text:
(BPT) – One of the most exciting parts of parenthood is watching your children learn as they grow. Of course, life's lessons can be tough just as often as they can be pleasant. And as you want to protect kids from falling off their bike or scraping a knee, you also want to set them up for a successful financial future, as free from worries as possible.
One of the best things you can do to prepare your kids for a lifetime of handling money is to get them started early. But it isn't only about timing – following through with lessons and providing plenty of explanation is essential.
Keep these tips in mind to give your kids a leg up in learning about finances.
* Start saving. The earlier you can get your kids into the habit of saving, the more they'll have to enjoy down the road. The concept doesn't need to be overly complex – and it shouldn't be, when you're dealing with very young children. Piggy banks are a perfect tool for starting saving habits; a simple glass jar works, too, and gives kids an exciting visual to associate with their savings. As your children grow, so should their ideas about saving money. Opening a real savings account in your child's name is not only an exciting event for her, it builds an early understanding of banking. Some schools and banks even have partnerships that allow students to make deposits at school. If your school doesn't offer such a program, make trips to the bank with your kids and show them how to monitor their accounts.
* Have ongoing conversations about money. Making your children comfortable with discussing finances is a gift that, while not flashy, will serve them well throughout their lives. Start conversations about needs versus wants, budgeting and life's necessary expenditures. Encourage price comparison skills by going grocery shopping together and looking at different brands. Set an example by telling kids how you save up to buy an item that you want and ways that you cut costs – and what you can get from the savings. If there's something your child wants, provide guidance and ideas for how to save up the amount needed to make the purchase.
* Effectively use an allowance. An allowance is a tricky thing – it can be a good teaching tool, but you don't want your kids to view it as a handout. Whether or not you choose to associate chores with an allowance is up to you, but you should have discussions with your children about when allowances will be paid, and how they can be spent – or saved. Encourage savings by providing two bank envelopes – one for savings and one for spending. If your budget allows for it, consider a "match" program in which you contribute a percentage every time your child makes a savings deposit.
* Don't be afraid of mistakes. Some of the most powerful lessons lie in making mistakes, so don't be afraid to let your children make some less-than-perfect decisions. Whether they overspend their budgets or waste money on something frivolous and later regret it, it's important for them to learn the consequences of financial mismanagement early in life.
Teaching kids about money can be daunting, but doing so lays the groundwork for a stable financial future. Whenever possible, make lessons about money fun, yet practical; emphasize that money doesn't have to be scary, and that good things come from using it wisely.
Visit the Equifax Finance Blog (blog.equifax.com) for more useful information and tips on managing family money matters.


text:
Coolhaus' Fried Chicken & Waffle Ice Cream
An Unexpected Combination
If you love the flavor of fried chicken and waffles you're in luck: this recipe takes the flavor of chicken and waffles and mixes it into a brown butter and maple syrup ice cream base.
Never made ice cream before? Visit the Coolhaus ice cream truck for a taste and try their other delicious flavors.
Cooking Directions
To make basic caramel:
In a small, heavy bottom sauce pan, combine the sugar and water to make a damp sand consistency. Carefully clean the sides of the pot using a little water to avoid the formation of sugar crystals.
Over medium heat, allow the sugar to dissolve and come to a boil. When it starts to color, gently swirl the liquid to ensure even caramelization. Cook to a medium amber, then lower the stove temperature to lowest setting.
Very gently, pour the cream in the hot caramel, stirring to completely incorporate to achieve a nice smooth consistency. Set aside, and allow to cool.
To make fried chicken sauce:
Place medium heavy bottom sauce pot on burner, turn on to medium heat, allowing the pan to get nice and hot. Add the chicken skins to the hot pan, along with the sage, half of the black pepper and half of the salt. Allow to brown to a nice dark golden color, rendered out the chicken fat. Turn occasionally to achieve even browning.
Once the chicken skins are completely browned, gently add the chicken stock to deglaze the pan, scraping the brown bits off the bottom. Add the remaining spices, and reduce heat. Allow to simmer, reducing the liquid by about half. Add in the caramel that you previously made, allowing to simmer, stirring occasionally, over low heat for about 10-15 minutes to infuse flavor.
Using a slotted spoon or a large format strainer, remove the chicken skins from the caramel, being careful to leave the spices. Cool to room temperature, and chill in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Note: This resting step is very important, as it allows the flavors to deepen, and the caramel needs to be cold before adding into the ice cream. Once the caramel has thoroughly chilled, and just before adding to the ice cream, add the rice crispy cereal to the caramel, stirring to evenly incorporate.
To make brown butter:
In small, heavy bottom sauce pan, gently melt, and lightly brown the butter, so that it takes on a light nutty aroma. Set aside, and allow to cool to room temperature.
To make ice cream base:
In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch and salt. Set aside. In a large sauce pot, combine the cream, milk and maple syrup. Bring to an almost boil. Remove from heat. Gently pour about 1/3 of the hot liquid into the yolk mixture, whisking until smooth. Pour this mixture into the remaining hot cream, whisking until smooth.
Return pot to low heat, and stirring contantly with a rubber spatula, making sure to scrape the bottom of the pot, cook the custard to 170 degrees F (or until custard starts to slightly thicken, and lightly coats the back of the spatula).
Strain custard through wire mesh strainer.
Whisk in the brown butter and vanilla extract, and allow to cool to slightly warm, stirring regularly, to keep the butter from separating from the base. Transfer slightly warm base into your ice cream maker, and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Once the ice cream is made, swirl in the fried chicken caramel, and store in an airtight container in the freezer, allowing to set at least 3-4 hours.
Recipe courtesy Coolhaus.
Recipe Summary
Main Ingredients: sugar, water, chicken skins, salt, butter, cornstarch, maple syrup
Course: Dessert
More Info: Kid Friendly

