Ornamental offering...

 

Estimados amigos del 'blogosphere'. Estoy mirando con optimismo el 2006 y quiero hacer llegar los mejores augurios para el año entrante, deseando que puedan festejar en familia con amor y paz estas fiestas. I'm off back to England on Thursday and I'm not sure whether I'll be posting much over the holiday period so I wish everyone the very best for Christmas and the New Year. Good health and good luck.

Season's greetings one and all;

enjoy yourselves and have a ball.

(Here's two to get you started)

(video deleted due to broken link at least twice!) Mariah Carey: All I want for Christmas is you [YouTube] 

Ornamental offering...

Estimados amigos del 'blogosphere'

Estoy mirando con optimismo el 2006 y quiero hacer llegar los mejores augurios para el año entrante, deseando que puedan festejar en familia con amor y paz estas fiestas.

Afectuosamente

Span

Season's greetings one and all;

enjoy yourselves and have a ball.

(Here's two to get you started)

I'm off back to England on Thursday and I'm not sure whether I'll be posting much over the holiday period so I wish everyone the very best for Christmas and the New Year. Good health and good luck.

S.O. with _music

Free music video codes by PCPlanets.com

Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You
---------- Don't forget what I said about the spam fest!!S.O. with _music

Ows's outré...

Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine

Updated with YouTube.

¡OJO! Important note: I’ve changed the code and the source site as the other one doesn’t work any more but there are still pop-up ads every time you change page. Press play, fantastic...my boys are into Guns N' Roses now (they've converted me!...I was never a fan 'back in the day'...could have posted Paradise City, Welcome to the Jungle or Civil War...equally good), which explains my choice but number one son is really retro and is now Dave Bowie (Ziggy Stardust period) crazy...good lad!

Funny how today's teenagers are with music - it seems to me - they just aren't into the boom di ti boom house, dance, techno stuff. Anyway, I was blog hopping and found a blog with an inset Bon Jovi video so, intrigued, I followed the link to the advertised site (one of several similar sites I now realise!) that has literally thousands of tracks and hundreds of bands...pop, rock, dance, trance, country, rapcrap and presumably every other genre...enjoy!

S.O...sadly older? but with music...
Update August 2010:...reading this post now sounds so ancient! Only 5 years ago!

Ows's outré...

Free music video codes by PCPlanets.com

Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine
----------

¡OJO! Important note: I’ve changed the code and the source site as the other one doesn’t work any more but there are still pop-up ads every time you change page.

Press play, fantastic...my boys are into Guns N' Roses now (they've converted me!...I was never a fan 'back in the day'...could have postedParadise City, Welcome to the Jungle or Civil War...equally good), which explains my choice but number 1 son is really retro and is now Dave Bowie (Ziggy Stardust period) crazy...good lad!

Funny how today's teenagers are with _music - it seems to me - they just aren't into the boom di ti boom house, dance, techno stuff. Anyway, I was blog hopping and found a blog with an inset Bon Jovi video so, intrigued, I followed the link to the advertised site (one of several similar sites I now realise!) that has literally thousands of tracks and hundreds of bands...pop, rock, dance, trance, country, rapcrap and presumably every other genre...enjoy!

S.O...sadly older? but with _music...

Oinoπoieio (or oivonoiεío)

Μιλάτε Ελληνικά…? Όχι…?

Did I taste the ‘Evinos’ of Ouranos? OK…Oenology…you know it makes sense. Last week, although I was working (yes, I WAS!) I was pleasantly surprised to find that my contact has branched out into wines and although this is ‘just’ a cellar of his own with a retail outlet, I was surprised by the quality available…surprised because I just did not know!

“And I ask myself why? Why were those cheap wines on Cyprus so good? I thought maybe one reason was that perhaps Cypriots would not drink them if they were not good, and maybe they only produce enough for domestic consumption and a small amount of export”…not my words but those of Michael Spice; do you ever find that someone has written exactly what you want to say!  The point re ‘not knowing’ is summed up nicely by Antony Haggipavlu of the Olympus Oinoπoieio – that’s ‘winery’, in case you were wondering…;-)

From the site: - In an article in the British wine journal Harpers two years ago, he is quoted as saying, "we have tried spending money on marketing Cypriot wines overseas, and we have tried blending indigenous varieties with international ones. But it doesn't work, simply because if consumers don't know something, they don't buy it. The only solution is to use known varieties and to produce high-quality wines at the lowest cost possible."Cyprus wines were praised by Dionysus, the god of wine in Greek mythology and whom the Romans called Bacchus; also, worshipers of Aphrodite - the Goddess of Love - celebrated with 'Cyprus Nama', allegedly the oldest wine known in history; strangely enough one of the best sites I have found on the subject uses the name of the Roman God (Bacchus) and not the Greek - this in no way detracts from the site, which suggests, amongst other things, routes for ‘wine’ tours and succinct first-steps in a wine-tasting guide -‘not another wine buff’…I don't mean me! Accreditation for the picture also goes to their site (Cyprus wineries).
Ευχαριστώ
Αντίο
S.O.

Oinoπoieio (or oivonoiεío)

Μιλάτε Ελληνικά…? Όχι…?

Did I taste the ‘Evinos’ of Ouranos?

OK…Oenology…you know it makes sense.

Last week, although I was working (yes, I WAS!) I was pleasantly surprised to find that my contact has branched out into wines and although this is ‘just’ a cellar of his own with a retail outlet, I was surprised by the quality available…surprised because I just did not know!

“And I ask myself why? Why were those cheap wines on Cyprus so good? I thought maybe one reason was that perhaps Cypriots would not drink them if they were not good, and maybe they only produce enough for domestic consumption and a small amount of export”…not my words but those of Michael Spice; do you ever find that someone has written exactly what you want to say!

The point re ‘not knowing’ is summed up nicely by Antony Haggipavlu of the Olympus Oinoπoieio – that’s ‘winery’, in case you were wondering…;-)

From the site: - In an article in the British wine journal Harpers two years ago, he is quoted as saying, "we have tried spending money on marketing Cypriot wines overseas, and we have tried blending indigenous varieties with international ones. But it doesn't work, simply because if consumers don't know something, they don't buy it. The only solution is to use known varieties and to produce high-quality wines at the lowest cost possible."

Cyprus wines were praised by Dionysus, the god of wine in Greek mythology and whom the Romans called Bacchus; also, worshippers of Aphrodite - the Goddess of Love - celebrated with 'Cyprus Nama', allegedly the oldest wine known in history; strangely enough one of the best sites I have found on the subject uses the name of the Roman God (Bacchus) and not the Greek - this in no way detracts from the site, which suggests, amongst other things, routes for ‘wine’ tours and succinct first-steps in a wine-tasting guide -‘not another wine buff’…I don't mean me! Accreditation for the picture also goes to their site (Cyprus wineries).

