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Joined: 19 Oct 2007
Posts: 1248
Location: central PA
Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 8:40 pm
Post subject: faux grilled steak
grilled steaks are a treat. regrets, not always possible to do a "real grill"
here is an "indoor kitchen" technique that
- depending on your own personal take -
gets close to "real grilling" or is "not grilled but maybe okay"
Step 1:
pick yo' meat.
marbling, etc., all that good stuff, marinate, <whatever>
preheat the oven to 300' F (more on this temp later)
Step 2:
when the meat is "predisposed" to your personal cooking preferences re marination, etc.
heat a non-nonstick oven proof pan to white hot.
plop in and sear the beef
flip and sear da'udder'schyde
you want color and caramel - this is not a "cook through" operation
Step 3:
put the pan with steak(s) in the oven to finish:
medium rare: 5 minutes
medium: 10 minutes
<more than medium> no data . . . . .
here's the theory:
the white hot searing produces what one would see from a goodly hot grill.
on a grill, the temperature continues to cook the steak, outside to inside.
putting the well seared steak into the oven at a "fixed" temperature does essentially the same thing but you MUST develop all the "crust / color / caramel" before the oven.
if the oven temp is too low, it just slowly parboils the steak to some faceless shade of gray / cooked.
oven temp too high, the outside char continues and can become "not good" before the heat penetrates through the thickness of the steak to cook it.
oven thermostats are notoriously not accurate - so one needs to figure an oven temperature / setting that produces the desired results.
the "flame broiled smoky" taste effect is regrets a bit absence from this method - but producing the seared crust + internal cooked "end effect" is a pretty darned decent imitation of "I wanted to grill it but the grill is under ice"
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Joined: 26 Oct 2005
Posts: 535
Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 2:02 am
Post subject:
Dilbert wrote:
grilled steaks are a treat. regrets, not always possible to do a "real grill"
here is an "indoor kitchen" technique that
- depending on your own personal take -
gets close to "real grilling" or is "not grilled but maybe okay"
Step 1:
pick yo' meat.
marbling, etc., all that good stuff, marinate, <whatever>
preheat the oven to 300' F (more on this temp later)
Step 2:
when the meat is "predisposed" to your personal cooking preferences re marination, etc.
heat a non-nonstick oven proof pan to
white hot
plop in and sear the beef
flip and sear da'udder'schyde
you want color and caramel - this is not a "cook through" operation. . . .
In a 300F degree oven?????
do you do that on a stovetop beforehand?
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Joined: 30 Jul 2007
Posts: 89
Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 3:45 am
Post subject:
Yeah, I'm pretty sure thats what he meant. I use this method with my cast iron skillet, but I put the steak in the oven on a small cookie rack so that both sides are exposed.
The only problem with this method is that it fills the entire kitchen up with smoke, and the fire alarms usually go off.
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Joined: 19 Oct 2007
Posts: 1248
Location: central PA
Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 12:08 pm
Post subject:
yes - sear off the steak on the stove top, then finish in the oven
<smoke alarms> oh yes - when we moved I absolutely insisted on an outside venting range hood.
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Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 10:25 pm
Post subject:
you want color and caramel - this is not a "cook through" operation
so where does the sugar come from to get the caramel, the marinade?
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Joined: 30 Jul 2007
Posts: 89
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 1:08 am
Post subject:
Caramelization in this case refers to the Maillard reaction on the surface of the meat. There is enough sugar in the meat (and pretty much any other food stuff) to allow this reaction to occur.
Having a sugary marinade may or may not help it along, since the Maillard reaction cannot occur unless the surface is dry.
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Joined: 26 Oct 2005
Posts: 535
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 10:54 am
Post subject:
To cook both sides of the steak evenly, Alton Brown showed a pan sear and then finishing the steak in an oven directly on the oven rack with a drip pan on a lower rack. I don't recall what temperature he baked it at. I guess the oven rack could be hand cleaned or just wait until you self clean the oven if it isn't too messy.
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Joined: 19 Oct 2007
Posts: 1248
Location: central PA
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 5:32 pm
Post subject:
Gary -
I've tried the finish on a rack method - actually my start into the method ala Alton Brown.
even did the convection oven bit thinking "better temp distribution"
in the end I find I actually prefer the additional sizzle side down time in the (left over hot) pan to develop a bit more faux grill effect....
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Joined: 30 Jul 2007
Posts: 89
Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 5:16 am
Post subject:
I've tried leaving it flat in the pan, what I got was an unevenly cooked steak...
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 11:12 am
Post subject:
SirShazar wrote:
Caramelization in this case refers to the Maillard reaction on the surface of the meat. There is enough sugar in the meat (and pretty much any other food stuff) to allow this reaction to occur.
Having a sugary marinade may or may not help it along, since the Maillard reaction cannot occur unless the surface is dry.
I doubt very much whether there is enough 'sugar' on the surface of a steak to provide the Maillard reaction (which is not the caramelization process). This is a fallacy propagated by TV chefs, who aren't scientists, who are just repeating what they have heard.
The flavour and colour of a grilled steak is formed from the pyrolysis and general heat induced breakdown of the protein in the flesh, and not from the 'caramelization' of sugars, nor from the Maillard reaction between dicarbonyl and amino groups.
The Maillard reaction occurs in low to medium water activity environments, as some reactions (there are very many different reactions under the Maillard banner) need water to proceed.
Please understand, steaks are pyrolysed, not caramalized.
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Joined: 19 Oct 2007
Posts: 1248
Location: central PA
Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 2:59 pm
Post subject:
Watt -
methinks the term "caramelize" in meats refers much more to the color and brown bits generated than making caramel candy.
I am not a chemist. here's what whacky-pedia sez:
The Maillard reaction is a chemical reaction between an amino acid and a reducing sugar, usually requiring heat. Like caramelization, it is a form of non-enzymatic browning.
so, if there's no sugar in/on/around the meat, how does it happen?
and then whacy goes on to say:
The browning reactions which occur when meat is roasted or seared have often been referred to as Maillard reaction browning. However, lean meat contains very little, if any, reducing sugars. Furthermore, red meat undergoes more extensive browning than does white meat. The browning reactions in lean meat are most likely due to the breakdown of the tetrapyrrole rings of the muscle protein, myoglobin. Thus, the browning of meat is technically not a Maillard browning since it does not involve the reaction with a reducing sugar.
and then The Thermochemical Joy of Cooking sez:
Searing meat causes it to lose moisture, though when the pig proteins hit a hot pan the resulting Maillard reaction will ensure your entre looks and tastes good.
so "the other white meat" has little sugar content so it can't Maillardize; but crisp a pig and it does a Maillard reaction . . . .
I think I'm confused.
I'm guessing you have some real knowledge of the topic - can you 'plain
"Why meat browns and why the browned stuff makes good taste"
in simple terms? . . . and what should it be "called"?
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 9:13 pm
Post subject:
I think I would go with Wikipedia on this one. As I said, the browning occurs from pyrolysis of the protein/meat muscle, not from the Maillard reaction. Ironically, there is a little higher sugar content in aged white meat than in red, so if the Maillard reaction was responsible, one would expect white meat to brown more.
I would not agree with what you have quoted from The Thermochemical Joy of Cooking.
In simple terms, when a steak (or any meat) is heated at high temperature without any other food present, then the meat muscle proteins start to burn producing small intermediate chemicals which react to form flavour chemicals and which can polymerize (clump together) to form coloured products (called melanoidins).
It is the breakdown of proteins, the chemical reactions and polymerization that form the strongly flavoured and coloured products we find in our roasting tins/frying pans which the French call fonds. They are deglazed with wine/water/stock to form a gravy or basis for a sauce.
As an experiment, try frying some chicken with a sprinkle of fructose on it. It will give much darker colour and deeper roasted flavours, because the Maillard reaction will have been involved. It is also possible that there could be caramelization involved as well ;?)
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Joined: 19 Oct 2007
Posts: 1248
Location: central PA
Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 5:12 pm
Post subject:
okay, I'm going to put the "Maillard reaction" topic into my personal 'heard of that but it is an unknown thing" cubbie hole.
I put meats in a very hot pan to get the effect of dark bits on the meat and stuff sticking to the pan. I have taken to using the word "caramel" & it's associates because:
<shaggy dog story>
my cousin was visiting and want to help cook. I asked her to brown the ground beef (spaghetti meat sauce in the works). fry sizzle steam, "ok, it's browned"
well, the meat color turned from red/white flecked to mostly brown. it wasn't "browned" - just a change of color due to the (partial?) cooking.
<end shag>
and I think that is the source of many "how to cook meat shortcomings" -
if one never 'pushes' the browning past the "it's not blood red anymore' stage, flavors never develop.
oh, btw, ref: searing seals in the juices: Alton Brown did a show where he weighed steaks and then did the sear / no sear methods and demonstrated "no difference"
now, personally I'm in a quandary there.
if I sear off and oven finish a roast, go poke it with a carving fork, juices run out.
if it hasn't been seared off, plopped in a covered pan with veggies & covered, poke it and juices don't run out.....
there is however an observation: when you sear a roast, it shrinks in physical size. so one has the same mass of meat, same mass of water, but constrained in a smaller volume = pressurized roast.....
so, does the same mass of juice constrained into a smaller volume of the same mass of meat translate to "juicier"?
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Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 8:52 pm
Post subject:
Ill try to explain the Maillard reaction for you.
It is generally accepted that the reactions occur between sugars and proteins. This is too simple.
Firstly, the sugars involved in the Maillard reaction have to be in a certain form.
Secondly, only certain sugars conform to these certain forms.
Thirdly, they dont even have to be sugars, for example, vitamin C will react in exactly the same way as fructose, or glucose, or lactose.
The sugars have to have carbonyl groups on them, ideally two next to each other.
The protein can be any protein, but usually single amino acids (the building blocks of protein) or short chains of amino acids (called peptides) are involved with the Maillard reaction. With heat (which speeds up chemical reactions) the reaction proceeds quite rapidly to form simple chemicals which are usually highly aromatic. The Maillad products are not the only aroma chemicals formed, many are from the breakdown of oils/fats, so called lipid oxidation products, some are from vitamin and amino acid breakdown. These aromatic chemicals are the ones that provide the flavour, detected with our noses, either with the smell going up our nose from the front (orthonasal) or from our mouth (retronasal). Some of these chemicals can react together to form larger molecules, which eventually become coloured, usually yellow to brown (deep yellow), even red or nearly black. All this happens in cooking with highish heat, proteins and sugars and similar molecules. However, high heat is not necessary, it is often quoted that to get the Maillard reaction to proceed a certain temperature is required. This is not so. At body heat, sugars in the blood stream will react with the globin in the haemoglobin in blood cells to form substances that are detected when diabetics have a three month blood test. The glycated blood formed gives hysicians an idea of how well the patient has been controlling their diet and medication.
Anyway, to get the most from your roast, we use highish temperatures and little water, because too much water hinders the reaction. However, if we braise a joint of meat, and this means cooking meat on the bone in a mixture of fat/oil and water based liquid, (but that liquid should only come half way up the meat joint), and we peek at the meat while cooking (in a covered, ideally sealed pan) we notice that the meat out of the water browns, whilst the meat under the water does not. This is because the meat out of the water has browned because of the Maillard reaction, the meat in the water cannot. Now turn the meat over, and continue heating (in a low oven, by the way, not high heat) and the meat out of the liquid will brown, and the meat in he water will have its browness reduced as some of the colour dissolves in the water. Simple isnt it?
If you want to call the dark bits something, call them fonds, people will be impressed.
Now to your pasta sauce. It is a common mistake that most cooks fry the minced/ground meat when making a pasta sauce. It is neither necessary nor a good idea. Most of the meat will not be of the highest grade, ie fillet steak, which is reported to have little flavour anyway (in fact most raw meat has little flavour, until you evoke the Maillard reaction see above).
It is best to sweat some onions, add some minced/ground beef and pork, stir quickly, then add fresh tomatoes and pasata, maybe a bit of puree too. Add white wine, and maybe a little stock (made from roasted meat and bones, yep the old Maillard reaction again!) and gently simmer for about an hour. The meat will be tender, not like little bullets, because when meat is heated, as you say, it shrinks, squeezing out the water, and leaving a tough protein bundle behind. Same thing happens to the braised meat, by the way, long slow cooking is the secret with these cuts of meat, they may be cheaper, and take longer to cook, but ultimately are far more flavourful and satisfying to at.
Searing meat just browns the outside (by pyrolysis) but also that outside part shrinks because of the heat. Meat is a poor conductor of heat, so the inside of the seared meat does not get to a high temperature, therefore does not shrink as much, and remains moist. The meat in a covered pan with veg. will be almost braised, because of the water from the veg., but the highish temperatures (Im assuming here) will shrink the meat and squeeze the juice/water out of the joint. Your observations may be sound, but I think your inference is not, same mass of protein, maybe, but much smaller mass of water.
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Joined: 19 Oct 2007
Posts: 1248
Location: central PA
Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 12:33 pm
Post subject:
...don't brown the pasta sauce meat...
ah,,, deep into preferences and taste on this one.
even pasta bolonese - the "most classical" red sauce with meat that jumps to mind - calls for "cook until browned" for the meat.
personally I prefer my meat sauce to have recognizable bits of meat - altho burnt to a cinder aka hard bits in the sauce isn't my goal.
....Your observations may be sound, but I think your inference is not, same mass of protein, maybe, but much smaller mass of water.
it's simply an observation - same as searing off the meat - there's a whole bunch of "stuff" going on.
you do realize, the last paragraph supports the "sear the meat and seal in the juice" line . . . .
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Collaborating to bring long-extinct species to life on the page
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It's a start
Soooo, I started my first quilt this week. Here's what I have learned...
A. This is going to take forever.
B. It might have been cheaper to just buy a quilt.
C. Your rotary cutter gets dull eventually.
D. My iron is hot.
E. This is going to take forever.
Other than that, I'm excited about what I've done so far. Stay tuned. At this rate I might be done before Christmas.
Labels: sewing
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I spend a fair amount of time searching through old newspapers for obits and other articles of interest on the families I research. While doing this sometimes a bizarre or interesting story catches my eye. An example is the following article, which appeared in the Reading (Pennsylvania) Eagle on Thursday, October 4, 1888. This one speaks for itself!
Transcription:Five Children in One Year – A Woman Who Causes Her Husband to Repudiate the Name of Washington Charleston, SC: Mrs. Crane Washington, who, with her husband, lives on the Milton farm, near this city, will densely populate that section in the course of time if she continues contributing to the population as she has in the past year. Last January she presented Mr. Washington with triplets. The surprised husband at once took steps to change his name. He had heard about Washington being the father of his country, and he didn't know how much there might be in the name. He dropped the matter, but last Monday the responsibilities of parentage again developed upon him. This time it was only twins, making a total of five in the past year, with a cold winter ahead of him. The picaninnies are said to be as black as tar and lively as crickets.
Disclaimer: I am not related to this family and have no further information — just posting an interesting article that caught my eye. I just hope this poor woman had relatives or friends to help her out!


