text:
Conservatives love to vilify anyone who doesn't want to immediately throw down as "appeasers". But when you're dealing with terrorists whose aim is to bait us into overreaction, and you oblige them, aren't you the appeaser?
This week's featured posts are "A Conservative Lexicon with English Translation" and "Classism and Corporal Punishment".
This week everybody was talking about Eric Holder
The Attorney General is retiring as soon as President Obama names and the Senate confirms a replacement. So this week was a time for retrospectives on Holder's tenure.
If you are liberal, you criticize Holder for not prosecuting fraud on Wall Street and failing to protect civil liberties against NSA snooping, but you admire his defense of voting rights against voter-suppression laws. If you're conservative, Holder is the villain of countless conspiracy theories like Fast & Furious, and you hate his defense of voting rights against voter-suppression laws.
One Holder policy is already showing results: This year the number of Americans in federal prison dropped for the first time since 1980. The U.S. incarceration rate "leads" all major nations (behind only Seychelles among countries of any sort) with 707 per 100K. Canada manages to avoid anarchy with only 118 inmates per 100K, so our rate could probably stand to come down.
If Republicans gain control of the Senate, confirming Holder's replacement could be a major headache, no matter who it is. Republicans are already raising the constitutionally bizarre idea that it would be illegitimate for the Senate to confirm Holder's replacement in the lame-duck session after the election.
Historically, cabinet appointments have been confirmed without much fanfare, unless some scandal is found in the appointee's background. Only during the Obama administration have appointments been contested in general, independent of the individual appointed. Compare, for example, President Bush's most difficult appointment: John Bolton as U. N. ambassador. Senate Democrats objected to Bolton personally, not to the idea of Bush appointing an ambassador to the U.N.
and war
The air war against ISIS expanded to Syria this week. Vox observes:
This is a huge success for Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian leader has now convinced the world's most powerful country, which was threatening to bomb him just a year ago, to instead bomb his enemies. There is a strong indication that this was his plan all along.
And we also attacked a Syrian jihadist group not previously in the headlines: Khorasan, which the administration claims is plotting attacks inside the U.S.
Consensus opinion is that ISIS can't be defeated purely from the air; somebody is going to have to provide troops. The Kurdish Peshmerga is effective fighting force in the Kurdish region of Iraq, but it remains to be seen whether they will want to advance into Kurdish regions of eastern Syria … or what will happen if they do. Kurdish unity and independence is one of the longstanding issues of the region, and our NATO ally Turkey is firmly against it.
and the fall election
Apparently Republicans believe women vote by falling in love with a dreamy candidate, rather than by thinking about issues like men do. At least, that's the image this ad presents: a young, pretty, woman of indeterminate race who's ready to "break up" with Obama and vote against "his friends" in 2014.
Naturally, the ad was created by one man (Rick Wilson) and paid for by another (John Jordan). Because who understands women better than men do, amirite? Joan Walsh calls it "condescending" and Vox finds it "weird". I wouldn't be surprised if more liberal blogs are linking to it than conservative ones.
It's hard to imagine that any woman who isn't already anti-Obama will be swayed, but maybe that's the point. Maybe Republicans are trying to keep their already-committed women in line, lest they defect to a female senate candidate like Kay Hagan, or to a male candidate who respects them like Mark Udall.
Dr. Ben Carson hasn't formally announced yet, but he seems to be running for president. This is the kind of thoughtful commentary you can expect in the 2016 Republican primaries:
WALLACE: You said recently that there might not even be elections in 2016 because of widespread anarchy. Do you really believe that?
CARSON: I hope that that's not going to be the case. But certainly there's the potential because you have to recognize that we have a rapidly increasing national debt, a very unstable financial foundation, and you have all these things going on like the ISIS crisis that could very rapidly change things that are going on in our nation. And unless we begin to deal with these things in a comprehensive way and in a logical way there is no telling what could happen in just a couple of years.
Saturday, Carson finished second to Ted Cruz in the presidential straw poll at the Values Voters Summit.
and spanking
The Adrian Peterson controversy provoked me to write "Classism and Corporal Punishment".
and occasionally people have been talking about this blog
I hope someday it will seem like no big deal to notice Digby's Hullabaloo or David Brin (you'll have to scroll down some) discussing a Sift post, but that day has not yet come. I still get little chills from stuff like that.
but not nearly enough people talked about the People's Climate March
If you'd ever bought into the idea of liberal media bias, the People's Climate March should have snapped you out of it. Hundreds of thousands of people (organizers claimed 400K, but I haven't found a disinterested estimate) turned out last Sunday (the 21st), with supporting rallies in over 200 cities around the world. The network news shows that day discussed it not at all.
Imagine if the same number had showed up to demand a balanced budget or a new Benghazi investigation or something. It would have driven ISIS off the front pages.
At least Jon Stewart talked about it, and connected it to the infuriating display of stupidity that is the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
How far back to the elementary school core curriculum do we have to go to get someone on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology caught up? Do we have to bring out the paper mache and the baking soda so you can make a fucking volcano? Is that what we have to do?
and you also might be interested in …
Another amazing John Oliver rant, this time about the Miss America Pageant.
A can't-miss interview with the Notorious RBG.
A very thought-provoking article by Ezekiel Emmanuel, the director of clinical ethics at NIH: "Why I Hope To Die at 75". He's my age (57) and in good health. He's not proposing suicide, euthanasia, or medical rationing. He's just saying that extending your life past 75 comes with an ever-increasing risk of disability, depression, or dementia.
The article has drawn a lot of my-Dad-is-89-and-doing-great comments — and hey, look at RBG at 81 — but that misses the point. Emmanuel thinks extended life is a bad gamble, so personally, he plans to start cutting back on medical tests and treatments as he approaches 75. If he turns out to be healthy as a horse at 90 anyway, great — he won the lottery.
Because of Emmanuel's role in drawing up ObamaCare, his article has also draw a lot of weird we-knew-there-were-death-panels comments from the tin-foil-hat people, including the predictable National Review types, whose bizarre fantasies and nightmares often get in the way of understanding what anyone else says.
The bogus Obama "scandals" I talked about in "What Should Racism Mean?" are still happening.
I've had a soft spot in my heart for Emma Watson ever since she punched out Draco Malfoy. But her UN speech opens the door to a more mature admiration.
I want men to take up this mantle. So their daughters, sisters and mothers can be free from prejudice but also so that their sons have permission to be vulnerable and human too—reclaim those parts of themselves they abandoned and in doing so be a more true and complete version of themselves.
Then there was that whole little drama about someone threatening to release nude photos of her in revenge for that speech — which turned out to be a hoax leading to another hoax, neither of which had anything to do with Watson.
What is the world coming to when you can't even trust the people threatening to release nude photos of celebrities? I'm reminded of the sad comment bank robber Willie Sutton made in his autobiography Where the Money Was, explaining why his accomplices kept turning him in. "You involve yourself with a very low grade of person when you become a thief." Maybe the same is true when you go looking for involuntary porn.
As a former high school newspaper editor, my sympathies are with Neshaminy High School student editor Gillian McGoldrick and her faculty supervisor, who have both been suspended over the paper's refusal to use the name of the school's team: Redskins.
The school administration is giving you a fabulous education, Gillian. The lesson they're teaching is not the one they think they're teaching, but you will value this experience for the rest of your life.
As for the faculty advisor Tara Huber: You probably knew that lesson already, but I hope it's some comfort to realize that your students will never forget you.
Two recent novels have interesting stuff to say about technology about the possibly destructive interplay between new technology and giant corporations. In The Circle by Dave Eggers, the Circle is a Google/Amazon/Apple/Facebook/Twitter combination that is idealistically trying to "complete the circle" by making all human experience available to everybody. "Privacy is theft" because it denies other people information they have a right to know. The novel recounts the narrator's gradual absorption by the cultish corporate culture, where "smiles" and "frowns" from strangers replace all genuine human relationships.
The Word Exchange by Alena Graedon examines the issue of letting corporations control access to our cultural heritage. (Picture Amazon's control of book distribution, or NetFlix' increasing monopoly on our film library.) What if a monopolistic online "word exchange" drove dictionaries to extinction? The corporation would then have an interest in seeing language change quickly, so that you'd have to look up more words. And then things get out of hand.
It's been blocked on YouTube, but you can still see Greenpeace's rising-seas version of "Everything Is Awesome", a song from The Lego Movie.
Privatization in action: The multinational corporation that bought the operating rights to the Indiana Toll Road just filed for bankruptcy. It turns out that things don't get magically more efficient as soon as government is out of the picture.
We used to say, "If we can send a man to the Moon, why can't we … ?" Maybe the new version should be "If India can send a spacecraft to Mars for less than a billion dollars, why can't we … ?"
and let's close with something amazing
When you watch Ana Yang perform, and then consider what she must know about the tensile strength of various liquids and the ways their bubbles behave when blown up with certain gases, it brings home the old Arthur Clarke adage: Sufficiently advanced technology really does look like magic.


