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Click links below to check out our Services & Supplies section categories. Here you will find Party Supplies and Party Services that can make an average party turn into a spectacular one! A new fun addition to kids parties these days is adding a Candy Buffett. There are companies who will come to your location and set this up for you! Another fun station you can add is a Cotton Candy Station or Frozen Ice Station - check out our Concessions categories for more information. Having a Caricaturist at your childs birthday party is always fun and also provides great party favors! If having your party in a park, hall or house, adding a DJ is a great way to involve all the guests. Kids DJ's offer a great variety of music and games to really get the party going. If you are really time constrained, click on our Party Planners category where you will find companies who will take over planning your party for you! We also have sections for Flowers, Birthday Cakes, Cake Pops & Chocolates and Catering. These days having a limo pick up guests for a childrens party is a very cool thing to do. Click our Limos categories to find companies who offer this serice. Finally check ou our party supplies section to find all the finishing touches for your kids birthday party - Balloons, Decorations, Gifts, Invitations, Party Favors, Photo Favors, Tents, Tables & Chairs or Photographers & Video Services!
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Henderson is derived from Henry. Henry originates in Germanic languages and means "ruler of the house". It has been one of the most popular masculine given names over centuries, and in different spellings all over the world. It was a favorite name in royal circles, given to numerous kings of England, France and Castile, as well as to six Holy Roman Emperors. More recently, the famous bearers include Henry James, a British writer, and Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company. Henry functions as a surname as well, mainly in French language.
Disover and match names today only on the BabyHandle mobile app.
Available in the App Store and Play Store

subset: commoncrawl


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Need Help?
Click here for help with
the STITCHES Online
Registration System.
Registration is closed for this event...
Saturday 08/05/2017, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Skill LevelEasy
Class Hours3
TeacherJC Briar
View JC's profile
Cast-on Cornucopia with JC BriarDozens of cast-on techniques exist: 1-strand or 2-strand; loose and flowing or elastic and springy; invisible or decorative. Review your options in this class, try variations on old favorites, and discover entirely new options. Best of all, gain the familiarity you need to choose just the right cast-on for your next project.
SuppliesSmooth, light-colored, #4 (worsted-weight) yarn in 2 colors; needles of a size appropriate for your yarn including 2 circulars or a set of dpns; a crochet hook.
Knitting Basics:
Sharp scissors, notebook, pen or pencil with an eraser, stitch markers, blunt tapestry needles (large and small), flexible tape measure, small calculator, and needles & crochet hooks of various sizes.


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Events archive
ESC Lunchtime Seminar
Bruno Maçães (Secretary of State for Europe, Portugal)
7 November 2014 - 12:30pm
Seminar Room, European Studies Centre, 70 Woodstock Road
The Eurozone crisis and the rise of anti-European parties have sharpened our collective sense that reform at the EU level has become a matter of urgency. This is both a theoretical and a practical... Read more
POMP Core Events
Homo sovieticus, Havel and Pope John Paul II: Moral and intellectual dissent in Czechoslovakia and Poland
Tomáš Halík (Charles University, Prague)
6 November 2014 - 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Nissan Lecture Theatre, St Antony's College
Dr Gregorio Alonso, University of Leeds
6 November 2014 - 5:00pm
The Latin American Centre, Seminar room
Latin American History Seminar, Michaelmas Term 2014 Everyone welcome!
African Studies Seminar: 'Conversion between Islam and Christianity: Gender and religious change among the Yoruba of Southwest Nigeria'
Insa Nolte (University of Birmingham)
6 November 2014 - 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Pavillion - St. Antony's College
Southeast Asia Events in Oxford
Claudio Soporanzetti (Postdoctoral Fellow, All Souls College, Oxford)
6 November 2014 - 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Pauling centre, 58a Banbury Road
Political Economy of Financial Markets (PEFM)
Guido Ascari (Exeter College, Oxford), Franco Bruni (Bocconi University, Milan), Leonardo Gambacorta (Bank of International Settlements), Heinz Herrmann (Deutsche Bundesbank), David Llewellyn (Loughborough University), James Talbot (Bank of England), Oreste Tristani (European Central Bank), John Vickers (All Soul's College, Oxford), Richard Woolhouse (British Bankers' Association)
6 November 2014 - 2:00pm to 6:00pm
Balliol College, Oxford
In cooperation with the Dept. of Economics.
5 November 2014 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Latin American Centre Seminar Room, 1 Church Walk
Chile (2010). In Chile's Atacama Desert, astronomers peer deep into the cosmos in search for answers concerning the origins of life. Nearby, a group of women sift through the sand searching for body... Read more
MEC Women's Rights Research Seminars
Marjaneh Halati (CEO of the OMID Foundations)
5 November 2014 - 5:00pm
Nissan Lecture Theatre, St Antony's College, 62 Woodstock Rd. OX2 6JF
The fringes of Iranian society can be a lonely place, especially if you are a teenage girl with few resources to fall back on. The film follows four girls striving to pull themselves out of the... Read more
Interdisciplinary Seminar In The Study Of Religion (Faculty of Theology and Religion) Revisiting African Independent Churches: Africanism and Internationalism in Christian Faith Healing Movements in Johannesburg, 1890-1930s
Dr Joel Cabrita (Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge)
5 November 2014 - 5:00pm
Gibson Building, Seminar Room 1 (Faculty of Theology and Religion)
MEC Women's Rights Research Seminars
Dr Mastoureh Fathi
5 November 2014 - 12:45pm
Library Reading Room at the Middle East Centre, 68 Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6JF
Abstract In recent years, there has been a new approach to parenting practices, based on constant surveillance, control, guilt, fear and anxiety. These parenting paradigms, aimed at 'preventing'... Read more
Political Economy of Financial Markets (PEFM)
Valerie Herzberg (Member, Cabinet of Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, European Commission; Senior Member, St Antony's College, Oxford), Russell Kincaid (Senior Member, St Antony's College, Oxford)
5 November 2014 - 12:00pm
Chatham House
Macroprudential policies are being developed to supplement microprudential instruments, causing coordination issues between macroprudential and macroeconomic policies, most notably monetary policy.... Read more
Andrew Faull (Oxford)
4 November 2014 - 5:00pm
Deacon Room, St Antony's College
Nicole Stremlau ( Oxford )
4 November 2014 - 5:00pm
Kirk-Greene seminar room, African Studies Centre
ESC Core Seminar Series
Vernon Bogdanor (King's College, London)
4 November 2014 - 5:00pm
Nissan Lecture Theatre, St Antony's College
South Asia Seminar
Burak Akcapar (Turkish Ambassador to India)
4 November 2014 - 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Fellows' Dining Room, Hilda Besse Building, St. Antony's College


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The holidays are just around the corner. For many families that means packing everyone in the car or taking a flight to another part of the country. Traveling is never easy, but it can be especially hard when a member of your family is suffering from Alzheimer's or dementia.
At Visiting Angels, our elderly care providers have helped many families affected by dementia or Alzheimer's with their travel preparations. We hope the following guide, which includes tips from the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Services and the Alzheimer's Association, will help take the stress out of traveling for you and your family.
Overnight Accommodations
Remember, when traveling with a person who suffers from Alzheimer's or dementia, it always best to be over prepared than under prepared. Plan thoroughly, be prepared for potential emergencies, and do everything you can to reduce or eliminate stress and discomfort. And if you have an elderly care provider whom you can rely on for advice or help with preparation, do not hesitate to ask for their assistance.
Other Articles
You are a lovely person, and it's been a real pleasure to meet you and to be a part of your organization.
You are a lovely person, and it's been a real pleasure to meet you and to be a part of your organization.


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Adult Charades!
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North Korea says it is prepared to launch a long range missile that will put a satelliete into orbit.
The U.S. says North Korea is really testing a long range ballistic missile that could put a nuclear weapon on the United States.
japan is stuck in the middle. If the North Korean flight fails, Japan could be under a rain cloud of debris and rocket fuel. If the North korean flight is successful, Japan could be the victim of a North korean missle attack.
Both the U.S. and Japan have the capability to shoot down the North korean missile, experts say, and both sides have sent ships at sea in a show that they mean business.
North Koreea upped the ante Thursday by saying if their missile is shot down they will restart their nuclear weapon progam. Previously the North koreans said by shooting down its peaceful satellite launch the aggressor would commit an act of war.
USS Hopper, a destroyer with the Aegis radar system aboard, was scheduled for a port call in Japan in coming days. But the port call was canceled and the ship will remain in the Sea of Japan ahead of the launch. Hooper is on the missile shoot down patrol and will be joined by at least two other U.S. Navy ships and at least two from Japan that could shoot down the North korean missile.
It's a classic stand off of politics and military.
Peace and Freedom
TOKYO – Japan's military mobilized Friday to protect the country from any threat if North Korea's looming rocket launch fails, ordering two missile-equipped destroyers to the Sea of Japan and sending batteries of Patriot missile interceptors to protect the northern coastline.
Pyongyang plans to launch its Kwangmyongsong-2 satellite April 4-8, a moved that has stoked already heightened tensions in the region. The U.S., Japan and South Korea suspect the North will use the launch to test the delivery technology for a long-range missile capable of striking Alaska.
Japan has said that it will shoot down any dangerous objects that fall its way if the launch doesn't go off successfully. Tokyo, however, has been careful to say that it will not intervene unless its territory is in danger.
The North said earlier this month that any attack on the satellite would be an act of war.
Read the rest:
The USS Chaffee is one of at least two U.S. Navy destroyers headed to patrol.