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HIV/AIDS News
Major AIDS Studies to Increase Minority Enrollment, Answer New Questions
The Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) and the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) are the two largest observational studies of HIV/AIDS in women and homosexual or bisexual men, respectively, in the United States. These studies have repeatedly made major contributions to understanding how HIV is spread, how the disease progresses, and how it can best be treated. Now, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is launching a campaign to boost the size of the study groups by 60 percent and increase the number of minority participants. The enlarged groups will focus on contemporary questions regarding HIV infection and treatment.
Since the early days of HIV/AIDS, two key changes have occurred in the United States. First, a disease that initially affected mostly gay, white males has moved into minority populations, striking both men and women. Of newly infected men in the United States, 50 percent are black and 20 percent are Hispanic; of newly infected women, 64 percent are black and 18 percent are Hispanic. Second, highly active antiretroviral therapy, or HAART, has greatly improved treatment.
"Because of HAART, HIV-infected people are living longer without developing AIDS," says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. "This means that we have new issues to address, such as the safety and benefits of long-term treatment, HIV's effects in older populations, and the nature of both the virus and the immune system during chronic infections. MACS and WIHS are ideal frameworks within which such questions can be answered."
MACS and WIHS were established in 1984 and 1993, respectively. Since their inception, both studies have lost a large number of participants to HIV disease, particularly MACS since many participants enrolled years before today's effective drugs were available. Both studies also require increased minority enrollment to reflect the status of HIV in the United States. The new enrollment will ensure the cohorts remain large enough to address new questions about the disease in a population that best represents people with HIV today.
"One of the important features about MACS and WIHS is their applicability to the general population," explains Carolyn Williams, Ph.D., an epidemiologist in NIAID's Division of AIDS. "By working with the groups most affected by the current epidemic we can gather data on a broad range of questions. The information we collect can then be used to direct future studies on HIV and HAART." MACS and WIHS follow both HIV-infected and uninfected individuals, making it possible to separate out the effects of the virus from other factors. Currently, the two studies are enrolling persons who are HIV-negative or HIV-positive and have never received HIV therapy; or who are HIV-positive and have medical records available from the time they started therapy. Participants who have started therapy must have begun receiving HAART before developing an opportunistic infection.
MACS has sites in Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh; additional information is available on the MACS Web site at www.statepi.jhsph.edu/macs/macs.html. WIHS sites are located in Baltimore, Chicago, Hawaii, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. The WIHS Web site is located at www.statepi.jhsph.edu/wihs/index.html.
MACS is funded by NIAID and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). WIHS receives funding from NIAID, NCI, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Dental Research, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. NIAID is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
NIAID supports basic and applied research to prevent, diagnose, and treat infectious and immune-mediated illnesses, including HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, malaria, autoimmune disorders, asthma and allergies.
Press releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID Web site at http://www.niaid.nih.gov.


