Thursday 31 May 2007

British Potato Seeds

From the British Potato Council's British Seed Variety Online Handbook. You can search for seeds using various criteria like flower colour, number of flowers, stalk length and shape of tuber. This is a list of seeds that produce plants with purple flowers.

Accord (New Variety)
Adora
Arran Pilot
Atlantic
Avalanche
Celine
Charlotte
Claret
Colmo
Courage
Desiree
Hermes
King Edward
Lady Christl
Lady Rosetta
Maris Bard
Maris Peer
Maris Piper
Merlin
Midas
Morene
Nadine
Navan
Nieta
Osprey
Red Pontiac
Redgem
Rioja
Robinta
Romano
Rooster
Shannon
Shepody
Spey
Valor
Winston

Tuesday 29 May 2007

A World of Beauty Pageants

From Missosology.org, "Analyzing Beauty Pageants".

Major Pageants

Miss Universe
Miss World
Miss Earth
Miss International
Miss Asia Pacific Int'l
Miss Intercontinental
Miss Tourism Queen Int'l
Manhunt International
Miss Ambar Mundial
Miss America Latina
Miss Antilles International
Miss Asia International
Miss Atlantico International
Miss Africa International
Miss Caribbean Hibiscus
Miss Europe
Miss Globe International
Miss India Worldwide
Miss International Queen
Miss Italia Nel Mondo
Miss Latina World
Miss Malaika International
Miss Mesoamerica
Miss Mundo Latino
Miss Silverbird International
Miss South Pacific
Miss World University
Miss Tourism International
Miss Tourism World
Mrs. Globe
Model of Models
Queen of the World
Reina Internacional del Cafe
Reina Sudamericana
Top Model of the World
World Coffee Queen

National Beauty Pageants

Asia

Miss World Australia
Miss Earth Australia
Miss Earth China
Miss Hong Kong
Femina Miss India
Puteri Indonesia
Miss Israel
Miss Universe Japan
Miss World Japan
Miss Korea
Miss Lebanon
Miss Malaysia
Miss Malaysia Earth
Miss Nepal
Miss New Zealand
Miss Earth New Zealand
Miss Pakistan World
Binibining Pilipinas
Miss Philippines
Miss Singapore Universe
Miss Singapore World
Miss Earth World
Miss Tahiti
Miss Thailand Universe
Miss Thailand World
Miss Tibet
Miss Earth Turkey
Miss Turkey
Miss Vietnam

Africa

Miss Algerie
Miss Angola
Miss Botswana
Miss Chad
Miss Congo
Miss Egypt
Miss Ethiopia
Miss Ghana
Miss Mauritius
Miss Namibia
Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria
Miss Earth Nigeria
Miss South Africa
Miss South Africa Earth
Miss Tanzania
Miss Tanzania Earth
Miss Uganda
Miss Universe Zambia

Europe

Miss Belarus
Miss Belgique
Miss Belgium Earth
Miss BiH
Miss Bulgaria
Miss Universe Croatia
Star Cyprus
Miss Czech Republic
Czech Miss
Pretty Danish
Miss England
Estonia Eesti
Miss Suomi
Miss France
Comite Miss France
Miss Georgia
Miss Deutschland
Miss Germany
Miss Gibraltar
Star Hellas
Miss Universe Hungary
Miss World Hungary
Ungfru Island
Miss Ireland
Miss Universo Italia
Miss Mondo Italia
Miss Universe Latvia
Miss Latvia
Miss Macedonia
Miss World Malta
Miss Moldova
Miss Nederland Universe
Miss Nederland
Miss Netherlands Earth
Froken Norge
Miss Norway
Miss Northern Ireland
Miss Polonia
Miss Portugal
Miss Lusitania
Miss World Romania
Miss Universe Russia
Miss SCG
Miss Slovak Republic
Miss Slovakia
Miss Universe Slovenia
Miss Slovenia World
Miss España
Miss Sweden Universe
Miss World Sweden
Miss Earth Sweden
Miss Schweiz
Miss Earth Schweiz
Miss Earth UK
Miss Ukraine
Miss Wales

