Live Below the Line 2013

Live Below the Line Lunch for Today. I may not be allowed to eat much but at leave it comes in a cute container. Thank You Caitlin!

Super Easy and Tasty Chocolete Chili Cake

It's super easy and super tasty!

Ingrediants:

1. Box of dark chocolate cake mix
2. Container of dark chocolate Frosting
3. 3 table spoons of powdered chili

Directions:

1. Fallow the directions on the Chocolate cake box and add two table spoons of chili powder to dry ingredients.
2. Add 2/3 of a tea spoon of chili to chocolate frosting container and mix well.
3. Frost the cake and sprinkle the rest of the chili powder on top to make it look pretty.
4. Enjoy!

MOVE: Invisible Children's new film from the creators of KONY 2012

There was a lot of media coverage of the Kony 2012 movement. It started off great with millions of views on the Kony 2012 movie. This is because we live in a great time of mass easy communication. Unfortunately this was also the movements undoing. When information can be easily communicated on a mass scale. Miss-information can easily be communicated on a mass scale. How many of use actually do more then watch one or two you tube videos. It is hard to discover the truth when it take more then one click to find it.

Here is what I know about Invisible Children and their Kony 2012 movement:

I know the people. I personally have meet Bobby Baily one of the founders of Invisible Children. He did not stop at Invisible Children but is now working on a global poverty project that focuses on extreme poverty.  The people at Invisible Children are not looking to get rich from these projects because you can't. These are men and women who can't unsee what they have seen and can't sit by while it continues. These people at Invisible Children are sincere.You would have to be sincere to work endless hour for almost nothing at all.

I know that Invisible Children have been looking at results To see if they are really making a difference and what they can do to improve in sharing this issue sense before Kony 2012. They have all ways been transparent in there organization even before Kony 2012.

I know that Invisible Children is an advocacy non profit. Which means from the beginning they have set up their efforts to support the advocacy of this issue. The reason they did this was due to the fact that the most effective way to stop Joesph Koney, the LRA, and the decades of war was to encourage international involvement. The best way to do that is get people to care and to let there government representation know that the issue matters. That is why they are an advocacy group and why (being true to what an advocacy non profit dose) they spend part of their raised funds on getting people to care. That being said a percentage of there funds goes to creating programs that have saved hundreds of lives. There are many who criticize that they are not doing enough. Why would anyone (especially someone who is not doing anything) fight the those who are actually doing something.

I know that i may meet criticism and stress for posting this and supporting Invisible Children. The people at Invisible Children did not know how vulnerable mass communication could make them and have now learned how quickly media can turn. I know how vulnerable posting this makes me and have done it anyways. Not because I am fearless (I am fearful of what might come) but because I can not stop. No matter how people feel about the legitimacy of Invisible Children or Kony 2012 it dose not change the fact that there continues to be legitimate pain and suffering due to a long war that can be stopped if enough people care. I Care. And I plan to voice it, to continue writing to my repetitiveness, and not to forget about suffering just because it is not at the top of my news feed.

This is the Invisible Children's response to what happened with Kony 2012. I encourage you to take the time to watch:

Pain au Chocolat

French for a chocolate croissant. I made a simple recipe for that taste that will make you feel as you just left the Boulangerie in Paris.

Ingredients:
1 crescent roll dough tube
1 jar of Nutella

Tools:
1 cookie sheet
1 cookie sheet spray
1 spatula
1 table spoon
1 oven

Told you it was simple :)

Directions:
1. Open up the tube
2. Lay out the dough pieces
3. Place a table spoon of Nutella in center of dough pieces
4. Roll dough and pinch sides
5. Place on greased cookie sheet
6. Place in oven for time and temperature direction on back or crecent rolls tube
7. Let cool
8. Sugessted that you enjoy with a cup of coffee and friends

Live Below the Line

What is Live below the line?

Live Below the Line is an innovative awareness and fundraising campaign that's making a huge difference in the fight against extreme poverty. Live Below the Line is challenging individuals and communities to see how much change you can make out of $1.50. By living off just $1.50 per day for food for 5 days, we will be bringing to life the direct experiences of living in extreme poverty and helping to make real change.

Why are we doing it?

Over 1.4 BILLION people in the world are living every day in extreme poverty (that's over 4 times the population of the United State. The world bank states the poverty line is drawn when an individual lives off of $1.50 a day. Keep in mind food is not cheaper in developing nations so a $1.50 worth of food in the US is $1.50 worth of food in a developing nation.

Why am I doing it?

I don't see a good reason why I can't.

How does it Work?

