Duchess of Depravity

Squash Soup Two Ways

2009-11-23T03:06:00.000-05:00

I chose to include both squash soups, though I personally prefer the one in the inset portion. It's a little creamier. However, both soups are excellent, and I urge you to try them both before making a decision.

Black and White Snowballs PLUS More Recipes

2009-11-22T03:00:00.000-05:00

Here in hot Florida, a cool light dessert is needed even at the holidays. I've made the Ice Cream Sandwich Cake and the Black and White Snowballs. They're delicious!

E-Piracy Reprise

2009-11-21T14:58:00.002-05:00

Today I just learned I have lost close to $1000 in royalties thanks to pirates in the past two weeks. That's my mortgage payment on our house. My husband was out of work for six months, until recently. We swallowed our pride, borrowed, held garage sales, and wept futile tears until a miracle occurred and my aging husband was able to find a job. Now we're struggling to catch up against mounting late fees and penalties. That $1000 would have given us a much-needed break, but thanks to e-pirates who claim to be my fans, I'm worrying and wringing my hands as the end of the month approaches.

Sharon Marie Bidwell wrote this back in July. I can't say it any better. The highlights are my own emphasis.

To the person who left me a comment...
…saying they may look like spam but assuring me their comment wasn’t, your site looks like…well, spam. You say you’re not a publisher and yet you’re making money selling free ebooks? This is an oxymoron. If you are selling books they’re not ‘free’. Secondly, you say you’re not a writer so where are you getting these books from? Are you selling other people’s free ebooks? If you’re doing so without their permission you are in violation of copyright law. If you are buying ebooks and selling them on, you are in violation of copyright law. On both counts, I advise you to read the statement that runs in my side bar. If you are doing something else, which I don’t understand, my apologies, but no, I’m not going to download your report file from a site that says very little. For all I know it could be a virus. I’d advise everyone else not to do so either. This isn’t personal. I’m just being sensibly cautious. Sorry.
Look, copyright law on ebooks is simple. You cannot copy, distribute, resell or loan an ebook. Saying that, most of us wouldn’t object if we heard you’ve made yourself a back-up copy purely for your own personal use. We live in a wonderful age of technology but technology fails us from time to time. We hear you’re selling our work and we’ll come down on you like the proverbial ton of bricks. Writers and publishers are getting better at locating piracy sites and law enforcement is finally taking it seriously.
The most common question we hear is “If I can resell or loan a printed book, why can’t I as a reader resell or loan ebooks?” To be honest, even the reselling or lending of some printed books is a grey area. However, it tends to be overlooked because of several reasons.
Most people hate the idea of printed books being destroyed. If you’re finished with them and cannot pass them on in some way they are only good for recycling.
When a printed book is passed on, someone may find an author they like and start buying new books by that author on a regular basis. It’s sort of free-advertising and yes, one could argue this would apply to ebooks but there’s a major difference and reason why this doesn’t work so read on.
Many second-hand books are sold for charity purposes.
You are giving up your physical edition of the book and will no longer own it.
Point 4 is the major one. When you give, sell, or loan a printed book you give away the item you purchased. Even when loaning it, you risk not getting it back. You are not making a ‘physical copy’ of that book to pass it on.
When you pass an ebook on (and some people do this in innocence not piracy but they are still in the wrong) the reader tends to ‘keep’ their version and simply send the file on, thereby making a ‘copy’. I can assure you that this is just as illegal in printed works.
Imagine you took one of Stephen King’s novels, dissected it, scanned it in, printed it up either by POD (good luck — they would spot what you are doing in a flash), or via the printer at home, and tried to give it away, sell it, or hand to a friend. Should SK find out do you think he wouldn’t sue your arse off? Oh yes, he would!
The point is you are not allowed to make a ‘copy’ of any written work be it printed or electronic. You may (usually) print off an electronic book with the purpose of reading it in that form should you not wish to read on screen, but that printed form is subject to the same laws. You may not sell it, or pass it on. If you wish to pass on an ebook the only viable way to do this is buy an extra copy, and what’s so wrong with that? We all have people to buy presents for.
Oh…and to those who think they can file share their ebook library, has nothing I’ve stated sunk in? Besides, you are NOT a library and did you know that even if you were there is such a thing as the ‘public lending right’? This means that an author can, if they wish, claim a small payment every time a library lends one of their books. So next time you choose to file share, don’t be surprised should you receive a letter from the authors asking for an audit of the number of ‘loans’ and demanding payment from you!
You are not a publisher and the author has not signed a contract with you. You do not have the right to sell.
You are not an official state library. You do not have the right to loan (and let’s be honest — loan in electronic format means copy and give away).
You are not friends with thousands of strangers online that you simply ‘must’ lend your books to (and we’ve already established that you are not lending but copying) and authors and publishers will not turn their back on you ‘giving’ their work away.
I’m not speaking to those who are deliberately committing an act of piracy. They know they are breaking the law, damaging authors and the publishing industry, and they just don’t care. The most we can do is assure them that while there will always be crooks there will always be those willing to fight them. I’m speaking mainly to those that do this in innocence, not understanding that they are doing anything wrong. You claim to love us as writers. You claim to love our work. We do work — hard — at this. Most of us have day jobs, families, lives just like you. We have to find time to write on top of all that. We often forsake sleep. Many don’t make as much money as you think and even if we did, haven’t we ‘earned’ it? You love our characters, our worlds, our stories. You claim to love our work and even to love us. Why do something fundamentally harmful to someone or something you love?
Did you know there are pirate copies of the “I Do” anthology out there? A book I took part in for charity. The thought that people can be so low as to steal from charity has made some of us authors want to puke. If you’re doing this in innocence or not, rest assured, we’re very upset with you.

