text: THE PACIFIC, PART SEVEN: Rami Malek, Joe Mazzello.David James/Courtesy of HBO The Pacific: Miniseries. Executive-produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. 9 p.m. Sundays on HBO. Beyond the fact that HBO's ambitious new miniseries, "The Pacific," is a superb, viscerally moving and harrowing depiction of World War II and a worthy complement to "Band of Brothers" (2001), it offers a resounding yes to a nagging question: Do we really need another movie about World War II? In recent years, the "Greatest Generation" canon has pervaded popular culture via books, movies and documentaries. When Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks did "Saving Private Ryan" for the big screen in 1998 and followed it with "Band of Brothers" for HBO three years later, some saw these works as a kind of nostalgic look at a previous style of warfare - less like the Persian Gulf War and the onrush of nationless terrorism. ("Band of Brothers" aired the first two hours - of 10 total - two days before the Sept. 11 attacks.) Tom Brokaw's book "The Greatest Generation" also came out in 1998 (as did the movie "The Thin Red Line"). Add more books and media saturation, and you have the runaway veneration of a generation. It seemed that the entertainment industry had exhausted films about Vietnam and found the ongoing Iraq war too ever-present, a "living room war" that kept people from heading to the box office for contemporary takes on desert warfare. Finally, documentarian Ken Burns relented from his stance that World War II was overdone and produced "The War," an epic and arguably definitive film that spanned more than 18 hours. A different war Why pile on "The Pacific"? Executive producers Spielberg and Hanks have said that veterans who fought there had pleaded for their story to be told because Americans were all too familiar with the war in Europe but not with what happened on the tiny islands of the Pacific, where their experiences were wholly different. If war is hell, then the veterans of battles of the Pacific said theirs was a particular kind of hell. And many of them were dying off without having that story told (the same impetus that eventually got Burns to do his documentary). Spielberg and Hanks also found compelling source material from two of the three main figures they follow in the 10-part weekly series. The books "Helmet for My Pillow" by Robert Leckie and "With the Old Breed" by Eugene B. Sledge inform the series from beginning to end. "The Pacific" follows the intertwined stories of Leckie (James Badge Dale), Sledge (Joe Mazzello) and the highly decorated John Basilone (Jon Seda), while also weaving in countless other characters whose stories and journeys are fleshed out in a reflective, cathartic narrative. These were Marines who went in first and took the brunt. Even if you think "the Greatest Generation" story has been told enough, the moniker stretched thin and dipped in revisionist nostalgia, "The Pacific" is, like Burns' documentary, a work that provokes awe. It's the kind of fact-based fiction where the actual storytelling - who these soldiers are when we meet them and how their lives played out - is secondary to what they saw, endured and suffered. That is to say that even if you learn that one of these real-life characters survived to marry his sweetheart and leave behind a string of grandchildren, there are no happy endings here. The jungle The battles of the Pacific were horrific, played out in an unfamiliar environment and resulted in among the worst casualty rates of the war (the Americans were facing an enemy that believed in death before dishonor, and so rarely surrendered). A string of writers and directors (and mostly unrecognizable young actors) have managed to create a war film that takes its toll on the viewer in a way few films have. "The Pacific" is exceptionally graphic, relentless in its imagery of waves of American and Japanese soldiers being wiped out both en masse and randomly, from Guadalcanal to Peleliu and Iwo Jima. There's barely any letup because the overriding visual ambition is to saturate you in the mud, rain and hell of each island. Spielberg has explained that the anti-Europe, unfamiliar jungle - "a ubiquitous organism," he said - is an important character in the miniseries. "The jungle killed many good soldiers during World War II, and in our film it becomes a Hieronymus Bosch landscape." What "The Pacific" does exceptionally well is wallow in the minutiae of what turns young fearful soldiers into jaded and spent killing machines. Holding on to humanity proves quite elusive. There's no gung-ho here. The randomness of who lives and dies and the suffering even beyond the actual fighting - everything from relentless rain and lack of food and water to poor or pointless commands from above - eventually take their toll. "The Pacific" doesn't spend much time at home to delve into the postwar toll - how these parents of the Baby Boomers never talked much about what they saw or did (until their later years in the rush of "Greatest Generation" coverage); the series focuses instead on how their souls and minds were broken in their youth. In that, "The Pacific" is a reminder. Yes, you've seen World War II war movies. Yes, war - modern warfare included - is hell. But especially in the Pacific in the early 1940s - time, place, strategies, weaponry, opponent - there was a unique combination that merits continued exploration, whether through fact-based fiction or documentaries. There really was a special kind of hell in the Pacific, and the people who fought in it were of a remarkable kind.


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Originally set to shoot this summer, Steven Sodebergh's Liberace biopic starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon has been pushed back to summer 2011. Filming was delayed when Soderbergh decided to go forward with the world-spanning thriller Contagion instead (which will also star Damon as well as Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law and Marion Cotillard). Now, according to the Las Vegas Sun [via The Playlist], filming has been slightly delayed, but Damon says he's still on board to play Liberace's lover Scott Thorson and Douglas is still set to play Liberace.
But if flamboyant 60s entertainers aren't really your thing, how would you like to have your emotions toyed with by having Damon not completely rule out a return to playing Jason Bourne? Hit the jump for more.
In February, we reported that Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass had ended their involvement in Bourne 4. Greengrass said he won't do another Bourne movie (although Green Zone is like a spiritual sequel to the franchise), and Damon said he won't do another Bourne movie without Greengrass. Speaking to Las Vegas Weekly [via Matt Damon News Column], Damon kept that position:
"Absolutely yes," he said emphatically. "I love the character. I love the stories. But only if Paul Greengrass says he will direct again. So far, though, he's decided not to. I'd definitely say yes if he went for it. I know he would have a great story, and it would protect the legacy of what we created. There would be no disappointment for anybody, but we wait. There are rumors about shooting again in the middle of next year, but nothing definite yet other than his no until there's the right script — a great script!"
Not to call bullshit on Damon, but I think this is just a way to keep a door open but with no intent to actually go through it. It makes Greengrass out to be an open-minded guy who would return to the franchise if only there was a "great script!" So if Greengrass never comes back (and I doubt he will), it was only because they couldn't find a script they weren't happy with. Again, this is slightly disingenuous because Greengrass is known for finding the film in the editing room rather than holding the script as sacrosanct.
A month ago, we reported that Universal had hired Bourne trilogy writer Tony Gilroy to write the tentatively titled The Bourne Legacy with a target 2012 release date. My theory is that this would be a quasi-reboot to the franchise where a new actor would play Jason Bourne similar to the James Bond films.

subset: commoncrawl


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Award Winning Bonbon2 a Multifunctional Sofa
Filimena Radonjanin Spotlights The Bonbon2 a Multifunctional Sofa
Filimena Radonjanin, the lead designer of the awarded project Award Winning BonBon2 A Multifunctional Sofa explicates, Multifunctional sofa consist 4 elements: A. two-seat / single bed / lounge chair, B. cushion, C. ottoman / back support, D. hand support / storage. By adding and arranging the elements, hundreds of combinations can be made. Two sitter, three sitter, four sitter,as you wish sitter, corner sofa, single bed, double bed, lounge chairs etc., are possible combinations which will suit either smallest living rooms or big and spacious lounges. All the transformations can be done without a real effort, and a lack of complicated mechanisms ensure great comfort in ether sitting or sleeping positions..
Award Winning Bonbon2 a Multifunctional Sofa Images:
End of the article, click here to go back to previous page, or alternatively go back to Competition Winners homepage.


