the pothole gardener
"Steve Wheen, a guerrilla gardener, uses plants and miniatures to create sanctuaries of tranquility in broken urban places. Specifically, he alters potholes in east London. His website has many photos of his work. The best are his pictures of people reacting to seeing these tiny green spaces."--Neatorama
Street Art Utopia
"Where did Gulliver leave his glasses? He'd better find his spectacles before he heads into battle. There! Russian street artist Pavel Puhov found them."--Neatorama
Susan Estrich: Dear Democrats (Creators Syndicate)
Nothing to be complacent about with this economy. Come November, there still will be too many people looking for work who can't find it, too many working at jobs that pay them too little to support their families, too many mortgages in foreclosure and houses on the market. We vote our lives in elections. And a lot of people's lives are not good.
Andrew Sullivan: How Obama's Long Game Will Outsmart His Critics (Daily Beast)
What I see in front of my nose is a president whose character, record, and promise remain as grotesquely underappreciated now as they were absurdly hyped in 2008. And I feel confident that sooner rather than later, the American people will come to see his first term from the same calm, sane perspective. And decide to finish what they started.
Roger Ebert: Think of me as the butler, Carson
For an hour before bedtime every night for a week, I've watched an episode of "Downton Abbey." Last night the Earl of Grantham interrupted a garden party to announce the beginning of World War I, and I pulled up short. I was watching the first season via Netflix Instant, and inattentively failed to notice there were only seven episodes. I naturally expected ten.
David Bruce has 42 Kindle books on Amazon.com with 250 anecdotes in each book. Each book is $1, so for $42 you can buy 10,500 anecdotes. Search for "Funniest People," "Coolest People, "Most Interesting People," "Kindest People," "Religious Anecdotes," "Maximum Cool," and "Resist Psychic Death."
All of the United States' 50 states have a state motto, as do the District of Columbia and three US territories.
English and Latin are the most-used languages for state mottos, used by 25 and 24 states and territories, respectively. Seven states and territories use another language, of which each language is only used once. Eight states and two territories have their mottos on their state quarter; thirty-eight states and four territories have their mottos on their state seals.
MinnesotaL'étoile du Nord The star of the North French 1861
Source
Alan J was first, and correct, with:
One, Minnesota
BttbB said:
One - L' étoile du Nord - The Star of the North - Minnesota...
Jim from CA, retired to ID, wrote:
1
Adam answered:
Just one- Minnesota. Lots in Latin, though.
Marian replied:
1
John I from Hawai`i says,
I don't know the answer for that question but my state's motto is in the Hawai`ian language: "Ua mau ke ia o ka aina ika pono." The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.
Sally said:
Although 13 states (or parts of states) were carved out of the Louisiana Purchase territory, I could find only Minnesota's: L'étoile du Nord (French, "The star of the North") with the French motto. Go figure...
I have been shoveling snow all morning, so haven't had much time for BCE research (pause for some sympathy here).
PS: @Professor Charlie. Thanks for the photo of Bertrand Russell, et al. He is/was one of my hero's - a liberal, socialist, and pacifist, what a guy! And, talk about being iconoclastic, he was one of the founders of analytic philosophy, and he dared to take on Christianity (Why I Am Not A Christian and Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects, edited by Paul Edwards. London: George Allen & Unwin) which caused him much grief. I have several of his books, and studied his works while in college. Brilliant man, but rather a dog in his personal life...
PPS: CONGRATULATIONS JoeS, on the birth of that long-awaited grandson!!
Charlie responded:
Only one I can find is Minnesota, L'etoile du Nord (translation: "Star of the North")
Dale O' Diamond Springs responded:
L'étoile du Nord, The star of the North, Minnesota.
State Emblem Official State Loon State Bird (Loon) Stewart guy & US Senator
MAM wrote:
Only one, Minnesota, 'L'étoile du Nord' ~ The star of the North
CBS starts the night with '60 Minutes', followed by a RERUN'Undercover Boss', then a RERUN'The Good Wife', followed by a RERUN'CSI: The 2nd One'.
NBC opens the night with 'Dateline', followed by a FRESH'Prime Suspect'.
