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OK, here they are, courtesy of that sadistic mind over at the Couch:
1) You are a teacher of young minds. If you could change one thing about your classroom what would it be?
I became a teacher because I love two things above all else: music and kids. It balances out. On the days the kids are horrendous, I have my music to soothe me. When my music is uncooperative or uninspiring, the kids give me a reason to continue. And on those "Eureka" days with the kids, I have both. Why mess with a perfect balance? There is nothing I would change.
2) If you could select a career for your son, what would it be?
I would never presume to choose a career for my child. But given the question, I would choose for him something that would make him happy and fulfilled. Knowing his preferences and aptitudes right now, I would probably steer him in the direction of architecture (building blocks), construction (big trucks and heavy machinery) or professional sports (anything that involves a ball and running). He is, after all, a pretty typical 4 year old.
3) You play a multitude of instruments. If you were able to appear on stage; what venue would you choose, what instrument would you play, and what song would you perform?
This one was very difficult to answer, until this morning at 3 am when I was pondering how to respond to ANY of these questions. Suddenly, it hit me. My venue of choice would be Vinny's living room. The instrument? A kazoo. And I would perform "The Song That Never Ends".
Apparently, SOME people don't think a kazoo is a "real" musical instrument. LOL. So my second answer to this question is that I would love to play Gershwin's Piano Preludes, followed by Rhapsody In Blue, at Lincoln Center, probably at the Avery Fisher Hall, because I love the atmosphere there.
4) Tell us the one place you have never been to, but long to visit and why.
This was the most difficult question to answer. Not because there were no answers, but because there were so many possibilities. Narrowing it down seemed an insurmountable task. Then I began to think outside the box. I realized there was only one real answer, and it was one I had expressed many times before. The one place I long to visit doesn't really exist physically in one place, except in the hearts of the people who met there. I grew to love those people in a relatively short period of time, although I've never met any of them face to face. Those people are the "why" and will always be very important to me. The "place" is the Original Soul Patrol. Was that cheating, Vinny? I hope not, because it's the best answer for the question, and you know it.
Ok, the Bondman thought I cheated on this answer, too, so I will redo it, as well. If I had to choose a real place to visit, it would be the Australian Outback. My reasons are that the area is populated by wonderfully fascinating people and animals, and is probably as physically different from my home region as anywhere on the planet. It's also far, far away from here, and right now, that's where I wish I was.
5) You can choose to change one day in your life. Which is it and why?
I have always tried to live my life without regret, but there are a few days that I would love to have a chance to "do over". The most obvious choice would be the day I said "Yes" when my response should have been to scream omg, and run away, fast! Not too many good things came of that particular event, so I would have no regrets in redoing that day and changing the history of my most recent life.


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Chronic Pain
: 'Mindfulness' Might Help Older Adults With Back Pain
Posted February 28, 2016
By Alan Mozes
HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Feb. 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Mindful meditation may offer a measure of pain relief to seniors suffering from chronic lower back pain, new research suggests.
The study involved nearly 300 older adults with long-term lower back pain, half of whom were assigned to a two-month mindful meditation course.
"Mindfulness meditation is a method to learn how to be fully engaged in the present moment and not let the mind get so easily distracted," explained study lead author Dr. Natalia Morone. She is an associate professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.
As patients practiced mindfulness meditation and tried to stay more focused on the present moment, "participants found they experienced less pain," Morone said. They also saw short-term benefits in physical function, the study found.
More than half of adults older than 65 suffer from chronic pain, most commonly in the back, according to background notes with the study. Because medication side effects are more common in old age, many doctors and patients seek nonpharmaceutical treatments, the researchers said.
"There is no magic bullet for pain," said Dr. John Mafi, an assistant professor of medicine with the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.
"The closest we have is time, as 75 percent of pain will get better within two months, and 90 percent within three months. But simply telling patients to be patient can be frustrating," he said.
"So, although this is a small study, and the results are modest, it's still a first of its kind," said Mafi, who wasn't involved in the research. "That's exciting, because it offers some new movement in the realm of possible therapies. It's definitely worthy of continued study with a larger group of patients," he added.
For the study, published online Feb. 22 in JAMA Internal Medicine, 282 Pittsburgh residents over age 65 were recruited between 2011 and 2014. All had experienced at least three months of ongoing, "moderate" back pain that reduced their functioning. All were mindfulness first-timers.
About half were assigned to engage in weekly 90-minute sessions of mindful meditation for eight weeks. Sessions centered on "directed breathing" and greater thought- and sensation-awareness, designed to help them redirect their attention.
The others participated in an eight-week healthy aging education program, which touched on issues such as blood pressure management and stretching, though not pain management specifically.
At completion, both groups returned for six monthly one-hour "booster" sessions.
The result: While both groups improved in terms of mobility and pain, by some measures the mindfulness group improved significantly more.
For example, while 37 percent of the healthy living group said their back pain had eased after the two-month program, that figure was more than 80 percent among the mindfulness participants. Six months later, 42 percent of the healthy living group said their pain had at least "minimally" improved, compared with more than 76 percent among the meditation group, the findings showed.
With respect to "pain self-efficacy," a standard measurement of pain control, the meditation group was ahead at the two-month mark, but six months later that difference had all but disappeared, the investigators found.
Similarly, the greater physical function improvements observed in the mindfulness group at the program's end had also dropped off by the six-month mark, ultimately matching gains achieved by the nonmeditation group.
On that score, Morone theorized that the functional gains seen in both groups might be due to the emphasis both interventions placed on healthy living. She suggested that a meditation program supplemented by exercise -- such as brisk walking -- might result in even greater and longer-lasting benefits.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Phew. To be honest that picture below is all I have felt like saying here for a while. That's the trouble with writing a blog based on being real. When I can't figure out what is real anymore things get a bit messy and I have to stop for a while. (I've promised myself this isn't the place for unrestrained darkness). It's been an interesting few weeks in the world of my head. I have dark moments in my life, moments when I just don't know what is real, don't know which of my thoughts to trust and moments when I get lost. I'm learning to deal with them, and I'm learning to try and remember that there are things that remain whether I think I can believe in them or not.
Words that help me in these times come from Isaiah 50:10 "Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God."
I like the fact that I am in good company in these dark times, many Christians in the past have struggled with this darkness. I like the fact that God uses this apparent weakness in me to help others. But it's still hard to keep walking, to keep choosing the light whose call is so hard to hear at times. Thankfully there are friends with flashlights to come and walk with me. Thankfully I don't follow a set of arguments, I follow a real live person who walked on the earth, lived, died and rose again. He is the source of my hope, joy and fundamental light in this darkness. He is the reason and the way I am able to keep walking. Thankfully it is his new mercies that work each morning and his freedom that enables me to get up, if shakily, and get back on the road home.


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If you haven't been invited to try Particls yet, you may be interested in this.
What is Particls?
Particls is a desktop alert program for RSS feeds. Instead of reading all of your feeds through a list such as in Google Reader, you can receive personalized alerts to your desktop through Particls. What's cool about Particls is that it doesn't show everything. First you customize the level of interruption, but then Particls will learn from you, taking note of which stories you stop to read, or click on. You can specify words to watch for, words to blacklist, and specific feeds to watch. You can even rate sources so Particls can make a better decision next time.
I don't see Particls as a replacement for my Google Reader. Instead, I think it has a completely different purpose. In my Reader account, all of my subscriptions are blogs that I am familiar with, etc. I usually don't keep subscriptions on news feeds. What's nice about Particls is that you can input a bunch of news sources such as CNN or Reuters (I think Particls automatically searches many of these). Then, as your news interests change, so will your watch list. During a tragedy such as the Virginia Tech shootings, you may want to add "Virginia" to your watch list, so you can keep up to date on the latest news. However you may not be fond of the latest political scandal, so you might want to blacklist politics, etc.
Other than Reddit and Digg, I don't have many news sources in my feed reader. It is great to keep up with the websites you love, but it is also important to keep up with real-world news, and that is what I believe Particls is most useful for.
How Can I Enter the Contest?
If you added your email to the beta list early, you may already have an account. If not, here is your chance to try it out. From tomorrow until next Tuesday, we will give out one Particls invite each day to email subscribers.
To enter, simply subscribe to Gearfire via email. (You can enter your email address in the box at the top-right corner of our sidebar). To choose the winners, we will randomly select an email from the list, and send the invite to there. Make sure your address is correct though, because we can only send the invite once!
Tip: Subscribe early. If you enter right away, you will have 7 chances, but if you wait, you will have less.
Temporary emails (such as firstname.lastname@example.com) will not be accepted! Simply because there is a good chance that you will forget about that account, and the invite will be wasted. If you are worried about spam, just unsubscribe later.
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I know there are many of you who are probably reading this in your feed reader right now. Unfortunately, we can't really track who is subscribed via RSS. If you still want to be entered in the contest, you will need to enter your email in the box. Don't worry, you can still unsubscribe at the end of the week. Email is just a much easier way to make the draw as fair as possible.
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Shared Electric Car Platform Will Reduce Costs For Nissan, Renault, and Mitsubishi
In an attempt to significantly reduce the costs of manufacturing an electric car, Nissan, Renault, and Mitsubishi will share their engineering resources to develop one chassis suitable for every electric car model the three companies build. Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn is pushing hard to get the retail price of the electric cars down to the point where they are cost competitive with conventional cars.
Despite the fact that electric cars are superior to cars with internal combustion engine in many respects, the buying public continues to do what it always does in a market economy — seek the lowest price. In an effort to get people to choose an electric car over a conventional car, governments around the world offer a bewildering array of incentives to those who choose to buy electric.
In the US, electric car buyers can qualify for up to $7,500 in federal tax credits, but what really lights a fire under some people are non-monetary incentives like access to HOV lanes, free parking in cities, or access to free charging. In China, someone who buys a conventional car in one of that country's crowded cities — China has 106 cities with more than 1 million inhabitants, the US has 8 — may have to wait as much as 5 years to register their car. A person who buys an electric car instead qualifies for a registration immediately.
Mitsubishi has recently come under the control of Nissan, after a fuel economy scandal earlier this year came close to bankrupting the company. A report in Japanese business news source Nikkei says all three companies will use the redesigned chassis intended for the upcoming second generation LEAF — due to arrive in 2018 — as the basis for every electric car they sell. Developing one chassis rather than three will significantly lower development costs. The three companies will also share key components such as the motor, inverter, and battery — a move that will further reduce production costs.
Ghosn is on record as wanting to make an electric car for the Chinese market that retails for $8,000 or less. It will be no Tesla, but in a country that sells nearly 20 million news cars a year, many drivers are looking for basic transportation rather than luxury appointments.
Electric cars are not novel anymore like they were in 2010 when the LEAF first went on sale. Interest in driving electric is at an all time high. Many industry observers expect electric cars to become the norm within the next decade. Higher prices than conventional cars are the only thing keeping the dam from breaking. If Nissan, Renault, and Mitsubishi can figure a way to slash the cost of their electrics by 20%, they could become a dominant force in the global vehicle market.


