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(written from a Production point of view)
Data discovers a group of robots that he believes qualify as lifeforms.
Riker, Worf, La Forge, and Crusher are playing poker, and the small talk drifts towards beards as, with La Forge recently deciding to grow his, all the men are sporting one. Crusher comments on her superstitious distrust of bearded men and decides on an unusual stake. If she wins the next hand, all the men will have to shave off their beards; if one of them win, she becomes a brunette. After La Forge lays down an aggressive bet to open the hand, Crusher calls his bet immediately, which draws a very nervous call from Riker, but La Forge assures the first officer he has this; but it's as far as they get though, as Captain Picard summons them to the bridge, which greatly disappoints the doctor.
- "Captain's Log, Stardate 46307.2. We have just come into orbit of Tyrus VIIa to monitor progress on the Tyran particle fountain, a radically new mining technology. So far the project has been fraught with problems, and is well behind schedule. Mister La Forge has been assigned to evaluate the situation."
The USS Enterprise-D arrives at Tyrus VIIa to evaluate a Particle Fountain Project for possible use on Carema III. While Lieutenant Commander La Forge is talking with the project lead, Doctor Farallon, a malfunction occurs in one of the station's power grids. Dr. Farallon uses this opportunity to show Commander La Forge another project she has been working on, an exocomp: adaptive tools used for maintenance purposes. The exocomp is sent into an access tunnel, and repairs the malfunction very quickly, preventing a shutdown of the station's core which would have taken four months to return to its power level again.
Act OneEdit
- "Captain's Log Log, Stardate 46315.2. Repairs to the particle fountain seem to have succeeded and it is now functioning smoothly. Doctor Farallon is coming aboard to demonstrate the device that carried out the repairs."
Lieutenant Commander Data meets La Forge and Dr. Farallon as they beam aboard the Enterprise. With them is an exocomp. In engineering, Dr. Farallon explains how she modified a common industrial servo mechanism over the course of several years to create the exocomps, giving them both the ability to replicate tools to effect repairs and a capacity to learn similar to that used by Data. In contrast to the ingenious nature of the exocomps, however, the particle fountain is behind schedule and over budget, and Picard is not very sympathetic. Dr. Farallon proposes putting the exocomps to work on the project to help accelerate progress. With Data's and La Forge's approval, Picard approves.
On the station, Data successfully completes fourteen separate tasks in less than an hour with help from the exocomp. Data estimates that the same tasks would have taken two engineers over nine hours. The exocomp is then sent into an access tunnel to seal a plasma conduit. However, the exocomp returns without finishing its task, and when Dr. Farallon tries to send it back into the access tunnel, it blocks her commands and overloads her control pad. A few seconds later the plasma conduit explodes. If the exocomp had gone back into the access tunnel, it would have been destroyed.
Act TwoEdit
- "Second Officer's log, Stardate 46315.5. The unexplained behavior of the exocomp has greatly puzzled both Doctor Farallon and myself. We have brought the defective unit to the Enterprise for investigation."
After bringing the exocomp back to the Enterprise for analysis, Data and La Forge discover that the exocomp had shut down and that the interface circuitry which connected the exocomp to the control pad was completely burned out. Further investigation reveals that the number of new circuit pathways has increased by 632 percent. Dr. Farallon explains that sometimes an exocomp randomly generates large numbers of new pathways, which ultimately leads to a total shutdown. When this happens the exocomp becomes totally useless and has to be erased and reprogrammed all over again. Data mentions that the new pathways do not appear to interfere with the original circuitry, but Farallon is giving up. Frustrated, she leaves and La Forge, feeling sorry, comments that somehow the exocomp seemed to know that the conduit would explode and therefore it had to leave the access tunnel. Because this remark implies some form of self-preservation motive, Data takes it upon himself to perform a level one diagnostic on the exocomp in his quarters.
The diagnostic reveals that the command module is now working normally. When checking the exocomp's sensor logs it turns out that the exocomp itself had burned out its own command interface circuitry, and then ran a self-repair program on the same circuitry two hours later when it was safely on the Enterprise.
Meanwhile, La Forge finds Farallon in Ten Forward and informs her engineering teams are assigned to help in place of the exocomps. He stays to cheer her up, saying he respects her work. She becomes confident that the project will eventually succeed.
Data's discovery prompts him to discuss the definition of life (particularly as it pertains to himself) with Doctor Crusher, who herself is unable to give him a definite, conclusive response, stating that after she had grappled with the same question from a young Wesley, she had realized that scientists and philosophers have been struggling to answer this question for many centuries. The best answer she came up with was that it was not specific actions that defined life, but the struggle to maintain life, such as self-preservation. Still, the conversation allows Data to come to a significant moral decision, even though Crusher believes she hasn't really helped Data.
On the planet, La Forge is managing the engineering teams. Data beams aboard the station and asks Dr. Farallon to stop using the exocomps – he has reason to believe they are alive.
Act ThreeEdit
- "Captain's Log, Stardate 46316.6. I have summoned the senior staff in order to discuss Commander Data's theory that the exocomps are a lifeform. Doctor Farallon has attended only reluctantly."
Data calls for a meeting of the senior staff in the observation lounge in order to discuss his theory that the exocomps are a lifeform. Dr. Farallon attends only reluctantly. Data supports his theory by stating that the exocomp they sent into the tunnel earlier responded by deliberately burning out its control interface – in essence, refusing to obey an instruction it knew would send it to its destruction. However, only two hours later when it was on board the Enterprise and no longer in danger, it repaired itself. This demonstrated awareness of environment. Counselor Troi notes that Dr. Farallon is extremely reluctant to accept the idea that the exocomps are lifeforms; she just keeps trying to rationalize her belief.
Picard argues that if the possibility exists that these exocomps are a lifeform, then that possibility must be examined as it is the primary mandate of Starfleet and the Enterprise. Thus, in order to test Data's theory, a simulation is created in which an exocomp has to repair a small conduit breach in a Jefferies tube in which a plasma cascade failure is simulated by means of a transient overload signal. Unseen by the crew inside the Jefferies tube, the exocomp is carrying out the repair when it detects the plasma overload and begins to leave... only to stop, turn back and after a long moment, resumes the repair. Having not exited the Jefferies tube before the plasma overload simulation would have destroyed it, it is declared to have failed, and Data can't understand why. Data performs thirty-four additional tests and all tests have the same outcome: every single time the exocomp decides to complete the repairs instead of evacuating, and returns to Data when commanded by him so he could reset. However, on the 35th test, Doctor Crusher is talking to Data so he neglects to recall the machine. Even so, the exocomp returns automatically and Data notices it has created a different tool than when it entered the tube. In the previous tests, the exocomp was recalled when the simulated plasma overload occurred. When Data checks the sensor logs this time, he discovers that the new tool had been used to deactivate the overload signal. The exocomp had actually known the whole time that the signal was false and that it was in no danger; it had completed the repair and taken the opportunity to rectify the false signal – a clear sign of intelligence. As Crusher puts it, "The exocomp didn't fail the test; it saw right through it."
Act FourEdit
- "Captain's Log, Stardate 46317.8. At Doctor Farallon's request, I have agreed to tour the station and assess the situation personally. I must decide soon whether it is in Starfleet's best interest to recommend the particle fountain as a reliable technology."
Work is resumed on the station but while the captain is examining the project the particle stream begins to experience fluctuations and radiation slowly leaks into the station. Dr. Farallon and her staff are beamed to the Enterprise, but La Forge and Picard remain on the station trying to save a member of the doctor's staff named Takenta, who is killed in an explosion despite their efforts to save him. By the time the pair tries to beam back to the Enterprise the radiation levels on the station are too high for the ship's transporter to get a particle lock on La Forge and Picard. La Forge erects a temporary force field to hold the radiation at bay, but he knows that it is a temporary solution at best. Back aboard the Enterprise, Data projects that radiation levels in the station will be fatal within twenty two minutes even with the force field in place.
When the particle fountain reaches a critical stage, Commander Riker asks for ideas. Worf suggests sending a shuttlecraft, which Dr. Farallon says would take too long, and Riker asks about using a photon torpedo to disrupt the particle matter stream, but Data explains it would take at least 65 minutes to do the proper, careful adjustments. Dr. Farallon states that she can reconfigure the exocomps so their power cells explode when beamed into the stream, which would only take a couple of minutes. However, due to their survival instincts, the command pathways would have to be disconnected. Data strongly opposes sending what he considers lifeforms to their deaths, but Riker, while he respects Data's opinion, doesn't have an alternative and approves the plan. When Chief Kelso reports to the bridge that the transporter controls suddenly go dead, Data reveals that he has locked out the controls, preventing the exocomps from being beamed out.
Act FiveEdit
In the observation lounge, Riker issues a direct order to release the transporter lock, but Data stands firm and will not do so, even if it means a court martial. He argues that sacrificing one lifeform for another is not justified, and based on his own experiences, he must believe that, like himself, the exocomps are alive – and therefore have the right to live. Data volunteers to beam over and fix the problem, allowing La Forge and Picard to return. Riker refuses as he knows that at such high levels, the radiation would ionize Data's positronic matrix, killing him. However, Data points out that since he has the power to choose, he is within his rights to sacrifice himself; the exocomps don't have such rights. This gives Riker an idea; he proposes to ask the exocomps if they are willing to perform this mission, which Data finds acceptable.
With their command pathways reconnected, the exocomps do not shut down after being given their instructions. Instead, they change the commands Data had entered, replicate power taps and alter the transporter coordinates to inside the station core instead of in space near the matter stream. Data realizes that, based on their own vast experience aboard the station, they have developed an alternative plan. Riker lets the changes stand, and the exocomps are transported inside. La Forge observes that the exocomps are using their power taps to attune to the particle stream's resonance frequency, so he and Picard use the consoles available to them to assist as best they can. The exocomps succeed, allowing them to distort the frequency. This opens a window for Kelso to beam La Forge and Picard back to the ship. He then tries to beam back the exocomps, but only two could be transported back - realizing that the particle stream had to remain distorted for the transport to succeed, the third exocomp sacrificed itself so that the other two could be rescued.
When the Enterprise departs, Dr. Farallon decides to study the exocomps as intelligent beings rather than as tools to be exploited, and the captain agrees to reexamine the project in a couple of years and make a new recommendation to Starfleet. Once she leaves, Data has a word with Picard, wishing to explain why he was willing to endanger two friend's lives "for several small machines." Picard understands Data's decision had to have been extremely difficult. Data explains that, a few years ago, Picard himself had made a passionate case that helped establish Data's own status as a lifeform. In this scenario, Data had chosen to champion the exocomps for the same reasons. Picard understands, and he notes, "It was the most Human decision you have ever made."
Log entries Edit
Memorable quotesEdit
"I have always been a little suspicious of men in beards."
- - Beverly Crusher, to the bearded Worf, Riker, and La Forge
"My beard is not an affectation!"
- - Riker, to Crusher
"Doctor, if you wish to master the bat'leth sword you must learn to strike and avoid in the same motion."
"I almost got in under your guard, Worf."
- - Worf and Dr. Crusher
"Doctor... are you injured?"
"Only my pride, Data..."
- - Data and Dr. Crusher
"Doctor, what is the definition of life?"
"...That is a big question."
- - Data and Crusher
"Tricorders aren't alive."
"Neither are exocomps!"
- - Crusher and Farallon, debating on whether or not the exocomps are alive
"Data, you're claiming that this exocomp may be alive because it demonstrated survival instincts, right?"
"Then why don't we just threaten its survival again and see what happens?"
"Make it so."
- - La Forge, Data, and Picard
"There is a big difference between Data and a tool."
"Doctor, there is a big difference between you and a virus, but both are alive."
- - Dr. Farallon and Data
"The transporter is not malfunctioning; I have locked out the controls."
- - Data, deciding not to have Riker sacrifice the exocomps to save Picard and La Forge
"When my own status as a living being was in question, you fought to protect my rights. And for that I will always be grateful. The exocomps had no such advocate. If I had not acted on their behalf, they would have been destroyed. I could not allow that to happen sir."
- - Data, on his decision not to allow the exocomps to be sacrificed for Picard and La Forge
"Of course you couldn't. It was the most Human decision you've ever made."
- - Picard, in response to Data
Background information Edit
Production history Edit
- Script: 28 September 1992 [1]
- Premiere airdate: 16 November 1992
- First UK airdate: 6 September 1995
Story and production Edit
- LJ Scott wrote the original material for this episode. He received credit in the end credits of the episode.
Continuity Edit
- LeVar Burton was allowed to regrow his beard for this episode since he needed it for his wedding. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion) However, this time it would not just appear and then disappear again (as it did in "The Outcast"), but it was included into the episode, as well as the previous installment, "A Fistful of Datas" and mentioned on-screen.
- Troi is seen wearing a new hairstyle. Still long and curly, the hair is now off her face and taken back, without the use of a headband. This hairstyle is worn for the rest of the season.
- This is one of the few episodes where the vertical blinds in Doctor Crusher's office in sickbay are opened and a corridor can be seen behind the window.
- When Data explains to Captain Picard his decision on defending the life of the exocomps, he mentions that when his own life was on trial, Picard defended him. This is a reference to the second season episode "The Measure Of A Man".
Video and DVD releases Edit
- As part of the TNG Season 6 Blu-ray collection
- UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video): Volume 68, 7 June 1993
- As part of the TNG Season 6 DVD collection
Links and references Edit
Starring Edit
Also starring Edit
- LeVar Burton as Lt. Cmdr. Geordi La Forge
- Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Worf
- Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher
- Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
- Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data
Guest stars Edit
- Ellen Bry as Farallon
- J. Downing as Kelso
Co-star Edit
Uncredited co-stars Edit
- Lena Banks as operations division ensign
- Joe Bauman as Garvey
- Michael Braveheart as Martinez
- Tracee Lee Cocco as Jae
- John Copage as science division officer
- Tony Cruz as Lopez
- Debra Dilley as operations division ensign
- Hal Donahue as command division lieutenant
- Gina Gallante as science division ensign
- Keith Gearhart as operations division ensign
- Grace Harrell as operations division officer
- Melanie Hathorn as civilian
- Christie Haydon as command division ensign
- Kai as science division officer
- Jana Karson as Tyran technician
- Michael Moorehead as science division ensign
- Ian Ray as Tyran technician
- Sissy Sessions as operations division ensign
- Virginia Simonson as Tyran technician
- Deni Tyler as Tyran technician
- Unknown performers as
Stand-ins Edit
- David Keith Anderson – stand-in for LeVar Burton
- Carl David Burks – stand-in for Brent Spiner
- Michael Echols – stand-in for Michael Dorn
- Nora Leonhardt – stand-in for Marina Sirtis
- Lorine Mendell – stand-in for Gates McFadden
- Geoffrey Mutch – stand-in for Jonathan Frakes
- Richard Sarstedt – stand-in for Jonathan Frakes
- Dennis Tracy – stand-in for Patrick Stewart
References Edit
access tunnel; animal; anthropomorphism; antimatter flow converter; artificial lifeform; axionic chip network; bat'leth; beard; bone; boridium; boridium power cell; boridium power converter; brunette; bulkhead; Carema III; chemical reaction; circuit pathway; command pathway; control pad; court martial offense; Crusher, Wesley; crystal; cup; deflector field; density; depression; diagnostic; "duty calls"; emergency shut down routine; energy; engineering team; exocomp; fashionable; fashion statement; field generator; field ionization effect; fire; food; force field; fracture; hypothesis; insubordination; interlink sequencer; ionic damper; kilograms per minute; level 1 diagnostic; life; lift capacity; main particle impeller; make-up; meter; microfracture; microreplication system; mode stabilizer; molecular fuser; Murphy; nails; nail polish; painting; Particle Fountain Project; percent; philosopher; photon torpedo; plant; plasma conduit; poker; positronic network; power converter; power tap; progenitor; radiation field; razor; reaction chamber; red alert; right; scientist; shaving; shuttlecraft; signal fragmentation; signal lock; Soong, Noonian; Starfleet; Starfleet regulations; suicide; tea; transient overload signal; transporter lock; transporter lockout; transporter pad; Transporter Room 2; transporter system; tricorder; trombone; Tyran; Tyran system; Tyrus VII; Tyrus VIIa; Tyrus VIIa station
External linksEdit
- "The Quality of Life" at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
- "The Quality of Life" at Wikipedia
- "The Quality of Life" at StarTrek.com, the official Star Trek website
- "The Quality of Life" at MissionLogPodcast.com, a Roddenberry Star Trek podcast
| Previous episode:
"A Fistful of Datas"
| Star Trek: The Next Generation
Season 6
| Next episode:
"Chain of Command, Part I"