Americas

Belleza Argentina
Miss Earth Argentina
Miss Aruba
Miss Bahamas Universe
Miss Bahamas
Miss Bahamas World
Miss Barbados World
Miss Belize
Miss Bolivia
Miss Brazil Universe
Miss Brazil World
Beleza Brasil
Miss Earth Canada
Miss Universe Canada
Miss World Canada
Miss Int'l Canada
Miss Cayman Islands
Miss Universo Chile
Miss Mundo Chile
Miss Earth Chile
Señorita Colombia
Miss Mundo Colombia
Miss Costa Rica
Miss Int'l Curaçao
Miss Mundo Dominicana
Miss RD Tierra
Miss Ecuador
Bellezas Ecuatorianas
Reinas de El Salvador
Miss Guyana Universe
Miss Guyana
Belleza Honduras
Miss Jamaica World
Miss Martinique
Nuestra Belleza Mexico
Miss Nicaragua
Señorita Panamá
Miss Int'l Panama
Belleza Paraguaya
Corp. de la Belleza
Reinas del Peru
Expo Miss Peru
Miss PR Universe
Miss Mundo Puerto Rico
Bellezas del Turismo
Miss SVG
Miss Turks & Caicos
Miss USA
US Miss World
Miss USA International
Miss Earth USA
Miss Am. Virgin Islands
Miss Venezuela

Male Pageants

Mr. Intercontinental
Mr. International
Mr. World
Mr. Tourism World
Zeus Of The World

Grand Slam Male Pageants

Mister World
Manhunt International
Mister International

Saturday 26 May 2007

Extreme Croquet Clubs

From Connecticut's Extreme Croquet Society website here

KrocketKlubben R.Å.S.O.P. - Oldest known extreme croquet club

Berkeley X-treme Croquet - Home of Berkeley X-treme Croquet

Cackling Crows eXtreme Croquet Society - Red Hat chapter

CroquetClub Austria - Austria's first active croquet organization

Croquet Club Dauphiné - French Croquet, Dauphinois style

Croquet Science Copenhagen - One of Denmark's first Extreme Croquet clubs.

Extreme Croquet - DC, MD, VA - Metro DC area - Gay Guys Only - Think Pink.

Gimåt Krocket Bandits - Home of the Gimåt Krocket Bandits - Sweden

Golden Mallet Croquet Society - Home of Golden Mallet Croquet Society

Gordon Head Croquet Association - Slightly eXtreme in Victoria, BC

Hamburger Croquet Club - Hamburger Croquet Club - Hamburg, Germany

Hardcore Croquet - Home of the Hardcore Croquet Club

Honors Croquet League - University of Washington, Seattle

Ironman Croquet League - Home of the Ironman Croquet League

Lakewood Croquet Club - Home of the Lakewood Croquet Club

Malletball & ToeQuet.com - National Malletball and ToeQuet Website

Manassas Lawn & Garden Club - Home of Manassas Lawn & Garden Club

Maryland eXtreme Croquet Society - Home page of CeCS's Sister Club

Modoc XC Croquet - Cross Country Croquet in Modoc County, California

Rochester Croqueteer - Rochester Croqueteers Extreme Croquet Club

San Francisco Extreme Croquet - San Francisco Extreme Croquet Club

Texas A&M eXtreme @ college Station - Texas A&M University eXtreme

U.S. Links Croquet Association - Home of U.S. Links Croquet Association

Wonder Wicket Light - Wicket Lights for Night Play

XCXC: cross Country eXtreme Croquet - Spreading eXtremeness from Nova Scotia to Virginia!