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Sunday, December 7, 2008
Truck Series Banquet Officially Closes TV Season
It seems somehow fitting that SPEED would be the NASCAR TV partner to close-out the 2008 season. NASCAR coverage first began this year with SPEED's John Roberts anchoring the January testing coverage from several tracks.
We sometimes get caught-up in comparing the different styles of the three NASCAR TV partners who cover the Sprint Cup Series. That allows SPEED to fly under the radar.
While that network covers practice and qualifying sessions for the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series, it is the "support programming" like RaceDay and Victory Lane that most NASCAR fans remember.
The only NASCAR series totally served by SPEED is the Craftsman Truck Series. With the Camping World sponsorship set to begin next year, SPEED is delivering to both NASCAR and Camping World the only national racing series with significantly higher TV ratings for 2008.
Contrasting the style of SPEED while producing the Truck Series races with the three Sprint Cup TV networks is always interesting. ESPN ended the season with four announcers in the infield studio and three in the broadcast booth for a total of seven. SPEED used three during the year.
ESPN used four pit reporters to cover the teams while SPEED used two. By including Tim Brewer on the team, the ESPN total number of on-air voices during the actual race was twelve. Since Krista Voda stepped aside after the pre-race show, the SPEED number was five.
As TDP reported many times over the season, Truck Series Producer Keith D'Alessandro chose to keep things simple and focus the coverage of the event on the racing. While this concept seems basic, it was the key problem for all three of the Cup Series TV partners. During the races, there was always something else going on.
SPEED was helped by a good cast of characters who raced in the Truck Series last season and the racing itself was fun to watch. Play-by-play announcer Rick Allen and color analyst Phil Parsons have bonded with the series and made this a real franchise for SPEED.
Added to the booth line-up for some spice was Michael Waltrip. At first an unabashed Toyota cheerleader, Waltrip found himself this season and decided to complement Allen and Parsons. The results can be seen quite easily. A tremendous rise in the TV ratings and a fantastic season of NASCAR racing on TV.
It will be Allen and Voda who host the post-season banquet coverage on SPEED. The program airs on Monday at 8PM and will once again be the casual "talk show" format that worked so well for Allen Bestwick and Shannon Spake during the Nationwide Series TV show. Click here to read that review.
The Truck Series holds the banquet almost immediately after the season at a hotel in the South Florida area. The post-produced presentation of this banquet has actually been fun to watch on SPEED for the past couple of seasons.
Popular comedian Tom Papa is returning. In the past, he has brought the house down with his personal style that involves those attending the banquet and really helps to break the ice for the nervous drivers and teams. The musical guest is John McLaughlin.
Unfortunately, SPEED is not preceding the banquet program with the Truck Series year in review program. The network remains firmly focused on filling the weekdays with reality-based "lifestyle" programming. On this night, NASCAR is following PINKS, Pass Time and Unique Whips.
There will be a full column up about the Truck Series banquet shortly after it concludes. To add your thoughts about the Truck series coverage on SPEED this season, just click on the COMMENTS button below and follow the easy instructions. Comments will appear shortly after they are submitted. Thanks for stopping by.
7 comments:
- Anonymous said...
I loved the coverage of the truck series this year. As I have stated before, many times the booth announcers made me feel as if I was actually at the track, what with all of the excitement! I hope they keep up the great work, and also remember to KISS.
Keep It Simple, Stupid.
As far as the reality shows during the week, Pinks is tolerable, Pass Time is laughable, but the dumbest is Unique Gangmembers. What a clown.
- December 8, 2008 at 10:13 AM
- majorshouse said...
I just wish that the other series were coverred by Speed like the truck series has been, and they ahve shown us that showing great racing is more important than having too many personalities and that has been really refreshing to watch too.
I just wish that NASCAR could ditch the current television contract and let Speed do all of the coverage witht he team of Steve Burns, Larry McReynolds and Jeff Hammond in the booth with Krista Voda in the pits. That would make for one really exciting package and Speed has continually shown us with the truck series as well as the Formula One series that less is definitely more and it is a real shame that the other big name networks cannnot figure this out.
- December 8, 2008 at 10:53 AM
- Lou said...
I just get tired of reading from all those who constantly post and comment how great the truck race coverage is. And those comments are how I feel also. It sometimes feels like we are watching Ground Hog Day. And no one is hearing/reading what we are saying.
Racing on the track as it is happening. And that is what SPEED gave us this season in the truck series. Is that to much to ask? It just seems that FOX and ESPN just do not seem to get the message. Just keep it to racing, that is all I ask.
No, I did not watch all the truck races this past season. But the ones I did watch were the way racing should be covered. Not to mention how great some of the prerace shows were.(remember the sunset on the hill)just a good example of how less in more. And that happened most of the season.
And FOX and ESPN wonder why I watch HotPass from Direct TV for cup races, duh.
JD, those are some of my thoughts on truck series coverage on SPEED this season. They did a great job compared to the others.
- December 8, 2008 at 12:23 PM
- Anonymous said...
It always seem you are a real cheer leader for SPEED and the Truck Series. That's good. But they have a long way to reach the popularity of Cup. My neighbors are truck fans and always decry that the stands are half empty.
As far as tv ratings go, sure the trucks are up, but they have decades before they reacch Fox in the ratings. According to Jayski, Fox went up in their ratings this year (5.7)which is about 9.325 million viewers. That's about 10 times more than the trucks. Fox's ratings went up this year and that includes the Fontana rainout.
Since Fox has the most popular sports show in the spring, I just don't see them disappearing anytime soon. I don't get why you think they were a "key problem" for NASCAR.
- December 8, 2008 at 12:38 PM
- Daly Planet Editor said...
Anon 12:38PM,
The reason I like the Truck Series is because they show you the racing.
I did not say Fox Sports was a key problem, but that it seems between Digger, the Hollywood Hotel, Hammond's Pit Box and the cutaway car they always have something else to do than cover the race. That is the problem, their own TV agenda.
Don't get me started on only showing the winning car finish the race.
- December 8, 2008 at 12:59 PM
- majorshouse said...
I think that if Fox would cut out the crap and show us the race, they would be much better and the very same thing goes for ESPN as well.
- December 8, 2008 at 1:42 PM
- Sophia said...
well, I forgot how lame and butchered the Truck awards show can be.
A commercial after EACH driver who talks for what, 60 seconds? 90 seconds tops? Anybody have a stop watch.
And it would appear by the horrible camera work the same director is there as in NYC.
Oh, well. This is so fake and chopped up..and the comedian seemed to be insulting to the faces in the crowd. Ouch. The heavy guy on Cup might have done way too much bathroom humor but folks did laugh...sheesh.
Yea, these award shows truly are NOT for public consumption.
- December 8, 2008 at 8:34 PM


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New Home Great Values in Settler's Field: "St. Helens" Huge new 3 sty.Features vaulted entry plus 9' ceilings elsewhere, chef kitchen w/island & custom cabinetry, solid quartz counters and premium Whirlpool stainless appliances, great room w/gas log fireplace & bookshelves, 4 bdrms including large Master w/soaking tub & shower. White painted doors and trim, deck, fully landscaped and rear fenced yard.Est completion June!
Listing Office: John L. Scott, Inc.
|Status Changed from Active to Pending
All listings featuring the icon are provided courtesy of the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. The database information herein is provided from and copyrighted by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS). NWMLS data may not be reproduced or redistributed and is only for people viewing this site. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. The information contained in these listings has not been verified by Lake & Company Real Estate, Inc and should be verified by the buyer. All properties are subject to prior sale or withdrawal. All rights are reserved by copyright. Property locations as displayed on any map are best approximations only and exact locations should be independently verified.
Listing information last updated on August 13th, 2020 at 3:21am PDT.


