text:
Animal shelters are real winners of 'Puppy Bowl'
LOS ANGELES (AP) — There will be a winner and a loser every Super Bowl Sunday. But at the "Puppy Bowl," it's always a win for animal shelters.
The show provides national exposure to the shelters across the country that provide the puppy athletes and the kittens that star in the halftime show, and introduces viewers to the different breeds and animals that need homes, animal workers say. Many shelters see bumps in visits from viewers who are inspired to adopt a pet.
"It raises awareness for our shelter and others that take part," said Madeline Bernstein, president and CEO of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles. "It shows dogs in a happy, playful, fun way, which makes people think, 'Gee, I could play with a dog too.' You hope it will also stimulate adoptions, and if not, at least a positive attitude toward dogs, rather than they are just hairy and smelly."
The "Puppy Bowl," an annual two-hour TV special that mimics a football game with canine players, made its debut eight years ago on The Animal Planet. Dogs score touchdowns on a 10-by-19-foot gridiron carpet when they cross the goal line with a toy. There is a Most Valuable Pup award, a water bowl cam, a new lipstick cam (it's in the lips of the toys), slow-motion cameras, hedgehog referees, a puppy hot tub and a blimp with a crew of hamsters. Bios on each puppy player flash across the screen during close-ups of the action, letting viewers know how to find each animal for adoption.
Most of the puppies, however, are usually adopted by airtime since the show is filmed months ahead, said executive producer Melinda Toporoff, who is working on her fifth "Puppy Bowl." But Bernstein said the point is to show that animals just like the ones on the show can be found at any shelter at any time.
"A lot of people have come in during the last year and said, 'I want a dog just like Fumble,'" she said, referring to spcaLA's player entry in "Puppy Bowl VIII" who earned the game's Most Valuable Pup crown.
About 300 puppies and kittens have been featured on "Puppy Bowl" over the last decade, according to Petfinder.com, the country's largest online pet adoption database that helps cast the show's animal stars.
"Shelters and rescues are at capacity, and pet adoption is the responsible way to add to your family," said Sara Kent, who oversees outreach to the 14,000 shelters and rescues that Petfinder works with.
The inaugural "Puppy Bowl," which was promoted as an alternative to the Super Bowl, had 22 puppies and was watched by nearly 6 million viewers. Nearly 9 million tuned in last year and another 1.4 million watched via video streams, Toporoff said. "Puppy Bowl IX" will feature 84 animals, including 21 kittens from a New York shelter for the halftime show, and 63 puppies from 23 shelters.
Only four of the puppies have yet to find new homes, Toporoff said. They include Tyson, Daphne and Sacha — three pit bull mixes from the Pitter Patter Animal Rescue in Silver Lake, Wis., — and Jenny, a terrier mix from the Pitty Love Rescue in Rochester, N.Y.
"I don't know if there's any bigger forum for getting something out on adoption. We make sure the message gets out there. We make clear that these dogs need homes and that all animals have come to us during the adoption process," Toporoff said.
Fumble, last year's MVP winner, was adopted before the show aired. Michael Wright, of New York, said he found out about Fumble's participation toward the end of the adoption process. He planned to watch this year's show to catch any flashbacks of last year's MVP playing his heart out.
"I'm not really a fan of football," he said, adding that he has renamed Fumble to Toby. "He fits the name Toby. He is so cute. I like the name Fumble, but I pictured someone dropping the ball. He wasn't a Fumble," Wright said.
Each year, recruiting for the show is a logistical challenge for Kent and her crew of 80-plus. This year's show was particularly worrisome because taping was scheduled for October 2012 — just after Superstorm Sandy hit the East Coast.
"We worried about the puppies, kittens and hedgehogs that may have been directly impacted or unable to travel due to Sandy," Kent said.
The New York studio where the game was supposed to be taped lost power, but the taping couldn't be postponed for too long given how quickly puppies grow. Another studio further uptown that had both power and space was found, and "amazingly, the crew was able to reschedule the shoot for only a week later and all the animals were still able to attend," Kent said.
Bernstein said they try to find rambunctious, energetic puppies to enter in the bowl though even if a dog falls asleep on its way to the end zone, it can be funny. Puppies chosen for the show have to be between 10 and 15 weeks old, healthy and sturdy enough to be on the field with playmates. All breeds are considered because "we try to reflect what's out there in the adoption world. A lot of those breeds are mixed," Toporoff said.
Producers also were trying to find ways to incorporate older animals into the show, since shelters have more trouble finding homes for them than they do puppies and kittens, Toporoff said.
As with all reality TV shows, the behind-the-scenes casting can lead to problems. Viewers often come in seeking a dog just like one on the show, and "then the lawyer brain kicks in, and you have to make sure you let everybody know not every dog plays football," said Bernstein, who is also an attorney. "People will adopt the kind of dog they see in the movie and they'll expect their Dalmatian to know how to use a word processor and not understand that was a cartoon."
"Some dogs like to play more than others. But don't come in thinking every Chihuahua can play football," she said.
The "Puppy Bowl" airs on Feb. 3 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in all time zones and will keep repeating until 3 a.m. The Super Bowl starts at 6:30 p.m. ET and 3:30 p.m. PT.
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24414038 (Tyson)
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24413997 (Daphne)
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24413979 (Sacha)
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/24393351 (Jenny)


text:
Miley Cyrus isn't responsible, though this week she certainly did introduce a lot of us old folks to "twerking":
"Twerk" is one of several dozen words or phrases that Oxford Dictionaries Online has added to it website.
Oxford's definition for the verb: "Dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance." The origin? "Probably an alteration of WORK."
Among the other additions:
-- "Dappy ... silly, disorganized, or lacking concentration." As in: "Those Two-Way bloggers sure are dappy."
-- "Derp ... used as a substitute for speech regarded as meaningless or stupid, or to comment on a foolish or stupid action." As in: "Another Two-Way post about Miley Cyrus? Derp."
-- "Squee ... used to express great delight or excitement." As in: "The Two-Way hopes to take Labor Day off. Squee!"
-- "Srsly ... short for SERIOUSLY." As in: "Srsly, Mr. Memmott?"
There's also "badassery," which doesn't show up among the 43 new additions in Oxford's announcement. Time, though, spotlighted it and a search of Oxford's website does reveal that badassery was added this month. The definition:
"Behaviour, characteristics, or actions regarded as intimidatingly tough or impressive."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
POPLARVILLE – Klein, 20, is a graduate of St. Stanislaus High School. He is a defensive back on the Wildcat football team and a physical therapy major.
Klein is a red-shirt this season due to a preseason leg injury. He plans to return to the PRCC team in 2013.
Klein is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Klein of Bay St. Louis.
"Joe is a hard-working kid with a lot of potential," said PRCC head coach Tim Hatten. "He is very coachable, a hard worker and a model citizen for our program."
The late Dobie Holden was a highly successful head football coach at PRCC. From 1948 until 1966, he recorded a 140-43-7 record and his teams were always ranked in the NJCAA's Top 10.
In addition, he led the Wildcats to 17 straight wins over arch-rival Gulf Coast, while winning four of five bowl games.
Holden coached at Picayune for a decade, posting a 72-19-7 record and, at one point, won 37 straight games. He resigned the Picayune job in 1943, took a job with a shipbuilding firm in Slidell, La., and a year later he was back in coaching – this time in Pascagoula.
By 1948, Coach Holden had accepted the Wildcats' head job and the rest is history. Holden's lifetime record was 240-74-15. His PRCC teams won seven state championships. The 1961 team finished 10-0 and also won the NJCAA national championship.
Holden died in 1986, but his competitive attitude on life remains alive in so many people today. He was one of the first to be selected into the college's Sports Hall of Fame and has also been inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
Keith Daniels Scholarship
Freshman Jamal Hall of Picayune is the 2012 recipient of the Keith Daniels Memorial Scholarship.
Hall, 20, a physical therapist major, is a running back for the Wildcats. He is the son of Jeanette Hall of Picayune.
"He's one of our team leaders this year," said Hatten. "He has been a solid player for us. He gets better with every game. He is a very hard-nosed player."
Daniels passed away in 2000 during his sixth season as PRCC's head football coach. He had a long, successful career as an assistant coach on the collegiate level before he was hired in the spring of 1995 to succeed Willie Coats at PRCC. Daniels guided PRCC to a 7-3 record his inaugural season. In 1996, his freshman-ladened team fell to 2-8.
His overall record at PRCC was 21-34.
Mathews and Wolfe will be recognized during the 2012 Alumni Homecoming luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Saturday (Oct. 13) in Olivia Bender Cafeteria.


