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Michel Gondry isn't a newcomer, but he always manages to surprise us. The French native, whose "Mood Indigo" opens in the U.S. today, has already inspired a generation of filmmakers.Read More »
This weekend "The Wolverine," starring Hugh Jackman as the adamantium-clawed avenger (is he ever not playing Wolverine?), will be slashing its way onto screens nationwide. But as fans know, this wasn't the original vision that Jackman and Fox had in mind. No, that version was to be helmed by Darren ...Read More »
One of cinema's premiere dreamers, Michel Gondry is also a fascinating conversationalist, and at the recent Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (which screened his latest "Mood Indigo"), he participated in a master class, exposing the labyrinthine twists of his brain to a receptive audience. An...Read More »
Time heals all wounds. Or at least it adds some perspective and allows talent to be divorced from the obligations of promotion, to be honest about what they've made. And so, reflections on the franchise that wasn't, "The Green Hornet," continue to roll. You might recall the producer Neal Moritz said...Read More »
Previs for VFX-intensive movies is not only getting more sophisticated but also more graphic as well, further blurring the line between live-action and animation. Check out these clips from The Green Hornet previs, animated in XSI and rendered using the mental ray toon shader.Read More »
Just one more reason why we love French filmmaker Michel Gondry: not only is he constantly challenging the preconceptions of who he is as a filmmaker by moving from documentary to mainstream tentpole back to micro-budgeted indie film, he's also frank with his opinions on his on work. Maybe ...Read More »
Earlier today, producer/enemy of quality Neal Moritz confirmed what anyone with a brain and cursory knowledge of the box office charts of early 2011 was aware of: a sequel to "Green Hornet," his Michel Gondry-directed, Seth Rogen led superhero movie of last January, isn't happening any time soon. Th...Read More »
It was a rough and bumpy ride for "The Green Hornet" as it made its way to theaters. With chatter of studio dissatisfaction, poor test audience results, shifting release dates and a late game decision to convert to 3D, the superhero flick still managed to bank a respectable, if not quite b...Read More »
For some time now, the received wisdom has been that the kind of mid-budget, star-driven serious films that once dominated Hollywood were on their way out. Dan Jinks, the producer of "Milk," told Mark Harris at GQ a couple of months back that, "Everyone has cut back on not just 'Oscar-worthy' movies, but on dramas, period. Caution has made them pull away. It's infected the entire business." Indeed, the new regime at Disney announced their intention back in 2010 to focus entirely on tentpoles, even canceling a proposed sequel to the $200 million-grossing hit "The Proposal," a film that cost a relatively meager $40 million, because it didn't fi...Read More »
Not much news to report during this quiet January weekend. One wide release opened to numbers that a studio would expect given two publicity-heavy stars in January ($20.3 million). "No Strings Attached" matched industry expectations, bringing good news to all involved, though if you're the only wide...Read More »


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Day One Review: Garmin Forerunner 405 watch, GPS fitness done right
The Garmin Forerunner line of GPS-enabled watches just took a giant leap in techno-goodness. If you're a runner or walker, you're going to like the way this new Forerunner 405 ($300) measures and records your speed, distance, elevation and even heart rate.
It's easy to keep track of all your exercising with this compact device, which can wirelessly transmit your workouts to your PC once you get back home. And it does it all while looking almost like a regular watch you can wear anywhere. After using its predecessors, the Garmin Forerunner 301 and 305, for years, we were eager to see how the 14 months of development since the 305's release would pay off. So we took it for a stroll and so far are tremendously impressed. More details after the Continue jump.
Taking the unit out of the box, our first impression was how different the 405 looks from the 305, and especially the 301 (see a group shot in the gallery below), which was pretty much a handheld GPS device with a watch strap attached. The 405 has been mightily miniaturized, but is still a bit bulky to be worn as an everyday watch. Gone is its onboard mini USB port, replaced by innovative and effortless wireless connectivity and a two-pronged charging gripper that gently bites into metal contact points on the back.
After we loaded the software drivers for the included pinky-sized wireless USB receiver (unfortunately PC-only until this fall), the watch quickly paired with its mate. The heart-rate monitor, which you strap around your chest, also instantly paired with the watch. Hey, this is going to be easy. Even though we'd only charged it up for a couple of hours, the Forerunner 405 was ready to hit the road.
Its ability to acquire GPS satellites is noticeably improved. In fact, it was able to get a fix while we were still indoors, showing us the correct time within minutes of charging. When we went outside, it was ready to start tracking our 1km test walking route. Along the way, it didn't drop the GPS signal once, even though we were walking under numerous trees. And the heart-rate monitor literally didn't miss a beat.
Another innovation is the touch controls. It's not a touchscreen; you control functions by touching and sliding your fingers along the bezel surrounding the watch face. It's highly responsive and takes some getting used to. But it works well — a big improvement over the multiple buttons of its predecessors. With the 405, there are just two; everything else is controlled by bezel touches.
Returning from that test walk, the watch eagerly recognized its PC friend as soon as it was about 9 feet away, uploading its data to the Garmin Connect website before we realized what was happening. It also instantly loaded that data onto the Garmin Training Center software that you can install on your PC.
Summing up, the Garmin Forerunner 405 is simply excellent. It's a significant improvement over the Forerunner 305 and makes it fun and easy to keep track of your fitness activities.
For another take on the Garmin Forerunner 405, check out this review
For another take on the Garmin Forerunner 405, check out this review

