Shamrock Toast

John O'Reilly hoisted his beer and said, 'Here's to spending the
rest of me life!, between the legs of me wife!' That won him the
top prize at the pub for the best toast of the night!

He went home and told his wife, Mary, 'I won the prize for the
best toast of the night.' She said, 'Aye, did ye now. And what was
your toast?' John said, 'Here's to spending the rest of me life,
sitting in church beside me wife.' 'Oh, that is very nice indeed,
John!' Mary said.

The next day, Mary ran into one of John's drinking buddies on
the street corner. The man chuckled leeringly and said, 'John won
the prize the other night at the pub with a toast about you, Mary.'
She said, 'Aye, he told me, and I was a bit surprised myself.
You know, he's only been there twice in the last four years. Once
he fell asleep, and the other time I had to pull him by the ears
to make him come.'

Eleanor Roosevelt

'You gain strength, courage, and confidence by each experience
in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able
to say to yourself, “I have lived through this horror. I can take
the next thing that comes along.” You must do the thing you think
you cannot do.' ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Bellagio Guest Cabanas

In Las Vegas at the Bellagio Hotel, they reserve the
luxurious guest suites for their largest gamblers.
These elegant apartments have a contemporary feel and
include all of the best amenities. While they are given
on a complimentary basis to their highest rollers, they
do come at quite a high price .
To qualify to stay here, you must place a bet of $100,000
or more, and also have a credit line of $4 to $5 million.

Timothy M. Parker

'Timothy M. Parker' has been interested in art since his
early childhood. He lived in New York for 22 years where
he worked as an artist, illustrator and creative director.
There he also earned his Mastery in Art. He currently
lives in Naples, Florida.
His artworks cover a wide range of styles from classical
painting and tropical themes to contemporary abstract
art. I like his style and I want to share with you. . . Miriam

Jazz Diva . . . Randa Ghossoub‏

Ladies & Gentlemen,
Let me introduce you to my dear friend Randa Ghossoub . . . a
Lebanese-Canadian jazz singer extraordinaire. Randa has dwelled
between Beirut, Africa, and Europe, which allowed her to illuminate
her music with many colours. Embracing rhythms and melodies that
breach the boundaries of region and era, Randa draws upon varied
global influences to bring unlikely musical combinations to the
here and now.
As her interpretations meet exotic traditions, the delicious
music evolution continues. Randa Ghossoub promises oriental jazz
lovers an exceptional renditions.

'The spirit of jazz is the spirit of openness.' ~ Herbie Hancock

Internationally renowned jazz musicians Cyrus Chestnut, Michel
Donato and Jim Hillman, boldly mix the genres and venture in the
experimental channels of improvisation, all brilliantly borne
by Randa's crystalline voice. An excellent prelude for those
not acquainted with oriental jazz.

In the 'age of communication', solitudes abound, and any attempt
at dialogue leads back to the Genesis Tower of Babel.

However, some rare, unusual or irrational complexities subvert this
modern-day dictum and thwart its laws! Creators . . . both local
and international, form daring and uncommon alliances, which will
transform the uproar and cacophony into polyphonic harmony and
exquisite consonance. Encounters between traditional music and dance,
both classical and contemporary, and a fusion of hip hop, flamenco,
Gnawa, pop, rock, metal, and electronic trends ... such unusual
hybridization of styles and practices, so many moments of generosity
that challenge isolation and solitude.


'Eclecticism is the word. Like a jazz musician who creates his
own style out of the styles around him, I play by ear.' ~ Ralph Ellison

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/randa#.TyCGoVRJsv0.facebook

* album cover by Nadine Hennelly
http://www.nadinehennelly.ca

The Dalai Lama

'Self-discipline, although difficult, and not always easy
while combating negative emotions, should be a defensive
measure. At least we will be able to prevent the advent of
negative conduct dominated by negative emotion.
That is 'shila', or moral ethics. Once we develop this
by familiarizing ourselves with it, along with mindfulness
and conscientiousness, eventually that pattern and way
of life will become a part of our own life.' ~ His Holiness
the Dalai Lama

Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot, born 28 September 1934, is a controversial
former French fashion model, actress, singer and animal rights activist.
She was one of the best-known sex symbols of the 1960s. Starting in 1969,
Bardot's features became the official face of Marianne (who had previously
been anonymous) to represent the liberty of France.
Bardot was an aspiring ballet dancer in early life. She started her
acting career in 1952 and, after appearing in 16 films, became world-famous
due to her role in her then-husband Roger Vadim's controversial film
'And God Created Woman'. She later starred in Jean-Luc Godard's 1963
cult film, 'Contempt'. Bardot was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best
Foreign Actress for her role in Louis Malle's 1965 film, 'Viva Maria!'.
Bardot caught the attention of French intellectuals. She was the
subject of Simone de Beauvoir's 1959 essay, 'The Lolita Syndrome',
which described Bardot as a 'locomotive of women's history' and built
upon existentialist themes to declare her the first and most liberated
woman of post-war France.
Bardot retired from the entertainment industry in 1973. During her
career in show business, she starred in 47 films, performed in numerous
musical shows, and recorded 80 songs. She was awarded the Legion
of Honour in 1985 but refused to receive it.
After her retirement, Bardot established herself as an animal rights
activist. During the 1990s she generated controversy by criticizing
immigration, Islamization and Islam in France, and has been fined
five times for 'inciting racial hatred.

The Piano House

A construction without false notes this form of Piano House
is located in the city of Huainan, in China. The main building
resembles a black piano and stairs, to a transparent violin.

* Rem Koolhaas, architect

'Geishas'

'Geishas' are traditional female Japanese entertainers.
They are skilled at different Japanese arts, like
playing classical Japanese music, dancing and poetry.
Some people believe that geisha are prostitutes, but
this is not true. Geisha are very respected and it is
hard to become one.