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Posts tagged: vampires
"Fishbat & Pandora" by Lea Hernandez from her graphic novel, The Garlicks.
A print is available as a perk in The Cultural Gutter's indiegogo fundraising campaign. Thanks to Lea for the donation!
More about The Garlicks at TheGarlicks.net!
If you enjoy our articles and our craziness, please consider contributing here. Even $1 gets our Undying and Eternal Thanks!
Happy Year of the Snake and Happy Women In Horror Month! Amanda Donohoe from Ken Russell's Lair of the White Worm.
Ming Doyle's cover for Adventure Time #14 via Comics Alliance.
Science Fiction Editor James has mixed feelings about Jasper Kent's Twelve:
Napoleon's invasion of Russia was a gruesome historical tragedy; or, a colossal act of hubris that cost the lives of 400 000 soldiers. Sounds like the perfect milieu for a vampire feeding frenzy! Jasper Kent's Twelve is an odd mix of historical novel, horror, and, of all things, a somewhat too close examination of torture.
Painting: "Napoleon On His Retreat" by Jean Louis Ernest Meissonier
Comics Editor Carol writes about the Yellow Peril vampire, Fire Fang, as part of her contribution to the Mysterious Order of the Skeleton Suit's Secret Santa Exchange:
Fire Fang is the total yellow peril package. He has the long nails, the Ming the Merciless collar, and if he were in color, he would be, as Jules Feiffer says, "the color of ripe lemons."* Lemon yellow or no, he continues the tradition of villains such as Fu Manchu or Li H'sen Chang from the Doctor Who episode, "The Talons of Weng Chiang." Mostly, Fire Fang is not so much a Chinese vampire as a Chinese vampire played by Christopher Lee. It's not a stretch for Lee since he has played Fu Manchu.
Secret Santa gift from M.O.S.S. Agent David Foster (aka, Permission to Kill). Carol will be writing about it for The Mysterious Order of the Skeleton Suit.
Due to a personal emergency, Romance Editor Chris Szego won't be able to post a new article this week. Enjoy her piece on Twilight, originally published in 2009.
I've put it off long enough. Thought, 'We can get into that later', and 'I should wait till the fuss dies down a little'. But truth is, we're overdue. It's time we talked.
About Twilight
(Don't groan. At least, not till we're done).
The mirror test complete, Gary and Elaine faced the terrifying fact that they were growing vampire berries.
This makes James laugh.
This week at the Gutter, Carol writes about some Summer Fun Time Reading:
It's summer time and instead of beer bottles exploding out of coolers in a shower of refreshing ice, bikini-clad hotties and fireworks as we know it should be, everything is wilting and perhaps even melting. As far as I can tell there are only two possible explanations—Hot Lava Monsters have readjusted the earth's thermostat to facilitate their impending conquest or Heat Miser has finally won his eternal struggle with Cold Miser.
Either way, huddle close to your window air conditioner or three-speed fan, don your coolest slip like Maggie the Cat and enjoy these seven summer reads.
These new DC titles are pretty exciting. Nice to see horror and the dark side represented. I didn't realize nipplessness was a sign of vampirism, though. Click through Swamp Thing to see. (via @robcomet1)


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From Journalist to Documentarian – Five Tips for a Better Documentary
Think you've got an idea for a documentary? Before you shoot, hear how professional journalists turn good ideas into engaging nonfiction stories.January 4th, 2010 | Michael Grosse
Ever wonder how, exactly, some documentaries can successfully embrace and tell a story, all while engaging the audience? So do we. The Independent's Michael Grosse highlights five important techniques on how to effectively research and write a better documentary.
Two-time Emmy Award winner June Cross has written, produced, or edited about a dozen documentaries in a career that spans more than three decades. She is also an associate professor of Journalism at Columbia University, where she teaches graduate-level courses in reporting and documentary film.
Production Insurance for Filmmakers: Understanding the Basics
What you need to know about getting the coverage you need to make your film.July 19th, 2009 | Vanessa Willoughby
Whether you're a seasoned veteran or an up-and-coming independent filmmaker, it's essential to research and understand the intricacies of obtaining insurance. Whether it is for a one-day shoot or an extensive project, there is an abundance of companies out there that will provide insurance packages. Unlike purchasing car insurance, buying film insurance isn't limited to one type of coverage. Everything from the equipment to the film stock itself can have an insurance policy, which the filmmaker may or may not decide is necessary. Fortunately, after careful consideration, The Independent has narrowed it down to the main insurance policies that every filmmaker, regardless of budget, should look into.
Production insurance is probably one of the most important things a filmmaker needs to take into consideration before shooting the project. Why get insurance for your project? Essentially, there are three reasons: Legal, Contractual and Asset Protection.
How Filmmakers Can Beat the Recession
From freelance work to virtual tip jars, The Independent examines the different ways that filmmakers can put their creativity to use for financial survival.June 29th, 2009 | Sean Jones
The Independent's Sean Jones investigates some innovative and useful ideas to help cash-strapped filmmakers survive through difficult times. From free distribution for films to virtual tip jars, The Independent examines the different ways that filmmakers can put their creativity to use for financial survival during the recession.
As the recession continues to cast a shadow on the American economy, Hollywood studios are emerging as one of the few success stories. Audiences seeking an entertaining reprieve from layoffs and pay cuts are bringing theaters increased ticket sales and revenue and giving the film industry a "recession proof" reputation.
Doc Doctor's Story Strategies: Story versus Marketing
Doc Doctor Fernanda Rossi debunks myths of good stories v. good marketing.May 15th, 2009 | Fernanda Rossi
Doc Doctor Fernanda Rossi discusses how to find an audience for your film. Is it the story that grabs viewers, or is it all about the marketing? Using her expertise as a story consultant for over 300 documentaries, scripts and fundraising trailers, Fernanda breaks down the statistics on just how much is in the directors hands, and how much is just good marketing. Don't miss out on the Doc Doctor's structure and trailer workshops coming up this month. Learn more about it at her website, www.documentarydoctor.com.
Myth #3
"A good story will find its audience no matter what."
"Good marketing can make any story succeed."
The myth in all its glory
Prepping Your Film For Distribution
How to make the transition from the editing room to the marketplace.March 19th, 2009 | Jason Brubaker
So, once you finish your film, you actually want people to see it, right? Well, getting your film up on the big screen, or onto a DVD and into the hands of your audience isn't as easy as it seems. There are press kits to put together, posters, DVDs and inserts to design, papers to sign, copyrights to clear, and this is before you even begin promotion. The Independent's Jason Brubaker breaks down the process of both distribution and self-distribution with advice from lawyers, producers and marketing and consulting firms to make it easy--well, easier--for your film to find its audience.
Picture this!
Finding Your Festival
A guide for seeking out the best festivals for your film.March 18th, 2009 | Jericho Parms
There are hundreds, maybe even thousands of film festivals out there and more cropping up all the time. There are festivals for every niche--for everything from human rights films to films about bicycles. So how, with the unlimited options before you, do you go about finding the festival that is best for your film? The Independent's Jericho Parms talks to festival veteran David Lowery, director of the film St. Nick premiering at SXSW this month (view the film's trailer here). Lowery offers his advice based on his experience in finding the perfect festivals for his films.
With thousands of film festivals worldwide, and new ones added every year, it has become increasingly challenging for new and emerging filmmakers to tackle the options.
Thank You For the Music: A Music Licensing Guide for Filmmakers
A resource and guide on how to obtain music rights for your film.February 19th, 2009 | Emily Cataneo
Music can make or break a film, sometimes even making it iconic. Look at legendary soundtracks like Star Wars, The Graduate and Dirty Dancing. Would these films have been the same without John Williams' epic score, Simon & Garfunkel's strumming guitar or Patrick Swayze's billowing lyrics. The Independent's Emily Cataneo has put together a guide for filmmakers that answers questions like: What do I need a license for? What goes into the process of getting a license? And offers resources that will aid in that process.
The soundtrack of a film is an integral part of its interpretation. It not only helps to create a polished final product, but it can help an audience understand what the characters are feeling. Picture Dustin Hoffman and Katharine Ross running out of the church, laughing, her wedding dress trailing behind them.
Beg, Borrow, or Steal? Deciphering Fair Use for Filmmakers
Understanding Fair Use can save documentary filmmakers time and money.February 9th, 2009 | Jen Swanson
So, you're assembling your documentary and you desperately need to include a certain song, image, or archival scene to tell your story, do you need to get permission? How do you know if it's copyrighted? Independent writer Jen Swanson talks to Patricia Aufderheide of the American University Center for Social Media and one of the authors of The Documentary Filmmakers Statement of Best Practices, as well as filmmakers David Van Taylor and Gordon Quinn, to help break down Fair Use and how it applies to documentary filmmakers.
David Van Taylor first engaged questions of Fair Use when he was working on his film Dream Deceivers in 1990, a documentary that explored the lawsuit filed against the heavy-metal band Judas Priest by the family of James Vance, a teenager who tried to commit suicide after smoking marijuana and listening to the group's lyrics. The film incorporated copyrighted music and clips.
Health Insurance for Artists
Health insurance options for artists, writers and filmmakers.October 8th, 2008 | Vanessa Willoughby
Filmmakers, writers and other freelancers are often ineligible for health insurance through a company. But there are still plenty of options out there, if you know how to find them. So The Independent put together this list, broken down by state with the aim of helping artists learn their insurance options.
As freelancers, many members of the creative community -- writers, artists, and filmmakers -- often struggle to find the best health insurance for themselves and their families. Since artists typically do not work as employees, they are not eligible for insurance through a company. And it's not always an option to tag onto a partner's or parent's policy. But there are still plenty of options out there, if you know how to find them. Emerging and veteran artists may not realize that, in fact, they are eligible as artists to join certain organizations, and thus obtain a variety of more affordable health insurance options. So The Independent put together this list, broken down by state with the aim of helping artists learn their insurance options.
Party Like a Doc Star
Tips on coordinating a successful fundraising partyAugust 1st, 2008 | Erica Ginsberg
Founder of Docs in Progress, Erica Ginsberg, talks with successful documentary filmmakers Almudena Carracedo, Robert Bahar (Made in L.A.), and Christopher Wong (Whatever it Takes), and film financing expert Morrie Warshawski about the ins and outs of hosting fundraising parties to finance a film.
Filmmakers increasingly need to seek funds from as many sources as possible. A fundraising party may seem like a fun way to raise much-needed dough, but they are a lot of work. Still, securing the right host, making a personal connection to the guests, and laying the groundwork for future "asks" can have