subset: commoncrawl


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First the good news: Consumption of certified organic food is growing and not letting up. According to the Organic Trade Association's 2012 survey, the industry grew by 9.5 percent in 2011 to reach $31.5 billion in sales; of this, $29.22 billion was in organic food and beverages. Organic food now represents 4.2 percent of overall food sales, up 4 percent from 2010. Who wouldn't want a piece of this action?
Now the not-so-good news: It costs money and time to become a certified organic grower. It takes at least three years to transition your land and crops to being herbicide, pesticide and chemical-free (if you are not already growing organic crops). There is also lots of paperwork and bureaucratic hoops to jump through for the green USDA certified organic seal.
Are you already growing what you consider to be organic produce? Should you take the plunge and become certified? That depends on how much produce you're growing, and how much it means to your business to get the certified seal.
Many small organic growers have decided that the certified organic label is simply not worth it. They may use all the federal guidelines for organic growing - and let their customers know it - but forgo the federal certification process because they feel the paperwork and bookkeeping are too costly for a small operation.
If you're a small grower, or are growing small amounts of organic produce on your conventional farm, this approach is perfectly fine, since you're operating within USDA regulations and are considered an "exempt" operation - as long as you meet the USDA definition of "small," which is $5,000 or less of gross agricultural income from organic sales per year. If you fit into this category (and you should be keeping records to prove it), you don't need to be certified organic to sell, label or represent your products as organic.
However, even these small operators have limitations. To make the claim "organic" at all, the USDA says that small operations need to follow other requirements in the USDA organic regulations, including:
* Maintaining records for at least three years.
* Not using the USDA organic seal on your products or referring to them as "certified organic" (you can say they are "organic").
* Not selling products as ingredients for use in another business' certified organic product.
Any farm that sells more than $5,000 in organic products per year (gross sales) must be certified organic. You cannot make a marketing claim to be organic without certification. Period. For more information on this requirement, visit http://1.usa.gov/M3oP4T.
"If you are a large producer and sell at a farmers' market, you can certainly have a conversation with your customers and talk about all the organic practices you use in your operation," says Ann Baier, a sustainable agriculture specialist with ATTRA and organic inspector for the past 14 years who works out of her office in Davis, Calif. "But you can't use the word 'organic' as a label claim or in signage."
The USDA National Organic Program has recently taken steps to reduce paperwork to obtain the USDA certified organic seal. According to a USDA blog post, the "Sound and Sensible" initiative (introduced in April 2013) "involves identifying and removing barriers to certification, streamlining the certification process, focusing enforcement, and working with farmers and processors to correct small issues before they become larger ones." The goal, the blog says, is to make organic certification accessible, attainable and affordable for all operations.
The five principles of "Sound and Sensible" include:
1. Efficient processes (to eliminate bureaucratic processes that do not contribute to organic integrity).
2. Streamlined record-keeping (so that the required records are not a barrier for farms to maintain organic compliance).
3. Practical plans (to support simplified organic system plans that clearly capture organic practices).
4. Fair, focused enforcement (to focus enforcement on "willful egregious violators" and handle minor violations in ways that lead to compliance).
5. Integrity first (a focus on factors that impact organic integrity the most).
The USDA/NOP notes that this initiative is still in its development stage.
Baier, who was an organic inspector before the federal rules went into effect in 2002, says that many California farms were farming organically before the USDA rules. Some continue to operate as organic farms without the official certification label.
"When you have rapport with customers, the certification doesn't matter as much, but it does help facilitate commerce in larger operations," she says.
If you're already selling more than $5,000 worth of organic produce, you may wonder if it's worth it to make the leap and get an organic certification from the USDA.
What's stopping you may be the cost of certification and the bookkeeping involved in maintaining your certification. (See sidebar: Efforts Under Way to Make Certified Organic Paperwork Less Painful.)
Baier says that while there is a perception that the bookkeeping is burdensome, she believes the records most farms keep for a certified organic operation are not much different than what is kept in a well-run business.
"Most farms want to keep records of production and sales ... even if it is not required for certification," says Baier. This kind of exacting record-keeping is invaluable for identifying problems and making better business decisions, she notes.
Harriet Behar, organic specialist with Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) and certified organic vegetable grower in Gays Mills, Wis., agrees. "The bookkeeping that is required for you to be a certified organic farmer actually makes you a better farmer," says Behar. "You become a better observer and have historical records that help you manage your farm better. The best organic farmers also have the best records and use those records to make sound business decisions."
Certification costs can vary; for a small to medium-sized vegetable farm, it can cost $500 to $750 per year. Behar notes that this can be a barrier for small growers or growers transitioning to organic.
Up until 2012, this regulatory financial burden had been lessened by a cost-share provision in the farm bill, whereby farmers could get reimbursed up to three-quarters of the cost of certification or $750, whichever was less. However, the farm bill expired on January 1, 2013, and while some parts of the bill are still functioning, the cost sharing became a stranded program, notes Behar.
The organic certification costs are a bone of contention among farmers. "Many organic farmers feel that since they pay taxes, they should not have to pay an extra user fee to have government oversight," Behar says. "There are plenty of USDA programs where [the cost for] this kind of oversight is not passed on to the farmer."
Still, until the details of the farm bill are ironed out in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, farmers who want to become certified organic will have to foot the entire bill for certification themselves.
Experts agree that the USDA certified organic seal goes a long way in making a farm's produce more marketable and profitable, particularly if a farmer wants to sell beyond a local market.
Karan Chanana, chairman of Amira Nature Foods, a specialty basmati rice company that also sells certified organic lentils and legumes, is a firm believer in the benefits of the organic certification process, in spite of the amount of time that it takes to get certified and establish the infrastructure.
"The ROI for companies is considerable, particularly when compared to operating without organic certification," says Chanana. "Noncertified organics are not as commercially viable, because certification provides credibility to a product, and therefore places it into the premium category. This becomes an investment for raising yields and thereby makes organic farming worth the effort."
How much more profitable can your farm become with the certified organic label? That depends on your market and what you grow.
The very first thing you should do is contact a reputable organic certifying agent who is accredited by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP). To find one, visit http://wwww.ams.usda.gov/nop and search "certifying agents." Your certifying agent will help you with the following steps to certification.
1. Application - Your certifying agent will provide you with the right forms to fill out. Your agent will review your application and let you know if your farm is in compliance with NOP regulations and standards.
2. Inspection - The agent will schedule an inspection of your farm's organic production and handling operations.
3. Certification - After the application and inspection process, your agent will write a report and file it with the NOP. If there are no concerns or problems and the fees are paid, you will be allowed to use the USDA certified organic seal.
Note that if your agent thinks that you are not NOP-compliant, you will have to make the necessary changes before certification is completed.
Ann Adams, director of community services with Holistic Management International, a nonprofit that works with farmers and ranchers around the country in whole-farm planning, says the organization frequently consults with farmers about the viability of organic certification.
"When we are working on farmers' financial plans, sometimes some have said it is not worth it," notes Adams. This is particularly true if a farm has a local pool of customers and doesn't need an outside entity to certify its organic practices. "For some people, becoming certified organic doesn't pencil out because of their income level and the relationships they have with their customers," she adds.
Each farm needs to look at its market and products and decide if a certified label is economically feasible and if there will be a return on the investment, says Baier. "It all depends on where you are selling and what you are selling ... for dairy farms, for example, I know of dairy farmers who had to go organic or go out of business. But it is different for different farm operations. It depends on the market and product."
Matt Ewer, president and co-founder of Indianapolis-based Green BEAN Delivery and owner of Feel Good Farm, Sheridan, Ind., agrees.
"Just like any business, it is important to have a disciplined game plan," says Ewer, whose company delivers organic produce and natural groceries to more than 12,000 members across the Midwest. His farm produces certified organic vegetables on 60 acres. His advice for the best ROI for certified organic produce is to make sure you have reliable business partners for the crops you want to grow.
"Secure your market ahead of your crop planning and harvest ... and don't try and grow everything. At the most I would grow four to five crops," advises Ewer.
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center: http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/ofp
Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA): http://www.attra.ncat.org
Ecological Farming Association: http://www.eco-farm.org
How to Go Organic: http://www.howtogoorganic.com
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM): http://www.ifoam.org
Organic Farming Compliance Handbook: http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/sfr/organic/ofch
Organic Farming Research Foundation: http://www.ofrf.org
Organic Trade Association (OTA): http://www.ota.com
SARE Bulletin: Transitioning to Organic Agriculture: http://www.sare.org/publications/organic/organic.pdf
The benefits of growing certified organic crops go beyond the potential increased profits, says Behar. "As an organic inspector, I often see the organic certificate hanging on the wall next to pictures of the grandkids. It is something to be proud of; it is an achievement of a gold standard," she says. "It is not just access to a market, or a pain in the neck in bookkeeping and paperwork ... it is truly an achievement."
For the majority of organic farmers, it is also a visible commitment that they want to raise the standards of organics, as well as the quality of life for themselves and the planet, notes Baier.
"I don't buy organic just because it's less pesticides for me personally," says Baier. "I think many certified organic farmers take a broader view ... it is for less chemicals in our air, our environment and farmworkers. It is a contribution to a better community."
The author is a freelance writer from Keene, N.H.