text:
Faux Pas
Catullus 101
Multas per gentes et multa per aequora vectus
Carried through many nations and over many seas
advenio has miseras, frater, ad inferias,
I arrived, brother, for these wretched funeral rites
ut te postremo donarem munere mortis
So that I might present you with the last tribute of death
et mutam nequiquam alloquerer cinerem.
and speak in vain to silent ash,
Quandoquidem fortuna mihi tete abstulit ipsum.
Since fortune has carried away from me you in the flesh
Heu miser indigne frater adempte mihi,
Atlas, poor brother, unfairly taken away from me,
nunc tamen interea haec, prisco quae more parentum
now in the meantime, nevertheless, these things which in the ancient custom of ancestors
tradita sunt tristi munere ad inferias,
are handed over as a sad tribute to the rites
accipe fraterno multum manantia fletu,
receive, dripping much with brotherly weeping.
atque in perpetuum, frater, ave atque vale.
And forever, brother, hail and farewell.
Adonais written by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)
Sunday, January 30, 2022
Humanity Rose
SINGING FRANCINE ~ Go Brave
Knitting Lessons
A Must Read for Poetrynest Fans
Viewing Statistics
Edifying Poetry
My Videos
Bajan Voicing latin Vowels
Bajan Voicing Classical Latin Alphabet
Bajan Voicing Short Vowels in Classical Latin
Bajan Voicing Long Vowel Sounds in Latin Words
Bajan Voicing Latin Diphthongs
My Favourite Books
- The Bible
- Shakespearean Works
- Novels: detective/romance/science fiction
- Fables of Aesop
- Classical Books
- Books on Poetry (traditional and modern)
Read Poetry, News and a Whole Lot More as the World Spins
My Pet Animals
Ash and Ginger
Founder of the Barbados Labour Part (BLP) Sir Grantley Adams
Founder of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), Sir Errol Walton Barrow
In plenty and in time of need
When this fair land was young
Our brave forefathers sowed the seed
From which our pride was sprung
A pride that makes no wanton boast
Of what it has withstood
That binds our hearts from coast to coast
The pride of nationhood
We loyal sons and daughters all
Do hereby make it known
These fields and hills beyond recall
Are now our very own
We write our names on history's page
With expectations great
Strict guardians of our heritage
Firm craftsmen of our fate
The Lord has been the people's guide
For past three hundred years.
With Him still on the people's side
We have no doubts or fears.
Upward and onward we shall go,
Inspired, exulting, free,
And greater will our nation grow
In strength and unity.
We loyal sons and daughters all
Do hereby make it known
These fields and hills beyond recall
Are now our very own
We write our names on history's page
With expectations great
Strict guardians of our heritage
Firm craftsmen of our fate
The tree that gave Barbados its name
Independent Barbados Shelved Guy Fawkes Night
Halloween Poetry - Pirates of the Caribbean
Poems for September 11
(Diastic Reading Through Procedures)
(Reversed Telestich)
No Friendly Sky Anymore
(in Diastic)
No Friendly Sky Anymore
(in Free Verse)
Nine Eleven's Broken Promise
(Iambic Tetrameter abab)
Ode to Sweet Revenge - Ground Zero Never
(in Irregular Ode)
Midsummer's Day Exquisiteness
Sample Didactic Poems
information as well as pleasurable reading. It can assume
the mode and features of imaginative works by infusing knowledge in a variety of forms such as dramatic poetry, satire, parody, among others. There is the popular view that allegory, aphorisms, apologues, fables, gnomes and proverbs are specific types of Didactic Poetry because of their close affinity.
Click to Read
Hurricane Preparedness Watch
If Words
Rhyming For So
Too Sweet
British Royalty Poems
Barbados' National Festival of Culture July 1 to August 1
To all the people in New Zealand
Kia ora
Robb Kloss - Musing from Aoteaora
Marja Blom - Dutchcorner
Bob McKerrow - Wayfarer
Pete Mcgregor - pohanginapete
Send me a shout that you are okay.
Map of Quaking Earth
New World Earthquakes for 2010 (Haiti) (Chile)
The Quaking Earth
Chile Under Rubble from 8.8 Earthquake (February 27, 2010)
Natural disasters whenever and wherever they occur impact our lives. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti and Chile and elsewhere battling with the uglyness of disasters.
Search This Blog
National Anthems of New Zealand
Māori Version
E Ihowā Atua,
O ngā iwi mātou rā
Āta whakarangona;
Me aroha noa
Kia hua ko te pai;
Kia tau tō atawhai;
Manaakitia mai
Ōna mano tāngata
Kiri whero, kiri mā,
Iwi Māori, Pākehā,
Rūpeke katoa,
Nei ka tono ko ngā hē
Māu e whakaahu kē,
Kia ora mārire
Tōna mana kia tū!
Tōna kaha kia ū;
Tōna rongo hei pakū
Ki te ao katoa
Aua rawa ngā whawhai
Ngā tutū e tata mai;
Kia tupu nui ai
Waiho tona takiwā
Ko te ao mārama;
Kia whiti tōna rā
Taiāwhio noa.
Ko te hae me te ngangau
Meinga kia kore kau;
Waiho i te rongo mau
Tōna pai me toitū
Tika rawa, pono pū;
Tōna noho, tāna tū;
Iwi nō Ihowā.
Kaua mōna whakamā;
Kia hau te ingoa;
Kia tū hei tauira;
English Version
God of Nations at Thy feet,
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land.
Guard Pacific's triple star
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand.
Men of every creed and race,
Gather here before Thy face,
Asking Thee to bless this place,
God defend our free land.
From dissension, envy, hate,
And corruption guard our state,
Make our country good and great,
God defend New Zealand.
Peace, not war, shall be our boast,
But, should foes assail our coast,
Make us then a mighty host,
God defend our free land.
Lord of battles in Thy might,
Put our enemies to flight,
Let our cause be just and right,
God defend New Zealand.
Let our love for Thee increase,
May Thy blessings never cease,
Give us plenty, give us peace,
God defend our free land.
From dishonour and from shame,
Guard our country's spotless name,
Crown her with immortal fame,
God defend New Zealand.
May our mountains ever be
Freedom's ramparts on the sea,
Make us faithful unto Thee,
God defend our free land.
Guide her in the nations' van,
Preaching love and truth to man,
Working out Thy glorious plan,
God defend New Zealand.
Anthem 2
God Save the Queen
God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save The Queen.
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save The Queen.
O Lord our God, arise,
Scatter our enemies,
And make them fall;
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks;
On thee our hopes we fix:
God save us all.
Thy choicest gifts in store
On her be pleased to pour,
Long may she reign.
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice,
God save The Queen.
Note: The second verse of 'God Save The Queen' is commonly omitted.


text:
'This is a comprehensive survey of Australian poetic achievement, ranging from early colonial and indigenous verse to contemporary work, from the major poets to those who deserve to be better recognised.' (Provided by the publisher).
'Some of the best, most significant writing produced in Australia over more than two centuries is gathered in this landmark anthology. Covering all genres - from fiction, poetry and drama to diaries, letters, essays and speeches - the anthology maps the development of one of the great literatures in English in all its energy and variety.
'The writing reflects the diverse experiences of Australians in their encounter with their extraordinary environment and with themselves. This is literature of struggle, conflict and creative survival. It is literature of lives lived at the extremes, of frontiers between cultures, of new dimensions of experience, where imagination expands.
'This rich, informative and entertaining collection charts the formation of an Australian voice that draws inventively on Indigenous words, migrant speech and slang, with a cheeky, subversive humour always to the fore. For the first time, Aboriginal writings are interleaved with other English-language writings throughout - from Bennelong's 1796 letter to the contemporary flowering of Indigenous fiction and poetry - setting up an exchange that reveals Australian history in stark new ways.
'From vivid settler accounts to haunting gothic tales, from raw protest to feisty urban satire and playful literary experiment, from passionate love poetry to moving memoir, the Macquarie PEN Anthology of Australian Literature reflects the creative eloquence of a society.
'Chosen by a team of expert editors, who have provided illuminating essays about their selections, and with more than 500 works from over 300 authors, it is an authoritative survey and a rich world of reading to be enjoyed.' (Publisher's blurb)
Allen and Unwin have a YouTube channel with a number of useful videos on the Anthology.


text:
WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm - www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
Our 1988-1998 Chevy Full Size Truck, Standard Cab vinyl flooring is Heat and Pressure Molded to the original floor pan. It is made with Top Quality materials for a heavy duty and long lasting product. This aftermarket vinyl flooring fits your 1988-1998 Chevy Full Size Truck, Standard Cab 4 Door just like OEM when installed and is Guaranteed to fit, with no defects. May require trimming to install. See our Auto Carpet Install Instructions for details. There are times when carpeting is not the appropriate floor covering for a vehicle. From the pickup trucks and SUVs that spend their time off-road or at the construction site to a taxi cab shuttling people through the city, our vinyl flooring is the heavy duty alternative. This item will not have the holes cut and may be shipped slightly oversized around the edges. This item is custom made after the order is placed, and typically ships within 2 business days.


text:
RAMDisk is the right product for you if you have a disk I/O bound application that is small enough to fit in main memory. RAMDisk is also great for storing frequently accessed data such as temp files, page files and database index files. RAMDisk is freeware up to 4GB disk sizes.
- Speed up Internet page load times
- Control what files and programs are stored into memory (loaded at boot time)
- Create temporary disks for added security
- Speed up disk-to-disk activities such as video encryption and audio ripping
- Accelerate databases
- Reduce compile times
Download: RAMDisk 3.5.130 RC 18 | 3 MB (Freeware)
View: RAMDisk Website


text:
In his new novel "The Marriage Plot," Princeton creative writing professor Jeffrey Eugenides takes the reader into a college classroom where English major Madeleine Hanna is trying to carve out a life for herself in which literature is a guiding force. Eugenides, who himself was once a student with similar aspirations, hopes to help Princeton undergraduates also engage deeply with writing in his own classroom. Teaching, he says, is one of the toughest challenges he faces.
Teaching "is in a way the most difficult thing I do," Eugenides said, who talks about his writing and teaching in the accompanying video. "I have a much easier time standing up in front of 500 people and giving a lecture or reading my work than meeting the 10 faces around a seminar table and trying to say something that's useful to them. It's a hard task, and one I certainly haven't mastered."
Eugenides is, however, a master of the modern novel, having written the critically acclaimed "The Virgin Suicides" and "Middlesex," winner of the 2003 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction.
His new novel, "The Marriage Plot," opens on graduation day at Brown University — Eugenides' alma mater — and tells the story of three students on the cusp of graduation and the love triangle in which they become entangled. Set in the early 1980s, the novel is a coming-of-age tale that follows the characters — the lovely, bookish Madeleine; her boyfriend, depressed genius Leonard Bankhead; and the lovelorn, spiritual seeker Mitchell Grammaticus — as they navigate college semiotics, clinical depression, a post-collegiate trip to Calcutta and the pain that often accompanies love. The title makes reference to the narrative structure of the 19th-century novels Madeleine is studying, in which the central concern of the plot is a woman's marriage prospects.
Eugenides, a professor of creative writing in the Lewis Center for the Arts, arrived at Princeton in 2007 to assume his first full-time faculty position. He briefly taught at Princeton from 1999 to 2000 before moving to Berlin, where he wrote full time.
Teaching, for him, "is mainly remembering what it was like when I was sitting in the chair across from my creative writing teacher," said Eugenides, who earned a master's degree in English and creative writing from Stanford University. "I try to have my students realize that all the mistakes they're making are mistakes that I've made and sometimes continue to make."
Megan Hogan, who is working with Eugenides on her senior thesis, said, "He encourages you to take risks, to approach subjects and styles and themes you always wanted to write about but didn't think you could." Hogan described him as "unfailingly enthusiastic" and "incredibly honest about your work."
Taking Eugenides' class her sophomore year "definitely changed how I write," Hogan said. "My prose is much more descriptive and confident now, and I venture further into my characters' heads. Even after stories of mine had been workshopped in class, Professor Eugenides would invite me to his office hours to discuss them some more."
Wrestling with semiotics and storytelling
Writing "The Marriage Plot," which Eugenides started a few years before coming to Princeton, was a chance to reflect on his undergraduate days, when he flirted with being an actor, wore thrift-shop suits and studied semiotics, a critical approach to studying literature and other cultural forms focused on the analysis of signs, symbols and the things to which they refer.
"Semiotics was all the craze in the '80s, especially at Brown," he said.
While Madeleine wrestles with what she sees as the coldness of semiotics, she secretly clings to her enjoyment of the romantic intrigues and old-fashioned storytelling in books by Jane Austen and George Eliot. "What exquisite guilt she felt, wickedly enjoying narrative!" Eugenides writes.
In the novel, Eugenides draws from his own experience traveling in India after college, when he volunteered for a brief time at Mother Teresa's Home for Dying Destitutes. The character Mitchell also visits the Mother Teresa home, placing pills on the patients' tongues and giving them head massages while pining for Madeleine.
The chapter on Mitchell's travels in India "is the shortest in the book and took me the longest to write," Eugenides said. "The difficulty was to get distance between my own memories and the fiction I was trying to create." He rewrote the chapter several times, eventually trimming 60 pages.
While Eugenides dips into his life experience in his fiction at times, he says he prefers not to. "Writing autobiographically is difficult for me and it causes a lot of trouble, so I try not to stay too close to my life, even though people will always think I'm writing about my life."
But he does rely on his own emotional experiences to shape his characters.
"All of the characters in this book are like me in many ways," he said. For example, Mitchell, like Eugenides, is from Detroit and is half Greek. "I usually have a strong emotional, intellectual connection with all the characters, including the female characters," he said. "You can disguise parts of your life, especially if you write from a different gender."
Writing, for Eugenides, can be a rewarding experience or a demoralizing one, "depending on the day," he said.
He explained that he is usually pretty tight-lipped about a work-in-progress, but a few years ago he opened up to fellow Princeton creative writing professor Edmund White about what he was working on. The new novel, then in its early stages, featured a family coming together for a debutante party, which occurred at the end of the novel. When Eugenides described the story to White, he responded, "Don't do it. A party at the end never works." The conversation prompted Eugenides to take a hard look at what he had written. Ultimately, he put aside the debutante story but kept the characters, transforming the story into "The Marriage Plot."
"I usually don't talk about my work to anyone. I'm pretty secretive about it," Eugenides said. "But I was glad I opened up to Ed, because when he said it, it started me thinking."
White was surprised to later learn how seriously Eugenides took his comments, but he is enjoying the results, he said.
"I'm loving 'The Marriage Plot,' which is, among other things, a very funny satire of academic life and its fads," White said.
Encouraging students 'to be ambitious in their own writing'
Eugenides made his literary debut in 1993 with "The Virgin Suicides," which tells the story of five sisters who commit suicide, narrated by the teenage boys who are mesmerized by them. Much of the book was written while Eugenides worked as an executive secretary at the Academy of American Poets, which eventually fired him for his extracurricular writing. The novel was soon bought by a publisher, and when it came out, Eugenides became "a literary celebrity," according to The New York Times. "The Virgin Suicides" was later made into a film by director Sofia Coppola.
His next novel, "Middlesex," published in 2002, is the story of Cal Stephanides, whose genetic abnormality is conveyed in an unforgettable first line: "I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day in January of 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of 1974." "Middlesex," about the life of a hermaphrodite, landed a pair of coveted trophies: it won the Pulitzer and was selected for Oprah's Book Club. It has since sold 3 million copies.
Winning the Pulitzer "didn't change my life or make writing different," Eugenides said. "But it changed the fate of 'Middlesex' quite a bit, which I'm grateful for, because the subject matter seemed a little off-putting to many people."
Coming nine years after "Middlesex," "The Marriage Plot" was highly anticipated and has been enthusiastically received. Its publisher, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, announced the novel's arrival with a billboard in Times Square and ordered an initial print run of 400,000 copies. On Oct. 30, the book debuted at No. 2 on The New York Times best-seller list. Eugenides is currently on a 17-city book tour, but is still teaching "Introductory Fiction" this semester.
"My classes are full of really smart students who are good writers," he said. "Workshops depend not so much on the teacher as the students. If the students like to talk about the work and are perceptive readers, then everyone benefits from the experience. I try to tell them stories about how I wrote my own work -- I think it's beneficial for them to see that I am often in doubt about how to proceed, and to share strategies I've used to solve problems."
Susan Wheeler, the director of the Program in Creative Writing at Princeton, said Eugenides "encourages his students to be ambitious in their own writing, and to have high expectations of each other. The same mixture of humor, intelligence, insight and empathy evidenced in his fiction marks him as a person."
As "The Marriage Plot" takes flight, Eugenides' students are seeing firsthand how a writer takes his work to the public. Hogan marveled at having a thesis adviser who has a billboard in Times Square and takes her out for tea to discuss her thesis: "He has a larger-than-life personality, and he buys you tea and chats with you about your life." That, she said, "is quintessentially Princeton."


