<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894</id><updated>2012-01-27T05:24:18.008-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Shithouse rat</title><subtitle type='html'>I'm a bipolar writer in the Naked City. I'm not playing with a full deck. I don't have all my dots on the dice. My cheese is sliding off my cracker. I don't have both oars in the water. I'm a bubble off plum. In other words, I'm crazier than a shithouse rat. These are my stories. Comments--short or long, nasty or nice--always welcome!</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><link rel='next' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default?start-index=101&amp;max-results=100'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>184</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-515995032527451255</id><published>2007-05-31T13:57:00.001-04:00</published><updated>2007-05-31T13:57:34.091-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Passport Purgatory!</title><summary type='text'>     Passport    Originally uploaded by gravitywave With all the terrorist threats from within and without, it is somewhat ironic to me that I, a taxpaying citizen born in the United States with no criminal record or even a traffic ticket to my name, would encounter significant snafus when trying to get a passport to travel to Amsterdam this month for a vacation.I’d planned the trip several </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/515995032527451255/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=515995032527451255' title='23 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/515995032527451255'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/515995032527451255'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2007/05/passport-purgatory.html' title='Passport Purgatory!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/366712496_1d7cd10cc0_t.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>23</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-1339791315992351606</id><published>2007-03-28T16:55:00.001-04:00</published><updated>2007-03-30T04:02:24.851-04:00</updated><title type='text'>A day at Fordham University, Bronx NY</title><summary type='text'>     Fordham University Rose Hill campus, Bronx, NY    Originally uploaded by bowlegdark. On Tuesday, I attended a forum on shrinking housing affordability in the Bronx at Fordham University's Bronx/Rose Hill campus. It was a perfect spring day, so I took my camera and after the conference took some shots of the campus and the students. Here's one.</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/1339791315992351606/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=1339791315992351606' title='10 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/1339791315992351606'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/1339791315992351606'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2007/03/day-at-fordham-university-bronx-ny.html' title='A day at Fordham University, Bronx NY'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/173/437926973_1324921dfb_t.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>10</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-5591697248369708025</id><published>2007-03-26T07:23:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2007-03-30T04:07:12.858-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Should the "N" word be banned? Part 2</title><summary type='text'>When I posted my original “N” word article on Blogcritics some two weeks ago, I didn’t anticipate that it would merit a sequel. As it was, the gist of the original premise seemed preposterous if taken literally. Of course, no one could “ban” a word here — this is America, and that kind of thing just isn’t done.Indeed, though a few who perhaps didn’t read further than the title didn’t realize that</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/5591697248369708025/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=5591697248369708025' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/5591697248369708025'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/5591697248369708025'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2007/03/should-n-word-be-banned-part-2.html' title='Should the &quot;N&quot; word be banned? Part 2'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-596838688817426188</id><published>2007-03-03T07:33:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2007-03-30T04:10:38.639-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Should the "N" word be banned?</title><summary type='text'>On February 1, the first day of Black history Month was ushered in with a bit of local media brouhaha here in New York when Queens Councilman Leroy Comrie, hip-hop artist Kurtis Blow Walker, and other community leaders headed a press conference calling for a symbolic, non-binding resolution urging New Yorkers to stop using the "n" word.  Though no one could possibly imagine this could be made </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/596838688817426188/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=596838688817426188' title='7 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/596838688817426188'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/596838688817426188'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2007/03/should-n-word-be-banned.html' title='Should the &quot;N&quot; word be banned?'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>7</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-7953156611531826472</id><published>2007-02-17T08:52:00.001-05:00</published><updated>2007-03-30T04:13:02.316-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Adventures in real estate, part 2: the lawyer who "phoned it in"</title><summary type='text'>     Hotline    Originally uploaded by splorp. Selling and/or buying a home can be an aggravating, time consuming, and expensive endeavor which typically involves working with a team of “professionals,” all with their hands out for their cut. There’s real estate brokers, mortgage brokers, and real estate lawyers just for starters. As in all professions, some are good, some are bad, and some are </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/7953156611531826472/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=7953156611531826472' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/7953156611531826472'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/7953156611531826472'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2007/02/adventures-in-real-estate-part-2-lawyer_6094.html' title='Adventures in real estate, part 2: the lawyer who &amp;quot;phoned it in&amp;quot;'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/31/64027565_79b890c8c4_t.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-8243489328440246900</id><published>2007-02-12T03:46:00.001-05:00</published><updated>2007-03-30T04:14:47.084-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Adventures in real estate, part 1: the broker from hell</title><summary type='text'>     Self-Affirmation though Real Estate    Originally uploaded by bcostin. "Yonkers, NY. One bedroom, 900 sq. ft, 139 K. Lg. unit in luxury highrise; updated kitchen, 20 foot terrace, doorman, security, pool, parking, express bus. Deli and dry cleaners on site. Near shops, restaurants; 25 minutes from Grand Central."My ex-boyfriend G and I have co-owned a one bedroom coop in lower Manhattan for </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/8243489328440246900/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=8243489328440246900' title='8 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/8243489328440246900'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/8243489328440246900'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2007/02/adventures-in-real-estate-part-1-broker_12.html' title='Adventures in real estate, part 1: the broker from hell'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/24/101701289_37eb33275f_t.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>8</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-5491092475200331956</id><published>2007-02-10T08:07:00.001-05:00</published><updated>2007-02-10T07:46:52.356-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Come on over to the DARK side!</title><summary type='text'>     DSC06431    Originally uploaded by LarimdaME. My New York City/real estate obsessed doppelganger Elvira Dark has just launched a companion blog to Shithouse rat called All things New York--devoted exclusively to everything and anything about the city--real estate, neighborhoods, safety, 9/11 issues, things to avoid, must-see and off the beaten path attractions, one day and weekend getaways, </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/5491092475200331956/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=5491092475200331956' title='8 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/5491092475200331956'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/5491092475200331956'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2007/02/come-on-over-to-dark-side.html' title='Come on over to the DARK side!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/1/410964_25456ec5cf_t.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>8</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-117040615924087565</id><published>2007-02-02T03:47:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2007-02-02T04:17:29.004-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Happy days are here again!</title><summary type='text'>     Amsterdam - Prinsengracht    Originally uploaded by Mor (bcnbits). Oh yes indeedy--and everything's comin' up roses too....My ex-boyfriend and I found a buyer for the Lower East Side Manhattan coop we co-own, and will be closing the first week of March. I am all set to move into my new dream digs in the Bronx shortly thereafter--found a beautiful one bedroom coop in a gated enclave here. G, </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/117040615924087565/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=117040615924087565' title='40 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/117040615924087565'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/117040615924087565'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2007/02/happy-days-are-here-again.html' title='Happy days are here again!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/142/327452460_112c47cae1_t.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>40</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116958702694361830</id><published>2007-01-23T16:15:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2007-01-23T16:17:07.726-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Mr(s). President, what's your sign?</title><summary type='text'>     scorp tat    Originally uploaded by Elvira Black. First of all, let me preface this by saying that I believe in astrology. To what extent I do is still up for consideration.As a Cancer, for instance, I always get along famously with Scorpios. Other Cancers posess some of the qualities I don’t like about myself, so it’s sometimes a strained relationship. Cancers are often called the Jewish </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116958702694361830/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116958702694361830' title='16 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116958702694361830'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116958702694361830'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2007/01/mrs-president-whats-your-sign.html' title='Mr(s). President, what&apos;s your sign?'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/152/367317704_330284c90c_t.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>16</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116852483364112568</id><published>2007-01-11T09:12:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2007-01-11T11:19:02.253-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Better to burn out blogging than to fade away?</title><summary type='text'>     Blogging For Dummies    Originally uploaded by Somewhat Frank. About a month ago, Jon Tevlin, a reporter from the Minneapolis-St. Paul based Star Tribune, e-mailed me about a piece I'd done last February on my blog entitled "My Blogger Burnout." Seems he was doing an article based on a prediction that the blogging craze has peaked and is heading downhill. In my burnout piece, which I also </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116852483364112568/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116852483364112568' title='13 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116852483364112568'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116852483364112568'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2007/01/better-to-burn-out-blogging-than-to_11.html' title='Better to burn out blogging than to fade away?'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/109/251789400_97a89e0b2e_t.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>13</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116795590565871640</id><published>2007-01-04T19:10:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2007-01-04T19:11:45.720-05:00</updated><title type='text'>BETTER than the original?!?</title><summary type='text'>     Yeah, unbelieveable is right!    Originally uploaded by steveleggat. A new, improved, and considerably expanded version of "Is New York 'Over?' Part 2" is over at BlogCritics ---while supplies last!</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116795590565871640/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116795590565871640' title='6 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116795590565871640'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116795590565871640'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2007/01/better-than-original.html' title='BETTER than the original?!?'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/47/146845815_f6cf0f9ca8_t.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>6</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116757117010135006</id><published>2006-12-31T08:18:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-12-31T08:19:30.130-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Is New York "over?"  (Part 2)</title><summary type='text'>     Jersey City Across the Hudson    Originally uploaded by Richard-. Part 1 can be found here.It often seems to me that the typical New Yorker is never satisfied. No matter how well off they have it, and despite living in what is (to me at least) the greatest city in the world, their complaints are legion. One of the ways this perpetual dissatisfaction manifests itself is in the state of the </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116757117010135006/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116757117010135006' title='13 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116757117010135006'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116757117010135006'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/12/is-new-york-over-part-2.html' title='Is New York &quot;over?&quot;  (Part 2)'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/68/222014458_ee74434dc4_t.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>13</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116751766138273799</id><published>2006-12-30T17:27:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-12-30T17:31:57.556-05:00</updated><title type='text'>The untamed</title><summary type='text'>     The untamed    Originally uploaded by Elvira Black. BG says he painted this when he had a wicked hangover. In any case, it was loosely based on a photo from a book I brought home from the library with all sorts of cool black and whites of mainly Brit pop wonders of the 60s. This bunch was called The Untamed. BG's version bares only a passing resemblance to the original. To me, it is BG's </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116751766138273799/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116751766138273799' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116751766138273799'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116751766138273799'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/12/untamed.html' title='The untamed'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/338901160_8360603dd4_t.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116722276013955292</id><published>2006-12-27T07:27:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-12-27T07:32:40.253-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Banned by BlogExplosion!!!</title><summary type='text'>Date:  Tue, 26 Dec 2006 22:08:18 +0100To: bowlegarivle@yahoo.comSubject:  Blog denied at Blog Explosion -- Profanity in titleFrom: "BlogExplosion"   Add to Address Book  Add Mobile AlertUpon reviewing your blog we have to deny it because there is profanity in the title of your blog. If you still want to be a member you will need to change the title of your blog and re-submit for approval.Site </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116722276013955292/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116722276013955292' title='12 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116722276013955292'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116722276013955292'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/12/banned-by-blogexplosion.html' title='Banned by BlogExplosion!!!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>12</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116707127373357865</id><published>2006-12-25T13:27:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-12-25T17:03:22.436-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Poe's Christmas bells</title><summary type='text'>     Poe cottage, Bronx, NY    Originally uploaded by Elvira Black. "Hear the sledges with the bells - Silver bells! What a world of merriment their melody foretells! How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, In the icy air of night! While the stars that oversprinkle All the heavens, seem to twinkle With a crystalline delight; Keeping time, time, time, In a sort of Runic rhyme, To the tintinnabulation </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116707127373357865/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116707127373357865' title='10 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116707127373357865'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116707127373357865'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/12/poes-christmas-bells.html' title='Poe&apos;s Christmas bells'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/332932452_6c4d49245f_t.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>10</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116691386985508787</id><published>2006-12-23T17:44:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-12-23T17:44:29.996-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Portrait of the Artist as Jean-Michel Basquiat</title><summary type='text'>     Portrait of the Artist as Jean-Michel Basquiat    Originally uploaded by Elvira Black. Doesn't look much like Basquiat, nor exactly like BG either--it's more of a "BG disguised as Basquiat, if he could also have facial surgery" kinda thing. Actually, I think of it as an artistic version of the "Vulcan mind meld." What say you?</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116691386985508787/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116691386985508787' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116691386985508787'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116691386985508787'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/12/portrait-of-artist-as-jean-michel.html' title='Portrait of the Artist as Jean-Michel Basquiat'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/70/331246014_8d45065f01_t.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116690575958498403</id><published>2006-12-23T15:28:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-12-23T15:29:19.613-05:00</updated><title type='text'>A very Jewish Christmas</title><summary type='text'>     Scots Pine in the Snow.jpg    Originally uploaded by OpenEye. Question: What do you get a Jewish woman for Christmas?Answer: Real estate.I have received the best Christmas/Chanukkah gift ever: my freedom.My ex-boyfriend L and I went into contract--we found a buyer for the co-op we co-own. We will split the proceeds (minus the 25 odd percent for various and sundry flip taxes, brokers' fees, </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116690575958498403/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116690575958498403' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116690575958498403'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116690575958498403'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/12/very-jewish-christmas_23.html' title='A very Jewish Christmas'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/24/66574651_81a33e917f_t.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116682672923490557</id><published>2006-12-22T17:31:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-12-22T17:32:09.280-05:00</updated><title type='text'>My hubby Herman</title><summary type='text'>     Apple Mac/PowerBook Sculptures    Originally uploaded by Persist! Resist!. Coming of age in the '70s, I always strived to be boho. At college I was the belated hippie chick while some others favored the Farrah Faucet Do or the Saturday Night Fever thing going on. Some loved disco; I eschewed it in favor of Phil Manzanera, Led Zep, Fripp, Eno, blah blah blah. As a result of my iconoclastic </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116682672923490557/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116682672923490557' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116682672923490557'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116682672923490557'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/12/my-hubby-herman.html' title='My hubby Herman'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/120/301205853_5bf64fee0b_t.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116663239099565270</id><published>2006-12-20T11:32:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-12-20T11:33:11.036-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Touched by the hand of Gawker!</title><summary type='text'>     Hand of God    Originally uploaded by larukucafe. I believe it was in the wee hours of Tuesday morning when I awoke and turned on Herman, my trusty Mac, to check for e-mails and such. For some unknown reason, I decided to check my Sitemeter first thing. At first, I thought there must be some mistake, for I found an incredible number of hits (for me anyway) had amassed within the last 24 </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116663239099565270/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116663239099565270' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116663239099565270'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116663239099565270'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/12/touched-by-hand-of-gawker.html' title='Touched by the hand of Gawker!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116645255448755632</id><published>2006-12-18T09:35:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-12-18T09:35:54.513-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Is New York "over"? </title><summary type='text'>     lower manhattan skyline from the brooklyn heights promenade    Originally uploaded by limonada. After graduating from college on the New York suburb of Long Island in 1979, I returned to New York City and got an apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan with my then-boyfriend. Every now and again I'd make the trip down to the Lower East Side to visit my aunt and uncle, who had raised me </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116645255448755632/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116645255448755632' title='11 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116645255448755632'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116645255448755632'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/12/is-new-york-over.html' title='Is New York &quot;over&quot;? '/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>11</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116628928550223666</id><published>2006-12-16T11:57:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-12-16T12:15:11.906-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Blog recycling is a beautiful thing</title><summary type='text'>'Tis the season to go crazy trying to live up to the feel-good expectations of the holidays. With this in mind, I've reposted a Christmas piece I did here last year to Blogcritics called "The Holidays: Is That All There Is?"On Monday I see my shrink and have to deal with this dilemma: upping my Effexor seems to be helping me, but it's messing with my eyesight somewhat. I don't want to go back </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116628928550223666/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116628928550223666' title='9 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116628928550223666'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116628928550223666'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/12/blog-recycling-is-beautiful-thing.html' title='Blog recycling is a beautiful thing'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>9</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116611099278332134</id><published>2006-12-14T10:42:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-12-14T10:43:12.996-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Confessions of a former comment nazi</title><summary type='text'>     Nazis Not Welcome    Originally uploaded by bdunnette. Hey guys, thanks for the comments on commenting. It's very ironic that in my "heyday" I was like a comment nazi--my feeling was, as Jack's Shack said, that if someone took the time to comment, responding was the least I could do. In the past, I sometimes found myself feeling "jilted" if someone didn't respond to my comment. It felt like </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116611099278332134/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116611099278332134' title='16 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116611099278332134'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116611099278332134'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/12/confessions-of-former-comment-nazi_14.html' title='Confessions of a former comment nazi'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>16</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116568453493188940</id><published>2006-12-09T12:15:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-12-09T12:15:37.706-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Blogging, commenting, life, the universe, and everything</title><summary type='text'>     Blogging For Gaijin    Originally uploaded by Robert Sanzalone. Well, I don't want to jinx it, but my blogging slump may actually be coming to an end, at least for now. It may be chiefly due to an up in my Effexor meds. For those who don't take psych meds, it may be hard to understand, but having the right mix of seratonin and all those other feel good brain chemicals can make the difference</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116568453493188940/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116568453493188940' title='7 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116568453493188940'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116568453493188940'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/12/blogging-commenting-life-universe-and.html' title='Blogging, commenting, life, the universe, and everything'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>7</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116562160558388536</id><published>2006-12-08T18:46:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-12-08T18:46:45.583-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Evolution of a portrait</title><summary type='text'>     Johnny Winter first draft    Originally uploaded by Elvira Black. Ah, technology. I've always been interested in how the creative process expresses itself--sometimes even without the conscious will of the creator. I'm sure many creative types know what I mean when I talk about that feeling after stumbling upon a completed work you hadn't looked at in a while, and saying to yourself: "How