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Investing With the Stars: 5 Stars Stumble Down Wall Street
Mr. T
|Claim to Fame: Played B. A. Baracus on TV's The A-Team, boxer Clubber Lang in the movie Rocky III.
Investing Resume: Though it's unclear if Mr. T owns stocks, either actively or through a money manager, he's clearly one of America's most high profile gold bugs. By most accounts, the gold jewelry he donned during his heyday in the 1980s was worth about $300,000 at the time. He's been buying gold since 1977.
The Payoff: Strangely enough, Mr. T has been pretty vocal lately about his feelings of a gold bubble. As the pop-culture icon told Bloomberg TV just this week, when he was younger he thought that nothing could beat the yellow stuff. Mr. T proclaimed "… the Incas or the Mayans, they said gold was the sweat from the sun, or the tears, you know?" and that "Gold was special. Gold was the gift the three wise men brought to Jesus!" Now, however, Mr. T says "I'm about to tell other people it's time to sell."
|Daily Trader's Alert — Yours FREE!
Lenny Dykstra
|Claim to Fame: Three-time MLB all star and World Series champ
Investing Resume: Launched a high-end jet charter and luxury magazine targeting professional athletes known as Player's Club. From 2005 to 2009, was an investing columnist for TheStreet.com (see archive here) and endorsed by Mad Money star Jim Cramer.
The Payoff: Lenny Dykstra is spending what little money he has left on legal bills. Dykstra filed for Chapter 11 in 2009 and even auctioned off his World Series ring. Apparently boondoggles such as the doomed Player's Club or the purchase of a $17.5 million home from Wayne Gretzky had taken their toll. But strangely enough, "Nails" is lucky if it turns out that his worst problem is that he's a bonehead investor gone broke. In June 2010, a bankruptcy trustee charged that Dykstra had lied under oath, improperly hid assets, and repeatedly acted in a "fraudulent and deceitful manner." And though never criminally charged, Randall Lane's skewering Wall Street tell-all book The Zeroes alleges that Dykstra was paid to pump stocks on TheStreet.com and make Cramer look good.
|Daily Trader's Alert — Yours FREE!
Larry Wilcox
|Claim to Fame: Starred alongside Erik Estrada as a motorcycle cop on TV's CHiPS
Investing Resume: President and CEO of penny stock mining and oil drilling firm, The UC Hub Group. (PINK: UCHB)
The Payoff: According to the SEC, Larry Wilcox and 11 others have been investing in bribes and kickbacks to boost UC Hub's share price — among other microcap stocks. Specifically, the SEC claims Wilcox ran "schemes generally involved the payment of kickbacks to purportedly corrupt pension fund managers or stockbrokers, who would use their clients' accounts to purchase the publicly traded stock." The funny thing is, if that's true he's been doing a mighty poor job — because aside from a fleeting spike to two cents per share in May before the market crashed, UC Hub has been struggling to trade for more than a penny all year. We can only assume that from here on out, he'll be investing in a good lawyer.
|Daily Trader's Alert — Yours FREE!
|Claim to Fame: Lead singer of rock band U2, celebrity activist and philanthropist
Investing Resume: Bono is a founder and director of the Elevation Partners private-equity firm. Elevation invests in intellectual property and media and entertainment companies, with about $1.9 billion in assets under management. U2 guitarist The Edge also went halvsies with Bono on purchase, renovation and management of the 70-room Dublin property, the Clarence Hotel.
The Payoff: Bono and his Elevation Partners firm is perhaps best known for plowing $460 million into smartphone company Palm as the company continued to bleed cash and market share before a buyout by Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ). But the most recent investment from Elevation Partners reportedly came this spring, with a 1% buy-in to Facebook for $90 million. Time will tell if that move will pay off. Other holdings of Bono and Elevation include Forbes Media, the parent of both paper and digital forms of the financial magazine, and the publicly traded website Move, Inc. (NASDASQ: MOVE). Move Inc. is off 15% in the last year, compared to a 10% gain for the broader market.
|Daily Trader's Alert — Yours FREE!
Kevin Bacon
|Claim to Fame: Come on, there's a game named after the guy he's so prolific.
Investing Resume: Like many Hollywood stars, Kevin Bacon apparently left his investing to other experts instead of gumming up the works himself. Considering some of the other yahoos on this list, that seems wise.
The Payoff: Unfortunately for Kevin, the "expert" that he trusted to manage his money was a rather dubious character you may have heard of — by the name of Bernie Madoff. According to reports, Kevin Bacon and his starlet wife Kyra Sedgwick got taken to the cleaners for a cool $50 million by the Ponzi scheme. The star's solution? To shore up his finances by taking any and every script thrown his way. So apparently aside from the money disappearing, nothing has really changed.
|Daily Trader's Alert — Yours FREE!


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Texas on the Potomac regularly shares with you the work of some of Hearst Newspapers' best columnists. Today, we are pleased to share with you this commentary by San Antonio Express-News columnist Jonathan Gurwitz.
The problem with kicking the can down the road is that you eventually run out of pavement. The fiscal cliff was supposed to be the end of the road — a politically designed cul-de-sac that would force the nation's leaders to change course and finally address the mounting debt crisis.
The New Year's Day deal negotiated by Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell merely delayed the inevitable by a couple of months, while doing next to nothing to address the debt problem.
President Barack Obama wasn't party to the negotiations on the final deal. He was, nevertheless, there to claim credit, issuing a statement touting an agreement that will "grow the economy and shrink our deficits in a balanced way — by investing in our middle class, and by asking the wealthy to pay a little more."
So few words. So much malarkey. Let's parse the president's praise on his unearned victory lap.
"Grow the economy": We are three and a half years into the weakest economic recovery since World War II. The Congressional Budget Office warned that even if all of the short-term effects of the fiscal cliff were avoided, "the economy would remain below its potential and the unemployment rate would remain higher than usual for some time."
"Shrink our deficits": The CBO says the fiscal cliff deal will add $4 trillion in deficit spending over the next decade. The agreement will, under optimistic assumptions, generate $620 billion in additional revenue over 10 years — not enough to cover the trillion-dollar-plus deficits in any one year Obama has been in office, and only a fraction of the deficits projected in the next 10 years.
"In a balanced way": There were no real-world spending cuts in the fiscal cliff deal. None. In fact, the agreement increases federal spending by $332 billion.
"Investing in our middle class": Perhaps the president never actually read the 154-page bill. If he had, he would have known that it extends all manner of special interest giveaways, including a $9 billion tax break for Wall Street banks and multinational corporations, special expensing rules for Hollywood studios valued at $75 million, and a tax benefit in the form of accelerated depreciation for race track investors.
"Asking the wealthy to pay a little more": Here the president comes close to the truth, the key words being "a little." The projected increase in revenue is based largely on raising marginal rates on high earners rather than closing loopholes. But any individual who makes $400,000 a year can pay accountants, lawyers and lobbyists to exploit those loopholes — see "Investing in our middle class" — or shelter earnings overseas. That's why the CBO's estimate of $620 billion in additional revenue, which doesn't account for tax avoidance strategies, is farfetched.
President Obama alone isn't responsible for a $16 trillion national debt. His predecessor in the White House and both Republicans and Democrats who controlled Congress for the first eight years of this century gave him a $10 trillion head start. But he is responsible for piling up more debt more quickly than any president in history and for a debt reduction plan that amounts to nothing more than kicking the can.
The deal to avert the fiscal cliff paved a little more asphalt. But without spending, tax and entitlement reforms and a president engaged in the process to achieve them, we know where this road stops — in Greece, Spain and other economic dead-ends where, to paraphrase Margaret Thatcher, big government spenders finally run out of other people's money.

