New Orleans Saints logoFleur de Lys via Wikipedia

NewOrleansSaints.com,
Thursday, May 29, 2008 - 12:33 PM LONDON -- The first 40,000 tickets made available for the NFL’s second overseas regular-season game on October 26 at Wembley Stadium in London, England between the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints sold today in 90 minutes. The tickets were available to fans who were randomly selected from an overwhelming number of registered ticket requests.

“We are delighted to report the overwhelming interest in this year’s game,” said ALISTAIR KIRKWOOD, managing director of NFL UK. “Today’s sales at Ticketmaster have matched the pace at which tickets were bought for last year’s game between the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants, which was historic in being the first-ever regular-season game outside North America. This proves that our event is one of the most eagerly awaited on the British sports calendar.”

Because of the demand for tickets, the NFL has released an additional 5,000 tickets to go on sale immediately. There also has been an increase in the number of tickets that will be offered in the second sale of tickets to fans who registered in February when the game was announced.

Last year’s Wembley game was such a success that the NFL has committed to playing at least one game in the UK for each of the next three seasons, beginning with this year’s matchup of teams who have each come within one game of reaching the Super Bowl in the past two seasons.

The Saints feature one of the most exciting players in the NFL in running back REGGIE BUSH, who appeared alongside English soccer star DAVID BECKHAM in a series of TV commercials following the former England captain’s move to America. The Chargers’ offense is led by running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON, who set an NFL record by scoring 31 touchdowns in 2006 and was named the league’s MVP. Both players are scheduled to make a promotional visit to London next month.


Deuce McAllister will be back in the Saints lineup after his 2nd knee surgery for the injury that took him out of last year's season. Check out his website for the special event in New Orleans planned this coming Tuesday: Deuce McAllister Home Page, the Catch22 Foundation.

SAPPHO SINGS: New Novel

SAPPHO SINGS: "In this superb page-turner reminiscent of the great Mary Renault, Peggy Ullman Bell brings to life one of the most exciting and fascinating figures of the Ancient World - Sappho of Lesbos, The Poetess.

Here SAPPHO SINGS in her own words. Ancient phrases become the warp and weave of an intricate tapestry so delicately woven it becomes impossible to distinguish the imported threads from the weaver's own."

If you love historical novels, I highly recommend "Sappho Sings" By Peggy Ullman Bell.

Available on Amazon's CreateSpace. SAPPHO SINGS


René O'Deay

UPDATE: Can't wait for a Stevia soft drink? Zevia beats Coca-Cola to the market! With four flavors: cola, root beer, orange and twist. Check out the website to see if it's available in your area yet.


It hasn't been easy to overcome the Aspartame lobby with the FDA, even though stevia has been used in countries like Japan for many years with no bad effects. Can't say the same for aspartame. Read about the FDA's insidious actions regarding aspartame and stevia.


Just who are are the FDA protecting? Not us.





Ever heard of stevia? Thanks to Coca Cola you will

POSTED May 16, 2:28 PM


If you've ever tasted stevia, you know it's extremely sweet. In fact, this amazing noncaloric herb, native to Paraguay, has been used as a sweetener for centuries. With zero calories, zero carbohydrates and a zero glycemic index, it is understandable why people would want this plant to be part of their diet.


However, the herb has had a real problem in the United States in recent years because of actions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Since the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), stevia can be sold legally in the United States, but only as a "dietary supplement." If you call it a sweetner it would be considered "adulterated," and the FDA can come in and seize it. In other countries though, Stevia is widely used. In fact, Japan, where its refined product known as stevioside, enjoys 41% of the sweetener market.


Do we need another sweetner, what with sucralose, aspartime, and saccharin? First, stevia is natural, as opposed to the other three which are made in a lab. There are also some real benefits to it.; in all the studies done with this sweetener, it does not have any side effects, can not be overdosed upon, does not cause cancer in lab animals. Actually, the rats had decreased incidence of breast tumors, while the males displayed a lesser incidence of kidney damage. It may also contribute to stablization of blood sugar allowing those who are currently insulin dependent to eventually not need treatment for high blood sugar levels and may also contribute to lowering of blood pressure.


But now, there has been a major shift bringing stevia to market, thanks to uber-global-corporate-machine Coca Cola. They are soon going to release diet drinks with a purified version of stevia, called Truvia.








I can't wait!