Monday 21 May 2007

World Cheese Awards Classes

List of Awards Classes from the 2007 World Cheese Awards brochure here

1a Soft goats’ milk cheese plain - fresh
1b Soft goats’ milk cheese plain - mould- ripened
2a Semi-hard goats’ milk cheese plain
2b Hard goats’ milk cheese plain
3 Goats’ milk cheese with additives
4 Soft ewes’ milk cheese plain
5a Semi hard ewes’ milk cheese plain
5b Hard ewes’ milk cheese plain
6 Ewes’ milk cheese with additives
7a Feta plain without oil or additives
7b Feta plain in oil
7c Feta with additives
8 Cheese made with the milk of more than one animal
9a Fresh/cream cheese cows’ milk plain
9b Mould ripened soft or unpressed cows’ milk cheese plain
10a Cream or fresh cheese with savoury additives
10b Mould ripened soft or unpressed cows’ milk cheese with savoury additives
10c Soft or unpressed cows’ milk cheese with savoury additives
11 Soft or unpressed cows’ milk cheese with dessert style additives
12a Ricotta
12b Mascarpone
13a Quark plain
13b Quark with additives
14a Brie made from unpasteurised milk
14b Brie made from pasteurised milk
15a Camembert made from unpasteurised milk
15b Camembert made from pasteurised milk
16 A single Stilton – uncut
17 A single Stilton – cut
18 Roquefort
19a Gorgonzola Piccante
19b Gorgonzola Dolce
20a Blue vein cheese made in the UK, any variety, uncut, natural rind
20b Blue vein cheese made in the UK, any variety, uncut, foil wrapped
21a Blue vein cheese made outside the UK, any variety, uncut, natural rind
21b Blue vein cheese made outside the UK, any variety, uncut, foil wrapped
22 Reduced fat cheese hard pressed
23 Reduced fat cheese unpressed
24 Processed cheese or processed cheese spread plain
25 Processed cheese or processed cheese spread with additives
26 Smoked Cheddar
27a Other smoked cheese - soft/semi soft
27b Other smoked cheese - semi hard
27c Other smoked cheese - hard
28a Hard pressed or repressed Cheddar with savoury additives
28b Other hard pressed or repressed cows’ milk cheese with savoury additives
28c Hard pressed or repressed cows’ milk cheese with dessert style additives
29 Mature traditional Cheddar made after 01/03/06
30 Mature block Cheddar made in a creamery after 01/03/06
31 Mature block Cheddar made on a farm after 01/03/06
32 Mature winter traditional Cheddar made between 1/11/05 and 28/02/06
33 Mature winter block Cheddar made in a creamery between 1/11/05 and 28/02/06
34 Mature winter block Cheddar made on a farm between 1/11/05 and 28/02/06
35 Medium traditional Cheddar made after 31/09/06
36 Medium block Cheddar made in a creamery after 31/09/06
37 Medium block Cheddar made on a farm after 31/09/06
38 Extra Mature traditional Cheddar made after 31/10/05
39 Extra Mature block Cheddar made in a creamery after 31/10/05
40 Extra Mature block Cheddar made on a farm after 31/10/05
41 Mild Cheddar made after 30/11/06
42 Vintage farmhouse Cheddar made before 31/10/05
43 Vintage Cheddar made in a creamery before 31/10/05
44 Double Gloucester
45 Leicester
46 Caerphilly
47a Lancashire, creamy
47b Lancashire, tasty
48 Wensleydale
49a Cheshire, block
49b Cheshire, traditional
50a Mozzarella, fresh, cows’ milk in ball(large or small)
50b Mozzarella, block, slices or string
50c Mozzarella di Bufala
51 Semi-hard cheese not in any other class
52 Tallegio
53 Pont l’Évêque/Livarot/Reblochon
54 Rind washed cheese not in any other class
55 Hard pressed cheese other than Cheddar and other UK territorials
56a Parmigiano Reggiano made before 01/11/05
56b Parmigiano Reggiano made after 01/11/05
56c Grana Padano made before 01/11/05
56d Grana Padano made after 01/11/05
57a Emmental produced after 01/04/06
57b Gruyere produced after 01/04/06
57c Emmental produced before 01/04/06
57d Gruyere produced before 01/04/06
57e Very hard cheese not in any other class
58a New Cheese - hard or semi hard. Open to any new cheese first marketed after 01/06/05
58b New Cheese - blue. Open to any new cheese first marketed after 01/03/06
58c New Cheese - with additives. Open to any new cheese first marketed after 01/03/06
58d All other new cheeses. Open to any new cheese first marketed after 01/03/06
59 Alternatives to cheese - any type of cheese substitute
60a Hard cheese produced on farm or dairy with a total output not exceeding a weekly average of 2 tonnes
60b Semi hard cheese produced on farm or dairy with a total output not exceeding a weekly average of 2 tonnes
60c Soft cheese produced on farm or dairy with a total output not exceeding a weekly average of 2 tonnes
61a Any hard cheese that has been awarded a Denomination of Origin (ie AOC, PDO, DOC, DO or PGI)
61b Any blue cheese that has been awarded a Denomination of Origin (ie AOC, PDO, DOC, DO or PGI)
61c Any other cheese that has been awarded a Denomination of Origin (ie AOC, PDO, DOC, DO or PGI)
62a Edam and Gouda - made before 01/03/06
62b Edam and Gouda - made after 01/03/06

The smaller islands of New York City

Four of the five Boroughs of New York City are islands, or located on islands. The Wikipedia article here lists the smaller islands of NYC, divided by borough.