subset: commoncrawl


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Tag: LinkedIn
LinkedIn Owed Its Employees Almost $6 Million, Including Unpaid Overtime
Networking company pays 359 former and current employees in wake of federal investigation.
LinkedIn Leases Skyscraper in SOMA
LinkedIn is just one of many tech companies moving large offices into high-rise buildings in SF.
Feds Make Deal With Net Firms Over Disclosure of User Info
Companies can now report roughly how many demands for user data the NSA and other agencies are making.
Tech Heavyweights Launch Surveillance Reform Campaign
As Snowden revelations continue, eight major tech firms urge lawmakers to rein in spy agencies.
Use LinkedIn? Its New Email App Raises Privacy Concerns
Security experts say company's new 'Intro' app could pose threat to individual and corporate privacy.
Infographic: Compare Perks and Benefits at Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Other Web Cos.
When I first started at Yahoo! in 1996, every Friday the company would set out free bagels (a perk about which several friends had to eventually tell me to shut the hell up.) Since then, things have gotten progressively cushier for employees at Silicon Valley's winners, as you'll see in this infographic from ResumeBear, via […]
Audio: Obama's Answer to Early Google Employee's 'Would you please raise my taxes?'; Watch Entire LinkedIn Appearance
Here's one interesting exchange at today's LinkedIn town hall with President Obama today. A man in the audience says, " "I don't have a job but that's because I've been lucky enough to live in Silicon Valley and did quite well, so I'm unemployed by choice…. Will you please raise my taxes? … I would like everyone to have the country invest in things like Pell grants and job-training programs that made it possible for me to get to where I am."
Graphic: The New Tech Bubble?
Two weeks ago, LinkedIn went public with a major bang, creating overnight millionaires, '90s style. Is there bubble trouble on the horizon? This infographic from The Atlantic, called "Recent Over-the-Top Valuations Explored," illustrates the rapid acceleration in the perceived worth of prominent web companies like Facebook, Twitter and Groupon. Note the revenue-to-valuation ratios. (Click on […]
LinkedIn Shares Surge on First Day of Trading; Follow the Stock
On its first day of trading, LinkedIn quickly surged to around $90, double the price of $45 the company had set. Follow the stock on CBS MarketWatch. The IPO has been widely anticipated because the Mountain View-based company is the first big social networking site to go public, and could be a bellweather for Facebook […]


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HOLA. We're in Spain, we actually made it here. After that CRAZY plane ride, thought we'd end up in the middle of the ocean somewhere. That plane ride was like being in the middle an earthquake, inside a fault.
Yes, it was shaky.
So, after a quick drive and wander through the city, I haven't seen any Source Code billboards, or anything, and actually, I haven't seen ANY film billboards. I also haven't seen a Mcdonalds or Starbucks, SHOCKING, since everywhere else we've been, they're on every block. Good thing I brought over a ton of snacks! Most of our time is in our hotel, so most of our dinners are from in room dining, but I tell ya, ain't nothing like a New York pizza. And to come from NY to Madrid to have pizza, wrong choice. On my defense, I didn't know what else to order, 1. I don't speak Spanish, 2. I don't eat meat. AND boy was I wrong to order pizza from here, it was like a steam roller had its way with a block of cheese. Someone from NY needs to come out here and show Madrid what PIZZA could be. :)
Still hungry, and channel surfing, no ads on Source Code on the t.v. either. Its strange because everywhere we've been in the U.S. has been infected with the Source Code bug. Outside, inside, sideways, all things Source Code, but out here so far, nothing. Tomorrow is going to be the start of big press junket days, so we'll see what happens then. Duncan and Jake will both be working the junkets, don't think there are any q & a's lined up, but let's send over positive vibes that things go well.
What time is it? We've lost all sense of time. Its almost midnight here in Spain, but I'm still on Hawaii time. :) Doesn't get dark in Spain til waaay later, so we're completely confused. Don't really have the energy and Spanish skills to explore, so indoors on the Ipad 2 it is! Need to catch up on sleep.
Hope everyone has been enjoying all the fun interviews, q & as, and showings, so much hard work was put into this film from beginning to end…this has been R-O-D-E-N-E, coming to you from Spain of all places, stay classy, spread the word, over n' out.
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Top Security Predictions for 2014
Could a Hollywood movie hack really be brought to life? Should you expect a surge in cyber kidnapping and CryptoLocker copycats? The answer is yes, but there's more. WatchGuard revealed the top 8 security threats in its annual security predictions for 2014 that includes expected advances in ransomware, hacking of IoT (Internet of Things) devices, critical infrastructure exploits and a data breach of HealthCare.gov.
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Input costs, profit margins and break-even prices will all be extremely important next year for farmers. Darren Frye of Water Street Solutions and Stewart-Peterson's Mike Hogan sit down with U.S. Farm Report's Al Pell.
They discuss how farmers should position themselves heading into 2013.
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The Glass Bottom Boat
Seafari I & II are aluminium pontoon boats fitted with 2 glass bottom viewing windows. We are Safe Ship Certified and have a full enclosed cabin for your comfort.
Your crew are fully trained to ensure your safety and enjoyment whilst on board our vessels, which are widely used by the coast guard for their safety and stability.
The Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine reserve at Cathedral Cove offers sensational glass bottom viewing with it's diverse range of marine life and topography. Watch in awe as the snapper at Gemstone Bay swim right past the glass. As we cruise over the amazing kelp forests the guides will help spot fish such as red moki, triggerfish, angelfish, marblefish, parore and stunning schools of blue mao mao. Don't forget to keep an eye out for crayfish and stingrays cruising around or lazing under overhangs.
If you would like to get amongst it, be our guest, as we will supply you with all your snorkeling equipment, free of charge! Or you can sit back and enjoy watching the amazing marine life through the glass bottom.
Dolphins, Penguins and NZ Fur Seals are absolutely magical when they take time out of their busy schedules to visit with us in the bay. Between the months of May to October NZ fur seals can be seen basking in the sun on the rocky outcrops behind Mahurangi Island.
We have a marine mammal watch permit to ensure you get up close and personal when they do visit us.
This cruise is a bird watcher's dream! Mercury Bay is home to a diverse range of sea birds. During the cruise you will get the chance to see different species of cormorants, gulls, NZ ducks, terns and more. Keep an eye in the sky as you may witness the amazing spectacle of an Australasian Gannet taking a dive!
Join us on a fun filled adventure at the edge of Middle Earth.
Departing from Whitianga wharf, the Coromandel, NZ daily.
Duration: 2 hours
Times: 10.30am & 1.30pm (also 8am & 4pm trips in summer)
Price: Adults $95, Children $50, Family (2 adults & 2 children) $260
Amazing Orca Sightings


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Connected BooksSee More Connected Books
If you like this, Harlequin recommends
- Tucker's Bride
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The moment GloryAnn Cranbrook met her new patient at the children's clinic, she broke a rule by getting attached. But at least she felt something, unlike her handsome boss, Dr. Jared Steele. The man who'd once cared enough to open the clinic now refused to perform the technique he'd become famous for. The technique that could save the boy's life.
Why? And could GloryAnn--and the child who needed them both--change his stubborn mind?


