Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Come Fly With Me
I don't know why that song is stuck in my head, perhaps as I heard Holly Cole sing it yesterday. But the notion of spontaneous travel, as it might be properly called, is both romantic and enticing. There was a time when circumstances in my life permitted a quick weekend away, and there was always a thought as to how fortunate we were to be able to do that. Kids, jobs, etc. etc. kind of slow down the spontanaiety in life and make it different. I struggle with that sometimes, but am careful not to make it my focus. Those responsibilities are huge and need to come first.
My son, the music maven, was humming the chorus from the 1812 Overture this morning, you know, the part where the cannons go off. And the first thing I thought of was that sixties breakfast cereal that used the same music phrase with the words "This is the cereal that's shot from guns." Yes, it was Quaker Puffed Rice. And a Google search pulled up more people with that same memory. I guess you can go home again.
Music today is the aforementioned Holly Cole, "Romantically Helpless." Something about her delivery and style pull me into a romantic fog. And also, an album from 1984, Michael Hedges' "Aerial Bounderies." His guitar work, showcased in much solo work for Windham Hill and other collaborative work was definitive and innovative. Sadly, as I learned this morning, he passed away in 1997.
Two other passings of note as you may have heard this week. First, Jan Berry, of "Jan and Dean" died one week shy of his 63rd birthday. The man who survived a terrible crash and was left with brain injuries told his tale to Larry King last April. Think "Dead Man's Curve." And Alistair Cooke, known to more contemporary generations for hosting "Masterpiece Theatre," but to the British, it was a radio program, "Letter from America"," which ran from 1946 to this past March 2. For a program slated to run for 13 weeks originally, "Letter From America" ran for 58 years. He was 95.
À La Prochaine!
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My son, the music maven, was humming the chorus from the 1812 Overture this morning, you know, the part where the cannons go off. And the first thing I thought of was that sixties breakfast cereal that used the same music phrase with the words "This is the cereal that's shot from guns." Yes, it was Quaker Puffed Rice. And a Google search pulled up more people with that same memory. I guess you can go home again.
Music today is the aforementioned Holly Cole, "Romantically Helpless." Something about her delivery and style pull me into a romantic fog. And also, an album from 1984, Michael Hedges' "Aerial Bounderies." His guitar work, showcased in much solo work for Windham Hill and other collaborative work was definitive and innovative. Sadly, as I learned this morning, he passed away in 1997.
Two other passings of note as you may have heard this week. First, Jan Berry, of "Jan and Dean" died one week shy of his 63rd birthday. The man who survived a terrible crash and was left with brain injuries told his tale to Larry King last April. Think "Dead Man's Curve." And Alistair Cooke, known to more contemporary generations for hosting "Masterpiece Theatre," but to the British, it was a radio program, "Letter from America"," which ran from 1946 to this past March 2. For a program slated to run for 13 weeks originally, "Letter From America" ran for 58 years. He was 95.
À La Prochaine!
|
Monday, March 29, 2004
Of the people, by the people and for the people
I still believe in the good old USA, even though politics is ruining the governing process. Recent articles have shown, for instance, that the people of this country favor controls on broadcasters so that indecent content is not broadcast. So, why am I in a dizzy spin about this issue? It is the response of two of my US congresspeople in response to mail I sent to them. I wonder how much of their rhetoric is "the people" and how much is "how will this look when I am elected president in twelve years." I am not including the two men I have quoted here with that latter response.
Representative Jim Langevin of Rhode Island, in response to me asking that Congress work with the FCC to regulate indecent programs, said this to me in an email:
Some of what Jim said was what I wanted to hear, but the last paragraph still troubles me. What tools will I have had to block the halftime Super Bowl show from my son's eyes and ears? The fact that the legislation he spoke about passed by a vote of 399 to 22 shows that the people are thought to be a part of the process, but are other agendas being pursued? I'm only saying this because we're talking about Free Speech on one hand and our right to live in a society where society will not corrupt us or our kids.
The brouhaha has sent some broadcast groups scurrying to shut down potential liability in their programs, with Howard Stern suspended, Elliott and "Bubba the Love Sponge" (if this is the first time you've read this, I'm not making it up) fired and big fines for anyone who crosses the invisible line. The line is not so invisible, when you apply standards that have been in place for a long time. For example; would a school teacher be fired for saying an indecent word? Certainly, and a civil rights lawsuit would probably ensue.
Next, the tests that the FCC applied during the Bono incident at the Golden Globes last year. According to Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island,
To me, the last paragraph of Senator Reed's analysis of the FCC's decision is a moot point. With the broadcasters scrambling to limit the broadcast of any indecent material, an isolated incident like the Bono remark would result in huge fines. Except for one thing, read carefully: "(the utterance) a fleeting and isolated remark that emphasized an exclamation." So, is the expression "F-you" permitted in broadcast, because the word in question was used to emphasize an exclamation? Or simply the word "S--t," used alone. As a parent who cares about his children, this is ludicrous.
The larger societal problem, from my perspective (and I am not some snobby intellectual,) is that the use of the English language is in decline. Language that used to be the province of the limited-educated person who did not know the 3000 other adjectives in the English language that could be used, instead uses the seven or so words in ample quantity, without reaching for more descriptive and more variety of words. It's been a long time since we have seen the use of much of the language as opposed to a limited vocabulary where a single word is used to amplify dozens of sentences. Not exactly a universal verb or adjective.
Perhaps, I offended one of you, my readers with this post. You may want to see your "language" in use everywhere, in effect supporting your use of one of those words. As a Christian parent, I will work to see that these words, phrases and depictions are not broadcast on the radio or on television, as it is time to make the broadcasters accountable for the fact that their viewership and listenership are dependent on young people; and that they reflect society as in a mirror. And I would dream that my son will grow up, using language that accurately describes his communication and not use "shortcut" indecent or obscene words as a substitute for our rich language.
Sidebar: What is indecent on the airwaves?