text:
Some ketchups are mixed with diced onions and bell peppers. You can add your own, of course, as well as crumbled bacon, shown in the photo above. Photo courtesy Mir Glen.
Category Main Page
Articles & Reviews
Main Nibbles
Main Page
Articles & Reviews Of Foods From A To Z
Product Reviews
Main Page
Beverage, Books
News & More
STEPHANIE ZONIS is a Contributing Editor at THE NIBBLE.
October 2007
Last Updated August 2010
This is Page 2 of a nine-page article. Click on the black links below to visit other pages.
Having at least one good method of preserving food has been vital to civilizations for millennia. Lacking modern methods of processing and refrigeration, earlier societies often turned to salting, brining (soaking foods in a mixture of salt and water) and/or pickling (immersing foods in a diluted vinegar solution). Sometimes, salting and pickling were used in combination. The idea here was to prevent harmful bacteria from entering into, and growing on, the food.
Sauces have been used on foods since ancient times. Early sauces in Greek and Rome were often made from salting or fermenting fish, while those in Asia were made from fish or soybeans. They survive today in the form of the Thai fish sauce name plat (the same type of sauce goes by a different name in each Asian country); and the Romans' favorite condiment, garum, an expensive fish sauce used by the wealthy the way we use table salt, survives as a costly specialty food called colatura (in photo—you can purchase it Amazon.com).
Ketchup In Europe
In the medieval era, sauces often had an acidic base, such as vinegar, ale or wine. But in the late 1600s and early 1700s, sauces became less fashionable; they were replaced by pickled vegetables, especially mushrooms and walnuts. These pickles, in addition to vinegar, contained spices. The liquid from a mushroom pickle, with a deep brown hue from the vegetable and flavored by spices, came to be seen as a condiment by itself.
Andrew Smith writes that the British initially ran into ketchup in Southeast Asia, during the years when Britannia was first attempting to rule the waves. What they found, however, was not one product, but several. There were a handful of different sauces made from fermented soy beans or fish, with varying textures, thicknesses and levels of saltiness (and even sweetness). Smith states that ketchups were being imported into England prior to 1680.
The First Known Recipe For Ketchup
The first known recipe for ketchup in English was published in 1727 by a female author surnamed Smith. Part of a volume entitled Compleat Housewife; or, Accomplished Gentlewoman's Companion, the condiment was spelled as "kachop." Ingredients included anchovies, shallots, white wine vinegar, two types of white wine, mace, ginger, cloves, whole peppers, a whole nutmeg, lemon peel and horseradish—a kind of early Worcestershire sauce.
By the mid-1700s ketchups were a staple in British shops. There were three basic types: mushroom, walnut and fish. Naturally, British recipes and food preferences were predominant among colonists in the soon-to-be United States. If tomato ketchup was being made during this era, it does not seem to have been sold commercially. Although U.K. citizens were eating tomatoes by this time, there were still many in the fledgling U.S. (as well as in Europe) who believed that tomatoes (also called love apples and wolf peaches), as members of the nightshade family, were poisonous.
The Origin Of Tomato Sauce &
Tomato Ketchup
In fact, only famine in Italy caused the peasants to eat tomatoes. Although yellow cherry tomatoes had been brought back from the New World by Christopher Columbus at the turn of the 16th century and then by Hernando Cortez in 1529, only lean times drove people to eat the fruit. No one died, and the first documented tomato sauce recipe in Italy is from 1839.
The first known recipe for tomato ketchup was published in 1804 by James Mease, a Philadelphia physician and scientist. The next 25 years saw a great rise in the condiment's popularity, although tomato ketchup shared the spotlight with the three traditional British mainstay varieties, as well as ketchups made from a host of other foods (including oysters, lemons, cucumbers, and elderberries).
Cookbook upon cookbook printed recipes for homemade ketchups. As Smith notes, good keeping quality was an important reason for ketchup's popularity. And because most ketchups were concentrated products, only a small quantity was required to add a lot of flavor.
Early tomato ketchups were not sweetened per se (they contained some sweet spices, but not sugar or other sweeteners). When sugar started to be added to ketchup (in the mid-1800s), only a small quantity was used at first. This resulted in fermentation, which meant sour-tasting ketchup. When more sugar was added to sweeten the sour taste, a greater quantity of vinegar was added to keep the sweetness in check. The larger amount of vinegar resulted in a chemical reaction that created "invert" sugars (a process whereby sucrose, or table sugar, is broken down into its component simple sugars, glucose and fructose), which made the ketchup sweeter still.
Homemade ketchup remained a well-loved staple until commercial ketchup began to take over in the late 1800s. Ketchup-making at home was time-consuming, tedious and involved many steps, while mass production capability and improved techniques made commercial ketchups less and less expensive.
Ketchup As We Know It
In the late 1800s and early into the twentieth century, commercially-made tomato ketchup was confronted with many of the same issues then affecting other foods produced by professional manufacturers, some of whom were rather less professional than could be desired. Boric acid, benzoic acid and sodium benzoate, once widely used as preservatives in ketchup, were increasingly believed to produce adverse health effects. Ketchups were made from rotted, decomposed or unripe tomatoes; some contained artificial coloring, which was often based on coal-tar. They contained starches or other unsuitable ingredients, such as pumpkin. The passage of the Pure Food and Drugs Act, in 1906, was a big first step in forcing tomato ketchup manufacturers to clean up their act. But how could they guarantee the keeping and eating qualities of ketchup without preservatives?
Heinz Becomes A Ketchup Hero
The H.J. Heinz Company set out to prove that this was not an impossible task. According to Andrew Smith, Heinz began the ketchup-making process with red, ripe tomatoes, not the green, underripe fruit or the overripe fruit so often used in that era. Ripe tomatoes contain more pectin, a gelling agent, and pectin content was crucial in creating a higher-density product that had more body.
Today's ketchup industry differs greatly from what it once was. Many of the small manufacturers that produced tomato ketchup in the twentieth century are gone, bought out or forced out of business by poor sales (although a number have sprung up in more recent years). Tomato varieties specifically geared toward ketchup production have been developed. More tomatoes are now grown in China than anywhere else in the world. Changes in transportation and manufacturing processes have been enormous. There have been alterations in the basic Heinz formula, too, but not that many. Most notably, those changes have been in the sweetener used. Instead of sugar, almost all mass-produced ketchup now uses corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup or a combination of the two.
More Modern Ketchup
Perhaps the silliest moment in ketchup's history came in 1981, at a time when the Reagan administration attempted to declare ketchup (and pickle relish) as a vegetable. Doing so would allow the government to save money on the federally-funded school lunch programs.
President Reagan attempted to defend this classification by noting that ketchup is made from tomatoes. Among howls of protest from parents, nutritionists and almost everyone else except schoolchildren, however, the undertaking was hastily shelved…until 1995, when a GOP-controlled Congress gave it another try, for the same reason.
The last laugh of this incident may be on the American public. In the Food and Drug Administration's standards (Title 21), revised in April of 2006, ketchup is indeed listed under the "Canned Vegetables" subheading.
The 1981 declaration had serious consequences for one of the "Big Three" ketchup manufacturers at that time. Heinz and Hunt's spelled their condiment "ketchup," so they were fine. But Del Monte had been using the "catsup" spelling. With the government's decision that "ketchup" was a vegetable, Del Monte was out in the cold. Given the speed with which the ketchup declaration was revoked, this amounted to no big deal. Soon afterward, however, Del Monte changed the spelling of their product to "ketchup," and it's been that way ever since.
Release of the proposed directive for required public comment in September 1981 met with outrage from nutritionists and Democrats.[1]
Continue To Page 3: How Ketchup Is Manufactured
Go To The Article Index Above
© Copyright 2005-2023 Lifestyle Direct, Inc. All rights reserved. All images are copyrighted to their respective owners.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hi! This is my first project for Moda Bake Shop, so I'm a newbie! My name is Kaelin Telschow, and I blog over at The Plaid Scottie (aptly named after my Scottish Terrier Sir Whiskers MacTavish, who oversees [read: sleeps on] all my craft projects).
The top of this quilt requires nothing but jelly rolls, and the large blocks come together easily to make a good size quilt in a short amount of time. The soft, sweet colors make it perfect for little ones. If you choose to make your quilt the same size as mine, you'll also have about half of your jell roll left over, so you could actually make two of these quilt tops from one printed jelly roll (you'd need an extra solid jelly roll though).
- 1 Print Jelly Roll (Walk in the Woods)
- 1 Solid Jelly Roll (or 2 3/4 yards) (Zen Grey)
- 5 yards of Backing Material (Girl & Tree in Whisper)
- 1/2 yard of Binding Material (Line Print in Poppy Whisper)
- Cotton Batting (I used prepackaged Twin size batting which is 72″ x 90″)
Step 1: Pull out 24 strips from your print jelly roll and group them in pairs. I tried to group mine according to color and scale (one large scale + one small scale print per pair…if I couldn't find a good large/small pairing, I tried to pair a novelty print with a coordinate).
Step 2: Take your 12 large-scale strips (or whichever printed strips you want toward the outside of each block) and leave them folded in half. Trim the ends off so it's exactly 21″ long, and then cut in the center so that you have two 10.5″ sections (once you peel the cut pieces apart, you'll have a total of four 10.5″ pieces per jelly roll strip)
Step 3: Find your 12 (small-scale) strips and, leaving folded in half, cut a 6.5″ section from the end. Pull apart your two pieces, and set aside the remainder of the jelly roll strip.
Step 4: If you're using a jelly roll of solid material, cut the strips as follows (if you have yardage of your solid instead, cut into (38) 2.5″ strips first and then follow the instructions below):
- Using 12 strips, cut into 18.5″ pieces (2 pieces per jelly roll strip, for a total of 24).
- Using 12 strips, cut into 14.5″ pieces (2 pieces per jelly roll strip, for a total of 24).
- Using 12 strips, cut into 10.5″ pieces (4 pieces per jelly roll strip, for a total of 48)
- Using 2 strips, cut into 6.5″ pieces (6 pieces per jelly roll strip, for a total of 12)
Step 5: Once all the fabric is cut, it's time to start assembling the blocks. Below is a diagram of what a finished block will look like.
Find your 12 sets (2 per set) of 6.5″ printed pieces, and twelve 6.5″ solid pieces.
Step 6: To make the center pieces for your blocks, sew the printed pieces to either side of the solid strips.
Step 7: Find your (48) 10.5″ printed pieces (12 sets of 4), and (48) 10.5″ solid pieces. Pair up one printed piece with one solid piece, and sew together along the long edge.
To make each block, you'll need one of the 6.5″ centers, and four of the 10.5″ pairs that you just sewed. Before you begin sewing your blocks, group the centers & 10.5″ pairs based on the groupings you made in Step 1 (see photo below).
Step 8: To make your first block, take a 6.5″ center piece and one of the four coordinating 10.5″ pieces. Line up the end of the 10.5″ piece (solid side at the top) with the top left corner of the center piece.
Pin in place, and sew a partial seam between 3″ to 4″ long.
Open at the seam and press only the area where they're attached.
Step 9: Grab a second 10.5″ piece, and line it up with the left edge of the pieces you just sewed together. They should line up perfectly. Sew, open, and press.
Step 10: Find your 3rd 10.5″ piece, and line it up with the bottom. Pin, sew and open to press.
Step 11: Fold back the loose end of the top 10.5″ piece so that it's out of the way, and pin your last 10.5″ piece along the right side. Pin, sew and open to press.
Step 12: Now we can go back and finish off that partial seam. Fold the top piece down and pin the loose ends together.
Sew together, open and press the side you just sewed (the other half has already been pressed).
The interior of your block is now finished, and all you have to do is add the sashing!
Step 13: Pull two 14.5″ pieces and two 18.5″ solid pieces from your stacks. Sew the two 14.5″ pieces to the top and bottom of your block, and then add the two 18.5″ pieces to the sides.
Ta da! Now you have your first finished block! Each finished block will measure 18.5″ square, and you have enough fabric to make 12 blocks total.
You can organize your blocks however you like. For this particular quilt I grouped mine into rows by color….
…and then sewed the quilt top together.
But here's a photo of an alternate layout I did before sewing the top together – you can scramble up the blocks for a more random color distribution if you'd like to mix things up a bit 😉
For the backing, cut your yardage into two equal pieces, trim the selvages, and sew together down the long edge. Baste, quilt and bind.
Kaelin Telschow


