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Creamy Carrot Ginger Soup
It's been a while since I have made soup. I know I have said before that I am one of those weird people who loves to eat soup any time of year...yada yada yada. That statement remains true BUT I will say, I have gone through a bit of a dry spell with soup recently. Maybe because of the hot summer weather, maybe because I have just been lazy. Either way, it has been a while.
I went out to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in Columbus on Friday night. My mom got some chilled curried carrot soup as her starter and I obviously had to have a bite. Not surprisingly, it was GOOD. It was good enough that I immediately put it at the top of my list to re-create this weekend. I should mention that I am not always a fan of chilled soups. I think they can straddle a thin line and can often be more like savory smoothies. No thanks. Still, I was excited to see how my re-creation turned out.
Yesterday when I was at the grocery I gathered all my ingredients (carrots, onion, garlic, ginger, cashews, vegetable broth, etc). I didn't buy any curry because I was 1,000% sure I already had curry leftover at home from some Indian dishes I made a few months ago. I was excited to play with curry in this dish. I love curry.
Unfortunately, when I got home and started making the soup, I realized I didn't have any curry.
I have no idea what happened to my curry....I swear I had close to a whole spice bottle left.
Well shoot...on to plan B.
By the way, I had no plan B. I did however have some oranges in my fruit basket. I have made a few carrot orange soups in the past and I know I really like that flavor combo. Long story short, the oranges saved this soup. Instead of the savory curry soup I had originally planned on making, it was transformed into a bright and cheery, very fresh tasting soup.
If the color isn't enough to make you want to dive right into the bowl, the aroma and flavors certainly will. The ginger and orange pair so lovely with the carrot and the cashews provide a luscious creaminess that really rounds everything out. Raw cashews never cease to amaze me by how versatile they are. You can really transform a soup or sauce by adding some raw cashews. It's pretty awesome!
On top of being incredibly yummy, this soup is packed with nutrition. Just look at that color...hello antioxidants!
I was planning on serving this soup chilled but I actually prefer it hot. You can eat it however your little heart desires. I think it's safe to say that I am back on the soup train. In fact, I just finished eating a big bowl of this soup as part of my lunch today.
I plan to experiment with a creamy curry soup again soon. I bet you can take a guess at what the first thing on my grocery list will be. I'll give you a hint....it starts with a "c", ends in a "y", and rhymes with murray.
Creamy Carrot Ginger Soup (V)
|Makes 4-5 bowls|
A luxuriously creamy soup bursting with refreshing flavor and wholesome, nutrient dense ingredients. Enjoy hot or cold!
- 1 Tbsp olive oil (or coconut oil)
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 3 Tbsp finely chopped fresh ginger
- 3 small cloves garlic
- 1 pound carrots, peeled and chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 4 cups vegetable broth (I used no-salt-added vegetable bouillon cubes + water)
- Juice of 2 large oranges
- 3/4 cups raw cashews, soaked in water
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Place cashews in a bowl and soak for at least 30 minutes.
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add in the onions and ginger and saute for 5 minutes, until onions begin to get translucent. Add the garlic and saute for another minute.
- Pour in the broth, orange juice, and carrots. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for about 15-20 minutes until the carrots are fork tender.
- Drain and rinse cashews well. Pour soup and cashews in a blender (you might need to do this in 2-3 batches if your blender isn't big enough). Starting on low, blend until it comes together, gradually increasing the speed to high. *An immersion blender will work as well.
- Taste and adjust as needed (salt pepper, etc).
- Enjoy!


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Today, 133 million Americans suffer from at least one chronic disease according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with 85% of healthcare dollars going towards the treatment of chronic disease.
This is a staggering figure that makes you consider the increasingly significant flow down effects that this is having throughout people's lives, and also the US economy.
Contributing Facts
- Two thirds of older Americans have multiple chronic conditions (1)
- 71% of U.S. health care spending goes to treating multiple chronic conditions (2)
- 82% of patients prefer to receive care in the home (3)
- $1.3 trillion is the estimated impact of the top seven chronic diseases on the US economy (4)
Research studies have consistently demonstrated that care management services such as medication reconciliation, coordination among all care providers, arrangements for social services, and remote patient monitoring reduce the cost of care for chronic disease patients, while also improving their overall health. Historically, these services have not been provided because there has not a reimbursement model that would cover the investments required for effective CCM.
Effective January 1, 2015, CMS is reimbursing providers for delivering non-face to face care management services to their beneficiaries. CMS will reimburse for CCM under CPT Code 99490:
- Average payment of $40.39 per patient, per month (5)
- Total Medicare potential CCM reimbursement in 2015 $16B (6)
To help improve the management of chronic disease patients, Orion Health is working with Qualcomm Life on a joint Chronic Care Management Platform solution that will help reduce cost, and improve overall care for chronic disease patients.
Together, Orion Health and Qualcomm Life's solutions and experience uniquely qualify the organizations to deploy at scale and solve the security and interoperability challenges that have been plaguing remote chronic care for decades. This innovative solution will enable patients to be proactively managed to prevent acute care episodes, and improve clinical and financial outcomes for all stakeholders.
For the patient, it will help improve self-management by simplifying chronic care regimens and organizes care and interactions through a single patient portal. The combined solution will provide instant feedback and chart progress to keep them motivated and on-track. This enhanced level of connectivity will engage the patient by improving communication between patients, their families and their care team.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The State of Aging and Health in America 2013. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,US Dept of Health and Human Services; 2013.
- Analysis of 2010 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Data. (2013) Abt Associates | Anderson G. Chronic Care: Making the Case for Ongoing Care. (2010).
- Hine, Nicolas A.; Martin, Christopher J.; Newell, Alan F.; Arnott, John L. Advances in home care technologies: results of the MATCH project. ed. / Kenneth J. Turner. Vol. 31 Amsterdam : IOS Press, 2012. p. 162-182 (Assistive technology research series; Vol. 31).
- Chatterjee A, Kubendran S, King J, DeVol R. Checkup Time: Chronic Disease and Wellness in America. Milken Institute, January 29, 2014. URL: http://www.milkeninstitute.org/pdf/ Checkup-Time-Chronic-Disease-and-Wellness-in-America.pdf
- 2015 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule (79 Fed. Reg. 67548 (Nov. 13, 2014)).
- http://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports /Chronic-Conditions/MCC_Main.html

subset: commoncrawl


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Shannon and Peter selected me, Ugo Iannuzzi, as their wedding cinematographer in September 2012. Their friends, who had used our services that same year, had recommended UProductions to them. We always feel blessed when past clients speak such high praise about our wedding cinematography company, and even suggest us to others! Shannon and Peter knew what they were looking for from their wedding filmmakers, and we proved to be a good match.
The UProductions crew began this momentous day at the Royal York Hotel. We are very fond of this historic site. Both elegant and beautiful, it's an ideal place to shoot. From there, we walked to St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, a majestic Romanesque Revival church on Simcoe Street. Shannon and Peter's reception was held at The Doctor's House, a popular venue in Kleinburg.
Shannon and Peter are a wonderful couple, who were clearly overjoyed by the events of the day. Despite the humid weather conditions, the day shaped out to be great. It was characterized by special traditions, numerous wardrobe changes by the couple, beautifully decorated venues, and of course, much love.
We have to give thanks to Kelly Spinelli from Laura Kelly Wedding Design . She and her staff were so helpful throughout the day. We always recommend that our clients work with a wedding planner for their big day. It relieves a great deal of stress, and ensures that every last detail is handled by a professional. That way, the couple can enjoy their celebrations without undue worry.
Please have a look at Shannon & Peter's wedding highlights produced from our wedding cinematographers.
Other notable vendors at Shannon & Peter's wedding included the following:
Venue – The Doctor's House
Wedding Planner – Laura Kelly Wedding Design
Ceremony – St Andrew's Presbyterian Church
People regularly inquire about the type of video equipment we use. We're more than happy to share the following list with anyone who may be interested:
Canon 5D Mark ll
5D Mark lll
Canon C100
50mm 1.4
14mm 1.4
70-200mm 2.8
85mm 1.2
24mm 1.2
35mm 1.4
16-35mm 2.8
100mm macro 2.8
Phillip Bloom dolly
H4N Zoom Audio
Sennheiser lav mics
MacBook Pro


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well folks, this is it. the day it all ends. the end of an era. the passing of the baton. the day for new beginnings...
(oh come on, i couldn't resist being a little over dramatic about the whole thing.)
Actually it is a bit of an exciting start for me. I am officially jumping into my very own solo little business after crafting with my dear Theresa over at Doormouse for many fun years.
marizy doats will be making its debut tonight at Last Thursday in the Albert Arts District. If you are in the Portland area, come by. :) I'll be right in front of Townsends Tea shop. This was a last-minute opportunity and i decided to go for it even though i don't feel quite ready.
but you know, sometimes i never feel ready. sometimes i just have to go and try. this is good for me, the consummate perfectionist. ;)
little felted animal pincushions? check. loads of pretty and random earrings and necklaces? check. pretty display items? check. makshift business cards? check check.
Also, my friend Guadalupe will be there with me, one table over. She is a silversmith and designs and creates beautiful jewelry with lost wax cast silver designs and amazing natural stones and gems.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
So there it is, my brand new place to ramble and post profuse amounts of pretty and/or cute images. Please change your links, as after today, i will no longer be posting here at somebody's little weasel.
It's been a long go of it but i am glad to moving on to a fresh page. The past couple years have been full of so many good clean starts and this one feel like it's been too long coming.
This blog has been a place for me to rant, think out loud, ponder, have fun, post all the random silliness, a way to process all the things in my head, and share the things in my life.
There is a lot of posts here that have hard memories tied to them, many with good memories too. But for now i feel like it's time to put them away and let them gather some dust. It's time for them to go up in the attic in a cigar box and be memories. It's time for moving forward and being new.


