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Reno, Nevada Dryer Vent Installation & Repair
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Dryer Vent Installation
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Diocese of Washington and New York (OCA)
This article forms part of the series Orthodoxy in America | |
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The Diocese of Washington and New York was the reemergence with a new name of the original Diocese of New York and New Jersey after it had been split to form the Diocese of Washington as a separate diocese. The Diocese of Washington and New York was formed when the two dioceses were re-merged in 2005, and was dissolved in 2009.
The history of the diocese as the see of the ruling hierarch of the Orthodox Church in America begins with the efforts of the first missionary in New York City. First presence of Orthodoxy in New York City's can be traced to 1870, when Fr. Nicholas Bjerring, a convert from Denmark, was directed by Metropolitan Isidore of St. Petersburg to open the first Orthodox Church in New York City. Services for the congregation were held in a chapel within Fr. Nicholas' house. In 1885 the Russian government withdrew its support of the parish due to the small membership.
The oldest parish within the diocese that still functions is SS Peter and Paul Church is Buffalo, NY (founded April, 1894). Among the early missionary priests to serve the parish were Fr. John Nedzelnitsky, the Dean of Eastern States, and Fr. John Kochurov (glorified in 1994 by the Russian Orthodox Church). In 1895, a second mission in New York City was established called The Russian Greek Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas, that began to flourish under the direction of its second pastor, Fr. Alexander Hotovitzky (also recently glorified by the Russian Orthodox Church).
Hierarchical See
In 1901, Bp. Tikhon (later Patr. and St. Tikhon) laid the cornerstone for the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, which was completed in 1904, and from which he directed the Russian Mission in America until he was called back to Russia in 1907.
The cathedral served the needs of Orthodox Christians in New York and throughout the country until 1926. As a fallout of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, the cathedral was declared the legal property of American representatives of the "Living Church". The head of the Russian Mission, Metropolitan Platon was restrained from further use of archdiocesan property. Temporary facilities were used as the diocesan cathedral until 1943 when a former Episcopalian church at 59 East Second Street in lower Manhattan was purchased and renovated. The new cathedral was dedicated to the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos. Over the next 30 some years, the cathedral on 2nd Street served as the headquarters of the mission in America, housing offices of the chancery and related national organizations until the late 1960s when many of activities were moved to the Syosset property. Until then the 2nd Street cathedral was used for convening meetings of the Metropolitan Council, the Holy Synod of Bishops (known until autocephaly as the "Great Council of Bishops"), and several All-American Sobors. For many years most episcopal consecrations and ordinations to the diaconate and priesthood also took place in the lower Manhattan cathedral.
Diocese of the Ruling Hierarch
Orthodoxy in America began with the arrival from Russia of Orthodox missionaries at Kodiak Island in 1794. The administrative center of the mission in America, with the eventual sale of Alaska to the United States in 1867, moved from Sitka to San Francisco in 1872. By the time that Bp. Tikhon arrived to administer the mission in 1898 and had made several extended pastoral journeys in North America, it was obvious to him that the concentration of parishes and faithful was in the eastern United States. He recommended that the official name of the mission be changed to the "Diocese of the Aleutians and North America" and suggested that the diocesan see be transferred to New York. This occurred in 1905. From that time until 1980 the parishes in the New York-New Jersey geographic area, and later those in the Washington, DC area, were officially under the auspices of the ruling hierarch of what is now the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).
The formal establishment of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey occurred after the grant of autocephaly in 1970. As the diocese was the see of the ruling hierarch of the mission, and later of the autocephalous church, it supported the national Church's administration. The administrative offices were located, first, in New York City at the Holy Protection Cathedral and later, since about 1967, in Oyster Bay Cove/Syosset, NY. The location of the national administration in the Diocese as well as the presence of St. Vladimir's Seminary allowed the Diocese to benefit from the leadership of the Church in America.
At the 6th All-American Council, Holy Synod of Bishops decided to form a new Diocese of Washington, DC by splitting off the Washington area of the diocese. The new diocese in the nation's capital city began functioning in 1981 as the see of the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America. However, the national administrative offices remained at Syosset, within the Diocese of New York and New Jersey.
In 1981, the Diocese of New York and New Jersey became one of the local dioceses under its own hierarch, Bp. Peter with his see at the Holy Protection Cathedral.
The formation of the Diocese of Washington included the areas of the Capital proper (District of Columbia), Maryland, southern Delaware, and northern Virginia. The St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington was the see for the Metropolitan. At its inception the new diocese included only a few parishes, those in the Baltimore and Washington metropolitan areas. During the following two decades after formation of the diocese a number of new parishes formed as the population of the diocese increased.
In 2005, after the 2002 election of Metr. Herman as the ruling hierarch of the OCA and with the retirement of Abp. Peter, the Holy Synod of the OCA remerged the dioceses of New York and New Jersey and Washington as the Diocese of Washington and New York. St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington was designated the see of the ruling hierarch.
With the retirement of Metropolitan Herman, in September of 2008, the locum tenens of the diocese became Archbishop Dmitri (Royster), assisted by Archbishop Seraphim (Storheim) as administrator. In November of 2008, His Grace, Bishop Jonah of Fort Worth was elected Archbishop of Washington and New York and Metropolitan of All America and Canada at the 15th All-American Council of the Orthodox Church in America.
In 2009, the Holy Synod of the OCA re-established the seperate dioceses of Washington and of New York and New Jersey, restoring the diocesan make-up as it was from 1981-2005.
The diocese included four deaneries with parishes in the states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia in 2008:
- Washington DC Deanery
- Delaware: 1
- Maryland: 4
- District of Columbia: 1
- Virginia: 5
- New Jersey Deanery
- New Jersey: 23
- New York: 4
- New York City Deanery
- New York: 13
- New York State Deanery
- New York: 14
(Note: the state of Delaware also includes a parish of the Diocese of Eastern PA, the state of Maryland has a parish of the Romanian Episcopate (OCA), the District of Columbia includes two parishes of the Bulgarian Diocese (OCA), and the state of Virginia includes five parishes of the Diocese of the South and two parishes of the Diocese of the Romanian Episcopate (OCA).)