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You Can Do It: 100% Realistic Budgeting Tips & Resources
Budgeting is one my least favorite subjects. One, because I am one of those right brained people who avoids math and numbers at all costs and two, because I was never taught how to make a proper and realistic budget.
But as the new year rolls around we inevitably hunker down and try to crunch numbers and make a plan. Since it is not something that I have down pat, I have been doing a bit of research on the subject to help make this process finally click in my head and on paper.
Be Realistic: Making your plan too strict on paper so you can feel good about buckets of imaginary money you're going to accrue in the near future isn't going to help you in the long run. You do still have to enjoy living; try to keep that in mind so you can actually stick to the budget you set.
Are You Leaking? Are you trying to pick your jaw up off the floor after you've crunched the numbers from the past few months? Then there is a leak or two that you need to plug. Find it and adjust. For us it was groceries and going out to eat and we have started a new system that has been working out great so far.
The Little Things: The inexpensive dailies really add up. What is it for you? Coffee, bagels, magazines, taxis?
Make Substitutions: You don't necessarily have to stop doing everything you love. Just find a better way to do it. If you love coffee, get a french press for home or work and start making your own instead of dropping the money at a coffee shop.
Go Old School: I think one of the most difficult things in keeping track of money is due to this cashless society we live in. It makes it so much harder to understand where our money disappears. The best way to not overspend is to carry cash whenever possible — out to dinner or to the grocery store, if you take out exactly what you have allotted for that outing you won't be splurging on anything else cause you won't have any more money to use. It's an easy way to keep yourself on track and not splurge in the moment.
Coupons: Not the clipping type? Don't worry, use smartphones. Coupon apps like Coupon Sherpa or Mobile Coupons are the new Sunday night with scissors.
Buy In Bulk: Do it anyway you can. If it's with boxed or canned items, household supplies, or anything routinely used it can really make a big difference in the long run.
Cut It Out: What monthlies can you live without? Do you really need Netflix and Hulu Plus? Get rid of something for a month or two and see if you really even miss it. Something more interesting might just fill its space. Don't worry! If you really feel the loss, you can always go back.
Auto Savings: If you are not great with transferring money into your savings account let the bank do it for you. Set up an amount you know you can save each month or paycheck and set up an auto transfer. You can always change it or cancel it for a period that you will need more money.
Treat Yo Self: Make a list of small inexpensive things you can splurge on. Something out of the ordinary to look forward to. Set a small price limit, allot for it and choose one each week or two. It's like a little pat on the back for keeping up with your budget. If you just keep denying yourself over and over you will get worn down and not likely stick to the constraints you've made.
Online Budgeting: Mint, MoneyStrands and You Need a Budget are all online and offer tips and classes to get you started. And there is always Quicken if you want to go the software route.
Mobile App Budgeting: Modern day tracking software like Mint, categorize your purchases, help you create a budget and send you self set alerts on the go. Other popular finance apps are MoneyStrands, You Need a Budget and Smarty Pig.
Becoming Savvy: CNN and MSN Money have great personal finance resources to get information from.
Online Savings Accounts: They have a higher annual percentage yield. So if you have a larger sum of money that you have just been keeping in your bank's savings than you might as well make more on it. You can transfer it between your accounts so it is still available to you. Ally or CapitalOne 360 (formerly ING) are two popular online accounts.
Do you have any budgeting words of wisdom to share?
(Image: Shutterstock)
69 Comments
For us a mildly anal spreadsheet for one month worked magic. I updated it every evening with every penny spent that day and was horrified at the groceries/coffees/taxi fares. Now my grocery bill is a third what it was, still eating well but only shopping once a week. No bought coffee at all and every time I think about a taxi when I have a valid travel pass the memory of the embarrassment at all my hard earned cash disappearing into thin air stops me dead.
All the money saved goes to the things I always thought we couldn't afford - new appliances and expensive paint. If there's anything I fancy I just buy it. Not really saving anything more but spending differently is making life much happier.
saraih, an Excel spreadsheet works for me as well. I do NOT use cash... I lose track of bills and coins, and therefore lose money! I use a debit card everywhere I can, update my spreadsheet daily, and stay under budget. Going "Old School" for me leads to disaster.
I've been taking peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to work every day for 7 years and am quite proud of the thousands of dollars I've saved so far.
I really didn't know you had to be "taught" how to make a realistic budget. Either you know how much you want to save every month or you don't. Everything in between is a matter of priority.
Another tip: Call all of your utilities and ask for a better rate or advice on how to lower your bill. I've gotten my cell phone, cable and DirecTV bills lowered just by calling and asking. I switched my electrical generator and saved 1 cent per kwh (doesn't work in all states), plus they sent me a big box full of low wattage light bulbs!
I agree with not being too tight, personally I give myself $100 a month as "fun money" to do whatever I want with.
going old school doesn't work for me either. i feel that having cash in my wallet makes me more inclined to spend it. using a debit card makes me spend less, with the benefit of seeing where my money goes.
My BF and I actually avoid an absurdly large cable bill by ONLY using Netflix and Hulu (free). But yeah, do what makes sense to you.
We used mint.com which REALLY helped us with bills - and we each got a cash allowance for all eating out and "play" stuff.
Then we became a one income household and went to cash only. We got $150 a week in groceries which meant meal planning, sunday shopping, and eating leftovers. Our "fun" spending was $20 per month each. Amazingly this really worked for us. Now that my husband has a job we went right back to excess, so we have to get back on a cash only system for us.
I agree with past comments - the "cash" system has never worked for me. If it's there - I will spend it, no doubt!
My husband is an accountant and has showed me the light :) we use our credit card for everything... EVERYTHING - we also watch the online statement like hawks. At the end of each year we get 3-5% cash back and our CC provider issues automatic one year warranties on all large purchases (for example we got an extra warranty from the CC provider on our Mac desktop we just purchased. Saweet!)
The key to success is prompt payoff at the end of each month. Never spend more than you have. We are debt free and make money off each purchase. Woot Woot.
Incidentally, with the CC system - obviously your credit score goes through the roof. We just got our brand new car and got thousands taken off the price because both of us had such high credit scores. It works out so well in the end if you can handle CCs
These are all good ways to save a couple bucks, and they do add up, but giving up Starbucks isn't going to change your life-long financial security. You need to put those savings somewhere, and knowing what kind of cash you want on hand when you retire and how to diversify your investments is what's going to make the real difference. Everyone can afford to save for retirement and invest.
Dave Ramsey worked wonders for us. It requires discipline and, as he says, "Adults devise and plan and stick with it. Children do what feels good."
@jess13, I definitely needed to be taught to make a budget. My parents never taught me anything about handling money, except seeing my mom spend like there was no end to it.
So when I became an adult and responsible for my own bills, I overspent constantly. Its taken years to break that cycle, and I'm still fighting it now.
Budgeting definitely needs to be learned, or taught, preferably before you're 18.
Debit cards and an Excel spreadsheet work really well for us.
I like how this article talks about both the big AND small areas of spending; and I think it's important to look at both.
Our rent is low; probably $300 less than most places around here are. That makes a huge difference; but it's the kind of thing that's difficult to change very often.
Groceries are an easy area to have "margin" in but cut back when you need; and I'm always amazed by how cutting down the frequency of shopping trips cuts down on the amount of items bought.
The biggest grocery tip I have is freezing meat on sale. In Canada, we don't get great sales on meat; but occasionally we get ground beef, sirloin roast, or chicken breast on sale for $2/lb. So we buy a LOT of it; then cut sirloin roasts into steaks or stir-fry strips or divide it up otherwise into half-pound portions (2x1/4 lb portions) and freeze tons of it in zippered sandwich bags. (Adding marinade to chicken or beef helps avoid freezer burn). We flatten the ground beef to make square, stackable freezer bags of ground beef; as a bonus; you can tear the bag off, put it on a plate and defrost it quickly that way.
And yes, when I have a chest freezer, I'd love to buy a grass-fed half-cow from the local butcher, but that's not practical in our current space.
I have heard of a bank (Wells Fargo) which automatically transfers $1 for each debit transaction made including online bills from your checking to your savings account. We had about 140 debit/online transactions last month...over a year that would add up to over $1,600! If you need to transfer your money back to checking at any time you may but this way you are automatically saving your own money. Before debit cards my husband and I used to go on road trips with the boat load of change that we had. Now, we don't even have change around to give the kids for ice cream. So, by having a debit account that forces you to save, that would really replace the piggy bank. Our bank doesn't do that but I wish they would...we're thinking of changing....
I lose track of cash bills too. If I have cash it's as good as gone. I'm much better at controlling my spending with my debit card.
HannahM, I'm the accountant in our family and my DH could have written your post word for word. We operate on exactly the same system. We both have a cash 'allowance' but it's small and not something I track.
The biggest key for me is to track where you've been. Once you really know where the money is really going, it's a lot easier to create a realistic budget. Once you've done that budget. try to revisit it every couple months for possible adjustments within the categories. Doing a budget check daily or weekly always starts out well -- until the novelty wears off and 6 months later you wonder where the problems are!
I use a daily spending tracker (upgraded from paper to Excel this year). At the end of each month, I tally each category, and can easily see where every penny is spent. This system helped me realize I spent too much time shopping. I cut that back, and was able to save up for a new car.
In my spreadsheet, I have fixed expenses (rent, insurance, etc), variable expenses (groceries, entertainment), debt repayments, and savings sections.
I don't spend in cash either - too hard to track. At the end of the day/week I make sure to record all my spending in my spreadsheet by checking my online banking. This way I can also see mid-month how I'm doing. If I'm getting close to my max budget in one category, I can adjust my behaviour.
I also LOVE mint.com especially since I work 100% freelance so for me being able to TAG items as write offs within Mint's site is awesome.
I just started clipping coupons maybe 2 months ago. My friend got me a subscription to a magazine called ALL YOU. And yes, it's pretty cheesy, but it's full of coupons! And a lot of them are GREAT coupons and don't expire for longer than the ones you find in the newspaper.
And yes, I sit on a Sunday and clip coupons but relax doing it! I clip coupons, drink some coffee, and listen to some music. Has saved me a TON thus far. And I don't care if I look like a crazy lady from Extreme Couponing, with my little folder and coupons. I save a ton!!
Also I sign up with e-rewards. Which you take online surveys and get points, then those turn into gift cards. I've been a member for YEARS and have earned many Macy's gift cards or I trade them for Delta Sky Miles. Once I actually was asked to participate in a focus group, where I was paid $150 for an hour! Good deal!
Mint is honestly so safe, even Kevin Rose from Digg.com uses it!! Don't be afraid of giving them your account information! IT IS THE BEST! It texts me when my account is low, it texts me when I have a large deposit, etc. and the budgeting is amazing.
If I do a credit card it is for sure American Express green card. The pts. are great and you pay it off every single month. It's a charge card not a credit card.
The MOST important thing is to get your budget down on paper (or excel sheet or chalkboard or whatever) -- then see how your receipts compare to what you think you spend.
I keep a big coffee mug on my landing strip (thanks AT!) for all the little receipts and sort them out once a week. Works great for us, we've been able to put aside an 8-month emergency fund in a separate account!
I'm pretty sure mint saved my marriage. :-)
If you mainly use debit or credit cards for you spending, Mint is a no brainer. It captures your transactions from your bank and credit cards and puts them into categories.
There are apps for iOS and Android that enable you to keep an eye on your spending at all times.
Building a budget is easy based on previous spending giving you a great starting point to work with. Also, I like that you can roll a budget over from month to month. So, over spend on a category in a month, it will take the over spend out of the current month. Or, give you more money if you underspend.
No, I'm not employed by Mint, just really love how it keeps me on track with minimal effort on my part.
Great post! A couple things I've done lately are:
* learn how to launder my "dry-clean-only" fabrics at home and I've stopped buying anything that takes that much time to care for (because I value my time as much as I do the dollars - I'd rather be writing or painting than caring for laundry!).
* buy coupons for your favorite products (only) from a clipping service. I say (only) because why spend time collecting coupons for things you don't want or need? This way you won't spent any time coupon clipping, you'll get only the coupons you really want, and someone else is receiving income by doing the work clipping. I look specifically for 'free product' coupons so recently I was able to stock up on all the laundry/cleaning/toiletries I'll need for 1-1/2 to 2 years for the price of what I would have spent retail for just 2 months worth. I have a small area in my garage, where everything's stored, and what wouldn't fit in that storage space went to my local food bank or shelter.
BTW, I should add, going lacto-ovo-vegetarian and gardening to produce more of my own food - while not done for financial reasons - have had a major impact financially. I'm also preserving everything from the garden (herbs, spices, vegetables, fruits, citrus), and pass quite a bit on to my local food kitchen, but I'm making those little 'specialty' foods myself at home rather than plopping down $5 for each jar of fancy condiment that previously caught my eye at the market.
On using cash: We're not talking paying your rent with hundred-dollar bills. But know how much you have fore each budget item and spend *only* that much or less. The idea with cash is that, once you run out of it, it's gone. You don't then move on to your credit card and your husband's credit card and a bank loan. That's a recipe for disaster.
My story: I figured out at 28 that two of my four credit cards were charging me late fees every month even though I paid on the same day every month. They move your due dates around on you. A budget *is* something you have to be taught to use. If you think you can get by just "knowing" how much you can spend you are lying to yourself and when you're 65 you'll be kicking yourself. If you don't manage your own money, someone else will be more than happy to take control of it instead...and not in a good way.
When I first bought my house I set up a spreadsheet (yes, admittedly a bit anal) to track my expenses and plan for a major renovation. The tracking was incredibly helpful in understanding my expenses and how much was left over. (I wish I'd started that beforehand so I would have saved a lot more and spent a lot less on eating out.) It really helps to know how cutting out the "small" stuff adds up when you have some serious goals in mind -- like saving "x" amount in the next one, two, or three years for a down payment or pay down your mortgage faster, renovate, etc.
As others have said, I avoid cash as I find it hard to track. I need it at the farmer's market so I only take out what I need for that. Too much cash on hand and I am prone to spend it on unplanned fun food. :-)
Mint is great for tracking spending habits. I am also pretty fond of the online banking tools offered by BofA. I can do all of my bills electronically, and it makes planning and keeping track so much easier. Also, I think you just have to automate saving. Auto-transfer that money into a savings account and pretend like it was never there in the first place!
I don't enjoy watching my money like a hawk, it really drags me down. Fortunately, my spouse is diligent and does a lot to keep us on track. One thing I have found that helps me is to make budget planning not only about how to save money but also about making plans on how to spend money. I think of something big that I want to do and I plan those costs at the same time as I am planning the little sacrifices that make those costs possible. This really helps me out, psychologically.
Great conversation here with wonderfully helpful tips. Thanx all!
Here's one... if you can't afford it without it (and it's not an emergency) don't put it on your credit card.
It takes approximately 88 years to pay off $1000 by paying the minimum $10.00/month. That thousand dollars? In reality will turn into $10 560 at the end of those 88 years. It's not really a bargain at that point-- is it?
When we needed to be on a budget we ran a strict spreadsheet, placed things into categories and did things like only buy home brands, not eat out, not spend money on alcohol, not get hair cuts, not eat meat, etc.
We also worked on cash for everything bar rent, fruit/veg (csa subscription), electricity, insurance and car registration. We'd take $100/week out for everything else (groceries, coffee, public transport, education expenses, petrol, etc) and anything left over went into a jar. After 6 months we had enough money in the jar to pay for flights down south for a holiday and were ahead enough in our savings that we could go on a holiday without feeling guilty.
