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Every week -- often with your help -- Food52's Executive Editor Kristen Miglore is unearthing recipes that are nothing short of genius.
Today: Two legendary grilling techniques combine -- and we never have to worry about dry barbecued chicken again.
The struggle of barbecued chicken has always been in getting it to cook through without going dry or burnt first. In either case, there's a reason we usually find it coated in a sticky-sweet sauce: misdirection.
This recipe from Top Chef Kevin Gillespie doesn't give chicken the chance to act up on the grill. He borrows from (and improves upon) a couple classic barbecue techniques, ensuring the chicken will stay juicy and flavorful despite any of our own failings.
The first trick comes from the late Cornell poultry science professor Robert C. Baker -- the man who invented the chicken nugget, but is more tenderly associated with Cornell Chicken.
In Baker's recipe -- still a regional favorite near Ithaca, NY -- the chicken is basted every few minutes on the grill with a sauce made from an egg, oil, poultry seasoning, and a full pint of cider vinegar. In this year's Saveur 100 issue, the magazine's editors called it "one of the juiciest, most complex barbecued chickens" they'd ever tasted.
But Gillespie takes the concept even further, by turning it into an overnight marinade -- a coup in its own right.
Acidic marinades can help with flavoring and tenderizing meat, but only to a point. Food science writers love to debunk their effectiveness: high-acid marinades can only penetrate a few millimeters per day, and before they have a chance to get very far, the surface will have gone mealy and unpleasant.
But Gillespie's take on Cornell Chicken decreases the vinegar substantially relative to the amount of oil, and goes all egg yolk -- both of which cushion the vinegar and slow it down, allowing the chicken to hang out in the marinade longer and get that much better, without the texture suffering.
More: The best oven-crisped chicken wings, thanks to egg whites and a couple friends.
The salt and herbs have more time to seep in; the resulting chicken is tangier, moister, less destructible. And Hervé This presents a theory in Kitchen Mysteries that marination actually does have deeper effects -- by protecting the surface from spoilers while the interior ages (much like dry-aging a steak).
Once you fire up the grill, you'll rake the coals to one side (or on a gas grill, just make one side really hot) and start the chicken over indirect heat, then move it in toward the hot side, flipping and basting every 10 minutes with an Alabama-style white barbecue sauce (some of which you'll have held back to serve on the side). According to Gillespie, Alabama-style sauce, first developed by Big Bob Gibson in 1925, "is absolutely the way to go" with lean meats like chicken.
More: Everything you need to grill better this season -- spice rubs to smoke infusers to smarter thermometers.
So yes, this recipe asks you to make two mayos. But if you have a food processor, this is a near-instant task -- blend the yolks, vinegar, and seasonings, then drizzle in the oil till you "hear the sound change to a whop, whop," Gillespie writes (about a minute).
If you're nervous about food safety, you can try doctoring up prepared mayo à la these kebabs for the sauce to serve on the side, but otherwise you should be just fine with this recipe, as long as you've handled the chicken and eggs safely (buy good eggs, keep the sauce in the fridge until you're ready to use it, make sure to cook the chicken -- including the last round of basting -- through to 165° F).
And really, after the marinade and basting have done their work -- unlike with every other barbecued chicken you've ever had -- you won't need any extra sauce at all. But it sure is tasty.
Kevin Gillespie's Barbecue Chicken with Alabama White Barbecue Sauce
Adapted slightly from Fire in My Belly: Real Cooking (Andrews McMeel, 2012)
Serves 4
For the Chicken:
4 egg yolks
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons poultry seasoning (or make your own -- we used 1 1/2 teaspoons each of dried marjoram, oregano, thyme, and rosemary, plus 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg)
2 tablespoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt (or 3 1/2 teaspoons fine salt)
1 cup grapeseed oil
6 chicken leg/thigh quarters
1 1/2 cups Alabama White Barbecue Sauce
For the Alabama White Barbecue Sauce:
2 egg yolks
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt (or 1 1/8 teaspoons fine salt)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 cup grapeseed oil
See the full recipe (and save and print it) here.
Got a genius recipe to share -- from a classic cookbook, an online source, or anywhere, really? Please send it my way (and tell me what's so smart about it) at [email protected].
Photos by James Ransom
Any Night Grilling is your guide to becoming a charcoal champion (or getting in your grill-pan groove), any night of the week. With over 60 ways to fire up dinner—no long marinades or low-and-slow cook times in sight—this book is your go-to for freshly grilled meals in a flash.Order Now

subset: commoncrawl


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Do you have a knack for explaining complex subjects in a way that makes them easy to understand? If so, you should consider entering the well-paying field of technical writing. This course will teach you the skills you need to succeed as a technical writer. You will learn how to translate complex information into easily understood language, and how to become a wizard at marrying the art of publishing with the science of technology. You'll learn the secrets of successful technical writers, including technical writing conventions, interviewing skills, desktop publishing and formatting techniques, key tips for developing graphics and templates, documentation management, and how to publish documents both on paper and electronically. You'll also learn how to get your first job as a technical writer, plus tricks of the trade that enable you to create high-quality documentation with less work.
With more than 20 years of experience as a senior technical writer, Janet Underwood develops technical documentation for major corporations in the computer, information technology, telecommunications, financial, and medical industries, as well as for U.S. government agencies and public utilities organizations. She started her career as an English teacher and later worked as an editor and writer for several internationally known trade publications before combining her love of technology with her passion for writing to become a technical writer. She has won numerous awards for the excellence of her writing and documentation design. Two of her books are used in technical writing classes in U.S. and Canadian colleges, and she teaches FrameMaker classes as an adjunct professor.
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- Free!
- Great way to teach your children about space
- Interesting storyline
- Won a Kids First! Award in 2009
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.


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I am going to ftp.trades.comicgenesis.com but cannot log in. Iam using my normal password and login for it but it keeps coming up with the 530 error message.
Is there someway to redo my password incase it is not accepting it?
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As the title says: when I click Shutdown from the menu it logs off. When I click shutdown from the log-in menu it does nothing. I'm using a fresh install of Ubuntu 11.10. I can force it to shutdown by the command below, but I don't want to keep typing that whenever I want to shutdown my laptop.
sudo shutdown -h now
So it's probably processes which arn't closing. I'm a novice linux user, so I have no idea how to rule out the software causing this. I think it's either Gwibber/Empathy, perhaps Mozilla Thunderbird, because this is happening since I started using this.
So a few questions:
- How do I rule out what software is causing this?
- How do I stop it from not closing on shutdown?
- If 1. and 2. don't work is it possible to add top command to the shutdown process?
Edit: Rourke here. Somehow I cannot accept the below comment from mech-e as the solution. Thank you this was indeed the answer I was looking for!


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(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
Contact us for information about using this image.
Three weeks after the hydrogen bomb was detonated in the Pacific, soldiers at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, saw a simulated atomic bomb. The stated purpose of the explosion was to "familiarize troops with the sight and sound of the atomic bomb without the danger of radioactivity." In 1954 the United States was in the middle of the Cold War and a nuclear arms race. The United States and the Soviet Union had developed atomic bombs, and in 1952, the United States detonated its first hydrogen bomb. During the 1950s, many people felt that it was likely that a bomb could be dropped. People built fallout shelters, and school children participated in "duck and cover" drills. The danger of nuclear war was high on the public mind, and the civil defense exercises attempted to assure the American people that something could be done to defend against nuclear attack.
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"Britain Gets Jitters Over Hydrogren Bomb" article in Greenfield Recorder-Gazette newspaper
"Any Cowboys, Gran'pa?" cartoon on H-bomb in Greenfield Recorder-Gazette newspaper
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Wanted to make something for a tapas party, so ended up marinating baby lamb cutlets in a couple of tablespoons each of olive oil and Dry Sack sherry with two cloves of roughly crushed garlic, a teaspoon of smoked paprika, salt, pepper and a few sprigs of thyme.
Left them in the marinade a couple of hours, turning occasionally, then grilled (broiled) under a high heat for a few minutes each side. Quite pleased with the way they turned out and you could use the wee bone of the cutlet as a handle for eating.
The Smoked Paprika was from Spain - Pimenton de la Vera - La Chinata. It added a subtle flvour to the overall dish. The Sherry was subtle too.
Bottom line - I'd made this again. Tonight, I think.


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What to serve with tea for two or three or more? Tea biscuits are highly recommend. Ours, while just barely sweet, are kissed with lemon sugar and packed with blueberries. Making them requires a little forethought. You'll need lemon sugar but it's easy enough to make and can be used to flavor both the tea and the biscuits. I keep a small stash of the sugar in the refrigerator, so I can whip these up in no time at all. The biscuits keep for several days but they should be warmed and crisped before eating. They can be served for breakfast, brunch or my favorite meal "munch." We'll start with the lemon sugar and then move on to the tea biscuits which are adapted from Ina Garten's recipe for scones.
Lemon Sugar
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
1 cup sugar
1) Work lemon zest into sugar with your fingers until well mixed.
2) Spread sugar in a large pan and let sit until dry, about 1 hour.
3) Store in a sealed, airtight container and use as need
Blueberry and Lemon Tea Biscuits
2 cups + 1 tablespoon flour
1/4 cup lemon sugar, divided use
1 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoons kosher salt
1-1/2 sticks (6-oz.) cold butter, diced
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup cold heavy cream
1 cup dried blueberries
1 extra-large egg beaten with 2 tablespoons milk or water, for egg wash
1) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
2) Combine 2 cups flour, 2 tablespoons lemon sugar, baking powder, and salt in bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add butter and blend at low speed until mixture resembles small peas. Combine the eggs and heavy cream in a small bowl; add to flour mixture and mix until just blended. Dough will be sticky. Toss blueberries with reserved tablespoon of flour. Fold into dough.
3) Turn dough onto a floured surface. Knead only until smooth. Roll into a 1-inch rectangle. Using a 3-inch cutter, cut into rounds. Place on cookie sheet.
4) Brush top of biscuits with egg wash and sprinkle with reserved 2 tablespoons lemon sugar Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until outside is brown and crisp. Yield: 12 to 16 biscuits.


