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Freddie Stone
Despite playing in one of the most popular funk bands of all time, Freddie Stone might just be one of the most underrated purveyors of funkitude ever. He and brother Sly Stone cofounded Sly & the Family Stone in 1967, and within that context Freddie set a new standard for integrating the guitar into a large band setting without sonic redundancy. His chickenscratchin', choppy-grooved licks, and bluesy R&B lines (played initially on big, hollowbody guitars like Gibson L-4s, then later on Fender Telecasters) always popped out of the mix in the right places and added a "gut-bucket" feel to the band's prominent horn section.
Although his heyday was nearly four decades ago, Freddie had an influence that looms large to this day. It can be heard in the styles of other influential 6-string funkateers such as Ernie Isley (The Isley Brothers), Eddie Hazel (Funkadelic), John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and Prince. Check out tunes like "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" to see how Freddie integrates single lines on the lower strings with sliding dominant- 9th chords on "Sing a Simple Song." It's a riff so irresistible Jimi Hendrix borrowed it for his album Band of Gypsys. Want more evidence? Listen to the Woodstock version of "I Want to Take You Higher" to hear how Freddie finds elbow room sandwiched between Sly's loud, crunchy organ and Larry Graham's bionic bass. Take note of his discretionary use of the wah pedal. He uses the right tool at the right time and knows when to stop using it.
Sly & the Family Stone was pivotal in the development of soul and funk rock, and they were the first highly successful American band that was both racially mixed and gender diverse. Their style of church-influenced psychedelic funk continues to inspire to this day. Freddie Stone's gut-bucket guitar and screaming-from-the- pulpit vocal style changed lives and sent many a guitarist to the woodshed to investigate the full potential of unadulterated funkiness.

subset: commoncrawl


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EBC Exercise 23 Configuring the Kernel
There are several ways to get and configure the kernel. You could go to the The Linux Kernel Archives, find the ---arm--- branch, download a kernel and patch it for the omap. You could use git to get a kernel. Or you could just use bitbake like we did before.
Let's first learn how to do it the bitbake way.
When you did ECE597 Installing The Ångström Distribution you used bitbake to build console-image. During that build the kernel was downloaded and compiled. If you used the default configure, the source code was removed once it was done. Check and see:
cd ${OETREE}/angstrom-dev/work/beagleboard-angstrom-linux-gnueabi ls
You should see a directory starting with
linux-omap-. The rest of the name tells what version you have. Change to that directory and see what's there:
cd linux-omap-2.6.29-r46 ls
If you see a git directory, you are in luck. If you see just a temp directory you need to do the following to reload the sources:
cd ${OETREE}/build/conf gedit local.conf
Find the line near the top that says
INHERIT += " rm_work " and comment it out.
# INHERIT += " rm_work "
Save the file and then:
cd ${OETREE}/openembedded $ bitbake -c clean linux-omap-2.6.29 $ bitbake -f -c compile linux-omap-2.6.29
Note: These instructions are based on this which is a good reference on finding and modifying the kernel in the oe distribution. In fact, wh1t3s seems to have several nice tips.
- The first bitbake command tells bitbake to remove the previously made binary file for that package (think "make clean"), which will force it to re-do what it previously did with the console-image build.
- The second bitbake line forces bitbake to rebuild the linux-omap package, which will require re-extracting the previously deleted source code, and apply the relevant OE related patches.
This took some three hours on my machine. Your mileage may vary. Once done go back to
cd ${OETREE}/angstrom-dev/work/beagleboard-angstrom-linux-gnueabi/linux-omap-2.6.29-r46 ls
You should now see the git directory. cd to it and look around.
You can now configure the kernel.
sudo apt-get install libqt3-mt-dev make xconfig
After saving the configuration changes to update the .config file, it is a simple matter of rerunning the forced compile step from above to rebuild the kernel:
$ bitbake -f -c compile linux-omap-2.6.29 $ bitbake -f -c deploy linux-omap-2.6.29
If your kernel configuration modifications happen to result in the generation of any loadable modules, then you will wind up with another file in the deployment images folder:
- What does the bitbake deploy command do? See if you can find out
$ cd ${OETREE}/angstrom-dev/deploy/glibc/images/beagleboard $ ls
Doing it yourself
If you would prefer to maintain your own kernel source tree outside of OE, see these directions: BeagleBoardLinuxKernel
Alternatively it is possible to run the official omap branch of the linux kernel. Take a peek at this page. BeagleBoard#Linux_kernel (Please continue reading for the modifications I needed)
- Since we are using OE, our paths are set up slightly different, I have made the relevant changes below that I needed to do it manually. Take note on the second path command is arch specific (if you get an error about mkimage not being found, make sure you have the second path right)
PATH=~/oe/angstrom-dev/cross/armv7a/bin:~/oe/angstrom-dev/staging/i686-linux/usr/bin:$PATH # add cross tools to your path make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-angstrom-linux-gnueabi- distclean make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-angstrom-linux-gnueabi- omap3_beagle_defconfig make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-angstrom-linux-gnueabi- menuconfig # only needed if you want to change the default configuration make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=arm-angstrom-linux-gnueabi- uImage
- It is important to note that the kernel in the official branch will be newer then the ones that OE provides (2.6.33 at the time of this writing), and as such there are no OE related patches to apply.
- There is no reason why you can't steal the OE kernel config, and apply it to the newer kernel. See if you can figure out how to do this. (Hint: You will need to combine both above links directions)
- Alternatively if you've previously built the kernel, take a peek in your ${OETREE}/downloads. This is where the old kernel source (pre-patches) was downloaded, and see if you can manually apply the OE patches.


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Are you going to watch HBO's Sarah Palin extravaganza Game Change tonight at 9pm, or are you going to be busy living your life? Sarah Palin is certainly opting for the latter since she's made no secret of the fact that she thinks very little of being the subject of a feature-length film, something women such as Clara Barton and Hilary Clinton still have to look forward to. When asked if Game Change might be the Palin family Saturday night flick, the former Alaskan governor told ABC,
I believe my family has the right priorities and knows what really matters. For instance, our son called from Afghanistan yesterday and he sounded good and that's what matters. Being in the good graces of Hollywood's 'Team Obama' isn't top of my list.
That's right — Sarah Palin is as high above all that Hollywood bullshit as Woody Allen or Marlon Brando. Why would she watch a movie about her unsuccessful stint as John McCain's running mate when she lives everyday in the shadow it has cast over her life? Unless Sarah Palin saves the world from an invasion of Russian vampires, the further we wander into the 21st century away from the 2008 presidential campaign, the more we'll think of Palin as living proof that America is only ever a few swing-states away from giving its nuclear codes to the most indiscriminate magazine reader.
Sarah Palin dismisses 'Game Change' as unimportant [Reuters]


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When criticizing the performance of a public agency, it is important to determine whether actions that fall short of our expectations are examples of easy jobs that were bungled or difficult jobs that demand additional effort and support.
But a recent survey conducted by a member of the faculty at Brigham Young University came up with a startling figure: Of 270 rape cases in a random sample chosen from among those reported to police in Salt Lake County over eight years, only 6 percent were formally prosecuted. Only 16 resulted in a conviction or guilty plea.
The survey did not include every case where a person reported a sexual assault. But it was limited to those that were screened by a specially trained sexual-assault nurse examiner, cases where a successful prosecution might be more, not less, likely.
Granted that some rape reports are not justified, and some others present so little physical evidence that rival versions of the truth are all but impossible to sort out. But the idea that only 6 percent of any sample was worthy of the filing of formal charges is hard to comprehend, much less justify.
As outlined in the BYU study, the small number of prosecutions comes from facts that are immutable aspects of human nature, and from flaws in the criminal justice system.
Sexual assault cases, even when handled by the most sensitive, highly trained professionals, are fraught with trauma and, often, feelings of shame and guilt harbored by people who, to the rest of us, are clearly victims. That makes victims reluctant to come forward, to follow through on a long and arduous process, to testify in open court.
But that inevitable difficulty associated with rape cases just makes it that much more important that the criminal justice system step up its efforts at finding the truth. That means more training for police officers and emergency medical workers at all levels, even in communities and departments that are already making such efforts.
Most importantly, though, it means more investment of state and local tax dollars in the chemical analysis of the physical evidence gathered from victims and crime scenes, gatherings with the unfortunate name of "rape kits," which too often are backlogged on the shelves of police departments or the state crime lab for weeks or months.
Yes, it is easy for critics of any public shortfall to say that the answer to the problem is more money. But, in this case, it's hard to see that anything else will do the job.