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The first version of a new Schwab Advisor Center app for the iPhone will launch now that a successful pilot is complete, Charles Schwab announced Thursday.
Independent investment advisors who custody assets with Schwab Advisor Services can now download the mobile app to view their clients' account balances, positions and transactions.
"This first version of the new Schwab Advisor Center app for iPhone includes the features that advisors told us they wanted most," said Steve Hirsch, vice president of institutional web services for Charles Schwab, in a statement. "We have heard that the top priority is fast and convenient access to client account information so advisors can stay informed and on top of their business no matter where they are."
The mobile app is part of an effort to deliver Schwab Advisor Center data where and how advisors need it, according to the company. The center's app for iPad is currently under development and will be available to advisors before the end of the year.
Additionally, advisors' clients who want access to their accounts can use Schwab's mobile apps for iPhone, iPad and Android, as well as Schwab's mobile website to keep up with their accounts and to access features like Schwab Mobile Deposit.
"Our app for the iPhone was well received in pilot," Hirsch said, "and we're listening closely to the feedback we get from advisors and will continue to make enhancements to the app as more clients begin to use it and identify other services they would like to access."
Read Undercover Apps at AdvisorOne.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Mobile systems integrator Mutual Mobile has announced its LaunchPad integrated software testing and deployment platform for mobile enterprise applications. The product is positioned as an antidote to delays caused by rapidly evolving device environments, longer testing/approval cycles and security and management concerns for mobile business apps at scale. Built with an integrated, cross-platform approach to business app development, distribution, QA and management, LaunchPad is intended to give users an easy way to find, download and use mobile business applications via Mutual Mobile's Enterprise App Catalog.
Mutual Mobile says that LaunchPad addresses the full life-cycle of mobile software application development by monitoring version-control systems, building new versions of apps and deploying them over the air to various internal stakeholders. It also gathers feedback using an integrated defect-reporting tool. The web-based administration platform allows developers to access issues reported across the organization and allows administrators to manage access control.
"Agile development, access control, automated updates, and enterprise-level security are essential for the success of internal mobile business applications," said Mickey Ristroph, Mutual Mobile chief technology officer. "LaunchPad provides IT organizations with a platform to deliver mobile apps in a consistent and structured way. LaunchPad will do for businesses what the public app stores did for consumers."
In empirical real-world tests, Mutual Mobile suggests that LaunchPad has already shown that it is capable of reducing testing, approval and deployment cycles by up to 70 percent. The company notes success with companies using the platform to introduce cross-functional distributed teams into the application life-cycle and bring apps to production faster. With support for iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone, LaunchPad's central technology proposition is an opportunity to cross the hurdles that organizations face in developing and deploying mobile apps across increasingly diverse mobile devices.


