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Jock itch is a fungal infection of the skin on the groin and inner area of the thighs. The medical name for jock itch is tinea cruris.
Common fungus organisms that grow best in warm, moist areas cause jock itch. Fungus can be transmitted from one person to another by:
- Direct contact between people
- Indirect contact, such as sharing towels that are infected with the fungus
Risk Factors
Hot, humid conditions can increase your risk of jock itch. Other factors that may increase the chances of jock itch:
- Perspiring heavily
- Obesity
- Wearing tight clothing
- Wearing dirty clothing, especially underwear or athletic supporters
- Infrequently changing underwear
- Infrequent showering
- Sharing towels or clothing with other people
- Using public showers or locker rooms
- Contact sports such as wrestling
- Having an immune system disorder
Both men and women can be affected, but the condition is more common in men.
Jock itch causes a chafed, itchy, and sometimes painful rash around the groin and upper, inner thigh. The area near the anus may also be affected. The rash is:
- Usually red, tan, or brown
- Usually defined clearly at the edges
- Often slightly scaly
- May be swollen or have blisters
You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Jock itch can usually be diagnosed based on the appearance and location of the rash.
Over-the-counter antifungal creams can usually treat jock itch. Creams or lotions work better on jock itch than sprays. In severe or persistent cases, your doctor may prescribe stronger creams or oral medication. Use your prescription for the entire time that your doctor recommends. This will help prevent the rash from returning. If your rash does not go away within a month of treatment, call your doctor.
Antifungal creams can effectively treat jock itch. Some medications may work faster, but are often more expensive. Creams are usually used for 2-4 weeks.
Note: Do not use antifungal creams recommended for athlete's foot . These may be too harsh for the groin.
Oral Medications
If the rash does not improve with the cream, an oral medication may be needed.
Call the doctor if the rash begins to ooze. The rash may also be infected with bacteria. If this occurs, you may be given an antibiotic.
Lifestyle Changes
These steps can also help to treat jock itch:
- Dry the infected area before dressing.
- Avoid sharing clothing and towels with others.
- Wear loose-fitting clothes that are made out of cotton. Another option is to wear clothes that are designed to wick moisture away from your skin.
To help reduce the chances of jock itch:
- Shower regularly.
- Always shower soon after exercising or perspiring heavily.
- After showering, dry the groin area thoroughly.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing.
- Wear cotton underwear and breathable clothing.
- Avoid wearing clothing that chafes your groin.
- Always wash your clothes, especially underwear and athletic supporters.
- Do not share towels or clothing with others.
- Do not wear wet swimsuits for a long period of time.
- Do not store damp clothing in your locker or gym bag.
- Avoid contact with persons with the infection.
Jock itch may result from an athlete's foot or a toenail infection. To prevent it from spreading to the groin area:
- Treat the foot or toenail infection with proper medications (talk to your doctor first).
- Use a separate towel to dry your feet.
- Put your socks on or cover your feet before putting on underwear or pants.
- Avoid touching your feet, then your groin, when washing or getting dressed.
- Wash your hands after touching your feet and/or groin.
American Academy of Dermatology https://www.aad.org
Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians https://www.familydoctor.org
Canadian Dermatology Association https://www.dermatology.ca
Dermatologists http://www.dermatologists.ca
Jock itch. Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: https://familydoctor.org/condition/jock-itch. Accessed January 29, 2021.
Tinea cruris. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114330/Tinea-cruris . Accessed January 29, 2021.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board David L. Horn, MD, FACP
- Review Date: 03/2020
- Update Date: 01/29/2021


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Provides a complete international investment position statement, including a detailed analysis of international investment. Covers foreign investment in Australia and Australian investment abroad, including details of the level of investment, investment flows and associated income. Detailed information is provided on Australia's foreign debt. Series are classified by institutional sector and type of investment. For foreign investment in Australia, some country and industry detail are also provided. For foreign debt, further details are included on drawings and repayments, currency, and maturity structure. Document Selection These documents will be presented in a new window. |

subset: commoncrawl


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Kerry vows 'unbelievably small' strike on Syria
Secretary of State John Kerry, who has implicitly compared Syrian President Bashar Assad to Adolf Hitler, said on Monday that the United States aims to carry out an "unbelievably small" strike at Assad's forces.
"We will be able to hold Bashar Assad accountable without engaging in troops on the ground or any other prolonged kind of effort in a very limited, very targeted, very short-term effort that degrades his capacity to deliver chemical weapons without assuming responsibility for Syria's civil war," Kerry said at a press conference in London with British Foreign Secretary William Hague.
"That is exactly what we're talking about doing — unbelievably small, limited kind of effort," Kerry said.
And the top U.S. diplomat got his wires crossed on another American military operation, saying that then-President Ronald Reagan's 1986 strike on Tripoli aimed to "send a message" to Moammar Gadhafi for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. But that attack occurred in 1988.
In making the case for action against Assad, Kerry has repeatedly invoked the specter of pre-World War II appeasement of Hitler. In congressional hearings, Kerry has alluded to the Nuremberg trials of high-ranking Nazis as well as to the tragedy of the St. Louis.
President Barack Obama has launched an unprecedented media campaign to win over skeptical Americans to the cause of striking Syria. Obama was to sit down on Monday for interviews with ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox and PBS before delivering an address to the nation on Tuesday night.
And Kerry's predecessor, Hillary Clinton, expressed her support for Obama during an appearance at the White House on Monday afternoon, and was expected to do so again Tuesday in a speech in Pennsylvania. Clinton, widely thought to be considering a presidential run in 2016, lost the Democratic nomination to Obama in large part because of her support for the March 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The secretary of state's remarks came a day after White House chief of staff Denis McDonough took to the Sunday news shows to make the case for war with Syria.
Previewing Obama's speech to the nation on Tuesday night, McDonough said "what he`ll tell the country is this is targeted, which is targeted, limited, consequential force."
"He`ll also tell the country what this is not. This is not Iraq. This is not Afghanistan. This is not an extended air campaign like in Libya. This is a targeted effort," McDonough said.
The Senate is scheduled to hold a procedural vote Wednesday on authorizing a military strike, and could proceed to a final vote later in the week.
Kerry's remarks drew criticism from one prominent Republican member of the House of Representatives. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers of Michigan told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" that Kerry's remarks were part of the administration's "confusing message" as it tries to convince deeply skeptical lawmakers to vote in favor of giving Obama authorization to use military force against Syria.


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Mapping Balkan Biodiversity
21 Oct 2013
Four years have passed since Dessislava Dimitrova had the foresight and wisdom to invite convivium leaders from across the Balkans region to Smilyan in Bulgaria to launch the Terra Madre Balkans network. The idea was brilliant in its simplicity: No single country in this fragmented corner of Europe had enough critical mass on its own to defend its gastronomy from the standardizing impact of globalization. Safeguarding this gastronomic heritage would require a communal effort that went beyond national borders.
The Terra Madre Balkans network
In one of the rare authentic mehane (taverns), the group gathered for the inaugural meeting arranged the region's Slow Food Presidia products in the center of the table: Tcherni Vit green cheese, Mavrovo Reka mountain pasture kashkaval, wild fig and Pozegaca plum slatko. These hidden gastronomic jewels represented a small treasure for the many rural communities in the Balkans, who all too often do not know how or where to begin constructing their future. The Terra Madre Balkans network was founded then, to preserve food biodiversity and to guarantee that new generations will still be able to find these stories, these traditions and these flavors intact.
In just four years, this challenge has been taken on by the over 1,500 members, 11 Slow Food Presidia, 60 food communities, 15 food education programs and 25 cooks who form the Terra Madre Balkans network. The network is united above all by the desire to show to Europe and the world that the gastronomy of the Balkans is not second-rate. The region, where Hungarian, Slavic, Turkish and Mediterranean cuisines have been mingling for centuries, is home to surprisingly authentic food traditions. However, these gastronomic specialties are now at risk of disappearing and are protected only by small communities, weakened from years of marginalization and a constant hemorrhaging of young people and resources.
For this reason, in 2013 Slow Food has launched an immense project to map the region's food biodiversity, funded by the European Commission (ESSEDRA – Environmentally Sustainable Socio-Economic Development of Rural Areas), which will involve eight countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Turkey) and two years of work.
This will not be a museum-like operation. Instead, we will be collecting the experiences of small rural communities, because they must be the starting point for constructing a new Europe, more cosmopolitan and less globalized, through a development model that places communities and their traditions at the center.
At-risk products and commercial barriers
Why should artisanal food shops, homemade cured meats and raw-milk cheeses be only the prerogative of Western Europe? There are plenty of stories to be told in the Balkans as well, yet so far the European Union has granted a denomination of origin to only two products from the region. In comparison, there are over 200 in Italy alone. This does not reflect the reality. As the tools made available by the authorities are clearly not yet sufficient, Slow Food, with the help of civil society, is working to catalog traditional products one by one in the Ark of Taste: from salep from Kelmend, a powder ground from orchid tubers, mixed with milk or water to make a beverage, to rakija, a type of brandy, made in the micro-distilleries of Serbia's Ibar Valley.
Identifying the products at risk of disappearing, however, is not enough. Equally important will be making the effort to work out what barriers are stopping small-scale producers from accessing markets with their traditional products. Too often, in fact, rural communities are held hostage by inept politicians, stifling bureaucracy and overly strict, inflexible regulations. All the while, big business can get away with almost anything, even butchering horsemeat and selling it as beef.
The Ark of Taste will therefore serve as a springboard for a wider campaign to raise awareness and inspire pride, to finally transform these countries into the leading champions of small-scale agriculture in the European Union.
Find out more about the project at www.essedra.com
Blog & news
Change the world through food
Learn how you can restore ecosystems, communities and your own health with our RegenerAction Toolkit.