subset: commoncrawl


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On the Giant Clams Tridacna mbalavuana and T. squamosina
Reefkeepers all know the giant clams Tridacna crocea, T. maxima, T. squamosa, T. deresa, and T. gigas. James W. Fatherree introduces two recently described species of tridacnids, one of which is now making its way into the hobby.
On the Captive Biology of Tube Anemones
When aquarist think about reef animals, cerianthids usually don't come to mind. However, tube anemones are some of the most beautiful, hardy, and long-lived organisms for captive aquariums, and they're not as dangerous to tankmates as many believe.
A Look at the Ophiuroids: Brittle, Serpent, and Basket Stars
With their long wiry arms and exotic colors, Ophiuroids are some of the reef's most beautiful and intricate creatures. James Fatherree describes the general information and aquarium husbandry of this amazing class of echinoderms.
Aquarium Invertebrates: A Look at Some Azooxanthellate Epifaunal Bivalves
James Fatherree explores the biology of non-photosynthetic clams, scallops, and oysters commonly encountered by reefkeepers. While most of these bivalves are not impossible to keep with advances in captive reef nutrition, their surprisingly high dietary requirements make their husbandry difficult.
Aquarium Invertebrates: A Good Look at the Crinoids
Crinoids are rather elegant relatives of the brittle stars, sea stars, and sea urchins, and can be quite spectacular in appearance. You might see them offered for sale at times, but as pretty as they may be their survival record in home aquariums is downright dismal. However, they're interesting invertebrate animals nonetheless, so I'll give you some information about them, and will also cover the reasons they typically do not survive long-term in home aquariums.
Aquarium Invertebrates: An Introduction to the Mantis Shrimps
These are my favorite invertebrates, and with a little planning and preparation can be fantastic acquisitions for any marine aquarist. In fact, after writing this, I feel a compulsion to go get another one...
Aquarium Invertebrates: A Look at the Giant Clam Tridacna squamosa
There are several species of giant clam available to us, all of which belong to the family Tridacnidae, with each being unique in its own ways. Of these, Tridacna squamosa, is one of the hardiest and easiest to care for, and can be one of the most attractive, too. So, this month I'll give you some information about T. squamosa, which is commonly called the squamosa clam, scaly clam, scaled giant clam, or fluted clam.
Feature Article: Epizoic flatworms impair coral feeding: evidence for parasitism
Flatworms are well-known in the aquarium hobby and research community. Both in the wild and in captivity, they hide between the tentacles of many corals. Despite their common appearance in aquaria, the nature of the symbiosis between corals and flatworms has long been unclear. New evidence strongly suggests that epizoic acoelomorph flatworms are parasitic. Next to suffocating coral tissue and feeding on coral mucus, flatworms have now been found to impair coral feeding.
Aquarium Invertebrates: Moon Jellyfish in the Home: Can You Do It?
Jellyfish are an exciting new realm in the marine aquarium hobby. Not only are jellyfish aquariums now available for purchase, but creating and building your own system is also an exciting project.
Aquarium Invertebrates: Phestilla Nudibranchs: Cryptic Enemies of Porites, Goniopora, Tubastrea and Dendrophyllia Corals and an Identification of 'Montipora-eating Nudibranchs'
Dana takes us on an in-depth look at the Phestilla and Embletonia nudibranchs that can wreak havoc on an unsuspecting coral in your tank.
Aquarium Invertebrates: Aiptasia, dinoflagellate algae and cyanobacteria - a three-way symbiosis?
Aiptasia are tropical sea anemones which are commonly found in marine aquaria. Usually introduced as hitchhikers on live rock, they rapidly colonize the aquarium due to their prolific growth. Although Aiptasia may settle on any available substrate, chemical signals may attract them to specific microhabitats. In this article I report on the settlement preference of Aiptasia for cyanobacterial mats, a finding which suggests a three-way symbiosis between sea anemones, dinoflagellate algae and bacteria.
Aquarium Invertebrates: A Look at the Giant Clam Tridacna maxima
With their desirability in mind, if you can find a good specimen these clams can be relatively easy to care for in a well-run reef aquarium. However, they do have particular lighting requirements, and are by no means bulletproof when it comes to keeping them long-term. So, this article will cover their basic biology, how to identify them, and how to best care for them in aquaria.
Aquarium Invertebrates: A Trip to an Indonesian Coral and Clam Farm
A few years ago when I was working on my book about giant clams, I was lucky enough to get a tour of the CV Dinar coral and giant clam aquaculture facility in Indonesia. I'm sure a lot of hobbyists have heard of the "farms" in the Pacific, but I figured I'd give you something of a virtual tour of the place and show you a bit about how things are done there. It was quite interesting to say the least.
Aquarium Invertebrates: A Look at the Sponges
Start small. If you have a certain sponge in mind, if at all possible try to find out as much as you can about that particular type. What environment it comes from, whether it is symbiotic or not, if it is highly toxic (some are), how big it gets, etc. The more you know in the beginning, the greater your chances for success.
Book Review: Breeding Berghia Nudibranches - The Best Kept Secret by Dene Banger
'Breeding Berghia Nudibranches' is a new book by Dene Banger that explains how to set up and maintain a system for breeding Aiptasia devouring Berghia nudibranchs, sell them for fun and profit, and scale the system based on demand.
Aquarium Invertebrates: Hermit Crabs
Reef keeping is replete with these simple pleasures and hermits provide so many; they are cheap, durable, often long-lived and useful. Seeing a well known hermit sporting a new shell one morning is always a pleasant sight and is a sign that things are going as they ought.
Aquarium Invertebrates: On Lighting for Tridacnid Clams
To summarize, it is impossible to give a single number recommendation when it comes to tridacnids' lighting requirements, even for a particular species. Each clam is genetically different, and some members of a given species will need more light than others.
Aquarium Invertebrates: Crabs in the Marine Aquarium
It's important to know what crabs are okay and which aren't. Unfortunately, while there are a few good ones, most of them are definitely off limits for reef aquarists, so I'll give you some basic information about crabs in general and cover the more common types you'll likely come across. Hopefully it will help you decide what to buy or not buy, or what to leave in or get out.
Aquarium Invertebrates: A Look at the Giant Clam Tridacna gigas
Keep in mind that if you plan on having a gigas long term, it will need to be kept in a tank that is at least 18 inches wide, and will more than likely eventually need something even bigger than this. These clam are not suited for life in 55 gallon tanks, etc.
Aquarium Invertebrates: Metasepia pfefferi – the aptly named Flamboyant Cuttlefish
The Flamboyant cuttle is one of the most amazing animals I have encountered in the wild or in captivity. They are beautiful, masterful predators that live fast and die young. It is my hope that one day they will be bred in captivity and readily available for all cephalopod enthusiasts.


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March 13, 2014 -The northern waters of the Gulf of Mexico are extraordinarily rich and diverse but some of the marine, mammals and bird species are in danger of being lost forever. The next installment of LPB's six-part series Alive! In America's Delta,entitled Endangered in the Gulf, focuses on endangered Gulf species, the perils, success stories and how cutting edge technology is being used to monitor and protect them.
"Through the show, we hope to encourage the people of Louisiana to become educated about and aware of threats to species, success stories on species recovery and the opportunity to promote species conservation," said Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham.
One highlight includes the resurgence of the Brown Pelican in Louisiana. Widespread use of the pesticide DDT led to the extinction of the Brown Pelican in the 1960s. After the insecticide was banned in the early 1970s, Louisiana wildlife officials brought in 1,200 young pelicans from Florida and three decades later the pelicans were making a comeback. In 2009, the magnificent bird was removed from the Endangered Species List. "At a time when so many species of wildlife are threatened, we once in a while have an opportunity to celebrate an amazing success story," explained Barham.
The episode also touches on imperiled habitat in the Gulf and the species that rely on it. Five of the world's seven endangered sea turtle species rely on habitat in the Gulf of Mexico. Other endangered marine species like the West Indian Manatee, the Gulf Sturgeon, and Sperm and Right Whales and birds such as the Piping Plover and the Least Tern make the Gulf their home.
Five species of sea turtles who reside in the Gulf are also in danger, but the Kemp's Ridley turtle faces particular challenges. Though an array of projects are helping with sea turtle protection, wildlife officials say the number of deaths have risen in the last four years. With 15,000 identified species in the Gulf, Wildlife and Fisheries personnel say they need the public's help in reporting injured animals to make sure they get the life-saving treatment they need.
While there have been some success stories, the preservation and protection of the endangered species in the Gulf will always be a work in progress particularly in light of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Gulf is a resilient system, but one that needs growing attention if this vital resource for future generations is to be protected.
This program was produced for LPB by Christina Hendrick Melton. Rex Q. Fortenberry, Keith Crews, Gary Allen and Mark Carroll did the principal photography with Fortenberry editing the program. Mike Esnault composed the music.
The show premieres on Tuesday, March 18 at 7 p.m. followed by an encore showing of Delta Guardians at 8 p.m. WLAE-TV in New Orleans will air Endangered in the Gulf on Friday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana's abundant natural resources. For more information, visit us at www.wlf.louisiana.gov [4], on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ldwffb [5] or follow us on Twitter @LDWF.
For press inquires, contact Rene LeBreton at r [6]firstname.lastname@example.com [7] or (504) 286-8745.


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When Do I Tell My Son that He Has Autism?
Please help me, I'm very confused and don't know where to go next. My son Brian, who is now 23, was diagnosed with ADD and PDD and according to his therapist is on the autism spectrum but with mild symptomology. He has been under the care of a Psychiatrist for the past 10 years. His IQ is normal, as is his language and communication skills. He has difficulty with problem solving and sometimes at giving answers that are appropriate responses. He will also at times talk about topics that he has no knowledge of. He doesn't act like most adults at his age. He doesn't seem to be able to understand the basics of life, as in understanding the value of money and importance of saving. He can't understand why he can't have a new car while the lease of his current one is still in effect. Even though we try to explain this to him, he just cannot understand, as if what we are saying makes no sense to him. Normal thinking patterns seem to be absent. He has a job making about 300$ a week, yet he doesn't contribute to the house or pay for anything. I'm not sure anymore what part of his behavior is associated with PDD and what part is pure manipulation. His therapist feels that almost all of these symptoms are part of his disability and what is clear to most, are really things that Brian cannot understand and that the way he thinks is part of his disorder. Do you have any advice of where I can go or how to have Brian evaluated further, if that is even necessary? I can't seem to find any specific tests that can be administered to diagnose autism or as Brian has PDD with a very high level of functioning and a normal IO. He is very social and communicates with no problem. Thank you so very much for your help. Also what is your opinion on if a child should be told about being Autistic?
In addition to working in the autism spectrum disorders diagnostic clinic at The Ohio State University's Nisonger Center for almost ten years, I am the mother of three grown sons, two of whom are on the autism spectrum. My youngest son is 27 and has Asperger Syndrome and ADHD.
The diagnostic tests for autism spectrum disorders are based on observations by professionals and reporting by family members and teachers.
Aspirations, a program developed at the Nisonger Center in collaboration with OSU Medical Center's Department of Cognitive Neurology, helps young adults on the autism spectrum work on employment and social skills issues. (For further details, please visit http://www.aspirationsohio.org/.)
While no two individuals on the spectrum are alike, and, in fact, may be very different, some issues similar to those you described have been reported by the families of young adults who have participated in this program. There are tests to measure what is called "adaptive behavior" and there are actually instruments to assess elementary and adolescent language-based reasoning called the Tests of Problem Solving.
Studies have shown that there can be sizable gaps between the tested IQs of adolescents on the autism spectrum and their scores on adaptive behavior scales (which should have similar numerical scores in typical individuals, with 100 as average). Even gifted adolescents on the spectrum have scored close to the range of people with intellectual disabilities, so what you are seeing may not be manipulative behavior.
Further assessment may not be necessary, but you could pursue a neuropsychological evaluation. You may wish to consider additional counseling for him to help him to develop strategies to address his reasoning approaches.
You may find the transition guidelines information available at www.ocali.org, the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence, of interest. In addition, you may wish to review Appendix 1, "Asperger Syndrome Characteristics," in the Asperger Syndrome Employment Workbook: An Employment Workbook for Adults with Asperger Syndrome, by Roger N. Meyer (who has Asperger Syndrome), Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2001.
While your son was diagnosed with PDD-NOS, there are significant overlaps between PDD and Asperger Syndrome. Professionals have proposed changing autism spectrum diagnostic labels to "mild," "moderate," or "severe autism" within the next two to three years.
With regard to telling a young person about an autism spectrum diagnosis, most adults on the spectrum feel that sooner is better than later. They report feeling different because they realized they didn't process events and sensory experiences the same way other people seemed to. Many sensed they didn't quite "fit in" by the time the reached their late teens or early twenties and might never be quite like everyone else.
Being told their diagnoses tended to be something of a relief because there was an explanation for all of these issues. It is worthwhile to discuss when and how disclosure to others is appropriate, but the consensus is that knowing as much as possible about their issues is very helpful.
School children usually are often told as soon as they are mature enough to understand. Some parents elect to present information about the diagnosis to their children's classmates or request that a teaching professional do so. The other children have often wondered why the child was different, and knowing an explanation tends to foster greater acceptance.
For more information:
Go to the Autism health topic.