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Brandon Gresham brauchte ein neues Logo Design und hat einen Wettbewerb auf 99designs gestartet.
Aus 164 Designs von 28 Designern wurde eine Gewinner gewählt.
Gresham Photography
The name of our photography company is Gresham Photography. We're a small studio in Birmingham, AL that specializes in weddings and family portraiture. We're both love modern designs, clean lines, and white-space. One of the biggest selling points that we push in our photography is a simple, yet colorful product. See slogan info below!
We are definitely in need of a complete branding makeover. And hoping that one of these design will lead to work on our marketing materials, and communications such as letterhead, thank you notes, and business cards.
Younger couples, who like modern, clean design, with lots of clean lines and white space.
- Needs to be in a PSD format.
-Using our name: Gresham Photography
-We have a secondary slogan that reads:
... that we'd like to integrate somehow. We're likely needing a logo concept that can be used with or without the slogan based on the situation.
Our website, images, and album designs are all very clean, white-space oriented, and we'd like the logo to reflect that. Here's the site:
Additionally, we'd like to integrate a circle icon similar to the one on our site, but we're open to suggestions for how to make it look cleaner. It doesn't have to be exactly the same, but we'd like to see a circle feature of some sort in the design.
Lastly, we'd like to keep to a color scheme including earthy yellows, oranges, and browns. Blacks are acceptable too, but not as a dominant color.
I've also attached a version of our current, and ridiculously boring, logo!
EDIT: Here;s our "official" orange, brown, and yellow if this helps!
Brown: 382013
Orange: d36a05
Yellow: f4ca22
Finden Sie heraus, wie ein Designwettbewerb funktioniert, oder lernen Sie mehr über unsere Logo-Design-Angebote.


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I am urgently in need of the best Los Angeles exterminator. I just received an email from one of my tenants stating that she has mice and rats and ants that have invaded her rental. There are rat nests, and mice running around and ants everywhere. These conditions are obviously unacceptable and must be corrected immediately and so I am starting first thing Monday morning to get the best Los Angeles exterminator who will eliminate these infestations and prevent them from reoccurring!
This particular rental is in Laurel Canyon but I also have a tenant in the flats of Los Angeles with a rodent problem. I understand that it really doesn't matter where in Los Angles that you live; you may well have a rodent and ant problem that needs to be eliminated quickly and permanently!
I will be comparing humane elimination, poison, trapping, exclusion and anything else I can learn and pass on to you.
I will give you my findings as time goes on with updates and photos as I learn more.
I found two excellent companies to work with. One for each property and will be posting my reviews here soon.


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COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team is
set for a mid-week non-conference contest with East Tennessee State
on April 1, before hitting the road for the second consecutive
weekend, this time facing OVC opponent Morehead State in a
three-game series.
The Golden Eagles (11-10, 0-5) and Bucs (12-11) will throw out the first pitch at 6 p.m. in Bush Stadium in Cookeville on Wednesday. ETSU will have righty Bo Reeder. Reeder is 2-2 in three starts on the season. In six appearances, he has posted an ERA of 5.01. The freshman pitcher is a Cookeville native. As a staff, ETSU pitchers are allowing opponents to hit .328 from the plate.
Tech owns a 45-39 advantage in the all-time series, including a pair of wins last year. In two games a season ago, Tech beat the Bucs 15-6 and 10-1.
Morehead State (7-17, 1-5) boasts one of the OVC's best offensive players in Drew Lee. Lee is currently leading the league in hits (46), RBIs (35) and total bases (81), and is third in batting average, hitting .451 from the plate. However, Eagle pitchers are allowing opponents to hit .363 against them, and hold a steep 9.13 ERA.
Tech hitters Chad Oberacker and A.J. Kirby-Jones look to extend their current hitting streaks this week. Oberacker has a hit in his last eight games, while Kirby-Jones has hit successfully in his last seven. Oberacker is also third in the conference in triples, with three, while Kirby-Jones ranks third in home runs with eight, and RBIs with 31.
Tech will head into the weekend looking for its first OVC win. In its first two conference series', Tech has played the league's toughest competition. Southeast Missouri and Eastern Illinois met in last season's OVC tournament finals, and are currently a combined 11-0 in league play, and are the leagues only unbeaten teams.


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We're talking 'bout black gold, Texas tea.
And we're talking about Catan Scenarios Oil Springs. If you're looking for a simple add-on to liven up your Settlers of Catan game, then the new Oil Springs expansion is that add-on. Adding oil to the mix of resources, players can use it to create any of the standard resources (wood, iron, etc.) as well as building up your cities into Metropolises. However, do this at your own (or other players' peril) as drilling for the oiling and producing it can cause dramatic shifts in the weather while also polluting the region. Oil Springs is easily the cheapest way to freshen up your Catan game, so if you've got the need, do like the Beverly Hillbillies and dig for that bubbling crude.
Speaking of Catan, the two-player card game version, Rivals of Catan, received an expansion this week. Age of Darkness supplies three different theme decks to be incorporated into the base game. Focusing on battles between churches and temples, commercial harbors and merchant's residences, and barbarians, each deck pits opponent versus opponent, with each receiving and playing different sets of cards.
I know you'll be filling up on turkey, dressing, or whatever it may be you eat for the holidays, but get ready for a heaping helping of Pathfinder for your bellies.
First up are the shiny goodies. Packed full of the vibrant treasures of the Jade Regent, this new item deck for the setting contains fifty-four illustrated cards representing the sought after artifacts that may appear in a campaign. Game masters looking to add a bit of flare to their game pay heed.
Hailing from the same section of the Pathfinder world as the Jade Regent is the new Dragon Empires Gazetteer. This volume explores the Tian Xia continent, exploring its various regions, offering rule sets for five new character races, detailing the deities worshipped by the region's residents, as well as countless other information that can add color and detail to a campaign.
In a similar vain, Mysthical Monsters Revisited supplies vast amounts of detail on classic mythical creatures like medusas, hydras, and harpies for game master's to incorporate into their games.
And if you pick up the new Bestiary 3 along with it, you'll have more monsters at your command than cans of Mountain Dew drank in the history of roleplaying. As with the previous Bestiary editions, this third volume includes 300 monsters as well as options for familiars, companions, races, and other varied methods of incorporating these legendary beings into your party's adventure.
If you want to be a pirate, there's no better pirate to be than a future space pirate! In an effort to aid you with that endeavor, the new Rogue Trader: Hostile Acquisitions hardcover lays out all the minute detail gamers will desire to build and background a crime-based character in the system. These include new career rankings, like swashbuckler and reaver, sections on arming and equipping your ships and yourself, as well as a nemesis orign path generator that can build a formidable foe for your party. Shiver your steampunk timbers, maties, it's a Hostile Acquisition!
In the course of your skullduggary, maybe you will break into the king's palace in an effort to storm his treasury. And if you're going to do that, wouldn't it be better to have a map to indicate where you're stealing what? Well, Game Mastery comes to the rescue again with their newest Palace Map Pack. The pack including eighteen tiles that link together to form a throne room, reception chamber, and treasury.
Around this jolly time of year, with the weather crisp and the gifts flowing, there's one thing you should be thinking about…the horrible tentacled grasp of the Eldar Gods. In that effort, give the give of a new Call of Cthulhu Asylum Pack this year with Into Tartarus. The 60 cards in this deck focus on the global influences of the Ancient Ones.