text:
NEW YORK (AP) — Twinkies may not last forever after all.
Hostess Brands Inc., the maker of the spongy snack with a mysterious cream filling, said Friday it would shutter after years of struggling with management turmoil, rising labor costs and the ever-changing tastes of Americans even as its pantry of sugary cakes seemed suspended in time.
Some beloved Hostess brands such as Ding Dongs and Ho Ho's likely will be snapped up by buyers and find a second life, but for now the company says its snack cakes should be on shelves for another week or so. The news stoked an outpouring of nostalgia around kitchen tables, water coolers and online as people relived childhood memories of their favorite Hostess goodies.
Customer streamed into the Wonder Hostess Bakery Outlet in a strip mall in Indianapolis Friday afternoon after they heard about the company's demise. Charles Selke, 42, pulled a pack of Zingers raspberry-flavored dessert cakes out of a plastic bag stuffed with treats as he left the store.
"How do these just disappear from your life?" he asked. "That's just not right, man. I'm loyal. I love these things, and I'm diabetic."
After hearing the news on the radio Friday morning, Samantha Caldwell of Chicago took a detour on her way to work to stop at a CVS store for a package of Twinkies to have with her morning tea and got one for her 4-year-old son as well.
"This way he can say, 'I had one of those,'" Caldwell, 41, said.
It's a sober end for a storied name. Hostess, whose roster of brands dates as far back as 1888, hadn't invested heavily in marketing or innovation in recent years as it struggled with debt and management changes.
As larger competitors inundated supermarket shelves with an array of new snacks and variations on popular brands, Hostess cakes seemed caught in a bygone time. The company took small stabs at keeping up with Americans' movement toward healthier foods, such as the introduction of its 100-calorie packs of cupcakes.
But the efforts did little to change its image as a purveyor of empty calories with a seemingly unlimited shelf life: Twinkies, for instance, have 150 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. A Ding Dong chocolate cake with filling has 368 calories and 19.4 grams of fat.
CEO Gregory Rayburn, who was hired as a restructuring expert, said Friday that sales volume was flat to slightly down in recent years. He said the company booked about $2.5 billion in revenue a year, with Twinkies alone generating $68 million so far this year.
Hostess' problems ran far deeper than changing tastes, however. In January, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time in less than a decade. Its predecessor company, Interstate Bakeries, filed for bankruptcy protection in 2004 and changed its name to Hostess after emerging in 2009.
Hostess, based in Irving, Texas, said it was saddled with costs related to its unionized workforce. The company had been contributing $100 million a year in pension costs for workers; the new contract offer would've slashed that to $25 million a year, in addition to wage cuts and a 17 percent reduction in health benefits.
Management missteps were another problem. Hostess came under fire this spring after it was revealed that nearly a dozen executives received pay hikes of up to 80 percent last year even as the company was struggling. Although some of those executives later agree to reduced salaries, others — including former CEO Brian Driscoll — had left the company by the time the pay hikes came to light.
Then, last week, thousands of members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union went on strike after rejecting the company's latest contract offer. The bakers union represents about 30 percent of the company's workforce.
By that time, the company had reached a contract agreement with its largest union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which this week urged the bakery union to hold a secret ballot on whether to continue striking. Although many bakery workers decided to cross picket lines this week, Hostess said it wasn't enough to keep operations at normal levels.
The company filed a motion to liquidate Friday with U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The shuttering means the loss of about 18,500 jobs. Hostess said employees at its 33 factories were sent home and operations suspended. Its roughly 500 bakery outlet stores will stay open for several days to sell remaining products.
In a statement, the bakery union said Hostess failed because the six management teams over the past eight years weren't able to make it profitable — not because workers didn't make concessions.
"Despite a commitment from the company after the first bankruptcy that the resources derived from the workers' concessions would be plowed back into the company, this never materialized," the union said.
Ken Hall, general secretary-treasurer for the Teamsters, said his union members decided to make concessions after hiring consultants who found the company's financials were in a dire situation. But he said that he believed the company could've survived.
"Frankly it's tragic, particularly at this this time of year with the holidays around the corner," Hall said, noting that his 6,700 members at Hostess were now out of a job.
Kenneth McGregor, a shipper for Hostess in East Windsor, Conn., arrived at the plant Friday morning and said he was told he was laid off immediately.
In a statement on the company website, CEO Rayburn said there would be "severe limits" on the assistance the company could offer workers because of the bankruptcy. The liquidation hearing will go before a bankruptcy judge Monday afternoon; Rayburn said he's confident the judge will approve the motion.
"The strike impacted us in terms of cash flow. The plants were operating well below 50 percent capacity and customers were not getting products," he said. "There's no other alternative."