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Senior LCF Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SC
Posts: 263
Gallery: AnnK
Stats: 5'2" 133/133/115
WOE: MediWeightLoss
Start Date: 7/22/14
Maybe it's been the rain & clouds this week, but my motivation to exercise has been low... I've been doing just what I need to do to not feel guilty. That said, I weighed in today & was down 1.8 pounds ~ enough to get me to -20.8 total and I'm now below my mini goal of 125! Similar to some of you, though, I'm not pleased with parts of my body that looked much better when I weighed 125 thirty years ago... like, what are these "wings" doing under my upper arms??
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Junior LCF Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: greater Boston
Posts: 43
Gallery: Divadeb
Stats: 213/192.6/150
WOE: Medi
Start Date: 9/29/10 restart 2/14/11
Hello all...
Just started Medi, and spent a lot of time these past two days reading through posts. What a great support network you have here. I hope to have great success with the program and one day be able to inspire and advise people as so many of you have done here.
Two brand new personal epiphanies to share:
I was IMing with my sister yesterday (who lost 70lbs through WW 2 years ago, and is back up 20). We got on the topic of addictions, and I had an "ah ha" moment. Food is my addiction. I've never smoked or had issues with substance of alcohol abuse, but many of my family members have. In fact, of the five sibs in my family, three struggle with tobacco and alcohol (and other substances in the past), and two (my sister and I) struggle with food. Coincidence? I think not.
I don't know if there is any scientific basis for the concept of "addictive personalities", but I do know that my sibs and I share a common upbringing of two parents that smoked and drank a lot. Not to a debilitating extent, but significant, and enough to make a lasting impression on us all. We've all managed our lives in much the same way - none of us has completely "hit bottom" with our individual addictions, but we all (at one time or another) have teetered on the edge.
My relationship with food has been unhealthy my whole life, but my weight stuggle is relatively recent - I could stuff my face and not worry until I was about 35, when I got pregnant with my older daughter and was diagnosed with thyroid disease. The last 10 years my weight has slowly crept up and up and up. But the past 10 years I've blamed my thyroid (@#$% thyroid!) and never stopped to examine my behavior before the medical condition was introduced. The denial of one addicted can be a powerful thing.
Second epiphany - I was driving with said 10 year old daughter last night and told her that I had a headache because I had started a new weight loss program. Her response was "Mom, you tried points, cookies and now this. When are you going to just lose the weight?" Here I am, teaching my daughters the same addictive lesson I learned as a child. But instead of leaving cigarettes burning in ashtrays all over the house like my mother did, I bring home take-out 4 - 5 nights a week, binge on SmartFood and chips, and just continue to get bigger and bigger. In fact, she was munching on a taco from Taco Bell when we had the conversation.
I need to do this for me, and I need to do this for my daughters (10 and 7). I need to break the chain of addition and through my journey, teach them to love and respect themselves and their bodies through a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Thanks for letting me share. I'm very excited and optimistic, and your success stories and encouragement have already helped me in my recovery.
Major LCF Poster!
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 1,478
Gallery: Desert-Rose7
Stats: 5'11"/262/150/150
WOE: MediWeightLoss
Start Date: 12/19/08 in Wellness since 09/03/2009
~divadeb~ You have learned the first lesson. Food can be and is an addiction for many people, and has the same debilitating effects on your health as other addictions.
Commit 100% to this program, body, mind and heart and you will be successful. It is most definitely a major lifestyle change, one that you are making for the rest of your life on this planet.
Hang in there, continue the dedication you show today and you will most definitely be successful.
Senior LCF Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Missouri
Posts: 607
Gallery: lins
WOE: Medi-weightloss
Start Date: 1/12/14
Food is totally an addiction to some. I am fighting that addiction right now and it's awful. I have moment where I think I "deserve" to eat Carbs (ie sweets) because I ran 8 miles, or because I have lost all this weight, but what I now know is that, I am giving food power over my happiness and that's just silly. I need to learn to just be proud of my accomplishments and not reward myself with eating junk that doesn't help my body. Plus when I do give in to the temptation it just makes me want them more (thus the addiction). and the cycle continues.
Mary thank you so much for you words. They really rang true with me. My mom was really never heavy (maybe 20lbs here or there, but never REALLY heavy), but she was ALWAYS on a diet. Sometimes she would clear the pantry of anything "junk" related and only cook healthy, and then other times she would have lots of junk and "not care", which is now what I am battling. Plus she was never happy with herself or her body image. I don't want to live that way and I don't want my kids to see me do it either.
I want to find a balance between eating healthy 98% of the time, and having a small treat on a rare special occasion. This eating too much junk for one week and then going to week one eating the next week isn't helping my attitude.
Starting weight 212lbs
Senior LCF Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 91
Gallery: diertac
Stats: 196.6/167.2/155
Start Date: 09/21/10
In Sunday's "Parade" magazine there was an article about Drew Carey's weight loss. He was doing great until he allowed himself a treat that turned into a two day pizza binge. They write that since then, he's posted this above his bathroom mirror:
"Eating crappy food is not a reward - it's a punishment."
I'm thinking my bathroom mirror needs to have that too.
Senior LCF Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 335
Gallery: mommy2princesses
Stats: Ht 5'7'' 259.6/156/165
WOE: Medi Weight Loss
Start Date: May 11, 2010
Food is definitely my addiction too. It has been a "reward" for me, it has been a "comfort" for me, something to "do" when bored, the center of social events, and the list goes on. I NEED to break that cycle, not only for me - but for my 2 little girls so that they don't enter into that cycle. My mom too has always been on a diet. As a young child, my mom was very heavy. She TRIED everything out there too (and numerous times I might add) until on her own when I was in high school she went low-fat and exercise and dropped 60+lbs. She has kept probably 55 of it off for 15 years now, but food and exercise has always been at the forefront of most of her days. It is a cycle, a bad cycle, and I don't want to pass it down to my girls.
I want to get to a healthy weight, where I can teach my girls that with moderation and exercise those special treats are OK.
This has been a lifelong issue for me - I've always been heavy, would do some kind of diet, lose weight then balloon right back up. It wasn't until my 1st daughter that the weight just kept going up and up and up. This is my addiction - and I know I will struggle with it everyday for the rest of my life - but its one that I can control....its one that I WILL control.
Over 100lbs. GONE FOREVER
Thanks to MWL!
8 months to Wellness....5/11/10 - 1/11/11
Major LCF Poster!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Ft. Pierce, Florida
Posts: 1,405
Gallery: Mary T8M
Stats: 5'2" 228/144/125 good-bye 150's
WOE: LC/LF/LCal (medi)
Start Date: 4/23/10
I'm so glad I didn't step too hard on any toes, because that was NEVER my intention! I love everyone on these boards. Spending time with my son's beautiful family brought many things into perspective for me. My daughter in law used to be VERY concerned with her looks (she's very pretty) but now after having a baby just 6 short months ago, having 2 surgeries in 3 weeks, being diagnosed with a very aggressive ovarian cancer, having 2 rounds of chemo, losing all of her hair, being bloated from the steriods.....I really see that beauty is more than skin deep. She would give ANYTHING to be healthy again! and I would give anything FOR her to be healthy again.
My son told me how sad it made him when he was about 7 because he couldn't do anything to help me lose weight and make me happy! Remember children believe that the world revolves around them and that they are responsible for everything.........including their parents happiness! That is just one of the normal stages of development that all children go through. He is almost 33 yrs old now and still remembers how he felt!
I don't know that I'm addicted to food......but I did use food for everything! I ate when bored, happy, sad, as a reward, as entertainment. I think ALL of our entertainment revolved around food! Even going to a concert or comedy club meant going out to eat first! Any get together had food! I believe that the great variety of food made my life more difficult, because I wanted to try it all.......I HATE feeling like I'm missing out on something. Food certainly isn't as much fun, or as interesting as it used to be......but that's OK! I wish I would have realized this when MY kids were young. I have fears that I have shaped them in ways that I NEVER wanted to
Mary T8M (Tatem)
New member of the 80 pounds gone club
Whether you think you can, or you can't, either way you're right!
Henry Ford
Last edited by Mary T8M; 09-30-2010 at 02:22 PM..
Major LCF Poster!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Ft. Pierce, Florida
Posts: 1,405
Gallery: Mary T8M
Stats: 5'2" 228/144/125 good-bye 150's
WOE: LC/LF/LCal (medi)
Start Date: 4/23/10
I don't think we're related! I have Abby, & Zach. Then my DH Bill, and DIL Courtney, and Granddaughter Olivia.....we all use T8M! Where does Amy live? Small world!
Junior LCF Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Jax, FL
Posts: 7
Gallery: madmax79
Stats: 5'11" - 223/204/190
WOE: Medi Weight Loss
Start Date: 23 SEP 10
Had my first weigh-in and was a little disappointed. I lost 9 lbs but they said it was all FFM (NO FAT). They also measured my waist and I lost 2 inches so I'm kinda confused. I asked them about it and they said "don't get discouraged". And that last time I weighed in the afternoon and today was first thing in the morning. They said measuring at the same time of the day would be more accurate so I scheduled my next appt for the a.m.
I'm also going to try some upper body exercises in addition to my normal walking routine. Hope it helps. I really want to make a permanent change to my body and not get discouraged this early.
Senior LCF Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Missouri
Posts: 607
Gallery: lins
WOE: Medi-weightloss
Start Date: 1/12/14
Madmax don't get discouraged, those scales aren't always accurate. A few weeks ago according to the scale I had lost 11lbs of fat, but was up 10lbs of water.......ya I don't think that's right, and even the doctor said something was up, but I got on the scale twice and it said the same thing. So just be happy with a loss for now and don't worry so much about the fat and FFM numbers. It all evens out.
Senior LCF Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 335
Gallery: mommy2princesses
Stats: Ht 5'7'' 259.6/156/165
WOE: Medi Weight Loss
Start Date: May 11, 2010
Food certainly isn't as much fun....but Wow, shopping is SO MUCH MORE FUN!!! Now that the weather is changing, I literally have NO clothes that fit me (ok, I do have 1 pair of size 12 jeans that I had held on to, plus probably 9 or 10 sweaters that MIGHT fit...but nothing 3/4 or long sleeved) so I've been doing some shopping. Went to the Gap and the Loft today - bought a few things, can I just tell you how great it felt to shop today!?!? My mom was with me and she keeps telling me I need my mind to catch up with my body - I consistently bring in 14's and XL's to the dressing room and all she is doing is going back for 12's and L's. I even needed a medium in 1 shirt! I bought a really nice skirt and sweater today (not that I have anywhere to where it!) but I felt so good in it (and Gap had 30% off today, so I rationalized it!). Driving home my mom told me to remember how good I felt in the dressing room today, and the feeling of liking just about everything I put on, and to think about that each time I wanted to splurge on food. She's a smart woman!
Tonight I went to a friends house for our "book club". We haven't gotten together since May. (Really, its 5 girls who basically use the excuse of having read the same book to get together once a month. We talk about the book for about 15 minutes, then chit chat for another 2 hours!). I hadn't seen 2 of the girls at all over the summer....they were shocked when I walked in. That felt so GOOD! And then when I passed on wine or chips/salsa they all complimented my "willpower". So, all in all, today was a good day - despite the weather keeping me from walking, and I think it might tomorrow as well. Perhaps a Wii workout with Jillian will do for tomorrow instead!
Last edited by mommy2princesses; 09-30-2010 at 08:02 PM..
Major LCF Poster!
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 1,478
Gallery: Desert-Rose7
Stats: 5'11"/262/150/150
WOE: MediWeightLoss
Start Date: 12/19/08 in Wellness since 09/03/2009
