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Istanbul, Turkey - A court in southeast Turkey on Friday (Oct. 15) ordered the arrest of a suspected "middleman" linking the murder of three Christian men to alleged high-level masterminds.
The arrest order came after the testimonies of a former prison inmate and an incarcerated ex-gendarmerie intelligence worker at Friday's hearing. Journalist Varol Bulent Aral – one of the suspected "middlemen" who allegedly incited five young men to stab to death Turkish Christians Necati Aydin and Ugur Yuksel and German Christian Tilmann Geske at the Zirve Publishing Co. in Malatya – was re-arrested at the hearing.
The three Christians were bound and tortured before they were murdered on April 18, 2007, at the Christian publishing house, where they worked. Suspects Salih Guler, Cuma Ozdemir, Hamit Ceker, Abuzer Yildirim and alleged ring-leader Emre Gunaydin were caught trying to escape from the scene of the crime.
Attorneys said the last hearing of the Malatya murders was productive in tracing links between the five murderers and political masterminds whom prosecution lawyers claim are behind the slayings. A key witness, Orhan Kartal, was instrumental in proving that Aral was behind the murders, lawyers said.
"Not only this witness, but Emre also accused Aral before and then changed his statement," said one of the prosecuting lawyers, Orhan Kemal Cengiz. "Before he retracted his statement, he gave details that couldn't have been fabricated. So from the beginning we saw Aral was involved but couldn't prove it."
Kartal spent two months in prison with Aral in Adiyaman in 2008, where they were both held for crimes not related to the Zirve murders. Kartal said that while in prison together Aral detailed how he had planned the attack on the Zirve publishing house by psychologically preparing the five young murderers for the gruesome act. According to Kartal, Aral said he gave the young men the weapons they used to kill the three Christians.
In Kartal's account, Aral also claimed that there was a higher figure behind him, retired Gen. Veli Kucuk. This year Aral completed his previous prison sentence. He is now again in prison as a key suspect in the Malatya murders.
In a previous statement, Aral had complained that retired Gen. Kucuk had threatened him about testifying. Gen. Kucuk has been arrested in connection with Ergenekon, a loose collection of ultra-nationalist generals, businessmen, mafia and journalists who planned to destabilize the government. Evidence in Malatya hearings over the past three years suggests that the murders were instigated by Ergenekon.
Aral has also been implicated in the Ergenekon case, the hearings of which are underway.
Prosecutors believe the Malatya murders are directly linked with a military operation called the Cage Plan within the scope of Ergenekon activities. A document entitled "Cage Plan," found on a retired general's computer, described assassinations that targeted the country's small Christian communities. The document referred to the Malatya murders as a "successful operation."
A second witness, Erhan Ozen, also in prison for other offenses, worked for the clandestine Gendarmerie Intelligence Organization (JITEM). He said that as early as 2004, JITEM personnel were planning the Malatya murders and the assassination of Armenian editor Hrant Dink.
Ozen said that after a meeting, some co-workers talked about how they were organizing an operation against the three Christians in Malatya in an effort to portray the state as ineffectual. He also testified that the rector of the local university and JITEM were monitoring the activities of the three Christian men.
"He was convincing because he gave many details that were coherent and that confirm each other, so his testimony seems to me authentic," attorney Cengiz said. "But of course, we will see."
In April the Malatya court added the Cage Plan indictment to its case file.
Prosecuting lawyer Erdogan Dogan told Compass that this is clear evidence linking the Malatya murders to the Cage Plan. For almost a year, prosecution lawyers have tried to make the case that the two court cases should be merged.
"We had progress in the case," Dogan said of the two testimonies on Friday. "They might decide to join the two cases in the next court hearing."
Judges had found the phone numbers of ultranationalist lawyer Kemal Kerincsiz and Sevgi Erenerol, spokesperson for the Turkish Orthodox Church – a Turkish nationalist denomination –in Aral's personal phone book. Both figures are accused of playing leading roles in Ergenekon and spearheaded prosecution of Christians Hakan Tastan and Turan Topal for speaking to people about their faith.
This week various media released autopsy pictures and images of police videos showing the five suspects as they walk through the blood-stained Zirve office explaining how they committed the crime.
Lawyers said they did not know who leaked these to the press, but they didn't think the images would affect the case.
"These will, however, show the country how the young men were incited and murdered the men, full of racism and hatred," said Dogan. "This will be obvious and should be noted. The state needs to urgently address the fact that these youngsters, or anyone, can become so filled with racism and hatred."
He said that acceptance and tolerance of other people's thoughts and beliefs is fundamental, and that the state should teach these values to its people.
The next hearing of the Malatya murders case is on Dec. 3.


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Rear Leaf Springs
Lifted rear leaf springs are available for most applications. All aftermarket leaf springs are sold individually. Some applications include springs bushings and others require the bushings to be ordered separately.
Worn out leaf springs certainly affect ride quality. In some instances a fatigued leaf spring may cause your tires to rub. If you vehicle is not already using lifted leaf springs, additional components may be required to correct alignment and driveline issues.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Gold Foiling Pocket Notebook -chevron
Usually delivered in 3 to 7 days.
Made in India
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Material: Paper
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Our products are handmade, one piece at a time, and there will be variations & natural blemishes which are not product flaws but inherent part of the manufacturing process. Due to the high cost of shipping home decor products, we do not permit return/ exchange except in case of a manufacturing defect or damage in transit wherein we will replace the product. To request a replacement, pls send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com with the order number and photographs of the issue. We will arrange a reverse pick-up and upon receiving the same will send you a replacement.
Free shipping for orders above Rs.5000. An Rs.100 shipping charge is applied for orders below Rs.5000. Free COD for orders upto Rs.5000.


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People who look old - with receding hairlines, bald heads, creases near their ear lobes or bumpy deposits on their eyelids - have a greater chance of developing of heart disease than younger-looking people the same age do, new research suggests.
Doctors say the study highlights the difference between biological and chronological age.
"Looking old for your age marks poor cardiovascular health," said Dr. Anne Tybjaerg-Hansen of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.
She led the study and gave results Tuesday at an American Heart Association conference in Los Angeles
.A small consolation: Wrinkles elsewhere on the face and gray hair seemed just ordinary consequences of aging and did not correlate with heart risks.
The research involved 11,000 Danish people and began in 1976. At the start, the participants were 40 and older. Researchers documented their appearance, tallying crow's feet, wrinkles and other signs of age.
In the next 35 years, 3,400 participants developed heart disease (clogged arteries) and 1,700 suffered a heart attack.
The risk of these problems increased with each additional sign of aging present at the start of the study. This was true at all ages and among men and women, even after taking into account other factors such as family history of heart disease.
Those with three to four of these aging signs - receding hairline at the temples, baldness at the crown of the head, earlobe creases or yellowish fatty deposits around the eyelids - had a 57 percent greater risk for heart attack and a 39 percent greater risk for heart disease compared to people with none of these signs.
Having yellowish eyelid bumps, which could be signs of cholesterol buildup, conferred the most risk, researchers found. Baldness in men has been tied to heart risk before, possibly related to testosterone levels. They could only guess why earlobe creases might raise risk.
Dr. Kathy Magliato, a heart surgeon at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., said doctors need to pay more attention to signs literally staring them in the face.
"We're so rushed to put on a blood pressure cuff or put a stethoscope on the chest" that obvious, visible signs of risk are missed, she said.


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Please be aware that the shipping times may be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances such as customs processing delays which is unfortunately not under our control.
You will receive tracking information 3 to 8 days from the date of purchase. If you have not received any tracking information after 8 days, please notify us via email (firstname.lastname@example.com).
Please request a refund or an exchange by contacting us via email (firstname.lastname@example.com) within 30 days of the delivery of your product. If the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.) we will also refund the shipping costs of returning the item.
Slick Lane reserves the right to refuse a refund or exchange if the item in consideration is deemed by us to be damaged by the buyer.
Please check out our FAQ page for helpful answers to further questions you may have.


