Gisele Bundchen

Gisele Bundchen

Gisele Caroline Bundchen is the highest paid supermodel in the world, although she has denied making overly exorbitant sums in an interview. She stands 5’11’’ tall, has blue eyes, dark blond hair and perfect measurements. Although like most top models she is very thin, she has been praised as putting feminine curves back into fashion. While on the Ellen DeGeneres Show the beauty recounted that she follows no special diet, even succumbing to fries on a regular basis. To PETA’s (the animal rights organization) dismay, the young woman has always maintained her love of meat and sometimes even advertized fur.

She was discovered at age 14, in her home country Brazil, although her distant ancestry is German. While she previously dated Leonardo Dicaprio, in 2009 she married footballer Tom Brady, and later in the year gave birth to a baby boy named Benjamin. Her husband has another son from a previous marriage, a previous marriage that apparently ended because of Gisele, bringing many negative comments on her for being a home wrecker (similar to the story concerning Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, only worse since there was a child involved).

Gisele’s personal life, although kept as private as possible, has gotten her into trouble on at least one other occasion. While nursing her son she proclaimed that there should be a global law regulating such behavior. Even though she later took to her Twitter to explain her statement by stating that she was only caring about what is best for her newborn and meant to leave any regulations alone, the damage was done. Many fans were disgusted and lost their previous admiration for the star. Nonetheless, she remains one of the richest and most famous supermodels.

She has been rumored to have a rivals’ feud with the model whose legs got her a Guinness World record, another Brazilian model of German origin, Ana Hickman. On the friendly side, Gisele is said to get along well with Karolina Kurkova, an international model from Czech Republic, who replaced the American model, actress (The Fifth Element) and musician Milla Jovovich, as the Mercedes Benz ads girl.

Gisele Bundchen. Photo in public domain.

Gothic Architecture

Goth Subculture, Gothic Architecture and Gothika

The concept of Gothic art remains unclear. Gothic art may refer to sark fantasy art, vampire art or simply pictorials depicting macabre scenery, such as cemeteries and witchcraft. The goth subculture began in England in the 1980s and is notably related to rock bands, such as Joy Division and Bauaus. High schools are perhaps some of the first experiences one gets with segregation. Indeed, teenagers in high schools segregate themselves intro groups or crowds. Goths is an appellation often attributed to those who wear predominantly black clothing and wear black make-up. The cartoon South Park has a few Goth-themed characters.

Gothic is a style often attributed to culture and way of dressing. Likewise, it is a style of architecture. For example, in the way windows are done. Gothic architecture mostly refers to churches and cathedrals, particularly those constructed in Europe during the associated period. Many books have been written on the subject, subdividing the Gothic into other styles, such as the Burgundian Gothic style or the Rayonnant Gothic. An example of Gothic style architecture is the Saint-Dennis, Abbey Church in France. Also, Gothika is a horror movie starring the beautiful Halle Berry. In the film, she is haunted by ghosts.

All the pictures have been taken by Elena.

Bloor street in Toronto.

Facade of a church in Toronto.

Gothic view.

Church.

Gothic roofs.

Stone Church on Davenport road.

Casa Loma Gothic view.

Gothic buildings.

Gothic roofs of the University of Toronto.

34 Chestnut Park.

Gothic, just gothic.

Gothic window.

Gothic House.

Entance Gothic.

Toronto building.

The autobiography of Jean-Luc Picard

The autobiography of Jean-Luc Picard

The story of one of Starfleet's most inspirational Captains

By Jean-Luc Picard (edited by David A. Goodman)

New Paris was one of Earth's oldest and largest colonies, dating back before the founding of the Federation. It had a popualtion of over three million, and the planet had a wide viariety of populated ecosystems. When we arrived, Mazzara provided me with exact coordinates of the home where Laughton's ex-wife lived.

"Shouldn't we try to call first?" I said. "It seems strange to go in unannounced.""Laughtion's instructions were to do just that," 'azzara said. She doesn't have a communicator. Wants her privacy." Me showing up with no warning seemed to fly in the face of that desire, but I decided to follow orders.