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Representative Jim Langevin of Rhode Island, in response to me asking that Congress work with the FCC to regulate indecent programs, said this to me in an email:
| As you know, several incidents in the last year caused considerable public outcry and prompted the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to examine current indecency regulations. Most notably, the use of an expletive by a celebrity during the Golden Globe Awards in 2003, as well as the
Super bowl Halftime Show, drew the sharpest criticism from across the country. In a hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee on February 11, 2004, FCC Chairman Michael Powell expressed the FCC's commitment to pursuing indecent programming violations as well as revoking broadcast licenses for egregious and continued disregard of standards. Broadcast licenses are provided to radio and TV stations at no charge with the requirement that they serve the public good. In an effort to reinforce penalties assessed for such infractions, the House of Representatives considered H.R. 3713, the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act, on March 11, 2004. This legislation sharply increases FCC fines for broadcasters and licensees that are found to violate current federal decency statutes. The measure also mandates that the FCC and the General Accounting Office submit to Congress annual reports of violations and the fines assessed. I was pleased to support this legislation, which passed by a vote of 399-22. H.R. 3713 has been referred to the Senate where it awaits further action. We must respect individual choice to exclude obscene or offensive language from their daily lives and ensure that parents, in particular, continue to have the tools necessary to monitor the content of the programming that their children watch and listen to. Increasing penalties will remind broadcasters to carefully consider program content before it is aired. I am also mindful, however, of the deeply-rooted right to express oneself freely in this country, and I will continue to monitor the FCC in order to ensure that they exercise diligence and sound judgment and maintain a careful balance in this area. |
Some of what Jim said was what I wanted to hear, but the last paragraph still troubles me. What tools will I have had to block the halftime Super Bowl show from my son's eyes and ears? The fact that the legislation he spoke about passed by a vote of 399 to 22 shows that the people are thought to be a part of the process, but are other agendas being pursued? I'm only saying this because we're talking about Free Speech on one hand and our right to live in a society where society will not corrupt us or our kids.
The brouhaha has sent some broadcast groups scurrying to shut down potential liability in their programs, with Howard Stern suspended, Elliott and "Bubba the Love Sponge" (if this is the first time you've read this, I'm not making it up) fired and big fines for anyone who crosses the invisible line. The line is not so invisible, when you apply standards that have been in place for a long time. For example; would a school teacher be fired for saying an indecent word? Certainly, and a civil rights lawsuit would probably ensue.
Next, the tests that the FCC applied during the Bono incident at the Golden Globes last year. According to Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island,
| The First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 326 of the Communications Act of 1934 prohibit the FCC from censoring or from interfering with broadcaster's freedom of expression. However, the Commission has been given the authority to enforce statutory and regulatory provisions restricting indecency and obscenity. Consequently, the FCC has forbid the broadcast of obscene material at all times and indecent material between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Under the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Miller v. California (413 U.S. 15), a three-pronged test was adopted to determine if material should be deemed obscene: "(a) whether 'the average person, applying contemporary community standards' would find that work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest, ... (b) whether the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law, and (c) whether the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value." The FCC found that the broadcast was not obscene because the material broadcast during the Golden Globe Awards did not depict sexual conduct and therefore does not meet the obscenity standard under Miller v. California. Additionally, the FCC defines indecent speech as "language that, in context, depicts or describes sexual or excretory activities or organs in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary standards for the broadcast medium. The FCC found that Bono's utterance to be a fleeting and isolated remark that emphasized an exclamation, and as such, not meeting the threshold set by the test. This finding does not reflect a shift in the FCC's position, nor does it give license for the unrestricted use of profanity on broadcast television or radio stations. |
To me, the last paragraph of Senator Reed's analysis of the FCC's decision is a moot point. With the broadcasters scrambling to limit the broadcast of any indecent material, an isolated incident like the Bono remark would result in huge fines. Except for one thing, read carefully: "(the utterance) a fleeting and isolated remark that emphasized an exclamation." So, is the expression "F-you" permitted in broadcast, because the word in question was used to emphasize an exclamation? Or simply the word "S--t," used alone. As a parent who cares about his children, this is ludicrous.
The larger societal problem, from my perspective (and I am not some snobby intellectual,) is that the use of the English language is in decline. Language that used to be the province of the limited-educated person who did not know the 3000 other adjectives in the English language that could be used, instead uses the seven or so words in ample quantity, without reaching for more descriptive and more variety of words. It's been a long time since we have seen the use of much of the language as opposed to a limited vocabulary where a single word is used to amplify dozens of sentences. Not exactly a universal verb or adjective.
Perhaps, I offended one of you, my readers with this post. You may want to see your "language" in use everywhere, in effect supporting your use of one of those words. As a Christian parent, I will work to see that these words, phrases and depictions are not broadcast on the radio or on television, as it is time to make the broadcasters accountable for the fact that their viewership and listenership are dependent on young people; and that they reflect society as in a mirror. And I would dream that my son will grow up, using language that accurately describes his communication and not use "shortcut" indecent or obscene words as a substitute for our rich language.
Sidebar: What is indecent on the airwaves?
|
Sunday, March 28, 2004
Sunday Morning
Miscellany and brain dumps: I haven't been blogging lately because a) I'm still tied up with the reunion, b) I'm trying to make sense of my singleness, c) live person relationships are more valuable than Internet ones, d) the sun will explode in 2,000,000,000,000 years, e) I'm tired. Pick one.
You would think that without a lot of work that I'd have time to think. But lately, its been hard to come up with the words that will challenge the reader. Same reason my book is on hold at the sixth chapter, I can't concentrate on the time and place to make the characters come alive. I hope this is a season, and a short one. I really do love to write to entertain and inform, and hear from those who enjoy it. There are a lot of issues piling up in my bookmarks that would make interesting fodder for a post, but I am not challenged by most right now. And the way to write is to be challenged by what you are writing about.
In my blogwalk this morning, I am encouraged by Michelle, Mark, Sue, Marc (who offers a rare glimpse of a blogger in its habitat,) Dawn (always a good read) and Diane. All have something to say, even if it is important to themselves only. It is the spirit of expression that I admire, in many different ways.