Now that we don't need to be on a budget it is kind of nice to relax and enjoy life a little more without writing down every expense. Once you've done it for a prolonged period of time though some of the habits stick and I'm probably still pretty tight when it comes to some things.
Quicken has helped us significantly. We do not pay any bills online or anything, but it helps us track epenses, reconcile bank statements, and reminds us to pay bills. It's great.....my husband is really not a financial person, but he likes it too. Once a week we input all our receipts and once a month we reconcile with our bank statements (old school but we dont want to connect the quicken to our online banking accounts since we are paranoid). Everything has a category so we can track our monthly spending on a pie chart...and it reminds you to pay your bills on time. Another tip is that we don't believe in credit cards...just student loans...lol :c)
Dave Ramsey's budgeting plan has helped us tremendously. There's nothing I want bad enough to go into debt for ever again.
I buy the 'portable cardboardy like the coffee shops' coffee cups, and pour in my super hot coffee and take with me, I feel like i've purchased from a Starbucks or so without the paying for it, when I'm running errands or going visiting. It keeps me from popping into a coffee shop as a 'relaxing treat' when I come across one. Small steps to not 'throwing my fiver away'. Also a good snack bar..
Keeks, why not a keep cup or similar so that you are not always throwing away the cardboard ones. They keep coffee hot for longer and you only have to buy them once. All pluses in my book.
Elizabeth Warren's book, "All Your Worth." Is amazing. Everything is so simple. You spend 50% of your money on must-haves- housing, insurance, food and other bills that you have to pay. You keep 30% of you money to spend on anything you want (so much fun and you give yourself a cash allowance- it can be a debit card if you hate cash). You put 20% into savings and to pay off old debts (i.e credit cards). It is a lot like the Total Money Makeover but takes longer to pay off the debt but involves no suffering. I've doing it for six months and haven't worried about money since I started.
Both my husband and I take a $20.00 bill as our spending money, once a week. That's IT. Groceries, other essentials are paid using a credit card that pays you back quarterly. All these tips, plus cooking at home, the Old fashioned way (lots of soups, stews, bean dishes, no meat) reeeeally help. It's a tough world out there, and I'm soooo sorry for all the younger generation that was never taught how to cook, or stretch those dollars. OUCH.
If I have cash, I'll spend less at once, but more if I have it. If I use a debit card, I'll spend less frequently, but more at a time. So if I have just cash, I'm really frugal at the grocery store, but I'm also more likely to splurge at the thrift store or the bookstore. If I use my debit card, I'll spent more on groceries, but skip the other shopping.
I'm curious about Mint.com, but hesitant. Anyone ever have any problems with it?
alicee, the whole time I was writing my note..I was cringing, knowing the best way all around is to use the one time buy of a thermos type portable mug..I just hate the taste of the plastic...mixed with the coffee i get...I used to reuse my cardboard cups for as long as I could from the coffee shops..and I try to do the same with these purchased ones..pouring hot coffee from mug into cardboard one..If there is a non plasticy tasting travel mug..I would def buy it if you know of any? Thanks for input.. : ) always needed!
@KEEKS: have you tried the porcelain version with the silicone lid? They don't taste like plastic - I'm sensitive to that plastic taste too. I got mine from One Kings Lane, mine's brightly colored - turquoise with polka dots, you might give that type a try:
@Keeks - what about a stainless steel mug? I have one for coffee and one for tea that I use all the time and they have lasted for years. The coffee one is 12 years old now and still going strong. Plus stainless steel keeps the drinks hot much longer than plastic/ cardboard.
@Keeks and Rucy: I bought a porcelain mug with the silicone lid but it leaks. Not sure that silicone is all that safe to drink hot liquids through. I'll try the stainless steel mug.
HannahM- When you say that you pay your CC off right away, do you pay it that night or before the due date or at the due date of your statement? We are getting ready to do a re-fi and need a dryer...I'm thinking that it would be great to charge it but only with the cash ready to pay it off. I'm just wondering when the best time is to pay the CC off? If I pay it that night, say...does it go on the Credit Report? Thanks! :)
PS HannahM- I read that you suggest prompt payment at the end of the month-do you mean end of the statement? Thanks a bunch!
My mother gave me the book All Your Worth (http://www.amazon.com/All-Your-Worth-Ultimate-Lifetime/dp/074326987X) and it actually helped me think through how to break my money into needs, wants, and saving for later.
@ donnamarie : I am a part of the "younger generation" and I make my own bread and soup/stew/chili (whatever sounds good at the time) from scratch weekly. I also have a budget and stick to it every month. I resent that people generalize my age group like that. Most of the people I spend my time with are quite frugal and creative in budgeting as well.
Rucy,Merm and Judithesl, thank you for your ideas! I love the sound of the polka dot mug with the non plasticy silicone..but wonder about the hot liquid now..i am going to look for 'stainless steel' and see what they have to offer! Good ideas..and see about the silicone/hot liquid 'mix'..
RE: avoiding credit card debt:
I spend on a credit card, and I pay it off every WEEK, in full. That way, if I'm busy or miss a week, I can be sure it'll still get done and no fees will accrue.
It also shows me VERY QUICKLY if I'm heading toward over-budget! If I don't have enough on hand (i.e., in checking, not drawing from savings) to pay in full right then, it's time to tighten the belt for the coming week and get back on track.
The best budgeting book is Budgeting Doesn't Have To Suck. I read it in an hour and realize this is sounding like a commercial but I'm serious... changed my life. I am also a Mint user and love them.
@ jls and Skeemer 118: Holla at my fellow Dave Ramsey lovers! :) He has been a lifesaver for me as well.
@ everyone else: I can't recommend Dave enough. Check him out if you never have. And be cautious about the advice to use CCs so you can get rewards. Most of us can't handle them. Case in point: me. :( #still paying off debt from, like, 10 yrs ago with nothing to show for it. ##seriously, what did I buy??!
Me again...
Also wanted to share about the 52 Week Money Challenge. The first week of the year, you put $1 in a jar. The following week, $2, and so forth and so on. (There are spreadsheets online that have it all mapped out.) At the end of the yr, you'll have a little over $1300 saved! We're planning to blow ours recklessly on massages and such.
It's not too late to get it going. Just put $10 in a cool jar and consider January covered. :)
Buy in bulk is good advice ( if you have space to store) but make sure it is actually cheaper. Here, in France, 3 for 2 is popular but consumer sights have found buying 1for1 is often cheaper.
Saving money should have been first. If there's anything I've learned in my dotage, it's to save money. Everyone on any income can save a little bit of money a month. Open a savings account on the other side of town. Not linked to your checking account. If you can't set up an autopayment, then write 12 checks to your savings account, dated the day you get paid every month. Put them in addressed and stamp envelopes, and every pay day, mail a check to your savings account. Then ignore the statements. After a year, see how much you've save. Then a least double the amount of money you save the following year. If you get a raise, or a bonus, up the amount your save. After 10 years you will be thrilled with the balance, and you won't even miss the money out of your pocket every month.
Cartwheel for Target is a great coupon app for sure.
I just tried signing up with Mint but (after much research) discovered that
my credit union won't link to it. Can anyone else recommend a different resource for budgeting/tracking expenses? Thanks!
I use an App to track every penny of my spending (I use EEBA). After tracking for all of 2012, I better understood my category spending and made many cuts. In 2013 I built a category budget that was 25% less across the board. It was very difficult at times, I often robbed one budget to use in another category but I never overspent. I ended up saving several thousand dollars in 2013. I also pay credit cards in full every month. I would never carry a balance, it's money down the drain.
I am saving $ for a trip to Paris. It makes it much easier to restrain my spending. Would I rather have this pair of shoes/restaurant meal or would I prefer to upgrade to nicer Paris accommodations or have $$ for the Paris flea markets? Easier choice.
What works for my partner and me:
We track monthly expenses and receipts every month by category. After we figured out where most of our money goes we created an amount for each category... $700 for groceries/liquor, $200 eating out, $200 clothes, etc. There is even a $300 "household incidentals" category for miscellania, and a $500 "big monthly item" category for things like car registration or summer pool membership. This way we don't end up spending that $500 big item thing two or three times in one month if we can avoid it. Then we just subtract out each receipt until we hit zero. if we go negative in one category we can usually balance out with another category that month. This is a fluid way to keep an eye on everything without being so strict that I feel guilty every time I buy something new for the house or closet.
Microsoft discontinued updates to the Microsoft Money program, but I believe they still have a sunset version available for free download. I have used Money for the last ~15 years. I track every penny I spend, from cc purchases to vending machine dollars. I categorize everything and can compare it to a budget I set in the program. For me, I use less of the budgeting features and more of the account overview and bill list features. I've got a list of upcoming bills with expected amounts and due dates. I've got a ton of different accounts, so I can track them all easily and get a concise overview of the big picture. Downside would be no future updates and some of the automated online linkage stuff doesn't work anymore. I only ever used that for my investment accounts, so it's not a big deal for me.
Cash-only has two other advantages:
The stores & credit companies can't track your purchases.
Hackers can't access your data.
amymlitt said:
"giving up Starbucks isn't going to change your life-long financial security".
I beg to differ - with Starbucks prices these days?!?!? :-)
Kidding aside though - I learned a lot watching Till Debt Do Us Part. Not that I ever lived like the people featured on the show but it made me start tracking my expenses in a spreadsheet. It is not my heart's desire to have 5 sets of golf clubs or a SeaDoo, but whoa! all those mindless visits to McD's and pizza etc. do add up. It also showed me how much money I spend on groceries (way too much, considering that I live myself).
I have become more strict about bringing my own lunch to work every day - the benefit of this is twofold: Our cafeteria at work is overpriced, with limited choices that are really bad for you (pizza, fries, sandwiches), so if I bring my own food, I own what's in (I am particular about the amount of salt and carbs that I ingest) and I save lots of money.
I keep track of all my spending in an Excel sheet, as well, which I keep in my Dropbox account. I can access it from my phone, from home, and from work, so it's really easy to record all my receipts right away. The key to me finally tracking spending was figuring out the right categories to track things in. Unfortunately, the tracking has yet to turn into a budget...that's the goal for this year.
Since paying in cash doesn't get me any reward points, I pay for everything on my credit card and then pay it off every month. I also do automatic withdrawals to my savings accounts. And, I've just started doing Amazon's subscription service. If you have 5 things delivered at the same time, you save 15%. My cosmetics have been SO much cheaper.
I just joined Mint after reading this. It is amazing.
I have a balance range [apprx 2 months of bills] in my checking account. any time the balance goes over the top end of the amount, I put the money into savings.
aside from mortgages, we don't have consumer debt [no vehicle, student or credit card balances] bills are on auto pay. we don't go over budgeted amounts for food entertainment, etc. mortgages are rounded up, based on what the last year's rent and expenses, and anticipated upcoming projects leave us to believe is a safe margin. some years it's just to the nearest hundred, some years it is several hundred extra towards principal a month. once they're paid off we can retire [and just be landlords instead of also having day jobs], so we're pretty good about dedicating a line item of our budget to paying them down.
aside from eating out 1-2x per week we're fairly frugal folks. no cable, no vehicle we couldn't cut a check for, no huge tv, no starbucks habit. if we want something over a certain dollar amount, we discuss it, save for it and buy it.
we also look to craigslist or other alternative sources to buying what we need, we live in a fairly transient area and it is amazing what can be found for a fraction of what they'd cost from a retail outlet. plus it makes me feel virtuous for keeping stuff out of landfill.
I certainly didn't learn about money management from my family (my mom ran up thousands in credit debt before filing for bankruptcy), so teaching myself to stick to a budget is not easy. One of my resolutions for the new year is to get serious about managing my money, which is why I signed up for Mint.com as well as CreditKarma. It is definitely a wakeup call to see exactly how much all the little things add up - even stuff like buying new light bulbs or that trip to Staples for more printer ink can put a serious dent in your wallet.
I use cards for budgeted things like groceries but I carry cash for "me" purchases. I need to be able to fritter money on treats for myself. I take a specific amount out every Friday and that's my fun money. Who wants to be paying for impulse purchases next month? If I pay cash then I'm done. Yes, I sometimes waste the money, that's my privilege .
I do the same as HannahM. Almost everything goes on the credit card, which is payed off in full every month so no fees are tacked on. This not only gets me excellent credit history, but gets me cash back in rewards every so often, so I actually make money off using the card.
Ugh, paid. Sorry, tea hasn't kicked in yet.
I don't "budget" but I try to live green (mostly) and I try to be frugal (generally).
I use my (ONE) credit card for gas, car maintenance, and other expenses that exceed my pocket cash. I pay it off at the end of the month, about three days before it's due. (The exception sometimes is December -- this year besides a couple of mail-order Christmas gifts, I got new glasses (almost $700, but very cool!) and some car maintenance -- so it took a couple of months to pay everything off.)
I have a very short haircut and the only product I use is shampoo -- no blow dryer, no tint (grey is beautiful!), no conditioner, no mousse... eliminating lots of things other people consider essential saves a lot of money. It's also better for the environment. (So is taking short pragmatic showers with water saver shower heads instead of wasting a lot of water and heat luxuriating unnecessarily.)
I needed a car, and I have the perfect commute for it (28 traffic lights in 15 miles) so I bought a Prius (which charges as I brake.) It will be paid off before I retire in 2 years, and then the 50-miles-per-gallon will REALLY be useful.
I shop thrift for clothes and household items, and I am cheap but picky -- I have a wardrobe of silk knit tops, fun ethnic fabrics, jackets, etc. I buy new only for underwear, shoes, and socks. Not something everyone is comfortable with, but it works for me and people always compliment my wardrobe.
Our big luxury is eating out. I know I could save almost unthinkable amounts of money by eating at home, but I'm 63, now, and my work/commute schedule makes cooking problematic, plus I really hate doing it. I figure at this point in my life, I am giving myself that out -- I have my retirement funds squared away (although I WILL have to cook when I'm home all the time, which is a tradeoff I am happy to make) so in the moment, eating out is my gift to myself. Not what I advise to save money, though!
I think the big thing with living on a budget is NOT getting into debt, particularly over things you can do without. And making sure you have the wherewithal to do what you need to, including maintaining good health. (If that requires some frugal tricks, then implement them.)
I LOVE Mint.com as well. I'm crazy budget girl and went from writing everything down (ev.er.y.thing.) to using Mint. I still use my spirals but I love the "one shop stop" ability of the site. The only CC that doesn't link is Lowe's. My small north Texas Credit Union even allows access. I've never had a problem. Good luck!
Love all the comments here and agree with almost all!
Our family uses a cash-back CC and we pay it off every week. We monitor our credit report annually (checking one of the three services every four months). I paid a bill late in January 1991 - that's the only negative to have appeared on our report (although sometimes my f-i-l's stuff will appear on our report - hubby and f-i-l have the same first and last names). We use Quicken and have twenty years of records!
Two things that I don't think anyone else has said - hubby and I have an annual meeting to discuss our finances (I do all the labor, but I want to be sure that he knows what to do if something happens to me, and I want to have his "buy in" with my methodology). AND at that meeting, we discuss our lives and our goals for those lives. We dream and discuss our priorities. We love to travel - and anyone can travel - but we can't have new cars, the latest clothes, the biggest house and travel. It is good to remind ourselves of our priorities and to adjust our spending to be sure it is in line with our priorities. We're headed to London for spring break and can't wait!
We do have a mortgage but we have enough savings to cover it. Just want to be a little more liquid as our kids head to college this year and next. Otherwise, no debt, not even for a car. And we usually have 9 months of expenses in fairly liquid savings, just in case.
This is a great discussion! Keep the ideas coming!
The main budgeting of my network is with the expenses which has better get understanding for a high end level of end result. Practically to get control of the same I have been using Replicon's expense reporting software ( http://www.replicon.com/olp/expense-reports.aspx ) that manage the expense to be in controlled and manage the things to go better at times.


