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Cooking on the Road: Mexico
By Ryan Pera
I was invited to cook at Mexico Wine and Food, the premier food and wine event for the great country of Mexico, along with esteemed chefs like John Tesar, Aquiles Chavez and Maycoll Calderon. This was partly engineered by our good friends at Hola Houston, an effort by the City to spotlight our role not just as a provider of world class medical care, but also as an international center for the arts (culinarily foremost), and a model metropolis benefiting from the rich bounty of the multiple international cultures that converge here in the Bayou. I was inclined to go, since, as I've often stated to my wife, very matter-of-factly and not at all whiney-like, "I've never seen the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean." I did accept, and not just because the Caribbean and white sand beaches called my name. It also seemed to be good timing (a Sunday), not a crazy time of year, no prior commitments…all signs pointed to 'yes.'
Thanks to Cupid hitting a few sous chefs on the Agricole chef team that led to them running off and getting married, I found myself traveling to Cancun without a culinary side-kick. No matter, I thought. It's all good. I can prepare a dinner for 500 tony Mexican foodies without any help. I still got it.
I felt different as soon as I stepped off the plane. It was less than three hours from our newly renovated IAH--the same duration of which could have landed me in Cleveland, LA, Charlotte--instead, I breathe the warm, tropical air, and let a friendly greeter lead me to a friendly driver, who took me to the friendly porter of a luxury hotel filled with incredible numbers of friendly staff.
We jumped in a rental car for a quick trip to Tulum, where I could scratch my anthropologist's itch at the well-deservedly famous Mayan ruins. I had barely time to reflect on pre-Columbian Mayan accomplishments in science, architecture and cuisine (my heroes, for the brilliant process of nixtamalization), when it was time to head back.
I headed to the hotel kitchen to debone 200 quail, washed 70 million pounds of quinoa, shaved a billion fennel heads, squeezed upteen gallons of sour orange juice, and roasted a gazillion pounds of American pork ribs for the guests.
I finished my prep in time for a late night tequila shot before crashing onto the best hotel bed. Ever.
In the morning, I was off to the kitchen before breakfast. Today, my workload was lessened by the efforts of a pair of culinary students from a local school, limited only by their experience and my ever-improving, but woefully inadequate, mastery of the Spanish language. I was joined in the kitchen by the hardworking teams from John Tesar of Knife in Dallas and Maycoll Calderon of Huset in Mexico City. The students, hotel staff and I watched as Maycoll took apart a whole fish--a gorgeous, 50-pound grouper. A true master at work. The day flew by. My internal clock was opposed by the pace of these kitchen novices, who might have been slowed by the very restful sound of the waves crashing on the white sand, but who has time for that? My young student, Jose, tells me he has never worked the grill, but is ready to try. Say good-bye to that arm hair, I thought to myself, and agreed. What choice did we have? I had done enough of these events to know that my role was to explain the food as much as it was to prepare it, and I would need Jose's help on the grill.
As we set up for the event on the beach, I realized this was my first party with a shoe check. Bang, 8 PM, and the grill fires are raging. In came the crowd--tanned, beautifully dressed but shoeless. They quickly formed lines in front of each eatery's service station. If egos were fed by the longest lines and the quickest 86s, then I am set for life. I learned later that the gossip around the festival was of the great pork ribs in lane 3, which explains how quickly I ran out. The reviews later on social media were blush-inducing: 'poetry,' 'momentos exquisitos.'
What is the familiar vibe that I feel while walking through that hotel lobby, or by the pool surrounded by the blissfully tan or ruefully sunburned of all ages, or as the sun set and the party began on the Maya Riviera? I realize that my time in an open kitchen has served me well. I have learned to sense, through the air, by the volume of the voices rising above the festive music, the sound of joy. These people are having a good time. Not unlike the reassuring sound of the pitch and pace of the patient's heartbeat in my wife's operating room, the volume of the voices around me and the laughter say it all. I don't have to look up from my task at hand to know all is well in the dining room…or in this case, out on the beach.
There was another bizarrely familiar aspect about working this event. I had a constant sense of déjà vu. I wasn't able to put my finger on it until later. My quickly formed team had found its stride. We were grilling and chilling, plating the dishes, reloading the grill. This sincere, earnest, hard-working group of students and the service staff of the hotel reminded me of my home team in Houston. It made me grateful to be surrounded daily by such an amazing group, but I also felt a new awe of Cancun, which seems to draw out or encourage or maybe just not get in the way of the genuine warmth and caring of Mexican hospitality. Que Bueno.
Later, due to our presence at a resort catering to Americans, I did find it necessary to coach the bartenders in how to produce a margarita for a Texan. After a long two nights of cooking, I was happy to partake of their excellent learning skills and settle by the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean to sip that margarita.