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Welcome To Vaughan DaviesOne of The UK's Top IndependentMenswear
and Ladieswear RetailersVaughan Davies has been retailing menswear and
ladies wear from the heart of Mold, North Wales for over 70 years.
Congratulations to the winner of our competition for the signed Rugby League World Cup Ball, - Bryan Ackerly from Gwersyllt, Wrexham
Vaughan Davies menswear and ladies wear, offer their wide range of clothes from their extensive
showroom in Mold, North Wales.
Why not send a Vaughan Davies Menswear or Ladies wear Gift Certificate to one
of your friends or family as a birthday present, anniversary gift, Mothers Day,
Fathers Day, Christmas Present or just for the sake of it.
Whether you're looking for a man's T-shirt, polo shirt or dress shirt,
Vaughan Davies mens range has everything you need - For big and tall men's
clothing we can't be beaten
We are committed to providing the widest choice of styles, brands and sizes and
the simplest service to make your shopping experience with us easy, quick and
Although there is no substitute for visiting our shop in Mold, we are
able to offer
a little bit of what we are about online. If there is something you want please
give us a call.


text:
Direct Renin Inhibitors for High Blood Pressure
|Generic Name
|Brand Name
How It Works
Direct renin inhibitors block the enzyme renin from triggering a process that helps regulate blood pressure. As a result, blood vessels relax and widen, making it easier for blood to flow through the vessels, which lowers blood pressure.
Direct renin inhibitors, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) all target the same process that narrows blood vessels. But each type of medicine blocks a different part of the process.
Why It Is Used
Direct renin inhibitors are used to lower high blood pressure.footnote 1
How Well It Works
Direct renin inhibitors can lower blood pressure.footnote 2
Side Effects
All medicines have side effects. But many people don't feel the side effects, or they are able to deal with them. Ask your pharmacist about the side effects of each medicine you take. Side effects are also listed in the information that comes with your medicine.
Here are some important things to think about:
- Usually the benefits of the medicine are more important than any minor side effects.
- Side effects may go away after you take the medicine for a while.
- If side effects still bother you and you wonder if you should keep taking the medicine, call your doctor. He or she may be able to lower your dose or change your medicine. Do not suddenly quit taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
Call 911 or other emergency services right away if you have:
- Trouble breathing.
- Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor if you have:
- Hives.
Common side effects of this medicine include:
- Dizziness.
- Headache.
- Diarrhea.
- Stuffy nose.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
Direct renin inhibitors are a newer type of medicine for high blood pressure. So doctors don't know about safety after a long time or how well they work after a long time.
Before you take a direct renin inhibitor, tell your doctor about any other medicines you take and any other health problems you have.
For tips on taking blood pressure medicine, see:
Taking medicine
Medicine is one of the many tools your doctor has to treat a health problem. Taking medicine as your doctor suggests will improve your health and may prevent future problems. If you don't take your medicines properly, you may be putting your health (and perhaps your life) at risk.
There are many reasons why people have trouble taking their medicine. But in most cases, there is something you can do. For suggestions on how to work around common problems, see the topic Taking Medicines as Prescribed.
Advice for women
Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to get pregnant. If you need to use this medicine, talk to your doctor about how you can prevent pregnancy.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.
Current as of: October 5, 2017
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Learn how we develop our content.
To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org.
© 1995-2018 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


text:
Virtual Tour
The Foundry at 304 is one of the very few properties where you can own your own home in the heart of the city. Strategically located on the B-Line Trail and just steps to Bloomingfoods, the Farmers' Market, restaurants, and all that our unique downtown community offers. Just 7 blocks from IU Campus. Each condo features high-end finishes including: hardwood flooring, ceramic tile, granite countertops, and top of the line stainless steel appliances. Spacious and pristine light-filled interiors open to large, private patios perfect for entertaining and leisure. Every unit comes with assigned parking located in the private and secure underground garage. This luxury condo community is one-of-a-kind, and the units will sell fast! Plan: Auburn
† Excluded Feature
See complete school information
304 (#304) W Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47404 is a Single Family Home for sale at $564,900 with 1,617 sqft. 304 (#304) W Kirkwood Avenue has 2 bedrooms, 2.0 baths, and was built in 2016. The property's zip code is 47404 which is in Bloomington, IN
Based on 20.00 % down and a 4.13 % financing rate
Includes Mortage, Insurance, and Tax payments
Each Weichert® Franchised Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Listing data provided courtesy of the Internet Data Exchange Program of the Multiple Listing Service of the Indiana Regional Multiple Listing Service.
The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Indiana Regional Multiple Listing Service. Real Estate listings held by brokerage firms (licensees) other than Weichert Realtors include the name of the listing brokers.
The information being provided is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
Data is updated as of 11/21/2018.
Financial calculator disclaimer:
Default based on a 30-year fixed rate of 4.125% with 20% down. The estimated payment is offered for convenience and is not an offer of credit. Due to market fluctuations, interest rates are subject to change at any time and without notice. Your individual rate may vary. Rates may differ for FHA, VA or jumbo loans.


text:
This would make a great location for your custom home and ranch.
† Excluded Feature
121 East Ranch, Pearblossom, CA, 93553 is a Lots and Land for sale at $79,000 with 113,320 sqft and a lot size of 113320 SqFt. 121 East Ranch has 0.0 baths. The property's zip code is 93553 which is in Pearblossom, CA
Based on 20.00 % down and a 4.13 % financing rate
Includes Mortage, Insurance, and Tax payments
Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
The data relating to real estate on this web site comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange (IDX) Program of CCAR. Real estate listings held by firms other than Weichert Realtors are marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo or thumbnail logo and detailed information about them includes the Listing Broker's Firm Name.
© 2018 CCAR. All rights reserved.
The information being provided is for consumers personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
Data is updated as of 11/20/2018.
Financial calculator disclaimer:
Default based on a 30-year fixed rate of 4.125% with 20% down. The estimated payment is offered for convenience and is not an offer of credit. Due to market fluctuations, interest rates are subject to change at any time and without notice. Your individual rate may vary. Rates may differ for FHA, VA or jumbo loans.


