Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone -----Original Message-----
From: Subscriptions from Posterous
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:07:44 To:
Subject: Your Daily Posterous Spaces Update
Your Daily Posterous Spaces Update October 21st, 2011
10 of the best theatre and performance venues Posted about 23 hours ago by kimtopps to kimtopps's posterous
Edinburgh's theatre, live music and comedy venues offer the great, the grand and the intimate, writes Michael MacLeod
? As featured in our Edinburgh city guide
The Scottish parliament One of the best free shows in Edinburgh is likely to be found at the Scottish parliament. It's a hugely popular tourist attraction and current first minister Alex Salmond thrives off the attention as the undisputed star of the show. The SNP leader has some entertaining contenders too. The best time to visit Holyrood is on Thursdays when first minister's question time is held. Call in advance for a ticket though, as seats in the public gallery tend to fill up fast.
? Foot of the Royal Mile, Holyrood, 0131-348 5200, 0800 092 7600, scottish.parliament.uk . Free. Opens 10am with last entry 3.30pm
Traverse Theatre New works take centre stage here, with a truly alternative programme often tackling edgy topics. There's a terrifically imaginative programme of audience engagement initiatives too, such as A Play, A Pie and A Pint where you can watch a 45-minute play over lunch then talk to the writers and cast in the brilliant bar-cafe. Untitled Projects, who last year transformed the Traverse into an astro-turfed garden, will take that experimentation a step further this October with The Salon Project : inviting the audience to take part in an imagination of an opulent 19th-century Parisian salon. Each guest has their measurements taken when booking tickets and will be costumed in full period evening dress, an idea typical of the theatre's audacious artist in residence, Stewart Laing.
? 10 Cambridge Street, 0131-228 5383, traverse.co.uk . Box office open 10am-6pm, tickets start from ?6 with one free ticket for every 10 booked for groups
Festival Theatre Don't be fooled by the modern glass-fronted facade, they've been putting on shows at this site for more than 180 years. With one of the largest stages in the city and 1,900 seats, the Festival Theatre is a favourite of Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera . It is also a key venue in the annual international festival. The rest of the year it's a good bet for family friendly musicals and, more recently, big-name comedians. Some performances are accompanied by British Sign Language (BSL) signing for the hard of hearing.
? 13/29 Nicolson Street, 0131-529 6000, fctt.org.uk/festival_theatre . Box office open 10am-6pm, tickets from ?18 with group discounts on bookings of eight or more
King's Theatre Fondly regarded as the city's pantomime hub, the King's has a great tradition as a variety theatre and is well used by local amateur groups. The Edinburgh Gang Show , performed by local scouts and guides, has been on the calendar here since 1960. The theatre's furnishings have fallen victim to its own success, with heavy usage leaving much of the theatre looking worn. A refurbishment project is due to continue into 2012 and will see a new box office and improved disabled access. Despite being A-listed, the 1906 building is very much alive as an example of heritage continuing to meet demand.
? 2 Leven Street, 0131-529 6000, fctt.org.uk/kings_theatre . Box office open 10am-6pm, tickets from ?10
Church Hill Theatre Built in 1892, this former church is now one of Scotland's leading non-professional theatres. You're likely to catch adaptations along the lines of Rent, Footloose and Copacabana. Owned by the city council, "the Churchy" is a busy hub of the Morningside community thanks to the independently owned Loopy Lorna's Cafe , which, along with the box office, takes up most of the ground floor. Upstairs, the auditorium holds 350 and its large stage is popular with most of Edinburgh's non-professional theatre and dance companies.
? 33 Morningside Road, 0131-447 7597, assemblyroomsedinburgh.co.uk/theatre . Box office opening times vary so check in advance, tickets start at ?5
The Playhouse All the big musical tours stop off here; Scotland's biggest theatre ? with 3,000 seats. Period features from the 1929 building's previous role as a cinema remain intact, but its popularity is mainly down to mainstream programming: the Britain's Got Talent tour, Les Mis?rables and Jimmy Carr are all regulars. Balcony seats are unforgettably cramped, so seek out floor seats if you have the choice. Thanks to its design, built into the steep Greenside slope, there are great views of the orchestra pit wherever you sit.
? 18-22 Greenside Place, 0844 947 1660, edinburghplayhouse.org.uk . Box office open from noon to 8pm (6pm on non show days), tickets from ?12
Bedlam Theatre The UK's oldest student-run company is based in this imposing 1864 former church building. Despite its grand exterior, the auditorium holds just 92 people. Poetry readings, comedy sketch shows, bold musicals and the Fat Cat Cafe keep the theatre buzzing even after the fringe. The city's own improv troupe, The Improverts , play every Friday at 10.30pm with a show based entirely on audience suggestions ? a recipe they've relied on for three decades. Bedlam is heaps of fun and rightly treasured by its supporters. Writing workshops and open auditions mean the theatre's red door is always open to those keen to take part.
? 11B Bristo Place, 0131-225 9893, bedlamtheatre.co.uk . Box office only open during show hours, ticket prices vary from free to ?10 during the fringe
Usher Hall Major orchestras, high-profile music-makers and pop titans, including Adele, make the Usher Hall's lineup consistently world class. Classical music lovers are well catered for by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra ? each has performances regularly throughout the year. A series of daytime concerts allows Scotland's younger musical talent the chance to perform. A fourth bar has been added with the construction of a new glass wing, with efforts made to improve disabled access.
? Lothian Road, 0131-228 1155, usherhall.co.uk . Box office open 10am-5.30pm Monday to Saturday, tickets from ?10
Royal Lyceum Theatre The Lyceum's own performing company puts on seven shows every year, employing 50 full-time staff. They tend to rework classics, traditionally tackling a Shakespeare play each year ? it's lovely to return more than once and see the same faces performing in new roles. The Victorian building's 658-seat auditorium feels cosy and grand at the same time, with stunning ornate plasterwork throughout. It's not all tradition though: the Lyceum's artistic director Mark Thomson is renowned for his ambitious productions, with John Clifford's Faust 1 and 2 among brave adaptations staged recently.
? Grindlay Street, 0131-248 4848, lyceum.org.uk . Box office open 10am-6pm Monday to Saturday, tickets for previews are ?5, Wed/Sat matinee tickets are ?16 and Saturday evening show prices start at ?14.50
Ross Bandstand This landmark open-air venue in Princes Street Gardens, at the foot of Edinburgh Castle, is only used a handful of times a year. It currently hosts orchestral fireworks concerts during the festival and the likes of Biffy Clyro and Primal Scream at Hogmanay but could soon become a lot busier. Talks are ongoing between current owners, the local council, and prospective events companies to stage concerts throughout the year. Worth a visit for the view alone, although the bandstand itself is deemed a "crumbling eyesore" by the local newspaper, which has campaigned for the 1935 structure to be revamped.
? West Princes Street Gardens, 0131-221 6335, Events Edinburgh:Ross Bandstand . Gates open from 7am to 7pm in summer, closing at 5pm in winter
? Michael MacLeod writes for the Guardian * Edinburgh
* Top 10s
* United Kingdom
* Short breaks
* City breaks
* Cultural trips
* Theatre
* Comedy Michael MacLeod guardian.co.uk © 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds Anna Paquin AnnaLynne McCord Anne Marie Kortright April Scott Arielle Kebbel
Rennsport Trivia: Keys of the Gods Edition Posted about 22 hours ago by rovenlunger to rovenlunger's posterous
Few historic racing cars are as immediately identifiable as the Porsche 917. Stuttgart's twelve-cylinder monster and the cars it spawned took the German marque to some of the most famous podiums in the world, and it gave the company the overall Le Mans win it had long wanted. The most iconic 917 is perhaps the [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/iK4TYOAWDWM/
Brad Keselowski Ruby Tuesday Dodge Carl Edwards Copart Ford Denny Hamlin
Half-term days out for kids Posted about 21 hours ago by kimtopps to kimtopps's posterous
From drawing and reading workshops to seal-watching and star-gazing, we've got plenty of ideas for keeping the kids happy over next week's half-term holiday
Children's book festival, London Some of the best-loved children's authors, including Francesca Simon, creator of the Horrid Henry series, and Caroline Lawrence, author of The Western Mysteries, will be giving talks and fun workshops at the inaugural Word Up! children's literature festival in Dulwich, south London. Some events are sold out but as of today there was still availability for actor Mackenzie Crook introducing his debut, self-illustrated book, The Windvale Sprites; hugely popular kids' stand-up comedian James Campbell; and John Hegley's session of bonkers stories and poems. The weekend kicks off with an opening procession featuring music and puppets.
