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Last weekend we participated in the Western Wake Farmer's Market Strawberry Festival. We made a creamy strawberry vinaigrette with a tossed salad, topped with fresh-picked, sustainably grown strawberries. Sadly, we didn't have any strawberries to sell at market last week, but hopefully we will have enough for market this Saturday. We shall see. We are giving first priority to our CSA members, but any left overs will be available for market customers.
Since we ran out of vinaigrette recipe cards last Saturday, we told folks we'd post the recipe on the blog. So, here it is:
For Vinaigrette
· 1 cup chopped strawberries
· ½ cup walnut oil
· ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
· 2-3 Tbsp heavy cream
1. Puree or smash strawberries with a potato masher.
2. Add oil, vinegar, and heavy cream.
3. Mix well. Taste. Adjust to taste. You can add salt and pepper or you can add sugar if you like. We just keep it simple.
Salad Ingredients
· Use your favorite salad greens
· We use mesclun mix, mizuna, frisée, spinach and arugula – but we adjust according to what's available
· ¼ to ½ cup chopped walnuts
· 1-2 cups (depends on how much strawberry you want in your salad) chopped strawberries
1. Wash and spin salad greens.
2. Chop salad greens.
3. Add vinaigrette, chopped walnuts and strawberries.
4. Toss ingredients (or you can place strawberries separately on your plate after you've tossed the other ingredients to highlight the strawberries in your dish).
5. Enjoy!
As usual, we've been keeping fairly busy on the farm. We've been planting a lot of our summer crops, including cucumbers, squash, zucchini, watermelon, corn, peanuts (our first time doing this, so it may just be a personal crop), and green beans. We'll be transplanting tomatoes, tomatillos, eggplant and peppers soon – likely later this week.
We've also been busily cultivating. Above is a wheel hoe. I went through the potato plants with it to keep them good and free of weeds.We also planted some flowers, which of course, are not yet ready – but here are some pretty flowers that are currently in bloom.
A gorgeous iris (not sure which variety – if anyone knows, please comment below).
This is crimson clover. Ben planted it all over the farm to help provide more nutrients for our soil. Clover is particularly helpful for fixing nitrogen in the soil. It's also very pretty.
Well, I suppose that's it for now. This week marks our first week of the Summer CSA. We'll be providing CSA members with strawberries, lettuce, kale, bok choy, tat soi, spinach, arugula, Swiss chard, frisee, mizuna and dried rosemary. We'll also include a weekly (hopefully!) newsletter with CSA shares for the first time this season. Members last year liked the blog, but wanted something a little extra. Our weekly newsletter will be an effort to meet that particular need.
If you're interested in joining our CSA, it's not too late! Please print out a copy of the CSA brochure (linked to the right of the screen) and mail us your first payment to Ben's Produce;1000 McLemore Road; Clayton, NC 27520. If you miss the first week or two, we'll prorate you, so no worries there. And, of course, if you have any questions, please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com or give us a call at 919.800.8898.
Have a fantastic week and thanks for stopping by!


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Microsoft has confirmed that the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool from the online Microsoft Store indeed violates the GNU General Public License (GPL). The problem isn't just that Microsoft used open source code in the tool, but that the software giant also released the tool under a closed source license. As such, Redmond has decided it is best to rerelease the tool under the GPL sometime this week, according to a post on Port 25, the company's open source community blog:
After looking at the code in question, we are now able to confirm this was indeed the case, although it was not intentional on our part. While we had contracted with a third party to create the tool, we share responsibility as we did not catch it as part of our code review process. We have furthermore conducted a review of other code provided through the Microsoft Store and this was the only incident of this sort we could find.
When it comes to our attention that a Microsoft component contains third party code, our aim is to be respectful of the terms under which that code is being shared. As a result, we will be making the source code as well as binaries for this tool available next week under the terms of the General Public License v2 as described here, and are also taking measures to apply what we have learned from this experience for future code reviews we perform.
Last week, Microsoft pulled the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool from the Microsoft Store website after a report indicated that the tool incorporated open source code in a way that violated the GPL, a widely used (including by the Linux kernel) free software license. The Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool not only allows you to download Windows 7 from the Microsoft Store but it also lets you put the files in the .ISO image on a USB flash drive or a DVD.

subset: commoncrawl


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Bengals Free Agent Tight End Reggie Kelly to make encore guest appearance on Insightful Player™ Television Show on MingleMediaTV.com
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 – 7 PM EST
Watch LIVE here today: http://www.minglemediatv.com/insightfulplayertv.html
Cincinnati Bengals Free Agent Tight End Reggie Kelly, one of 32 current and former NFL players recognized as Insightful Players will make an encore appearance on the new weekly Insightful Player online show on MingleMediaTV tonight May 31 at 7 p.m. ET. Mingle Media TV produces and broadcasts over 40 hours of web series and event coverage each week. Kelly was well-received as the debut guest on the show back in April and was asked back for another appearance.
Chrissy Carew, a Master Certified personal and business coach based in Nashua, NH founded Insightful Player™ in April 2010 with a vision of providing an answer to a crucial worldwide calling for messages of hope that provoke positive actions. "Reggie did such a great job on our first show and we received so much positive feedback that we wanted to have him on again as soon as possible," said Carew.
The Insightful Player™ team members, like Kelly, are individuals that believed in themselves and relentlessly pursued their most far-reaching dreams, which resulted in a career in the National Football League. The Insightful Player.com website features the inspirational stories of 32 current and former NFL players, each of whom overcame great obstacles and hardships to become not just fine athletes, but through their values and their life experiences, became extraordinary individuals that serve as an inspiration to us all.
Kelly will discuss his new book "Prepared" with Barton Green. From the first backyard training camp, the Garden of Eden, to the grassy scrimmage line of an NFL faceoff, Reggie Kelly explores the timeless lessons that shape the three ever-developing parts of mankind: the Body, Mind and Spirit.
The short-version of Reggie Kelly's Insightful Player story is available on InsightfulPlayer.com. The full-length version will appear in the Insightful Player book that will be published by Morgan-James Publishing this summer.
Following is an excerpt of Kelly's story on Insightful Player.com:
Reggie, called "Reverend" by his teammates, grew up in Aberdeen, Mississippi, population 6,000. He was raised by loving yet strict Christian parents. When he gave his life to Christ as a young boy he was concerned what other kids would think. Reggie said, "I decided to put Christ on the back burner, all for the sake of popularity. By the time I got to high school I did whatever I could to fit in and this included partying and drinking. I wanted to be the 'big dog.' I actually believed I was really cool."
What he didn't realize was that he wasn't being true to who he really was. This created emptiness inside. He wasn't ready to face that so he partied even harder instead.
When he got to college at Mississippi State, he felt like a fish out of water. No one knew who he was and he decided he was going to get back on top fast. His partying intensified and soon he was once again known as the "big dog." But the emptiness didn't go away.
By the time Reggie was a sophomore, he was exhausted from trying to please everyone and trying to prove how cool he was. He decided to give Jesus a try.
"In my rookie year in Atlanta, the great fullback Bob Christian took me under his wing. He was a man of God and was well respected by everyone. He decided that he was going to teach me how to be a pro. He also was going to teach me how to be a man of God and apply it to football.
"Bob's example helped me realize that God placed me on earth to encourage everyone to be the best they can be."
A good example came when Reggie was injured in training camp during the 2009 pre-season. In 10 seasons, he had suffered only one other injury and missed just four games. He was sure he'd bounce back this time, too, and was "heartbroken" when he learned he would be out for the season. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, he decided to figure out how he could still help the team. So he concentrated on helping the younger players by becoming a role model for how to handle adversity.
Reggie believes that God gave him the NFL platform to have a positive impact on kids. He helps them realize that they can achieve anything they desire regardless of their situation. He says, "Life isn't always fair, but whatever hand you're dealt, just play it."
Reggie is married to his high school sweetheart, Sheila. They have two children – daughter Kyla, six, and son Kavan, four.
Other Insightful Players include: Rashied Davis (Bears), Jerricho Cotchery (Jets), Aaron Kampman (Jaguars), Steve Grogan (Patriots), Roger Staubach (Cowboys), Devin McCourty (Patriots) and Jason McCourty (Titans) and Heath Evans (Saints), among others.
Launched on February 8, 2010, online media and live web TV Network Company, Mingle Media TV produces and broadcasts over 40 hours of web series and event coverage each week. It's audience reach online is over 250,000 weekly views of their video coverage, web series and live broadcasts and are currently in the top 20,000 websites in the U.S.
For more information on Coach Chrissy Carew and Insightful Player, visit www.theinsightfulplayer.com and call 603-897-0610.


