS 2:6

Das Glücksschweinchen zog mit dem Wanderpaket weiter.
Der Rochen ist schon im Sommer entstanden, und der Gecko ist eigentlich kein Amigurumi, sondern ein Lesezeichen. Ich hab aber auch schon überlegt ihn als Aplikation auf eine meiner Taschen zu nähen.

Ach ja und dann hab ich gesehen, das ich Euch ja noch gar nicht das Bild vom Sommerwichtelbär gezeigt hab. Der zog bei der Amigurumi Forum Sommerwichtelaktion zu Annabell um. Einmal allein und einmal mit unserem Katzenkin Finchen.

Via: LSD Photographers

via FFFFOUND!

In other news photos have taken second stage to riding so I have nothing new to offer except this picture of a pet raccoon named Killer.

He still hangs around Kim and Kelly's farm even though he is considerably older than he was back in May or Early June.  I figure as long as he keeps getting fed he will probably hang around, it does seem strange that he sleeps all day and wants to play late at night but I suppose they are nocturnal creatures.  And while I was hanging out on the farm I shot this pic so I could remember bacon, yay.  By the way this sow was not at all happy about me shooting pics, oh well.

Now for some bad news, the Canon has come upon having a mind of its own recently, can't seem to get it out of full manual mode.  I got the reply back from Canon today that it would have to be sent in under warranty (now what the hell did I do with that receipt).  So I will be back to shooting with the Sony for awhile.  I guess I could just wait and shoot manual for the time being, I really don't want to miss the fall here, since unlike North Carolina all of our trees lose their leaves.  Wish I had some sort of timeline for how long it would take.

Speaking of fall, as much as I hate to admit it, it's right around the corner.  I was riding out at Swanson Park today on this great singletrack with pristine weather and noticed a few orange leaves and didn't think it was near late enough for that, but I suppose it is getting to be that time of year.  Well I have to sign off for now to conduct some maintenance on the bike, maybe there won't be an off season this year.  Ha ha we'll see what I say when the ole mercury drops down to about 30 ticks.

]]> http://8asil.wordpress.com/?p=4 Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:23:31 +0000 8asil http://8asil.wordpress.com/?p=4 Browse thousands of animal audio recordings: http://www.SoundLantern.com/

Listen to sounds of: aardvark, addax ,alligator, alpaca, anteater, antelope, aoudad, ape, argali, armadillo, ass, baboon, badger, basilisk, bat ,bear, beaver, bighorn     bison, boar, budgerigar, buffalo, bull, bunny, burro, camel, canary, capybara, cat, chameleon, chamois, cheetah, chimpanzee, chinchilla, chipmunk, civet, coati, colt, cony, cougar, cow, coyote, crocodile, crow, deer, dingo, doe, dog, donkey, dormouse, dromedary, duckbill, dugong, eland, elephant, elk, ermine, ewe, fawn, ferret, finch, fish, fox, frog, gazelle, gemsbok, gila, monster, giraffe, gnu, goat, gopher, gorilla, grizzly bear, ground hog, guanaco, guinea pig, hamster, hare, hartebeest, hedgehog, hippopotamus, hog, horse, hyena, ibex, iguana, impala, jackal, jaguar, jerboa, kangaroo, kid, kinkajou, kitten , koala, koodoo, lamb, lemur, leopard, lion, lizard, llama, lovebird, lynx, mandrill, mare, marmoset, marten, mink, mole, mongoose, monkey, moose, mountain, goat, mouse, mule, musk deer, musk-ox, muskrat, mustang, mynah bird, newt, ocelot, okapi, opossum, orangutan, oryx, otter, ox, panda, panther, parakeet, parrot, peccary, pig, platypus, polar bear, pony, porcupine, porpoise, prairie dog, pronghorn, puma, puppy, quagga, rabbit, raccoon, ram,  rat, reindeer, reptile, rhinoceros, roebuck, salamander, seal, sheep, shrew, silver fox, skunk, sloth, snake, springbok, squirrel, stallion, steer, tapir, tiger, toad, turtle, vicuna, walrus, warthog, waterbuck, weasel, whale, wildcat, wolf, wolverine, wombat, woodchuck, yak, zebra, zebu etc... All on: http://www.SoundLantern.com/

We took a respite from chores, unpacking and shuffling furniture around and went to the Woodstock Fair over the weekend.  The little girl in our lives had great fun (and did not want to leave) what a paradise for youngins.  I learned  a hard lesson that I did not realize when I was younger.... Fairs will quickly suck all the cash out of your wallet without you even realizing it 'til you go to reach for that last twenty and it has mysteriously vanished.  Parking, entrance fees, food, rides, more food, stuff to buy, even more rides and food.   Oh, I also learned that my aging tummy does not appreciate all the greasy fried foods my mouth loves. Fried dough, french fries and lemonade, although all vegetarian and equally yummy, do not sit particularly well together, especially after riding the "Polar Express". 