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Urban wildlife 'invaders' - in pictures
It won't be long before you see wild boar in suburban areas, say experts, who claim unusual spiders, fish, birds of prey and insects are now boldly colonising the urban environment. Local authorities, needless to say, are becoming worried . Here's some of the creatures making a beeline for the city


text: Even as President Obama's talking points champion the middle class and condemn how our economy caters to the very rich, the truth behind modern American capitalism is a story of continued inequality and hardship. Even a modest increase in the minimum wage -- as suggested by the president -- faces opposition from those who apparently pledge allegiance first and foremost to America's wealthy and powerful. Yet some aren't just wringing their hands about our economic crisis; they're fighting back. On this week's Moyers & Company (check local listings), economist Richard Wolff joins Bill to shine light on the disaster left behind in capitalism's wake, and discusses how to battle for economic justice. A noted professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and now visiting professor at Manhattan's New School, Wolff has written many books on the effects of rampant capitalism, including Capitalism Hits the Fan. Also on the broadcast, activist and author Saru Jayaraman marches on Washington with restaurant workers struggling to make ends meet, and talks about how we can best support their right to a fair wage. Jayaraman is the co-founder and co-director of the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, which works to improve pay and working conditions for America's 10 million-plus restaurant workers. She is also the author of Behind the Kitchen Door, a new expose of the restaurant industry.


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If thermoblocks are any good, will they be the answer to cheaper better machines?
I haven't seen any reviews of this yet but for $750, it's a lot of espresso machine but the cost saving seems to come from throwing away the boilers adn using separate thermoblocks for steam and brewing. The steam one is a fairly basic unit but the brewing one is rumoured to have a reservoir. There's a sort of PiD controlling temperature but it's a bit worrying to see 107°C on the display in the manufacturer's photograph. In theory, a thermoblock should be easier to control precisely than a half litre reservoir.
But has anyone tried one or tasted the results???


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I'm in Minneapolis, a day early (and possibly a dollar short). I'm here for a conference that starts on Wednesday, so I don't really need to be here until tomorrow. However, a couple weeks ago, before being invited to attend the Grace Hopper Conference, I learned that a former coworker and someone I consider a friend and mentor, has stage-IV pancreatic cancer. I used to teach with Melinda at The Yellow Nunnery. Then I moved back to her home state of California, and she and her husband retired to Honduras (I always mistakenly think she is in Nicaragua). Melinda is one of those people that has been on my list to visit along with friends in Morocco, Spain, and Australia. I made it to two of the four places this year.
So when I learned that Melinda was undergoing treatment in a hospital in Wisconsin, and that I was going to Minnesota, I scheduled my trip a day early so that I could drive the five hours across the state border. But I didn't make concrete plans of anything because, by then, she was leaving the hospital for the final time and settling in for hospice care. And I know that a lot can change in two weeks, especially since she'd only been eating ice chips for the previous three weeks. Considering the immense pain she was in, I was secretly hoping that her god would be swift and merciful.
Before I got on the plane this morning, I left her a message that I was on my way to the midwest. As I debarked, I read a message from her husband that said she'd slipped into a coma and things were progressing quickly. I left him voicemail. Awkward voicemail. This is one of those times that I never know the right things to say. I told him that I was going to stay put in Minnesota. I didn't want to intrude on their grieving process. This is time for family.
Besides, I have my own grieving process for the world losing another intelligent, strong-willed, powerful woman. It includes sitting in a strange place, drinking a beer, and typing on my laptop. Melinda is adventurous and curious. So in her honor, I'm exploring and I'm enjoying life. I'm eating and savoring the flavors of food and drink since she couldn't consume anything but water for the last few weeks of her life. I may have just squandered calories on a plate of fried, gouda mac & cheese balls with spicy catsup along with a Summit Extra Pale Ale at Brit's Pub & Eating Establishment in downtown Minnesota while watching people play lawn bowling on the rooftop bar. But the calories were worth sinking my teeth through the hot (Minnesota-hot, not Thai-hot) tomato sauce into a crispy coating around a ball of gooey goodness.
As I type this, the sun is setting behind one building while it reflects off the windows of another. I find myself in the juxtaposition of being blinded in the shade while contemplating life and death and what we all mean.


text:
Network camera recorder
- Monitor live and recorded images of your IP camera network
- H.264, MPEG-4 and JPEG recording and monitoring
- Flexible layout
- Remote access
- Supports 1280 x 960 resolution
HNP17 allows full monitoring and recording of your IP cameras. Allowing up to 64 cameras to be registered it is ideal for small-medium IP applications. The flexible layout allows full and multi screen options and switching between cameras.


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Chefs Love This Little-Known Anti-Inflammatory Pantry Staple
It's fair to say that Middle Eastern cuisine is having a moment in the U.S. Ushered in by chefs like Yotam Ottolenghi, who sang praises of unfamiliar-sounding spice blends (za'atar? Ha-whatta?), heretofore "exotic" ingredients are becoming more mainstream in kitchens across the country—and a husband-and-wife-owned Brooklyn company is leading that charge.
Leetal and Ron Arazi didn't set out to start a food company. When they moved to New York from Israel, they were surprised by how difficult their favorite spices and seasonings were to come by, even in a major metropolitan center. "It was hard for me to believe that we are in NYC, food hub of the world, and the za'atar I just purchased had food coloring in it," says Leetal. "Instead of complaining about it, we decided to do something about it. We felt the need to be proactive in keeping our food traditions alive."
It didn't hurt that their skill sets were perfectly suited to creating a consumable product. The couple actually met while working in a restaurant in Israel, where Ron was a chef and Leetal was a pastry cook who also did food styling and photography.
Their company, christened New York Shuk, contains five types of harissa, including both pastes and ground spices; a preserved lemon paste; and a line of Middle Eastern spices, including za'atar, baharat, shawarma, hawaij, and ras el hanout. The blends have won over everyone from Chrissy Teigen to Food Network star Molly Yeh with their high-quality, organic ingredients and bold, unique flavors.
The couple hopes to encourage home cooks to think outside cuisine-specific cooking and utilize the spices in everyday meals. "We don't want folks to associate 'harissa' with 'couscous' and 'tagine' but use it as a tool to upgrade their cooking across all applications, cuisines, and ingredients," Leetal says.
The preserved lemon paste, for instance, "has been a game changer in our kitchen." Chefs love preserved lemon, which is just fermented, whole lemons, as a one-hit wonder way to add salt, umami, sourness, and acid to a dish, all with just one ingredient. Leetal loves to use it to bring greens to life: "Just a dollop of preserved lemon paste and a drizzle of olive oil, and you have the best salad dressing." It's also great over fish, in soups, or in pastas—essentially, anything that needs a brighter, poppier flavor.
Harissa is another staple for chefs including Anna Jones, who keeps it on hand to punch up weeknight meals like hummus or pasta with red sauce. Sumac adds a citrus zest to fresh-cut vegetables and works well in dressings and marinades, while hawaij, a turmeric-based blend, can be used to roast vegetables, as a rub for chicken or fish, in soups or stews, and more.
If your ears perked up at the mention of turmeric, a lauded anti-inflammatory spice, you're not wrong—all of the ingredients are rich in health benefits. The lemon paste is fermented and contains gut-healing Lactobacillus bacteria as such, alongside vitamin C from the lemons, making it an immune-boosting one-two punch. Harissa has a chili-pepper base, which means it contains capsaicin, shown in studies to boost metabolism, fight inflammation, and more. Sumac has been found to balance blood sugar, while hawaij, in addition to turmeric, contains cumin and cardamom, both of which are rich in anti-inflammatory polyphenols.
For Leetal, the wellness benefits extend far beyond what the studies show. "Our products are meant to help you cook more at home," she says. "It doesn't need to be fancy, just a simple home-cooked meal shared by family and friends. Gathering around the table and sharing a meal is sometimes more vital for our mental health than anything else."
New York Shuk spice blends, harissa, and preserved lemon paste are available on NYShuk.com.
And do you want your passion for wellness to change the world? Become A Functional Nutrition Coach! Enroll today to join live July office hours.


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For all the contentiousness of the presidential debates, both parties could agree on one thing: Flaming death from the sky, now and forever. The use of unmanned drones to surveil and occasionally blow up brown people is so accepted as a matter of course, the Worldwide Leader in Sports didn't hesitate to add its expertise to help the program run as efficiently as possible.
According to USA Today, the military's main problem is collecting and processing the staggering amount of data being captured by drones—327,384 hours' worth last year. So the Air Force approached ESPN, asking how they do it:
Air Force officials have met with the sports cable network ESPN to discuss how it handles large amounts of video that stream in. The visit resulted in no technological breakthroughs, but helped in developing training and expertise, the Air Force said.
Certainly ESPN has a massive operation capable of quickly turning scores of games into easily digestible highlights. I'm just not sure how effective the Air Force's drones are going to be when they're covering New York and Boston 90 percent of the time.