UPDATE: the process has been in the works for a couple years, and so far there is no announcement on Coca-Cola's website when the new product will be launched.


Can we tell  them to hurry up already?


Hong Kong coke face 2 Coca  Cola  Can Happiness Factory, il rosso fiore del capitalismo. Coca Cola

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Plato on Atlantis

If searchers for Atlantis are going by Plato's description, they are all looking at the wrong places. First Plato said the island of Atlantis was huge. And that after the earthquake sank it, there was an impassable barrier of mud. Doesn't sound like Santorini. A small island.
Next, Plato gives a good reason for finding it: walls and pinnacles covered in silver and gold, and huge statues of gold, lots of statues of gold.


Let me begin by observing first of all, that nine thousand was the sum of years which had elapsed since the war which was said to have taken place between those who dwelt outside the Pillars of Heracles and all who dwelt within them; this war I am going to describe. Of the combatants on the one side, the city of Athens was reported to have been the leader and to have fought out the war; the combatants on the other side were commanded by the kings of Atlantis, which, as was saying, was an island greater in extent than Libya and Asia, and when afterwards sunk by an earthquake, became an impassable barrier of mud to voyagers sailing from hence to any part of the ocean."

"Here was Poseidon's own temple which was a stadium in length, and half a stadium in width, and of a proportionate height, having a strange barbaric appearance. All the outside of the temple, with the exception of the pinnacles, they covered with silver, and the pinnacles with gold. In the interior of the temple the roof was of ivory, curiously wrought everywhere with gold and silver and orichalcum; and all the other parts, the walls and pillars and floor, they coated with orichalcum. In the temple they placed statues of gold: there was the god himself standing in a chariot-the charioteer of six winged horses-and of such a size that he touched the roof of the building with his head; around him there were a hundred Nereids riding on dolphins, for such was thought to be the number of them by the men of those days. There were also in the interior of the temple other images which had been dedicated by private persons. And around the temple on the outside were placed statues of gold of all the descendants of the ten kings and of their wives ...
rommelcatuncan: - from CRITIAS by Plato 360 BC: "- from CRITIAS by Plato 360 BC
translated by Benjamin Jowett, New York, C. Scribner's Sons, [1871]

What a wonderful find it would be!
So where in the ocean could it be?

I wonder if satellite imaging could help in the search? If they look in the right place, somewhere west of the Pillars of Hercules. But, I think the biggest problems with Plato's account, from his predecessor Solon, is that Atlantis fell after a failed attempt to conquer Athens about 11,900 years ago. Did Athens even exist that far back? I don't think so.

Good luck to the more enterprising explorers.

René O'Deay

A satellite image of the Sahara, the world's largest hot desert and second largest desert after Antarctica.Image via Wikipedia

AFP: Sahara made slow transition from green to desert: study: "Sahara made slow transition from green to desert: study

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The Sahara became the world's biggest hot desert some 2,700 years ago after a very slow fade from green, according to a new study which clashes with the theory that desertification came abruptly.

Six thousand years ago, the massive arid region dominating northern Africa was quite green, a patchwork of trees and savannas as well as many sparkling lakes."


Yo Ho Ho and a few bottles of “Old New Orleans Rum”

Four Awards Received at 3rd Annual 2008 International Rum Festival Competition


Celebration Distillation announces its Old New Orleans Rum brands have won several medals at the 3rd Annual Polished Palate International Rum Festival. The Tasting Competition, which took place in Ybor City (Tampa), Florida on March 27 and 28, is the first and only such recognized competition for sugar cane-based spirits in the United States. A panel of spirits industry executives judged nearly 150 rums from internationally recognized brands including Mount Gay, Captain Morgan, Montecristo, Ron Barcelo and Tortuga, and proclaimed all flavors of Old New Orleans Rum as winners.


Judged on aroma, appearance, taste, mouthfeel and finish Old New Orleans Crystal Rum took a gold medal in the white rum category. Old New Orleans Amber Rum won a silver in the category of rums aged up to 8 years, Old New Orleans Cajun Spice Rum also achieved a silver medal in the spiced rum category, while the newest addition to the Celebration Distillation brand, Old New Orleans 10-Year Old Rum, won a bronze in the rum aged 9 to 15 years category.


“We are extremely proud that all four of our rums were honored at this year’s competition,” states James Michalopoulos, founder of Celebration Distillation. “It is a testament that perseverance and the search for excellence reap the best rewards, in this case international recognition for our craft.”