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L'Enoteca Pinchiorri, Florence, Italy
- By Jean T. Barrett
- | From Bill Cosby, Autumn 94
In the heart of one of Italy's great cities, L'Enoteca Pinchiorri is perhaps the ultimate special-occasion restaurant, that rare combination of cuisine, service and style that transforms the taking of nourishment into an event. Go with people whose company you enjoy, eat lightly the day you will dine there and bring plenty of lire; this is not a place for anyone short on time, appetite or money.
Housed in a vintage building on an ancient Florentine side street, the restaurant's decor is traditional and spare, with high ceilings and cream-colored walls. One's eye is immediately drawn to an impressive array of silver service pieces polished to brilliance, including duck presses, carving stands and oversized Champagne buckets. An immense painting of a nude woman, seated on a bed, watches over half the restaurant. Judging by her silhouette, though, she appears not to have been a frequent patron. As you take your chair, the waiter may present, unsolicited, a bottle of crisp Italian white wine for your approval, a civilized gesture that makes prolonged deliberation over the menu far less onerous.
There are three ways to order your meal at L'Enoteca Pinchiorri: choose items à la carte or opt for one of two degustation (tasting) menus. The Tuscan tasting menu features eight or nine regional specialties, while the menu del giorno, or menu of the day (also called the creative menu), is built around the best seasonal foodstuffs. Nearly all patrons order one of the two tasting menus, according to a waiter, and it is easy to see why: even at 150,000 lire (about $89), the special menus are more interesting and offer better value than the à la carte offerings.
L'Enoteca Pinchiorri recently received its third star from the Michelin Guide, and the accolade is well deserved. Last fall, the Tuscan menu included a fish course of three finger-sized fillets of triglia, or red mullet, the crispy skin melted in the mouth, strewn with deep-fried basil leaves and fragrant morsels of tomato. One offering from the menu del giorno was shrimp served on wide pasta noodles made with chestnut flour; the rich, nutty flavor of the pasta was superb. Another selection was duck foie gras sautéed with caramelized apples; in a feat of timing, both the foie gras and the apples were sautéed crispy on the outside and meltingly liquid on the inside. Fork-tender venison was one main course, paired with a Tuscan castagnaccio, a thin, savory cake made with chestnut flour, containing pine nuts and sultanas.
My sole criticism regards the chef's heavy hand with salt. I love salt myself, but found its flavor overdone in virtually every course. Even the foie gras arrived topped with a visible (and unnecessary) grind of the stuff.
How to match wines to such a succession of delights? Giorgio Pinchiorri, famed for his 60,000-bottle wine cellar, has anticipated your consternation and offers several hand-picked wine selections, permitting a couple or a single diner to enjoy appropriate wines with each course. One wine menu features a toasty, mature Meursault Charmes '83 from Guy Roulot, a choice of Chambertin Clos de Beze '87, Griotte-Chambertin '87 or Bonnes Mares '85, a choice of Barbaresco Bricco Asili '88, Flaccianello della Pieve '88 or Barolo Boschis '85, and for dessert, Coteaux du Layon '90 or Moscato Passito '89, for 80,000 lire per person (about $46). In a display of astonishing largesse, the wines are poured liberally throughout the meal, and new bottles are opened freely with no apparent glance at the bottom line.
If you are sated by the succession of courses and decline the three desserts, a silver salver of petits fours, including marble-sized, feather-light cream puffs dipped in caramel, sesame-seed butter cookies and miniature biscotti, will appear magically on your table. Somehow I made room for several of the tiny treats.
L'Enoteca Pinchiorri does not permit cigar smoking in the dining room, and, after sitting several hours through eight or nine courses, you probably will be glad about this policy. Stretch your legs and repair to a small, private bar room toward the rear of the restaurant, where your cigar will be welcomed. There, you may select a cigar from the humidor and a digestif from the restaurant's collection, which includes rare grappas, eaux-de-vie, Cognacs, Armagnacs and single malt Scotches (many bottled for the restaurant). Loosen your belt and fill several oversized, cut-glass ashtrays in peace with your favorite cigar.
-- Jean T. Barrett is a Los Angeles-based writer on wine, spirits, food and travel.
L'Enoteca Pinchiorri
Via Ghibellina, 87
(39) 55-242777
Lunch: à la carte, $65 to $85, without wine; prix fixe, $47, without wine
Dinner: à la carte, $85 to $105, without wine; prix fixe, $100, without wine


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|2011-09-30, 20:13
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Mali: Estimated 96% of Mothers Bet on Breastmilk During First Hours of Life
Some 96% of mothers in Mali's Gao region do not consider colostrum dangerous for their infants, and eight of every ten allow them to breastfeed in the first 24 hours after birth. Colostrum – a thick, yellowish milk produced by a mother's breasts only in the days immediately after childbirth – is high in antibodies, carbohydrates, and protein, and important for infant health. Many cultures are suspicious of colostrum, believing that it can cause children to experience diarrhea and other illnesses.
The improvement of nutritional habits to combat infant malnutrition is the objective of an Action Against Hunger project in Mali, funded by the Spanish Agency of International Cooperation.
Action Against Hunger, who conducted surveys in Mali's Gao region – where the organization manages numerous projects in nutrition and hygiene – has identified considerable improvements in the dietary habits of mothers with respect to their children: in the most recent poll, nearly 100% of mothers surveyed allow their children to suckle colostrum, and the proportion of mothers that choose breastmilk for their children over water or animal milk has risen drastically from 67% in July 2006 to 96% in April of this year. More than half also report allowing their child to breastfeed in the moments immediately following birth.
"A woman is capable of adapting her beliefs if she sees that changes in her habits will benefit her child. The maternal instinct to protect a child's survival trumps all traditions," says Núria Salse, chief nutritionist for Action Against Hunger–Spain. Mothers who have attended breastfeeding support groups and workshops established their peers within the community better understand the underlying causes of malnutrition, and can even recognize the signs of vitamin A deficiency. The number of mothers who know how to identify crepuscular blindness (a direct consequence of vitamin A deficiency) and can apply methods of prevention has tripled from last year. "In order to reduce infant malnutrition, it is fundamental for mothers to understand that it is essential for their babies receive colostrum, which provides special protection against disease, and is rich in vitamins, minerals, and calories which the child needs to grow," says Núria.
Furthermore, the survey revealed that hygiene and sanitation habits, such as handwashing with soap and burning or burying of waste, are now practiced by 60% of families, twice the number from 2006. "These practices are simple and easy to apply, and can prevent illnesses like cholera and diarrhea, spread by dirty water – illnesses that take the lives of 5-million people every year," explains Pablo Alcalde, who oversees water and sanitation projects for Action Against Hunger – Spain.
Action Against Hunger has been working in Mali since 1996, with projects focused on improving health, nutrition, food security, water and sanitation. During the past several months, new programs have been launched that address the relationship of nutrition and AIDS. Such programs will bring attention to the risks and methods of prevention of the disease, as well as educate women about mother-to-child transmission.


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Yes, would be under cable box rather than converter box. I think really more for older u-remotes that don't have converter box programming. Also requires turning on the Pioneer cable box function in the CM's menu (sounds like you could get in the user menu with the RCA). You could try it if you have an older u-remote or maybe even try it with the RCA via programming for a cable box.
That seems weird though as a converter box-dedicated u-remote should have good functionality. Does the mute function work? Also try the arrow keys rather than the volume keys. I'll have to try mine again when I get a chance but currently have jury duty (I don't have it programmed anymore as I got an HD tuner).
Edit P.S. Also watch for pass-thru or punch-thru function on the RCA that makes the TV take priority on the volume control. Check you RCA manual.
Update: They plead out so I'm done! My modern Philips u-remote (i.e. utilizes converter box codes) controls the volume no problem; it is capable (with a program setting) of setting the TV to punch-thru though which would cause your problem. My ancient RCA u-remote (Pioneer cable box code) does not control the volume as it has a fixed punch-thru for the TV.
My modern Philips u-remote (i.e. utilizes converter box codes) controls the volume no problem; it is capable (with a program setting) of setting the TV to punch-thru though which would cause your problem. My ancient RCA u-remote (Pioneer cable box code) does not control the volume as it has a fixed punch-thru for the TV.
Yes it's really bad that CM apparently took the low road and used sub standard capacitors Knock on wood mine are all still working(4 but only 2 in use) but it sounds like it's just a matter of time......when it works, as mine does, it has the potential to be one of, if not the best CECB made, again too bad so many seem to be failing. Unless one really wants the quality of the S-video output(as I do) or nice guide, I think one of the Zenith/Insignia CECBs are probably a better choice.
I have experienced a problem where they the pic goes 'off in the weeds' infrequently which requires me to pull the cord live to give it a hard reset (normal power toggling doesn't work). When it does this it produces really bad interline twitter. Of course this really sucks when a box does this as a recorder tuner, I need to get in the habit of checking the PQ when setting up a recording.
You're welcome seatacboy!
I've never heard of any specific dates, my boxes are basically original when the first came out.
I'm not sure why some people experience problems but others not, same thing with older DVD recorders where I have several that are working just fine while others have had to have the capacitors replaced I wonder if it has to do with the users local power or if it's just the luck of the draw. If the later I'd call myself lucky and as you said........knock on wood
How long ago do you think you bought those? I'm thinking that if it was about 4 years ago then they're possibly* several years later build dates than jjeff's and my units.
*Depends on who you bought them from, warehouse storage, etc.
Gave the CM-7000's to Whitebar.
After further review, same here (Jan. and May from Solid Signal). I thought earlier in the CECB program but I'm really good at procrastinating things.
Now I wonder if my infrequent problem mentioned above could be due to some of these caps, maybe induced by insufficient noise filtering. I know my Zinwell ZAT-970A's freak out when I toggle a fan on the same circuit but they only have a mere wall-wart for a power supply; my lone ZAT-950A does the same thing but I don't have to re-tune the channel to get it to snap out of it (different tuner module and maybe other components).
CM certainly has a reputation for providing top-notch OTA products. However, I am concerned about the box's front branding as "HDTV Compatible" and "HD" (see picture on the information sheet).
Nothing indicates this box provides High Definition 720 or 1080 output. It should correctly bear the SDTV logo, not the HDTV logo with the legalistic phrase "compatible" in small print. I am also a bit disappointed that the product info sheet didn't provide ATSC reception specifications.
Anyone have more knowledge about this product, and why they have labeled this SD-only box as "HDTV" and "HD"?
The next step would be to add the feedback for the new 7003 here or start a new thread for it.
Lord Kelvin, 1883
The next step would be to add the feedback for the new 7003 here or start a new thread for it.
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The Public Health Division works with county health departments, health care providers and facilities, Tribal organizations, and community partners across Oregon to achieve our vision of lifelong health for all people in Oregon.
From here, you can access information on a wide variety of topics and services that are coordinated through the Public Health Division.
Promoting health and preventing the leading causes of death, disease and injury in Oregon.