Windows XP has a neat download that as far as I know is available only for Windows XP. The Winter Fun Pack (I know, a lame name) has two interesting items in it: a wallpaper changer and a customizable screen saver. The wallpaper changer is notable as you can set a different wallpaper for every day of the year, or only on special days. I put all my spring wallpaper files in one directory; changing the background every hour. This morning, I was greeted by a wonderful picture of a lavender field in Provence.
À bientôt!
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You would think that without a lot of work that I'd have time to think. But lately, its been hard to come up with the words that will challenge the reader. Same reason my book is on hold at the sixth chapter, I can't concentrate on the time and place to make the characters come alive. I hope this is a season, and a short one. I really do love to write to entertain and inform, and hear from those who enjoy it. There are a lot of issues piling up in my bookmarks that would make interesting fodder for a post, but I am not challenged by most right now. And the way to write is to be challenged by what you are writing about.
In my blogwalk this morning, I am encouraged by Michelle, Mark, Sue, Marc (who offers a rare glimpse of a blogger in its habitat,) Dawn (always a good read) and Diane. All have something to say, even if it is important to themselves only. It is the spirit of expression that I admire, in many different ways.
Windows XP has a neat download that as far as I know is available only for Windows XP. The Winter Fun Pack (I know, a lame name) has two interesting items in it: a wallpaper changer and a customizable screen saver. The wallpaper changer is notable as you can set a different wallpaper for every day of the year, or only on special days. I put all my spring wallpaper files in one directory; changing the background every hour. This morning, I was greeted by a wonderful picture of a lavender field in Provence.
À bientôt!
|
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
Search Wars
Newsweek is reporting that competitors to Google are gearing up for war. Believe it or not, search engines like Google represent a 4 billion dollar (US) annual take, with Google accounting for 1 billion of that. The company was begun by two Stanford grad students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin a few short years ago, in a burgeoning Internet environment that included Alta-Vista, Ask Jeeves, Lycos and Yahoo. Now Google stands high above its competition, where ever single minute of the day, over 138,000 pages are searched for, in 90 different languages. The Newsweek article carries the euphoria of being on top for Page and Brin to reality, as more competitors are gearing up for a run at Google.
Here at Southstation.Org, the content of this blog and the public sites of Southstation.Org are searched every twenty-four hours by more than twenty different search engines. Some are regional, some obscure, some in beta mode, and others cloaking some unknown source. All this adds up to bandwidth that could potentially block out visitors to this site, so I am concerned about the plethora of search vehicles too. I've been in discussions with my hosting company to ban some well-known troublesome search engines that blindly suck down a web site and ignore the rules that are standards in the industry.
Newsweek, reporting that "Not only has Google very famously become a verb, but Silicon Valley is holding its collective breath for the seemingly inevitable IPO, when Google will become a synonym for another word: wealthy. Still, even without a market cap, the two Google guys recently made the Forbes billionaire list." Pretty good for 30 and 31-year old guys. Now, Google will have to begin differentiating itself from unknown competition to stay out in front.
Search engines are the front door to the internet. And businesses and organizations that are not indexed are invisible to consumers and users. Having a high "page rank" (calculated from the number of times that link has been clicked in a search list for a searched term) guarantees prominent placement and potential revenue. Though there have been renegade folks who try to manipulate the "click-throughs" to push page rank and the site further up the list, Google constantly tweaks the algorithm to prevent such maniplulation. But it seems that the page ranking is the center of the potential revenue stream for the new start ups. Google does a bit of this with its "Ad-Words," pushing supposedly relevant advertising as sidebars to a search.
What does this mean to the average consumer? More television and radio advertising for search engines to drive people to the internet to try the new guys out. More affinity deals with commercial web sites, promoting the Google competition. More searches across the internet, driving up bandwidth. and cost. So it may cost me more to have Google experience competition. Hmmmm.
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Here at Southstation.Org, the content of this blog and the public sites of Southstation.Org are searched every twenty-four hours by more than twenty different search engines. Some are regional, some obscure, some in beta mode, and others cloaking some unknown source. All this adds up to bandwidth that could potentially block out visitors to this site, so I am concerned about the plethora of search vehicles too. I've been in discussions with my hosting company to ban some well-known troublesome search engines that blindly suck down a web site and ignore the rules that are standards in the industry.
Newsweek, reporting that "Not only has Google very famously become a verb, but Silicon Valley is holding its collective breath for the seemingly inevitable IPO, when Google will become a synonym for another word: wealthy. Still, even without a market cap, the two Google guys recently made the Forbes billionaire list." Pretty good for 30 and 31-year old guys. Now, Google will have to begin differentiating itself from unknown competition to stay out in front.
Search engines are the front door to the internet. And businesses and organizations that are not indexed are invisible to consumers and users. Having a high "page rank" (calculated from the number of times that link has been clicked in a search list for a searched term) guarantees prominent placement and potential revenue. Though there have been renegade folks who try to manipulate the "click-throughs" to push page rank and the site further up the list, Google constantly tweaks the algorithm to prevent such maniplulation. But it seems that the page ranking is the center of the potential revenue stream for the new start ups. Google does a bit of this with its "Ad-Words," pushing supposedly relevant advertising as sidebars to a search.
What does this mean to the average consumer? More television and radio advertising for search engines to drive people to the internet to try the new guys out. More affinity deals with commercial web sites, promoting the Google competition. More searches across the internet, driving up bandwidth. and cost. So it may cost me more to have Google experience competition. Hmmmm.
|
Monday, March 22, 2004
Home Of The Oldies
Nothing is funnier to me than hearing my twelve-year-old son singing some obscure pop song, like nobody's listening to him. Of course, around the blog house, oldies are de rigueur, but I do like lots of other music. This morning, I head him singing "Smoke, on the waaaaa-ter, a fire in the skyyyyy." Les you think he heard that from a Deep Purple album, he first heard that phrase from a Weird Al Yankovic song parody, "Polkas On 45." And, if you've heard that song, you might know where Andy has also been singing "Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun in your hand." Great. At least he breaks it up with "Chapel of Love" and "Runaway" sometimes.