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Press Releases
Pink Star Fundraiser Reaches for $1 Million Goal
Apr 20, 2009
Carl's Jr. and Hardee's Restaurants Continue the Campaign to Fight Breast Cancer
CARPINTERIA, Calif. – April 20, 2009 – CKE Restaurants, Inc. hopes to reach its $1 million goal with the 2009 Pink Star Fundraiser for Breast Cancer. Having raised more than $900,000 in 2008's campaign, Carl's Jr.® and Hardee's® restaurants are counting on the generosity of their customers to reach this milestone number during the four-week campaign. The fundraiser, now in its fifth year, will begin today at Hardee's and April 22rd at Carl's Jr. and will conclude May 17th.
"We know we've set a lofty fundraising goal this year given the current state of the economy, but we strongly believe in being an advocate for those issues affecting our customers, our employees and their families," said Andrew F. Puzder, chief executive officer of CKE Restaurants, parent company to both brands. "We're proud to support a quality organization like the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) and we have faith in the generosity of our customers."
The program has grown exponentially since 2005 when it was initiated by the Star Franchise Association, the Carl's Jr. franchise organization. Carl's Jr. company-owned restaurants came on board in 2006. Hardee's joined the charitable program in 2007. The Pink Star program collectively raised more than $650,000 in 2007, increasing that number to more than $900,000 in the 2008 campaign. The 2009 event will have the participation of more than 3,100 Carl's Jr. and Hardee's restaurants nationwide, all with the common goal to raise money and awareness.
During the campaign, guests are encouraged to purchase a commemorative pink Happy Star® cutout for $1. After personalizing their star with their name or adding a brief message, guests receive coupons to use toward future visits valued at over $10. Soon, each restaurant will be "in the pink" as the stars begin to adorn the walls.
"Each pink Happy Star that is added to our restaurant walls shows our commitment to supporting organizations like the NBCF," said Puzder. "It also serves as a very impactful visual reminder of the brave individuals and families who are facing down this deadly disease."
The leave-behind piece combines Happy Star, which is the icon for both restaurant brands, along with the color pink which has come to represent hope and awareness for the plight of women
everywhere who are fighting breast cancer. All of the campaign printed materials are donated by Carl's Jr. and Hardee's supplier, SynqSolutions, Inc. of Atlanta, Georgia.
"Support from CKE Restaurants and their Carl's Jr. and Hardee's brands provides us with necessary funds to expand our current educational programs that focus on the importance of early detection," said Janelle Hail, president of the National Breast Cancer Foundation. "The Pink Star campaign not only raises awareness but also allows us to continue to grow our mammogram services that provide low-income women and those without adequate insurance access to truly the best early detection method currently available."
About CKE Restaurants, Inc.
Headquartered in Carpinteria, Calif., CKE Restaurants, Inc. is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CKR." As of the fourth fiscal quarter ended January 26, 2009, CKE Restaurants, Inc., through its subsidiaries, had a total of 3,116 franchised, licensed or company-operated restaurants in 42 states and in 14 countries, including 1,195 Carl's Jr. restaurants and 1,908 Hardee's restaurants. For more information about CKE Restaurants, please visit www.ckr.com.
About the National Breast Cancer Foundation
According to the NBCF, more than 208,000 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year – and 41,250 will die. One woman in eight either has, or will develop, breast cancer in her lifetime. In addition, 1,750 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and 450 will die. If detected early, the five-year survival rate exceeds 95 percent. Mammograms are among the best early-detection methods, yet 14 million U.S. women 40 years of age or older have never had a mammogram. For more information about the NBCF or to donate directly, visit www.nationalbreastcancer.org


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My card today is for this week's Tiddly Inks 'no designer paper' challenge. Now you know me and how much I love my pretty papers so these kinds of challenges always make me scratch my head for a bit. Because I had gone the embossing route earlier in the week I decided to do a bit of stamping to create a background this time. So I mixed things up with some polka dots and extra cookie digi images (that were one of the Tiddly Inks freebies for PCP group members... SO cute) since I liked how they all worked together with the whole circle vibe. And isn't Cookie Bugg adorable? I think I must really have a soft spot for images with sweet treats, LOL! ;)
Well, that's all the time I have this morning... hope you all have a lovely stamp happy day today!


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|Wiggling Ones (9:30 AM)
Event Type: Age 0-PreK
Date: 3/10/2020
Start Time: 9:30 AM
End Time: 10:00 AM
Ages 12-24 months with an adult. Free. Ticket required.Vernon Area Public Library
Giggle, sing, and jam along with your toddler in this music- and movement-centered program. This is an active program; be prepared to move!
Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the program. Attendance limited to children 12-24 months old. Siblings welcome.
Questions? Call 224-543-1486 or stop by any public service desk in the library.
Location: Library - Meeting Room
Contact: Youth Desk
Contact Number: 224-543-1486


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Note: This module is for owners of a MicroTRAK development platform. You would purchase this module (as well as the necessary MINI-MAX module) when migrating to 8051, ARM, AVR or MSP430 from PIC or BASIC Stamp.
The I/O Module allows access to all input/output (I/O) ports of the microcontroller on the MicroTRAK development platform. The module has 32 switches to control the microcontroller inputs and 32 LEDs to indicate the port statuses as logic LOW or logic HIGH. It is powered from a 5V regulated DC power source through the 36-pin input/output connector.


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Requests for City of Minneapolis Lane Use
Obstruction Permit Posting of No Parking Signs
Hooding of Parking Meters
In order to obtain an obstruction permit or to request the posting of "no parking" or "hooding of parking meters" all applicants are required to access the Minneapolis Lane Use website.
All applicants will have to register for a new account the first time.
Instructions for Lane Use Website (pdf)
Last updated Sep 19, 2017


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With the popularity of Zumba, Batuka and dance classes developed by high-profile choreographers and dancers, such as Louis Van Amstel's LaBlast classes for Crunch, pre-choreographed dance-based programs continue to offer group fitness options for health club operators.
Last November, in its list of top 10 fitness trends for 2011, the American Council on Exercise said that dance classes, which have been gaining popularity for years, would continue to be a major draw at health clubs. That popularity might be the result of the recent abundance of dance-related TV shows, such as FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance" and ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," says Juliane Arney, owner of Arney Fitness Consulting and a dance instructor and choreographer who has developed classes for 24 Hour Fitness and Crunch.
Amstel, who has danced or choreographed on both of those programs, developed LaBlast, his own cardio dance fitness program for Crunch, two years ago. The hour-long class is offered at different levels, which allows beginners to learn dance skills and coordination and to burn calories. Participants can progress to more difficult dance levels as they improve and want a challenge. LaBlast is Crunch's most popular dance class and will soon be offered at other facilities owned by New Evolution Ventures, Crunch's parent company.
"It's dance fitness based on all different dance styles, every genre of music—cha cha, salsa, jive. All the dances that people see on 'Dancing with the Stars,' I have in the LaBlast program," Amstel says.
The variety and the fun of the program prevent participants from getting bored.
"It is a fun way of still getting the health benefits and the workout benefits without hitting the wall. It's the diversity of movement to your favorite music," says Amstel, who describes LaBlast as a workout in disguise.
He credits the program's success to taking the intimidation factor out of dancing by keeping routines simple and using encouraging instructors that have a background in both fitness and dance.
"Sometimes I feel that fitness instructors in general lose their patience," Amstel says. "And it's the patience that's really the key for people who think they can't get through it."
Arney agrees that instructors play a vital role in making dance fitness classes a success.
"Dance programming, even more so than anything else, is instructor based," says Arney. "If you're going to put dance or Zumba on your schedule and it hits hard, you have to think about what you're going to channel those people into next. Zumba is bringing thousands of new consumers and instructors into the group fitness market, but what are we going to do with them when they're tired of Zumba?"
She says that Batuka, a program that debuted last year at IHRSA's show, could be the next big thing in dance fitness. The music is produced specifically for the program by Grammy Award-winning writer and producer Kike Santander, which eliminates the risk of participants getting sick of hearing the same music in class that they hear on the radio.
Regardless of where dance fitness goes in the future, its strong appeal to the female demographic and continuing popularity make it a strong investment in any facility.
"I think the cool part about dance workouts, especially right now with TV and popular culture, is that they're like a gateway drug," says Arney. "They are the things that get a lot of people into exercising in the first place. That's such a huge value because simple, fun dance classes like Zumba are an entry point for a whole population that hasn't been moving before. Dance might be your first point of entry, but let's not stop there."


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Brooke Burke Chats With Katie Couric About Her Cancer Journey, Staying Fit, And DWTS
Katie Couric aired a new interview with Dancing With The Stars co-host Brooke Burke Charvet on her show yesterday. They chatted all about Brooke's journey with Thyroid Cancer and everything she experienced in detail. Brooke also talked of her fitness DVDs and Dancing With The Stars a little. Brooke is celebrating life in more ways than one! She is looking amazing…and check out her SHOES!!! 😀


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Home > News & Events > Wayland Press Release Archives > 2007 News Releases > February 2007 > Renowned Pianist John Bayless to Headline Benefit Concert
Renowned Pianist John Bayless to Headline Benefit Concert
PLAINVIEW – John Bayless, a world-renowned concert pianist from Borger, will headline a benefit concert for Wayland Baptist University featuring performances from students in the fine arts.
Slated for April 7 in Amarillo's Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, the event will begin at 5:30 with a silent auction featuring a variety of items, followed by the concert at 7 p.m. Opening performances will be by students and faculty from Wayland's fine arts program, including vocal and instrumental performers.
Following a short intermission, Bayless will take the stage for the headline performance. A reception for the artist will follow, with artwork from Wayland faculty and students also on display.
A native of Borger, Bayless earned a scholarship to the Aspen School of Music at age 15 and moved two years later to New York to study at The Julliard School of Music. He was invited to participate as a composer in the inaugural class of New York University's Musical Theatre Master's Degree Program, where he studied with Leonard Bernstein, Julie Styne, Authur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. His first musical, a fable titled Grand Duchy, has received stage readings at Playwright's Horizon in New York City, The Papermill Playhouse in Millburn, N.J., and The Falcon Theatre in Los Angeles. A full-scale production was recently held in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Bayless' extensive performance history includes appearances at Carnegie Hall with the Orchestra of New York, Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, London's Wigmore Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and two tours of Japan, one most recently in 2006 including 20 cities. He performed at a gala for Queen Elizabeth II, and was a guest of Rosemary Clooney at several of her concerts.
He has recorded several albums of both his own compositions and classical pieces by Bach, Mozart and Puccini and composers of noted movie scores.
An avid composer, Bayless has received commissions from the Newport Music Festival, the University of Maryland International Piano Competition and the Metropolitan Museum of Art among others. His music has been featured on several PBS shows, including Julia Child's "Baking with Julia" and "Julia and Jacques: Cooking at Home," "Weir Cooking in the Wine Country," Jacques Pepin's "Fast Food My Way," and "Lidia's Family Table."
Tickets for the event are $40 and are available at all panhandle ticket outlets and online at www.panhandletickets.com. All proceeds benefit Wayland Baptist University's undesignated fund account.