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Draft Day 2 options for the Eagles
Fletcher Cox? Yeah, everyone seems to be happy the Eagles traded up to grab the Mississippi State defensive tackle. He'll be introduced by the team today at 4 p.m. at the NovaCare Complex. But he's yesterday's news (for now) because the Eagles still have work left to do.
They have three picks on the second day of the draft – not one of which they had to part with to get Cox in an exchange with Seattle. The Eagles have the 14th pick in the second round (46th overall), the 19th (51st overall) in the second round and the 24th in the third round (88th overall).
So where are they most in need after the first round and where will they go? Will they take the best player at each spot or cater the pick – like they did last season in taking safety Jaiquawn Jarrett in the second round – to their needs? Let's take a quick look at who is still on the board at the positions the Eagles may be looking to upgrade:
Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama (5-10, 193)
Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt (5-11, 185)
Trumaine Johnson, Montana (6-2, 204)
Josh Robinson, Central Florida (5-10, 199)
Brandon Boykin, Georgia (5-9, 182)
Dwight Bently, Louisiana-Lafayette (5-10, 182)
Josh Norman, Coastal Carolina (6-0, 197)
Ron Brooks, LSU (5-10, 190)
Some thought the Eagles would go cornerback in the first round after the Asante Samuel trade. One thing about that: the Eagles knew Samuel wasn't going to be back for some time, so his leaving wasn't going to change their board. That being said, they could use another cornerback, particularly one that can step in and play the slot. Joselio Hanson's best days are behind him, and with offenses increasingly going with three-wide receiver sets, the nickel corner plays as many snaps as any defensive lineman in the Eagles system. Jenkins has the most talent. He also has the most baggage. The buzz right now is that he'll be off the board early in the second round. Of the next group that can play inside, Robinson is intriguing. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.33 seconds) of all the corners at the combine. If the Eagles were looking for someone long-term to replace either Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie or Nnamdi Asomugha on the outside, or if he was sitting there at No. 51, Johnson would be hard to pass. Boykin is tailor made for the slot.
Cordy Glenn, Georgia (6-5, 345)
Jonathan Martin, Stanford (6-5, 312)
Mike Adams, Ohio State (6-7, 323)
Bobby Massie, Mississippi (6-6, 316)
Jeff Allen, Illinois (6-4, 307)
Mitchell Schwartz, California (6-5, 318)
There were legitimate fears the Eagles might take a tackle in the first round. If Andy Reid wasn't looking down the barrel, I bet he might have stayed at No. 15 and taken a tackle like Riley Reiff instead of Cox. That being said, I still think Day 2 is a good opportunity for the Eagles to get a tackle that they could groom over two seasons to replace either Jason Peters or Todd Herremans on the outside. Glenn was first-round worthy, many thought. He's got Peters-like size, but some teams like him better as a guard. Martin would seem to be the kind of prospect Eagles o-line coach Howard Mudd would prefer. He's aggressive, athletic and smart. He'll probably be gone at 46, although the Eagles could certainly move up. Adams has been all over the place, in terms of mock drafts. Massie has the skills, but he needs coaching.
Mychal Kendricks, California (5-11, 239)
Lavonte David, Nebraska (6-1, 233)
Bobby Wagner, Utah State (6-0, 241)
Demario Davis, Arkansas State (6-2, 235)
Zach Brown, North Carolina (6-1, 244)
Sean Spence, Miami (5-11, 231)
Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma (6-1, 246)
I went out on a limb and said the Eagles wouldn't draft a linebacker in the first three rounds. I'll stick by that, but I'm a little nervous because No. 1, they traded away two of their third day picks to get Cox and No. 2 I could easily seem them taking a guy like Kendricks. He ran the fastest 40 -- a sub 4.5 – for any linebacker at the combine, and would be an ideal fit at weak-side. He's not just some combine warrior, though. He produced at Cal. David would make sense, too, in the second round. He's quick, too, and would be able to run with tight ends, but would probably struggle initially against the run. Wagner exploded at the Senior Bowl. He's another weak-side candidate and could likely be got in the third round.
Kirk Cousins, Michigan State (6-3, 214)
Brock Osweiler, Arizona State (6-7, 242)
Nick Foles, Arizona (6-5, 243)
Russell Wilson, Wisconsin (5-11, 204)
Do the Eagles need to get a quarterback today? No. Will they try and get one? I think so. That doesn't mean it will happen. Cousins makes the most sense to me. He has the intangibles – he's a leader, he's heady, and he's got that thing you want your quarterbacks to have. The problem: He isn't an accurate deep thrower. That's a pretty big problem. If you're taking him in the second round, you better project him to be a starter. Otherwise, it would be a waste of time. Osweiler and Foles probably have greater upsides. But neither is polished and could take a few years to develop. Will Reid even be here in two years? As for Wilson, he'd be a first rounder if he had a few more inches. I stood next to him at the Senior Bowl and 5-11 is generous
Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech (6-4, 215)
Rueben Randle, LSU (6-3, 210)
Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina (6-3, 216)
Brian Quick, Appalachian State (6-4, 220)
T.Y. Hilton, Florida International (5-10, 183)
Joe Adams, Arkansas (5-11, 179)
I was surprised Hill lasted through the first round. Instead of taking the Georgia Tech receiver the 49ers surprised some by selecting A.J. Jenkins instead. Hill is always a home run threat. He should go off the board fairly quickly today. Randle and Jeffery are big guys that could possibly play in the slot for the Eagles. Neither is especially quick, and the Eagles may be looking for someone faster than Jason Avant. Hilton could fill that role and he could possibly help in the return game.
Brandon Taylor, LSU (5-11, 209)
De'Quan Menzie, Alabama (5-11, 202)
Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State (6-1, 207)
I get that safety is a concern, but I just don't see the Eagles expending a second round pick on the position for the third straight year. Maybe if Taylor fell to them in the third round it would be something they would have to think about. Menzie played corner in college, but some scouts project him as a safety in the pros.
Lamar Miller, Miami (5-11, 212)
LaMichael James, Oregon (5-8, 194)
Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati (5-10, 197)
Chris Polk, Washington (5-11, 215)
Bernard Pierce, Temple (6-0, 218)
The Eagles could go running back on the second day. They do need a backup and there are a few guys available that could be intriguing. I still think they wait until Saturday they get one, but I'm sure Reid and Howie Roseman have James and Pead relatively high on their boards. Both are multi-faceted backs that can assist any West Coast offense. They'll have to learn how to block, though. Pierce doesn't fit the Eagles' needs.
Courtney Upshaw, Alabama (6-2, 272)
Andre Branch, Clemson (6-4, 259)
Vinny Curry, Marshall (6-3, 266)
Olivier Vernon, Miami (6-2, 261)
Tyrone Crawford, Boise State (6-4, 275)
Cam Johnson, Virginia (6-3, 268)
The Eagles can probably wait until Saturday to get a prospect to throw into their stew of defensive ends. But if Upshaw or Branch were to keep falling, or if Curry – who I know the Eagles have an eye for – was to be there at 46, it would be hard to pass on any of the three. Curry would probably be the best fit of the three for the wide-nine.
Cody Fleener, Stanford (6-6, 247)
Dwayne Allen, Clemson (6-3, 255)
Orson Charles, Georgia (6-2, 251)
Michael Egnew, Missouri (6-5, 252)
Ladarius Green, Louisiana-Lafayette (6-6, 238)
Fleener fell into the second round and could go to the Colts right out of the shoot today. The Eagles aren't in desperate need of a tight end. Celek still has plenty of gas and the team likes Clay Harbor. I think there's room for improvement at the backup spot, but the Eagles have greater needs and the tight end class isn't very strong this year.


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Somvar Vrat, or Monday Fasting, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Somvar takes its name from Soma or Chandra – the Hindu moon god. Fasting on the day is done by many to appease Lord Shiva and get prayers and wishes fulfilled. It is believed that observing Somvar Vrat will help in getting good husbands. It is also believed to help in attaining prosperity and peaceful family life.
Somvar Vrat begins from sunrise on Monday. Usually those devotees observing the Vrat visit a Lord Shiva temple in the morning and in the evening. If this is not possible prayers are offered at home.
A single meal is taken on the day after midday. Those observing partial fast take fruits or Sabudana Khichadi.
In the evening a story related to Somvar Vrat is listened to or read by those observing the fast.
Apart from white flowers, people also offer Bilva leaves or Bil patra while doing the puja.
The mantra that is chanted is Om Namah Shivaya…
The fast ends on the next day morning after usual prayers and rituals.
When Amavasya, or no moon day, falls on Monday it is considered highly auspicious and the day is known as Somvati Amavas.
Mondays in Shravan month (July – August) in North India, Gujarat and Maharashtra is considered highly auspicious. Special pujas are offered to Lord Shiva on Mondays in temples and homes.
Mondays are auspicious in Kartik month (October – November) in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
Mondays in Karthigai Masam (November – December is also auspicious in Tamil Nadu.