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Christie supports medical marijuana
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie agreed yesterday to give chronically ill children easier access to medical marijuana, but he was unwilling to go as far as state lawmakers wanted.
The Republican governor conditionally vetoed a bill on the topic, saying in the document, "Parents, and not government regulators, are best suited to decide how to care for their children."
He said he agreed with provisions that would allow production of ingestible forms of pot at state-approved dispensaries and to allow dispensaries to grow more than three strains of the drug. But he struck a part of the bill that would have dropped a requirement that a psychiatrist and pediatrician sign off before children are allowed medical marijuana. He said he wanted to keep in some safeguards for young patients.
The bill now goes back to the Legislature. If lawmakers make the changes Christie requested, it will become law. It was not immediately clear when lawmakers might take it up, but the state Senate does have a voting session scheduled for Monday.
Sen. Nick Scutari, one of the sponsors of the bill, said he's pleased that children would be given access to edible marijuana in strains appropriate for their medical needs, but concerned that psychiatric review is an unnecessary hurdle for parents. He said he will review the conditional veto before discussing with fellow lawmakers how to proceed.
As in the 19 other states that allow medical marijuana, New Jersey lets children use it. But unlike all but a few, the state law and regulations currently in place — considered perhaps the most stringent among states that allow medical pot at all — have additional hurdles for young patients.
They must have a pediatrician and psychiatrist sign off on their use. And if one of those doctors is not registered with the state medicinal cannabis program, they would need a third physician to recommend the drug.
The bill to ease access sparked a new round of debate between Christie and medical marijuana advocates, many of whom doubt that he wants the state's fledgling pot-for-patients program to succeed.
It attracted broader attention this week when parent Brian Wilson confronted the governor during a campaign stop in a diner. Wilson believes his 2-year-old daughter, Vivian, would benefit by using a certain form and strain of pot for Dravet syndrome, a rare and sometimes deadly form of epilepsy.
In a moment captured on video that made news shows and websites, Wilson told the governor, "Please don't let my daughter die."
Christie, who has raised concerns that it could be adults using pot recommended for their children, told him, "I know you think it's simple, but it's not," during their brief exchange.
Wilson and his wife, Meghan, who live in Scotch Plains, said in a statement yesterday that they are disappointed Christie "decided to make it so difficult for parents, who are already enduring tremendous pain and heartache, to get approval for such a safe and simple medication."
They said it's not fair that other drugs can be prescribed for children without additional doctors signing off.
The changes Christie is willing to make could enable children such as Vivian to get the form and strain of pot that could help them by lifting limits on how many strains of marijuana dispensaries can grow and by allowing ingestible forms that kids could take without smoking.
Currently, New Jersey allows dispensaries to grow only three strains of pot, and that has made it unlikely that the kind Vivian's family says she needs will be made available. Brian Wilson said other children with Dravet have benefited from a form high in a compound known as CBD and low in THC, the chemical that gets pot users high. Wilson said the drug can work not only to relieve pain or build up an appetite — two things medical pot is often used for — but as a medicine to treat Dravet.
New Hampshire, Delaware and Illinois have multiple-doctor requirements for kids to get pot, said Chris Goldstein, a marijuana activist who is on the board of the Coalition for Medical Marijuana of New Jersey. "This is something that originated in New Jersey and is likely to be copied in other states," he said.
Roseanne Scotti, New Jersey director of the Drug Policy Alliance, said lifting the limit on how many strains of marijuana plants New Jersey growers can produce will be helpful for other patients because it will allow "real innovation and better options." Medical marijuana activists say different types of the drug work for different conditions and patients. New Jersey now has just one operating legal dispensary with a second expected to open in September.


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I have a recipe to share. This is a recipe that my oldest son brought home from preschool about 16 years ago and we make it every year for Thanksgiving and Christmas! You will notice that the photo is not of my actual muffins. This year I baked bread, rather than muffins, and my family ate it before I could take photos!
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup plain pumpkin
1/2 cup butter, melted
6 oz. chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Thoroughly mix flour, sugar, pie spices, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Add eggs, pumpkin, and butter and mix well until blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
Scoop batter evenly into muffin cups. Bake 20-25 minutes or until done to the touch.
Makes 24.
Once you make your amazing muffins, you will need a container to put them in. I made this little folded box, which is large enough for one LARGE muffin! I based the idea on a project I created for Spellbinders back in the spring. You can see that project HERE.
I made the box by folding on 12x12 sheet of cardstock. Score your cardstock at 4 and 8 inches. Rotate 90%, and score again at 4 and 8 inches.
Score from the outer corners to the center "box" as shown.
I've drawn the score line in with a white pen so you can see where to score your cardstock.
Trim designer paper to 4 7/8 x 4 7/8 inches and glue to the two middle panels of your paper.
Fold on all score lines. Fold on each 4 and 8 inch score that you made, creasing deeply.
Rotate your paper and continue to fold on the score lines.
Carefully fold on the diagonal score lines. These will fold inward to make the sides of your box.
Continue to fold and glue your box until you have a 4 inch cube. Your designer paper will be on the front and back faces of your box.
Pinch the top of the box together, This will make a triangle shape on the sides of the box.
You don't need to score, just gently shape the box with your hands. Once you add your flap, your box will stay closed.
To create a flap for the box, trim cardstock to 3x4 inches, score at 1 1/2 inches. Glue designer paper to each side of the score lines.
The designer paper should be trimmed to approximately 2 7/8 x 3 7/8 inches.
Use a strong adhesive to adhere one side of the flap to the back of the box, Make sure the fold line is flush with the opening of the box.
Fold the flap over and then create a closure to keep the flap closed. I used two buttons with twine looped around them. You could use hook and loop tape or magnets.
Now you can decorate your box! I cut poinsettia flowers and tiny Christmas ornaments from cream paper using Spellbinders™ dies. I used Shapeabilities® Layered Poinsettia and Holiday Tags. For the stamped tag I used Nestabilities® 2011 Heirloom Ornaments.
I used ink to stencil the flowers before gluing them together. I then added some glitter glue to make them sparkle.
I used ribbon and twine to attach the sentiment to the bottom of the box. I used green shimmer satin, white corsage ribbon, and Christmas baker's twine.
I hope this inspires you to make some muffins...and, perhaps, to give a few away!
Visit the Really Resasonable Ribbon Blog to find a place to link up your favorite goodies and packaging ideas. We really hope you'll join us! We will be awarding a $10 gift certificate to Really Reasonable Ribbon to a randomly selected entry that links in with a favorite recipe and packaging idea.
We will also be giving away one (or maybe more!) December Ribbon Club Assortment from a random comment on one of the RRR Posts from now to December 12th. Stop by and leave a comment on each post during our recipe theme week telling us what you think and you'll be entered to win.
Supply List:
Cardstock: Bazzill Pomegranate
Designer paper: Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium
Spellbinders: Grand Calibur Die Cutting Machine, S5-055 Layered Poinsettia, S4-338 Holiday Tags, S4-325 2011 Heirloom Ornaments
Stamps: JustRite Deck the Halls, Merry and Bright
Ink: Clearsnap Colorbox Graphic 45 Decades Triumphant Red antiquing ink, Colorbox Toffee, Charcoal fluid chalk
Buttons: Buttons Galore and More
Gems: craft supply
Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon green shimmer satin, white corsage ribbon, Christmas baker's twine, jute string natural
Adhesive: Ranger Glossy Accents, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L foam squares, Scotch 3M tape runner


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I am a use up the leftovers kind of gal (one of the things my family loves most about me 😉 ).
I am also a lover of a quick, throw together, minimal dishes kind of meal. This recipe is a perfect combination of both. If you are feeling my sentiments than this is for you!
Click here for the printable recipe
Thanks for visiting!
~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Copyright © 2016 · All Rights Reserved · www.andasprinkleoflove.com


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If you know a thing or two about stabilizers, the new 2013 XCAM Sabre brings a few new much welcome features that are typically only found on much larger systems. The design is still based on the original compact mini XCAM with quick folding legs, but now has a vertically adjustable Gimbal along a Carbon Fiber post. This adds another fine tuning option that should make balancing lightweight cameras much easier.
XCAM Sabre Adjustable Gimbal Carbon Fiber Post
Unlike the original XCAM that is limited to small cameras, the 2013 XCAM Sabre now includes a telescoping post that drops the sled lower to support even heavier systems. This essentially makes the system more bottom heavy without actually adding additional weights.
Telescoping Sled Supports Heavier Camera Systems
Now if you happen to have a camera that is just too lightweight like the Sony NEX, you'll need to make your camera heavier, so the listing also throws in a few top camera weights. You can find more information about the XCAM via eBay (click here).
2013 Version XCAM Sabre Mini Telescoping Stabilizer