The Bronx

The Blauzes–part of the Pelham Islands (uninhabited)
Chimney Sweeps Islands
City Island–resembles a small New England fishing village
Hart Island (uninhabited)
High Island (uninhabited)
Hunters Island
North Brother Island
South Brother Island
Rat Island
Rikers Island–famous for being the location of New York City's prison
Twin Island

Brooklyn

The Canarsie Pol 96 Hectare or 222 acres (uninhabited)

Manhattan

These islands are part of the borough, but not the island, of Manhattan (New York County).
Ellis Island
Governors Island
Liberty Island
Mill Rock Island
Randall's Island
Roosevelt Island–famous for its planned community and the Roosevelt Island Tram
U Thant Island
Ward's Island

Queens

Broad Channel

Staten Island

Hoffman Island (uninhabited)
Isle of Meadow
Prall's Island
Shooters Island
Swinburne Island

Thursday 17 May 2007

Unusual instruments

From the Odd Music Gallery here

Aeolian Wind Harp - Played by the wind; free of the touch of human hands
Aquaggaswack - 29 hanging pot lids, a gong tree with a wide sonic palette
Bamboo Saxophones - Sax's crafted by Ángel Sampedro del Rio
Bazantar - 5-string acoustic bass -- with an extra 33 strings
Beer Bottle Organ - Instead of pipes, this organ uses beer bottles
Bikelophone - A palette of sonic exploration, with a bicycle hub
Boobam drums - Tubular drums made by Bill Loughborough
Clackamore - Percussive and melody mouth instrument
Contrabass Sax in Eb - Biggest woodwind in the world, a monster
Cymbalom - An old hammered dulcimer with a new twist
Double Violin - Two violins that share a common fingerboard
Electronic Bagpipe - An analog electronic bagpipe instrument
Fences -Violinist Jon Rose plays fences with his bow
Fiddle-dee-doo - Globu-tubular horn with goatskin resonator
Fire Organ - A thermoacoustically controlled pyrophone organ
Gas Tank Orchestra - Yes, the instruments are made of old gas tanks
Guitar Machine - Guitar, bass, and more, played with the feet
Harp Guitar - Part guitar, part bass, part harp
Hmong Harp Double-tongued ethereal brass mouth harp
Imratgitar - 20-string instrument combining guitar and sitar
LEGO Harpsichord - Harpsichord made of over 100,000 LEGO's
Nano Guitar - World's smallest guitar, the size of a human cell
RingFlute - Circular flute invented by James Johnson
A tubular bell, sit-and-spin sculpture
Samchillian Tip Tip Tip Cheeepeeeee
Serpentine Bassoon - electroacoustic double reed instrument that controls effects machines and synthesizers
Singing Stones - 100 river rocks suspended by music wire from a wing-shaped sound box
Stalacpipe Organ - An organ that plays 3 1/2 acres of stalactites
Windform - A 20-foot long playable horn, built of leather

Sea Jargon

A list of words and phrases from "Sea Jargon, A Dictionary of the Unwritten Language of the Sea" by Lew Lind, Kangaroo Press, 1982.

Ocean dust: The salty conversation of an older sailor.

Glue: Fog or mist.

Spotted dog: A boiled pudding with currants or raisins.

Swans: Jagged blocks of floating ice.

The Painter's brush: High thin cirrus clouds which often foretell bad weather.

Squealer: The accordian.

Paper Navy: The administrative branches of the service.

Windog: A part of a rainbow. A portent of gusty weather.

Go round the buoy: To have a second serving of a meal.

Like a pea on a drum: The bouncing action of small vessels in a brisk sea.

Captain's flower: The geranium. This was the only flowering plant which could survive voyages in excess of 200 days in sailing ships.

Flapping the bats: Tapping one's toes in time with the music.

