Survivors, poetic thought by George-B ©Always (The smudge and other poems)

Survivors, poetic thought by George-B ©Always (The smudge and other poems)

I’ve witnessed moments like this
Made of lights and shadows,
with aroma of licorice and tarragon
tasting like roasted bell peppers and eggplants

I’ve witnessed moments like this
In sepia, and black and white, faintly smelling of retouching indigo

Papillon:

In the depth of the jungle, the smell of mushrooms is stronger
that any other smell except that of decaying matter

I’ve witnessed moments like this
of serenity: when being takes over the fear of dying,
of falling, through the holes in the old dragnet:
tilapia is a smart fish: it turns on one side,
at the bottom,
just above the mud,
avoiding the net…
other fishes are learning the technique: They are survivors.

The Tomb of Nakht, 1500 BC, contains a tilapia hieroglyph just above the head of the central figure.

word: cacophony

cacophony 

Definition:	(noun) Jarring, discordant sound; dissonance.
Synonyms:	blare, blaring, clamor, din
Usage:	I heard a cacophony of horns during the traffic jam. Discuss.

word: canorous

canorous 

Definition:	(adjective) Richly melodious.
Synonyms:	songful
Usage:	When I sing in the shower, my off-key caterwauling takes on a surprisingly canorous tone. Discuss.

TODAY’S HOILIDAY: National Family Month

National Family Month

National Family Month is observed during the five-week period between Mother’s Day in May and Father’s Day in June. It was started by KidsPeace, a private, not-for-profit organization. The organization believes that such observances provide opportunities for parents, grandparents, and caregivers to be more involved in the lives of the children for whom they are responsible. Families are urged to spend time doing things together during this five-week period, whether it is taking a family vacation or simply doing chores around the house. More… Discuss

TODAY’S HOLIDAY: ARMENIA MOTHERHOOD AND BEAUTY DAY

Armenia Motherhood and Beauty Day

This is a national holiday in Armenia, celebrated each year on April 7. It comes not long after another national holiday,Women’s Day, which is celebrated on March 8. Women’s Day is meant to honor all women, but Motherhood and Beauty Day is dedicated especially to those who have become mothers. Children and adults alike show their affection for their mothers with special visits, cards, and gifts. Sending flowers to one’s mother is an especially popular way to mark this holiday. Another tradition associated with the day is the gift of a twig that has fresh sprouts on it. More… Discuss

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Reduce Footprints: Does your food do more than fill you up?

Reduce Footprints: Does your food do more than fill you up?.

 

Car Buyers Beware: 9 Notorious Scams | Active Insurance

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The Power of Petitioning: Subway Takes Chemical Out of Sandwich Bread After Protest – ABC News

Subway Takes Chemical Out of Sandwich Bread After Protest – ABC News.

[youtube.com/watch?v=lHjm8lbgc3I]

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NEWS: ATTENTIVE OLDER SIBLINGS

Attentive Older Siblings

Studies show that children from larger families score more poorly on tests of IQ, vocabulary, and other academic indicators than kids from smaller families. Experts attribute this in part to reduced parental attention resulting from the need to divide time and attention among the children. This effect appears to be mitigated in families where older siblings are attuned to their younger siblings’ abilities and interact positively with them. A recent study found that children from large families who had “cognitively sensitive” older siblings performed better on a vocabulary test than those whose siblings were not. More… Discuss

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Ohhh Coffeeeee: LIFESTYLE The Chemistry of Good Coffee: The Syphon Method

LIFESTYLE The Chemistry of Good Coffee: The Syphon MethodLIFESTYLE

The Chemistry of Good Coffee: The Syphon Method

 

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2013 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

Madison Square Garden can seat 20,000 people for a concert. This blog was viewed about 67,000 times in 2013. If it were a concert at Madison Square Garden, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Phryne Fisher_ Kerry Greenwood (they speak French not frankglish)

Phryne Fisher_ Kerry Greenwood (click for the site)

EGG SANDWICH

Ten Eggs
Parsley
mayonnaise
salt and pepper
loaf of firm wholemeal bread, all crusts cut off, buttered

Boil new laid eggs for ten minutes. One egg per sandwhich. Immediately plunge them into cold water so that the yolks do not darken. When almost cold peel them and slice or chop them. Mix the eggs with a tablespoon of minced parsley and enough mayonnaise to make a nice texture. Add salt and pepper and lay the egg mixture on the buttered bread. Egg sandwiches are traditionally cut into squares.