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Hot Pot at Hot Kitchen
We've sunk below "let it snow" cold and into "if I call in sick I don't have to go outside today" weather—the kind of winter chill that takes no prisoners, that needs something more than chicken soup to fight back. This is the time for hot pot.
Hot pot, the broth-based fondue with meat, fish, vegetables, tofu, noodles, dumplings, and more cooked in a bubbling cauldron in the center of the dining table, is more elusive in New York's Chinese restaurants than we'd like. Those that do sometimes outfit specific tables with heating elements for the pots, which makes for even more limited availability that you may need to reserve in advance.
We'd heard some good things about the hot pot at Hot Kitchen in the East Village, enough to check it out one frigid evening. On Fridays and Saturdays, Hot Kitchen's hot pot tables are in high enough demand that you may want to make a reservation. Weeknights are easier to score.
Hot Kitchen's hot pot is a la carte, which means you pay a base rate for broth and then check dunk-ins off a paper menu and pay per item. The basic soup base costs $8, plenty for a table for four, and can be ordered in mild with herbs, spicy with chilies, of half-and-half—both broths in the same pot separated by a thin barrier. We found the mild broth bland and the spicy broth hellishly hot with plenty of chili oil; order a mix of the two to keep your taste buds in balance.
Dunk-ins run $3 to $10 apiece, from lamb, beef, spinach, and lunch meat to blood curd, shrimp balls, kelp knots, and tree fungus. Lamb has a mild gaminess, though we would have preferred fattier cuts; fish filets stay tender even when left in the broth for a while. There are several varieties of tofu, always a good idea to let soak up the broth for a while, and greens like chrysanthemum are crisp if not impeccably fresh. Fish balls and blood curd have a nice bounce, lotus root a slight crunch. We'd recommend sticking to one meat or fish, one leafy green, some tofu, and definitely an order of fish balls for the most balanced pot.
Toppings of sesame paste, oily garlic sauce, crushed peanuts, and ground dried chilies are simple but done well, enough to customize your bowl however you'd like. Though Hot Kitchen doesn't offer as many sauces as Little Sheep or Little Pepper, the ones it does use work nicely.
Consider ordering from Hot Kitchen's a la carte menu to round out your order. Cheng Du Pickled Vegetables ($5), mostly cabbage with some carrot, have a prickly, tangy heat. Dan Dan Noodles ($6) are softer than ideal but rich with sugar, oil, and black vinegar. And smashed Cucumbers with Scallion Sauce ($6) help lighten up bowl after bowl of hot pot.
Is Hot Kitchen our favorite hot pot in town? No—the broths could be more flavorful, the meat and vegetables more fresh— but it gets the job done in a neighborhood with few other options for the craving. Have another spot we should check out? Let us know in the comments.
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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Giving to the Library
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For the award-winning Z. Smith Reynolds Library (ZSR), staying ahead of technology and responding to the changing needs of students and faculty requires significant commitment from the Wake Forest community. Therefore, we need you to help us continue leading the way for academic access and intellectual pursuit in the university's Capital Campaign.
Consider these naming opportunities in your gift to the library and help us build a library for the future!
Invest in Academic Excellence
The Z. Smith Reynolds Library is the heart and center for academic excellence on campus. During the academic year, the library is filled with members of the campus community either studying, seeking information or materials, going to a class or lecture, coming to get their computer repaired at The Bridge, or simply seeking solace in a cup of coffee. By investing in ZSR, your gift – no matter the size – will have considerable impact on the entire campus community.
We encourage you to make a gift to the Wake Forest Fund for the Z. Smith Reynolds Library today.
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Before Brown: Prince Edward and the 'lost generation'
While Albemarle's five-month school closing made local headlines, what happened just two counties south of here made international news in 1959.
Five years later, when Robert Kennedy was the U.S. attorney general, he famously remarked that Prince Edward County was the only place in the western hemisphere without public education.
Prince Edward and its Robert Russa Moton High School earned several dubious distinctions in the 1950s:
- The school was built in 1939 to accommodate 180 students. By 1951, enrollment was 456.
- The most frequently student-used adjective to describe it was "deplorable."
- To relieve the crowding, three temporary tarpaper shacks were put up, heated by potbelly stoves, with no running water and no bathrooms– and the bathrooms in the original school were designed for 180 students.
- And, most tellingly, Prince Edward shut its schools for five years rather than integrate them in accordance with Brown v. Board of Education.
The lawsuit against Prince Edward, Davis v. Board of Education, was one of five that were consolidated into Brown. One thing differentiated the Prince Edward case.
"We were the only case that was student-led," says John Stokes, who, as class president, was one of the strike leaders. "The others were initiated by adults."
Speaking at the recent Festival of the Book, Stokes described how students initiated a strike after their parents struck out with the county school board. The students decided to walk out in what Stokes said the students called their own "Manhattan Project."
Utter secrecy governed their meetings, according to Stokes, until the big day: April 23, 1951. A ruse sent the Moton principal to the bus station to round up some allegedly truant students, and the strike began, led by Barbara Rose Johns, niece of civil rights leader the Rev. Vernon Johns.
The entire student body walked out. Their cause, Stokes pointed out, wasn't integration. "It was for equality," he said. "If they'd given us a new building, I wouldn't be standing here today," he told the Festival audience.
During their two-week strike, the student leaders tried to get NAACP lawyers to push for equal facilities.
"The decision of the NAACP lawyers was, we're not taking anymore equalization suits," says Amy Tillerson of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. They said, "Unless you want to integrate, we won't take the case."
On May 23, 1951, the NAACP filed Davis v. Board of Education. The case could have been enshrined in American history books– if the lead plaintiff's name had started with the letter A.
"It was 'Brown' because the plaintiffs were organized alphabetically," says Foundation head Rob Vaughan. "And if there hadn't been a Brown from Topeka, it would have been Davis from Prince Edward County."
The May 17, 1954, Supreme Court decision upholding Brown was only a milestone in Prince Edward's journey toward integration, which didn't happen until 10 years later.
Tillerson, a Prince Edward native, is too young to be a member of the "lost generation" deprived of public schools from 1959 to 1964. But her grandfather suffered.
"After the first year," she recounts, "he said, 'I have six kids. We can't stay here.'" He had to rent a house in Cumberland while paying real estate taxes in Prince Edward.
Ironically, the county government used tax money for vouchers to supplement tuitions at Prince Edward Academy, a hastily formed private school open only to whites.
"People lost emotionally," says Tillerson. "They lost self-esteem, especially if you were 13 when the schools closed and 18 when they reopened." She says many felt their only option was to join the military– just in time for the Vietnam War.
It was a loss, says Tillerson, "that spans generations."
Students at the Robert R. Moton High School walked out in 1951 to protest their substandard education and facilities. Note the tarpaper shacks to the far left.
Fifty-three years ago, Johns Stokes was a leader in the student walkout that became part of Brown v. Board of Education.