? 01803 867373, wordupfestival.co.uk , 22-24 October, Alleyn's School, Townley Road. Tickets ?4-?6 for most day events and ?8-?10 for evening events
Words and pictures, Newcastle More fun inspired by favourite fictional characters is on hand at Seven Stories, the Newcastle gallery dedicated to the art of children's books. Half-term kicks off with a Doctor Dolittle weekend, where some of the cast of the musical (at Whiteley Bay Playhouse from 3 November) will bring the stories to life. Later in the week, the Spellbinding Storyparty will feature tales, games and songs inspired by witches and wizards (25 and 27 October; ?2.50, under-fours free, booking essential); an after-hours tour of the new Daydreams and Diaries exhibition ends with cake in the Artists' Attic (25 October, ?5, age 8+): and a Horrid Henry Halloween Party invites little ones to dress their "mummy" and guess what's in the coffin (26 and 28 October, ?3, booking essential).
? 30 Lime Street, Ouseburn Valley, 0845 271 0777, sevenstories.org.uk
Birds of prey and creepy crawlies, Surrey Denbies Wine Estate near Dorking is the largest vineyard in England but there's a lot more to it than necking Surrey Gold. This half-term, birds of prey will be on display (23 October, noon, free admission); there'll be spooky story telling (25 October, 11.30am and 2.30pm, free admission); the Bullfrog youth theatre company will be presenting their adaption of Alice in Wonderland (26 October, 11am & 2pm, children ?6.50, accompanying adults ?2.50, booking essential), and a creepy crawlie road show will make parents' skin crawl but no doubt delight children as they get a chance to handle snakes and tarantulas (28 October, 11am and 2pm, children ?6.50, adults free).
? London Road, Dorking, 01306 876 616, denbies.co.uk
See the seals on Ramsey Island, Pembrokeshire In autumn, Ramsey's community of Atlantic grey seals give birth to more than 400 white-coated pups on the shores of the island, an RSPB reserve . Take a boat trip around the island to view the seals and other wildlife from sea level, or walk the three-and-a-half-mile trail among the coastal heathland and enjoy spectacular views from the 120m cliffs.
? visitpembrokeshire.com , daily until 31 October. Boats depart St Justinians at 10am and noon, returning at 4pm; adults ?15, children ?7.50
Meet the Royal Navy and the RAF, Hampshire and Shropshire Submarines are spooky enough with their eerie sounds and lighting, but this half-term second world war-era HMS Alliance at the Royal Navy Submarine Musuem in Gosport, Hampshire (submarine-museum.co.uk ), will be scarier still with a "spooky tour" and a chance to meet the captain, who will let you in on some tall tales of life below the waves. Free with a valid museum ticket (adults ?10, children ?7, under-fives free) 27-30 October.
Meanwhile, those interested in airborne action should make a beeline for the Royal Air Force Museum (01902 376200, rafmuseum.org.uk ) at Cosford in Shropshire for its Helicopter Half Term. Take a look inside a replica air ambulance and watch a real (Sea King) helicopter land; older kids will love the chance to talk to air ambulance and search and rescue crew, and flight engineers and technical sergeants who have logged time on the Sikorsky MH-53 helicopter on display.
? Sessions with the search and rescue team and the air ambulance crew will take place from 11am-1pm and 2-4pm each week day and will be located in Hangar 1. Entry to the event and to the rest of the museum is free
Learn to draw, nationwide Galleries and museums across the country are taking part in the Big Draw. At Tate Liverpool, children are invited to create their own art from the collection by taking transparent drawings which they then turn into 3D wire structures (tate.org.uk , all week, 1.30-4.30pm, free, age five-plus). And at the Cartoon Museum in London (020-7580 8155, cartoonmuseum.org , workshops free, booking essential) you can find out how cartoonist Sally Kindberg creates her comic strips (22 October) and comic artist Steve Marchant will teach you how to draw cartoons (23 October). There should be a project near you to inspire the little artists in your family
? Find events near you at campaignfordrawing.org/bigdraw (until 31 October)
The sky at night, Northumberland The skies above Kielder Forest are the darkest in Britain, and on 26 October there's a chance for families to join experts in viewing them through the Kielder Observatory's telescopes. You may be lucky enough to catch the tail end of Orionid's meteor shower display; if not, you are sure to see some spectacular sights on this moonless night. The evening event includes a talk, a tour of the observatory and, of course, the chance to gaze upon distant galaxies or universes that formed billions of light years ago.
? kielderobservatory.org , or contact Gary on 07805 638469, 8-11pm, ?8
Off to be the wizard, Leicestershire Harry Potter may have hung up his wand for the final time this summer, but wizard wannabes can try their hand at mixing magic potions at the National Space Centre's School of Wizardry over half-term. The idea is that kids will "discover the magic of science" through the Halloween Wizardry programme, as boffins teach them the secrets of disappearing water and they try their hand at exploding bubbles and changing liquids. Classes run throughout the day and are included in the admission price. Bridget, the Nasa ExoMars mission test robot, will also be visiting the centre between 26 and 29 October, and will drive across a simulated Martian surface.
? spacecentre.co.uk , adults ?13, children (5-16) ?11, under-5s free. With Giftaid entry, visitors receive a free annual pass
The Eden Project's big chill, Cornwall The Eden Project, whose rainforest biome domes normally bask in tropical temperatures, will feel a chill wind next week as the ice rink returns, decorated for Halloween. Over half-term the site will feature a wishcraft tent with pumpkin carving demonstrations, wand making and potion mixing. And on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 October you can shake your bones at the Little Monsters' Ball, a family disco with fancy dress.
? 01726 811972, edenproject.com . Adults/children ?22/?8.50 on the door or ?18.70-?19.80/free-?8.50 if booked online, under-fours free; 40-minute skate sessions ?5pp; Monsters' Ball (6pm to 9pm), ?7 per ticket, plus ?2 for a 20-minute skate * Day trips
* Family holidays
* Family
* United Kingdom Isabel Choat guardian.co.uk © 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds Arielle Kebbel Ashanti Ashlee Simpson Ashley Greene Ashley Olsen
Watch Out For This Netflix Phishing Scam Posted about 20 hours ago by joelpomales to joelpomales's posterous Watch Out For This Netflix Phishing Scam
via The Consumerist by Ben Popken on 10/20/11 There's an email that's been going around that pretends like it's from Netflix and they're having trouble with your credit card. Actually, it's from scammers and they want to steal your credit card.
A .zip file is attached to the email which says it's from "netflix@accounts.com ." The instructions say that your credit card was declined and they need you to download the .zip, open the .zip in your browser, and enter your info.
Here's the full text of the email:
"Dear Netflix Member,
Your payment method was declined for one of several reasons, such as insufficient funds or an expired credit card.
To correct the problem, please update your credit card or add a new one in order to be able to use your Netflix account in the future.
This is a reminder to update your credit card as soon as possible.
Please download the form attached to this email, unzip it and open it in a web browser.
Once opened, you will be provided with steps to update your account.