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What does Pluto have on it?/
Pluto is very like an extremely large, dirty snowball. Or like a snowy dirtball, depending on your perspective - Pluto's about 50-50 rock and ice.
One thing Pluto does have in abundance is rather a lot of moons! Its most famous companion is Charon, which is about 10 times less massive than Pluto, but considering that our moon is only about 1% of the mass of the Earth, this is a rather large moon, relatively speaking. Pluto also has four other moons, named Nix, Hydra, Kerberos, and Styx. Kerberos and Styx were officially named just a few weeks ago - there was an online poll to suggest names for them, and these were among the most popular suggestions. (Vulcan was also an option, but the underworld theme prevailed.)
The only images that we have of Pluto are from telescopes both on the ground on Earth and in orbit. We base most of our information on what Pluto is based on based on how bright it is - the brightness tells us something about how much of the Sun's light is reflected back at us. The more reflective the object, the more icy it has to be. If you look at the brightness of an object in various different wavelengths of light, you can get a sense of what color the object is, and whether there are irregularities in the surface. It turns out that Pluto has variations both in brightness and in color, which makes it a very interesting snowy dirtball. One would normally expect it to be roughly the same all over. It's tricky to make these measurements from so far away, and ideally we'd like to send a probe to Pluto and take a bunch of pictures and measurements from close up.
Fortunately, in 2006, we launched a satellite to do just that - New Horizons. New Horizons is scheduled to fly past Pluto in 2015, hopefully expertly navigating all of Pluto's moons and any other objects that might be hanging around near Pluto in 2015. New Horizons is packed with cameras and other instruments, so it should - if all goes well - be able to provide much more detailed maps of Pluto than we've ever been able to obtain before, along with measurements of the atmosphere of Pluto, and any rapid changes that may occur on the surface.
So keep your fingers crossed for New Horizons, and soon we'll have a much better answer to what's on Pluto than we do now!
Have your own question? Something here not make sense? Feel free to ask!

subset: commoncrawl


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I'm writing and releasing Hal Spacejock 7 in ten installments of roughly 7000 words (4 chapters) each.
Parts 1-5
(the first half of the book) are already available on Amazon and Kobo.
When part ten is published I'll release the entire thing as a single novel, as per Hal Spacejock books 1-6.
There are several reasons why I'm writing and releasing Hal 7 in parts, but these are the major ones:
1. Something new for the fans every week or so, not every year or so.
2. It's really keeping me on my toes, and I'm enjoying the challenge.
3. I find it much easier to focus on writing, editing and releasing each part - far easier than trying to prepare an entire novel.
4. No plotting! I'm just working 3-4 chapters ahead, instead of knowing every little detail in advance. That gives my characters freedom to make different choices when the moment arises, and then I type like crazy to keep up with them.
Anyway, half a novel in 3-4 weeks proves it's working, and the feedback so far has been great. As for productivity, I'd be more than happy to release 3 Hal novels, 1 Harriet Walsh novel and a Hal Junior novel every year ...
Simon Haynes is the author of the Hal Spacejock and Hal Junior series (Amazon / Smashwords / other formats)


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"The key attraction of Mendix for me is the way the product is architected; it is built with agility in mind. To me it is the combination of the way the platform works and the people and the company behind it."
Genpact Uses Mendix as Part of their Lean Digital Strategy
About the case
Genpact, a global leader in digitally-powered business process management and services, adopted the Mendix platform as part of their Lean Digital strategy, which harnesses the combined power of process-centric technologies, design thinking, and deep domain expertise. Mendix is part of Genpact's incubation partner ecosystem that brings together leading disruptive technology innovators with Genpact's Lean Digital approach to develop solutions that realize practical business outcomes for its client base of global enterprises.
Genpact has multiple clients with different processes, so flexibility was an important factor when choosing a platform. They're using Mendix to develop reusable solution frameworks that can then be quickly configured from client to client, ensuring rapid deployment.


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Ramadan (Sugar) Feast
The Sugar Feast (Şeker Bayramı) is the three day festival following Ramadan. It refers to the restoration of one's best human composition and the celebration of the end of the thirty days of fasting during Ramadan. What Does Şeker Bayramı Mean for the Locals? During this three day celebration the flow of life changes drastically. For locals it means holiday since schools, government offices, banks and even ...Read more ›


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The principle of rocket propulsion follows Newton's famous third law of motion, which states that to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. A rocket engine travels by expelling mass in one direction while at the same time using the reaction to move in the other direction.
Though the principle seems simple in theory, in practice, many other factors need to be considered to make a rocket move properly. Force is mass multiplied by acceleration, so the weight of the rocket and its fuel are important considerations in determining thrust. Since fuel is carried on the rocket, a high escape velocity is desirable, as the rocket uses more fuel to achieve thrust at low velocity than high velocity. Once the rocket picks up speed, less fuel is needed. Rockets needed to lift people or objects into space are so large because most of the bulk is taken up by fuel.
Both solid and liquid fuels are used in rockets. Solid fuels have the advantages of safety, simplicity and low cost, but once begun, the engine cannot be stopped or restarted, and the thrust cannot be controlled. For these reasons, solid fuel engines are used for booster systems or missiles. Liquid propellant engines are more complicated and volatile, but they have higher exhaust velocities and are easier to control, start and shut down in an emergency.


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The classics never go out of style. Bon Jovi has been bringing down the house on stage for 30 years - and they're still going strong! Bon Jovi's Because We Can tour - which will visit five continents - hits Columbus' Nationwide Arena on Sunday, March 10. They'll play their standards and some work from their new album What About Now.
Before the concert, you'll have plenty of time to check out the Arena District - get some dinner at Bucca di Beppo or Rodizio Grill or go casual with a short walk over to the North Market. If you take the next day off, you might even end your evening with drinks at R Bar or one of the Park Street entertainment venues.
Comment below with your favorite Bon Jovi song, or follow Experience Columbus and repin this image onto your Pinterest boards to be entered to win! (You must be following Experience Columbus on Pinterest to win with a repin entry.) You have until noon on Valentine's Day - Feb. 14 - to enter. The winner will have a pair of tickets waiting for them at will-call. So enter now!


