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Why the Housing Market Has Slowed
Economists have been disappointed by a string of weaker-than-expected home-sales reports. Sales of existing homes dropped in March, including in parts of the country that weren't hit by cold weather this winter. Sales of new homes, reported Wednesday, were down 13.3% from a year earlier to their lowest level since last July . Is the housing recovery faltering, and if so, why?
First, the good news: The share of homes selling out of foreclosure continues to decline, according to a monthly survey of real-estate agents by the National Association of Realtors.
Foreclosures have usually sold at a discount to traditional homes because lenders are highly motivated to cut the price and sell fast. These homes also aren't as well maintained. That means a foreclosed-property sale can pull down the "comps" used to appraise the value of other homes selling in a neighborhood.
Sales of previously owned homes have fallen in seven of the last eight months. They were down 7.5% from a year earlier in March, the fifth straight month in which sales have fallen below the year-earlier level.
But some of the decline in existing-home sales stems from the shrinking supply of distressed homes, as the below chart indicates. This is welcome news for home sellers and builders, though it isn't great for investors or real-estate agents that have made a living over the past few years recycling these properties back onto the market.
Even though home prices have stopped falling, traditional sellers have been slow to list their homes for sale, and construction of new homes is still very low. This means there still aren't very many homes on the market, which has pushed prices up. That's good for homeowners, but bad for anyone looking to buy a house who doesn't currently own one.
Even as home sales have slowed, the months' supply of homes is way down from the highs of the housing bust because there still aren't many homes to choose from.
So why have home sales slowed? Prices are rising in part because there aren't very many homes for sale. But those gains have begun to make homes less affordable, particularly after mortgage rates jumped last summer. So even though mortgage rates are still low, home buyers may still be adjusting to the reduced affordability from the combination of higher prices and rates.
The increase in mortgage rates meant that borrowers lost some of the purchasing power they had enjoyed one year ago, when rates were one full percentage point lower.
Here's the problem: If low inventories—and fewer foreclosures—have been holding back sales of existing homes, then builders should be putting up a lot more new homes. So far, that hasn't happened. New-home sales plunged in March by 14.5% from February, though the previously reported levels for January and February were both revised up.
Builders have focused on building fewer homes that can fetch higher prices as they face rising labor, land and supply costs. Credit also is tight for smaller builders that don't have access to capital markets, keeping some on the sidelines.
And builders have said that they are focusing on selling to more affluent buyers, as opposed to entry-level buyers, who are either struggling to come up with the cash to buy a home or aren't interested in ownership right now.
Wednesday's new home sales report suggests housing is slow for reasons other than low inventories, weather, and declining affordability. After all, with mortgage rates hovering around 4.5%, homes are still more affordable than most periods between 1990 and 2008.
Housing's rocky recovery could signal weakness more broadly in the economy, reflecting the lingering damage from the bust that has left millions of households unable to participate in any housing recovery. Many still have properties worth less than the amount borrowers owe on their mortgages, while others have high levels of debt, low levels of savings and patchy incomes.


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Washington DC Nano News - Policy Publics and Museum Publics
authored by Margaret Glass, ASTC
The venue for the September FDA Nanotechnology Public Meeting was almost 20 miles outside of DC, at a new satellite campus of the University of Maryland. Despite the distance and an impossibly inconvenient public transportation route, the rooms were filled with about 300 of the same suits and skirts you'd see at any downtown DC meeting. What kind of "public" is this anyway? The short answer is: "stakeholders." Which includes industry analysts, investment trackers, lobbyists, policy wonks, watchdogs, think-tankers, the researchers who present the data, and me – an ex-archaeologist who tracks this ecclectic tribe and its invisible material culture. One puzzle I keep attempting to reconcile every time I attend one of these meetings is how these policy publics intersect with our museum publics. You'd think that a similar question would be asked by the agencies holding these meetings as well. At what point do meetings about the public actually involve the public? Or are they already here – but in disguise? I was included in a Nanotech Caucus briefing on Capitol Hill last March on the topic of public engagement. One of the first questions I asked was how many people in the audience had been in a science center or museum in the past year. Eighty percent of the people raised their hands. I wasn't really surprised – this is DC, after all. To paraphrase an old saying, "you can't swing a dead cat in DC without hitting a museum." But their response did make me think. Many of these people – the same staffers, lobbyists, and policy watchers I often come in contact with – are part of our museum publics. They all have families, many have kids, they often show visitors around town when family or friends come to visit the nation's capital. It also made me adjust my talk. I talked to them more as visitors than as an abstract audience. I thought of them as parents, chaperones on field trips, the science-engaged adults I used to see at the Adults Night Out events in the museum where I used to work. So how does this apply to the federal agency meetings intended for public input? The attendees at these, despite their alternate identities as museum visitors, only wear their professional personas at these meetings. Is it because they are in a certain type of context? Would there be other kinds of interactions and responses if these meetings were held in a science center? Would the forum format emerging in the NISE Net help bring out personal as well as professional opinions? What if our museums became centers for policy-engaged discussion about science topics as well?

subset: commoncrawl


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Hollywood loves making movies about people struggling with deadly diseases, whether it's the race against time in "Contagion" or tearjerkers like "Love Story" and "Beaches," in which the characters who contract cancer wring emotion out of every heartbreaking moment.
Neither end of this spectrum, however, seems interested in telling the truth about cancer, which has impacted the lives of everyone who's had a relative or friend die from the disease. What is rare is when a film on the normally depressing subject nails the confusing mix of fear, loneliness, hope, bonding and gallows humor that become part of the real-life experience.
The new movie "50/50" does a superb job of managing these complex emotions in intelligent, touching and at times very funny ways. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt ("(500) Days of Summer") as a Seattle-based NPR radio writer named Adam and Seth Rogen ("Knocked Up") as his best friend Kyle, the film has cancer sneak up on the audience in much the way it subtly surprises Adam.
Fit, clean-living and in his 20s, Adam loves to take long runs through the city. But lately, he's been having unusual pains in his back. Finally checking in with a doctor, Adam learns that he has a rare form of spinal cancer and has just a 50/50 chance to survive. It's news that shakes up everyone, freaking out his overbearing mother (Anjelica Huston) and leading his girlfriend (Bryce Dallas Howard) to attempt to step up their relationship by moving in to take care of him.
But Kyle has a different way of dealing with it all, encouraging Adam to use his disease as a sympathetic hook to help Kyle meet women. He also tries to be indefatigably positive, telling Adam that 50/50 odds would be exceptional in Vegas, and it's Kyle's mix of dark humor and unfailing support that forms the heart of the story — along with Adam's relationship with a new grief counselor (Anna Kendrick).
Thanks to its stellar cast and powerful script by Will Reiser, "50/50" gets the delicate balance of humor and sadness 100 percent right. How did Reiser pull it off? He's a cancer survivor himself and he based his script on how his real-life best friend Seth Rogen helped him through his hardships.
The only potential downside for some viewers might be Rogen's highly pro-fane rapid-fire patter, something he's applied in all of his films. Personally, I love his shtick. Plus, he has grown in his ability to nail serious moments with aplomb as well.
Helmed by director Jonathan Levine, who put a fresh spin on coming-of-age clichés with his debut feature "The Wackness," "50/50" has enough hope, humor and humanity to beat the odds and draw viewers in as a disease film, a unique romance and, most of all, a tale of a young man learning to be a better person in the face of some pretty bleak circumstances.