 

Word: BAFFLE

baffle 

Definition:	(verb) Be a mystery or bewildering to.
Synonyms:	dumbfound, flummox, mystify, nonplus, perplex, puzzle, amaze,stupefy, gravel, vex, pose, stick, beat, get
Usage:	An apple tree producing square fruit would undoubtedly baffle experts. Discuss.

 

Today’s Birthday: AUGUSTE ESCOFFIER (1846)

Auguste Escoffier (1846)

Escoffier was a legendary French chef credited with inventing peach Melba and other classic dishes. He began his career in his uncle’s kitchen, and by the time he retired some 60 years later, he had directed the kitchens of several grand European hotels and earned himself a reputation as the “Emperor of Chefs.” In 1903, he published Le Guide Culinaire, which contains 5,000 recipes and is still used today as both a cookbook and cooking textbook. How did peach Melba get its name? More… Discuss

 

Word: BELITTLE

belittle 

Definition:	(verb) To represent or speak of as contemptibly small or unimportant; disparage.
Synonyms:	denigrate, derogate, minimize
Usage:	Why should I bother trying to get good grades when all you do is belittle my achievements? Discuss.

 

REGINA SPEKTOR SONG and LYRICS: “CALL THEM BROTHERS”

REGINA SPEKTOR LYRICS

 Send “Call Them Brothers” Ringtone to your Cell 

“Call Them Brothers”
(feat. Only Son)

That’s it, it’s split – it won’t recover
Just frame the halves and call them brothers
Find their fathers and their mothers 
If you remember who they are

Over and over they call us their friends
Can’t we find something else to pretend?
Like nobody’s won and we’re safe at the end

In the darkness the film machine’s spinning
So let’s leave it on
We’ll be out in the street 
before anyone knows that we’re gone

That’s it, it’s split, it can’t recover
Just frame the halves and call them a whole
And chip at the bricks and fill up your pockets 
With the pieces of the wall that you stole

The hunt is on, everyone’s chasing
Everyone’s chasing a shot
A shot rings out, nobody wants it
Nobody wants it to stop

That’s it, it’s split, it won’t recover
Just frame the halves and call them brothers
Find your fathers and your mothers
If you remember who they are
If you remember, if you remember,
if you remember who they are

 

 

Just a thought: “Happiness doesn’t grow in trees”

Bedrich Smetana－Overture from “The Bartered Bride”

Mariss Jansons－Berliner Philharmoniker

Winter Night by Boris Pasternak (This one goes well with the Tchaikovsky’s “Winter Dream” Symphony!)

Winter Night by Boris Pasternak 

It snowed and snowed, the whole world over,
Snow swept the world from end to end.
A candle burned on the table;
A candle burned.As during summer midges swarm
To beat their wings against a flame
Out in the yard the snowflakes swarmed
To beat against the window pane

The blizzard sculptured on the glass
Designs of arrows and of whorls.
A candle burned on the table;
A candle burned.

Distorted shadows fell
Upon the lighted ceiling:
Shadows of crossed arms,of crossed legs-
Of crossed destiny.

Two tiny shoes fell to the floor
And thudded.
A candle on a nightstand shed wax tears
Upon a dress.

All things vanished within
The snowy murk-white, hoary.
A candle burned on the table;
A candle burned.

A corner draft fluttered the flame
And the white fever of temptation
Upswept its angel wings that cast
A cruciform shadow

It snowed hard throughout the month
Of February, and almost constantly
A candle burned on the table;
A candle burned.

For more poems by Boris Pasternak, you can visit this >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SITE<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Song to the Moon – Antonín Dvořák

Soprano Renee Fleming sings this aria. Dvorak’s composition relies upon expansive arpeggiated chords to capture the fairy tale ambiance of Rusalka. The amicable old Spirit of the Lake, Jezibab, is enjoying the singing of the Wood Nymphs, when his daughter, Rusalka, sadly approaches him. She admits that she has fallen in love with a handsome prince. Yearning to know the bliss of union with him, she wishes to become human. Deeply saddened, the Spirit of the Lake consents to her request, and leaves. All alone, Rusalka sings this magnificent aria and shares the secrets of her longing to the moon.

Featuring the paintings and artwork of William Bouguereau, Paul Cezanne, Claude Monet, J.W. Waterhouse, Armand Guillaumin, and Spadecaller.