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Information Literacy
What Is Information Literacy?
Information literacy is the ability to identify, locate, use and interpret information effectively. Information literate students demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
The University of Chicago Library promotes information literacy in the following ways:
- By helping students, faculty, and staff at the University become familiar with the Library and its resources.
- By developing instructional resources for students, faculty, and staff of the University.
- By encouraging a partnership between the Library and faculty in curriculum development.
- By promoting vital critical thinking skills that can be applied in the academic environment and in the larger world.
Learn More about Information Literacy
- Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education
American Library Association, Association of College and Research Libraries
- Objectives for Information Literacy Instruction: A Model Statement for Academic Librarians
American Library Association, Association of College and Research Libraries
- Characteristics of Programs of Information Literacy that Illustrate Best Practices: A Guideline
American Library Association, Association of College and Research Libraries, Institute for Information Literacy


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Sheriff Cosmetics - offers Professional Cosmetics for lips, eyes and more
Sheriff Professional is a fun, chic, truly unique cosmetic company. We present only the finest quality, best shade selection for incredible value. Our company is Canadian owned and operated.
We pride ourselves in being the next best thing to enter the Canadian marketplace since 1985.
Sheriff Professional offers a wide product line to both retail consumers and wholesale under the sheriff professional banner or your brand of make-up, private label and OEM is also available.
If you are a store or spa and wish to carry our exclusive line, please complete the dealer application - click the link below. If you are an independent individual that has a passion for cosmetics and interested in distribution of our line or private label we urge you to contact us.
Along side to our fantastic product line, we offer extensive make up artistry thru the Sheriff Professional Academy of Makeup Art programs. Our programs have turned out top make-up artists that are actively working serving the entertainment industry, retail, and private sector. Additional information can be located under our education tab. Make-up Lessons are also available for anyone wishing to up-date their current makeup regime.


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Apparently I'm not alone in disagreeing with the silly report about Vick not getting traded until the summer. Matt Bowen over on National Football Post gives his take:
What value would the QB have then? Maybe a backup role in another city, but to expect a team to come in — with injury issues at their quarterback position — and make an offer for Vick in August just isn't sitting well with me today…
I agree that NFL offseason programs can act more as babysitting services, outside of a weekend mini-camp and two weeks of OTA's, but if you have your eye on Vick as a possible starter, he needs to be there. He needs to be in the playbook, in the meeting room and so on. All of the things we tend to talk and write about come May.
Exactly what I said. I don't understand why people keep taking the report about the Eagles waiting until as late as the preseason to unload McNabb seriously. Vick's value goes down after the draft, and rapidly declines once teams go into offseason workouts and training camps.
Very simply, the Eagles are not going to get a better offer than whatever they are talking about right now. Bowen sums it up nicely:
So, if the right offer were floated today, I don't know how the Eagles could actually turn it down. And, that is why this report is so odd, so strange and so out of character for the NFL buzz.


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We lost this amazing musician when he was only 32. I can't even imagine how amazing he would be if he was still around. One of my main goals of doing my book, Everybody I Shot Is Dead, was for younger musicians to learn about and be influenced by the greats that weren't household names. Hollywood Fats was one of the greats who did not get the fame he deserved.
3/17/54 - 12/8/86
Wow...I can't believe I found another video with Hollywood Fats. He's playing with Muddy Waters, who I photographed but lost the negatives :(. I'm happy to share this - Fats is on the far left of the stage and playing the red guitar.
Pick up a copy of Everybody I Shot Is Dead to learn more about
Hollywood Fats and the other 47 musicians included in the book.


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Three Awesome Tricks to Clear Your Clogged Sink Drain, Before Calling A Plumber
Having a clogged sink drain can be one of the most frustrating experiences, especially for someone who cooks, cleans, and does a lot of work in their home. Before calling an experienced drain contractor you'll want to make sure you try to unclog your drain by yourself. The sad truth is that eventually all sink drains will become clogged. Some will simply clog a lot faster than others and may require special attention on a more regular basis. However, when your kitchen sink drain clogs there is more you can do than simply calling up a plumber, you can take matters into your own hands with these three awesome tricks.
Prevention Is Worth an Ounce of Unclogged Drain
Before we dig into how to unclog your drain it's worth mentioning how to avoid this problem in the first place. Often people see their sink drain as an empty abyss, everything they put down there disappears never to be seen again, right? So people end up using their sink drain as a garbage for all the little tiny bits of food that might end up in their sink, or on their counter tops. The problem with this is that all those tiny bits of food are likely to end up stuck within the drain at some point. This problem is made even worse whenever grease or oil is poured down the drain. The oil coats the interior surface of the pipes and congeals into a sticky paste, this sticky substance than becomes a perfect place for food bits to lodge. Add a few years to this process and eventually we have a clogged drain (or a drain suffering from low flow).
1. Water & Hot Water
The simplest technique to try is to water down your drain. First, put the stopper in your sink (if you have a double-basin sink, put stoppers in both drains) and fill your entire sink up with hot water. You'll want to make sure that it is not too hot that you would burn yourself because once you've filled it up all the way you need to remove the stoppers. Sink filled up entirely? Good, now remove the stoppers. The force of both sinks filled with water forcing it's way down through the drain can sometimes be enough to block some stubborn clogs.
If that doesn't work you can move onto to pouring boiling water down your drain, sometimes this boiling water will dislodge old grease breaking-up stubborn clogs in the process. Remember, boiling water can cause serious burns so be careful!
2. Use Your Plunger
Most people don't consider the plunger as an item they'd ever want to see sitting around in the kitchen (or any other room where food is prepared), but the trusty plunger can be one of the most effective ways to clear your clogged sink drain. Most everyone has a flange plunger sitting in their storage or bathroom somewhere, it's time to get that plunger out and put it to work.
If you can bend the floppy flange part back inside of the plunger, do so – it will make your job easier. Next, if your sink is a double-basin sink you will want to figure out which drain is directly above the trap, look under your sink to figure this out. Now, clog the drain of the opposite sink with the stopper, or if you've lost it like 80% of people, stuff a rag into the drain. It is time to start plunging now, make sure you put some muscle into the process and eventually you'll get that sucker unclogged.
If for some reason, plunging fails to clear your blocked drain, it's time to get serious.
3. Zip-It Clean
There is a fantastic product you can buy from just about every hardware store called the Zip-It. This product does a seriously awesome job at clearing the majority of stubborn clogs. It is a simple strip of plastic, a couple of feet in length (long enough to get into most drains) with a handle on one end, and barbs running down its length. It is incredibly easy to use as well, you may want to skip the plunger and try this product out first. Simply insert it into your drain and use those barbs to pull out whatever may be clogging it below.
If these three awesome tricks don't solve you clogged sink drain problems it's a good idea to get on the phone and call up a pro that has the technical prowess to solve your problems once and for all.