text:
Over spring break this year the fam and I traveled to Jackson Hole to see our Aunt Hannie and Uncle Tom. We were tooling around town and I snapped this pic of the boys in their favorite Stio hats… Stio is a store that started in JH specializing in outdoor clothing and adventure gear 😉… They currently have retail stores in Jackson Hole and Chicago, as well as their online business!
We posted the pic to Instagram and the people from Stio contacted us… One thing led to another and before we knew it Ben and the boys had earned a fun gig… This week Stio began to launch their fall and winter lines and we found our sweet boys had made their website! If you are looking for cute outdoor clothing for you or your little ones, check out www.stio.com


text:
What happens you buys a $442,000 house with $433,000 in financing? Well, here's Jim and Vesha. I told you about them a month ago. "Thought your readers might want an update," Jim wrote me last night. And we do. We love drama.
The kids, who make 130K between them, drank the Kool-Aid and bought a semi in Victoria with 5% down three years ago. After 30 mortgage payments they realized the house was consuming them. "We weren't saving a dime," he says. Worse, the place wasn't rising in value and the mortgage wasn't being reduced. Real estate prison. So they listed back in February, at $475,000, pissing off the neighbours who found it too cheap.
But buyers found it too dear. Three price cuts later the house was at $449,000. "We are starting to get worried," they said a month ago, " some of my friends in similar situations are worried too – but most of the idiots out there still seem to think prices are rising."
So, here's the rest of the story:
"After more than 100 days we finally sold, to a 25 year old hottie newbie realtor. Purchase price you ask? $442,500 – the exact same amount we paid for the half-duplex just under 3 years ago. So for the meantime we are taking a step back and moving into a suite in a brand new home our friends own for about half the monthly cost allowing us to put away $1200/mo. On one hand when I click on HGTV it feels rather depressing, but on the other, knowing we can pay cash to go to Maui in November for our one year anniversary while still saving oodles of cash feels pretty good.
"Well lesson learnt, had we taken all the money we kicked into this place over and above rental costs over the last three years I bet we would've had at least $70,000 to show for ourselves now. Our exodus from ownership is actually quite liberating, now we can just pick up and do what we want for a bit, wait till things cool down, build up some savings and security and eventually build our own modest shack at reasonable prices with a realistic plan in place for the future.
"The real irony though, well that was the stabbing two doors down on Saturday night, but shhhh don't tell the buyers!"
This couple that lost three years because of a house. They walk away with far less than they put down, and during the intervening time, occupancy costs far outstripped what they might have paid in rent for the same place. They gambled big – using extreme leverage in the hopes of scoring a capital gain – and were lucky to exit without major losses. Chances are the people just listing their homes now will have less luck.
Buying that semi was not a rational, logical, deliberated decision. Jim and Vesha, like most young house hornies, were egged on by peer pressure, family, media and government. They prove once again that in anything but frothy, bubbly, irrational markets (which never last), home ownership is a losing gig. People who think they are 'buying' anything with 5% down have way too many hormones. Instead, it's a trap. It's why banks always win.
One theme here over the past three years is the wisdom of investing in liquid assets instead of illiquid houses. Not only would it have taken 15 minutes to sell ETFs, bonds, stocks or preferreds – instead of 100 days – but the returns inside a balanced portfolio are more certain.
Actually, an economist at the US Fed just proved it. His research paper debunked the notion of houses building wealth better than investing, showing that half the time it's the opposite. Said Jordan Rappaport: "For many households in many years, renting and investing the saved cash flow has built more wealth than homeownership."
Interesting, stocks have outperformed real estate in the US consistently since 1980 – and that even included the subprime bubble years. As Jim and Vesha just learned (and many more are about to), there's been no money to be made during Canada's current bubble when you have a ginormous debt hanging over your head. Five/35 is a cruel hoax.
Of course, this is about to slip from being amusing to abusing. With real estate now entering a decline phase, it means tens of thousands of other young couples will surely come to the same conclusion. Renting wins. All booms end badly. Bubbles burst.
Just to underscore this, I hope you noticed the latest news from the south. American house prices are (on national average) back to 2002 levels. They've fallen 33.1% from this time five years ago. Still falling. Homeownership has dropped from 69% to 66% and is expected to hit 63% – where it was fifty years ago.
Here's the thing: it's not that Americans can't afford a house. Hell, they've never been cheaper in terms of income. But people don't want them. Demand has withered. If the object is financial security, then housing can be a death spiral. That's now obvious.
Jim and Vesha may have lost three years. But millions in America burned a whole decade. Legions here continue.
We are so foolish.