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Showdown: Best Mobile Internet Browser (Opera Mini vs. SkyFire) mobile internet browsersDo you browse the web on your mobile device? As cell phones get faster connection speeds, processors, bigger screens and better applications, it's getting easier and easier to go online with them. Add in the fact that most websites have a mobile version now and it makes this an even simpler process.
Today, we're going to decide which mobile Internet browsers is the best out there. After much research, I have narrowed it down to the top two, the Opera Mini and SkyFire browsers. If you're tired of your mobile device's stock browser, these are more than capable alternatives.
In this article, I am going to cover what these mobile Internet browsers have to offer, detailing their key features, supported operating systems, and whatever else I can find to be useful for all of your mobile browsing needs.
[Note]: Last year, Jeffry gave us 5 Mini Browsers For Mobile Phones, so mobile browsing has been a viable topic for some time now. If you really want to explore the past, check out Aibek's Browsing Web on your Mobile Phone article from April of 2008. Mobile devices have changed dramatically since this time, so let's explore what's changed in mobile browsing.
Opera Mini mobile web browser
Supports * BlackBerry * iPhone/iPod/iPad * Windows Mobile * Android * Java phones
To download Opera Mini, use your phone's default browser to visit m.opera.com. You can find more options here.
SkyFire mobile web browser
Supports * Android * Windows Mobile * Nokia/Symbian (Series 60)
The SkyFire mobile Internet browser has come a long way since we first covered it back in December 2008. It supports bookmarks, pinch-to-zoom, and visual multi-tab browsing, for starters. Tabbed scrolling is very similar to the Safari browser on the iPhone, and you can scroll between up to 8 screens.
With its new SkyBar (SkyFire 2.0), the browser will catch flash videos on a given page, giving you the option to watch them in full screen. That's right, SkyFire plays flash web video.
mobile internet browsers
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Attending CES is a great way to meet people willing to enlighten you with another side of an argument. The surprise topic that emerged was HDMI.
Tivo (TIVO) won the patent infringement lawsuit against Echostar Communications (DISH).
Tivo wasn't starved for cash before, and having a lot of money sloshing around typically doesn't help companies focus on solving their core problems. While winning anywhere between $73.9MM and $220MM at the litigation roulette wheel (there will be appeals, and the judge can treble the $74M in damages) can hardly be positioned as a bad thing, it doesn't help solve, and worse, may fundamentally distract Tivo from the core problem they face- they are not growing as fast as the DVR market.
From the WSJ today($$$ link):
The common explanation for this is that the cable companies have developed their own clone systems that are inferior but cheaper than Tivo. Perhaps they even egregiously violated some patents in the process. They didn't take these risks and get into the equipment business because they didn't want to pay Tivo $1/month in licensing.
The bottom line is the Cablecos and other Video transport companies know that letting Tivo control the set-top-box, particularly one with a broadband uplink, is effectively allowing Tivo to roll a Trojan horse into the living room of every one of their subscribers. If the DVR patents truly are bulletproof my guess is the cable guys would rather not offer DVR's than let Tivo get between them and their customers.
With this legal victory, my concern is that Tivo will now seek market penetration by legal bludgeoning rather than innovation and market leadership. Rambus (RMBS) is trying this, and will eventually fail, because it is an awful and painful strategy. It's analogous to terrorism. Customers refuse to be coerced in the long run and will eventually find their way to freedom through technology or legal means. Companies that get sucked into this business model eventually realize it is just as bankrupt as it's political counterpart.
Tivo faces a decision, one we have outlined before. Either they need to become friendly with cable/telco/satellite video providers and swear up-and-down to never compete with them. Or they need to mount a full scale assault and convince consumers that the Cableco DVR represents the old media model by offering truly innovative downloadable video and content services. Getting Yahoo! Weather and amateur video blogs on my TV doesn't count. This would require making nice with the content providers and showing them a path to generous revenue models.
Tivo now has more cash (note the difference between cash and cash flow) but that doesn't necessarily mean they will use it intelligently. What they do in the next year will be critical.


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Where to learn abroad?
Tips on how to find the best languages courses
How to make the most of your studies abroad?
And so much more!
All the necessary information in one place. Contains everything that you will ever need to get the most out of your language course and have the best experience abroad!
We hate span as much as you do, you can trust us, your email address will be safe with us!
* Registration required
This Certificate given by the University of Cambridge tests the academic knowledge of English in Business context. It is usually addressed to students over 16 years old who would like to lead their future onto the entrepreneurial world. There are three Business English Certificates that attend to the following European Framework levels: - BEC Preliminary (B1) - BEC Vantage (B2) - BEC Higher (C1) Please note that in order to take this exam you need to get registered in a BEC Examination Centre at least 10 weeks in advance. It is not necessary to be a student of that center.


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United Way of Southwest Colorados board of directors recently approved our campaign goal for this fall and winter. We are setting out to raise $764,000 across Southwest Colorado for 80 incredible human-service programs that are doing great work in education, self-reliance and health. The campaign already is off to a good start with several events completed and our workplace campaigns up and running at local businesses.
Our fundraising events began with the 17th annual United Way and Durango High Noon Rotary Charity Golf Classic at Dalton Ranch Golf Club. Wells Fargo was our title sponsor again, and 20 other individuals and businesses also sponsored the event.
We also had a hole-in-one this year by a golfer on hole No. 5, which won him a great set of golf clubs. Even better, a golfer won our $10,000 putting contest by holing a 91-foot putt after the tournament. The event raises money for both United Way and High Noon Rotary, and the proceeds were more than we hoped to receive. Thank you to all our golfers, sponsors and volunteers for a great day.
United Way also helped at the Michael Franti and Spearhead concert at Three Springs, thanks to an invitation from Tami Graham Productions. We coordinated 70 volunteers to work various aspects of the event. Graham just sent United Way a large check as a donation to the annual fundraising campaign.
We then geared up to do our part for the USA Pro Cycling Challenge that began in Durango. We organized the start village at Buckley Park on race day. This was another fun event and a great chance to partner with the local organizing committee to bring our event-planning skills to the table.
United Way just completed its fourth fundraising event, the San Juan Brewfest. Sponsored by Chevron, this years event was one of the best ever. More than 900 people came last Saturday to taste beers from about 30 breweries from all over the nation.
Our next fundraising event will be the 16th annual Radiothon hosted by our good friends at Four Corners Broadcasting. Well be on KIQX 101.3 FM, KRSJ 100.5 FM and KIUP 930 AM all day Sept. 7 auctioning off more than $70,000 worth of goods and services. We have a car from Skyway Auto, an asphalt-paving project to smooth out your driveway from M. Leeder Construction, Broncos tickets, Follies tickets and much, much more. Visit the Radiothon website at uwradiothon.org to learn more.
While fundraising events are an important part of the annual fundraising campaign, the main way people donate to United Way is through payroll-deduction giving in the workplace. Two-thirds of our campaign goal will come from the workers in Southwest Colorado who choose to make a donation.
Walmart, Korn/Ferry International, UPS, Century Link and BP all are running their employee drives early this year, along with every United Way partner agency. These businesses help get our campaign off to a good start, and we thank them for their incredible support.
Its been a busy month for United Way, and we are going to be working harder than ever to meet our fundraising goal.
Tim Walsworth is president and CEO for United Way and a member of the Durango High Noon Rotary Club.


