text:
Wine for smarties
Surely you must. Who doesn't these days? Because wine is hot. Wine is the new champagne, the new beer, the new dinner table conversation. Wine is the latest product category to become massclusive - elite yet widely available. First there was Two-Buck Chuck, then the movie Sideways, then we all had wine tasting parties and before you knew it, Business Week had hired a freaking wine columnist. All bets are off; wine is here to stay.
But as vino finagles its way into everyday culture, I'm bothered by a vastly overlooked truth: interest has far outpaced understanding. I'm talking about a specific conversation. It's an exchange I've heard so many times, I'm willing to bet you've heard it too. This is how it goes:
"Hey, this wine you brought is great."
"Thanks. Yeah, I like merlot."
"Me too. Merlot is good. (pause, switch to whisper) You know what's funny? I don't know anything about wine. So you know what I do - (glance around the room) - I choose based on the label!"
"Me too! I go by the label! I just pick one I like! Oh my gosh, I hope nobody hears us. We are such losers!"
Am I right? You have heard it, haven't you? This conversation is so commonplace, it's driving me crazy. For a couple of reasons.
Number one, it's perfectly normal to choose a product by its packaging. How do you think we choose almost every other product? Surely, we don't refine our taste for macaroni and cheese. We don't subscribe to Mac 'n Cheese Monthly or take summer tours of mac 'n cheeseries. We simply look at the box, like what we see, and buy it. No big deal. Folks, the packaging industry is not going anywhere, because for all the websites, advertising and product education in the world, something like 85% of purchase decisions are still made in the store.
Yet wine is held to such high standards, and expectations are so elevated, that to choose wine by the label seems somehow pedestrian. It's as if by liking a nice font or colorful graphic, we are just not "getting it." I am here to say that it's okay to choose by label. For most people, label is as good an indicator as any.
But that leads me to my other gripe. For all the fuss over wine, we are not given a whole lot of help when it comes to choosing "intelligently" in the store. Now surely, one can subscribe to Wine Spectator. One can buy any of the 206,083 wine-related books on Amazon. But honestly, how much work does it take? Someone should be making it easier for us to shop this increasingly complex product.
So here's my situation. I attend a fair amount of dinner parties. I'm tired of grabbing the same old Yellowtail from the corner liquor store. I'd like to stock up on wine that is unique, tasty and will impress my friends. Where do I go?
My fellow Chicagoans all point me to the same place: Sam's Wine and Spirits. Sam's is supposed to be the store that brings a wide variety of good wine to the masses. People say the store is huge, the variety is outstanding, and the staff are knowledgeable. So I make the trip.
And my friends are correct - Sam's is huge. It's an absolutely enormous warehouse. My immediate reaction is to feel very small, and very overwhelmed. But the concrete floors, wooden pallets and utility ladders remove any air of exclusivity, which is good. Okay, where to begin? I grab a small cart and start wandering.
It takes me about ten seconds to realize that the products are not organized the way I'd expect. Now I may or may not be a typical wine consumer, but here's my decision tree: color (red or white), then style (riesling or chardonnay or pinot grigio), then label (is it unique? does it have a fun name?), then price (preferably under $10). That's how I understand wine, so that's how I'd like to shop it. But 30 seconds in, I'm utterly confused. I pass a white, then a red, then another white. Color is obviously no help. I start looking for styles, but here's one pinot grigio, with no others in sight. How about price? The bottles in front of me are $9, then $90, then $19. Finally, I look up and notice the signs. Guess how the aisles are organized?
They are organized by region. Region of the world, and sometimes region of the country within the world. Now I hate to sound like a shlemiel, but this is a framework that demands some prior knowledge. A first-timer simply cannot shop by region. I tried! I like France, as far as countries go, so I start to look in the France section. Not so fast - that section is further divided into Alsace, Bordeaux, Provence, etc. Great.
I try to use my existing framework. I ask a salesperson if they have any riesling, already feeling a little silly. The guy says, "Sure. Are you looking for French, German or Italian riesling?" The answer, of course, is I don't know.
So I arbitrarily choose German. What the hey, my car is German, might as well give German a try. Once I enter the impossibly tall aisle, an employee asks if I need any help. "Sure," I say, "I'm looking for riesling." But there is no riesling section, and so he starts walking up and down the aisle, bringing me bottles to inspect. At this point, all I care about is price and label. But since the price tags are on the shelves, not the bottles, I take each bottle and walk back to wherever he found it, in an attempt to check its price. This is both inefficient and embarassing, as I don't have the heart to tell him I'm only buying $10-or-less bottles. So I indulge him for a few minutes, chasing him around and checking price tags behind his back. It was, in short, a mess.
In the end, I found 5 bottles of wine that fit my specifications. All were white. Two rieslings, two pinot grigios and a gewurztraminer (all types I know I like). All had unique labels, and one had a funny name. All were under $10. I was pleased with my choices, but it took me half an hour to find them. What regions were they from? I still don't know.
Some people might shop wine by color-style-price; others might go price-style-label or just label-price. Surely some people shop by region, and appreciate that Sam's gives their framework top priority. But I just don't think that region, for most people, is the first decision they want to make.
Now region can become primary, and after shopping at Sam's long enough, it probably will. Region is interesting because it's an educating framework. You try a wine from Greece, you like it, you go back to the Greece section, and one day you realize that you are partial to Greek wines. Region helps you form a "wine identity," if you will. But region should not be the first decision point in this enormous store's navigational hierarchy. It is far too complex for most people. Not that I don't enjoy learning about regions - I just think it needs to come farther down the chain of choices.
So here's my ideal wine warehouse shopping trip. First choice: color. I head to the whites section. Second choice: style. I head for the rieslings. Third choice: price. I browse the $10-and-under section. Last choice: all my subjective final decision-makers, such as label, flavors, region, age and vintage. That's when I'm open to suggestions; that's where I want to be educated. Not beforehand.
I'm aware that a lot of Sam's shoppers would be upset. Having become acclimated to shopping by region, they would surely throw their arms up in frustration. "This was the only place where I could always find my Chilean wines!"
But they could still find their Chilean wines. They'd just be called out at the product level. And more people might discover them this way, because if they knew they liked red wine, and enjoyed cabernet sauvignon, and wanted to spend $10-20, and thought the "duo" label looked cool, and thought a dark, meaty, juicy wine sounded up their alley, they could pick this one, and discover it was from Chile. If they liked it, they could look for more wines from Chile. Or more dark reds. Or more from the brand, Alto de Casablanca.
Sam's is doing a lot of difficult things well. It's advancing the industry by democratically sharing great information through its website, blog, educational seminars and tastings. People enjoy getting lost in its aisles as they scan labels, explore regions and learn about flavors. Shoppers at Sam's taste, try and return. But I believe even more people would feel confident about their purchases, rather than ashamed at their lack of knowledge, if the store's basic organizing framework were as inclusive as its warehouse-style vibe.
11 comments:
- Stephanie Weaver said...
I remember shopping at Sam's once or twice when I still lived in Chicago. You are so right.
I saw an article that said that Americans are more likely to choose wine if it has an animal on the label.
I would like to see a touch-screen computer at the entrance. Enter your taste preferences, your color, your price, and it would print a list of recommendations and locations within the store.
BTW as a tech writer and customer/user evangelist, I really enjoy your site. Thanks!
I live in the Niagara wine region and there are so many different types of grapes grown and wines that are produced just in this part of Ontario and the weather and specific soil composition in the Niagara region is what makes Niagara wines probably taste different than a wine in Europe, even though the same grapes are grown.
I'm also no expert on wine, and I found these cool websites that would help any beginner in understanding the importance of region to the taste of this Riesling vs. That. Here are the links I found:
I really enjoy your site; I work at Best Buy Canada, and have worked in retail for over 16 years. Your insights on your blog are invaluable to me in my career : )
Thank you!
Thanks, I always enjoy reading your varied postings.
I would want to go into a wine shop and know what wine goes with what food. In very few situations, do I serve wine as a stand alone product.
Fortunately I have developed a good working knowledge of wine pairings, but I too judge based on the label. I almost never buy mass produced wines. I want smaller vineyards and base my selections from the ground (geographical areas) it was grown in.
One thing I do not trust are the wine tasters "scores. a whole other area for discussions.
I live in Houston and we have a similar store called Spec's. I'm not sure how friendly the folks at Sam's are, but Spec's (which is organized the same way) is VERY good at making you feel not-so-stupid if you know nothing about wine. They encourage you to ask as many questions as possible and staff the store with employees who are knowledgeable about wine.
It seems that a lot of your problem at Sam's was caused by your fear of looking stupid and cheap. However, the employees are well aware that most of their shoppers know little about wine and aren't prepared to spend a lot on something that they know little about. You were afraid to admit your lack of knowledge. Next time, simply say to the employee, who is paid to help you, something like, "Hi, I'm looking for a riesling. I don't know much about wine, but I've tried riesling and I liked it. Since I don't know much about wine, I'm not trying to spend too much, but I'd like to try something unique and different." The salesperson will ask your price range and will promptly help you find several rieslings in your price range, educate you about rieslings, answere all of your other questions, AND introducedyou to another varietal similar to riesling that you might want to try.
The employees don't usually work on commission, so they don't care how much you spend on a wine. And they know that if you're happy with the service and the wine, you'll be back again and again.
Just a tip for next time,
Just discovered your site a few weeks ago. Have devoured all of the archives. Please write faster!
I live in Chicago and am a somewhat frequent shopper at Sam's. While I understand your issues with the store's organization, I still think there is something very wise going on there. The organization by region mirrors the organization of the staff. Alot of the people on the floor are also visiting those regions and making buying decisions. Several years ago I was in a situation of picking out a bottle of champagne as a present for a man who owned a 4-star restaurant. As I stumbled around the champagne aisle clutching my Wine Spectator list of Rose' Champagnes, I was rescused by a man named Charles who was the "Champagne guy." He didn't just help me make a selection, he gave me lots of "insider" info. He talked about the lands and the families involved. About his last visit to this maker. About the unfortunate weather 2 years ago at that vinyard. While I couldn't validate his knowledge it was complete and specific. I later learned that he is very well regarded both here and in Champagne. The important thing was he made me feel confident about my purchase. This is powerful.
In short Sam's is full of wine geeks. They're not always the best at customer service, but once engaged they do have deep knowledge and a real passion for their product. That's a unique customer experience worth the trouble.
- sara said...
Thanks all for your comments! Stephanie, that is just embarassing. What graphics do non-Americans respond to?
Holly, I can tell you are a tech writer. The touchscreen sounds great. Could it also show labels?
Rachel, thanks for enlightening me a bit on this topic! I really enjoyed the answerbag article.
Isos, you hit the nail on the head - I didn't want to admit my ignorance. I WILL go back and try again.
Craig, your story is fantastic. I can actually feel the confidence that you gained with that information. I remember thinking that the Sam's employees I encountered didn't seem particularly, um, social? But I'd much prefer smart geeks to shallow smilers. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I'm writing as fast as I can... :)
- hillary said...
first, to start: nothing is "the new beer." beer is forever.
that being said, i think you & isos really got at one of the issues of wine-selecting - in that we put this un-due stress on ourselves not to look stupid or pedestrian. i think that getting over how you appear, would make things much easier in selecting a wine.
i went into a TINY wine shop recently to pick up a bottle for a dinner party. i was really intimidated before going in, especially because i had no idea what we were eating. but i just went in and told that to the woman working and said i was looking to spend no more than $20. she brought me to two bottles of wine and let me pick (i actually don't respond to labels at all - which is WEIRD). it was easy and painless.
i disagree with your opinion on the organization of sam's entirely. i think organizing it by color and type would be no better or worse than the way it is organized now. it would just be re-organizing it for a different type of user. why should sam's NOT organize it by region - for their more educated consumers? you could go to the grocery store if you wanted and find and buy a cheap riesling pretty easily. at sam's, you'd have to ask someone, but then you could learn about the wine and where it's from. also, like rachel mentioned, wines are regarded and known by their region.
to me, organizing it by region makes it more of an adventure in shopping for the wine, not a hassle. plus, i've been in the situation before where i'd been looking for a specific bottle of wine that i knew was from argentina.
anyway, this isn't as thorough and well-thought-out as i wanted it to be (and i forgot to make my comparison to stores that organize clothes by color), but...yeah.
- George said...
Before it closed, there was a wonderful wine store in Chicago called Valhalla.
It took all the fuss and snobbery out of the process by equating all the wines on offer with a universally understood comparison system: they described everything in terms of celebrities.
"This white wine is bright, fruity and not too be taken too seriously, just like Ashton Kutcher."
"This red is bold and trashy, like Brittney Spears."
The store was also very innovative in the way they were co-owned by the Asian restaurant opposite that had no liquor license. They ran a symbiotic business relationship.
Very clever. Maybe too clever since one of the stores closed.
Sam's sounds more like a warehouse than a shop! I must be so lucky that there are one or two great wine stores near me... You just go straight to the guy working there and tell him what you're looking for and your price range.
It doesn't matter how much you know or don't know about wine - you can tell him what kind of grapes or region or just that you're going to a dinner party and want something not too expensive. Then they zone in on one or two bottles and let you choose. I actually have no idea how the place near me organises them but I have a feeling it's to do with region - it turns out region is a huge factor because of the grapes, the soil, the weather and the people who grow them. See it's educating too!
It's amazing how much the employees can know at a wine store. The last time I went in they told us the story behind the wine we were buying. It was from France but because they had a different technique they weren't allowed to name the region or give the dates, so instead they marked each batch by year so that the label might say "batch 2005" or "batch 2006"
It's great to have the personalised touch without having to feel stupid - I like Holly's idea for the touch-screen computer but somehow i think an actual person would be more flexible. You can just tell them what mood you're in or who you're buying it for and they pick a great wine! As Craig said, "That's a unique customer experience worth the trouble."
Maybe you should try that at Sam's...
I don't know what the employment process is like but these aren't summer job kind of places, these are where sommeliers find their career.
- perufull adventure said...
Very Nice. You are giving helpful information by your blog. Thank you so much.
wine growers tour service