text:
Theater Arts Department
McConnell Hall Room 102
(509) 963-1750
Do I need to audition to become a theatre major?
Students only need to audition if they are applying for one of the BFA programs. All students are welcome to audition for scholarships.
How do I gain admission into the BFA program or the BA program?
Admission to the BFA is by audition/interview only. See Audition Process
Students seeking a BA degree must complete one year of college/university study or two years of high school study of a single world language
A cumulative grade point average of 2.7 in the pre-admission requirements courses must be achieved with a minimum grade of "C+" (2.3) in each course. The applicant must have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all other collegiate study.
Pre-major required courses:
How do I obtain information about University admissions requirements, and the appropriate application forms to attend CWU?
Who is eligible to audition/interview for the BFA program?
All current and prospective Theatre Arts majors may audition. Please note that the curriculum has been designed in sequential tracks. Entering the program as a transfer student may extend your graduation date.
What is the difference between the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees?
The BA is a liberal arts degree which is intended to introduce the student to a wide variety of subjects within the discipline. The BA philosophy maintains that the student will become "well rounded" by working in and experiencing all areas of the theatrical arts through a broad-based course of study.
The BFA degree, with concentrations in Performance, Musical Theatre, and Design and Production, is a focused course of study in a concentrated area that uniquely blends a broad variety of interdisciplinary courses for those students who have already decided upon their career path. The BFA is not intended for those who are interested in theatre as an extra-curricular activity. The philosophy of the BFA is that students are pursuing in-depth study intended to provide a competitive edge for either entering the job market or gaining admission to a graduate program.
The BFA is a one hundred ten (110) credit program where the BA degree is limited to seventy-five (75) credits.
How does the BFA at CWU differ from other BFA and conservatory programs?
At CWU we feel strongly that the undergraduate years be balanced between skill, development in the major, and obtaining a broad base of knowledge about the world in which we live.
Both the BA and BFA programs require completion of the University General Education Requirements, including two years of world language at the high school level or one full year at the college level, and electives (which can be taken within or outside of the major concentration.)
The BFA at Central Washington University embraces an interdisciplinary model in which concentrated and focused study of Theatre Arts is joined with related course study in other academic departments in order to build skills and knowledge essential for success.
The BA program requires 75 credits in the major, and the BFA requires 110 credits
Generally speaking, many BFA and conservatory programs do not require as much general education as CWU. We consider this broad base of knowledge a key to building strong actors, artists, and citizens.
The Department offers a limited number of scholarships to outstanding students, and the university has numerous scholarships, grants, and other forms of financial aid available for outstanding students/artists.
For information regarding Theatre Arts scholarships, see http://www.cwu.edu/theatre/scholarships
For information regarding university scholarships, fellowships, grants, and other forms of financial assistance, see Scholarship Central http://www.cwu.edu/scholarships/ Application for most University wide scholarships is facilitated through the Safari student information system upon application.
Out-of-state tuition waivers are available, but are competitive and initiated through the Department of Theatre Arts Chair.
BFA, All Scholarships, Audition and Interviews Procedures
Scholarship audition requirements are the same requirements for students seeking admission into the BFA programs . Bachelor of Arts students should choose an area of concentration in which to apply for scholarship opportunities.
BFA Performance and Scholarship Auditions Requirements
Upload the following:
• A current headshot or photo,
• A resume of your work in theatre
• An official CWU Theatre Arts BFA application form
• An official CWU Theatre Arts scholarship form
• An age-appropriate and fully memorized monologue of your choice that is no more than 90 seconds in length
• A contrasting age-appropriate and fully memorized monologue of your choice that is no more than 90 seconds in length
• An introductory video including your goals and aspirations and short comments on the material you have uploaded
• Letter of recommendation from teacher or other professional who is familiar with your theatrical work commenting on your potential as a student and theatre artist.
Recording Requirements
1) Introduce your performance pieces by title and author
2) Filming must be continuous, not stop and go filming - no editing is allowed. Each required video should be a seperate file.
3) You must be continually visible from head to foot in performance recordings. Your introduction can be from the waist up.
4) You must use a neutral background, and make sure we can see you clearly against it.
Example if you are acting in front of a black curtain, do not wear black
5) You must use some form of accompaniment if you dance or sing
Optional Submissions pieces
• A 90 second clip of a movement piece
• A 90 second section of a song
• A 90 second clip of you in a production
Candidates who pass the first round of the audition process may be asked to do any of the following prior to being invited to join the program:
• Take part in an interview process via Skype or phone with faculty members
• Attend a second round of auditions on campus
BFA Theatre Design and Production and Scholarship Interview Requirements
Upload the following:
• A current headshot or photo,
• A resume of your work in theatre
• An official CWU Theatre Arts BFA application form
• An official CWU Theatre Arts scholarship form
• An introductory video including your goals and aspirations and short comments on the material you have uploaded
• A digital portfolio of your work related to theatre*
• Letter of recommendation from teacher or other professional who is familiar with your theatrical work commenting on your potential as a student and theatre artist.
Recording Requirements
1) Filming must be continuous, not stop and go filming - no editing is allowed. Each required video should be a seperate file.
2) You must be continually visible from head to foot in performance recordings. Your introduction can be from waist up.
3) You must use a neutral background, and make sure we can see you clearly against it.
Example if you are acting in front of a black curtain, do not wear black
4) You must use some form of accompaniment if you dance or sing
* The work contained in a student's portfolio will depend upon the student's academic level and their major area of interest within theatre design. In all portfolios, each image should be adequately identified; the name of the play, the playwright, the name of the designer, the date the design was completed and the scale used, if applicable. In those instances when the design is actually produced, sufficient information should be given about the producing agency, production facilities and the like to allow an accurate evaluation of the work.
At the high school level students should provide a collection of digital examples of their drawings, sketches and renderings, light plots, instrument schedules, cue sheets, etc. Photographs of any work actually used in production should be included. Swatches should be included if possible. Photographs of projects actually produced should also be included. These may be either production photographs or individual pictures.
Formats should be chosen for personal taste demonstrating technical or other digital media.
Optional Submissions pieces
• A short clip of your own videography
• A 90 second clip of your work in a production
Candidates who pass the first round of the audition process may be asked to do any of the following prior to being invited to join the program:
• Take part in an interview process via Skype or phone with faculty members
• Attend a second round of auditions on campus
BFA Musical Theatre and Scholarship Audition Requirements
Upload the following:
• A current headshot or photo,
• A resume of your work in theatre
• An official CWU Theatre Arts BFA application form
• An official CWU Theatre Arts scholarship form
• One verse and chorus of a comedic or up-tempo number
• One verse and chorus of a ballad
• An age-appropriate and fully memorized contemporary monologue of your choice that is no more than 90 seconds in length
• A prepared choreographed dance in a style that you feel shows you off the best (ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap). no more than 90 seconds in length
• An introductory video including your goals and aspirations and short comments on the material you have uploaded
• Letter of recommendation from teacher or other professional who is familiar with your theatrical work commenting on your potential as a student and theatre artist.
Recording Requirements
1) Introduce your performance pieces by title and show
2) Filming must be continuous, not stop and go filming - no editing is allowed. Each required video should be a seperate file.
3) You must be continually visible from head to foot in performance recordings. Your introduction can be from waist up.
4) You must use a neutral background, and make sure we can see you clearly against it.
Example: if you are acting in front of a black curtain, do not wear black
5) You must use some form of accompaniment when you dance or sing
Optional Submissions pieces
• A 90 second clip of a movement piece
• A 16 measures of another song
• A 90 second clip of you in a production
Candidates who pass the first round of the audition process will be asked to do any of the following prior to being invited to join the program:
• Take part in an interview process with faculty members
• Attend a second round of auditions on-campus, which will include a dance class/ audition and sight reading.
I am a transfer student. How do I find out about entrance into the program and what classes do I need to take?
Transfer students gain entrance into the theatre program by the same process as freshmen. However, transfer students need to make an appointment with the theatre chair who, in consultation with faculty advisors, will discuss their previous theatre courses and determine placement within the required theatre curriculum. It is critical for transfer students to meet with the chair prior to registration to ensure they are not taking duplicate courses. Transfer credit for theatre course are also outlined at www.cwu.edu/registrar/transfer-equivalencies-policies
Can I transfer courses to CWU?
Yes. If you have attended a Junior/Community College or another university, virtually all of your courses can transfer. The final determination will be made by the Registrar for courses outside theatre and the Chairman of the Department of Theatre Arts for theatre related courses.
What if I don't make it into the BFA program?
Many courses are open to BA students who are welcome to complete the BA in Theatre arts without auditioning.
Students who are not accepted into the BFA on their first attempt may audition one additional time in the spring of the following year. Students are encouraged to meet with an advisor, prior to the second audition, in order to fully understand the criteria for acceptance into the BFA program. Each student is limited to two entrance auditions for the BFA program
What is the criterion for acceptance to the BFA program?
The Theatre Arts Department is looking for students who display potential to succeed in professional theatre careers.
Department faculty will consider students who:
Consideration will also be given in the following areas:
Evaluation in these areas will be based heavily upon the student's performance in both class work and production assignments.
Participation in valuable work experience, not only in Central Theatre Ensemble productions but in outside work in reputable theatre companies, will be highly encouraged.
A faculty committee will also consider if the potential BFA student will reflect well on the Department when placed in outside employment, graduate programs and internship programs.
I have two majors, is this program for me?
It is possible to graduate with another major and the BFA, but it will extend your graduation date significantly. Because the BFA is a pre-professional program, those who want to pursue two majors may be better suited for the BA in Theatre Arts.
What kind of a commitment does the BFA require?
This program is designed for the serious and devoted Theatre major. It is expected that the BFA student would become an integral part of the department either by auditioning for shows and/or assisting in the design, build, and/or construction process.
Can I get a minor in another department with a BFA?
Yes, however most minors require 20-30 credit hours in that subject, which means students seeking a minor should expect to add at least one additional year of study.
Students pursuing a major in another academic field can minor in general theatre. However, BFA students may not minor in Theatre Arts. They wish to consider the Dance Performance Minor or the Non-Profit Organization Leadership minor.
Would a BFA look better on my resume?
A BFA implies more specific training in the area of your career path. It signifies to potential employers and graduate schools that you are serious about a career in the industry and prepared to do the extra work that it may entail for a professional career.
What theatre facilities are available?
How many courses can I take in theatre?
Generally you may take as many as you wish but you must fill the component areas in order to graduate.
What non-theatre courses are required for graduation?
As with most liberal arts universities, you must complete the University General Education requirements.
If you are a BA student you may minor in any number of areas, depending upon your interests and abilities. The BFA degree does not require a minor and completing a minor will extend your studies and delay your graduation date.
How many hours do I need to graduate?
180 quarter hours is the minimum, which means in 4 years you need to average at least 15 credits per quarter.
Some general education courses are offered at CWU each summer. However, BFA candidates are encouraged to leave campus to work, or participate in internships, in summer theatres around the country.
How many plays does the department do a year?
Central Theatre Ensemble offers a variety of production options each year, providing a wide range of opportunities for students to participate and succeed in production work. Each season there are at least three large, fully-produced major productions and numerous studio productions. Studio productions might include faculty and student initiated productions, reader's theatre, staged readings, and minimally-produced scenes and one-act plays. Additionally CTE hosts the annual Dr. Betty Evans Original One Act Festival, which highlights new student plays and provided students the opportunity to direct plays.
Participation in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Region VII, allows students the opportunity to compete for regional and national recognition and scholarship opportunities. Design and Production students provide lighting designs for the annual Orchesis Dance concert, and also find opportunities to work backstage when regional and national productions and guest speakers visit campus. Additionally students participate in class projects and "showcase performances" specific to their areas of study.
Do all theatre students have an opportunity to act?
Yes. Ninety-five percent of CTE casting involves theatre majors and minors. At CWU all students actively participate in productions. And every student has an opportunity to participate in class projects, which include acting.
How much individual attention do students receive?
No matter what your course of study, you will find individual attention to your academic success at CWU. The Department is at once large enough to have a full compliment of highly qualified faculty specialists, and small enough to provide personal attention to and opportunities for students. There are currently approximately 140 theatre arts majors served by a full-time faculty of 10, supported by six full time staff members, and several guest lecturers and artists in any given academic year. Production and performance classes are limited to a maximum of 15 students per section. Most acting, directing, design/production and vocal courses are seldom more than 12 students, which makes individual instruction possible. Enrollment in the BFA programs is limited to only a 8-12 students each year in each program. All students are required to meet with their academic advisor every quarter to ensure they are staying on track not only with their major requirements, but also with their General Education Requirements.
Is there a graduate program in theatre at CWU?
CWU offers a Master of Arts in Theatre and performance Studies which is completed during the academic year. Student in this programs specifically study history , literature and criticism. .
During the academic year the focus of the performance program is on the undergraduate program. This means that undergraduate students are not competing with more advanced graduate students for opportunities in production.
Which courses are taught by graduate assistants?
Some General Education offerings (TH 101, TH 107) are taught by graduate teaching assistants, but in Theatre Arts core program courses are taught by full-time faculty.
Does CWU offer courses in TV and film?
The Department does include courses in television and film acting as a part of our program, and the Communications Department offers a broadcast concentration. A interndisciplinary Film and Video Studies major also serves students with an interest in these areas. The University also hosts a public access station that allows students opportunities in front of and behind the camera.
Are there student drama organizations on campus?
The Department currently has several active clubs for students at all levels of theatre interest. Central Theatre Company is a general interest club for any student with an interest in theatre and is not limited to theatre majors. The Stage Combat Troupe, comprised primarily of theatre majors and those who have had extensive training in theatre combat techniques, performs at high school and college conferences and festivals through the region. Orchesis Dance Company, which is housed in the division of Dance, produces an annual concert in cooperation with the design and production students. There is also a student chapter of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) at CWU. The clubs all conduct annual fundraisers, including concession sales for the CTE season. Monies earned are used to take field trips, see touring productions, and to provide small scholarships to students attending regional and national conferences.
Is your department active in state, regional, and national activities?
The Department and its student clubs are all very active in several organizations including: USITT, Northwest Theatre Conference, Washington Alliance for Theatre Education, and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Faculty members hold offices in these and other theatre organizations, and are frequently called upon to conduct workshops and seminars at professional conventions. Additionally most of our faculty members belong, or have belonged, to professional unions and can share that information with students.
Are there paying jobs in the department for students?
Yes. Each year there are a number of student employment opportunities in the Department lighting, scenic, and costume shops, and the marketing and front offices. These are generally supervisory positions and employment is based upon evidence of ability to perform the required tasks in a responsible manner. Students earn from $800 to $1,200 a year. Priority is given to students who qualify for the Federal and State Work Study programs.
Are freshmen permitted to audition for productions?
We believe that audition experience, on stage performance and backstage production opportunities are a significant aspect of each student's training. Freshmen are not required to participate in production, but we encourage freshman to audition and seek technical opportunities as soon as they feel they are ready to participate while maintaining their academic progress, which includes many General Education Requirements in the freshman year.
If I've had a lot of dance training, will I still need to take beginning level classes?
All BFA - Musical Theatre majors are required to take a several stage dance courses in several areas of dance. Students will most likely find areas of study that will benefit personal growth and still fill the requirements of the program.
Do I have to take classes in music theory and piano?
Students in the BFA program are required to take one year of Music Theory and have basic piano proficiency. Students may test out of the course and replace the credits with an alternative course recommended by their advisor.
Can I take more acting or dance classes than those required?
Absolutely. Students are encouraged to enroll in as many skill-development courses as they can manage while at CWU. Students will find a wide variety of optional courses within their listed program component areas.
What audition tips can you give me?
Use the following guidelines in preparing for the audition:
- Choose something in the appropriate age range that does not contain a dialect.
- Secure assistance in the preparation of the audition material.
- Introduce the audition pieces by stating only the play's title and the character's name.
- Background information on the scene or plot is not necessary. Maintain a positive attitude, dress comfortably, and most importantly, have fun!
Special note for auditions:
To increase your competitive edge, please avoid auditioning with major characters from the following plays: Getting Out, Glass Menagerie, Hamlet, Macbeth, 'night, Mother , and Spoon River Anthology . We also find that these playwrights are generally overdone or are more difficult for high school seniors to deliver successfully: Mamet, O'Neill, Pinter, Shakespeare, Shepard and Williams.
The best place to start is by reading full-length plays that contain characters within your age group. Collections of monologues can be found in libraries and theatre book stores. The department strongly recommends the prospective student obtain monologues from their high school drama teacher.
What is the student population in the department and the university?
The department has 140 majors and minors, the University approximately 11,000 students at five campuses, with slightly more than 9,500 at the Ellensburg campus.
Guest Artists are an integral part of the program at CWU year. These guest artists conduct master classes and participate in productions from time to time. Theatre CWU believes that it is in the student's best interest to work with as many professional artists as possible and to experience and investigate as many different styles of working as possible. Some recent guest artists have included:
Annie DiMArtino - Education Director Longwharf Theatre Hartford, CT
Delondra Williams - LA Playwrigtht
Nike Umoru - Casting agent and Regional Director/Actor, Spokane, WA
Masako Hojo - Specialist in Suzuki Movement, Japan
Marty Gallagher - Sound Engineering, Portland, OR
James Moore - Vocal Performance, Erie, PA
Ronn Campbell - Sound Design, Kennewick, WA
Rich Orloff - Playwright, New York, NY
James K. Moore - Vocal performance specialist, Washington, DC
Spring Hermann - Author and playwright, West Hartford, CT
David Boushey - Fight Master Emeritus and Founder, Society for American Fight Directors, Seattle, WA
Are there employment opportunities for graduates of theatre?
While a degree no longer means instant employment, as a general rule, the best students get the available jobs. For the past two years, each of our Theatre Education graduates who sought a teaching position was hired. A number of our graduates are working in film and television in California, as well as in professional theatres throughout the regional and nation as actors and technicians. The Department also encourages internships, which have led many graduates to permanent employment in the past. The theatre faculty will do its best to assist its graduates as they seek professional jobs. The Department provides job-seeking tools for students, such as a subscription to ArtSearch, the premiere publication for theatre jobs, and regular postings provided by potential employers. We urge our best students to consider graduate study.
What kind of success does the program have?
CWU's Theatre Arts Department is proud of the success that our graduates have found, not only in some of the nation's top MFA programs and regional theatres, but also working in professional organizations as varied as national touring companies, cruise ships, circuses, theme parks and casinos. And still more of our graduates are working and auditioning in Seattle, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
In the past several years our graduates have been placed in MFA programs, in acting, design and technology, and theatre management at: University of Wisconsin Milwaukee; University of Delaware; University of Cincinnati; Southern Methodist University; University of Florida/Asolo Conservatory; Northern Illinois University; Mason Gross School of Arts at Rutgars University; Brooklyn College at the City University of New York; University of California Fullerton; University of North Carolina; University of California at Davis; Southern Illinois University; University of California School of Film; University of Missouri-Kansas City; University of California-Irvine; Cal Arts; and the University of Washington. Several have already earned advanced terminal degrees and are teaching at colleges and universities.
Many of our education graduates are working in elementary, middle and high schools throughout Washington, Oregon and California, while others are working abroad at international schools.
Who are some of the alumni and what are they doing now?
What is the department retention rate?
Only the most dedicated, talented and serious individuals will complete this program and have a successful career. However, the rewards are worth the extra effort. Theatre is not a career for those who are not willing to continually step up to the plate and prove themselves. In similar programs about 35% of entering students will graduate.
What is the application deadline?
Plpease note the scholarship deadline Feb 1 for CWU Foundation awards and Feb 1 for Theatre Art Department awards.
Dialogues is a free colloquium series that highlights the work of diverse artists, scholars, and actCWU Student Ellie Cook A Finalist In Broadway Dance Competition
CWU student Ellie Cook (BFA Musical Theatre) is NOW IN THE TOP 9 of the Broadway World NexCWU Student Participates In National Competition At The Kennedy Center
Easton Benson, a Central Washington University junior (Theatre) is one of four 2019 nominees for the