Ευχαριστώ

Αντίο

S.O.
[Travel] [Food and drink] [Wine]
Nutrition

Optical illusions...

Optical illusions have always fascinated me; especially the ones that Nature herself can spring on us, anyone who has been to Electric Brae in Ayshire, Scotland will know what I mean but no picture can do it justice: you have to see it and 'feel it' to know what I mean.

There is a great sight [sic] for man-made optical illusions, Michael Bach, University of Freiburg, Germany; the image below is from the site...¡OJO!...that means 'beware' in Spanish - the word ojo i.e. without the exclamation marks, means 'eye' - which is quite appropriate because on the website there are a pair of eyes that follow your cursor around the screen...it's fun at first but after a bit I found it quite spooky!

On a similar theme, my favourite tongue-twister, which in my experience has never been successfully 'spoken', is very simple really: quickly say, ten times, the following words:

"Red leather, yellow leather"

...in fact forget the ten times, I doubt you'll manage more than 3!

S.O.

P.S. All new R5L poster/bloggers' links will be 'up' soon.

Optical illusions...

Optical illusions have always fascinated me; especially the ones that Nature herself can spring on us, anyone who has been to Electric Brae in Ayshire, Scotland will know what I mean but no picture can do it justice: you have to see it and 'feel it' to know what I mean.

There is a great sight [sic] for man-made optical illusions, Michael Bach, University of Freiburg, Germany; the image below is from the site...¡OJO!...that means 'beware' in Spanish - the word ojo i.e. without the exclamation marks, means 'eye' - which is quite appropriate because on the website there are a pair of eyes that follow your cursor around the screen...it's fun at first but after a bit I found it quite spooky!

On a similar theme, my favourite tongue-twister, which in my experience has never been successfully 'spoken', is very simple really: quickly say, ten times, the following words:

"Red leather, yellow leather"

...in fact forget the ten times, I doubt you'll manage more than 3!

S.O.

P.S. All new R5L poster/bloggers' links will be 'up' soon.

Off again...Days we love travelling...

I'm away this week, travelling again...for WORK!...but before I go I thought I would post re the political test, which I got from Gavin Corder's blog; I post it here because I think his version may be lost under several posts trying to get his non-commenting blog-stalker to comment!

You [Ows] scored as Anarchism:

Anarchism.................................75%
Republican................................67%
Green.........................................67%
Democrat..................................67%
Socialist.....................................42%
Fascism......................................33%
Nazi..............................................8%
Communism.................................8%

What Political Party Do Your Beliefs Put You In?
created with QuizFarm.com

Well, it seems I'm all things: equal parts Republican, Democrat and Green but with a high anarchistic streak...that could go in my profile (top of blog by the pumping 'O'...hey, that anarchy logo ia a bit 'O' ish as well...) and I guess I'm living in the most appropriate country as far as Anarchism goes!...I feel a history post coming on...did I just say coming? ;-)

S.O.

Off again...Days we love travelling...

I'm away this week, travelling again...for WORK!...but before I go I thought I would post re the political test, which I got from Gavin Corder's blog; I post it here because I think his version may be lost under several posts trying to get his non-commenting blog-stalker to comment!

You [Ows] scored as Anarchism:

Anarchism.................................75%
Republican................................67%
Green.........................................67%
Democrat..................................67%
Socialist.....................................42%
Fascism......................................33%
Nazi..............................................8%
Communism.................................8%

What Political Party Do Your Beliefs Put You In?
created with QuizFarm.com

Well, it seems I'm all things: equal parts Republican, Democrat and Green but with a high anarchistic streak...that could go in my profile (top of blog by the pumping 'O'...hey, that anarchy logo ia a bit 'O' ish as well...) and I guess I'm living in the most appropriate country as far as Anarchism goes!...I feel a history post coming on...did I just say coming? ;-)

S.O.

Orgasms…come again?

As promised here is another orgasmic post; this is the third, “The Triple Tickle”; the other two - just in case you missed them - were very well received:

Orgasms... did you see this coming?
Orgasms... the second coming.

The triple tickle is appropriate not just as this is the third ‘instalment’; it also refers to that Holy Trinity of simultaneous stimulation of the clitoris, the vagina and the anus (if you can manage it that is…it is very manageable!).

This would usually involve fingers of both hands and definitely the tongue; if any of you guys (or girls!) out there aren’t keen on using this wondrous mouth organ (well it’s an instrument!) to give your girl pleasure then…err…get the fuck off my blog you Goddam weirdos!…;-) …ahem, to continue: of course, this can lead to positional problems so finding the ideal juxtaposition of bodies is essential for comfort and efficacy. It need not be fingers, those cute little ‘finger’ shaped vibrators (you know the ones I mean!) would be even better plus gel/ baby oil/ other sex play lubricants or similar textured edible materials (honey, cream…) could also be employed to great effect...apparently.

Below is an image that doesn’t demonstrate the aforementioned positioning and may not demonstrate any of what I have referred to either, but hey, who cares if it does or not: it turns me on...and could be very loosely connected with a ‘triple tickle’! You will note the right-hand 'bud' is closed and the left-hand one is open revealing the outer, supporting tendrils which, when closed-up, protect the 3 inner, sentient, manipulating tentacles…you can just get a glimpse of supporting tendrils of the third bud which is positioned for maximum pleasure, those outer tendrils are supporting the “victim’s” weight while the inner, probing tentacles stimulate…well you can imagine what they’re doing…you can imagine that, can’t you? If not I’m wasting my time!



The above image is, as before, borrowed from the erotic sketches and stories of
Marjorie Baldwin Greene... it is called "Pollination"...oooeer.
If you crave for more sperm, seeds, ovaries, fertilisation, embryos and male and female bits, in simple picture form, go here
S.O. orgasms
Category:orgasm

Orgasms…come again?

As promised here is another orgasmic post; this is the third, “The Triple Tickle”; the other two - just in case you missed them - were very well received:

Orgasms... did you see this coming?
Orgasms... the second coming.

The triple tickle is appropriate not just as this is the third ‘instalment’; it also refers to that Holy Trinity of simultaneous stimulation of the clitoris, the vagina and the anus (if you can manage it that is…it is very manageable!).

