text:
SN's five-part concussion series overview | Photo gallery: Faces of football's crisis
In the middle of the night, in a dark bedroom, Greg Koch pursues a defender who exists only in his mind. Twenty-five years after he retired from the NFL, Koch still dreams about football. But this is not normal dreaming. What he dreams, he does, often crashing onto the floor after he throws himself out of bed. More dangerous than his football dreams are his fighting dreams. He wakes up from those to his wife's screams as he chokes and punches her.
Koch has idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder, which causes him to act out his dreams. His doctors trace it to repetitive head injuries that he sustained while playing football in the NFL, college and high school. Koch says he suffered at least three concussions, and in the worst, the AstroTurf appeared to turn brown.
The disorder started for Koch roughly 10 years ago. Medication controlled it for a few years, but it has been coming back lately. Doctors also have told Koch, 57, that because of his head injuries, he's 50 percent more likely to get Parkinson's disease and 50 percent more likely to develop early onset dementia.
Acting out his dreams he can deal with. Losing his mind, he can't.
Koch believes if he commits suicide he would go to hell, so he hopes someone else would help him avoid the misery of a living oblivion.
"The worst thing anybody wants to do is be one of those guys that you have to change his diaper," says Koch, a lawyer in Houston. "Just put a gun to my forehead and empty the clip if that ever happens."
Koch is one of 125 former NFL players who took part in a Sporting News survey about the impact of concussions. The results suggest far more players suffered far more concussions than previously has been reported. The consequences are far-reaching for the players and their families.
Of the 125 players, 115 reported suffering at least one concussion. Of those 115, 76 listed at least one mental-health symptom that could be related to their head injuries, though many said they could not definitively tie their problems to concussions.
The most common ailment among the former players is memory loss—56 players listed it as a symptom. Other common problems include headaches (19), depression (12) and mood swings (seven).
Koch is the only respondent who mentioned idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder, but eight others named sleeplessness as a symptom. Some go up to three days without sleeping. Others haven't slept through the night in years. Sleeplessness can be a symptom and a cause, as it leads to or exacerbates other problems—depression, irritability and poor-decision making among them.
Four former players reported vision problems and five reported hearing problems. Three have both. Four players said they have trouble with their balance. Three said they struggle with cognitive issues, meaning they have problems concentrating.
A University of North Carolina study conducted seven years ago found 60 percent of former players reported at least one concussion, and 24.4 percent suffered three or more concussions.
Sporting News found 92 percent suffered at least one and 60 percent suffered three or more.
The players in UNC's study averaged less playing time in the NFL than the players Sporting News surveyed, which would explain some of the difference in the number of concussions reported. Former players know more about concussions now than they did seven years ago, which would also contribute to the difference.
But confusion remains.
There are so many euphemisms—getting dinged, seeing stars, getting your bell rung, etc.—for head injuries that many of the former players don't know what constitutes a concussion and what doesn't. Some former players believe they had to get knocked out for it to be a concussion, which has never been true. Even using that definition, one player said he had six concussions.
Some former players gave contradictory answers when asked how many concussions they suffered. One said he had two and gave three examples. One respondent said he never had a concussion "but saw stars many, many times."
All of those were concussions because they involved an interruption in the normal functioning of the brain. Give him a pass for not knowing that, as many former players don't. But he also said he played with a concussion even though he said he never had one.
Of the players who suffered a concussion, 89.6 percent said they played with one. Experts believe that returning to the field too soon after a concussion puts the player at great risk because one concussion on top of an unhealed one is far more dangerous than two separate concussions.
This issue is at the heart of a lawsuit brought against the NFL by former players, many of whom participated in Sporting News' survey. The lawsuit claims the NFL knew or should've known how dangerous concussions are and didn't do enough to warn or protect players. The NFL denies those claims.
In 2009, the NFL strengthened its concussion policy, banning players who suffered a concussion from returning to practice and games until they are asymptomatic and cleared by a doctor. Many players whose careers predated that policy said they were asked one of two questions as a prerequisite to returning to the game—if they were asked anything. Either, "what day is it?" which they laugh at now because the answer was always Sunday. Or, "how many fingers do you see?" which they laugh at because the answer was always two.
Sighs often follow that laughter. These men are baffled that they can recall in great detail plays from three decades ago, but for the life of them they can't remember where they put the remote control. For some, the lack of a short-term memory is a minor inconvenience. For others, it brings life-changing consequences.
One Sunday in 1993, Saints guard Derek Kennard tried to tackle a Pittsburgh Steeler during an interception return.
"I was just about to make a hit on this guy, and somebody ear-holed me," he says.
Lights out.
The next thing Kennard knew, he woke up Wednesday morning at home. He had played the final three quarters of the game, flown from Pittsburgh to New Orleans, gone to the team facility on Monday and taken his wife out to lunch and on a shopping trip on Tuesday. He remembers none of that and knows he did those things only because his wife told him. "I freaked out," he says. "I asked my wife, 'What the hell happened the past three days?' "
That was the worst concussion he ever had—and he had so many he lost count. He believes those injuries suffered during his career in football now threaten his career in education. His short-term memory is terrible and could cost him his job as a school counselor. He has tried three times to pass certification tests, twice in counseling, once in teaching. He failed all three—this from a guy with a 3.5 undergraduate GPA.
"I have no recall like I used to have. I can remember a whole fricking NFL playbook. I have my master's in business administration. I have a bachelor's in human services. I'm nearing a bachelor's degree in psych. I have all this knowledge, but I can't get certified in anything because my memory doesn't serve me well," he says.
It's not just test-taking that reveals his memory problems. Conversations with his wife disappear soon after they end.
"She'll tell me, 'Hey, honey, I'm on my way to the store.' She'll go to the store. Half an hour later I'll call and say, 'Where the hell did you go, honey?' "
As Kennard talks, his phone buzzes with the notice of an appointment. He has a meeting of NFL alumni to attend in an hour. He had forgotten about it and never would've remembered if he hadn't put it in his calendar.
Eric Hill knows what that's like. Hill, a former linebacker, owns a car dealership in New Orleans. He struggles with memory issues, too, plus he slips in and out of depression.
"I'm very repetitive. I repeat myself. My managers laugh at me all the time. 'Hey Eric, we talked about this last week.' I'll blow it off. 'I'm doing that because you guys have forgotten before.' I try to recover in that way," Hill says. "But then I go back to my office and I'm like, 'Wow.' "
His office is full of reminder notes. Whatever the thought is—call his wife, pick up milk, check inventory—he writes it down because if he doesn't, he'll forget it. He calls this playing defense.
"I've always prided myself on being able to collect information in my head, always be on time, not forget anything," Hill says. "If I have to make a phone call at 1:30, I'm ready to make it at 1:15. I've always been a very timely person."
That changed over the last several years and got worse in the last year or two.
"That's the difference between who I used to be," he says.
This is a common theme among ex-NFL players struggling with the aftermath of concussions. They talk about themselves as two different people—one who was in control, and one who is not. He says he and his wife are on "high alert" now for any further problems.
Hill, 45, and Kennard, 49, are friends from their time as teammates with the Cardinals. They get together in Phoenix once a year or so when Hill travels there.
"Him and I used to have major collisions at practice," Kennard says. "We would have those Oklahoma-type drills. The media would just love these drills. At times, him and I would look back at each other after practice and say, 'God, dang, dude. Don't hit me like that again.' "
But they did, over and over. More than 20 years later, the long-term effects of those hits are just beginning.
The consequences of head injuries are bad for players. They might be worse for their wives and families. When Mike Pitts played in the NFL, his wife, Gena Pitts, found watching games nearly as draining as the men who played them. "I never liked those big hits, and I didn't even know what was going on back then. I literally would pray the entire game. I would be exhausted when we would go into the family lounge," she says. "If I had prayer beads, I would rip the beads off the string."
Mike Pitts, 51, retired from the NFL in 1994 after 12 years as a defensive lineman, but Gena Pitts hasn't stopped praying. Those big hits that she disliked so much left her husband with memory loss, fatigue, mood swings and headaches. As Gena Pitts sat at her kitchen table and wrote down her husband's responses to questions from Sporting News, she knew some of the answers. But she didn't know he was having headaches, and writing that down made her pen shake.
"It smacked me in the face when I filled out that questionnaire, to be honest with you. That's the first time I've heard him say it," she says.
She pauses as she speaks. Other examples of problems come back to her. Are they innocent instances of forgetfulness that everyone goes through ... or heralds of something darker? This is maddening for players and their families, that common symptoms could mean everything or nothing.
"He forgets a lot," Gena Pitts says. "He would literally walk around the house and ask me, 'Where's this, this, this, this, this.' I'd go, 'You just had it.' He would say, 'I know you're tired of me.' I say, 'No, but I wish you would keep up with your stuff.' "
More frustrating than Mike Pitts' memory problems are his mood swings, which are triggered by little bits of nothing. He says it could be as simple as someone setting down a glass. Sometimes that sounds like a loud crash to him. He'll ask why someone's making so much noise, and that obvious over-reaction makes everyone realize a mood swing has struck. Gena then takes their kids out to eat. Mike stays home, turns on soft music and tries to relax. The mood swings bother both of them, of course, but they have learned to deal with them.
Other couples never do.
Catherina Watters is a lawyer who has represented dozens of former NFL players, all of them with head injury issues, in disability cases. She is married to Ricky Watters, the former NFL running back (and participant in Sporting News' survey). She says many of her clients' marriages suffer because of the husband's behavioral changes. One told her that if he had met her earlier, his marriage might have been saved because Watters helped him understand what was happening to him.
"How could she understand what he was going through when even he didn't understand what he was going through?" Catherina Watters says. "A lot of these marriages that break up, it's just too difficult. Who knows? I don't see it as someone was the bad guy. It's just, how do you get through that?"
That quote is relayed to Gena Pitts and she nearly drops her fork into her salad. This issue hits her right in the heart. An entrepreneur, she started a magazine, website and radio show in the mid-2000s to help families of professional athletes—life is no easier for them than it is for anybody else, she says. This issue makes it harder. She wants to use her multi-media platform to raise awareness about the impact of concussions and to search for a solution.
She is encouraged by the work of Dr. Kevin Fleming, a former neuropsychologist and founder of Grey Matters International Inc., a neuroscience-based behavior change consulting firm. He says his work leads to some improvement in roughly 60 to 75 percent of patients.
Among the many issues making treatment difficult is the fact that a concussion is not like a broken leg, where the specific problem can be seen and addressed. It's more like the leg is broken, but it's not clear where and it still works normally a lot of the time anyway.
"What you have now is a mish-mash of many people who have many different varying types of impacts," Fleming says. "It's a crapshoot here. I'd love to be one of these great sources where you go, 'The clear answer is this. Here's a set of tools.' But it's very grey."
Gena Pitts is a doer, a fixer. She wants to find a "recipe" to help players who are struggling, to fix them. For the foreseeable future, that'll be a fruitless search, as there are far too many unknowns about head injuries. Still, for her husband, for Koch and Kennard and Hill and hundreds of other former players, Gena Pitts looks for hope.