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Air passengers entering or leaving the European Union could soon have their personal details stored and shared among EU countries, after lawmakers voted Wednesday to move forward with the proposal.
The creation of the passenger name record (PNR) system, recording such details as who flew where, when, and how they booked, is intended to help law enforcers fight terrorism and serious crime, but civil rights groups say it is disproportionate and undermines fundamental privacy rights.
The European Parliament's Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee (LIBE) quickly dealt with almost 900 amendments filed on the proposal, including two calling for its outright rejection, before agreeing to enter negotiations on a final text with the European Commission and the Council of the EU, composed of representatives of national governments.
Under the committee's proposal, PNR data would be retained in national databases for an initial period of 30 days, after which all data used to identify a passenger would be "masked out" and then stored for up to four years in serious transnational crime cases and five years for terrorism ones. After that period, the data should be deleted unless authorities need it for specific criminal investigations or prosecutions.
The proposed rules would apply to air carriers and companies like travel agencies and tour operators that handle international flights to and from the EU. The rules would not apply to flights between EU member states.
The data could be processed "only for the purposes of prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and certain types of serious transnational crime," Parliament representatives said in a news release. The offenses covered by the proposal include drug trafficking, sexual exploitation of children, money laundering and cybercrime.
EU countries would also be required to share data with each other and with Europol under conditions that still need to be determined. They would use Europol's Secure Information Exchange Network Application system to do so.
The committee proposed to let the data be handled by national "passenger information units" (PIUs). They would have to appoint a data protection officer to monitor data processing. Passengers would also have to be clearly and precisely informed about their rights. The committee also backed provisions that prohibit the use of sensitive data and the transfer of data to private parties.
The Commission first proposed a PNR system in 2007, mirroring an agreement already in place to send U.S. authorities details of passengers flying there from the EU. The Commission reiterated its proposal in 2011, and EU member states approved a version of the text in 2012. The following year, however, Parliament's LIBE committee rejected the proposal out of concern that it would violate fundamental privacy rights.
After terrorist attacks in Paris and Copenhagen earlier this year, the member states' calls for the databases became louder, and the Commission has been working on a compromise to convince the Parliament to go ahead with the plan, promising better privacy protection.
With Wednesday's vote in the LIBE committee, the Commission appears to have succeeded.
However, the victory may be short-lived: Opponents of the databases warn that they may be illegal.
European digital rights groups EDRi and Access Now warn that the EU risks making exactly the same mistake it made when it adopted the Data Retention Directive obliging telecommunications operators to retain data about customers' communications and location and provide it to law enforcers. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) invalidated the directive last year because it interfered with fundamental privacy rights.
"The Commission has still not produced evidence for the necessity and proportionality of an EU PNR scheme," said Member of the European Parliament Jan-Philipp Albrecht. This means that "terrorists will be able to enter the EU easily by train or car as we put all money into blanket PNR collection," Albrecht added.
EDRi and Access Now say it is not proven that creating a blanket surveillance measure like the PNR databases will work to prevent terrorism and serious crimes.
The EU has already signed bilateral PNR Agreements with the U.S., Canada and Australia, and on Wednesday the Commission started negotiations for an EU-Mexico PNR agreement. Some EU countries such as the U.K. already have a PNR system while others have either enacted legislation or are currently testing PNR data systems, according to the Parliament's website.
The Parliament hopes to end negotiations on the PNR system before the end of the year.


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My 19 year old son has been wanting to go back to CW (Clearwater, Florida) since we moved to Oregon a year and half ago, because it's the place he knows. That is where his friends that he grew up with and that he shares so much ARC for and with are! As we, parents to teens and young adults, know; the majority of them care mostly about their social life.
I had a huge loss leaving behind what I considered to be my whole universe and my group when I left CW. Imagine how it was for a kid for whom that is all he knew his whole life.
I want to know if you would be interested in the following:
Having young adults from the age of 16-23 who are interested in getting together with other ex-church members in that age bracket to enjoy a weekend camping on one of the islands near CW during fall/winter time this year, where they will create new friends or re-establish communication with old friends. This is also an opportunity for them to just itsa.
I know my son will have a much easier time communicating to someone his age than to me.
We, as adults, all needed a "support group" when we decided to leave the church. Thankfully, there was one made up of Indies, Freezoners, etc. The younger generation is no different. They too will benefit greatly from a weekend with friends their own age and with whom they share a similar reality with. There are several in the CW area interested already, but we'd like to invite young adults from all areas to fly or drive in and participate.
If we can get enough young adults interested, I have a friend in Clearwater who is willing to find a camp site for them and be the coordination point. If you have any suggestions along that line, please chime in.
Those that are interested:
Please contact us at:
Love, Anat
Steve Hall posted a nice piece on Indies Day 2012, at Scientology-Cult.com. We had a great time seeing everybody. Thanks a million to Natalie and Brad Hagemo and Mike and Christie King Rinder for all you did to make it happen.
I have received a number of alerts that hitting the link to the the great data resource Friends of LRH results in a Malware warning pop up. I don't know who the folks are who run that webpage – but if you get hold of Mike Rinder or me we might be able to help you repel whatever attacks you may be under.


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Don't let the name fool you, Sugarplum's not just a cake shop. It's a self-described "real deal—a genuine, bona-fide, authentic American Coffee Shop" nestled between Paris's super cool Latin Quarter and the Mouffetard district. There's real American-style filtered drip coffee (with free refills!), cookies, muffins, and cinnamon rolls … but, in my humble expat opinion, it's the cake that will bring you back. Unfortunately, there are no free refills on that!
My personal favorite is the carrot cake: four layers of moist, spicy carrot cake like your mom used to make, slathered with a cream-cheese icing like you can't find anywhere else in Paris! I mean, take a look at this and tell me your mouth isn't watering:
I know, right?!
But wait! There's more! There's …
That's right. Real cheesecake. No need to go to Starbucks when you have that craving.
The owners, two Americans and a Canadian, opened Sugarplum a little more than a year ago, and they pride themselves on the quality of their products: all the baked goods are homemade from all-natural ingredients, with no mixes or preservatives, baked onsite in Sugarplum's big, bad kitchen (which you are invited to take a peak at through the windows of their courtyard). And they have fair trade coffee and organic fair trade tea. All of this is served up with a smile and free wifi.
So, the next time your sweet tooth is craving a taste of America, stop by Sugarplum. You will not be disappointed.
Sugarplum is located in the cinquième arrondissement, between Place Monge and Cardinal Lemoine Métro stations at 68 rue du Cardinal Lemoine. Sugarplum is open Tuesday through Sunday, 12pm – 7pm.
P.S.—They also make some amazing cakes for weddings and other special occasions.
© 2011 Samuel Michael Bell, all rights reserved


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Birthdays are a bitch. I mean, not in the traditional sense of "oh, crap, I'm getting older" (which, just between you and me, I find a little whiny. Getting older, I always say, beats the alternative).
No, for me the problem is that, in our culture there can hardly be a celebration so inextricably bound up with sugar as the birthday. Not to indulge in a piece of a friend or relative's birthday cake, it seems, is tantamount to rejecting that person altogether. ("Who me? Oh no, no cake for me. I don't even like Gertrude!") If you aren't having a piece of that sugar-infused baked good, you had better have an excellent reason, such as being deathly allergic to birthday candle wax, or suffering from a temporary but severe case of salivary gland paralysis.
Even then. You're on the outs- you are not partaking of the gastronomical expression of birthday bliss and somehow, in some way, that means you didn't really celebrate. This year, for us, that has resulted in some choppy waters for us to navigate in the birthday ocean. And- in case you hadn't noticed, somebody is ALWAYS having a birthday.
Consequently, in the interest of not completely wrecking my children's childhoods, I've instituted the "birthday party" policy, to wit: "If five or more children are ALL HAVING THE SAME TREAT AROUND YOU SIMULTANEOUSLY, you can have it too." This rule is motivated largely by an experience I had at one of our own birthday parties here at the house years ago, at which one poor child brought her own vegan cupcake which she picked at miserably, while the rest of the children enthusiastically dug into their cake slices. She might as well have been eating sawdust. I vowed that day never to do that to my children.
(This rule, alas, does not apply to Steve and I, who supposedly have the fortitude to stand by and chat smilingly while everyone else around us enjoys styrofoam cups full of Ben and Jerry's Double Fudge Apocalypse.)
So Greta and I did enjoy S'mores on last week's Sixth Grade Camping trip, (my most egregious transgression of the year) followed by two bites of cake at a communal birthday celebration held for not only Steve and my impending birthdays, but also three other Virgo friends as well.
Only two nights later we were celebrating Steve's actual birthday and his special request for our official monthly dessert was an exciting challenge: ever since we had it at one of Emeril's restaurants years ago, I've promised to recreate his signature Banana Cream Pie. But I've been intimidated… it's a complicated recipe, on top of which I've been told by my cousin the pastry chef that the pastry cream filling in Emeril's cookbook recipe doesn't "work."
So Monday afternoon I set out on my quest to conquer the Banana Cream Pie. First you make and bake the graham cracker and mashed banana crust; then you make the pastry cream (I used a Martha Stewart recipe in place of Emeril's) which has to chill for two hours; after that you place alternate layers of sliced bananas with pastry cream in the crust, then chill another two hours. Before serving, you concoct a caramel sauce of sugar, water and heavy cream on the stove, and whip the heavy cream with vanilla and shave the chocolate… each of which gets ladled or dolloped or sprinkled on top just before serving.
Are you getting all of this?
In between steps I made our actual dinner, which seemed incidental. Finally, we had eaten dinner, opened presents, boiled the caramel, whipped the cream and sprinkled the chocolate. We sang the birthday song, and it was time to try the pie.
Oh. My. God. Was it SWEEEEEEEET. It actually made my teeth hurt. I mean, go figure, right? There was only sugar in every one of those- what- four separate recipes that were concocted and combined… from crust to cream filling to whipped cream to caramel drizzle. It's a wonder we didn't all pass out from Complete Sugar Shock.
Actually, I almost did. I felt awful. A few bites in and my head began pounding in earnest- as if it were being squeezed in a vice. The pie didn't taste right either… it was just not right at all: in addition to being heart-stoppingly sweet, the texture was too goopy. After my entire afternoon's investment of time I was deeply disappointed. I couldn't finish my piece. Physically, I felt awful. I lay down on the couch and, exhausted, feel asleep.
It didn't help, as it turned out, that I was coming down with a cold. Still, I wondered, have I changed so much? Contrary to what many have assumed, I'm not trying to wipe desserts from the face of the earth… just making the argument that we need them to truly be special. Had I worked so hard avoiding sugar only to have my love for that special dessert ruined? Is it really a case of all or nothing? I hated to admit it to myself, but lately I seem to have become the kind of person who gets much more enjoyment out of a "Dirt Cookie" (as I think of my bland, Dextrose-sweetened, oatmeal-raisin cookies, that only our family would love) than a well-made piece of pie.
Then again, I think, isn't that what this year is all about? Changing our taste-buds? Realizing that we don't "need" nearly the amount of sugar we regularly consume? Did I expect to get through the year completely unchanged? And if I did, would that be a good thing?
Oh, but change is hard.
The next day, despite my memory of the sickly-sweetness- I tried a bite of the leftover pie from the fridge and it was… good! Whoa- really good! THIS reminded me of the pie we had at Emeril's. After the extra hours in the fridge the correct texture had finally been reached, and the coldness had additionally softened the sweetness. I was relieved: perhaps I hadn't lost my ability to enjoy a good sweet after all.
Later that night after dinner, I shared the last pie slice with my husband. I should've stuck with the one or two bites- after that it started seeming too sweet again. Afterwards I had to go brush my teeth just to get that overpowering taste out of my mouth. And the headache came back.
Who knows- maybe the legacy of this No Sugar Year for me will be a two-bite limit on all desserts. Although my body would surely thank me for it, I have to admit… I'm a little ambivalent about that.