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About four hours after Cesc Fabregas missed an early penalty kick in Spain's 2-0 win over El Salvador, Fabian Espindola flubbed an injury-time PK that allowed the Columbus Crew to escape FedEx Field with a 0-0 draw on Saturday night in the nightcap of a Road to Brazil doubleheader.
The evening's MLS match proved a bit more competitive than the international friendly, as the Eastern Conference rivals battled to a 0-0 draw in front of an announced crowd of 53,267 for the doubleheader.
Both teams were missing key pieces. United center back Jeff Parke sat the match out with a foot ailment, while defensive midfielder Perry Kitchen served a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation. Cal product Steve Brinbaum stepped in for Parke, helping post a clean sheet in his MLS debut.
Columbus were missing three players of their own: playmaker Federico Higuain (hamstring) and Costa Rican internationals Waylon Francis and Giancarlo Gonzalez (World Cup duty).
The Crew carved out the game's first chance in the 10th minute as Jairo Arrieta fired a low shot wide left after a good passing move opened up the United defense.
Handed United's attacking midfield role, Luis Silva was active early on and nearly scored in the 19th minute on a free kick he earned himself some 25 yards out from goal. The UCSB product stepped up to the set piece and curled a well-hit shot that flew inches wide of the top left corner of goalkeeper Steve Clark's net.
Fellow midfielder Nick Deleon had a golden opportunity in the 39th minute, but failed to connect with a loose ball just six yards from goal. Five minutes later, United midfielder Chris Rolfe would get his chance, but his driven effort from 20 yards out skimmed just inches wide of the far post.
The Crew returned fire in the 57th minute. Columbus defender Michael Parkhurst collected a pass at the top of the area and struck a low, driven shot goalwards which United keeper Bill Hamid did well to push just wide. Just a minute later, D.C. Designated Player Eddie Johnson would leave the game with an apparent injury.
Second-half substitute Adam Beddell had Columbus' best – and final – chance of the match in the 80th minute, but his driven effort from nine yards out found its way harmlessly into the open arms of Hamid.
United were handed a golden opportunity at the game's death, when Columbus defender Bernardo Anor was deemed to have handled the ball in the area. Fabian Espindola stepped up to take the ensuing penalty, coolly striking a "Panenka" – right into the hands of a stationary Clark.
D.C. visit the Montreal Impact on Wednesday (7:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE, TSN/RDS2 in Canada) before the World Cup break begins. But the Black-and-Red will have an eye on US Open Cup action: United will travel to Rochester to face the USL PRO's Rhinos on June 17.
D.C. United: Hamid; Franklin, Boswell, Birnbaum, Fernandez; DeLeon, Arnaud, Silva (Jeffrey 62), Rolfe (Neal 76); Espindola, Johnson (Doyle, 58).
Columbus Crew: Clark; Wahl, Parkhurst, Gehrig, Anor, Jimenez, Viana, Speas (Bedell 77), Tchani, Finlay, Arrieta (Meram 56)
Disciplinary: Bobby Boswell - 42' (yellow), Cristian Fernandez - 78' (yellow), Justin Meram - 88' (yellow), Eric Gehrig - 90+ (yellow)