text:
TurnStyleBrands necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 236 diseños de 77 diseñadores freelance.
TurnStyle Brands
TurnStyle Brands is a US distribution company that will supply cool, hip and fun products to US retail stores. Our portfolio of brands will expand over time but currently includes Children's balance bikes (http://tykerider.com/bikes/early-rider-bikes/) and helmets (http://tykerider.com/helmets/nutcase-helmets/).
The goal of our distribution company is to only distribute the coolest products in the US. This can expand outside of children's products, bikes and accessories. Our logo has to be flexible in reflecting a distributor with an eye for cool products and design, without being too specific as to the types of products we sell. It has to represent style, both our own and our products!
Examples of some sites for inspiration:
Our target audience is retail stores that would like to carry our products. This includes physical and online retailers that sell fun, hip products. These stores will cater to a young, hip urban consumer with an eye for style. The consumers are technology savvy and follow trends through blogs, etc. Below are some sites that target a similar audience across a spectrum of topics:
Our audience likes to express themselves through the products they use. We want to bring the best to them and the stores they shop at.
At this stage we do not have any requirements. We are open to any and all good ideas. Our company name is TurnStyle Brands and can be used separated (Turn Style Brands) or together (TurnStyleBrands) or any combination of the two. We want stylish, eye catching, professional.
Please provide .AI file (CMYK and RGB).
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
EDITOR'S NOTE: Boris Epshteyn formerly served as a Senior Advisor to the Trump Campaign and served in the White House as Special Assistant to The President and Assistant Communications Director for Surrogate Operations.
WASHINGTON (Sinclair Broadcast Group) - Looks like the big meeting at the White House will happen after all. Last week, the Democrat minority leaders of the House and the Senate attempted a public relations gambit when they turned down the president's invitation to discuss pressing year-end items. The biggest key, funding the government beyond the deadline of December 8th.
The reason given for the Democrats not heading down to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. was the president's tweet expressing skepticism that a deal is possible which includes both government funding and a resolution on DACA. Now, they are willing to talk it out.
Why would making sure that the federal government has money to operate and pay millions of employees be connected with figuring out what to do about 800,000 illegal immigrants? It shouldn't be. Democrats, however, have decided to hold government funding hostage in order to try and force a solution they want on DACA.
The last time there was a government shutdown, that was in 2013, it cost our country $24 billion dollars over just a 16-day period, according to Standard & Poor's ratings agency. That should not be allowed to happen this time.
Here is the bottom line: we all know the federal government will be funded sooner or later. When Chuck and Nancy meet with the president they should bypass grandstanding, and go right to making a deal as they did in early September. Putting a federal budget in place should not be held up by a policy disagreement over illegal immigration.


text: Seller: shopeddies_ca (1,560) 98.8%, Location: Ontario, Ships to: CA, Item: 183226524189 Our eBay Store Steering Idler Arm Right Moog K6366T Fits 1990 - 1995 GM vans Easy to install Improves chassis performance and durability Designed as stock replacement Product Details Brand Moog MPN K6366T UPC 080066271774 Shop Eddies, created in memory of Ed (Eddie) is a one stop online store where anyone across the globe can purchase affordable and quality parts for cars, trucks, RVs, power sports and so forth. Ed (Eddie) led a team of seasoned professional mechanics, apprentices, tech advisors and auto sales representatives within his local community for over 40 Years. He understood the value of 5 star customer service. He educated his three sons by teaching them the importance of fast delivery, exceptional customer service and superior quality work/products. He did all this while also keeping his customers and team smiling. Upon his passing his Son William (Bill), decided to expand the already successful dealership business in his memory and Shop Eddies was born. Shop Eddies mission is to continue the legacy that Eddie left behind - always ensure you receive the best service, products, and fastest delivery to keep you smiling. After all, it is your hard-earned money and we greatly appreciate you choosing Shop Eddies. We carry 1000s of parts and accessories. We align ourselves with top performers & brands and spend hours repricing to ensure you get the most competitive price on the market without comprising service or quality. We have invested thousands of dollars on back-end systems to keep inventory levels accurate, order information assessable, refund processing simplified and security of data & personal information secure. Our back end logistics team works night and day finding you the items you need at the lowest possible price. Our team and company may be small town but our desire to succeed and become one of the largest well-known trusted online shops is huge. It is what keeps us all motivated and dedicated to what we do every day. Thank you for your business and we look forward to growing with your needs. If you are ever in town, please drop in and say hello! For full warranty details, please contact our Customer Service Department Condition: New, ItemTypeCASuggestion: automotive-suspension-sway-bar-link-kits, Brand: Moog, Manufacturer Part Number: K6366T, MPN: K6366T


text:
Attorney General Lockyer Announces 40-State Agreement with ConocoPhillips to Reduce Sale of Tobacco Products to Minors
Provisions Cover 10,463 Company-Owned and Franchise Outlets Nationwide
(SACRAMENTO) – Attorney General Bill Lockyer today announced an agreement with ConocoPhillips under which the oil firm will adopt new procedures and contractual requirements to reduce sales of tobacco products to minors at 10,463 company-owned and franchise retail outlets across the country, including 1,211 in California.
"Our children are our future, but what kind of future will they have if they start a habit that kills?" asked Lockyer. "We, as a society, have a shared duty to protect our kids from cigarettes and other tobacco products. To its credit, ConocoPhillips has recognized its responsibility and taken an important step to become part of the solution."
The agreement was signed by Lockyer, and the Attorneys General of 39 other states. It applies to outlets that operate under the Conoco, Phillips 66 and 76 brand names in 31 of the signing states, including California. The Attorneys General of nine states that currently do not have ConocoPhillips outlets signed the agreement. If the company opens stores in those jurisdictions, the outlets will be covered by the agreement.
The ConocoPhillips "Assurance of Voluntary Compliance" (AVC) is the eighth such agreement produced by an ongoing, multi-state enforcement effort which Lockyer has helped lead. Previous agreements cover, in the signing states, all Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Rite Aid and 7-Eleven stores, and all gas stations and convenience stores operating under the Exxon, Mobil, BP, ARCO and Amoco brand names.
In addition to the multi-state AVCs, Lockyer and Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo in December 2004 reached a similar, court-approved settlement with Safeway, Inc. That agreement covers 538 Safeway, Vons, Pavilions and Pak N' Save stores in California. The settlement resolved a lawsuit brought by Lockyer and Delgadillo that alleged Safeway violated state laws designed to prevent tobacco sales to minors.
Combined, the AVCs and Safeway settlement cover roughly 55,000 retail outlets across the nation. The AVCs provide measures to reduce sales of tobacco products to minors by the nation's top retail chain (Wal-Mart), number one drug store chain (Walgreens), largest oil company (ExxonMobil) and biggest retailer of tobacco products (7-Eleven).
Launched in 2000, the multi-state enforcement effort by a group of 32 Attorneys General focuses on retailers with poor records of selling tobacco products to minors. State laws prohibit such sales. The enforcement program's goal is to secure the companies' agreement to take specific corrective actions. The agreements incorporate "best practices" to reduce sales to minors, developed by the Attorneys General in consultation with researchers, and state and federal tobacco control officials.
The retailing reforms of the ConocoPhillips AVC explicitly apply to company-owned stores. The agreement, however, also calls for ConocoPhillips to take steps to ensure its franchisees comply with state laws governing the sale of tobacco products. For example, ConocoPhillips will revise its franchise contracts to specify that tobacco-product sales to minors can result in loss of the franchise.
The AVC limits in-store advertising of tobacco products to brand names, logos, other trademarks and pricing. Additionally, the agreement bans self-service displays of cigarettes and all other tobacco products. Aside from the advertising and self-service restrictions, the AVC also requires ConocoPhillips to:
● Check the ID of any person purchasing tobacco products when the person appears to be under the age of 35, and accept as proof of age only valid government-issued photo ID.
● Prohibit the following: use of vending machines to sell tobacco products, distribution of free samples, sale of cigarette look-alike products and the sale of smoking paraphernalia to minors.
● Hire an independent entity to conduct random compliance checks twice each year at all company-owned stores in the signing states.
● Train employees on state and local laws and company policies regarding tobacco sales to minors, including explaining the health-related reasons for laws that restrict youth access to tobacco.
The Attorneys General have long recognized that youth access to tobacco products ranks among the most serious public health problems. Studies show more than 80 percent of adult smokers begin smoking before the age of 18. Research indicates that every day in the United States, more than 2,000 people under the age of 18 start smoking and that one-third of those persons ultimately will die from a tobacco-related disease. Young people are particularly susceptible to the hazards of tobacco, often showing signs of addiction after smoking only a few cigarettes.
In 1999, Lockyer established a full-time Tobacco Litigation and Enforcement Section to enforce California laws regarding the sale and marketing of tobacco products. The section also enforces the national Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) reached with tobacco companies in November 1998.
Californians who suspect violations of state tobacco laws or the MSA can file complaints by calling 916-565-6486 at any time, or by writing to the Tobacco Litigation and Enforcement Section at P.O. Box 944255, Sacramento, CA 94244-2550. Additional information is available on the Attorney General's web site at http://www.ag.ca.gov/tobacco/ .


