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Case Study #1
Jason Schlarb, 32, Boulder, Colo.
Throughout his 20s, Jason Schlarb was not unlike most people who don't get paid to run marathons, he ran with a heavy heel-striking gait predicated by a long stride and relatively slow cadence. "I was always a backseat runner," says the Boulder, Colo., Air Force ROTC instructor. "My weight was always back a bit and my feet would crash hard way out in front of my body." That made his ankles take on the role of loose adapters, prone to roll inward, or overpronate, upon impact.
When those excessive rotational forces continue up the lower leg and knee, they can cause a variety of problems, including patellar tendinitis, otherwise known as "runner's knee," something the 32-year-old Schlarb suffered with for years.
More From Runner's World
Part of Schlarb's problem was inefficient form and the other part was overbuilt shoes. Those two intertwined factors were the root of most of his evils, but he couldn't really shake one without the other.
Podiatrists and running shoe fitters who observed his problem prescribed the typical stop-gap measures that had been given to excessive overpronators for years, namely, motion control shoes and foot stabilizing orthotics. While those measures helped — Schlarb was able to train well enough to run a 2:29 marathon despite occasional knee pain — none of it was addressing the root of the problem, which was that his running mechanics were horribly inefficient, says Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, a West Virginia University professor of family medicine, 2:25 marathoner and self-made running injury prevention specialist. Cucuzzella is also the owner of Two Rivers Treads in Shepherdstown, W.V., one of the first running stores dedicated solely to minimalist shoes and shoes with level profiles. In a discussion about running form about two years ago, Cucuzzella piqued Schlarb's curiosity with a discussion about natural running form, a way to run more efficiently and avoid the common overuse injuries Schlarb had been suffering.
Chi Running
A few years ago when Cucuzzella almost quit running because of pain in his feet, he became a proponent of , a new-agey running form doctrine developed by ultrarunner Danny Dreyer that blends logical biomechanical movement with cues from the Chinese martial art of Tai Chi. The tenets of Chi Running include footstrikes at the midfoot in which the foot touches the ground slightly in front of the hips, plus an upright, slightly forwarding-leaning posture, a higher stride cadence (about 180 steps per minute) and engaging core muscles to lift each leg to begin a new stride.
Call it what you will, but it's essentially what's become known as natural running or running with the mechanics that mimics the body's natural form while wearing shoes without the 12-15mm heel lift that has been common to most trainers for the past 30 years. Essentially, it's about getting your body to move as if you were running barefoot. One of the first key steps in ditching that old, inefficient form is to run with shoes with less of a ramp angle or heel-toe drop so you can allow your foot — and the rest of your form — start from a more level platform.
"If your foot is angled up, it's going to pitch your whole kinetic chain into an incorrect position and put increased torque on your knees, hips, lower back and won't allow the natural spring and recoil to occur," Cucuzzella says.
"Running in less shoe with a flatter profile and make your form more efficient," Cucuzzella says. "With stronger feet, flat footstrikes in flat shoes, you eliminate excessive overpronation because you'll have a stable arch to support the foot. Then you'll only pronate where you're supposed to when your foot rolls forward at the toe-off phase."
It's worked wonders for Schlarb, who began changing his form about 15 months ago and running in lighter shoes with significantly less heel-toe drop. He added form drills (occasionally barefoot, always on grass) to his training repertoire several times per week and linked several 100-mile weeks last summer and fall leading up to the Marine Corps Marathon in October, where he set a new PR of 2:27:18.
Since then, he's found his body can handle more mileage with less pain, soreness and fatigue, and that's led him to success as an ultrarunner. In December, be placed fifth in The North Face Endurance Challenge in 7 hours, 6 minutes, 50 seconds. In early March, he won the USATF 50-Mile Trail Championship in Rocksprings, Texas, in a course-record 6:28:26.
"Everything I had been dealing with for the past 10 years — bad form, painful knees, excessive pronation and the need for orthotics and motional control shoes — is all pretty much gone," he says. "It's like I've become a brand new runner, or at least the healthier runner I could have been all along."
Case Study #2
Josh Glaab, 28, Superior, Colo.
In high school, Josh Glaab was a 9:45 2-miler and a 4:36 miler despite training in bulky stability shoes most of the time to accommodate for his flat feet. But while becoming a standout collegiate runner at Colorado State — he was a four-time NCAA cross country qualifier, a 14:02 5,000m runner and the 2004 Drake Relays 10,000m champion — he started experimenting with running in less bulky shoes during his morning training runs, partially because his coach, Del Hessel, was encouraging him to run up on the balls of his feet with more upright form.
He started with Nike Frees in 2004 and immediately felt stronger and more fluid when he transitioned to spikes during the racing season. He ran in a modified version of the Free 5.0 — he inserted the minimalist footbed option to create the Free 4.5 — which, although lower to the ground in the forefoot and very flexible still had a fairly built-up heel and a robust heel-toe drop. Still, he felt considerably better, he believes, because the shoes were allowing him to run with more efficient form and helping him build stronger foot, ankle and lower leg muscles.
"Normally, my calves would just ache after going into spikes for the first time, but after running in the Frees, I felt like I had more lower-leg strength," Glaab says. "I definitely felt better once I started the transition."
He continued running in minimalist shoes after college, and under the coaching Steve Jones, ran a PR of 1:05:01 at the 2008 U.S. half marathon championships in Houston.
As of late, Glaab has been ramping up his mileage for a possible early summer marathon, running almost solely in minimalist shoes. During the winter, he had been averaging 60-80 miles per week wearing the Nike Free 3.0 and New Balance 101, but now that spring has almost sprung, he'll add the zero-drop Merrell Trail Glove to his repertoire.
"The biggest thing for me is that my legs feel great," Glaab says. "The biggest troubles I've had through the years are lower-leg issues, especially with my Achilles. And since I've been wearing more minimal shoes full-time, I've had a lot less of that.
Glaab is the head cross country coach at Boulder's Fairview High School and is concerned that so many skinny, young runners are getting hurt so often. He fears it's because most are still wearing heavier, chunkier stability shoes. He's not going to force kids to change their shoes just yet, but is ecstatic the industry has made a monumental shift to focus on better shoes for performance-oriented running.
"I've always looked at shoes and wondered, 'why are they always adding stuff to shoes?'" Glaab says. "So to see shoes go in this direction is just awesome. I can't say that everyone should go to zero-drop shoes, but, if anything, there are much better shoes across the board than what was available for a long time."
Case Study #3
Joe Day, 60, Yorktown, Virginia
The minimalist movement it's not just for young, fast guys. Joe Day, a 60-year-old project consultant from Yorktown, Va., overhauled his form with similar changes in 2007 and switched to lightweight, neutral training shoes with a level profile (primarily Newton Distance Racers) and all but eliminated his knee problems.
In the early 1970s, Day was a 4:17 miler in college who later ran four marathons, including a 2:38 PR at Houston in 1979. But as he got older, he started suffering from persistent knee problems, likely caused, he admits, from overpronanting as his running mechanics broke down from gaining a few pounds. He continued running but focused more on 10Ks and half marathons to keep his pain to a minimum.
"I had lived with that for a long time," Day says. "I was icing on a daily basis. Some times it was not so bad, but then periods where they hurt a bit more. I've been kind of up and down with them, but I ran all of those years in between."
In 2006, he got a hamstring cramp and couldn't understand why he was getting it. He thought it was a matter of insufficient electrolytes. But things all changed for the better when he started retooling his form.
Now he's running the way he did when he was half his age. He started ramping up his mileage again last year, and in October, he ran the Marine Corps Marathon — his first 26.2-miler in 28 years — in 3:47.
"I think I had good running form when I was younger, but I think I had transitioned it into a more plodding heel-striking form," Day says. "I'm not as fast, but I'm probably close to being as efficient as I was all those years ago. I thought I could have run 3;45, but 3:47 isn't bad for a 60-year-old."


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While a full analysis of the tragic case of Savita Halappanavar's death from sepsis at 17 weeks in her pregnancy is not possible without access to her medical records, there is a key piece of information provided by her husband that supports his claim that a termination was not allowed or was delayed because of the law. It is the fact that the medical staff were checking fetal heart tones. Not just once a day as is sometimes done during a previable induction so the mother knows which day her baby died, but several times a day.
Fetal heart tones are not checked with any medical purpose in mind until viability (around 23-24 weeks). The presence of fetal heart tones was irrelevant because survival of a baby at 17 weeks with ruptured membranes and/or advanced cervical dilation is impossible. Ms. Halappanavar was not 22 weeks pregnant where there might be a 3% chance of survival (depending on weight, sex of the baby, gestational age, whether it is a singleton or a multiple gestation etc). At 17 weeks with ruptured membranes, regardless of cervical dilation, this pregnancy could only end in with a fetal demise. In a study from 2006, when membranes ruptured at 21 weeks or less the outcome was "dismal." In fact, in this study there were no survivors when membranes ruptured between 18 and 19 weeks. Whether a fetus has cardiac activity at 17 weeks with ruptured membranes and a dilated cervix is simply not part of the medical decision making tree.
Then of course there is the matter of infection. When membranes rupture at 17 weeks the risk of infection just walking in the hospital door is 30-40% and, according to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), "At any gestational age, a patient with evidence of an intrauterine infection….is best cared for by an expeditious delivery." By her husband's account, she had abdominal pain on or shortly after arrival, a potential sign of infection. On the Tuesday, two days after she was admitted, he reports that she was shaking and complaining of chills. In this scenario those symptoms can only mean infection. And when a woman with a previable fetus has an intrauterine infection the treatment is not antibiotics and watch the fetus, it's antibiotics and expeditious delivery.
I'm told that while Irish law technically allows abortion to save the life of the mother, many practitioners fear recrimination and exactly when the life of the mother is "at risk" is a murky question. I can easily argue that Savita's life was at risk the moment her membranes ruptured at 17 weeks. However, does Irish law mean a different kind of risk? And if so, how would doctors judge that risk to be present? Ruptured membranes and fever? Shaking chills? Bacteria in the amniotic fluid? Positive blood cultures? Sepsis? Cardiovascular collapse? How sick must a pregnant woman be in Ireland be for a doctor to state that her life is at risk?
Whether the delay in Ms. Halappanavar's care was fear of criminal repercussions or personal dogma, both of these scenarios are permitted to exist because of laws that trounce evidence based medicine. Her husband's claim that Irish law played a role rings true because the team was checking for fetal heart tones when the only vital signs that mattered were Savita's.