Ice blink: A bright reflection in the sky indicating the presence of ice covered sea or land.

Tuesday 15 May 2007

21 Miles of Australian Beaches

One Mile Beach, Port Stephens, New South Wales.
Two Mile Beach, North Bay, Dunalley, Tasmania.
Three Mile Beach, Bay of Islands Coastal Park, Victoria.
Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas, Queensland.
Five Mile Beach, Wilsons Promontory National Park, Victoria.
Six Mile Beach, Ravensthorpe District, Western Australia.

Sunday 13 May 2007

Buckingham Palace

A list of facts about Buckingham Palace from the Official Website of the British Monarchy. For more royal facts and figures visit the site here

The Palace has 775 rooms. These include 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.

In measurements, the building is 108 metres long across the front, 120 metres deep (including the central quadrangle) and 24 metres high.

The Palace is very much a working building and the centrepiece of Britain's constitutional monarchy. It houses the offices of those who support the day-to-day activities and duties of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh and their immediate family.

At 36.6m long, 18m wide and 13.5m high, the Ballroom is the largest multi-purpose room in Buckingham Palace. It was opened in 1856 with a ball to celebrate the end of the Crimean War.

Although the Palace is furnished and decorated with priceless works of art that form part of the Royal Collection, one of the major art collections in the world today, it is not an art gallery and nor is it a museum.

More than 50,000 people visit the Palace each year as guests to banquets, lunches, dinners, receptions and the Royal Garden Parties.

Friday 11 May 2007

Five ancient or extinct languages starting with V

From The Linguist List's index of 224 ancient and extinct languages here

Vandalic
An ancient language of Spain and Africa. 5th century AD. Unrecorded.

Venetic
An ancient language of northern Italy. It has one of the largest collections of inscriptions in a language of pre-Roman Italy, though they are usually short and contain very few words. The main centers of the Veneti were at modern Este, Padua and Vicenza. 5th BC - 1st century BC.

Vestinian
An ancient language of east-central Italy, spoken by the Vestini, who lived near the Picenes and Marrucini. Their chief settlement was Aufinum (modern Ofena). Only two Vestinian inscriptions exist, both of which are heavily Latinized, since they were conquered by Rome in the late 4th century BC. 250-100 BC.

Volga-Bolgarian
An extinct language of Central Russia. 13th century AD.

Volscian
An ancient language of Italy, spoken in southern Latium, near Rome. Several inscriptions exist, none of which are extensive. The language uses an archaic Latin alphabet. 3rd century BC.

Thursday 10 May 2007

National Scripps Spelling Bee

Champions, Sponsors and Winning Words - 1925 to 2005. For more info visit the website here

