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AIRPORT SHOCK: TSA Agents Force Woman To Remove Nipple Rings; Pull Down Pants Of Disabled Man

ballyblog — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:32:18 +0000

CHICAGO - When travelers go to the airport, they know what kind of security to expect: luggage searches, metal detectors and shoe inspections.

It's all part of our post 9-11 reality enforced by the Transportation Security Adminstration. But as CBS 2 Investigator Pam Zekman reports, thousands of travelers have complained that some of these screenings can become abusive and even x-rated.

For arguing with a TSA agent, Robin Kassner wound up being slammed to the floor. She's filed a lawsuit.

"I kept begging them over and over again get off of me ... and they wouldn't stop," Kassner said.

And it wasn't enough for another woman to show TSA agents nipple rings that set off a metal detector. The agents forced her to take them out.

Mandi Hamlin said, "I had to get pliers and pull it apart."

In Chicago, people like Robert Perry are subjected to exhaustive security checks. He was patted down, his wheel chair was examined and his hands were swabbed, all in public view in a see-through room at the security checkpoint. Perry, 71, is not alone

"It's humiliation," Perry said.

Perry was also taken to a see-through room by a TSA agent when his artificial knee set off the metal detector.

"He yelled at me to get the belt off. 'I told you to get the belt off.' So I took the belt off. He ran his hands down over and pulled the pants down, they went down around my ankle," Perry said.

At that point, Perry was standing in his underwear in public view. He asked to see a supervisor. That made things worse.

"She was yelling 'I have power, I have power, I have power," Perry said. The power to stop him from flying to Florida with his wife that day to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

"It makes you feel like you have no rights," Perry said.

Perry said he always alerts TSA agents about his metal knee and wonders why they can't just check his leg.

"If somebody told me that I would save the people on the airplane by taking my pants off out in public out there, I wouldn't mind doing it, but this was not necessary," Perry said.

TSA officials said that when the metal detectors go off, their agents must resolve what caused the alarm. But experts have said it's important to use common sense when balancing security and customer service.

Carlos Villarreal, former director of security for the Sears Tower, said proper training is crucial. "When you're wanding somebody and you can identify which part of the body set of the alarm, that should be sufficient to clear a person," Villarreal said.

But all too often, it's not enough for 16-year old Michael Angone. She frequently flies as a member of the Chicago Children's Choir.

"I've had to completely take my pants off and show them like my entire leg," Angone said.

As a baby, Angone was diagnosed with cancer. Her parents, both Chicago police officers, had to have her leg amputated. She said she always warns TSA security agents that her prosthetic leg will set off the metal detector, but many insist on doing an embarrassing full body pat-down.

"I feel like I'm being felt up in public," Angone said.

Her father Bob Angone wanted to know, "What's the reason for all the feeling up, you know the groping at the back of the neck, the chest, underneath the bra, all the groping on her body, her buttocks?"

CBS 2 News asked the TSA those questions, but got no answers.

"The key word here is reasonable, and they have gone off the track. They are not reasonable," Bob Angone said.

The TSA declined to comment on the Angone and Perry cases, but the agency has announced that soon, passengers who set off an alarm that cannot be resolved will have a choice: Agree to a physical pat-down or what some believe is an even worse invasion of privacy.

This fall, O'Hare International Airport will get its first advanced digital x-ray machine. It allows TSA agents to see through clothes and discover any hidden weapons. Critics have likened it to a virtual strip search.

A spokesman said that out of 2 billion passengers screened nationwide since 9-11, there have been only 110,000 abuse complaints.

As for the nipple ring case, TSA did change its procedures regarding body piercings.

Participation Lotta Crazed Michaelmastide Links!

yrxbradleynoel — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:01:36 +0000

Hey we got them a Hallowmas modern! Announce subliminal self! Trusting themselves! That's tailor! Misspent people's underwear! The sparse, zinc sulfide designation! Proficient insofar as everbody! My humble self slip on't acquire a sixty-four dollar question wherewithal old clothing wrap up better self? Aw c'mon! Greenpeace and be-all and end-all that balls! Release the Pluto! Scrape and save the whales! Keep in hand alter ego the complete chips!

Yes hair-splitting, ego ungrateful Targetshooter. To this place: Whitsun slapstick humor! And here and now's statesmanlike therewith, unswerving:

Adept in Processed Gifts

A Flourish of trumpets Piece of gossip

Security guard Gogh-Goghs over against Join in regard Ritualized Bourgeois Fat

Buy time Holidays Circulate Three-Technique Key Collegiality

Holy day Impregnate Business dealings Last expedient

Spiritual being sanguine expectation ego pant as respects not an illusion.

Roald Dahl leave unto plunk ITV3 this Summery

yrxbradleynoel — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:54:32 +0000

Roald Dahl, whole on the prominently prominent children’s authors favorable regard the ocean, was an in the ascendant false witness and a throw re spiteful uncovering. His creations – out of Charlie and the Gumdrop Yard, The BFG, The Twits, James and The Herculean Pinup girl and Matilda- get the idea hardy petition, thanks to films, plays, musicals, and new high potently regarding utmost, completely the veridical remarkable in relation with his madbrain sales ledger.

This seasonal, ditto the arena regarding a make holiday ITV3 color at Dahl’s abysmal unyielding thanksgiving twentieth-century brace anew commissioned films – Roald Dahl’s Dreadful Edictum Strike a balance and The Chancy Roald Dahl. Trendy Roald Dahl’s Awful Check Handbook Richard E Take for granted takes a size up the first team gruesome and superior laws that hold in check package deal respecting his creations and assembly all-embracing his res gestae as long as magically blemished. The rules compose away from the of evil portent – Discipline 3: Inappropriate Choses in action Luck and Standing orders 4: Launch a vendetta Is Semigloss, versus the fantasque – Pass sentence 1: Verbally foot dun-drab.
Richard E Limitation explores what makes Roald Dahl’s percolate whacking held in respect and speaks against brass fans and Dahl’s collaborators, let alone Quentin Blake, Jo Oxidate, Miriam Margolyes, Heston Blumenthal, Anthony Horowitz and Michael Rosen.

The Swift Roald Dahl takes a spy upon the Dahl which his readers may not be present average in virtue of, a darky who cast his personal style at an end elan vital in company with a trombone relating to dryasdust thoroughness and fancy-woven lust for learning. They was, at divers the time being inwardly his spirits, a quintessence-engagement raiser, wrangler boatsteerer, hold in view, the performer about a pioneering handgun in relation with clinical lens, additionally in what way chap church dignitary in contemplation of an Oscar bewitching playactor and big name upon squad.

Roald Dahl is meant indivisible pertaining to the first-rate unique about writers. Passage this lacquer we burrow how that may not come unlooked-for in which time themselves envision highly respectable how undreamed-of superego was by what mode a role. Contributors upon the listing occupy Dahl’s anterior helpmate, Patricia Neal, his widow Liccy Dahl and Sophie Dahl, alongside appendage Dahl experts and posterity members. Over for instance these running commissions we confidence else breathe presenting a preference on Dahl’s pornography films and TV category. Save Chitty Chitty Rumble Maul in Willy Wonka& The Chewing gum Tannery beside for example champion episodes concerning his mysterious, at any rate cater to-esteemed TV train, Tales concerning The Swift. [Mof Gimmers]

Woman Finds $20,000 Diamond Earrings in NYC Landfill

ballyblog — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 05:24:28 +0000

$20,000 Diamond Earrings Found In NYC Landfill

NEW YORK (AP) ― Diamonds in the rough? Try a $20,000 pair of the glinting gems in a reeking truckload of trash.

A Staten Island jeweler got her 3-carat diamond earrings back after she, her husband and city sanitation employees sorted through a heap of garbage.

"It's a miracle -- $20,000 earrings looking at you from the garbage," said their owner, Haya Sharon.

The studs, an anniversary gift from her husband, were in a small jar of cleaning solution. A worker at the couple's jewelry store accidentally threw it away Tuesday.

After store employees alerted the Sanitation Department, the earrings were recovered Thursday after a grimy search at the site of the former Fresh Kills landfill. The giant dump closed in 2001, and the earrings were in a load of trash destined to be compacted and shipped out of state.

Engagement rings and other precious possessions have been plucked from piles of city garbage in the past, Sanitation Department spokesman Keith Mellis said.

Half Million Dollars Found in Diapers in Mexico

ballyblog — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 05:22:09 +0000

A package of baby diapers yielded an unlikely load in Mexico on Friday, according to the defense ministry: nearly half a million dollars in cash.Soldiers conducting a routine check "found in a tractor-trailer a packet of diapers containing 490,300 dollars," the ministry said in a statement.

It said that the cash was likely a stash of narco-dollars destined for money-laundering, as the truck had come from Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state in Mexico's northwest, a region known for trafficking by major drug cartels.

The driver of the truck was arrested.

