text:
Adaptunes like app for Droid?
Anyone seen anything like this in the droid market? Speed based volume control?
Wohoo! Found it! Works perfectly with great controls! Yay.
Nice find!
Dope! Been looking for that. I'll see how it compares to the HSE RVC.
So are you using your Droid phone as your music player?
I'll check this out once I get my phone back from warranty...
Yep, have not picked up my iPod has not been used in 4 months. Pandora 24/7
Same here. I got the car dock for my boat, its been great even in some of the roughest chop it doesn't budge. I have a ton of MP3's on it, Slacker, Last FM, Pandora and Sirius/XM. I have a subscription for it on my truck so it was only 2.99 a month to add to the phone. One feature I love is when I hear a song I just Shazaam it, I can then add the song from Amazon easily as Shazzam offers a direct link.
Just tried the volume control on the golf cart, it worked great. I would prefer the volume bar and data to be larger in the display.
I'll have to but it when I get home but I was weren't if there was one for the droid but doubted it. So this app is solid she worth the money? What androidsdo you guys have? I got my droid x two weeks ago and it is awesome
Thanks for finding that. I have been spending alot of company time looking for one of those. Pandora rocks!! Have you guys had any issue with the volume output on the phones? I bought a AA battery powered booster from Radio Shack but was looking for something to possibly hard wire.
I have the HTC Incredible. Output Volume is about the same as my iPods.
Also, make sure you go into the Pandora Settings and change the Audio quality to High, it makes a big difference.
Nice, I have the incredible as well. At least I did until I walked into the water this past weekend with it in my boardshorts pocket (yeah, 4th phone I've done this with, and I also ruined an Ipod Touch same way).
So I'm waiting to get my new one. I'm glad to see there is an app like this for our phone. I'll have to try using my phone as a media player, I always use my Ipod.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are you kidding me!?! I have been looking for something like this for forever. Was about to buy a used iphone 3G just to see if I could get adpatunes to work.
Dude Ray, really?
So I just got off the lake. It works fairly well, definitely worth the money but its nothing compared to the HSE RVC. Its functional but seriously its not even close. I played with all the settings several times and couldn't quite get it to my liking for attenuation and I'd like a max volume setting. I don't like to have the Droid volume over two clicks from max as it begins to distort past that.
All in all good but not great.
lol I just read that and laughed my ass off, I just started using Swype a few days ago and was typing that out on my lunch break where this lady kept talking to me and so the combination of poor typing and jumbled thoughts produced that mess.
But I tried this app out and its definitely better than nothing but it could really use a setting for volume at the low boundary, its way too big of a difference between the low and high boundaries. It also hasnt been updated since April and it doesnt have too many downloads, so it may be difficult to get the developer to make any changes or updates.
You can set the low boundary. I can't set the high boundary.
Just got a response from the developer......
Hi Alan,
thanks for the positive feedback :-)!
The maximum volume limit is defined by your phone, my app can't change that built-in level. There is an app called "Louder Volume Hack" ( http://www.androlib.com/android.appl...omod-jmiC.aspx ), but you need a rooted device for it to work and it doesn't seem to work on all devices. Or do you mean you want to specify a maximum volume over which the app never goes (in case the maximum volume is too loud for you)?
If you want the app to reach a specific volume at a specific speed, you can define the "zones" as follows:
Lower boundary: 0
Upper boundary: The speed at which you want the volume to be max
Number of zones: 8
This way, the zones will be small enough to let you reach your phone's maximum volume at the defined top speed.
Best regards,
I didn't spend a whole lot of time paying with the settings. How do you set the lower volume, just with the volume rocker to set the media volume while not moving?
Custom Start up Volume Level is the baseline level.
Ray, lol I see now :)
I think that you can set the max volume for the phone itself through setting>sounds>media volume
After messing with it on the car ride to work, I'm perry sure it works by controlling the media volume just as if you were to do it from the settings menu. So when you' re at the speed of your upper boundary, your medusa volume should be at 100%. I'm gonna try and get out on the boat later and see how it works for that application though
I was playing with it last night with the Startup volume at 1/4 and the upper speed boundary at 20 mph. It would not get anywhere near max volume, maybe 2/3rds. Can't really figure it out. I also noticed that if you touch your regular volume button, it basically turns off the app.
When we were wake surfing I set it up for start 5 MPH and stop increasing at 15 it worked fairly well. It seemed like that once you adjusted the volume its stopped increasing it but if you slowed it would decrease the volume.
I couldn't get it to really work very well. Using it on an EVO. Seemed like it kept dropping the signal.
The developer is pretty responsive and has already released an update based on out feedback.
Here is is response to me. Sweet!
thanks for your reply. I now know what you mean by the max volume setting you mentioned and have published an update that implements this. You will find the new option under "settings". It would be great if you could let me know whether it works for you.
For your question regarding the best setup for your wakeboarding-case:
I would choose 0mph as the lower boundary, 25mph as the upper one, and select about 5 zones.
In addition, I have added an option to specify "jumps" in volume, meaning that instead of gradually increasing the volume in each zone, you can now double or triple the volume which lets you reach the chosen max volume much quicker (because you otherwise wouldn't have enough "room" to reach it in the relatively small window from 5mph to 23mph). In my tests (with a car) this setting works best at a 2-3 value when moving within the 5mph to 23mph window.
Best regards,
Cool, good work Alan
As a side not I had mine set at 10 yesterday to give it the smoothest transitions.
Great feedback!
I was not loving this app morning on the lake this morning. Alan thanks for the quick update and guided instructions. Great service! Working much better with the boat!
Mine still seems to be dropping the signal. This app is almost there just not quite as good as adaptunes yet.
What signal? It is GPS based.
is there anything like this for the blackberry storm?
I highly doubt it, Smitty. The blackberry market and the applications made for them are lacking in depth. My old Curve didn't have street-level GPS where it would not know my exact location or speed of travel, don't know if your Storm does or if it all just uses cell phone towers and whatever else to triangulate your position, because that would be necessary for any application like this
Ya I searched a bunch and came up empty. Droid X here I come!
OK. I am pretty happy with these settings. Make sure you get the update if you don't have the latest version of the software.
Volume Step 3
Start up Volume 40%
Max Volume 100% (My Incredible has no distortion at 100%)
Lower Speed Boundary 0mph
Upper Speed Boundary 25mph
Number of Zones -5 (0-5,5-10,10-15,15-20,20-25)
Display MPH
I have noticed that you must be sitting still when you turn on the Auto Volume and you can not touch the external volume buttons once activated, weird things happen.
Yeah the gps signal. It's like it registers but doesn't hold. Maybe it's just the evo.
Not working on EVO. Emailed the dev. and we will see if it gets fixed
Sweet then I know it's not just me.
Nice find. However, I am with "Who Cards" and have an Evo also. I guess I can wait for the developer to update it.
Who Cares: Froyo is being pushed down on Tuesday :D
David, didn't think about that. It might work with Froyo. The only thing I'll probably lose the free tethering option then. I have been ignoring the recent update just to keep it right now.
Xda will root it within a week :D
I don't think you will be without it for long ;)
Any response for the developer on the app not working on EVO?
FYI, updates (froyo) to the original moto droid is expected next week. This might fix the issue since the devoloper created the app to work for the driod. So he does have the option update it to make sure that it works on froyo. The problem with the app working in one environment and not the other is probably fragmentation between the two. Once both phone are on the "same" OS, there is a smaller fragmentation and possibility that the app will work on both phones.
I herd from him and he told me to try new settings. I`ll test it tonight!
David- Are you sure froyo is coming I have been hearing that for weeks and if it is anything like my hero it will take months.
Who Cares: http://www.androidcentral.com/evo-4g-froyo-android-22 Yes, it's available now if you want to install. :D
I'm downloading now and will let you know. The first link in the article does not work and you will need to scroll down to the links within the comments to then be redirected to another site that has the download file available. If you feel uncomfortable with applying this before it comes out, Sprint has posted on their Facebook pack and Sprint.com that the update will be this week. So, you can either wait or apply. ;)
The Evo is Sprints priority phone at this time. Spring will make sure that this phone doesn't get too far behind the others and seems to be their "cash cow" for now. The Hero was never Sprints "top of the line" phone. At that time, it was the HTC Touch Pro 2 that they took care of.
Here is the Droid's Froyo update article and confirmation: http://www.androidcentral.com/origin...d-22-next-week
Ok I tested it! flop... still didnt work. he said to try his new upfdate which I did and now it works with the phones speaker but not the headphone jack. I have mail into him now. Ill keep you posted
Spent all day, 6 hours driving for a tournament and 4 hours having fun after, using it. Completely flawless on my Incredible. Hopefully you guys with different phones will get if going soon.
Just wanted people to know that I downloaded this app on Thursday and today my bank calls to ask if I took a $55. cab ride in London. So if you downloaded this app make sure that you watch your credit card statements.
No Way!!!!!!!
Just off the phone with fraud rep and make that 2 charges for $55. We will see what else shows up.
Just checked my statement and nothing but the charge for the app.
Just thought I would let you guys know, might just have been me. Found out that Google gives your credit card info the the developer of the app. Totally retarded on Goggles part if you ask me. So your card #'s are being given out to all these kids and people in foreign countries creating these apps.
That has to be the worst idea I have ever heard. So basically someone could set up BS app and collect a few hundred CC #'s, wait a few months or years, and then go to town. Sounds completely irresponsible of Google to do this. I was under the impression that the Droid Marketplace was a third party admin, like itunes and app store for Apple.
I thought it used Google checkout which is a protected payment method.
Hate, yes android market uses Goggle checkout but Goggle gives your card # to the company that created the app and they run your card. I know makes you wonder about Goggle security. Google security has be brought to question before. The only time I have used that card overseas was for this transaction and some time yesterday I took 2 cab rides in London, UK at $54.60 each. Amazing because I never left home here in California. It even says on your bill if you look close. Email from google.
Message from InnoWire UG (haftungsbeschränkt):
The application will be automatically downloaded to your device.
Your order is complete. Have questions? Contact InnoWire UG (haftungsbeschränkt).
Jul 31
InnoWire UG (haftungsbeschränkt) charged your VISA xxx-6565 for €1.99. "GOOGLE *InnoWire UG" will appear on your billing statement.
Jul 30
InnoWire UG (haftungsbeschränkt) received your order.
Jul 30
You placed an order with InnoWire UG (haftungsbeschränkt) on Jul 30. Google Checkout sent a copy of this receipt to *&@^#%%#&*@gmail.com
hmm, thats a bit sketch for sure. I wonder what recourse you might have now.
A side not I downloaded and manually installed FROYO today. Its sick and blazing fast now.
I think you are wrong about the Sellers of apps getting full credit card numbers. Checkout the link below. You may want to look into who else may have your credit card number.
Brandon sorry to hear about your troubles.
Back tot he app. I was wondering if any EVO users have updated to Froyo and had better luck with the app. I did some messing around and it seems the app works as long as your not doing anything else on your phone, i.e. playing music. Which of course defeats the purpose of the app.
J- I have been working with the developer who has been very responsive. I have it working on my evo ( running froyo) and the only complaint I have at the moment is the lag time in volume up and down. unfortunatly the developer cant control how fast the gps downloads. the one thing I have learned with the evo is that you have to turn the app. on then start your music. works like a champ at that point.
Works great with FROYO, very responsive.
Awesome "whocares" I couldn't get tp work very well if at all on the old OS. Glad to here it is working on FROYO.
|All times are GMT -7. The time now is 4:05 PM.