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Lingerie on the Brain.
August 31, 2008
Parenting Lesson #873: Travelling With Kids Is Hard.
August 29, 2008
You Simply Must Make This This Summer.
You might look at this recipe and think it's not much, but boy is it ever. There's something about grating part of the tomatoes to make more of a sauce, and the lemon juice and bit of sugar really make the flavors pop. (I hate when people say that, but I couldn't help myself.) Also, don't skip the whole letting the tomatoes sit awhile thing. It really makes a difference. I usually let them go for at least an hour.
Angel Hair Pasta With Fresh Tomato Sauce
Gourmet, July 2006
1 small garlic clove
3 lb tomatoes
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 lb dried capellini (angel-hair pasta)
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
Accompaniments: finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano; extra-virgin olive oil for drizzling
Mince garlic and mash to a paste with a pinch of salt using a large heavy knife. Core and coarsely chop two thirds of tomatoes. Halve remaining tomatoes crosswise, then rub cut sides of tomatoes against large holes of a box grater set in a large bowl, reserving pulp and discarding skin. Toss pulp with chopped tomatoes, garlic paste, lemon juice, salt, sugar, and pepper. Let stand until ready to use, at least 10 minutes. While tomatoes stand, cook pasta in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, until al dente, about 2 minutes. Drain in a colander and immediately add to tomato mixture, tossing to combine. Sprinkle with basil. {Tomato mixture can stand at room temperature up to 2 hours.} Drizzle generously with olive oil and sprinkle the cheese.
Photo by John Kernick, for Gourmet
Cutest One Piece. Ever.
August 28, 2008
It Works! It Works!
August 27, 2008
A few weeks ago, my friend Susan and I spent the weekend at the W Hotel in LA for a little R&R. While we had a lot of eating and shopping on the agenda, we chose the hotel specifically because of the Bliss Spa there. (We've done this before,truth be told.) Susan is a skin care/treatment junkie - and I figured my face could use a good scrubbing, so we both booked the Over the Top facial, which combines all of the cleansing and anti aging benefits that they also offer in separate packages - along with a warm oil hair treatment and scalp massage. (Say it with me - "aaahhhh...") Yes, it was indeed "bliss" and it really did seem to make a difference. I loved my technician, Kathryn - she seemed to relish the challenge of plumping up my dehydrated skin, and left no pore unsqueezed - to my chagrin at the time, but delight the next day when I looked in the mirror and saw the results.
On the way out, I was presented with a "Blisscription" where Kathryn had written down a couple of product recommendations. Normally I'd probably ignore something like this, but I'd been looking for some skin care product recommendations, and she certainly seemed to know what she was talking about - so I went ahead and purchased the products she suggested - the Skinceuticals Vitamin B5 Hydrating Gel, and the Bliss Youth as We Know It toner. Actually, I bought the trial size set of all the Youth as We Know it Products, which includes a cleanser, toner, "concentrate", facial moisturizer and eye cream - and wasn't much more than one individual product.
The B5 gel goes on under makeup, and I've noticed that my makeup goes on better and stays put longer since I started using it. The idea is that it binds moisture to the skin, which is the second best way to moisturize (according to Kathryn) behind internal hydration. I also like the Youth as we Know It Eye Cream and Concentrate - the face cream is a bit heavy for me, and the toner and cleanser I don't really use. (I already have a moisturizing toner that I like from Pevonia.) Still, I am glad I bought the assortment so I could try them all out, and I would definitely recommend it as the way to go. Overall I love the line - it smells good, it feels good, and I haven't had so much as a single breakout since I started using it - which is amazing for my sensitive skin.
I just wanted to share this little victory because I have tried so many treatments and innumerable products that did absolutely nothing - or made the situation worse - and I am sure I'm not alone in that plight! Your mileage may vary - but I think Kathryn is really onto something here. She also gives a fantastic facial - if you happen to be in LA!
How about you, do you have any skin care secrets or products you'd like to share, or any "little black book" phone numbers to divulge for your favorite beauty specialist? Do tell!
Loving the Baby Food.
But I guess I like Baby J more (kidding) because I have REALLY gotten into it this time. I have a couple of books for ideas, but most of it is pretty easy to improvise. Once Baby J was past the initial phase of only being able to eat bananas, rice cereal and orange veggies, things got interesting. I must admit, I don't strictly follow all of those allergy rules. My kids seem to have pretty hearty digestive systems and I do generally avoid all the bad stuff (and of course, things like peanuts are an absolute no-no). Here are my tips:
1. Once she reached 7 months or so, I realized Baby J could eat almost every (organic, but of course) vegetable available. Even if the rest of us weren't going to be eating something, I would get her a single parsnip, some beets, kholrabi, different colors of carrots, squash, kale, you name it. Just about anything except for tomatoes which I thought would be too acidic (now she eats them and yes, I realize the food police says she should wait until she is a year or something like that). I bought me some of these :
They are made of the "good" plastic, plus I didn't have any extra ice cube trays laying around. They are available at Whole Foods, ladies, if you don't want to mail order.
Away I went steaming all sort of vegetables, pureeing them in the food processor (or using the immersion blender), pouring them into the trays... into the freezer and voila! Healthy, fresh, delicious baby food 30 seconds away (that's how long my microwave takes). Boy, did I feel like Jessica Seinfeld. After about 30 minutes of prepping and cooking, I had made probably 50 meals for Baby J (she does have a tiny tummy, which helps).
2. This next idea comes from my mom. It's probably the only thing she insisted I have when C-Man was born (remember, she was/is an anti-consumerism recovering hippie).
(Don't worry, it's BPA/Phthalate free.) This little food mill is perfect for spontaneous meals (if you haven't yet filled those big trays or if you're just bored with what's in them). Throw in and grind up what you are having for dinner (within reason), or maybe some fresh mangoes, peaches, figs, plums, pears, or any of the above steamed veggies...the possibilities are endless. Plus, it's easy to clean and even dummies (like me) can figure out how to use it. It's available at Babies R Us and it costs like $10. It's not in a sexy package and they usually hide it in the corner because it doesn't have Elmo, flashing lights and a little theme song, but that is a good thing in my mind.
3. Here are some specifics. I like to always keep some sort of healthy starchy filler to make sure her tummy is full and increase the chances that she will sleep through the night. Like: steamed peeled potatoes, mixed whole grain cereal, cooked brown rice, steamed lentils, etc. If I have those things on hand, I can mix in any fruit or vegetable. Easy peasy. Plus I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH BETTER THIS TASTES THAN THE JARRED FOOD. Again, poor C-Man.
Other good things to have on hand: the bags of organic baby carrots (prepped already and easy to steam), the frozen mangoes from Trader Joe's (not organic, but oh well), other bags of organic veggies from Trader Joe's in the refrigerated section.
4. Get this book: Super Baby Food. It has a strange format, but the content is very inspiring. The author's toddler son eats a daily meal of whole grains, beans, brewer's yeast, kale (or some other "super" veggie) and avocado. Impressive.
Also, this book . It's not so much of a health food book, but more one of fun and pretty recipes using mostly healthy ingredients. Love the photos.
Things I want Baby J to try very soon: yogurt, cheese, tahini, cottage cheese and beans. In other words, protein time. Plus I'm going to start doing mean things like add brewer's yeast and powdered kelp to her food. Why not? She's eaten everything else she's tried.
Now, here's a request of you: does anyone have a recipe for homemade teething biscuits that don't have sugar? I'm not impressed with Earth's Best -- they crumble right away.
Old School Underwear (For Kids.)
August 26, 2008
I've never seen these in any stores, but they are nice and old-school, no?
Hanna Andersson has nice organic ones for your little precious. My friend Paula tells me they don't have any elastic so they are extra comfy on that soft skin.
C-Man has a few pairs of white boxer briefs too. To be like the big boys.
There's also this option that I posted about way back when. I know C-Man will want all those *other* undies as soon as he finds out they exist, but until then, the underwear aisle is yet another aisle I can't walk down with him in the cart. Ignorance is bliss, people.
Rosie, the Very Loved Dog.
August 25, 2008
Another Supper Club Success.
August 23, 2008
Thai Style Cabbage Slaw
Sunset magazine, March 2004
3 T. lime juice
2 T. Asian fish sauce (nuoc mam or nam pla)
1 T. sugar
1/2 to 3/4 t. hot chili flakes
6 c. finely shredded green cabbage
1/2 c. slivered red onion, rinsed and drained
2 carrots, grated
1/2 c. chopped fresh mint leaves
1/2 c. chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 c. chopped roasted, salted peanuts
In a large bowl, mix lime juice, fish sauce, 2 tablespoons water, the sugar, and the chili flakes to taste. Stir in cabbage, carrots and onion. Just before serving, stir in mint, cilantro, peanuts, and salt to taste.
{I'm pretty sure Wendi said she doubled the amount of dressing. You will love it, so I recommend doing the same.}
Cocktail Friday: Cachaca.
August 22, 2008