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WASHINGTON — Cheers, a standing ovation and a gag gift of protective headgear greeted Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton as she returned to work on Monday after a monthlong absence caused first by a stomach virus, then a fall and a concussion and finally a brief hospitalization for a blood clot near her brain.
A crowd of about 75 State Department officials greeted Clinton with a standing ovation as she walked in to the first senior staff meeting she has convened since early December, according to those present. Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Nides, noting that life in Washington is often a "contact sport, sometimes even in your own home" then presented Clinton with a gift — a regulation white Riddell football helmet emblazoned with the State Department seal, officials said.
She was also given a blue football jersey with "Clinton" and the number 112 — the record-breaking number of countries she has visited since becoming secretary of state — printed on the back. Aides said Clinton was delighted with the gifts but did not try either of them on and the meeting turned to matters of national security and diplomacy.
"She loved it. She thought it was cool. But then being Hillary Clinton, she wanted to get right to business," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters.
At the meeting, Clinton stressed the need for the State Department to implement a review board's recommendations for improving the security at high-threat diplomatic posts, officials said. Clinton said she wanted to see all 29 of the recommendations from the independent Accountability Review Board in place by the time her successor takes over.
"She's expecting everybody to work hard in that regard," Nuland said.
President Barack Obama has nominated Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., to replace Clinton, who had long said she would step down after four years.
The review board, created after the deadly Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, harshly criticized leadership and management at two State Department bureaus that allowed the post to be inadequately protected. Four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, were killed in the attack.
Clinton also told her staff on Monday that she would testify before Congress about the report before she leaves office, officials said. No date for that testimony has yet been set and Congress is in recess until Jan. 21, meaning that she may have to stay on as secretary of state for another week or so after Obama's inauguration on that day. After she testifies, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee would take up Kerry's nomination.
Clinton fell ill with a stomach bug after returning from a trip to Europe on Dec. 7. The illness forced her to cancel a planned visit to North Africa and the Middle East and left her severely dehydrated. While at home, she fainted and fell and suffered a concussion that was diagnosed by doctors on Dec. 20.
During a follow up examination on Dec. 30, doctors discovered a blood clot in a vein that runs between the skull and the brain behind her right ear and she was admitted to New York-Presbyterian Hospital for treatment with blood thinners. She was released from the hospital Wednesday.


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SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — After two seasons as Notre Dame coach, Brian Kelly decided he wasn't spending enough time doing the best part of his job: coaching players.
Kelly changed that in 2012, and he shuffled his staff. Then, with Kelly more in tune to his team and the assistants in sync with the head coach, Notre Dame went from unranked to top-ranked.
For leading the Fighting Irish to the BCS championship for the first time, Kelly was voted Associated Press college football coach of the year.
"When you're talking about the coach of the year, there's so many things that go into it," Kelly said. "I know it's an individual award and it goes to one guy, but the feelings that I get from it is you're building the right staff, that you've got the right players and to me that is a validation of the program. That you put together the right business plan."
Kelly received 25 votes from the AP college football poll panel. Penn State's Bill O'Brien was second with 14 votes. Stanford's David Shaw (four), Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin (three), Kansas State's Bill Snyder (two) and Alabama's Nick Saban (one) also received votes.
Kelly is the first Notre Dame coach to win the AP award, which started in 1998.
Of course, the Irish haven't played for a national championship since 1988 and spent much of the past two decades trying to find a coach who could restore a program that was becoming a relic of its proud past.
It turns out Kelly was the answer.
He arrived in 2010 after two decades spent climbing the coaching ladder and winning big everywhere he worked. But in the world of college football, Notre Dame is a long way from Grand Valley State — where Kelly won Division II national titles — and Cincinnati, his previous stop, for that matter.
"I think the job tends to distract you," Kelly said earlier this week. "There are a lot of things that pull you away from the primary reason why you want to be head coach of Notre Dame, and that is graduate your players and play for a national championship.
"Now, to do that you have to have the pulse of your football team and you've got to have relationships with your players. If you're already going around the country doing other things other than working with your football team, it's hard to have the pulse of your team."
Kelly said he made a point of spending more time with the team this year.
"That's why I got into this. I want to develop 18 to 21 year olds. My development as the head coach at Notre Dame this year has been about getting back to why you would want to coach college players. You want to learn about them; you want to know their strengths and weaknesses; you want to help them with leadership skills; you want to help them when they're not feeling confident in their ability.
"For me, that is why it's been the most enjoyable year as the head coach at Notre Dame, is that I got a chance to spend more time with my team."
The first step, though, toward a successful 2012 season for Notre Dame can be traced to Feb. 10. On that day Kelly announced his coaching staff. The most notable change was moving Chuck Martin from defensive backs coach to offensive coordinator to fill the hole left when Charley Molnar became the coach of Massachusetts.
Martin was defensive coordinator for Kelly at Grand Valley State, then replaced his boss as head coach of the Division II power when Kelly was hired by Central Michigan after the 2003 season.
The move might have seemed odd to some, but Kelly, who built his reputation on offensive acumen, wanted a right-hand man who understood exactly what he wanted.
To replace Martin on the defensive side, Bob Elliot was hired from Iowa State to coach safeties. Harry Hiestand was hired away from Tennessee to replace offensive line coach Ed Warinner, and co-defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, who had been with Kelly at Central Michigan and Cincinnati, was promoted to assistant head coach.
"The voice of your coordinators has got to be in lock step with the head coach," Kelly said. "Now both of these guys have been with me a long time.
"Chuck Martin on offense, I wanted a voice that went back with me to Grand Valley State. And with Bob Diaco someone that goes back to Central Michigan with me. So yeah, it was important to get that voice right."
The last change Kelly needed to make involved Xs and Os. Kelly wanted to win now, but with a first-year starter and redshirt freshmen at quarterback. He had to adjust his style.
Out went the push-the-pace offense that had helped him reach two BCS games at Cincinnati. In came a more deliberate approach.
"We conduct the game differently," Martin said. "We set out how we thought this team could win with the personnel we had and with the young quarterback. Most people say 'OK, you're going to play the young guy, you're playing for the future.' We just went 12-0 with the young guy and he got yanked four times.
"The rest of the world wants 12-0 with no warts. We have plenty of warts. Somehow we're 12-0. Just goes to show the job (Kelly) did that we made it work week in and week out with what we have."
Kelly's ability and willingness to adapt have been his greatest strengths.
"He made some of his biggest changes ever in the last year. Going away from some things that really were his bread and butter, and 12-0 later, the guy did it again," Martin said.
"He saw what Notre Dame football needed in 2012 and he got to know this university."
Notre Dame's Kelly wins AP college football coach of the year award
College football
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Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes from life around me, from watching people going about their lives. The writer in me is a receptacle open to the impressions and influences I am exposed to on a daily basis. Me, the photographer, captures the visuals and scenes, branding them into my memory for reference at a later date.
One of my favorite hobbies is people watching or eavesdropping on snippets of conversation. I have created some of my best stories, written thought provoking posts or informative articles after listening in to discussions or conversations while sitting in a coffee shop or standing in the queue at the grocery store. Sometimes they are only fragments of dialogue, but enough to jerk my memory, or tickle my curiosity, driving me to my notebook to scribble down the ideas.
I absolutely love being able to retreat to this special place within me, a place that is mine and can never belong to anyone else. This place is a refuge for my soul and a place that nourishes my creativity. If I choose to invite anyone it would be by special invitation. Then I have allowed the words or the images that have struggled to be set free, to finally flow. As if having a mind of their own, they spill out onto the paper, painting visionary pictures for those who choose to read my words.
Inspiration can arrive unexpectedly at my door, but it leads me to be driven with a passion that comes from deep within. Inspiration cannot be defined nor can it be controlled, where seemingly ordinary moments in life become more than they appear. To find inspiration you need to look everywhere!
Where I find my inspiration might seem staid and stale to others who are experiencing the exact same moment with me. Stunning sunsets and breathtaking waterfalls are not necessary to stir the soul, sometimes it's as simple as watching my 9 year old son sitting in the corner playing with his Lego Star Wars figures and imagining a fantastic galaxy filled with colorful characters and mighty battles.
When inspiration for these decadent fruity and chocolaty buns struck, I gave into them contentedly. While the initial idea was to use cherries, the jar of lingonberries in my pantry appealed to me a lot more. Together with the dark chocolate chunks these buns are a delicious way to awaken inspiration.
I'd also like to share with you an exciting project recently re-launched by my friend Sabra Krock and her husband. Everything but Water is the largest independent retailer of swim and resortwear in the US. Their stunning style section features lookbooks, fashion inspiration/trends and great videos from their fashion shoots. I am loving browsing through their wonderful stories created each week as I find them to be a great source of inspiration on many levels. For example, the Couture Cocktails story – a recipe for summer fun – stunning looks paired with designer cocktails or how about Trina Trunk's Moroccan-inspired resort collection. Please take some time and check out their amazing work!
Printable version of recipe here
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours
- For dough
- 235 ml water
- 235 ml milk
- 115g butter
- 140g sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 teaspoons yeast
- 595g flour
- For filling and topping
- 500g Lingonberry preserves
- 350g dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 130g icing sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- Pistachios, coarsely chopped
- In a saucepan combine the milk and water. Heat just to a scald.
- Pour the liquid into a large bowl and add the butter. Stir till the butter is melted.
- Add the sugar and stir till the sugar has dissolved. Before continuing check the temperature of the mixture to make sure it's not too hot. The temperature should be around 40-45 degrees C.
- Once the mixture has cooled add the eggs, instant yeast and about 2 cups of flour. Mix till smooth and allow to sit uncovered for 10 minutes.
- Add the salt and some more flour and mix. The mixture will eventually become too hard to mix, at this point transfer onto a flat surface and continue to add the flour and knead. The best way to continue is to roll up your sleeves and knead with your hands.
- Continue kneading for about 10 minutes. Rub the sides of a clean bowl with a little oil. Place the kneaded dough into the bowl and turn over till all sides are very lightly coated with the oil.
- Cover with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise until it has doubled in volume. This will take about 1 - 1 ½ hours.
- Transfer to a flat surface. Place a sheet of baking paper under the dough. With a rolling, roll out the dough into a 40x54 cm rectangle. Spoon out the lingonberry preserve and spread over the dough, leaving approx. 2 cm edge all around.
- Sprinkle the chopped dark chocolate, covering the preserve.
- Similar to cinnamon buns, roll the dough from the long side up, using the baking paper as an aid as you roll upwards. Pinch the dough together to close as best as possible.
- With a floured sharp knife cut about 12-15 slices, about 4 cm wide, from the dough roll, making sure to flour the knife in between each cut.
- Place the buns in a lightly buttered oven-proof dish or place on a baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 1 hour.
- In the meantime preheat the oven to 175 degrees C. Once the buns have doubled place in oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Prepare the icing by mixing the sugar and the milk in a small bowl until it is smooth and thick. Once the buns are done, allow them to cool on a rack, then scatter a few chopped pistachios and drizzle generously with the icing.
- You can use any type of your favorite preserve. This fig and ginger preserve will make everyone drool for more or this delectable plum and cinnamon preserve is perfect for breakfast, tea, or just about anytime of the day!
- Decadent would be simply drizzling some dulce de leche and a few nuts!
Where do you find your inspiration?
Inspiration is a personal thing and each one of us resource if from different elements. I guess, it is important to be open and observant in daily life. I realize inspiration comes easily to me when I am emotionally engaged in daily life, my inspiration comes from living!
These buns combine beautiful flavors and bring them together in perfect harmony. Biting into the fluffy softness of the dough and experiencing the tartness of the lingonberries with the rich dark chocolate will inspire you to new creations. Enjoy!
I am sending these to the lovely Kulsum of Journey Kitchen, who is my current hostess of the Monthly Mingle. I am hoping that the theme yeasted doughs inspired you all to create something delicious too and I really look forward to seeing you all at the roundup.
The theme for the next Monthly Mingle has also been announced. My hostess for September is Divya from Dil Se and she has would like you all to bring along your Scintillating Salads to the event. The deadline in 30th September 2011. Hope you will be joining us!
You might like these ideas from WFLH:
Nutella Flakey Swirls | Red Current and Marzipan Swirls | Rhubarb Spiced Coffee Cake |
All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2011 Meeta Khurana Wolff unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First