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Brian Block's practice is centered on language as it relates to perception. His projects often explore our relationships to perceptual authorities, and the realities they produce and propagate. Block often begins his projects with in-depth research followed by the creation of works which engage with forms of knowledge and information produced within authoritative forms of reality.
Current projects include the "Information Paintings" which take up museum wall label texts from his archive: www.artinformations.com and move them into the language of painting. His project "The Edward Bernays Case" developed out of research into the psychoanalysis of controversial and notorious self-aggrandizing Public Relations pioneer Edward Bernays (1891-1995), whose knowledge of psychology of public persuasion arrived from his uncle Sigmund Freud.
Brian Block was born in Milton, MA and studied English literature prior to completing his MFA at SVA in NYC where he studied closely with Mel Bochner and Sarah Charlesworth. Recently, he has returned to institution based education, at the Whitney Independent Study Program 2015-16, and Hunter College in 2013-14.
He has exhibited at the Yale University Art Gallery, Stellan Holm Gallery, White Columns, and PARTICIPANT INC, while his video work has been screened internationally, most notably at LES RECONTRES in Paris, IMPAKT in Utrecht and at V22 in London. Block has done residencies at the American Academy in Rome, The Watermill Center, The Cooper Union, and the Whitney ISP.


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Idaho Counties
Idaho's history lies with its native tribes, the Lewis and Clark Expedition and determined pioneers on the Oregon Trail. Today's Idaho is both cosmopolitan and small-town friendly.
There are 44 counties in Idaho. Find the county clerk's information, online services, and more in the county pages below.
Additional Resources
County photos courtesy of Idaho Tourism and the Idaho.gov Flickr Group.


text: We have arrived back from an intoxicatingly beautiful trip through the wonderful Outer Hebrides. Travelling from South Uist to Harris and then onto Skye. The untouched natural landscapes, fantastic idyllic beaches, and growing farmlands showed us a way to relax by stopping time and allowing us to recharge our batteries. A very inspiring trip, filling me with new ideas for paintings.


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Should your teeth ever require a restorative treatment, you can rest assured knowing Dr. Moosavi will carefully walk you through each and every option and make you a well informed partner in making treatment decisions. Providing you with excellent care is our number one priority and we will always make sure you are taken care of with respect, trust and a gentle touch.
We combine experience with the latest in dental technology to deliver the best patient experience possible.


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PR Bandits Saturday Morning Run – 12 South
East Nasty is partnering with the 'PR Bandits' again in 2017 who are hosting supported long runs on Saturday mornings. Come run with us and our new friend T. S. Cindy! Rain or shine, our run will go on! This Saturday, June 24th, we will start at the Sevier Park Shelter at 6:30 a.m.. Please note - this is always one of our largest turnouts and the lot we meet near is limited! There is plenty of parking throughout the park but don't pull in at 6:30 expecting to jump out and catch us for the start!
The run brings you into both Oak Hills and Green Hills, then down Belmont Blvd and into the city for the longer route. We offer two distance options, and even though it is not an out-and-back, you can modify this run to your liking. We will have Tailwind hydration on course thanks to Nashville Running Company and provide water at the start/finish.
8mi - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/755024315 12mi - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/717094933
RSVP here and join the PR Bandits Facebook Group for more info, get run invites, and to link up with other runners. Saturday supported runs will be held at various favorite running routes across Nashville.


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Teeth in a Day: What to Expect/
If you've been to our website before, you know we can't say enough about All-on-Four dental implants: how life-changing it can be, how great our specialists are at performing the procedure (yes, they really are), and how much gratitude our patients express when they get their smiles back.
But a few of our patients have pointed out that we haven't talked much about what actually happens on the day you come in for the All-on-Four procedure. So, we thought we'd break it down for you here. We're pretty sure you'll be surprised by how simple the process really is.
And, if you're a regular at Town Center Dentistry, you'll recognize the touch of class and the Five Star Service we provide with everything we do.
Prior to your All-on-Four procedure
Before the day of your All-on-Four, you will meet with one of your favorite specialists who will gather information to determine various factors and plan for the details of your procedure. These details will include the length and position of your new teeth, how much lip and facial structure you'll need, and so on.
At this time, we'll also clear up any questions you may still have so that you feel prepared, comfortable, and ready to receive the wonderful gift of your own bright, beautiful smile.
The day of your All-on-Four procedure
On the day of your procedure, we'll send our private limousine to pick you up and bring you into our office in Rancho Bernardo. We do this to make it easier on you and to help you feel well tended-to in our care.
When you arrive at our office, our support staff will help you get comfortable, and our world-class sedation dentistry specialists will prepare you for the surgery. Then all you need to do is sit back and relax.
Remember, the All-on-Four procedure requires only four titanium implants per arch. This means that while you're comfortably sedated, your All-on-Four specialist will be able to do multiple procedures in just that one session. If you need tooth extractions and bone shaping in addition to your implant placement, we'll be able to do it all at once.
(Remember the days when multiple procedures meant going back and forth to the dentist multiple times? Well, those days are over. We'll take a moment while you let that sink in.)
When you wake up from your All-on-Four dental implant procedure, you will have a fully functional set of teeth! They will be temporary teeth affixed to your implants just as your permanent teeth will be a couple of months later. So after you heal up a bit, you'll be able to smile, eat, laugh, and sing karaoke with abandon!
You may be a little too woozy for karaoke right after the procedure, so we'll send you home in the limousine.
During the first 6 to 8 weeks, we recommend that you don't eat with too much abandon. Namely, we'd like you to avoid really chewy or tough foods during that period. But otherwise, we don't anticipate much more than a few days of mild postoperative discomfort. So you should be able to start functioning normally with your new teeth.
After your bone cells have had a couple of months to graft to your implants, locking them in place, you'll receive your permanent teeth. They'll be a bit more durable than the temporary teeth and will fit more snugly against your healed gums.
And voila! There you have it. Brand new teeth that allow you to live the way you used to. And the care they require is no different than the care required for natural teeth: just good, old-fashioned brushing and flossing and regular dental check-ups.
Yes, it's as simple as that
When our All-on-Four patients begin once again to experience the fullness of life following the procedure, they often call us to exclaim, "I can't believe how easy it was! Why didn't I do this sooner?"
Let that be a message to you. Why wait?
If you're ready to get back out there and live the life you've hidden from because of uncooperative dentures or failing teeth, give us a call to schedule an appointment or a consultation.
Yes, it really is as simple as getting a set of fully functioning teeth in a single day. And, at Town Center Dentistry, we're here to make it happen.


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Closed Sundays
Every Cookie Is Made From Scratch In Our Kitchen
Every Cookie Is Made From Scratch In Our Kitchen
Antoine's cookies are prepared and baked in our kitchen with hand picked local ingredients to make the most delicious cookies in the Bay Area. With ten flavors to choose from we are sure you can find something you'll love from our shop.
When I started in 2013 I was driving around town in an old red convertible dropping off cookies to people's homes, doctor's offices, and start-ups in Silicon Valley. That seems like a lifetime ago. With help from friends and family I baked over 100,000 cookies out of my own kitchen. My first customers funded my R&D and journey to making delicious cookies. Our Chocolate Chip cookie recipe has been altered over ten times to get it where it is today. We still make changes to our recipes when we find opportunities for improvement.
We have a team of great bakers who make sure your cookies are baked to perfection. They will greet you with a smile and make sure you have the best dessert experience at Antoine's Cookie Shop.


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As a Marine Veteran, I've been blessed with many opportunities to be a part of communities that help Veterans transition out of service, find new communities, and even get back to serving their own communities/country and even the entire globe. Any time that I hear "We don't do enough for our Veterans," I reply: "There is so much out there for us, we just have to be willing to find it...take part, and take the best things from it and take those parts home with us and continue the work ourselves." I'll list below some of the organizations I've been most involved with.
Ride2Recovery <----Click for Link
I vividly recall sitting in my apartment in Los Angeles, CA a few years ago when I saw a news clip showcasing wounded Veterans cycling 500 miles down the coast of California. At the time, I had all but given up riding my bike long distances as I've suffered from chronic pain in my right hip/groin and down the leg. However, when I saw Vets with amputated limbs powering up the mountains of Big Sir, and paralyzed warriors using handcycles to complete the journey, I knew that I no longer had any excuse not to get out and push my limits. I completed the California challenge, and was able to bring home a loaned bike to use as long as I intend to continue to ride with the organization. I was involved enough to graciously receive an invite to the Italy challenge where I was granted a once in a lifetime opportunity to ride up Alp de Huez in France, the day before the Tour rode. Possibly my most memorable event was the Alaskan Mountain Biking Challenge, where we were also blessed with a trout fishing expedition. I have since ridden across Texas, as well as the Gulf Coast Challenge, from Atlanta to New Orleans. Folks, this organization truly turned my own self imposed idea of my own physical fitness abilities on it's head. I actually started to feel like an athlete, and though I've since fallen out of the practice as I've been spending so much time with Bella-girl, I aim to get back at it, and am truly grateful to this organization. Not to mention, how grateful I am for the magic that I've seen it work in the rehabilitation of other Warriors who have said that, without a doubt, R2R has helped save their lives.
Team RWB <--Click for Link
Team Red White and Blue is a fitness community that welcomes Veterans, their families, and civilians alike. To me, it's one of the greatest and most simple missions that exist. Team RWB's mission is to enrich the lives of America's veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity. Wether it be running groups, cross-fit meet ups, rock climbing, paddle boarding, or any other activity you can imagine....Team RWB has a place for you to fit in. Heck, you can even do all of them. One of my favorite things about this organization is that the nation-wide community is so welcoming. While traveling across the country, I've been able to hop online and join in with any group as if I was a local member. If you or anyone you know would like to join the team, spread the word and get them involved.