Nonetheless it was a lot of smelly, dirty, greasy, loud, people watching, family fun.  

It had been a very very long time since I had gone to a fair. I enjoyed looking in the agriculture buildings at everyone's hard work - first prize pies & cakes baked, photo contest, beautiful flowers, perfect fruits and veggies, etc....  And then there was the 996 pound pumpkin!  The little girl in our lives determined that it weighed too many of her (over 200 of her 46 pound self).  WOW!

  And then there were my favorite, the show animals.......

These little guys were suckling on each other's ears

Some Pig

This gal was the runt of the litter, much like Wilbur in Charlotte's Web.  She is now expecting her own litter in October!

Hey Ladies Look at Me!

This turkey was going MAD as he was situated right next to the gorgeous lady turkeys, but damn cage kept him just out of reach!

A face only mother could love?

And lastly, we did not even have to pay extra for this "Freak Show", my favorite, the one and only of it's kind in the world....

Mutant Zombie Show Bunny with Cage Growing Out of His Face

This poor guy was so dead to the world he was sleeping through the hoards of people pointing, laughing and taking pictures of him. 

Sadly, I could have walked around taking pictures all night.  There was too much to see through my camera lens I ran out of memory card space quickly.  I politely restrained myself from taking pictures of the other wild life, all of us fair goers.  Man, if you like to people watch there is no place like a country fair (no judgement here, I was an attendee too remember) the only place in my memory that is equally as interesting for people watching is NYC. But I digress....   

Since the Woodstock Fair is only about twenty minutes away, and the little girl in our lives enjoys it so much, we have already set up a game plan for next year.  These are our recommendations for Fairing - buy discounted multi-use wrist bands in advance, find the book loaded with coupons & get a map in advance to plan the best strike and conquer, bring loads of cash, wear closed toe shoes, stuff your face with nutritious food at home before leaving, sneak in bottled water, have a change of clothes in the car, stock up on the hand sanitizer (or build up your immune system prior to fairing), plan to go with friends/family who also have kids (this way it keeps you adults from having to ride the tummy turning rides) and have an open mind to experiencing a fun old tradition.

"You mean you eat flies?" gasped Wilbur

"Certainly. Flies, bugs, grasshoppers, choice beetles, moths, butterflies, tasty cockroaches, gnats, midgets, daddy-long-legs, centipedes, mosquitoes, crickets - anything that is careless enough to get caught in my web. I have to live, don't I?"

"Why, yes, of course," said Wilbur. "Do they taste good"

"Delicious. Of course, I don't really eat them. I drink them - drink their blood. I love blood."

.

"Fern says the animals talk to each other. Dr Dorian, do you believe animals talk?"

I never heard one say anything," he replied. "But that proves nothing. It is quite possible that an animal has spoken to me and that I didn't catch the remark because I wasn't paying attention. Children pay better attention than grown-ups... Perhaps if people talked less, animals would talk more."

.

"Why did you do all this for me?" he asked. "I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you."

"You have been my friend," replied Charlotte. "That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die... By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heavens knows anyone's life can stand a little of that."

While wandering and exploring the gardens at Patti's 1880 Settlement, I shot some random photos. Brian Walter, Grasp the Moment, always tells such wonderful stories about how his images were taken. And, I'm frequently at a loss for telling a good story.

However, as I was looking at these images, which at the time were totally unrelated and fairly random in nature, a theme started surfacing.

Perhaps the images we shoot CAN tell stories, even if there wasn't a story behind the image.......

DUBLIN, August 28 (Compass Direct News) – The chief of Boukham village in Savannakhet province, Laos today ordered the families of three detained Christians to sign documents renouncing their faith. Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF) reported that the family members refused.

A crackdown in other parts of Laos continued, with new incidents reported this week in Attapue and Borikhamxay provinces. On Monday (August 25), the chief of Donphai village in Attapue province summoned believers and fined them for holding a church service during local animistic ceremonies.

In Borikhamxay province, officials continued to pressure 22 Christian families comprising 150 people in Toongpankham village who have refused to give up their faith. Village officials had torn down their church building in January, then in mid-August harassed church members for not meeting in a proper worship facility.

In the incident in Boukham village in Savannakhet province, the chief summoned the families of two detained Christians, identified by the single names of Boot and Khamsavan, and ordered them to travel to the police station where the two were being held to sign affidavits renouncing their faith; the family members refused, according to HRWLRF.

Police detained Boot and Khamsavan, along with their pastor Sompong, on August 3. (See Compass Direct News, “Authorities in Laos Detain 90 Christians,” August 8.)

