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(Oct. 4, 2014)
Bill Ketts loved this time of year.
When the sweet scent of lavender warms the crisp autumn air, the corn is ripe for the harvest, and throngs of city folk flood the quiet country roads of the Key Peninsula to experience farm life.
"He loved to see everybody enjoying the fruits of their labor," said Stephanie Patterson, Ketts' daughter. "It is something he always wanted."
Ketts died earlier this year. The KP Farm Tour was dedicated to his memory.
"We get on our hands and knees and work the ground," Ketts said last year as farm tour president. "Farmers we know on the Key Peninsula do this.
"We love it, so we do it," he added.
As dozens of cars lined up to park on a meadow at the 15-acre Blue Willow Lavender Farm, Ketts' wife Tracy quietly said "he would have loved this."
The couple from California worked this piece of land along Wright Bliss Road on the northern end of the Peninsula the last six years. Tracy continues their work, selling produce and lavender products from a little white country house.
"It is amazing," Patterson said, about what her mom and dad have done to the property.
"We were here at the very beginning, it was just a bunch of tall grass and dirt," she said. "They really took this and made something special out of it."
Ketts had a spiritual connection to this land. He said last year that it was an easy sell for him and his wife to move north and accept an offer from Mike Walsh, a friend, to work his land.
"Bill felt like he had been called to this farm," said Philip Marshall, a friend of the Ketts who was demonstrating how to separate lavender buds. "He felt God had opened up an opportunity for him to start a church here. That is what he did."
His quick smile and passion for working the land was remembered. His legacy apparent in every lesson a tour guest gets after visiting his farm.
"Bill set up the farm and it became a gateway to talk to people who came out here," Marshall said. "He always had time for people. Anyone who met him knew Bill seemed like the guy you'd always known your whole life."
This picture of passion, perseverance and neighborly warmth was on full display at six working farms and six businesses, clubs and agencies on the tour.
"As far as I can tell everything was positive except for a few complaints because people wanted a bigger map, bigger signs and more signs along the route," farm tour president Carolyn Wiley wrote in an email.
Wiley said they have not yet gotten a headcount of how many visitors made the trip south of Purdy, but "everyone that got to (the last venue) seemed really pleased about the day."
Outside a 40-foot-long greenhouse at Creviston Valley Farms stood Hans Albert Quistorff, 74, greeting visitors on the farm tour, encouraging them to step in his world.
His world is full of luscious leafy vegetables, tomatoes of all varieties (including one that grows seemingly out of the ground) and of proudly working the land to help provide fresh produce for his neighbors.
Quistorff sells his berries as QBerry Farm at the Fresh Food Revolution cooperative market at the Key Peninsula Civic Center on Wednesdays. He said he doesn't sell very much – "About 15-dollars-worth-a-week is all I sell."
But he is an enthusiastic practitioner of growing your own food and an able ambassador of sustainable farming. Mostly because he lives the lifestyle, but also because he grew up on it.
Pointing to the farm house Greg and Lalaine Wong built on their beautiful piece of land down key, Quistorff said "before they had that house, I have a video of me pulling out a carrot from the ground on that spot."
He said his mother then asked him to take a bite.
"I'm not going to eat this," a precocious 3-year-old Quistorff told her laughing. "It's got dirt all over."
Thus began his 70-year love affair with dirt.
At Minterbrook Oyster Farm on the mouth of Minter Creek, just a few miles south of the Purdy spit, family was a familiar theme.
As guests got to the bottom of a driveway lined by majestic cedars, they were greeted by a smiling Kiki Mamea and offered a candy lei. The festive island motif was her family's idea – together with her sister Malaysia and mother Tai, who does accounting work at the farm.
"Lots of hundreds" of people have gone through here today to see the process of harvesting and rejuvenating oysters, said oyster farm owner Kent Kingman.
He said he introduced a process of rehabilitating oysters to keep them healthy and alive before shipping them. This keeps the shellfish fresher and more in demand, he said.
Minterbrook oysters' life after harvest used to only be between three to five days. By rejuvenating them, he said, the oysters stay alive for 13 to 15 days.
"That makes a big difference," he said, "in freshness and price."
So why get into the oyster business?
"That is easy," said Kingman with a chuckle.
He said he used to work as a consultant for companies needing help with labor relations and evolving workplace cultures. He most recently did work for the Transit Authority in New York City.
"There were a lot of violence in the workplace," he said of the situation in New York.
The demands of the job kept him away from his family.
"I didn't want to do that anymore," he said. "I wanted to be home."
Somehow the idea of going into the shellfish business seemed natural, and it all started fittingly enough on the dinner table.
"My boys love seafood," he said.
Kingman then tells a story of how one of his boys a few years ago ate stack after stack of clams at C.I. Shenanigans in Tacoma.
"He must have eaten a record 177 clams," the proud father recalls, "and he was just six or seven years old."
Kingman said after that he asked his family if they wanted to raise clams on their property on the western shore of the Peninsula. They started producing roughly 15,000 pounds of clams a year.
In 2012, they became the third family to own Minterbrook Oyster Farm since Hubert Secor and his family started the business in 1932. The Secors sold the oyster farm to Harold and Beverly Wiksten in 1954.
"I walk in here and look out and say 'this is awesome'," he said.
His morning routine goes something like this: He gets up and makes the boys – Garret and Austin — breakfast, pack their lunch, read a few verses of the Bible with the family, drop them off at school and arrive at the mouth of Minter Creek around 7:45 in the morning.
Kingman grew up on seven acres in Poulsbo, he said, "and my dad bought a piece of property and made it like a park."
As you step inside the office suite at Minterbrook, you get the same impression as you take in the sweeping view of Henderson Bay with Mount Rainier in the background.
"That was by design," he said of the renovation work his wife Donna has done at the farm.
The farm employs 20 employees at the Minter Creek facility, Kingman said, "and the best thing about it is they all live right here on the Key Peninsula."
Another 30 work the tidelands, he said.
Kingman said they have tried to keep the culture at Minterbrook more like family and less like a business.
But don't be fooled. This is big business. Roughly 3 million whole live oysters, another million of the shucked variety and about 125 tons of clams go through this facility each year. They get served locally and shipped around the world.
For the dog lovers on the tour, PackLeader Farm owner Steve Weigley gladly explains what his farm does.
"Basically we are a sheep dog facility," Weigley said. "Dogs learn how to herd here and we teach owners how to fix problems with their dogs."
He said they probably "watched the movie 'Babe' and got a border collie and didn't realize the kind of energy" that breed of dog has.
Then they find out "their dog wants to do some herding and they have no idea (what to do)," he said.
If you think your dog is a herding breed Weigley recommends that the dog get an instinct test. It is usually done in a round pen – so the sheep cannot be cornered – to determine if the dog has strong directional instincts.
Weigley's farm was packed with working dogs. Some were here with their owners to simply see the farm. Others like Nole West of Everett and his dog Fred got on the field to demonstrate what it is they do.
They started a field exercise with a fetch and gather, where Fred runs out and gathers the sheep. Then West worked his 3-year-old Australian shepherd through a "Y" chute and then a "Z" chute. From the middle of the field, West explains, they went through a cross drive bringing the sheep to the corner "where I normally would have exhausted (the sheep) if I'd been in competition.
"Instead that is when I called him off and he got his chance to jump into my arms and I told him he was a good boy," he said. "This was just a little bit of showmanship out here."
According to West, his dog's burst of enthusiasm is "a little bit of his rules" or Fred will not do what West needs him to do.
As you look around the farm, you will notice the pens where over 100 sheep and a handful of guardian dogs live. There are two exercise fields in the back of the property and two smaller assessment pens just behind the farm house.
Children and adults alike gawk at animals in the petting pens as sheep bleet and dogs bark. Their day have been full with exhibits and demonstrations of what folks do on the Key Peninsula. The sublime scenery a welcome treat.
Lisa Bryan, a Peninsula resident who had an exhibit at the Fiber Arts Show in Longbranch, said many who had taken the drive south for the first time were charmed by the people and amazed by the beauty of the place.
"Possibly the most rewarding of all," Bryan said, "is overhearing conversations (that go) 'This is where I first became interested in… (fill in the blank)'."


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Retro Invites Blog
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subset: commoncrawl