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ROBERT W MILLER is a composer of music for film, television and the concert hall. His distinctive style has made its mark on well over 2,400 commercials, over 65 film scores, as well as numerous works for the concert stage. Over the years his work has garnered him seven CLIO awards, two AICP awards, two Emmy group nominations.
Robert began his commercial career at JSM in 1992, then followed rep Jeff Rosner to his new company Sacred Noise in 1996, spent 3 years with Amber Music (2000-2002) and finally launched his own company, RMI Music in the spring of 2002. Robert's arrangements can be heard on spots for Mercedes, Coca-Cola, GE, Pedigree, SAP, M&M, Toyota, UPMC, IBM, Levi's, Budweiser, Gillette, and many more.
Robert has scored a wide array of films across multiple genres including Academy Award nominated Knife Skills, ESPN's 30 for 30 series, The King, You Get Me, I Love You, Daddy, Particle Fever, Future '38, The House I Live In, Happy Tears and more.
Robert Miller is a longtime collaborator with The American Museum of Natural History's Hayden Planetarium, having scored four dome shows since 2008. He most recently composed the orchestral score for the planetarium show "Dark Matter," narrated by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Miller was formally trained at the Mannes College of Music in New York City and was mentored by American Masters William Schuman, Aaron Copland and Edgar David Grana. He was the Composer-In-Residence with the New York-based Jupiter Symphony from 1996-1999, where he premiered six new concert pieces. Although he is a composer with deeply "American" roots, his compositions often reflect his love for a wide variety of genres and contemporary musical colors which result in unique fusions.


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The light outside us grows dimmer; the light within us grows brighter.
Collect for the Second Sunday of Advent (p. 211, The Book of Common Prayer)
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Some of today's prophets are scientists and environmentalists who warn us of the long-term dangers of pollution and overconsumption. From the growing problem of plastic pollution to using unsustainable amounts of resources to our dependence on fossil fuels that are extracted from the earth in ways that endanger land, water, and human health before emitting carbon dioxide that contributes to global warming, these prophets warn us that our actions endanger us, future generations, and other living things.
"Sin is the seeking of our own will instead of the will of God, thus distorting our relationship with God, with other people, and with all creation," according to the Catechism in The Book of Common Prayer. By that definition, our disregard for the environment is indeed sinful. Our repentance this Advent season requires us to examine our neglect of the environment that sustains life on this earth and to change our way of life so we are better stewards of the gift of God's creation.
Advent is also a time when a walk outside can reveal much to bring us joy: winter birds, sometimes footprints in the snow, soft pink light at sunset, and dazzling stars at night. When we look around and notice the wonders all around us, we realize that repentance returns us to a place of great love and great joy in God's creation.
This week we pray:
Merciful God, you have sent us prophets in the form of scientists and environmental advocates who can teach us how to better care for the gift of your creation that sustains every living thing on the earth. Help us to better hear them and learn from them, that we can continue to find joy in your creation and pass along the gift of your creation to future generations. Give us penitent hearts and such joy in your creation that our desire is to do what is right. We pray this in the name of the Son that you sent to live among us because you so loved the world. Amen.
A note about these Advent offerings:
The focus of the Diocese of Nebraska's Creation Community this year is to create and pray daily prayers appropriate to each liturgical season that remember the natural environment. Our intention is not only to add these prayers to our own regular daily prayers so we know that others in our little community are praying with us, but also to offer them for use by others in the diocese in their daily prayers. For each week of Advent, we are offering a short reflection and prayer.
It seems especially important this year to remember both the firm and proven expectation that the natural light will indeed grow brighter and also our deeper hope that metaphorically brighter days will return at a time we can't pinpoint. Because we live in Christian hope, even as the light outside us grows dimmer, our inner light shines brighter against the darkness.


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By Ilene Just two weeks ago, the financial media was buzzing about the U.S. Dollar's steep decline and surging prices in commodities and precious metals. Last week, the Dollar bounced, trading in a range from 74.4 to 75.8, over 4% higher than the lows visited earlier this month. From a technical perspective, we wrote on April 10, 2011, "The failure of the 76 level concerns us, but with Bernanke signaling his intention to end quantitative easing in June, we think the Dollar is ready to rebound, and we feel it is unlikely that the 72 level will fail to provide support." Contributing to the Dollar's strength, the CME Group Inc., the corporation that operates the COMEX and NYMEX commodity futures exchanges, has been raising margin requirements for silver and several energy products. As Dian L. Chu of EconMatters noted in this post, "Increased margin requirement could trigger liquidation contagion as traders may need to sell their profitable positions in other commodities or equities to raise cash in order to meet the new limits." Forcing traders to sell positions to cover margin requirements caused a "Dollar short squeeze" as described by Wall Street Examiner's Lee Adler. If the dollar rallies, it means the short squeeze is getting worse. What prompted the CME Group to raise margin requirements? Considering that inflation has become a worldwide problem, it is not farfetched to speculate that the Federal Reserve told the CME group to take action to bring commodity prices down. as posited by Bill Schmick. In theory, Bernanke's signaling that the Fed will allow the second round of quantitative easing (QE2) to end in June, without disclosing plans for QE3, should counter the Dollar's decline. Without the Fed buying Treasuries via the Primary Dealers (i.e., ibanks, such as Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan), prices of Treasuries are likely to fall and yields are likely to rise. The Fed also released a relatively light Permanent Open Market Operations (POMO) schedule for next week. Apparently, the Fed is trying to forestall further price inflation in food and commodities, notwithstanding its ongoing denials regarding inflation. We have been observing a strong inverse correlation between the Dollar and equities, summarized by our catchphrase: "When the Dollar pops, the markets drop." The reason is uncertain, and this inverse relationship has not always been the case. Perhaps it is a function of how the Fed is influencing the markets, with its QE2 scheme of issuing money to the Primary Dealers to buy Treasuries; these Primary Dealers turn around and flip them back to the Fed. Increased liquidity in the hands of the Primary Dealers has artificially supported Treasury prices, holding yields down and devaluing the Dollar. Dollars, losing value and earning no interest, naturally flow into commodities - as "speculation" - and equity markets ("risk on" trades). Washington's blog estimated that High Frequency Trading accounts for up to 70% of trading volume. Are the opposite moves in the Dollar and equities largely due to HFT programs running algorithms that buy stocks when the Dollar drops and sell stocks when the dollar rises? If this trading pattern persists, a stronger Dollar would be a bad omen for both equities and commodities. Peter Hickson, global commodities & basic materials strategist at UBS, recently told CNBC that "Momentum is going to be down … if you look at the technicals, I think there's probably another 10 or 15 percent down over the next couple of months." FT reported that Prices of key commodities are falling. Chinese demand for commodities is slowing, in some cases dramatically. While the nominal value of China's imports is increasing, this reflects higher prices. Volume data show that Chinese imports of key commodities such as copper, aluminum, soybeans and iron ore have fallen over the last year. The threat that the U.S. government will hit the debt ceiling of $14.3 trillion Dollars loomed over the markets last week. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner warned of the consequences of inaction in the face of a possible government shutdown. Lee Adler commented "The Fed's custodial data on FCB [foreign central banks] holdings through Wednesday suggested that the foreign central banks took their foot off the gas pedal. They had it floored for the past 4 weeks. If this is the beginning of a reversal in their short term buying cycle, that would be bearish for both Treasuries and stocks(Original Excerpt from PSW's Stock World Weekly, and edited by EconMatters) About The Author - Ilene is the editor and affiliate director at Phil's Stock World with a fascination with the markets. The views and opinions expressed herein are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of EconMatters. EconMatters | Facebook Page | Post Alert | Kindle
Read more posts on EconMatters »
All of the content on EcoMatters is provided without assurance or warranty of any kind. The opinions expressed here are personal views only, and no warranty of fitness for any particular use, merchantability or non-infringement is made. EconMatters (The Site) is not intended to provide tax, legal, insurance or investment advice. Nothing on The Site should be construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any security by the Site or any third party.


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PhD, Stockholm University
Gino Gancia is a Senior Researcher at the Center for Research in International Economics (CREI), Affiliated Professor at the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics and a Research Fellow at the CEPR. He is Associate Editor of the Journal of the European Economic Association and the Review of Economic Dynamics.
He has been a Visiting Scholar at MIT during 2001-2003 and has been awarded the 2009 Excellence Award in Global Economic Affairs (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), the 2004 EEA Young Economist Award, and a European Research Council Starting Grant in 2009.
Professor Gancia's research interests span International Trade Theory, Economic Growth and Macroeconomics.