text:
R.I.P: Charlie Murphy Dead At 57 After Leukemia Battle!
Comedian and legendary storyteller Charlie Murphy has reportedly passed away at age 57 following a battle with leukemia.
According to TMZ, Murphy's manager has confirmed he passed away in a New York City hospital due to complications from the deadly cancer. He had previously been undergoing chemo treatment to fight the illness. Posted By Ghost
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
5 November 2010
Jet-powered molecular hydrogen emission from radio galaxies
Link to the paper: arXiv:1009.4533
The authors examine a sample of 55 radio galaxies with z < 0.22 and find 31% percent of those to exhibit particularly strong mid-IR emission from warm H2 (T = 100 - 1500 K, with masses in this phase typically around some 108, up to 2 x 1010 solar masses), putting them in a newly (re)defined class of "molecular hydrogen emission galaxies" (MOHEGs). They argue that the jets in these sources may interact with the cold H2 in these galaxies and shock-heat it, resulting in the observed emission. They find that X-rays originating from the AGN are incapable of powering the H2 emission, but that cosmic rays may still be an alternative explanation if a cosmic ray pressure 25 times higher than thermal pressure is deemed to be reasonable.
The radio MOHEGs show only low to moderate star formation rates (< 3 solar masses per year) and much less 7.7 µm PAH emission then normal star forming galaxies with respect to the mid-IR continuum (a factor of 10 - 100 lower). The H2 luminosity does not show much correlation with radio power, but several sources in clusters with X-ray cavities indicate that the ratio between H2 luminosity and kinetic jet power may lie around 10-4 to some 10-3. Most (14 of 17) radio MOHEGs belong to close galaxy pairs, groups or cluster and the authors conjecture that this environment or past gas-rich mergers may deliver large quantities of gas to the galaxies.
The authors conclude that jet-driven outflows may be responsible for the emission, although the details are yet very unclear. The jet powers, however, would more than sufficient for this.
3 comments:
- volker5 November 2010 at 15:18
It is unclear to me why these galaxies should be put into a new class of galaxies: Fig. 11 and 12 rather suggest that these galaxies are an extension of a continuous distribution of galaxies where, however, the jets seem to be responsible for their more extreme behaviour. A more continuous transition would also be supported by jets not simply being on or off, but rather showing a continuous spectrum of radio silent to radio loud (and similarly, of course, in their mechanical effect).ReplyDelete
What is also unclear to me is the statement in 1.2 that extreme H_2 emission has been found in a variety of galaxy types so far. By what mechanism are these powered then, and why could those mechanisms not be at work in radio MOHEGs?
The potential difficulty of efficiently coupling the jet power to the host galaxy ISM, however, does not seem very critical to me. The mentioned level of efficiency is still much lower than the mechanical feedback from the jet on the denser ISM phases of a few percent (which we find in our jet-ISM simulations). This still leaves enough room for energy deposition on other phases and inefficient coupling, and turbulent motion in the jet cocoon will probably provide feedback on a sufficient level even after the jet has broken out of the galaxy.
- The author Patrick Ogle5 November 2010 at 19:36
Regarding whether these galaxies with large H2/PAH should belong in a distinct class, I believe they should. They clearly stand apart from normal star forming galaxies in this ratio. From an astrophysical point of view, very large ~unity warm/cold H2 mass ratios indicate that a large injection of mechanical energy is dramatically disturbing the molecular ISM. This in turn appears to suppress star-formation efficiency by a factor 10-50 (see Nesvadba 10). On the other hand I agree that there is not a distinct separation but rather a continuum in the H2/PAH ratio and corresponding warm/cold H2 fraction, corresponding to varying degree of disturbance in the ISM by the radio jet. The selection of H2/PAH=0.04 as the dividing line is somewhat arbitrary, but does roughly correspond to the maximum value of this ratio obtained in normal star forming galaxies and PDR models of the same.ReplyDelete
Regarding the 2nd comment, there can be a variety of mechanical energy inputs that heat the molecular ISM in various classes of galaxies. Radio galaxy samples have a very high fraction >30% of MOHEGs. They are perhaps the best case, where there is weak star formation and weak nuclear X-ray emission, where we can isolate the mechanical energy source (the radio jet). In the case of dusty ellipticals, we think they are quiescent radio galaxies where the radio jet is currently off but heated the ISM in the recent past. This needs further study to confirm. H2 emission from colliding galaxies such as Stephan's Quintet has been convincingly argued to be powered by shocks from the colliding ISM (Appleton 06, Cluver 10). Late stage ULIRG galaxy mergers such as NGC 6240 may be powered by the kinetic energy of the merger, or by starburst driven winds. The jury is also out on radio quiet AGNs. Perhaps sub-relativistic winds are important.
I agree with your last statement that only a small fraction (0.001) of the radio power has to be extracted to power the H2, and it may not be difficult to do this via the jet cocoon. However, consider the case of 3C 326 where the jet cocoon is 2 Mpc across and has long since overrun the entire galaxy. Will the jet-ISM coupling be as efficient in such a case?
Thanks for your interesting discussion and invitation to comment.
Patrick Ogle
- volker9 November 2010 at 15:20
For a large galaxy as 3C 326, I agree that the jet-ISM coupling may not be sufficient anymore. However, the radio source is very asymmetric and has a strange lobe morphology (the big blob on the east and the long feature on the west, which doesn't look like a normal" cocoon / lobes to me...) and I find it very difficult to speculate on this. Also, our simulations don't reach the Mpc scale. It definitely is a challenge for any indirect (via cocoon) interaction with the galaxy.ReplyDelete


text:
Play Supah Ninjas online and other great games from 3D and unity games category, at Vitalitygames.In Supah Ninjas game you have the opportunity to show your ninja abilities. Play this game where Amanda has been kidnapped and you have to save her from the Rhymer Hands. You need to rescue her before it's too late. Select the character you want to play with, the mission you like the most and you can start the game.Hit the rooftops in true ninja fashion to rescue Amanda. You'll need all the skills of a ninja to rescue Amanda and become a hero. You have to fight all enemies that you meet on your way.Good luck!
3d and unity games 3d games unity unity games fighting games ninja samurai games ninja games samurai games ninja samurai flash flash games supah ninjas supah ninjas games supah ninjas game vitalitygames vitality games ninja abilities amanda kidnapped rhymer mission rooftops ninja fashion skills ninja skills enemies enemie


text:
Cactus cupcakes made for a mexican fiesta party. Chocolate cupcakes with raspberry filling.
Tags: fiesta cinco de mayo pink green cupcakes chocolate
8 Comments
This is the most creative idea ever! I just made cupcakes for my son to take to the Mexican Fiesta party at school 2 weeks ago. Some had a green chocolate cactus on top and some had vibrant molded chocolate flowers. BOOORING compared to this. These are unbelievable! How on earth did you do this? I'd love to know!
Very nice ;)
love this idea
Thank you Michal!
Thank you Carrie for your kind words… I sent you a message on how I made these.
very nice!
Thank you Ana!


text:
$ 6.59
$ 6.59
United States Navy Dental Collar Device
Criteria: The Dental Corps of the United States Navy consists of naval officers who have a Doctorate in either Dental Surgery or Dental Medicine (D.D.S. or D.M.D.) and who practice dentistry caring for sailors and marines. In overseas locations they also treat dependent family members. Dental officers are usually appointed to the rank of Lieutenant (O-3) but may be appointed at higher ranks with significant practice experience or advanced specialty training
© 2018 USAMM. All Rights Reserved


text:
1) What are ergonomic injuries and how are they caused?
Most people these days have desk jobs that require them to be seated at their desks for 8-10 hours straight. People often fail to realize how much havoc a simple desk job can create in their life. People tend to disregard a lot of simple symptoms by confusing them with symptoms of other conditions and fail to realize that they could be caused by seemingly harmless factors like sitting on a chair for prolonged hours. A lot of health conditions have been said to be caused because of sitting for prolonged hours. Ergonomic injuries affect the muscles, spinal disc, nerves, ligaments, joints etc. Hinged back, back pain, pain in the wrist, stiff neck and shoulder aches are a few of the most common health issues seen due to poor seating posture and continued sitting.
The most commonly suffered ergonomic injuries are;


