Just a few photos I snapped while passing through Boston running errands.

No I am not a professional photographer. I think that’s rather obvious.

This topic is one that I wanted to discuss for a while now and since I am a blogger and social networker with membership accounts of over 150 social networks, I think I can lend a small voice about the topic.

I have found that a good majority of people online are fairly good to each other but every once in a while you wish there was more protocol for forum and blogging etiquette.

Blogcatalog had a recent discussion titled:

How do you rate Blogcatalog as the best social networking site?

http://www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/how-do-you-rate-blogcatalog-as-the-best-social-networking-site

I am a member of blogcatalog, I enjoy participating in the community and enjoy having some fun on the discussion platform so I responded to this discussion with this comment and rating based on what I have experienced there as a member of the community.

“This rating is for (the owner) to notice. The Blog rating system still has many flaws.

Members who don’t have blogs are still allowed to leave ratings for our blogs when they don’t have blogs of their own and most of the time they don’t even bother to participate in the community.

The excessive harassment and over policing of threads by a few annoying members needs to stop.

Some of these annoying members clearly have no respect for the creator of the thread and they show up to offer advice that no one asked for, especially the creator and then they want to start an argument with the creator of that discussion.

There should be an option to block these annoying members who clearly only show up to kill a perfectly good thread that is going fine until these few show up with their expertisis, especially when their expertisis wasn’t asked for in the original discussion thread header posted by the discussion creator.

This is most annoying when the creator is simply trying to conduct a flowing discussion thread and the owner should take steps to stop this _ullshit and harassment.

If members cannot simply contribute to the discussion and follow the rules asked for in that discussion by the creator, they should be either suspended or blocked from posting anymore to that specific creator of discussions once and for all.

I have had quiet a few of my discussions disappear out of thin air and when I asked you (the owner) the reason why those discussions were deleted you yourself failed to give me a decent answer and you yourself either didn’t know the answer or was playing a game with me.

If your Admins can clearly delete discussion threads and don’t have to give a reason why those discussions were deleted, I have a little issue with that.

If your Admins can suspend me with no valid reason, which I received 1 suspension a while ago and still no valid reason was given to me, I have a little issue with that.

I find some of your Admins to be most BIAS when it comes to arguments about some of the most annoying members here at bc under the guise of “doing good for the community”.

Your TOS has a major flaw since I was told that the certain annoying members is still allowed to troll and harass members on this forum for so long and is NOT GOING TO BE SUSPENDED FROM BC FOR GOOD, EVEN THOUGH ACCORDING TO YOUR TOS, AFTER 3 STRIKES YOUR OUT FOR GOOD.

There obviously is some FAVORITISM going on here and I would like to see this worked on as I was told that these annoying members are REGULAR MEMBERS JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IS BUT CLEARLY THIS IS NOT THE CASE HERE IS IT?

I hope to see this rating and the reasons why I gave my rating stay up visible here in this discussion without seeing it deleted by your ADMIN.

I also found out according to this bc discussion that our Private Shoutbox Messages to friends is not Private after all. This I find most outrageous. http://www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/private-bc-shouts-viewable-when-searching-alias-on-yahoo-wtf

The question was asked “how do you rate blogcatalog?” and I am responding to it. I am not looking for any answers back from you (the owner) (though I would appreciate them) as I don’t expect many changes to happen here at bc anyway but the question was asked and I as a BC Member responded to the questions asked about RATING AND HOW I WOULD RATE BC AN WHY in a timely manner.

The truth is (the owner) your network needs some cleaning up.
Jeunelle Rates BlogCatalog a 5 “.

As you can see I meant business and I gave a different view to their votes of perfect 10. Not too long after my comment was of course deleted. (a typical bc approach), I later dropped my rating down to a 3.

You see I have noticed that many of these social networks allow annoying members to TROLL the discussion forums for themselves for years and they continue to do so today because admin and the owners are turning a blind eye or simply choosing to ignore it.

If these annoying members can continue to act a beast on the forum, stalking and harassing  other members and manipulating threads for deletion the way they do, there are going to be members who leave that community and go to other communities and this has already happened.

The members get fed up that they are not being heard and they get dissatisfied with the service and they leave, even after repeated complaints to the Admin and the Owners, members are being treated as children and told to “GROW UP”,  “YOU’RE SUSPENDED FOR A FEW DAYS”, basically come back when things cool down.

Sweeping the dirt under the carpet doesn’t make for a clean house, not when the problem is an internal one and the dirt is coming from the dirtbag.

