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ZaZa Energy Corporation Announces Definitive Sales And Purchase Agreement With Vermilion Energy
ZaZa Energy Corporation (NASDAQ: ZaZa) today announced that it has entered into a definitive share purchase agreement ("Purchase Agreement") with Vermilion Energy Inc. ("Vermilion"), whereby Vermilion, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Vermilion REP SAS, will acquire 100% of the shares of ZaZa Energy France SAS ("ZEF") for a purchase price of approximately US$85.8 million, subject to customary closing adjustments, with an effective date of October 1, 2012 and an anticipated closing prior to year-end 2012.
ZEF's operating interests cover approximately 24,300 acres and a 100% working interests in the Neocomian Complex and Charmottes fields in the Paris Basin. Current production is approximately 850 Bbl/d of light Brent-based crude oil. Proved Reserves at 30 June 2012, as evaluated by Gaffney, Cline & Associates, were estimated to be approximately 5.6 million Bbls.
"This divestiture falls directly in-line with ZaZa's strategic objective to focus on further developing our core operating acreage in Texas," said Todd A. Brooks, Chief Executive Officer of ZaZa Energy. "It strengthens our balance sheet and provides us with additional working capital to drill in the Eaglebine and Eagle Ford plays. We have now amassed over 160,000 net acres between the two, including a dominant, nearly contiguous 90,000 net acre block in the Eaglebine located in the thickest part of the basin, which we are currently developing. Over the coming quarter, we look forward to providing our shareholders with updates on our progress and believe the next year will be an excellent year for our Company."
Upon closing, ZaZa intends to use a portion of the proceeds from the disposition to pay-down part of its remaining senior secured notes and accelerate its drilling program in its core operating acreage in Texas. Additionally, as part of the Paris Basin Agreement signed with Hess in July 2012, ZaZa will hold $15.0 million of the proceeds in escrow until all Paris Basin exploration permits are successfully transferred to Hess.
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modacrylicLine breaks: mod|acryl¦ic
Pronunciation: /ˌmɒdəˈkrɪlɪk /
Definition of modacrylic in English:
Of or denoting a synthetic textile fibre which is a polymer containing a high proportion of units derived from acrylonitrile.
Example sentences
- Our modacrylic range has something for everyone and human hair and mohair wigs are our specialty.
- Since modacrylic fibers are copolymerized with vinyl chloride or vinylidene chloride, they are flame retardant.
- The low softening temperatures of modacrylic fibers allow them to be stretched, embossed and molded into special shapes.
noun[mass noun] Back to top
A modacrylic textile fibre.
Example sentences
- Most stuffed animals have an outer covering of fake fur, usually synthetic materials (polyester, acrylic or modacrylic) or natural materials (wool, wool/cotton, mohair, or alpaca).
- And 'Evolutionary Plastic' and modacrylic are the first inherently flame-retardant synthetic fibers.
- Finally, acrylic and modacrylic are the predominant fibers used in the fast-growing craft yarn market.
Definition of modacrylic in:
- US English dictionary
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Word of the day odium
Pronunciation: ˈəʊdɪəm
widespread hatred or disgust for someone…

subset: commoncrawl


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Gary City Jail InformationGary City Jail is in Gary at 555 Polk Street in Indiana, call (219) 881-1214 for updates to inmate information. Go to the county jail search page to lookup a different location.
Gary City Jail
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Funky Salt and Pepper Shakers
By: Kreinik
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Add some to your kitchen table with these funky salt and pepper shakers embellished with beads and fiber. You can match the threads to your kitchen color scheme.
- Salt and pepper shakers
- Treasure Tape, 3/4" roll
- Kreinik holographic thread colors in 1/8" Ribbon size
- Flat-backed cabochons (optional)
- Micro beadlets; we used gold Beadlets from Kreinik (also available are clear beads and silver beads)
- Shallow pan or tray
Lay a strip of double-sided Treasure Tape on each shaker. Remove the red liner to expose the top sticky surface.
Begin decorating with thread: lay the 1/8" Ribbon in desired pattern. See our photo for inspiration.
Place any flat-backed buttons or cabochons in open sticky areas.
- Then place your shakers in a shallow pan or tray and cover all remaining sticky areas with the gold micro beads.