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In this episode of The Teacherpreneur podcast I share the background story of how a $20,000 mistake prompted me to think differently about the importance to pre selling products before you get started on building them. I talk through the major failure and then how I solved it in a future product release, guaranteeing the success of the product before I got started.
Press play to listen to the episode below or view previous episodes here
Subscribe and Listen via iTunes


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The party I wanted to go to but couldn't..because of money, time,...oh and school obligations.
But I wanted to go....probably more than I could ever explain without sounding pathetic.
But I did not want to go alone.
I had this fear that if I went alone...I would be alone. Ever have that fear? The fear kinda reminded me of a fear at lunch time during school.
Do you remember that 1st day of school and the apprehension that came with lunch time? The fear of not having a seat at a table was a very real and very intense feeling.
Well...I have a solution, but the solution will only work if you join me.
In this world of blogging, and boy oh boy have I been peeking into a lot of uber cute corners since Gail and I's blog hop....I have reaffirmed my belief that people who blog..blog because they want to feel connected.
It is great to be a follower, but I want to take blogging to the next level. I don't want followers...I want friends. I want my blog to be set in a community where we come together, embrace each other, and support each other...not by our stats, not by our numbers, but by our ideas and creative vision...and most importantly -- our friendship.
And so...I am inviting you to create -- "Our Own Circle of Bliss."
This circle, no matter how small or how big, will become a network of friends old and new that commit to supporting each other and getting to be more than followers, but friends.
My ultimate goal?
That all of us go to Blissdom 2012. That we create our own lunch table. :)


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Letter from Shreveport — From the April 2013 issue
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Letter from Shreveport — From the April 2013 issue
Larry Hackett, the managing editor of People magazine, looks like a man who wants to look like Anderson Cooper. It's just a few days before the Academy Awards, and normally Hackett would be in Los Angeles among the celebrities his publication so devotedly covers. But instead he's here in Shreveport, Louisiana, to give the keynote speech at the 2012 Bassmaster Classic opening gala.
"I can't tell you the looks on the faces of my staff members when I said that I was leaving," he tells the audience. "They said, 'You're going to the Oscars?' and I said, 'No, I'm going to Shreveport.' "
Hackett had been invited to speak by his buddy Don Logan, a former executive of Time Warner and one of the three men who in 2010 purchased the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS), which runs the tournament, from ESPN.
For reasons I cannot fathom, the bulk of Hackett's speech is devoted to analyzing various People photo spreads. A shot of the Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir appears on the screen next to Hackett, who says of Weir's outfit, "You can dress like Johnny Weir, but I have a feeling that's not going to go over very well on a bass boat." The audience is mostly silent. Unfazed, Hackett asks the audience to guess, by way of applause, which celebrity covers translated into the highest newsstand sales. Steve Jobs or Amy Winehouse? Elizabeth Taylor or Whitney Houston? It's a testament to the graciousness of the fishermen here that Hackett receives even tepid applause as he exits the stage.
Perhaps Hackett meant his speech to be instructive. Coverage of last year's tournament on ESPN2 drew an average of about 280,000 viewers. People's readership, he bragged, was 40 million a week, and he suggested that BASS, too, could reach a larger audience by promoting its stars to the masses.
By far the sport's biggest celebrity is Kevin VanDam, the defending Classic champion, who also takes the stage on opening night. Most of the other anglers are wearing slacks and button-down shirts, and a few are in jeans, but VanDam wears a charcoal suit and scrupulously gelled hair. He's handsome and gracious and, at forty-four, he's at the heart of the Classic's white, middle-aged, mostly male viewer demographic.
VanDam's brief speech is a kind of pep talk for those fishermen who think that ESPN made the Classic too commercial. Under BASS's first owners, he admits, there was a greater sense of camaraderie and intimacy among the competitors. "But somewhere along the way, we kind of got away from that."
ESPN had wanted to make bass fishing the new NASCAR — before NASCAR itself lost its national audience. The new owners are passionate amateur bass fishermen, and VanDam assures the crowd that (Larry Hackett aside) the tournament is returning to its earlier sense of intimacy.
ESPN still has the television rights to the Classic, and for the past few weeks they have run numerous promos for the tournament, almost all of which have featured VanDam. The sport has more electric, even outlandish, personalities, but VanDam's dominance is undeniable. He's already tied the record — four — for Classic titles. He's been crowned BASS's Angler of the Year seven times. Now he's trying to win a third Classic in a row — an unprecedented feat that could finally give professional fishing a few minutes in the national spotlight.
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More from Paul Wachter:
Report — From the May 2016 issue