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During the weekend, even Ars takes an occasional break from reviewing new self-publishing options or researching all the cyber tools the feds use to catch culprits. Weekend Ar(t)s is a chance to share what we're watching/listening/reading or otherwise consuming this week.
"Retro" is the dominant genre. It doesn't matter what kind of media being discussed. Musicians that hearken back to the '70s, '80s, and even the '90s receive critical buzz. Period piece television dramas bring in big ratings. Movie remake culture has been discussed (and largely lamented) on end. Even with fashion, sneakers like the Adidas Superstars or Reebok Freestyle still have relevance today (yes, that is a fashion reference on Ars, ladies and gentlemen).
Gaming isn't immune. Incredible advancements in graphics and gameplay are being rolled out every day, but there's still a hunger for the pixelated, 8-bit culture of gaming's youth. It feels like every week there's another viral, old-school gaming sensation based on some bit of pop-cultural ephemera getting discovered through a Buzzfeed or Neatorama post. This week was no different, with the surreal, lo-fi Rambo Last Blood surfacing to lend a hand with any procrastination needs. It's much less true to the movie source than the real NES Rambo game, but much more likely to make you question the futility of war.
Rambo is only the latest in a widespread trend of decidedly modern games with retro graphical sensibilities. Even if you don't count all the playable, pixelated YouTube offerings (like Mad Men or Saved By The Bell from The Fine Bros), you can find a slew of games that take some bit of pop culture and re-imagine it as an '80s era video game. Consider four favorites below or share other recommendations in the comments.
Kreayshawn The Game
Familiar with Kreayshawn? She's the over-the-top, female rapper known for songs like "Gucci Gucci" (which besides the label references, features a great product placement line about Arby's, too). Her following is (or at least was) strong enough to birth this retro homage. Guide Kreayshawn from the beach to the pier, through the mall and finally to the club as you shoot swag at any b... er, unkind ladies who stand in your way.
In The Time Machine Over The Sea
Kreayshawn isn't the only musician to star in an old-school gaming riff, and she's definitely not the most deserving. In 1998, independent alt-rock legends Neutral Milk Hotel released the seminal In An Aeroplane Over The Sea, a difficult conceptual album loosely about the life, death, and reincarnation of Anne Frank. It's ripe with otherworldy images that logically fit within a game better than club swag. This is the only title on the list you actually have to download in order to play, but any Jeff Mangum fans will want to find the hard drive space for it in their collection.
The Great Gatsby
Perhaps the 8-bit homage that started this recent trend, Gatsby's creator went to great lengths to make it seem like this Flash title was a long-lost piece of NES history (alas, it wasn't). Guide Nick through flappers, butlers, and even those daunting ever-watching eyeglasses to find and help Gatsby. I'd like to think I would've enjoyed this even as a kid without prior knowledge of the book, if it had actually existed in the NES' heyday. The levels are fun, throwing your hat as a weapon is engaging, and the soundtrack is infectious (to the point it's offered as a separate download).
Abobo's Big Adventure
Some in the forums already know about this, but Abobo's Big Adventure may be the apex of the Internet's 8-bit-inspired boom. Abobo is originally a villain from Double Dragon, but here swaps roles, smashing his way through a wide variety of levels and gameplay that reference classic NES titles—a Zelda temple, an underwater Mario stage—in trying to save his son. Fans of actual retro gaming and fans of this new wave alike will be able to appreciate the wide variety of gameplay on offer here. It offers simple controls, a range of challenges, and jokes both obvious and insider. This week's Weekend Ar(t)s took me longer than usual, in fact, because it's impossible to start this game without playing for quite a while.


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HOUSTON – Santos Laguna manger Pedro Caixinha is nothing if not worldly, a youthful 42-year-old in the mold of José Mourinho who counts himself among the ranks of "academic coaches" that honed their craft through extensive schooling rather than a lengthy playing career.
To wit, Caixinha holds a masters degree in sport and logged time on the bench in his native Portugal as well as Saudi Arabia, Greece and Romania before landing in Mexico. So it was no surprise when the Santos boss conducted interviews Monday night under the lights at BBVA Compass Stadium in English perfected, in part, during a stint in Scotland learning from the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Unsurprisingly, the Portuguese tactician sees plenty of parallels between the Dynamo and the sides he encountered in the British Isles ahead of Tuesday night's CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg (8 pm ET, Fox Soccer).
READ: Dynamo say gap between MLS, Mexico shrinking ahead of CCL clash vs. Santos
"I would say it's a typical British team: fantastic pace with a lot of intensity, quality players that you need to be aware of all the time," Caixinha said. "We expect tomorrow a good game, good challenges. It's also good for us to come here and we know that the soccer is developing too fast here in the US, so we are counting on a difficult opponent tomorrow."
And even though he admitted MLS wasn't particularly well known in Portugal – although he did mention the Galaxy and David Beckham, specifically – Caixinha exhibited a keen understanding of the difficult task facing Santos.
He knew exactly how many days the Dynamo's new stadium had been open (298) and how many games make up the Houston's home unbeaten streak (31). He also name dropped the likes of Adam Moffat and Giles Barnes, and said he and his staff had scouted the 2012 MLS Cup final and Saturday's season opener against D.C. United.
All the latest CONCACAF Champions League news
There's respect between the sides, no doubt, but Caixinha was also quick to emphasis that Santos' aim in Houston is victory and nothing short of that.
"I play all the time to win because we have talented players – a team that likes to play, that likes to win," he said. "We need to respect the opponent. If we get on the pitch knowing exactly what you're counting on, it will be better for our success."
United States national team and Santos forward Herculez Gomez echoed his manager's thoughts, adding that his teammates respected the league and its players but "definitely want to beat [MLS clubs] and beat them bad."
"This a club [in which] we demand the best out of ourselves. We're not going to go home happy with anything but a win," Gomez said. "But this is a tournament. This is a 180-minute tactical battle. We've been in this position before. We left Seattle's home pitch with a 2-1 loss, and we felt pretty good about that.
READ: Gomez agrees MLS needs to win CCL, but it won't be on his watch
"That away goal is crucial. The way you play this tournament is a bit different than you would play any other game or games. We're aware of that. We definitely know if we can get a good result here tomorrow, it will put us in the driver's seat for next week."
Santos eliminated the Sounders in the quarterfinals of last year's edition of the tournament by taking care of business in the second leg in Torreón, Mexico, and knocked off Toronto FC in the semifinals before falling to Monterrey in the finals.
This time around, Gomez, who participated in the Club World Cup during his time with Pachuca, said Santos won't truly be satisfied unless they claim the region's top prize. And, right now, the Dynamo are the side standing in the way.
"We want to play against the world's best," Gomez said. "We want to be recognized as an international brand, and the only way to do that is by playing in the Club World Cup. The only way to get there is by beating Houston."


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Watch CBSN Live
Dozens were killed, including firefighters, after large sections of a roof collapsed at a Latvian supermarket, the country's rescue service said Friday.
The reason for the collapse on Thursday was still not known but rescue and police officials said that a winter garden, involving large amounts of soil, was being built on the roof. Rescue officials were unsure how many survivors might be under the rubble, and expected the death toll would rise.
Credit: Ilmars Znotins/AFP/Getty Images


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Eurozone industrial output slumps in July
Any hopes that the troubled eurozone economy was poised for a solid rebound from recession were under threat of being dashed Thursday by figures showing the industrial sector sliding into reverse during July.
Eurostat reported that industrial output, which includes everything from the making of high-end Mercedes cars to oil & gas extraction, slumped 1.5 percent in July from the previous month.
The decline, which followed a 0.6 percent advance in June, was much bigger than expected - the consensus of analysts' forecasts was for a far more modest decline of around 0.3 percent. The monthly fall took the annual rate of decline down to 2.1 percent from the 0.4 percent recorded in June.
The July retreat, which was fuelled by a 2.3 percent drop monthly decline in Europe's heavyweight economy, Germany, is also likely to stoke fears over the state of the eurozone economy following its modest rebound from recession in the second quarter.
Figures last month confirmed that economic growth across the 17 European Union countries that use the euro grew by 0.3 percent in the second quarter following a six-quarter recession, the longest it has experienced since the single currency was launched in 1999.
"July's fall means that, even if production posted monthly rise of around 1 percent in August and September, it would still roughly stagnate in Q3 as a whole," said Ben May, European economist at Capital Economics.
"The numbers provide an early indication that the eurozone economy is unlikely to have gathered more momentum in Q3 and may even have lost some steam," he added.
Though the key hurdle facing Europe's manufacturers - the region's debt crisis - has abated over the past year following the European Central Bank's offer to buy up unlimited amounts of government bonds, manufacturers still face a tough time from spending cuts in countries such as Greece and Spain, tight credit conditions and high unemployment.
"This is particularly true of the southern periphery eurozone countries, but France and the Netherlands also continue to face significant headwinds, despite the former exiting recession during the second quarter," said Howard Archer, chief European economist at IHS Global Insight.
"Meanwhile, global growth is muted and fragile, which threatens to limit the upside for eurozone exports," he added.
Following the global financial crisis that was largely blamed on an over-reliance on the financial sector, particularly in the United States, a number of countries around the world are seeking to boost their manufacturing sectors.
France, for example, is one.
Its Socialist government has made strengthening industry a priority since coming to office in 2012, and on Thursday it pitched 34 projects - including a driverless car and an electric plane - that it hopes will save the sector. Analysts though have said government-driven projects often struggle in the marketplace.
"We have lost 750,000 industrial jobs in 10 years. We have the weakest industrial base of the five greatest powers in Europe. We have to rebuild. We have to rebuild on our assets," Arnaud Montebourg, the re-industrialization minister, told Europe 1 radio.
Lori Hinnant in Paris contributed to this story.