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SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – UC Santa Barbara's Alan Williams has been named the 2014 Big West Player of the Year and three other Gauchos have also been honored, the league announced Monday.
Williams, who was also selected to the First Team All-Conference for the second straight year, was the league's scoring (21.6 ppg) and rebounding (11.6 rpg) leader. He also leads NCAA Division I in rebounding and is 12th in scoring. In addition, Williams tied the conference record by being named Big West Player of the Week five times.
"There was no doubt," said Gaucho head coach Bob Williams. "He was the best player on a team that contended for a league championship. Al has been so dominant that a bad game for him would be a good game for anyone else. Night-in, night-out he has performed for us."
Williams has led UCSB to a 21-8 overall record and a 12-4 mark in Big West play. He missed a pair of losses early in the season, but in the 27 games in which he has played, UCSB has gone 21-6.
"Actually, it's been really rewarding to watch his growth as a player and as a team-leader," said Coach Williams. "He is a very special player and deserves this recognition."
Statistically, Williams has had one of the best seasons in UCSB history and is ranked among the school's single season top-10 in scoring average (3rd at 21.6 ppg), points (7th with 582), rebound average (3rd at 11.6), rebounds (3rd with 312), blocked shots (3rd with 66), field goals (4th with 217), field goal attempts (8th with 403), free throws (7th with 148) and free throw attempts (3rd with 215). He enters the postseason with 15 double-doubles in 2013-14. Williams also tied the school record for points in a game with 39 on Nov. 29 against South Dakota State and on Feb. 1 against UC Davis, he became the first UCSB player in more than 24 years to have 20 or more points and 20 or more rebounds in a game when he had 27 points and 20 rebounds.
Williams is the sixth Gaucho to earn Player of the Year honors. He joins Brian Shaw (1988), Lucius Davis (1992), Branduinn Fullove (2003), Alex Harris (2008) and Orlando Johnson (2010) on the list.
Michael Bryson and Zalmico Harmon joined Williams on the all-conference team with each earning Honorable Mention All-Big West status. Harmon was also recognized as the league's Hustle Player of the Year, while senior Kyle Boswell repeated as Big West Sixth Man of the Year.
Harmon, UCSB's starting point guard in all 29 games, enters postseason play averaging 8.1 points, 5.2 assists and 0.6 steals per game. He ranks second in the NCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio at 4.69-to-1 and, according to Bob Williams, was the single biggest difference-maker for the Gauchos between a 2012-13 team that went 11-20 and this season's 21-8 group.
"Nobody, including our MVP, deserves more credit for our turnaround than Zalmico," Coach Williams said. "Day-in, day-out, his dedication and commitment to doing the things it takes to make this team better is astounding. His toughness and effort have been inspirational to this group.
Harmon is the third UCSB player to win the Hustle Player of the Year Award, joining Chris Devine (2008) and Nick Jones (2003).
Bryson enters postseason averaging 11.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. He has made 50 three-point baskets and closed the regular season with a rush, scoring in double-figures nine of the last 10 games.
"Michael is a guy that effects the game in so many different ways," Coach Williams said. "He is a good, versatile defender and he can guard the two, three or four. He is a good rebounder, good in transition, dynamic to the rim, and he can make the three. Michael has improved his game so much, and he 's also sacrificed his game to help this team succeed."
Boswell was named Big West Sixth Man of the Year in 2013 and he has repeated in 2014. UCSB's Big West Male Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2013 and 2014, Boswell enters the league tournament averaging 10.7 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. He is also the team's top outside scoring threat with 73 three-pointers. Boswell has played in all 29 of the Gauchos' games, but he has only started five.
"Boz gets all the recognition and honors as a true student-athlete, and he is very deserving," Coach Williams said. "He could easily have been a starter, but opted for the sixth man position and the effect he's had on us coming off the bench has been huge. Kyle is a sparkplug and really offers a different dynamic for us when he is in the game. What he's done for this team is irreplaceable."
Second-seeded UCSB open play at Honda Center in Anaheim in the Big West Conference Tournament at noon on Thursday, Mar. 13 when they play Cal Poly. The game can be watched live on Fox Sports Prime Ticket or listened to on AM 1290 KZSB in Santa Barbara, or on UCSBgauchos.com.


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"Ryan's place in prime time on Wednesday offers him the chance to introduce himself to millions of Americans who are just now starting to tune in to a presidential race that is too close to call with 70 days left until the voting," Reuters writes. "While Ryan, chairman of the House of Representatives Budget Committee, is well known in Washington, he is little known elsewhere."
"Condoleezza Rice is back. Nearly four years after leaving the White House, the former secretary of state is injecting herself into the center of the heated 2012 political season. She's raising money for female congressional candidates, dishing endorsements in key races and is poised to become even more involved in Republican politics than at any moment since she left the Bush White House," Politico says. "Tonight, she'll take on the full glare of the national spotlight with a prime-time speech here at the Republican National Convention. A Rice aide said the former secretary of state would outline her view of American exceptionalism while calling on Republicans to rally around Mitt Romney."
Town Hall's Guy Benson reports that Clint Eastwood will be making his way to the convention and might be the mystery speaker.


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NEW YORK – Small business owner Sean Hilty is getting more customers – and more sleep – now that he's ditched his pen for a keyboard.
The owner of auto repair shop HBH MotorWerks used to stay up past 2 a.m. writing his customer's invoices by hand. "I'm a chicken pecker when it comes to typing," says Hilty, 39, about his two-finger typing. "I thought it would take longer to type than it does to write down."
After some pushing from his kids, Hilty started using a web-based service to type invoices on a computer after writing them by hand for years.
"They're more tech savvy than me," says Hilty, who currently runs his business from his Bartlett, Tenn. home. "They said, "Dad, you're taking way too long to do that.' I grew up not even having a computer. I finally caved in."
Whether it's a web-based tool like the invoice system that Hilty uses, a software program, social media sites or mobile payment systems that allow them to take payments using a smartphone, small business owners are often slow to invest in, and use, technology. The vast majority – 86 percent – say they rely on word of mouth and customer referrals to drum up business, according to a recent Bank of America survey. Just 41 percent cited social media as an effective marketing tactic. According to a separate survey released earlier this year by American Express, as many as 52 percent of small businesses don't use social media.
Small business advocates say the avoidance of technology and social media is costing small business owners time, money and potential customers.
"They're stymieing their growth," says Ramon Ray, an author and editor at Smallbiztechnology.com, a media company that educates small businesses about technology.
Small business owners usually say they don't have enough time to look for ways to use technology to attract business or save time. But finding the right technology can be as simple as doing an Internet search, or asking others for advice, says Deb Lee, the founder of Soho Tech Training, a Washington, D.C.-based company that helps small businesses identify which technologies it needs.
"Many are slow to just take a step forward," says Lee. "When you stall, you become less productive."
Hilty remained stalled for 15 years writing out invoices by hand until he found PlanetSoho, an online company that provides invoices, billing systems and other small business tools. He used to spend up to an hour hand writing out one invoice per car, depending on the repairs and the number of new parts it needed. Using the online invoice tool has cut that time down to 5 minutes per vehicle.
Business has jumped. Hilty has about 1,700 regular customers now, up from about 40 a year ago. He says the new invoices look more professional and make customers more willing to recommend him. Each invoice has a HBH MotorWerks logo on it. The handwritten ones didn't. Many customers keep their invoices in their purse or car, Hilty says. He has seen them passed around after church.
Hilty pays $4.95 a month for the PlanetSoho service, which he says is worth it. He now gets to bed by midnight, and his typing skills have improved, too. "I actually use more than one finger now," he says. Business has grown so much that he's planning to move his business from his home to a garage.
Like Hilty, Alicia Villarosa was slow to add technology to her toolbox. She started her personal training business 10 years ago, but only launched a website last year. "I wanted to seem professional," she says, about her reasons for wanting a website. "It makes me more official." She created AliciaVillarosa.net using IM Creator, an online website builder.
Besides looking professional, a website makes it easier for potential customers to find a business. Often people check out a business online first, says Shama Kabani, the founder of Web marketing company The Marketing Zen Group. .
Villarosa says the site was easy to build, but she struggled with uploading photos. So she asked her 13-year-old nephew to do that. "It's second nature for him," says Villarosa, 51, who trains her clients in Brooklyn, N.Y. "He Instagrams everything," she says, referring to the popular photo-sharing service. "I take my camera out once a year when I'm on vacation."
The website proves its value when she's working out with her clients in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. "When people approach me outside they're going to search me right there on their phones," says Villarosa. She says that about two out of five people who approach her follow up and make an appointment.
Social media networks can give small businesses a boost, too. Whether it's Facebook, Twitter or review-site Yelp, customers expect to find small businesses on the social media networks like they do for big companies and brands.
Josh Morton quickly learned the power of social media: It landed him a paying customer. Morton launched Barrow's Intense Ginger Liqueur, a ginger-flavored alcohol, earlier this year.
"I had never really used Twitter," says Morton.
So he hired Christine Kennedy, a social media marketer for alcohol brands, to manage the Barrow's Intense Twitter account. Since Barrow's Intense is made in Brooklyn, N.Y., Kennedy started following restaurants and bars in New York that serve locally made products. One of them was Cookshop, a New York restaurant that serves dishes made with seasonal ingredients from nearby farms. A day later, Cookshop responded on Twitter: "Thanks for the follow. Can you have someone stop by with a sample and pricing info? We support local liquor."
Morton went to Cookshop last month with samples, and Barrow's Intense Ginger Liqueur was added to the menu.
Last week, Barrow's Intense got another tweet from Cookshop: "Can you send me another 2 cases?
* * *
Alicia Villarosa's website: http://www.aliciavillarosa.net/
Barrow's Intense Ginger Liqueur's Twitter account: https://twitter.com/barrowsintense
Cookshop's Twitter account: https://twitter.com/cookshopny
IM Creator: http://imcreator.com/
PlanetSoho: http://www.planetsoho.com/


