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You try to stay away from the obvious in the reviewing game. Skip the cliches. Dodge the thing that's staring you in the face. It's partly to make these things interesting to read, partly to dismiss the notion that just anyone can write these things. We're performing a valuable public service here, and don't you forget it.
However, some things are so blatant that it's difficult to ignore them. So it would be pointless to ignore that Postiljonen's debut album Skyer doesn't quite so much sound 'like' M83, as it's almost a tribute record. It's not just the floaty electro and synths either – they appear to have nicked whole bits of M83's schtick, and chucked a breathy lady's voice over the top of it. There's the obvious splashy drum machines. There's the christ-that-only-just-works sax solos. Jesus, they even have a bit with a childlike voice talking over the music that you might remember from M83's 'Raconte-moi Une Histoire.'
Skyer sounds a bit like those TV adverts where they can't afford/can't get Beach House or Sigur Ros songs, so they hire someone to write something that sounds a bit like them. Expect to hear them soundtracking not a Tom Cruise film, but a film that Tom Cruise has just dropped out of just before filming.
The thing is, all of this doesn't necessarily mean that Postiljonen are bad, or without merit. If either you've never heard of M83, or you can forget about them for 45 minutes, or that you simply don't care, Skyer is a perfectly enjoyable record. 'Supreme' is the kind of song cool people would dance to. 'We Raise Our Hearts' is just the right side of anthemic. If you kids still made mix tapes, 'All That We Had Is Lost' would be a perfect, whimsical closer, even though it's the penultimate song here. Actually, that one is a reinterpretation of Whitney Houston's 'How Will I Know', no less, and it's mildly ironic that the only song on 'Skyer' that isn't one of Postiljonen's own sounds nothing like the original, but the rest reek of other people.
Still, even elsewhere there are some, shall we say, rather clear influences. 'On The Run's keyboard riff sounds like someone has taken the centrepiece of College's 'A Real Hero' and just swapped one or two notes around. Singer Mia Bøe could be Bilinda Butcher if you imagine her without all the noise. Criticising someone's vocal style because it sounds a bit like someone else might be a little harsh, but it adds to the feeling that Postiljonen don't have enough confidence in their own ideas to bring them to the fore. It's like they've created a collage rather than a painting. A band's influences should whisper in your ear, not smack you round the face.
That's not to say that there isn't anything new or really of themselves in there, it just takes a little while to figure out what it is. Perhaps that's why Postiljonen are so frustrating – you just want to grab them and shout 'Do your own stuff! It would probably be pretty good!' The fair thing to do before really judging them is to wait until the next album, to see if they really do have something, or they are just magpies.
So Skyer is a good record. It's just you might as well just buy Saturdays = Youth. Your call, really.
6Nick Miller's Score
7User Score


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Source: Composite Dairy Cattle Registry
The Composite Dairy Cattle Registry has made numerous strides since July 2013, offering registration opportunities to the Fleckvieh, Montbeliarde, Norwegian Red, Red Dane, Swedish Red and White, and any other dairy cross that breeders and producers wish to register to preserve and document the ancestry of their animals.
Les Hansen, dairy geneticist at the University of Minnesota, applauds and supports our efforts. His comment to us is, "My observation is you are making remarkable progress in a short period of time in getting people to think more open-mindedly about allowing the accurate identification on cattle from the non-traditional dairy breeds in the U.S. as well as their crossbred offspring."
Producers are excited about these dairy crosses. They find these cows are equaling or out producing their Holsteins in the herd. Other key facts that dairymen are seeing with these crosses is increased fertility, higher components, lower somatic cell counts, healthier animals and longer productive life.
One producer commented that looking back to a year when an equal number of female Holsteins to Crossbreds was born, that today, only 1 of those Holsteins compared to 9 Crossbreds are still producing in the herd.
On our Bull listings we are very excited to have some very outstanding Fleckvieh bulls listed. From Big Bear Genetics in Canada is an exciting new bull 297FL01048 "BFG REUMUT 10-850712" with 96 daughters that is +682kg Milk, +.05 Fat%, +33kg Fat, +.01 Protein%, +24kg Protein (German Proof). From Global Genetic Resources 504FL00080 "VANSTEIN 10-191658" the most used Fleckvieh bull in Europe with over 61,000 daughters that is +599kg Milk, +.02 Fat%, +27kg Fat, +.05 Protein%, +25 Protein (German Proof). Also representing the Montbeliarde are three bulls being marketed by Genex.
The Composite Dairy Cattle Registry with some help, has been able to secure the breed code of FL to identify the Fleckvieh breed. Along with this new breed code assignment we have been able to persuade the distributors to enroll the Fleckvieh bulls for cross referencing with the NAAB. We also have cross referencing lists on our website.
From the response that we have had, and the amount of semen marketed of these two breeds over that last ten years, we estimate there are well over 100,000 of these animals representing these breeds from crossbreds to Fullblood animals (thru imported embryos). These breeds are continuing to grow and become more popular as producers see the advantages. We are seeing increased interest in registering and identifying these breeds and other crossbred animals as well.
The Composite Dairy Cattle Registry is open to all dairy breeders and producers that have a need for registering their animals to identify, track, document and maintain the ancestry of past generations and future offspring, regardless of the breed or combination of breeds. For more information go to www.dairycattleregistry.com

subset: commoncrawl


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I just cannot keep myself from stepping once again into the wading pool of American politics any longer, at least not when it comes to this renewed tirade of Obamacare misinformation.
On Wednesday we bore witness to the release of the CBO's report on the economy which included an appendix on the effect the Affordable Care Act is predicted to have on the economy. Unsurprisingly, ACA opponents fell all over themselves to report that the CBO had vindicated their "Obamacare is a Job Killer" talking points. However, it takes a bit more than copy and pasting


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Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve Its History, Promote Its Values & Celebrate Excellence Everywhere
"Iron Mike"
"There's more to winning than just wanting to. You have to prove yourself every Sunday. Just throwing your helmet on the field doesn't scare anyone. There's no more empty feeling in the world than losing."
(Pittsburgh)...6'3'', 228...Michael Keller Ditka ... Consensus All-American, 1960 ... Bears' No. 1 pick, 1961 ... First tight end elected to Hall ... Fast, rugged, outstanding blocker, great competitor ... Big-play star of Bears' 1963 title team ... Scored final touchdown in Cowboys' Super Bowl VI win ... Rookie of the Year, 1961 ... All-NFL four years, in five straight Pro Bowls ... Career record: 427 receptions, 5,812 yards, 43 TDs ... Born October 18, 1939, in Carnegie, Pennsylvania.
Mike Ditka, the No. 1 draft pick of the Chicago Bears in 1961, introduced a new dimension to the tight end position that once was viewed primarily as an assignment for a tough, talented blocker. Ditka proved to be a superior blocker but he also became one of the first tight ends to catch a large number of passes.
He startled opponent defenses with 56 catches for 1,076 yards and 12 touchdowns in his Rookie-of-the-Year campaign in 1961. Three years later in 1964, he had 75 receptions, a season record for tight ends that lasted until 1980 and the era of the 16-game season. The 6-3, 225-pound native of Carnegie, Pennsylvania was a consensus All- American in 1960 while playing for the University of Pittsburgh.
He moved into the Bears' starting lineup at the beginning of his rookie season and didn't miss a start in 84 games with the Bears. He earned All-NFL honors four straight seasons from 1961 through 1964 and was a Pro Bowl choice after each of his first five seasons. He wound up his 12-year career with 427 receptions for 5,812 yards and 43 touchdowns.
At the time of his retirement after the 1972 season, he ranked second among all tight ends in receptions. In 1967, Ditka was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. An injury in the second game that year aborted his consecutive-game streak at 86. He missed eight games in two years with the Eagles before moving on to the Dallas Cowboys in 1969. The fiercely determined and competitive Ditka regained much of his old form in four years in Dallas. His best campaign there was in 1971 when the Cowboys won their first Super Bowl championship. Ditka had 30 receptions that year and he scored the final touchdown in Dallas' 24-3 win over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI.
Championship Games
1963 NFL – Chicago Bears 14, New York Giants 10
Ditka started at right end. He had three receptions for 38 yards.
1970 NFC – Dallas Cowboys 17, San Francisco 49ers 10
Ditka played but did not start. He had one reception for five yards.
1971 NFC – Dallas Cowboys 14, San Francisco 49ers 3
Ditka started at tight end. He had one reception for five yards.
1972 NFC – Washington Redskins 26, Dallas Cowboys 3
Ditka started at tight end. He had one reception for four yards.
Super Bowls
Super Bowl V – Baltimore Colts 16, Dallas Cowboys 13
Ditka started at tight end. He had one reception for five yards.
Super Bowl VI – Dallas Cowboys 24, Miami Dolphins 3
Ditka started at tight end. He had two receptions for 28 yards and one touchdown.
All-NFL: 1961 (NEA), 1962 (UPI, NEA), 1963 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY), 1964 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY)
All-NFL Second Team: 1961 (UPI, NY), 1962 (AP), 1965 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY), 1966 (AP, UPI)
All Western Conference: 1961 (SN), 1962 (SN), 1963 (SN), 1964 (SN), 1965 (SN)
(5) – 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966
Bears records held by Ditka
(Records through the 1966 season, Ditka's final season with Chicago)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Touchdown Receptions, Game – 4 (vs. Los Angeles, Oct. 13, 1963)
• [2nd] Most Pass Receptions, Career – 316
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdown, Game – 4 (vs. Los Angeles, Oct. 13, 1963)
• [3rd] Most Receiving Yardage, Career – 4,513
Team Statistical Championships
Scoring Titles: 1961, 1963
Reception Titles: 1961, 1962, 1963
• NFL's 75th Anniversary Team
Full Name: Michael Keller Ditka
Birthdate: October 18, 1939
Birthplace: Carnegie, PA
High School: Aliquippa (PA)
Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: January 30, 1988
Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: July 30, 1988
Presenter: Ed O'Bradovich, former Chicago Bears teammate
Other Members of Class of 1988: Fred Biletnikoff, Jack Ham, Alan Page
Pro Career: 12 seasons, 158 games
Drafted: 1st round (5th player overall) in 1961 by Chicago Bears. Also drafted in 1st round of the 1961 AFL Draft by the Houston Oilers.
Transactions: April 26, 1967 -- Ditka traded from Chicago Bears to Philadelphia Eagles for QB Jack Concannon and undisclosed draft pick (that was never exchanged). Jan. 27, 1969 -- Ditka trade from Philadelphia Eagles to Dallas Cowboys in exchange for end David McDaniels.
Uniform Number: 89. (He wore No. 89 with Bears, Eagles, and Cowboys but also wore #98 briefly with the Eagles).


