text:
By Jerry Bonkowski and Bob Moore
48 JIMMIE JOHNSON, Chevrolet
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
WHERE HE STANDS: Jimmie Johnson remains in first place in the Sprint Cup standings for the third consecutive week. He leads second-ranked Brad Keselowski by five points and third-ranked Dale Earnhardt Jr. by 10 points.
BRISTOL RECORD: 22 career starts, one win, seven top-fives, 13 top-10s, one pole. Best career finish: first in March 2010. Finished ninth in this race last year, and second in the August race there.
LOOKING AHEAD: Johnson is looking to pick up where he left off at Bristol in August, when he finished second. He's tried to earn a second win there but just hasn't been able to do it. Perhaps Sunday will be his day. Here are Johnson's thoughts on Sunday's race: "I think the mechanical aspects will help the cars at Bristol. The last time there, we were very curious about the grinding and what would happen and what wouldn't. The track just changed in some ways and we will just go back and get in a rhythm and see what happens. For the longest time we were not competitive at that track. Now we're in the mix and I'm really happy about that."
LOOKING BACK: Three races thus far into the 2013 season and Johnson has been outstanding, winning the season-opening Daytona 500, finishing second at Phoenix and leading 66 laps en route to a sixth-place finish this past Sunday at Las Vegas.
ETC.: Johnson has completed 97.7 percent (10,764) of 11,013 laps in his 22 career starts at Bristol. His average start is 15.9 and average finish is 14.0. He has one DNF there.
2 BRAD KESELOWSKI, Ford
Team: Penske Racing
WHERE HE STANDS: Brad Keselowski remains in second place for the second consecutive week, five points behind series leader Jimmie Johnson and five points ahead of third-place Dale Earnhardt Jr.
BRISTOL RECORD: Six career starts, two wins, two top-fives, two top-10s and zero poles. Best career finish: first in August 2011 and March 2012. Finished first in this race last year, only to suffer to a career-worst 30th-place finish in August.
LOOKING AHEAD: Keselowski has had the best start to the season of any driver in the Sprint Cup series, including points leader Jimmie Johnson. Keselowski has finished no lower than fourth in any of the first three races, a trend he hopes to continue at Bristol, where by the way he won at last March. Here's what Keselowski had to say about his start thus far in 2013: "I feel like we've had a shot at winning all three. That's something to be really proud of. We certainly had the speed to do it the last two weeks, and the execution to do it at Daytona. (We) just caught a bad break and just didn't quite execute it (at Las Vegas). I want to win really bad, but I guess the consolation is starting out the year with three solid finishes and a top five and just kind of backing up where we finished last year with solid runs."
LOOKING BACK: Keselowski led just 12 laps but still wound up with a very strong third-place finish at Las Vegas. In his first three races, the defending Sprint Cup champion has finishes of fourth at both Daytona and Phoenix and third at Las Vegas.
ETC.: Keselowski has completed 97.8 percent (2,933) of 3,000 laps in six career starts. His average start is 14.8 and average finish is 13.7. He has zero DNFs at Bristol.
88 DALE EARNHARDT JR., Chevrolet
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
WHERE HE STANDS: Dale Earnhardt Jr. dropped from a tie for second to third place after the Las Vegas race. He is 10 points behind series leader Jimmie Johnson, five points behind second-ranked Brad Keselowski and 17 points ahead of fourth-place Denny Hamlin.
BRISTOL RECORD: 26 career starts, one win, seven top-fives, 12 top-10s and zero poles. Best career finish: first in August 2004. Finished 15th in this race last year and was 12th there in August.
LOOKING AHEAD: Earnhardt has struggled at times in recent years at Bristol, uncharacteristic of the way he used to wheel around the half-mile bull ring in Eastern Tennessee. Here are his thoughts about Sunday's race: "I love racing at Bristol and short track racing in general. I look forward to going there every trip. It's always a tough race, and hopefully, we will come out on top."
LOOKING BACK: After finishing second in the season-opening Daytona 500, and fifth at Phoenix, Earnhardt was seventh at Las Vegas. He did not lead any laps but stayed close to the leaders most of the race.
ETC.: Earnhardt has completed 98.9 percent (12,865) of 13,013 laps in his 26 starts at Bristol. His average start is 21.3 and average finish is significantly better 11.8. He also has one DNF.
11 DENNY HAMLIN, Toyota
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
WHERE HE STANDS: Hamlin remained in fourth place for the second consecutive week. He trails points leader Jimmie Johnson by 27 points, third-ranked Dale Earnhardt Jr. by 17 points and leads fifth-ranked Carl Edwards by four points.
BRISTOL RECORD: 14 career starts, one win, four top-fives, seven top-10s, zero poles. Best career finish: First in August 2012. Finished 20th in this race last year and came back to win the August race.
LOOKING AHEAD: Hamlin has a double dose of motivation to do well Sunday at Bristol. First, he's coming off a frustrating 15th place finish at Las Vegas. Second and more importantly, he won the last time he was at Bristol, in August.
Hamlin and teammate Kyle Busch are already learning things from teammate Matt Kenseth, who joined the organization this season and won this past Sunday at Las Vegas. Here's what team owner Joe Gibbs says about Kenseth's interaction, particularly with Hamlin and Busch:
"Obviously, Matt has just been special. I mean, he came over, I think he brings a lot to (the organization). I think Denny and Kyle both really respect him. I think that's helped a lot. I think (Kenseth) kind of likes working with them, so we've got three guys that really, I think, can get after it and drive a race car. I'm really happy, too."
LOOKING BACK: Hamlin struggled at Las Vegas, leading just three laps before finishing a disappointing 15th.
ETC.: Hamlin has completed 95.3 percent (6,681) of 7,013 laps in his 14 career starts at Bristol. His average start is 20.6 and average finish is 14.8. He has one DNF there.
99 CARL EDWARDS, Ford
Team: Roush Fenway Racing
WHERE HE STANDS: Carl Edwards jumped six spots in the standings, from 11th to fifth, after Las Vegas. He trails points leader Jimmie Johnson by 31 points, fourth-ranked Denny Hamlin by four points and leads sixth-ranked Mark Martin by three points.
BRISTOL RECORD: 17 career starts, two wins, four top-fives, seven top-10s, two poles. Best career finish: First in August 2007 and August 2008. Finished 39th in this race last year and was 22nd in August there.
LOOKING AHEAD: Edwards typically does well at Bristol, but not last season, when he finished a career-worst 39th in the March race and 22nd in the August race. He's looking to continue the momentum he has from a win at Phoenix and a fifth-place finish at Las Vegas.
LOOKING BACK: Edwards ran a strong race but failed to lead even one lap at Las Vegas. Still, he finished with a top-5 to go along with the win he had the week before at Phoenix. Here are his thoughts about the Las Vegas race: "We wanted better, but I think if I would have done a better job on my restarts then we would have been better. We were sliding all over the place out there. I am sure we wore out some steering boxes and that was a good race. That was as hard as we could drive."
ETC.: Edwards has completed 95.0 percent (8,084) of 8,513 laps in his 17 career starts at Bristol. His average start is 18.4 and average finish is 14.4. He has one DNF there.
55 MARK MARTIN, Toyota
Team: Michael Waltrip Racing
WHERE HE STANDS: After dropping from third to seventh after Phoenix, Mark Martin rebounded to gain back one position in the standings after Las Vegas, leaving him in sixth place. He trails points leader Jimmie Johnson by 34 points, fifth-place Carl Edwards by three points and leads seventh-place (tie) Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle by two points each.
BRISTOL RECORD: 46 career starts, two wins, 16 top-fives, 23 top-10s and nine poles. Best career finish: first in August 1993 and August 1998. Did not compete in either race at Bristol in 2012.
LOOKING AHEAD: Unfortunately, Martin will not be racing Sunday at Bristol. He'll be replaced by Brian Vickers who did well in filling in for Martin in last year's Bristol races, finishing fifth in the March race and a career-best fourth in the August race. This will be the first of nine races in the first 26 pre-Chase for the Sprint Cup races that Martin will miss by choice. He is also slated to miss three Chase races. When it came to his two top-five finishes at Bristol last season in place of Martin, Vickers said, "(We
were) pleased, but not satisfied. I would have loved to have won one of those races and we came very close. Obviously, very pleased with the results and how it all worked out considering it was part-time."
LOOKING BACK: After finishing third in the season-opening Daytona 500, the 29th time he's been in the Great American Race, Martin had a disappointing 21st place finish at Phoenix and finished 14th at Las Vegas.
ETC.: Martin has completed 94.1 percent (21,488) of 22,845 laps in 46 career starts at Bristol. He has an average start of 10.3 and an average finish of 13.7. He has five DNFs there. Vickers has completed 96.3 percent (7,720) of 8,013 laps in 16 career starts at Bristol. He has an average start of 23.4 and an average finish of 22.1. He also has one DNF there.
20 MATT KENSETH, Toyota
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
WHERE HE STANDS: Matt Kenseth was the biggest mover in the top 10 after Las Vegas, climbing 11 spots from 18th to a tie for seventh place with former teammate Greg Biffle. The pair trail points leader Jimmie Johnson by 36 points each, sixth-ranked Mark Martin by two points and lead ninth-ranked Clint Bowyer by four points.
BRISTOL RECORD: 26 career starts, two wins, 10 top-fives, 17 top-10s, one pole. Best career finish: First in August 2005 and August 2006. Finished 2nd in this race last year and was 25th there last August.
LOOKING AHEAD: Kenseth comes into Bristol with a big head of steam, having won his first race for Joe Gibbs Racing on Sunday at Las Vegas. He also is looking to repeat his strong finish at Bristol last March, when he finished second. Here are Kenseth's thoughts about his win at Las Vegas and looking ahead to Bristol: "Coach (Joe Gibbs) hired me to come in there and climb in that car and win races, so you certainly want to do that and you don't want to disappoint people. I'm glad we got a win, but it's still only Week 3. I feel like this is the beginning, you know, and have a lot of confidence, had a lot of confidence after our first meeting and decided to go do this and just had a great feeling about it. ... It's always great to get a win early in the season, but you certainly don't want to act like it stops. You want to go to the next one and start thinking about Bristol and what we're going to try to do there. That's the great thing about the sport, it never stops -- you only get to enjoy it for a couple days. It feels really great to get the win, and hopefully that'll keep some momentum going for our team."
LOOKING BACK: Kenseth led just 42 laps, but the most important was the last one, as he won at Las Vegas. It was his first win for Joe Gibbs Racing and also in a Toyota. Plus, it was on Kenseth's 41st birthday, making him only the third driver in Cup history to win on their birthday.
ETC.: Kenseth has completed 97.7 percent (12,711) of 13,013 laps in his 26 career starts at Bristol. His average start is 17.2 and average finish is 12.1. He has three DNFs there.
16 GREG BIFFLE, Ford
Team: Roush Fenway Racing
WHERE HE STANDS: Greg Biffle dropped one position from sixth into a tie with Matt Kenseth for seventh. The pair trail points leader Jimmie Johnson by 36 points each, follow sixth-ranked Mark Martin by two points and lead ninth-ranked Clint Bowyer by four points.
BRISTOL RECORD: 20 career starts, zero wins, six top-fives, 11 top-10s and one pole. Best career finish: third in August 2005. Finished 13th in this race last year (after starting from the pole) and was 19th in the August race.
LOOKING AHEAD: Biffle just can't catch a break at Bristol. Even though he spent the early part of his career racing on short tracks up and down the West Coast, Biffle has never been able to figure out Bristol's half-mile enough to earn his first win there. But he's hoping to change that on Sunday. Here are Biffle's thoughts on Bristol: "I'm looking forward to Bristol now that Las Vegas is behind us. We run hard at Bristol, which is always fun and exciting. I cannot wait to get to Bristol and redeem ourselves. We are a better team than we've been running; we made a mistake last week. Track position is key. You've got to be up front and stay out front. Seems like it's harder and harder to pass since all the teams are getting close together and the cars are getting close together. It's going to take being out front, good pit stops and a good pit stall selection to win at Bristol this weekend."
LOOKING BACK: Biffle typically does very well on 1.5-mile tracks, but not this past Sunday at Las Vegas, where he struggled to a 17th-place finish.
ETC.: Biffle has completed 98.2 percent (9,830) of 10,013 laps in his 20 career starts at Bristol. His average start is 12.9 and average finish is 12.2. He also has one DNF there.
5 CLINT BOWYER, Toyota
Team: Michael Waltrip Racing
WHERE HE STANDS: After jumping from 10th to fourth place after Phoenix, Clint Bowyer dropped five spots in the standings after Las Vegas to ninth place. He trails series leader Jimmie Johnson by 40 points, follows the seventh-place tie between Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle by four points and leads 10th-ranked Aric Almirola by one point.
BRISTOL RECORD: 14 career starts, zero wins, four top-fives, seven top-10s, zero poles. Best career finish: Third in August 2007 and March 2008. Finished fourth in this race last year and was seventh in the August race.
LOOKING AHEAD: Bowyer is determined to bounce back from his terrible showing at Las Vegas. He'll also be in a unique car on Sunday, carrying colors of NAPA Auto Parts. Here are his thoughts about that: "To race a No. 15 NAPA car for Michael Waltrip Racing carries a lot of meaning for everyone involved. Michael Waltrip raced those colors with that number to some very significant wins -- including two Daytona 500s. I think it will be great to see NAPA back on the No. 15 this weekend. I know it will mean a lot to Michael, the folks at NAPA and also to me. I'd love to put that car back in Victory Lane for Michael and the folks at NAPA -- plus, it's Bristol baby! I'd just love to get a win there because I think it's such an amazing racetrack. We ran well at Daytona and Phoenix, but struggled last weekend at Vegas. We'll be much better this weekend. Bristol is just good old-fashioned racing and I think the fans will see a heck of show Sunday. It's good to be back short track racing again."
LOOKING BACK: Bowyer had a terrible car all weekend at Las Vegas and finished 27th, the first driver down a lap on the leaders at the end of the race.
ETC.: Bowyer has completed 91.7 percent (6,433) of 7,013 laps in his 14 career starts at Bristol. His average start is 20.1 and average finish is 17.0. He also has two DNFs there.
43 ARIC ALMIROLA, Ford
Team: Richard Petty Motorsports
WHERE HE STANDS: Aric Almirola dropped two places in the standings, from a three-way tie for eighth place to sole possession of 10th place after Las Vegas. He trails points leader Jimmie Johnson by 41 points, follows ninth-ranked Clint Bowyer by one point and leads 11th-ranked Ricky Stenhouse Jr. by one point.
BRISTOL RECORD: Seven career starts, zero wins, zero top-fives, one top-10 and zero poles. Best career finish: Eighth in March 2008. Finished 19th in this race last year, and was 35th in the August race.
LOOKING AHEAD: Almirola turns 29 on Thursday, and what better place to have a birthday celebration than at Bristol, a track his team owner, Richard Petty, dominated at for much of his own racing career. Plus, the fact he's still in the top-10 after the first three races has Almirola riding high. He's even thinking his first career Sprint Cup win is right around the corner, perhaps as soon as Sunday. "Yeah, I really do feel that way, and confidence is key. I know you guys talk about that all the time, and it's hard to put your finger on how you get it, why you get it and stuff like that. But you know, chemistry is a big deal and confidence is a big deal. I feel like we've got both of those things going. We show up to the racetrack and we expect to run in the Top-10. And you look at the race teams that compete and that consistently finish in the Top-10, the Top 15, eventually they win races, and we think the same thing. ... At the beginning of the year, we sat down and made a list of goals, and that is No. 1 on our list of goals is to put that 43 car back in victory lane."
LOOKING BACK: After finishing 13th in the season-opening Daytona 500, and 15th at Phoenix, Almirola finished 16th at Las Vegas, his worst outing this season.
ETC.: Almirola has completed just 79.1 percent (2,777) of 3,509 laps in seven career starts at Bristol. He has an average start of 18.7 and a rough average finish of 26.4. He also has two DNFs there.
17 RICKY STENHOUSE JR., Ford
Team: Roush Fenway Racing
WHERE HE STANDS: 11th, only one point out of the top 10. Lost two spots last week to fall out of the top 10.
BRISTOL RECORD: Will be making his Sprint Cup debut. Finished in the top six in both Nationwide races last year, including a second in the August event.
LOOKING AHEAD: Stenhouse said, "Bristol's lap times are almost the same in both the Nationwide and Cup series. We've run decent there in the Nationwide series so I feel confident going into this weekend. We will focus on qualifying well because you want to start up near the front. I think our Best Buy Ford should have a solid finish if we can start close to the front, make the needed adjustments throughout the race, and stay out of trouble."
LOOKING BACK: Stenhouse finished 18th at Las Vegas. "We were too tight," said Stenhouse. "I kept telling them to free it up and we would get tighter and tighter. That is what gave up all our track position. We were running in the top 10 (early in the race) no problem, but then we got way too tight for some reason. Every pit stop we made we got tighter and tighter. So I don't know if something is broke and kept getting worse and worse or what the deal was."
ETC.: Crew chief Scott Graves knows "Bristol is a tough track because anything can happen. It is a long race. Track position is crucial. If we can stay out of trouble and execute on pit road, I feel confident that we can get a top-10 finish."
27 PAUL MENARD, Chevrolet
Team: Richard Childress Racing
WHERE HE STANDS: 12th, only six points out of the top 10. Gained five spots last week.
BRISTOL RECORD: Finished 10th in both races last year. Has three top-10 finishes in the last four races.
LOOKING AHEAD: Menard said, "Short tracks are the heart of our sport and Bristol is the type of track that NASCAR was built around. We've had some good runs at Bristol the past couple of years, so we are looking forward to this weekend and seeing what the 27 Sylvania/Menards Chevrolet can do. If we can qualify well, stay up front on Sunday and stay out of trouble, I think we'll be in good shape."
LOOKING BACK: Menard was all smiles after finishing 10th at Las Vegas for his first top-10 finish of the season. "We had a great car today," said Menard. "Slugger (Labbe, crew chief) and the team did a phenomenal job giving me a fast Schrock/Menards Chevrolet. It was a lot of fun to drive today. The 27 pit crew did an awesome job in the pits and got me several spots on pit road. All-in-all, it was a good day."
ETC.: Menard's contract with Richard Childress Racing ends at the end of this season "so I'm sure these questions (about his future with the team) will be coming throughout the year. I hope by the middle of summer we will have an answer for everybody." Menard said he hopes to remain a part of the organization for years to come.
