text:
What a difference a year makes...
So when my husband received this text message from me as I boarded my last flight home, I had a minor panic attack. Was it some sort of premonition?
Stupid auto-correct.
Anyway, the good news is, I'm back from San Diego. And yes, I packed too many shoes. But! I did manage to wear at least three different outfits a day, making good use out of all the clothes I brought with me.
My experience this year was different from last year. I had expectations this year, whereas last year, since it was my first time at BlogHer, I didn't really know what to expect. Maybe it was a little more fun last year, but still, this year was worth it and I have no regrets. I think the fact that I was so far from my children made it that much harder for me to just relax and fully enjoy myself, you know?
The best part about blogging conferences is meeting up with old and new friends. It's the connections that make travelling all those miles well worth it. It's the late night discussions by the pool, or eating pizza in the lobby at 2 a.m. with other awesome bloggers. It's hanging out outside and having a heart-to-heart with a friend. It's telling strangers you're in San Diego for a blogging conference, yes, a blogging conference, um, YES, a blogging conference, that's right, with 3,000 other women, and a few men.
Blogging is a very personal thing, and we are all connected in some way, so to meet the people you read about daily is sort of like meeting your best friend and a celebrity at the same time. (Jim actually explained it to me like that, and I totally agree!) Blogging conferences are a reunion of sorts. The depressing part is when they end. It's sort of like going to that high school dance on Friday night, having a great time, and having fuzzy memories come Monday morning. It's already getting excited for the next time, even though it's an entire year away.
Of course, BlogHer is also about the fabulous parties on the roof-top patios of very cool hotels. It was kind of hectic going from party to party, but I am not complaining! Sitting in the VIP section with Mario Lopez, Danielle, Julie and Caitlin at a Softcups party was pretty hilarious. A period party with A.C. Slater? I mean, how can you not have fun?
Other highlights of San Diego included...
Getting the chance to sit down and talk to Britt for over an hour, sipping strawberry daiquiris in the sun. She's even more awesome to talk to in person. Equally awesome to talk to is Tanis.
Hanging out with Summer at the Clever Girls party, and walking all the way back to the hotel in our poor, tired feet. But laughing all the way...
Travelling to San Diego with the awesome girls from Mom Central Canada made my flight to San Diego go by super fast (well, that and the two Ativan I took) and attending the Canadian Embassy party—that was one of the best parties of the entire weekend. So many fabulous people all in one place!
I am so glad I spent more time with Jill this year. Last year we barely had time to say hello, but this year we finally had a chance to catch up at the Moms Fashion File party on Saturday night.
Attending Sparklecorn for the first time was very... sparkly. And fun.
And Stephanie and I hung out with Suzy from Hot Comes To Die Saturday afternoon. Did you know Suzy has been on both Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm? She's so cool.
Of course, I went to the annual Cheese-Burg-Her party. I had to see it to believe, but yes, it was really a party with... cheeseburgers. And fries. And drinks and music. It was very cool. Now I regret not eating a cheeseburger! But I did have some fries. Mmm... fries....
Danielle and I spent a lot of time hanging out in pedicabs that almost killed us, and at all the fabulous parties drinking really yummy drinks.
Late night gatherings in the hotel were also really fun...
And getting to hang out with and rock out with the gorgeous Amy...
I also enjoyed spending some time alone. It's always important, I think, to get off and do your own thing for a while. BlogHer can be very overwhelming!
I loved meeting Kat for the first time, and hanging out with these funny ladies a few hours after I arrived in San Diego.
I bumped into Amy and Ann walking from the convention centre to the hotel, and of course we had to take a picture, because Ann is one of my favourite bloggers ever.
I can't believe I didn't take any pictures with my roommates Lotus and Leslie! What's up with that? Anyway. BlogHer'11 was great. The Voices of the Year ceremony was incredible, and Bon (whom I love) made me cry, and Britt made me smile. Everyone did a fantastic job, as usual.
See you all in 2012... back in New York City, which is only a very SHORT plane ride from home!
22 comments:
- blueviolet said...
I went to the Softcups party, but Mario wasn't there yet! Darn!!
So nice to meet you, albeit very briefly. :(
- August 9, 2011 at 3:22 PM
- ModernMom said...
Loukia! I love this post! It's the first BlogHer post I've read and am so honoured to be included. I am so glad we had time to catch up and meet the fabulous Suzy ;). Next year..pool time?
- August 9, 2011 at 3:33 PM
- BusyDad said...
You were one of the 3 people I had in my mental list to meet. Glad I accomplished that. And even got to eat pizza with you (fuzzy memory, that one). Only thing I forgot was to get your autograph. Dammit.
- August 9, 2011 at 3:36 PM
- Joey Fortman said...
Thanks for your great recap!! I loved seeing you from 'across the way'. It was my first and WHOA. INSANITY! lol Big fan here.
Joey Fortman
- August 9, 2011 at 3:41 PM
- Guavalicious said...
You are just as adorable in person as you are online. Glad we got a chance to say hi.
- August 9, 2011 at 3:42 PM
- Summer said...
It was SUCH a blast, and there is no one I'd rather have walked crooked with in hurty feet than you. =)
- August 9, 2011 at 3:47 PM
- melissa said...
sigh. i missed all of you this year. :( glad you had such an incredible time!!xoxo
- August 9, 2011 at 3:50 PM
- Maranda said...
Looks like so much fun, thanks for including all the pictures. Conferences are great for building real life connections... especially fun when it's with 2am pizza.
- August 9, 2011 at 4:14 PM
- Marinka said...
Love all the photos! And next year, I get to see you in NYC. If I don't talk you into coming to Mom 2.0 first.
- August 9, 2011 at 4:16 PM
- Redneck Mommy said...
- August 9, 2011 at 6:13 PM
- Lisa said...
I hear you about the "getting on the plane thing." Glad you got on, and got out there! Looks like a fabulous time was had by all. :)
- August 9, 2011 at 8:37 PM
- Ann Imig said...
One of the strangest pictures of me ever, but I'll take one for the team.
Such a pleasure meeting you and that little comment above made my night.
Thank you!
I already can't wait for next year too.
- August 9, 2011 at 10:33 PM
- Elaine A. said...
So happy to have finally met you!! Sorry it was so brief. I feel like it ALL happened in a blur!! Glad you're home safe with your boys! xo
- August 9, 2011 at 10:37 PM
- Amy@Bitchin'WivesClub said...
Awesome round-up! Holy cow, you did a ton...
And I still think I look like a drag queen in that pink dress. But our flip book from the party is the best ever!
- August 9, 2011 at 11:07 PM
- Mama Kat said...
It was SO fun meeting you! And I agree, the weekend is jam packed, moves so fast, and leaves you reeling for a couple days. Like...did that just happen? It was my first Blogher ever and I think it had the same effect on me as your first one had on you. I'll definitely be back next year!
- August 9, 2011 at 11:20 PM
- anymommy said...
Awesome people, awesome year. You are not only gorgeous, but also adorably photogenic. I'm even more jealous of you now ;-)
- August 9, 2011 at 11:47 PM
- Suzy said...
Seriously, have you ever taken a bad picture in your life? I DIDN'T THINK SO!!
You should give lessons in how to always look perfect in a photo.
- August 9, 2011 at 11:48 PM
- Scary Mommy said...
You really ought to give lessons in always looking fabulous in pictures, because you do!! Loved seeing you again, as always!! XOXO
- August 10, 2011 at 7:46 PM
I can't believe you had your own real life auto correct moment.
I'm with you on the not exactly missing your kids. I went to Orlando for a work conference recently and I sort of loved my alone time. However, being in Orlando the land of children without kids was a little hard.
I hope to attend my very first BlogHer next year!
- August 10, 2011 at 9:54 PM
- SUPAHMAMA! said...
OH MY WORD. That text message would have made me sh!t my pants!!!! Glad to see you made it home ok. :)
- August 11, 2011 at 7:47 PM
- CaraBee said...
Still so sad that I couldn't go. Sigh. Just wasn't in the cards this year. But it sounds like it was a fabulous time! Next year. NYC. For sure.
- August 12, 2011 at 9:59 PM
- Krystyn said...
that auto correct is hilarious (although, i'm sure not in the moment).
it looks like a blast and you got to meet so many fabulous people.
- August 16, 2011 at 11:13 AM