Music for me this morning is the classic Dan Fogelberg/Tim Weisberg album from 1978, "Twin Sons of Different Mothers." This is a classic album, half instrumental, half vocal, with the soaring flute of Tim and the honest voice of Dan. Funny that Tim is best remembered for this album, but he was a jazz flutist for a long time too.
Rants for today: none.
Praises for today: nice wake-up call from M.
Work for today: at the church, more soldering.
Weather for today: Sunny and cold, highs in the upper 30s.
Satisfaction Index (0-100): 70 (proving that I can get some satisfaction)
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Music for me this morning is the classic Dan Fogelberg/Tim Weisberg album from 1978, "Twin Sons of Different Mothers." This is a classic album, half instrumental, half vocal, with the soaring flute of Tim and the honest voice of Dan. Funny that Tim is best remembered for this album, but he was a jazz flutist for a long time too.
Rants for today: none.
Praises for today: nice wake-up call from M.
Work for today: at the church, more soldering.
Weather for today: Sunny and cold, highs in the upper 30s.
Satisfaction Index (0-100): 70 (proving that I can get some satisfaction)
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Thursday, March 18, 2004
Traditions
It's post-St. Patricks day, and I completely forgot about the day. Well, I'm not Irish, so maybe I'm forgiven. In my blog travels, I found the nicest St. Patrick's day blog banner over at Kari's.
An email from M2 got me thinking about traditions and what we pass down to our children. I lived a scattered life, moving from here to there and back again. About the only family traditions I remember were the Christmas and Thanksgiving gatherings at my grandparents home. The Fourth of July was another big gathering, as the front porch and steps of my grandmother's home were filled with relatives and friends, watching the passing parade. Moving, and sharing many step-mothers along the way, made it difficult to keep anything as a good family memory. And the holiday gatherings at my grandparents homes disappeared with the death of my grandmother when I was 14.
Oh, we've tried to establish something that is memorable, like everyone making their own Christmas ornament every year. But the remnants of that one-time event merely show up on the tree every year. In thinking about M2, who has an Irish family heritage, the sense of tradition seems right. She cooked yesterday, corned beef and cabbage, and had a houseful of her daughters, their spouses and friends. Her daughters look forward to this every year, and shows a wonderful aspect of tradition; it binds people together. I saw that in my childhood at my grandparents, where aunts and uncles, great aunts and uncles, cousins and great grandparents would gather. I don't remember my grandmother ever bending under the pressure of cooking for sixteen, or that family squabbles prevented so-and-so from coming. Even as a five year old, I looked with anticipation for the holidays at my grandparents home.
Is it too late to begin traditions? I think not, but it will take consistency, planning, and spontaneous happiness. Maybe a new tradition will be started later this year. Or tomorrow.
À bientôt!
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An email from M2 got me thinking about traditions and what we pass down to our children. I lived a scattered life, moving from here to there and back again. About the only family traditions I remember were the Christmas and Thanksgiving gatherings at my grandparents home. The Fourth of July was another big gathering, as the front porch and steps of my grandmother's home were filled with relatives and friends, watching the passing parade. Moving, and sharing many step-mothers along the way, made it difficult to keep anything as a good family memory. And the holiday gatherings at my grandparents homes disappeared with the death of my grandmother when I was 14.
Oh, we've tried to establish something that is memorable, like everyone making their own Christmas ornament every year. But the remnants of that one-time event merely show up on the tree every year. In thinking about M2, who has an Irish family heritage, the sense of tradition seems right. She cooked yesterday, corned beef and cabbage, and had a houseful of her daughters, their spouses and friends. Her daughters look forward to this every year, and shows a wonderful aspect of tradition; it binds people together. I saw that in my childhood at my grandparents, where aunts and uncles, great aunts and uncles, cousins and great grandparents would gather. I don't remember my grandmother ever bending under the pressure of cooking for sixteen, or that family squabbles prevented so-and-so from coming. Even as a five year old, I looked with anticipation for the holidays at my grandparents home.
Is it too late to begin traditions? I think not, but it will take consistency, planning, and spontaneous happiness. Maybe a new tradition will be started later this year. Or tomorrow.
À bientôt!
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Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Snow what?
Hello gentle readers. Today's snow is brought to you by the letter E! That stands for "Enough already!" I know, there are two words there. What was the second word? That's right, it is "already!" And that begins with A.
So I am in a silly snow mood today. Music is courtesy of a wonderful birthday present by M, who gave me Norah Jones' first album, "Come Away With Me." Yes, yes, yes. And incidentally, that album is available in vinyl. Yes, those 12" plastic sound thingies are still around.
I am grateful for all the birthday wishes that have come my way yesterday. And since you didn't ask, I turned 49 and don't look a day over 44. I wish. For those of you who missed the worldwide greeting, I am unashamedly pointing you to Michelle's Wind Spirit who started this whole thing. (Sorry, Michelle, I didn't know how to work the trackback thing.)
Stupid Microsoft Tricks. I installed Office 2003 yesterday, over Office 2000. There was no warning that PGP was installed and had to be turned off when upgrading to Outlook 2003. So I lost the content of three emails due to this stupid, preventable problem. And of course, now I have to upgrade my PGP to work with Outlook 2003.
I'm still on a reunion downer. Being part of the committee, I counted almost 700 emails between us all in the five months it took to stage this event, called part wedding, part stage show. I miss the contact.
Have a great day!
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So I am in a silly snow mood today. Music is courtesy of a wonderful birthday present by M, who gave me Norah Jones' first album, "Come Away With Me." Yes, yes, yes. And incidentally, that album is available in vinyl. Yes, those 12" plastic sound thingies are still around.
I am grateful for all the birthday wishes that have come my way yesterday. And since you didn't ask, I turned 49 and don't look a day over 44. I wish. For those of you who missed the worldwide greeting, I am unashamedly pointing you to Michelle's Wind Spirit who started this whole thing. (Sorry, Michelle, I didn't know how to work the trackback thing.)