subset: commoncrawl


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Today, President Obama is going to ask a group of private-sector companies to help him try to solve a problem his administration's policies have seriously worsened, namely long-term unemployment.
Of course, that's not how Josh Lederman at the Associated Press, aka the Administration's Press, framed the situation. All he would concede is that "long-term joblessness in the U.S. remains a major problem." After the jump, in two graphs from the St. Louis Federal Reserve, we'll see the frightening level of long-term unemployment Obama's economic policies have created – and how the horrid numbers have failed to come down significantly in the 4-1/2 years since the recession officially ended.
The percentage of unemployed Americans who have been in that circumstance for 27 weeks or more has never been more than 26 percent since the government began tracking that statistic in 1948 — until Obamanomics came along, at which point the percentage shot up to 45 percent:
It's still less than halfway back to coming in under the previous record, let alone anything the resembles normalcy.
Likewise, the average duration of unemployment has never been more than 21 weeks since the government began tracking that statistic — until Obamanomics came along, at which point the percentage shot up to 40 weeks:
The average is still over 35 weeks, and shows no signs of coming down.
Even these horrible numbers are arguably understated in the current climate, because they ignore those who have given up looking for work or have dropped out of the workforce for other reasons.
Lederman owed it to his readers to tell them that the seriousness of the plight of the long-term unemployed is by far the worst seen since the Great Depression. Of course, because it would make Dear Leader look bad, he didn't.
The AP reporter also add an undertone of surprise that a certain large company would participate in the meeting. Also note that Obama is unilaterally choosing to throw more money at the types of programs which have had little past success (bolds are mine):
Obama asks CEOs for help hiring long-term jobless
... CEOs from companies like Apple, Walmart, Visa and Boeing are heading to the White House on Friday to deliver commitments to do their part. More than 300 companies have signed on so far, the White House said.
Although the unemployment rate has declined to 6.7 percent, long-term joblessness in the U.S. remains a major problem. The concern is that the longer someone is out of a job, the harder it gets to find a new one. Companies are less likely to hire people who haven't used their skills in months or wonder why another employer hasn't already snatched them up.
With that concern in mind, the Obama administration has been working for months to exact commitments from companies to ensure their hiring practices don't discriminate against long-term job-seekers.
That includes doing away with candidate-screening methods that disqualify applicants based on their current employment status. It also means ensuring that jobs ads don't discourage unemployed workers from applying.
... Among the companies taking part: Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. and 21st Century Fox. Sperling said he emailed the conservative business mogul about the initiative, and Murdoch personally wrote back to say he supported it.
Obama also plans to sign a presidential memo Friday directing the federal government to apply the same standards to its own hiring practices. And the Obama administration will direct $150 million in grants toward partnership programs that retrain, mentor and place unemployed workers.
Lederman didn't explain why anyone should be surprised that News Corp., of all the companies identified, might not have wanted to participate. I say it's because he can't.
Cross-posted at BizzyBlog.com.


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Air Force Airman Adam J. Orlowski graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
Orlowski is the son of Gayle Kramer of Simmons Avenue, Sand Lake.
He is a 2011 graduate of Tri County High School, Howard City.


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Craigie, Sir William A.
Craigie, Sir William A., 1867–1957, British lexicographer, b. Dundee, Scotland. Educated at the Univ. of St. Andrews, Craigie studied Scandinavian languages at Copenhagen before beginning in 1893 his career as lecturer at St. Andrews and as lecturer and professor at Oxford. Generally considered the foremost lexicographer of his time, he was engaged on the New English Dictionary (commonly called the Oxford Dictionary) after 1897 and was joint editor from 1901 to 1933. Craigie was persuaded to come to the United States and was the chief editor of A Dictionary of American English on Historical Principles (issued in parts after 1936; published as 4 vol., 1938–43). He also edited other dictionaries, made critical editions of texts, and wrote monographs and textbooks on the English language.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Language and Linguistics: Biographies


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It began this month when Nebraska's Attorney General Jon Bruning made a controversial grant. The $100,000 grant went to a group that is a strong advocate for agriculture and is called We Support Agriculture. This group was created by the Nebraska Farm Bureau (FB).
The controversy has many sides, but the main point is that this money came from Nebraska's Environmental Protection Fund. While nobody denies that the grant as funded is geared to achieving the goals of the fund, the problem is that it was awarded to an agricultural group, and obviously agriculture and the environment are not two words that can be used in conjunction by many in the environmental movement. This goes against the general mantra, which is that activist groups hold and that is environmental protection and agricultural are seen as having cross purposes.
The main thrust of the opposition, at least from the environmental groups, is their general aversion to agriculture and their opposition to tying agriculture and environmental responsibility together. There, of course, is some interesting political dynamics going on.
The Farmer's Union (FU) and FB have always been antagonistic. The FB is the larger, more powerful organization, and tends to be more conservative in its outlook than the FU. In the last couple years, the FU has increasingly moved to the left, making the chasm wider than ever before. FU, of course, is incensed about FB receiving funding, as are the groups that FU has increasingly aligned itself with. Then, you throw in the fact that Attorney General Bruning is running for the Senate, and you have the age-old Republican/Democrat debate.
The Republican vs. Democrat component is expected and really isn't surprising. Republicans would have tried to make an issue if a Democratic Attorney General would have made a grant to HSUS. The fact that our own industry has weighed in on the side of environmental and consumer groups aligned against agriculture because of internal power struggles is not new either, though this trend is disturbing and has been occurring frequently of late.
It's probably past time that producers reel in their organizations in this regard. We can disagree with others in our industry but we should never forget the big-picture issues of doing what's right for our industry.
Lastly, the fact that these grants have routinely gone to groups aligned against agriculture doesn't mean ag and a pro-environment stance are incompatible. In fact, what's telling is that this is an issue at all in a state like Nebraska. It's important to remember that nobody is questioning whether the money being granted is to be used for the purpose intended; it's merely that since the group receiving it was tied to the powerful Nebraska FB, it should be excluded from receiving it.


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Mrs. Obama Wants $400M to Cut Drive Time Five Minutes
October 28th, 2010
Terrence P. Jeffrey, CNSNews.com
First Lady Michelle Obama has called on Congress to create a $400 million-a-year program to encourage the establishment of supermarkets in places she calls "food deserts."
The situation in these "food deserts," as Mrs. Obama describes it, is quite dire indeed. American children are growing fat because their parents cannot get to a supermarket—to buy fruits and vegetables—without undergoing the hardship of boarding a bus or riding a taxi. As a consequence, food-desert-dwelling children are forced to eat fast food and junk procured at chain restaurants and convenience stores…
In the 2008 farm bill, Congress mandated that the department conduct a $500,000 study of "food deserts." The study—"Access to Affordable and Nutritious Food: Measuring and Understanding Food Deserts and Their Consequences"—was published in June 2009.
The report demonstrates that Mrs. Obama's depiction of American "food deserts" is fatuous at best. Lower-income Americans live closer to supermarkets than higher-income Americans…
There are 23.5 million people who live in "low income" areas that are more than a mile from the nearest supermarket. But more than half of these people are not low-income, and almost everyone in these areas–93.3 percent—drive their cars to the supermarket. On average, they spend 4.5 minutes more than the typical American traveling to the supermarket.