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Think lifting some weights in a gym or taking some jiu-jitsu classes makes you a bona fide tough guy?
Try leaping through fire, burrowing under barbed wire, plunging into icy water and traversing a brutal expanse of mud and misery (Speedo optional).
That's tough.
Such were the grueling obstacles that faced thousands of competitors this past weekend at the annual Tough Guy Challenge in England, widely regarded as the "toughest race in the world" (though that's up for serious debate).
Roughly one-third of the wannabe tough guys who start the race fail to complete it, instead hobbling off to the nearest paramedic and/or frosty pint of liquid consolation.
During the eight-mile charge through the so-called Killing Fields, tough guys are faced with obstacles including:
– The Anaconda: a series of concrete pipes outfitted with dangling electrical wires
– The Jesus Bridge: an expanse of wooden planks (perhaps from crucifixes?)
– Vietcong Torture Chamber Tunnels: underground passages that would not have seemed out of place in Apocalypse Now
Apparently only one person has died during the competition, and that was 13 years ago — a rather surprising statistic, given the soul-crushing rigors of the course. Broken bones and bloody gashes are far more common, and roughly 600 competitors were diagnosed with hypothermia during the 2009 event.
Despite the diabolical nature of the race, organizers call it the "safest most dangerous event in the world," thanks largely to the army of paramedics on hand waiting to nurse the wounded.
Think you're tough? Sign up for next year's Tough Guy Challenge. A word of advice: watch this video first.


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Plastic Wine Bottles?
If you haven't seen it, I'm sure you might be ready to jump out of your seat. On Saturday (8/8/09) I came across and article in the LA Times Business section, "Plastic bottles aim to remold wine industry". This article has brought up recent memories for the cork versus screw top debate. Now, no one who knows me would consider me a wine "snob" but I do have my opinions on the subject… Plastic wine bottles are a short term solution!
Reading about these plastic wine bottles, I don't think wine collectors and wine cellar owners are going to budge from the traditional glass bottle. Plastic wine bottles will come with a "use by" date. The serious wine enthusiast and wineries that produce wine that is designed to be aged will have no use for plastic. Can you imagine a Vintage Port that could easily age 25 to 30 years in a plastic bottle?
So you really see this trend as a true change is the wine industry? No, I don't. I see this as a way to get mass consumed product to the mass consumer. The plastic wine bottles are lighter making shipping costs less; they hold more, allowing for a few more glasses on a per bottle basis. This is a trend that can affect wines that are designed to drink right off the shelf. I just don't see this as a major change in the industry.
High end wine stores, where the wine collector shops, probably will not carry wine in a plastic bottle. I'm positive you won't find a Premier Cru available in a plastic bottle unless it's done by Chateau de Plastique.
This article may surprise you and it may not. If you still have plans to build a beautiful wine cellar, don't stop. Good wine in a bottle is still meant to keep at a constant 55-57 degree temperature with a relative humidity around 60%. Some traditions will never go away. Maybe another time we will discuss the screw top!


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tuesdays with rexford
debbie gibson is pregnant with my two-headed love child
Rex: Your head is full of cotton.
Glass Head: I know you are, but what am I?
If you have any of the above books and would like them signed, mail them to:
P.O. Box 131845, Houston, TX., 77219.
Please include three dollars for return postage.
Send email to email@example.com
nathan burgoine: pages from the bookstore
becky cochrane: an aries knows (everything)
joel derfner: the search for love in manhattan
greg herren: queer and loathing in america
josh & josh are rich and famous
brandon m. long: random thoughts and rants
jeffrey ricker's virtual scratch pad
lawrence schimel: breakfast in bed
where there's a wil, there's always a way
rob williams: robwilliamsdotorg
Scout's Honor Rescue is an all-breed, no-kill, Not-For-Profit 501(c)(3) animal rescue organization committed to bringing courage, character and compassion to Houston's homeless pet population and making a positive difference in the lives of these stray and abandoned animals and the Houston community as a whole. 100% of every dollar donated goes directly to saving the life of a homeless animal.
bering omega community services
debbie gibson is pregnant with my two-headed love child
Rex: Your head is full of cotton.
Glass Head: I know you are, but what am I?