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TOPEKA, Kan. (May 10, 2018) - The Kelly Cup was created in 2016 to annually recognize an SCCA® member who has shown extraordinary dedication and contribution to a Regional Solo® Events Program. This year's winner is Lloyd Loring of the South Bend Region.
A Sports Car Club of America member since the 1950s, Loring has experienced a little bit of everything the Club has to offer. He has held several different offices within the South Bend Region, including co-chair of the Region's Solo program. He has participated in gymkhanas and road rallies, was once named Central Division Rally Driver of the Year, organized road races, worked Tech, and helped in Timing & Scoring.
But where Loring has left an indelible mark is in the Club's Solo community. He was instrumental in putting on regional events where he'd skillfully manage timing and announcing duties. He became known as the "Voice of Solo" through such work, and became one of the first announcers for Solo Nationals. Many are familiar with Loring's recognizable catchphrase -- "Are you ready for this!?" -- doled out when drivers make a spectacular run.
In recognition of his tireless efforts, the 'Lloyd Loring and Jeanne Ruble Achievement Award' was created and is given out during Great Lakes Solo Championships. In 2013, Loring was inducted into the Central Division Hall of Fame. In 2018, he received the Curt Thews Award bestowed upon South Bend Region members who have given unselfishly over the years. Brian Conners, Chairman of the Solo Events Board, also noted that Loring founded the Central Division Round Table, now known as the Great Lakes Roundtable.
"For years, Lloyd has been the first person on site at regional autocrosses, and the last one to pack up and leave the venue," Conners said. "He is irreplaceable and well deserving of the Kelly Cup. When our regions nominate their 'irreplaceable,' I am exceedingly pleased we have the ability to honor them."
The Kelly Cup is named in honor of Pat and John Kelly for their tireless leadership efforts in developing a strong and sustainable Solo program in the San Francisco Region. Finalists for the award are chosen by Solo Development Coordinators from nominations submitted by the membership at large, with the recipient selected by the Solo Events Board.
Photo Courtesy of Lloyd Loring


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Half of working female caregivers feel they have to choose between being a good employee and being a good daughter, according to a new survey by Home Instead, Inc., franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care® network. In addition, one quarter (25 percent) of daughters find there is a workplace stigma in being a caregiver, and 23 percent believe their supervisor is unsympathetic.
"We are only scratching the surface of the impact gender parity in aging," explained Paul Hogan, founder and chairman of Home Instead Senior Care, Inc., at the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) Conference in New Orleans this week. "Not only are women more likely to get Alzheimer's disease or other dementias, but they are overwhelmingly the main caregivers for aging parents. And we are seeing this gender parity in aging is intersecting with gender parity in the workplace."According to SHRM, working female caregivers spend on average approximately 60 percent more time caring for aging loved ones, compared to their male counterparts (9.1 hours a week vs. 5.7 hours). Furthermore, research from Home Instead® shows that women are twice as likely as men to spend more than 30 hours a week on caregiving, as many women are a part of the sandwich generation – caring for an aging parent or relative while also caring for their own children.
All this time can have consequences at work for those who are lacking employer support. According to the Home Instead survey, approximately one in ten working daughters report that their jobs are at risk. In that same survey, 91percent of female caregivers report having had to take action to accommodate being an employee and a caregiver. The most common actions include taking paid time off, switching from full time to part time, avoiding certain responsibilities and turning down promotions.
"While it has been good to see the national dialogue about the need for women to 'lean in' to their careers as they become mothers, now it's time for us to begin discussing how women can do the same as a daughter," says Jisella Dolan, chief advocacy officer at Home Instead. "And while not every working woman will be a mother, most will experience caring for a parent as a daughter."To help employers foster more supportive work environments for employees who are caregivers for an aging family member, today at the SHRM Annual Conference Paul introduced the Caregiver Friendly Business Practices:1. Empower employees to ask for what they need
2. Have a policy … to be flexible (and human) when needed
3. Have a back-up plan
4. Offer support
5. Respect caregiving needsEmployers must give caregiving for parents the same weight and flexibility as caring for children. This means including caregiving for parents in any language outlining family-leave policies.While women make up two-thirds of family caregivers, these practices that employers must adopt to be more caregiver friendly, as well as other resources, are gender-neutral.
A new website also launching today,
DaughtersintheWorkplace.com, includes an interactive quiz that helps educate the adult children of aging parents about the protected family-leave rights that may be available to them. Additionally, the website includes conversation starters and health tips for working caregivers, as well as communication tips for employers and signs caregiving employees need support."Unfortunately, many family caregivers often don't even realize the benefits they are eligible to receive from their employers," explained Drew Holzapfel, ReACT (Respect a Caregiver's Time) convener. "Working caregivers might not know they can use FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) for senior care, or they might not know how to access their EAP (Employee Assistance Program). Flex time may also have a stigma to these employees."While these employers are leading the efforts for more caregiver support in the workplace, there is still much to be done for the more than 34 million family caregivers caring for aging loved ones in the United States. Family caregivers and employers can view program resources and tips at
www.DaughtersintheWorkplace.com. Or, contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office for additional resources and to learn how their professional CAREGiversSM may be able to assist. Find an office near you by visiting
Home Instead offers free monthly newsletters with tips and advice for caregivers of elderly loved ones. (Privacy Policy)


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Jorge Cruise's newest diet book, Happy Hormones, Slim Belly, is out. I noticed he had a planner in the book, but didn't have a way to download it or print it. So I made my own and am sharing it with you here!
Happy Belly Planner
Click HERE to print or access online.
Slim Belly Planner
Click HERE to print or access online.
If you log in to your Google Drive account, choose File: Make A Copy and you can use it online! You can also use it with Excel, download it to your computer or just print them.
Let me know if you find them useful.


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"He's a one-off persona," Daily News owner Mort Zuckerman told the Transom after Clay Felker's memorial at the New York Society for Ethical Culture on Monday, Sept. 22. Mr. Zuckerman was hoofing it up four flights of stairs to a more intimate celebration for Mr. Felker on the fourth floor. "He's the only person I would've walked up four flights for," said Mr. Zuckerman, catching his breath.
Sir David Frost, acting as master of ceremonies, joked that if attendees wandered all the way to Elaine's, they'd gone too far.
The guests at the public event were just the sort of high-low, insider-outsider, creator-enthusiast mix Mr. Felker cultivated when he and Milton Glaser launched New York as an independent magazine in 1968 from the ashes of The New York Herald Tribune. In addition to Sir David and Mr. Glaser, Tom Wolfe, Gloria Steinem, Lesley Stahl and Mr. Felker's widow, Gail Sheehy, addressed a crowd that included media figures like Steven Brill, Michael Wolff and onetime New York editor Caroline Miller. Stories of Mr. Felker's generosity; his love of family, friends, jazz and food; and his ability to spot and nurture talent filled the two-hour event. "We can feel it crackling, crackling in the air," Ms. Sheehy said.
"Clay was the monitor of status," Mr. Wolfe, wearing his signature white suit and two-tone shoes, told the Transom as he boarded the elevator. "Status is different from success; you can go down, you can go up."
"I don't think that anyone's as hip to the symbolism as Clay was," he said. The door closed. Someone pressed "up."


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100. CARL SAGAN: Pale blue dot
The Pale Blue Dot is a photograph of Earth (click here to see it) taken by the Voyager 1 spacecraft at a distance of 3.7 billion miles away. The spacecraft had completed its primary mission and was passing Saturn, hurtling through space at 40,000 mph. Carl Sagan requested that the spacecraft turn around and take a photo of Earth, not for any scientific purpose, but as a sobering reminder of our planet's insignificance. The resulting image inspired Sagan to write this now famous and breathtaking passage.
Here's a clip of Sagan reciting the quote.
I couldn't think of a better quote to celebrate Zen Pencils 100th comic. I've been wanting to adapt it since I started the website, but I knew I needed a decent amount of time to do it justice. Luckily, my recent two week break over the holidays allowed me the time to get a start on it. And I couldn't think of a better person to feature. Carl Sagan is someone I admire greatly. More than any other writer, Sagan opened my eyes to the wonders of the universe, the beauty of science and the incredible achievements of humanity.
This is a double celebration because besides being the 100th comic, it's also (kind of) Zen Pencils one-year anniversary! Is it just me, or does it feel like it's been longer than that? Anyway, here's to the next 100 comics!
– My previous Sagan comics: Make The Most Of This Life and Books Are Awesome.
– Amazingly, Voyager 1 is still working and sending information back to NASA, 35 years after it launched. It will soon become the first man-made object to leave the solar-system.
– A pretty cool animated version of the quote.
– Can you name all the historic figures I depicted? There was no criteria I used when choosing who to include, just that they had to be recognisable. I know there have been more important people throughout history, but not many people would recognise someone like Tim Berners-Lee.


