Paris Parfait

World Blog Day 2007

September 2 amended to add:

I am delighted to report that Maddie of Persisting Stars has presented me with another Creative Blogger Award and that Robin of My Melange has honoured Paris Parfait on World Blog Day. Both women are two of my favourite bloggers. And later this month, I'll be meeting Robin in Paris! How lucky am I!

Today is World Blog Day and I'm thrilled that Rosa of Las Cosas de Rosa in Venezuela has named my blog as one of her top five interesting blogs. In turn, I'm to name five blogs that I recommend. In no particular order they are

Caty of Cronicas de la Rochelle (France)
Ali of Austin to Africa, Brasil to the Bay (Mozambique)
Gillian of Indigo Blue (Canada)
Mauricio of El Collage (Brasil)
Britt-Arnhild of Britt-Arnhild's House in the Woods (Norway)

Also in August, Gillian of the aforementioned Indigo Blue nominated me for a Creative Blogger Award and Nina of Milla on the Milky Way nominated me for a Rockin' Girl Blogger Award. Any woman on my blog roll certainly qualifies for the latter. And I'd say the five bloggers above also qualify for the Creative Blogger Award. Forgive me for not following the rules to the letter, but my daughter Jordana is home and we're racing around all over Paris. I'll catch up with your blogs and email soon!

Paradox of Paris

A family of foreign tourists stands near a man sleeping on the sidewalk in Paris.

A crippled woman ekes out a meager subsistence by begging money from passersby.

Most people walk past without seeing the woman, an unpleasant reminder that life isn't always rosy in Paris. Like all big cities, Paris struggles to assist a large homeless population.

Hard to acknowledge
division of rich and poor
is so unbalanced

Photos by David Holmes

Canadian readers and word of mouth

Who is this lovely couple, you might ask? It's Nancy and Joe Sotham from Canada.; how they came to be in our apartment is a serendipitous tale.

It all started when a Canadian woman named Melissa Geddes stumbled upon my blog. Melissa, who lives in a small town near Vancouver, sent email saying she was going to tell her friends about Paris Parfait.

During the course of the Postcard Project, I was contacted by another reader, Colleen Moberg, also Canadian. At some point, a third reader - Nancy Sotham - emailed, saying she enjoyed my blog and asked to be included in the Postcard Project. Nancy later wrote again, saying she and her husband were bringing their children to France for six weeks this summer and hoped we might meet. I responded, suggesting we have lunch.

Meanwhile, Colleen (or was it Melissa?) emailed me, saying something to the effect that she understood Nancy and I would be meeting in Paris; that Nancy was her friend and a very charming and interesting woman. Still, I didn't get the connection, as each of the three women's addresses provided for the Postcard Project were in different areas. Turns out they all live in the same town of Squamish, in different neighbourhoods that kept their unique names. And each of the three women belongs to the same book club, which meets monthly. It is hoped that someday they'll be reading my book!

On Sunday, David and I spent a lovely afternoon with Nancy and Joe. As we were just back from England and they were returning to Canada the next day, luckily, we were able to squeeze in a visit. We had so much fun, before we knew it, it was nearly 7 p.m. and our new friends had to leave. No doubt, our paths will cross again. Meeting Nancy and Joe is yet another example of the myriad benefits of blogging. Thank you, Melissa, for spreading the word about Paris Parfait!

Dettori rides Authorized to triumph at York

Tension and excitement build, waiting for the Juddmore International Stakes race to begin August 21 in the Ebor Meet at York, England.

LaFranco Dettori rides Authorized towards the racecourse. The horse is trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam and is owned by Saleh Al Homeizi and Imad Al Sagar.

Here they come, full speed ahead!

The horses round the bend at a spirited pace.

Dettori powers Authorized past strong competitors Dylan Thomas, Duke of Marmelade and NotNowCato.

Dettori urges Authorized onward towards the finish line.