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2012 was a huge year for movies - we've had both great commercial and indie gems. It is futile to include The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers in a 'best of' list, because they don't need validation at this point, everyone loved them.
It's also silly to make a top ten list, because this year there were about 40 incredible films that ought to be watched by any self respecting film buff. Here they are:
40 - Excision
A bat guano insane high school girl is obsessed with blood. And she is looking forward to losing her virginity. That is all that you need to know about this stunning horror-drama. Not for the squeamish. Still not convinced why the film exists in this list? Watch the EXTREMELY NSFW trailer below:
39 - Sleep Tight
'REC' director Jaume Balaguero forgoes the blood and constant dread of the zombie movies for a chilling Spanish thriller about a hotel concierge who may not be as demure as he looks. Luis Tosar is excellent as a sad loner with a creepy disability, and Balaguero even manages to get the audience to sympathize with his
38 - Chronicle
Chronicle was the biggest surprise of the year as first-time director Josh Trank combined intricate handheld live-action camerawork with CGI wizardry to a groovy effect in this found footage superhero thriller.
37 - Mars et Avril
A futuristic love triangle with superb visual effects that made the tiny indie look like a big budget film. Canadian director Martin Villenueve made a great debut and showed the kind of flair with his actors the way Marc Webb did in 500 Days of Summer.
36 - Dredd
Perhaps the most overlooked film of 2012, Dredd packed wall to wall action with gorgeous special effects, a fun plot and a badass female villain. Writer Alex Garland deserves more recognition, and the film deserved a sequel, unfortunately we'll never get it thanks to its box office returns.
35 - Sinister
Scott Derrickson, who earlier made The Exorcism of Emily Rose returned to his horror roots in a big way with this creepy thriller. The 'family moving to a new haunted house' genre has been done to death but Derrickson managed to pull a fresh spin here. Standout portions include the spine tingling music that plays out in the video recordings that the hero Ethan Hawke finds.
34 - Looper
Way too many fanboy favourite things in this movie - Rian Johnson, Joseph Gordon Levitt, time travel, Emily Blunt, guns, telekinesis, and more. And boy, did it deliver. It's not an action film, but the best time travel movie since 2004's Primer. Looper cost just $30 million to make, in a perfect world inhabited by clones of my own self, the film would gross a billion dollars.
33 - Moonrise Kingdom
Wes Anderson successfully combined the tragic, quirky and the cute in what is probably his best film to date. Like the hilarious lightening strike scene, the film contains many, many more moments that leave a lasting impression, which only Wes Anderson could come up with.
32 - The Dictator
This year's guilty pleasures are courtesy of Sascha Baron Cohen who played a tongue-in-cheek version of Gaddafi in America. The Dictator is as funny as Borat and is a proper feature with a 'plot' instead of a mere mockumentary. Cohen makes sure he targets all kinds of audiences and offends them as much as possible, but what makes it work is that he does it without being smarmy.
31 - The Day He Arrives
A thoroughly mesmerizing Korean film about a has-been filmmaker who arrives in Seoul to meet his friend for drinks and loses himself in a strange warped Groundhog Day. Director Sang Soo Hong revisits the theme of a filmmaker with midlife crisis from his 2008 movie Night and Day. Although a big recco for movie buffs, this is a must watch for those who make movies.
30 - 21 Jump Street
Cloudy with a chance of meatballs directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller make dick jokes funny in this hysterical movie version of the hit series. It's a buddy cop comedy done right with the perfectly cast Hill and Tatum for non-stop gut busting gags; what's more, it even parodies its own genre.
29 - Sound of my Voice
Brit Marling has delivered a one-two punch with Another Earth last year and Sound of my Voice this year - both futuristic/psychological thriller indies made on a shoestring budget with humongous helpings of narrative skill. Director Zal Batmanglij proves just why he has such a cool name, thanks to the double entendre ending.
28 - Ruby Sparks
The guys who made Little Miss Sunshine outdid themselves with this film where a writer's character in his book comes to life. It's an utterly fascinating, constantly hilarious, and at times an unexpectedly dark metaphor for the complexities of a relationship and a man's urge to manipulate his girlfriend to be the way he wants her to be, rather than love her for the way she is. Whether or not the film is based on their own experiences, the mesmerizing plot is buoyed by performances from Paul Dano and his off screen writer girlfriend Zoe Kazan.
27 - Cloud Atlas
An ambitious, grand feature that more than anything, proved that an unfilmable book can indeed be filmed in the hands of some very capable people like the Wachowskis and Tykwer. It's one of those rare Hollywood entertainers that frequently challenges the viewers' concentration and attention levels, and delivers on the gynormous expectations.
26 - Argo
With Argo Ben Affleck effortlessly places himself in the pantheon of the best filmmakers as he exacts the best performances of the year from Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman and even himself. If the airtight plotting doesn't impress you, the one liners certainly will.
25 - Skyfall
The latest Bond turned out to be a hell of a blast as director Sam Mendes handily wiped the floor with all of the previous Bond movies to date. The villainous Javier Bardem doles out a Joker-Chigurh cocktail and he's gleefully awesome in his Oscar-snagging opening monologue. And the Academy would be blind to not give Roger Deakins a trophy for his work here.
24 - Marley
Having made One day in September and Life in a Day, director Kevin Macdonald was the perfect choice for the biopic of the legendary Rastafarian. Marley is perhaps the best retelling of Bob Marley's life we'll ever see. Macdonald mixes some fascinating footage with Marley's classic hits and delivers an extremely comprehensive account that is enough to drive fans crazy in emotion.
23 - Tabu
Portuguese filmmaker Miguel Gomes' odd and absorbing film is a sort of movie-within-a-movie with endless shots of philobabble on a haunting black and white palette. Just the sort of thing for those with a fetish for the Bela Tar Boiling Potato genre.
22 - This is Not a Film
Jafar Panahi has been put under house arrest and banned by the Iranian govt from making movies. To be shown to the rest of the world, This is not a film was smuggled out of his house hidden inside a cake. The footage contains Panahi's account of a film that he wishes to make and is a heartbreaking political statement against the dictatorial Iranian government, one that echoes last year's No one knows about Persian cats.
21 - Silver Linings Playbook
Beautiful, touching. David O Russell gloriously demonstrates his prodigious skill of directing scenes of family conflict. And the girl in the above picture makes you wish for every guy with a broken heart to find a Jennifer Lawrence to fix him and dance with.
20 - Supermen of Malegaon
In an industry ruled by the Khans and Kumars director Faiza Ahmad's docu is a fresh breath of air. Clocking in at just over an hour, Supermen of Malegaon is beguiling and often funny, moreover it avoids sentimentality and all the cliches found in most documentaries. Easily the best Indian film of this year.
19 - The Loved Ones
An absolutely bloody and shocking horror-black comedy from Australia, The Loved Ones has enough squirmy thrills to satisfy the die hardest fans of Martyrs. Robin McLeavy is great as a demented teenager who kidnaps her crush and tortures him after he refuses to go to prom with her.
18 - The We and the I
After a string of disappointments at Hollywood and mainstream, Michel Gondry makes a great return to indies with a brilliant story set entirely within a school bus on the last day of the academic year. Gondry puts you in a seat swarming with twenty high school characters, every one of which is superbly realized, each with its own individual back story. It's fun, quirky, visually riveting, with a hint of gloom - just like the old works of Gondry.
17 - Safety Not Guaranteed
Already a cult classic and an internet favourite, Safety Not Guaranteed mixes the themes found in K-Pax and Back to the Future, with its own smart dose of new age comedy. The hilarious Aubrey Plaza (from Parks and Rec) finally gets a big starring role as a reporter who discovers a classified ad that leads her to a man who believes he has invented a time machine and is looking for a partner to travel with him.
16 - Take This Waltz
Michelle Williams stars in yet another heart wrenching story of doomed marriage and the frailty of a relationship. Also starring Seth Rogen, director Sarah Polley takes us through the most devastating couple seen on screen since Blue Valentine.
15 - Cabin in the Woods
Written by Geek God Joss Whedon and Cloverfield's Drew Goddard, Cabin the the Woods is twisted, unique and endlessly fascinating to sit through. The two deliberately mix horror movie clichés with darkly absurd genre dissection and ultimately dole out a modern masterpiece.
14 - Compliance
Unsettling from start to finish, Compliance pushes your boundaries of belief and and stuns you into submission. The film is based on a real life story of a bunch of McDonalds employees who were brainwashed by a mysterious cop on a phone who ordered them to perform strange duties. A post film dissection leads one to the mindboggling Milgram Experiment.
13 - Snabba Cash
Snabba Cash is Snabba Entertainment, and a cooler Swedish version of a Pusher style mafia thriller. Starring Joel Kinnaman (the new Robocop) and a vast array of characters, the film packs enough smarts to shame recent Hollywood gangster movies. A sequel is slated to release next year.
12 - Holy Motors
Director Leos Carax returns to the screen after an absence of 12 years with a supremely indulgent, yet absolutely head spinning piece of cinema that works both a personal rant against film reviewers and a despondent look at the infirmity of a filmmaker's celebrity. The film features Denis Lavant as half a dozen characters thrust in bizarre imagery and situations all in one night, best of which is a LED-lit pseudo sex scene in a motion capture animation studio.
11 - Polisse
The French film Polisse is the feel bad movie of the year and contains no redemption or hope. Director Maiwenn emerges as the Kathryn Bigelow of France after stepping out of the shadow of her ex husband Luc Besson and delivering an unsettling story of a Child Protection Unit. The powerhouse acting ensemble is so good that at some moments you forget that these are actors.
10 - A Monster in Paris
The feel good film of the year is a French cartoon that contains some of the most exquisite animation ever put on screen. Director Bibo Bergeron crafts a smart, funny, quirky comedy that gets better and better as it plays and even contains a couple of fun song and dance numbers.
9 - Sleepless Night
Starring Tomer Sisley, this french action thriller is set almost entirely inside a nightclub. The single location with flickering lights and pulsating music of the discotheque makes for a very claustrophobic atmosphere, and combined with wall to wall action it simply becomes an insanely gripping watch.
8 - Sleepwalk With Me
Comedian Mike Birbiglia makes a fabulous debut as a writer-director-star and doles out the best usage of irony in a motion picture this year. The film features a struggling standup comedian whose only way to get gigs is by poking fun at the festering relationship with his loving girlfriend.
7 - Cafe de Flore
Cafe de Flore mixes dreams, reality, time, space, happiness, loss, incredible visuals and Sigur Rós song 'Svefn-g-Englar' to magnificent effect whilst shifting between two interlinked stories set 50 years apart. The 6-minute sequence featuring the aforementioned song is so captivating you won't believe it until you see it.
6 - Beyond the Black Rainbow
This year's WTF Genre Champion is director Panos Costamos dark, brilliantly trippy, crazy as hell pastiche of THX 1138, Scanners, Eraserhead, Blue Sunshine, Russia and Kubrick. Beyond the Black Rainbow stars Eva Allen as a patient in a strange institution interrogated by an even weirder doctor, and it eventually turns into a horror movie. If the imagery in this film is anything to go by, we can expect some very imaginative films in the future from Cosmatos.
5 - Pieta
Kim Ki Duk offers a brutal, thoroughly humorless and devastating story from the black hole of exploding misery that is his South Korean mind in the story of a 30-year-old loan shark who comes across a woman who claims to be his long lost mother. Not only does the film make you writhe in your seat in distress but also leaves you almost entirely bereft of optimism.
4 - The Imposter
The best thriller of the year is not a big budget Bourne or Bond, but surprisingly, this small documentary. The Imposter chronicles the shocking real life story of a 23 year old French man who impersonated a 15 year old boy from Texas and fooled the police, the immigration authorities and even the Texan family. Instead of being a mere docu drama, the film unfolds like a whodunit, and nothing can prepare you for the bizarre final twenty minutes.
3 - The Raid Redemption
A 100 minutes of non stop cyclonic mayhem, The Raid: Redemption is not one of the better action films of the past few years, it is one of the best action movies ever made. Indonesian star Iko Uwais using his bare hands slices, dices, stabs, jackhammers through scores and scores of ruffians with the ease of a ballet dancer, and director Gareth Evans' camera lingers around for long, uncut shots.
2 - The Hunt (Jagten)
The other side of last year's Michael, Thomas Vinterberg directs Mads Mikkelsen in the best acting performance of the year as a small Danish town's nursery school teacher who is suddenly accused of being a pedophile. Vinterberg superbly captures the paranoia and fear that can spread like a virus in even the most harmless society, and Mikkelsen is just terrific in his complicated role. Qualifies as the best feature film of the year, but is #2 on this list only because of the film below.
1 - Indie Game The Movie.
You've heard of indie films and their struggle, but have you heard of indie video games? Indie Game The Movie is a beguiling spotlight on the people who refuse to join the big companies or submit to the commercial consumers. Directors Lisanne Pajot and James Swirsky chronicle the lives of three sets of indie game developers who give up everything to create smart, innovative games at a hundredth of the budget of mainstream franchises. It is a story that has never been told before, the research level is extraordinary, and its big achievement is that it appeals to people who don't even play video games. And that makes it, the best goddamn movie of the year.
Honorable Mentions: End of watch, Flight, Something in the Air, God Bless America, Killing them Softly, Ship of Theseus.
Note: The Master, Zero Dark Thirty and Django haven't made it to this list because they sadly haven't released here yet.
Note: The Master, Zero Dark Thirty and Django haven't made it to this list because they sadly haven't released here yet.