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Baku-APA. Latin America is home to the world's largest Roman Catholic population, but hopes that the next pope will come from the region appear faint, experts said Monday, APA reports quoting Associated Press.
The predominance of Europeans on the College of Cardinals means that the odds are stacked against a Latin American pope, even though the names of a number of high-ranking churchmen from the region have been bandied about, analysts said. The 118-member college, with 62 European members and only 19 from Latin America, will elect a successor for Pope Benedict VXI, who announced Monday he will resign due to age.
Still, hope springs eternal.
"Since Latin America is a fortress for Christianity during these rough times, it would be healthy for us to get a Latin American pope," said Fernando Reyes, 57, a professional violinist, who prays daily at the La Merced church in Santiago, Chile.
Crossing himself before leaving the church, Reyes noted, "I would be proud. We've had Italian, Polish, German. It's time for a Latin American."
Brazilian Cardinals Joao Braz de Aviz, a 65-year-old who has earned praise as head of the Vatican's office for religious congregations, and Odilo Pedro Scherer, the 63-year-old archbishop of Sao Paulo, have been mentioned as possibilities.
Other Latin Americans posited as possible popes include Argentina's Leonardo Sandri and Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. Sandri, 69, is head of the Vatican's office for Eastern rite churches. He earned fame as the "voice" of Pope John Paul II when the pontiff lost the ability to speak because of his Parkinson's disease.
Also mentioned in 2005, when Benedict was chosen, was Honduran Archbishop Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga.
But it is unclear whether any one of them could gain traction.
"To see the possibilities for a Latin American pope, you have to look at the makeup of the College of Cardinals," said Bernardo Barranco, an expert at Mexico's Center for Religious Studies. "From the get-go, I see it as difficult for a Latin American ... because the college has not only been "re-Europeanized," it has also been "re-Italianized."
While some see Latin America's estimated 40 percent of the world's 1.2-billion Catholic population as a bulwark of the faith, the church is also facing challenges in the region from evangelical churches.
In Mexico, the percentage of the population who identify themselves as Catholics dropped from over 90 percent in the 1980s to 84 percent in 2010, the latest year for which data is available.
In Brazil, home to a number of charismatic or evangelical churches, the drop has been even more precipitous, from 84 percent in 1995 to 68 percent in 2010.
"In numerical terms, Latin America is majority Catholic, in broad terms, but these aren't the best times for the church," said Barranco. "On the contrary, it is going through a severe crisis the like of which it has never seen before."
Still, some see Latin America's still-large Catholic population as a decisive force.
"It would be a central argument for electing a Latin American pope, because the future of the church is in the Southern Hemisphere," said R. Andrew Chesnut, a professor of Religious Studies at the Virginia Commonwealth University. "I am not going to make any predictions, but I think there will be a contingent of European cardinals who would support an African or Latin American candidate."
For Rosita Mejia, 44, who has sold religious items for 25 years outside the La Merced church, the next pope's country of origin is less important than his vigor, energy and proximity to the people, none of which were distinguishing characteristics of Benedict VXI.
"In five years, only one person has asked me for a Benedict prayer card. In comparison hundreds of people have asked for John Paul II," Benedict's more charismatic predecessor, she said. "I would like for the next pope to be younger, and have more time to travel the world, and perhaps come to Chile like John Paul did."