text:
Breer: Who's really in charge?
When it comes to building an NFL roster, hierarchies vary from team to team. Albert Breer reveals all 32 power structures. **More ...**
After years as a starter under Andy Reid, Jackson was jarred to find himself floating up and down the depth chart in offseason practices. He subsequently jumped on Michael Vick's party line, urging Kelly to pick a No. 1 quarterback sooner than later.
Jackson eventually came around on Kelly's unorthodox practice habits, but he still agrees with Vick's desire to see a passer named by camp -- even if that won't happen.
"I do agree with it, especially when it's at training camp," Jackson told "The Rich Eisen Podcast" this week. "You know, throughout the whole offseason, I understand what (Kelly) was doing as far as him coming in, and he's not (showing) favoritism on any players, he doesn't care who's been the guy, who's been the starters ... Like I said, at the end of the day, you got to go earn your spot. He's not giving it to anybody, and if you're not going out there, you know, working hard and putting in time on the field, he doesn't really care ... he's going to treat everyone the same way, and he's going to make people earn it.
"So, right now, with the quarterback position, they've been battling. Honestly, I think they've been going at it pretty tough. So, right now, we don't know who the starter is."
So -- brass tacks -- does Jackson have a preference?
"I could care less, honestly. For real," he said. "Vick does a great job and (Nick) Foles does a great job. So, at the end of the day, man, whoever's going to get that ball in the hands where it needs to go, that's all that matters."
Jackson is learning that whatever credit he piled up under Reid quickly has become mist. Jackson's starting over again, along with Vick, to prove that he's right for what the Eagles plan to do tomorrow, not yesterday. Set to make a mountain of money after a less-than-stellar season in 2012, D-Jax is under plenty of pressure to prove he belongs long-term.


text:
by Carolyn Thomas ♥ @HeartSisters
Dr. Martha Gulati is an internationally recognized expert on women's heart disease. She's Professor of Medicine and Chief of Cardiology at The University of Arizona in Phoenix, where she is creating a centre specifically for Women's Cardiovascular Health. The best-selling co-author with Sherry Torkos of the book, Saving Women's Hearts, Dr. Martha is also the Editor-in-Chief of the American College of Cardiology's CardioSmart, a Scientific Advisory Board member of WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, and a board member of the American Society of Preventive Cardiology, the Phoenix American Heart Association and other notable organizations.
"The medical community in general and women specifically lack information on cardiovascular health and disease in women. This ignorance makes it less likely that women will receive guidance on:
- preventing heart disease
- preventive strategies and referral for needed diagnostic testing
- treatment
- cardiac rehabilitation
"The public health cost of misdiagnosed or undiagnosed cardiac disease in women is significant."
So if you're lucky enough to be already signed up for our presentation here in Victoria on February 28th, you'll not only learn a lot, but you will understand firsthand how thrilling it feels for me to have this opportunity to reunite with Dr. Martha – and right in my own backyard this time. Find out how to reserve your spot to attend Heart-Smart Women: All About Women and Heart Disease.
UPDATE FEBRUARY 28th, 2017: What a morning! Our Heart-Smart Women in Victoria was a terrific event, full with a waiting list. Dr. Martha was a huge hit (and our audience was especially intrigued by her spectacular heart stilettos!). She is so knowledgeable, skilled, funny, and wise – exactly the kind of cardiologist women want to know is in our corner, working hard to educate both women and her cardiology colleagues about women's unique heart disease experiences. And it looks like she had a good time in our beautiful city, too, as evidenced via Twitter later that day:
Q: What questions about women's heart health would you ask Dr. Martha if you were in our audience?
CAROLYN'S NOTE: Dr. Martha Gulati graciously offered to write the foreword to my new book, "A Woman's Guide to Living with Heart Disease" (Johns Hopkins University Press, November 2017). I cried when I first read it – it is so beautiful! Thank you, Dr. Martha!
See also:
- Does your hospital have a Women's Heart Clinic yet? If not, why not? (more on the report called Focused Cardiovascular Care for Women, co-authored by Dr. Martha Gulati)
- My recent and upcoming presentations


