Saturday, May 27, 2006

Educate yourself

San Fransico Bay before The Golden Gate Bridge was built.
The original chief engineer, Joseph B. Strauss


"A unique aspect of the bridge's construction was the safety net set up beneath it, significantly reducing the expected number of deaths for such a project. 11 men were killed from falls during construction, and approximately 19 men were saved by the safety net. 10 of the deaths occurred near completion, when the net itself failed under the stress of a scaffold fall. The 19 workers whose lives were saved by the safety nets became proud members of the (informal) Halfway to Hell Club." Here

The Mighty Task is Done

By Joseph P. Strauss, Chief EngineerGolden Gate Bridge and Highway District
Written upon completion of the building of the Golden Gate Bridge in May 1937


At last the mighty task is done;Resplendent in the western sunThe Bridge looms mountain high;Its titan piers grip ocean floor,Its great steel arms link shore with shore,Its towers pierce the sky.
On its broad decks in rightful pride,The world in swift parade shall ride,Throughout all time to be;Beneath, fleet ships from every port,Vast landlocked bay, historic fort,And dwarfing all the sea.
To north, the Redwood Empires gates;To south, a happy playground waits,In Rapturous appeal;Here nature, free since time began,Yields to the restless moods of man,Accepts his bonds of steel.
Launched midst a thousand hopes and fears,Damned by a thousand hostile sneers,Yet Neer its course was stayed,But ask of those who met the foeWho stood alone when faith was low,Ask them the price they paid.
Ask of the steel, each strut and wire,Ask of the searching, purging fire,That marked their natal hour;Ask of the mind, the hand, the heart,Ask of each single, stalwart part,What gave it force and power.
An Honored cause and nobly foughtAnd that which they so bravely wrought,Now glorifies their deed,No selfish urge shall stain its life,Nor envy, greed, intrigue, nor strife,Nor false, ignoble creed.
High overhead its lights shall gleam,Far, far below lifes restless stream,Unceasingly shall flow;For this was spun its lithe fine form,To fear not war, nor time, nor storm, For Fate had meant it so.

Golden Gate, Opening Day May 27, 1937


TollsBridge tolls began at the modest sum of $0.50 each way, with a five cent charge for more than 3 passengers. In 1950, the fare dropped to $0.40 and by 1955, it was $0.25 each way! But in 1968, a southbound toll of $0.50 was instituted, with the northbound trip free of charge. Today, that southbound trip is $5.00.

On a personal note...


I like to read. A lot. I am never without any reading material of some kind. Anyone who knows me personally knows that it is true. What they don’t know is that I habitually read well over one hundred and fifty blogs (current updates) daily. Some of you may be thinking…gee, she doesn’t have that many on her sidebar. The links in my side bar are written by many wonderful men and women who challenge me to be better person, inspire me to greater heights, make me laugh and make me go hmmm, on a daily basis.


Does this mean that all the other blogs that are not in my side bar unworthy? Absolutely not. In fact, I just recently added a few new ones that I have read for over two years. Common, I am a woman…I can have secrets! Have you ever seen blogs out there that have hundred and hundreds of links simply for the exposure? I don’t see any thing wrong in doing so, it’s just not me. I’m just saying..

However...
It saddens me that there is so much bickering, bad mojo and some serious ass kicking karma flying around in our bl**ing community. Between three sites there have been threats, alleged police involvement, lies and a very real basis for a law suit that includes some undeniable and compelling evidence that could be filed anytime now. All of this could be avoided if all of us simply take the time to read this.

Please do not ask for links to any of the sites involved, I will not add any more fuel to the fire.

Educate yourself...its important! I did and so should you.