text:
Vol. 71/No. 35 September 24, 2007
|Yadira Martínez
|Five thousand at September 2 rally call on Prince William County Board of Supervisors to rescind a resolution empowering local cops to enforce federal immigration laws.
The march came at the end of a weeklong boycott of non-immigrant businesses in the county. Three mass meetings in late July, attended by 3,500 workers total, called the march and boycott. Workers at these meetings also voted to carry out a county-wide work stoppage October 9.
We always come to the marches, said Reina Lopez, a cleaner originally from El Salvador who was with her husband, Martín, a construction worker originally from Mexico. All we want is to be able to work in peace.
What I dont like is that they are trying to deny basic rights to our children, the right to health services, the right to an education, said Martín.
Many workers brought their families to the march. Most came from Manassas and Woodbridge, both in Prince William County. They were joined by others from Arlington, Alexandria, Charlottesville, and Washington, D.C. About 20 workers from Culpeper carried a banner that read Culpeper supports the Hispanic Community of Prince William. Culpeper County passed a resolution August 8 affirming English as the official language of county business.
This resolution is unjust and racist, said Noe Ventura, a truck driver for a concrete company. We had a discussion at my job about the strike. Many of us have decided not to work. Others are working, but they still support us in their hearts.
With the exception of one worker who feared retaliation from her employer, workers interviewed by this reporter unanimously supported the October 9 strike call.
A rally after the march featured speeches by activists and religious leaders and a mariachi concert.
They have pushed us against the wall without any options, said Ricardo Juárez, a leader of the immigrant rights group Mexicanos sin Fronteras. Will we hide?
No! shouted the crowd.
Will we fight for our rights?
Yes! was the response, followed by chants of ¡Sí se puede! (Yes we can!)
Help Save Manassas, an anti-immigrant group affiliated with the rightist Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, held a press conference the next day.
Were going to continue hard on this course. Were not backing down, said Prince William County Board chairman Corey A. Stewart.
In a further indication of the growing polarization in the region, local media reported that the Ku Klux Klan had distributed leaflets in Manassas urging a ban on all non-white immigration.
Several Virginia counties have initiated studies to determine the effect of illegal immigration on the local economy. In addition to Culpeper, Stafford County declared English its official language. Loudon County passed an anti-immigrant resolution nearly identical to the Prince William resolution. A September 4 meeting of the Loudon County Board of Supervisors voted to study ways to cut government services to undocumented workers.
Prince William County Delegate Jeffrey M. Frederick called for all Virginia localities to introduce measures like those in Prince William and Loudon counties. He plans to introduce legislation at the state level to deny funding to local governments that do not check the immigration status of residents who receive public assistance, the Associated Press reported. Five law enforcement agencies in and around Prince William County announced an agreement called the Prince William Criminal Alien Initiative to increase cooperation between local officials and federal immigration authorities.
Related articles:
On immigration and unionization
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home


text:
History Timeline
Dr. John Knesevich
Dr. Knesevich was a resident and chief resident/instructor in the Department. Following his chief residency, he became an instructor in 1977 and later became assistant professor. In 1981, he became associate director of the residency training program. He became the director of the training program in 1985 and continued as director until 1987. He left the University in 1987.


text:
Prunus Shirote Tree In Blossom
Stockphoto ID: 2325312
File name: prunus_shirote_tree_in_blossom.jpg
Format: digital, 4000+ pixels longest side
Property release: no Model release: no
Source: photographer Based in: United Kingdom
Description: prunus shirote tree in blossom
Click to show/hide Tags
This image is copyright protected. There is a fee for any use. This website is not a source of free images.


text:
A mid-18th century living history group based in the Scottish capital, bringing to life Edinburgh's red-coated civic defence force.
The City or Town Guard of Edinburgh was founded towards the end of the seventeenth century and served the citizens of Edinburgh until it was disbanded in 1817.
Today the Edinburgh City Guard re-enactment group is part of the Alan Breck's Regiment, and our members recreate not only the urban sentinels of the Guard but also a redcoat infantry unit on campaign in Scotland during the Jacobite Rising of 1745.
Joining us means participating in great events across the country, from parades through the streets of Edinburgh to epic battles and fiery skirmishes. Not only that, but we have a wonderful esprit de corps that means everyone who joins is a full part of the team from day one!
The officers and sentinels of the Edinburgh City Guard look forward to meeting you soon...


text:
Installing and setting up Google Chromecast on a TV includes plugging in the dongle, downloading the Chromecast utility and following the prompts. When ordered directly from Google, the Chromecast dongle is accompanied by a single-page instruction guide.
The first step in setting up Chromecast on a TV is to plug the HDMI connector on the Chromecast into an HDMI port on the television. Next, attach the power supply. Plug the USB cable into the micro-USB port on the device, attach the other end to the power adapter, and plug it into an outlet. Change the television source to the corresponding HDMI port, and a Set Me Up screen appears.
The next step, installing the Chromecast utility, requires a computer running the Chrome browser. It is not compatible with other browsers. If not previously installed, download and install Chrome. Once Chrome is installed, download and install the Chromecast utility. Once installed, run the program. The utility immediately searches for the device.
Once detected, the installer automatically launches and displays the device's name on both the TV and PC screens; click Continue. A code is generated. If the code on the computer screen and the television match, click That's My Code to continue setup. Wi-Fi is disabled while device configuration occurs. Once it re-emerges, follow on-screen prompts to select a Wi-Fi network for Chromecast to use; re-entering the password may be necessary in this step. Once connected, the Ready To Cast screen appears.


text:
I'm pretty sure everyone in the human race has seen this vid by now. Personally, I don't think I've seen something circulate the Internet so fast in my life.
In just the past couple of days, several of my FB peeps have posted it on their pages, 10 or so of my friends and family have e-mailed it to me and a number of bloggers (including myself now) have blogged about it.
If you haven't seen it, you must watch it now. If you've already watched it, I urge you to watch it again. I laughed and laughed and laughed the first time I saw it. The second time? I cried. Like a baby, I might add. I think it's just so damn sweet and endearing.
Tears of pure, pure joy
Posted by Audrey Amy at 10:39 AM
2 comments:
- coco said...
Isn't it great, Genes? I absolutely love it! I got so embarrassed when I watched it for the first time at work, because when the bride walked out, I couldn't help crying! So sweet.
- July 29, 2009 at 12:54 PM
- Audrey Amy said...
I know, Genes! If my Big Day ever comes, I just might have to choreograph some similar dance-down-the-aisle magic!
- July 29, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
News has just reached us that Ewa is once again scheduled to play here in the UK.
Details are pretty scarce at the moment and unconfirmed officially, however, from what has been released so far it will be as support to Polish band Kombii at the Indigo Club in London.
I believe the Indigo Club is a part of the O2 complex in Canary Wharf (The former Millennium Dome). Proposed date is Friday 13th November 2015 with a 6pm start. It appears that tickets are not yet available and you should keep checking the O2 website for further information.
Obviously this is fantastic news for us here in the UK especially after the previous aborted dates for here. Even at this early stage if there is any way we can help anyone who is intending to travel we will be happy to do so.
Fingers crossed that it WILL actually happen this time.
This is all we have at the moment -
More updates and news as soon as we know more.
Tuesday, 28 July 2015
Thursday, 23 July 2015
Rutyna from Gdansk 19/07/15.
Thursday, 16 July 2015
Ewa performed 3 songs at this event in Torun (PL) on 12/07/15.
Not at all sure what this event was all about but it appears to have a lot of different artists performing a few songs each.
As far as i know Ewa performed Znak, Ewakuacja and Tajna Misja. There may have been more, i just don't know i'm afraid to say.
Whatever it was it looks to have been a pretty big deal? From my limited Polish knowledge it may have been celebrating the anniversary of a radio station (that is probably completely wrong).
You'll find the other performances on Youtube.
Saturday, 11 July 2015
Haven't did a Friday Night Video for ages.
Virtualni...one of my favourites and one that doesn't get played live often enough.
Sunday, 5 July 2015
As Paul pointed out a few days ago over at the Facebook page Leporelo has now had over 2 Million views on Youtube. Yep...2 MILLION!
A fantastic achievement and an excuse to post the video again. Because it's great.
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
|Project by inmysparetime
|posted 01-19-2011 06:42 AM
|1217 views
|0 times favorited
|1 comment
My oldest sister asked me to make her a 6' tall bookshelf and she loves the look of oak. I moved into a new place and needed a couch and she just happened to have a nice one she didn't have room for anymore. So now I have a couch and she has a bookshelf; everyone is happy. This is just a basic design out of Red Oak Plywood. I wanted to use my new Kreg Jig so the main joinery is pocket hole screws that I tried to hide with Oak plugs. 3 shelves are stationary and 2 are adjustable. They have a lot of big heavy books so I beefed up the support on the bottom shelves to hold the weight. Finished with a Minwax Golden Oak stain, 1 coat of amber shellac to warm up the color a bit and then topped with 3 coats of Arm-R-Seal Semi-Gloss.
-- Mike from Mass
1 comment so far
#1 posted 01-21-2011 03:40 AM
Wow. I think your sister got the better end of the deal on that one! Nice work on the bookshelf.
Have your say...
You must be signed in to post the comments.


text:
St Mary the Virgin, Bell Street
St Mary the Virgin, Bell Street, Feltwell, Norfolk IP26 4AL View on map
Grade I listed parish church dating from 1275 but mainly 15th century with 19th century additions. Fine timbered medieval hammerbeam roof enriched with carved angels and tracery. Tudor poppy head bench ends and flamboyant sedilia. Stained glass in chancel windows by Didron of Paris 1860. Wall monuments to Francis Moundeford d.1590 and Osbertus Moundeford d.1580.
- Grant Recipient: St Mary's PCC
- Contact for access: Ms Christine Parker
- 01842 827152
- [email protected]
- http://www.grimshoebenefice.com
Opening Arrangements
Daily. 9am - 4pm.
In south west Norfolk within easy reach of the A11 and A10. Church is at the junction of St Mary's Street and Bell Street. Rail: Brandon (6 miles), Thetford (10 miles), Downham Market (10 miles).
Parking Spaces
Roadside parking.
Disabled Access
- Wheelchair access: Yes
- Disabled Toilets: No
- Assistance dogs: Yes