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Chelsea Ingram Has An Updated Look At Your ForecastChelsea Ingram Has An Updated Look At Your Forecast
COVID-19 Pandemic Highlights Importance Of Farmers Markets, Local Vendors SayAs we all try to maintain social distancing amid the COVID-19 pandemic, farmers markets have provided an outdoor space for consumers to buy fresh, locally grown produce and products.
Leaders Rename Street In Honor Of Baltimore Police Sgt. Isaac Carrington Family, friends, local leaders and Baltimore Police Department members gathered Saturday to rename the 5600 block of Summerfield Avenue after Isaac Carrington, a Baltimore Police Sergeant who was injured in a shooting outside his home last year.
'Another Life Saved' Gives Out Food, Masks To Those In Need Amid Coronavirus Pandemic'Another Life Saved' Gives Out Food, Masks To Those In Need Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
Ceasefire Weekend Organizers, Local Faith Leaders Hold Prayer WalkOrganizers of Ceasefire Weekend and faith leaders held a prayer walk in west Baltimore on Saturday.
21-Year-Old Woman Killed In Shooting In West BaltimorePolice are investigating after a 21-year-old woman was killed in a shooting in west Baltimore on Saturday afternoon.
Three Women Injured After Shooting In South BaltimorePolice are investigating a triple shooting in south Baltimore that injured two women in their 70s and another in their 50s.
Baltimore County Police: Woman Shot While Sitting In Her Car In WoodlawnBaltimore County Police are investigating after a woman was shot in Woodlawn on Saturday morning.
Jaxon Edwin Social House In Ellicott City Closes Due To COVID-19An Ellicott City bar that was featured on Gordon Ramsey's 24 Hours to Hell and Back will close due to COVID-19.
Over 700 New COVID-19 Cases Reported In Maryland; Hospitalizations DownMore than 750 new coronavirus cases were reported in Maryland on Saturday as the total case numbers in the state surpassed 94,00.
Study: Heart Attack Victims May Be Dying Because Of Coronavirus FearsDoctors may have been right to be concerned that people with heart problems were avoiding the ER due to COVID-19, according to a new study published Friday.
Police: 4 People Shot In 4 Separate Shootings Across Baltimore FridayFour people were shot in four separate shootings across Baltimore on Friday, according to police.
Police: 60-Year-Old Man Found Dead Inside Baltimore HomeBaltimore police are investigating after a 60-year-old man was found dead inside a home on Wednesday morning.
Ravens' Lamar Jackson Graces The Cover Of New Madden 21 Mobile AppBaltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is the cover athlete for this year's edition of EA Sports Madden NFL.
Maryland State Police Charge 3 Suspects In Connection With Alleged Theft OperationMaryland State Police Charge 3 Suspects In Connection With Alleged Theft Operation
Two New Pizzas Will Celebrate The Ravens 25th SeasonWe still have a few more weeks until football season kicks off, but it's never too early to start planning your game day snacks.
Chelsea Ingram Has An Updated Look At Your ForecastChelsea Ingram Has An Updated Look At Your Forecast
Chelsea Ingram Has Your Updated ForecastChelsea Ingram Has Your Updated Forecast
Terps Announce QB Taulia Tagovailoa Is Eligible For 2020 SeasonThe University of Maryland football team got some good news Friday when the NCAA ruled that transfer quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa is eligible for the upcoming 2020 college football season.
Chelsea Ingram Has An Updated Look At Your ForecastChelsea Ingram Has An Updated Look At Your Forecast
Flash Flood Watch In Effect For Much Of MarylandA flash flood watch was issued for most of the state through early Saturday morning.
Family Still Searching For Answers In Unsolved Murder Of Bryan McKemyThe FBI is now offering a $25,000 reward for information in the unsolved murder of Bryan McKemy two years after the contractor's death.
Several Fells Point Restaurants To Keep Indoor Dining Closed Due To COVID-19 ConcernsSeveral Fells Point Restaurants To Keep Indoor Dining Closed Due To COVID-19 Concerns
5 People Rescued After Flash Flooding In Harford County5 People Rescued After Flash Flooding In Harford County


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Take a stroll by the fresh waters of Barcelona. Seasalt, manderine, & oakmoss.
Orders ship 1-3 business days.
The perfect size candle is here! These adorable straight sided clear glass jars with a sleek gold lid look elegant in any room. Perfect to upcycle after you burn your candle with flowers, makeup brushes, or succulent vase.
All candles are poured, mixed and packaged by hand in our Oklahoma studio. We use natural soy wax, a blend of essential oils + fragrance oil, and a lead-free cotton wick.
What makes us unique ? We blend all our fragrances in house ( which you'd be shocked to find out is not the norm). We take hours to find the perfect combination to tell the story we want to convey. We then spend more hours testing and tweaking our fragrances. Our commitment to amazing products shows in our work.
· 9 ounce clean burning soy wax*
· Hand Poured in Small Batches in OKC
· Natural Essential Oils and Fragrance
· Height: 3.5"
· Diameter: 2.88"
· About 65 hours per candle
· Cotton Wick


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This is Justin with Easeware. The developer of Driver Easy.
We notice that DrWeb is reporting Driver Easy as Program.Unwanted.3985 in VirusTotal since last month.
After we reported false positives on https://vms.drweb.com/sendvirus/?lng=enfor many times, this issue is still unresolved because the reply we got after submitting is always "Greetings, Your request has been analyzed. This is not a false positive.Thank you for the cooperation". And there's no replies from DrWeb after that, although we've sent many emails to DrWeb.
So I have to writing to you in this forum because we were unable to resolve this issue through the standard ways you offer. I appreciate your kind understand.
Would you please tell me the definition of Program.Unwanted.3985? We're more than willing to cooperate with the Dr Web technical team to resolve this issue. Please tell us what we did wrong and we will fix the problem as fast as it is technically possible.
If possible, we also want to know who we should contact to resolve this problem. Thanks in advance!
Have a great day!


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Meetings of the Local Synod and Board of Trustees in Chicago
On Tuesday and Wednesday May 13th and 14th, His Eminence Metropolitan Silouan presided over the meetings of the Local Synod and Board of Trustees in Chicago, respectively.
In both meetings, the principal issue was the preparation for the Special Convention to be held in Chicago on June 5th. At the end of the deliberations, the Patriarchal Vicar and the Local Synod in agreement with the Board of Trustees announced the list of Eligible Candidates for the office of Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America.
They also approved the text of the call, the procedures to be followed prior to the Special Convention and at the same, regarding the eligibility of voting candidates, the process of voting, counting of votes and announcements of results.
In these meetings, Metropolitan Silouan gave a thorough reading of the legal, ecclesiastical and pastoral aspects of the issues to be treated in preparation of the Special Convention. At the close of the meeting, Metropolitan Silouan congratulated the members of the Board of Trustees for the results, their speedy way in discussing the issues, and the spirit of responsibility that they have demonstrated during the deliberations and upon taking the decisions. Indeed, they have shown a beautiful icon of cooperation and unity between all.
In addition, he thanked the hosts, Rev. Fr. Nicholas Dahdal, Economos, and the members of the parish council of Saint George Church in Cicero, IL, for their hospitality and spirit of service and organization.
He concluded the meeting with a general overview of his pastoral visits across parishes of the Archdiocese, and highlighted some of the conclusions regarding the witness, work and challenges that the Archdiocese is experiencing in this transitional period.
On Thursday May 15th, the office of the Archdiocese communicated to the parishes by email the list of the Eligible Candidates to the Office of Metropolitan, as approved by the Local Synod and in agreement with the Board of Trustees:
(Current Hierarchs in alphabetical order by name)
1. Bishop Alexander
2. Bishop Anthony
3. Bishop Basil
4. Bishop John
5. Archbishop Joseph
6. Bishop Nicholas
7. Bishop Thomas
(Priests in alphabetical order by last name)
1. Hieromonk Jeremy Davis
2. Archimandrite Daniel Griffith
3. Archimandrite Daniel Keller
In addition, the Official Call to the Special Convention and a brief biography of the eligible candidates were sent.
On the same day, in a note sent to the clergy, Metropolitan Silouan expressed his satisfaction for the spirit in which the meetings were held, and noted especially: "Now that you are heading towards the Special Convention, and while you are preparing your parishioners and delegates for this historical moment of the life of this Archdiocese, I am sure that you are moving within the spirit that we have been speaking about during my pastoral visits to the different dioceses: work, think, deliberate, and decide 'as a Church', preserving peace and unity of mind in Christ".
No doubt, we all are aware of the importance of the period that separates us from the Special Convention. We are also trustful that all would surely give a Christian witness, especially while using the social media, upon discussing matters related to this period. We believe that our Lord will recompense your continued prayers by illumining all of us to reach the best outcome of this transitional period!