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1. Old sheets and towels. We got a set of each for our wedding and I believe if you were to search my linen closet you'd still find them there, nicely folded and waiting for the call to serve. I've replaced the sets several times in the last 15 years but I can't get rid of the old sets--once in a while I'll rip one up for cleaning rags or something but most of the time I just think: "If the kids' get sick in the middle of the night then those extra sheets and old towels are going to come in handy." I haven't had a kid get sick like that in years--years--but I'm still holding on.
2. Dried and silk flowers. Over the years I've used silk flowers for different arrangements but even when I toss the arrangement I find myself picking the flowers out and saving them for another day. Because I'm going to need two dozen faded orange gerbera daisies someday. It'll happen.
3. Scraps of yarn. When I finish a knitting project there's always leftover yarn but I can't throw it away--that's just blasphemy. It's perfectly good yarn and even though each tiny ball remnant is a different color, weight and material I just know I'm going to come across the perfect project to use all those scraps in someday, I can FEEL it.
4. Seashells. Whenever we go on vacation I pick up seashells which was fine for the first dozen trips but we're starting to get an abundance of shells stashed in various corners of the house. It's unfortunate that each is so unique and beautiful because they're starting to pile up and I can't bear to get rid of even one of them--maybe I should get creative and turn them into a funky bathroom decor by cementing them into tile grout along the walls? I've even got them out in the garden among the plants.
5. Plastic flower pots. Speaking of plants, when I buy my seedlings in the spring they come in these nice little plastic pots and I save them in a large stack organized from smallest to biggest and every time I add more to the stack I think, "I'll going to use those when I start my own seeds" then I try not to think too much about establishing a firm date for that goal. So far it's not happening but if it ever does you know I'm prepared. I could open up my own nursery by now--if I don't use the stack soon it's going to fall over and really hurt someone.
6. McCann's Irish oatmeal cans. I'm a happy oatmeal lover but I don't just love any old oatmeal (Instant? Yuck!) I'm rather specific--I like McCann's Irish steel cut oats which are oats that have been coarsely chopped rather than heated and rolled like the Quaker variety. They're much tastier because you get a nutty chewiness rather than the soggy mush that oatmeal is famous for and as an added bonus for your purchase the oats come in an attractive tin can shaped like a paint can but with the lovely vintage-style lettering. For years I've thought I ought to come up with something fun to do with them but so far no luck. I guess my creative side really isn't into oatmeal as much as my practical side is.
6. Textbooks. If I pay $70 for a book on Edmund Spenser it eats at me over the years and I have a hard time throwing it out. You pay so much for textbooks and your life is tied up in them for a whole semester that to just abandon them seems inhumane. I have quite a few of my them too because I swear my professors had a plot going to make me buy as many textbooks as possible then to change the curriculum so that I couldn't sell any of them back at the end of the semester. It was a conspiracy I tell you. So I hold onto them and plan on brushing up on my post-modern literary criticism sometime in the near future. Because everyone needs a little more Derida in their lives--maybe I can pick up chapters in between episodes of the Simpsons . . .
7. Pens. Not much to say here except that I can't ever throw one out. You can always use more pens, you can never have enough. Especially the way they disappear around here.
8. Eyeshadow. I like Clinique cosmetics but I have the habit of using my lipstick so long I've got to stick a Q-tip down the shaft to scrape out the last remnants of color. Why? Because if I can wait until spring and fall Clinique will have their free gift--woohoo! Free! So I make it last until I can go and stock up and get a bunch of make-up that I wouldn't be caught dead wearing. You know, blushes with names like "Mocha Pink Flamingo" and eyeliners called "Cinnamon Chocolate Latte Licker" but it doesn't matter because it's free. If you open my make-up drawer you'll find all sorts of stuff that I've saved since 1988--but you know I was right about that blue eyeshadow thing coming back so I hold onto everything.
9. Grandpa's hat. A year ago I wrote about how I won a pair of leather gloves at the family Christmas party. They weren't just any gloves they were a pair of gloves made by the Ojibwa Indians for my grandfather while he lived on the reservation. I had them framed and they're really lovely but because I was so happy to get them Grandma thought I should get the hat to match.
So I became owner of a suede cowboy hat that was given to my grandfather at the same time as the leather gloves. Great--only problem is what to do with the darn thing. It's not easy to display like the gloves and it's not really my thing as a fashion accessory so it just sits in my closet--too sentimentally valuable to throw out but too useless to do any good. What to do? Jello mold?
10. Single socks. Every time I do a load of wash I lose socks--call it collateral damage or whatever but it's just a given. When I find a divorced sock I throw it in a special place in the cupboard hoping against hope that some day it will once again find its true love. But don't count on it. So my cupboard has become a virtual singles bar where all the single socks go to hang out and I can't dump any of them for fear of finding their mate the next day. Maybe I should just stop doing laundry. It would almost be easier to buy new socks every week anyway than try to match up socks after a load of wash.
11. Candle stubs. I've never thought of myself as a candle lover but apparently I'm living in denial because I've never been able to throw out a half-used candle in my life. I looked down in the crawl space the other day on a hunt for something unrelated when I came across a shopping bag full of half-used pillar candles that I'd forgotten about--but why throw them out now? They'll come in handy if we ever have an electrical outage. At least an outage in the winter--I don't know that we'd even notice having an outage in the summer.
12. Pillows. I redecorate things occasionally and pillows are an easy way to change color in a room but I've never been able to satisfactorily eliminate the old ones. They're bulky and throwing them in the trash isn't really the eco-friendly thing to do, the Salvation Army certainly wouldn't want the stained pillows I've got to offer so I end up throwing them into the kids' playhouse in the back yard. I think there's thirty or forty of them out there perhaps. Pillows, not kids. At least on a good day.
13. Tote bags. Seems like everyone hands out tote bags, especially when you have babies. They give you tote bags at the hospital, tote bags at the doctor's office, tote bags when you take a tour of the hospital, tote bags from formula companies, tote bags from children's book publishers--you're pretty much swimming in tote bags by the time you take the child home from the hospital but can I get rid of them? Not so easy. I keep thinking I'll find a use for them but then I find myself pregnant again and they just give me more tote bags. Maybe it's time to get rid of all those tote bags. Or stop having children. Or both?
Have you checked out this month's Write-Away Contest? The topic is "Going Home" and the deadline is next week.


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REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (AP) — Officials at a Fresno, Calif., hospital say two of its nurses were among the five people killed when a limousine burst into flames on a San Francisco Bay bridge over the weekend.
A statement from Community Regional Medical Center says Neriza Fojas and Michelle Estrera were killed when the limo caught fire on the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge Saturday night.
Hospital officials say both nurses worked on a trauma medical/surgical floor at the hospital.
Relatives had previously told the San Francisco Chronicle and the San Jose Mercury News that the 31-year-old Fojas was one of the women killed in the fire, and that she had recently wed and was planning to travel to her native Philippines to hold another ceremony.
An official at the San Mateo County Coroner's Office said Monday that the names of the dead probably would not be released until Tuesday.
Authorities searched for answers Monday in the fire that roared through a stretch limo packed with women on a girls' night out, hoping to learn what sparked the blaze and why five of the victims could not escape the fast-spreading flames.
The women who were killed were found pressed up against the partition behind the driver, apparently because smoke and fire kept them from the rear exits of the extended passenger compartment.
The position of the bodies suggested they were trying to get away from the fire, said San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault. His office planned to begin autopsies later Monday.
The women were celebrating the wedding of a newlywed friend when the rear portion of the Lincoln Town Car went up in flames Saturday night on the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge over San Francisco Bay. The driver and four women were able to escape. The newlywed was among the dead.
The driver, Orville Brown, 46, of San Jose, said at first he misunderstood what one of the passengers in the back was saying when she knocked on the partition between the passenger area and the driver and complained about smelling smoke.
With the music turned up, he initially thought the woman was asking if she could smoke. Seconds later, he said, the women knocked again, this time screaming, "Smoke, smoke!" and "Pull over," Brown told the San Francisco Chronicle (http://bit.ly/10jcd0t ).
He helped the four survivors escape through the partition. One of the women ran around to a rear passenger door, but by then the vehicle was engulfed in flames.
"When she opened that back door, I knew it wasn't a good scene," Brown said. "I figured with all that fire that they were gone, man. There were just so many flames. Within maybe 90 seconds, the car was fully engulfed."
California Highway Patrol Commander Mike Maskarich said the state Public Utilities Commission had authorized the vehicle to carry eight or fewer passengers, but it had nine on the night of the deadly fire.
He said it was too early in the investigation to say whether overcrowding may have been a factor in the deaths. Investigators have conducted preliminary interviews with the survivors and the driver, but more in-depth interviews, as well as an inspection of the gutted vehicle, were still needed.
It will take a few weeks for investigators to piece together "some semblance of answers for the tragic events that just occurred," Maskarich said.
Debris or any other objects on the roadway do not appear to have been a factor, he said.
"We are devastated by this incident," Foster City Fire Chief Michael Keefe said.
A spokesman for the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates limos, said Monday that the limo owner, a company called Limo Stop, is licensed and has shown evidence of liability insurance. The company has seven vehicles with a seating capacity of up to eight passengers listed with the CPUC. It has not been the target of any previous enforcement action. Limo Stop received its permit in June 9, 2006, the agency said.
Joan Claybrook, the top federal auto-safety regulator under President Jimmy Carter, said the stretch limousine industry is poorly regulated because the main agency that oversees car safety doesn't have enough money to prioritize investigating the small businesses that modify limos after they leave the assembly line.
"I think the oversight is pretty lousy, because the modifications are so individualistic, and there are not that many companies out there that do this. Mostly, they are mom-and-pop operations," said Claybrook, a former administrator at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration who previously led consumer group Public Citizen. Instead, the agency tends to focus more on problems with new cars and major recalls.
U.S. Department of Transportation data shows five people died in three separate stretch limo accidents in 2010, and 21 people died in another three stretch limo accidents in 2011.
Stretch limos are typically built in two ways.
In the first process, one car maker builds the limousine's body, then another company customizes or stretches the vehicle. The second company has to issue a certification that the car meets National Highway Traffic Safety Administration safety standards for new vehicles, and that all safety equipment is working as required before it can be sold to the public, said Henry Jasny, an attorney with the Washington-based nonprofit Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.
In the second process, a customer buys the limousine directly from the car maker, then takes it to be customized. But modifying the car after it has been sold is considered a retrofit, so is not something NHTSA would regulate, Jasny said.
Many older models such as the 1999 Lincoln Town Car that caught fire Saturday were modified after they left the factory, said Jerry Jacobs, who owns a boutique limousine company in in San Rafael with a fleet that includes two stretch limos.
"There is nothing wrong with having these older models on the road. Many have low mileage and immaculate interiors because we take care of them. But when these cars start getting older and the rubber boots wear out, they start running hot," Jacobs said. "The key is you have to keep doing all the right maintenance to make sure they're running smoothly."