text:
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
A Real Housewife (Quietly) Unloads OC Mansion
LOCATION: Newport Coast, CA
SIZE: Unknown
YOUR MAMAS NOTES: There are those who can surely and successfully argue that The Real Housewives of... franchise jumped the proverbial Showbiz shark a long time ago. Maybe it has. None the less, Your Mama and the Doctor Cooter still faithfully tune in—well, we DVR it anyways—whenever those bejeweled blouse wearing beotches down in Orange County pop up on the boob toob. We can't help it. We can't.
Maybe after all these years we just feel loyal to all those over-Botoxed and faux-breasted women. Maybe we're simply sad, sheep-like creatures of t.v. watching habit. Maybe its a sick addiction we need Dr. Drew Pinsky to address. Or maybe—and most embarrassingly—we just can't get enough of all those grown-ass women wrapped in the glitzy trappings of wealth who may or may not actually be rich but still act like catty and entitled high school cheerleaders whenever they get a few cocktails in them. Whatever the reason(s), we can't resist them. We can't. We probably shouldn't admit that out loud but, there, it's done. Iffin any of the children don't want to hear about these Orange County vixens and vamps and/or their recent real estate activities, then we suggest you check back soon when we'll have moved on to a celebrity or "celebrity" more to your liking. Okay?
Anyhoodles poodles, Your Mama received a covert communique the other day from someone we'll call Tawny S. Kinh who told us that Heather DuBrow—who joined the RHOOC in mid-2012 for the 7th season and is slated to appear in the upcoming eighth season—and her prominent and clearly well-compensated plastic surgeon husband Terry DuBrow very quietly sold their custom-built mansion in the swanky and gated Pelican Crest enclave in Newport Coast, CA in the latter days of December 2012 for, according to property records, $16,450,000. The buyer is rich, of course, but not famous.
Sports minded real estate watchers may recall that Pelican Crest is the same pricey 'hood where L.A. Laker Kobe Bryant and his now ex-wife Vanessa were in the process of custom building a huge house when they split up and became the sold property of ex-Missus Bryant in early 2012 as part of their divorce settlement. But we digress...
As best as Your Mama can tell from a careful perusal of property records, Dr. and Missus DuBrow may have picked up the then-vacant parcel in September of 2004 for $3,275,000 and a couple years later taken out a whopping seven million dollar construction loan to pay for the custom erection of the existing mock-Med villa.
The DuBrow's mansion was not, as far as we can tell, ever on the open market so we weren't able to dig up any listing details about the house on the internets. Interestingly, property records are also frustratingly devoid of details so we can't even tell y'all how many square feet, the number of bedrooms or how many bathrooms the Orange County Tax Man thinks the house has because we didn't see them called out in any of the handful of data bases we accessed. All we really know is that their 2011 taxes came to just under $85,000 and that in the final days of 2012 Dr. and Missus Dubrow sold their luxurious Pelican Crest crib for $16,450,000.
Of course we saw bits and pieces of the luxurious and clearly quite large residence on season seven of The Real Housewives of Orange County. As our boozy memory recalls there's an impressive double height foyer sized like the lobby of a small hotel, a roomy and well-fitted eat-in kitchen and a spacious master suite complete with closets and dressing rooms that would make an average clothes horse simper with envy.
We also recall—and can surmise from aerial imagery readily accessible on the interweb—that there are several terraces and loggias on both levels at the back of the house that have broad coastline and ocean views. There's also a small formal garden centered around a fountain, a narrow but very wide and desirably flat swathe of grass and a gated driveway that leads to an underground parking area of unknown size. There is not, as far as we know, a swimming pool on the property unless there's one in the basement.
We peeked and poked around in various property record data bases but we were unable to figure out to where Dr. and Missus DuBrow have decamped. Did they downsize? Up size? Did they head inland or did they opt for something closer to the beach? Unless that cross-eyed reality t.v. exec and chat show hostess Andy Cohen gives Your Mama a ringy-dingy we may just have to wait until season 8 begins to get a bead on things. We tease, Andy. Your Mama luvs you like the dickens even though you never return our calls, texts or tweets.*
Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Bueller?
*Not that he would if we did but Mister Cohen never returns Your Mama's calls because we've never actually called, texted, tweeted or otherwise attempted to contact him.
aerial image: Google
48 comments:
My money is on up-sizing, but they probably are renting something while they find the perfect lot to build a larger home on. Ms. D's made it well-known that they ran out of bedrooms when kiddie #4 arrived, and their architect was stumped as to how they would be able to easily add a fifth bedroom without massively re-designing most of the home.
I have to give her credit - she's one of the only "housewives" who has actual taste when it comes to interior decorating. - February 6, 2013 at 3:33 PM
She said before "we'll never live in a house like this again."
BTW, I'm freaking out! Hers is one of the most beautiful houses of any real housewife ever! There are some pics on the architects website.
Hopefully they build again or buy low and design high.
Aaah! - February 6, 2013 at 3:40 PM
- Unknown said...
You're joking right? Taste? I'll admit she's not doing the Tuscan bullshit that all the others have played out but no matter- her house was decorated just as horribly!!!! I like me some carrera and white but a whole 10,000 sq ft+ freakin' house full? And all that black and white and plum!! Blah. No bueno. No bueno at all.
- February 6, 2013 at 3:44 PM
She said that in a real estate website interview. Trulia or maybe zillow.
I do remember her being shown a possible double lot in Crystal Cove by the developer and Tamara Barneys tits.
She would be foolish to buy into the stalled, dusty custom home section of CC so I'm betting they buy one of the many on, and secretly on, the market houses in one of the lower Pelicans and customize away; this time without those porous marble kitchen countertops! - February 6, 2013 at 3:45 PM
FYI, Kobe and his wife are not divorced, they decided to stay married. I think it was cheaper to keep her in the end.
- February 6, 2013 at 3:47 PM
Good for her! They've been fielding offers for a looong time. This is great bc it's seen as you enter Pelican Crest and turn either direction. Great inspiration for it's neighbors to emulate the more refined exterior
- February 6, 2013 at 3:49 PM
what is that sub-terrain section on the right???
- February 6, 2013 at 3:56 PM
- Eric said...
Heather Dubrow stated on Watch What Happens Live several months ago that they had built a pool in the back yard since filming had wrapped on the 7th Season. Obviously they may have built the pool preparing it for sale. I bet that they purchase another home in Pelican Crest.
- February 6, 2013 at 3:57 PM
These aerials are old, who knows what it looks like.
Can't figure out what that walled in basement backyard is either @3:56. Maybe a sport court that was better left unfinished? Maybe something they regretted and never used?
Wish I knew - February 6, 2013 at 4:04 PM
An off market deal was probably done through lawyers. Lawyer contacts DuBrows, says buyer is interested, they say call our attorney, blah blah, papers are signed on site and cash transferred shortly after.
- February 6, 2013 at 4:08 PM
ewwwwww orange county
- February 6, 2013 at 4:19 PM
They were underwater and quit making payments on their previous home, which was a nothing place backing up to a very busy street (MacArthur).
Something tells me the Dubrows aren't quite as wealthy as they claim and I would bet they are downsizing. - February 6, 2013 at 5:11 PM
I hear Whori is coming back for the new season? Delicious!
- February 6, 2013 at 5:41 PM
DuBrows are not broke, fool.
The sales price and the construction loan amount leads me to believe they pocketed nearly 10mil before all da fees and stuff. I mean, hell, even 5mil profit on a house in the OC and they're rolling in it.
Mama didn't say the $85,000 tax bill went unpaid.
Use yer noggins/Internet connection. - February 6, 2013 at 5:56 PM
Dubrows and Miss Piggy seem to be the only castmembers who have real money - and plenty of it.
- February 6, 2013 at 7:14 PM
@4:01, glad you said it so I didn't have to. Orange County prices have just always seemed outrageous to me, especially for the cookie-cutter overdone homes in the newer Newport communities. I mean seriously, it's like those Mormon communities where they build those giant churches surrounded by cookie cutter houses for them all to live in. Except in Newport Beach there's a country club where the church would be, and the religion consists of expensive cars, blonde hair at any cost, and fake, unrealistically large breasts. But just like in parts of Mormon country Utah, it'd be a bitch to make a journey back to the real world. Only instead of driving through the empty wilderness of Utah for hours, you'd be sitting on the PCH for hours.
- February 6, 2013 at 8:47 PM
I don't know... It's kind of both ugly and kind of cute at the same time, these rich communities built by the Irvine Company. If you compare them to some nasty horrors, like the houses north and around Green Acres in Holmby Hills, these streets and the vegetation look much beter (though in a kitchy fake kind of way).
I am glad she sold this, it is so ugly...
My favourite house in this community is the Paul Merage mansion. So ugly, all that yellow facade, and that heart-shaped plot, but what can one do. - February 7, 2013 at 12:55 AM
- Unknown said...
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- February 7, 2013 at 12:56 AM
- LeadsLane.com said...
Is that a trampoline on the right??
http://real-estate-entrepreneur.com - February 7, 2013 at 3:18 AM
There are many more houses than Paul Meranges. 9 Pelicans Dr, 1 Pelican Vista, 6 Channel Vista, 5 Avalon Vista.
Just look around, it actually a really beautiful neighborhood and so if you're basing your opinions soley on the images from google maps you should quit now and venture out into the real world. - February 7, 2013 at 4:35 AM
Anonymous 4:35 AM, I bet many would venture, but the community is gated, many aren't flying with helicopters around and there aren't any promontories or peaks around from where you could take a closer look.
Unless perhaps you know some?
Hm? - February 7, 2013 at 4:40 AM
Who cares!
- February 7, 2013 at 5:41 AM
- someonelikeyou said...
I share your love of the OC franchise... I've slowly stopped watching other Real Housewives franchises, but can't let this one go!
What do you think the buyer did with the MASSIVE "T/H" monogram inset in the foyer floor???? Maybe a couple named Tom and Hannah bought from Terry and Heather and all ended well???? - February 7, 2013 at 6:09 AM
- lil' gay boy said...
I must admit, as a fellow New Yorker, I am partial to some Heather; no stranger to hard work (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0656686/?ref_=sr_1), including stage appearances, she's also what one could not call "intellectually lazy" -- unlike most of her cast-mates (note to Alexis: put down the Bible & pick up a secular book once in a while). It's fun to watch her run circles around this particularly shallow, under-educated, yet lovable bunch.
Although the decor is not what I'd wish on myself, it does make the best of a rather vulgar, overwrought design by toning it down & highlighting its domestic side (as much as any multi-thousand square foot home can be called "domestic").
Good on her & Terry. - February 7, 2013 at 7:25 AM
I agree Lil Gay Boy, totally!
She really is THE voice of reason on the show and makes a valiant effort to, in Kandis words, fly above the rest of em. Except when they get her goin and she gives them a royal verbal smackdown.
I really do hope they're moving up now they're flush with resale cash. - February 7, 2013 at 9:18 AM
Wonder what would happen if RHW function ever ran out of alocohol? That would be worth seeing. If they are doing so well, they would not have to sell and rent while construction of new place is in process. I guess they were squeezed financially and had an offer they couldnt refuse or already are under contract on another home. Or dare I say she took his name recently and maybe its splitsville. Just sayin....
- February 7, 2013 at 11:49 AM
@11:49, stop trying to draw up controversy.
It was never listed, they accepted an outside offer!
Who are you to say whether or not they're having money problems?
How do you know they are renting? Where is your proof of these claims?
Maybe they've created a trust or llc and bought a new house through that.
Maybe you don't know shit - February 7, 2013 at 12:17 PM
There will always be "controversy", either fabricated or real. I never really understood why Lisa Vanderpumo sold her now burnt house in Beverly Park, the "house is too big for the two of us" never really made any sense to me. But that doesn't mean there weren't some genuine reasons which didn't involve money problems.
- February 7, 2013 at 12:44 PM
12:17 you are just classy enough to perhaps get your own RHW show...nah probably not. As LGB would say "kitty has claws". I am kitty dear.
- February 7, 2013 at 12:59 PM
30 (now 31) comments. You're not the only one watch Housewives, Mama. Don't be embarrassed about indulging in such a great guilty pleasure.
- February 7, 2013 at 3:38 PM
@12:44, there you go again. If there were money problems at the Vanderpumps, how exactly did they buy on oak pass before closing on Beverly park?
And then immediately overhaul the whole house, put on an addition, and meanwhile rent in Montecito.
I mean... sometimes people just have money.
Of all the broke ass fronter housewives, there's gotta be a few who actually do have some money.
Maybe it's hard for us to understand their ways because they're not living how we might live with means like theirs but at the end of the day, it's their money, if they decide to sell in Beverly park and be rid of all the yard, interior, exterior, pool, and tennis court maintenance costs on top of the HOA dues and the big ol tax bill/assessments, then who are you to immediately assume it's due to financial stress?
Just read and enjoy, and unless it's about someone selling short or there's tangible evidence of being broke, pipe down. - February 7, 2013 at 5:25 PM
Dont know about the house in particular, but the view, right on the crest above Pellican Hill Resort is out of this world. From the air, yeah, these mock-med piles look horrific, but in person, many are quite well done and tasteful. I live in the area... and Dr. Dubrow trains at my gym.. always happy, smiling down to earth VERY nice guy. Best of luck to them both wherever they land.. though that view will be hard to replicate.
- February 7, 2013 at 7:59 PM
5:25 and 12:44 are not the same person and 12:44 did not say Vanderpump had money problems. Read it once more. Thank you.
- February 8, 2013 at 2:52 AM
I also wonder about the Vanderpump money. I think they definately have it, and I do not begrudge them it. I heard they owned gay bars in london at one point, and that could have been very lucrative. And lets face it, without divorces over all these years, they were apt to hold on to it. I do think their smart business people which helps.
- February 8, 2013 at 7:44 AM
What is that gym Dr. Terry Dubrow trains in!
- February 8, 2013 at 10:28 AM
7:59 PM, what crest are you thinking of? In the community, from the Pelicans Drive or from the Newport Coast Drive?
- February 8, 2013 at 10:31 AM
The gym is near the intersection of 17th and Newport Blvd., tucked away behind a T-shirt discounter and the (wonderful) Santa Monica Seafood location. It has a large sign, MedRX gym, but actually has another name. I forget the name now. My trainer used this gym for several years before moving to one with AC. It's not fancy at all & most who use it are really "into" body-building. I always met my trainer there in the early morning. Dr. Dubrow is quite unassuming and a nice, polite guy. Does his "couple of times per week," hour-long work out with his own trainer.
- February 8, 2013 at 2:50 PM
Ugh people need to realize there's a difference between rich people taking a good deal and having financial problem. Not all rich people have "fuck you amounts of money" where they can sell a house, and buy a new house to live in while building their actual new house, or to turn down a good offer when they see it. Simply put they're probably just savvy, new they wanted out of the house, so they took the offer, even if it meant renting for a bit. Sheesh, now not only will you tools bitch at the rich for doing rich people things, but you'll bitch at them for doing normal people things too, like renting a house while they wait for a new one. Oh my the horror, they're renting they must be poor now. Stop the presses!
- February 8, 2013 at 5:01 PM
Terry is a great guy. Hopefully my question about the gym won't unleash a flood of stalkers. I love them both, great folks, the Dubrows.
- February 9, 2013 at 2:55 AM
Exactly 5:01!!!
Not to mention we don't even know if they're renting or if they bought something else.
Let's all hush up until there's some more info! You know it's comin - February 9, 2013 at 4:56 AM
- Nathan123 said...
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- February 9, 2013 at 5:07 AM
Perhaps the crest with the view the anonymous poster is referring to is that hill peak east of Coral Reef and Tidal Surf streets in Newport Coast. Or maybe you can freely roam the slopes off the fences of some of the properties above the Pelican Hill Road or just off the San Joaquin Hills Road.
- February 9, 2013 at 6:30 AM
Bob Costas bought a cute little house in a community nearby, but Your Mama hasn't reported about it.
- February 15, 2013 at 11:38 AM
Uhh, WHY would Terry be working out at a gym, when they had one at their mansion? As shown on RHOC.
- February 19, 2013 at 12:42 PM
- Terrazzo Restoration said...
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- February 27, 2013 at 3:39 AM
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- March 4, 2013 at 12:56 PM
Anyone who's familiar or owned homes within this neighborhood (Pelican Crest, Pelican Hill)will laugh at a person who bought this hideous house filled with bad taste interiors, cheap ass landscape & low quality pool she puts in for that price. Looking at all comps the only house that has sold over 15m has its own private lake and was bought at the auction by the Japanese tycoon for around 18M (originally 37M). Also many homes that has sold around 11-14M has better interior quality, way better view, some has its own tennis court and its own indoor sports court. This is a joke. Anyone would be that shallow to bought some B-lister's (not even) house for that much. No frickin way anyone can be this stupid. This house is not a penny over 10.5m on a good day.
- April 9, 2013 at 10:20 AM
23 Pelican Vista Drive, 92657
- May 23, 2013 at 4:38 PM