External link
- Official Website for the OCA's Diocese of Washington and New York
- Diocese of Washington and New York (Parishes listed on OCA website)
Categories > Church History
Categories > Church History > Canon Law > Ecclesiology > Jurisdictions > Dioceses
Categories > Church History > Canon Law > Ecclesiology > Jurisdictions > Dioceses > OCA Dioceses
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Categories > Places > Orthodoxy by country > Orthodoxy in America

subset: commoncrawl


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What Happens If I Withdraw Money from My Tax-Deferred Investments Before Age 59½?
Withdrawing taxable funds from a tax-deferred retirement account before age 59½ generally triggers a 10% federal income tax penalty, on top of any federal income taxes due. (Distributions from Section 457(b) plans are generally not subject to an early distribution penalty, and the penalty for distributions from SIMPLE plans during your first two years of participation is 25%, 10% thereafter.) However, there are certain situations in which you are allowed to make early withdrawals from a retirement account and avoid the tax penalty. (Check your specific plan provisions to see whether a particular withdrawal option is available.)
IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans have different exceptions, although the rules are similar.
IRA exceptions
The following distributions are not subject to the 10% penalty tax:
- Death of the IRA owner. Distributions to your designated beneficiaries after your death. (Beneficiaries are subject to annual required minimum distributions.)
- Disability. Distributions made due to your qualifying disability.
- Unreimbursed medical expenses. Distributions equal to the amount of your unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 10% of your adjusted gross income in a calendar year.
- Medical insurance. Distributions are made to pay for health insurance if you've lost your job and are receiving unemployment benefits.
- Substantially equal periodic payments (SEPPs). Distributions you receive as a series of substantially equal payments over your life expectancy, or the combined life expectancies of you and your beneficiary. You must withdraw funds at least annually based on one of three rather complicated IRS-approved distribution methods. You generally can't change or alter the payments for five years or until you reach age 59½, whichever occurs later. If you do you'll again wind up having to pay the 10% penalty tax on the taxable portion of all your pre-59½ SEPP distributions (unless another exception applies).
- Qualified higher-education expenses for you and/or your dependents.
- First home purchase, up to $10,000 (lifetime limit).
- Qualified reservist distributions. Certain distributions to qualified military reservists called to active duty.
Employer-sponsored plan exceptions
The following distributions are not subject to the 10% penalty tax:
- Death of the plan participant. Upon your death, your designated beneficiaries may begin taking distributions from your account. Beneficiaries are subject to annual required minimum distributions.
- Disability. Distributions made due to your qualifying disability.
- Part of a SEPP program (see above). Distributions you receive as a series of substantially equal payments over your life expectancy, or the combined life expectancies of you and your beneficiary. You generally cannot modify the payments for a period of five years or until you reach age 59½, whichever is longer.
- Attainment of age 55. Distributions made to you upon separation of service from your employer. The separation must have occurred during or after the calendar year in which you reached the age of 55 (age 50 for qualified public safety employees).
- Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). Payments made to an alternate payee under a QDRO.
- Medical care (see above). Distributions equal to the amount of your unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 10% of your adjusted gross income in a calendar year.
- To reduce excess contributions. Distributions made to correct excess contributions you or your employer made to the plan over the allowable amount.
- To reduce excess elective deferrals. Distributions made to reduce amounts you deferred over the allowable limit.
- Qualified Reservist Distributions (see above).
If you plan to withdraw funds from a tax-deferred account, make sure to carefully examine the rules on exemptions for early withdrawals. For more information on situations that are exempt from the early-withdrawal income tax penalty, visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov.
The information in this newsletter is not intended as tax, legal, investment, or retirement advice or recommendations, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek advice from an independent professional advisor. The content is derived from sources believed to be accurate. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.
This material was written and prepared by Broadridge Advisor Solutions. © 2019 Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc.


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Bladder Stress Test and Bonney Test for Urinary Incontinence in Women
Exam Overview
A bladder stress test simulates the accidental release of urine (urinary incontinence) that may occur when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or exercise.
A Bonney test is done as part of the bladder stress test, after the doctor verifies that urine is lost with coughing. It is similar to the bladder stress test except the bladder neck is lifted slightly with a finger or instrument inserted into your vagina while the bladder stress is applied. This checks to see if incontinence is the result of the bladder neck being pushed down too far by the stress.
While you are lying down, a thin, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into the bladder through the urethra. A slight burning sensation may occur when the catheter is inserted. If your bladder is already full, using the catheter is not needed.
Approximately 1 cup (236.6 mL) of a fluid is put into the bladder through the catheter. The catheter is then removed, and you are asked to cough. The doctor looks for any fluid loss and notes the time interval between the stress (coughing) and the fluid loss. The stress test may be repeated while you are standing up.
If the release of fluid is not detected during the bladder stress test or Bonney test, it may be repeated while you are standing. An absorbent pad may be worn to collect any urine released while you go about your daily activities.
Why It Is Done
The bladder stress test and Bonney test may be done as part of a physical exam when:
- You have involuntary release of urine upon sneezing, laughing, coughing, or exercising.
- The medical history, physical exam, and urinalysis do not uncover a cause for the incontinence.
Stress incontinence is suggested if fluid leaks after coughing. A person who loses fluid during the stress test may be helped by surgery that raises the bladder neck.
Fluid loss that is not immediate (that is, it occurs several seconds after coughing) indicates that abnormal bladder muscle contractions are occurring. This suggests urge incontinence. These contractions may be treated with medicines.
What To Think About
It is not uncommon for a woman to be able to hold back the fluid (be continent) while doing this test lying down but to lose fluid (become incontinent) while standing up, due to the effect of gravity.
