One More For Tonight

You Belong in the UK

Blimey! A little proper, a little saucy. You're so witty and charming... No one notices your curry breath

What English Speaking Country Are You?

I love the Romantics

You Are Romanticism

You are likely to see the world as it should be, not as it is. You prefer to celebrate the great things people do... not the horrors they're capable of. For you, there is nothing more inspiring than a great hero. You believe that great art reflects the artist's imagination and true ideals.

What Art Movement Are You?

Not Arsenic?

My favorite time period---the one I especially studied at university (and before and since)---is the Regency, aka Regency England. During that time, the forces of good (namely the British army, under the great Wellington, for the most part, and the British navy, under command of the brilliant Nelson) were fighting Napoleon and his armies as they conquered Europe (but never England!).

Most people know of this time as the Napoleonic Era, though I think it should be named after Wellington. After all, he did defeat Napoleon twice, most notably at Waterloo.

I could certainly go on and on about this time period, but I'll get to the point. Even though I am quite obsessed with the Regency, as opposed to Napoleon (and the French!), I still find articles, books, etc., about Napoleon interesting. So, of course I must blog about this:

AP: Stomach cancer likely killed Napoleon ---

NEW YORK - Napoleon Bonaparte died a more prosaic death than some people would like to think, succumbing to stomach cancer rather than arsenic poisoning, according to new research into what killed the French emperor.

Theories that Napoleon was poisoned with arsenic have abounded since 1961, when an analysis of his hair showed elevated levels of the toxic element.

But the latest review of the 1821 autopsy report just after he died concludes the official cause of death — stomach cancer — is correct.

The autopsy describes a tumor in his stomach that was 4 inches long. Comparing that description to modern cases, main author Dr. Robert M. Genta of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and an international team of researchers surmised that a growth so extensive could not have been a benign stomach ulcer.

"I have never seen an ulcer of that size that is not cancer," said Genta, a professor of pathology and internal medicine.

Further analysis suggested that his stomach cancer had reached a stage that is virtually incurable even with modern medical technology. People with similar cancers today usually die within a year.

And what evidence indicates this:

The autopsy and other historical sources indicate that the rotund French leader had lost about 20 pounds in the last few months of his life, another sign of stomach cancer. His stomach also contained a dark material similar to coffee grounds, a telltale sign of extensive bleeding in the digestive tract. The massive bleeding was likely the immediate cause of death, Genta and his colleagues concluded.

Historical sources also don't mention many typical signs of arsenic poisoning, such as discoloration of the fingernails, pre-cancerous blemishes on the feet and hands, cancers of the skin, lung and bladder and bleeding from the wall that separates the heart's lower chambers.

But could it still have been arsenic?

"Can we rule out the arsenic theory? I think we have some evidence against it," Genta said. "We cannot exclude it 100 percent, but I think we are pretty confident it's unlikely."

Dr. Steven B. Karch, who has also studied the case, believes Napoleon still could have been killed by arsenic or one of several medicines he received in his final days. Arsenic alone or in combination with other substances can cause fatal heartbeat irregularities, he said.

Napoleon died at age 52 while in exile on the South Atlantic island of St. Helena where he was banished after his defeat at Waterloo.

I think it is fascinating. Two of my oldest friends, sisters, have both been to Elba, where Napoleon was first exiled. I would love to visit some day.

Crossposted at A Lady's Ruminations

Technorati Tags: Napoleon, French, Regency, History,

Tea Without Milk, Please

If you take milk in your tea (as I do on occasion), you might want to start taking it without:

AFP: Milk destroys health benefits of tea: study---

PARIS (AFP) - Bad news for Britons: adding milk to tea ruins the health benefits of the drink, according to a Germany study.

Tea has complex compounds called polyphenols which are believed to help the arteries to relax or dilate, thus enabling a smoother flow of blood.
[. . .]
The study, which appears online in the European Heart Journal, points the finger of blame at three casein proteins in the milk. These are thought to adhere to a kind of polyphenols known as catechins, preventing them from carrying out their health-making work.