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Our ministry meets every Friday Night at 7 PM during the school year. Check our calendar here for meeting place details. This is our weekly large-group meeting where we get together as a community of believers to celebrate and worship God and to connect with one another. Our location may vary so check the calendar for up to date information. We hope you will join us, whether you consider yourself a Christian or not!
Aside from our weekly meetings, FOCUS also has smaller communities called "Cores" that meet on weeknights throughout the school year. These same-gender groups, facilitated by student leaders, allow for deeper discussion and the chance to share in each other's lives. This is one of the main places students form long-lasting, close-knit friendships in our community. We refer to these groups as cores because they are the core of our ministry.
Since our main mission is to "make and mature disciples" for Christ, we strive to ensure that each and every person in our ministry is growing as a follower and student of Jesus. Our student leaders and staff pastors take time to minister to others one on one through direct study of the Bible and Christ-centered principles, with the intent of training others to teach Christ to the people in their lives. We hope every student in FOCUS takes the opportunity to get involved in a Core and develop a deep spiritual friendship through a one-on-one study.
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17 Cocktails for a Romantic Valentine's Day
All the recipes you need for cocktails, juice blends, milkshakes and more.
What makes a cocktail good for Valentine's Day? To start, it should be the sort of thing your loved one loves, whether that means a gin drink or a bourbon drink, a fruity drink or a fizzy drink. Our favorite Valentine's Day cocktails are flavorful and colorful, whether that means delicately pink or boldly red, fresh and light or strong and boozy. Some have a floral side, just in case you forgot to order that pretty bouquet from your local florist.
Here are 17 ideas for a pre- (or post!) Valentine's-dinner drink. Check them all in the slideshow, or skip directly to each recipe below.
Check out the Recipes:
- Sparkling Jungle Bird
- The Paper Plane
- Roses in the Snow
- Tart Cherry Cocktail
- La Vie en Rose
- The Chocolate Rye
- The Portland 75
- Averna Buena
- Pom Pomme
- Negroni D'Amore
- Lavender French 75
- Etre en Verve
- The Devereaux
- Hard Cider and Crème Yvette Sparkler
- Upgraded Cosmopolitan
- The Dutchess
- My Sharona
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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Abortion, abstinence, angel, angels can't read minds, annulment, Annunciation, authority, Be it done unto me according to your word, Behold, bible, biological material, Birth Control, blaspheme, bodily autnomy, Bodily Autonomy, bodily integrity, body, born, Catechism, Catholic, Catholic Church, cesarean, chastity, Childbirth, Christ, compromise, conceive, conceived, Conception, consent, consent to pregnancy, corpses, crime, criminal, cycle, dead body, deadly, death, death penalty, deceased, desecration, dignity, disabling mutilation, disposable, donor body, double effect, dying, ecclesiastical, ectopic, Embryo, erroneous Catholic teaching, euthanasia, evil, exception, excommunication, experimentation, explicit consent, exploitation, exploited, fallopian tube, fallopian tubes, feminism, fertility, fetus, fifth commandment, flesh, force, Gabriel, gestation, giving birth, God saves, God's will, Gospel, health, hierarchy, Holy Spirit, hormonal, humility, I am the handmaid of the Lord, illness, impact, implantation, indulgence, infallible, intellect, intent, Jesus, John, just war, late-term, legitimate defense, lethal force, life, life begins, Life-at-conception, life-threatening, love, Luke, Luke 1:26-38, Maria Goretti, Marriage, Mary, medical, medical rights, medicine, misogyny, moderate, most high, Mother of God, natural, natural order, nine months, No word from God will ever fail, openness to life, Organ Donation, ovulation, personhood, precious, Pregnancy, Pregnant, pregnant people, Prejudice, priest, Privacy, Pro-Choice, Pro-Life, Procreation, proportionate, proportionate force, Rape, rapist, Religion, reproduction, respect for the person, risk, sacred, science, scientific research, secular, self-defense, servant, sexism, Sexual assault, sexual predator, sexuality, Silence, sin, soldier, speak for God, Suicide, termination, the Church is in error, The Kingdom, theology, unborn, uterus, vestments, viability, Violent, virgin, virgin girl, Virgin Mary, virtue, warlord, woman, word made flesh, word of God, Zechariah, Zechariah's silence, Zygote, zygotes
Regarding the issue of abortion, the Catholic Church is in error.
It is no blaspheme to say so. Theological standards require that infallible doctrine apply to the entire Church, and never target an individual or a particular group of people. The Church's pronouncements against abortion, however, remove rights deemed universal exclusively from the pregnant.
The error applies specifically to abortion conducted before the point of viability, or the point at which a fetus is developed enough to live unattached to another human being. This error, in other words, applies to the vast majority of intentional termination.
Post-viability abortion is intrinsically different, in terms of both impact and intent.
In terms of intent, the person who has voluntarily endured six months or more of pregnancy is demonstrably planning to give birth. Personally (and legally, in almost every location) it would take nothing short of a calamitous prognosis at this point to convince doctors and parents that death is the best course of action. Most commonly, it is a fetal health anomaly guaranteeing the unborn a short life of struggle and pain, or a life like perpetual coma, without hope of interaction. In these cases, the end of pregnancy is incidental to the situation, not the ultimate goal.
Late-term abortion, in other words, is not abortion. It is euthanasia.
Though comprising a very small proportion of intentional termination, post-viability abortion is predominantly singled out by pro-life literature. Images of women with pronounced pregnant bellies, terms like "fetus," and references to dismemberment are common indicators that the protester believes all abortions occur late-term. To make the case against it, some present graphic descriptions of the removal of the deceased's body out-of-context, as though the unborn was killed in a manner without parallel. However, the method of death is, as prescribed with every act of euthanasia, lethal injection. The remains are collected in the manner least dangerous to the pregnant person (as is also the case with late-term miscarriage).
In terms of impact, there may be few circumstances where post-viability abortion occurs in defense of life, as gestation can usually be ended by an induced, non-lethal early labor involving the same degree of risk for the pregnant person as a late-stage termination.
Abortion pre-viability, however, constitutes the lowest threshold of force for the removal of risk from one person at the expense of another. It therefore constitutes legitimate self-defense and cannot be infallibly condemned.
Contrary to what has been claimed by some who are pro-life, pregnancy and childbirth always include a very real risk of dying. This is why people tend to give birth under the direct supervision of medical professionals who keep sterilized surgical equipment at the ready, and it is why, throughout gestation, doctors carefully monitor the pregnant person's health. Pregnancy can cause spiking and plummeting blood pressure, deadly clots, strokes, and heart-attacks. Hormone-related psychosis, depression, and other disorders which (because of pregnancy) are not treated with prescription pills have even taken their share of lives via suicide. Everyone who died giving birth or under the cesarean knife would have lived had they instead chosen a safe, legal abortion during the typical first trimester.
Nor is there any knowing in advance who will die. Every pregnant one is risking death. Hence, every pregnant person is entitled to defend her own life in this manner.
Contrary to what some may argue specifically in this context, we are not obliged to shrug off risk to our own lives as unimportant when demise is not guaranteed. Nor are we expected to defend ourselves in a haphazard fashion; a less-than-certain hazard of death does not require a defense that is less-than-certain to kill. A moderate use of force requires rather that we are to employ in our own defense nothing in excess of the force required to remove the risk of death. Up until viability, lethal force is the minimum amount necessary to ending the pregnancy; hence, abortion is the moderate use of force.
Some do not like the categorization of abortion as self-defense for the reason that they would rather not place the unborn in the same category as any violent criminal. This, however, is bias – and it undermines one of the Catholic Church's foundational teachings. That is, all people are equally, incalculably, precious. When removed from battle, a child-soldier, blameless and vulnerable, is to be shown the same mercy as the commanding warlord. The rights of others dictate, however, that while posing an active threat, either might be killed in self-protection.
Legitimate defense is not a proclamation of guilt, nor a dismissal of human value. No crime makes a person unworthy of living. It is simply the Church's position that when two lives are in conflict, neither is obligated to forfeit for the good of the other. As the Catechism states, "one is bound to take more care of one's own life than of another's."
The fact that the Church classifies abortion as a special kind of sin, resulting in instant excommunication for the pregnant person and doctors involved, emphasizes the targeted and discriminatory nature of this teaching. Unlike the soldier joining, in good faith, what seems to be a Just War, or the sovereign who orders the death of a citizen in pursuit of societal safety, the woman who is pregnant and chooses abortion (along with those who serve her) are presumed to be acting with mal intent and operating without the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. The demonstrable good of her continued existence on this planet is not considered, or else is worth nothing, such that abortion is purported evil by nature.
In cases where the error of this assumption are glaring, Catholic thinkers have exercised mental acrobatics to deny it the medical context proclaimed by secular feminism.
In an ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo is found developing without a uterus, it is clear that termination will save the life of the pregnant person, and that the unborn will otherwise not have long to live. Still, the preservation of one of those lives can only be accomplished by such pretended accident as might require, for instance, the removal of a woman's fallopian tube.
In impact and action, this is abortion. A willing deed ends one life early and saves another. But, by a discriminating twist of logic, it is reasoned that intending the action that will certainly cause death is not the exact same thing as intending the death itself. So this is not abortion.
