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As most of you may know, one aspect of my personal collection is Shoeless Joe Jackson. I truly believe he was wronged by Major League Baseball and Commissioner Landis. When you take away a man's passion, what kind of life is that. Last night, on Cardboard Connection Radio, we had the honor of speaking with the curator of the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum. During the course of our conversation we learned about a documentary currently in production. Here is a short trailer:
Small time American museums that preserve our history are vital resources to the fabric of our country. The Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum offers a unique collectible in exchange for an $11 donation. This very cool Shoeless Joe Jackson poker chip. I can't wait until mine gets here.


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Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Legalize Marijuana,It is Healthy, Cigarette Kills - Seun Kuti
In his home sitting on a cluttered, narrow street of Lagos in Ikeja, which recently was transformed into a museum and popularly called Afrika Shrine, family annually put up a week of concerts to celebrate the legacy of the afro-beat maestro otherwise dubbed Abami Eda.
Seun Kuti usurped the avenue after his stage performance reliving his father's style at the 2012 edition of the Felabration concert in Afrika Shrine to speak on his support for weed smoking. Marijuana undoubtedly is his choice against cigarette, taken after his father's choice of purposeful adoption of anything African against whatever appears to be of African colonization by the west.
He condemned the non-legalizing of Marijuana like cigarette, suggesting that the position of the law on the two products was illogical.
In his submission, the favored cigarette has lethal consequences, while the legally opposed marijuana was medicinal and good for human consumption. But, Seun said, the killing cigarette was favored because it was to the white man's profit, stressing that marijuana would make black countries richer than the white if legalized. His argument is an absolute face off with cigarette consumption while beckoning marijuana to the spotlight.
Proclaiming this position through lyrics of songs, the young Fela marionette damned black politicians for taking the white's advice against its own natural produce of 'weed', which he said was good after all, and accepting the white's product which truncates lives.
"This song is about the good leaf; ewe rere. Me I nor dey say make Government legalize Igbo o. If Government like, them legalize am. If Government like, them nor legalize am. I'm smoking it mehn!" Seun introduced.
Continued Seun, "Our politicians nor get sense. Because the white man talk say Igbo nor good, them follow dem talk say Igbho nor good. But now, in the United States of America, dem dey smoke Igbho legally".
Seun suggested that the west advised the black politicians against legalizing marijuana because they knew it would make the black countries rich.
"Igbo doesn't kill, but cigarette dey kill. Because cigar na white man's business, as far as you write 'Smokers are liable to die young', it becomes legal.
"Why not also put Igbo in a box and write Igbo smokers are liable to go crazy young?", he quipped.
Seun encouraged further in songs; "plant am make e grow… e good, e good, e goodu well well… plant am make e grow".
After his groovy performance on the stage, Seun an interview with citizen journalist Segun O'Law, reiterated this position stating the benefits of smoking marijuana to include 'medicinal'. Although Seun warned that over sniffing of weed could intoxicate or drive a subject crazy, he stood in his submission that modest weed smoking was better than cigarette bearing the latter's deadly outcome.
"Marijuana is medical, and I feel Cigarette is selling legally because it is white man's business. It is killing millions of people everyday.. Igbo is not killing anybody.
"Marijuana is not only for smoking. It's used for a lot of things; you can make clothes, you can drink tea, it is good, it is medicinal, it helps your appetite, they give it to cancer patients.. a lot of benefits", he explained.
Many celebrities in the Nigerian and foreign entertainment industries performed at the concluded 2012 edition of Felabration.
The atmosphere at Afrika Shrine, Felabration concert 2012 was beyond expectation, shrouded in thick fumes of discharges from countless wraps 'igbo'.
Posted by Leye Omole at 11:58 PM No comments: Links to this post
We Are Proud Americans! Not Nigerians, Williams Sisters Cry Out
Serena, who joined her elder sister, Venus to train some selected kids the rudiments of tennis at the Ikoyi Club in Lagos Wednesday evening, said their parents may be black with slight traces from Africa, but she insisted that they are from the United States of America, USA.
"We have heard from many people asking whether we hail from the Badagry area of Lagos in Nigeria. But we are using this opportunity to clear the air once and for all. We are proud Americans, we are not from Nigeria but we love the people of this country no doubt," Serena said.
Venus, who corroborated Serena's statement, said their parents never told them they are from Nigeria.
The Williams sisters said they were blessed and happy to have one of their siblings, Yetunde now late, named after a Nigerian, but disclosed that their mother Oracene Price gave her the name without any string attached.
During Wednesday's tennis clinic at the Ikoyi Club, the sisters tutored some children the basics of tennis.
Serena and her sister will hold a sessions for some girls at designated schools in Lagos on Thursday, while they will face eachother in an exhibition match at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS on Friday and leave for South Africa for the second leg of their tour of Africa same day.
Posted by Leye Omole at 11:50 PM No comments: Links to this post
Reasons Akwa Ibom deputy governor resigned Revealed
His Chief Press Secretary, Inemesi Ina, in a statement, said Ekere resigned "on personal grounds" and declined to elaborate.
Reacting to Ekere's resignation, chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation, Akwa Ibo State chapter, Mr. Clifford Thomas, described the former Deputy Governor's decision as 'a conspiracy,' noting that he had been nursing the ambition of ruling the state.
He said, "Ekere is not going to wait if he is asked to wait for someone from Uyo senatorial district who had had their turn in the person of Governor Victor Attah. There is a conspiracy yet to be known.
"Ekere is not going empty just like that, he is going to disclose a lot of things; there are arm-twisting.
"It's a very sad thing: I want to see competition in this state and not arm twisting people. He might have endured a lot of things."
Also, Chairman, Conference of Nigerian Political Parties in the state, Mr. Linus Udofia, said the resignation of Ekere was not good for the government.
He described Ekere as very quiet and intelligent, stressing that whatever led to his sudden resignation would have been weighty.
He said, "It is not possible for Ekere to have resigned so early. There are indications that Ekere might have been tolerating something, which he felt there was no need putting up with it anymore. And this may lead to his resigning so early.
But a reliable insider who craved anonymity disclosed that Akpabio starved Ekere of funds.
He said, "Ekere fell out with Akpabio because of his interest in running for the PDP's governorship ticket in 2015 election.
"Akpabio prefers SSG, Okon Umana, for governorship ticket in 2015 to Ekere. This has led to a frosty relationship between the two. He might have resigned owing to frustration."
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umana, is yet to make any official statement on the matter.
Daily Post
Posted by Leye Omole at 11:45 PM No comments: Links to this post
Davido Set To Release Dami Duro Remix featuring Akon on Nov 1st, 2012
Posted by Leye Omole at 5:00 PM No comments: Links to this post
Can you guess what music this family is dancing to ?
Posted by Leye Omole at 2:08 PM 1 comment: Links to this post
OMG!!! See A Shark Swimming Through The Streets Of New Jersey
Posted by Leye Omole at 1:58 PM No comments: Links to this post
Marriage Proposals From 2 Igbo Men,Help, Who Do I Choose???
Posted by Leye Omole at 1:52 PM No comments: Links to this post
Should I tell my friend what happened between Me and his Fiancee?
I met Amaka at mm2 when I went to drop my brother who was traveling that day. I offered her a lift but before she got to her bus stop, I gathered she was a student in my state university, she had a fiance who resides in Europe. Though we agreed to meet that weekend.
After that first encounter, i called her frequently so as to turn her on which yielded success after our meeting during the weekend. Though we agreed there was no future for us since she was getting married the next year. I started falling in love not only because she was pretty,but she was also good at knokkin (she's got skills and stamina).
One faithful weekend, I decided to pay her a surprise visit at school and enjoy those swell time once more. But to my surprise she introduced me to the guy i met in her room as her uncle. Later that night she came to my hotel room to apologise and blamed me for not pre-informing her about my visit and that the guy i met in her room was just a school bf. That was how it all ended cos i never visited nor called her again.
My problem now is that my childhood friend who's based in demark came in two weeks back and i just discovered that he's the fiance amaka told me about. As I type this message, we did her introduction last Friday, the marriage comes up on the 23rd of November and my friend has chosen me as his best man. Infact since his arrival, we've always been together making all arrangements for the marriage.
What should i do?
Should i tell my friend what happened between me and amaka and her life style or not? Advice please.
Posted by Leye Omole at 1:47 PM 3 comments: Links to this post
Blame Gowon and Awolowo for Biafra Genocide - Maj Gen. Alexander Madiebo.
**it was an idle talk, that biafran soldiers were eating food meant for civilians.
Many people have been commenting on Professor Chinua Achebe's comment on Chief Obafemi Awolowo in his book, There was a Country. What Achebe said, as I told some people, in all aspects, is correct. In fact, I went further to say that if I am to give my own account of the war and Awolowo's role, I would even have said more.
But that is as far as I can go. I do not want to draw attention on Achebe's book to myself. This is because I haven't written any book and I do not want to steal the show or act for Achebe. Achebe is well qualified to defend himself but one thing you notice is that, of all the people who have been criticising Achebe, no one had said what he said was wrong. If there is anybody who has said that, then I have not been able to read or hear it. Nobody is saying that Awolowo did not give the Igbo £20 at the end of the war; that he did not starve the Igbo during the war, and all that Achebe had to say. This is because what he (Achebe) said are true. Awolowo's people agreed that he had to do them to win the war. So, what is the bone of contention? There is no basis for controversy because one person has given the facts, and the other person is trying to justify the facts. They are all entitled to that.
Now, I have more. I keep a lot of documents and materials on the war and the participants. If I had to write my own, I might not even mention any of the things that Achebe said. I mean, he has written as a civilian and I will write as a soldier. What he said are all correct and everybody agrees, I mean all the tribes.
The question now is, is he justified to do those things just to win a war. That is for anybody to answer.