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"She's cross-eyed."
"Aren't we all!"
Pandemic Painting #7
Cloud Nine
The sourcebook for modern living
Author of fairy tales with a folkpunk and steampunk twist
"We may struggle, but we don't quit"
The Casual Way to Discuss Movies
GETTING CREATIVE- this is my little creative corner in the world where I have my music, my stories sometimes combined with my music (read the story and you'll find the song), poems (or really, really short stories as I like to call them 😉), audio stories and audio poems (for those of you who prefer to listen), my digital drawings and sometimes I even throw in some quotes or photos for inspiration 😊.
Sniffing out the best new music
islands and in between
Wear what you love, not what they say you should like.
Be Positive, Patient and Persistent...
Never get lost in the Sauce
Paradigm Shift, Mindfulness, and Personal Empowerment
Tales of humour, whimsy and courgettes
Reflections on Writing
whiny with a side of poet
Give me a sentence. I'll write you a story.
I can't eat biscuits, but I have a better idea ...
Conversations with the Heartmind
Simply a lifestyle blog! Come along with me...


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Take a mom of 3, stir in 4 vegan cookbooks, add a rounded cup of staying at home, and mix with a hefty pinch of recipe testing!
Friday, September 29, 2006
Super-Charge Me Cookies!
It was an event day with prizes and games, and after all the teams played they handed out these enormous pre-wrapped cookies to all of the girls. Our daughter didn't eat hers but I looked at the cookie after the game.
Here's the cookie, with a Canadian quarter on top for comparison. Full of sugar, shortening (hydrogenated oils), and - well - junk, it weighed 1/4 lb!!!
In our culture of 'super-sizing' everything, even our daughter was in the mix of these girls eating super-sized cookies – quite unfortunate after such a healthy sporting event. Plus, it's no wonder a child wouldn't want to eat a decent dinner after eating a cookie that is the caloric equivalent of a meal but with no nutritional value. I'm all for our kids enjoying treats, but with 530 calories, 25 grams of fat (7 of them trans fat) this cookie was ridiculous.
I thought "we don't need to super-size our kids' food… we need to super-charge it!" Hence, the creation of these nutrient-packed cookies, full of oats, flax meal, almond butter, raisins, and other goodness!
33 comments:
- Harmonia said...
What? I'm the first comment? WOW! I will probably comment a few times. First, I wanted to swing by and see if you had any input or thought on today's post (on my blog).
2ndly, Got any new teas I should try? lol
3rd, COOKIES! ZOINKS. Gimmme a minute. *drool*
- Harmonia said...
Okay. Now that I have wiped the drool off of my mouth - these cookies sure do beat the heck out of the super sized ones. I'm still trying to master the baking - you are my spot check and inspiration. Again, can't wait for the new book.
- Eat Peace Please said...
Your version is waaaay better. And you're right, filled with good stuff not loaded with junk. I cannot get over 530kcal, 25g fat?!? That is crazy. And sad.
- Amy said...
Unfortunately, crazy snacks after every sports game seem to be the norm lately, at least where I live. Even when the kids didn't put forth that much exertion (say, 6 year olds' baseball) there is a huge expectation of a junky snack. Same is true for Scout meetings too. I don't remember these things being all about the food when I was younger. Your cookies look great, though!
It must be so frustrating to be a mother and always be faced with people giving your children this sort of junk. Here they think they are being kind and generous..and while they are, they are also being inconsiderate and harmful!!!
- Everyday Superhero said...
Comment from Sweet Pea
That is one big cookie. I'm surprised it fit in a little one's hand. Your cookies on the other hand look delish.
I remember when my brother played football my sister who helped out would often bake muffins or bring orange slices. That made for a nice treat.
Speaking of snacks after sporting events...my Hubby recently ran in the Terry Fox 10K marathon in Burlingon. Afterwards, an orange drink from McD's was handed out along with cookies and get this -- HOT DOGS!!!!! I was so surprised. Aren't hot dogs linked with causing cancer? Plus, people don't need hot dogs after running. I find it strange that people focus on raising money for such charities to "cure" these diseases but often forget that sometimes lifestyle choices go a long way. Okay. I totally went off topic. Forgive me.
- maybepigscanfly said...
Oh I do remember those days when we all took turns bringing snack after sports games. Girls always asked their parents to bring donuts. It was that and a capri sun. Although I do remember some parents bringing orange slices- which I also enjoyed (so kids will go for healthier snacks even if they're used to the junk). But man I think that cookie your daughter got tops them all. The cookie that you've made looks ways better anyways (besides being a billion times healthier). I hope that you bring them to her next game and share with her teammates so that they can try some healthy treats.
I hope that your daughter is enjoying soccer... I've been playing since I was 5.
- Kris said...
Wow, what a disgusting "treat" for those girls. Yeesh.
If your cookies taste half as good as they look, I will be in love. Oatmeal and raisins are two of my favorite combinations, but almond butter? *swoon*
I'm making your Cannellini Bean Yam Hummus for our official grand opening tomorrow night. It will be served with Vive displayed next to it. I'm really excited, any way I can get Jim to eat yams, I'm all over it!
- Vicki's Vegan Vice said...
there's a cookie i'd like to see my girls bite into!
Holy cow! I can't get over the 530 calories! That's insane. I hate to sound like an old fart but back in the day when I played soccer as a kid we always had oranges as a snack (of course that was in South Florida where citrus is plentiful). Your cookies look so much better! We love the cookie recipes in Vive and can't wait for the next book.
- Eat Peace Please said...
Oh yeah, what happened to the oranges? Chris, you're not an old fart... My little brother (now 24) had oranges and I remember going to games and getting some too even though I didn't play.
- Melissa said...
What could be better than an oatmealish/raisin/almond butter cookie?? I'll take your version any day!
- bazu said...
That horrible cookie- good for your daughter to be able to pass it up. I know a lot of adults who would eat it, and then feel like crap!
Your cookies do look good, anything with almond butter has to rock! There is nothing like freshly made warm almond butter. May I join Harmonia in drooling...
SO true - I couldn't even get through supersized chocolate bars when I was pregnant - and that is saying something!
Thank you so much for the tips on the moroccan chickpea patties - they have worked - and are our tucker for tonight!
- Dreena said...
Hey Harmonia - I think we each have a cupboard just for tea alone, hey?? Do you drink much rooibos - as you know, it's one of my favorites. Have you ever had the Yerba Mate? I can't get past the taste of it, but it's supposed to be quite healthful.
Les, it's nuts actually. I mean, it's like giving a kid two or three desserts (full of junk) before dinner!!
Amy, we associate just about everything in our culture with food. I'm not at all opposed to associating fun or sporting events with fun or refreshments, but they should be a little more geared to healthy eating - esp for sports. We do have orange wedges for the kids for the break during the game, which is very good!! (and, the kids LOVE them because they are so juicy and refreshing).
Megan, we are bombarded with it... school, parties, play dates, and even sports. That's why it's so important for kids to value what food is and where it comes from and why we eat what we eat... so they understand that some things are just not good to put in our bodies, and harmful to animals too. When they know that, they don't want that food - yes, they still want treats, but we can make delish treats without all that stuff!!
Hi sweet pea!! Yes, it is a monstrous cookie!! I had to weigh it on our kitchen scale when I got home because it was actually heavy. The kids do have orange wedges during the game for break, which is so fabulous, and we agreed (at least for out team) that we would not bring snacks other than the oranges. I think sometimes parents feel pressured to organize snacks these days. It's unnecessary if they've just had lunch or are going home for lunch, and are having oranges and water at the game - they don't need cupcakes or cookies or chips! That story about the Terry Fox Run is absolutely absurd - almost offensive, don't you think? Yet, it's not the first time I've seen fundraising associated with hot dogs. Hot dogs are everywhere with fundraising and charity events - and YES, most people know about the links with processed meats (and meat itself) and cancer and heart disease, and other illnesses. Are we all just ignoring the sensible and important messages out there? Now I've gone on! But, it's frustrating! (how you feeling, btw? Much movement yet?)
Hi Teresa! Well, she DOES love soccer - she is usually quite a 'go-getter' out there. I love that she is embracing it, though as a summer-lovin' mom, I'm not looking forward to the winter games in the cold and wet outdoors-brrrr!!! They do have orange wedges in the game - thankfully, and our team agreed that we would keep the food to just that without coordinating other snacks. I think the parents were probably relieved about that! Playing soccer since you were five - cool!!! Are you on a team now?
Thanks Kris... oh, that's very cool, you are going to have a great time at your grand opening!! I may be nailing down a date that I'll be in your area - I'll let you know. :)
Vicki, your girls - well esp your older girl, might be great 'testers' for these cookies... I'll get in touch with you when I iron out the recipe for keeps and see if you want to try them out!
Hi Chris, thanks! No, you don't sound like an old fart, I think that we are all just too needing to please our kids with everything these days and so sugary junky fatty salty treats are thrown into the mix most of the time. I'm sure with how active you are and all the training you do, this honkin' 530 cal junk-ridden cookie after some good physical activity sounds comical - or horrifying!
Hi again Les! I guess the orange thing is quite universal! It's our first year with soccer (well the league anyhow), and right away everyone was talking about the oranges - I had no idea oranges had such a connection to soccer everywhere!
Hey Melissa, it's great to see you back again! :) Thanks!!
Thanks Bazu! I checked out your post - what a cooking bonanza you had going on there - I'd like to see what you guys are making when you're not feeling under the weather!! btw - I've been trying to pick out the veg in your profile pic - is it a tomato with sliced radishes for eyes, a whole radish for nose, and a green bean for the mouth...? Curiosity is getting me here! I'm so glad you liked both of those cookie recipes - thank you for posting about them too. :)
Hi mum! (that sounds so cute)!! Yayyy, I'm glad the tips helped you out. I tend towards more tender, softer patties in general because I usually serve them on their own with a sauce and a side dish. If ever you want to firm up patties, adding cooked grains like rice will help, or some quick oats, or bread crumbs. If they are crumbly and need to "stick", then a tbsp or two of tahini or nut butter will help (also miso helps - but it can make them very salty so you have to add a little and test as you go). The recipe for "Celebrity Adzuki Bean and Rice Cakes" is a firmer patty, fyi, if you want to try them sometime - and you don't have to make the yellow pepper sauce for them if you don't want to - these are good just as they are or in a pita or tortilla with some fixins! :) I'll stop rambling now...!!
- Everyday Superhero said...
Dreena, Thanks for asking. There's a bit of movement (usually at bedtime when I'm settling down) and it's still cool the second time around. :-)
- Peace, Love and Veganism said...
Speaking of healthy - I am wondering what vegan hot breakfast dishes anyone would recommend for a large group? Our school does a monthly breakfast for all the teachers, and it is my grade level's turn to do it this month. I would like to "wow" everyone with a yummy vegan dish that is hot, and perhaps one that I can prepare the night before and bake or reheat in the morning?
Thank you in advance! Oh- and everytime I make vegan cookies, especially Dreena's people are drooling, so I have a lot to live up to!
- bazu said...
Hi Dreena,
My picture is about 6 or 7 years old. When my husband and I were a new couple, we planted our first garden, and planted these weird radishes that were white and pink spirals on the inside. This "Ms. Tomato-head" is a salad from that garden- tomato head, radish eyes, mini-carrot nose, green onion mouth, swimming in a balsamic bath-you were very close!
- urban vegan said...
Don't suspersize. Dreenasize. They even tasted good when I licked the screen.
- raising_kahne said...
I love this, Dreena! Supermom to the rescue once again! These look and sound yummy! Waay better that the other ones! It amazes me how much fat(trans and saturated) they can jam into cookies now. I know yours are much,much healthier and nutrition-packed!
Dreena - we have the celebrity adzuki cakes as a staple - my son eats them frozen!!!!
Sounds like oranges and soccer are universal. And here I thought it was just because I was in Florida. At any rate that's way better than that massive cookie...
- laura k said...
Dreena, this is sickening--really. I'm glad your daughter didn't eat hers! Childhood obesity--this is how it starts, and leads to a lifetime of health issues...
Your cookies look better all around.
- Dr. Melissa West said...
Good for you Dreena! Get mad and get even! Beat them at their own game! I *totally* agree with you. One time my daughter got a treat bag from the library for reading a certain number of books. I was flabergasted at what was inside - a chocolate covered granola bar (chocolate bar in disguise) and a package of powdered hot chocolate. Why do they do this to our children?
Can't wait for the new cook book. Those cookies look delicious.
Just a quick request/suggestion... can you offer a no nuts option? Since this cookies are supposed to be a healthy cookie designed for kids we won't be able to send them to school unless they are nut free. (I find this to be such a drag, but if my kid had a nut allergy I would totally understand)
- Carrie™ said...
That's not a cookie. It's like muffins in bake shops and grocery stores. They're not muffins, they're like little cakes. Everyone gets thinking that this is what these things "should" be and forget what they REALLY should be. (Does this make sense or is it just gibberish?)
Anyhow, I like chocolate chip cookies as much as the next person, but not a giant, fat-full gross thing like that. And you know, those types of things don't even taste good. They're all chemically. ICK! Anyhow, a vegan internet friend of mine is visiting Canada for the first time and we're taking him to Niagara Falls today. For snacks I'm packing fresh Ontario apples, Dreena's Apple Hemp Muffins, and Dreena's Coconut Pineapple Carrot macaroons. I'm sure we'll all be much more satisfied than we would be with a humungo factory made cookie. Dreena rocks again!
- Everyday Superhero said...
Dreena, Off topic...what are you serving for Thanksgiving Day? If I remember correctly you once mentioned a good holiday meal and I'm not sure if it was on your blog or in your cookbooks. I'm looking for a good side dish to bring to family get togethers.
I'd like to say that I'm surprised about the calories and fat (and low nutritional comment) but in our society, it's certainly not surprising anymore. It's really sad that there is a company manufacturing these and it's even sadder that there's a governing board of parents who think these are great after soccer snacks.
When I was a kid we used to eat fruit slices after our soccer games. What has happened? Where did our society go wrong? (Ok, these are rhetorical - I don't really expect you to have the answers!)
I think about having kids frequently. I don't want any, but that doesn't mean that I don't think about what my life would be like with them. One thing that bothers me is that my children would be bombarded with junk food all day. It must be very difficult for children not to be swayed by peer pressure. I don't think I would be able to ever let me kids leave the house!
- Harmonia said...
I love Rooibos! Yerba Mate...there is one I like so far and I forget the name...but I tried a vanilla one and didn't like it at all! Blah! Oh! I responded to your comment on my blog this morning, too!
See you late today! (I'm sure I'll be back later) lol
- Dreena said...
Sweet Pea, I'm glad to hear your enjoying your pregnancy... the movement is for sure the best part, isn't it? Esp when it gets very noticeable toward the last couple of months and your belly morphs into new shapes with all the motion! Just read your next comment - you know, we do a much bigger cook-up and celebration for Christmas than for Thanksgiving, but really the types of food that people are excited to eat for these holidays are much the same. I do a "Holiday Feast Menu" in TEV, and that's the one I've referred to on the blog. The entry is here: http://vivelevegan.blogspot.com/2005/12/vegan-christmas-dinner.html If you want a very simple, but tasty side dish, the pureed roasted yams (sweet pot's) is divine! Very luscious and smooth. I love the "All-Dressed Squash" because the 'dressing' (as we call stuffing) reminds me of the type we had growing up (minus the turkey!), made from breadcrumbs, sauteed onions and celery, diced apples, and of course, lots of dried savory! A very moist deep orange squash like a buttercup, red kuri, or even a butternut works really well. Not sure if these are the types of foods you're thinking of - let me know if I can help you more. :)
Hi Mrs. Carlson... hmmm, it looks like you didn't get many responses here - I will post the question for you in a post and see if you get some help that way. Other than pancakes, I might go for something like a warm sweet rice casserole. Almost like a rice pudding that is heated in dish, and topped with some chopped nuts and/or dried fruit. I don't have a specific recipe for you for that though... we'll see what these fabulous bloggers have to say!!
Bazu, close, but no cookie. :) Dang, thought I had that one (alright, you'll have to come up with another sometime down the road and give me another challenge)!!
Ha, Urban Vegan... if only we could cyber-taste-test!! We'd never leave these computers...
Hi Savanna, thanks! Yup, kinda crazy how much junk is in that one cookie - but then it is 1/4 lb!!
Hey Mum, ha, that's funny - I guess I really did ramble on about that then!! :)
Chris, I was surprised to hear everyone mention it - and if we are doing it in 5-yr old soccer in BC and you did it in Florida, I guess there is a definite connection. My parents-in-law spend time in Florida every year and they talk about how people just give away all types of citrus in bins at the end of their driveway when it is so plentiful - how neat is that!
Hey, thanks Laura... and sadly, yes, these habits and taste preferences start so early - why set kids up for such an unhealthy - and difficult - time in life. It makes me sad and very frustrated. One step and one person at a time I guess...
Hi Melissa - oh, don't get me started on "granola bars"!! Great suggestion about the no nuts thing - I may sub in hemp butter and see how that goes. They are not a nut but rather a seed, and do not seem to be very allergenic for folks. Thanks for the note, I think the butter would work in there nicely - will let you know. :)
Carrie, YES, those muffins - er cakes... I've seen people buy the big 'flats' of them and my goodness, they are absolutely cakes disguised as muffins. I'm sure people know that, but they want to believe something different. How lovely are you, packing up such nourishing goodies for your outing - and how FABULOUS that you get to take your friend to Niagara Falls!! Nice.
Hi Vivacious, yes, it can be discouraging at times, but also very encouraging as a parent to see that the positive, healthful messages we are bringing into our childrens' lives are having an impact and will (hopefully) carry through more generations. Our older daughter always says things like "don't worry mom, I'll take care of all the junk food stores when I'm older" or "I'll teach people not to eat meat". She already has a very good sense of what food *should* be, not what many kids are eating - processed, refined, 'unreal' foods that are probably more synthetic than having anything real in them. She also understands why we don't eat dairy and eggs and meat, and has made the connection, so I feel encouraged about that. It IS always an issue whenever there is a social event, though. Oh, and yeah, they do have orange slices for the break in the game (thank goodness), and our team opted out of doing snacks apart from the oranges (double thank goodness)!!
'morning, Harmonia! Yes, I tried a vanilla yerba mate too, and it tasted like smoke or something. I don't think I'll acquire a taste for that one!!
- Everyday Superhero said...
Thanks Dreena! That's what I had in mind. Have a good Thanksgiving if I don't write before then.
- Everyday Superhero said...
Me again. I was wondering if one could "cheat" with the phyllo mushroom pie and use a premade pie crust to save time.
- Dreena said...
Sweet Pea, I think it would be just fine - I'm not sure how much filling it would make in terms of the pie crust - I think for sure it would make enough, I don't know if there would be excess, but the pie could always be quite 'stuffed'! The filling is on the hearty side with the potatoes, and so I like using the phyllo to lighten it somewhat. Though, if you are serving it in a pie crust you could simply cut smaller portions, and it sounds like a very nice variation. Let me know if you do decide to make it how it turned out!
How many calories in a super-charge me cookie?