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2 Texas women sentenced for taking, hiding baby 8 years
- The defense argued that the boy%27s biological mother had sold him
- The mother-daughter pair changed his name%2C from Miguel to Jaquan
- They moved around and kept the boy out of school
An East Texas woman and her daughter were sentenced to prison Tuesday after being convicted of kidnapping a Houston boy when he was an infant and hiding him for eight years.
Jurors in San Augustine sentenced 51-year-old Gloria Walker to concurrent terms of 30 years for injury to a child and eight years for kidnapping. Her daughter, 27-year-old Krystle Tanner, received concurrent sentences of eight years for kidnapping and eight years for reckless injury to a child.
They were convicted earlier in the day for the 2004 abduction of Miguel Morin when he was was 8 months old.
Walker could have been sentenced to life in prison; Tanner faced a maximum 20 years.
Prosecutors said Tanner used to babysit the child and took him from his Houston apartment complex when he was 8 months old. She and Walker then renamed the boy Jaquan, moved around and kept him out of school to avoid being discovered.
Authorities began investigating Tanner in April 2010 after her newborn son tested positive for marijuana. She and her mother were arrested in March 2012.
Jurors rejected defense arguments that the boy's biological mother had actually sold him to Tanner or that it was a child-custody case, as a Houston police investigator testified.
Miguel has been placed with a Houston foster family that has taken care of his four siblings for nearly 10 years under an agreement with their parents.


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The inode (index node) is a fundamental concept in the Linux and UNIX filesystem. Each object in the filesystem is represented by an inode. But what are the objects? Let us try to understand it in simple words. Each and every file under Linux (and UNIX) has following attributes:
=> File type (executable, block special etc)
=> Permissions (read, write etc)
=> Owner
=> Group
=> File Size
=> File access, change and modification time (remember UNIX or Linux never stores file creation time, this is favorite question asked in UNIX/Linux sys admin job interview)
=> File deletion time
=> Number of links (soft/hard)
=> Extended attribute such as append only or no one can delete file including root user (immutability)
=> Access Control List (ACLs)
All the above information stored in an inode. In short the inode identifies the file and its attributes (as above) . Each inode is identified by a unique inode number within the file system. Inode is also know as index number.
inode definition
An inode is a data structure on a traditional Unix-style file system such as UFS or ext3. An inode stores basic information about a regular file, directory, or other file system object.
How do I see file inode number?
You can use ls -i command to see inode number of file
$ ls -i /etc/passwd
Sample Output
32820 /etc/passwd
You can also use stat command to find out inode number and its attribute:
$ stat /etc/passwdOutput:
File: `/etc/passwd' Size: 1988 Blocks: 8 IO Block: 4096 regular file Device: 341h/833d Inode: 32820 Links: 1 Access: (0644/-rw-r--r--) Uid: ( 0/ root) Gid: ( 0/ root) Access: 2005-11-10 01:26:01.000000000 +0530 Modify: 2005-10-27 13:26:56.000000000 +0530 Change: 2005-10-27 13:26:56.000000000 +0530
Inode application
Many commands used by system administrators in UNIX / Linux operating systems often give inode numbers to designate a file. Let us see he practical application of inode number. Type the following commands:
$ cd /tmp
$ touch \"la*
$ ls -l
Now try to remove file "la*
You can't, to remove files having created with control characters or characters which are unable to be input on a keyboard or special character such as ?, * ^ etc. You have to use inode number to remove file. This is fourth part of "Understanding UNIX/Linux file system, continue reading rest of the Understanding Linux file system series (this is part IV):
- Part I – Understanding Linux superblock
- Part II – Understanding Linux superblock
- Part III – An example of Surviving a Linux Filesystem Failures
- Part IV – Understanding filesystem Inodes
- Part V – Understanding filesystem directories
- Part VI – Understanding UNIX/Linux symbolic (soft) and hard links
- Part VII – Why isn't it possible to create hard links across file system boundaries?


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Voters head to polls in ex-Rep. Jackson's district
After a fierce primary campaign dominated by gun control, ethics and economic woes, voters were choosing the likely replacement for Jesse Jackson Jr. on Tuesday, three months after his legal troubles and battle with depression forced the son of the civil rights leader to resign from Congress.
The Democratic front-runners - former state Rep. Robin Kelly, former U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson and Chicago Alderman Anthony Beale - made Election Day stops through the blistery winter weather at train stations and restaurants in the district, which spans Chicago's South Side, south suburbs and some rural areas.
They were among 14 Democrats and four Republicans in the special primary, but the Democratic winner was expected to sail through the April 9 general election because the area is heavily Democratic.
Halvorson, who lost a primary challenge to Jackson last year, has been targeted for her position on gun control, which became a key issue in the district, parts of which have been deeply affected by Chicago's gun violence.
Independence USA, the super PAC of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, poured more than $2 million into the race for anti-gun ads in support of Kelly and against Halvorson, a former state lawmaker and one-term congresswoman. Kelly supports an assault-weapons ban, but Halvorson does not.
After casting her ballot, Halvorson warned that if the ads are successful Bloomberg will try to "buy seats" across the country.
"We can't let that happen," she said.
Beale also took issue with the ads, saying people are "extremely upset" that someone from New York is trying to tell people in Illinois how to vote and predicting that there will be a "backlash."
The guns issue dominated candidate forums and television ads and also appeared to have resonated with voters.
Mary Jo Higgins of south suburban Steger said she voted for Halvorson because the former congresswoman is "the only Democrat who believes in the Second Amendment."
But Country Club Hills minister Rosemary Gage voted for Kelly because the former state lawmaker is "standing with (President Barack Obama) and trying to get rid of guns."
"It's really bad in Chicago and across the country," Gage said. "Too many children have died."
The issue of ethics was also on the minds of voters, particularly as Jackson's legal saga has been playing out in federal court. He pleaded guilty early this month to charges that accused him of misspending $750,000 in campaign money on lavish personal items, including a Rolex watch and furs.
His departure created a rare opening in the district, where voters haven't seen an open primary since 1995, when Jackson first won office.
Halvorson was greeted by cheers of "good luck" and "go Debbie go" as she cast her ballot at a suburban community center in the village of Steger. Speaking afterward, she said it was time for voters to close the chapter on Jackson's ethical problems and send someone to Washington who could hit the ground running.
Halvorson is counting on voters in the southern, more rural part of the district, where she grew up.
David Berchem, a retired painter, said he voted for Halvorson because he believes she will represent all residents of the district and she's "as honest a person as you can find."
Beale voted at a school in Chicago, while Kelly voted early.
Beale touted his record as a job creator for the South Side ward he represents in Chicago's City Council.
That's the reason Juanita Williams, who went to school with Beale, said she voted for him Tuesday, noting that he helped bring a Wal-Mart to the area. The 47-year-old assistant teacher also said Beale has regularly provided school supplies and Christmas gifts to needy students.
Election officials in the three counties covering the district reported no problems at the polls, even though voters and poll workers had to contend with a blustery mix of snow and sleet. Chicago's Department of Streets and Sanitation deployed extra resources to keep polls accessible.
Jackson is the third consecutive congressman from the district to leave office under an ethical or legal cloud. He resigned in November after a months-long medical leave for treatment of bipolar disorder and other issues.
Turnout at the polls was extremely low, according to early estimates, and election officials said the weather might have kept some voters on the fence at home.
The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners said roughly 11 percent of registered Chicago voters in the district had voted through early afternoon, including early and absentee ballots. Final projections were expected to be in the mid-teens, still one of the lowest turnouts in recent decades. Election officials in Will and Kankakee counties said turnout hovered around 10 percent.
The last time the Chicago area had a special primary election for Congress was in 2009, after Rahm Emanuel left his seat to take a job as White House chief of staff. Roughly 18 percent of registered voters in the district spanning North Side neighborhoods voted. In suburban Cook County, the percentage was far lower.
Sophia Tareen can be reached at https://twitter.com/sophiatareen