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Incumbents earn top votes in Pomona election
By The Herald Staff | 4/2/2014
The three open Pomona City Council seats up for re-election Tuesday will be filled by incumbents.
Dan Keith, Rick Smith and Richard Adler are expected to remain on the council after Tuesday's vote, according to unofficial election results.
A total of 99 ballots were cast with Dan Keith receiving 69 votes; Richard Adler 50; and Rick Smith 59. Others who filed for election included Billy Lloyd, who received 44 votes; Jerry Slaves 44; and 10 votes for a write-in.
An official canvassing of the election is set for Monday morning at the Franklin County Board of Commissioners' study session.


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Debt Settlement News
Read the latest on Debt, Debt Settlement and Debt Repair.
Debt Settlement Bill Leaves PA Consumers Vulnerable
Delaware County News Network (PA) (06/13/14) ; Morris-Louis, Markita
Indebted consumers often look to debt settlement firms to help them lower the amount they owe to creditors; but many end up in even worse financial condition, writes Markita Morris-Louis, general counsel with Philadelphia-based Clarifi. She describes how one client of the nonprofit had paid a third party $1,000 to settle $18,000 in debt, but the company never made progress in negotiating with the creditors. This is one of the reasons, according to Morris-Louis, that it is time to end such practices in Pennsylvania.
On June 17 in the state legislature, the House Commerce Committee is expected to move Senate Bill 622 to appropriations. However, Morris-Louis says the Debt Settlement Services Act has flaws that could keep consumers vulnerable to unscrupulous debt settlers and should be altered to fix these problems. She recommends that the bill set a meaningful limit on fees that settlement companies can charge in the state, based on the amount a consumer is able to save or reduce on their debt. It also should require debt settlement firms to consider the consumer's financial well-being, and his or her whole financial situation, to determine if debt settlement will really benefit; and they should have to review whether creditors are likely to actually settle.
The bill also should prohibit practices that include telling a consumer to stop making payments to creditors and enrolling consumers that debt firms know will not benefit. Legal services also should be included in the definition of debt-settlement services and should not be exempt from these consumer protections.
NC Attorney General Sues Debt-Settlement Firm That Collected More Than $1.1 Million
Raleigh News & Observer (North Carolina) (05/16/14) ; Murawski, John
North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper has sued Chicago-based Legal Helpers Debt Resolution (LHDR), alleging that it ran an illegal scheme that swindled 412 state residents out of more than $1.1 million during a two-year period.
The company allegedly collected illegal advance fees for debt-settlement services that were never provided as marketed. The suit argues that LHDR advertised on the radio, online, and via mass mailings, vowing to have customers debt-free within four years. Claiming to be a national law firm, it pledged to assign an attorney to work with clients throughout the process. The lawsuit seeks to ban LHDR from conducting business in North Carolina and to require it to refund state residents.
Through this "classic advance fee scam," as the lawsuit described it, the company took in more than $1.5 million from North Carolina residents and used only 15 percent of those funds to pay off customer debt. One victim was a Durham resident who paid LHDR about $2,500 to help her resolve $22,000 in credit card debt. The services were never rendered, and the company issued a $90 refund.
Debt Settlement Firm Pleads Guilty in First CFPB Referral
Reuters (04/08/14) ; Ax, Joseph; Raymond, Nate
In the first criminal case referred to U.S. prosecutors by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Michael Levitis and his debt settlement firm Mission Settlement Agency pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to conspiracy charges of mail and wire fraud. In U.S. vs. Mission Settlement Agency, prosecutors accuse the firm of victimizing more than 1,200 people nationwide from 2009 to 2013 by charging them excessive fees while failing to help them reduce credit card and other debt.
As part of the plea agreement, Levitis -- who faces up to 10 years behind bars -- and the company will forfeit $2.2 million. The company faces another fine of as much as $4.39 million. Guilty pleas were issued by four other former Mission employees, and charges against a fifth are pending.
Debt-Settlement Legislation Would Lift Fee Caps That Protect Consumers
Cleveland Plain Dealer (OH) (02/02/14) ; Williams, Kalitha E.