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Over the weekend we posted a long message from Lt. Peter Hegseth. Lt. Hegseth, originally from Forest Lake, Minnesota, is a graduate of Princeton University now serving in Iraq with the New Jersey Army National Guard. We pulled our original post of Lt. Hegseth's message based on OPSEC (Operational Security) concerns of readers and the author. Nevertheless, Lt. Hegseth wants to get word out about the work in which he is engaged and his belief in the mission. We are proud to have his confidence in posting this edited version of his message:
Family & Friends,
I hope and pray that this message finds you all well. I think about you all often, looking forward to the next time I'll see everyone in Minnesota, New York, California and beyond. Ah, just thinking of our blessed country makes me smile. We are so fortunate, so blessed. Hard work, courage, and the hand of Providence have brought us peace and prosperity from sea to shining sea. Daily life in the States distorts our perspective, we get petty and particular; but from Iraq, America shines on the horizon, her flaws minimized by distance and her virtues magnified by comparison. Wise men built our country on timeless ideals and she still stands strong today. Now, more than a world away, Iraq must find her own "wise men"…
…I've waited patiently to send this email because recently I've spent many nights sitting at my computer, mixed emotions brewing inside of me, poised to fire off an "Iraq is doomed" email. There is no doubt that the situation in Samarra and throughout Iraq is full of problems. Corruption is rampant, Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) are still under-manned and under-equipped, the insurgents continue to attack and sectarian violence brews beneath the surface (but not in 95% Sunni Samarra). In Samarra, the city still suffers from decrepit infrastructure, no judicial system (cowardly judge) and insufficient health facilities. And yesterday my patrol was two blocks away when an officer from the local police was gunned down in cold blood while leaving his mosque after evening prayers. Admittedly, there are more nights that I go to bed shaking my head horizontally than vertically. However, this is not the entire picture – and is a dangerously narrow one.
Rather, days like today – and many other that I distinctly remember – are better indicators of progress in Samarra. In a fury of activity that reeked of civility, today the leaders of Samarra took huge steps forward. The Mayor of Samarra met with the Police Chief and local gas station owners to develop a plan to end black market fuel. He also tasked many different city directorates to improve services with new incoming Iraqi funding. The City Council President met with the leaders of the Iraqi Army and MOI Commandos to seek consensus on security objectives in the city. Lastly – and probably most telling – in the former hot spot of Samarra, insurgents have failed to mount a single significant attack in the city for almost two weeks (yesterday's murder excluded). May not sound like much to the casual observer, but when placed in context it reveals incredible institutional progress. This place used to be an insurgent haven and Baathist cesspool. But after thirty year of tyrannical rule in which Saddam controlled absolutely everything – the leaders in Samarra are finally grasping the power of political, economic and social initiative. Entrepreneurialism and ambition were deadly attributes to possess under Saddam, but not so today.
After cutting through the sensationalized violence, the overall picture in Samarra and Iraq is getting better. The Samarra Police are conducting daily patrols in the city – not so four months ago. The Iraqi Army has conducted numerous dismounted patrols throughout the city, stopping to engage local citizens and give toys to children – not so four months ago. The Mayor and City Council President have both made trips to Tikrit (Provincial Capital) to engage the Governor and Provincial Council on funding for Samarra – not even conceivable four months ago. The City Council President just released a U.S. quality newspaper for the city which condemns the actions of insurgents and advocates rebuilding efforts and recruiting for Iraqi Security Forces – the previous paper was shut down due to insurgent influence. Lastly, our Battalion has killed the "who's who" of insurgents in Samarra – something two previous units were unable to do. Progress is everywhere, it just gets lost in the daily frustrations of counterinsurgency.
I can say this without hesitation – things are getting better in Samarra. You wouldn't know it driving through the city (or visiting for a week) because the place is still a dump. But the people in the city see the progress in the national and local government, as well as the local Police (hence yesterday's act of intimidation). And in a counterinsurgency fight, gaining the strategic sympathies of the people is fundamental to achieving victory. The people are coming around; the grip of fear is loosening. Insurgents are fleeing and people are coming out of survival mode; locals are once again willing to bid on projects, more roadside bombs are being reported than detonating on soldiers, and young men are signing up for the ISF in bunches. I only pray that we maintain the pace of progress. The lack of insurgent attacks has created a power void in the city – and courageous men are stepping up. When the history of this city is written, their names will stand atop the list of true "freedom fighters." As one of them said recently, "we are the true Mujahadeen (Holy Warriors) in Samarra."
Inevitably, that brings me to the topic of America's timeline in Iraq. The progress made in this country – and in Samarra – has not come without significant sacrifice in blood, swear & treasure. But as I've said before, we must see this thing through. The battle for the future of Iraq (and stability in the Middle East) is messy, but we are progressing. Most of the country is relatively quiet, minus a few localized hot spots like Ramadi and sections of Baghdad. Most people go about their daily activities, striving for a better life. Institutions are growing and maturing and hope for the national government is growing. Most Sunnis I've spoken with have high hopes for the new (Shia) Prime Minister and his government, but you wouldn't gather any of this from the daily papers.
A recent quote from a former member of the White House emphasizes the necessary historical perspective. "One might hope our own [U.S.] democratic development — which included the Articles of Confederation and a "fiery trial" that cost more than 600,000 American lives — would remind critics that we must sometimes be patient with others. We are engaged in an enterprise of enormous importance: helping a traumatized Arab nation become stable, free and self-governing. Success isn't foreordained — and neither is failure… The process of democratic reform has begun, and now would be precisely the wrong time to lose our nerve and turn our back on the freedom agenda. It would be a geopolitical disaster and a moral calamity." Regardless of pre-war opinions, we have a duty to finish what we've started. Have we brought daily violence to Iraq? Yes. Have we made costly strategic and tactical errors? Yes. But can we still "win" peace, stability and freedom for the men, women and children of Iraq? Yes. And for that reason, we must press on. We must keep a long view.
Above my little work area, I have one sign posted front and center. It reads "They want to believe…" and my time in Samarra has confirmed this maxim. The Iraqi people will never love us, nor will they overtly praise our efforts. However, despite the violence and our tragic missteps, the silent majority of Samarrans want to believe. They want to believe in the legend that is America. They want to believe that we can do anything. They want to believe that we came to rebuild their city and to rid their streets of "terrorists." Now, the pressure is on us to deliver. Now is not the time for a troop draw-down, it is time to deliver. Bring the American GIs in by the boatloads; we have the insurgents on the ropes in Samarra and if our fair city is any indication of greater-Iraq, then send even more troops so we can finish them off! Now is the time to prove our message of progress and hope, to fulfill the promises we have offered.
Admittedly, this is an optimistic perspective, but it is based in reality. I walk the streets of Samarra frequently and talking to her citizens every time. We've spent the past month executing an ongoing mission called Operation Broken Windows (named after the policing approach made famous by Mayor Rudy Giuliani in NYC). We saturate certain neighborhoods with basic projects – painting over graffiti, picking up trash, providing medical care and talking to locals. After getting over the initial unfamiliarity, the people are always happy to see us, with one man emphatically asking me "Where have you been!?" Due to the violence of the past two years, the large projects are slow in coming, but they will come; and in the meantime, showing immediate, tangible assistance is extremely important. The people are receptive, especially as we kill the insurgents, train the Police and grow the government.
That said, could the situation in Samarra go south? Yes, in a heartbeat. If the certain city leaders are killed, the ISF crumbles, or the insurgents are able to regain strength, all the progress we've made could be erased. [Notice that all three of those scenarios are more likely with a drawback in U.S. troops]. It is always easier to destroy than to build and the insurgents exploit this fact with cowardly attacks on infrastructure and innocents. At this juncture in Samarra, the worse case scenario would be if the problems of other areas in Iraq seeped into our city. The Shia militias remain a huge problem in other parts of the country and eventually something is going to give. Politics 101: Within its borders, a government must possess the exclusive right to the use of violence. Coalition Forces and Iraqi Security Forces are not yet 'exclusive' and until we are, lawlessness will prevail. But we grow closer every day…
[F]eel free to pass this email to anyone – the more the word gets out the better. I wish I could stand on a rooftop and tell everyone the truth about Iraq (good and bad), but this list must suffice for now. When I get back, I hope to get the opportunity to share my experience in various forums and mediums…'Inshallah' (God willing).
With that I sign off. Please do not hesitate to say hello – I'd love to hear the latest.
God bless you and God bless the United States of America,
Peter Hegseth, 1LT
Civil-Military Operations (S5)
3-187 IN, 101st Airborne Div.
[email protected]
1LT Peter Hegseth
101st Airborne Division
FOB Brassfield-Mora
Lt. Hegseth adds that he enjoys following up on questions readers may have concerning his message.