text:
Legend Of Johnny Cash
Detailshttps://www.fye.com/legend-of-johnny-cash-aec.hippb000528802.2.html aec.hippb000528802.2 10/25/05 New
$11.99 $13.95
Shipping Promotions
ID: aec.hippb000528802.2
Review Text The Legend of Johnny Cash is billed as the "first ever complete career spanning collection," which is true to a certain extent -- other collections cover territory from 1955 to 2003, but this is the first to contain everything from Sun to Cash's Rick Rubin-produced comeback recordings for American in the '90s and 2000s. Since the biggest complaint that could be lodged against the otherwise excellent 2005 box The Legend -- which, despite appearances to the contrary, is an entirely different compilation -- was that it contained none of these Rubin-produced records, it would seem like The Legend Of would be a bit of a godsend, but that's not necessarily true. If The Legend contained too little of Cash's American recordings, The Legend Of contains too many. At 21 tracks it would seem like this would contain most of Cash's signature songs, and while it does contain a great many of them, it's hampered by the whopping six songs devoted to his American recordings -- add to the mix the 1993 Cash-sung U2 cut "The Wanderer" and "Highwayman" by Cash's outlaw supergroup with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson, and that's just a little under half of the disc devoted to music made after his prime. Not just that, but the music he made after he left Columbia partway through the '80s often does not sit well with his classic Sun and Columbia records -- as soon as the synths and big drums of "Highwayman" kick in, the feel of the music changes. While Rubin's work doesn't sound as completely foreign as the icy Euro-rock textures of "The Wanderer" -- as "Rusty Cage" and "I've Been Everywhere," the two selections from 1996's excellent Unchained prove, Rubin knew how to revitalize Cash's signature sound (tellingly, those are the only Rubin-helmed sessions where Cash was supported by a full band) -- there is simply too much of it here, particularly because the stark, monochromatic acoustic readings of "Delia's Gone" and "Give My Love to Rose" sound neutered compared to the versions Cash cut with the Tennessee Two. Also, such a heavy representation of these American recordings makes the collection lopsided, suggesting that these later works were as good, if not better, than the music that made his fame, fortune, and legend (a suggestion strengthened by the fact that Rubin is the only producer who gets a back-cover billing), which is not the case -- Cash's liveliest, deepest, and best music remains what he cut in the '50s and '60s. And while just over half of this compilation is devoted to that music -- all the big hits are hauled out once again -- there still is too much latter-day material for this to be an entirely accurate, satisfying collection (particularly with such big hits as "Don't Take Your Guns to Town," "Five Feet High and Rising," "Daddy Sang Bass," and "The Ballad of Ira Hayes," among other signature tunes, missing). That said, for a brief one-stop overview of Cash's career, this is pretty good -- comps that concentrate solely on the Sun and Columbia eras are more consistent, but this has most of the big singles, which will certainly fill the needs of those who want a compilation that covers a lot of ground. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Track Listing
- 1. Cry! Cry! Cry! - 2:24
- 2. Hey Porter - 2:13
- 3. Folsom Prison Blues - 3:49
- 4. I Walk the Line - 3:45
- 5. Get Rhythm - 2:14
- 6. Big River - 3:32
- 7. Guess Things Happen That Way - 2:51
- 8. Ring of Fire - 3:37
- 9. Jackson - 3:46
- 10. Boy Named Sue - 4:46
- 11. Sunday Morning Coming Down - 4:07
- 12. Man in Black - 3:52
- 13. One Piece at a Time - 4:02
- 14. Highwayman - 3:03
- 15. Wanderer - 5:45
- 16. Delia's Gone - 2:19
- 17. Rusty Cage - 3:49
- 18. I've Been Everywhere - 3:16
- 19. Give My Love to Rose - 3:27
- 20. Man Comes Around - 4:50
- 21. Hurt - 4:38
Product Details
Release Date


text:
Diseases of the internal organs, such as kidney disease, Chlamydiosis, and fatty liver disease, can also contribute to feather picking. So can intestinal parasites, such as roundworms. Skin parasites or bacterial or fungal infections of the skin may result in picking. Thyroid disorders may play a role. Some birds pick as part of reproductive behavior or if they have pain. If your bird is a serious feather picker, it may not be easy to put a finger on the cause. You will need your avian veterinarian to perform a thorough exam and testing, which may include blood count, thyroid screening, fecal exam, cytology, and more.
behavioral concerns
When medical conditions are ruled out, we next look to psychological or environmental causes of feather picking. Birds, like many other pets, can experience separation anxiety. When this is the case, a bird will often pick only when the owner is not present, and it may take the owner a while to figure out his bird has a problem.
Birds also can resort to feather picking when they experience fear or major household changes. Examples are introduction of a new bird, owners' divorce, a new home, teasing, or a hostile family member. When picking is witnessed at an early age, poor early socialization may be the cause. Even low humidity in the home can contribute.
Remove feared objects from your bird's environment
Feed a high-quality, nutritionally complete pelleted diet suppplemented with fresh vegetables and a few fruits to prevent malnutrition; if your bird is on a seed-only diet, begin dietary changes to include less seed
Ban cigarette smoke from your home and make your bird's environment safe from other toxins
Keep your bird's environment clean; get in the practice of frequently cleaning his cage and accessories to minimize allergens
Keep your bird's skin hydrated with proper indoor humidity or frequent bathing or misting
Spend time with your bird each day, so he will not have to resort to attention-seeking behaviors; if he plucks for attention – leave the room during the behavior, then come back to your bird and offer a reward when the behavior stops
If your bird suffers separation anxiety, give your bird some playtime, exercise or a bath just before you leave, and place in his cage a special toy he normally does not have access to
Improve your bird's surroundings: increase his cage size, swap out his toys frequently, give him plenty of foraging opportunities, let him play on a playstand in different rooms of your home, decorate his cage, introduce him to various people, and train each family member to handle him


text:
CollecemallPosts: 399Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2014 1:53 am
Dagger and Coin series ending.
Sorry for spamming so much in this thread. I read more than average and like hearing of what others think. I finished the Dragon and Coin series by Daniel Abraham. Among my favorites.
Does anyone else finish a book per week or more?
"Every man is a creature of the age in which he lives, and few are able to raise themselves above the ideas of their time."
"Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities." ~~Voltaire
|Thu Mar 31, 2016 5:23 am


text:
Stacie Bosley
Class of 2014
Major/Minor: Human Development, French
Stacie is a classroom assistant in Garnett Elementary School.
Favorite Class, Professor, Or Experience At Washington College
My favorite WAC experience is the people. Everyone, from students to professors, has so much enthusiasm for what they do, and they can't wait to share that with you.
What Inspired you to be a teacher?
As a kid, I loved school, and my teachers always inspired me to learn more. I hope to cultivate the same passion for learning in my students.
Campus Involvement
- Cater Society of Junior Fellows
- Service Council
- French Club


text:
Top iGaming Affiliate Sites: Before & After
Top sites change their designs and layouts quite often, and we don't only mean major overhauls, but also small tweaks designed to improve some individual elements. With new laws being introduced every year, new affiliate programs, and new online gaming rules and environments, it's understandable that top affiliates always try to adapt to the current situation and provide the best service possible.
Today we're taking a look at some of the most popular and top rated online gaming affiliate sites and their latest website design and layout changes:
Then (Jan 2007):
Back then, the site was more about providing an online gambling directory, which users could search to find online casinos. The search engine was in the center of the design. There was only a small block in the sidebar presenting top 10 gambling sites. What's also noticeable is a big number of banner ads all over the website.
Right now, the design is much cleaner and provides a more understandable experience. These days AskGamblers focuses on presenting a number of bonus codes that are clearly visible in the center of the page rather than forcing users to search for them through a search engine.
Lower down the page there's a set of direct links to specific casino games, which only speeds up the overall user experience.
The changes at AskGamblers indicate that the site tries to reduce the number of steps a visitor needs to take to participate in various casino games, the offers are more visible, and the presentation is a lot more attractive.


text:
The Mayo Clinic, praised by President Barack Obama as a national model for efficient health care, will stop accepting Medicare patients as of tomorrow at one of its primary-care clinics in Arizona, saying the U.S. government pays too little.
More than 3,000 patients eligible for Medicare, the government's largest health-insurance program, will be forced to pay cash if they want to continue seeing their doctors at a Mayo family clinic in Glendale, northwest of Phoenix, said Michael Yardley, a Mayo spokesman. The decision, which Yardley called a two-year pilot project, won't affect other Mayo facilities in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota.


text:
|A vintage print ad.
So, what next? How about a place to dine?
The company, established in 1878, has decided to convert one unused building on its manufacturing to a two-story bar/restaurant and visitors center to be called the Genesee Brew House.
The $2.6 million project would also see demolition of a cluster of two other unused buildings at the St. Paul Street site, according to a report from WHEC-TV.
Rich Lozyniak, CEO of North American Breweries, said that while North American has invested heavily in the once-struggling brewery, that spending has largely been on efficiency and product quality upgrades and the Genesee Brew House project would be the first "serious investment in connection with our consumers."
Under North American, Genesee has returned to its roots with its iconic "glass can," the stubby bottle it made famous decades ago.
It recently released the Genesee Heritage Collection, a limited-edition pack featuring Genesee Beer, Genesee Cream Ale and 12 Horse Ale. The latter is the brewery's most requested legacy beer. It was first brewed in 1933 after the repeal of Prohibition. It has not been brewed for years.
"We're seeing all generations responding to the nostalgia and tradition," said Janine Schoos, brand manager. "Genesee is taking off all over the country. We hope to be where we were back in the '80s when we were synonymous with good times and great American traditions."
Genesee Cream Ale, also in the Heritage Collection, was first brewed in 1960 and has won numerous awards, including two gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival. All three beers in the Heritage Collection are embossed with a signature letter "G" for Genesee, and adorned with classic labels reminiscent of the packaging used at the height of the beers' popularity.
The Genesee family of beers has the highest growth rate among the Top 10 selling brand families in its category between 2010 and 2011.
To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Spirits Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd's Guides home page.