Lena again__ I personally know three authors who have been forced to stop writing BECAUSE of e-pirates. The authors could not sell enough works legitimately through royalty-paying services to justify remaining writers. One now works as a waitress because it's the only job she could find and she still earns more in one night than she did in any given month as a published author.

I would love to find some super-geek who'd write me a worm that I could upload into Astatalk.com and all the other e-pirate sites. When I see notes in the Comments sections under my books that ask not only for my entire book list but also for information on how not to get busted, I know these folks aren't innocently sharing. They know they're committing a crime and they don't care. They deserve to have a worm destroy their system, steal their identities and all the money in their bank accounts, then pass it on to the poor authors and artists they've ruined.

Merry Friggin' Christmas.

Snowball Cookies

2009-11-21T02:52:00.001-05:00

When I was a young nerdy seventeen year old, a family friend tasted my snowball cookies and absconded with an entire tin of them. His wife reported that he sat down in his recliner with a huge glass of milk and proceeded to literally make himself sick eating every last one. I've been making them every year since for the past (mumble-thirty-three--mumble) years.

Humor: Best Positions in Bed

2009-11-20T02:47:00.000-05:00

BEST POSITIONS IN BED

Bacon and Sage Butter Turkey

2009-11-20T02:46:00.001-05:00

Originally, we lost this recipe in a move. Then along comes Google and we found it again! Saved, thanks to the internet. This has been our favorite for twenty years, and we see no reason to change.

Turkey Brine from Alton Brown and Good Eats

2009-11-19T02:35:00.000-05:00

You can use the whole recipe, but we just just the brining part. Tomorrow, I'll post the Bacon and Sage Butter Turkey recipe we've not changed in almost 20 years.

Pan Gravy Plus

2009-11-17T02:32:00.000-05:00

Now, notice I suggest a specific flour called Wondra. There's a reason! Wondra is made for gravy! It's worth the time and trouble to hunt for that bright blue can.

Crock Pot Gingerbread

2009-11-15T02:31:00.000-05:00

Getting the Thanksgiving Menu Organized

2009-11-14T03:53:00.000-05:00

I don't know about my non-US friends, but here in the US Thanksgiving is a huge feast usually spent with friends and family. Today, my daughter Susan and I went to the NAS Jax base commissary and spent $40 more than usual just for this one day's feast. This isn't including other purchases made here and there as I found a good deal, such as the jars of mincemeat found this past summer.