This never truly cures the disease. A case of “swine flu” maybe?

I have watched quiet a few members leave for Facebook and Twitter because they simply had enough of Networks who harbors trolls, stalkers and bullies. They have had enough when they are not respected by the admins and owners when they as members voice concerns or complaints about bad service within the community.

If you go out to dinner at a fine restaurant and you had terrible service at what is suppose to be a great restaurant, you can bet you will give it a lesser rating than you would have before, just as I rate these social networks.

There is an stifeling air flowing free within these communities and that is really too bad because these communities could of have become something great but not if you continue to kill the creative spirit within the community.

I have noticed that anytime there is some fun going on, just some normal fun, a few of these annoying members show up to kill the fun and drive away the creative spirit of the forum that was once flowing free before they showed up with their nasty case of  “swine flu” making me want to wash my hands immediately so that I don’t contract the sickness too and become like them, boring, old and dried up like a Sea Hag that’s been out to the beach a little too long.

Great ideas always flow free in a community which simply remembers not to thread on the creative spirit within man.

It’s too bad that some of these monsters within these communities don’t know what forum and blogging etiquette is.

It won’t be too long before I hear from some of you “whiney supporters” who defend these forum cockroaches with your hate mail but you’re on my turf now.

There are some who hide within these communities pretending to be “Miss goodie, goodie two shoes”, “little miss kind-hearted community helper” but when you take the time for a deeper look, you see one big ass ugly cockroach who is fed and entertained by you while it hides deep in a dark corner looking like a friggin trapped raccoon.

Some give up trying to rid themselves of an infestation of rats and cockroaches and just let them run around the house after a while and some people are like cancer, spreading their fowl disease slowly when your not paying attention.

Thank God there are still some who have that can of Raid or a Rat-trap to snap it’s head off.

Some of these network bullies pride themselves on trying their best to “save face” in the community but just let them try  that crap in other communities and you can be sure they get kicked out of Twitter, Stumbleupon or Wordpress.

Some have a nasty history of cruelty and rudeness which they try to hide when they want to “save face” in the community.

What’s amazing to me is how long some of these bullies can be allowed to continue their “superior crusade” that they are better than everyone else while going out of their way to try to discredit others and reporting comments to get them deleted, silencing their voices and don’t somehow expect to see it take a outside of the community approach.

Some of these bullies are approaching “old crone status” and trying to compete with others way younger than them in age. Trampeling over others by insulting them and trying to discredit them, going out of their way to compete on the forum playing a game of “I’m the best and I know more than you” childish bullshit.

Some of these networks clearly harbor some of the world’s most craziest nutcases around who should be in a psycho ward. Displaying signs of mental illness and acting a bitch on the forum at all times while calling others “attention whore” when they in fact are the true “attention whores”.

“Look at me, I reign supreme, there is no one like me in this community because I am the only one here who offers helpful tips to the newbies”. “I sit a Queen and no one can challenge me” …..BULLSHIT AND GET OVER YOURSELF.

What’s even more amazing to me is when members take the time to offer helpful suggestions to make the communities better for most to be satisfied, a one-sided view is predominant and other side is completely ignored. No wonder so many after a while move on to other more promising networks and yet these same networks believe they can compete with Twitter and Facebook, I have to laugh, especially after their failed marks and scores in forum and blogging etiquette.

When people are pissed and when you try to silence people from speaking by deleting their comments, they will find other ways of getting their voices heard even if it means having their say outside any of these social networks because outside of your little communities is a brave new world minus you flaky old dried up bitches and fucking idiots.

As a member of any of these social networks I have a right to rate them and I rate them according to what I see.

I would love to hear from you members.

Have you ever experienced this kind of bullshit on social networks and forums and what was the outcome?

Do you see any improvement in some of these social networks after complaints and suggestions?

Are these social networks complying with the laws to update their Tos and privacy policy and work to protect their members from these stalkers, trolls and harassers?

MY PET PEEVE WITH GYMS IS SIMPLE:

#1. If I signed up for a “Gym Membership” and I am paying the Gym “monthly”, I expect to be able to use the Gym’s Equipment.

How many times have you signed up to a Gym just to be waiting and waiting and waiting for some other member to get off the Gym Equipment so that you can use it?

Not only that but you will find that the Gym is still signing up more members even if the “Veteran Members” can’t even get to use the equipment.

Would it not make more sense to stop signing up more members if you don’t have enough Gym Equipment to accommodate them all?