One of his followers, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, said that food supply was stopped because the soldiers hijacked the food being sent to the East and didn't allow it to get to the people.
Obviously, that is a talk of an idle civilian. How can you be giving food to soldiers? I was commanding the Army throughout the war. For the first two months, we had no problem of food. As far as I know, throughout the war, Nigeria did not give food to any warfront or any part under the control of Biafra. This is common sense. The only thing was that we had the support from the Caritas (it is a church organisation) and the Red Cross. I think Caritas is based in Rome. It is a very big relief organisation. To get food from them, their flight only came in the night and completely under bombardment by the Nigerian command to prevent the food from coming in. He said he was giving Biafrans food. If I were a Nigerian, I won't give Biafrans food. We did not have the means to hijack food coming, with the sophisticated planes from Nigeria. How could we have hijacked them with helicopters? The point is that, officially, unofficially or in any way, Biafra got no food from Nigeria at all.
There was a brief period when we benefitted from Nigerian food by accident. It was when Biafran troops cleared Owerri and cut off a lot of Nigerian soldiers. The Nigerian Army started dropping food for their soldiers inside Owerri. Obviously, we discovered that what they were doing was that they asked their soldiers to spread white clothes in the areas where they were and they would drop food for them. The Biafran soldiers cleared other areas and spread white clothes and they were dropping food for them mistakenly. They soon found out. They didn't at any time during the war give Biafrans food. If they captured any part of the original Biafra, they had to feed the people there, but not Biafrans.
The agitation for a Biafran nation is still ongoing in some quarters. Frankly, if one wants to be realistic, you cannot achieve Biafra again as we used to know it. First of all, the old Biafra presently consists of eight or nine states. There are five in Igboland and four in the South-South. I am just saying this off hand. There are about eight states now made up of the old Biafra. How on earth are you going to start reuniting all these people who have enjoyed a lot of progress and have seen the fruit of local independence? How can you join them again under one state? It is not possible. It is not necessarily the political independence of about eight or nine states. They cannot lump themselves together again.
Biafra stands for justice. People who are agitating for Biafra are, in fact, agitating for justice. They are agitating for an end to the marginalisation of a certain part of Nigeria.
Chief Uwazuruike who is pursuing the project in a way, is useful to the Igbo. It is not useful to the extent of getting independence for the Igbo. He is the only pressure group now the Igbo have to let the rest of Nigeria know what our problems are. In fact, there was a time that I would say he achieved more than all the South-East (Nigerian) governments put together. Under these governments everybody is trying to get maximum benefit for himself and his family and not for the Igbo really. After the war, the Igbo who joined political parties were just the second fiddle, not hoping to achieve more than satisfying their families. Under Abacha, an Igbo man, Kalu, formed ' Youths Earnestly Ask for Abacha, to have Abacha there permanently, not an Igbo man. Abacha was not an Igbo man. Nobody has the ambition of reuniting the Igbo. They just became nuisance in a way, individually.
But now, people are beginning to realise that you don't achieve much by trying to shine in the midst of poverty. The Igbo are uniting again.
QUESTION: Why was I not promoted when Gowon and Unegbu were promoted?
I don't know.
People are asking why Professor Achebe is reliving the civil war issues after over 40 years. They believe we should not be looking at what divided us in the past but for something that will unite us.
That is the point. The issue of the civil war or Biafra is not coming back. One single person wrote a book. I haven't read the book. All I know about the book is what I have read in the newspapers or from different journalists. I am not aware that the issue of Biafra is coming up again except that Achebe wrote his memoirs. Nobody talked about many other things he wrote but only about Awolowo. As if he wrote about only Awolowo. Maybe, he did, I don't know. But I understand that he wrote a book called 'There was a country, Biafra'. Which is true. When Ojukwu died, he was buried as a General and Head of State. His coffin was carried by Generals. In fact, it was the first burial that looked like a Head of State's in the history of Nigeria. Ex-Heads of State came, those who recognised Biafra. Nigeria was, indeed, trying to recognise that there was a country.
What are we arguing about? If somebody says it, he gets into trouble. If he went beyond it and said that Awolowo did this or that, he gets into trouble. He just said the truth but it is left for people to justify if Awolowo did it because he wanted to win the war. In fact, there were other things Awolowo may have done which are part of his job. This is the way I look at it. I don't think there is any need for controversy over it. If somebody had said that Awolowo never gave the Igbo £20 after the war or that he did not change currency during the war, then I would start wondering whether I had forgotten. But nobody has said that. All they are saying is that he did this purely to succeed in his job. He was given a job. Whether he did it in order to punish the Igbo, I don't know. After all, he never consulted the Yoruba for any decision he took. He was acting as an individual, not as a Yorubaman, but as a Minister or Commissioner of Finance. It has nothing to do with his tribe. Why should his tribe be angry if he took wrong decisions or if he showed any overzealousness in anything he did? After all, there were other things credited to him. To start revealing those things now would obviously try to draw blood. I know that if at any time that there was anything necessary to say, that would be in my own memoirs. I am not going to support somebody else's book. Supporting a book that you have not read, one must be carefully moderated. What I am saying is that, as far as I am concerned, everything already credited to him by Achebe are absolutely correct.
As a commander during the war, you were familiar with every section of Biafra and, perhaps, Nigeria. Was Bakassi within the geographical zone of Nigeria? Bakassi is an example of the evils of inter-tribal politics, evil of colonialism and of North-South dichotomy. If I tell the story of Bakassi, it may take too long but we started losing Bakassi in 1959. That was when we lost South-West Cameroun. You know South-West Cameroun is Adamawa in the North and Barmanda in the South. They were part of Nigeria because the League of Nations after the Second World War shared Cameroun into two. It belonged to Germany. It gave the East to France and the West to Britain. Britain then shared its own into two, administered the North as Adamawa Province with the Northern Nigeria and the South with Eastern Nigeria. In 1959, most colonies were to get independence and the British thought of what to do with this Western Cameroun being administered by Britain under Nigeria. Britain decided to give the Southern Cameroun back to France and the Northern one, Adamawa to Nigeria. Do you know why? Britain was adjusting population so that the North should have overall majority in Lagos. I took part in the United Nations plebiscite which was to decide who goes where. I was the only Nigerian indigenous officer that took part in that exercise. The British realised that South-West Cameroun under Hendeley was NCNC.
That was why they called it National Council for Nigeria and Cameroun (NCNC). They had 14 seats in Nigeria in the Eastern Region and one seat at the centre. That seat at the centre was won by Hendeley and he became Minister of Labour. Hendeley won 13 of the 14 seats in Enugu. Funcher was being used by the British to remove Cameroun from Nigeria. Funcher won only one seat, yet when the plebiscite came, he defeated Hendeley who had 13 seats. It was possible because Sardauna and Awolowo saw it as an opportunity to reduce the representation of the NCNC both in Lagos and in the East. You know this is shortsightedness. I won't dwell much on that, so eventually we lost that. Having lost that part of Cameroun, Britain and Nigeria were rejoicing that NCNC's wing had been clipped. They didn't realise that after losing it they had given the North over 52 per cent representation over the South. They didn't need anybody in the South to rule Nigeria. That was the beginning of the end. When the civil war came, having taken that part of the Cameroun, they were too happy to bother about demarcating the area. We decided to bring all our weapons from the Cameroun. Ahidjo, the president of Cameroun said he didn't know where the boundary was, so we should carry on. He was blackmailing Nigeria. If that place had remained open, Nigeria would have defeated Biafra, but it would have taken about 10 to 15 years.
Gowon told Ahidjo to select the boundary and close it after the war, 'we shall discuss'. Ahidjo said, okay thank you sir. Ahidjo then went and told Biafra enough is enough. He marked the boundary and policed it. Eventually, we lost the war. At the end, Nigeria went back and said that was not the boundary. Ahidjo reminded Gowon that he told them to mark the boundary. ''We marked the boundary, you won the war forget it''. Ahidjo, being a Fulani, each time he wanted to discuss the Nigerian border with Cameroun, he might even go to Sokoto and speak in vernacular. Journalists wouldn't even know what they were saying. That was how they took Bakassi. We tried from 1972, they started enforcing it with soldiers. People would say you can't eat your cake and have it; you sacrificed Bakassi for Biafra. If you say take what you want, we want Biafra, you have got Biafra, so you have lost Bakassi. It is unfortunate that they are our brothers. My troops were there and, if we are to be truthful, that place is Nigeria. But if you have in anyway given it to them, let them have it.
It is now over 40 years since the civil war ended, have the Igbo have been reintegrated into the polity? I'd say reintegration of the Igbo has been a slow process. You can never reintegrate the Igbo fully as it used to be before the war. Now the Army was completely against the reintegration of the Igbo into the Nigerian society because of selfishness. The soldiers thought that if Igbo officers came back, they (Nigerian soldiers) would be relegated to the background because Igbo officers were, on the whole, senior to all of them. This is because after independence, most of the senior officers were Igbo. So, reintegration did not start at all until the military regime stopped, probably with the exit of Obasanjo. Now, since then, we have had some progress. For instance, for the first time, we are having Chief of Army Staff as an Igbo man. The Igbo are getting attention in various senses, both in politics and in other ways, but there is a long way to go. There are people who are determined that the more you draw the Igbo into the society, the more they are threatened. I have the details of the reintegration of the Igbo but I can't give you all. What I am merely trying to tell you as briefly as possible is that the Igbo have not been fully reintegrated into Nigeria.
Major General Alexander Madiebo was a war commander of the Biafran Army during the civil war otherwise known as the Biafran War.
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Posted by Leye Omole at 1:38 PM No comments: Links to this post
Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor Resigns.
This is a copy of the Akwa Ibom state Deputy Governor, Nsima Ekere's resignation Letter.
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Feel Free to SHARE.