This would usually involve fingers of both hands and definitely the tongue; if any of you guys (or girls!) out there aren’t keen on using this wondrous mouth organ (well it’s an instrument!) to give your girl pleasure then…err…get the fuck off my blog you Goddam weirdos!…;-) …ahem, to continue: of course, this can lead to positional problems so finding the ideal juxtaposition of bodies is essential for comfort and efficacy. It need not be fingers, those cute little ‘finger’ shaped vibrators (you know the ones I mean!) would be even better plus gel/ baby oil/ other sex play lubricants or similar textured edible materials (honey, cream…) could also be employed to great effect...apparently.

Below is an image that doesn’t demonstrate the aforementioned positioning and may not demonstrate any of what I have referred to either, but hey, who cares if it does or not: it turns me on...and could be very loosely connected with a ‘triple tickle’! You will note the right-hand 'bud' is closed and the left-hand one is open revealing the outer, supporting tendrils which, when closed-up, protect the 3 inner, sentient, manipulating tentacles…you can just get a glimpse of supporting tendrils of the third bud which is positioned for maximum pleasure, those outer tendrils are supporting the “victim’s” weight while the inner, probing tentacles stimulate…well you can imagine what they’re doing…you can imagine that, can’t you? If not I’m wasting my time!

The above image is, as before, borrowed from the erotic sketches and stories of

Marjorie Baldwin Greene... it is called "Pollination"...oooeer.

If you crave for more sperm, seeds, ovaries, fertilisation, embryos and male and female bits, in simple picture form, go here

S.O. orgasms
Category:orgasm

Otoño...otean la ostentosa orgia...

...y oigan lo que ofusque...

西 风 颂

雪莱

剽悍的西风啊, 你是暮秋的呼吸,
因你无形的存在, 枯叶四处逃窜,
如同魔鬼见到了巫师, 纷纷躲避;

The warm sun is failing, the bleak wind is wailing,
The bare boughs are sighing, the pale flowers are dying;
And the year
On the earth, her death-bed, in a shroud of leaves dead,
Is lying.
Come, Months, come away,
From November to May,
In your saddest array,-
Follow the bier
Of the dead cold year,
And like dim shadows watch by her sepulchre.

The chill rain is falling, the nipt worm is crawling,
The rivers are swelling, the thunder is knelling
For the year;
The blithe swallows are flown, and the lizards each gone
To his dwelling.
Come, Months, come away,
Put on white, black, and gray;
Let your light sisters play;
Ye, follow the bier
Of the dead cold year,
And make her grave green with tear on tear.

With thanks to PBS...after all, he wrote them! The first is just the title and first Stanza, it's an Ode and the first word is 'O'; the second (below the picture) is in fact called 'Otoño'...if you're Spanish that is!

S.O.

Category: Foreign / otra

Otoño...otean la ostentosa orgia...

...y oigan lo que ofusque...

西 风 颂

雪莱

剽悍的西风啊, 你是暮秋的呼吸,
因你无形的存在, 枯叶四处逃窜,
如同魔鬼见到了巫师, 纷纷躲避;

The warm sun is failing, the bleak wind is wailing,
The bare boughs are sighing, the pale flowers are dying;
And the year
On the earth, her death-bed, in a shroud of leaves dead,
Is lying.
Come, Months, come away,
From November to May,
In your saddest array,-
Follow the bier
Of the dead cold year,
And like dim shadows watch by her sepulchre.

The chill rain is falling, the nipt worm is crawling,
The rivers are swelling, the thunder is knelling
For the year;
The blithe swallows are flown, and the lizards each gone
To his dwelling.
Come, Months, come away,
Put on white, black, and gray;
Let your light sisters play;
Ye, follow the bier
Of the dead cold year,
And make her grave green with tear on tear.

With thanks to PBS...after all, he wrote them! The first is just the title and first Stanza, it's an Ode and the first word is 'O'; the second (below the picture) is in fact called 'Otoño'...if you're Spanish that is!

S.O.

Category: Foreign / otra

Omega Impressions...

Just trawling the many funny things you can get to put on your blog (remembering Gavin's "What Colour should your blog be" ...scroll up after following that link) etc, I came across this...

All very amusing because I get to be me...

...or even more me... (ahem)

Also I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome those R5NewsMB users who have popped in lately; Sarnia and Mags...do you not READ the messages you answer?!! I must have said at least 1000 times that I live in Spain..at least!...and if you believe that you'll believe what the sexy name decoder says about me too!!!...;-)

Omega Impressions...

Just trawling the many funny things you can get to put on your blog (remembering Gavin's "What Colour should your blog be" ...scroll up after following that link) etc, I came across this...

All very amusing because I get to be me...

...or even more me... (ahem)

Also I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome those R5NewsMB users who have popped in lately; Sarnia and Mags...do you not READ the messages you answer?!! I must have said at least 1000 times that I live in Spain..at least!...and if you believe that you'll believe what the sexy name decoder says about me too!!!...;-)

Open mind...

Just dropping a line to say I'm still alive after a wee spin in the Ecuatoranian wilds and to explain the 'webbands' on the top corners of my blog: as usual got the idea looking at other blogs; it is such a sad thing that there is so much intolerance and spite in this world and I liked the idea of the openmind site...

"the belief
Open-mind believes that we should approach various aspects and issues of life and society such as ethnicities, sexual orientations, cultural values, religious beliefs, political positions, and so on with an open-mind. No two persons are exactly the same in this world; everyone is unique with their own perspectives and beliefs.

When we encounter people who have a different viewpoint than ours we should approach them with an open-mind. Having an open-mind doesn't mean that we have to give up our own beliefs and accept others' all the time, it just means that we should try to listen to, and understand others' viewpoints on the subject; try to see where they are coming from. Only after that can we take a side and build our beliefs upon it. Simply to ignore others' points of view and claim that they are false is very immature and unreasonable: ignorance is the main cause of hatred, bigotry, prejudice and discrimination in society.

Furthermore, we should always respect others' points of view. Just because others have a different viewpoint than ours, doesn't mean that ours are better or right and theirs are wrong. Remember, there is no absolute right or wrong, there are only differences" [syntax edited S.O...and 1 error corrected when Gavin proof-read it....doh!]

Funnily enough I thought Kayfer's piece on snobbery with regard to council estate dwellers was along similar lines.

S.O.

Open mind...

Just dropping a line to say I'm still alive after a wee spin in the Ecuatoranian wilds and to explain the 'webbands' on the top corners of my blog: as usual got the idea looking at other blogs; it is such a sad thing that there is so much intolerance and spite in this world and I liked the idea of the openmind site...