Anyway. The most popular way to drink it in the States (and maybe Brazil too?) is in a caipirhina. Say it out loud and don't forget next time you order it in some hipster place lest you feel like a fool: KIE-PUR-REEN-YAH. There you go. But I don't really like those drinks all that much myself. I'd always pick a mojito instead. However, the last couple of times I was over at Alice Q's hanging out, we were drinking cachaca and mango lemonade (cuz we're cool like that). These two were made for each other! I don't know what it is....but the cachaca mellows the sweet tart of the lemonade and the lemonade brings some interest to the cachaca (which I find rather plain tasting). Go get yourself some of both, and mix it up together. You'll really like it.
And oh yeah, Alice Q always gets the mango lemonade from Fresh and Easy (she always finds the good stuff!)... so go there, if you have one in your neighborhood.
Into the Working World.
If you don't already, check out Emily's archive of "What to Wear" posts. They are a lot of fun!
Baskets to Contain the Toys.
August 21, 2008
August 20, 2008
C-Man: Ooooohhhh, little missy, I love you sooooooooo much. Ti amo, ti amo, ti amo! {That's what he and I say to each other...sort of our little top secret "I love you" code.}
Baby J: dah-dah-dah-dah-dah!
Pretty freaking sweet.
I Need a New Look.
Turning to the style mavens behind Anthropologie always helps (and maybe makes me feel a little inadequate, but hey, that's OK). Do you ever check out their"outfits" section? This is what caught my eye. I'm so ready for fall to get here.
This is one of those outfits that looks very thought-out, but I could totally pull it off with a baby on my hip, no? While chasing C-Man into a timeout? Dark colors are a big plus.
I am loving the belt and the shoes. The shoes!
This jacket is one of those that could be a favorite for many, many years. So flattering. And the bag? Well, it could hold all of my stuff plus diapers, toys, and snacks.
Love that sweater. And the necklace. By the way....bangs are back I guess?
When I'm Feeling Like a Nice Mom, I Make Cupcakes.
August 19, 2008
C-Man needed a little extra attention this morning. B had an early meeting downtown which led to an early morning meltdown, and then there was a setback in the potty training. (We are 99% there, people, but sometimes I guess a 3 y.o. just needs to revert to his diaper-wearing days.) Baby J went down for a nice mid-morning nap (thank you, thank you, heavens above), so C-Man and I made "cupcakes," or really, zucchini muffins. It's a great way to use up those zucchinis we're so bored with and I feel slightly better about letting him eat something with a vegetable mixed in. (Next time I am cutting back the sugar. I need to experiment more with this recipe....) These are super moist and tender because of the oil (versus butter) and the pastry flour. When I am feeling super, duper nice (not today, sorry), I make a cream cheese frosting to spread on top.
1 large zucchini
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12 muffin cups with liners and set aside. Grate zucchini on the large holes of a box grater (to yield 1 3/4 cups); set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, oil, vanilla, and eggs. Into a small bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, and stir to combine well. Stir in grated zucchini.
Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 20 minutes.
Cream Cheese Frosting
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1 8 oz. package cream cheese, room temperature
2-3 c. powdered sugar
Place butter and cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high until fluffy. Reduce speed; add sugar (start with 2 cups, then add more to reach your desired consistency) and vanilla, beat until well combined.
"Wow, these are really delicious, mama."
Sad News.
Meal Planning Monday.
August 18, 2008
Oven fried chicken
Tomato Salad
Chard and bean soup (this should do it for the last of the chard)
Prosciutto with Melon
Cappelini with Our Heirloom Tomatoes and Basil
Grilled Sausages (still have another unopened package of these)
Supper Club for me -- still need to decide on a dish to bring (theme is South Asian/Indian)
I think B will pick up pizza for anyone who is at the house that night
(BBQ at the house for lots of family)
Carne Asada Burritos (I'll marinate the meat and grill it up, but we'll pick up tortillas, rice and beans from Salsa Restaurant)
Homemade Salsa
Molly is making a dessert
Going out to Starlite Lounge with Cousin Jevan and his wife Casey
"You Have to Live Life to Its Full Chorizo" -- Huh?
(image by Moises Saman/Food and Wine)
My Little Man is Three.
August 17, 2008
The Summer Is Winding Up.
The feeling of heading back to school is still so strong for me. Those butterflies in the tummy thinking about a new teacher and new classroom. Getting new school clothes and supplies and organizing everything (if you're me). But mostly I remember that slight melancholy feeling that summer is over for another year. The days at the beach and being with friends from morning to night being traded for the structure and responsibility (such as it was) that comes with school. I remember being about 13 and having those summertime crushes. Maybe on some boy my girlfriends and I only knew vaguely from the beach or somewhere else, something so innocent. Something that now seems so insignificant (why did it matter so much?). Back then though, one summer was a huge part of our up-to-that-point very short lives.
One song I've had on replay for the last couple of weeks really captures this feeling for me. I don't even know if you can relate to what I'm talking about (is it just me?), but listen and tell me if it doesn't remind you of your early teen years, maybe on that last weekend before school starts, late in the afternoon, walking the boardwalk one last time before a friend's older sister (or worse yet, mom) comes to pick you up. I like going back to that place.
All Kids Need Something Hand-Embroidered, Don't They?
August 15, 2008
I can totally see my little C-Man running around in these on a weekend morning playing "tea party."
Is that not the sweetest little girls' nightie? Ever?
Adorable old-fashioned goodness.
And the piece de resistance? A pair of freakin' bloomers with seashells embroidered on them. This would be perfect on a tan little girl running around the beaches of Martha's Vineyard, no?
All available through the lovely http://shop.granamau.com/.
Check It. Yo.
August 14, 2008
All Charley Harper, All the Time.
Last Minute Dinner.
I'm Not Worthy.
August 13, 2008
Anyway, one80three60 has just bestowed on me the high honor of the "Arte y Pico" award. What???? You say you have never heard of this award? That's OK, one80three60 and I are both a little unsure of its origins as well, but that does not detract from the honor in my mind. Thank you, thank you for this.
Continuing in this tradition of love-spreading, I would like to pass this award to fellow blogger, Pittsy (a.k.a. "Mama Bj"). If you have not checked her blog out, do yourself a favor and head over there right now. She always has something helpful, entertaining or thoughtful brewing, and I just love that you never know what you're going to get. Her crafting ideas for kids are especially inspiring to someone like me (and probably you too!), and I always dig her meal-planning posts (that's where I got the idea to do mine). In full disclosure, she is a friend of mine from so-called "real life" but this hasn't influenced my opinion in any significant way. Just see for yourself.
Oh, and one more thing. For you Anthony Bourdain lusters out there, a fellow dear reader has provided a link to that (almost) naked shot. Thought I would share. Because that's the way I roll.
Money in the Bank.
Are You a Mexico Person?
August 12, 2008
I love this oilcloth table topper. It would be great for "crafting" with the kids (not that I'm very good at that).
How cute for a kids party?
I could definitely waste an afternoon in one of these, as long as I had a good book, and well, a hard-working babysitter.
Adorable handmade dolls and animals.
I like this little bag. Maybe Baby J could carry it in a couple of years, with a couple favorite toys inside and maybe a snack.
Continuing with the whole Mexico vibe, I also love these Papel Picado banners (for a party or maybe to just hang in your patio area on an everyday basis....it would encourage a nap on a hammock or a round of margaritas....or both, come to think of it). Buy them here.
And then, if you're brave enough, get yourself one of these dresses to tie everything together. {Search "mexican embroidered dress" on ebay.} AliceQ rocks this look pretty well...if she can do it, I think I might be able to too.
Hot or Not?
August 11, 2008
I really don't know what it is....his cynical masculine afraid-of-nothing approach to life just appeals to me. Plus he isn't afraid to say what he thinks about that little twerp Bobby Flay. And I know, I know, he eats monkey testicles and used to be a heroin addict. But now he's a new dad and he even quit his two pack a day habit for his little baby girl. And come on, the guy can cook.
What say you? Hot or not?
I Promised You Napa.
Here's the "Treatment Waiting Area," and maybe also the "Avoid Going Back to Your Room to Take Care of the Baby Area."
Stroll on over to the Bathhouse and have a mud treatment, why don't you?
This is where the nice lady mixes up your mud concoction. Are you catching the farmhouse-loft vibe?
A close-up of the faucet because I liked it so much. I'm such a sucker for that "rustic modernism" thing.
Here's the view down to the "au naturel" mineral pools. I didn't think it was appropriate to take photos once inside.If you're feeling up to it, go take a class in the Yoga and Movement Studio. There's a beautiful view out to an old oak tree.
Here's the way you walk over to the Restaurant and Bar.
Fantastic bar and restaurant. I guess that's what you would expect when you are in this part of the world. We had room service for dinner both nights after putting Baby J down and the food was awesome. Plus, we got to drink champagne and watch movies in bed (something we never get to do at home). Although there were about 25 crappy unheard-of movies "on demand," Castaway, Wedding Crashers and a new episode of Mad Men were all on regular channels.
Here's the area you can use if you want to get married here. It reminds me a lot of where we got married.I love the old-school pool styling. No fake waterfalls and slides here.Here's where you check in. Very modest and discreet.
I'll show you the room in another post. Must get back to mothering. I know you understand.