text:
By June 20, Niwot should have its first brewery, Bootstrap Brewing. That's the hope at least -- the nanobrewery is currently being built out, but owners Steve and Leslie Kaczeus are confident it will be finished -- and beer will be brewed -- in plenty of time.
Leslie, who called herself the "Chief of Stuff and Jill-of-all-Trades" said they chose June 20 because it's the first day of summer. Looking ahead, she said it would be a perfect day to celebrate the brewery's anniversaries.
On opening day, they expect to have five or six beers on tap including a light beer like a pilsner, a chili beer, an IPA, a brown, and perhaps a rye. They'll have 10 taps, so there's plenty of room for expansion, and for seasonal or experimental beers like those brewed with the vegetables they plan on growing in a small organic garden on the property. "Pumpkin beer," Steve said with a gleam in his eye.
He also said that the beers he makes have stories behind them. Revolution Ale "is a tribute to my dad," Steve said. His father, a fan of lighter beers, was a student in Hungary during the revolution in 1956, hence the name.
Besides vegetables, the couple also plans on planting hops near the patios. Two garage doors open to that area, which will integrate the two spaces. Inside, they plan on having live music "and one TV," Leslie said, "just for special events." They envision the brewery as a "destination place" where people will hang out and relax with friends and neighbors.
The brewing equipment will be behind glass, so customers can see the process, and the high ceilings in the building will allow for expansion to larger tanks. The couple will not be serving any food of their own, but they are talking about the possibility of bringing in catering or having food trucks stop by. They also want to participate in beer-pairing meals with local restaurants.
Besides selling beer on tap, they will sell growlers and kegs, and they have a wholesale license, which allows them to sell to restaurants. If you don't happen to own your own growler, the brewery will be selling "really classy" stainless steel growlers, which Steve said would be much more practical than typical glass growlers, particularly for bike customers.
The couple is already thinking about canned beer, taking advantage of a mobile canning service that can come to the brewery when needed. Steve said they talked a lot about whether they would bottle or can their beer, but the decision came down to the fact that they were "tired of breaking bottles in our hot tub."
Dave Mentus, who used to work at the Pumphouse in Longmont will be helping with the brewing, but Steve has his own ideas. A home brewer since 1993, Steve got serious about brewing about four years ago.
Both Steve and Leslie were working in the tech industry when the brewing bug bit them. They went to brewer conferences, visited other breweries, and Steve attended classes through the American Brewer's Guild. When he graduated, they bought "a really cool copper brewhouse" and put it into storage while they looked for the perfect space for their new brewery.
Steve said that brewing is high-tech, "with biochemistry and on the molecular level -- it's not that easy to make a good quality beer." But he said the business culture is completely different. In tech, information is kept secret and the business is competitive, but the fledgling brewery has gotten a warm welcome from local breweries including Left Hand Brewing, Oskar Blues Brewery, Upslope Brewing, and Asher Brewing Company. "They have all been very supportive," he said.
That support includes visiting, touring, and even being invited to work in other breweries. "This is a home brewer's dream come true," Steve said.
Bootstrap brewing is scheduled to open on June 20 at 6778 North 79th Street in Niwot, just south of Cottonwood Park Shopping Center. Initial hours will be Monday-Thursday 3-8 p.m. and Friday-Sunday noon to 8 p.m.
Contact Donna Currie at email@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Mohegan Sun in pursuit of AAC men's basketball conference tournament, too
Mohegan – Mohegan Sun officials have inquired about playing host to the American Athletic Conference's men's basketball tournament in 2014, casino sources said Friday.
The AAC is the name of UConn's new league for next season.
Mohegan Sun made a bid for the AAC women's tournament earlier this week.
The sources said Mohegan has already alerted league officials of their interest and would have a formal offer early next week.
Las Vegas and Atlantic City have played host to conference tournaments in the past. The Pac-12 tournament running became the fourth conference tournament inLas Vegasthis past season, along with the Mountain West, Western Athletic Conference and West Coast Conference. The games are played at the MGM Grand Arena and inside other arenas on casino properties.


text:
Lawrence Welk's Parents
"Lawrence Welk's Parents." Dakota Datebook, Prairie Public Radio, 11 March 2009.
There's no mistaking the familiar opening notes of the Lawrence Welk television show theme song. This world famous musician, band leader and showman was born on this date, March 11, 1903, near Strasburg, North Dakota. Much has been written about Lawrence himself … but what about his parents? There wouldn't have been a Lawrence had it not been for the generations of Welks that preceded him.
Lawrence's great-great grandparents, Moritz and Magdalena (Arth) Welk immigrated to then southern Russia (today southern Ukraine) from Alsace, France in 1808, where they, along with a hundred other families, founded the village of Selz near the Black Sea. Their son, Kasper and his wife, Magdalena had a son named Johannes who became a blacksmith. Johannes Welk, Lawrence's grandfather, had a son named Ludwig who became a farmer and a blacksmith like his father.
Arriving in America in 1893, Ludwig and Christina (Schwan) Welk were two of the many thousands of immigrants to America known as the Germans from Russia. From New York City, they took a train to Eureka, South Dakota where they bought a wagon and a team of oxen. From Eureka they traveled a few miles north and west to their homestead in Emmons County, North Dakota.
The Welks lost their first child, Anton, before leaving Russia, and Christina was pregnant with their second child when they sailed to America in 1893. Seven more children, including Lawrence, were born in the sod house still standing near Strasburg. The homestead has been restored and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house is made of mud and clay brick, the same method of construction used by Lawrence Welk's ancestors in Russia for several generations.
[Note: Ludwig and Christina (Schwan) Welk immigrated in 1893 from the former German Catholic village of Selz, Kutschurgan District, South Russia [today southern Ukraine about one hour from Odessa].