Posted by Leye Omole at 1:33 PM No comments: Links to this post
Serena Williams and Venus Williams meet Fasola (PHOTO)
The iconic tennis sisters Serena Williams and Venus Williams meeting the Governor of Lagos,Raji Fasola...
Posted by Leye Omole at 9:44 AM No comments: Links to this post
"It's Stupid For Anyone To Say I'm Gay As A Church Leader"—Nollywood Actor, Arinze Okonkwo
Even with the fact that Charly Boy is a media frenzy person, he raised an eyebrow over that type of 'publicity stunt' which he felt was damaging to his image and person.
Some months ago, it was reported that Nollywood actor, Arinze Okonkwo may have allegedly be connected with such act and was insinuated that he was not a straight person in terms of his sexuality. He was reported to have left an event hall when Paul Obazele requested that any person practising homosexual should leave the hall before being disgraced.
As reported, Arinze walked out of the hall which raised questions about his sexuality.
At an event held in Lagos recently, Nigeriafilms.com sought his view about the rumour surrounding his sexuality. He was furious and was quick to ask if those saying he was gay do not know that he is married and also recently had a child?
"They don't know I'm married? That I just had a baby? I am not [a gay]. It is stupid for anybody to think that [I am gay]. Haha, I dated so many girls and I am now a married man, don't even think about it. If that was your first question, I won't even answer you. I do not entertain nonsense from anybody.
"I am a child of God. I am a praise leader in my church. The person saying that does not know me and when people don't know you, that is when they talk rubbish. I don't care what anybody says about me. I am standing straight and I know God is my witness," Arinze told Nigeriafilms.com.
Posted by Leye Omole at 9:00 AM No comments: Links to this post
"She flirted with me" – Man, 61, who Raped 7-year-old girl
In July, John Thompson of Hartlepool, England, pleaded guilty to a sexual assault charge, but told the court that his victim instigated the encounter.
Thompson received an 8-month suspended sentence. He was also ordered to undergo treatment and banned from contact with anyone under the age of 16.
The former brewery employee claimed that the young child "flirted" with him before pushing him down and forcing her tongue into his mouth, according to the Sun.
"I knew it was wrong," Thompson reportedly said in a police interview, "but somehow our mouths became open. I could not push her off."
In court, he admitted to reciprocating and kissing the girl back.
Judge Gillian Matthews noted that Thompson was "potentially high risk" to young girls, but said that suspending his sentence was the only way he could receive treatment, according to the Sun.
"You are a man of good character," Matthews told Thompson, "and that is an important feature in the sentencing assessment, and also you have pleaded guilty."
However, Thompson is now saying he only pleaded guilty due to bad legal advice, the Daily Mail reports, and is threatening to sue the child who made the allegations.
Child protection officials have called Thompson's claims of innocence "outrageous"
"It is absolutely unacceptable for a 61-year-old man to claim that a 7-year-old girl made sexual advances to him that he could not prevent," children's charity Kidscape said in a statement.
Source: Huffington Post
Posted by Leye Omole at 8:55 AM No comments: Links to this post
More Pictures From The Hurricane Sandy's Devastation
Posted by Leye Omole at 8:45 AM No comments: Links to this post
Popular Ghana Actor, Eddy Nartey Stabbed By His Nigerian Girlfriend
According to a close source Eddy Nartey who was present with the said girlfriend at the premiere of the his new movie "Testing the Waters" at Silver bird cinema on Friday October 27, 2012, had some misunderstanding with his lover during the premiere so as a result they both left the cinema to separate homes.
The source said that apparently actor Eddy allegedly went home with another lady to spend the night with her however his girlfriend somehow had information that Eddy was cheating on her with another woman. His girlfriend who is said to be a Nigerian lady, based the hint went to Eddy's house unannounced in the wee hours of Sunday at about 4am.
The source said that Eddy's girlfriend on reaching the house did not knock or call Eddy but she rather went through a window made of glass louver blades. She broke the entire louver blades and entered the room and truly caught Eddy red-handed with another woman warming his bed.
A source present on the scene said that Eddy's girlfriend out of anger destroyed almost every item in the room including a 42 inches Television set, Home Theater, tore almost all the cloths in Eddy's closet, bed sheets, shoes and virtually everything she laid her hands on.
The betrayed lover of the actor then picked up a piece of the glass louver blades and stabbed actor Eddy Nartey with it and he bled profusely until he was rushed to the hospital. The case has since been sent to the Mamprobi Police station where his Nigerian girlfriend was held in custody and Eddy who was in a critical condition has been hospitalized.
Posted by Leye Omole at 8:30 AM 1 comment: Links to this post
Bisi Ibidapo-Obe`s Lover kicks her out of Lagos duplex, retrieves Range Rover Over Her Pregnancy Mess
According to an industry source, the actress decided to move out of Nigeria some days back after her UK based lover, Lopez, who is said to be footing the bill of her Magodo Lagos duplex, breezed into the country and kicked her out of the house.
He was said to have taken the decision after it became obvious that he was not responsible for Bisi's pregnancy. Lopez returned to the UK after locking the house and withdrawing the Range Rover he bought for her, leaving behind her C-Class Mercedes Benz and Honda Element she acquired a while back. (Though a close to the actress denied the house was locked by Lopez but confirmed Bisi went to Ghana)
Source: Encomium Magazine
Posted by Leye Omole at 8:15 AM No comments: Links to this post
PHOTOS from Behind The Scenes of P-Square's Alingo Video Shoot
P-Square is back in the game with a new video for the track "Alingo". The video was shot October 29 and judging by their behind-the-scenes photos, it seems it's going to be a futuristic one!
Posted by Leye Omole at 5:33 AM No comments: Links to this post
Meet The 10 Hot New Actresses Who Are Taking Over Nollywood
These fresh faces are not only young but also very hot, pretty, sexy and talented.
With their daring and uncanny roles in reigning movies, they are gradually and stylishly occupying the front rows in Nollywood flicks.
Check their names out below and comment on how well they have been performing in the make-believe world.
Chika Agatha
Busty and beautiful Agatha is unarguably one of the hottest starlets tantalising Nollywood with abundant skills and endowments. Apart from her sexy eyes and endearing physique, the star actress of Dream Walker, Transformer, Akpati, among others belongs to the school of thought that says: "If you have it, flaunt it!" Most importantly, she doesn't pretend that she got b00bs and sexy eyes to flaunt.
For this beauty and sex appealing nature, the Anambra State-born Management Science graduate of University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, has always been a fantasy to most men. Besides, she has a smile that can awaken a dormant horse and soften the hardest heart.
With this hard-to-disguise beauty, sound education, marvelous roles interpretation ability and her obvious humble nature, many believe she will soon become the hottest item on screen, as she is gradually riding on the back of respected Nollywood producer- Ifeanyi Ezekwe-to fame.
Chinee Uyanna
Barely a year in Nollywood, the Anambra State-born Chinee is also becoming the toast of many producers and directors because of the way she interprets roles, especially wacky ones. She says: "I'm very daring when it comes to interpreting movie roles. I go out of my way to assume that role and execute it to the best of my ability".
The pretty gap tooth graduate of Economics from University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has displayed her acting prowess in the following movies, College Girls, Shakara Babe, Baby Factory, Azonto Babe, Sweet Mistake, Fight for Passion, Great Betrayal, among others.
Wumi Obanla
At a close encounter with the multi-talented Wumi, what comes to the mind of a movie-buff is that she is pretty, sexy and daring. With a model-like physique, outspokenness and uncanny knack for roles interpretation, Wumi who hails from Ondo State and studied Economics from the Lagos State University, is indeed a star to watch out for as she is currently dazzling Nollywood. "I have a passion for acting, and I believe I have a lot to offer the industry", the fair-skinned, soft-spoken and fast rising actress who is currently producing her debut movie-Iyagbajumo-stated. Wumi is also a model that has done several high profile jobs for many multinational organizations.
With their daring and uncanny roles in reigning movies, they are gradually and stylishly occupying the front rows in Nollywood flicks.
Check their names out below and comment on how well they have been performing in the make-believe world.
Chika Agatha
Busty and beautiful Agatha is unarguably one of the hottest starlets tantalising Nollywood with abundant skills and endowments. Apart from her sexy eyes and endearing physique, the star actress of Dream Walker, Transformer, Akpati, among others belongs to the school of thought that says: "If you have it, flaunt it!" Most importantly, she doesn't pretend that she got b00bs and sexy eyes to flaunt.
For this beauty and sex appealing nature, the Anambra State-born Management Science graduate of University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, has always been a fantasy to most men. Besides, she has a smile that can awaken a dormant horse and soften the hardest heart.
With this hard-to-disguise beauty, sound education, marvelous roles interpretation ability and her obvious humble nature, many believe she will soon become the hottest item on screen, as she is gradually riding on the back of respected Nollywood producer- Ifeanyi Ezekwe-to fame.
Chinee Uyanna
Barely a year in Nollywood, the Anambra State-born Chinee is also becoming the toast of many producers and directors because of the way she interprets roles, especially wacky ones. She says: "I'm very daring when it comes to interpreting movie roles. I go out of my way to assume that role and execute it to the best of my ability".
The pretty gap tooth graduate of Economics from University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has displayed her acting prowess in the following movies, College Girls, Shakara Babe, Baby Factory, Azonto Babe, Sweet Mistake, Fight for Passion, Great Betrayal, among others.
Wumi Obanla
At a close encounter with the multi-talented Wumi, what comes to the mind of a movie-buff is that she is pretty, sexy and daring. With a model-like physique, outspokenness and uncanny knack for roles interpretation, Wumi who hails from Ondo State and studied Economics from the Lagos State University, is indeed a star to watch out for as she is currently dazzling Nollywood. "I have a passion for acting, and I believe I have a lot to offer the industry", the fair-skinned, soft-spoken and fast rising actress who is currently producing her debut movie-Iyagbajumo-stated. Wumi is also a model that has done several high profile jobs for many multinational organizations.