RIDICULOUS

The Gym has what they call “Prime Time”, which is reserved for those members who just got out of working a 9-5. Now they head for the Gym and they come in the hundreds and you are basically waiting hours for a machine to use.

You can be standing against the wall near the treadmills, bicycles or elliptical machines for over a half hour until someone gets off and someone else gets a chance to use it.

#2. After they use it the machines are all sweaty and you have to take the time to clean them off so you can use it.

Some Gym’s have equipment cleaner at hand and paper towels so you can clean down the equipment that another Gym member just sweat up all over.

This “cleaning” still takes valuable time away from your workout.

#3. “Prime Time” also makes it hard for you to get a locker to put your handbag and other Gym equipment into the locker, you can’t find a locker.

#4. Some nut is shaving their legs in the pool or some member is doing something they shouldn’t be doing.

#5. “Protein Farts” from members while you are on the treadmill can suck.
You are trapped to endure this form of terrorism until the air clears.
There is no escape when you want to finish you workout regime, you are forced to inhale and ignore it.

WHY DID I JOIN THE GYM?

I joined specifically to use a Treadmill, Epilipical, Recumbent & Speed Bicycles, I don’t need to do that other “soft punk crap” like stretching and squats at a Gym when I already do that at home.

The membership is specifically for the Equipment that I don’t have enough room for in my house. I already do weights, yoga and toning in the home and I explained all that at the Gym before I signed up but they are only concerned with how many people they bring into the Gym and they already know they don’t have enough equipment to cover the members yet they keep signing up more members so they can make their money.

They don’t give a rats arse about your needs or mine as long as they get their monthly fee.

OTHER PET PEEVES SHARED BY ME AND OTHER ONLINE FRIENDS INCLUDE:

1. Dudes who should be using the extra machines for doing 100 reps but instead get onto the circuit. You have wait for them to finish or just pass them/that machine up and come back later. My gym has a great owner - he notices and kicks the dudes out of the circuit.

2. Moms who want to keep their elementary ages sons near them so they make them stay in the locker room while they shower. In the meantime I have to figure out how to get dressed without flashing a 10 year old boy.

3. Dudes who wear super colorful, tight fitting pants. These guys look like jesters! I am so tempted to ask where they put their pointy hats with jingle bells!

4. Women who show up in full make-up, fancy hairstyles, and padded/push up sports tops (when they are already top heavy to start with). I hate the meat-market atmosphere.

5. Aerobics instructions who do fancy, fast, high power moves when it’s a beginner’s class full of overweight and old people.

BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE:

1) People who stare at you when you’re getting changed.

2) People who come in and grab the biggest weight they can find, lift it three or four times and then spend the better half of an hour doing nothing else but walking up and down the gym looking at themselves in the mirror.

3) The protein farts…good god.

4) People who give themselves self love in the showers.

5) People who do naked stretches in the sauna

6) People who are too vocal when doing weights.

7) People who only wear the one pair of unwashed gym clothes the whole week.

Other men that find it acceptable to give you a tap ( or a squeeze on the bum )

9) People who wear short shorts

10) People who wear black leather lace up dress shoes with bright white tube socks, short red shorts, a black singlet that’s 2 sizes too small, gold chains and an over use of crusty headbands, wristbands and elbow bands

11) Women sitting on the benches totally naked with no clothes on.
They fail to realize that people come from the streets and put their feet up on those benches to take their shoes off or to tie their shoe lace.
They stepped on dog pooh and spit and now it’s on the benches.
These women don’t seem to care that what they are doing is not sanitary and they just sit on the bench.

12) I myself witnessed a woman shaving her legs in the gym’s pool and you can bet I quickly ended my membership that very minute.

What about you, do you work out at the gym or at home and what was your gym membership like?

Do you use a gym membership today and do you use the gym equipment?

How are you doing with your workouts, are you succeeding?
Any significant weight loss?

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In the Movie, Memoirs of a Geisha, Sayuri is trained in the beautiful art of Geisha (Geisha means Artist).

Sayuri is bidded on based by what the audience see’s watching her perform and judged as a moving work of art.

Many years ago women did what they had to do to survive and using these talents is a survival mechanism used when necessary. Also those who turn their noses up by what I am saying should know that many women in the past and future will have no choice but to do things they never thought they would do to survive.

This survival mechanism is usually seen in harsh times such as war and many women had no choice but to use these hidden talents in order to live. I will not say that I will never use it, as one can’t possibly know what the future will bring and when it may be necessary to use these skills for survival.