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Report From RIOC's President
Roosevelt Island Operating Corporaton President (RIOC) Steve Shane sends the following report to Roosevelt Island residents.
1. Board Meeting 2/18 at 4:30, Town Hall meeting to folloW.This message was also published as the RIOC column in the 2/13/10 Main Street WIRE.
2. Tram: All on schedule for March 1 shutdown. Please familiarize yourself with alternate transportation options. See RIOC's website and posted materials. Less than 3 weeks to go. None should be surprised.
3. Projects continue. Avac, Octagon, Motorgate, etc.
4. FDR 4 Freedoms: nearing final documentation with NYC. Agreements for Development, Joint Funding, $ Escrow Deposit, State Parks, etc., all in final throes before execution and project commencement.
5. Snow: While I am in California this week, staying in close touch as to storm preparation. Everyone's cooperation in assisting in snow removal is much appreciated.
6. Budget: Presentation of proposed draft for fiscal year 2010/11 has been made to the community via RIRA, RIOC website and the WIRE. Any issues can be discussed at the town hall meeting on the 18th. Formal adoption of the final budget scheduled for the March Board meeting.
UPDATE 2/16 - Here's some more information on Roosevelt Island Red Bus schedule during the tram outage and the forthcoming Upper East Side traffic disruptions that will result from the work required to complete the Tram Modernization.
Will there be a party for the last trip on current Roosevelt Island Tram?


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We've been covering the Fame Festival that went down in Italy featuring street art works from Erica Il Cane, Vhils, Interesni Kazki, Conor Harrington, Cyop & Kaf, Momo, Lucy McLauchlan, Bastardilla, Moneyless, Boris Hoppek and the local artist Giorgio Di Palma. Besides the works on the street (blog one | blog two) there was also this indoor exhibition to coincide.
Photos: Henrik Haven


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Global Bank IT Spending to Reach $179.2 Bln in 2013: Celent
Celent, a research and advisory firm in financial services, released its global banking IT spending predictions for 2013 in a new report released today. The firm expects banking IT spending in the three major regions of North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific to rise by 3.4% from last year to a total of $179.2 billion.
[See Related: Five IT Security Predictions for 2013]
The report, titled "IT Spending in Banking: A Global Perspective," compares trends across the three regions and found most of the growth this year will come from the Asia-Pacific arena. Banking IT spending in this region will grow by 5.9% to $62.3 billion, the report forecasts. Further into the future the spending in the Asia-Pacific region will reach $66.5 billion in 2014, according to the report.
U.Ss and Canadian banks are also expected to spend more, the report predicts, by 4% in 2013 to $56.9 billion. In 2014 the authors of the report foresees further growth of 4.4% to $59.4 billion.
European banks are dragging in IT spending compared to the other regions with "little to no growth" expected, the report said. Banking IT spending will rise by .4% in 2013 to $59.5 billion, with spending expected to stay flat through 2015.
"The good new is that momentum is consistent and positive. When examining the sum of the three regions, IT spending is expected to grow by 3.6% in 2014 and 3.4% in 2015," Jacob Jegher, a senior analyst at Celent and one of the report's authors, said in the study.
Jonathan Camhi has been an associate editor with Bank Systems & Technology since 2012. He previously worked as a freelance journalist in New York City covering politics, health and immigration, and has a master's degree from the City University of New York's Graduate School ... View Full Bio


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University libraries can be enormously helpful for your family history research, especially if you have one nearby. They have a lot of books and microfilms on the open shelves that are not available in most other libraries, or must be ordered and retrieved at the state libraries.
You don't need to be a student or staff-member to enter the library. The hours are usually extended into the evenings except during university holiday periods, although it might be better to avoid exams. You can stay all day and make cheap photocopies of what you find.
I attended the University of Sydney, which is in the inner city and a short walk or busride from Central Station. Fisher Library is the main library of the university, and there are smaller specialist libraries around the campus. As a graduate of the university I can pay $80 for a yearly membership that allows me to borrow books. Members of the public can also join in this way as well, although at a higher cost. See http://sydney.edu.au/library/borrowing/cards.html for more information. Other universities may have these provisions.
When you search for books, magazines, journals, or whatever on Trove, the National Library of Australia's master catalogue (it's not just for digitised newspapers!), you can also find out which library has what you are looking for. Here is part of the listing for the Historical Records of Australia:
The full series of the Historical Records of Australia is in 33 libraries in NSW alone, and most of them are university libraries, which are far more numerous than the state libraries. There may be one closer to where you live than you think.
Consider university libraries too when you visit other cities to research there. A couple of years ago I visited Auckland for a conference and stayed an extra week to do some research on my great-grandmother's family. I found that Margaret Lowe nee Craig signed a petition in 1893 to give women the vote. Two or three of her sisters-in-law signed it as well, and appear on the same page. New Zealand was the first country in the world to give women the vote, and seeing my ancestor's name on the petition gave me a real sense of pride – a real 'Who Do You Think You Are' moment!
I then spent a morning at the library of the University of Auckland, down the road from my apartment in the centre of Auckland, and found historical information and contemporary sources on the women's suffrage movement. Reading about the history of the suffrage movement in the university library gave me the context in which this event occurred.
Consider, too, whether your nearest university library may have microfilms published by the archives authority of your state. The University of Sydney library catalogue lists 80 titles published by the Archives Authority of New South Wales, all microfilms and books that your local library may not have.
The Australian Joint Copying Project was a project to make available to Australians and New Zealanders the the historical sources of Great Britain. Any microlim you see with a PRO prefix has come from this project, and includes Surgeon-Superintendents' journals, Home Office records about convicts and Colonial Office records about immigrants. The whole set of over 10,000 films is available at the State Library of NSW and the National Library of Australia, but some universities outside Sydney and Canberra have some of the films most relevant to the courses they teach. The University of New England in Armidale, for example, has 18 series of films, of which this list is about half:
So don't discount university libraries just because you're not a student there. They may have just what you're looking for!