text:
I have been able to see and communicate with ghosts for as long as I can remember. I've been learning about the paranormal for years so I have a very vast knowledge on the subject and have heard thousands of stories of hauntings; However, I have one thing that happened to me (on several occasions) that I've never heard happening to anyone else, or can find a reasoning behind. I have heard plenty of stories about large objects moving on their own, people being lifted, etc. but I can not figure out how it happened:
I have seen spirits since I was born, or at least under a year old as that is my first memory of seeing something. I always knew they were different than other people, but I didn't know they were 'ghosts', nor did I know what a ghost was. I knew they were dead, but didn't fully understand because when my mom gave me 'the death talk' after my great-grandmother died, Granny was sitting behind me in the car. Later, when my grandfather died and I stayed home from the funeral with the other young kids, I was having a conversation with him while my parents attended the funeral. So I had a different view on what death was. Before going into Kindergarden, my parents let me watch 'Ghostbusters', which scared the BAD_WORD out of me... I was terrified of going to the library for years. It made me finally realize that what I was seeing were ghosts. I never remember really being afraid of them before, but after that, I was for the next several years. It led to me sleeping in a tent in the living room, right outside my parent's room almost every night for about a year and a half. It was just a normal, cheap kid's tent with a bottom on it and only one, zip-up door. Every night I went to bed in that tent, I would drag all my stuffed animals, and pillows, and blankets inside and make a bed. The tent did have a bottom on it, do I was actually sleeping on the tent, with me & everything else on top-holding it down. Every time I went to sleep, I'd have the door at my feet (obviously, I needed to get out somehow in the morning) and every morning, the door was at my head. I was a very logical child, so for a while I just thought it was me, or my parents. My parents swore it wasn't them and gave me weird looks when I talked about it. I decided to pay closer attention- set up little traps even to figure out what was moving it. It was nothing I was doing. I would even lean my pillows against the back of the tent at night (there was a chair right behind to support the weight) with the door at my feet. In the morning, my pillows would still be leaned against the tent in the same spot, I was in the same spot- but now my head and pillows were leaning against the door!!! NO door at my feet- only one door on the whole thing... In my most ambitious experiment, I leaned pillows and blankets against all walls of the tent in an arrangement which I memorized (I was an only child, I had lots of time on my hands lol) I checked and double checked and triple checked and checked again that the ONLY door was at my feet. I attempted to stay up but I eventually made sure I was flat on my back, perfectly straight and fell asleep, I set my alarm early so I only slept a few hours that night. In the morning I was in the same place, so were all the pillows and blankets- I hadn't even moved an arm, but the door was behind my head again. I recently questioned my parents and they swear they didn't do it and are as stumped as I am. Frankly, it happened too frequently for it to have been them. I have NO idea how it happened... It was like the tent moved on its own- independently of me, blankets, pillows, stuffed animals and all... It had a bottom on it... I was LAYING on the tent, it COULDNT have moved... As a kid I thought it was magic, so it didn't scare me. In hindsight, I know it had to have been paranormal and it really scares me to know something that was obviously that close to me at that age could do something like that. Especially since now I believe I may have had an evil spirit attatched to me my whole life that's taken the form of different spirits to scare me thought my life... I don't get that either, but that's a different story... If anyone has had any similar experiences, or think they might be able to pinpoint exactally what did it- please let me know
I have considered the fact also, that that house was build on Indian land and I used to see their spirits in the house. Also once had a coin fall from the ceiling out of nowhere in the bathroom of that house... I don't know if that's what did it though. I think it might have been a more intense spirit.
Tent rotates 180 degrees in the night
Started by QueenRaquela , Aug 08 2012 03:59 PM
1 reply to this topic
Posted 08 August 2012 - 03:59 PM
Posted 08 August 2012 - 07:05 PM
cool story i dont know how the tent could have moved tho, maybe you should have set up a video camera on the tent, that should explain everything
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users


text:
Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
The Obama Administration and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan have both reportedly sided with Israel in its demand to retain control over the Jordan Valley in any future peace agreement with the Palestinians.
In a new proposal to both Israel and the Palestinian Authority last week, US Secretary of State John Kerry is said to have suggested that the Jewish state be permitted to maintain a military presence in the strategic Jordan Valley.
The new American position on that matter could be the result of reported Jordanian pressure. According to Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv, Jordan coordinated with Jerusalem to convince Kerry of the crucial importance of continued Israeli army control of the border region.
Israel has long insisted that, even if it surrenders the bulk of Judea and Samaria (the so-called "West Bank"), it must retain control of the Jordan Valley as a buffer against future external threats, and as a deterrent and protection against Palestinian aggression.
Jordan wants Israel in the Jordan Valley to prevent further influx of Palestinian Arabs into the Hashemite Kingdom. Jordan's Palestinian majority has threatened the Bedouin-backed Hashemite monarchy in the past, including in the 1970-1971 Jordanian Civil War.
As expected, the Palestinian Authority responded to the news with outrage.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Yasser Abed Rabbo told France's AFP that Kerry had put the entire peace process on the verge of "total failure" by backing the Israeli demand. Rabbo later told Palestinian media that the Obama Administration was aiding Israel's "expansionist agenda" on the pretext of "security" as a means of appeasing the Jewish state following the West's nuclear deal with Iran.
US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro told Israel Radio that Rabbo's assertions were incorrect, and that Washington had made no linkage between the Iran deal and the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
PHOTO: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Gen. Benny Gantz look out over the strategic Jordan Valley.
Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates
For Information & Reservations:
E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Israel Today
Free to Your Inbox


text:
- Meatballs
- 1 lb. ground beef or ½ beef and ½ ground pork
- 1/2 cup cracker crumbs dry bread crumbs or oatmeal
- 1/3 cup finely chopped onion
- 1 beaten egg
- 1 tsp. salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup milk
- Sauce
- 1 Tblsp. cornstarch or 2 Tblsp. flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 20 oz. can pineapple tidbits drained, reserve juice
- 1/3 cup vinegar
- 1 Tblsp. soy sauce
- 1/4 tsp. ground ginger 1 tsp. grated fresh
- 1/2 chopped green pepper
- 1/2 chopped red pepper
- Combine meat, crumbs, onion, egg, salt, pepper and milk. Make into 1½ balls. Brown meatballs in a skillet - or bake, a single layer, in a 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes or until meatballs are done. Drain off fat.
- For sauce: Mix cornstarch or flour with sugar, stir in pineapple juice, vinegar, soy sauce and ginger until smooth. Cook, stirring constantly until bubbly and thick. Pour sauce over meatballs, pineapple and peppers, gently stir together and simmer for about 5 minutes or put back in the oven to heat through, about 10 minutes.
- Serve over rice or noodles. Makes 4 servings.
- OR this makes a great party appetizer! Pour prepared sauce, meatballs, pineapple, and peppers into a crockpot, heat through on high. Turn to low to keep warm, and serve with toothpicks.
Terri's Notes
Make your own meatballs with this recipe or use a bag of pre-cooked, frozen meatballs prepared according to package directions.
Share this Recipe


text: Place Your Order Now Or d e r F o r m MAIL U 10 Yorkton Court • St. Paul, MN • 55117-1065FAXT TOLL-FREE: 800-641-0115 OUTSIDE THE U.S.: 651-641-0115 25 Quantity Item # Title Price Total PAYMENT (U.S. funds only. Sorry, we cannot accept COD orders.) Check or money order enclosed (Do NOT send cash) Charge to my credit card ($15.00 minimum) Visa Mastercard American Express Discover CArD NuMbEr ExpirAtioN DAtE Name _____________________________________________________ org. ______________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________ City _______________________ State _____________ Zip _________ phone _____________________ Email __________________________ Ordered By: Name _____________________________________________________ org. ______________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________ City _______________________ State _____________ Zip _________ phone _____________________ Email* __________________________ Shipping Address: Please Indicate Your Primary Involvement Family Child Care Association Center Director/Staff Head Start Family Child Care provider public School/preK trainer/Consultant College, Vo-tech other Desk Copies Call toll-free 800-423-8309 or email email@example.com RetuRns Return within 30 days in original condition with a copy of your invoice. Software, Web-based products, and date- sensitive materials can be returned only if defective and will be replaced with a new copy. Due to the nature of the product, there are no refunds or returns on e-books. ReDleaf pRess is GoinG GReen! Redleaf Press is a member of the Green Press Initiative, a nonprofit program working to make a positive transformation within the publishing industry. Whenever possible, Redleaf Press prints books on paper made from at least 30% post-consumer waste- recycled, acid-free paper. When you see the Green Press Initiative symbol in Redleaf Press books, you'll know they were published following green standards. Learn more about the Green Press Initiative at www.greenpressinitiative.org. Prices and discounts subject to change without notice. FCC.F11 *E-books are sent by email at no additional charge. Please provide your email to expedite the delivery. CVN (3-DiGit CoDE oN bACK oF CArD) SHIPPINg & HANDLINg CHARgES order Size Add $0.01 to $49.99.................................$7.95 $50.00 to $99.99.............................$10.95 $100.00 to $149.99.........................$13.95 $150 or more...................10% of net order Rush Delivery (overnight, 2nd day) let us help. Call 800-423-8309 for details. Alaska, Hawaii, and Apo orders are shipped by priority mail; stan- dard rates apply. Foreign orders are shipped by u.S. postal service. Call for pricing. grand Total S&H and Product Subtotal Product Subtotal Shipping and Handling Charge exclude the cost of e-books when calculating S&H (Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington Counties in MN add 7.125 sales tax) Sales Tax - MN Resident add 6.875% tax Redleaf Press has two catalogs—this catalog for family child care professionals and a general catalog. If you do not see the book you are looking for in this catalog, visit www.redleafpress.org for a complete listing of products. oor, P.24&P.25.FCC.indd 2 7/8/11 5:48 PM