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Events archive
Careers & Wellbeing Programme
Katie Engelhart, VICE News
3 December 2014 - 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Syndicate Room, Old Main Building
This seminar will be led by alumna Katie Engelhart (MPhil Modern British and European History, 2012). Katie is a producer/writer at VICE News. Her work has appeared far and wide, in publications... Read more
Careers & Wellbeing Programme
12 November 2014 - 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Pavilion Seminar Room
Advice and guidance on making a strong application, applying for funding, and what it's really like to be a doctoral student at St Antony's. This very popular seminar, now in its third year, is aimed... Read more
Careers & Wellbeing Programme
29 October 2014 - 5:30pm to 6:30pm
Fellows' Dining Room, Hilda Besse Building
This seminar will feature short talks by the College's Development Director and the GCR Bar Manager about opportunities to work in College; current students will share advice and guidance on... Read more
Careers & Wellbeing Programme
Dr Jane Chanaa, Careers Service Team Leader
20 October 2014 - 2:15pm to 3:15pm
Buttery, Hilda Besse Building
Kicking off the 2014/15 Careers & Wellbeing Programme, during this seminar you will find out more about the University's excellent Careers Service, and how it can support both new and continuing... Read more
Careers & Wellbeing Programme
24 May 2014 - 10:15am to 4:30pm
Venues around College
St Antony's College and GCR are delighted to announce that the 2014 Career Path Conference will be held on Saturday 24 May in locations around the College. Building on the success of the inaugural... Read more


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Shame on school districts that are opting out of the federal lunch program because the kids don't like the healthy food they're eating. That's what is wrong with the kids today. Nobody wants to tell them no. Even when it comes to their health. My taxpayer dollars better not be funding any food programs that are feeding kids the horrible foods that are making them obese. Follow the law In response to parking the wrong way. You're supposed to park facing the traffic flow so you can pull out safely. There is a law. Perhaps a couple of $50 tickets would adjust those who defy the law. Also, you're not supposed to back out of your driveway, another law. Let us know I live up on 17th Street by Samaritan. They didn't pick the garbage up yesterday. I wish the mayor would put something in the paper as to whether there's going to be garbage pick up or not. Part II I wish Lansingburgh High School morning announcements would mention the scores of the games the school's sports games played the night before and also the upcoming games the current teams are playing at night. Same thing in South Troy You hear about a lot of car vandalism going on up in North Troy. But we also have that same problem down here in South Troy. They break into houses, break into cars, many fights. Yet I don't ever see the police. Where are they? We don't need one Why do we need a police commissioner in Troy? Anthony Magnetto is retired, is a good man and makes more than $64,000 a year. Why would he work a job 24/7 for $30,000? It's politics in the city of Troy again. Mind your own business To the person who was complaining about people feeding stray cats in Lansingburgh. My answer to you is mind your own business.
Sound Off: Just tell the kids no
Start the conversation


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If the UFC is to measure itself against Vancouver hockey, it might as well compare itself to water, food or air.
Hockey, UFC president Dana White said, is "like a religion" in Vancouver. So it's no surprise this past weekend's UFC 131 event may have been a bit overshadowed by the Canucks and the NHL Stanley Cup Finals.
White, though, said if he had to do it all over again, he wouldn't change a thing about UFC 131 and the company's trip to Vancouver.
"If I could change the date again, I wouldn't change it," said White, who attended Game Five of the finals on the eve of UFC 131 at Rogers Arena. "It's great. We all got to go to the hockey game [on Friday]. What sucks about that?"
But wasn't it disappointing to share the spotlight? After all, 24 hours before UFC 131, downtown Vancouver was filled with Canucks fans who were celebrating a 1-0 win over the Boston Bruins. (And it wasn't even the series' final game.)
UFC 131 was an afterthought.
"You're talking about one city," White told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "People weren't dancing in the streets anywhere else but here. It's different. Hockey is extremely popular up here. It's like a religion up here to these guys. But you get out of Canada, people aren't going that crazy over it. Even in Boston, the Bruins are in the playoffs, but there's not a lot of hockey fans there – not if you put them up against the Patriots, the Celtics and the Red Sox. Not even close."
UFC 131, which featured Junior Dos Santos' decision win over Shane Carwin in the headliner, was the organization's seventh event in Canada. However, it ranked dead last in attendance (14,685) and live gate ($2.8 million). It also followed a Canadian event (UFC 129 in Toronto) that utterly destroyed UFC and North American MMA records for attendance and live gate.
Still, the UFC 131 numbers would be strong in just about any other market, and prior to Saturday's event, UFC Director of Canadian Operations Tom Wright assured MMAjunkie.com Radio that UFC officials were "really happy" with ticket sales.
In fact, White said playing second fiddle to the Canucks was actually an improvement.
"Have you ever seen us in the U.S.?" he joked. "We're like the redheaded stepchild of sports in the U.S. We have been for the last 10 years. It's actually weird coming and saying, 'Wait, are we the second fiddle?' That's actually more weird.
"[UFC 131] was a great event. Everything worked out perfect, and it was a big sports weekend for Vancouver."
For more on UFC 131, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
(Pictured: Junior Dos Santos and Shane Carwin)


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Managing Stress With Meditation
In the early 1970s, when Dr. Herbert Benson was defining and testing the techniques he presented to the world in his revolutionary book, The Relaxation Response, I was a hippie teenager learning transcendental meditation (TM). Flash forward about 40 years and I'm sitting in an amphitheater packed with a few hundred medical students, faculty, and staffers from Harvard Medical School listening to the iconic director emeritus of the Benson-Henry Institute explain the myriad benefits of the relaxation response.
The relaxation response is a self-induced quieting of brain activity. It leads to a body-wide slowdown and a feeling of well-being that have measurably positive effects on disorders caused by stress or made worse by it, including high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, and many digestive disorders. As Dr. Benson describes in Stress Management, Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Harvard Health Blog*


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A sad day for picnickers – Eco Lunch Gear closes up shop
Several years ago, I discovered Eco Lunch Gear, a fabric alternative to Ziplocs. I've been using them in combination with air-tight plastic snack containers ever since. Recently I received an email from Tina Beatty, the owner of Eco Lunch Gear, telling me that she is closing down Eco Lunch Gear and setting up a new shop on Etsy called The Bay Owl. I've loved using these wraps over the years (and have since reordered more at least twice), so thought I'd take the opportunity to give her a little free publicity.
Sadly, it looks like Tina isn't making her bags anymore. (She's taking time off to renovate a mid-Century Modern House.) However, her Etsy shop sells DIY kits (and some of her adorable organic fabrics) so that handy crafters can make their own. If you're interested, check out The Bay Owl shop at:
The Bay Owl
snacking crafting!
(My original review of the Eco Lunch Gear is below the fold, for those of you who are interested.)
(Originally posted on August 2011. Since writing this review I've discovered a lovely new use for the relatively shapeless sandwich wraps. My daughter refuses to eat warm cheese sticks, but simply placing a cold pack in her lunch doesn't always keep the cheese stick cold enough. So I use the sandwich wrap to wrap the cheese stick and cold pack together. Works great.)
When my daughter graduated from purees to Cheerios in late 2008, I suddenly found myself carrying around a lot of snacks. The demand for snack totage has only increased as my daughter has gotten older and the length of time we can be out in the world on a single trip has increased (thereby increasing the volume of snacks she consumes per outing).
At first, I used Take and Toss containers to carry the various snacks, but they were so bulky. After a while, I decided I needed something more streamlined so that I could be prepared for an outbreak of snacking without being forced to lug around a 15 gallon tote. So I started using Ziplocs.
But the intellectual dissonance of tossing out four Ziplocs a day while virtuously recycling whatever else I could inevitably took its toll. In 2009, I decided to find out whether there were viable alternatives to using plastic baggies — other than returning to the completely functional, but somewhat bulky Take and Toss's. I found a few options on Amazon, but as a recovering quilter I have a residual love of unusual fabrics that prevented me from ordering anything in gingham. So in a relatively rare move for me, I went off-Amazon to see what the web at large had to offer.
And that's how I came across Eco Lunch Gear.
Run by a work-at-home mom in Traverse City, Michigan, Eco Lunch Gear offers a variety of reusable fabric snack bags, sandwich wraps, and lunch bags in cheerful and occasionally conservative prints. Made with organic cotton and lined with nylon (no nasty vinyl or potentially poisonous plastics here), they are designed to open completely for easy washing and complete removal of crumbs.
I liked that you could wash them in the kitchen sink with dish soap and let them dry overnight. And I really liked that they were sealed with Velcro, because that meant my daughter would be able to open them on her own almost from the start.
So I ordered a few snack bags, a couple of sandwich wraps, and a cinch bag. Almost a complete set of what was available at the time. Tina, the owner of Eco Lunch Gear, threw in the only item I hadn't ordered, the tissue holder, as a thank you.
After a few months of use, the bags were working well for us and I was almost completely weaned off Ziplocs, Saran Wrap, and parchment paper with a few exceptions.
The first exception involves the sandwich wrap. Made extra-large to hold oddly shaped sandwiches while doubling as a place mat during the actual eating process, the sandwich wrap doesn't have much structure to it. As a result, I don't really trust that my sandwich stays clean. So I almost never use it. Or if I do, I tend to wrap the sandwich in parchment paper first, which kind of undercuts the whole eco-friendly zero waste lunch idea.
Also, the bags do get damp if you use them with wet things, like pickles, which my daughter would eat by the jar if I'd let her, or carrots that have been washed and prepped but not dried, which is a bit of an adjustment from the externally dry-to-the-touch plastic baggies and containers. Some days I can deal with this. Some days I can't. On those days, I break out the Take and Toss.
For a long time, I was also dubious about the company's claim that their sandwich wraps and snack bags wouldn't stain. But two years later, it seems to be mostly true, as long as you at least rinse off things like jam, mustard, and ketchup the same night the bags are used, and don't let the badness soak in for days. I, of course, never get behind on laundry.
So when the Inexplicable and Quite Unseemly Mold Attack of 2010 took out about half of my Eco Lunch Gear set, I restocked. By then they had created the Jumbo Snack Bags, which I find are large enough to carry the average sandwich. So I replaced the floppy-doubles-as-a-placemat sandwich wraps that had succumbed to the Vicious Mold Incident with the larger snack bags and have had no cause to regret that decision over the past year of use.
If you are looking for an alternative to plastic sandwich and snack bags, there are a lot more options on the market now than when I first started hunting in 2009. I can't comment on any of those. I've been too happy with my Eco Lunch Gear to try anything else.
Related articles
- Going Green: Two Traverse City companies are here to help you do your part for the environment
- New Company Introduces Alternative to Small Plastic Bags with Food-Safe, Bacteria-Inhibiting, Machine-Washable Snack Bags and Sandwich Wraps (prweb.com)
- Daily Green: Lunch With a Side of Sustainability (fitsugar.com)