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Opinion: Why 'Indie' Has Become A Bad Word
Semantics Antics
So EA has its own indie bundle now. Yes, I'm aware that hardly makes any sense. At the very least, each game is part of the EA Partners program, which means the devs do, in fact, own their IPs – not EA. That said, it's all a bit silly, right? Especially in the past year or so, EA's once again become synonymous with gaming's fe-fi-fo-fumming, goose-that-lays-golden-eggs-milking corporate side. It is, to be frank, the near-comically polar opposite of the indie "scene." Clearly, though, EA's trying to evoke a certain reaction by co-opting that word. But that, in itself, strikes me as problematic, because gaming's least gentle giant is right: "indie" has a connotation now, and it's very much coloring the expectations of gamers and indie developers alike. To be a developer of independent games and to be "indie" are now two entirely different things.
Indie is cool. Indie is hip. Indie is smart, chic, and sexy. Indie isn't pretty, but it gets the job done. Indie is down-to-earth, the work of tireless blue collar DIY craftsmanship. Indie is pretentious, a haven for over-inflated egos and introspection with all the depth of a sun-dried puddle. Indie is big on head-in-the-clouds dreaming, but it crashes and burns in terms of execution. Indie is mechanically sublime – not a wasted input or animation. Indie is the future. Indie is stuck in the past.
You probably noticed that most of the sentences in that paragraph were completely at odds with each other, and there's a good reason for that: independent development's swollen into a massive tidal wave of a movement, but its moving parts are hardly in sync. Independent developers of all shapes and sizes craft an equally diverse range of games. For instance, Lone Survivor is a game about zombies from an independent developer. But so is Left 4 Dead.
Oh, and here's a fun one: Minecraft. It started off as a one-man show, a blocky, retro-chic "indie" poster child. Now, though, Mojang's made up of nearly 30 people, and Notch hasn't touched Minecraft in months. And then there are newly Kickstarter-empowered developers like Double Fine and inXile, who plan to bring triple-A polish and development procedures to projects on which they – and no one else – cracks the whip, for once.
There are, obviously, countless other examples I could provide here, but the point remains the same: the word "indie" has become effectively meaningless.
In essence, it's a relic. Perhaps it held meaning once, but now it's a rusty reminder of bygone times. Problem is, unlike most ancient objects, it's far from six feet under. So basically, it's the cursed reanimated mummy of the gaming world, poisoning expectations with its festering touch and probably going on to eventually get a spin-off starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. We use it constantly, and it's created a plethora of negative, oftentimes limiting connotations.
Foremost, there are the cries of pretension. If you're an indie developer, you must cry ones and zeroes and bleed chunky red pixels. Every action performed in your game – whether it's reading bits of cryptic dialog or punching a man until a fully cooked chicken pops out – has to be some form of symbolism. You've got to be the next Braid, basically – even if you really, really don't want to be. That goes double if you're any sort of platformer. And, as a result, a handful of gamers will write off your game simply on the basis of "Pfft, I liked it better when it was called 'Braid.' What pretentious garbage" – all the while drowning out any protests to the contrary.
But it works both ways. I can't tell you how many emails I've gotten about "indie" platformers with time-bending elements or similar puzzle elements, more or less with the implication that "you guys like this stuff, right? Right?!" Same goes for retro-inspired pixel art, minimalistic (and, as a result, oftentimes clumsily told) stories, and of course, indie-scene-related in-jokes. Don't get me wrong: these things can be used to great effect in the right hands, but there's an expanding train of me-toos, and it's picking up far too much steam.
And yet, for every "indie" detractor, there's an overzealous holier-than-thou indie ultra-purist. If it's not indie, they suggest, it's a "lower" form of entertainment. Did you enjoy yesterday's Black Ops 2 trailer? Did you think it looked like big, loud, dumb fun? Do you dream of riding a robo-horse into the sunset and then blowing up the sun? Well then, you're clearly a moron. You don't "get" smart games, and works of real substance are lost on you. Go back to playing Madden and drinking beer from cans, you disgusting pig mongrel. It's an amazing shame, too. With a small but vocal contingent of indie fans like that, is it any wonder so many potential players write the "scene" off as pretentious?
Ultimately, then, "indie" – once a term that stood for freedom of expression and unbridled experimental spirit – has now become a ponderous yoke. In many ways, it limits developers and players alike just as much as labels like "triple-A," "first-person shooter," and "Zynga employee." And yet, all of those designations (yes, even the last one) hold an incredibly small amount of water. I mean, what's Reset? Is it indie? Triple-A? It's also first-person, but certainly not a shooter. And it uses the term "co-op," even though it's strictly single-player. So then, what could we possibly call it?
A game. That's the answer. Or hell, we can just call it Reset. And if it ends up being an engaging, enjoyable experience, then I'll say it's succeeded, regardless of which expectations it does and doesn't manage to live up to. So yeah, EA's tossing around the term "indie," but who really cares, so long as the games themselves are worth your time and money? Intention and execution speak volumes. Words like "indie," meanwhile, are just that: words.


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Secure iPad Mounts for Counter POS Use
Secure iPad Holders Make Effective Cash Registers and Ordering Kiosks
The days of the cash register are quickly moving behind us. In fact, approximately 28% of North American retailers had adopted iPad stands as cash registers as of 2013. How are they doing it? Many retailers are using secure iPad mounts and fixing them to counters and checkout stations. Retailers can mount the iPad and then use a card reader to swipe for guests, then easily have them sign with their finger or by specialized pen. Many locking iPad holders can also completely rotate to change orientation from landscape to portrait. Looking to really max the potential of iPad implementation for your business? Download software that will also allow cashiers to punch orders in and send them into the kitchen. This will save employees a ton of time, and get customers their food that much quicker.
Locking tablet displays can also be set up at delis, sandwich shops and grocers for people to punch in their orders for pick up instead of waiting in line. Automate orders and remove human errors by having customers submit everything themselves. Many displays can be bolted directly to a counter to prevent theft and alleviate any security concerns. Leave iPads completely unattended without having to fear theft or tampering. Many security solutions and mounting options are available to meet the specific needs of niche industries.What industries can benefit from the use of locking counter tablet mounts?
- Take-Out Restaurants - Increase order placement and check out efficiency by utilizing an all purpose tablet station.
- Sit Down Restaurants - Set up iPads at tables for guests to place orders, play games, select music, or watch television. This setup is ideal for pubs and sports bars.
- Grocery Store Delis - Customers can place orders and continue the rest of their shopping, then return later to pick up the order.
- Retail - Set up these stations as an information kiosk for customers to learn more about a product or service.
Some standout features are available for these secure iPad mounts that make them great for retail and the restaurant industry. All enclosures lock, and some even feature double locks for extra security. Rotating displays allow users to change the angle to avoid glare or get a better view of the screen. Many models come available with the home button exposed or covered (some come with the option for either/or). By covering the home button, retailers can prevent tampering and force users to remain within a specific app. An exposed home button allows full access to all the contents of the iPad or tablet. Some displays are also compatible with a wide selection of tablets like the Galaxy and Nexus 7. Worried about keeping it charged? Choose a stand with a cable maintenance system that allows the tablet to be constantly plugged in even while locked.


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Eddie Murphy Sports Pants
Eddie Murphy was all about comfort while out in LA. The funny guy was spotted in a matching track suit.
Eddie Murphy Track Jacket
Eddie Murphy showed his sporty side in LA when he stepped out in a black track jacket and matching pants.
Brand: Adidas
Brand: Adidas
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Bead Weaving, Projects
The 20-Minute Bracelet
Weaving isn't (usually) for the impatient (a trait which I more than occasionally identify with). A tapestry can easily take months to complete and even most bead weavings aren't completed in an afternoon. But sometimes you need a bracelet to wear with your favorite brown wedges and your brand-new Kate Spade mint-green purse and you need it now. I mean, hypothetically… (ha).
Anyway, I've been playing with leather as warp on my Mini and found a partial tube of gorgeous fire-polished crystals that just screamed spring. I also dug up a tube of SoftFlex Econoflex very fine wire in a pretty blue (it was this). It was like the universe was telling me to create this bracelet. I'd never used wire on leather before and wasn't sure how it would react, but the results were so much fun and SO EASY. Like, do-this-with-your-child easy (disclaimer: all loom work with children should be done under supervised conditions. Small and sharp parts can be a hazard).
And it was FAST. Like 20-minutes fast. You could, of course, bead a whole lot more of the bracelet (and that would be gorgeous) but it would take a little bit longer and require more than the amount of crystals I had on-hand.


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I'm attempting to read a 15mb xlsx file for a program I'm writing using SmartXLS.
I have been getting errors and I have been attempting to figure out the cut-off for when I will be allowed to read the sheet.
At 15 mb, I was receiving a SmartXLS error.
At 14 mb, I was receiving the java.lang.OutOfMemoryError: Java heap space
At 10 mb, I am still receiving the OutOfMemoryError
At 5 mb, it allowed me to read the xlsx.
I assume this means I need to get Java to allocate more memory. Is anyone able to explain to me how?


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Monday, November 30, 2020
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Articles in Pinot Noir, Riesling and Dessert Wine
Crittenden Estate Cri de Coeur Pinot Noir
by Crittenden Estate on
Cool weather over flowering resulted in lower than average yields. A warm, dry summer to follow fortunately ensured that our limited production achieved optimum flavour ripeness and will see the 2017 vintage be remembered as one of the best in a...... Read full article
Paradigm Hill Pinot Noir Adesso
by Paradigm Hill on
As many will recall, this is the happy result of "an experiment gone right" and just the third release of the wine! It was left in barrel for 18 months to evolve and mature but it was only after 10 months that we added some preservative. ... Read full article
Portsea Estate Back Beach Pinot Noir
Back Beach Pinot Noir is produced by Portsea Estate from premium grapes sourced from single vineyard, low yielding vines in the Red Hill region of the Peninsula.... Read full article
Portsea Estate Pinot Noir
by Portsea Estate on
The nose is uniquely Portsea Estate - aromas of mixed berry fruits, rose petals and a hint of forest floor, underpinned by ultra-fine earthy minerality. The palate is elegantly held together by balanced acidity, finely grained tannins and extra tight... Read full article
Portsea Estate Birthday Hill Pinot Noir
by Portsea Estate on
Birthday Hill Pinot Noir is made in exceptional years. Our new release 2015 vintage experienced perfect growing conditions, producing low yields of tight, petite bunches of MV6 fruit. The wine is bold and concentrated with classic aromas of rose...... Read full article
Rahona Valley Single Vineyard Pinot Noir
Made exclusively from our Rahona Valley Block from five clones - MV6, 115, G5V15, D2V5, D5V12. Pinot Noir is the holy grail of grape varieties. It must be grown in the right place and be given much love to get fully ripe but do so slowly.... Read full article
Paradigm Hill Pinot Noir L'ami sage
by Paradigm Hill on
L'ami sage in 2014 reflects more perfume and elegance, yet, paradoxically exhibiting both subtlety and power. The fine tannin structure builds on the palate and as with the Les cinq, there is a generosity together with a long complex and balanced...... Read full article
Pt Leo Estate Pinot Noir
by Pt Leo Estate on
Pt Leo Estate Pinot Noir smells of mixed spices, herbs and background fruits such as plums, cherries and raspberries. Complex aromas of plums and dark berry fruits with hints of herbs and spices.... Read full article
Panton Vineyard Pinot Noir
by Panton Vineyard on
Very aromatic and seductive with an abundance of pure red berries and hints of rosewater. An array of lovely red fruits from raspberries and plum to bright red cherry, which are persistent and carry the wine for a long finish.... Read full article
Paradigm Hill Riesling
Fruit is crushed, stems removed and the must is left to soak a while before pressing off the juice & overnight cooling. The clear juice that is fermented in open 2000 litre vats [14oC to 16oC]. Wine is bottled after a further 6 months.... Read full article