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First Drive Review
2013 GMC Terrain Denali: First Drive
If you're looking for information on a newer GMC Terrain, we've published an updated review: 2019 GMC Terrain Review
We recently had the opportunity to drive the 2012 GMC Terrain SLT. It was equipped with the SLT2 package, which included upgrades such as chrome exterior accents, a power liftgate, rear parking assist and a power sunroof. This Terrain was also equipped with the optional 3.0-liter V6, 18-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels and navigation. Even though we liked the way the Terrain drove and appreciated its commanding view of the road and easy-to-reach interior controls, something was missing: power. Even with 264 horsepower, the Terrain felt as if it was straining to pull away from stoplights quickly and when climbing small hills.
For 2013, the 3.0-liter V6 is gone, and in its place is the more powerful direct-injection 301-hp 3.6-liter V6. With a 22.5 percent increase in torque, the engine feels more powerful, and there's an extra level of refinement that's especially fitting for the Denali. We tested the 2013 Terrain Denali to see how this upscale crossover works as a whole package. See the 2013 GMC Terrain models for sale near you
GMC upped the ante with the Terrain Denali, and it shows. The first thing you notice about the SUV is the traditional Denali styling. The exterior includes the signature Denali chrome honeycomb grille along with fresh headlamp and taillight treatments that are exclusive to the Denali. Satin chrome adorns the side mirrors, door handles, body-side molding, skidplate and exhaust tips. Body-color rocker panels sporting satin chrome molding also round out the exclusive Denali blueprint. Two unique wheel designs, which are exclusive to the Denali, are available depending on the engine of choice.
The Terrain Denali's interior is well laid out with controls for the radio, navigation and climate control within easy reach. Contrasting red stitching on the instrument panel and seats is quick to catch the eye. Mahogany wood and leather trim embellish the steering wheel and door inserts. Polished aluminum front sill plates are another premium feature of the Terrain Denali. The perforated leather seats feel comfortable without being too soft or too stiff. The rear seat, which slides fore and aft eight inches, provides plenty of legroom for adults and children and allows extra storage behind the second row.
GMC put a lot of thought into making the interior as quiet as possible. Triple door seals and an acoustic laminated windshield help minimize wind noise. Active noise cancellation in the 4-cylinder models also helps to diminish engine noise by creating counteracting sound waves through the Terrain's audio system.
In city driving, our SLT rode smoothly over bumpy streets thanks to its fully independent suspension. For the Denali, GMC is looking to improve comfort and performance. To provide a quieter and smoother ride, the suspension was softened using dual-flow damper shocks. However, After driving several miles over rough and uneven streets in the Denali, we didn't see a huge improvement over the 2012 SLT.
Our test vehicle was also equipped with the optional 3.6-liter V6 direct-injection engine that makes 301 hp. This engine, shared with the Cadillac CTS, is a definite improvement over the 3.0-liter V6 we sampled earlier in the SLT. Producing 37 more hp, it accelerates with more authority and, when climbing hills, doesn't feel strained or sluggish. When launching from stoplights, we felt acceleration was smoother with less hesitation. And there's more good news. Technology such as direct injection and continuously variable valve timing help the 3.6-liter achieve the same mpg figures the 3.0-liter V6.
Driving Impressions
Northern Michigan was the perfect location to test the new Terrain Denali. The all-wheel-drive system performed well without slipping on the twisting country roads. Power from the V6 was ample when driving in the hills (although it could get a little loud when we climbed some of the steeper inclines). Given that, we didn't feel the need to shift the six-speed automatic into manual mode to help the engine do its job. Fuel economy on our 3.5-hour trek was around 18 mpg, which falls in line with the EPA's estimated rating of 16/23 mpg..
Heading back to the airport was a breeze with the color touch navigation. Setting the destination was simple and we appreciated the extra touches such as weather updates and travel alerts. Also, having voice-guided directions is an added convenience so we could keep our eyes on the road.
Pricing for the 2013 GMC Terrain Denali starts at $35,350. Since the Terrain Denali comes nicely equipped, the good news is the option list is pretty small. Adding the V6 will cost you an additional $1,500, and all-wheel drive raises the price an extra $1,750. If you feel the need to trailer the boat to the lake, you can shell out the additional $350 for the towing package. If you need to find the lake, color touch navigation with Intellilink will run $795. To keep the kids entertained on those trips to Grandma's house, a rear-seat entertainment system will cost $1,295.
GMC didn't skimp on standard amenities on the Terrain Denali, either. GMC equips the Terrain Denali for safety with forward collision alert and lane departure warning. Side blind zone and rear cross traffic alert help you maneuver through busy streets and crowded parking lots. Rounding out the standard features are a programmable power liftgate, a touchscreen audio system and Homelink integrated garage door controls.
The Terrain Denali we tested was priced at about $40,000. That might seem expensive, but consider that the Denali comes with many standard features. Tacking on similar options to the SLT2 such as navigation, rear-seat entertainment and forward collision/lane departure would cost around the same as the Denali. Since the price differential is only about $2,400, the Denali seems like the logical choice if you want comfort and a little extra style with your crossover SUV. Find a 2013 GMC Terrain for sale


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We are nearing the time where many young people will celebrate a lifetime of accomplishments as they graduate from high school and move toward their life goals. Family and friends will gather together for a festive occasion to commemorate this awesome milestone.
Traditionally, this is also a time when alcohol enters into the mix and brings tragic results for all involved. Alcohol is the most commonly used drug among American youth and it kills 5,000 teens every year.
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The Universidad Complutense de Madrid, together with the Consell Insular deMenorca are organizing this international conference to generate a meeting point on Archaeology management and treatment of World Heritage sites. The main aim of the Conference is to draw up and publish a "Guide of Best Practices in World Heritage: Archaeology".
To this end, sessions about the following topics will be organized:
- Social action and Archaeology in World Heritage
- ICT, Archaeology and World Heritage
- Architecture, World Heritage and Archaeology
- Land planning, Archaeology and World Heritage
- Preventive Archaeology and World Heritage
- Education, diffusion, World Heritage and Archaeology
For more information: www.congresopatrimoniomundialmenorca.cime.es


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After I made my chili over the weekend, a couple of folks questioned what happened to the dried Ghost Naga peppers I picked up this summer for the purpose. The answer is, they are still awaiting a use, but since I was setting out to make a batch of chili that's just moderately hot (let's say three alarm), this did not seem to be the right time to experiment to find the proper quantity of what's described as the "world's hottest pepper." I'll definitely make some chili with them at some point, though I am also contemplating creating some evil hot sauce as well.
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DNR: Not the Result We Prayed ForPosted in cancer, Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care, Grief and Grieving, hospital visits on March 9th, 2010 by Jim Hughes – 1 Comment
Yesterday as I was making my chaplaincy visits, I visited a man and his wife whom I've grown to respect greatly. He was in the process of signing his out-of-hospital DNR for entering hospice care. He has battled a very rare type of cancer valiantly, but the cancer is winning in this life. His words were few. "It's time," he said, speaking of entering hospice care.
This is not the result any of us wanted.
We have prayed with great faith for healing, knowing it was against the odds of nature all along. If pure willpower could win this fight, this man would have won. If being greatly loved by so many people could make a difference, it would have.
After he signed the paper and the witness and the hospice representative left the room, we didn't have words to give each other in conversation that would make any of us feel better or deal better. So we prayed to the One who understands how we feel, the One who can carry us through these difficult times.
The prayer I spoke was one of lament, telling God that this was not the result we wanted, admitting our pain, our frustration. But I also found words to express our love and faith to God in spite of not getting what we wanted, our total trust in Him to provide for our best good. And I also uttered a number of requests — for His care and protection and love for this family as they continue down a most difficult road.
As people of faith, we frequently pray for healing even in the face of long odds. We are praying for a miracle, for an outcome that flies in the face of logic, of reason, of grim statistics of nature.
Sometimes, admittedly infrequently, God grants our deep desire. I rejoice, and my resolve to keep praying for divine intervention is strengthened.
More often, He doesn't. Then I express my lament, my sadness at the pain of this life. My resolve to continue praying for divine intervention is not lessened, but I am reminded that I, like Job of old, don't know the answers.
I was reminded of Job yesterday, that in spite of pain and frustration, that he didn't lose his integrity.
And that it was time to give that helpful book a fresh read.


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In an effort to help dozens of Peninsula residents, including 30 from Mountain View, who say their sensitivity to chloramine has caused skin rashes and respiratory problems, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo is pulling strings to allow them to speak with the Environmental Protection Agency.
"Constituents have raised their serious concerns about chloramine," said Eshoo, D-Palo Alto. "I think it's important for the EPA and the Public Utility Commission to hear directly from them and I am facilitating this. The use of chloramine as a disinfectant in public water should be guided by sound science showing that it is both safe and effective."
Chloramine replaced chlorine as the disinfectant for Hetch Hetchy tap water in 2004. The switch had been recommended by the EPA to reduce the carcinogenic byproducts of chlorine.
Since then, however, more than 400 Bay Area residents have reported allergic reactions to chloramine, including skin rashes, respiratory problems and inflamed digestive tracts, according to the Menlo Park-based Citizens Concerned About Chloramine.
That group's president, Denise Johnson-Kula, said the goal of the meeting, scheduled for Aug. 27, is to start a discussion with the EPA about providing a "waiver" to local water agencies allowing them to go back to chlorine use -- despite whatever effects that may have on byproducts in the tap water.
On the Peninsula, this could put responsibility for the problem back into the hands of the local water provider, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, which has said its switch to chloramine was prompted by EPA recommendations.
The group has joined forces with others from as far away as Vermont to build a national movement to stem the disinfectant's use until studies can be done on its health effects. The renewed effort came after a California bill to study chloraminated tap water, authored by Assemblymember Ira Ruskin, failed for the second year in a row this summer.
The groups celebrated one of their first victories two weeks ago, when a handful of residents in Pennsylvania were able to delay a switch to chloramine by the Pennsylvania-based American Water Company. Opponents said proper studies of its health effects had not been conducted.
One-third of the country has already converted to the disinfectant, said Kula. Water agencies, meanwhile, say some places have used chloramine since the early 1900s with no problems.
The EPA recommended that water agencies switch to chloramine to reduce trihalomethanes, a carcinogenic byproduct of chlorine disinfection. But the byproducts of chloramine are even more dangerous, according to Dr. Michael Plewa, professor of genetics at the University of Illinois, who recently published a study on tap water disinfection byproducts.
In an e-mail to the
Whether chloramine itself can be linked to people's health problems has yet to be studied. David Ozonoff, MD, a professor of public health at Boston University, says that question is definitely worth looking into.
"A close temporal relationship between the treatment change and the complaints of water users strongly suggests that one is the cause of the other," he wrote in a letter to Vermont-based People Concerned About Chloramine.
"Without a more detailed study of the matter it is not possible to say this definitively, but it is plausible that something about the treatment change has caused this. Water chemistry is complicated and sometimes produces unexpected and untoward results. The complaints are notice to look into the matter."
Such chemistry may have affected water supplies in Los Altos, where lead content is regularly tested. Following the introduction of chloramine, water in several homes was found to contain lead levels over the public safety limit, possibly due to the way chloraminated tap water reacts with the lead-soldered plumbing in older homes.
Greg Hosfeldt, business manager of the Mountain View Public Works Department, said 24 random water samples were taken from Mountain View homes and wells after the switch to chloramine in 2004. Lead levels were not found to be over the maximum level, he said. The city is slated to test its water again in September.
More information can be found at www.chloramine.org.


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Famous Paul Johnson quote about hope. It has been bookmarked 2 times by our users. Save it to your bookmarks if you like it. Read more hope quotes with our quotes app for iPhone.
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New Stuff
Well, we haven't done one of these in a while, but 'tis the season and all that, yes?
First up, Eric of Your Status is Annoying designed this fabulous Wreckporter badge:
Which looks oh-so-cute on this ringer tee:
Click on the pics to see the designs in Zazzle, where you can also change the shirt styles, colors, etc. Heck, you can even buy one there - how crazy is that?