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United States Postal Service offers a domestic service called "USPS Priority Mail" which is fast domestic service delivers mail item or packages to the U.S addresses within 1, 2, or 3 business days. The number of delivering days actually depends on where your package starts and where it's being sent. Usually, it takes 1, 2, or 3 business days to reach the U.S. destination. Users can avail this service at both Post Office and online.
Following important topics are covered here;
- What is USPS Priority Mail
- How to Ship Priority Mail Online
- Cost of Priority Mail
- Priority Mail Flat Rate Products
- Features of Priority Mail
- Restrictions on Priority Mail
- How long does Priority Mail take to reach the destination
- 1 What is USPS Priority Mail?
- 2 Priority Mail Flat Rate Products
What is USPS Priority Mail?
A priority mail is one of the fast domestic mail services which allows users to send their mail items or packages to the U.S addresses. The priority mail shipment is delivered within1, 2, or 3 business days, depending on the address where the package is sent from and to where it's being sent.
Check the label of the shipment for an expected delivery date. Also note that the printed date of delivery depends on the origin, destination, and drop off time. The delivery may be delivered due to any unseen reasons and that's why this is not a guaranteed service. The tracking facility is available on all domestic shipment. Users can check the delivery status of their package through USPS.com tracking facility.
There are many other extra services which can be added with priority mail such as signature confirmation, return receipt, certified mail, hold for pickup etc. All the additional services or add-ons are available with extra fees. The insurance of up to $50 is included on most domestic shipments.
No weighing or calculating needed up to 70 lbs. Flat Rate offers one rate to any state.
If you're an international use then check out USPS Priority Mail International
Want to deliver a package overnight? Then use, Priority Mail Express
How to Ship Priority Mail Online
This service is available at both Post Office & Online. To prepare a priority mail shipment online, you need to perform the following steps;
- You need a USPS.com account if you have one then log in. In case, if you haven't, then create an account. It pretty easy & free to create an account on USPS.com.
- Visit this page https://cns.usps.com/labelInformation.shtml , once you're logged in.
- The following page will appear where you need to "Create a Label"
To create a Label, you need to fill the complete form with correct information. You need to enter the following information;
- The address from where you are sending i.e. Return Address
- The address where you are sending to i.e. Delivery Address
- Enter a shipping date i.e.
- Enter Package details
- Enter Package Value
- Select the type of Service
The available services & the prices will appear once you enter the above-mentioned information.
USPS Priority Mail Cost/ Pricing
Beginning at $6.70 at Post Office locations and online.
The prices of Priority Mail actually depends on the weight and zone, except for Priority Mail Flat Rate. You get the same Flat Rate pricing with Prepaid Forever Priority Mail Flat Rate along with few other added convenience of Forever postage.
You can use the USPS Shipping Calculator to calculate or estimate the cost of a domestic shipping.
Calculate Price Here: https://postcalc.usps.com/
Priority Mail Flat Rate Products
Word File (.doc): Download USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Products
PDF File: Download USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Products
USPS customer support: 1-800-275-8777
USPS official website: www.usps.com
Features of Priority Mail
Following are the feature of Priority Mail.
- This service offers free package pickup at home or office
- USPS Tracking facility is included for free when you ship online and at retail
- The delivery takes 1 to 3 business days
- The insurance of up to $50 is included in most of the shipments
- No surcharges for fuel or residential, rural, and regular Saturday delivery
- Flat Rate, regional, and prepaid pricing (retail only) available
What are Restrictions on Priority Mail
Following are the restrictions, read them carefully and prepare your shipment accordingly.
- The maximum weight should not exceed 70lbs.
- The Maximum combined length and girth is 108″.
- Make sure that the container flaps are closed within the normal folds.
- There are specific regulations and standards for mailing restricted, prohibited, and hazardous materials, including cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.
How Long Does Priority Mail Take to Reach the U.S. Destination?
Usually, it takes 1, 2, or 3 business days to reach the destination. The number of delivering days actually depends on where your package starts and where it's being sent.
Use Priority Mail Delivery Map to find out the number of days. You just need to enter the Zip code where you're shipping from and then the map will provide you with expected 1, 2, or 3-day delivery areas for Priority Mail shipments.
How to Use Priority Mail Delivery Map?
- Visit https://www.usps.com/priority-mail/map/
- Then enter the 3 or 5 digit zip code from where you're shipping.
- After entering the code, use drag & zoom option on a map to see the area you're mailing to, as well as all the U.S. territories such as Alaska, Hawai that receive Priority Mail service.
Following Add-ons are Available/ Quick Overview of Priority Mail
The following add-ons or extra services can be added with Priority Mail to make it more secure & trackable.
Starting Price: $6.70 (retail & online) & $6.55 (commercial)
Shipping Time: 1-3 business days
Insurance: $50 included
USPS Tracking: Available
Signature Confirmation: Available
Return Receipt: Available
Certified Mail: Available
Hold for Pickup: Available
Collect on Delivery: Available
Final Thoughts:
Priority Mail is one of the most used services of USPS begins at $6.70 at Post Office locations and online. Many extra services can be added with priority mail such as signature confirmation, return receipt, certified mail, hold for pickup, and more.
If you've any question or query related to USPS Priority Mail, then use the comment section provided below. We will respond back at the earliest.


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What if?
I am thrilled that there are now four stockists of my Floral art range.
Central Deborah Gold mine
Bendigo Tramways shop
Bendigo Visitors' Information Centre
Strathfieldsaye Post Office
For a unique floral artpiece created from my photography and then sewn by me, pop into any of these stores to buy this Christmas…or anytime!
Selected tea towels
Small bags
Common fringe myrtle fabric brooch


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I am admittedly a complete beer geek and/or beer snob. I'm one of those people that drinks hopped up double IPAs and Belgian ales and seasonal small batch beers from regional craft breweries and can't stand hanging out at bars where everyone is chugging Miller Lite, Bud and Coronas right out of the cans/bottles. I regularly cross state lines to buy beers that aren't distributed in my state. When I take a trip somewhere, I look up what beers I can get in that city, where the best brew pubs are and if there is a decent brewery in the area that I can tour. I'm that guy.
I've also now been a homebrewer for about three and a half years. I stick mostly to the styles I enjoy drinking the most: India Pale Ales, American Pale Ales, Dunkelweizens and Hefeweizens. I'm capable of making some pretty damn good beers if I do say so myself, and since I'm the one that drinks the majority of the beers that I brew…well, self hi-five.
However, toward the end of this past spring I decided to brew my first Stout. I'd gotten a bit bored making variations of the same basic styles over and over and wanted to try brewing something else. I was a little discouraged because of a bad experience with a Belgian Tripel I tried making a few months into my homebrewing that turned out far short of wonderful. Not being the biggest fan of Stouts in general, I often find the ones I try to be overpowering and entirely too filling. Most beer geeks flip out over the insanely strong Russian Imperial Stouts and the many barrel aged deep, dark seasonal Stouts that pop up from many great craft breweries throughout the country. For whatever reason, I've yet to develop a real taste for them. I figured that if I were to try brewing a Stout that I may as well try to brew one of the few Stouts that I truly love and appreciate, Founders Breakfast Stout.
There is nothing subtle about this beer. With flaked oats, coffee and chocolate in addition to four different types of malt, the flavors are intense. Yet it presents a really nice balance between bitter and sweet while at the same time maintaining a complexity that I often miss in many of the Stouts that beer geeks tend to rave about. The commercial version is highly recommended if you can get your hands on it. Strong coffee and chocolate flavors absolutely rip through this excellent brew which beeradvocate.com rates an A+/A and ratebeer.com rates a 100. So yeah, it's a pretty serious brew. My go at it was based on the clone recipe that was published in BYO magazine. I followed it pretty closely with just a few minor substitutions with the chocolate.
Since brewing it back in April, and then bottling it in May, its been sitting quietly, well hidden and packed away in a couple of cases at the bottom of the pantry, just waiting to be broken into for the cold fall and winter months. Bottle conditioned now for five and a half months, I decided that the time was right to pour a few bottles on this chilly, windy and rainy day.
I'm really pleased with the way this turned out. The bottle conditioning time has done it well. Patience was the key with this brew. The couple of test bottles I tried over the months while it was conditioning were huge on the coffee without much else coming through. Now, just a few weeks shy of seven months since brew day, there is a really nice balance between the coffee and the chocolate up front and as it warms a bit the chocolate becomes even more pronounced. I'm hoping to stash some away to enjoy in Jan/Feb '10 just to see how much more the flavor profile will change. If there is one problem, it is head retention. The nice head you see on the pour in the photo above only lasts for about 3-4 minutes before dissipating almost completely. I've read that this is mostly due to the oils from the Kona coffee that the brew was conditioned with during secondary fermentation. I suppose we'll see what I can do about that when I brew this again next spring. Until then, I've got about forty 12 oz. bottles of Breakfast Stout to help get me through this Chicago winter.


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I'm a highly qualified and widely experienced Counsellor with seven years of complex case management and ten years' educational experience within both Catholic Education and Education Queensland.
Working in schools with an average clientele of 1400 students and their families has afforded me a unique perspective of the complexities and challenges young people and their families are faced with. The daily school, university and working life, ongoing demands of exams, assessments and personal expectation, as well as perceived external expectations, can take its toll on everyone.Read Bio »


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Full Contact Fights 5-DVD Set
82 Fights!
Five Double-Sided Discs!
Commando: Knockout Challenge
Not Rated (Violent Content)
Approx. 150 mins.
The USA's most elite Special Ops square off with the most ferocious Commandos from around the world in a new fight format where only knockouts count.
Gladiator Challenge
Not Rated (Violent Content)
Approx. 105 mins.
If you like your fighters tough and your matches exciting, this is the competition for you! The best in closed-fist, full-contact, mixed martial arts cage fighting. Featuring Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Romie Aram and Jason Lambert.
Gladiator Challenge: Showdown At Soboba
Not Rated (Violent Content)
Approx. 105 mins.
With the spirit of the ancient gladiators, these warriors do battle in the cage with their fighting style of choice, including Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, Wrestling, Judo and Boxing.
Gladiator Challenge: Collision At Colusa
Not Rated (Violent Content)
Approx. 111 mins.
Gladiator Challenge presents the best in closed-fist, full-contact mixed martial arts cage fighting. Featuring Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Joe Stevenson, Duane "Bang" Ludwig and Phillip Miller.
Gladiator Challenge: Rumble In the Rockies
Not Rated (Violent Content)
Approx. 76 mins.
Gladiator Challenge invades the Radisson Greystone Castle in Denver, Colorado for a night of fights you won't forget! This is the best in mixed martial arts action!
Gladiator Challenge: Caged Beasts
Not Rated (Violent Content)
Approx. 66 mins.
Pit some of the world's toughest men against each other in a 2-ton steel cage and what do you get? Gladiator Challenge: Caged Beasts! Gladiator Challenge returns to the home of MMA, the Colusa Casino in Northern California, for another night of hot fights and hotter ring girls!
Life In the Cage
Not Rated (Violent Content)
Approx. 60 mins.
Take an insider's look into the world of mixed martial arts, one of the fastest growing and controversial sports in the United States. See what life in the cage is like through the eyes of the fighter's, promoters and the fans.
Slam School
Not Rated (Violent Content)
Approx. 54 mins.
So you want to learn how to wrestle like a pro? Welcome to Slam School, the school of hard knocks. Meet the man who has taught some of the world's best professional wrestlers, Jesse Hernandez, teacher and owner of Slam School.
Backyard Raw
Not Rated (Violent Content, Nudity)
Approx. 114 mins.
Who says all the big wrestling federations should have all the fun? These wrestlers are hungry, extreme, unpredictable and crazy! There are no limits in the Backyard!
Girls Going CrazyNot Rated (***Nudity***)
Approx. 64 mins.
Were you the bookworm who studied and missed spring break? Well here's your chance to make up for it. There is no script! There is no plot! It's just you spending a hot day with sexy, fun-loving girls trying to stay cool!
Bonus Program:: Adult film stars get nasty in L.A. hotels, uncensored and in public!
- Encoding: Region 1 (US and Canada only)
- Aspect Ratio: Full Screen (Standard) 1.33:1 Color
- Dolby Digital Stereo
Average Customer Review: 1 Reviews
Write an online review and share your thoughts with others.