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A Brief History
Le Richelieu is named for Armand-Jean du Plessis, Duke and Cardinal de Richelieu, powerful Prime Minister of Louis XIII, and the acknowledged architect of France's greatness in the 17th Century.
A portrait of Cardinal Richelieu, painted by a local artist, Carl Cramer, hangs in our lobby. It was inspired by a painting by Philippe de Champaigne, France, circa 1635, which hangs in the Musee` du Louvre.
The land upon which Le Richelieu is built was part of 1745 Royal Land Grant from Louis XV of France to the Sisters of St. Ursula (Ursuline nuns). He mandated that they care for sick French soldiers and establish a school for "young ladies". A "casernes", or lodging, and a hospital were built at this location, and housed French, Spanish and American soldiers for over 100 years.
In 1763 with the French treasury depleted, Louis XV (he did live well) secretly gave Louisiana to his cousin, Charles III of Spain. Upon hearing of this two years later, the horrified French subjects in New Orleans rebelled against injustice and forced out the first Spanish governor, Antonio de Uloa. Spain then sent, in 1769, Count Alexander O'Reilly and 3000 soldiers to quell the rebellious French. O'Reilly then arrested the French patriot, Nicolous Chauvin de La Freniere, attorney general of the colony. In the courtyard of the barracks, (where our parking lot in now located), he had La Freniere and four of his compatriots executed by firing squad, earning himself the title of " Bloody O'Reilly". The La Freniere-led "October Rebellion" was the first revolution against a foreign power on soil of the Continental United States.
But life goes on, and eventually the French and Spanish intermarried. The children of these marriages became "Creoles".
In 1824 the Ursuline nuns moved, and deeded their land grant to the Catholic Bishops of New Orleans. With the exception of the area immediately around the Convent, the land was divided into lots and sold to citizens.
John McDonough, eccentric land baron and native of Baltimore, Maryland purchased most of this property in 1828. McDonough was disliked and distrusted by the fun-loving, free-spending Creoles, who consider him a miser. He was publicly ridiculed for his practice of having a slave row him from his plantation in Algiers, across the Mississippi to New Orleans, thus saving the 5 cents ferry fare. (This scene is depicted in the painting in our lobby, done by a local artist, Carl Cramer.)
Imagine the surprised Creoles when, upon his death in 1850, they learned that he had left a bulk of his estate to the cities of New Orleans and Baltimore for educational purposes! New Orleans used its share to establish the public school system, and erected 36 school buildings, all named for McDonough. His birthday is celebrated by the school children of New Orleans to this day.
In 1845, Dominique Lanata built 5 identical houses in a row, facing Chartres Street, for his family. They were among the first Greek revival buildings in the French Quarter. They changed hands many times, until 1963 when Sam Reclie, a local entrepreneur, bought and restored one of the buildings. It now houses our lobby and bar, and second floor contains three suites, which for two and a half months were home to Paul McCartney, of the Beatles, and his family.
In 1902, the Cusimano family built the first macaroni factory in New Orleans at the corner of Charters and Barracks Streets. It was then the largest factory of its kind in the United States. The land it stood on once belonged to the Duplessis family, distant relatives of Cardinal Richelieu, and later served as a garden for the wealthy Charbonnet family. The factory burned down in 1916, and was rebuilt the next year. The Cusimano family operated it until 1939, when it was sold and converted into a furniture factory. It later became a mattress factory, and then stood idle for many years. Sam Recile purchased it in 1963 and along with the adjoining building (the lobby and bar area), it became Le Richelieu Apartment Hotel. The Vieux Carre Commission presented an "Honor Award for Renovation" to the property in 1965.
The property was sold in August, 1969, to two New Orleanians, Frank Rochefort Jr. and Gerald Senner, and after renovation, began operating as a hotel. Le Richelieu is rated three Stars by Mobil.


text: There were an abundant of resources that were shared at the SpecTECHular PD Academy held on August 6 at PHS. Click Here to access the link. You will need to enter your email and password to sign into O365. Once you do that, click on the Request Access and a link will be sent to you to log in.


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Uptown Rotary Celebrates 100 Years of the Rotary Foundation
Uptown Rotary is happy to be honoring the life-changing community service that has been made possible over the past 100 years through the Rotary Foundation and the more than 33,000 clubs across the world. We are proud to have partnered with the Rotary Foundation to fund several projects both in our community and internationally in places like Uganda, Mexico and Nicaragua.
Throughout this year, members of our club are celebrating our commitment to "Service Above Self" by striving to provide 100 hours of community and club service through our "100 for 100 Challenge." Each member will track their hours using the Four Way Test as our guide.
We hope you will be inspired to join us and take part in the spirit of the Rotary Foundation's mission of "Doing Good in the World." If you'd like to give back to your community or are interested international service, Uptown Rotary would be happy to have you join us for our breakfast meetings or one of our upcoming service projects. Check our calendar for upcoming events or our Facebook for more information.
We are deeply grateful to Rotarian Terry Gardner of Terry Allen Gardner Creative Services for creating our wonderful emblem. Thank you!!