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PW69 wrote:Hi Scott thanks for the response would this potentially work?
Use the vocal remover to obtain an instrumental (as above)
Export the instrumental and original file as wav from FL
Import the two rendered files into new FL project on different mixer channels
Invert the phase of one of the channels?
No. The vocal extraction badly messes with the phase and volume of the L and R channels.
This will only work when you have .wav file mixes (i.e CD) of a vocal and music only mix of the exact same track.
Regards Scott


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Functional skills qualification in Mathematics at Entry 1 at Morthyng Vocational College
Course description
To find out more about this qualification, please contact us; our details are listed below.
Further information
To find out more about this qualification, please contact us directly on:
01709 828133
and ask for the Recruitment Department.
Or email: email@example.com
If you're in town, pop in and see us at: 14-16 Ship Hill, Rotherham, S60 2HG.
Alternatively speak to the Local Authority's IYSS team.
How to apply
You can apply for this course through UCAS Progress. Add this course to your favourites so you can start making an application.
Last updated date: 20 May 2014


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Results 1 to 3 of 3
Thread: Pilots and Reading Glasses
06-07-2016, 09:20 #1
Pilots and Reading Glasses
Curious..what happens to pilots in the military (particularly jet pilots) when they develop presbyopia (the need for reading glasses) after they hit 40 or so. Even the pilots who have had (and will continue to have) 20/20 vision will need reading glasses at some point. Elective surgery does not correct this condition. So, what have older pilots done in such cases? Can they carry their reading glasses with them and quickly pull them out if need be?
06-08-2016, 19:43 #2Chief
- Join Date
- Mar 2004
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- 1,941
go over to this forum(s) and ask
General Discussion - Baseops Forums
06-10-2016, 09:19 #3
Thanks. I will follow up accordingly.


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How well do you know the Code? Think you can spot violations the original installer either ignored or couldn't identify? Here's your chance to moonlight as an electrical inspector and second-guess someone else's work from the safety of your living room or office. Joe Tedesco, who has a knack for finding shoddy electrical work, did the dirty work and found this mess. Now it's your turn to identify the violation.
Find the Answer
Although the use of this copper tubing as a fuse was only to be used for a short time, it still doesn't excuse the fact that this is a Code violation. In fact, the other two fuses were just about on their last legs anyway. The fuse rejection feature shows that they too were not proper for the type of fuseholders in this switch.
The only way to be sure that the overcurrent devices at this facility are correct is to begin with the basic information that will provide the answers to the requirements found in Art. 430, and some others throughout the Code.


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In its 17th edition, the KlezKanada Laurentian Retreat is looking southward to the wealth of klezmer music and other expressions of Yiddishkeit in Latin America today.
The retreat, KlezKanada's flagship event, will take place Aug. 20-26 at Camp B'nai Brith, as usual.
Headline performers of a "Buenos Aires Soiree" will include Jacinta, a native of the Argentine capital now living in Paris, who is a singer, guitarist, actress and master of Yiddish tango, and the duo of Marcelo Moguilevsky and César Lerner, who infuse klezmer with Argentine folk music, jazz and tango. Both are making their KlezKanada debut.
The "North-South" spirit will continue with a Jewish carnival dance, bringing faculty and guests together for a boisterous evening.
A special guest faculty member will be Prof. Avrohom Lichtenboym, executive director of the Jewish Research Institute in Buenos Aires and considered one of the world's greatest Yiddish teachers.
This year's retreat is under the artistic direction of trumpeter/composer Frank London, a leader of The Klezmatics, the only Jewish music band to win a Grammy Award. The New York-based group, a longstanding veteran of the klezmer revival, will perform during the retreat.
This year's slogan is "Where traditional and experimental Jewish culture inform each other and flourish."
For many years, KlezKanada developed relationships with musicians and cultural activists in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. That connection has not been overlooked this time around.
Opa!, described as the premiere klezmer-ska-punk party band from St. Petersburg, will make its North American debut, playing the opening night show.
Another highlight will be the inaugural Adrienne Cooper Memorial Guest Faculty Position, in honour of the American singer and Yiddish music activist, a KlezKanada veteran, who died in December. The first recipient will be Dutch singer Shura Lipovsky, a pioneer in the revival of Yiddish folk song in Europe since the 1970s. This award is co-sponsored with the Workmen's Circle of New York.
Poetry is receiving special attention this year. New generation poet/performers Adeena Karasick and Jack Marmer will head KlezKanada's first concurrent poetry writing retreat on the theme "Three Millennia of Poetic Subversion."
Elsewhere, "Occupy Yiddish! Di Anarchisten" will pay tribute to the Yiddish-speaking radicals who used poetry to spread their cause, while violinist Deborah Strauss will look at Kadya Molodowsky's poetry, which grappled with women's identity and changing roles within traditional society.
Two giants of Yiddish poetry, Abraham Sutzkever and Mordechai Gebirtig, will be commemorated with original musical interpretations of their work.
Cooper will also be remembered on Friday night (called shtiller ovnt), when her concern with the intersection of the sacred and political will inspire a conversation on women's role in Jewish music today.
Musicians Michael Alpert of Brave Old World, Montreal's klezmer-hip hop king Josh Dolgin and innovative American musician Daniel Kahn of Berlin, among others, as well as author Michael Wex, present "Memorial Songs and Stories for Adrienne Cooper."
Two CDs will be released by the Michael Winograd Band of New York and Susan Watts' long-awaited Hartsklap during the week-long retreat.
Also attending will be Cantor Jacob Ben-Zion "Jackie" Mendelson, a New Yorker with a Montreal connection: his uncle Nathan Mendelson was cantor at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim for 35 years. He will explore traditional Jewish music.
The avant-garde "new" Jewish music will be explained by pianists Anthony Coleman, a colleague of John Zorn, and KlezKanada's Marilyn Lerner. Montreal's renowned Yiddish culture will be celebrated in a session called "Going Back to The Main: Rediscovering the Sights, Sounds and Shuls of Yiddish Montreal" inspired by three recent books by local authors, including Chantal Ringuet's French-language A la Découverte du Montréal Yiddish.
Sure to be interesting will be the appearance of Shifra Lowen, a woman now in her 30s who grew up in the chassidic Tosh community in Boisbriand. Before she and her family left the community, she wrote children's songs. She has released CDs of her Yiddish songs and stories.
In addition to the annual retreat, KlezKanada also offers year-round programming and presents the Montreal Jewish Music Festival. For more information, call 514-316-7280 or visit http://klezkanada.org.


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Kim Kardashian's engagement ring has sold at auction for $749,000.
The Lorraine Schwartz rectangular-cut diamond sparkler, which the reality TV star was given by her ex-husband Kris Humphries, went under the hammer at Christie's in New York on Tuesday, and was snapped up by an anonymous phone bidder.
The gem, which features a 16.21-carat center diamond and two 1.8-carat side sparkling stones, was actually bought for $620,000 . The mystery buyer will end up shelling out a total of $749,000 after fees, reports UsMagazine.com.
A portion of the proceeds are expected to be donated to charity.
Kardashian split from basketball player Humphries on 31 October, 2011 after just 72 days of marriage. They finalized their divorce in May, weeks before the TV beauty gave birth to her first child with boyfriend Kanye West.
Kim Kardashian's engagement ring has sold at auction for $749,000.