text: The kids are back in school, summer is officially over in my mind, and I catch myself reflecting…was the summer endless, boring, busy, fun? I always come to the same realization; we were blessed, we traveled, read books, swam in beautiful pools and oceans, enjoyed great restaurants and many warm summer nights. We made s'mores on the patio, we were fortunate to score tickets to see Hamilton on Broadway. We snuck in a getaway to Asbury Park, movies on the beach, farmers markets, baseball games, everything that screams summer. Then suddenly I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. Why this year did it seem so easy, comfortable, enjoyable? Part of the reason was everyone is independent – my kids have jobs, and as we all move forward the days of planning constant activities are over for me. I will forever cherish the summers we had together and the part I have played in my kid's lives. My oldest will be leaving for college next summer and I cannot comprehend what that means for us who are left home. Probably a very quiet household, as she is our spirited, loud, and engaging daughter who helps keep the dinner conversation flowing. I'm thinking we might need an exchange student to stand-in in her absence. Even though the temperature is still in the 90's here and the pool is open for one more week, I feel a longing for fall as I do every year. Dreaming of sweaters, football, red wine and cool fall nights on the patio.


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About Us
SMITH/Associates LLC provides highly skilled professionals to work with your team, utilizing emerging technologies to achieve enhanced, measurable results.
More than 20 years ago, SMITH began as a sole proprietorship focused primarily on facilitating partnering sessions associated with large, complex projects. Our focus on helping clients work better together drew us into more integrated consulting and problem solving services. More recently, our entrepreneurial spirit and adaptability enabled us to expand our services to include geospatial services and customized programming to meet clients' emergent needs.
Our Story
SMITH/Associates was founded in 1994 by David and Patti Smith to help people and organizations work together better by building and strengthening relationships. Our team of highly qualified professionals possess skills a wide range of disciplines including Advisory & Assistance, GIS, Environmental Consulting, Public Affairs, Housing Assistance, and General Program Management and Performance Analysis. SMITH/Associates is committed to working with our clients and the community to provide opportunities for creating solid working teams and sharing information.
With over 20 years of experience, we have developed a deep understanding of advisory and assistance services and cultivated an extensive global network. Combining this operational understanding with our small business sense of urgency, we offer strategic solutions including teaming with some the best specialty firms the country has to offer. Our recent success stands in large part on our ability to work well as a team player with clients and other companies.
Effective, proactive communications is at the heart of SMITH/Associates' service offering.
We focus on recognizing both the technical and perceptual issues surrounding a subject and tailoring a simple, yet comprehensive message to a diverse audience. SMITH/Associates provides expertise in the communication process and expertise in the understanding of complex human relationships. Our experience with public outreach allows us to utilize strategic communications to plan and execute campaigns tailored to target audiences, and to understand strategic guidance to ensure military and civilian public affairs protocol and messaging is consistent.
Patricia Muller-Smith
Frank Muller
Sherry Gribbon
Executive Assistant to CEO
Scott Trotter
VP SMITH - Federal Solutions


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Individuals who suffer from low self-esteem struggle to find happiness away from their addiction. This is because their lack of self-worth will prevent them from putting any right effort into improving their life. Often times, deep down addicts do not feel that they are worth such effort.
Addiction and Self-Esteem
One of the characteristics of an addictive personality is low self-esteem. This sense of low self-worth drives people into addiction in the first place. Initially, alcohol or drugs can make people feel more confident. It also reduces their concern about what other people think. For the substance abusers, this improvement in self-esteem is short-lived. The person becomes addicted, and their problems worsen. One way that alcoholics describe the situation is to say that alcohol gave me wings but then it took away the sky. Once the individual begins the downward spiral of addiction, their self-esteem sinks to new depths.
Self-Esteem in Recovery
If people continue to suffer from low self-esteem issues after they become sober, it will affect their ability to find happiness. Their recovery will not feel satisfactory, and they will suffer from the temptation to return to the numbness of addiction. A life away from alcohol and drugs is full of possibilities, but only if the individual values themselves highly enough to put in the necessary effort. If people are prepared to settle for just being away from alcohol or drugs, they may just end up as a dry drunk.
How to Increase Self-Esteem in Recovery
Self-esteem is not a fixed part of an individual's personality. Patients can increase their own sense of self-worth. Here are some ways people can increase their own self esteem:
- Helping other addicts in recovery can be a wonderful way to increase self-esteem. This may give addicts the sense that they are of value because they are contributing to a cause. It also moves the focus away from themselves and onto other people.
- In AA (Alcohol Anonymous) they often say that sometimes you have to 'fake it to make it'. This means that people can deliberately make themselves have positive thoughts. In the beginning, this might all feel a bit unnatural, but it eventually becomes automatic. It is just like any other habit that people can develop.
- Addicts can begin to monitor their negative thoughts and challenge them. For example, if they believe that another person does not like them, they can ask themselves how they know this. Has that other person actually done something that proves this belief? Is this assumption based on attempts at mind reading? It is probably not possible to know what other people think, so there is no point in assuming the worst. By constantly challenging their negative thoughts, the individual is able to deal with them better.
- Meditation can be a wonderful technique for increasing self-esteem. It involves deliberately cultivating love for other people. In order to develop this sense of loving kindness, the individual has to first accept who they are and place a high value on this. Mindfulness meditation can also be a good way of monitoring the negative thinking that causes low self-esteem.
- A gratitude journal is a good way to focus on the positives in life. This involves writing about all the good things in life. There will always be positive things to appreciate for those who are prepared to look. By focusing on being deliberately grateful, a person will develop the habit of doing so naturally.


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MONDAY, Aug. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Simple steps can help you protect your home from health dangers big and small.
Here are four tips to get you started:
It can't be said often enough: Proactively change the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Don't wait until you hear the chirping signal. Set a yearly reminder, such as on your birthday. Also, test the devices monthly as they can wear out over time.
Dirt and neglect can erode your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning) system's efficiency and lead to failure. Changing filters as needed keeps dirt from building up. Check them monthly, especially during high-usage winter and summer months, and change them whenever they look dirty or at least every three months. This is especially important if someone in the house has allergies or asthma.
Now move into the kitchen. Though sponges are more economical and environmentally friendly than paper towels, they can quickly teem with bacteria. Popular approaches to try to kill germs off have included zapping the sponge in the microwave, putting it in the dishwasher with a high heat drying cycle, or disinfecting with a solution of concentrated bleach and water. But a study published in Scientific Reports found that this can make the problem worse -- weaker strains of bacteria that were killed left room for stronger strains to multiply. When your sponge (or any dishcloth) starts to smell bad, replace it.
Even if you have designated cutting boards for meat and produce, they still need proper care. You must wash cutting boards after each use, place in the dishwasher or sanitize with a bleach solution. But once they develop deep hard-to-clean grooves, especially problematic with plastic boards, bacteria can thrive. At this point, even rigorous cleaning might not be enough -- you'll need to replace the board. If you're shopping for new boards, consider bamboo, which is harder and less porous than the more common hardwoods used for this kitchen essential.
More information
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service has more tips on cutting board safety.
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text: The Japanese TV station MBS has started airing the first commercial for the upcoming 'Danganronpa The Animation' TV anime series, that will premiere in Japan this July. The commercial features narration by the character Monokuma, played by Nobuyo Oyama. The anime is set adapt Spike Chunsoft's PlayStation Portable title of the same name. The animes story will follow a group of high school students, who each bare an exceptional talent but are trapped inside a school and that in order to escape they must kill another student without getting caught. After a murder takes place, the remaining students must deduce who the killer is with their lives on the line. The team leading the development will include Seiji Kishi as director, Makoto Uezu handling the series composition and scripts, and Lerche will be animating the project.


