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As a parent of some absolutely multicultural kids, it is rare for a character in a book to look like them and reflect their family. (My husband's mother was from the Dominican Republic and his father's parents were from Canadian with African and Anglo ancestors. My parents are of English and German descent). The result? Boys with curly (and often crazy) hair, blue eyes, tan skin.
Dani Dixon, a talented writer friend of mine (who herself has a comic book series, 13, which is refreshingly diverse) suggested that I needed to check out The Magic Poof written and independently published by Stephen Hodges, a colleague of hers, and Illustrated by T. Kyle Gentry. Stephen happily offered me a copy. The second I saw the cover, I immediately knew why my friend thought of us when she saw his book..it is PERFECT for my boys.
Seriously, a book about an African-American girl who has giant, curly hair that is magic!!! How could the boys not love it?
When I came home with the book, Caterpillar immediately wanted to me to read it to him. I did, and he asked me to read it to him two more times (that makes 3 times in a row -- which is a lot for a not quite 2 year-old who rarely stays attentive for one full read-through of any book).
When I showed it to Wild Thing, he gasped: "She has crazy hair just like me!"
The proof of impact of the book on Wild Thing lies in his actions. Even when I can't read it to him, he likes to just sit and quietly looked through the book, page by page, several times. I see how much he enjoys seeing someone in the pages that reminds him of himself, and I realize how rare that has been for him with most of the children's books we read. In fact, the book inspired him to name his hair too. The name he selected? Dumbo. Perhaps, he envisions his hair making him fly.
What I think makes the book special is the idea of giving a child's unique character trait its own persona, particularly a magical persona. I see how this book could empower any child who looks at themselves and sees something that is different from most of the children they know. Ange-Marie (our lead character) loves her Magic Poof and considers the Poof to be her best friend. This made me smile, as my brother is constantly reminding me that you have to make your insecurities your friend, rather than letting them consume you. Ange-Marie has done that. The biggest drawback for me was that I didn't feel that there was quite enough magic. In the book, we see that the Magic Poof can transform himself into any shape and can float Ange-Marie to the ceiling, but I just wanted more. I envision Ange-Marie becoming some type of superhero with her Magic Poof!! Given that Stephen has additional books planned, as well as an animated series, I am hoping to see a transformation with Ange-Marie becoming an amazing African-American female superhero in the future.
If you're interested in finding more Picture Books with Diverse Characters, What Do We Do All Day recently shared 21 Picture Books with Diverse Characters and Pragmatic Mom has a wonderful Diversity Picture Books post as well. If you have a favorite book featuring a diverse character, please leave me a comment with the title so that I can add it to my library list. And, if you think you'd like to check out The Magic Poof yourself or learn more about the book and author, simply visit themagicpoof.com. I'll also be hosting a sponsored give away of the book soon, so check back or follow me on Facebook to make sure you don't miss it.
Finally, I'd love to know what makes your child unique. How do you celebrate this uniqueness? Please share!
I'm sharing this at: Creative Kids Culture Blog Hop, Mom's Library, The Sunday Showcase and Kid Lit Blog Hop.
Pssst...I thought I'd share a little bit about the author too: Stephen Hodges began his creative career in second grade by recording epic stories with his best friend. His love of storytelling and theater carried him through Arizona State University and into the film industry. One day, while working to help other industry creative types achieve their dreams, Stephen played with his wife's big poof of curly hair at the breakfast table before she'd had her tea. After enough time spent stretching her hair into shapes and giving it a funny voice, he came up with The Magic Poof. Upon vetting his idea with African-American and educational scholars, he set his own dream in motion. Stephen currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife and their star-in-the making Havanese dog, Buttercup. He is hard at work on the next Magic Poof book and animated series, as well as several other television projects.
Proud to be...
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El Mundo turns printed 'jerseys' into revenue
By: Nu Yang
For newspapers, sporting events are a huge opportunity to drive up revenue, and one Spanish-language paper has capitalized in a unique way — origami soccer jerseys.
During the 2010 World Cup series, El Mundo marketed its print product to enthusiastic soccer fans and created the jerseys as a way to connect the local Hispanic community with advertisers. Located in Kirkland, Wash., El Mundo is published every Thursday with a free circulation of 20,000. President and chief executive officer Gustavo Montoya, along with his sister and publisher, Martha Montoya, purchased the paper in 2008.
Gustavo said the Hispanic market in Washington is scattered, stretching from the Seattle area to the eastern side of the state. "There are 1,400 points of distribution over 15 counties," he said.
Before they became newspaper owners, Gustavo worked in technology and Martha illustrated cartoon strips, but both of them knew the challenges the newspaper industry faced. Their parents were educators in Colombia, and Gustavo said owning the newspaper is a way for "their legacy to continue" and for them to "understand the needs of their community."
"We saw a high demand for the print form," Gustavo said. "But it was frustrating to try to reach out to mainstream advertisers to have them listen to the pitch we were trying to sell." He said many of his frustrations stemmed from a readership that demanded print, but an industry that was quickly marching toward digital.
Gustavo and Martha decided to show advertisers firsthand why they should invest in the print product, and the duo approached Comcast with a proposal that would strengthen both the newspaper as well as the cable provider's brand.
The interactive print origami soccer jerseys were a perfect match, Gustavo said.
Martha said the unfolded jersey consisted of a full-page ad (front and back), which included a front banner, a half-page ad in the back (visible even on the folded jersey), and a logo.
The promotion ran for 16 weeks and highlighted each of the 32 soccer teams playing in the World Cup. Readers were able to send in the origami jerseys representing the two teams they thought would be in the finals. Correct submissions were entered in a raffle to win a free television. Two winners were selected.
Gustavo said the paper's goal was to prove that publishing can be creative, and prove to advertisers that there is value in getting their brand name into the hands of readers. "We accomplished our goal, and we were able to put us in the spotlight," he said.
El Mundo has since received recognition from the National Association of Hispanic Publications for the origami jersey promotion. According to Martha, El Mundo also owns the patent, and they have sold the rights to a few other papers that have gone on to introduce the project into their own market.
"We've seen great interest in other sports like baseball and basketball," Gustavo said. "And the World Cup is coming up again in 2014.

subset: commoncrawl


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Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Carnegie, Morgan, Ford...
Meet the titans who forged the foundation of modern America
and created the American Dream
Event Series Premieres Tuesday, October 16 at 9 p.m. on HISTORY(R)
Features Exclusive Interviews with Mark Cuban, Alan Greenspan, Charles Schwab, Jack Welch, Steve Wozniak among others
September 5, 2012, New York, NY - Cornelius Vanderbilt, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan, Henry Ford. Their names are synonymous with innovation, big business and the American Dream. They built empires. They created incredible advances in technology. They changed the world. HISTORY chronicles the lives of these visionary men in THE MEN WHO BUILT AMERICA, an eight-hour event series premiering Tuesday, October 16 at 9 p.m. on HISTORY.
THE MEN WHO BUILT AMERICA chronicles how these five self-made men shaped the future of this country, transforming the U.S. into a global superpower in a span of just 50 years, and how they affected the lives of every person in the world. Vanderbilt was one of the first to see how railroads could change how goods are shipped, creating the model for our modern railroads. Carnegie created the process for mass-producing steel, which allowed large buildings to become a reality. Rockefeller discovered a way to refine oil that set the worldwide standard. Morgan created the modern financial system. Ford made the car accessible to the masses.
These men were not born of great privilege. They came from meager means. Yet they saw opportunities where no one else had and they turned their dreams into reality. In so doing, they created the very concept of the American Dream, an idea now deeply woven into the fabric of our country - the notion that hard work, dedication and ingenuity can make your life better.
THE MEN WHO BUILT AMERICA is the story of colossal American growth, during the chapter of our history following the Civil War and leading up to World War I, told from the point of view of these five charismatic individuals. Most people today still know their names, but they know little about their lives. Meanwhile, an assortment of other iconic Americans - from Abraham Lincoln to Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison to Nikola Tesla, even Mark Twain - play supporting and at times unlikely roles in this grand story.
Contributing insights and perspective in exclusive interviews include such contemporary business giants as Steve Case, Mark Cuban, Donny Deutsch, Carly Fiorina, Alan Greenspan, Dick Parsons, Ron Perelman, T. Boone Pickens, Charles Schwab, Jack Welch and Steve Wozniak.
THE MEN WHO BUILT AMERICA is produced by Stephen David Entertainment in association with HISTORY. Executive Producers for HISTORY are Russ McCarroll and Paul Cabana. Stephen David is Executive Producer for Stephen David Entertainment.
About HISTORY(R)
HISTORY(R) is the leading destination for factual entertainment, including award-winning original series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across multiple platforms. The network's all-original programming slate, including scripted event programming, features a litany of hits including American Pickers(R), American Restoration(TM), Ax Men(TM), Ice Road Truckers(R), Pawn Stars(R), Swamp People(R) and Top Shot(R) as well as epic mini-series and specials such as the Emmy(R) Award-winning Gettysburg, America The Story of Us, Hatfields & McCoys, Vietnam in HD and 102 Minutes That Changed America. The HISTORY website is the leading online resource for all things history, and in 2011, the United States Library of Congress selected HISTORY's Civil War 150 site for inclusion in the historic collection of Internet materials related to the American Civil War sesquicentennial. www.history.com


text:
Local Stone Shops in Your Area
1. Pyramid Granite
7956 Twist Ln, Springfield, VA 22153
Granite counters made by Pyramid Granite are guaranteed to be of the finest workmanship and quality available anywhere. Fabricators with generations of experience in stone fabrication craft your stone surfaces. We pride ourselves on being large enough to handle any and all of your orders, yetview details hide details view deal
Services: Cambria, CaesarStone, Engineered Surface Countertops, Natural Stone, Silestone, Sinks, Zodiaq, Stone Backsplashes, Stone Countertop Edging, Stone Vanity Countertops, Stone Kitchen Countertops, Stone Bathroom Countertops, Stone Fireplaces, Stone Showers, Granite, Marble, Limestone, Travertine, Slate, Soapstone, Sandstone, Quartz, Onyx, Engineered Stone, Laminate, Hearth, Cultured Marble
Fabricators in Mount Pleasant, DC
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LocalStoneshops.com provides updated information on stone fabricators in Mount Pleasant, DC.
Learn more about a Mount Pleasant fabricator by clicking "view details," or enter a new zip code in the search box below to search again.