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97 Pancreatic shirt
Since 1997 the Hirshberg Foundation has been raising money for pancreatic cancer research. Support the Hirshberg Foundation in this unisex t-shirt. That fits like a well-loved favorite, featuring a crew neck, short sleeves and designed with superior combed and ring-spun cotton.
Fabric and Care:
- 99% Combed & Ring-Spun Cotton, 1% polyester
- Machine wash cold, lay flat to dry
Fit and Sizing:
- Relaxed fit
- Body length in size S: 28 inches
You might also consider:


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We understand that making the decision to move into a care home can be a difficult time.
We have pulled together the following information to help you make the decision that is right for you. This page details things that you might want to think about when moving in to a new home and the additional help that is available to you in order to review your options.
You may be able to remain in your own home, if this is what you want, with a little extra help. Your social services department can arrange for you to have a community care assessment. During this assessment someone will visit you to understand the type of help you need. The social services department may then agree to provide you with the help that you need in your home. If you would like to remain in your home you can insist that your local authority organises this assessment.
You may also find that making some adaptations to your home could make life much easier. Independent Age's guide to 'Help on the Home front' provides information on what is available and how to fund any changes you need.
Another option for those who may prefer to retain as much independence as possible, is to think about sheltered housing. Sheltered housing tends to be built in schemes of between 20 and 40 flats, in one development, and offers a balance of independence with the availability of support if it is required.
There is usually a resident warden, on site, and an alarm system linked to a 24-hour monitoring service. In addition, to this there are sometimes communal facilities such as a lounge or laundry where you can meet the other residents. Meals are not normally provided in this type of housing.
Sheltered housing can be run by the local authority, a housing association, or be privately owned. Your local council will have information about sheltered housing schemes in your area, or you will find them listed in the phone book.
If you decide to move to a residential home, you will need to decide which type of home will suit your needs the best. A residential home is one where you would normally have the use of communal areas such as living rooms, TV lounges and gardens, there may also be activities and entertainment. You would have your own room, and would be served your meals in a dining room with the other residents. If you require assistance with your personal care, this could be provided.
If you unwell and are likely to require qualified nursing care over a longer period of time, a nursing home may be a better option for you. This fees for this type of home are more expensive, which you may need to consider if you are paying for your place yourself.
There are some homes available that offer a mix of both types of accommodation. This may be a good idea if you think that you may need more help in the longer term.
First of all, contact your local social services department. If you have decided you want to stay in your own home they can will be able to arrange for your community care assessment.
If you are thinking about going into a residential or a nursing home, they can give you a list of the ones in your area. They can also tell you about any help you might be able to get with paying the fees, and help you arrange a visit or trial stay. You can find their telephone number in your local phone book.
It is important to visit any home you are thinking of moving to before you make your decision. This can help you find out if it is somewhere that you would like to live and also if the staff at the home would be able to meet all of your needs.
Don't worry about asking lots of questions, it's a big decision and it's important to put your mind at ease before you make your choice.
If you are not sure about what sort of questions to task, we have pulled together a list of common questions. This list is not exhaustive, and you should ask about anything that you'd like more information on, no matter how trivial you feel that it is. The staff answer lots of questions every week, and will be happy to assist you in your choice of new home.
For more information about choosing a home, paying for care or other types of housing, contact the RNIB Helpline on [email protected] or 0303 123 9999. Your local Citizens Advice Bureau will be able to help with general advice too.
Independent Age provide free and impartial advice to older people and their carers about moving to residential care. You can call their advice line on 0800 319 6789 (8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 9am-5pm weekends and bank holidays) or email [email protected].
First Stop produce information about residential homes and fees, and sources of financial help. Call their Advice Line on 0800 377 7070 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm) or email [email protected].
Age UK also have a care home information section within their website.


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Of course my favorite foundation brush is the Sigma ss197 (F80), but I found the new one the works perfect for summer. Here it is the Sigma Hollywood rectractable kabuki brush. Mine it is Something about Marilyn, but you can find it in others colors, to.
I dont know why, but I never liked the kabuki brushes, but this one it is amazing.
Since I found the Sigma F80, it was my favorite one and still it is, but on the last summer, when my foundation brush it was dirty, I thought to give it a try to Kabuki one. Well I was amazed by this one. Why I am say that is wonderful for Summer ? it is because you can apply a sheer coat, but at the same time it´s give me a full cover. Also the Sigma Makeup retractable kabuki is the easiest way to apply powder products such as blush, bronzer, foundation, and highlighter on-the-go. It is a practical brush.
You can find this Glamour rectractable kabuki brush on the Sigma Beauty website, and belive me that worth the money.


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Using disaster warning tools to their best potential
Stronger links between scientific tools and the environment in which they operate can improve the effectiveness of early warning.
To say there is a lot riding on disaster management is an understatement. The lives and livelihoods lost, as well as extensive damage, underscore the human, environmental, social and economic cost of extreme events that affect millions every year. [1]
Consider just a few: the devastation caused by the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, the earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010 and famine in the Horn of Africa in 2011.
Though these events differ (for example, some strike rapidly while others develop slowly), they all highlight the vulnerability of poor communities around the world — and variable success for science and technology (S&T) in disaster planning and response.
Thousands of lives were lost in the 2004 tsunami, exposing the need for a coordinated early-warning system in the region. In Africa, while scientists warned of a serious drought, failure to heed these predictions revealed the gap in communication about the risk with decision-makers.
Information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as social media and mapping, used after the Haiti earthquake, did help aid workers quickly assess damage and people's needs. Even here, the benefit of technology is limited without integration with existing response systems.
There is a range of preparedness and response activities that can help reduce risk from natural hazards. But the space between early warning and action is a narrow window of opportunity where more effective use of scientific tools for alerting communities can make a difference.
Spotlight on early warning
This week, we publish a set of articles that explores the barriers to early action and how early warning tools can be used to their best potential.
An overview article looks at how early warning systems have developed and what they can realistically achieve. Lucy Pearson of the Humanitarian Futures Programme at King's College London and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center in Thailand, our editorial consultant for the project, identifies the factors that account for the gap between early warning and action, and highlights the role of knowledge held by local communities.
In a news feature, Smriti Mallapaty explores the benefits of integrating indigenous knowledge with modern science to improve early warning, even though traditional practices may not always keep pace with social and environmental change.
Andrew Collins, director of the Disaster and Development Centre at Northumbria University, United Kingdom, makes the case for embedding warning systems in local communities, and argues for better understanding of the factors — from behaviour to poverty — that stand in the way of early action.
Scientific uncertainty is a key reason why communities and decision-makers may not heed early warnings. Emma Visman of the Humanitarian Futures Programme, Benedict Dempsey of Save the Children, London, and S. H. M. Fakhruddin of the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System in Thailand, argue that dialogue can improve how people engage with complex information.
The critical moment — for rapid-onset emergencies in particular — comes when a warning is issued. Veronica Grasso of the UN Development Programme in Switzerland and José Rubiera from Cuba's national forecast centre say this is where coordination and political will determine success or failure.
S&T is only a part
Cuba shows that early warning can be successful even without sophisticated technology. But coordination and political will are elusive goals, and are much easier to achieve where governance is sound and where people are at the centre of a country's priorities.
Just as problematic is the fact that S&T rarely offer a solution alone, not least because alerts need to be translated for action.
Meanwhile, the increasing number and sophistication of early warning systems — and the 'better safe than sorry' approach to using them — means that false alarms are rising. The recent conviction of Italian scientists for not issuing a warning about the L'Aquila earthquake can only add to an over-cautious approach.
The fact remains that early warning is one of the most powerful tools for reducing disaster risk. The use of S&T has become more organised. Digital tools such as social media and mapping are now seen by some as the future for organising humanitarian work.
And while better remote sensing, forecasts and mobile communications are essential, so are developments in the socioeconomic frameworks that shape our ideas of how early warning can become more effective.
Poverty and development links
For instance, the concept of risk reduction shows that exposure to natural hazards is not all that matters. Vulnerability — and conversely, resilience — can make all the difference. The risk is highest where people are least able to protect themselves. Disaster risk and poverty are locked in a cycle where natural hazards undermine economic development in the countries least well prepared to cope.
As the contributions to this Spotlight suggest, risk reduction must include factors linked to poverty reduction, such as ecological and social stability. And to be more effective, new tools need reinforcement from old processes including traditional knowledge, dialogue and coordination.
Progress in science is incremental, and there is a sense of urgency about disaster risk. The threats to poor countries will only grow and become more complex as climate change takes hold and resources are depleted.
So how can we make best use of that precious window of opportunity offered by early warning?
These articles highlight the need to build a mutual relationship between early warning science and the environment in which it operates. This means not only implementing technology but also empowering communities to reduce risk in a way that aligns with wider development priorities.
SciDev.Net, Opinion & Special Features Editor
This article is part of a Spotlight on Improving early warning of disasters.
You might also like
[1] UN. The future we want: Disaster resilience. Rio+20 Fact Sheet (2012)