Stupid Microsoft Tricks. I installed Office 2003 yesterday, over Office 2000. There was no warning that PGP was installed and had to be turned off when upgrading to Outlook 2003. So I lost the content of three emails due to this stupid, preventable problem. And of course, now I have to upgrade my PGP to work with Outlook 2003.
I'm still on a reunion downer. Being part of the committee, I counted almost 700 emails between us all in the five months it took to stage this event, called part wedding, part stage show. I miss the contact.
Have a great day!
|
Monday, March 15, 2004
Post-Script for the Reunion
Wow. The combined effort of the committee and the support of the class (over 100 attended, 82 of which were graduates of a class of 200.) Almost everything went so smoothly, and the reports are coming in of what a wonderful time everybody had. The evening was going so well, that by 11, it looked like it wouldn't stop. So the class members stepped in and chipped in money to pay the staff to stay an extra hour.
So many old friends, so good to see. I'm personally glad everyone was pleased, but during the course of the event, many were praising me only, and me, not wanting the spotlight, quickly said that the committee was totally responsible. But for you future reunion planners, I did take credit for the web site, which was a huge success. We add new pictures every week, kept people abreast of new news, and provided a message board where everyone could hang out.
The events of the evening began with a cocktail/hors d' oveure hour, in the foyer of the hotel, with decorations in black and white, the school colors. All class members received a tote bag, with a custom logo of the reunion, and filled with a fantastic memory book, branded pen (on a neck lanyard,) package of black and white M&Ms, a copy of the class song (which we didn't have time to sing,) a disposable camera, a list of the class members who couldn't be found (so some might know where these folks are,) and a report card with pre-addressed envelope so we could see how we did.
When the 7 o'clock hour rolled around, a class picture was taken, and by 7:30 we were in the main ballroom, awash with color (to contrast the black and white of the foyer.) Big tropical plans adorned each table, ringed by five candles in votive glasses. Multi-colored napkins heighten the color on the table. A screen showed a slide show of old pictures taken from the yearbook. Colored spotlights played on the walls. And a corner of the ballroom was set up as an archive of the class, with things as diverse as a prom dress, class medals, newspaper articles, prom ticket, play scripts, programs, record albums from 1973, pictures and a folder from the junior year of a graduate, showing her schedule. The folder had all the school rules in it, and the member who owned it said she found it with papers from 1972 still in it.
Music was automated and was picked from the years 1969 through 1977 (the year most of us graduated from college.) The food was wonderful, a choice of chicken picatta or prime rib, with a very chocolate mousse pie for dessert. Each table had wine on it also.
The evening wound down in the hospitality suite, where hot snacks and cold soft drinks were offered. Though some people brought in beer, the night wasn't too rowdy; and the party continued in some of the rooms of the hotel (but not in mine, I went to bed at 3:30!)
Next morning, a tropical scene awaited the class members who were able to wake up early, and a breakfast buffet was serviced. The committee members were in grass skirts (except for me, of course) and everyone was presented with a lei when they entered the room.
So many things, so many people. It was the best reunion, some said. We the committee tried to make it different, and I think we succeeded. Now, if I can only make up for the sleep I lost.
So glad to see Phil, Marion, Annette, Brenda, Chuck, Dennis, Sue, Charleen, Linda and Chuck, Vedo, Colleen, Doreen, Donna, Barry (all the way from Alaska,) Cheryl, Katherine, Albert, Dennis D, Mary, Frank, ken, Tim, Linda B and Richard. And thanks to everyone else who made it all possible and a success.
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So many old friends, so good to see. I'm personally glad everyone was pleased, but during the course of the event, many were praising me only, and me, not wanting the spotlight, quickly said that the committee was totally responsible. But for you future reunion planners, I did take credit for the web site, which was a huge success. We add new pictures every week, kept people abreast of new news, and provided a message board where everyone could hang out.
The events of the evening began with a cocktail/hors d' oveure hour, in the foyer of the hotel, with decorations in black and white, the school colors. All class members received a tote bag, with a custom logo of the reunion, and filled with a fantastic memory book, branded pen (on a neck lanyard,) package of black and white M&Ms, a copy of the class song (which we didn't have time to sing,) a disposable camera, a list of the class members who couldn't be found (so some might know where these folks are,) and a report card with pre-addressed envelope so we could see how we did.
When the 7 o'clock hour rolled around, a class picture was taken, and by 7:30 we were in the main ballroom, awash with color (to contrast the black and white of the foyer.) Big tropical plans adorned each table, ringed by five candles in votive glasses. Multi-colored napkins heighten the color on the table. A screen showed a slide show of old pictures taken from the yearbook. Colored spotlights played on the walls. And a corner of the ballroom was set up as an archive of the class, with things as diverse as a prom dress, class medals, newspaper articles, prom ticket, play scripts, programs, record albums from 1973, pictures and a folder from the junior year of a graduate, showing her schedule. The folder had all the school rules in it, and the member who owned it said she found it with papers from 1972 still in it.
Music was automated and was picked from the years 1969 through 1977 (the year most of us graduated from college.) The food was wonderful, a choice of chicken picatta or prime rib, with a very chocolate mousse pie for dessert. Each table had wine on it also.
The evening wound down in the hospitality suite, where hot snacks and cold soft drinks were offered. Though some people brought in beer, the night wasn't too rowdy; and the party continued in some of the rooms of the hotel (but not in mine, I went to bed at 3:30!)
Next morning, a tropical scene awaited the class members who were able to wake up early, and a breakfast buffet was serviced. The committee members were in grass skirts (except for me, of course) and everyone was presented with a lei when they entered the room.
So many things, so many people. It was the best reunion, some said. We the committee tried to make it different, and I think we succeeded. Now, if I can only make up for the sleep I lost.