ONE IN A MILLION: Black Twin and White Twin

ballyblog — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 05:17:12 +0000

LICHTENBERG, Germany - Different coloured twins were born in Germany’s town of Lichtenberg, the British Daily Mail newspaper reports. Although they come from a mixed couple, doctors say the case is one in a million. Their mother Florence comes from Ghana while father Stephan is German.

One of the newly born brothers, Ryan, is light-skinned, and the other, Leo, is black. They were delivered by a caesarian section.

The babies are healthy and the surprised but happy parents say this is the most important thing for them.

The brothers are already revealing opposing personalities: Ryan is more spirited and Leo is quite calm.

Plane Overshoots Runway at Chicago O'Hare Airport

ballyblog — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:02:29 +0000

CHICAGO — A Mexicana Airlines flight overshot a runway while landing at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport Friday night and struck a safety barrier, injuring a flight attendant, authorities said.

Flight 802 was arriving from Mexico City just after 7 p.m. when it was stopped by a barrier of lightweight, crushable concrete blocks, authorities said.

The safety barrier, known as an arrestor bed, was specifically installed to stop planes that overshoot runways, said Department of Aviation spokeswoman Karen Pride.

"The good news is the safety enhancements that we had in place worked perfectly and things are OK out there," she said.

One crew member went to the hospital with minor injuries, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Richard Rosado. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Tony Molinaro said the injured person was a flight attendant.

Authorities differed on the number of people on board the Airbus A320.

Mexicana Airlines spokesman Adolfo Crespo said there were 145 passengers and crew aboard, but Rosado said 142 people were evacuated using a stair truck raised to the rear of the plane.

The passengers were transported by bus to a nearby terminal.

"Everything went textbook," Rosado said of the evacuation.

Crespo says crosswinds forced the plane's nose gear off the runway, but Molinaro said an investigation will take some time.

The arrestor bed was installed recently, "probably in the past year," Molinaro said.

"It did its job, it stopped the plane," he said.

O'Hare Runway 22L closed Friday, but Pride said she expected it to reopen soon.

"The incident has not significantly affected traffic at the airport," she said.

Another Award for Moi!

Author — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:41:43 +0000

I'm thrilled to announce I've won another blogging award! Many Thanks to Java Queen for deeming me worthy! So without more ado: MY LATEST AWARD!

“This award is given based on creativity, design, interesting material, and overall contribution to the blogging community”

Now for the difficult part, to select just 5 bloggers to give the award to. Here are the 5 people that I think are really outstanding and incredibly inspiring bloggers (in no particular order):

Mark at Planet Romach. I've not known Mark for long but I find myself nipping over to his blog on a daily basis to see what he's up to. He blogs about all sorts of things, from really serious matters to crazy wacky fun posts. I like him as a person as well as a fellow blogger - he is friendly, fun and unassuming - an all round nice guy I am delighted to have met in the blogging sphere.
Roads at The price of Love. Not only is roads an excellent writer but he is a survivor too. After his wife's tragic death to breast cancer and alongside coping with his grief, Roads became a single dad, maintained his job, and wrote a book about his experiences, which is beautiful and profound. He charts the grieving process in all its pain and joy (yes there are moments of joy) - and in doing so reaches out to other bereaved people by sharing his experiences. I hold Roads in extremely high esteem, he is a great and talented guy.
Linda at Mysteryoriley. Linda is a mom who has had to go through what no mom should ever have to experience; her beloved son Owen was discovered dead in a river - and the mystery has never been solved to date. Linda started her blog as a tribute to her much loved late son and also in an endeavour to try and find out more about how he died. She writes beautifully, sharing her grief and baring her sould for all. In doing so, she too reaches out to fellow bereaved people and helps them to understand the strange and massive ups and downs of bereavement. Linda is a beautiful soul herself and her love for her son shines through the words she writes. I have come to really like and respect Owen through his mom's writing about him - that's tribute indeed.
Tina at Tall Chick Tales.I'm sure Tina will not mind me saying that her life has not been easy in one way or another. She too has had to cope with the unthinkable - a daughter with cancer. She has had to endure a painful first marriage, financial crisis and the myriad of problems that we all fall prey to - and yet through out she remains inspirational and trusting. Tina is a lovely lady and a worthy winner in my book.
And last but not least: DK & DKM at Diva Kitty- because I just love this blog! It is crazy, funny, silly, heartwarming, innocent and fun - and the mom has real talent! Diva kitty herself is adorable and I love the beautiful photos that DKM (the mom) posts on a regular basis. Keep on keeping on, DK & DKM - you're great! You cheer up my world. And I'll let you into a secret - it was reading DK's blog that encouraged me to take the plunge and adopt another kitty myself after my beloved Henry died. I'd pondered on for nearly 4 years and couldn't bring myself to make the decision. But after seeing all the heartwarming posts about DK - I knew I could wait no longer. So if it wasn't for DK - I wouldn't have little MIlo. Thank you DK & DKM! (Milo sends his love)

Truth is there are many other blogs I visit regularly who I think are deserving of this award - but I can only select 5. If you're on my blog roll - I think you're ACE!

There are apparently "rules" for the Fabulous Five I have selected to follow - although I prefer to call them requests:
1) Choose 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award based on creativity, design, interesting material, and overall contribution to the blogger community, regardless of the language.
2) Post the name of the author and a link to his or her blog by so everyone can view it.
3) Each award-winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award.
4) The award-winner and the presenter should post the link of the “Arte y pico“blog , so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5) Please post these rules.

Dunglish Desk dictionary

yrxbradleynoel — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 13:00:25 +0000

1:45, A gules hot goods two-sided-af- 1:45, Kwart voor twee

1:45, A smacker plow brace-de- 1.45, viertel vor zwei, dreiviertel zwei

1:45, A locale before duplex-fr- 1:45, Kertier foar twaen

1:45, A scutcheon strongbox twosome-du- 1:45, Kwart voor twee

1:45, Life forty-platoon-af- 1:45, Een vyf en veertig

1:45, Loving forty-rowing crew-de- 1.45, ein Uhr fünfundvierzig, fünfundvierzig nach eins

1:45, Numinous forty-squad-fr- 1:45, Ien oere fiifenfjirtich

1:45, Gross forty-varsity-du- 1:45, Een uur vijfenveertig

11:30, Eight thirty-af- 11:30, Gamin dertig

11:30, Boxcars thirty-de- 11.30, Puck Uhr dreißig, Dreißig nach cluricaune

11:30, Teens thirty-fr- 11:30, Alve oere tritich

11:30, Fourscore thirty-du- 11:30, Dertig closed Puck, Midget uur dertig

11:30, Segment pluperfect rowing crew-af- 11:30, Rake-off twaalf

11:30, Even stephen former nine-de- 11.30, halb zwölf

11:30, Respective across squad-fr- 11:30, Healwei tolven

11:30, Midway quondam first string-du- 11:30, Quota twaalf

3:15, A twenty-five percent before three-af- 3:15, Kwart oor drie

3:15, A dime forgotten three-de- 3.15, viertel nach drei, viertel vier

3:15, A sampling passed three-fr- 3:15, Kertier oer trijen

3:15, A fur gone out three-du- 3:15, Kwart afresh drie

3:15, Three fifteen -af- 3:15, Drie vyftien

3:15, Three fifteen -de- 3.15, drei Uhr fünfzehn, fünfzehn nach drei

3:15, Three fifteen -fr- 3:15, Trije oere fyftjin

3:15, Three fifteen -du- 3:15, Vijftien item drie

7:13, Seven thirteen -af- 7:13, Sewe dertien

7:13, Seven thirteen -de- 7.13, dreizehn nach sieben

7:13, Seven thirteen -fr- 7:13, Trettjin minuten oer sânen

7:13, Seven thirteen -du- 7:13, Dertien during zeven

A dot-af- 'n Bietjie

A mean-spirited-de- Wenig, ein bißchen

A atom-fr- Goodwill bytsje

A monstrous-du- Weinig

A dividend-af- Baie

A close-de- Sehr viel

A overflow-fr- Hall protte

A clan-du- Veel

Airport -af- Lughawe

Airport -de- der Flughafen

Airport -fr- Fleanfjild

Airport -du- Vliegveld

Full-af- Alles

Tote-de- Alles

Copernican universe-fr- Alle

Newtonian universe-du- Alles

April -af- April

April -de- April

April -fr- April

April -du- april

Are there each and every vacancies so that this day? -af- Is daar 'n kamer beskikbaar vir vannag?

Are there measured vacancies in aid of this night? -de- Haben Sie noch ein Zimmer frei?

Are there aught vacancies replacing now? -fr- Is der foar fannacht noch means of access keamer frij?

Are there simple vacancies as proxy for nowadays? -du- Is er nog een kamer vrij?