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When you hear the word "Japanese," what comes to mind? Sushi? Honda? Anime? Karate? Hello Kitty? The Japanese invented of all them.
They also brought us karaoke, the CD player, and the plasma t.v., all of which pale in comparison to their greatest achievement, the invention of broccolini. Broccolini, a cross between broccoli and Chinese kale, was invented by the Sakata Seed Company of Yokohana, Japan.
(Broccolini at the Hillcrest Farmers' Market in San Diego.)
What's so special about broccolini? Everything. Unlike bulky regular broccoli, broccolini has long, slender stems that are graced with delicate bunches of buds. Broccolini's flavor is sweeter than broccoli and has hints of earthy asparagus. When cooked, it's much more tender than broccoli yet has a satisfying crisp texture when eaten raw.
Like broccoli, broccolini can be boiled, steamed, sauteed, roasted, and even grilled. Avoid overcooking it; broccolini prefers a light hand. Since it's so tender, it can be sauteed raw. If, however, you prefer to boil it first, then consider a par-boil. Par-boil broccolini for 1 minute, then plunge it into a bowl of ice water to "shock" it. This will stop the cooking process, maintain its vivid green color, and ensure tenderness. Just drain and pat dry before sauteeing.
Broccoli Rabe (rapini).
If you're wondering whether or not broccolini is the same as broccoli rabe (rapini), it isn't. Broccoli rabe is a robust Italian vegetable known for its distinctive bitterness. In fact, if you'd like to learn more about broccoli rabe, then check out my latest piece on NPR's Kitchen Window: "You Don't Have To Be Italian To Eat Broccoli Rabe."
The piece contains four recipes featuring broccoli rabe:
Broccoli Rabe and Mushroom Frittata with Grape Tomato Salsa
Lemony Broccoli Rabe and Cannelini Bean Crostini
Broccoli Rabe, Fennel, and Hot Sausage Pizza (pictured below)
Sicilian Anchovy and Broccoli Rabe Pasta
Now, if the Japanese had invented the iPhone 4, maybe that would be their greatest accomplishment.
Light and Creamy Parpadelle with Mascarpone Cheese and Broccolini
Makes 2 large or 4 small servings
Print recipe only here.
1/2 pound parpadelle (I used fresh pasta)
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 shallot, thinly sliced
3-3 1/2 cups broccolini, thicker stems trimmed and sliced
3 tablespoons dry white wine
1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
Zest of 1/2 lemon (about 2 teaspoons)
3-4 tablespoons grated Reggiano-Parmigiano or Grana Padano cheese
Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling, optional
1. Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Note: Fresh pasta cooks very quickly (3-5 minutes), so cook it once the sauce is nearly finished.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm olive oil. Add shallots and saute 3 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add broccolini and saute 2-3 minutes, until just softened and lightly browned. Add white wine and leave alone for 2 minutes, letting the alcohol evaporate.
3. In a small bowl, whisk mascarpone cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and hot pasta water until smooth and creamy.
4. Drain pasta and add to the skillet with the broccolini. Add the cheese sauce, lightly tossing until well coated, about 1 minute. Serve immediately. Top with grated cheese, and, if desired, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
You might also like these recipes from Food Blogga:
Broccolini and Sun-Dried Tomato Calzone
Easy Chicken Saute with Broccoflower, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Olives
Broccoli Rabe (Rapini) on Crispy Polenta with a Creamy Goat Cheese Sauce
Here are more broccolini recipes you might enjoy:
Lemon and Broccolini Soup recipe from Technicolor Kitchen
Spaghetti with Shrimp, Broccolini, and Basil recipe from TasteFood
Thai Pork Belly with Garlic and Broccolini recipe from Viet World Kitchen


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Sentai Filmworks Licenses Kill Me Baby
HOUSTON — Head back to school with Sentai Filmworks' newest acquisition: Kill Me Baby. Get ready for 13 episodes of schoolroom mayhem, chaos and destruction directed by Yoshiki Yamakawa (Little Busters!, Hatsukoi Limited) and featuring series composition by Hideki Shirane (Queen's Blade Rebellion, Dream Eater Merry), character designs by Shinya Hasegawa (Revolutionary Girl Utena), sound direction by Jin Aketagawa (Bodacious Space Pirates, AKB0048) and music by EXPO.
Yasuna Oribe isn't your typical Japanese high school girl. For one thing, she's a little slow on the uptake, and for another, her best friend, Sonya, is actually a highly trained foreign assassin who's in Yasuna's class as part of her assignment. And perhaps Yasuna's definition of "best friend" is a bit strange, as Sonya has the habit of regularly attacking Yasuna, especially when startled. However, as noted, Yasuna isn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, and while Sonya knows precisely what to do with every one of those sharp objects, even she is hard pressed to deal with the day to day oddities that seem to fill their class schedule. Things like: escaped bears, voodoo curses, juggling and killer mosquitoes. And puppet shows. And, just in case Yasuna's life wasn't weird/hazardous enough, there's her ninja classmate, Agiri, swarms of bees and assassins targeting just about everybody, a mysterious red haired girl with a personal vendetta and the perils of slipping in the public bath. They say a little education can be a dangerous thing, but with a school life like this, Yasuna will be lucky to keep breathing past third period in KILL ME BABY!
Kill Me Baby will be available later this year on bilingual DVD and through select digital outlets.
About Sentai Filmworks
Sentai Filmworks is one of the fastest-growing anime companies in North America, producing hit series like High School of the Dead, Towanoquon, Samurai Girls, Guin Saga, Needless and Angel Beats as well as high profile theatrical films such as Grave of the Fireflies and Appleseed. Sentai Filmworks' programs can be found on home video distributed by Ingram Entertainment, Baker & Taylor, Section23Films, The Right Stuf and other good and fine distributors. Digital product offerings may be found at iTunes, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, Zune Marketplace, Anime Network, Playstation Network, Google Play and YouTube.


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Ali has recently been released from prison and is now working as a night
watchman in Tehran. This factory job now means that he is at least able to
support his small family comprising his wife Sara and their daughter, Saba.
One day, Ali comes home from work to discover that Sara and Saba have
disappeared. Realising that there's no point in waiting for them any more, Ali
decides to go to the police.But
there's chaos at the police station and it takes hours for him to discover
anything. Finally, he is informed that his wife was caught up in a shoot-out
with demonstrators and was killed. His daughter Saba, however, is still
Ali's search for his daughter drives him to distraction; he despairs still
more, when, in the end, her dead body is discovered. Desperate for revenge he
runs amok randomly killing two policemen. After the deed he heads for the woods
in the north by car. But the police have long been on his trail; they give chase
along a country road until Ali's car crashes. Ali runs off into the woods to
hide among the trees – in vain.
Hassan and Azem, the two policemen who are chasing him, arrest him. Ali seems
resigned to his fate and willingly follows the two men, who keep a sharp eye on
him. But then, they get lost. All they can see are trees. In such a remote
landscape as this, it's hard to tell the difference between hunters and hunted.
-- BerlinaleCast: Rafi Pitts,
Mitra Hajjar, Ali Nicksaulat, Hassan Ghalenoi, Manoochehr Rahimi


text:
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text:
- "...I get out of breath right away and my heart beats fast."
- "...I can feel myself blushing, almost as soon as I start to talk."
- "...I talk too fast--I can cram 30 syllables into the space of two."
- "...I start to perspire, and feel really uncomfortable."
"Okay," I usually say. "Then it must be that your mind is not talking to your body, because your body sure sounds nervous.to me."
One thing I've learned about training executives in public speaking and presentation skills is that part of my role is to make it okay to be nervous about speaking. I'm not sure when we all decided that being nervous when you speak is wrong (similar to when we all decided that saying "um" is wrong). Just as speech disfluency (a fancy word for stumbles like "ums") is natural and normal in all languages, being nervous when you speak, too, is natural and normal.
How do we know everyone fears public speaking?
We sure talk a lot about how everyone fears public speaking more than death, even though the most-often cited evidence comes from a simple item with no footnotes in The Book of Lists. (The list famously put public speaking as the number one fear, and death at number 7.) But there's plenty of evidence to suggest that most people feel some level of anxiety before they address a group in a presentation or speech, particularly if they don't do that on a regular basis--and even if they do. Psychologists use public speaking when they're researching stress, as a task that can generally be expected to result in physical and mental stress in most of their research subjects, so let's use that as our marker.
The real phenomenon underlying fear-while-speaking is one of the most basic human reactions, fight-or-flight response. It makes sense, as many speakers have pointed out: There you are, typically alone, facing a crowd. The hormones that kick in mean your body is telling you, "Be ready. What if they charge forward and attack?"
The fear really is physical
Fight-or-flight response kicks in physically--in fact, you can think of it as your body kicking you in the shins, so to speak, to say, "Danger ahead!" Even the most expert speakers will describe themselves as having a kind of heightend focus and awareness; some of the physiological reactions in fight-or-flight include things like diminished peripheral vision, as it's a time when you want to focus on what's facing you head-on. So it's no surprise to me that my trainees often describe public-speaking nervousness by describing physical symptoms.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to reduce your physical response to public-speaking nerves. As I described in an earlier post on when the speaker needs to catch her breath, the "relaxation response" practice of deep breathing to calm yourself. And while a little deep breathing while you're speaking or right before you speak can help, the "relaxation response" is best done over time, so that when nerves strike, your body has an alternative method of responding to stress. (Find the how-to in the book The Relaxation Response.) At a minimum, find 10 minute before you speak to do some deep breathing, stretch your body and calm down--I like a handy, empty stairwell or side hallway for this purpose.
Your mind has something to do with it, too
I think speakers are making it tougher on themselves when they say "I'm not nervous." Facing an audience is embarrassing in many ways. You're alone. You're visible to all. You can fail in three dimensions. There's nowhere to hide. Authors and writers can be anonymous if they choose, but that's nearly impossible for speakers--something I think every speaker senses. You've literally "put yourself out there," physically as well as aurally and mentally. No one needs to tell you this, of course.
So accept that. Tell yourself that before you speak. Make it normal and natural: "I know I'll be nervous and I'm going to do things to help combat the physical reaction--and I'm going to take advantage of the pluses of nervousness, too."
Your ace in the hole
The audience can't usually tell that you are nervous. Remind yourself not to clue them in, and you can fake your way right through the presentation.
Let's make it normal to be nervous
There's one more thing I'm sensing: The more we say "I'm not nervous, but....", the more we're making it difficult for anyone (ourselves included) to admit to being nervous. How about "I'm nervous about doing well today, so I'm going to go in the hallway and do my usual prep so my body doesn't sabotage me?"
Go here to subscribe to Step Up Your Speaking, my free email newsletter that looks at a different speaking topic in depth each month...then become a fan of The Eloquent Woman on Facebook and join the conversation with thousands of other women (and men) about public speaking skills and confidence.