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Public transport is a vital element in the lives of many people. Commuters rely on bus, train, tram and metro services to get them to and from work. Public transport is also crucial for those without cars who need to access education, training, health and social care services.
The state of UK public transport
Recent research by the Urban Transport Group (UTG) has reported important trends in public transport England. Among the findings:
- Buses remain the most used form of public transport, but service levels and usage have been in decline.
- There has been rapid growth in rail passenger numbers over the last decade.
- Patronage on Light Rail systems in England has seen an increase of 44% since 2007/08.
Elsewhere in the UK, there's a mixed picture on the state of public transport:
- New legislation introduced by the Scottish Government aims to halt the decline in bus use in Scotland, where passenger numbers fell by 10% over five years. Meanwhile, the rail regulator has demanded improvements to the punctuality of trains in Scotland.
- Wales has seen a steady decline in bus usage in recent years, although over the same period passenger numbers on trains have increased.
- Translink, which provides public transport in Northern Ireland has reported that trips by fare-paying passengers increased for the second year in a row, with rail passenger numbers reaching their highest level in 50 years.
Overall, rail passenger numbers in the UK are rising, although the recent disruption to services in the south east and the north of England following timetable changes underlined ongoing dissatisfaction with the standards of service from rail companies. Meanwhile, Britain's bus network continues to shrink, especially on local routes.
Lessons from Scandinavia
When it comes to public transport, it's often enlightening to look at how other countries manage. A recent UTG report explored how transport authorities in Sweden, Denmark and Norway are using devolved powers to transform public transport for the better. The report, written by Professor Tom Rye, from the Transport Research Institute at Edinburgh Napier University, considered various aspects of public transport, including service levels, fares, technological innovations, environmental impact and franchising.
Service levels
The report found that, in comparison with the equivalent city regions in the UK (outside of London), service levels in the Nordic countries are higher, particularly during off-peak times. In rural and low-density suburban areas, a higher level of service is provided since there is an element of cross-subsidy between revenue-generating and loss-making routes. By contrast, in the UK bus deregulation does not allow for comparable levels of cross-subsidy.
In Scandinavia, as in many other parts of continental Europe, fares are zonal and multi-modal. Passengers can travel on the same ticket by rail, bus, light rail, and in some cities on urban ferries. Journeys are paid for on a stored value or season ticket smartcard. The research found that, in comparison to incomes, fares for frequent users in Scandinavian cities are similar to those in the UK, but season tickets often cover wider geographical areas.
Technological innovations
The report provides examples of significant innovation on vehicle technologies, including smart ticketing. In Norway fares are increasingly supplied as mobile tickets.
Environmental impact
The research found that the Scandinavian countries have ambitious plans for public transport's role in reducing carbon and toxic emissions. These include low or zero emission bus fleets and modal shifts from other transport modes. Copenhagen's metro and suburban rail services are a key part of the city's plan to be the first in the world to be CO2 free by 2025. There will be no diesel-powered buses in Oslo by 2020, and in Sweden Skåne's bus fleet will run on fossil-free fuel by the same year.
Public transport strategies in Norway, Sweden and Denmark are aligned with wider national and sub-national goals for economic development, land use planning and social cohesion. Levels of revenue support for bus services underpin a high quality of service, and levels of public transport use are high (although in Denmark, heavy investment in cycling infrastructure means public transport usage is relatively low).
One of the key features of public transport in Scandinavia is that virtually all bus services have been franchised. Metro and tram services are also provided either through franchising or by the incumbent municipal operator.The report notes that the main impact of franchising of bus services in all three countries has been to reduce costs and increase quality. The authors note that:
"…franchising in these countries and regions gives public sector Passenger Transport Authorities the direct ability to improve aspects of service because they specify and purchase that service from private sector operators. Thus, if they have the resources and are willing to pay for improvements, these can be delivered rapidly, to deliver on policy ambitions."
The Scandinavian way
Even as local, devolved and national governments are trying to encourage greater use of public transport, the evidence suggests that in a significant number of British cities – including Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds and Sheffield, the number of people travelling by public transport is falling.
The UTG report suggests that the Nordic model provides a road map for improvement in the way that UK transport service providers currently deliver urban public transport:
"Scandinavian countries have taken this approach because there is a political and public consensus that public transport is a public service. A public service that has a key role to play in tackling road congestion, reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution. A public service that also spreads the benefits of economic growth and promotes social cohesion through ensuring better connectivity within and between communities – including linking peripheral areas with the main towns and cities that are driving the wider economy."
Read more of our public transport blog posts:


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One of my good friends Kristin is an editor at the fabulous blog A Woman's Paris. I would highly recommend this site for anyone interested in French style, culture, cooking and more. In addition, the creator of the site is a talented artist and sells her whimsical drawings as iPhone and iPad covers at the following site. I love them all but I think the Avenue Montaigne drawing is my favorite.
After my successful (but tiring!) attempt creating French macarons last year and talking with Kristin about French cooking, I was inspired to try and create a classic French dish but to add a Southern twist to it. Below is my adaptation of the famous French entree Chicken Cordon Bleu. This recipe has its roots in a Rachel Ray 30-Minute Meals episode that I watched years ago in college but never wrote down. The thick, hearty mushroom-gravy is what really makes this a "Southern" dish. Bring your appetite to the table when you make this dish – it's rich and very filling!
Southern-Style Chicken Cordon Bleu with Mushroom Gravy
Serves 4
Ingredients (for the chicken)
4 chicken breasts, butterflied (you can have the butcher do this for you)
Fresh sage
Fontina cheese
2 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
*You also need: Toothpicks
Directions (for the chicken)
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Place small amount of cheese, sage and prosciutto in each chicken breast. (Note: I overstuffed the chicken breasts and put way too much filling in the pictures below. They are included so you can see the layout only.)
3. Starting at one of the narrow ends of the chicken breast, roll each chicken breast up and secure with a couple of toothpicks. Coat each roll up in flour.
4. Heat a skillet using medium heat and add extra virgin olive oil. When heated, add the chicken breasts and brown.
5. When browned, place chicken breasts on a baking sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes until fully cooked.
6. Remove from oven and place one breast on each plate. Remove toothpicks immediately before adding gravy and serving.
Ingredients (for the gravy)
1 package crimini or button mushrooms
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
2 tbsp. flour
Dry white wine
Chicken Broth (low sodium stock)
Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions (for the gravy)
1. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add butter. When butter is melted, add mushrooms to skillet and cook until browned and soft.
2. Add flour and 1/4 cup wine and 1/4 cup chicken broth to skillet. Mix until incorporated and warm.
3. Season with salt & pepper. If you want more acidic sauce, add more wine. If you want thicker sauce, add more flour. I usually wing it here so apologies I can't give more specific directions!
Serve With…
Sauteed Green Beans or Spinach
Cheesy Risotto with Peas
Serves 4
Arborio Rice (4 servings according to rice package)
2 tbsp. butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 32 oz. container low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup frozen peas, defrosted
1/2 – 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1. In a saucepan, heat chicken stock until warm but not boiling. Keep warm while you prepare the risotto.
2. Heat a large pot over medium-high heat and add butter. When melted, add garlic, rice and 1 cup chicken stock, stirring frequently.
3. When the chicken stock cooks off, ladle another cup of broth into the pot. Continue doing so until the rice is cooked, which should take about 20 minutes.
4. About halfway through cooking the risotto, try out the rice. If it is TOO chicken-y, substitute 1 cup of water instead of chicken broth when the liquid runs out for the next cycle.
5. When the rice is cooked, add the peas and Parmesan cheese to the pot, stirring rapidly to incorporate.
6. Serve immediately and top with freshly ground black pepper and an additional sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.