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The M9P IEMs hail from a small California-based company by the name of MEElectronics. They produce a wide range of IEMs that cater to different users with various sound signatures. The M9 and M9P IEMs are among the most inexpensive products available and are currently selling for $20 and $23 respectively. I decided to buy the M9P IEMs because they not only function as earphones but will also have use as a headset for my cell phone and iPod Touch. After breaking them in and listening to them with a variety of music in my collection, these are my favorite IEMs in the sub $30 price range. So without further delay, read on for my thoughts on the MEElectronics M9P IEMs.
Technical Specifications
Driver: 9mm dynamic driver
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20KHz
Impedance: 16 Ohm
Sensitivity: 95dB/mW
Cable Length: 1.2m/4ft.
Packaging/Accessories: The M9Ps come packaged in an attractive transparent box and include a bevy of accessories including a hard zippered case, a cable wrapper, four sets of silicone eartips which includes a set of biflanges, a shirt clip and an airline adapter. Considering that the M9Ps only cost about $23, MEElectronics has included a highly impressive accessory package that puts many other inexpensive IEMs to shame.
Design and Build Quality: The M9Ps feature lightweight aluminum housings which feel durable and are ported at the rear to allow for more air flow. This helps with the low end response and the soundstage but cuts down the isolation.
The cable is perhaps the best I've seen on any IEM. It's lined with what appears to be delicate braided silver wiring inside and coated with a transparent plastic coating that both looks very attractive and makes it feel very durable. The cable is properly relieved at both ends which inspires confidence in terms of long term durability. Because of the great cable design, microphonics are negligible when worn straight down and practically non-existent when worn over-the-ear.
All in all, these are very attractive and durable IEMs that should be able to stand up to pretty heavy usage and last quite a long time.
Comfort and Fit: MEElectronics includes three pairs of single flange silicone eartips as well as a pair of bi-flanges for deeper insertion and better isolation. I have small ear canals so I opted for the smallest single flange tips and managed to get a good seal. The included silicone eartips are fairly soft and made the M9Ps very comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
One thing that was a constant point of contention with the M9s is the seal itself. Now it's common knowledge that IEMs require a good seal in order to sound their best but the M9Ps take that concept to another level. Simply put, I've never come across an IEM that was as finicky about the seal as the M9P. If the seal wasn't absolutely perfect, the resultant sound was imbalanced, shallow or just plain bad. That said, using the M9Ps while on the move isn't the best idea because of their need for a perfect seal.
Sound Quality
Usage/Burn-in: These IEMs have been given 50+ hours of burn-in prior to review but settled into their final sound signature after about 10 – 15 hours.
Low End: The most dominant frequency range on the M9Ps is also the best detailed. Prior to burn in, the bass was somewhat muddy but now, it has tightened up and boasts surprising refinement. Bass is still a bit boomy but not too much so. Extension is pretty good as well, reaching down into the sub bass levels before rolling off.
Midrange: Definitely recessed in comparison to the other two frequencies (especially the bass) but not so much so that it is overly detrimental to the overall sound signature. They're smooth and don't stand out too prominently, which may disappoint fans of Rock and Alternative music. The low end can creep up on bassier tracks which does make the midrange sound a bit washed out in comparison but overall, I think they are decently detailed.
Highs/Treble: Nice extension, detail and clarity. There's a bit of harshness in the upper treble region but overall, highs are pleasant sounding and have a nice sparkle.
Soundstage: Wide and airy. Imaging isn't too great but instrument separation is surprisingly good.
Sound Signature: Dark, warm, thumpy and very fun. Very bass forward and somewhat aggressive but rarely fatiguing. I love the sound signature of these when listening to Hip-Hop, Jazz and R&B. I think the low end is a bit too overpowering to be used with much Rock and Alternative music and the highs are a bit too harsh to be used with Classical but overall, these are very versatile and will work with a large number of genres that I haven't mentioned. This is definitely the best and most entertaining sound signature I've heard for the price.
Microphone Quality: Very good considering the price. Voices come through clean and clear and the microphone does a decent job of filtering out ambient noise but can get overwhelmed in noisy environments. It works well for making phone calls as well as Skype calls on the iPod Touch.
As a whole, I'm very impressed with the M9P IEMs. They are well designed, perform above their price range and are, above all, inexpensive. $23 is a very small price to pay for a great pair of IEMs and considering that price, I can't find much fault with them. While the bass may be a bit too deep for some listeners and there can be some harshness in the treble region, there isn't much these do wrong. If you're looking for a fun pair of IEMs that will work as a headset for your iPhone or other cell phone, sound good and won't put a strain on your wallet, look no further. These things are practically a steal.


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Presstek to Unveil Innovative Digital Offset, CTP Products at drupa
GREENWICH, CT—March 29, 2012—Presstek, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRST), a leading supplier of digital offset printing solutions to the printing and communications industries, today announced that it will be introducing two exciting new products at drupa 2012, scheduled to begin May 3 at Messe Düsseldorf. In addition to new products being unveiled, the Presstek 75DI, a revolutionary B2-format digital offset press will be the highlight of Presstek's stand with a large number of scheduled customer demonstrations.
The company will also showcase its Presstek 52DI digital offset press and display a wide range of thermal CTP plates. Presstek will be located in Hall 4, Stand B03, at the show.
Continued Heritage of Innovation
At drupa, Presstek plans to announce a new chemistry-free CTP plate for sheetfed and web waterless printing applications. This new plate offers excellent on-press performance and will raise the efficiency of prepress departments by eliminating the time-consuming steps, variables, and costs that are associated with production of other waterless plates. Once imaged, only a simple cleaning with water is required prior to mounting the plates on press.
Presstek will also unveil a new color calibration and defect detection technology during drupa. This breakthrough technology inspects each sheet with the press operating at full speed and makes any necessary adjustments on the fly. This exciting new technology will be demonstrated on the Presstek 75DI at drupa.
Presstek 75DI Showcased at drupa
The company will be showing a five-color Presstek 75DI digital offset press with in-line aqueous coater on its stand at drupa. The 75DI was first shown at Ipex 2010 as a prototype and is now a commercial product with successful installations on three continents in a variety of shops, including one of the world's largest commercial printers and one of North America's largest in-plants. The press has also garnered strong interest from folding carton printers, because of the unique capabilities of the 75DI for applications in this field.


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Programs, People, Programs
Dear Alibi,
I do understand I'm reading the Alibi which is a foolish attempt to mimic Mad or Cracked magazines. I usually don't get [past] Odds and Ends (skipping that stupid ¡Ask a Mexican!), but today I had extra time, and I found myself regrettably venturing beyond my comfort zone. Once there, I found "Clash of the Governators" [Opinion, Sept. 9-15.].
I take it [Ortiz y] Pino doesn't plan to vote for Martinez. But to draw comparisons between New Mexico and Arizona's new law on immigration when it hasn't gotten out of the court [is] ridiculous. He calls Arizona's new law on immigration a "notorious anti-immigrant bill." This is exactly why immigration has become a hot button. No one I've talked to or listened to on a news programs is anti-immigration. They are anti-illegal immigration. They favor a controlled immigration flow as opposed to 20 million at a time.
[Ortiz y] Pino and others like him try to label people as racists and bigots because their views are different than his. His kind tries to embarrass people so they will shut up. What is wrong with controlling our immigration? He complains that Arizona's right-wing forces slashed programs and services rather than raise taxes. I say good for them. How have programs heaped upon programs helped the population at large? The high school dropout rate is alarmingly high for an economy needing educated workers. Programs haven't slowed the teen birth rate.
Mr. [Ortiz y] Pino and his kind are always quick to throw everyone else's money at some program. If he believes in paying higher taxes, then maybe the IRS can work something out with him. Otherwise, stay out of my wallet. Government's job is to provide basic services, not be a support system for those who won't help themselves. Programs teach people there is an easier way other than paying attention in school instead of texting.
Sure there are people who genuinely need help, especially those with physical limitations. But I see quite a few people in the UNM area confined to wheelchairs on their way to school or work. I have nothing but respect for these folks, and if they need a little help, they deserve it. I have no sympathy for an idiot who had less than a 75 percent grade average in high school. These are the people I want to see picking up roadside trash and raking weeds. But all too often they're the one's too hung-over to get out of bed but not tired enough to procreate. These are the people sucking up resources that could and should go to the truly needy.
People say that illegal aliens help the economy because they pay taxes, when in fact most of them don't make enough to pay taxes other than for things like food and medicine. But all too often the money for these items comes from programs. So, who does that help? How are these low-wage earners paying their way for everything that is provided like police and fire services? I would never attempt to speak with [Ortiz y] Pino. I believe it would be too boring. But, there is one thing I'd like to tell him and that is to keep your filthy hands out of my pockets.