text:
Type: TV Series
Released: 1975
Soundtrack.Net Users
There are no soundtrack albums in our database for this title. If this is incorrect, please contact us.
Television's Finest, Volume Two: The '70s
Released: August 17, 2012
Formats: CD, Digital (60 min)
Themes From TV Series
Released: May 15, 2012
Format: Digital (104 min)
Enter your e-mail address to receive weekly soundtrack and film score news:
If any information appears to be missing from this page, contact us and let us know!


text:
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The No. 3 ranked MIT women's track and field team welcomed Williams and Coast Guard to the Shobrys and Aronson Track over the weekend. While the Engineers were not able to match the depth of Williams, falling 208-132, a number of athletes recorded some very impressive individual performances. Five different NCAA Provisional qualifying marks were met, in addition to a new Institute record, set by Jacqui Wentz.
Wentz's record-breaking performance came in the mile, which she finished in 4:59.87, nearly a half-second better than her own previous standard. Teammate Brooke Johnson was just behind her, running 5:00.51, which is now the third-best time in the event in program history and shatters the previous rookie record by over nine seconds. Both Wentz's and Johnson's times were good enough to provisionally qualify for the NCAA Championship and are currently the fifth and sixth-best in the country.
Portia Jones also had a pair of Provisional marks and season bests in the 55-meter hurdles and 400m. Jones beat out Elise Johnson of Williams in the hurdles, finishing in 8.26 seconds, which currently gives the sophomore the third-best time in Division III this season. Jones also had a strong showing in the 400, finishing in 57.71 seconds, just 0.14 seconds behind Hillary Higgs of Williams. That time is also good for third in the country. Jones also picked up a win at 200 meters with a time of 25.67 seconds, besting Higgs in that event.
Karin Fisher accounted for the other Provisional mark in the pole vault, as MIT had the top six finishers in that event. Fisher cleared 11-10.00 feet, a personal-record and the third best in program history. She is currently 12th on the Division III performance list.
Johnson also put up an impressive time in the 1000m, winning the race in 3:02.99, nearly four seconds faster than her nearest competitor. Jamie Simmons (1:37.03) in the 600, Alina Gatowski (10:31.40) in the 3000 and Tania Morimoto (18:35.10) at 5000 meters, also picked up wins for the Cardinal and Gray.
Tech will host its second of two Indoor Coed Invites next weekend while also sending athletes to Boston University to compete in the Valentine's Invitational.


text:
Male Models Twerk Out Christmas Carol With Their Jingle Balls In K-Mart's New Holiday Commerical
K-Mart has redeemed itself after that horrifyingly early Christmas commercial it released two (2!!!) months ago by with replacing it with a sexy new holiday ad. In "Know Your Joe," talented male models thrust and twerk out a charming rendition of "Jingle Bells" using only what's hidden behind their festive boxer shorts.
These bells might not be on a bobtail ring, but they sure do make our spirits bright!
Okay enough with the bible bashing! If you choose to not practice Christianity that is your right. However, if you don't believe in Christ you shouldn't get to celebrate his holiday ( my own opinion). Also remember when you're saying that this country is sinking so low as to have a religious view on a somewhat risqué commercial, that this country was founded on a solid Christian foundation. We haven't sunken low by practicing religion it's always been that way. Next time lets do a little research before we go starting trouble. GOD BLESS YOU!
This country was founded on religious freedom. Although it may have been so the first people could worship God and practice Christianity freely, it was also so all people , no matter what religion or lack of religion, could worship or not worship the god or gods of their choosing. Maybe YOU should get YOUR facts straight.
I always love when people say god bless you at the end of an argument. Kind of dumb, because you are making it sound like an insult, or used as something to shut someone up rather than actually meaning it. And, one of the primary tenets of our country is separation of church and state. We weren't founded on Christianity. Also, if somebody wants to celebrate the freaking Flying Spaghetti Monster, or Santa Claus on December 25th that's up to them. Do you do Easter egg hunts with your kids, or put out stockings for Santa to fill? That has nothing to do with Christ, but plenty of Christians do it. The great thing about this country is we are technically allowed to celebrate however we want, despite what your opinion might be. You do some research, and god bless you.
Funny, because Jesus wasn't really born in Dec. It's just celebrated that day to cover up other pagan holidays. This from "The Good News" So Christians, please stop stealing our holiday.
Biblical Evidence Shows Jesus Christ Wasn't Born on Dec. 25
2 comments
Printer-friendly version
article by Good News Editor
Is it even possible that December 25 could be the day of Christ's birth?
Shepherd will sheep and goats.
A shepherd watching the flock of goats and sheep.
Source: Photos.com
History convincingly shows that Dec. 25 was popularized as the date for Christmas, not because Christ was born on that day but because it was already popular in pagan religious celebrations as the birthday of the sun.
But is it possible that December 25 could be the day of Christ's birth?
"Lacking any scriptural pointers to Jesus's birthday, early Christian teachers suggested dates all over the calendar. Clement. . . picked November 18. Hippolytus . . . figured Christ must have been born on a Wednesday . . . An anonymous document[,] believed to have been written in North Africa around A.D. 243, placed Jesus's birth on March 28" (Jeffery Sheler, U.S. News & World Report, "In Search of Christmas," Dec. 23, 1996, p. 58).
A careful analysis of Scripture, however, clearly indicates that Dec. 25 is an unlikely date for Christ's birth. Here are two primary reasons:
First, we know that shepherds were in the fields watching their flocks at the time of Jesus' birth (Luke 2:7-8)
Shepherds were not in the fields during December. According to Celebrations: The Complete Book of American Holidays, Luke's account "suggests that Jesus may have been born in summer or early fall. Since December is cold and rainy in Judea, it is likely the shepherds would have sought shelter for their flocks at night" (p. 309).
Similarly, The Interpreter's One-Volume Commentary says this passage argues "against the birth [of Christ] occurring on Dec. 25 since the weather would not have permitted" shepherds watching over their flocks in the fields at night.
Second, Jesus' parents came to Bethlehem to register in a Roman census (Luke 2:1-4)
Such censuses were not taken in winter, when temperatures often dropped below freezing and roads were in poor condition. Taking a census under such conditions would have been self-defeating.
Given the difficulties and the desire to bring pagans into Christianity, "the important fact then . . . to get clearly into your head is that the fixing of the date as December 25th was a compromise with paganism" (William Walsh, The Story of Santa Klaus, 1970, p. 62).
If Jesus Christ wasn't born on December 25, does the Bible indicate when He was born?
The biblical accounts point to the fall of the year as the most likely time of Jesus' birth, based on the conception and birth of John the Baptist.
Since Elizabeth (John's mother) was in her sixth month of pregnancy when Jesus was conceived (Luke 1:24-36)
We can determine the approximate time of year Jesus was born if we know when John was born. John's father, Zacharias, was a priest serving in the Jerusalem temple during the course of Abijah (Luke 1:5
). Historical calculations indicate this course of service corresponded to June 13-19 in that year ( The Companion Bible, 1974, Appendix 179, p. 200).
It was during this time of temple service that Zacharias learned that he and his wife Elizabeth would have a child (Luke 1:8-13
After he completed his service and traveled home, Elizabeth conceived (Luke 1:23-24
Assuming John's conception took place near the end of June, adding nine months brings us to the end of March as the most likely time for John's birth. Adding another six months (the difference in ages between John and Jesus) brings us to the end of September as the likely time of Jesus' birth.