text:
Superhero Fist Magic Band Buddy - CLEARANCE
Superhero Fist Magic Band Buddy - CLEARANCE
Most items are 3D printed with eco-friendly PLA (Polylactic Acid - plant based) filament. Limited use of ABS and other materials. Colors depicted in photos may vary from actual items due to lighting and plastic filament manufacturer slight color variations. We do our best to insure every product is as perfect as it can possibly be, but be aware that the 3D printing process inherently may have slight imperfections in the final product including visible layers, lines, gaps, and/or bumps.
Care information
Care information
Items are NOT dishwasher safe. Clean with damp cloth and dry thoroughly. Do not expose to extreme heat, prolonged direct sunlight, and/or high temperatures which might cause deformation/warping.
Show your unique style with this Superhero Fist Magic Band Buddy!
Simply install your Disney MagicBand 2.0 Icon center into this custom Magic Band Buddy and clip on to clothes, pin lanyard, bag, etc. It will provide easy access to parks, Fastpasses, and your resort room while showing off your unique style. Collect them all to coordinate with your outfit, your agenda, or your attitude!
Included: Custom made Magic Band Buddy with metal binder ring.
Not Included: Disney MagicBand Wristband, carabiner or retractable reel (available separately), small Phillips screwdriver for removing center puck from MagicBand wristbands (no tools are needed to install center puck into a Magic Band Buddy).
Approximate size: 2.5in x 2.6in x .5in / 65mm x 68mm x 13mm
Approximate weight: 1 oz / 28 g
Magic Band Buddies are designed and made in the USA using plant based, biodegradable PLA (PolyLactic Acid) plastics.
*Colors depicted in photos may vary from actual items due to lighting and plastic filament manufacturer slight color variations.
Avengers assemble! Join Captain America (Capt), Hawkeye, Black Widow, Thor, Iron Man, Hulk along with Doctor (Dr) Strange, Spider-man (Spiderman), Ant-Man, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Loki and the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) in your hero quest to save the world from villains like Thanos (or at least have a great vacation)!