text:
What a difference a few minutes of research can make.
If you haven't heard by now, collectors around the globe are talking about the discovery of the third Imperial Russian Fabergé egg, identified last week by Kieran McCarthy of London's Wartski jewelers. The Fabergé community is extremely excited about the find, as the egg has been missing for more than 80 years.
I'm intrigued by the discovery as well, but for a different reason than most: I wonder why it took so long to identify it.
The egg sat on a kitchen shelf in a Midwestern U.S. home for more than 10 years. The egg's owner was a scrap metal dealer who had purchased it at a flea market in 2002. He bought the egg in order to have it melted down for the value of the gold it contained. Dealing in scrap gold has become a popular pastime in post-recession America. Drive through any city and one can see signs nailed to telephone poles: "We buy scrap gold! Highest prices paid!" Even cable TV's National Geographic channel has jumped on the bandwagon, with its series titled "Meltdown," which was introduced last summer. The series tells tales of urban treasure hunters who "search for precious metals in unlikely places hoping to turn junk into gold." According to National Geographic, revenues in the scrap gold business approach $1 billion annually.
But the scrap dealer had miscalculated; he overpaid for the egg, he was told. He plopped down $13,000 for it, and everyone he spoke to told him that it wasn't worth that much. He refused to sell the item at a loss. Instead, he displayed the egg on a kitchen shelf until he decided what to do with it.
For 10 years, whenever the Midwestern scrap dealer (he has not been identified) looked at the egg sitting on his kitchen shelf, all he saw was scrap gold. His tunnel vision prevented him from researching the item he possessed. Was he intrigued by the Cabochon blue sapphires and rose diamonds that encrusted the tripod base, or the lions-paw feet wrapped in gold garlands that supported the tripod? Did he have a hint of curiosity about the Vacheron Constantin watch within the egg, supported by gold hands decorated with sapphires and rose-cut diamonds? Apparently not.
I imagine that eventually the egg became a sore spot for the scrap dealer. He had invested $13,000 in it, and he was in need of money. After 10 years, I suppose some money seemed better than no money, so he determined to sell it. First, he decided, some research was in order. He removed the egg from the shelf and opened it. The inscription on the watch read "Vacheron Constantin," so he turned to his computer and Googled "Vacheron Constantin egg."
After a few minutes of searching, he found an article in The Telegraph (UK) titled "Is this £20 million nest-egg on your mantelpiece?" The article was accompanied by an old black-and-white photo of the egg that was sitting in front of him. What happened next is well documented in the past weeks' media reports: The scrap dealer contacted Wartskis, Mr. McCarthy identified the egg, and a sale was brokered. The sale price is undisclosed, but estimates put the value at $33 million in U.S. dollars.
I shudder to think how close the egg came to being melted down. There were only 50 of these eggs ever made, all for the Russian Imperial family. This particular egg was given by Alexander III to his wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna, at Easter in 1887. The egg was last seen in public in March 1902 at an exhibition in St Petersburg. During the Bolshevik Revolution (1917), all of the Czar's properties were confiscated, inventoried, and stored. A 1922 inventory lists the Vacheron Constantin egg but that's the last official government record of it. All original Fabergé eggs were inscribed with identification numbers, and the official government record notes the number.
In 1922, Joseph Stalin sought to liquidate the Imperial collections for his "treasures to tractors" program, selling the inventoried art and collectibles to wealthy Westerners. It is not known who bought the Constantin egg, but its next appearance was on March 7, 1964, when Parke-Bernet Gallery of New York (a division of Sotheby's) auctioned it for $2,450. At the time, it was not identified as the Vacheron Constantin egg; instead, the catalog description noted that it was a "Gold Watch in Egg-Form Case." Auction buyers remain anonymous, so the buyer was identified only as a "female buyer from the Deep South."
The "female buyer" died in the early 2000s, and her estate was liquidated. Shortly thereafter, the egg was found by our scrap dealer at a Midwestern flea market.
Sometime between 1922 and 1964, the eggs' provenance was lost. Certainly, the Westerner who bought the egg from the Russians knew what he had, but when the egg showed up in New York for auction no one—not even Sotheby's appraisers—knew what it was. It's not known if the "female buyer from the Deep South" knew what she had, either; she left no appraisal records or special instructions in her will. Clearly, the auctioneer or estate sale operator who liquidated her estate didn't know the eggs provenance; neither did the flea market operator who sold the egg to the scrap gold dealer.
The discovery of the Vacheron Constantin Fabergé egg betrays a long line of missed opportunities, and creates more questions than it answers. What happened to the original Russian provenance? Who owned the egg until 1964? Why didn't Parke-Bernet-Sotheby's appraisers recognize the egg? Didn't anyone think to remark that a jewel-encrusted golden egg containing a handmade antique watch might be a Fabergé?
I suppose I can forgive the folks at Parke-Bernet. If their auction was the first time the egg had been seen in public for 42 years, it's doubtful that had any way to trace its' provenance, and Fabergé copies abound. The Cold War was on, after all, and Russia probably wasn't returning phone calls from decadent Western capitalists.
But shame on the estate liquidator and/or executor who sold the egg after the death of the "female buyer from the Deep South." Yes, Google was only a few years old at the time and The Telegraph had not yet published their article on the egg, but qualified appraisers were listed in the phone book. Did no one think to call an appraiser?
The story of the Constantin Fabergé egg should be a wake-up-call to all executors and estate liquidators. Resources abound for identifying and valuing collectibles—WorthPoint foremost among them. To collectors, the message is: keep the provenance of your collection with your collection. If you are missing provenance, have your items appraised and keep the appraisal with your collection. Note in your will the contents of your collections, and where the provenance and/or appraisals can be found. Your heirs will appreciate your efforts.
There are still seven of the original 50 Fabergé Imperial eggs missing. You may not have one of them, but chances are excellent that you have items in your home right now that are more valuable than you realize. The ability to recognize the hidden value of your personal property is as close as your computer. Remember what a few minutes of research made in the story of the Constantin egg.
The Third Imperial Easter Egg will be exhibited at Wartski, 14 Grafton Street, London, W1S 4DE, from April 14-17 between 11a.m. and 5 p.m. This will be the first time it has been seen in public for 112 years.
Wayne Jordan is a Virginia-licensed auctioneer, Certified Personal Property Appraiser and Accredited Business Broker. He has held the professional designations of Certified Estate Specialist; Accredited Auctioneer of Real Estate; Certified Auction Specialist, Residential Real Estate and Accredited Business Broker. He also has held state licenses in Real Estate and Insurance. Wayne is a regular columnist for Antique Trader Magazine, a WorthPoint Worthologist (appraiser) and the author of two books. For more info, visit Wayne Jordan Auctions or Resale Retailing with Wayne Jordan.
WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth


text:
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Vintage Costume Jewelry
When I first began to acquire my late Grandmother's jewelry I though this is going to be great I can take pictures, post them, and sell some vintage jewelry. My grandmother passed away in 1981, most likely stopped buying jewelry no later than 1979 because she was ill. Since then the jewelry has been in my aunts attic. When my aunt retired she decided she wanted to clean out her attic. I was very fortunate when my mother spoke to my aunt (who by the way was going to toss the costume jewelry), and she told her to send it to me because I design jewelry and I would be able to do something with the jewelry. I eagerly awaited for the box to come in the mail. Well the first items were in two fairly large boxes and I was so excited to see my grandmothers jewelry. I began to reminisce when she was getting ready for work putting on her jewelry and the house aroma was her Tabu perfume. My grandmother always wore jewelry for work most of her pieces had matching sets, she took care of her jewelry most is in excellent condition, unless it is that old it has some flaws but is still so fascinating. I began to look through all the jewelry and was so fascinated by the beautiful most sparkly designs. I began to realized this is not as simple as I thought it was going to be. I seen pieces that were signed by the designers Sarah Coventry, Weiss, Lisner, RFL, Japan Movement, Judy Lee, plus many more. My next job was to research the designers. I have gained so much knowledge on designer vintage costume jewelry and the eras the designs were popular. In upcoming weeks I will be selling some original vintage jewelry. As I was browsing threw the many rings anyone out there remember in the 70's the spoon ring which was a pretty hot item then. I have several which are marked sterling silver in different sizes. I will be reopening my shop May 1st and there will be several vintage pieces until then I continue to research and gain knowledge on vintage costume jewelry. Oh and my aunt continues to send more boxes of jewelry. I know now that my grandmother and I love pearls and there are many designs that I just can't part with so until next time………see you then
Posted by Distinctive Delights at 6:25 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Restore the natural luster of your wood furniture with Blain's Farm & Fleet.
Wood furniture can lose its shine over time. Luckily, you have plenty of options when it comes to polishing your furniture. With the help of Blain's Farm & Fleet, you can use a few household items to restore your wood furniture's luster.
What You'll Need
- 2 polishing cloths
- wood polishing spray
You can buy wood polishing spray or make your own with simple household items. There are a few different recipes to try. You can combine 1 cup of olive oil with 1/2 cup of lemon juice or 1/4 cup of white vinegar in an empty spray bottle. If you're into beekeeping or know a beekeeper, you can also make furniture polish with beeswax. These are all great natural options that can restore the shine in your wood furniture.
How to Polish Wood Furniture
1. Make your homemade polish in a clean, empty spray bottle. If you don't want to make your own, a store-bought polish will work, too.
2. Take your first cleaning cloth, and apply a small amount of polish to the cloth. Don't spray it directly on the wood. With the cloth, work the polish into the wood, always going with the grain.
3. With the second cloth, buff the wood's surface until it's dry. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you're happy with the wood's shine.
That's it! Polishing your furniture is an easy and inexpensive way to make it look like new. Read through our article on getting rid of water stains–another common problem with wooden furniture. For more tips on cleaning and DIY projects, visit our Around the Home blog.


text:
It is difficult for a single mom to own a house without the help of a house loan plan. If you are a single parent to your children and are searching the market for a brand new home, the foremost thing that you need to do is to get home loan preapproval. It is important for you to assure the home seller that you will be able to come up with the required finances.
After preapproval, you will need a credit check ready on you. Many times the issue of bad credit can arise. If you are looking for home loans with bad credit for single moms, you might be willing to initially consider a few options such as bad credit lenders in the market. However, the ideal condition is to make certain that you have good credit so you can get a good deal on an interest rate.
Before accepting, you will need to study the interest rate that the lender offers to you. It's significant to understand that there are differences in interest rates from one lender to another. The more assessment you will you do, the brighter will be the chance of getting the lowest interest rate. This is how you can acquire the best house loan for single mothers.
Interest rates are imperative because just a division of a percent will mean the variation of thousands of dollars over the life of your loan reimbursement. There are many websites that allow you to compare mortgage lenders with the click of a button.Apart from home loans, you may also be able to find some kind of housing grants for single mothers as well. The best you can do is to check the government endowment website to see how the government can help you in the provision of funds. You might not come across any government grants for single moms out there for accommodation purposes, but it's definitely worth checking out.
Also keep in mind, when looking online for lenders, there are many lenders that are deceitful. If a lender ever asks you to lie on an appeal about your qualifications, you must realize the possible fraud and do not make the mistake of trusting him.
It can be tough for a single mother to purchase a house. You must make sure that your finances are in a position where you can afford a home loan. If you are on a low salary with children to support, getting your own home may not prove to be a great idea.
If you are not in a position to buy a home right now, then you can always plan long term. The first thing you need to do is to determine if your credit is in a good shape. This means you must make all your payments on time for credit card bills, phone bills, etc.
Getting a single mom home loan is very much possible for single mothers, but the procedure involves an ample search online for the best mortgage lenders, and a close study of your finances.