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Benefits of Engineered Hardwood Flooring Installation in Surrey
by Dillon Patterson Article PublisherEngineered
hardwood flooring has become a top choice in homes and offices throughout the
world. This manufactured flooring solution provides you with the beauty of
natural wood with the strength of layers which have been laminated together.
This type of flooring lasts for years, providing you with a beautiful finish to
any room design.
of the main benefits of engineered hardwood flooring is that you get to enjoy
the natural characteristics of solid wood. This means you have a wide variety
to choose from, choosing the wood you feel will work best in your overall room
design. With the engineered hardwood flooring, your top layer, which is the
visible layer, is natural wood, so you can enjoy all it has to offer. The lower
layers are other products, which have been bonded to provide strength.
brings us to the next benefit of engineered hardwood flooring; it is
exceptionally strong and stable. Due to the layers being bonded to very high
standards, this provides the floor with exceptional strength, helping it remain
stable. This makes this the best flooring option no matter what the sub floor
is. You find with solid wood floors, you are limited to what sub floor you can
install them over, concrete for example will only benefit from the engineered
options with solid wood flooring being damaged due to the moisture content in
the cement.
hardwood flooring is also resistant to temperature change. One of the problems
you may experience with tiles or even solid wood flooring is that it expands
and contracts with the temperature changes. With tiles this can lead to
cracking, but with wood it can result in warping, which means unstable floors
which will need replacing sooner rather than later.
these floors you can install them in a cold basement or on the upper level of
your home with confidence. They are resistant to damp, which is why they are
the ideal choice when installing over a concrete slab. They are designed to
handle temperature changes with complete ease, enabling you to purchase these
floors with complete confidence.
great thing with engineered hardwood flooring is that it can be installed
anywhere. There are no restrictions when it comes to where this flooring can be
used, making it one of the most versatile flooring choices for you to enjoy in
your home for years to come.
major benefit that most home-owners find appealing when it comes to engineered
hardwood flooring is that it provides lifetime value. This flooring solution is
so strong, durable and stable that it can last for many years, still being
enjoyed once you have moved out of the home and for many years after that. You
will find that due to the beauty this flooring provides combined with the
natural characteristics of the wood, it can help to sell your home should you
decide to sell, increasing the value and appeal to buyers.
is an extensive range available. This flooring comes in all wood options from
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BucketHead Top Prospect
Canada 78 Posts
Leafs81 PickupHockey Pro
735 Posts
n/a deleted
4809 Posts
quote:Originally posted by Leafs81That line is something else to watch. Every Edmonton fans must be exciting. I think Hall can keep up the pace to reach 70 points or more, and the others in the 55-65 range maybe.
Beans15 Moderator
Canada 8286 Posts
Porkchop73 PickupHockey Pro
640 Posts
CrockOShight Top Prospect
95 Posts
nuxfan PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts
quote:Originally posted by Beans15Hall is know around Edmonton to be incredibly arrogant. I know most NHLers are, but he seems to think he is far better than what he is, walking around town like he has a couple of 9's on his back. I also heard he enjoys the company of the ladies and has certain expectations and wants those things very shortly after meeting those ladies. But heck, who wouldn't take advantage of that kind of celebrity, even a little bit.
Pasty7 PickupHockey Veteran
Canada 2312 Posts
quote:Originally posted by Pasty7hey Beano just Curious how is Colton Teubert shapeing up i know he was a big part of the Penner trade amnd he should be able to contribute in a few years to the EDM blueline if all the scouts projections come to fruition, i assume he is makeing his AHL debut this season or was he still Junior eligiable,, has he done anything to show he may not be what he was cracked up t be or vise versa,, did he play preseason ..... please informe this poor east coaster who hasn`t been able to keep up"I led the league in "Go get 'em next time." - Bob Uecker
Alex116 PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts
Oilearl PickupHockey Pro
Canada 268 Posts
The Duke PickupHockey Veteran
Canada 1239 Posts
quote:Originally posted by Pasty7you know i just realized Sam Gagner is 22 , this guy could still develop into a 70 point player maybe more maybe a bit less
quote:Originally posted by Beans15I would love to see Gagner moved for a defesemen. He could turn out to be a great player but he has not shown it to me consistently enough and the Oilers have forwards to burn at the moment.
quote:Originally posted by CrockOShightThe Oil.I keep hearing the question, "yes, but will the Oilers make the playoffs this year?"Guys, this team is going to make the playoffs. In fact, they are going to win their division, finish 3rd in the conference, and make a Cup run this year. Yes, you heard it here. From crazy-ol' Kessel-crazy CrockOShight. They have all the elements:Enthusiastic rookie scoringA solid core of veteran playersA solid goaltender with a chip on his shoulderI should add a goaltender who already has a CupTough players to help in those tough games (Sutton, R. Jones, T. Peckham)Some Cap Space to solidify a positionA solid third line (who said they didn't have a third line?). Sam Gagner, Ben Eager and Magnus Paarjarvi is a solid third line). A Cause. This is a big reason. Ryan Smyth is back. No one in the league deserves a Cup more than Ryan Smyth. Veteran leadership and accountability stands for a lot during the playoffs especially. Every Cup team in the past 100 years has rallied behind a sturdy veteran. Ryan Smyth is back, he wants it, he's leading the team. He will not let anything but 100% from everyone of his teammates every single night. He is a leader. They will rally behind him. A HUGE pick-up for the Oilers. The Defensive core is a bit of a concern. However, Potter is a huge bonus. Smid is a shot-blocking machine and is a very solid 3rd D. I think that Barker and Sutton are huge pick-ups - those two have been there before and know how to push hard. Even Tom Gilbert is playing well right where he should be: 5th D. Peckham is a player whom nobody wants to play against. Ryan Whitney is still injured. Plus, as mentioned, they have room to make a move to pick up that solid 4th or 5th D which would put them over the top. Ales Hemsky is injured too. I don't know if that is a good or bad thing at this point. But, The Oil have a PPG player waiting in the wings. These Kids are mature. You can see it in their work ethnic. Hall and The Nuge get a lot of credit; but in my opinion, Eberle is the one to watch.Ryan Jones is also a fantastic player. Watch for him in May. He's going to be a big playoff performer. Horcoff and Smyth are back and rejuvenated. You all remember '06. Horcoff was a beast in the playoffs. Put him in the right situation - a 2nd line face-off, veteran, defensive centre - and he's right where he should be. His drop off in the last few years is because he was in on the wrong situations. He is perfect where he is with Smyth and Jones.Tom Renney is a great coach. They have a solid group around them. In short, The Oil have all of the elements here boys. We are watching something beautiful in the making here. The Oil are for real. Making the playoffs for sure. As I said, I think they are making a Cup run this year. We are watching Cinderella.
Guest5372 ( )
quote:Originally posted by Beans15Gagner is a stump. He is the best player on the ice for a few games and then disappears for weeks at a time. He is weak in the face off circle and far, far, far below average defensively. Frankly, he is the odd man out in Edmonton. Unless he can prove he can be a #2 centre he should be traded for value today. He is a very nice cap hit at $2.3 million and is an RFA next season which means arbitration protection. I would love to see Gagner moved for a defesemen. He could turn out to be a great player but he has not shown it to me consistently enough and the Oilers have forwards to burn at the moment.