subset: commoncrawl


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so yeah I just saw the announcement while watching venture brothers is anyone going to watch it knowing that it will be the dub?
well i'll probably flip to tom more so than anything toonami hosts... i'll give it a go
His Holiness Optimus Maximus Decimus Meridius Colossus Nemesis Nexus Genesis
SAO DUBBED? better be good dub :\
Red is a color for Heros
Wasn't there already a huge thread with much mudslinging already on this subject? Guys.. use the search button it's there for a reason.
I think that there was one about the Sword Art Online dubbing, but not about it being on Toonami. Seems like that's a new announcement.
Heed my words. My will creates your body, and your sword creates my destiny.
No there was one for Toonami since this information is old. People started talking about the dub while they were there with arguments for and against it based on the previous thread about the trailer with the dubcast.
Revolver Dogelot
Yeah I thought about it and the other subject is less about what is being done with the dub and more about how much it stinks based on the trailer that was released. In this moo cows opinion the trailer in question did sound sort of.... bad.
That said... this thread isn't about the quality of the dub so much as it is about the fact that it is going to be on Toonami. Gonna let it stand!
Just call me.... Revolver. Revolver Doge.
woot I win lol I didn't even see another post about SAO on toonami hence why I made the topic.
So.. you locking the other threads that had the official announcement on it then?
The dubbing sounded so bad. Just look for the trailer on youtube.
If I don't have to do it, I won't. If I have to do it, I'll make it quick.
Revolver Dogelot
No. Two different subjects. This thread is about the fact that SAO is going to air on Toonami. The other thread is about the fact that the dub stinks and sounds so bad you could have grabbed three random hobo's off a street corner and done better.
AwkwardEsper wrote:
I'm just interested in seeing if it'll be a good dub.
You want to go to this thread for that info: http://www.crunchyroll.com/forumtopic-798885/sao-dub-trailer-released-your-thoughts#42823965
Fair warning if my earlier comment wasn't enough. The dub quality... not so hot.
Just call me.... Revolver. Revolver Doge.
My post was deleted from this thread for some odd reason. I have no idea why. Maybe I edited it too many times? Whatever, I'll re-post what I said in short.
Looking forward to this. I'm sure it being on Toonami will bring a lot of new fans to the series.
Welcome to the first week of the rest of your life.
I was a bit hesitant when I heard that the voice actress from kaze no stigma would play Asuna, but after watching the trailer for the dub I was actually most impressed by her. It will be different watching SAO this time on Toonami but because I love the story and would love to see it continue I plan to support it. Toonami has had a huge impact on anime here in the states and with a heavy hitter like SAO on their line up I am hoping it becomes what it once was again. I miss the days where Toonami was on 5 days a week
I'm conflicted, I like it when the US market for anime is increased but I cringe when I hear some of the dubs at times. Toonami isn't what it once was either, now it's on so late on saturdays I only ever see anything if I DVR it or can't go to sleep after changing a diaper. This dad doesn't stay up as late as I used to.
I'll watch it just to support bringing good shows to tv here.
Someone mentioned VAs being good/bad ; I think more shows need to be cast by the team that did FMA and FMA:Brotherhood. It is one of the few anime I can watch in English or it's original track and still fully enjoy it. No real "out of place" voices that you hear in other shows. In fact, the Ed VA might make a good Kirito......


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In the tree component, select the Clusters node.
On the Clusters page, click New.
The Create Cluster page appears.
In the Name field, type a name for the cluster.
The name must:
Consist only of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, underscores, hyphens, and periods (.)
Be unique across all node agent names, server instance names, cluster names, and configuration names
Not be domain
In the Configuration field, choose a configuration from the drop-down list.
To create a cluster that does not use a shared configuration, choose default-config.
Leave the radio button labeled "Make a copy of the selected Configuration" selected. The copy of the default configuration will have the name cluster_name-config.
To create a cluster that uses a shared configuration, choose the configuration from the drop-down list.
Select the radio button labeled "Reference the selected Configuration" to create a cluster that uses the specified existing shared configuration.
Optionally, add server instances.
You can also add server instances after the cluster is created.
Before you create server instances for the cluster, first create one or more node agents or node agent placeholders. See To Create a Node Agent Placeholder
To create server instances:
Click OK.
Click OK on the Cluster Created Successfully page that appears.
For more details on how to administer clusters, server instances, and node agents, see Deploying Node Agents.


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Clinical Exposures: A perinephric pseudocyst in a cat
An 11-year-old 14.5 lb (6.6 kg) castrated male domestic shorthaired cat was presented for evaluation of a progressively distended abdomen. The cat lived exclusively indoors and was receiving insulin (Humulin L; 4 U b.i.d.) and undergoing routine monitoring for diabetes mellitus that had been diagnosed when the cat was 8 years old. Except for the abdominal distention, the owners had not noticed lethargy, changes in appetite, or any other clinical signs.
Physical examination and differential diagnoses
The results of a complete blood count were normal. The only abnormality on a serum chemistry profile was mild hyperglycemia (glucose 191 mg/dl; reference range = 63 to 139 mg/dl). All other values were normal, including creatinine (0.9 mg/dl; reference range = 0.7 to 2.4 mg/dl), blood urea nitrogen (23.4 mg/dl; reference range = 17.2 to 31.1 mg/dl), and phosphorus (7.3 mg/dl; reference range = 2.7 to 8.1 mg/dl) concentrations. Additional diagnostic tests were not performed because of financial constraints. The cat's owners opted for exploratory surgery and treatment. Although the owners did not pursue additional diagnostics, a urinalysis to further evaluate kidney function and abdominal ultrasonography and intravenous pyelography to evaluate the renal morphology would have been valuable to help narrow the differential diagnoses before exploratory surgery.
Exploratory surgery and treatment


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The Performance of De Novo Commercial Banks
by Robert DeYoung
Iftekhar Hasan
OCC Working Paper 97-3, February 1997.
Federal and state bank regulators have granted over 3,000 new bank charters since 1980. These new banks can provide the interbank rivalry necessary to keep local markets competitive in a consolidating industry. However, unless they are operated in an efficient fashion, newly chartered banks may not survive their first few rocky years of existence, and even those that survive will not make strong rivals for incumbent banks. We estimate profit efficiency for the entire population of small, urban commercial banks in 1988, 1990, 1992, and 1994, and use those estimates to track the improvement in de novo bank performance over time. Our results suggest that efficiency improves rapidly at the typical de novo bank during its first three years of operation, and that the average de novo bank attains established bank efficiency levels after nine years. We find that excess branch capacity, reliance on large deposits, and affiliation with a multibank holding company are all strongly related to low profitability at newly chartered banks. Our results also suggest that a laissez-faire chartering policy can enhance competition in local markets without creating long-term problems for industry safety and soundness.
As with all OCC Working Papers, the opinions expressed in this paper are those of the author alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency or the Department of the Treasury.
Any whole or partial reproduction of material in this paper should include the following citation: DeYoung and Hasan, "The Performance of De Novo Commercial Banks," Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, E&PA Working Paper 97-3, February 1997.