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Essay - Frances Moore Lappe
At Democracy's Edge
It's far too late and things are far too bad for pessimism. -- Dee Hock
Under the banner of exporting democracy, Americans are sacrificing our lives abroad-even as many fear we are losing democracy here at home. But it's not too late, not if we seize the power of democracy itself.
The trouble is, we first have to believe in it.
Yet three-fourths of us-a share that doubled from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s-feel our "government is run by a few big interests looking out only for themselves." Booming flag sales notwithstanding, our confidence in democracy is waning because our received notion of it is proving too shallow to inspire confidence, too weak to be effective. We now see that our "thin democracy" can't save us from poverty's spread-up 17 percent in five years-or from a health care disaster placing us 43rd in infant death rates worldwide, or from Katrina.
By thin democracy I mean a society that behaves as if the best possible outcomes flow from a simple combination of elected government and a "free market" ruled by supply-and-demand "laws" divorced from ethical values. Inexorably, wealth and power concentrate to the point that both a competitive market and an accountable political process are undermined, and citizens' voices are increasingly sidelined. (Today Washington lobbyists outnumber elected representatives 56 to 1.) Thin democracy leads to an instant-gratification ethic that seeks only short-term results and to shrinking public investments that compromise public safety and allow social and physical infrastructure to decay.
Perhaps worst of all, thin democracy's narrowly selfish and material premise warps our sense of self, denying deep human needs for caring connection, personal effectiveness, and meaning.
Thin democracy deadens our souls.
In defining thin democracy, I use the phrase "behaves as if" because few Americans would actually endorse such an obviously unworkable setup! Nonetheless we act as if we do because we see no credible alternative. We go along because we feel powerless.
Thus it is our feeling of powerlessness that is the real crisis. Solutions to our problems are in most cases widely known, but we feel powerless to act because we fail to see the causal pattern creating our misery-thin democracy-or the powerful tool we have to uproot it: democracy as a living practice.
"Living democracy" is a society that believes in its citizens and their values, and thus assumes that the best outcomes flow from engaging them in all dimensions of public affairs. Citizens shield the electoral process from the influence of wealth and use the marketplace as a tool subordinate to their core ethical values.
So, you may wonder, where is this living democracy? Invisible to most Americans, it is emerging, not just in politics but everywhere. A small taste:
- In only eight years working people in New York state have built a party of their own. Already the Working Families Party has been critical in lifting the state minimum wage by $2.00 an hour.
- Grassroots-led reforms in Maine and Arizona have purged private wealth from elections, so citizens are now running for office and voting in greater numbers.
- Municipalities from Seattle to St. Paul are trusting citizen councils to help allocate significant public monies.
- An invest-with-social-purpose movement has swollen 53-fold to $2 trillion in two decades, and in half that time a fair-trade movement has already begun to affect supermarket sales. Both legitimize democratic principles in our economic choices.
- In hundreds of schools students are learning democracy by doing it, proving that building their power as public problem-solvers boosts academic achievement.
- Our justice system relies increasingly on community leadership to rehabilitate transgressors and return them to the community, with huge public savings.
Remaking norms and rules and therefore our sense of the possible, these citizen-led breakthroughs reflect an incremental but dramatic shedding of thin democracy. They begin to show us what democracy as a way of life looks like.
And they have the wind at their backs.
One big gust is a spreading certainty that today's problems are just too complex, too interrelated, and too pervasive to be solved from the top down. Sustainable solutions depend on widening the circle of problem solvers and embracing those most directly affected. From the radical proclamation that "all men are created equal" two centuries ago, we've seen the values and insights of the citizen increasingly recognized, now in everything from designing the new World Trade Center site to hammering out United Nations' conventions.
In the process, power itself is being re-defined. In thin democracy, power is some thing invested in official position, wealth, or armed might. Living democracy claims power's root Latin meaning: posse, to be able. Power is our capacity to act, what we create together.
The implications are huge. Since citizens create power, we can't be content simply to complain or make demands. We can hold not just officials but ourselves accountable for constructing solutions.
Two other contemporary changes propel living democracy's unfolding.
One is the communications revolution. Whether it's the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's online Toxics Release Inventory or the explosion of blogs, the Internet dissolves one-to-many information control, encouraging many-to-many networks. Power shifts from exclusive elites to ordinary citizens with a stake in outcomes. All this makes it harder for those clinging to thin democracy to keep secrets-as when a "mere" blogger exposed the Bush-planted reporter "Jeff Gannon."
The second change is the ecological revolution, in which hierarchical notions of nature are giving way to an understanding of nature as fluid networks. Humans are no longer the pinnacle because there is no pinnacle. As ecological understanding seeps into popular consciousness, humans don't lose significance, we gain it. We see that our acts-using pesticides that pollute a distant bay or shopping with the intention of supporting just wages-create effects radiating outward in endless ripples. That's power.
Thin democracy has landed us in the terrifying place Franklin Roosevelt warned about. "...[T]he liberty of a democracy is not safe," he said in 1938, "if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is Fascism."
Note carefully: Roosevelt frames the problem as ours, as what we citizens tolerate. We can stop tolerating thin democracy and claim our roles as midwives of living democracy. This means mustering the courage to say aloud that thin democracy's primitive capitalism-belief in an automatic market to which we isolated individuals turn over our fate-is a childish fantasy corrupting our political system and betraying the moral precepts virtually all Americans share.
It means refusing to indulge in another fantasy-that simply removing right-wing control in Washington will retrieve America's democratic promise. And it means making living democracy breakthroughs visible in order to spark a social multiplier effect potentially moving democracy to its next historical stage.
But everything starts with our belief in democracy. Without this, we are lost. And the only way to become a believer is to become a doer. This means joining with others, our eyes wide open, defying the notion of citizens as mere shoppers, spectators, and blamers by becoming powerful actors with a deep sense of interconnection in a Living Democracy.
Maybe it's time to recast the old right-wing slogan to our new ends, proclaiming: Democracy: Live it or lose it.
Frances Moore Lappé is the author of Democracy's Edge: Choosing To Save Our Country by Bringing Democracy to Life. See www.democracysedge.org for more information.


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While Massachusetts Republicans' sojourn in Florida created no ripples in state government management this week, cooperation will be required to ensure someone is in charge on Beacon Hill when Democrats decamp for North Carolina next week to attend their party's national convention.
While Massachusetts Republicans' sojourn in Florida created no ripples in state government management this week, cooperation will be required to ensure someone is in charge on Beacon Hill when Democrats decamp for North Carolina next week to attend their party's national convention.
Gov. Deval Patrick plans to be at the convention from Monday through Thursday, according to aides, who say they're working to ensure oversight of state government back home while top Democrats spend time in Charlotte, N.C.
"I think I'll be probably flying down Wednesday, late Wednesday, so it's my understanding that the Secretary of State will be flying back," Lt. Gov. Tim Murray told the News Service at a press conference in Dorchester on Monday afternoon. Murray said Secretary William Galvin will be back to take temporary control of the governorship and oversee the state primary elections on Thursday, Sept. 6.
The state constitution dictates that upon a vacancy by the governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state the temporary governorship would be given to the attorney general, the treasurer and then the auditor. While all five statewide constitutional officers plan to attend at least some portion of the Democratic National Convention, it appears the state CEO baton will never be passed beyond Galvin.
"I am a delegate to the convention, so I will be in Charlotte," Attorney General Martha Coakley told reporters in Dorchester, clarifying that she would not be serving as the state's chief executive.
Coordination has been already underway between the executive branch and Galvin's office.
"The Governor's Office and Secretary of State's Office are in contact about next week," said the governor's press secretary in an email on Monday morning. "We are finalizing plans to ensure there is coverage and will have an update in the coming days."
While the governorship has gone back and forth over the years between Republicans and Democrats, Democrats have retained control of both branches of the Massachusetts Legislature and in recent years the top statewide offices and all 10 – soon to be nine – seats in the U.S. House.
The biggest gathering of Democrats since Denver in 2008 will draw the entire Democratic Congressional delegation, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and three past DNC chairmen – Treasurer Steven Grossman and Debra DeLee who both headed up the national party during the Clinton administration, and Paul Kirk, who led the national party during part of the Reagan administration and served as interim U.S. senator after Ted Kennedy died.
State Senate President Therese Murray faces Plymouth resident Stephen Palmer in the Democratic primary on Thursday, Sept. 6, with Republican Tom Keyes awaiting the winner of the primary. Murray is not a delegate and an aide said she does not plan to attend the convention.
Meanwhile, other Democrats from state and local offices will trek down to Charlotte for the official nomination of President Barack Obama as the party's candidate for president.
Sens. Katherine Clark (D-Melrose), Jennifer Flanagan (D-Leominster) and Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) are planning to attend as delegates. Reps. James O'Day (West Boylston), Jeffrey Sanchez (D-Jamaica Plain), Ellen Story (D-Amherst), and Benjamin Swan (D-Springfield) will also be there as delegates.
Boston Mayor Tom Menino, Braintree Mayor Joseph Sullivan, Fitchburg Mayor Lisa Wong, Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz and Weymouth Mayor Susan Kay are all going as are fellow delegates and Boston City Councilors Felix Arroyo, Tito Jackson, Ayanna Pressley and Charles Yancey.
Others who will be delegates in North Carolina include Barbara Weniger, the Arlington baker who baked Obama his birthday cake when he celebrated his 47th in Boston in August 2008. James Roosevelt Jr., a Cambridge resident and the grandson of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and will be in attendance as well.
After Boston, the city sending the most delegates is Newton, according to a list provided by the state party. The Garden City is sending nine delegates including Grossman and retiring Congressman Barney Frank. That puts it just ahead of Springfield, which is sending eight delegates.
The following is a list of delegates as posted online by the Massachusetts Democratic Party:
Elected Officials
Governor Deval Patrick
Senator John Kerry
Congressman Michael Capuano
Congressman Barney Frank
Congressman Bill Keating
Congressman Stephen Lynch
Congressman Edward Markey
Congressman Jim McGovern
Congressman Richard Neal
Congressman John Olver
Congressman John Tierney
Congresswoman Niki Tsongas
DNC Members
Virginia Barnes
Gus Bickford
Attorney General Martha Coakley
Ray Jordan
Elaine Kamarck
Debra Kozikowski
David O'Brien
Jim Roosevelt
Diane Saxe
Sue Thomson
Chair John Walsh
Party Leaders
Debra DeLee
Treasurer Steve Grossman
Senator Paul Kirk
At-Large Delegates
City Councilor Ayanna Pressley
Senator Jen Flanagan
Senator Karen Spilka
Lois Pines
Auditor Suzanne Bump
Representative Willie Mae Allen
Senator Katherine Clark
Representative Benjamin Swan
Representative Jim O'Day
Speaker Robert DeLeo
President Steve Tolman
Secretary William Galvin
Mayor Thomas Menino
Treasurer of State Party, Eric Turner
District Delegates
Nazda Alam
Councilor Felix Arroyo
Cathaleen Ashton
Russell Ashton
Sandi Bagley
Shaynah Barnes
Rhonda Bourne
Brenda Brathwaite
Leon Brathwaite
John Brissette
Judy Brooks
Joe Caiazzo
Joseph Carlson
Ed Collins Jr.
Patricia Commane
Dori Dean
Ralph Edwards
Carmen Fields
Burt Freedman
Candy Glazer
Dylan Hayre
E. Henry Twiggs
Susan Heyman
David Holloway
Councilor Tito Jackson
Sharon Jewell
Denise Jordan
Joe Kaplan
Mayor Sue Kay
Brigid Kennedy-Pfister
Tom Larkin
Steve Leibowitz
Curtis LeMay
Ross Levanto
Sam Liao
Kathleen Manson
Louis Masiello
Tom McGrath
Nikko Mendoza
Jesse Mermell
Candy Mero Carlson
Faye Morrison
DA Michael Morrissey
Mayor David Narkewicz
Susanne O'Neil
Pavel Payano
Karen Payne
Robert Peters
Stella Pierce
Kathleen Polanowicz
Gail Poulten
Sam Poulten
Ervin "Tootsie" Russell
Marianne Rutter
Representative Jeffrey Sanchez
Ben Schwartz
Samantha Shusterman
Stanley Slepoy
Margaret Somer
Anthony Soto
Representative Ellen Story
Sharon Stout
Mayor Joseph Sullivan
Randall Tatum
Mario Teran
Keri Thompson
Adrienne Wilkins
Mayor Lisa Wong
Mardee Xifaras
Councilor Charles Yancey
Paul Yorkis
At-Large Delegates
Elaine Almquist
Carol Aloisi
Patricia Armstrong
Julie Burns
Mary Cokkinias
Lovie Elam
Carol Fulp
Kristie Helms
Dorothea Jones
Karen O'Donnell
Lesley Phillips
Marilyn Powers
Susan Pravada
Keri Rodrigues Lorenzo
Barbara Weniger
Linda Whitlock
Joyce Wilkins Nkwah
Bruce Samuel Adams Jr.
Robert Colt
Stephen Driscoll
Joseph Hanley
Thomas Lesser
Mushtaque Mirza
Diego Miguel Sanchez
Melody Adams
Amanda Jusino
Donald Green
Jane Donahue
John Mahoney
Martin Heyman
Nancy Stenberg
Ossie Jordan
Suzanne LeMay
Standing Committee Platform
Ann Roosevelt
Marianne Karmel
Phil Johnston
Joe Steinfield
Standing Committee Rules
Margaret Rolph
Micho Spring
Miniard Culpepper
Joel Barrerra
Standing Committee Credentials
Bill Dooling
Eric Ramanathan
Nurys Camargo
Wilnelia Rivera
Mike Morris
Stacey Monahan
Kathleen "Toody" Healy
Shaw McDermott