This year, Susan and I wised up and sorted the food reserved for the feast into paper grocery bags and put the traditional recipes with the non-perishable foodstuffs. We also took the time to measure out a few ingredients into zip-topped bags labeled with the recipe they belong to, such as the coconut, brown sugar, etc for the Praline Yams are now all ready in one zip-topped bag awaiting the day I assemble the dish. Same goes for the salt, sugar, and spices for the brine of the turkey. All labeled and ready for the day when all four of us pile into my tiny "two butt" kitchen and try to be helpful. LOL!

Four brown paper bags now sit in a line out in the Florida room-- Entree and stuffing, Sides, Desserts, Bread/Appetizers/Beverages. On the 21st, we'll pull out the ingredients to make the Cranberry Sauce and begin polishing the silver.

Hmm. Maybe I'd better schedule myself a manicure for the 25th. LOL!

Fudge Cake

2009-11-14T02:27:00.000-05:00

Pay attention to the subsitution of cocoa and oil for the squares of chocolate, unless you like making work for yourself.

Praline Yams

2009-11-13T02:25:00.001-05:00

This recipe has been in my stash for the past twenty-plus years. I got it off a can of yams, and it's been the best recipe I've found to date. If you serve a lot of folks with a sweet tooth, double or triple this. You've been warned.

Do You See A Motorcycle??

2009-11-12T08:46:00.001-05:00

Do you see the motorcycle?

Now do you see it?

The Honda crotch rocket rider was traveling at approximately 85 mph. The VW driver was talking on a cell phone when she pulled out from a side street, apparently not seeing the motorcycle. The riders reaction time was not sufficient enough to avoid this accident. The car had two passengers and the bike rider was found INSIDE the car with them. The Volkswagen actually flipped over from the force of impact and landed 20 feet from where the collision took place.
All three involved (two in the car and the bike rider) were killed instantly. This graphic demonstration was placed at the Motorcycle Fair by the Police and Road Safety Department.
Pass this on to car drivers or soon to be new drivers, or new motorcycle owners
AND ESPECIALLY EVERYONE YOU KNOW WHO HAS A CELL PHONE!!!!!
A picture is worth a thousand words.

Wake up people , Stop talking on Cell phones and
Texting while trying to drive. Put your Cell phone
in the back seat !!!

Old-Fashioned Mashed Potatoes Plus

2009-11-12T02:21:00.000-05:00

How many of you really know how to make old fashioned Mashed Potatoes and Gravy without using a box of flakes? Come on, give this a try. Your mouth will thank you.

Glazed Nuts

2009-11-11T02:19:00.001-05:00

Nothing like these to keep the men's greedy paws out of my kitchen!

Hot Buttered Rum Loaf

2009-11-10T02:18:00.000-05:00

Autumn Punch

2009-11-09T02:13:00.000-05:00

Autumn Potato Gratin

2009-11-08T02:12:00.000-05:00

We serve this every year...

Dinner Rolls (Including Parker House Rolls)

2009-11-05T15:43:00.001-05:00

For Selena—How to Make Parker House Rolls and MORE. The brown and serve version of a Parker House roll was one of the reasons my DH got on his knees in the kitchen and proposed to me.

Lena Austin

http://www.LenaAustin.com

What a Difference a Year Makes

2009-10-25T08:40:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, Dante, my DD Susan, and I went to the Jacksonville Zoo. Not that big of a deal, right? It was for me. One year ago, I couldn't have hauled my badly overweight carcass around a grocery store, much less acres of walking trails. I would have been humiliated and restricted to one of those expensive rented electric carts, unable to ride the train or get "up close and personal" with the exhibits. I'd have been in my black stretchy knits, hoping no one noticed how sweaty I was. My swollen feet would have been crammed into my black Crocs, just so my feet could breathe and cool me. A few years ago, I would have jonesed for a cigarette and been unable to satisfy my craving because the electric carts would have been difficult to get to the few places where smokers could be.

This year was radically different than all years past where I sat in my wheelchair while Dante and Susan had fun. This year I was in size 18 jeans and a pink tee shirt, bouncing all over the zoo in my white tennis shoes, with my energy level equal to a power plant. I was the one hauling Susan and Dante hither and yon, running to take a picture here, ooohing and ahhing at the lovely creatures, while they struggled to keep up.