It is possible for a woman to have both stress incontinence and urge incontinence at the same time. Successful treatment of stress incontinence can sometimes help urge incontinence too.
The Bonney test is difficult to standardize. Because of this, the outcome is not reliable. It is important during the test to elevate the tissue on either side of the bladder neck rather than to compress the bladder neck itself. If urine leakage is stopped when a finger or instrument is inserted into the vagina, it may be a result of the urethra being pinched shut rather than a result of the proper elevation of the bladder. If the Bonney test is being used to find out whether surgery is needed, the doctor who does the test must be very experienced to get a reliable result.
It may be embarrassing to some people to urinate while being observed.
Current as of: February 19, 2019
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:E. Gregory Thompson, MD – Internal Medicine & Adam Husney, MD – Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito, MD – Family Medicine & Avery L. Seifert, MD, FACS – Urology
Current as of: February 19, 2019
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:E. Gregory Thompson, MD – Internal Medicine & Adam Husney, MD – Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito, MD – Family Medicine & Avery L. Seifert, MD, FACS – Urology
Topic Contents
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.


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The Food and Drug Administration will not be removing age restrictions for a morning-after birth control pill — a decision that's likely to prolong a fight that has raged for more than eight years.
In a statement today, FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said she was convinced that the product, called Plan B One Step, is safe and effective at preventing pregnancy after unprotected intercourse for women of all ages. Currently the product is available without a prescription only to those age 17 and over. As long ago as 2003, two FDA advisory panels recommended the product be made available over the counter without age restrictions.
Hamburg, however, was overruled by her boss, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. As a result, the drug makers' application to remove the age restriction has been denied, and girls under age 17 will still need a prescription.
There will be more in the Shots blog.
Update at 1 p.m. ET. Hamburg's statement is posted here. In her own statement, Sebelius says:
"It is common knowledge that there are significant cognitive and behavioral differences between older adolescent girls and the youngest girls of reproductive age. If the application were approved, the product would be available, without prescription, for all girls of reproductive age. ... Because I do not believe enough data were presented to support the application to make Plan B One-Step available over the counter for all girls of reproductive age, I have directed FDA to issue a complete response letter denying the supplemental new drug application."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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The deal struck in Geneva today aims to end the violence Ukraine has seen over the last few months. There were snipers shooting at protesters in Kiev's Independence Square. In eastern Ukraine, pro-Russian separatists forced their way through police barricades to overtake government buildings. But not every protest has been violent. Today, people who oppose the separatists staged a demonstration in the city of Donetsk, and NPR's Ari Shapiro was there.
ARI SHAPIRO, BYLINE: This is Victory Park, right on the banks of the Kalmius River. There are lots of threes, grass and a big stone plaza, which right now is surrounded by more than a hundred police with body armor, helmets and riot shields, all making a solid perimeter facing outwards. There's clearly a fear that people will show up at this pro-unity rally and try to make trouble.
TATIANA: (Through Translator) Unfortunately, our opponents are not very friendly. As a rule, they use violence to make their points. And rallies like this don't usually end very well.
SHAPIRO: Tatiana is a doctor, part of a team of volunteer medics standing on the sidelines.
TATIANA: (Through Translator) This is my first time taking part in a demonstration like this.
SHAPIRO: Are you a little nervous to be here?
TATIANA: (Through Translator) Of course, I'm nervous.
SHAPIRO: There have been scary rumors on social media all day. People are afraid the threat of violence will keep everyone away. But then, the crowd starts to arrive - first a few hundred, then a thousand, then too many too count. They start spilling over the edges of the plaza. People wrap themselves in the Ukrainian flag. They sing the national anthem out of tune at the top of their lungs.
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: (Singing in foreign language)
SHAPIRO: Someone has distributed flags on long poles. People wave the stripes of blue and yellow high above their head as the sun sets behind the stage. The crowd chants, (foreign language spoken), meaning - this region, Donbass, is part of Ukraine.
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: (Foreign language spoken)
SHAPIRO: This pro-unity crowd looks younger and more professional than the typical separatist rally: fewer factor workers, more students. Olga is a pharmacist. She says these voices have not been very loud for the last few weeks but she argues this is the real face of Donetsk.
OLGA: Most people go to work, go to school, go to university. They have their own time. They don't have time to go every single day and shouting Russia, Russia like crazy. It's not necessary.
SHAPIRO: The Ukrainian government accuses Russia of trying to duplicate its Crimea playbook here in eastern Ukraine. Russia annexed Crimea after a hastily planned referendum. In Crimea, unity supporters tried to organize a rally like this, but nobody showed up. They were too afraid. Genady Baglikov says this gathering demonstrates that Donetsk is different.
GENADY BAGLIKOV: (Through translator) It happened there because people let it happen. That's why we need to be here, to do our best to not let that scenario repeat. It happened in Crimea because people were apathetic.
SHAPIRO: After an hour and a half, people unfurl a massive Ukrainian flag over their heads. It nearly covers the crowd. And then the rally ends. The violence never came. The crowd walks home waving Ukrainian flags and cars honk in support as they pass by. Ari Shapiro, NPR News, Donetsk. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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How Can I Estimate My Future Social Security Benefits?
Estimating your future Social Security benefits used to be a difficult task, but not any longer. For an estimate of your projected benefits, go to www.ssa.gov/estimator. The retirement estimator gives estimates based on your actual Social Security earnings record.
The website form will ask you for a number of facts, including your name, Social Security number, date and place of birth, your mother's maiden name, additional information you provide about future earnings, and the age at which you expect to stop working.
Based on this information and your actual earnings history as maintained by the Social Security Administration, the Retirement Estimator generates an estimate of the amount you would receive if you were to retire at age 62 (the earliest date you can receive benefits), the amount if you waited until full retirement age (which currently ranges from 65 to 67, based on year of birth), and the larger benefit you would receive if you continued working until age 70 before claiming retirement benefits.