We appreciate your understanding as we work to ensure your account safety.
Sincerely,
Netflix Member Service,"
You should always be wary of opening strange attachments. They may contain viruses. If you think an email like this is legitimate, you should go to the service's main page by typing the address in your browser and navigate to the appropriate section yourself. Or call them directly.
(Thanks to Nick!)
Jacquelyn Butler Wins Better Half Dash at Charlotte Posted about 20 hours ago by rovenlunger to rovenlunger's posterous
Better Half Dash Quotes: Jacquelyn Butler (No. 6, winner) ? ?All of the girls did really good. It was fun out there. I want to go back and do it again next week. That was crazy but a lot of fun. I don?t know when I passed her [Allgaier]. All of our tires were wearing [...]
Source: http://thefinallap.com/2011/10/15/jacquelyn-butler-wins-better-half-dash-at-c...
Hans Klenk Peter de Klerk Christian Klien Karl Kling Ernst Klodwig
Benedict Allen: my greatest mistake Posted about 19 hours ago by kimtopps to kimtopps's posterous
Explorer Benedict Allen has been haunted for decades about having to eat his faithful dog to save his life when lost in the Brazilian rainforest
Since the age of 10 I'd wanted to be an explorer. My dad was a test pilot flying Vulcan bombers and I wished I could be an adventurer like him. So in 1982, I saved up and planned my first trip across the north-eastern Brazilian rainforest.
After five months of trekking, being passed from one indigenous tribe to another, not really knowing what I was doing, I came across some goldminers who attacked me in the night. I was only 22, naive and very scared.
In the darkness I fled towards my canoe. With me was a dog I'd found in a village a few months before; I'd healed its paw, and it had become my companion. But in the chaos, the canoe capsized and I lost everything. I ended up walking on my own, lost in the rainforest with only the dog for company.
As we walked we got steadily weaker and, after about three weeks, I was starving to death; I had malaria and I was delirious. But the dog had become incredibly important to me in terms of keeping my hopes up. We were both suffering, but we were in it together.
I couldn't see myself, but I knew how bad the dog looked. I drew a little jokey cartoon in my diary of us both fantasising about eating one other; I knew it was becoming a very real proposition. I started thinking more about what I might have to do if I ever wanted to see my mum and dad again.
I remember lying on my back one day and thinking I wouldn't get up again if I didn't eat something; the only thing left was to eat the dog. I managed to cook a few bits using a survival kit. It gave me a little strength to keep going but, in a way, I was even more terrified, as knew I'd played my last card.
Some days later, miraculously, I saw a chink of daylight; I'd been in a dark tangle for as long as I could recall, but soon I was standing in a farmer's crop. He treated me with an anti-malarial drink and I was taken to hospital.
When I got back to Britain I was too ashamed to tell my parents how badly things had gone. Then the local paper asked me about the trip. I let slip about the dog and before I knew it the nationals were on to it; my sorry tale became a two-page spread in the Daily Mail. The RSPCA came round with a sack of hate mail.
I often wonder whether what happened was a mistake or not; obviously it kept me alive but it has also haunted me. In a way it has driven me in my career, fuelling my desire to understand why I had survived. But it has always been something I've wanted to rectify.
Benedict Allen is speaking at deafblind charity Sense 's annual lecture on 15 November (email lecture@sense.org.uk ). * Work & careers
* Adventure travel
* Brazil Graham Snowdon guardian.co.uk © 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds Daniella Alonso Danneel Harris Deanna Russo Denise Richards Desiree Dymond
Electronic Fuel Injection testing at Charlotte Motor Speedway Posted about 18 hours ago by rovenlunger to rovenlunger's posterous
NASCAR, Teams Pleased With Continued Progress Being Shown With EFI Systems DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (OCT. 17, 2011) ? Teams representing 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars turned upwards of 400 miles Monday during a test of Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Both NASCAR officials and drivers were optimistic about the continued development [...]
Source: http://thefinallap.com/2011/10/17/photos-efi-electronic-fuel-injection-testin...
Travis Wade Kvapil Robert Allen Labonte Terrence Lee Labonte Randy Joseph Lajoie Kevin Paul Lepage
Pumpkin Pecan Streusel Breakfast Braid (with Maple Brown Sugar Glaze) Posted about 17 hours ago by kimtopps to kimtopps's posterous
Another new pumpkin recipe! In this breakfast braid, tender, flaky, almond-scented pastry envelops pumpkin pie custard topped with buttery cinnamon pecan streusel. Maple brown sugar glaze and toasted pecans top the whole shebang, creating a perfect autumn breakfast (or dessert, or lunch, or dinner...!)
This braid looks fancy, but don't be fooled. It's one of the easiest things I make. The dough is lovely to work with -- it doesn't need to rise, barely needs any kneading, and isn't too sticky or finicky. It?s the perfect beginning pastry. If you?ve ever used canned crescent rolls, this dough is a textured a lot like that. I'm always amazed that such gorgeous results can be achieved with such little effort.
Especially if you've never made anything like this, I hope you'll give it a try. It really does make you feel like a rockstar to serve a pretty braid to your family :) Pumpkin Pecan Streusel Breakfast Braid with Maple Brown Sugar Glaze
---------------- Recipe by: Willow Bird Baking. Inspired by The Luna Cafe , with glaze from Caitlin Cooks
Yield: About 4-5 servings of 2 slices each
Easy Dough Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup milk, minus 1/2 teaspoon
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Pumpkin Pie Filling Ingredients:
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
3/8 cup sugar
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 1/8 teaspoons cinnamon*
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg*
1/4 teaspoon ginger*
1/8 teaspoon allspice*
*You could probably substitute a teaspoon or so of pumpkin pie spices for these.
Pecan Streusel Ingredients:
1/8 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/8 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoons cup cold butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Maple Brown Sugar Glaze Ingredients:
1 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoons real maple syrup
pinch salt
3/4 cup powdered sugar
cinnamon for sprinkling
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Make the creamy pumpkin pie filling. In your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar and beat until fluffy and smooth. Add the pumpkin, egg, and vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice and mix until combined. Set in fridge while you make your braid.
Toast your pecans. Spread them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast for about 6 minutes or until fragrant, stirring about halfway through the cook time. Transfer nuts to a plate to cool. Raise oven temperature to 425 degrees F.
Make your pastry dough. In the bowl of a food processor, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the cream cheese and butter into the flour mixture and pulse to cut the fat into the flour (about 6 pulses). Add the milk and almond extract and blend into a loose dough.
Turn the dough onto a sheet of lightly-floured parchment paper and knead very lightly for just 4-5 strokes (be careful not to overwork the dough or it'll be tough! Don't worry about getting it smooth -- just knead for these few strokes and let it stay a little rough.)
Very lightly flour the top of the dough and place another sheet of parchment paper on top. Between two sheets of parchment paper, roll the dough to an 8- by 12-inch rectangle (I lift the paper off every now and then and flip the dough and repeat on the other side, to ensure the dough isn't sticking). Remove the top sheet of parchment and discard. Measure and mark the dough lengthwise into thirds. Spread your creamy pumpkin pie filling down the middle third of the dough -- try to keep your filling about 1/4 inch from the mark on both sides.
Make the streusel topping. Combine the flour and brown sugar in a medium bowl and using two knives or a pastry cutter, cut in the butter until you have crumbly streusel. Mix in 1/4 cup of toasted pecans (save the rest for decorating the finished braid). Sprinkle streusel over top of pumpkin mixture in center of dough. Really pile it on!