the</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116562160558388536/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116562160558388536' title='6 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116562160558388536'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116562160558388536'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/12/evolution-of-portrait.html' title='Evolution of a portrait'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>6</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116562102133554513</id><published>2006-12-08T18:36:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-12-08T18:37:01.370-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Johnny Winter draft 2</title><summary type='text'>     Johnny Winter draft 2    Originally uploaded by Elvira Black. </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116562102133554513/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116562102133554513' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116562102133554513'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116562102133554513'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/12/johnny-winter-draft-2.html' title='Johnny Winter draft 2'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116562089204423883</id><published>2006-12-08T18:34:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-12-08T18:34:52.356-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Johnny Winter Verision 3 final</title><summary type='text'>     Johnny Winter Verision 3 final    Originally uploaded by Elvira Black. </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116562089204423883/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116562089204423883' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116562089204423883'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116562089204423883'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/12/johnny-winter-verision-3-final.html' title='Johnny Winter Verision 3 final'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116561283625235474</id><published>2006-12-08T16:20:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-12-08T16:20:36.986-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Washington Square Park, NYC, 1957</title><summary type='text'>     Washington Square Park, NYC, 1957    Originally uploaded by Elvira Black. I'm just testing to see if Flickr will download my photos. So here's a photo taken by my father a month after I was born of Washington Square Park, where beatnicks gathered (and still do). Yep, another not-quite post.</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116561283625235474/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116561283625235474' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116561283625235474'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116561283625235474'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/12/washington-square-park-nyc-1957.html' title='Washington Square Park, NYC, 1957'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116507528675961766</id><published>2006-12-02T10:36:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-12-29T02:43:57.093-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Prelude to a real blog post</title><summary type='text'>As some of you know, my postings for lo these many months have been few and far between. I can blame this chiefly on my bipolar disorder (how convenient!) because when I get depressed or even semi-depressed the first thing that goes out the window is my writing. This time, it wasn't a psychotic depression complete with hospitalizations and shock treatments, but more of a twilight zone of apathy </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116507528675961766/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116507528675961766' title='8 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116507528675961766'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116507528675961766'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/12/prelude-to-real-blog-post.html' title='Prelude to a real blog post'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>8</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-116425195873032340</id><published>2006-11-22T22:15:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-11-22T22:19:42.313-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Thanksgiving at the Toilet Bowl</title><summary type='text'>Long story short, as a child I led an abnormal life. Not only were my parents dysfunctional, but I was plenty weird, too. It was kind of like living on the set of The Munsters — we had virtually no visitors; the apartment was dusty and gloomy; and I don’t remember any big holiday blowouts.Things were different when I entered my early teens and started getting invited to friends’ houses for </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/116425195873032340/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=116425195873032340' title='14 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116425195873032340'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/116425195873032340'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/11/thanksgiving-at-toilet-bowl.html' title='Thanksgiving at the Toilet Bowl'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>14</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-115985641520677524</id><published>2006-10-03T01:59:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2006-10-03T02:24:40.723-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Who would have thought...</title><summary type='text'>I'd do the same thing I always believed was so uncool to do as a blogger--at least by my own "lofty" standards--namely, not answer comments and just let the blog slide away...Firstly, I am grateful to Walker and all others who took the time to comment during my absence, and I'm sorry I haven't responded. I do appreciate the feedback immensely.Thing is, though I'm a member of the Bipolar Planet </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/115985641520677524/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=115985641520677524' title='28 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/115985641520677524'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/115985641520677524'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/10/who-would-have-thought.html' title='Who would have thought...'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>28</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-115488110522900084</id><published>2006-08-06T12:13:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2006-08-07T13:41:39.216-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Life during wartime</title><summary type='text'>     NYC - East Village: CBGB &amp; OMFUG    Originally uploaded by wallyg. Although the jury may still be out on this, I fervently believe that we are in the stifling death grip of global warming. I remember a time when summers in New York City were mostly bearable, at least until August, but this year the heat wave started in June and shows no signs of dissipating. But what really struck fear in my</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/115488110522900084/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=115488110522900084' title='16 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/115488110522900084'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/115488110522900084'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/08/life-during-wartime.html' title='Life during wartime'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>16</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-115104243986989940</id><published>2006-06-23T01:57:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2006-06-23T02:00:40.176-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Those juicy Apple commercials</title><summary type='text'>     light #2    Originally uploaded by blakie. Sad proof of how I currently have no life to speak of: I was nearly heartbroken when someone decided to discontinue those commercials where the adorable AOL guy quells potential customers’ anxieties in a verbal volley of reassurances ("Viruses? Zapped! Spam? Blocked!"). Perhaps AOL has finally bit the dust, or can’t afford advertising anymore. Does </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/115104243986989940/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=115104243986989940' title='24 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/115104243986989940'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/115104243986989940'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/06/those-juicy-apple-commercials.html' title='Those juicy Apple commercials'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>24</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-115062239346884148</id><published>2006-06-18T05:16:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2006-06-18T05:19:53.516-04:00</updated><title type='text'>Still alive...</title><summary type='text'>     sleeping cat    Originally uploaded by mjd-s. Yes, I'm still out there somewhere. I've been going through a down-ish period for awhile where I don't seem to have the wherewithal to write anything. I've jotted down some ideas from time to time, and a minute ago I started a post, but I just don't seem to have it in me to complete it at this point.Part of it is that I have certain standards in </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/115062239346884148/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=115062239346884148' title='29 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/115062239346884148'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/115062239346884148'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/06/still-alive.html' title='Still alive...'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>29</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-114741428983048788</id><published>2006-05-12T02:09:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2006-05-12T02:11:29.886-04:00</updated><title type='text'>The art of lethargy</title><summary type='text'>     ...you guys go on...    Originally uploaded by aphasiafilms. Ah yes, I haven't posted in awhile now, have I? A few scintillating highlights follow:My "writing" brain may not be up to par right now, but my "dreaming" brain certainly has been in overdrive. For a very long time, I've had nightmares about my old jobs, especially the position I had in my twenties with a very exacting but often </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/114741428983048788/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=114741428983048788' title='27 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114741428983048788'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114741428983048788'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/05/art-of-lethargy.html' title='The art of lethargy'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>27</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-114578993426099111</id><published>2006-04-23T06:58:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2006-04-23T06:58:54.320-04:00</updated><title type='text'>My blogging doppelganger</title><summary type='text'>     Let me in    Originally uploaded by Whatknot. Though some people blog under their own name, many do not. The reasons are legion, and in my case not to be revealed. No, I'm not a criminal on the run from the thought-police. Though some of my reasons are purely practical, I've also found that having an alter-ego has helped to boost my ...um...real ego as well.Some people post pictures of </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/114578993426099111/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=114578993426099111' title='43 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114578993426099111'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114578993426099111'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/04/my-blogging-doppelganger.html' title='My blogging doppelganger'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>43</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-114493226116926372</id><published>2006-04-13T08:44:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2006-04-14T05:46:15.113-04:00</updated><title type='text'>The last Seder</title><summary type='text'>     Passover    Originally uploaded by Paul Watson. Despite the fact that I haven't attended a Seder for lo these many years, Passover remains my favorite Jewish holiday. Though my mother was Jewish and my father was Christian, neither of them were really too hip on celebrating their respective heritages, so most of what I learned about Passover and Jewish tradition came from my mother's sister,</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/114493226116926372/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=114493226116926372' title='28 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114493226116926372'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114493226116926372'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/04/last-seder.html' title='The last Seder'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>28</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-114397784642750987</id><published>2006-04-02T07:37:00.000-04:00</published><updated>2006-04-02T07:37:26.613-04:00</updated><title type='text'>The 9/11 tapes revealed--sort of</title><summary type='text'>     Parallel Lines    Originally uploaded by Corporal Tunnel. Firstly, a caveat: the info and "facts" contained therein are off the top of my head, so any inaccuracies are purely my fault--but I don't think I've botched anything. Just trying to be a responsible writer/journalist. Five years after 9/11, some of the families of the victims of that horrific day have won a partial battle to have the</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/114397784642750987/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=114397784642750987' title='25 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114397784642750987'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114397784642750987'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/04/911-tapes-revealed-sort-of.html' title='The 9/11 tapes revealed--sort