24 JEFF GORDON, Chevrolet
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
WHERE HE STANDS: 13th, nine points out of the top 10. Lost five spots last week to fall out of the top 10.
BRISTOL RECORD: Finished third last August for his second third-place finish in the last three events. His five wins tie him for the most victories among active drivers. Overall, he has 22 top-10 finishes, including 16 top-five's in 40 starts.
LOOKING AHEAD: Gordon is glad the top groove is back being the place to race at Bristol Motor Speedway. "I remember seeing guys like Darrell (Waltrip) and Davey (Allison) run that high line back in 1991 or 1992," said Gordon. "I was watching them from the spotters' stand and it was so cool to see them running right up against the wall. It was hard to pass, so you would see 'slide jobs' when they got a run. That's essentially the same kind of racing we had there in August. I had so much fun racing that way that night."
LOOKING BACK: While his three teammates at Hendrick Motorsports were running in the top six or seven all afternoon, Gordon struggled big time at Las Vegas. "The car was wicked loose all day," said Gordon, who ended up 25th. "We were just way off all day. We just missed it and nothing we did seemed to help."
ETC.: When asked if the $25,000 fine levied by NASCAR against Denny Hamlin for his comments on the Gen-6 car was going to change the way he approached media interviews, Gordon said, "No, I'm going to go about it the same way that I always do. I feel like I try to think before I say anything. I try to think if this is going to be something that is going to negatively affect the sport, negatively affect my sponsors or myself, my team and is it worth it. I try to do that when I am doing interviews, and when I'm talking about things that are going on. When I get out of the car, I'm usually pretty good at being able to do that and think about that."
5 KASEY KAHNE, Chevrolet
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
WHERE HE STANDS: 14th, 11 points out of the top 10. Gained 17 spots last week.
BRISTOL RECORD: Finished ninth last August for his third top-nine finish in the last five races.
LOOKING AHEAD: Kahne doesn't believe the new Gen-6 car will have much of an impact on the racing at Bristol this weekend. "That track is so unique and so different and knowing how we race there, you'll probably still have that similar race that we've had in the past. That's just one unique place where you have 43 cars on that small (half-mile) of a race track with so much banking."
LOOKING BACK: Kahne dominated the Las Vegas race as he led six times for a race-high 114 laps, but a long pit stop on his final stop of the day dropped him to sixth for the last restart and he was not able to get around Matt Kenseth in a stirring 30-lap duel. "I caught him," said Kahne. "I just couldn't pass him. We definitely had the best car today. When I got to him at the end, my tires got a little greasy. I think it was the two runs on the left-side tires that made it a little more difficult to pass that final run. We still had a great day (finishing second). My engine was unbelievable, the car was perfect and the guys did an awesome job. We just didn't get the win."
ETC.: Crew chief Kenny Francis smiles as he admits, "Kasey and I do kind of communicate by osmosis sometimes it seems like. We've been together for a long time. He's the only driver I've had for a while now. Between Kasey, myself and my engineer, Keith Rodden, we've all been together for a number of years. We can even look at each other and tell what we're thinking or what's going on."
22 JOEY LOGANO, Ford
Team: Penske Racing
WHERE HE STANDS: 15th, 12 points out of the top 10. Gained six spots last week.
BRISTOL RECORD: Finished eighth in the August race for his first top-10 finish in eight starts. He led 139 laps in the night event.
LOOKING AHEAD: Logano said, "There has always been a special feeling about Bristol. It's just so unique from everywhere else we go. You just don't see a lot of places that look like it, from the size (half-mile) to the high banks to the grandstands surrounding the place. It's just different there, both as a fan and as a driver."
LOOKING BACK: Logano was penalized for speeding as he left pit road after his first pit stop and he spent the rest of the race trying to overcome this penalty. "I felt like we had a top-five car, but just made a mistake," said Logano, who ended the day in 12th place. "I screwed up and sped down pit road on the first stop. I never really had an opportunity to recover good enough to show what we had. The guys gave me a really good race car today."
ETC.: Logano points out "even though we aren't running the speeds we do at a lot of other places, things happen faster at Bristol than almost anywhere else we go. And that makes it exciting. It's unpredictable. And because of that, it's always a fan favorite."
9 MARCOS AMBROSE, Ford
Team: Richard Petty Motorsports
WHERE HE STANDS: 16th, 14 points out of the top 10. Lost four spots last week.
BRISTOL RECORD: Finished fifth in the August race last year for his fourth top-10 finish in eight starts.
LOOKING AHEAD: Ambrose said he "really likes Bristol. You are up on the wheel for all 500 laps of the race. That's the kind of racing I like and really excel at. It is definitely one of the tracks that fit my style of racing."
LOOKING BACK: Ambrose battled an extremely loose race car all day as he finished 22nd at Las Vegas. "It was a long day for everyone on the Stanley Racing crew," said Ambrose. "The car was really loose, and it was frustrating. I know Drew (Blickensderfer, crew chief) tried everything today to help it go faster for me. We did the best we could today under the circumstances, and now, we'll go (to Bristol) and make up the ground we lost today."
ETC.: Ambrose admits "the last few weeks have been tough. The cars have not been as good as we know they can be. I know the guys are back at the shop working their butts off so we can have a good finish this weekend (at Bristol). We fell back to 16th in the points last week and have got to get back up in the top 12. The only way to do that is post good finishes and get some wins."
18 KYLE BUSCH, Toyota
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
WHERE HE STANDS: 17th, 16 points out of the top 10. Gained 16 spots last week.
BRISTOL RECORD: In the last nine races, he has four victories and six top-nine finishes. Overall, he has five wins and 11 top-10 finishes, including seven top-five's in 16 starts.
LOOKING AHEAD: Busch said, "We've had a lot of success at Bristol, but not last year. We've really hit a road block there for some reason, but things are different with the track changes last fall and the fact that we'll be working with a new car this time around, as well. We have to get back on our horse a little bit and this is a good way to do it."
LOOKING BACK: Busch delighted the huge crowd with several spectacular moves, including diving below the yellow line on one restart to grab the lead. But he "kept getting too loose" at the end of the long runs and ended the day in fourth place. "It was fast, it was really fast yesterday, just wasn't as fast as it needed to be today on the long runs," said Busch. "We had by far the best car in practice -- I don't know where that went. The worst Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) car ended up winning the race (Matt Kenseth). It's funny how this game works."
ETC.: Busch said his most memorable experience at Bristol is "August 2010 -- being able to do the sweep. We won the truck race on Wednesday night, backed it up with the Nationwide race Friday and took home the Cup race on Saturday night."
14 TONY STEWART, Chevrolet
Team: Stewart-Haas Racing
WHERE HE STANDS: 18th, 16 points out of the top 10. Gained five spots last week.
BRISTOL RECORD: One win and eight top-10 finishes, including six top-five's in 28 races.
LOOKING AHEAD: Stewart admits Bristol has been "a track where we have struggled." Yet he quickly adds, "It's a track I definitely like. To me that's just motivation. It gives us the ambition to be successful. We do have the new car there and that's a question mark that is the same for everybody. Hopefully we are the ones able to take advantage of it."
LOOKING BACK: Stewart spent the first part of the race going in the wrong direction after starting ninth. But the crew kept making changes to the car and Stewart was able to rally in the final 70 laps to finish 11th at Las Vegas. "It's pretty impressive to end up where we did knowing how we started the race," said Stewart. "Steve Addington (crew chief) and the crew did a really good job all race long because there wasn't one routine stop the whole day. Everybody had to do their part today to salvage what we got out of it."
ETC.: Stewart feels it is way too early in the season to worry about the points. "It's so early right now; there are so many things that can happen that I think it's way too early to be thinking about that," said Stewart. "I think if you are a team that is worrying about it right now, you were probably worried about just making it to begin with. I think the teams that have confidence that they are going to be in or should be in the chase probably aren't that concerned about it at this point."
29 KEVIN HARVICK, Chevrolet
Team: Richard Childress Racing
WHERE HE STANDS: 19th, 20 points out of the top 10. Gained 11 spots last week.
BRISTOL RECORD: One win and 12 top-10 finishes, including nine top-five's in 24 starts.
LOOKING AHEAD: Harvick expects another exciting race this weekend at Bristol. "I think any time you go to a short track no matter if the groove is top, bottom or middle, you're going to have cars beating and banging on each other. I think the way the groove moved up the track (at Bristol last August), everyone is a little more aggressive in trying to slide themselves into a spot, so you have to be aggressive to take the opportunity to pass somebody."
LOOKING BACK: Harvick had an up-and-down day at Las Vegas. He ran in the top 10 early before running into handling problems and dropping outside the top. But he rallied in the final 40 laps to finish ninth. "The Rheem guys battled hard today, and we were able to pick up our first top-10 finish of the season," said Harvick. "Our car was fast, but we had a few issues with the handling during the race. The 29 team kept at it all day, making changes that allowed us to leave here with a good finish."
ETC.: Even though the 2013 season is only three races old, Harvick said his team is already "in a routine and searching to find what makes your car the fastest on the track. That's really what we're focused on is being productive and finding what works on the car and what doesn't. We're still learning the (new) car. We've been to three different tracks so far. Bristol will be a fourth and California (on March 24) will be a fifth. You'll have a lot of different styles of track that you'll be able to compile some good notes to use throughout the rest of the year."
31 JEFF BURTON, Chevrolet
Team: Richard Childress Racing
WHERE HE STANDS: 20th, 22 points out of the top 10. Lost five spots last week.
BRISTOL RECORD: Finished sixth in the spring race in 2012 for his 15th top-10 finish in 38 starts. His one win came in the spring race of 2008.
LOOKING AHEAD: Burton said a driver "definitely has to be aggressive" at Bristol. "I think the fans like to see drivers beating and banging on each other," added Burton. "At the same time, they like to see side-by-side racing. We gave them side-by-side racing and now they want to see us hit each other. You aren't going to make everybody happy all the time. There are not as many wrecks as there used to be (at Bristol), but the actual racing is better."
LOOKING BACK: An ill-timed caution flag put Burton two laps down midway through the race and he spent the rest of the afternoon trying to battle back. "This (26th) wasn't the result the Caterpillar Chevrolet team was expecting this weekend," said Burton. "We had a successful test session on Thursday and made strong gains in practice on Saturday. I felt good about our chances this morning, but the handling got away from us. We'll take the car back to North Carolina and see what went wrong."
ETC.: NASCAR fined Denny Hamlin $25,000 last week for criticizing the new Gen-6 car. Burton felt it was "a little bit of an overreaction on NASCAR's part. We can't lose the ability to talk openly," added Burton. "At the same time, we have to be cognizant of what we're trying to do. It's a fine line. It (the fine) went over the line a little bit with the penalty, but I do understand why they did it."
1 JAMIE MCMURRAY, Chevrolet
Team: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
WHERE HE STANDS: 21st, 22 points out of the top 10. Gained seven spots last week.
BRISTOL RECORD: Has two top-seven finishes in the last three races and four top-eight finishes in the last six events.
LOOKING AHEAD: McMurray is another who "always looks forward to racing at Bristol. This is a track where things can happen real fast, but I have been pretty fortunate to have some good runs there. I am really looking forward to an exciting weekend in Bristol."
LOOKING BACK: McMurray had to start at the rear of the field after changing engines Sunday morning. But it didn't take him long to march his way inside the top 10 and he was able to lead two laps before making his first pit stop. "The McDonald's team did a great job today," said McMurray. "The No. 1 Chevrolet SS was loose all day, but we were able to gain track position and stay competitive for the whole race." McMurray ended the day in 13th place.
ETC.: McMurray said life is a lot different around his house since his daughter, Hazel, was born last month. "Our first child was a little boy," said McMurray. "I have compared notes with other dads that have had a boy then a girl. It is a different experience. Hazel and Christian are doing very well."
56 MARTIN TRUEX JR., Toyota
Team: Michael Waltrip Racing
WHERE HE STANDS: 22nd, 24 points out of the top 10. Gained 12 spots last week.
BRISTOL RECORD: Finished third in the spring race a year ago. Has two top-three finishes in the last three events.
LOOKING AHEAD: Truex can't wait to get to Bristol. "All of the Michael Waltrip (Racing) cars ran well at Bristol last year so our whole shop is looking forward to this weekend," said Truex. "Hopefully one of us will get to victory lane this time around." Last year, the MWR cars ran third, fourth and fifth in the spring race.
LOOKING BACK: Truex was all smiles after finishing eighth at Las Vegas. "It's great to finish a race," said Truex. "We ran competitively in the top 10 and we finished in the top 10. The NAPA Auto Parts Toyota ran a little too loose on long green-flag runs. So, we need to figure out how to get our Toyota to hang on better. But, like I said, after two straight weeks of running well, but not finishing -- it's a relief to get a top 10 in the books."
ETC.: Truex feels "the biggest difference between the Gen-6 car and the Gen-5 car is the weight and speed. The Gen-6 has more downforce, more left-side weight, less right-side weight and it's much faster. It makes more grip so it is more fun to drive. I think the cool thing about the new car is it challenges you to drive it hard."
42 JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, Chevrolet
Team: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates
WHERE HE STANDS: 23rd, 25 points out of the top 10. Gained one spot last week.
BRISTOL RECORD: Finished eighth in the spring race a year ago for his third top-10 finish in 12 starts.
LOOKING AHEAD: Montoya has high hopes for this weekend. "The Target team ran really well at Bristol last year," said Montoya. "Actually both of our cars ran well at Bristol last year so it should be a good weekend for us. Our cars have been fast (this year). We're just trying to find the right balance on the handling and it's getting there. We've made a lot of gains since last year and we need to keep that momentum going."
LOOKING BACK: Like his teammate Jamie McMurray, Montoya had to start at the back of the field after changing engines Sunday morning. But Montoya didn't have as good a car at McMurray and spent most of the race just trying to stay on the lead lap. "It was tough out there today," said Montoya, after finishing 19th. "It was not easy to pass and, with the long green-flag runs, it was difficult to get track position. We were able to fight back in the end and get back on the lead lap, but didn't have enough to get to the front."
ETC.: When asked if the last two seasons have been humbling, Montoya replied, "It is not humbling; it sucks. It's not about humbling. I've won at everything I've been in, and I came to NASCAR and I've been good. I know I can do it. To run where we've run, it hasn't been fun. It hasn't been fun for Chip (Ganassi, team owner) or Jamie (McMurray) or myself, or the crew chiefs, or the organization or Target. We know we have the right tools to make it work, and I think this year we've done enough over the winter that is going to put us in a better situation."
10 DANICA PATRICK, Chevrolet
Team: Stewart-Haas Racing
WHERE SHE STANDS: 30th, 35 points out of the top 10. Lost eight spots last week.
BRISTOL RECORD: Finished 29th in her lone Sprint Cup start. Finished ninth in the August Nationwide Series race.
LOOKING AHEAD: Patrick said she really "liked Bristol since the first time" she saw the track. "For me, I respond to the banking, which translates to grip and it's definitely there," adds Patrick. "We were having a decent run in the Cup car (last year), we were lead lap and top 20 after 440 laps and unfortunately were taken out, but I think all those events lead us to (having) more potential the next time around with a better baseline setup."
LOOKING BACK: It was a long, long afternoon for Patrick as she finished 33rd, six laps back of winner Matt Kenseth. "It was a real tough day, no doubt," said Patrick. "We knew we were going to have tough days, but this is not the kind of tough day we thought about. I was extremely loose the whole time. I felt like I was about to spin out on the front straight. We just have to figure out how to make it better and work our butts off to make sure that we never have this day again."
ETC.: Patrick said her poor run at Las Vegas "are the days you earn your money, not the days like Daytona, where you run up in the top five all day. Those days are great. These are the days that you have to be strong and you have to work through it and not let it drag you down."
39 RYAN NEWMAN, Chevrolet
Team: Stewart-Haas Racing
WHERE HE STANDS: 31st, 38 points out of the top 10. Lost 11 spots last week.
BRISTOL RECORD: 12 top-10 finishes in 22 starts.
LOOKING AHEAD: Newman "really enjoys racing at Bristol. I enjoy the re-configuration of the track. I hope we'll have a tire there this weekend that will allow us to use all three or four lanes of the track. It's just a great race track and a great short track. I love the fact that it's concrete and doesn't seem like it changes a whole lot. Once you get a car right, it's typically right for 500 laps, which is difficult to get on some of the race tracks. Honestly, there's no place like Bristol."
LOOKING BACK: Newman suffered engine failure late in the Las Vegas race and finished 38th. Newman was quick to blame himself for the blown engine. "I missed a shift," said Newman. "I missed a shift because of the restart, but that's my responsibility, not those guys in front of me. It's entirely on me. I could point fingers at the final restart, but it was still my fault."
ETC.: Newman feels "patience" is really important at Bristol "because it can be a track that really challenges your mentality. There, more so than most race tracks, it's that mental stamina of controlling your emotions and controlling the race car according to your emotions and making the best of all the situations you are in. Bristol is different every time you come there. It can be a lot of green-flag runs and a lot of single-file racing, or it can be crazy and it can get randomly crazier."