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Vital signs are measurements of the body's most basic functions. The 4 main vital signs routinely monitored by healthcare providers include:
Body temperature
Pulse rate
Breathing rate (respiration)
Blood pressure (Blood pressure is not considered a vital sign, but is often measured along with the vital signs.)
Vital signs are useful in detecting or monitoring medical problems. Vital signs can be measured in a medical setting, at home, at the site of a medical emergency, or elsewhere.
The normal body temperature of a person varies depending on gender, recent activity, food and fluid consumption, time of day, and, in women, the stage of the menstrual cycle. Normal body temperature can range from 97.8° F (36.5°C) to 99°F (37.2°C) for a healthy adult. A person's body temperature can be taken in any of the following ways:
Orally. Temperature can be taken by mouth using either the classic glass thermometer, or the more modern digital thermometers that use an electronic probe to measure body temperature.
Rectally. Temperatures taken rectally (using a glass or digital thermometer) tend to be 0.5°F to 0.7°F higher than when taken by mouth.
Armpit (axillary). Temperatures can be taken under the arm using a glass or digital thermometer. Temperatures taken by this route tend to be 0.3°F to 0.4°F lower than those temperatures taken by mouth.
By ear. A special thermometer can quickly measure the temperature of the eardrum, which reflects the body's core temperature (the temperature of the internal organs).
By skin. A special thermometer can quickly measure the temperature of the skin on the forehead.
Body temperature may be abnormal due to fever (high temperature) or hypothermia (low temperature). A fever is indicated when body temperature rises about one degree or more over the normal temperature of 98.6°F, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Hypothermia is defined as a drop in body temperature below 95°F.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), mercury is toxic and poses a threat to the health of humans, as well as to the environment. Because of the risk of breaking, glass thermometers with mercury should be not be used. If you have a mercury thermometer, dispose of it properly in accordance with local, state, and federal laws. Contact your local health department, waste disposal authority, or fire department for information on how to properly dispose of mercury thermometers.
The pulse rate is a measurement of the heart rate, or the number of times the heart beats per minute. As the heart pushes blood through the arteries, the arteries expand and contract with the flow of the blood. Taking a pulse not only measures the heart rate, but also can indicate the following:
Heart rhythm
Strength of the pulse
The normal pulse for healthy adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. The pulse rate may fluctuate and increase with exercise, illness, injury, and emotions. Females ages 12 and older, in general, tend to have faster heart rates than do males. Athletes, such as runners, who do a lot of cardiovascular conditioning, may have heart rates near 40 beats per minute and experience no problems.
As the heart forces blood through the arteries, you feel the beats by firmly pressing on the arteries, which are located close to the surface of the skin at certain points of the body. The pulse can be found on the side of the neck, on the inside of the elbow, at the wrist, or in the groin. For most people, it is easiest to take the pulse at the wrist. If you use the lower neck, be sure not to press too hard, and never press on the pulses on both sides of the lower neck at the same time to prevent blocking blood flow to the brain.
When taking your pulse:
Using the first and second fingertips, press firmly but gently on the arteries until you feel a pulse.
Begin counting the pulse when the clock's second hand is on the 12.
Count your pulse for 60 seconds (or for 15 seconds and then multiply by 4 to calculate beats per minute).
When counting, do not watch the clock continuously, but concentrate on the beats of the pulse.
If unsure about your results, ask another person to count for you.
If your doctor has ordered you to check your own pulse and you are having trouble finding it, consult your doctor or nurse for additional instruction.
The respiration rate is the number of breaths a person takes per minute. The rate is usually measured when a person is at rest and simply involves counting the number of breaths for one minute by counting how many times the chest rises. Respiration rates may increase with fever, illness, and with other medical conditions. When checking respiration, it is important to also note whether a person has any trouble breathing.
Normal respiration rates for an adult person at rest range from 12 to 16 breaths per minute.
Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls during contraction and relaxation of the heart. Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries, resulting in the highest blood pressure as the heart contracts. When the heart relaxes, the blood pressure falls.
Two numbers are recorded when measuring blood pressure. The higher number, or systolic pressure, refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart contracts and pumps blood through the body. The lower number, or diastolic pressure, refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart is at rest and is filling with blood. Both the systolic and diastolic pressures are recorded as "mm Hg" (millimeters of mercury). This recording represents how high the mercury column in an old-fashioned manual blood pressure device (called a mercury manometer or sphygmomanometer) is raised by the pressure of the blood. Today, your doctor's office is more likely to use a simple dial for this measurement.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, directly increases the risk of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. With high blood pressure, the arteries may have an increased resistance against the flow of blood, causing the heart to pump harder to circulate the blood.
Blood pressure is categorized as normal, elevated, or stage 1 or stage 2 high blood pressure:
Normal blood pressure is systolic of less than 120 and diastolic of less than 80 (120/80)
Elevated blood pressure is systolic of 120 to 129 and diastolic less than 80
Stage 1 high blood pressure is systolic is 130 to 139 or diastolic between 80 to 89
Stage 2 high blood pressure is when systolic is 140 or higher or the diastolic is 90 or higher
These numbers should be used as a guide only. A single blood pressure measurement that is higher than normal is not necessarily an indication of a problem. Your doctor will want to see multiple blood pressure measurements over several days or weeks before making a diagnosis of high blood pressure and starting treatment. Ask your provider when to contact him or her if your blood pressure readings are not within normal range.
For people with high blood pressure, home monitoring allows your doctor to monitor how much your blood pressure changes during the day, and from day to day. This may also help your healthcare provider determine how effectively your blood pressure medicine is working.
You can use either an aneroid monitor, which has a dial gauge and is read by looking at a pointer, or a digital monitor, in which the blood pressure reading flashes on a small screen.
The aneroid monitor is less expensive than the digital monitor. The cuff is inflated by hand by squeezing a rubber bulb. Some units even have a special feature to make it easier to put the cuff on with one hand. However, the unit can be easily damaged and become less accurate. Because the person using it must listen for heartbeats with the stethoscope, and master the proper technique required for an accurate measurement, it may not be as useful. It also may not be appropriate for the hearing-impaired or for single person use.
The digital monitor is automatic, with the measurements appearing on a small screen. Because the recordings are easy to read, this is the most popular blood pressure measuring device. It is also easier to use than the aneroid unit, and since there is no need to listen to heartbeats through the stethoscope, this is a good device for hearing-impaired patients. One disadvantage is that body movements or an irregular heart rate can change the accuracy. These units are also more expensive than the aneroid monitors.
Tests have shown that finger and/or wrist blood pressure devices are not as accurate in measuring blood pressure as other types of monitors. They are also more expensive than the other monitors.
The American Heart Association recommends the following guidelines for home blood pressure monitoring:
Don't smoke or drink coffee for 30 minutes before taking your blood pressure.
Go to the bathroom before the test.
Relax for 5 minutes before taking the measurement.
Sit with your back supported (don't sit on a couch or soft chair). Keep your feet on the floor uncrossed. Place your arm on a solid flat surface (like a table) with the upper part of the arm at heart level. Place the middle of the cuff directly above the bend of the elbow. Check the monitor's instruction manual for an illustration.
Take multiple readings. When you measure, take 2 to 3 readings one minute apart and record all the results.
Take your blood pressure at the same time every day, or as your healthcare provider recommends.
Record the date, time, and blood pressure reading.
Take the record with you to your next medical appointment. If your blood pressure monitor has a built-in memory, simply take the monitor with you to your next appointment.
Call your provider if you have several high readings. Don't be frightened by a single high blood pressure reading, but if you get several high readings, check in with your healthcare provider.
When blood pressure reaches a systolic (top number) of 180 or higher OR diastolic (bottom number) of 110 or higher, seek emergency medical treatment.
Ask your doctor or another healthcare professional to teach you how to use your blood pressure monitor correctly. Have the monitor routinely checked for accuracy by taking it with you to your doctor's office. It is also important to make sure the tubing is not twisted when you store it and keep it away from heat to prevent cracks and leaks.
Proper use of your blood pressure monitor will help you and your doctor in monitoring your blood pressure.


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TheRedQueen wrote:so you're gonna have many people that will wonder why you got a pit bull if you want him to be around other dogs.
Actually, I prefer him leashed. I knew that with the pit bull breed, I would need to be even more responsible because, for example, if a poodle picks a fight with Sarge, he will get the blame.TheRedQueen wrote:You may not be able to ever have him loose around other loose dogs
furever_pit wrote:I will note that I don't really care if my dogs get along with other dogs.
pitbullmamaliz wrote:She's able to calmly walk beside a group of dogs, and a strange dog sniffed her butt today and she calmly turned to him and sniffed his side before moving on.
mnp13 wrote:My dog Riggs tried to attack Liz's dog Inara when they met.
pitbullmamaliz wrote:mnp13 wrote:My dog Riggs tried to attack Liz's dog Inara when they met.
rdneckwife wrote:okay quick question...is it normal for DR dogs to react to a human who normally has a dog, but doesn't have it with them at the moment?
One of my female neighbors who is usually out walking her border collie approached me this morning without her dog, and Sarge reacted...barking and lunging. I only had him on a flat collar so in the front yard to pee. She wanted to know which shoe to wear to a funeral. He was trying to get to her.
She came into my yard...but still...this worries me! Usually, he approaches people ears back, tail wagging, sniff then thinks their his best friend.
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By JOHN FLOWERS
MIDDLEBURY — The Vermont Department of Health (DOH) would drastically scale back hours and reduce the workforce at its Middlebury district office by almost one-third under a restructuring plan designed to adhere to fiscal year 2010 state budget guidelines recommended by the Douglas administration.
By KATHRYN FLAGG
MONKTON — Doris Brace was one of the last students to attend the Monkton Boro School, graduating as an eighth-grader in 1959. For her, visiting the old building isn't just a reminder of the way the school once looked, but also the type of education she and her classmates received in the classroom.
By ANDY KIRKALDY
VERGENNES — Back in 2000, Agency of Transportation official Wayne Davis successfully pitched to his superiors and to Vergennes and Ferrisburgh officials the idea of moving the historic, now unused Vergennes train station about a quarter-mile north to Kayhart Crossing, the then-proposed site of an AOT commuter lot.
MIDDLEBURY — The new-look Middlebury College women's lacrosse team passed its first serious test on Friday, turning back a rally from visiting Babson to win the Panthers' home opener, 11-8.
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I've really come to love clothes shopping over the past year or so. For most of my adult life, shopping was a mandatory but embarrassing experience: I was way too large for most retailers, so my shopping was done at two nearby big & tall stores, and that wardrobe was complimented by catalog purchases.
Things started changing when the pounds started coming off. Once I no longer needed to shop at big & tall stores (an epiphany I celebrate in this blog post), the whole mall opened up to me, and now I have fun checking out stores and seeing what fits me and what I like. I've learned a lot, and they're still tons to figure out. I already know that I tend to have good luck at Macy's (most of the time), and that my favorite type of Levi's are their 514s (slim straight). I'm still on the hunt for a good basic t-shirt with a flattering cut, a heavier fabric, and a reasonable price tag. I've also discovered what doesn't work for me, and that information is just as valuable: I know some brands and labels that run short or are too narrow for my shoulders. And there are stores I used to frequent, like Gap (which I wore a lot of in high school), that just don't interest me anymore.
What's most fun, however, is walking into a store that I know nothing about and checking it out for the first time. I did this last summer in Seattle with a store called AllSaints Spitelfield, and it was a complete bust, but still fun. The other day, I did it again, with a store called Zara.
The first time I heard about Zara was a few weeks ago, when I met up with my friends Paul and Court at the Getty Center (an outing which yielded kickass 'before' and 'current' pictures that you can check out here). I complimented Paul on his shirt, which came from Zara, which is one of Paul's go-to stores. Then, about a week ago, I complimented Tavi (ugh, yes, this is yet another blog post that Tavi figures into) on a sweater he was wearing, and that, too, came from Zara. It was time to check out Zara.
Zara is a Spanish retailer that only has about 25 stores in the US (and about a 1/4 of them are in southern California), but they're all over Europe – actually, they're in over 70 countries on 6 continents. They're huge. The other day, Tavi and I went to the one in Pasadena, which is housed in an festively festooned storefront on Colorado Boulevard:
The men's section is large, clean, and well organized:
I wasn't looking for anything in particular, so I wandered, and ended up pulling two large armloads of clothes to try on: pants, jeans, sweaters, t-shirts (maybe they'll have the perfect basic T for me!). I picked up things at Tavi's suggestion that I wouldn't have chosen for myself. Generally, I liked the aesthetic: a nice mix between clean lines and fun details, with a lot of neutral colors and bold pops of color. I was reminded of the description Paul initially gave me of the store, which turned out to be pretty spot-on: H&M style at a Banana Republic price point. I also noticed, from the get-go, that a lot of their offerings were slouchy and lacking in structure, which is not a flattering look on my body, but I reserved judgment until the dressing room.
The dressing room was illuminating. I learned, really quickly, that Zara is not the store for me. The textiles were a little thin and the European sizing was a little different, resulting in tops that, much to my chagrin, proudly showcased every roll of fat on my body. It was laughable how unflattering these clothes were: they clung like saran wrap, and I felt and looked like a sausage. I fared a little better with the pants – there was a pair of jeans that looked good. They were size 38″ (the largest size Zara makes), although they were the tightest 38″ I've ever tried on. They cost $80, and I'm not gonna spent that much on anything that I don't absolutely love, and these jeans didn't quite fall into the "love" category.
I was fine with completely striking out at Zara. I was curious about the store, and now I have my answer. I've since done a little reading about Zara, and their business model is kinda fascinating. They do no advertising whatsoever, and focus on clothes that are already trendy and popular, as opposed to trying to establish trends of their own. They can design a knock-off and have it in stores in 2 weeks, and if that item doesn't sell within a week or two, they'll yank it from the shelves. As a result, they'll sell 10,000 unique items during a year-long span, compared to 2,000-4,000 items for their competitors. They've resisted outsourcing more than other companies, and claim that 75% of their clothes are made in Europe (mostly Spain). I recommend the Zara page on Wikipedia for an interesting primer on fashion retailing.
Zara's not for me. Big deal. I'm not in the market at the moment for any clothes anyway, except workout pants, which I should be able to find easily at a discount store or on the sale rack at a sporting goods store.
Do you have any ideas for retailers that I can investigate next?
Keep it up, David!