of'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>25</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-114384948398966737</id><published>2006-03-31T18:58:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-03-31T18:58:04.036-05:00</updated><title type='text'>May the force be with you</title><summary type='text'>         Originally uploaded by MontyPython. Well, knock wood, I think I'm finally pulling out of my slump. I finally realized, after almost a year of having my nose pressed to the computer screen, that I need to attend to other things that need doing, including some that I also enjoy. A few days ago, I went to the grocery store instead of just letting BG do it, and bought myself a whole slew of </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/114384948398966737/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=114384948398966737' title='11 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114384948398966737'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114384948398966737'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/03/may-force-be-with-you.html' title='May the force be with you'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>11</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-114357765617843683</id><published>2006-03-28T15:27:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-03-28T15:27:36.220-05:00</updated><title type='text'>The slippery slope</title><summary type='text'>     Waiting for Indiana Jones    Originally uploaded by Pandiyan. I've been feeling pretty down lately, and one of the side effects is becoming evident here--namely, no new posts. When I started blogging, I was hypomanic. The words and thoughts came easily to me, though I was never a once-a-day poster by any means. In fact, I loved the writing and the blogging so much that the internet pretty </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/114357765617843683/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=114357765617843683' title='22 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114357765617843683'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114357765617843683'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/03/slippery-slope.html' title='The slippery slope'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>22</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-114243956446182930</id><published>2006-03-15T11:19:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-03-15T11:19:24.513-05:00</updated><title type='text'>A rant against myself</title><summary type='text'>     In my mind    Originally uploaded by SideLong. Well, I have to admit that sometimes I can be a bit of an asshole. But at least I try to admit it and learn from my mistakes if I can--though there's no guarantees in that department either. As I've noted in the comments section of the previous post, I was a tad hasty in my judgement of one or more of my fellow writers over at Blogcritics,and </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/114243956446182930/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=114243956446182930' title='22 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114243956446182930'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114243956446182930'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/03/rant-against-myself.html' title='A rant against myself'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>22</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-114221051013552065</id><published>2006-03-12T19:41:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-03-12T19:41:50.173-05:00</updated><title type='text'>A rant against "real writers"</title><summary type='text'>     If I Had Something to Say    Originally uploaded by re_birf. OK, I'll admit I'm feeling like shit and in a terrible mood. Maybe it's the fact that my doc gave me some Provigil to try to work on my sluggishness, and after a few days I realized it wasn't the answer, so today I only took a quarter tablet instead of a half. It says right on the darn circular that the stuff can be habit forming, </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/114221051013552065/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=114221051013552065' title='20 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114221051013552065'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114221051013552065'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/03/rant-against-real-writers.html' title='A rant against &quot;real writers&quot;'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>20</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-114217240316870375</id><published>2006-03-12T09:06:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-03-12T09:15:36.936-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Just a random thought...</title><summary type='text'>     one less tv    Originally uploaded by Kevin Steele. ...since I can't seem to think of anything more profound to write about at the moment:Here's three TV programs I wish they'd bring back in reruns:The Mary Tyler Moore Show:I lost my mom when I was a young teen in the early 70s, and I didn't show much grief in front of my friends on the outside,  though I was devastated beyond description. </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/114217240316870375/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=114217240316870375' title='7 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114217240316870375'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114217240316870375'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/03/just-random-thought.html' title='Just a random thought...'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>7</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-114158553777911184</id><published>2006-03-05T14:05:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-03-05T14:05:37.816-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Now is the winter of my discontent</title><summary type='text'>     Snow Worker    Originally uploaded by kirby10011. Indoor sunlight is a very big deal to me. My boyfriend BG tends to be a blinds drawn kind of guy, while I love to "let the sunshine in." So when I'm at my place downtown with my ex-boyfriend L, I love the fact that there's so many windows and the apartment gets an abundance of light from dawn to dusk. Today the pale morning sun streaming </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/114158553777911184/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=114158553777911184' title='22 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114158553777911184'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114158553777911184'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/03/now-is-winter-of-my-discontent.html' title='Now is the winter of my discontent'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>22</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-114148668767981246</id><published>2006-03-04T10:37:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-03-05T08:02:51.123-05:00</updated><title type='text'>A Carnival whose time has come...</title><summary type='text'>What a great idea...the Carnival of the Bipolars has arrived! Two carnivals have been posted so far--one by Joel at Pax Nortona and the other by Dan at Scenes from a wasted life.I'm somewhat familiar with blog carnivals, and have seen a lot of different formats, but I must say this carnival has to be the most inventive I've seen yet. Pure brilliance, you guys--but then, one would expect no less </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/114148668767981246/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=114148668767981246' title='6 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114148668767981246'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114148668767981246'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/03/carnival-whose-time-has-come.html' title='A Carnival whose time has come...'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>6</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-114141033652013841</id><published>2006-03-03T13:25:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-03-03T13:25:36.576-05:00</updated><title type='text'>A big New York thank you--fuhgeddahboudit!</title><summary type='text'>     The Ghosts of Soho    Originally uploaded by Thomas Hawk. I wanted to once again thank all my blogpals for their kind comments on the previous post. I'm working on a new "gloomfest" Shithouse piece right now (lol), but just wanted to say that your positive reactions to some of my old posts have encouraged me to gradually republish some of them on Blogcritics--along with the new pieces I'm </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/114141033652013841/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=114141033652013841' title='9 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114141033652013841'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114141033652013841'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/03/big-new-york-thank-you-fuhgeddahboudit.html' title='A big New York thank you--fuhgeddahboudit!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>9</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-114059309232333451</id><published>2006-02-22T02:24:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-02-22T02:30:28.833-05:00</updated><title type='text'>My pity party</title><summary type='text'>     Silent Assassin    Originally uploaded by **Anna. For the first time in ages, I find myself almost at a loss for words. I'm finding it hard to write and blog right now, and I regret that I haven't been following up on comments, though I always deeply appreciate them.Although I do talk about my life here, I don't consider this a classic "confessional" blog. I think there's a lot that I hold </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/114059309232333451/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=114059309232333451' title='29 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114059309232333451'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/114059309232333451'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/02/my-pity-party.html' title='My pity party'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>29</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113994806808640492</id><published>2006-02-14T15:14:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-02-14T15:14:28.133-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Love and let die</title><summary type='text'>     Dinner Table    Originally uploaded by spunkinator. When I was a little girl, I had a painful epiphany that may explain why I seek out crime-family films as avidly as a junkie takes to the crack pipe.My mother was going out for the evening -- perhaps for a one-night gig, since before she married my father she was a nightclub singer. She was all dressed up, and I can still almost smell the </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113994806808640492/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113994806808640492' title='25 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113994806808640492'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113994806808640492'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/02/love-and-let-die.html' title='Love and let die'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>25</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113972249574026491</id><published>2006-02-12T00:34:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-02-12T00:34:55.776-05:00</updated><title type='text'>The "offended" offenders</title><summary type='text'>     image022    Originally uploaded by Rigmarole. The recent attempts to placate Muslim demonstrators--and calls to "understand" how "deeply offended" the Danish cartoons depicting Mohammed are to Muslims-- frankly offends me to the point of fury. The reasons for this are, literally, graphically clear. The source of my rage is not hard to locate--it is readily available on websites which offer </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113972249574026491/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113972249574026491' title='14 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113972249574026491'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113972249574026491'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/02/offended-offenders.html' title='The &quot;offended&quot; offenders'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>14</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113956443534457832</id><published>2006-02-10T04:40:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-02-10T04:40:35.400-05:00</updated><title type='text'>My blogger burnout</title><summary type='text'>     REBOOT!    