text:
Count me among the surprised last week when word got out that former President George W. Bush had a minimally invasive heart procedure to open a blocked artery.
Immediately after the news of the heart procedure, I started trying to figure out why a man, committed to physical fitness, at the increasingly "young" age of 67 succumbed to a blockage, while also trying to balance the idea that none of us are 100 percent immune to the No. 1 killer of Americans, heart disease.
Like him or not, Bush always set an example for fitness, frequently seen running or biking. Even with the stresses of being president, medical reports listed his resting heart rate in the mid-40s, his body mass index in the lower end of normal, and healthy blood pressure levels.
So why? And what's the takeaway.
Healthy? Still get checked
Former first lady Laura Bush offered the clearest takeaway. She told the Dallas Morning News that people should have regular check-ups, including women.
"I hope that will be the silver lining, that the word will get out to a lot of people," said Bush, who's played a prominent role in the Heart Truth campaign, an effort to raise awareness about heart disease among women.
Local heart experts underscore that while we have learned a lot about how to prevent and treat heart disease, its daily toll should be a reminder that vigilance is key.
Dr. Troy Bunting, medical director of the cardiac catheterization lab at Roper St. Francis Hospital, says that while Bush was considered physically fit, "coronary artery disease accumulates over time and reflects lifelong lifestyle habits."
"A person may be eating a healthy diet and exercising now, but they may still be at risk for heart disease. Certainly a healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise can prevent further damage," says Bunting, adding the importance of people talking to their doctor and getting screened, such as an exercise stress test or electrocardiogram.
Bunting adds that President Bush's heart disease was initially discovered on routine stress testing and, like the former first lady, he hopes the news will raise awareness of screening, symptoms and risk factors.
Why a stent?
Dr. Michael Gold, chief of cardiology at the Medical University of South Carolina, says that while specific details on Bush's symptoms and blockage have not been released, coronary stents are used to treat severe blockages, defined at 70 percent or more. Stents are effective for reducing symptoms or minimizing the size of heart attacks if one is occurring.
"CAD develops when the arteries that supply blood to heart muscle become hardened and narrowed. This is due to the buildup of cholesterol and other material, called plaque, on the inner walls of the artery," says Gold.
"As this buildup or blockage gets more severe, less blood can flow through the arteries. This can lead to chest pain, heart attack or other symptoms. Most heart attacks happen when a blood clot forms on the plaque and suddenly cuts off the heart's blood supply, causing permanent heart damage.
And atherosclerosis, which leads to the development of CAD, is part of the aging process, Gold says.
'This can be accelerated by certain risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking or a family history of heart attack at a young age," says Gold, adding that not having risk factors does not protect a patient from developed atherosclerosis.
" It simply reduces the risk and may delay or slow down the process. Therefore, treating and minimizing these risks are important and prevention is the mainstay for reducing heart attacks and other consequences of atherosclerosis, including regular exercise and a heart healthy diet.
Bush's unknown factor
And what about diet?
While keeping an ear and an eye out on the Bush story all week, I kept waiting to hear about the one caveat that I could see in his heart health. What was Bush's diet like?
I wondered about Bush's diet and, as a Texan, how much red meat was in it. (There are no answers to that question online). And I wondered if, or when, the next time President Clinton talks to President Bush that he may have some post-presidential diet advice, namely eating a plant-based vegan diet.
Famed heart surgeon Caldwell Esselstyn Jr., who has made a convincing pitch for a vegan diet in the documentary "Forks Over Knives," played a role in Clinton's decision and explained the effects of animal and processed foods in a Q&A in Jan. 30 edition of the Chicago Tribune.
Esselstyn explained that endothelial cells, which line the interior surface of our blood and lymphatic vessels, pump out "marvelous amounts" of the free radical nitric oxide, or what he calls "the absolute guardian and life jacket of our vessels."
"Nitric oxide keeps cells within our blood vessels flowing smoothly like Teflon, rather than Velcro. Nitric oxide also prevents inflammation from developing in the walls of the arteries, keeps us from getting stiff vessels and has a role in keeping us from developing blockages or plaque.
"Every time we ingest certain foods, it compromises and injures the endothelial cell's capacity to make nitric oxide. As we are constantly getting less and less nitric oxide, we are less able to prevent coronary artery disease.
Those certain foods? Esselstyn says, "Animal and processed foods, primarily oil, dairy, anything with mother or face — meat, fish and fowl — and sugar, coffee with caffeine."
Tweaking the plan
There's no telling if Bush needs to make changes, or if he does, whether he will.
But Dr. Suzanne Stein- baum, spokeswoman for the American Heart Asso- ciation and a cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, told U.S. News & World Report that he should.
"The stent allows for blood flow through the artery but is not a cure for atherosclerosis. Although a relatively simple procedure, it is more like a Band-Aid then an overall solution," says Steinbaum.
"Blockages of the artery, or atherosclerosis, develop from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, stress, sedentary lifestyle and family history. His job now will be to modify those risk factors to keep all of them in check. ... The next phase is prevention through healthy lifestyle choices, through diet, managing stress and continued exercise."
And while there is no bullet-proof vest against heart disease, there are always more we can do to improve our odds of surviving, from routine check-ups to eating a plant-based diet.
Reach David Quick at 937-5516 or dquick@postand courier.com.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Fiddler (and Eric Lawrence) just got acquired by Telerik.
Despite their assurances, I hope that Telerik doesn't pull a Red Gate. I use Fiddler all the time and I'd hate to see it get neutered. On the other hand, I'm excited to see it get some dedicated attention.
Best wishes to Eric!