Ok so here are the basics:

• From May 7th – 11th, you can spend no more than $1.50 a day on food and drink.
• This means you have a total of $7.50 with which to buy all ingredients for your meals.
• The full cost of all the items you consume must be included in your budget. This means budgeting for whole packages of food such as rice, pasta, noodles and eggs etc.
• For items such as salt, pepper, herbs and spices, simply work out the cost of each item per ounce and budget your shopping proportionally. Separate your items before the challenge so there’s no need to be digging around in your pantry.
• One of the easiest ways to partake in the challenge is to share the cost of ingredients amongst a team, as long as no participant spends more than $1.50 a day or their total $7.50 budget. Working as a team will allow you to pool together funds and do more with your cooking.
• You can’t grab a snack from the pantry unless you include the cost of buying the item new in your budget.
• You can use food sourced from your garden as long as you can account for the price of production!
• No combination of meals on any given day can exceed the $1.50 spending limit. Remember this is a challenge to eat creatively – don’t at any point deprive yourself of three meals a day.
• You cannot accept ‘donated’ food from family or friends, but monetary donations towards your fundraising goals are acceptable, and encouraged!
• You are allowed to drink tap water – remember you should try and drink at least 6-8 glasses of water each day.

Who is involved?

What can you do to help?

Join or support and visit: https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/faithm

How to Make A Recycled Valentine

Show those who you Love that you care about them and the planet.

   Materials

• An old newspaper
• Used envelops
• Elmer's school glue
• Red sharpie
• Scissors
• Sponge

Steps

1. Cut heart shapes out of the old envelopes
2. Tear up the newspaper into small pieces
3. Sponge a small layer of glue onto the heart
4. Place over laping pieces of newspaper onto the glue covered heart
5. Sponge a thin layer of glue over the newspaper covered heart
6. Let Dry
7. Cut over hanging pieces of newspaper
8. Draw a fun design onto the heart with the red sharpie
9. Write a valentine note onto the back
10. Give it to your loved one

 

Legend says that St. Valentine was a Roman priest who was martyred for refusing to stop marrying solders to their loves at a time when it was against the law for solders to marry. And the idea of sending a valentine started because he left a farewell note for the jailer's daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it "From Your Valentine".

Eco Emballages

Eco Friendly French ad.

Doctor Who - All 11 Doctors

Roman Holiday

Sorry Audrey mine was better.

The Fist step of my solo trip. Next to Tiber Island (Isola Tiberina) while a cérémonial pression is going on Below!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isola_Tiberina

Sitting on Isola Tiberina next to the Fiume Tevere!

National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II (Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele I)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monument_to_Vittorio_Emanuele_II 

Saint Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peters_Square 

 

Up Bright and early to be in the security line.

Papal Swiss Guard

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_Swiss_Guard

The Pietà ( Michelangelo)

Much smaller than i though it would be not going to lie but still beautiful and moving.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pietà_(Michelangelo)

Papal Basilica of Saint Peter (Basilica Papale di San Pietro)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter%27s_Basilica 

The Basilica in the distance.

I just thought this was to good. Another reminder of why i love JPII.

Castel Sant' Angelo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castel_Sant%27Angelo

You may remember it from the Novel Angels and Demons.

Spanish Steps (Trinita dei Monti)

Princess Ann: I could do some of the things I've always wanted to.
Joe Bradley: Like what?
Princess Ann: Oh, you can't imagine. I-I'd do just whatever I liked all day long

 .

Ok granted i am not as graceful when i eat gelato as Princesses Ann.

Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)

So i did not need to steel a camera from the school girls behind me like Mr. Bradly. I just threw in my coin to insure i would return to Rome and was on my way. P.S. thank you random strangers who offered to take my Pic.

Roman Forum (Forum Romanum)

Joe Bradley: Now, come on. You're not that drunk.
Princess Ann: [laughing] If you're so smart I'm not drunk at all. I'm just being
[her head falls against his chest]
Princess Ann: verrrrry haaaappy...

The heart of Ancient Roman life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Forum

The Colosseum (Coliseum)

Joe Bradley: Where do you live? Princess Ann: [mumbles drunkenly] ... Colosseum... Joe Bradley: [to taxi driver] She lives in the Colosseum.Cab Driver: Is wrong address!  

Over 2000 years old.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Colosseum

Arch of Constantine (Arco di Costantino)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arch_of_Constantine

Arch of Janus (Arco di Giano)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arco_di_Giano

The Mouth of Truth (La Bocca della Verità) Joe: The Mouth of Truth. Legend is that if you're given to lying, you put your hand in there, it'll be bitten off.
Ann: Oh, what a hard idea.
Joe: Let's see you do it.
Ann: (she nervously moves her hand toward the mouth, but then pulls back) Let's see you do it!

I am sorry to report i no longer have my right hand and my nose has mysteriously grown longer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mouth_of_Truth

Wait ...what is this? Why is she wearing a helmet? (And looking way to excited)

Fontana di Trevi at night!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontana_di_Trevi

Castel Sant' Angelo From across the Ponte sant' Angelo at night!

Me on the Ponte Sisto over looking the Fiume Tevere!

Via della Conoiliazione while driving by!

The Colosseum, my guide and me!

Thank You Luca and Nicole For showing me such a great time!