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Ah..French macarons....oh! oui oui...how I love thee. I mean, who doesn't, right? They look and taste like perfection and heaven in every way.
I've been wanting to make them. But every time I start reading about how to make them, I always just give up before I even try....fearing that I would fail miserably. I read all the warnings, the unsuccessful stories, and the mixed approach and opinions from friends who made them, blogs, food forums, and so on. It's been a year or more of thinking about this and I've yet made them.....But I'm tired of being scared of these macarons! I finally decided to confront my own fear by approaching it with an entirely new mentality....and that is...."I'm going to fail and make the ugliest French Macarons ever!"
Yup! This is my way of setting the bar super freaking low and actually expect something to go wrong in the process.....I'm totally gonna screw it up and it's gonna be great!! no shiny smooth surfaces, no perfectly round dome, no 'foot' on the bottom, no chewy texture....I'm just gonna try it and if I achieve even one of those things listed?? That means I did something right...
I did my share of research...and got some great tips and tricks from Coco&Me, Syrup And Tang, Serious Eats, some Forum and of course Martha for all the things I need to know to prepare myself a little bit.
So I followed the tips to sift the almond flour and confectioners' sugar couple of times....I mixed the egg whites without over beating it...I folded in the dry ingredients carefully without flattening the batter....I left enough space between the macarons.....I let the piped macarons sit for a little bit....I doubled stacked the trays so the bottoms don't burn....I left the oven door slightly open.....
Check. Check. Check.Then I look over to the counter....there was one little bowl with some ingredient still remains....it was a quarter cup of granulated sugar that I had forgotten to put in!!! OMG!!! Serious!?
I threw a total hissy fit since Dylan was supposed to read the steps to me...It's complicated..... okay, well... he was using the computer, and I didn't want to kick him off the computer entirely and just thought that he's CAPABLE of reading at least straight from the recipe that's right in front of him!!! I trusted him! But NOOOO, he said because he was multi-tasking on the computer, he was too "distracted", and didn't mention to throw in the granulated sugar while I was making them!!!
I thought I had mentally prepared myself for failure in making these macarons...well, I did...I just didn't prepare myself to loose my faith in MEN!! That'll be the last time I ask him to follow instructions or any cooking recipes! GAUWWWD! (roll my eyes...)
But I decided to bake them anyways, just so they don't go to waste. And it turned out that they had an itty bitty little structure remained....as you can see that they're a little flat, but it's something. And the result was actually....not bad! I made 18 of them...and only 4-5 of them looked half way descent. So...here's to my very FIRST batch of macarons!! I went with the rustic look...Then I used one of my more "charming" macaron (I put black sesames as it's eyes to make it have sad eyes...) to tell Dylan that I was sorry for getting pissed at him the next day.... Dylan ate the little macaron guy and was happy again. He's easy like that. :)
I think I'll make another attempt soon now that I've conquered my own fear. So much for the year of mental preparation and then somehow ended up putting our relationship on the line...and all because of these damn macarons!! I hate you for being so difficult! ....oh! I'm sorry...I didn't mean it!! I'm saying things that I don't mean.... You're so tasteful and delightful!! I love you, macarons!


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Lyne gives update on MSLO at Summit
EmptyRELATED: Iger talks tech, business at Media Summit
NEW YORK - Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia president and CEO Susan Lyne Wednesday wouldn't rule out a future on-air TV collaboration between the company's founder and chef Emeril Lagasse, who recently sold his media assets to MSLO.
"They are a gas together," Lyne said in an appearance at McGraw-Hill's 2008 Media Summit New York, adding she has an idea in the back of her head.
While she didn't share further specifics of her idea, she did reiterate Lagasse will get more exposure. "We'll be doing more TV with him," she said.
Asked about competition from Rachael Ray, Lyne said a business without other stars is "probably not very vibrant," and competition is "incredibly valuable."
However, she argued Stewart and Ray have different approaches and styles. Plus, MSLO could end up hiring competing talent. "Some of them we'll bring maybe into the family," Lyne said.
Asked if MSLO could go into scripted programming, she said: "I don't believe I would" do that right now, "largely because it's a very risky business." Given that her firm is a publicly traded company, she said she would rather spend the few million dollars that would go into a TV pilot on further developing MSLO's digital business.
Given her past career at ABC, Lyne was also asked about her take on how the TV upfront and pilot process will change.
"The development process is definitely going to change," she replied. While she always liked the energy of pilot season, "it was also a circus," Lyne said.
She predicted that "you will see less waste" and networks will be even more hit-driven in the future. Lyne also suggested that networks should consider resurrecting good pilot scripts in following years with different casts.


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I want to be successful.
That's pretty much the whole ball of wax. And now I want to look up what in the hell that stupid little phrase means and why the wax is in a ball and why losing a ball of wax is important in any way, shape, or form. Now I want to know where that phrase is from.
And that is my life in a paragraph. Curiosity is important until it is just a means to avoiding what is really important. There are a million, bazillion questions and only some of them are important. Learning which paths to follow and which to ignore is how you become successful.
That's not the only thing one must do in order to succeed. You have fail your way to success.
No one, absolutely no one, is an overnight success. Success doesn't come overnight. There is no UPS or FedEx delivery system to bring it to you. You have to go out and earn success one misstep after another. And then, bam, there you are, almost competent at what you do twenty years later.
I want to be a writer. I would really like to be a remunerated writer, but that means too much work. And too little expertise. And scary, frightening things. It means learning how to market myself and brand my writing and on and on and on and what I really want to do is put words on a page and have others read them and like them. Learning something would be a bonus.
I would also like to never, ever, ever have a typo. This isn't so much about success but about perfectionism. But I would like it. And I can't sell writing that isn't perfect (I tell myself) even though I have paid for writing that isn't perfect and am fine with it.
I want to be an athlete. Not the "everyone who moves" kind of athlete, but a real athlete. I want to be strong and capable and be able to do athletic things. Really, want I want to do is get through a WOD without sitting around and box breathing half the time.
Bragging note: I managed an entire WOD, for the very first time ever, without having to sit down. I did this by walking the runs but I did it. And I walk pretty fast, so I could manage to flip tires and do a rope climb sub without actually having to sit down.
I've been a CrossFitter for over four years and this finally happened. This is the type of athlete I want to be. Just step back, breathe for ten seconds, and then get back to work.
But, because of my heart rate, I can't. It's not that I don't want to, it is that I literally can't physically do it most of the time.
So can I ever be successful? What if I reframed my definition of success? Is that cheating? Is it just a way for everyone to get a trophy? Do I need a trophy? How do I know when I've been successful?
I've been writing for years, giving most of it away for free. I've made a little money at it but decided that was worse than giving it away. I made the choice to not make money. So if I want readers, and I have them, am I successful?
I show up at the box and do the WOD, scaled for a Little Old Lady, and do things most people don't. And I do things many more people my age don't do. So am I successful? I didn't give up any of the many, many times I have thought about giving up. I show up, scared, and then do something.
I want to be successful. Maybe I am. How would I ever know?