He's got it! Authorized wins the Juddmonte International Stakes, Group 1, Class 1! Racing pundits expect Authorized to be a strong contender at the Prix de l'arc de Triomphe on October 7 at Hippodrome de Longchamp, Paris.

Race officials and photographers wait for Frankie Dettori to ride Authorized into the Winner's Circle at York.

One of the horse's owners is interviewed by local television.

An Equidia television reporter from Paris interviews one of Authorized's happy owners.

A jubiliant LaFranco Dettori riding Authorized is led into the Winner's Circle.

Dettori talks to officials, after his traditional victory leap from the horse.

Mission accomplished, Frankie Dettori heads to the jockey quarters for post-race procedures.

All photos are copyright of Tara Bradford and may not be used without express permission.

A day at the races in York

Jockeys walk past horse owners and trainers on the way to their rides last Tuesday at the Ebor Meeting at York, England.

Crowds spill into the streets at the races.

Another crowd scene at York.

Horses parade around the rink prior to each race.

Lucarno was the winner of the Ladbrokes Great Voltigeur Stakes, Group 2. Ridden by Jimmy Fortune, the horse is trained by JHM Gosden and owned by George Strawbridge.

The Veuve Cliquot pavilion on opening day at the York Racecourse.

The Juddmonte hospitality pavilion was fronted by two late-model Jaguars.

A Channel 4 (England) reporter reads from her notes before the start of the race.

Jockey Johnny Murtagh heads towards the racecourse.

Irish horse trainer Aidan O'Brien checks his phone for messages.

An enthusiastic crowd watches a close race.

Horses round the bend at full speed in their quest for victory.

Racehorse owners chat in the parade rink at York.

York grandstands and private boxes for viewing the races.

Wearing an elaborate hat on opening day of the Ebor Meet at York.

The grandstands decorated by rows of fresh flowers.

Jockey Jamie Spencer en route to the racecourse.

A pensive Jamie Spencer, pre-race.

Jamie Spencer rides a different horse in another race at York.

LaFranco Dettori rides Sargeant Cecil in the Weatherbys Insurance Lonsdale Cup, Class 1. The horse is trained by BR Millman and owned by Terry Cooper.

A reflective Frankie Dettori, riding Sargeant Cecil en route to the racecourse. Septimus, ridden by Johnny Murtagh won the race.

Booths are set up allowing punters to place their bet on each race. No, we did not bet any money!

Channel 4 eccentric horseracing personality John McCririck compares notes with a punter. Besides his penchant for horseracing, McCririck is known to British audiences for participating in Celebrity Big Brother and Wife Swap television shows.

The Channel 4 team share a laugh. Look at the size of McCririck's cigar!

Jockeys head towards their mounts.

Post-race enthusiasts head home across the Skeldergate Bridge in York.

More racegoers in their "Ladies' Day" finery head home. Several women attending the races seemed more appropriately dressed for a wedding than the races.

All photos are copyright of Tara Bradford and David Holmes and may not be used without express permission.

Meeting Di of Designers' Block UK

Colourful flowers decorate a gift shop in Corbridge, England.

Okay, I had one photo of the fabulous Di of Designers' Block UK and me standing in front of the closed RE store in Corbridge. Di and her charming partner Harvey live in a fantastic cottage in Northumberland National Park; David and I were staying in a riverfront apartment in York. We met in Corbridge specifically to go to RE, only to find it closed (on Mondays)! My husband David took our photo with my camera; which he dislikes (he has a fancy schmancy Nikon digital). As the photo is less than flattering, let's give it a miss.

We met Di and Harvey at The Angel, a lively pub in Corbridge and had coffee and tea before heading to RE. Since it was closed, we were FORCED to go to an antiques shop, Hedley's of Corbridge, which specialises in Arts and Crafts furniture. You know how I admire the Arts and Crafts style; I was in my element. My mind was racing, trying to work out what pieces might fit in our Paris apartment. I even asked Di and Harvey if a particular chair (see below) would fit in their car when they come to Paris next month. The cheek! That is, until I discovered the price, which gave me pause. These items are rare and seldom come on the market; when they do, they're typically snapped up in a heartbeat.