text:
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Pork "Al Latte" – Now 100% Milk Free!
53 comments:
- Unknown said...
Great recipe, as always.
I've been considering purchasing an enameled cast iron pan similar to the one you use to brown the meat in the video. My main reason is that I'm terrible about keeping my regular old cast iron pan seasoned properly. Do you think that an enameled pan would make an appropriate substitute, or should I just get my s*** together and learn to season my pan?
Thanks a million for keeping this great blog up. You're the best! - September 24, 2013 at 11:03 PM
- Unknown said...
Looks excellent. Will be for dinner tomorrow.
Thanks Chef! - September 24, 2013 at 11:53 PM
- Unknown said...
Chef John - love your recipes and videos. I have made many and they have all been great! For this recipe - I am not a fan of crème fraiche so may I substitute milk instead of the chicken broth and maybe a little butter at the end to finish the sauce? Thanks again, KLee
- September 25, 2013 at 5:24 AM
- Unknown said...
Hello there! I truly enjoy reading and looking at this dish, so this will be my first culinary endeavor I try of yours! ONE QUESTION THOUGH: It hasn't been easy for me to find creme fraiche, what can be a good alternative?
Thank you Chef! - September 25, 2013 at 11:09 AM
- Unknown said...
Hello there! I truly enjoy reading and looking at this dish, so this will be my first culinary endeavor I try of yours! ONE QUESTION THOUGH: It hasn't been easy for me to find creme fraiche, what can be a good alternative?
Thank you Chef! - September 25, 2013 at 11:09 AM
- Chef John said...
You should do both! ;) There are not exactly interchangeable, but on the other hand, all pans are similar in that you can cook in them. - September 25, 2013 at 12:40 PM
- Chef John said...
You can easily make CF by following one of the links in the post, or just use some heavy cream and a dash of vinegar. Or look at some traditional recipes and just use all milk.
- September 25, 2013 at 12:46 PM
- philogaia said...
Let's see...bacon...pork shoulder...creme fraiche...days turning cool. Looks about perfect. This is going on the short list of stews to try. I even have a nice big sage plant that needs using this time of year.
BTW Chef: I didn't have this information when you were asking for places to try between SFO and SEA but I tried a pork chop (yes a chop, just keep listening) from a new meat market in Portland called Tails and Trotters. They hazelnut finish their pigs and the creamy fat layer on that chop was just amazing. The price is higher than typical pastured pigs but soooo worth it for a treat. They also have a deli there so next year you can pick up some sannies for the drive and put some pig in the cooler. - September 25, 2013 at 1:01 PM
- Roberto said...
I top my Saltimbocca with fried sage leaves, just like this dish. But I fry the sage first using the same pan I'm going to use for the main dish. I set them aside on a paper towel, pour off any excess oil if necessary, and go ahead with cooking the Saltimbocca. This saves making another pan dirty, flavors the oil a little bit, and conserves a little oil.
- September 25, 2013 at 3:40 PM
- cookinmom said...
I'm gonna' cheat and use my pressure cooker!
- September 25, 2013 at 3:44 PM
- Bob said...
Looks fantastic. My family isn't crazy about polenta. Could this be served with risotto?
- September 25, 2013 at 3:50 PM
- Unknown said...
Brian, a properly seasoned cast-iron skillet will be pretty much non-stick. An enameled one will not be, but it's a lot easier to care for.
- September 25, 2013 at 4:33 PM
- Food Junkie said...
Sounds excellent. Would a little trotter gear (gelatinous pork stock from pigs feet - I'd never heard of it until yesterday and had to Google it) kick up the pork goodness even more or would it be too heavy?
- September 25, 2013 at 4:41 PM
- FSB said...
Have you considered offering, regularly, a beverage selection to go with the dish you cook? It would help me, at least.
- September 25, 2013 at 4:48 PM
- Chef John said...
Scott, I only drink beverages. ;) Too subjective for me to choose.
- September 25, 2013 at 5:43 PM
- Chef John said...
FJ, Never tried but sounds good to me!
- September 25, 2013 at 5:45 PM
- Chef John said...
Bob, as I said at the end of the video, this is a great on rice or pasta also!
- September 25, 2013 at 5:48 PM
- Aidann said...
it was amazing! Followed it to the letter.
- September 25, 2013 at 11:22 PM
- Chef John said...
its a le creuset pan
- September 26, 2013 at 12:53 AM
- Ark said...
We just made this, it was absolutely delicious! We served it atop a light cauliflower puree instead of polenta, encircled by sauteed spinach. Having never stewed anything in milk/cream/dairy products before, this was mindblowing.
- September 26, 2013 at 2:22 AM
- Elizzaruth said...
I'm not a big pork eather but this looks so delicious. Would it be good with beef? Would you make any other substitutions to alter the recipe for beef stew?
- September 26, 2013 at 2:32 AM
- PJ said...
Delicious! Many thanks.
- September 26, 2013 at 8:52 PM
- Estoy_Listo said...
Man, that looks good. 'we're having it this weekend for sure. I'm reminded of your mushroom ragout recipe from a couple of years ago, one of our favorites. I think I'll add a few mushrooms to the mix.
- September 26, 2013 at 11:05 PM
- Scott Pham said...
Could one do this with a slow cooker, or is that just CRAZY
- September 27, 2013 at 12:38 PM
- Chef John said...
Of course! Any stew can go in a SL! Enjoy!
- September 27, 2013 at 1:13 PM
- Unknown said...
Chef John, could you substitute CF with sour cream?
- September 27, 2013 at 11:16 PM
- Js said...
I'm not familiar with sage but usually, herbs are not thrown in the beginning as they quickly lose their flavor and aroma. In this recipe, sage was cooked for over an hour. Wouldn't it make more sense to add it near the end?
- September 28, 2013 at 11:25 AM
- FrauSeltsam said...
Is just on the stove. Regards from Germany
- September 29, 2013 at 1:07 PM
- michelou said...
It's currently simmering away and it smells great. Can't wait to eat this. Serving it over egg noodles as the husband doesn't care for polenta. Very excited about this recipe!
- October 3, 2013 at 8:20 PM
- Nicole O. said...
Chef J, I tried this recipe last night for the first time and I made the polenta to go with it. WOW!!! This is high praise as my autistic son, whom is a very picky eater, had 2 huge helpings! My boyfriend loved it so much he said we need to make it again since I had the other half of the pork roast left, so will probably make it again tonight. The problem I ran into was nowhere close had fresh sage. I picked up fresh rubbed sage from the health food store and it seemed to work, will just need to add a bit more. This was very easy to make and so rich and comforting. Will certainly be trying more of your dishes.
- October 4, 2013 at 10:07 AM
- michelou said...
This was awesome! Made one minor change - I tasted the gravy at the end and it was really really rich (and good) but I thought it needed something to cut it a bit so I threw a splash of white wine in and it was perfect. I'd probably add it at the beginning when I make this again! YUM.
- October 4, 2013 at 9:21 PM
- David, Easton PA said...
Thank you Chef John, my wife made this last night and it was heaven here in my home. We love your recipes because they are always delicious. She made hers with sour creme instead of the creme fraiche, but next time we will use creme fraiche to see if its more heavenly. Thanks again.
- October 6, 2013 at 3:05 PM
- Joey said...
I finally splurged on this very Le Creuset pan this week because I have been coveting it every time I see it in one of your recipes. Talk about a stalker. I'm going to cook this dish in it first!
- October 8, 2013 at 12:57 AM
Chef John, this was amazing! I've now made it twice in the past three days to help stock my college age son's freezer after the holidays. He's a picky eater but LOVED this dish. Thanks for a fantastic recipe!
- December 30, 2013 at 2:23 AM
- Unknown said...
Thanks Chef John for your wonderful recipe! i have some questions to ask. Can i use beef stock in stead of the chicken broth? and can I also use thickened cream instead of the creme fraiche?
- January 8, 2014 at 12:31 AM
- Chef John said...
Of course, it's your food! I can't comment on the taste, but it would still work the same.
- January 8, 2014 at 1:25 AM
- TexasMom said...
Hello Chef John, I just want to thank you for teaching us to cook right:)) I've been enjoying watching your videos and reading your blogs..you are very funny, it makes a difference watching your videos.. in a very good way!!! Very inspirational!! So far, I've been learning a lot and my family enjoys your recipes. I'm cooking the Pork al Latte for dinner tonight (with rice) can you give me suggestions on what vegetable recipe that best goes with it?
Thanks Chef John!!! More power to you!!! - March 18, 2014 at 4:12 PM
- Chef John said...
Thanks! I don't worry too much about side dish pairings. Any veggie you like will work! Enjoy!
- March 18, 2014 at 5:09 PM
- Kritz said...
ah, something low-carb friendly! what's the difference of cooking in a cast iron pan and a normal stainless steel pan?
- May 9, 2014 at 8:19 PM
- Cdg said...
perfect....I love the combination of flavor and texture. My husband said"don't misplace this recipe!"
- September 13, 2014 at 11:09 AM
- Cdg said...
Perfect... Love the flavor and combination of texture served over the polenta... It's a keeper!
- September 13, 2014 at 11:11 AM
- Kilyena said...
I made this tonight followed the recipe exactly. I did double the recipe because we had a 3 lb. pork roast. It was devoured!(by 5 people.) Hubby went crazy over it. Thanks Chef John for a fabulous recipe. - February 9, 2015 at 9:32 PM
- Jim said...
Chef John: This is an excellent recipe. By popular demand I cooked this recipe up again three days latter after my first attempt.
This recipe is a keeper. thank you. - June 29, 2015 at 1:41 AM
- Unknown said...
This is delicious! My grocery store didn't have CF so I used heavy cream instead. It turned out wonderful and full of flavor. Husband said to add it to the regular rotation. We served it with some high quality whole egg egg noodles as our store also didn't sell polenta. It was great with the pasta.
- November 16, 2016 at 12:11 PM
- harleydhick said...
OMG...the combination of polenta and pork was amazing!!! Thank you Chef
- February 26, 2017 at 8:08 PM
Awesome! Made my own crème fraiche as well - incredible! Even watched the South Park crème fraiche video (too much). Anyway, I will be making this again and I will try it with polenta, I used wide egg noodles, coating the hot noodles with crème fraiche for the fun of it - all of it was one of the best pork stews I have ever had. Everyone loved it!
- March 11, 2017 at 10:10 PM
- Kuchenrolle said...
This is one of my favourite recipes. When I need something that will definitely come out delicious and doesn't require much work, this is what I make. I had some iberico shoulder and some guanciale (pork jowl bacon) this week and wanted to make something special, so I decided to put a bit of a twist on this recipe.
I added some ginger (about as much as garlic), some red miso paste (about two heaped tablespoons), a tablespoon of brown sugar and a few squeezes of lime juice. I meant to throw in some orange zest, but by the time I had made that decision, I could only get my hands on treated ones, so I left it out. I also thought about adding carrots, but decided against that and instead served it on carrot-potato mash.
It was spectacular! The dish did not taste of miso, but instead that addition created an incredibly round umami flavour in the background and turned out to be one of the best things I have ever made. - June 5, 2017 at 10:26 AM
- Deisi said...
OMG, what an incredibly delicious dish and so so simple to make! Thanks a million Chef John! My husband and I adore your recipes and your sense of humor ☺
- November 11, 2017 at 2:31 PM
- Unknown said...
hi, Chef John, I have been making this recipe for a while and every time it comes out really flavorful, BUT......the creme fraiche curdles every time! I have been using one with fat content of 11g per serving of 28g. I have tried using more chicken broth, less chicken broth, and cooking it on the lowest heat possible on my stove, which still boils the broth every time I open the lid. So I open the lid for a minute and let it go back to simmer. I will still keep cooking this dish because it's so delicious but the curdling is not very sightly if say I want to make this for a party. Any ideas what I did wrong? Thanks.
- February 7, 2018 at 10:17 PM
- Locomotive_breath said...
Hi Chef John
I made this last week and it was a real hit. The simplicity and the delicious, rich taste are hard to beat. I plan to make this again and again and maybe tweak the flavours a little but the basic recipe is a keeper. I might have dried the sauce a little too much but that just added to the richness. I follow a low carb, high fat lifestyle, so this recipe is just perfect. Thanks to you, crème fraiche is now a staple in my house. I add it to EVERYTHING...except coffee...although...hmmm :) . Bonus: my 7 year old son LOVED it.
Thanks Chef. I remain a very loyal fan. You Alabama whote BBQ sauce is also a staple in my house. - February 21, 2018 at 8:45 AM
- Graham said...
I added eight ounces of quartered button mushrooms and doubled the broth and cream- it works quite well with the recipe.
- March 27, 2018 at 9:55 PM
- Unknown said...
Thank you Chef. This recipe is now a family favorite. And thank you for teaching me to cook and finding the joy therein. I you have my most sincere gratitude.
- February 24, 2019 at 10:48 AM
- Unknown said...
Thank you Chef. This recipe is now a family favorite. And thank you for teaching me to cook and finding the joy therein. You have my most sincere gratitude.
- February 24, 2019 at 10:50 AM