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Lanai Weekly: October 12, 2015/
Principal's Message:
Dear Parent or Guardian,
On October 15, 2015, our school will participate in the sixth annual Great California ShakeOut, the largest earthquake drill in U.S. History. This year California is joined by 41 other states and U.S. territories plus several other countries that are also participating in ShakeOut drills on the same day! Everyone will practice how to "drop, cover and hold on," and teachers will discuss the importance of earthquake preparedness with our students. This is the chance for us all to practice what to do during earthquakes to reduce injuries.
At 10:15 a.m., your child will drop to the ground, take cover under a table or desk, and hold on, at the same time as millions of other Californians.
Earthquake preparedness is a responsibility of all Californians and we encourage you to also discuss earthquake readiness with your child and others at home, to take steps to get prepared, and to participate in the ShakeOut. Here are some suggestions:
Participate in the ShakeOut:
Register on www.ShakeOut.org/california to be counted in the ShakeOut drill, get email updates, and more. You can register as a family and also encourage your employer or other organizations to also register.
Between now and October 15: Consider what may happen in a big earthquake and plan what you will do now to prepare. Talk to other people about what they have done, and encourage them to join you in registering for the ShakeOut.
On October 15 at 10:15 a.m.:
Drop, Cover and Hold On: Drop to the ground, take Cover under a table or desk (or cover your head with your arms), and Hold On to it for at least 60 seconds. Practice now so you will immediately protect yourself during earthquakes!
While on the ground, look around and imagine what would happen in a big earthquake, when shaking may last for 1-2 minutes! What would fall on you or others? What would be damaged? What can you do now to reduce losses?
Finally, practice what you will do after the shaking stops.
Prepare for earthquakes:
Do a "hazard hunt" for items that might fall during earthquakes and secure them.
Create a personal or family disaster preparedness plan.
Organize or refresh your emergency supply kits. Be sure to store at least one gallon of water per person, per day, for at least 3 days and ideally for 2 weeks.
Identify and correct any issues in your home's structure.
Enroll in a local Community Emergency Response team (CERT) training to learn more about how to take care of yourself and your family when you are "on your own" after a disaster.
Please see below for Earthquake preparedness websites.
Mr. Hansen
Halloween Costume Drive Continues
PTA Membership Drive Continues until October 23rd - Join today
Parent Center Reserved all week for Spooktacular
Spooktacular Ticket Sales Begin! - Buy your tickets all week
Emergency Drill, Great American Shake-Out
ELAC Meeting, 8:30, Parent Center
Spooky Spirit Day - Students can wear new or past Spooktacular shirts to school
Bake Sale item drop off! - See below for details
SSC Meeting, 1:30, Parent Center
Buddy Picnic - During Lunch
Lanai Leader Deadline - Submissions welcome, see below
October 19 - Reflections Art Contest Workshop for Parents and Students - 2:40-3:30, Parent Center
October 21 - Team Lanai Meeting, 8:15, Parent Center, ALL parents welcome! See below for details
October 21 - School Picture Day
October 23 - Science Explosion Day
October 23 - Last Day of PTA Drive
October 26 - Coffee with the Principal, 8:20, Parent Center
October 26 - Reflections Art Contest Workshop - 2:40-3:30, Parent Center, see below for details
October 27 - Multicultural Day, "Diwali" planning meeting, 8:20, Parent Center
October 30 - Student Council Spirit Day - Theme is Halloween!
October 30 - Halloween Parade - 8:15-9:00
SPOOKTACULAR IS HERE!!!! - Our Spooktacular Halloween carnival is on October 18th from 11 AM-4 PM. You may purchase tickets in front of school the week of October 12 and pick up your pre orders as well. We need every family to volunteer for a shift at the carnival. Online sign ups were sent to you by your Room Parent. Friday, October 16 is Spooky Spirit Day! Students should wear their new or past Spooktacular shirts to school.
Bake Sale Donations Needed! - It's time to heat up your cauldrons for the Monster Bake Sale at this year's Spooktacular. We are asking families from each grade to provide a different type of baked good (homemade or store bought) TK: Cake, Kinder: Chocolate Chip Cookies, 1st: M&M Cookies, 2nd: Brownies, 3rd: Sugar Cookies, 4th: Muffins, 5th: Rice Krispy Treats. For health reasons, ALL treats must be wrapped in a clear cellophane or clear baggie with a ribbon. Please package 3 small cookies together, or 1 large treat separately. Please drop off baked goods on Friday, Oct 16 at morning drop off or at the Bake Sale table on Sunday. NO NUTS PLEASE. Questions? Email Monica at email@example.com
Board Game Donations Needed! - The rainy season is coming and that means plenty of indoor time! If you have board games you are not using, think about giving them to the school. They will be used for PTA events and YS/SEEDS after school. Please drop off games in the bin in the front office.
PTA's Reflections National Art Contest begins now! The theme is "Let Your Imagination Fly." Submit an original work in one of the following categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography or Visual Arts. Pick up your entry forms in the Family Center or the office. "Reflections Workshops" will be held in the Family Center Mondays 245-330pm Oct 19th, Oct 26th and Nov 2nd if you have questions or would like a space to work on your submission. All entries are due to the office by Wednesday November 4th. For more details, contact email@example.com or PTA.org/Reflections.
TEAM LANAI MEETING, OCTOBER 21 at 8:15! All parents are welcome and encouraged to come, because Together Everyone Achieves More! Please join us as we share highlights from SPOOKTACULAR and LoVE, walk through FOLB's 2015-2016 budget and expenses to date, update you on this year's capital improvement programs, and hear exciting news about upcoming PTA programs. For questions or comments email email@example.com.
Halloween Costume Drive continues! - Don't throw out those old costumes, donate them! Boxes are located in front of the school. The costumes will be donated to L.A. Family Housing. Thank you for your generosity!
Thank you to everyone who turned in Boxtops! The final count is not yet in, but we have three students who collected the highest amounts of Boxtops and are the prize winners of this fall's Boxtops drive:
1st (15 Spook Tickets) - Ella R. (room 25)
2nd (10 Spook Tickets) - Olivia L. (room 20)
3rd (5 Spook Tickets) - Ginger M. (room 17)
The students will receive the additional tickets with their order.
PTA Membership Drive continues until October 23rd! We would like each family to help us achieve our goal of staying #1 in the 31st district. We won the PTA poster contest for the first time at Lanai...stop by the front office and take a look at it! Mr Lavenstein's class is in the lead for the pizza party followed by Ms. Verdin and Ms. Ayola! Membership is only $6.00! There is no limit on PTA memberships. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends can all join! Need a form? Print one out from the Lanai website. Thank you for your support. Any questions please email: Jill Schwartz email@example.com
Kids love to see their writing published! The theme for student submissions for the November issue of the Lanai Leader is" The best part about Halloween". Students are invited to write one sentence or more! The deadline for submissions is Friday, October 16th. Please email to email@example.com
Flu vaccines at no charge - For people who don't have health insurance or whose health care provider does not offer flu vaccines. See below for a link to a list of times and locations. Provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Call 818-487-0063 for more information. Click here for flyer with dates and times.
LAUSD Parent Workshops - All workshops are at the LAUSD Parent Center, 1360 West Temple St, LA 90026. All workshops are 9:00 am-11:00 am
Oct 14 - E-Choices for families: Participants will learn about the application process, program features and requirements for Magnet programs, Permit with Transportation, CORE waiver priority school matriculation.
Nov 4 - The Importance of Mastering Math Facts. Participants will learn about the importance of mathematical proficiency and present strategies to develop mastery of basic math facts.
Dec 2 - Academic Support for Diverse Learners: learn ways to support learning based on strengths and diverse needs.
Dec 9 - Effective Strategies to Engage Young Readers & Improve Reading Comprehension: learn practical activities that can be used at home to engage readers and improve reading comprehension.
Earthquake Preparedness Websites


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Summer 2018 - The Summer of Releasing
The summer skies with three eclipses and six retrograde planets set us up to review, revise, reconsider, replan, rethink, reduce, release and all those other re- words. This releasing of what is no longer sustainable prepares us for a brighter future where we make choices more aligned with nourishment for our hearts and soul.
Astrologers live under the same cosmic skies as you and this summer brought changes that cannot be side-stepped. And so, I must announce I am stepping aside from writing a new and full moon forecast plus the horoscopes. Much as I've learned from engaging in astrology in this format I am inspired in other ways which I (re)discovered through writing these columns.
When I write a forecast about a new or full moon, there is a dynamic story that often shows up in headlines, or later in historical periods. When I take the same information and write the sun-sign horoscopes, the information applies to a smaller group, like Aries, Taurus, etc. But, when I sit-down in a Moon Circle group or do an individual reading and apply the same information directly to someone's chart, magic happens!
One concern I looked at in making this decision is that I am adding to the general chatter 'out there' that makes us feel like we know something (and are therefore safe) when we are missing the power knowledge can bring when we apply it to ourselves individually. I wrote these columns hoping inspire you with how welcoming and useful astrology is as a powerful tool. It is neither a fate to dodge or a wished for event to passively wait for. Astrology is not 'out there'. It is a tool to use inside so we make better choices for actions 'out there.'
Astrology is a language for an energy we can sense but not name. Putting words to what we sense is an act of bridging the unconscious to the conscious and thereby becoming more awake to ourselves in the world.
Consciousness is a big word for awareness: a holographic awareness encompassing body, mind, emotions and spirit. My passion is using astrology to focus and facilitate our drive for consciousness and living a life more aligned with who we truly are.
I already offer small on-going Moon Circles that meet once or twice a month and those are growing and will continue. We look at the current astrological "weather" and then apply that information directly to each participant's chart.
My favorite chart "readings" are actually dialogues with those participants, and other people, who are on a mission of self-transformation. And since the skies, our shifting circumstances and consciousness present us with endless challenges and opportunities, life, is an on-going process that astrology can shed light on, also.
My true expertise and heart-felt mission is doing transformational coaching using astrology as the basis. My commitment is to make these services as available and affordable as possible so we can transform ourselves and thus, the world around us.
I invite you to bring the power of astrology home to your chart and bring the sparkle back to your life. Staying on your heart-felt path takes introspection, courage, patience and a commitment to make the on-going decisions we need to in order to stay with our hearts - or get back on track. Good tools like astrology and encouraging companions like those found at Moon Circles keep us focused.
Today the universe offers us a beautiful full moon in Pisces and Virgo, tying the heights of heaven with the daily routine of earth. It's not duality - it's polarity. It's not an 'or' - it's an 'and.'
And it's not 'out there' - it's in you.
I'd love to hear how you used this summer of releasing and what heart-felt path you are traveling.