We left the store without buying a single thing, although I took the shop owner's details, in case I had a brainstorm about how to afford the chair or fit anything else into our apartment. Di bought a gorgeous silver candlelabra, which will probably be gussied up for her Ghost Furniture line. Then Di and Harvey took us for a stroll by the River Tyne and around the town, highlights in the photos below. After a pleasant lunch at The Angel, we drove about 45 minutes up and down roller-coaster hills and through some breathtaking scenery to their cottage. It is in a remote, stunningly-beautiful area, with wide-open spaces and views well worth the drive. And of course, the cottage is exactly what you'd want a cottage to be - small, but cozy and decorated in Di's unique style of elegance, with a bit of whimsy. Naturally the cottage has a spiral staircase, as one might expect from such stylish owners.

After tea, we had a special treat: not only did we get to see some pieces of Di's Ghost Furniture line in her workshop, Harvey the webmaster treated us to the "world premiere" of the Ghost Furniture website. I expect Di's brilliantly quirky designs will be flying out the door soon. The "Green Tea" and "Foot Stool" are two of my favourite pieces. Watch for them in September!

At the end of the afternoon, David and I reluctantly bid our new friends farewell. Luckily, next month, they're coming to Paris. Di and I will be off to the brocante at Chatou and to visit Agape Deco in Paris.

This bridge built in Roman times has survived centuries and catastrophic weather, including floods. The oldest of the medieval bridges, it was finally replaced in 1674.

The River Tyne, fast-flowing and swollen after recent heavy rains.

Houses glimpsed through the trees while standing on the bridge.

A grand mansion in Corbridge.

A local shop window - Di says this sculptural rendition has been featured in the window "for donkey's years."

Arrows once were fired through slots at unwelcome visitors approaching the Vicar's Pele in Corbridge.

This tower was built around 1300 AD for the local vicar. Until the 17th-century, it was lived in as a fortified vicarage.

The city sign with historical highlights of the town.

Another town pub, The Black Bull. I adore these old stone buildings.

This is the Shapland and Petter Arts & Crafts chair that made my heart skip a beat. Note the hand-carved detail and the handpainted peacock feathers. The chair next to it (at left) is a William Morris design.

Another fine example of Arts & Crafts furniture. We don't need another table but I like the honeycomb effect on the top of this one.

Arts & Crafts buffet cabinet with original hardware.

Arts & Crafts oak chest with original drawer handles.

Another beautiful buffet cabinet.

A crewelwork fire screen in excellent condition.

A Liberty & Co. bureau or secretaire.

A vintage oak desk with slots for files and mail.

Vintage clothing and porcelain pieces.

Gone too soon

Handmade sign posted on gates surrounding a riverfront warehouse in York, England. The beautiful brick building is expected to be transformed into flats or a supper club. But the philosophy expressed on the sign also applies to the following story.

I have lots of lovely photos and stories from our travels to follow, but please bear with me, as first I feel compelled to write about this story. It's haunted me since I heard the news late last week. You may have heard that in Liverpool, England 11-year-old Rhys Jones was shot and killed on his way home from football practice. To lose a child is every parent's worst nightmare; Rhys's parents gave a heartbreaking interview to ITV News. The grieving father talked in disbelief about going into his son's room where Rhys's school supplies, pencils and pens are waiting and his new uniform for middle school hangs in the cupboard. The Jones family appealed to the community to come forward with information to find their son's killer.

The English television news and newspapers have been full of the police search for the killer - apparently a young teenager wearing a hoodie got off his BMX bike to shoot Rhys - and the community's reluctance to come forward with information that might help solve the crime. Several teens have been arrested, then released. In an area fraught with violence and youth gangs, no one is saying much.