Come on over to the new October thread! I have asked the moderators to lock this one, as September is now over!
*Outstandingly Outrageous October 4 MWL*
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Discover Ministry Briefing! --> The Best Way To Keep "In The Know"!
Somebody please scratch my eyes out now.
This is an article promo over at Christian Post this morning.
At least change the picture.
Just sayin'.
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The A+D Architecture and Design Museum in Los Angeles announces an upcoming exhibition that imagines the star-struck city that might have been. "Never Built: Los Angeles," on view July 28 to September 29, 2013, curated by Sam Lubell and Greg Goldin, and designed by Clive Wilkinson Architects digs up a number of sexy urban projects that didn't make it past the conceptual phase.
Renderings, models, video, and other media will convey visitors to this high-design neverland and perhaps embolden city planners to embrace more ambitious projects in the future. Unrealized schemes include such talent as Frank Lloyd Wright, Olmsted and Batholomew, John Lautner, OMA/Rem Koolhaas, and Jean Nouvel. Shown is the unbuilt Downey Office Building 2009 by B+U Architects.
For more information about the exhibit, visit the museum's website.
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PALEO ADVICEposted October 30
Here it is, folks. Insightful but stern advice for how to take the Paleo Challenge to the next level. I know what you're thinking: "Insightful, but stern. That's not the Elliott I know." Well, I'm acting out of character just this once. Then it's back to puppies and rainbows.
You've made it past the halfway point. You have some intermediate measurements. You can see if you're on the right track or not. So what's next? How can you finish up this Paleo Challenge with as much success as possible?
Answer: Eat a whole grain and low fat diet, with lots of long distance running.
Ahhhhahahahahah… Look out Yakov Smirnov, there's a new comedian on the block.
First and foremost, remember WHY you are participating in this challenge. Is it to eat and live a healthy lifestyle for five weeks, and then go back to the same garbage you did before? (the answer is No, in case you were on the fence)
The point is to be held accountable for fixing your diet and lifestyle habits, so that they become new and improved habits. HABITS. Done repeatedly, over long periods of time. This isn't a fad. We're changing your life here, people. How amazing is this: You've spent decades running your body into the ground, and it can all be reversed within about a year of clean living. These five weeks will give you exposure to that experience, and where you take it from here is up to you.
In almost every Paleo Challenge we've run, there's usually one or two members that check in at the halfway point with little to no improvement in their weight and measurements. Their initial story is "I don't understand, I'm doing it right." But a couple quick questions reveal significant progress-halting circumstances. Lack of sleep, too much stress, frequent alcohol,… If you are not seeing results, but you are not giving the paleo lifestyle a 100% chance, don't even think about claiming that it doesn't work. Own up to your actions, and if you want to see changes you have to make changes.
The other note I consistently need to repeat is "avoid carbs for breakfast." Carbohydrates cause the release of insulin, which is a storage hormone. If you've been exercising, the glucose will get stored in your muscle cells to replace glycogen (the stored energy you just used up to move heavy weights fast). If you've been SLEEPING for 7-8 hours, your glycogen is not depleted, and thus you will store it somewhere else for later use. I'll give you one guess where that is… Correctamundo! In your fat cells.
Protein and fat for breakfast. Don't spike your blood sugar. Wake up your brain. Feel satiated until lunch.
"Yeah, but…"
But you go to work early.
But you workout before eating breakfast.
But Men's Health said to eat a bowl of oatmeal every morning.
Early work might mean 10-15 extra minutes to scarf down some eggs or leftovers from dinner. If you wait until you get to the office to eat, you're unknowingly doing intermittent fasting, which is a stress not intended for long-term use. Imagine a tiny lizard saying "15 minutes could save you 3% or more on your body composition."
When planning your meals around your workouts, it's all about nutrient timing. The easiest way to address this is with a couple sample meal plans, using macronutrients. You might hear different approaches to this, so understand this is just what I recommend. It happens to be based completely on science and I have seen it work for many many many people, but it's just my recommendation.
And since we're stuck inside the box thinking about "breakfast" foods and "dinner" foods, I'm just going to call them "Meals." Try some fish in the morning and see if your mind focuses up a little quicker that day. The last meal (formerly known as Dinner) should occur around 2 hours before bed.
The Early Riser:
Wake up.
Meal #1 – Protein, Carbs
Meal #2 – Protein, Fat
Meal #3 – Protein, Fat
Meal #4 – Protein, some Carbs, a little Fat
The Nooner:
Wake up.
Meal #1 – Protein, Fat
Meal #2 – Protein, Carbs
Meal #3 – Protein, Fat
Meal #4 – Protein, some Carbs, a little Fat
The Late Bloomer:
Wake up.
Meal #1 – Protein, Fat
Meal #2 – Protein, Fat
Meal #3 – Protein, some Carbs, some fat
Meal #4 – Protein, Carbs
Oh, and Men's Health should be renamed as Men's Advertising. I guess it's cool if you want to know how many almonds Ryan Reynolds ate to get his 8-pack for Blade: Trinity, or one of the workouts the Spartans did to prep for 300 (even though you'd probably beat their times), or how to shave 100 calories off your meal by eating Del Taco instead of Burger King.
I could spend pages reciting all the paleo food and lifestyle guidelines I've given before, so I'll leave you with this takeaway: You have all the tools and resources at your disposal to make any changes you want. The commitment level is up to you. If you're a part of the Paleo Challenge, there is still a week and a half left to make some serious progress. Everyone else, what the heck are you waiting for?
Coach Elliott
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Hypothetically speaking, let's say your relationship status suddenly went from "HAPPILY ENGAGED" to "HEARTBROKEN AND IN LIMBO". In addition to how absolutely crappy you might feel, your ring finger probably feels a little naked too, without the presence of its previous occupant, aka your engagement ring. Even if you're not one of these suffering souls, there's no reason why a lady can't buy herself her own damn ring to wear on, yes, her left ring finger. After the jump, 10 rings that say "I love you, self" better than any rock. Keep reading »
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futuristic yacht designs that will leave you breathless
Futuristic yacht designs that will leave you breathless
Ever since people developed a sense of imagination and a taste for time (as a concept), they started imagining the future in all its guises and forms. Whether it was about their own lives or how the world would be in a few years or centuries. There's this famous quote from Einstein which goes: "Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere." Beautifully said by the genius - he knew that the essential component to anything new and innovative involved imagination and, of course, inspiration.
Ivan Petkov
• 07 August 2013
Though the argument may seem far-fetched when it comes to
luxury yachts
and futuristic designs, the ingredients are the same. One needs imagination to think how a yacht would look in a few years' time (with all that rapid development we're seeing). Imagination is, it seems, on the brink of the possible. One stretches the limits of possibility. It looks familiar, known and comprehensible and yet it is new, different, odd, not quite what we're used to. But, hey, it floats! At least in pictures it does! And sometimes, as you will see below, in real life too! So let's start with the possible and then have a look at the probable...
EarthRace Biodiesel Powerboat
Later called the MY Ady Gil. It pains me to tell you that this beauty is defunct. Its status is that of KIA (Killed in Action) while defending whales in the name of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
EarthRace Biodiesel Powerboat
MV Brigitte Bardot
Currently in service for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and formerly known as the Gojira as well as the Ocean 7 Adventurer. Interestingly enough, she was launched more than 10 years ago but I'd still say she'd qualify for the futuristic designs list. But then again I'm also a bit biased�
MV Brigitte Bardot
The Code X Yacht
This one is real as well � and it has an in-built solar panel which can provide for energy to power the motor to up to 9 knots. Sleek, smart and sexy, it has something of a Bond charm to it. Her full capabilities will impress any Bond girl � 1420 horse power that provide up to 80 knots.
The Code X Yacht
The Wallypower 118 Super Yacht
The angular design of the
gives it a different look from the standard rounded and smooth shapes we're used to seeing when it comes to futuristic designs. It conceals power and force, making it look like a predator of the seas. A futuristic one, that is.
The Wallypower 118 Super Yacht
Bugatti Veyron Sang Bleu (concept)
This one, though only a concept, has me wowing each time I see it. It looks like something that descended from space � so otherworldly, smooth, clean and untouchable. If aliens have such a sense of style, I'm certainly all up for interplanetary exchange!
Bugatti Veyron Sang Bleu (concept)
Ocean Emerald
This yacht certainly deserves its name - an emerald it is. Seen from the side its design is rather elliptical, resembling an eye. From the front it is straight, thin, almost like an arrow. The best part is the fact that it is a real yacht, completed in 2009, with a design by Foster + Partners. Futurism in action.
Ocean Emerald
Oculus (concept)
Oculus yacht
by Sch�pfer Yachts is another great example of imagination coupled with an understanding of the possible. Sch�pfer Yachts describe their goal as one of pursuing advanced yacht aesthetics and technology. Seen from the side, the Oculus resembles a marine mammal - a dolphin or a whale. The designers have certainly hit the mark with this one.
Oculus Yacht (concept)
Valkyrie Trimaran Yacht (concept)
Valkyrie Trimaran Yacht
was designed by Chulhun Park as a thesis project at the Royal College of Art London. It also received support from Palmer Johnson, a company with a long and famous history in yacht design and naval architecture. The yacht (230 meters!) is designed as a floating entertainment factory that will feature anything from restaurants to a theater, a casino and a club. On a (slightly!) more prosaic note, Palmer Johnson's SuperSport yachts are also worth a look.
Valkyrie Trimaran Yacht (concept)
I have drifted off in my imagination while writing this article, the sci-fi fan that I am! There is a long list of other concept yachts which are worthy of the title futuristic. Have a look, for example, at the Horizon Yacht by Barnaby Heseltine, the IF60 Luxury Powerboat by Hermes & Zeus Design or the Xhibitionist Superyacht Gray Design. Are there any which you would like to add?
EarthRace Biodiesel Powerboat
MV Brigitte Bardot
Code X Yacht
Ocean Emerald
Bugatti Veyron Sang Bleu
About the author
Ivan Petkov
Over the years I've lived in various places - from Germany to Finland, to Bulgaria and Denmark, and have also traveled extensively. This has developed in me a keen love for moving, visiting and exploring new places. I enjoy hiking, sailing and traveling by sea, swimming, martial arts and all sorts of physical activities. I am deeply concerned about environmental issues and sustainable living, specifically those related to the preservation of the oceans and their inhabitants.
More about Ivan
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Interview with Interesting Jews: Rachel Zaslow of Mother Health International
Rachel Zaslow is a midwife and Executive Director of Mother Health International, an NGO that supports high volume midwifery model of care centers in areas of extreme need. We talked with her about MHI, how a rabbi's daughter ended up delivering babies in Uganda, and how midwifery has impacted her own child-rearing. Below the interview, learn how you can help MHI fund a new ambulance for their Uganda clinic.
1. How did a girl from Brooklyn end up delivering babies in Uganda?
It's a long and twisty narrative, but the short version is that I was invited to come to Northern Uganda almost seven years ago to volunteer in a government-funded hospital, just as the war was ending. What I witnessed there was devastating. The hospital was functioning at what the WHO estimated to be over 10 times its capacity. Formerly abducted women were turned away in labor or sent to walk home minutes after giving birth, with a great likelihood of bleeding to death on the road home. Because the hospital was so busy, women who were admitted to the labor ward were often treated violently by the staff midwives for not pushing fast enough or failing to bring their own piece of plastic to give birth on. These conditions made for a traumatic and dangerous place to give birth in an area that has been ravaged by war. I founded the birth center in Uganda with a group of 30 traditional midwives and my partner midwife, Olivia Kimball, the next year. Read the rest of this entry →