So glad to see Phil, Marion, Annette, Brenda, Chuck, Dennis, Sue, Charleen, Linda and Chuck, Vedo, Colleen, Doreen, Donna, Barry (all the way from Alaska,) Cheryl, Katherine, Albert, Dennis D, Mary, Frank, ken, Tim, Linda B and Richard. And thanks to everyone else who made it all possible and a success.
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Fighting the Virus Game
Brute force, that is what it took. My nom de plume for my blog buddies is now off the server. That address was receiving over 100 virus-laden emails a day, primarily from the UK and US. The tricky virus is also sending out email with my blog address on it. So, I deleted it. That, and my Hits of Yesterday address are now changed, and go through forms rather than direct mailto addresses. The former address, that you might have seen in blog comments on other blogs, is no more.
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Friday, March 12, 2004
Night Of The Iguana
....uh no, not iguana (I hate those things) the 30th Class Reunion! It's tomorrow night, and all the careful planning (and spending of lots of cash) will come together. An email I received earlier from a committee member said that this will set the bar for future reunions and I would agree. No blogging from the hotel tomorrow or Sunday, I'll need a rest up from all of this.
It is interesting to talk with some of the graduates of my class and see the wide and varied things they have been involved in for the past 30 years. I was surprised to learn that one is involved in the construction of the Three Gorges Dam project in Mainland China. Another has built companies from scratch, sold them and started over again. Still another works for a human service agency as an executive. And two are involved in the music world, with a love of bluegrass music. But something I am most thankful for is the graduates who have found Christ in their lives and shared their experiences with me.
In honor of the reunion, The Hits of Yesterday will spin tunes from 1973 from midnight Friday morning to noon on Sunday. Every other song will be from 1973. If you are tuning in to this blog during this time, click the link to the right to see what's currently playing and what played previously.
I'm excited about all of this! See you next week!
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It is interesting to talk with some of the graduates of my class and see the wide and varied things they have been involved in for the past 30 years. I was surprised to learn that one is involved in the construction of the Three Gorges Dam project in Mainland China. Another has built companies from scratch, sold them and started over again. Still another works for a human service agency as an executive. And two are involved in the music world, with a love of bluegrass music. But something I am most thankful for is the graduates who have found Christ in their lives and shared their experiences with me.
In honor of the reunion, The Hits of Yesterday will spin tunes from 1973 from midnight Friday morning to noon on Sunday. Every other song will be from 1973. If you are tuning in to this blog during this time, click the link to the right to see what's currently playing and what played previously.
I'm excited about all of this! See you next week!
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Tuesday, March 09, 2004
Grrrrr
Live365 has been down for a while. And so is The Hits of Yesterday.
Update, 1:53 pm EST:Live 365 is back on, and so is the Hits of Yesterday.
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Update, 1:53 pm EST:Live 365 is back on, and so is the Hits of Yesterday.
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Appreciations
Today is Appreciation Day. No, not another blog meme, my own two cents.
As the day dawned with a touch of snow today, I read with appreciation Chaz's appreciation of the sunrise on the way into work. A beautiful piece of prose at dustbury.com.
Appreciation to one of my son's teachers, who called me long after school closed to tell me why he received detention. Its a social issue with my son, so he will need to be reeducated; his teacher approached the subject with sensitivity toward Andy.
Much appreciation to the Reunion Organizing Committee, or ROC '73 for Bellingham Massachusetts' Class of 1973. The best bunch of high school students I've worked with in 30 years.
Appreciation to the blog world who lights up my life when I say something important, or even when I don't. I appreciate you, gentle readers!
Appreciation to my Maker, God for giving me life worth living in spite of adversity and sorrow. Hope is more than I can ever ask for. Praise Him!
Appreciation is expressed in many ways; I ask you, the reader to think of someone you really appreciate and tell them today. You will be rewarded, and so will they.
À la prochaine!
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As the day dawned with a touch of snow today, I read with appreciation Chaz's appreciation of the sunrise on the way into work. A beautiful piece of prose at dustbury.com.
Appreciation to one of my son's teachers, who called me long after school closed to tell me why he received detention. Its a social issue with my son, so he will need to be reeducated; his teacher approached the subject with sensitivity toward Andy.
Much appreciation to the Reunion Organizing Committee, or ROC '73 for Bellingham Massachusetts' Class of 1973. The best bunch of high school students I've worked with in 30 years.
Appreciation to the blog world who lights up my life when I say something important, or even when I don't. I appreciate you, gentle readers!
Appreciation to my Maker, God for giving me life worth living in spite of adversity and sorrow. Hope is more than I can ever ask for. Praise Him!
Appreciation is expressed in many ways; I ask you, the reader to think of someone you really appreciate and tell them today. You will be rewarded, and so will they.
À la prochaine!
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Monday, March 08, 2004
Reflections Of My Life
The changing of sunlight to moonlight
Reflections of my life, oh, how they fill my eyes
The greetings of people in trouble
Reflections of my life, oh, how they fill my mind
All my sorrows, sad tomorrows
Take me back to my own home
All my cryings (all my cryings), feel I'm dying, dying
Take me back to my own home (oh I'm going home)
I'm changing, arranging, I'm changing
I'm changing everything, ah, everything around me
The world is a bad place, a bad place
A terrible place to live, oh, but I don't wanna die
That song, by the group Marmalade, was a prophetically simple song back in 1970. Marmalade as a group was founded as Dean Ford And The Gaylords in 1963. They enjoyed little success in England, and changed their name to Marmalade after signing to CBS in 1967. One of the promotional giveways to radio stations was, jars of marmalade, what else? After four singles that failed to break into the charts, Marmalade entered the charts with a cover of the Grass Roots' "Lovin Things." But notieriety was still a ways off, and a few more cover singles made them a group that had to compromise to achieve success.
In 1969, they signed to Decca Records, and their contract gave them complete freedom to write and produce their own records. The fruits of this arrangement was the recording of the song that pushed them into the British charts and finally, the American charts. That song, "Reflections Of My Life," was written by Campbell and McAleese. The song, while well received in both markets, didn't do anything for the album that followed, not making it to the charts in the UK ond only to number 71 in the US. Further singles and one more album showed their creative potential, but "Reflections" forever etched Marmalade into the one-hit-wonder hall of fame. One more song, in 1976, did chart in the US with a modified lineup of the group; called "Falling Apart At The Seams." You can hear both of these songs on The Hits of Yesterday.