But it would be, if the embryo were removed through a tubal incision small enough to heal.
We see by this example that a condemnation of abortion requires that sanctity of heart and mind not meant to be trespassed, even by angels, to be plastered over with assigned purpose. Neither the woman seeking an abortion nor the doctors helping her are granted the privacy of their own intentions. For them, and only for them, benign intent must be externally demonstrated in order to exist. What satisfies the Church that they mean well, furthermore, is singularly the removal of a piece of her body. This is nothing but abortion pre-absolved – by the sacrifice of one's fertility and the physical assurance of her lifelong suffering. It is an ordered corruption of indulgence.
Denying pregnant people their medical rights in order to maintain that abortion is wrong does nothing to disprove the medical nature of abortion. If sin cannot be justified by the avoidance of harm, then sin cannot be required as a condition for the avoidance of sin. Non-therapeutic amputations, mutilations, and sterilizations are explicitly-listed sins against bodily integrity. In this context, the removal of an entire fallopian tube is all of the above.
Consideration for respect of the person and scientific research led the Church to rule concretely that it is "not morally admissible to bring about the disabling mutilation or death of a human being, even in order to delay the death of other persons." As the best possible outcome of tubal removal for an ectopic embryo is the delay of death, such mutilation serves no ethical purpose. In removing a pregnant person's risk of death entirely, however, direct abortion is an application of legitimate defense – in keeping with the fifth commandment and the spirit of defending life.
Nor is respect for the person to be undermined in the interests of saving life. The donation of one's bodily organs is hailed by the Church as an act of love and compassion, but is "not morally acceptable" if the donor has not issued explicit consent.
Even when the donor body is no longer alive, and sharing of its parts endangers no one, it must be unambiguously established that the deceased had intended donation. In condemning abortion, the Church has established that the dead possess more rights than the living pregnant person. For, as has been pointed out, every act of pregnancy requires the donation of one's organs and the accompanying compromise of one's health.
Symptoms of a typical pregnancy would certainly be termed illness – and often severe illness – if experienced by any category other than the pregnant. Nine months is a long time to be so incapacitated, but many of these symptoms, such as tooth decay, have permanent effects. Childbirth and the major abdominal surgery known as cesarean sections are, of course, objectively damaging in the best of circumstances and require many weeks and months of medical recovery. Very often the person bringing life into the world sustains serious injuries rarely acknowledged. Tissue damage may result in enduring painful intercourse, lost libido, or incontinence. Irreparable pelvic fractures are also very common.
Explicitly, the Church holds as the organizing principle for the regulation of human bodies, the fifth commandment. The value of life. But where it is not argued that the individual is the appointed guardian of her own life, and it has not been established that the insides of our bodies are as private or as sacred as the insides of our minds, it is taken for granted that violations of body are wrong for the reason that they go against a certain order established by the Church.
Consent does not justify medical experimentation enacted voyeuristically. Consent is not the baseline for determining what constitutes a desecration of the dead. The Church establishes the order, and in so doing, places the human body firmly under its own jurisdiction. Ecclesiastical authority can say that pregnancy does not violate its integrity – even when bones break, muscles tear, and hearts stop. Even when the person who is pregnant does not will it, and is screaming for it to end. There can be no violation because, as regards the pregnant, it has established that this is what their bodies are for and this is what their lives are for.
The fact that sexual assault appears in the section of the Catechism listing sins against chastity, rather than those entailing sins against health, freedom, bodily integrity, or respect for the person, speaks further to this troubling assumption: it is the business of the Church to regulate, not the pure morality of how people treat one another, but the material usage of bodies. With relation to all things sexual, it is human reproduction the establishment seeks to command.
This is why, though it was never acceptable to kill an attempting rapist, it was once taught as valiant to kill yourself in the event that you were a virgin girl who otherwise would be raped. Saint Maria Goretti, who died fighting off a sexual predator, is still commemorated at the pulpit for "defending her virtue unto death."
What sole, unspoken virtue could there be in a young woman's death – except the prevention of a baby, whose very existence outside the bounds of sacrament would sully institution?
It is not by reasoning, but by the default prejudice known to feminists as "sexism" that we have always determined something in a woman more precious than her life. And by that same determination, we have reduced what life may be within her to exploited, "disposable biological material," however hard we preach to the contrary.
When we include those zygotes who fail to implant, three-quarters of all persons conceived are never born. That the Church nevertheless will demand unprotected sex between married persons is a valuation unexamined. It states that an infant is worth the sacrifice of every life lost in utero. In the Church's eyes, the born child is worth more – by far – than the zygote or the embryo.
The Church's teachings against birth control further are a statement that allegiance to natural order as defined by institution are of greater import than human life or dignity. Science informs us, in fact, there are many more zygotes lost in the course of natural ovulation cycles than could be in the storied event of breakthrough ovulation, as it may occur within wombs too thinned by hormonal birth control to sustain life. Assuming hormonal birth control even does thin the uterine lining and hinder implantation. The jury is still out.
So, too, the teachings on marriage requiring openness to life, while maintaining that perpetual abstinence is sin. A discovery that one partner entered the union with no willingness to have children qualifies a union for annulment – a disavowal that true love ever existed. In pursuit of procreation, the Church makes the statement – never mind the fact that Jesus' parents followed quite a different model – that this is what your marriage is for. This is what your love is for.
This is the context by which abortion is without conceivable merit. The great evil is not death – for all lives are equal and every child born requires the risk of another. What rankles so is the insubordination; the fact – the known fact – that a pregnant person made a choice about it.
Let it rankle and be known, however – the Virgin Mary is pro-choice.
It says so in the bible.
In Luke's gospel, the angel Gabriel does not frame it as question, but fact – that Mary the virgin will be overshadowed by the power of the Most High, will become pregnant and will give birth to a baby, whose job it will be to save all the people of God. (Luke 1:26-38). The Annunciation ends with Gabriel's insistence that no word from God will ever fail.
Mary tells him, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to your word."
This is not a yielding, simple, sweet agreement. Mary's first word is the literal demand – look at me. And, contrary to what most think, that line about being the handmaid of the Lord is anything but self-dismissal. For context, we need to look at the story immediately before the Annunciation – the one where Gabriel appears to Mary's cousin, Zechariah.
Line by line, this conversation (Luke 1:5-20) reads as a foil for the second. Both visits begin with Gabriel suddenly appearing, telling the human not to be afraid, and proclaiming a boy will be born to change the fate of the world. In both cases, the human wants to know how it is even possible to expect a baby, given how old he is on the one hand and how unmarried she is on the other.
It is in answer to Zechariah's skepticism that the angel self-identifies as a servant of God, whose words reflect God's will. Then Gabriel tells the old man that, because he failed to believe the angel's words, he will be silent until the prophecy comes true. (Accordingly, Zechariah can not speak again until he supports his wife in naming their baby John.)
When they come from an angel or a man in gleaming vestments, claims of serving God are hailed as proof of a special proximity to heaven. He uses this claim to imply that he, better than others, is able to decipher the Lord's will. And if no word from God will fail, speaking for God makes one infallible.
But enter the maiden – poor and young. Never having commanded angelic legions in heaven's defense, and making no claims to any standing in divine presence. She is bold for no reason – except faith. Where Zechariah was shut up by Gabriel's humble-brags of higher service, Mary makes the angel look her in the eyes. Mary speaks of her own service to God. And Mary tells the angel famously, "Be it done unto me according to your word."
So active and forceful is her consent – practically a command – the annunciation is painted as a sort of proposal in most biblical interpretations. But she answered a question that was never asked. By her yes, Mary asserts, against the angel's presumption, that she has the right to say no.
This is a stand that flies in the face of erroneous Catholic teaching. The girl is not consenting to sexual activity that may or may not lead to pregnancy. She is consenting to her pregnancy in the moment after learning there is a person – with a name, a gender, and a destiny – whose life depends on her.
Mary's faith in God was not the type of faith that could be blinded. She could not be silenced, like Zechariah, because she believed no word from God would ever fail – and if the word of God was in the angel who served her , she knew the word of God was in her own voice, too.
Mary's love for God was not the type of love that would let her forget the dignity of her own person. So she told the angel yes, even though she wasn't asked.
It was in that very act of choosing that Christ was made, before the angel's eyes, from a perfect foretold prophecy to a person of flesh, who might be denied. Without that yes in honor of his mother's personhood, there could be no honor given to the personhood of Christ.
Let Mary teach us, in a spirit of humility, to halt our quest for The Kingdom where it causes us to tramp beyond the veil of a breathing human's flesh. We do not honor children by removing from their parents such rights as we still give to corpses.