ABC begins the night with a FRESH'America's So-Called Funniest Home Videos', followed by a FRESH'Once Upon A Time', then a FRESH'Desperate Housewives', followed by a FRESH'Pan Am'.
The CW fills the night with what passes for local news and other fluffery.
Faux on the East Coast, the night starts early with LIVE'NFL Playoffs', followed by a FRESH'American Idol'.
On the left coast, the night begins with a FRESH'American Idol', then pads the rest of the evening with old 'King Of The Hill' and 'Simpsons'.
MY has an old 'How I Met Your Mother', followed by another old 'How I Met Your Mother', then an old 'Big Bang Theory', followed by another old 'Big Bang Theory', then still another 'Big Bang Theory', followed by yet another 'Big Bang Theory'.
Bravo has 'Real Housewives Of Atlanta', another 'Real Housewives Of Atlanta', followed by a FRESH'Real Housewives Of Atlanta', then a FRESH'Chef Roblé & Co.'.
Comedy Central has the movie 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin', followed by the movie 'Jackass 2.5', 'Tosh.0', and 'South Park'.
FX has the movie '2012', followed by the movie '2012', again.
History has 'Ax Men', another 'Ax Men', followed by a FRESH'Ax Men', then a FRESH'Cajun Pawn Stars', followed by another FRESH'Cajun Pawn Stars'.
IFC -
[6:00AM] Mistress
[8:15AM] Right at Your Door
[10:15AM] Freaks and Geeks-Dead Dogs and Gym Teachers
[11:15AM] Freaks and Geeks-Noshing and Moshing
[12:15PM] Freaks and Geeks-Smooching and Mooching
[1:15PM] Miller's Crossing
[3:45PM] Black Rain
[6:30PM] Slayground
[8:30PM] The Yards
[11:00PM] Portlandia-Cool Wedding
[11:30PM] The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret
[12:00AM] Layer Cake
[2:15AM] The Yards
[4:45AM] Portlandia-Cool Wedding
[5:15AM] The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret
[5:45AM] The Whitest Kids U'Know (ALL TIMES EST)
Sundance -
[6:00A] Carny
[7:15A] ALL ON THE LINE WITH JOE ZEE - Kathy & Erik Wilson (Episode 3, Season 2)
[8:15A] THE MORTIFIED SESSIONS - Cheryl Hines & Margaret Cho
[8:45A] THE MORTIFIED SESSIONS - Filmmaker Ed Burns & Bridesmaids' Paul Feig (Episode 8, Season 1)
[9:15A] THE MORTIFIED SESSIONS - NYPD's Rick Schroder (Episode 7, Season 1)
[9:45A] This Way Up
[9:55A] Angel of Mine
[11:35A] Police, Adjective
[1:30P] Carny
[2:45P] Angel of Mine
[4:25P] One Week
[6:00P] Toe to Toe
[8:00P] A Good Year
[12:15A] MY SO-CALLED LIFE - Pilot (Episode 1, Season 1)
[1:15A] THE MORTIFIED SESSIONS - Filmmaker Ed Burns & Bridesmaids' Paul Feig (Episode 8, Season 1)
[1:45A] THE MORTIFIED SESSIONS - NYPD's Rick Schroder (Episode 7, Season 1)
[3:15A] ALL ON THE LINE WITH JOE ZEE - Kathy & Erik Wilson (Episode 3, Season 2)
[4:15A] One Week
[5:50A] The Real Place (ALL TIMES EST)
SyFy has the movie 'Ferocious Planet', followed by the movie 'Land Of The Lost'.
Betty White is presented with a life size birthday cake for her 90th birthday, created by the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts at the Los Angeles Zoo, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012.
Photo by Susan Goldman
Pop culture and higher education are once again merging -- and hopefully this time it will go better than Snooki's ill-conceived visit to Rutgers.
Lady Gaga is teaming up with Harvard University to form the Born This Way Foundation, a non-profit, charitable organization.