It's interesting to note that the 2023 Social Security Trustees Report includes a warning about the serious problems facing Social Security in the future. Without changes, the Social Security Trust Fund reserves will be depleted by 2033 and there will be enough money to pay only about 77 cents for each dollar of scheduled benefits at that time (based on the current formula).1 This is a reminder that taxpayers are ultimately responsible for funding their own retirements and that their future Social Security benefits may be lower than indicated by the Retirement Estimator.
Source: 1) Social Security Administration, 2023
The information in this newsletter is not intended as tax, legal, investment, or retirement advice or recommendations, and it may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. You are encouraged to seek guidance from an independent tax or legal professional. The content is derived from sources believed to be accurate. Neither the information presented nor any opinion expressed constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. This material was written and prepared by Broadridge Advisor Solutions. © 2024 Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.
Information provided has been prepared from Broadridge Advisor Solutions sources and data we believe to be accurate, but we make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness. Data and information is provided for informational purposes only, and is not intended for solicitation or trading purposes. Broadridge Advisor Solutions is not an affiliate of Equitable Advisors, LLC. Please consult your tax and legal advisors regarding your particular circumstances. Neither Equitable Advisors nor any of the data provided by Equitable Advisors or its content providers, such as Broadridge Advisor Solutions, shall be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for the actions taken in reliance therein. By accessing the Equitable Advisors website, a user agrees to abide by the terms and conditions of the site including not redistributing the information found therein.
Securities offered through Equitable Advisors, LLC (NY, NY 212-314-4600), member FINRA, SIPC. Annuity and insurance products offered through Equitable Network, LLC and its subsidiaries.


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Put That Sandwich Down — USDA Announces Major Chicken-Breast Recall
If you or anyone in your family is on a restricted diet due to food allergies, you need to check your refrigerator. Prime Pak Foods, based in Gainesville, Georgia, recalled about 24,000 pounds of fully cooked breaded chicken-breast products over the weekend. The products are being recalled because of misbranding and undeclared allergens.
During an April 17 inspection by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, it was discovered that the chicken-breast products were formulated with egg and wheat, known allergens that were not listed on the labels.
The products being recalled are:
- 10-pound box labeled "Sugar Lake Farms Fully Cooked Breaded Chicken Breast Tenders" containing two 5-pound bags with product code 77422 on the box
- 10-pound box labeled "Sugar Lake Farms Fully Cooked Spicy Breaded Chicken Breast Chunks" containing two 5-pound bags with product code 77448 on the box.
These Sugar Lake Farms products were produced from December 2012 through March 2014 and were distributed to hotels, restaurants and institutions nationwide.
This is considered to be a Class I recall by the USDA, which is defined as "a health hazard situation where there is a reasonable probability that the use of the product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death."


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Floriani Polyester
Polyester embroidery thread has evolved into one of the most beautiful and most durable choices for majority of embroidery projects. It is mostly color-fast, endures high speed stitching without breakage and is available in huge variety of colors. This thread is ideal for baby clothing, towels and uniforms as it can be laundered repeatedly. Floriani polyester embroidery thread can even withstand bleaching!


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And, the winners of the cookbooks are:
NEW ALTERNATE WINNER: Carolyn P. who said... I would love to have this cookbook, I am a newlywed (March 26th..yay me) and am excited about trying new recipes for my husband. You have great recipes here, this Virginian loves to try new things, the same thing over and over gets boring fast!!! Thanks....the new Carolyn Phillips!!Congratulations! Please contact me as soon as possible (by 5:00 p.m. CST, Thursday 5/12) with your full name and mailing address so that I can get your cookbooks to you. Thanks for participating everybody!
NEW ALTERNATE WINNER: Sue who said... It would be great if I could win this cookbook! I have a shortcut to your web page on my desktop because I go on it more than once a day! I love trying new recipes, especially simple ones that I can then pass on to my kids who are on their own. Every recipe I've tried from your site has been great, so I'm sure this book is full of more of the same. I'll be drooling in anticipation until the winners are announced!
Tracey Joy who said...I love cookbooks Mary. You have shared with us to so many wonderful cookbooks. I'd love for this to be apart of my collection. It amazing at times I run out of idea as to what to make, so this will really help, lol = )
I recently had the opportunity to review the cookbook Simply Suppers by Jennifer Chandler. Jennifer is from Memphis, but has a long 15 year history in the food business, after having left an international finance career to move to Paris and attend the Le Cordon Bleu academy, graduating at the top of her class. After a stint in Washington in a restaurant group and with a top caterer, she eventually landed back in Memphis, where, for several years, she owned Cheffie's, a prepared foods market and bakery. Today Jennifer is a mom of two girls, a freelance magazine writer and the author of two cookbooks.
Collectors of cookbooks who enjoy reading cookbooks like novels, love heritage recipes rich with family history and heavily styled photography, won't exactly find that here, but... if you don't get in the kitchen much and especially if you are a beginner cook, you'll certainly appreciate the back to basics tone of this cookbook.
A perfect cookbook for a new bride, a graduating college student just starting out, or even a busy mom looking for some speedy, simple suppers, Jennifer's recipes will deliver. Chapters are organized by category from the usual, soups to meats, pasta to potatoes, vegetables and desserts.
More seasoned cooks will likely already have many of these recipes scattered about in their own personal collections, but will like the convenience of having these familiar and comforting recipes all in one place.
You'll find recipes for corn chowder and vegetable beef soup, potato chip chicken tenders and roast chicken, braised short ribs and cheeseburger pie, fish tacos and shrimp scampi, rigatoni with sausage meatballs and spaghetti, reubens and tuna melts, twice baked potatoes and garlic mashed potatoes, asparagus with brown butter and creamed spinach, buttermilk pie and hot cocoa chocolate pudding.