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my cookbook5/26/2012
A few weeks ago I was given a design assignment by one of my professors to create a book. I was thrilled, as I've always played with book designs in my head and can't get enough of them in general. This is the second book that I've made, but it was much different this time because I only had a week and a half! I decided to create a simple cookbook of my favorite recipes, since I take so many pictures of food. I'd still love to make a much larger book and spend more time on it one day, but for now here's a small sample:
I painted all of the illustrations including the front and back cover, with watercolors. I could have made it a lot easier on myself if I didn't, but I wanted playful brush strokes going against clean text. I'm really in love with brush lettering as well, so it was fun to play with it.
The back cover was done in about 15 minutes because I had reached my deadline! Somehow, it all miraculously came together and I'm content with it for now. I can't wait to try it all over again in the future with many more recipes x
49 comments
I really cannot believe you managed to create something so beautiful in such a sort amount of time! I am totally in love with the design and illustrations, truly wonderful work!ReplyDeleteReplies
Wow thank you Kailey :) I am my own worst critic so I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but your comments are so lovely! xDelete
- AnonymousMay 26, 2012 at 12:31 AM
What a gorgeous book! I would seriously buy this! xxReplyDeleteReplies
That's so sweet! I would definitely love to make one with many more recipes and possibly have it for sale. A big project to attempt later in the year :)Delete
That looks so beautiful! If I saw this book somewhere, I would seriously buy it!ReplyDelete
Where did you make this book?
Thank you Fay! I made it using Blurb, but I designed all of the individual pages in photoshop (I didn't use blurb software) xDelete
Some of those recipes look very yummy!!ReplyDelete
They were all beyond simple because of my time constraints! Haha xDelete
This is so adorable! I hope you included some traditional Mexican recipes too. I really liked reading that post you did for Cinco de Mayo. Since growing up in California, I've always been surrounded by Mexican food though most of it is the Americanized versions. :( I would love to see some more Mexican recipes on here someday! xReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you Rachel, that's lovely to hear! Unfortunately not one Mexican recipe made it to this book :( This was such a small book (only 12 recipes) so I didn't even begin to cover Mexican food territory. I would love to keep sharing "real Mexican food" on the blog, and hopefully don't scare off some folks because it's so different than taco bell haha xDelete
Excellent! I can not wait to see more of your recipes here! Beautiful book Valerie! xReplyDeleteReplies
Merci Lola! I hope summer is full of lots more cooking xDelete
omgosh! you're such a talented little lady, Val! :) I love this book! You should be so very proud of yourself <3ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you Sue! I would say the same thing to you, as I always enjoy your photos with written text on them xDelete
I am blown away. Honestly. Amazing. You are so very talented with such a great eye. Your professor must be THRILLED with the result.ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you for the lovely compliments :) He hasn't seen it yet (I turn it in next week) but most Art professors are highly critical so I'm not sure what he'd think haha. The good thing is that it pushes you to try various things because you always feel like it's "not enough". Sigh!Delete
Hi there! Such a beautiful book, you´re really talented, indeed. How did you manage to do something so fantastic with that short time? I am really fascinated about it.ReplyDelete
Oh goodness, it was not easy. I spent all morning, afternoon, and evening on it. Then I showed my professor my first version and he wanted me to change almost everything in 2 days. So I spent 2 full days editing what I had previously completed! Argh. I will say that my right arm is not happy to have been overworked so much on the computer haha xDelete
Oh my goodness, this is wonderful! I love that brush-written titles and those illustrations are so cute! You've so talented to do such a great job in that short time! :oReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you Louise! I hadn't done any illustrating/painting in YEARS. I had to bring out my rusty skills and luckily was going for an "infantile" look anyway haha.Delete
That is so unbelievably gorgeous! I can't believe you did that in such a short time! Fantasmo :) I'd buy it!ReplyDelete
Your book is BEAUTIFUL! I would love to have it (:ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you Jill, maybe later this year I'll make a bigger version available! xDelete
This is absolutely amazing! I cannot believe you created such a beautiful book in the amount of time you had. I would totally buy this! What was the first book you made about?ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks so much Emily, it was definitely not easy! The first book I made was in 2009, and it was some of my photography that is featured on my cargo collective portfolio. It came out looking a little strange though haha! xDelete
This is so cute! I love that you mixed both illustrations and actual photos :)ReplyDelete
I'd also totally buy it- the dishes look delicous!
What program did you use?Replies
Thanks Mariana, I am definitely not an illustrator (in fact I hate my drawing courses) but I wanted it to feel a bit personal. I used photoshop and my scanner to include the paintings that I did. Then I used Blurb to upload the pages and make the book. It's not very difficult, but it's certainly tedious! Argh...Delete
woowwwwww i am amazed. Bravo!ReplyDelete
this is absolutely amazing! i can't believe you made that, it looks so professional. you should bring it out for sale xxReplyDelete
Oh my! Are you selling this? I would love to get one!!ReplyDeleteReplies
Hehe thank you! Unfortunately I'm not at this moment, simply because this was a class project and it only has 12 recipes! I would want to include over 100 if I were to sell it :)Delete
Oh wow, this looks so so great! I would definitely buy a copy!ReplyDelete
wow, i can't believe you whipped that up in a week and a half! it looks wonderful! it's definitely something i would pick up and have a look through if i saw it in a book shop or at a friend's house. you could even make a bigger one in your own time and sell it.ReplyDeleteReplies
I definitely want to make a large one in the future, perhaps with different designs and tons more recipes. Thanks so much for the lovely words xDelete
oh wow this is so amazing! it looks really professional - i would buy it!!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks Paula :)Delete
THis is so cool! I totally regret not doing something artistic in school. How did you get it bound into a book? Its so professional looking :)ReplyDeleteReplies
I designed all the pages in photoshop and used Blurb to publish it :) Thank you! xDelete
Wow, this came out amazingly well! And it all looks soooo delicious.ReplyDelete
Wow darling it looks gorgeous! You have design skills sweetpea!!! I love the painted illustration style and as always your pictures are delightful! :) I'm glad you had fun, you always work best when passionate about it! :) xxxReplyDeleteReplies
I totally agree Zoe! I was definitely passionate, although very tired by the end of it. Thank you xDelete
I'm really blown away. It's 100% in line with your aesthetic, and so, so, beautiful... I love the watercolours and your photographs are wonderful of course. Also, I've been meaning to make egg in a basket since I saw V for Vendetta, randomly. Wonderful work, Valerie.ReplyDeleteReplies
Aw thanks Emily :) The egg in a basket was something I grew up with but I never knew what it was called! It tastes do delicious on late nights too haha xDelete
It's absolutely gorgeous! Congratulations.ReplyDelete
Sarah x
this is amazing! can't believe it's "just a school assignment", :)ReplyDelete
i love the watercolors you did.
I can't believe you were so speedy! <3 It truly looks like the most amazing book - really!!ReplyDelete
Lost in the Haze: a Fashion Photography Blog
This looks amazing! Before I read that you created it just for a class, I was wondering where I could buy it! Good job!ReplyDelete


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Maybe Bryon Hefner should be the next Massachusetts Senate president.
He could take the place of Stan Rosenberg, his husband.
It would be the first time in Massachusetts history -- the home of many of the nation's "firsts" -- that a spouse succeeded a spouse as Senate president.
It would also continue to make Massachusetts the envy of all other states.
Just because Hefner, 30, is not an official member of the 40-member Massachusetts Senate does not mean he cannot be elected to the job.
Hefner for some time appears to have been acting as though he were Senate president, anyway.
Others say he has all along operated as the body's 41st senator to begin with, with more power than the chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
So maybe it is time for Hefner to take over the Senate in his own right.
The Massachusetts Constitution (Sec.1; Ch. 2; Art. VII) does not say that you must be a member of the Senate to be elected president.
It simply states: "The senate shall choose its own president, appoint its own officers, and determine its own rules of proceedings."
And, unlike all the other senators in the upper branch of the Massachusetts Legislature -- excluding Stan Rosenberg, 68, and Sen. Harriette Chandler, 80, his temporary replacement -- Hefner has been doing the job.
Of course, since Hefner never was officially elected to the Senate -- only married to Rosenberg, who was -- Hefner was forced to work behind the scenes to make things happen.
It was sort of like a start-up operation, with Rosenberg the front man while Hefner called the shots out of the back room.
And he appears to have been pretty good at it, especially in the way he bossed senators and staffers around, not to mention getting legislation approved.
Just the other day it was reported by the Boston Globe that Hefner, who is not a registered lobbyist, was able to persuade a couple of Senate staffers to get their bosses to support a $500,000 earmark for the Robert F. Kennedy Children's Action Corps.
Hefner was employed there at the time, and he reportedly told the staffers that Rosenberg wanted the earmark passed.
But when Hefner later resigned from that job, he tried to get the appropriation killed, but was unable to do so. Even Senate presidents, or make-believe ones, have limits on their powers.
Naturally it helped to be married to Rosenberg, although the couple is now temporarily separated. But it was that marriage that was supposed to end Hefner's dabbling in Senate affairs.
After senators complained about Hefner interfering in Senate business, Rosenberg declared that he had established a "firewall" between Hefner and the Senate.
However, no sooner did the pair marry, then Hefner was back to his old ways. The firewall became a fire sale.
Now the Senate is in turmoil because, as the Globe reported, Hefner not only had access to Rosenberg's email account, he also lobbied and ordered Rosenberg's staff, as well as other people, around.
Perhaps, under Rosenberg's concept of "shared leadership," Hefner thought he was a leader too.
This latest revelation of Hefner's interference came on the heels of anonymous allegations by four men connected to the Statehouse that Hefner sexually harassed them while bragging about his influence over Rosenberg.
Rosenberg subsequently stepped down as Senate president pending an investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee.
While it was initially thought that the committee would exonerate Rosenberg, the additional stories about Hefner's intrusion into Senate affairs, despite the "firewall," have made matters worse.
Once a well-respected legislator who was a favorite of progressive Democrats, Rosenberg's friends on Beacon Hill have begun to treat him as though he were Bill Belichick. Belichick lost the Super Bowl, Rosenberg lost the Senate.
As it stands now, both Attorney General Maura Healey and Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley are conducting their own investigations.
And there will be more to come. Hanging over the Senate is the federal indictment on corruption charges of former Sen. Brian Joyce, who was Rosenberg's assistant majority leader. Joyce is charged with using his office as a money-making enterprise.
None of Joyce's alleged schemes are in anyway connected to Rosenberg. But facing serious prison time, Joyce can be expected to seek a deal with federal prosecutors in exchange for what he can tell them about the workings of the Senate.
Things are not going to get any better for Rosenberg, only worse.
If I were he, I would be working on my farewell speech -- with Hefner's help, of course.
Send comments to: email@example.com