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Dayton aims to drop business sales tax plan
ST. PAUL -- It seemed as if pretty much no one liked Gov. Mark Dayton's proposal to tax business services, prompting him to overhaul a budget plan he presented six weeks ago.
ST. PAUL -- It seemed as if pretty much no one liked Gov. Mark Dayton's proposal to tax business services, prompting him to overhaul a budget plan he presented six weeks ago.
Details of his new budget idea are due Tuesday.
Dayton on Friday told a TwinWest Chamber of Commerce meeting about his decision to dump the business tax, leaving those in the Capitol wondering what he might do to increase revenue he wants for programs such as education and economic development, as well as filling a budget deficit.
Republicans said the state needs no more money, so Dayton should not consider more taxes.
The Democratic governor plans to meet with key aides today to work out details of Tuesday's new budget plan.
After a Feb. 28 state budget report revealed a smaller-than-expected deficit, Dayton needed to tweak his budget. Now, after responding to widespread criticism about the business tax, he is expected to offer a more comprehensive change for the Democratic-controlled Legislature to consider.
Gone is a business-to-business sales tax that drew most of the ire. It would have been charged on services such as legal and accounting delivered to other businesses and consumers. Nearly every service would have been taxed under the original Dayton plan.
Dayton proposed to lower the sales tax rate from 6.875 percent to 5.5 percent and begin collecting it on most services and adding a tax on clothing costing $100 or more.
Also on Friday, Dayton said he probably will not pursue a cigarette tax increase he earlier wanted.
Democrats and Republicans both cheered Dayton's Friday tax announcement, which could leave the sales tax much as it is today.
Republicans and Democrats joined the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce in cheering elimination of the business-to-business proposal.
Freshmen Rep. Mary Sawatzky, DFL-Willmar, met with Dayton Thursday, one of several lawmakers to have private or small-group meetings with him in recent days.
"The budget issue I heard the most concern about was business-to-business taxes," Sawatzky said about town hall meeting she has held since Dayton announced his original budget plan. "The governor was very open to concerns and our ideas on how to best balance the budget."
Rep. Joe Radinovich, DFL-Crosby, another rookie lawmaker who met with Dayton, said he was thankful that Dayton responded to concerns Minnesotans expressed.
"As he has been through the entire budget process, Gov. Dayton was open and receptive to input and new ideas relayed to me by my constituents," Radinovich said. "Now the Legislature will be putting together a budget proposal and I will work to incorporate the priorities I've heard from constituents: investments in education and our future, a budget balanced honestly and without gimmicks, and a budget that keeps Minnesota economically competitive and allows our businesses to succeed."
House Speaker Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, said the Dayton business tax plan never had a chance to pass.
Thissen refused to say what he wants in a new budget plan other than continuing support on raising taxes on the state's highest earners.
The Chamber of Commerce and Republicans say that would hurt business.
"A continued concern is the governor's proposal to create a fourth tier in personal income-tax rates," the chamber said in an e-mail to members. "Many businesses flow their income through the personal income tax. This tax increase will undermine their ability to invest in their employees and companies."
There was speculation that when Dayton dropped his business sales tax plan that he no longer would have enough money to fund a $500-per-homeowner property tax refund he sought.
Dayton spokeswoman Katharine Tinucci said she expects him to drop his clothing sales tax request when he announces budget changes Tuesday.
Tinucci said Dayton plans to meet today with Revenue Commissioner Myron Frans and Commissioner Jim Schowalter of Minnesota Management and Budget to decide on a new tax plan, as well as other budget tweaks he may propose.
The income tax increase is expected to bring in an extra $1.1 billion and Dayton's original sales taxes changes would result in a $2 billion net revenue increase.
In his $38 billion, two-year budget proposal, the first order of business is to plug a $627 million gap (down from $1.1 billion earlier expected).


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The Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey County was yet-to-be-explored wine country for me until a couple of weekends ago. After spending two perfect days soaking up as much of the area as I could, I found it to be a unique and very special place.
The SLH AVA sits in the Salinas Valley between the Santa Lucia and Gabilan Mountain Ranges, and enjoys a true cool climate thanks to fog and breezes blowing in from the Monterey Bay. This makes it absolutely ideal for growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah – varieties that dominate in the area. As a serious fan of Pinot Noir, I couldn't wait to taste some new wines.
We spent most of our time on the River Road Wine Trail, which is essentially the main artery through the Valley and home to approximately 13 tasting rooms. The area is covered by over 50 vineyards, but most of them are private and solely grow grapes to sell to wine makers. We stopped at many of the tasting rooms along the wine trail, but I absolutely fell in love with Wrath Wines.
Aside from the fact that it's surrounded by gorgeous vineyards, the Wrath Wines tasting room was not an immediate stunner. That is, until we stepped inside. Once I walked through the front door, I felt like I had entered a hidden oasis.
Inside, the tasting room was modern, simple & bright. We had our dog, Booker, with us and he was immediately welcomed to join us indoors. He quickly became friends with a winery dog named Penny and the two of them chased each other through the vines the entire time we tasted. We decided to grab our first taste and join the doggies outside.
We enjoyed an outstanding line up of Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Syrahs while relaxing by the pond. We also ordered a plate of crackers with local, hand crafted Monterey Jack cheese from Schoch Family Farmstead.
The cheese is hand-made just down the road from the winery by the Schoch family who have owned and operated their small dairy since 1944. It was so yummy and paired so nicely with the wine that I hunted it down at The Cheese Shop in Carmel – right next to Wrath's smaller Carmel tasting room.
Even after spending a couple of hours at Wrath Wines, I didn't want to leave. The stunning scenery, amazing wine, and friendly people made the whole experience unforgettable. I can't think of a better place to lose track of an afternoon. Wrath is not to be missed.
35801 Foothill Road
Soledad, CA 93960
Phone: (831) 678-2212
Email: email@example.com
Tasting room hours: 11AM – 5PM Friday through Monday


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Every year LG seems to get more ambitious with its TVs, partnering its hugely successful budget line-up with some real show-off stuff for the premium end of the market.
But nothing the Korean giant has done before quite prepares us for the amount of innovation and extravagance it's thrown at the 55LX9900, a 55-inch TV so jam-packed with technology – including active 3D playback — that it's likely to have even Philips and Samsung scurrying for cover.
Probably the single most striking innovation in this TV concerns the LED technology at the TV's heart. For remarkably, LG has managed to make a screen that uses full (direct) LED technology, where the diodes sit behind the screen, but which sports the sort of slender profile previously only achievable with edge-mounted systems.
By combining the slim-form design of the latter with the premium picture potential of the former, LG has created a truly mouth-watering proposition.
The 55LX9900's design does a startlingly good job of ramming its LED innovations home. For as well as only sticking out 31mm around the back, as we would expect to see with typical edge LED TVs, the set's screen surround is also unbelievably thin, protruding just 2cm from the top, left and right edges of the screen.
And that distance includes three or four millimetres of transparent outer edging, so that the main black frame looks even thinner still.


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Make a catalog to keep a track of any unique home and garden Decor idea that you come across to keep interior decoration of your room affordable and buy only useful furniture.
Home Decor Ideas and Tips
Home is an extension of our personality and our taste. Your home may be as big as a castle or you may live in an attic room, it is your personal touch and your unique style that makes this space your home and you feel instantly comfortable and warm. Home decoration need not be an expensive affair but it does take a lot of planning to achieve the right look that you desire so much to convert a piece of land in your dream home.
Copyright © Homeadorable.com All Rights Reserved.


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Call this post a quick story in the wee hours using twelve fotos or less. Thomas of Weeks Marine stands by the crane barge,
crane lowers slings over aircraft,
and Alexandria Weeks arrives with receiving barge amidst a plethora of emergency vessels.
At 1030ish, the deck barge stands by as the fuselage emerges, and
a half hour later more fuselage emerges as starboard wing snaps free of the esplanade.
Crane barge moves slightly west,
and Virginia Weeks makes up to the barge in place of Alexandria.
Crane raises the aircraft, and
Virginia slides the barge underneath.
Plenty of space remains on the barge. Notice all three Weeks tugs on the shot below.
With the aircraft securely cradled on the barge, it gets unslung, and
teams of investigators move in. What is the sheeting hanging from the aft end of the plane?
Many thanks to Lee, family, and friends for my vantage point. Now, notice the starboard engine. That leaves only one to recover from the Hudson.
All fotos by Will Van Dorp, and possibly more fotos later.


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We believe in introducing the best people to the best employers. Whether a contractor's skills and experience are required for a project, to cover staff shortages or to boost expertise in a specialist area, Michael Page Contracting Services can help.
With a vast talent pool in Singapore available to start work immediately, we are dedicated to working with both employer and applicant to ensure the right people are in the right place for both short and long-term contracts.
Our dedicated contracting team is on hand to answer your questions and guide you through the recruitment process. We know that the sooner we can place talented people in your team, the sooner they can begin to make a meaningful contribution.