"the belief
Open-mind believes that we should approach various aspects and issues of life and society such as ethnicities, sexual orientations, cultural values, religious beliefs, political positions, and so on with an open-mind. No two persons are exactly the same in this world; everyone is unique with their own perspectives and beliefs.

When we encounter people who have a different viewpoint than ours we should approach them with an open-mind. Having an open-mind doesn't mean that we have to give up our own beliefs and accept others' all the time, it just means that we should try to listen to, and understand others' viewpoints on the subject; try to see where they are coming from. Only after that can we take a side and build our beliefs upon it. Simply to ignore others' points of view and claim that they are false is very immature and unreasonable: ignorance is the main cause of hatred, bigotry, prejudice and discrimination in society.

Furthermore, we should always respect others' points of view. Just because others have a different viewpoint than ours, doesn't mean that ours are better or right and theirs are wrong. Remember, there is no absolute right or wrong, there are only differences" [syntax edited S.O...and 1 error corrected when Gavin proof-read it....doh!]

Funnily enough I thought Kayfer's piece on snobbery with regard to council estate dwellers was along similar lines.

S.O.

OOTTT...(not OTT?)

Only Ows Testing Technorati Tagging...

Other

Obsession

OOTTT...(not OTT?)

Only Ows Testing Technorati Tagging...

Other

Obsession

Oligosaccharides...bug food?

Extract from product dossier of a Spanish Animal Nutrition company- revised, edited and translated by Span relating to prebiotics (e.g. oligosaccharides) and probiotics (good bacteria…I tell you that later…)

...no sex, no smut, no pictures...shit, come back later if you want!

The term oligosaccharide is derived from oligo meaning ‘a few’- and saccharide - meaning sugar. An oligosaccharide is a complex carbohydrate, a polymer, containing three to six units of simple sugars (each a monosaccharide and in the same way that poly [saccharide] means many), simply put: oligosaccharides are short chains of sugar molecules.

Most of the few naturally occurring oligosaccharides are found in plants; important oligosaccharide carbohydrates being raffinose and stachyose; they are found in beans and legumes but cannot be digested properly by our small intestine and end up being metabolized and expelled from the large intestine….oh shit!

There are several kinds of oligosaccharides, each made from different types of sugars: fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and inulin oligosaccharides consist of short chains of fructose molecules, while galacto-oligosaccharides consist of short chains of galactose molecules. All three types of oligosaccharides occur naturally, but they can be only partially digested by humans. The undigested portions remain in the body, and serve as food for probiotics and other "friendly" intestinal bacteria.

Research has established a positive relationship between oligosaccharides and friendly bacteria; intake of oligosaccharides can increase the amount of friendly bacteria in the gut, while simultaneously reducing the number of harmful bacteria.

Good bacteria and Intestinal Microbial Imbalance…

At certain times in an animal’s life, different exogenous factors - changes in feed, infections and parasites, antibiotic treatments… - lead to the balance within the intestines being disrupted, the entire digestive system is affected to a greater or lesser degree; the first symptom of this disruption is diarrhoea…not just loose poop…OK…squits, but the sign of a weakening of the intestinal defenses, which affords the possibility of the entry of disease-causing pathogens that attach themselves and multiply in the cells of the intestine lining. Diarrhoea not only entails less water but also fewer nutritive substances being absorbed…the very life of the animal thus affected may depend upon how serious the degree of dehydration is, and the resulting imbalance of electrolytes - this is because in conjunction with these changes in the “moisture content”, once the quantitative and qualitative change in the intestinal bacteria has taken place yet further infectious agents may settle into other body tissues.

There are many determining factors involved in the disruption of the balance of the intestinal flora (…and preventing this imbalance in animal production takes on a major degree of monetary importance) and this explains the reasons why many research studies have been undertaken aimed at pinpointing chemical and/ or biological products capable of preventing or avoiding these negative changes in the digestive ecosystem. One outcome of these aforementioned research studies has been the discovery of specific microorganisms which, when administered regularly, are capable of keeping the intestinal flora of animals healthy; these are known as probiotics.

Definition of “Probiotic”: according to Guarner and Schassfsman (1998) a “probiotic” is termed as being “live micro-organisms, which, after being ingested by an animal in a certain number, lead to benefits to the animal’s health which go beyond the merely nutritional”. In this definition, it is assumed that the ‘probiotic’ must have a positive impact on the composition of the intestinal microflora and provide noticeable health benefits for the animal in question.

Prebiotics, on the other hand, are non – digestible feed ingredients that produce a positive influence on the animal’s health by the selective stimulation of the activity and growth of the lactic acid bacteria present in the colon.

Prebiotics are carbohydrates that are both indigestible and unabsorbable by the animal organism, but easily fermentable by the intestinal bacteria, especially those in the colon; to be effective they must be able to pass the upper tracts of the digestive system and arrive at the large intestine. Among the prebiotics most studied are inulin (and its derivative oligofructose), fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), soya oligosaccharides (e.g. raffinose) and lactulose (lactose and fructose). FOS and inulin are found naturally in many plants, for example: leeks, onions, burdock, chicory and asparagus; FOS products derived from chicory root contain significant quantities of inulin.

Inulin, FOS and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), are found in abundant quantities in mothers milk and are responsible for the intestinal flora in suckling animals. Mothers’ milk is not the only place that these prebiotic substances are found: they are present in many diverse feed ingredients that allow a modification of the micro flora stimulating the growth of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.

The flora in the colon of suckling animals includes a high percentage of bifidobacterias, when suckling finishes this concentration is reduced and so weaning becomes an important stage for the introduction of prebiotics in the diet to favour the colonisation of beneficial flora in the intestine. Prebiotics aid the proliferation of the bifidobacteria and lactobacilli that act against gastrointestinal infections with preventative effects from diarrhoeas and gastroenteritis and also constipation, colitis and flatulence.

Nutrition

Oligosaccharides...bug food?

Extract from product dossier of a Spanish Animal Nutrition company- revised, edited and translated by Span relating to prebiotics (e.g. oligosaccharides) and probiotics (good bacteria…I tell you that later…)

...no sex, no smut, no pictures...shit, come back later if you want!

The term oligosaccharide is derived from oligo meaning ‘a few’- and saccharide - meaning sugar. An oligosaccharide is a complex carbohydrate, a polymer, containing three to six units of simple sugars (each a monosaccharide and in the same way that poly [saccharide] means many), simply put: oligosaccharides are short chains of sugar molecules.

Most of the few naturally occurring oligosaccharides are found in plants; important oligosaccharide carbohydrates being raffinose and stachyose; they are found in beans and legumes but cannot be digested properly by our small intestine and end up being metabolized and expelled from the large intestine….oh shit!