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In this week's installment of Issues of the Environment, WEMU's David Fair looks into the global helium shortage.
To help us better understand helium gas, it's uses and the potential ramifications of running out of this non-renewable resource, David spoke with Eastern Michigan University Chemistry Professor Dr. Gregg Wilmes.
- Helium gas is a natural and non-renewable resource that cannot be manufactured, and scientists warn that helium reserves could run out in a couple decades at the current rate of depletion.
- Old legislation which discouraged helium recycling left the United States facing a critical shutdown of the helium reserve in 2013 that could have stymied the medical, defense, aeronautical, and electronics manufacturing industries.


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You have been sent to the place you have long deserved to be in . . .
The Looney Bin Newsletter -- The Looney Word
Talk to the Doc -- Dr. Ferhign
Perform a Play -- The Grokarina Home for the People that Belong in a Looney Bin
Visit the cell of a patient in the Looney Bin -- Patient X
Help outside The Looney Bin -- Psychiatic Help Online
About The Looney Bin


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Posts Tagged 'National Football League'
Football's back? Oh, shit.
And here I thought we were going to have NO pro football this year. Lousy bastards…LMMFAO
But lo and behold, the NFL owners and players decided to fuck with my mind and settle everything. Wonderful. Anything to detract from Dan Snyder's (ongoing) snit fit with the Washington City Paper over a article painting the "Prima Danna" in an unflattering light…lol
Like any of you give a shit.
Anyway, back to football…namely, just what the fuck the Redskins will do as concerns a multitude of issues. Like, for one, at what point Donovan McNabb gets shown the door (to make way for…John Beck?? What bulshit is this?).
For another, when will the fat turd Albert Haynesworth save us Skins fans the humiliation and leave?
But more importantly, will we Skins fans actually see a REAL product on the field this year? Or do we suffer yet another from "Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dumbass" (aka Mike and Kyle Shanahan; take your pick who's who)?
Speaking of dumbass moves…take a look at this picture.
The seating in the upper deck in this pic…is no more. That's right, Dan Snyder decided to take out the seating in the upper deck(s) at both ends of FedEx Field–and replace them with "patio"-type seating. THIS is "fan-friendly", you fucking shitbrain?
How about putting a fucking product on the field, Danny?? Any of this sinking in?? Any of it??
Shit, I don't know if anyone actually reads this blog, to be honest. But it gives me a place to vent. After all, the title says "Musings…", and that's what I'm doing here.
A short note:
Even though I have a baseball-oriented blog through WordPress (you can find it here), I'll be discontinuing it once the season ends. So many other MLBloggers have already done so (or will soon), ever since the transition from Movable Type to WP.
I found out today yet one more is giving up the ghost and moving it to Blogspot. What happened in my case, is that when MLB.com decided to make this move they locked in the name of my blog in the process (meaning, the username became "mlblogsgonastynats").
Never mind I already had WP blogs to start with (transitioning from Windows Live Space). Motherfuckers fucked me up bad…ARRRRRGH!!
Bottom line is, this blog and another of mine stay put. The MLBlogs entry goes away in a few months. I may just move the gig to Blogger (where I already have a Caps-oriented blog); I'm not sure yet. But I'll let people know…soon.


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Ok, so now I have successfully proven it is possible to plan a wedding that doesn't suck in less than 2 months. The secret? You have to really not care. Just let the whole event wash over you in a warm wave of stress and anger and time-crunching madness.
Two nights before the wedding was the bachelor party, where the Best Assbasket decided he didn't want to be a part of the wedding and announced this via text. But he didn't text R, because that would require at least a half ball, no, he texted a groomsman, to tell R that he had dropped out. So, not really off to a great start.
(Hey, Flowers, you're a worthless piece of shit. We all hate you.)
The day before was my bachelorette party, which was non-dramatic.
(Still hate you Flowers)
Ok, Wedding day. The girls sleep over at my mom's, the guys at my home. I wake up at 6:30 to start getting ready, do my makeup, and a few ladies from his family come over to do my hair, and we get there right on time for my wedding! Whoo! Except for the part where no one was there yet, and we started half an hour late. I was ready to leave by the time the wedding started.
When we start everyone walks down the aisle, but I'm hanging back with my dad, so I don't see any of it. Boooooo. I walked down with both my mom and dad, because who the hell is going to say no to me?
And then I get to R. And I just want to get to the part where we kiss so I can be married and take off my shoes. The reception afterwards was cool. We came back home afterwards, and I pulled 50 bobby pins out of my head.
And that's my wedding day. I'm not going to wax on about how I gazed deeply into R's eyes during the ceremony and the food was so good (it was) and how my dress was perfect and everyone and everything was sunshine and lollipops, because that's boring and a load of crap. My wedding wasn't a dream wedding, and it wasn't perfect, but at the end of the day, I kissed a hot guy and I get to spend a whole lot of time with my bestest best friend forever.
And you know what? The haters can suck on cat litter. My wedding was awesome. ❤


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Fictional characters bombard your brain and you live to fabricate worlds and scenarios outside of your own. Enter: the written word. It translates into several mediums and is the optimum creative outlet.
Sure, the expectation of many might be that you "get a real job" but there are several other things that people automatically might expect of you – get married, have kids, go to university – that you might not groove to. This is not because you don't have "real expectations" it is because you have alternate preferences.
Plenty of people will look at you like you're a loony when you say you want to be a writer (and maybe you are but what's their point?) and they will judge you for having delusions about life.
Then they will go back to their mundane (to you) life and tasks and you will question the sanity of the people you speak to, before continuing with your writing because passion trumps insecurity.
At least if you're a writer you don't have to work normal hours (no, you have to work abnormal hours with no such thing as "over-time") or have a boss. No, you have no boss. You have to kick your own arse and answer to yourself. This means that you could live the happy and easy life and get no work done, slipping into the realm of procrastination where you are led by your own hand (which should have been busy writing) to your doom!
Does this mean that a writer is self-employed?
Well, for starters, I'm getting ahead of myself here.
Some writers do have bosses. Some writers do work for other people on a temporary basis. Some writers work with other writers and have to answer to the team. You could be a journalist or a freelance writer or part of a group of writers on a television show.
Other writers – as for film, novels, plays and more – if they are working solo, do not have a boss. If they sit in a cubicle all day or at their desk, I can't really say. People and situations will always differ.
Getting back to the self-employed thing… Well, unless you are self-publishing your book, then not really. When I say "self-publishing," what I mean is, owning the ISBNs of your books, printing your books (perhaps even owning a press) yourself and doing all the grunt work beyond the actual writing. Publishing through Lulu or CreateSpace may not mean that anyone is the boss of you but you still rely on them and they get a commission.
If you get published in the traditional route, you might have a literary agent, a publisher, an editior, a publicist and more that you are working with. You do not pay these people but they do of course work for a fee. A commission. So, they are not your boss and you are not their boss but you still have to work together and communicate and compromise.
Being a writer does not mean that you get to do whatever you want, whenever you want and answer to no-one. I don't think that anyone is going to shove ultimatums down your throat or smite you from above but writers are not hermits who live on a pile of gold/candy. Everyone needs help and support in some form.
So there is my long ramble, squashing the illusion that you can just be free and answer to nobody when you have a writer's life.
If the question was, 'Is it awesome and worth it to be a writer?' then my answer would be a lot shorter:
Well, duh.


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You are not just thinking about it, you are doing it. Or at least you are trying really hard.
Perhaps you've been doing it your whole career, but never given it a name.
You are one of a growing number of pioneers experimenting with systemic solutions to systemic problems. Solutions that will benefit people and planet.
You're tired and inspired in equal measure. Your work is messy, unfinished, and hard to explain.
It also represents a beacon of hope for a better way of responding to our interconnected challenges, and we want you to succeed.
We seek a diverse, international cohort for our programs, who are working on different systems and challenges from public services, to poverty, to climate change, members of professions.
Taking part will feel inspiring, supportive and fun.