Nearly 10 years ago, lawmakers passed the Ohio Debt Adjusters Act, intended to protect state residents from debt adjusters that imposed excessive fees and gave false hope to consumers mired in debt. Under the statute, fees are limited to no more than $75 for initial consultation, up to $100 annually for consultation fees, and no more than 8.5 percent of the debt or $30 -- whichever is greater -- for monthly fees.
These reforms were modest, writes Kalitha E. Williams, policy liaison for Policy Matters Ohio, and the debt adjustment industry remains profitable in Ohio as a result. Many indebted consumers seek financial relief, only to find their situation exacerbated after working with for-profit debt adjusters. These firms insist that clients stop making debt payments and fund an escrow account to be used to negotiate with lenders. As the debts grow, consumers are hit with late fees and higher interest rates; and they often have to file for bankruptcy.
Williams writes that these conditions would worsen if House Bill 173 is passed. The proposal would lift the fee caps, on the grounds that federal protections have removed "bad actors" from the debt-adjustment industry. However, the last year alone has seen regulators such as the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the U.S. Attorney office in New York taking legal action against such companies.
The Center for Responsible Lending found that consumers only benefit from debt adjustment if they can complete the settlement of at least two-thirds of their debt. Consumers cannot know this before enrolling. A survey from the iA Institute found that nearly half of debt creditor and collector companies refuse to work with debt-settlement companies.
Deny the Debt-Settlement Industry the Carve-Out From Ohio Law They're Seeking in Columbus: Editorial
Cleveland Plain Dealer (OH) (01/19/14) ;
A new bill is pending in Ohio's Senate, after passing the Ohio House of Representatives, that the Cleveland Plain Dealer editorial board calls "grotesquely anti-consumer." Substitute House Bill 173 purports to "regulate providers of debt settlement services" but actually would offer debt settlement a way to skirt current fee caps under Ohio's existing debt-adjusting law.
Debt adjusters claim to negotiate with creditors on behalf of indebted consumers, intending to persuade a creditor to accept less than the entire balance owed.
A bipartisan 2004 law, Substitute House Bill 420, was passed unanimously and now regulates debt adjusters in Ohio. It forbids debt adjusters to charge "a periodic fee or contribution more than 8.5 percent of the amount paid by [the] debtor each month or $30, whichever is greater," according to the office of Attorney General Mike DeWine. This law also appears to force debt settlement service providers to observe the monthly 8.5 percent or $30 fee cap, unless the proposed H.B. 173 becomes law.
Morrisey Files Suit Against Debt Settlement Firm
Charleston Gazette (WV) (01/02/14) ;
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has brought a lawsuit against Legal Helpers Debt Resolution in the wake of a two-year investigation launched by his predecessor, Darrell McGraw. The Nevada-based debt settlement firm allegedly collected upfront fees from 250 customers in West Virginia in exchange for helping to resolve their debt problems, but it never settled those debts.
Customers paid more than $198,000 in fees, according to the lawsuit. "We believe ... that the defendants provided no legal services or any discernible value to their customers in the state even though they collected fees from them," Morrisey said in a news release. AGs in Indiana, Illinois, Rhode Island, and Oregon have already filed lawsuits against Legal Helpers. The company agreed to stop doing business in Illinois and paid fines and restitution, but the other cases are pending.
The West Virginia lawsuit alleges that attorneys working with Legal Helpers were not licensed to practice in the state. Legal Helpers failed to "clearly and conspicuously disclose" that it would not settle customers' debts or begin to negotiate debt-settlement agreements until customers had paid all fees in advance, it further claims. The suit is asking a judge to block Legal Helpers from conducting business in West Virginia and is requesting that Legal Helpers refund fees to customers.
Postal Inspectors: Ask About the Fees
digtriad.com (09/16/13) ;
U.S. postal inspectors are warning consumers to be wary who they pick to help them manage heavy debt. U.S. Postal Inspector Robert Clark says some firms are offering to settle debts for 45 percent of the debt. In one case, the company asked customers to sign a three- or four-year contract agreeing to the deal, stop talking to creditors, and make a monthly payment. However, 1,200 customers said the firm collected $2.2 million in fees and failed to dissolve the debt. Some customers never asked about the $49 in monthly fees due to the seemingly attractive deal they were being offered; and even when salespeople were asked about fees, they only answered with prepared statements.