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Bryanna Clark Grogan's Vegan Feast Kitchen/ 21st Century Table: The kitchen journal of a vegan food writer.. I'm on Facebook and Twitter (see links in sidebar at right).
Saturday, October 22, 2011
The promise of a new book by Dynise Balcavage, the Urban Vegan, has caused eager anticipation among fans of her blog and her first book The Urban Vegan. The complete title of her new book is Celebrate Vegan: 200 Life-Affirming Recipes for Occasions Big and Small, and it delivers! Dynise covers 48 holidays, divided into the following categories: New Year's Celebrations (from four cultures); American Celebrations (the usual ones, plus Martin Luther King day and Festivus, the festival for nonconformists, of Seinfeld fame); nine International Celebrations; Religion-Based Celebrations (from Candlemas to Eid al-Fitr); Milestone Celebrations (from birth to burial); and seven fun Everyday Celebrations. Dynise likes to surprise, so be prepared.
Consider her Lunar New Year Supper, for instance, featuring Lemon-Champagne-Braised Baby Bok Choy, Tofu with Broccoli and Black Bean Sauce and, for dessert, Mandarin Orange Upside-Down Cake ("a fun twist on a classic American dessert recipe"-- indeed!). Or, from the American Holidays section, the Martin Luther King Day "Soul Food Fit for a King" supper, sometimes traditional and sometimes darn right innovative: Sweet Mint Tea, Thai-Centric Creamy Mac ("not your grandma's mac and cheese"), Dirty Rice and Lemon-Cornmeal Diamonds.
In this book, the "Heartfelt Linzer Cookies" are for Valentine's Day, not Christmas!
Guy Fawkes Day, a British Holiday with a long and rather violent past, inspired "Kinder, Gentler Bonfire Fare", featuring London Particular (a split pea soup), Indian Shepherds Pie, and Pimm's Cup (a British cocktail). I made the Indian Shepherds Pie for dinner a few nights ago. This recipe is a brilliant idea, given the long relationship of the British Empire with the Indian sub-continent, continuing to this day with the large Indian population in the UK. Dynise described the dish as a sort of "deconstructed samosa", which is very apt. I used the cauliflower option in the filling because cauliflower, pea and potato is a popular samosa filling.
The spicy filling features tempeh, which my husband claims to dislike, but I had some in the freezer, I had everything else in the house to make this dish, and I decided to take a chance. The dish was calling to me, and, besides, I like tempeh, and I don't have it very often. This has a happy ending, though. I didn't tell him that the dish contained tempeh until he had tucked in and started going on and on about how great it was!
The spicy tempeh and vegetable filling.
Indian Shepherds Pie
The festive and unusual Christmas Eve "Feast of the Seven Grains" is the vegan equivalent of the traditional Pan-European "Feast of the Seven Fishes"-- genius! In the Everyday Celebrations section, the "Tailgate Party" features Spicy Seitan Wings, pretty traditional, but wait-- there's a surprising Cumin-Harissa Dipping Sauce and Chocolate Popcorn to finish. And then comes the "Raw Celebration": Zucchini "Linguine" with Lemony Spinach Pesto, Truffle-Stuffed Dates and Ruby Red Cocktail.
Zucchini "Linguine" with Lemony Spinach Pesto
That's just a small sampling of the original menus and recipes that go with them. Traditional sometimes, but always with a (sometimes quirky) twist. You'll have fun with the food in this book, and so will your guests. As an added bonus, Dynise has included a list of online resources, a recipe index by category, and some reassuring information on "veganizing" traditional recipes, baking without eggs, and much, much more. You're going to love this book!
68 comments:
- Amey said...
Wow, it looks amazing! I love what a thorough review you gave! It's nice that she's included so many holidays beyond just the usual basics. How cool. I'm always a sucker for holidays, even the ones I don't really celebrate. My most favorite though is probably Persian new year, my adopted holiday that I love so much!
- Sat Oct 22, 11:14:00 PM PDT
- Tofu Mom (AKA Tofu-n-Sprouts) said...
My favorite holiday is (American or Canadian) Thanksgiving - I love food,cooking and hangig out with family - what can I say?
(You can send a message to my blog or Facebook) - Sat Oct 22, 11:18:00 PM PDT
- radioactivegan said...
Thanksgiving/Christmas are my favorite eating-holidays because the dishes shared there are most prominent in my memory. I'd love to have more vegan options at both of these!
- Sun Oct 23, 12:15:00 AM PDT
- PrimalGirk said...
Oh wow, everything sounds and looks so yummy! My favourite holiday is easter: a week off, chocolate and baking hot cross buns, what more could you want! :)
- Sun Oct 23, 02:45:00 AM PDT
- Cranky Little Apricot said...
I love Thanksgiving, not so much for the holiday itself, but for the kinds of foods and the weather of late fall. What's not to like about cranberries, pumpkin, and spices?
- Sun Oct 23, 03:08:00 AM PDT
- phoenix said...
Amazing giveaway! May I ask if it's international? Anyway, my favourite holiday is Halloween (although it's still not celebrated very much around here), and I love everything featuring pumpkin (sweet or savoury).
- Sun Oct 23, 05:04:00 AM PDT
- Chester Scotties said...
My favorite holiday is Christmas Eve mostly because we've combined several cultures into our celebration - some of us are Greek, some Irish and some Polish. My husband came here from Poland in 1988 and introduced us to a traditional food that has become my favorite, his mushroom broth-based borscht. Vegan and delish! And like most peasant foods there is no waste because we use the mushrooms from the stock to make pierogies and serve them with steaming mugs of ruby soup.
I see I ran on a bit! Would love to have Dynise's new book; followed her blog for years and love her recipes.
Fily Wolczek, filiovw@ gmail.com - Sun Oct 23, 05:23:00 AM PDT
- Day By Day said...
I love Thanksgiving - a time for family and friends without as much commercialization as Christmas.
- Sun Oct 23, 05:39:00 AM PDT
- Vegan Fazool said...
Bryanna, between your new cookbook and Dynise's new one, WOW. Holidays will never be the same again!
I think my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, though I also love Halloween (if you count it as a "holiday.") The fall weather gives us the opportunity to use our ovens freely again, and mine definitely gets a great workout. I couldn't pick a favorite dish if I tried!
Hope all is well!
XO - Sun Oct 23, 05:51:00 AM PDT
- Teslaca said...
Thanksgiving is easily my favorite holiday. I like it because it's not centered around a particular religion and everyone can participate and enjoy it. It's also a great way to show off the wonderfulness of vegan foods. I love hosting and having everyone enjoy foods they may not otherwise try or make.
- Sun Oct 23, 06:14:00 AM PDT
- kittenwithawhisk said...
While I love the coziness of being with friends and family at Thanksgiving and the beauty and wonder of the Christmas season, it's Halloween that gets me the most excited. I love the idea that people (big and small) can be whatever they choose for a day. The excitement of thinking about a costume brings out the child in everyone. I love the crispness of the night air, carving pumpkins and the feeling of mischief all around us. Its such a sweet way to celebrate autumn. For food, I make vegan vampire cupcakes, "finger" foods, ghost punch and some crazy cocktail that follows the theme. Halloween is a lighthearted and fun celebration for everyone without the stress of the big holiday season!
- Sun Oct 23, 06:40:00 AM PDT
- Lauren said...
My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. I like it because it's a chance to bring everyone together, eat good food and, usually, show a bunch of omnivores that veg food is delicious and perfect for holiday gatherings. It also feels a lot more relaxed than any other holiday.
- Sun Oct 23, 06:53:00 AM PDT
I'd love to celebrate the little events in my life like our upcoming mood with some sweet vegan food. We can't ever figure out what to make though! So frustrating! I want to work on making the big events big and the smaller events bigger.
- Sun Oct 23, 07:20:00 AM PDT
This book looks fantastic!
My favorite holiday is Halloween. I think it probably has something to do with nostalgia; getting to wear costumes and go trick or treating with friends and then getting to watch scary movies. FUN! This is the only time of year when I enjoy watching scary stuff. Since it's kind of near the holidays and it is a holiday dedicated to sweets, I like to consume sugary goodness this time of year.
rebeccastar at gmail dot com - Sun Oct 23, 07:36:00 AM PDT
- Heather B said...
I love Urban Vegan! My favorite holiday has become Thanksgiving. I love the autumnal feeling in the air here (North Carolina) during that time, chilly but not frigid, the hearty foods, the smells of pumpkin, sage, thyme, cinnamon. The family and friends... it's all wonderful!
- Sun Oct 23, 07:46:00 AM PDT
My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. Sage stuffing is my favorite food. I love the fall and change of seasons with family gathered around the table. There is no greed involved only gratitude.
Michelle Engle
firstname.lastname@example.com - Sun Oct 23, 08:15:00 AM PDT
- Rachel said...
I love Thanksgiving - fall foods are fantastic =) I love using pumpkin and squash and particularly enjoy making corn bread stuffing every year.
- Sun Oct 23, 08:15:00 AM PDT
- Beth said...
What a great giveaway! I think Christmas has to be my very favorite holiday. I love everything about it -- the white Christmas lights everywhere, Central Park covered in snow, the department store windows all decorated for the holidays, lots of presents(!) and, of course, family and lots of delicious food to share! My favorite tradition around Christmastime is to turn on some Christmas music (Aimee Mann's One More Drifter in the Snow is my current favorite :)) and bake lots of vegan Christmas cookies for everyone. It reminds me of when I used to bake cookies with my mom and sister when I was growing up. I can't wait until December!! :)
- Sun Oct 23, 08:35:00 AM PDT
- Jane Plass said...
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday too. It's a time to share food and memories with family. This year will be special because my 10-month-old grandnephew will be celebrating his first Thanksgiving with us!
- Sun Oct 23, 08:44:00 AM PDT
My favorite holiday is the Jewish Festival of Weeks (Shavuot). It comes in late may or in June just when the delicious local early fruits and vegetables are in season. It celebrates the giving of the Torah and often has a wedding theme symbolizing the relationship between the Jewish People and the Torah. Traditionally dairy foods are served. I love the challenge of creating and serving vegan versions of blintzes, cheese cakes and a vegan wedding cake decorated with organic roses.
- Sun Oct 23, 09:11:00 AM PDT
- anonymousme said...
I love Xmas - especially Xmas AM. We make muffins and have mimosas while we open our presents. My mom makes Marmalade Mogul Muffins once a year for this occasion, and last time I figured out how to make them vegan! This year I made my own marmalade, and can't wait to try it in my (renamed) Magnanimous Marmalade Muffins!
Sjh - Sun Oct 23, 09:20:00 AM PDT
My favorite holidays is Christmas because the tree smells soooooo good!
- Sun Oct 23, 09:31:00 AM PDT
- Ryan said...
Halloween is my favorite holiday. We love to make anything sweet and spicy... Mexican hot chocolate, chai latte cupcakes, etc.
- Sun Oct 23, 09:55:00 AM PDT
- Aunt M said...
Another vote for Christmas Eve. After Mass, the Sisters invite us into the convent to enjoy cookies and cocoa with them. Their company is a beautiful gift!
- Sun Oct 23, 10:09:00 AM PDT
- Josiane said...
This book sounds great! It's always nice to have fresh ideas (or a new take on old standbys) when comes time to cook for the holidays!
It's funny that the first person who commented mentioned the Iranian New Year, as that's one of my favorite too! Ever since I went to Iran (twice!), all things Persian have a special place in my heart. I've been lucky enough to have the opportunity to celebrate No Ruz with Iranian friends here a few years in a row, and really enjoyed it. - Sun Oct 23, 10:30:00 AM PDT
- Kate said...
I love Thanksgiving because my kids always have the day off from work, are home from school on break etc. We all cook different dishes together, and beginning last year we had a granddaughter with us too! I'm looking forward to her enjoying the feast even more this year!
- Sun Oct 23, 10:40:00 AM PDT
- Jody said...
Thanksgiving seems to be a popular favorite! Mine, too!
I have a savory sweet potato dish with greens that I love to make any time of the year, but is particularly nice at Thanksgiving, when sweet potato dishes are often overly sweet! It's got nutmeg in it that gives it a nice, earthy flavor! - Sun Oct 23, 11:39:00 AM PDT
- Laura said...
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. My husband and I spend a long weekend camping in Yosemite, and cook Thanksgiving dinner over the campfire.
- Sun Oct 23, 12:11:00 PM PDT
- KellyC said...
I love Christmas! I always have and now that I have a little one, it's even better because I get to watch him get all excited and make his list. We always make gingerbread cookies and sugar cookie cut outs on Christmas Eve for Santa and his elves as one of our favourite traditions.
- Sun Oct 23, 12:14:00 PM PDT
- Tammy said...
My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. Since I became vegan, it's been especially fun to have a big community dinner with local friends. My favorites are mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie -- and in recent years I've finally realized that I don't have to wait until the holidays to eat these foods, so have been having them year-round. I also enjoy the Tofurky roast. My recent discovery is to forego baking it; I cut into thick slices and pan fry it. Makes an excellent addition to a brunch feast or dinner, and I like the crispy finish from frying it.
- Sun Oct 23, 12:17:00 PM PDT
- Tammy said...
I also wanted to add... Bryanna, have been reading your blog for awhile now. Belated note - I enjoy your posts. Thanks so much for sharing!
- Sun Oct 23, 12:18:00 PM PDT
I absolutely love Thanksgiving! It's my favorite holiday because it's one that's just about a great home-cooked meal and enjoying it with family. I actually really love the potstickers (my mother is Japanese) we have every year. Yay!
- Sun Oct 23, 12:37:00 PM PDT
My favorite holiday would have to be Christmas, just because my family is spread all over the country and that is the one time we all come together. I love the sentiment and feeling of Thanksgiving, but I am not always with family on the holiday, so for no other reason than seeing my family, I would definitely have to say Christmas :-)
I would love to win the book--it sounds fabulous!
Courtney - Sun Oct 23, 12:46:00 PM PDT
- VeggieLow said...
My favorite holiday is New Years' Eve. I love the mood around new years - everyone is hopeful and excited about what's to come... it's time for new and exciting things, new beginnings, and letting go of bad things in the past. I LOVE (vegan) food, so why not celebrate my fave day with exciting, appropriate food! I like to go cook new, exciting things to ring-in the new year. I usually make a great dinner the night of new years eve that includes some of my favorite foods from the past year... some repeat recipes and enjoyable drinks (it IS new years eve hah). Then on New Years day, I make a HUGE brunch with entirely new recipes... and invite all my loved ones (new and old) to join me. Sigh, my favorite day of the year... and food is such an important part of it!
Also, these shots are great. I am so gonna hafta grab this book! - Sun Oct 23, 01:18:00 PM PDT
- Suzie B said...
My favorite holiday is Christmas, as it's the only time of year I get to see some relatives! One of my favorite dishes that come with the season are cabbage rolls!
sbabij2 at shaw dot ca - Sun Oct 23, 01:30:00 PM PDT
Oh wow. The photos and the food look amazing. I think my favourite is Lunar New Year - mainly because my family all get together and celebrate with food. Yum - dumplings, steamed buns, vegetables all different ways, moon cake (vegan versions)... I could go on forever :)
ljbright at gmail dot com - Sun Oct 23, 01:45:00 PM PDT
- foodfeud said...
My favorite holiday (to cook for) is Easter - fresh vegetables are finally coloring the plates, veganized recipes are always inventive - subbing for the lamb and eggs! - and it's a wonderful, uplifting time.
- Sun Oct 23, 04:39:00 PM PDT
- Matt said...
Hi Bryanna,
What a fantastic and involved review, thank you! I love Urban Vegan's recipes from the first book and am eagerly awaiting her new book (much like I eagerly awaited yours! - btw, how amazing and easy is your Chocolate Shoo Fly Pie?)
I just wanted to note a correction - the new title is called "Celebrate Vegan", whereas the *old* one is the longer title you mention in your review... Thanks! Matt - Sun Oct 23, 05:07:00 PM PDT
- Stephee said...
I think my fav holiday is St Pattys day, to make vegan versions of all the traditional irish foods of my heritage!
- Sun Oct 23, 05:56:00 PM PDT
- Bev said...
My favorite holiday is Easter when we (in Ontario) can start thinking spring. Tofu turkey and dressing from my tattered copy of The (Almost) No Fat Holiday Cookbook have been our holiday staple for many years.
email@example.com - Sun Oct 23, 05:59:00 PM PDT
My fave is Thanksgiving because I have for the last 7 years met each year with a group of friends to celebrate a totally vegan potluck Thanksgiving dinner and it is just such a wonderful tradition I look forward to it each year!
- Sun Oct 23, 06:25:00 PM PDT
- Gabrielle said...
I'm so excited about a new Dynise book!
My favourite holiday is (Canadian) Thanksgiving. I like it because our tradition is pretty much just...food, and while there are things I like to make each year (often some kind of seitan roast, ALWAYS Brussels sprouts in some form and other roasted veggies), I don't feel like I can't break from tradition and make tamales one year and paella the next.
Wonderful review, Bryanna! - Sun Oct 23, 08:26:00 PM PDT
- Lexi @ A Spoonful of Sunshine said...
I love Christmas because it's always spent with my entire family at my house. SO much fun!
- Sun Oct 23, 08:58:00 PM PDT
My favorite holiday is Rosh Hashanna. I love to celebrate by cooking for all my friends. There were very specific foods I used to enjoy as a kid, when I was not vegan. I have now figured out how to adapt each of the older recipes and can still enjoy them as an adult!
- Mon Oct 24, 05:38:00 AM PDT
- rachel. said...
I love Halloween because of the pumpkin goodies and horror movies!
- Mon Oct 24, 06:30:00 AM PDT
- Sisy said...
My favorite Holiday is Christmas. My favorite thing to make; vegan cinnamon rolls with vegan royal icing. It's a great pair, perfect for making the night before, popping in the oven, then serving to those who will probably be eating turkey later in the day. It gives me great joy to share great vegan food to my meat eating family.
- Mon Oct 24, 06:33:00 AM PDT
- Sharon Shiner said...
I love Thanksgiving! I love to serve vegan pumpkin bread and vegan apple pie and watch everyone go...WOW, this is vegan???
I'd love to win a copy of Dynise's book.....it would help me on my quest to have everyone in my family eat less and less animal products! :) - Mon Oct 24, 06:34:00 AM PDT
- Jamessina said...
My husband says he doesnt like tempeh either, and then created a beautiful mustard basted tempeh dish that is to die for!
Favorite holiday- thanksgiving- as my mostly omnivorous family comes together and uses only earth balance and veggie broth in every dish, creating a beautiful vegan friendly potluck meal that all can enjoy! - Mon Oct 24, 06:36:00 AM PDT
- Devery said...
I think my favorite is Valentine's day, as much as I love having a vegan thanksgiving. Becoming vegan taught me how to cook, and the biggest reason I think I became vegan is my husband: falling in love with him opened my heart so much it opened my heart to animals as well and I couldn't be an omni anymore! Besides in February it's wayy too cold to go outside! So this year I'm planning to make seitan bourguignon, curry coconut red lentil and sweet potato creamy coconut curry soup, roasted brussels sprouts, and the rosewater pistachio cookies from Veganomicon served w/ coconut bliss. <3
- Mon Oct 24, 06:45:00 AM PDT
- Lori said...
I love Thanksgiving because my family always gets together this day and I love the flavors of fall - cranberry, squash, pumpkin and apple - and love to cook with them.
- Mon Oct 24, 07:00:00 AM PDT
- J. O. Miller said...
My favorite holiday for cooking is the 4th of July because by mid-summer, the farmers markets are just starting to get lots of great veggies and treats that make whipping up hearty salads and grilling up veggies for casual friend bbqs and family get-togethers so much fun.
xoxo - Mon Oct 24, 07:04:00 AM PDT
- Carrie said...
I'm going to go with Christmas, just because it's the only holiday where I travel home and get to see my family
- Mon Oct 24, 07:37:00 AM PDT
- Chef Amber Shea said...
My favorite holiday is probably X-mas, mainly because of all the cookies I get to bake! :)
- Mon Oct 24, 07:55:00 AM PDT
- Nichole said...
I love Thanksgiving. It's not about gifts or celebrating a single person, it's just about being together and having a good time! It's usually my brother and I along with whomever has no where else to go--always a good time. I'm usually in charge of it which is fun too. I mix up the menu every year, but usually stick with the appetizer, one main (last year I made Dreena Burton's chickpea tart; so good, might make that again) with several sides, and a fantastic dessert.
I'm so excited that it's coming up again! - Mon Oct 24, 08:39:00 AM PDT
- TejasJJain said...
My favorite is diwali (Indian festival of lights).
It is easy to get vegetarian Indian recipe but vegan dessert is tough...As we consider cow as mother, it is close to impossible to make anything without clarified butter (we do not eat egg)...I am always looking fro ideas and ways where I can make vegan dishes ...specially dessert. - Mon Oct 24, 10:30:00 AM PDT
- moonsword said...
My favorite holiday is July 4th because it's summer (yay!) and because all of my favorite foods are in season...blueberries, blackberries, all kinds of other berries, peaches, apricots, melons, figs, etc. I love making vegan cream cheese hand pies, usually strawberry, lemon and blueberry flavors...always a hit! :)
- Mon Oct 24, 11:00:00 AM PDT
- Megan said...
My favorite is Thanksgiving, because I always get free reign on the menu, and I get assistants!
- Mon Oct 24, 11:04:00 AM PDT
My family created a holiday, we call Thanksmas. It's right in between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We all head down to Florida to my folks house, it's the one time in the year that we can all be together. We always eat too much, one of my favorites is wild rice stuffing.
firstname.lastname@example.com - Mon Oct 24, 11:14:00 AM PDT
- KleoPatra said...
I cannot wait to get my hands on this cookbook!! I love all the holidays, especially Chanukah. I have great memories of my late Mom spoiling my sisters and me with silly little gifts for eight nights (and yes, in her memory, we still have been known to give each other socks!)
- Mon Oct 24, 11:59:00 AM PDT
- Trez said...
Halloween is my favorite holiday. It's the one holiday during the year where it's 'okay' for me to give in to my morbidity. And, the candy selection (sweettarts)is much better for splurging off-diet.
- Mon Oct 24, 12:15:00 PM PDT
Easter - you can eat all the chocolate you want.
- Mon Oct 24, 04:55:00 PM PDT
Foodwise, I love Thanksgiving the most. Everything is delish! Celebration-wise, I LOVE Halloween! I serve stuffed pumpkins for dinner and usually add themed cocktails too.
- Mon Oct 24, 06:17:00 PM PDT
- janet @ the taste space said...
My favourite holiday is Easter. Not sure why.. probably because on Good Friday no one should be eating meat anyhow!
- Mon Oct 24, 06:20:00 PM PDT
- Diana @ VeggieNextDoor said...
My favorite holiday is my Birthday. Since I host the party at my place, I get to make it 100% vegetarian. This year I hosted a Vegetarian Potluck so all the guests had to try their hand at a meatless dish.
- Mon Oct 24, 06:43:00 PM PDT
I love Halloween the most because of the spooky stories/ jokes/ poems I can share with my children, as I steal their candy....mwah, hah, hah!
firstname.lastname@example.com - Mon Oct 24, 08:04:00 PM PDT
- vegAnn said...
Any holiday is cookie worthy! Cant beat Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- Mon Oct 24, 09:47:00 PM PDT
- Jacqueline said...
I love Halloween, however Thanksgiving is close to my heart because it is one of those holidays that gets overlooked because it falls between Halloween and Christmas. It is THE time when we give thanks for all that we have whether it be the people in our lives, our health, having a home, work that satisfy us and provides for us. I love making roasted root vegetables, mashed sweet potatoes and yukon gold potatoes and rutabagas. Brussel sprouts, haricot vert, and kale. Stuffing and dressings, homemade rolls, pumpkin and sweet potato pies, turtle cheesecake.
- Tue Oct 25, 04:01:00 AM PDT
- susie Q said...
I'm a big fan of Christmas but for me, this year, Thanksgiving takes the cake because I'll be going home for Thanksgiving with my family for the first time in 8 years! And bringing my (Irish) husband with me for his first ever. I'll be the lone veggie at the table but I'll be contributing lots of vegan plates to the table to show them all how good it can be. Thanks! Book sounds amazing. Susie [email@example.com]
- Tue Oct 25, 06:51:00 AM PDT