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On August 13, Olney Charter High School students and members from the community held a demonstration outside of ASIPRA for PA's North Philadelphia headquarters – ASPIRA owns the charter of the school – in support of the teachers' union drive. By organizing a union with the help of the Philadelphia Alliance of Charter School Employees and the American Federation of Teachers of Pennsylvania (AFT PA), these teachers are on the frontlines of the education reform movement and among the first to seek to unionize the corporate education sector. The teachers went public with their fight at the end of last school year and in response have faced threats and intimidation by principals and administrators.
To achieve union recognition, educators have a long road ahead of them because of what and who they are up against. In Pennsylvania, they are considered "at-will" employees, which means their contracts run on a year to year basis, and are subjected to termination at any time for any reason. Forming unions in the corporate education sector has proven to be a difficult endeavor. One example of a charter school organization stonewalling a union's right to organize occurred in Chicago throughout 2009. Teachers and faculty working for Chicago International Charter Schools, which is operated by Civitas Schools, were granted union recognition by the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, but since the Chicago International Charter Schools were considered private, Civitas wanted the issue taken up by the National Labor Relations Board. The NLRB ruled in favor of Civitas, claiming that the charter school network was a private, not for profit entity. Therefore, the teachers would not be granted the same labor protections as their counterparts in the Chicago Public School District. The union drive against Civitas Schools was ultimately successful. Peoples' World published an interview in December 2009 detailing the union drive and the eventual victory.
According to Crooks and Liars, ASPIRA controls one high school in Philadelphia, and during this union drive, the non-profit spent $400,000 to stop this union effort. The article states:
ASPIRA, a non-profit organization, has committed $400,000 to fight back against any effort on the part of teachers to organize in the schools they manage. In a climate where schools in Philadelphia are closing on a daily basis, a not-for-profit charter school operator is committing nearly half a million dollars? That raises a couple of key questions for me.
And, the Philadelphia Daily News reported that the non-profit has paid out over $17,000 in public money to repel the efforts.
At the rally, the teachers were pretty clear about what they were fighting for; and, it doesn't revolve around pay and benefits. Emily Guck who has been teaching at Olney Charter High School for two years explained that since teachers see how policy affects their students on a day-to-day basis, teachers at the charter school should be granted a seat at the table. Other teachers at the rally expressed the same sentiment. One teacher I spoke with said,
[we're] tired of decisions being made from the top down approach. We see a lot of negative consequences that results from that. All we're asking for is a seat at that table. We're not saying we're going to make those decisions. We just want to know how they're being made, why they're being made, and we want some input in that.
A few Olney Charter High School students showed in support of their teachers. Tyler Starks, a junior who recently transferred from Olney Charter High School to Central High School, explained why he wanted to show solidarity with his former teachers. Starks credits his Olney Charter High School teachers "for who [he] is today, because [he] wasn't into activism until [he] met his teachers." He felt the need to support them through their organizing efforts.
When reaching out to some of the charter school teachers via email, Ellen Pierson, who teaches twelfth grade Social Studies and tenth grade French, explained why unionizing at Olney Charter School was important. Ms. Pierson explained:
One of the reasons we feel our charter school union drive is so important in the present moment is that over the last decade or so, as we've seen charter schools continue to proliferate, major changes have happened in terms of who actually gets to make decisions about public education. Traditionally such decisions have been made through collaborations between elected officials, teachers, parents, and administrators. Increasingly, they are now being made in closed-meetings by the unelected board members of private organizations, who may or may not have backgrounds in education, or children in the schools for which they are making decisions
All of these different interested parties – taxpayers, businesses, administrators, parents, students, teachers, etc – all of us deserve our appropriate place at the table, and that is exactly what we're fighting for. Teachers are major stakeholders in schools. Period (emphasis not added).
When asking Emily Guck about the importance of having community members and other stakeholders showing solidarity with the young teachers, she replied:
"Having the support of parents, alumni, teachers, and community groups in Philly means so much to me. We are forming a union to provide a better education for our students and promote transparency and communication in our school community. Our goals are very much connected to the goals of organizations like Fight for Philly, and I am grateful for their support."
At this point, the future of teachers attempt to unionize their school is unwritten. However, with all eyes on Philadelphia's efforts to privatize, characterize, and profitize public schools, their struggle is one to watch and support. These teachers – many in their 20s and 30s – give progressives an opportunity to support and nurture the next generation of education union activists. I will continue to report on their efforts in the coming weeks and months.
Correction: With regards to the union organization efforts in Illinois, the teachers organizing against Civitas Schools were ultimately successful in their union drive.
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December 12th, 2012Norton Antivirus flags all Likno Software products as "WS.Reputation.1"
Knowledge Base support case for AllWebMenus, Likno Web Scroller Builder, Likno Web Accordion Builder, Likno Web Tabs Builder, Likno Web Modal Windows Builder, Likno Web Tooltips Builder, Likno Web Button Maker, abstracted and stripped of all user's private info.
Initial Email From: User
Initial Email Subject: virus problem
Support Case Month: June 2012
Having Norton flag all your products from last upgrade downloads with a "WS.Reputation.1" virus.
Reply From: Likno Customer Support
Unfortunately there is not much that we can do about this!
Since last year Norton changed their policy and mark as "reputation1" all the applications they do not know about.
This is done by Sonar, and it is done even if the application is scanned and proven to be clean. It only has to do with how many Norton Users downloaded and "trusted" this app.
Since we issue updates pretty frequently (sometimes even daily) this is becoming an increasing problem for us, but according to Norton all we can do is to submit our software to them before we upload it. However, since it may take days for them to see it and process it, we are submitting our software to them and concurrently put it online for our customers. Hence, for a day or two after each release is uploaded you may receive this message regarding "reputation1".
In any case, you do not have to worry about this message as it is completely irrelevant to whether a product is malicious or not. It only states that the program is new!
Likno Customer Support
Create any type of javascript menu (CSS menu, drop-down menu, sliding menu), button, html tree, modal window, tooltip, accordion, tab, scroller, jQuery slider or design for your websites!
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Tags: accordion, antivirus, button, css menu, drop-down menu, javascript menu, jquery, Menu, modal windows, Norton, scroller, sliding menu, sonar, tooltips, upgrade, web tabs, website, WS.Reputation


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Normal bowel function is a coordination of involuntary and voluntary muscles, and a complex network of nerves. The rectum is the last part of the large intestine. Its function is to hold stool until it is ready for passage through the anal canal. As the rectum fills and stretches, it sends nerve signals to the brain, creating the urge to have a bowel movement. The stool moves down into the anal canal to the anal sphincter. The anal sphincter it is made up of involuntary and voluntary muscles that control the passage of stool out of the body.
Fecal incontinence may be the result of:
Fecal incontinence is more common in adults aged 65 years and older. Other factors that may increase your chance of fecal incontinence include:
The main symptom is the inability to control bowel movements, which leads to leakage of solid or liquid stool, and/or gas.
You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done, which will include an evaluation of the perianal area. Your doctor may refer you to a specialist.
Your bodily structures may need to be viewed. This can be done with:
Anorectal manometry may be done to check the pressure of the anal canal.
Treatment depends on what is causing the incontinence. A combination of different treatments may be necessary. It may take some time to find the right treatment. Each method may not work on everyone. Talk with your doctor about the best plan for you. Options may include one or more of the following:
Your doctor may suggest changes to your diet. You may be referred to a registered dietitian. Examples of dietary changes include:
Biofeedback may help improve awareness of sensation, muscle tone, coordination, and other functional changes. It may be used with electrostimulation of specific nerves to cause sphincter contraction. Currently, evidence is inconclusive regarding biofeedback, but it has shown some success.
A bowel movement schedule can also train your bowels. For example, you can pick several times throughout the day to try to go to the bathroom, such as after meals.
Learn how to do Kegel exercises. These exercises help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
Medications used depend on the cause. They may be in the form of an oral tablet, liquid, topical cream or ointment, or rectal suppository. If fecal incontinence is caused by medications, your doctor may change or stop them. Do not make changes to your medications on your own.
Constipation may be treated with:
Diarrhea may be treated with:
Surgical procedures may be used to treat this condition when other treatments have failed. Examples include:
Other options to manage fecal incontinence may include:
To help reduce your chance of fecal incontinence:
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Canadian Digestive Health Foundation
Canadian Society of Intestinal Research
Fargo MV, Latimer KM. Evaluation and management of common anorectal conditions. Am Fam Physician. 2012;85(6):624-630.
Fecal incontinence. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/digestive-diseases/fecal-incontinence/Pages/facts.aspx. Accessed November 28, 2017.
Fecal incontinence in adults. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114211/Fecal-inc...inence-in-adults. Updated September 2, 2016. Accessed November 28, 2017.
Garg, P, Song J, Bhatia A, Kalia H, Menon G. The efficacy of anal fistula plug in fistula-in-ano: a systematic review. Colorectal Diseases. 2010;12(10):965-970.
Rectal prolapse. American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons website. Available at: https://www.fascrs.org/patients/disease-condition/rectal-prolapse. Accessed November 28, 2017.
12/4/2009 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114211/Fecal-inc...inence-in-adults: Deutekom M, Dobben A. Plugs for containing fecal incontinence. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;(4):CD005086.
7/21/2015 DynaMed Plus Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114211/Fecal-inc...inence-in-adults: Paquette IM, Varma MG, Kaiser AM, Steele SR, Rafferty JF. American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) clinical practice guideline on treatment of fecal incontinence. Available at: https://www.fascrs.org/sites/default/files/downloads/publication/clinical_practice_guideline_for_the_treatment_of_fecal_incontinence.pdf. Updated 2015. Accessed September 25, 2015.
Last reviewed November 2017 by EBSCO Medical Review Board James Cornell, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.