text:
Energy Buttons, 5 Lbs.
Product Actions
Additional Information
Exclusive | Super-Nutrient Fertilizer: Organic Energy Buttons
- Nourish plants with nutrient-rich, composted manure
- A convenient and easy way to fertilize plants
- Earth-friendly and 100% organic
Give your garden a boost with the powerful nourishment of aged manure without the hassles. Simply sprinkle these fertilizer pellets right from the pail for slow-release energy. Rich in nitrogen, phosphorous, potash and calcium, they're great for vegetable plants and container gardens.
Product Details
- Contains composted poultry manure
- 5 lb. container
- NPK analysis: 3-4-3
- Made in USA
- Gardener's Supply Exclusive
There are no special shipping restrictions or charges associated with this item. For detailed information about our delivery methods and charges, click here.
We're proud of the fact that this item is shipped to you directly from our warehouse in Vermont, by one of our 250 employee-owners. In-stock items are packed with care and shipped within the next business day to ensure prompt delivery to your home and garden!


text:
Quality CareFind out why Mayo Clinic is the right place for your health care. Make an appointment.
Meet the StaffFind a directory of doctors and departments at all Mayo Clinic campuses. Visit now.
Research and Clinical TrialsSee how Mayo Clinic research and clinical trials advance the science of medicine and improve patient care. Explore now.
Visit Our SchoolsEducators at Mayo Clinic train tomorrow's leaders to deliver compassionate, high-value, safe patient care. Choose a degree.
Professional ServicesExplore Mayo Clinic's many resources and see jobs available for medical professionals. Get updates.
Give to Mayo ClinicHelp set a new world standard in care for people everywhere. Give now.
Subscribe to Housecall
Our general interest e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.
Food preparation is also something to consider. Avoid breaded and fried food. Instead request that your food be:
Ask if the chef can use:
If you're ordering pizza, request a thin crust and lots of vegetables. Avoid doubling up on cheese or meat.
If you're on a low-salt meal plan, ask that no salt or MSG be added to your food. Don't feel self-conscious about requesting healthier options or substitutions. You're simply doing what it takes to stay committed to your meal plan, and most restaurants want to make customers happy.
Avoid high-calorie drinks
Beware of the continuously refilled soda glass. Sugar-sweetened soda can add hundreds of calories to your meal. Shakes and ice-cream drinks may have even more calories, as well as saturated fat. Instead, order water, unsweetened iced tea, sparkling water, mineral water or diet soda.
When alcohol can worsen your diabetes
Alcohol has its own caveats. If your diabetes is under control and your doctor agrees, an occasional alcoholic drink with a meal is fine. But alcohol adds empty calories to your meal. It can also aggravate diabetes complications, such as nerve damage and eye disease.
If you decide to drink alcohol
If you choose to drink alcohol, choose options with fewer calories and carbohydrates, such as:
Limit your alcohol to up to one drink a day for women of all ages and men older than age 65, and up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and younger.
Eating at the same time every day can help you maintain steady blood sugar levels — especially if you take diabetes pills or insulin shots. If you're eating out with others, follow these tips:
When you have diabetes, dessert isn't necessarily off-limits. Sweets count as carbohydrates in your meal plan. If you'd like dessert other than fruit, compensate by reducing the amount of other carbohydrates — such as bread, tortillas, rice, milk or potatoes — in your meal.
Whether you're eating at home or eating out, remember the principles of diabetes nutrition:
Working together with your doctor or dietitian, you can feed your joy of eating out without jeopardizing your meal plan.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.
Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic.
Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below.
A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.