text:
Andreas Colliander
Below are quick-look images from yesterday's first science flights (June 7). A single polarization each of the radiometer and radar are shown. The data are from high-altitude lines 3 through 8 (lines 1 and 2 were not acquired). For reference, the study site map is also shown (at right).
The radiometer brightness temperature (Tb) and normalized radar cross-section (sigma-0) images are uncalibrated – default parameters were used to convert instrument counts to the respective Tb and sigma-0 quantities. No external calibration has been done at this stage using the lake reference data, however the lake data were used to check that the data levels were approximately correct.
To read more about these images, visit SMAP Blogs from the field.
Tags: field sampling, freeze/thaw, PALS, SMAP, SMAPVEX12, soil moisture, Winnipeg


text:
Fatal Tanker Crash
Investigators survey the wreckage on the highway after a multiple fatality crash on I-95 in East Lyme that closed the highway in both directions for hours. The accident included a tanker truck, a tractor trailer and at least four cars and a diesel fuel spill.
BOB MACDONNELL, Hartford Courant
Copyright © 2018, Courant Community


text:
In some cases we need to bring comments or descriptions into a dimension in SSAS for detail reporting. For example the comment from a maintenance worker against a machine breakdown, or a geological survey description. These fields are typically free text in the source system and as such don't contain restrictions or constraints on data entry (e.g. upper and lower case, empty values, white-space, uniqueness). When you try and process these attributes you'll run into a couple of issues.
To demonstrate this I've knocked up a few rows with variations in case of the same text, a null value and an empty string.
Creating a dimension based on this table in SSAS gives the following error when we try to process it – "Errors in the OLAP storage engine: A duplicate attribute key has been found when processing: Table: 'dbo_FreeText', Column: 'Comment', Value: ". The attribute is 'Comment'".
This is due to the NullProcessing property on the dimension attribute, for which the default setting is Automatic. This specifies that the Null value is converted to zero (for numeric data items) or in this case a blank string (for string data items). This means that we've now got a null value which is converted to an empty string and an empty string, resulting in duplicate key values. If we set NullProcessing to Preserve this will fix this, giving us two distinct key values. If your database or this particular field is case sensitive you'll then likely run into a second issue with a very similar error message – "Errors in the OLAP storage engine: A duplicate attribute key has been found when processing: Table: 'dbo_FreeText', Column: 'Comment', Value: 'Some comment'. The attribute is 'Comment'". This comes down to a difference in case sensitivity between the underlying database and Analysis Services, which by default is case insensitive. In SSAS this is set at the attribute level. If you select the Comment attribute and expand they KeyColumns group you'll find the collation property, under which you'll find a case sensitive check box.
Once you've checked this the dimension should now process successfully. When we browse the comment attribute you'll notice two "blank" values (null and empty) and multiple values for "some comment". This example assumes that these are different discrete values. If this isn't the case this should be handled in ETL i.e. converting null values to empty strings and standardising on case.