Old New Orleans Rum not only impresses the experts in the spirits industry, but it has also made an impact on its home town community. Dozens of restaurants offer Old New Orleans Rum behind the bar, as well as rum inspired dishes on the menu. When locals need a taste of “the spirit of New Orleans” they can visit one of over a hundred local restaurants and bars, from Cochon to Mandina’s to Etoile in Covington, from Famous Door to DBA to the Column’s Hotel, or stop by just about any grocery store in the city.




Strawberry Mojito - Old New Orleans Rum

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After failing to gobble up Yahoo, Microsoft turns its face to FaceBook.
Whatdaya think the 70,000,000 Facebook members think?


SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp gauged Facebook's interest in a possible acquisition after the software giant's failed takeover attempt of Yahoo Inc, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.
The newspaper reported on its Web site that Microsoft's bankers put out subtle signals to Facebook, the social networking Web site, to see if it would be open to a full acquisition.
---
In October, Microsoft took a $240 million stake in Facebook, which valued the start-up at $15 billion. Citing an unnamed source, the report said there are no active discussions between the two companies

UPDATE: and this after Bill Gates said: Microsoft going 'Independent Way'


By YURI KAGEYAMA, AP Business Writer Wed May 7, 7:33 AM ET
TOKYO - Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said Wednesday the company isn't pursuing other deals following the withdrawal of its $47.5 billion takeover bid for Yahoo.



Yo Ho Ho! and a bottle of Rum!


Microsoft copies apple Pirates Of Silicon Valley Widescreen Test Pirates of Silicon Valley scene - "You make people need you" YouTube Poop: Mac Vs_ PC spoof O_o Microsoft and Apple Comments___

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Cartouche of King Tut
cartouche-tut
Originally uploaded by reneodeay
The cartouche of Nebkheperure, Lord of the Many Manifestations of Re, coronation name of King Tutankhamen

This is the symbol we most often associate with King Tut.

The young Prince Tutankhaten took the throne name of Neb-Kheper-U-Re, which can be translated as "Lord of the Many Manifestations of Re". A name similar to his mother and father's name: Neb-Ma'et-Re.
Not many know this, but Sitamen used the name of her father and husband during part of the reign of her brother, Akhetaten, undoubtedly after he ordered all mention of Amen erased from temples, homes and tombs, and from everyone's names, including his own father's.

On an old webpage I broke down the symbols of Tut's coronation name.

The cartouche of Tutankhamen

To see them side-by-side

I think by taking a throne name associated with the Sun God Re rather than the aspect: Aten, that Tutankhaten managed to reassure his people that things were going to change, that true 'Ma'at' would be restored. There were obviously also political reasons behind this.

This whole 'Aten' movement began as a power struggle between the Kings of Egypt and the priests of Amen-Re, who controlled by grant of various pharaohs possessions rivaling their kings, as well as the Treasury of the King, though the Queen traditionally had control of that Treasury. These priests of Amen-Re had demanded that Amen-Re be named King of the Gods, but this prerogative belonged to the King, the Pharaoh, the Living God, the Good God. All priests of the Two Lands were only surrogates of the King, his representatives.

Tutankhaten, his Queen, Ankhesenpaaten, and their advisors were not going to just hand back power to these upstart priests. So Memphis, Re and Ptah, were given preference.

René

Flickr

This is a test post from flickr, a fancy photo sharing thing.

My Life in Forbidden Lhasa - National Geographic Magazine: "Escaping from internment in India to the sacred capital of Tibet, an Austrian became the Dalai Lama's trusted tutor
(Originally published in the July 1955 National Geographic)
By Heinrich Harrer
Photograph by Heinrich Harrer

The rocky trail led into the broad valley of the Kyi River. Exhausted, our shoes in tatters and our feet bleeding and blistered, we rounded a little hill. Before us lay the Potala, winter palace of Tibet's Dalai Lama, its golden roofs ablaze in the January sun.

Lhasa was only eight miles away!"


So begins the tale of an incredible adventure in Tibet, before the Chinese invaded.

This must have been the basis of the movie Seven Years in Tibet. The two adventurers soon become involved in the life of the young Dalai Lama.

A sensitive insight into life in Tibet before the Chinese.

I highly recommend it.

René O'Deay

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