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CNN's John King breaks down the electoral map after new polls show Obama leading in Ohio.
Post by: Anderson Cooper, John King
Filed under: 2012 Election • Raw Politics
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°


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Economics Masters Online
What are Online Masters in Economics Degree?
Busy working professionals with a strong interest in mathematical analysis might find that earning an Online Masters in Economics degree may be a convenient way to advance their education. Many jobs in today's global and competitive environment require candidates with a master's degree, although some jobs, including academic and higher-level research positions, require a PhD in Economics.
The course of study for the master's degree lasts from one to two years, though students are encouraged to verify this with the school they are interested in attending. a thesis is often required, particularly for terminal degrees.
Schools with Online Masters in Economics Degrees
Economics is an integral element in national and global decision-making from healthcare management to environmental issues. The foundation of economics is specifically categorized under two major subheadings: Microeconomics (focuses on specific or localized aspects of the economy), and Macroeconomics (focuses on general features and processes of a national economy). Information Technology increasingly places a demand for skilled statistical analysis where economics lends itself through its economic modeling and reasoning features. The mastery of econometrics (combination of statistical application methods with economic theory) is projected to become a burgeoning marketable skill throughout the 21st century.
What are Potential Advantages to Online Economics Masters Degree Programs?
Online Masters in Economics programs may offer more flexibility for students who have family or job responsibilities. Whereas commuting to school for a set time may be inconvenient, online programs tend to allow 24 hour access to classes so that students may log into the course management system when their schedule allows.
For someone who works well independently, is self-motivated to produce assignments and complete study goals, web-based programs may be a good fit. Make sure if you are choosing an Online Economics masters program that you have a good computer, and reliable Internet access. Digital tools make research via online libraries accessible, so you really can learn and study from just about any location.
Start reviewing the multiple options for your education on GradSchools.com. Some of your choices might include Online MBA in Economic Crime and Fraud Prevention, Online Master of Arts in Economics-Applied Economics, MA Behavioral Economics online or MS in Economics degree programs
Different Types Of Economics Graduate Degrees
Graduate level economics degrees are acquired through an MA, MS, or PhD. Nine traditional fields of economics include: comparative e econometrics, economic development, environmental and natural resource economics, economic thought, international trade and finance, labor, monetary theory and financial institutions, and public finance. For those interested in environmental issues there are currently Master's degree options in Resource and Applied Economics. Issues covered within these programs may include: global warming, oil and natural gas extraction, and issues relating to renewable and non-renewable resources. For those interested in policy analysis and policy making, business economics fosters both analytical and general business acumen. Depending on your area of interest, research multiple programs to determine which program will fit your needs.
Explore a Career as an Economist
Most Economist jobs require a Masters in Economics or a PhD in Economics; some roles in business, research, or international organizations often require a combination of graduate education and work experience. According to O*Net, 30% of economists have Masters degrees compared to 61% holding Doctoral Degrees.
Some of the tasks performed by economists include:
- Research
- Analysis of economic issues
- Taking surveys
- Data analysis using mathematical and statistical models
- Preparing reports
- Forecasting economic trends
- Advising businesses, governments, and individuals
- Economic policy-making
- Publishing and writing economic based articles
The industries with the highest levels of occupation for economists include:
- Federal government
- Management, Scientific, and technical consulting services
- Scientific research
- State and local government
Pay For Economists
According to BLS in 2021, the median annual wage for Economists was $105,630. The job outlook is of 6% growth, which is faster than average.
|Annual Mean Wage
|District of Columbia
|New York
|Metro Area
|Annual Mean Salary
|San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
|Cleveland-Elyria, OH
|Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
|Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
|San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
With an increasingly regulated and complex current global marketplace, the demand for economists continues to grow. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, candidates holding a master's degree or Ph.D., as well as strong quantitative and analytical skills and related work experience will have the best job prospects. Why not search for an Online Masters Degree Program in Economics that might prepare you for a bright future!
Why wait? Your future Online Economics Masters Program could be one click away!
GradSchools.com Offers 23 Graduate Schools Online Masters in Economics Degrees
Johns Hopkins University
University of North Dakota
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Syracuse University
Johann Wolfgang Goethe University
Hope International University
Baltimore International College
Kennesaw State University
Paris School of Economics
The University of Southern Mississippi
Steinbeis University Berlin (ICRM)
University of Detroit Mercy


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Louis Gray nailed it last night when he wrote that there are no experts in this financial crisis.
In the past 18 hours I've read literally thousands of posts and have done almost nothing but hang out on FriendFeed. I've seen a LOT of idiocy. And these are supposedly from the smarter, more educated people around. People who I've had a beer or two with and who I count as friends and fellow Americans.
I almost went through and cut and paste the worst of it from my FriendFeed stream, but it won't help to make people feel bad or get into arguments now. The damage has been done by our idiocy (both in creating this crisis) and in deepening it by not fixing the credit crunch (also our idiocy).
Now, what happens when people stop buying things? Like it or not, our economy is based on credit. And the way banks work is if you save one dollar, they lend out a lot more than one dollar, which gives the banks scale. Also makes them go under if they make too many bad loans, like they did, or people take money out of the banks, like we are (billions were pulled out of Washington Mutual in the last few days before it failed).
What happens next? Economy goes into stall. Why? If people with good credit can't get credit to buy cars and houses and expand their businesses, they stop doing those things (it's made worse by the psychology that we're in right now, which is to hoard, hoard, hoard and not buy things). When we stop buying, companies start showing losses. People get laid off. They file for unemployment. Ahh, so we're going to pay anyway, only this payment will go on for years until we figure out how to get car manufacturers and real estate agents and so forth back to work.
It's enough to make me scream.
The downside of this new media world is that you'll hear a lot of opinions. Which one is right? I'm not always right. In fact, I'm often wrong. But I've counted on YOU, the audience, to help me correct that when I'm off in the deep end. Now, though, I've seen so much idiocy that I'm not even sure of my audience anymore. That's how deep our loss of confidence in each other has come.
I find I'm becoming a lot more like Andrew Keen. That scares the shit out of me. Why? I find I'm looking to experts and elites more and more, because the crap I'm seeing out of all of our mouths is just so, um, wrong. As my history teacher back in the 1980s used to say "the masses are asses." This is shaking my belief system pretty thoroughly, because I actually do believe that a decentralized system is stronger than one with one guy or gal in the middle controlling everything. But for a decentralized system to work we have to 1. be smart and 2. believe in each other. Those two things are proving to me to be pretty trying right now.
I liked what David Brooks had to say in the New York Times this morning. He said "I've spoken with several House Republicans over the past few days and most admirably believe in free-market principles. What's sad is that they still think it's 1984. They still think the biggest threat comes from socialism and Walter Mondale liberalism. They seem not to have noticed how global capital flows have transformed our political economy. We're living in an age when a vast excess of capital sloshes around the world fueling cycles of bubble and bust. When the capital floods into a sector or economy, it washes away sober business practices, and habits of discipline and self-denial. Then the money managers panic and it sloshes out, punishing the just and unjust alike."
We're in wild economic times. What should be done now? I'd still do the bailout, although that will lead to inflation and a devaluation of our dollar. We have to choose between that, or really high unemployment, which will lead to devaluation of our dollar as people file for unemployment in a few months anyway.
One thing I'd love to see is more people joining in on FriendFeed to help pull out the high value bits and provide more sifting to find both the rotten strawberries in the marketplace of ideas, as well as find the really juicy apricots. I'm doing just that on my feed of "Likes" and "Comments" there, so you can see what I'm pulling out of the 3,400 people who are feeding stuff to me.
If you have a feed that you'd want me to listen to, please let me know.
More idiocy to come, I'm sure! Hopefully we'll all survive. 🙂


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MOJAVE (AP) — An environmental group says a mining company's plan to extract more than a billion dollars' worth of gold and silver from a mountain near the desert town of Mojave threatens a snail's existence and must be halted.
The Center For Biological Diversity says the proposed operation by the Canadian-based Golden Queen Mining Company would threaten as much as 40 percent of the habitat available to the Mohave shoulderband snail, The Bakersfield Californian (http://bit.ly/1oXScKQ) reported Saturday.
Lutz Klingmann of Golden Queen Mining said that the project has already undergone two environmental reviews.
He noted the environmental group never expressed any concern until January, when it filed an emergency request seeking endangered species status for the snail.
"Unfortunately, the snail — no one knew about the snail," said Noah Greenwald, the group's endangered species director.
Federal officials concluded in April that the project created "no imminent threat" to the snail.
The environmental group says it may continue to press its claim, however, after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acknowledged it didn't have the funds to conduct a full review. The group may also raise the issue that the project could endanger the Townsend big-eared bat, also known as Corynorhinus townsendii.
"We think there's a need for additional environmental analysis," Greenwald said.
Golden Queen said it expects to spend $141 million to extract at least 31 tons of gold and 375 tons of silver over 15 years beginning next year. At today's precious metal prices, that would amount to about $1.5 billion.
The company would crush ore taken from an open pit mine in the mountain, then use a cyanide solution to extract gold and silver.
Company officials say leftover rock would be used for local infrastructure projects and that at the conclusion of the operation the mountain would be returned to its original state.
The project won approval 17 years ago, but Golden Queen put it on hold because of low gold prices at the time. It underwent a second environmental review in 2010 and was approved again.
Kern County officials support the project, which is projected to create as many as 200 local jobs.
MOJAVE (AP) — An environmental group says a mining company's plan to extract more than a billion dollars' worth of gold and silver from a mountain near the desert town of Mojave threatens a snail's existence and must be halted.