So far, I've made Jennifer's Croque Monsieur/Madame, Tuna Melt and Potato Chip Crusted Chicken Tenders, but I have many more recipes tabbed to try - like Chicken Enchiladas with Salsa Verde, Chicken Tetrazzini, Banana Pudding Pie and Hot Cocoa Chocolate Pudding, to name a few!
You'll also find a little of what we in the Deep South call lagniappe too, in the form of things like a basic pantry stocking list, a quick index of 30 recipes that can be made in about 30 minutes, a list of recipes you can easily double - one to eat, one to freeze - and even a list of recipes to use those deli roasted chickens we all love. In the back of the book, you'll find basic recipes like how to make things like pie crust, and pizza dough, chicken stock and basic tomato sauce.
One of the things I really loved about Simply Suppers is something that you are accustomed to seeing here on my site. At the bottom of every recipe, Jennifer includes recipe modifications and variations, appropriate substitutions and cooking tips.
A fantastic cookbook to add to your collection to have many of your classic favorites in one place, to add to a basket of kitchen gadgets for a bridal shower, or for any number of gift giving situations, it certainly answers the question of "What's for Supper?" You can find Simply Suppers at your favorite bookstore, or order directly through Amazon but ... thanks to the good folks over at Thomas Nelson, we have THREE copies to giveaway to my readers - yay!
Winner will be announced at the site and will be responsible for checking back and responding with mailing information within 48 hours of the announcement, or an alternate winner will be selected. Good luck!
You must be over the age of 18 and be a resident of the U.S. to enter. Sorry no international entries.
To keep up with Jennifer, check out her website, or follow her on her blog Good Food Simply
Like Jennifer on Facebook
Tweet along with her on Twitter
Let her know Deep South Dish sent ya!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received these books free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."


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Feb 13, 2015 | Carpet One Floor & Home
by Julie Edelman, The Accidental Housewife
When it comes to updating our homes, sometimes our ideas are bigger than our wallets. Here are 10 affordable home decor ideas to satisfy the yearning to redecorate without feeling OMG here I go again...enjoy!
1. CREATE A BOUQUET OF GLASS: Use those vases you've collected from gifts to form a collection of different sized and height vases. Place a single flower in each and create a bouquet of glass and color.
2. EXPAND YOUR ROOM: Place a large mirror in a small space to make your room look larger and brighter. Prop against a wall or place on a bureau vs. hanging so can swap it out and not fuss over hanging it safely.
3. STYLE UP EXISTING CURTAINS: Replace wooden, steel or any plain rod that your curtains are hung on with decorative ones that have interesting finials on the end and textured tubing. Then add some 'swag' with fabric or metal ornamental tiebacks.
4. ADD FRINGE BENEFITS: Add decorative fringe and/or toggles to your existing pillows. Consider doing the same to embellish your current drapery.
5. PAINT A PART OF YOUR ROOM: No need to paint or wallpaper a whole room! Pick the focal point in your room i.e. where your bed is in a bedroom and paint or wallpaper just that one wall.
6. DECORATE WITH DECALS: Wall decals are a simple and fun way to freshen up any space, create atmosphere or just to add an element of fun in your child's room with a 'chalkboard' decal. The ones pictured here are from Dezign with a Z - http://www.dezignwithaz.com/floral-wall-decals-c-281_44.html
7. SWAP 'CESSORIES: Just as we swap out our make-up and closets seasonally do the same with household accessories, plants or artificial flowers, photos and frames. You can get great finds at garage sales and stores like my fave Home Goods!!
8. TOP A TABLE: Drape a basic, three-legged wood table with an attractive piece of fabric that you can pick up at a fabric remnant store or use a colorful throw or decorative tablecloth. If we can't find a better photo, add "Or give that little table a fresh coat of paint." Place a piece of glass on top and viola!
9. RUN WILD: Add a burst of color with a new area rug or runner at entranceways, hallways, kitchens, in front or besides your bed and bathrooms. Plus entranceway mats not only look great but they track 90% of the dirt and moisture we bring in from the outdoors! Just be sure they're at least two steps wide so both feet get their gunk rubbed off!
10. FRAME YOUR FIREPLACE: Use your fireplace as a frame to show off a collection of colorful vases, ceramics, plants or any other knick knacks that create an interesting grouping.
Julie Edelman is a well-known multi-media lifestyle personality who shares easy; real life time, money, and energy saving tips that maintain our home, family and manicure. And, though her solutions cause Martha, Heloise and the handyman to cringe, she brings a sense of calm, humor and camaraderie to millions like her who live on what she lovingly calls Hysteria Lane. Julie appears regularly on the Today Show with Kathie Lee 'n Hoda, Rachael Ray, Better TV and The Doctors. She is a New York Times best-selling author of The Accidental Housewife: How to Overcome Housekeeping Hysteria One Task at a Time and The Ultimate Accidental Housewife"–Your Guide to a Clean Enough House -a 'must have' home-keeping compendium. Julie contributes a weekly blog on RachaelRay.com; is the National Home-keeping Editor for Examiner.com: has a webisode series for Fox News Magazine and 'spreads the glove' on her site, www.juliestips.com


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Associated Press/Seth Wenig - Kim Johnson looks over the destruction near her seaside apartment in Atlantic City, N.J., Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. Sandy, the storm that made landfall Monday, caused multiple fatalities,
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The most devastating storm in decades to hit the country's most densely populated region upended man and nature as it rolled back the clock on 21st-century lives, cutting off modern communication and leaving millions without power Tuesday as thousands who fled their water-menaced homes wondered when — if — life would return to normal.
A weakening Sandy, the hurricane turned fearsome superstorm, killed at least 50 people, many hit by falling trees, and still wasn't finished. It inched inland across Pennsylvania, ready to bank toward western New York to dump more of its water and likely cause more havoc Tuesday night. Behind it: a dazed, inundated New York City, a waterlogged Atlantic Coast and a moonscape of disarray and debris — from unmoored shore-town boardwalks to submerged mass-transit systems to delicate presidential politics."Nature," said New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, assessing the damage to his city, "is an awful lot more powerful than we are."