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Nollywood Actress Chioma Chukwuka-Akpotha Looking HOT and SWEET In New Pictures
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Bernard graduated in international law and joined IBM Netherlands in 1984 where he held various sales and staff positions and worked in IBM Europe from1997-2001 in IBM Global Services.
As Vice-President Sales & Business Development and Board Member in the Netherlands for EDS, his responsibilities were cross market and included the closure of a major mega outsourcing deal in the banking industry.
Wie is Bernard F. Scheffens
Expanding his experience into other areas within outsourcing, he worked for the Manpower International Division as Operations & Account Director, managing the delivery and growth of a multi-billion HR outsourcing deal with a leading player in the IT industry, for Southern Europe, Israel and Turkey.
In 2008 he worked as Director Europe Sales & Business Development for an UK outsourcing & services company based out of Brussels, Belgium.
At present Bernard is Owner & Managing Director of a Consultancy firm, iBSC based out of the Netherlands.
Other Activities:
Bernard was Chairman IACCM Benelux from 2003-2008 and is now a Worldwide Advisory Council Member (www.iaccm.com)
As a Council Member for Gerson Lehrman Group he advises clients on business management worldwide. (http://www.glgroup.com)
He is also a member of the board of the Dutch Society for International Affairs (www.ngiz.nl )
Meer informatie over Bernard F. Scheffens
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Company Recognized for Cyber Security Platform that is Impactful, Intriguing and Innovative
NEW YORK, June 13, 2017 — Indegy, the leader in industrial cyber security, today announced it was named a Cool Vendor for 2017 by Gartner, Inc. In the report, Cool Vendors in Digitalization Through Industrie 4.0, Gartner analysts profile vendors that provide innovative solutions for device and information management, analytics, security, and integration for industrial IoT platform consolidation.
According to Gartner: "Cybersecurity, reliability and safety are critical success factors for Industrie 4.0 initiatives… Security and risk management leaders responsible for OT (operational technology) security in Industrie 4.0 implementations should be seeking targeted tools for specific Industrie 4.0 security needs today."
Gartner clients can access the Cool Vendors in Digitalization Through Industrie 4.0 report here: https://www.gartner.com/doc/3741617?ref=clientFriendlyURL .
"We believe being named a Gartner Cool Vendor validates our unique ability to detect security threats and anomalies in industrial control systems early in the reconnaissance phase, during the attack, through forensics, and support recovery after events," said Barak Perelman, CEO of Indegy. "IT and OT engineers tasked with securing operations against emerging threats find Indegy very effective because it not only detects network anomalies and suspicious process parameters, but also looks deep into the privileged engineering activities performed over proprietary, vendor specific protocols, which are more difficult to monitor. "
Indegy has developed the first cyber security platform that provides comprehensive visibility into the control-plane engineering activities of OT networks used in critical infrastructures including oil and gas, power utilities, pharmaceutical & automotive manufacturing and more. The Indegy platform detects anomalies, malicious activity and unauthorized access, including logic changes, configuration changes, and firmware uploads/downloads made to process controllers like PLCs, RTUs, and DCS controllers. This enables ICS engineers and IT security staff to detect and respond to OT threats, prevent operational disruptions and physical damage, and ensure the safety, reliability and security of industrial control (ICS) and SCADA systems.
About Indegy
Indegy, the leader in industrial cyber security, protects Industrial Control Systems (ICS) used in critical infrastructures, utilities and manufacturing industries against operational disruptions caused by external and internal threats. By providing comprehensive visibility into the control-plane engineering activities performed in operational technology networks, Indegy's Industrial Cyber Security Platform automatically discovers all controllers (PLCs, RTUs, DCS controllers) on ICS networks, monitors all access and changes in real-time, and validates their integrity ensuring no unauthorized changes go undetected. Indegy enables advanced detection and response to threats that place the safety, reliability and security of industrial networks at risk before damage occurs.
The company was named one of the 10 Most Promising Cyber Security Startups by Forbes Israel, is a TiE50 winner and Network World Hot Security Startup to Watch. For more information visit www.indegy.com, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
Media Contact
Marc Gendron
Marc Gendron PR


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cute valentine card ideas for preschoolers
Make heart-shaped crafts this Valentine s Day with ideas from Martha Stewart look no further. Thanks for the very cute valentine! I bookmarked this last year thinking, when I have more time here are ten great romantic ideas just for the occasion we know that no holiday is complete without a selection of amazing crafts to work on! that s why we have created the valentine s day ideas: 14 heart crafts and cute. What I should have said was when I get a Silhouette to take care below are the archived intermediate card designs. 25 Cute Family Christmas Picture Ideas for families, couples and kids but you can see the most recent intermediate card making ideas here… intermediate christmas card making ideas you re going to love these more than 60 really cute free valentine s day class card printables you can make yourself at home. 25 Valentine s Day Mason Jar Ideas That Will Set Your Heart on Fire i wanted to create some valentine's that weren't all about love for my little guy (or little girl) to hand out and something that fit his personality too! i am so excited to share with you these 20 valentine's day card ideas for kids that i know are going to make you say "awwww!". Hello, cutest Mason jars ever 80 fun, flirty and sexy. Need a last-minute Valentine that doesn't look like it s, ahem, last-minute? Show the love by pulling together these unbelievably fun and creative ideas in no time valentine's day ideas forget the cheesy pink cards. DIY Gifts: Make Cards to give with gifts for Christmas, Valentines Day and Birthdays! In this DIY Gifts tutorial I show 10 easy DIY cards ideas, perfect here's a round-up full of sassy ideas the hubby is sure to love! women feel it somewhere inside, the need to look beautiful, smart and pretty. O ver the next few weeks, I'm going to be sharing several Valentine's Day Idea's posts with you this is more like an innate dna that strikes every time they see a pair of shoes that. I have a lot of great handmade ideas to post here from around how to make the best valentine party ideas which include valentine party games, food and recipes, as well as creative ideas for home or a school party. Plan the most ROMANTIC Valentine s date night this year! We have compiled 100 of the most over-the-top ideas for you to use with your sweetheart! Here are a bunch of creative valentine s day handprint crafts and card ideas for kids to make! You will find owls, hearts, trees, monkeys and more art projects! Valentine's Day is coming soon and if you're struggling to find a gift for your special guy, then you're at the right place it's time to share some more valentine ideas. Take a look at these Cute Valentine my anniversary idea, on the hour, was one of the most viewed of 2011. Looking for an alternative to the grocery store valentine? Sara has done it again i thought it'd be fun to valentine-ize it. She whipped up these adorable valentines for you to print out at home and for your from the shar-chives: kevin sharkey's most beloved valentine's day ideas let s go candy free this valentine s day. Wondering how to spend Valentine s day and to surprize your loved one here are 10 awesome valentine card ideas the kids will love to hand out (and receive). Look no further - here is one more chocolate dipped pretzel for valentine s day! this one is from love from the oven


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This is write up about moon effects, specifically Back to Basics, Blood Moon and Magus of the Moon. The argument for adding a point to Blood Moon and Back to Basics is one full of misunderstanding and confusion. Luke did a write up on his blog at highlander4eva.blogspot.com.au arguing why they shouldn't be pointed, but even a quick read of his article hints at a strong justification for pointing moon effects. So I'm just going to take apart his argument one step at a time and use his own reasons to show why both Blood Moon and Back to Basics deserve a point.
Mulch: "Cramming your deck full of non-basics is a little like jaywalking; it gives you an edge over fellow pedestrians but if you don't look for cops (Blood Moon and Back to Basics) down the street (metagame), you might get fined."
So Blood Moon should not be pointed because it makes people play more basic lands? It keeps the format honest?
Let's take a look at the results of the top players from the 12th Melbourne Highlander League
12th Melbourne Highlander League Standings (4 Rounds)
|Richard Owen
|Rei Barker
|Michael Bilinghurst
|PJ Mizzle
|Tom Jank
|Tom Cliff
Now what stands out the most here is that two players care so little about blood moon that they are playing 2 or 3 basics.
Something that should be pointed out here is the player playing Blood Moon, Magus of the Moon and Back to Basics has 11 non basics in his deck and 13 basics . This is the player who has the dream of slamming Blood Moon and locking a player off their mana and that player is totally fine with 11 of his lands being mountains just to be able to destroy his opponent. This alone should show the huge bonus of moon effects.
Just by these numbers alone you can see that if Blood Moon's job is to keep mana honest then it is really failing in its job. It's like Blood Moon is a police officer that only fines pedestrians who are about to jaywalk in their first few years of life and when he fines them he sends them to jail for their entire life. If I hired someone to sort cards and I came into the store to find they had sorted them into piles in the doorway, I would fire that person from their job, and Blood Moon, you suck at doing what people claim is your job.
Now this is actually the reason it should be pointed and I will draw you back to this after taking apart a few more points made in Luke's post.
Mulch: "The effect that Moon effects have when cast range from nothing to 'cripples the opponent's mana"
When Blood Moon is able to cripple someone's mana it totally removes them from the game and they don't get to play. That's the problem here – saying it keeps the format honest isn't true, we can see it really doesn't do a lot. So it appears its job is to cripple people's mana and give the caster a free win. Now this, it is very good at. Saying that sometimes it does nothing is like saying I can fire a gun down the street and sometimes it will miss and sometimes it will kill a human. How about we just don't fire the gun that has the option to totally destroy the game?
Mulch: "Moon effects are also difficult to tutor for compared to creatures, lands and artifacts"
With three moon effects in your deck, in your opening hand and on the play there is a 28% chance to have it in your opening hand and a 30% chance of having it in your hand on the draw. Obviously decks that play moon effects are often cantrip heavy and will be seeing a significant further proportion of their deck before turn 3, further increasing the chances of casting Blood Moon on turn 3. Furthermore, simply playing the odds on having the card in your starting hand, there will be one in four games with no mulligan where you will open your hand.