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What is the difference between warrants and options? Is there a difference?
Warrants and stock options are similar in that they are both contractual rights to buy stock of a company, at a price fixed in the contract, and for the period specified in the contract. However, warrants and options are typically thought of and referred to differently for a number of reasons.
The primary reason that they are thought of and referred to differently is that stock options are typically associated with compensatory services while warrants are typically associated with investment transactions.
For example, an employee or consultant would typically receive stock options. An investor in a convertible note and warrant round would typically receive warrants.
A compensatory options typically has a completely different contractual look and feel than an investment warrant. For example, a compensatory option is usually awarded under an equity incentive plan, and the option agreement is governed by the plan; the compensatory option will usually have vesting, and repurchase rights on termination of service. A warrant won't come granted under an equity incentive plan, and typically does not come with vesting.
In addition, the tax differences between a compensatory stock option and an investment warrant are dramatically different.
Questions and Answers
I am frequently asked the following question: Can a service provider receive a warrant in connection with the provision of services?
The short answer is yes, but it is important to keep in mind that a warrant received in connection with the performance of services will be taxed just like a compensatory stock option.
In other words, unless the warrant qualifies under the incentive stock option rules (which it likely would not) the following apply:
- to avoid adverse tax consequences under Section 409A, the warrant would generally must have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the underlying stock on the date of grant;
- upon exercise, the excess of the fair market value of the shares received over the exercise price would be taxed as ordinary compensation income;
- if the recipient was an employee, upon exercise income and employment tax withholding would be required; and
- if the service provider was an independent contractor and not an employee, the income, although not subject to income and employment tax withholding, would probably have to be reported to the IRS on a Form 1099.
A warrant is not taxed as described above if received in connection with an investment or a loan and not in connection with the provision of services. There is generally no tax owed as a result of the exercise of a non-compensatory warrant. However, depending on the circumstances in which the warrant is received, there can be tax owed before the warrant is exercised.
For example, a warrant issued in connection with a note will be considered to give rise to original issue discount, which is generally required to be taken into income over the term of the note. You should consult with a tax advisor about any warrants received in connection with an investment to determine the correct tax treatment.


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There are several ways to integrate Dash within your website to make registration easier for customers. You can add the Dash Online Login page and embed customized Program Finders so customers can view and filter through your catalog of program offerings. Your website can also display Location, Season, and or Level Schedules as well as post the League Standings for public viewing. All of these update dynamically when employees/users make changes in the Dash Console (Admin side). You can also see visits to your company Dash Online using Google Analytics.
- Dash Online Login Link
- Program Finder
- Location Schedules
- Season/Level Schedule
- League Standings
- Google Analytics
To add the Dash Online link to your website, add the following HTML:
Customer Login
Note: you will need to change companycode to be your own company code (ID used to login to Dash Console).
Example: The code Customer Login will result in a link that displays: Customer Login
This Dash Online start page will show your Company News and Facebook Feed.
Customers can view start date, day of the week, time, program details, availability (register, join or waitlist).
You can add the program finder to your website with the following html:
- Copy this link below and be sure to replace YOUR_Company_ID within the URL.
- Go to the page within your website where you would like the schedule to appear.
- (optional) Click the change button and select which facility you want to show and click the search button.
- Copy the URL in your browser. Should look something like
- Optionally add "&filters=0" if you don't want user to change the date.
- Add the following html src to your website
You can add league or season schedules to your external website so users don't have to login to see them.
Add the following html to your website:

* Your league ID's are listed on your Level Settings page in Dash
To include league standings on your website using an iframe:
- In Dash, go to the league standings page for your facility (replace YOUR_COMPANY_CODE with the text you enter on the DASH login page for the Company field)
- https://apps.dashplatform.com/dash/?Action=leagues&cid=YOUR_COMPANY_CODE&noheader=true
- Select a Location and Season under the Search Options panel and verify that the standings are displaying as expected.
- Copy the following HTML and paste it on your website where you want the standings to display:

Replace URL_HERE with the URL from your browser that is open to the league standings page from above; you may optionally add &filters=false to hide the Search Options panel and &nav=false to hide the Navigation links.
Complete Example

The above HTML would show this on your website:
With Google Analytics you can link your Dash Online to view customer web traffic, transactions, and revenue collected through Dash Online.
Give Google a day to catch up, and then you'll start to see your customer's online purchases show up in your account, categorized by GL Code.
You can also track the effectiveness of your Constant Contact email campaigns to determine if they result in Ecommerce conversions. (<- Click for more info)


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Jason Aldean's face is ready to stop some hockey pucks.
Eddie Pasquale, a goalie for the Syracuse Crunch—a minor league hockey affiliate of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lighting—donned a new mask last week that featured images of Jason and Canadian country singer Gord Bamford.
Eddie is a Toronto native and longtime country music fan.
The mask was created by artist Jason Livery of Head Strong Grafx. Check it out below.
photo by Jason Livery of Head Strong Grafx


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Welcome to BACK2MYROOTS B2MR:
I would like to try and cover some points that relate to high lighting, with the various products available to us! when we think High lights we are naturally drawn to thinking Blonde. Consider adding more natural tone sand shades . Mixing low lights and high lights.
It seems as I monitor key search words that the most searched topic's that come up are always relating to issues around blonde hair highlights bleach and tone.The other key search being searches on all topic's related to the colour wheel the law's of colour controlling pigment shade and tone.
I hope that although a topic written on many times this is of help and pushes some buttons regarding process and techniques skill and understanding.
In am fortunate that I get to meet so many salons and so to meet some very talent stylist and colour technicians. I like to watch techniques hang out with technician chatting about techniques and products. Always trying to discover a stylist's favourite. what is the current chosen product. Many use foils some use easy mesh. I use a waxed paper that does not need to be folded and will not allow bleeding as much as some other products might during the process time and as the product expands. A thing that can happen with foil easy mesh or many of the products available to us, especially if to much product applied and or if heat is introduced.
One of the biggest thing I observe with highlight is the neatness of sections the folding of the foils the care taken attention to detail. Those being foil placement formulation application. The patients of many really good colourist is to be admired. But we also have to consider the evenness of the weave desired thick fine ect. The cleanness of section.The application of product. oh and formulation.
We have to remember that when taking section we are not working on a flat surface it's curved so we have to structure out sectioning pattern to accommodate this plain.
However there are always the slack untidy get them in get them out jobs to! consider all the curves as indicated below.
Lets take some time to reflect and review on sectioning and placement :
My question is on sectioning it's hard to write about i wish i had a way to draw on screen any way here goes.
I have in past blogs articles made reference to not being able to cut a straight line on a curved surface the same is so of highlighting sections!
when we work up the side of the head in nice neat sections we are working on a curve! so it follows if we pull the foil in tight to the section the middle will be right into the root leaving distance from root at either end! if we pull one end in the other will move out ! its the curve.
The same can be said for working a T section if we start at the hair line and work toward the crown we are working on another curve so the same applies. as we pull the foil in as close as possible only a small part will pull right in a space will be at each end.
The below although for cutting indicates well the sections and angles discussed.
How do we get round this? By working in sections from the hairline in always sectioning to create a flat plain and by brick laying sections staggering them if you do this you will always get to the roots.
take time think about that curve adjust your sections it will make the work of difference to you!
Look at those roots that re-growth consider formulation how you are going to run your colour to deal with root issue. Try not to over lap any bleach! decide on your weave pattern. Discuss with your client the look .Highlights thick streaks fine weave high light and low lights final goal!
How do your Highlights stack up ! maybe you should take a little more time with placement sectioning foil placement!
I speak from experience I used to book highlights back to back i could weave full head in just over half an hour. Would I do this now 'No' it's not the way to work to do things or get the best results.
Also a useful link for the papers: http://www.sparenity.com/
Hope these tip helps to some degree. Feed back and comments are always welcome on content and or future topic's it helps keep things current.
Mike B2MR


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I want to convey and discuss how deeply biological I believe our humanity is and to start off this task, I think a narrative of exemplars from my life's learning can provide important context. This begins with reading the work of Susanne Langer in college and thereafter; her writings focused on symbolization and art, then moved on to the biology of mind in her three volume magnum opus, Mind: An Essay on Human Feeling. From there I became interested in linguistics, especially psycholinguistics, so that I read Chomsky, the many who carried forth his ideas about grammar, and David McNeil, Lev Vygotsky and many others who extended this focus on child development. This led to my gaining my M.S. in speech and language pathology and developing even further my interest in language and brain. Thus, as I worked with children with language learning disorders, I read more linguistics and began a survey of the great brain scientists of the day, Luria, Pribram, Jackson, and many others, including Norman Geschwind.
I had the good fortune to attend a conference he organized and spoke at during this time. Given the brain science of today, it seems eerie to remember that prior to Dr. Geschwind's work in the late 60s/early 70s, many if not most neurologists believed that the two cerebral hemispheres were virtually identical. Dr. Geschwind told us that he took a 6 inch rule down to the basement where brains were preserved for study and measured the plenum temporale (one nexus for language processing) in this sample and showed that the hemispheres were indeed quite different. Of course we know today that lateralization differences appear throughout the different levels of the nervous system in humans and other animals.
I took something of a break from language and brain and pursued my Ph.D. in clinical psychology. I had planned on specializing in neuropsychology but both my graduate program and clinical internship lost key faculty and resources in this area and I became interested in the more severe psychopathology evident in children and adolescents. This led to learning more about attachment and trauma and this led me back to understanding brain development and the impact of experience during the sensitive maturational period and later on in adulthood. Another myth fell by the way as I learned that contrary to what I had been taught over two episodes of graduate school, neurons continue to be created well into adulthood.
Finally I have had the pleasure most recently to delve back into aesthetics, the philosophy of mind and brain science with a renewed focus on the biological roots of humanity. This means to me to learn about psychology not as a social science but as a biological one, to assess philosophical thinking in terms of its understanding of mind as organic rather than machine, and to muse at the incredible and not always beautiful variety of human thinking, action, and culture. It also means taking stock of human religious or, better, spiritual experience and of the reductionistic materialism of some, even most, good science. Both spiritual and scientific experience place a premium on our ignorance: of our poor understanding of the origins of life and mind, of our lack of knowledge about the universe, its origins, its inclusion of dark matter, and what a difference the scale of measurement makes, and finally, as William James endeavored over a century ago, what to make of the varieties of religious experience. I have the good fortune to live during a time when such questions are meaningful and intellectual freedom permits such enquiries for the most part.
An important assumption here, as trivial as it may seem, is that humans are animals. If you listen to how many others address this matter, you will frequently hear about "humans and animals," even in scientific discourse about "studies in humans and animals." The missing word "other" here is a logical necessity in my mind. I do not think people say they are going to buy or to study "apples and fruit" in quite the same way. Separating ourselves from the rest of the animal kingdom seems a normal enough reaction to our symbolic capacity with its consequences for our consciousness, art, science and engineering. Separating ourselves from the animal kingdom seems to me a religious error and the source of a rationalization used in justifying slavery, racism, sexism, cruelty and other inhumane acts.
However, kinship cannot be denied, especially today when genetic science shows how completely all of life on this planet is related. Going further, consider the story recently about a scuba diver leading a group of underwater tourists to watch stingrays off the Hawaiian coast. He noticed a dolphin swimming with difficulty around the humans. When he went away from his group, the dolphin approached him and exposed his difficulty, fishing hooks and lines entangled tightly around his fins preventing normal locomotion. The diver took out some diving tools (well prepared wasn't he?) and began to cut the lines and try to extract the hooks. The dolphin not only permitted this but cooperated with it, at one point swimming to the surface for a breath and then returning for the diver to finish the job. A similar story is told of a whale who when freed from entangling net and ropes by divers swam around experiencing its regained freedom and then went and tapped each diver's mask with its beak.
What is salient here is that the dolphin did not go to the stingrays seeking help and that he permitted a human with sharp tools and pliers to cut away at line and remove a hook. The whale did not thank the divers' hands but their faces. Even more than the prosocial, as we term it today, behaviors and engagement of the animals involved, I am fascinated by the connection between them, most assuredly a mental one, an empathic communication and establishment of some level of trust. Cetaceans have also evolved social and thinking brains and more will be said of this later, but consider this thought experiment. Tuna fisherman used to use nets that also captured and killed dolphins. Public outcry led to the development of different net designs and fishing practices to minimize this unwanted consequence. Thinking about this, placing oneself in the dolphin's 'shoes' so to speak, finding oneself captured in a net with a bunch of tuna, 'dumb' fish you eat, in their situation, you work your way through the panicked mass and find yourself trapped by the net. The tuna struggle and exhaust themselves against the net to escape, but you, the dolphin can appraise the situation differently. You can see their futility and you can see the blue depths beyond where your freedom lies. Maybe you can seek the net opening to escape; more likely you will expire by drowning, understanding that freedom lies not in the struggle with the net but in the blue depths beyond. This is an anthropomorphic projection, I know, but not that far really from what cetacean understanding must be. Humanity depends upon such things.