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You have until Feb 01, 2019 to return or exchange items bought after Nov 01, 2018. All other standard return policy conditions apply.
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The medium format is truly the format in the middle. It combines many of the benefits of 35 mm photography with those of the large format, making a medium format system an excellent choice for almost all types of photography from candid action with a hand-held camera to critical studio work from a tripod.
Special chapters are devoted to these different applications and the type of equipment that most likely meets your photography needs. This book explains clearly the medium format's benefits, advantages, and disadvantages and provides a comparison of the medium format to other formats so you can decide whether it is right for you and your photography.
Readership: Professional photographers (commercial, documentary, art) and advanced amateurs. The definitive book on medium format, cameras and technique, the most commonly used format of commercial photography. New material on panoramic format, apochromatic lenses, aspheric lenses, tele extenders, glass and relative illumination, and motor drives. Updated information on perspective control, tilt controls, built in metering systems, and use of apertures.
About the Author: Ernst Wildi, Independent writer, lecturer and consultant to Victor Hasselblad, lecturing all over the world on medium format photography. He has written several hundred articles on photography and filmmaking and is also the author of The Hasselblad Manual. His photographic work has won many international awards.
|Type of Media
|Ernst Wildi
|Publication Date
|July, 2001
|Number of Pages
|Cover Type
|Number of Images
|Image Type
|Color Plates, Halftones, Line Illustrations
|Packaging Info
|Package Weight
|2.7 lb
|Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
|9.3 x 7.6 x 1.1"


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NEW ULM, Minn. - The MLC football team was done in by two long touchdown passes in the fourth quarter in a 28-21 loss to Macalester Saturday.
MLC took an early 7-0 lead on a five-yard touchdown run by Andrew Becker, but the Scots tied things up late in the first quarter with a touchdown run of their own.
Macalester took the lead late in the second quarter on a 29-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Clark Bledsoe to Jon Elliott, putting MLC in a 14-7 hole heading into halftime.
After a defense held Macalester down to start the third, quarterback Greg Holzhueter led a 16-play, 87-yard drive that took 7:56 off the clock, capping it off with a one-yard score to tie the game at 14-14.
The Scots would take to the air in the fourth, scoring on a 72-yard pass from Bledsoe to Riley Koval with 6:31 remaining in the fourth to take the lead, and then scoring on a 42-yard pass from Bledsoe to Elliot to add some insurance with under four minutes to play.
The Knights continued to battle, drawing within one score on a Holzhueter nine-yard touchdown run with 33 seconds to play, but were unable to get the onside kick, allowing the Scots to take a knee and the win.
MLC's defense kept the team in the game for much of the way, with the front allowing Macalester an average of just 3.0 yards per carry. Matt Rothe finished with 20 tackles for the game, including one for loss, while Chuqee Fletcher and Ben Hansen each had 11 tackles.
Holzhueter finished the day 63 yards rushing on 19 carries, and also went 11-18 for 112 yards through the air. Aaron Voss had 59 yards on the ground on 12 carries, while Becker added 40 yards rushing and 50 yards receiving on two catches.
Bledsoe was the offensive star for Macalester, finishing the day 20-25 passing for 290 yards and three scores, and also rushing for 21 yards and a score on six carries.
The Knights will return to the field next Saturday, November 13, when they play in the season finale at Northwestern. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.


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Blogger Heather Armstrong, also known as Dooce, has announced via blog post that she and her husband Jon are temporarily separating. While the (potential) end of most any marriage is saddening, most folks don't receive an immediate outpouring from countless strangers or have their separation covered by the New York Times. Then again, most folks don't touch thousands of strangers' lives through exposing her own.
Armstrong, one of the most popular "mommy bloggers" out there (I'll happily include myself among her many fans), has long been known for her candor and willingness to tackle tough topics like her struggle with severe postpartum depression. In a heartbreaking post on Tuesday, Armstrong acknowledged that she and her husband were "taking a break," as she explained it to their 7-year-old daughter. She writes:
"My emotions sit at the bottom of my eyes. I blink often to keep them from rising any higher. In order to get through the day I pretend I'm in a pool, and before I go under water I exhale until there is no more air in my lungs. I sink to the floor and feel the weight of the water all around me, holding me down, blocking out all the noise. Down there I can move my arms and legs and cook dinner and read stories at bedtime.
"But my body inevitably revolts and sends me shooting to the surface. I gasp desperately for air, sputtering, and sometimes the water that splashes up from my face makes its way into the words on this page."
Plus: Raising Healthy, Happy Kids Through a Divorce
She reflects on the sadness of her 10-year-old self during her own parents' split, remembering her father wondering aloud how things could go so wrong, and then asks the same question of her own marriage. But there's hope here, too. She writes, "I'm sad and devastated, but I'm not sure I've ever been more stable than I am right now."
Jon also addresses the separation on his blog. He writes in a post from Tuesday, "I can't stand not waking up with my kids and making fruit smoothies where every piece of fruit gets inspected and a bite taken by Marlo. I miss making jokes with Leta at the breakfast table. Heather and I are on speaking terms. It could be a lot worse. I recognize that. It doesn't make the pain of saying goodbye everyday any less severe." Gulp.
Plus: Check Out Mama's Boy, Our Single Parenting Blog
As the daughter of divorced parents myself, I've thought a lot since becoming a mom about how hard the split must have been for my parents (my mother in particular, since she raised us); I know how hard it felt as a kid—and how angry I was at my parents. Sad, too, of course. But, at least looking back on that time, it felt like so much of that—the anger, the frustration, the devastation—just wasn't discussed. Maybe it just wasn't discussed with me, though (and rightfully so, I guess).
Plus: Books to Explain Divorce to Kids
As painful as this time must be for the Armstrong family (and they are still very much a family), I appreciate both parents' willingness to confront what's happening in a public way. Like Armstrong has already done for innumerable women suffering from PPD, I would imagine that her openness during an incredibly sad time will help others going through similar challenges.
If you have been through a separation or divorce as a parent, what was most helpful to you?


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Postcard Magnets
Attract a crowd with a helpful handout.
- Impress customers with polished presentations they'll remember.
- Customize colors, font, text and more.
- Add your name, logo and contact information.
Sorry, we don't offer this design in
Price $16.50 ...
Share a review and see what other customers are saying.