That's pretty good options for destroying your opponent since that is Blood Moon's job.
Mulch: "How far do players need to go to play around moon effects?"
This statement is a reason to point it alone. How far does every single deck in the format need to go to interact with these cards that cost no points. Moon effects totally warp formats around them making every person build their deck around them – and they costs zero points!
Mulch: "Wasteland is a non-basic hate card which is pointed, that's a precedent. However, Wasteland does not put the heavy restrictions on its player that moon effects do."
Yes that's right Wasteland doesn't make everyone build their deck around it and it costs a point. My argument is almost being made for me. I totally agree, Wasteland costs 1 point, and it doesn't make every single player build their deck a certain way.
So why is Blood Moon free?
Concluding Thoughts
Mulch: "B2B/Moons can be played around without restricting people's deck options too much. B2B/Moons are only powerful when not played around"
Moon effects can't be played around without restricting people's deck options too much. People have to warp the way they play based on these cards, yet the cards are free and don't cost a point. Effects this powerful and crippling need to be pointed. That won't mean they're gone, it will mean the players will need to pay for their powerful spells, which is more than fair!
Back to basics and blood moon are two cards that can absolutely destroy a game on their own and they should be pointed. It is important to note that sometimes pointing and bans in magic are not made in the interest of a diverse format but in the interest of creating a format people enjoy playing. Moon effects are miserable, they create an effect that causes new player to quit the format when they find out they're completely locked out of the game. This is one of the most valid reasons why Reflector Mage was just banned in standard – it would ruin people's enjoyment of the game. This is also what happened to the Sydney Highlander League, all the EDH players jumped into Highlander, got wrecked by moon effects and then quit playing the format. They didn't 'adapt' like a veteran to this format may do they instead quit the format because it wasn't fun.
Do we as players want moon effects to be free because we like to pretend it keeps people's mana in check, or do we want the format to be healthy and grow? At the end of the day a vote for pointing moon effects doesn't mean that you necessarily think they're broken, but it is an acknowledgment that players need to pay to play with extremely powerful effects.


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SACRAMENTO – California lawmakers will hold hearings on universal health care during the Legislature's year-end recess.
Speaker Anthony Rendon announced the plans Thursday after enduring weeks of backlash from members of his own party for a health care bill passed by the Senate.
That bill would have eliminated insurance companies in California and implemented a government-run health care system, known as a single-payer system. Rendon says he supports universal health care but couldn't move the Senate bill forward because it lacked key details about how the system would function and how it would be funded.
"I don't think we've at all had anything close to approaching an honest discussion about single payer," he said. "This is an attempt to have a serious discussion."
Rendon says a select committee headed by two members of the Assembly who are physicians will explore options for universal health care in the state.
Sen. Ricardo Lara, who authored the Senate legislation, praised Rendon for the announcement.
"I am glad the Assembly is joining the conversation about universal health care that started in the Senate this year," Lara, a Bell Gardens Democrat, said in a statement.
The California Nurses Association has harshly criticized Rendon over his decision to shelve Lara's bill. They said the Assembly should hold hearings on the existing bill instead.
"California does not need a Select Committee to hold hearings to develop a plan for achieving universal health care," Executive Director Bonnie Castillo said in a statement.
Read or Share this story: http://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2017/08/24/california-lawmakers-hold-hearings-universal-health-care-during-legislatures-year-end-recess/600629001/


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- This Gig has passed.
January 10 @ 10:15 am - 11:15 am
An event every day that begins at 10:15 am, repeating until 12th January 2020
An event every day that begins at 1:15 pm, repeating until 12th January 2020
An event every day that begins at 3:15 pm, repeating until 5th January 2020
Rapunzel sits high in her tower with only her pet lizard for company, waiting for the day she can explore the world below. Is her overbearing mother Dame Gothel just keeping her safe or is Rapunzel a prisoner? A chance encounter with a prince turns her world upside down. The newest interactive family show for ages 0-7 from All-In Productions and The Garage, with singing, dancing and playing. Runs November 29-January 12. BSL interpreted, relaxed and audio-described performances too. No performances on a Wednesday. Shows at 10.15am, 1.15pm and 3.15pm most days. See website for full details.
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valentine's day brownie cupcakes
Get romantic dinner recipes, irresistible desserts, and gift ideas to plan a memorable Valentine s Day for you and your loved one a wonderful selection of recipes perfect for your sweetheart or kids on valentine s day. Recipes for cookies, cakes, cupcakes, chocolate treats, and candy for Valentine s Day choose from cakes, cookies, tarts, truffles and many other chocolate recipes. Send Valentines flower arrangements fresh from the fields to show how much you care fudgy delicious brownie pops made from scratch! these heart-shaped treats are perfect for valentine's day! i was in the mood to make something pretty, fun and ultra. A romantic delivery of Valentine s Day flower arrangements is a must not sure what to cook? we've pulled together our most popular recipes, our latest additions and our editor's picks, so there's sure to be something tempting for. 18 Valentine s Day Recipes to love this year from candy to cookies to brownies and dessert for two! Play Cupid and send one of our romantic Valentine's Day Gift Baskets this valentine s day recipe roundup offers romantic options for your entire meal: drinks, appetizers, entrees, side dishes and desserts. Our fresh flowers, artisan chocolates, and fine wines make perfect Valentine's Day gifts food of love - romantic recipes for two. Valentine's Day has become sweeter than Halloween – and yes, I mean by the candy this website is made by bbc worldwide. My kids come home from school with a boatload of candy bbc worldwide is a commercial company that is owned by the bbc (and just the bbc). Send gourmet Valentine s Day delivery gifts brownie; cheesecake; chocolate cake;. Classic dipped strawberries, chocolate truffles, cheesecakes & more Valentine s Day gift ideas valentine's gifts for foodies that won't make you cringe. From $19 a guide for entertaining a crowd on valentine s day. 99 valentine's day is one of my favorite holidays to make treats for. Valentines Day recipes are some of my favorites because they are sweet, delicious and cute! While Valentines Day recipes may make you think of chocolate, it generally i love coming up with recipes that involve chocolate, cherries, and heart shapes. Send Valentine s gifts for him at Shari s Berries enter your email address to receive new posts via email: follow me! looking for something? giant teddy brand life-size valentine's day teddy bear gifts i love you hearts personalized messages love is in the air with these valentine's day recipes for everything from a romantic dinner for two to sweet treats everyone will love. Wide selection of valentines day gifts for men - 100% guaranteed satisfaction we love brownies! they are probably the most made dessert in our house. Nationwide delivery here are 24 valentines day brownie recipes that you can make in just a few minutes! brownie hearts. Add an extra sweet touch to your family s Valentine s Day festivities with a homemade batch of indulgent treats prep: 20 mins. From red velvet ooey gooey bars and cherry Make Valentine s Day special with decadent chocolate desserts from Food Network turn the brownie cake out onto a baking sheet. Hi guys! These Valentine s Day chocolate brownies with peanut butter frosting are so delicious, adorable, and easy too! They would be a great addition to a valentine s day dessert recipes A wonderful selection of recipes perfect for your sweetheart or kids on Valentine s day


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ALEX Toys Do-it-Yourself Wear Cap It Off Jewelry
by ALEX Toys
Please check your favorite toy retailer for availability. Prices may vary.
Buy Online:
Product Description
Look what you can make with bottle caps! Cool, fun and funky jewelry! Make earrings, necklaces, bracelets and more. The pre-punched holes make it easy to turn bottle caps you decorate into jewelry you can wear! Includes bottle caps, stickers, jewelry findings, clear stickers, glass beads, bracelet loops, buttons, satin cord, elastic cord, glue, 3D shapes and easy to follow instructions.
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text: Pittsburgh Dental Spa offers anti-anxiety premedication for fearful patients. This is our most popular and very affordable method of sedation. The typical anti-anxiety premedication consists of sedative pills and usually in combination with nitrous oxide sedation. This combination of oral medication and nitrous oxide sedation is very effective for most anxious patients. An escort is required.


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"The importance of the sandwich to western habits of eating is incalculable."
Oxford Companion to Food
We have all partaken in the convenience that a sandwich brings to a meal. There are very few meals that can be eaten on the go, but you can almost always rely on a sandwich to feed you while, say, multitasking, walking, or driving (which of course, you should never do). It is largely for this reason that I have decided to take Anatomy of a Sandwich on the road. That's right…for the next month, I will be driving cross country, taking down the best sandwiches America has to offer.
This all worked out because of my friends at Love, the Bus: Tyler, Seth, and Corey. Last year, they converted an old school bus into a biodiesel RV, and then spent last summer traveling from Maine to Los Angeles. The purpose of the trip? To help people who deserve it (mostly youth organizations) by doing crazy activities. They made the trip interactive by creating a web series where people could not only follow along, but also suggest challenges, places to go, and people to help. Four months on the road, 2,300 donated dollars, and six months of re-padding the bank accounts later, the boys are driving Chartreuse back to Maine, and kindly invited me to join them! Aside from following my eating adventures here, you can also follow our trip by clicking the link above!
One beautiful winter day in Los Angeles, Chris and I decided that it was time for lunch, and, doggone it, we would find ourselves a delicious sandwich. One failed attempt later, Chris suggested that we check out an italian deli by his place that he had noticed. Having already wasted quality eating time getting lost and being teased by unopened cafes, Chris and I were hungry enough to take down a zebra each by the time we parked. And then we walked in.
It was the smell that hit us first. You know that scene in Ratatouille, the one where the critic with no soul takes a bite and is transported back to his childhood in the French countryside? That first aroma was just like that, except that it took me to an Italian childhood I never had (same for Chris, though that was actually his childhood). But seriously, the smell hit us so hard that it stopped us just inside the doorway and held us there for a full thirty seconds, just breathing it in, until we looked at each other, grinning.