Originally uploaded by Mr. Orange*. After nine months of blogging, I've finally given birth to my own personal case of blogger burnout. Although I still love blogging, there are aspects that I used to enjoy that have become an effort, if not a downright chore, and my "real life" has suffered gravely in the process. Here's a few examples.What season is it?I've literally let several</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113956443534457832/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113956443534457832' title='13 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113956443534457832'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113956443534457832'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/02/my-blogger-burnout.html' title='My blogger burnout'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>13</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113913576184656923</id><published>2006-02-05T05:29:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-02-05T05:53:13.950-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Shithouse rat lab</title><summary type='text'>Well, after careful consideration--and a flagging hit counter and comment box--I've decided to at least try reposting my latest Blogcritics piece here for starters. Somehow it seemed kinda tacky and/or redundant before, but if truth be told, I think the Shithouse has been devolving lately into a shell of its former self--and most of my posts here either seem to consist of blatant BC pimp outs or </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113913576184656923/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113913576184656923' title='15 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113913576184656923'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113913576184656923'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/02/shithouse-rat-lab.html' title='Shithouse rat lab'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>15</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113913495369544715</id><published>2006-02-05T05:22:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-02-05T05:22:33.740-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Duck and cover--and kiss your sweet ass goodbye</title><summary type='text'>     Chemcraft Atomic 2    Originally uploaded by Todd Ehlers. Although it now has some hefty competition, CBS's 60 Minutes is still, to my mind, the best of the TV newsmagazines. Maybe one of the reasons I don't watch it too often anymore is that I typically come away from the program ranting and muttering to myself over some horrible injustice and/or outrage that Morley Safer and company have </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113913495369544715/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113913495369544715' title='7 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113913495369544715'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113913495369544715'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/02/duck-and-cover-and-kiss-your-sweet-ass.html' title='Duck and cover--and kiss your sweet ass goodbye'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>7</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113906171447480182</id><published>2006-02-04T08:56:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-02-04T09:02:57.813-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Best posts of 2005 a la Mr. Snitch!</title><summary type='text'>The ever fantabulous Mr. Snitch! has amassed his list of the  best posts of 2005. The list was assembled from a combo of reader's and poster's picks and Mr. Snitch's own picks. There's tons of great stuff here, so do check it out if you have the chance. Mr. Snitch also offers some great insights into what makes a good blog post, along with his rationale for undertaking this monumental task. Two </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113906171447480182/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113906171447480182' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113906171447480182'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113906171447480182'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/02/best-posts-of-2005-la-mr-snitch.html' title='Best posts of 2005 a la Mr. Snitch!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113905784641293221</id><published>2006-02-04T07:57:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-02-04T07:57:26.453-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Mulitiple blogging personality disorder? </title><summary type='text'>     DIANE ARBUS WAS HERE    Originally uploaded by defekto. I'm faced with a blogger's "identity crisis." In a nutshell, I don't quite know what direction to take in terms of whether, or how, to continue to  "pimp"...er...mention.... my BlogCritics posts here. Some, or perhaps most, other BC writers double post their BC work to their blogs and vice versa. But to me this seems kind of...well...</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113905784641293221/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113905784641293221' title='7 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113905784641293221'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113905784641293221'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/02/mulitiple-blogging-personality.html' title='Mulitiple blogging personality disorder? '/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>7</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113847219789423090</id><published>2006-01-28T13:16:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-28T13:16:37.990-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Rules of engagement</title><summary type='text'>     i've had it up to here with your RULES    Originally uploaded by QXZ. The fabulous Mr. Snitch! has posted some rules for internet trolls to live by.  My fave is this one (just substitute comment for e-mail):"If the writer responds to your e-mail with evidence that you're wrong (for example, by citing a paragraph that you overlooked), disappear without responding. The 'net is built for </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113847219789423090/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113847219789423090' title='21 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113847219789423090'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113847219789423090'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/rules-of-engagement.html' title='Rules of engagement'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>21</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113836452918369425</id><published>2006-01-27T07:22:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-27T07:28:50.313-05:00</updated><title type='text'>March of the wooden trolls</title><summary type='text'>     Command Group - Spearmen Close    Originally uploaded by Gobbo1000. In my prior blog gossip post, I descirbed a certain individual, X, who seemed to be going out of his way to antagonize me on my BlogCritics post Those Army Ads are BROILING my BUTT!. Well, he's since added a few more comments, but I finally noted that I would no longer be answering them, but that my silence should not be </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113836452918369425/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113836452918369425' title='14 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113836452918369425'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113836452918369425'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/march-of-wooden-trolls.html' title='March of the wooden trolls'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>14</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113800754775972808</id><published>2006-01-23T04:12:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-23T04:12:27.846-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Let's talk about drugs--again</title><summary type='text'>     Me and my drugs    Originally uploaded by knautia. Back in August, I wrote a post called Let's Talk about Drugs. Some of you may not have seen it here, but (get ready) I've shortened it a bit and re-posted it over at BlogCritics. As I did there, I'll just tease you here with the tagline:"I'm sure I would be a "Ritalin kid" if I were a first-grader today. I'm grateful I wasn't."PS--Paula, </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113800754775972808/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113800754775972808' title='24 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113800754775972808'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113800754775972808'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/lets-talk-about-drugs-again.html' title='Let&apos;s talk about drugs--again'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>24</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113791442050195041</id><published>2006-01-22T02:20:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-22T02:20:20.540-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Well alrighty then--time for some blog gossip!</title><summary type='text'>     Jen Finally Talks..    Originally uploaded by karroozi. Well, I finally crossed the line two nights ago, and wound up actually sleeping with Herman, my trusty Mac. Addicted to the blogosphere to an unhealthy degree? Arguably. Having the time of my life? Absolutely. Having blog dreams? All the time.But this latest development does seem really sick, doesn't it? Though I'll admit to enjoying a </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113791442050195041/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113791442050195041' title='27 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113791442050195041'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113791442050195041'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/well-alrighty-then-time-for-some-blog.html' title='Well alrighty then--time for some blog gossip!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>27</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113791322528356337</id><published>2006-01-22T01:57:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-22T02:00:25.416-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Don't mean to be a blogger deadbeat...</title><summary type='text'>I know I've been remiss in visiting and commenting to my blogger-pals' sites lately, but it's not because I don't care. I care, dammit! I care a LOT! I've just been caught up in the whole BlogCritics thing these past 10-ish days or so. I'll most likely be swinging by soon though. Is that, like, a threat or a promise?</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113791322528356337/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113791322528356337' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113791322528356337'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113791322528356337'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/dont-mean-to-be-blogger-deadbeat.html' title='Don&apos;t mean to be a blogger deadbeat...'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113784832310796384</id><published>2006-01-21T07:56:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-21T08:04:20.900-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Another mental health related blunder--and boy is it ever a doozy</title><summary type='text'>My bipolar blogpals in particular--and anyone who relies on prescription drugs in general--might find this article in today's New York Times as scary as I did:"Medicare Woes Take High Toll on Mentally IllSome patients have relapsed after mix-ups in the first weeks of the new drug benefit kept them from getting their medications."From the article:"Residents of Dayspring Village see worms in their </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113784832310796384/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113784832310796384' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113784832310796384'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113784832310796384'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/another-mental-health-related-blunder.html' title='Another mental health related blunder--and boy is it ever a doozy'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113760855322769435</id><published>2006-01-18T13:22:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-18T13:22:33.263-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Go ahead--call me a slut!</title><summary type='text'>     Slut    Originally uploaded by redking. A blog slut,  that is. Hey,  I can take it. I've been called worse before--by myself. Or maybe that was comment whore or blog pimp. I guess blog slut is even worse. You guys are probably sick to death of seeing me pimp my Blogcritics posts. Well, sorry to say I've got another one to advertise, and it's a doozy!It's a little thing I like to call:Those </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113760855322769435/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113760855322769435' title='19 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113760855322769435'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113760855322769435'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/go-ahead-call-me-slut_18.html' title='Go ahead--call me a slut!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>19</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113748175843585018</id><published>2006-01-17T02:09:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-17T02:09:18.466-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Come to my party, my Tupperware party...</title><summary type='text'>     Cooked My Butt Off.  p.s: You're Welcome    Originally uploaded by KimmiK. Yes, I do believe there was an actual advertising jingle associated with Tupperware parties that aired long ago, and it still haunts me today. I've never had the pleasure of attending one, although I did attend a naughty lingerie party once. Well, there is a "party" of sorts going on all right, but it has naught to do</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113748175843585018/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113748175843585018' title='14 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113748175843585018'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113748175843585018'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/come-to-my-party-my-tupperware-party.html' title='Come to my party, my Tupperware party...'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>14</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113737312208715510</id><published>2006-01-15T19:58:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-15T19:58:42.120-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Uh oh...brain itch!</title><summary type='text'>     Topsy and Tim have itchy heads    Originally uploaded by welovepandas. Not to be confused with a brain fart...Anyway, this has been on my mind for since...well...forever!Why is it that the vast majority of pop music comes only from the U.S. and the U.K.?Think about it. True, Spain and Latin America have their own brand of salsa, etc. but that's not mainstream pop. Of course Latin American </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113737312208715510/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113737312208715510' title='24 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113737312208715510'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113737312208715510'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/uh-ohbrain-itch.html' title='Uh oh...brain itch!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>24</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113731168673950207</id><published>2006-01-15T02:54:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-15T02:54:46.780-05:00</updated><title type='text'>There's got to be a morning after...