Rhys and his family weren't part of this gang culture; they lived in a lovely home in a respectable middle-class housing area. Rhys loved playing football with his friends and was a big fan of the premiere-league Everton team. He was looking forward to starting a new school this fall. Rhys was a normal little boy, apparently killed in a case of mistaken identity. But the message is clear: what happened to young Rhys Jones could happen to my child or yours. Gun violence has leapt from being largely concentrated in impoverished inner-city neighbourhoods to being perceived as a threat to anyone, practically anywhere, anytime.

It's clear that something is deeply wrong with our society: far too many children fail to learn boundaries. Often they lack guidance and encouragement at home, do poorly at school and feel a sense of hopelessness and futility about future prospects. Poverty is part of the problem, but an equal contributing factor is that no one is paying attention as children start to go off the rails. Too many young teens turn to gangs, where acting tough and indulging in violent crime earns respect from their peers. In the same area of Liverpool where Rhys was murdered - Croxteth - a teenager was killed last year and shopkeepers were told to close their businesses as a sign of respect. They did, so fearful were they of gang reprisals.

Youth workers suggest the main crisis is not parenting, but of lack of opportunities for working-class boys. At age 14, one in five boys in England has the reading ability of a seven-year-old; government statistics indicate that 90,000 boys leave school every year with no qualifications. Alarmingly, 1.2 million youths between the ages of 16 and 24 are not in education, employment or training. The decline of industrial manufacturing has left a huge employment gap that no one has figured out how to fill.

Boroughs of England's cities most affected by gun crime are economically-deprived, situated right next to areas of thriving prosperity. Teens seeking respect, but gaining none from society may use aggression to gain if not respect, then its nemesis of fear. Violence often is fueled by distorted perceptions of being "disrespected" - minor incidents can result in loss of life. Numerous studies have shown that respect and status are at the core of every individual's self-esteem. Otherwise, youths may abandon hope for their future and resent and/or lash out at those perceived as having better opportunities.

Gone too soon

Bright promise unfulfilled
young victim of gun violence
that shouldn't exist
in a civilised society
in a rich country.

Community uncomprehending
that this could happen here,
yet afraid to come forward
and reveal what they witnessed
while standing outside a pub.

Young teen crying out for help
that's missing: no job, no chance,
taking the wrong path
where violence is the order of the day
in desperate need to belong

to something that makes him feel
worth something; a sense of respect.
So why does he feel so empty
after firing those shots
taking the life of another?

Nowhere to go from here,
hiding in the shadows
in a downward spiral
of more violence and crime
until a jail cell or bullet is marked for him.

A vicious circle:
he, too is somebody's son,
so why must he choose
such a dead-end road
that ends in a trail of tears?

Photo of marble sculpture of a cherub crying at York Minster Cathedral, York, England.

The wanderer returns

Photos of a wicker picnic basket and vintage leather luggage at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway station in Pickering, England. We rode two fantastic steam trains; photos and stories to come.

David and I arrived in Paris late Saturday, after two fun-filled weeks in jolly olde England. As one might expect, we were treated to rain, fog and cool weather, with occasional bouts of sunshine. Our journey took us from Devon in the Southwest to York and Northumberland in the Northeast, Along the way I snapped hundreds of photos, exhausting my camera's battery. Plus I had to buy a new memory card and my pen ran out of ink, from jotting down so many notes!

One of the holiday's highlights was meeting the fabulous Di Overton of Designers' Block UK and her charming partner Harvey. Stories about that and much more, beginning Monday. Today David and I are hosting friends visiting from Canada. Am looking forward to catching up with all your blogs and email soon!

Vivez l'ete!

"No cord or cable can so forcibly draw, or hold so fast, as love can do with a twined thread." - Robert Burton, 1577-1640; photo, spools of thread from a 1920s French sewing cabinet.