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First, make a plan…
…there was Gil Elvgren, the king of pin-ups. And just like Photoshop, he didn't always succeed in making girls prettier: Gil Elvgren's Real Life References.
It's like chocolate and bacon. No, it's like kittens and boobs. No, it's like Grannies and Obama. Anyway, it's one very good thing combined with another. It's Hugh Laurie and the Blues!
The album, "Let Them Talk", will be released in May – here's one of the songs to look forward to:
I wonder whether this will also be on it:
The BBC lets you assess your musicality in a quite extensive test (Registration required). It was fun but my results are a bit strange:
I got 98% in "Musical Perception" even though I got all of the genre matching snippets wrong. I mean, literally all of them. 15 out of 18 in the "match the beat" section and moderate results in the "tap the beat" test. 12/12 in melody memory was enough to still arrive at 98% overall…so I guess everybody who's not deaf is a Beethoven for the BBC. Very nice of them.
Now for the bad part of the test: my "emotional connection", "enthusiasm" and "curiosity" scores are dismal – 1%, 1% and 2%, respectively. Doesn't that sound terrible? I have to admit it's true, I just don't like music that much. I love my Christmas present though.
(I wonder whether there are people who get the reverse – 1% in perception, 99% in enthusiasm. They are probably very lonely. UPDATE: I think I found one!)
Their rail system may not live up to European standards, but boy, Americans really are obsessed with trains. You know what causes this love? It's not an extensive network, it's not high speed, it's not accurate timing, it's not working A/Cs, it's: Horns, or, to use the technical term, choo choooo! Listen to this Amtrak train passing trough Oakland on its way to or from Berkeley. We can hear them every day where we live. In fact, I can hear one right now!
There's a whole genre of American music that consists of train imitation. Start out with this very simple, very skilfull example from 1926 – if you're DeFord Bailey, you don't need more than a harp:
Choo-choo and rhythm can be done in many different ways, here's some of my favorites:
Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues is missing the Choo-choo, but it has great rhythm and gangsta lyrics to make up for that ("I shot a man in Reno / Just to watch him die"). Can you imagine this train stopping because there's some ice or snow on the tracks? I don't think so! Johnny Cash really Had a Thing About Trains, liked Riding The Rail, wanted you to Come Along And Ride This Train, whether it's the Bible Train or the Orange Blossom Special (that one is a typical imitation including choo and rhythm) – and finished it up with the very sad Let The Train Blow Her Whistle.
I also like the Mystery Train:
Bob Dylan's wonderful version of the Freight Train Blues:
And the Chattanooga Choo Choo:
Wikipedia offers this extensive (but not complete) list of train songs. It's missing the only German train song that I can think of (maybe for the better)…the other one is of course a cover version of the aforementioned Chattanooga. The lack of train music is probably due to the fact that German trains don't choo-chooo. Maybe the Deutsche Bahn should invest in some decent horns?


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Sell your used and broken iPhone 5S with a GizmoGrind Trade in
Trade In Your IPhone 5S
Get A Quote
iPhone 5S
iPhone 5s
Weighing only 112grams with smaller dimensions of 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm (4.87 x 2.31 x 0.30 in), we could safely say that this was one of Apple's compact devices. iPhone 5s accepts a Nano-SIM and has unique display features including the LED backlit, 4.0 inches screen size and a screen resolution of 640x1136 pixels. This multitouch device comes with a protective corning Gorilla glass and oleophobic coating.
iPhone 5s runs on iOS 7 and comes with an internal memory of 16GB and 1GB RAM DDR3. Its 29mm primary camera has a resolution of 8 Megapixels compared to the 31mm secondary camera with only 1.2 Megapixels. The device also has different sensors including fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro and proximity sensors.
iPhone 5s has a non-removable Li-Po 1560 mAh battery that allows the device to stay on stand-by for up to 250h. The device was created in colors space gray, white/silver and gold.


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OTP Quiz of the Week 9
With a top goalscorers theme…
1. Who was the top scorer in the first Premier League season?
2. Four of the top twelve all time PL top scorers still play in the Premier League. Name them?
3. What is strange about the top two scorers in the German, English, Spanish and French leagues?
4. Who was the Golden Boot winner when England won the World Cup in 1966?
5. How many goals did Gary Lineker score when he won the Golden Boot in 1986?
6. Since the turn of the millennium only one Englishman has been top scorer in the PL. Name him?
7. Who was the last top scorer in La Liga to be Spanish? (Clue: 2007/8 season)
8. Gary Lineker is England's top World Cup goalscorer. Who are 2nd and 3rd on that list?
9. Three players shared the Golden Boot in the 1997/8 Premier League. Name two of them?
10. What is the name of the Dover Athletic player who is top scorer in this season's FA Cup?
Name the top three PL scorers for the following teams:
11. Aston Villa
12. Nottingham Forest
13. Blackburn Rovers
14. Chelsea
15. Newcastle United
1. Teddy Sheringham
2. Michael Owen, Frank Lampard, Robbie Keane, Nicolas Anelka
3. None of them are German, Spanish, English or French
4. Eusebio
5. Six goals
6. Kevin Phillips
7. Daniel Guiza
8. Michael Owen and Bobby Charlton
9. Dion Dublin, Michael Owen and Chris Sutton
10. Adam Birchall
11. Dwight Yorke, Dion Dublin and Gabriel Agbonlahor
12. Bryan Roy, Stan Collymore and Stuart Pearce
13. Alan Shearer, Chris Sutton and Kevin Gallacher
14. Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
15. Alan Shearer, Peter Beardsley and Andy Cole


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So, I think there are two kinds of people in this world: those who like surprises, and those who do not. Guess which I am?
Yes, yes, I love surprises. And so, tonight, it is my absolute (and unexpected!) joy to share a very, very beautiful and fun surprise with you. I thought I was going to be posting about the unexpected joy of order tonight, but God (and my sweet friend Meg) had other ideas.
I will not apologize in advance, but I will warn you: a sizable photo dump ensues from the marvelous spiritual art care package I received via snail mail mere minutes ago. I knew I was in for a treat when I saw the return address label:
I haven't known Miss Meg for very long, but she messaged me when she saw my "Life is Beautiful" post on FB, I believe. Meg wrote to tell me that she was so moved by my words that she wanted to offer me a gift from her shop to commemorate my birthday. I thought she was so very sweet. And then I plum forgot to follow up with her on her offer. How very me of me.
Anyway, we did finally connect, and I was so impressed by the items I received (The Memorare, below, as well as The Hail Mary Prayer and ABCs) that I asked her if she'd be interested in collaborating for the (at the time) upcoming Catholic Women Rejoice conference.
Thankfully, she said, "Yes," and not only created the cover art for our program, she provided signed mini-prints of the cover art for each of our attendees!
I was so impressed by Meg's generosity of spirit, her humility, and her openness to the promptings of the Holy Spirit that I invited her to work with me on next year's conference, too. I can't wait to see what she comes up with!
Anyway, back to the care package … I was like a kid in a candy store – ripping at the package:
I knew Meg was working on a Liturgical calendar, and … she sent it!!
I'm planning on sharing more about the calendar itself next week, so you'll just have to wait. 🙂 However, in true Meg form, she sent other amazing goodies as well! Here's the front view:
And the back view:
And close-ups, clockwise from the upper left!
Flowers/St. Faustina quote bookmark:
Houses/Mother Angelica quote bookmark:
Butterflies+flowers/C.S. Lewis Humility quote bookmark:
Geometric stained glass/Divine Mercy (Diary of St. Faustina quote) bookmark:
Periwinkle+leaves flowers/Edith Stein bookmark:
Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas for a Holy Life card
Fortitude card:
And, last but not least, an Act of Consecration card with Miraculous Medal:
It is so wonderful to see someone with such amazing gifts using those gifts to glorify God and to encourage others. I was just overwhelmed by the generosity and beauty before me … and simply humbled.
Please go check out my friend's shop. I promise you won't be disappointed, whether you purchase a gift for yourself or for someone else.
Until tomorrow, may God bless y'all with abundant joy.
PS – BTW, Meg neither asked for nor knows that I'm writing this post, but I hope that an uptick in her orders by generous souls such as yourself will make her glad that I did. 😉 –hr