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- 7 Great Ways to Freshen Up Your Water
- Shake It with Shaun T!
- Nutrition 911, Part VI: Sweeteners
- Test Your Sweetener IQ!
I never drink water. I'm afraid it will become habit-forming.
7 Great Ways to Freshen Up Your WaterBy Denis Faye
Thirsty? You should be. If you're reading this, it probably means you're working your tush off every day with Slim in 6®, P90X®, ChaLEAN Extreme®, or another fine Beachbody® program. And when you do that, you perspire. And when you perspire, you need to replenish the water in your system.
Sadly, you may be one of those lost souls who can't stand the taste of water. Sure, you could hydrate with juice or sports drinks, but then you'd be adding a bunch of sugar or artificial sweeteners into the mix. Yes, these drinks can play a role in a healthy diet, but 8 glasses a day of orange juice would be far more vitamin C than you need, as well as hundreds of sugar calories that you shouldn't be consuming—calories completely unchecked by the fiber you get from eating actual oranges.
Actually, water is the way to go, so to help you get the stuff down, we've come up with a few simple tips. But before we get started, we'd like to make a preemptive response to all of you who will write in to "inform" us about that widely touted 2002 study in the American Journal of Physiology that discounts the old 8-ounce-glass-of-water, eight-times-a-day rule. According to the study, a normal, healthy adult just needs to drink when he or she is thirsty to stay hydrated.
Well, before you hang up your squirt bottle, keep in mind that the study includes a huge disclaimer: the light-and-easy hydration rule doesn't apply to people with medical conditions requiring fluid control, athletes, people living in extreme conditions, and people involved in prolonged physical activity. The way I see it, if you're doing P90X, that's going to put you in at least one of those groups, if not two or three.In other words, here are seven ways to make water more palatable. Use 'em.
- Get fruity. A squish of lemon, lime, or orange goes a long way toward giving water a little zing. It's almost calorie free, and you get a bonus blast of vitamin C. Furthermore, if you happen to be doing our programs while you're out at sea, it can help with any unwanted scurvy.
- Herbify yourself. Make yourself a big tub of caffeine-free, herbal tea, or "tisane," as the French call it. Technically, it isn't made from the Camellia sinensis (aka "tea") plant, which means it doesn't have the antioxidants of tea, but it tastes good and has no negative effects. There are hundreds of flavors to choose from. Mint and raspberry are a couple of our favorites.
- Bubble up! According to a 2001 study out of the Creighton University Osteoporosis Research Center in Nebraska, the notion that carbonated water leaches calcium from your bones is completely untrue. So, if you want to hydrate with a big glass of Perrier, go for it.
- Minty fresh. Crushed mint is another great way to liven up your water. If you want to get the most out of the leaves, put them in the glass first and grind them down. This will release a ton of flavor. Mint is also known to soothe upset stomachs and, more importantly, freshen your breath. Mix the mint with the lemon for a real taste sensation!
- Filter flavor. It's a subtle shift, but sometimes the filtration process can alter the taste of tap water. Get yourself a Brita filter or similar brand and give it a go. Even if the flavor doesn't change, you'll be drinking purer stuff.
- Brush your teeth. A good scrub of your teeth and tongue overpowers the taste of almost everything you put in your mouth for several minutes afterward. Take this opportunity to knock back a glass of H2O. You won't taste a thing.
- Cuke you. This one is a little wacky, but if you like new tastes, give it a shot. Chop up a cucumber (yes, a cucumber). Add it to a pitcher of water and chill it for 2 to 3 hours so that the cucumber flavor can permeate. Serve the water with ice. It's the perfect refreshing drink for a hot, summer day.
Related Articles
"Tips to Stay Cool: Avoiding Heat Exhaustion"
"Is Beer the Healthiest Alcohol?"
"Should You Drink Bottled Water?"
Got something to say? Chat with the writers and other readers this coming Monday, March 23rd, at 7:00 PM ET, 4:00 PM PT, in the Beachbody Chatroom!
If you'd like to ask a question or comment on this newsletter article, click here to add a comment in the newsletter review section or you can email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Shaun T and Tania Ante have the moves to help you shake off the pounds!
Nutrition 911, Part VI: Sweeteners
By Steve Edwards
(Plus, 5 Ways to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth!)
Welcome to part VI of our very, very basic nutrition class. We've now taken a basic look at what we should eat, marketing slogans to be wary of, and how to read food labels. Today we'll look at sugar and fake sugar, and then try to come up with a reasonable strategy to deal with our sweet teeth.
Remember, this class is the ultra basics, so instead of using words like saccharide and galactose, let's just say that sugar is the simplest form of carbohydrates. It's sweet, yummy, and easy to crave. In nature, it's found in plants. As you recall from Part I, plants have fiber, and this minimizes sugar's impact on your system by causing it to be digested slowly. Carbohydrates, whether from potatoes, lentils, or bananas, all break down into sugars in your body, and you use these sugars as fuel when you do stuff. So, if done right, eating carbohydrates is a good thing, especially when you're active.
Refined sugar, the white grainy stuff you'll find in gummy bears, chocolate, Coke, and most desserts, is sugar minus the fiber that surrounds it in nature. What you're left with is a sweet but highly caloric food that your body absorbs very rapidly, causing a "sugar rush." This "rush" is a temporary imbalance in your system that your body tries to regulate—a spike of energy followed by a lull.
But your body hates the lull, so to bring you back up, it'll crave, you guessed it, more sugar. It's an ugly cycle, considering refined sugar's only nutritional value is similar to a nitrous injection in a race car—a quick burst of energy that burns right out. This might be a good thing if you're in a drag race (or, in human terms, if you need an extra burst of energy during a workout), but it's a bad thing any other time because, if you don't put that excess sugar to use, it gets stored as fat.
Bottom line: Refined sugar is okay for sports performance (while you are skiing, bicycling, running, and so on), but it's bad at all other times. Unfortunately, we tend to want it at all other times. Therefore, straight sugar consumption should be limited.
Now you're probably wondering, "So the best time to eat gummy bears would be during a marathon instead of at night in front of the TV?" The answer is yes, absolutely.
And now you're probably thinking, "But I want dessert after dinner!" Right, we all do. Something sweet after a meal is pretty darn ingrained in our society.
Artificial Sweeteners
I'm not going to do a breakdown of the artificial sweeteners on the market—because we already have. I recommend that you read "Sweet Nothing," issue #295 (refer to the Related Articles section below), which will only take you a couple of minutes. Essentially, there are a bunch of different artificial sweeteners to choose from. Most are made of various chemical reactions that your taste buds think are sweet but aren't used by your body and have zero calories.
There are also some, called sugar alcohols, which have fewer calories than regular sugar because they've been combined with an artificial fiber that you can't digest. These have "-tol" at the end of their names, like "xylitol."
One, Stevia, or "sweet leaf," is natural. It's basically a, well, sweet leaf that you can chew on or that we can grind into a powder, like sugar. Now you might be thinking, "This all sounds great! What's the catch?"
The catch is that a lot of recent science is showing us that calories might not be the only reason we're fat. In fact, a handful of studies cited in "Sweet Nothing" concluded that those using artificial sweetener regularly tended to be more obese than those who used regular sugar.
Then there's the little fact that sweeteners may not be safe. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved some, but given their track record (Vioxx, etc.), we can easily—and should—be a bit skeptical. With a cursory search of the Internet, you can find both pro and con studies for each alternative sweetener. The FDA is highly influenced by lobbyists and does not accept all viable studies, meaning that you might want more than FDA approval before blindly trusting what you put into your body.
So let's use some logic to try to assess how best to choose a sweetener. By adding two and two together, we should be able stack the odds in our favor.
- Time. Saccharin is the most maligned of this bunch, yet it's been around for more than 100 years and is still on the market. Sure, there is some negative research out there, but it can't be that bad! A lot of people consume a lot of different artificial sweeteners. If people were dropping like flies, we'd probably hear about it. In fact, sweet leaf has been used for thousands of years. FDA approval or not, that's what I call time-tested.
- Research. If one of these sweeteners were so good, why would other people keep trying to come up with better ones? From this fact alone, we know that at least some of those negative findings must have an inkling of merit.
- Money. The influence of big business can keep need-to-know information from the public (again, Vioxx, etc.). Most sweeteners have become American staples, such as aspartame in diet soda.
- Artificial or natural? "Artificial" sounds bad and "natural" sounds good. But just because something is natural does not mean it's good. Tobacco and opium are natural. So, the claim that Stevia is good because "it's natural" bears little relevance. Many very beneficial drugs are artificial. However, you generally don't want to take them habitually, which is how some people use artificial sweeteners. Artificial doesn't mean bad, but it should mean caution.
- Anecdotal. I'm going to share two quick stories:
First, my sister is a sweet leaf proponent. It's time-honored and natural but lacks FDA approval. She lobbied Starbucks for a natural alternative to Splenda (chlorinated sugar). She got a long line of positive responses up the chain of command until, finally, they stopped returning her calls. A short time later, her local market (a chain that she used as an example for Starbucks) was forced to stop offering sweet leaf with their coffee and only sell it as a "supplement." Coincidence or a blatant case of big business (Starbucks and/or the folks who bring you Splenda) using strong-arm tactics against someone who truly cares about your health? In the wake of the FDA scandal, it's hard not to at least harbor a little suspicion.
Next is a female athlete whom I trained; she could not lose weight, despite being in great shape and eating a strict diet. Her vice was about 100 ounces of no-cal soft drinks per day. She would eye double Big Gulps like a junky does crack. When we were able to get her off the stuff—she even drank some sugared soft drinks to do so—she lost 15 pounds. This example is now being echoed with science. Two large-scale studies spanning many years have shown a link between artificial sweeteners and obesity.
Bottom line: There is no hard evidence that any one sweetener is better than the others. Most likely the stuff won't kill you, at least not quickly. But given that we also know it's not 100 percent safe, it would seem wise to limit your consumption as much as possible.
So now that we understand that sugar should be limited, let's look at some ways to do it.
5 Ways to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
So what's a dessert-loving health seeker to do? Here are my five favorite ways to cut your sugar consumption without ruining all of your fun:
- Portion control. I recently saw a sign in a Denny's window saying, "Remember, an apple a day." The sign was of an apple surrounded by about 2,000 calories of sugar and fat. Our society has gone crazy for "bigger is better." After dinner, your body is not hungry. You don't need 2,000 extra calories. You don't need 200! If you savor a square of chocolate or a tablespoon of Ben & Jerry's slowly, it will curb your cravings without a noticeable effect on your diet.
- Don't snack on artificial sweeteners. Gum is probably the worst snack because it creates a stimulus-response action that causes you to crave sweet stuff constantly.
- Add some fruit to your sugar or artificial sweetener. Fruit is both sweet and good for you. However, I realize an apple might not be enough all by itself to satiate your sweet tooth. But you can dress up fruit with a very small amount of a "real" dessert and make it pretty darn decadent.
- Make sure you have some complex carbs in your diet. This sounds boring, but complex carbs, like whole grains, sweet potatoes, rice, beans, 'n' stuff, all slowly break down into blood sugar. If your blood sugar is steady, you won't crave sugar. You might still habitually crave it, but that's a ton better than a sugar-crash craving, which will likely lead to bingeing.
- The protein powder trick. Most protein powders have a small amount of sugar and a touch of artificial sweetener, and are 90 percent protein. If you can find one you like (our Whey Protein Powder is fantastic, ahem, ahem), you might be able to curb your cravings with a high-protein snack. Chalene Johnson, the creator of
Turbo Jam®, uses chocolate protein powder as a base for pudding, and Beachbody® advice staff member, Denis Faye, sprinkles it on cereal. If you get creative, the possibilities may be endless.
But wait, there's more! Not today, but next time, we're going to let your two dietary bad guys do battle. Joining me will be the late Howard Cosell for the Thiller in Vanilla!
Related Articles
"Sweet Nothing"
"Nutrition 911, Part V: 5 Quick Steps to Mastering Food Labels"
"Nutrition 911, Part IV: What 'Fat Free' and 'Low Carb' Really Mean"
"Nutrition 911, Part III: Deciphering Marketing Jargon"
"Nutrition 911, Part II: What to Eat"
"Nutrition 911"
Got something to say? Chat with the writers and other readers this coming Monday, March 23rd, at 7:00 PM ET, 4:00 PM PT, in the Beachbody Chatroom!
If you'd like to ask a question or comment on this newsletter article, click here to add a comment in the newsletter review section or you can email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Check out our Fitness Advisor's responses to your comments in Steve Edwards' Mailbag on the Message Boards. If you'd like to receive Steve Edwards' Mailbag by email, click here to subscribe to Steve's Health and Fitness Newsletter. And if you'd like to know more about Steve's views on fitness, nutrition, and outdoor sports, read his blog, The Straight Dope.
Test Your Sweetener IQ!By Joe Wilkes
True or False?
- False: Of Equal, Splenda, and Sweet'N Low, Equal is the sweetest. Splenda (sucralose) is 600 times sweeter than sugar. Sweet'N Low (saccharin) is 300 to 500 times sweeter, and Equal (aspartame) trails the pack at 200 times sweeter.
- True: Aspartame turns into formaldehyde in your body. Aspartame breaks down into phenylalanine (which can affect people with phenylketonuria), aspartate, and methanol. Methanol is then broken down further by the liver into formaldehyde and formic acid, both toxic. Fortunately, the toxic effects of methanol and its byproducts are caused by prolonged exposure, and the belief is that the amount of methanol exposure and the length of time that it's in the body make aspartame reasonably harmless in small doses. However, some warn that a cumulative effect of aspartame consumption may exist, which could cause long-term health problems.
- False: Saccharin causes cancer. In the 1970s, studies showed that saccharin caused bladder cancer in lab rats. This led to a warning on all products containing saccharin that the product may cause cancer. Subsequent studies showed that the cancer was caused by biological mechanisms present only in rats, and that no evidence existed that saccharin caused cancer in humans. In 2000, the federal government delisted it as a carcinogen, and products containing saccharin no longer carry the warning.
- True: Sucralose is made from sugar. It's essentially true. It begins as a sugar molecule with its hydrogen-oxygen atom groups replaced with chlorine, which turns it into something else entirely. It's like saying glass is made from sand. It's true, but you probably wouldn't let your kid play in a box full of glass. The makers of Equal, an aspartame product, sued Splenda over its tagline "Made from sugar, so it tastes like sugar," claiming that it was false advertising. The case was eventually settled outside of court, with undisclosed settlement conditions.
- False: Stevia is banned in the U.S. Stevia was banned in 1991 from being imported to the U.S. The ban was revoked in 1995 after the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act was enacted. No reason has ever been given for why stevia was banned. Many suspect it was due to political pressure from the artificial sweetener industry. A plant-based sweetener, stevia is currently only available as a supplement, and not recognized as a food additive by the Food and Drug Administration, as it has not been proven to be safe. It hasn't been proven to be unsafe, however, and has been used as a sweetener and additive in other countries such as Japan for years, with no harmful effects reported.
If you'd like to ask a question or comment on this newsletter article, click here to add a comment in the newsletter review section or you can email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Standard Lean Machine Systems
Acieta, LLCUpdated 06/01/2011
- Pre-engineered to reduce costs and improve deliveries
- Increase profit per hour by a factor of 3 or higher
- Increase productivity of existing machine tools by thirty percent or more
- Decrease the percent of labor cost in a work-piece down to less than 10%
- Manage small batch sizes and large runs
- Allows unmanned "lights out" manufacturing
- The flexible robotic machine tool tending platform can be re-deployed for an array of programs over its 20 year life
- Ideal for retrofitting to existing machine tools
- If leasing, the amortized capital cost/hour is $3 - $15/hr during the lease period
- $0 after the lease period
- Four drawer inbound/outbound part stocker (20" x 20" usable envelope. 6" spacing between drawers, and 150 lb. capacity for each drawer)
- The FANUC Robotics M-10i six axis robot with through the wrist cable routing, R-301A controller and Handling Tool programming software is standard. Other sizes of FANUC robots are available.
- Fabricated robot rider, platform (84" x 48" x 5")
- Safety guarding, and interlocked access gate
- Robot I/O for communication to machine tool
- Back to back two jaw or three jaw gripper module is standard.
- Capable of servicing one or two machine tools such as lathes, VMC's. Grinders, small HMC's and others
- Supports an optional 2nd drawer system for additional unmanned production
- Quick release tray option for short runs
- Heavy duty part stocking system with four drawers as standard. Drawers are accessed by pulling the drawer toward you when outside the cell, and the robot accesses a drawer by pulling it into the robot's operating zone.
- Latches and drawer position sensors are included with the system.
- Post process guaging/error proofing inspection
- Part flip between Op A and B machining
- Deburring
- Designed for short run jobs
- Changeover in less than 5 minutes
Associated Categories