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"Fight Against Stupidity And Bureaucracy"
I used to love listening to George W Bush when he talked about the 'Grecians'. He was an idiot, but unlike some holders of his post I think he secretly knew it.
But, enough of that, let's concentrate on the Grecians.
Their financial crisis is deepening and they've shut down all their banks. They've also imposed what are called 'capital controls', in other words what you can and cannot do with your own money – assuming you could get to it in the first place.
Several Western countries, including the US and Britain, have issued travel warnings for Greece. Not a warning about the place being very dangerous, just a warning to have enough cash to be able to pay for things now that the banks are shut and presumably their ATMs as well.
This recent activity by the Greek government is because of the breakdown of talks between Athens and the European Union concerning the Grecians' enormous debt that they clearly can't afford to pay back. EU finance ministers rejected Athens' request to prolong a financial assistance program.
It is also about a bit of timely government blackmail.
The Greek government has so far been unable to formulate any meaningful plans to curtail their spending significantly. The Greek people likewise have become used to living beyond their means and are reluctant to tighten their belts. The people are blaming the government and the government is blaming the people and nothing is really getting resolved.
So Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, shut the banks and said they would stay shut until July 6, conveniently the day after a nationwide referendum on whether to accept the bailout terms proposed to Greece by its creditors.
Some commentators also think that the banks may have been shut because they don't have enough cash left. The Greek people think the same and are panicking to get their money out of the banks. Runs on banks inevitably lead to disaster.
As Greece is part of the Euro zone it does not have control of its own monetary system. In other words, unlike America which can simply print more money if and when it needs it, the Grecians have to rely on the European Central Bank giving them cash. and it has refused to give them any more Euros.
That decision could prompt Greece to default which would probably lead to it being kicked out of the Euro zone and possibly out of the EU itself, which would be an historic first and something that would be done very reluctantly.
The rulers of the EU are in what is known as a 'tight spot'. If they don't take a tough line on the Grecians they can be sure other poor countries in the EU will follow suit. If they do take a tough line, then the upheaval will undoubted have an impact on the Euro currency.
A Greek default would also be another kick in the greedy teeth of the big financial institutions who own a good part of the massive €300 billion debt – you see there are positives in every situation if you look hard enough.
So it looks like emergency meetings and frantic discussions all over the place in Europe.
Despite the fact that Dubya is long gone from the political scene, I don't think we've heard the last about the Grecians just yet.
By the way, Happy Independence Day to all my American visitors, bet you're glad you're not part of Europe these days.


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LA voters back measure to cap number of pot shops
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Los Angeles voters have approved a proposition limiting the number of medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.
With all precincts reporting Wednesday, Proposition D had around 63 percent of the votes in Tuesday's election.
Two competing measures to regulate medical pot sales lost by around the same margin.
Proposition D caps the number of pot clinics in the city at 135, far below the roughly 1,000 that operated several years ago. It also increases taxes on the dispensaries and sets rules about their hours and distances from schools and parks.
The measure was backed by both mayoral candidates. Supporters portrayed it as a balanced way to deal with neighborhood concerns about loitering and crime from pot shop proliferation.
"I think the proposition just made sense to people," said Yes on Proposition D campaign spokeswoman Kerry Townsend Jacob. "It was a way to make sure that patients get the medicine and also make sure that people kept their neighborhoods safe."
"We do believe it will work well," she said.
Medical marijuana has been legal in California since voters approved it in 1996. However, regulation of so-called pot shops has been haphazard in many communities, none more so than LA. The number of dispensaries in the city surged since 2007, prompting a series of unsuccessful efforts by city lawmakers to bring order to the industry.
Those failures led to the three propositions that qualified for Tuesday's ballot.
Proposition D's major rival, Proposition F, contained no limit on the number of marijuana clinics, but it would have imposed stringent controls such as audits and background checks on employees. It was defeated by a "no" vote of around 59 percent.
Proposition E, which also contained a cap on dispensaries, received a "no" vote of more than 65 percent. Its defeat was expected after its backers threw their support to Proposition D.
California law is at odds with federal statutes, which outlaw marijuana possession and sales, even for medical purposes. Raids on dispensaries have continued under the Obama administration, disappointing medical marijuana supporters.
In LA, the outcry for oversight of pot shops intensified as the number of dispensaries grew. Residents complained that some shops were nothing more than fronts for drug dealers.
Three years ago, an ordinance was passed that slashed the number of shops from roughly 1,000 to 70. But the city was bombarded with dozens of lawsuits by dispensaries and the law expired last year, leading to another surge of pot shops.
Last summer, the city approved a ban but two months later repealed it after enough signatures were gathered to get the measures on the ballot.
Earlier this month, communities were given better guidance on the issue when the state Supreme Court ruled cities and counties can ban dispensaries.


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As I looked over the Sunday New York Times today, surveying the economic carnage of the past week, assessing the different perspectives on the stimulus legislation and examining the state of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, one particular story jumped out at me: What's Your New Plan B?
Why? Simple — the Jaguar and Greyhound graphic at the top of the article.
The metaphor has particular resonance with me because of my own hound, Shadow, who has been a faithful companion for almost seven years.
I never expected to have a greyhound growing up; we had a wonderful Basset hound/border collie cross, a Great Dane, a Doberman and a Labrador, each of which set a particular standard for both canine excellence and outrageous behavior.
I'm glad he and I found each other at the Animal Rescue League in the South End in the spring of 2002.
If you're looking for a dog, I hope you'll consider a greyhound — they're quiet, loving, biddable and the fastest couch potatoes you'll ever find.
All things considered, I'd prefer the conditions that are forcing my fellow citizens and me to tighten our belts change, and quickly.
If, in the near term, that means that more of us adopt the greyhounds that need a new home instead of a pure bred, I'll call that a silver lining.
Or, perhaps, a grey one.


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Frequently Asked Questions
Where will I live?
During the fall and spring semesters, IEP students under age 23 can live in dormitories. They have American roommates, eat all their meals in the dining hall and participate in other campus activities. During the summer, IEP students may choose to live with host families. Throughout the year, older students live in university or private housing near campus. Some students are immigrants who have settled in Harrisonburg.
What will I do when I finish my English course?
After completing IEP, our students enter universities, graduate programs and community colleges in the United States. Immigrant students get better jobs here and some students return to their home countries to pursue a career that makes use of their improved English skills.
Who teaches in IEP?
The IEP staff consists of a director, administrative staff, and teachers with masters degrees in TESOL, applied linguistics, English, or education. Most IEP teachers have international teaching experience.
IEP teachers strive to meet the standards set forth by Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and follow the best practices in ESL teaching.
Who will help me adjust to life in America?
Micah Shristi, EMU's director of multicultural and international student services, helps with visas, transportation, holiday options, orientation to EMU and Harrisonburg, health care issues, personal matters, etc. He also arranges friendship families and plans social activities and excursions for all EMU international students.
Where is IEP?
EMU is located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The hillside campus safe, quiet, and clean is at the edge of the small city of Harrisonburg. Nearby are historical sites, a ski resort and Shenandoah National Park with its famous Skyline Drive. EMU is two hours by car from Washington, D.C. Find out more about the area…
IEP is a program of Eastern Mennonite University, or EMU, a small Christian liberal arts college dedicated to core Anabaptist and Mennonite values of peacebuilding and service. EMU is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Learn more about EMU…
How do I get to IEP?
If you fly into Dulles International Airport in Washington or Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport, we provide pick-up service for a fee. If you fly into Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport near Harrisonburg, we will pick you up at no extra cost. If arriving on your own, our directions from major highways in Virginia will help you find campus easily.
What will I do when I'm not in my English classes?
Do you enjoy nature, hiking, canoeing, camping, and other outdoor activities? That's great! Our city, Harrisonburg, was named a top city for outdoors lovers by Backpacker Magazine! Join other IEP students in adventures in the three nearby national park and forests!
If you enjoy history and culture, then we can take you to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello , local Civil War battlefields , and the majestic monuments and museums of Washington, D.C .
If you would rather stick close to campus, there are many activities at EMU and in Harrisonburg. Concerts, recitals, special lectures, famous authors, sporting events, and art exhibits – you can experience all of these right on our campus. IEP students may participate in EMU's choirs, orchestra, jazz band, and intramural sports programs.
Where will my English classes be?
The IEP classrooms are located on the ground floor of Roselawn ( see campus map ). You may prepare small meals and refreshments in the kitchen. Videos, computers and other audio-visual equipment are used regularly in instruction and available for student use, as well as high-speed wireless Internet access for those students with laptops.
How can I apply for English courses?
We welcome applications for our regular semester programs (fall, spring and summer) from high school and college graduates. In most cases, you must be at least 18 years old to enter IEP. You'll find our printable application materials by clicking here or by following the Application Forms link at the left side of this page.