text:
Kemet Corp. (KEM) Drops 5.71% on January 15Equities Staff Follow |
Kemet Corp. (KEM) was one of the Russell 2000's biggest losers for Friday January 15 as the stock slid 5.71% to $1.65, a loss of $-0.1 per share. Starting at an opening price of $1.70 a share, the stock traded between $1.61 and $1.72 over the course of the trading day. Volume was 177,796 shares over 431 trades, against an average daily volume of 186,283 shares and a total float of 45.78 million.
The losses send Kemet Corp. down to a market cap of $75.53 million. In the last year, Kemet Corp. has traded between $4.62 and $1.48, and its 50-day SMA is currently $2.63 and 200-day SMA is $2.75.
Kemet Corp is a manufacturer of capacitors. Its product offerings include tantalum, multilayer ceramic, solid & electrolytic aluminum and film & paper capacitors.
Kemet Corp. is based out of Simpsonville, SC and has some 9,300 employees. Its CEO is Per-Olof Loof.
For a complete fundamental analysis analysis of Kemet Corp., check out Equities.com's Stock Valuation Analysis report for KEM. To see the latest independent stock recommendations from Equities.com's analysts, visit our Research section.
The Russell 2000 is one of the leading indices tracking small-cap companies in the United States. It's maintained by Russell Investments, an industry leader in creating and maintaining indices, and consists of the smallest 2000 stocks from the broader Russell 3000 index.
Russell's indices differ from traditional indices like the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) or S&P 500, whose members are selected by committee, because they base membership entirely on an objective, rules based methodology. The 3,000 largest companies by market cap make up the Russell 3000, with the 2,000 smaller companies making up the Russell 2000. It's a simple approach that gives a broad, unbiased look at the small-cap market as a whole.
For more news on the financial markets, go to Equities.com. Also, learn more about our independent proprietary equity research reports and our robust do-it-yourself Stock Valuation Analysis reports in our Research section.
All data provided by QuoteMedia and was accurate as of 4:30PM ET.
DISCLOSURE: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors, and do not represent the views of equities.com. Readers should not consider statements made by the author as formal recommendations and should consult their financial advisor before making any investment decisions. To read our full disclosure, please go to: http://www.equities.com/disclaimer


text: On July 27, 1919, an African-American teenager drowned in Lake Michigan after violating the unofficial segregation of Chicago's beaches and being stoned by a group of white youths. His death, and the police's refusal to arrest the white man whom eyewitnesses identified as causing it, sparked a week of rioting between gangs of black and white Chicagoans, concentrated on the South Side neighborhood surrounding the stockyards. When the riots ended on August 3, 15 whites and 23 blacks had been killed and more than 500 people injured; an additional 1,000 black families had lost their homes when they were torched by rioters.


text:
Tag Archives: Chris Barclay
Artist Showcase Winner: Chris Barclay
Charismatic kiwi guitar virtuoso is our June Artist Showcase winner
Chris Barclay is a versatile rock lead and instrumental guitarist with a musical style that crosses from rock to blues, metal, country and pop. Chris is heavily influenced by Eighties guitar heroes like Joe Satriani. With a good following in his native Auckland, New Zealand, Chris has recently released a single on iTunes. Is he headed for bigger and better things? You be the judge and check out Chris Barclay's video for "I Won't Fade."
Posted in Artist Showcase Winner, Artists, Home Slider Tagged Auckland, Chris Barclay, JoeSatriani, New Zealand
Acoustic Guitar Guide
Subscribe Now and get a special bonus gift "The Ultimate Guide to Acoustic Guitars"


text:
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - A compromise deal to raise the state minimum wage to $9.20 an hour from $7.40 passed the Michigan Senate on Thursday, a move supporters hope will pre-empt a ballot measure to raise it to $10.10.
The bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, passed 24-14 with bipartisan support and now goes to the House. It would also allow the minimum wage to rise up to 4 percent annually to adjust for inflation.
Richardville initially proposed a target wage of $8.15 but changed it to $9.20 by 2017 on Thursday after negotiations with Republican and Democratic lawmakers. His original bill also did not include tying the wage to inflation.
"Everybody gained a little bit here and everybody lost a little bit here," Richardville said. "But I think it was good legislation. I think that businesses can plan now for the future."
The bill would repeal the existing wage law and enact a new one, which is designed to pre-empt a campaign to put a measure on the November election ballot drive to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour by 2017. President Barack Obama has called for a rise in the national minimum wage to $10.10 per hour but Congress has not acted so far.
The campaign in Michigan to raise the wage to $10.10 an hour has collected more than the 258,000 signatures needed for a measure to appear on the November ballot to amend current law, its supporters say.
"The people that started this ballot proposal got the attention of the Legislature and a lot of people out there," Richardville said. "While they might have been well intentioned, I think they went way too far."
His compromise would raise Michigan's minimum wage in 35-cent increments to $8.15 an hour in September, $8.50 on Jan. 1 2015, $8.85 a year later and $9.20 on Jan. 1, 2017. Workers who receive tips such as restaurant waiters would see their minimum wage rise to $3.50 an hour from $2.65 an hour by 2017.
Democratic candidate for governor Mark Schauer visited the Senate after the vote and congratulated Richardville on the measure, which Schauer said was "almost identical" to a raise he proposed in November.
"I'm thrilled," Schauer said. "This is the kind of bipartisanship we need at the state capital. This will give a million low-wage earners a raise in Michigan."