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Record shares of young adults are completing high school, going to college and finishing college, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of newly available census data. In 2012, for the first time ever, one-third of the nation's 25- to 29-year-olds have completed at least a bachelor's degree.
These across-the-board increases have occurred despite dramatic immigration-driven changes in the racial and ethnic composition of college-age young adults, a trend that had led some experts to expect a decline in educational attainment.
College completion is now at record levels among key demographic groups: men and women; blacks, whites and Hispanics; and foreign-born and native-born Americans.
Also, a record share of the nation's young adults ages 25 to 29 (90%) has finished at least a high school education. And another record share—63%—has completed at least some college.
Some of the "credit" for recent increases appears to go to the Great Recession of 2007-2009 and the sluggish jobs recovery since. With young adults facing sharply diminished labor market opportunities, their rate of high school and college completion has been rising slowly but steadily since 2007, after having been stagnant during better economic times earlier in the decade.
Changing public attitudes about the importance of going to college to succeed in an increasingly knowledge-based labor market may also have played a role. In 1978, the public was evenly divided over whether a college education was necessary to get ahead in life. Roughly 30 years later, a lopsided majority firmly endorsed the necessity of a college degree. In a 2009 Pew Research Center survey, 73% of American adults agreed that, in order to get ahead in life these days, it is necessary to get a college education. Similarly, when the Gallup Organization asked about the importance of college in 2010, 75% of Americans said a college education is "very important." In 1978, only 36% said the same.
The nation's college-age population is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse – today some 44% of 18- to 25-year-olds are non-white, up from 17% in 1971. Historically, Hispanic and black youths have trailed white and Asian youths in educational attainment. That remains the case, but rates for all four groups are rising at a similar pace.
The trends on college attainment are not all positive, however. The recent increases in the U.S. come at a time when other advanced economies are registering similar or greater gains, leading experts and college presidents to question whether the U.S. has been losing its competitive position as the global leader in higher education. In 2011 the Pew Research Center conducted a survey of more than 1,000 college presidents nationwide. Among those college presidents surveyed, only 19% said the U.S. system of higher education is currently the best in the world, and just 7% said they believe it will be the best in the world 10 years from now. A plurality of presidents (51%) described the U.S. system as one of the best in the world.
That same survey also found that college presidents are concerned about the quality, preparedness and study habits of today's college students. Overall, 52% of presidents say college students today study less than their predecessors did a decade ago; just 7% say they study more.
About the Report
Estimates of educational attainment in this report are based on the March Current Population Survey (CPS). The specific files used in this report are from March 1971 to March 2012. Conducted jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the CPS is a monthly survey of approximately 75,000 households (in March) and is the source of the nation's official statistics on unemployment. With the exception of an important change in the educational attainment question in 1992, the Census Bureau has consistently collected educational attainment data in the CPS since 1947. The Census Bureau's long-standing historical series on educational attainment are based on the March CPS (http://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/education/data/cps/historical/index.html).
The CPS is nationally representative of the civilian non-institutionalized population, and therefore does not include people living in institutions or Armed Forces personnel (except those living with their families). Exclusion of the military does not materially alter the estimates because it is a relatively small proportion of the population. Exclusion of the institutionalized population does not bias overall estimates of educational attainment. But the exclusion of the institutionalized population does affect estimates for specific demographic groups, in particular black males (Heckman and LaFontaine, 2007).
The CPS microdata used in this report are the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS) provided by the University of Minnesota. The IPUMS assigns uniform codes, to the extent possible, to data collected in the CPS over the years. More information about the IPUMS, including variable definition and sampling error, is available at http://cps.ipums.org/cps/documentation.shtml.
This report was written by Richard Fry and Kim Parker, senior economist and associate director, respectively, of Pew Research Center's Social and Demographic Trends project. Paul Taylor, executive vice president of Pew Research Center and director of Pew Social and Demographic Trends project, provided editorial guidance. Research assistant Seth Motel provided assistance with preparing charts and formatting the report. The report was number-checked by research assistant Seth Motel. The report was copy-edited by communications associate Molly Rohal.
Notes on Terminology
College completion: College completion refers to those who have completed at least a bachelor's degree or four-year college degree. Prior to 1992 it refers to those who have completed at least four years of college.
Some college completion: Persons finishing some college have finished at least some college education, including those completing associate degrees and bachelor's degrees. Prior to 1992 the person must have completed at least one year of college. Since 1992 those completing any college at all are designated as finishing some college.
High school completion: A high school completer refers to those who have at least obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent (such as a General Educational Development (GED) certificate). Prior to 1992 it refers to those who have completed at least four years of high school.
Race/Ethnicity: Hispanics are of any race. Whites, blacks and Asians include only non-Hispanics. In order to have a consistent series on Asian educational attainment, Asian refers to those of Asian or Pacific Islander origin.
Nativity: Native born refers to persons who are U.S. citizens at birth. Foreign born or immigrant refers to those who are not U.S. citizens at birth.


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The devil saw me with my head down and thought he'd won until I said Amen jesus christ t shirt
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Press Releases
Save the Date for IPEX 2017
Let's Talk About It
Creating a More Diverse and Inclusive Screen Printing Industry
LET'S TALK About It: Part 3 discusses how four screen printers have employed people with disabilities, why you should consider doing the same, the resources that are available, and more. Watch the live webinar, held August 16, moderated by Adrienne Palmer, editor-in-chief, Screen Printing magazine, with panelists Ali Banholzer, Amber Massey, Ryan Moor, and Jed Seifert. The multi-part series is hosted exclusively by ROQ.US and U.N.I.T.E Together. Let's Talk About It: Part 1 focused on Black, female screen printers and can be watched here; Part 2 focused on the LGBTQ+ community and can be watched here.
Press Releases2 months ago
Hope Harbor to Receive Donation from BlueCotton's 2024 Mary Ruth King Award Recipient
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8 Marketing Mistakes Not to Make When Promoting Your Screen Printing Services Online
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Livin' the High Life
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How to Create a Winning Culture in Your Screen-Printing Business
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"Obamacare plans have shrunk payments to physicians so much that some doctors say they won't be able to afford to accept Obamacare coverage, NPR reports.
Many of the eight million sign-ups in Obamacare exchanges nationwide already face more limited choices for physicians and hospitals than those in the private insurance market. But with low physician reimbursement rates, the problem could get even worse.
For a typical quick patient visit, Dr. Doug Gerard, a Connecticut internist, told NPR a private insurer would pay $100 while Medicare would pay around $80. But Obamacare plans are more likely to pay closer to $80, which Gerard says is unsustainable for his practice.
"I cannot accept a plan [in which] potentially commercial-type reimbursement rates were now going to be reimbursed at Medicare rates," Dr. Gerard told NPR. "You have to maintain a certain mix in private practice between the low reimbursers and the high reimbursers to be able to keep the lights on."
Narrow networks have become a hallmark of many Obamacare exchange plans, as one of few options left to insurance companies that allows them to save money by lowering reimbursement rates and covering fewer providers. In the health-care law's first year, 70 percent of all Obamacare plan networks were either narrow or ultra-narrow, according to an analysis from consulting firm McKinsey."


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While President-elect Donald Trump's transition has placed restrictions on some lobbyists from serving in the transition, the inaugural committee has not yet made such determinations
Three members of the inaugural committee, which is stacked with Trump's and Vice Preisdent-elect Mike Pence's top donors and fundraisers, told NBC News that a decision hasn't yet been made on whether restrictions will be placed on the amount a person could give to or if a ban on lobbyists or corporations would be instituted.
An announcement could come out as early as tomorrow but more likely next week the sources said.
The inaugural committee is tasked with raising money for the inauguration beyond what the government allows. It also pays for balls, parties and events surrounding the event.
In 2008, President-elect Barack Obama placed a $50,000 limit on individual donors and banned contributions from lobbyists, corporations and super PACs. The committee also entertained no sponsorship agreements.
In 2012, President Obama loosened those restrictions and allowed for contributions from corporations but not from lobbyists or super PACs
The law allows unlimited contributions from corporations and U.S. permanent residents.