The family members had already traveled to Ad-Sapangthong police station on Sunday (August 24) to visit Boot, Khamsavan and Sompong. When they arrived at the detainment cell at that time, officials tightened the handcuffs and wooden stocks restraining the hands and feet of the prisoners, causing severe pain.

“This is the consequence of not signing documents to renounce your faith,” a police official told the visitors. “We’ve already given you three opportunities to do this, but you have refused.”

On Monday (August 25), after the visitors returned home, the village chief instructed them to immediately apply for bail for Boot and Khamsavan but said Sompong did not qualify for it, as his punishment for leading the church would be “life in prison.”

Fine Imposed for Worshiping

In Donphai village, Sanamchai district of Attapue province, the village chief summoned Christians on Monday (August 25) and fined them for holding a worship service the previous day while villagers carried out animistic ceremonies.

The village chief charged them with violating his order to refrain from worship that particular day and imposed a fine of 700,000 Lao kip (US$83), one pig, and a pot of rice wine. He also said the church would be held responsible if any of the villagers became ill as the result of “spirits” being offended by their worship.

At press time the Christians had refused to pay the penalty, despite threats of more serious consequences if they failed to do so. They have also decided to continue their weekly worship services, in accordance with freedoms guaranteed in the Lao constitution.

In Toongpankham village, Burikan district of Borikhamxay province, officials in mid-August scolded 22 Christian families – a total of 150 people – for holding church services in a private home.

Summoning church leaders to a meeting at government offices, officials demanded that they meet in a church building. The Christians asked how this was possible, since officials had torn down their church building in January. When they sought permission to rebuild, officials refused.

According to HRWLRF, believers have since continued to meet in the home of church member Chiang Yui, determined to express their freedom of worship as provided in the Lao constitution.  

Report from Compass Direct News

I woke up thinking I'd imagined the ultimate breakfast animal - bacon, sausages, and coffee all contained in a single animal.  Sure, the fact that it'd have to die to provide the bacon of the sausages missed me for a few, but it made for great imagining.

In America, cops or police officers, or most commonly pigs are many things.  The most accurate description of cops in the United States of America is as follows...

Cops are simply Tools of a Flawed, Corrupt Judicial System on a Power Trip

When was the last time you were glad to see one of these coffee drinking, doughnut and fast food eating creatins?

The answer is most likely never.  The primary duty of these oinkers is to extort the poor people of America to keep the rich happy.

When a poor black man with 3 kids in the car for, going 60 in a 55mph zone, the American cop made a choice.

With the $350 dollar ticket, the black man will no longer be able to pay for correct food for his kids, but he must give the $350 back to the city and state government.

The city and state government put the money right into the pockets of the police whose resources are used to keep the rich areas richer while neglecting the poor areas.

On the other hand, when Schwartz Finklestein III gets a speeding ticket in his Bentley for $350 he just gathers the spare change from his ash tray and no harm is done.

This unfair way to punish the poor for breaking a made up, un-important law, with a significant part of their income is a disgrace.  While the rich are free to break as many laws as they want, because the fines are like pennies to them.

This is just scraping the surface of the many reasons to hate the boys in blue.  It is mind-numbing how someone would want to be a police officer.  A day's work consists of dealing with the low level scum of the earth and harassing the very few good people of America.

There is Only one reason why People Become Cops

Having Napoleon complex is the only reason why people become cops.  Whether they were the puny, antisocial losers in high school, or simply the offspring of conservative, in-the-closet homosexual Christian perents, people who become cops have a self-serving, hidden agenda.

Cops are usually small brained, fat pigs who have no sense of right from wrong.  Their ethics is preprogramed by the corrupt and dysfunctional United States Government.

This is never more evident than in small town cops.  Small towns with negligible crime rates are infested with baton wielding, gun pulling maverick douche bags who want to show their power to all the people who probably picked on them in high school.

Their job is a joke, so they try to ruin the day of normal, hard working people to justify their pathetic existance.  If they are not using their power trip to ruin the day of innocent people, they are showing their incompetance of not doing their important duties when they're needed.

When there is a real crime, police officers, cops or pigs will be nowhere to be found.  They may be at the coffee shop eating doughnuts and drinking coffee, or harassing smoking teenagers but they are never there when needed.

Going on and on about the worthlessness of cops may be pointless but there is one thing that is for sure.  American cops are pathetic human beings and no doubt one of the top 58 reasons to hate America.

After the worst night ever of the other week I was not looking forward to it, although the Boss has always been very friendly when we've met on 2 previous occasions!  I opted to drive - as making a twat of myself in front of his boss was not, I felt, a good idea!  I wasn't told that 1) Boss would have picked us up; or 2) Boss's son would have dropped us home .. but hey, ho, I don't really do very well on wine, so it was probably best in the long run (and I don't have a hangover today - unlike some)!