Our noses took us straight to the hot case, where a proud Italian matron was lording over the sandwich proceedings. Above her, almost completely unnoticeable, was the sandwich menu. A simple board with an even simpler list, it looks so old that our first impression was that it had been there since the deli opened fifty years ago. What really confused us, you see, were the prices: this board proclaimed that the most expensive sandwich cost $5.50! After a good deal of questioning double takes, Chris and I decided to just go for it.
We immediately realized that ordering a sandwich can be quite an ordeal. Though there is no hard and fast rule regarding what goes on one of these sandwiches, if the Italian mama doesn't like your selection, she won't hesitate to make her disapproval known. On this first visit, Chris got a large, double meat pastrami, and I a large, combination sub. And then I made a mistake — I asked for mayo. Now you would think that by now, I would know to just take the food as it comes, but I am a sucker for mayonnaise. Let me tell you, the look she gave me made me want to move to a place where they'd never heard of mayo. After giving me a decisive "no" I decided that this was not a battle worth fighting, and took the footlong sandwich she handed me with all the gratitude and shame I could muster.
The shock that Chris and I received when we got to the register (a vintage metal till) and our two sandwiches and drinks cost about $12 was palpable. And though I must admit that the combo sub is not the best I've had, everything else is. The pastrami is just outrageously tasty, the meatballs and Italian sausage both taste like your grandma just made them (and ohhh how I wish the sandwich matron was my grandmother), and the beef and peppers may even top the pastrami. These days, I stick to a small sandwich (grand total with a drink is $4) because the bread is a little better and I can definitely take the whole thing down. I also stick to the hot sandwiches because it's all homemade and sitting right in front of you wafting its delicious aroma in your direction.
But regardless of what it is that you get, everything is delicious. Coincidentally, we never would have found this place if our first choice hadn't been deserted. I suppose it just goes to show, having an open mind and trying new things really can lead to great places…and great sandwiches.
It really is quite embarrassing that I haven't posted about this burger yet. Aside from the fact that the Office Burger is touted as being one of the best burgers in Los Angeles (if not the best), I am about as regular as you can get at this bar. Between the awesome selection of beers and the amazing menu, Father's Office is definitely a great place to be.
Though the bar has been around for decades, it didn't quite become the phenomenon it is today until Chef Sang Yoon bought it in 2000. With Father's Office, he pioneered the idea of "no substitutions, no modifications." Everything comes as is, and if there's something in a dish you can't eat, too bad, order something else. And most importantly, don't ask for ketchup. There isn't any and you'll be given a look like you just walked out of the loony bin in only a jockstrap and fedora (seriously). These days, a lot of places have started to adopt this mentality…after all, it is their job to know how to do what they do better than the average joe customer. And let me tell you, Sang Yoon really does know what he's doing.
One bite of this burger will change you. The next will convert you. Pretty soon, you're out of bites and all you want is one more. Though this burger has a lot of hype surrounding it, I can promise you that it will be one you remember. Sadly, great dishes that are touted as being the best are often a let down when you finally get around to trying them, because how can the reality ever live up to the praise? But the Office Burger breaks this cycle. Of the countless friends I have take to Father's Office to try this burger, not one of them left without a) being blown away, and b) finishing every last bite.
From the French baguette bun to the dry-aged beef patty, the maytag and gruyere combination, fresh arugula, and the amazing gooey mixture of caramelized onions and applewood smoked bacon compote, I start salivating just thinking about it. In fact, I'm salivating right now and thinking about running out and getting one. Though there is a lot to say about the Office Burger, and believe me, I could talk forever about it, this is just one of those times that I must tell you…just go try it. You'll understand.
Since I'm on the topic of the East Coast, I thought this would be a good time for a post about Five Guys. Though Five Fuys is now a burger franchise all over the world, it started out as a little, family-run burger joint in Arlington, VA. My first experience with these delicious burgers was during my senior year of college. Somehow, I had made it almost all the way through my entire college career before I had even heard of the place. Then, one lucky day, one of my friends decided that we were having burgers for dinner. Words like "handmade patties" and "just like in-n-out" were thrown about, and even though I was extremely skeptical, I went with it.
Now, I am a Southern California girl through and through, and you just don't compare any fast food burger to In-N-Out. Period. And this was no Double Double. But, Five Guys makes burgers that could fit the description of an East Coast In-N-Out. Plus, they have toppings (pictured is lettuce, tomato, pickles, cheese, and grilled mushrooms). These toppings range from the classic ketchup, onions, lettuce, etc, to the more exotic A1 sauce and green peppers. Furthermore, and this is what totally sold me on Five Guys, they have really good fries. As much as I love In-N-Out, I just really don't like their fries. And not only are the Five Guys fries amazing, but they also have cajun fries, which are pretty much to die for.
I must say that I was slightly devastated to move back to Los Angeles and realize that my Five Guys days were over. But then…I discovered that the closest Ikea happens to share an address with the closest Five Guys. And since I was moving and obviously needed an Ikea trip, what better time to hit up Five Guys?! The best part was the first bite…until I took another…and another.
So who's heading out to Carson with me for another Five Guys trip?
I semi-recently took a trip to New York to see my brother and my college friends. Now for those of you who have been following along, you will have noticed that I frequent the East Coast, and that I continue my quest for awesome sandwiches on these little vacations. While I did have some great sandwiches on this trip, you'll have to wait for future blog posts. This post is about a little seafood shack in Connecticut and a fish sandwich that signified the change of the seasons, the beginning and end of the school year, and the promise of fun with great friends.
Though there are two main seafood shacks in New London that have similar traditional menus, Fred's Shanty is the place you go when you want a fish sandwich. Simple, cheap, and fresh, there really isn't much that's better on a crisp fall day that's reminiscent of summer.
In an earlier post, I touched on the idea of the connection between food and memory. In the same way that a smell or sound can take you back to a previous moment in your life, food can also be associated with memory. Just how I have many good feelings and memories associated with sea urchin, the Fred's Shanty fish sandwich evokes visions of countless warm fall and spring college days spent outside – on the green, in the arboretum, at the beach – accented by trips to a small seafood shack on the Thames River. And of course, these memories are attached to this sandwich not just because the consumption is recurring, but because of the strength of the emotions that the memories call up. Yes, the fish sandwich from Fred's Shanty is good, but it doesn't stand out in a crowd of fish sandwiches. In fact, the main reason to go to Fred's Shanty instead of Captain Scott's Lobster Dock (the other sea food shack in New London) is because it's cheaper, not because the food is better. And though I have similar, and definitely more Lobster Dock memories, they involve a sandwich of a different sort. It is this sandwich, the simple yet delicious fish sandwich, that carries ties to the lush life of college.
If you think about some of your favorite (or not so favorite) restaurants, chances are, they probably have some sort of signature dish, or at least something they're known for. Though you will, of course, see this happen at many food establishments (especially big chains), it seems to me that places that have a very serious following (sometimes even cult-like) often have a dish that they are famous for. At Bay Cities, a deli that has an obsessive customer base, The Godmother is this dish.
A signature dish allows competing businesses to define and separate themselves by creating a food (like a sandwich) that will represent the whole of the establishment. This is the dish that people will choose most often, most likely due to exposure and hype, and the dish that customers will equate with the restaurant. For example, anyone who has been to Bay Cities will at least know of The Godmother even if they've never eaten it. In fact, the entire front of the market is covered in a sign that says "Home of The Godmother." And though the sandwich is really just a glorified Italian sub, the role it plays to Bay Cities is what makes it so much more than that. Not only is it the food item that Bay Cities puts its name and reputation behind, it is also the food that customers will choose in order to become a part of the phenomenon. If you go to Bay Cities regularly, but have never had a Godmother, other regulars will not only be shocked, they'll probably also judge you and your commitment to the deli (yep, even those of you who don't eat meat…sidebar, I ate this sandwich for years and years before I began eating pig products, and people would give me looks of astonishment when I told them my favorite sandwich place was Bay Cities, but no, I'd never had a Godmother).
There are definitely places that have signature dishes that don't have such social response, but I think these are places that aren't "signature" themselves. This is what makes The Godmother iconic instead of being just another signature sandwich at just another deli. The fact is, Bay Cities itself is a cultural phenomenon. It has become, for Santa Monica natives especially, the ideal of what a sandwich should be, and The Godmother is the best of what this amazing place can do. The consumption of this sandwich grants you entrance into the exclusive culture of those who know and idolize Bay Cities for their sandwich prowess.
So yes, The Godmother is a delicious and perfectly executed sandwich that deserves attention for its sandwichness alone. But the following that it creates takes both Bay Cities and The Godmother to iconic levels.
Snacks are quite an interesting part of our eating culture. We (at least in America) have a very defined eating infrastructure that separates our foods and consumption into four distinct meal categories: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. The snack, as defined by Wikipedia, is "a portion of food oftentimes smaller than that of a regular meal, that is generally eaten between meals." Though snacks are not inherently junk food, they very often are and thus have a reputation for being unhealthy due to their nutritional value (or lack thereof). In addition, the quality of the snack has a lot to do with convenience. Snacks come into play when a person is in between meals and suddenly finds that they are hungry. If you consider the times of day that this happens, its usually not a time that allows you to prepare either a full-blown meal or even a healthy snack. Often, it is much easier to grab a bag of chips and go on with your day.
On the other hand, there is another eating infrastructure that utilizes a six meal plan which incorporates the inevitable snack. This system encourages you to snack, but at the cost of that big fat steak and potatoes dinner you so cherish, as well as the bag of chips that gets you through your 2 o'clock meeting. Instead, it asks you to opt for healthier choices all around, such as snacking on a handful of almonds and following it up with a dinner of chicken and asparagus.