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After the big response to yesterday's QOTD, we might as well go for happy car stories to counterbalance the very angry ones we saw last night.
So, of all the cars— no, trucks don't count, Toyota Hilux fanatics— built during the last 30 years, which one do you think has the best-deserved reputation for reliability? Based on my personal experience, I'm going to nominate the 1983-86 Toyota Tercel, although the diesel Mercedes-Benz W116 (which was built through the 1980 model year) is probably more deserving.


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Lighting is dislodged at Bob Hoffman Chevrolet.
Mercersburg police are looking for the driver of a vehicle that hit a utility pole and dislodged the lighting at Bob Hoffman Chevrolet, 378 N. Main St., at about 1 p.m. Saturday.
Police found parts from a vehicle that may be a 2007 Chrysler.
Anyone with information should call police at 328-0150 or contact Franklin County Crime Solvers at 264-3000 or:


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Wabash College's Chapter of Mentors for Kids finished up the current school year with a banquet April 26.
The elementary students, parents, and Wabash men had a light dinner in Detchon Hall and a short program to celebrate a year of learning. This year the College group took on 10 first graders from Hoover Elementary School.
Hear Mentors for Kids President Chris Serak '08 talk about this year program, and see photos, by clicking here.
Read more about this year's program here.


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by Sue Ann Rybak
J. William "Bill" House, 16, was just looking for something to do that night he wandered into the Flourtown Firehouse in 1943.
"They asked what I was doing on Saturday," House, now 86, said. "I said 'Nothing.' And that's when they said, 'Yes, you are. You are going to a parade with us.'"
Next thing he knew, he was a volunteer firefighter at the Flourtown Firehouse, but he never imagined it would be the beginning of a 70-year legacy.
"It was a quiet town," House said. "There wasn't really anything else to do."
House's first tour of duty with the Fire Company was brief because he was called to service with the U.S. Army Infantry in Germany and France during World War II, where he won a Bronze Star for heroism in combat as well as a Purple Heart and Good Conduct Medal. When House returned home in 1946, he resumed his volunteer firefighting efforts in Flourtown. He also married Audrey Scoble House, and together they raised two daughters and three sons.
Through the years, House's decades of volunteer service have no doubt saved many lives, but he is a humble, quiet man who doesn't see himself as a hero.
"It just becomes part of your life," said the current Flourtown Fire Chief George Wilmot. "It's not expected; it's just a way of life. It's almost like you don't know any different. It's what you know from when you're born and raised."
"We're a family," House said.
House said it was a heart-wrenching decision but one he knew it was time to make, so on Jan. 3, House retired from the Flourtown Fire Company. "I will regret that day as long as I live — which may not be too long now," he said, laughing.
And although House doesn't go out on calls anymore, he still can be found at the firehouse doing administrative work. Audrey, who was involved in the Ladies Auxiliary, said she was more nervous than Bill was about retiring.
All of their sons, Bill, Ken and Steve, were also members of the fire company, and several grandsons have been firefighters in their respective communities. "When the siren blew for dinner, the whole dinner table left," said Audrey. "You didn't know if they were going to be back in five minutes or five hours."
House is a third-generation volunteer firefighter in five generations of firefighters. Even before the Flourtown Firehouse was established in 1910, Bill's grandfather, John House, was involved in fighting fires by hooking the hose car to the back of the motorized trolley car.
House said after the firehouse was established, they talked his grandfather, who lived in Philadelphia, into coming out to direct traffic. "They didn't have traffic lights in those days," House said, "and the fire chief would stand up on the front of the engine and tell them [the firefighters] which way to go because there were no turn signals on the trucks. There wasn't many cars around then. The guys used to jump on the back of the trolley car to come up to the fire station. Nobody knew where the fire was until they got to the firehouse."
Bill's father, Charles House, was an active firefighter at the Flourtown Fire House for many years and served as Fire Chief. In his long career as a firefighter, Bill has served as an Assistant Chief Engineer, Chief Engineer, Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Chief, a position he held for 25 years. "I must have done something right to be elected as Fire Chief for 25 years," House said.
Through the years, House has seen thousands of fires, but he recalled a particularly devastating fire at the Bella Vista Sanatorium on March 29, 1950. "That place used to scare the devil out of me," House said, adding that nine male patients died in that fire.
He said the place was like a fortress. A chain link fence went around the entire length of the property and the windows had mesh wire on them. "When we finally got into the wing, we found patients locked in their room and shackled to beds," House said. "It was a wonder we didn't lose more that night because it was a smoky fire."
He said five men suffocated from the fire's thick black fumes. House said he was coming home from the bowling alley when he saw the firetruck going down Bethlehem Pike. "If I knew what I was getting into, I probably wouldn't have gone that night."
He added quickly that during his time at the firehouse, they only lost one firefighter in the line of duty, Frank Wood, who had a heart attack while helping people out of a burning building. When asked if there was a moment that he was particularly proud of, House did not recall specific incidents, preferring instead to insist how proud he is of his men.
"When we pull up in front of a building that's on fire and before you can tell them to do something, it's already done," House said. "Because of the training they receive, you know what they can do, and you rely on them. It's a good feeling; whether they're saving a life or just answering a call I am proud of them … The greatest satisfaction is when you pull up in front of a house, and someone is stuck inside, but you can get them out safely."
"It becomes second nature for us," Wilmot said. "We don't think about it. You are more worried about other members of the firehouse then you are about yourself. It's a testament to how well Bill trained the guys. You never got away with anything in Flourtown because of the bond that the firemen have with the police officers."
For example, Audrey recalled getting a phone call from the police one night. One of her teenage sons and a few of his friends were arrested by police for throwing firecrackers out the window of a car while driving down the expressway. "I hang up on him," Audrey said. "There are a lot of politics associated with the name House. A half-hour later I called the sergeant back. Later we became good friends. He even invited us to his house for dinner."
Bill said he never feared for his sons' lives because he trusted his men. "In the war, you would've risked your life if you saw something coming to hit somebody else. It's the same thing here."
"There is a reason they call it a brotherhood," said Steve, House's youngest son. "Growing up when the fire whistle would go off, I always wanted to hop in the car with him."
House said it's difficult to give something up you've been doing almost your entire life. "For a lot of people in Flourtown, it's just a way of life."
Audrey said life hasn't really changed that much since her husband retired.
"Bill still goes to the firehouse. Only now when the fire whistle goes off, I have to tell him because he can't always hear it."