text:
Ronin. The Japanese term came to define a samurai with no lord or master. The word literally means "wave man" or a wanderer; someone who is adrift, socially speaking. For the past 16 years, perennial top 10 heavyweight Josh Barnett has been a fighter for hire with no specific ties to any one organization or even a particular region of the world. With no anchor in place and Strikeforce setting sail to the great beyond, MMA's global fanbase is huddled together eager to see where "The Warmaster" will battle next.
In particular, will the well-traveled submission specialist return to the UFC's Octagon?
"I think it would be fantastic," affirms Barnett. "It would be a great place to fight and put myself up against these heavyweights, some of which are considered to be the best in the world. I would like to test that theory out because I don't think some of the praise that is put on these guys is not just inherited by the organization that they fight in. For me to go over there and wreck shop and rampage all over these guys would be a lot of fun for me personally and professionally. But that's not something that's entirely in my ability to make happen, so we'll see how things turn out. We'll see if the UFC wants the services of a mercenary like myself."
To think, it is coming up on the 11th anniversary since Barnett last fought inside the eight-sided cage and won the heavyweight championship off of eventual UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture at UFC 36. As any minor MMA historian knows, Barnett was stripped of the title for testing positive for a banned substance. From there, the then dubbed "Baby-Faced Assassin" took his walking papers to the "Land of the Rising Sun" and became a featured star of PRIDE during their golden era of heavyweights. Specifically, in 2006, Barnett tangled twice with former UFC interim and PRIDE heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
The initial bout took place in the semi-finals of the PRIDE Openweight Grand Prix in September and the rematch was set a few months later for the New Year's Eve show. They were titanic collisions both physically and symbolically. Physically, both heavyweights stand 6'3" or so, weigh-in at over 240 pounds, pose threats standing, but prefer cranking a limb or a tender neck to victory. Symbolically, it was a match-up of preeminent athletes of contrasting grappling ethos: Brazilian jiu-jitsu vs. catch wrestling. Above all else, Barnett's loyalty lies with the martial arts path he chose many, many Moons ago.
"I started with [catch wrestling] when I got to Matt Hume's AMC Pankration," remembers Barnett. "That was the style of submission fighting that was passed onto him from when he was training with all of the guys over at Pancrase. That Japanese heritage that was brought to them by Karl Gotch and Billy Robinson. That was their way to control and manipulate and destroy the human body. I always saw it as an aggressive, wrestling-based, submission style and as a wrestler it fit well with me. I also really liked that it didn't have a lot of restrictions in terms of what was considered kosher and what wasn't. Leg locks, neck locks, finger locks, all kinds of stuff. Being able to submit pretty much any part of the human body."
Both bouts went to close decisions, with the pair splitting the victories. Each fighter represented their particular style accordingly with some dramatic sweeps and sub attempts when the action hit the floor. This heated schism between submission styles added fuel to the fire for these high profile showdowns.
"I always had a bit of a chip against jiu-jitsu in the beginning," says Barnett. "So many of the jiu-jitsu guys would scoff or turn their noses up at us. They would be like, 'what's your belt?' And I would be like, 'I don't have a belt in jiu-jitsu.' And they would be like, 'Hah-hah, how could you be any good? If you don't do jiu-jitsu then you must suck.' If there was one thing I've always enjoyed, it's having someone underestimate me or disrespect me to give me that much more of a reason or incentive to not just prove them wrong, but to enjoy the look on their face when you get done smashing them."
At 35 years old, the Washington native's chip is still firmly in place for motivational purposes. The most recent battlefield for "The Warmaster" has been Strikeforce's cage, where Barnett has added two wins and a loss to his wildly impressive overall 31-6 pro MMA career. With gravitas to spare, he made his Strikeforce debut as part of their heavyweight Grand Prix, featuring such notables as former PRIDE heavyweight champ Fedor Emelianenko, former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem, and Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva, to name a few. As if he was on cruise-control, Barnett coasted to the finals, taking out both Brett Rogers and Sergei Kharitonov with arm-triangle chokes before either had a chance to mount nearly any offense.
In the Grand Prix finals, the Erik Paulson protégé met the undefeated in MMA, former 2x US Olympic team freestyle wrestler Daniel Cormier. It was a full 25 minutes of punches, kicks, knees, elbows, takedowns, and some bruising clinch work. In the end, it was Cormier who won the unanimous decision. The five round war was a coming out party for Cormier, who solidified his place among the elite heavyweights by earning that hard fought victory. For Barnett's part, he didn't give Cormier an inch for nearly a half hour of fighting, even when he sustained an injury just seconds after starting.
"I thought that Daniel had a lot more to offer than people were giving him credit for," reveals Barnett. "I trained very hard to nullify his offense. I really expected to go out there and finish him in three rounds, but after breaking my hand within 23 seconds - I lost sight of the game plan. Basically, I threw a left hook and he yanked his head in a way that just by circumstances and chance it just worked out and I hit it in a bad spot and it broke. I was completely aware I broke my hand. I basically told my corner under my breath that I broke my hand, so that the doctors didn't hear it. I just went on from there. I had a fight to win. We ended up brawling and battling it out. I couldn't quite get the killshot on him to seal the deal."
Mild irony, Barnett sat out the first half of 2012 waiting on Cormier's broken hand to heal to only sit out much of the second half of 2012 waiting on his own hand to heal, which he broke on Cormier's head. "I had my hand 'surgerized'," jokes Barnett, who had to have a plate and six screws put into his left hand. "I had a particularly bad one because I had a bad fracture where the bone laid on top of the other. I had also continued to punch with the hand throughout the entire fight. I continued to hit Daniel with it and that caused a lot of tissue damage in the hand. The doctor did a fantastic job and you can barely see the scar."
Prior to the losing scrap with Cormier, the product of Fullerton, California's Combat Submission Wrestling Training Center had not tasted defeat since that 2006 decision loss to Nogueira and was riding an eight fight win streak, including seven finishes. "I think every fight presents plenty of data that if you look at yourself and you're able to remove any emotion from that then you can learn quite a bit; I would have to be a fool to not take something from that fight and not make me a better fighter in the future." While on the cusp of entering his 16th year as a professional, he still believes he's capable of competing at his best ability. "I don't think people should give up their athletic pursuits until they must. I know that there are a lot of things about me as a fighter now that I think are improvements. I know that is still ultimately possible for me to be in maybe the best shape I've ever been in or feel better."
Up next for "The Warmaster" is a Saturday tussle with Nandor Guelmino. The burly Austrian with an 11-3-1 record may not be a well-known commodity like Barnett, but "The Hun" will have the chance to pull off the upset in his Strikeforce debut, which is also the organization's final event. It's an opportunity for Guelmino to mark his United States debut as well as taking on easily the most dangerous and famous opponent of his five year career. Having faced and beaten 6'11" kickboxers to 5'9" grapplers and everything in between, Barnett doesn't expect any surprises from his foe.
"I have seen his fights or what's available," states Barnett. "I know what to expect. I don't worry about what he brings to the ring. I've seen so much out there in the world, in the cage, and in training that it doesn't really affect me at all. I'm not really worried about it all. I only worry about how to inflict what I do upon him."
This Saturday at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, "The Warmaster" is ready and waiting to draw swords with "The Hun". "If you don't know anything about me, I'm going for the finish," asserts Barnett, whose 26 stoppages (19 sub, 7 TKO/KO) over his remarkable career are one of the best examples that catch-as-catch-can is a winning art, no matter where or whose cage it's in. "I'm going to take this guy out. When I smell my blood, I tear open the wounds and dive right in to make my kill."