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Wednesday, December 10
Healthy Chili Your Kids Will Love and Supporting Healthy Schools Campaign
A few weeks ago I claimed that when I was a kid, the best part of my school day was when it ended. That was because I knew when I got home my mom would have an after-school snack waiting for me.
What I didn't say was that the second best part of my school day was lunchtime. I was lucky since I never ate in a school cafeteria. There were no soggy bologna and cheese sandwiches for me. Instead when I opened my lunch box, something delicious made by my mom was waiting for me. Come to think of it, I was truly fortunate.
Sometimes it was basic like homemade chicken or lentil soup in a thermos; other times it was fancier like baked veal cutlets. Then there were the days I opened my lunch box and discovered an eggplant parmigiana sandwich or a spinach pie (I would have to stifle a squeal of delight.) Then I didn't feel quite so bad about missing the capital of South Dakota on my quiz that morning. (It's Pierre.)
One of my mom's keys to making healthy and delicious lunches was to buy food in bulk. Then she would plan ahead: most Sundays she would bake extra chicken cutlets or make a huge vat of vegetable soup that could be used for our lunches all week long. Of course we did get the occasional ham and cheese or pastrami sandwich, but never bologna. Blegh. And though most days we got a sweet treat like a cookie, Mom made sure that every day included fresh fruit that we liked. Because really have you ever seen a child actually eat one of those sad, mushy red delicious apples that comes on their school lunch tray?
So even though I don't have little ones to make lunch for, I still think providing children with healthy and flavorful lunches is important. That's why I'm submitting my healthy chili to Leena of Leena Eats who is hosting "Fresh Voices for Fresh Choices: A healthier school lunch, one story at a time." Leena has joined the Healthy Schools Campaign in an effort to "give our kids fresh, healthy food at school and a chance to be active during the day."
Like most kids, I still love not-necessarily-good-for-you-food like pizza, macaroni and cheese, and chili. However, with a little tweaking, you can reduce the fat and calories in these dishes and pump up the nutrition.
My Healthy Chili is made with extra lean hamburger (84% or 92% works well) and is chock-full of nutritious veggies like zucchini, red bell pepper, beans, and tomatoes. It's made with lean protein, which is necessary for building muscle and bones; it's high in vitamin A, which helps maintain ocular health, vitamin C, which helps the body heal more quickly, and lycopene, a carotinoid associated with a lower risk of cancer. Plus it's rich in fiber, which is important for promoting digestive health as well as lowering the risk for high blood pressure and heart disease.
And if that isn't enough to convince you, then just eat it because it's delicious. My older brother and his wife have been making this chili for their lunches, and the last time I spoke with him, he said, "We can't stop eating that chili! It's sooo good." It's amazing what a little cinnamon can do.
If you'd like to get involved and help support school wellness programs, then visit www.healthyschoolscampaign.org/childnutrition to learn how and to sign the petition. Because all children deserve a lunch that tastes good and is good for them.
Healthy Chili
This healthy chili is made with extra lean hamburger and is packed with good-for-you veggies. Enjoy it on its own, or serve it with baked tortilla chips or warm whole wheat tortillas.
Makes 6-8 servings
Print recipe only here.
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 large yellow onion, finely diced
1 pound extra lean hamburger (I use 84% or 92% lean)
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 small zucchini, diced
1 (15 oz) can corn kernels, drained
1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained
1 (15 oz) can pinto beans, drained
1 (28 oz) plus 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes with juices
1/2 cup water*
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
2 heaping teaspoons fajita spice
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne**
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
In a large pot over medium-high heat, warm canola oil. Add onions and saute until translucent and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add ground hamburger and saute until lightly browned, about 8-10 minutes. Add red bell pepper and zucchini and cook for 5 minutes. Add corn, beans, tomatoes, water, and brown sugar; stir well. Add fajita spice, cumin, cayenne, and cinnamon; stir well. Reduce heat to low; partially cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until thick and soupy. Cook longer if you like your vegetables softer. If desired, sprinkle with a little cheddar cheese and fresh cilantro before serving.
*Note: I use 1/2 cup water for a thicker chili, but use as much or as little as you wish to achieve desired level of soupiness.
**If your child doesn't like too much heat, then simply reduce or eliminate the cayenne pepper.
Your kids might also like these healthy dishes:
Healthy Muffins
Mom's Chocolate Pudding with Bananas and Graham Crackers (and learn how to make sure your children are getting enough calcium in their diet)
Italian Escarole and Bean Soup
Orange Cauliflower Mac 'n Cheese (yes, it's healthier and good)
35 comments:
- Finla said...
I have never ever had chillie, i have heard of them so much but till now not cookesd them.
I am with your mom. I always make soup for threedays and keep them in tuperware in the fridge. Sometimes i make them in bult and freeze them in portions.
One way of making my daughter eat vegetables when she was little was to make soup.
- December 10, 2008 at 7:13 AM
- Culinary Wannabe said...
What a great mom to send you to school with such amazing lunches! My mom tried sending us with similar things, but would get so frustrated because we would always throw the thermoses away or leave them in our classrooms over the weekend. Yuk!
- December 10, 2008 at 7:25 AM
- Jersey Girl Cooks said...
Great chili! I want your mom to pack my lunch:)
- December 10, 2008 at 7:25 AM
- Maria said...
I make a similar chili and I love it! It is so good and good for you! This is perfect for winter too!
- December 10, 2008 at 7:48 AM
- Chibog in Chief said...
oh my goodness!! Its never good to be away for a while in the blogging world. Glad to be back I could have missed this delicious chili treat! I have a 5 kilos of red beans I could use perfectly for this recipe! Thanks Susan...
btw, i hope i wont be late for your christmas cookie event! i had so much fun last year; count me in dear
- December 10, 2008 at 7:48 AM
- Snooky doodle said...
great dish and healthy too. What can i ask for more ??? Great mum !!!
- December 10, 2008 at 8:23 AM
- Susan C said...
So true about those sad, mushy apples that are rotting in land fills all over the country. Ditto for those little boxes of Sun Maid Raisins that make moms think they are providing a nutritious lunch. I think more are tossed than consumed.
This chilli looks like it's destined to fill happy tummies (not trash bins).
- December 10, 2008 at 8:42 AM
- Rita said...
That's lovely Susan! I often imagine the day I will be packing my kids (which I don't have yet) lunch box...
And thanks for the petition link too.
- December 10, 2008 at 8:56 AM
- Kara said...
Darn... just when I thought I had my chili recipe down, this one looks too good not to try! Does it freeze well, by any chance? Might be perfect to make a batch this weekend to have on hand for Christmas visitors.
- December 10, 2008 at 9:40 AM
Great post, Susan. I will definitely have to add this to my arsenal of chili recipes. Thanks for helping out and signing the petition!
- December 10, 2008 at 9:46 AM
The picture of the chili with all those bright colors just looks so inviting and healthy. I can't comment on kids' lunches (I was never that successful in getting my son to eat what I packed him for lunch) but for my lunch, this would be perfect.
- December 10, 2008 at 9:55 AM
- Karen said...
This chili is so thick, it looks like it would be good as a dip with tortilla chips, too!
- December 10, 2008 at 10:08 AM
- Rosa's Yummy Yums said...
Healthy, colorful and tasty! Impossible to go wrong with such a great dish!
- December 10, 2008 at 10:43 AM
- sunita said...
I love your chilli, Susan...and i also love your mom :-)
- December 10, 2008 at 10:47 AM
I love how you take these classic rich dishes and make them so healthy. Delicious looking chili! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
- December 10, 2008 at 11:10 AM
- Patsyk said...
I'm always looking for delicious and healthy ideas for my boys lunches. Gonna have to work on them with chili though... they won't touch it for some reason! Soups are always a hit with them though.
- December 10, 2008 at 12:06 PM
- Farming Fabulously said...
Now that is what I call Chili. Looks so tasty.
- December 10, 2008 at 2:12 PM
- Michelle said...
I don't have kids but feel very passionate about changing the way kids eat! Probably because I too always had a lunch made by mom! I wish I knew how to contribute more to this cause so I'm going to check out all those links :-) Thanks!
As for chili, there's no reason to NOT add veggies. Yours looks great!
- December 10, 2008 at 2:36 PM
- Cakespy said...
Yum!!!!!!! And healthy to boot. You rule!
- December 10, 2008 at 4:59 PM
This looks great Susan! I love the addition of the brown sugar. I'll have to give that a try the next time I make chili. All the veggies make it so colorful as well as nutritous!
- December 10, 2008 at 6:15 PM
- Dewi said...
OMG, to be honest with you I never made any kind of Chili dish before. I heard so much about how good it is! I should really try it one day. Yours sounds very delectable!
- December 10, 2008 at 6:40 PM
- Heather said...
beautiful chili! it looks really tasty... and healthy :) and putting corn in anything... makes me want it!
- December 10, 2008 at 7:46 PM
- Manggy said...
Forget healthy, I would dive into this mouth-first because it just. Looks. So. @#$@ing. GOOD!
Imagining you as a little kid stifling her squeal of delight is just making me LOL :) You must have been the luckiest kid ever to have eaten so many wonderful dishes! :)
- December 10, 2008 at 7:54 PM
- Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...
I used to volunteer at my daughters elementary school for their hot lunch program. They didn't always love everything on the menu such as ham and scalloped potatoes but the ladies really made an effort to have hot , nutitional meals on our kids plates. In fact I had to watch the lunch program menu to make sure I didn't amke the same things for dinner.
- December 11, 2008 at 12:26 AM
This chili looks so delicious and what's better... healthy! I loved it!
Come to visit me at Chocorango!
- December 11, 2008 at 1:53 AM
- Susan from Food Blogga said...
happycook-Freezing soup in portions is a great idea! I haven't done that.
cwannabe-She was (and is) a great mom. :)
lisa-Seriously. ;)
maria-I know!
dhanggit-Welcome back! :) I'll look forward to your cookies. I remember your unique mango cookies from last year.
susan-I forgot about the raisins. ;)
rita-At least you'll have a chili recipe ready to go. ;) And it was my pleasure.
kara-I don't freeze chili, but my mom used to. She recommends cooling it completely, then storing it in air-tight freezer proof containers. Then defrost in the fridge. Good luck!
leena-It was my pleasure!
julie-It's adult-friendly too. :)
karen-It is. Trust me! ;)
rosa-I know!
sunita-You're so sweet. :)
farida-I have fun doing it and am glad you like it.
patsy-Won't touch chili? Hmmmm... that's concerning indeed. ;)
farmfab-Thanks so much!
michelle-I'm so happy to hear you'll be checking it out. It's such an important cause for those with and without children. Thanks!
cakespy-Aw shuck, thank you m'am. ;)
elly-That little bit of sweetness goes a long way. I just love it.
elra-You simply have to try it!
heather-I love corn too.
mark-@#$@ing good? Wow! Thanks! ;)
val-But at least they were introducing kids to healthier meals, and over time, the kids usually start eating a wider variety of foods. So that's just wonderful!
talita-Welcome! Thank you.
- December 11, 2008 at 6:06 AM
- Deeba PAB said...
Can you adopt my kids Susan? They'll love you to death!!! Lots of love
- December 11, 2008 at 8:04 AM
your chili looks amazing!! very hearty and filling! i can't wait to try your healthy tasty muffins!!!
- December 11, 2008 at 9:29 AM
I never had chilli.. looks really delicious and certainly very healthy
- December 11, 2008 at 9:35 AM
- Pearl said...
looks perfect for cold nights! i try to make a healthy version of chili for my brothers, too, as they are big lovers of chili. i make mine with ground turkey, and the rest just contains spices, vegetables, and beans! the spices make the biggest difference in the world!
- December 11, 2008 at 7:10 PM
- Wendy said...
Oh, yum! Making this on Sunday for my lunches next week. Lovely. :)
- December 12, 2008 at 10:37 AM
- Coffee and Vanilla said...
Very nice story... and delicious looking chili. I made yesterday white kidney beans with mango and raisins, I tried to recreate Heinz curry baked beans, he he... my favourite.
Hope you had wonderful weekend, Margot
- December 14, 2008 at 11:53 AM
- Unknown said...
That looks really tasty in addition to healthy!
- December 21, 2008 at 4:05 AM
- Jeanne said...
I remember the girls in the boarding school hostel at my high school getting white bread bologna sandwiches for lunch with a THICK layer of margarine and just feelign ill at the thought!!
Great minds think alike - I also posted chilli over the festive season, although mine was a far simpler after-work-dinner affair. Will have to seek out black beans at the speciality section in our supermarket and why oh why don't I usually add corn??
- January 7, 2009 at 10:00 AM
- Lauren said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- January 17, 2009 at 11:51 PM