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As I watch my daughters grow and get married and have homes of their own,I would like to be sure that I can pass to them the wonderful and valuable recipes and tips that I received from the generations before me.
Personally,it has been a challenge to try and get a complete list of ingredients or the proper measurements from my grandmother who makes every dish to perfection,and when asked, just answers "put a glass of this or a pinch of that". I attempt to follow but it never does come out correctly.
A few years ago,I took it upon myself to spend countless hours with my grandmother observing writing and measuring her handfuls dashes and pours.each recipe was lovingly explained and every simmering pot carefully tended to.This is when I realized that,as we all sat around her table enjoying her labours, she was smiling.This is her gift.I took those pages,each entry a gem,threw in some sentimental anecdotes,and went to Staples.I had them copied and bound into a book and now every women in the family owns one.we have even had many non relatives request one.
Hopefully,in years to come, these recipes will make their way onto the table of my great great grandchildren and it will taste the same as it did today.
The first step is getting a notebook,asking opinions and interviewing to find out family favorites.from there you will see the project will take on a life of its own. It can be done simply,handwritten or typed,children can contribute with their artwork, or much more elaborate books can be made.
With all the technology today it is possible to have your family cookbook published for a small expense.The companies offer a free packet to get you started and they make it so simple and the product is so beautiful.
Some suggestions:
tastebook.com – My favorite site for creating a cookbook. Combine your own family recipes with famous top rated online recipes. Create gorgeous books easily.
Go online, check it out and
Begin your first steps on a delicious jouney!
Lily Tawil
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So I was on an Online Dating site for gay men. Anyway this guy PM's me, and I have to admit that he wasn't bad looking at all. I started chatting away with him trying to get to know him. We eventually get around to telling each other what we do for a living. So he tells me that he is self employed, to which I said "fair play to you thats really cool". Which is very impressive in these economic times and what not. Then he breaks it to me "I'M A MEDIUM".
I have to admit I was really taken aback by that and kinda disappointed. I didn't want to be rude at first, so I just said "Oh really that sounds really interesting"
Then he said "yes I am"
So then I just blocked him lol. I just cannot see myself dating someone who is basically making money from lying to people. No offence to anyone who might believe in this . Realistically speaking, it would just never work out. I think its best that when it comes to dating, I'm best to just date other atheists. And yes it is possible to date believers who are somewhat more mellow about their beliefs than others, but with a lot of believers it can create a big difference that can be quite frankly very hard to get passed and compromise over.
What are your views on this people? Would you ever date a medium?
Views: 869
Depends, if the girl was at least somewhat intelligent enough. I understand that rational people do not want to get involved with irrational people as it causes unwarranted tensions and problems. But if she was a good girl, faithful and loving, then small things like that shouldn't really matter. Although it entirely depends on the individuals themselves. Some might consider it a big deal and some might not.
At the end of the day there is more to life than these petty differences and arguments. All it matters is if the lover you are with, loves and wants to be with you, and grow old together with you or not. Everything else is all secondary
Date? Sure. If she's very attractive and funny..it could at least be entertaining for a while. Be even better to play along with her "powers" and really get em goin on some stupid shit.
LOL use her own pony tricks against her huh? Since she is just lying to everyone about "seeing the future", you can just lie to her about seeing the future as well. Together its one giant BS which involves getting laid with her. Hahhahaha nice
no more like agree with anything she says..so that it inflates her sense of ability.
Nah, I like mine rare!
I was with a girl who had practiced black magic once. Not surprisingly, she turned out to be crazy. So probably you were smarter than I was.
Nah, I'd prefer em to be large, C or D at least.
And I will not get involved with anyone religious or with a religious family.
Life is too short to have to deal with that kind of nonsense in your personal life.
Avoid any unnecessary stress and you will live a happy life.
if there are real than i would higher one to get me the nex 100 Mill power ball loto
I second that.
Third it.


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One of the more interesting results in yesterday's Washington Post/ABC News poll, as the Post's Greg Sargent alluded to this morning, is the overwhelming opposition to Medicare cuts from Republican voters. Sixty-eight percent of self-identified Republicans—and 68 percent of self-identified conservatives—oppose cuts to the health-care program for seniors.
There's no question that this is the result of the GOP's demographics. Sixteen percent of all voters this year were 65 or older, and they broke for Mitt Romney, 56 percent to 44 percent. If you disaggregate by race—and count only white seniors—that margin widens by 5 points in Romney's direction. And if you include the age group just below seniors—a large portion of whom are several years away from claiming Medicare benefits—you have Romney winning 61 percent of white voters who are 45 or older.
In other words, it's no wonder GOP voters are opposed to Medicare cuts—it's money out of their livelihoods in a way that's concrete and (I imagine) frightening.
But, with that said, it's also worth considering the role Republican leaders have played in encouraging opposition to Medicare cuts. In 2010, GOP congressional candidates—to great success—ran against the Medicare savings in the Affordable Care Act. Although the following year, House Republicans relentlessly pushed the Ryan plan, which called for massive cuts to Medicare for everyone under the age of 55, they reversed course during the 2012 election. Mitt Romney's and Paul Ryan's sole word on Medicare was an attack on the administration for "stealing" from Medicare in order to fund Obamacare, and a promise to restore the $716 billion in cuts.
Is it any surprise that—after two solid years of running against them—Republicans find themselves with an electorate that's overwhelmingly opposed to the prospect of Medicare cuts? Congressional Republicans can certainly try to include cuts in a deal over the fiscal cliff, but given their unpopularity with GOP voters, it's not a wise move.
It should be said that this problem will only become worse. The GOP electorate is aging, with more and more people entering the ranks of Medicare recipients. As time goes on, older Republican voters are likely to become even more opposed to Medicare cuts, putting GOP politicians in the same, tough position: committed to smaller government but reliant on voters who rely on one of our largest programs.


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With all the negative swirl around Zynga — its prospects worsened last week after the social games company admitted that its business was deteriorating faster than expected — one of the more interesting possibilities being debated quietly among some players in Silicon Valley is whether it might opt to go private to get some much-needed breathing room.
It's the latest of several options that have been floated, including whether Facebook or others might try to swoop in to buy the company.
Most of these scenarios are moot, given Zynga's founder and CEO Mark Pincus controls the troubled company, owning more than half of its shares. It is not clear if he would be willing to give up now.
That said, he has do something — the company's stock hit a new low on Friday, tumbling 12 percent to $2.48 a share. At that price, investors are valuing the business at very little, since Zynga has the equivalent of $2.10 a share in hard assets.
That price could get lower, with Wall Street investors and many others becoming even more relentless in their criticism of Zynga.
There have been many concerns already that began after its once close partner, Facebook, changed the way it operates, with the result that its platform did not perform as well as it once did for Zynga, especially for its once popular Ville-style games.
It's been made worse as consumers continue their shift to mobile, which Zynga says does not always monetize as well as Facebook.
To add to the pile, Zynga has suffered mass exodus of talent, some for better and some not. Over the past few months, it has lost several high-ranking managers, including its COO John Schappert and Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Karp, who were both brought on board for their experience in gaming. Last week came the departure of Paul and David Bettner, the creators of Zynga's enormously successful Words With Friends franchise.
There was plenty of other fodder for criticism this past week, after the company also wrote down the acquisition of OMGPOP by as much as $95 million, or about half of the total price.
In a memo issued to employees on Friday, Pincus wrote that he was disappointed and is focused on rectifying the situation.
In the near term, he said it might mean considering "targeted" cost reductions. And in the longer term, he noted that Zynga would have to invest more in mobile and a platform approach that enables it to publish third-party game titles.
Whether he can do that easily with intense shareholder scrutiny is questionable, and ditching the public markets would have its advantages.
To get a sense of where Zynga stands, and whether going private is feasible, I talked to a handful of analysts and experts, all whom had mixed opinions.
Michael Pachter, Wedbush Securities:
At this price, yes, Zynga can go private, but I don't think that will happen. That would trigger more unrest by shareholders, who would say you sold shares at $10 and now you want to buy them back at $3? It would have the appearance of some sort of scheme.
If he [Pincus] wants to send a signal to investors that they are done making acquisitions — since they obviously didn't do a very good job at it — they should take some of its war chest and buy back stock. He should also personally buy stock. We need to see that kind of commitment.
Peter Relan, executive chairman of CrowdStar, which pivoted from social to mobile gaming this year:
I have three solutions: Mobile, mobile, mobile. Mobile gaming this year globally is a $2 billion to $3 billion business and is expected to hit $18 billion by 2016. I don't think there's a lack of growth in gaming; it's more product strategy.
Mark is a competitive guy and he's going to fight like hell to transform the company and take it to the next level.
Arvind Bhatia, analyst, Sterne Agee:
They need to restructure the business significantly and do it very quickly, too. We think that they are considerably overstaffed for the level of revenue that they'll be generating in the coming years.
They need to right-size and preserve the cash. Going private won't solve the problem … the question is, where will the cash be in a year from now?
Rich Greenfield, analyst, BTIG:
They will generate zero EBITDA in the back half of 2012 based on their new guidance and earnings in 2013 and beyond are totally unclear — the company's assets are literally walking out the door — you see the Words With Friends team left.
Why would they want to lever up and go private — sounds petrifying … Zynga clearly has no idea how to model/project their business/earnings, in turn, going private would appear to be a very dangerous move, don't you think?
They need to make great games that have staying power.