N Posted by Rain at 5/27/2006 02:25:00 AM

Friday, May 26, 2006

Medical Marvels


The Famous Specific Orange Blossom: A Positive Cure for all Female Diseases
[Ca 1885]
Beware of fraudulent Imitations
Write me a statement of your cause.
Consultations and sample, Free.
Send a 2 cent stamp
J.A Mc Gill, M.D., &Co.
3 and 4 Hubbard Ct
Chicago, Ill

New and Startling Facts for Those Afflicted with Nervous Diseases
Dr. Miles' Restorative Medicine
The Dr. Miles Medical Co
Elkhart, Ind.
An Illustrated Treatise on
Sick and Nervous Headache,
Nervousness, Convulsions, Neuralgia, Apoplexy,
Paralysis, Sleeplessness, Nervous Prostration,
Sexual Weakness, epilepsy, Dyspepsia, etc.
[Ca. 1890]

For the Cure of Dyspepsia, Indigestion, Nausea,
Constipation and Loss of Appetitie
These Bitters have No Equal
Hostetter's Stomach Bitters
[Ca 1859]
Black and White Drawing
Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh Companies
Hostetter & Smith

The Old Oaken Bucket
The Home of Swamp Root
Cures- Bladders, Livers, Kidneys, Cancer, Bright's Disease,
Groveling, Diabetes, Dropsy, And It Purifies the Blood
[Ca.1902]
Color Drawing
Dr Kilmer & Co.
Binghamton , NY
Price: on box's
Small carton~ .50
Large carton~ $1.00
Vistors are Welcome.
Thank goodness for modern day medical standards and testing! I am just sayin...

N Posted by Rain at 5/26/2006 12:26:00 AM

Thursday, May 25, 2006

M&M's and a Important Recall

What are...

Creamy white chocolate + milk chocolate + rasberry-flavored candy shell ?
Creamy white chocolate + milk chocolate + black cherry-flavored candy shell ?
Creamy white chocolate + milk chocolate + peach-flavored candy shell ?
Creamy white chocolate + milk chocolate + orange-flavored candy shell ?
Almond + creamy white chocolate + candy shell?
Creamy white chocolate + milk chocolate + mint-flavored candy shell ?
Peanut + creamy white chocolate + candy shell ?
Crispy center + dark chocolate + speckled mint-flavored candy shell?




The all new flavored Candy M&M'S! They sound so yummy!

This is for my friend Junebug, a huge collector of all things M&M's.
Important Saftey Notice:

Recall


The Menorah is constructed of plastic and could ignite if a candle burns all the way down, posing a fire hazard to consumers. Consumers should not use the item with lighted candles.
Sold only in the M&M'S WORLD® Store, M&M'S® Catalogue or online during 2005 for approximately $30.
Contact M&M'S WORLD® immediately at 800-849-4867 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday to return the product for a full refund.




Today I am grateful for:


The sight of fresh green grass wet with dew.
My doctors appointment tonight. Lets hope that the angry mole turns out to be nothing serious.
Sunny days and clear, cool nights.
That my son Punky is no longer with Volcom Girl.
Twin A and Twin B finally, finally have a room of their own to share!
For everyone that reached out to help the twins! Thank You and Bless You.
For my commenters…A standing ovation from me to all of you!

Tell me what are you grateful for?


N Posted by Rain at 5/25/2006 12:05:00 AM

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Pin ups and gifts



Joyce Ballantyne Brand, the artist who created the bare-bottomed Coppertone Girl of the famed suntan lotion ads, died Monday. She was 88.



Joyce Ballantyne Brand used her 3-year-old daughter, Cheri, as a model for the Coppertone ad in 1959. The Coppertone Girl, it turned out, was as American as a Moon Pie. Mrs. Brand was paid $2,500 for the painting.

"But you know, I get tired of talking about the Coppertone Girl. Yeah, it was a good billboard, but it was hardly the only art I ever produced. But that's what everybody remembers. That's what everybody wants to talk about. The Coppertone Girl."~Joyce Ballantyne Brand

Joyce won a scholarship to Disney's School for Animation in California. She remembered the day when the Disney representative heard her girlish, teenage voice over the phone and rescinded the scholarship. "Women married and had babies and gave up careers," she was informed. "A woman was a poor investment."


Ballantyne also did much advertising work for other national clients, including Sylvania TV, Dow Chemical, Coca-Cola, and Schlitz Beer. She painted pin-ups for the calendar companies Louis P Dow and Goes and illustrations for such magazines as Esquire and Penthouse.