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RA is an autoimmune condition that is more commonly experienced by females and is thought to occur or result from a combination of factors including genetic, environmental, and other unknown events that occur within our bodies. These factors can cause people to experience multiple hot, swollen, inflamed, and painful joints at multiple sites throughout their body, most commonly in their hands, wrists, ankles, and feet. Current medical management of RA and other autoimmune diseases involves the use of medications to manage the disease but we have yet to find a cure at this time.
Some new research is pointing to the possibility that the normal bacteria in your gut (microbiome) may contribute to your risk of RA as well as active inflammation in your joints. This is possible as the type of bacteria that make up our individual microbiome is different, and some specific types of bacteria can lead to issues in the gut as well as other areas throughout the body including joints.
The specific bacteria in your gut is associated with the foods that you eat and can be involved in causing Leaky Gut Syndrome (aka. intestinal hyperpermeability) as well as loss of immune tolerance to the normal bacteria of your gut. Specific locations in the body with a high load of bad, opportunistic bacteria (for example, the gut) may represent the source by which immune cells begin attacking body parts as they increase the amount of inflammation circulating in the bloodstream. This led scientists to the idea that if the types of bacteria in your gut could possibly be changed, it could allow your immune system to recover and potentially stop attacking your joints.
Gut health is essential towards the function of many of the systems in the body, primarily because of the process of nutrient absorption after each meal. Bacteria can be found in the gut associated with the type of food people eat and new research has shown that harmful bacteria can lead to the development of rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition which causes inflammation of the joints. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.
Purpose & Passions: I am a Doctor of Chiropractic specializing in progressive, cutting-edge therapies and functional rehabilitation procedures focused on clinical physiology, total health, practical strength training, and complete conditioning. We focus on restoring normal body functions after neck, back, spinal and soft tissue injuries.
We use Specialized Chiropractic Protocols, Wellness Programs, Functional & Integrative Nutrition, Agility & Mobility Fitness Training and Rehabilitation Systems for all ages.
As an extension to effective rehabilitation, we too offer our patients, disabled veterans, athletes, young and elder a diverse portfolio of strength equipment, high-performance exercises and advanced agility treatment options. We have teamed up with the cities premier doctors, therapist and trainers to provide high-level competitive athletes the possibilities to push themselves to their highest abilities within our facilities.
We've been blessed to use our methods with thousands of El Pasoans over the last three decades allowing us to restore our patients' health and fitness while implementing researched non-surgical methods and functional wellness programs.
Our programs are natural and use the body's ability to achieve specific measured goals, rather than introducing harmful chemicals, controversial hormone replacement, un-wanted surgeries, or addictive drugs. We want you to live a functional life that is fulfilled with more energy, a positive attitude, better sleep, and less pain. Our goal is to ultimately empower our patients to maintain the healthiest way of living.
With a bit of work, we can achieve optimal health together, no matter the age or disability.
Join us in improving your health for you and your family.
It's all about: LIVING, LOVING & MATTERING! 🍎
Welcome & God Bless
6440 Gateway East, Ste B
Phone: 915-850-0900
East Side:
11860 Vista Del Sol, Ste 128
Phone: 915-412-6677


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DUI trial ends with tears of relief, guilty verdict
A jury's verdict made a defendant weep tears of relief Thursday afternoon, even though they found her guilty.
Tracy Lynn Bell, 33, of Nolensville was found guilty of driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an injury accident, failing to notify police of an accident, and violation of the open container law.
These are misdemeanor offences, so Bell will not have a felony conviction on her record.
"My client was very happy with the decision of the jury because now she can put the fear of felony prosecution behind her," attorney David McKenzie said.
Assistant District Attorney Chris Collins sought a conviction for vehicular assault, a Class D felony, and two counts of reckless endangerment, but could not persuade the jury of five men and seven women to agree with him.
"She made a lot of poor choices," commented juror Emily Bell. "But she did not know those children would be in her car."
Bell drove off without the children. After her husband rammed and stopped her, the children ran to her and climbed in her car.
"I do not think she meant to harm that child," the juror said.
A 10-year-old boy suffered a broken leg during the crash.
"The jury tried to do a fair thing," the juror continued. "We were very diligent."
At the end of the two-day-trial, Circuit Court Judge Robert Crigler told the prosecutor and the defense attorney: "You tried an excellent law suit. You're going to be fine lawyers. You are already."
During his opening statement, McKenzie said, "We're here to hear the whole truth."
The prosecution's witnesses on the trial's first day established basic facts of the Feb. 5, 2010 wreck. A neighbor told how he found Bell, her three sons and a friend, moments after the crash on Mt. Vernon Road and described how she called someone to pick her and the boys up and take them to the hospital. Law officers described finding Bell's empty Jeep and arresting her for DUI at the emergency room. A forensic toxicologist from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation testified that Bell's blood alcohol level was .08 - over the legal limit. The Vanderbilt doctor - on pediatric rotation when Bell's son was admitted - told the jury about the operation to place pins to stabilize the 10-year-old's broken thighbone.
"We never tried to hide the facts," McKenzie said.
Thursday morning McKenzie called two witnesses: Chris Sullivan, the passenger in the Jeep; and Bell, herself. She was on the witness stand for over an hour and was "very forthcoming," according to McKenzie.
"The felony charges were a bit of a stretch, in the light of the facts," McKenzie said in an interview after the trial. The facts, as revealed by Bell's testimony, were that she was fleeing from her abusive husband. She passed their home in Nolensville in the Jeep with Sullivan. Her husband put their three sons in his car and chased her. Robert Bell repeatedly rammed his wife's car, and finally pulled in front of her, forcing her to stop. At this point, the boys ran to their mother, crying, and she drove off again, this time eluding her pursuer, only to crash moments later on Mt. Vernon Road. Bell knew she should not have been drinking and driving, and "she showed remorse for that," McKenzie said, but it was an extreme situation. The couple has been separated since the accident.
Bell surrendered her driver's license at the end of the trial, and will have a sentencing hearing March 23.


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Nature Conservation Society SA
Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources
We are fortunate to live in a region that contains many different landscapes including majestic ranges, rolling foothills, fertile plains, meandering watercourses and of course… a stunning coastline!
Each of these landscapes provides a home to unique native plant and animal species that have survived despite the pressures of urban and agricultural development.
Coast and Marine
At Home
Our region is fortunate to contain five Conservation Parks. (Aldinga Scrub, Moana Sands, Onkaparinga River, Scott Creek and Sturt Gorge) - however, only 9% of our original native vegetation remains.
As an owner and guardian of many natural areas, we are committed to:
To do this well, we go to great lengths to make the best use of our resources and explore new and innovative ways to improve environmental management.
The Nature Conservation Team is made up of trained and experienced staff who prioritise, plan and undertake on-ground works to maintain and improve our natural areas. We also operate a nursery where we propagate tens of thousands of local native seedlings for native vegetation restoration works, citizenship ceremonies and street trees each year.
There is always more to learn about nature and how to adapt to changes in our landscape and climate. We monitor environmental changes by using photographic records, vegetation condition surveys and new GIS mapping technology to map information such as levels of weed infestation.
We frequently partner with state government and volunteer groups to increase our efforts.
The Native Vegetation Strategy 2010-2014 outlines how we will conserve and improve our native vegetation.


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Gambling is a vice industry built on deception and fed by the intentional exploitation of human weakness for the sole purpose of monetary gain.
Today's video gambling machines (modern slots) are designed to be the most addictive form of gambling ever developed. Addiction counselors and psychologists are calling video gambling the "crack cocaine" of the gambling industry. People are becoming addicted to these machines within a year. R.B. Breen and M. Zimmerman, "Rapid onset of pathological gambling in machine gamblers," Journal of Gambling Studies, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2002.
Increased accessibility and availability of gambling throughout our nation is also to blame for the increase in problem and pathological addictions. Rachel A. Volberg, "Prevalence Studies of Problem Gambling in the United States," Journal of Gambling Studies, Summer 1996, p. 123.Nearly a decade ago, a federal research committee estimated that there were about 15 million problem and pathological gamblers in the U.S. alone – 7.9 million were underage children National Gambling Impact Study Commission Final Report, June 1999, p. 4-1, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/ngisc/reports/4.pdf (21 August 2008).
Gambling Defined
Gambling is defined by a combination of three components:
- Consideration – something of value placed as a "wager" or bet
- Chance – the element of risk
- Award – a prize, usually money or an item of value
Gambling in the United States
Gambling has been legalized in 48 states, with the two exceptions being Hawaii and Utah. Approximately 33 percent of the American population does not gamble. Another 46 percent gambles at casinos, while the remaining 21 percent choose other forms of gambling.
About 50-60 percent of the population can be classified as "light bettors." Another 10 percent represent "heavy bettors," Earl L. Grinols, Gambling In America: Costs And Benefits, (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004), pp. 45-46.who account for nearly 61 percent of all table and slot casino revenues. Rachel A. Volberg, et al., "Assessing Self-Reported Expenditures on Gambling," Managerial and Decision Economics, Vol. 22, 1-3, (January – May), Table 2, p. 82.Heavy gamblers tend to exhibit more problem and pathological gambling addictions.
In 2006, with all forms of gambling combined, nearly $91 billion was taken in the form of gamblers' losses or in gross annual revenues for gambling operations; this number does not include $6 billion sent out of the U.S. in illegal Internet gambling. "2006 Gross Gambling Revenues by Industry and Change from 2005 US," International Gaming & Wagering Business (IGWB) online, 2008, data compiled by Christiansen Capital Advisors, LLC, (5 February 2008).
The five largest gambling sectors include:
- Commercial casinos (36% of total revenue)
- Tribal/Indian casinos (26%)
- Lotteries (26%)
- Illegal off-shore Internet gambling (6%)
- Pari-mutuel wagering – dog/horse racing (4%) International Gaming & Wagering Business (IGWB) online, 2008.
According to the American Gaming Association's 2008 State of the States report, about 54.5 million people visited U.S. casinos in 2007 (25 percent of the adult population, 21 years of age and older). "2008 State of the States: The AGA Survey of Casino Entertainment," American Gaming Association online, 2008, http://www.americangaming.org/assets/files/aga_2008_sos.pdf (21 August 2008).
Gambling Saturation (2007 Data)
|Gambler Losses
|Commercial Casinos American Gaming Association online, 2008, pp. 3.
|$34.1 Billion
|Tribal/Indian Casinos Alan Meister, Ph.D., "2008-2009 Indian Gaming Industry Report," Casino City Press, Analysis Group, Inc., p..2.
|$26.5 Billion (230 gambling tribes)
|Lottery (State-owned) "Member Lotteries: Sales and Profits," North American Association of State & Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) online, 2008, http://www.naspl.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=content&PageID=3&PageCategory=3 (21 August 2008).
|$17.1 Billion ($57.4 billion sales)
|Race Track Casinos American Gaming Association online, 2008, pp. 2, 4, 24.
|$5.3 Billion
Gambling Trends
Poker participation and its short growth phase, based largely on the formation of the World Poker Tour and televised poker tournaments, peaked in 2004 and 2005. But it appeared to experience a 33 percent decline in popularity in 2007 (from the peak years) with only 13 percent of adults gambling on poker during the year.
Race track casino operations – hybrids of casinos, lotteries and pari-mutuel facilities – are becoming increasingly popular with states even though the National Gambling Impact Study Commission advised against allowing casino-style gambling at race tracks:
Recommendation 3.12 - "The Commission recommends that states should refuse to allow the introduction of casino-style gambling into pari-mutuel facilities for the primary purpose of saving a pari-mutuel facility that the market has determined no longer serves the community or for the purpose of competing with other forms of gambling." National Gambling Impact Study Commission Final Report, June 1999, p. 3-18, http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/ngisc/reports/3.pdf (21 August 2008).
Racino States with video lottery terminals include Delaware, NewYork, Rhode Island and West Virginia American Gaming Association online, 2008, Notes, p. ii.Racino States with casino slots include Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.