text:
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text:
Your Very Big 2013 Guide To Holiday Events In Western New York
It's the most wonderful -- and busiest -- time of the year.Happy December, Western New Yorkers! With so many events this time of the year -- whether it's tree lightings, market shopping, caroling or anything in between...and beyond -- it's almost impossible to keep track of all of them.
But we have done the almost impossible. Here is a (very large) list of events happening in Western New York this holiday season for you to choose from!
Holly Jolly 5K
When: December 7, 12 p.m.
Where: Orchard Park
The Holly Jolly 5K will return for its third year on Saturday, December 7 at 12 p.m. sharp. The Orchard Park race starts at the Old Jubilee Plaza parking lot on North Buffalo Road and finishes at Runner's Roost on North Buffalo Road. Visit the webpage for more information.
Reindeer Run 5K
When: December 7, 10 a.m.
Where: Medaille College
The 19th Annual Medaille College Reindeer Run 5K will take place on Saturday, December 7 at 10 a.m. Visit the Medaille College website for more information about the run.
Freezer 5K Run
When: December 15, 11 a.m.
Where: Cobblestone District, Buffalo
The 5th Annual Freezer 5K is schedule for Sunday, December 15 at 11 a.m. in Buffalo's Cobblestone District. View the webpage for more information.
Caroler 5K Run
When: December 21, 10 a.m.
Where: East Aurora
The 4th Annual Caroler 5K will take place on Saturday, December 21 at 10 a.m. The race starts at the 11th Frame on Main Street in East Aurora. Visit the webpage for more information.
View all the local races on the map below!
View Your Very Big 2013 Guide to Holiday Events in Western New York: Races in a larger map
Concerts and Performances
"Holiday Music Under the Dome" Series
When: Weekdays, December 2-13, 12 p.m.
Where: One Fountain Plaza
Wurlitzer Pops Concerts featuring Mark Herman
When: December 4, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Riviera Theatre, North Tonawanda
Sha Na Na Rockin' Christmas
When: December 4-6 and 8, 1:30 p.m. December 6-7, 7 p.m.
Where: Seneca Allegany Events Center
Miracle on South Division Street
When: December 5 and 6, 8 p.m.; December 7, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; December 8, 2 p.m.
Where: Kavinoky Theatre, Buffalo
Cheektowaga Community Chorus' Holiday Tapestry
When: December 6, 7 p.m.
Where: Infant of Prague Church, Cheektowaga
2nd Annual Holiday Live at Larkin
When: December 6, 2013, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Where: Larkin Square
This event is combining Live at Larkin and Food Truck Friday into one festive holiday celebration in Larkin Square featuring Robot Holiday, food trucks, a holiday marketplace, heated boardwalk, beer/wine/hot chocolate and more.
The Christmas That Almost Wasn't
When: December 6, 7 p.m.
Where: Marvel Theatre at Rockefeller Arts Center (SUNY Fredonia)
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's "Classic Christmas"
When: December 6, 10:30 a.m.; December 7, 8 p.m.
Where: Kleinhans Music Hall
Buffalo Choral Arts Society Presents: A Caroling Christmas
When: December 6, 7:30 p.m.; December 8, 3 p.m.
Where: Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church, Clarence
The Towne Players' "Babes in Toyland"
When: December 6-15 (check the website for performance times)
Where: Sheridan-Parkside Community Center, Tonawanda
Madeline's Christmas
When: December 6-15 -- Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Where: Theatre of Youth
Miracle on 34th Street
When: December 6-15 (check the website for performance times)
Where: Lancaster Opera House
Buffalo City Ballet's "The Nutcracker"
When: December 7, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.; December 8, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Where: Buffalo Academy of Visual & Performing Arts
American Academy's "The Nutcracker"
When: December 7, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.; December 8, 1 p.m.
Where: UB Center for the Arts Mainstage Theater
The Community Advent Chorale
When: December 7, 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, East Aurora
This is the 34th anniversary performance of Handel's Messiah, with professional soloists and chamber orchestra under the direction of Mr. Gregory White. The 90-member chorale is made up of singers from across Western New York.
Southern Tier Symphony's "Winter Prelude"
When: December 7, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Allegany-Limestone High School
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas
When: December 8, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Shea's Performing Arts Center
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's "Jingle Bell Jam"
When: December 8, 2:30 p.m.
Where: Kleinhans Music Hall
Dave Koz & Friends
When: December 11, 8 p.m.
Where: Riviera Theatre, North Tonawanda
The Buffalo Niagara Concert Band's Holiday Band Concert
When: December 11, 7:30 p.m.
Where: National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Lewiston
Tony Orlando's Great American Christmas
When: December 11 and 12, 1:30 p.m.; December 13, 7:00 p.m.; December 14, 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.; December 15, 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Where: Seneca Niagara Events Center
The Hit Men in 'Tis the Season
When: December 12, 7:30 p.m.
Where: King Concert Hall at Rockefeller Arts Center (SUNY Fredonia)
Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"
When: December 12 and 13, 8 p.m.; December 14, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; December 15, 2 p.m.
Where: Kavinoky Theatre, Buffalo
Songs for Winter Night (A Folk in Fredonia Holiday Concert)
When: December 13, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Fredonia Opera House
Buffalo Gay Men's Chorus Presents: Our Favorite Things
When: December 13 and 14, 8 p.m.; December 15, 3 p.m.
Where: Riviera Theatre, Tonawanda (Dec. 13); University Presbyterian Church, Buffalo (Dec. 14); Westminster Presbyterian Church, Buffalo (Dec. 15)
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's Holiday Pops
When: December 13, 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m.; December 14, 8 p.m.; December 15, 2:30 p.m.
Where: Kleinhans Music Hall
"Holiday Music Under the Dome" Series: Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
When: December 14, 1 - 2 p.m.
Where: One Fountain Plaza
Cheektowaga Symphony's Holiday Festival
When: December 15, 3 p.m.
Where: Infant of Prague Church, Cheektowaga
The annual holiday concert features familiar Christmas music, plus a carol sing-a-long with audience participation
The Orchard Park Chorale's "Christmas Cheer and Carols"
When: December 15, 4 p.m.
Where: Orchard Park Presbyterian Church
American Legion Band's Christmas Concert
When: December 15, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Riviera Theatre, North Tonawanda
Amherst Chamber Orchestra and Chorus' Holiday Concert
When: December 17, 7:30 p.m.
Where: North Presbyterian Church, Williamsville
How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical
When: December 17-19, 7:30 p.m.; December 20, 8 p.m.; December 21, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; December 22, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Where: Shea's Performing Art Center
Batavia Players Holiday Show: Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carole
When: December 19-22
Where: Harvester 56 Theatre, Batavia
Linda Eder
When: December 20, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Riviera Theatre, North Tonawanda
'Twas the Night Before Christmas
When: December 19 and 20, 7:30 p.m.; December 21, 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; December 22, 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Where: Lancaster Opera House
Continuing the LOH tradition of interactive family holiday shows comes this heartwarming holiday hit based on the famous poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas." Goodies from Mrs. Claus' kitchen available, too!
41st Annual Carolcade
When: December 21, 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Where: Historic Main Street, East Aurora
A holiday meet-and-greet tradition with caroling, hot chocolate, donuts and a visit from Santa on a closed portion of Historic Main Street.
"THE SCINTAS" Christmas Show
When: December 21, 8 p.m.; December 22, 2:30 p.m.
Where: Riviera Theatre, North Tonawanda
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
When: December 30, 3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Where: First Niagara Center
View all the holiday concerts and performances on the map below!
View Your Very Big 2013 Guide to Holiday Events in Western New York: Concerts and Performances in a larger map
And The Rest!
Moonlight Magic
When: December 3, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Where: Village of Warsaw
Enjoy merchants' Christmas promotions, caroling, Santa and more.
Holiday Light Up & Parade
When: December 6, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Main Street, Newfane
Enjoy cookies, hot chocolate and a visit with Santa following a parade. There's also a candy cane craft show at the Newfane United Methodist Church and a living nativity at Grace Bible Church as part of the evening's activities.
The Ellicottville Christmas Party
When: December 6, 6 p.m.
Where: Ellicottville Brewing Company
Jamestown Renaissance Corporation Christmas Parade
When: December 6, 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Where: Downtown Jamestown
Taste of the Holidays
When: December 6, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.; December 7, 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: Jackson Street Parking Lot in Downtown Batavia
Experience tastings from local restaurants under a tent, walk the downtown for holiday specials and enjoy a festive atmosphere!
When: December 6 - 7
Where: Alexander Community Center, Cheektowaga
Fairgrounds Festival of Lights
When: December 6-8, 20-23, 27-29. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. each night.
Where: Hamburg Fairgrounds
Drive through light displays, visit with Santa, ride on the Midway and sip hot chocolate at this ninth annual wintertime event. Pay just $20 per carload, or buy your tickets for half price at the Fairgrounds Event Center.
Holiday Happening Wine Tasting
When: December 6 and 8, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.; December 7, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Where: Niagara Wine Trail
Collect ornaments at participating wineries. Ticket includes tastings and commemorative wine glass.
Living Nativity
When: December 6 - 8, 13 - 15, 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Where: Grace Bible Church, Newfane
25th Annual Light-A-Life Tree Lighting Ceremony
When: December 7, 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Where: CTG, Buffalo
Downtown Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration
When: December 7, 5 p.m.
Where: Rotary Rink at Fountain Plaza
Bryant & Stratton College Holiday Extravaganza
When: December 7, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: Bryant & Stratton College (Amherst, Buffalo and Orchard Park campuses)
Celebrate the holidays with free, family-friendly activities, including free pictures with Santa. Plus, you can enter to win a $1,000 holiday shopping spree, make your own holiday ornament, hand-deliver your letter to Santa and enjoy free refreshments. Donate a non-perishable food item, and you'll get a chance to spin the wheel of holiday prizes.
Alden Christmas in the Park
When: December 7, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Where: Alden Town Park
Enjoy business open houses, a holiday marketplace, vendors, kids crafts, wagon rides, photos with Santa and more!
Christmas Stroll
When: December 7, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Where: Village of Ellicottville
Concord Country Christmas
When: December 7, 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: Concord Historical Society, Springville
Breakfast with Santa
When: December 7, 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Where: Conference & Event Center, Niagara Falls
Feast on a deluxe breakfast buffet, enjoy a reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, get photos, do some arts & crafts and cookie decorating and watch some holiday movies. Bring a donation of new winter hats, gloves, scarves and socks for needy children for your child's chance to win a festival holiday gift basket.
Miracle on Main Street
When: December 7, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: Barker Commons and throughout the village, Fredonia
Salamanca's 2013 Silver Bells Festival
When: December 7, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Where: City of Salamanca
Santa on the Carousel
When: December 7, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: Carousel Factory Museum, North Tonawanda
Come join Old St. Nick on the carousel -- just make sure you're on the "nice" list. Start the day off with lunch at 11 a.m., where you can visit with Santa and make sure he got your letters. Then there will be lots of fun, festive crafts and games, hot chocolate and treats, and plenty of opportunity to ride the carousel. A highlight of the afternoon is a special holiday storytime at 1 p.m. with the Wondermakers.
Seasons in the Village
When: December 7, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Where: Along Main Street, Williamsville
Stroll along Main Street for special shopping and dining in the holiday spirit while you see Santa and high school carolers.
Polar Express Train Rides
When: December 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 2:15 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:45 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Where: Medina Railroad Museum, Medina
Read along as the train makes a magical round-trip journey to the North Pole, meet Santa, do some caroling, and enjoy hot cocoa and gift for each child. Families are encouraged to wear pajamas. Event includes museum admission.
Riverwalk Christmas Family Night
When: December 12, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Where: Riverwalk Plaza, Wellsville
Christmas Extravaganza
When: December 13, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Where: Stutelage Innovations, East Amherst
At this time of year, it is hard not to spread holiday cheer! Come join us for a fun-filled night of holiday games, activities, and treats at the Stutelage Christmas Extravaganza! Children will enjoy making Christmas cards for patients at Women and Children's Hospital, creating personalized ornaments, writing letters to Santa, singing Christmas carols, playing holiday games, listening to a themed story reading, and making a special treat!
"A Christmas Story" 30th Anniversary Tour Benefit Event with Cast
When: December 14, 1 p.m.
Where: Riviera Theatre, North Tonawanda
Come see Ian Petrella (Randy Parker), Yano Anya (Grover Dill), Zack Ward (Skut Faras), Patty Johnson-Lafontaine (Higbee's Elf) and Scott Schwartz (Flick), who performed in 'A Christmas Story'.
Breakfast with Santa
When: December 14, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Where: Michael's Banquet Facility, Hamburg
Enjoy fun activities, many free and some available for purchase starting at $1. Decorate your own holiday cookie or waffle cone Christmas tree or Santa hat. Jump Bunch will be hosting a game corner, and the Glam Girlz will be doing face painting, glitter tattoos and fun hair styles. A mommy corner will also be set up with sponsors such as Tupperware, Silpada Jewelry and Mary Kay. Gift baskets and other items will be available for purchase.
Christmas in the Park
When: December 14, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Where: Main Street and Russell Park, Akron
Christmas Open House & Party in the Parking Lot
When: December 14
Where: Businesses at 586 Main St., East Aurora
Christmas at Hidden Valley
When: December 14 - 15, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: Hidden Valley Animal Adventure, Varysburg
Enjoy breakfast with Santa, a lunch buffet, Santa's Workshop, horse-drawn tours of the animal park by reservation and Wild Game Safari Tours!
When: December 14 - 15, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: Chestnut Ridge Park, Orchard Park
When: December 14 - 15
Where: Recreation Center at Cheektowaga Town Park, Cheektowaga
Holiday Tours for Groups
When: Mondays - Thursdays until December 19, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: Herschell Carousel Factory Museum, North Tonawanda
Santa's Vision
When: December 21, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Where: Adam's Mark Hotel & Event Center
This is the fifth annual FREE event for all children of Buffalo & Erie County. Free picture with Santa, free toy, free face painting, free pony rides, a petting zoo, costume characters and local sports mascots Billy Buffalo, Buster Bison and Sabretooth. Please bring a non-perishable food item, which will be donated to the Food Bank of WNY.
Winter Solstice Walk
When: December 21, 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Where: Tifft Nature Preserve
Santa, Elf & Reindeer
When: Saturdays and Sundays until December 22, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: Niagara Hobby & Craft Mart, Cheektowaga
Cool Crafts for Cold Days
When: December 26 - 30, 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: Herschell Carousel Factory Museum, North Tonawanda
Yuletide Tours
When: December 26 - 30 (reservations required)
Where: Frank Lloyd Wright's Graycliff Estate, Derby
Holiday Week at the Wineries
When: December 26 - January 2 (excluding New Year's Day)
Where: Lake Erie Wine Country
Christmas with the Critters
When: December 27, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Where: Audubon Center & Sanctuary, Jamestown
Tree Illumination
When: Until January 1
Where: Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls
Three blocks illuminated with thousands of LED lights!
When: Until January 1
Where: Village of Lancaster
Store windows decorated with animated scenes, and holiday events through the season.
Festival of Trees
When: Until January 4, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Where: New York Power Authority's Power Vista, Lewiston
As one of the stops along the Holiday Lights of Niagara Tour, the Power Vista's glass walkway will feature a dazzling display of artificial evergreen trees adorned with energy-efficient lights. The trees are decorated for the season by local non-profit groups.
Hollywood Holidays
When: Until January 5
Where: Aurora Theatre, East Aurora
Exhibits of props and costumes from your favorite holiday films, free movies and family events each weekend.
Festival of Lights
When: Until January 6, 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Where: Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, Lewiston
Over 75 beautiful lighted displays and an illuminated Shrine.
34th Annual Holiday Exhibit
When: Until January 18
Where: Fenton History Center, Jamestown
Ontario Power Generation's Winter Festival of Lights
When: Until January 31, 2014
Where: Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls (ON)
This is Canada's foremost illumination festival that captures the magic of the holiday season! Be captivated by the millions of holiday lights and 120+ illumination displays. This year's Festival will feature decorative, hand-painted lantern displays and a 70-meter Tunnel of Wish Lanterns from the award-winning Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival in South Korea. In addition to these breathtaking illuminations and the spectacular views of the Falls, enjoy magnificent firework displays every Friday during the festival at 9 p.m., as well as on other select dates! It's a fun family event that should not be missed.
Winter Horse-Drawn Tours
When: Every Saturday and Sunday December 21 - February 23, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Where: Hidden Valley Animal Adventure, Varysburg
Sleigh Rides at Chautauqua
When: Every Saturday and Sunday December 28 - February 23, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. (every half hour)
Where: Chautauqua Institution
Contributed by Ashley Steves