The company owner had no regard for the complaints and was only concerned with signing up customers. Postal authorities say the best way to determine if a debt settlement company is reputable is if it discloses all fees up front and is not trying to expedite the contract process. A new law also requires companies to meet customers in person to sign a contract. Customers should also be aware they can work out payment options with credit card companies without outside help.
Debt Collector Sued by Arkansas AG Wins Appeal
Arkansas News Bureau (05/17/12) ; Lyon, John
The Arkansas Supreme Court has overturned a judgment that Attorney General Dustin McDaniel won for the state against a debt collector. Last year, a Pulaski County circuit judge ordered Jack H. Boyajian to pay a $194,000 civil penalty for 776 violations of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The state Supreme Court has now reversed and dismissed the order, however. McDaniel said, "While I respect the Court's decision, I am deeply troubled by its far-reaching effect on Arkansas consumers and the likely harm that will result." The attorney general had filed a lawsuit alleging that Boyajian was "badgering and harassing" Arkansas residents to collect debts, sometimes threatening them with criminal action and sometimes targeting individuals who did not actually owe anything. Boyajian, an attorney licensed in California at the time, argued on appeal that his actions were carried out in the practice of law, making him exempt from the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The Supreme Court agreed. Boyajian also was sued over his debt collection practices in Colorado, Connecticut, and New York.
Web Link
Taxpayers Fund Collector Chasing Student Loans
Bloomberg Business Week (05/15/12) ; Hechinger, John
Employees and executives at the student loan debt collection company Educational Credit Management Corp. (ECMC) receive significant compensation from collecting past-due student loan debt for the U.S. Education Department. The guaranty agency generates big profits thanks to an 18-year-old agreement with the federal government. Approved by Congress, the company charges borrowers fees and earns commissions from taxpayers when it collects defaulted loans. But ECMC says it helps keep federal financial aid programs solvent by recouping the delinquent debt. The company confirms that it has returned $4.3 billion to the U.S. Treasury since 1994; but critics say those working at ECMC benefit, too. CEO Richard Boyle received $1.1 million in 2010, while five managers took home more than $400,000 each. Justin Hamilton, a department spokesman, acknowledges that some of the government's policies in relation to the debts deserve "a second look." Not only do workers at the company take home large paychecks, but the firm also reimburses large commuting bills. Additionally, it receives more money collecting from struggling borrowers than it does from those defaulting in the first place. If the company gets borrowers to make nine payments in 10 months, it gets a jackpot: up to 37 percent of a borrower's entire loan amount. Despite the criticism, National Council of Higher Education Loan Programs President Shelly Repp says, "There's no factual basis for this claim that the incentives are misaligned."
Web Link
FTC Settles With Debt Collectors Over Bogus Magazine Payments
Chicago Tribune (05/15/12) ; Samuelson, Kristin
The Federal Trade Commission has reached a settlement with Luebke Baker and Associates Inc., a debt collection agency that pursues payments on hundreds of thousands of accounts each year. The government charged the firm with violating the FTC Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and Telemarketing Sales Rule as it sought to recover payments for bogus magazine subscriptions. Among the allegations, according to a press statement, were that Luebke "illegally masked their identity and sent false information over caller ID, falsely posing as Ed McMahon, attorneys from a law firm and other entities; falsely told consumers that magazine subscription debts are exempt from the statute of limitations; and illegally threatened to garnish wages and take other unintended legal actions." Under the proposed settlement, the debt collector may not declare that a consumer owes a debt without having a reasonable basis to do so and also may not make any other misrepresentations when collecting debts or selling goods and services. Luebke also is obliged to investigate if a consumer challenges a debt. Meanwhile, Cross Media Marketing Corp. -- the company that sold the magazine subscriptions -- was successfully sued several years by the FTC for deceptive marketing. A 2003 federal court order against the firm placed special requirements on anyone seeking to collect payment on the subscriptions.