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Cops Hurt in Wreck
- Two Chicago police officers are hospitalized in serious condition because of a crash on the city's South Side. Police say the officers were following a suspect in a marked police SUV with its lights and sirens at the time of the accident. That SUV and another vehicle collided around 1 p.m. Thursday afternoon.
A person in that other car was also injured and taken to the hospital. There is no word who caused the crash. The officers were tracking down a suspect wanted in several armed robberies and homicides at the time of the accident.


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Monitoring ozone with GOME-2
In the second of a series of short articles looking at the new European instruments carried on MetOp, we focus on the GOME-2 (Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2) instrument.
GOME-2 is a new generation instrument to map concentrations of atmospheric ozone and other trace gases for use in weather forecasting, air-quality monitoring and atmospheric research.
The stratospheric ozone layer acts as a shield, blocking harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from reaching the surface. However, the annual ozone hole over Antarctica illustrates how fragile our atmosphere is. For instance, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), once used as coolants and propellants emitted by spray cans and discarded refrigerators, ended up high in the stratosphere where they react with UV radiation to release free chlorine. The chlorine, in turn, causes ozone (O3) to break down into simple oxygen, which does not filter out the Sun's ultraviolet rays. Other similar processes are caused by so-called ozone-depleting substances. The depletion is accelerated by particular meteorological conditions such as low stratospheric temperatures, and hence its annual cycle. Excess exposure to UV-B is linked to skin cancer, cataracts and other damage in humans, animals and plant life.
With monitoring the Earth's atmosphere an international priority and growing concerns about exposure to high levels of ultraviolet radiation, the enhanced GOME-2 instrument is set to continue the long-term monitoring of atmospheric ozone started by GOME on ERS-2 and SCIAMACHY on Envisat. GOME-2 will ensure that the future monitoring of atmospheric ozone is fast and accurate, contributing greatly to atmospheric chemistry research and climate monitoring. Observations of levels of other gases such as nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide will be used for the monitoring and forecasting of air quality while recorded levels of ozone will be used for warnings and UV forecasting. Of course, the meteorological services will further be using GOME-2 data in their numerical models, in order to contribute to their weather forecasts.
GOME-2 is a scanning spectrometer that captures light reflected from the Earth's surface and atmosphere. As solar radiation reaches the Earth's atmosphere and surface a certain percentage is reflected or backscattered out to space. The degree to which incident light is backscattered depends on the albedo of the surface the light encounters, for example, clouds in the atmosphere have a high albedo so a large proportion of sunlight is reflected back. GOME-2 is able to determine amounts of certain gases present in the atmosphere through the principles of spectroscopy; where the incoming light is split into its spectral components by a complex set of telescopes, prisms and gratings to reveal absorption lines, which correspond to the various gases present in the observed sample.
MetOp is currently undergoing final preparations in Baikonur, Kazakhstan for launch on 17 July 2006.
MetOp's European instruments:
ASCAT (Advanced Scatterometer) to measure wind speed and direction over the ocean.
GOME-2 (Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2) to measure concentrations of atmospheric ozone and other gases.
GRAS (Global Navigation Satellite System Receiver for Atmospheric Sounding) to measure atmospheric temperature and humidity.
IASI (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer) to measure atmospheric temperature and moisture, and trace gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, methane, ozone.
MHS (Microwave Humidity Sounder) to measure atmospheric humidity and temperature.


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HSV has revealed official details about its thunderous limited edition GTS Maloo. With 430kW and 740Nm on tap, it's sure to be the world's fastest ute for some time.
Blending the GTS sedan and Maloo ute starts with HSV's thunderous LSA V8. The monster performance figures of the blown 6.2-litre mill eclipse the Maloo R8 by more than 100kW.
AP forged brake calipers sit at each corner to pull the ute up, clamping down on huge 2-piece rotors - 390mm front and 372mm rear. HSV has also integrated the GTS sedan's diff' and torque vectoring technology in what is believed to be a ute first.
Just 250 GTS Maloos will be made, 240 for us and 10 for our Kiwi friends. A six-speed manual with twin plate clutch is standard, or there's an optional six-speed auto. Both transmission packages include an oil cooler.
HSV is adding two new colours to the Gen F range to coincide with the GTS Maloo launch. There's Jungle Green (shown here) and a deep red/bronze called Some Like It Hot.
Production starts in November with the first utes available later that month. Pricing is expected to fall somewhere around $85-90k.


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Each grain, extract or sugar has a certain amount of potential sugar which can be extracted through the mashing process. You can see this amount in the grains/sugars listing under max PPG (points per gallon). This calculation sums the possible sugars which could be extracted and based on the size of the batch it estimates the original gravity.
Beer Gravity Calculator
The grains, extracts and fermentable sugars you use contribute sugars to the wort. These sugars are converted to alcohol by the yeast during fermentation. You can use this calculator to estimate the intial gravity, final gravity and the alcohol by volume of your beer.


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Recipe from Mitch Fifield of Nev.
1 - 3 to 5 lb pork roast (butt or shoulder)
12 to 20 tomatillos (depending on size)
5 large long green chilies (Anaheim, Santa Fe, etc), roasted and peeled (if desired)
2 to 4 seranno chilies (depending on the desired heat)
3 large jalepeno peppers
1 bunch of fresh cilantro
1 large yellow onion
1 head of garlic
3 cubes chicken bouillon
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. black pepper
Cut up the roast in one inch chunks – don't cut away too much fat!
Place meat in Teflon coated pot on med-hi heat. At this point, I like to add a large slice of the pork hide or fat layer to the meat. This assists in lightly-browning the meat and adds flavor. Remove fat after 10 minutes.
While the meat is cooking (stirring occasionally), prepare the following ingredients and add to the meat as you go. Peel, and dice garlic. Peel, wash, and dice tomatillos. Chop cilantro (no stems). Add to taste (I like an entire bunch). Dice remaining chilies, peppers, and onion. Add bouillon, cumin, and ground black pepper. Add enough water to cover the Chili Verde by 1 inch or more.
Cook uncovered on med-hi heat (for a medium boil). Lower heat gradually as the Chili Verde cooks down (1 to 2 hours) to prevent burning/sticking. The Chili Verde will reduce to a sauce and thicken. The pork should be very tender. If not add more water and boil longer. Serve on flour or corn tortillas (burritos, tostados, etc)
*** Roasted chilies: Slowly brown chilies on the BBQ. Remove from heat and place chilies in a paper bag. Seal bag and let set for about 10 minutes to allow chilies to sweat. Remove chilies from bag and peel skin
*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.