text:
Unexpected Surprises: Fall Colors Montage Deer Valley – Mercedes Tour
Do you love aspens the way I do? Maybe it's because I didn't grow up with them, but I simply adore aspen trees. I love them! Its not just "love"; it feels more like "being in love." You know that feeling? Your heart is just taken over and there is nothing you can do about it. I love how their leaves rustle in the wind. I love the stillness and beauty of their white bark. I can't get enough of them.
I was excited to experience the aspens as they changed their leaves from green to a blanket of yellow and the reds and pinks of the shrubs that share the mountain with them. Snow was the first unexpected surprise. Since we planned our Montage Deer Valley– Mercedes Fall Colors Tour for the last week in September, snow on the ground was the last thing I counted on. I understand the first snowfall on record in Park City was as early as September 17 so we weren't far off when it snowed on September 25 this year.
When we arrived at the Montage, our driver, Nick decided to take a Mercedes 350L with all wheel drive. Then he could take us wherever we wanted to go – back roads, tight turnouts on winding roads, and enjoying comfort on the open road. Nick started us off at Guardsman's Pass just above the Montage Deer Valley. It seemed like we were on top of the world! Seeing a few inches of snow on the ground with the groves of aspens starting to turn yellow was delightful.
We'd never been to Big Cottonwood Canyon so Nick made a detour so we could see all sides of the Wasatch Mountains. On our way, we saw hillsides full of evergreens covered in snow with pockets of bright yellow and orange foliage – so unusual and beautiful. Here is a "locals tip" Nick shared – take a drive from the top of Guardsman's Pass through Big Cottonwood Canyon and stop for lunch at the Silver Fork Lodge and Restaurant near Solitude Resort. We'll remember that one.
Another unexpected surprise was just how nice it was to have a driver. Whenever we go for a drive, my husband is always at the wheel. That's great for me, of course, but the driver needs to pay attention to the road and navigate as well! Jay really enjoyed being a passenger for this trip, taking in the full experience of the beauty of fall. We noticed whenever the words, "beautiful" or "amazing" came out of our mouths, Nick had already stopped and got out of the car while saying, "Do you want to stop and take a photo?" "Of course we do!" I answered as he opened my door.
Guardsman's Pass Road to Midway was our next route. It seemed like the whole stretch is one huge aspen grove and my head was spinning.
Next stop, the view of Heber Valley from the top of the Wasatch. Another "locals tip" Nick shared was going to Cascade Springs near Soldier Hollow Cross Country Ski Resort then stop in Midway for pizza at the Café Galleria. We'll remember that one, too.
The next unexpected surprise was a special road to a secret spot Nick had scoped out a week earlier. I have no idea how to get there so you'll have to ask Nick. He showed us an amazing scenic overlook and I can imagine this is what Switzerland might look like.
Next we were off to Sundance resort, Nick took us on the 20 mile Alpine Loop above the resort and maneuvered the Mercedes onto every turnout he could find. The end of a winding road or a narrow turnout was no match for Nick if we wanted to stop and get our fill of the beauty and snap photos. The glacier carved peaks of Mt. Timpanogos that rise above the Sundance Resort made for an amazing view.
Another delightful surprise, Nick found a wonderful picnic spot nestled in the forest with a sunny table and pulled out two wine glasses and a bottle of Pinot Gris from the picnic basket filled to the brim with chicken pesto sandwiches, red quinoa salad, Caesar salad, berries galore and a huge brownie to share. The wine tasted crisp and fruity to me but even sweeter for my husband who could simply relax and enjoy the day since Nick was doing the driving.On the trip back, Jay and I were a little quieter as we made fewer stops and simply took in the beauty on our comfortable drive. I got to gaze at my beloved aspens, while holding my sweetheart's hand. I had to pinch myself a couple of times to make sure this wasn't just a dream.


text:
These are about half the width of regular tagliatelle and are a rather fine noodle. As this is a rich egg dough, they will cook in about 3 or 4 minutes.
With such a quick cooking pasta a quick sauce is needed and the solution comes in the form of those salsa verde flavoured fresh anchovies. To bind these two ingredients together I've made a simple brown butter sauce - the heat from both the sauce and the pasta will be enough to warm the anchovies. It is pure simplicity.
Tagliatellini with Anchovies & Salsa Verde
fresh anchovies in salsa verde
fresh anchovies in salsa verde
Make the brown butter sauce:
Place a generous knob of butter in a pot and place over a gentle heat - allow to slowly melt. Once melted, swish the pan every now and again until it begins to brown. As soon as this happens remove from the heat.
Cook the pasta and when it's just about cooked, put the butter back on a low heat. Drain the pasta and add to the butter - toss to coat and then tumble in the anchovies and salsa verde. Keep the pan moving to allow the ingredients to intermingle.
Once evenly dispersed, plate the pasta and finish off with a squeeze of lemon.
With the burst of fresh herbs and those beautiful fresh anchovies, this is a great dish to welcome spring.


text:
We now have a few more of these in stock, thanks for your patience...
Since these are made by hand one at a time we have had a hard time keeping them in stock.
This is for one of our steel lamp series. This is for a 34" x 14" x 9" lamp. This lamp holds two bulbs and has a center pull chain for on off switch. The design is a Whitetail deer and Turkey scene on the two long sides and a Buck and Doe on one small end and a Flying Turkey on the other small end. These lamps are Powder coated for beautiful long lasting finish.
This lamp is powder coated in a copper/rust finish.
This is made of Laser cut steel and built by hand right here in Southern Colorado. This is a four sided lamp and has " Faux Calf Skin" shades(shown in photos)
These are a lighter shade allowing plenty of light through to give a crisp look to the beutiful metal designs.
This lamp measures 34" x 14" and is 9" tall, and is rated for two 75 watt bulbs. This lamp comes with 3' of chain to hang it with, and at under 10 lbs it will hang from two large cup hooks.
These lamps will usually ship in the standard 3 days, but may take up to 7 in some instances.
Please visit our store and look for other great items. We will happily combine shipping to save you money!
We are always looking for new distributors across the US if you are interested please contact us for more info.


text:
USA Cheers to Johnny Spillane
Steamboat Springs native Johnny Spillane won the first ever Olympic medal for an USA Nordic Combined team member today. Spillane's second place finish brings home a silver medal to Ski Town USA while competing in his fourth Olympics.
As with many Steamboat children Spillane started skiing as a toddler at age two. The family lived just two blocks from Howelsen Hill where he started serious ski jumping when he was eleven-years-old. The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club has been a major influence for the community's youth for 97 years with more Olympians coming out of the program than any other in the country.
Today's event was the Men's Normal Hill Individual combining one ski jump and a 10-kilometer cross-country ski race. Steamboat's Todd Lodwick placed fourth in today's competition. Hopes are high for the USA team to bring home more medals from Vancouver in Nordic Combine events.
Meanwhile Steamboat's trademarked Champagne Powder is falling and skiers of all levels are celebrating great skiing and Spillane's silver medal.


text:
Healthy and nourishing food was the only alpha and omega of rural economy. —Mahatma Gandhi
There are several varieties of chickpeas (also called gram, Bengal gram, garbanzo or as they are called in Hindi, chana dal). The photo above shows three types: the larger, beige-coloured kabuli chickpeas and the smaller desi chickpeas, as they are whole, as well as, split and skinned. When it comes to roasting chickpeas, many of us think of the kabuli type, but did you know that split desi chickpeas also work well?In fact, in rural Gujarat, where my parents (and the great Gandhi) grew up, a mix of dry roasted desi chickpeas and peanuts was one of the most popular snacks. My parents would recall trading in a few paise for a fistful or two of this nutritious snack, freshly roasted and packaged up in newsprint before their eyes, at any of the local street vendors on their way to or from school. Present day, in our household, roasted chickpeas, also make for a great school snack. My method for roasting desi chickpeas is the same as for kabuli chickpeas shown here in an earlier post. I start off with the dried legume, soak them overnight, cook them the next day in the microwave, and then finally roast them in the oven. For flavouring, I often just use salt, but your taste buds' desire is your only limitation here.
Roasted Split Desi Chickpeas
(yields 345 g or about 2.5 cups)
- 400 g (about 2 cups) dried split desi chickpeas
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- Wash and soak chickpeas overnight or at least 6-8 hours. Be sure to use a large bowl and at least 4 cups of water for soaking.
- Once the chickpeas have soaked, rinse and strain them. Put them in a glass bowl and microwave on high for 5 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon (cause we don't want any of the water that may have accumulated) divide chickpeas onto two large plates lined with a clean tea towel or paper towels.
- Let the chickpeas sit for awhile. We want the towels to absorb as much water as possible and for the chickpeas to be as dry as possible. (You can pat them dry as well). When you are ready to roast, preheat the oven to 375°F. I use the convection roast setting of my oven.
- Transfer chickpeas to a large bowl and toss with oil. Divide the chickpeas onto two cookie sheets and spread them into a single layer (as much as possible).
- Roast for 20 minutes, alternating the position of the two sheets halfway. After these first 20 minutes, continue to roast for 1-2 minute intervals, stirring the chickpeas and alternating the position of the sheets to ensure uniform cooking. (I need about another 5-6 minutes.) Chickpeas are done when golden brown and crisp. See tip below for extra crispiness.
- Remove from oven and place in a clean, dry bowl, toss with 1 tsp salt. Let cool completely before storing in an airtight container. If they have been well roasted and stored in a dry location (no moisture remaining), they can keep for months.
You can replace the 1 tsp of salt for other flavours. Here as some ideas:
- 1 tbsp maple syrup (or muscovado or honey) and 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp chili powder and lime (add lime to only the portion you plan to eat as it may not store for long with added moisture)
- 1/2 tsp cumin powder and 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cumin powder, 3/4 tsp salt and 1/4 sugar
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- or whatever your taste buds desire!
In each case, add the flavouring after the chickpeas are roasted but while they are piping hot straight out of the oven to ensure that the spices blend but do not burn.
For extra crispy chickpeas, you can place them back in the turned off but hot oven for a few more minutes.
Split desi chickpeas look very similar to yellow split peas, as well as, to toor dal so do take care when buying.