text:
>> Back to Chocolate & Zucchini <<
Log in to check your private messages
Last posts feed
Log in
Pumpkin Bundt Cake and Pumpkin Cookies with Lemon Icing
Chocolate & Zucchini Forum Index
Recipe Box
View previous topic
View next topic
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Posts: 2498
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:19 pm
Post subject: Pumpkin Bundt Cake and Pumpkin Cookies with Lemon Icing
I made pumpkin cookies for my daughter last night because it's something she remembers fondly from her childhood Halloweens. Then I went looking for something else to use up the pumpkin that was left over. This is what I found and I have to say I really enjoyed it and look forward to experimenting more with it.
Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake with Buttermilk Icing
Recipe By: Gourmet, November 2005
3/4 cup butter, softened
2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cup pumpkin puree, NOT pie filling
3/4 cup buttermilk, shake well
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cup sugar
3 large egg
for icing
2 tablespoon buttermilk, plus 2 teaspoons, well shaken
1 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
Make cake:
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter bundt pan generously, then dust with flour, knocking out excess.
Whisk together flour (2 1/4 cups), baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, and salt in a bowl. Whisk together pumpkin, 3/4 cup buttermilk, and vanilla in another bowl.
Beat butter (1 1/2 sticks) and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes, then add eggs and beat 1 minute. Reduce speed to low and add flour and pumpkin mixtures alternately in batches, beginning and ending with flour mixture and mixing until batter is just smooth.
Spoon batter into pan, smoothing top, then bake until a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool cake in pan on a rack 15 minutes, then invert rack over cake and reinvert cake onto rack. Cool 10 minutes more.
Make icing:
While cake is cooling, whisk together buttermilk and confectioners sugar until smooth. Drizzle icing over warm cake, then cool cake completely. Icing will harden slightly. Cooks' note:
Published note:
Cake can be made 3 days ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.
Rainey's notes:
The reviewers' notes at epicurious.com were full of "needed more spice" so I added:
1/2 teaspoon each of pumpkin pie spice and nutmeg and a healthy pinch of ginger and I'd make them part of the recipe
1 cup Splenda blend + 1/4 cup of brown sugar Splenda blend instead of granulated sugar; I never missed the sugar
about 1/2 cup fine cubes of firm, barely ripe red Bartlett pear + 1/2 cup of pecan pieces; another time I might try small dice of candied ginger instead of pears or ginger
pears and leave out the ground ginger
I forgot the vanilla but I'd substitute 1 tablespoon of Grand Marnier or apple juice concentrate but, in truth, the cake was flavorful enough without
I found the icing bland so another time I'd try using a scant tablespoon of apple juice concentrate instead. But, since it's an accent and not a primary flavor, it worked as a glaze on the cake.
And if you have pumpkin left over from this cake and want to do something with it, you might want to give these cookies a try. They're very different spicey and cakey with a real jolt from the lemon icing.
Pumpkin Spice Cookies with Lemon Icing
Recipe By: Libby Foods
Makes about 4 dozen
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 egg
1 cup pumpkin puree
2 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup nuts, chopped
for icing
2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest, firmly packed
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
For Cookies, cream shortening. Gradually beat in sugar. Add eggs and pumpkin. Mix well. Set aside.
Sift dry ingredients together. Add to pumpkin mixture. Add raisins and nuts.
Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Flatten slightly with a flat-bottomed glass dipped in water every 2 or 3 cookies as needed. Bake about 15 minutes or until firm to touch. Remove cookies to cool on rack. Ice with Lemon Frosting when cool.
For Lemon Frosting, combine the ingredients adding just enough milk for a spreading consistency.
Pumpkin in a cookie! Why not? These are soft and cakey. They have an interesting combination of rich, spicy, not too sweet flavor that is accented by the sweet-tart lemon glaze for complexity.
God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny. -- Garrison Keillor
Back to top
Joined: 23 Jan 2006
Posts: 1324
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:14 pm
Post subject:
Rainey, I notice you have a"groovy" cake pan--how do you prepare it so the cake releases easily?
I love that soft sort of pumpkin cookie, my recipe is almost identical to yours, but switches cloves for ginger.
Back to top
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Posts: 2498
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:07 pm
Post subject:
I tossed my 20 or 25 year old bundt pan when I got tired of it never releasing cakes properly. Turns out I had used aerosols like Pam on it and they have an agent that binds with the non-stick layer and actually binds
effectively. Lost some good omlette pans the same way.
So this time when I replaced it I followed the manufacterer's suggestion to use Bakers' Joy which lacks the offending ingredient and includes flour. Even so I gave the pan a dusting with additional flour.
It released very well. A fact that, I'm sure, impressed Odie when he pulled the cake off the counter and ate it all breaking the cake plate and the glass cloche.
God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny. -- Garrison Keillor
Back to top
Joined: 23 Jan 2006
Posts: 1324
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:00 pm
Post subject:
Dogs can do no wrong, I have nothing but admiration for Odie's accomplishment! (My dog just STARES at me until I hand him the food..)
I had NO idea that cooking sprays like Pam contain an ingredient that
sticks to the non-stick pans!!!
Who the @#$% thought THAT up??
When I use my fancy-shape bundt pan it's with lots of butter, but would rather have a spray, I'm assuming that Baker's Joy is a spray..
Back to top
Joined: 21 Feb 2005
Posts: 861
Location: Paris
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 8:05 am
Post subject:
They sound fabulous. Thanks Rainey. I made pumpkin pain d'epice last weekend, and it was the same, very rich and moist because of the pumpkin and soo good....
If anyone wants the recipe I will post it. Very easy, but a bit of work. Makes a huge square cake, or 2 loaf cakes, and freezes beautifully.
Odie was just showing his appreciation of your cooking.... pity about the cloche and dish though. Damn that lack of opposable thumbs!!!
If you cannot feel your arteries hardening, eat more cheese. If you can, drink more red wine. Diet is just "die" with a "t" on the end. Exercise is walking into the kitchen.
Back to top
Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 1855
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:02 pm
Post subject:
Odie's only crime was being short! My dear Beau once ate an entire fresh apple pie off the kitchen cupboard barely moving the pie plate--of course he was a pit bull/shepherd so had the height to do it! I didn't know immediately who the culprit was as we have just about always had more than one dog but his fresh sparkling cinnamon breath gave him away!
Vivant Linguae Mortuae!!
Back to top
Joined: 14 Oct 2005
Posts: 827
Location: Oakland, CA
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 5:25 pm
Post subject:
Oh Rainey - does that ever look delicious!!! How kind of Odie to wait until you'd taken a pic before he had his share!
Wally, our Lhasa, is naughty if things are near the edge of the counter. So if we push them back, we're safe. But our friends' beagle! Now - there's a dog! He is overweight, so you'd never expect such agility, but he can jump up and get things off the BACK of the counter. So - they got in the habit of putting things in the cupboard. Then he learned how to get on the counter top and open the cupboard by jumping on the chair, getting on the table, walking across to the counter and opening the cupboard. SO - they moved the chair to the dining room. One day they were thawing a chicken in the cupboard and...Yep, you guessed it! Marcel moved the chair back into the kitchen and got into the cupboard and ate an entire raw chicken!
I remember a story my mom told about living in Germany after the war. Meat was still hard to get - even for the military. My dad, who was from Texas, managed to get a sirloin steak and they had it on top of the fridge thawing. Poppo was in heaven! He considered having steak right up there with life, liberty and thepursuit of happiness! He was an MP and came home with the police dog, who lived with us. Well - fridges were short then - and Blackie was big and - the sirloin was gone in a thrice! I think Blackie was banned from our house forthwith!
L'appetit vient en mangeant. -Rabelais
Back to top
Joined: 23 Jan 2006
Posts: 1324
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 7:08 pm
Post subject:
I once had a co-worker, Pam, who owned a Dalmatian, Rebecca.
Pam came home one day to find a mysterious thick metal disk on her kitchen floor.
Rebecca had stolen an UNopened can of cat food from the counter, bit and squeezed it with her teeth until all the meat smooshed out, devoured it, and licked it clean!
Back to top
Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 368
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 8:40 pm
Post subject:
Our Maisie, an Aussie, once opened a shut closet, pulled out a large suitcase, unzipped it, pulled out another suitcase stored inside, unzipped it, pulled out a smaller travel bag, unzipped it, pulled out a ziploc, tore through it to get to the one lone sugar-free chocolate bar intended for my diabetic father-in-law. It had been in there for weeks, a forgotten stocking stuffer. All that remained was the wrapper and suitcases strewn about.
We spent the evening at the vet getting a very unpleasant charcoal treatment. She's none the worse for wear, despite the dire warnings regarding dogs and chocolate.
How she sprouted opposable thumbs and suddenly shed them is just as big a mystery! I guess that sometimes a girl just needs her chocolate.
Last edited by msue on Sun Oct 14, 2007 1:06 am; edited 3 times in total
Back to top
Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 1855
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 9:12 pm
Post subject:
Wow--well if there were an award that I could nominate her for Maisie would certainly be first on the list!! Great story (great doggie)
Vivant Linguae Mortuae!!
Back to top
Joined: 18 Dec 2005
Posts: 368
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 9:36 pm
Post subject:
LOL, David. I just told Maisie of her 'almost award', and she looked at me as if to say, "But, of course!"
Back to top
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Posts: 2498
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 10:02 pm
Post subject:
Yes! Points to Maizie for skill, determination and the basic decency to open things and not destroy them! Odie found a candy bar in Iz' backpack one day when he was in middle school. He ate through a Kippling bag to get it!
I was furious because it was an expensive bag but also because it was sewn with all kinds of clever reflective threads so when he was walking home at night when the light was down, I felt he was safer.
You guys all get BIG points, too, for dealing with your marauding four-footers better than I do. I seethe for months after these things.
God writes a lot of comedy... the trouble is, he's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny. -- Garrison Keillor
Back to top
Joined: 14 Oct 2005
Posts: 827
Location: Oakland, CA
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 12:50 am
Post subject:
But Rainey - wasn't it easier to see Odie's leavings when you walked him afeter dark?
L'appetit vient en mangeant. -Rabelais
Back to top
Joined: 21 Feb 2005
Posts: 861
Location: Paris
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2007 11:08 am
Post subject:
Not on topic... but I am having one of those days with our furbaby.....
He stole one of my lipsticks last night (anything not nailed down he steals and he moves things way bigger than him around the appt... sigh) and he dropped it into the printer......
This morning my husband went to print something and of course it made the lipstick go through the workings and made a mess of our printer....
I am fuming as he has been doing super naughty things since we came back from holidays and I have been atwork each day. I think he is punishing me for not being home with him, which I can understand, but am having a lot of difficulty coping with this morning....
Will console myself with a slice of pumpkin pain d'epice and a cup of tea and try to lower the blood pressure below boiling point.
If you cannot feel your arteries hardening, eat more cheese. If you can, drink more red wine. Diet is just "die" with a "t" on the end. Exercise is walking into the kitchen.
Back to top
Cake Lady Mandy
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
Posts: 2
Location: Bavaria, Germany
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 3:30 am
Post subject:
Pumpkin pain d'epice? I'm so intrigued! Is this a sort of pumpkin bread made with honey?
Back to top
Display posts from previous:
All Posts
1 Day
7 Days
2 Weeks
1 Month
3 Months
6 Months
1 Year
Oldest First
Newest First
Chocolate & Zucchini Forum Index
Recipe Box
All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Jump to:
Select a forum
Chocolate & Zucchini
C&Z Guidelines and Announcements
Suggestion box
Cooking & Eating
The Chocolate & Zucchini Cookbook
Recipe Box
Restaurants & Travel
Paris & France
Around the world on a zucchini
Other things
Other things
post new topics in this forum
reply to topics in this forum
edit your posts in this forum
delete your posts in this forum
vote in polls in this forum
Powered by
© 2001, 2005 phpBB Group


text:
(c)2009 Susan H. Garman
You can check out Quiltmaker and follow the 100 Blocks Blog Tour daily, November 9-13 at http://www.quiltmaker.com/quiltypleasures for inspiration, ideas, and giveaways galore! Look for 100 Blocks from Today's Top Designers in your local quilt shop, or purchase it at www.quiltmaker.com/100blocks. Each day, a different set of quiltmakers in 100 Blocks will be featured. Check out Quiltmaker's website and blog -- you can find some awesome things there!
Now here is a SPECIAL BONUS. I welcome feedback; it helps me understand what you do and don't like. So... feel free to comment on my blog by November 11 -- share what you'd like to see more of, anything you'd like me to address, etcetera. ONE person will be chosen, via lottery, from those who comment -- and that person will receive a free copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks. Please don't post your address -- I will email the winner and ask for it later this week.
Until then...
I recently received an email from Carolanne B, who shared her experience in making The Monster Quilt. Each month, as a volunteer story-teller in the local elementary school, she took a block with her and showed it to the students. After the first couple of months, she began taking only partially appliqued blocks with her to story-telling time, and she asked the students to choose the fabric for various elements. In the following month, the students got to see the results of their choices. For Carolanne, it was a lot of fun -- who else would have chosen orange lips with a lime green mouth on a purple monster? The additional note of amazement for me was that Carolanne did all of this while fighting breast cancer. Women are amazing: we can be incredibly strong, resilient, generous... you name it! Below is her quilt -- it won a ribbon in the Larimer County Fair in July of this year -- and there is also a close-up of two of the blocks that the students of Putnam Elementary School helped her choose fabric for.