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By Sam Anderson
When the comedian Mitch Hedberg died suddenly on March 30, at the age of 37, it was the end of an entirely hypothetical era—of legendary sold-out stadium tours, of repeat performances as Oscar host, and, naturally, of the dominant reign of Hedberg, the most popular and innovative sitcom in TV history.
None of that ever happened, of course, and most people outside of stand-up comedy have never heard of Mitch Hedberg. The media were busy that week with a crescendo of oversized public deaths—Johnnie Cochran, Terri Schiavo, and the pope—so Hedberg was dispatched with the kind of perfunctory mini-obit that gets all of the facts right but all of the essentials wrong (he was described as "spacey," "absurdist," "surreal," "rambling," "beatnik," "stoner," "slacker," each of which is about half an inch off). Meanwhile, on the Internet, Hedberg's fans were remarkably effusive, even for fans. A memorial bulletin board on his official Web site quickly drew thousands of posts, in which some people wrote that they felt closer to him than to their own families. An Amazon.com reviewer, after what must have been some complicated math, concluded that Hedberg's death was "infinity times more tragic than those of Terri Schiavo and the pope put together." Google listed Hedberg's name as the week's fastest-climbing search—ahead of Schiavo, the supreme pontiff, and even Jessica Alba.
This asymmetrical response—quiet in the newsrooms, blaring on the 'net—is emblematic of Hedberg's career, which seemed forever on the brink of mainstream success. In 1996, he came from nowhere to dominate the prestigious Just for Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival, then spent two years touring and earning devoted pockets of fans. His act was singular and magnetic: He would stare at the floor, with his eyes often closed behind sunglasses and a screen of shaggy hair, and mumble tentative one-liners about koala bears, hotels, and cinnamon rolls. Soon the industry plugged him into its big-money promotion cycle: Letterman booked him compulsively on the Late Show, Variety named him one of its "10 comics to watch," and Fox signed him to a half-million-dollar sitcom deal. In 1998, when Seinfeld swaggered out of America's national living room, Hedberg was on many critics' shortlist of successors. Time magazine actually said it: "the next Seinfeld."
The compliment, of course, was a time bomb: high praise for two years, then—when Hedberg inevitably proved the prophecy wrong—permanent evidence of a squandered career. His deal with Fox fell through after network writers couldn't come up with a marketable vehicle for his style. He was passed (and then lapped) in the race for widespread name-recognition by probably every comedian you can think of: Ray Romano, Bernie Mac, Jon Stewart, Dave Attell, Lewis Black, Dave Chappelle, Jimmy Kimmel, ad infinitum, all the way down to the cast of Last Comic Standing. His career ended in a classic Behind the Music flameout: a heroin arrest, gruesome (but spurious) rumors about an amputated leg, a flurry of canceled performances, and reports of almost impossibly disastrous shows. When Hedberg died, officially of heart failure but speculatively of everything else, the verdict was in: He may have had his cult, but he was no Seinfeld.
In Hedberg's prime in the late 1990s, however (which is best captured on his first CD, the charmingly amateur Strategic Grill Locations), the Seinfeld comparison seemed plausible. Like Seinfeld, he was an apolitical white guy who defamiliarized everyday life in a way that seemed to transcend comedy. But, unlike Seinfeld, he was easy to like. While Seinfeld's humor always had an edge of social superiority, Hedberg's radiated pure affection: He loved his audience, his jokes, and almost everything in the world—waffles, doughnuts, roommates, electric fans, bananas, animals:
My apartment is infested with koala bears. It's the cutest infestation ever. Way better than cockroaches. When I turn on the light a bunch of koala bears scatter. But I don't want 'em to, you know, I'm like "Hey, hold on, fellas. Let me hold one of you. And feed you a leaf."
It's impossible to capture his unique delivery in print (so watch a clip!). He stretched words out to three times their normal length, conspicuously omitted contractions, stressed syllables with the randomness of someone just learning the language. (He once told an interviewer that he had an "almost mathematical" feel for syllables.) He laughed at his own punch lines and apologized constantly: "All right, that joke is ridiculous. That's like a carbon copy of the previous joke, with different ingredients. I don't know what I was trying to pull off there." It all seemed completely authentic.
Though Hedberg may have been hailed as the future of comedy, his material was actually closer to the kind of pure and harmless language puzzle of the "Who's on First?" routine. His jokes were concise little logic problems:
I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it.I hate flossing; I wish I just had one long curvy tooth.A severed foot is the ultimate stocking stuffer.I like to play blackjack. I'm not addicted to gambling, I'm addicted to sitting in a semicircle.
This is not the broad social humor that plays well between commercial breaks. Sitcoms aren't about jokes, they're about zany neighbors who eat too much of your pizza and photogenic dogs who give you meaningful looks.
Before his rapid decline, Hedberg was arguably the best club comic of the last decade—an achievement that sounds, in our era of cross-promotion, something like "the best backup shortstop on my mom's slow-pitch softball team." But that was his real ambition. In interviews and in his act, he always insisted that stand-up was a self-sufficient art—he joked that the industry's drive to convert comics into actors and talk-show hosts was like saying to a chef: "Alright you're a cook. Can you farm?" Even at the height of his success he toured relentlessly, headlining four nights a week at smallish clubs and college campuses. He died, in fact, in a hotel room between shows.
Hedberg was an awful candidate for the next Seinfeld, not because he wasn't funny, but because his humor was so deeply rooted in stand-up. It was his native language; anything else would have been a clumsy adaptation. We're lucky, in a way, that he never crossed over. There's something sacred about the untranslatable (the Italians have a proverb: traduttore, traditore—"translator, traitor").
The "next Seinfeld" position is currently vacant, though there have been murmurs about, for instance, Arrested Development, and even about the recently canceled and deeply un-Seinfeldian series Committed. Success on the scale of Seinfeld is essentially beyond prediction, and it has nothing to do with stand-up comedy. Maybe Hedberg's death will mark the official end of the search.
available at: http://www.slate.com/id/2118223/
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27 may. 2007
Mitch Hedberg, Last Laugh
Rebotado por sauldadá at 27.5.07
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DIY Martha Stewart Paint Deck!
I know we were all super excited when we found out that Martha Stewart's paint line was coming to Home Depot!
I had been checking on it's impending arrival once a week at Home Depot and was super excited the day that I went in and saw the paint samples and cans all lined up!
I immediately emailed my friend Jules, (we were hoping some of her paint colors would work in her living room re-vamp I'm helping her with) Jules then told her friend Nicole and by the end of the day I'm pretty sure we were all home with stacks of paint swatches.
You see while Martha is the greatest and super crafty her people didn't think of making a fan deck for her paint line. So you are left with 6 inch stack of loose swatches.
Not only that, but you also get looks from everyone as you stand at HD and grab one of each.
So what's a girl to do? This girl tells her super sweet, good looking, smart, amazing, renaissance man of a husband her problem and voila we have a solution.
You just need a couple of supplies.
From your local home improvement store you need to get :
- 2 sheets of Acrylic sheet ($1.58 each) I had them cut it to size at the store. You need 4 ( 3" x 6") pieces.
-Moving a couple of rows over you need to find Receiver Hitch/Wire Lock Pins. They were $3.40 each and you will need 2.
Back at home you need the following supplies:
- A drill gun with a metal drill bit
- 3 clamps
- small pieces of wood. We had some laying around, but if you don't then you need to pick up a piece of 1/4" thick plywood at the store.
-Because the paint deck is so large you need to break it up into 5 separate stacks.
STEP 1: Take small piece of wood and drill where you would like your hole. Place in front of stack.
STEP 2: Take a second piece of wood and place it on the back of the stack. No hole needed on this side.
STEP 3: Make sure wood pieces are angled properly on the swatches and attach clamps around hole.
STEP 4: Attach to vice. This step isn't necessary, but we had one and Jon didn't want to drill into the table by accident so we used it.
STEP 5: Drill away.
Go slow and then keep on going till you make a hole on the remaining piece of wood in the back.
STEP 6: Remove clamps and voila you have a stack of nicely hole punched swatches.
The wood pieces are used as cushioning for the impact that the drill makes going through the paper. If you don't use them this will happen:
STEP 7: Since our acrylic sheets were cut at the store all we need to do now is make a hole in them. Use the same piece of wood with the guide for your opening, attach clamps, place in vice and drill.
STEP 8: Remove protective coating off acrylic sheet, open up packages of wire lock pins and add swatches. You are DONE!
Because they are so many swatches you need to split the set in two. I have an acrylic cover and backing for each set and the wire lock pins are perfection. It's super easy to open then up and take out what I need or just leave it closed. They fan out like any other fan deck and I printed out a MS image to use as my cover, but if you are Photoshop savvy get creative and make up a cover.
All of my supplies came in for around $12 bucks and took about 45 minutes to do it! It would have gone faster, but we were doing it between TV commercials!
I hope you enjoy this DIY project and if you make your own version you must share pictures!
* Martha if you are reading this have your people call my people and I can go on your show and do my little project for all! :) Ah a girl can dream, right?
Images 1- 2 via Google, Image 3 via Pink loves Brown, Images 4 –16 via moi!
Labels: DIY