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By Karin Calloway
Creamy Onion Soup
The transformation from raw onion to melted, sweet cooked onions is one of the truly amazing culinary conversions. What once made you cry, turns into something smooth and luscious. The perfect example of this transformation is in onion soup, and I've come up with a quick and creamy version that is full of mellow onion flavor.
Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add sliced onions, reduce heat to medium and sauté, stirring often, for 15 minutes, until onions are wilted and beginning to caramelize. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Add the broths and simmer 10 minutes. Add whipping cream and 1 cup of cheddar cheese and simmer 5 to 10 minutes more.
Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with additional shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses.


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Swamp Buggy Racing - Ultimate Waterproofing
Tips From The Kings Of Submersion
If you wheel your 4x4 in water and you want to learn the finer points of waterproofng, take a gander at the swamp buggies that race at the Florida Sports Park in Naples, Florida. The builders of these rigs are deep- water geniuses who have figured out how to keep their rigs running, even when using them as submarines.
Swamp buggy racing is unlike any other type of off-road racing. The majority of the course is covered in 17-19 inches of water, and there are two "sippi" holes that are 5½ feet in depth. Jeep-class rigs become almost totally submerged in the sippi holes, and often only the head of each passenger and the vehicle's rollcage is visible as the rig powers along under water. To keep things running while submerged, the rigs are completely waterproofed. How this is done is fascinating and ranges from standard preparation to homegrown tricks.We had a chance to look at a variety of competitors and found that each driver's individual ap-proach varies, but the goal is the same -- seal up all of the components so that the machine will run while under water. We also took a look at the faster classes of buggies that don't become completely submerged but do have to deal with vast amounts of water spray as they skim over the water at high speed.
In the end, the extreme waterproofng that the swamp buggy racers use can serve as a guide for those of us who put our rigs in water, either on purpose or inadvertently.
Silicone, and other types of sealants, is used liberally to keep water out of components. This is the carb on Wayne Miller's "Phantom" Jeep and as you can see it's slathered in silicone. Many drivers apply silicone to the inside of the air intake tube at the carburetor before clamping the two together to ensure a waterproof seal. It may not look pretty, but it works. The fuel cell feeding the carb gasoline also undergoes a total sealing to ensure water doesn't intrude, as does not-often-thought-of things like the engine oil dipstick tube.
Distributors are used on some of the engines and the sealing procedure varies. In the Jeep class, where the distributor can be completely submerged, drivers seal the distributor to keep water out, like the one shown. This unit has been slathered with inexpensive duct sealant. In the faster classes that do not submerge the distributor, it's often covered by a tire inner tube that is left open at the bottom so the distributor won't sweat.
This Jeep-class rig has a water break in front of the engine pulleys. At speed, this device helps keep water from forcing its way around the timing gear gasket and into the engine.
As a rule, the engine air intake needs to be at the highest point possible on a rig. Here are two examples found on Jeep-class machines.
On the top is a homemade box made from 1⁄8-inch-thick sheetmetal and air duct vents. Inside is a paper filter and it works in conjunction with the box to trap moisture from water spray. Down is an intake that is recessed in the custom roof of a rig.
Keeping water out of the faster buggies with sealed bodywork can be as simple as using a chunk of rubber from an inner tube. This chunk was used to seal the area where an axletube traveled through bodywork.
The go-fast buggies are generally designed with the driver positioned ahead of the water spray. This cockpit area rarely becomes submerged, so there isn't a significant emphasis placed on sealing things like gauges -- a clear plastic bag and zip ties can do the trick. However, gauges in the Jeep-class rigs will often become submerged in the 5½-foot-deep sippi holes, so drivers will either mount them high in the rig or slather them in silicone to prolong their life.
Some of the go-fast buggies that have enclosed bodywork are equipped with air intake lines that stretch to the front of the rig so the engine can get an ample supply of clean, steam-free air. Eddie Chesser's rig is fitted with five 4-inch tubes that connect to the aluminum air intake box. This box was custom made to fit inside the rig's bodywork.
Because the axles are submerged in cool water during the race, many of the Jeep-class buggies don't use venting on the differentials because they don't generate enough heat to warrant a vent. However, the differentials are enclosed on the buggies with full bodywork, so each is typically fitted with a filtered vent tube.
Exhaust pipes in the Jeep class are typically routed straight up from the engine above the water line so as not to allow water to enter the engine and to allow the engine to freely exhale.
Some race vehicles use a distributorless ignition system. This system utilizes a crankshaft gear and a crank sensor, which is impervious to water. Some teams use a cover of some sort to keep the crank sensor from being damaged or clogged. The electronics on Clay Madl's Jeep-class rig are mounted in a waterproof case that is mounted high on the cowl. All of the areas where wires pass through the case are sealed with silicone to prevent water intrusion.
The go-fast buggies typically mount the engine radiator at the rear of the machine, while the Jeep-class vehicles tend to use one of two locations. Some use a small radiator at the front of the rig in the standard mounting location, while others mount a fullsize radiator high on the rear of the rig. We're told that the downside to the small, front-mounted radiator is that engine runtime is limited due to heat buildup from the high rpm's the mandatory four-cylinder engines turn during racing.
Some Jeep-class rigs use a manual rack-and-pinion steering setup. Even a homemade boot, pictured here, can help keep water out. Even with the boot, racers told us that they have to disassemble and clean the system after each racing weekend because water and sand gets in. On that note, we're also told items like the starter are often disassembled and cleaned after a weekend of racing. One driver told us that he can get about two years of service from a starter by keeping it clean. Naturally, all the lubrication fluids are drained from driveline components after every racing weekend as well.
Want More Swamp Buggy Stuff?
Stayed tuned to Four Wheeler for in-depth (no pun intended) coverage of the World Famous Swamp Buggy Races from Naples, Florida. The photos and tech from this one-of-kind event will fascinate you!


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Serengeti Bushtops
Serengeti Bushtops is a stylish, permanent tented camp, situated in the Wogakuria area of the northern Serengeti, not far from the Mara River. Between June and November this is usually one of the best areas to stay to try and catch a glimpse of a dramatic wildebeest river crossing. The camp is set over a large area – it's a 1km walk from the first tent to the last tent – and with only 13 tents, they are significantly more private, and isolated, than other camps in the area.
Continue reading our full report on Bushtops
Our view of Bushtops
Serengeti Bushtops is remarkably stylish, and the rooms very spacious and private. The service seemed friendly and efficient. It lacks the communal 'bushcamp' feel of some of the smaller, more intimate camps in the area – and is a little more 'hotel-like' and formal – but for those wanting privacy and luxury this could be a good choice.
Read the Owner's description of Bushtops
Bushtops: Traveller ratings
Serengeti Bushtops is located in the north west of the Serengeti National Park


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An Exclusively Capitalist Reason to Recycle?
Some writers compare environmentalism to a religion. As with most issues, if we look close enough, there's a lot of middle ground to be shared.… Read more
Posted in Design, Energy, Government Tagged biological nutrients, carpet, carpet fiber, Cradle to Cradle, David French, environmentalism, landfill, local government, Michael Braungart, Mohawk Group, National Review, New York Times, pet, plastic bottles, recycle, recycling, recycling center, reduce, reuse, technical nutrients, toxic materials, waste stream, Williams McDonough Leave a comment


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Sunjewels Organics
Sunjewels Organics
Who said healthy can't be delicious? SunJewels Organics presents a fresh new line of premium, organic, dried fruits, nuts, and other natural delights that will satisfy your hunger while nourishing your body. All of SunJewels products are certified organic and most are raw-vegan friendly.
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Clay Buchholz went 3+ innings (facing two batters in the fourth): 5 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), 3 walks, 5 strikeouts, 70 pitches (38 strikes, 32 balls). As MLB.com notes:
Buchholz struck out four consecutive Dodgers at one point, but also allowed seven consecutive batters to reach base in the four-run third inning ...Some cool Stat of the Day links:
There have been six starts since 1956 in which the starting pitcher lasted only one pitch.
Which batter has had the most four-strikeout games in his career?
Since 1956, there have been three pitchers who have gone two consecutive starts without a retiring a batter.
Guess who had the top salary for 2007. (see lower left corner)


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While I have always tried to be truthful and revelatory when writing posts for this blog, in this post I am probably speaking with the most candor, bluntness, and with the rawest language I have used in a long time. I don't see the need for a trigger warning, except that I am speaking about negative events and feelings I have been keeping private for a long time. Also, I will be using more profanity that my readers are used to seeing here on WWA. If that doesn't scare you, read on. I should warn you that some of this may not read very cohesively and might seem like a very long rant, but I have had a need for a long time to say some of these things.
Isolation and Loneliness
When I was a little girl, I was a veritable chatterbox. Some of my earliest memories from around age five or six involve inundating other children, people my family knew, and my own parents with an explosion of words – what I was thinking or feeling, what I had been reading, things I'd seen earlier in the day that I thought were really marvelous, spectacular, or even beautiful, and so forth. I'm even guessing that some of these were lengthy descriptions of something related to my Aspie "special interests". I remember Dad having to tell me to stop chatting and eat my food at dinner, as I would stop eating at some points and just start talking.
You probably wouldn't think that the above description fits me if you were to meet me today. Yes, it is true that I can be very opinionated and expressive. In the past, I've not hesitated to "put myself out there" in terms of my poetry, my experiences with being an Aspie, or other things that interest me (anyone that's chatted with me online about The Doors can attest to this). However, within the last few years I have been finding myself feeling more isolated and lonely than I have since I was a teenager in the small town in which I grew up, trying to negotiate the social landscape.
Believing that it was not wise to allow too much personal information about myself on the Internet, I chose not to speak of my experiences and feelings in this regard until now. In and of itself, this would not be a big deal. However, events were going on in mine and my fiancé's lives that only worked to add distrust and paranoia to our already growing sense isolation. Our family was certainly of no help and in many cases, caused the very problems we were experiencing. Other events upon which I do not care to elaborate began to make us feel even less secure and more fearful. Although it may not seem obvious to those who know me from the autism and poetry communities, I was beginning to feel the need to close myself off and withdraw. And that, my friends, was where I began to lose the idea that I understood or had a true grasp on reality.
What does this have to do with autism or Asperger's? Plenty. I'm sure there are many autistics or Aspies reading this right now who can identify with the feelings of isolation and loneliness of which I speak. While I fight for the emphasis of the positive things that autism can bring to our lives – our unique talents and gifts that enrich ourselves, our families, and our societies – I also believe in authenticity and honesty in revealing my personal and unique autistic experience. We need to be honest about the loneliness and isolation we may feel plus the difficulties we experience while navigating a neurotypical world. I figure it's been long overdue for me to talk about this in my own life.


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Figure Code26B cm 30 (11,8 inch) DIY undressed Homobonus Nativity in wood and copperThe Homobonus undressd Nativity is a refined collector's item created for nativity scene designers and do-it-yourself enthusiasts. The wooden statues of the characters are distinguished by the warmth and naturalness of the faces.The size refers to the scale of the nativity scene and not to the single statue. Each piece is finished and painted by hand, so the photos may differ in some detail. 100% Made in Italy.For any questions please contact our Customer Service.
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One of the best parts of this online community is the sharing and building off others' ideas. My friend, Teacher Tom, started his Little World Experiment and the idea nagged at me until I finally had to implement a version myself. Wee World started as a St. Patrick's Day activity and eventually morphed into an outdoor center for imaginative play. At the end of our year last year, I packed everything away so the new class could start fresh and make a Wee World of their very own. Granted they are using some of the same materials, but it is interesting to watch this new group explore and develop what they want this area to be. They have only played in Wee World a handful of times, but it is already a very imaginative, innovative place to be on the playground.I can't wait to see how this will grow as the children do. For now, I'll happily watch them explore and imagine!
I can't wait to see what happens next. I'm trying to think of some neat things to add to broaden the play, such as cars. Any suggestions? Please leave me a comment!