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Movie review: Just the facts approach spoils 'Patriots Day'
When I saw "Patriots Day" last month, I was marginally impressed by its level of class and authenticity. Then I tuned into to see HBO's "Marathon." That was game, set and match as to which is the superior postmortem on the horrors of April 15, 2013. And the difference is that the latter is emotionally stirring and deeply human, and the other a cold, calculated re-enactment bordering on exploitation.
Yes, I know the city of Boston owes a humongous debt to its first responders and investigators, but "Patriots Day" pays short shrift to the real heroes — the victims. Do we really need a star-studded redo of the bombings, the seemingly endless shots of the FBI poring over surveillance tapes, a stomach-turning depiction of MIT cop Sean Collier being fired upon point blank multiple times and a Hollywoodized version of the infamous Watertown shootout between law enforcement and the two scumbags I shall not name? Director Peter Berg and muse Mark Wahlberg seem to think so. But let us not forget that both are driven by a profit motive that dictates the more tickets you sell, the more money you make. So we get a movie that — although its heart is in the right place — resembles a summer blockbuster, complete with Wahlberg playing the snippy, indestructible cop who will always save the day. In fact, his character, Boston Police detective Tommy Saunders, is a manufactured composite. But having Tommy play a hand in every major development goes completely against the film's intent to depict the investigation as a total team effort.
Then there's the bane of every movie set in Boston — the bad accents. Even Wahlberg's sounds off a bit, and he's from Dorchester. As for John Goodman as Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis, James Colby as police Superintendent Billy Evans and Vincent Curatola (Johnny Sack from "The Sopranos") as Mayor Menino, it's grating, taking you right out of the movie. J.K. Simmons as Watertown Police Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese fares slightly better, as does Kevin Bacon (doing his third Hub-set movie after "Mystic River" and "Black Mass") as the FBI's chief investigator Richard DesLauriers.
But acting is not the film's most jarring flaw. It's the script. Amazingly, it took five people, including Berg, to assemble a screenplay for a movie that pretty much copies everything you saw live on CNN during the week of April 15-19, 2013. Except for Wahlberg's omnipresent cop, the movie offers zero character development. It's almost entirely expository dialogue and the usual shouting matches when politicians, the FBI and local police clash over how to best handle the investigation, mainly when to release the pictures of "White Hat" (Alex Wolff) and "Black Hat" (Themo Melikidze) to the press.
Enough of the bad. What's good about "Patriot's Day?" Two things, really. The first is Jimmy O. Yang as Dun Meng, the man the terrorists carjacked in Cambridge after they murdered Collier, and the second is Melissa Benoist as Black Hat's widow, Katherine Russell, who we watch undergo intense interrogation by Khandi Alexander's counterterrorism agent. It's no coincidence why these are the film's highlights, and that's because they are the only two facets of that tragic week we were never privy to on TV. And Berg shows how fine a director he can be in how he stages both scenes for maximum tension and unease. You're riveted.
I only wish he'd done the same with the victims, or at least the precious few we actually meet. He includes newlyweds Jessica Kensky (Rachel Brosnahan) and Patrick Downes (Christopher O'Shea), who were taken to separate hospitals after losing limbs in the explosions, neither of them knowing if the other was alive until days later. Typical of Berg's just-the-facts approach, he never tells us the wrenching hurdles awaiting the couple in the months ahead. "Marathon" did, and in many ways you wish "Patriots Day" did the same. That's the real story of the bombing: The long, arduous recovery of the injured, the maimed and the families of the dead. Also the city. All we see in terms of the Hub's healing process again are re-enactments, mainly the ovation law enforcement received when they pulled out of Watertown after nabbing White Hat, and David Ortiz dropping the F-bomb at Fenway during a ceremony honoring the first-responders.
It's just not Berg's thing, I guess. His approach was equally mechanical in his re-enactments of the oil-rig explosion in "Deepwater Horizon," and in the band of U.S. soldiers under heavy fire in "Lone Survivor," both of which also starred Wahlberg. What Berg does have is a strong eye for visuals, and the one scene in "Patriots Day" I'll never forget is the brief cutaway to a state trooper standing guard over the corpse of 8-year-old Martin Richard, whose sheet-covered body remained on a Boylston Street sidewalk for hours after the blast. I get teary just thinking about it. And that's the level of emotion that the picture required but seldom delivers.
What we get plays like one of those docudramas such as "Killing Kennedy" and "Killing Reagan" that National Geographic spits out based on books by Bill O'Reilly. Throughout, that week of terror is chronicled by Berg with digital readouts telling us the time and day, like 5 hours before marathon and 5 hours after blast. The other constant is Wahlberg, whose hard-drinking homicide detective we learn is on probation with his superiors. We first meet him in the predawn of April 15, when he's the lead cop on a drug bust, injuring his knee kicking down a door to a crack house. Then it's home for a short rest before having to pull mandatory crowd-control duty at the marathon's finish line.
In between those assignments, we see Tommy with his doting wife, Carol (Michelle Monaghan), scenes that are almost a carbon copy of Wahlberg with Kate Hudson before heading off into disaster in "Deepwater Horizon." Well, if it worked once … From then on, Tommy is our eyes and ears, as he's first on the scene after the explosion, then collecting evidence, reassembling it on a grid inside the Black Falcon terminal and then helping search for clues in the hours of surveillance videos confiscated from businesses along Boylston Street. And when it comes time to pursue the suspects, he's Tommy on the spot at the Watertown shootout and the flushing of White Hat out of the boat behind 67 Franklin. In other words, the focus is always on him instead of the people who really matter. It's particularly frustrating because, frankly, Tommy's know-it-all act quickly grows tiresome. The only other semblance of character depth is seeing Simmons' character stopping by a Dunkies to get coffee and doughnuts.
Still, the film looks great, particularly the fly-over shots of Back Bay and the level of realism in the aftermath of the explosions. It's definitely not for the squeamish. You always feel like you smack in the middle of the investigation. But that's about all you feel until pictures of the real victims pop up at the end. It's then that you dissolve into tears. But by then, you may have already dropped out of the race.
"Patriots Day"
Cast includes Mark Wahlberg, Kevin Bacon, J.K. Simmons, John Goodman, Jimmy O. Yang and Michelle Monahan.
(R for violence, realistically graphic injury images, language throughout and some drug use.)
Grade: B-


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Deprivation diets pile on the pounds. So, in her book, best-selling nutritionist Debra Waterhouse offers a daring five-meal-a-day plan for a slimmer body. The plan, part of Waterhouse's Outsmarting Female Fatigue: Eight Energizing Strategies for Lifelong Vitality, offers the freedom to eat moderate amounts of a wide variety of foods without feeling a single pang of guilt.
Debra Waterhouse, M.P.H., R.D., is also the author of Why Women Need Chocolate, Outsmarting the Female Fat Cell, and Outsmarting the Midlife Fat Cell.
Energy and Weight
More From Good Housekeeping
When your stomach is empty and growling, your body's primary directive is to get you to eat -- to fill your energy tank and fuel your body. But if you don't refuel within 30 minutes of those first biological signals, your blood-glucose level plummets even more, causing you to get a headache or heartburn and to feel nauseated or irritable. When you finally do stop to eat, you can't help but overdo it.
Instead, listen to your appetite signals and refuel right away. You'll feel energized immediately. And because you were hungry but not famished when you began eating, you are more easily satisfied with a moderate amount of food.
How much food does it take to perfectly fill your stomach? The answer lies in the palm of your hand. Less than a handful and you're not filling your food tank enough; more than a handful and you're filling it too much. Here are some standard serving-size shockers to help open your eyes to moderate palm-size portions:
- Half a sandwich (not a foot-long sub)
- 10 potato chips (not a 10-ounce bag)
- 1 cup of cooked pasta (not half a 16-ounce package)
- A small hamburger (not a Big Mac or Whopper)
- 3 heaping tablespoons of ice cream (not a whole pint or even a cup)
There are certain exceptions to the "hand" measuring cup. Three handfuls of lettuce leaves equal one serving. And a "good size" bowl of soup is allowed. But for most foods, remember this: Your hand is the measuring cup of your stomach, so use it.
Eat Little, Eat Often
Small, frequent meals that constantly refuel your body provide big, long-lasting benefits. A "three balanced meals" approach can cause an imbalance in our energy level. Too much time elapses between breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and we eat too much food in the evening.
So, instead, try eating five small meals a day. It will double your energy while controlling your weight. Just be sure you don't make the mistake of eating five courses at each of those five meals. Have cereal for breakfast, fruit and yogurt midmorning, half a sandwich at lunch, the other half midafternoon, and a modest-size dinner that could fit in your hand.
Skip the Fads
Diet crazes have made us doubt our body's messages. Don't give in to the "Carbs are hazardous to your health and your waistline" myth that's all the rage right now. It's also time to relax restrictions against certain "taboo" foods, namely anything with fat. Your body needs fat and probably craves it too. Most women do. A study from England found when women cut their fat intake in half, their dispositions take a nosedive too. They get angrier, moodier, more hostile. Has your family been complaining about your snippiness? It could be due to not enough fat! (Of course, it's best to focus on the so-called good fat, the monounsaturated type found in olives, olive oil, canola oil, soybeans, soybean oil, tofu, nuts, peanut oil, and avocado.)
The best way to stop overeating fat is to stop restricting it. When you try to eat only fat-free foods, you're sure to make up for it with a high-fat binge later. If you eat a moderate amount of fat -- somewhere around 30 percent of your total calories -- you'll gain energy without gaining any weight.
Eat Natural
While we're stopping the oil embargo, we might as well halt the sugar sanction too. The trouble with sugar is it usually causes energy crashes. A simple carbohydrate, sugar is quickly digested and absorbed, leading to a dip when that surge of energy disappears.
There is, however, a way to avoid such a roller coaster: Don't eat sugar by itself. Make sure there's something else present in your stomach that will slow digestion and absorption. Drink a glass of milk with that cookie, nibble a slice of cheese with that apple, have a little yogurt with those raspberries.
So, give yourself permission to eat -- anything and everything in moderation -- and you will outsmart both your female fatigue and your fat cells.


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Former "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" cast member Kim Richards has pleaded no contest to shoplifting from a Los Angeles Target store.
Court records show Richards was sentenced Tuesday to serve three years on probation, attend 52 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and perform 300 hours of community labor. She was also ordered to stay away from the Target store in Van Nuys where she was arrested in August.
Attorney Sara Caplan, who entered the plea on Richards' behalf, declined comment Wednesday.
The 51-year-old former child actor received a nearly identical sentence in September after pleading no contest to resisting arrest after she was kicked out of a posh Beverly Hills restaurant in April.
Richards' plea was first reported Wednesday by TMZ.