MacDaddy, "My idea was to cross very cold hardy runner called P. Nuda with P. Henon, P. edulis, and P. Vivax. The idea being to get a very hardy giant bamboo." Sounds like a good idea. "Somatic hybrids don't always work out. I got the idea myself when I found out about polyployed daylilies. The main problem with cross species hybrids like mules is they are infertile because the chromosome numbers and kinds don't match. That wouldn't be a problem if one could only join the nucleuses of two species somatically." As a kid I ran into a similar problem with zinnias. Crossing diploids with tetraploids was difficult and yielded sterile triploids. I had some colchicine, but was unable to double a triploid to a fertile hexaploid. I think it should have been possible. But of course, you can't just keep solving sterility problems by doubling the chromosomes. You get an "unhealthy" large number of chromosomes in your genetic product. All living things seem to have a chromosome number that falls within a relatively limited range. There must be some kind of "survivability barrier" that prevents inordinately high chromosome numbers. As I see it, somatic hybridization is just a kind of "low tech" genetic engineering. The "big boys" just insert a microprobe into a cell and squirt in the genetic material they want there. I always wanted to cross zinnias and marigolds because zinnias had more colors and marigolds had better foliage. I tried a lot of cross pollinations, both ways, with no success. Maybe we both need microscopes and some of those micropipettes. Although many people would be very nervous, probably rightfully so, if a bunch of amateur genetic engineers learned the tricks of the trade. But lay people are starting to learn to do tissue cultures. -- Burton --

I agree the floating in space is either a white background or cropped in a photo edit program and put onto a 'white' canvas. (Cool technique in that link, natal.) Some of the best ebay photos I've seen are as graywings mentioned, on a light gray or silver (just a barely discernible hint of shimmer) fabric background. They pull the fabric taught. I'm not describing it well, if I see one I'll post it. Feel better!

I use Windows Movie Maker (WMM) - about the same as Bumpkins recomendation of PhotoStory - both free and both Microsoft products. Windows Movie Maker allows you to do a little more with your photos - you can make one run longer if you want. You don't have to keep them all a certain length. You can narrate into a microphone and directly record onto you project. You can also add music and special effects. With PhotoStory - you are limited to keeping all the pictures the same length and you can't mix/fade music/narration. If you have XP or Vista - you should already have it on your machine. Look under accesories if it doesn't show up on your program list. If you have Windows 7 - you can download an older version of WMM. If you are using a Mac - iMovie is a good option also.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I spend several hours yesterday looking at wallpaper, with no good candidates found. Then after Yogacat mentioned Paper Source, I found some decent candidates on their site. Still nothing like plain gold leaf (with slight variegation like on my cabinet), but much closer than I'd gotten with wallpaper. I found a store near me. I will go check it out in person. I know some art papers are too thin, have a soft finish that will wear or just not be suitable. Fori? Decoupage with what?