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- » Meadows, Fremd join the fun at Montini
- » Carmels Halford hits her stride at St. Francis
- » Grams, Grens recognized for achievement
- » Stevenson grad Thut stars for Marquette
- » Libertyville athletes think pink
- » St. Viator's Goss commits to Siena
- » Haws rows ahead at Minnesota
- » Hanson-Tuntland achieves pro dream
- » Former Barrington star to play for Illini
- » LZ's Berwanger reaps vollleyball honors
- » MSL teams dedicate week to breast cancer
- » Stevenson grad Shopiro makes big splash
- » Barreiro to coach IBCA North all-stars
- » Molnar delivers award-winning season
- » Fendley adds IBCA honor to her resume
- More from John Leusch
There are not many coaches from the Chicago suburbs who can say they were part of an IHSA state basketball championship team.
But thats what happened for George Verber as an assistant to Maine South coach Quitman Sullins when the Hawks won the 1979 Class AA state title.
Verber, who died from leukemia on Jan. 22, went on to become the head coach at Maine West for three seasons and led the Warriors to a conference championship in the 1981-82 season.
That was the same year Derril Kipp took over the girls basketball program at Maine West.
He helped teach our kids the 1-3-1 defense we used in 1985 when we beat Maine South to go downstate, said Kipp, a Hall of Fame coach. Maine South was No. 1 in state and we beat them in the Conant supersectional.
George was just a great coach and very intense. He was filled with knowledge. He really helped Quitman with the defense for that 1979 Maine South team.
Verber, a longtime Arlington Heights resident, also served as a head basketball coach at Maine South and coached baseball for many years.
He ended his career coaching track and field as an assistant to Maine South coach Bill Drennan.
By the end of his career, George had stepped back from his sports of baseball and basketball, but still wanted to coach, Drennan said. He knew that I was looking for a sprint coach for our track team.
Verber told Drennan he would retire in three years, and that he knew nothing about track.
But he thought he could help our program, Drennan said. Knowing George and knowing he was an outstanding coach, I agreed to take him on.
I told him that I would tell him what he needed to know about track and let him coach the athletes. With Georges help we qualified sprinters to the state meet each year he coached. He loved the sport, and we were thrilled that he was with us.
Mens soccer
Rutgers sophomore midfielder Brian Goss (St. Viator) has been named the fourth and final captain for the upcoming 2013 season,.
As we head through the preseason and prepare for the upcoming spring, it was obvious to the coaching staff that Brian has become a leader both on and off the field who complimented our other three captains, said Rutgers coach Brecht. We are excited to have Brian become one of our leaders as we get ready to start the 2013 season.
In 2012, Goss finished his first Rutgers season as the only freshman to start all 15 games. He totaled 20 points on 11 goals and nine assists. The midfielder collected 16 groundballs on the year and was named to the BIG EAST weekly honor roll on April 16.
Womens tennis
In a dual meet against Iowa, Iowa State senior Jenna Langhorst (Fremd) dropped the first set of her No. 5 singles match, 1-6, but responded by taking the next set by the score of 6-4.
Langhorst took the final set with a score of 6-1 to give the Cyclones their only point of the meet.
Earlier in the day, Langhorst and doubles partner, Emma Waites, teamed up for a No. 3 doubles victory. Langhorst and Waites defeated Ellen Silver and Christina Harazin of Iowa, 8-3.
I just wanted to come out here my senior year against an in-state rival, and I really wanted to go out with a bang, Langhorst said. I really wanted to win, and I fought really hard.
Cyclones coach Armando Espinosa was impressed with Langhorsts play.
I couldnt be happier for her in her senior year, Espinosa said. Against a big in-state rival, its great to see her fight through the first set. She stuck with it, and she knew what she needed to do.
Mens basketball
Minnesota State sophomore guard Zach Monaghan (Fremd) is the third-leading scorer (12.5 points) for the 18-2 Mavericks.
Monaghan, who has started all 20 games, leads the team with 46 steals and also has 39 assists.
Washington (St. Louis) junior forward Chris Klimek (Fremd) is the leading scorer for the 16-4 Bears with 16.0 per game. Klimek also has 36 assists, 18 steals and averages 5.4 rebounds.
Klimek recently scored in double figures in seven straight games and has done it 16 times in 20 games.
Washington junior guard Alan Aboona (St. Viator)scored a game-high 18 points with 4-of-7 three-pointers in the Bears 78-57 win over Case Western Reserve University.
Illinois Wesleyans Kevin Reed (Prospect) finished with a double-double of 11 points and a career-high 16 rebounds in a 71-52 victory over Elmhurst. The Titans moved to 8-0 in conference play for the first time since the 1995-96 season.
Womens basketball
Carthages Stephanie Kuzmanic led the Lady Reds with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists in a 66-44 victory over Millikin.
TEAMMSL basketball
Registration for TEAMMSL basketball is now open. This Spring, TEAMMSL is offering leagues for fifth through ninth grade boys and girls and a junior session for grades kindergarten through fourth grade boys and girls.
TEAMMSL is an offseason developmental program emphasizing the fundamentals of basketball and improving athleticism.
All practices (except for juniors) are located at Harper Community College. TEAMMSL is NOT AAU basketball. It is an offseason developmental program focusing on the individual with no weekend commitment.
TEAMMSL works with any athlete feeding in to any of the 12 Mid-Suburban League schools and St. Viator. Go to WWW.TEAMMSL.COM for details and registration.
Rossi Scholarship Fund
Senior MidSuburban League wrestlers may be eligible for a onetime financial grant of $1,000 or more to be applied to their first year college or vocational school tuition.
The 2012 winners were Danny Kush (Barrington), Kevin Modelski (Conant) Jordan Rathje (Buffalo Grove) and Scott Steffens (Wheeling).
In 2011 Mike Smith (Wheeling), Steve Polasik (Barrington) and Mike Sells (Conant) were the worthy recipients.
Family and friends of Kevin Rossi Rossdeutcher, a 1979 graduate of Prospect High School, wish to honor his memory.
In an effort to do so, they have created the Wrestle for Rossi Scholarship Fund to reward local high school wrestlers who best exemplify his spirit, attitude and zest for life and his passion for wrestling.
Rossdeutcher was a three-year varsity wrestler who won back-to-back MSL conference championships, two regional titles and was a state qualifier.
He also won or placed at numerous other tournaments. He went on to wrestle at Harper Junior College where he succeeded as a national qualifier.
Rossdeutcher succumbed to brain cancer in November of 2007 but never gave up his spirit.
Every MidSuburban League high school senior wrestler will be eligible for a Wrestle for Rossi Scholarship award.
Eligible wrestlers must exhibit the character, hard work, passion and dedication to his family, friends, school, his team and his sport that led Kevin Rossdeutcher to his success.
The scholarship is not necessarily intended for the best wrestler on a team, but rather a wrestler that has worked hard during practice and the offseason, has shown passion for the sport and has possessed determination to be the best wrestler and person that he can be.
Every athlete must complete a brief application and essay, and submit two reference letters (one from his wrestling coach and one from an unrelated third party such as an employer, high school teacher or religious leader).
Every spring the Team Rossi Scholarship Committee will select one or more award winners from the pool of applicants. The committee will consider wrestling achievements as well as academic accomplishments and financial need.
The Team Rossi Scholarship Committee shall grant one or more awards of $1,000 to $2,500 to deserving individual(s).
Awards will be paid directly to the post graduate academic institution of all winners.
Applications must be submitted by March 25 and awards will be announced in the spring.
Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
Contact your coach for an Application or email to email@example.com.
Team Rossi is a recognized 501(c)(3) organization. To contribute to the scholarship fund please contact email@example.com.
Stallions get ready
The Arlington Stallions Rugby Club has started its indoor training program for their 2013 Spring season. The last two indoor sessions will be held in the Hersey High School Fieldhouse on Fridays, Feb. 8 and 15 from 6-8 p.m. On Monday, Feb. 25, the club starts outdoor sessions at Olympic Park in Schaumburg from 5-7 p.m. New players are always welcome.
The Stallions will hold a joint fund-raiser with the Ronald McDonald House of Chicago on Feb. 19 and 20 in honor of one of their long-term players who had to deal with leukemia in 2012. The event will take place at the Arlington Heights California Pizza Kitchen.
For more information and an event flyer, visit the club website at www.arlingtonstallionsrugby.com.
Stallions alumni currently playing college rugby are Kevin Lydon (Conant) at Davenport University, Joey Conley (Buffalo Grove) at DePaul, David Hogan (Rolling Meadows) at Lake Forest, Josh Cunningham (Hersey) at Xavier, Andrew Collins (Hersey) at Dayton, Josh Bojes (Conant) at Western Illinois and Marcus Niro (St. Viator) at Colorado.
Please email Sports Notes items to firstname.lastname@example.com or FAX to (847) 427-1173.


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New Delhi: It`s not a Friday but two mega films are coming out Nov 13 because it is Diwali, a much-awaited date on the Bollywood calendar. Yash Chopra`s last directorial 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' (JTHJ) and Ajay Devgn-starrer 'Son Of Sardaar' (SOS) are releasing together Tuesday, leaving audiences a tough choice to make.
On the one hand, there is Ajay, whose last films 'Singham' and 'Bol Bachchan' raked in the moolah at the box office, and on the other is the deadly combination of Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma, AR Rahman and Gulzar.
The films are different in genre - if SOS is a comedy, JTHJ promises oodles of romance and emotions. Trade pundits have predicted that the two films will join Bollywood`s growing club of Rs.100-crore grossers.
The movies have been in the news for a while.
Along with their extensive promotions across the country, they have grabbed headlines for a legal issue regarding the screen space allotted to them. Ajay Devgn Ffilms (ADF) filed a legal complaint against Yash Raj Films (YRF) alleging malpractice in connection with the clash of both the releases. ADF claimed YRF used its dominant position in the industry to ask exhibitors to dedicate more screens to JTHJ instead of SOS.
It would be interesting to see how the films fare at the box office.
YRF has claimed to book less than 1,500 single screens out of the 10,500-plus single screens available on an all-India basis for JTHJ, and it will reportedly release the movie on 600 to 650 screens overseas.
Produced by Aditya Chopra, JTHJ has reportedly been made at a budget of Rs.50 crore. The trailers of the movie have the Yash Chopra trademark of scenic foreign locations, candyfloss romance, heartwarming emotions, some thought-provoking lyrics and poetry and, last but not the least, glamorous wardrobe.
There was already a strong buzz around the movie as it marked Yash Chopra`s comeback as a director after eight years. But his sudden death Oct 21, following dengue, has spread even a stronger buzz. It is, after all, his last film.
But SOS doesn`t seem to be giving it an easy fight.
Directed by Ashwni Dhir, the film is a remake of Telugu movie "Maryada Ramanna", which in itself is a remake of the 1923 American silent movie "Our Hospitality".
The cast of the film boasts of names like Sanjay Dutt, Juhi Chawla and Sonakshi Sinha. In terms of cost, it is reportedly costlier with Rs.80 crore budget and will hit 350 screens in the overseas market.
So, expect fireworks at the Box Office this festive season.