This could explain why Britain, a nation passionate about tea-drinking but where almost everybody adds milk to their cup, fails to make headway against cardiovascular disease, said researcher Verena Stangl.

I suppose it all makes sense. I generally only drink tea with milk when I feel the need for something cozy and very, very comforting in a childlike sort of way.

How do you take your tea?

Technorati Tags: Tea, Britain,

Enjoying the Calm of January

While Christmas can be a hectic season, putting away Christmas decorations and taking down the lights once January rolls around is always somewhat depressing. Don't you think the house looks boring and dull when everything is back to normal? I certainly do.

I came across this article and thought it had some lovely ways to enjoy this month:

Five Ways to Love January

In short (the basic ideas are from the article and I have added some of my favorites):

• Go to bed early and snuggle down under thick, warm covers, with lots of cushy pillows. I like to listen to my Pride & Prejudice Soundtrack.

• Read a classic novel. My favorite: Pride and Prejudice by my favorite author, Jane Austen. Take some hot Earl Grey tea with you, and a warm blanket, and find a cozy spot.

• Bake bread: not only is it easy and fun, but your house will smell deliciously. Even if the bread doesn't taste as good as you hoped, you will be able to say you made it (and the smell will linger!).

• Write something: find an empty journal or notebook or write a letter (It is a rare thing, these days, to receive an handwritten letter. Surprise someone!).

• Take comfort in friends: have some people over for a game night, make dinner together, have a movie night or a knitting party.

I'm looking forward to all of the above.

How do you plan to fight the winter blues?

Happy Twelfth Night!

Tonight is Twelfth Night, the night before Epiphany, the Twelfth Day of Christmas. In England, many celebrate (at least in the past) with a lovely party with Twelfth Night Cake, foods, games, and merriment.


You can find history, traditions, recipes, ideas, and games here and here and here and here and here


Happy Twelfth Night!

Penelope is My Favorite JQ Heroine

Which Julia Quinn heroine are you?

Penelope -- What a good girl. You have always been overlooked, and perhaps because of this, you have slipped into a role you are not entirely comfortable with. Do not compromise your needs and wants on account of the expectations of others. Because you never expect to get what you desire, when it finally comes, you do not know what to do with it. (from Romancing Mister Bridgerton)
Take this quiz!





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My favorite Julia Quinn novel: Romancing Mister Bridgerton

Technorati Tags: Julia Quinn, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, Romance, Novels,

Happy New Year!

Last Post of 2006!

Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.

---William Shakespeare, the Tempest,
Act IV, Scene i, Lines 148-157

Happy Christmas!

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.

The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.

All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

• Luke 2:1-20

"For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord."
"Song of the Angels" by Bouguereau

Happy Christmas to the world! Christ is born! Alleluia! May Christ's love warm your hearts and souls this Christmas and all the days of your lives.

Lady Jane

Christmas: 24 Style

HP Book 7 Title Announced!

Finally, we have the title for the last book in the Harry Potter series!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!!!

What do you think of it?

AP: Final 'Harry Potter' title announced---

NEW YORK - We now have a title for Book VII: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows."

But if you want to find out for yourself, visit J.K. Rowling's Web site, jkrowling.com, and play a little game of hangman.

Rowling's U.S. publisher, Scholastic, Inc., released a brief statement Thursday announcing the name of the world's most anticipated children's book, the finale to her phenomenally popular fantasy series.

No publication date or other details were offered. Rowling is still working on the book, she wrote on her Web site in an entry posted early Thursday.

If you want to play the game, go to JKRowling.com and use these instructions from the article (if you can't figure it out yourself):

If you go to her home page, click on the eraser and you will be taken to a room — you'll see a window, a door and a mirror.

In the mirror, you'll see a hallway. Click on the farthest doorknob and look for the Christmas tree. They click on the center of the door next to the mirror and a reef appears. Then click on the top of the mirror and you'll see a garland.