text:
*print the shapes
*laminate, cut out and attach magnets
The best price for laminating pouches I found was on amazon.
Total price: about $0.75 can't beat that!
Lessons learned:
*initial sounds
*matching words to pictures
Just a note: my 3 year old will only wear underwear, a princess outfit or a ballerina outfit. This happens to be her latest Valentine gift from Daddy: a Cinderella Wedding Dress:)
Here we worked on initial consonant sounds and also learned that the c can make an /s/ sound as in circle.
Sophia mostly liked taking them on and off. She did like naming/pointing to the colors. We would say, "Sophia, where is the RED rectangle?"
We also made a set of farm animals and fruit printables here.


text:
Friday, May 30, 2014
Krish Patel has always had a love for geography, and that love recently earned him fifth place in the 26th annual National Geographic Bee.
Krish, a 14-year-old rising ninth-grader at Pinewood Prep, was champion of the school geography bee in December. In April he went on to win the state title his fourth consecutive year to do so.
As a winner he received $100, an atlas and a temperature clock just bonuses to the all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in nationals.
On May 19 Krish beat the preliminary round, placing in the top 10 (out of 54 state-level winners who took part in the preliminaries). On May 21 he went on to the finals a game show-like competition that eliminated competitors after every three rounds. Krish was eliminated by round seven.
However, the Pinewood student came home a champion. He won $500 dollars and got to go on a sightseeing tour of D.C. along with the other contestants and he knows he made his school proud.
My friends were really supportive, he said. They were always encouraging and quizzing me.
Krish said the state-level geography bee was a little more challenging than the school bee, but nationals was tough. To prepare for the competition Krish would park himself in front of the giant map hanging on a wall in his house, pick an interesting-sounding place and look it up online to learn more.
I just find its very cool how different places and people can connect, he said. I find it really interesting. I just really like maps, too.
Krish stays busy at Pinewood, where he plays soccer and swims and also participates in a club swim team in Charleston, representing Ashborough. He hopes to one day enter the medical field and aspires to study abroad in college.
Now that he is a rising ninth grader, Krish is not eligible for the National Geographic Bee but has looked into other possibilities. Every two years the National Geographic Bee officials pick three people out of those placed fourth through 10th to go on to the World Bee. In 2015 the World Bee is going to be in Stockholm, Sweden.
They say they pick the names out of a hat but I dont know, Krish said. Its very secretive.
He said he would not mind competing with a team of friends in a different program.
I have a lot of supportive friends who would definitely come along, he said.
At school Krish received a lot of motivation from his teachers. Pinewoods Middle School Headmaster Angie Ringley accompanied him to Washington, D.C. to cheer him on.
Krish feels he did well in the competition. Im pretty happy with fifth, he said.
Krish was also joined by his parents Rakesh and Eliza Patel, who have come to all his geography bee competitions.
He gave his 100 percent, Rakesh Patel said. He did very good.
© 2016 The Journal Scene an Evening Post Industries company. All Rights Reserved.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Parental Consent Form.


text:
The Weld County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating a burglary at the post office in Gill.
A resident dropping off mail on Wednesday noticed a door between the office and the lobby had been kicked open, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.
Investigators found that the only visible damage was the interior door, and a small amount of mail, some keys and office supplies were stolen.
Residents are encouraged to contact their credit agency if they think any of their personal information might have been compromised. Anyone with information on the burglary can contact the sheriff's office at (970) 356-4015, ext. 2825.


text:
Kim Zolciak: Incredible Shrinking Woman?
Just nine (nine!) days after giving birth to twins, the Real Housewives of Atlanta star snapped this selfie of her post-baby bod, which looks jaw-droppingly skinny in black pants and a black tank top.
On Wednesday, Zolciak, 35, texted the pic to eldest daughter Brielle, 16, along with the messages "My belly is almost gone!!!" and "Damn u got good genes! Ur lucky."
Brielle then posted the messages on her Twitter account – thereby sharing the photo with the world.
Zolciak and husband Kroy Biermann, a defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons, welcomed daughter Kaia Rose and son Kane Ren on Nov. 25. Prior to the birth, Zolciak documented her growing belly on Instagram, including sharing a pic of her nearly full-term twin-size bump.
The rapid weight loss apparently even baffles Brielle, who also Tweeted, "How is my mom a size 4 ... it's been 9 days since she gave birth to twins."
It appears the slim-down was almost instant. Four days after the birth, Zolciak debuted her already petite physique when she and Biermann took the twins to visit the pediatrician.
"They are doing awesome," the Don't Be Tardy star told photographers of the twins as she headed into the Lawrenceville, Ga., medical office Friday. "A lot easier than I thought, so far ... but don't speak too soon, right?"
Kim Zolciak Snaps Svelte Selfie Just Nine Days After Giving Birth to Twins
Courtesy Kim Zolciak


text:
on January 29, 2013 - 1:00 AM
My View conveyed a valuable message
I just read the My View column published in the Jan. 25 paper titled, "We're indebted to all who work with hands." What a wonderful article written by one who must be an equally wonderful man. Here is a professor who could, along with all others of his ilk, look down his nose at those who service him with their hands, but instead he praises them, and asks all those who would look down their noses at them who they have to thank for the clothes they wear, the meals they savor, the plumbing or electrical conveniences they enjoy.
Wow. What a generous and "right-on" gentleman he is. Thanks to Wes Carter for this most profound article. I'm clipping it and sending it to my son, who does a magnificent job of working with his hands.
Marge McMillen
East Amherst


text:
This movie is going to have consequences on your children and how they view sex. You need to prayerfully address it. read more
Page 42 of 127
Here Are Some Dangerous Lies Teenage Boys Believe
Are you helping your children determine what to believe and what not to believe from society? read more
7 Things Wives Should Stop Doing
In a follow-up to Thursday's New Man post, it's now the wives' turn. read more
5 Damaging Stereotypes About Men
Stereotypes are tough to shake. Here are some that are especially hurtful for men. read more
My Spouse Cheated, Now What?
When this happens, the world tells you that you have many choices. Will you listen to the world or to the one who made the world? read more
What Is the State of Your Union?
Can you describe your marriage as a well-run democracy, or is it in chaos and in need of a stimulus package? read more
7 Things Husbands Should Stop Doing
What are some other things you think husbands should stop doing? read more
Are You Willing to Live for Your Children?
If we are willing to go so far as to die for them, why is it that we often don't seem willing to live as a godly example for them? read more
Why Do Women Cheat?
As a follow-up article to "Why Do Men Cheat," here are some reasons why women have strayed from their husbands. read more
Why Do Men Cheat?
Here are some reasons—not justifications—why some men feel the "need" or desire to be unfaithful. read more


text:
Westminster on Film
Check out our videos below to see why students from all over the world choose Westminster. Learn about our record of preparing students for success, Westminster's active learning environment, and about our close-knit campus community. You can also sit back while Camber takes you on a campus tour. Enjoy the videos and let us know if you have any questions at email@example.com
Check out more videos on YouTube.com/westminsterslc


text:
Attention soft-shell crab aficionados: The season is here but fleeting for these early spring delicacies.
Ellie Berry of Crosby's Fish & Shrimp Co. on Folly Road says that while cooler temperatures have slowed things down, she estimates only seven to 10 days at most before live and local crabs will be gone.
But Rial Fitch, owner of Mount Pleasant Seafood on Shem Creek, thinks he'll have live soft-shells for at least two more weeks. "The season is generally anywhere from three to six weeks long. It's hard to tell."
Not to worry. Both markets freeze live soft-shells to extend their availability. "We try to freeze up enough to last two or three months," Fitch says.
Crosby's crabs are priced at $5 apiece, and Mount Pleasant sells them for $6.
The molting process is triggered when the water temperature reaches 66 to 68 degrees and a full or new moon occurs. Then young female crabs that are ready to mate shed their shells. Their bodies remain in a soft state and are almost entirely edible until the new shell hardens.
Berry says 2013 was a different year for the soft-shells because of the chilly spring. "They want warmer weather," which meant the season began close to a month later than last year, when the Lowcountry had an unusually mild winter.
Berry reports the size of the soft-shells has been about average this year.