Continue assembling the braid (see photos at the bottom of this recipe, which show the process of marking and assembling a raspberry almond braid, for guidance). Make 2 3/4-inch slight diagonal cuts at 1-inch intervals on each the long sides. Do not cut into the center pumpkin-filled area. Fold strips, first one from one side and then one from the other side in a rotating fashion, over the filling. It will now resemble a braid. Use the sheet of parchment to transfer your braid to a baking sheet (at this point, you can brush the pastry with a mixture of 1 beaten egg and a teaspoon of water if you want it darker than mine. I didn't bother). Bake in the 425 degree oven for 12-15 minutes, until the dough is cooked through and the top is lightly browned. Let the braid cool slightly while you make your glaze.
Make the Maple Brown Sugar Glaze. Combine the butter and milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. When the butter melts, whisk in the brown sugar, syrup, and salt, stirring until the brown sugar melts. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the powdered sugar. Drizzle the glaze over the top of your braid. Sprinkle the braid with toasted pecans and a dusting of cinnamon. Serve immediately. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container and microwave for about 20 seconds to serve. To read about how I wholeheartedly embrace nerdiness, see the great lengths I was willing to go to to get out of the mile run as a child, and see more pumpkin braid photos, please head over to Willow Bird Baking !
x-posted to food_porn, cooking, picturing_food, and bakebakebake
Amy Cobb Amy Smart Ana Beatriz Barros Ana Hickmann Ana Ivanovi
NASCAR makes Lionheart decal to honor Dan Wheldon (PA SportsTicker) Posted about 16 hours ago by rovenlunger to rovenlunger's posterous
NASCAR is providing all its teams a decal that honors Dan Wheldon to place on their cars this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.
Source: http://www.nascarracinglive.com/nascar/nascar-makes-lionheart-decal-to-honor-...
Paul Hawkins Mike Hawthorn Boy Hayje Willi Heeks Nick Heidfeld
10 of the best films set in Edinburgh Posted about 15 hours ago by kimtopps to kimtopps's posterous
Edinburgh on film isn't just Trainspotting it's classics: Chariots of Fire, romance: One Day and thrills: Burke and Hare. Here are 10, picked by Andrew Pulver, film editor of the Guardian
? As featured in our Edinburgh city guide
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Ronald Neame, 1969 Muriel Spark's celebrated 1961 novella was, until Trainspotting, Edinburgh's most readily identifiable contribution to modern literature. Inspired largely by Spark's own time at [James] Gillespie's school , this elaborate, empathetic satire on a fascism-admiring teacher would not have been expected to be a major candidate for Oscar attention, but Maggie Smith won the best actress award in 1969, after Ronald "Poseidon Adventure" Neame directed the film version. Sixties Edinburgh has no problem standing in for 30s Edinburgh: the Marcia Blaine school is sited in the Edinburgh Academy building in Henderson Row, while it's possible to stand in the exact same spot as Maggie Smith on the Grassmarket and bellow: "Observe, little girls, the castle!", shortly before decamping to Greyfriars Kirkyard .
? Henderson Row, Grassmarket, Edinburgh Castle, Barnbougle Castle
Trainspotting, Danny Boyle, 1996 The opening scenes of Trainspotting , in which Ewan McGregor and Ewen Bremner pound along Princes Street to the sound of Iggy Pop's Lust for Life, have rightly gone down as among the most iconic in British cinema. And you couldn't get more Edinburgh either, as Renton and Spud slither down Waterloo Place, right by the station. In actual fact, much of Irvine Welsh's high-octane ode to the Edinburgh junk life was filmed in Glasgow, including the Begbie pub fight scene and the Volcano club. But no film has done more to put Edinburgh on the map in the modern era.
? Princes Street, Waterloo Place, Leith Street
Chariots of Fire, Hugh Hudson, 1981 Being as it is about the feats of two British athletes at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, Chariots of Fire is not always high on the list of great Edinburgh movies, but as one of the athletes concerned is Scottish flier Eric Liddell , the city becomes a quiet character in its own right. Primarily, it stands for the don't-mess-with-me spirit of the Christian faith that sustains Liddell ? causing him to knock back as august a person as the future Edward VIII. The Edinburgh skyline, as seen from Arthur's Seat, gets a good workout, but my favourite bit is Liddell tipping his cap to the statue of John Knox, located in the courtyard of the Church of Scotland Assembly Hall, just off the Mound.
? Arthur's Seat, Princes Street, The Mound, Broughton Place, Holyrood Park
Regeneration, Gillies MacKinnon, 1997 A real change of pace this: Pat Barker's intense, subtle novel about war-damaged soldiers receiving treatment at the Craiglockhart War Hospital (now part of Napier University ) was adapted into a film by Gillies MacKinnon, best-known perhaps for the Glasgow gang film Small Faces . Regeneration wasn't actually shot at Craiglockhart, a suburb in the south-west of the city but mostly at Overtoun House near Dumbarton. Even so, it summons up wonderfully well the spirit of the period, and the atmosphere of civilised inquiry under the stewardship of WHR Rivers as he treats his most famous patient, poet Siegfried Sassoon , after the horrors of the first world war.
Hallam Foe, David Mackenzie, 2007 A weird one-off of a film: Jamie Bell plays a strange young man called Hallam Foe . He is oedipally obsessed with his dead mother (as well as his current stepmother), and crawls over rooftops to spy on a fellow employee and then holes up in a clocktower with bird's eye views of the city. The clocktower is the one belonging to the Balmoral Hotel, an utterly distinctive neo-gothic pile only a few yards away from the Scott monument. Director David Mackenzie had previously examined the underbelly of Glasgow and its canal system in Young Adam . Perhaps not as successful as his former movie, Hallam Foe, especially its hotel-worker scenes, presents a distinctive and different perspective on city life.
? Balmoral Hotel on Princes Street, Scott monument on Princes Street, Cockburn Street
Shallow Grave, Danny Boyle, 1994 Before Trainspotting there was Shallow Grave . With its opening shots tearing along the cobbles of the New Town, before coming to rest outside a front door on North West Circus Place, Shallow Grave oozed Edinburgh; if nothing else, it's got the best flats in Britain. Hence the suitability of its location for this Blood Simple-esque thriller about a dead flatmate and a suitcase full of money ? even if Christopher Eccleston's opening voiceover states: "This could be any city." As with Trainspotting, certain key scenes were filmed in Glasgow, such as Ewan McGregor's journalist-office scenes, which took place at the Evening Times in Albion Street.
? North West Circus Place, New Town
The Illusionist, Sylvain Chomet, 2010 Working from a never-filmed screenplay by Jacques Tati , Edinburgh-based animator Sylvain Chomet turned this melancholy story of an itinerant magician into a wistful love letter to his adopted home town. Tati had originally planned to film in Czechoslovakia; Chomet, who had made the magnificent Belleville Rendezvous , set it in 1950s Edinburgh, with an anonymous-looking boarding house for hard-up variety artistes the main location. There are, however, wonderful sequences readily identifiable as Edinburgh landmarks: principally, Jenners department store on Princes Street, as well as spectacular views of the Old Town and the Castle.
? Princes Street, Edinburgh Castle, Old Town
Festival, Annie Griffin, 2005 To the rest of the world, the festival is Edinburgh, and it was inevitable, perhaps, that someone would get around to making a film about it ? and call it Festival . That someone turned out to be fringe theatre maven Annie Griffin , who did a very nice job of pulling together disparate story strands to make sense of the festival's sprawl. As you'd expect, the packed streets make for a natural film set, and right from the opening credits, Griffin takes up the opportunity. You want scenes of actor types handing out leaflets on the High Street and the Mound? They're all here.