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Maine ski area installs electric car charging stations
GREENWOOD, Maine (AP) � Western Maine's Mount Abram ski area says it's the second in North America to install electric vehicle charging stations.
The Greenwood ski area has installed a pair of 220-volt charging centers. They're located close to the main lodge, rewarding guests who arrive in electric and hybrid cars. Mount Abram says its charging centers show the privately owned ski area's commitment to environmental sustainability.
Stevens Pass Ski Area in Washington also has electric vehicle charging stations.


text: "Erkki-Sven Tüür's music," writes Wolfgang Sander, "sounds as if it had strolled through the history of music assimilating theoretical inspiration and practical experience along the way. Then it seems to have wrapped itself up in a cocoon, immune to the outside world, there to develop its own contours, as indicated by the abrupt contrasts. Tüür's music is realistic; it has confidence in its historical references, but it is removed." One could add that Tüür's "removal" from the international new music community was hardly his own choice: his compositional approach was established in an enforced political and geographical isolation. The same, of course, can be said for many of the composers from the former Soviet Union who, between them, have created music of enormous diversity. Tüür is impatient with the Western journalistic habit of bracketing together all post-Soviet composers as if they represented a recognizable "genre", while, at the same time, he acknowledges that every artist, whether he wishes it to be the case or not, is inevitably a product of his environment. Is his work, then, intrinsically "Estonian?" "Maybe there is something, related to the general 'Nordic' way of seeing the world, influenced by the specific geographical area, by how dark and short the days are in winter, and how light and short the nights are in summer." Tüür's New Series debut opens with Archtectonics VI, written in 1992, a characteristically "rhetorical" work that pits quasi-minimal writing for strings against serial parts for flute, clarinet and vibraphone; serialism ultimately gains the upper hand in this particular debate. Passion (1993) for strings, which follows, builds from the slow filling of space with double bass and cellos in the lowest register to sound-clusters for violins in the high register. Illusion, a partner-piece for Passion and composed the same year, deconstructs a baroque motif. Wolfgang Sander describes it as a "disrupted litany... one hundred and eleven measures composed as if in rapture." Crystallisatio (1995) for three flutes, campanelli, strings and live electronics, is particularly mysterious and beguiling. The sound potential of the flutes is subtly expanded by electronic processing and digital delay. Requiem (1994) was written in tribute to Peeter Lilje, chief conductor of the Estonian State Orchestra, a close friend of the composer who died in 1993 at the age of 43. Tüür sets the text of the Catholic mass for the dead.


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Actor Michael Fassbender felt awkward sharing steamy scenes with Penelope Cruz in "The Counselor" because her husband also stars in the movie.
The "Prometheus" star admits it was uncomfortable shooting sex scenes with the Spanish beauty in Ridley Scott's upcoming thriller because Javier Bardem was present on set.
Fassbender tells the BBC, "Those scenes are always kind of awkward to be honest so it's not a threat to Javier, I'm sure he is very comfortable with his marriage."
"The Counselor" is scheduled for release later this year.


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Video: Dmitry Orlov's Shot Breaks Mathieu Darche's Skate
Peter overlooked one highlight in his recap of the Capitals 3-0 win over the Canadiens. RMNB tagline occupant Dmitry Orlov fired a shot with such inhuman velocity that it reduced to rubble the skate of Montreal's Mathieu Darche.
Video via @bryancasto
A personal note to Dmitry Orlov: thank you for being a continued source of content for our hockey blog, which definitely hasn't built a creepy shrine to you in a utility closet at the Greene Turtle in Frederick. No, certainly not.
Read More


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Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey says he now supports gay marriage
Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey announced Monday that he is now in favor of gay marriage, the latest of several lawmakers to change positions on the issue now before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Casey said he made the shift after reviewing the legal, public policy and civil rights questions involved, as well as letters from Pennsylvania families.
"If two people of the same sex fall in love and want to marry, why would our government stand in the way?" Casey said.
In November, as he successfully sought a second term, Casey said he favored same-sex civil unions but did not take a position on same-sex marriage. He previously voted to let gays and lesbians serve openly in the military and to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
Casey, a Roman Catholic from Scranton, opposes abortion rights, except in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is in danger.
Several other Democratic senators who, like Casey, represent swing states, have recently made similar announcements.