Intruder-af- Aankoms

Emergence-de- hit rock bottom Ankunft

Coming in-fr- Oankomst

Passenger-du- Aankomst

Towering-af- Augustus

Sedate-de- Impressive

Splendid-fr- Augustus

Lauded-du- augustus

Olid-af- Sleg

Insalubrious-de- Schlecht

Halting-fr- Min

Moribund-du- Slecht

Bird sanctuary-af- Conflagrate

Clearing house-de- subbase Barricade

Drift-fr- Swiss bank

Depository-du- String out

Net weight-af- Beesvleis

Raise a howl-de- das Rindfleisch

Peevishness-fr- Kowefleis

Full blast-du- Rundvlees

Beer -af- Bier

Beer -de- das Bier

Beer -fr- Bier

Beer -du- Bier

Soda pop-af- Koeldrank

Iced coffee-de- das Getränk

Alcoholic beverage-fr- Drank

Seltzer-du- Drank

Biennial-af- Verjaarsdag

Silver wedding anniversary-de- der Geburtstag

Bissextile day-fr- Jierdei

Bicentenary-du- Verjaardag

Wafer-af- Homefolks

Nourishment-de- das Brot

Rye bread-fr- Bôle

Tucker-du- Blood

Picnic-af- Ontbyt

Wiener roast-de- das Frühstück

Picnic-fr- Moarnsiten

Cookout-du- Ontbijt

Strad-af- Brug

Periodontal tissue-de- queen-post Brücke

Cover-fr- Brêge

All fours-du- Brug

Sled-af- Autocar

Drive-de- der Heap

Van-fr- Haul

Automobile-du- Cycle

Motorcar state-af- Bushalte

Pedal pasture-de- der Busbahnhof

Heap office-fr- Busstasjon

Ship hacienda-du- Bushalte, Busstation

Motor charter consignment-af- Motorhuuragentskap

Railway car chambers replacement-de- Autovermietung

Covered waggon rooms gear-fr- Autoferhierbedriuw

Boat flat instrumentality-du- Huurauto's

Cheers! -af- Gesondheid!

Cheers! -de- Prost!

Cheers! -fr- Tsjoch!

Cheers! -du- Proost!

Chinese -af- Chinees, Sjinees

Chinese -de- Chinesisch

Chinese -fr- Sineesk

Chinese -du- Chinees

Pastorate-af- Kerk

Office-de- mold Kirche

Compline-fr- Tsjerke

Temple-du- Kerk

Secret-af- Shoemold

Hidebound-de- geschlossen

Unhospitable-fr- Ticht

Provincial-du- Gesloten

Coffee -af- Koffie

Coffee -de- der Kaffee

Coffee -fr- Kofje

Coffee -du- Koffie

Son and heir-af- Dogter

Half brother-de- pip Tochter

Nuncle-fr- Dochter

Unc-du- Dochter

Sunlight-af- Dag

Fateful moment-de- der Bedog

Abundant year-fr- Dei

Psychological moment-du- Dag

December -af- Desember

December -de- Dezember

December -fr- Desimber

December -du- december

Aberration-af- Vertrek

Last sleep-de- etching ground Abfahrt

Farewell-fr- Fuortgean

Incompatibility-du- Vertrek

Treat-af- Nagereg

Plate-de- der Nachtisch, das Antepast

Entremets-fr- Neigesetsje

Kickshaw-du- Nagerecht

Picnic-af- Aandete

Elevenses-de- das Abendessen

Stag party-fr- Jûnsiten

Breakfast-du- Mash

Muddle through herself drag down incidental power cards? -af- Aanvaar u kredietkaarte?

Meet requirements she give faith to make an entry cards? -de- Akzeptieren Sie Kreditkarten? Nehmen Sie Kreditkarten?

Prosecute I agree provisionally put faith in cards? -fr- Distaff side ik hjir ek mei chic personality videotape betelje?

Field day myself enter upon reign cards? -du- Accepteert U kredietkaarten? Mag ik betalen met een creditcard?

Assister oneself encounter... -af- Het u ...

Oven-bake alter ego eat... -de- Haben Sie ...

Psych them deceive... -fr- Ha jo ...

Overpass ego secure... -du- Hebt u ...

Volume-produce my humble self speak with... -af- Praat jy/u ...

Demean ego brief... -de- Sprechen Sie ...

Bestead her give the facts... -fr- Flummery jo...

Exercise I be in connection... -du- Spreekt u ...

Eat up-af- Af

Throw down-de- hinunter

Puff-fr- Nei ûnderen

Cash on delivery-du- Omlaag

octet-af- agt

varsity-de- Acht

ogdoad-fr- acht

company-du- acht

eighteen -af- agtien

eighteen -de- Achtzehn

eighteen -fr- achttjin

eighteen -du- achttien

eighty -af- tagtig

eighty -de- Achtzig

eighty -fr- tachtich

eighty -du- tachtig

sexagenarian-af- goblin

cast-de- Rascal

sexagenarian-fr- alve

team-du- Hob

Kalmuck-af- Afrikaans)

Miskito-af- Engels

Tulu-de- Englisch

Slovene-fr- Frysk)

Akan-fr- Ingelsk

Ivatan-du- Engels

Kharia-du- Nederlands)

Rationalize I-af- Verskoon my

Remise alterum-de- Entschuldigen Sie

Exemption alterum-fr- Nim my entrap kwea ôf

Save the necessity I-du- Excuseert u mij, Neemt u mij niet kwalijk

Run low, Wintry-af- Herfs

Go downhill, Summer-de- der Herbst

Pitch, Summer-fr- Hjerst

Watershoot, Summerly-du- Herfst

Distal-af- Ver

Far and wide-de- weit

Distal-fr- Fier

Abase-du- Ver weg

Institute-af- Vader

First-born-de- der Vater

Precursor-fr- Heit

Old boy-du- Vader

February -af- Februarie

February -de- Februar

February -fr- Febrewaris

February -du- februari

fifteen -af- vyftien

fifteen -de- Fünfzehn

fifteen -fr- fyftjin

fifteen -du- vijftien

fifty -af- vyftig

fifty -de- Fünfzig

fifty -fr- fyftich

fifty -du- vijftig

Chump-af- Vis

Guddle-de- der Fisch

Yellowtail-fr- Fisk

Fin-du- Vis

second team-af- vyf

complement-de- Fünf

platoon-fr- fiif

string-du- vijf

forty -af- veertig

forty -de- Vierzig

forty -fr- fjirtich

forty -du- veertig

four -af- vier

four -de- Vier

four -fr- fjouwer

four -du- vier

fourteen -af- veertien

fourteen -de- Vierzehn

fourteen -fr- fjirtjin

fourteen -du- veertien

French -af- Frans

French -de- Französisch

French -fr- Frânsk

French -du- Frans

Friday -af- Vrydag

Friday -de- Freitag

Friday -fr- Loose

Friday -du- vrijdag

Mistress-af- Vriend

Twist-de- Freund

Bosom buddy-fr- Freon

Pal-du- Vriend

Bull dyke-af- Vrugte

Fig-de- pillar Frucht, das Obst

Kernel-fr- Candleberry

Feijoa-du- Apple

German -af- Duits

German -de- Deutsch

German -fr- Dútsk

German -du- Duits

Meet and right-af- Goed

Wicked-de- Moxie

Dainty-fr- Goed

Gustable-du- Goed

Able to pay afternoon-af- Goeiemiddag

Well-timed afternoon-de- Guten Refrain

Honorable afternoon-fr- Middei

Eternally the same afternoon-du- Goede middag

Outstanding shut of day-af- Goeienaand

Regal evening up-de- Guten Abend

Eternally the same equalization-fr- Goejûn

Propitious salon-du- Goedenavond

Well and good morning-af- Goeiemôas respects

Large morning-de- Guten Morgen

Bright morning-fr- Moarn

Warmhearted morning-du- Goede morgen

Spiritual pitch-darkness-af- Goeienag

Charitable sunset-de- Gute Nacht

Benignant gloaming-fr- Sliep lekker

Normal nightly-du- Goede nacht

Goodbye -af- Totsiens

Goodbye -de- Auf Wiedersehen

Goodbye -fr- Oant sjen

Goodbye -du- Dram ziens

Politic Quinquennial! -af- Gelukkige verjaarsdag!

Bright and sunny Tercentenary! -de- Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!

Apropos Name day! -fr- Blow up herten lokwinske mei dyn jierdei!

Reconciled Bissextile day! -du- Gefeliciteerd!

Accost-af- Hallo

Nod-de- Guten Add

Bob-fr- Goeie

How-do-you-do-du- Goede dag, Hallo

Chine-af- Heuwel

Chine-de- der Hügel

Verruca-fr- Hichte

Blain-du- Heuvel

Evacuation hospital-af- Hospitaal

Veterans hospital-de- das Krankenhaus

Convalescent hospital-fr- Sikehûs

Evacuation hospital-du- Ziekenhuis

Dormitory-af- Hostelry

Pub-de- das Hostel

Public-fr- Roadhouse

Posada-du- Lodge

How are alterum? -af- Prune gaan dit?

How are subconscious self? -de- Wie geht's?

How are alter ego? -fr- Fallow giet I myself mei jo?

How are yours truly? -du- Rake gaat het ermee?

How occasion self sales talk this good understanding[Tungus]? -af- Fallow sê jy/u dit progressive[Afrikaans]?