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If you are interested in the lowest possible mortgage rate,for your refinance consider refinancing into an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM). Since ARMs tend to have lower initial interest rates than their traditional 30-year fixed-rate counterparts, ARM refinances are especially popular when mortgage rates begin to rise and consumers need a lower-cost option.
3 reasons to refinance into an ARM
Here are three advantages to refinancing to an adjustable rate mortgage:
- Lower mortgage rates: Interest rates on ARMs are often lower than 15-, 20- and 30-year fixed-rate mortgages.
- Perfect product for soon-to-be home sellers: "If you know the end period when you will sell your home, pay off the loan in full or refinance, an ARM can be a good loan," says Douglas Benner, a senior loan officer with Embrace Home Loans in Rockville, Maryland. "Some people know for certain they are retiring to another home within a few years, or they know they will come into some money or be transferred to another area. In that case, it makes sense to save the money in interest payments during the initial few years of the loan."
- Improve your financial standing: Keith Gumbinger, vice president of HSH.com, says another candidate for an ARM refinance is a homeowner who is waiting for the economy to recover or for their personal finances to improve. For this kind of homeowner, an adjustable rate mortgage provides valuable short-term stability. "This can be a great product to tide you over for a few years as long as you save money while you are using an ARM," says Gumbinger.
Why are ARM mortgage rates lower?
"With short fixed-rate periods, lenders can take on far less interest-rate risk when making ARMs than when they write long-term fixed-rate mortgages," says Gumbinger. "Although it depends upon the ARM as well as market conditions, ARMs tend to have lower interest rates than 30-year fixed-rate mortgages. Unlike most fixed-rate mortgages, which are sold to others, lenders also find ARMs to be desirable and profitable additions to their own portfolios of loans, so they may price these aggressively at times in order to capture business."
Should I refinance into an adjustable rate mortgage?
Knowing how long you plan on staying in your current home is perhaps the most important factor when deciding whether or not to refinance into an ARM. After all, it's a waste of money to pay all those refinance closing costs – typically equivalent to a couple percentage points of the new loan amount – if you aren't going to live in the property long enough to recoup the cost of your refinance.
Here are three scenarios to help you decide if ARM refinancing is right for you:
- You're staying in your home for just a few more years: If you only plan to stay in your home for another one to three years, refinancing probably isn't in your best interest because it doesn't give you enough time to realize the savings of your refinance.
- You're moving somewhat soon: If you're going to remain in your property for three to five years, refinancing into a new five- or seven-year ARM is probably your best move. You want to stay in your home long enough so that your new, lower interest rate allows you to recoup your closing costs. Plus you'll have protection against rate increases.
- You plan on staying in your home for the long haul: If you plan on living in your home for an extended period, chances are you will stay in your home longer than the fixed-rate portion of the adjustable rate mortgage. This opens you up to the possibility that the ARM will reset to a higher interest rate as the years go by, and you could end up with a rate even higher than the rate you would have gotten with a fixed-rate loan.
30-year fixed-rate mortgage
5/1 ARM (30-year term)
Rate: 4.18%
Rate: 3.15%
Loan amount: $250,000
Loan amount: $250,000
Monthly payment: $1,219.63
Monthly payment: $1,075.71
Total interest (first five years): $49,947.16
Total interest (first five years): $34,451.75
How are adjustable rate mortgage rates determined?
ARMs start out with a fixed-rate period, often one, three, five, seven or 10 years. During this initial loan period, the ARM is essentially a short-term fixed-rate loan. ARMs with longer fixed-rate periods typically have slightly higher mortgage rates, says Gumbinger.
After the fixed period, the mortgage rate adjusts according to the loan terms. In the case of a 5/1 ARM, the loan adjusts every year following the five year fixed-rate term. One of the major determinants to the adjusted interest rate is the index to which the mortgage is linked.
"Most ARMs are adjusted according to the LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) index, a market interest rate which is based on the global economy, and some are adjusted according to Treasury securities, which are more closely tied to Federal Reserve decisions," says Gumbinger. "Studies have shown that both of these indexes end up in about the same place over time, but borrowers should ask about the index and understand how it works."
How to prepare for mortgage rate changes
You have to ask yourself, "Can I handle an appreciable increase in my interest rate at some point down the road? Can I handle my monthly payments if my interest rate doubled? Am I prepared to potentially dedicate my savings to my mortgage if my payment jumps?"
Refinancing to a lower interest rate is going to save you some extra cash each month, no question. In order to prepare for a mortgage rate increase, you have to take at least some of the savings you gain from that initial lower rate and bank them – preferably in a high-yield account. If you can save all or even some of those savings, you can build yourself a "mortgage subsidy account" on which you can draw upon if your payment should increase, ameliorating the effect on your budget to a real degree.
(Michele Lerner contributed to this article.)
Related ARM articles:
- More on how ARMs work: ARMs: Hows, Whos and Whys - What You Need to Know About Adjustable Rate Mortgages
- More on who should choose an ARM: In defense of ARMs: They're neither evil nor toxic
- Tri-Refi Refinance Calculator – Learn the best way to finance your refinance
- Better to Buy a New or Used Home?
If you can afford to choose between a new home and a previously-occupied one, how will you decide? Learn advantages and disadvantages of both choices.
- 5 Credit Report Errors That Will Cost You
If you plan to apply for credit, take on a new job or purchase insurance in the near future, there's a 20 percent chance your credit report could let you down. Learn how to find and fight credit report errors before they do serious damage to your finances and your life.
- Home price recovery index: Which metros have improved the most, least?
Have home prices in your area fully recovered from the declines suffered during the Great Recession, or are they still struggling to make it back to the peak reached before the crisis?
- Down Payment Assistance Programs Remain Crucial
Down payment assistance programs (DPA) not only exist, they're making a big comeback. For those in need, DPA can help home buyers who might otherwise not be able to purchase a home.
- The salary you must earn to buy a home in the 50 largest metros
Here's how much salary you would need to earn in order to afford the median-priced home in your metro area.


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Online Wabash Magazine Provides Voices, Videoby Jim Amidon • December 9, 2008 Share:
The fall issue of Wabash Magazine, "School's Out," is reaching mailboxes around the country this week. The stunning issue features students, faculty, staff, and alumni sharing stories about how they spent their summers — at work, in study, and at play.
While Professor David Krohne's photographs and Professor Dan Rogers' essay perfectly illustrate how students in the Wabash Summer Study in Ecuador immersed themselves in language, culture, and evolution, the online edition of Wabash Magazine has the students talking about their own experiences.
Indeed, the online edition of Wabash Magazine provides the actual voices of the many contributors to the amazing print edition.
Economics major John Dewart '10 (left) introduces us to the people of Ecuador in audio, video, and still photographs.
Junior biology major Ken Engle shares with us his thoughts about the Rain Forest, the Galapagos Islands, and the poverty he encountered in Quito.
Senior biology major Andrew Hasty explains what it's like to live with an Ecuadorian host family.
Kyle Hayes, a senior pre-med biology major, gives listeners a sense of what it's like to study the most diverse biological ecosystem in the world.
And biology major Patrick Murphy '09 introduces folks to his adopted host "Mom" and his views on conservation.
Also in the new online edition of Wabash Magazine are:
A summary of Wabash's NCAC Championship football season.
Art Professor Doug Calisch explaining his inspiration for his stunning photography and found object sculptures.
Video links for a new campus video tour narrated by sophomores Jake German and Jake German (right), as well as a new video German and Pat Patterson created to provide interview advice for fellow students.
Plus online readers can share stories about how they spent their summer and earn a chance to win a Wabash College Bookstore giftcard!


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|Safe Haskell
Efficient lookup of query positions in a collection of target sequence
locations where positions and locations are associated with specific
sequence names. This is an extension of
LocMap to use locations and
positions on named sequences as in
Location lookup maps for named sequences
type SeqLocMap a = OnSeqs (LocMap a)Source
A data structure for efficiently finding target sequence
locations (
Loc) that overlap query positions or locations.
Each target location can be associated with an arbitrary additional
value in the lookup map.
fromList :: [(SeqLoc, a)] -> SeqLocMap aSource
Creates a
SeqLocMap from a list of target locations and their
associated objects
Modifying location lookup maps
insert :: SeqLoc -> a -> SeqLocMap a -> SeqLocMap aSource
Inserts a new target location and associated object into the location lookup map.
Searching for target locations
lookupWithin :: SeqPos -> SeqLocMap a -> [(SeqLoc, a)]Source
Find the (possibly empty) list of target locations and associated
objects that contain a sequence position, in the sense of


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Three-time Cup winner 'Wild Bill' Ezinicki diesNHL.com @NHLdotcom
William "Wild Bill" Ezinicki, who won three Stanley Cups with the Toronto Maple Leafs during an 11-year NHL career, has died at the age of 88.
The Winnipeg native, who became a professional golfer after retiring from the NHL in 1955, died Thursday.
Ezinicki, a right wing, got his first taste of the NHL when he played eight games with the Leafs in 1944-45. He split the following season between Toronto and the Pittsburgh Hornets of the AHL before joining the Leafs full-time in 1946-47, when he had 17 goals and 37 points as Toronto won the first of three consecutive Stanley Cups.
Although he weighed just 170 pounds, Ezinicki had the reputation of being one of the NHL's best bodycheckers -- earning his nickname in the process. But he also contributed offensively, with 11 goals in 1947-48 and 13 -- along with 145 penalty minutes -- in 1948-49 as the Leafs became the first team to win three straight Stanley Cups.
After dropping to 10 goals and 22 points for the Leafs in 1949-50, Ezinicki joined the Boston Bruins for two seasons. His final NHL action came when he played 16 games for the New York Rangers in 1954-55. He finished his career with 79 goals, 184 points and 713 penalty minutes in 368 games.
Ezinicki then went on to a successful professional golfing career, winning two New England PGA titles (1956 and 1958). He was also the head pro at the International in Bolton, Mass.
"He was one of the most talented athletes I've ever seen," retired Boston Herald sportswriter Jack Mahoney, who knew Ezinicki from the golf beat, told the paper. "He was one of the hardest workers in golf and just a great guy. He???d do anything for you."