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Young Hot Will Be Rap Battling Murda Mook! Plus E. Ness Says He Let Diddy Know About His Battle With Mysonne & They Dont Care
RocStar P Interviews E.Ness And Young Hot. The Two Philly Rappers Will Be Competing Againt New York Rappers Mysonne And Murder Mook On 9-27-08.
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'The Vegetarian's Complete Quinoa Cookbook': Mairlyn Smith shares low-calorie, complete protein recipes
Mairlyn Smith's latest cookbook and Taste Canada/CBC People's Choice Award winner is for "vegetarian virgins or full-blown converts." The Professional Home Economist (PHEc), teacher and actor jumped at the chance to put together The Vegetarian's Complete Quinoa Cookbook (Whitecap Books, 2012) when the former publisher of Whitecap Books proposed the idea. "It was a brilliant idea because I know so many people that are eating quinoa but they're not doing it right," Smith says. "There are a lot of quinoa books out there but they don't address vegetarianism."
Quinoa is of particular interest to vegetarians due to the fact that the seed and "pseudo cereal" (not a grain but eaten and cooked like one) is a complete protein. However, Smith stresses that this does not mean that it's a high source of protein. "I have a lot of vegetarian friends and that's all they've been eating since they discovered it," Smith says. "I'm like, 'You're not getting enough protein!' You've got to either pair it up or mash it up or do something. But three grams of protein in half a cup is not a lot. It's high quality, it's just not high."
The book includes more than 120 vegetarian recipes, each of which contains less than 500 calories. 58 home economists from the Ontario Home Economics Association, including Smith, contributed the recipes, which fall into eight chapters: Breakfast, Quickbreads and Yeast Breads, Soups, Salads, Side Dishes, Main Dishes, Baked Goodies and Desserts. Smith selected and tested all of the recipes in her Toronto kitchen with the help of Ryerson University students. "For me, part of the book was mentoring too. Being a home economist is the coolest thing I do as far as my career is concerned and I wanted to pass that on to other kids," Smith says. "To get the students involved was a neat way for me to mentor them at the same time. It was very rewarding actually. There are several now that have made different career choices as a result of that so I'm like, 'Yay!'"
Having students test the recipes also provided valuable insight into the different skill levels of home cooks. Feedback from less experienced testers meant that Smith could learn from their mistakes and tweak the recipes accordingly in order to make them fool-proof. There were casualties however – one of her Calphalon pots barely survived the testing process. "They burnt all my quinoa. They burnt it all and that's why, in the Introduction of the book, there's a thing on different size pots because it occurred to me that I would know what size pot to use but maybe someone else wouldn't," Smith says. "I'd [use student testers] again in a minute. Maybe not in my house… I'm pretty sure not in my house," she laughs.
One of Smith's goals with the book was to showcase the versatility of quinoa. Many home cooks are comfortable using it in side dishes, salads, or as an accompaniment in place of rice or couscous, but less so in baking or desserts. For those new to baking with quinoa, Smith recommends trying cookies such as Gingersnaps or Quinoameal Raisin Cookies, or the Brownie Bites (recipe below) for instant results. She's been on a quest to develop healthy two-bite brownies and her Triple-Chocolate Brownie Cookies from Healthy Starts Here (Whitecap 2011) come pretty close. Smith admits she did feel a twinge of jealousy when she tested and tasted Wendi Hiebert's Brownie Bites submission, "My cookie is really good – I'll totally agree with you on that but she came up with this. It uses quinoa flour, natural cocoa powder, baking powder, eggs, sugar, oil and it's GOOD!" Smith says. "It rocked my world and I went, 'Shut up! I tried it like this!' but it might be the quinoa flour, I don't know what did it. But it's a great recipe."
15 recipes in the book are gluten free, and many more could be made gluten free by using gluten-free versions of ingredients such as baking powder and soy sauce. Tips on gluten free are included in the Introduction and icons appear beside the relevant recipes. All recipes are also labelled by season or year-round, depending on the seasonality of ingredients, and include a full nutritional profile.
As with Smith's previous four books, she endeavours to equip readers with the knowledge to make healthier food choices. "I think if anything I've gotten softer as I've gotten older. I used to be very staunch and, 'You have to do it my way or you're going to die.' But I think that a softer approach with a sense of humour and encouragement is a much better way to go about it," she says. "Do your best but you need to have some ground information before you can even attempt to do that, which is why I hope people read the Introduction. I hope that they learn something because it's from a state of knowledge that you can make better decisions. That's all you hope for, you know. Just try your best."
Excerpt from The Vegetarian's Complete Quinoa Cookbook (Whitecap Books) edited by Mairlyn Smith
Warm Quinoa with Beets and Swiss Chard
Year round | Joan Ttooulias, PHEc
This gorgeous dish is wonderful for an everyday side and will add a huge splash of colour and flavour to a buffet table.
3 medium beets (about 12 oz/375 g), scrubbed well and trimmed
1 cup (250 mL) quinoa, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups (375 mL) vegetable broth
1 Tbsp (15 mL) extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 bunch Swiss chard, washed, stems removed and finely chopped
1 cup (250 mL) crumbled goat cheese
2 Tbsp (30 mL) extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp (30 mL) balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp (15 mL) red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp (15 mL) Dijon or grainy mustard
1/4 cup (60 mL) toasted pine nuts for garnish (optional)
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Wrap the beets loosely in foil. Roast for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the beets are tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife.
Once the beets are cooked, place the quinoa in a large saucepan, add the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook covered for 15 to 20 minutes. The quinoa is done when the grains are translucent and all the liquid has been absorbed. Fluff with a fork, remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 to 10 minutes.
When the beets are cool enough to handle, peel and dice. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, balsamic and red wine vinegars and the Dijon mustard.
In a large frying pan over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the garlic and Swiss chard and sauté for 2 to 4 minutes, just until the Swiss chard wilts.
Remove from heat and add to the large bowl with the dressing. Toss to coat.
Add the cooked quinoa and beets, tossing mixture gently to coat all the ingredients.
To serve: Sprinkle the crumbled goat cheese on top, garnish with pine nuts (if using) and serve immediately.
Makes 8 cups (2 L) • One serving = 1 cup (250 mL)
Nutrition per serving
200 calories, 9 mg cholesterol, 3 g fibre, 4 g saturated fat, 20 g carbohydrates, 7 g protein, 11 g total fat, 255 mg sodium, 3 g sugars, excellent source of magnesium.
Moroccan Vegetable Stew
Fall and winter | Laura Craig, PHEc
This hearty, family-friendly recipe—is it a soup or a stew?—will tickle your taste buds. The sweetness from the dried apricots adds that Moroccan flavour, plus a hit of disease-lowering beta carotene. Factor in the amount of vegetables in every bite and this is a veggie winner.
2 tsp (10 mL) extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 1/2-inch (4 cm) piece peeled fresh ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp (7 mL) curry powder
1 tsp (5mL) ground cinnamon
6 cups (1.5 L) vegetable broth
1 can (19 oz/540 mL) low-sodium chickpeas, well rinsed and drained
1 can (14 oz/398 mL) diced tomatoes, no salt added
1/2 cup (125 mL) red quinoa, rinsed and drained
2 medium carrots, scrubbed well and cut into 1/4-inch (6 mm) slices
1/4 cup (60 mL) sliced dried apricots
2 medium zucchini, quartered lengthwise and then cut into 1/2-inch (1 cm) slices
1 cup (250 mL) kale, stems removed, leaves only, chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 cup (250 mL) frozen peas, no need to thaw
1/2 cup (125 mL) whole almonds, coarsely chopped
Heat a large stock pot over medium heat. Add the oil, onion, ginger, garlic, curry powder and cinnamon. Sauté for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the onion has softened.
Add the broth, chickpeas, tomatoes, quinoa, carrots and apricots. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes.
Add the zucchini and continue simmering covered for another 5 to 10 minutes, or until the zucchini is soft but not mushy.
Add the kale and peas. heat until the kale has wilted and the peas are hot. Add the almonds and stir well.
To serve: Ladle the stew into soup bowls. Serve with a glass of milk or organic soy beverage to up the protein count.
Makes 10 to 12 cups (2.5 to 3L) • One serving = 1 1/2cups (375 ml)
Nutrition per serving
237 calories, 0 mg cholesterol, 8 g fibre, 7 g total fat, 1 g saturated fat, 584 mg sodium, 36 g carbohydrates, 11 g sugars, 10 g protein, excellent source of vitamin A.
Brownie Bites
Year round | Wendi Hiebert, PHEc
What are brownies doing in the cookie section? These ones are small, bite-sized and loaded with the yum factor—everything a cookie should be. NOTE: For an extra-special treat, press a chocolate macaroon or mini Rolo chocolate treat into the centre of each Brownie Bite before baking. Calories? They go way up, but for a special treat, that's okay, once in a while…
1/2 cup (125 mL) quinoa flour
1/3 cup (80 mL) natural cocoa powder, sifted if lumpy
1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder
2 omega-3 eggs
2/3 cup (160 mL) granulated sugar
1/3 cup (80 mL) canola oil
1 tsp (5 mL) pure vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 325°F (160°C). Lightly spray 24 mini muffin cups with canola oil.
In a small bowl, whisk together the quinoa flour, cocoa powder and baking powder until well mixed.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla until blended.
Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture, whisking until blended.
Divide the batter between the muffin cups, filling each with about 1 Tbsp (15 mL) of batter. The cups should be about two-thirds full.
Bake in the centre of the oven for 13 to 15 minutes, until the brownies are slightly puffed and a toothpick inserted into one comes out with a few crumbs clinging to it. Don't overbake.
Remove from the oven and let cool in pan on a wire rack for 2 minutes, then turn the pan over. After a minute or two, lift up the pan. Brownie Bites should have released from the pan onto the rack. Carefully turn each brownie over to finish cooling on rack.
To serve: For a simple yet delicious dessert, plate brownies and sprinkle with icing sugars and cocoa powder or serve on a puddle of raspberry coulis.
Make 24 mini muffin–size brownies • One serving = 3 brownies
Nutrition per serving
202 calories, 48 mg cholesterol, 2 g fibre, 12 g total fat, 17 mg sodium, 17 g sugars, 0 g saturated fat, 24 g carbohydrates, 3 g protein
Natural cocoa powder contains higher levels of heart-healthy flavanols. Hershey's natural and Ghiradelli natural are both available in Canada in larger grocery stores.


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Show off your logo, graphics or photo with this great tote bag. Dimensions 12-1/4 inches x 9-1/8 inches
Every order is custom printed and personalized to your needs direct from our production facility in Detroit, MI. Items are typically completed within 5 business days and then require additional shipping time to reach your location.


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Chicago Pizza Goes Thin
Address: 1769 West Sunnyside Avenue, Chicago IL 60640 [map]
Phone number: 773-878-2420
Website: spaccanapolipizzeria.com
Hours: Lunch, W-Sat., 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dinner, W-Th., 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., F-Sat., 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sun., noon to 9 p.m.
An interesting story in the "Good Eating" section of the Chicago Tribune today about the Windy City's Spacca Napoli, complete with recipe. The piece touches on the Neapolitan pizza trend that's sweeping Chicago (as it has in New York, Phoenix, and San Francisco), namechecking a handful of thin-crust Italian-style pizzerias that have opened there in the last few years.
Spacca Napoli opened on Valentine's Day in 2006. That [pizzaiolo-owner Jonathan] Goldsmith could sell thin-crust deep inside deep-dish turf was a good omen to Chris Bardol, who was poised to open Stop 50 Wood Fired Pizzeria in Indiana. Bardol's first bite of thin crust was at Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix and he was converted. But he wondered if his prospective clientele, which included large numbers of Chicagoans, would go for it.
Enter Goldsmith's venture. "I really felt we would do well if someone could see the opportunity in a deep-dish city," Bardol said.
Phil Vettel, the Tribune's restaurant critic, traces the city's fondness for thin crust to 1985 and the opening of Franco Zalloni's Trattoria Pizzeria Roma. "It brought to Chicago's mainstream the concept of appetizer pizzas, small pizzas with crisp, blistered crusts topped with all manner of creative (but appropriately Italian) ingredients.
Jeff Ruby, coauthor of Everybody Loves Pizza, senior editor at Chicago magazine, and an old friend and college newspaper colleague of mine, gets a quote in, too: "It seems [what has] happened here is pizza is going in two separate directions... There's California Pizza Kitchen where anything goes. Then there's the backlash. People are going back to the basics and following strict Neapolitan rules... Pizza has evolved so much in America it's come full circle."
A rather insightful observation, even if it weren't coming from a friend of Slice.
Newly launched Chicago foodblog Drive-Thru, which we've been enjoying around the SliceSerious Eats office, responds to the Trib's piece and gives a less complicated recipe for pizza.
Pizza perfect [Chicago Tribune; via Lia]
Talkin' about a different kind of pie [Gapers Block; also via Lia]
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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Remember the darling baby shower my sister-in-law had a while ago that I had the pleasure to show you? And remember how I promised you a tutorial on these adorable baby shoes she used as favors?
Well, I'm a girl that delivers – even with a few months of delay.
My sister-in-law had promised me the tutorial but didn't have a chance to photograph the process step by step because she was very busy with her baby girl. She was finally able to send me the tutorial with lots of pictures and I'm so excited to share it with you.
So without further ado I present you our first tutorial:
The Materials
- Template ( click here to download)
- Scissors
- Paper
- Glue
- Buttons
- Bows (made out of paper or fabric bows)
Step by step instructions:
- Print out the free template and cut it
2. Using the template trace out the shape of the shoe and the sole into the scrap paper of your choice
3. And cut it
4. Mark the 3rd tab and the sole of the shoe and start gluing there ( as shown in the picture) Put a dot of glue on each tab and glue the shoe, making sure that the part that is being glued is actually facing the inside
5. After finishing with the glue all you need is the embellishments. You could use bows or buttons.
So here you go, our first tutorial, step by step. The possibilities are endless…I'm already planning to use them for a baby shower I'm designing for next month. The mom to be is having a boy and all I need to do is use some boyish colors and voila.
Would love to know how do you plan to use them.
Stay tuned for a few special post later on this week…
In a few days I celebrate my 7th anniversary and that last week before my wedding day keeps coming to my mind, all the plans, the dreams and the joy of starting a new life with the man I love. I'm so thankful to God for having this amazing man by my side! And this week I want all to be part of our story…
Happy Wednesday!!


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