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Last week, there was a report that NFL executive V.P. of football operations Ray Anderson was under consideration for a senior front office role with the Raiders.
Per the report by Chris Mortensen of ESPN, Raiders owner Mark Davis is contemplating a restructuring of the organization this offseason. On Sunday morning, Mortensen's colleague Adam Schefter reported that Anderson isn't the only person in the mix for a top role in a revamped Raiders front office.
Schefter reports that Scott O'Neil, former president of Madison Square Garden, is talking with Davis and others about joining the Raiders as team president and instituting significant changes to the organization. O'Neil watched the final game of the regular season from the Raiders sideline, which is when the discussions about coming aboard began. According to Schefter, the Raiders are more focused on O'Neil than they are on Anderson at this point.
Amy Trask is currently the Raiders' CEO and it's not clear how any new hire would impact her role in the organization or if the hiring of O'Neil or anyone else would impact the security of General Manager Reggie McKenzie and coach Dennis Allen.


text:
Minority Leader
Brian Kolb
On behalf of our Minority Conference - and the more than six million New Yorkers we proudly represent statewide - it is my privilege to share our official communications page on the New York State Assembly's website. Here you will find our press releases, legislative reports and other news you can use concerning your State government.
Our Conference has continually advanced smart solutions that have reduced property taxes, lowered energy costs, supported private
sector job creation, made neighborhoods safer and reformed state government. Many of New York's laws were the result of
legislation and ideas that originated from our Conference including:
- Property tax cap to protect homeowners
- School TAx Relief (STAR) program
- STAR Rebate program
- Business and Personal Income Tax reductions
- Corporate Franchise Tax cut
- Welfare reform with real work requirements
- Workers' compensation reform
- Power for Jobs program
- Article X Power Plant Siting Law
- State Agency consolidations to save taxpayer dollars
- Ethics reform to clean up Albany
- Megan's Law - sex offender registration requirement
- Jenna's Law - elimination of parole for violent felony offenders
- Civil confinement of sexual predators
We invite you to share your thoughts for a safer, stronger, more affordable New York. Click here to locate your legislator, or e-mail me at firstname.lastname@example.com and I will share your comments and concerns with my colleagues. We look forward to hearing from you, and working with you, to build a better New York State!
Brian M. Kolb
New York State Assembly Minority Leader


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You can't drink it and you can't bathe in it, but recycled water is a vital part of the solution to our ongoing drought.
Walnut Valley and Rowland Water Districts are adding it to their arsenal as they strive to ensure water service at reasonable rates.
"More than 60 percent of our customers' water usage is outside the home," explained Mike Holmes, Walnut's general manager. "Most of that is used for landscaping, and you don't need potable water for that."
So the two local water districts have banded together to build recycled water systems to serve large commercial users such as golf courses and cemeteries. It is also used in our city and county parks.
Walnut water officials say they deliver 537 million gallons of this "drought-proof" water every year. That's a half-billion gallons of water that don't have to be imported from Northern California.
The two water districts receive recycled water from the County Sanitation Districts' Pomona Water Reclamation Plant. Recycled water is the name given wastewater that has been treated extensively. After being tested and certified by the Department of Health Services, the recycled water is safe for irrigation purposes.
One of Walnut's last projects was a new 1 million gallon reservoir for recycled water at the district's Parker Canyon facility. Even the roof of the semi-submerged reservoir was recycled, holding a garden that helps it blend into the Puente Hills.
And the Rowland Water District installed a new recycled water line along Fullerton Road, running from Industry under the 60 Freeway to the Queen of Heaven cemetery.
"In addition to buying water from the La Habra Heights Water District, recycled water will help us guarantee service to our customers at a reasonable rate," said Rowland's General Manager Ken Deck.
Read more in my story RECYCLED


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Grimm Rings in the Holidays with Gators and Evil Santa!
Dec 12, 2013 7:41 PM EST
'Tis the season for giving, and Grimm is giving double this year.NBC's fantasy crime procedural will air two back-to-back episodes Friday at 9/8c, featuring Wesen that will put an extra chill in your winter. To kick off the night, the Portland PD i… Read more


text: JCPenney Sales Associate Positions Available Full-Time Part-Time Start Date: June 20, 2017 Jobs Description Do you like serving customers and doing everything you can to make them happy? Do you like working in a fast and ever changing environment, with the latest fashion? Well, being a Sales Associate at JCPenney might be the position for you! The Sales Associate seeks out opportunities to assist customers with service and makes the sales floor look neat and organized. Areas of Responsibility Customer Service: You seek out customers and do whatever you can to make their experience great from the sales floor to the register. You listen, you help, and you make them want to come back! Adjusts to customer flow: You are always on the move and available to provide assistance to customers or your co-workers. Maintains product presentation: You are always making adjustments to display the latest fashion and merchandise trends after the customer has taken time to explore all of our great products! Replenish and restock the store: You understand the needs of the customer. When merchandise is getting low, you know just where to get more to ensure all of our customers have the styles and sizes they need. Participates in a learning environment: You absorb new information from your peers or training materials on our merchandise or business processes. Education / Experience Requirements Skills and Characteristics Results: Solve problems and make smart decisions that drive sales, profit or customer service; execute your work efficiently and effectively; inspire strong performance in yourself and others Ownership: Provide great customer service; cooperate and build positive, inclusive and respectful relationships; take accountability for your actions and outcomes Intensity: Proactively find ways to improve the customer experience; show the confidence and courage to do what's right; take action with energy and urgency How to Apply Apply online or see store for details. Apply Now Share Job:


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What Obama May Do Next, At Home And Around The World
Host Rachel Martin speaks with NPR correspondents Ari Shapiro, Scott Horsley and Michele Kelemen about President Obama's likely second-term agenda, from handling debt and the deficit to gun control and next steps in the country's relationship with Iran.
As President Barack Obama takes the oath of office today - privately - and tomorrow in public, he inherits plenty of issues on all fronts, domestic and foreign. Joining us now to look at the agenda for the next term, NPR White House correspondent Scott Horsley. Hey, Scott.
SCOTT HORSLEY, BYLINE: Good to be with you.
MARTIN: Ari Shapiro also covers the White House. He's here in the studio. Hi, Ari.
ARI SHAPIRO, BYLINE: Hi, Rachel.
MARTIN: And we're also joined by State Department correspondent Michele Kelemen, who's also here. Hey, Michele.
MICHELE KELEMEN, BYLINE: Hello.
MARTIN: Ari, let's start with you. President Obama no longer has to worry about re-election. He's free to pursue whatever agenda he pleases. Are we seeing that already?
SHAPIRO: Well, he has said that he is going to put all the weight of his office behind guns. Part of that may be freedom to pursue the agenda he pleases. Part of it may be that the political moment is very different post-Newtown than pre-Newtown. We've seen in all kinds of polls that the American people support gun control measures now in far greater numbers than they did before. One of the most interesting develops on how he will pursue this is that OFA, which used to be Organizing for America, his campaign infrastructure, has reemerged as Organization for Action, this outside group that can raise money and pursue activistic goals presumably to advance President Obama's agenda. It's going to be led by Jim Messina, who ran his campaign. And so, already, just right out of the gate on the issue of gun control, we're seeing a lot of activity to try to energize those grassroots supporters to get them to help advance the gun control agenda as they advanced his campaign goals.
MARTIN: What about immigration reform? I mean, in his first term, this is something that President Obama tried and failed. Is this still something that he is committed to?
SHAPIRO: Yes. And the big change on immigration reform seems to be that Republicans are coming around to it. We saw Marco Rubio recently endorse what looks very similar to President Obama's plan. And Paul Ryan, a prominent House Republican, who was a vice presidential nominee, endorsed the Rubio plan. I think many people believe this is something that actually could get done in the second term in a bipartisan way, even though it was so, so difficult to accomplish in the first term.
MARTIN: I want to turn now to Scott Horsley. Scott, obviously, the economy is front and center in the president's agenda this next term. Congressional Republicans are saying before he does anything else, before he tackles any of the problems and challenges Ari just outlined, he has to deal with the budget deficit. Is that a problem for the president?
HORSLEY: We don't - dealing with the deficit isn't necessarily a problem for the president, but his goal is to do so in a way that doesn't fundamentally change the social safety net and doesn't drain too much money out of the economy in the short run. We've already seen a bit of a hit with the end of the payroll tax cut. But ideally, he'd like to maybe see some additional money in the short run spent on things like public works projects. And the good news - if you can call it that - is that we've begun to hear from congressional Republicans that they're not going to insist on a knockdown drag-out fight over the debt ceiling - at least a temporary extension of the debt ceiling. The problem for the president is if he has to keep going back to the debt ceiling every three months or so, it's going to make it that much harder to turn to gun control or immigration or anything else.
MARTIN: But the president has said that dealing with the deficit, Scott, is not as big a problem as some have made it out to be. Has there been progress?
HORSLEY: Yeah, there has been progress. You know, between the spending cuts that were enacted in 2011, the tax increases that took effect at the beginning of this year. The president says we're now within one and a half trillion dollars of bringing the deficit into a manageable range. Now, that's still a lot of money. But back in December, when the president was negotiating over a big deal with House Speaker John Boehner, he was putting $800 billion in spending cuts on the table. If you could marry that up with tax revenue, at least you can actually see how you could get to that one and a half trillion dollar figure. That still doesn't resolve the long-term problem with the deficit, which is really driven by rising health care costs. Ultimately, we're going to have to find a way to get control over those.
MARTIN: Let's turn to foreign policy. Michele Kelemen, we often see second-term presidents focusing on foreign policy to secure parts of their legacy. Obviously, Syria is something that is in the headlines right now. Any signs that this administration is going to take a stronger position?
KELEMEN: I mean, you see 60,000 people dead, humanitarian crisis, very little hope of a diplomatic breakthrough. And the real concern in Washington is that if or when Bashar al-Assad's government falls, you have a failed state in the Middle East. There's clearly a lot of discussion about what else the U.S. can do. So far, the U.S. has helped with humanitarian aid. It's helped with non-lethal aid to the opposition, but there's a lot of pressure building for this administration to do more to support opposition, perhaps with arms. Because, as one former State Department official put it, Syria's future is going to be determined by guys with guns.
MARTIN: There's clearly a lot of pressure on President Obama to also do something about Iran. Is this the year that something actually changes in the relationship between the U.S. and Iran?
KELEMEN: Well, the administration's worked hard with countries around the world to tighten sanctions, to pressure Iran to get back to negotiations on its suspect nuclear program. President Obama has cautioned against the loose talk of war and says there's time for diplomacy. But, you know, there's a lot of pressure building as Iran continues to build up its stockpile of enriched uranium. So, a lot of people say this is the year that the U.S. has to take some action. The talks have focused on these really incremental steps, confidence-building steps that have really gone nowhere. So, a lot of people are saying this is a time for a much bolder diplomatic initiative with Iran.
MARTIN: We'll see if that happens. NPR's Michele Kelemen, Scott Horsley and Ari Shapiro. Thanks to all of you.
SHAPIRO: You're welcome.
HORSLEY: Thanks, Rachel.
KELEMEN: Thank you.
MARTIN: You're listening to NPR News.
Copyright © 2013 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio record.