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The time has come for a few changes to the blog. For years, I've paid a web host to host ADOB and the never-updated michaeldietsch.com on my behalf. With a baby in the house, and what appears to be an intercity move pending, I just can't justify the monthly expense.
I recently moved Mrs. Bitters's various blogs over to WordPress.com, and those moves were successful. In a nutshell, WP.com is hosting the blogs for free. For 12 bucks a year per blog, WP is now providing name server wonkery for each blogs — in other words, Last Night's Dinner lives at lastnightsdinner.net, where it always has, rather than at foo.wordpress.com.
So, that's what I'll be doing, paying WP $12 a year instead of another host $25 a month. Unlike LND, which is now largely a legacy site, I do plan to keep updating this blog, so I may drop a few extra shillings on some of the custom-design options that WP offers.
What this means is a redesign. About time… This current design dates to 2008. It also means some shuffling of content, a wider post area (so those damn ads can display in a larger format, for example), and maybe even some new types of material. I do hope to post more frequently, but I've made that promise before.
I'll be working on it on and off, whenever the baby lets me. So I have no timeframe on the relaunch, unfortunately, but I hope to move things by the end of April, so I don't pay another month's hosting costs.


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2013-10-02 / Religious News
Religious Services
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF PHILIPSTOWN 'The Church of the Open Door' Academy & Cherry Streets, Cold Spring 265-3220 Rev. Leslie Mott, Pastor presbychurchcoldspring.org email: firstname.lastname@example.com Sunday service, 10:30 am Office hours Mon. 8-11, Tues. and Thurs. 8-2
The full version of this story is available only to subscribers. Subscribe now to access to full versions of news stories in our archive of over 12,000 stories going back to 1999.


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ReleasesBack to
Joe Lovano
Mose Allison, one of the top lyricists of the '90s, shows throughout this entertaining CD that his powers as a pianist and singer are also very much intact. The album introduces a few new classics in "Certified Senior Citizen," "This Ain't Me" and "Who's in, Who's Out." His voice is still in prime form and his piano playing remains quite unique. It is true that the guests on the set (guitarist John Scofield, altoist Joe Lovano, Bob Malach on tenor and trumpeter Randy Brecker) are not all that necessary but Allison's performance makes this an excellent showcase for his music. ~ Scott Yanow


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Perhaps still sore from the accusation that searching with Google could be harmful to the environment, the Web's monolithic curator is showing off some of its green efforts. Partly a celebration of the environmentally themed Blog Action Day 2009, Google patted itself on the back for everything from a well-known, WiFi-equipped Bay Area shuttle to employing the services of goats.
Google summarized some of its efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle on its Official Google Blog. Leading with its free shuttle service that ferries employees from around the Bay Area, Google points out that the shuttle runs on B20 biodiesel. If employees opt to bike, walk, or otherwise self-power themselves to the Mountain View, CA campus, they will earn points that translate into a Google donation to a charity one specifies.
Green highlights around Google's campus include building rooftops that are covered with enough photovoltaic solar panels to produce 1.6 MW of electricity, as well as environmentally friendly building materials that are (increasingly) PVC- and formaldehyde-free materials. When it comes to taking care of the rest of the campus, Google swapped out lawn mowers for 200 goats, and seemed pleased with the experiment. The company also keeps a fleet of plug-in hybrid cars that employees can freely use to run daily errands, as well as bicycles for quickly getting around campus. Last, but probably not least, Google composts organic material from its cafes, and uses only disposable, compostable plateware and cutlery.
Google obviously isn't the only major consumer tech company making efforts to go green and making sure we know it. Microsoft details its own policies and provides research and guides for IT departments at Microsoft.com/environment, and Apple attempted to reframe the green debate again last month by becoming one of the first companies to factor the green-ness of its products into its overall assessment. Google details similar product information in the form of data center energy consumption statistics and achievements at its own corporate Google's Green Initiatives. Since data centers are the building blocks of Google's primary products, Google touts things like two facilities that are currently powered by 100 percent recycled water, and next year it expects that number to rise to 80 percent of its entire data center water consumption.


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Paper Mache
This paper mache number 1 is ready to be painted, embellished, or hung anyway you may desire. It can be used as a decoration either hung on the wall or sitting on a table or mantel. Each number is 12 x 1.5 inches. 1 piece per package.


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Oscar Nominations: Surprises and Snubs
The 2013 Oscar nominations are out, and WSJ's SpeakEasy senior editor Christopher Farley joins Lunch Break to handicap the field. Photo: Getty Images.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... nominations are out and linking it ... to a new category with twelve nominations ... our Speakeasy bought editor Chris Farley his right here beside me with the daughter of the spots and just I was warming you up here who like to think like Egypt headwinds to mean exactly guide meeting will sink Daniel day Lewis who starred in Lincoln will be doing that went mini on nominations from Lincoln ... some of the surprises some of the people who didn't get nominated for a spot of the country see in the best director category ... aam captain to Google and directed ... zero Dark thirty two he won an Oscar for the hurt locker ... won the few women at the now maybe can adorn the much buzzed about ... his lap top the list ... really ... despicable ... aam immediate was the politics of that that some senators that happen before depiction of torture ... and and and ... and for suggesting that perhaps lead to actual evidence some that the movie the kid doesn't do ... aam issue but it may also be because of so few women every nominee in a category that has left him on the profit they usually do ... at the US with Alyssa's all mailed for best director ... or some other reason to come up with yet but projections left off Ben Affleck left office well for Argo the Ben and I left off it's hard to know why he left out because Argo was well reviewed but you were ... to get a lot of buzz in some deep earlier ... aam awards ceremony but left out this time around it but don't you know ... don't issues that controversial jangle and chainsaw people saying that it was raises some people saying no this is a to point it is to read it in any case no nomination frequent until June when change ... the Loco was up for ... best picture by customers in that category let's get to some people who were nominated best supporting actress ... Sally Field native in there from Lincoln sought to live in that you know a top target for this domination and I'm into that that that choose ... to Daniel day Lewis a guide dog along very deep into his character in place what I mean I'm paraphrasing that she took the deep two so I think really ... does sound out and she's been she's one Award Before corset so here she is not made again we're going deep into her characters the ... white of Lincoln heartbreaker can also see Anne Hathaway for late Ms Helen Hunt sessions and a couple of other spots along the best supporting actor what's notable Macerich like this ... well enough a best supporting actress in about a very interesting aam of opt ... in list this time around that the key rate to the probe on a regular donor wealthy ... benefit to the dental and chain them ... surprisingly he got in um maybe in some people from June twenty did not ... come to Washington in nomination for best supporting actor was spun her ... around in the euro zone and aid for silver lining the playbook ... of those interesting image is also in the film being planned ... to get some early buzz but soon fizzled out by the time of the wards came around so ... good to see who wins that ... aam crystal ball to think might be one of the problem for China's zero Dark thirty and how Kathryn Bigelow sweet that this time for that the best director nomination there ... I Jessica testing did not see she won for best actor she did it on I just can t stand with another expected um making his one some the earlier up of a war is being looked into this much acclaim for this trumpet for this she has also not meant to help so ... I Nicole will probably see her as when he declares them around and Jennifer Lawrence in summer lines but look at and another not not the best silver lining to the ALM that David O Russell's the practice of the film had a lot of was aam ... people began to see him begin to talk about it began to tweet about it and ... now we seen aam Nuttall and Jeff Lawrence Balter Bradley Cooper ... see donations for the work and tell us about best actor ITC Daniel day Lewis in Lincoln eighteen Jackman in late Ms is really down to the wire between the two with anything ... you know I think Hugh Jackman has gotten a lot of press for his role and is ... the status of the role of a lifetime's the lot of warmth towards him he's someone who's done it not only in the movies but also on stage ... the kids he considered me to the front runner ... to walk away with that price ... other than maybe Daniel day Lewis can someone please ... just tell somewhat respect respect in crafting the new Spielberg ... behind the camera directing him ... it's can be a tough piece on between those two ... are down ten ... best picture right into the big price here ... nine nominees once again they're sort of making sure ... there's something for everybody to think about it to report that category was your Pursell favored over ... other laptop which had been put on there like I was a menu for dessert nomination Michael liked that film ... I knew it wasn't a nomination but ... that its profit was a terrific film ... Skyfall the single topped ... the bomb the B of the bond we did get a nomination for the ... good songs that Dell did write Skyfall up for this on to the economic and that's on ... the back something as awful macabre so as to ... who was left off Talisman for her song for the Hunger Games ... did not give now made ... a bold will song's got a lot of ... play on the radio ... Philip attention from critics ... and yet she ended up the nominations will be to see her perform ... at the art in your mind firms weigh in on the Speakeasy log on WS J dot com for their nominations you can weigh in you can guess BTP she can get to the Dickinson dubbed the Cummins's come Speakeasy block and ... you plenty more information about ... issues awesome to sign those comments before I write this filing and didn't ... see eye to the neon gives it a kiosk is becoming outdated were working on that one of the next time you're on ... that house for September twenty four things for being with this


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Liberty News
Golf team wins NCAA regional, prepares for first trip to nationals
No. 6 seed Liberty withstood a fierce charge from No. 3 seed Florida, fending off the Gators with four birdies on No. 18 to capture the team title at the 2012 NCAA Greensboro Regional, Saturday afternoon, on the East Course at the Grandover Resort.
With the victory, Liberty along with Florida, No. 1 seed Auburn, No. 10 seed Lamar and No. 9 seed Tulsa will be making a West Coast trip in 10 days.
The top five teams at each of the six NCAA Regionals sites around the country earned the right to compete at the 2012 NCAA Men's Golf National Championship, May 29 – June 3, at the Riviera Country Club in in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
For the Flames, it marked their third straight team victory and the team's ninth straight round where it finished as the clubhouse leader. In April, Liberty won the River Landing Intercollegiate on April 6-7 before capturing its second straight Big South Men's Golf Championship at The Patriot Golf Club on April 16-18.
Liberty finished atop the 14-team leaderboard with a four-over par 868 (283-293-292), three shots clear of Florida, who finished second with a seven-over par 871 (299-287-285).
Liberty becomes the first-ever Big South men's golf team to win an NCAA Regional event and the fourth to advance to the NCAA Men's Golf National Championship.
- Read the full story at www.libertyflames.com.