The mystery man

Thanks to all the readers who tried to guess the identity of the mystery man. Alas, the answers are incorrect. When I saw that handsome man walking down the street towards me, my first thought was "Brad Pitt!" This was certainly possible, as Brad and his partner Angelina Jolie have been in France recently; some time ago I saw Angelina walking in the same area. Then I decided he was too short to be Pitt, but he looked very familiar. So I turned my camera towards the window, to get his photo in the reflection, as he walked past. I think he's a French rugby player, but don't know his name. The Rugby World Cup begins next month in Paris, so perhaps I'll discover his identity then. Thanks for playing along.

Changes in France

This being August, hundreds of thousands of Parisiens have vacated the city for seaside retreats. Many businesses are closed for renovation, as the store owners receive government tax breaks for physical improvements to their property. On the first day of August, I walked into the pharmacy we've frequented for the past six-and-a-half years to discover the owner had retired, the place had been bought and everything was in a different place! Just two days before, I 'd been in to see the previous pharmacist , Monsieur Altobelli and he'd made no mention of his intentions. This seems to be the norm in France; major changes are made with little fanfare or interruption of service. No chance to say "au revoir" to the old and "felicitations" to the new.

Meanwhile at the post office, I took several packages to mail to a woman in Texas. I am a "picker" for antiques and collectibles for her store. The clerk spent several minutes at his computer keyboard, looking puzzled. Finally he called over a colleague to help, but neither could find a reference to "Les Etats Unis" in the computer. His colleague joked in French, "Maybe Bush has blocked all mail from France now." At last they discovered La Poste's computer listing for the United States is now "Les Etats Unis de Amerique" - yet another bureaucratic change made without warning. When I returned this week to La Poste , the same clerk smiled and said, "We are still allowed to send mail to America - this week. Who knows about next week?" Since Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy had lunch Saturday at the Bush family home in Maine, it's probably safe to assume mail services will remain intact.

Intellectual property and copyright issues

As internet usage becomes more widespread, copyright and intellectual property issues continue to arise. Recently, several of my photographs have been used on other websites. While my work is copyrighted, I have agreed to "share and share alike usage" as long as attribution is provided and my work is not reproduced for profit. But in these instances, the only way I knew my photographs were used in other websites was through Technorati links. People who use someone else's photographs or words are required to include written attribution somewhere in their piece - readers should not have to click on photographs to determine their original source.

Further, I have noticed some bloggers - who certainly know better - use photographs from unknown sources, without any attribution whatsoever. This is unfair to the original photographer. If you see instances such as this, ask the blogger to give credit where credit is due. We work hard to produce original content; reprinting it without attribution is not only rude, it's intellectual property theft.

Summer daze

My dear fanciful friend Vanessa has named me as one of five "bathing beauty wonders of the day" on her blog. Best to take a peek now; it's the last time you'll ever see me in a swimsuit - and a crown. Did you notice those delightful paintings? The Mime's Protege soon will be jetting off to Miss Valencia's Paris galerie.

Speaking of travel, we're off on holiday. It will seem strange being away from the computer for two weeks, but I'll return with lots of stories and photos. Will catch up with your blogs and email at the end of August. Hope you enjoy the remainder of the summer. Vivre l'ete!

A concert, censored lyrics and a cautionary tale

Photo of a Rock en Seine poster in a Paris metro station. The original poster designed for the event was removed, because of a printing error: Amy Winehouse was spelled "Amy Whinehouse." If you're in the city August 24-26, check out the annual concert at Saint Cloud.

Telecommunications giant AT&T is denying it censored lyrics criticizing George Bush during a Pearl Jam performance, blaming the omission on a technical glitch. On Thursday AT&T spokesman Michael Coe said, "Those lyrics in no way, shape or form, are something that should have been edited." But Pearl Jam has a different take on the matter, as reported on their website:

After concluding our Sunday night show at Lollapalooza, fans informed us that portions of that performance were missing and may have been censored by AT&T during the "Blue Room" Live Lollapalooza Webcast. When asked about the missing performance, AT&T informed Lollapalooza that portions of the show were in fact missing from the webcast, and that their content monitor had made a mistake in cutting them.