? Royal Mile, High Street, Old Town, Princes Street, The Mound, George Square gardens, Abercromby Place
Burke and Hare, John Landis, 2010 If there's one thing historical Edinburgh stands for, it's corpse-stealing. The Burke and Hare murders , in 1827 and 1828, have imprinted themselves on the popular imagination, and resulted in a string of movie adaptations. The most recent, and probably best known, is the one sta
From: Subscriptions from Posterous
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:07:44 To:
Subject: Your Daily Posterous Spaces Update
Your Daily Posterous Spaces Update October 21st, 2011
10 of the best theatre and performance venues Posted about 23 hours ago by kimtopps to kimtopps's posterous
Edinburgh's theatre, live music and comedy venues offer the great, the grand and the intimate, writes Michael MacLeod
? As featured in our Edinburgh city guide
The Scottish parliament One of the best free shows in Edinburgh is likely to be found at the Scottish parliament. It's a hugely popular tourist attraction and current first minister Alex Salmond thrives off the attention as the undisputed star of the show. The SNP leader has some entertaining contenders too. The best time to visit Holyrood is on Thursdays when first minister's question time is held. Call in advance for a ticket though, as seats in the public gallery tend to fill up fast.
? Foot of the Royal Mile, Holyrood, 0131-348 5200, 0800 092 7600, scottish.parliament.uk . Free. Opens 10am with last entry 3.30pm
Traverse Theatre New works take centre stage here, with a truly alternative programme often tackling edgy topics. There's a terrifically imaginative programme of audience engagement initiatives too, such as A Play, A Pie and A Pint where you can watch a 45-minute play over lunch then talk to the writers and cast in the brilliant bar-cafe. Untitled Projects, who last year transformed the Traverse into an astro-turfed garden, will take that experimentation a step further this October with The Salon Project : inviting the audience to take part in an imagination of an opulent 19th-century Parisian salon. Each guest has their measurements taken when booking tickets and will be costumed in full period evening dress, an idea typical of the theatre's audacious artist in residence, Stewart Laing.
? 10 Cambridge Street, 0131-228 5383, traverse.co.uk . Box office open 10am-6pm, tickets start from ?6 with one free ticket for every 10 booked for groups
Festival Theatre Don't be fooled by the modern glass-fronted facade, they've been putting on shows at this site for more than 180 years. With one of the largest stages in the city and 1,900 seats, the Festival Theatre is a favourite of Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera . It is also a key venue in the annual international festival. The rest of the year it's a good bet for family friendly musicals and, more recently, big-name comedians. Some performances are accompanied by British Sign Language (BSL) signing for the hard of hearing.
? 13/29 Nicolson Street, 0131-529 6000, fctt.org.uk/festival_theatre . Box office open 10am-6pm, tickets from ?18 with group discounts on bookings of eight or more
King's Theatre Fondly regarded as the city's pantomime hub, the King's has a great tradition as a variety theatre and is well used by local amateur groups. The Edinburgh Gang Show , performed by local scouts and guides, has been on the calendar here since 1960. The theatre's furnishings have fallen victim to its own success, with heavy usage leaving much of the theatre looking worn. A refurbishment project is due to continue into 2012 and will see a new box office and improved disabled access. Despite being A-listed, the 1906 building is very much alive as an example of heritage continuing to meet demand.
? 2 Leven Street, 0131-529 6000, fctt.org.uk/kings_theatre . Box office open 10am-6pm, tickets from ?10
Church Hill Theatre Built in 1892, this former church is now one of Scotland's leading non-professional theatres. You're likely to catch adaptations along the lines of Rent, Footloose and Copacabana. Owned by the city council, "the Churchy" is a busy hub of the Morningside community thanks to the independently owned Loopy Lorna's Cafe , which, along with the box office, takes up most of the ground floor. Upstairs, the auditorium holds 350 and its large stage is popular with most of Edinburgh's non-professional theatre and dance companies.
? 33 Morningside Road, 0131-447 7597, assemblyroomsedinburgh.co.uk/theatre . Box office opening times vary so check in advance, tickets start at ?5
The Playhouse All the big musical tours stop off here; Scotland's biggest theatre ? with 3,000 seats. Period features from the 1929 building's previous role as a cinema remain intact, but its popularity is mainly down to mainstream programming: the Britain's Got Talent tour, Les Mis?rables and Jimmy Carr are all regulars. Balcony seats are unforgettably cramped, so seek out floor seats if you have the choice. Thanks to its design, built into the steep Greenside slope, there are great views of the orchestra pit wherever you sit.
? 18-22 Greenside Place, 0844 947 1660, edinburghplayhouse.org.uk . Box office open from noon to 8pm (6pm on non show days), tickets from ?12
Bedlam Theatre The UK's oldest student-run company is based in this imposing 1864 former church building. Despite its grand exterior, the auditorium holds just 92 people. Poetry readings, comedy sketch shows, bold musicals and the Fat Cat Cafe keep the theatre buzzing even after the fringe. The city's own improv troupe, The Improverts , play every Friday at 10.30pm with a show based entirely on audience suggestions ? a recipe they've relied on for three decades. Bedlam is heaps of fun and rightly treasured by its supporters. Writing workshops and open auditions mean the theatre's red door is always open to those keen to take part.
? 11B Bristo Place, 0131-225 9893, bedlamtheatre.co.uk . Box office only open during show hours, ticket prices vary from free to ?10 during the fringe
Usher Hall Major orchestras, high-profile music-makers and pop titans, including Adele, make the Usher Hall's lineup consistently world class. Classical music lovers are well catered for by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra ? each has performances regularly throughout the year. A series of daytime concerts allows Scotland's younger musical talent the chance to perform. A fourth bar has been added with the construction of a new glass wing, with efforts made to improve disabled access.
? Lothian Road, 0131-228 1155, usherhall.co.uk . Box office open 10am-5.30pm Monday to Saturday, tickets from ?10
Royal Lyceum Theatre The Lyceum's own performing company puts on seven shows every year, employing 50 full-time staff. They tend to rework classics, traditionally tackling a Shakespeare play each year ? it's lovely to return more than once and see the same faces performing in new roles. The Victorian building's 658-seat auditorium feels cosy and grand at the same time, with stunning ornate plasterwork throughout. It's not all tradition though: the Lyceum's artistic director Mark Thomson is renowned for his ambitious productions, with John Clifford's Faust 1 and 2 among brave adaptations staged recently.
? Grindlay Street, 0131-248 4848, lyceum.org.uk . Box office open 10am-6pm Monday to Saturday, tickets for previews are ?5, Wed/Sat matinee tickets are ?16 and Saturday evening show prices start at ?14.50
Ross Bandstand This landmark open-air venue in Princes Street Gardens, at the foot of Edinburgh Castle, is only used a handful of times a year. It currently hosts orchestral fireworks concerts during the festival and the likes of Biffy Clyro and Primal Scream at Hogmanay but could soon become a lot busier. Talks are ongoing between current owners, the local council, and prospective events companies to stage concerts throughout the year. Worth a visit for the view alone, although the bandstand itself is deemed a "crumbling eyesore" by the local newspaper, which has campaigned for the 1935 structure to be revamped.
? West Princes Street Gardens, 0131-221 6335, Events Edinburgh:Ross Bandstand . Gates open from 7am to 7pm in summer, closing at 5pm in winter
? Michael MacLeod writes for the Guardian * Edinburgh
* Top 10s
* United Kingdom
* Short breaks
* City breaks
* Cultural trips
* Theatre
* Comedy Michael MacLeod guardian.co.uk © 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds Anna Paquin AnnaLynne McCord Anne Marie Kortright April Scott Arielle Kebbel
Rennsport Trivia: Keys of the Gods Edition Posted about 22 hours ago by rovenlunger to rovenlunger's posterous
Few historic racing cars are as immediately identifiable as the Porsche 917. Stuttgart's twelve-cylinder monster and the cars it spawned took the German marque to some of the most famous podiums in the world, and it gave the company the overall Le Mans win it had long wanted. The most iconic 917 is perhaps the [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/iK4TYOAWDWM/
Brad Keselowski Ruby Tuesday Dodge Carl Edwards Copart Ford Denny Hamlin
Half-term days out for kids Posted about 21 hours ago by kimtopps to kimtopps's posterous
From drawing and reading workshops to seal-watching and star-gazing, we've got plenty of ideas for keeping the kids happy over next week's half-term holiday
Children's book festival, London Some of the best-loved children's authors, including Francesca Simon, creator of the Horrid Henry series, and Caroline Lawrence, author of The Western Mysteries, will be giving talks and fun workshops at the inaugural Word Up! children's literature festival in Dulwich, south London. Some events are sold out but as of today there was still availability for actor Mackenzie Crook introducing his debut, self-illustrated book, The Windvale Sprites; hugely popular kids' stand-up comedian James Campbell; and John Hegley's session of bonkers stories and poems. The weekend kicks off with an opening procession featuring music and puppets.