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Car Review
2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG: First Drive Review
The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG riffs on the attractively priced, $29,900 CLA250 with a thorough, performance-focused reworking of the compact sedan.
With a starting price of $47,450 -- a considerable premium over the standard CLA250 model -- does the new CLA45 AMG deliver enough driving satisfaction to warrant its 60 percent price hike?
How to Cope With Power, AMG Style
The standard CLA250 delivers solid, predictable handling via a front-wheel-drive platform, which is a first-time offering for North American Mercedes-Benz buyers. While the available 4Matic version delivers sportier, more balanced handling, the AMG version takes full advantage of the 4Matic's all-wheel-drive layout to pump more oopmh onto the road via all four wheels.
And when it comes to output, the CLA45 AMG's engine is quite the powerhouse, delivering 355 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, making this pint-sized sedan the most powerful 4-cylinder in the world. As for specific output (that is, the amount of horsepower produced per liter of engine displacement), the CLA45 AMG's turbocharged 2.0-liter mill is the second-highest performer in the world, churning 177.5 hp/liter, second only to the 7-figure McLaren P1 supercar.
According to Mercedes-Benz, the CLA45 can launch to 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds. Along with the requisite power boost come other mechanical upgrades, including a reworked 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, tighter suspension and steering, louder engine exhaust and beefier brakes.
... Plus, the Usual AMG Trimmings. Sorta.
An AMG wouldn't be an AMG if it didn't have the looks to match its spec sheet, and the CLA45 backs up its performance with more aggressive bodywork and trim, more heavily bolstered seats and higher-spec finishes.
While red-blooded driving enthusiasts will likely enjoy details such as crimson-on-black stitching and colorful seat belts, luxury fanatics may find some details fall short -- for instance, the plushness of the Alcantara or how the door panel meets the interior edges of the C-pillar.
While the CLA45 is a notable step up from the CLA250 in terms of interior finishes and comes across as a more special experience for the driver and passengers, it doesn't quite compare to its more luxurious AMG stablemates residing farther up the Mercedes-Benz food chain.
Road (and Track) Manners
Our street test of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG covered the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, which features some of the most militantly policed stretches of public roads in America. As such, we were limited by 35-mph speed limits and a healthy fear of local law enforcement.
While the suspension felt stiff and noncompliant on bumpy city roads, the glassy smooth tarmac of the Parkway revealed responsive handling and impressive grip. Power from the diminutive turbocharged 4-cylinder doesn't feel explosive or untamed but smooth and progressive, with a strong urgency thanks to the flexibility of the 7-speed gearbox. The transmission tends to be jerky during stop-and-go traffic, though its adaptive tuning seemed to soften up gear shifts when we simmered our driving style down. As with many performance-focused gearboxes, harder driving yields quicker shifts, which makes the CLA45 feel more in its element when it's being driven like it was stolen.
To push its limits further than we felt comfortable doing on public roads, we hot-lapped the CLA45 at the Streets of Willow track several weeks later in the California desert. Unlike public roads, where the CLA45 felt quick and competent, on the track the small AMG's capabilities seemed less substantial. Because the all-wheel-drive system is tuned to only divert a maximum of 50 percent of power to the rear wheels (and defaults to 100 percent toward the front unless conditions warrant otherwise), the pumped-up CLA didn't quite feel in its element on the tight turns of the track. The handling that seemed sharp and controlled on public roads felt softer and less sporty at Willow, especially when pushed harder, though engine power was satisfyingly strong. While overall grip levels were still impressively high, the car's performance envelope didn't feel quite as buttoned down as it could have been, due to the body roll and the limitations of the front-wheel-drive platform.
AutoTrader Says
The standard CLA250 enters new territory for Mercedes-Benz, taking a stab at conquest buyers who wouldn't necessarily feel deep-pocketed enough to join the ranks of triple-pointed star owners otherwise. Starting at just under $30,000 before destination charge, the CLA250 is a tempting choice thanks to its strong value proposition and distinctive styling. The CLA45 AMG? Well, that's a harder sell, not only because of its $47,450 starting price, but because the total spend can swell to around $60,000 -- a much richer territory for fast, attractive cars.
While Mercedes-Benz fans will find plenty to enjoy with the CLA45 AMG, driving enthusiasts seeking a more hardcore, track-focused sedan will want to take a closer look at the competition.


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Turkey Dinner Cupcakes
Total TimePrep: 1-1/2 hours
Makes2 dozen
- 2-inch slice pound cake (Sara Lee)
- 2 cups corn flakes
- Green and yellow food coloring (McCormick)
- 2 cans (16 ounces each) vanilla frosting
- 24 vanilla cupcakes baked in orange foil liners
- 24 honey wheat sticks (Pringles)
- 144 soft caramels (Kraft)
- Orange round candies (Sixlets)
- Yellow and purple candy-coated sunflower seeds (Sunny Seed Drops)
- Ground cinnamon
- 1. Tint 3 tablespoons of the vanilla frosting light green with the green and yellow food coloring. Spoon the frosting into a resealable bag; set aside. Spoon 3 tablespoons vanilla frosting into a resealable bag; set aside.
- 2. Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper. Place the corn flakes in a large bowl. Tint 1/2 cup of the vanilla frosting green with the green food coloring. Heat the green frosting in a microwave-safe bowl until liquid, about 10 to 15 seconds, stirring well. Pour the frosting over the corn flakes and toss until completely coated. Pour the coated corn flakes onto the prepared cookie sheet and spread out into a single layer. Allow the corn flakes to dry, about 30 minutes.
- 3. Meanwhile, cut the pound cake into 1/8-in. cubes; cover until ready to use.
- 4. Cut the wheat sticks in half. Soften several caramels in the microwave for no more than 3 seconds. Flatten a caramel slightly and place one end of a wheat stick in the center of the flattened caramel.
- Bring the caramel up and over the end of the wheat stick and shape into a drumstick. Trim the overhanging end of the wheat stick to 1/2 in. with a serrated knife. Continue to make 48 drumsticks.
- 5. Microwave four caramels at a time to soften, about 3 seconds. Press the caramels together and roll them out to a 3-1/2-in. diameter. Cut caramels into a 3-1/2-in. circle with a round cookie cutter or the opening of a glass. Cut out an opening for the stuffing about 1-1/2 in. wide and deep. Repeat with the remaining caramels to make 24 skins. Place the caramel skins between sheets of waxed paper. (The drumsticks and skins can be made up to 4 days in advance and kept in an airtight container.)
- 6. Place a mound of vanilla frosting on top of a cupcake; top with a caramel turkey skin. Tuck the edge of the caramel in 1/4 in. from the edge of the cupcake. Use a small knife to push the caramel into the frosting: it will make the turkey look plumper and give room for the lettuce corn flakes. Pinch the ends of the caramel opening; some of the frosting will pop out. Press some of the cake cubes into the frosting as the stuffing.
- 7. Lightly brush one side of each drumstick with a bit of water. Press each drumstick to each side of the stuffing opening. Hold several seconds to secure. Repeat with the remaining drumsticks.
- 8. Snip a small corner from the bag with the vanilla frosting. Add the green corn flakes around the edge of the cupcake to look like lettuce. Use some vanilla frosting if necessary to help secure. Pipe dots of vanilla frosting on the ends of the wheat sticks to look like the ends of the turkey bones. Add more cake cubes as stuffing if desired.
- 9. Snip a small corner from the bag with the light green frosting.
- Pipe a few dots around the turkey and add the candies and seeds as fruit. Cluster the purple seeds as a bunch of grapes and pipe a dot of frosting on top as the stems. Sprinkle the top of the caramel turkey with some cinnamon.
Follow along as we show you how to make these fantastic recipes from our archive.
My Review
Nov 14, 2014
Very cute
Nov 26, 2012
Wouldn't these be wonderful as place card holders at each place setting! What a unique "eye candy" for our guests...plus it is dessert
Jul 31, 2012
way to complacted
Dec 13, 2011
It was fun but very time consuming. I did not like the corn flake part of it so I used icing instead. I tried to make it look like lettuce. I gave away about 30 and everyone loved them. I will do them again.
Dec 5, 2011
I added one simple step to this, I filled the cupcake with jellied cranberry sauce. Overall the outcome was and ok product but you definitely need to set aside the whole day to do this recipe. Very time consuming. The carmel stuck to the wax paper as I was trying to make flat. The corn flakes didn't take the frosting as nicely as in the picture. My cupcakes were smaller so I had to adjust the "turkey" accordingly. I got one done and didn't have the patience to do the rest. So I just filled the rest with the jelly and did frosting as normal. The family did really like and was amazed with the one cupcake though. So if you have the patience for the recipe its really well received , but definitely not as easy as they make it look in the video.
Nov 23, 2011
Hi everyone, I just wanted to take the time to let you all know that the Turkey cupcakes, come from the cupcake, Hello Cupcake by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, They make such amazing cupcakes. There is also another book they have out called Whats New cupcake,and another book that is comming out in january called, Cupcakes Cookis and Pie Oh My. Personaly, I love these books and I order from Amazon.com. I have always wanted to be a pastry chef, but , unfortunately, It never happened. I am now disabled from 2 bad accidents, but I still bake, no matter how bad it gets, I love the cake, cookie and cupcake decorating. I do that now, Im teaching myself, and its not easy, sone wrote in their review about these cupcakes that they should have a video showing you how to do this, Oh, Hello cupcake also has a web site, they have some how to do videos, I hope that helps,before I forget, dkeaton55, you said that you couldnt find the chocolate covered sunflower seads, I know that it is to late now, but I just received this taste of home in my email, Nuts online has them, at the price is pretty good for a pound, also, in the back of the Hello cupcake books, they have sources on where you can get things, but the cupcakes, really do not need any fancy baking tools.Somethings might have to be ordered online, for me I dont have a choice, as I said I am disabled and I cant drive anymore., Im sorry if this reveview was long winded, but baking is something I am really passionate about, I hope this might help some of you, And I hope you check out the books I talked about, They really are pretty amazing, you'll know what I mean if you take a look or buy them.especially that you pretty much use everyday things. A very Happy Thanksgiving, as well as a happy and healthy holiday to come. once again, sorry about this being to long.
Nov 21, 2011
These are fun to make if you take the time. I got a lot of compliments.
Nov 21, 2011
I haven't made these, but in reading the directions the inside of the turkey is all frosting, I think I would try using a malted Milk ball in the center as it would give you something more solid to work against and not quite as sweet. I would love to try these, but it won't be this Thanksgiving. Happy Holidays to all.
Nov 21, 2011
Quite time consuming, and too sweet to eat! They were adorable however, and were worth it all for the presentation. :)
Nov 16, 2011
I haven't made these cupcakes yet but can't wait to get started. I can't find the sixlets and the candy coated sunflower seeds.