During the performance of "Daughter" the following lyrics were sung to the tune of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall" but were cut from the webcast:

- "George Bush, leave this world alone." (the second time it was sung) and

- "George Bush find yourself another home."

This, of course, troubles us as artists but also as citizens concerned with the issue of censorship and the increasingly consolidated control of the media. AT&T's actions strike at the heart of the public's concerns over the power that corporations have when it comes to determining what the public sees and hears through communications media.

Aspects of censorship, consolidation, and preferential treatment of the internet are now being debated under the umbrella of "NetNeutrality." Check out The Future of Music or Save the Internet for more information on this issue.

Most telecommunications companies oppose "net neutrality" and argue that the public can trust them not to censor. Even the ex-head of AT&T, CEO Edward Whitacre, whose company sponsored our troubled webcast, stated just last March that fears his company and other big network providers would block traffic on their networks are overblown.

"Any provider that blocks access to content is inviting customers to find another provider." (Marguerite Reardon, Staff Writer, CNET News.com Published: March 21, 2006, 2:23 PM PST).

But what if there is only one provider from which to choose? If a company that is controlling a webcast is cutting out bits of our performance -not based on laws, but on their own preferences and interpretations - fans have little choice but to watch the censored version.

What happened to us this weekend was a wake up call, and it's about something much bigger than the censorship of a rock band.

To see the video of the Pearl Jam performance, go here.

eBay music sellers beware

Remember how Universal had a video of a child dancing to a Prince song taken down from You-Tube, claiming copyright infringement? Now Universal is being sued by an eBay seller is taking on Universal Music after the record industry giant targeted his online music sales with false claims of copyright infringement.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the San Francisco law firm of Keker & Van Nest LLP are representing Troy Augusto, whose online auctions included sales of promotional CDs distributed by Universal. Augusto does business on eBay under the name Roast Beast Music and specializes in sales of rare and collectible music.

Copyright law's "first sale" doctrine makes it clear that the owner of a CD is entitled to resell it without the permission of the copyright holder. Nevertheless, Universal demanded eBay take down Augusto's auctions, claiming CDs marked as "promotional use only" remain the property of Universal and thus can never be resold.

"When a consumer buys a CD, he gets certain rights, including the right to resell it. Universal is mistaken if it thinks that it can trump these rights simply by putting a label on a CD," said Fred von Lohmann, EFF Senior Intellectual Property Attorney. "Universal is trying to unilaterally rewrite copyright law to the detriment of Augusto's legitimate business and the public. Unless this effort is blocked, it could jeopardize not only sales of used CDs, but also libraries, used bookstores and businesses that rent movies and video games."

In May, Universal filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Augusto. EFF has filed papers in federal court in Los Angeles answering Universal's claims and counter-suing the company for sending bogus "takedown notices" to eBay that resulted in the unwarranted suspension of Augusto's auctions.

Besides pulling the YouTube video because a snippet of a Prince song could be heard in the background, Universal also has made baseless copyright complaints about a video podcast by political blogger Michelle Malkin. Surely Universal has better things to do with its time than chase individuals with baseless copyright infringement charges?

Hooray! Some good news

The day before adjourning for August recess, the Senate unanimously approved S.849, the OPEN Government Act, a bipartisan bill that is the first significant update to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in more than a decade. When Congress returns after is summer recess, a conference will reconcile differences between this bill and similar legislation passed in March by the House of Representatives.

Revelations about the FBI's misuse of a key PATRIOT Act power and other privacy-invasive initiatives clearly demonstrate the importance of government transparency. This law will make it easier for EFF's Freedom of Information Act Litigation for Accountable Government (FLAG) project and other FOIA requesters to keep government accountable to the people.

What were they thinking??!!

Days later, I'm still not over the shock of Congress passing legislation expanding the National Security Agency's authority to spy on Americans without warrants. By capitulating to George Bush's demands for broad new surveillance powers, Congress has not only trampled on our Constitutional rights but failed its own Constitutional duties!