This year, Dante leaned on his cane, sweated, and begged for a chance to sit down. I graciously found places for him to sit and rest while Susan and I bounced around like both of us were 24 years old instead of just Susan. We got him cool drinks and held his place in line while he limped off to rest or smoke. The zoo is smoke free, so he took only one smoke break out on a dock on the Trout River.

Susan and I yanked the camera out of each others' hands to take pictures whenever we saw a great shot, depending on who had the best angle. We finally had to leave because DH would get off work soon, so we missed the Australian/African portion, but we did stop long enough for a quick visit to Stingray Bay to pet a stingray.

You can see my pictures in this album:

http://s516.photobucket.com/albums/u323/voiceomt2002/Home%20and%20Family/

I'm proud that I was the one who walked and didn't get tired, didn't blow my diet, and enjoyed myself. Next time, I think I'll take DH for a romantic stroll. He can keep up with me. (Big Grin)

Lena Austin

http://www.LenaAustin.com

Writing blog: http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com

Recipe and Pagan blog: http://third-infinity.blogspot.com

Low Carb Diet blog: http://fatfrogdiary.blogspot.com

A new review for Dawgtown: Bad Dawg

2009-10-25T07:07:00.001-04:00

Tiger Lily of Whipped Cream Reviews said:

I liked the unconventionality of the relationship, both had their own lives leading in opposite directions, but the love blossoming between them seemed to be enough.

If you want to read the whole review, here's the link:

http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/2009/10/dawg-town-bad-dawg-by-lena-austin.html?zx=2f87bbfae633c915

Lena Austin
http://www.LenaAustin.com

Writing blog: http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com

Recipe and Pagan blog: http://third-infinity.blogspot.com

Low Carb Diet blog: http://fatfrogdiary.blogspot.com

Carnal Nation Headlines 10/17/2009

2009-10-18T01:00:00.000-04:00

I get the news from CarnalNation.com, and normally I just post the URL. This time, the stuff was too good not to share in its entirety. I do urge my friends to get their own subscription.

CarnalNation Headlines for 10/17/2009
Sat, October 17, 2009 4:08:21 AM
From:
CarnalNation

published 10/17/2009

Multimedia: The Smell of Sex
To quote a friend, sex is "physical, psychological, emotional, aural and olfactoral". This episode is dedicated to sex smells.[Read More]
posted Oct 16, 2009 04:46 pm by Betty Dodson and Carlin RossSurvey: 36% Tweet After Sex
Once upon a time, the graphic shorthand for someone enjoying the warm glow of post-coital bliss was to show them relaxing in bed, slowly smoking a cigarette. Unfortunately, all that post-sex smoking meant that in addition to STIs, pregnancy, and heartache, sleeping around also put you at increased risk for lung cancer. Nowadays, the kids do things differently, at least according to a survey done by shopping website Retreveo.com. For a significant number of young people, the cell phone has replaced the cigarette of Mad Men-style sex. Retreveo says that 36 percent of people under 35 post to social networking services like Twitter and Facebook after having sex. Eight percent of those over 35 did so. "Moreover," Retreveo says, "men are twice as likely to exhibit this behavior than women and if you’re an iPhone owner you’re three times more likely to go social media after you-know-what than Blackberry owners." Thirty-four percent of the under-35 group also said that they would frequently post updates while on a date, in contrast to 9 percent of those over 35.[Read More]

posted Oct 16, 2009 03:33 pm by Chris HallIntersex

Australians Must Join Sex Offender Registry To Get Medication
Cyproterone Acetate, better known as Androcur, is an anti-androgen medication taken by both male and female intersex individuals. A change in Australian health care policy, though, means that intersex people--those born with both male and female biological traits--can only get Androcur by signing themselves onto a potential sex offenders' list. The same is true for female-indentified transsexuals, who take the drug to suppress male hormones.
The problem is that the government only approves the drug for two reasons: for prostate cancer, and for registered sex offenders, since the androgen prohibitor reduces one's sex drive.[Read More]
posted Oct 16, 2009 01:56 pm by Matthew Lawrence