text:
Welcome to PurrrfectPlaceToPaws
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text:
Russia's opposition has turned into a hero cult. What was a protest movement has morphed into a one-man show called Alexei Navalny.
The man who first fought Russian corruption with crowdsourcing is now running for mayor of Moscow. But for his 10,000 volunteers, mostly kids in their early 20s with no Soviet memories, he is already president.
His campaign "feedback sessions" resemble a rock star meeting the fans. When Navalny shows up, the volunteers chant his name. When he speaks they rush up, trying to get his signature or shake his hand.
Navalny's charisma matters more than his politics. His volunteer army is vague on his policies — some are banal, like a paid parking system, some worrying, like hiring a "private security firm for the city." But the volunteers are not vague when talking about his greatness.
Why Navalny? This triggers a flood of adjectives. He's strong, his supporters say, honest, beautiful, charismatic and powerful. It triggers moralistic outburst — "Russia must live without lies." But it always comes down to this: "Only Navalny is tough enough to take down Putin."


text:
Dave lead P1 and I did P2. Lovely route! It crosses over other popular routes, so would not be sensible to do in busy times.masa-alpin - AltLd O/S - 13/Aug/13 with Dave W-J
1906johns - Aug/12
Jo Nosworthy - 2nd O/S - 30/Sep/11 with mark Agne
Cool slab movesTom Last - 2nd - 16/Mar/11 with Andy March
Hidden - 2007
Hidden - Lead O/S - 13/Mar/05
Hidden - 2nd - 2005