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One of the freighter people thinks Jack is handsome in this week's Lost episode. Not only that, but we get some more hints about what they're really up to on the island, and glimpse the inventory they brought with them. And Locke acts like a loon again. Between these clips and the two minutes we posted yesterday, you can see about five minutes of episode two in advance. Two more clips, plus a gallery of stills from episode four, below.
And here are some new promo pics from season four, episode four, "Eggtown".


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Note: There is an update at the end, as of August 16, 2011. I have also added an article on domestic violence, especially as it pertains to Christian homes.
Please permit me a rant. You need to read this.
On February 6, seven year old Lydia Schatz, adopted from Liberia, was murdered. Her 11 year old sister Zariah is in critical condition with severe kidney damage. Who did it? Their deeply religious (I can't bring myself to say Christian) home schooling parents, who were attempting to "discipline" them. The "offense" of the murdered child was that she mispronounced a word during her home school lesson. She was beaten for seven hours with a plumbing supply line, with only short "prayer" breaks. Another brother has been found with significant bruising. Read the news story. The murder has been attributed to the parents following the teaching of Michael and Debi Pearl in their books To Train Up a Child and No Greater Joy, which have sold hundreds of thousands of copies among home school families.
I am heartsick. I've been tracking news stories in the home school community for years, and these deaths are not the only ones. (This hits a little close to home for me. A few years back, I was shocked to hear that another home schooling mom named Kimberly Forder, who had written an article about international adoption for the Hope Chest -- ouch! -- was convicted of murder in the abuse death of her son Christopher.) Many horrible abuses that don't happen to result in death are never even reported. Much of this is the result of very misguided or overwhelmed parents trying to implement "Biblical" discipline in their homes. THIS IS NOT BIBLICAL DISCIPLINE AND IT MUST STOP! As compassionate Christians and as a home schooling community, we must have ZERO tolerance for abusive parenting. If we seriously want to preserve the abundant liberties we enjoy as home schooling families, we're going to have to make sure that our movement is not characterized by such aberrant behavior. We need to start speaking out and educating one another about healthy family dynamics and child discipline.
I am not railing against reasonable corporal discipline, nor should we overreact to an occasional minor accidental injury related to this, but we do need to take a stand when we see any of these warning signs:
- Parental action which results in bruising, bleeding, welts, burns, fractures, dislocations, or other injuries (I don't consider very temporary minor reddening of the skin to be a concern)
- Parents who neglect to seek appropriate medical care for an injury out of fear of being accused of abuse
- Parents who withhold proper food, sleep, hygiene, or emotional nurture from the child as a form of punishment
- Parents who force their children to have unnatural contact with urine, feces, or other unhygienic situations
- Parents who lock their children up in a room for extended periods of time (I'm not talking about reasonable "time out")
- Parents who are "out of control" in their anger, and who are more interested in punishment and retribution than in sincerely and compassionately training their child
- Parents who routinely resort to extended yelling, shaming, ridiculing, harsh accusation, and other forms of verbal abuse -- which can be (but not necessarily) a signal of physical abuse
- Parents who publicly advocate using discipline methods which seem abusive or excessively harsh, even if they are taught as being "biblical" or "godly"
- Children who are cowering in fear from their parents, or who are unusually withdrawn, depressed, or aggressive
In addition, husbands should never treat their wives like dirty doormats in the name of "Biblical submission." You do not need to passively accept physical or verbal abuse. I've heard from some of you who are being subjected to this kind of degradation, even some who have been in danger. This is not right! You are not becoming a "liberal feminist" if you begin to draw healthy boundaries of respectful treatment around yourself. But, remember, everything must be done in love - even when we have to draw safe boundaries. Someone else's poor behavior is never an excuse for ours. This blog post might help: Help for Hurting Marriages.
You may know someone in your neighborhood, your extended family, your church, or your home school support group who is abusing their children or spouse. Don't turn a blind eye. Do your best to discretely find out what is going on in the family by talking to the children and to the parents. This is compassionate intervention, not gossip. Offer support. Encourage them to get help. If they refuse to do this, and the situation is serious and continuing, you will need to call in outside intervention. (Be VERY careful about making accusations public, though, because it may not be abuse at all, and an unnecessary visit from the police or social worker can be quite traumatic for a child. Be sure of your facts before you call.)
While we are on the topic of inappropriate parenting, I'd like to say a few things about over-authoritarian control in the Christian home schooling movement. I know most of us are taking the time and money and effort at this because we want our kids to turn out to be fine, upstanding, godly young adults. We don't want them to make the same mistakes we did. We want to keep them out of trouble, out of harm's way. We don't want them to "fall into sin." Fair enough! But I think we need to take a SERIOUS look at how we view this and how we try to implement this in our homes. (This is something I am reevaluating, too, so I'm preaching to myself.) I think some among us have become control freaks with our kids. We need to realize that we aren't God, we don't own our children, and we don't need to dictate every last little detail of their lives or isolate them from all outside influences, especially as they move into the teen years. We don't need to use ridicule or guilt-trips to get them to behave according to our expectations. Yes, we need to teach them as best we can, be wise "gatekeepers" over the influences in our homes, and certainly set a wholesome example -- but most of all we need to pray for them and trust God, who loves them so much more than we ever could. We need to listen to our kids and not try to shut them down whenever they express disagreements. They should have the freedom to share whatever is on their hearts (hopefully in a respectful manner!) without fear that we will react in shock, disapproval or rejection. We need to seek to inspire our children into such a warm relationship with their Heavenly Father that they will increasingly learn for themselves how to hear and follow his voice. Home schooling should not be the means to unduly limit our children's options in life, but to launch them into the Grand Adventure (risks and all!) which our loving Lord has planned for them!
I hope to write more about these topics sometime soon, but for now, these links will provide some food for thought…
- "Christian Families on the Edge: Authoritarianism and Isolationism Among Us" by Rachel D. Ramer for the Christian Research Institute
- "Solving the Crisis in Home Schooling" by Reb Bradley (who used to be authoritarian and controlling but is now teaching about the dangers of that approach)
- "Sweetness Comes Through Godly Wisdom, Part Two"In this audio presentation, Karen Campbell covers a lot of ground about over-authoritarian parenting, including why naturalist John Muir rejected his parents' Christian faith even after he had memorized all of the New Testament and 2/3 of the Old Testament
Here are three blog posts which also talk about this case.
- Child Abuse in the Name of Jesus by Karen Campbell, who first told me about this story
- Heartbroken. Angry. Again. (this blog post by TulipGirl includes lots of links for further research)
- When Parenting Kills – What Can We Do?
I'ver received a lot of responses in my e-mail inbox since I published this on February 17. I have compiled excerpts from several of them, including ones with additional ways to reach out to hurting families: Adding Your Voices About Child Abuse
Update: On March 11, I had the opportunity to speak for a home school group in Gainesville, Florida. Some of my comments touched on positive child training. You can listen to the audio message: Amazing Grace for Home School Moms.
For grace and mercy - and justice!
Virginia Knowles
P.S. In the past few weeks this blog has received well over 2000 visitors linked from other sites. (It usually gets one or two per day!) I didn't realize until at least a week after I posted it that I didn't have the comment function turned on - I was beginning to wonder why folks weren't leaving any! So now it's on and you are welcome to share your thoughts! Please just remember to be civil and discrete.
P.P.S. Since most of you aren't already familiar with me, if you want to subscribe to my monthly e-magazine, where I write about home education, spiritual growth, and family life, you can send any message to mailto:email@example.com. I write more frequently on my main blog, http://www.virginiaknowles.blogspot.com/, as well as on my preschool/elementary blog, http://www.startwellhomeschool.blogspot.com/ and my middle school blog, http://www.continuewellhomeschool.blogspot.com/.
Update on August 16, 2011: Anderson Cooper is doing a CNN news report on this case tonight, and the clip is on-line. You can watch it here: Girl Spanked to Death in the Name of God. Michael and Debi Pearl are interviewed in this video. They seem so calm and self-composed here, but this is what I wrote in an e-mail to my subscribers after my original blog post: "When I originally wrote my article, I mentioned Michael and Debi Pearl because their books on child training (To Train Up a Child and No Greater Joy) have been implicated in the abuse deaths of Lydia Schatz and Sean Paddock. I received a few vocal protests about that, so I removed that paragraph when I posted it on my blog, not wanting it to be a distraction from my main point that parents must not let child discipline turn into child abuse. However, I was absolutely shocked today to read Michael Pearl's own blog post in which he has the audacity to very mockingly laugh at his critics without mentioning the murder of Lydia Schatz, expressing any grief that her death has been linked to his methods, or even cautioning his readers not to overdo his own methods. Instead, he brags about how children trained by his methods are going to take over the world. This is unconscionable and sickening!"