'Victimized' by Affirmative Action, Swedish Co-eds File Class-Action Lawsuit
It is something of a cliché that everything comes full circle, and sometimes that circle can be rather vicious in its orbital return to the starting point. Take, for example, affirmative action, the principle/policy through which institutions attempt to maximize diversity and equality as well as to redress past imbalances and discrimination based on race, gender, or ethnicity. It would seem inevitable that at some point inequality would shift from the formerly disadvantaged to the formerly advantaged. At Sweden's Lund University, men are now the underrepresented population that benefits from affirmative action, and women aren't happy about it.[Read More]

posted Oct 16, 2009 01:50 pm by Tim McElreavy

Sex Disasters: Swoon!
She came. She screamed. She passed out.
Fainting during orgasm, or orgasmic syncope, is one of those things that happens more often in porn than in reality. But it does happen in reality. Usually it's nothing to worry about. But, just to be on the safe side...
Lay the faintee flat on her (for the purposes of discussion, we'll assume it's a "her") back. Check to make sure she's breathing and that her heart is beating regularly. If you don't know how to take a pulse, the front pages of your local phone book often have good basic instruction. (And take a good first-aid and CPR class soon, OK?)[Read More]
posted Oct 16, 2009 12:48 pm by Charles Moser and Janet Hardy

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The Greener Way to Mop than even Swiffer?

2009-10-17T06:16:00.001-04:00

Okay, I'll admit that I've been a fan and buyer of Swiffer Wet Jet since it came out. I still have my originally purchased Swiffer even though a newer, cooler version has come out. However, it had one problem: I was constantly buying the replacement pads at a minimum of $7 a box (on sale.) Worse, all those pads went into the trash and into the landfill, and that's not very "green."

So, what's a girl to do who loves a clean floor, but hates the old "mop and bucket" routine? I found my answer at Flylady.net. Look at the link below.

http://www.flylady.net/pages/FlyShop_mop.asp

The initial outlay is about the same as what I paid for my Swiffer, but the microfiber pad is washable! Now that's cool. I could buy the mop and a set of pads, and they'll pay for themselves in about two and a half months.

Between this and the MagicJack, I may have found the best money savers of the year.

Lena Austin

http://www.LenaAustin.com

Writing blog: http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com

Recipe and Pagan blog: http://third-infinity.blogspot.com

Low Carb Diet blog: http://fatfrogdiary.blogspot.com

Nine Ways to Knock the Socks off Your Next Landlord Plus One

2009-10-15T07:05:00.001-04:00

I'm an ex-property manager, and this article is spot-on, dead in the black right on all counts. If I had a sharp-looking on-time prospective tenant come to me with a pre-prepared rental resume, written recommendations, saved me the trouble of pulling their credit report, and a clear list of their needs and wants, I'd bend over backwards for them.

Tell me you'll set up an automatic rent payment from your bank, and I would happily give a discount, just on the basis of my not having one more thing to stress about on the first of the month. I loved my auto-pay tenants. For every renter family that had me on auto-pay, I sent them grocery store gift certificates for their Thanksgiving turkeys. Honey, I *cherished* those folks and treated them like the gold they were to me.

9 Ways You Can Knock the Socks off Your Next Landlord

Posted: 14 Oct 2009 05:00 AM PDT

This article is by GRS staff writer Adam Baker. Currently, Baker is fat and in debt.

We all know how to rent a typical, cookie-cutter apartment or house. Find a contact number. Set-up a walk through. Fill out the application. Pay your fee and wait for a response.

But sometimes typical just doesn't cut it.

Maybe you're looking to secure a unique apartment in an irresistible location. Or you might be seeking the only house for rent in a certain school district. Heck, you may even find yourself in New Zealand needing a short-term (3-month) lease when everyone wants a 6-month minimum. *raises hand*

Whatever your motivation, here are nine ways you can knock the socks off your next landlord or property manager:

Create a Rental Résumé. Treat this like you would a job search. The majority of applications are going to ask for the same information. Put together a basic one- or two-page document containing this commonly requested information. Even if the landlord or property manager makes you fill out the application anyway, at least you'll already have everything on hand. Be sure to include:
- Full names of everyone on application
- Dates of Birth
- Contact information (phone and e-mail)
- Current address (length, landlord information, reason for leaving)
- Previous addresses (with additional information)
- Social Security numbers
- Current employment information (salary, length, contact information)
- Past employment (with additional information)
- Personal references
- Vehicle information (make, model, plates, driver's license number)
- Pet(s) information (breed, size, age)
Pull your own credit report. Use AnnualCreditReport.com, if possible. Pulling your own credit report ahead of time will ensure that you are aware of the information contained in the report. If there are any negative marks, be sure to include a written statement of explanation (especially for any bankruptcies, evictions, or missed rent payments).
Obtain and include full letters of reference. Most rental applications only ask for the contact information of your references. However, as with a job, you can go the extra mile by including full letters of recommendation from previous landlords, property managers, or apartment complexes. As a property manager, I was more than willing to write these for our best tenants. Many apartment complexes have a standard reference letter they provide to past tenants upon request.
Provide copies of commonly requested "further information". This is especially important for the self-employed or those with inconsistent employment length. Commonly requested information can include copies of recent paystubs, recent years' tax returns, net worth statements, bank statements, and income/expense reports for small businesses. Also, landlords may request copies of identification like driver's licenses, social security cards, or birth certificates.
Look sharp. Whether you like it or not, appearance does, especially for first impressions. Wash the purple dye out of your mohawk, lose the three wolves T-shirt, and dress business casual. (J.D.'s note: Did anyone notice that Dwight was wearing the three wolves t-shirt on The Office recently? I just about died laughing.)
Be five minutes early. Waiting does not impress anyone.
Find common ground. In any social encounter, discussing a topic that is familiar to both parties is one of the fastest ways to build rapport. When Courtney and I were searching for apartments here in Auckland, we talked to many different agents and owners. Early on in each discussion, I brought up the fact that I had owned a property management company back in the States. It gave us an immediate connection and built instant trust. While you may not have direct real estate experience, chances are there will be many opportunities for you to find common ground of your own.
Know your needs and wants ahead of time. This is a important. Decide ahead of time what features are absolute musts and which are more negotiable. For example, you may know that you need a fenced in backyard for the dog. Or, you may only be willing to consider homes with a detached garage for working on your cars as a hobby. On the other hand, an included washer/dryer may only be a strong want. You'd be willing to purchase these if the rest of the property fit your needs. Get clear on this distinction and be able to articulate this to your potential landlord or manager.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. As a property manager, I always had a weird feeling about tenants who appeared nervous or who seemed afraid to ask questions. The potential tenants whom impressed me the most appeared confident, stated what they were looking for, and asked specific questions about the property. For example, it's perfectly reasonable (and somewhat expected) to inquire about the average costs of monthly utilities.

Once you've established yourself as a strong candidate…leverage it! Knocking the socks off your landlord is not just for fun! After positioning yourself as an ideal applicant, don't be afraid to start negotiating.

Here in Auckland, Courtney and I had luck negotiating ourselves into a three-month lease even though it ended in the middle of December (bad timing when trying to re-rent). At our last apartment in the States, the complex ended up waiving both the application fee and our required deposit.

Try asking for a 10% rent discount. Many apartment complexes run unadvertised specials, and the individual landlord will often discount if he believes you'll be a quality tenant.

I've seen people have luck requesting upgrades on appliances or requiring that an owner furnish a washer/dryer when previously it wasn't included. If your condo or apartment charges extra for amenities (gym, pool, parking), try asking for access to be included in your rent.

Most people are scared because they think it's uncommon to ask for more. I've been on both sides of the rental equation and this sort of negotiation happens all the time. If you don't ask, the answer will always be "no". So get out there, impress some people, and take your apartment or house hunting to the next level!

Lena Austin

http://www.LenaAustin.com

Writing blog: http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com

Recipe and Pagan blog: http://third-infinity.blogspot.com

Low Carb Diet blog: http://fatfrogdiary.blogspot.com

Pumpkin Carving Templates

2009-10-12T16:25:00.000-04:00

These are cool pumpkin carving templates! Click on the link below to see!

http://www.hgtv.com/holidays-and-entertaining/hgtv-exclusive-pumpkin-carving-templates/pictures/page-12.html

Lena Austin

http://www.LenaAustin.com

Writing blog: http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com

Recipe and Pagan blog: http://third-infinity.blogspot.com

Low Carb Diet blog: http://fatfrogdiary.blogspot.com