text:
Angotti Christmas concert to benefit local United Way
December 6, 2012
The United Way of Randolph County will host a family Christmas concert with John Angotti and friends. "Prepare Ye the Way for Christmas," will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Elkins High School auditorium....
No comments posted for this article.
Post a Comment
You must first login before you can comment.


text:
Serves 8 |
Prep Time 25 minutes |
Cook Time 30 minutes
1 cup organic whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup organic unbleached white flour
1/2 tsp Eden Sea Salt
1 tsp non-aluminum baking powder
1/2 cup Edensoy OriginalExtra Original or Unsweetened
1/3 cup Eden Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 1/2 pounds organic soft tofu, drained
1/4 cup Edensoy Originalor Vanilla
2 tsp Eden Ume Plum Vinegar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp lemon zest
3 Tbsp organic maple syrup
4 cups sliced peaches
1 Tbsp pure maple sugar
Preheat the oven to 375° and prepare the crust by combining all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Combine wet ingredients and add to the dry. Form into a ball of dough. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface until about 1/4 inch thick. Place in a tart pan and crimp the edges. Set aside while you prepare the filling.
Place the all the ingredients for the filling in a blender or food processor, except for the peaches and maple sugar. Pulse several seconds until thick and creamy. Pour the tofu mix into the tart pan. Arrange the sliced peaches in a circle on top of the tofu mixture. Bake about 20 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle the maple sugar over the peaches and bake another 5 minute or so until the sugar melts. If using a metal tart pan, you can place the tart under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes to brown. Do not broil if using a glass pan as it will shatter. Let cool and set before slicing.
American, Condiments, Dessert & Pastry, Edensoy, Good/High Protein, Macrobiotic, Oils, Vegan, Vinegars, Whole Grain


text:
TAHOE/TRUCKEE, Calif. - The Sierra Sun was rewarded recently in Las Vegas at the 2012 Nevada Press Association "Better Newspaper Contest" convention, earning several awards, including a trio of first-place nods for Community Editor Amy Edgett, Sports Editor Sylas Wright and former reporter Jason Shueh.
Edgett earned a top award for Best Feature Story, for "Max's Playground," her emotion-filled telling of the short life lived by Max Krieg - the little boy who died Dec. 2, 2010 - and the uplifting tale of the Truckee and Glenshire communities' collaborative support to build a playground in Max's honor.
NPA judges chose Edgett's story as the clear winner, commenting, "This article is so well written, so informative, so tactfully and beautifully written. It is head and shoulders above the competition ... This is an example of great story-telling."
Shueh, who left the Sun in December 2011, placed first for "Best News Feature Story" for his article "Prospering after prosperity," which tackled the topic of higher education and its worth and value in a modern era of increasing unemployment and skyrocketing student loan interest rates, all with local ties to Truckee/Tahoe.
Wright took top honors for Best Sports Photo for his image "Knocking Heads," a stunning image of North Tahoe's Liz Buhler and Truckee's Olivia Duner during a soccer game from September 2011.
"This photograph is wonderful!!! Great expressions and action. Great job," judges said.
Wright and Shueh also earned a second-place nod for "Best Business Feature" for their joint two-story package "Joining Forces," which included the business and local reaction angles of the Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows merger from 2011.
Lastly, the Sun received a first-place nod for "Best Special Section" for the 2011-12 winter edition of Tahoe Magazine - a publication jointly created by the Sun and its sister publications, the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, Tahoe Daily Tribune and Lake Tahoe Action.
NPA member newspapers serve readers in Nevada and are awarded top honors in the state each year reporting, photography, graphic design, editorial writing, advertising and general excellence. This year's awards were for content created March 2011 through March 2012.
This year, the Sun was included in the "Intermediate" category, pitting itself against some of the state's equal-sized and larger papers, including the Nevada Appeal, Daily Sparks Tribune and Elko Daily Free Press.


text:
January 11, 2013
STEUBENVILLE — Steubenville City Schools Superintendent Mike McVey said Thursday morning the school district followed proper protocol when officials learned of an alleged rape last August that may......
"As a school district, our goal is to graduate students who are well educated, compassionate and caring who create greater understanding and good will within the community."
If that is the goal, then what happened? Do you mean that is the goal NOW?
As long as you continue to be reluctant to admit the severity of the growing problems in our children and society...all that "don't blame us" we are doing our best rhetoric will never change anything. Until you admit that you are just as much as the problem...there will never be a solution to these problems.
Your grade is an "F".
0 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Showing 1 of 1 comments
Post a Comment
You must first login before you can comment.


text:
Another big game hunting season is about to come to a close. This past Wednesday, I was talking to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Public Relations Police Officer Lt. Tim Coleman in Charleston.
According to Coleman, this year the deer gun seasons have been somewhat safe.
During the firearms deer season, there were no shooting accidents involving a hunter shooting another. There were four self-inflicted gun shot wounds, none fatal. The reason for this is most likely hunters not having the muzzles of their guns pointed in safe directions. The locations for these were: two in Grant County, and one each in Braxton and Wayne counties.
There were two heart attacks that were fatal. These happened in Ritchie and Harrison counties. There were also five tree stand falls, none of which were fatal. The locations for these were: two in Marion County, one each in Grant, Nicholas, and Wood counties.
The big game hunting season will close at sunset on Monday.
If this is all West Virginia has for the firearms deer seasons, it could be one of the safest deer seasons on record. Keep in mind, all of these mishaps took place on or after Nov. 19, when the two-week buck gun season opened. There was a fatal tree stand fall in October in Jackson County in the Rock Castle area, but this was during the deer archery season. Considering there were 275,000 to 300,000 deer hunters outdoors trying to bag that "big buck" clearly indicates that deer gun season is a very safe activity.
Hunters need to keep these figures in mind when certain people start screaming about how dangerous sport hunting is.
The DNR will most likely release all of the preliminary big game harvest figures sometime next month. I could be wrong, but I really don't think there will be any kind of a record for any of the various deer seasons (state or county). If there is, the personnel at the Elkins Operations Center will be quick to let me know.
The black bear totals for the year has the potential to be a record, but the October super snowstorm could have driven some of the bears into early hibernation. We all know there are more bears in the state since records have been kept. The wild boar and wild turkey numbers have been down for several years, so I don't think any of these harvests figures will be any kind of a record.
Before Christmas, I was thinking about maybe going to the Morgantown area to get another antlerless deer.
The weather we are now having shot down this idea. After all, it is wintertime.
It looks like I am going to just stay indoors and watch post-season college football games and hoping West Virginia University will be able to defeat an old rival (Syracuse) in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.
If we get some decent weather in January, the fish stocking trucks will start rolling. However, the forecast for the next several days does not look promising. When the weather is not fit for man or beast, all I want to do is eat a big meal, get under an electric blanket, and just sleep the time away.
New Year's Eve will be on Monday night, and I don't have a clue what Ruth wants to do for the evening. One thing is certain, she will not want to stay home and watch football or basketball games.
So everyone, do your celebrating to bring in 2013 in a responsible manner.
The West Virginia State Police has already given more than sufficient notice in the newspapers, on radio and television, "Over the limit, under arrest." Here is ample reason to use good judgment when we all go to a New Year's Eve Party.