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Editors' note: The rating on this review has been lowered and its Editors' Choice award removed because of changes in the competitive marketplace.
The big-screen HDTV arena is still owned by rear-projection models, but with every passing year flat-panel versions, especially plasmas, fall in price and become attractive targets for folks seeking massive home theater pictures. But prices haven't fallen far enough yet for most people, so for the foreseeable future big-screen plasmas like the Panasonic TH-58PZ800U will remain playthings of the rich. If you can afford it, however, this HDTV provides compelling reasons to go flat aside from bragging rights and the possibility of wall-mounting. Those reasons revolve around picture quality, from deep black levels and highly accurate color to the kind of uniformity and viewing-angle performance that puts rear-projection models to shame. Yes, again Pioneer's Elite plasmas delivered better performance overall than this, Panasonic's best plasma for 2008, but for all but the most ardent videophiles the extra price to go Elite won't be worth it.
Editors' note, October 13, 2008: The review originally indicated that the 58-inch TH-58PZ800U shares the same "single pane of glass" design found on the 50-inch TH-50PZ800U. That is incorrect; it has a traditional bezel raised about 1/4-inch from the screen.
The massive Panasonic has an unassuming look that differentiates itself somewhat by virtue of a slightly curved lower edge that forms the bottom of a sort of lower lip. Colored charcoal grey to contrast with the rest of the glossy black panel, the lower section bears the company logo and THX moniker and hiding a set of inputs behind a flip-down door and speakers in the crease of the lip.
The stand looks identical to the sloped number found on other 2008 Panasonic plasmas, but unlike the stand included on the 50-inch model, this one doesn't swivel. Including stand, the massive TH-58PZ800U measures 56.9 inches wide by 37.4 inches tall by 16.2 inches deep and weighs 136.9 pounds; divested of stand its size shrinks to 56.9 inches wide by 35.4 inches tall by 4.3 inches deep and its weight to 128.1 pounds. That's a lot of weight to be hanging on your wall, so we recommend using a professional installer if you want to go that route.
Panasonic's remote control remains the same as last year, and we remain fans of its layout. The medium-length wand groups the distinct sets of right-size buttons in an easy-to-feel arrangement, and although we'd have liked to see some backlighting, we didn't really miss it after a few minutes of becoming familiar with the button arrangement.
A familiar yellow-on-blue menu system leads to the television's setup functions, and although the graphics lack the panache of a Sony or a Samsung menu, navigation was intuitive enough. We liked that the company renamed its previously confusing "Normal" command to "Reset," which more accurately describes what it does to your picture settings.
THX Display Certification heads the list of step-up features on the TH-58PZ800U. The certification calls for minimum standards in a number of categories, such as contrast ratio and color accuracy, although THX is characteristically silent as to the exact details of those standards. The TH-58PZ800U has a special picture preset that, when engaged, causes the TV's picture to comply with the certification. We'll detail its effects in the Performance section, and we describe more about the certification itself in this blog post.
Like most plasmas in Panasonic's 2008 lineup, the TH-58PZ800U has a native resolution of 1,920x1,080 pixels, or 1080p, which is fast becoming a standard feature on all flat-panel HDTVs, especially ones this large.
Picture controls on the TH-58PZ800U aren't as extensive as seen on many higher-end HDTVs. While we appreciated the ability to adjust all of the five picture modes, including THX, and the fact that the Custom mode is independent per input, we couldn't adjust color temperature beyond the three presets.
Advanced picture controls on the TH-58PZ800U include a color management control that we left off in THX mode; a "C.A.T.S." mode that changes contrast on the fly and so should be left turned off; two species of noise reduction, and a black level control. In case you're wondering, the step-up TH-PZ850U series series does include adjustable color temperature and a host of other picture tweaks, although it lacks THX certification.
Panasonic also touts Game mode, which turns out to be little more than an easy way to select a particular input. A quick press of the "Game" button on the remote toggles between any of the inputs that you've labeled "Game" using the input naming menu. Pressing that button does not engage the Game picture mode (which is simply another collection of adjustable picture settings) nor does it affect video processing or lag time between controller and screen--although, to be fair, such modes on other HDTVs have little value as far as we can tell.
The TH-58PZ800U offers five aspect ratio controls for HD sources, more than most HDTVs on the market. There's also a setting, called "HD Size 2," that lets the TV display every pixel of 1080i and 1080p sources without overscan or scaling. We recommend using Size 2 unless you notice interference along the extreme edges of the screen, which can occur on some HD sources. Unfortunately, selecting the THX picture mode doesn't automatically engage Size 2; you must go into a separate menu item to do so. We'd prefer HD Size 2 to be the default for all modes, or at least available among the standard selection of aspect ratios as opposed to buried in a setup menu. A selection of five modes is also available for SD sources.
A new menu for 2008 deals with burn-in or, as the company calls it, "image retention." There's a pixel orbiter that moves the entire image gradually around the screen, along with an option to set the 4:3 mode to include gray bars to either side of the picture (as opposed to black, which cause image retention more easily than gray). On the off chance that the plasma retains an image, there's a scrolling bar that slides across the screen as a sort of eraser.
We would have liked to see an energy-saver mode on this TV, but it does include one nice extra that really helps ameliorate power consumption--for a price. When you first plug in and set up the TV, it asks you whether you're in a store or home environment. Choosing "home" engages the Standard picture preset by default across all of the inputs, which saves quite a bit of power over the Vivid preset. This savings is reflected in our Juice Box measurements, where default was measured in Standard mode.
Unfortunately, Standard measures a vanishingly dim 6.8 footlamberts max light output (23.2 cd/m-squared), whereas we consider 40 the standard for a completely dark room. Brighter rooms call for even higher light output. Engaging standard produced a dull picture that we consider inadequate for a TV of this level, and anyone who cares about picture quality will likely avoid using standard, and naturally use more power. The Juice Box numbers for Calibrated more accurately reflect the true power consumption for this TV.
The Panasonic TH-58PZ800U lacks picture-in-picture, but it does include a thoughtful "Surf Mode" control, which can be set to restrict the TV's tuning options. You can set it to "all," "favorite," "digital only," or "analog only."