? 01803 867373, wordupfestival.co.uk , 22-24 October, Alleyn's School, Townley Road. Tickets ?4-?6 for most day events and ?8-?10 for evening events
Words and pictures, Newcastle More fun inspired by favourite fictional characters is on hand at Seven Stories, the Newcastle gallery dedicated to the art of children's books. Half-term kicks off with a Doctor Dolittle weekend, where some of the cast of the musical (at Whiteley Bay Playhouse from 3 November) will bring the stories to life. Later in the week, the Spellbinding Storyparty will feature tales, games and songs inspired by witches and wizards (25 and 27 October; ?2.50, under-fours free, booking essential); an after-hours tour of the new Daydreams and Diaries exhibition ends with cake in the Artists' Attic (25 October, ?5, age 8+): and a Horrid Henry Halloween Party invites little ones to dress their "mummy" and guess what's in the coffin (26 and 28 October, ?3, booking essential).
? 30 Lime Street, Ouseburn Valley, 0845 271 0777, sevenstories.org.uk
Birds of prey and creepy crawlies, Surrey Denbies Wine Estate near Dorking is the largest vineyard in England but there's a lot more to it than necking Surrey Gold. This half-term, birds of prey will be on display (23 October, noon, free admission); there'll be spooky story telling (25 October, 11.30am and 2.30pm, free admission); the Bullfrog youth theatre company will be presenting their adaption of Alice in Wonderland (26 October, 11am & 2pm, children ?6.50, accompanying adults ?2.50, booking essential), and a creepy crawlie road show will make parents' skin crawl but no doubt delight children as they get a chance to handle snakes and tarantulas (28 October, 11am and 2pm, children ?6.50, adults free).
? London Road, Dorking, 01306 876 616, denbies.co.uk
See the seals on Ramsey Island, Pembrokeshire In autumn, Ramsey's community of Atlantic grey seals give birth to more than 400 white-coated pups on the shores of the island, an RSPB reserve . Take a boat trip around the island to view the seals and other wildlife from sea level, or walk the three-and-a-half-mile trail among the coastal heathland and enjoy spectacular views from the 120m cliffs.
? visitpembrokeshire.com , daily until 31 October. Boats depart St Justinians at 10am and noon, returning at 4pm; adults ?15, children ?7.50
Meet the Royal Navy and the RAF, Hampshire and Shropshire Submarines are spooky enough with their eerie sounds and lighting, but this half-term second world war-era HMS Alliance at the Royal Navy Submarine Musuem in Gosport, Hampshire (submarine-museum.co.uk ), will be scarier still with a "spooky tour" and a chance to meet the captain, who will let you in on some tall tales of life below the waves. Free with a valid museum ticket (adults ?10, children ?7, under-fives free) 27-30 October.
Meanwhile, those interested in airborne action should make a beeline for the Royal Air Force Museum (01902 376200, rafmuseum.org.uk ) at Cosford in Shropshire for its Helicopter Half Term. Take a look inside a replica air ambulance and watch a real (Sea King) helicopter land; older kids will love the chance to talk to air ambulance and search and rescue crew, and flight engineers and technical sergeants who have logged time on the Sikorsky MH-53 helicopter on display.
? Sessions with the search and rescue team and the air ambulance crew will take place from 11am-1pm and 2-4pm each week day and will be located in Hangar 1. Entry to the event and to the rest of the museum is free
Learn to draw, nationwide Galleries and museums across the country are taking part in the Big Draw. At Tate Liverpool, children are invited to create their own art from the collection by taking transparent drawings which they then turn into 3D wire structures (tate.org.uk , all week, 1.30-4.30pm, free, age five-plus). And at the Cartoon Museum in London (020-7580 8155, cartoonmuseum.org , workshops free, booking essential) you can find out how cartoonist Sally Kindberg creates her comic strips (22 October) and comic artist Steve Marchant will teach you how to draw cartoons (23 October). There should be a project near you to inspire the little artists in your family
? Find events near you at campaignfordrawing.org/bigdraw (until 31 October)
The sky at night, Northumberland The skies above Kielder Forest are the darkest in Britain, and on 26 October there's a chance for families to join experts in viewing them through the Kielder Observatory's telescopes. You may be lucky enough to catch the tail end of Orionid's meteor shower display; if not, you are sure to see some spectacular sights on this moonless night. The evening event includes a talk, a tour of the observatory and, of course, the chance to gaze upon distant galaxies or universes that formed billions of light years ago.
? kielderobservatory.org , or contact Gary on 07805 638469, 8-11pm, ?8
Off to be the wizard, Leicestershire Harry Potter may have hung up his wand for the final time this summer, but wizard wannabes can try their hand at mixing magic potions at the National Space Centre's School of Wizardry over half-term. The idea is that kids will "discover the magic of science" through the Halloween Wizardry programme, as boffins teach them the secrets of disappearing water and they try their hand at exploding bubbles and changing liquids. Classes run throughout the day and are included in the admission price. Bridget, the Nasa ExoMars mission test robot, will also be visiting the centre between 26 and 29 October, and will drive across a simulated Martian surface.
? spacecentre.co.uk , adults ?13, children (5-16) ?11, under-5s free. With Giftaid entry, visitors receive a free annual pass
The Eden Project's big chill, Cornwall The Eden Project, whose rainforest biome domes normally bask in tropical temperatures, will feel a chill wind next week as the ice rink returns, decorated for Halloween. Over half-term the site will feature a wishcraft tent with pumpkin carving demonstrations, wand making and potion mixing. And on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 October you can shake your bones at the Little Monsters' Ball, a family disco with fancy dress.
? 01726 811972, edenproject.com . Adults/children ?22/?8.50 on the door or ?18.70-?19.80/free-?8.50 if booked online, under-fours free; 40-minute skate sessions ?5pp; Monsters' Ball (6pm to 9pm), ?7 per ticket, plus ?2 for a 20-minute skate * Day trips
* Family holidays
* Family
* United Kingdom Isabel Choat guardian.co.uk © 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds Arielle Kebbel Ashanti Ashlee Simpson Ashley Greene Ashley Olsen
Watch Out For This Netflix Phishing Scam Posted about 20 hours ago by joelpomales to joelpomales's posterous Watch Out For This Netflix Phishing Scam
via The Consumerist by Ben Popken on 10/20/11 There's an email that's been going around that pretends like it's from Netflix and they're having trouble with your credit card. Actually, it's from scammers and they want to steal your credit card.
A .zip file is attached to the email which says it's from "netflix@accounts.com ." The instructions say that your credit card was declined and they need you to download the .zip, open the .zip in your browser, and enter your info.
Here's the full text of the email:
"Dear Netflix Member,
Your payment method was declined for one of several reasons, such as insufficient funds or an expired credit card.
To correct the problem, please update your credit card or add a new one in order to be able to use your Netflix account in the future.
This is a reminder to update your credit card as soon as possible.
Please download the form attached to this email, unzip it and open it in a web browser.
Once opened, you will be provided with steps to update your account.