The law permits warrantless surveillance of "persons reasonably believed to be located outside the United States" - even when they are U.S. citizens or are communicating with U.S. citizens - with no prior court approval and only minimal court oversight. Rather than setting meaningful boundaries on the Executive Office, Congress essentially handed the president a blank check to invade Americans' privacy.

Congressional members following along like sheep is disgraceful, especially considering that the Bush administration has consistently concealed the truth about its illegal spying programs. The president admitted to the so-called "Terrorist Surveillance Program" only when press reports forced his hand in December 2005. After the administration deliberately evaded numerous Congressional inquiries, it took the threat of perjury charges for the Attorney General to concede last week that the program was more widespread than first acknowledged. In its haste to pass legislation, Congress simply caved in to the administration's fear-mongering.

Op-ed pages and blogs around the world are filled with outrage, as the country wakes up to repercussions of Congress radically expanding surveillance powers. Most are asking the same question: faced with this atrocious legislation, how could its many opponents shrink from the moment and let it pass? Dianne Feinstein, are you listening? Hello! Furious California voter here!

Dan Froomkin at the Washington Post has an excellent round-up of editorials and news reporting since the weekend.

More examples:

The NY Times editorial page: "[T]he problem with Congress last week was that Democrats were afraid to explain to Americans why the White House bill was so bad and so unnecessary — despite what the White House was claiming.... While serving little purpose, the new law has real dangers. It would allow the government to intercept, without a warrant, every communication into or out of any country, including the United States. Instead of explaining all this to American voters — the minimal benefits and the enormous risks — the Democrats have allowed Mr. Bush and his fear-mongering to dominate all discussions on terrorism and national security."

The Washington Post editorial page: "To call this legislation ill-considered is to give it too much credit: It was scarcely considered at all. Instead, it was strong-armed through both chambers by an administration that seized the opportunity to write its warrantless wiretapping program into law -- or, more precisely, to write it out from under any real legal restrictions."

The LA Times editorial page:"That this flawed legislation was approved by a Democratic Congress is a reminder that many in the party are still fearful that they will be labeled 'soft on terror' if they don't give this administration what it wants when it wants it. But the party may be equally injured by the perception that it won't stand up for what it believes."

Professor Jack Balkin:" Do not be mistaken: We are not hurtling toward the Gulag or anything that we have seen before. It will be nothing so dramatic as that. Rather, we are slowly inching, through each act of fear mongering and fecklessness, pandering and political compromise, toward a world in which Americans have increasingly little say over how they are actually governed, and increasingly little control over how the government collects information on them to regulate and control them. Slowly, secretly and imperceptibly, the mechanisms of government surveillance are being freed from methods of political control and accountability; and the liberties of ordinary citizens are being surgically removed under a potent anesthesia concocted from propaganda, fear, ignorance and apathy."

Salon's Glenn Greenwald: "Those who fail to defend [the Constitutional] framework, or worse, those who are passively or actively complicit in its further erosion, are all equally culpable. With each day that passes, the radicalism and extremism originally spawned in secret by the Bush presidency becomes less and less his fault and more and more the fault of those who - having discovered what they have been doing and having been given the power to stop it - instead acquiesce to it and, worse, enable and endorse it."

Meteor Blades at DailyKos, speaking directly to Democratic leadership: "Weak is bad enough. Must you be simpletons as well? How many times has he [the president] marketed this crap? How many times have you bought it? Do you also fall for those late-night $19.95 television deals for a double-set of knives that never need sharpening?"

It is up to us to hold our representatives accountable for either allowing this change or supporting it outright. Send them a letter, phone to voice your opposition and visit their home offices in your district during the August recess. Spread the word to your friends and family about what Congress has done and urge them to take action too. Fortunately, the law has a six-month expiration date and some Congressional leaders have said they want to revise the law before then. Restoring protections for our fundamental rights - as provided in the Constitution - should be a top priority.

For Poetry Thursday:

Spread democracy around the globe?
That's rich, coming from you
who delights in trampling on freedoms
and removing legal protections
for our environment.