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Brett Ratner and Don Mischer to Produce Oscars
(LOS ANGELES) -- Brett Ratner has been chosen to produce the 84th Academy Awards telecast, accompanied by veteran Oscar show producer Don Mischer.
Ratner is most famously known for directing movies including Rush Hour and X-Men: The Last Stand. His next film to hit theaters will be the big-budget action comedy Tower Heist, starring Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy.
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President, Tom Sherak, made the announcement Thursday.
Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio
Friday, August 5, 2011 at 6:22AM by Ashley Ulker Permalink
tagged Brett Ratner, Don Mischer, Oscars in Entertainment General, Movies


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"Do good and good will come to you" could easily be the mantra of the foothills town believed to be named for the boulder strewn creek ambling through it. Boulder is the chosen home to several wonderful innovations that have become part of not only our American life across the continent but "the good life" across the globe.
One can readily imagine oneself lounging in front of a perfect Rocky Mountain view while relaxing in comfortable Crocs, enjoying sips of a heavenly Celestial Seasonings blend between licks of delicious Glacier Homemade Ice cream. These are just a few of the companies along with many others, who choose to call Boulder their Headquarters home. Alongside several prestigious science centers you'll also find the sprawling campus of the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Without doubt, this is a college town, but influenced by such a unique mix it has become so much more and most of that, indefinable. Attempting to label Boulder might only result in causing one to miss out on the full beauty and enjoy the full effects of its charm. The folks that flocked here came for many different reasons, but a good guess would be that all of them started with a desire to live amongst the peaceful tranquility of the Rocky Mountain foothills they discovered upon a visit here.
Somehow it all works quite well together, this mix of large residential areas, college campus, cultural milieu and business center because the ambience created fuses to form one prevailing atmosphere…the blend of success that emphasizes quality of life respecting all lifestyle choices.
The great outdoors is a main lifestyle and staple of Boulder activity which includes every conceivable sport, leisure and outdoors enterprise you can think to engage in. Walking, hiking and bike trails are built with purpose and heavily utilized by resident and visitor alike. As one visitor gushed "I love bringing my dogs here for a good romp, and the tubing is some of the best ever."
The city abounds with a plethora of public parks and no visit to the city would be complete without spending the better part of a day at the Pearl Street Mall.
Sidewalk artists, street performers and great shopping – what's not to love? Hungry visitors will find a myriad of food choices both at the Mall and scattered about the city.
Enlist the aid of your RE/MAX Alliance Boulder specialist to unearth your perfect Boulder homestead!


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New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof is traveling through Africa now, reporting on malnutrition. Here's an excerpt:
What if nutritionists came up with a miracle cure for childhood malnutrition? A protein-rich substance that doesn't require refrigeration? One that is free and is available even in remote towns like this one in Niger where babies routinely die of hunger-related causes? Impossible, you say? Actually, this miracle cure already exists. It's breast milk. When we think of global poverty, we sometimes assume that the challenges are so vast that any solutions must be extraordinarily complex and expensive. Well, some are. But almost nothing would do as much to fight starvation around the world as the ultimate low-tech solution: exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months of life. That's the strong recommendation of the World Health Organization. The paradox is that while this seems so cheap and obvious — virtually instinctive — it's also rare. Here in Niger, only 9 percent of babies get nothing but breast milk for the first six months of life, according to a 2007 national nutrition survey. At least that's up from just 1 percent in 1998. (In the United States, about 13 percent of babies are exclusively breast-fed for six months, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Then again, most of the rest get formula, which is pretty safe in America.)… The challenges with breast-feeding in poor countries are not the kinds that Western women face, and many women in the developing world continue nursing their babies for two years. The biggest problem is giving water or animal milk to babies, especially on hot days. Another is that mothers often doubt the value of colostrum, the first milk after childbirth (which is thick and yellowish and doesn't look much like milk), and delay nursing for a day or two…
This week, August 1-7, is World Breastfeeding Week! What does that mean? It's a week to promote awareness of global breastfeeding concerns, created by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action(WABA) and celebrated by breastfeeding advocates in more than 170 countries across the world with this years theme being, communication.
Breastfeeding supports each of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG)and has a large impact on the future well-being of our society. Here's a quick snapshot:
- MDG 1 (hunger and poverty): The first step towards reducing undernutrition of children is optimal exclusive breastfeeding, enabling them to grow well from the first days of life; and continued breastfeeding when complementary foods are introduced, to improve the quality of the mixed diet. This also contributes to reducing household costs particularly in poverty-stricken economies.
- MDG 3 (gender equality): Children receive an equal star t through breastfeeding regardless of family income. Breastfeeding also empowers women by enabling them to be in control of their reproductive lives and be self sufficient in nourishing their infants (without spending money on breast milk substitutes).
- MDG 4 (reduce child mortality): If all infants were placed immediately skin-to-skin, breastfed exclusively for six months and then up to two years or longer with age appropriate complementary feeding, under five mortality would be reduced 13-20% worldwide.
- MDG 5 (maternal health): Mothers' risk of postpartum hemorrhage is reduced by early initiation of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding also protects against anemia and maternal iron depletion due to lactational amenorrhea, and reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and diabetes. (taken fromhttp://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/pdf/wbw2011-af.pdf)
So while in our simple lives we may think of breast-feeding as a chore that will make our breasts hang lower than the south pole, the truth of the matter is that it can be the cheapest life-saving resource that we have at our disposal, GLOBALLY. If it was your baby, or someone special close to you whose baby needed help, I'm betting you would go out of your way to help, and you can – just spread the word – simply put, breast-feeding is good for all involved.
Oh my word!!!!!!!! What I thought would be a few lines turned out to be one big love fest in a very strange sort of way – a way that should be natural. It makes me smile when I realise that God in His infinite wisdom has given women the natural ability to feed, nourish and care for our children. This post is not about the how to's but about the stereotyping and strange stigma that comes with it. Please don't feel bad at all if it's not for you, as mothers, we have the right to raise our kids the way we see fit so relax, there are many other things we do or don't do that impact our children's lives, but hey, we all turned out okay in the end.
I had fun searching the net for information on the subject, you would not believe that amount of photos on the web showing mothers breastfeeding their babies AND toddlers, anywhere and everywhere, even in the middle of a bike ride – how's that for a pit stop??? Or at events called "The Big Latch On". I can see why some people would think that those images should be private and it's probably because breastfeeding in itself has become taboo, while modern society almost dictates that it's NOT the done thing or too much work – if you take the time to de-sensualise breasts, it then becomes one of the most beautiful sights to behold, a nursing mother and child.
Samuel is now 9 months old and still breastfeeding and I think, rather I know for a fact that I enjoy it more than he does there, I said it! From the moment I knew that I was pregnant, it was never a question whether or not I would breast feed and that feeling became even more intrenched when he refused to latch for the first few days of his life. Yes it was tiring in the beginning when I had to feed every two hours on the dot, especially because he was a summer baby and a thirsty one at that, but now we have our quiet time. At the heart of the matter, I am a person who loves touch, so to look into my baby's eyes and have his hand stroke mine (or play with my love handles) while I look into his eyes and play with his hair; it's the purest form of love and touch that I have ever experienced. Visit Breastfeeding Is Beautiful to see what I mean.
The message that I want to pass on to you my readers is that whether you have kids or not or whether they were breastfed or not is irrelevant!!! We can all pass on the message that its good for all involved – besides I am yet to hear a father complain about feeling left out at a 2am feeding session…. I love this feel-good tribute to breastfeeding… enjoy.
The views and opinions of this blog are just that – mine. If by any chance you have taken some offense, I apologise for the offence, not my views.


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Time for Scrabble, Part 2. (In case you missed it, here is Part 1.)
Next up, the board.
After way too much brainstorming on what would be best as the actual board, I bought a canvas drop cloth. The measurements were pretty tight for 15 rows x 15 columns of my painted tiles, but I just decided to use right up to the end of the canvas for my board. I knew my mom would appreciate it being handmade, which was a great excuse for it being such a tight fit with the tiles! I ironed the creases so that the canvas would lay flat, and I was hoping I would also have a little more room for my tight squeeze.
Another dilemma, should I paint lines for the squares on the board? After consulting my talented artist friend, Kelly, we decided it would be ok to paint the squares only, and not worry with the lines. I used masking tape to run my "lines" so I could paint on top, and pull it up once the paint dried for nice sharp edges for the squares!
I had all the colors ready to use for painting the squares: brown, red, blue, light blue and pink. After figuring out which colors went where, I had the whole thing painted! It was a little time consuming, but by the end I had it all figured out. I did get off on one of my light blue squares, but since I was using acrylic paint, it was easy to cover up.
I added one more personal touch with "Nana's Scrabble" at the bottom, and cut a little of the extra canvas off the top. Then, I used a permanent maker to write what each colored squared would score, and of course the star on the middle pink square. I added a dry erase board and makers for our score board, and a bag to keep track of all the tiles to pass around during the game.
Voila – a beautiful handmade board and my biggest DIY undertaking to date! Merry Christmas, Mom!