text:
Apartment for 4 in Paris - Eiffel
Storlek43 m²
Våning Nr.2
- Kök
- Internet/WiFi
- Handdukar
- Tv
- Tvättmaskin/torktumlare
|saint dominique, 75007 paris, Frankrike
|Typ av bostad
|Fastighetens ID
|Inom några timmar
|Kalender uppdaterad
|I dag
The apartment is located in the heart of the 7th arrondissement, between the Eiffel Tower and the Hotel des Invalides. This is a prestigious neighborhood where you will find the Hotel Matignon, Military School, the National Assembly. Guests have access to extensive public garden of the Champs de Mars dominated by the Eiffel Tower.
The building is typically Parisian, this is a secure building which dates from the late nineteenth century. It is very well maintained.
2nd floor without elevator, the apartment is very calm and clear
- Fully equipped kitchen: ceramic hob, oven, microwave, fridge and everything you need to cook and eat: dishes, pots, cups, glasses.
- Living room with sofa bed for 2 people.
- Bathroom with shower, heated towel rail and WC.
- Bedroom with real bed 2 people, very quiet.
For short term rentals (less than a month), towels and linens are provided, as well as cleaning. An efficient heating system ensures a steady and comfortable temperature in the apartment.
Within 10-15 minutes walk you will find the Musée d'Orsay, the Musée du quai Branly and the Musée Rodin.
You will find many restaurants and wine bars in the neighborhood. Breteuil market takes place two times a week, the busy shopping street Clerc is right next to the apartment so you can enjoy all the amenities.
The apartment is easily accessible by metro from the station Ecole Militaire (5 min. Walk). Easy access to stations. Access to the train to go to Château de Versailles is just 5 minutes from the apartment.
From the train station Gare du Nord or Chatelet you can take the train to the airport Charles de Gaulle and Orly.
For late arrivals, please note that a late check-in charge will apply, which amounts to EUR 20 between 8PM and 10PM and EUR 40 after 10PM.
Une caution de EUR 200 est demandée pour couvrir d'éventuels dégâts ou réparations dans l'appartement du fait des locataires. Elle est réglée par CB avec notre terminal de paiement mobile (la somme en question n'est pas débitée mais " pré-autorisée" comme pour la location d'une voiture par exemple).
|Max antal nätter
|6 månader
|Check-in efter
|Check-in före
|Enligt arrangemang
|Utcheckning före
the apartment is placed well for visiting Paris - it is possible to walk from there to see the City - but public tranportation is also very ggod from there. Everything you need in terms of restaurant ect nin the area.
The welcoming was not very good. We waited outside to be received but no one came to see us. It was not possble to reach jeremy by phone - and his assistant was not to confident with directing us over the phone. But at the end we found the place - and it the place was good.
I stayed with my mother in this apartment and we both loved everything about the place! The apartment itself is clean and comfortable. Everything you'll need is present in the apartment. The neighborhood is really nice and friendly. There are a lot of restaurants, bars and even grocery stores in the direct neighborhood. Also, the subway station is right across the street from the apartment, which is very convenient. Last but nog least, the communication with Jeremy was very easy. He told us everything we needed to know on beforehand, including directions from Gare du Nord to the apartment. Our arrangements for picking up the key worked out great. All in all, we had an amazing stay in a wonderful city!
A nice apartment in a nice surrounding. We have had a good contact with Jérémy and it was great that we could use the apartment already from 11 am (to put our luggage in). Unfortunately we had to leave the apartment on the departure day before 11 am and there was not a possibility to leave our luggage in a separate space. The apartment is nice, the sleeping couch in the living room a bit hard and you should be aware of the fact, that the bar on the ground floor will give some noice disturbance early in the night.
Nice clean flat in good area. Great for us.
I had a very pleasant stay in the apartment in July 2015. A fantastic view on the busy Paris life. Being on the fourth floor is a lot of climbing of course but you get used to it. Toilet and bathroom were small but good quality, The stove might need replacement on the ling run but it did work properly. So I will certainly come back to this apartment with a supermarket across the street and restaurants around the corner as well as the metro station within 100 meters.
This is a truly wonderful apartment!!
And I recommend it to everyone who is looking for one. :-)
It is clean, really clean!! Not just pretending to be clean. Clean floors, clean bathroom, and lovely clean bedsheets!!! It was pleasure to sleep there! You really do have two (!) double beds as in the photos! And they are both (!) amazingly comfortable (which for me means that the mattress is rather hard and a true pleasure to sleep on). You also have a spacious wardrobe and even a table to put your things on, write postcards... and a smaller armchair to sit in - all this in the bedroom. Then there is the small but cosy living room where you can eat. Here you have a couch with another great mattress! Bathroom is clean and in my opinion well thought through (maybe just something to hold the toilet paper would be a nice detail but it is nothing that bugs you if you know what I mean :-) ) - you get those really nice details like something to hold the soap and so on ... :-) You also get towels which are not only clean but also smell nice - it all feels really clean which is a great thing.
The kitchen is nice, function-able :-) - it needs some updating but Jérémy was very friendly and assured me that he would look into it so I believe that the next time you come it will all be great and you can cook without any trouble.
The apartment feels very safe thanks to all the codes on the main entrance door as well as the iron gate :-) and it is very very quiet (unless the neighbors go crazy ;-) which can happen anywhere as we all know, and then you sure can´t blame Jérémy;-) )
There is even some vegetation in the courtyard to be seen from all of the windows. Nice.
We enjoyed our stay in Paris immensely also thanks to Jérémy´s apartment!! We felt there "at home".
So, in case you are still looking and deciding... in my opinion - you just found it! :-)
If I had to chose just one word to describe it, it would be "generous".
I am not going to write here much about how close it is to pretty much anywhere (exception of course Sacré Coeur and the Eiffel Tower) because you can see that on the map :-).
There is some really nice - meaning very tasty food ;-), friendly service, reasonable prices - restaurant just two doors away, on the corner. And many other great shops, bakeries....
I come to Paris more often and from now on, I am for sure going to stay in this place.
Thank You Jérémy! It was wonderful!
We enjoyed a lot in Paris and one of the reasons was the flat. It was very clean, comfortable. Neighborhood is lovely, and very close to the majority of places to visit. Metro is in front of the door and many cafes, stores, etc...
We will talk about your flat to friends who want to visit Paris.
Thanks for all.
It's a wonderful apartment, very clean and in a quite area. The space is absolutely sufficient for 3 people. The apartment is located very close to the city centre and with direct access to the metro.
The organisation went perfectly and we had a great time in Paris! Many thanks to Jérémy and Anissa.
Great location. Good restaurants, bars and grocery store nearby. Metro less than a block away. Apartment is clean and comfortable and allows you to live as a local for a few days.
Very big flat for Paris, clean and nice perfect for 2 people!
The kitchen was full of what you need for cooking! Highly Recommended!
- Kvalitetssäkrat boende
- Varje värd verifieras över telefon
- Säker betalning med SSL-kryptering


text:
The new Volvo FH series
The new Volvo FMX
The new Volvo FM
The new Volvo FE
The new Volvo FL
The seats in the Volvo FE cab are safely anchored to the floor, and the anchoring has been specially reinforced in order to provide maximum safety. In fact the entire FE cab has been reinforced to protect you in the event of an accident. It goes without saying that the cab has passed all Volvo's collision, barrier and crash tests.
At Volvo we have developed the FUP and RUP systems with other road users in mind. Front and rear under-run protection prevents smaller vehicles from becoming wedged under the truck if there is a collision.
The seatbelts in the Volvo FE are integrated into the seats and provide first-class impact resistance. They are available in either black or red, the latter option making it easy for those outside the cab to see that they are being used.
All three seats available for the Volvo FE feature integrated headrests, which not only offer maximum comfort when travelling, but have also been tested to ensure that they provide a safe and proper restraint in the event of a collision.
When driving in an urban environment it is vital that you are able to get the total picture of your surroundings at all times. With electrically controlled, optionally heated exterior mirrors you will be in complete control of what you see. Tinted, solar managed glass is available as option. This reduces the heating up of the cabin due to sun. Extra windows in the doors and side panels are also available. These can be particularly useful when driving in confined spaces, while a rear-view window lets you keep an eye on your precious cargo.
An advanced remote-controlled alarm system makes the Volvo FE an enemy of the thief. Easily activated in the event of unwelcome guests trying to open the doors or disturb the vehicle, it offers you peace of mind when you are elsewhere.
The front three-piece bumper has been equipped with steel corners with good impact resistance, resulting in a reduced risk of damages and the accompanying costs. As the bumper consists of three pieces, there's a good chance just one of the pieces will sustain damage if a small accident happens. In that case, you'll only have to exchange that single piece, thus lowering your repair costs.
Your safety is vital to us. With this in mind, there are a number of optional safety items available to order, to make your cab interior an even safer place to inhabit. Fire extinguisher, warning vest or portable warning lamp – just choose the equipment you need.


text:
The new Volvo FH
The new Volvo FMX
The new Volvo FM
The new and modern instrument cluster is designed with the driver in focus, and all information in the right place.
Learn more about the instrument cluster
Interested in buying a new Volvo FH? Identifying your ultimate transport solution is best done by meeting up with someone dedicated to the whole process of buying and owning a Volvo Truck. Together you will finalise the specs, find the best financial deal as well as the most appropriate service agreements for once your truck is on the road.


text:
The one and only golfing green here on Swiss soil proffers outdoor relaxation close to both the lake and city. And Geneva's hinterland as well as the famous Jet d'Eau fountain are two aspects of the region you can't miss out on!
18-hole golf courses:
Golf courses
18-hole golf courses:
Golf-Club de Genève, Cologny


text:
on November 14, 2012 - 12:13 AM
, updated November 14, 2012 at 7:04 AM
Of all the essential ingredients of a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner, fresh cranberries are among the most fleeting. Cravings for turkey, stuffing and gravy can be addressed all year long, but the puckery pop of fresh cranberries is limited to their fall season.
Yes, you can get frozen berries anytime, but they lose precious tanginess in the process. All the more reason, then, to engage in a wanton cranberry spree around Thanksgiving.
Cranberry sauces are the standard, of course, though what specifically "standard" means will differ from table to table. Tastes etched in childhood are not easily set aside, which explains why it's not unusual to see, as part of the official Thanksgiving table setting, a piece of fine china bearing a perfectly can-shaped cylinder of glistening cranberry gel.
By all means honor the standards of your household, but consider adding a wrinkle – if not at Thanksgiving dinner, then around it.
Why not start with a cranberry cocktail? Muddle cranberries with lime and orange and a bit of brown sugar for a pilgrim's version of the caipirinha. The Brazilian drink is made with cachaca, a sugarcane liquor with a touch of smokiness. (White rum with a dash of tequila makes a capable substitute.)
The truth about cranberry sauce is you don't really need a recipe. Put fresh cranberries in a pot, add a little flavorful liquid or just water, and as much sugar or other sweetener as you like. Cook until the berries pop. If you want it to thicken, wait until it cools.
If you want to try something new, consider a sauce made with pear and brandy, and the toasty crunch of walnuts.
Besides the pumpkin pie, consider a cranberry upside-down cake, which balances the cranberry's tartness with a brown sugar walnut caramel. You do have to cut a circle of parchment paper to make sure it leaves the pan cleanly, but it's worth it to show off the creamy cake shot through with vivid streaks of crimson.
Or just skip the paperwork and bake it in a pie plate, as the original did. Either way, its aromatic flavors of orange peel and cinnamon, and balanced sweet-and-sour character will bring diners back for more.
Another dessert idea is crumb-topped cranberry cookie bars, infused with mulling spices.
Remember when using fresh cranberries to pick through them first, removing stems and wilted specimens. If you buy more than you can use in a week or two, throw them in the freezer, where they'll remain usable for a few months.
Cranberry Right-Side-Up Cake
12 ounces fresh cranberries
½ cup packed light brown sugar
2 to 3 teaspoons grated orange zest
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg or allspice
¾ cup coarsely chopped walnuts
2 large eggs
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup sour cream
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter an 8- or 9-inch round pan and line with parchment paper. (If not planning to flip cake, butter a 10-inch pie plate.)
Combine the cranberries, brown sugar, orange zest, cinnamon and walnuts in a bowl, then spread the mixture out evenly in the plate.
Whisk the eggs together in a mixing bowl. Beat in the butter, sugar, vanilla and sour cream until blended. Gradually stir in the flour and mix until smooth. Pour evenly over the cranberries in the pie plate.
Bake for about 1 hour, until the cake is just firm and browned on top. Let cool at least 20 minutes. Then, turn out onto a cake plate so the fruit is on top.
Peel off paper. Serve warm or at room temperature, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or heavy cream, as desired.
(From Julia Moskin and Kim Severson's "Cookfight," refined by Laurie Colwin from a recipe in Sarah Leah Chase's "Cold-Weather Cooking.")
Cranberry Caipirinha
1 or 2 lime wedges (to taste)
1 small orange wedge
10 cranberries
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1 and ½ ounces aged cachaça (or 1 ounce white rum and ½ ounce white tequila)
Place the lime, orange and cranberries in a cocktail shaker. Add the sugar and muddle with the fruit.
Fill a rocks glass with cracked ice and transfer the ice to the cocktail shaker. Add the lime juice and the cachaça, and shake well.
Pour everything, including all the muddled fruit from the shaker, into the rocks glass, and serve.
(From Ideya Latino Bistro in New York City, via Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld's "In Season," Blue Rider Press.)
Pear, Brandy and Walnut Cranberry Sauce
1/3 cup, plus 2-3 tablespoons brandy, divided
2 cinnamon sticks, each broken in half
8 black peppercorns
12 ounces fresh cranberries, picked over
¾ cups packed light brown sugar
2 medium bartlett pears, peeled
½ cup chopped walnuts, toasted and divided
Pour 1/3 cup brandy into liquid measuring cup; add enough water to reach ½ cup liquid total. Set aside. Place broken cinnamon sticks and peppercorns in center of small piece of cheesecloth or large tea bag and tie closed using kitchen twine. (If lacking cheesecloth, toss cinnamon sticks in, to remove later, and season with fresh ground black pepper before serving.)
In medium saucepot, combine cranberries, brown sugar and cinnamon-pepper bundle. Using large holes on a box grater, grate pears into saucepot. Stir in brandy-water mixture.
Over high heat, bring cranberry mixture to a boil; reduce heat to medium and cook 10-12 minutes, or until cranberries have burst and the mixture has combined, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
Stir in 2 to 3 tablespoons brandy. Let cool. Remove and discard cinnamon bundle. Stir in 7 tablespoons toasted walnuts. Transfer mixture to small serving bowl; sprinkle with remaining walnuts.
(From Food52.com.)
Cranberry Crumb Bars with Mulling Spices
For crumb:
3 cups (375 grams) all-purpose flour
1 cup (200 grams) sugar
½ teaspoon table salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup unsalted butter (225 grams or 2 sticks), chilled
1 large egg
For filling:
½ teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
1½ tablespoons (25 ml) orange juice
3 cups fresh cranberries (340 grams or 12-ounce bag)
½ cup (100 grams) sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Line the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, and butter the sides and the parchment. In a large, widish bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and spices. With a pastry blender or fork, work the chilled butter and the egg into the flour mixture until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Pat half the crumb base into the bottom of your prepared pan; it will be thin.
In the bowl of a food processor or blender, briefly pulse the filling ingredients until the berries are coarsely chopped but not puréed. Spread the filling over the crumb base. Sprinkle the remaining crumbs evenly over the cranberry mixture.
Bake cookies for 30 to 35 minutes, or until lightly brown on top. Cool completely before cutting into squares.
(Excerpted from The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by Deb Perelman. Copyright © 2012 by Deb Perelman. Excerpted by permission of Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.)
email: email@example.com