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Lars Volden
Oslo Norway
Eligible for draft:
6th round (181st overall), 2011
189 lbs.
Prospect Talent Score
Probability of Success
2008-09: Lars Volden played for the Stavanger Oilers' Division 2 team. In 17 games, Volden posted a 2.34 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. Volden played for Norway at the U-18 tournament, posting a 6.00 goals-against average and a 894 save percentage in 6 games.
2009-10: Split time between the Stavanger Oilers' Division 2 team and the top Club. In 15 games at the lower level, Volden turned in a 2.20 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. In 10 games in Norway's top league, Volden posted a 3.13 goals-against average and a .880 save percentage. At just 17, he was the No. 1 goaltender for Norway at the U-20 WJC's (Division 1), posting a .958 save percentage and 1.47 GAA in four games. Undrafted in the 2010 NHL entry draft.
2010-11: Volden had a successful first season after leaving his native Norway to play in the more competitive Finnish junior league. In international play, Volden's experience was less enjoyable as Norway's U-20 squad was overmatched at the top level after previously competing in IIHF Division I tournaments. In 37 games for Espoo Blues' A junior team, Volden was 14-9 with a 2.76 GAA and .908 save percentage. Sharing the goaltending chores with Steffen Soberg (WASH) at the World Junior U-20 tournament, Volden faced 161 shots in three games and was 0-3 with a 6.17 GAA and .857 save percentage.
2011-12: Volden appeared in nine games for Espoo in Finland's SM-Liiga – dividing the bulk of the season between the club's U20 team and Jokipojat in the Finnish second league (Mestis). He was 1-2-3 for Espoo Blues, finishing with a 3.80 goals against average and a .871 save percentage. Volden played his best hockey with Jokipojat, backstopping the Joensuu club late in the regular season and into the Mestis finals. He was 4-1 with a 1.98 goals against and .928 save percentage in seven regular season games and in 12 playoff games posted a 1.62 goals against and .950 save percentage. Volden had a 2.78 goals against and .890 save percentage in 12 games with Blues' U20 team. He also skated for his native Norway in the 2012 IIHF World Championship and U20 World Junior Division 1 A Championship tournaments. He stopped 42 of 46 shots in a loss in his only start for the men's team and played all five games for Norway's third place U20 team, finishing 3-2 with a 2.60 goals against and .911 save percentage.
Talent Analysis
Like most European goaltenders, Lars Volden plays deep in his net and relies on his reflexes to make saves. Working to his advantage is the fact that he's 6'3. At that size, his long limbs and big frame take up as much net as the average North American 'tender who comes out aggressively to challenge shooters. Volden also has excellent technique; he keeps his chest upright, stays square to the shooter an has a tight butterfly, all of which compliments his size further. However, his consistency and mental toughness have both been questioned in the past. Coming off a blistering playoff for Jokipojat in Finland's second tier league, posting a .954 save percent and a miniscule 1.62 goals against, Volden is primed to take on a larger role in the Elite League this fall.
Volden is another late-round, long-term project in goal for the Bruins. He has real talent, but he's a long way away from the NHL and there are a lot of developmental hurdles for him to cross between where he is now and the NHL. The next step on his path is to challenge for a spot on Espoo's senior team this season.


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Marvel's Infinity Blade take on the Avengers finally smashes its way onto Google Play, but not every Android device is created equal. Is yours on the list?
If you're on a Tegra 3-powered device then you're more than good. The game has been optimised for the powerful platform, with exclusive battle effects that accurately model the effects of being punched repeatedly by the Incredible Hulk.
And if you're not on a Tegra 3 device, pay attention to the following list. It's a bit small.
HTC One X
HTC Evo 4g
HTC Incredible 4g
LG G2x
LG Nitro HD
Motorola Droid 3
Motorola Atrix 4g
Motorola Photon Q 4g
Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Samsung Galaxy SII
Samsung Galaxy SIII
Samsung Galaxy Note
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7
Samsung Droid Charge
Asus Nexus 7
Asus Transformer Prime
Asus Transformer
If you are fortunate enough to own a device that will run it, Avengers Initiative can be yours right now for the introductory price of $4.99.


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A few weeks ago I began a blog series titled "The Three Systems of an Advisory Business." To recap, they are: Marketing, Service, and Operations. Today, let's focus on the second system, Service. While system one is intended to get them in the door, the purpose of the system two is to acquire and retain. This week we'll discuss client acquisition.
Communicating Your Value, and Values
Once the prospect has responded to you how will you convey your value to them? More important, how will you convey your value in the area they need it most? Before you meet, consider sending out a "pre-meeting" questionnaire. It shouldn't be anything too lengthy and it should focus entirely on their needs. The key is to find out what they are seeking. After all, if they had already found it, you wouldn't be meeting. The very fact that they are willing to meet with you is an indication that they are looking for someone to solve their problem, however large or small it may be. Therefore, you should have a well-defined process in place so that when you are face to face, you won't have to "wing it." Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression.
You should begin with open-ended questions. What brings you here? What are your most important goals? What keeps you up at night? Then, let them talk. As they do, listen carefully and they'll tell you everything you need to know.
When it's your turn to talk, address their concerns. Not necessarily with specific answers, but with the assurance that you've helped several others in similar situations (I'm assuming that's true). Then, let them ask questions about you and your practice. Never forget they are looking for someone to help them. Also, never forget that they don't care how much you know until they know how much you care! I know we've all heard that, but sometimes we need to be reminded.
One final note on acquiring the prospect. Their first impression goes beyond you personally. It extends to your place of business and you might think it begins when they arrive at your door, though in truth, , it begins with your website. Make sure it's professional. Keep your parking lot clean. Make sure the areas of your office that they'll see are neat and tidy. Your surroundings will say a lot about who you are. Make sure you send the right message. You should be organized, efficient, courteous, professional, competent and responsive.
Next week, we'll discuss client retention.


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Scleroderma is an ongoing (chronic) disease that causes abnormal growth of connective tissue. It can affect the joints, skin, and internal organs. It is degenerative and gets worse over time.
Featured Treatment Areas
Dermatology-Rheumatology Connective Tissue Disease Program
The Dermatology-Rheumatology Connective Tissue Disease Program provides comprehensive care for patients with autoimmune skin and joint disease such as dermatomyositis, lupus and scleroderma.
Khosrow Momtaz Phototherapy Center
The Khosrow Momtaz Phototherapy Center at Massachusetts General Hospital has been at the forefront of ultraviolet radiation therapy for chronic skin conditions for more than 30 years.
Department of Medicine
Pulmonary Hypertension & Thromboendarterectomy Program
The Pulmonary Hypertension and Thromboendarterectomy Program at Massachusetts General Hospital is committed to the state-of-the-art evaluation, treatment and support of patients with all forms of pulmonary hypertension.
Department of Medicine
Scleroderma Program
The Massachusetts General Hospital Scleroderma Program provides expert multidisciplinary care for scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) and conducts research to enhance our understanding of the disease and develop new treatments.
What is scleroderma?
Scleroderma is a chronic disease that causes abnormal growth of connective tissue. It can affect the joints, skin, and internal organs. It is degenerative and gets worse over time. The disease can be in one area of the body. This is known as localized scleroderma. Or it may affect the whole body. This is known as systemic sclerosis. Scleroderma is more common in women.
What causes scleroderma?
Scleroderma is thought to be an autoimmune disease. This means the symptoms are caused by the body attacking its own healthy tissues. Genes play a role in the disease, but the environment also plays a role. Family members of people with scleroderma have a mildly increased risk of developing scleroderma. But many people with scleroderma don't have family members with the condition.
What are the symptoms of scleroderma?
Scleroderma can lead to scarring of the skin, joints, and internal organs. Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each person, and may include:
Calcium bumps on the fingers or other bony areas
Grating noise as inflamed tissues move
Heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms
Immovable fingers, wrists, or elbows because of scarring of the skin
Joint pain
Kidney disease
Pale and tingly fingers that may turn numb when exposed to cold or during emotional upset (Raynaud's phenomenon)
Scarring of the esophagus. This leads to heartburn and trouble swallowing.
Scarring of the lungs. This leads to shortness of breath.
Sores on fingertips and knuckles
Spider veins
Tight, shiny, darker skin on large areas that may cause problems with movement
Thickening and swelling of the tips of the fingers
The symptoms of scleroderma can look like other health conditions. Make sure to see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
How is scleroderma diagnosed?
The process starts with a health history and a physical exam. Diagnosis is based on the changes in the skin and internal organs. An antibody test may help show the type of scleroderma. You may need tests such as:
Electrocardiogram (ECG). This test records the electrical activity of the heart, shows abnormal rhythms, and detects heart muscle damage. An ECG may be done to find changes in the heart muscle tissue caused by scleroderma.
Echocardiogram. This test uses sound waves to create a moving image of the heart and its valves. It is done to look at the structure and function of the heart.
X-ray. This test uses a small amount of radiation to create images of internal tissues, bones, and organs. X-rays may show changes in bone, soft tissues, and organs caused by scleroderma.
CT scan. A chest CT scan uses X-rays and a computer to make images of the body. It may be done to check for intersitial lung disease and bone abnormalities.
How is scleroderma treated?
Treatment will depend on your symptoms, age, and general health. Treatment may include:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines or corticosteroids to relieve pain
Penicillamine to slow the skin thickening process and delay damage to internal organs
Immunosuppressive medicines, such as methotrexate
Treatment of specific symptoms, such as heartburn and Raynaud's phenomenon
Physical therapy and exercise to maintain muscle strength
Talk with your healthcare providers about the risks, benefits, and possible side effects of all medicines.
What are the complications of scleroderma?
With localized scleroderma, some symptoms may get better over time. But damage to skin and other organs may be permanent. With systemic sclerosis, symptoms can over time lead to damage to the skin and cause thickened, tight skin. This can change your appearance. And it can cause problems with your movement. It can also cause severe kidney, lung, digestive, or heart problems. In some cases, these organ problems can lead to death.
Living with scleroderma
Systemic scleroderma is a long-term (chronic) condition. It is important that you learn ways to best manage your symptoms. Learn about the disease and work with healthcare providers who have experience with scleroderma. Because scleroderma can affect so many systems of the body, you may need to have many specialists on your health team. Physical and occupational therapists may help you with managing your activities of daily living. Make sure that you and other team members are in regular touch with each other. If you are not able to manage your care, pick a trusted person to oversee your care. Make sure to address your emotional well-being, too. Don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it.
When should I call my health care provider?
If your symptoms get worse or you have new symptoms, let your healthcare provider know.
Key points about scleroderma
Scleroderma causes abnormal growth of connective tissue. It can affect the joints, skin, and internal organs.
Scleroderma can affect one area of the body, or affect the whole body.
There is no cure for scleroderma. Treatment is focused on easing pain and slowing down damage to the body.
Next steps
Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:
Know the reason for your visit and what you want to happen.
Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your healthcare provider tells you.
At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you.
Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed, and how it will help you. Also know what the side effects are.
Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.
Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.
Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.
If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
Know how you can contact your healthcare provider if you have questions.
News & Publications
Patient Gateway
The Patient Gateway provides secure online access to your health information whenever you need it. Check upcoming appointments, communicate with your doctor's office, review medications and pay medical bills—all seamlessly online 24/7.