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Prospective music majors seeking a scholarship from the Music Department must use the audition/interview process for that purpose. Scholarships are offered on a first-come-first-served basis and are awarded according to talent, skill level, academic achievement, potential and need.
Audition Dates for Spring 2015:
Fridays beginning at 1:30 PM on the following days:


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Who do you think looks best today? (5 photos)
The best street style from London Fashion Week: http://ow.ly/p48HS via @StyleCaster
Beauty Products We Love
Our holiday fragrance lineup just got more decadent thanks to #Marni's...
Inside Scoop! Ken Paves breaks down the wavy look he created for Victoria Beckham.Read MoreLess


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The Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival Society (VIMFF) incorporated and organized its 1st Annual Festival in 1998. The Festival was initiated with the objective to bring to North Vancouver unique outdoor and mountaineering films that would otherwise not be seen in the city, and to bring together communities of filmmakers and outdoor enthusiasts in a forum where they can discuss topics of mutual interest.
The Festival was first held over three nights in February 1998 at the Centennial Theatre in North Vancouver, with total attendance at about 1,700. In 1999 the Festival grew with the addition of some non-film events such as a rock climbing competition and slide shows, and total attendance increased to 3,000. In 2000 the Festival grew significantly to total attendance of over 6,400, and in the year 2001 to 8,000 viewers. The Festival continued to add more shows at its main venue (Centennial Theatre in North Vancouver) and at new venues (North Vancouver Public Library, Pacific Cinematheque, MacMillan Space Centre, Ridge Theatre). With the additional shows the diversity of the programming was also enhanced, providing more films and presenters with topics on environmental issues, mountain culture, and adventure travel.
New events were created, including the "VIMFF Best of the Fest Tour" and "VIMFF Fall Speaker Series". The Best of the Fest Tour has been expanding steadily each year, and currently visits more than 30 communities across Canada. VIMFF introduced the "Fall Speaker Series" in 2008, designed as a mini-festival based in North Vancouver, featuring selected speakers, films and film previews. The event was a success, and second and third editions were offered in 2009 and 2010. The Fall Speaker series now runs in November with three different shows at the Centennial Theatre in North Vancouver with guest speakers and films, with an audience of about 1,500 viewers each year.
Since 1998, VIMFF has evolved from a three-day event at one venue with an audience of 1,700 to a 9-day event in North Vancouver and Vancouver in 3 to 4 venues with live presentations, films, photography, live music, and international film and photo competitions. Additionally, VIMFF now travels to about 30 communities with the Best of the Fest Tour, and runs additional shows at the Fall Speaker Series in North Vancouver. The combined Festival events now attract more than 20,000 viewers each year in North Vancouver, Greater Vancouver and the rest of Canada. VIMFF is unique to North Vancouver, British Columbia and Canada, with the Banff Mountain Film Festival being the only other festival in Canada comparable in size and reputation.
VIMFF's current role is to inspire and entertain the community with the use of unique films and presentations that illustrate experiences and cultures from all corners of the globe, to bring international and local filmmakers and photographers together with international competitions, to promote positive life values and an active lifestyle, and to bring various communities together in North Vancouver. VIMFF is aligned with the philosophy of the North Vancouver municipalities to promote locally and internationally the natural beauty of North Vancouver and its status as one of the best places to visit and live, a place where nature and culture meet.


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I'm surrounded by weddings right now. Officiated a ceremony Saturday, started pre-marital counseling for another couple Sunday, and will soon be headed out the door traveling to another wedding this weekend. I'd like to share with you one of the really important, hard to explain, hard to practice truths about marriage that will almost [...]Continue Reading
Another year has ended. It's time to name the best books of 2012. As I've said again and again, choosing early on to read for spiritual growth was one of the best habits I've ever formed. I hope one of the books I mention here tempts you to read for spiritual growth also. I [...]Continue Reading
I am inconsistent. Sometimes I do really well. Sometimes I don't. For example, this blog. I intend to write content every week. Sometimes that happens. Sometimes it doesn't. For several weeks. In a row. To the point I'm a bit embarrassed to start again. But this isn't about writing. In every part of my [...]Continue Reading
Included among this years's 100 Most Influential People according to Time Magazine is a Serbian tennis player named Novak Djokovic. Djokovic started the 2011 season by winning 41 matches in a row. Since then he's taken home the trophy from 4 of the last 5 grand slam tournaments and earned the #1 ranking in [...]Continue Reading
"I want two things that are mutually opposed – I want to live a nice little life, and I want to play an important role in God's kingdom." – John Eldredge This lent season I've had two quotes stuck in my head, and this is the first. It's so honest and so… me. I [...]Continue Reading
Joe passed away in January. He and his wife were in the 6th decade of their marriage, and in that decade, they had begun a tradition of driving to Branson, Missouri once or twice a year to hear a particular singer perform. All the way there – about 7 hours – they'd play her [...]Continue Reading
You know that one relative who asks you the same question at every family gathering? Or that guy in the office who regurgitates what he heard on sports-radio all day, every day? Or the friend you love, except when she tells that story for the millionth time? Obnoxious, right? How about this example [...]Continue Reading
I found this article, written by one of my former grad school professors, both interesting and helpful in sorting out all of the Tebow love/hate going around. As I've said before, when we think about God's involvement in the world, there are two extremes to avoid. The first sees God as the cause of [...]Continue Reading
Didn't get what you wanted for Christmas? Buy yourself a good book! As you start the new year, I hope one of your goals will be to pick up a book that draws you closer to God. Few things have shaped me as much as my habit of devotional reading, so I find myself [...]Continue Reading
You may know that the first story the Bible tells about humanity (after creation) involves a man, a woman, a serpent, and a piece of fruit. It would be merely a silly story if we couldn't all relate to it so well. Eating a piece of fruit – could anything be more trivial? But [...]Continue Reading