text:
by Paula M. Riley
Chestnut Hill Hospital's Breast Health Program was recently named a Breast Center of Excellence by the National Consortium of Breast Centers and become the only center in the Commonwealth to receive this distinction.
Local resident Jane Parker, however, doesn't pay much attention to this or the other quality awards the Hospital has received. At 75, she just beat her second bout with breast cancer and for her the proof is in the pudding.
"I can tell you first-hand that they (CH Hospital Breast Health Program) have a combination of a personal, reassuring and totally professional approach that is certainly not found in the medical world. I've dealt within hospitals downtown, and let me tell you, it's a totally different experience here," Parker said.
Seven years ago, Parker found a lump while doing a self-breast exam at home. Her biopsy confirmed she had an aggressive breast cancer but getting that test result wasn't what she remembers the most about that day.
"I'll never forget what she (Dr. Pat Bailey) said to me," Parker recalls. "She told me, 'You are not sick, you have a problem and we are going to fix it.'"
That's just what Bailey and her team at the Breast Health Program did. Parker had surgery, chemotherapy and radiation all at Chestnut Hill. Recently, she discovered another form of cancer in the other breast. She had a lumpectomy and is now in remission and singing the praises of the Breath Health Program staff.
"They are just so very, very good at the personal attention," Parker said.
One of these staff members is Gail Linberg, R.N. Her role as nurse coordinator puts her in front of the hundreds of women who get mammograms each year. When these exams show an abnormality Linberg works with the patient to explain the abnormality, schedule a biopsy, assist during the procedure, review discharge instructions, call the patient in the subsequent days and deliver biopsy result.
"Much of what I do is comforting and reassuring women." Gail said. "I give them lots of personal attention and try to answer all their questions."
When a malignancy is discovered, Gail coordinates the discussion with Breast Health Program general surgeons, Pat Bailey, M.D. (recently named a Top Doc 2013 by Philadelphia Magazine for surgery) or Jessica Santiago, M.D. They two perform more than 100 surgeries a year and now conduct them in the new state-of-the-art surgical suite in the hospital new wing.
The outcomes of these surgical procedures were one of the many quality indicators evaluated by the National Consortium of Breast Centers before awarding Chestnut Hill Hospital this distinction.
Other measures included the time between initial screening and diagnostic exam, time between biopsy and pathology result, and the rate of needle biopsies to surgical biopsies. (Generally biopsy results are delivered in 1 to 2 days and there is less than a week wait between abnormal mammogram and biopsy).
These, and many other, quality indicators have been tracked for five years and the Chestnut Hill Breast Health Program has moved from the recognition of "Certified" to "Quality" and now have received the highest rating of "Center of Excellence."
"It is important to consider that our Breast Health Program is being compared to other hospitals all around the country," said hospital CEO John Ciacciamani. "We are happy and proud to offer such high quality services to the women in our community."
Ciacciamani often speaks of the Hospital's commitment to the local community. An illustration of this is the Breast Health Program's support for those members of the community who may not have the opportunity to care for themselves.
Four times a year, the Program hosts free mammograms for the uninsured and underinsured women. Of the 100 screened last year, two were found to have a malignancy and received care through the Healthy Women Program.
Patients of the Breast Health Program at Chestnut Hill Hospital, who have been diagnosed within the last year, are invited to a special invite-only Unite for Her Wellness Day. On Sunday, June 9, these women will be treated for a full day of massages, therapies, yoga, acupuncture, and dietitian consultants.
"We have just about everything to help women going through treatment to feel better about themselves," said Linberg.