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[Update: Be Sure To Check out our Smallville Season 10 Premiere Review!]
After a truly amazing ninth season finale, Smallville fans were hoping to catch a glimpse of the promised 2013 future in which Clark Kent has thrown The Blur costume away and finally become Superman.
Unfortunately, that day will never come as The CW is set announce on Thursday, during their upfront, that Smallville season 10 will also be the series' last.
Tom Welling, proving that not only is he faster than a speeding bullet, but also The CW's public relations, revealed the news of Smallville's final season to Hollywood Life while attending a party celebrating the release of legendary film producer Jerry Weintraub's new book. Welling said:
"Season 10 of Smallville will be the last season"
While the news is a huge blow to Smallville fans that have invested nine years in the series, keep in mind that there's still one more season left. With the foreshadowing provided in the season 9 finale, there's a good chance that the season 10 will not only be its last, but also its best.
We all know that by the end of Smallville, Clark has to not only fly, but also become Superman. Hopefully, with all the "training" required for him to reach those goals, The CW will at least give us a couple episodes with Clark as the legendary Man of Steel, instead of waiting until the final moments of the series finale to have him don his infamous red and blues (but don't bet on it).
Unfortunately, no matter how much flying Clark does, there will still be one big piece of the Superman puzzle missing: Lex. A couple of months ago, actor Michael Rosenbaum stated that he will not be returning to Smallville. Although, with Smallville coming to an end, maybe his former cast members can coax him into returning – even if it is only for one episode.
…a man can dream, right?
What do you think of Smallville finally ending? What are you expecting out of the final season? Will Clark become Superman? Is there any way Michael Rosenbaum will return to the series?
The tenth and final season of Smallville returns this fall on The CW.
Follow me on Twitter @anthonyocasio
Source: Hollywood Life (via: Entertainment Weekly)


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Bulldogs Blank Raiders in Annual "White Out for Mandi"
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Hundreds of hockey fans headed to Ingalls Rink Saturday afternoon to support a great cause. They wound up getting to see a great game as well. The Yale women's ice hockey team held its third annual "White Out for Mandi" fundraiser game for the Mandi Schwartz Foundation, founded in memory of center Mandi Schwartz '10 (1988-2011), and the day was made even more special by the presence of Mandi's parents, Carol and Rick. But the action on the ice had an importance of its own, as the Bulldogs wound up pulling into a tie for ECAC Hockey's eighth and final conference playoff spot with four weeks to go by blanking Colgate 2-0. Sophomore goalie Jaimie Leonoff made 31 saves, while freshman forward Jamie Haddad and senior forward Alyssa Zupon scored Yale's goals.
With the main entrance to Ingalls packed by fans along with White Out t-shirt sellers, youth hockey players selling cupcakes, and a memorabilia auction, the game had a different feel to it from the start. Throw in an appearance by NHL player PK Subban -- who signed autographs, posed for photos and greeted fans to help raise funds -- and it was clear that this was a game like no other. Initial estimates after the game place the minimum total raised for the Mandi Schwartz Foundation at more than $10,000.
The energy level at "The Whale" was kicked up a notch by the crowd of 851 right from the start, and the Bulldogs' offense came out firing. Junior forward Patricia McGauley, who is from Mandi's home town of Wilcox, Sask., provided the first great scoring opportunity. Colgate netminder Ashlynne Rando had to react quickly to deny McGauley's attempt to jam the puck in just two minutes into the game, and right after that Rando also made a tough save on a shot by freshman defenseman Kate Martini.
At the other end of the ice, Leonoff was on her game from the get-go en route to shutting out Colgate for the second time this season. After a nice glove save on a shot by defenseman Katie Case eight minutes in, Leonoff covered up the five hole to deny forward Miriam Drubel 30 seconds later. A minute after that, she showcased her ability to cover both sides of the net by moving quickly across the crease to turn aside a shot by defenseman Jessica Hootz.
While Colgate (7-15-3, 2-9-3 ECAC Hockey) was able to deny the first Yale power play of the game, the Bulldogs struck on their second. Junior defenseman Tara Tomimoto shot the puck towards the net, where freshman forward Janelle Ferrara deflected it on to the skate of a Colgate player and it ricocheted on net. Colgate netminder Ashlynne Rando got her pad down to stop the puck, but it squirted over to Haddad at the left post. She flipped it in to put Yale up 1-0.
Haddad has been jockeying with her classmate Ferrara for the top spot on Yale's goal scoring list all season long. Saturday's tally gave her a team-leading seven, and the goal was typical of the type that she has been scoring all year.
"She's a tough kid who plays hard in the dirty areas of the ice," said Yale head coach Joakim Flygh. "She finds a way to be in the right spot at the right time. She had a lot of good opportunities today because she put herself in the right position."
The Bulldogs had some more great chances during a power play midway through the second period. After senior forward Danielle Moncion had a shot blocked, Rando made a nice stop on a slap shot by Martini. She followed that up by denying Zupon from the slot.
Yale (4-16-1, 3-10-1 ECAC Hockey) killed off the first Raiders power play of the game late in the second period, with Leonoff making three saves and Moncion blocking a pair of shots. Martini earned cheers from the crowd by single-handedly tying up the puck along the boards behind Yale's net as the final seconds of the successful penalty kill ticked away.
A checking call left Yale killing a penalty for the final minute of the second, and Leonoff added to her highlight reel by making a save on defenseman Katie Case and then diving to cover the puck.
The Bulldogs killed off another penalty early in the third, highlighted by a long clear from junior defenseman Aurora Kennedy that actually wound up forcing Rando to make a save. Shortly after the penalty ended Yale got some more offensive chances, with freshman forward Hanna Åström getting a shot after some solid forechecking and Zupon sending one wide as she attempted to follow up.
Leonoff made a save on forward Taylor Volpe with 6:28 to play, and the Raiders were charged with goaltender interference after running into her. Rando stopped a shot by Moncion, then gloved another one from Martini, to keep her team within striking distance. In a span around the five-minute mark Moncion, Ferrara and Martini all peppered Rando with shots but came up empty.
That kept things suspenseful until the final two minutes, when Zupon scored off an assist by senior defenseman Jamie Gray. Zupon did double-duty on the play, winning the faceoff back to Gray and then moving into the slot to deflect her shot in past a surprised Rando. It was the fourth goal of the year for Yale's captain, who continues to provide the team with net presence on offense.
"She's a gritty kid who plays hard," said Flygh. "We have a saying -- we call that a 'Zupon goal'. She just keeps banging away in front of the net."
Colgate then called time and pulled Rando for an extra attacker, but could not threaten Leonoff's shutout bid. After a faceoff in the Colgate zone with 17 seconds to play, the final seconds ticked off with the puck far from the Yale zone. Leonoff raised her arms in triumph as her teammates mobbed her to celebrate.
"She was extremely focused today," said Flygh. "She tracked the puck excellently all game long. She gave us an opportunity to win."
With two points from the victory, Yale is now tied for eighth in the ECAC Hockey standings with Colgate but has the tie breaker edge on the Raiders (head-to-head).
Saturday's win also marked the first time Yale has won a "White Out for Mandi", a fact that did not go unnoticed. Taking on the challenge of organizing the biggest event of the year -- the team sold special t-shirts, held a silent auction, planned a post-game ceremony and reached out to various local teams to drive attendance -- did not distract the Bulldogs from taking care of the other task at hand: winning.
"I couldn't be any happier with the effort," said Flygh. "Our kids played hard, and were able to compartmentalize their work on the White Out for Mandi so that they could also focus on the game."
That also tied in with the post-game ceremony, which included the presentation of ECAC Hockey's Mandi Schwartz Award. Mandi's parents, Carol and Rick, presented the award (as the conference's top student-athlete) to 2011-12 winner Aleca Hughes '12, the founder of the Mandi Schwartz Foundation. They each then took time to address the crowd and offer a message of thanks.
The win also helped underscore the improvements the Bulldogs continue to show in their third season under Flygh. They have already quadrupled last season's win total, and are three goals away from their goal total for all of last season. Leonoff has also helped them cut their goals allowed per game from 5.24 down to 3.10, an improvement of more than 40 percent.
"We can't ask any more out of our kids," said Flygh. "They play within our systems as well as they can, and we have great team chemistry. They play hard for each other."
And on Saturday, they played hard to get a win for Mandi as well.
Report by Sam Rubin '95 (email@example.com), Yale Sports Publicity
Be the first to know what's going on with the Bulldogs -- Follow @YaleAthletics on Twitter, become a fan of Yale Athletics on Facebook!
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FACETIME- Shredding: Childhood dream goes big time
It started back in Cleveland as a garage band jury rig. John Keefe, his brother, and their middle-school friends taped sheet music together and affixed it to the wall so nobody would be encumbered by music stands or turning pages.
"We said, 'We could sell these someday!" recalls Eric Braun, one of those friends.
And how. Twenty years later, Keefe and Braun have that youthful brainstorm to thank for "Shredhed," an award-winning product that's on its way to major retail stores across the country and could change the way consumers learn to play music, to cook, to build furniture– in fact, to do anything that requires instruction.
The concept– a laminated sheet, approximately 2' x 3', that can be hung on the wall, folded into a triangular self-supporting music stand, or completely collapsed into a "trapper keeper" style folder– already has some big name musicians on board, including the Black Crowes and R.E.M. It also won appreciation at the National Association of Music Merchants Summer Show in Nashville last month.
"The great thing is the versatility," says Frank Alkyer, editor of Music Inc. magazine, which awarded Shredhed a "Best in Show" award at now-internationally oriented NAMM.
Keefe says the old idea got new life back in 2000 when he was living in Austin and his Charlottesville-based big brother, Peter, came to visit. When the brothers pulled out their guitars, they saw the promise.
Soon after that visit, John Keefe moved to Charlottesville hoping to make their invention materialize. But tragedy intervened.
In 2005, then-35-year-old Peter Keefe died unexpectedly. John Keefe, now 32, declines to discuss the details of his brother's death, but he says that after his initial despair, he grew more determined to see the dream succeed in his brother's honor.
In his childhood friend, Braun, also 32, he found an ideal business partner: someone who was there for the idea's genesis, and someone who, after working for a variety of dot.coms in California, had the business acumen to push the product along. In 2006, Braun moved east, and together they formed Inktree Inc.
In addition to Shredhed, they've created two other products: The Big Fold, for classroom instructional materials, and IsePack– a new– and green– way to package CDs, DVDS, and games.
Keefe says the company has already signed contracts with various major national retailers, and he expects the Shredhed product to hit shelves by the end of summer, with The Big Fold and IsePack not far behind.
Altogether, not too shabby for a childhood dream. "This is really happening," Keefe says, "and we're thrilled."
8 comments
what a fabulous story - congrats to these guys for the work they've already accomplished and here's to greater success down the line!
John, I am thrilled for you. Perseverance is the key!!! Love, Aunt Sheila
Peter is shinning through your success ...
What type of retailers will be carrying your products? Will keep an eye out ... congrats!!
Don't let your kid drink fluorinated water unless you want your kid to be retarded. And don't give your kid a vaccine unless you want your kid to be retarded too. I could go on. Don't give your kid anything with food dye to consume. Don't let your kid drink or eat out of plastic containers unless you want your kid's hormones to be seriously imbalanced. Oh yeah, I almost forgot: Listen to the Alex Jones Show on infowars.com, but don't take what Alex says about the Bible seriously. Everything else, listen to him on.
Very innovative and smart! I like the way you incorporated 2 companies from the start. Looks like this concept will reap huge success. Best of luck!- john
hey cuz-
i am so impressed and so happy for you. the fact that peter is a part of this is really special and i wish you and your partner great success!! look us up if u are ever in atlantic city!- patty
Can you post a picture of the thing? Can't visualize it, but sure it is great. Thanks.
.....Congratulations John and Eric....hard work does breed success afterall....nice job...
Uncle Mike Keefe
Hats off to you, John & Eric. You deserve the best. I know you'll continue to succeed. Keep up the good work.