If any one wants to Have fun in Rome Check out Luca's B&B rooms and Holiday Appartment:

http://www.airbnb.com/users/show/610888

Louvre: The Poster Child for Power

When I exit the metro for the Louvre, I know I am in the right place. The French have seen to that by decorating the metro walls with replicas of art works from the Louvre its self. To redecorate something as everyday as a metro stop takes money and time. So it would be safe to say that the intention of this beautiful transportation platform is to send a message of what is valued by those in power and what they want you to think of them and their country. The image and message I am getting is that France is the Art and Culture capital of the world. The metro stop only adds to the Louvre's history of displaying power.

Many of the powerful made their mark on the Louvre quite literally. King placed their initials in pediments and arch ways on the whole exterior.

The oldest sections of the Louvre still standing were built by François I and Henri II. In between two columns there is a crown on top of and “H”. This “H” stands for Henri II and above that is his royal initial, two “D's” inverted and placed on top an “H”.

 

He argued they were not “D's” (which symbolized his mistress) but that they where really two outward facing “C's” (his wife). Under the “H” there are two olive branches which are a symbol for bringing peace. So make no mistake when you view this wall of the Louvre. It was build by Henri II, he was a victorious leader (at least according to him), and he preferred his mistress to his wife.

Some messages and propaganda, like picture symbols, where meant to be less obvious. Or as less obvious as you can get by putting a bust of your self in a pediment and placing it on the front your home.

The pediment I am talking about is the one on the Louvre facing the center of Paris, built by Louis XIV. His bust appears in the center being adoringly addressed to by Athena, the goddess of wisdom and victory. 

Below the pediment are a “cornucopia” of symbols surrounding a window. These symbols represent the blessings that come with peaceful times brought to you by yours truly, Louis. These symbols include images such as musical instruments and palettes which represent having time for culture and not being busy losing battles. It also includes two actual large cornucopias which represent nourishment and overflowing abundance, literally meaning horn of plenty. At a time when the Louvre was one of the most beautiful artistic object that the majority of subjects would ever see the message was hard to miss. “I, King Louis the XIV, am powerful, victorious, and wise. I bring my people times of peace and plenty.” Symbols like the ones Louis displayed say a lot but so does destroying and replacing symbols.

Getting new people in power is common for the Louvre, so they were constantly calling over the Exterior Designer for redecorating. If you look on the opposite side of Louis XIV's pediment we find another Louis XIV pediment (but not really).

During the revolution people got passionate and passionate people do extreme things. For example tearing down an historical pediment to create a new pediment to express revolutionary values with new symbols of power. At the center of this pediment there is a roster. The roster was the symbol of original Parisians of Gaul. This was chosen to discredit the history that included the monarchy and present a more neutral history of Paris and France. Surrounding the roster there is a snake eating its tail, which represents eternity. This pediment, of the revolutionaries, says we are the real Parisians and this republic will last for ever 

(it didn't but nice try guys).

Some of those who seized power did not feel the need to redecorate, instead they just added on. On one of the new wings, added by Napoleon I, there is a pediments in which he put eagles. 

Fun fact for all you Americans, the eagle is the symbol of Zeus. The eagle represents noble nature, protection, and fierceness. (There maybe more our founding fathers where trying to say with our national bird) 

 

 

No jokes man this is serious stuff.

In another, like Louis XIV, he put Athena surrounded by musical instruments and easels to represent victorious times. 

 

In others he put piles of armor and weapons to represent spoils of war and victory. 

Napoleon I, like many before him, was implying that he was the best. 

Sorry not this guy...

Not this one ether... 

Ok here we go.

The Louvre its self has always sent a message of power and value but so has the ways in which it has been used.

The Louvre was originally supposed to be a blockhouse in the 1202 

 (Louver was an archaic term for block house), to send the message that Paris is a protected city. This message was directed more at foreigners than subjects. The Louvre later became a palace under François I in the 16^th century. While living in the Louvre François invited many artist and art work, even Leonardo 

Ok not really. It was more like this guy...

And lets face it he is still the coolest Leonardo hundreds of years later.

He also brought with him his Mona Lisa when he came to the Louvre (Wonder where that went?). 

This invitation by François I implied the new importance of art and culture. 

 Where the king resides is where the power of the country is. So when Louis XIV moved out of the Louvre in, 17^th century, and into Versailles, 

which was out side the city of Paris, it implied that Paris was no longer as important to the king. Louis additionally insulted the people by letting the Louvre fall into disrepair. It took a revolution to restore those wings of the Louvre when later became The Grande Galerie in 1793 and The Louvre buildings where unified later by Napoleon III. 

This sent the message that the people in power continued to value art and culture.

This Message has been more recently represented by President François Mitterand in 1981 when he started the The Grande Louvre Project. This project has been designed to bring the Louvre Museum up to date in this more modern world. But the French are not the only ones visiting the Louvre any more because this modern world is so connected. This message is no longer for the people of France but for world. 

France wants the world to know that France values Art and Culture (and that they think theirs is the best). One of these updates to the Louvre was a new and more efficient entrance under the glass pyramid. 

 Clear from the moment I enter the Louvre to the moment I get on to the metro platform to leave, France is a great country (our one of many).