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Things have gotten in the way of me posting my 2 Year Blogiversary Week posts these past two days. Couple a group project due Saturday at 11:59 pm, with and unfortunate experience Friday afternoon that resulted in me now being out a backpack, pair of jeans, jacket, iPod, all of my makeup, school books, etc, and I'm sure you can understand why I've had to go MIA. That being said – I'll be back with a post tomorrow night. And please, enter my giveaway – so far we only have 16 entries, so your chances of winning that $60 CSN Stores shopping spree is pretty damn good.
I'm now off to read non-school related literature to clear my brain and relax. Night!


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AKTU previous known as UPTU, Asia biggest university with around 900 engineering and management colleges. Dr. APJ AKTU Lucknow Noida Campus Admission process conducted through entrance examination UPSEE 2017 and its application form filling last date was 20th March 2017. The total number of seats in MBA and MCA courses for session 2017-18 is 45000 in which 40000 of MBA and 5000 of MCA but only 15,571 candidates are applying to these course through UPSEE 2017. By this news, we can say that more than 60% seat of MBA MCA in AKTU 2017-18 will remain empty like previous years.
Number of Candidate Fill UPSEE 2017 for MBA MCA CoursePosted by Suraj Saini in: Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University Dr. APJ AKTU Dr. APJ AKTU Admission
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|My December ORTS next to a pink Mini Needlecase WIP.
|The little blue and fawn thread catcher was
made a few years ago, and hasn't really
been used it for its proper use, until now!
|The little elastic loop on the side of the thread catcher loops
over a button on the side of
the main needlecase (see last photo on this page).
|Quite a collection of ORTs!
i.e. all my cuttings for the last month!
|My travel sewing kit with matching
needlecase and thread catcher
That's it for today! If you are new to my blog, I hope you can spare the time to have a look around - I hope you find something you might be interested in, and that you will return to visit me another day!
If you leave a comment I will be able to visit you too! And maybe we can become buddies!


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Spartan Brotherly Love: Spotlight on MSU Athletes
Anyone who's ever played on a sports team knows how close teammates can become over the course of a season. The group begins to feel like family. On the MSU football team this year, that comradery is especially true for six athletes – three sets of brothers. The Panasiuks, the Dowells, and the Allens are three MSU football families kicking ass this season, and maybe stirring up a little brotherly competition as well.
Freshman Jacob Panasiuk has big shoes to fill as he joins his brother, sophomore Mike Panasiuk, on the MSU defensive squad this season. During his freshman year, Mike was selected to the All-Big Ten Freshman honorable mention team, and played in every game. His raw talent won him a starting spot for the last three games of the season, with a star moment against Ohio State when he had seven tackles and half a sack. The pair of Panasiuk brothers are from Roselle, Illinois; and coming into MSU, were ranked among the top defensive prospects. This season it will be exciting to see if Mike can continue his success at MSU, and if Jacob can contribute his own talents to a young MSU defense.
Another pair of brothers dueling it out on the field this season are fraternal twins: Redshirt sophomore David Dowell and junior Andrew Dowell. Andrew has had huge success and is the star linebacker for the second year in a row. Ranked fourth on the 2016 team in total tackles, he returns to the field with brother David, who's vying for a starting spot at safety. This incredibly athletic pair comes from North Ridgeville, Ohio. Let's hope for another season of Dowell domination!
Last but certainly not least are the Allen brothers, redshirt freshman Matt and senior captain Brian. Matt will compete for playing time on the offensive line this season. Not only is Brian a preseason All-Big Ten first team selection, but he has also been recognized for his success in the classroom as a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. Brian's name is already in the running for national defensive awards, such as the Rimington Trophy and the Outland Trophy. Brian enters his final season as a Spartan as captain alongside teammate Chris Frey. The Allen brothers, from Hinsdale Illinois, have a lot to offer in both talent and leadership this 2017 season.
Best of luck in the 2017 season, Spartans!
Emily Jenkins is a sophomore student majoring in professional writing and comparative cultures and politics, and minoring in Spanish. She is a crossword puzzle enthusiast and a soup lover, and she adores gorillas.
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Tags: athletes, college football, football players, MSU, msu athletes, spartan football, spartan football players, spartans