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Antiviral medicines prevent the virus
that causes
shingles from multiplying. These medicines shorten the
period of rash, reduce pain during the active stage of the illness, and
reduce the chance of getting complications of shingles, such as
postherpetic neuralgia. Antivirals may be taken orally
(by mouth) or injected intravenously (in a vein).
Anyone who has shingles can use
antivirals, but antivirals are particularly beneficial for adults older than 50
and people who have weak
immune systems. They are also used for people who have
severe rash and those who have rash near an eye and/or on the forehead.
Antivirals may reduce the severity
of shingles and speed healing. When acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir are
taken within 3 days of getting shingles, these medicines can significantly
reduce the duration of pain associated with shingles. These medicines also
reduce the pain caused by postherpetic neuralgia.1
All medicines have side effects. But many people don't feel the side effects, or they are able to deal with them. Ask your pharmacist about the side effects of each medicine you take. Side effects are also listed in the information that comes with your medicine.
Here are some important things to think about:
Call 911 or other emergency services right away if you have:
Call your doctor right away if you have:
Common side effects of this medicine include:
See Drug Reference
for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all
If you have kidney problems, you
may need to take less than the typical dosage of antiviral medicine. Before you
start antiviral treatment, be sure your doctor is aware of your other medical
Topical antivirals (antiviral medicines put
on the skin) do not help treat shingles.
Medicine is one of the many tools your doctor has to treat a health problem. Taking medicine as your doctor suggests will improve your health and may prevent future problems. If you don't take your medicines properly, you may be putting your health (and perhaps your life) at risk.
There are many reasons why people have trouble taking their medicine. But in most cases, there is something you can do. For suggestions on how to work around common problems, see the topic Taking Medicines as Prescribed.
If you are pregnant, breast-feeding, or planning to get pregnant, do not use any medicines unless your doctor tells you to. Some medicines can harm your baby. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements. And make sure that all your doctors know that you are pregnant, breast-feeding, or planning to get pregnant.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.
CitationsSchmader KE, Oxman MN (2012). Varicella and herpes zoster. In LA Goldman et al., eds., Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine, 8th ed., vol. 2, pp. 2383–2401. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Last Revised:
December 18, 2012
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Christine Hahn, MD - Epidemiology
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. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


text:
Woman Banks Books for Servicemembers
By Stephen Hudson
Special to American Forces Press Service
COLUMBIA, S.C., Oct. 5, 2006 - Jennifer Rochester doesn't really see herself as a heroine. The lending assistant at First Citizens Bank in Conway, S.C., was just looking for a way to clean out some old books in her home when she came up with a project to support the military.
A brief Internet search led Rochester to the "Books for Soldiers" Web site and the idea of donating used books to servicemembers overseas just clicked with her.
"I thought, 'What a great idea,'" Rochester said. "Our soldiers do so much for us. It's just my small part (of doing something for them)."
After gathering up books around her home, she took the idea to work and began asking coworkers for their support. And support her they have.
Market Executive Rebecca Hardwick gave her permission to place donation boxes in the Grand Strand area branches Hardwick oversees. The "Grand Strand" refers to the area of South Carolina that includes Myrtle Beach, Conway and Pawley's Island.
"I have 20 boxes of books and magazines at home ready to be shipped," Rochester said. She estimated she's already shipped 35 boxes of reading material to troops overseas, and donations continue to pour in.
Donations are coming from many sources, including a local veterans group, she said. Even those who bank elsewhere stop by just to drop off books and magazines.
The Surfside Flea Market in Surfside Beach also has collected 4,000 to 5,000 books to help her cause. "Now I just have to figure out a way to go get them," she said.
Her hard work has been well received overseas, too, Rochester said, adding she has received e-mails and three letters from troops serving in Iraq. "It's nice, because I don't expect anything back," she said.
The letters are snapshots into their military lives and what it's like in Iraq. "One woman told me the temperature for that day, and it was 120 degrees," Rochester said.
Donations can be made to a not-for-profit checking account, which has been set up to defray shipping costs. Previously, Rochester had been paying these costs herself.
"We are proud of the commitment and dedication Jennifer has shown for the Books for Soldiers initiative," said Hardwick. "She has put forth a great deal of time and effort in getting this going in the Grand Strand market. The response from our customers and associates has been amazing!"
Rochester said there's no end in sight for her project. "As long as I have someone to send books to, then I'll keep sending them," she said.
(Stephen Hudson works in with First Citizens Bank of South Carolina's Corporate Communications office.)
[Web Version: http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=1475]


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By Michael Cook
Terese's Creed is a tribute to the women of Newfoundland and Labrador who, through hard work, humour and indomitable spirit, survived the good times and the bad in small out-ports in the early 1960s. Find Terese, played by our Artistic Director, at her old wringer washer and eavesdrop as she talks to herself about her fisherman husband, her kids and a time passed but much missed. She'll make you laugh and she'll make you cry — she might even make you wring out the laundry.