Its purpose: to "explore the best ways to reach youth and create a new culture of kindness, bravery, acceptance and empowerment" with a focus on issues such as "self-confidence, well-being, anti-bullying, mentoring and career development and advocacy," according to a Harvard release.
The foundation -- which is named after the singer's most recent album and is a collaboration between Gaga, the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the California Endowment, Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet & Society and the Harvard Graduate School of Education -- will officially launch with a February 29 event at Harvard's Sanders Theatre. The singer and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, will be on hand for the reveal.
From left to right, actor Andy Samberg, Quincy Jones, actress Rashida Jones and Peggy Lipton, pose at the premiere of "Celeste and Jesse Forever" at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah on Friday, Jan. 20, 2012.
Photo by Danny Moloshok
Don't book your ticket to New Orleans just yet. At least not as far as the HBO drama "Treme" is concerned.
The network has confirmed that season three of the David Simon series won't hit the airwaves until sometime in the fall. A specific premiere date has not been announced.
The fall premiere date is a departure from the norm for the series. The show's previous two seasons had April premiere dates.
In a tell-tale sign, the show was MIA on a HBO scheduling announcement for April premieres of shows including "Game of Thrones" and "Veep."
Where there are celebrities, there is swag, and the Sundance Film Festival is no exception. Nearly a dozen gift suites opened their doors Friday afternoon along the city's Main Street.
Kate Bosworth, Andy Samberg, Emma Roberts and Rashida Jones are among the famous folks who stopped by the VEVO PowerStation SOREL Suite, where they could indulge in moisturizing facials and lip treatments from Fresh cosmetics and outfit their feet in snow-ready footwear.
At the Alive Expo Green Pavilion, guests could pick up natural skincare products and handmade handbags by Kenyan artisans from Tembo Trading Co.
The Bertolli Meal Soup Chalet served up bowls of hot soup and handed out sunglasses and Lumene skincare products to visitors. Joe Pastorkovich of Lumene said Sundance is the perfect place to introduce the European brand to an American audience.
And the number of branded suites keeps growing, too, much to the chagrin of Sundance Institute founder Robert Redford. He lamented that the success of the festival has attracted what he calls "leveragers" who muddle its mission of nurturing and celebrating independent film.
Bobby Kennedy Jr. and actress Cheryl Hines smile as they arrive for the premiere of the documentary film "Ethel" during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah January 20, 2012.
Photo by Lucas Jackson
Steve Harvey is relinquishing his role as one of the Original Kings of Comedy to become an Alabama school principal - at least for one day.
Students at Phillips Academy in Birmingham will be answering to Principal Steve Harvey on Thursday after the school won a contest sponsored by Harvey's morning radio show and General Mills.
The Birmingham News reports that Angela Strozier, the mother of an eighth-grader at Phillips Academy, entered the contest by submitting an essay about the school's success. In it, she described how the deadly tornado outbreak in Alabama last April had affected many Phillips students.
In a statement, Harvey said he was impressed by the school's "strong parental and community involvement."
U.S. Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia (R-Crony) has a simple solution for people who don't like all the political advertisements unleashed by the court's decision two years ago that ended limits on corporate contributions in political campaigns - change the channel or turn off the TV.
Scalia was asked about the decision during a presentation before the South Carolina Bar on Saturday, exactly two years after the court handed down the 5-4 decision in the case that led to the rise of Super PACs. They are outside groups affiliated with candidates that can take in unlimited contributions as long as they don't directly coordinate with the candidate.
"I don't care who is doing the speech - the more the merrier," Scalia said. "People are not stupid. If they don't like it, they'll shut it off."
Scalia was joined on stage by Justice Stephen Breyer, who voted on the losing side in the decision which has become known as "Citizens United," for the group that successfully sued over federal campaign finance laws. Breyer didn't directly criticize the ruling, instead pointing out how it is critical in the American system that people respect the decisions the judiciary makes.
By nature, when a decision isn't unanimous, "somebody is making a mistake," Breyer said.
"There are real problems when people want to spend lots of money on a candidate ... they'll drown out the people who don't have a lot of money," Breyer said.
Actress Sigourney Weaver poses at the premiere of "Red Lights" at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah on Friday, Jan. 20, 2012.