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Hurricanes and Broken Windows
Surely, a natural disaster should never be cause for callous humor. The combined cost of lives and livelihoods of those affected in such tragedies can often yield emotional and physical burdens for undue lengths of time.
Although Hurricane Irene failed to live up to the hype of early prognostications, the damage that did occur should not be overlooked and hopefully the inroads to recovery will be speedy and effective.
Having said that, this is an opportune time to expound upon the "broken window fallacy" as it pertains to current events.
You may have heard the argument that World War II was the lubricant that helped to end the Great Depression. Though this argument has been discredited in many forms, it remains popular in Keynesian circles. A nutshell explanation of the "broken window fallacy" is this: an event or circumstance, though destructive in nature, can help the economy by providing jobs and promoting business spending. This argument has been rehashed in various forms over time, though most recently by Nobel Laureate and Princeton University Professor, Paul Krugman. Krugman stated in a CNN interview that the U.S. economy could benefit by allocating resources to prepare for a space alien invasion. While Krugman's actual concern for alien invasion may not be pressing or even serious in the least, the salient point to be had is that aggregate spending on a planned initiative will create boons to the economy, regardless of the overall useful value of the product.
"Value" is most assuredly the fulcrum in this dispute. To be sure, Keynesians assert that value can be found in wealth redistribution, inflation, and centralized economic control. In fact, centralized control is the penultimate spring upon which all other aspects of the Keynesian philosophy originate. And so it is that any equation, measurement, or policy instrument is only as valuable to the Keynesian as the amount it emanates from and supports this megalomaniacal social-complex.
Disaster preperation and recovery are both perfectly reasonable pursuits, and necessary to sustained progress. Nobody is questioning the necessity of these methods, but it is important to realize that they are at best a "necessary evil" and at worst, an over-inflated misallocation of resources. Digging a hole in the ground and filling it up again may provide jobs and spending temporarily, but society will be no better off. This sort of economic pursuit is completely unsustainable, unless of course, the goal is to sustain servitude.
The reality is that, left to their own devices, inane endeavors to promote "economic stimulus" would be futile and likely irrelevant on a grand scale. Unfortunately, Keynesian policies have been imposed upon our society very thoroughly. To suggest freedom in the marketplace and competition for economic services is to undermine the rubric of control and is therefore dismissed as "non-serious", "kooky", or even blasphemous. The Keynesian modus operandi depends on force of government to sustain control, because in a free environment it would never survive.
Human prosperity is a positive outcome. It is an independent value that does not derive from destruction, whether through war, natural disaster, or pre-emptive space alien fortification. Though prosperity can indeed blossom in spite of destruction, it should never be confused as an integrally entwined combination. In a world with scarce resources, we should be employing those resources towards ends that will provide the best quality of life for humanity; truly productive ends. Things like health innovation, data management, and communication technology have all flourished in recent years because these things are positive, valuable, and helpful to society. When a hurricane strikes, we need to redirect resources away from these productive ends to rebuild to our previous level of comfort. While wars and disasters may very well always plague our world, we should view these occurrences as unfortunate setbacks, not economic opportunities. An economic outlook without regard for true prosperity is one that is disconnected from the reality of what it means to be human; space alien invasions notwithstanding.
**It should be noted that Paul Krugman did not explicitly state that Hurricane Irene would benefit the economy, although there was some controversy surrounding the issue. The point of this article and the inserted image is to call attention to the perils of the broken window fallacy, which Krugman has fallen victim to throughout his career. As a lead spokesman for the Keynesian school of economics, his previous statements provided plenty of context from which to induce correlation.


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Tag Archive for Templeton
Spring Has Sprung in Wine Country
I couldn't resist a walk through the Bethel Road and Zenaida vineyards on the first day of spring to capture all the new green. Please join me on my photographic tour.
The North County Has Some Spectacular Sky Shows
If you live in North San Luis Obispo County, I hope you've been noticing our sky in the late afternoon and at sunset. If not, I've saved some photos of it for you here. Even if you have, you may have missed some of these.
It's Definitely Autumn
Rain and colder weather have finally come to the North County, letting us feel autumn has arrived just in time for Thanksgiving. I finally had a chance to capture the change in seasons with my camera.
Autumn Has Returned to the Vineyards
Autumn is one of the best times to enjoy the view of the vineyards. The vines are dressed in their brightest colors as October nears an end, and most of the grapes are in the process of harvest or already through it. I hope you seeing these vines as I did on October 23, 2012, in some of my local vineyards in Paso Robles and Templeton.
Two Blessings In the North County Today
Today the North County received two blessings — the rain and the rainbow. See the pictures.
I'm Making Further Political Posts on a New Blog
In consideration for those who may not share my political views but would like to read more about the people, places and cultural events I have normally written about, I'm starting a new blog on a different site just for those who want to read about local politics. Tidbits from Templeton will henceforth be free of politics. Get the link to the political blog in this post.
Don't Forget Free Defend Rural America Seminar on Saturday
Find out how you can help defend rural property owners who produce your food and patronize your businesses. New laws and regulations — many written by unelected state and county boards, could put small farms out of business, raise prices of locally grown food, or force rural property owners from their land. See what you can do to help.
Do You Live in a Rural or Semi Rural Area?
If you're a farmer or rancher or enjoying a rural lifestyle, your way of life may be about to change. The federal government is putting more and more restrictions on rural land use, and in some cases even taking some private land for their own uses without just compensation. Learn how you can protect yourself by being proactive.
SLO County Board of Supervisors Does the Right Thing Today
The County Board of Supervisors votes to send proposed ordinance that would infringe on free speech rights back to the drawing board instead of advancing it for a hearing.


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The nearest major airport is Lynchburg Regional Airport (LYH / KLYH). This airport has domestic flights and is 9 miles from the center of Lynchburg, VA.
Another major airport is Roanoke Regional Airport (ROA / KROA), which has domestic flights from Roanoke, Virginia and is 60 miles from Lynchburg, VA.
Find some hotels near Lynchburg, VA, or scroll down for more international airports or domestic airports. You can also browse local airports if you're a pilot.
120 miles: Richmond International Airport - Richmond, VA (RIC / KRIC)
137 miles: Raleigh-Durham International Airport - Raleigh, NC (RDU / KRDU)
166 miles: Washington Dulles International Airport - Dulles, VA (IAD / KIAD)
181 miles: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport - Washington, DC (DCA / KDCA)
213 miles: Charlotte Douglas International Airport - Charlotte, NC (CLT / KCLT)
215 miles: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport - Baltimore, MD (BWI / KBWI)
9 miles: Lynchburg Regional Airport - Lynchburg, VA (LYH / KLYH)
60 miles: Roanoke Regional Airport - Roanoke, VA (ROA / KROA)
74 miles: Charlottesville Albemarle Airport - Charlottesville, VA (CHO / KCHO)
89 miles: Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport - Staunton, VA (SHD / KSHD)
125 miles: Greenbrier Valley Airport - Lewisburg, WV (LWB / KLWB)
61 miles: Farmville Regional Airport - Farmville, VA (KFVX / FVX)
Travelmath helps you find the closest airport to any city, as well as a list of smaller local airports. You can use these pages to plan your trip and figure out the easiest way to get to your destination. Many times there are multiple airports near the city you want to visit, so you can often find a cheaper flight into a different airport. This is especially useful if you are getting a rental car, since it might be better to drive a bit farther in order to save money on airfare. If you're booking an international flight, you probably want the closest major airport, otherwise if you're a pilot you may be looking for a local airport. Use this tool along with the flight distance pages to plan your travel.


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It's results season, and the figures coming out of some of the big media companies reflect key trends shaping their fortunes. The key developments? New media battling old media products, emerging advertising ecosystems taking over from old ones and the strength of events are all inescapable for publishers in 2012/13.
-- Axel Springer: Traditional publishing is becoming less important to legacy media businesses. During the first nine months of 2012 at Axel Springer, digital accounted for almost 35 percent of the German media group's revenues, an increase of 2.5 percent.
At €823 million, digital is now Axel's second largest revenue stream, and is on track to overtake newspapers in the near future. Much of that success is down to acquisitions in digital classifieds and innovating around the edges of Springer's core business model.
(Release here)
-- Time Warner: At the TV and magazines giant, niche sites are making money, but not enough to offset print declines. Time's publishing division saw a six percent decline in subs revenues, a five decline in ad revenues and an 18 percent fall in other revenues.
The only bright spot was that those declines were partly offset by digital revenues from Golf.com and SI.com (Sports Illustrated).
(Release here)
-- AOL: Networks and new formats are driving a turnaround for the online content business. AOL CEO Tim Armstrong celebrated flat revenues in Q3 - AOL's self-proclaimed best performance in seven years. That was due to 18 percent growth in both third-party networks and international ads offsetting a decline three percent decline in its biggest segment, domestic display ads.
(Release here)
Another bright spot was premium and video ads, which have pushed up the minimum pricing AOL is prepared to sell space for. They may talk about being a content company - but for web giants the ad tech really matters.
-- Reed Elsevier: Legacy businesses are holding back growth at the Anglo-Dutch professional data and information publisher. During the first nine months of 2012, three of Reed's divisions saw growth of just one or two percent as legacy businesses offset growth in new areas.
Both LexisNexis Legal & Professional and Elsevier saw print product declines offset by growth in online data and tools. At Reed Business Information data services ICIS, BankersAccuity and XpertHR and its "leading brands" magazine segment saw good growth, but that was offset by weak demand for US construction data and declines in "other magazines".
The one almost unqualified success story was Reed Exhibitions, where revenue was up 15 percent.
(Release here)
--At Trinity, falling revenue doesn't mean you you aren't headed in the right direction: Digital revenues were up 8 percent for nationals and 9 percent for regionals, but circulation fell 1 percent and total ad revenues fell 11 percent.
Nevertheless Trinity's figures were better than previously expected and the firm produced improved profit guidance - which helped push its share price up 5p to almost 70p - that's almost double what it was six months ago.
(Release here)
Image via flickr curtousey of Images_of_Money.