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Dan began quilting in 2004 as a craft he could do with his Mom. Not having known how to use a sewing machine, Dan took a couple of classes and found he enjoyed paper piecing or foundation piecing. He especially liked those "challenging" patterns of Jacqueline deJonge of BeColourful and Judy Neimeyer of Quiltworx.
Dan keeps at least 4 projects going at one time....always adding a new one to the mix! With the addition of a Gammill longarm quilting machine with a Statler Sticher, it completes the circle. Brian Gray joined Dan in 2015 bringing his talents for machine quilting! Together, Dan and Brian enjoy working with other quilters on their projects. They look forward to the next project and meeting their next customer!
It's all about your current or next project!
From start to finish, we can help you create a custom quilt top pattern.
We can finish your quilt top with the addition of batting and backing. An edge-to-edge quilt pattern can give your quilt a custom look! And we can bind it for you. Let us know how we can help you finish your project!
Dan is a huge fan of paper piecing! He loves the challenge! Through is lectures and classes, let him show you how enjoyable, rewarding and amazing foundation piecing can be!


text: Funeral services for 92 year old Viola Livezey of Urbandale, formerly of Wellman will be Thursday morning at 11 at the Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Wellman. Visitation will be at 10-am until time of service. Burial will be in the Wellman Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established for Hospice of Central Iowa and Mid-Prairie Foundation for scholarships.


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Stage & Dance
Broadway Live releases lineup, including 'Memphis,' 'Chicago' and 'Bring It On'
The Lexington Opera House's 2013-14 Broadway Live season will open with one of the series' greatest successes and will close with a show that is up for the Tony Award for best musical.
OK, Bring it On: The Musical isn't going to win the Tony. But its inclusion marks a milestone for the series, which has edged closer to current Broadway programming each year.
Opera House general manager Luanne Franklin says the stronger lineups of shows are a direct result of the series' programming strategy in recent years.
"Because we program on weekends with five shows each, we're in a stronger position to book the best shows available to us," Franklin says.
The season will include the 2010 Tony Award winner for best musical, Memphis, one half of a double shot of Tennessee's Mississippi River town. Before Memphis rolls in Feb. 14 to 16, the Opera House will present Million Dollar Quartet, a show about a jam session at Sun Studios with Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash, on Jan. 10 to 12.
This season will return to offering a play, sans musical numbers, with The Miracle Worker, March 14 to 16. The season will open Nov. 8 to 10 with the Equity tour of Chicago. All actors in the show are members of Actors Equity, the stage actors union. That tour last stopped at the Opera House in 2005 and is remembered as one of the best productions on the series.
Equity tours are a feather in the cap of the series, but Franklin says she sees plenty of strong talent in non-Equity tours that she considers when selecting Broadway seasons.
"Non-Equity shows play primary markets now," Franklin says, meaning larger cities including Cincinnati and Louisville.
Another trend Franklin has particularly liked the past few years is more shows that are attracting younger patrons, including The Addams Family this season and Spamalot a few years ago.
She expects Bring It On, based on the 2000 Kirsten Dunst cheerleading movie, to have similar appeal.
The Tony Award nomination shocked even the show's producers. The Broadway production closed at the end of last year, and nominees are usually running during the springtime Tony nomination season. Kinky Boots, the stage version of the 2005 film about an Irish shoe company that avoids bankruptcy by making flashy, trashy boots for drag queens, is widely expected to get the Tony this year.
Franklin says she suspects that the Bring It On tour came together so quickly because competitive cheerleaders make up a lot of the cast.
Season tickets are on sale now, and Franklin says that they generally offer a savings of at least 20 percent over single tickets. Season packages start at $168. Single tickets for Broadway Live presentations have frequently topped $100 in recent seasons.
The Opera House also is touting a Broadway Live subscription as a chance to be among the first to buy tickets to a few attractive shows outside the Broadway series next season, including a Nov. 22 appearance by Mannheim Steamroller with Chip Davis at the Opera House, and the Lexington Center Museum's presentation of Titanic, the Artifact Exhibit, opening Oct. 5.
Broadway Live 2013-14
What: The Lexington Opera House's annual series of touring versions of hit Broadway shows.
■ Chicago, Nov. 8-10
■ Million Dollar Quartet, Jan. 10-12
■ Memphis, Feb. 14-16
■ The Miracle Worker, March 14-16
■ Bring It On: The Musical, April 11-13
Show times are 8 p.m. Fri., 2 and 8 p.m. Sat., 1 and 6 p.m. Sun.
Where: Lexington Opera House, 401 W. Short St.
Tickets: Season tickets are $168-$324. Call (859) 233-3535 or go to the Lexington Center Ticket Office. Single tickets go on sale Aug. 29.


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Aman Sveti Stefan, Montenegro
Aman Sveti Stefan is a very special place: a medieval fishing village on a private island lovingly converted into one of Europe's finest luxury retreats. A range of different types of room or cottage are available on the island itself or set back from the mainland beach which overlooks it.
From £4,300pp including flights and private transfers for a 7 night stay.


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WASHINGTON — A Democratic senator facing a tough re-election is warning her party there is a political risk in voting to block President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee.
Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, who says she is torn over how to vote, highlighted the dilemma for Democratic senators running next year in states that Trump won.
Should they vote for Judge Neil Gorsuch and anger their liberal base? Or vote to block Gorsuch and prompt Republicans to permanently change Senate rules to eliminate the filibuster? The rule change would allow Gorsuch to be confirmed quickly and also make it easier for the majority party to confirm justices in the future.
"It is obviously a really difficult situation, that both alternatives, I think, have a lot of danger," McCaskill told reporters on Thursday.
McCaskill's comments came after The Kansas City Star released an audio recording of her talking to Democratic donors over the weekend. In the recording, which the Missouri Republican Party gave to the newspaper, McCaskill says the decision is difficult because if the filibuster is eliminated, Trump could nominate another justice without having to compromise with Democrats, and "all of a sudden, the things I fought for with scars on my back to show for it in this state are in jeopardy."
After the recording was released, McCaskill confirmed the recording to reporters in the Capitol, saying her words speak for themselves.
"I said honestly I hadn't decided, which you guys all know, and I said honestly I was torn, which I think everybody knows."
If confirmed, Gorsuch would replace another conservative, Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in February 2016. But if one of the more liberal justices dies or retires, Trump's next pick could fundamentally alter the balance of the court. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 84 and Justice Stephen Breyer is 78. Justice Anthony Kennedy, the pivotal vote closest to the court's center, is 80.
In Judge Neil Gorsuch's third day of questioning, Democratic senators pressed the Supreme Court nominee on how he interprets the Constitution as well as the effect of partisan politics on the court. Judy Woodruff analyzes today's hearing with Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal, Amy Howe of Scotusblog.com, Ilya Shapiro of the Cato Institute and Pam Karlan of Stanford Law School.
READ MORE: What we learned from Neil Gorsuch's marathon confirmation hearing
In the recording obtained by the paper, McCaskill says she's comfortable voting against Gorsuch, "but I'm very uncomfortable being part of a strategy that's going to open up the Supreme Court to a complete change."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said last week that Democrats would filibuster the nomination. With a 52-seat majority, Republicans need eight Democrats to vote with them to break the 60-vote threshold to move forward.
It's unclear if they will have those votes — of the 10 Senate Democrats who are up for re-election in states Trump won, five have already said they will vote against him. McConnell has made it clear he will change the rules if he doesn't get the votes, meaning they could proceed to a final confirmation vote with only a simple majority.
In all, 33 Democrats have said they will oppose Gorsuch. Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell announced her opposition Thursday, saying she has concerns about his record.
Changing Senate rules would not be unprecedented. In 2013, Democrats were in the majority under the leadership of Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada and upset about the blockage of President Barack Obama's nominees to a powerful appellate court. The Democrats pushed through a rules change lowering the vote threshold on all nominees except for the Supreme Court from 60 to a simple majority.
READ MORE: Explainer: What is the 'nuclear option'? And how will it affect Neil Gorsuch's nomination?


