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Earendel - LiveJournal.com
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Ju Jitsu
I received my green belt in Aiki Jujitsu last night. Boy am I tired and sore this morning.
Photos from Sunday in the Park at Oakland Cemetary
Zombie Attack!
Some girls really will do anything to get married.
Just say no to nudity
Guess the pill didn't take.
Why does this woman have her hand up this rat's ass?
Wait, I have that vest!
skeletons in classic rides
And Victorians voguing
Stolen from starlancer
This women's commentary on this event is too precious. Check it out.
Beets - I knew there was a reason I liked them.
You can't beat beetroot
Bella Blissett
12.08.09 An aphrodisiac for the Romans, a symbol of love among the pagans and the cause of unbudgeable stains for the rest of us — beetroot may ruin your new white shirt but it could just rescue your health. A study last week revealed the beneficial role beetroot plays during exercise — now the humble beet is the latest superfood on everyone's lips.
“We discovered that the high concentration of nitrate in beetroot was converted to nitric acid within the body, then used to dilate blood vessels. This increases efficient uptake of oxygen during exercise and lowers blood pressure,” says Professor Andy Jones, of the University of Exeter, where this latest study was conducted.
Yet with a history of being used for medicinal purposes that goes back centuries, beetroot's miraculous health-giving properties don't end there.
The Beta Vulgaris we know today is thought to have evolved from the ancient wild sea beet. A rich source of potent antioxidants and nutrients, including magnesium, sodium, potassium and vitamin C, it's recently been credited with supporting detoxification, lowering cholesterol, inhibiting the growth of cancerous cells — and is even being used in the latest skincare products.
“The old adage, an apple a day keeps the doctor away' could be applied to beetroot,” says nutritionist Mark Kilick. “It contains the compounds, betaine and methionine, that support liver detoxification. Without this function, toxins can accumulate both in the liver and the body's fatty tissues, preventing weight loss and contributing to sluggishness, mood swings and more serious illnesses. “The high volume of soluble fibre found in beetroot also feeds the good bacteria in our gut, helping to lower harmful LDL cholesterol levels.”
Useful as a means of combating anaemia (it's the leaves rather than the root that are high in iron — steam or eat them raw in salads), its high concentration of folate (a B vitamin) helps prevent birth defects such as Spina Bifida in unborn babies while the presence of magnesium may ease muscle tension, stress and anxiety. Studies on mice have even shown that betacyanin (one of beetroot's key antioxidants and the element behind its deep red colour) may inhibit the formation of cancer-forming compounds called nitrosamines.
And yes, like all good superfoods, beetroot could even help make you look slimmer, your skin younger and your hair healthier. Although sweet to taste, (19th-century Europeans developed sugar beet — and it's still used today as a sweetener in baking) beetroot is also the perfect food for slimmers.
Low in fat, low in calories (about 40 per 100g), it's also relatively low on the glycaemic index (the effect its carbohydrates have on blood glucose levels) so helps stabilise blood sugar levels. No wonder both Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen were guzzling beetroot juice on their respective detox and weight loss regimes.
Using it as a natural blusher à la Shilpa Shetty may be taking its beauty benefits too far but,
according to nutritional therapist and Garnier skincare consultant Vicki Edgson; “While the beta carotene in beetroot may stimulate the skin's natural defence against sun damage and photoaging, the silicon content can help promote stronger, healthier hair.”
So juice it or grate it raw to preserve the highest concentration of minerals. Alternatively, the versatile beet can be boiled, roasted, pickled, snacked on in Waitrose's new baby variety — or drunk in soup form. With benefits for your health and beauty and a cookbook's-worth of ways to eat it, there's really no excuse for skipping your daily dose.
Mark Kilick at Stephen Price, 3 Jubilee Place, SW3 (020 7351 3332, www.stephen-price.com).
Vicki Edgson (www.vickiedgsonnutrition.co.uk).
Beet box
Velvet chocolate and beetroot cupcakes
250g good-quality dark bitter chocolate — 70 per cent cocoa solids
Three whole free-range eggs
250g dark muscovado sugar
80g all-purpose plain flour
One tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
25g cocoa powder
50g ground almonds
200g raw beetroot, finely grated
100ml buttermilk
30ml sunflower oil
Pre-heat the oven to 160°C and place the cupcake cases in a muffin tray. Break the chocolate in small, even-size pieces and place in a metal bowl over a double boiler to melt. Weigh the sugar and the eggs into a mixing bowl and cream until pale in colour and fluffy. Mix the buttermilk, beetroot, oil and melted chocolate, stir this into the egg mixture.