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Tax Map Search:
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Rev. date: 07/23/2014
Resident and Nonresident Aliens
Alien, Nonresident
Alien, Resident
Tax Topic 851
Since residents and nonresident aliens are taxed differently, it is important for you to determine your status. You are considered a nonresident alien for any period that you are neither a U.S. citizen nor resident alien.
You are considered a resident alien if you met one of the following two tests for the calendar year:
The first test is the "green card test." If at any time during the calendar year you were a lawful permanent resident of the United States according to the immigration laws, and this status has not been rescinded or administratively or judicially determined to have been abandoned, you are considered to have met the green card test.
The second test is the "substantial presence test." For the purposes of this test, the term United States includes the following areas:
All 50 states and the District of Columbia,
The territorial waters of the United States, and
The seabed and subsoil of those submarine areas that are adjacent to U.S. territorial waters and over which the United States has exclusive rights under international law to explore and exploit natural resources
The term does not include U.S. possessions and territories or U.S. airspace.
To meet the substantial presence test, you must have been physically present in the United States on at least:
31 days during the current year, and
183 days during the 3 year period that includes the current year and the 2 years immediately before. To satisfy the 183 days requirement, count:
All of the days you were present in the current year, and
One-third of the days you were present in the first year before the current year, and
One-sixth of the days you were present in the second year before the current year.
Do not count the following days of presence in the United States for the substantial presence test:
Days you commute to work in the United States from a residence in Canada or Mexico if you regularly commute from Canada or Mexico. You are considered to commute regularly if you commute to work in the United States on more than 75% of the workdays during your working period.
Days you are in the United States for less than 24 hours when you are in transit between two places outside the United States.
Days you are in the United States as a crew member of a foreign vessel engaged in transportation between the United States and a foreign country or a U.S. possession. However, this exception does not apply if you otherwise engage in any trade or business in the United States on those days.
Days you intended to leave, but could not leave the United States because of a medical condition or problem that arose while you were in the United States. Whether you intended to leave the United States on a particular day is determined based on all the facts and circumstances.
Days you are an exempt individual.
An exempt individual may be anyone in the following categories:
An individual temporarily present in the United States as a foreign government-related individual;
A teacher or trainee temporarily present in the United States with a J or Q visa who substantially complies with the requirements of the visa;
A student temporarily present in the United States with an F, J, M, or Q visa who substantially complies with the requirements of the visa; or
A professional athlete temporarily present to compete in a charitable sports event
Even if you meet the substantial presence test, you can be treated as a nonresident alien if you are present in the United States for fewer than 183 days during the current calendar year, you maintain a tax home in a foreign country during the year, and you have a closer connection to that country than to the United States. This does not apply if you have applied for status as a lawful permanent resident of the United States, or you have an application pending for adjustment of status. Sometimes, a tax treaty between the United States and another country will provide special rules for determining residency for purposes of the treaty. An alien whose status changes during the year from resident to nonresident, or vice versa, generally has a dual status for that year, and is taxed on the income for the two periods under the provisions of the law that apply to each period.
If you are a nonresident alien, you must file a
Form 1040-NR
Form 1040-NR-EZ
if you are engaged in a trade or business in the United States, or have any other U.S. source income on which the tax was not fully paid by the amount withheld. If you had wages subject to income tax withholding, the return is due by April 15, provided you file on a calendar-year basis. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the due date is delayed until the next business day. If you did not have wages subject to withholding and file on a calendar-year basis, you are required to file your return by June 15. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the due date is delayed until the next business day.
If you are a resident alien, you must follow the same tax laws as U.S. citizens. You are taxed on income from all sources, both within and outside the United States. You will file a
Form 1040-EZ
Form 1040-A
, or
Form 1040
depending on your tax situation. The return is due by April 15, and should be filed with the service center for your area. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the due date is delayed until the next business day.
For more information, refer to
Publication 519
U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens
U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad
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When Bill Gross says he has amnesia, maybe it's time to panic. He is the head of the world's largest bond shop, after all, and could easily miss a decimal point.
His monthly investment outlook for October is typical Gross, the founder of PIMCO, a meandering mix of personal anecdotes and professional numbers that eventually (somehow) get to a point. This month it's all about doing something about taxes and sending before it's too late.
"I have an amnesia of sorts. I remember almost nothing of my distant past–a condition which at the brink of my 69th year is neither fatal nor debilitating, but which leaves me anchorless without a direction home," he writes. "Actually, I do recall some things, but they are hazy almost fairytale fantasies, filled with a lack of detail and usually bereft of emotional connections. I recall nothing specific of what parents, teachers or mentors said; no piece of advice; no life's lessons. I'm sure there must have been some–I just can't remember them. My life, therefore, reads like a storybook filled with innumerable déjà vu chapters, but ones which I can't recall having read."
Comparing his damaged long-term memory to the damage of the debt peril in which the country finds itself, he concedes, "Armageddon is not around the corner. I don't believe in the imminent demise of the U.S. economy and its financial markets. But I'm afraid for them."
Apparently so are many others, among them the International Monetary Fund, the Congressional Budget Office and the Bank of International Settlements. These "authoritative and mainly non-political organizations "describe the financial balance sheets and prospective budgets of a plethora of developed and developing nations.
"What they're saying is that when it comes to debt and to the prospects for future debt, the U.S. is no 'clean dirty shirt,' " before colorfully continuing "The U.S., in fact, is a serial offender, an addict whose habit extends beyond weed or cocaine and who frequently pleasures itself with budgetary crystal meth. Uncle Sam's habit, say these respected agencies, will be a hard (and dangerous) one to break."
The three organizations try to compute a "fiscal gap," a deficit that must be closed either with spending cuts, tax hikes or a combination of both which keeps a country's debt/GDP ratio under control, he explains. But he notes the fiscal gap differs from the deficit in that it includes future estimated entitlements such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid which may not show up in current expenditures. Each of the three reports target different debt/GDP ratios over varying periods of time and each has different assumptions as to a country's real growth rate and real interest rate in future years.
"The important thing, though, from the standpoint of assessing the fiscal 'damage' and a country's relative addiction, is to view the U.S. in comparison to other countries, to view its apparently' clean dirty shirt' in the absence of its reserve currency status and its current financial advantages, and to point to a more distant future 10 to 20 years down the road at which time its debt addiction may be life, or certainly debt, threatening." After assessing the three studies, he concludes we must cut spending or raise taxes by 11% of GDP, "rather quickly over the next five to 10 years. An 11% 'fiscal gap' in terms of today's economy speaks to a combination of spending cuts and taxes of $1.6 trillion per year."
To put it in perspective, he adds the CBO has calculated that the expiration of the Bush tax cuts and other provisions would only reduce the deficit by a little more than $200 billion.
"As well, the failed attempt at a budget compromise by Congress and the President–the so-called Super Committee "Grand Bargain–was a $4 trillion battle plan over 10 years' worth $400 billion a year. These studies suggests close to four times that amount in order to douse the inferno." He concludes by asking, "How can the U.S. not be considered the first destination of global capital in search of safe (although historically low) returns?
"Easy answer: It will not be if we continue down the current road and don't address our fiscal gap. If we continue to close our eyes to existing 8% of GDP deficits, which when including Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare liabilities compose an average estimated 11% annual "fiscal gap," then we will begin to resemble Greece before the turn of the next decade. Unless we begin to close this gap, then the inevitable result will be that our debt/GDP ratio will continue to rise, the Fed would print money to pay for the deficiency, inflation would follow and the dollar would inevitably decline. Bonds would be burned to a crisp and stocks would certainly be singed; only gold and real assets would thrive within the 'Ring of Fire.' "