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Walter Ian Kaye wrote at 24/8/97 2:56 am >No, Windows displays type LARGER than MacOS. I just threw together a page: > > <http://www.natural-innovations.com/boo/dpi-doodoo.html> > >A Windows 9pt font takes the same number of pixels as a Mac 12pt font. >This is because Windows *thinks* it is at 96dpi, while MacOS *mandates* >that it is at 72dpi. (ppi, whatever) I think you're confusing "larger" with pixels per em. I already covered that, obviously 12pt rendered for 96dpi (or any screen res higher than 72dpi - Mac) will appear larger on a 72dpi, the reason is that it is no longer a 12pt typeface for that system. 12pt at 96dpi is 16ppm, while at 72dpi it's only 12ppm, obviously if you transfer one bitmap to another system its ppm isn't going to correlate with the notional rendered point size unless the screen dpi is identical. > > being Macs that run higher res screens. > >QuickDraw *ALWAYS* assumes 72dpi, and images fonts accordingly. Your video >configuration is irrelevant, as the OS has no idea how you manually adjusted >the analog amplification controls on your monitor. Well your screen settings are irrelevant in terms of the bitmap rendered, since the ppm is unchanged, however the physical size of the bitmap rendered to screen is dependent on the dpi of the monitor, it follows that twice the dpi gives a bitmap of half the physical size. > > > The problem seems to be of the OS or the browser understanding what a > > point is, and that screen resolutions are variable (therefore > > compensating for that). Then everyone will get type the same size, but > > with different resolutions (effectively different pixel per em values) > >But how do you tell the OS what your video display LOOKS like? As far as >I know, there are no CRTs with any ability to sense their *true* geometry; >they only know if you increased or decreased something, and thus cannot >report the true/actual/visible/physically-measurable dpi back to the OS. I don't suppose it would be too much of a problem for someone to write a control panel to set the parameters correctly. As Todd ssems to be of the opinion that more Macs run at greater than 72dpi than don't (if I recall correctly), and I certainly wouldn't argue with that, it's about time someone sorted it out. -- CliveReceived on Tuesday, 26 August 1997 12:02:57 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Monday, 2 May 2016 14:26:44 UTC


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I love cookie dough ice cream. I really love cookie dough Blizzards from Dairy Queen. When I go to Coldstone I get cake batter with cookie dough. It's extremely delicious.
I have never found a store bought cookie dough ice cream that I truly enjoy. They all end up being just mainly vanilla with dots of cookie dough and some hard chocolate chips. Not so great.
UNTIL NOW. Whilst honeymooning, Jordan and I randomly bought the most amazing store bought chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream you will ever put in your mouth. And now I am addicted. I mean, we were already addicted to ice cream, but this took it to a whole new level. It is Breyers Blasts Mrs. Fields Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough ice cream. There are other Mrs. Fields kinds so make sure it is specifically this one. It is the BEST. You don't have to search for the cookie dough - it is filled with scrumptious chunks. Your spoon will never lack the goodness. You won't end up with just vanilla in your mouth. Excellent.
I deemed this important enough to share with you because you will never want to go back to any other kind of cookie dough ice cream. Ever. Jordan also agrees, and he is a self-proclaimed ice cream connoisseur. So believe us. The other day I bought some at Food Lion for a whopping sale price of $1.99. Yes, all of the Breyers ice cream was $1.99. So you can imagine what our freezer looks like right now. Although I may have eaten the majority of it while Jordan was away...


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Watch our new interview with rising r'n'b star TeeFlii (who is dropping his new album "Starr" tomorrow).
TeeFlii will be releasing his debut album, Starr (with two r's as he'll happily tell you), tomorrow. Last week we connected with the West Coast r'n'b artist for an exclusive interview about the forthcoming album, his collaborators and more.
The singer starts off by discussing getting into r'n'b, revealing that he grew up singing gospel. He also reveals an early connection with Chris Brown, teaching him a thing or two about krumping, as well as DJ Mustard.
TeeFlii also describes what you should expect from Starr, as well as some of his big collaborators-- Dom Kennedy, Nipsey Hussle, E-40, DJ Quik and more.
Cop Starr tomorrow on iTunes.


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General Store
A full range of groceries and household goods (more than 800 different items), fruit and vegetables, freshly made sandwiches, cakes & bread - together with a range of beers & wines. An extensive range of newspapers and magazines can be found too!
We always keep a good range and if there is a specific item we will order it and reserve for you.
Our bread and rolls are delivered daily fresh baked.
Claire's bread is handmade in Staplehurst and is made with: No sugar; No added fat; Enzyme and chemical free; Vegan; Dairy free;
Does contain gluten.
A real treat!
Fresh fruit and vegtables always available
A delicious range of cheeses, cooked meats, patés, pasties, pies, sandwiches and more!
News & Periodicals
We always keep a good range of newspapers and periodicals and if there is a specific item we will order it and reserve for you.
Greetings Cards
Choose from a good selection – and send it straight away!
We have a range of local views too – if you're visiting or you live in Benenden you'll want your friends to see how beautiful the village is!
Stationery Items
Don't make that trip into town without checking here first!
Benenden's Bag!
Buy one of our bags and keep using it!


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Choosing A Baby Toy
Choosing a toy that will brighten your baby's face is fun, but it's essential to keep safety in mind too.
Avoid toys with sharp points and edges. Put toys intended for older kids out of reach of babies and toddlers.
Kids love to yank and pull apart toys, so choose sturdy toys that don't have loose, moving parts that can easily come off.
Buy age-appropriate toys. Read the label, and if it's not recommended for children under a certain age, then don't buy it for your baby.
Search for toys that are washable or include the words non-toxic on the label, since so many toys end up in baby's mouth.
Reduce choking risk by skipping any games that include parts that are smaller than 1.75 inches in diameter for babies and toddlers. A general rule: Any object that can fit into an empty toilet paper roll is a choking hazard and should be out of reach. Toys stuffed with any kind of beans or pellets should be avoided, too, because a baby can choke or suffocate if any of those pellets were to spill out of the toy and end up in your baby's mouth.
Stay away from toys with loose string, ribbons, or cords because they can become tangled around your baby's neck.
Avoid toy guns or other toys that shoot objects. Even the simplest versions that shoot plastic objects can cause eye injuries and present choking hazards.
Buy electric toys that are UL-approved, and never permit a child to use a toy with a frayed cord because it can result in shocks and burns.
Beware of toy chests and toy storage containers. They can pinch little fingers and a child can climb in, get trapped, and suffocate.
Another toy safety issue: Avoid crib toys that have ribbons, ropes, cords, wires, or anything else hanging from them that could strangle your baby. As a general rule, remove all toys from your baby's crib when your child is sleeping.


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Empowering the Poor to transform their own world
The water and Sanitation needs of the Third World can in many situations, be helped with very simple technology built within the very villages we want to help. Our goal at Bati is to teach this technology to Villagers or other NGO's/Trainers so that people can have the basics of life so many of us take for granted.
Any Technologies listed on this site are free to anyone who wishes to be a part of this service to the Poor and Needy. We run an annual 10 day Seminar each September in Bali where the simple training is taught by Rus Alit who is recognized worldwide for his service to folks in more than 30 different Countries.
Presenting BATI


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Who doesn't love Halloween right? I will be hosting a small Halloween party with my girls. I needed to get some ideas for a centerpiece. I love all my finds. I will share what I come up with for their party!
How fun and easy is this centerpiece? Catherine Spencer has so many crafty ideas!
I love these wine bottles. Find out how to make these for a fun Halloween centerpiece. Found image HERE.
I absolutely adore these candy corn candles from Simmworksfamily.com
This Halloween candy is adorable!!! Image found on Tumblr.
Oh my!! You know my love for zebra is quite crazy!! This is my kind of centerpiece. CraftsnCoffee.com is so talented!
Amanda Jane Brown made this hurricane. Isn't this simple yet so pretty?!
I really like this vase from The Swell Life. Super crafty and affordable!
This ghost bouquet is too cute for words!! I found the picture on First For Women.
These candy centerpieces are so fantastic! Home is where the boat is has other fabulous ideas! Check it out.
This spooky centerpiece is super cool! This find is from Oh how Posh.
This image is from Creature Comforts. I love these recycled cans made into centerpieces…..so cute!
These are soooo super creative! Found the idea on CSI.
I hope you stop by to check out all the other fun ideas I have on my Halloween Pinterest board. SO FUN!
Are you crafty? Have you made a fun centerpiece? I'd love to see it! leave a comment with a link 🙂


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Many people still refer to the DVLA department responsible for driving tests, MOTs, certifications and safety standards as the DSA. This isn't surprising as the DSA was firmly in place up until the end of March 2014, when it became the DVSA. Merger with the VOSA has resulted in today's DVSA – more information about the change can be found on the official government website's press release about it from 2013 here.
The DSA was commonly the place to contact when booking a driving test (theory or practical), raising queries regarding driver certification, making alterations to existing driver examination dates & times and finding all your need to know and more about MOTs.
What was the DSA?
Stringent monitoring of driver and vehicle standards plus the promotion of road safety were the main objects of the DSA (Driving Standards Agency) which was then known as an executive arm of the Department for Transport. In addition to upholding the quality of driver training, the DSA also took care of the administration regarding all theory and practical test elements. During its operational years the DSA employed approximately 1,700 members of staff including with additional 728 administrative workers and managers. Wikipedia has a fairly comprehensive overview of what the organisation was responsible for here.
Nowadays it is the DVSA you will need to contact if enquiring about any of the above points. For your convenience we has listed an at-a-glance Q & A guide to some of the most commonly asked questions.
What is the pass rate needed on a driving theory test?
The theory test pass rate requires a minimum of 43 questions out of 50 to be answered correctly.
Can you tell me more about the 'hazard perception test'?
There are two parts the driver theory test, one is a multiple choice section and the other is known as a 'hazard perception test'. As the name suggests, this part ensure that new drivers can clearly identify and handle potentially dangerous driving conditions. You can take a free online hazard perception test here.
How long after the theory test do I have the take my practical exam?
There is no set time, however the practical element must be completed within 3 years following the theory test.
Contacting the DSA
The DVSA can now answer any queries you may have previously wanted to raise with the DSA. There are a number of ways in which you can contact the DVSA, as follows:
The DVSA Booking Support – helplines are open from 8am until 4pm Monday to Friday.
Alternatively you can email your enquiries at any time via the DVLA main website here.