text:
Caffè Caldo has a lot to say in its name.
There's no secret where Huntington Beach's new restaurant/espresso bar's roots lie with the two Italian words, including the traditional spelling of cafè. There's dual meaning to caldo, which is Italian for heat and refers to the establishment's steampunk influences in design and coffee.
Caffè Caldo's resident coffee expert Josh Islas defines steampunk as style inspired by "Victorian era sci-fi."
"I think the steampunk kind of feel resonates and intrigues a lot of people," said Islas, a Costa Mesa resident.
According to a Caffè Caldo press release, "steampunk is an inspired movement of creativity and imagination" that includes fashion, art and design that's fueled by the writing of H.G. Wells, Jules Verne and outdated machines and contraptions that might have been made during Victorian England or America's Old West.
When it comes to coffee, steampunk can refer to Caffè Caldo steaming milk for cappuccinos, lattes and how baristas can draw on steamed milk to create latte art, which has become increasingly popular in the coffee world.
Formerly Mr. P's Espresso Italiano Caffè, Caffè Caldo (21070 Beach Blvd.) debuted in August under new owner and Costa Mesa resident Rich Freeland, who took over the location for his cousin's former husband when he fell behind in payments.
Huntington Beach resident Lorie Pagels has become a bit of a regular at Caffè Caldo since first visiting it during a morning walk in August. She returned two more times that day and raves about the food, coffee, ambience and service.
"It's little and it's very community," Pagels said of its appeal. "You just come in and everyone is friendly."
Freeland believes in applying some tender love and care to everything at his new business, from its coffee to its food, decor and customer service.
"I feel that we are always going to put out a good product," Freeland said. "I want to have a reputation where people say this place is the best in this or that; that's one of the things I am striving for, just a sense of pride."
With its steampunk and Italian influences and espresso bar/restaurant offerings, Freeland's establishment has a bit of a split personality. It's coffee in the front and a small, carved out dining area, which sits less than 20 people in the back, for authentic Italian food cooked up by chef Corrado Gianotti in the back.
Freeland will be the first to admit he's no expert on running a restaurant or a coffee shop — that's why he solicited the help of Gianotti and Islas. Both stumbled into a prominent role with Caffè Caldo when they walked into Mr. P's and struck up a conversation with the new owner.
They both identified with his business philosophy.
"Honestly, I just saw how passionate he was about helping people and for me that's really what it's all about," said Islas, who worked at Kéan Coffee in Newport Beach for a year. "For him, it's about doing something well because that's what we should be doing in our lives."
Islas says Caffè Caldo has a lot to offer coffee enthusiasts that no other shop in Huntington Beach does. There's only organic milk, fair-trade coffee beans used, and there's also latte art — created with steamed milk — and a rotating selection of coffee from Southern California roasters.
Many Orange County hot spots for coffee isolate customers from their baristas, but not Caffè Caldo with a bar that offers uninhibited views of the drink-making process.
"You can talk to your barista as they make your drink," Islas said. "Huntington Beach doesn't have a quality coffee shop. It's very kind of shut off from the coffee world and we are looking to bring that to you guys."
When it comes to food, Gianotti wants to offer his customers fine dining for a casual price.
"The good thing here is you're going to have the same quality and the same food like you are in a $50 restaurant here for $14 to $19 for dinner," Gianotti said.
Gianotti has worked for restaurants owned by big corporations most of his whole life. He was the executive chef at Tutto Mare Ristorante in Fashion Island, Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria in Downtown Disney and 21 Oceanfront in Newport Beach.
Most recently, he owned and was the chef at La Fontana Ristorante in Huntington Beach, but recently he decided not to renew his lease because he wasn't satisfied with the location.
Gianotti's cooking philosophy is simple and stems from his homeland of Italy, where he lived until 1986.
"I do this business because I like to serve people," Gianotti said. "I like to make people happy and I like to make people feel at home. We are looking to do something different, something more. It's the Italian way."
Freeland is the first to admit that Caffè Caldo isn't yet a finished product. He's working on getting city approval to install a vent and a stove in the establishment so it can start serving dinner. He's also eager to complete its full redesign, hoping to hold its grand opening in late December, early January.
Complete or not, Pagels has already grasped his vision.
"I went to Italy a couple years ago and I felt like I was back there," Pagels said. "When I came in here and ordered a cappuccino it was like a taste of Italy."
Twitter: @TCNShortallhttp://www.twitter.com/TCNShortall


text:
Hunger here in the richest nation in the world? Impossible, one might think. But the U.S. Conference of Mayors' annual Hunger and Homelessness Survey makes it clear that hunger and food insecurity (not always having access to enough food to meet basic needs) not only exist, but are on the rise. The increase is reflected in the fact that the two dozen cities surveyed found that requests for emergency food at pantries and similar sites had risen on average by 12 percent. In many cases, moreover, the requests were not just for short-term emergency needs, but also to fill ongoing food deficits. For some that means filling in the gap when the monthly food stamp allotment runs out, often by the third week of the month. Emergency food providers also said that in almost half the cases, they either had to turn people away or else apportion less than what they had previously provided. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an estimated 38 million people live in homes marked by food insecurity.
Some cities reported jumps of over 30 percent for emergency food assistance. In virtually all the cities, the survey reported that low-income people have to make painful choices: whether to pay for rent, medicine, utilities or food. Food is being pushed farther down the list of priorities, reported providers in one city. Another respondent put it succinctly: More demand and fewer resources. And yet many of those living in food-insecure households are employed. Phoenix, Ariz., for example, reported that 38 percent of recipient households had at least one adult person working and nevertheless experienced hunger and food insecurity. A survey by the Greater Chicago Food Depository, done in conjunction with America's Second Harvest, discovered that almost half its clients live in the suburbs. Hunger and food insecurity, in other words, are found not only in inner-city neighborhoods.
Participation in the federal government's food stamp programan entitlement program for low-income peoplehas grown steadily over the past few years. A sad footnote is that almost 40 percent of eligible persons throughout the country are not enrolled. In New York City alone, an estimated 700,000 eligible people do not take part in the program. As a result, New York state ranks 36th in the country in the percentage of eligible people participatinga reflection of the Giuliani era, when the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that caseworkers illegally denied food stamps to thousands of poor people. An often underestimated consequence of lagging participation is the loss of billions of federal dollars nationwide that, when translated into food stamps, could boost local economies through their use in local stores and supermarkets.
Unnecessary barriers make access to the program difficult. In some parts of the country, the sheer complexity of the process can be a deterrent, especially for people with limited education or for whom English is not the first language. New York (along with Arizona, California and Texas) require fingerprinting, a procedure that, according to one anti-hunger advocate, makes applicants feel like criminals. Other obstacles include long hours spent in food stamp offices to establish eligibility, a special hardship for low-wage workers who must take time from their jobs to apply for the program. This may result in pay cuts. Frequent recertification also presents problems. Iowa, however, has taken positive steps to simplify its own process, with an aggressive outreach effort, a toll-free number and recertification required only twice a year. Iowa also allows the use of electronic cards, which enables users to avoid the stigma often associated with paper coupons.
Despite the nutritional benefits to low-income people who use the various federal programs, the president's FY 2007 budget is proposing cuts that would weaken these benefits. Ellen Vollinger, legal director for the nonprofit Food Research and Action Center told America that the projected cuts represent several steps backward. One backward step is a measure that would limit states' ability to provide food stamps to 300,000 people in working families that are low-income but receive cash welfare benefits. Another negative change would entirely eliminate funding for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program. Currently, this program assists almost half a million seniors with monthly food packages containing nutrient-rich food supplements. Low-income seniors are already at risk of food insecurity because of rising medical costs that can reduce the amount of money available for food.
Congress should firmly resist cutting back on federal nutrition programs and focus instead on strengthening them in such a way as to eliminate hunger and guarantee food security in the United States.