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Nick Gaskill
Get the inside scoop on the newest technologies Wolfram is using to make working with Mathematica easier. This talk from the Wolfram Virtual Conference Spring 2013 gives an overview of the Wolfram Predictive Interface, units support, and Wolfram|Alpha integration.
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Battle 'bots with Robotek for Windows Phone 8
Robotek is a fun, robot battle strategy game for your Windows Phone 8 device. The game is a nice mixture of strategy and action with a dash of role playing game features.
You battle your robots through over two hundred levels of game play, earning experience and coins that can be used to upgrade and advance your robot combatants. And that's just the campaign mode. You also have an online multi-player mode where you battle other Robotek players and the option to unlock a Duel Mode where you can practice battles against the computer or a friend.
Robotek is a entertaining, feature rich, challenging battle bot game for your Windows Phone 8 device. It's a great addition to your Windows Phone gaming library.
From the Robotek main menu you have the options to start the game, view the online scores, access your game options (sound/music levels), view the about screen and access the online help documents.
Robotek has three main game modes, Campaign, Multiplayer and Tutorial.
- Tutorial is just as it sounds, a tutorial that will walk you through game play.
- Campaign Mode has over two hundred battlefronts to conquer with a healthy variety of opponents.
- Multiplayer Mode is an online battle between you and a randomly selected opponent from other Robotek players.
Robotek has a few in-game purchase options that include battle suits for your robots (found in the Multiplayer Shop) and purchasing upgrade coins to give you a leg up on the competition. When you make a purchase, a fourth gaming mode becomes unlocked, Duel. With the Duel Mode you can battle the computer or friends over the internet or local networks.
The playing screens for Robotek has your action wheel in the upper left corner of the screen. It's a slot machine of sorts that determines the intensity and type of action you take per turn. At the bottom of the screen you will find yours and your opponents energy level. At the bottom center are special abilities that can be used during combat. Prior to a turn, when highlighted you can tap on the icon to give your turn a little boost. Abilities include rapid fire, emergency repair, summon hero, and nuke.
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While the Help page offers a decent layout of game play, anytime you're curious what something is, just tap it and more times than not an information window will pop up detailing things.
Game play with Robotek is universal throughout all the gaming modes. You are equipped with a primary robot and a slot machine that controls how your turn at play goes. The slot machine has three options to choose from. You can opt to generate minion robots to help you battle, take defensive actions (defensive barrier, hack opponents robots, drain opponents energy) or take offensive actions (laser beam, microwave burst, electrical burst).
Once you've decided your course of action, you tap the green arrow to spin the wheel to determine how your turn goes. For example, if you choose to generate troops there are three possibilities. If the slots generates one robot type per wheel, you get one of each but not as powerful. If each wheel has the same robot icon, you get a more powerful robot. Oh and as an added bonus, anytime you spin three of the same icon you get an extra turn.
The same logic goes into defensive and offensive actions. One defensive or offensive action per wheel results in a weaker but more diverse action. Three of the same and more powerful action and an extra turn.
At the end of each action, if you have robot minions, they get to take a shot at your opponent and the opponent's robot's get a shot at you. From there, your opponent get's their turn with the slots and you repeat the rounds until one of the player's lose power and blows up.
With each battle you earn experience points. As you earn experience, you advance through player levels you earn coins that can be used to upgrade aspects of your robot minions, defensive actions or offensive actions.
In playing the Campaign Mode, you have a global map with dots representing all the opponents you will need to defeat. From the map your experience level is displayed in the upper left corner and as you advance through the experience levels you can use the coins to upgrade your abilities by tapping the up button next to your experience level. After each battle, a series of dialog screens appears summarizing your experience earned and any health/energy increases.
Robotek has fantastic graphics, in a minimalistic sense, and game play is both challenging and addictive. While the slot machine aspects gives the battle a "game of chance" feel, the strategy comes into play with your choice of action. Do you choose to generate minion robots or take the offensive? And how do you react to your opponents action?
My only nit with Robotek is with the help section. It covers the basics of battling but needs to touch a little more on the features of the game. For example, there's a square box on the Campaign Map that has a ever changing number. No clue what it represents. Also, I'm guessing the Duel Mode is a result of an in-game purchase simply because it appeared after I purchased a battle wardrobe. Robotek is fairly simple to pick up and play but a more extensive help section would take the guess work out of things.
Robotek is a fun, entertaining, addictive game for your Windows Phone 8 device. Sound effects and the music sound are catchy and there is a lot of features to this RPG battle game. The Campaign Mode has plenty of game time and to break things up, you can always take a break from dominating the globe with the Multiplayer Mode or Duel Mode. Robotek is a great game for short bits of time as well as longer gaming sessions.
Robotek is a free game for your Windows Phone 8 device and is a great addition to your gaming library. You can find Robotek here in the Windows Phone Store.
George is the Reviews Editor at Windows Central, concentrating on Windows 10 PC and Mobile apps. He's been a supporter of the platform since the days of Windows CE and uses his current Windows 10 Mobile phone daily to keep up with life and enjoy a game during down time.


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Michael DiSanto, UFC - I've never met Court McGee—never talked to him, either. I've never seen him compete prior to watching the most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter. But I'll admit that I was pulling for him on Saturday's finale card.
I've never met Court McGee—never talked to him, either. I've never seen him compete prior to watching the most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter. But I'll admit that I was pulling for him on Saturday's finale card.
That isn't meant as a knock on Kris McCray. I'm sure he is a great guy, and he is certainly a very talented mixed martial artist. I wasn't, by any means, hoping for him to come up short. It's just that the human element of McGee's story is something that tugs at the heart strings of just about anyone.
McGee was very honest during TUF filming about his former life as a drug abuser. That level of honesty and vulnerability is rare in sports, which is why watching him completely turn his life around feels good to the soul.
With that said, there is more to McGee than just his past. This guy is a real talent. I recently spoke with John Hackleman, and out of nowhere he said that, in his opinion, McGee was someone to watch out for going forward. That was before McGee completely undressed McCray.
Now, I suspect that everyone is taking notice of the Chuck Liddell team member. My guess is that McGee's management team will look to bring him along slowly for the next year, but after that, I suspect that we will see the bearded wonder step up and face some of the middleweight division's known commodities.
Matt Hamill has a couple losses on his professional record. Michael Bisping outpointed him in a close battle. Former 185-lb champion Rich Franklin stopped him in two rounds with a brilliant display of striking. Yet, neither of those guys physically dominated Hamill like Jon Jones did back in December (though Hamill got the win via disqualification).
Jones gave Hamill the kind of beating that can permanently damage a fighter's confidence. More often than not, fighters like Hamill who rely heavily on dominating opponents with power and pressure, rather than precision and technique, are especially vulnerable following an utter domination. Thus, I was extremely curious to see how Hamill would respond in his fight against Keith Jardine.
Hamill's performance solidified my suspicion that he is very strong mentally. Indeed, there was no hesitation in his attack, as Hamill stalked Jardine no differently than he did opponents back when he was undefeated. And, of course, he survived moments of adversity, including breaking his hand during the opening round.
Hamill's continued improvement is noteworthy. This guy is really starting to come into his own as a mixed martial artist. I'm still not sure if he has championship ability, but he certainly has the goods to beat some very tough guys.
This is going to shock many readers, but Keith Jardine hasn't scored an emphatic win in nearly four years.
Yes, you read that correctly. The last guy the "Dean of Mean" hammered was Forrest Griffin way back on December 30, 2006. Since that technical knockout win, he is 2-6, and both of his wins were by razor-thin split decisions. The loss to Hamill at the TUF 11 finale brings his current losing streak to four fights.
The Greg Jackson-trained former contender is a much better fighter than his recent lack of success suggests. He is a handful to deal with on the feet, with genuine fight-stopping power in his right hand. And he is better than most give him credit for on the ground.
So, what is the problem?
I honestly don't know. It is difficult to marry the facts that Jardine was able to defeat two of the best light heavies in the world in Chuck Liddell and Brandon Vera and at the same time follow up those wins with four-straight defeats.
Jardine has the skills to be a contender in the UFC's glamour division, but he needs to right the ship as soon as possible, if he is going to be anything but a gatekeeper going forward. My guess is that his problem is equal parts confidence and bad luck. Jackson has his work cut out for him going forward.
Nobody at the top of the sport remains undefeated forever. Cain Velasquez and Shane Carwin may take umbrage with that statement, but history strongly suggests that there is simply too much parity in the sport for a guy to continue winning indefinitely. And that is particularly true in the ultra competitive UFC.
Aaron Simpson is a legitimate 185-lb star prospect. His loss to Chris Leben doesn't change that fact. If anything, Simpson should learn a very valuable lesson from his mistakes in the fight. He now knows that he is not invincible on the feet and should never engage in a slugfest with guys carrying sledgehammers for fists. That epiphany will serve him well going forward.
I don't know if Jamie Yager purposely played the role of heel during TUF 11 or if that was just his natural personality. What I do know is that the Southern California fighter got under the skin of several of his housemates during the taping of the reality show. While that made him an interesting personality to watch on television, it placed a massive target on his head.
Lots of guys badly wanted the opportunity to fight him in the finale, just so they could prove a point to the brash young striker. Rich Attonito got the opportunity, and he certainly made the most of it by scoring a second-round technical knockout.
Attonito is now 3-0 since the taping of TUF 11 began. Remember that a broken hand forced him out of the reality show tournament, not a loss. A win over Yager probably gave him a bit of personal satisfaction, but the bigger picture for him was certainly putting on a great show to support his quest to become a full-fledged UFC regular and then a 185-lb contender. He took a very big step in that direction on Saturday night.