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I'm so excited to tell you guys about my latest obsession, it is called LIPIDOL and it is an amazing oil based skincare that becomes apart of your everyday life, about three weeks ago I received an invitation to the Lipidol launch that included a bottle of their aftershower oil, I ran out of body lotion and decided to use the aftershower oil – I was hooked! This product is an extension from bio oil, it is definitely the future of skincare, your skin soaks the aftershower oil right up, no oiliness, just pure moisturisation.
Lipidol got it's name from the layer of oil your skin naturally produces, it is called the Lipid bilayer of the skin. The Lipid bilayer offers protection, it creates an envelope housing the cellular components (I don't really understand this ) – but basically some cells, such as plant cells, have a cell wall which offers further protection, this product offers protection and seals the mositure naturally within your skin.
The outermost layer of the skin is an oily layer. Its purpose is to hold moisture in the skin; an important function because moisture facilitates enzyme activity, which in turn leads to healthy, radiant skin. There are however occasions when moisture does escape. The main culprit is daily washing with soap, which strips away the skin's oily layer. Another is a dry climate, which draws moisture from the skin into the outside air. Also, as the skin ages it produces less oil and it becomes harder to hold moisture in the skin. It is not possible to replace lost moisture by applying moisture to the skin as the skin's moisture comes from within. The advantage of using oil in everyday skincare is that the skin's natural oily layer is continually supplemented.
Lipidol didn't only come out with one product but a whole range of them:
The Lipidol products are packaged in sealed plastic wrappers, pioneering a move away from cartons, which originated in the era when product information needed to be available in-store, Lipidol felt that the carton was a waste of paper, the plastic is seal proof therefore making the product untouchable until you arrive at home – how many people don't open products to test and smell them and then you end up purchasing it and taking it home.
Lipidol is truly a pioneer with their new skincare range, they will be changing the landscape of skincare forever, Lipidol took a combination of oils and made them work much harder, the potency of the oils are outstanding. The range is totally natural, essential oils that were functional and representative of it's use were used to achieve the auroma of the product, each product having it's own unique and natural smell, finally plant and food extracts were used to achieve the colours of the oils.
After hearing how amazing this product is I know you're all wondering how much it might cost, the team at Lipidol once again set out to make this product not just amazing but affordable. The products are going for R79,95 each whether it's the 200ml aftershower oil or the 50ml overnight face oil – the whole product range all have the same amazingly affordable price!
I had such an amazing time at this launch getting to hear about the eight year long journey that it took to bring this product to life, the thought and belief behind it was truly inspirational. This is for sure my newest obsession, it is such an amazing product and I can't stop raving about it. Lipidol was released on the 8 September here in South Africa – my birthday is on the 5 October – four out the six products are on my birthday wishlist lol!
Do yourselves a favour – go to Clicks and get yourself some Lipidol!
Find out more about the Lipidol products and ingredients on their website – here


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It's New Years, not Sylvester!
As December 31st approaches, I am faced yet again with the inner-conflict of whether or not I should celebrate a 'chutznik' holiday. Since the moment I arrived in Israel, I have done everything humanly possible to become 'Israeli.' I put myself in Hebrew-only environments, such as an Israeli pre-army Yeshiva program, I joined the army, and I listened exclusively to Israeli musical artists. I can honestly say that I did my best to avoid being caught in what I term the 'Anglo-Bubble.'
I certainly didn't celebrate the holidays I grew up with, such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, and New Years. In fact, if people would ask me if I planned on celebrating those holidays, I would make an indignant face and say "of course not – those aren't my holidays anymore." The only reason I even noticed when Thanksgiving came around, was because my parents would call me from the annual Thanksgiving family gathering. I would then ceremoniously get passed around between Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins at a dizzying pace, forced to repeat the same practiced lines to each and every one. Then, as soon as I would thankfully hang up the phone, the knowledge that it was Thanksgiving Day would fade again into my subconscious and I would rejoin just another routine day here in Israel where Thanksgiving has no real import. Yet in the last couple of years, whether it's because the chaotic army phase of my life has passed, I've finally accepted the fact that I will always be somewhat 'American' no matter how 'Israeli' I become, or perhaps simply because I am getting older, something has changed. I am getting nostalgic for those holidays, and what's more – I don't want to be embarrassed about it anymore.
In Israel, 'New Years Eve,' is called 'Sylvester,' named after St. Sylvester, a documented anti-Semite. Such a negative connotation! How did this name catch on here?? I have heard two different answers. The first is that it is called Sylvester here to remind Westerners that have moved to Israel that it is a non-Jewish holiday. The second answer, and a tad more mild I might add, is that Sylvester is the name used in Europe, and when the European Jews moved to Israel, they simply carried the name over with them. However this name and association in no way parallel my experience of New Years as a child. Queue the magical chimes as I take you back 20 years…
In the past, New Years was always an exciting time of year for me. It would mark the pinnacle of the holiday season in thrilling fashion. During the build-up week of Christmas and Hanukkah, houses would be decorated with festive lights, which cast the evenings in an enchanted glow throughout the month of December. Since there was no school (another blessing), every day would be dedicated to sledding, snow fights, and general mischief and mayhem. Trudging home through the snow covered streets of my cozy neighborhood in Philadelphia felt like an adventure in its own right.
Not to mention the warm bowl of soup or mug of hot cocoa which my mother would infallibly have waiting for my brother and I. A warm shower later, curled up under the blankets with my favorite comic strip book (always Calvin & Hobbes), there was no doubt in my mind that this was the most magical time of year. As the Christmas/Hanukkah week would draw to a close, the final act would consist of bugging my parents mercilessly and tirelessly if I would be allowed stay up until midnight to watch the ball drop on New Year's Eve. Whether or not I could make it until midnight was a challenge unto itself and on the years I managed to make it that far, I was rewarded with an inflated sense of pride and the distant thunder of fireworks which cascaded the city skyline.
These are amazing moments in my life which I hope I will never forget. Though it's unlikely that the streets of Jerusalem will be covered in snow anytime soon, and even though it would certainly be a rare site to see Christmas lights anywhere along the Jerusalem Avenues, it is still a magical time of year. Costume parties on Halloween, cookout dinners on Thanksgiving and the exhilaration of starting a new Gregorian year still have their place in my life here in Israel. Someday when I have a family, I will have the opportunity to pass these childhood traditions along to my children, in the hopes that they too will experience the cozy warm feeling of the captivating holiday season. For me, this day will never transform into 'Sylvester,' no – no, it will always carry that romantic ring of 'New Year's Eve.'