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|Episode Description
|Thursday, Feb 21, 2013 - 8:00 AM
"Japanese Supersub"
In spring 1946 the United States destroyed one of Japan's most advanced weapons systems - the I-401 aircraft carrier submarine - rather than share the discovery with the Soviets as required at the end of World War II. The innovative ship could launch attack bombers within seven minutes of reaching the surface. This program investigates Japan's efforts to take submarine technology beyond the known limits. of the 1940s. G
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With the victory Framingham State improves to 9-1 and completed the conference circuit with a perfect 8-0 mark. They await word on a possible Pool B or C spot when the seedings are announced for the NCAA Division III Football Championships on Sunday.
The Lancers, who were blanked for the first time since their home opener on September 11, 2009 against WPI, wrap up their season at 3-7 and 1-7 on the campaign.
Framingham State rolled out 453 yards of total offense and maintained possession of the ball for almost 40 minutes (39:17). The Rams also limited the hosts to just 72 yards of total offense and the fifth best passing attack in the NCAA Division III entering the game (341.6 YPG) to just 67 yards through the air.
Sophomore Matt Silva (Dracut, MA) also paced the FSU offense going 20-for-33 with 257 passing yards and two scores. Classmate Travis Hayes (Framingham, MA) hauled in seven receptions for 120 and both touchdowns.
Worcester State was paced offensively by senior AJ Scerra (Marlboro, MA) who had three catches for 27 yards to finish as the sixth-most receptions in Division III New England football history (207). Scerra's 66 catches on the campaign is the third highest sum in the program annuls.
Van Alstyne is now just 68 yards away from the top Division III New England rushing record and 205 off 7,000 all-purpose yards.
Framingham State used their first possession of the opening frame to take the early 7-0 lead when Van Alstyne scored on a four-yard plunge with 9:47 on the clock.
After punting the ball away on their next series, the Lancers got the ball back on a junior Mike Goulden's (Rehoboth, MA) team-leading fourth interception of the campaign. However, the Rams defense buckled down and forced another three-and-out.
Both teams then failed to score on their next two drives until the Rams made the score 13-0 on a two-yard rumble by Van Alstyne with 6:46 left in the second quarter (PAT failed).
Framingham State led at the intermission 20-0 after Hayes beat his man on single coverage on a 39-yard flick from Silva with 2:24 left in the first half.
The Rams did nothing on their first series of the third quarter, but got the ball back on a junior Ony Ramos (Lawrence, MA) pickoff at the Lancers 28 yard-line. FSU promptly pounced on the opportunity on a 28 yard scoring strike from Silva to Hayes with 10:19 on the clock.
Framingham State put the game away on a 23-yard field goal by senior Will Menter (Haverhill, MA) near the end of the third and a one-yard scamper by Van Alstyne with 10:58 in the fourth.
For the Rams defensively, senior Jeff Touron (Brockton, MA) collected three sacks for a loss of 14 yards for the Rams while junior Kevin Donahue (Norfolk, MA) added a fumble recovery.
Senior Adam Straughn (Rockland, MA) distinguished himself with a game-best 13 solo tackles including five for a loss of 17 yards and one sack.
Junior Teddy Ferreira (Mansfield, MA) also had eight tackles (seven solo) as junior Sean Hanley (Wilmington, MA) finished with seven solo tackles, one TFL and a pass deflection.
Junior Dana Valentine (Roxbury, MA) also had 70 kickoff return yards on a trio of runbacks.


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A falling piece of equipment struck Kristin Chenoweth on the set of The Good Wife in Brooklyn on Wednesday, sending her to the hospital in an ambulance.
The condition of the 43-year-old actress was not immediately known.
Paramedics responded to a 911 call at 5:07 p.m. of a woman being hit by scaffolding, according to TMZ, which quotes a witness as saying a gust of wind knocked lighting equipment into Chenoweth.
The actress fell to the ground and hit her head on the concrete, the witness tells TMZ.
RELATED: Kristin Chenoweth Released from Hospital After Good Wife Accident
A New York City Fire Department spokesman tells the Associated Press that a woman suffered minor injures at that location but the spokesman wouldn't identify her.
Chenoweth, a Tony-winning Broadway star and an Emmy winner for Pushing Daisies, has a recurring role on the CBS drama.


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Item 2 of 20
Eastman Bros. & Bancroft Department Store, Portland, ca. 1910Item 26153 info
Maine Historical Society
Employees included "cash girls" who made $2 a week through the most desirable job, department head, where women earned $20 to 25 a week.
The position of buyer also was sought after. And, it might lead to other things.
Anita Files, for instance, started work as a milliner's apprentice, then became a salesclerk, moving up to buyer and head of the millinery department the J.R. Libby store. In 1927, she opened her own shop.
While a buyer, she went to New York every three weeks to learn about the latest fashions and buy materials for the department store.