</title><summary type='text'>     LongGold.jpg    Originally uploaded by NYC Guy. Well, after all that hubbub and all your kindness and concern, I'm embarassed to say that, yes, I did return to BG's abode after spending one night downtown with L at my place. Yeah, typical "battered wife syndrome," right? (Not that I was physically battered--hard to break bones with cheese doodles and cold soup). However, BG's brother BLLB </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113731168673950207/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113731168673950207' title='8 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113731168673950207'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113731168673950207'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/theres-got-to-be-morning-after_15.html' title='There&apos;s got to be a morning after...'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>8</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113730977628553106</id><published>2006-01-15T02:14:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-15T02:33:27.593-05:00</updated><title type='text'>More Blogcritics pimp outs</title><summary type='text'>For anyone who might be interested, here's my latest three posts over at Blogcritics.org:PRO-LIFE OR ANTI-SEX?(40 comments and pings so far)Pro-lifers have a "final solution" for anyone having extramarital sex--just say no!(Yes, this is a SIZZLING HOT TOPIC, so anyone who'd like to join the fray is, of course, more than welcome.) CONFESSIONS OF A COMMENT WHOREI adore comments, but respond </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113730977628553106/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113730977628553106' title='8 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113730977628553106'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113730977628553106'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/more-blogcritics-pimp-outs.html' title='More Blogcritics pimp outs'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>8</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113702634617747110</id><published>2006-01-11T19:39:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-11T19:39:06.210-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Thanks are in order all around</title><summary type='text'>     DSC01065    Originally uploaded by scherre. Thank you all for your kind comments and words of support regarding my dilemma. Whilst I gather my thoughts, I just wanted to give a little shoutout to three other guys--besides you guys--that I love. Yes, love. Little did I know that my silly little post about cheese doodle attacks with a cold 12-bean soup chaser would also get attention from the </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113702634617747110/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113702634617747110' title='18 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113702634617747110'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113702634617747110'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/thanks-are-in-order-all-around_11.html' title='Thanks are in order all around'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>18</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113673307907227865</id><published>2006-01-08T09:41:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-08T10:47:21.713-05:00</updated><title type='text'>The one where Elvira lets it alllll hang out</title><summary type='text'>Early this morning, BG, my boyfriend of seven years, threw me out of his Bronx apartment. Luckily for me, I have my own place in downtown Manhattan--well, half my place, since I share it with my ex-boyfriend--so I had somewhere to go. But it's not a permanent solution, since L (my ex) and I are in the process of getting the coop ready to sell so we can each buy a place of our own. And thanks to L</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113673307907227865/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113673307907227865' title='26 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113673307907227865'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113673307907227865'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/one-where-elvira-lets-it-alllll-hang.html' title='The one where Elvira lets it alllll hang out'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>26</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113665330326590233</id><published>2006-01-07T12:01:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-07T12:01:43.300-05:00</updated><title type='text'>My blogging doppelganger</title><summary type='text'>         Originally uploaded by Redskynight. For me, blogging under a "pen-name" means that I now have a separate blog-self that's better-looking, more fun-loving, and more popular than "I" am.Posted on Blogcritics.</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113665330326590233/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113665330326590233' title='10 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113665330326590233'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113665330326590233'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/my-blogging-doppelganger_07.html' title='My blogging doppelganger'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>10</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113657097210546066</id><published>2006-01-06T13:09:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-06T13:09:32.146-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Apocalypse now?</title><summary type='text'>     The sinking country    Originally uploaded by * Ivan  *. Another blogcritics post from Elvira:Yeats' "The Second Coming"--a chilling vision of the End of Days--has somehow never seemed more prophetic.Apocalypse now?</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113657097210546066/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113657097210546066' title='10 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113657097210546066'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113657097210546066'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/apocalypse-now.html' title='Apocalypse now?'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>10</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113655282358074521</id><published>2006-01-06T08:07:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-06T08:07:03.663-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Blogging from both sides of my brain</title><summary type='text'>     My Brain on MRI    Originally uploaded by CaptPiper. Thanks to all my blog pals who congratulated me on joining Blogcritics. As I've mentioned in the comments, it's not like they recruited me or anything--I just asked to join based on their criteria. In other words, if anyone here is interested, you could join up too. The thing about the site that really excited me was that it deals with </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113655282358074521/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113655282358074521' title='10 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113655282358074521'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113655282358074521'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/blogging-from-both-sides-of-my-brain_06.html' title='Blogging from both sides of my brain'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>10</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113654797353099374</id><published>2006-01-06T06:45:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-06T08:00:47.956-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Meme-o-rama!</title><summary type='text'>The incompably sweet and deliciousAriadnek of Weird Cake hath tagged me verily, and sorely vexed me. Just kidding, but I had to wrack my scrambled brains a bit to come up with the three requred items for the meme below. Well, anywho, here goes:"The rules are simple: now that you have been busted, you must confess to 3 things that you do that others don't know about."1. I LOVE gossip. Not the </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113654797353099374/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113654797353099374' title='8 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113654797353099374'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113654797353099374'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/meme-o-rama.html' title='Meme-o-rama!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>8</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113629346799825619</id><published>2006-01-03T08:04:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-03T16:21:17.960-05:00</updated><title type='text'>"I'm so excited!!!..."</title><summary type='text'>     Champagne    Originally uploaded by progoddess. "...And I just can't hide it!I'm about to lose controlAnd I think I like it!"Thanks, Pointer Sisters, for representin' and helping me express my utter JOY, AMAZEMENT, AND EUPHORIA over becoming a brand-new member of blogcritics.org--described onsite as "A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, technology, </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113629346799825619/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113629346799825619' title='23 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113629346799825619'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113629346799825619'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/im-so-excited.html' title='&quot;I&apos;m so excited!!!...&quot;'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>23</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113624057259571543</id><published>2006-01-02T17:22:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-02T17:22:52.650-05:00</updated><title type='text'>New York Story #4</title><summary type='text'>     southside commercial space    Originally uploaded by jUSTINYC. THE DARK SIDE OF GENTRIFICATIONFor New Yorkers, real estate is a consuming obsession. Whether they rent or own, virtually everyone has a tale of triumph and/or horror to tell, and tell they do. The three--or rather five--only factors that really count in this equation  are size; price; and location, location, location. But what </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113624057259571543/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113624057259571543' title='14 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113624057259571543'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113624057259571543'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/new-york-story-4.html' title='New York Story #4'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>14</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113609246100775948</id><published>2006-01-01T00:14:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2006-01-01T00:14:21.046-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Happy blogyear!</title><summary type='text'>     New Year's Eve - Times Square 2005    Originally uploaded by UB1. "For last year's words belong to last year's languageAnd next year's words await another voice.And to make an end is to make a beginning."~T.S. EliotThis past year, I did the following:Starting blogging.Became addicted to blogging.Missed a season or two completely due to being indoors blogging. Stopped eating right.Eschewed </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113609246100775948/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113609246100775948' title='24 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113609246100775948'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113609246100775948'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2006/01/happy-blogyear.html' title='Happy blogyear!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>24</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113580820263728525</id><published>2005-12-28T17:16:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-28T17:16:43.026-05:00</updated><title type='text'>FREE Chinese Food!!!!</title><summary type='text'>     Christmas Tree Fried Rice - Chen Chen &amp; Boon Chew    Originally uploaded by avlxyz. OK. Did I get everyone's attention? Just a shout out to let you know that the delicious, nutritious, super enriched year-end edition of Carnival of the Vanities is out at Chicken Soup of the Damned. I love that title, don't you? If our blogs got married, our blogchild could be called Chicken Shithouse Rat </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113580820263728525/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113580820263728525' title='20 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113580820263728525'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113580820263728525'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/12/free-chinese-food.html' title='FREE Chinese Food!!!!