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Monday, September 04, 2006
Tea Review 74 - Lipton Black Pearl
Black Pearl Pure Long-Leaf Black Tea
I was really wishing that this would be the one. I crossed my fingers and hoped that Lipton's Black Pearl would be that rare tea that you could pick up at your local grocery, at about $3 for a pack of 20 pyramid tea bags ($2.89 in my neck of the woods), a black tea that would taste so good that you wouldn't need to bother with mail order.
But I kind of knew better and, in the end, I was right. Black Pearl is not that tea. But, as $3 20-packs of "big name" tea go, I guess it's not all that bad either. It's just not really what I'm looking for.
We should give Lipton credit for trying to do some things right, starting with the surprisingly attractive packaging. Then there are those pyramid tea bags. For those who haven't encountered these before, they're just that - a pyramid-shaped bag that allows the tea to expand and the water to circulate better among the leaves than with the standard issue bag.
Then there's the matter of tea leaves. Examine your average bag of Lipton black tea and you're not likely to find any actual tea leaves in the mix. This is the kind of tea that typically uses the smaller "fannings" and "dust." So a thumbs-up to Lipton for going with a "long-leaf." Though I have to quibble on this point and say that the leaves are a lot smaller than the name led me to believe.
In the end, it all comes down to taste - or at least it does for me. Black Pearl is a Ceylon tea, the name still given to tea grown on the island of Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon. I don't have a wide range of experience with Ceylons, but I've never been overwhelmed with the ones I've sampled.
Including this one. Lipton recommends a three-minute brew, which sounded much too long to me. The first cup I brewed was for one minute. I admit to having mixed feelings about sampling it so I let it sit until it was almost cold. If the truth be told, the flavor was not all that bad. There was little bitterness, but then again, there wasn't much taste to it either. Kind of flat for my likes.
To be fair, I went ahead and brewed a cup for three minutes. This one I found way too astringent and completely undrinkable. The one I brewed for ninety seconds was in the same ballpark as the first, but by that time I was tired of the whole exercise.
I'm not really a cream, sweetener or lemon kind of guy when it comes to black tea - or any other kind, for that matter. But I suspect that if this is how you like yours you might not find Black Pearl to be all that bad. In fact, you might even find it to be worth the modest additional investment.
As for me, I'm going to move this one into my hand-me-down pile and start putting together another mail order.
tea, green tea, food, food and drink, Lipton, Black Pearl
Buy Lipton Black Pearl at Amazon
6 comments:
- ~ Phyll said...
Thanks for the TN. I'll avoid this Lipton "Black Pearl" like I avoid any Lipton in general.
- Joshua Uebergang said...
I actually don't mind this tea. Though I've heard a lot of people saying something similar to you.
- William I. Lengeman III said...
Maybe this one would have worked better for me if they'd used Assam, rather than Ceylon. But I guess most of Lipton's gardens are located in Ceylon.
Just tried Lipton Black Pearl Tea and I have indigestion and my husband was itchy under his arm - there were little bumps...anyone else?
- Vtknitboy said...
ceylon teas are fabulous. i bet the tea used in this tea is lower elevation ceylon teas, which are unremarkable. highest elevation ceylons have a wonderful almost choclately flavor, and rival many assams. i'd roughly categorize assams as malty, and ceylons as chocolatey. lover's leap is a popular perennial favorite. try uptonteas.com for choices. no connection there, just a happy customer!
- kathmat said...
Desperation is taking hold as my supplies of Twinings 1706 are running out. Twinings USA don't plan on carrying it any more as according to them - "Due to such high demand of this product, we are completely sold out and will not be re-stocking. We apologize for the disappointment and any inconvenience." I still have not been able to wrap my head around that one?? i.e. - this is a big seller so we won't be selling it anymore!
Actually, I found that the Lipton's Black Pearl wasn't bad, but if anyone knows of a closer match to Twining's 1706 I would be forever in your debt.