text:
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
OCAsional Update 5) My Lovin' Spoonful
11 comments:
- Madeline McKeever said...
Good luck with the germination.
- 6 January 2010 at 03:02
- Patrick said...
I guess those were some pretty hard won seeds! I'm getting excited thinking about what will grow if even 10% germinate.
- 6 January 2010 at 12:57
- Rhizowen said...
Thanks to both Madeline and Patrick for your supportive comments.
I think it shows that oca breeding by amateurs is a very real possibility and I encourage everyone to get out there and have a go. When I'm fully recovered and can get myself organised, I can foresee a network of European oca breeders emerging. Want in?
- 6 January 2010 at 18:34
- Madeline McKeever said...
My oca is frozen into the ground along with my yacon, we don't usually get frost here. if it survives i will definitely join.
- 6 January 2010 at 19:12
- Patrick said...
I don't know that I have the space, not to mention patience, for seed production. When the time comes you have enough seed to share, I'd be happy to do some planting out.
- 7 January 2010 at 15:52
- Rhizowen said...
Hi Patrick
That is a sentiment with which I heartily concur, but somehow I don't seem to be able to stop myself. I was hoping I'd be able to distribute some tubers of my seedlings this year, but I'm not sure any will have survived this weather unprotected in the ground. Time will tell. let's hope we have a nice mild spring and a pleasantly warm summer. One can but hope.....
- 7 January 2010 at 18:19
- Catofstripes said...
Well done. You do have the patience of a saint.
Get well soon, there's planting to do.
- 11 January 2010 at 14:34
- Rhizowen said...
Thanks Catofstripes for that flattering statement. I tend not to think of myself as saintly or patient, just a sufferer from a persistent horticultural monomania that manifests itself in (relatively) benign ways.
- 11 January 2010 at 21:58
- Mark said...
I hope you get a reasonable germination when they are eventually planted. Oca could be a decent crop I imagine when some British climate adapted varieties are created. Good Luck
- 16 January 2010 at 02:23
- Rhizowen said...
Hi Mark
Thanks for your comment.
I'm hoping that a bit of rigorous selection will lead to some shorter season varieties.
- 16 January 2010 at 22:07
How do you do?
I'm Rafael Segui from Spain. I'm interesting in some of your plants. Could you send plants or seeds to Spain ? Thanks a lot for your answer. Dr. Segui
- 25 January 2010 at 20:20


text:
Canadian to 'command world spaceship'
Astronaut Chris Hadfield already has a number of firsts to his name.
He was the first Canadian to undertake a spacewalk; and he was the first and only Canadian to board the Russian Mir space station.
He was also the first Canadian to operate his country's major contribution to the space shuttle - its robotic arm, or "Canadarm".
Now, he is about to become the first Canadian to command the International Space Stations (ISS).
"I'm being asked to command the world's spaceship; it's a big responsibility," Hadfield said.
"The leading nations of the world have built a laboratory with no gravity, at huge cost and toil. I'm only one of many commanders in a sequence; I recognise my relative importance. But it doesn't decrease the level of responsibility for the time that I'm the commander.
"So, my number one job of course is to maintain the health of the crew. We need to keep the people healthy and alive and productive onboard. Number two is the health of the spaceship, to keep the space station productive and functioning."
The former Royal Canadian Air Force colonel has been talking about his upcoming mission here at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
To date, only one national outside of the US and Russia has been given the status of commander on the ISS, and that was a European Space Agency (Esa) astronaut, the Belgian Frank De Winne, who took the helm of the orbiting outpost in 2009.
Hadfield's big moment will begin when he launches to the station on a Soyuz rocket at the end of this year.
For three months, the 52-year-old will serve as a flight engineer in the Expedition 34 crew. Then, in March 2013, he will assume command of Expedition 35 for three months, before returning to Earth in his Soyuz capsule.
"We run about 100 experiments [on the ISS] consistently, rotating them all the time but there are about 100 experiments up there.
"So, the job of the commander is to build a group of people, both the astronaut crew and the ground crew that supports us, that can successfully execute the six months I'm up there - the three months that I'm the commander - to get those primary objectives done. Crew health and safety, vehicle health and safety, and then all the science and engineering and experimentation that comes with it."
It will be Chris Hadfield's third trip into orbit. His first was a little more than 16 years ago when he flew on space shuttle Atlantis to the Mir space station.
The Sarnia, Ontario-born astronaut then made his only other flight in 2001, when, as part of the shuttle Endeavour crew, he delivered Canadarm2 to the space station. Canadarm2 is a bigger, more sophisticated version of the robotic arm fitted in the shuttles.
It was during this mission that Hadfield undertook the first ever Canadian spacewalks.
firstname.lastname@example.com and follow me on Twitter


text:
Actor/producer/director Forest Whitaker, who won the best actor Oscar for the 2006 film "The Last King of Scotland" and is currently starring in the acclaimed "Lee Daniel's The Butler," will be presented with the Actor Tribute at the 23rd Gotham Independent Film Awards.
Whitaker, 52, will receive the honor at a ceremony Dec. 2 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York.
"We are thrilled to pay honor to a man whose work has played a significant role in the film world over the last 25 years," said Joana Vicente, executive director of the Independent Filmmaker Project, the advocacy organization for indie filmmakers that presents the awards.
PHOTOS: Celebrities by The Times
"Breaking boundaries and challenging audiences with complex, multifaceted roles, Forest Whitaker is a significant independent voice whose performances have only been elevated by his visionary work as a producer, director and humanitarian."
Previous Gotham honorees include Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard, Charlize Theron and Kate Winslet.
The nominees for the Gotham Independent Film Awards will be announced Oct. 24.
'Running Wild' follows Dayton O. Hyde, cowboy conservationist
Alfonso Cuaron discusses 'Gravity' ahead of Friday's film release


text:
Thank you for shopping with us! Please remember that any special orders are made custom for you and are not returnable.
If you are not fully satisfied with your purchase, you may return any non-customized item with original tags, packaging and receipt within 30 days of purchase date.
If purchased by credit card, refund will be made on the same credit card or for store credit only. If purchased using personal check a waiting period of 10 days is required before refund on purchase can be made.
Gift cards and gift certificates cannot be redeemed for cash and are not replaceable if lost or stolen. Any item being returned without a receipt will receive store credit only.