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How Vinegar Affects Digestion
But beyond that possibility, there appear to be more tangible and realistic--albeit less sensational--ways that vinegar can help the body heal. Rather than being the dramatic blockbuster cure that we are endlessly (and fruitlessly) searching for, vinegar seems quite capable of playing myriad supporting roles--as part of an overall lifestyle approach--that can indeed help us fight serious health conditions, such as osteoporosis, diabetes, and heart disease.
Increasing Calcium Absorption
If there is one thing vinegar fans, marketers, alternative therapists, and scientists alike can agree on, it's that vinegar is high in acetic acid. And acetic acid, like other acids, can increase the body's absorption of important minerals from the foods we eat. Therefore, including apple cider vinegar in meals or possibly even drinking a mild tonic of vinegar and water (up to a tablespoon in a glass of water) just before or with meals might improve your body's ability to absorb the essential minerals locked in foods.
©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
Vinegar can help people absorb
calcium from their vegetables.
Dark, leafy greens are good sources of calcium, but some of these greens also contain compounds that inhibit calcium absorption. Fortunately for dairy-deprived women (and even those who do drink milk), a few splashes of vinegar or a tangy vinaigrette on their greens may very well allow them to absorb more valuable calcium. Don't you wish all medications were so tasty?
Controlling Blood Sugar Levels
Vinegar has recently won attention for its potential to help people with type 2 diabetes get a better handle on their disease. Improved control could help them delay or prevent such complications as blindness, impotence, and a loss of feeling in the extremities that may necessitate amputation. Also, because people with diabetes are at increased risk for other serious health problems, such as heart disease, improved control of their diabetes could potentially help to ward off these associated conditions, as well.
With type 2 diabetes, the body's cells become resistant to the action of the hormone insulin. The body normally releases insulin into the bloodstream in response to a meal. Insulin's job is to help the body's cells take in the glucose, or sugar, from the carbohydrates in food, so they can use it for energy. But when the body's cells become insulin resistant, the sugar from food begins to build up in the blood, even while the cells themselves are starving for it. (High levels of insulin tend to build up in the blood, too, because the body releases more and more insulin to try to transport the large amounts of sugar out of the bloodstream and into the cells.)
Over time, high levels of blood sugar can damage nerves throughout the body and otherwise cause irreversible harm. So one major goal of diabetes treatment is to normalize blood sugar levels and keep them in a healthier range as much as possible. And that's where vinegar appears to help.
It seems that vinegar may be able to inactivate some of the digestive enzymes that break the carbohydrates from food into sugar, thus slowing the absorption of sugar from a meal into the bloodstream. Slowing sugar absorption gives the insulin-resistant body more time to pull sugar out of the blood and thus helps prevent the blood sugar level from rising so high. Blunting the sudden jump in blood sugar that would usually occur after a meal also lessens the amount of insulin the body needs to release at one time to remove the sugar from the blood.
A study cited in 2004 in the American Diabetes Association's publication Diabetes Care indicates that vinegar holds real promise for helping people with diabetes. In the study, 21 people with either type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance (a prediabetes condition) and eight control subjects were each given a solution containing five teaspoons of vinegar, five teaspoons of water, and one teaspoon of saccharin two minutes before ingesting a high-carbohydrate meal. The blood sugar and insulin levels of the participants were measured before the meal and 30 minutes and 60 minutes after the meal.
Vinegar increased overall insulin sensitivity 34 percent in the study participants who were insulin-resistant and 19 percent in those with type 2 diabetes. That means their bodies actually became more receptive to insulin, allowing the hormone to do its job of getting sugar out of the blood and into the cells. Both blood sugar and blood insulin levels were lower than normal in the insulin-resistant participants, which is more good news. Surprisingly, the control group (who had neither diabetes nor a prediabetic condition but were given the vinegar solution) also experienced a reduction in insulin levels in the blood. These findings are significant because, in addition to the nerve damage caused by perpetually elevated blood sugar levels, several chronic conditions, including heart disease, have been linked to excess insulin in the blood over prolonged periods of time.
More studies certainly need to be done to confirm the extent of vinegar's benefits for type 2 diabetes patients and those at risk of developing this increasingly common disease. But for now, people with type 2 diabetes might be wise to talk with their doctors or dietitians about consuming more vinegar.
Replacing Unhealthy Fats and Sodium
As you'll discover in chapter four, there are some delicious varieties of vinegar available. Each bestows a different taste or character to foods. The diversity and intensity of flavor are key to one important healing role that vinegar can play. Whether you are trying to protect yourself from cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or stroke, or you have been diagnosed with one or more of these conditions and have been advised to clean up your diet, vinegar should become a regular cooking and dining companion. That's because a tasty vinegar can often be used in place of sodium and/or ingredients high in saturated or trans fats to add flavor and excitement to a variety of dishes.
©2006 Publications International, Ltd.
Adding vinegar to vegetables tastes great and actually
makes them healthier, unlike some other condiments.
You'll find detailed advice about including more vinegar in your diet in chapter four, and you'll discover delicious, good-for-you recipes at the end of the book that put vinegar to use. But the following suggestions will give you some sense of how vinegar can help you create and enjoy a diet that may lower your blood cholesterol and blood pressure and decrease your risks of heart disease and stroke:
- Make a vinegar-based coleslaw rather than a creamy, mayonnaise-based one. Because mayonnaise is made up almost completely of unhealthy fats and cholesterol, this easy switch can dramatically reduce the cholesterol and fat in this popular side dish.
- Enjoy healthier fish and chips. Instead of dipping fish in tartar sauce and drenching fries in salt and ketchup, splash them with a little malt vinegar. (Also consider baking the fish and the potatoes instead of frying them.) Because it contains mayonnaise, tartar sauce is high in unhealthy fats and cholesterol.
- Use vinegar-based salad dressings instead of creamy,mayonnaise-based dressings. Choose or make a flavorful herb salad dressing that contains mostly water, vinegar, and just a touch of oil to help it adhere to your salad veggies.
- Opt for vinegar instead of mayonnaise or other common, bad-fat-laden sandwich spreads to add flavor and moisture to sandwiches.
- When making a dish that contains beans, add a little vinegar near the end of cooking--it will dramatically decrease the amount of salt you'll need. It perks up the flavor of beans without raising your blood pressure.
- You can also use vinegar as a tangy marinade for tenderizing less-fatty cuts of meat. Choosing meat with less fat on the edges and less marbling within is one of the easiest ways to trim unhealthy fats from your diet. Unfortunately, meats that don't have as much marbling tend to be a little tougher. So vinegar can do double duty by adding a dash of zing as it tenderizes.
Some of our strongest natural weapons against cancer and aging are fruits and vegetables. The antioxidants and phytochemicals they contain seem to hold real promise in lowering our risk of many types of cancer. Their antioxidants also help to protect cells from the free-radical damage that is thought to underlie many of the changes we associate with aging. Protected cells don't wear out and need replacing as often as cells that aren't bathed in antioxidants. Scientists think this continual cell replacement may be at the root of aging.
- The U.S. government's 2005 Dietary Guidelines recommend that the average person eat about two cups of fruit and two-and-a-half cups of vegetables every day. One way to add excitement and variety to all those vegetables is to use vinegar liberally as a seasoning.
- Rice vinegar and a little soy sauce give veggies an Asian flavor or can form the base of an Asian coleslaw.
- Red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar can turn boring vegetables into a quick-and-easy marinated-vegetable salad that's ready to grab out of the refrigerator whenever hunger strikes. Just chop your favorite veggies, put them in a bowl with a marinade of vinegar, herbs, and a dash of olive oil, and let them sit for at least an hour. (You don't need much oil to make the marinade stick to the veggies, so go light, and be sure you choose olive oil.)
- Toss chopped vegetables in a vinegar-and-olive-oil salad dressing before loading them on skewers and putting them on the backyard grill. The aroma and flavor will actually have your family asking for seconds -- of vegetables!
- After steaming vegetables, drizzle a little of your favorite vinegar over them instead of adding butter or salt. They'll taste so good, you may never get to the meat on your plate.
Removing Harmful Substances from Produce
Some people are concerned that eating large amounts of fruits and vegetables may lead to an unhealthy consumption of pesticide and other farm-chemical residues. Vinegar can lend a hand here, too. Washing produce in a mixture of water and vinegar appears to help remove certain pesticides, according to the small amount of research that has been published. Vinegar also appears to be helpful in getting rid of harmful bacteria on fruits and vegetables.
To help remove potentially harmful residues, mix a solution of 10 percent vinegar to 90 percent water (for example, mix one cup of white vinegar in nine cups of water). Then, place produce in the vinegar solution, let it soak briefly, and then swish it around in the solution. Finally, rinse the produce thoroughly.
Do not use this process on tender, fragile fruits, such as berries, that might be damaged in the process or soak up too much vinegar through their porous skins.
Some pesticide residues are trapped beneath the waxy coatings that are applied to certain vegetables to help them retain moisture. The vinegar solution probably won't wash those pesticides away, so peeling lightly may be the next best option. Some research suggests that cooking further eliminates some pesticide residue.
Add Flavor, Not Calories
Vinegar contains very few calories--only 25 in half a cup! Compare that to the nearly 800 calories you get in half a cup of mayonnaise, and you have a real fat-fighting food. So if you're looking to lose weight, using vinegar in place of mayonnaise whenever you can will help you make a serious dent in your calorie (and fat) intake.
Vinegar can also help you have your dessert and cut calories, too. Use a splash of balsamic vinegar to bring out the sweetness and flavor of strawberries without any added sugar. Try it on other fruits that you might sprinkle sugar on--you'll be pleasantly surprised at the difference a bit of balsamic vinegar can make. And for a real unexpected treat on a hot summer evening, drizzle balsamic vinegar--instead of high-fat, sugary caramel or chocolate sauce--on a dish of reduced-fat vanilla ice cream. Can't imagine that combination? Just try it.
The Sour That's Really Sweet
Obviously, much more research needs to be done to investigate all of vinegar's healing potential. But even with the evidence available, it's clear that vinegar holds some healing powers. It is not a too-good-to-be-true miracle cure, but it can be used in a variety of ways to enhance your efforts to fight serious, chronic diseases (and as noted in the box on pages 75 and 76, it may lend a healing hand against some common, minor discomforts).
In that sense, vinegar is like many of the other lifestyle adjustments, drugs, and therapies used in our battles against common, chronic, and often life-threatening diseases: It is just one of a variety of important steps that can help us defend ourselves. But unlike many of the other elements that go into treating or preventing disease, vinegar is one you'll certainly enjoy incorporating into your life.
Gayle Povis Alleman, M.S., R.D. is a registered dietitian with a bachelor's degree in traditional nutrition from


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I was running dangerously low on my chocolate stash that I brought back from Belgium so I did the next best thing – I made chocolate truffles! It really isn't as hard to make as long as you keep everything nice and organized in the kitchen. I followed this chocolate truffle recipe which yielded about 50. Trust me, that isn't nearly enough to supply my chocoholic friends and family, let alone myself – so feel free to double up the recipe on my behalf. Enjoy!
Chocolate Truffles
1 cup (237 ml) heavy cream
2 tsp (25 g) granulated sugar (light corn syrup is even better because the truffles keep better. Use it if you have it.)
12 oz (336 g) dark chocolate, I used Callebaut
1 T (14 g) butter
cocoa powder, for coating
finely chopped almonds, for rolling (or any other nuts)
1. Chop that block o' chocolate fine! I like to shave it into small pieces with a serrated knife. If your pieces are too big, they may not melt. Once chopped, put the chocolate in a dry bowl.
2. Pour the cream, sugar and butter into a pot and bring to a boil over high heat.
3. Once boiled, remove from the heat and pour it all at once over the chocolate. If some pieces of chocolate aren't submerged, push them under with a spoon.
4. Let this sit on the counter for a minute. The heat from the cream will penetrate the chocolate and melt it.
5. Now start whisking. To get the best texture, it's important to create a good emulsion. The better the emulsion, the smoother the texture of the truffle will be. Start from the center and whisk fast in small, concentric circles. You can see how the center is getting shiny, and that's a telltale sign that things are going well.
6. Scrape it into another clean bowl, and refrigerate it for a couple of hours, just so the ganache has a chance to harden.
7. When you come back to it a couple of hours later, the surface will have dulled over and that's ok. The texture should be firm but scoopable.
8. Dig the mellon baller into the chocolate and twist, all in one motion. No hesitation.
9. Give the melon baller a good wack or two against the side of a parchment covered sheet pan and the chocolate should pop right out. You can get your bearings with a few practice balls. If they're stubborn, give them a little nudge with a spoon. If some of them look all crazy, you can always roll them between the palms of your hands. But I like them imperfect.
10. Prepare two bowls, one filled with cocoa powder and one with finely chopped nuts for rolling. I used almonds.
11. Roll some of the balls in cocoa powder, and some in the nuts.
12. Enjoy!