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Why will my iPhone 6 Plus not sync?
I took my 6 Plus to a local shop that specializes in phone repair. My phone got wet by accident and after I got the phone to turn back on it would charge some of the time but not all of the time. I was cleaning lint out the charging port and a pin broke off. I had the shop replace the port and when I got my phone back the port would care on one side of the lightning cable and not the other, and would no longer sync with my computer ( PC shows error 43 and will not resolve/Mac doesnt see it at all). To top it off after getting my phone back the screen will randomly stop accepting touches or swipe unless I slap it against my hand. HELP i need some direction!
Ist dies eine gute Frage?


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Well the first SCP Taco Tuesday was a roaring success. Define success you say? Well, I was there, Josh was there and Zeke and Mrs. Zeke were there. Then, Brandon emailed Josh and I are on our BlackBerry's during dinner, so we felt his love. Then, if that wasn't enough, Dorsey called my cell phone which we promptly put on speaker and he got to hang out with us for awhile. All of this equals success. I can't tell you how cool it was to meet up and sit around with these people swapping the stories of our lives.
So we're gonna do it all over again on Tuesday, November 29th at 6:30 p.m. at the same place, Tortilla Flats on Lake Mission Viejo in Southern California. This gets us a slot after Thanksgiving and before the Christmas parties get started. It should be the perfect time and everyone that can get here is invited. If you want to bring someone, even if they have never been to the site, that would be fine too. (FYI – Taco Tuesday is a bar promotion for the restaurant so no one under 21 is allowed… sorry).
Now, here's an expansion of the idea. We know that not everyone in the world can join us, but you can have your own Taco Tuesday wherever you are. Grab some people you enjoy (it doesn't matter if they are SCPers or not) and tell them to meet you at your own local taco establishment on that Tuesday, November 29th. Now the catch is, we would love to know about it. The purpose is to hang out with REAL people and not just surround yourself in this Blog World of ours. Talk about church if you want, talk about God, talk about cussing or drinking. Better yet, do some cussin' and drinkin' while you talk about God and the church…. we don't care. Or just get to know REAL people in your life and find out more about the stories of their lives.
Bottom Line… we aren't telling you what to do. Just do something on that Tuesday. Plus if you want to pull something together for that night, send me the info (or just comment here) and let me know when and where and we will post it on the site. Hey and don't forget to take some pictures…. we would love to put names and faces together…. I mean that is if you aren't in the witness protection program.
Spread the word.


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Photos Of Mr Eazi And Lil Kesh Performing At Afrika Shrine
Nigerian afrobeats star Tosin Ajibade popularly known as Mr Eazi continued his "Detty World Tour" with a performance at the popular New Afrika Shrine in Lagos.
The singer thrilled fans who trooped in to watch him perform his hit songs.
Rapper Lil Kesh also joined him at the concert as they both performed their song together.
See more photos :


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Leads From Bing Yielding Higher Value
A few months ago, we reported that Bing paid search ads were yielding more leads at less cost for select clients in the healthcare and legal professions. Today Search Engine Roundtable's Chris Boggs reported higher revenue from Bing and Yahoo for four client sites, with Google lagging in third, despite much higher search volume. This is consistent with what DemandResults continues to monitor, and it's encouraging to see others in the industry attempting to measure ROI from the search channel.
This data begs many questions. Namely, is Bing simply a more popular search engine in specific industries, and are Bing users simply more "serious" buyers than those in Google? Do some users use both Google and Bing, but for different purposes? As we look ahead to 2011, DemandResults is hoping to find the answers to these questions and many more.


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To subscribe to our monthly mobile publication, please select your favorite online newsstand:
To order a print copy, click here.
Letter from the Editor
EXOTIC LUXURY is the focus of the August 2015 edition of Luxe Beat Magazine. We are
thrilled to have interior designer Johnathan Rachman on the cover this issue. This San Francisco
interior designer shares his tips on design and how a chance encounter changed his career
What do you consider exotic? Is is something unfamiliar, something from a foreign land? We
have a little bit of both in this issue. If you're looking for a unique shopping experience, Judith
Glynn takes our readers on a tour of Cesky Krumlov. Netherlands fashion designer Gary
Symor's line "Floating Attraction" is showcased by fashion photographer Herman Chow.
Experience La Dolce Vita at the Pace of a Paddle Stroke and discover Disney's new bungalows,
offering a look at Polynesian perfection. There is so much to discover!
Enjoy this last month of summer with a cocktail inspired by Robert De Niro's new line of vodka.
Luxury is exotic.
Sherrie Wilkolaski


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by Dr Mary Coloe
Many were astonished at the reported remarks of Portuguese Cardinal Jose da Cruz Policarpo this week that there is no "fundamental obstacle" from "a theological perspective" for women to say the Mass from the altar.
One thing that is of great value in the discussion is the opportunity it gives to re-examine our understanding of Eucharist and to look again at the Gospel traditions on which our Eucharistic theology is based.
In the New Testament writings there is no indication of who led or presided when communities gathered for the "Lord's Supper". Was it one of Jesus' disciples, one of 'the Twelve', would Paul have led the communities he founded, would it have been the person who was head of the household where they gathered?
We don't have clear evidence to answer these questions. The first time we hear who led the Eucharist is in the writing called "the Didache" (the Teaching) dated about the year 100 C.E. In this document people called 'the prophets' are named as the leaders at Eucharist. "But permit the prophets to offer thanksgiving as much as they desire (Did. 10:7; also 13:3).
It is also important to return to the Gospels and to our knowledge of the Jewish Passover meal to consider questions about who would have been present with Jesus at this meal. The earliest Gospel, Mark, situates the meal as a Passover. Mark has Jesus send disciples into Jerusalem to make the arrangements and Mark writes, "The Teacher asks, where is my guest room, where I am to eat the Passover with my disciples" (Mark 14:14).
Following the meal, Jesus goes to Mount Olives and Mark records, "They went to a place called Gethsemane and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray" (Mark 14:32)
Note that the focus is on Jesus' disciples. The meal is for his disciples and these disciples then go with Jesus from the meal to Mt Olives. The group of disciples is broader than the smaller group called 'The Twelve". These twelve are singled out primarily for their symbolic value representing a unified or re-constituted Israel based again on the twelve tribes.
When Moses seals the covenant at Mt Sinai we read, "Moses rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel" (Exodus 24:4). There was an animal sacrifice and Moses collected the blood. Half of this blood was sprinkled on the altar, then the rest was sprinkled on the people as he said, "This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you" (Exodus 24:8)
In the context of a Jewish Passover meal, where the whole household gathers to celebrate the covenant and Israel's relationship with God, Jesus ritualises the new covenant.
It is unthinkable that a Jewish Passover would involve only men. Women and children as part of the household all have a role to play. The women prepare the food and are entrusted to do this according to strict kosher rules, the head of the household goes to the Temple to sacrifice the lamb, the woman begins the meal with the lighting of the candles, the children ask questions about what is happening and so provide a way of telling the great story of the first Passover. It is a joyous, noisy, family celebration.
When Mark's Gospel highlights the Twelve, within the context of this household meal, it is to recall the original Sinai covenant. It is to make the connection between what Jesus is doing now and what Moses did. Mark even records that Jesus uses the same words spoken by Moses, "This is my blood of the covenant" (Exodus 24:8; Mark 14:24).
The passage called the 'institution narrative' resonates with the symbolism of Sinai. But to read into this passage a literal exclusive gathering of only twelve men is to misread the entire Markan passage which as noted above is set within discipleship language. Schematically it looks like this:
Where am I to eat the Passover with my disciples?
The covenant ritual: The twelve, the blood of the covenant.
Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."
Taking seriously what Mark writes and his rich covenantal theology that goes back to Israel's experience of Passover and the Sinai ritualising of this experience by Moses, means it is not accurate to imagine that Jesus was seated at table only with 12 men, excluding all the other disciples.
Unfortunately, most of us have been so influenced by the Da Vinci painting of the "Last Supper" that we take this painting as a historically reliable portrait of a first century Jewish Passover meal. For all its beauty and artistry, Leonardo cannot be the basis for our Eucharistic theology, particularly if it leads to imagining that Jesus' sharing of this meal was exclusive of most of his followers.
And, among some of these followers Mark notes, "There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome, who when he was in Galilee followed him and ministered to him; and also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem" (Mark 15:40-41).
I welcome the Cardinal's comments and the discussion that has followed, particularly if it provokes what Vatican II called a "return to the sources" of our theological thinking and practice. These sources need to move beyond Da Vinci, and return to the New Testament and the early traditions using the best critical and historical methods we now have, that previous generations did not have access to.
Dr Mary Coloe is a Presentation Sister lecturing in Scripture at Australian Catholic University, Melbourne.
Article published on 29th June 2011 http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=26999