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Have I got a Tattoo Tuesday for YOU!!!!
Take it away Lyndsay,
Each and everyone single one of my tattoo's has a meaning. I currently have 6 tattoo's, 3 individual ones and 3 that make up one big one that start my sleeve. They each cover a scar, a scar that remained from a past that I longed to escape, and I fount the best way to do it. What better way to start over then with something beautiful?
My first ever tattoo at the age of 18, it was a rash decision I'm not going to lie. I didn't go to a tattoo parlor and get it done by a professional. I was visiting my cousin who by out of consequence had been doing tattoo's. I knew exactly what I wanted so I told her and got it done the same day. You can imagine that it's not very good right? The rule is always get your tattoo done by a professional. Even though she isn't a professional, it's my first and probably most memorable one. The meaning behind it will always be one I live by. I may think negative thoughts about myself or my surroundings, but I will only speak about positive thoughts. Don't embrace the negative, instead embrace the positive. Because there's always a silver lining, even on a cloudy day.
Now my next tattoo came a few months later, now this one I planned. I found a drawing online and immediately sent it to my friend for her to draw for me, it was everything I wanted. I had always loved Batman and the characters. My favorite was The Joker though. I saw a lot of myself in him, now I'm not a sociopath or a serial killer or anything but I just connected with him. His scars was a big part of it, he had scars that everyone could see, he didn't try and hide them. It's as if he wore them proudly even though they were a source of pain. Another thing was every time Batman defeated him, he never stayed down long. He got back up and he fought back harder. My next tattoo made me realize I can't take my scars to seriously, I couldn't take life to serious. I have to find something to life about, I have to find that strength to wear my scars proudly not because I'm ashamed of them, because I'm proud of them. They each represent a battle in which I lost, but I got back up and fought harder and I sometimes won. Because I have to lose sometimes and I'm okay with that.
My 3rd tattoo as you can see is also Batman. Now as a little girl I didn't spend my nights watching Disney movies, I spent them watching old batman movies. I watched every single film, night after night. I fell in love with it, and the whole idea of it. I didn't have a hero growing up but Batman quickly became mine. Now the reason why I chose the Bat signal is for a number of reasons but i'll give you the only one that matters most. For me, the Bat signal means hope. A hope that a hero is out there, hope that someone is always looking out for you, but most importantly that you can always find hope. So now I look down at my wrist everyday and I see scars, I see sadness but I can always find hope.
Now my last tattoo is a bundle of 3 which make up one big tattoo. Now this I put a lot of thought into it and I planned for months. This one probably means the most to me, because it represents the 3 most important people in my life. My brothers and baby sister. Now I'll have to explain this one for you to understand it. I've battled self harm since I was 9 years old. It was something that got me through each day when all I wanted to do was give up. I didn't think I'd have anything to fight for, anything to live for. Then by the time I was about to turn 11 came my brother Jude. He was born and suddenly I had something to fight for, because he needed me. I was the one to fed him, changed him and made sure he had everything he ever needed. He was my reason to fight, but then I also had another reason to fight as well, because along came my brother Alexandar. I did the exact same with him as I did with Jude. I was living with my dad when he came along but that didn't stop me. I cared for them because they didn't have anyone else who would. I struggled but I managed. Then Dixie came into my life. A little sister I always wanted but unfortunately 5 days after she was born Jude, Alexandar and Dixie got took away and went to live with there grandmother. I saw them maybe 5 times after that and I've not seen them since. That was 6/7 years ago. The stopwatch represents that no matter how much time has passed or much will pass, they'll never leave my life and my heart. The birds represent that they may fly away but I'll always be here waiting for them with a home and welcome arms. They've flown away and they've grown into such beautiful children, but it doesn't matter if I'm not in there life anymore, as long as they are happy and they have the childhood they deserve then everything will be alright. They'll hold a place in my heart and they have permanent place in my life. It may be in ink and on my arm but at least it's close to my heart.
My tattoo's each hold a painful memory underneath but as I look at them today I no longer see pain, I see beauty and happiness. I plan to have more, I plan to have something to remember my battle with self harm, and I plan to have something to remember the fresh start I have made. I'll leave you with a Batman quote that oddly fits my tattoo story.
"It's not who you are underneath, but what we do that defines us."
Thanks so much Lyndsey, amazing story of over coming. I love you ink, too.
If you have a tattoo story and want to be featured on Tattoo Tuesday, leave me a note in the comments.


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Posts Tagged: Multi-pet Home
The Keys to Creating a Multi-Pet Home
The impulse to adopt every pet is universally understood by other animal lovers. However, while a perfect match is possible, a harmonious household is sometimes only achieved after weeks of doubt, fear, anxiety, and stress. This is often the case in a multi-pet home.
The ways to navigate sticky situations between pets are not always clear, but when you know where to start, you and all your pets can begin the journey toward household bliss.


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This recipe is a play on one of my favorite veganized recipes: Chicken Noodle Soup | Veganized. In my opinion, chicken and dumplings are the definition of comfort food, and so delicious you'll be surprised by how easy it is to make!
Growing up, I remember my grandma making chicken and dumplings. It was far from a healthy meal, but it was a favorite comfort food of mine throughout my childhood.
Over the years, I've developed a love for integrating nutrition into some of my favorite recipes from my childhood and trying my best to create the same comfort and warmth but veganizing it without compromising on deliciousness.
Most recipes I veganize I try to replicate exactly how I remember them, but for this one I wanted to boost the nutrition and add in lots of comforting colorful vegetables. I flipped my grandma's chicken and dumpling recipe upside down and incorporated veggies, vegetable broth, and dairy-free milk and butter; and left out the Crisco, cow's milk, *real* chicken, and dairy butter. It's a lot different than her original recipe, but it still provides the same comfort, warmth, and satisfaction.


text: On Sat, Sep 24, 2005 at 12:10:46PM -0400, Mark Hahn wrote: [..snip..] > > (we like to think Warewulf had something to do with that ;). > > also interesting, why? Well, first off, I am biased ;). Putting that aside, I have given this thought, and considering I don't use other cluster implementation methods, I can only hypothesize... Warewulf by default creates the virtual node file system to be extremely minimal yet fully functional and tuned for the job at hand (which exists in a hybrid RAM/NFS file system). The nodes are lightweight in both file system and process load (context switching and cache management can be expensive especially on a non-NUMA SMP systems with lots of cache). The more daemons and extra processes that are running, the higher the process load and context switching that must occur. It reminds me of chapter 1 of sysadmin 101: Only install what you *need* If someone else also has thoughts as to what would have caused the speedup, I would be very interested. > > hours) running on Centos-3.5 and saw a pretty amazing speedup of the > > scientific code (*over* 30% faster runtimes) then with the previous > > RedHat/Rocks build. Warewulf also makes the cluster rather trivial to > > such a speedup is indeed impressive; what changed? Actually, we used the same kernel (recompiled from RHEL), and exactly the same compilers, mpi and IB (literally the same RPMS). The only thing that changed was the cluster management paradigm. The tests were done back to back with no hardware changes. > > We did find that symbol errors in the fabric are very common if anyone > > "breathes" on the wire plant and cause drastic changes in performance. > > hmm, interesting. I guess that sensitivity would also apply to other > HSI that uses the same phy layers (infinipath, rapidarray). does anyone > have a myri-10G cluster they can comment on? (I'm happy with the robustness > of my myri-2g and also with my older quadrics.) Good point. -- Greg Kurtzer Berkeley Lab, Linux guy


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God in America: One: A New Adam
Special | 56m 1s | Video has closed captioning.
In New Mexico, Pueblo spirituality collides with the Franciscan missionaries' Catholicism. In New England, Puritan leader John Winthrop confronts religious dissenters within his ranks. And a new message of spiritual rebirth from evangelical preachers sweeps through the colonies, upending traditional religious authority and kindling a rebellious spirit that converges with the American Revolution.
Aired: 10/11/10
Buy Now:
Problems Playing Video? | Closed Captioning