1925
Frank Neuhauser, Louisville Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky
gladiolus

1926
Pauline Bell, Louisville Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky
abrogate

1927
Dean Lucas, Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio
luxuriance

1928
Betty Robinson, South Bend News-Tribune, South Bend, Indiana
albumen

1929
Virginia Hogan, The Omaha World-Herald, Omaha, Nebraska
asceticism

1930
Helen Jensen, Des Moines Register & Tribune, Des Moines, Iowa
fracas

1931
Ward Randall, White Hall Register-Republican, White Hall, Illinois
foulard

1932
Dorothy Greenwald, Des Moines Register & Tribune, Des Moines, Iowa
knack

1933
Alma Roach, Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio
torsion

1934
Sarah Wilson, Portland Evening Express, Portland, Maine
deteriorating

1935
Clara Mohler, Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio
intelligible

1936
Jean Trowbridge, Des Moines Register & Tribune, Des Moines, Iowa
interning

1937
Waneeta Beckley, Louisville Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky
promiscuous

1938
Marian Richardson, Louisville Times, Louisville, Kentucky
sanitarium

1939
Elizabeth Ann Rice, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, Massachusetts
canonical

1940
Laurel Kuykendall, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Knoxville, Tennessee
therapy

1941
Louis Edward Sissman, Detroit News, Detroit, Michigan
initials

1942
Richard Earnhart, El Paso Herald-Post, El Paso, Texas
sacrilegious

1946
John McKinney, Des Moines Register & Tribune, Des Moines, Iowa
semaphore

1947
Mattie Lou Pollard, Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia
chlorophyll

1948
Jean Chappelear, Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio
psychiatry

1949
Kim Calvin, Canton Repository, Canton, Ohio
dulcimer

1950
Diana Reynard, Cleveland Press, Cleveland, Ohio
meticulosity

1950
Colquitt Dean, Atlanta Journal, Atlanta, Georgia
meticulosity

1951
Irving Belz, Memphis Press-Scimitar, Memphis, Tennessee
insouciant

1952
Doris Ann Hall, Winston-Salem Journal, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
vignette

1953
Elizabeth Hess, Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona
soubrette

1954
William Cashore, Norristown Times Herald, Norristown, Pennsylvania
transept

1955
Sandra Sloss, St. Louis Globe-Democrat, St. Louis, Missouri
crustaceology

1956
Melody Sachko, The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
condominium

1957
Sandra Owen, Canton Repository, Canton, Ohio
schappe

1957
Dana Bennett, Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colorado
schappe

1958
Jolitta Schlehuber, Topeka Daily Capital, Topeka, Kansas
syllepsis

1959
Joel Montgomery, Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colorado
catamaran

1960
Henry Feldman, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Knoxville, Tennessee
eudaemonic

1961
John Capehart, Tulsa Tribune, Tulsa, Oklahoma
smaragdine

1962
Nettie Crawford, El Paso Herald-Post, El Paso, Texas
esquamulose

1962
Michael Day, St. Louis Globe-Democrat, St. Louis, Missouri
esquamulose

1963
Glen Van Slyke III, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Knoxville, Tennessee
equipage

1964
William Kerek, Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio
sycophant

1965
Michael Kerpan Jr., Tulsa Tribune, Tulsa, Oklahoma
eczema

1966
Robert A. Wake, Houston Chronicle, Houston, Texas
ratoon

1967
Jennifer Reinke, The Omaha World-Herald, Omaha, Nebraska
chihuahua

1968
Robert L. Walters, Topeka Daily Capital, Topeka, Kansas
abalone

1969
Susan Yoachum, Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas
interlocutory

1970
Libby Childress, Winston-Salem Journal & Sentinel, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
croissant

1971
Jonathan Knisely, Philadelphia Bulletin, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
shalloon

1972
Robin Kral, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Lubbock, Texas
macerate

1973
Barrie Trinkle, Fort Worth Press, Fort Worth, Texas
vouchsafe

1974
Julie Ann Junkin, Birmingham Post-Herald, Birmingham, Alabama
hydrophyte

1975
Hugh Tosteson, San Juan Star, San Juan, Puerto Rico
incisor

1976
Tim Kneale, Syracuse Herald Journal-American, Syracuse, New York
narcolepsy

1977
John Paola, The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
cambist

1978
Peg McCarthy, The Topeka Capital-Journal, Topeka, Kansas
deification

1979
Katie Kerwin, Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colorado
maculature

1980
Jacques Bailly, Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colorado
elucubrate

1981
Paige Pipkin, El Paso Herald-Post, El Paso, Texas
sarcophagus

1982
Molly Dieveney, Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colorado
psoriasis

1983
Blake Giddens, El Paso Herald-Post, El Paso, Texas
Purim

1984
Daniel Greenblatt, Loudoun Times-Mirror, Leesburg, Virginia
luge

1985
Balu Natarajan, Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois
milieu

1986