We appreciate your understanding as we work to ensure your account safety.
Sincerely,
Netflix Member Service,"
You should always be wary of opening strange attachments. They may contain viruses. If you think an email like this is legitimate, you should go to the service's main page by typing the address in your browser and navigate to the appropriate section yourself. Or call them directly.
(Thanks to Nick!)
Jacquelyn Butler Wins Better Half Dash at Charlotte Posted about 20 hours ago by rovenlunger to rovenlunger's posterous
Better Half Dash Quotes: Jacquelyn Butler (No. 6, winner) ? ?All of the girls did really good. It was fun out there. I want to go back and do it again next week. That was crazy but a lot of fun. I don?t know when I passed her [Allgaier]. All of our tires were wearing [...]
Source: http://thefinallap.com/2011/10/15/jacquelyn-butler-wins-better-half-dash-at-c...
Hans Klenk Peter de Klerk Christian Klien Karl Kling Ernst Klodwig
Benedict Allen: my greatest mistake Posted about 19 hours ago by kimtopps to kimtopps's posterous
Explorer Benedict Allen has been haunted for decades about having to eat his faithful dog to save his life when lost in the Brazilian rainforest
Since the age of 10 I'd wanted to be an explorer. My dad was a test pilot flying Vulcan bombers and I wished I could be an adventurer like him. So in 1982, I saved up and planned my first trip across the north-eastern Brazilian rainforest.
After five months of trekking, being passed from one indigenous tribe to another, not really knowing what I was doing, I came across some goldminers who attacked me in the night. I was only 22, naive and very scared.
In the darkness I fled towards my canoe. With me was a dog I'd found in a village a few months before; I'd healed its paw, and it had become my companion. But in the chaos, the canoe capsized and I lost everything. I ended up walking on my own, lost in the rainforest with only the dog for company.
As we walked we got steadily weaker and, after about three weeks, I was starving to death; I had malaria and I was delirious. But the dog had become incredibly important to me in terms of keeping my hopes up. We were both suffering, but we were in it together.
I couldn't see myself, but I knew how bad the dog looked. I drew a little jokey cartoon in my diary of us both fantasising about eating one other; I knew it was becoming a very real proposition. I started thinking more about what I might have to do if I ever wanted to see my mum and dad again.
I remember lying on my back one day and thinking I wouldn't get up again if I didn't eat something; the only thing left was to eat the dog. I managed to cook a few bits using a survival kit. It gave me a little strength to keep going but, in a way, I was even more terrified, as knew I'd played my last card.
Some days later, miraculously, I saw a chink of daylight; I'd been in a dark tangle for as long as I could recall, but soon I was standing in a farmer's crop. He treated me with an anti-malarial drink and I was taken to hospital.
When I got back to Britain I was too ashamed to tell my parents how badly things had gone. Then the local paper asked me about the trip. I let slip about the dog and before I knew it the nationals were on to it; my sorry tale became a two-page spread in the Daily Mail. The RSPCA came round with a sack of hate mail.
I often wonder whether what happened was a mistake or not; obviously it kept me alive but it has also haunted me. In a way it has driven me in my career, fuelling my desire to understand why I had survived. But it has always been something I've wanted to rectify.
Benedict Allen is speaking at deafblind charity Sense 's annual lecture on 15 November (email lecture@sense.org.uk ). * Work & careers
* Adventure travel
* Brazil Graham Snowdon guardian.co.uk © 2011 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds Daniella Alonso Danneel Harris Deanna Russo Denise Richards Desiree Dymond
Electronic Fuel Injection testing at Charlotte Motor Speedway Posted about 18 hours ago by rovenlunger to rovenlunger's posterous
NASCAR, Teams Pleased With Continued Progress Being Shown With EFI Systems DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (OCT. 17, 2011) ? Teams representing 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series cars turned upwards of 400 miles Monday during a test of Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Both NASCAR officials and drivers were optimistic about the continued development [...]
Source: http://thefinallap.com/2011/10/17/photos-efi-electronic-fuel-injection-testin...
Travis Wade Kvapil Robert Allen Labonte Terrence Lee Labonte Randy Joseph Lajoie Kevin Paul Lepage
Pumpkin Pecan Streusel Breakfast Braid (with Maple Brown Sugar Glaze) Posted about 17 hours ago by kimtopps to kimtopps's posterous
Another new pumpkin recipe! In this breakfast braid, tender, flaky, almond-scented pastry envelops pumpkin pie custard topped with buttery cinnamon pecan streusel. Maple brown sugar glaze and toasted pecans top the whole shebang, creating a perfect autumn breakfast (or dessert, or lunch, or dinner...!)
This braid looks fancy, but don't be fooled. It's one of the easiest things I make. The dough is lovely to work with -- it doesn't need to rise, barely needs any kneading, and isn't too sticky or finicky. It?s the perfect beginning pastry. If you?ve ever used canned crescent rolls, this dough is a textured a lot like that. I'm always amazed that such gorgeous results can be achieved with such little effort.
Especially if you've never made anything like this, I hope you'll give it a try. It really does make you feel like a rockstar to serve a pretty braid to your family :) Pumpkin Pecan Streusel Breakfast Braid with Maple Brown Sugar Glaze
---------------- Recipe by: Willow Bird Baking. Inspired by The Luna Cafe , with glaze from Caitlin Cooks
Yield: About 4-5 servings of 2 slices each
Easy Dough Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup milk, minus 1/2 teaspoon
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Pumpkin Pie Filling Ingredients:
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
3/8 cup sugar
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1 1/8 teaspoons cinnamon*
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg*
1/4 teaspoon ginger*
1/8 teaspoon allspice*
*You could probably substitute a teaspoon or so of pumpkin pie spices for these.
Pecan Streusel Ingredients:
1/8 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/8 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoons cup cold butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Maple Brown Sugar Glaze Ingredients:
1 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoons real maple syrup
pinch salt
3/4 cup powdered sugar
cinnamon for sprinkling
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Make the creamy pumpkin pie filling. In your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar and beat until fluffy and smooth. Add the pumpkin, egg, and vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice and mix until combined. Set in fridge while you make your braid.
Toast your pecans. Spread them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast for about 6 minutes or until fragrant, stirring about halfway through the cook time. Transfer nuts to a plate to cool. Raise oven temperature to 425 degrees F.
Make your pastry dough. In the bowl of a food processor, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the cream cheese and butter into the flour mixture and pulse to cut the fat into the flour (about 6 pulses). Add the milk and almond extract and blend into a loose dough.
Turn the dough onto a sheet of lightly-floured parchment paper and knead very lightly for just 4-5 strokes (be careful not to overwork the dough or it'll be tough! Don't worry about getting it smooth -- just knead for these few strokes and let it stay a little rough.)
Very lightly flour the top of the dough and place another sheet of parchment paper on top. Between two sheets of parchment paper, roll the dough to an 8- by 12-inch rectangle (I lift the paper off every now and then and flip the dough and repeat on the other side, to ensure the dough isn't sticking). Remove the top sheet of parchment and discard. Measure and mark the dough lengthwise into thirds. Spread your creamy pumpkin pie filling down the middle third of the dough -- try to keep your filling about 1/4 inch from the mark on both sides.
Make the streusel topping. Combine the flour and brown sugar in a medium bowl and using two knives or a pastry cutter, cut in the butter until you have crumbly streusel. Mix in 1/4 cup of toasted pecans (save the rest for decorating the finished braid). Sprinkle streusel over top of pumpkin mixture in center of dough. Really pile it on!