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shameless loves, by elle/
things that elle loves
{but really probably shouldn't}
1. cole haan shoes and handbags. it helps that i have the secret 50% off weapon...or maybe it doesn't help.
2. when my 5-pound-maltese acts mean and tough. he thinks he's such a gangster, but i think he's too cute!
3. perfect manicure colors that make me feel like i felt when i was a kid and my mom would paint my nails. i love these colors so much that I've spend an undisclosed amount of money in search for the perfect shades for every season.
4. body piercings. inside i know that I am a little too old to still feel like a rebel over a pierced ear, nose or bellybutton. truth be told, i'm just a wannabe rebel.
5. country music. what a girl who loves punk and ska is doing jamming out to kenny chesney is unexplainable.
6. fried foods. i can't go out to eat when i'm trying to lose weight, because i have no self control. when i see breaded jalapeños or teriyaki chicken wings on the menu, it's all over.
7. boutique shopping. i too-often forgo sweet deals in favor of small shops where all of the attention is on me!
8. cheese! brie, gruyere, gouda, cream cheese, cheddar, goat cheese, pepper jack. it's really out of control. wow is a girl ever supposed to lose a few pounds when she is burdened with such a passion for cheese?
9. online shopping. i never realize just how much i've shopped until the UPS man arrives.
10. education. i aspire to be a career student and as anyone who has student loans knows, this comes with a large price tag.
yay cheese! you have come to the right blog :-)
thank you, miss elle!
and a very happy no shame (december) to you!
{p.s. that pic above is elle + her adorable doggie!}


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Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
Who doesn't love a good fairy tale retelling? I know I do! If you haven't read any of Robin Palmer's books, you have missed out. They are so much fun. Of course, you could watch the recent Disney movie of Geek Charming and have a good idea of what they are like. Robin Palmer has another installment in her fairy tale retelling line... Wicked Jealous. Yep. A Snow White retelling in time for summer 2012.
Simone never saw herself as the "cute girl"—she was always the chunky, band tee wearing, France-obsessed smart girl. But now that Simone's a few pounds lighter and sporting a new retro style, things have gotten, well, weird. Her crush Jason seems to actually know she exists. And when Simone's soon-to-be stepmonster Hillary stops ignoring her, Simone knows something is up. When Simone's brother offers to let her move in with him and his six roommates on the beach for the summer, Simone jumps at the chance. But living with seven very different college boys isn't exactly helping her land her very own happily ever after


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Frequently Asked Questions
How long will the cushions last?We have customers that have cushions that are over 20 years old that still look and feel good. The main factor in the life of a cushion is maintenance and sun exposure.
Tlhe fabrics we use to make cushions are the same material used in long term awnings; therefore we expect the cushions with proper care to last more than 10 years.
What if my cushions are shaped or different?We will soon have a designer section on the site that provides more options. Meanwhile send us a picture and we can give you an estimate as we can make any size and shapes.
How long does it take to ship?We strive to ship within 2 weeks. In high season the time can be extended for a week or 2.
Are the cushions water proof?No, they are water resistant. If water pools up on a cushion, after a period of time, the water will seep through the fabric just the same as a awning.
Why do use only Sunbrella fabrics?Because of the durability and comfort. There are other manufacturers of solution dyed acrylic that we do not offer on this site.
Win a free set of designer placemats. Send us your questions. If your question is added to our list, you will be a winner!


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Here's all the latest Gunners transfer stories from the day's papers and across the web...
Remy deal close
Arsene Wenger wants to add £8million Loic Remy to his revamped strikeforce, writes John Cross.
The Arsenal boss is closing in on a £30million deal for Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez .
And spending on the Gunners' attack, which relied almost entirely on Olivier Giroud last season, will not stop with the Chile World Cup forward, as there have been talks with Queens Park Rangers about Remy.
The 27-year-old France international - who scored 14 Premier League goals for Newcastle last season while on a year-long loan - is keen on the switch, having been spotted in the stands at the Emirates during an April match against West Brom.
A deal between the clubs is close, although personal terms have not yet been agreed.
Gunners & Chelsea after West Ham schoolboy
West Ham have offered their teenage defender Reece Oxford a huge contract to try and fend off the advances of Arsenal and Chelsea, reveals Darren Lewis exclusively for Mirror Sport.
The deal for the 6ft 3in, ball-playing centre-half would make him one of the best paid youngsters at the club.
The Irons joint-chairman David Sullivan is desperate for the 15-year-old to snub their London rivals to continuing his education at Upton Park.
Sullivan said: "It almost makes you give up on having an academy if they can come in and nick your best 15-year-old. What's the point?"
Wednesday's Arsenal stories from other newspapers and websites
Video Loading
Sanchez deal done
According to the Metro, Alexis Sanchez has agreed a £150,000-a-week deal to join the Gunners.
The Barcelona striker has reportedly said yes to a five-year deal at the Emirates Stadium, having decided to join Arsenal ahead of Liverpool.
The deal is expected to be completed in the coming days.
Mandzukic heads elsewhere
Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic has joined Atletico Madrid reports German daily Bild.
The Croatian international wanted to leave the Allianz Arena after falling out with Pep Guardiola, and both Arsenal and Chelsea had been linked.
And now he's moving to the Spanish champions as replacement for Diego Costa in a £17million deal.
Aurier plays down Gunners link
Ivory Coast international Serge Aurier says it is not true that he has joined Arsenal.
The Toulouse defender has been heavily linked with a move to the North London club, although they are set to sign French international full-back Mathieu Debuchy.
Aurier told Foot Mercato: "I've been told that I had already signed with Arsenal. That is not true.
"All I can say is that the Premier League is the league I enjoy the most. Things are clear. I've always given my preference to England. But I've not given any sort of agreement to anyone. So I'm free to discuss with any club."