text:
My biggest takeaways from Realm Makers: The BEST friends anyone could ever hope to discover, and the fact that it doesn't matter what you like to write or if your book is nothing more than a few random scribbles on a page. So long as you keep at it and push past all the negativity and self-doubt, you. Are. A. Writer! Whether or not you ever decide to publish and regardless of what genre you write, no one can take that from you, and this truth is infinitely special.
I don't often travel alone, but when I do, you can bet your poodle that it will be an adventure. Fret not, your poodle is safe if you wagered it, because I always do something that adds excitement to a journey . . . whether or not I actually intend to.
Last week, I hopped on a plane at 9pm to attend Realm Makers SpecFic conference, and I arrived in Philadelphia at what would be four in the morning, according to my internal clock. I braved several train changes and lugged my suitcase around countless stations, and my suitcase weighed, almost literally, a ton due to the copies of my books that took up the majority of beg space ("beg" is an inside joke, guys. I promise I edited this post *wink*). I arrived at Villanova University exhausted and hot (oh, the humidity! My curly hair did not approve), and all I wanted to do was put my face in ice water. But the instant I arrived in our dorm, I was greeted by the friendliest faces that I'd only ever seen on Facebook before, and everyone immediately welcomed me in. It was the strangest thing to meet these people for the first time and feel like I knew every last one of them.
BUT THEN I went upstairs to drop my bag off, and Nadine Brandes (buy A Time to Die now! Just do it!) threw open the door and hugged me like we'd been apart for years. And we had.
Nadine and I got to know each other nearly five years ago at my cousin's wedding. We bonded over YA and dancing and our love of all things fantasy and sci-fi, and we just clicked. She is one of those incredibly special people that you know for a day, and she finds her way into your heart forever with her charisma for life and her kind heart and sense of humor. Instead of washing my hair, which I probably should have done, we spent the next two hours chatting and catching up, and it was like we'd never been apart. Later that day, I would run into my other roomies and friends for life, Tricia Mingerink (fellow curly-hair-problems girl and author of Dare. I never write OMG, but O.M.G!!! This book!), and the most enthusiastic writer and blogger and caffeine drinker I have ever met, Katie (future Pulitzer and Christ Award winner. Follow her blog here). These ladies are my everything.
Then I ran out the door and hopped on yet another train back into town to meet Cassie (follow Novels and Necklaces) at Independence Hall. You might recognize her name from the dedications at the back of Defying Shadows; she was one of the first to finish beta reading the book, and we've kept it touch. So when I heard that she was in Philadelphia, I begged her to meet me, and she agreed! *squeals in excitement* It was such a special afternoon just getting to know each other and acting like we did that all the time. Definitely a special memory!
And, of course, I promised you adventure. Aside from the amazing conference itself and happily losing myself inside the Philadelphia Museum of Art and jogging victoriously up the steps, Rocky Balboa-style, the majority of my *cough* adventure happened the Thursday I arrived. This mostly involved me getting trapped inside a Starbucks during a torrential downpour, although it did lead to me sharing my story with a few tourists inside, so, yay! When I realized I was going to be late for the conference kickoff, I braved the crazy storm (I'm from San Diego—what's weather? The sky is crying! Ah!), my umbrella nearly snapped, my coffee cup just about dissolved from the rain, I trekked eight blocks to the train station, realized it was the wrong one and considered jumping the tracks (regardless of oncoming trains) before going back outside to the correct platform, and then I almost drowned in the flooded subway station. Oh, and all the while my sandals were slipping around as I trudged through The Nile. It. Was. Awesome! ^_^ And somehow the girl from the place that doesn't have weather was the only one who brought an umbrella to the conference, so at one point we had six heads and one soggy poster crammed under the half-broken contraption while we laughingly dashed our way across campus to the cafeteria.
Now, because I can be incredibly long-winded, I won't detail every 18 seconds of the most incredible conference in history, though I want to. So I'll glaze over the way I met one of my favorite Twitter friends, Zac Tyson (aka the "other" Zac—you thought I'd be shy . . . bahahahahaha), half-soaked and fully exhausted, and then instantly became besties with he and Hannah. And I won't describe how amazing the kickoff was that night, with marshmallow-stacking and tissue-pulling games, or detail the incredible costumes at the costume party, nor the fact that Brianna and Lillian saved me from being costume-less next to these ladies:
And I won't tell you how Banana Dolphin Nadine had to keep us company when Nadine wasn't around for our final breakfast as a group (may the banana dolphin live on!!!!), nor will I describe how two Zacs holding the aforementioned fruit companion is now legendary.
And I honestly can't explain what's happening here:
I also promise not to go on and on about how incredible and informative Kathy Tyres' World-Building classes were, or how we had a hilarious and wonderfully useful self-defense class on the final night (Carla could totally take down the Hulk!), or the fact that Thomas Locke is such a beautiful speaker and Tosca Lee plays a great presidential candidate. And it would just be too much to tell you how Kirk Douponce—one of the most fantastic cover designers in the industry—is also an amazing person and coffee drinker, and has a great sense of humor when revealing some of the worst covers ever created (and I quote: What am I even looking at here?).
And that's not even getting into our group of Realmies! Suddenly, our small crew expanded into a tight-knit group with Hannah and the "other" Zac on Twitter (if you follow his Twitter, you will NOT regret it) and his awesome brother, Jake, and then Megan (aka Agent Carter) and her sister joined us, and Brianna and Lillian, and the "other" Zac from CO (aka Bruce Wayne who braved the Philadelphia train system with me, but doesn't like coffee. Go figure), and Sam (Saber!), and Emilie Hendryx (her Society 6 designs are amazing—check them out here), and Jessi and Amy Brock McNew and Olivia— *sucks in a breath* I think you get the picture. At one point, we all crammed into an elevator and prayed we wouldn't die. It. was. Epic! (Photo credits: Zac T. Austin; Fear: Me)
I've never really had a close community of writers who can get together and share their thoughts and fears and fresh ideas, so this experience was special to me. Each night, everyone gathered at our dorm to hang out and chat about our day, and by the end of the conference, Katie and I had nearly lost our voices (worth it). Friday night, I was lucky enough to get on a Philadelphia-New Zealand Skype call with Grace Bridges of Splashdown Books, and on Saturday, I had the opportunity to sit down with Suzy and Shawn Kuhn, and I also pitched my next little brainchild to Michelle Harper of Love2Read2Write and Julie Gwinn, an agent at the Seymour Agency (I know, I was dying on the inside!).
On the last night we had together, my roommates and I remained behind from the Nerf War that had commenced just outside our door and didn't cease until 4:30am. 0.o But inside our room, Nadine, Tricia, Katie, and I finally got the opportunity to just be together and munch on chocolate and all the goodies Tricia brought, and we spent that time sharing about our next projects in a safe environment. I started tearing up as I sat there listening to Nadine describe the incredibly moving story she has in mind; Tricia detailed her entire series that sounds ridiculously gripping; and Katie—the youngest but probably the most dedicated writer of us all—who shyly admitted a few of her story ideas and then became excited as she explained what she has in mind.
It was such a wonderfully special moment for me, and I suspect for all of us, because I realized I was witnessing the brilliant contrast between our group. Yes, we all love reading fiction and writing it and have similar tastes in certain areas of fic, but we all come from different backgrounds and are incredibly unique as writers. And that doesn't just go for the best roommates of all time (this is a fact and is not up for negotiation), but for ALL writers. Whether you're a plotter or pantser, enjoy sci-fi or fantasy, historical or purely romance, your story and your voice as a writer is unique and special and needed. The fact that literary historians can attribute several works to the Pearl Poet (they don't even know the author's name!) simply because of the style and tone of his/her works just goes to show you how wonderfully different we all are. And that is a great thing!
Keep writing and dreaming, because God has a plan for that desire He's put in your heart, and if you lean on Him and surround yourself with the right friends (^these people^), they'll help you see it through.