The good news is we still have these talents and one only has to reach inside an make them accessible when needed.

I think that many women today are losing the art of mystery as today almost everyone wants to be famous.

To me mystery is an art form that keeps many interested in you, a way to hold on to your expression, creativity, a way to hold you in the minds and hearts of others, an almost lost art form of an artist.

Some women may be losing the art of mystery but fortunately for me one trick I have learned over the years watching Mother is whenever she went to a party, she secretly placed a few drops of her perfume on the lamp bulb at the party.

After she has long left the party, people at the party still thought she was around there somewhere, she fooled a lot of people and kept all interested in her.

What are some reasons why we would want to be mysterious?

#1. The need to be protective of your place in society as in social status
#2. A defense mechanism and/or protection
#3. Friendships/ Popularity…holding interest of friends
#4. Something to hide but not necessarily
#5. Naturally reserved or introvert
#6. Keeping the power, one who holds and keeps their true self away from the world, a place of rest, a separate place to stand, higher ground
#7. Memory or to be remembered and held in the minds and hearts of others

MASKS & VEILS: Why Do We Wear Them?

In some instances protection seems to be a central theme for those who wear a veil or mask.

There has to be solid ground somewhere for that person wearing a mask or veil to have enough time to dwell or think on any subject without interruptions or breaks in concentration, a place to separate oneself off from everyone else while observing those around you and your surroundings and I find it to be necessary for the right reasons.

With masks and veils also comes a negative stigma of “she is up to something evil” and that’s not necessarily the case.

We individually choose what roles we play and whether they are good or evil is an individual choice but will be revealed in time and there is nothing wrong with wanting to be temporarily incognito.

Also a woman who wears a veil can be mysterious and truthful at the same time.
Just because she is not fully revealed, doesn’t mean that she is insecure, manipulative, evil or a liar, she is simply reserved.

This is part of the stigma placed on something veiled that I flat out disagree with.

There are those who have a fear that she is all these things simply because they can’t see what’s up ahead.

Sometimes when you can’t see something you become fearful of it and then you add all kinds of invisible fears to it.

The unseen thing becomes the feared thing.

Is it possible to share parts of yourself with others and remain a little mysterious?

Yes by sharing only little bit of the story that leaves them begging for more, but alas a smile can go a long way, the eyes can speak volumes too, wearing sunglasses can also created a sense of mystery in a subtle way.

Should everything be unmasked? I think not

Silence is the mother of truth and a person knows why they are wearing the veil/mask, until she/he exposes the truth and reveals themselves to others.

The veiled individual holds the cards and chooses how to play or what to reveal and when.

Profound mysteries obviously are not all revealed, even ISIS is veiled.
In fact the Gods themselves are veiled and reveal themselves only to the worthy.

So why do we become afraid of what we cannot see?

This is nothing but an invisible fear in the minds of those who cannot see beyond the veil. A fear of the unseen.

A veiled woman can be reserved, hidden and innocent and not up to manipulation.

Shame was later attached, where Adam & Eve covered their private parts with leaves when they discovered their nakedness in shame but there is no shame necessarily in not wanting to be known by being veiled or cloaked.

That is a simple choice we make, as simple as the clothing we choose to wear to distinguish us during the day.

The art of invisibility has no shame attached to it and the art of being veiled is the same in my view and should hold no shame, it’s only when someone purposely insists on adding shame to it then it becomes a problem.

One thing is certain, if you cannot unmask her, she remains pretty much an enigma, untouched, unscathed and mysterious.

The sexiest songs ever comprised on video is sometimes hard to find but not always.

Grace Jones starts in “Vamp”, an ancient vampire with memories and feelings.
Unfortunately she chooses the wrong man who ends it all for her.
As you can see Grace sure knows how to please her man and herself.
Beautiful, Exotic, Wild, Primal, Dangerous and Deadly,
The audience and their reaction….priceless

There are a whole bunch of sexy songs I could list from artist such as Billy Idol, Whitesnake etc but that would take forever.

I would love to hear from you, what are some really sex songs that you love?

Can Black People Have Blue Eyes?

Here is an example of diversity, a black baby with blue eyes.
Black Baby with blue eyes ** Laren Galloway **Father Black & Mother Black

If the video doesn’t work try this  - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA6X6pIlT5Q

White Mommy White Daddy Black Baby Family Tree

If the video doesn’t work try this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcUmYHOI-9U

Do You Have Any Idea How Diverse Black People Really Are As A Race?