text:
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text:
Christmas Bells Are Ringing
1. Christmas bells are ringing,
Hail the Savior's birth;
Heaven's blessings bringing
Joy to all the earth.
Join in song without delay,
All the world rejoice today,
For Christmas bells are ringing, ringing, ringing.
Hail the Savior's birth.
2. Christmas carols are sounding
Jesus Christ is come.
Gospel joys resounding
Peace to ev'ryone.
Christmas tells us, this we know;
God loves us on earth below.
Oh Christmas carols are sounding, sounding, sounding.
Jesus Christ is come.
3. Christmas stars are gleaming
O'er the Christ child's stall.
Children, His redeeming
Love extends to all.
Jesus brought the gospel true,
Lasting peace for me and you.
Oh Christmas stars are gleaming, gleaming, gleaming,
O'er the Christ child's stall.
Text: Robert Manookin
Music: Robert Manookin
Artist: Manookin
Album: Music Published in the Church Magazines: New Era
Composition Date: 1999-12-01
More Info: New Era


text:
Honestly, I've seen many race reports, and I have NO IDEA how all you fellow runners can recap your races from miles 1-13.1, especially a marathon! You people are amazing. I got to mile three and though, WOW! Mile 3! So here is my recap of my first 1/2 Marathon, as much as I remember at least.
The night before I was going through my clothes figuring out what to wear and I realized I had nothing to wear. Following my many lovely reader's advice, I pretty much wore some old favorites that I love running in. I laid out all my clothes and went to bed after the amazing comeback of the Rays in the ALDS.
So I got up super early and Nicole came over, I grabbed a honey and oat bar then we took the back way to the parking area, since I live only about 15 minutes away. We parked about 400 meters away from the start line, even though when we were parking we had no idea where the starting line was. It was absolutely FREEZING and we had to make a little potty break so we ventured out of the car and saw what were the most entertaining people in the world. Now I know why you guys run so much and actually race. The people watching was borderline the best I've ever seen. The people we saw were in every outfit imaginable. Hats, glasses, clothes, almost naked, shoeless (??) it was a hoot! Nicole and I walked around just staring at people and their outfits. She and I were in like regular old clothes, no dry-fits, no visors, nothing special at all.
We decided it was time to strip down and leave our sweatshirts in the car at about 7:00, so we went back and by the time we got back out of the car it wasn't as cold because the sun was coming up. So we jogged for about 5 minutes and stretched against a light pole and then found our place in the middle of Corral B, because we didn't want to be anywhere near the front of the pack. The Star Spangled Banner was sung and the bell (another ??) went off! The first three miles flew by; I barely remember seeing anything or even feeling anything. In the first three miles we ran up pretty much the only hill and along the bay. The weather was amazing, but the sun was really bright if we were running into it.
I think around mile 4ish, 5ish, 6ish, we entered the beach part of the run which was along the sand and ocean directly into the sun. Talk about bright! It wasn't hot though, and so I didn't sweat, during the entire race. The course was really flat and relaxing and the entire run very few people passed us, but I worked on continuing to pass runners and keeping my pace very even. I wasn't even working hard at all. I grabbed a cup of water and took a sip at mile six because my mouth was so dry. I looked at my watch at mile 7, and saw that we were pretty close to our goal of finishing in less than two hours, but it was going to be close. I knew we would have to work the last two or three miles at a faster pace. Then we started the turnaround I think at mile 8ish. This is all a guesstimate, I seriously have no idea. And I was feeling great. At every other mile I'd take a cup of water. Drinking and running is something I need to work on. More went down the front of my shirt and number than anywhere else.
People at the water stations were out of control. Throwing water over their heads, throwing their cups down like it was a grenade, splashing up water everywhere, I tried to avoid the craziness and either stayed on the opposite side or ran in the middle of them. Those stations were entertaining. I would always try to drop my cup in the grass or on the side so that it wouldn't land on anyone.
Each mile we passed I kept thinking, okay, only 10 more, only 8 more, only 5 more. Pretty much every mile I was like, wow, already this mile! Cool! There were some random people all along the course, who were really nice to make signs and cheered and clapped for everyone. I passed a huge poster full of Vaseline and wondered what that was for? Ohhh, okay, got it. Yea, left that alone. Then we got to mile 9 and I was feeling really great. My legs were almost numb, it was weird, but a good feeling that lead me to start pushing myself a little bit harder. I started working a little bit more and my competitive side came out. It was around mile 10.5 that I really started working a lot harder and realized that if I wanted to make finish at 2:00 I would have to really start kicking it in. It's not that we were super boxed in at the start, but I think it really didn't allow us to use the first mile to our advantage at all.
So after that the afterburners kicked in and I started to run a lot faster. I still felt great and this guy in a blue shirt was running by me and looked at me and said, "Come on girl, Come on." About every minute he would shoot back a word of encouragement and I ran with him for the last two miles. He stayed just ahead of me, which drives me CRAZY because I force myself to stay with him. He kept yelling at me that I could do it and that we were almost there. I was freaking out though because I had no idea how far the finish was from where we were when he started sprinting away and one of my biggest problems is starting my kick WAY too early and then dying and not finishing well. He seriously saved me from not making it to under 2:00. I would have been so disappointed in myself if I didn't make it under and his words of encouragement were so great. I wish I took a picture with him. He would just keep yelling at me to go and it was amazing. So thank you to the guy in the blue shirt!
I started down the little slope to the finish line and saw the clock. I realized that I was about 300 meters away so I sprinted. It was ticking away and in my head I just thought, NO!! Don't hit 2:00, but it didn't, and I finished in 1:57:00. If it wasn't for that guy, I probably wouldn't have pushed myself so hard the last two miles, especially the last mile split being 6:15! Yea, after running around 8:20-8:55 the entire race, my last mile split was almost my best high school mile time. When I crossed the finish line I was like Yes! I did it. And then I thought to myself, that was it. So yes, I am definitely ready for this upcoming weekend's Nike+ Women's Halfer. I also pretty much have my next year lined up with more halfers and once I get everything situated and on my calendar, I'll see who else will be running what.
It was seriously an amazing experience, from start to finish and I'm so glad I did it, but now I'm addicted. I never thought I would be able to run that far. The night before I was talking to my boyfriend and said, "What if I get to mile six and think like, eh, I'm over this, and just want to stop?" He reassured me that I wouldn't think that, and yes of course he was right. :) I absolutely loved it and all my family and friends that came out to cheer me on and just running past the most absurd people ever.
The official stats were more like this: I was 1,229th overall, with 19% of the racers ahead of me. I was the 355th female with 9% of females ahead of me. I was 36th in my division with 13% of my division ahead of me, and I was ahead of 67% of the male finishers. Take that boys! :)
It was pretty inspiring to see all the runners out there though, from all walks of life, and all ages. Great job to everyone who finished it! Here are some of the pictures, and yes, I know, I look far too happy, but I was happy!
This is by mile 4
My dad rode along side me for a little bit. Then he got in trouble by the motor cop police.
Mile 11, yea, I was trying to run harder at this point.
Nicole and I finished the race. :)
My wonderful cousins and mothers to the baby cat, Presh, were there.
My dad and I after the finish.
We were told it was good for us?
Ha ha, just kidding! I wasn't about to throw up.
I was stalking this lady for like 15 minutes to get a good picture. Seriously. Welcome to Long Beach!
More pictures will probably come, and this week I found even more cute breast cancer stuff, a few new great songs, and a review of the MioPINK Motiva Heart Rate Monitor Watch which I got this past weekend for my birthday from my cousins and I'm so excited to use it! :)
But tonight, pray for Eli Manning to do well so my Fantasy football team will win, and pray for the fires in CA to not get out of control, because then I'll have to be putting in time on the DREADMILL!


text:
2 cans full fat chilled coconut milk
2 tbsp pure vanilla extract
1/3-1/2 cup pure maple syrup or raw honey
3/4 tsp (or to taste) peppermint extract.
1/2 cup pure cacao nibs. (Optional)
Blend all ingredients together except cacao nibs. When it starts to get thick add the nibs.
Follow directions on ice cream maker. We use the quisinart.


text:
Fun fact about Colin Hanks, my wife would leave me for him without giving it a second thought. I know, it hurts me to think about it too. So here's the first trailer for "Lucky" in which Hanks plays a serial killer who strikes it big by winning the lottery. While it looks good I'm not sure how I can watch it with my better half while I know she'd rather be sitting on the couch with him watching a movie about me. Or just sitting on the couch with him. Point is Hanks is a home wrecker.
I'm still not sure this is real but it looks like there may in fact me a "Killer Klowns From Outer Space" sequel in the works. The movie, currently being called "Return of the Killer Klowns From Outer Space" will of course be in 3D and feature much of the original cast from the 1988 classic. If you tell me this is getting a wide release then I know it's bullshit. And I'll also laugh because you said "release".
The U.K. alien invasion comedy "Attack the Block" will finally make its way across the pond on July 29th and even be available in selected theaters. I hope they put subtitles into the movie. Or at the very least CGI in coffee over all the tea that i assume is being drunk in the movie.
If you watched "Laid to rest" for 15 minutes before turning it off like I did then you'll be completely indifferent to the first trailer for "ChromeSkull: Laid to Rest 2". The sequel which will hit DVD and Blu-Ray on September 20th follows the the happenings of the apprentice of our original slasher on his exciting birthing into the world of murder. I make it sound pretty hot, don't I?