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Children's Songs
Hickory, dickory, dock (Traditionul)
From "A Song-book of Folk and Pop Music" by Mario Papa & Giuliano Iantorno, Zanichelli Editore, Bologna, 1977
Hickory, dickory, dock,
The mouse ran up the dock.
The dock struck one,
The mouse ran down,
Hickory, dickory, dock.
Ring a ring of roses
Ring a ring of roses
A pocket full of posies'
A-tishoo, a-tishoo z
We all fall down.
1. Posies: a little bunch of flowers
2. A-tishoo: the sound of a sneeze
Sing a song of sixpence
Sing a song of sixpence
A pocket full of rye,
Four and twenty blackbirds
Baked in the pie.
When thc pie was opened,
The birds began to sing,
Oh, wasn't that a dainty dish
To put before the king.
The king was in his counting house,
Counting out his money.
The queen was in the parlour,
Eating bread and honey.
The maid was in the garden,
Hanging out the clothes,
When down came a blackbird
And pecked off her nose.
Nursery rhymes
Many nursery rhymes are sung and have thus been included in the repertoire of folk singers. They are distinguished from ballads, love songs and work songs by their humourous and nonsensìcal contents. Their origin is as ancient as it is obscure.
Some, líke 'Hickory, Dickory, Dock ', are counting rhymes; others, such as `I gave my love a cherry that has no bone ', are riddles; some are lullabies. Some, like `Sing a song of sixpence ', which is supposed to allude to the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII, contain political satire in a veiled form. 'Ring a ring of roses ', the English variety of 'Giro giro tondo ', is popularly thought to allude to the Great Plague, the roses being the first signs of the illness, ' we all fall down ' the inevitable conclusion.


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NHTSA offers materials for numerous traffic safety campaigns, including drunk driving, car seats, vehicle safety, distracted driving, and motorcycles. These marketing tools offer a way to get involved through traditional media and online media.
We encourage local, State, and national traffic safety advocates to download and use these traffic safety materials in your community throughout the year and during campaigns. These resources are also available for parents, teachers, caregivers, and anyone who wants to make a difference in their community. Assets for various campaigns are available for use in donated and paid media.
Utilizing the numerous resources found here can make an impact that will reach beyond your community. By raising public awareness through paid, earned, and social media, and maximizing your local resources, you can make a difference and save lives.
Here you can search
the entire site


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HARARE — The European Union said Monday it has removed 21 loyalists of Zimbabwe's president from a sanctions list of people facing travel and banking bans.
The EU said another six cabinet ministers from President Robert Mugabe's party are also now allowed to travel to Europe.
It said the decision to remove those restrictions was a result of a "step forward" in finalising a draft constitution which is set to go voted on in a national referendum on March 16.
The draft constitution "adds further momentum to the reform process and paves way for the holding of peaceful, transparent and credible elections later this year," said the EU statement.
Those freed to travel and do business in Europe include former cabinet ministers, officials and one company linked to Mugabe's party. Another 101 individuals and companies remain on the banned list.
The sanctions were imposed on Mugabe's party to protest human rights violations over the past decade of political turmoil and economic meltdown.
The EU decision was made at a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers and the announcement was made in a statement released simultaneously in Harare and Brussels and read out in Zimbabwe by EU chief of delegation Aldo Dell'Ariccia.
Among the ministers from Mugabe's party allowed to visit Europe is Webster Shamu, the information minister who controls the state media.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the former opposition leader in a four-year old coalition with Mugabe that was formed regional mediators after violent and disputed elections in 2008, told reporters later Monday that there has been no "political will" to implement much needed reforms to create an "enabling environment" for free and fair elections.
Tsvangirai said media reforms must be put in place immediately because it "would be unfair to go for elections with the kind of media we have."
Virulent criticism of Mugabe's opponents, comparable to hate speech, has continued in state-controlled media run by Shamu, said Tsvangirai.
In an election year, the media should promote all opinions to ensure a free vote, he said.
The EU statement made no mention of reports in the state media on Monday that EU members Britain, the former colonial power, and Belgium made a deal to allow Antwerp diamond dealers to buy diamonds from Zimbabwe's eastern fields long mired in allegations of killing, human rights abuses and corruption by Mugabe loyalists in the police and military.
EU eases sanctions on Zimbabwe
HARARE — The European Union said Monday it has removed 21 loyalists of Zimbabwe's president from a sanctions list of people facing travel and banking bans.


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For months now, the National Association of Realtors has been pinning the slow housing market in large part on mortgage standards that it says have tightened too much in response to the crisis that overly lax standards created. A new Wall Street Journal analysis backs this up, reporting that the nation's 10 largest mortgage lenders denied more than one in four loan applications last year.
"Although lenders were expected to pull back from the freewheeling conditions that helped inflate the housing bubble, some economists argue they are now too conservative, and say that with the U.S. economy still wobbly, mortgages need to be easier to obtain for qualified borrowers, not harder," the Journal reported.
Here's more from the San Francisco Chronicle:
The pendulum has swung the other way. Banks have been blamed for being too lax in their lending practices in the past, haven given mortgages to millions that couldn't afford them and contributing to the foreclosure debacle. Now, they are being cited as being too restrictive. Their conservative approach, critics say, is hampering the housing market from finding some stable ground, as willing buyers are being denied a mortgage.
As the Wall Street Journal writes today, over 1 in 4 mortgage loan applicants do not get approved. This statistic is based on data from the 10 largest mortgage lenders across the country.
In all, the nation's 10 largest mortgage lenders denied 26.8% of loan applications in 2010, an increase from 23.5% in 2009, according to an analysis by The Wall Street Journal of mortgage data filed with banking regulators.
The mortgage data…included loan applications filed by consumers who wanted to refinance existing mortgages as well as those planning to buy a home. Among home-purchase applications, lenders denied 19.9% of applications, up from 18.2% in the previous year, while 27.2% of refinance applications were denied, up from 24.4%.
Denial rates varied across the country. In California, the denial rate was between 20-25%, slightly better than the national average. Texas, Vermont and Mississippi residents are having the toughest time of all getting credit to buy a home. More than 1 in 3 mortgage applications in those states are denied.
Mortgage denial rates are on the rise
The heart of the tight credit problem is the housing agencies. Having lost large sums of money with the housing bust, they are barely staying alive and taking the ultra conservative route to ensure their stability.
Lending standards are still tight in part because government entities Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Administration, which collectively account for more than nine in 10 loans being made today, are under heavy pressure to avoid any losses.
Those firms don't make loans directly but instead purchase or guarantee mortgages that meet their standards, and so have significant influence over which loans banks are willing to approve.
Top reasons for being denied? Insufficient collateral was number one. This was especially true in refinance applications, since home values and home equity have plummeted. High debt-to-income ratios and poor credit histories also led to getting the thumbs down.
The article also highlights the plight of a Colorado real estate agent, who has an 800+ credit score, no debt and is putting over 50% down on a $400,000 house. She's also getting a $400,000 cash settlement from a divorce but thanks to her spotty income the last 2 years from the slow housing market, the bank said no.
Although lenders were expected to pull back from the freewheeling conditions that helped inflate the housing bubble, some economists argue they are now too conservative, and say that with the U.S. economy still wobbly, mortgages need to be easier to obtain for qualified borrowers, not harder.
Have you been denied despite excellent credentials? Has the pendulum now swung too far? Do you think tighter credit requirements are hurting the housing market or will be better for all in the long run?


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It's kind of amazing to watch how the spinning front tires of a early-1990s Chrysler New Yorker cause a rapid increase in volume and release of energy, also known as an explosion. Naturally, they're spinning on a curb. Cheating you say?
While this leans stupid on the awesome-to-stupid scale — the driver having taken the easy route to burnoutville, a lazy act — it also involves fire, which nearly always redeems.
These guys were never in real danger, though considering that nearly everything involved in the act was flammable, shit could have indeed gone awry. And that oil-soaked platform wouldn't have given Fire Marshall Bill a proper night's sleep, either.