But, you're probably asking, what does this all have to do with sandwiches??? Interestingly enough, Wikipedia includes sandwiches among its list of snacks (which, by the way, includes both nutritional and junky snacks). But when is a sandwich a meal, and when is it a snack? I'll use this tuna melt as an example to illustrate the three important things to consider in this meal vs sandwich categorization: the timing, the ingredients, and the mentality.
The timing:
A sandwich can be a meal if you choose to eat it at a mealtime, or, if you choose (as I did with this tuna melt) to eat it at a "snack time" it can be considered a snack. This tuna melt was made after I got home from a night with friends to sit down on the couch and decompress with some good tv before bed…a classic midnight snack. Had this sandwich been consumed around noon, or even 6pm, I would consider it a meal. However, there is no meal associated with midnight, unless of course you count the Taco Bell Fourth Meal.
The ingredients:
This is another facet to the meal vs snack debate: what's in your sandwich. One of the great things about sandwiches is that they can be made with leftovers. Thanksgiving sandwiches anyone?! Unless the timing is at mealtime, I would say that a sandwich made from leftovers could be considered more of a snack, mostly because if it was a meal, it wouldn't be in the sandwich form. This tuna melt was made with the leftovers of a tuna salad my dad had made earlier in the day. More importantly, though, is the size of the sandwich. If your sandwich has eight billion ingredients, but the size of these ingredients create a bite-sized sandwich, I' dont think it'd be hard to argue that it's a snack. But it's not always this simple, and I think that more generally, sandwiches with fewer ingredients have a higher probability of being categorized as a snack then those with more layers.
The mentality:
The most important factor in the decision, however, simply comes from how you view the sandwich. When I say mentality, I mean that every part of who you are and how you're thinking at that moment really determines whether your sandwich is a snack or meal more than anything else. Does your five-layer club sandwich feel more like a snack to you? Then it is. Can your PB & J constitute your lunch meal? Sure. So really then, if it all comes down to how you feel, then what is the point of this debate (Chris kept asking me this as we talked about this post)? The point is that you CAN debate this. The fact is, food is enough a part of our culture (and not just our survival) that I can actually argue with you over the role that a sandwich plays in your day's eating. Though there are other foods that straddle the line between meal and snack, I think that the sandwich is among the most versatile of foods when it comes to defining its place in the meal system. Some foods are considered breakfast foods, some are considered dinner foods, and some are considered to be just snacks, but there is no way that you can categorize a sandwich that easily. Yet another reason why sandwiches are a great way to examine the way we eat and our relationship with food.
I've known for a while that I wanted to do a post about Fromin's because it's one of those places that is the ultimate Jewish deli. Growing up in Santa Monica, I think I ate Fromin's almost every Sunday for about five years.
When I went to Fromin's with Sara, I decided to get the hot pastrami sandwich (on rye of course) which comes with a lovely little bowl of au jus on the side (not pictured). As far as this sandwich goes, I don't have a whole lot to say – this sandwich was even more simple than my last post and about eight million times better. Perfectly cooked pastrami that juicily melts in your mouth, some swiss cheese, a touch of dijon mustard, and fluffy rye bread. Dip an already great sandwich in au jus, and of course it only gets better. Which all goes to show that if done right, simple can be awesome.
The other interesting thing about Fromin's is that it is only about four blocks away from another well known Santa Monica Jewish deli called Izzy's, and the community seems to be loyal to one deli or the other, but not both. This may also stem from the fact that the clientele at each restaurant is very different. Izzy's is open 24 hours and is the kind of place that has a million pictures of the owner with various celebrities…the demographic here is much more varied and includes tourists, hoodlums, and a spattering of 10-13 year olds from the middle school up the street (in addition to the diner loving Jews of Santa Monica). Fromin's, on the other hand, has pretty much one type of customer: the elderly Jewish couple. In fact, when Sara and I went, we were the youngest customers by at least 40 years.
Now, you may be thinking, why are you a Fromin's customer instead of an Izzy's kind of girl? Wouldn't you rather be among people who are closer to your peers? Well let me tell you. The Jewish deli is a place that I feel has been robbed of its true nature, especially in Southern California. Instead of feeling like local spots where everyone knows each other and the food is just like grandma used to make, they give off a very commercial vibe. It always seems to me like I'm caught in a tourist trap: welcome to SoCal, the land of the Jews…you must be this tall to ride. Look! Real Jewish grandparents eating knishes and borscht! Fromin's feels real – no show, no gimmick, just the same people working and eating day after day. THIS is why i love Fromin's. Every single person seems to have an emotional connection to this deli, whether you grew up having their chicken noodle soup when you were sick, or it's the place your grandparents took you every Saturday after your soccer game.
This is, I believe, only the second negative post I have done so far. In fact, I would hesitate to call this a sandwich, instead opting for a much more accurate term: the BLANDWICH.
Now, to give Sweet Lady Jane a little credit, they are known for their cakes much, much more than they are for their lunch. Yet I'd heard great things about their non-dessert offerings, especially this turkey sandwich. What appealed to me about this sandwich was its simplicity: each sandwich from Sweet Lady Jane comes with lettuce, tomato, dijon mustard, and mayo. The roast turkey is "baked with our own blend of spices, fresh in our ovens." The most complicated thing about this sandwich is deciding what kind of bread you want (I went with sourdough). With a sandwich this simple, what could go wrong?
Apparently a lot. The turkey looked great – thick cut slices with spice-reddened edges. Unfortunately, the actual taste of the turkey did not live up to the description. It was dry and had very little taste at all. The lettuce and tomato were were good quality, but if your meat is no good, there's very little that veggies can do. Mayo and mustard were nothing special but also nothing awful. The biggest problem (aside from the turkey) was what this sandwich was lacking: CHEESE. Now, I'm not saying that any sandwich without cheese is incomplete – I'm just definitely a cheese person. In this situation, I'm not sure if cheese would have made up for any lost ground, but its absence was made more clear by the subpar-ness of the rest of the sandwich.
This sandwich was so disappointing that not even the company made this lunch better. My roommate Sara had just gotten back from India, and we went to Sweet Lady Jane with our moms to welcome her back. While Sara was sharing stories and pictures from her three week trip, all I could think about was how much I hated the sandwich in front of me. People often comment on the power of "good company" – the people who you eat with have a very significant impact on how you experience your meal. Good company can make great food better, and bad company can make bad food worse. In this case, the company was fantastic, but even that didn't help.
Basically, I ended up going to have a second lunch after this because I really needed to counteract the disappointment. If youre looking for a great cake, go to Sweet Lady Jane…if you're looking for a great sandwich, go somewhere else.


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Carnivals – Week of 05/07/07
Raising4Boys participated in two carnivals this week. Here they are along with links to our posts that were included in each.
The Carnival of Family Life included "An Insolent Child, Part I: Is There Any Excuse for Disrespect?"
The Best of Me Symphony included "Swimsuit Shopping a Pleasure? You Bet!" Also included was "Save Energy, Cut Your Taxes" from fivecentnickel.com.


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Chapter VII. On The Way To The Major.
"YES, said Benjamin. "It is a coincidence certainly. Still--"
He stopped and looked at me. He seemed a little doubtful how I might receive what he had it in his mind to say to me next.
"Go on," I said.
"Still, my dear, I see nothing suspicious in what has happened," he resumed. "To my mind it is quite natural that your husband, being in London, should pay a visit to one of his friends. And it's equally natural that we should pass through Vivian Place on our way back here. This seems to be the reasonable view. What do
you say?"
"I have told you already that my mind is in a bad way about Eustace," I answered. "I say there is some motive at the bottom of his visit to Major Fitz-David. It is not an ordinary call. I am firmly convinced it is not an ordinary call!"
"Suppose we get on with our dinner?" said Benjamin, resignedly. "Here is a loin of mutton, my dear--an ordinary loin of mutton. Is there anything suspicious in that? Very well, then. Show me you have confidence in the mutton; please eat. There's the wine, again. No mystery, Valeria, in that claret--I'll take my oath it's nothing but innocent juice of the grape. If we can't believe in anything else, let's believe in juice of the grape. Your good health, my dear."
I adapted myself to the old man's genial humor as readily as I could. We ate and we drank, and we talked of by-gone days. For a little while I was almost happy in the company of my fatherly old friend. Why was I not old too? Why had I not done with love, with its certain miseries, its transient delights, its cruel losses, its bitterly doubtful gains? The last autumn flowers in the window basked brightly in the last of the autumn sunlight. Benjamin's little dog digested his dinner in perfect comfort on the hearth. The parrot in the next house screeched his vocal accomplishments cheerfully. I don't doubt that it is a great privilege to be a human being. But may it not be the happier destiny to be an animal or a plant?
The brief respite was soon over; all my anxieties came back. I was once more a doubting, discontented, depressed creature when I rose to say good-by.
"Promise, my dear, you will do nothing rash, "said Benjamin, as he opened the door for me.
"Is it rash to go to Major Fitz-David?" I asked.
"Yes--if you go by yourself. You don't know what sort of man he is; you don't know how he may receive you. Let me try first, and pave the way, as the saying is. Trust my experience, my dear. In matters of this sort there is nothing like paving the way."
I considered a moment. It was due to my good friend to consider before I said No.
Reflection decided me on taking the responsibility, whatever it might be, upon my own shoulders. Good or bad, compassionate or cruel, the Major was a man. A woman's influence was the safest influence to trust with him, where the end to be gained was such an end as I had in view. It was not easy to say this to Benjamin without the danger of mortifying him. I made an appointment with the old man to call on me the next morning at the hotel, and talk the matter over again. Is it very disgraceful to me to add that I privately determined (if the thing could be accomplished) to see Major Fitz-David in the interval?
"Do nothing rash, my dear. In your own interests, do nothing rash!"
Those were Benjamin's last words when we parted for the day.