There are several kinds of oligosaccharides, each made from different types of sugars: fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and inulin oligosaccharides consist of short chains of fructose molecules, while galacto-oligosaccharides consist of short chains of galactose molecules. All three types of oligosaccharides occur naturally, but they can be only partially digested by humans. The undigested portions remain in the body, and serve as food for probiotics and other "friendly" intestinal bacteria.

Research has established a positive relationship between oligosaccharides and friendly bacteria; intake of oligosaccharides can increase the amount of friendly bacteria in the gut, while simultaneously reducing the number of harmful bacteria.

Good bacteria and Intestinal Microbial Imbalance…

At certain times in an animal’s life, different exogenous factors - changes in feed, infections and parasites, antibiotic treatments… - lead to the balance within the intestines being disrupted, the entire digestive system is affected to a greater or lesser degree; the first symptom of this disruption is diarrhoea…not just loose poop…OK…squits, but the sign of a weakening of the intestinal defenses, which affords the possibility of the entry of disease-causing pathogens that attach themselves and multiply in the cells of the intestine lining. Diarrhoea not only entails less water but also fewer nutritive substances being absorbed…the very life of the animal thus affected may depend upon how serious the degree of dehydration is, and the resulting imbalance of electrolytes - this is because in conjunction with these changes in the “moisture content”, once the quantitative and qualitative change in the intestinal bacteria has taken place yet further infectious agents may settle into other body tissues.

There are many determining factors involved in the disruption of the balance of the intestinal flora (…and preventing this imbalance in animal production takes on a major degree of monetary importance) and this explains the reasons why many research studies have been undertaken aimed at pinpointing chemical and/ or biological products capable of preventing or avoiding these negative changes in the digestive ecosystem. One outcome of these aforementioned research studies has been the discovery of specific microorganisms which, when administered regularly, are capable of keeping the intestinal flora of animals healthy; these are known as probiotics.

Definition of “Probiotic”: according to Guarner and Schassfsman (1998) a “probiotic” is termed as being “live micro-organisms, which, after being ingested by an animal in a certain number, lead to benefits to the animal’s health which go beyond the merely nutritional”. In this definition, it is assumed that the ‘probiotic’ must have a positive impact on the composition of the intestinal microflora and provide noticeable health benefits for the animal in question.

Prebiotics, on the other hand, are non – digestible feed ingredients that produce a positive influence on the animal’s health by the selective stimulation of the activity and growth of the lactic acid bacteria present in the colon.

Prebiotics are carbohydrates that are both indigestible and unabsorbable by the animal organism, but easily fermentable by the intestinal bacteria, especially those in the colon; to be effective they must be able to pass the upper tracts of the digestive system and arrive at the large intestine. Among the prebiotics most studied are inulin (and its derivative oligofructose), fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), soya oligosaccharides (e.g. raffinose) and lactulose (lactose and fructose). FOS and inulin are found naturally in many plants, for example: leeks, onions, burdock, chicory and asparagus; FOS products derived from chicory root contain significant quantities of inulin.

Inulin, FOS and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), are found in abundant quantities in mothers milk and are responsible for the intestinal flora in suckling animals. Mothers’ milk is not the only place that these prebiotic substances are found: they are present in many diverse feed ingredients that allow a modification of the micro flora stimulating the growth of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.

The flora in the colon of suckling animals includes a high percentage of bifidobacterias, when suckling finishes this concentration is reduced and so weaning becomes an important stage for the introduction of prebiotics in the diet to favour the colonisation of beneficial flora in the intestine. Prebiotics aid the proliferation of the bifidobacteria and lactobacilli that act against gastrointestinal infections with preventative effects from diarrhoeas and gastroenteritis and also constipation, colitis and flatulence.

Nutrition

Ooowww by the light...

...of the (full) silvery moon.

Credit for picture must go here...Copyright © 2003 Santa Barbara Instrument Group.

I of course prefer the picture of the emerging moon below...except she's teasing me!!! Credit for which must go to that very naughty (I can talk!) Gavin Corder.

P.S. Temporary viewing fault: dear readers, this is a temporary postscript to allow the viewing of another nice moon (below) whilst we await the Blog-Image-Movement-Balance-Operator (BIMBO) to sort out blondie above: she should be wiggling her booty.

P.P.S. The slight technical hitch is now sorted (Wednesday 16th November...1:50pm): BIMBO has assisted the bimbo...but I'm leaving the nice (full) booty thatI used as a filler...oops, no! You know what Imean...

Hmmmmmmmm...booty...

Ooowww by the light...

...of the (full) silvery moon.

Credit for picture must go here...Copyright © 2003 Santa Barbara Instrument Group.

I of course prefer the picture of the emerging moon below...except she's teasing me!!! Credit for which must go to that very naughty (I can talk!) Gavin Corder.

P.S. Temporary viewing fault: dear readers, this is a temporary postscript to allow the viewing of another nice moon (below) whilst we await the Blog-Image-Movement-Balance-Operator (BIMBO) to sort out blondie above: she should be wiggling her booty.

P.P.S. The slight technical hitch is now sorted (Wednesday 16th November...1:50pm): BIMBO has assisted the bimbo...but I'm leaving the nice (full) booty thatI used as a filler...oops, no! You know what Imean...

Hmmmmmmmm...booty...

obscurum per obscurius...

This opiparous, orotund opuscle is hardly oratio recta; use of Ockham’s Razor would be orthopraxy and also help solve such obnubilation and obscurantism; no, don’t oblatrate or objurgate, your oblocution will not deny my oblectation.

I hope my obsession, my olamic onomatomania, does not obganiate or cause oscitance.

On other matters, my ombibulous habit may be the cause my oniochalasia; when at home, with keen osphresis and oxyopia, I maintain an olent olitory that obscures any odorvector, ozostomia or offensive, olid ordure.

Perhaps more importantly, despite obsolagnium, my ophelimity is optimal; or was that the olisbos?!! Well at least I can be orgulous of my osculation…or is that my oneirataxia!

Dedicated to optimistic opsimaths...the link may help!

S.O.

obscurum per obscurius...

This opiparous, orotund opuscle is hardly oratio recta; use of Ockham’s Razor would be orthopraxy and also help solve such obnubilation and obscurantism; no, don’t oblatrate or objurgate, your oblocution will not deny my oblectation.

I hope my obsession, my olamic onomatomania, does not obganiate or cause oscitance.

On other matters, my ombibulous habit may be the cause my oniochalasia; when at home, with keen osphresis and oxyopia, I maintain an olent olitory that obscures any odorvector, ozostomia or offensive, olid ordure.

