Smoke and Mirrors

Credits/Copyright information The contents of Smoke and Mirrors are copyrighted property of Lucia B. Chambers and/or the respective authors. The contents may be distributed freely only as a whole package containing the complete file package as listed in the CONTENT.DOC file enclosed with this package. No other changes, additions or deletions are allowed. Editor/Publisher: Lucia B. Chambers Thank You for reading Smoke and Mirrors! Ruby's Pearls ±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±±± ±±± ±±± ±±± READ: - RUBY'S PEARLS - ±±± ±±± ƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒƒ ±±± ±±± Electronic Magazine ±±± ±±± ±±± ±±...

I'm Getting Better?!? by Michael Hahn I'm turning thirty-five this month. Yeah, I know it's not supposed to be a big deal, but after a lifetime of filling out forms of one kind or another, I find myself moving into a new set of demographics. It's the box titled "Age:" ----------------------------------------------- under 18 [] 18-34 [] 35-55 [] 55 and older [] ----------------------------------------------- and for the last sixteen years, I've been in the second category. This year I join the folks in the 35-55 range. What does it mean, exactly? Well, those under 18 are "just kids." The 18-34 crowd is composed of "youn...

A Messaging Aid for BBSers by Jack McGeehin Do you ever feel strongly about something but find that you just don't have the time to put in writing? The following simplified message form will help you put your beef into words, quickly and accurately, without having to mess with all those annoying grammar rules and punctuation. Give it a try on any of a thousand and one issues... I have had it up to here with ___________; clearly, the fault lies with __________; I feel strongly that what should be done is ________. While your opinion that _______ was certainly ________ I would have to say that _________. (Optional words of encouragement...

Gorgeous VGA GIFs: "Shells" by Michael Heinich This image was created by using 3 different programs. DKBSHELL was used to create the shell definitions. POV was used to raytrace the finished shells. IMPROCES was used to combine all 4 separate shells into one image. Correction regarding last month's image, "ANGELS" - just Fractint was used to create that image. ... Michael "Shells" Copyright (c) 1993 Michael Heinich

Lead Antimonate Yellow by Phil Gottfredson Some time back, we were discussing the fact that the Old Masters would use white pigment only as a highlight, and that they would cut their colors with a pale yellow to keep the colors from graying out. I promised you that I would research what the yellow pigment was that was used to lighten other colors, and allowed the lightened colors to remain translucent, which doesn't happen when you lighten your colors with white pigments. Bear in mind that there are both opaque and translucent versions of this pigment, the latter being a lake color. Lead Antimonate Yellow dates to the sixteenth-fourte...

Landscaping a Fragrance Garden by Lucia Chambers By following just a few simple guidelines, you can landscape for the purposes of utility, harmony, and fragrance, all at the same time. The simple solution is to plant shrubby herbs in place of privets, and then orchestrate a potpourri of scents with the prevailing, ever-changing wind. A fragrance garden becomes a large perfume vat, where the various scents intermingle on breezes, drift on the wind to your nose, and then change spontaneously with the next shift in wind direction. You must plan your main garden feature around what you like, and most importantly, the scents that will move and...

Figs and Walnut Bread by Dave Winer 5 C bread flour 6 oz (1/2 pkg) dried figs 1 C whole wheat flour 1 C English walnuts 4 T dark brown sugar 2 oz dark rum 1 T salt 2 C water 1/4 t cinnamon 3 T butter 2 pkgs yeast Prepare figs: Remove stems, chop coarsely; soak in rum for an hour or more. Makes about 1 cup. Mix all dry ingredients in a Kitchen Aid bowl with a beater or whisk. Switch to dough hook. Cut butter into pieces, add to water, heat to 130¯ F. Add water slowly to dry ingredients while beating slowly. Add figs and rum mixture, and walnuts. Knead for 6 minutes at speed 4 (medium). Put the (sticky) dough into a buttered bowl, ...

Ruby Does D. C. by Del Freeman A Story from John's Diner: RUBY DOES D. C. The small group of regulars were gathered at the large corner table in the rear sharing a plate of John's Melon Spice, a varied arrangement of fresh melon balls lightly sprinkled with a mixture of fresh nutmeg and powdered sugar, and sipping mugs of fresh 'house' coffee, brewed with just the right amount of cinnnamon, when the chime of the front door indicated a new arrival. They looked up, and quickly returned their eyes to the melon plate, recognizing the nemesis of the Chambers household at once. Starving writers and artists they might be, - stupi...

Review of John's Diner by John Chambers MEMORANDUM TO: Mr. W. G. Caldwell, Senior Editor Washington Daily Journal FROM: Jeff Epstein DATE: March 28, 1993 SUBJECT: Review of John's Diner I have completed my assignment to review John's Diner for next Thursday's Dining Out section, although I admit I am somewhat confused concerning this matter. Although I have grown accustomed to many people in our fair city having some well placed political connections, it baffled me as to why we would even consider publishing anything about this particular restaurant. I have since learned that things are not always what they seem. Following...

Why John's Diner by John Chambers I remember the first time I ever visited a diner. The memorable event occurred in August, 1968, in Red Bank, New Jersey. Being raised in the South, I had never seen such a marvel before. Things in the South close at 10 pm each evening, just before they roll up the streets. I was delighted to find that the local diners in Jersey were open 24 hours a day, and that I could order a steak at 3:00 am, or breakfast at 5:00 pm. It was a whole new concept for me, and a very convenient one. I was 22 years old at the time, and spent many late nights and early mornings running the streets of northern New Jersey. ...