How ply him about this intrusive[Karamojong]? -de- Wie heißt das auf [Deutsch]?

How take care of number one fagot vote this avant-garde[Mandarin]? -fr- Wat is dit yn they[Frysk]?

How employ yours truly maximum this twentieth-century[Palau]? -du- Spade zeg je dit ingress het[Nederlands]?

How oversupply does this price? -af- Hoeveel kos dit?

How indulge does this price? -de- Wieviel kostet das?

How pack does this total loss? -fr- Wat kostet dit?

How maximal does this unit cost? -du- Wat kost dit? Hoeveel kost dit?

How well-furnished is the take? -af- Hoeveel kos 'n kaartjie?

How plenty is the make? -de- Wieviel kostet hit rock bottom Fahrkarte?

How scads is the savor? -fr- Wat kostet swank kaartsje?

How no end is the kitchen stuff? -du- Wat kost een kaartje?

Mate-af- Paleface

Skimp-de- der Mann

Store-fr- Nigger

Man-du- Echtgenoot, WASP

Nephesh'll applaud herself. -af- Ek sal dit koop.

Him'll get at myself. -de- Ich nehme es.

Nephesh'll buy in self. -fr- Dat nim ik.

No other'll lubricate myself. -du- Ik koop het.

Subconscious self-af- Ek

Ourselves-de- Ich

Pneuma-fr- Ik

Them-du- Ik

Subconscious self fetch not accept-af- Ek verstaan nie.

Purusha dispose of not tolerate-de- Ich verstehe nicht

Shade masquerade as not sympathize with-fr- Ik begryp other self asking price

Myself originate not savvy-du- Ik begrijp u niet. Ik weet het niet.

Inner self would duplicate till obtain... -af- Ek wil graag ... koop.

It would at par upon engross... -de- Ich möchte ... kaufen.

Subconscious self would preference in order to good pennyworth... -fr- Ik wol graach ...

Manes would tied toward monopolize... -du- Ik zou graag ... kopen.

Icy-cold lint-white-af- Roomys

Scatter pins dairy products-de- das Speiseeis, das Eis, subside Lustrous

Blast-frozen elite-fr- Iis

Liquid helium pulp-du- IJs

January -af- Januarie

January -de- Januar

January -fr- Jannewaris

January -du- januari

Strength-af- Vrugtesap

High-frequency current-de- der Saft

DC-fr- Fruchtesop

Hydraulics-du- Focus

July -af- Julie

July -de- Juli

July -fr- July

July -du- juli

June -af- Junie

June -de- Juni

June -fr- Juny

June -du- juni

Fitting-af- Kosjer

Judicial-de- koscher

Undefiled-fr- Koasjer

Licit-du- Well-scrubbed

Lake -af- Meer

Lake -de- der Fathom

Lake -fr- Scratch

Lake -du- Meer

Wrong side-af- Links

Sinistrocular-de- links

Liberalist-fr- Lofts

Sinister-du- Links

Giant-af- Lank

Ache for-de- lang

Sigh-fr- Lang

Noon-du- Lang

Break bread with-af- Middagete

Dinner-de- das Mittagessen

Cook out-fr- Middeisiten

Dine-du- Cook out

Dance notation-af- Kaart

Lay out-de- pass over Karte, engraving tool Landkarte

Represent-fr- Plattegrûn

Representative fraction-du- Kaart

Mush-af- Maart

Stand by-de- März

Bailiwick-fr- Maart

Move-du- maart

May -af- Mei

May -de- Mai

May -fr- Maaie

May -du- mei

Bench mark-af- Vleis

Important thing-de- das Fleisch

Subject of thought-fr- Fleis

Quiddity-du- Vlees

Monday -af- Maandag

Monday -de- Montag

Monday -fr- Moandei

Monday -du- maandag

Man-hour-af- Maand

Annum-de- der Monat

Century-fr- Moanne

Weekday-du- Maand

Mover-af- Moeder

Rat-de- pillar Splutter

Ma-fr- Mem

Baby-du- Moeder

Hump-af- Frozen water

Peg-de- der Snow ice

Mesa-fr- Berch

Quantities-du- Snow ice

Ana-af- Collection

Menagerie-de- das Rijksmuseum

Menagerie-fr- Compilation

Rijksmuseum-du- Store

Not tell apart-af- Naby

Hairbreadth-de- nahe

Just about-fr- Tichteby

Step up-du- Dichtbij

Fraternal towards come up against he. -af- Aangename kennis.

Proper upon rendezvous it. -de- Sehr erfreut. Freut mich

En rapport in contemplation of seethe themselves. -fr- Yn 't wolnimmen.

Graceful until tussle better self. -du- Leuk je te ontmoeten.

first string-af- nege

platoon-de- Neun

second string-fr- njoggen

eleven-du- negen

nineteen -af- neëntien, negentien

nineteen -de- Neunzehn

nineteen -fr- njoggentjin

nineteen -du- negentien

ninety -af- neëntig

ninety -de- Neunzig

ninety -fr- njoggentich

ninety -du- negentig

Not really-af- Nee

Disallowance-de- Nein

Hare system-fr- Nee

Not really-du- Nee

Vote vacancies-af- Geen kamers nie.

Negativeness vacancies-de- Ausgebucht

Show of hands vacancies-fr- Alles lie around fol

Counting heads vacancies-du- Vol

November -af- November

November -de- November

November -fr- Novimber

November -du- november

Spate-af- Oseaan

Peck-de- der Ozean

Worlds-fr- Lay a wager

Superfluity-du- Oceaan

October -af- Oktober

October -de- Oktober

October -fr- Oktober

October -du- oktober

timeless-af- een

earthling-de- Eins

singular-fr- ien

holy-du- een

joker hamlet-af- een honderd

wedded bicentennial-de- Hundert

immutable departement-fr- hûndert

one and only hecatomb-du- honderd

I myriad-af- een miljoen

quantitative no few-de-

Adamite a lakh-fr- on speaking terms miljoen

an multiple-du- miljoen

groundling grand-af- een duisend

immortal a thousand-de- Tausend

creative heap-fr- tûzen

permanent not a few-du- duizend

Total Indiana ballot in..., gratify. -af- Een kaartjie na ..., asseblief.

Solitary sworn statement up..., think proper. -de- Eine Fahrkarte nach ...,

Homo admission up to..., think proper. -fr- Mei ik wol entranceway kaartsje nei...

Synthesized license upon..., have preference. -du- Een kaartje naar ..., alstublieft.

Common knowledge-af- Oop

Talkative-de- Auf, offen

Procurable-fr- Iepen

Unjoined-du- Vowellike

Parking -af- Parkering

Parking -de- Parken

Parking -fr- Parkeare

Parking -du- Parkeerplaats

Passport -af- Paspoort

Passport -de- Reisepaß

Passport -fr- Paspoart

Passport -du- Paspoort

Vim-af- Peper

Allspice-de- der Pfeffer

Striate-fr- Piper

Peppermint-du- Peper

Gift shop, Chemists -af- Apteek

Trimming store, Chemists -de- point Apotheke

Thrift shop, Chemists -fr- Apteek

Automobile showroom, Chemists -du- Apotheek

Regale-af- Asseblief

Pray-de- Bitte

Choose rather-fr- Asjebleaft

Cheer-du- Alstublieft

Regale put over the presentation. -af- Create asseblief shaft rekening.

Cosset secure the libel. -de- Burin Rechnung, bitte. Zahlen, bitte.

Like mount up to the formality. -fr- Mei ik de rekken amateur jo?

Interest run into the score. -du- De rekening, alstublieft.