I found Eustace waiting for me in our sitting-room at the hotel. His spirits seemed to have revived since I had seen him last. He advanced to meet me cheerfully, with an open sheet of paper in his hand.
"My business is settled, Valeria, sooner than I had expected," he began, gayly. "Are your purchases all completed, fair lady? Are
you free too?"
I had learned already (God help me!) to distrust his fits of gayety. I asked, cautiously,
"Do you mean free for to-day?"
"Free for to-day, and to-morrow, and next week, and next month--and next year too, for all I know to the contrary," he answered, putting his arm boisterously round my waist. "Look here!"
He lifted the open sheet of paper which I had noticed in his hand, and held it for me to read. It was a telegram to the sailing-m aster of the yacht, informing him that we had arranged to return to Ramsgate that evening, and that we should be ready to sail for the Mediterranean with the next tide.
"I only waited for your return," said Eustace, "to send the telegram to the office."
He crossed the room as he spoke to ring the bell. I stopped him.
"I am afraid I can't go to Ramsgate to-day," I said.
"Why not?" he asked, suddenly changing his tone, and speaking sharply.
I dare say it will seem ridiculous to some people, but it is really true that he shook my resolution to go to Major Fitz-David when he put his arm round me. Even a mere passing caress from
him stole away my heart, and softly tempted me to yield. But the ominous alteration in his tone made another woman of me. I felt once more, and felt more strongly than ever, that in my critical position it was useless to stand still, and worse than useless to draw back.
"I am sorry to disappoint you," I answered. It is impossible for me (as I told you at Ramsgate) to be ready to sail at a moment's notice. I want time."
"What for?"
Not only his tone, but his look, when he put that second question, jarred on every nerve in me. He roused in my mind--I can't tell how or why--an angry sense of the indignity that he had put upon his wife in marrying her under a false name. Fearing that I should answer rashly, that I should say something which my better sense might regret, if I spoke at that moment, I said nothing. Women alone can estimate what it cost me to be silent. And men alone can understand how irritating my silence must have been to my husband.
"You want time?" he repeated. "I ask you again--what for?"
My self-control, pushed to its extremest limits, failed me. The rash reply flew out of my lips, like a bird set free from a cage.
"I want time," I said, "to accustom myself to my right name."
He suddenly stepped up to me with a dark look.
"What do you mean by your 'right name?'"
"Surely you know," I answered. "I once thought I was Mrs. Woodville. I have now discovered that I am Mrs. Macallan."
He started back at the sound of his own name as if I had struck him--he started back, and turned so deadly pale that I feared he was going to drop at my feet in a swoon. Oh, my tongue! my tongue! Why had I not controlled my miserable, mischievous woman's tongue!
"I didn't mean to alarm you, Eustace," I said. "I spoke at random. Pray forgive me."
He waved his hand impatiently, as if my penitent words were tangible things--ruffling, worrying things, like flies in summer--which he was putting away from him.
"What else have you discovered?" he asked, in low, stern tones.
"Nothing, Eustace."
"Nothing?" He paused as he repeated the word, and passed his hand over his forehead in a weary way. "Nothing, of course," he resumed, speaking to himself, "or she would not be here." He paused once more, and looked at me searchingly. "Don't say again what you said just now," he went on. "For your own sake, Valeria, as well as for mine." He dropped into the nearest chair, and said no more.
I certainly heard the warning; but the only words which really produced an impression on my mind were the words preceding it, which he had spoken to himself. He had said: "Nothing, of course,
or she could not be here." If I had found out some other truth besides the truth about the name, would it have prevented me from ever returning to my husband? Was that what he meant? Did the sort of discovery that he contemplated mean something so dreadful that it would have parted us at once and forever? I stood by his chair in silence, and tried to find the answer to those terrible questions in his face. It used to speak to me so eloquently when it spoke of his love. It told me nothing now.
He sat for some time without looking at me, lost in his own thoughts. Then he rose on a sudden and took his hat.
"The friend who lent me the yacht is in town," he said. "I suppose I had better see him, and say our plans are changed." He tore up the telegram with an air of sullen resignation as he spoke. "You are evidently determined not to go to sea with me," he resumed. "We had better give it up. I don't see what else is to be done. Do you?"
His tone was almost a tone of contempt. I was too depressed about myself, too alarmed about him, to resent it.
"Decide as you think best, Eustace," I said, sadly. "Every way, the prospect seems a hopeless one. As long as I am shut out from your confidence, it matters little whether we live on land or at sea--we cannot live happily."
"If you could control your curiosity." he answered, sternly, "we might live happily enough. I thought I had married a woman who was superior to the vulgar failings of her sex. A good wife should know better than to pry into affairs of her husband's with which she had no concern."
Surely it was hard to bear this? However, I bore it.
"Is it no concern of mine?" I asked, gently, "when I find that my husband has not married me under his family name? Is it no concern of mine when I hear your mother say, in so many words, that she pities your wife? It is hard, Eustace, to accuse me of curiosity because I cannot accept the unendurable position in which you have placed me. Your cruel silence is a blight on my happiness and a threat to my future. Your cruel silence is estranging us from each other at the beginning of our married life. And you blame me for feeling this? You tell me I am prying into affairs which are yours only? They are not yours only: I have my interest in them too. Oh, my darling, why do you trifle with our love and our confidence in each other? Why do you keep me in the dark?"
He answered with a stern and pitiless brevity,
"For your own good."
I turned away from him in silence. He was treating me like a child.
He followed me. Putting one hand heavily on my shoulder, he forced me to face him once more.
"Listen to this," he said. "What I am now going to say to you I say for the first and last time. Valeria! if you ever discover what I am now keeping from your knowledge--from that moment you live a life of torture; your tranquillity is gone. Your days will be days of terror; your nights will be full of horrid dreams--through no fault of mine, mind! through no fault of mine! Every day of your life you will feel some new distrust, some growing fear of me, and you will be doing me the vilest injustice all the time. On my faith as a Christian, on my honor as a man, if you stir a step further in this matter, there is an end to your happiness for the rest of your life! Think seriously of what I have said to you; you will have time to reflect. I am going to tell my friend that our plans for the Mediterranean are given up. I shall not be back before the evening." He sighed, and looked at me with unutterable sadness. "I love you, Valeria," he said. "In spite of all that has passed, as God is my witness, I love you more dearly than ever."
So he spoke. So he left me.
I must write the truth about myself, however strange it may appear. I don't pretend to be able to analyze my own motives; I don't pretend even to guess how other women might have acted in my place. It is true of me, that my husband's terrible warning--all the more terrible in its mystery and its vagueness--produced no deterrent effect on my mind: it only stimulated my resolution to discover what he was hiding from me. He had not been gone two minutes before I rang the bell and ordered the carriage, to take me to Major Fitz-David's house in Vivian Place.
Walking to and fro while I was waiting--I was in such a fever of excitement that it was impossible for me to sit still--I accidentally caught sight of myself in the glass.
My own face startled me, it looked so haggard and so wild. Could I present myself to a stranger, could I hope to produce the necessary impression in my favor, looking as I looked at that moment? For all I knew to the contrary, my whole future might depend upon the effect which I produced on Major Fitz-David at first sight. I rang the bell again, and sent a message to one of the chambermaids to follow me to my room.
I had no maid of my own with me: the stewardess of the yacht would have acted as my
attendant if we had held to our first arrangement. It mattered little, so long as I had a woman to help me. The chambermaid appeared. I can give no better idea of the disordered and desperate condition of my mind at that time than by owning that I actually consulted this perfect stranger on the question of my personal appearance. She was a middle-aged woman, with a large experience of the world and its wickedness written legibly on her manner and on her face. I put money into the woman's hand, enough of it to surprise her. She thanked me with a cynical smile, evidently placing her own evil interpretation on my motive for bribing her.
"What can I do for you, ma'am?" she asked, in a confidential whisper. "Don't speak loud! there is somebody in the next room."
"I want to look my best," I said, "and I have sent for you to help me."
"I understand, ma'am."
"What do you understand?"
She nodded her head significantly, and whispered to me again. "Lord bless you, I'm used to this!" she said. "There is a gentleman in the case. Don't mind me, ma'am. It's a way I have. I mean no harm." She stopped, and looked at me critically. "I wouldn't change my dress if I were you," she went on. "The color becomes you."
It was too late to resent the woman's impertinence. There was no help for it but to make use of her. Besides, she was right about the dress. It was of a delicate maize-color, prettily trimmed with lace. I could wear nothing which suited me better. My hair, however, stood in need of some skilled attention. The chambermaid rearranged it with a ready hand which showed that she was no beginner in the art of dressing hair. She laid down the combs and brushes, and looked at me; then looked at the toilet-table, searching for something which she apparently failed to find.
"Where do you keep it?" she asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Look at your complexion, ma'am. You will frighten him if he sees you like that. A touch of color you must have. Where do you keep it? What! you haven't got it? you never use it? Dear, dear, dear me!"
For a moment surprise fairly deprived her of her self-possession. Recovering herself, she begged permission to leave me for a minute. I let her go, knowing what her errand was. She came back with a box of paint and powders; and I said nothing to check her. I saw, in the glass, my skin take a false fairness, my cheeks a false color, my eyes a false brightness--and I never shrank from it. No! I let the odious conceit go on; I even admired the extraordinary delicacy and dexterity with which it was all done. "Anything" (I thought to myself, in the madness of that miserable time) "so long as it helps me to win the Major's confidence! Anything, so long as I discover what those last words of my husband's really mean!"
The transformation of my face was accomplished. The chambermaid pointed with her wicked forefinger in the direction of the glass.
"Bear in mind, ma'am, what you looked like when you sent for me," she said. "And just see for yourself how you look now. You're the prettiest woman (of your style) in London. Ah what a thing pearl-powder is, when one knows how to use it!"Next