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I'm hosting Scarlet Blackwell today on my LJ as part of her blog tour with BonyDee Marketing for Inferno.
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September 7, 2010 – Pilger – Part I – Rothenburg ob der Tauber to Schrozberg – approx. 22 km. (more if you get lost).
Pilger (German) refers to both pilgrim and pilgrimage depending on the context used.
So…the tale begins…..
Pack on, all set to go, take that first step … and my first thought is: "I should have cut my toenails." My second thought: "I hope I never drop anything because otherwise I am going to be doing a lot of headstands."
However, balance issues quickly got sorted and off I went, excitement and anxiety competing for equal space in my thoughts.
My first problem, how to actually get on the "Way", had been resolved a couple of days previously with the help of a friendly shopkeeper with whom I had shared a couple of glasses of sherry. She was the first of many who would help me along my journey, because as it turns out I have a particular talent for getting lost. By the time I quit the pilgrimage this talent had been honed to a calibre rarely seen. *Pilger tip #1- bring a map and learn how to tell North from South, etc. North, as I discovered, is not always in front of my nose.
Anyway, getting out of Rothenburg ob der Tauber was problematic because: 1. My German reading skills are not that good, and there seemed to be an uncommon number of compound words in the wee guidebook. Germans have a bad habit of simply adding two or more words together to make a new one instead of coming up with a nice short new word, for instance the word for tank is about 26 letters long. 2. No signs are allowed to be posted within the city walls, so how was I to find the yellow shell on a blue background (sign of the Way). 3. There are at least seven towers along the wall of Rothenburg and it really wasn't clear (to me) which one to leave from as indicated by the guidebook.
However, my friendly, shopkeeper got that sorted for me, and I proceeded with confidence. To make doubly sure of a confident beginning I had scouted out the "Way" for a couple of kilometres two days previously. I even discovered a shortcut which would knock off at least 1\2 Km from the trip. Believe me that would count! Well, in no time I lost the shortcut and in wandering around trying to find it I
probably added a kilometer. Sigh.
But, I was off! It was excellent walking weather – overcast, but not cold, and, although my Lady pack was heavy, it rode comfortably on my back.
All was going well. I stopped at the suggested rest place to have the suggested last look at Rothenburg and took suggested photos.
Weather did not hold and it started to sprinkle, but that was still ok, I had a poncho. Although, I did have a few suggestions of my own about what was supposed to be a non-rainy day.
By the time I reached Enzenweiler, a village about 7.5Km from Rothenburg, my feet were getting sore and the sprinkle had stepped up a couple of notches. Still ok though and the yellow shell signs were right were they were supposed to be.
That all went South (or wherever) when I left Enzenweiler as there was no indication where to go next beyond turning right at the crossroad and then left at the village end. Sure that I had missed a yellow shell marker I retraced my steps, but no, I was on track. Still it seemed to me that the village had ended a couple of kilometres back and that was before the suggested right turn on the crossroad. So, which village end were they talking about??? In talking with another Pilger a few days later – she also got turned around here and ended up in a village not in the guidebook. Gratifying to know I wasn't alone – in this instance anyway.
Failing any signage I strode straight ahead (my default setting) figuring I would come to a village sooner or later and then see where I was. And, so it came to pass. Unluckily for me though this was not a village named either in the guidebook or shown on the sketchy map in said guidebook. I was losing confidence in the guidebook. Still at its end there were several signs indicating village this and that, this way or that way. With the exception of one, none of these village names were in the guidebook or its less than helpful little map.
However, the one recognizable name riveted my attention because it said: Rothenburg ob der Tauber (that way) 5 Km. Keep in mind that by now, with backtracking and discovering new villages, I had probably walked at least 12 Km. So, upon seeing this sign, I said to myself:
"Why gee willikers, would you look at that. I've been walking in a circle. Gosh darn it, don't that beat all." (or words to that effect).
I confess that I gave serious consideration to walking back to Rothenburg, hopping a train, and pretending nothing ever happened. However, with spirits and self considerably dampened as it was by now raining, I set about looking for someone to tell me how to get to Schrozberg (my end point for the day plus I had overnight
accommodation booked there). *Pilger tip #2 – make sure you have proper rain gear. Poncho doesn't cut it.
I did finally find a farmer who kindly stopped in his headlong rush from his barn to his warm, comfortable home to help me out. He actually happened to be the only person I saw outside in this village.
Permit me to digress and mention a little something about German dialects. The Schwäbisch dialect sounds like so much pea gravel and sand being swished around in a bucket of water. I understood maybe three words out of this man's directions. I never did catch on to more than half of what anyone said to me in Schwäbisch. The only dialect that was more incomprehensible was Badish. Later in the week, I would meet two Badish Pilger. Thankfully, they were not talking to me as based on my open mouthed look I'm sure they would have thought I had the IQ of a celery stick. I understood one word, "gel" (hard "g" like in girl), and as it is like our "eh" it really isn't a word after all. The Bavarian folks, by the way, roll their "r" so vigorously that I'm surprised they don't choke for air halfway through a sentence!
Anyway, at my "deer in the headlights" look the farmer slowed it down and spoke more Standard German giving me directions that all involved walking back the way I had come, but then turning towards Heligebronn (3 Km away) and then walking another 2Km or so, to Spielbach where there was a gas station in the middle of town (it's down the road on the 2nd left when you get to the middle of the village – you can't miss it. Right.), and someone there would be bound to know the way to Schrozberg.
He was also the first that would ask me two common questions. 1. You are alone? 2. You are walking? all the while looking over my shoulder as if expecting people or a car to appear. It got so that I was often tempted to have a look myself, even though I knew the air behind me would remain distressingly empty of companions, or A CAR.
So, he says "You are alone?" "Yes" I say. "You are walking?" He says. "Yes", I say. "That is bad" he says. "How so?" I say. "Because it is a long way", he says. "Yup", I think. Of course, I have translated for your benefit, although, I'm pretty sure the thought bubble was in English.
Well, there was nothing for it and off I go and trust that I will reach Heligebronn and then Spielbach. I had begun to put a lot of trust in trust because nothing else was working too well! And, I did find Heligebronn and it was just where the farmer said it would be! By this time though, my legs were aching something fierce and my feet were so sore I could feel blisters playing King of the Castle on my toes, and I was wet through and through. I spotted a bus shelter and thought – screw it – I'm taking the bus to Schrozberg! I had been walking for several hours with only one break.
*Pilger tip #3 – in small villages in Germany when kids are on school holidays – as they were until Sept.13 – buses do not run.
So, I have to drag my carcass to Spielbach after all. What's another 2 Km (in theory) to the 20 Km I must have walked already, eh?
Still, I am optimistic… until I get to the crossroad. No signage and every direction looks equally well travelled. I am so very tired, so very sore, so very wet and the wind has picked up and I am getting cold and there is NO ONE in sight, and I just cannot stomach retracing my steps yet again. I give in, but only have enough vigour to perform about 30 seconds worth of the standard 2 minute dance of panic. But, it's enough to clear my head and, as per usual, I head straight. I am rewarded in short order by the sight of houses. I have made it to Spielbach!
I have NO intention of looking for gas stations, and instead phone Marlene, owner of the Gästehaus Im Tal that I am going to be staying at, to ask her if she could send a taxi for me. I really, really cannot physically or mentally walk another step further. Schrozberg is larger (about 4500 people) and it has taxis, a bus and a train station!
I never did get a chance to ask Marlene to send for a taxi, because after she got over her surprise that I was in Spielbach (she was aware of the correct pilger route), she said she would come and get me. I spent the next four days in Marlene's care.
Schrozberg, by the way, was another 8 Km away.
And, that, my friends, ended my first day of walking.
Hope this all finds you healthy and happy!