Thanks to Sounds Of The Sixties for the biography and list of singles by Marmalade.
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Reflections of my life, oh, how they fill my eyes
The greetings of people in trouble
Reflections of my life, oh, how they fill my mind
All my sorrows, sad tomorrows
Take me back to my own home
All my cryings (all my cryings), feel I'm dying, dying
Take me back to my own home (oh I'm going home)
I'm changing, arranging, I'm changing
I'm changing everything, ah, everything around me
The world is a bad place, a bad place
A terrible place to live, oh, but I don't wanna die
That song, by the group Marmalade, was a prophetically simple song back in 1970. Marmalade as a group was founded as Dean Ford And The Gaylords in 1963. They enjoyed little success in England, and changed their name to Marmalade after signing to CBS in 1967. One of the promotional giveways to radio stations was, jars of marmalade, what else? After four singles that failed to break into the charts, Marmalade entered the charts with a cover of the Grass Roots' "Lovin Things." But notieriety was still a ways off, and a few more cover singles made them a group that had to compromise to achieve success.
In 1969, they signed to Decca Records, and their contract gave them complete freedom to write and produce their own records. The fruits of this arrangement was the recording of the song that pushed them into the British charts and finally, the American charts. That song, "Reflections Of My Life," was written by Campbell and McAleese. The song, while well received in both markets, didn't do anything for the album that followed, not making it to the charts in the UK ond only to number 71 in the US. Further singles and one more album showed their creative potential, but "Reflections" forever etched Marmalade into the one-hit-wonder hall of fame. One more song, in 1976, did chart in the US with a modified lineup of the group; called "Falling Apart At The Seams." You can hear both of these songs on The Hits of Yesterday.
Thanks to Sounds Of The Sixties for the biography and list of singles by Marmalade.
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Friday, March 05, 2004
Le recette de chocolat
or, The Recipe of the famous and most talked about Chocolate Dessert this side of Paris. I'm talking about Bittersweet Chocolate Marquise with Orange Creme Anglaise. The original recipe was by Emeril Lagasse, you know who he is. Mine is slightly modified for your tasting pleasure. This is a make-ahead dessert, that chills in the refrigerator overnight. Music provided by the Turtle Island String Quartet. Officially sanctioned by the women of the Bellingham High School Class of '73 Reunion Committee and my sister-in-law.
The Bittersweet Chocolate Marquise
Ingredients:
1 pound bittersweet chocolate, chopped
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces (do NOT use salted butter!)
1 cup chopped, toasted pistachios
1 cup cold heavy cream (8 oz)
Orange Creme Anglaise, recipe follows
Candied almond slivers, recipe follows
Lightly oil a 6-cup loaf pan and line it with plastic wrap. Set aside.
In the top of a double boiler or in a metal bowl set over a pan of simmering water, combine the chocolate and butter. Melt until smooth, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and fold in the pistachios. Set aside and let cool.
Using an electric mixer in a bowl, beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Whisk about 1/3 of the cream into the cooled chocolate, then gently fold in the remaining whipped cream. Pour the chocolate mixture into the loaf pan, smoothing the top with a rubber spatula. Cover with plastic wrap and chill overnight.
To serve, unwrap the pan, invert onto a serving platter and shake gently to release. Remove the plastic wrap from the top and let sit at room temperature about 15 minutes or so to soften. Slice into 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch slices and serve with the Orange Creme Anglaise on the side, and garnish with the candied almond slivers.
Orange Creme Anglaise
Ingredients:
2 cups half-and-half (16 oz)
1 1/2 teaspoons fine Vanilla extract (I use Madagascar vanilla)
1 teaspoon fresh grated orange zest
6 large egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons orange-flavored liquor (I used Grand Marnier)
In a medium saucepan, bring the half-and-half, vanilla and orange zest to a simmer over medium-high heat. Remove from heat.
In a medium bowl, whish together the egg yolks and sugar until thick and strands or ribbons form, about 3-4 minutes. Gradually whisk in about 3/4 cup of the hot half-and-half and whisk until well incorporated. Add the egg mixture to the saucepan with the remaining half-and-half and cook, stirring, over medium heat until it forms a thick custard, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and strain into a clean bowl set into an ice bath to cool it quickly. Add the orange liquor and stir to combine.
Cover with plastic wrap, pushing down on the surface to prevent a skin from forming, and refrigerate overnight. This yields about 2 1/2 cups.
Candied Almond Slivers
Ingredients:
1/2 cup almond slivers
1/2 cup sugar
Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the almonds and lightly toast, stirring. Add the sugar and cook, stirring until the sugar melts and the almonds are evenly coated. Transfer to a foil-lined baking sheet, stirring to separate the nuts. Let cool.
So, there you have it, and the results are spectacular for an elegant chocolate dessert. Let me know how you served it. Good luck.
Bon Appetit!
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The Bittersweet Chocolate Marquise
Ingredients:
1 pound bittersweet chocolate, chopped
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces (do NOT use salted butter!)
1 cup chopped, toasted pistachios
1 cup cold heavy cream (8 oz)
Orange Creme Anglaise, recipe follows
Candied almond slivers, recipe follows
Lightly oil a 6-cup loaf pan and line it with plastic wrap. Set aside.
In the top of a double boiler or in a metal bowl set over a pan of simmering water, combine the chocolate and butter. Melt until smooth, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and fold in the pistachios. Set aside and let cool.
Using an electric mixer in a bowl, beat the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Whisk about 1/3 of the cream into the cooled chocolate, then gently fold in the remaining whipped cream. Pour the chocolate mixture into the loaf pan, smoothing the top with a rubber spatula. Cover with plastic wrap and chill overnight.