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Kensington has included Prophecy in their 99¢ ebook sale this month! You can read Chapter One below and grab the whole book for less than a buck anywhere ebooks are sold!! Enjoy!
On the other side of death, is destiny.
Callie Ingram is spending her senior year focused on one thing: swimming. Her skill as a competitive swimmer is going to secure a scholarship and her future, or so she hopes. She has big plans, and Liam Hale, her gorgeous new neighbor, isn't going to affect them. But when Callie sees Liam beheading someone, she learns his family has a secret that will change everything. The Hales are Vikings, demi-gods who've been charged by The Fates to find their new destined leader.
Callie's caught in the middle of a budding Norse apocalypse, in love with Liam Hale and desperate to protect her best friend…who the Hales believe is marked for transformation. Putting the clues together as fast as she can, can discovers she has the power to rewrite destiny, for herself and all humankind.
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Chapter One:
"I've got one." Allison scooped wild brown hair into a ponytail and smiled. "Would you rather…"
I groaned. Would you rather was like Truth or Dare, except with no one to kiss.
"Come on. Would you rather spend two weeks on your dream vacation alone or one week alone with anyone you want, but you have to stay here?" Allison cleared the remains of our last customers' dinners and loaded dirty dishes into a brown plastic tub. "I'd choose the second one and make Hannah Snyder watch me cuddled up to Dylan O'Brien for seven days straight."
"You didn't say there would be cuddling." I retied my apron, buying time to think.
Allison dropped the tub of dirty dishes onto the counter with a wicked gleam in her eye. "Oh, there will definitely be cuddling."
Soft country music played over hidden speakers. Allison's crystal blue eyes sparkled. I shuffled booted feet on the white tiled floor, praying for another wave of customers.
Roll With It was the only deli in town and a popular hangout. The deli's name came from its owner, Buddy, and his hipster approach to life wherein he did and said everything ironically. He was in the kitchen at the moment, wearing unnecessary black-framed glasses, an Army T-shirt and an unbuttoned mechanics shirt with Mack on the name patch. Overkill wasn't in Buddy's vocabulary.
"So, which would you rather?" Allison leaned her hip against the counter.
"I'd rather leave. I love this place and its bizarre historical charm, but I've never been anywhere else. I'd take a vacation for a while if I could."
I lifted the ceramic lid on each soup tureen. Rich scents of cheddar, bacon, and potatoes wafted out as I stirred. The tang of southwestern veggies followed. I saved chicken noodle, my favorite buttery aroma, for last. With any luck, Allison would find something else to do if I looked disinterested enough. Or changed the subject. "How was college this week?"
She slapped the nearest table. "Amazing. Did I tell you another hot guy transferred into my Anatomy and Physiology class?"
"Yes. Yesterday."
"Oh, no, no, no. Today." She wiggled her eyebrows.
"Another one? Really?" Lucky.
"I swear he's hotter than the one yesterday. The two of them talked through half the class as if they knew each other. Drove the professor nutty, but he never said anything. Probably because they're each the size of a pickup truck."
"They're friends?"
"Not sure, but wow. I like that idea a lot. A whole community college fraternity full of them." She fanned her face with napkins from the dispenser on the table.
Wind rattled the door and I jumped.
Change was in the air, thick and foreboding as black thunderclouds before a storm. Fall in the Midwest was a beautiful, but tragic season. Trees prepared for a long winter's rest by releasing the very appendages they'd spawned and nurtured for so long, like mother birds shoving babies from the nest, except the babies lived. Leaves flew and clung to whatever would hold them until they crumbled into dust. Orphans. Amber and scarlet leaves splattered patterns over sidewalks and roads through town. Every bluster sent more leaves coiling down, bursting free from the giant oaks who had nourished them. Mums lined wraparound porches and flagstone garden paths to historical front doors. Apple trees dropped pink blossoms onto long country driveways. Fall was beautiful, true, but for many things it meant death, dormancy, and otherwise ceasing to exist.
Weariness weighted my chest. Senior year meant change, tough decisions, and the end of an era. Ten months from now, I'd be on a college campus someplace brand new to me. I could start fresh. Be anything I wanted. My possibilities were endless. Until then, I needed to get out of my head.
Gnarled branches of ancient trees swayed outside the deli window while two enormous crows pecked the ground and ruffled their wings. Moonlight cast an eerie glow on the scene. One round eye of each bird settled on the store window, and I froze. The sensation the crows watched me and not the other way around sent goose bumps down my arms.
I took a step toward the window. "Do you see those huge crows?"
A blast of green lightning illuminated the world without warning and I jumped back.
Breath caught in my throat. "Did you see that?" I turned in a circle. Allison was gone. Her laugh trickled from the kitchen.
Wind whistled around the door frame and pelted the glass with rain-wetted leaves. Ominous clouds crept like thieves across the dark horizon. The crows were gone. Relief flooded through me. I had to pull it together. Crows weren't spying on me, and lightning wasn't green. Tint on the deli window must've given it a funky look. I rested my elbows on the counter and my chin in both hands.
Allison bustled out from the kitchen. "Do you hear this wind? I wish it would rain already. My car needs a wash."
"I don't think it works that way." I checked again for the crows. Lightning probably scared them away. Uneasiness fluttered in my chest. The storm had threatened and hovered all day without committing. Commitment was an issue in this town.
The sharp ding of the order bell startled me and I jumped again.
"Chicken salad and pastrami." Buddy tapped a rhythm against the wall.
I carried the plates to a couple sitting side by side in a back booth. How could people talk sitting shoulder to shoulder? I preferred lots of eye contact. Eyes gave away our lies. That's how Mom knew Dad was cheating. Also, why we lived in an ancient farmhouse in Zoar, Ohio, population next-to-nothing, instead of in the nice, upper middle-class Victorian we had a year ago on the neighboring golf course. I could've stayed in the better house, but I'd rather live in squalor with an honest person than in a castle with a liar. Besides, a few creaks and leaks aside, the farmhouse wasn't bad. Plus, we got Chester in the split.
"Welcome to Roll With It. What can I get you?"
I spun at the sound of Allison's irritation. I hadn't even heard the bell.
"If I can get you anything else, let me know." I slid the plates across the table to the blonde and her boyfriend and went to help Allison.
Allison leaned over the counter on her elbows. "No way."
"Moving trucks were there all day." Mrs. Printz, fellow citizen and deli frequenter, loved gossip as much as egg salad. Her small frame and black duck head cane gave her the perfect mix of innocence and menace, like the twist villain at the end of a movie.
An older gentleman I didn't recognize in a tweed jacket stood beside her. "First the cleaning crew, then the semi. Heaven only knows what they pumped into the house out of a semi."
"That was last week, Lloyd." Mrs. Printz stamped her cane. "Keep up."
"Where?" My mind ran through the homes I passed daily with Realtor signs in the lawns. A drawback of small town living was a lack of commerce. You either commuted or made your money from home. Dad commuted an hour every morning to the city, but most people who moved to Zoar left within five years. I'd had dozens of friends in my lifetime. Their families were only passing through. Allison was a lifer like me, third generation Zoarite.
"Hale Manor." Allison used her best campfire voice. She tented her eyebrows and formed a little o with her lips.
"Ah, man." Buddy rolled out of the kitchen with a wide, eager expression. "The Hale place is completely haunted. Some broad hung herself from the chandelier in the nineteen thirties. It's in all the Haunted Ohio books."
Mrs. Printz's face twisted into a snarl. Pale creases gathered over the blue veins of her forehead. "Mary-Catherine Hale was a good woman and my mother's best friend. The Great Depression was a lot tougher than your history books can tell you, Baxter DuPree."
Allison covered her mouth. Buddy's real name was Baxter? She wouldn't let that go anytime soon. I, on the other hand, wasn't surprised.
I bit my lip. "You knew her?" I didn't intend to ask. I intended to use one of the neon colored computers to look up Mary-Catherine Hale when Mrs. Printz left. "I'm sorry."
Mrs. Printz nodded in acceptance. She turned her milky eyes on Allison. "We'll take a quart of veggie soup and two sourdough rolls." She elbowed the man beside her and he jumped to attention, digging inside his coat for a wallet.
I filled a soup container to the brim and stuffed a couple extra rolls in a to-go bag.
Mrs. Printz turned her cane with soft, wrinkled fingers. "Mary-Catherine was nice, but she was troubled. The whole family's troubled. Always has been. They only summered here in those days. The Hales never lived here. After Mary-Catherine's death, they boarded the place up. The town's historical society has tried to buy it for thirty years. The family wouldn't sell. Hale Manor would make a great addition to our circuit of historical buildings, and the grounds are exquisite. I spent many carefree days there as a child. My mother worked for the Hales." Sadness changed her tone, cutting off what I suspected was the prelude to a longer story. She shook her head and hooked the cane over one forearm, wrapping her heavily jeweled fingers around the man's elbow instead.
Buddy held the door for them as they shuffled out into the windy cold.
"I still think it's haunted." Buddy cocked one hip and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
Allison snapped her gum. "Yeah. You would, Baxter."
"Excuse me," he mocked. "I didn't attend an Ivy League community college like you."
"I attend community college part-time as I simultaneously finish high school. I'll attend Case Western Reserve next fall, and I'll start there as a junior." She tapped her chin. "Did you start college as an eighteen-year-old junior, Baxter?"
Buddy gave a droll, unimpressed look. "No need. I'm studying the paranormal activity in Zoar. Ghost hunting is my after work job, and with the Hales back in town, I'm guaranteed to get some media attention for my book on their house of death."
My jaw dropped. "You wrote a book?" Who writes a book? I didn't know him at all. The ghost hunting seemed right up his alley, though. Buddy had a way of drawing attention to himself and then looking bored. It kept people guessing. The over twenty and single crowd loved him.
The front door banged open with a blustery squeal and shouting filled the quiet deli. A crowd of little leaguers and their parents spilled inside, filling every empty seat. Buddy hustled to the kitchen, ready to cook. I manned the register and Allison set up trays for the orders. The tiny grey and black uniforms seemed fitting for the night and my mood.
Thirty minutes later, everyone was seated, fed, and gossiping about the Hale family. Salty grease and cheese thickened the air, shattered occasionally by the tang of fresh ketchup and boys' laughter. Stories spread through the room like wildfire moving from table to table and growing at each stop, consuming all other topics in its path. Allison and I lingered over refills, devouring every word. I held my breath, absorbing every ounce of wild speculation.
"They fled Europe when the courts intervened. The family couldn't use their money and influence to cover any more wrongdoings, so they were forced out." The woman made air quotes with her fingers around "wrongdoings."
A man scoffed. "They're filthy rich? Why not move someplace better than Ohio?"
The voices lifted into the air, tossing out information faster than I could follow.
"What better place to hide than here?"
"I heard he's a baron."
The comments went round and round as adults picked food from mostly empty plates and I marveled. If even half the rumors were true, the Hale family was one to avoid. Not good news for me since I lived next door.
"I hope they have sons. We could use some ruthless players this season." A barrel-chested man with a whistle necklace mumbled around his mouthful of burger.
"They have two." A hush fell over the room and the woman blushed.
Allison elbowed me. "Little leaguers?"
The woman covered her mouth with a napkin and shook her head, dashing platinum bobbed hair against her cheeks. The other moms broke into laughter.
Another woman smiled ruefully. "Terry jogs past the Hale place every morning. She got a look at the boys moving boxes inside."
The women laughed again and the men stared.
Terry averted her eyes and dug into her sparse remains of salad with renewed vigor. "They weren't little leaguers."
"Not little leaguers." Allison raised an eyebrow. "Can I please give you a ride home tonight?"
I smiled.
The crowd kept us busy until Buddy turned the CLOSED sign over in the window and let us out. The night air was brisk and smelled of fresh rain and earth. I pulled in another deep breath. Tendrils of wood smoke lifted from nearby chimneys and gravel crunched under our feet on the way to Allison's car. A full moon hung low in the sky, and a colony of bats flew past in a beautiful swooping formation. Illogically, I looked for the crows. How many crows constituted a murder? Who chose murder as the term for a group of crows? The classification gave me chills.
I kicked stones. "Do you think any of the gossip's true?" I didn't have to explain what I meant. Allison and I had been friends since kindergarten. Sometimes I thought she could read my mind.
"I hope so."
I gaped. "Which part? The part where they're insane, their death house is haunted or they fled Europe when they could no longer cover all their crimes?"
Allison beeped the doors of her red hatchback open and I climbed inside.
She slid behind the wheel and gunned the little engine to life. "Hot brothers. Duh. I hope they registered for community college."
"What if they're dangerous?"
"What if they're gorgeous?" Allison flicked her signal on at the second light and turned onto my street. "You think they're outside?"
"At night in this weather? No." I made a show of pointing to the streetlights. Replica gas lamps lined the residential roads, illuminating the road in varied shades of grey. "Besides I can barely see the sidewalk."
"Darn." Allison idled at the curb. Not a soul in sight. She craned her neck to get a better look, but the effort was futile until morning.
I glanced at the creepy old manor next door. Moonlight bathed the ancient home, giving it a gothic look it didn't need. Ghost stories and age alone had kept me away from the house in broad daylight. While other kids dared one another to climb the front steps or ring the bell, I stayed across the street, on my bike, one foot on the pedal. I'd never been brave enough to get involved in their game. I definitely wasn't ringing the bell. When Mom announced she'd rented the old farmhouse next door, I nearly swallowed my tongue. Hale Manor was more than a legend; it was alive and watching.
Maybe having inhabitants would reduce its creep factor.
Allison repositioned her hands on the wheel and shifter. "Text me if they come over to borrow a cup of sugar or something."
I made my best sarcastic face and crossed my fingers without enthusiasm. "Definitely." Allison drove away at a turtle's pace as I climbed our front steps.
Mom rocked slowly in the porch swing beside the front door, bundled in a blanket and sipping hot tea from her favorite mug. "I guess you heard the news."
Of all the features I loved at our new home, the wide-planked wraparound porch was my favorite, followed closely by the swing. I was tempted to join her, but if I sat, I might not get up again.
I opened the front door and she followed me inside. "Hasn't everyone?"
The shaggy mop sprawled on our kitchen floor rolled to life. "Woof."
"Hey, Chester." I squatted to pat his fluffy sheep doggie head. "Did you meet the neighbors?"
"Woof." His halfhearted response warmed me. If Chester wasn't concerned, neither was I.
"Did you eat?" Mom was dressed in blue scrubs and white sneakers. Her bag sat at the foot of the stairs, ready to go. I barely saw her on nights we both worked. She hated it, but after taking seventeen years off to raise a daughter, she'd accepted the only available shift without argument. She couldn't be picky and she couldn't stay with Dad. You cheat. You lose.
"Yep." I rubbed my tummy, pretending it wasn't filled with fizzing nerves after all the wild stories I'd heard tonight.
Mom sloughed out of the blanket and threaded both arms through her coat. She wrestled her hair free from the collar and smiled. Her brown eyes sparkled. "They have sons."
I laughed. "You in the market again?"
"No, but you are." She lifted her bag over one shoulder.
"I'm not." Never again in this town.
"Kirk was a jerk." Her smile widened. "It's probably not even a coincidence that rhymes."
I averted my eyes, choosing to focus on the house across the cornfield, which normally was dark with shadows but now seemed illuminated by a hundred indoor lights. "I'm waiting for college. Zoar's a small town. Dating here is complicated."
Mom moved toward the door, pity in her voice. "They aren't all the same. Men, I mean."
"I know." I didn't. I actually wondered daily how many people weren't liars instead of the other way around.
"The boys are cute." She opened the door and stopped to look at me.
"I heard they fled here to escape all the charges against them."
She made a sour face.
"And they're criminally insane, insanely rich…and generally insane in a variety of other ways." I ticked off the insanes on my fingers.
Chester ambled to the door and tugged on his leash dangling from the coat rack. "Woof."
"Lock up after your walk and stay in until morning. A storm's coming." Mom gripped my chin and kissed my cheek. "No wild parties."
I crossed my heart and hooked Chester onto his leash.
Mom jogged down the steps to her Bronco, throwing one last kiss over her shoulder and gripping the coat to her chest.
I wiped inevitable lip prints off my face with the back of one hand.
"Come on, Chester." Wind whipped leaves and dirt into tiny hurricanes on the sidewalk as we rounded the house to the backyard. "Make it fast, mister."
Chester and I jogged through the grass to the decrepit cemetery where he liked to do his business. The cemetery was older than most things in town, which was to say old. The crumbling headstones and rusted iron gates charmed me, like living history books. I'd made rubbings of the stones during walks with my dad when I was in grade school, had my first kiss under the willow in the back, and cried my eyes dry on the broken stone wall when I learned my dad did the deed—the ultimate betrayal—and we were leaving. To others, it didn't make sense to fear the sight of an old home and yet wander comfortably in a cemetery. It made perfect sense to me. The cemetery, I knew. I understood. I had hundreds of memories there. Happy ones. The house was a mystery cloaked in hearsay and dark tales. I peered at the tall gables in the distance. Hale Manor stared balefully back over the tops of the small cornfield where a spinning scarecrow creaked on its post, thanks to building winds.
"Woof." Chester barked at a pair of black squirrels playing chase in the trees.
I traced the unusual symbol on a headstone with my fingertips. The symbol was my favorite mystery of the ancient grounds. I leaned against a replica of the winged goddess Nike. She stood sentinel near the center of the graves. For years, I'd assumed Nike was an angel who'd lost her marble head to a storm or age. Mom corrected me. She'd pointed the "angel" out to me in one of her mythology books when I was in grade school. Nike was the goddess of victory. A strange thought when surrounded by the dead. The company she kept didn't seem victorious to me.
The symbol beside Nike's gown-covered feet matched many, but not all, of the headstones and markers in the Hale family's resting grounds. Mom couldn't explain the symbol. She said she hadn't seen it, but she didn't pay much attention to details the way I did. A family crest was her best guess. The explanation would've made more sense if every stone bore the symbol. The mark consumed my thoughts in middle school. I wrote a paper on it in eighth grade wherein I hypothesized the symbol stood for male superiority. My evidence: the symbol never appeared on a stone bearing a woman's name. The theory had holes because the oldest stones were sometimes illegible, crumbled and a few were written in a script I didn't recognize as English. Still, I made rubbings of two dozen stones to support my argument and earned an A on the paper, mostly for my enthusiasm. The smooth symbols never showed up in the rubbings.
A sprinkling of raindrops hit my face, jerking me back to reality. "Time to go home."
We meandered through the darkness, light drizzle, and cold. Our last walk of the night was like that. I didn't want woken in the wee hours because Chester didn't pee when he was supposed to, so I took baby steps and he sniffed each blade of grass individually. My focus jumped to Hale Manor a thousand times. All the lights inside bothered me. Who were these people and what brought them here?
Back in my yard, I dared one last look behind me. Over the tops of the corn, a curtain slid shut in an upstairs window, leaving the silhouette of a person staring down at me. I imagined they stared, anyway. It was possible the person had their back to me, though it seemed less likely. The light behind them shone like a beacon in the night.
"Come on, Chester." I ran the rest of the way to the front door and locked up, twisting the dead bolt for good measure.
Chester shook water over me and the floor before running through the rooms, sliding and rampaging the way he did when he was wet. I toweled up the mess, toweled down the dog, and hit the shower before homework and bed. I left my door open so Chester would sleep in my room and patrol the house while I slept. Falling asleep wasn't easy with my head buzzing from questions and rumors. What kind of people would move to Hale Manor? Didn't they know the home's history? Didn't it bother them?
By midnight, the rhythm of rain on our roof had washed the worries from my mind and lulled my anxious body to sleep.
I shot upright an hour later, gripping sheets to my chin and looking for Chester. "Did you hear that?" The soft green glow of numbers on my alarm clock teased a thought just outside my memory's reach. One AM. I pressed a palm to my chest, certain my heart would break my ribs. "I heard a woman scream."
Chester lifted his head, ears perked. "Woof."
I stared out the darkened window toward the enormous home separated from me by one small field, and I patted my pillow until Chester curled up on it. I laid my head on him and gripped my phone to my chest, waiting impatiently for daylight.