There were several saving graces to the evening ..

1. The food was excellent
2. There was an 11 week old puppy (imagine Andrex!)
3. The weather was kind
4. The company was very good and very interesting
5. There was little no golf talk, apart from who The Admirer could take to Trevose to play in a week long tournament there .. (yaay a week to myself  - *bad bad person that I am*)

HOWEVER (how come there is always a "however")!

I had to drive The Admirer's car home at 2.00 am.  In the dark (obviously given it was 2.00 am).  I drive it about once every 6 weeks and I can't throw it round like my car - otherwise I would end up killing us.  (I've got a 1.1 Peugeot .. his is a rather large and powerful Lexus somethingorother).

I was a wee bit tired.

I was also fed up with, that towards the end of the evening, the conversation kept going back to a subject they had discussed ALL evening, mainly the mental state of a friend of theirs who had gone to "live the dream" in France and that the boss should go and see him and talk to him and try and get him to come home (potted version of the story is that bloke and wife buy dream house with accompanying gittes, pool, grounds .. husband lives "on site" and panders to, apparently, vile guests whilst the wife continues her 6 figure salaried job in England - hardly living the dream!  The husband's mental state is precarious to say the least.)  The boss is in 2 minds as to whether it is a good idea and that when it is his time to leave it might tip the husband over the edge .. fair point .. BUT to go and show solidarity and friendship surely would help him too - if nothing more than to know that he has friends he can turn to and come home to!

Anyway it was pissedly discussed to death all evening and frankly got a little boring with the excuses made as to why the boss shouldn't go, and the other guests as to why he should .. anyway it's up to him and maybe should be discussed in a more sober moment!

THEN!

The son (18) but a good laugh all the same (and had kindly offered to go over to France and stay with mental husband, or help do his father's job whilst he went), started to bicker and wind his mother up and she became more and more, how can I say it politely, like a fishwife!  It was not pleasant to watch and made me - THE SOBER ONE, extremely uncomfortable.  So I kicked The Admirer on the shins and told him we were going .. "why are you so stressy babe?" .. "aaaargh!"

Tonight my best friend and her other half (oh she of the pathetic guard dog) are coming over for dinner .. so I should stop blogging and try and clean up a bit!

Ok, so I've got a life now, and tonight is something of a first, as Pig would never have had friends (especially mine) round for dinner .. and The Admirer suggested it too and is cooking .. things are looking up, despite the fact that all I seem to write about are the negatives.  I fully expect a hangover tomorrow!

We did have long talks last night when we got home - which involved getting to bed at 4.00 am - (about if we had got it on 10 years ago, where we might be now yada yada yada).  The story of "how we met" was related to one and all over dinner .. I have to keep that in my head and see it as a positive - he hung on in there for 10 years hoping that we would get together one day .. that must say something?  Surely "now he's got me" he doesn't want to lose me - hence the over-clingyness?  I don't know, but some of you out there might have an idea on it .. all comments gratefully received.  There is some other stuff, but I need to get it straight in my head before I post it .. this was (supposed to be) just a quickie, but like Topsy, it just growed and growed!

PS: Aww. He's such a sweet drunk pissed person which is a massive relief after Pig's nastiness!  I just hope he managed to get into his car ok this morning, seeing as I parked it in the stinging nettles last night (and have the stings to prove it)!

Why?

It can also be simply explained.

If Han Chinese want to rule you and if you are willing or possibly you are willing to accept their rule, you are their "dear from-the-same-wombs".

But if you are already under their rule, or if you are not under their rule and you are unwilling to accept their rule, you are the "pig/dog".

So, you can know when you will be called "pig/dog" and when you will be called "dear from the same womb" by Han Chinese.

Why?

That phenomenon can be easily explained.

It is because Han Chinese personality is unbalanced and their pursuit of being arrogant.

Then, the unbalanced personality and their pursuit make them to look down on each other and offensively call others "pig/dog" to make themselves be the upper and can be arrogant, and the same reasons make them have to force anybody think Han Chinese ethnic group "superior" to be arrogant in the world.

So, Han Chinese make themselves "the superior pig ethnic group".

Now, all the good stuff that is good for a painful menstrual cycle, hot Female Toner, Green, Calming or Chamomile teas. Sometimes, just any sort of hot tea will do, but those mentioned are even better. Hot wholesome food that is not sweet. Exercise or even constant activity will help your painful cramps. Make sure you take a multivitamin, including an iron pill to strengthen your blood and Evening Primrose works good with it, for your hormones.

Just a few photos from last Sunday. Each the result of a chance meeting a with cool person on the street.

Except for the one involving a piggy bank and my dear friend Mariana: A cool person, but a planned meeting, in attempt to illustrate student frustration over tuition hikes.

And in attempt to play with a piggy bank.