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Swiss Chard, Goat Cheese and Prosciutto Tart
Almost a week without posting makes me feel like I am missing out on all the fun. Can't believe February is over and gone. Makes me wonder why so much always gets packed into such a short month but I am relieved that all the projects have been completed and deadlines met. So, "Hello March! Let's get going!" Yep, this month is definitely another kind of busy, filled with travels, workshops and visits and you can bet I am looking forward to the change of scenery. Oh yes.
Taking small breaks throughout the work day is vital for everyone. You've probably noticed it just by peeking your head outside for 10 minutes or taking a walk with a colleague. One thing I find most invigorating is lunch. I can't do without. I guess it stems directly from my childhood when my mom would pick us from school for lunch. She had nothing against cafeteria meals but she enjoyed taking the time to do it. It was nothing fancy really but breaking away for an hour also meant picking up a new book at the library, getting more stickers at the book store, stopping by the bakery for a treat. A little fun in the middle of a long work day. Always a treat when you are a kid. Or an adult.
I love a good salad with tons of colorful vegetables, sometimes topped with a hard boiled egg, or two. Soups are another favorite staple but nothing says lunch break more than a savory tart and a side salad to me. Quintessential French bistro food. One that warms my very soul being so far away from home. One that makes me feel all grown up although I have been there for a while. Savory tarts are the perfect vessels to get a good dose of all the food essentials your brain and body need to function properly without too much effort or planning. Once you have the crust, thrown in anything that strikes your fancy or whatever you have on hand. The sky is the limit regarding fillings, spices, herbs, etc…
Funny thing is that in my family a savory tart is also the meal of choice for any exhausted traveler. Whenever we go home, I know our first meal will be my mom's quiche Lorraine with a salad and my dad's shallot vinaigrette. Whenever they come visit, there is quiche ready for them to get a quick bite after a long day of travel. How did it come to be this way? I don't know. It's tradition. And you don't mess with tradition. Well at least no this one, ehehe.
I guess you can call this Swiss Chard, Goat Cheese and Prosciutto tart a rehearsal of sort for my parents' arrival in two weeks. I finally came up with a savory gluten free crust that I am in love with. Tastes good, bakes good and rolls like a charm. For the filling, I used what I had on hand: a bunch of Swiss chard languishing in the fridge, some goat cheese and prosciutto left over from a tapas night with friends. Next time it might simply be bacon and onion. Who knows…
I can't believe I'll be in L.A on Wednesday and Seattle on Sunday! If you are registered for any of the workshops, well, "thank you" in advance and I can't wait to meet you! There are some tweet-ups/meet-ups being organized as I write this so if you are interested, the best thing is to check my Twitter feed (@SweetTartelette) or any of the (crazy – awesome – fun) gals who will be showing me around town this week: Rachael (@fujimama), Jen (@jenjenk) and Gaby (@WhatsGabyCookin).
Since I know it's going to be pretty tight to get any major post in and to avoid a major "post travel" blog post, I thought I'd do quick and fun entries throughout the weeks. Capturing the moment. I have never been to any of these cities so I figured it'd be fun to post quick accounts of things that strike me. Landscape, people, food, the macaron and photography workshops, whatever… I am looking forward to it all and everything in between.
Gluten Free Swiss Chard, Goat Cheese and Prosciutto Tart:
Serves 4
For the crust:
5 tablespoons (70gr) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3 egg yolks
pinch salt
1/2 cup (80gr) brown rice flour
1/2 cup (60gr) millet flour
1/4 cup (30gr) sorghum flour
1/4 cup (40gr) tapioca starch
(or 1.5 cups of all purpose flour if not using gf flours)
1/2 teaspoon xantham gum
For the filling:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion (I used 1/2 of a giant sweet Vidalia), sliced thin
1 bunch Swiss chard (red – green rainbow – your choice), washed and patted dry
4-6 slices prosciutto
3 eggs, slightly beaten
2/3 cup whole milk
salt and pepper
pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
4 to 6 oz (120gr – 180gr) crumbled goat cheese
a few sprigs of thyme
Prepare the crust:
In a mixer, whip together the butter and mustard on medium speed until light and airy. Add the egg yolks, one at a time and beating well after each addition. Mix until incorporated. Add all the different flours, and the xantham gum and mix briefly. Dump the whole mixture onto a lightly floured (use more rice flour) board and gather the dough into a smooth ball. Flatten the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour.
Preheat oven to 350F and position a rack in the center.
When the dough is nice and cold, roll it out on a lightly floured board or in between two sheets of plastic to fit your prefered pie pan. (I went with rectangular this time) If the dough tears while you roll or/and transfer into the pan, just patch it with your fingertips. Line the dough with a piece of parchment paper, fill with pie weights or dy beans and par bake for 15-20 minutes until completely done. Remove the weights and parchment paper. At this point you can refrigerate the baked crust for up to 5 days if not using right away or freeze it for up to 3 months.
Prepare the filling:
Preheat the oven to 350F and position a rack in the middle.
Heat the oil in a large sautee pan over medium high heat and cook the onion until translucent (about 3-4 minutes), add the Swiss chard and cooked until wilted. Remove from the pan and set aside to cool. In the same pan, quickly sautee the slices of prosciutto to get them nice and crispy. Remove from the pan.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Layer the onion and Swiss chard at the bottom of the crust and slowly pour the egg mixture over it. Top with slices of prosciutto and crumbled goat cheese.
Bake for about 30-40 minutes or until the tart starts getting golden brown and the custard is cooked. Spinkle with freshly chopped thyme.
Le P'tit Coin Francais:
Tarte aux Bettes, Chevre et Prosciutto:
Pour 4 a 6 personnes:
Pour la pate:
70gr beurre mou, non sale
1 cc moutarde de Dijon
3 jaunes d'oeuf
pincee de sel
80gr farine de riz brun
60gr farine de millet
30gr farine de sorghum
40gr de farine de tapioca
(ou de 210gr de farine blanche)
1/2 cc de gomme de xantham
Pour la garniture:
2 cs d'huile d'olive
1 oignon moyen, coupe en tranche fine
1 petite bottes de bettes
4-6 tranches de prosciutto
3 oeufs, legerement battus
150ml lait entier
sel, poivre
pincee de muscade fraiche
120gr a 180gr de fromage de chevre emiette
quelques brins de thym
Preparer la pate:
Dans le bol d'un mixer, battez le beurre et la moutarde pendant 2 minutes. Ajoutez les jaunes d'oeufs un a un, tout en melangeant bien apres chaque jaune. Ajoutez les farines sans gluten, le sel et la gomme de xantham. Melangez brievement et verzes le contenu sur un plan de travail. Ramassez en boule et metter au refrigerateur pendant une heure.
Prechauffez le four a 180C et positionnez une plaque au milieu.
Etalez la pate sur un plan de travail legerement farine (farine sans gluten de preference), ou entre deux feuilles de papier sulfurise. Foncez en un plat a tarte (rectangulaire ou rond), mettre une feuille de papier sulfurise dans le fond, et des pois/riz. Faire pre-cuire 10-12 minutes. Sortez la tarte du four et laissez refroidir.
Preparez la garniture:
Prechauffez le four a 180C.
Dans une grande poele a feu moyen, faites revenir l'oignon dans l'huile. Ajoutez les bettes et cuire jusqu'a ce qu'elles apparaissent fanees. Retirez de la poele et faites-y revenir les tranches de prosciutto. Laissez refroidir.
Dans un grand bol, melangez les oeufs, le lait, sel, poivre et la pointe de muscade.
Repartissez les oignons et bettes au fond de la tarte. Versez dessus le melange oeufs/lait, parsemer des tranches de prosciutto et de fromage de chevre. Faites cuire 30-40 minutes. Parsemez de thym frais a la sortie du four.