text:
ADVANCEES - Hydrogen Sulfide Removal Custom skid-mounted water purification equipment - Water and Wastewater - Water Treatment
The presence of hydrogen sulfide in home drinking water supplies is not a health hazard, but is a common nuisance contaminant whose distinctive "rotten egg" odor makes water treatment desirable. Several treatment methods are available, and often hydrogen sulfide can be treated and removed using the same process and equipment used for iron and manganese removal.
Sources of Hydrogen Sulfide
Hydrogen sulfide is a gas formed by the decay of organic matter such as plant material. It is most commonly found in groundwater characterized by relatively low concentrations of dissolved oxygen and by a pH less than 6.0 (relatively acidic). In higher pH waters other forms of sulfur may be present (sulfide or bisulfide). Surface waters are typically less likely to contain hydrogen sulfide since flowing waters are aerated naturally, which promotes an oxidation reaction. The hydrogen sulfide either escapes as a gas or is precipitated as a solid.
Harmless sulfur bacteria are also found in many private water supplies and distribution systems. These bacteria feed off natural sulfur compounds in water, producing hydrogen sulfide as a result. Sulfur bacteria are not a risk to human health, but their presence in drinking water can be a source of unpleasant tastes and odors.
Sometimes hydrogen sulfide may only be present in the household hot water. This condition is caused by a biochemical reaction between sulphates in the water, sulphate-reducing bacteria, a magnesium rod in the hot water heater or organic matter in the water. If the odor problem in the water heater is caused by heat-loving sulphate-reducing bacteria, disinfect the water heater with chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Sometimes the reaction with the magnesium rod is the cause of odor problems. The purpose of the magnesium rod is to prevent corrosion of the water heater. Removing the magnesium rod will often prevent the odor problem, but will void the warranty and lead to the possible earlier deterioration of the tank. If corrosion is a concern, the magnesium rod can be replaced with a zinc or aluminum rod.
Common Treatment Options
Most methods for treating sulfur water rely on the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide gas into elemental sulfur, a solid. Oxidation is the process by which soluble or dissolved contaminants are converted to soluble byproducts or insoluble products that can be filtered. This process changes the chemical and physical properties of the reactants. Hydrogen sulfide can be oxidized by several methods. If concentrations exceed 6.0 mg/l, chemical oxidation such as chlorination is recommended. If concentrations do not exceed 6.0 mg/l and water pH is above 6.8, an oxidizing filter such as manganese greensand can be used.
Continuous chlorination is a widely used and effective method for oxidizing hydrogen sulfide, especially if the water pH is 6.0-8.0. Chlorine is usually administered as sodium hypochlorite, which reacts with sulfide, hydrogen sulfide, and bisulfide to form compounds that do not cause foul taste or odors in drinking water.
The amount of hypochlorite to be used depends on the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the water supply, however a recommended dosage is 2.0 mg/l chlorine for every 1.0 mg/l hydrogen sulfide. Chlorine should be added into the system ahead of the mixing tank, and sufficient storage must be provided to allow the water to be in contact with the chlorine for twenty minutes. Treated water may have lingering tastes or odors caused by the formation of certain harmless by-products or residual chlorine. After the required contact time, therefore, the water should be passed through an activated carbon filter to remove final suspended sulfur or excess chlorine.
Chlorination systems are available as a pellet-drop unit or a liquid-chemical feed. The pellet-drop system automatically dispenses a measured amount of chlorine down the well casing or into the retention tank during the pumping cycle. The chemical feed system features a liquid feeder connected to the well pump.
Another common treatment for sulfur water is aeration. Hydrogen sulfide is physically removed by agitating the water via bubbling or cascading and then separating or 'stripping' the hydrogen sulfide in a container. The undesired hydrogen sulfide is removed as a volatile gas by venting it into a waste pipe or to the outdoors. Aeration is most effective when hydrogen sulfide concentrations are lower than 2.0 mg/l. At higher concentrations, this method may not remove all of the offensive odor unless the air is used to oxidize hydrogen sulfide chemically into solid sulfur, which is then filtered.
In a typical aeration system, ambient air is introduced into the water using an air compressor or blower. Well-designed aeration tanks maintain a pocket of air in the upper third or upper half of the tank. If the tank does not maintain an air pocket, sulfur odor may return. Most household water supplies contain less than 10 mg/l of sulfur, in which case an aeration tank about the same size as the filter tank (10' x 54') works fine. When sulfur levels exceed 10 mg/l, larger aeration tanks, repressurization systems, chlorination systems, or a combination may be needed.
Aeration is not always practical for home water treatment, especially if hydrogen sulfide concentrations exceed 10 mg/l, because it requires very acidic conditions (pH 4.0-5.0), long contact times for the air and water to mix, and usually large space requirements. In addition, treated water may need to be repressurized for distribution within the house and objectionable odors must be removed by venting the gas outside.
Manganese Greensand Filter
Manganese greensand is another common treatment method for removing sulfur from drinking water. It is usually recommended for water that contains less than 6.0 mg/l hydrogen sulfide. A manganese greensand filter has a special coating that oxidizes hydrogen sulfide gas to solid sulfur particles, which are filtered. When all of the manganese oxide is consumed, the greensand is regenerated with potassium permanganate. Potassium permanganate is a purple oxidizing chemical that is added to the untreated water to maintain the manganese greensand filter. To work properly, the greensand must be regenerated at periodic intervals based on water usage and contaminant concentration. When greensand is used to treat high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide, more frequent regeneration is required.
Catalytic Carbon
Catalytic Carbon provides another alternative to chemical treatment. Essentially, catalytic carbon is activated carbon with a modified carbon surface. Activated carbon is typically associated with adsorption, a physical process in which dissolved molecules adhere to the surface of the carbon filter. When used alone, activated carbon filtration removes very small amounts of hydrogen sulfide, generally concentrations below 0.3 mg/l. Activated carbon, however, has a limited capacity to adsorb hydrogen sulfide. Once the filter is saturated, the activated carbon must be replaced, not regenerated. As a result, activated carbon is not effective for removing moderate or high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide in drinking water.
Catalytic carbon retains all of the adsorptive properties of conventional activated carbon, but it combines them with the ability to promote or catalyze chemical reactions. During the treatment process, catalytic carbon first adsorbs sulfides onto the carbon surface. Then, in the presence of dissolved oxygen, it oxidizes the sulfides and converts them to nonobjectionable compounds. In this capacity, catalytic carbon is similar to manganese greensand and chlorination systems that remove sulfides through oxidation. It differs in that it maintains consistent catalytic activity (oxidation) that can be controlled and enhanced to treat sulfur water without use of chemical additives.


text:
Pacific WA's Premier Asphalt Paving Contractors
Everything Rolls Better With Roads Paving in Pacific!
In 1956, our father Thomas Henry opened the doors to his paving company. Through hard work and determination, he built a strong foundation for his family's future generations to follow in his footsteps. Today, three sons of his work alongside Thomas daily, and it's our hope that we will be able to see many generations to come after - paving roads and driveways across Washington to keep us connected to the community.
Since Thomas started his company nearly 60 years ago, Roads Paving fosters the belief in old-fashioned principles of business. Thomas Henry believed in treating each customer with courtesy and respect, being fair and honest and above all, being honorable and above reproach. He taught us that following these doctrines will drive clients back to Roads Paving time and time again.
Driveway & Residential Paving Services throughout Pacific
Whether you are looking for a new driveway for your home, a private road for your residential subdivision or a paved sports court or play area for outdoor family fun, choosing the right paving contractor is essential for ensuring smooth and properly-graded paved surfaces.
Whether you live in Seattle, Everett, Tacoma, Kent or anywhere in between, if you need residential asphalt paving, asphalt driveway maintenance, seal coating or crack filling and repair, Roads Paving covers all your needs! Our thoroughness and commitment to quality and customer service has established us as a leader in the residential paving industry. Our experts will evaluate your asphalt needs and provide you with a solution that best suits your situation, from asphalt overlays, regular driveway maintenance or complete removal and replacement. We are more affordable than other paving contractors in the Washington area, and our asphalt experts hold a higher standard of work.
After pricing out the materials needed and considering the risk of getting seal coat everywhere, most clients feel it is well worth it to 'have it done right'. Choosing an experienced driveway sealing company is key as seal coating at the wrong time can cause more damage than it prevents. At Roads Paving, our crews have the equipment and the experience needed to ensure your driveway receives the highest-quality sealing results. The cost is based on square footage, so we will be happy to provide you with a free written estimate.
Commercial & Road Paving Experts Serving Pacific
Roads Paving specializes in creating smooth driveways and well-tended parking lots serve to welcome your customers and provide a positive impression about your company. A clean, even parking lot is the perfect complement to your landscaping and exterior building work.
Parking lots are the welcome mat of your business and the first impression your customers will see. When a lot looks attractive, clean and tended, your customers will feel more welcome. Whether you need parking lot paving services to patch up a few potholes and cracks or you need an entirely new parking lot poured, Roads Paving is the company to trust in Seattle, Washington and the surrounding areas.
The asphalt of your driveway or parking lot can deteriorate for a number of reasons. For example, water can seep into cracks and expand, turning small fissures into huge holes. At Roads Paving, our skilled crew can perform an entire range of asphalt repairs and maintenance, from asphalt patching and seal coating to crack filling and pothole repair. By catching small problems with your asphalt paving early and repairing them quickly, you can stop issues from progressing to the point where costly repairs or repaving is required.
Reviews About our Asphalt Paving Services
"After a week or so, we scheduled the job to be completed. The guys showed up on the day and time they said and started the job. I was kept informed of the progress and due to weather, and to make sure the job was done right the guys had to come back the next day. They were on time as well on day two, put down a good base and got the asphalt down. Our new driveway looks amazing and we get comments on it all the time."
Christopher -- Redmond, WA
"Roads did an excellent job for us in July of 2013 and again in June of 2014. Roads removed our old asphalt, some of it 18-24? thick, graded our driveway with 1-1/4 " rock then fine graded it for proper pitch and water flow, then put down 2? base coat and 2? topcoat and curbs plus a lite seal coat. This was a large 4 day project that took 10 men, 3 large dump trucks, a track hoe, 2 bobcats and lots of paving equipment to accomplish. Roads paving did an excellent job and the owner, Norm had many helpful suggestions that improved the job. His staff are well trained and hard working. I would recommend them for any size job."


text:
I Know Him! He's A Friend From Work.
In a surprise no one saw coming, Marvel Studios has released the first teaser trailer for their highly anticipated fall release, Thor Ragnarok, and it's pretty damn awesome. It's not particularly forthcoming with plot details, but we do learn why Chris Hemsworth's God of Thunder hasn't been spotted with Mjolnir in any of the early promo art as Cate Blanchett's Hela, headdress and all, shatters his mighty hammer to Kingdom Come and takes over Asgard. The trailer also shows off nearly all of the new and returning characters and closes with our hero stepping into the Grandmaster's arena where he reencounters an old friend from work… but it doesn't seem like the reunion will be as joyous as he had hoped. Check out the trailer, which is set to Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song," below:


text:
(NaturalHealth365) Obviously, it's crucial to have healthy kidney function for overall wellbeing. Unfortunately, too many people pay little attention to daily lifestyle habits that threaten kidney health. And, as a result, millions and millions of people suffer with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
The truth is, one of the biggest mistakes made – that damage the kidneys (day in, and day out) is dehydration. If you're concerned about your kidney function – there are two essential tests: blood pressure plus, urine albumin and serum creatinine ratio.
Read more via Best herbs and foods to eat for improved kidney function — NaturalHealth365