Photo by Danny Moloshok
Two guns believed seized from gangsters Bonnie and Clyde in 1933 after a deadly Missouri shootout with police sold for a combined $210,000 at an auction on Saturday in Kansas City to an unnamed online bidder.
The bidder paid $130,000 for a .45-caliber Thompson submachine gun, known as a "Tommy gun" in gangster slang. The same bidder paid $80,000 for an 1897 12-gauge Winchester shotgun.
"We're happy," said auctioneer Robert Mayo, owner of Mayo Auction & Realty, which held the auction attended by more than 100 people. As for the bid prices, Mayo said, "Nothing ever surprises me."
Mayo had not put an estimated value on the guns but said pre-auction online bids had reached $35,000 for the Tommy gun. Three weeks ago, a Missouri gun dealer who once sold a pistol owned by 19th-century outlaw Frank James predicted the Tommy gun would bring at least $25,000.
Scientists who created easier-to-spread versions of the deadly bird flu said Friday they are temporarily halting more research, as international specialists debate what should happen next.
Researchers from leading flu laboratories around the world signed onto the voluntary moratorium, published Friday in the journals Science and Nature.
What the scientists called a "pause" comes amid fierce controversy over how to handle research that is high-risk but potentially could bring a big payoff. Two labs - at Erasmus University in the Netherlands and the University of Wisconsin-Madison - created the new viruses while studying how bird flu might mutate to become a bigger threat to people.
The U.S. government funded the work but last month urged the teams not to publicly reveal the exact formula so that would-be bioterrorists couldn't copy it. Critics also worried a lab accident might allow the strains to escape. The researchers reluctantly agreed not to publish all the details as long as the government set up a system to provide them to legitimate scientists who really need to know. The National Institutes of Health is creating such a system.
They called for a public international meeting to debate how to learn from the work, safely. And they agreed to hold off on additional research with the existing lab-bred strains or that leads to any new ones for 60 days.
Actress Ashley Judd acknowledges the crowd during the University of Kentucky's NCAA basketball game against the University of Alabama at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky, January 21, 2012.
Photo by John Sommers II
When Captain Francesco Schettino hopped a life boat after the Costa Concordia hit a rock off the Tuscany coast, he violated a sacred maritime tradition: that a captain should be the last to leave his ship.
He also is accused of violating the law. Italian maritime code criminalizes the act of abandoning ship and Schettino was placed under house arrest, accused of causing the disaster and then jumping ship before the evacuation was complete.
Countries have adopted different maritime codes over the centuries and the responsibilities of a captain can be traced to a 12th century French document called the Rolls of Oleron, which established the first known outlines of maritime law.
The sailor's code that's developed from the rolls - or rules - has been celebrated in everything from Conrad's Lord Jim, about a young seaman who abandons a ship in distress, to the 1960s U.S. television show Gilligan's Island theme song, with the lyric, "If not for the courage of the fearless crew, The Minnow would be lost!"
In the United States, the rule that a captain should be the last to leave a distressed ship is not a criminal offense. The Westlaw online legal research service shows the phrase "abandon ship" turned up 618 decisions but none addressed a captain's decision to leave a ship before his passengers.
"Miracle on the Hudson" pilot Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger arrives at the 9th Annual Living Legends of Aviation awards in Beverly Hills, California January 20, 2012.
Photo by Gus Ruelas
One western Pennsylvania fire department learned that there's not necessarily fire wherever there's smoke.
New Castle's assistant fire chief Jim Donston tells The Associated Press that firefighters were called when an electrical outlet on a floor was smoking, only to find that happened because the family's cat urinated into the outlet.
The assistant chief says a Columbia Gas worker was at the house checking for a possible leak when he noticed the smoking outlet and called the fire department Wednesday about 7:30 p.m.
Donston says firefighters "found the receptacle wet from cat urine" and shut off the electrical supply to that circuit.
Mounted by a Japanese macaque, Shishiro, a five-year-old Japanese wild boar, walks in their cage at Hamura Zoo in Tokyo Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012.
Photo by Koji Sasahara
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