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There's more you can do for your breast-feeding partner than you might realize. Understand how to provide breast-feeding support.
If your partner plans to breast-feed your new baby, your support can make all the difference. Understand what you can do to help.
You can start helping your partner prepare for breast-feeding by learning the benefits. Breast milk contains the right balance of nutrients for your baby and boosts your baby's immune system. It's considered the gold standard for infant nutrition.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months after birth — and breast-feeding in combination with solid foods until at least age 1. Beyond age 1, breast-feeding is recommended as long as your partner and your baby wish to continue.
Attend breast-feeding classes with your partner. If you know the positions and techniques involved, you might be better able to help your partner after birth. Classes can also help you understand the impact that the use of bottles, pacifiers and supplemental feedings can have on the breast-feeding process, and spur you and your partner to make decisions together about how you'll care for your baby.
To help your partner breast-feed:
Your partner and your baby will develop a special bond during breast-feeding. At times you might feel envious of their connection. Remember that the bond between you and your baby is special and important, too.
Give your baby plenty of cuddles, hugs and skin-to-skin contact. Sing songs, take walks or play games that are special to just you and your baby. By spending time with your baby, you'll develop your own unique relationship.
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Certified. SE Clean CARFAX. FWD 8-Speed Automatic Electronic with ECT-i 3.5L V6
21/27 City/Highway MPG
Toyota Details:
* 160 Point Inspection (for Toyota Certified Used Vehicles program), 174 Point Inspection (for Toyota Certified Used Hybrids program)
* Transferable Warranty
* Powertrain Limited Warranty: 84 Month/100,000 Mile (whichever comes first) from TCUV purchase date
* Roadside Assistance
* Vehicle History
* Warranty Deductible: $50
* Limited Comprehensive Warranty: 12 Month/12,000 Mile (whichever comes first) from certified purchase date. Roadside Assistance for 1 Year (for Toyota Certified Used Vehicles program), Limited Comprehensive Warranty: 12 Month/12,000 Mile (whichever comes first) from certified purchase date. Battery Warranty 8 years/100,000 miles (whichever comes first) from original date of first use when sold as new. Fuel Cell Vehicle Warranty 8 years/100,000 mile (whichever comes first) on key fuel cell components. Roadside Assistance for 1 Year (for Toyota Certified Used Hybrids program)
* 2018 KBB.com Best Family Cars * 2018 KBB.com Best Resale Value Awards * 2018 KBB.com 10 Most Awarded Brands
Thank you for your interest in this fine vehicle. If you require additional information, such as photos or availability, you can contact us at 866-201-9906, or visit our website at Toyotaofglendora.com, or visit our easy to reach location where the 57 and 210 freeways meet and the customer service can't be beat.
All advertised vehicles and pricing are subject to dealer availability. Vehicle image displayed is depicted as accuraretly as possible, but may be limited to device display quality. Documentation fee ($85) is not included in the amount given. Special Sales and Lease offers may apply. Contact dealer for details. MSRP is shown for information purposes only. This is not the dealer's advertised or asking price. In some instances, vehicles will sell above the MSRP. All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document processing charge, any electronic filing charge, and any emission testing charge. All prices expire at close of business today. All information provided is believed to be accurate, but all specifications, pricing and availability must be confirmed in writing with the dealer binding. Neither the Dealer nor DealersGear is responsible for any inaccuracies contained herein by using this application. Conversations over the phone are subject to recording for quality assurance purposes. By using this application, you, the customer acknowledges the foregoing and accept to such terms. Check with your dealer for additional information.


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MAYON VOLCANO BULLETIN, 13 September 2014, 8:00 A.M. PDF Print
Mayon Volcano's (13.2500°N, 123.6833°E) seismic network recorded one (1) volcanic earthquake and two (2) rock fall events during the past 24-hour observation period. Moderate emission of white steam plumes that crept downslope toward east-southeast and southeast was observed. Crater glow was not observed last night. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) flux was measured at an average of 611 tonnes/day on 02 September 2014. Ground deformation data showed inflationary changes in the edifice from February 2014 based on precise leveling surveys on the 3rd week of August 2014, and edifice inflation from January 2012 baselines based on continuous tilt measurement. All the above data indicate that the volcano may have been experiencing increased volcanic gas emission and slight but persistent swelling due to the intrusion of magma beneath.
Mayon Volcano's alert status has been raised to Alert Level 2, which means that magma has most likely intruded at depth and that current conditions could eventually lead to a larger eruption. The public is strongly advised to be vigilant and to desist from entering the six (6) kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) to minimize risks from sudden explosions, rock fall and landslides. PHIVOLCS maintains close monitoring of Mayon Volcano and any new development will be communicated to all concerned stakeholders.
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MAYON VOLCANO BULLETIN, 13 September 2014, 8:00 A.M. PDF Print


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The long-held theory that prehistoric humans in East Asia crafted tools from bamboo was devised to explain a lack of evidence for advanced prehistoric stone tool-making processes. But can complex bamboo tools even be made with simple stone tools? A new study suggests the "bamboo hypothesis" is more complicated than conceived, says SMU archaeologist Metin I. Eren.
Research until now has failed to address a fundamental question: Is it even possible to make complex bamboo tools with simple stone tools? Now an experimental archaeological study – in which a modern-day flint knapper replicated the crafting of bamboo knives – confirms that it is possible to make a variety of bamboo tools with the simplest stone tools.
However, rather than confirming the long-held "bamboo hypothesis," the new research shows there's more to the theory, says Eren, the expert knapper who crafted the tools for the study.
The researchers found that crudely knapped stone choppers made from round rock "cobbles" performed remarkably well for chopping down bamboo. In addition, bamboo knives were efficiently crafted with stone tools. While the knives easily cut meat, they weren't effective at cutting animal hides, however, possibly discouraging their use during the Stone Age, say the authors. Some knives made from a softer bamboo species entirely failed to produce and hold a sharp edge.
"The 'bamboo hypothesis' has been around for quite awhile, but was always represented simply, as if all bamboo species, and bamboo tool-making were equal," says Eren, a doctoral candidate in anthropology in SMU's Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences. "Our research does not debunk the idea that prehistoric people could have made and used bamboo implements, but instead suggests that upon arriving in East and Southeast Asia they probably did not suddenly start churning out all of their tools on bamboo raw materials either."
The findings appear online in the article "Were Bamboo Tools Made in Prehistoric Southeast Asia? An Experimental View from South China," which will be published in an issue of the journal Quaternary International, edited by Parth Chauhan and Rajeev Parnaik.
To observe the process of using simple stone tools to make a bamboo knife, watch this video made by the researchers.


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If Google thinks any of its new Google Glass owners have been flogging them on eBay or loaning them their to friends it has the right to remotely deactivate the tech spectacles, according to the Ts & Cs in the contract this first wave of buyers have agreed to.
The oppressive Google Glass terms state that: "…you may not resell, loan, transfer, or give your device to any other person. If you resell, loan, transfer, or give your device to any other person without Google's authorization, Google reserves the right to deactivate the device, and neither you nor the unauthorized person using the device will be entitled to any refund, product support, or product warranty."
It's sad news for anyone who managed to bag one of the $1,500 devices in the hope of flipping them for a quick profit. One recent attempt at eBaying a retail Google Glass hit the highs of around £60,000, before the seller cancelled the auction in the face of mass public outrage at how he dared to sell the magical new glasses of power. [Wired]
Our newest offspring Gizmodo UK is gobbling up the news in a different timezone, so check them out if you need another Giz fix.


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|Jepson Flora Project: Jepson Interchange
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Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
Shrub or tree, monoecious, deciduous or evergreen
Leaves simple, alternate, petioled; margin entire to lobed; stipules small, generally deciduous
Staminate inflorescence: catkin or stiff spike; flowers many
Pistillate inflorescence 1few-flowered, generally above staminate inflorescence; involucre in fruit generally cup-like or lobed and bur-like, bracts many, generally overlapping, flat or cylindric
Staminate flower: sepals generally 56, minute; petals 0; stamens 412+
Pistillate flower: calyx generally 6-lobed, minute; petals 0; ovary inferior, style branches generally 3
Fruit: acorn (nut subtended by scaly, cup-like involucre) or 13 nuts subtended by spiny, bur-like involucre; nut maturing in 12 years
Seed generally 1
Genera in family: 7 genera, ± 900 species: generally n hemisphere. Wood of Quercus critical for pre-20th century ship-building, charcoal for metallurgy; some now supply wood (Fagus, Quercus ), cork (Q. suber ), food (Castanea , chestnut).
Evergreen or deciduous
Leaf: stipules small, generally early deciduous
Staminate inflorescences: catkins, 1several, slender, on proximal part of twig
Pistillate inflorescence axillary among upper leaves, short-stalked; flower generally 1
Staminate flower: calyx 46-lobed, minute; stamens 410
Pistillate flower: calyx minute, generally 6-lobed; ovary enclosed by involucre
Fruit: acorn, maturing in 12 years; nut enclosed by cup-like involucre with thin or tubercled scales
Chromosomes: 2n=24 for all reports
Species in genus: ± 600 species: n hemisphere, to n South America, India
Etymology: (Latin: ancient name for oak)
Many more hybrids have been named but are not included here. Reproduction of many species declining.
Shrub 13 m, sometimes tree-like and taller, evergreen
Leaf 1.53 cm; petiole 24 mm; blade oblong, elliptic, or ± round, tip generally rounded, margin ± spiny to toothed, teeth abruptly pointed, upper surface ± flat to wavy, ± shiny, green, lower surface appressed-puberulent, dull, pale green
Fruit maturing in 1 year; cup 1220 mm wide, 510 mm deep, hemispheric to bowl-shaped, thick, scales clearly tubercled; nut 1030 mm, ovoid, tip obtuse to acute, shell glabrous inside
Ecology: Dry slopes, chaparral
Elevation: 3001500 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehachapi Mountain Area, Central Western California, Southwestern California
Distribution outside California: Baja California
Synonyms: Q. dumosa Nutt. misapplied
Hybridizes with Q. durata, Q. engelmannii, Q. garryana, Q. john-tuckeri, Q. lobata.
Horticultural information: DRN, SUN: 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24; STBL.