Your fear-mongering a tired strategy:
I thought no one was listening anymore
but even some Democrats kow-towed
to your latest effort to stifle rights
guaranteed in the Constitution.

Apparently they're more afraid
of the tall tales of aspersion you cast
than the wrath of voters
who have had more than enough
of being ignored

while civil liberties eroded,
tax dollars poured into a travesty of war,
a generation of young men dying
for your false claims,
while bin Laden remains free.

Who could have imagined
the terrible havoc and destruction
one man and his cronies could reap
under the guise of freedom
while inflaming hatred around the world?

Late afternoon on rue Cambon

A mini version of Mademoiselle Chanel's classic suit for fall at Chanel's atelier on rue Cambon and a giant rope of pearls.

This mannequin at Chanel sits on giant pearlized camellias, Mademoiselle Chanel's favourite flower and an enduring symbol of her style and influence.

Large black patent-leather camellias surround the mannequin in this vitrine. She's wearing a sporty version of the Chanel suit, featuring a short pleated skirt and chunky boots.

Baskets of bright pink flowers hang from wrought-iron balconies on rue Cambon.

One of the hundreds of racks of bicycles available for rent throughout Paris. This velo rack is opposite Dolce & Gabbana, near rue Rivoli.

Mystery man

Do you recognize the man reflected in this Paris shop window?

Missing weapons and a "surge" that's not working

You must have heard that the Pentagon has admitted roughly a third of the weapons provided to train and equip Iraqi forces have been "lost." According to a report by the Government Accountability Office, some 190,000 assault rifles and pistols supplied to Iraqi security forces have gone missing, presumably in the hands of insurgents.

Some 135,000 pieces of body armour and 115,000 helmets also have vanished. To date the US has spent more than $19bn developing Iraqi security forces, including nearly $3bn on weapons. The GAO report said distribution of the weaponry was "haphazard and rushed" and failed to follow established procedures. The Pentagon does not dispute these accusations.

The conflict in Iraq has now lasted longer than the First World War. Patrick Cockburn writes in The Independent, London that six months after George Bush sent in 20,000 extra troops, Iraq is more chaotic and dangerous than ever. Read his special report here.

Stories told through art

This photograph appears unbalanced, as these marble sculptures at Trocadero, Paris are built on an incline and I was standing on another incline. I like these sculptures for their depiction of joy.

From Madeleine L'Engle's book Herself:

"...A child is not afraid of new ideas, does not have to worry about the status quo or rocking the boat, is willing to sail into uncharted waters."

"Children...are aware of what most adults have forgotten. They know that the daily time-bound world of limited facts is a secondary world. And stories, paintings or songs - though they are not themselves the primary world - give us glimpses of the wider world of our whole selves, the selves which are real enough to accept the world's darkness as well as its light."

For some incredible stories told through art, visit Judy at Red Velvet. Her five-part "Numbers" series is truly remarkable, on so many levels. Go here and see for yourself!

Two talented photographers

"The light of early morning," photo by Madelyn Mulvaney

"I have found that you have only to take that one step toward the gods and they will then take ten steps toward you. That step, the heroic first step of the journey, is out of, or over the edge of, your boundaries and it often must be taken before you know that you will be supported." - Joseph Campbell

Two blogging friends who are very talented photographers have recently opened etsy shops to sell their work. Both Maddie of My Little India and Susannah of Ink on my fingers have a gift for capturing life's perfect little moments on camera.

I am proud to own a few photographs taken by these amazing women and encourage you to visit their blogs and their etsy shops. Their print prices are very reasonable and the quality of their photographs is priceless!

"Purple" photo by Susannah Conway

Conviction of the heart

Photograph of my daughter at age five at a fete at the British Ambassador's residence, Amman, Jordan. This week's Sunday Scribblings prompt is decision. Without a doubt, my best decision was having Jordana.

Safety in numbers
but it was just you and me
together we bloomed