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A Connecticut man shoots and kills his teenage son after mistaking him for a burglar. WVIT's Doug Greene reports.
NEW FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- A popular fifth-grade teacher fatally shot a masked, knife-wielding prowler outside his house during what appeared to be a late-night burglary attempt, only to discover he had killed his 15-year-old son, police say.
Police said 15-year-old Tyler Giuliano was shot at about 1 a.m. Thursday in New Fairfield, a town just north of Danbury.
The teacher's sister was alone in her house next door to his when she believed someone was breaking in. She called her brother, and he grabbed a gun and went outside to investigate, police said.
The father confronted someone wearing a black ski mask and black clothing and fired his gun when the person went at him with a shiny weapon in his hand, police said.
Father sitting on grass
When police officers arrived, the teen was lying in the driveway of the woman's home with gunshot wounds and the father was sitting on the grass. The teen was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
"All in all it's a tragedy," state police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said.
The Associated Press said the teen's father, Jeffrey Giuliano, a fifth-grade teacher in town, had not returned a message seeking comment on what happened.
Read more from NBCConnecticut.com
NBCConnecticut.com spoke to members of the community about what happened.
"The fact that it was a father and son involved in the shooting and the way that it all happened, I think people quite frankly are devastated. This is a teacher who is very loved," one man told the station.
One of Giuliano's students described him as "one of the best teachers I ever had."
Read more U.S. stories from NBC News
The teenager, Giuliano's adopted son, was a student at New Fairfield High School, a short walk from the neighborhood where he was killed.
Superintendent of Schools Alicia Roy sent parents an email about what happened, The News-Times of Danbury reported.
"Our district has experienced a tragedy that has affected us deeply," she wrote, adding that students weren't told of the killing because all the facts weren't clear.
No charges have been filed. State police are investigating. An autopsy on the boy is planned.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Carol Kaliff / AP
A blue tent protects the scene of a fatal shooting in New Fairfield, Conn., on Thursday.
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- Summer's over, but drought persists; two-thirds of contiguous US affected
- Lucky 13 brings $202 million for Powerball ticket sold in Iowa
- Authorities hunting for 73-year-old accused of killing his daughter-in-law
- Video: Helmet camera captures soldier shot in firefight
- No fix for 'Jesus rifles' deploying to Afghanistan
Follow US News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook


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Disney on Ice Review
San Jose SAP Center
On Wednesday night, we took a long drive up to San Jose to see Disney on Ice. It is a 2 hour show with a 20 minute intermission half way between the show. The show is narrated by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse.
At the beginning of the show a pep squad comes out to get the crowd excited along with the entire Mickey Mouse Clubhouse crew like Donald Duck, Goofy, etc!
The first half of the show was mostly Toy Story. My favorite part about Toy Story was the Barbie and Ken story. Avery is very much into Barbie dolls right now so she really liked seeing Barbie.
I will say the Toy Story part of the show seemed to lag a little for me and was very boring at parts. However, in Disney's defense I have never been a huge Toy Story fan so that might have a little to do with it. I also like the part in Toy Story with the Green Gi Joe men dancing and marching around. It was also neat to see Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head and the rest of the Toy Story Crew which wore off after 15 minutes of them on stage.
After Toy Story was The Little Mermaid. Avery is very much into anything mermaid so she loved The Little Mermaid part. Basically the show is short reenactments of the movies. The Little Mermaid had lots of singing and was very upbeat for the most part. It was very much needed after the long Toy Story part!
The second part of the show was Disney/Pixar's Cars which was awesome to see the cars all dancing. At this point in the show Avery was getting real tired, which is understand for a 3 year old. We had some 8-10 year old girls behind us that seemed to really enjoy this part of the show with their high pitch screams!
However, as soon as my daughter Avery spotted Anna from Frozen on the stage, her eyes lit up. In my opinion, the best part of the entire show which was the Frozen part.
Avery loves Frozen so she was so excited to see Anna, Elsa, Olaf and the rest of the gang.
All in all, I would say it is a great show. Avery really enjoyed it and all of the kids around us seemed to be having fun. Parking at San Jose was $15, which isn't horrible for the area. We also bought a huge bag of cotton candy that came with an Olaf hat which was $15 as well.
Disney on Ice turned into a fun family night out and to see how much fun Avery was having is priceless. The next day she was talking about the show and how much fun she had. Therefore, I thank Disney yet again for bringing so much happiness into my daughter's life! If you get a chance to see Disney on Ice, I highly recommend it. Also, you do not need to have kids to enjoy the show.
Go HERE for more information on Disney on Ice and to get an exclusive promo code to Disney on Ice.
Also you can see my Facebook Live video from the show below:


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Nature Rules
The jaw-dropping scenery on Hawaii's Garden Isle invites exploration.
After a mile or so on the rugged Kalalau Trail, hikers who have slogged through red mud and climbed over slippery rocks stop abruptly. Far down to the right, the sapphire ocean shimmers. As the trail winds to the left, a cool canopy of deep-green foliage dotted with pink and orange blossoms awaits. In the distance, the coastline juts in and out, its steep cliffs dropping to the sea.
Ask visitors why they've come to Kauai's North Shore and they all give a variation of the same answer: to revel in that scenery. To surf in the sparkling ocean, hike in the rain forest, scuba dive among the dramatic underwater formations, kayak the rivers, or just gape at the rainbows that seem to form upon command over Hanalei Bay.
Chelsea Pavone came for a week in 2006, and promptly went back to California to quit her job. "I gave 30 days' notice and had a huge garage sale," she says. "I decided that I'd just go and play for a while."
For Chelsea, who spends her workdays leading hikes and kayaking trips and her free time surfing, "a while" is open-ended. For the rest of us, it may be just a few days―but what a recess. James Thresher, an insurance analyst from Phoenix, explored the late-spring North Shore with his wife via helicopter, boat, and fins. "We could snorkel above and along the lava cliffs," he says of the complex formations at Tunnels Reef. "It's probably the best snorkeling that I've ever seen."
Immersing yourself in the scenery doesn't mean you have to sleep in a tent, though. Even at the marbled and massive Princeville Hotel, muddy, bedraggled guests are greeted charitably upon their return from the wild. Waterside rooms deliver unparalleled views of Hanalei Bay and the mountains you climbed that morning. A private beach and pool deliver post-kayak relaxation complete with fruity drinks and fresh pineapple. You can even opt for a seaside massage before dining at one of the hotel's three restaurants. Whatever else you do here, though, don't miss sunset on the patio. Visitors come from other resorts to witness the spectacle.
Staying at the centrally located Princeville Hotel allows easy access to the North Shore's 15 miles of coastline, from the lighthouse at Kilauea Point to the crashing surf of Hanakapiai Beach. For an intimate introduction, put on your oldest pair of walking shoes (they'll soon be permanently mud-stained) and drive past lush taro fields, over a series of one-lane bridges, and through Hanalei town to the highway's end. The Kalalau Trail begins here, and its first two miles to Kalalau Beach provide plenty of heart-stopping views. You'll be tempted, but don't cool off after the hike with a swim. A sign warning of fierce currents makes its case with tick marks tracking drownings. It's far safer to sit on the rocks, enjoy a picnic lunch, and watch the surf toss around the fools who ignore the sign.
James and Paula Thresher skipped the hike and spent most of their time in more placid waters, spotting everything from sea turtles to white-tipped reef sharks. James says their best day was on Tunnels Beach, barbecuing fish tacos and snorkeling the reef. "There is just a ton of marine life there," he says. "Really fabulous stuff."
While it's easy to pick up a deli picnic, don't miss at least one lunch at Tropical Taco in Hanalei. This quirky establishment with limited indoor seating and only lemonade to drink offers customers a warning on its surfboard menu: "Not to be consumed one hour before surfing!" Take your beer-battered-fish burrito and lemonade out to the lanai, and climb onto a bar stool at the railing. There, you can admire wandering roosters, passing cyclists, and the yard art across the street.
For dinner, Postcards Café prepares fresh seafood and gourmet vegetarian meals using primarily organic ingredients, including herbs and tropical fruit from its own garden. The result: divine island-centric offerings such as taro fritters with pineapple-ginger chutney, wasabi-crusted ahi tuna, and a mousse made from lilikoi, a type of passion fruit. While reservations are advised, the café (a replica of the 19th-century rice-plantation cottage that once stood here) is casual and welcoming.
The same can be said of Kauai's North Shore. Visitors seeking a peaceful getaway gravitate to the laid-back pace and utter lack of nightlife. Like guide Chelsea Pavone, mortgage broker and jewelry maker Aia Walker moved to Kauai permanently after a visit. (Steel yourself: The island has transformed the most resolute tourists into lifelong residents.) "I discovered how to live life slowly and savor things," Aia says. "Like sunsets. And bananas."
And indelible red mud.
Originally published April 2008


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October 17, 2013
The 2013 American Film Market which runs from November 6 through November 12 will screen 402 films, including 321 Market Premieres and 75 World Premieres, from 51 countries. Films in 30 languages will be screened for more than 8,000 buyers and industry professionals from more than 70 countries. Jonathan Wolf, AFM Managing Director and Executive Vice President of the Independent Film & Television Alliance, made the announcement today.
Films making their market premiere include: Around the Block (Arclight Films) starring Christina Ricci, Hunter Page-Lochard and Mark Coles Smith; Le Grand Cahier (Beta Cinema) starring Laszlo Gyemant, Andras Gyemant, Piroska Molnar, Ulrich Thomsen, Ulrich Matthes and Sabin Tambrea; McCanick (Bleiberg Entertainment) starring David Morse, Cory Monteith, Mike Vogel, Ciaran Hinds, Tracie Thoms and Rachel Nichols; Some Velvet Morning (International Film Trust) starring Stanley Tucci and Alice Eve; Walking with the Enemy (Koan Inc.) starring Ben Kingsley and Jonas Armstrong; The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him & Her (Myriad) starring Jessica Chastain, Viola Davis, James McAvoy, William Hurt, Isabelle Huppert, Ciaran Hinds and Bill Hader and God Only Knows (Synchronicity Entertainment) starring Ben Barnes, Toby Jones, Leighton Meester and Harvey Keitel.
Additional market premieres include Palo Alto (Pathe International) starring Emma Roberts, James Franco and Val Kilmer; Tar (Spotlight Pictures) starring James Franco, Mila Kunis, Jessica Chastain, Zach Braff, Henry Hopper and Bruce Campbell; Night Moves (The Match Factory) starring Jesse Eisenberg, Dakota Fanning and Peter Sarsgaard; Two Night Stand (The Solution Entertainment Group) starring Miles Teller, Analeigh Lipton and Jessica Szohr; and Joe (West End Films) starring Nicolas Cage and Tye Sheridan.
For the complete list of films please visit: www.TheFilmCatalogue.com.


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Ecommerce Websites Case Study: Personalise
Ecommerce websites: Getting Creative With Online Kit Design
Part of the Grahame Gardner group, Specialist Sportswear designs and supplies quality sportswear. The group has many years' experience selling uniforms and work wear through their ecommerce websites, and Specialist Sportswear was looking for something special to excite and engage sports teams.
Impact Web Solutions' ecommerce website designers rose to the challenge, using multiple product variations and personalised product features, to develop an easy-to-use virtual "kit design studio". This bespoke ecommerce website feature allows clubs to experiment with hundreds of combinations of fabric composition, main colour and trims, embroidered or printed logos, names and numbers for a unique strip, before ordering their kit.
Visitors to Specialist Sportswear's ecommerce website can shop by product or by sport, with all products included in both category structures, to showcase the vast range of items available.
When browsing any item, related products are suggested to complete the kit and context-sensitive help throughout the ecommerce website guides customers through the ordering process. Sports teams can nominate an administrator to create a "team shop" in which to record all team names, shirt numbers and sizes for easy re-ordering by any member of the team.
Specialist Sports can now offers a fantastic customer-friendly service to sports clubs and teams, and an ecommerce website which makes life easier for team secretaries responsible for ordering kit and inspires clubs to create a new strip.
Find out how Impact Web Solutions can help grow your business
Discover how we've transformed the online business of clients like you in our ecommerce case studies:
- Case Study 1 – Search
Case Study 2 – Browse
- Case Study 4 – Buy
Or find out more about how we can transform your business when you click on one of the links below:
- View our ecommerce packages – an ecommerce website tailored to suit your business
- Ecommerce website features – feature rich ecommerce websites to transform your business
- Find out how a really effective ecommerce website could be helping you
- Make an enquiry now to find out how, as an ecommerce web design company, we can grow your business
Ready to transform your business? Call Impact Web Solutions on 0116 275 8456


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Hello Spring
Enjoy a Spring season filled with days of fun with our Hello Spring embroidery design. This design is perfect for adorable outfits for special gatherings! Stitch it on a burlap door hanger or tote to really celebrate the season.
The Hello Spring embroidery design listing includes five sizes for a wide array of hoops: 4×4, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0 inch.
You will receive this design in DST, PES, EXP, HUS, JEF, VIP, XXX, VP3 and ART.
Take pictures of your Spring festivities and share them with us on our Facebook page. We love to see our designs in use on your special projects! More designs are available here for your fun activities.


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Eva Mendes admits that she's still a work in progress herself.
In "Girl In Progress," an indie coming-of-age dramedy from director Patricia Riggins ("Under the Same Moon"), Mendes plays a single mom who's not always making the best decisions when it comes to making ends meet in a thankless waitressing job, romancing a (married) doctor and raising a daughter who feels so overlooked she tries to liberate herself by staging a passage into adulthood based on formulaic teen movies. And as Mendes reveals, she, too, is still on the way to finding herself, even in the midst of a hot Hollywood career.
How difficult was your own transition from girl to woman?
I think the years between seventh grade and maybe my junior and senior year in high school were pretty difficult, because I was on a mission. I wanted to be my own independent person, and especially back then I was so close to my family and so closely tied to them and their beliefs that I really wanted to divorce myself from them and figure out who I was independent of them. So that was my mission. That was rocky. It was really rocky.
How much of a girl in progress are you at this stage in your life?
I actually often refer to myself as a work in progress, and so it's funny that this should be the title of the film because I'm always taking the odd class: anything to kind of grow, anything that I can get into, any area, whether that's a singing class…I just took a course on Thai massage. I know it sounds so funny, but I enjoy giving massages. My mom has terrible neck problems and back problems, so I grew up massaging her. She trained me well, and there's something there so I took a course in Thai massage, and I have to say that I've been told I'm pretty good. I'm not certified in the States, but overseas I am. I am. It's harder to get certified here in the States.
What drew you to this sometimes not-so-sympathetic character?
I was attracted to the fact that the character was such a mess of a woman, such a disaster of a mother, but really, truly trying her best. So, I wanted to play a truly flawed, real human being, and I knew within the first few pages of the script that she was that…I think she's just awful. I do. I love that she's a work in progress, and I love that she's trying her best and she somewhat finds her way, but I just think, 'Wow.'
What have you learned from working with a young actress just starting out in show business like Cierra Ramirez?
How simple it could really be. I really mean that as a true compliment. I think I have a tendency to complicate things. Maybe it's the actress in me that can appreciate a dramatic plot, but for instance, Cierra has incredible access to her emotions. This girl is so incredibly talented and it's such a pleasure to work with her. To watch her access her emotions so easily, it was incredible to watch. I remember one day there was this emotional scene, the scene on the bus and my director really wanted me in tears. I was like, 'I'm not feeling them. Maybe the character doesn't want to cry.' You have those kinds of moments. So I started kind of forcing emotion out and that's never fun, but I did, and I looked to her and the camera would even be on me, not even on her, and she would be crying. Her tears would be flowing. There was no effort though. She just allowed it to happen. I remember looking at her and I said, 'How do you do it?' It's her first movie and she says, 'I just think of what my character is going through and I feel so sad for her.' I was like, 'Duh – Come on, Mendes! Get it together!'
Some actresses who've been seen as the sex symbol segue into playing the mom to keep their career vibrant. What's your take on moving into the mom role?
First of all, sexy is just one component – it's not a thing that I am, it's a thing that I can be. It's a side of myself that I can tap into, just like I can tap into my funny side or my quirky side or my dramatic side, but it's not what I am. Then, just kind of rewinding a bit, my first role that put me on the map in this business was in 'Training Day.' It was only two scenes, but that actually got me in. That's what started it all, and I played a mother. So when you play a mother – whether you're a bad mother or a not so great mother or an amazing mother – being a mother already is so complicated. It's already three-dimensional automatically. So, I welcome it. The more complicated a role can be the more flawed a character can be – that's what I'm looking for. The careers that I admire and actually try to emulate in a way, those are Julianne Moore, Annette Bening. Those women, to me, make amazing choices, and they're sexy, beautiful women. That doesn't dictate their choices.
'Girl In Progress' Star Eva Mendes: 'Sexy Isn't All I Am'
Eva Mendes admits that she's still a work in progress herself.