text:
Dallas, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/11/2012 -- In terms of global Personal Accessories sales, recessionary concerns in Europe are likely to dilute strong gains coming through the emerging regions of Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe in 2012. That said, industry sales growth over the 2012-2017 forecast period is projected to beat that seen over 2007-2012. Despite their status as non-essentials, jewellery and watches will lead growth for Personal Accessories over this period.
What this report includes
Up-to-the minute analysis of the latest trends in the personal accessories industry
New product development, forecasts and other themes
Unique graphics and illustrated case studies
Most recent brand and company news
New insight into the size and shape of the market
Why buy this report
Clear, concise powerpoint format makes it easy to digest
Leading industry opinion keeps you abreast of latest news and trends
Forward-looking outlook on a category, market or issue affecting the industry
Latest five year forecasts assess how the market is predicted to develop
Understand the competitive environment, the leading players and brands
Buy your copy of this report @ http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/196175-personal-accessories-global-trends-and-prospects.html.
Major points in Table of Contents for this report include:
Performance Drivers
Regional Insights
Category I nsights
Category Insights
Case Studies
What the Future Holds
Report Definitions
Explore more reports by Euromonitor International @ http://www.reportsnreports.com/publisher/euromonitor-international/.
Contact email@example.com for further information.


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Advani said that if the Central Government could seriously work to bring back the black money stashed away in foreign banks then the rural areas of the country could be immensely benefited by it.
"If we can bring back 25 lakh crore rupees back to India then all the villages in this country would get electricity and water for 24 hours. The farmers of every village would get water for agriculture, good schools, roads and all facilities hospitals. There would be prosperity in the villages of India,"-Comment
Answers (8)
2) Secondly, the above becomes only an election issue while he is on Rath Yatra. He never talks about it the rest of the time. Why? So, his actions do not match what he preaches in public?
3) He gave some statistics about the black money stashed abroad. To be frank, there is no official figure so far. Nobody knows the current data on black money. Everyone wants to imagine the thing and weave a story to tell the gullible audience especially at the election time.
4) Actions speak louder than voice. As a first step towards this direction, he should make sure that his party ruled states set an example to others in good and corruption free governance. He has been silent on Yedyurappas gigantic corruption for several years until one day Supreme Court said enough is enough. We need to be convinced that he means business.


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There are a lot of different types of dog harnesses that are available commercially, but the best harness is the one that is made specifically for your dog. This is because the fit is adapted to its actual measurements, making it more comfortable. You can also choose the color and design and make one for a special occasion, such as for Christmas or Valentine's Day. Learn how to make a dog harness for your pet dog and enjoy the benefits. Here is how to make it:
Measure the neck of your dog for the collar. Also measure around the body of your dog. Give an allowance of about 6 to 8 inches. This is to make sure the harness you make will not choke your dog and the part supporting the body is also comfortable. Making it tight will cause discomfort for your dog. You can make a pattern for the dog harness measurements and try it on your dog before cutting the nylon webbing or any other material you intend to use.
Cut the nylon webbing according to the measurements and heat seal the ends with the use of a lighted candle or lighter. Take it off as soon as it starts to melt and let it cool down. Be careful not to touch the melted webbing as this can hurt your fingers. Some opt to use a heated butter knife to seal the ends of the webbing, but make sure you never come in contact with the heated butter knife or you will burn your hands.
Pin Velcro around 6 inches from each end of the collar. Put the soft side on one end and the rough side on the other end. This will serve as the lock for your dog harness. Do the same for the chest or body piece. Test if it seals well. At the end of the webbing, sew a buckle tightly. Try this on your dog and make some adjustments before you sew the Velcro permanently into place.
Put the two pieces on your pet dog. Determine the length between the two pieces and cut the webbing about 2 to 3 inches longer. Make a 1 inch loop on the side of the body piece and insert a D-ring. Secure one side on the body piece and the other to the chest piece. Make sure the D-ring is sewn tightly or it will snap off when you are pulling your dog with it.
Through the collar, slide the loop of the middle piece to the chest piece and align. Put the harness on your dog to see the final fit. Make some adjustments if necessary and sew everything permanently together. For a dainty look, only let your dog wear a clean harness. Nylon webbing is washable and so are other materials used for harnesses.
Knowing how to make a dog harness is fun, especially if you are very interested in crafts. You can use many different materials aside from nylon webbing, such as grosgrain ribbon. Make your dog harness according to its usage. It can be used for walking, pulling and running. Make your harness strong, especially if you have a heavy dog. Always keep in mind the safety and comfort of your pet dog.


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Cliff Ellifson, 92, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012, after a nearly two-year battle with cancer.
Cliff was born in Blair, Wisconsin on June 20, 1920, the son of Eddie and Nettie (nee Strand) Ellifson. He married Tina Gunderson on Feb. 2, 1952. Cliff was a long time resident of Waukesha and a 55-year member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church. He was a World War II veteran serving in Europe with the U.S. Army Air Force from 1941-1945. Cliff served with the Honor of Flight for World War II veterans. He retired in 1982 with 34 years of service from C&J Auto Transport, Inc. Cliff then worked part time, with John Weber and Cesarz, Charapata, & Zinnecker Funeral Home.
Survivors include, his wife, of 60 years, Tina (nee Gunderson); his sons, Ronald (Joel') Ellifson and Michael (Jennifer Karlsson) Ellifson; his daughter, Denise (Larry) Jones; his grandchildren, Samantha (Mike Pollich) Jones, Seth Jones, Blair Karlsson-Ellifson and Grant Karlsson-Ellifson. He is further survived by his brothers, Edner Ellifson and James Ellifson; his sister, Emily Berg; and many nieces, nephews, other family and friends. Cliff was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Vernal, Howard, Jerry and Archie; his sister, Adeline Skoug; and his granddaughter, Lea Ellifson.
The visitation for Cliff will be from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, at the Cesarz, Charapata & Zinnecker Funeral Home, 237 N. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha, WI 53188. There will be a second visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the noon funeral service on Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, at St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 424 Hyde Park Ave., Waukesha, WI 53188. The Reverend Andy Fetters will officiate the service. The entombment will immediately follow the service in the Autumn Garden at Prairie Home Cemetery in Waukesha. There will be full military honors at the cemetery in honor of Cliff's service to our country.
Memorials are suggested to St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church (address above).
Many thanks to Cliff's family and friends, his physicians, Dr. Berman and Dr. Butler and all the staff of Waukesha Memorial Hospital and Seasons Hospice for their kind concern and care.
Cesarz, Charapata & Zinnecker Funeral Home, Cremation and Pre-Planning Services is serving the family. For the online obituary or to leave a message of condolence, please visit http://www.WaukeshasFuneralHome.com, or call 262-542-6609.