text:
GlobalFM Awards of Excellence 2014
Deborah Rowland (left) receives her award from from BIFM Chairman Julie Kortens
2014 Global FM Awards of Excellence Winners
The 2014 GlobalFM Awards of Excellence were announced on World FM day, 4th June 2014.
The winners were as follows:
Platinum Award of Excellence in FM – BIFM, Deborah Rowland
Creation of a central FM strategy is assisting government in reducing the budget deficit by proving that FM is the enabler to achieving significant running cost efficiencies across the public sector estate. Working closely with key central government estate stakeholders enabled the development of the FM Contract Model which is now being procured. This will provide transparency of spend and supplier performance, consistency in FM standards and enable government to become an intelligent client.
Gold Award of Excellence in FM – IFMA, Greg Wood, Washington County sustainable Cleaning Program
Washington County constructed and opened over 350,000 square feet of new facility space in 2011 to bring the total portfolio to 1,019,707 rentable square feet. Space maintained is wide ranging in type including jail cells, courts, libraries, standard office space, and fleet maintenance.
One solution to help address many challenges was to adjust our cleaning processes and move staff from night to the daytime so we could optimize our HVAC and lighting systems hours of operation. During the assessment process we determined there were other opportunities for us to implement such as reducing the number of cleaning products used, using Green Seal certified products, and further developing the recycling program to reduce solid waste expenses and the amount that goes to the landfill.
Silver Award of Excellence in FM – ARSEG, AXA France
AXA France, as insurance market leader, wants to be an example in term of Corporate Social Responsibility. Energi'com software for tracking and management of energy consumption is one of the answers for this requirement. Energi'com goal is to involve all the users as actors about her proper site energy consumption.
The Facility management design is modified by the association of pedagogy theory married to a technical activity: it is not anymore only a management subject lead by building technical specialists but a real user's issue, too. Built around a market toolkit, Energi'com, organizes a win-win relationship with all hard-services suppliers. Indeed, real-time data acquisition offers a concrete and dynamic vision for equipment management related to site lifecycle.


text:
just a quick post of what happened to my life for the past few days...
celebrated my first birthday outside philippines last monday Sept.21. turned 27 years old. i had spaghetti, fried chicken, bread, ice cream, cake, and a few grapes.
been doing overtime because of the tight schedule of our project. God help us. at least He let me celebrate my birthday first before going to battlefield again.
i bought the 2 gundam models from a second hand shop yesterday together with 2 other gundam stuff and 2 bags.
what else.... yun lang :)


text:
Oireachtas Prep
Rhythm of Ireland Feis
Coyle Feis: I will be there this weekend! My goal is to recall in this large and out of region group.
Non-dancing tidbits
Goals: Dance confidently at the feis
Days till Os: 31
- With the Oireachtas being a month away, I have really solidified my goals. I am determined that this is my year. I have two goals within reach (and one other secret goal) which include:
- Be a world qualifier, and
- Place in the top ten.
- I have been working on stamina lately, and am feeling less and less exhausted at the end of each dance. Well, this is not entirely true. I am less tired at the end of the first time through each dance.
- Have I mentioned the teams I am on? Along with solos, I will also be part of a mixed 4, a mixed 8, and the senior girls choreography.
Rhythm of Ireland Feis
- I felt fairly confident in my dancing for the day, at least in those moments when I wasn't bumping into the gal I was sharing the stage with. Our steps followed similar path, and we were constantly vying for the same space on the stage. Despite that, nothing seemed to go horribly wrong.
- I was slightly shocked when placements were called! Until that weekend, I had never placed above 6th in an open champion competition, and lo and behold, I found myself not only on the podium for third place, I also received a sash and lovely plate! This gave me a great confidence boost. It's great to have proof that my hard work it playing off.
- This was also the most fun I'd ever had at a local feis. I greatly enjoy spending time with the particular group of senior ladies that are both within my dance school, and that I see only at competitions. There is a lot of camaraderie between all of us. The Maple seniors spend some time before awards playing a favorite game of mine, Cards Against Humanity, and it may just be a feis staple from now on!
Coyle Feis: I will be there this weekend! My goal is to recall in this large and out of region group.
Non-dancing tidbits
- Work is going well! My 4th graders will be putting on a Veteran's Day concert in a week. It will be my first concert at my new school!
- I am moving to a new apartment in the very near future! I will conveniently located in between work and dance. I just now have the added stress of packing all my things up and moving when Oireachtas practicing is reaching critical mass.
Goals: Dance confidently at the feis
Days till Os: 31


text:
Reviews & Reactions
Every day we serve hundreds of people, in our 2 stores, with our delivery partners and with our catering.
We work really hard to provide a remarkable experience - with the food, the staff and the vibe. The press reaction has been superb.
Most people love it, and yep, every now and then something goes wrong, and when that invariably happens, we do our best to fix it.
Ideally we can fix it right when it happens. Sometimes we have to fix it later - but we always try.
We encourage our customers to talk to our staff, write in our visitors books and use the plethora of review sites like Yelp, Trip Advisor, Facebook & Google.
Our scores on various review sites are always really good - always in the 4.5-5 range.
Thank you for your feedback. We need it. We love it.Thank you.
However...WARNING! RANT STARTING!...
We get great reviews most of the time - but we (well Nick actually), gets really frustrated with YELP - because they hide so many of our - and other restaurant's reviews.
"In May & June of 2017 alone - 23 customers wrote reviews of our Santa Monica restaurant. 21 were 5 star. 1 was a 4 star. 1 was a 3 star. Only 3 reviews were published. 21 reviews were hidden. Our overall average ratings are 5 star, but because of YELP hiding the reviews our average score for the previous 3 months dropped to 4. Yelp tells you "its the algorithm, and it has no relation to advertising spend". OK. Yelp hides a bunch of reviews in the "not recommended" section. We have 155 reviews that you can't see, of which 129 hidden are 5 stars. The truth is 91.7% of our reviews are 4 or 5 stars.
All I suggest is that when you are considering a restaurant, take a minute to read ALL the reviews not just the visible ones.


text:
As boys get older, it seems that they just mature into bigger idiots than they were when they were in their teens. My point is Marc Dann, Ohio's former attorney general. What a flaming idiot! Like most politicians, he was involved in a sexual harassment scandal that blew up in his face, forcing him to resign after impeachment papers were thrown his way and an investigation by the Republicans. (I paraphrased -- read the full article for all the juicy details.)
Aren't you boys ever going to learn? When you are a public figure of any kind, you can't do that stuff anymore. I mean, you can, but get ready for your personal life to be splashed across the front pages every newspaper. You can't sleep with prostitutes, cheat on your wife without getting caught, crash vehicles that the state owned when you are drunk or wrongly fire people -- you just can't. It didn't work for Bill Clinton, Eliot Spitzer, Rob Lowe, Sean Penn, Hugh Grant and the list goes on and on.
It's like the more money and power a man gets (just in this case of course), the worse decisions he could make on a daily basis. As one of my coworkers just put it, just admit it if you are a scumbag right off the bat. Don't act like you are the Brady's because we all know you are faking it anyway. Plus, when your scandal does finally leak, your only public statement should be, "Well, I told you I was a scumbag from the beginning."


text:
Break Media is the single largest creator and distributor of male-targeted content online, touching an audience of more than 200 million consumers. The company owns and operates ten web properties including Break.com, the largest humor sit...
TapIt! is a global mobile advertising network with only one goal in mind: To serve the needs of our advertisers, publishers, and app developers better than anyone else. We are committed to empowering our partners to meet their goals through...
In terms of market share, Break Media is clearly lagging behind, losing to TapIt! in all segments.
TapIt! has better usage coverage in more websites categories. Including Arts & Entertainment, People & Society, Business & Industry, Shopping and 26 other categories.
Break Media hasn't got a lead over TapIt! in any websites category.
TapIt! is leading in most countries, including United States, Canada, Italy, United Kingdom and 12 other countries.
Break Media hasn't got a lead over TapIt! in any country.


text:
California state university
long beach
College of
Continuing & Professional Education
Enter the terms you wish to search for.
Welcome Back! Please Sign In.
Forgot your password? >
Not Enrolled? Sign up now. >
All Courses & Programs
Corporate Education
English as a Second Language
May Intersession
Open University
Summer Sessions
Winter Sessions
Workforce Development
College of
Continuing & Professional Education
CPIE Home
All Courses & Programs
CCPE Home
What's New


text:
Candied Yams
A small amount of margarine and orange juice give these yams lots of flavor but little fat.
Nutrition Facts
|Serving Size
|¼ cup
|Total Fat
|less than 1 g
|Saturated Fat
|less than 1 g
|0 mg
|115 mg
Ingredients and Preparation
|Medium yams
|1½ cups
|Brown sugar, packed
|¼ cup
|Flour, sifted
|1 teaspoon
|¼ teaspoon
|Ground cinnamon
|¼ teaspoon
|Ground nutmeg
|¼ teaspoon
|Orange peel
|¼ teaspoon
|Soft tub margarine
|1 teaspoon
|Orange juice
|½ cup
- Directions
- Cut yams in half and boil until tender, but firm (about 20 minutes). When cool enough to handle, peel and slice into ¼-inch thickness.
- Combine sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and grated orange peel.
- Place half of the sliced yams in a medium-sized casserole dish. Sprinkle with spiced sugar mixture.
- Dot with half the amount of margarine.
- Add a second layer of yams, using the rest of the ingredients in the same order as above. Add orange juice.
- Bake uncovered in oven preheated to 350°F for 20 minutes.
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2007 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.