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Former Fleetwood Mac Guitarist Bob Welch Dead at 65
Early Fleetwood Mac guitarist Bob Welch was found dead Thursday afternoon (June 7) from what police are describing as a self-inflicted gun shot wound. According to the Associated Press, the 65-year-old Welch shot himself in the chest inside his Nashville-area home.
The rocker was a part of the group from 1971 to 1974, before the band really took off with the 'Fleetwood Mac' and 'Rumours' albums. He was a part of 'Future Games (1971), 'Bare Trees (1972)' and 'Mystery to Me (1973).' Those weren't immediate commercial successes, but they went on to achieve Gold or Platinum certification in the U.S. After recording 'Heroes Are Hard to Find' he was replaced by Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.
After leaving Fleetwood Mac he formed a rock band called Paris before beginning a solo career. His 1977 album 'French Kiss' was his most successful project, featuring the song 'Sentimental Lady,' which was originally recorded as a Fleetwood Mac song in 1972. He continued to write and record music of different styles until his death.
Controversy arose when Welch was not included among the members of Fleetwood Mac inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. He told the Cleveland Plain Dealer, "It was an important period in the history of the band. Mick Fleetwood dedicated a whole chapter of his biography to my era of the band and credited me with 'saving Fleetwood Mac.' Now they want to write me out of the history of the group. It hurts."
The AP reports that Bob Welch was found dead by his wife around 12:15PM. He had been suffering from health issues and left a suicide note.


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SUNY Canton Foundation Creates Haitian Student Relief FundFriday, January 29th, 2010
Proceeds to benefit students who were affected by the devastating earthquakes
The SUNY Canton Foundation has begun a campaign to help SUNY Canton students from the devastated nation of Haiti.
"We've seen both immediate and long-term needs that we can help address through our own SUNY Canton Haitian Student Relief Fund," said SUNY Canton Librarian and Haitian Fund Chair Kathleen Horton. "We'll be reaching out to raise the money necessary to provide our own specialized relief efforts, which are intended to benefit students who are attending the College. As with any initiative, our first priority is the health and well being of our students."
Some immediate needs will include purchasing textbooks and funding tuition for students whose families have been affected by the earthquake. Future and tentative goals potentially include sending the SUNY Canton Chapter of Habitat for Humanity to Haiti to aid in the rebuilding efforts. Several faculty and staff members at the College have already come forward to donate to the cause.
"We were initially asked to help a student return to her studies when she was left stranded in Haiti during the winter break," noted Daniel J. Sweeney, Vice President of Student Affairs. "Through the Foundation, we were able to secure her a plane ticket back and she was able to rejoin her classes."
To launch the campaign, and to aid in the creation of the SUNY Canton Haitian Relief Fund, students have begun collecting donations, according to the College's Diversity and Orientation Director Lashawanda Ingram.
"Upon returning to SUNY Canton, students immediately began looking for ways to help," she said. "The SUNY Canton Haitian Students Fund gives them the perfect opportunity to help their fellow students. We have already set up several collection points on campus and people have been wonderful in supporting our initial efforts."
Ingram said that the students plan to set up donation points from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at Kinney Drugs and Tops Market (formerly P&C Foods) in Canton.
The SUNY Canton College Association created ways for students to donate by using their Roo Express accounts, the College's payment option linked to College identification cards. Students can swipe their cards at the Campus Center Store, or purchase a meal for victims while getting one themselves in Chaney Dining Center.
"Right now, we have about a dozen students that we know of with roots in Haiti," noted SUNY Canton Director of Public Relations Randy B. Sieminski. "We are working to ease their transition back to College and looking to determine how we can best help them."
For more information or to make a donation, contact the SUNY Canton Foundation at 315.386.7127, or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Media inquiries should be directed to Gregory Kie, Media Relations Coordinator, or call 315/386-7528.


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Brighten your home for spring
If you are like many others, when spring is in the air, the decor you have loved so much, starts to look a little dull. Of course, this doesn't mean that you have to break the bank to redecorate your home. There are a few easy changes you can make and things you can add to brighten your space for the season.
- Easy Accents – Adding just a few bright accents can quickly lift the spirits of a dark room. A new vase, decorative pillows, lamp and even a different rug can dramatically change the aesthetics without spending a lot of money. In the fall you can box it all up for next spring.
- Spring Cleaning – Some white vinegar and water will go a long way in making your windows crystal clear to welcome in the sun. Spring cleaning always makes your home appear brighter!
- Fresh Flowers – Nearly ever supermarket sells bouquets of fresh flowers for a few dollars. Stop once a week on your way home and get yourself a spring bouquet.
- Paint – Have you been considering a new color of paint in your home? Now is the time to do it! You can always change it later. Paint is the easiest way to give your room a makeover.
- Clear the Doorway – Do you have an accumulation of boots, coats, hats and mittens at your door? Clear it all away and replace it with a few bright umbrellas!
Spring is the time to play with color. By making just a few decorative changes, you can have fun for a few seasons without the long-term commitment!


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Book Your Christmas Party at Horns Inn
For a limited time only, you can pre-book your Christmas Party for December 2020 at 2019 prices!
Choose from from sit down menus, buffets and a special Christmas Day menu. Please note that dishes are subject to change and may differ slightly from 2019 menus.
Offer available for a limited time only. Management reserve the right to remove the offer at any time.


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THE SQL Server Blog Spot on the Web
I worked on Data Mining solutions years before Microsoft added it to Analysis Services. It is an interesting domain for everyone, but it becomes really hard to explain how it works when you scratch the surface. At the last TechEd Developers I watched a great presentation held by Rafal Lukawiecki - it was a level 400 session but he's able to explain the concepts very well, going deep at the right time. Now, there is a complete for part series recorded and available for free here: http://www.microsoft.com/emea/spotlight/sessionh.aspx?videoid=865
It is a valuable resource and you cannot afford to stay away from Data Mining very long if you are into the BI deal.
The above mentioned links are not working. Please provide alternate links.
It seems like Microsoft removed or moved these video - I tried to look for a new URL but I haven't found one.
Sorry for that.