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TORONTO - The Toronto stock market closed lower on Thursday as attention shifted to key jobs figures that will offer more insight into the direction both the Canadian and U.S. economies.
The S&P/TSX composite index lost 56.90 points to 14,402.21, on weakness across most major sectors.
The Canadian dollar was down 0.03 of a cent at 90.59 cents US.
Traders were focused on the U.S. economy ahead of the U.S. non-farm payrolls report due early Friday after the week was filled with encouraging signs of improvement.
On Thursday, the Institute for Supply Management's non-manufacturing index rose to 53.1 in March, a indicator that the service sector is starting to see growth.
The U.S. Labor Department said hiring remains stable at levels seen before the recession, as the number of people seeking unemployment benefits rose by 16,000 last week, to a seasonally adjusted 326,000.
On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrials ended flat, down 0.45 of a point to 16,572.55 while the Nasdaq dropped 38.72 points to 4,237.74.
The S&P 500 index fell 2.13 points to 1,888.77.
In commodities, June bullion dropped $6.20 to US$1,284.60 an ounce, as investors moved away from the precious metal on signs of further growth in the U.S. economy.
The price of oil closed above US$100 a barrel with the May contract for light crude up 67 cents at US$100.29. May copper dipped 1.9 cents at US$3.027 a pound.
Economists expect that the latest American job creation figures will show that businesses started hiring more workers in March as the bad winter weather subsided. Consensus expectations suggest that around 195,000 new positions were created, which would be a steady improvement from recent months.
In Canada, analysts expect about 25,000 jobs were added last month, which would be an improvement over the decline of 7,000 in February.
In other economic data, Statistics Canada reported that a rebound in exports pushed the country's trade balance with the world to a surplus of $290 million in February from a deficit of $337 million in January.
Toronto's main stock index has risen nearly six per cent since the start of the year and sits near levels that haven't been seen since the summer of 2008. However, questions have persisted over whether the S&P/TSX Composite is headed toward a ceiling.
"I'm one of those guys that's very surprised how (well) the TSX did this first quarter," said Sadiq Adatia, chief investment officer of Sun Life Global Investment.
Considering the outlook for the economy, and the most recent slate of earnings, the fundamentals of Canada's main stock exchange don't hold up, Adatia said.
"It's just about a matter of time before we have a decent pullback in the TSX," he added.
"As more data comes out on the Canadian market, we're going to realize the economy really is not that strong."
Shares of Hudson's Bay Co. (TSX:HBC) dropped five per cent after it reported the acquisition of U.S. luxury retailer Saks helped sales increase nearly 75 per cent in the fourth quarter, while its profits dropped about 66 per cent, to $29.1 million from $86.8 million a year ago. Its stock was off 96 cents to $17.86.
Goldcorp (TSX:G) has extended the deadline for its hostile takeover bid for Osisko Mining (TSX:OSK), a day after Osisko announced a friendly deal involving Yamana Gold (TSX:YRI), and two of Canada's largest pension funds. The bid was set to expire Friday, but has now been pushed until 5 p.m. ET on April 15.
Overseas, the European Central Bank kept its key policy rate unchanged, saying that despite evidence the economy of the 18-country eurozone is weak and inflation is declining, interest rates will remain at 0.25 per cent.


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ST. PAUL, Minn. - Niklas Backstrom and the Minnesota Wild were fed up.
With the way the Edmonton Oilers were playing against them. With two losses in a row to their soon-to-be-former division rival. With an eight-game losing streak that sent them tumbling out of first place in the NHL.
Dany Heatley scored his third goal in four games to help the Wild snap out of their skid and beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 on Thursday night in a snippy game from start to finish.
"At some point, enough is enough," Backstrom said.
Even he, the stone-faced goalie, got riled up.
"We get run over two or three times every game and keep hearing it's an accident. So, you know, I think we're smarter than that. It's not by accident."
Oilers left-wing Ryan Smyth even took a swing at Backstrom during the final skirmish of the night as the game ended.
"He slashed me four times before that, so I had a lot of things to catch up on," Backstrom said in his usual deadpan.
Mikko Koivu, Jarod Palmer and Pierre-Marc Bouchard also scored for the Wild, who went 0-5-3 following a seven-game winning streak. Backstrom improved to 16-0-0 at Xcel Energy Center in his career against the Oilers, the best record of any NHL goalie at home against a single opponent.
Marek Zidlicky had three assists and fellow defenceman Greg Zanon had two for the Wild, whose 17-game home winning streak against the Oilers ended on Nov. 25. The Oilers have lost six straight road games since. They fell to 3-8 in December.
Taylor Hall, Ladislav Smid and Shawn Horcoff scored for the Oilers, who have lost six of their past seven games. Their only win was against the Wild last week.
"We came back with a lot of intensity and we can hang our hats on that, but at the end of the day when we don't get a win after we're winning, that's tough," said Hall, who scored just 84 seconds into the game.
Koivu tied it with a slick backhand fake on defenceman Tom Gilbert, skating across the slot for a forehand. Then there was Palmer's first NHL goal midway through the second period and Bouchard's 19 seconds later, nearly identical scores that zipped past the glove-side shoulder of Nikolai Khabibulin.
Smid's back-door tap-in cut the lead to 3-2, but Heatley answered with his team-high 12th goal 46 seconds later. Six of the first 33 shots on net went in. Khabibulin was pulled for Devan Dubnyk for the start of the third.
"We have to make sure we keep playing this kind of hockey, and if we do we're going to be fine," said Horcoff, who scored early in the final period to pull the Oilers within 4-3.
They had a power play with 1:23 left after Justin Falk was called for interference when Hall went down along the boards. That was the 19th penalty of the game, for 68 minutes, but the Wild tightened up and killed off the power play for the victory.
"I love emotion in our game, and we had emotion right down the line," Wild coach Mike Yeo said.
In the last game between these teams as Northwest Division opponents — realignment next season will send Minnesota to a new grouping — the action was every bit the essence of an NHL rivalry. There were plenty of tussles in their game in Edmonton last week, and this one was just as tense.
Matt Kassian fought Darcy Hordichuk twice, both times taking down the Oilers' tough guy. He pumped his arm after the first one to encourage the fans and twirled his finger after the second one as he skated off.
Wild bruiser Brad Staubitz took a hit from Theo Peckham and dumped him over the boards into the Oilers bench at one point, drawing a loud roar from the sellout crowd, and even the goalie got into the fray.
Backstrom wrapped his arm around Ryan Jones — jockeying for position in the crease — in the third period and slammed him to the ice. Backstrom was called for roughing, but a bewildered Jones got two minutes for goaltender interference.
"I like the fact that it was emotional and there was some animosity," Oilers coach Tom Renney said, adding: "That's good. The outcome of a lot of games should result in that. It makes for good rivalries. It's almost unfortunate that we're done with these guys this year."
Including the pre-season, they've played eight times in the past three months. But this is it for the season.
"There's going to be some bad blood. It makes for fun hockey," Heatley said.
Notes: RW Ales Hemsky returned for the Oilers after missing the past two games because of an illness, but his fellow alternate captain, D Ryan Whitney, sat out for a second straight game due to an ankle problem. ... The Wild improved to 13-0-3 when leading after two periods. ... Koivu also had an assist and has recorded at least one point in his past nine games. ... Dubnyk made eight saves in the third period.


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Its important that I keep writing and keep expressing if I want to stay alive.... If I want to face the tragedies that have occurred in my life, I have to keep working at the repression.
Repression is a horrible thing. I have to trust that if I let out my pain, I will be OK. Yet, I have no safe place to let it out! The only place I felt safe was my childhood. Am trying to make this place safe ( the present).
The outside world is not a safe place! Its never safe! its not safe right now! its never been safe, so, where do I go!
Im not sure where I go!
I have to trust God! and keep working with God! Im getting tired of trusting God! Im not sure where God is taking me. Now I sound like Judas Iscariot. ITs about God at this point; bowing down to God and working with God on all this stuff; thats what counts...
Its to bad Im not supported more at the meetings! I have to trust God! and its working slowly. Man its life n death work! and it shows that others will let me die. ITs murderer, and people when they grow up become murderers.
People want to see me as a popper. I don't care! but it hurts. It hurts to be abandon over n over n over. Its never stops. I have gotten stronger over the years, so its working.
Recovery can work much like a burn ward. You get better, but it hurts! and its life n death...
Its important to be in recovery working on my tragedies... working through them to a new way of thinking!
man its life n death out there!
It may be a fight up to the point of freedom. I have found that I do recover! regardless of how others want to manipulate or control.
People can be no better then animals when dealing with there own kind. Whats so horrible about this: Animals don't have a choice! humans do not have to, or need to be animals; its evil. Its a deliberate excuse to look like superstars while killing others slowly!
ITs hard! but I have to trust God and keep working at it! I am hated at places. Loathed by some! I have no support.
The doors are open at places but the peoples hearts are not with me! its empty. I have God! and the recovery process is working.
I have pissed people of because Im using them to get beyond them at meetings. They get mad and walk out on me when Im sharing. They refuse to be part of my walk back to health! It makes me sick and it scares me that Im around people like this. I consider people like this murderers. They hate God and what God has created.
In the end I win! either way!