text:
Editor's Note The first three months of 2014 Slices of Life looked at unsung heroes, fitness trainers, and folks over 80.
In April, The Slice moves to the classroom, starting with pre-school and progressing through elementary, middle and high school. Look for more education-related profiles later in the year.
If someone could figure out a way to harness the enthusiasm in Socci Galvez's preschool class, the energy crisis would be solved.
In the five years since Galvez started Mid Valley Bilingual Preschool, the program has seen many changes. But one thing has remained the same: Preschoolers are motivated, eager learners.
"Their brains are sponges," said Galvez. "It's really awesome to see. The exciting thing is even if they come only speaking English, or only speaking Spanish, by the end of the school year, they're bilingual." Both languages are prevalent at the preschool, with students (and lessons) changing back and forth between the two.
The preschool is actually both a preschool and a before- and after-school care program located at Mid Valley Elementary School; the preschool runs daily from 9 a.m. until noon, but the program is open from 7:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Galvez teaches daily from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and has a staff of three — Miranda Chavez, Jovita Robledo and Jennifer Cassella — who come in at different times each week. She has a total of 27 students enrolled in this year's class, although a maximum of 20 come per day, and some of those just for preschool.
"We started slow (at the Mid Valley Elementary site) with 15 children, in and out," Galvez said. "The second year it was 23, and this year was 27." She's now at capacity, but does have a waiting list. Students come mainly from Odell, but some parents in Hood River opt to enroll their children because of the bilingual aspect.
While children in both programs have plenty of free play time, they also participate in circle time ("We call it a community meeting," Galvez said) and structured activities, revolving around a theme. Students go outside every day to play or work in the preschool garden.
"We have a few garden beds and we go outside and just dig in the dirt," Galvez said. "They love it."
One thing you will not find at the preschool is electronics. "We don't have video games, and no TV at all," she said. "It's all structured activity."
Mid Valley Bilingual Preschool began under the direction of then-Community Education director Mike Schend. When Schend broached the subject for a middle valley preschool, Galvez "got nervous and then excited," she said.
"They didn't know exactly what they wanted, but they wanted to provide something for the little kids," Galvez said. She jumped at the chance to get the program up and running.
"I wanted the challenge," Galvez explained. She found a site — the back rooms of the Odell Baptist Church — and, through word of mouth, enrolled her first students.
The first year, Galvez had just eight children enrolled, one of whom was her youngest daughter, Jessica. Classes ran from 9 a.m. until noon two days a week.
Soon, Galvez was able to expand class to three days a week, then four, "and then we just bloomed after that," she said. The school moved from the church to Mid Valley's old cafeteria building three years ago to accommodate its growth.
Moving the preschool to the elementary school has been a benefit for the children, who are able to use the facilities and equipment, and are often part of school-wide assemblies.
"They feel that they're part of the school," she said. "We know all the areas and the teachers, and they feel at home."
And she's a familiar face to older students, too, many of whom will come up to her in the hallways or on the playground.
"The kids are so cute. If we're playing outside, they come up and say hello and give me hugs," she said. "And believe it or not, I remember most of the children's names. It's so fun to see them grow. Time goes really fast. I'm getting older, the kids are getting younger, and since I've started, I've already seen a second generation."
Galvez has 20 years of teaching experience and a varied résumé, but all of her jobs have focused on children in some way. She came to Hood River from Mexico at age 18, and almost immediately began working with the Migrant Head Start program. From there, she got a job at La Clinica del Cariño, and eventually moved on to the Mid-Columbia Children's Council before deciding to take a break — her third child, Jessica, had just been born.
Three years later, Galvez was volunteering with the Hood River County School District, and "before I knew it, I had a job," she said, at Frankton.
Funding for that program eventually ran out, but it was then that Schend approached her about taking on the mid valley preschool. And the rest, as they say, is history.
The program, once small, continues to grow. Galvez already has 15 children signed up for next school year. Since she can't take more than 20 children per day, she expects to have a waiting list when the slots are filled.
For parents thinking of enrolling their children, Galvez said the most important thing they can do is come and observe the preschool in action before making a decision. She encourages parents to call for an appointment to schedule a time.
"I want to meet the parents, meet the children, and I want them to meet us, too," she said.
Galvez and husband Uziel, produce manager at Safeway, live in Hood River. They have three children: Jessica is a fourth-grader now, and son Carlos is a junior at Hood River Valley High. Oldest daughter Rebecca is a freshman at George Fox University, but Galvez remembers her preschool days as being "one of the reasons I came to work with kids," she said.
"I saw how valuable laying the foundation for children in academics is, being social — that really encouraged me to work with the kids in the community.
"I don't feel like I grow older working with kids," she said. "There's so much to learn with them. I just love that."
For more information, contact Galvez at 541-387-5722, or register through Community Education at 541-386-2055 or hrcommunityed.org.
Comments are subject to moderator review and may not appear immediately on the site. A user's first several comments must be manually approved by a moderator.
Please read our commenting policy before posting.
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Information from the News and our advertisers (Want to add your business to this to this feed?)