text:
closet and you remember that you have a gem like this flared skirt!
Haven't worn it in 2 years which probably means I need to organize
my sh*t, but that's a whole other story!
That skirt is an absolute dream. x
cute skirt ; DD
Such a pretty skirt!! I love the color! And those shoes are gorgeousssss :)
pretty amazing that the necklace is DIY, impressive! love this outfit!
i love this look! and know what you mean... haha
This is such a gorgeous look, love the cut and colour of the skirt and I am so impressed that you made the top!! Absolutely beautiful
xo Cara
This is such a gorgeous look, love the cut and colour of the skirt and I am so impressed that you made the top!! Absolutely beautiful
xo Cara
So so pretty! The necklace is stealing the show.
Like a modern-day Audrey love! So feminine and flirty, your style has such endless range!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and the hubs Nic! Cheers!
Peace. Love. LOL!
Haute Khuuture Blog
Haha, I love it when that happens! It's almost like going shopping! Have a great Thanksgiving Nicole!
Love the skit and how it flows, beautiful. -Heidi http://fabricandfrosting.blogspot.no/
The shape of this skirt is great. And I'm dying over those Balenciaga shoes.
I just discover your blog on Chictopia and I really love it! love your skirt and shoes!
Following you on GFC and Bloglovin!
Kisses, Lucy:)
I love this look.
Love it!
wow beautiful! i love the color of the blouse and of course the diy necklace! i also love the girly vibe of this outfit x
Ah-mayzing. If I found a 2 year old skirt like that in my closet I'd jump with glee. The shoes!!


text:
Snippet Name: Perl SQL Update Example
Description: Updating a record in a database with perl and the DBU module.
Comment: (none)
Language: PERL
Highlight Mode: PERL
Last Modified: March 05th, 2009
Description: Updating a record in a database with perl and the DBU module.
# Use the DBI module
# PERL SQL Update Example
MY $dsn = 'DBI:mysql:dictionary:space.powweb.com';
MY $db_user_name = 'ssadmin';
MY $db_password = 'dictionary';
MY $password = "dictionary";
# Connect to the database
# Note this connection can be used to
# execute more than one statement
# on any number of tables in the database
MY $dbh = DBI->connect($dsn, $db_user_name, $db_password) || DIE "Connect failed: $DBI::errstr\n";
# Create the statement.
$stmt = "UPDATE Player_Stats SET total_games_played = '199' WHERE username LIKE '%joe'";
# Prepare and execute the SQL query
$sth = $dbh->prepare($stmt) || DIE "prepare: $stmt: $DBI::errstr";
# Execute the statement
PRINT "Content-type: text/html\n\n";
PRINT "Done!";
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text:
Tear Sheets
You call yourself an image collector. Tell us a little more about that.
I was growing up in San Diego. My Mom was an X-ray technician. Dad was an aeronautical engineer. I started compulsively collecting images until you couldn't see the walls in my bedroom! I was 12 years old and I'd just tear out photos from magazines – everything from shots of buildings, food, people and faces – and that's when I decided I wanted to study photography and art.
So you studied photography and art?
Absolutely not! When I announced to my parents that's what I wanted, they wouldn't have it. It was simply out of the question. My parents wanted me to get a real job. I did pre-med major at college and quickly discovered I was not pre-med material! One day, my Mom sat me down and said, here are your options: a) X-ray Technician b) Physical Therapist c) Radiation Therapist or d) Respiratory Therapist. I chose the latter. For six years, I worked at San Francisco General Hospital in the Trauma Unit and ER. For a time, it suited my temperament perfectly. I liked being on my feet all day. I loved the excitement, the variety of patients and the satisfaction of helping people who really needed help.
What was the defining moment that catapulted you from respiratory therapist to food stylist?
I'd become somewhat dissatisfied working at the Hospital. So every weekend, I'd organize trips exploring Sonoma, Napa, the wine country and I'd be dining at Chez Panisse, Square One, Stars and Zuni Café, you name it!
The whole California Cuisine trend was exploding, I was hungry to learn everything about food and even considered working in the food industry! That's the moment the light bulb went off in my head. I switched to part-time work at the Hospital. I enrolled in the California Culinary Academy, an intensive two-year European-style cooking program. I'd never been happier.
How did you land your first job assisting for a food stylist?
One afternoon, a good friend was flipping through Food and Wine magazine and she said, "WOW! There must be someone who is paid to cook the food for these spreads!" The next day, I'd sent 100 letters to every magazine that featured food in its pages. After getting two responses (one from Food and Wine magazine which forwarded my letter to the top 10 food stylists), I landed a four-week internship with Rick Ellis, one of the most highly-respected food stylists in NYC which eventually led to a full time job as his assistant.
When did you decide it was time to go out on your own?
After three years assisting Rick, I decided it was time. Again, I sent out a 100 letters but this time with engraved cards. I was lucky. My phone started to ring pretty quickly.
What's your 30-second elevator pitch?
I'm a food stylist. I prepare food for photography: for editorial, advertising and TV. That's it.
How different are you to your competitors?
Most food stylists are known for being slow and a little stiff. I'm the opposite. I happen to be fast. I'm approachable. I tell potential clients " I can give you Thanksgiving in 45 minutes." And I can.
So how would you describe your personality?
I'm a little hyper, basically. I'm fun. I love variety, interacting with different people and working on location.
How would your clients describe you?
He's efficient. No attitude. He gets the work done.
What do you do that no one else does in the business?
I keep them laughing! I'm known for my #@%@# sense of humor especially at lunch.
What do you most like about being a food stylist?
The best thing for me? It's all about creating an image. I love working with photographers. It's a collaborative process. I like creating a 3D sculpture that the photographer captures in 2D. Of course, there's all the other great stuff, like composition and color. Then, there's the food: sautéeing, baking and grilling. (And you get to eat it!)
What kind of reputation do you have as a food stylist?
My style is casual, real and approachable. It's the kind of person I am. That's why I think a lot of food companies are contacting me. They're responding to my casual approach to food for their packaging.
What are you doing for food companies?
I act as style guide, updating a new look and a new direction for their packaging. I also cook the food, of course! It's all about being part of a great team – client, photographer, package designer and prop stylist – and great synergy, of course!
I find corporate projects like this truly challenging and totally fascinating. And, interestingly enough, there's been a huge shift happening in the world of food marketing and advertising. Packaging used to feature a photo of a beautiful apple pie but… not one crumb on the plate! Unrealistic, right! Now, it appears the corporate preference is for a more imperfect, more accessible and casual approach. Consumers clearly can identify with this kind of thinking because they feel that – yes, they can do it, too! There is beauty in imperfection. Food companies – fashion and cosmetic words, too – are all backing this different direction: Imperfection is beautiful and real!
Tell us a little about working on editorial/cookbooks vs corporate?
Cookbooks are really like storybooks. I've done around thirty or forty cookbooks. There's something special about it because I work with the author, the most passionate person of all! It's all about realizing the visual aspect of their book for them. I love the mix, particularly straddling both worlds of editorial and corporate. It's the best.
Tell us about your most exhilarating food styling experience?
It was 1991. Martin Scorcese was filming "Age of Innocence" in New York with Michele Pfeiffer and Daniel Day Lewis. Based on Edith Wharton's novel, food played a major role, so to speak. I was working as assistant to Rick Ellis at the time, and we were hired to create the most extravagant displays. There were silver platters with extraordinary displays of fish, roast duck, pork, rich gravies, the lot. It was an amazing experience to be on set. The location team had tracked down the grandest house in Brooklyn, decorated the entire house in the Victorian period and the bottom line? Everything in excess!
What makes you spring out of bed in the mornings?
I am the most productive in the mornings. I tend to be spinning my wheels first thing. If I could have my way, I'd start work at 7am.
What's the biggest dream you want to see come true?
I would love to have a kitchen/garden shop perhaps in Northern California or Oregon. I actually love Ashland, Oregon. My Dad lives an hour south of Ashland. It's a great community with an annual summer Shakespeare Festival. The dream is to combine cooking, teaching and travel. I've already designed (in my head) the logo, typographic treatment, and the kind of paper (unbleached) for the stationary and look of the store.
You know, there's something very special about being a shopkeeper. When I was in high school, I worked in a Mom and Pop house wares store. It was called Great News in San Diego. It's still there. I did deliveries, too.
What does the idea of travel mean to you?
Imagine this scenario: You travel. You see what people eat. You learn about their culture. Give me a knapsack, a bit of money in my pocket, and I'll happily walk around the globe. Just travel and eat. (FYI If I could fly anywhere tomorrow, I'd head for Brazil.)
Is there one thing about you that no one could ever know about?
You bet. I'm shy. Also, I recognized I had a pretty bad memory. So I decided, right there and then, that if I told the truth, I'd never have to remember anything. It's true. You try it!
If you could tell the world one message that might transform their lives, what would it be?
Learn how to cook! It's such a beautiful gift. There's nothing more satisfying than creating a meal for people you love. Just learn how to cook three things: Appetizer. Entrée. Dessert. Learn how to perfect them and you'll be popular beyond your wildest dreams!
So what are your favorite three things you've perfected?
OK. I can do that. Here's my Dream Meal!
Appetizer: The best tomatoes you can find, sliced, salt and pepper. Add the best olive oil and a slab of crusty bread.
Entrée: Grilled steak or BBQ Lamb. (My preference? Medium rare.) Dry rub of black pepper, fennel seeds and coarse salt. Assume everyone knows what a 'dry rub' is. Combine with Yukon Gold luscious mashed potatoes with lots of butter and roasted garlic. Yum.
Dessert: Find the best berries. Add whipped cream. Done!
While we're on the subject of cooking, what drives you crazy?
Big fancy kitchens no one uses.
What's your current mission in life?
Let's face it, the skill of cooking is being forgotten. So I challenge you. Learn to cook! Try to eat locally. Go to the Farmers Markets in your area. Track down a small meat purveyor and buy from them. Think about what you're eating. P.S. Buy fresh food from real people!