Look for a cobweb next to the door. Click on it, and it will disappear. Now, look at the chimes in the window. Click on the second chime to the right, and hold it down. The chime will turn into the key, which opens the door. Click on the wrapped gift behind the door, then click on it again and figure out the title yourself by playing a game of hangman.

I just did it.

I am curious about the title. Does it have something to do with Godric's Hollow where Harry lived with his parents and where they were killed? Obviously, the spelling is not the same, but they were murdered by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named (aka Lord Voldemort!) on Halloween. Halloweens have always been featured in the HP books. Really, though, I think it must be something to do with Godric's Hollow. I have always believed Harry would have to go back there, to where his parents died, where he managed to live after Voldemort tried to kill him, to face the past, the truth, and his enemy.

Curious!!! No publication date has been announced.

I am so excited!

Technorati Tags: Harry Potter, Deathly Hallows, JK Rowling, Book 7,

Happy Birthday to Jane!

Today is Jane Austen's birthday! Jane is my favorite author and one of the greatest novelists of all time.

Jane Austen
Happy Birthday, Jane!
Some Jane Austen links:
The Jane Austen Centre in Bath
Jane Austen Society of North America
Austen.com
Jane Austen E-Texts
Bibliomania: Austen E-Texts
Jane Austen's House
Republic of Pemberley
AustenBlog

Send a birthday card in honor of Jane's birthday at Mollands.

My favorite Jane Austen novel is Pride and Prejudice.

Technorati Tags: Jane Austen,

I am a Dedicated Reader

What Kind of Reader Are You? Your Result: Dedicated Reader You are always trying to find the time to get back to your book. You are convinced that the world would be a much better place if only everyone read more.
Obsessive-Compulsive Bookworm
Literate Good Citizen
Book Snob
Non-Reader
Fad Reader
What Kind of Reader Are You? Create Your Own Quiz

Josh Alert!

Josh Groban Fans: Josh will be appearing on the Oprah Winfrey show on Monday, 11 December. I saw a commercial earlier this evening and I am excited to see it! Don't forget!

AND, you can hear Josh sing "I'll Be Home For Christmas" here. Do enjoy!

You can buy Awake here.

Technorati Tags: Josh Groban, Awake, Music, CD,

POTC: DMC Out Today!

I'm quite excited, as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is out today on dvd! If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend buying or renting it (Use my Amazon link to purchase anything at Amazon and I get a small percentage).

Also out today, 24-Season 5. Hooray!

Plus, shopping through my Amazon store (for anything Amazon sells) will give me a tiny bit of revenue. Please consider it! :)

Thank you!

Special Episode of the Closer

A special two hour episode of The Closer (official website with great stuff here) is on TNT tonight. It starts any minute and I am SOOOO excited!

Kyra Sedgwick is awesome as Brenda Johnson!

If you haven't seen the two seasons The Closer, you can buy the first season dvds or watch the second season on TNT. Season 2 will begin reairing Tuesday, 5 December at 10pm (and will be every Tuesday at 10pm). The show is fabulous!

Technorati Tags: The Closer, TNT, Kyra Sedgwick, TV, LAPD,

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wish you all joy and blessings on Thanksgiving. May you be surrounded by family, friends, and good food!

I am thankful for God, giving me life

for the United States of America

for the United States Military (say thanks to the Military here)
for President George W. Bush

for my family and memories of my dogs

for my friends

for books :)

for my blog friends and readers

and for Faith and Freedom.

God bless you all!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Josh on Leno

Josh Groban is on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight! Don't forget to watch or set a tape!

"You Will Lose Everything."

Over at Mugglenet interested Harry Potter fans (or people who might be interested!) can see the first poster for the fifth movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The film comes out 13 July 2007.

You can see the terrifingly creepy poster here. (It features He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!!!)

Curtsy to Lady Lori for the news!

Technorati Tags: Harry Potter, Order of the Phoenix, Mugglenet,