text:
We've featured Game of Thrones pugs before but what would our favorite characters look like if they time-warped straight into the 80s and 90s? Mike Wrobel, a Tokyo-based French graphic designer, put a lighthearted spin on the drama-heavy tv series by giving its cast members a wardrobe makeover reminiscent of the gang from Beverly Hills 90210 and the grunge years. Tyrion in a shirt straight out of a Parker Lewis episode? We thought we've seen it all.
Lost, then found: Via


text:
It 'is well known, and many pediatrician recommended that spend their holidays at sea with the children is very important for their health. This is because the areas near the sea contain a higher amount of iodine, compared to mountain areas and the plains. In general, the iodine is a mineral necessary for our body, especially during the period of development and to regularly run our thyroid.
Bring the kids to the beach, also it entails many secondary benefits, but not of less importance. In fact, the simple act of breathing cleaner air, contrary to that saturated with fine particles of the city, can affect in decreasing the risk of developing allergies and diseases.
The benefits of the beach holidays with children are very numerous, as are numerous for those who are no longer children. A few hours at the beach and the sea can really make you feel better adults and children. Even the sun is an inexhaustible source of energy and can help in combating different health problems. Exposure to the sun, made with appropriate protections and in the correct times, stimulates the body synthesis of vitamin D, fixing calcium in the bones and fight osteoporosis.
Let us now specifically all the reasons to spend their holidays at sea with the kids is really necessary.
If you choose the sea as a destination for their summer holidays with the children, it is essential to organize themselves properly and make sure that the chosen hotel as well as the beach have all necessary facilities for this time relaxing. It is not always easy to see fulfilled the need for total comfort along with that of a cheap holiday, especially when there are children. Fortunately, in Italy we have the Adriatic coast known for the fact that it has the widest range of holiday offers for the family. So for those who decide to spend their summer vacation in the Riviera, you can count on a wide range of hotels and services at all prices, but also on a wide choice of many extra activities that can keep your kids engaged for a holiday the sea of simplicity and repose.
One of the resorts on the Adriatic coast that fully corresponds to the standards described above is Cesenatico, a small, pleasant town between Ravenna and Rimini. A lively and popular area throughout the summer with families for the quiet atmosphere that characterizes it. Here you can find many hotel structures capable of meeting the needs of those who want to spend a vacation in serene family, regenerating and where high quality is matched with its dedicated services affordable. An example is the hotel in Villamarina, a three-star, located in Villamarina di Cesenatico, a short walk from the sea and in the immediate vicinity of the historic center. pride of the hotel is its private beach where you can enjoy a beautiful swimming pool and recreational activities for children.
The Orchid Hotel Villamarina Cesenatico also will prove an excellent choice for those looking to experience all the best of traditional cuisine and discover the flavors of the Romagna cuisine, plus a special attention to the smaller menu. Take children on holiday in Villamarina of Cesenatico will become an opportunity to relax and have fun in a family environment, such as the Orchid Hotel in Villamarina Cesenatico, where you can experience all the benefits of the sea.
You are welcome, recent entries, to comment.


text:
Welcome to the Jewelry Marks Database!
This site is accessible to National Association of Jewelry Appraisers members only.
Please use your current NAJA Username and Password to Log In.
We encourage you to search through our database of jewelry trademarks and maker's marks.
You can search alphabetically, by trademark, or by extinguishing marks.
To view the entire Catalog, click here
Thank you!
Katy Bodenburg