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Malaysia wildlife park under fire over drugged tiger video
The two-minute clip shows the apparently drugged tiger being poked and prodded while visitors pose for pictures.
Sun, May 23, 2010 at 03:08 AM
HISTORY OF ABUSE: The park has been warned before about having simular photo sessions.
A Malaysian wildlife park came under fire Sunday from wildlife activists over a video posted on YouTube showing an apparently drugged tiger being prodded and poked for the amusement of visitors.
The two-minute clip shows the tiger lying on a slab at a wildlife park in the Afamosa resort while a handler invites visitors walking around it to take pictures with the animal.
The handler then prods and pokes the big cat to force it to pose and even uses his knee to jab its head into an upright pose for a photograph.
"This is horrible and a disgrace that an animal is treated in this fashion. We must stop such abuse and the perpetrators must be punished," Friends of the Earth Malaysia president S.M. Idris told AFP.
Wildlife trade watchdog TRAFFIC criticized the park's use of captive tigers for entertainment.
"If they acquire tigers for this use, it gives Malaysia a very bad reputation as it shows the park is using the tigers for entertainment instead of educational purposes," senior officer Kanitha Krishnasamy told AFP.
Afamosa resort general manager Allan Chee denied the tiger was abused at the park, which has more than 20 tigers and numerous other species.
"There was no abuse to the tiger, the tiger was just drowsy and lazy after being fed and so was being prodded by the handler to get into position," he told AFP.
He said the park in southern Malacca state prided itself on its animal performances, with elephants playing football and others allowed to roam freely.
However, state wildlife and national parks head Abdul Rahim Othman told AFP the park had been warned over having such photo sessions with animals, which can be viewed as abuse.
"We have warned them and will carry out further investigations and if they continue to violate our warnings, we can take action against them including pulling their licences," he said.
Just 3,200 tigers are believed to remain in the wild, down from an estimated 100,000 a century ago.
Copyright 2010 AFP Asian Edition


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OAKLAND, CA; July 18, 2012 – Holy Names University (HNU) was notified Friday morning by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) that HNU was accepted for "Candidacy Membership" in the NCAA Division II for the 2012-2013 academic year.
Dennis Jones, HNU Director of Athletics, said, "Acceptance into the Division II (DII) process is the culmination of hard work by the entire HNU community. We are proud of this accomplishment and look forward to the next steps and a long relationship with the PacWest and its members."
With its successful application for membership, HNU will enter into a three-year transition period before earning full Division II membership status. Holy Names has already gained membership in the Pacific West Conference (PacWest), the largest DII conference in the West Region. PacWest Commissioner Bob Hogue said, "It is incredibly exciting that we are now able to say that the PacWest is officially the largest NCAA Division II athletic conference in the West Region. All of the hard work that our people and institutions have put into this effort has now come to fruition. This is a monumental moment in the history of the PacWest."
During the upcoming 2012-13 campaign, the PacWest will feature 14 schools competing in 15 official conference sports. The PacWest currently includes: the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, Hawai'i Pacific University, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Brigham Young University-Hawai'i, Grand Canyon University, California Baptist University, Dixie State College of Utah, Academy of Art University, Notre Dame De Namur University, and Dominican University of California. Holy Names is the fourth member from the Bay Area. Azusa Pacific, Fresno Pacific, and Point Loma Nazarene University joined the conference with HNU in 2011, making the PacWest the largest NCAA Division II conference in the West Region.
Holy Names submitted its application for membership in the NCAA Division II on June 1, 2012. The application included a strategic plan for the athletic department, academic and athletic achievement, community engagement activities, compliance initiatives, and a facilities video. HNU will compete in the PacWest during the 2012-2013 season and hopes to become eligible to compete for Division II Championships in 2015-2016. The Division II Membership Committee will determine on an annual basis if Holy Names moves forward in the candidacy process. Other schools selected at this time for "Candidacy Membership" by the NCAA Division II membership committee include: University of Virginia's College at Wise, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Daemon College, Lubbock Christian University, Oklahoma Christian University, Lee University and Rogers State University.
President William J. Hynes said, "Holy Names sought NCAA II membership because we believe it provides student athletes with a superior experience, one that fits with our total educational experience for student athletes. We are particularly pleased that our core values align with the NCAA Division II platform of 'life in the balance'. HNU is also delighted to now be competing with the thirteen other colleges and universities in the Pacific West Conference."
Holy Names' student athletes have achieved success both athletically and academically during the past academic year. Student athletes accumulated a total of 29 all-conference awards, six unaffiliated grouping All-Conference awards, 15 NAIA Academic All-Americans, three NAIA All-Americans, four individual NAIA national qualifiers, and three California Pacific Championships. In addition, HNU student athletes have also engaged in community service activities, providing over 40,000 hours to Oakland and the surrounding communities.
The NCAA is the most recognized brand in college sports, administering 88 championships in 23 sports for its member institutions. Over 140,600 male and female student athletes compete in these championships each year. Division II accounts for 1,079 member institutions and serves over 93,700 student-athletes who compete in 25 national championships. Holy Names is proud to be working towards full membership in the NCAA.
To read more: http://www.theseniorreports.com/ncaad2.htm


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Conference on
The Supernatural
in Literature and Film
Download conference programme.
Objects of fascination and horror.
Ever since the dawn of literature, the supernatural has played a role in the stories
humanity tells about itself. But how can we compare Medieval historical writing –
with its naturalistic narratives of fairies, demons, and monsters – with present-
This conference brought together scholars from across the world to discuss the supernatural in literature and film.