Perhaps more importantly, despite obsolagnium, my ophelimity is optimal; or was that the olisbos?!! Well at least I can be orgulous of my osculation…or is that my oneirataxia!

Dedicated to optimistic opsimaths...the link may help!

S.O.

Obbligato...

Just as an afterthought to the post below on ornithogalum you may have presumed the word had something to do with birds i.e. ornithology etc. , and rightly so, ornitho/ ornith is from the Greek ornis, ornith - birds...hmmmm...birds... well, I expect you may be interested to know that an anagram of genus ornithogalum is:

'on until huge orgasm'!!

S.O.

(Superfluous happy smiley...and what a reason to be happy!)

Obbligato...

Just as an afterthought to the post below on ornithogalum you may have presumed the word had something to do with birds i.e. ornithology etc. , and rightly so, ornitho/ ornith is from the Greek ornis, ornith - birds...hmmmm...birds... well, I expect you may be interested to know that an anagram of genus ornithogalum is:

'on until huge orgasm'!!

S.O.

(Superfluous happy smiley...and what a reason to be happy!)

Ornithogalum...

This is my first Christmas post...sort of: the genus (not genius!...well actually, now I mention it...) of the title refers to the "star-of-Bethlehem", in botany it is a low, spring-blooming bulbous plant of the family Liliceae; there are numerous members of the genus, of which Ornithogalum umbellatum is the best known, the Lily family...my favourites...YES! - what's wrong with guys liking flowers! - they are native to the Mediterranean region but naturalized in North America and cultivated in gardens.

The plant has rather stiff*, grasslike leaves and a cluster of white star-shaped flowers marked on the back with green; it spreads easily but also tends to become weedy. Although the fresh plant is poisonous (as is often the case with things of beauty) the bulbs have been prepared and used as food in the Old World. The Christmas connection (the name star-of-Bethlehem) is because the flower has been associated with the star that guided the Wise Men to the manger. It is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Liliopsida, order Liliales, family Liliaceae.

* stiff eh?...despite this O. umbellatum is often known as Sleepydick!!!!

...you knew there had to be a reason I was posting this didn't you!

Ornithogalum...

This is my first Christmas post...sort of: the genus (not genius!...well actually, now I mention it...) of the title refers to the "star-of-Bethlehem", in botany it is a low, spring-blooming bulbous plant of the family Liliceae; there are numerous members of the genus, of which Ornithogalum umbellatum is the best known, the Lily family...my favourites...YES! - what's wrong with guys liking flowers! - they are native to the Mediterranean region but naturalized in North America and cultivated in gardens.

The plant has rather stiff*, grasslike leaves and a cluster of white star-shaped flowers marked on the back with green; it spreads easily but also tends to become weedy. Although the fresh plant is poisonous (as is often the case with things of beauty) the bulbs have been prepared and used as food in the Old World. The Christmas connection (the name star-of-Bethlehem) is because the flower has been associated with the star that guided the Wise Men to the manger. It is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Liliopsida, order Liliales, family Liliaceae.

* stiff eh?...despite this O. umbellatum is often known as Sleepydick!!!!

...you knew there had to be a reason I was posting this didn't you!

O...yes, the story...

Where has this been hiding!...sex, S/M, porno, erotica!....ooooohhhhhhhhh (sighs)...I feel faint.

It's an erotic classic yet it was written anonymously by a shy, intellectual French woman in honour of her secret lover….see this in the O..Observer

Histoire d'O (English title: "Story of O"…oh the joy! Wonderful… ) was published 1954 in French and is a fantasy of female submission (...hmmmm) about a Parisian fashion photographer who is subjected to one or all of the following at some stage and on various occasions: blindfolding, chained-up, whipped, branded, made to wear a mask, and ‘brainwashed’ to be on call at any hour for oral sex, vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse etc…oh, hang on that’s a bit much! More 'news' here...

In February 1955 this sadomasochistic novel won the French literature prize Prix des Deux Magots; even so the French authorities brought obscenity charges against the publisher. Since then there have been films and a TV series (when? where?!!!) It was written by Pauline Réage (yes, a woman), which was the nom de plume of Anne Desclos (1907-1998), who also wrote under the name of Dominique Aury...info and image (below) from the Wikipedia article (letter o) under various other meanings for 'O'.

Book...banned; film...banned; TV series...banned...it must be brilliant!!!!! It's all available now and would enlighten you all...go read!

S.O.

P.S. Thanks to the nigh-on famous Gavin Corder for my new image...the O...pumping... and pumping ...oh dear...I've gone all faint again.

O...yes, the story...

Where has this been hiding!...sex, S/M, porno, erotica!....ooooohhhhhhhhh (sighs)...I feel faint.

It's an erotic classic yet it was written anonymously by a shy, intellectual French woman in honour of her secret lover….see this in the O..Observer

Histoire d'O (English title: "Story of O"…oh the joy! Wonderful… ) was published 1954 in French and is a fantasy of female submission (...hmmmm) about a Parisian fashion photographer who is subjected to one or all of the following at some stage and on various occasions: blindfolding, chained-up, whipped, branded, made to wear a mask, and ‘brainwashed’ to be on call at any hour for oral sex, vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse etc…oh, hang on that’s a bit much! More 'news' here...

In February 1955 this sadomasochistic novel won the French literature prize Prix des Deux Magots; even so the French authorities brought obscenity charges against the publisher. Since then there have been films and a TV series (when? where?!!!) It was written by Pauline Réage (yes, a woman), which was the nom de plume of Anne Desclos (1907-1998), who also wrote under the name of Dominique Aury...info and image (below) from the Wikipedia article (letter o) under various other meanings for 'O'.

Book...banned; film...banned; TV series...banned...it must be brilliant!!!!! It's all available now and would enlighten you all...go read!

S.O.

P.S. Thanks to the nigh-on famous Gavin Corder for my new image...the O...pumping... and pumping ...oh dear...I've gone all faint again.

Ocular opiate...

...oodles of oomph on offer!

ODE: Occasionally one ogles optical opulence, on observing our offered ornamental opus or orgy of outstandingly ornate, operatic orb.

OUTCOME: Oracular?...Optimal oration owed ovation?... only OK?...oops.

Or...Ows owed on-line opprobrium or (oh!!) orchidectomy?!!

S.O.

Ocular opiate...

...oodles of oomph on offer!

ODE: Occasionally one ogles optical opulence, on observing our offered ornamental opus or orgy of outstandingly ornate, operatic orb.

OUTCOME: Oracular?...Optimal oration owed ovation?... only OK?...oops.