The New York Stock Exchange was closed for a second day from weather, the first time that has happened since a blizzard in 1888. The shutdown of mass transit crippled a city where more than 8.3 million bus, subway and local rail trips are taken each day, and 800,000 vehicles cross bridges run by the transit agency.
"Everybody knew it was coming. Unfortunately, it was everything they said it was," said Sal Novello, a construction executive who rode out the storm with his wife, Lori, in the Long Island town of Lindenhurst, and ended up with 7 feet of water in the basement.
The scope of the storm's damage wasn't known yet. Though early predictions of river flooding in Sandy's inland path were petering out, colder temperatures made snow the main product of Sandy's slow march from the sea. Parts of the West Virginia mountains were blanketed with 2 feet of snow by Tuesday afternoon, and drifts 4 feet deep were reported at Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the Tennessee-North Carolina border.
With Election Day a week away, the storm also threatened to affect the presidential campaign. Federal disaster response, always a dicey political issue, has become even thornier since government mismanagement of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. And poll access and voter turnout, both of which hinge upon how people are impacted by the storm, could help shift the outcome in an extremely close race.
As organized civilization came roaring back Tuesday in the form of emergency response, recharged cellphones and the reassurance of daylight, harrowing stories and pastiches emerged from Maryland north to Rhode Island in the hours after Sandy's howling winds and tidal surges shoved water over seaside barriers, into low-lying streets and up from coastal storm drains.
Images from around the storm-affected areas depicted scenes reminiscent of big-budget disaster movies. In Atlantic City, N.J., a gaping hole remained where once a stretch of boardwalk sat by the sea. In Queens, N.Y., rubble from a fire that destroyed as many as 100 houses in an evacuated beachfront neighborhood jutted into the air at ugly angles against a gray sky. In heavily flooded Hoboken, N.J., across the Hudson River from Manhattan, dozens of yellow cabs sat parked in rows, submerged in murky water to their windshields. At the ground zero construction site in lower Manhattan, seawater rushed into a gaping hole under harsh floodlights.In Moonachie, N.J., 10 miles north of Manhattan, water rose to 5 feet within 45 minutes and trapped residents who thought the worst of the storm had passed. Mobile-home park resident Juan Allen said water overflowed a 2-foot wall along a nearby creek, filling the area with 2 to 3 feet of water within 15 minutes. "I saw trees not just knocked down but ripped right out of the ground," he said. "I watched a tree crush a guy's house like a wet sponge."
In a measure of its massive size, waves on southern Lake Michigan rose to a record-tying 20.3 feet. High winds spinning off Sandy's edges clobbered the Cleveland area early Tuesday, uprooting trees, closing schools and flooding major roads along Lake Erie.
Most along the East Coast, though, grappled with an experience like Bertha Weismann of Bridgeport, Conn.— frightening, inconvenient and financially problematic but, overall, endurable. Her garage was flooded and she lost power, but she was grateful. "I feel like we are blessed," she said. "It could have been worse."
The presidential candidates' campaign maneuverings Tuesday revealed the delicacy of the need to look presidential in a crisis without appearing to capitalize on a disaster. President Barack Obama canceled a third straight day of campaigning, scratching events scheduled for Wednesday in swing-state Ohio, in Sandy's path. Republican Mitt Romney resumed his campaign with plans for an Ohio rally billed as a "storm relief event."
And the weather posed challenges a week out for how to get everyone out to vote. On the hard-hit New Jersey coastline, a county elections chief said some polling places on barrier islands will be unusable and have to be moved.
"This is the biggest challenge we've ever had," said George R. Gilmore, chairman of the Ocean County Board of Elections.
By Tuesday afternoon, there were still only hints of the economic impact of the storm.Forecasting firm IHS Global Insight predicted the storm will end up causing about $20 billion in damages and $10 billion to $30 billion in lost business. Another firm, AIR Worldwide, estimated losses up to $15 billion — big numbers probably offset by reconstruction and repairs that will contribute to longer-term growth.
"The biggest problem is not the first few days but the coming months," said Alan Rubin, an expert in nature disaster recovery.
Airports were shut across the East Coast and far beyond as tens of thousands of travelers found they couldn't get where they were going. John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Newark International Airport in New Jersey will reopen at 7 a.m. Wednesday with limited service, but LaGuardia Airport will stay closed, officials said.
Sandy began in the Atlantic and knocked around the Caribbean — killing nearly 70 people — and strengthened into a hurricane as it chugged across the southeastern coast of the United States. By Tuesday night it had ebbed in strength but was joining up with another, more wintry storm — an expected confluence of weather systems that earned it nicknames like "superstorm" and, on Halloween eve, "Frankenstorm."
It became, pretty much everyone agreed Tuesday, the weather event of a lifetime — and one shared vigorously on social media by people in Sandy's path who took eye-popping photographs as the storm blew through, then shared them with the world by the blue light of their smartphones.
On Twitter, Facebook and the photo-sharing service Instagram, people tried to connect, reassure relatives and make sense of what was happening — and, in many cases, work to authenticate reports of destruction and storm surges. They posted and passed around images and real-time updates at a dizzying rate, wishing each other well and gaping, virtually, at scenes of calamity moments after they unfolded. Among the top terms on Facebook through the night and well into Tuesday, according to the social network: "we are OK," ''made it" and "fine."
By Tuesday evening, the remnants of Sandy were about 50 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, pushing westward with winds of 45 mph. It was expected to turn toward New York State and Canada during the night.