text:
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Heart Expressions
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
And how the heck do you spell "Valentine's Day", anyway?
Well, screw it. Maybe we should just stick to the easy stuff. You know, like "I love you".
Ok, fine. How about something a little different, like "Sweet Nothings"? Eh?
You long-time readers already know of my penchant for puns, so obviously my tolerance of the whole "Bee Mine" and "I Love Ewe" thing is pretty high:
However, someone needs to tell these decorators that if you're going to engage in this kind of punnery, you might want to include the bee:
'Cuz otherwise you just look a bit like an idiot.
Still, not all mistakes go poorly. This one actually resulted in an unintentional compliment when Stephen's girlfriend bought it for him:
Heheheh. Obviously it would be far less flattering for a girl, though, so you guys be careful when ordering at the bakery this week.
Jennifer T., Christina H., Olivia, Hallie S., Alice T., Lauren P., Nicole B., & Stephen H.: I'll admit it: I wuv you all.
84 comments | Post a Comment
- Baking and Mistaking said...
Oh man.
I thought I was sad to be alone on Valentine's Day.
Now I'm just glad I don't have to eat any of those!
Bee mine, Jen? - February 11, 2009 at 9:34 AM
That bee one is actually pretty cute.
- February 11, 2009 at 9:35 AM
ValenTENIS- rhymes with pen... er venus. That's probably as romantic as my husband gets!
Monique D. - February 11, 2009 at 9:35 AM
- Pam said...
I laughed out loud several times on this post. "Huge me"--priceless! Thanks for the good laughs.
- February 11, 2009 at 9:37 AM
- Kate said...
"Huge Me" hahahahaha. That's great.
- February 11, 2009 at 9:38 AM
I think that first one says "Valentinis" - Valentines Martinis? Count me in!
- February 11, 2009 at 9:44 AM
- The Courteous Chihuahua said...
LOLOLOL @ huge me. Nobody likes a braggart, dude.
- February 11, 2009 at 9:45 AM
- Colleen said...
Well, at least the bee is cute. The rest of them are just garbage...
~Colleen (cyberrblue.wordpress.com) - February 11, 2009 at 9:46 AM
Those is HILARIOUS! My personal favorite is the last one--love the commentary, too. Someone please, Huge Me!
- February 11, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Boy that last cake could sure be an ego boost for men everywhere. :)
For the first one Valitenis sounds a bit like a sport...maybe they got it confused with tennis because there's loves in both? (nyuk nyuk) - February 11, 2009 at 9:54 AM
- Audreee said...
No woman in her right mind would eat as much of a crumb from a cake labeled "huge me".
- February 11, 2009 at 10:04 AM
- HorribleLicensePlates said...
Really? They couldn't spell HUG? Goodness! Turns out to still be a pretty funny cake.
- February 11, 2009 at 10:14 AM
The third cake makes me feel itchy, for some reason.
- February 11, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Spelling aside, the roses and lettering on #2 were certainly red!
I love Bee mine--with the bee, but it didn't quite do anything for me with pink and blue stripes.
I know, I know, I'm a old grouch cause nobody will send me a cake on "Valentimes" day. - February 11, 2009 at 10:20 AM
- Megan said...
Valentenis--sounds like a really nasty disease.
- February 11, 2009 at 10:20 AM
- The Office Scribe said...
That's why I am sticking to making Friday the 13th cupcakes this year.
- February 11, 2009 at 10:24 AM
That heart with the sweet was just being cute. Get it... sweet on a heart cake = sweetheart! LOL Still lame. Sad sad valentines day cakes.
- February 11, 2009 at 10:30 AM
- Unknown said...
Too Funny!
I think the "E" on HUGE was an after thought--it is spaced a bit more than the other letters and also it looks like it was centered well before the "E" was added.
Maybe the baker was correct and someone came along and said "You forgot the silent 'E' on Hug" HA, HA! - February 11, 2009 at 10:34 AM
I must say since we always get such a great bunch of errors, it takes a lot more to make me laugh.
HUGE ME has made my morning!
Thank you!
www.yourbestwedding.blogspot.com - February 11, 2009 at 10:38 AM
- Sue said...
The incapability of cake wreckerators never ceases to amaze me! This was a LOL post all the way!
- February 11, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Hilarious! The first one is almost a combination of "Valentines" and "Veterans". Maybe a new holiday we don't know about?? :)
- February 11, 2009 at 10:42 AM
- Torii said...
Is it just me or does #3 kinda look like a "J" instead of in "I".
" J love u? " - February 11, 2009 at 10:47 AM
- Doublebanker said...
Just need to send all of the mistakes off to the Biggest Loser camp, they'll finish em off and still lose 5 pounds!
Daily funny gif posts
Love this blog! - February 11, 2009 at 10:54 AM
- Buffy said...
I really needed the laughs this morning!! Thanks!!
At first I actually thought that first one said "Happy Veteran's Day".
WV: keses--Hugs & keses everyone!! - February 11, 2009 at 10:57 AM
- the ginabean said...
One more reason to hate this holiday. No, wait...these cakes actually make me appreciate Valintine's/Valentenis Day a little better.
The "J Love V" CCC is quite fugly and almost burns the retina. (Although, maybe my eyes spontaneously catching fire might not hurt so much...) - February 11, 2009 at 11:01 AM
- Tabitha (From Single to Married) said...
Love the "Huge Me" cake and I agree - would go very, very badly if given to a girl.
- February 11, 2009 at 11:07 AM
- Beppy said...
On the "G Heart V" cake--what if Greg loves Vanessa? Or Gale loves Victor? Heck, what if Greg loves Victor?
- February 11, 2009 at 11:13 AM
- Eternal Lizdom said...
There is nothing better than misspelled Wrecks!! These are some of the BEST!
- February 11, 2009 at 11:14 AM
- Unknown said...
Love the bee, but Valentenis? Won't go there.
Huge Hugs would work.;-)
~Amy B - February 11, 2009 at 11:16 AM
- Kami said...
The more I read this blog, the less I want to risk having a professional cake made. You brighten my life.
- February 11, 2009 at 11:16 AM
Attack of the extra E's!!!!!
- February 11, 2009 at 11:17 AM
- Megan said...
Huge Me... for the girlfriend named ALICE (who is now WONDERing where in the LAND you got that from). :)
- February 11, 2009 at 11:17 AM
The "Bee Mine" cake with the pink border does have bees on it.
Larval bees: http://tinyurl.com/bnhwq7
...pink, and white, and orange larval bees.
...on sticks.
Okay, I really tried to give this cake the benefit of a doubt, but it's just not working. - February 11, 2009 at 11:35 AM
- Dani said...
Now there's an idea for wht to give my husband.
- February 11, 2009 at 11:40 AM
aaww i love that little Bee one! Too cute
- February 11, 2009 at 11:42 AM
- heartafire said...
Oh my goodness....
HUGE ME....too funny.
Toriisen---I thought the same thing....maybe it was supposed to be shorthand for " Jen loves Ulysses"....
[but then we got that whole missing "s" problem to worry about.....]
Nope, it's a wreck, all right.... - February 11, 2009 at 11:44 AM
LOL. My thoughts exactly, Megan.
- February 11, 2009 at 11:45 AM
If you read that first cake as "Valen-tennis" visually inserting an extra "n" then the whole tennis/love thing makes sense. I didn't even consider the word that rhymes with Venus. If I'm lucky I'll just get a dozen roses instead of a cake for Valentine's. Although the roses (real ones) aren't nearly as funny...Huge Me....my husband would get that one for himself.....and I'd be horking cake out of my nose.
- February 11, 2009 at 11:46 AM
- Sharon said...
lmao at Huge Me with the suggestive looking G.
- February 11, 2009 at 11:53 AM
The last one's alright for me.
(c by the age of thirteen)
I like it. - February 11, 2009 at 11:59 AM
- Debbi said...
Nothing says Valentenis Day better than purple stripes and baby blue lettering!
- February 11, 2009 at 12:06 PM
"Happy Valetenis Day! Hopefully by getting you this cake, I'll get to use my peni...."
- February 11, 2009 at 12:08 PM
- Scritzy said...
The I (or G) Love V cake reminded me of that old TV show about aliens called "V" ... so maybe it's a cake for an alien.
Or maybe it's just ugly. ;)
Huge Me. Gotta be the best Freudian slip ever. - February 11, 2009 at 12:19 PM
- Kris N said...
The second to last cake is my absolute favorite. Even with the extra e on the end. Maybe it's just because it's in my favorite color, or because I'm just hungry for something sweet, but I do like it anyway.
- February 11, 2009 at 12:37 PM
- Dr. Jami said...
Hilarious and sadly true. My last name is Valentine, and my credit report has at least 6 different incorrect spellings. I dont understand why its such a hard word for some people.
- February 11, 2009 at 12:38 PM
- Moderator said...
I like the one that reads "Sweet." Next to it was another cake that read "Delicious" and another that read "Chocolate."
I appreciate descriptive cakes so nobody is surprised by what they're eating. - February 11, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Jen, you make me laugh everyday! Thank you!
Bee mine...lol. - February 11, 2009 at 1:07 PM
Wow, I guess I didn't realize how many boneheads there actually are in the world. Thanks for reminding me.
My favorite..."Huge Me"....too funny! - February 11, 2009 at 1:30 PM
- Denise said...
Huge Me made me cackle out loud.
A single guy could just buy a dozen or so of those cookies and hand them out at a bar. One of them is bound to garner success. - February 11, 2009 at 1:33 PM
valetenis... maybe a little subliminal message there?
Now, I have a friend, Belinda, to whom we lovingly refer as "Bee" so she would LOVE the "Bee Mine"
Thanks for yet another great blog!
Oh and Happy "VD" - February 11, 2009 at 1:42 PM
- Mamalaina said...
Well, at least we know where Wreckerator #1's heart is at! It's all about the Valen-tenis to HIM! LOL...I'm totally wishing my hubby a happy Valentenis day...
- February 11, 2009 at 1:50 PM
- MizMary said...
If the striped one was yellow and black and white it would be cute!
- February 11, 2009 at 1:50 PM
- Her. said...
Valetinis? Hmmm, I'm thinking new drink, though I am not sure it could constitute having its own day!
- February 11, 2009 at 1:51 PM
These are great BUT none as bad as the day my aunt sent my two cousins to school with a heart-shaped cake that said "Happy V-D!" because she didn't have enough room to write it out.
- February 11, 2009 at 2:27 PM
- Chris the Yardsale Queen said...
I was the buyer of Cake #2 (Happy Velintines day) - this is what happens late in the day when the bakery people go home for the day and you ask the deli-person to write Happy Valentines Day on a cake.
Last year when it happened, I didn't even know a Cake Wrecks Blog existed and shared it with the world on my on my own blog.
It still tasted good. - February 11, 2009 at 2:50 PM
- Ted S. (Just a Cineast) said...
I figured the "I love U" cake was designed by Prince.
Either that, or somebody loves former UN Secretary-General U Thant. - February 11, 2009 at 2:53 PM
- TableforTwo said...
Is it just me, or does the one that says "Sweet" on the heart appear to be sweet potato colored?
- February 11, 2009 at 3:44 PM
i got the Sweet heart thing too, even though it would be better if sweet was in the center and the cake didnt look like blood... but someone already mentioned this so i'm just wasting space here... la la lalal alalala
- February 11, 2009 at 3:46 PM
- Navyfire said...
Me! Huge me!
Hey there, long time reader, first time poster. Keep up the great work...you've got me looking for wrecks in every bakery that we go to! - February 11, 2009 at 3:58 PM
- H. C. said...
I had to stop and think of a sec before realizing why a cake for a guy with "Huge Me" would be a compliment.... well DUH!
- February 11, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Is that pink "Bee Mine" cake decorated with styrofoam packing peanuts? I'll stick with buttercream icing, thanks!
- February 11, 2009 at 4:08 PM
- Miranda said...
*cries* We're talking first grade spelling words here! Are they hiring people who failed a literacy program?
- February 11, 2009 at 4:15 PM
- Chaz Larson said...
The "Huge Me" with the E hanging off the right looks like someone originally had it correct, but was then told to "fix" it by adding the E. hilarious.
"the 'HUG ME' cake is ready, boss."
"Oops, didn't you forget something?"
"The E?"
"But, there's no 'E' in.."
"whatever, fix it!"
"..." - February 11, 2009 at 5:28 PM
- nova said...
HA!! huge me. good one!
- February 11, 2009 at 5:38 PM
Huge me! Really? LOL...
- February 11, 2009 at 5:45 PM
- Kara said...
Aww, I love V, too.
- February 11, 2009 at 7:28 PM
- Kristin said...
ok that last one HAS to become a shirt. HUGE ME?? freakin priceless.
- February 11, 2009 at 7:34 PM
- sendingtheclowns said...
That blood-red, gloppy gunk on the 2nd cake just--
I don't--
I can't--
Oh, forget it and just kill me, already.
How could anyone actually consider presenting that abomination to a (supposed) loved one???
It looks as if the writing was scrawled on by a person who was struggling to "get the job done" right after he or she had just been stabbed (with a cake knife) in the gut by a crazed cake-hater.
Yuh--the writing is THAT bad. - February 11, 2009 at 7:36 PM
The huge me would be great as a breakup gift!
- February 11, 2009 at 7:49 PM
- becca said...
I can't go a day without checking up on the latest wrecks! I need my laugh fix. ;)
Thank you for the fun commentary!
And the Bee cake was adorable, other than that, I'll pass... maybe I'd even pass out... - February 11, 2009 at 7:51 PM
- Cathy said...
I love your daily cake wrecks. It always brightens my day. That's why I've nominated you for the the Lemonade award. Come by my blog to claim your award!
- February 11, 2009 at 10:13 PM
- woolywoman said...
what are those tentacles on the second cake? flesh eating roses?
- February 11, 2009 at 11:36 PM
- rachel box said...
ahahahhaha - February 12, 2009 at 12:27 AM
- Christy Dawn Yoga said...
After being completely obsessed with looking at perfect cake pictures (2 birthdays and a wedding coming up to bake for) and 50 Valentinis (hehe) cookies for my 5yr olds Friday Party, it's such a relief to know my cakes aren't half bad after all hehe
- February 12, 2009 at 12:33 AM
" Huge Me" has got to be the funniest. Thanks for the laugh.
- February 12, 2009 at 12:48 AM
- fuzzandfuzzlet said...
LOL at HUGE ME. Thanks, I needed a giggle.
- February 12, 2009 at 2:05 AM
- Holly-Bee said...
Valentenis sounds dirty!
*blush!* - February 12, 2009 at 6:14 AM
The first one reminds me of the old joke about why you should never date a tennis player: because LOVE means NOTHING to them! ... Okay, okay, I'll stop.
Word verification; aling. Yes, these are some decidedly ailing cakes. - February 12, 2009 at 7:13 AM
- Chris the Yardsale Queen said...
Sendingintheclowns - to answer your question about Cake #2. My 6 year old boy (at the time) picked out that cake - you know, the more frosting, the better. So it wasn't actually "presented" to give to anyone as a gift. And it was only $4.99 (single layer cake) - just purchased for us to take home and eat. I commented earlier regarding the "cake decorator".
chris at yardsalequeen.blogspot.com - February 12, 2009 at 8:41 AM
- sendingtheclowns said...
Chris said...
Sendingintheclowns - to answer your question about Cake #2. My 6 year old boy (at the time) picked out that cake - you know, the more frosting, the better. So it wasn't actually "presented" to give to anyone as a gift. And it was only $4.99 (single layer cake) - just purchased for us to take home and eat. I commented earlier regarding the "cake decorator".
Thanks for the clarification; I feel not much better. ;)
I still think it is an abomination, whether it was presented or not. Frankly, as a simple display item it's enough to scare away anything BUT a child.
Having had at-one-time-young children of my own, I do know that most of their taste is in their mouths!
BTW, it's "sendingtheclowns," not "sendingintheclowns."
My little twist on Sondheim's song, "Send In the Clowns." - February 13, 2009 at 1:00 AM
- Unknown said...
WOW! I thought I was an amateur! At least I can spell...these are hilarious! Thanks for sharing them!
- February 13, 2009 at 9:19 AM
Oh God, the Lovebug cake (#4) is so ridiculously cute. But from the look of all that icing, it might be coma inducing.
- February 14, 2009 at 4:57 AM
- JGV said...
Hahaaaaa, that last cake just made my day.
- February 14, 2009 at 1:29 PM
I've stumbled across this site by accident. I've been looking at it all day. When I got to the Valentine's Day cakes...
I've got that non-stop laughter thing going on. - September 20, 2009 at 3:35 PM
Search This Blog
Wreck the Halls
NEW! Pre-Order Today!
Barnes & Noble
Borders |
Buy the Book
Buy the NYT Bestseller
What's a Wreck?
What's a Wreck?
A Cake Wreck is any cake that is unintentionally sad, silly, creepy, inappropriate - you name it. A Wreck is not necessarily a poorly-made cake; it's simply one I find funny, for any of a number of reasons. Anyone who has ever smeared frosting on a baked good has made a Wreck at one time or another, so I'm not here to vilify decorators: Cake Wrecks is just about finding the funny in unexpected, sugar-filled places.
Now, don't you have a photo you want to send me? ;)
- Fan Faves
- The Classics
The Classics
Praise for the Book
- "Will have you laughing so hard you'll forget to eat!"— Washington Post
- "a hilarious winner" — The Oregonian
- "a fantastically gut-busting book"— NPR
- "It's all here, each wreck a disaster of hilarity." — BookPage.com
- "Hysterically funny!"— Epinions.com
- "laugh-out-loud funny"— The Times
- "Yates' sharp humor makes the funny even funnier." — The Dallas Morning News
- "an amazing laugh-out-loud book"— The Book Triblog
What the fans are saying
- "I was laughing so hard, I couldn't catch my breath."
- "As funny as the blog that started it."
- "WAY better than I expected!"
- "Cake Wreckery at its best!"
- "Wrecktastic!"
- American Mensa:Top 50 Websites of 2010
- Amazon: Top 10 gift books of 2009
- The Orlando Sentinal "Orbbies": Winner Humor
- 2009 BlogLuxe Awards: Funniest Blog
- 2009 Bloggies: Best Writing of a Weblog, Best New Weblog, Best Food Blog
- The 2008 Weblog Awards: Best Food Blog
- Blogger's Choice 2008 Awards: Best Humor Blog
Where's the book?
We don't have any copies of Cake Wrecks for sale here, autographed or otherwise. We decided the shipping and handling costs would be too high to make it worth your while. So instead, buy your copies locally or online and then order personalized bookplates: it's cheaper, easier, and I think even looks a bit nicer.
Ordering Info
Payments must be made through Paypal, which accepts all major credit cards. Sorry, but that means no checks or MOs or barter-based chickens.
We ship everything first class USPS, and will do our best to have your package in the mail within 2 days of your order.
Popular This Month
Popular This Month
- You Gotta Admit: That's Way Better than "Good"
- Willy & Wally, the Cake Wreckers
- When Common Sense Isn't
- Kids These Days
- Guess Who!
- "Hey everybody, thish cake ish from Holland. Ishn'...
- Sunday Sweets Visits the 80s
- Phonics Has Failed Us
- Passive Aggressive Cakes
- THIS is How You Show Hungry Who's Boss
- Come On Barbie, Let's Go Party
- For Me?
- The End of Sweetness
- It's a Form of Flattery. Honest.
- Ace of Cakes Gets Lost!
- Valentine's "Winners"
- President's Day Cupcake Mosaic
- What's Love Got to Do With It?
- Valentine's Variety
- Heart Expressions
- Show and Tell
- A Healthy Appetite
- This'll Cure that Freaky Fetish
- Sunday Sweets: Valentine's Treats
- The Pink-Haired Puppet Master
- Wreck-Slingers, Part 2
- Head Check
- Tensed Up
- Phony
- Wreck-Slingers
- Come to the Dark Side: We Have Cake