Or...Ows owed on-line opprobrium or (oh!!) orchidectomy?!!

S.O.

Oranges...the bottom of the barrel?

More than any other fruit, the orange is associated with its high vitamin C content.


Not surprisingly it is the primary source of vitamin C for many people in many countries. However oranges have more to offer nutritionally than just this one nutrient: a small orange contains generous levels of folate (folic acid), potassium, and thiamine, as well as some calcium and magnesium. (This and all you need to know here)

Orange trees are semitropical non-deciduous trees and probably originated in Southeast Asia; although everyone takes oranges for granted now at one time they were expensive and only rarely available in cooler climates; these days they ‘right up there’ with bananas and apples.

Skin colour is not a good guide to quality: Some oranges are artificially coloured with a harmless vegetable dye, while others may show traces of green although they are ripe. Through a natural process called "re-greening," the skins of ripe oranges sometimes revert to green if there are blossoms on the tree at the same time as the fruit; this is because the tree produces chlorophyll to nourish the blossoms, and some of the pigment may be taken up by the mature fruit. Oranges that have "re-greened" may actually be sweeter because they are extra-ripe.

Don’t get me wrong…I started this because I like oranges and nutrition(and the word begins with an ‘O’...gulp) , I thought a picture of oranges would look good on my blog (I think it does) and apparently some film directors like the look of oranges on the set, I liked this…oh God…Father.

...and even if any guys out there don't like the taste just look what thy can do for you...and I heard small ones are more juicy!

Nutrition

Oranges...the bottom of the barrel?

More than any other fruit, the orange is associated with its high vitamin C content.


Not surprisingly it is the primary source of vitamin C for many people in many countries. However oranges have more to offer nutritionally than just this one nutrient: a small orange contains generous levels of folate (folic acid), potassium, and thiamine, as well as some calcium and magnesium. (This and all you need to know here)

Orange trees are semitropical non-deciduous trees and probably originated in Southeast Asia; although everyone takes oranges for granted now at one time they were expensive and only rarely available in cooler climates; these days they ‘right up there’ with bananas and apples.

Skin colour is not a good guide to quality: Some oranges are artificially coloured with a harmless vegetable dye, while others may show traces of green although they are ripe. Through a natural process called "re-greening," the skins of ripe oranges sometimes revert to green if there are blossoms on the tree at the same time as the fruit; this is because the tree produces chlorophyll to nourish the blossoms, and some of the pigment may be taken up by the mature fruit. Oranges that have "re-greened" may actually be sweeter because they are extra-ripe.

Don’t get me wrong…I started this because I like oranges and nutrition(and the word begins with an ‘O’...gulp) , I thought a picture of oranges would look good on my blog (I think it does) and apparently some film directors like the look of oranges on the set, I liked this…oh God…Father.

...and even if any guys out there don't like the taste just look what thy can do for you...and I heard small ones are more juicy!

Nutrition

Ovum in tum...

Today, if we eat eggs at all, we almost always eat hens’ eggs, though the eggs of other fowl - including duck, goose and quail - are getting popular again.

Any egg should be worth a try however I did find the turtle eggs a bit more dry and gritty. An eggshell's colour is determined by the breed of bird (let’s forget the reptiles for now) that laid it and has nothing to do with either taste or nutritive value.

Eggs should always be refrigerated (and it’s best to store them large-end up) because when stored at room temperature they lose more quality in 1 day than in a week in the fridge so always keep them there and still in their carton; this helps prevent any possible damage but also avoids tainting because they can easily absorb odours especially from odoriferous foods (such as onions...onions...O...thinks...). Providing the shells are intact they can be refrigerated up to a month but the best flavour (and cooking quality) will be realized in eggs used within a week.

The egg is a nutritious, delicious food in its own right but it also has numerous other uses in ‘everyday item’: they help to leaven cakes, breads and of course soufflés; they provide a base for many dressings, especially mayonnaise; a thickener in sauces and custards and a clarifying agent for stocks etc. but with their significant protein, vitamin and mineral content and relatively low saturated fat content, eggs are most commonly eaten as ‘eggs’ and provide a valuable component in a healthy diet.

Egg protein is of high biological value as it contains all the essential amino acids needed by the human body; they therefore complement other food proteins of lower biological value by providing the amino acids that are in short supply in those foods. A whopping 12.5% of the weight of the egg is protein, which is found in both the yolk and the albumen; although the protein is more concentrated around the yolk there is in fact more protein in the ‘white’. Such is the high value and high digestibility of eggs that they provide a reference standard by which other foods are assessed.

Vitamins and minerals are also abundant: eggs contain most of the recognised vitamins with the exception of vitamin C; they are a good source of all the vitally important B vitamins (riboflavin etc) plus the fat-soluble vitamin A, provide useful amounts of vitamin D, as well as some vitamin E. Eggs contain most of the minerals that the human body requires for health; in particular they are an excellent source of iodine, required to make the thyroid hormone, and phosphorus, required for bone health. The egg provides zinc - good for growth, healing/ fighting infection great for shiny healthy hair and nails etc - selenium, an important antioxidant; and calcium, needed for bone and growth structure and nervous function. Eggs also contain significant amounts of iron, the vital ingredient of red blood cells, but the actual availability of this iron to the body is uncertain as yet...

Eggs contain only traces of carbohydrate and no dietary fibre but 10.8% of the egg content is fat. However, before you spit the dummy and scream “Unhealthy” you should understand that approximately 11% of an egg’s fatty acids are polyunsaturated, 44% monounsaturated and only 29% saturated; I have mentioned fatty acids in other posts and this becomes important when people talk of the ‘badness’ of eggs re cholesterol etc. Go here if you’re interested (from the same eggs and nutrition site) to find out how this really 'unhealthy' claim is not the case at all. The fat of an egg is found almost entirely in the yolk; there is less than 0.05% in the albumen.

Cholesterol and Lecithin (a phospholipid, essential for the metabolism of fats) are fat-like substances and are essential to the structure and function of all cells in the body. Cholesterol helps to maintain the flexibility and permeability of cell membranes and is also a raw material for the fatty lubricants that help to keep the skin supple. Cholesterol is essential for the production of sex hormones, cortisol, vitamin D and bile salts. Lecithin - of which choline is a major constituent - is involved in the general lipid transportation in the blood and in the metabolism of cholesterol.



Yes, you're right: this is the bottom of the post, or is that two eggs?
S.O.

Nutrition

Ovum in tum...

Today, if we eat eggs at all, we almost always eat hens’ eggs, though the eggs of other fowl - including duck, goose and quail - are getting popular again.