Sieve the flour, cocoa powder, bicarb of soda, flour and fold this into the egg mixture.
Spoon the cake mix into the cupcake cases, about three-quarters full, leaving a bit of room for them to rise.
Bake for 35 minutes in the preheated oven. Insert a metal skewer to check if the cupcakes are cooked. Cool the cupcakes on a wire rack before garnishing with the chocolate fudge spread. Makes 16 cupcakes
Recipe by www.britishlarder.co.uk founder Madalene Bonvini-Hamel.
How to pickle beetroot
Clean the dirt from fresh beetroot, trim the stems leaving an inch and a half of stem, (this prevents colour bleeding during cooking) Immerse in a pan of boiling water and simmer for 20 minutes or until tender. Remove from the heat and drain.
Rub the surface of the beetroot with your bare hands while still warm and the skin should slip off easily. Bring some cider or white-wine vinegar to the boil, adding sugar, mustard seed or a couple of cinnamon sticks for an extra kick. When the sugar is dissolved, slice the beetroot; place it into an airtight jar, fill with your vinegar mixture and seal.
Three of the best beetroot products
Biocare Beetroot Extract Supplements
Contains all of beetroot's nutrients in concentrated form to help support the liver, spleen, gall bladder and kidneys.
£10.42 for 90 capsules.
www.biocare.co.uk
Heartbeet Organic Juice
Get a higher concentration of nutrients without having to eat pounds of solid beetroot with a daily dose of this juice.
£1.49 for 250ml.
www.hollandandbarrett.com.
Heaven Limited Edition Beetroot Face Cleanser
Range founder and A-list facialist, Deborah Mitchell, says beetroot's detoxifying and anti-inflammatory properties will soothe irritation and detoxify congested skin.
It also has anti-ageing qualities. £24.47.
www.heavenskincare.com.
Last night ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) shalie and I met up with Mike and Lisa to attend a performance of The Mystery of Irma Vep by Charles Ludlam at the Atlanta Shakespeare Tavern. It was a great performance and we had a wonderful time. The story revolves around two actors that spend most of the evening in drag fighting off vampires, mummies, werewolves and bad puns. We finished off the evening by going to Cafe Intermezzo for coffee and acoustically difficult conversation. (note to self, avoid Cafe Intermezzo in Midtown on Friday nights.)
Nicola's restaurant
We took my dad to a great place off Lavista and Briercliff last night. Nicola's Restaurant. Nicola, the owner is round jolly man that has everyone up and dancing at a moments notice. Often with a glass or bottle on his head. The food is Lebanese, very similar to Greek. Entrees run from $10-13 dollars. Alcohol is limited to red or white and a few beers, but you can bring in a bottle. Desserts include pistachio baklava, rose petals, date mamool or nut mamool. Their Turkish coffee is thick and sweet. Good thing they serve it in tiny cups. On the weekends they have belly dancers. Its a fun place to take a date or the family.
Mithras
I just ran across this little dity.
The cult of Mithras originated in Persia over 4,000 years ago, but was only one of the eastern deities. Rulers of the Roman empire worshipped Mithras for over 300 years.
Mithras worshippers held strong beliefs in a celestial heaven and an infernal hell, they believed in resurrection as well as judgement day and also drank wine and ate bread to symbolise the body and blood of the god.
The birth of the god was celebrated annually on 25 December.
Humm, sounds familar.
David Carradine is dead.
Kwai Chang Caine (David Carradine) star of the TV series Kung Fu was found dead at age 72 in his hotel room in Bangkok. I, like many young men at the time was fascinated with the martial arts and spiritual aspects of the show. It made a big impact. I'm sorry to see him go.
Corporate BDSM
News of the Weird: A small family business in Pakistan makes high-quality whips and ropes, but for A
Chuck Shepherd – Sun May 31, 1:00 am ET
A small family business in Pakistan makes high-quality whips and ropes, but for Americans' and Europeans' sex play, not Taliban enforcers.