text:
In a conversation regarding Rainbow Tables on Bugtraq there was a link to a rather interesting article, (Blog), by Robert Hensing, a senior member of Microsoft's Incident Response Team, entitled:-
Why you shouldn't be using passwords of any kind on your Windows networks . . .
It's well worth a read along with some of the responses..... Food for thought.
The article


text:
I have come to the realization that it is time for Inara to stop interacting with other dogs. She used to LOVE playing with giant male dogs - she would throw herself on her back, wiggle around, throw her butt in their faces, etc. Well a few weeks ago there was a huge, mellow, male Great Dane on one of our walks. Inara was totally making flirty eyes at him the entire walk, so afterwards we let them meet. She was flirty for about 3 seconds and then it's like a flip switched. It was kind of like, "hey there, baby aren't you cute and OMG I love you and OH MY GOD I'M GOING TO EAT YOU IF EVER COME NEAR ME AGAIN!" Zero to sixty. No damage, pretty sure there wasn't even any slobber on the Dane. Yesterday, there was a big, mellow, male English Mastiff on our walk. His owners know Inara's propensity towards bitchiness, but she has also always loved their English Bulldog before, so we agreed to let them meet. Once again, flirty for about 3 seconds and then she flipped out on him. Again, no damage, not even spit (thank god for incredible bite inhibition!). And she was on her flat collar with a nice loose leash each time.
So yeah, she has officially lost dog interaction privileges. Kind of bums me out as she always used to love flirting with the big dumb boys, and she was funny while she would do so - just a total hussy. And this switch kind of came about in just the past couple of months. There are a couple dogs (only 1 locally) that she used to be able to play with off-leash, but now I'm not so sure about letting her do that either.
She's becoming so much less reactive on leash that you would think she'd be less bitchy, but nope, getting moreso. Kind of disappointing. I think I'm going to start her l-theanine up again and see if that can level her out a bit again. It's like she's bi-polar - some days she's a total dream and we're a perfect team and happy, and then there are days (like yesterday) where I just want to beat her to death because she is acting so obnoxiously. Fortunately the good days majorly outweigh the bad, but man.
Anyway, just wanted to vent.


text:
The DuPont Environmental Education Center is part of a large-scale effort to restore the marshlands along the Christina River in Wilmington, Delaware. Like many other environmental centers around the US, the DuPont EEC is both an exemplary green building and a restorative project for the surrounding area. Located at the end of Wilmington's river walk, the tall rust-colored building acts like a sentinel watching over the Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge. The center was designed by Baltimore-based GWWO Architects and has won a number of architecture awards since its completion in 2009.
The Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge is located at the southernmost edge of Wilmington's downtown area. Situated on the edge of the refuge and at the terminus of the Riverwalk is the DuPont EEC. The four-story, 13,500-square-foot facility includes observation decks, a marsh laboratory, and a large meeting space with views of the marsh, the river and the city. The architecture weaves the urban environment and the historic industrial waterfront in with the natural environment. Constructed from naturally rusted Coreten steel, cast-in-place concrete, and Western Red Cedar, the center blends in with both the marsh as well as the adjacent railway and high-voltage power lines.
Visitors to the center approach the building via a 1/4-mile-long bridge over the train tracks, from which they can take in views of the marsh below without coming directly into contact with it. Surfaces and paving are all permeable to infiltrate marsh and rainwater, and all lighting in the parking lot is solar-powered. Eco-friendly and low-VOC materials, like 100% recycled kraft board are used in the exhibits along with energy-efficient LED rope lighting. Additionally, solar passive design and shade screens help reduce overheating inside.
"This facility and the 212-acre wildlife refuge that surrounds it are unique as features of an urban environment," said Michael S. Purzycki, executive director of the Riverfront Development Corporation of Delaware (RDC), which owns the center. "We were fortunate to be able to restore this marsh after centuries of abuse and return it to its natural state as a viable habitat for more than 200 species of plants and animals." The DuPont EEC is the recipient of the 2010 AIA Baltimore Grand Design Award, 2010 AIA Maryland Merit Award, 2010 AIA Delaware Honor Award, and the 2010 DE IFMA Green Building Award.
Via ArchDaily
Images © Robert Creamer, DuPont EEC and Delaware Nature Society


text:
South Camden Theatre Company Opens AWAKE AND SING! by Clifford Odets, 2/15
The South Camden Theatre Company, a nonprofit professional theatre company located in Camden, New Jersey continues its eighth season titled "Home in Waterfront South" featuring a three week production of AWAKE AND SING! By Clifford Odets written by Clifford Odets and directed by Christopher 'Jumbo' Schimpf.
AWAKE AND SING! captures the spirit of 1930s New York from the perspective of a second-generation Jewish immigrant family as they struggle for survival against the backdrop of the Great Depression, the rising tide of Fascism in Europe and the rise of the workers' movements overseas. This rarely produced Odets classic opens at Waterfront South Theatre Friday February 15, 2013 at 8 p.m.
Founder and Producing Artistic Director Joseph M. Paprzycki states, "After the rousing success of South Camden Theatre Company's production of WAITING FOR LEFTY in 2011 I wanted to bring the words of Clifford Odets back to Waterfront South Theatre and Camden with one of his most personal and seldom seen plays."
Performances will be held Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Sunday afternoons at 2:00 p.m. at the 96-seat Waterfront South Theatre located at 400 Jasper Street in Camden, New Jersey. Tickets and season passes are available for purchase for $20 online at http://www.southcamdentheatre.org, by calling 1-866-811-4111 or at the door.
For more information about South Camden Theatre Company, please visithttp://www.southcamdentheatre.org. Follow us on Twitter at @ArtWillSaveUs and on Facebook athttp://www.facebook.com/SouthCamdenTheatreCompany.
The South Camden Theatre Company is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional theatre company dedicated to helping revitalize the City of Camden, New Jersey by producing meaningful, professional theater in the City's Waterfront South District. Founded by a playwright, the South Camden Theatre Company stages seldom-seen, classic plays and original works as the resident theatre company at Waterfront South Theatre.. South Camden Theatre Company is a proud member of The New Jersey Theatre Alliance, Jersey Cultural Alliance, and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. For more information on South Camden Theatre Company and Waterfront South Theatre, visit http://www.southcamdentheatre.org.


text:
Michael D. O'Steen, P.E. Logo Design
Held by: Michael
Last rated:
Contest Statistics
Scores (98 total)
5 1
4 5
3 8
2 14
1 70
This Project 10
Average 1
This Project 144
Average 112
Logo design created by professional graphic designer moonflower
Entry designed by:
United States
$8,475.00 earned, 27 projects done
I am passionate about design. I live it and breathe it :) My aim is to deliver a smokin' logo or graphic piece that will get you noticed! I am hoping we can develop a promising long-term relationship!
More entries from this contest:
Want a unique logo design like this one?
Did you know?
Our clients use design contests for all of their graphic design needs, including:
Banner Ad Design, Twitter Page Design, Clothing Design, Button & Icon Design, and more!


text:
We use cookies to give you the best possible online experience. If you continue, we'll assume you are happy for your web browser to receive all cookies from our website. See our cookie policy for more information on cookies and how to manage them.
Your account
Put your driving to the test with Aviva Drive, where safer drivers can make great savings on their car insurance.
Find out more
Take a look at our Ready-made funds designed for all risk attitudes.
Whatever you want out of retirement, our expert advisers will help get you there.
With over 31 million customers worldwide, we can help to find you the right healthcare cover for you and your business.


text:
Wow - 2009 has been another crazy busy year for me and for Sweet Dreams Designs! With the addition of a brick and mortar store, continuing with the designing of the Spring 2010 line, taking our Boy's Line to the Atlanta Apparel Mart, and many more exciting things, each year just seems busier than the last!
All of these things have also kept me from sending a Sweet Dreams Designs newsletter in a while! So, in celebration of Cyber Monday, I invite you to take a look at our Boys and Girls Spring 2010 line! Place your preorder before midnight tonight and receive 20% off! Enter code CDN091130095215 at checkout.
Are you interested in hosting a show this season? Please contact me as soon as possible to be added to the calendar. Dates are limited this season and there are LOTS of you who have already mentioned being interested in hosting a show! Let's schedule it now!
I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving and are looking forward to a beautiful holiday season! Thanks, as always, for your continued support!
Anna Garner
Monday, November 30, 2009
20% off Spring 2010 Preorders! Monday only!
Wow - 2009 has been another crazy busy year for me and for Sweet Dreams Designs! With the addition of a brick and mortar store, continuing with the designing of the Spring 2010 line, taking our Boy's Line to the Atlanta Apparel Mart, and many more exciting things, each year just seems busier than the last!
Posted by SweetDreamsDesigns at 11:51 AM 0 comments
Labels: Spring 2010 Preorders
Friday, November 20, 2009
Our first "DIY" at Grandmother's Joy
I'm getting really excited about our first Design It Yourself event at the store! On Thursday from 4pm - 7pm we'll be serving wine and some yummy snacks as well as having a little "mini trunk show"! (Plus 20% off all other purchases!)
For girls I am featuring this cute little bell sleeve tunic with optional leggings. The size range is huge! It is available from 6 months to 12 years! Here are Chloe and Halle modeling the sample for me again!
UPDATE...Well, this never got published before the event, so here is the followup!
We had a great turnout for the Open House! Of course there was too much food, as there always is, but I've been doing my best to polish it off today!
Here is a picture of Lela, the daughter of my store manager, sitting with our DIY display - ready to place her order!
Posted by SweetDreamsDesigns at 3:38 PM 0 comments
Labels: Fall 2009, Grandmothers Joy, Sales
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Talented friends
So, I totally stole this photo off of Facebook so that I could share it here....I haven't picked up my disk of images yet and I just couldn't wait another minute to share this awesome picture taken by a high school friend, Misty Haggard. Her daughter Chloe, on right, is so cute and probably sharing some fabulous secret with Halle, the daughter of another high school friend! I can only imagine what these two are giggling about, but it made for a fabulous picture! Not to mention, they both totally rock these two new outfits from Sweet Dreams Designs Spring 2010 collection!
On the left, Emma top with Bella capris and on the right is the shirred top and ruffled shorts shown in the Flights of Fancy fabric collection. The shirred top and the ruffled shorts don't have a cute name yet, any suggestions?
Posted by SweetDreamsDesigns at 4:57 PM 1 comments
Labels: facebook, neato fabrics, new stuff, Patty Young, Photo Shoot, Spring 2010 Preorders, Spring Line
Friday, November 13, 2009
Southern Lady
Do you love this as much as I do?
This is our ad for the Jan/Feb 2010 issue of Southern Lady magazine! To be perfectly honest, I had really never read the magazine until I was approached about purchasing an ad. But, it didn't take long for me to decide to subscribe. It is a magazine that I actually READ cover to cover. I think it helps that it is Birmingham based so the articles aren't too out of reach and neither are a lot of the advertisers. That part is pretty cool. It has some YUMMY sounding recipes, and darn it, it's just pretty!
So, after I fell in love with the magazine I decided to purchase a 1/4 page ad for three issues next year. This is our first ad! Rob Ingram did our photo shoot for it in his amazing studio. Let me just tell you, it's not easy to get three kids of varying ages, no matter how well behaved, to look at the camera and smile all at the same time! Though we were able to capture some of those moments, that's not what I was looking for for this ad and Rob knew this. I wanted different. Modern, but vintage. Rustic, but crisp and clean. I know that may not make sense to some, but he made it happen and I'm completely in love with the results. I can't wait to share some of the others from the shoot that I'll be using for my Birmingham Kids' Directory ads as well as hanging in the shop.
Posted by SweetDreamsDesigns at 7:49 AM 0 comments
Labels: Grandmothers Joy, Photo Shoot, Press
My 5 seconds of fame
Posted by SweetDreamsDesigns at 7:23 AM 1 comments
Labels: Grandmothers Joy, Press