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DIY wood planked wall
August 27, 2012
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Here it was in all it's glory a few weeks ago:
The guys had to tear out some of the old carpet to install the baseboard trim by the stairs, so this actually looks better than it had looked. Before there was no trim at all along the bottom.
The first project was painting that trim before the new carpet was installed. It got a coat of primer and two coats of gloss white paint, which wasn't too bad because I didn't have to cut in or be careful because I knew the walls were getting repainted and the carpet was out of there.
After the new carpet was installed I went ahead with the walls. I decided to wait and paint after the carpet was installed because I figured there would be a bunch of scuffs from it being taken downstairs and installed on the stairs. And I was right. :)
I am pretty good at cutting in now, after years and years of painting, but I even so I like to tape off the trim before I paint so it protects it from those little bitty annoying flecks of paint:
I used my FrogTape and it didn't have to be perfect because it was just there to protect the newly painted white trim. You can see that I don't stick the tape down onto the trim, I let it stick out from the wall so it's like a little "umbrella" for the trim. Precious.
After the painting was done (I used the Marina Gray color from the basement that I told you about in this post), I was onto my the big idea I've had for the large wall in the stairway.
I had been dreaming this up for months and I was so excited to get it started. The basement bathroom still sits empty and unfinished, but I just had to focus on this instead because I was so psyched about it!
I bought five packages of these pine wood planks from Lowe's:
They are about $9 each so this project was less than $50 total. I installed them on the wall, much like I do any beadboard project – I started at the top and went down from there, making sure each one fit into the next snugly.
This tongue and groove planking is SO easy to install! I just nailed it in with my nail gun as I went down the wall. When I was done I gave it a very light sanding (this stuff is already smooth to the touch) and then taped off my walls and ceiling:
I used the delicate FrogTape for the ceiling because every. single. time. I've ever taped off the ceiling to paint, some of the paint comes off with the paint. This time it didn't, so that was a nice bonus. ;)
My drop cloth was cut up trash bags:
I usually just use an old sheet for my drop cloth, but this time I was using stain, not paint. And stain is impossible to clean up – I wasn't taking any chances with new carpet:
I used this dark walnut color and looove it. It's close to the color of our wood floors and it's nice and rich and lovely.
I gotta tell you, I was sweating while staining this wall – I've never stained anything this large or vertical and I had to work fast to keep a "wet edge." I was also trying to watch drips and trying not to flick it everywhere as I was working.
After I was done wiping it down (I showed you how to stain here), I stood back and swooned:
I LOOOOVE it. Luuuuurve. Luuuuv. Whatever.
Obsessed with it.
Before we had a one bulb light fixture in this space that I installed years ago, but it didn't give off enough light for my liking. Since this space was getting a redo anyway, I replaced it with a new track light:
I loved that I could aim a couple of the lights on the awesomesauce wall and the others off to the side.
Normally I wouldn't be thrilled about track lighting, but they've come a long way. I've mentioned before that I'm going for a slightly industrial, but warm, look in the basement, and I think this light fits in SO well with the wood wall:
I had to use my jigsaw to cut the planks so they fit around that small ledge we have down there. It's sooo not perfect but no one will ever notice it…as far as I know. ;) Oh, and the boards themselves aren't exactly the same length. I was going to caulk the edges but after I stained I realized you can't even tell.
I still have to paint that ledge white and then this space is DONE. Who knew a simple basement stairway would be so much work?
Here's another quick look at the before:
And after trim, paint, new carpet, a wood planked wall, a new light and minus a cat:
OH, I also spray painted the brass hardware brushed nickel (after I took this picture last night) and cleaned up the railings really well. They were NAS. TY.
Here's the bottom set of steps before:
(They had to take some of the stairs apart to install the trim, hence no carpet here).
And here's the view from downstairs up to the wood wall:
LOVE IT!! It's warm and unique and I would hug it if I could.
OK, I've tried.
One of the many things I love about the basement is all of the wall space – it has so much potential! We don't have a lot of wall space upstairs because our home has an open floor plan, so I'm stoked about doing some fun things with all of it.
Even the stairs have a ton of wall space. I don't know if I'll hang anything on the wood wall or let it be the art. If I don't, there's a large wall above the ledge that I want to do something fun with.
What do you think, add art to the wood wall or let it be? What would you do?
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Interesting take on my personality
I'm amazed how TRUE it is.
As someone with high self-confidence, you feel quite comfortable interacting with other people. Indeed, you find the company of others very stimulating and enjoy meeting new people. Your relaxed demeanor in groups makes people around you comfortable too. Perhaps because you feel comfortable talking about yourself, others tend to enjoy being around you and perceive you as socially competent.
The confidence that helps you feel comfortable talking to people also spills into your own personal beliefs about yourself. Although you have several strengths, it's likely that you also acknowledge and accept your weaknesses. But unlike some people, you take full responsibility for your actions—you rarely regret things you've done in the past and are not embarrassed easily.
Perhaps the defining feature that sets you apart from most people is the exceptionally high standards that you set for yourself. Your competence in social gatherings as well as at work should provide ample evidence for this. With these characteristics, it's very likely that people come to you for advice and generally think of you as someone with leader-like qualities.
Family Orientation
As someone who is oriented to familial matters, you value the company of family-members and domestic life. If you have children already, you enjoy spending time with them very much and work hard to be a good parent. If you don't have children, you very much desire having children in the future. And your preference for cooking and entertaining guests at home will likely ease the transition into parenthood.
You take pride in maintaining and cultivating a healthy family and work hard to achieve this. This natural tendency is easily illustrated by your preference for doing things around the house as opposed to going out to clubs and restaurants.
What really sets you apart from people that are low in family orientation is that you know how to manage your frustrations and work well on your own. This means that you are well-equipped to manage a family without letting all the work that is involved wear you down. However, as someone with strong family values, all the work that is involved in maintaining a tidy home and well-stocked kitchen might occasionally make it difficult for you to finish everything that you need to do.
The self-control personality dimension captures the way in which a person regulates and directs him or herself. Being low in self-control can be both good and bad. Occasionally people may be compelled to follow their intuitions and give in to their temptations, and your degree of self-control makes this likely to happen more often than not. This can be good in circumstances where being relaxed and open are important. However, in situations where it is necessary to be focused and careful, you might find that you do or say things that may be inappropriate.
As someone who exerts little control over your actions, you may find that you commit social blunders that might offend other people and get yourself in trouble. For example, if you're given responsibility to work on a project that requires close attention to detail, you may be likely to overlook important details because you have difficulty staying focused. Consequently, you might feel more comfortable delegating such tasks to other people who are more detail oriented. Being able to recognize such characteristics in yourself and having more detail-oriented people do such tasks could be an effective way to manage your own stress level.
Low self-control may diminish your effectiveness at work. Acting too relaxed can make it difficult for you to focus on projects that require organized sequences of steps or stages. Thus, your ability to accomplish may be inconsistent. Indeed, it's possible that you might be criticized periodically for being unreliable or unable to "stay within the lines." Nonetheless, you may still experience many short-lived pleasures and never be thought of as boring.
As someone high in openness, you have a strong appreciation for beauty, both in art and nature. Indeed, it's likely that you are easily absorbed in music and art, as well as natural phenomena. Another aspect of your openness is your emotional insight; that is, you probably have good access to and awareness of your own emotions.
Another aspect of the openness dimension is the tendency to think about abstract concepts and ideas. This thinking style may take the form of artistic and metaphorical use of language, and/or music composition or performance. Thus, it is likely that, either in your work or spare time, you enjoy activities that get your "creative juices" flowing.
Your tendency to be open-minded can have advantages and disadvantages. For instance, when there are no clear rules about how to approach a particular problem, your openness makes it easier for you to identify new ways to solve problems that might not be very obvious to people that are not as open as you are. In contrast, you may be bored easily in situations that lack high amounts of intellectual stimulation. In such cases, you might have difficulty excelling on projects that do not provide much stimulation or require much creative thinking.
Easygoingness refers to one's ability to relax. Based on your score, you appear to work and play hard. The benefits of being moderate in easygoingness are that you achieve success through hard work, but you also know when and how to relax. Your colleagues and friends likely consider you as reliable and fun to be around.
Being moderate in easygoingness can cause you some stress, however. For example, you may sometimes find it difficult to complete tasks thoroughly and efficiently, which can cause stress for both you and the people around you. You may occasionally experience stress by working hard to reach your goals, but you value having fun and just relaxing. Knowing how to balance both work and play is a gift, and you have the key ingredients for doing this.
You have enough mental flexibility to think creatively and enough focus to implement those ideas well. This might be epitomized by your occasional difficulty focusing on subtle details, but the ease with which you're able to adjust to changes in your life.
As someone who is neither rigid nor careless, you likely get along with most people well. On the one hand, you recognize the value of working hard and therefore consider such qualities in others beneficial. On the other hand, you know how to relax and thus appreciate people that know how to do this too. Chances are your friends and colleagues perceive you as someone that works hard, but also knows how to have a good time.
How does your personality affect your love life?
With your strong degree of confidence, it's no surprise that you get along well with most people. Indeed, it's self-confidence that allows people to feel comfortable interacting with others without feeling insecure and vulnerable. For this reason, you shouldn't have much difficulty in romance, at least not initially. Your social skills will likely help relieve any anxiety your romantic partners might have on those first few dates. However, over time, the high standards that you have for yourself could potentially frustrate your partner.
Given how much you value family life, you probably get along best with people who share your values and beliefs. In fact, it's likely that you maintain close connections with members of your immediate and distant family. For this reason, you would probably be most satisfied in a romantic relationship with someone who also values domestic life. Being in a relationship with someone who enjoys going out to parties and staying-up late at night might be fun, at least initially; yet it's likely that you will find this tiring over time. Thus, it might be easier and more satisfying for you to develop a long-lasting relationship with a person who also enjoys spending time at home and desires starting a family. On first dates, perhaps you might suggest to your partner that the two of you spend a quiet night having dinner at one of your respective homes instead of going out to a restaurant or club.
As someone who is more relaxed than most people, you're likely be attracted to most people. However, your free-spirited nature might make being in a relationship with a person that is more rigid than you difficult because you might perceive the person as being too uptight and controlling. For this reason, you may ultimately be most satisfied in a relationship with someone that is shares your level of self-control.
Your openness probably makes it easy for you to respect and appreciate people that are different from you. However, when it comes to romantic relationships, your openness might make it difficult for you to tolerate people that cannot appreciate diversity as much as you. Therefore, you may be happiest in serious relationships with people that share your open-mindedness. But, your openness might occasionally cause a certain degree of dependency on your end because you may be so open that you easily adopt the preferences and habits of your partners and gradually relinquish things that make you so unique.