text:
In the early 1900s, electricity was scary.
The lack of understanding surrounding this new technology contributed to a great deal of public fear.
The sign pictured below, from a turn of the century hotel, offers us a glimpse of what it must have been like for guests to make sense of the confusing installations of metal, glass, and wire they found lurking in their rooms.
When it comes to emerging technologies, the stakes for design are high. One misstep and a promising new product can become yesterday's news. To be effective, designers must set their sights well beyond easy-to-use. We need to convey more than how. We need to convey what as well. We need to be interpreters, to contextualize new products and concisely convey their identity, purpose, and value.
One approach, commonly called design metaphor applies a known concept to a new context to help people make sense of new products. As in literature, repurposing known concepts is a shortcut for accessing shared cultural memory—tapping into the past to make sense of the present.
Skeuomorphs and Affordances
Since the introduction of iOS 7, the blogosphere has been alive with debate on Apple's departure from skeuomorphism—the yellow lined legal pad of Notes, the leather bound folio of Calendar. We are now deeply mired in a flat vs. skeuomorphic debate that reduces skeuomorphism to coddling kitsch and equates flat design with high-modernism. Both sides have missed the point.
Skeuomorphs in design aren't useless decoration, but contextual clues. Like design metaphor they are the visual equivalent of figurative language—enabling designers to quickly tap into shared cultural understandings and convey complex meanings in a straightforward way. They work as a new kind of affordance, one that communicates not function but identity.
We shouldn't abandon cultural affordances like skeuomorphs because some find them tacky or overused
Affordances, a concept originated by James Gibson, are an object's inherent possibilities for action. Donald Norman evolved this definition to encompass the act of communicating possibilities for action through design. These perceived affordances are lingua franca for product designers. Every day we shape things to emphasize their utility, to show how this device operates or to illustrate how to use that application. Until now, this approach has been primarily focused on utility and operation.
A designed affordance: The classic example of a rotating door handle [flickr: sk8geek]
The design of a rotating door handle, for example, suggests how to use it, but does not give us context for what it is or why we should use it. Smartphone or lawnmower, before we figure out how something works, we usually ask what kind of a thing it is and why we should use it in the first place.
Reconsidering Skeuomorphs as Cultural Affordances
Skeuomorphs are stories of utility frozen in time. A new kind of affordance—a cultural affordance—that provides the context we need to understand the possibilities for action. They don't work because they coddle or educate the user—digital wood grain shelves and page-flips didn't teach people how to read ebooks—they work because they leverage a user's past experience and apply that understanding to something new.
Take this electric kettle for example. Though thousands of variations exist, we still understand the basic shape as a vessel for heating water. Designers have used a variety of cultural affordances to communicate this purpose. The tapering shape—originally larger on the bottom to maximize contact with the heat source—is no longer a requirement, but remains a key feature. The exaggerated, arching handle amplifies the kettle-ness of the object. Even the electric plug plays a role. Expanded to the scale of a stovetop heating element, it indicates where to put the kettle for use, though this modern version transmits electricity, not heat.
The kettle retains the basic shape of its ancestors and through that shape conveys its purpose. Its form is no longer tied to its literal function, but rather to functional analogs of the past. In the digital realm, where there are fewer precedents for utility, figurative design has long played a critical role in helping people make sense of new products.
The tabbed folders and icons in the Xerox Alto interface
Xerox Alto, the first commercially available graphical user interface (GUI), laid the groundwork for design metaphors like representational icons, tabs, and "spatial" organization. But there are many more ways to guide users through an interface beyond the ubiquitous tabbed folder metaphor introduced by the Alto. Other metaphor-like conventions like visual synecdoche, where a part can stand for the whole—a letter icon for the inbox—or even playful visual puns, where multiple meanings can be attributed to one object, can also help people make sense of unfamiliar digital territory.
From tabs and folders to the digital "click" on today's cameras, many cultural affordances have become standard patterns that are used by UI designers without a second thought. But as the hotel sign at the beginning of this article attests, emerging technologies without the necessary cultural affordances leave us wondering. What is it for? How will it be used? It can also leave us even a little afraid of the possibilities.
The Untapped Power of Cultural Affordances
In the last 10 years, over a billion people have started using iPhones. At least a few of those users made the mental leap between the yellow legal pad motif—the one that makes digital designerati stomachs churn—and the idea of a place to quickly jot things down. With the potential to communicate not just functionality, but identity and purpose on that scale, we shouldn't abandon cultural affordances like skeuomorphs simply because some find them tacky or overused.
Faced with ever-increasing digitization of formerly physical products, we should not retreat to the functional, literal design of the past for shortsighted aesthetic reasons. We need to expand the conversation about what design can do through cultural affordances—not simply to address ease of use, but to communicate context, identity, purpose, and value. If we don't, we may find our users just as wary and confused as the hotel patrons who first encountered the Edison's innovative new electric lights.
John Payne will be speaking at the Institute of Design's Design Research Conference, October 8-9 in Chicago.
Image of legal pad and pencil courtesy Shutterstock