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August 28th at 7:30pm in Wheeler Auditorium (map)
Hear what Jesus has to say to you in His Word.
Fellowship with hundreds of other Cal students.
Experience unity in action.
Worship the Lord together.
Meet students from each of the groups and get info on fall activities.
Wheeler Hall, location of Jesus in Berkeley? 2013.


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In July 2013, GMO Answers was launched to do a better job answering consumers' questions about genetically modified organism (GMOs). Following all of the success of the program in the United States, the Council for Biotechnology Information (CBI) is now making GMO Answers materials and information more accessible around the world.
In partnership with CropLife International, CBI is pleased to announce that portions of the GMO Answers website and select materials are now available through four regional microsites in multiple languages!
Each microsite includes four sections: the top 10 Q&A, Explore, Downloadable Resources and About Us. They are accessible from a drop-down link in the top right corner of GMOAnswers.com and through the links below:
- Spanish.gmoanswers.com (Latin America)
- Portuguese.gmoanswers.com (Brazil)
- Chinese.gmoanswers.com
- Vietnamese.gmoanswers.com
In addition, French and Korean materials are available for download at GMOAnswers.com in the Educational Resources section under International Resources!
We expect to have German materials in the near future as well!
For more information visit www.gmoanswers.com!


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Malawi Partnership
Partnership with Malawi (Nsoni Church)
"...that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith."
--Romans 1:12
East Union joined with the Pittsburgh Presbytery's Malawi Partnership (www.malawipartnership.org)
Our sister church in Malawi is Nsoni (pronounce soe-nee). We have been blessed to send members of our church to Nsoni, and also to receive visitors from Nsoni to stay here. The partnership has allotted gifts shared with the other that has enriched the life and witness of the other.


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What? The Citizen's Guide to Urban Design is a four section resource guide, commissioned by the Foundation of Louisiana in 2012, intended to guide the general public on how to play an active role in the design of their neighborhoods, communities, and cities. This guide works to create a common language that everyone can understand, facilitating working relationships among residents, designers, real estate developers, and government officials - overall, facilitating dialogue among all the different stakeholders within a community.
Why? Effective communication, and common understanding, are the foundation of communities who work together to collectively create a vision, and character, for the future of their environments. We strongly believe that local residents play a vital role in the shaping of that vision, just as much as the designers, planners, and government officials do.


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Full disclosure: I was given this tool box setup by the local Rigid rep with the understanding that I would write an unbiased review.
I've been using the Rigid Professional Tool Storage System for almost five months now. I started looking for a mobile, multi-box system when working several commercial jobs last winter. Having all your popular tools in a transportable, well-organized unit is essential if you are going to travel from jobsite to jobsite, or are not able to secure your tools overnight and need to pack them up each day. It also lessens the chance of accidentally getting your expensive items from "co-mingling" with other tradesmen on the job!
The Dewalt "Tough" line of cases had piqued my interest when I would walk into my local Home Depot. Despite living up to their tough construction, two things bothered me about the Dewalt system: lack of usable space, and a high price tag. It also required a very expensive dolly type of carrier that made the system stackable and mobile, which interestingly wasn't available in any of our dozens of local Home Depot stores. This spring, I notice that Rigid had come out with a similar system, and was much more reasonably priced...like HALF the price of the Dewalt.
Before talking to my local Rigid rep, I had done an extensive in-store inspection of the locking system, and was pretty impressed with the initial evaluation. The system includes several different sized "boxes", each that can be used by themselves, or stacked on top of a base unit that has wheels and a retractable handle (think hard-case suitcase). The construction is hard plastic, with well fitting, secure latches. Each unit can lock onto the one under or on top of it through side latches. The Rigid system also includes a hard foam liner around the perimeter of the lids that provides a waterproof seal in case your boxes get caught in an errant thunderstorm in the back of your truck - a big bonus.
There are three different sized units. There is a 5 inch deep, three compartment unit that resembles a beefy briefcase, perfect for holding screws and other fasteners, or a drill/driver, batteries, and accessories (which I use it for). A middle sized unit is perfect for bigger tools that you use on a regular basis, like hammers, torpedo levels, drills, screwdrivers, etc. The base unit resembles a regular tool box with a removable top "shelf" for tape measures, pencils, and other go-to tools, with a deep base for heavier, bulkier tools like circular saws, jigsaws, mallets, and other like tools. The retractable handle has shown no play, and feels solid even when the boxes are loaded with tools.
Overall, I'm totally impressed with the utility of the entire system. Craftsmanship is second to none, and the portability parts have proven to be truly professional grade. The base and middle boxes have good layout and ample room for all but the biggest tools. The smallest of the units should be my favorite, as it has versatility to be used alone, but I just find the layout a little constricting. I use a similar locking box system for carrying all my screws, nails and other fasteners, so I have removed the individual boxes that come with this top unit in hopes of using it for something else. It works great if I'm doing small jobs, and only need my 12volt drills and drivers. It will hold a charger, extra batteries, and three different drivers. The problem comes when i want to use my more powerful 18volt drills. The compartment is just too small to hold the bulkier, more powerful drills. This leaves me looking for something to put in it, at times. With this being my only real gripe, I can still highly recommend the Rigid system.
As mentioned before, the real area the Rigid system shines is in value. All three components are sold separately, and can be had for less than $150 total. The dolly for the Dewalt system costs $199 alone! While I haven't used the Dewalt on the job, thorough in-store inspection shows that while it has a few "neat" features, none of those features come close to justifying the price. While I've never owned a Rigid tool before, you can bet I'll be keeping my eye on the company as they show a true interest in attracting the professional craftsman.


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Sampling Techniques for Soil and Plant Tissue
Chemists & Consultants
Sampling Techniques for Soil and Plant Tissue
Analytical Catalog
Please call if you do not see what you need.
In the field, there is no substitute for experience. Fortunately, experience is one of the great strengths of the Dellavalle approach. Our consultants are spread throughout California for easy access. Due to the wide diversity of California agriculture, their expertise includes tree crops, field and row crops and vineyards as well as landscaping. In addition all have worked with water compliance issues as dictated by the Department of Health Services and the California Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Nat B. Dellavalle - 55 Years Experience
Certified Professional Agronomist/SoilScientist, Certified Crop Advisor
Mobile: (559) 647-5316
Area: Outside California, Foreign countries, Southern California
Email Nat
Keith M. Backman
- 44 Years Experience
Certified Horticulturist/PomologistCertified , Crop Advisor
California Water Distribution Operator
Mobile: (559) 647-5330
Area: Eastern Fresno, Kings, Northern Tulare, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Regions
Email Keith
Ben Nydam - 25 Years Experience
Consultant, Irrigation Specialist, Certified Crop Advisor
Mobile: (559) 647-5331
Area: Kern, Tulare, Kings Regions
Email Ben
Danyal Kasapligil - 26 Years Experience
Certified Professional Agronomist, Certified Crop Advisor, Agricultural Pest Control Advisor
Mobile: (831) 750-4509
Area: Napa, Sacramento, Salinas, Special Projects
Email Danyal
Bill Blanken - 58 Years Experience
Mobile: (559) 469-2832
Area: Kern, Kings and Tulare Regions
Email Bill
Anne Collins Burkholder - 8 Years Experience
Certified Crop Advisor
Mobile: (530) 400-1346
Area: Lodi, Modesto, North Sacramento, Special Projects
Email Anne
Lacey Mount - 5 Years Experience
Agronomist, Certified Crop Advisor, Doctor of Plant Medicine
Mobile: (559) 351-2741
Area: Fresno, Madera and Merced regions, Special Projects
Email Lacey
Cynthia Tiemersma - 3 Year Experience
Dairy Technician
Mobile: (559) 471-6140
Area: Kern, Kings, Fresno Regions
Email Cynthia
Sam Daud - 1 Year Experience
Mobile: (559) 940-1294
Area: Fresno and Madera Regions
Email Sam


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Filling a Void
The technology market's swoon has made it more difficult for start-up companies in the ASP (application service provider) space to obtain funding and services. The ASP market is still seen as promising, but ASP companies are hungry for help.
Now IT vendors are stepping in to fill the gap with migration programs that offer fee-based business and technology services such as consulting, marketing, and product development assistance.
According to a recent research report by IDC, IT vendors are simultaneously testing the promise of the ASP market and assuming a limited version of the role venture capitalists and incubators traditionally played. By offering migration programs to ASP start-ups, vendors hope to link their technologies to promising players in the ASP market.
Although ASPs enter these partnerships aiming to fulfill their start-up needs, IDC senior ASP analyst Jessica Goepfert says their interests are not aligned with those of IT vendors. In fact, incubators would align more closely with ASP needs. "Incubators do everything they can to make sure a start-up company succeeds. Vendors want to sell more products."
The emphasis on technology services does not, in Goepfert's view, address the real needs of ASPs. "Where these companies need help is addressing their business needs, how to market and sell their servicesnot just the technical aspects of the ASP model."
Among the companies offering ASP migration programs are British Telecommunications, Dell, IBM, and Sun Microsystems.