text:
on November 9, 2012 - 7:58 PM
A Buffalo woman faces felony first-degree assault and a weapons charge after she allegedly attacked her boyfriend early Wednesday at a Pershing Avenue apartment, Buffalo Police reported.
Gwendolyn Pugh-Bishop, 49, allegedly used a knife to stab Darryl Spell in the head and shoulders multiple times about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Reports stated that Pugh-Bishop grabbed a kitchen knife from a drawer and began to stab Spell during a verbal and physical confrontation.
She was apprehended a short time later in the 900 block of Jefferson Avenue. Spell was taken by ambulance to Erie County Medical Center where he was treated in the emergency room and later discharged, according to a hospital spokeswoman.


text:
Mayatex™ Ramrod Double Weave Saddle Blanket
The Ramrod Double Weave Saddle Blanket by Mayatex™ has an intricate and eye-catching design that will make anyone stand out! Read more...
This Mayatex™ Ramrod Double Weave Saddle Blanket is made of quality, beautifully patterned, blended acrylic fiber that's tightly woven and very durable. Sized at 32" x 64", this western saddle blanket was independently recommended as the best working saddle blanket for the money. 4.5 lbs.
Overall Rating: 5 StarsAverage Based on 3 Reviews Write a Review
Great blanket
I love this saddle blanket. Great price for high quality and pleasing designs. Lasts for years, machine washable. Very pleased with this purchase.
I love this saddle blanket! It's great for everyday use and it can be put in the washer and cleaned no problem. I've had them for years!
I love this saddle pad! I use it everyday
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed - Your Money Back Any Time, for Any Reason.
Smith Brothers is proud to offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our products. We stand behind the quality of our products, and should you not be satisfied with your purchase, simply return it and we will refund, replace or exchange it for you.


text:
The Nissan NV200 will be popular with taller drivers and passengers in the front seat, due to its greater front head- and legroom than the Chevrolet Express 2500.
There are a lot of factors to consider when calculating the overall cost of a vehicle. The main consideration is Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). Clearly, the Nissan NV200 is a better financial choice over the Chevrolet Express 2500, when considering MSRP. Another consideration is the Destination Charge, which is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle to the dealer from where it's built. The Nissan NV200 carries a much lower Destination Charge than the Chevrolet Express 2500.
Since the Nissan NV200 is much slimmer than the Chevrolet Express 2500, it'll be much easier to find a wide enough space in a crowded parking lot. If you go with the Nissan NV200, you'll have a much easier time finding a large enough space to park than you will with the Chevrolet Express 2500.
The Nissan NV200 has much lower torque than the Chevrolet Express 2500, which generally means that it won't feel as fast or powerful.
The Nissan NV200 has a significantly smaller turning radius than the Chevrolet Express 2500, allowing you to much more easily maneuver in and out of tight spots.
When it comes to horsepower, the Nissan NV200 has a lot less horsepower than the Chevrolet Express 2500.
Soccer Moms beware - the Nissan NV200 seats a lot fewer people than the Chevrolet Express 2500. The Nissan NV200 has significantly less cargo capacity than the Chevrolet Express 2500.
You'll have greater peace of mind with the more generous basic warranty of the Nissan NV200 than that of the Chevrolet Express 2500.
Compare the 2016 Nissan NV200 and the 2016 Chevrolet Express 2500.
2016 Nissan
2016 Chevrolet
|Cash Back Rebate:
|Up to $1,000
|Up to $500
|Low APR Loan:
|As low as 0.00%
|As low as 2.90%
|Lease Incentive:
|As low as 5.28%
|As low as 4.61%
|City MPG:
|Highway MPG:
|Seating Capacity:
|2 - 2
|5 - 8
|Basic Warranty:
|5 years/100,000 miles
|3 years/36,000 miles
|$19,999 - $20,852
|$28,453 - $41,292
Days on Lot measures the average number of days a model sits on a dealer's lot before it's sold. This is one predictor of a dealer's willingness to negotiate.
Monthly Trend for:
2016 Nissan NV200
No Data
Monthly Trend for:
2016 Chevrolet Express 2500
No Data
*MSRP and Invoice prices displayed do not include applicable gas taxes or destination charges.


text:
Room to Read | World Change Starts with Educated Children
It all started with a case of job burnout. As an overworked Microsoft executive, John Wood escaped to Nepal for a much-needed backpacking getaway. While hiking in the Himalayas, John met a Nepalese "Education Resource Officer" who invited him to visit a school in a neighboring village. Little did John know that this short detour would change his life forever. At the school, John saw the harsh reality confronting not only this village, but millions of Nepalese children–a dilapidated schoolroom and a severe shortage of books. John was stunned to discover that the few books this school had had–a Danielle Steele romance, the Lonely Planet Guide to Mongolia, and a few other backpacker castoffs–were so precious that they were kept under lock and key...to protect them from the children!
As John left the village, the headmaster made a simple request: "Perhaps, Sir, you will someday come back with books." His request would not go unheard. John emailed friends asking for help collecting children's books, and within two months had collected over 3,000 books. The following year, John and his father, accompanied by a train of eight book-bearing donkeys, returned to the village in Nepal. Seeing the faces of the children with the books convinced John to leave the corporate world and devote himself to becoming the Andrew Carnegie of the developing world. In late 1999, John quit his executive position with Microsoft and started Room to Read.
Beginning in Nepal, John and his Nepali Co-Founder, Dinesh Shrestha, started by working with rural communities to build schools (School Room) and establish libraries (Reading Room).
John and co-founder, Dinesh Shrestha, quickly recognized the need to expand the scope of work beyond libraries and wanted to address the fact that many girls in the developing world are overlooked in the educational system due to cultural bias. To that end, in 2000 Room to Read began the Girls' Education program which targets young girls and provides a long-term commitment to their education.
In 2001, Erin Ganju joined the team as Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer (now Chief Executive Officer) and was instrumental in our expansion into Vietnam, at which point the organization became officially "Room to Read." With growing demand for our programs, John and Erin worked together to further expanded our work in Cambodia in 2002, followed by India in 2003.
Children's books in local languages were very difficult to find, and in 2003, Room to Read launched the Local Language Publishing program. The colorful books, written and illustrated by local authors and illustrators, together with donated English-language books, now fill the shelves of libraries and schools.
A year later we celebrated one of our first major programmatic milestones by opening our 1,000th library in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Later that year, just days after the December 24th Asian tsunami devastated thousands of villages, we made the bold decision to launch operations in Sri Lanka and help this community rebuild itself.
In 2005, Room to Read expanded into our sixth Asian country, Laos. And, on September 2nd, we opened our 2,000th library, once again in Cambodia–less than 18 months after our 1,000th library ceremony. We ended 2005, with another big milestone–the donation of our millionth book!
Room to Read experienced a year of expansion in 2006–both in awareness of the organization and geography of its work. John's memoir, Leaving Microsoft to Change the World was published by Random House and was an important vehicle for sharing the Room to Read story. The book received extensive media coverage and is now available in 18 languages through the world. Also in 2006, Room to Read expanded to a new continent–Africa–initially in South Africa, followed by Zambia a year later.
Following major media exposure with John's appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2007, Room to Read took another bold step at the Clinton Global Initiative by announcing a commitment to double the programmatic reach by building 10,000 bilingual libraries by the year 2010. Part of that commitment included launching the Room to Dream campaign to help us reach that ambitious goal.
In 2009, Room to Read expanded into Bangladesh and successfully started operations there. Looking ahead to the next decade, in 2009 Room to Read conducted a thorough and participatory strategic planning process to articulate our goals for the next decade and beyond. This plan, Envisioning Our Future: A Roadmap for Learning, was released in 2010 and it sharpened our focus to two objectives: Literacy and Gender Equality in Education.
As part of our focus on Literacy, Room to Read began piloting a Reading & Writing Instruction program in 2008, designed to fill gaps in early grade literacy curriculum that exist in many of the countries where we work. Through teacher training, material development and the support of literacy facilitators in classrooms, we have seen great improvement in children's reading levels, and rolled out the program to all of our countries of operation.
In 2012, we also began operations in Tanzania, our tenth country of operation. Now operating in thousands of communities across Asia and Africa, we maintain a laser-sharp focus on program quality and continue to invest heavily in measurement and evaluation.To learn more about how we plan to continue to scale with quality, download and read our 2015-2019 strategic plan.
Invest in Room to Read
results updated annually
Solving the Puzzle Learn More
Get current on the Room to Read news and stories from the field. And, don't forget to sign up for our Twitter feed!Learn More
Email Sign-Up
Privacy and Cookies Policy | Terms & Conditions Copyright © 2015 Room to Read. All rights reserved. Room to Read, the Room to Read Logo and World Change Starts with Educated Children are registered trademarks of Room to Read in the United States and other countries.