text:
Back in May I was fortunate enough to be given a Thermarest Neoair Allseason to review by John Kelly.
I am going to be honest from the outset, I have always liked the Cascade Designs brands whether it be MSR, Thermarest or Platypus but have endeavoured to be impartial in my review.
I have happily owned a Thermarest Ridgerest since it was brought out many moons ago but decided to plump for a self-inflating mat (SIM) after a friend talked highly of his Alpkit mat. The decision to purchase one myself was confirmed 3 years ago when I also started to hammock camp. I opted for one at the budget end of the market as, for me, the jury was still out on SIMs. Truthfully, I often looked at the cost associated with those in the upper price brackets with a considerable amount of cynicism. The chance to test out one of these mats was obviously a great opportunity to prove a stubborn old fool like me correct, or was it?
Thermarest Neoair All Season
If Thermarest are to be believed the Neoair AllSeason is The ultimate solution to year-round backcountry comfort and in the £100+ price bracket you would really want this mat to do everything. So what are the characteristics of the product itself.
- Weight listed: 710g plus stuff sack which is an additional 45g
- Dimensions: 63cm x 196cm (This is the regular mat, large and small options available)
- Thickness when inflated: 6.3 cm
- Packed size: 28 x 12 cm although you can pack it tighter yourself
- R-Value: 4.9
In reality these things dont really tell you what the mat actually feels like so what did I like about the Allseason?
- Packed size. The Allseason is undoubtedly very small and only takes up a tiny section of my rucsac. This is fantastic when you consider the mat is designed for 4-season use. It goes without saying that winter gear is typically much bulkier than other gear but not with this product and that will draw many people to this mat, especially those more weight conscience outdoor enthusiasts.
- Weight and Robustness. The Allseason is incredibly light at 750g including the stuff sac. I walk as well as canoe so the weight saving is an absolute god send in this respect. As with many lightweight products, the build quality can seem rather flimsy but this cant be said of the Allseason. The materials feel expensive and really well made, after 6 days of being thrown in and out of tents, inflated and deflated the product remained pristine and showed no signs of wear and tear. I have absolutely no qualms with the robustness and build quality of this mat.
- Free Repair kit. Previous Neoair models didnt come with a repair kit and this had to be bought for additional money. The Allseason comes with a repair kit included which is a must in my view.
- Warranty. The Allseason come with a lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. A company prepared to stand behind their product and workmanship gets a huge plus as far as Im concerned. The usual warranty T&Cs apply so should be read in advance.
- Size. I am 5ft 10 inches tall and this regular size mat is very roomy both in length and width and I believe is really spacious for anyone 6ft 1inches and below. If taller then I would be looking at the larger size allseason.
Compared to a King size bed.
- Comfort. When inflated the Allseason is 6.3cm deep and compared with other SIMs I have tried this is by far the most comfortable. The additional depth makes the undulations under the tent just disappear and I have never had such a comfortable nights sleep in a tent. A slight downside to this is that the mat takes considerable effort to inflate by mouth. The mat did not deflate even the smallest amount during any of the 6 nights I slept on it. The real acid test was letting Mrs Chaffinch try it out and anything that gets this response must be comfy!!!
- Materials. I have mentioned the mat is light and robust but the choice of materials is excellent. The grey underside of the matt is very sticky and rubbery feeling and the matt sticks like glue to the ground sheet.
Personally, I am happy with anything that avoids your mat slipping over the groundsheet. Most mats advertise this feature but in reality they usually slide around, not the allseason. Secondly, the upper green ripstop surface of the allseason has a texture that stops excessive sliding from your sleeping bag but also doesnt seem as cold as other mats against the skin which I also liked.
- Price. There is no doubting the Allseason is an expensive bit of kit at over £100 and I think that may put many people off, including me in the past. Most people I know however are concerned about performance and value rather than price when it comes to outdoor gear. I previous stated I liked the build quality of this product and it comes with a good warranty so you get long term performance from this piece of kit and therefore value. Add to this argument, that you only ever need one mat all year round, then the Allseason actually becomes a good investment. As canoe enthusiasts, these mats are likely to be used by readers after extended periods of exercise so the value of a comfortable nights sleep cant be overestimated. I only wish I had the opportunity to try the product to see how it performed in all weathers because its performance in the winter months is where the value of this product will become truly apparent. The product does however have an independently verified R-Value of 4.9 making this product one of the warmest in the market.
- Stuff sac inflator & Plastic bag inflator. I am a simple man and I like simple tools that perform well in uncomplicated ways. A stuff sac inflator for this product is pointless. Not only is the capacity of the stuff sac limited meaning dozens of refills are required before the matt becomes inflated. The stuff sac has holes in the lining so the mat reaches a critical mass where the bag fails to inflate the matt any more and you need to use the plastic bag or your lungs to top up the pressure for a good nights sleep. Similarly, the plastic bag inflator can be used to fill up the mat but never reaches the same pressure and comfort levels you can achieve with your own breath. While the matt itself is fairly robust the plastic bag inflator is not and I would expect this to become redundant in a very short period of time anyway. I can understand why a stuffsac or plastic bag inflator would be used on a down filled mat where moisture will affect the mats performance in cold weather. The Allseason uses different technologies which are not compromised by the presence of moisture internally. In my humble opinion, keep things simple, the stuff sac and plastic bag inflators are just not needed.
As a self confessed cynic of these mats, I actually like the mat much more than I expected to. It does appear to be the ultimate solution to year-round backcountry comfort as suggested by Thermorest and that really should come as no surprise to those who have used Cascade Design products in the past. The crux of the matter is the Allseason is an incredibly comfortable mat that will assist a great nights sleep after a long day in the canoe and set you up properly for the next days adventure. Excellent materials mean the mat is small and light taking up very little space in your pack yet really robust which, if looked after, will make a fantastic addition to your outdoor kit for many years to come.


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Connecticut PharmD Programs & Pharmacy on Campus Schools
PharmD programs are required pre-requisites for students interested in pursuing a career as a pharmacist, and most of these are offered at least partially on campus. Local pharm d programs combine classroom learning with internships to provide hands on experience.
Pharmacists today are integral members of the health care system, helping ensure patients receive the best possible care. Pharmacy degree programs include a wide array of health science material including anatomy, biology, chemistry, and physiology.
The PharmD is a postgraduate professional degree. Many campus pharmacy programs offer the option to enter without a bachelor's degree and complete the prerequisite undergraduate coursework immediately followed by the doctorate level work. Such programs typically take 6-8 years.
Students interested in entering a campus pharmacy school may need to take an entrance test known as the PCAT. Pharm D programs in the US are accredited by the ACPE (Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education). Upon completion of the program, students need to pass the North American Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and will need a certain number of internship hours depending on the state in order to become a licensed pharmacist. Some students may choose to pursue clinical research with their pharm d degree programs rather than patient care. Some students may also complete residencies after earning a pharmd degree in order to accelerate their learning and as a requirement for certain types of positions such as a hospital pharmacist.
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It was super hot today, with it reaching the 90s down below, and on the first peak Chuck measured the temperature at 79 degrees, but no doubt by the time we reached the second and third peaks it was into the 80s.
Despite the heat, the climb up went well and we reached the first peak in 1 hour, 13 minutes and change. I should note that doesn't include waiting to regroup at one of the false summits. From there, we ran along the ridge (which is very runnable) hitting the second and third peaks, regrouping on each one.
The run down went well. I'm a sucky downhill runner on technical stuff, but after you get below treeline the grade is a nice pitch and the rocks and roots aren't so bad on most sections. We flew down and when I was close to the swimming hole, I had one wipe out. I didn't realize until a few tenths of a mile later that I was missing my sunglasses (which had been perched on top of my head). Fortunately, I ran back and found them unharmed where I had fallen. Whew.
Reached the swimming hole and lept off the rocks quite a few times into cold mountain water that felt oh so inviting at the end of a long run. Ahhhhhh. It was heaven. We all cooled down and chatted a bit and ran the remaining mile back to the car.
On the way back, we stopped for lunch in Bridgton, the town Stephen King bases his latest novel "Under the Dome" in, only he calls it Chester's Mill in the book. However, the landmarks were there, most notably to us the Food Mart where the riot takes place. Jim and I were quite happy to see that. Great day.
Ran 9.6 miles @ 16:06/mile pace. Excludes stops to regroup and swim.
Total moving time 2:33:54 (around ten minutes longer than Chuck's moving time, due to me running back to retrieve my sunglasses).
Elevation gain: 3700'
Insanely hilly.
Upper 70s to 90s, partly cloudy.
Asics Trail Attacks, shorts, short sleeved shirt, cap, Nathan double water bottle belt.
Link to Chuck's pics.
GPS Motion track of today's run (you can see me backtrack to get the glasses toward the end)