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The Statement (2003)
Average Rating: 4.7/10
Reviews Counted: 106
Fresh: 25 | Rotten: 81
The movie bores despite a splendid performance by Michael Caine.
Average Rating: 4.4/10
Critic Reviews: 34
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 29
The movie bores despite a splendid performance by Michael Caine.
liked it
Average Rating: 2.9/5
User Ratings: 2,133
Movie Info
Set in modern day France, the story of Pierre Brossard who, as a young man, was a Nazi executioner under the Vichy regime. Brossard has never been brought to trial and has lived a peaceful and anonymous life, sheltered by right-wing elements within the Catholic Church. A new investigation into his crimes is launched and Brossard finds himself the target of hit men on the one hand--and police investigators on the other. A wily old fox, he keeps outwitting his pursuers while desperately trying to
Dec 12, 2003 Limited
Apr 27, 2004
Sony Pictures Classics - Official Site
Michael Caine
Pierre Brossard
Tilda Swinton
Anne Marie Livi
Jeremy Northam
Col. Roux
Alan Bates
Charlotte Rampling
John Neville
Old Man
Ciar�n Hinds
Frank Finlay
Commissaire Vionnet
William Hutt
Le Moyne
Matt Craven
Noam Jenkins
Peter Wight
Malcolm Sinclair
Cardinal of Lyon
Colin Salmon
David de Keyser
Dom Andre
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All Critics (115) | Top Critics (38) | Fresh (25) | Rotten (81) | DVD (10)
Caine bounces back and forth almost randomly between pitiable and detestable, following the dictates of a formulaic plot.
This is a creaky, obsolete sort of film, not an instant classic, but an instant antique.
Seems more an excuse to attack a target than an exercise in solid storytelling.
Partly because of Caine and partly because of meticulous work by veteran director Norman Jewison, The Statement is a fiction done so effectively, it rings true -- even slick lines that may otherwise be rancid.
Cut-and-dried morality play, with the saints played by Brit actors who can't even be bothered to speak with French accents.
The film operates well as a thriller and probably goes further than intended in extracting sympathy for its reprehensible protagonist.
"The Statement is that rare, unassuming movie that has much to say and is so daring in its message that it is a wonder it has seen the light of day"
Em fun��o de sua pr�pria premissa, apresenta quest�es �ticas interessantes.
For the most part, though, there really isn't enough suspense or drama to make The Statement more than an occasionally chilling civics lesson.
All Jewison has to offer us is an exquisitely packaged reminder of the Catholic Church's collaboration with the Vichy government. But why distort history when your sole purpose is to offer a history lesson?
It's a shame that a film with this much potential could be turned into such a dull, pedestrian affair.
The film is rather unbelievable, even though it's based on real-life tales of the Vichy Milice.
This Ludlum-esque political thriller... might be funny if it wasn't exploiting such a serious topic as the Holocaust.
'Rome,' 'Paris,' 'Provence,' 'London' -- labels like these pop up so often in The Statement you're not sure if you're watching a movie or reading a map. But a map would be more compelling.
The Statement elicits more yawns than gasps and plays like a second-rate rerun from Sunday afternoon television.
not all roses, but it's a decent, well-made thriller of the sort that we don't get much anymore... It's tempting to say that we're getting Caine's best work only now.
Audience Reviews for The Statement
Super Reviewer
Director: Norman Jewison
Summary: The buried sins of the past almost always find a way to surface in the present, as Frenchman Pierre Brossard (Michael Caine) discovers in this drama directed by Norman Jewison. Pierre's quiet life in southern France is disrupted as he's haunted by his betrayals. During World War II, his Nazi sympathizing led to the deaths of 14 Jews. With a Nazi hunter (Tilda Swinton), the police and hired killers on his trail, it's his turn to be the hunted.
My Thoughts: "The movie grabbed me right from the start with it's brilliant opening, but unfortunately it doesn't keep with that brilliance the entire film. In about thirty minutes in, it gets quite boring. Not one of Caine's best performances, but a movie he did carry on his own. It's basically him going from church to church in hiding. Not very interesting, but the story is. I wish they would have elaborated on it more then just showing Caine's character on the run. Also, what happened to this film being of french characters, they all sounded pretty british to me. Just not well made."
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
Movies Like The Statement
- Pierre Brossard: Saint Christopher, they saw me. They knew. Can they point me out? Can anyone say,'That's Brossard. He sent us to our graves.'
- Anne Marie Livi: Unless the whole truth is brought ou into the open, the dead will never rest easy.
- Col. Roux: And neither will you.
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Discuss The Statement on our Movie forum!
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Recipe: Southern-Style Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache Frosting
Recipes from The Kitchn
They call this "A Very Good Chocolate Cake." Well, they have lied (they being Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock, the quintessential Southern chefs). A more appropriate title would be, "The Very Best Chocolate Cake." A bold statement, yes, but once you try this moist, rich slice of heaven I think you might agree.
So why, exactly, is this chocolate cake the best? Well instead of telling you a poetic story about it, I'm just going to share with you some adjectives blurted out during the making, and eating, of this crazy-delicious dessert. Let's start with the frosting, shall we? I believe it went something like this: Finger dip. Silence. Finger dip. Scream. "Oh my gosh!! Oh my gosh!! This is definitely what the chocolate river in Willy Wonka is made of. Am I right!?" Giant drippy spoonful. Food coma.
I assembled and frosted the cake before I went to bed, knowing I'd have to wait another day before I got to eat it. (Thank goodness my frosting binge knocked me right out!) By the time the photos were taken and it was ready to be devoured, I was rabid. "F@*&in' amazing!" may have been my words uttered, but my father, always the Southern gentleman, just whispered. "Sinful. Absolutely sinful." (Which we all really know means "f@*&in' amazing," am I right?)
So yes, this cake is good. It's great. It's wonderful. There are no pastry chef tricks here, just good ol' country cooking at it's finest — which means butter, vegetable oil, and a pound of chocolate chips. Sounds like perfection to me... And what more could you really ask for in A
Very Good Chocolate Cake the very best chocolate cake in the world? Enjoy!
Southern-style Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ganache FrostingAdapted from The Gift of Country Cooking by Edna Lewis and Scott Peacock
For the frosting:
1 cup heavy cream
1 stick unsalted butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 pound semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup double-strength brewed coffee
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the cake:
2 cups granulated white sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon table salt
4 ounces good-quality unsweetened or 82% extra dark chocolate, chopped
1 cup hot double-strength brewed coffee
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
For the frosting, heat the cream, butter, sugar and salt over low heat until butter is melted. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate until melted and smooth. Add coffee and vanilla; stir until blended. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature, stirring minimally, until it reaches a spreadable consistency (about 2 hours). While the frosting is cooling, make the cake.
For the cake, preheat oven to 325°F. Generously coat the bottom of two 9-inch round cake pans with shortening. Line the pans with parchment paper rounds and coat the bottom and sides with additional shortening; toss with flour, discarding the excess. (I highly recommend using Baker's Joy, a shortening spray with flour added. It is much easier!)
In a medium bowl, sift together sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt and set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk the chocolate into the hot coffee until completely melted. In another large mixing bowl combine the eggs, oil, sour cream, and vanilla and whisk until combined. Stir the melted chocolate into the egg mixture. Lastly, fold in the flour mixture in 1/3 increments, stirring well after each addition, making sure the flour is completely incorporated and there are no lumps.
Divide batter between prepared cake pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow cakes to cool in pans, approximately 30 minutes. Run a flat spatula around the edge of the pans and remove cakes to wire racks to cool completely. (Do not remove parchment paper layer until cool.)
Spread a thick layer of frosting on top of one layer. Top with the second layer and spread remaining frosting over top and sides. Allow cake to sit at room temperature, covered by a cake dome or large glass bowl, for at least two hours before serving, or overnight. The flavors only get better with time.
Related: Funfetti and Beyond! 15 Birthday Cake and Cupcake Recipes
(Images: Nealey Dozier)
Per serving, based on 10 servings. (% daily value)
26 Comments
I grew up on Texas Sheet Cake and have passed the love of this perfect cake to icing ratio creation to my children. My son's 18th birthday is Saturday and I have been puzzling on something new but still very chocolately that is birthday worthy for our new "adult". This cake looks like a more sophisticated version of our old time favorite and perfect for our celebration. I can't wait to get baking. I will definitely report back.
Oh geesh why do you do this? Now I want to run out and get the ingredients and make this cake. Looks so moist - my main complaint about chocolate cakes is that they can be dry. Yummo.
I looked at this picture and my first thought was "Texas Sheet Cake." It's perfection.
oh. my. goodness. i think i just drooled on my keyboard...
perfect timing - i'm in charge of all the desserts for a baby shower this weekend and needed a recipe for chocolate ganache frosting!!! the chocolate cake recipe i use is similar to this one, though. thanks!
Looks fabulous. What makes it "Southern style?"
Wow! I'm sure the cake is just as delicious as how it looks in the pics but I have to say, those are some great pics!!! My mouth is watering just looking at them!
Add some chopped pecans and then you have a Texas sheet cake. Mmmmmm.
Is the coffee essential or can it be left out or substituted? I don't have a coffee maker. What if I put in a little espresso powder
My question is similar to mollykc's. I would like to leave the coffee out entirely because I don't like the taste of it. Can you suggest some possible substitutions?
The coffee enhances the chocolate flavor.....does not taste coffee ish. No coffeemaker...go to your favorite coffeeshop and buy some ready made. When I am lazy, this is what I do!
I just keep a little jar of instant espresso in the pantry for such recipes.
Like Michelle said, you won't taste the coffee; it just adds depth to the chocolate flavor. (Just like unsweetened chocolate is used in some savory Mexican dishes.)
I don't drink coffee, but I always adored the blender chocolate mousse that my mom made using hot coffee to melt the chocolate.
I take little sachets of instant espresso from hotel breakfast buffets in order to enhance my chocolate cakes - never use it for anything else. I agree, you don't taste it (I hate coffee-flavoured chocolate).
I can't fit any more equipment in my tiny NY kitchen: If I wanted to bake this in a bundt or loaf pan, would it work? How might I have to adjust the recipe or baking time?
I think I've already gained weight :-)
Can anyone please make this recipe metric?
And I beg you theKitchn, please make the recipes metric as well, unless you only address to americans.
Just made this cake last night...it was VERY good.
@kushkush, here's a site to help you figure out the capacity of the pans you have and what substitutions you can make - Baking Pan Sizes. You'll likely have to bake the cake longer, but it should work.
Sorry, left out a bit of punctuation there. Try this one.
...or just C&P, since I can't type today. *facepalm*
@kushkush, Actually, after making this last night, I'm not sure it would translate well to a deeper pan. The recipe seems designed to result in a flatter cake, as many layer cake recipes are, so unless you fiddle with the ingredients to make it rise more, you may end up with a very dense cake if you try it in a bundt pan.
I baked mine in a 9-inch square pan and while it baked up very nicely indeed, it's a bit flat compared to other cakes I've baked in that pan. I may cut it up and turn it into a pseudo-layer cake after all.
I am baking that cake right now and I thought the batter was too liquid, but I followed all the instructions strictly. It has been in the oven for over an hour and it is not ready yet. I also noticed something that has never happened with my cakes: the center if firm and has a thin crust, but the edges are soft and with no crust. I wonder what I might have done wrong!
Just made this, I like the ganache icing, and I like the cake, but together it was WAYYY too chocolatey. I am a huge chocoholic but it was just overwhelming together, I think I will try them separately again though!
That's a keeper. One hint from Maida Heatter (find her cookbooks): instead of flour in pans she uses bread crumbs. No flour taste as they're absorbed, yet no sticking either.
I made this outrageously delicious chocolate cake and posted it. One of the best chocolate cakes I've ever had--and I've had a lot over the years! http://www.fransfavs.com/2013/02/southern-style-chocolate-cake-with-chocolate-ganache-frosting/
I have now made this cake 5 times, for different occasions. It is the most requested birthday cake in my family. I noticed when I made it today that I had to refrigerate the ganache to help it cool since the summer weather is with us. It looks like it worked just fine. I always let it sit overnight before using it. People love this cake :)
I made TWO of these today for Christmas dinner at my brother's house tomorrow. Yes, they've had it before and begged me to make it. Since there are going to be 16 people for dinner, I knew one would not be enough! As usual, they came out perfectly.
I made the ganache yesterday and stored it in the refrigerator overnight. That made my baking especially easy today. The ganache was perfect today. I left it out of the refrigerator for about 2 hours before I frosted the cakes.
I found a version of this cake in, I believe, Bon Appetit magazine and I've been making it for years. It is my very favorite cake and I make it for my birthday every year — I don't want any other cake! Here is our version (without the coffee in the frosting, which makes it a little more appealing for young children's palates).


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Concealed carry in restaurants and bars could soon become a realityUPDATED 11:28 PM EST Feb 13, 2013
Controversy is brewing over a proposed bill in South Carolina that would allow guns in bars and restaurants.
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