text: Belkofski Unincorporated in the Aleutians East Borough Community Details Area Type Place of Interest Current Population 0 Pronunciation/Other Names (bell koff' ski); alt. Belkofsky Census Designated Place (CDP) No Economy Subsistence Yes Economy - Fisheries Participation, and Earnings CDQ Participant No CQE Eligible No All Fisheries, Permit Holders 0 All Fisheries, Permits Issued 0 Election, Recording, and Judicial Districts Senate District House District Judicial District 3 Recording District Aleutian islands Facilities and Amenities Broadband Internet Available No Broadband Cell Phone Services No Cell Phone Service Available No Geography and Climate Location Belkofski is located on a point at the eastern end of the Alaska Peninsula, 12 miles southeast of King Cove. Community Map Available Yes Map URL http://commerce.alaska.gov/dnn/dcra/PlanningLandManagement/CommunityProfileMaps.aspx Latitude 55.0989 Longitude -162.0355 Sq Mi Land 0.00 Sq Mi Water 0.00 Climate Belkofski lies in the maritime climate zone. Temperatures range from -13 to 78 °F. Snowfall averages 56 inches, and precipitation is 33 inches per year. History and Culture History Russians originally settled Natives at Belkofski in 1823 to harvest the large concentration of sea otters inhabiting the area's reefs. At the height of this exploitation, Belkofski was one of the most affluent villages in the area. In the 1880s, there were three stores, and residents imported building materials and furniture from San Francisco. The Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church was built. When the otter industry diminished at the turn of the century, so did the population of Belkofski. Remaining residents trapped for subsistence. Cash employment in the Pribilofs, King Cove, or Sand Point lured residents away from the village. When the last of the Belkofski residents moved to King Cove in the early 1980s, they took the church's bell and icons with them and built a new Orthodox church at King Cove. Culture Belkofski is a summer fishing camp, used by King Cove residents and other area Unanga. Indigenous Language Aleut Federally Recognized Tribe Yes Name of Federally Recognized Tribe Native Village of Belkofski Housing - 2010 Census Municipal Powers Transportation Transportation Belkofski is accessible by boat or seaplane. It has no harbor, dock, boat-landing facilities, airstrip, roads, or vehicles Harbor/Dock No State Ferry No Cargo Barge No Road Connection No Coastal Yes


text: Synovus Financial Turns To Profit In Q1 Vs Loss Last Year - Quick Facts RELATED NEWS Synovus Financial To Present At BoA Merrill Lynch Conference; Webcast At 1:30PM Synovus Financial Q3 14 Earnings Conference Call At 8:30 AM ET Trade SNV now with 4/24/2012 7:52 AM ET Synovus Financial Corp. (SNV: Quote) reported net profit available to common shareholders for the first quarter of 2012 of $21.40 million or $0.024 per share versus loss of $93.70 million or $0.119 loss per diluted share reported for the corresponding first quarter of 2011.On average, 21 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report $0.01 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.Net interest income for the first quarter of 2012 declined to $220.96 million from $237.43 million in the corresponding quarter last year. Total non-interest income, however, increased to $84.14 million from $64.16 million a year ago. Analysts estimated revenues of $287.10 million. Click here to receive FREE breaking news email alerts for Synovus Financial and others in your portfolioby RTT Staff WriterFor comments and feedback: email@example.com News


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How-To Articles
There are many "tolls" to be paid on the road to a successful large meeting, conference, or convention. Hughie's has some advice to get you past the toll booths.
Planning a wedding is a joyous and stressful time. It seems that there are so many ways to make your special day, well ……. special. Have you thought about light? Everyone does the linens and the chair covers. The center pieces high and low, but the one thing that can create the most for mood and atmosphere is light.
Helpful Checklists
- Application for Credit
- Credit Card Authorization—Cleveland
- Credit Card Authorization—Columbus
- Credit Card Authorization—Pittsburgh


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Get Ready New York!!
The 30th Annual East Coast Championships will take place on September 28, 29, and 30th this year in Brooklyn, New York!
The event will run in conjunction with the DUMBO Arts Festival 2012. DUMBO stands for "Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass", and it is the nick-name of a particularly hip neighborhood right along the river-front on the Brooklyn-side of the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges.
As an official sponsor of the event, we sent 30 footbags including multi panel Dirtbags and Phat Tyre footbags! Some lucky festival goers are going to walk home with a bran new Phatty or a high-quality dirtbag!


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A collection of relevant and timely media clips and resources.
Posted on April 19, 2013
Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed four anti-gun bills along with harmful amendments. All of these bills are a direct attack on law-abiding citizens seeking to exercise their rights, and none of them present viable solutions to crime. Below are descriptions of these bills as amended in committee. Senate Bills 347, 699, 700 and 796 will soon be sent to the Senate floor for consideration, so please contact your state Senator today and urge opposition to these measures.
Senate Bill 347 allows a school district or other entity that controls school grounds to adopt a policy that would prohibit Concealed Handgun License (CHL) holders from possessing a firearm in or on school grounds, and allows them to adopt a policy that requires CHL holders to store their firearms in a locked metal safe or vault. The school district may not prohibit a parent of a student from possessing on school grounds provided that parent is accompanying the student to or from school and does not enter a school building. SB 347 does not allow for other family members to accompany a child from school if they are carrying concealed or allow for a person who may cross through a school ground on a weekend walk. A person who violates this school policy will be asked to leave and if they fail to do so will be guilty of a Class A Criminal Trespass.
Senate Bill 699 modifies laws prohibiting possession of firearms in public buildings, and bans open carrying of firearms in the state Capitol building. Further SB 699 expands the definition of "public buildings" to include buildings owned or occupied by a public body and the grounds adjacent to such buildings. The penalty for violation is a Class C felony. The effect of SB 699 is such that a person could become a felon for having an openly displayed firearm on land adjacent to something discrete as property rented to a local irrigation district.
Senate Bill 700 requires background checks on private firearm transfers, criminalizing otherwise lawful private transfers of firearms. Further, the person who transfers the firearm is required to have the purchaser complete a government form and to retain a copy of that form for five years. This vague provision leaves the door open to penalize otherwise law-abiding gun owners for accidentally losing paperwork and could be used by the state for a gun registration scheme.
Senate Bill 796 requires that CHL courses must be taught by a live instructor and the CHL applicant must attend in-person. The instructor, however, is not required to actually teach - just be present - and could still show videos the entire time so long as they are physically there.
All four anti-gun bills are aimed at law-abiding citizens. These bills will not make Oregon safer; instead they seek to create criminals out of law-abiding citizens.
On a positive note, the Senate Judiciary Committee also passed Senate Bill 713 , which would allow shooting ranges to be constructed in zones exclusively zoned for farming.
Please contact your state Senator and urge his or her opposition to Senate Bills 347, 699, 700 and 796, and his or her support for Senate Bill 713. Contact information for your state Senator can be found by clicking here.
public buildings, private firearm transfer ban
Tomorrow, April 5 at 8:30 a.m., several anti-gun bills will be heard by the Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee in Hearing Room 50 at the state Capitol. These bills attempt to provide a "solution" to a non-existent problem and instead create a new class of criminals amongst otherwise law-abiding citizens.FULL STORY
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.READ MORE
© 2014 National Rifle Association of America. Institute for Legislative Action. This may be reproduced. It may not be reproduced for commercial purposes.11250 Waples Mill Rd. Fairfax, VA 22030 1800-392-8683(VOTE)