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The Joystick for Volvo Penta IPS installations with electronic steering offers a solid and ergonomic design for comfortable operation. The Electronic Vessel Control system provides precision maneuverability by transforming the driver's joystick movements into steering angles, gear shifts and throttle positions. The buttons on the joystick put a unique combination of functions within easy reach; Joystick Driving, Joystick Docking, and High Mode, to offer easier handling, high comfort, better drivability and enhanced safety. The dark grey casing is extra durable and highly resistant to water and chemicals, such as diesel. All electronic components are housed externally to fully comply with classification rules.
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Doug Bloomfield has a ticket to Russia. John and Mary Noel, Bob and Harriet McCauley, and Bob Hunter and Doris Garrett recently returned from a cruise. Jo Stewart swims with the Synchronettes. At their monthly meetings these eight and many others spend as much time laughing as getting down to business.
Their business is finding ways to work with, work around and overcome the obstacles that prompted them to join Sun City's Physically Challenged Active Adults.
"These are people that are hit (by a disease) but they go on with their lives," said member Judy Roach who suffers from myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disorder that affects eyesight, breathing and other physical attributes.
Cathie Mathiesen, who was diagnosed with MS in 1975, values more than anything her independence.
"I really do feel blessed," she said after Friday's meeting. "It's just nice to get together with people closer to your own age. They all have different challenges and they know how frustrating it can be. But it's not all people moaning and groaning. We have a lot of fun. There's life after whatever you have."
"When we learned that John and his wife and the others went on a cruise, that gave me a feeling that we can still do it, too," said Rhoda Kantor. Her husband, Don, was also diagnosed three months ago with myasthenia gravis. "They're a wonderful group of people. It's laughing, joking. We all have our thing."
For the members of this group, their "thing" ranges from post-polio like founding member Sally Luck to Noel, who has both Muscular Dystrophy and Multiple Sclerosis.
"We started this group five years ago," said Luck by phone as she and her husband drove back from Chattanooga. "I had been trying to advocate for some better accessibility in Sun City ever since I got there since I'm on a scooter. There was an article in the paper Bob had written about his MS. And I thought 'There's somebody who sounds like he'd be someone willing to work on this. I called him out of the blue and we started talking about seeing if there aren't some other people who'd like to get together with us and work together on helping people with disabilities."
There were six members in the beginning and there are more than 50 now, said Luck.
"One of our main things was accessibility," she said. "Our amenities committee has worked very hard to get accessibility items. They've worked hard to get things like that lift chair into Purrysburg pool."
PCAA also maintains a collection of medical equipment that they loan to those who need temporary use of walkers, crutches, wheelchairs - anything that might make independence possible for those restricted by their bodies.
"We just ask anybody who wants to get rid of equipment to give it to us or who wants to loan it out to keep it at their house and loan it out on a temporary basis," Luck said. There is also a group that meets monthly to give caregivers "a place to vent and share ideas."
Sharing is mostly what happens at the meetings. Guest speakers come from the medical field, travel agents who schedule travel for people with disabilities, physical therapists, acupuncturists, equipment experts and companies that build accessibility vans.
"We wanted people to know that even though we have our struggles we still can be active adults. We just have to be active in different areas," said Luck. She and her husband will be moving soon to Tennessee to be nearer their children. It's a move she says is necessary because they're getting older but not before PCAA celebrates its fifth anniversary as a Sun City group. "I'm going to miss them. That's probably one of the hardest things. We've become friends, we've been supportive of each other. You just form a bond that's always going to be there. I have really loved it.
"We joke about our situations because it's the best way to deal with it because I've been in some strange positions because of my condition. We do not sit around and whine about our situation."


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Tag: vegan lash lengthener
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Hallelujah, dog bless America, holy balls I'm excited! I'm always bitching about my balding lash lines… I was not blessed in the lash department. Seriously, I have like 2.5 lashies per eyeball, and it sucks. No matter how much...
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While U.S. unemployment remains stubbornly close to 10%, job prospects for this year's class of MBAs are looking considerably brighter.
(poetsandquants.com) — While U.S. unemployment remains stubbornly close to 10%, job prospects for MBAs in the class of 2011 are looking considerably brighter. At Stanford Graduate School of Business, job postings are up 85% year over year.
Boston Consulting Group, one of the largest employers of MBA graduates, plans to up its hiring by 18% this year. And a new survey of MBA employers shows that 64% plan to hire MBAs from the class of 2011, up four percentage points from a year earlier.
"We are seeing an extremely sharp uptick from virtually every sector that recruits our MBAs," says Pulin Sanghvi, director of Stanford's career management center. "Most employers are coming back with sharply higher hiring numbers. There are parts of the economy right now that are really booming, particularly in tech, and that boom is creating even more jobs from the ecosystems around these companies."
On some level, the strong recovery in the MBA market is a reflection of pent-up demand for managerial talent.
"People were being very conservative about staffing during the recession," says Sanghvi. "Many are now finding that they are understaffed for what they are trying to accomplish, particularly for managerial talent. So that trend is very promising for MBA students across the country."
Less than three years ago, there was widespread worry and even despair as the economic meltdown took hold. Julie Morton, associate dean of career services for Chicago's Booth School of Business, recalls receiving a text message from an MBA graduate working at Lehman Brothers just before the investment bank filed for bankruptcy in September of 2008. It read: "Lots of stuff is going down here. We're going to need your help. Just watch the news."
She and members of her staff rushed to New York the following week to help alums who quickly became victims of the collapse. Back at school, major MBA employers in the financial sector all but disappeared. Most of the other non-financial companies severely cut back their interview schedules and offers. Surprisingly large percentages of the class of 2009 remained unemployed even three months after graduation.
With economic recovery beginning last year and showing greater strength now, the mood on business school campuses has turned upbeat and even confident.
"Students feel supported and confident, but not cocky, that things are going to work out for them," says Morton, who reports that on-campus interview slots this past fall were up 22% and job postings for MBAs and alums have risen nearly 30%.
At Stanford, adds Sanghvi, some students took themselves out of the heavy recruiting this past fall, preferring to wait for opportunities that are a better match for their careers. And at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, some students came back from their summer internships last fall with offers that they're not immediately accepting.
"They're really being thoughtful about the opportunities now," says Roxanne Hori, assistant dean of Kellogg's Career Management Center. "When times were really bad, people were going to take whatever they could. There is a comfort level now and some students are willing to say, 'I think I'm going to pass on this because it's not what I really want to do.'"
Hori says she is seeing a significant increase in hiring in consulting and the return of the investment banks. "Across the board, all the major consulting firms have indicated that their numbers will increase this year," she says. "They are coming back with a vengeance, with aggressive hiring targets because their business has picked up."
The same is true in technology. Just before Christmas, Hori led a group of 15 Kellogg students to the Bay Area to meet with technology startups and was surprised at the level of interest. "We had more interest than we had time available on our schedule," she says. "The appetite for talent has increased."
More broadly, a recent survey of executives, managers and recruiters by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) found that 64% of them plan to hire new MBA grads this year, an increase from 60% last year. Dave Wilson, president and CEO of GMAC, attributes the increase to the economic recovery as well as strength in the technology and energy industries. But the rise in hiring intentions also reflects the high value that many companies continue to place on the degree.
"When you talk to recruiters, they talk about value for money," says Wilson. "They argue that there is incredible value for money when they hire an MBA. Last year, about 99% of employers reported being satisfied with the MBAs they hired. That is the highest level of satisfaction ever."
IBM Corp. (IBM), which will hire more than 250 new MBAs this year, agrees.
"We are hiring more MBAs for two reasons," says Ted Hoff, IBM's vice president of learning and development. "One is we are growing as a company and we are particularly looking for people who are willing to work and live in different countries around the world. The second reason is we need leaders who understand our client industries."
The uptick in hiring also is being aided by more sophisticated networking and outreach efforts by business schools. The recent downturn forced career services officials to be far more creative to get their students jobs. Chicago's Booth School, for example, put a career management staffer in Hong Kong and is about to put another in London this March to gather job opportunities for Chicago-based graduates in Asia and in Europe.
Many offers these days are coming not from on-campus recruiters, but from newly established relationships with employers.
"A lot of companies are sourcing talent without coming to campus and without posting jobs," says Chicago career services dean Julie Morton. "Students have done a much better job networking than they have in the past. Companies realized that as soon as they posted a job, they were inundated with resumes, so they were better off mining their own contacts and networks."
More from Poets&Quants:
Is An Elite MBA Degree Still Worth the Cost?
Boston Consulting Group: Very Bullish on the MBA


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Double joy for Jennifer Love Hewitt as she becomes a new mum and wife
Actress JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT has two big reasons to be thankful over America's upcoming Thanksgiving holiday - she's a new mum and a new wife, according to reports.
The I Know What You Did Last Summer star and Brian Hallisay became first-time parents on Tuesday (26Nov13) when Hewitt gave birth to a baby girl, and, in confirming the happy news, the actress' publicist has let it slip that the couple is now married.
She says, "Jennifer Love Hewitt and her husband Brian Hallisay are thrilled to announce the birth of their daughter. Autumn James Hallisay was born on November 26."
A source tells Us Weekly magazine the newlyweds recently exchanged vows in a private ceremony.
Hewitt and Hallisay began dating in 2012 when they reconnected on the set of the now-cancelled TV drama The Client List. They previously appeared together on the short-lived NBC series Love Bites.
The actress announced she was pregnant in June (13), a day before revealing her engagement to Hallisay.


