Blast with da Booz

Elvis Costello sings "Penny Lane" for Obama, McCartney et al

Last month, President Obama awarded Paul McCartney the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. And then the concert (aired last night on PBS) began. Among the highlights was Elvis Costello singing “Penny Lane” with a member of the President’s United States Marine band playing the piccolo trumpet. It’s a downright wonderful version. You can watch the entire program online here.

Cost of major US wars - killing is costly!

interesting pdf document..
updated report from the Congressional Research Service estimated the financial costs of major U.S. wars from the American Revolution ($2.4 billion in FY 2011 dollars) to World War I ($334 billion) to World War II ($4.1 trillion) to the second Iraq war ($784 billion) and the war in Afghanistan ($321 billion).
In constant dollars, World War II is still the most expensive of all U.S. wars, having consumed a massive 35.8% of GDP at its height and having cost $4.1 trillion in FY2011 dollars.

clipped from www.fas.org

Costs of Major U.S. Wars, June 29, 2010

8 Steps to Crafting Images in Lightroom

clipped from digital-photography-school.com

Lightroom has more tricks up its sleeve than simple photo fixes such as exposure and contrast. It’s possible to craft images inside Lightroom and, in many ways, the tools in Lightroom make the task easier than it would be in Photoshop or another editing program.

In this post I’ll show you a way to turn a relatively hum drum image into something much more visually exciting. So, when you don’t get the image you want straight out of the camera see if, armed with some simple Lightroom tools, you can coax some better results from it. Remember too that this is a creative technique – you’re not looking for realism as much as a way to create a different look for your image.

7 Steps to Diffuse Workplace Tension

clipped from www.entrepreneur.com

7 Steps to Diffuse Workplace Tension

Address It Directly.

Listen to Both Sides.

Bring Both (All) Parties Together.

Find Common Ground.

Encourage Compromise.

Confront Negative Feelings.

Be Positive.

tips for treating a sunburn

clipped from holykaw.alltop.com

cold compress covered in chilled aloe vera

Take a cool shower

apply chilled used tea bags. Tea has tannis, which speeds up the healing process.

Spritz yourself with organic vinegar.

The Six Most Valuable Grocery Items Known to Man

clipped from lenpenzo.com

1. Vinegar

1. Disinfect wood cutting boards.

7. Keep boiled eggs from cracking; add 2 tbsp to water before boiling.

9. Remove urine stains from carpet. (Heh. Hopefully, it’s animal urine!)

11. Keep car windows from frosting up; use a solution of 3 oz. vinegar to 1 oz. water.

2. Baking Soda

11. Remove cat box odors; cover the bottom of the box with soda, then top with kitty litter.

16. Remove stains from marble, Formica or plastic surfaces; apply a paste of soda and water.

26. Remove baked-on food from pots and pans; soak in soda and water for 15 min.

3. WD-40

4. Coca-Cola

6. Kill slugs and snails.

17. Make better compost. (The the acidity and sugar feeds microorganisms.)

5. Fabric Softener Sheets

2. Act as a mosquito, bee and yellow jacket repellent; tie one through a belt loop.

4. Dissolve soap scum from shower doors.

6. Paper Towels

4. Keep lettuce fresh longer; wrap around lettuce head to soak up excess moisture. (I’ve done this for years.)

Double Rainbows

clipped from www.dailymail.co.uk

Stadium of light: Dramatic double rainbow illuminates football match

Nature provided a stunning backdrop to a football match last night in the form a dramatic double rainbow.

The colourful bow arched over the Keepmoat Stadium yesterday evening, as players from Doncaster Rovers and Tottenham Hotspurs filed onto the pitch.

A rainbow is created by both reflection and refraction. Sunlight shines on raindrops and the light is reflected back towards
the observer.

The raindrop also acts as a prism. The light is bent or refracted as it enters the water and splits into the full spectrum of colours from red to indigo.