text:
Filed under: Hybrid, Truck, Toyota, Diesel
When Bloomberg spoke to Toyota USA Sales CEO Kazua Ohara recently, we highlighted his comments on the possible return of the Toyota Supra. However, the interview started with Ohara discussing the Tundra, and how it would take time to pinpoint and hone the pickup truck's brand image in the minds of consumers. That effort could get a boost, with a report in Edmunds saying that Toyota is "evaluating" the addition of a Cummins turbodiesel to the Tundra's engine options.
The Cummins powerplant is one of two options for the moment, the other being a hybrid powertrain. If the oil-burner got the thumbs-up, Toyota would follow the recent example of Nissan, which announced it would put a Cummins turbodiesel into its 2015 Titan. While the two Japanese companies make a closer comparison since they're both talking about Cummins applications in light-duty trucks, if it happens, it could be seen as further diluting the once-exclusive tie-up that Ram trucks has had with Cummins even though Ram has used Cummins in its heavy-duty truck.
Toyota hasn't said when it will decide on which direction to take, but either will be a move for the better in the view of segment watchers; PickupTrucks.com said the first of its top-five fixes for the Tundra would be a better engine, perhaps a diesel-electric hybrid from Toyota's Hino unit. Cummins told Edmunds it can supply a second manufacturer with the 5.0-liter diesel that Nissan will be using, so we wouldn't be surprised to see it end up in a Toyota or somewhere else.
Toyota mulling Cummins diesel for Tundra? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Sep 2013 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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In the spirit of the nice weather approaching, spring cleaning, and of extra cash flow some of you may have during tax season, I'm having a SPRING SALE! Hardcover books are 15% off through March 31, 2013!
Hosting With Style – Beretta Fleur's Guide to Parties and Homemaking is an 83 page illustrated and photo-illustrated pages of swanky tips on hosting and parties! It also includes recipes for everyone from the carnivore to the gluten-free vegan. (If you're curious to see some images from the book, they're viewable on my Facebook Page or on ShotgunPinups.com )
Hardcover Coffee Table Edition- SALE PRICE $39.95 (was $47) plus S & H Click here to preview & buy!
Paperback Edition – $27 plus S&H Click here to preview & buy!
Author: Beretta Fleur Photos: Morris Skupinsky and Shotgun Pinups www.shotgunpinups.com
Full color, features illustrations and photos. 83 pages.


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Food producers, farmers and consumers have long considered insect #pollination as one of nature's many free services. But mounting evidence indicates that pollinator populations, essential for food production and farmers' livelihoods, are declining worldwide. In Europe and North America, the number of honeybee colonies has plummeted and many wild bee colonies have been lost.
Decline in pollinator populations
The health of insect pollinator colonies can be affected by a variety of factors. Much of the work to date on this issue has focused on the decline of the honeybee and on single or combined factors1 related to parasitic, bacterial and viral diseasessuch as the varroa mite. Other factors include the decline in the number of professional #beekeepers and increasing levels of degradation, pollution and changing weather patterns, as well as chemical-intense agricultural practices and the use ofpesticides, especially the use of neonicotinoids.
#Neonicotinoids are insecticides widely used in agriculture to protect crops against pest species. Even in non-lethal doses they can lead to muscle cramps, paralysis and are suspected to interfere with an insect pollinator's central nervous system.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO) estimates that out of 100 crop species which provide 90% of food worldwide, 71 are bee-pollinated. In Europe alone, 84% of the 264 crop species are animal-pollinated and 4,000 vegetable varieties exist thanks to pollination by bees.
But for the last decade, beekeepers in the US and Europe, have been reporting annual hive losses of 30% or higher, more than is considered normal or sustainable. Our sources of food can therefore be negatively impacted by the decline in bee population
The most recent estimate of the global economic benefit of pollination amounts to €265 billion, assessed as the value of crops dependent on natural pollination. This is not a real value, of course, as it hides the fact that, should natural pollination be severely compromised or end, it might prove impossible to replace – effectively making its true valueinfinitely high.
Actions taken against the pollination crisis
Thus, insect pollination is not just a free service but one that requires investment and stewardship to protect and sustain it. And with the security of food at stake, environmental and consumer activist groups, beekeeper associations, scientists and policy-makers have begun to take action.
NGOs, scientists and farmers have joined forces over the years to protect the natural habitat of pollinators, while the European Commission (EC) enforced an EU-wide ban of three neonicotinoids in 2013. The ban received strong support from several European member states. However, two pesticide producers sought to overturn the ban and the National Farmers Union even achieved a 120-day-lift of the ban in England, in July 2015.
At the same time, other stakeholders, such as the European Beekeepers Association started a public campaign mandating for more transparency and independent research into the impact of these pesticides, especially in Germany, where some of the pesticide producers are headquartered.
Engaging on bee welfare
At Hermes EOS, we see bee welfare as a fundamental economic debate, where there is more at stake than just honey.
We have developed an active dialogue with multiple stakeholders on bee welfare. We engage with chemical companies implicated in the bee welfare controversy and have collaborative discussions with NGOs as well as food and beverage companies affected by the decline in insect pollinator populations.
We are planning a dedicated roundtable debate with key stakeholders on this issue in the second quarter of 2016 and have contributed to a book called 'The Business of Bees', which will be published by Henley Business School in March.


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Opera Mini for Android Officially Released
According to Opera, folks who waited for the final copy will be treated to the ability to upload and download files through the browser, play videos through the system video player, and zoom in and out with a double tap on the screen.
Opera Mini's presence on Android just further serves to highlight the difference between the Android platform and Apple's iPhone. While Apple's App Store claims to have alternative browsers for the iPhone, they're all just lame Safari skins; none of them are the kind of full-featured replacement browser you'll find with Opera Mini.
Now we just need some more Android phones. Keep an eye out on Feb. 16, when we expect several handset announcements.Originally posted on AppScout.