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Adobe Ink and Slide Are Super-Smart Tools for Artists and Architects
Steve Jobs did not like styluses. When he introduced the iPhone in 2007, he called the finger "the best pointing device in the world."
"Who wants a stylus?" the late Apple CEO and founder famously said, "You have to get them and put them away. You lose them. Yuck! Nobody wants a stylus."
Today, styluses (sometimes "styli") designed and sold by other manufacturers sit inside the Apple store, adjacent to both Jobs' iPhone and the iPad. That simple fact makes it clear that Jobs ended up softening his stance on the implement. It also makes you wonder what one would look like if Apple made it themselves.
Adobe's new Ink Bluetooth-based iPad stylus (and Slide digital ruler companion), $199.99, is probably the closest thing we have to an answer.
Adobe Ink and Slide Hands On
The creative software company's first foray into hardware is white and silver with an industrial design that would make Apple's Jony Ive smile. The design companion is also Adobe's worst kept secret. Known as Project Mighty, the digital pen (and "ruler") appeared almost a year ago on Adobe's web site. The company made little effort to conceal how the products looked or worked. However, it would be many months before Adobe would be ready to deliver production units for review.
I was among a small group of journalists that got first an early, hands-on look at the digital pen and Slide ruler (formerly known as Project Napoleon).
Pen and paper
With its twisted alumnium body, white ferule and white front with a black drawing tip on the business end, the Ink digital pen looks sharp and feels good. It's well-balanced, light, and ergonomic. I drew with it for hours and never felt finger fatigue. Adobe actually built Ink with its partner Adonit. The company is well-known for its Jot Bluetooth-based digital drawing pen. Having used both pens, I prefer holding and using Adobe's Ink.
Its companion, the half-aluminum, half-plastic Slide, is more straight edge than ruler, but the more you use it in combination with the Ink stylus (or Pen), the more you realize just how innovative it really is.
The two devices, though, do not really shine without their free companion software. Perhaps the biggest news since Adobe first announced its intention to build consumer hardware is that it has also developed two new pieces of software: Line and Sketch and both are designed to work with Ink and Slide.
Getting started
Adobe's attention to detail is evident in everything from the product packaging to the company's ingenious solution for charging the Bluetooth-based Ink digital pen.
Ink comes with a white plastic enclosure about the size of a cigar tube. You pop off the gray back, slide the pen in and three magnetized contacts snap smartly into place against charging contacts in the case's removable back. A micro-USB cable plugs into the back and that can then be plugged into one of your exciting USB wall-wart chargers (Adobe does not include one) or a powered USB port.
During the charging process, a ring around the base of the case glows a series of different colors. Charging takes about an hour and Adobe tells me that the pen can operate for eight hours of continuous drawing on one charge. I only needed to charge it once during my review process. Slide doesn't need a charge, but more on that later.
Draft and draw
You can't really talk about Adobe's Ink and Slide hardware without simultaneously addressing the software. They truly complement each other.
Connecting Ink to your tablet (iPad only for now — it works with any capacitive touchscreen, but without Bluetooth features like pressure-sensitivity), is easy. Adobe smartly moved the process from iOS's Bluetooth menu under Settings, to an easy-to-use target within its new Line app (in this regard, Sketch works exactly the same way). You select the pen icon from the menu at the top left of the screen and a large target appears where you place the tip of the pen. If the Pen is off or asleep (a mode it enters after three-to-five minutes of inactivity), you'll need to hold the pen's one button down for a second or two. The pen connects and you're ready to draw.
Both Line and sketch are bitmap drawing tools. Adobe does have a vector line drawing app, Ideas, but it's not designed specifically for Ink or Sketch.
Of the two apps, Adobe Line is the richer and more impressive one. It's designed for both detailed sketching and drafting, a task that I never imagined I could do so easily.
Line's interface is deceptively simple. It has just six drawing implements, an eraser and five basic colors. However, there is some impressive power buried in here. Each drawing tool offers a set of controls that you access by holding the pen or your finger on the tool menu item. You can set tool size and opacity, though Adobe neglects to give you a "snap to reset" option. Instead you have to carefully slide the controls back to a pair of karats that are supposed to help you eyeball the default positions.
The two ink pens also let you turn off the realistic looking ink-blooms at the end of lines (Adobe calls them "terminals"). If you hold down on one of the basic color options, you access a far richer color wheel. Paint tools also add the ability to realistically blend colors, but there is, unfortunately, no eye-dropper for picking up colors from, say, a photo.
The remaining interface menu items offer the most interesting and powerful drawing options. Under the Pen menu (not sure why it isn't called "Ink") you can connect a different pen, get a readout on you pen's charge, set the pen for right or left-handed use and also pen holding style, and turn on Palm rejection, a feature I rarely used. I've been drawing on the iPad with an analog stylus for so long that I am no completely comfortable not resting my hand on the drawing surface. There's also a transparency layer menu option in the lower-left portion of the screen. You only get one additional layer, which seems ridiculous when I can get well over a dozen with Procreate from Savage Interactive and Autodesks's Sketchbook Pro, two excellent drawing apps.
The Slide menu, which sits next to the Pen menu item offers a long list of shapes and stamp images (like Herman Miller chairs), but it defaults to lines (or bumpers) and basic shapes.
Undo and redo are accomplished by sweeping left or right with two fingers. Place three fingers and the screen and drag left or right to scrub backwards and forwards through your drawing. Adobe said this is possible because the art is Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)-based. I hope Adobe eventually adds onscreen undo and redo buttons.
What is Slide?
If you've ever tried to draw a straight line on a tablet, you realize how handy a digital straight edge could be. I've been known to use a variety of non-conductive materials like cardboard to try and draw a straight line on my iPad. Adobe's solution, however, is pure genius.
Slide is a conductive device that more or less tricks the iPad into thinking you're using multiple fingers on the screen. The programming in Line (and Sketch) however, turns that touch into a set of parallel lines or bumpers that appear when you place slide on your screen and put one or two fingers on it. Those lines will move freely as you rotate the Slide, though they do snap into a perfectly flat horizontal position if you line up Slide at around a right angle to the iPad's right or left edge.
You do not have to carefully hold the Ink digital pen against the Slide to draw a perfectly straight line. Instead, as long as those guidelines appear, you will draw over them. If you tap the Slide's button, the line turns into a circle. Another tap gets you a square and the last a triangle. As with the lines, you can put your Ink pen anywhere on the screen and the line will draw on the shape guide.
Opposite the transparency menu item is a perspective button. A tap on this drops a rich perspective guide on your drawing screen. You can drag the grid around to adjust the perspective until it fits what you want to draw. Once you accept it, the perspective grid remains and Slides' guidelines will automatically snap to it. You can switch back and forth between vanishing points by selecting the little toggle arrow that appears right below the Slide when you have it one the screen (and your two fingers are on it).
Slide and Line provide additional guidance by adding smart anchor points wherever you started or stopped drawing a line. This is helpful for cleanly joining lines, and to give your perspective drawing a much sharper and more realistic look.
I did the sketch you see here using all those tools and the transparency layer in which I placed the original photo of a modern home and then adjusted the transparency so I could draw over it. I've rarely done drafting before and have never attempted it on an iPad, but now I'm hooked. It's hard to imagine a better set of tools for this task.
You do not have to use the Slide hardware to draw straight lines and use the perspective features in Line. A tap on the button next to the Slide icon reveals a virtual straight edge with two on-screen – and moveable — target points for your fingers. It worked just as well as the Slide, and I could see people gravitating toward this hardware-free option.
More power
Considering Adobe's obvious target market: draftsmen (and women) and interface designers, my experience isn't that surprising. In addition to all the stampable (and resizable, but not editable) images (trees chairs, dogs, chairs, tables, sofas, devices, interface elements), Line with Slide could be the perfect architectural draft and interface design tools. The company even included a set of French Curves for automotive designers. I tried them, but found I simply didn't have the skill to rough out anything beautiful.
Because it's a Bluetooth pen, Ink also includes thousands of levels of pressure sensitivity. This comes in handy when sketching, so it's especially useful in the more lightweight drawing app Sketch, but perhaps less so in the draft-oriented Line, where I found I often wanted every line of equal weight. That said, the sensitivity worked quite well: a light touch produced the faintest lines and I could adjust my pressure to change line density as I drew. To be honest, though, I didn't think much about it and just naturally pressed hard when I wanted deeper colors or lines and sketched lightly when I was just starting to rough something out. It was a very natural drawing experience.
Adobe is also pitching Ink as a cloud-based pen and is tying both the device and software closely to its Creative Cloud and Behance social platform (Adobe bought Behance in 2012). You can store pen settings (even favorite colors) in the cloud and instantly share drawings with the cloud community (you can also share sketches on Twitter).
Drawing quirks
Overall, I loved drawing with Adobe Ink and slide. The pen's tip is made of hard, PET plastic, but it provided a near-perfect amount of friction on the iPad's glass screen. I do wish, though, that it auto-recognized hold angles. I have a habit of holding my tablet styluses at a pretty extreme angle against the screen. I wouldn't say it's much different than Ink's drawing style illustration setting I chose, but Ink really needed more of an upright hold to accurately place my digital ink in the same position as the pen. Otherwise, it was a few millimeters out of alignment.
I also sometimes noticed a slight delay between when I started drawing and a line would appear. And while I love the slide, it could be a bit finicky (guide lines disappearing), especially if I accidentally dragged it outside the border of the screen. It's really not a technical issue. Instead, as a touch proxy, the screen is responding as if I dragged on one my fingers off screen.
The apps could also use a bit more polish. Neither offer text-placement options or orientation control and they, oddly, place very similar drawing tools in different places on each app (consistency, please). I'd like to see some paper options, and it would be nice to get confirmation when my drawing is uploaded to the creative cloud. And while I loved perspective drawing, tapping the vanishing point toggle invariably also left a pen mark on my screen, which I later had to erase.
I'd consider all of these things minor annoyances.
At $199.99, Adobe Ink and Slide is considerably more expensive than most iPad analog and digital styli. However, if you're looking for a digital pen system that is more versatile than an analog stylus and far more powerful than your run-of-the-mill Bluetooth pen, there may be no better choice than Adobe Ink & Slide. Also, don't forget that the software, especially Line, is free, and it is a real joy to create your dream home with this rather unique combination of hardware and software.
Adobe Ink and Slide goes on sale this month at Adobe.com (U.S. only, for now).
Adobe Ink & Slide
The Good
Beautiful • Ergonomic hardware • Innovative digital straight edge
The Bad
Expensive • Software needs more layers • Hardware needs better firmware
The Bottom Line
If you're serious about drafting or finally learning to draw, Adobe Ink and Slide may be your best hope.


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October 19, 2012 Randy Hall: • No Comments


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Free Skin Cancer Screening!
Lexington Medical Center is partnering with Palmetto Dermatology to host a free skin cancer screening on Friday, July 20th at 109 West Hospital Drive in West Columbia on the Lexington Medical Center campus. Physicians and physician assistants will look over skin for any possible signs of melanoma. The screening will take place from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. You can sign up by calling LMC community outreach at 936-8850 to make an appointment. See you there!