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If Cone Peak is the King of the Big Sur Coast, Ventana Double Cone is the Queen of the Ventana Wilderness. Rising 4,853 ft above sea level, no other peak in the Ventana Wilderness possesses such a rugged face as Ventana Double Cone's west and south aspects. Aptly named, the mountain features twin summits of nearly identical height, but it's the southern summit that contains an astounding 360 degree view of the surrounding wilderness and Big Sur coastline. The peak serves as the divide for three major drainages in the northern Ventana Wilderess: the Little Sur River, the Big Sur River and the Carmel River. On a clear day, one can look north to Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz, the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Diablo Range. To the south lies the wild and scenic Big Sur River drainage, the Coast Ridge, Junipero Serra Peak and Cone Peak. To the east is Pine Valley, Chews Ridge, Ventana Cone, Pine Ridge, and South Ventana Cone. Immediately below is the immensely rugged and wild cirque that forms the headwaters of Ventana Creek. Across this impressive cirque and close at hand is La Ventana (aka the Window) and Kandlbinder Peak with Pico Blanco's unmistakable white apron rising directly above La Ventana notch. Strava route here.
Adding to the allure of Ventana Double Cone is its remote position. The mountain is viewable from the trailhead at Bottcher's Gap, but it requires nearly 15 miles on trail each direction (nearly 30 miles total) to reach. Moreover, there is quite a bit of undulating up and down en route which means lots of elevation gain can be expected in both directions (nearly 9,000 feet in all). Finally, the trail (particularly after Little Pines) can become brushy with sharp and scratchy chaparral so it's advisable to cover the legs as much as possible for a more pleasant experience. While it's a long way to Ventana Double Cone, the route is immensely scenic the entire distance. Largely following the ridge crest that forms the rim of the Little Sur River drainage, the scenery is spectacular and the forested sections are very pleasant. The first miles are in a madrone and oak forest up Skinner Ridge and then up to Devils Peak, which provides the first panoramic views from the route. From Devils Peak to Pat Springs, there are plenty of gorgeous grassy meadows with spectacular vistas to Pico Blanco, Ventana Double Cone and Kandlbinder Peak. Approaching Pat Springs, the vegetation transitions to ponderosa pine with a magnificent stand of old growth trees near the springs that survived the 2008 Basin Complex Fire. Pat Springs features cool, pure spring waters and it's a must stop for any traveler continuing beyond to Ventana Double Cone. While there may be water in the springs beyond, none are as easy to access and as reliable as Pat Springs.
Beyond Pat Springs, the trail ascends through ponderosa pine forest to Little Pines and then gradually descends around the west side of Uncle Sam Mountain to Puerto Suello Pass. At this point the trail becomes more brushy with the worst brush located in the miles immediately south of Puerto Suello. Eventually the trail emerges from the brush on the final ridge leading to Ventana Double Cone. As one nears the summit, Coulter pines and Santa Lucia Firs grow strong next to the trail with increasingly broader views into the valleys and canyons below. The culmination of the journey is an amazing summit panorama where one feels like they're on top of the world, or at least the Ventana! A fire lookout once stood at the summit, but has long been dismantled (I recommend similarly dismantling the ugly lookout atop Cone Peak which only serves to get in the way of the views). From Ventana Double Cone, it's hard to not spend a lot of time soaking in the spectacular summit views, staring down into the rugged cirque of Ventana Creek, and admiring the tenacity of the Santa Lucia Firs clinging to the steep and rocky mountainsides. The following photos and route map are from a trip Ventana Double Cone on a clear day in late December, but we have since returned to the region to complete an off-trail traverse from Kandlbinder to La Ventana to Ventana Double Cone, which formed a large loop including the Jackson Creek route and the Ventana Double Cone Trail described above. We have called this route the "La Ventana Loop." Stay tuned to this blog for details and many more photos from the La Ventana Loop and other Big Sur adventures! Strava route here.
For a 360 annotated panorama from the summit of Ventana Double Cone click here or the image below:


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WASHINGTON -- A survey shows consumer confidence rose this month to the highest level in five years, an encouraging sign for the still-weak economy
The University of Michigan's final index of October consumer sentiment rose to 82.6 from 78.3 in September. That's the highest since September 2007 _ three months before the Great Recession began.
Falling gas prices and a slightly better job market lifted consumers' outlook. The unemployment rate fell to 7.8 percent last month, the first time since July 2009 than it has been below 8 percent.
The survey followed a government report that said consumer spending helped boost economic growth in the July-September quarter to a 2 percent annual rate. That's up from a 1.3 percent rate in the April-June quarter.


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Alex Mednick (Blue Jays Fan and Writer for MLB Reports): Gibbons May Work Out!
Tuesday November 20th, 2013
Note from Lead Writer Chuck Booth: Just to be fair on this whole John Gibbons hire, I am posting this article written by my fellow colleague/Baseball Writer at the MLB Reports) in order to give a different vantage point. Alex is a Blue Jays fan, so he has a passion for the team. His thoughts are of his own and while I may not agree with his opinion, that is okay. That is why we all have our own minds and are not all sheep! So here is his article (based on a question he answered on my previous piece this morning.)
Alex Mednick (Baseball Writer and Analyst):
I responded to our Lead Baseball Writers Message about not liking the Gibbons hiring in this article earlier today here.
It was, frankly, my initial reaction as well..I was not pleased when I first read this news about Gibbons. I think AA also realizes the consequences of spending his bosses money and then making a poor decision. If it does not pan out, it could mean his job…AA is not untouchable, even though there has been a demi-god status applied to him. Bosses don't like when you squander their money…period.
But for some reason I am intrigued by this hiring. I was absolutely fed up with the Ricciardi/Gibbons regime, and thought that they should have been fired 2 years before they were. But Gibbons acted largely as the puppet of an egotistical, and nonsensical J.P. Ricciardi, which I can attribute to a lot the reasons he was criticized. There is no doubt, even though managers do not take any at bats themselves, they have a large impact on the team. Look at Bobby V and Boston.
I think that Gibbons was a stooge for JP Ricciardi and that is part of why he is so attractive to AA. AA actually stated during the hiring process he was looking for someone who could fall in line with his and the organization's theory. Farrell was the opposite of that, a free thinking executive type, who also seemed disinterested in the organization as a whole. He didn't take the job seriously.
During the frustrations that occurred within the organization during Gibbon's previous tenure (trust me, I was frustrated), there were well publicized incidents of player-manager altercations between Hillenbrand, Lilly and Gibbons. I'm not all that sure, however, that Gibbons is much of a "hard-ass" or a tough guy to play for. He definitely is hard-nosed and passionate, but I think that the Hillenbrand scenario is something that happens more often that is reported, and the Lilly incident was an unfortunate instance that happened in a very public arena. All the while, Gibbons stayed very loyal to the organization and It is this same "hard-nosed" and "passionate" streak that the Blue Jays need. They are a young team, and still have a lot of young players developing to play a big role in their future. Clubhouse leader Jose Bautista (and Gibbons is a proponent of ensuring that a teammate, and not staff, leads the clubhouse), said that he wanted someone who could keep the players in line, but also allow them do relax and play their game. Gibbons seems like that kind of guy…It is hard to know for sure without being a part of the organization whether it is true, but I think Gibbons is a pretty good people person and those two infamous incidents have been blown out of proportion.
His easy-going side will allow the players to build their own culture and chemistry, but his passion will benefit guys like Lawrie who need to be told it's okay to be "passionate"…For Lawrie that is truly a strength in his character and too many people are trying to give him a "labatomy". Colby Rasmus needs the proverbial "kick in the ass" at times but is seemingly headed in the right direction to be all that he can be. I loved watching Gibbons argue with umpires, and the pitchers and players will feel that their skipper has their back. These are all things that are necessary for a team to win.
I really think that Gibbons has the potential to be the right fit for this team…after reconsidering. I think that with the raised expectations, if they fail, he will look horrible but it is unlikely to be largely due to the manager. If the team does mesh well, I think Gibbons could be an added asset to their success. More than anything, the coaches that AA and Gibbons hire are going to shape and have an effect on this team more so than anything Gibbons will do…it's about the atmosphere in the clubhouse more than the occasional miscall from the dugout (all managers make them). And Gibbons is actually very good at managing a bullpen, that much has to be recognized…I will say, that I hope we don't see too many of his crazy lineups being switched around all the time, although we do have a very versatile lineup this year with switch hitters and utility players. Maybe he will find just the right equation and stick with it! Hopefully he will also really put the running game into play…he is a national league guy, so he plays that kind of game (in his last term we saw lots of guys running who shouldn't have…ahem, Bengie Molina)!
This team will be a lot of fun to watch play hit-and-run baseball. We also had a stellar defense during his last term that he cherished, and now, we have that once again…Jose Reyes and Brett Lawrie on the left side of the infield?…that's going to be nice for our groundball pitchers (Morrow/Romero/Happ)…and an outfield of Cabrera, Rasmus and Bautista?…we have a great defense for a manager who knows how to match up bullpen arms with opposing hitters.
More of the success of this team has to do with the direction that AA steers the ship than Gibbons, because ultimately I think we can expect Gibbons to be a puppet once again (to a certain degree). If we hear Gibbons mumbling lots of "uh, you know, it's a long season things will work out"…we will know that an ultimatum needs to be reached sooner than later.
*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com ***
Alex Mednick is a Baseball Writer and Analyst with MLB Reports. He has both played and followed the game extensively his entire life. Alex grew up in New Haven, Connecticut—right in the crossroads of Red Sox Nation and The Yankee Empire. Somehow, he dodged the bullet of joining the war between these two teams, and a love affair between the Toronto Blue Jays and Alex formed. Growing up in Connecticut, Alex Mednick idolized Joe Carter and Roberto Alomar. When he was 19 he moved to Saint Petersburg, Florida. Here he attended Eckerd College and continued fulfilling his love for baseball. Tropicana Field was 5 minutes from his apartment, and there were 5 spring training camps within an hour drive. Alex graduated from Eckerd in 2010 with a B.S. in International Business and dual minors in Spanish and Management. Most importantly, he met his amazing wife in college, and the two now reside in Stuart, Florida.
Please e-mail us at: firstname.lastname@example.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook. To subscribe to our website and have the Daily Reports sent directly to your inbox, click here and follow the link at the top of our homepage.
Posted on November 20, 2012, in The Rest: Everything Baseball and tagged alex anthopoulos, alex mednick, bengie molina, Brendan Morrow, brett lawrie, Chuck Booth, colby rasmus, Gibbons Hire, j.a. happ, j.p. arencibia, Joe Carter, john gibbons, jose bautista, jose reyes, ricky romero, roberto alomar, shea hillenbrand, ted lilly. Bookmark the permalink. 4 Comments.
Posting 2 –Regarding The Choice of Gibbsons as manger of the Bluejays–Over the ladt couple of days I have tried to reflect on this choice in order to be fair about it My view hasn't changed however still cant understand the thinking that went into this decision it was bad enough that the Trade was made without a manger .The choice is another thing as a Big Baseball fan and follower this move in my view goes down as one worst in Baseball History. I realize what is done can't be reversed right now but believe me when tell you this isn't going to work and the Blue Jays will realize this in opinion byThe Allstar Break when they will bring in a veteran respected manger However it will be too late to save the season One of things wevall know that it's difficult for Big decision makers to admit they made a mistake EG Bobby Valentine & Ozzie Gullen they both were poor decisions and were made for the wrong reasons IIn my opinion you spent all kinds of money on some good players and then you bring in a manger Who more likely couldn't be successful in the Little league.I know that he needs now to have a chance to prove all of us wrong but never should havevhappened in the first place .This will be s disaster samiliar to the Boston&Miam situation perhaps worse.Because both Valentine & Gullen had decent track records prior to there failures in Boston & Miami