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1) Faber Spring Speaker: "Growing in Love and Wisdom: Adapting Buddhist Meditation for Christian Prayer" ~ Please join us as we welcome Susan Stabile, Robert and Marion Short Distinguished Chair in Law at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, who will explore some of the common values and understandings that underlie Christianity and Buddhism. Drawing from her recently published book, Growing in Love and Wisdom: Tibetan Buddhist Sources for Christian Meditation, she will discuss how meditation practices drawn from the Buddhist tradition can enrich Christian spirituality. Susan will tell us of her own faith journey from Catholicism to Buddhism and back to Catholicism, and how Buddhism continues to enrich her Christian practice. The presentation will include a guided meditation based on one of the meditations in her book and will be followed by a reception with book sale/signing.
2) **NEW** Come and See: Spiritual Direction 101 This offering is a simple way to learn about spiritual direction. The format is easy. Participants will meet individually with a director for about 30-45 minutes. This is a time for you to discuss the joys and struggles of life, reflect upon where you are in your faith journey, ponder any decisions you have to make, or explore questions of meaning and purpose. The conversation occurs in a safe place and is kept confidential. The commitment is
flexible, usually two or three times in the semester. Come and see………for more information, contact Michael Dante at 288-5059 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
3) Mission Week: "The World is our Home" As part of Mission Week, the Faber Center has asked members of the Marquette community to take time to offer short reflections that speak to their personal experience of working and learning in a Jesuit, Catholic university and in so doing, living out Marquette's mission. Watch for News Briefs to provide links to these short video reflections.
Lenten/Easter Offerings:
4) A Retreat for Busy People: During the Season of Lent, we invite and encourage you to slow down from the hectic pace of life and look toward growing and deepening your spiritual life. A Retreat for Busy People will give you the opportunity to pause, experience some quiet time and re-center yourself. This retreat can be adapted to your busy schedule, including evenings and Saturdays. Register by Wednesday, February 6, at 288-4545 or email@example.com. The retreat begins and ends with a communal prayer service that takes place in the Chapel of the Holy Family, Alumni Memorial Union, 2nd floor.
5) Lenten Half-Day Ecumenical Retreat: All employees are invited to take some time out for prayer and reflection, refreshment and renewal, as you travel along your journey during the Holy Season of Lent. Please join the Faber Center for this morning of slowing down at the end of your hectic and busy week. Register by Wednesday, February 20, at email@example.com or by calling 288-4545.
6)Third Week Group: One of the hallmarks of Ignatian Spirituality rests in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius in which Ignatius teaches us through recommendations in prayer, meditation and contemplations on scripture, to know, love and follow Jesus more closely in our daily lives. During the Third Week of the Spiritual Exercises, Ignatius invites us to join Jesus as intimate companions during the very human experience of His suffering and death in the Passion. It is in following Jesus closely on this path that we also discover how to be more personal, intimate and present in our own suffering and in the suffering of others. Even in His walk towards death, Jesus teaches us to love more deeply, live more freely. Please join us as we create a faith community of companions willing to follow Jesus more closely and intimately this Lenten season. All faiths welcome. Space is limited. A light lunch will be served. Register by Wednesday, February 20, at 288-4545 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
7) Weekly Bible Study: Luke ~ The Good News of God's Mercy: During the joyous season of Easter, we invite you to join fellow faculty and staff for a lunch-time Bible study group. The Gospel of Luke provides us with examples of God's mercy as shown to us through the actions of His son, Jesus. This will be a time to read, study and reflect on how we will respond to this same mercy which has been given to each of us. Register by Wednesday, February 27, at firstname.lastname@example.com or by calling 288-4545. A light lunch will be served.
8) Sacrament of Reconciliation: Fathers J. J. O'Leary, S.J. and Wally Stohrer, S.J. are available by appointment for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. They can be contacted either by e-mail or phone as noted below.
J. J. O'Leary, S.J.: email@example.com or 288-4525
Wally Stohrer, S.J.: email@example.com or 288-5090
Semester Offerings:
9) GROW with Marquette: In partnership with the Human Resources, we warmly invite you to take part in this campus program. The Faber Center is dedicated to promoting Ignatian spirituality on the Marquette campus. Come join us for a tour, enjoy a light lunch and experience what the Center has to offer. Register through Human Resources at: firstname.lastname@example.com
10)Men's Spirituality Forum: Men of all faiths and beliefs from the Marquette community are invited to come together for a monthly discussion and reflection on the ways men relate to each other, to God and to God's world. Register by calling 288-4545 or at firstname.lastname@example.com
11) Women's Lunch and Reflection: We warmly welcome all women employees to join us and other women colleagues for lunch, conversation, meditation and reflection. These gatherings are a wonderful time to meet with friends and colleagues to build community and renew and restore our spirits. Space is limited. Please register for one lunch date so that we may accommodate as many as possible throughout the semester. If additional space is available, a notice will be sent should you wish and be able to join us again. We look forward to gathering with you and continuing to build and nurture our campus community of Marquette women. Register for one of the dates below at firstname.lastname@example.com or by calling Ellen Blonski at 288-4545. You may consider your registration accepted and confirmed unless otherwise notified. Facilitated by Dr. Kathy Coffey-Guenther, Associate Vice-President, Office of Mission and Ministry. All lunches begin at Noon and end by 1:00 p.m. Please feel free to join us even if you are coming from a class/meeting and may be a bit late, or need to leave a bit early to get to a next class or meeting
12) Rosary: Looking for a way to put some prayer into your day? Please join us in praying the Rosary. No RSVP required. All are welcome.
13) Repairers of the Breach Brown Bag Lunch and Scripture Sharing: All faculty and staff are invited to join with the Faber Center in sharing a light lunch, community and reflection with members of the Repairers of the Breach day shelter run by and for the homeless of Milwaukee. A sandwich and much good conversation with
our neighbors will be provided as the members of Repairers lead us in the African method of reflecting on scripture. All faith traditions are welcome. We will travel as a group once a month on Fridays throughout the Spring, 2013 semester.
14) Cancer Support Group: If you, or someone you love, are struggling with cancer, please join us. This group meets each semester for lunch, support, encouragement and sharing. While participants may be dealing with various diagnoses and medical challenges, contributions of care, wisdom and knowing compassion from colleagues can truly help ease the journey. For further information or support, call Kathy Coffey-Guenther at 288-6672 or Ellen Blonski at 288-4545. A light lunch will be served. To attend, please call 288-4545 or contact the
15) A Reflective Approach to Retirement: Making the transition from the work environment to retirement can provide many challenges and opportunities. Questions of meaning, uncertainty and purpose start coming forward. This change affects how we see ourselves and how we relate to others. Whether you have already made the decision to retire or are just considering retirement in the near future, please join us for this lunch time conversation to discuss some thoughtful and spiritual ways of addressing this transition. A light lunch will be served. Space is limited. Register by Friday, April 12, at 288-4545 or email@example.com
ADDITIONAL OFFERINGS for your consideration:
For more information on any of these programs or to request a meeting, please contact:
Faber Center for Ignatian Spirituality
Schroeder Complex, Room 111
560 North 16th Street
Phone: 414-288-4545
Fax: 414-288-7323
E-Mail: email@example.com


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got my two Pak Lite's today. damdest litesI have ever seen. They are on my two Harley's andI ordered two more today for my kids. Nice lite, brite ad so compact, I think the Litiu is the way to go also. thanks for posting that. as I never had seen or heard of them.
I assume you have read my thread called "new cw45, plastic wear." You seam to have a lot of knowledge on these Kahr polymer guns. Am I expecting too much out of a gun to expect to be able to buy a new gun, clean and have it work without having to sand or deburr the gun in some way?
Sir -
Bawanna is making some custom grips for my step father. My step father is a Vietnam vet with 2 purple hearts and Bawanna is inlaying some Army lapel pins into some Ebony wood to go into a SW1911sc that I picked up used. It will be my step-dad's first civilian handgun after a lifetime of hunting with shotguns and rifles. The long description is only to illustrate that what Bawanna is doing for me is an amazing gesture for a gift for an amazing man.
Bawanna said he only takes donations of raw material and shooting supplies for his hobbies. As a "moderator", I am curious if you know what specific round Bawanna likes to shoot or any other donation that would work for him personally. I can put my hands on some good stock for him to work with, but I want to make this donation the best I can.
Thanks for your help if you can provide!
Junior Member
Senior Member
KahrTalk 1K Member