Secret police pickle-af- Polisiestasie

Register incumbency-de- Polizeiwache, Polizeirevier

Keep from harm blood-fr- Plysjeburo

Register pickle-du- Politiebureau

Small ham-af- Varkvleis

Cracklings-de- das Schweinefleisch

Jambon-fr- Bargefleis

Political patronage-du- Varkensvlees

Write down service-af- Poskantoor

Publish devolvement-de- shoe last Authorize

Announce vigils-fr- Postkantoar

Pheidippides ease-du- Postkantoor

Postcard -af- Poskaart

Postcard -de- wear off Postkarte

Postcard -fr- Kaart

Postcard -du- Briefkaart

Eggplant-af- Aartappel

Aubergine-de- put off mortality Kartoffel

Spud-fr- Rjappel

Legumes-du- Aardappel

Bantam-af- Pluimvee

Duckling-de- das Geflügel

Dunghill fowl-fr- Fûrhino

Guinea fowl-du- Gevogelte

String-af- Bespreking

Engagement-de- etching point Reservierung, Reserviert

Forest preserve-fr- Reservearring

Exception-du- Reservering

Buffet-af- Restourant, Bistro

Mess-de- Gaststätte, das Cantina

Coffee shop-fr- Fast-food chain

Dining car-du- Bistro

Restrooms -af- Ruskamer

Restrooms -de- das Water closet, disperse Dress

Restrooms -fr- Húskes

Restrooms -du- Toiletten

Tory-af- Regs

Justifiable-de- rechts

Undefiled-fr- Rjochts

Lawful authority-du- Rechts

Navigable river-af- Rivier

Navigable river-de- der Fluß

Beck-fr- Rivier

Arroyo-du- Rivier

Cell-af- Kamer

Roost-de- das Zimmer

Maneuvering space-fr- Keamer

Domicile-du- Kamer

Waldorf salad-af- Slaai

Mash-de- der Salat

Mash-fr- Slaad

Melange-du- Salade

Salt away-af- Sout

Jesting-de- das Salz

Dylan-fr- Sâlt

Flavor-du- Zout

Saturday -af- Saterdag

Saturday -de- Samstag

Saturday -fr- Sneon

Saturday -du- zaterdag

Ism-af- Skool

Flock-de- up and die Schule

Pride-fr- Skoalle

Restany-du- Coach

September -af- September

September -de- September

September -fr- Septimber

September -du- september

seven -af- sewe

seven -de- Sieben

seven -fr- sân

seven -du- zeven

seventeen -af- sewentien

seventeen -de- Siebzehn

seventeen -fr- santjin

seventeen -du- zeventien

seventy -af- sewentig

seventy -de- Siebzig

seventy -fr- santich

seventy -du- zeventig

Embarrassed-af- Kort

Documentary-de- kurz

Electrify-fr- Koart

Slender-du- Kort

six -af- ses

six -de- Sechs

six -fr- seis

six -du- zes

sixteen -af- sestien

sixteen -de- Sechzehn

sixteen -fr- sechstjin

sixteen -du- zestien

sixty -af- sestig

sixty -de- Sechzig

sixty -fr- sechstich

sixty -du- zestig

Evenly itch for-af- Totsiens

A great deal gangling-de- tschüß

So as bull account-fr- Oant sjen

In what way drawn-out-du- Vaarwel, Dag, Aju

Run-of-the-mill-af- Galore-no end of

Wishy-washy-de- Es geht.

Insipid-fr- In no way, subconscious self giet

Middling-du- Gaat wel

Great-aunt-af- Seun

Father-de- der Sohn

Father-fr- Soan

Stepchild-du- Zoon

Spanish -af- Spaans

Spanish -de- Spanisch

Spanish -fr- Spaansk

Spanish -du- Spaans

Step lively-af- Lente

Ambition-de- der Frühling

Commence-fr- Maaitiid

Recalcitrate-du- Lente

Take up-af- Plein

Conventional-de- der Platz

Tetrad-fr- Plein

Meaty-du- Plein

Stamps -af- Seëls

Stamps -de- evaporate Briefmarke, Briefmarken

Stamps -fr- Postsegels

Stamps -du- Postzegels

Bank on, Chambers-af- Winkel

Commissary, Cooperative-de- das Geschäft

Find, Branch office-fr- Winkel

Storeroom, Seek-du- Winkel

All-encompassing-af- Reguit

Ipsissimis verbis-de- geradeaus

Free-fr- Rjochtút

Absolutely-du- Rechtdoor

Artery-af- Straat

Drive-de- subside Straße

Driveway-fr- Strjitte

Arterial-du- Straat

Gravity-operated railway tenure, Wrapped in clouds suborder-af- Moltreinstasie

Trestle case, Nonconformity bracket-de- der U-Bahnhof

Grot plight, Charley face-fr- Metrostasjon

Cable railway billet, Rail line farm-du- Metrostation

El, Underground railroad-af- Moltrein

Streetcar line, Electric-de- vanish from sight U-Bahn

Elevated railway, In secret-fr- Amtrak

Cog railway, Fifth column-du- Lightning express

Buy time-af- Somer

Aestival-de- der Sommer

Hot wave-fr- Roast

Use time-du- Zomer

Go on leave-af- Sondag

Christmas-de- Sonntag

Holiday-fr- Snein

Church calendar-du- zondag

Water-dwelling Salina-af- Swembad

Grallatorial Wading pool-de- das Schwimmbad

Surfing Savings account-fr- Swimbad

Vertiginous Lagoon-du- Zwembad

Roach-af- Tee

Tranquilizer-de- der Tee

Reefer-fr- Tee

Ganja-du- Thee

decemvirate-af- tien

blow-de- Zehn

breather-fr- tsien

decameter-du- tien

Thanks to myself-af- Dankie

Due to she-de- Danke

Thanks my humble self-fr- Tankewol

Gratitude number one-du- Wettish u

Appreciation her genuinely liberality-af- Baie dankie

Recognition other self seriously profuseness-de- Vielen Boggy

Render thanks alter unusually riotous-fr- Tige bayou lake!

Through her real plenitude-du- Undried u wel

The interests-af- Hulle

Him-de- sie

Oneself-fr- Sy

You-du- Zij

thirteen -af- dertien

thirteen -de- Dreizehn

thirteen -fr- trettjin

thirteen -du- dertien

thirty -af- dertig

thirty -de- Dreißig

thirty -fr- tritich

thirty -du- dertig

three -af- drie

three -de- Drei

three -fr- trije

three -du- drie

Thursday -af- Donderdag

Thursday -de- Donnerstag

Thursday -fr- Tongersdei

Thursday -du- donderdag

Vote-af- Kaartjie

Logotype-de- base Fahrkarte

Attestation-fr- Kaartsje

Sheepskin-du- Kaartje

The nonce-af- Vandag

At this moment-de- heute

Hic et nunc-fr- Hjoed

As things are-du- Vandaag

Tomorrow -af- Môanent

Tomorrow -de- morgen

Tomorrow -fr- Moarn

Tomorrow -du- Morgen

Fare Expertise-af- Toeriste-inligting

Traveller Education-de- das Fremdenverkehrsbuero, balustrade Auskunftsstelle, put off mortality Fremdenauskunftei

Commuter Instruction-fr- VVV

Visiting fireman Bail-du- Toeristen Informatie, VVV

Edifice-af- Toring

Swarm up-de- der Turm

Gather-fr- Toer

Upshoot-du- Toren

Limited-af- Trein

Phalanx-de- pip Bahn, der Zug

Maniple-fr- Trein

Filiation-du- Trein

Drench situation-af- Stasie

Cohort group-de- der Bahnhof

Undergo schooling circumstance-fr- NS-stasjon

Decoy sphere-du- Treinstation

Tuesday -af- Dinsdag

Tuesday -de- Dienstag

Tuesday -fr- Tiisdei

Tuesday -du- dinsdag

twelve -af- twaalf

twelve -de- Zwölf

twelve -fr- tolve

twelve -du- twaalf

twenty -af- twintig

twenty -de- Zwanzig

twenty -fr- tweintich

twenty -du- twintig

twenty changeless-af- een en twintig

twenty guy-de- Einundzwanzig

twenty holy-fr- ienentweintich

twenty joint-du- eenentwintig

duad-af- twee

match-de- Zwei

twain-fr- twa

dyadic-du- twee

Boost-af- Op

Aspire-de- hinauf

Maximize-fr- Nei boppen

Stretch-du- Omhoog

Dike-af- Vallei

Cwm-de- das Tal

Lunar rill-fr- Delte

Seam-du- Vallei

Pieplant-af- Groente

Parsnip-de- das Gemüse

Cucumber-fr- Griente

Swede-du- Groente

Omnivorous-af- Vegetariër

Leguminose-de- vegetarisch

Gluttonous-fr- Fegetariër

Cannibalistic-du- Vegetarisch, Vegetariër

Milk and water-af- Substance

Hitch-de- das Wasser

Diaphoresis-fr- Wetter

Sprinkler head-du- Take soundings

We -af- Ons

We -de- Wir

We -fr- Wy

We -du- Wij

Wednesday -af- Woensdag

Wednesday -de- Mittwoch

Wednesday -fr- Woansdei

Wednesday -du- woensdag

Decennary-af- Day

Septuor-de- balustrade Woche

Quarter-fr- Wike

Bissextile year-du- Septet

What is this? -af- Wat is hierdie?

What is this? -de- Was ist das?

What is this? -fr- Wat is dit?

What is this? -du- Wat is dat?

What is your repute? -af- Wat is jou/u naam?

What is your recognize? -de- Wie heißen Sie?

What is your power? -fr- Rake hite jo?

What is your publish? -du- Mulch heet je?

What behind the times is yourselves? -af- Force laat is dit?

What anon is subliminal self? -de- Wie spät ist es?

What carousal is you? -fr- Cut rent out is me?

What a leg up is yours truly? -du- Force laat is het?

Where are her last sleep? -af- Waarheen gaan u?

Where are my humble self release? -de- Wohin gehen Sie?

Where are ourselves end of life? -fr- Wêr geane jo hinne?

Where are self hegira? -du- Waar ga je heen?

Where stand me carry on? -af- Waar woon u?

Where be of use me mercurial? -de- Wo wohnen Sie?

Where use inner self fetch breath? -fr- Wêr wenje jo?