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Time of Establishment:
Present Director: Narendra Reddy
Brief Introduction: The USP (The University of the South Pacific) region covers thousands of islands, spread over 33 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean with 1.9 million people, hundreds of distinct cultures and many different languages. USP is a dual mode teaching institution and has 3 campuses and 14 centers, one in each of the member island nations. The Faculty of Business & Economics is one of the largest faculties of USP and the School of Management and Public Administration is one of the major schools in the faculty. The school prides itself on the quality and relevance of its educational programs and the support and opportunities it provides for students and other key stakeholders. The staff in the school provide learning opportunities of the highest standards, and through their experience & research, both academic and scholarly, ensure that teaching and learning materials are at the forefront of business education. The department is constantly rethinking programs and subject areas and has recently developed new learning opportunities in such areas as: International Marketing, Total Quality Management, Decision Making, Services Management, New Venture Creation and Management Applications and Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management for public servants in the South Pacific Region.
Curriculums: Management Applications, Human Resource Management, Strategic Management, Operations Management, Organizational Behavior, Business Analysis, New Venture Creation, International Marketing, etc.
Address: School of Management and Public Administration, Faculty of Business and Economics, The University of the South Pacific, Private Bag, Laucala Campus, Suva, Fiji.
Tel: (+679) 323 2137


text: A statement released by the Army Corps of Engineers states water released out of Gavins Point Dam in Yankton, S.D. will be decreased to minimum winter levels beginning the third week of November. The statement also added a reduction of releases to minimum winter levels is the first of several drought conservation measures the Corps will take if the drought conditions continue into 2013. "Winter releases from Gavins Point will be targeted at minimum levels, averaging close to 12,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) from December through the end of February to conserve water in the reservoir system," said Jody Farhat, Chief of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division. "Temporary increases above 12,000 cfs may be necessary to keep water intakes along the lower river operational particularly during periods of ice formation." "Historically there has always been a reduce in flow at the end of the season which varies from the first part of November to the first part of December," Eastern District County Commissioner Paul Davis said. The Navigation Season for the Central Missouri Region begins in late March and continues through November. Davis also said there is not enough water to support year round navigation. Because of this the Corps has to allocate water to certain areas as the need arises. "You will not see any towboats this winter," Davis said. Davis also added that the Corps try to accommodate the passage of barges in late Autumn due to the transportation of grain and likewise in the Spring with the transportation of Fertilizer. Davis said that the Corp will guarantee water for drinking. Furthermore, the Corps will likely take into action other drought conservation measures in regards to navigation flow support and navigation season length during 2013. Based on the current forecast, the Corps will likely decrease navigation flow support for the first half of next year's navigation season. The actual service level will be set based on the March 15 system storage in accordance with guidelines in the Missouri River Master Manual, the water control plan used by the Corps to manage Missouri River operations. Flow support for the second half of the navigation season, as well as the navigation season length, may be reduced based on the July 1 storage check if drought conditions persist.


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Autonomic nervous system, cortisol response influenced by horticultural activities
A study examined how horticultural activities affect stress relief for patients who are mentally challenged. Two experiments conducted at a rehabilitation center and a residential home in South Korea measured heart rate variation and cortisol levels of mentally challenged adults. The researcher concluded that indoor horticultural activities have an effect on the subjects' stress relief. Participation in planting activities resulted in the greatest positive influence on subjects' autonomic nervous system responses.
DAEGU, SOUTH KOREA—Participation in horticultural activities can improve confidence and social skills, cultivate a positive attitude, and rejuvenate the mind and body. Many studies have emphasized the effects of horticultural activities in relation to physical and psychological rehabilitation, but few have considered the influence of these types of activities on mentally challenged people's autonomic nervous system (ANS) and on the stress hormone cortisol. A new study examined how activities such as pressing flowers, planting, creating flower arrangements, and making topiaries affect stress relief for patients who are mentally challenged.
In the first experiment of the study, the heart rate variation (HRV) was measured in 30 mentally challenged people at a rehabilitation center in Daegu, South Korea. Researchers in the second experiment measured the cortisol levels of 20 mentally challenged people from a residential home in Yeongcheon, South Korea. Min-Jung Lee from the Department of Horticultural Therapy at the Catholic University of Daegu (South Korea) published the results of both experiments in a report in HortTechnology.
For the first experiment, subjects participated in four indoor horticultural activities: a pressed flower activity, flower planting, flower arranging, and topiary crafting. Participants' heart rate variation was measured five minutes before and five minutes after each horticultural activity was performed. The pressed flower group and the planting group showed a significant improvement in the standard deviation of the normal–normal (SDNN) interval heart rate variation measurements. The planting group's SDNN and low frequency (LF) significantly improved; a significant improvement in total power (TP) and high frequency was also observed. The flower arrangement group displayed a significant difference in LF, while the topiary group showed a significant difference in TP.
The second experiment used the same four horticultural activities, but collected participants' saliva in order to analyze their cortisol levels. Compared with the baseline measurement, the pressed flower group displayed a significant decrease in cortisol density from the first to the seventh day of testing, however no significant difference was observed on the fourth day. The planting group showed a significantly decreasing difference in cortisol density on day seven compared with day four. The topiary group continued to show a significant decrease in cortisol density at each cortisol collection after the first day of topiary activities.
Interestingly, the participants in the flower arrangement group showed increased stress (as measured by low frequency), and showed no great change in cortisol density. "We inferred that activities such as cutting stems with shears and arranging the cut stems in the exact location are difficult jobs for mentally challenged people", Lee said.
The topiary group exhibited a significant difference in total power, and not only had the most significant difference in TP but also had the largest significant decrease in cortisol density among the four indoor horticultural activities. Lee noted that topiary activities are thought to be fairly valuable in aiding emotional stability and vocational rehabilitation for mentally challenged people.
The research supports previous studies that show that touching and mixing soil affects the activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and relieves stress. Planting activities resulted not only in the greatest change in mentally challenged people's ANS but also in a significant gradual decrease in cortisol density.
Lee concluded that planting activities are the most effective horticultural activity for stress relief and added that the extension of indoor planting activities to outdoor planting activities targeted for mentally challenged individuals will have a greater effect not only on vocational rehabilitation, but also on emotional stability.
The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortTechnology electronic journal web site: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/20/6/971
Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education, and application. More information at ashs.org
This press release also available on EurekAlert! - view here
Original Article:
Effects of Various Horticultural Activities on the Autonomic Nervous System and Cortisol Response of Mentally Challenged Adults
Min-Jung Lee
HortTechnology 20:971–976. [Abstract][Full Text][PDF]


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The Library of Congress is full of wonderful treasures, and today it released a new chestful: a collection of interviews on topics such as sex, drugs and rock and roll.
Included is Paul McCartney relating how pot and other drugs boosted the Beatles' creativity: "Sgt. Pepper owes a lot to drugs, to pot. That was us getting into that. It was rather innocent compared to what you talk about these days. It was very innocent. It was never seriously heavy stuff. Things got heavy later with one or two of us. Then, it was quite mild. It was like a drink. It was nothing. It was never lethal. It was never that crazy. We were never sort of out on the floor like you'd hear about Stones sessions where you couldn't wake the guitarist up. … Possibilities started to come in like mad. So that was a very rich period."
The interviews were done by Joe Smith, a record-label executive who had amazing access to music's stars. In June, he donated the collection of more than 200 interviews, and the library is making them available free to the public on its website. The first group of 25 includes the words of giants from Bo Diddley to Mick Jagger, Linda Rondstadt to Yoko Ono.
McCartney also notes that lyrics to the song Paperback Writer (a personal favorite of mine) were originally cast as a letter to the editor. He says it was another example of the group broadening its subject matter through the influence of illicit substances.
The interviews are fascinating, and worth a break from literary pursuits. You can also take a look at Smith's book, "Off the Record," which detailed some of the interviews. But hearing the voices is a great treat, even if the sound quality is sometimes muddied, and the noise of police sirens or jets can be heard in the background.
"One of the great things about the interviews is how relaxed many of them are," Matt Barton, the library's recorded sound curator, said in a statement. "They're not on camera and they're talking to someone who's very much a colleague and a peer, if not a musical artist. The tone is very different and the camera isn't on them."
Here are excerpts from other interviews:
Mick Jagger on the Rolling Stones' outlaw image: "I think there was a lot of time wasted with this band with all that image stuff. And eventually, of course, I think it contributed to Brian (Jones) cracking up completely and to a certain extent Keith (Richards) becoming a junkie."
Yoko Ono on the breakup of The Beatles: "Paul was the only one trying to hold The Beatles together. But, then again, the other three felt that Paul was trying to hold The Beatles together as HIS band. They were getting to be like Paul's band, which they didn't like….There was an incredible period of unpleasantness for John, so he was in fact delighted that he was out of it."
Tony Bennett on Louis Armstrong: "He invented jazz. He invented the whole art of popular music. He actually invented it. … He was the fountainhead. There isn't any note or anything in popular music that's ever been done that Louis Armstrong didn't do before anybody else. He did everything."
Bo Diddley on Elvis: "Elvis Presley copied me and Jackie Wilson – he combined the two acts together. At the time, he had a good thing going. I thank God that he did. I take my hat off to him. The name of the game is make money, and that's what he did. He was a lucky man. I haven't seen anybody else come behind him and do that same thing except Michael Jackson and Prince. I still don't think they've stepped in Elvis's shoes."