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>20</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113575414202846189</id><published>2005-12-28T02:15:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-28T02:15:42.056-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Cleaning out the Shithouse</title><summary type='text'>     iPoop -Mock iPod Ad    Originally uploaded by kissthis. Well, I guess there's a limit to how much you can really say about Chinese food, isn't there? So here's a few mental turds that have been floating and swirling around my shithouse...er...brain. May as well flush them out. THE NEW AOL COMMERCIAL---LOVE ITThere's this new AOL commercial with a nerdy guy I think is really cool and (if I </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113575414202846189/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113575414202846189' title='24 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113575414202846189'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113575414202846189'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/12/cleaning-out-shithouse.html' title='Cleaning out the Shithouse'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>24</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113566740403251789</id><published>2005-12-27T02:10:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-27T02:10:04.066-05:00</updated><title type='text'>New York Story #3</title><summary type='text'>     fortune cookie    Originally uploaded by h. ELVIRA'S THEORY OF CHINESE TAKEOUT-RELATED GENTRIFICATION Ever notice how many movies have the dramatic  "pouring rain" scene? When the director really wants to give you the "climactic, emotionally charged moment," a good rainstorm is always in the offing. To me, Chinese takeout/delivery has the same sort of semiotic significance, especially in New</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113566740403251789/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113566740403251789' title='37 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113566740403251789'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113566740403251789'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/12/new-york-story-3.html' title='New York Story #3'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>37</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113550364836770842</id><published>2005-12-25T04:40:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-25T04:40:48.400-05:00</updated><title type='text'>A very Jewish Christmas</title><summary type='text'>     Scots Pine in the Snow.jpg    Originally uploaded by OpenEye. BG and I have been totally lacksadaisical about every holiday this year. My birthday is July 4th, but instead of going into the city to see the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks spectacular, I fell asleep on the couch before they even showed it on TV. For BG's Halloween birthday, I had all sorts of ghoulish plans, but they all fell </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113550364836770842/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113550364836770842' title='44 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113550364836770842'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113550364836770842'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/12/very-jewish-christmas.html' title='A very Jewish Christmas'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>44</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113539510649005713</id><published>2005-12-23T22:31:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-23T22:31:46.523-05:00</updated><title type='text'>How to succeed in blogging without really trying!</title><summary type='text'>     chris_remix    Originally uploaded by dmc500hats. Shit if I know. I just thought this title and the "hot button" Technorati tags below might help me generate a few extra hits. Heh heh. Silly, you say? Well, there was actually a blogger who got a huge amount of hits simply because he wrote a "how not to blog" post as his very first entry. What cheek! But hey, whatever works, right? </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113539510649005713/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113539510649005713' title='29 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113539510649005713'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113539510649005713'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/12/how-to-succeed-in-blogging-without_23.html' title='How to succeed in blogging without really trying!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>29</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113538667336261106</id><published>2005-12-23T20:06:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-23T22:27:27.283-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Does the top post of the year have YOUR name on it?</title><summary type='text'>While we're on the subject of hits, links, ranks, and all that rot:Mr. Snitch! is doing a beautiful thing for the holiday season. He' s looking for the top 100 posts of the year, Mr. Snitch! style. So if you have a bitchin' post that is languishing in your archives, here's a chance to let it see the light of day once more-- with feeling. As Mr. Snitch! so eloquently puts it:"Now that the frenetic</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113538667336261106/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113538667336261106' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113538667336261106'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113538667336261106'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/12/does-top-post-of-year-have-your-name.html' title='Does the top post of the year have YOUR name on it?'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113526774238022696</id><published>2005-12-22T11:09:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-22T11:09:02.416-05:00</updated><title type='text'>It's nice to have a Guy in New York</title><summary type='text'>     Naked Cowboy in Times Square    Originally uploaded by Mister V. Wouldn't you know it? What with all my fancy-schmancy talk about blog carnivals, I forgot to mention New York City's own Big Apple Blog Festival.This is, of course, a carnival primarily for New York City-related blogs. This week, A Guy in New York, the founder (I think) of this fest, was the host. Since I was actually laying </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113526774238022696/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113526774238022696' title='16 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113526774238022696'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113526774238022696'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/12/its-nice-to-have-guy-in-new-york.html' title='It&apos;s nice to have a Guy in New York'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>16</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113508489615892784</id><published>2005-12-20T08:21:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-20T08:26:37.036-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Hit me with your best kvetch</title><summary type='text'>     Complaint Squircle    Originally uploaded by zizzybaloobah. I'd like to invite you all to comment here on something that burns your ass. Bring me your whining, your complaining, your teeming resentments struggling to break free. If enough of you bitch and moan long enough and loud enough, I may consider taking this to the next level and founding the first Carnival of the Kvetcherati.For </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113508489615892784/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113508489615892784' title='52 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113508489615892784'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113508489615892784'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/12/hit-me-with-your-best-kvetch.html' title='Hit me with your best kvetch'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>52</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113504429176511039</id><published>2005-12-19T21:04:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-20T08:16:07.403-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Insane in the brain???</title><summary type='text'>     Zombie Walk - Toronto_MG_4508    Originally uploaded by rodolfo novak©. To be filed under the "What was I thinking? Why wasn't I linking?" category:The fabulous Mr Snitch! was nice enough to mention me recently in the same breath as two of the most DEPRESSED and NIHILISTIC bloggers known to mankind. So what do I do? Do I mention this on my own site? Well, nooooo! Bad blogslut! Bad, bad! And </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113504429176511039/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113504429176511039' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113504429176511039'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113504429176511039'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/12/insane-in-brain_19.html' title='Insane in the brain???'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113487528913837303</id><published>2005-12-17T22:08:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-17T22:08:09.213-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Weirded out!</title><summary type='text'>     The Dark Side of the Spoon    Originally uploaded by viiny. For some odd reason, Suzie of Assorted Babble fame has tagged me for a meme where you list five weird things about yourself. I have no idea why Suzie would think there is anything the least bit bizarre, peculiar, or off-kilter about me, but I'll give it a whirl.Let me preface this by saying that if you REALLY want weird, check out </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113487528913837303/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113487528913837303' title='27 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113487528913837303'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113487528913837303'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/12/weirded-out_17.html' title='Weirded out!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>27</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113459242695554834</id><published>2005-12-14T15:31:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-14T15:40:00.540-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Carnival of the Kvetcharati?</title><summary type='text'>This week's Carnival of the Vanities is up at Multiple Mentality. In addition to my latest attempt to shamelessly pimp my blog by submitting my recent kvetch...um, I mean post...on John Lennon, this week you can also find a veritable shitload of links on a plethora of topics--all just a click away! Hoo-hah!</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113459242695554834/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113459242695554834' title='22 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113459242695554834'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113459242695554834'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/12/carnival-of-kvetcharati.html' title='Carnival of the Kvetcharati?'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>22</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113456365259485376</id><published>2005-12-14T07:33:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-14T07:42:13.030-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Procrastinator? Perhaps. Comment snob? Never!</title><summary type='text'>Nothing like beating a dead horse here, but just wanted to let you know that I appreciate the comments left on Monday's post and will reply to them all, probably today. No, I doubt anyone is waiting breathlessly for this event. But I have to admit yet again that bloggers who never answer anyone's comments turn me off so much that I often never visit them again. Unless you're Boing Boing or </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113456365259485376/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113456365259485376' title='37 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113456365259485376'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113456365259485376'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/12/procrastinator-perhaps-comment-snob.html' title='Procrastinator? Perhaps. Comment snob? Never!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>37</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113456310708451387</id><published>2005-12-14T07:25:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-14T07:25:07.136-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Hey babe, take a walk on the paranoid side</title><summary type='text'>     you are under suveillance    Originally uploaded by found_drama. In the past, I've suffered some horrifying bouts of depression with psychotic features, as they like to say in the psychiatric business. These involved, among other things, episodes of delusional paranoia. By delusional, of course, I mean they were unfounded; not supported by objective fact. BG, likewise, sometimes suffers from</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113456310708451387/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113456310708451387' title='23 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113456310708451387'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113456310708451387'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/12/hey-babe-take-walk-on-paranoid-side.html' title='Hey babe, take a walk on the paranoid side'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>23</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113437113679300456</id><published>2005-12-12T02:05:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-12T02:05:36.820-05:00</updated><title type='text'>I'm pissed off, bummed out, and scared shitless--and I'm not gonna take this anymore!!!</title><summary type='text'>     desperate reworked    Originally uploaded by eir@si. I'm having a bit of blogger's block. I've been struggling over my latest post, and I think it's time I put it aside for awhile and just rambled a bit about a few random things that are making me mad, sad, or just plain terrified.CABLE SUCKS!I want to start some sort of mass movement protesting the abysmal state of cable in the world today.</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113437113679300456/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113437113679300456' title='44 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113437113679300456'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113437113679300456'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/12/im-pissed-off-bummed-out-and-scared.html' title='I&apos;m pissed off, bummed out, and scared shitless--and I&apos;m not gonna take this anymore!!!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>44</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113409697435490840</id><published>2005-12-08T21:56:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-08T21:56:14.380-05:00</updated><title type='text'>John Lennon: New Yorker</title><summary type='text'>     John Lennon Memorial (2)    Originally uploaded by jamesfarnham. I feel old today--well, older than usual. Why? Because this morning I realized that many of you are too young to remember the day John Lennon was assassinated, 25 years ago today--let alone the Beatlemania that, inadvertently, led up to it.I won't try to be grandma Elvira here and attempt to describe the influence the Beatles </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113409697435490840/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113409697435490840' title='53 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113409697435490840'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113409697435490840'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/12/john-lennon-new-yorker.html' title='John Lennon: New Yorker'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>53</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113396616156478414</id><published>2005-12-07T09:36:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-07T09:39:42.256-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Blog pimp or comment ho? You make the call!