Although weakening as it goes, the storm will continue to bring heavy rain and flooding, said Daniel Brown of the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Atlantic City's fabled Boardwalk, the first in the nation, lost several blocks when Sandy came through, though the majority of it remained intact even as other Jersey Shore boardwalks were dismantled. What damage could be seen on the coastline Tuesday was, in some locations, staggering — "unthinkable," New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said of what unfolded along the Jersey Shore, where houses were swept from their foundations and amusement park rides were washed into the ocean. "Beyond anything I thought I would ever see."
Resident Carol Mason returned to her bayfront home to carpets that squished as she stepped on them. She made her final mortgage payment just last week. Facing a mandatory evacuation order, she had tried to ride out the storm at first but then saw the waters rising outside her bathroom window and quickly reconsidered.
"I looked at the bay and saw the fury in it," she said. "I knew it was time to go."
Contributing to this report were Katie Zezima in Atlantic City, N.J.; Alicia Caldwell and Martin Crutsinger in Washington; Colleen Long, Jennifer Peltz, Tom Hays, Larry Neumeister, Ralph Russo and Scott Mayerowitz in New York; Meghan Barr in Mastic Beach, N.Y.; Christopher S. Rugaber in Arlington, Va.; Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pa.: John Christoffersen in Bridgeport, Conn.; Vicki Smith in Elkins, W.Va.; David Porter in Newark, N.J.; Joe Mandak in Pittsburgh; and Dave Collins in Hartford, Conn.


text: Of all the sizes we carry, the 2x2 style is by far the most popular. Most pool players like to travel with a playing cue and a utility cue (such as a breaker or jump break cue). In addition to being able to carry two butts and two shafts, most of these cases also feature extra pocket space, and in many cases, a pocket designed just for your jumper butt.


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PITTSBURGH (AP)—The Environmental Protection Agency has dramatically lowered its estimate of how much of a potent heat-trapping gas leaks during natural gas production, in a shift with major implications for a debate that has divided environmentalists: Does the recent boom in fracking help or hurt the fight against climate change?
Oil and gas drilling companies had pushed for the change, but there have been differing scientific estimates of the amount of methane that leaks from wells, pipelines and other facilities during production and delivery.Methane is the main component of natural gas.
The new EPA data is "kind of an earthquake" in the debate over drilling, said Michael Shellenberger, the president of the Breakthrough Institute, an environmental group based in Oakland, Calif. "This is great news for anybody concerned about the climate and strong proof that existing technologies can be deployed to reduce methane leaks."
The scope of the EPA's revision was vast. In a mid-April report on greenhouse emissions, the agency now says that tighter pollution controls instituted by the industry resulted in an average annual decrease of 41.6 million metric tons of methane emissions from 1990 through 2010, or more than 850 million metric tons overall. That's about a 20% reduction from previous estimates. The agency converts the methane emissions into their equivalent in carbon dioxide, following standard scientific practice.
The EPA revisions came even though natural gas production has grown by nearly 40 percent since 1990. The industry has boomed in recent years, thanks to a stunning expansion of drilling in previously untapped areas because of the use of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, which injects sand, water and chemicals to break apart rock and free the gas inside.
Experts on both sides of the debate say the leaks can be controlled by fixes such as better gaskets, maintenance and monitoring. Such fixes are also thought to be cost-effective, since the industry ends up with more product to sell.
"That is money going up into the air," said Roger Pielke Jr., a professor of environmental studies at the University of Colorado, adding he isn't surprised the EPA's new data show more widespread use of pollution control equipment. Pielke noted that the success of the pollution controls also means that the industry "probably can go further" in reducing leaks.
Representatives of the oil and gas industry said the EPA revisions show emissions from the fracking boom can be managed.
"The methane 'leak' claim just got a lot more difficult for opponents" of natural gas, noted Steve Everley, with Energy In Depth, an industry-funded group.
In a separate blog post, Everley predicted future reductions, too.
"As technologies continue to improve, it's hard to imagine those methane numbers going anywhere but down as we eagerly await the next installment of this EPA report," Everley wrote.
One leading environmentalist argued the EPA revisions don't change the bigger picture.
"We need a dramatic shift off carbon-based fuel: coal, oil and also gas," Bill McKibbern, the founder of 350.org, wrote in an email to The Associated Press. "Natural gas provides at best a kind of fad diet, where a dangerously overweight patient loses a few pounds and then their weight stabilizes; instead, we need at this point a crash diet, difficult to do" but needed to limit the damage from climate change.
The EPA said it made the changes based on expert reviews and new data from several sources, including areport funded by the oil and gas industry. But the estimates aren't based on independent field tests of actual emissions, and some scientists said that's a problem.
Robert Howarth, a Cornell University professor of ecology who led a 2011 methane leak study that is widely cited by critics of fracking, wrote in an email that "time will tell where the truth lies in all this, but I think EPA is wrong."
Howarth said other federal climate scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have published recent studies documenting massive methane leaks from natural gas operations in Colorado and other Western states.
Howarth wrote that the EPA seems "to be ignoring the published NOAA data in their latest efforts, and the bias on industry only pushing estimates downward—never up—is quite real. EPA badly needs a counter-acting force, such as outside independent review of their process."
The issue of methane leaks has caused a major split between environmental groups.
Since power plants that burn natural gas emit about half the amount of the greenhouse gases as coal-fired power, some say that the gas drilling boom has helped the U.S. become the only major industrialized country to significantly reduce greenhouse emissions. But others believe the methane leaks negate any benefits over coal, since methane is a highly potent greenhouse gas.
The new EPA figures still show natural gas operations as the leading source of methane emissions in the U.S., at about 145 million metric tons in 2011. The next biggest source was enteric fermentation, scientific jargon for belches from cows and other animals, at 137 million metric tons. Landfills were the third-biggest source, at 103 million metric tons.
But the EPA estimates that all the sources of methane combined still account for only 9 percent of greenhouse gases, even taking into account methane's more potent heat-trapping.
The EPA said it is still seeking more data and feedback on the issue of methane leaks, so the report may change again in the future.