text:
Feeding China's one billion people isn't an easy task, and feeding them well (as participants on MOTHER EARTH NEWS' tour to that country last fall discovered is generally the case) seems little short of a miracle! And even though the nation's current administration deserves much of the credit for this feat, the farming techniques that have enabled land—which has been tilled for thousands of years—to remain productive are, themselves, just short of incredible.
Eighty percent of China's people, using methods developed over centuries, are now involved in the most intensive and efficient agricultural system in the world. Many of the vegetables that these farm workers—and their city cousins, too—consume come from private family plots of raised vegetable beds that are smaller than the space needed to house a Western farmer's tools!
With the exception of areas containing such "water crops" as rice and lotus (which require sunken beds), this intensive gardening technique is used on almost every spare inch of land. Entire fields of raised beds stretch to the horizon. There are tiny strips of cultivated earth beside factory walls, city dwellings, and highway right-of-ways. Some small gardens are even tucked in among the rock monoliths of Kunming's "Stone Forest" national monument. Such "postcard-size" plots play a large part in putting good fresh vegetables on family tables, and often produce enough surplus to earn the gardeners extra income at "free markets."
Backyard Beds
If you think that Chinese intensive gardening—which is designed to get the most benefit out of air, soil, and water with the least amount of work—sounds like an ideal method to use for backyard growing, you're right! Once created, raised beds are permanent. They never become waterlogged, never have to be plowed, will "warm up" earlier than soil tilled in the usual manner and thus allow you to get a head start on spring planting and—when one vegetable is harvested—can be worked and replanted without disturbing the surrounding crops.
Additionally, because you walk on the paths between the beds and never on the planting area itself, the earth doesn't get packed down. Roots won't be damaged and can grow easily, and the beds will stay aerated (which will help nitrogen-fixing bacteria create nutrients from air in the soil).
Raised-bed gardeners never have to worry about accidentally sitting on the plants behind them as they weed or harvest, and—because such folks will have to fertilize and water only the beds themselves, rather than the whole garden area—they'll use less of both of these essential ingredients and eliminate much of the mud that can follow garden chores into the house. As an added bonus, a raised-bed garden can be kept looking wonderfully neat and beautiful with a minimum of effort
What's Involved
A person could almost make a museum out of all the wonderful hand tools that the Chinese have developed to make cultivation easier, but—to prepare your own Oriental raised beds—you'll actually need only a shovel, a sharp spade, and a rake. (You might want to add a trowel and a bulb planter to ease the tasks of weeding and transplanting seedlings.)
When laying out a bed, remember to keep it narrow enough so that its center can be reached without your having to step on the bed itself. In China, raised beds are—at the most—four to five feet wide and usually rectangular. However, we also saw them formed into squares, triangles, crescents, or whatever shape best suited the available space.
Peter Chan (a man who is among the strongest proponents of this method) builds beds that are four feet wide at the bottom and three feet wide at the top, with a side slope of six inches. Each bed is then surrounded by paths at least a foot wide.
Permanent Planning
Once you've completed your garden layout on paper (plan well, as the whole idea is to make permanent plots and thus reduce your future work), measure and mark out the first rectangle by attaching twine to four corner stakes. Then, working from the center and using the string as a guide to keep the sides of the bed straight, turn the soil one shovel deep (as opposed to the "one shovel and one fork deep" preparation necessary for biodynamic/French intensive gardening), removing weed roots and rocks as you go along. (If you turn up a lot of stones, save them to pave your garden paths.)
As you turn the earth, work in compost, manure, sand, lime, or whatever soil tests indicate that the earth needs. And be sure to dig a small, narrow trench between the base of the bed and the paths, to catch water runoff and send washed-away nutrients back into the bed rather than onto the area where you'll walk. Finally, smooth and shape the top and sides of the plot with a rake, remove the twine, and move on to the next bed.
It's best to leave the corner stakes in—as Peter Chan has suggested—because they'll help prevent your hose from dragging across young plants as you water. Don't, however, be tempted to shore up the sides of your beds with rocks or railroad ties, as such supports would provide fine homes for slugs and snails.
Remember, too, not to crowd your vegetables when you plant. In a bed that's three feet wide at the top, for example, make only one row—down the center—of such spreading crops as cucumbers, zucchini, and squash; two rows of cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, peas, beans, and corn (you can stagger these plants to give them even more room); or four rows of garlic, leeks, and scallions.
Other Wisdom
Another bit of simple "technology" has to do with watering: In China, farmers always take care of this chore in the morning, rather than in the evening, because they feel that the cold "bath" at that time helps to stun and sicken aphids, small worms, and other pests that like to dine during the cooler part of the day. Although extremely hot, dry weather sometimes makes it necessary to give the crops another drink in the late afternoon, the Chinese point out that plants are not performing photosynthesis at night and thus don't need water. Besides, evening moisture evaporates more slowly, and the "standing" humidity attracts many insects, and encourages the development of destructive fungi and mildew. Tomato blight, for instance, often occurs when the soil is too damp.
Fortunately, with the good drainage provided by raised beds, your vegetables won't have to contend with "wet feet." Even after a heavy rain, you'll find that the earth begins to dry and becomes ready to work much sooner than would that in a regular row garden, while moisture is actually held longer beneath the soil, stimulating root development.
To further discourage insects and pathogens, never put the same crop in the same bed for two seasons in a row. As a matter of fact, don't even replant a vegetable twice in the same spot during a single gardening year if you can avoid it.
The extra crops that your raised beds ought to produce may not feed a billion, but you'll obtain more vegetables, from a much smaller space, with much less effort, than would be possible using traditional row-gardening methods!
Want to Know More?
Although the accompanying article provides an overview of the philosophy and methods of Chinese raised-bed gardening, it doesn't go into all of the intricacies of the Oriental intensive horticultural technique. However, if your interest has been aroused, there is a source of more information available.
Better Vegetable Gardens the Chinese Way by Peter Chan with Spencer Gill not only offers a detailed presentation of the methods used by one of the foremost proponents of the Oriental method, but also features color photographs that actually manage to convey the author's love for gardening. Folks who have a yen to try this form of horticulture will find the help they need in Peter Chan's attractive volume.


text:
John Sanders needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 204 designs submitted by 51 freelance designers.
Logo design for a printing company that prints using both offset and digital technologies. This logo will used in all company identities to include the following: all printed pieces, logo on company vehicles, promotional mailed material and website.
Central Imaging and Printing
Contemporary logo to be used in all company identities. Company founded in 1965. Company has seen shift from more traditional offset printing to digital technologies. Would like a more modern logo.
- Item 1...No restrictions. Want as many ideas as possibleLogo can be opened and edited if necessary in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.
- Item 1...No restrictions
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
What are the benefits of meditation?
Many people say the TM technique has a transforming effect — they report major benefits in reducing chronic stress and anxiety, insomnia, hypertension, and other stress-related disorders.
Evidence-Based Wellness
Over 380 published, peer-reviewed research studies on the TM technique have documented its effectiveness for stress-related conditions, brain function, and more.
Transcendental meditation is a simple, natural technique... This form of meditation allows your body to settle into a state of profound rest and relaxation and your mind to achieve a state of inner peace, without needing to use concentration or effort.
What is TM's value in daily life?
Extensive peer-reviewed published research on the TM technique has found a wide range of wellness benefits of meditation including:
- greater inner calm throughout the day
- reduced cortisol (the "stress hormone")
- normalized blood pressure
- reduced insomnia
- lower risk of heart attack and stroke
- reduced anxiety and depression
- improved brain function and memory
To learn more, contact your local certified TM teacher.


text:
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:1-2) Without question, Jesus' sacrificial death is the centerpiece of the gospel.
We're excited to host a free Egg Hunt for our Midlothian neighbors on Easter Weekend! Starting at 11am, there will be two different Egg Hunts - one for kids ages 4 and under, and another 5-11 year olds. Crafts and refreshments will also be available during the event.
After all this winter weather, we need a night out together! Ladies Night Out on March 21st will be an evening of food and friendship at various homes throughout the area. Click here to choose a venue along with a choice to bring an appetizer or a dessert. Ladies age 18 and up are welcome to attend. Don't miss this fun evening!
We are excited to gather as the people of God tomorrow. The parking lot has been plowed and temperatures will stay above freezing tonight. Hope to see you in the morning! Posted by Matthew
Ladies! One of our traditions is to begin the year with a sleepover in the church building. It's not only lots of fun, but provides one of the best opportunities of the year to build friendships with other ladies! This year's sleepover begins Friday at 7:00 pm and ends Saturday at noon.


text:
NEW YORK — If there was any doubt, the NFL is still tackle football.
Five of the first 19 picks in the opening round of the 2013 draft were offensive tackles, including three of the first four selections. Three guards and a center went too on a Thursday night when the strong, silent types found their voice.
"It's always nice when the O-line gets some respect," said the Jacksonville Jaguars' Luke Joeckel, chosen second after the Kansas City Chiefs' Eric Fisher -- the first time the NFL draft has started tackle-tackle.
"We usually get the crummy meeting room, the crummy chairs in our meeting rooms, and it's always nice when we get some respect."