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A Pizza My Mind: Does It Really Matter Who Makes Your Pizza?
Editor's note: In honor of National Pizza Month (aka October), the Serious Eats editors, staff, and Slice writers will top off our regular content with their deepest thoughts on all things cheesy, saucy, and crusty.
I think this is how the dream went. "Guy falls in love with pizza, goes to Italy, learns to make pie from some old guy who's been cooking it for 60 years and who can't speak a lick of English, guy brings back a recipe he refuses to share with anyone, opens a cool space with a big wood-burning oven front and center, makes every pizza himself, refuses to let people have pineapple on their pizza (along with a whole set of other draconian rules), says "thanks for coming" with a big, genuine smile...and scene."
I don't know about you, but that's the person I used to want making my pizza. And amazingly, I actually found some of the fantasy in Chris Bianco. Great story, huge personality, and, most importantly, the best pizza I had ever had. The man seemed to have magic in his hands. But now that Chris has been forced to step away from pizzamaking and Pizzeria Bianco is still cranking out winners, I'm left to ponder...does it really matter who actually makes your pie? To find out I spoke to two people who would know as well as anyone: Caleb Schiff of Pizzicletta (whose dedication to craft echoes Bianco's), and "Kevin," an accomplished pizzaiolo (who would rather not use his real name) currently working back of the house at a very popular, big name pizzeria.
First, a few caveats. Obviously no one cares who's making their pie at Domino's. The bigger a chain gets, the less responsibility they want placed in the hands of employees. And I'm not even talking about any of the high-quality places like Pizzeria Mozza or Co. where master bakers have left the daily grind in the hands of seasoned professionals. I'm talking about one of the critically acclaimed new school places (or old school in the case of a place like DiFara) where, in Ed Levine's words, "lone pizza gunmen" spend the majority of their waking hours slinging pies at their restaurant.
Lose Your Illusion
The connection between pizzaiolo and customer is surprisingly intimate. After stretching and topping a pie, their hands will have touched nearly every square inch of your food, and you'll have most likely seen them do it in an open kitchen (in front of a Stefano Ferrara oven). Though most restaurant dishes tend to look fairly uniform, every pizza is unique in a way that seems to reflect on whoever was manning the peel. The distribution of toppings, the shape of a pie, the charring, even bubbles in the crust... they can all feel intentional. But are they? Or are they just superficial details unrelated to actual taste?
If you catch a burnt pie at Mozza (and you will), you immediately know the cook running the oven took their eye off the ball. But if someone like Anthony Mangieri scorches your pizza (and he might), it's a bit more complicated. Did he want some extra char to balance out the flavor based on the fermentation of that day's dough? Or was he moved like a painter following his muse to add some extra color? There has to be a reason, right? Not according to Kevin. "The emperor has no clothes," he says. "They all screw up just as much as anybody else and they'll admit it... after they've had a martini."
You can't really blame them. Five seconds can make a world difference when you're cooking at 900 degrees. Plus, you often have other worries, like maintaining the oven temperature. "It's not simply a matter of tossing a log in the oven every once in a while," says Caleb. "Size and log placement are important to manage floor heat and flame arch." I don't know what your pizza credentials are, but to me that sounds more like engineering than cooking. And it's even tougher for Caleb since he has 20 percent less oxygen to fuel his fire thanks to the altitude of Flagstaff.
Caleb's had his number two, Scott Weymiller, working next to him since Pizzicletta opened and he trusts him with his pizza life, but Schiff still ends up cooking most of the pies himself. So is running the oven the dividing line between apprentice and Jedi? Not quite. Scott's pies are just as good as the ones made by his boss (and his bread is insane), but Caleb takes the peel because it's, in his words, "ridiculously fun." "When we're running at full steam and I'm working the oven, there's a flow to the work that's addictive," he says. Of course, it never hurts for customers to see the owner cranking out pies, either.
While Kevin has tons of respect for "the lone gunmen," he hates the idea that cooks—especially anonymous but well-trained immigrants—fail to garner the same respect as the big names when they're turning out the same pies. Pizza is a primitive food. It's not particle physics. If you're taught by someone like Kesté's Roberto Caporuscio, you're going to have the ability to make incredible pizza. I even heard a prominent Los Angeles pizzaiolo admit that one of the guys he trained now makes better pizza than even he ever could. "I don't know how he does it," he said, amazed.
Peeling Back the Layers
Caleb also seems to fit that dream pizzaiolo profile I threw out, so chatting with him about Pizzicletta, it's interesting just how little the word "pizza" comes up. Yes, turning out great food is job one, but he's just as concerned that the service is way up where he wants it and that his customers are enjoying themselves.
When you're the boss you're worried about every aspect of your restaurant. Caleb conceived Pizzicletta to be a smaller place he can wrap his arms around, but in larger operations there might be situations when you'd prefer that a "mere cook" make your pie over the boss. If you're just cooking you only have to worry about quality, but when you own the place you have to worry about rising food costs, complaints from table nine, the fact that your slicer just went down, and—oh shit, you have four pies in the oven.
There can also be downsides to cooking every pie yourself. Five years ago I was begging for a place like Mother Dough, where Baz Compani does it all by himself, but wait times can run long. He's working his ass off, but he likely could get better results with more delegation. In Caleb's words, "the best pizzaioli are those who can manage a lot of things because if you slack on one thing, the pie suffers."
My working theory has been that a pizzaiolo's "true signature" is put on a pie long before it's made, before the pizzeria even existed; that working out the dough recipe and choosing quality ingredients that work in concert were the critical decisions/actions that defined your pizza. Caleb and Kevin disagreed—to a point.
Caleb had a solid business plan when he opened his shop, but he'll be the first to tell you that his pizza and process have changed in the fifteen months since he's opened. He doesn't think he could have come up with his current battle plan without seeing action in the field first.
In Kevin's view, the success of a pizzeria is dependent on the team responding to the challenges inherent in a pizzeria—"the moving parts that can be (and need to be) adjusted daily." Yes, you need the solid foundation of a great recipe (and a great oven), but conditions will invariably be "less than ideal." Making dough—especially if you're using a natural leavener—is a daily battle that you're not always going to win. Vendors will fail you. You have to be able to adjust on the fly. If it's an off night for pizza, great service can cover it up. If the waitstaff is a little absent, a particularly "slammin' pie" can make up the difference.
Seeing Beyond the Hype
One of the biggest changes we've seen to our culture in the last decade has been the rise of celebrity, and pizza has not been immune. Your average civilian may not know a DeMarco from a Mangieri, but pizza fans religiously flock to Di Fara and Una Pizza Napoletana to spend (a lot of) their hard-earned. I'm a big fan of both, but there's no doubt that their well-documented stories, which border on myth, have played a massive role in their popularity.
A great narrative can provide a pizzeria with a healthy amount of free advertising. This is usually where exaggerated origin stories and supposed "300-year-old starters"—which in reality are about as old as last Sunday's newspaper—come into play. With that said, the restaurant business is a bloodbath and I don't begrudge anyone trying to get a leg up with a tall tale. And, happily, sometimes the stories are true. Look no further than Paulie Gee, who left the IT industry to follow his passion—who wouldn't want to support a guy like that? Especially since his pizza is, in today's parlance, bonkers.
Pizza rationalists (or agnostics) like Kevin understand the broad appeal of a place like Di Fara, but it bothers him that other unheralded gems making superior pizza languish while the press fawns over over the same places. "I'd like to see the love spread around a bit," he says. "I also wish people were as interested in the back story of any hardworking pizza maker, not just guys from Italy... there is more than one legit narrative."
Knowing someone's story makes you feel more connected to them, and that connection can enhance the way you taste or experience something. But for pizzaioli striving for their very best, that bond can sometimes be a double-edged sword. Though most of his business comes from locals and word-of-mouth, Caleb sometimes gets customers who've traveled very long distances for his pizza, and he says these food tourists "have stronger preconceptions of the restaurant's experience." I think he worries that anticipation can dull the taste buds... He rarely gets anything less than a rave from anyone, but I imagine that someone who just drove 300 miles for a pie might not be the most objective source.
No doubt I've had that sort of reaction (after all, who wants to travel hours for pizza and nitpick?), but I've also experienced the opposite. On my first trips back to Pizzeria Bianco after Chris stepped down, the pizza didn't taste the same. Something seemed off, but in hindsight I just missed the experience of having the him cook for me. I was looking for flaws instead of enjoying the feast. I'm not telling you that a pizza made by Chris Bianco won't taste better to you (or me), I'm just saying that the pie itself may not be objectively better than one made by someone he's trained and trusts. With that said, perception is reality, and there's no doubt the temperature is different when Chris is in the room. There is magic in Bianco, but it's in his intense commitment to quality and his contagious passion for food—not his hands.
The Man or the Management
So after 53,263 words and five different tangents, what's the verdict? That's a tough one. On one hand, a revolving door of pizzaioli hasn't hurt Motorino. And Lucali didn't suffer with the boss away. On the other hand, the Totonno's and Patsy's expansions ended in disaster as Ed's theory predicted. Looking around the country, nobody but Nick Lessins has made a pie at Chicago's Great Lake so we don't know if that majesty could be duplicated. And Emilia's in Berkeley doesn't have room to fit anybody else but Keith Freilich in the kitchen. If you want to know where I come out on this, I think that laying a strong foundation and finding a dedicated staff is more important than hands-on pie-making. But that's just me.
Does it really matter who's actually making your pizza? In all honesty, it's sort of up to you.
(Huge thanks to Caleb and "Kevin" for their invaluable contribution)
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Walgreen Shakeup Followed Bad Projection
CFO, Pharmacy Chief Leave After Bungled Forecast Related to Medicare Prescription-Drug Business
A billion-dollar forecasting error in Walgreen Co.'s Medicare-related business has cost the jobs of two top executives and alarmed big investors.
At an April board meeting, Chief Financial Officer Wade Miquelon forecast $8.5 billion in fiscal 2016 pharmacy-unit earnings, based partly on contracts to sell drugs under Medicare.
Last month, directors...
To Read the Full Story


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Dark Souls has a bit of a reputation for being a difficult game.
Without increasing the difficulty setting, how, then, does it get even harder?
By removing the walls and floors, of course!
The YouTube user who found this bug was simply going about his business before he encountered this phenomenon, dubbing it "Super Secret Hard Mode". Fitting, I think. Interestingly, this glitch is not an instance of just falling through the map, but the barriers simply disappearing. The player is still guided by the walls and floors that should be visible, and objects are floating in place.
Only the truly skilled gamers could navigate this invisible maze. That, or a lot of trial and error, as seen in the video.
He almost makes it, too, until a hidden cliff suddenly puts an end to his run. I doubt this can be replicated, but it would be cool to see if a player could successfully make it through alive!