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By James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
A stupendous work of a seasoned author.
Detective Michael Bennett (NYPD) and FBI agent Emily Parker (abduction case specialist) team up to track a serial killer in this gripping bestseller.
A quick and easy read, decked with giggles and light-hearted fun in mini-chapters.
A run through Bennett's life – a widower with ten (!!!) foster children; their beautiful nanny who ends up having a crush on Bennett; plenty of exciting action in tracing the villain and cracking the case of missing teenagers; mushy romance with partner Emily Parker ending on a smart and riveting note makes the book a good read.
The tome exudes loads of suspense, tension and fast paced excitement.
I'd recommend this one.


text: TheLizard 1 Report post Posted January 8, 2011 It appears that she was shot in the head by a lone gunman while meeting with constituents outside a grocery store. There are conflicting reports at the moment as to whether she has passed away or is in surgery in critical condition. There are also conflicting reports as to how many others were killed or injured in the shooting. Also, this: http://www.alan.com/2010/03/24/palin-puts-gun-sighs-on-target-map-says-ti/ This is a map on Sarah Palin's website with 20 congresspeople who voted for healthcare reform in districts that voted for McCain in 2008 with gunsights over their districts. Congresswoman Giffords is one of those targeted. This is a sad day for the country. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Saguenay--Lac-Saint-Jean is located northeast of the Mauricie and west of the Côte-Nord. It has a population of about 280,000 inhabitants. The region is named after Lac-Saint-Jean, a 1000-km2 lake that allows fishing and recreotouristic activities. Saguenay--Lac-Saint-Jean benefits from 11 lakes and 15 rivers, including the Saguenay River, which flows into the St. Lawrence River. Saguenay, the most densely populated city, follows the river of the same name. A true demographic hub, it is teeming with attractions and a vast array of activities.
Nature lovers will be more than happy in Saguenay--Lac-Saint-Jean that counts on a great number of parks, beaches, trails, and even a wildlife reserve and a zoo. From the animals of Zoo sauvage de Saint-Félicien, to the beach of Plage de la Pointe Scott in Roberval, the trails of Sentier Les Murailles in L'Anse-Saint-Jean and Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay in Rivière-Éternité, there is something for everyone. As for downhill skiers looking for slopes in the region, they will find eight ski resorts. Most of them are only a few kilometers away from the municipalities of Alma and Saguenay.Show more


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If you have a problem related to the National Electrical Code (NEC), are experiencing difficulty in understanding a Code requirement, or are wondering why or if such a requirement exists, ask Charlie, and he will let the Code decide. Questions can be sent to email@example.com. Answers are based on the 2011 NEC.
Tamper-resistant receptacles
In response to a question about tamper-resistant receptacles in a detached workshop (January 2011), you cite NEC 410.12, but should it not be 406.12? Also, the person could have avoided use of the tamper-resistant receptacles had he kept them 66 inches above the floor, which is allowed by an exception.
Thanks for the correction. NEC 406.12 requires that, in all areas specified in 210.52, all 125-volt (V), 15- and 20-ampere (A) receptacles shall be listed tamper-resistant receptacles. Exception No. 1 to 406.12 permits receptacles located 5 feet above the floor to not be tamper-resistant.
Rating system
Regarding luminaire and lamp ratings: we have typical 120V fixtures, suitable for their respective locations (wet, damp, dry), with medium-base screw shell lampholders and a completely enclosed lamp. These fixtures are marked "75W lamp max." Can a medium-base, self-ballasted compact fluorescent lamp (CFL)—which is nameplate rated 42W to operate and produces lumens equivalent to a 150W incandescent lamp—be used safely and in compliance with 110.3(B)?
Yes, the CFL produces a lumen output equivalent to that of a 150W incandescent lamp but uses only 42W. The use of this lamp is in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
Anti-short bushing
I'm using Type MC cable to wire outlets with quick-connect style connectors. The snap-in connector has a bushing. Do I also need an anti-short on the MC cable?
An anti-short bushing is not required for Type MC cable as is required by 320.40 for Type AC cable. Type MC cable can be one or more insulated conductors in an armor of interlocking metal tape or a smooth or corrugated metallic sheath (330.2). The metallic sheath is required to be continuous and close fitting.
Arc-fault protection required?
I recently installed a service upgrade and included a combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarm in an unfinished basement area used for laundry, a small workshop and exercise on a physical fitness apparatus. I installed this new circuit on a standard circuit breaker. The inspector insisted that an arc-fault breaker be installed as his interpretation of the Code was "Any circuit that does not require a GFCI circuit does require an arc-fault breaker." My interpretation is that the new circuit was not in a living space as described in the Code and does not require an arc-fault breaker. May I have your interpretation, please?
Based on the information you have supplied, I don't see a requirement for the use of an arc-fault breaker. NEC 210.12 shows the dwelling unit areas that are required to have arc-fault protection on all 120V, 15- and 20A branch-circuits, and unfinished basement areas are not included.
Self-tapping screws and steel boxes
There are numerous brackets available that are prewelded to steel boxes. However, in some applications, it would just be more efficient to attach the box to the steel frame with the use of some self-tapping screws. I've searched the Code but have not found any obvious restrictions concerning how a steel box may be mounted to a steel frame. Are there any Code sections that I should be aware of that may prevent me from using self-tapping screws?
NEC 314.23(B)(1) contains the requirements for using nails or screws as a fastening means for supporting enclosures. Your method is Code-compliant.
Grounding vs. ground-rod electrodes
Why are grounding-electrode conductors used with underground metal water piping required to be sized according to Table 250.66, while a ground-rod electrode only requires a 6 AWG copper?
The use of this smaller conductor is based on the fact that it can never be called on to carry a current beyond its safe short-time rated capacity. This restriction is based on the theory that 42.25 centimeters (cm) of copper conductor will carry 1A of current for 5 seconds after which the conductor will destroy itself. A 6 AWG copper conductor is equal to 26,240 circular mils divided by 42.25 cm = 621A of current. However, a lightning strike or a flashover lasts only a small percentage of a second, and the 6 AWG conductor can handle the current flow in that short duration of time.
Supporting LFMC
What would be the Code requirement for liquid-tight flexible metal conduit (LFMC) hanging from a cable tray to production equipment where the length would be approximately 12 feet?
A means of support for LFMC is required, according to NEC 350.30(A), at intervals not to exceed 4 feet.
Connected to earth
What does it mean to say the Code requires grounded electrical systems to be connected to earth in a manner that will stabilize the voltage-to-earth during normal operation?
An ungrounded conductor can reach any voltage within that system with respect to earth. When one conductor is grounded, a fixed-potential-to-ground is established. For example, if you ground the common conductor of a single-phase, 3-wire, 120/240V transformer secondary, the highest voltage-to-ground any conductor in that system can reach is 50 percent of the transformer secondary potential (or 120V) because the grounded conductor is tapped at midpoint of the 240V secondary winding.
Exam room wiring
I am wiring exam rooms in a clinic using the new hospital-grade MC AP Type 12 AWG stranded cable (green jacket with 10 AWG aluminum ground conductor) with approved connectors, of course. I would like to pigtail the ground wires to the hospital-grade receptacle (that has a grounding clip on the mounting screw) without also using a pigtail to the box. In the past I have installed the box pigtail but was wondering if I am adding an unneeded cost to each box since the box is bonded through the cable jacket, not the green wire. Do the grounding clips on the mounting screws do the same job that the box pigtail would? I have asked inspectors this question and get various degrees of certainty, so I always end up putting the box pigtail in to be sure.
NEC 517.13(B) requires a redundant grounding method to be installed in patient care areas. An insulated copper equipment-grounding conductor installed with the branch-circuit conductors in a metal-clad cable or a metal raceway system must be connected to the metal box.
Ceiling fan delay
At a new single-family residential job, I hung six ceiling fans in six rooms, each with a light kit. All fans are from the same manufacturer and came with 40W candelabra incandescent lamps. Two fans on one circuit and one fan on a different circuit come on late. The other three fans come on instantaneously. They are not on the same circuits that are delayed. I isolated the first fan in one circuit and connected a pigtail and 75W light to it. It came on instantaneously. When I took it out of the circuit, the remaining fan was still slow in coming on. I took down the other lights and checked for a back-feed through the neutral. I found nothing. This circuit also had a bathroom exhaust fan (no light), a three-light fixture with CFLs and a fluorescent closet light. They came on instantaneously. I did not troubleshoot the third fan on a separate circuit. I called the manufacturer and was told there was a wattage limiter in the lighting circuit, and it was normal for a one-half to one-second delay. I find it hard to believe when the supplied lamps don't exceed the 190W that the manufacturer specified. I do not know if the three fans that are operating properly have wattage limiters. Can you give me insight into this problem, if it is a problem?
It's hard to troubleshoot from here. From your description, I don't believe it's a problem. According to the manufacturer, there is a wattage limiter, and the delay is normal. I can only refer you to 110.3(B) where listed equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions included in the listing.
TROUT answers the Code Question of the Day on the NECA website. He can be reached at email@example.com.