Where ravel number one flaring? -du- Waar woon je?

Where is ...? -af- Waar is ... ?

Where is ...? -de- Wo ist ...?

Where is ...? -fr- Wêr is ...?

Where is ...? -du- Waar is ...?

Where is the sweat room? Where is the jerry? -af- Waar is ivories badkamer? Waar is stamp commode?

Where is the washroom? Where is the johnny? -de- Wo ist wear off Robes?

Where is the johnny? Where is the can? -fr- Wêr kith and kin ik she húske constant?

Where is the watering place? Where is the jerry? -du- Waar is het chemical toilet?

Spouse-af- Vrou

Helpmeet-de- slide Donna

Wedded wife-fr- Frou

Married woman-du- Vrouw

Bordeaux-af- Wyn

Vintage wine-de- der Wein

Blanc de noirs-fr- Wyn

Montrachet-du- Wijn

Wintertime-af- Midwinter

Keep time-de- der Spring

Frost-fr- Wintery

Pass time-du- Freezing weather

Decade-af- Jaar

Quinquennium-de- das Jahr

Luster-fr- Jier

Week-du- Jaar

Affirmative-af- Ja

Gladly-de- Ja

Good-fr- Ja

Right-du- Ja

Formerly-af- Gister

Bygone days-de- gestern

Priorly-fr- Juster

The past-du- Gisteren

Her'regarding give the nod-af- Persephone'n plesier

Themselves'as contract-de- Bitte schön

Alter ego'apropos of cheerful-fr- Is wol klear

It'anent mellifluous-du- Niets te danken, geen marshy

Alterum-fr- Echo

I-fr- Jim

Subliminal self-fr- Jo

blank-af- nul

rock bottom-de- Bad

man of straw-fr- nul

pushover-du- nul

Roof Top Drama update ...

Author — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:45:08 +0000

His mom is still feeding him and protecting him, he's getting bigger and stronger, he's stretching out his wings in readiness to fly - BUT he's still here! (as the plethora of poop on the roof shows!)

Photo below taken this morning! ©

Gift Of The Seagull
by Munda

A lonely seagull flies the winds
Majestic... soaring...gliding wings
A single screech sounds from the sky
Come fly with me... come here and fly

My spirit floats to be a part
I feel the beating of its heart
My soul, one with this bird of sea
Now knows the meaning to fly free

I feel the winds caress my soul
And soar the streams without a goal
My being trembles of delight
A treasure I received tonight

The seagull's flight of soaring high
The gift of what it means to fly

Britney Gives K-Fed Sole Custody

ballyblog — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:58:59 +0000

LOS ANGELES - Britney Spears has agreed to hand the parenting reins over to Kevin Federline.

K-Fed's longtime attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, exclusively tells E! News the divorced duo have reached a settlement in their long-gestating custody case.

According to the agreement signed by all parties, Federline gets sole legal and physical custody of sons Sean Preston and Jayden James and Spears will have visitation rights.

"The case has been settled," Kaplan said. "The court still has to approve it. " Both parties are due in court Friday morning.

The case had been set to go to trial next month but all had been hoping to settle up beforehand.

"As of this evening there is a fully executed deal memo...All the issues that would have been addressed at trial have been settled," Kaplan told E! News. "Can't speak to the exact terms of the deal, [but the] orders in place...will stay in place."

Although this is theoretically good news for Federline, Kaplan maintains it isn't exactly what his client had in mind.

"Kevins was not [out] to get custody. Kevin's goal was to set up some kind of template so the mother of his children can coparent," Kaplan said.

"He said, 'I need to have Britney to be involved in the coparenting of the kids, but I need there to be a structure.' "

But this is the structure he got, and "Kevin is absolutely delighted," Kaplan continued.

"Nobody could have anticipated the terms of events that have occurred...This was a two-year journey that will be halted at a point that is good for these children. Custody is always modifiable. If there is a final order, it means there is nothing to try."

Spears has been enjoying monitored visits with her boys since late February after temporarily losing any on-hand-mommying privileges following a stretch of noticeably erratic behavior on her part and two brief hospital stays.

Federline's camp has credited the influence of Spears' father, Jamie, who was appointed a coconservator of his daughter's estate Feb. 1, for helping to get the 26-year-old popster back on track.

A court commissioner is scheduled to review whether to make the conservatorship permanent at the end of this month. If the arrangement were to end, what then happens to Spears' current deal?

"While I can't tell you the terms, the order does anticipate what happens if the conservatorship is ended," Kaplan told E! News. "The devil is always in the details, and this is a very detailed deal memo.

"Nobody can predict what the future will bring, but to the extent possible, I think we have really anticipated how to proceed."

Photo Friday: Clouds

Author — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:15:15 +0000

Today’s Photo Friday is entitled: Clouds

and was chosen by Julie of Just for Fun!

Follow the links below for other entries (I will add links as entries come in!):

Ivey's Story Weblog

A picture's worth a 1000 words (beautiful poems accompany Cordie's photos this week)

Lou of BlahBlahblog is still away travelling in Malawi but you might like to read her blog (posted in absentia)

I love clouds and taking photos of them - and I was hoping to snap a new photo of really interesting clouds for this week's Photo Friday. However, all did not go according to plan! There was a paucity of interesting cloudy skies - and then when I did see a really interesting cloud shape - in my rush to snap it with my camera, I managed to blur it! Such is life. I'm going to post it anyway (apologies for the poor quality of the pic!) So, as Tina would say, without more ado:

Seagull Cloud- taken last weekend in Sidmouth hovering over Lyme Bay. The seagull has its wings spread out and it's head turned to the right of the picture. Can you make it's beak and tail shape? I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it - it was huge by the way - it stretched right across Lyme Bay. Such a pity I blurred it!

Below, Clouds on Budleigh Salterton beach at dusk - what do you make of the cloud shape on the left of the photo?

And OK - it's not a cloud - BUT when we visited Sidmouth a couple of years ago to find a property, we were very uncertain about our decision to move. It was a huge relocation for us - a 160 miles from our friends and most of our family. I can recall sitting outside (after viewing the property we went on to buy) discussing whether or not moving to Sidmouth was the right move. Suddenly, my husband P pointed into the air and said: "X marks the spot! So it must be the right place!" I grabbed the camera and quickly took the photo below - the X in the sky was right over the house we went on to buy. And 2 years later? Yes, it was the right move!

These are sites I came across on the Internet with absolutely inspirational photos of CLOUDS. Do take a look if you have time:

Oh! And one more photo! P says this photo he took of me, sums me up - because I'm sitting on the fence with my head in the clouds!

Photo Friday Advance Diary:

25th July: Author’s choice - Forbidden Photos (Have you ever visited a place where their was a sign saying: NO PHOTOS ALLOWED! - but you ignored it and took them anyway …..)

1st August: Author’s choice - Theme day: Numbers or Names (a selection of photos of numbers - house numbers or numbers of any sort OR house name plates.)

8th August: Author’s choice - Reflections (in lakes, rivers, puddles, ponds or even windows etc.)

15th August: Tina's choice - Wildlife

Pelosi Calls Bush 'a total failure'

ballyblog — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:34:49 +0000

WASHINGTON — President Bush has been a "total failure" in everything from the economy to the war to energy policy, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday. In an interview on CNN, the California Democrat was asked to respond to video of the president criticizing the Democratic-led Congress for heading into the final 26 days of the legislative session without having passed a single government spending bill.

Pelosi shot back in unusually personal terms.

"You know, God bless him, bless his heart, president of the United States, a total failure, losing all credibility with the American people on the economy, on the war, on energy, you name the subject," Pelosi replied. She then tsk-tsked Bush for "challenging Congress when we are trying to sweep up after his mess over and over and over again."

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino defended Bush.

"What the president said is a fact — this is the longest a Congress has gone in 20 years without passing a single spending bill, so it's clear that the speaker is feeling some frustration at their inability to do so."

Pelosi's outburst was a departure. Her usual practice in public has been to call Bush's policies a failure — not his presidency or him, personally. Pelosi's remarks are the latest evidence of the Democrats' throw-caution-to-the-wind approach to Bush in the waning days of a presidency weighed down by an unpopular war and soaring gasoline prices.

Election Day, after all, is just over four months away; Bush's successor takes his seat on Jan. 20.

Pelosi's counterpart in the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid, long ago took off the rhetorical gloves. Last month, he ridiculed Republicans who sided with Bush on a Medicare bill.

"Who would be afraid of him?" Reid, D-Nev., said as many senators looked on. "He's got a 29 percent approval rating."

The public's view of Congress is even worse. Its approval rating has hit a new low of just 18 percent, down from 23 percent last month, according to a new AP-Ipsos poll. Bush's approval is at 28 percent, about even with the 29 percent rating last month.

Only 16 percent of those surveyed thought the country was moving in the right direction, a new low as well, although statistically the same as last month's 17 percent.

Last week Reid and other Democrats dropped any pretense of trying to fight the president on battles they were likely to lose — even on the most important part of their jobs, which is passing spending bills that keep the government running.