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Afghanistan: Kabul Declaration on Women's Rights
We, the participants of the international conference "Family Law Reforms and Women's Rights in Muslim Countries: Perspective and Lessons Learned", held on April 6, 2009 in Kabul Afghanistan, support the decision of the government of Afghanistan to review the Shiite Personal Status Law in consultation with the Afghanistan Parliament. The Shiite Personal Status Law must include provisions for the protection and respect of women and children's human rights, consistent with the Afghanistan Constitution and international commitments and [or obligations] and treaties ratified by Afghanistan.
We believe that while it is important to respect the human rights of all minorities, as enshrined in the Afghanistan Constitution, laws should protect the human rights of all Afghan women and children according to the principles and values stated in the Constitution.
We emphasize on the importance of the family in our society, we believe that:
• The family should establish a lawful and secure space for support and development of each member; therefore the relationships in the family should be centered on mutual respect based on Islamic values.
• Islamic and universal values such as: equity, tolerance, justice and human dignity should be the centre of all human relations in the family.
• The family environment should enable the full participation and enjoyment of rights of all members.
We urge the Ministry of Justice and the Afghanistan Parliament to take this opportunity to:
1. Include gender sensitive legal experts representing civil society in the processes of review and drafting of this law and all other laws concerning rights of the citizens of Afghanistan.
2. Consider the amendment of the Shiite Personal Law Status and other laws in accordance with more inclusive Shariah Jurisprudence corresponding to human rights values enshrined in the Afghan Constitution.
3. Consider the recommendations issued by the 'Family Law Drafting Committee' already submitted to the Afghanistan Parliament and the Ministry of Justice, which are the results of wide consultations with civil society and human rights experts.
4. Conduct inclusive, timely and transparent consultations on Shiite Family Law and on all other laws respecting legal democratic procedures.
We strongly urge the international community to continue to engage the government of Afghanistan and the Parliament on the human rights of women and children and to provide support to Afghan civil society advocacy efforts to develop a culture of human rights and promote democratic values.
We urge the wider Afghan civil society to actively engage in efforts to promote and protect the human rights of women and children, to ensure that these rights are guaranteed and codified in all Afghan laws, including the upcoming reform of the Family Law that is part of the civil code, and the Law for the Eradication of Violence Against Women. Civil society groups should also support the implementation of the marriage registration and the new Nikahnama.
06 April, 2009, Kabul - Afghanistan


text: Vilified Congress Shows Few Signs of Ending Gridlock in 2013 July 8, 2013 07:04 AM Tweet TAGS: Marketing, Overseas December 18, 2014 By Bloomberg Email The budgetary deficit, a loophole-riddled tax code and a Senate revamping of immigration law given little chance in the House. Laura Litvan With few signs of ending the gridlock crushing public approval of Congress, U.S. lawmakers return this week to confront a budgetary deficit, a loophole-riddled tax code and a Senate revamping of immigration law given little chance in the House. Their conflicts don't stop there. Republicans in the Democratic-controlled Senate may block President Barack Obama's nominees to lead the Environmental Protection Agency and Labor Department. The Republican-run House may try to revive farm legislation while seeking a piecemeal approach to immigration instead of the broad plan the Senate passed on June 27. They will approach all this with a 15-percent public approval rating. Even passage of an immigration compromise wouldn't be enough to uproot the view of a Congress that can't address the nation's top challenges, said Michael Dimock, director of the nonpartisan Pew Research Center in Washington. "One success in a row is not a pattern," Dimock said. "The real big-ticket items that people want to see action on haven't happened." Congressional inaction has slowed Obama's legislative agenda to a crawl in the first year of his second term, with the prospect of even fewer accomplishments next year before the 2014 midterm congressional elections. Still, lawmakers, not the president, are paying the price in public opinion, according to a Gallup Poll report last month. 50 Percent So far this year, an average of 50 percent of Americans surveyed approve of the job Obama is doing as president, while Congress is averaging 15 percent, according to Gallup. Obama's ability to appear above the fray of partisan debates gives him a shield from anger over the gridlock, the organization said. Representative Gerald Connolly, a Virginia Democrat, said he sees the measures most likely to pass this year -- farm legislation, a debt-limit increase, an annual bill to reauthorize defense programs and perhaps immigration -- as small items considering that Americans are still struggling in a slow economy. Even less will probably get done next year as midterm elections loom, he said. "That's close to the agenda for the rest of the year," Connolly said in an interview. "There's so much not addressed, in terms of jobs and infrastructure and dealing with sequestration," he said, referring to automatic budget cuts that kicked in earlier this year. Hispanic Voters Among the top goals Obama outlined Feb. 12 in his annual State of the Union address, immigration is the only one seeing action. Some Republicans view the issue as a way to boost the party's appeal among Hispanic voters, a fast-growing group that gave Obama 71 percent of its support in the 2012 election. The Senate rejected Obama's bid for tougher gun laws following the Dec. 14 killings of 20 schoolchildren and six adults at a Newtown, Connecticut, elementary school. Going nowhere are his calls for legislation to curb greenhouse-gas emissions, $50 billion in infrastructure spending and raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $9 an hour by the end of 2015. Senate Republicans' opposition to his choices of Gina McCarthy to lead the EPA and Thomas Perez as labor secretary are delaying his drive to complete his second-term Cabinet. The president's agenda also is being slowed by congressional investigations into Internal Revenue Service scrutiny of small-government groups seeking tax-exempt status, the National Security Agency's surveillance programs and the Sept. 11 attacks at the consulate in Benghazi, Libya, in which the U.S. ambassador was among those killed. 'Particularly Widespread' "The administration is just putting out fires," said Ross Baker, a political scientist at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. "It's a second-term problem, but it's particularly widespread and acute in this administration." In Congress, few measures have been signed into law this year. Between the Jan. 3 start of the session and the end of June, 15 pieces of legislation were enacted. One specifies the size of National Baseball Hall of Fame commemorative coins and another prevents the Army Corps of Engineers from restricting fishing near dams in the Cumberland River Basin. Just a handful of the measures had much weight, including a $60.2 billion aid package to help rebuild communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Going forward, there is little movement on big measures. A drive for a "grand bargain" on deficit reduction is on hold until September, when Congress will debate an increase in the nation's $16.7 trillion debt limit. Baucus, Camp Congress's top tax writers, Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus and House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp, are visiting St. Paul, Minnesota, today to promote a revision of U.S. tax laws. Baucus, a Montana Democrat, and Camp, a Michigan Republican, still disagree over a fundamental question: whether a new tax code should raise more revenue for the government. Some delays have real effects. The rate that college undergraduates from poor families pay for student loans doubled on July 1, to 6.8 percent, after senators left for a one-week recess without agreement on a new interest rate. Congress can act retroactively if lawmakers work out a plan. Some lawmakers, though, say they take heart in a few early 2013 gains. Senator Angus King, a Maine independent who caucuses with Democrats, said Congress deserves credit for reauthorizing programs that fight domestic violence. Following the Senate's June 10 passage of a $955 billion agriculture plan, he said he still believes both chambers probably will complete that measure this year even though the House defeated its version of the farm bill on June 20. 'Not Perfect' "It's not everything I would have liked," King said. "It's not perfect and it's not where I would like it to be. But there has been progress and the immigration bill is a very good example of bipartisan work. I'm feeling very positive." House Republicans plan a private meeting on July 10 to plan strategy on immigration. The Senate passed its plan with 14 Republicans joining Democrats to back a proposal that pairs a doubling of border security with a path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants now in the U.S. Many House Republicans oppose the citizenship path, including Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, whose panel is working on separate immigration bills in contrast to the Senate's comprehensive approach. Goodlatte has said he may consider a path for children whose parents immigrated illegally. Most Republicans At the urging of his rank and file, House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio said last month he won't advance an immigration bill unless it has the support of most Republicans in the chamber. That means he won't let a bill pass with mostly Democratic support, as he has in some previous votes, including a 2011 measure that raised the federal debt ceiling. "Each successive development raises questions about whether the immigration bill will pass," said David Rohde, a political scientist at Duke University. "The House might pass a bill, but I doubt it will accord with what's going on in the Senate. The chances of comprehensive immigration reform have dropped." Even if lawmakers agree on a final immigration plan, it might not boost the public's view of Congress much because that issue is far down the list of priorities for American voters, said Frank Newport, editor in chief of the Gallup Poll. In a June 1-4 Gallup poll, 43 percent of Americans named either the economy or employment and jobs as the No. 1 issue facing the U.S., while 6 percent said immigration topped their list of concerns. At the same time, lawmakers are in a bind because failure to get a measure to the president's desk will still spark a backlash, Newport said. "Whenever they're unable to get something done," Newport said, "their approval ratings dip lower." Back to news


text: Full bust corset made of high quality ivory satin with flower lace overlay. Satin net ruffles on top and bottom. Six high quality steel busk closures on front, 10 spiral steel bones and 4 static back bones. 100% Cotton twill lining 6 inch modesty panel. Nickel brass grommets with laces at back. Thick cording in the back for cinching. Removable garters Style: clothing-intimates-fff2-td-011red This item is FINAL SALE and is not eligible for return or exchanges. NOTE: This item is an Expanded Assortment*. Please allow 3-4 business days for item to leave the warehouse.


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wondronics needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 122 designs submitted by 36 freelance designers.
For the logo, I would like a directors clapboard, with the name Max Costumes on the clapboard. Possible tagline: "the show is on at max costumes"
MaxCostumes, Max Costumes
In addition to the above, idea's with filmstrips, theater curtains, directors chairs would also be good. Dark colors are fine if done well.
- Integration Ability With Other Web Page Elements
- Simplicity
- Bold Colors
- Memorable
- Simple Enough For Print
- Illustrator Format
- Professional Artists Only
- Sloppy Work
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.