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Top Items:
Greg Sterling / Search Engine Land:
Early Yahoo Postmortem, And Google CEO Eric Schmidt On The Prospect Of MicroHoo — If the Microsoft acquisition of Yahoo does happen the "postmortems" on Yahoo will come fast and furious. Perhaps the first of these is from the Mercury News, which recounts the history of Google …
Discussion: HipMojo.com, Silicon Alley Insider, WebProNews, Mercury News and Electronista
Ashkan Karbasfrooshan / HipMojo.com: Will YouTube/MySpace Repeat Google/Yahoo Storyline?
Mike Sachoff / WebProNews: Google Says Microsoft, Yahoo Deal "Bad for the Internet"
Google says Microsoft's Yahoo buy might hurt Internet — BEIJING (Reuters) - Google Inc, the world's leading search engine, said on Monday it was concerned about the free flow of information on the Internet if Microsoft Corp were to succeed in acquiring Yahoo Inc.
Richard Defendorf / CNET News.com: Schmidt: Microhoo would hurt the Net
Eric Zeman / InformationWeek Weblog: Google Talks More Smack About MicroHoo
Ed Oswald / BetaNews: Google repeats concerns over Microsoft + Yahoo
Colbert Low Boon Leng / Gadgetell: Could the Microsoft-Yahoo! deal hurt the internet? According to Google; yes.
Robert Andrews / paidContent.org: Google's Schmidt Warns Microsoft-Yahoo Would Break Internet Openess
Stan Schroeder / Mashable!: Google Still Against Microsoft-Yahoo Deal
Rory Cellan-Jones / BBC:
Web creator rejects net tracking — The creator of the web has said consumers need to be protected against systems which can track their activity on the internet. — Sir Tim Berners-Lee told BBC News he would change his internet provider if it introduced such a system.
Discussion: GigaOM, broadstuff, CNET News.com, DSLreports, The Open Rights Group, Contentinople, p2pnet, BBC NEWS, All Facebook and TechRadar.com
Stacey Higginbotham / GigaOM: Would You Fire Your ISP Over Privacy?
Alan Patrick / broadstuff: NEVER MIND DATA PORTABILITY, SOLVE DATA PRIVACY FIRST!
Richard Defendorf / CNET News.com: Berners-Lee wary of unsolicited Web tracking—of any kind
Becky / The Open Rights Group: Phorm update — It's difficult to tell which of today's developments …
Frank Smith / Contentinople: News Bits: China Blocks YouTube
Rory Cellan-Jones / BBC NEWS | dot.life: Talking To Sir Tim
Nick O'Neill / All Facebook: Tim Berners-Lee Doesn't Like Beacon
Audley Jarvis / TechRadar.com: Web inventor attacks net tracking
Chris Williams / The Register:
BT confesses lies over secret Phorm experiments
BT confesses lies over secret Phorm experiments
Discussion: BBC NEWS
Darren Waters / BBC NEWS | dot.life: Phorm's devil is in the detail?
Adobe Flash Lite and Reader LE Licensed by Microsoft — For immediate release — Adobe Mobile Products to Ship with Windows Mobile Phones — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq: ADBE) today announced that Microsoft has licensed Adobe® Flash® Lite™ software …
Stan Schroeder / Mashable!: Microsoft Licenses Flash Lite; Whoa, What About Silverlight?
Philip Elmer-DeWitt / Apple 2.0: Apple and Microsoft's Flash dance
Benjamin J. Romano / Tech Tracks: Microsoft Windows Mobile phones to get Adobe Flash Lite video platform
Jack Schofield / Guardian Unlimited: Flash Lite and Reader LE for Windows Mobile phones
Nick Mokey / Digital Trends: Adobe Licenses Flash Lite to Microsoft
Doug Aamoth / CrunchGear: Microsoft to license Flash Lite for Windows Mobile
Larry Dignan / Seeking Alpha: Microsoft Licenses Adobe's Flash Lite
Mary Jo Foley / All about Microsoft:
Microsoft licenses Adobe's FlashLite for Win Mobile phones
Microsoft licenses Adobe's FlashLite for Win Mobile phones
Discussion: TechCrunch, Dana Gardner's BriefingsDirect and Flash Devices
Erick Schonfeld / TechCrunch: Microsoft Adopts Flash Lite For Windows Mobile As a Stopgap Measure
Dana Gardner / Dana Gardner's BriefingsDirect: EclipseCon debuts OSGi runtime offerings, common platform frees …
Tom Krazit / One More Thing:
Microsoft to license Adobe's Flash Lite
Microsoft to license Adobe's Flash Lite
Discussion: The Register, eWeek, MacRumors, CenterNetworks, Adobe, Gizmodo, TGDaily.com, jkOnTheRun, Ubergizmo, AppScout, IntoMobile, Randy Holloway Unfiltered and Ryan Stewart
Bill Ray / The Register: Microsoft Mobile presses Flash
Daniel Drew Turner / eWeek: Adobe, Microsoft Make Mobile Technology Deal
Allen Stern / CenterNetworks: Adobe Ships 500 Millionth Flash Lite Shipment And Microsoft Licenses Flash Lite
Wolfgang Gruener / TGDaily.com: Microsoft licenses Flash Lite, Reader LE
James Kendrick / jkOnTheRun: Microsoft to license Flash Lite and Acrobat Reader LE
Sascha Segan / AppScout: Adobe Flash Is Coming To Windows Mobile
Stefan Constantinescu / IntoMobile: Microsoft's Windows Mobile to get PDF and Flash Lite support
Caroline McCarthy / The Social:
CBS to bloggers: Install our widgets, and we'll split the profits — CBS Television Stations has launched a new program to get its local news headlines onto blogs and social-media sites, the CBS division said Monday. — Called the CBS Local Ad Network, it's a way for participating region-focused blogs …
Discussion: CenterNetworks, paidContent.org and WebProNews
Mike Sachoff / WebProNews: CBS Launches Ad Network For Local Sites
Michael Learmonth / Silicon Alley Insider:
CBS Launches Ad/Content Network For Local Sites
CBS Launches Ad/Content Network For Local Sites
Discussion: All Points Blog
Adena Schutzberg / All Points Blog: CBS Offers Local News to Local Bloggers
Joe Wilcox / Microsoft Watch:
10 Things I Warned Microsoft About Windows Vista — The imminent real release of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is reason enough to broach the question. SP1 is an important milestone for an operating system that bloggers and other critics consistently ridicule.
Discussion: Forever Geek
Google News, YouTube blocked in China amid Tibet riots — Beijing appears to have taken a page out of Myanmar's playbook by blocking some Internet access amid rioting in Tibet that has already seen as many as 80 people killed, according to the Tibetan government in exile.
Discussion: Ars Technica, Techdirt, Digital Trends, Seeking Alpha and The Register
Michael Masnick / Techdirt: Videos Of Tibetan Protest Get YouTube Banned In China
Nick Mokey / Digital Trends: Chinese Government Cuts Access to YouTube
Erick Schonfeld / Seeking Alpha: Censors Take Down YouTube and Google News in China
John Oates / The Register: China blocks YouTube
Larry Dignan / Between the Lines:
BMC buys BladeLogic, eyes data center automation — BMC said Monday that it will buy BladeLogic, which specializes in automating data centers, for $800 million, or $28 a share. — The news comes on the heels of a bevy of data center announcements from HP, which is hoping enterprises go for its data center as a service strategy.
Discussion: eWeek, Business Wire, The Register, Tech Trader Daily and InfoWorld
Paula Musich / eWeek: BMC Takes on HP in Data Center Automation
Kelly Fiveash / The Register: BMC spends $800m on server admin firm BladeLogic
Eric Savitz / Tech Trader Daily: BMC To Buy BladeLogic For $28 A Share
Chris Kanaracus / InfoWorld: Update: BMC to buy BladeLogic for $800 million
New HP Offerings Speed Data Center Transformation
New HP Offerings Speed Data Center Transformation
Dan Kusnetzky / Virtually Speaking: HP and the next generation data center
Richard MacManus / ReadWriteWeb:
Yahoo Buzz is a Game Changer for Social Media; And Spells Trouble for Digg! — Yahoo Buzz is a social media experiment by Yahoo! that is currently in a closed beta. We found out today what kind of boost Buzz is giving the current selected blogs and news sources - Muhammad Saleem wrote …
Discussion: The Social Web, Digital Media Wire, Todd Watson, Favorite {fvrit} Blog, TechCrunch, Geek News Central and muhammad saleem
Steve O'Hear / The Social Web: Yahoo Buzz! sending publishers into a traffic frenzy
Heather Hopkins / Digital Media Wire: Analysis: Yahoo! Buzz Catching up to Digg.com
Allen Harkleroad / Favorite {fvrit} Blog: Yahoo Buzz to Dominate Social News?
Michael Arrington / TechCrunch: Yahoo Buzz: Yahoo Reveals Stats From The First Two Weeks
Todd Cochrane / Geek News Central: Yahoo Buzz may drive Traffic but where is the RSS?
Muhammad Saleem / social media maven: i told you so: now everyone is loving yahoo! buzz
Mark Evans:
Are MacBooks Just Trendy? — My brother had his MacBook stolen a couple of months ago so he's in the market for a new laptop. — With a modest budget, the big question is whether he should cough up the $1,100 to $1,500 for a new MacBook, or spend $500 for something like a Dell Inspiron.
Discussion: Jeremy Toeman's LIVEdigitally
Noam Cohen / New York Times:
Open-Source Troubles in Wiki World — Since he helped create Wikipedia in 2001, Jimmy Wales has been called many things: benevolent dictator, constitutional monarch, digital evangelist and spiritual leader of the tens of thousands of volunteers who have made the online encyclopedia one of the top 10 most visited Web sites.
Discussion: Portfolio.com, Infothought and Valleywag
Kevin Maney / Portfolio.com: The Wales Tale — The tech world can't come close …
Seth Finkelstein / Infothought: Roger McNamee, "Elevation Partners", and Don't Think Small on Wikipedia
Owen Thomas / Valleywag: Jimmy Wales's bigger scandal: Elevation Partners
Ionut Alex Chitu / Google Operating System:
Explore Your Interactions with Google Reader — Web applications track many user actions and use them for different purposes: improving the products, finding patterns, building user profiles etc. For example, Google Reader records some of your actions without providing options in the interface to access the data.
Tony Dennis / Inquirer:
Google R&D spend increases by 73 per cent — Surely fighting the Yahvole merger can't cost $2.1 billion? — ACCORDING TO figures put together by the FT, Intel, Texas Instruments and Sun all showed negative growth in their R&D spend in 2007. The newspaper claims that Sun was even forced …
Discussion: WebProNews
Doug Caverly / WebProNews: Google's R&D Budget On The Rise
Jacqui Cheng / Infinite Loop:
802.11n officially makes its way to the Airport Express — Hot on the heels of a leak from the Swiss Apple Store, Apple went ahead and popped out an updated Airport Express this morning. (Please, hold your gasps—we know it's not Tuesday yet.) The new Airport Express …
Discussion: Digital Trends, Gearlog, TGDaily.com, TidBITS, The Unofficial Apple Weblog and Dan's Tech-n-Stuff Weblog
Geoff Duncan / Digital Trends: Apple Updates AirPort Express to 802.11n
Mark Hachman / Gearlog: Apple AirPort Express Gains 802.11n
Wolfgang Gruener / TGDaily.com: Apple Airport Express gets draft-n Wi-Fi
Glenn Fleishman / TidBITS: Apple Releases 802.11n AirPort Express
Michael Rose / The Unofficial Apple Weblog: 802.11n Airport Express is now on sale


text:
Luetge back for another bullpen stint
SEATTLE -- Just three and a half weeks into the season, Lucas Luetge has already been sent down to Triple-A Tacoma and recalled twice now as the Mariners added the left-handed reliever to their roster again on Friday.
Luetge, 27, started the season in Triple-A, but then was called up on April 9 to provide an extra bullpen option when James Paxton went on the 15-day disabled list. He was optioned back to Tacoma five days later, but now has been added again to fill the spot created by Erasmo Ramirez's demotion.
Luetge spent all of his rookie season in 2012 on the Major League roster as a Rule 5 Draft Pick, but split last season between Seattle and Tacoma as well with three different stints. So he understands the process.
"This drive is a lot easier for me," Luetge said with a grin. "We're living on Mercer Island, so it's five minutes to here and 40 minutes to Tacoma. But I'm just glad to be back. I'm glad they keep calling me."
Luetge made two appearances in his earlier stint with the Mariners, allowing two runs on one hit and one walk over one combined inning of work. He was 1-0 with a save and a 5.79 ERA (three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings) in four outings with Tacoma, striking out six with one walk.
"Considering who we're facing and where we're going, it just made sense with the days off to bring up another bullpen arm that gives us help," said manager Lloyd McClendon.
Luetge gives the Mariners a third lefty reliever along with Charlie Furbush and Joe Beimel. The club can carry an extra reliever for now as they go with just four starters following Thursday's off-day, with another day off Monday before starting a nine-day, 10-game trip to New York, Houston and Oakland.