</title><summary type='text'>     the pimp    Originally uploaded by ugglan. I guess I've been a little of both this week. Oy, I feel so....cheap! But f*ck that noize--it's time to give it up for Denali Flavors, the host of this week's Carnival of the Vanities--a roundup of cool blog posts for the past week. Along with my very own Confessions of a Comment Whore,you can find links to posts on menstruation; the Arab Hitler;  </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113396616156478414/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113396616156478414' title='22 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113396616156478414'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113396616156478414'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/12/blog-pimp-or-comment-ho-you-make-call_07.html' title='Blog pimp or comment ho? You make the call!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>22</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113373396045327218</id><published>2005-12-04T17:06:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-04T17:15:59.576-05:00</updated><title type='text'>With a name like Shithouse rat, it has to be good!</title><summary type='text'>     stub_ico_top_big    Originally uploaded by ImNotGaryColeman. IT'S BIG! IT'S BOLD! IT WHITENS! IT BRIGHTENS! IT SLICES! IT DICES! It's the cyber-sensation that's sweeping the nation! It's hours of fun for the whole family! It's the amazing:ADVERTISING SLOGAN GENERATOR!!!!FOLKS, LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT this revolutionary little tool. It's so easy to operate, even a child can do it! Here's how it</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113373396045327218/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113373396045327218' title='38 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113373396045327218'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113373396045327218'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/12/with-name-like-shithouse-rat-it-has-to_04.html' title='With a name like Shithouse rat, it has to be good!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>38</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113344174330237062</id><published>2005-12-01T07:55:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-12-01T08:25:31.123-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Confessions of a comment whore</title><summary type='text'>     Elvira Black, queen of the writer's groups    Originally uploaded by Elvira Black. This is soooo awkward.Today is Thursday (I think) and I'm just now answering comments from last Sunday's post. This happens a lot. But really, does anyone remotely give a shit? (No, I'm not trolling for responses here.)I hate to imply that anyone is going back and checking their comments here with bated breath</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113344174330237062/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113344174330237062' title='48 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113344174330237062'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113344174330237062'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/12/confessions-of-comment-whore.html' title='Confessions of a comment whore'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>48</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113332623194248066</id><published>2005-11-29T23:50:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-11-29T23:50:31.966-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Take a piece of fruit!</title><summary type='text'>     La nuova Mela    Originally uploaded by *Kazze*. That's what my Jewish auntie, born and bred on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, always likes to say when I visit. So with that in mind, I'm happy to note that the Big Apple Blog Fesival-- a weekly roundup of representative posts by NYC bloggers-- is hosted this week by A Guy in New York.This past week's posts cover food, clothing, shelter, </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113332623194248066/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113332623194248066' title='8 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113332623194248066'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113332623194248066'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/11/take-piece-of-fruit.html' title='Take a piece of fruit!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>8</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113312138099336488</id><published>2005-11-27T14:56:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-11-27T15:06:42.536-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Is that all there is?</title><summary type='text'>     Six months till Christmas!    Originally uploaded by eye2eye. In the immortal words of John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) just before the Sex Pistols walked off stage after performing only one song at a US concert:Ever feel like you've been cheated? Ever stood on line to see a movie that got four star reviews and fall asleep in the theatre from sheer boredom? Ever dined in  an expensive </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113312138099336488/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113312138099336488' title='25 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113312138099336488'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113312138099336488'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/11/is-that-all-there-is.html' title='Is that all there is?'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>25</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113263374843470346</id><published>2005-11-21T23:26:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-11-21T23:34:16.590-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Timothy's three</title><summary type='text'>Just a heads up that Timothy from Dragon's Wings picked up the tagging torch and did his own "three about me" meme. This was in response to mine, which was in response to Digibrill's, which was....etc. etc. Anyone else wanna play?</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113263374843470346/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113263374843470346' title='16 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113263374843470346'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113263374843470346'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/11/timothys-three.html' title='Timothy&apos;s three'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>16</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113260744924763020</id><published>2005-11-21T16:10:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-11-21T16:10:49.273-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Flamers and scammers and trolls...oh my!</title><summary type='text'>     Frankenstein's Monster Experiment II, stitches and coloring (In Hiding Contemplation)    Originally uploaded by DerrickT. Yesterday, while catching up with my blogpals, I read a post by Jessie at What About? entitled "I Am Offended!"The previous day, Jessie had posted a pic of actor Orlando Bloom in a romantic bedroom moment with an equally sexy actress. A reader took offense and sent her a </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113260744924763020/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113260744924763020' title='34 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113260744924763020'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113260744924763020'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/11/flamers-and-scammers-and-trollsoh-my_21.html' title='Flamers and scammers and trolls...oh my!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>34</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113215830229616402</id><published>2005-11-16T11:25:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-11-16T11:25:02.330-05:00</updated><title type='text'>All is vanity...</title><summary type='text'>     damn, i'm good    Originally uploaded by John C Abell. "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity."--Ecclesiastes 1Hey you guys: have I told you lately that I love you?Thank you so much for all the cool comments to my post Eat, Blog, and be Merry. Just wanted to mention (ahem) that this post has been linked to the Carnival of the Vanities, which is hosted this</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113215830229616402/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113215830229616402' title='27 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113215830229616402'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113215830229616402'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/11/all-is-vanity.html' title='All is vanity...'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>27</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113211272307393423</id><published>2005-11-15T22:45:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-11-15T22:45:23.116-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Three about me</title><summary type='text'>     three    Originally uploaded by naama. OK, Digibrill, I've finally gotten off my blogass and taken up the tag you sent my way. Here goes:Three things I like in a person:1. Honesty tempered with compassion. 2. A sense of humor.3. A juicy mental illness.Three accomplishments I'm proud of:1. Getting my master's degree.2. Getting published.3. Getting laid (by the right guy).Three big-time fears:</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113211272307393423/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113211272307393423' title='20 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113211272307393423'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113211272307393423'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/11/three-about-me.html' title='Three about me'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>20</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113172327074903682</id><published>2005-11-11T10:34:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-11-11T10:34:30.773-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Eat, blog and be merry</title><summary type='text'>     Waiting for Guests to Arrive    Originally uploaded by ScarFoot. Perhaps some of you recall the '80s movie The Hunger, adapted from a book by the horrormeister Whitley Streiber.  In the movie, Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie play glamorous NYC vampires. Very cool film, by the way--the first scene alone was worth the price of admission. It opens in a nightclub to the strains of "Bela </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113172327074903682/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113172327074903682' title='45 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113172327074903682'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113172327074903682'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/11/eat-blog-and-be-merry.html' title='Eat, blog and be merry'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>45</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113138293616707139</id><published>2005-11-07T12:02:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-11-07T12:02:16.220-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Wait 'til your BG gets home!</title><summary type='text'>     Johnny Winter draft 2    Originally uploaded by Elvira Black. Shhhhh....here's BG's second "draft" of Johnny Winter. I put it up now because he's gone to do some errands in the "city" (where I should have been today, helping my ex-b/f pack so we can SELL this coop already.) But I've been having some horrible dreams about moving out of Manhattan. No need to interpret them...they speak for </summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113138293616707139/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113138293616707139' title='35 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113138293616707139'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113138293616707139'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/11/wait-til-your-bg-gets-home.html' title='Wait &apos;til your BG gets home!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>35</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12497894.post-113119631145450357</id><published>2005-11-05T08:11:00.000-05:00</published><updated>2005-11-05T08:11:51.473-05:00</updated><title type='text'>Blogger's remorse!</title><summary type='text'>     Blogging with Flickr    Originally uploaded by nico.. SCREWUP NUMBER ONEAlthough I'm glad people liked it, I should never have posted BG's first "draft" of his Johnny Winter portrait. For one thing, he is vehement about not showing his work before it's finished, but I think one night after he had a few drinks he kind of said it would be ok--but it wasn't. So now I have to try to make sure he</summary><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/feeds/113119631145450357/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12497894&amp;postID=113119631145450357' title='14 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113119631145450357'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12497894/posts/default/113119631145450357'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://elvirablack.blogspot.com/2005/11/bloggers-remorse.html' title='Blogger&apos;s remorse!'/><author><name>elvira black</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/14807259749719715614</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://photos11.flickr.com/17603993_82105bc099_m.jpg'/></author><thr:total>14</thr:total></entry></feed>