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text: On Jan 27, 2012, at 9:19 PM, Joe Landman wrote: > On 01/27/2012 03:06 PM, Vincent Diepeveen wrote: >> >> On Jan 27, 2012, at 8:29 PM, Håkon Bugge wrote: >> >>> Greg, >>> >>> >>> On 23. jan. 2012, at 20.55, Greg Lindahl wrote: >>> >>>> On Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 11:28:26AM -0800, Greg Lindahl wrote: >>>> >>>>> http://www.hpcwire.com/hpcwire/2012-01-23/ >>>>> intel_to_buy_qlogic_s_infiniband_business.html >>>> >>>> I figured out the main why: >>>> >>>> http://seekingalpha.com/news-article/2082171-qlogic-gains-market- >>>> share-in-both-fibre-channel-and-10gb-ethernet-adapter-markets >>>> >>>>> Server-class 10Gb Ethernet Adapter and LOM revenues have recently >>>>> surpassed $100 million per quarter, and are on track for about >>>>> fifty >>>>> percent annual growth, according to Crehan Research. >>>> >>>> That's the whole market, and QLogic says they are #1 in the FCoE >>>> adapter segment of this market, and #2 in the overall 10 gig >>>> adapter >>>> market (see >>>> http://seekingalpha.com/article/303061-qlogic-s-ceo-discusses- >>>> f2q12-results-earnings-call-transcript) > > I found that statement interesting. I've actually not known anything > about their 10GbE products. My bad. > >>> >>> That can explain why QLogic is selling, but not why Intel is buying. >>> >>> 10 years ago, Intel went _out_ of the Infiniband marked, see http:// >>> www.networkworld.com/newsletters/servers/2002/01383318.html >>> >>> So has the IB business evolved so incredible well compared to what >>> Intel expected back in 2002? Do not think so. >>> >>> I would guess that we will see message passing/RDMA over >>> Thunderbolt or similar. > > Intel buying makes quite a bit of sense IMO. They are in 10GbE > silicon > and NICs, and being in IB silicon and HCAs gives them not only a hedge > (10GbE while growing rapidly, is not the only high performance network > market, and Intel is very good at getting economies of scale going > with > its silicon ... well ... most of its silicon ... ignoring Itanium here > ...). Its quite likely that Intel would need IB for its PetaScale Why buy previous generation IB in such case? It's about the ethernet of course... They produce tens of millions of cpu's each quarter and also announced a SoC (socket on chip). From SoC's actually the market produces billions a year. So it's alucrative market, yet highly competative. Having 10 gigabit ethernet on such SoC and the total at a low price would give intel a huge lead there worth dozens of billions a year. It's not clear to me where all their SoC plans go, but i bet right now they are open to any market needing SoC's. Note that many SoC's are dirt cheap. Even in very low volume we speak about some tens of dollars, cpu included and other connectivity included. Price is everything there, yet i guess intel will be offering the 'top' SoC's there with faster cpu's and 10 GigE. Then they produce a bunch of mainboards. Think also of upcoming generation of consoles, ipad 3's and similar products etc - it's not clear yet which company gets the contracts for upcoming consoles, it's all wide open for now. Yet they might sell also a 100+ million of those. Intel is an attractive company to do business with for console manufacturers now. IBM's cell kind of lost momentum there and has nothing new to offer that really outperforms as it seems. Also power usage of cell was kind of disappointing. Initial version PS3 was 220 watts on average and 100% usage it could go up to 380+ watt. Try to put that on your couch. Don't confuse this with the later crunching CELL version, a much improved chip, used for some supercomputers. Yet if i remember well, some reports, was it Aad v/d Steen (?) already predicted it would be not interesting for upcoming supercomputers as it is some kind of hybrid chip - which has no long term future. He was right. > plans. Someone here postualted putting the silicon on the CPU. Not > sure if this would happen, but I could see it on an IOH, easily. That > would make sense (at least in terms of the Westmere designs ... for > the > Romley et al. I am not sure where it would make most sense). > > But Intel sees the HPC market growth, and I think they realize that > there are interesting opportunities for them there with tighter high > performance networking interconnects (Thunderbolt, USB3, IB, 10GbE > native on all these systems). > Undoubtfully they'll try something in the HPC market. If you already have put lots of cash in development of a product it's better to put it on the market. Based upon their name they'll sell some. And some years from now they should have something bigtime improved. Yet realize how complicated it is to tape out a GPU at a new process technology if you aren't sure you gonna sell a 100+ million of them. Such massive projects have to pay back for factories. A product that's having a potential of not even selling for over a few dozens of billions of dollars is not even interesting to develop. Just startup costs for a GPU at a new proces technology is some dozens of millions for each run and the more complex it is and the newer the proces technology the more expensive it is. Realize IBM produces its power7 and bluegene/q upcoming cpu at 45 nm technology. GPU's release now in 28 nm. That's giving theoretically an advantage of a tad less of (45 / 28) ^ 2 = 2.58 So a gpu of intel needs to be factor 2.58 better in the same proces technology than todays gpu's of AMD (already released 28 nm) and Nvidia (coming soon 28 nm i'd expect). This where with cpu's, intels big advantage is always that they are better in getting newer proces technologies to work sooner than the competition. Ivy Bridge will be 22 nm so i heard rumours. >> Qlogic offers that QDR. >> Mellanox is a generation newer there with FDR. >> >> Both in latency as well as in bandwidth a huge difference. > > Haven't looked much at FDR or EDR latency. Was it a huge delta (more > than 30%) better than QDR? I've been hearing numbers like 0.8-0.9 us > for a while, and switches are still ~150-300ns port to port. At some Posting here some months ago from Gilad Shainer was it's 0.85 us RDMA for FDR versus 1.3 us or so for the other; more importantly for clusters is the bandwidth. I guess that pci-e 3.0 allows simply much higher speeds whereas the QDR is PCI-E 2.0 stuff. Isn't pci-e 3.0 about 2x higher bandwidth than 2 pci-e 2.0? Now i might be happy with that last, but i guess that for big FFT's or be it matrice, you still need massive bandwidth. Even if n is big in O ( k * n log n ) Where k in case of matrice is a tad bigger than n and in case of Number Theory is usually around the number of bits, so 3.32 times n or so, that means you still need k steps of n log n. That's massive bandwidth. > point I think you start hitting a latency floor, bounded in part by > "c", > but also by an optimal technology path length that you can't shorten > without significant investment and new technology. Not sure how close > we are to that point (maybe someone from Qlogic/Mellanox could comment > on the headroom we have). There is a lot of headroom for better latencies from software viewpoint, as cpu's keep getting faster yet latency of years ago networks was just marginally worse than what's there now. In case of hardware i really am no expert there. > > Bandwidth wise, you need E5 with PCIe 3 to really take advantage of > FDR. > So again, its a natural fit, especially if its LOM .... > All the socket2011 boards that are in the shops now are PCI-e 3.0 and a wave of mainboards with 2 sockets will release a few days before or at the same day that intel finally releases the Xeon version of Sandy Bridge. Seems it didn't release yet as it's not too high clocked, if i look at this sample cpu :) It's 2Ghz to be precise (8 cores Xeon). > Curiously, I think this suggests that ScaleMP could be in play on the > software side ... imagine stringing together bunches of the LOM FDR/ > QDR > motherboards with E5's and lots of ram into huge vSMPs (another > thread). > Shai may tell me I'm full of it (hope he doesn't), but I think > this is > a real possibility. The Qlogic purchase likely makes this even more > interesting for Intel (or Cisco, others as a defensive acq). > A technology that just sold to 300 machines, this is not interesting market for intel. They have very expensive factories that each cost many billions of dollars. These need to produce nonstop and sell products, to pay back for the factories and to make a profit. Intel used to be worth over a 100 billion dollar at NASDAQ. Wasting your most clever engineers, from which each company always has too few, to products that can't keep busy your factories, is a total waste of time. So your huge base of B-class engineers, let me not quote some mailing list names, that's the ones you move to Qlogic then for the HPC. That's enough to keep it afloat for a while in combination with 'intel inside'. Intels profit is too huge to be busy toying with tiny markets with a handful of customers, from which majority forgot to take their medicine when you propose rewriting the software to some new hardware platform you are gonna unroll. A habit intel is not exactly excited about of course, as they like to sell each time new technology. Also each larrabee intel would sell means they sell a bunch of xeons less of course. > We sure do live in interesting times! > Not for everyone i guess - many lost their job and as i predicted some years ago a guy with a nobel prize might be carpet bombing a huge nation this summer. Intel has 3 huge factories in Israel last time i checked. It sure can give unpredicted results for future. > -- > Joseph Landman, Ph.D > Founder and CEO > Scalable Informatics Inc. > email: landman at scalableinformatics.com > web : http://scalableinformatics.com > http://scalableinformatics.com/sicluster > phone: +1 734 786 8423 x121 > fax : +1 866 888 3112 > cell : +1 734 612 4615 > > _______________________________________________ > Beowulf mailing list, Beowulf at beowulf.org sponsored by Penguin > Computing > To change your subscription (digest mode or unsubscribe) visit > http://www.beowulf.org/mailman/listinfo/beowulf >


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Ormond Beach woman finds her calling as Pilates teacher
Lifelong fitness aficionado, Josee Robinson, enjoyed cycling, both in the studio and on the road. But over the years, it took its toll on her body and she found herself having to deal with injury, muscle imbalance and chronic back pain.
Relief came through Pilates, an exercise regimen she said responsibly returned her to an optimal fitness level, free of pain and with a renewed range of motion. One session was all it took and she was hooked.
Now teaching classes at Pilates Center of Ormond Beach, Josee holds intensive Stott Pilates certifications in Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, Stability Chair and Barrels along with Injuries and Special Populations, including pre-and post-natal training.
What is Pilates?
Pilates technique is a system of exercises designed to increase strength, flexibility, coordination, balance and control. It focuses on the deep stabilizing muscles of the torso, hips and shoulder girdle. The exercises emphasize joint stability and muscle balance to create a stronger and more flexible spine. Regular Pilates practice will help you to move through your daily life with fluidity and ease.
Q:What are the benefits of Pilates?
Some of the benefits include an increase in core strength/stability and peripheral mobility; longer, leaner muscles (less bulk, more freedom of movement); prevention of injuries; enhanced body awareness/ease of movement; more strength and flexibility; improved performance in other activities and sports.
Q:How does Stott Pilates differ from other types?
Stott Pilates incorporates modern exercise principles, including contemporary thinking about spinal rehabilitation and athletic performance enhancement. For example, some approaches may promote a flat back, whereas Stott Pilates exercises are designed to restore the natural curves of the spine and rebalance the muscles around the joints, placing more emphasis on scapular stabilization. Also, there are more preparatory exercises and modifications to cater to many different body types and abilities, making it applicable to everyday life.
Q:How did you get started in Pilates?
I was introduced to Pilates in 2002 after attending the World Spinning and Sports Conference in Miami. I was drawn to the way I felt after my very first class. I began my intensive training and worked my way toward full certification.


text: Jim Lux wrote: > I was recently asked about how one would go about doing a quick cluster > demo with the following configuration: > > a laptop running a TBD version of Linux > a bunch (4-16) of diskless nodes (implying that they need to netboot > with PXE, etc.) > all connected with ethernet.. > > Seems like something like warewulf would do this nicely, but are there > other alternatives? ClusterKnoppix? Cluster Knoppix looks like the thing to use. YMMV, etc. Means you could keep the laptop virgin. http://bofh.be/clusterknoppix > And then, what's a nice demo showing speedup? POVray rendering? glitz > and flashy is important, raw speed is not. It would be nice if you had > something that took, say, 30 seconds to run on just the laptop, and > then, as you add nodes, it gets faster and faster. Use gmandel, maybe? Cluster knoppix supports pvm3, but not MPI of any sort. Sorry, Jim, about double posting. -- Geoffrey D. Jacobs Go to the Chinese Restaurant, Order the Special


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Yesterday evening I had an hour or so before I was due to pick up my little jogging group. The nearby sand dunes, the Blanches Banques on Jersey's western shoreline beckoned. They were shrouded in mist and I was quickly into a timeless zone, one that would have been recognised by the original Neolithic settlers of this place.
And, armed with pocket camera, I was soon lost in this amazing and living landscape. Click on pics to enlarge, and for captions.
Our ancestors left us these. Did they foresee 21c joggers admiring them?
The Blanches Banques has a pretty special eco-system, ever-changing, delicate, with many unique or rare species of plants and insects.
A bit of more modern history, and nature's defiance.
Always worth a visit and you always spot something new. And yes, I just about made it out of there to meet my group!


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CHICO — Power was restored to the south side of the Chico State University campus Monday night, with the exception of Langdon Hall.
More than 25 south campus buildings were blacked out at 2 p.m. Monday, because of a flood in the basement of Langdon Hall where electrical equipment is housed, said Chico State spokesman Joe Wills.
The shutdown was originally slated to last until 3 p.m., but university Facilities Management and Services pushed back the timeline Monday afternoon because the basement was still too dangerous to be inspected.
A construction company will be on campus drying out the basement in Langdon, Wills said.
"They"re here on campus today to get the building back online as quickly as possible," he said. "Things are moving along."
A sensor went off at 10:20 a.m. Monday at the boiler chiller plant on campus that identified flooding in the Langdon basement, Wills said.
Langdon Hall, which houses the civil engineering and construction management departments, will be closed for repairs for an unknown amount of time.
The 15 staff and faculty members who work in Langdon Hall during winter intercession returned to work Tuesday, Wills said. They had been relocated to other buildings to work until the building regained power.
Only one intercession class is in Langdon Hall and it has also been relocated to another classroom on campus.
Reach Katrina Cameron at 896-7759, email@example.com, or on Twitter at @KatCameron91.