A small family business in Pakistan makes high-quality whips and ropes, but for Americans' and Europeans' sex play, not Taliban enforcers.
LEAD STORY: A small family business in Pakistan makes high-quality whips and ropes, but for Americans' and Europeans' sex play, not Taliban enforcers.
In a nondescript building next to a mosque in downtown Karachi, Pakistan, the Qadeer brothers discreetly make and market a million dollars' worth of fetish and bondage products a year for Americans and Europeans (through sales to stores and on eBay). In fact, if the radical Islamic office down the street knew about the Qadeers' work, they might be in trouble, according to an April New York Times dispatch, but fortunately, the gag balls, corsets and whips such as the "Mistress Flogger" are so odd for Pakistan that even the veiled women who sew them for the Qadeers do not understand that Americans use them for sex play. Customs officials, for example, were puzzled about how to categorize the items for tax purposes. "If our mom knew (the nature of our business)," said brother Adnan, "she would disown us." [New York Times, 4-28-09]
Calling you
Tell me you can't listen to this song and not feel a stiring in your soul.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHkW0Cw5w94&feature=related
Ganked from lectoid
| What type of person do you attract? Your Result: You attract artsy people! Those free spirited artists with great imaginations find you interesting. They are usually interesting themselves, so its not a bad thing, but they CAN be a bit wifty and choose odd goals. If you like life to always be a bit 'different' from the norm, but not too extreme in any one direction, these are the people for you. If you seek logical decision making skills and good money management, you may want to change something in the way you appear. Artsy people are fun for adventure and exploring, so, have fun! (smoking weed helps too) | | You attract Yuppies! | | | You attract models! | | | You attract geeks! | | | You attract unstable people! | | | You attract rednecks! | | What type of person do you attract?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz |
Your result for The Best Personality Type for You Test...
ENTP - The InventorYou scored 75 I versus E, 40 N versus S, 60 F versus T, and 40 J versus P! Your ideal mate is known as the inventor. This type is a flirtateous and energetic romantic partner, fun and engaging, always looking for something unusual to try. In their enthusiasm, they may make promises they can't keep. Tehir competitive nature and need to be perceived as an expert can be daunting to a romantic partner at times. They so enjoy the tug of a good debate that sometimes they act as if they don't take anything seriously. They are usually very supportive and helpful to their mates, but somewhat scattered and unable to devote their full attention there. They feel most appreciated for their great ideas, unusual perceptiveness, and ability to understand and communicate with people. They feel most appreciated when their partners understand their need for lots of social contact and their need to live life as spontaneously as possible. The group summary: rationals (NT)The type summary: ENTP
Take The Best Personality Type for You Test at HelloQuizzy
Your result for The Social Persona Test (What kind of man/woman are you?)...
Lord of the Misfits (QLAM)Quirky Liberal Alpha Male 
You are similar to The Fratt Boy, in that you often try to take care of peers you percieve as less successful, but with the added benefit that you actually understand those on the fringes. You are a good ally to have, but people might be hurt if they believe your universal good will is a sign of a close friendship. You are nice to everyone, but you know who your true friends are. In terms of dating, you want someone who shares your interests; other than that, anything goes. You are more QUIRKY than NORMAL. You are more LIBERAL than TRADITIONAL. You are more DOMINANT than PASSIVE. When picking a date, consider: The Rarity (QTAF), The Renaissance Faire Wench (QLAF), The Librarian (QTBF), or The Emo Girl (QLBF) (Image from UNC Library Website)
Take The Social Persona Test (What kind of man/woman are you?) at HelloQuizzy
I want one of these...
2010 Honda Fury
To bad I'd have to win the lottery to justify it.
In response to starlancer's bunny with a pancake on its head.
States I've visted.
visited 34 states (68%)
Create your own visited map of The United States or Best time to visit Zaragoza
shalie and I took our mom's to the aquarium for mothers day.
My mom
Whale Shark
Groupers
shalie dressed up for the opera
Sunday Afternoon
shalie and I went down to the Fox theater to watch Gone With The Wind on the big screen. The Fox was running the movie in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the debut of the movie in 1939. I had forgotten how multi-leveled this movie was.
Susan Boyle
If you haven't heard of Susan Boyle you should go to Youtube and watch her on Britian's Got Talent. She is amazing.
Somali Pirates
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