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BOSTON, Mass. – John Powers (Marshfield, Mass.) unloaded six goals and picked-up one assist to lead men's lacrosse (4-4) to a 19-7 non-conference win at Emerson College Saturday afternoon at The Field at Rotch Playground.
A wild flurry in the first two quarters put the Beacons in total control of Saturday's contest as they fired off six straight to take a 6-0 lead. Emerson would then score a combined five goals over the final 12:21 of the second, while the Beacons netted three more to go into the halftime break with a 9-5 lead.
Powers day officially got underway when he scored the first goal of the second quarter for the Beacons at 14:40. Prior to that, UMass Boston saw five different players find the back of the Lions cage, with the first coming from Donny Delpha (Walpole, Mass.). After Delpha it was Dino Flori (Watertown, Mass.), Nick Weiss (Westfield, Mass.), Ryan McGoff (Charlestown, Mass.) and Dom Fichera (Scituate, Mass.) who each netted one score to put UMass Boston in total control of Saturday's contest.
In the second quarter Tommy Petitti (Quincy, Mass.) fired off two goals for the Beacons to help them maintain a comfortable five-goal lead. After the break, Noah Ellis (Hingham, Mass.) and Powers combined for two goals a-piece in the third to push the Beacons lead to 12-5. The fourth quarter was dominated by Powers as he netted three of the team's seven goals.
Derek Froio (Cohasset, Mass.) started and ended the fourth quarter with a goal, while Fichera and Phil Truong (Quincy, Mass.) also got in on the action to help the Beacons end a two-game skid.
UMass Boston dominated all afternoon outshooting their opponent 42-26 with Craig Frehill (Norwell, Mass.) and AJ Collette (West Springfield, Mass.) posting a combined eight stops respectively. The Beacons also held a 32-20 advantage in groundballs, and forced a total of 18 Emerson turnovers. Truong capped off his strong day with a game-high eight groundballs, while Tim Milch (Marshfield, Mass.) forced two of the Beacons 12 caused turnovers.
On the faceoff "X" the Beacons were nearly perfectly finish 22-for-29 and were also 7-for-8 on clear attempts.
Lacrosse returns to action on Wednesday when they host Nichols College at 3:30 p.m.


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Straight Dough Baguette Practice
I am continuing to practice my baguettes. This latest iteration shows some promise . It seems my oven bakes slow. I turned up the heat to 480F on the second batch and got some better results. I also steamed and steamed for the first 10 minutes of the bake, then switched to convection bake, hoping the increased air flow would help to vent the steam. One other thing I did was use 10% whole wheat flour in the formula from Txfarmer for straight baguette dough. I also let the loaves proof a bit longer. I will continue my quest. I've ordered a good oven thermometer from Amazon to check the oven's temperature. Better steaming apparatus is also in the cards - with a trip to Home Depot for some lava rocks.
Baguette crumb -


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Farmingdale State - 66, St. Joseph's - 45
Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State women's basketball team held St. Joseph's to only 19 second half points as they earned a 66-45 victory this evening in Farmingdale, N.Y. The Rams improved to 7-7 overall and 4-1 in the Skyline Conference, while the Golden Eagles fell to 1-13, 1-4.
Leading 19-16 with 4:33 remaining in the first half, Farmingdale State used a 10-2 run to increase the advantage to 11, 29-18. St. Joe's senior forward Danielle Hamlin (Centereach, N.Y.) hit a jumper followed by back-to-back 3-pointers to close the half with the Golden Eagles trailing 29-26.
Farmingdale State held a 44-37 advantage with 12:02 left to play, before an 11-0 run put the Rams on top 55-37. Farmingdale State allowed only eight points over the final 7:05 en route to the 66-45 win.
Junior guard Camille Romero (Queens, N.Y.) tallied a team-leading 21 points, while sophomore guard Andrea Desvignes (Deer Park, N.Y.) scored 14 points and had five assists. Senior guard Nicky Young (Queens, N.Y.) pitched in with 11 points, four assists and four steals.
Hamlin led all scorers with 27 points and added eight rebounds for St. Joe's.
The Rams next will travel to Mount Saint Vincent on Saturday, January 25th at 1:00 p.m.


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These services can also help minimize the risk of relapse because workplace issues are resolved with the assistance of Return to Work Specialists. Our experts coordinate a smooth transition to Long-Term Disability when required. Employees are eligible for these services regardless of whether they qualify for disability benefits payment.
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As part of both types of services, Case Managers interventions are fully integrated with the company's needs and absence management policies and processes.
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jcheese Although I believe every business should have a Web Site, I don't think a cart needs much. Just something to say who you are, what you sell, and where you are. FB and Twit can do most of that. Of course, if yer creative and like to play around with stuff like that....go at it.
brickboo Sam, Discouraged and undecided at the present. This has been quite a let down for me.


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Inquiry Question
This lesson about Abraham Lincoln in Indiana is based on the National Register of Historic Places registration file, "Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial" (with photographs) and materials from Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. It was written by Mike Capps, Chief of Interpretation and Resource Management at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial. The lesson plan was edited by the Teaching with Historic Places staff. This lesson is one in a series that brings the important stories of historic places into classrooms across the country.
Where it fits into the curriculum
Objectives for students
Materials for students
Visiting the site


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245cm x 245cm Casablanca Round Rug
Made in: Turkey
Design: Casablanca Collection
Pile Material: Machine Woven of Polypropylene
Brand new
Easy-to-clean, stain resistant, and does not shed
Colors include: Multi, Beige, Blue, Gold, Green, Light Blue, Light Green, Violet, Red, Purple, Puce. The primary color is Multi.
Pile Height: 1/2"
Size FT: 8' 0" x 8' 0"
Size CM: 244 cm x 244 cm


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136 12
About this Song
Deep Tune Mate
Posted 3 years ago
Owned by Sleeveless Records
There is nothing here yet!
Be the first to leave feedback on this song.
Remix Contest
Stylust Beats & DJANK YUCCA - Painkiller
by Sleeveless Records
Now closed
This contest is closed and the winners have been announced.
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Wreck-Slingers, Part 2
Aaaand here he is: the man of the hour, our hero of the day, the one, the only...Spider-Man!!
Dang it, I guess we just missed him. Or, judging by the shape that cake is in, maybe we missed him a few weeks ago. Ew.
He's got to be around her somewhere, though; look:
Wow, that "web" is a real piece of...work. Yeah. I particularly like the baby-blue border; very...heroic.
Oh, wait, I think I see him over there - helloo-ooo! Spider-Man!
My, he's looking rather moody today, isn't he? And on all that chipper baby-blue and urine-yellow icing, too. Hey, Spidey, being controlled by an evil symbiote is no excuse to ignore proffered fist bumps, alright? So be nice.
Ah, and there he goes, slinking off again:
Dude, you could probably just walk across the... uh, say, what IS that? An electrical box? Gymnasium floor? What?
Ok, time for the Wreck-Slingers big finish! Ready? Aaand...