I went to the transporter room. Anthony Mazzara was on duty. I gave him the coordinates.

"Kind of hard picturing fat Captain Laughton finding a wife," he said.

"Belay that," I said, and got on the transporter pad. There was no bottom to the depths the Mazzara boys would dive.

I beamed down to find myself in a lush ticket of trees and vines. I could hear a soft rain high above, but the canopy of leaves kept much of it from reaching me. It was a serene and beautiful environment.

How did you find me? (Photo by Elena).

I took out my tricorder and detected a structure not far away. There were no life-form readings, however. I moved through the thicket and in a few moments found a house, one story high, set in amongst the forest, made of indigenous wood and stone. It had a natural camouflage making it impossible to see until I was almost upon it. But my scanning for life-forms was still unsuccessful.

"Hands in the air," a woman's voice said, behind me. I did as she told me. The woman circled around me. She wore a long gown and a wide-brimmed hat, and held a large, formidable-looking rifle, aimed right at me.

"How did you find me? I knwo it wasn't that tricorder, I can fool those stupid things."

"Un... I'm from the Stargazer. Captain Humphrey Laughton..."

"Figured that loser would come bothering me," she said. "What does he want?"

"I'm very sorry to inform you..."

"Wait a minute..." she said, breaking out into an infectious smile. "You're Jean-Luc Picard... Oh my, it's been such a long time, and I didn't recognize you with all that hair." This caught me off guard. I'd never seen this woman before. But she obviously knew me. She lowered her rifle, so I dropped my hands.

"I'm sorry, you have me at a disadvantage," I said. "You know me? Her demeanor suddenly changed. She seemed slightly awkward with the situation, but also amused.

Insects That Will Set You Free

Gardening: Insects That Will Set You Free

If you want to use natural predators to fight destructive bugs, here's a rundown of friendly enforcers and the garden pests that they can help control.

Assassin bugs: Aphids, caterpillars, Colorado potato beetles, Japanese beetles, leafhoppers, Mexican bean beetles.

Encarsia formosa: Whiteflies.

Fireflies: Mites, snails, slugs.

Green lacewings: Aphids, corn carworms, leafhoppers, mealybugs, mites, nymphs, scales, thrips, whiteflies.

Ladybugs: Aphids, chinch bugs, rootworms, scales, spider mites, weevils, whiteflies.

Minute pirate bugs: Aphids, spider, mites, thrips, whiteflies.

Praying mantis: Aphids, beetles, caterpillars, flies, leafhoppers.

Robber, syrphid and tachinid flies: Aphids, beetles, flies, grasshoppers, Japanese beetles, leafhoppers, mealybugs, scales, many varieties of caterpillar.

Spiders: Almost all kinds of insects (be careful of poisonous species).

Wasps: (Braconid Chalcid, Ichneumon and Trichogramma). Armyworms, cabbage loopers, corn borers, cutworms, hornworms, fruitworms, harmful butterflies, and moths.

Fertilizers help grow your garden. Picture by Elena.

The Organic Alternatives

Organic fertilizers are substances derived from plants, animals, or minerals. They contain essential elements for plant growth. In contrast to synthetic fertilizers, they occur naturally, which means they may be physically processed but are never chemically altered or mixed with synthetic materials. To ensure effective use, consult these application guidelines from the American Horticultural Society, adjusting them when necessary to take into account soil conditions and the type of plants being raised:

Fertilizer – Application Rate per 1,000 sq.ft - Uses

• Alfalfa meal – 40-50 lb, 4 appl./yr – A green manure. Breaks down easily to provide nitrogen.
• Blood meal – 10-30 lbs, 1 appl./yr – Readily available nitrogen; speeds decomposition of compost.
• Bone meal 10-20 lbs, 1 appl./yr – Excellent sources of phosphorus; raises pH. Good for fruits, bulbs, flowers.
• Cattle manure 30 lb – Valuable soil additive. If fresh, will burn.
• Compost – 2-inch depth, 1 appl./yr – Valuable source of trace elements such as calcium, iron, magnesium, manganses, sulfur, zinc.
• Cottonseed meal 2-30 lbs, 1 appl./yr – Acidifies soil: lasts 4-6 months.
• Fish emlusion 2 oz per gal.water (2-3 spray appl./yr) – A goof foliar spray, or liquid fertilizer, for early spring.
• Fish meal 20 lbs (1-2 appl./yr) – Readily available nitrogen; speeds decomposition of compost.
• Seaweed – 1 oz per gal.water – Contains natural growth hormones.
• Sul-Po-Mag 20 lbs, 1 appl./yr – High in potash. Recommended for plants suffering iron chlorosis.

Converting Fertilizer Rates

Fertilizers often are labeled with big-time planters in mind, but if your are planting only a small corner of your backyard, it's easy to convert the application rates. Gardening experts say it's better to measure by volume than by weight when you are dealing with small quantities of fertilizer. You can convert rates assuming that two cups of fertilizer weigh about a pound – the standard weight of most commercially available fertilizers.

Joy of Heirlooms

The Joy of Heirlooms

Antic seeds offer gardeners a lush, colorful alternative

Unable to grow the kind of zucchini or zinnias that abounded in your grandfather's garden? Perhaps you yearn for the juicy tomatoes you recall as a child. If so, then join the growing number of gardeners who have discovered the joy of cultivating antique crops.

Every year, backyard gardeners, historic-site groundskeepers, and a few mall-order companies make available their stock of antique or heir-loom seeds. Many of them have been kept by the same family for as many as 150 years.

Modern gardening emphasizes compact plants with dense foliage and multipetaled flowers. That means that owners of historic homes can't rely on modern hybrids for their gardens if they are stickers for historical accuracy. For example, Old Sturbridge Villlage, Mass., offers Lady's Slipper seeds, that are kissing cousins of today's New Guinea impatiens. But the Lady's Slipper grows to nearly 3 feet and produces beautiful salmon and white flowers. Another example is the Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, Iowa, which promotes the preservation of rare vegetable varieties, as antique plants provide a wealth of variation in colors, flavors, petal habit, and plant height. Anytime something is kept for 150 years in the same location, it usually develops a natural resistance to pests and disease.

Experts recommend that gardeners start by growing beans and tomatoes, which are among the heartiest antique varieties. One favorite, the Brandy-wine Tomato, has unusual potato-leaved vines and produces medium-size fruit with thick, meaty walls and fine flavor. Another standout, the vigorous Scarlet Runner Bean, is a hit with antique gardeners because it attracts hummingbirds with its ornamental red flowers.

Keep in mind, however, that not all antique seeds are prize-winners – at least when it comes to disease and pest resistance. For example, novice gardeners should avoid some antique cucumber varieties because they are susceptible to bacterial wilts.

Antique seed garden. Photo by Elena.

When to Fertilize Your Vegetable Plants

Side-dressing is simply a mid-season fertiliaer boost. Here are the vegetables that require it:

• Asparagus – before growth starts in spring, and after harvesting to promote fern growth.
• Beans – No need to side-dress.
• Beets – No need to side-dress.
• Broccoli – Three weeks after transplanting.
• Cabbage – Three weeks after transplanting.
• Carrots – No need to side-dress.
• Cauliflower – Three weeks after transplanting.
• Cucumbers – At stand-up stage, just before they start to run.
• Eggplant – When plants start to blossom.
• Kale - Four weeks after planting.
• Lettuce – No need to side-dress.
• Muskmelon – At stand-up stage, just before they start to run.
• Onions – Four weeks and six weeks after planting.
• Peas – No need to side-dress.
• Peppers – When plants start to blossom.
• Spinach – No need to side-dress.
• Squash – At stand-up stage, just before they start to run
• Tomatoes – When plants start to blossom
• Turnips – No need to side-dress.
• Watermelon – At stand-up stage just before they start to run.