Jon Pennington, The Patriot News, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
odontalgia

1987
Stephanie Petit, The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
staphylococci

1988
Rageshree Ramachandran, The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, California
elegiacal

1989
Scott Isaacs, Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colorado
spoliator

1990
Amy Marie Dimak, The Seattle Times, Seattle, Washington
fibranne

1991
Joanne Lagatta, The Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, Wisconsin
antipyretic

1992
Amanda Goad, The Richmond News Leader, Richmond, Virginia
lyceum

1993
Geoff Hooper, The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tennessee
kamikaze

1994
Ned G. Andrews, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Knoxville, Tennessee
antediluvian

1995
Justin Tyler Carroll, The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tennessee
xanthosis

1996
Wendy Guey, The Palm Beach Post, West Palm Beach, Florida
vivisepulture

1997
Rebecca Sealfon, Daily News, New York, New York
euonym

1998
Jody-Anne Maxwell, Phillips & Phillips Stationery Suppliers, Ltd., Kingston, Jamaica
chiaroscurist

1999
Nupur Lala, The Tampa Tribune, Tampa, Florida
logorrhea

2000
George Abraham Thampy, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Missouri
demarche

2001
Sean Conley, Aitkin Independent Age, Aitkin, Minnesota
succedaneum

2002
Pratyush Buddiga, Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colorado
Prospicience

2003
Sai R. Gunturi, The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas
Pococurante

2004
David Scott Pilarski Tidmarsh, South Bend Tribune, South Bend, Indiana
autochthonous

2005
Anurag Kashyap , The San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego, California
appoggiatura

Tuesday 8 May 2007

Yo Yo Tricks

An alphabetical list of yo yo tricks. For video demonstrations visit Yomega.com here

Around the Corner
Around The World
Atomic Bomb
Barrel Rolls
Baseball
Brain Twister
Break Away
Buddha's Revenge
Creeper
Dizzy Baby
Dog Bite
Double Gerbil
Double or Nothing
Drop in the Bucket
Eiffel Tower
Elevator
Flag
Forward Pass
Gravity Pull
Hop the Fence
Lariat
Loop the Loop
Mach 5
Motorcycle
Over the Shoulder
Rattle Snake
Rewind
Ripcord
Rock the Baby
Roller Coaster
Runaway Dog
Run the Dog
Shoot the Moon
Two Handed Loops
Sleeper
Spaghetti
Split the Atom
3 Leaf Clover
Through the Tunnel
Tidal Wave
Trapeze
UFO
Walk the Dog
Warp Drive
World Tour
Worm Hole
Zipper

Thursday 3 May 2007

Literati Bonsai

Literati bonsai are "styled in a manner that is suggestive of the austere, time-worn life experience of the aged Chinese artist-scholar." Here is a list of characteristics of the literati bonsai, from bonsaiTALK

1. A long, thin trunk, that expresses the long, austere life of the scholar.

2. Movement in the trunk suggesting the twisting path of experience and knowledge.

3. Meager foliage, suggesting a life without ornamentation and superfluence.

4. Branching often begins in the upper third of the tree, suggesting an ascetic quality of life, reduced to its essentials. Often including hanging branches in its design.

5. An unassuming bonsai container, usually an unglazed, shallow bowl with little ornamentation, often with a handmade, rustic appearance and flaws in its finish.

Tuesday 1 May 2007

The Brady Bunch

A list of plot summaries for the first ten episodes of The Brady Bunch from The Canonical Brady Bunch Episode Guide here

PILOT

1. "The Honeymoon," 26 Sep 1969 [0]
Mike and Carol tie the knot. As the world
now knows, it's how they became the Brady bunch.

FIRST SEASON

NOTE: The following six episodes were filmed as a group rather
than serially due to Florence Henderson's nightclub schedule.

2. "Dear Libby," 3 Oct 1969 [1]
Suspicions abound when a letter appears in an
advice column which suits America's favorite
blended family to a tee.

3. "Eenie, Meenie, Mommy, Daddy," 10 Oct 1969 [5]
Cindy is torn by having to choose which
parent to see her play the fairy princess in a
school play.

4. "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," 17 Oct 1969 [6]
Now that Mike has a wife, Alice decides she's
no longer needed. The family convinces her
otherwise.

5. "Katchoo," 24 Oct 1969 [4]
Jan appears to be allergic to Tiger, the
family dog. (The original Tiger was killed during
the filming of this episode.)

6. "A Clubhouse Is Not a Home," 31 Oct 1969 [2]
The boys are reluctant to share their
clubhouse with their new sisters.

7. "Kitty Karry-All Is Missing," 7 Nov 1969 [3]
Bobby is accused of stealing Cindy's favorite
doll.

8. "A-Camping We Will Go," 14 Nov 1969 [12]
The boys bristle at the prospect of Carol and
the girls coming on their traditional all-male
camping trip.

9. "Sorry, Right Number," 21 Nov 1969 [9]
Fed up with rising phone bills, Mike has a
pay phone installed in the family room. Allan
Melvin makes his first appearance as Sam Franklin.

10. "Every Boy Does It Once," 5 Dec 1969 [14]
Bobby decides that Carol is an evil
stepmother and runs away.