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Features & Specs
- Engine 1.8 L Inline 4-cylinder
- Drivetrain Front Wheel Drive
- Transmission 6-speed Manual
- Horse Power 122 hp @ 5200 rpm
- Fuel Economy 26/31 mpg
- Bluetooth No
- Navigation No
- Heated Seats No
Review of the 2007 Nissan Versa
Thanks to its roomy interior and long features list, the 2007 Nissan Versa is one of the best subcompacts currently available.
- Safety
Large interior with simple but attractive control layout, solid quality cabin materials, wide selection of features, comfortable rear seat.
Noisy powertrain at high revs, vague steering, less than athletic handling and braking, more expensive than competing models.
What's New for 2007
This Nissan Versa is an all-new vehicle for 2007. This affordable subcompact makes a name for itself with a roomy interior and many standard and optional features. A hatchback body style debuts first, with a sedan coming out later in the year.Read full review of the 2007 Nissan Versa
Full 2007 Nissan Versa Review
What's New for 2007
This Nissan Versa is an all-new vehicle for 2007. This affordable subcompact makes a name for itself with a roomy interior and many standard and optional features. A hatchback body style debuts first, with a sedan coming out later in the year.
Acknowledging the public's recent disgust over rising fuel prices and urban congestion, Nissan has decided to introduce a new entry-level model this year. Called the Versa, this subcompact boasts fuel economy above 30 mpg, ample interior space, plenty of features and a price tag lower than Nissan's more traditional entry-level car, the Sentra.
Subcompacts are popular in most other parts of the world, and in fact the Versa has already been on sale in other countries previous to 2007. (Outside of the U.S., it's called the Tiida.) North American consumers, however, seem to have cyclical interest in this type of car. To temper this, the 2007 Nissan Versa follows a next-generation approach to subcompact design.
Number one for a next-gen approach is the car's small-and-tall body style. Though this makes the Versa look a bit goofy, there's no denying that it provides an impressive amount of interior space within a tidy footprint. The Versa is only a little shorter than the new '07 Sentra, yet it actually provides 3.5 inches more rear legroom. Only in terms of shoulder room does Nissan's subcompact suffer compared to its bigger sibling. For the debut, Nissan is releasing the hatchback body style first and will follow it up later in the year with a sedan.
Unlike the Soviet-style subcompacts of yore, the Nissan Versa comes well-equipped with the latest technology and comfort features. Under the hood is a 122-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and an optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). This engine is one of the most powerful in this segment and the CVT promises to combine the ease of a traditional automatic with manual-like fuel economy. For features, one can get the Versa with upscale items such as Bluetooth connectivity, side and head curtain airbags, and Nissan's Intelligent Key keyless entry system.
Of the current batch of subcompacts, the 2007 Nissan Versa ranks pretty highly. Its interior is roomy and of impressive quality, and the car serves very well as a daily commuter car. The two main downsides are that it's not particularly fun to drive energetically and it's priced at the high end of the subcompact segment. These elements keep the Versa from being our top pick (that title goes to Honda's Fit), but it's still an intriguing answer to urban congestion and high fuel prices. The Versa, particularly in 1.8 SL trim, is certainly one you'll want to take a look at.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2007 Nissan Versa is a small four-door available as a hatchback or sedan. Two trim levels are offered: Versa 1.8 S and Versa 1.8 SL. The 1.8 S is pretty basic. It has air-conditioning, a rear wiper, a 60/40-split folding rear seat (hatchback only) and a CD player as standard, but power windows, power mirrors and keyless entry are optional. Going with the more desirable 1.8 SL provides those features as standard as well as cruise control, upgraded interior cloth, more adjustments for the driver seat and a six-CD audio system with an MP3 player jack. It also has improved interior storage, lighting and trim. Optional features for the Versa 1.8 SL include a Sport Package (featuring exterior aero trim pieces), a Convenience Package (Bluetooth connectivity, Intelligent Key keyless entry and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls), a sunroof, upgraded audio speakers and satellite radio.
Powertrains and Performance
The front-wheel-drive Versa comes with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine good for 122 hp and 127 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual transmission is standard. A four-speed automatic transmission is optional on the 1.8 S, and a CVT is optional for the 1.8 SL trim. The best fuel economy comes from the CVT-equipped Versa; the EPA rates it at 30 mpg city/36 mpg highway.
The Nissan Versa comes standard with front seat-mounted side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags and a tire-pressure monitor. Antilock brakes with brake assist are optional. In NHTSA crash tests, it earned a four-star rating (out of a possible five) for driver and front passenger protection in head-on collisions. Five stars were given for side-impact safety. In its frontal offset and side-impact tests, the IIHS gave the Versa a top score of "Good."
Interior Design and Special Features
The Versa's interior is spacious and well-tailored. With its tall roof, headroom isn't an issue except for NBA players, and the combined front and rear legroom lets 6-foot-plus passengers sit comfortably at all four positions. A fifth person can be wedged into the rear center seat, but only if he's especially friendly with the outboard companions. Interior controls are easy to use, but front seat comfort is only average. The hatchback's split rear seat lowers but doesn't fold flat; doing so reveals an impressive 50.4 cubic feet for your stuff. The sedan has a 13.8-cubic-foot trunk, which is respectable for a car in this segment.
Driving Impressions
The 2007 Nissan Versa is fairly quick off the line, but once the engine reaches 4000 rpm, it begins to grumble loudly about the increased revs. Of the three transmission choices, the six-speed manual is the most satisfying, as it maximizes the available power. The CVT-equipped Versa doesn't feel quite as peppy, but most buyers should be satisfied with its performance. Over smooth pavement, the ride quality is good, but the Versa's suspension compliance over rough road surfaces doesn't impress us, as its wheels tend to hop over obstructions rather than absorb them. The car feels tall in the corners, which is accentuated by plenty of body roll. The electric power steering is also a little slow, and braking distances are longer than they should be even for this class.
Customer Reviews
Talk About The 2007 Versa
EPA-Rated MPG
- 26
- cty
- 31
- highway


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50 Ways To Lose Her
This piece was inspired by actual events and actual men. Sample size = 3
1. Burp. The smelly kind
2. Fart. The smellier kind
3. Touch yourself. Your fly should already be zipped.
4. Make Freudian references to your mother
5. Bigamy references of any kind
6. Aversion to fruit and other virtuous food
7. Argue that my version of Islam is unenlightened
8. Look at me for approval before every bite, every step, every move
9. Reference "retards," "gays," and other vastly inappropriate and unkind generalizations
10. Make fun of your sister's husband, or any other family member
11. Passive aggressive behavior: "You've been screening my calls," "I told you I wasn't a total loser"
12. Invade my personal life by taking over my family
13. Not get the hint I'm annoyed at you and want you to leave immediately
14. Think that fights and arguments are healthy relationship banter
15. Buy presents belatedly, and from an online thrift store
16. Refuse to wear gel in your frizzy, thinning hair
17. Sing along to your car radio in an awkward, high-pitched, voice-cracking squeal, especially when the song is out of your narrow range
18. Chapped lips
19. Road rage
20. Insist that you're right even when you're not and you and I know both know you're not and I've shown you a Wikipedia entry confirming you're wrong
21. Say "good times" when you're with me, as though it were a nostalgic memory. It was, maybe, five seconds ago.
22. Be "over" everything perpetually. You're "over" politics, "over" trends, "over" frozen yogurt.
23. Leave your dirty laundry, including used underwear, in my car in 90-degree temperatures while I unsuspectingly drive my family around in it.
24. Belabor your mental health problems and the litany of anti-psychotic medication you're on. "This is my version of lithium."
25. Underemployment, unemployment.
26. Communism (see #25)
27. Point out girls who you think are hot who obviously don't resemble me
28. Point out guys who you think are hot who are actually hotter than you. This tells me: (1) you don't think you're hot (so I won't); (2) you aren't as hot as other guys (so maybe I should look elsewhere); and (3) I can do better than you (so maybe I will).
29. Introduce yourself as a "writer," "historian," or "philosopher." No, you're not. See also #25.
30. Ask me to introduce you to other girls (i.e.: my friends) after we've ended our relationship.
31. Introduce yourself as an animated character from "Rocky and Bullwinkle" because your given name is too "ethnic."
32. If humanity has put its collective brain together to invent machines to cut the hair on your head then they've undoubtedly done the same for the hair that is sneaking out of your nose and ears. Please look into that.
33. Long fingernails.
34. Earwax.
35. When discussing Kim Kardashian's "curves," showcase your knowledge of the English vocabulary by using "volumptuous" instead of "voluptuous." See also #27 (above).
36. Tell me that you went through a phase of "yellow fever."
37. Find my "innocence" endearing when I pretend not to get a dirty joke. My pretend ignorance is perhaps a hopeless attempt to salvage the dignity of our conversation.
38. Ask me how many children I want to have with you before even knowing where I graduated from.
39. Speak our mother tongue in an unintelligible accent that causes me to suffer second-hand embarrassment. Practice with someone else.
40. Imply that every shared interest or experience is proof our souls knew each other before this life.
41. Order my food for me.
42. Inability to pay for a phone card while abroad. Insist that we must rely on email instead. My inbox just lost your email address.
43. Take me to dinner but make no offer to pay. Then discover that your Metrocard is empty and borrow $2.25 to get home.
44. Ignore established cultural practice of being polite when I offer to pay for your dress-shirt when you complain it's too expensive. Instead, take up as generous offer. This will earn you the title of eunuch.
45. Stare at the bill on the table in front of us. Offer to pay when the restaurant asks us to leave.
46. Call a mutual friend at midnight to discuss details of my relationship with you. Muse that I may be too impulsive.
47. Act like a fob to endear yourself to others when your last trip to Pakistan consisted of a 2-week long stay in a major city. You spent most of that trip in the bathroom.
48. Tell me about past relationships where girls have been too needy for you. Proceed to show me exactly what that means.
49. Refuse self-improvement while telling me eagerly you're excited to "see the results, inshaAllah" from my workout regimen.
50. Push me to the limit of writing a ridiculous, unbelievable list of your deviation from societal norms, hygienic standards, and human decency. It was the easiest part of our relationship. Thank you.
5 Responses
Good list :)
One way to lose him: give him this list
I'm cracking up:) Classic! Please allow me to add a bit here and there to some items on the list-not that the list isn't perfect just the way it is, it's just that it's got my creative juices flowing a bit, especially because a lot of South African guys fit the description of everything mentioned here (yes, even the ones that don't say inShallah). For now, I'd like to focus on because I've witnessed a more gruesome version here at home in South Africa:
#33. Long fingernails…that have remnants of day-old deep fried carcus and dandruff flakes safely tucked in them (evidently, for a midnight snack…oh say…6 weeks from the completion of digestion of the carcus)
#34. Earwax…streaming down crusty earlobes like volcanic lava and ultimately settling on a used-to-be-white collar (the crease on the shirt's collar is now defined by a thick dark brown landing strip…a mixture of bodily dirt and petroleum jelly)
I meant "focus on 33 and 34″ sorry about that..
Re: #47 – Act like a "fob" – as in "Fresh Off the Boat". I have not heard that in a long while.
Years ago, some of my Muslim friends (in our 20s) referred to an arranged marriage with someone here to someone from abroad as an "import" or "FOB".