text:
Labor Day weekend has always represented the end of summer to me; practically if not technically. As a child in Manhattan, this weekend meant the sad end of the old year and the beginning of a new one; even more so than New Year's Eve in January, which always felt more like the end of the Christmas season than the beginning of anything new.
Yes, for me, Labor Day always marked the end of all the long lazy days spent reading, daydreaming, and wandering through a nearly empty city enjoying all the parks, museums and other amenities that New York had to offer a curious child with a hunger for everything, including food.
Street vendors with tiny carts that rang little bells to announce their presence offered delights like Italian frozen ices, Puerto Rican piraguas which are shaved ice snow cones filled with exotic syrups like guava, tamarind and guanabana (my favorites with just enough sweetness to make them palatable but a touch of sourness to make them refreshing on sticky 95 degree, 95 % humidity days) as well as coconut ices called coquitos which were creamy frozen concoctions much more like fruit granitas than frozen ices, and there was, of course, the Good Humor and Mr. Softee trucks with their sweet musical melodies resounding through the streets who were welcomed by the neighborhood children during the dog days of summer like conquering heroes freeing the wretched and oppressed.
As an adult now living in San Francisco, the advent of Labor Day has come to mean something quite different. The strange confluence of nature with its Bay Area topography makes San Francisco's weather from late May to early September the greyest, coldest, gloomiest, 55 degree and foggy time of the year; as can be attested by any tourist who had the misfortune of coming here during the summer months and took home a pair of sweats with "San Francisco" emblazoned on them as unintended souvenirs. Rather than marking the end of summer here, Labor Day represents its beginning. The sunniest, warmest weather of the year in San Francisco starts now and ends the first days of November. Labor Day now means to me the best of summer's produce: yummy, ripe, amazing heirloom tomatoes in all shapes & colors, avocados, peaches and figs. While we chill in San Francisco, the surrounding areas north, east and south of us are sweltering in the more typical summer heat producing lush fruits that are just now at their most abundant and ready to be harvested.
So for all of you who will be spending this long holiday weekend at home either picking fruit from your garden or your favorite market, here are a few simple delicious recipes that will allow you to showcase the "fruits" of your labor and share goodies with your family and friends. These recipes are an excellent way to use fruit that may not be picture perfect because they've somehow gotten bruised on their way from the market or the garden to the kitchen. (By the way, tomatoes are definitely fruits; just ask the chefs at Oliveto's whose annual tomato dinner we attended last night, and who had mostly great success with them as desserts particularly the amazing fried ravioli filled with tomato jam & topped with confectioner's sugar. Delicious!)
We start with a fresh bruschetta of caponata and burrata with prosciutto crisps, and an easy bake pizza using a store-bought lavash crust, roasted heirloom tomato sauce with fresh mozzarella, shitake mushrooms and sweet Italian sausage. Next, we grill skewers of ahi tuna, cherry tomatoes & Greek haloumi cheese as well as Niman Ranch baby back ribs with a side of grilled corn on the cob. We then add an additional side of Caprese pasta salad made simply with fresh boccocino (tiny mozzarella balls) or feta (if you have o.d.'ed on mozzarella), calamata olives, fresh heirloom tomatoes, basil & olive oil. For dessert, warm blackberry & apricot crumble with mascarpone ice cream garnished with balsamic syrup and mint leaves. (There is definitely a bread, fruit & cheese theme running through this meal; they are often the best ingredients for a satisfying summer meal.)
This is a feast that's impressive to see, easy to make and even easier to eat! As always, substitute anything you like for the ingredients in the recipes except the ribs which have no good substitute and are a Labor Day tradition in my home. If you really don't like ribs grill a steak or pork tenderloin just don't use the ribs' recipe instructions as the heat & timing are intended for the slower cooking method more conducive to ribs.
Menu For A Labor Day Weekend Feast
All recipes for the Labor Day Weekend menu serve 4-6 people.
Bruschetta with Caponata, Burrata and Prosciutto Crisps
Note: Burrata is fresh mozzarella with a creamy curd interior and a very short shelf life of about 2-3 days If you can't find burrata in your market (Whole Foods, Fresh Market or other specialty grocers usually carry it) substitute fresh buffalo or cow's milk mozzarella from Italy or a good fresh creamy ricotta from your local dairy farmer; otherwise, skip the cheese because Polly-O while ok on a pizza will not be good over the caponata.
- 1 fresh loaf of Ciabatta or other country-style Italian bread, sliced into 3/4" rounds
- 1 lb. of fresh burrata, left at room temperature (about 1 hour)
- 1/3 cup of extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 lb. of very thinly sliced prosciutto
- 1/2 large onion, sliced & cut into fine dice
- 1/2 large red pepper, cut into strips then chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, crushed then minced
- 2 japanese eggplants, cut into 1/2 inch dice, erring on the side of larger dice if in doubt
- 2 zucchini, cut into 1/2 inch dice, same size as eggplant
- 1 tablespoon italian tomato paste
- 2 lbs. of heirloom or roma tomatoes, stemmed, seeded and cut into small dice (or 28 oz. can of plain crushed tomatoes)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup fresh calamata or black olives, pitted & roughly chopped
- 2 tablespoons of capers, drained
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 handful of fresh parsley, minced
- 3 sprigs of fresh oregano, leaves only, minced
- 10 large basil leaves, thinly julienned
- 1 pinch of herbes de provence
- freshly ground salt & pepper to taste
1) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Fire up grill.
2) Heat a large saute or braising pan to medium high. When hot, add half the olive oil letting it heat up for a few seconds then add onions and 1 grind of salt & pepper mill.
3) Saute onions for a minute then add red peppers & garlic, lower the heat to medium and add the eggplant followed by the zucchini, stirring to coat vegetables evenly with olive oil & aromatics. If the eggplant has absorbed the oil in the pan and still appears dry add additional olive oil one tablespoon at a time until the eggplant appears moistened.
4) Now add the red pepper flakes & herbes de provence, gently stirring until fragrant (10 - 15 seconds) followed by the tomato paste. Coat the vegetables with the tomato paste and let the mixture cook for 2 minutes until paste loses its raw color.
5) Add the tomatoes, gently stirring to completely incorporate, then add the parsley, oregano & olives. Lower heat to low. Allow the sauce to cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to insure that sauce does not burn. When sauce has thickened, add lemon juice, capers & half the basil, stirring gently, careful not to break up the eggplant or the zucchini. Taste sauce. Add salt & pepper to taste. Turn off the heat and let cool or keep at the lowest simmer possible and cover pan with lid to keep warm.
Caponata can be prepared & refrigerated after cooling up to 4 days in advance then either reheated or served at room temperature.
6) While sauce is cooking, place prosciutto slices on a baking sheet that has been covered with either foil or parchment paper. Bake prosciutto uncovered in middle rack for 5- 7 minutes until crisp. Do not let it burn. When prosciutto is crisp, remove from oven & let cool. When cool, crumble each slice into smaller pieces like large bacon bits. Set aside in a small decorative serving bowl.
7) While prosciutto, cools lightly brush bread slice on both sides with remaining (or additional) olive oil and place on grill. Grilling both sides about 45 seconds or so each side until bread is warm & has grill marks.
8) Now assemble the platter: On one very large or two smaller platters, place a bowl filled with the caponata & a serving spoon in the center, the burrata with a serrated cheese knife, the prosciutto bits in another bowl, the remaining basil and the bread slices around the perimeter. Have each guest serve himself. Take a slice of bread, top first with the caponata, then the cheese, sprinkle with the basil & the prosciutto. Mangia!!!
Pizza with Roasted Heirloom Tomatoes, Shitake Mushrooms, and Grilled Italian Sausage
Note: I have greatly simplified this dish by using store-bought Middle Eastern lavash not the crispy cracker kind but the soft, large rectangular sheets of Armenian flatbread used for levant and other kinds of sandwiches. the result is a very pleasant crisp crust that reminds me of pizza you'd find in Rome. You can use any flatbread you like including whole unsliced pitas or large flour tortillas; just remember the thinner it is the less cooking time you'll need when you pre-bake the bread. A great sweet French baguette like the San Francisco Bay Area's bakery "Acme's" sweet baguette also works beautifully. Please don't use Boboli. It is a calorie rich, flavor-deficient, sodium laden brick of dough that is not worthy of summer's loveliest ingredients. If, however, you are more adept than I am at making pizza dough & have decided to make your own crust, by all means, more power to you!
As to cookware, I prefer the use of a preheated pizza stone that you can find at William-Sonoma, Macy's or on the internet. It really makes a difference; but, if you don't have or want one, a preheated cookie sheet would work, too.
As for the tomatoes, I choose to roast them for two reasons: 1) roasting the heirlooms really concentrates their flavor & sweetness 2) a wetter, more traditional sauce would be too watery for the lavash and would result in a soggy, messy crust that falls apart when you try to eat it. Definitely not appetizing!
- 2 soft lavash , carefully folded in half & brushed with refined olive oil (not extra virgin) on both sides; or 2 sweet baguettes, sliced in half horizontally; then cut in half vertically
- 4 large or 2-1/2 lbs of heirloom tomatoes of different variety & color, cut into 1/4" slices
- 4 large garlic cloves, crushed then minced
- 1/2 of a large red pepper, sliced into strips
- 6 large grilled or fried Italian sausages with fennel seed, cut into long slices lengthwise after grilling; then cut each half slice into quarters again (should be about 48 pieces); or, alternatively, remove the uncooked sausages from their casings & saute the ground meat in a pan breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon until cooked through
- 1/2 lb of shitake mushrooms, sliced, sauteed in extra virgin olive oil & seasoned with salt & pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoons of dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon fresh oregano, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon of herbes de provence
- 10 large fresh basil leaves plus more for garnish, julienned
- 2 Tablespoons of fresh minced parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon each of fresh ground salt & pepper, to season tomatoes
- 1 lb. of fresh mozzarella, patted dry with paper towels & sliced thinly (Polly O is ok here, if necessary)
- 1/2 cup of fresh parmagiano-reggiano, shaved or coarsely grated
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil plus more on hand for drizzling
1) Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place pizza stone in center rack. Adjust oven so as to have an additional rack on the top for the roasting of the tomatoes.
2) Prepare a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Place tomato slices & red pepper strips in one single layer on sheet. Tomatoes on one side, peppers on the other side. Use two baking sheets if necessary. Season vegetables with salt, pepper, oregano, herbes de provence a pinch of parsley & basil and minced garlic. Drizzle half of the oil over the vegetables, using your fingers to completely coat them in the oil, tops & bottoms, and distribute the seasonings evenly over them. When oven reaches 450 degrees, place the tomatoes in the oven & roast about 15-20 minutes until lightly browned, soft and fragrant. Do not leave them completely unattended as the garlic as well as the tomatoes can burn quite easily. When done, remove tomatoes & peppers from oven & let cool completely
3) While the tomatoes roast, organize the remaining ingredients to be prepared for assembly of the pizzas.
4) While the tomatoes cool, blind bake the lavash (one at a time if your pizza stone is small and you only have one) for 2 minutes each crust. It is very important that you use light or refined olive oil to brush the lavash with; extra-virgin olive oil will burn in the dry heat of the stone & ruin the taste of your crust. Carefully remove the pizza stone from the oven (it's hot & heavy) and assemble your pizza. Turn the oven temperature up to 500 degrees.
5) With the crust still on the hot stone, start assembly by brushing the lavash with any remaining oil in the tomato roasting pan, then, using half the tomatoes and a flexible spatula or your fingers to remove them from the baking dish; you should almost be able to spread them like a jam on your crust. Sprinkle them with half the parsley & basil & add a very light drizzle of extra virgin olive oil as the moisture from the cool ingredients should not prevent the e.v.o.o. from burning.
Next, place half the sausage evenly over the tomatoes. Taking care to leave a 1/2 inch border around the crust free of the ingredients to prevent crust from prematurely cracking under their weight.
Repeat with half the shitakes, finding the open spaces between the sausage pieces. Do the same with half of the roasted red peppers.
Sprinkle half of the parmagiano over the entire pizza, followed by half the slices of mozzarella, being careful not to overload the crust. If the stone is large enough to fit both, repeat the above assembly using the other crust. If not just bake one at a time.
5) Place the pizza on the stone in the center rack of the oven & cook 5-7 minutes or until mozzarella is bubbly, lightly golden & melted. If the mozzarella has not yet melted, leave pizza stone in center rack but turn on the broiler & broil watching very carefully the entire time until cheese reaches desired texture. Once you're happy with it, turn off the broiler, remove the pizza stone, let the pizza stand, for two minutes then slice with a pizza cutter & serve with an extra sprinkle of fresh basil.
Grilled Corn with Grilled Baby Back Ribs
Note: This is the easiest thing to make on the menu. I find it completely unnecessary to boil the ribs first, then slow smoke them, then grill them. A rack can be cooked completely on a gas grill in 40 - 45 minutes replete with a beautifully glazed crust & tender, succulent meat if you know where your hot spots are & don't leave them completely unattended ( one bathroom or wine run is ok). Use Niman Ranch pork if you can. Although the ranch is much larger now than when they started almost 30 years ago, their pork is still humanely raised & slaughtered and the proof is in the taste of the meat which you can just tell came from a contented pig. A happy pig is a tasty pig!
The corn can be grilled with the husks on for added moisture but a hot husk is a wicked thing to try to remove when your guests are hungry. So husk them first, rinse them in water to remove any remaining cornsilk and leave them damp when you wrap them in foil to allow them to steam. You can lightly butter the foil or corn before you wrap them but you are only inviting flare ups in the grill. Butter & season them before eating.
- Dry rub & wet rub, as directed in the directions to follow
- 2 racks of baby back pork ribs, preferably from Niman Ranch
- 12 ears of white corn, prepared according to the preceding note
- 1 stick melted unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup (plus more for the table) of your favorite barbecue sauce (Mine is Bryan's Smooth and Spicy Barbecue Sauce, a private label sold by my favorite butcher shop, Bryan's)
- salt & pepper, at the table to taste
- lime wedges for corn
1) For seasoning, I use a dry rub that I mix of garlic powder, hot Hungarian paprika or Chipotle chili powder, ground cumin, a tiny amount of fresh ground sea salt (too much salt toughens grilled meat) and a more generous amount of fresh ground pepper. I usually use 2 parts of garlic powder to one part cumin & chili powder or paprika. The actual amounts depend on the size of the slabs, how the seasonings taste that day to me & my mood. Mix more than you'll need and save the mixture for another time in a empty spice bottle.
2) Let the ribs with the dry rub sit at room temperature for an hour.
3) Preheat the grill to high heat.
After the meat has reached room temperature, prepare a wet rub of about:
1/4 cup refined (not virgin or unrefined) olive, peanut or sesame oil
2 tablespoons of low sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons of sherry or cider vinegar (do not use balsamic)
1 teaspoon of sriratcha or other hot sauce
Whisk the ingredients together.
Cover the ribs well with the marinade and let them sit on the counter for another 15 minutes before you pat them gently with a paper towel to remove excess marinade.
4) Grill is hot when you can barely hold your palm 1 foot above the grill for a count of five; about 15 - 20 minutes after lighting it, depending on the grill.
When grill is hot, turn temperature down to medium and place ribs directly over the hottest part for about 3 minutes on one side then 3 minutes on the other side. At this stage, we want to sear the meat to caramelize it and seal in the juices but we don't want to burn it. Repeat cycle of 3 minutes per side once more, this time either turning down the heat slightly again or alternatively, moving the ribs away from the hottest part of the grill but still keeping it over direct heat. Watch for flare ups and be prepared to lower heat further or move ribs to the coolest part of the grill, if the flame seems too hot.
5) After about 12 minutes or so, move the ribs to the coolest part of the grill and lightly brush the top side with your favorite barbecue sauce. Let ribs cook on that side for 5 minutes then turn and baste ribs with the barbecue sauce cooking the other side for an additional 5 minutes.
Here is where the grilling becomes more of an art than a science. You must be cognizant of how much the glaze is browning, to avoid burning it but some charred bits are absolutely essential for that grilled flavor. Keep basting and turning each side every 5 minutes until you have cooked each side for about 15 minutes. Don't be afraid to test the ribs for doneness by hacking a little piece off. Don't forget to also change the right side / left side orientation of where the ribs are on the grill as well as turning their tops & bottoms. The right side (as well as the front portion) of my grill is always hotter than the left side (and the back portion) of it.
6) When the ribs are tender, baste them one final time each side; moving them to the hottest part of your grill for a few seconds each side if the glaze is not as browned as you like it. Just be careful not to burn the glaze. Remember, the sugar in it burns very quickly. Remove from the grill to a warm platter & loosely cover with foil, keeping them in a warm place until ready to serve.
7) Place damp corn in its foil wrap over medium heat on the grill about 5 minutes each side while ribs rest. After 10 minutes, check 3 ears of corn: the one on the hottest part of the grill, the coldest part of the grill & the middle part of the grill & gauge cooking time accordingly. Serve with melted butter, salt & pepper & lime wedges.
Grilled Ahi Skewers with Heirloom Tomatoes, Haloumi and Mint Pesto Dipping Sauce
Note: It is important that the Ahi fillet be at least 1" thick so when you cut it into cubes & grill it, it will be remain moist & rare inside with a good char outside. Ahi is expensive & you don't want to spend $20 per lb. for something that tastes like styrofoam from overcooking. Ask your seafood purveyor to cut it to order if you don't see a thick enough piece. You can also use swordfish as a substitute since the swordfish is oiler, can be 3/4" thick & stand being fully cooked. Sea scallops or shrimp would also make excellent substitutes and have the added bonus of naturally being the perfect size for skewers.
Use metal skewers, if you have them. You don't need to soak them first like you do bamboo skewers and you won't be contributing to our overloaded landfills because the stainless steel skewers can be used over & over making them more "sustainable" (my new favorite word) & economical.
Cherry tomatoes are great for the skewers. There are all kinds of varieties of heirloom being sold in bay area supermarkets now. You can use larger tomatoes cut into chunks, of course, if you need to. Haloumi is a cheese from Cyprus traditionally made from sheep's and goat's milk with a firm texture and salty flavor that holds up well to grilling and broiling. If you can't find it in your market, you can substitute smoked mozzarella or smoked provolone but may have to use larger chunks of cheese and cook them at a lower temperature to prevent a cheese meltdown all over your grill.
The dipping sauce is a minty pesto sauce which should offer a cool sweet counterpoint to the hot, spicy skewers and the salty haloumi.
This recipe will make 12 skewers.
For the skewers:
- 2-1/4 lbs. of 1" thick sashimi grade Ahi, cut into 36 1" thick cubes
- 48 large cherry tomatoes
- 1-1/2 lbs. of haloumi, cut into 24 1" thick cubes
- 12 metal skewers that have been oiled or 12 wooden skewers that have been soaked in water for one hour
For the marinade:
- 1/4 cup of refined vegetable oil: olive, sesame or peanut
- 2 Tablespoons of low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 cloves of garlic, finely minced
- 1 Tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon of oregano
- 1 teaspoon of freshly ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon of sriratcha sauce or 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
For the dipping sauce:
- a handful of fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped
- a handful of parsley leaves, roughly chopped
- 2 sprigs of oregano, leaves only
- 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed
- 1 shallot, roughly chopped
- the juice of one lemon
- salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 1/4 cup of unsalted roasted walnuts
- 1/4 cup of chicken stock
- 1/3 cup of high quality extra virgin olive oil
1) Assemble skewers: each skewer will have 3 pieces of ahi, 4 cherry tomatoes & 2 pieces of haloumi arranged with ahi, then add cherry tomato, then add haloumi, another cherry tomato, another piece of ahi, cherry tomato, halomui, cherry tomato and ends with a piece of ahi.
2) Arrange all twelve skewers in a shallow baking dish trying to keep them in a single layer. Now combine all the ingredients for the marinade whisking them in a medium mixing bowl. When well combined, pour marinade over the skewers making sure to coat them completely using a pastry brush or your hands to insure the marinade has evenly coated each skewer. You can at this point cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for as little as 15 minutes up to 24 hours.
3)Preheat grill on medium high.
4)Prepare pesto: Using a food processor (or you can make it by hand with a large mortar & pestle if you like a more rustic texture), add the mint, parsley, oregano, garlic, shallot & lemon & pulse together lightly for a two seconds to mix the herbs together. Then add the walnuts, pulsing for a few seconds until the mixture begin to look like a paste & walnuts are very finely chopped. Then with the processor running slowly add the olive oil until an emulsion forms and the mixture resembles pesto. Then add the honey & pulse for two seconds to incorporate well. Finally add the chicken broth in a slow steady stream watching carefully until the pesto is smooth but not too runny. Remove the sauce from the food processor, place in a serving bowl and set aside. (You can heat it in a microwave for 20 seconds before serving but it really isn't necessary if the pesto has been kept at room temperature.)
5) Remove skewers from refrigerator. Blot off all the excess marinade with a paper towel then carefully place as many skewers as will comfortably fit on your grill, you may need to cook the skewers in batches depending on the size of your grill. Grill skewers for one minute each side for a total of two minutes each skewer. The ahi & haloumi should blacken slightly but don't overcook the fish. Place skewers on a warm platter, brush lightly with some of the pesto sauce & serve with the remaining pesto on the side.
Pasta a la Caprese with Boccocino & Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes
Note: It really doesn't get any easier than this dish. Cook the pasta, add the other ingredients raw, stir & voila. It's great hot or cold. You can use any small shape pasta you have on hand: fusilli, shells, orrechiette, farfalle are all good choices. Boccocini and cherry tomatoes have a natural affinity for each other; being as perfectly sized for each other as they are. You can obviously use small chunks of larger mozzarella & tomatoes or get away from Capri & head to Greece by substituting chunks of feta & oregano for the mozzarella & basil. I add calamata olives to the dish; not a traditional part of the caprese salad but then neither is the pasta. Olives add a nice bite and acidity to the dish and balances the sweet mild flavor of the mozzarella & the cherry tomatoes. Remember the quantity of each ingredient can & should be adjusted to suit your taste. This recipe like most is just a guide, an outline; it's up to you to color between the lines and make it the way you'd like it .
- 1 lb. box of small shaped pasta like fusilli, shells, etc.
- 1/2 cup of very good quality extra virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
- 1 pint of heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved if large
- 8 oz. of fresh boccocino, patted dry
- handful of basil leaves, julienned
- 2 oz. pitted calamata olives, halved
- 2 oz. freshly grated parmagiano reggiano
- 1 clove garlic, grated (optional)
- the juice of one lemon (optional)
- fresh ground salt & pepper to taste
1)Put a large pot to boil with salted water.
2)When water is rapidly boiling, slowly add the pasta, stirring it in and being careful not to stop the water from boiling. Cook the pasta according to the manufacturers instructions.
3)While pasta cooks, assemble all the ingredients (have them on hand). Place a large pasta serving bowl next to range & add garlic, whisk in olive oil, lemon juice, salt & pepper. Add basil, mozzarella, olives & tomatoes gently stirring them in & coating them with olive oil. You can refrigerate it at this time, if you'd rather keep the mozzarella from melting. Just be sure to bring the bowl next to the pasta pot (if you want to eat the pasta warm) so as to have it handy when you are ready to combine it with the pasta.
4)When pasta is cooked, turn off the heat & using a large slotted spoon or pasta fork, slowly remove the pasta from the pot, one spoonful at a time, allowing the water to drain completely before adding each spoonful to the large pasta serving bowl. When all the pasta is added, stir gently to combine all the ingredients, sprinkle the parmagiano over the pasta. Drizzle additional olive oil if desired & serve. Garnish with basil leaves.
If you prefer this as a cold salad, you can simply cook the pasta one minute less then drain the pasta in a colander, fill half the pasta pot with cold water & ice and plunge the colander in the pot for two or three minutes to cool it before draining and adding to the other ingredients.
Warm Blackberry and Apricot Crumble with Mascarpone Ice Cream
Note: Sorry, there is no real recipe for ice cream here. There are too many high quality premium ice creams available out there for me to suggest that I have a better way to do it at home. Instead, I think you should buy a pint of your favorite vanilla ice cream, allow it to soften at room temperature for an hour and then mix in well half a pint of mascarpone that has been "lightened" by whisking it with 3 oz. very cold heavy cream, 2 Tablespoons Frangelico liqueur, & 1/8 cup of confectioners sugar. Make sure you use a stainless steel bowl that's large enough to accomodate everything & then cover the surface of the ice cream with plastic wrap & put it in the freezer for a few hours. You could even do it a day ahead. The balsamic syrup adds a nice finishing touch to the dish but is not essential. Omit it if you like.
For the fruit:
- 2 cups blackberries or blueberries
- 3 cups of apricots or peaches, pitted & sliced thickly
- 2 Tablespoons cornstarch (don't use flour)
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
For the crumble:
- 1/2 cup unsalted walnuts, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup unsalted almonds, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
- 3/4 stick of unsalted butter, very cold & cut into 1/2" cubes
For the balsamic syrup: (optional)
- 1/3 cup of balsamic vinegar (don't use your finest, just a good $5-$10 vinegar will do)
- 2 Tablespoons of honey
- 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice
- a few sprigs of fresh mint
For the ice cream see note
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2) In a large mixing bowl, combine well all the ingredients for the fruit and pour into a small to medium lightly buttered gratin/baking dish (about 3-4 quart baking dish, Le Creuset or Emile Henry are the best & prettiest).
3) Using a food processor (or another large stainless steel bowl, if you're doing it au naturel), place all the ingredients except the butter in the bowl and pulse until ingredients have combined well; then, add the butter & pulse (or use your fingers, if food processorless) until the butter is the size of very small peas or the mixture resembles coarse oatmeal.
4) Crumble the dry ingredients over the fruit, and gently pat down on top of the fruit. (you may have leftover crumble mixture). Then place baking dish in oven & bake for 35-40 minutes until top is golden brown & aromatic and fruit is bubbling. Remove from oven.
5) Let crumble cool on a baking rack for 30 minutes. While crumble is cooling combine 1/3 cup of balsamic vinegar with 2 Tablespoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice by whisking together in a small saucepan set over low heat. Keep vinegar mixture over heat until reduced by half, stirring occasionally to prevent it from burning. When done, remove from heat & allow it to cool slightly. Serve crumble with a scoop of mascarpone ice cream a, a drizzle of balsamic syrup and garnish with a sprig of mint.