To serve, unwrap the pan, invert onto a serving platter and shake gently to release. Remove the plastic wrap from the top and let sit at room temperature about 15 minutes or so to soften. Slice into 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch slices and serve with the Orange Creme Anglaise on the side, and garnish with the candied almond slivers.
Orange Creme Anglaise
Ingredients:
2 cups half-and-half (16 oz)
1 1/2 teaspoons fine Vanilla extract (I use Madagascar vanilla)
1 teaspoon fresh grated orange zest
6 large egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons orange-flavored liquor (I used Grand Marnier)
In a medium saucepan, bring the half-and-half, vanilla and orange zest to a simmer over medium-high heat. Remove from heat.
In a medium bowl, whish together the egg yolks and sugar until thick and strands or ribbons form, about 3-4 minutes. Gradually whisk in about 3/4 cup of the hot half-and-half and whisk until well incorporated. Add the egg mixture to the saucepan with the remaining half-and-half and cook, stirring, over medium heat until it forms a thick custard, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and strain into a clean bowl set into an ice bath to cool it quickly. Add the orange liquor and stir to combine.
Cover with plastic wrap, pushing down on the surface to prevent a skin from forming, and refrigerate overnight. This yields about 2 1/2 cups.
Candied Almond Slivers
Ingredients:
1/2 cup almond slivers
1/2 cup sugar
Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the almonds and lightly toast, stirring. Add the sugar and cook, stirring until the sugar melts and the almonds are evenly coated. Transfer to a foil-lined baking sheet, stirring to separate the nuts. Let cool.
So, there you have it, and the results are spectacular for an elegant chocolate dessert. Let me know how you served it. Good luck.
Bon Appetit!
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Thursday, March 04, 2004
Virus You Here?
Has anyone in the blogosphere been getting hit with viruses in personal email, the one they use in comments on blogs? I haven't heard about a problem, but it seems that either my bloggie address is in a few address books that are compromised with a virus or worm, or they are stripping the addresses from the comments. It is weird, because I don't use a personal email address when leaving comments, so when I get a virus-laden email in my bloggie folder, it can only originate from the blog world.
Be sure to take the normal, everyday precautions on your computer. It used to be that you had to initiate a download of a virus update for an anti-virus program, now they do all of that automatically. The precautions for surfing and stripping from comments is a lot tougher, and wil require a lot more research.
I did have a laugh at one email, purportedly from the "Southstation.Org Team." Since I am the only one on that "team," I know I didn't send this one! Anyway, the message told me, the user, to run the attached file as it seemed there were viruses coming from a Southstation.Org user. We know that ain't gonna happen, so this clever virus user has glommed onto the domain and is working the names it finds with that domain. Weird.
And now for something different. The dessert I whipped up for the Reunion committee has generated a lot of interest, on and off the blog! So, I'll post the recipe on Friday, if I can.
Rainy day at the blog house, so the music is bright and uplifting, Swing Out Sister's "It's Better To Travel," featuring Corrinne Drewery (described by Glamour magazine as having a "crème fraiche voice and Breakfast At Tiffany's clothes) singing that infectious song (and not a virus in sight) "Breakout" from 1987. Have a wonderful day!
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Be sure to take the normal, everyday precautions on your computer. It used to be that you had to initiate a download of a virus update for an anti-virus program, now they do all of that automatically. The precautions for surfing and stripping from comments is a lot tougher, and wil require a lot more research.
I did have a laugh at one email, purportedly from the "Southstation.Org Team." Since I am the only one on that "team," I know I didn't send this one! Anyway, the message told me, the user, to run the attached file as it seemed there were viruses coming from a Southstation.Org user. We know that ain't gonna happen, so this clever virus user has glommed onto the domain and is working the names it finds with that domain. Weird.
And now for something different. The dessert I whipped up for the Reunion committee has generated a lot of interest, on and off the blog! So, I'll post the recipe on Friday, if I can.
Rainy day at the blog house, so the music is bright and uplifting, Swing Out Sister's "It's Better To Travel," featuring Corrinne Drewery (described by Glamour magazine as having a "crème fraiche voice and Breakfast At Tiffany's clothes) singing that infectious song (and not a virus in sight) "Breakout" from 1987. Have a wonderful day!
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Monday, March 01, 2004
The pain, the pain
I need a rest. Like in a whirlpool on some southern continent. I worked today, running cable for a church, and doing entirely too much raising my arms over my head. But, here I am, blogging, and reading blogs.
I am very glad so many people have seen "The Passion of Christ," and have had profound thoughts about what Jesus means to them now. Kristine gave a most thoughtful review, and one that is inspiring too. I am also heartened by some other posts. I have to see it, I have to experience it, if only to make my testimony more real, my witness more emphathetic.
Tonight, I assembled part one of the decadent dessert I've promised my reunion committee for our last meeting before the reunion. Decadent as it has one pound of chocolate in it, called a Bittersweet Marquise. Mix in a little Grand Marnier and assemble an Orange Anglaise, a cool, custardy topping for the marquise. I'll let you know how it turned out. Thanks, Emeril for the recipe. I did modify it, though on one point: the darn vanilla beans were $8.50 US each! I am using real Madagascar vanilla instead. The marquise and the anglaise cool overnight for the unveiling tomorrow. Yum!
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I am very glad so many people have seen "The Passion of Christ," and have had profound thoughts about what Jesus means to them now. Kristine gave a most thoughtful review, and one that is inspiring too. I am also heartened by some other posts. I have to see it, I have to experience it, if only to make my testimony more real, my witness more emphathetic.
Tonight, I assembled part one of the decadent dessert I've promised my reunion committee for our last meeting before the reunion. Decadent as it has one pound of chocolate in it, called a Bittersweet Marquise. Mix in a little Grand Marnier and assemble an Orange Anglaise, a cool, custardy topping for the marquise. I'll let you know how it turned out. Thanks, Emeril for the recipe. I did modify it, though on one point: the darn vanilla beans were $8.50 US each! I am using real Madagascar vanilla instead. The marquise and the anglaise cool overnight for the unveiling tomorrow. Yum!
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