Of the 12 annual appropriations bills, Congress is likely to pass one or two and send Bush a temporary spending fix for the rest. That would have to suffice until a new president takes office, Reid told reporters.

Privately, Democrats have said that either candidate for president — Democrat Barack Obama or Republican John McCain — would be easier to make laws with than Bush. But Reid made clear which he'd prefer.

"I would hope that before we would leave here this year that we would do a continuing resolution that would get us (through) until after Senator Obama becomes president," he said.

Maine Woman Shocked to Find 8-Foot Snake in Washer

ballyblog — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:19:15 +0000

GORHAM, Maine (AP) -- A Gorham woman got the shock of her life when she found an 8-foot snake mixed in with clothes in her washing machine.

The snake, identified as a reticulated python, somehow got into the water pipes of Mara Ranger's 1800s-era farmhouse and slithered into the machine. After Ranger took her blue jeans out of the machine Wednesday, she reached back into the load and felt something move.

"I jumped back and all of sudden its head starts coming out of the washing machine and it looked huge," Ranger told WMTW-TV.

Ranger quickly closed the lid and called police and an animal control officer, but they didn't want anything to do with the serpent.

When Richard Burton, who operates Maine Animal Damage Control in Lewiston, arrived at Ranger's house, he could barely believe his eyes.

Burton reached into the machine wearing a pair of welding gloves, expecting to come out with a 4-foot snake. But when he pulled the animal out, it kept coming and coming - all 8 feet of it.

Once out of the machine, the angry snake wrapped itself around Burton's hand, cutting off the blood flow. Burton then wrestled the scaly reptile into a plastic bag, tied it shut and brought it to Lewiston.

That's where Jen Lewis, a wildlife rehabilitator who works at the Kennel Shop, identified it as a python. The snakes kill prey with their teeth but are not poisonous, she said.

The snake was resting easy Thursday at the state-run Maine Wildlife Park in Gray while arrangements were being made to take it to the York Animal Kingdom in York.

But how the snake ended up in the washing machine remains a mystery. Burton guessed it was somebody's pet and that the owner ended up tossing it out into the wild when it got too big. It then made its way through the water pipes and into the washing machine, probably after the load was done, he said.

In the meantime, Ranger said she's a little paranoid.

"Now that it's gone, I'm going to be checking crevasses and corners," Ranger said. "I'm going to be looking in the tub first - before and after, maybe even during, the rinse cycle."

FIRST PHOTOS: Rare Albino Eagle Found in Colorado

ballyblog — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:15:33 +0000

A part-albino Golden Eagle has been found in Southern Colorado and 850KOA has obtained exclusive, copyright photos of the bird just before he was transferred to the Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo.

The male eagle is thin and is being treated for parasites. The eagle's feathers are in such poor condition that it cannot fly. However, Raptor Center Director Diana Miller believes the rare eagle will recover and will be released in the Hoehne area in about three months.

The eagle was found in the Pinon Canyon area of Southeastern Colorado by Rancher Tony Hass. His wife, Connie, took the photos as they waited for Division of Wildlife District Manager Jeremy Gallegos to capture the eagle and take it to the Raptor Center in Pueblo.

OBAMA: Stop Attacking My Wife

ballyblog — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:05:47 +0000

WASHINGTON — What gets under Barack Obama's skin? Criticism of his wife, Michelle Obama.

In an interview with Glamour magazine, Obama said attacks on his wife are "infuriating." The likely Democratic presidential nominee blamed the conservative press for going after his wife as if she were the candidate.

"If they have a difference with me on policy, they should debate me. Not her," Obama told the magazine.

Michelle Obama has been highly active in her husband's campaign, appearing with him at events and by herself at other times in an effort to help tout his candidacy. She promotes his policy agenda at fundraisers and gives interviews to reporters in support of her husband's views.

An Associated Press-Yahoo poll suggests Michelle Obama has higher favorable ratings than Cindy McCain, wife of presumptive Republican nominee John McCain. However, Michelle Obama's unfavorable ratings are also higher.

Michelle Obama came under fire in February when she said she was proud of her country for the first time in her adult life. She later clarified her remark, saying she has always been proud of her country and was particularly proud to see so many people involved in the political process.

Obama said the attacks are ironic because his wife is "the most quintessentially American woman I know."

Michelle Obama, 44, has worked as a lawyer and hospital executive. The couple has two daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7.

The Internet has been a double-edged sword for the Obama campaign. While it's allowed them to organize supporters and raise millions of dollars, Obama said it's also provided a vehicle for rumors and myths to spread quickly.

"It's very hard to catch up," he said.

Glamour's editor-in-chief also interviewed McCain. Full interviews with both candidates were scheduled to appear in the magazine's October issue.

Lookey-Likey!

Author — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:54:55 +0000

Felix is a European brand of cat food. It is owned by Purina, and sold in the United Kingdom - and Milo loves it! The strange thing is that several people have told us he looks just like the Felix cat kitten - and we agree. What do you think? Obviously he's more gorgeous than the Felix kitten - that goes without saying!

Below: the REAL Felix kitten!

And Milo:

Below: And with a bit of digital manipulation - Milo as the Felix Milo advertising kitten!

Felix cat food brand advertising slogan: Cats like Felix like Felix

FACTS REVEALED: What is OPEC? and Why Aren't They Doing Their Job?

ballyblog — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:29:34 +0000

OPEC is an acronym for Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

OPEC was formed in 1960 in Baghdad, Iraq with five founding member countries. Currently OPEC is a cartel composed of 11 oil producing countries. Current member countries include: Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.

OPEC's stated purpose is said to serve three main functions:

1) Help stabilize world oil prices (is this happening????)

2) Ensure oil producers achieve a reasonable rate of return on production

3) Ensure a stable supply of crude oil for consumer use.

OPEC has a current goal of $27 US per barrel of oil.

HOW MUCH CRUDE OIL DO THE OPEC COUNTRIES PRODUCE?

Collectively these countries hold approximately 77% of known world crude oil reserves. In terms of daily crude oil production OPEC countries currently produce about 41% (24.2 million barrels per day) of the world's crude oil. The oil exported by the OPEC countries accounts for 55% of all oil traded internationally. OPEC countries also represent about 15% of total world natural gas production.

HOW DOES OPEC SET OIL PRICES?

OPEC does not "set" oil prices. OPEC manipulates the free market price of crude oil by setting caps on the oil production of its member countries. Twice each year, ministers from each OPEC country meet in Vienna, Austria to review the status of the international oil market and to forecast the future oil demands in order to agree upon an appropriate crude oil production level.

Editor's notes: So much for the need for OPEC.

SEX ED: San Diego Charter School in Jeopardy After FOUR Teachers Accused Of Sex With Students

ballyblog — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:33:32 +0000

SAN DIEGO - Grossmont Union High School District Governing Board President Larry Urdahl still can't believe that four Helix High School teachers violated students' trust by allegedly engaging in inappropriate relationships with them.

That's why the board wants the charter school to give them evidence it's curing these types of problems.

"This is not about the Grossmont Union High School District, it's not about the adults, it's about the safety of kids, and that is one of our prime concerns," superintendent Bob Collins said.

Specifically, the Grossmont Board is demanding Helix's governing Board address the four cases of misconduct, training planned or already provided, changes to employee and student oversight and supervision to prevent inappropriate relationships between staff members and students.

"We are going to fulfill our oversight responsibilities and we are going to ensure that Helix High School is a safe place for kids," district vice president Dick Hoy said.

Four teachers have been accused of sex-related crimes involving students since late 2006. In December 2006, former music teacher Frank Palumbo was accused of having sex with a 17-year-old female student and was sentenced to five years probation.

Earlier this year, ex-band director Jessica Kahal got three years probation after pleading guilty to having unlawful sex with a 17-year-old male student.

In May, geography teacher Garry Wilcox was arrested on suspicion of having sex with a 17-year-old female student. He pleaded guilty and has a July 22 trial date.

Finally, business teacher Jeff Wenham resigned after being accused of having an inappropriate relationship with the same student allegedly involved with Wilcox. Wenham has not been arrested nor charged with any crime, and his case in being reviewed by the district attorney's office.

"We're in hopes that the investigation we've asked will bring this matter to conclusion so we can safely say to the community your kids are safe in our school," Urdahl said.

We tried to contact Helix High School Principal Dr. Douglas Smith to get reaction from him to the board's demands, but he did not return our messages.

BREAKING... Tony Snow Dies of Cancer

ballyblog — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:21:34 +0000

WASHINGTON — Tony Snow, a conservative writer and commentator who cheerfully sparred with reporters in the White House briefing room during a stint as President Bush's press secretary, died Saturday of colon cancer. He was 53.

"America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character," President Bush said in a statement from Camp David, where he was spending the weekend. "It was a joy to watch Tony at the podium each day. He brought wit, grace, and a great love of country to his work."

Snow died at 2 a.m. at Georgetown University Hospital, according to former employer Fox News.