text:
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text:
Kansas No. 2 seed, rest of the field set for March Madness
The surprises start right at the top of the NCAA tournament bracket: Virginia is a No. 1 seed.
They keep going throughout the matchups. Last year's national champion, Louisville, was seeded fourth in the Midwest despite playing well enough to be considered a No. 1 by many.
And speaking of that Midwest region -- Wichita State and Michigan are there, as well, making it three of last year's Final Four participants all vying for one spot this year.
SMU, the team led on a renaissance by coaching lifer Larry Brown -- nowhere to be found. And Michigan State, the team that geared things up in time to win the Big Ten tournament, is only a No. 4 seed.
The tournament begins Tuesday with a pair of First Four games, and things get going in earnest Thursday when 32 of the 64 teams in the main draw take to the floor.
As expected, Florida earned the top overall seed and is No. 1 in the South. Undefeated Wichita State is on top in the brutal Midwest, and Arizona took top billing in the West despite losing to UCLA in the Pac-12 final.
In the end, the individual matchups mean much more than the seeding details. Still, some of the numbers the selection committee came up with this year were head-scratchers -- yet another reason Warren Buffett felt perfectly comfortable fronting the insurance money to pay a $1 billion prize to anyone who can fill out a perfect bracket.
Wake Forest athletic director Ron Wellman, the chairman of the selection committee, said Virginia's twin ACC championships -- regular season and tournament -- made the Cavaliers (28-6) the choice for a 1 seed over Michigan and Villanova, despite an RPI rating of 11.
"Virginia's total resume was very impressive," Wellman said. "They continued to impress us throughout the year."
Michigan is a `2' in the Midwest and could need to get through Duke, among others, simply to reach the regional final. The top half of the bracket includes Wichita State, Kentucky and Louisville.
The last bubble teams in were Iowa, which plays Tennessee in the First Four on Wednesday; and North Carolina State, which plays Xavier on Tuesday.
Sitting out was SMU -- a team almost all the experts had securely in the bracket. Not the folks in the conference room, who couldn't overcome the Mustangs' strength of schedule: 129.
"When I saw Louisville (was a 4 seed), I kind of figured that they didn't have a lot of respect for our conference," Brown said. "But we only can blame ourselves, that's the way I look at it."
Led by Rick Pitino's Cardinals, the new American Athletic Conference placed four teams in the tournament.
And while the committee didn't show much love for the AAC, it did dole out plenty of at-large spots to the big conferences, while only seven spots went to the mid-majors. The so-called small schools took 11 slots in each of the last two seasons.