"The trick is to make a pin-up flirtatious," Joyce said. "But you don't do dirty. You want the girl to look a little like your sister, or maybe your girlfriend, or just the girl next door. She's a nice girl, she's innocent, but maybe she got caught in an awkward situation that's a little sexy. Mine always had some clothes on or at least a towel on. I didn't go in for dirty stuff like they do today."

I agree with her, leaving a little to the imagination is always best. And like my Aunt Yvonne used to say "If there are two girls in a room (full of men) one dressed and the other naked, the girl that is naked will always be olged at, but the dressed one always gets the marriage proposal."

Joyce B Brand will truly be missed and if by chance you have any of her art work on hand hold on to it, prices are now going thro the roof!

When I got home this evening I was given a present from my Dad. Tickets for both days...Just because he loves me, isn't that neat? I am so excited! Again this year The San Diego STREET SCENE 2006 will be held at Qualacomm Stadium on August 4 & 5. Four Stages will headline feature artists KANYE WEST, TOOL, YEAH YEAH YEAHS, MODEST MOUSE, SOCIAL DISTORTION, AFI & SEAN PAUL. Oh yeah...we will be shaken some serious bootay and eating some fabulous food! I am doing a happy dance. Come on and join me...Happy, happy,dance...Shake, shake your bootay! Thanks Dad, I love you!

I wonder...

  • Are you a collector of Pin-Ups?
  • How many painters out there use their own bodies as models like Joyce did?
  • Besides Bettie Page, who else modeled for pin-ups?
  • I wonder if posing for these things really was worth the money in the 30's, 40's and 50's. At the cost of her reputation and families reputations?





N Posted by Rain at 5/24/2006 12:05:00 AM

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Between Art and Madness



I think continually of those who were truly great.
Who, from the womb, remembered the soul’s history
Through corridors of light, where the hours are suns,
Endless and singing. Whose lovely ambition
Was that their lips, still touched with fire,
Should tell of the Spirit, clothed from head to foot in song.
And who hoarded from the Spring branches
The desires falling across their bodies like blossoms.
That is precious, is never to forget
The essential delight of the blood drawn from ageless springs
Breaking through rocks in worlds before our earth.
Never to deny its pleasure in the morning simple light
Nor its grave evening demand for love.
Never to allow gradually the traffic to smother
With noise and fog, the flowering of the spirit.
Near the snow, near the sun, in the highest fields,
See how these names are feted by the waving grass
And by the streamers of white cloud
And whispers of wind in the listening sky.
The names of those who in their lives fought for life,
Who wore at their hearts the fire’s centre.
Born of the sun, they traveled a short while toward the sun
And left the vivid air signed with their honour.
~Stephen Spender


Today’s Trivia Question~

What do all of the following people have in common?

George Gordon, T.S Eliot, Victor Hugo, Hans Christian Anderson, Charles Dickens, William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, William James, Anton Arensky, Gustav Mahler, Hugo Wolf, George Hines, Charles Mingus, Cole Porter, David Bomberg, Georgia O’Keeffe, Edward Munch, Jackson Pollock, Gustav Holst, Richard Dadd and Edward Lear?*

Besides being writers, artists and composers…all of them had probable Cyclothymia, Major Depression or Manic-Depressive Illness.*

If you also suffer from these illness’, you are not alone. Just breathe, take your medicines and most of all take it day by day.
*Source~
Touched with Fire: Manic-Depressive Illness and The Artistic Temperament
by Kay Redfield Jamison, 1993
ISBN 0-684-83183-X
"Touched with Fire is a fine and artfully written work. Kay Jamison is plainly among the few who have a profound understanding of the relationship that exists between art and madness." ~William Styron
I could not have said it any better! =)
Have a great day!

N Posted by Rain at 5/23/2006 12:19:00 AM

Monday, May 22, 2006

Hunky Monday


Hot New York Fire fighters
Wow!

N Posted by Rain at 5/22/2006 12:49:00 AM