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Congratulations! You now have webhosting and now all you need is a website. Here's the question that every potential webmaster wants to know: Do you need to be a programmer to have a website? The answer is "kind of". Here is today's web design tutorial.
The web is made up of many different programming languages. HTML and CSS make the web look good while PHP, ASP, and Javascript are the nuts and bolts that make the web do more advanced functions.
(There are many more languages but these are the most popular) The good news is that there are many programs out there that allow you to design a website using an interface that requires no programming skills.
As you create your website, these programs translate your work in to HTML and CSS. The answer to our first question is that you don't need any programming knowledge for that.
One of the most popular is a program called Dreamweaver which is available at any computer store or as a download from Adobe.com. While this program will do just about anything you would ever need to build a website, there are some drawbacks to it:
• It's expensive. Purchasing Dreamweaver will set you back at least a few hundred dollars but there is some good news. If you are a student, an educator, or a non-profit organization, you can purchase Dreamweaver for a fraction of the retail price. With a school id, you should be able to purchase it for no more than $99.
• There's a steep learning curve. If you are serious about learning to build and design websites, it is worth your time to learn this program. Many of the best known web designers program using Dreamweaver.
Once you learn it, it will be your best friend in the web hosting world.
Other than those two drawbacks, this is easily the best program on the market.
As part of our web design tutorial, you should know that programs like Dreamweaver allow you to design a site and make it look good without any programming knowledge at all.
If you need your site to do anything other than look pretty, you're going to need some advanced programming knowledge. The best way to accomplish this is to hire somebody to do it for you. You can find people to do this for a relatively small amount of money so don't get too worried.
Finally, if your goal is to have a very simple web presence and don't plan to make a career of web design and management, there are plenty of free web templates where you only have to fill in your personal information.
There are also programs like WordPress which are free and come with a website already built. For your first site, keep it simple, clean, and without a lot of bells and whistles. There will be plenty of time for an award winning website in the future.
If you're worried about your lack of programming skills, here's the truth: As you spend time managing your website, you're going to learn programming skills very rapidly. Languages like HTML are not difficult to learn and you'll be surprised how fast you pick up on the language. Buy an introductory book about HTML and give it a try.
Check out another one of our articles in the web design tutorial series.
Web design tutorial


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Times Report: Angels, Rockies Discuss Helton to Angels for Kotchman, Figgins, and Aybar
Mike DiGiovanna's rumor du jour from the winter meetings … The Los Angeles Times beat writer says the Angels were exploring a trade with the Rockies to acquire Todd Helton for "three high-level prospects." The article names the three as Casey Kotchman, Chone Figgins and Erick Aybar.
The Denver Post reports that the Angels first inquired about Rockies third baseman Garrett Atkins, then when told he was unavailable asked about Helton. The article contradicts DiGiovanna, quoting a Rockies source as saying "There was no exchanging of names or proposals."
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the Braves acquired reliever Rafael Soriano from Seattle, meaning they're no longer looking for relief help elsewhere. The reporter suggests this could revive a possible trade of Adam LaRoche to the Angels for Casey Kotchman and Chone Figgins.


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Portland Timbers 1, Chicago Fire 1 | MLS Match Recap
PORTLAND, Ore. – Gaston Fernandez has made quite the impression just two games into his MLS career.
For the second straight week, the Portland Timbers' new Argentine forward rescued a point with a late equalizer after he hammered home a 79th-minute game-tying goal Sunday afternoon in a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire at Providence Park. Last week, Fernandez's late heroics – on a stoppage-time header off a corner kick – gave Portland a 1-1 draw with the Philadelphia Union.
It was a game that played out in almost identical fashion as one week ago, with the Timbers dominating possession but their opposition creating several dangerous chances in early action – leading to a Jeff Larentowicz penalty kick that put the Fire up 1-0 in the 19th minute.
The share of spoils for the Fire – at a place where Portland have lost just twice under head coach Caleb Porter's tenure – conclude their two-week West Coast swing to open the season on a somewhat positive note after last week's 3-2 loss to Chivas USA. Especially considering the way Chicago weathered an intense Portland storm late after being reduced to 10 men when Patrick Nyarko was ejected after a second caution for a reckless challenge on Darlington Nagbe.
The Timbers opened the second half with seemingly endless chances to net the equalizer.
On a counter in the 56th minute, Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri rolled a cross into the area. Both Fernandez and striker Maximiliano Urruti had chances, but neither could put their foot to it.
A Valeri blast in the 65th minute had to be saved by Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson. The rebound when to second-half substitute Steve Zakuani, but his two shots were both blocked.
Portland were gifted a chance in the 75th minute when a bungled clearance by Johnson and defender Bakary Soumare gave Timbers captain Will Johnson a free shot at an open goal, but his attempt rolled inexplicably wide.
The goal finally came when Nagbe teed up a rocket from the top of the area. It was saved by Johnson, but the rebound fell right to Fernandez for the easy tap in.
Chicago proved to be the aggressor in early action, finding space on the counter from the pace of attacking trio of striker Quincy Amarikwa and wingers Alex and Benji Joya, the US youth international receiving his first MLS start.
Alex nearly struck on a expertly played volley and spinning left-footed shot that required a diving finger-tip save by Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.
The Fire's early energy paid off in the 19th minute when Amarikwa beat Timbers center back Norberto Paparatto to a long ball in the box. Paparatto took down Amarikwa near the end line, enough of a shove from behind for referee Marcos de Oliveira to point to the spot.
Larentowicz calmly fired home for the 1-0 lead as Timbers goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts guessed wrong on his dive, momentarily rewarding a Fire starting XI that was sporting four changes from the team that lost to Chivas USA last weekend.
The Timbers hit the road for the first time this season for their next matchup, a Saturday meeting with the Colorado Rapids. The Fire next make their home opener against the New York Red Bulls on Sunday.
Dan Itel covers the Portland Timbers for MLSsoccer.com.
MLSsoccer.com Men of the Match
|What We Saw
|Bakary Soumare
|The Fire's center back made a number of tackles, blocks and headers that thwarted several of the Timbers' attacks.
|Quincy Amarikwa
|His speed and runs caused major problems for Portland in the 1st half, also drawing the PK. With better finishing, he could've had a goal or two of his own.
|Will Johnson
|On an off-night for the Timbers attack, the captain was the most active in and around the Fire box, but was unlucky not to find the back of the net.


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май 30
Swim with the Honu, ride on the IRONMAN World Championship bike course, and run in a vacationer's paradise.
OpenRegister ▻
Registration is now open for the
2020 IRONMAN® 70.3® Hawai`i!
The 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 Hawai`i offers 30 Age Group Qualifying slots to the 2020 IRONMAN World Championship & 40 Age Group Qualifying slots to the 2020 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Taupo, New Zealand.


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Perhaps Braylon Edwards was right. Maybe the New York Jets' front office really isn't that bright.
Relive every game this season online and on-demand with enhanced viewing features, including the "All-22" coaches film. Get NFL Game Rewind.
One week after Edwards called the Jets' decision-makers a bunch of "idiots," the New York Post and ESPN reported Monday that the team is thinking about adding the wide receiver to its roster. Reports also suggested Sunday that the Jets considered acquiring Edwards via trade earlier in the season.
Edwards was waived Monday by the Seattle Seahawks, and the Jets could claim him or sign him after he clears waivers Tuesday. With an injury to rookie Stephen Hill, the Jets are very thin at wide receiver. Reserve Clyde Gates also is suffering from a concussion.
"You guys know what I've always said about Braylon in the past, so you know how I feel about him," Jets coach Rex Ryan said Monday when asked about the possibility of acquiring Edwards. "But right now, I think we'll just focus on the guys we have."
Signing Edwards speaks to the Jets' revived playoff hopes. They are only one game out of a wild-card spot in the AFC. Even though Edwards' best days are behind him, desperate times could create desperate measures for the Jets.Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.


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- Organic 100% loopback cotton sweatshirt
- Classic crewneck cut
- Screenprinted in the UK
- Front chest and sleeve logos
- Rouleur definition hem print
- Also available in Grey
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Some parcels may incur an additional courier fee. This maybe due to the size, weight or value of the order. If your order does incur additional courier fees we will contact you prior to dispatch to arrange to take the additional payment and enquire as to how you wish to proceed with your order
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The Federal Communications Commission announced May 22 it would work in a public-private effort to bring high-speed broadband internet service to rural America.
FCC Acting Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn announced the effort was a result of the second release of Phase I funds of the Connect America Fund. The fund will offer up to $485 million to expand fixed broadband in rural America. The additional investment will leverage millions in additional private investment to quickly serve rural areas currently lacking access to high-speed broadband.
Approximately 15 million Americans, most of them living in rural areas, lack broadband and the access it provides to jobs, education, and opportunities. Without broadband, consumers and small businesses are cut off from the $8 trillion global Internet economy, severely limiting opportunities for jobs and economic prosperity.
This additional investment comes as the FCC moves into Phase II of the Connect America Fund, created in the historic overhaul and reform of the FCC's traditional universal service program for rural voice service. Phase II will provide ongoing annual support of $1.8 billion for both voice and broadband service, all without increasing growth in the fund. Any funding not accepted in Phase 1 will be used to connect unserved communities in Phase II. Total FCC investment in expansion and support of rural fixed and mobile broadband and voice through universal service is budgeted at $4.5 billion.