text: Anatomy: Fetus in Utero A thin-walled sac surrounds the fetus during pregnancy. The sac is filled with amniotic fluid, which protects the fetus from injury. First Trimester A healthy first trimester is crucial to the normal development of your baby. You may not be showing much on the outside, but inside, all the major body organs and systems of the fetus are forming. Second Trimester During this trimester, the weight of your growing baby will multiply more than seven times—and you will start showing more. Third Trimester The third trimester marks the home stretch for your pregnancy. You may feel more uncomfortable now as you continue to gain weight. You also may have false labor contractions (called Braxton-Hicks contractions). Overview of Multiple Pregnancy Multiple pregnancy is a pregnancy with two or more fetuses. In the United States, the multiple birth rate is rising. Common Tests During Pregnancy Certain tests and screenings may be scheduled during your pregnancy. Your health care provider will advise you on which tests you'll need.


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Not Even 2, Girl With Juvenile Arthritis Struggles to Walk
In pain, Campbell Pruden tells parents, "It's too tight."
May 28, 2013 -- Campbell Pruden was only 19 months old, just beginning to talk, when she developed a limp and begged to be carried. The only way she could express her pain was to tell her parents, "It's too tight."
In 2011, the once energetic toddler was diagnosed and hospitalized with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. At one point, she was taking eight daily medications. She was so afraid of the frequent steroid injections that she had to be put under anesthesia to keep her still enough for the procedure.
"In the beginning when there were all those unknowns, we knew we had to get to the bottom of it," said her mother, Kim Pruden, a 35-year-old speech pathologist from Phoenix.
"But at the same time, we had to keep that poker face with her to give her the confidence that, 'You are O.K. and you are going to be O.K.'"
The couple has their "breakdown" moments after Campbell goes to bed at night.
One of the greatest misunderstandings about arthritis is that it affects only adults. More than 300,000 children in the United States are living with the disease, according to the Arthritis Foundation, which has launched a new public awareness campaign to debunk the myths of arthritis during the month of May.
In addition to swelling in the joints, children can suffer muscle and soft tissue tightening and bone erosion that affect growth patterns.
Symptoms may include a non-contagious fever and rash. Inflammation can affect the spleen or the membranes that covering the lungs and heart.
It's important to recognize the symptoms of arthritis early, as many forms of arthritis can cause irreversible joint damage, often within the first two years of the disease. There are more than 100 types of arthritis and knowing what type you have makes a difference in how it is treated.
Today, at age 3, Campbell gets intravenous injections of powerful immune-suppressant medicines known as biologics, but office visits can last anywhere from two to five hours long. She calls the tiresome procedures her "stupid tubes."
Pruden laughs that the ordeal is like "going to Disney World for kids to get poked with needles."
Pruden and her husband John take a positive approach with their daughter whose joints are always aching.
"We keep her moving, we keep her active and we take one day at a time," she said. "When she is not feeling well, we respect that, but it's important not to make that a crutch or an excuse."
Arthritis is an umbrella term used to describe the many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.
One family hard-hit by the disease recently moved from rainy Seattle to Charleston, S.C., for the warm climate, which is easier on the aching joints of sufferers.
Sisters Amelia, 5, and Liberty, 3, have juvenile idiopathic arthritis, which affects their joints "from head to toe," according to their mother, Lisa Schultz, who was recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.
Their father has had gout since he was 20, which is also a form of arthritis.
Amelia was diagnosed in April 2010 when she was nearly 2. She suddenly stopped walking and reverted to crawling.
"She started limping in the morning and wanted to be carried," said Schultz, 37 and a stay-at-home mother. "She would cry when I changed her diaper, too. I would lift her up and she would say her toes hurt when I put on her socks. Her second toe was almost the size of her big toe and her knees were the size of oranges."
Amelia's younger sister was just 15 months old last November when she, too, developed juvenile arthritis. Like her sister, she had painful joints; both stopped growing. Just recently, Liberty has developed inflammation in her right eye related to her arthritis and takes drops six to eight times a day. Untreated the condition, uveitis, can cause blindness.
"One day in the tub I saw that one knee was way bigger than the other knee, but I thought there is no way possible I would have two kids with it," said Schultz. So far Liberty is "in better shape" than Amelia. The family has a son, 7, who shows no signs of arthritis.
Both girls had tried anti-inflammatory and steroid medications, often the first line of defense for treating arthritis.
In the last decade, there have been significant advances in the treatment of arthritis, especially for those who do not respond to conventional drugs. The most important has been the development of a group of drugs called biologic response modifiers or biologics.
Now, like Campbell Pruden, the girls these biologics, known as TNF (tumor necrosis factor) inhibitors that suppress the inflammatory response seen in arthritis.
So far, neither of the Schultz girls has any joint deterioration. But their mother worries about potential side effects with these powerful biological medicines -- one of them lymphoma.
"It's scary," she said. "But we don't have a choice. Years ago kids were in wheelchairs and crippled. Now, with the medicines, you wouldn't be able to tell they have arthritis."
As for Campbell Pruden, she is now in a "holding pattern," doing well as doctors have cut back on her medications. Her parents keep her off red meat and dairy, part of an anti-inflammation diet.
"She can have some sort of remission, but it will be in her body for the rest of her life," said Pruden. "You never know when there is going to be a flair up. Right now, we just hope it stays dormant.
Nowadays, Campbell joins her parents hiking and on other outdoor activities. "She's a trooper and wants to do everything we do," said her mother.
Just recently Campbell got a fever and her parents worried she was taking a downward turn. "Doctors ruled out a flair-up [of her arthritis] -- it was an early version of the flu," said Pruden. "If it's flu, I'll take it."
The Prudens' greatest reward comes from helping others with the disease.
"I make it my mission to raise awareness," she said. "These children live in pain every day and can't even wake up and go to school because of the pain in their body. We need to find a cure, to find a way for these kids to lead strong, happy lives."


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Ha, ha! Really I just liked the container--it reminds me of tin ceiling tiles.
I quickly pulled off all the gnarly (never thought I'd use that word in a blog post!) faux flowers and revealed this anemic looking ball underneath. So much for using that for my sleek new topiary. It isn't exactly in scale with the base.
So I wrestled it off--and a few of the extra twig things came off too. At this point I shoved the whole thing in a corner and left it...for over a year. I picked it all up again this weekend and it came together really quickly--and cleared some stuff out of my craft area (which was my goal).
So, after my year+ long break, I took this styrofoam ball that I had in my craft supplies and jammed it onto the pointy stick that I had coming up out of my container. It went on pretty easily. I bought the faux boxwood garland a few weeks ago at Michaels Craft Store using a 40% off coupon and it cut apart very easily using regular scissors.
I dipped each cut end of boxwood into some tacky glue before sticking it into the styrofoam because I didn't want my topiary falling apart and becoming a craft fail after all this time. This was working pretty well for me, except I didn't like the glimpses of white you could see through the boxwood.
A quick an easy cure for the white styrofoam--paint it apple green! I got out my craft paint and one of my daughter's paint brushes and slapped a bunch of paint on my styrofoam ball. And by a bunch of paint I mean a bunch of paint. It went on easily but it sure did take a lot of paint. I probably should have used a green foam ball to begin with, but white was what I had.
I (mostly) let the paint dry and then kept on sticking the boxwood sprigs into my ball. It went pretty smoothly and dipping the sprigs in the tacky glue really made for a firm set for the sprigs. When I was done I checked my supplies to see what I could cover the base of my topiary with and I came up with some moss that I hot glued into place. I added a little bow and I was done!
I love it--and totally wish I hadn't taken a YEAR off midway through the project.
Right now I have it on my fireplace mantle, but I'm not sure where it will end up. I have some other plans for some Easter decor for my mantle, but for now this new topiary will do. Behind it you can see the wall decor I made with scrapbooking paper last spring.
And, since I'm not the first (or the last!) to fall in love with topiaries, here are some more ideas for you:
Miss Mustard Seed (a fluffy version of a boxwood topiary)
Tales and Trials (apparently we even like the same black and white ribbon!)
Scissors and Spatulas (find some premade boxwood balls and go from there!)
Linking to:
- Tutorials and Tips Tuesday at A2Z
- Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts
- Hookin' Up with HoH
- Look What I Found Friday at Vintage Revivals
- Weekend Wrapup Party at Tatertots and Jello
- Best DIY Projects of March at Beneath My Heart


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Manos Del Uruguay
Manos Del Uruguay yarn is made using natural fibres sourced in South America. The Manos colours are their trademark. The secret lies in the patient kettle dye in small pots using precise color recipes. This crafted process creates the subtle nuances in our striated colours as well as fantastical shading of the space dyed.
Manos Del Uruguay is a co-operative of over 800 women, producing and supplying hand spun, hand dyed yarns and wools to customers throughout the world. Their customers include Ralph Lauren, Benetton, DKNY and many more.
Manos del Uruguay is committed to the safe-keeping of the environment, which is reflected in the use of luxurious natural fibres as pure wool, silk and merino. They enforce the rational use of water and other resources and avoid using harmful chemicals during the dyeing process.
Manos del Uruguay has also been admitted as a full member of WFTO (Word Fair Trade Organization), the global representative body of over 350 organisations committed to 100% Fair Trade. WFTO members are organisations differentiated by their 100% Fair Trade commitment to eradicate poverty through sustainable economic development; pioneering social and environmental policy and practice and continual reinvestment in marginalised artisans, farmers and producer communities in some of the most fragile places on earth, practices that Manos del Uruguay has been applying for 40 years.
All of the Manos yarns are hand dyed and therefore do not have dye lots. Each skein is different. If there is a difference between skeins, we recommend knitting two rows from one skein and two rows from another skein to give an overall blended effect.
Manos del Uruguay Laceweight Yarn
Starting at: £7.80