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With the rich warming scent of rose essential oils, this body wash provides a thick, rich lather to gently cleanse the skin.
* [1] Note: Unless otherwise noted, this product has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Our natural products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.


text:
Story highlights
- Bob Greene: The acronym for Sioux City's airport has long been a headache
- Greene: The city tried to change it, but FAA would only act if it was a safety issue
- So the city "very successfully made lemonade out of lemons"
- Greene: Now you can buy SUX postcards and mugs and proudly wear SUX T-shirts
"We don't really care what the federal government wants to call us," Aran Rush was saying the other afternoon. "We know that we're a good place."
Rush is the executive director of the convention and visitors bureau in Sioux City, Iowa, and we were discussing what has happened to the little airport with the big problem.
The problem was never the airport itself. By all accounts, Sioux Gateway Airport, serving Sioux City and the surrounding area in northwest Iowa, northeast Nebraska, eastern South Dakota and far southern Minnesota, is a fine facility.
But the three-letter identifier -- the three capitalized letters that appear on baggage-claim tags, that are used nationwide to refer to the Sioux City airport, that pilots and air-traffic controllers use to designate Sioux City -- has long been a headache for the town.
Every city, in this era of marketing and branding, likes to present itself as something special -- a destination that is sparkling and inviting, a wonderful place for families to settle in, or for businesses to set up shop.
So, to the dismay of Sioux City, it has not been especially helpful that, for as long as there has been commercial air travel into the town, travelers have glanced at the tags on their checked baggage and have noticed that the official designator for the town is:
Yep. Generations ago, federal aviation regulators gave Sioux City that identifier. It was a shortened version of "Sioux." That was in the years before those three letters took on a somewhat unfortunate tone.
Los Angeles International Airport was LAX; O'Hare International Airport in Chicago was ORD; LaGuardia in New York was LGA; Sioux City was SUX.
No big deal.
Until it was.
No city, no airport, wants to be connected to those letters. It's not a great calling card, not an ideal howdy-do to the world beyond the town's borders. Many people find the word (however you spell it) offensive -- and if you, by chance, think the word is not very nice, try to consider how the proud citizens of Sioux City have felt.
On two occasions -- in the 1980s, and again at the beginning of this century -- Sioux City earnestly and formally petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration to change the letters. The word just wasn't doing the town any good.
On both occasions, nothing happened. I covered Sioux City's second attempt to get rid of SUX; a spokeswoman for the FAA at the time signaled to me that the town's odds of getting three new letters were slim.
The Sioux City airport director at the time told me the FAA informed him that the only reason it would change a three-letter identifier was for safety considerations. He conceded that he didn't know how SUX could be construed as a safety issue, "unless pilots are laughing so hard when they hear it that it distracts them from doing their job."
The reason I got back in touch with Sioux City's leaders last week is that recently the federal government has shown it will speedily get involved in aviation-related issues when it wants to. Congress stepped in to ease air-traffic delays caused by federal spending cuts; the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration, to put travelers' minds at ease, backed off on its plan to allow passengers to bring small knives onto planes.
So I wondered if Sioux City was still trying to persuade the government to allow it to get rid of those three dreaded letters
"We decided to go completely the other way," said David Bernstein, president of the airport's board of trustees. "The FAA wasn't going to change it, so it wasn't going to do us any good to whine about it."
Thus, the town made a bold decision:
It would embrace the SUX designator. It would make it part of Sioux City's charm -- a whimsical part of the civic personality.
T-shirts were printed up with those three capital letters on the front; hats and postcards and coffee mugs and balsa-wood airplanes and silver-wing pins were manufactured, all jauntily bearing the letters. On I-29 between Sioux City and Omaha, Nebraska, a big billboard was rented, displaying, in huge type, those letters, as a way to lure passengers to the airport in Iowa instead of the one in Nebraska.
"In warm weather, you can walk around Sioux City and see people wearing the T-shirts all the time," Bernstein said. "At our coffee shop in the airport, between one-third and one-half of net revenues come from the sale of items with those three letters on them."
The city -- in the words of tourism director Rush -- has "very successfully made lemonade out of some lemons. Our treating the situation with good humor has emblemized the spirit of Sioux City -- one of grit and determination, something no label from the government can change." The airport commission's Bernstein said that "it's better to be memorable than to have three initials no one can really recall."
In fact, in the spirit of all this, the town ended up renaming the official website for the airport; it is now www.flysux.com.
And who, on a national scale, can argue with that message? These days, with overcrowded planes, long security lines and hefty fees to check baggage, flying often really does ... well, you know.
What will Sioux City do about the letters in future years? It could once have sought counsel from two of the most famous people ever born there: twin sisters Ann Landers (Eppie Lederer) and Dear Abby (Pauline Phillips), who left Sioux City to become the two most renowned newspaper advice columnists in history. But both have passed away, and are no longer available for commiseration.
So the town is on its own. The mayor, Bob Scott, a lifelong resident, told me that he wants the world to know that Sioux City doesn't do what those three letters on the baggage tags says. It is, he said, a great place to live, "and we're thankful for that."
He sends emphatic word to potential visitors that they will be warmly welcomed:
"Absolutely. We'd love to have them.
"And," the mayor said with a laugh, "they can buy a T-shirt."
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Yes, pizza waffles. (No, this isn't our entry for thisiswhyyourefat.com.)
Ross Svebeck demonstrated this delicious hybrid recipe on KARE11's Showcase Minnesota last week and will be hosting his "Waffles Redefined" cooking classes at our stores this month:
March 16 – 6-9 p.m.
Warners' Stellian – Edina
3533 W. 70th St.
Across from the Galleria
Warners' Stellian – St. Paul
1711 N. Snelling Ave.
Falcon Heights (2 blocks north of the State Fairgrounds)
Cost: $50
RSVP to firstname.lastname@example.com
And of course, pizza waffles.
If you can't wait, here's the recipe:
Pizza WafflesBasic Yeast Batter:
1 ½ cup milk
8 T butter
½ cup warm water
1 pkg dry yeast
2 1/3 cup all purpose flour
½ tsp salt
1 T sugar
2 large eggs
¼ tsp baking soda
Place the milk and butter in a small pan over medium heat until the butter has melted. In a liquid measuring cup, place the warm water, sugar and yeast. Stir to combine and let sit for ten (10) minutes. Combine the flour and salt. Add the milk/butter mixture. Stir in the yeast mixture. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 1 ½ hours. The mixture will bubble. Remove the plastic wrap and stir in eggs and baking soda.
For Pizza Waffles:
1 ½ cup minced pepperoni
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese (plus more for garnishing)
2/3 cup fresh diced mozzarella cheese
1 recipe Basic Yeast Batter
For the waffles, stir pepperoni, parmesan and mozzarella cheese into batter. Pour batter into waffle iron and bake until brown. Transfer onto a rack in the oven that has been preheated to 200 degrees to keep them crisp if necessary. Serve with tomato-basil sauce (recipe below) and Parmesan cheese.
For Tomato-Basil Sauce:
1 – 28 ounce can chopped tomatoes
2 T olive oil
1 T minced garlic
½ bay leaf
1 thyme sprig
1 tsp oregano
8 basil leaves, minced
Heat oil in a frying pan and add garlic. Heat until it has softened. Add tomatoes, bay leaf, thyme and oregano. Cook slowly for 15 minutes to reduce the juices and infuse the flavors. Remove from heat and stir in basil.


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burtti needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 163 designs submitted by 63 freelance designers.
Need colorful and fun logo for a social network, bulbstorm.com, which helps inventors collaborate in the development of their ideas.
bulbstorm (http://www.bulbstorm.com)
the marketplace of ideas
Desired Color Scheme:
orange preferred, but open minded
Desired Style:
moderna font preferred; lowercase; but open minded
Accepted File Formats:
Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai)
The bulbstorm name is a play on "brainstorm" and the most common image associated with new ideas; a lightbulb. The logo should include the trademarked name "bulbstorm" without the .com. Current logo has a graphical element using a cloud that looks like lightbulbs and bulbstorm in lower-case moderna font. We like the current logo; we are open to modifications and/or entirely new approaches.
Tagline "the marketplace of ideas" is optional. With/without versions are preferred.
Logo MUST work well in all media (web/print/screen).
Name and tagline are trademarked and should include "TM".
A bonus of $150 may be offered if the winner includes business card layout.
All rights to the logo must be assigned to bulbstorm.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Bella Sugar
Former fashion magazine editor Katherine Growney grew up on the picturesque island of Hawaii, eventually landing writing jobs in New York City, roughly 5,000 miles east of her hometown. It wasn't until she began working as a beauty editor atElle
that a chat with a fellow staffer began the sparks that eventually would lead to the start of her own business. "I started talking about TiareGardenia
, Plumeria, Pakalana, and she just gave me a blank stare. I realized the flowers that I had grown up with, that were commonplace to me, most people had never seen, smelled, or even heard of," said Growney.
Thus, the idea for Saffron James Parfums, a line of Hawaiian-inspired scents, was born. (Saffron, being Gowney's nom de plume from her magazine days, and James, her father's name). The current collection includes four tropical scents, with plans to add a candle and body oils in the near future. Interestingly, Gowney is also a trained chef, drawing inspiration for her newfound career in perfumery from her experience with the delicate balances of food flavors and aromas. Find out more about the notes in her perfumes after the break.
The Saffron James Parfums collection includes the following four scents:
- Le'a ($85) — Pink and white plumeria, pineapple leaf, passionflower, and hibiscus.
- 'Ume ($85) — Ginger absolute, waterlily, gardenia, yuzu, and mousse de chene.
- Pūnono ($85) — Ylang ylang, pikake, carnation, vanilla, and Tunisian opium.
- Nani ($110) — This scent, an homage to the Pîkake flower, pays tribute to the last crown princess of Hawaii, Princess Ka'iulani.


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(CBS News) Appearing Sunday on "Face the Nation," Charlie Rose for the first time discussed sitting down with President Bashar Assad for his only television interview since President Obama asked Congress to approve a military strike against Syria.
Speaking with Bob Schieffer, the "CBS This Morning" co-host previewed the interview - held Sunday at the Presidential Palace in Damascus - which is Assad's first with an American TV network in nearly two years. Rose reported the Syrian leader addressed allegations that his regime used chemical weapons against his own people.
Rose told "CBS Evening News" anchor Scott Pelley that the Syrian dictator was "remarkably calm" during the interview.
Excerpts from Rose's interview with Assad will air at 7 a.m. EDT on "CBS This Morning." The interview will air in its entirety Monday night on "The Charlie Rose Show" on PBS.
Assad has given very few interviews with foreign news outlets since the war-torn country's two-year conflict began. His last was with France's Le Figaro newspaper, which ran Sept. 2, just as France was seriously debating whether to support a U.S. call for intervention in Syria.