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I received an email this morning from a company looking for hydraulic component suppliers for its innovative backyard swimming pool design. And visiting its website, seeing pictures and video, have made me wish I could have such a pool (but never will, alas!)
The company, Hidden Water Pools, uses low-pressure (just 90 psi, so not really our usual type of fluid power, but still cool!) hydraulic cylinders to raise and lower a platform, turning what looks like a concrete deck into a 1-in. to 6-ft pool.
The image to the right is a screen capture from one of the company's brochures, showing the patio, a shallow pool, and the deep pool.
For those that don't think technology like this is all that plausible in your back garden, check out this article from Amlok. That company's hydraulic rod locks are used to stabilize a similar platform in a large pool, to lift and lower disabled individuals into the pool.
As Hidden Water Pools says on its site, what a great way to conserve water and land by using the same space for a pool AND a deck. Pretty cool!


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WAN-IFRA Promotes Chief Operating Officer
WAN-IFRA has promoted Thomas Jacob to the new position of chief operating officer. Jacob previously served as one of the three deputy CEO's. He will report to the CEO, Vincent Peyregne, and will be responsible for operational management and business development worldwide.
"Thomas brings a deep knowledge of the different facets of the news publishing industry and I believe this new role will take advantage of his talents and experience," said Peyregne. "His track record in Asia Pacific can be leveraged as WAN-IFRA strives to deliver the best solutions and services to the newspapers and news publishers across the globe."
Jacob brings over 28 years of experience in media. He began his career as a rookie engineer with Mathrubhumi, a leading vernacular newspaper from India. After helming the technical department for four years, he moved to Singapore to establish IFRA's presence in Asia. During this tenure, he established the two subsidiaries IFRA Asia and IFRA India. He then joined Associated Newspapers Limited, publisher of Daily Mail and Metro in UK. As ANL's international development director, he conceptualized a compact midmarket newspaper for the Indian market and initiated a JV with the India Today Group to launch a new newspaper, Mail Today.


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Ellie Goulding must have done something right to be reportedly the only invited singer to play at the wedding reception of British newlyweds Prince William and Princess Catherine.
The British pop star, 24, had the honor of performing for the new royal couple on Friday at Buckingham Palace, Us Weekly reported. Goulding told the magazine following day: "It was an amazing honor to be asked by Kate and William to perform at their party. The atmosphere was incredible and it is a night I'll never forget!"
At the reception, Goulding performed a cover of Elton John's "Your Song" and her own song "Starry-Eyed" to a crowd of 300 guests and the royal couple. E! News said William and Kate are big fans of the singer.
Goulding—who led the BBC Sound of 2010 poll--is a popular star in her native Britain thanks to her successful album "Lights," which hit Number One on the charts and spawned several hits. She has performed at the Glastonbury Festival and most recently at Coachella, and has opened for John Mayer on his tour of England.
There will be more of Goulding for American audiences to see and hear: She'll be the musical guest on this week's "Saturday Night Live" with Tina Fey as host.
Selected Readings: Us Weekly, E! News, Ellie Goulding Web site


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Shiso Leaves: Letterpressed 11"x14" Art Print
Shiso Leaves: Letterpressed 11"x14" Art Print
This elegant Shiso Leaves art print pairs a striking black illustration offset by a splash of red.
Expertly letterpressed in Berkeley, California on 11" x 14" paper, this print arrives ready to fit a standard-size frame. Try framing the prints in sets of 3 or 4 for a sophisticated, stunning centerpiece to a modern or traditional kitchen.
From a set of 12 Asian Vegetable prints. Please see shop for full selection and assortment sets.
Add To Cart


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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump suggested Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim was involved in the publication of New York Times articles about women who have come out and alleged Trump made unwanted sexual advances.
"The largest shareholder in the Times is Carlos Slim. Now Carlos Slim, as you know, comes from Mexico," he said Friday. "He's given many millions of dollars to the Clintons and their initiative. So Carlos Slim, largest donor of the paper, from Mexico."
In attacking Slim, the Republican presidential candidate is going back to his recurrent theme of condemning Mexico and Mexicans, a tactic that has played well to a base of supporters but has turned off a vast majority of Latinos —including Hispanic Republicans — and other more moderate voters.
New York Times publisher and chairman Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. said in a statement that Slim "fully respects boundaries regarding the independence of our journalism. He has never sought to influence what we report."
Slim's spokesman said Slim "doesn't know anything about his [Trump's] personal life and to be honest, he doesn't care about his personal life," and that Slim is not involved in politics in Mexico, let alone in the U.S.


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I have a 2010 RT and two Nolan 103 helmets with blue tooth module. I have a Zumo 660 GPS. I have the two helmets paired and the GPS paired and they work fine. The GPS takes presedence over the intercom. Now I want music. I can get it through the GPS, but then I have no intercom between the helmets as the GPS takes presedence all the time.
Any of you techies out there have a solution, do I need to purchase a bluetooth compatible player of some sort ? What would work ?
I really could use some help here.


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- Income Investing
That Didn't Last Long: Muni Funds Revert To Outflows
- Order Reprints
- Print Article
The brief winning streak for municipal bond mutual funds and ETFs is over, as said funds just reported a $227 million net outflow in the past week, per Lipper data. Those funds had mustered three straight weeks of modest net inflows in January, which put a halt to the 33 straight weeks of net outflows for such funds dating back to last May, when things first got ugly for bond markets. Fund flows had finally turned positive last month as investors were lured back by January's bond-market rally, but alas no more, for now.
Checking the latest pulse of muni ETFs, the iShares S&P National AMT-Free Muni Bond (MUB) ETF gained 11 cents to close at $105.89 Thursday, down 41 cents from a week ago.


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Troops Needed For Somali Chaos
"We need to speed up the political dialogue in Somalia," Konare said, in reference to a twice-delayed reconciliation conference now slated for July 17
Africa News Update
Somalia's chaos will not end until thousands more troops are deployed in a much-delayed African
peacekeeping force, the African Union says.
Opening a three-day AU summit, the bloc's top diplomat, Alpha Oumar Konare, also called for
accelerated talks between Somalia's interim government and representatives of the country's complex clan
network and other groups.
"We need to speed up the political dialogue in Somalia," Konare said, in reference to a twice-delayed
reconciliation conference now slated for July 17.
He expressed impatience over the slow deployment of a proposed AU peacekeeping force of 8,000 troops in
Only 1,600 Ugandan soldiers have been sent to Mogadishu despite pledges at the last AU summit six
months ago to boost the force to at least 4,000. Islamist insurgents stage daily guerrilla attacks.
Paying tribute to the Ugandans, who have suffered several casualties, Konare said: "If there were other
troops that joined the Ugandan troops, we would be playing a different role.
"Let us be realistic. Unless and until there is a strengthening of the African troops, we will have
Somalia's interim government, the 14th attempt to impose central government since the 1991 overthrow of
a dictator, is struggling to impose order after ousting Islamists with the help of Ethiopian troops
last Christmas.
Underlining the instability, explosions and gunfire rocked Mogadishu on Sunday only hours after President
Abdullahi Yusuf promised to stem the insurgency.
To subscribe to or advertise in New York's leading Pan African weekly
investigative newspaper, please call (212) 481-7745 or send a note to
"Speaking Truth To Empower."
Latest comments
- Ann GarrisonFebruary 22,2018 @ 08:03 PM
I think you have "Filtered HTML" turned on here. If you switch to "Full HTML," it will probably...
googletag.pubads().definePassback('6785150/BENN/BlackStarNews', [[300,250]]).setTargeting('fold',['BTF']).display();


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Users, vendors not fans of coffee pods
Posted by TheShot on 11 Sep 2006 | Tagged as: Beans, Consumer Trends, Quality Issues
According to an article in today's Frederick (MD) News-Post, the coffee pod revolution isn't exactly winning over fans en masse just yet: Users, vendors not fans of coffee pods – The Frederick News-Post.
Citing a recent NPD Group report, the article notes that beyond single-serving convenience, pods don't exactly represent a step forward in the evolution of better coffee. Also mentioned in the study are coffee pod customers who are "dissatisfied with unreliable machines, pricey refills, the limited selection of flavors and the difficulty in finding coffee pod refills easily."
The last two aren't really long-term issues, as they will either be addressed with popularity … or pods will simply be marginalized. The first two customer issues may get better over time — they may not. But one of the big problems I have with pods is the freshness of the coffee — a point that the article makes at the end, where locals instead recommend a French press or a stovetop maker. (The article mentions Melitta, but the description is clearly more like a Bialetti — I'm guessing the reporter got them phonetically mixed up.)
Pods?! ¡Viva la contrarevolución!
3 Comments »
3 Responses to "Users, vendors not fans of coffee pods"
[…] This posed a great mystery to me. How could a culture so dependent on good espresso seem so smitten, at least from what I could tell, with the mediocre quality of an at-home pod machine and it's pre-ground, pre-packaged coffee? Personally, I would buy a simple Bialetti long before I'd buy one of these systems. […]
[…] Now I can actually understand those countless coffee products out there with the Lexus brand image and the Chevy Impala taste. Afterall, we've long had that analog in the wine world — for example, when Orson Welles told us Paul Masson sells no wine before its time, even if the stuff took only four months to make ("Thursday was a most excellent vintage …"). Stale, pre-ground coffee in a sealed capsule — coffee's answer to instant Tang — is one thing. Marketing to your personal coffee lifestyle is quite another. […]
[…] But the U.S. isn't Portugal. According to a recent NPD report, the machines are primarily gift purchases — which should be a warning alarm for the technology right there (remind anyone of Krups circa 1990?). Given that these single serving coffee pod machines use stale, pre-ground beans, these days the home espresso drinker generally has increasingly better quality options among nearby cafés and coffeehouses. Which is why I generally believe the survival of the coffee pod format depends more on the bargain end of the coffee consumer market: it can't sustain itself in a high-end market, because the quality will always be inferior despite the machine conveniences. […]


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