text:
Does everyone remember when we wrote one of the most important positions on the Ohio State Buckeyes was the backup quarterback? Actually, it was yesterday. Unfortunately, it may have proven to be prophetic.
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said Sunday that the Buckeyes were expecting to "take a big step" Monday in regards to easing Miller back into regular practice repetitions after having offseason shoulder surgery.
According to The Columbus Dispatch, Miller re-injured his surgically-repaired right shoulder during the Buckeyes' Monday afternoon practice.
"The injury puts in jeopardy his playing status for the coming season," Tim May wrote.
The actual severity of Miller's injury will be determined Tuesday.
#OhioState star Braxton Miller reinjured his shoulder tonight. Slated to have an MRI tomorrow, source tells @FoxSports
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) August 19, 2014
If Miller misses the season or any significant amount of time, it would be a devastating loss for the Buckeyes. Miller was considered a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. His experience and skill set were perfect to lead an offense that had questions marks at both running back and the offensive line. Miller could have carried the team until the offense truly started to gel.
Now, redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett, who recently earned the role as the team's No. 2 quarterback, is expected to lead the team into the regular season Aug. 30 against the Navy Midshipmen. Barrett was a four-star recruit the coaching staff eventually expected to be the future of the program. Well, the future is now.
Despite all of Meyer's previous claims that Miller remains "right on schedule", the team was easily knocked off-schedule if Miller's injury is as significant as feared. And the Big Ten East becomes a wide open race for any team to claim.