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Alumni, Including Emmy Award-Winning Actor Joe Morton, Rally for Hofstra Globe Stage Opening
Hofstra's 68th Annual Shakespeare Festival will be performed the way its founder, Dr. John Cranford Adams, and Shakespeare himself would have envisioned it: on a Globe Stage. Nine years after Hofstra University's historic first Globe Stage was retired, a new one – the most authentic replica in America – will make its debut with the March 2 premiere of Hamlet. This year's Shakespeare Festival also includes This Bud of Love – a one-hour adaptation of Romeo and Juliet – and a concert by the Hofstra Collegium Musicum. Additionally, Hofstra alumnus Joe Morton, the Emmy Award-winning actor currently starring in the ABC series Scandal, will be on campus Monday, March 6, at 7 p.m. to give a free public talk about his experiences in the Shakespeare Festival and about his illustrious career on the stage and in film and television (subject to his professional schedule). Read the Newsday story
March 2-12
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Christopher Dippel
As relevant today as it was over 400 years ago, Hamlet is a revenge tragedy like no other. When Hamlet learns the truth about his father's "foul and most unnatural" death, he reflects on his life – past, present and future; mortal and immortal – and provokes us to do the same.
Show times: Thursday, March, 2, at 8 p.m.; Friday, March 3 and 10, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, March 4 and 11, at 8 p.m.; Sunday, March 5 and 12, at 2 p.m.
Tickets: $12; $10 senior citizen (over 65) or matriculated non-Hofstra student with ID. Two free tickets with current faculty/staff/student HofstraCard.
There will be an opening night reception with refreshments and alumni reminiscences of the Hofstra Shakespeare Festival at the Schaeffer Black Box Theater on Thursday, March 2, at 6 p.m. There will be pieces of the old Hofstra Globe Stage and costumes from past Shakespeare Festivals on display. Tickets to the reception are $25. RSVP at hofstra.edu/globe2017 or call 516-463-5339.
Monday, March 6, 7 p.m.
Shakespeare Signature Speaker: Joe Morton, former Hofstra University student
The noted American actor speaks about his experiences at Hofstra and beyond, including his work in classical theater, contemporary drama, film and television. Current work includes ABC's hit show Scandal and the critically acclaimed Turn Me Loose off-Broadway.
Toni and Martin Sosnoff Theater, John Cranford Adams Playhouse
Free admission.
March 9 and 11
This Bud of Love – A One Hour Romeo and Juliet
by William Shakespeare
Adapted by Maureen McFeely
Directed by Jean Dobie Giebel
This timeless story of star-crossed lovers, whose tragic end reconciles an age-old feud, is an excellent introduction to Shakespeare, suitable for young audiences.
Show times: Thursday, March 9, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, March 11, at 2 p.m. – special performance with The Collegium Musicum, a Hofstra music ensemble devoted to the performance of little-known music of the past, customarily called "Early Music."
Tickets: $6. Two free tickets with current faculty/staff/student HofstraCard.
Hofstra Professor Christopher Dippel, who is directing Hamlet said, "The Hofstra Globe Stage gives us an opportunity to explore Shakespeare's plays the way they were originally presented."
"Playing Hamlet on the Hofstra Globe Stage … it's a big deal and a great honor," said Will Ketter, a junior from Andover, MN, who will be playing the prince of Denmark. "At the same time, that pressure, that responsibility comes with all this help and world of experience from all these wonderful people who came before us – especially William Shakespeare."
Hofstra Drama Professor David Henderson, the designer of this Hofstra Globe Stage reconstruction, spent time abroad in consultation with the archivists and design staff of Shakespeare's Globe in London. He is the only American college professor to have had the opportunity to study the original plans.
The first Hofstra Globe Stage was built in 1951 under the direction of Donald (Doc) Swinney. It was based on the meticulous research of John Cranford Adams, Hofstra's third president and a renowned Shakespearean scholar. It was completed in time for Hofstra's second Shakespeare Festival and erected in the campus gymnasium. The Globe stage was given a permanent home in 1958 in the Hofstra Playhouse (later renamed the John Cranford Adams Playhouse). For many decades, the Shakespeare Festival was presented on this Globe and featured many students who went on to success in the performing arts – Morton, the late Madeline Kahn, Susan Sullivan, Susan H. Schulman, Phil Rosenthal, Tom McGowan, Peter Friedman and Margaret Colin, to name a few.
As Professor Henderson explained in a fall 2016 lecture about his research, the shape of the first Hofstra Globe stage was altered due to fire code, and it became used more sporadically due to age and the strain of building and dismantling it for so many years. But in the end, new research led to the first stage's retirement in 2008.
In 1989 archaeologists in London uncovered the almost-intact foundation of the 16th century Rose Theatre and a partial foundation of the Globe. These discoveries, along with modern imaging techniques and computer analysis of original documents, created a much clearer picture of how the Globe was built, what it may have looked like, and how it functioned. "We wouldn't use a textbook from the 1950s to teach our students today," Professor Henderson said. "The stage is our textbook, or one of our many textbooks. We couldn't continue to train our students on something that doesn't connect to what we now know existed."
The biggest differences in the new Hofstra Globe Stage will be in its shape and more ornate decoration. "Dr. Adams described the interior of the Globe as 'a short row of London houses," said Professor Henderson. "But the people at the London Globe thought why would the inside look like an exterior?" Further research indicates that it is more likely the stage would have had "brilliant jewel colors" and not a Tudor interior.
Not long after Hofstra retired its first Globe Stage, drama alumni began asking if there were plans to build a new one. Lydia Leeds and Peter Garino, both Class of 1977, who performed in the Shakespeare Festival together during their student years, produced a 50-Minute Romeo and Juliet at the University in 2015 to jumpstart the fundraising for the new Hofstra Globe Stage. Alumni Phil and Monica Rosenthal and Toni Sosnoff and her husband Martin gave generous gifts to fund the construction. In addition to fundraising, alumni also found other ways to support the project.
Though construction on major set pieces took place off campus at Cigar Box Studios – an upstate scenery shop that has worked with Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, ESPN and other production companies – assembly and painting took place on campus. Stephanie Stover Ferraioli '06, an adjunct instructor of drama, has overseen the painting of the Hofstra Globe Stage and has been instrumental in rallying other alumni to pitch in. She and Professor Henderson started a Facebook page so alums could follow the construction. "We've had alumni from several decades stop by to see how they could help," said Ferraioli. "A grad from 1978 was the furthest back. Another alumna from 1981 was in town and heard about the project from a former classmate. When her flight home was delayed she decided to come out to campus and pick up a paintbrush to pass the time!"
Ferraioli, whose team also includes her husband Richard '05 and a legion of students, added that she was not surprised by the warm response of her fellow alumni to the call to arms. "Most of us worked on the old Globe stage at least once, so we feel very nostalgic about it. This project brings the past to the present and the present to the future, because we know this stage will be used for a really long time."
When asked how the new Hofstra Globe Stage will impact the education and performance for Hofstra actors, Hamlet director Christopher Dippel said it's a time travel experience for the students. "The Hofstra Globe Stage helps us to understand how the stories were told and look at some of the challenges Shakespeare's company was wrestling with. For example, when we present Hamlet, the house lights will be on. We will be interacting directly with the audience in the same way Shakespeare's company would have, because they performed outside in daylight.
"In addition to that, we'll discover how long it takes to go from the Lords Gallery upstairs down to the stage. That is why certain scenes have an extended ending – because one character has to exit and then enter immediately afterward. There are so many discoveries you make working on a stage like this."
Samantha Kamelhar, a junior from Bellmore, NY, who is playing Horatio, said there are "no words" to describe the thrill of being in the first cast performing on the Hofstra Globe Stage. "To be performing for all the people, all the alumni who have come back to work on the stage, and knowing it's the most accurate representation in the States – it's incredibly exciting."
For tickets to the 68th Annual Hofstra Shakespeare Festival, visit the Playhouse Box Office from Monday to Friday, 11 a.m.-3:45 p.m., or call 516-463-6644. Tickets are also available for purchase online.


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As Central New Yorkers prepare for the new year, their options for welcoming in 2009 are as expansive as their hopes for it.
As Central New Yorkers prepare for the new year, their options for welcoming in 2009 are as expansive as their hopes for it.
Meanwhile, the businesses and venues providing the entertainment have high hopes for large crowds.
"The biggest day for us, this time of year, is tomorrow," Josh Armitage, who works at Party City in New Hartford, said Tuesday. "People will be rushing in to get their last-minute items."
Armitage said the store has been selling a lot of masquerade-style "fancy" masks, feather boas and Mardi Gras beads.
One reason the masks are popular could be that Lava, Turning Stone Resort and Casino's night
club, is throwing a masquerade ball for its members. Tickets are still being sold, and memberships can still be purchased, but Turning Stone's events manager Ted Ferlo said the club is close to its capacity.
"New Year's Eve is definitely one of the biggest times of the year for us," Ferlo said. "All of our hotel rooms are booked and taken … The energy level is 100 percent."
Big crowds
Despite the current recession, business owners and organizers are still expecting sizeable crowds.
"Truthfully, we have more reservations now than I ever remember seeing," said Steve Rositano, day manager at Dominique's Chesterfield Restaurant, located on Bleecker Street in Utica.
Ferlo said Turning Stone is expecting a large number of gamers and diners at its various restaurants. He said audience members are also expected for its "Tribute to the Stars" event, which features impersonators of such celebrities as Little Richard, Rod Stewart, the Blues Brothers, Tina Turner and, of course, Elvis. Tickets to that event are $25, but the casino is opening up the Event Center for a free dance well into the morning.
The party is expected to attract upwards of 3,000 people, Ferlo said.
"Wherever you go, there'll be some type of music," Ferlo said. "We still have music that's free. You can roam around all night long and you can find something for everyone."
The Electric Company, a bar on Varick Street in Utica, also is expecting a big crowd to see its featured band, Lynch. Owner Anthony Donaldson said he's expecting a lot of visitors from places such as Albany and Schenectady, as well as the homegrown loyalists.
He only has one worry, and it's not about the economy:
"I think it'll be a packed house," Donaldson said. "New Year's has always been a big night for us. I'm hoping the weather doesn't do us in this year."
Some staying in
While items are noticeably flying off the shelf at Party City, Armitage and co-worker Maria Root said there seem to be more people gearing up to stay home for the night.
"People are staying home," Root said. "We're selling a lot of punch bowls and home party supplies."
Armitage said that cost might be the culprit.
"It's a lot more expensive to go out now," he said.
Utican Roxanne Testamark was one of those who said she planned to stay home.
"Some people can't afford it," she said. "Yeah, you have fun while you're out, but you still have to wake up the next day and pay the bills."
Diane Mumau of Utica is staying home, too, but not because it's cheaper.
Instead, she just wants to spend time with her 7-year-old son Tommy, she said. Mumau said it's dangerous to drive on New Year's anyway, and her family is what's most important to her.
"I guess you can say it's a tradition," she said. "We all like to be together."