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Steen, Harding, Avalanche among top 10 surprisesby Dan Rosen
With the first quarter of the 2013-14 season complete, NHL.com looks at some of its biggest storylines and award contenders.
Some of the NHL's biggest surprises this season can be found atop the leaderboards for goals, assists, points, wins, save percentage, goals-against average and shutouts.
A who's who of NHL superstars it is not, but with a quarter of the season now complete, the players and teams at or near the top of the stat sheets and standings deserve to be taken seriously.
Here are the top 10 surprises so far in the 2013-14 NHL season (listed in no particular order):
Steen rockets up the scoring charts
St. Louis Blues forward Alexander Steen has been carrying the hot stick into every game this season.
His 26 points are second in the League to Sidney Crosby's 28, and he is tied with Alex Ovechkin for the League lead in goals with 17. He had points in 13 straight games and 17 of his first 18 before getting shut out in the past two. Steen has scored at least one goal in 14 games this season, including three two-goal games.
"I think the offense is a direct reflection of a lot of things with him," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock told NHL.com earlier this season. "It's an accumulation of a guy that plays with a great conscience. He's constantly in the right position defensively, and that allows him to be in the right position offensively."
Harding is the Wild's new hope
Josh Harding's recent start against the Montreal Canadiens notwithstanding, the Minnesota Wild goalie has been nothing short of brilliant. He has 13 wins, a 1.48 goals-against average and .939 save percentage following Minnesota's 4-3 win against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday.
Harding's story is made all the more heartwarming because he's becoming a star in the NHL in spite of his disease.
Harding was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last year, but to his credit he will not talk publicly about playing with the disease this season because he wants to keep the focus on his team and, if necessary, his play.
"Life is full of uncertainty. You never know what will happen, but right now he's just a good NHL goaltender," Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher said. "There doesn't need to be any asterisk with what he's doing."
Roy's impact
The Colorado Avalanche have a chance to go from worst to first in the Western Conference under rookie coach Patrick Roy, who has brought his brand of fiery intensity and years of experience behind the bench in junior to the rejuvenated franchise.
The Avalanche have gotten superb goaltending from Semyon Varlamov and Jean-Sebastien Giguere. They are allowing a Western Conference-low 2.10 goals-per game despite giving up 32 shots on goal per game.
Matt Duchene was off to a torrid start before sustaining an oblique injury. Paul Stastny has played well. Gabriel Landeskog is healthy and producing. Ryan O'Reilly's holdout from last season is all but forgotten. PA Parenteau has been solid and rookie Nathan MacKinnon, the No. 1 pick at the 2013 NHL Draft, has been as good as advertised for an 18-year-old.
"When you've tasted losing, it breeds more losing," Duchene said before sustaining his injury. "When you taste winning, you get that hunger for it. I've never wanted to win games more than right now in my entire career. It's heartbreaking when we lose right now."
Lightning near the top of the Atlantic Division
Jon Cooper has brought the right message and systems to the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Ben Bishop clearly has been the right goalie, because the team, which hasn't reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2011, is currently second in the Atlantic Division, one point behind the Boston Bruins.
The Lightning, though, will have their hands full in the coming months because Steven Stamkos is on the sidelines recovering from surgery to repair his fractured tibia. Tampa Bay won its first two games without Stamkos, but has since lost two in a row, giving up 11 goals.
Malkin's goal drought
Evgeni Malkin's goalless drought is at 15 games after he was held without a goal in the Pittsburgh Penguins' 4-0 victory against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night. It is the longest goalless drought of Malkin's career.
He's still producing points (14 assists during the drought), but without Malkin's typical production, the Penguins' offense had dipped (32 goals in the past 14 games). However, what's amazing is Malkin is still a point-per-game player without scoring a goal since Oct. 17. He has 22 points in 22 games.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Hertl
There are plenty of early-season candidates for the Calder Trophy, but none of them burst onto the scene with as much flair as San Jose Sharks forward Tomas Hertl.
The demonstrative, affable 20-year-old from the Czech Republic scored four goals in a 9-2 win against the New York Rangers on Oct. 8, capping his night with an artistic between-the-legs move to beat Martin Biron. Cameras caught his mother in the stands in tears. It was the third game of Hertl's career, but he was simply building on what he did three nights earlier, when he scored two goals in a 4-1 win against the Phoenix Coyotes.
Hertl cooled after that, scoring two goals in the next 11 games, but he has heated up of late, scoring four goals and adding three assists in the past seven games.
Seguin's restart in Dallas
Tyler Seguin left the Bruins with a battered reputation and so much to prove about himself, his play and his off-ice habits. He's doing that for the Dallas Stars this season.
Seguin has been a model citizen and a star player in Dallas, forming a connection on and off the ice with captain Jamie Benn that is helping the Stars stay above water in the Western Conference. They are fifth in the Central Division with 24 points, six short of the fourth-place Avalanche.
Seguin leads the Stars with 12 goals (his high in Boston was 29 in 2011-12) and is tied with Benn with a team-high 23 points. He scored four goals in less than 15 minutes of ice time in a 7-3 win against the Calgary Flames last week.
"He wants to show the world that whatever was out there was unjustified, that this is who he is as a player," Dallas GM Jim Nill told NHL.com earlier in the season. "He's been one of the best players on the ice for us since Day One."
Upside down in Phoenix
The Coyotes have long been known as a team built around its defense and goaltending. They haven't finished in the League's top 10 in goals since 2001-02.
This season, though, the Coyotes have been scoring more than at any point since the franchise moved from Winnipeg to Phoenix in 1996. They're also giving up goals at a much higher rate than they've been accustomed to since Dave Tippett took over as coach in 2009. They were fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.29), but 24th in goals allowed per game (3.05).
"Quite frankly, it's a little bit foreign territory for us," Phoenix GM Don Maloney told NHL.com.
Phoenix's power play has been a big reason the offense has been so dangerous. The addition of center Mike Ribeiro coupled with the play on the blue line from Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Keith Yandle has helped the Coyotes score on 22.4 percent of their power plays (sixth in the NHL). However, they were 24th on the penalty kill at 78.5 percent.
Moulson, Vanek and the blockbuster
The Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders sent shock waves through the NHL by pulling off the biggest blockbuster trade of the first quarter on Oct. 27. Buffalo sent Thomas Vanek to the Islanders in exchange for Matt Moulson and New York's 2014 first-round and 2015 second-round picks.
Ironically, Darcy Regier, the Sabres general manager who pulled off the trade, was fired Nov. 13.
Moulson and Vanek are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents following the season. They have gotten off to vastly different starts with their new clubs. Moulson has nine points in 10 games, but Vanek has three points in six games and has missed the past five games with an upper-body injury.
'The Professor' in pads
Ben Scrivens' teammates have started calling him "The Professor" for his linguistic abilities in front of the media. The Los Angeles Kings goalie, who went to Cornell University, typically offers intelligent, thought-provoking answers. He's even used the word "meritocracy" in a quote.
Scrivens, thrust into the starting role because Jonathan Quick sustained a Grade 2 groin strain Nov. 12, has been earning his playing time.
He has won four straight starts with two shutouts and only four goals allowed since Quick went down. Scrivens leads the NHL with a 1.35 GAA, a .935 save percentage and three shutouts. He was named the NHL's First Star of the Week for last week after sweeping through the New York metropolitan area with three wins and back-to-back shutouts against the New Jersey Devils and Rangers.
"You work hard and you want your efforts to be shown to show you're ready," Scrivens said. "Unfortunately, as a backup, a lot of times that doesn't come to fruition, but if you don't do that and a situation like this comes up, you've lost an opportunity to potentially give yourself a look somewhere else or give yourself a look here. There are only so many chances you get at this level, so you've got to be ready."


text: Cassiani collections edible candy favors are sure to be a crowd favorite at your party. Each favor consists of a Kraft pillow box and 6 delicious white mint flavored candy, the box is accented with a fall in love label design . They box measures 2" x 3" mints are gluten free and proudly made in the USA.


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Volvo CD-i Catalogue
>> Monday, November 23, 2009
All over the internet you'll find stories where CD-i is titled as the least succesful console, mainly because in the eyes of consumers the amount and quality of games was too low. From a different perspective, the professional market is where CD-i eventually peaked. Especially as tools for education (elementary school, driving license tests, School 2000). In other businesses, you'll find a lot of brands that used CD-i to promote there products in kiosks like we saw with K'Nex a few weeks back. Normally, collectors aren't able to get a lot of these because these discs were only used for promotion. Moreover, they are not published by the same company like Philips media handled most CD-i games. But once in a while a rare title like this pops up on ebay. Like today, with the Volvo CD-i disc. I was aware that Peugeot did a CD-i program at that time but I've never seen it from Volvo too. "Rare Volvo cars Philips CD-I disc. From the ill-fated Philips video disc format... there can't have been many car manufacturers to have done marketing on this format so this is a rare bit of Volvo and Philips history! From memory (not being able to actually view the disc) I'd say 1992/93 which dates it to K reg and the introduction of the 850."
For the coming week, you can find it here.


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Please help
"The Heavenrich family of five people randomly picks a name of a family member from a hat to decide for whom to buy a present. What is the probability that nobody picks their own name? If someone picks their own name, all the names are returned and everyone picks again. What is the probability that it took exactly two tries for everyone to pick a name of another family member?


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These scones are always a favorite at Coveside's breakfasts. They're best fresh from the oven, served with lemon curd and berry jam. (You can buy lemon curd at specialty food stores, or there is a recipe here.)
Lemon Cream Scones
(Makes 12 scones)
3 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
zest of one lemon
6 Tbsp cold butter
3/4 cup heavy cream
3 eggs
1/2 tsp lemon extract
Preheat over to 400 degrees
Pulse dry ingredients in a food processor, including the lemon zest. Cut butter into 6 pieces and add to dry ingredients. Pulse only until butter is the size of peas. Whisk eggs and heavy cream together and then add the lemon extract. At the B&B I prepare the ingredients the night before and keep them in the refrigerator. This way the ingredients are very cold and make for a better scone. Put the dry ingredients into a bowl and slowly add the egg/milk mixture, gently combining with a fork. Add a little more cream if necessary to hold the dough together. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead gently, just until dough becomes smooth and holds together. Divide dough into two pieces. Pat each piece into a circle 1 inch thick and 6-8 inches in diameter. Place circles onto baking sheet and cut each into 6 wedges.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown; serve warm.
Here's how they look, ready to eat with lemon curd and strawberry jam. Yummm!