text:
AS A LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR, AS IN ANY BUSINESS, YOU'RE constantly looking for ways to increase your client base. Of course you provide the very best in design/build and maintenance services, or just maintenance itself, but so does your competition. While you're looking at the big picture, and your bottom line, you might not see the "trees for the forest" or, in the case of a landscape project, the blades of grass for the lawn. But look close—really close—and you will discover a golden opportunity staring right back at you, chomping on the shrubs, devouring the leaves and crawling in the soil.
If you can spot insects and grubs, and the damage they're causing, your client can spot them, too. The question is, who are they going to call to solve the problem?
Whatever action they take, whether it's driving to the local hardware store to purchase an over-the-counter pesticide or calling a pest control company, they're invariably giving their business and money to someone other than you.
Your business is more than maintaining the turf and the landscapes. It's also about maintaining your relationship with your client, as well as your reputation. By adding pest, weed and disease control application services to your company's repertoire, you'll be providing an additional service, and one less competitor to solicit your client.
Landscape perfection begins with the lawn. All the hard work you put into the walkways, trees, flowers and fountains won't matter if your client's turf is being destroyed by an insect infestation. To keep your client's landscape looking beautiful, it's necessary to control turf-impacting pests.
Let's take a look at some pests that are prominent in landscaping, the damage they cause and finally, how they can be controlled.
Grubs are a common pest in turfgrass. They are the larval stage of many different beetles.
During the warm summer months, the female adult burrows around three inches into the ground to lay her eggs.
As soon as they hatch, these grubs start eating by sucking on plant roots and continue sucking the juices until the turf dies.
Signs of grub damage are fairly easy to notice. If you spot irregular patches of brown on a well-watered lawn, there's a good chance that area is infested with grubs. The soil will also feel spongy and loose to where you can easily roll back the sod like a carpet. When the turf is lifted to expose the grubs, they usually will be lying on their sides in a C-shaped position.
When it comes to controlling a grub infestation, timing is crucial. Grub elimination should be timed to target them at the youngest stage when that are close to the surface.
"The story of grubs starts with a 4th of July party," says Tom Kroll, technical services manager, NuFarm Americas, Inc., Chicago, Illinois. "The best way to control grubs is to apply insecticide just before the eggs hatch. That window of opportunity is usually three weeks prior to July 4th, from up to two weeks after July 4th."
Kroll recommends using an insecticide with the active ingredient imidacloprid in either dry form, which can be applied with a spreader, or as a liquid, which is sprayed on. Chloraniliprole and Trichlorfon are other active ingredients that are effective.
Chinch bug
Another insect common in turf settings is the chinch bug. Chinch bugs rapidly kill turf once they've become established. Although they don't attack all grasses, some of the most common warm- and cool-season turfgrass species are likely chinch-bug targets. Most of the varieties of grasses thrive in the Sunbelt states.
Chinch bug damage is usually first detected when irregular patches of turf begin to turn yellow, then straw colored. These areas turn reddish brown and eventually die, while the chinch bugs move on to healthy turf. A yellow halo around the damaged area is typical of a chinch bug infestation.
The female lays its eggs, and as the eggs hatch the young chinch bugs, called nymphs, do the damage. Nymphs are yellow upon hatching, but soon turn red and have a light-colored band across their abdomens.
Chinch bugs suck on grass juices while releasing a toxin that causes yellowish to brownish patches in turf.
Over the years, chinch bugs have become resistant to almost every chemical used to control them, but insecticides containing bifenthrin have been shown to be effective, because the chemical works both internally and externally. "Bifenthrin kills the chinch bug both when the bugs ingest plants that have been treated with the chemical, and also when bifenthrin gets on their skin," says Adam E. Manwarren, turf and ornamental product manager at FMC Professional Solutions.
You could apply the insecticide to the affected areas, or around the border of the landscape, but because they can fly, it's difficult to keep an area totally free of chinch bugs. Manwarren recommends a broadcast application on the entire lawn with either a liquid spray or granular spreader.
Fire ants
While chinch bugs are annoying pests, they are strictly vegetarians. Much more than a picnic crasher, fire ants are an invasive species whose bite is extremely painful and potentially deadly.
Before attempting to treat for these ants, you must first identify them correctly.
Identifying fire ants is difficult because they look much like ordinary ants. They're 1/8 to 1/4 inch long and reddish brown to black in color. Their bodies look like ordinary ants in that they have three sections: head, thorax, abdomen; three pairs of legs, and elbowed antennae, but usually the head will be a lighter color and the abdomen will be much darker.
They can also be identified by the distinctive mound-shaped nests they build. The fire ants' mounds are at least 12 inches in both diameter and height, although they can be as large as two feet high and two feet wide.
Late August through early October is an ideal time to apply fire ant bait to lawns, but baits are slow-acting and can take weeks to months to reduce ant mound numbers. Applying pesticides, which use a combination of the active ingredients bifenthrin and zeta-cypermethrin, directly to the mounds have been shown to be effective in killing fire ants in less time.
What makes a fire ant colony difficult to destroy is that the nests can contain several hundred-thousand ants.
Myoporum thrip
About 16 states in the U.S. have reported some level of fire ant problem, but California seems to be the sole state of choice for the Myoporum thrip. It's named for the Myoporum ground covers and tree species which are widely planted in Southern California, due to their minimal water requirements and ease of maintenance. These imported pests were first discovered in Orange County, California, in 2005 and have rapidly spread to many different parts of the state. The thrip insect is smaller than one millimeter and often hides in curled up leaves or within buds of flowers. It is yellowish brown or black in appearance, but can have brightly colored spots as well. There are many different species of thrips, but they all share some common features, such as thin bodies, feathery-looking wings, and elongated feeding tubes that are used for puncturing and sucking.
The Myoporum thrip attacks the flowering shrub Myoporum by sucking the plant's juices to the point the plant dies. While much is known about thrips in general, little is known about this particular pest of Myoporum. Early studies by James Bethke and David Shaw of the University of California found that two applications of imidacloprid or spinosad reduced the number of thrips and the amount of damage to infested Myoporum plants. Further research is continuing to ensure the insects don't migrate to other states.
Also limited to a small portion of the country, the ficus whitefly is causing a great amount of damage in South Florida. Ficus trees without their leaves are one of the most obvious symptoms of a whitefly infestation. "In Florida, ficus are used as privacy hedges because they can grow anywhere, are between five and eight feet tall and totally block the neighbor's view," says Todd Mayhew, western field development manager, Valent Professional Products, Walnut Creek, California.
"This particular whitefly gets on ficus and sucks out the juice, causing the plant to lose its leaves. If you have a privacy hedge with no leaves, it sort of defeats the purpose."
Whiteflies are small, winged insects that typically feed on the underside of leaves with their "needle-like" mouthparts. They can seriously injure host plants by sucking juices from them, causing wilting, yellowing, stunting, leaf drop or even death.
The adult whitefly resembles a very small moth, with a yellow body and white wings with a faint gray band in the middle of the wings. Eggs and nymphs can be found primarily on the underside of the leaves.
The recommended method to control the whitefly is to drench the soil around the base of the tree or hedge with a product that contains a neonicotinoid compound. If applied appropriately, it should provide sufficient control of the whitefly for four to eight months, or perhaps longer, depending on the size of the tree or shrub.
Unlike the whitefly's limited location, billbugs can be found throughout the entire U.S. Billbug damage usually appears in late June through August, when summer drought stress is common. Light infestations in lawns often produce small dead spots that look like the turf disease. Heavy infestations can result in complete destruction of the turf, usually by August. The major problem with billbug damage is that it looks like a variety of other problems, such as drought, disease, chinch bugs, or grubs. Billbug-damaged turf turns a whitish-straw color rather than the yellow caused by greenbugs. Soil under the damaged turf is solid, not spongy as in white grub attacks.
Billbugs are some of the most difficult turfgrass insects to control, because the adults' armor-like bodies protect them from absorbing insecticides. They also don't ingest much insecticide when they penetrate a grass stem while feeding. A systemic pesticide that contains the active ingredient dinotefuran can control billbugs, as well as a broad spectrum of other insect pests. With light to moderate infestations, much of the damage can be controlled with adequate irrigation and fertilization; however, with increased regulations on both irrigation and fertilization use, billbug damage is on the rise.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
IPM is not a single pest control method but, rather, a series of pest management evaluations, decisions and controls. By combining information on an insect's life cycles and the way they interact with the environment, along with selected pesticide methods, IPM not only can eliminate an ongoing infestation, but can prevent one before it starts.
The options can be as simple as removing the pests with a garden hose, changing the watering schedule or modifying mulching. If these methods are ineffective, then it's time to step it up a notch. Introducing natural predators into the infected environment or using non-chemical pesticides are two viable alternatives.
Biopesticides are a type of pesticide derived from natural materials. For example, canola oil and baking soda have pesticidal applications and are considered biopesticides.
Microbial pesticides are another type of biopesticide, made from microorganisms. The most widely used microbial pesticides are strains of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). After the pest ingests the chemical, Bt proteins paralyze their digestive system, and the infected insect dies from starvation.
Chemical insecticides are used in IPM as well. In many instances, the operator will isolate where an infestation is and spray insecticides only in that specific area. Integrated Pest Management is an excellent approach to insect problems.
Before adding pesticide application to your company's list of services, it is advisable to check with your state's Department of Pesticide Regulation, or similar agency, to see if a license is required. Some states offer a simple commercial ground applicator's license, while others have commercial pesticide business licenses available as well.
While you won't be able to totally eradicate all insects from the landscape, you can control and manage them. Whatever method you choose, your clients will be pleased that the next time they look closely at their grass, the only thing they'll see is lovely, healthy green leaves.


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I don't think Tyrone was thinking about any baby when he was <bleep>ing Latisha Mabye if Latisha realized that Tyrone wasn't going to hand around once the act was done (or their was reprocussions from the act) she would of made a smarter decision but that has nothing to do withthe original post. /derail offFyyr wrote: Paying to feed Tyrone's baby, who knocked up Latisha,,,,,That's not really Constitutional. But you live in SF, so I know how you might disagree. Especially, when Tyrone has no intention of feeding his own fucking kid.
I have a problem with that.
I have an innate, and real problem with working to feed the kids of other men, who have no intention on feeding their own kids.
Call me extreme if you like.. but in my book, that's stealing.
The only reason we spend so much is because we pay millions of dollars for a single missle. Yeah, they may be able to hit a door knob from 4 miles away but I'm pretty sure people have been killing people for a lot less money for thousands of years. Hell, the most cost efficient military weapon in the US service is a Sniper, followed by the "grunt", and specialist.
Imagine if other countries had the technology we had, they could use percision missiles to take out any rebellion (Libya/Syria) and not worry about some UN mandate that says you can't hit civilians. Seems only Europeon (NATO) can hit civilians, call it collateral damage, and suffer no consequences. That, and they wouldn't have to call us up to fight their damm wars. And it would be them who spend all that money, not the US. /Steps down from his soap box
Na, not surprised how much we spend compared to most other developed countries. I personally wish we would send them a bill everytime they call us though.