Lyrics (translation)

Silver moon upon the deep dark sky,
Through the vast night pierce your rays.
This sleeping world you wander by,
Smiling on man’s homes and ways.
Oh moon ere past you glide, tell me,
Tell me, oh where does my loved one bide?
Oh moon ere past you glide, tell me
Tell me, oh where does my loved one bide?
Tell him, oh tell him, my silver moon,
Mine are the arms that shall hold him,
That between waking and sleeping he may
Think of the love that enfolds him,
May between waking and sleeping
Think of the love that enfolds him.
Light his path far away, light his path,
Tell him, oh tell him who does for him stay!
Human soul, should it dream of me, Let my memory wakened be.
Moon, moon, oh do not wane, do not wane,
Moon, oh moon, do not wane….

 

3 Gymnopedies, 6 Gnossiennes -D

Erik Satie
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Satie
Éric Alfred Leslie Satie (pronounced: [eʁik sati]) (17 May 1866 — Paris, 1 July 1925; signed his name Erik Satie after 1884)

Pascal Rogé
Erik Satie – Piano Dreams – 01 – Gymnopedie N°1

Erik Satie – Piano Dreams – 02 – Gymnopedie N°2
Erik Satie – Piano Dreams – 03 – Gymnopedie N°3
.
Gnossienne No. 1
Gnossienne No. 2
Gnossienne No. 3
Gnossienne No. 4
Gnossienne No. 5
Gnossienne No. 6

Buy “Gymnopédies for Piano: Gymnopédie No. 1” on

Google Play, iTunes, AmazonMP3, eMusic, 

• Artist
  Charles Gerhardt

KIDS OF DEPRESSED MOTHERS COULD BENEFIT IN DAYCARE

Researchers have known for some time that children ofdepressed mothers are more likely to develop depression and anxiety disorders themselves, but they are just now learning that being in childcare, particularly in a group setting, could have something of a protective effect. Researchers say that young children of depressed mothers who attended daycare had a 79 percent lower risk of developing emotional problems than those who were cared for at home by their mothers. Their findings suggest that childcare can be a helpful intervention method in cases of maternal depression. More…Discuss

 

Today’s Birthday: ANNA MARIE JARVIS (1864) the tireless campaigner for “Mother’s Day

Anna Marie Jarvis (1864)

Though she never wed or had children herself, Jarvis campaigned tirelessly for the establishment of an annual holiday honoring mothers. She began her campaign after the death of her mother, a social activist who had brought mothers together in an effort to counter the divisions caused by the Civil War. By 1914, Mother’s Day had been proclaimed a US national holiday. Rather than savor her success, Jarvis soon became one of the holiday’s most vehement opponents. Why did she want it abolished?More… Discuss

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Fair Weather, By George

Fair Weather, (By George)

 

My dad was the first meteorologist who could do more than just predict the weather. He enjoyed fishing, hobby that he shared with me mostly on summer vacations.

This story is about fair weather, the way he was able to intervene in the complicated business of making an unforgettable sunny day.

 “Dad, do you think it’s going to rain tomorrow, like it did yesterday?” I asked him, concerned about the eventuality of not being able to fulfill our well planned outing. “No, he said”, as if totally sure of the truthfulness of his statement.

“How can you be so sure?”, I asked, since I did not have any knowledge of the science of weather prediction.  “Because I took care of it”, he answered without any hesitation. “You know that hole in the attic’s wall?” he went on saying, “The one facing east?” “Yeah”, I said? “Well, you see, about an hour ago, when you were still asleep, I went up there, in the attic, with one of those  long poles grandma was using to grow the beans  on, and a handful of hay. I wrapped the hay around the tip of the pole, and reach out to the hole in the sky thru which the clouds enter. I waited then for a few minutes, while all the clouds left the sky thru the hole to the West, and quickly I plugged that one too with some hay. So tomorrow, you see, will be sunny, no clouds in the sky what so ever. Will pack our rain coats just as a precaution, but will not have an opportunity to wear them, I promise you.”

I was five years old.  I heard many stories throughout the years about ways to predict the weather, from the circles around the Sun, and the Moon, and the height at which swallows fly  or the way the Sun wink back at us with his last red glowing ray, before it goes to sleep beyond the horizon, the stillness of air, and many more. But this practical way to create a special father-son fishing expedition will always stay with me, treasured and cherished as wisdom of age, wisdom of ages.