text:
Slant Piece, Conceived 1969, reconstructed 1976
Mirror and rock salt
Overall 48 x 60 x 48 in. (121.9 x 152.4 x 121.9 cm)
Gift of the Buckeye Trust in memory of Ruth C. Roush, 1980
Slant Piece is a reconstruction of a Mirror Displacement piece from Smithson's Cayuga Salt Mine Project of 1968-69.
Listen to a podcast about this artwork here
An enormously ambitious "Site/Nonsite" installation in Ithaca, N.Y., the Cayuga project consisted of rock-salt and mirror placements that were simultaneously exhibited at the Cayuga Rock Salt Company quarry (the "Site"), and at Cornell University's Andrew Dickson White Museum of Art (the "Nonsite"), as well as at various "Sub-Sites" connecting the two spaces. The project was featured in an Earth Art Exhibition, held at the museum in February 1969.1
Smithson originally conceived of the installation as a set of photographs, taken in the mine and placed both in the mine and in the museum.2 He eventually dispensed with the photographs, and placed eight mirrors in the mine and another eight along the trail that led from the mine to the gallery. Eight additional mirrors were placed in the museum gallery at equal intervals against the wall, with rock salt piled between and partly on top of the mirrors. Two larger mirrors surrounded by rock salt were placed in the center of the gallery.3 In discussing the Cayuga Salt Mine Project, Smithson elaborated on the dialectics of "containment" vs. "scattering" and "here" vs. "there" produced by the conjunction of rock salt and mirror in a given environment. Underground in the salt mine (see Smithson photograph), he writes, "you have an amorphous room situation, an interior that's completely free. There's no right angles forming a rectangular thing. So I'm adding the rectangular focal point [the mirror] that sort of spills over into the fringes of the non-descript amorphousness."4 This play of focus and expansion is endlessly repeated when Slant Piece is exhibited in the gallery space of the AMAM, where it can be viewed as an object and as a "nonsite" that absorbs, reflects, and displaces its surroundings.5 The original Mirror Displacement pieces (Smithson's term) from the Cayuga Salt Mine Project were destroyed.6 Oberlin's Slant Piece is among several unique reconstructions made under the direction of the John Weber Gallery in 1976.7 The pieces were reconstructed from Smithson's photographs, notes, and drawings from the project; and rock salt from the Cayuga salt mine was used.
A. Kurlander
Born in Passaic, New Jersey, Robert Smithson studied painting at the Art Students League, New York, and the Brooklyn Museum School in the mid 1950s. After a visit to Rome in 1961, Smithson began to fuse his Abstract Expressionist style with the religious subject matter of Byzantine art. It was only after his marriage to the sculptor Nancy Holt in 1963 that he began to sculpt in the Minimalist idiom. In 1966 Smithson began a series entitled Nonsite sculptures. In these pieces, he removed elements from a specific site and presented them in a gallery. The most elaborate of these projects revolved around the Cayuga Salt Mine in upstate New York and resulted in numerous sculptures and photographs, including Oberlin's Slant Piece. The Nonsite series marked the beginning of Smithson's interest in questions of site, environment, and nature in his sculpture. These concerns culminated in his monumental Earthworks. Spiral Jetty (Utah, 1970), for example, used the bank of the Great Salt Lake to create a spiral-shaped form that referred to such ancient earthworks as the snake mounds in southern Ohio or the pyramids in Egypt. Smithson died in a plane crash in 1973. His final earthwork project--Amarillo Ramp (Amarillo, Texas, 1973)--was completed by Nancy Holt, Richard Serra, and Tony Shafrazi.
S. Jost
General References
The Writings of Robert Smithson. Edited by Nancy Holt. New York, 1979.
Hobbs, Robert. Robert Smithson: Retrospective. Exh. cat., Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Ithaca, N.Y., 1982.
Sobreszek, Robert. Robert Smithson: Photoworks. Albuquerque, 1993.
Shapiro, Gary. Earthwards: Robert Smithson and Art after Babel. Berkeley, 1995
Anon. In The Dictionary of Art. Vol. 28. Edited by Jane Turner. London and New York, 1995, pp. 890-91.
With the John Weber Gallery, New York, from whom purchased in 1980
Ithaca, N.Y., Andrew Dickson White Museum of Art, Cornell University, 1969. Earth Art. 11 February - 16 March. Unnumbered cat. (originally untitled, since destroyed).
New York, John Weber Gallery, 1976. Robert Smithson. 24 April - 19 May. No cat.
Oberlin, Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College, 1980. From Reinhardt to Christo: Works Acquired through the Benefaction of the Late Ruth C. Roush. 20 February - 19 March. Cat. no. 99.
Chicago, Museum of Contemporary Art, 1995. Robert Smithson/Tony Tasset: Site/Nonsite. 7 October - 3 December. Unnumbered cat. (Cayuga rock salt only).
Paris, Centre Georges Pompidou, 1996. L'Informe: mode d'emploi (L'Informe: A User's Guide. 21 May - 21 August. Cat. no. 71 (Cayuga rock salt only).
On the Original
Earth Art. Exh. cat., Andrew Dickson White Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., 1970. Section 2 (on the exhibition); Section 4 (transcript of symposium).
Smithson, Robert. "Earth." In The Writings of Robert Smithson. Edited by Nancy Holt. New York, 1979, pp. 160-67 (reprint of Cornell University symposium).
Leavitt, Thomas W. Foreword to catalogue, Robert Smithson: Sculpture. Edited by Robert Hobbs. Exh. cat., Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., 1980.
Hobbs, Robert. Robert Smithson: Sculpture. Ithaca, N.Y., 1981, pp. 132-37.
Hobbs, Robert. "Robert Smithson: Articulator of Nonspace." In Robert Smithson: A Retrospective. Exh. cat., Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, 1982, pp. 15-16.
On the Reconstruction
Lubell, Ellen. "Robert Smithson." Arts 51, no. 1 (September 1976), p. 19.
Mower, D. "Through the Looking Glass and What the Artist Found There." Art International 23, nos. 5-6 (September 1979), p. 67.
Barnes, Lucinda. Robert Smithson/Tony Tassett: Site/Nonsite. Exh. cat., Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, 1995, pp. 8-10.
Krauss, Rosalind, and Yve-Alain Bois. L'Informe: mode d'emploi (L'Informe: A User's Guide). Exh. cat., Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, 1996, pp. 181, 248.
Technical Data
The work was constructed at John Weber Gallery in 1976. The rock salt used in the reconstruction originated at the Cayuga Rock Salt Company (now Cagill, Inc.), and the mirror was fabricated according to Smithson's specifications. The mirror was broken and replaced at an unknown date (before 1991). The rock salt is grey and extremely coarse, and includes very large pieces. The components of the installation appear to be in good condition.
1. See Robert Hobbes, Robert Smithson: Sculpture (Ithaca, N.Y., 1981), pp. 132-33, for an extensive description of the Cayuga Salt Mine Project.
2. A drawn proposal (1968, ink and graphite, 55.9 x 71.1 cm, Ithaca, N.Y., Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University) for this version of the project is reproduced in Robert Hobbs, Robert Smithson: Sculpture (Ithaca, N.Y., 1981), p. 133.
3. A photograph of the installation is reproduced in Robert Hobbes, Robert Smithson: Sculpture (Ithaca, N.Y., 1981), p. 133.
4. Quoted in William Lipke, ed., "Fragments of a Conversation," in The Writings of Robert Smithson, ed. Nancy Holt (New York, 1979), p. 168.
5.See Robert Hobbs, "Robert Smithson: Articulator of Nonspace," in Robert Smithson: A Retrospective (exh. cat., Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, 1982), pp. 17-19, for a synthesis of Smithson's notions of Nonspace and Nonsite. See also Robert Smithson, "Incidents of Mirror-Travel in the Yucatan," in The Writings of Robert Smithson, ed. Nancy Holt (New York, 1979), pp. 94-103, for the artist's descriptions of Mirror Displacements in another project of 1969.
6. Information from an undated record in the museum files of a conversation between John Weber, the AMAM preparator, and Thomas Leavitt, who organized the Cayuga Salt Mine Project.
7. Other reconstructions include Open Mirror Square (Teheran Museum of Contemporary Art) and Cayuga Salt Mine Project (Ithaca, N.Y., Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University).
© Estate of Robert Smithson/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY


text:
Ha-Neul Kim leads US Women's Open after 1 round
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) — Ha-Neul Kim saw friend Inbee Park after the world's top-ranked player took the lead in the morning session at the U.S. Women's Open.
Kim, with an afternoon tee time playing the major for the first time, wondered, "Wow, how did she shoot that score?"
Then Kim went out Thursday and shot one stroke better, finishing with a bogey-free, 6-under 66 to take the first-round lead at Sebonack.
Park is trying to make history by winning the first three majors of the year. For a day at least, she was upstaged by a much less-heralded fellow South Korean.
"I'm enjoying myself," Kim said through a translator. "I'm just happy to be here and to be playing in this big event. I'm not really thinking about winning or results but enjoying the moment."
Currently a member of the KLPGA Tour, Kim is a seven-time winner in South Korea. She kept giving herself short birdie putts Thursday and making them.
Kim birdied her second-to-last hole with daylight waning to claim the lead after Park held it for most of the day with her 67 in the morning session.
No player has won the first three majors in a season with at least four majors. The 2008 U.S. Women's Open champion, Park has already won five times this year, including her last two tournaments.
American Lizette Salas, Swedes Caroline Hedwall and Anna Nordqvist and South Korea's I.K. Kim shot 68.
Concerned about bad weather, tournament officials moved up the tees, and with the rain holding off, Park was able to play aggressively.
"I never had practiced from those tees, so I was a little bit shocked when I went to the tees," Park said.
Not that she was complaining.
She repeatedly set up short putts, and the way she has excelled in her short game lately, Park was headed to a low score.
"So instead of hitting like 5-irons, we were hitting 9-irons, and that was making the course much easier," she said. "I was actually able to go for some pins and give myself a lot of opportunities today. I made a lot of putts and didn't leave much out there."
Starting on No. 10, Park birdied her first hole, then started racking up pars. She made the turn at 2 under before birdies on three of her next four holes.
At 5 under, Park briefly struggled with her tee shots, needing to save par on Nos. 5 and 7. On No. 6, her 15th hole of the day, she had to lay up out of the tall grass and settled for her lone bogey.
Park got back to 5 under on the par-5 eighth with a chip shot to about 5 feet that set up a birdie putt.
Hedwall and I.K. Kim were each at 5 under with a hole left, but closed with bogeys. Nordqvist birdied her last two holes to pull into the tie for third.
The two Swedes grew up playing together.
"Certainly seeing her shooting 4 under in the morning session gave me a little bit of inspiration for the afternoon," Nordqvist said.
Salas, a 23-year-old former Southern California star, played with Park in the last group of the final round of this year's Kraft Nabisco Championship. Three strokes back starting the day, she opened with a double bogey and tumbled to 25th after shooting a 79.
She bounced back to reach a playoff at the LPGA Lotte Championship in April, losing to Suzann Pettersen for her best finish on tour.
"I'm just getting a lot more used to being in contention and really studying the leaderboard and really managing my patience," Salas said. "I think that's been key for me this week. Yes, I still get nervous on the first tee and my hands keep shaking, but I just know that if I just trust myself and trust my instincts, I can perform out here."
Chile's Paz Echeverria, a 28-year-old LPGA Tour rookie also making her U.S. Women's Open debut, and Canada's Maude-Aimee Leblanc shot 69.
Among eight players at 70 was Natalie Gulbis, who withdrew from a tournament and missed two others earlier this year because of malaria. Infected by a mosquito during the LPGA Thailand in late February, she returned for the Kraft Nabisco in early April. Gulbis hasn't finished better than 13th since, missing the cut at the LPGA Championship.
Defending champion Na Yeon Choi, second-ranked Stacy Lewis and amateurs Kyung Kim and Brooke Henderson were among 11 players at 71.
Lydia Ko, the 16-year-old New Zealand amateur who won the Canadian Open last August to become the youngest LPGA Tour winner, had a 72. Juli Inkster, playing in a record-breaking 34th U.S. Women's Open at age 53, holed a 103-yard wedge shot for eagle on the 18th to also finish at 72.
Michelle Wie opened her round with a quadruple-bogey 8 on No. 10. She was at 11 over through 14 holes before birdies on three of the last four to finish with an 80.
With Park's two major titles to start the year, South Koreans have won four straight majors. But Ha-Neul Kim was an unlikely representative to lead after the first round of this tournament.
"I was very nervous coming in, and I thought in the practice round that the course was very difficult," she said. "Before playing today I thought that even par would be a very good score for me."