I was told in kindergarten that black people can’t possibly have blue eyes, green eyes or even golden or blonde hair but oh how wrong my teachers were, all of which were white teachers.

I was also told that Egyptians are not black people and I myself have traveled to Egypt and I saw nothing but black skinned people who I would consider black people, so I had no choice but to laugh at my teachers.

There are many black people all across the globe that clearly have what would be considered white features but I wonder how we could even begin to label those features as only belonging to whites when in fact the proof is in the pudding.

Black People With Blonde Hair - Blondism in Melanesia
http://www.gnxp.com/blog/2007/10/blondism-in-melanesia.php

Obviously Racial Purity Is Very Rare - Genetics is a very interesting field.

I’ve known a few black people with these so called white features and it really isn’t that uncommon as some may like to believe.

We are presently discussing this topic at Blogcatalog, come join us and discuss this topic there if you like, we would love to have you there and here your thoughts on this topic.
http://www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/diversity-in-black-people-any-idea-how-diverse

Do you know any black people with blue, green, hazel eyes or even blonde hair?

It was a big day for America, Obama and his family but I can’t help but think after watching Obama take the Oath, that someone planned to make an ass out of him intentionally in front of millions of people and the world.

What are your views on Obama’s bungled Oath?

Who’s fault was it, Obama or Roberts?

They both messed up and it was probably due to anxiousness and nervousness but the thought did run through my mind that there may be a little more than it seems and no I do not apologize for thinking this way in this day and age.

Each president recites the following oath, in accordance with Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

However Roberts put “faithfully” in the wrong place and Obama knew something in the words was wrong but caught it too late.

Why didn’t Roberts have a written text in front of him to read from, so that it made the moment look more significant and cause him to read the sentence right in the 1st place?  why did he rely solely on memory? especially after he had a recent accident and fell hit his head not too long ago. I just found that to be funny.

Not to make much ado about nothing as it’s old news now but really it did press my buttons to see it not go smooth.

What are your views on this Obama bungle? Who’s fault do you think it is, Obama or Roberts, or nobody’s fault?

Looking at the Youtube video, you can clearly see and hear that Obama spoke over Roberts words in the beginning

probably due to anxiousness, nervousness but Roberts also messed up as he changed the order of words causing

Obama to stop, wait and fumble for the right order of words. Roberts later stated that he messed up.

It’s not extreme to wonder and the thought did run through my mind immediately when it happened. It was perfectly natural for me to think this way in this day and age, so I am not apologizing for being sensitive.

They both messed up alright but in the end Obama took the Oath over again and it went smoothly the 2nd time.

What are your views on this Obama bungle? Who’s fault do you think it is, Obama or Roberts, or nobody’s fault?

Are you sick and tired of hearing about it already? Is it just an overplayed boring topic given too much media attention?

We presently have a BlogCatalog discussion going on about this now old topic titled:

Was Obama’s Oath Purposely Bungled By Internal Enemies?

http://www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/was-obamas-oath-purposely-bungled-by-internal-enemies

How bad is your singing because my ear drums are bleeding?
Here are some examples of the worst singing in the history of song.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/the-worst-singing-award-goes-to

Good God, some people actually think they are doing a service to humanity & society punishing us with their terrible singing.

How much do they think can we possibly take?

I am about to jump out the friggin window.

My Grandmother’s awful singing.

Whitney Houston she is not but she insists on sitting up in the front row  and singing off key,  though she believes she is the best one.

My friends would ask me “Is that your Grandmother”?.
I would deny it like Peter denied Christ and say…
“No that ain’t my Grandmother, I never saw that woman before in my life”.

I cannot remember a day when I wasn’t embarrassed when I attended Church.

What makes you think that your singing is good enough for my ears?

Please let’s discuss this shit because I really would like to know the answer to this one.

Could it be that some of us are braver than others?

Could it be that some of us are just on crack and are due our next hit?

What are some of the worst singing you’ve heard?

Do you enjoy your own singing?

Believe me, I try to be fair but my ear drums are bleeding and you are the cause.

Never have I put the human race into such punishment.

For the love of God, please don’t sing, especially if you know you suck. AMEN

My Birthday is coming up again on December 31st…..Hooorrraaayyy

My Birthday is December 31st and I can’t wait for the New Years Count Down.
I was born a little before midnight, my Mother said it’s because I hated brussel sprouts, which she had plenty of that day and it caused her to go into labor and here I came.

What business did she have anyway eating brussel sprouts on Christmas?