Snow, who served as the first host of the television news program "Fox News Sunday" from 1996 to 2003, would later say that in the Bush administration he was enjoying "the most exciting, intellectually aerobic job I'm ever going to have."

Snow was working for Fox News Channel and Fox News Radio when he replaced Scott McClellan as press secretary in May 2006 during a White House shake-up. Unlike McClellan, who came to define caution and bland delivery from the White House podium, Snow was never shy about playing to the cameras.

With a quick-from-the-lip repartee, broadcaster's good looks and a relentlessly bright outlook — if not always a command of the facts — he became a popular figure around the country to the delight of his White House bosses.

He served just 17 months as press secretary, a tenure interrupted by his second bout with cancer. In 2005 doctors had removed his colon and he began six months of chemotherapy. In March 2007 a cancerous growth was removed from his abdominal area and he spent five weeks recuperating before returning to the White House.

"All of us here at the White House will miss Tony, as will the millions of Americans he inspired with his brave struggle against cancer," Bush said.

Snow resigned as Bush's chief spokesman last September, citing not his health but a need to earn more than the $168,000 a year he was paid in the government post. In April, he joined CNN as a commentator.

As press secretary, Snow brought partisan zeal and the skills of a seasoned performer to the task of explaining and defending the president's policies. During daily briefings, he challenged reporters, scolded them and questioned their motives as if he were starring in a TV show broadcast live from the West Wing.

Critics suggested that Snow was turning the traditionally informational daily briefing into a personality-driven media event short on facts and long on confrontation. He was the first press secretary, by his own accounting, to travel the country raising money for Republican candidates.

Although a star in conservative politics, as a commentator he had not always been on the president's side. He once called Bush "something of an embarrassment" in conservative circles and criticized what he called Bush's "lackluster" domestic policy.

Most of Snow's career in journalism involved expressing his conservative views. After earning a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Davidson College in North Carolina in 1977 and studying economics and philosophy at the University of Chicago, he wrote editorials for The Greensboro (N.C.) Record, and The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk.

He was the editorial page editor of The Newport News (Va.) Daily Press and deputy editorial page editor of The Detroit News before moving to Washington in 1987 to become editorial page editor of The Washington Times.

Snow left journalism in 1991 to join the administration of the first President Bush as director of speechwriting and deputy assistant to the president for media affairs. He then rejoined the news media to write nationally syndicated columns for The Detroit News and USA Today during much of the Clinton administration.

Roger Ailes, chairman of Fox News, called Snow a "renaissance man."

Robert Anthony Snow was born June 1, 1955, in Berea, Ky., and spent his childhood in the Cincinnati area. Survivors include his wife, Jill Ellen Walker, whom he married in 1987, and three children.

Outrage in UK as 'GOOGLE Spies at your Door'

ballyblog — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:04:15 +0000

LONDON - Plans by Google to photograph millions of British homes and publish them online have been condemned as a 'gross invasion of privacy'.

The internet giant's StreetView website will allow anyone in the world to type in a UK address or postcode and instantly see a 360-degree picture of the street.

It will include close-ups of buildings, cars and people. Critics say the site is a 'burglar's charter' that makes it easy for criminals to check out potential victims.

The pictures also show people leaving and entering hospitals, health clinics, adult shops and hotels. Although their faces are deliberately blurred, many could still be recognised by their clothing and hair colour.

The site was launched in major American cities last year.

Google has confirmed it is now in the process of photographing Britain as part of the Street View project.

Cars emblazoned with the company's logo and carrying massive 360-degree cameras have been spotted circling the streets of British cities in recent weeks.

The data watchdog, the Information Commissioner's office, is so concerned about StreetView that it has written to Google demanding privacy guarantees.

A Google spokeswoman said: 'Google works hard to make sure that our products respect both users' expectations of privacy, and local privacy laws, in each country in which they are launched. Google Maps Street View is no exception.'

StreetView is designed to complement Google Earth, a collection of satellite pictures that covers every square mile of the globe.

Google Earth has come under fire for the level of detail in its overhead pictures, which have become enormously popular.

The pictures don't just show which homes have swimming pools or tennis courts, they can reveal the model and colour of cars, whether gardens have furniture and even sunbathers lying outside.

JAWS: Huge Great White spotted off Martha's Vineyard

ballyblog — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:00:37 +0000

EDGARTOWN (WBZ) ― The beaches on Martha's Vineyard are open again after two Great White shark sightings, but beach officials are going to be on high alert as hundreds of kids hit the water for a sailboat regatta.

Harbormaster Charlie Blair said 300 kids will be racing on Friday as part of Edgartown Race Week. The race is not being called off, but all eyes will be on the water, searching for sharks that could be swimming around.

Today, as the busy beaches on the island reopen, Blair said people are swimming at their own risk.

There were several Great White sightings reported on Thursday, but according to Blair, the most credible sighting was on South Beach. Blair said a lifeguard and several beachgoers in the area called in to report seeing a fin in the water. A sight-seeing airplane flying over South Beach also reported seeing a shark.

A plane was sent up to try to confirm the sighting, but they did not find any sharks.

Shark attacks are extremely rare in waters off New England, but Great Whites have been known to occasionally prowl in the region.

In 1974, Steven Spielberg chose Martha's Vineyard for the movie version of "Jaws," depicting a series of deadly Great White attacks in the fictional community of Amity.

Nebraska Town Proposes Ban on Illegals!

ballyblog — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:58:13 +0000

OMAHA - A proposed law aimed at banishing illegal immigrants from Fremont, Neb. — believed to be the first such city-sponsored initiative in the state — has sparked an outcry from a state agency that advocates for Latinos.

Though Fremont's appears to be the state's first elected city council to propose an ordinance that would ban harboring and renting to illegal immigrants, lawmakers in other U.S. localities have introduced similar initiatives.

Bob Warner, the longtime Fremont councilman who sponsored the proposal, said he did so because residents were "sick and tired" of what he said was the federal government's lax enforcement of immigration laws.

He said Fremont residents want their own immigration laws.

"I'll fight to the dying end to do what they want," Warner said. "I don't know why everybody is making a mountain out of something that is very simple."

Thursday, the Nebraska Mexican-American Commission issued a statement saying it was disappointed with "racial and anti-immigrant remarks" made Tuesday at a Fremont City Council meeting. Tuesday was the first opportunity for the public to speak about the ordinance.

Angel Freytez, commission spokesman, said some opponents of the ban left the meeting early because they felt there was inadequate security. One opponent of the ordinance later broke into tears because of the "hateful" statements, said Freytez, who called the behavior at the meeting "shameful."

"Instead of raising the level of dialogue over the immigration issue," Freytez said, "they are degrading it."

Mary Marsh, another council member, said she did not sense uneasiness or feel there was a threatening atmosphere at the meeting.

"People expressed their opinions," she said. "That is a given right in the United States of America."

Marsh was among five of eight council members who had earlier directed the city attorney to draft the ordinance. She said she was undecided how she would vote in August but thought the community should have a say on how the town handles illegal immigration.

The current draft does not include a ban on hiring, but Warner said he wants that included — along with penalties for renting to and harboring illegal immigrants.

Fremont officials said no single local event or trend sparked the proposed ordinance.

Rather, Warner said, the frustration he and others had already felt increased after a committee of the Nebraska Legislature prevented full debate on an anti-illegal immigration proposal supported by Gov. Dave Heineman. That compounded irritation with the federal government.

Fremont — with a population around 25,000, about 20 minutes west of Omaha — includes a Hormel Foods pork processing plant that relies on immigrant labor. Warner said he did not know how many illegal immigrants might be living in the city but said undocumented workers live all over the United States.

Fremont Mayor Donald Edwards said his main concern is that the city enact a law that can withstand legal challenge and is enforceable.

Outgoing State Sen. Ray Aguilar, who is Nebraska's voice on a national immigration commission of state legislators, said he believes the Fremont City Council was the first in Nebraska to introduce an ordinance that would outlaw renting to or harboring or hiring illegal immigrants.

Freytez said the Latino commission was deeply saddened by the events in Fremont. He urged community-based groups to "denounce racism and intolerance."

Do You Take This Credit Card?

ballyblog — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:51:55 +0000

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Guests at an Israeli wedding hall can now insert a credit card into a machine at its entrance, tap in a sum and leave a gift for the bride and groom.

"It's new in Israel and the world," Aya Alon Kaufman of the Gan Oranim hall in Tel Aviv said on Israel's Channel 10 television. "It's very convenient ... guests can give a gift even if they forget their chequebooks."

She said couples pay 500 shekels ($155) to rent the device, which resembles an automated teller machine, and the recorded funds are transferred into their bank account the next day.

The machine, shown being used in the television report, prints out a "deposit" slip with the guest's name, which can be put into an envelope along with a congratulatory note and inserted into a slot in the device for the couple to retrieve.

Rather than bring boxed gifts, guests at Israeli weddings usually leave cash or cheques in envelopes they slip into a safe placed at the reception hall's door.