The EPA revisions have international implications, too. The agency says the new report, Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks, was submitted to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change by an April 15 deadline.
Source: The Associated Press


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Online Aviation Resource Directory
One of the most comprehensive collections of Aviation Links on the Internet
Welcome to the new links page! Previous links have been updated, and now over 1700 links have been organized into easily searchable categories. In the true spirit of the world wide web, sites from around the globe, and on an expansive variety of aviation-related topics, have been included to make this page a go-to resource for everyone. Whether you are interested in aviation history, want to buy a book, enjoy viewing photographs, or are looking for a flying club, helicopter school, or modeling association to join, there is something for all aviation-buffs here. Enjoy! Members who are logged in can bookmark, rate, and review the links as well as recommend new sites to us.
- Active Links: 1704
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Prom Pressure
Prom: Fun, Stress — or Both?
Prom can be one of the most important events in your high school experience — a special night to look forward to for months. For some people, though, prom can seem like just another reason to worry and feel stressed out. Even people who are looking forward to it can feel nervous.
Here are some strategies for overcoming prom pressure.
Your Money
Prom doesn't have to cost a fortune. Here are a few less expensive options:
- Rent tuxedos or dresses or pay for them in installments.
- Shop online or at thrift stores to get style on the cheap.
- Borrow clothes from older siblings or cousins.
- If you can't afford a trip to a beauty salon, team up with a friend to be each other's stylists. Treat yourselves to some new beauty supplies, then spend the afternoon getting ready.
- Instead of an expensive restaurant, meet up at a friend's place for some home cooking or opt for a romantic picnic dinner in the park.
If you're going with a date, talk beforehand about what's important to both of you. That way you'll have some idea of where you should spend your money. And one person shouldn't feel pressure to pay for everything. Lots of couples prefer to share the expenses so both people have a choice in what the plans are.
If you need to ask a parent or other family member for help with your finances, offer to make up the cash by doing chores around the house like mowing the lawn, doing the dishes, or babysitting your little brother or sister.
Sometimes parents are happy to help with certain expenses. For example, parents who pool together to get a limo for the group don't have to worry about everyone getting home safely.
Your Self-Esteem
For some people, the biggest prom worry is asking and being asked: It's natural to stress out about gathering the courage to invite that special someone — and to worry you might be turned down.
Although it's tempting to avoid the possibility of rejection by not asking, who wants to be afraid of taking a chance? Ask. If the person says no, you can move on. If you never ask, you may miss out on a great evening with someone who may be shy and waiting for you to make the first move.
This works the other way around, of course: If you need to decline an offer, consider the other person's feelings when you say no. Remind yourself that it took guts to ask and probably caused a lot of nervousness. Let the person down gently, rather than embarrassing him or her.
The important thing is to find someone you'll enjoy spending the evening with, whether it's a friend, boyfriend or girlfriend, or the object of your secret desire. Because most people want to relax and keep their options open for fun, more and more people go to prom with a group of friends instead of a date. Who better to spend the evening with than the people who love you for who you are?
Your Looks
Planning to lose weight? Everyone can benefit from exercise and healthy eating habits a few weeks before prom, but dieting might not be the way to go.
If you've talked to your doctor about needing to lose weight, prom could be a great reason to get motivated. But avoid last-minute crash diets. People who use these are usually left feeling weak, cranky, and not in the mood for fun.
Because the weight lost through crash diets is mostly water weight, people usually gain the weight back after prom's over. Studies have found that frequent "yo-yo" dieters — people who crash diet and then go back to eating normally — may end up gaining more weight over time.
To lose weight for real and keep it off for the rest of the summer's fun and beyond, plan to lose 1 or 2 pounds a week through regular exercise and by eating a variety of healthy foods. Since it's almost impossible to lose more than a couple of pounds of body fat per week, set your goals early on: If you'd like to lose 5 pounds, for example, start your program at least 3 weeks before the big night.
Exercising and eating right will also help your skin look its best. Speaking of skin, we all know the problems tanning causes later in life, but lots of people don't know how tanning can mess with prom-night looks: Some people are prone to breakouts or rashes after tanning; others notice it leaves them with dull, dry, flaky skin.
So look for alternatives to the tanning bed. Plan ahead and experiment with store-bought tanning products. Try them out several weeks in advance to find out which one works best for you.
Other strategies for looking prom-night gorgeous? Get plenty of rest, especially on the days leading up to prom. And no matter what body type you have or how much money you spend, confidence helps you look good!
Your Health
Lots of people feel pressure from their friends to drink, do drugs, or lose their virginity on prom night. Take a minute to think in advance about how you'll avoid getting into an unwanted situation. (No one wants to spend prom night in jail or at the hospital after being pressured into drinking or doing drugs.) You'll feel more confident and in control if you're prepared.
Drugs and alcohol impair judgment in ways that can hurt you — even if you're not the one using them. Be sure you have a safe ride home, whether it's a designated driver, parent, or that chauffeur-driven limo. It's also a good idea to have money for a taxi or ridesharing service just in case your ride gets wild or doesn't show up.
Alcohol and drugs can play a role in people losing their virginity or having unwanted sex on prom night. Be aware of what's going on around you and try to stay in control. Also, be aware of your date's ability to consent to sexual activity. If your date is not in a condition to respond or react, it's rape.
The decision to have sex is an important personal choice. Don't feel pressured because it's a special night. The night will be more special if your memories are happy instead of regretful. Lots of girls and guys who think about it in advance decide that there's enough excitement on prom night anyway — and that having sex is a decision that shouldn't just be a sideline to prom fun.
If you do decide to have sex, use condoms to protect yourself from pregnancy and STDs.
Prom can be magical. But it's not the only time you'll have this much fun: There are plenty of other life-defining events as well. So don't feel like you have to do anything you don't want to. It's your prom. Enjoy it the way you want to.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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