Continue assembling the braid (see photos at the bottom of this recipe, which show the process of marking and assembling a raspberry almond braid, for guidance). Make 2 3/4-inch slight diagonal cuts at 1-inch intervals on each the long sides. Do not cut into the center pumpkin-filled area. Fold strips, first one from one side and then one from the other side in a rotating fashion, over the filling. It will now resemble a braid. Use the sheet of parchment to transfer your braid to a baking sheet (at this point, you can brush the pastry with a mixture of 1 beaten egg and a teaspoon of water if you want it darker than mine. I didn't bother). Bake in the 425 degree oven for 12-15 minutes, until the dough is cooked through and the top is lightly browned. Let the braid cool slightly while you make your glaze.
Make the Maple Brown Sugar Glaze. Combine the butter and milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. When the butter melts, whisk in the brown sugar, syrup, and salt, stirring until the brown sugar melts. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the powdered sugar. Drizzle the glaze over the top of your braid. Sprinkle the braid with toasted pecans and a dusting of cinnamon. Serve immediately. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container and microwave for about 20 seconds to serve. To read about how I wholeheartedly embrace nerdiness, see the great lengths I was willing to go to to get out of the mile run as a child, and see more pumpkin braid photos, please head over to Willow Bird Baking !
x-posted to food_porn, cooking, picturing_food, and bakebakebake
Amy Cobb Amy Smart Ana Beatriz Barros Ana Hickmann Ana Ivanovi
NASCAR makes Lionheart decal to honor Dan Wheldon (PA SportsTicker) Posted about 16 hours ago by rovenlunger to rovenlunger's posterous
NASCAR is providing all its teams a decal that honors Dan Wheldon to place on their cars this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway.
Source: http://www.nascarracinglive.com/nascar/nascar-makes-lionheart-decal-to-honor-...
Paul Hawkins Mike Hawthorn Boy Hayje Willi Heeks Nick Heidfeld
10 of the best films set in Edinburgh Posted about 15 hours ago by kimtopps to kimtopps's posterous
Edinburgh on film isn't just Trainspotting it's classics: Chariots of Fire, romance: One Day and thrills: Burke and Hare. Here are 10, picked by Andrew Pulver, film editor of the Guardian
? As featured in our Edinburgh city guide
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Ronald Neame, 1969 Muriel Spark's celebrated 1961 novella was, until Trainspotting, Edinburgh's most readily identifiable contribution to modern literature. Inspired largely by Spark's own time at [James] Gillespie's school , this elaborate, empathetic satire on a fascism-admiring teacher would not have been expected to be a major candidate for Oscar attention, but Maggie Smith won the best actress award in 1969, after Ronald "Poseidon Adventure" Neame directed the film version. Sixties Edinburgh has no problem standing in for 30s Edinburgh: the Marcia Blaine school is sited in the Edinburgh Academy building in Henderson Row, while it's possible to stand in the exact same spot as Maggie Smith on the Grassmarket and bellow: "Observe, little girls, the castle!", shortly before decamping to Greyfriars Kirkyard .
? Henderson Row, Grassmarket, Edinburgh Castle, Barnbougle Castle
Trainspotting, Danny Boyle, 1996 The opening scenes of Trainspotting , in which Ewan McGregor and Ewen Bremner pound along Princes Street to the sound of Iggy Pop's Lust for Life, have rightly gone down as among the most iconic in British cinema. And you couldn't get more Edinburgh either, as Renton and Spud slither down Waterloo Place, right by the station. In actual fact, much of Irvine Welsh's high-octane ode to the Edinburgh junk life was filmed in Glasgow, including the Begbie pub fight scene and the Volcano club. But no film has done more to put Edinburgh on the map in the modern era.
? Princes Street, Waterloo Place, Leith Street
Chariots of Fire, Hugh Hudson, 1981 Being as it is about the feats of two British athletes at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, Chariots of Fire is not always high on the list of great Edinburgh movies, but as one of the athletes concerned is Scottish flier Eric Liddell , the city becomes a quiet character in its own right. Primarily, it stands for the don't-mess-with-me spirit of the Christian faith that sustains Liddell ? causing him to knock back as august a person as the future Edward VIII. The Edinburgh skyline, as seen from Arthur's Seat, gets a good workout, but my favourite bit is Liddell tipping his cap to the statue of John Knox, located in the courtyard of the Church of Scotland Assembly Hall, just off the Mound.
? Arthur's Seat, Princes Street, The Mound, Broughton Place, Holyrood Park
Regeneration, Gillies MacKinnon, 1997 A real change of pace this: Pat Barker's intense, subtle novel about war-damaged soldiers receiving treatment at the Craiglockhart War Hospital (now part of Napier University ) was adapted into a film by Gillies MacKinnon, best-known perhaps for the Glasgow gang film Small Faces . Regeneration wasn't actually shot at Craiglockhart, a suburb in the south-west of the city but mostly at Overtoun House near Dumbarton. Even so, it summons up wonderfully well the spirit of the period, and the atmosphere of civilised inquiry under the stewardship of WHR Rivers as he treats his most famous patient, poet Siegfried Sassoon , after the horrors of the first world war.
Hallam Foe, David Mackenzie, 2007 A weird one-off of a film: Jamie Bell plays a strange young man called Hallam Foe . He is oedipally obsessed with his dead mother (as well as his current stepmother), and crawls over rooftops to spy on a fellow employee and then holes up in a clocktower with bird's eye views of the city. The clocktower is the one belonging to the Balmoral Hotel, an utterly distinctive neo-gothic pile only a few yards away from the Scott monument. Director David Mackenzie had previously examined the underbelly of Glasgow and its canal system in Young Adam . Perhaps not as successful as his former movie, Hallam Foe, especially its hotel-worker scenes, presents a distinctive and different perspective on city life.
? Balmoral Hotel on Princes Street, Scott monument on Princes Street, Cockburn Street
Shallow Grave, Danny Boyle, 1994 Before Trainspotting there was Shallow Grave . With its opening shots tearing along the cobbles of the New Town, before coming to rest outside a front door on North West Circus Place, Shallow Grave oozed Edinburgh; if nothing else, it's got the best flats in Britain. Hence the suitability of its location for this Blood Simple-esque thriller about a dead flatmate and a suitcase full of money ? even if Christopher Eccleston's opening voiceover states: "This could be any city." As with Trainspotting, certain key scenes were filmed in Glasgow, such as Ewan McGregor's journalist-office scenes, which took place at the Evening Times in Albion Street.
? North West Circus Place, New Town
The Illusionist, Sylvain Chomet, 2010 Working from a never-filmed screenplay by Jacques Tati , Edinburgh-based animator Sylvain Chomet turned this melancholy story of an itinerant magician into a wistful love letter to his adopted home town. Tati had originally planned to film in Czechoslovakia; Chomet, who had made the magnificent Belleville Rendezvous , set it in 1950s Edinburgh, with an anonymous-looking boarding house for hard-up variety artistes the main location. There are, however, wonderful sequences readily identifiable as Edinburgh landmarks: principally, Jenners department store on Princes Street, as well as spectacular views of the Old Town and the Castle.
? Princes Street, Edinburgh Castle, Old Town
Festival, Annie Griffin, 2005 To the rest of the world, the festival is Edinburgh, and it was inevitable, perhaps, that someone would get around to making a film about it ? and call it Festival . That someone turned out to be fringe theatre maven Annie Griffin , who did a very nice job of pulling together disparate story strands to make sense of the festival's sprawl. As you'd expect, the packed streets make for a natural film set, and right from the opening credits, Griffin takes up the opportunity. You want scenes of actor types handing out leaflets on the High Street and the Mound? They're all here.
? Royal Mile, High Street, Old Town, Princes Street, The Mound, George Square gardens, Abercromby Place
Burke and Hare, John Landis, 2010 If there's one thing historical Edinburgh stands for, it's corpse-stealing. The Burke and Hare murders , in 1827 and 1828, have imprinted themselves on the popular imagination, and resulted in a string of movie adaptations. The most recent, and probably best known, is the one sta
No comments:
Post a Comment