I have no idea, Gosh if she didn’t have those brussel sprouts I would of made it to January 1st and the Hospital always gives you a lot of gifts when you hit January 1st. DAMN

I am going to make this Holiday special like I always do each and every year.

I am going over Grandma’s house and I’m making her the best Cake ever.

The Christmas Cranberry, Pear and Walnut Torte with Cream Cheese-Orange Frosting.

Hmmmmm hmmmmm, this cake takes me hours to make but people just can’t get enough when they try it.

I found this Christmas Cranberry, Pear and Walnut torte with Cream cheese-orange frosting in the Bon Appetit’s December 1999 Magazine.

Every year my family insist that I bring “TWO” or else I can’t get in the door when I go to visit them.

The cake is one recipe but then the “Cream cheese orange frosting” and the “Poached pears with cranberry puree” is another.

The 1st time I made the cake it took me 7 long agonizing hours.

My kitchen was a total mess and I had a lot of dishes to wash.

It took my family 2 seconds to devour it and they did it in my face. SHAMEFUL.

Of course this same discussion is presently going on here at:

http://www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/cool-new-bc-twitter-plug but today you are one lucky bastard because I am actually going to take the time and list the ingredients here for your viewing pleasure, just in case you wanted to try the recipe for yourself….enjoy

If anyone is looking for me you can always find me cooking up a storm http://www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/cooking-with-chef-jeunelle 

Now I may not be Julia Childs but I can still boil rice.

Christmas Cranberry, Pear and Walnut Torte with Cream Cheese-Orange Frosting Ingredients & Preparation.

• 2 3/4 cups chopped toasted walnuts
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup plain dry breadcrumbs
• 2 teaspoons grated orange peel
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted, lukewarm

• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries

Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 375°F. Butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans. Line bottom of pans with waxed paper. Butter and flour waxed paper; tap out excess flour.

Blend 2 cups walnuts and flour in processor until walnuts are finely ground. Add breadcrumbs, orange peel, spices and salt. Using on/off turns, process just until blended.

Using electric mixer, beat eggs in large bowl until frothy. Gradually beat in 1 cup sugar and brown sugar. Continue beating until mixture is thick and triples in volume, about 6 minutes.

Fold flour mixture and melted lukewarm butter alternately into egg mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture (do not overmix or batter will deflate). Divide batter between prepared cake pans; smooth tops. Bake cakes until golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Transfer pans to racks; cool 5 minutes. Invert cakes onto racks; cool completely. Remove waxed paper.

Toss cranberries with remaining 1/2 cup sugar in small bowl to coat. Transfer berries to plate. Cover and freeze. (Can be prepared ahead. Wrap each cake layer separately in plastic. Freeze cake layers and sugarcoated cranberries up to 1 week.)

Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with second cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of torte. Press remaining 3/4 cup walnuts onto torte sides. Arrange poached pears in concentric circles atop torte. (Torte can be frosted 1 day ahead. Cover torte; chill. Let torte stand 30 minutes at room temperature before serving.)

Rewarm cranberry puree in small saucepan over medium heat. Brush some puree over pears. Transfer remaining puree to bowl. Eggs provide the leavening in this spiced cake, and melted butter keeps it tender.

Garnish torte with frozen sugarcoated cranberries. Serve torte with puree. yield: Makes 10 servings.

Cream Cheese-Orange Frosting Ingredients & Preparation.

• 1 1/2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons grated orange peel
• 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, butter and orange peel in large bowl until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until frosting is light and fluffy. Cover and refrigerate until frosting is firm enough to spread, about 30 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.) yield: Makes about 3 1/2 cups.

Poached Pears with Cranberry Purée Ingredients & Preparation.

• 2 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups orange juice

• 2 large firm but ripe Bosc pears, peeled, cored, cut into 3/4-inch-thick wedges

Combine berries, sugar and juice in heavy large skillet. Bring to boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Simmer over medium heat until berries burst, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Puree in processor until smooth. Strain into same skillet. Bring puree to simmer over medium heat. Add pear wedges and stir to coat. Simmer until pears are just tender, about 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, remove pears from skillet, shaking excess puree back into skillet, and transfer pears to paper-towel-lined plate. Reserve puree. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover pears and puree separately and refrigerate.) yield: Makes about 3 1/2 cups.

The end result should look like this….Oh Boy oh Boy

I challenge you to try this receipe out for yourself and let me know how you liked it.

I also challenge you to find a better Christmas cake and drop me the recipe here in the comments, I would love to try it and I would let you know what I think of it too.