text:
Gaston Glock, 84, has been ordered to pay alimony to his ex-wife, Helga, whom he divorced in 2011. The couple had been married for 49 years. The founder of the Austrian gun company "divorced Helga in order to marry a woman about 50 years his junior," Agence France-Presse reports.
Austria's highest court issued its ruling this week, after two lower courts had sided with Gaston Glock in what has been a lengthy court battle.
Gaston Glock had argued that his ex-wife was already wealthy and did not need assistance to live. But the country's Supreme Court said that "there is no so-called 'luxury' limit for alimony," court spokesman Christoph Brenn said Friday, according to Reuters.
Helga Glock, who reportedly was once a stakeholder in the family-owned gun company, believes her husband has hidden part of his wealth by using trusts and other instruments, Reuters says. The amount of alimony is to be determined by a lower court, which will investigate the gunmaker's wealth.
According to a report earlier this year in Bloomberg Business Week, Helga Glock believes her husband underwent a dramatic change after he suffered a stroke in 2008. She has filed a separate lawsuit seeking to regain an ownership stake in the giant gun company. From Bloomberg:
"Since 2010, the Austrian suit states, Helga Glock and her three adult children with Gaston have all been ousted from their roles with the company. Helga claims that she and her offspring—Brigitte, Gaston Jr., and Robert—spent decades helping the family company expand from a garage metal shop into a global powerhouse."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


text:
Müssen das machen
Attractive Designs on Metals Can Amaze You
Nice design and pattern can be drawn on exceptional metals. Decorative metal may seem to be to some of you as a bit updated. But the truth is different. Actually its far gaining much popularity. Many humans like to create different appealing designs on diverse metals. It requires artistic bent of mind. The first crucial element is you have to love the paintings. There are a number of factors that you want to dont forget before beginning the project. You can create beautiful metal paintings pieces with the help of various craft hand equipment designed for the cause of metal crafting. It calls for exquisite approach and skill to finish the job. Patience is also required to finish this project. You want to do some studies approximately this difficulty before genuinely beginning the project. Good understanding in this area is required. Another critical thing is tool or equipment. Using proper device is very crucial on your element if you want to get the correct metal which you have planned.
Metal running is really very interesting. It is the art of coloring and developing patinas on diverse sorts of metals to get unique effects. Professional engaged with this sort of artistic work are actually appreciable. They are efficient and experienced enough to create beautiful layout on metals


text:
Email Updates
You do not have to revisit this web site. You can get the latest in email. There are no attachments, so messages are no larger than non-photo email messages.
Your email address will not be used for anything else.
ourdoings.com is temporarily at its limit for quick subscriptions. For now you have to register, then follow the directions above for people who have used ourdoings.com before.
If you are getting email updates now and would like to unsubscribe, use the Edit link above, uncheck the "ourdoings.com" box under "Email subscriptions," and save changes.
Non-Email Updates
To stay updated using a photo frame or external program that takes RSS, use the following:
- h.xml: recent photos for a horizontal photo frame (hi-res: hh.xml)
- v.xml: recent photos for a vertical photo frame (hi-res: vv.xml)
- mainmedia.xml: recent photos at highest resolution, horizontal and vertical
- main.xml: for blog RSS readers
Each month and day has its own Media RSS feed.
Embed a Slide Show in Another Web Page
To add a slide show to iGoogle, use this button:
To add it to any web page, copy and paste the following HTML:

You may change the height, delay, and long-dim parameters as you
see fit. If you omit them, they default as shown above. You may move
the


text:
A Leaves & Frames Design Pack - Lg (Applique)
Everyday Discount
Price $10.45 $20.89
Applique embroidery lets you use your favorite fabric colors, patterns, and prints in a design. These designs include dielines so that you can cut the applique fabric to the shape and size needed for the embroidery. Project instructions demonstrate the steps for applique embroidery.


text:
If you have experienced discrimination, contact us for a consultation.
The content of this website is provided for informational purposes only and does not contain or constitute legal advice. Please do not communicate with us using your employer's computer. If you e-mail Outten & Golden LLP please remember that any such communication may not be secure, depending on computer technology and network issues. Sending our firm an e-mail message or other inquiry does not make you a client of the Outten & Golden LLP. For more information, click here.


text:
Cartoons About The Economy by Randy Glasbergen.
On my website you'll find a huge searchable database of cartoons on a variety of topics, including Cartoons About The Economy. You can find cartoons on related topics @ Financial Cartoons / Banking Cartoons / Cartoons About Investing / Cartoons About Politics and Government / Cartoons About Credit and Debt / Tax Cartoons. Cartoons are a great way to liven up your next newsletter or presentation to help you sell your message with humor!
For permission to use my Cartoons About The Economy in your next important project, please contact me for more information or a budget-friendly rate quote.
The Economic Cartoons on this website are copyrighted by Randy Glasbergen. Unauthorized usage of any kind is unlawful and prohibited.
On my website you'll find a huge searchable database of cartoons, including Cartoons About The Economy for newsletters, presentations, textbooks, seminars, magazines, newspapers, any type of print or electronic media. Financial cartoons about the economy, cartoons about personal finance in a bad economy, cartoons about recession, cartoons about economic hard times, cartoons about economic news, cartoons about political economic policy, cartoons about financial hardship, cartoons about stimulating the economy, economic stimulus and more. For usage permission, more information or a budget-friendly rate quote, please e-mail: randy@ glasbergen.com
Economic Cartoons, Cartoons About The Economy by Randy Glasbergen