Any egg should be worth a try however I did find the turtle eggs a bit more dry and gritty. An eggshell's colour is determined by the breed of bird (let’s forget the reptiles for now) that laid it and has nothing to do with either taste or nutritive value.

Eggs should always be refrigerated (and it’s best to store them large-end up) because when stored at room temperature they lose more quality in 1 day than in a week in the fridge so always keep them there and still in their carton; this helps prevent any possible damage but also avoids tainting because they can easily absorb odours especially from odoriferous foods (such as onions...onions...O...thinks...). Providing the shells are intact they can be refrigerated up to a month but the best flavour (and cooking quality) will be realized in eggs used within a week.

The egg is a nutritious, delicious food in its own right but it also has numerous other uses in ‘everyday item’: they help to leaven cakes, breads and of course soufflés; they provide a base for many dressings, especially mayonnaise; a thickener in sauces and custards and a clarifying agent for stocks etc. but with their significant protein, vitamin and mineral content and relatively low saturated fat content, eggs are most commonly eaten as ‘eggs’ and provide a valuable component in a healthy diet.

Egg protein is of high biological value as it contains all the essential amino acids needed by the human body; they therefore complement other food proteins of lower biological value by providing the amino acids that are in short supply in those foods. A whopping 12.5% of the weight of the egg is protein, which is found in both the yolk and the albumen; although the protein is more concentrated around the yolk there is in fact more protein in the ‘white’. Such is the high value and high digestibility of eggs that they provide a reference standard by which other foods are assessed.

Vitamins and minerals are also abundant: eggs contain most of the recognised vitamins with the exception of vitamin C; they are a good source of all the vitally important B vitamins (riboflavin etc) plus the fat-soluble vitamin A, provide useful amounts of vitamin D, as well as some vitamin E. Eggs contain most of the minerals that the human body requires for health; in particular they are an excellent source of iodine, required to make the thyroid hormone, and phosphorus, required for bone health. The egg provides zinc - good for growth, healing/ fighting infection great for shiny healthy hair and nails etc - selenium, an important antioxidant; and calcium, needed for bone and growth structure and nervous function. Eggs also contain significant amounts of iron, the vital ingredient of red blood cells, but the actual availability of this iron to the body is uncertain as yet...

Eggs contain only traces of carbohydrate and no dietary fibre but 10.8% of the egg content is fat. However, before you spit the dummy and scream “Unhealthy” you should understand that approximately 11% of an egg’s fatty acids are polyunsaturated, 44% monounsaturated and only 29% saturated; I have mentioned fatty acids in other posts and this becomes important when people talk of the ‘badness’ of eggs re cholesterol etc. Go here if you’re interested (from the same eggs and nutrition site) to find out how this really 'unhealthy' claim is not the case at all. The fat of an egg is found almost entirely in the yolk; there is less than 0.05% in the albumen.

Cholesterol and Lecithin (a phospholipid, essential for the metabolism of fats) are fat-like substances and are essential to the structure and function of all cells in the body. Cholesterol helps to maintain the flexibility and permeability of cell membranes and is also a raw material for the fatty lubricants that help to keep the skin supple. Cholesterol is essential for the production of sex hormones, cortisol, vitamin D and bile salts. Lecithin - of which choline is a major constituent - is involved in the general lipid transportation in the blood and in the metabolism of cholesterol.

Yes, you're right: this is the bottom of the post, or is that two eggs?

S.O.

Nutrition

October's over...

Halloween special....a Sexy Witch...

Continuing on this theme, the following is taken from 'The Tools of the Craft', by Lee Thurmond: "The sacred tools of the Witch have been around for thousands of years and we present the basics here. There are many books that go into further detail and always remember that Witchcraft is truly a Life's Quest. As we all know there are numerous tools that are used world over by Witches on a daily basis. Some of these tools are a considered essential to certain individuals/or traditions and others may consider these same tools a hindrance or unnecessary."

The following is just a very brief snippet of what can be found in this 'Witchraft Basics' from The Witches' League For Public Awareness:

ATHAME: The next tool I would like to discuss briefly is the athame. The athame is usually a black handle, double edge knife [blogger's note: that's woken Gavin up!] and is strictly a ritual tool. It is a symbolic representative of the element of fire. It can be used as a tool for laying down a circle and also as a symbol representing the male aspect. Athames can be used to invoke the quarters, release the quarters, and are customarily used to assist with blessing the waters of life inside of the chalice, this blessing being symbolic of the Great Rite.

CAULDRON: The cauldron represents the gift of birth, death and rebirth, also knowledge and inspiration. The cauldron is a female aspect and is a symbolic representative of water, and it may also be used as a representation of fire. It is often referred to in connection with Cerridwen.

WAND: The wand has been known as a tool that is gentle in nature and has the male aspect, it is the symbolic representative of air. It is another tool that can be used for casting circle, invoking and releasing the quarters, and casting of spells, and some have used this in place of the athame or sword in the performance of the symbolic ritual of the Great Rite.

Etc.

It does scare me though...

S.O.

October's over...

Halloween special....a Sexy Witch...

Continuing on this theme, the following is taken from 'The Tools of the Craft', by Lee Thurmond.
"The sacred tools of the Witch have been around for thousands of years and we present the basics here. There are many books that go into further detail and always remember that Witchcraft is truly a Life's Quest. As we all know there are numerous tools that are used world over by Witches on a daily basis. Some of these tools are a considered essential to certain individuals/or traditions and others may consider these same tools a hindrance or unnecessary."

The following is just a very brief snippet of what can be found in this 'Witchraft Basics' from The Witches' League For Public Awareness:

ATHAME: The next tool I would like to discuss briefly is the athame. The athame is usually a black handle, double edge knife [blogger's note: that's woken Gavin up!] and is strictly a ritual tool. It is a symbolic representative of the element of fire. It can be used as a tool for laying down a circle and also as a symbol representing the male aspect. Athames can be used to invoke the quarters, release the quarters, and are customarily used to assist with blessing the waters of life inside of the chalice, this blessing being symbolic of the Great Rite.

CAULDRON: The cauldron represents the gift of birth, death and rebirth, also knowledge and inspiration. The cauldron is a female aspect and is a symbolic representative of water, and it may also be used as a representation of fire. It is often referred to in connection with Cerridwen.


WAND: The wand has been known as a tool that is gentle in nature and has the male aspect, it is the symbolic representative of air. It is another tool that can be used for casting circle, invoking and releasing the quarters, and casting of spells, and some have used this in place of the athame or sword in the performance of the symbolic ritual of the Great Rite.

Etc.

It does scare me though...

S.O.