text:
Ahead of its dynamic debut at the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed, McLaren reveals the track-only 570S Sprint.
When the Sports Series was launched last year it drew on more than 50 years of racing experience to deliver unparalleled dynamism to customers in the sports car sector. Now that dynamism has been directed back to the track with the launch of the 570S Sprint.
Developed alongside the 570S GT4 that's currently racing successfully in the British GT Championship, the 570S Sprint is a track-only evolution of the 570S Coupé road car. 'We're seeing a rise in demand from customers who want to get on track, though not necessarily to go racing,' explains McLaren Motorsport Director, Ansar Ali. 'The 570S Sprint is the perfect car for someone who doesn't have the time to devote to an entire season of competition, but still wants to experience the exhilaration of driving a McLaren racing car.'
Built around the carbon fibre MonoCell II chassis from the 570S Coupé road car and 570S GT4, the Sprint is both light and immensely strong. Power comes from the same 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 engine fitted to the road car, but is optimised for on-track performance, and delivers its power through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Pirelli slick tyres wrap centre-lock wheels, while the coilover suspension can be adjusted to suit different tracks and drivers.
'We've set up the 570S Sprint to feel just like the GT4 car, but with a focus on helping the less experienced driver,' says McLaren Chief Test Driver Chris Goodwin. 'It has the same aerodynamic upgrades including an extended splitter and an enhanced aerodynamic package.'
Inside, a racing seat is cocooned by a roll cage, while driving modes can be switched between Wet, Sport and Track settings, each with different levels of electronic stability control assistance.
'Exactly the same experience and know-how has gone into the 570S Sprint that we put into our race-winning 650S GT3 and the McLaren P1™ GTR,' reveals Chris. 'You could use it at track events and have an awful lot of fun, but it can also be made eligible for various championship series around the world, which opens up all sorts of possibilities.'
And if you really get bitten by the bug and feel you're ready to take your track activities a step further? Return your car to McLaren to be upgraded to full GT4 spec and prepare for a whole new adventure.