Web Link
Seventh Circuit: Bill Collector Can Be Sued for Calls to Wrong Numbers
Legal Newsline (05/15/12) ; Karmasek, Jessica M.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit recently ruled that bill collectors can be sued for automated calls made to the wrong cell phone subscribers, upholding an earlier decision by a Northern Illinois District Court. The case revolves around the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act -- which restricts the use of automatic dialing systems, artificial or prerecorded voice messages, SMS text messages received by cell, and the use of fax machines to transmit unsolicited marketing materials. Two mobile phone subscribers, Teresa Soppet and Loidy Tang, allege that Enhanced Recovery Company made dozens of automated calls to their cell phones, draining valuable minutes from their plans. The pair claim they never consented to receive automated calls. But Enhanced Recovery said it had the consent of the previous subscribers. The court said that only the consent of the current subscriber can consent to the automated or recorded calls.
Web Link
5 Credit Card Rules for New Grads
Huffington Post (05/14/12) ;
New college graduates who are managing their money for the first time should be cautious about credit card use. When receiving a card offer in the mail, they should not fall for flattery. Envelopes often have language such as, "You've been selected!" and "You deserve this opportunity!" to make potential users feel special; but individuals should not apply for a new card unless they need it. Another tip for new graduates is to scour the fine print before applying for a credit account, making sure the card meets their needs. For example, frequent commuters may want cash-back cards that offer a gas rebate. Card users also should pay their balances every month, using a budget so that they know how much money goes toward credit cards; and these payments should be made on time. New graduates additionally should promise themselves to learn about money and personal finance, using sources such as books by Liz Weston and Farnoosh Torabi, or free webinars offered by CredAbility. Consumers who are already in debt and need help can reach out to organizations such as the National Foundation for Credit Counseling or CredAbility.
Web Link
Brewer Signs Bill to Help Debt Collectors
Phoenix Business Journal (05/14/12) ; Sunnucks, Mike
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed House Bill 2664 into law on May 14. The legislation makes it easier for debt collectors to pursue defaulting consumers and small businesses by allowing collection agencies to use final billing statements to show amounts owed and interest rates. Many debt collectors purchase delinquent accounts from banks and credit card companies but often receive minimal information about the debt. Obtaining additional data can be difficult and expensive. While Arizona's new law makes it easier for collection agencies to pursue debt if they can obtain final billing statements from banks, consumer attorneys and Democrats opposed the measure, questioning the accuracy of information such as credit card statements and fees.
Web Link
Some States Give Troubled Consumers a Break on Use of Credit Scoring for Insurance Rates
InsuranceQuotes.com (04/30/12) ; Anderson, Troy
Certain state laws enable insurers that use credit scores when determining rates for auto and homeowners' insurance to take into account bankruptcies brought on by death, job loss, or catastrophic illness, since in many cases bad credit can mean premiums that are up to 200 percent higher than someone with good credit. These exceptions for "extraordinary life circumstances" are available in 15 states, including Connecticut, Nevada, Texas, and Iowa, and are based on a model law from the National Conference of Insurance Legislators. The laws still allow insurers to use credit score information to determine rates, but require them to take into account life events. American Insurance Association (AIA) Vice President and Associate General Counsel Dave Snyder says that the use of credit-based insurance scores are permitted in most states. "The majority of policyholders receive discounts as a result of credit-based insurance scoring, and auto insurance and homeowner's insurance are more available because credit-based insurance scoring has improved the accuracy of underwriting. Insurance is more affordable to more people and is generally more available because insurers have an objective measurement of risk that has increased the accuracy of underwriting over the more traditional factors," he said. Insurance credit scores are used to predict the number and cost of claims customers are likely to file and use those numbers to determine the premiums they should be charged. In Illinois, insurers could be required to recalculate consumers' insurance scores upon request should lawmakers pass a pending measure, and a bill in Maryland would prevent insurers from rating risk based on credit history.
Web Link
W. Va. Woman Fights to Collect $10 Million From Debt Collectors
Diana Mey of Wheeling, W.Va., has won a $10 million judgment against an abusive debt collection company, the largest award of its kind ever made. Two years ago, a representative with Reliant Financial Associates (RFA) left a message for Mey implying that her house was in jeopardy unless she paid a debt. Debt collectors are legally forbidden from making empty threats to debtors about serving them with a lawsuit or seizing their homes. Mey also says she is debt-free. Mistaken debtor identity is a frequent issue in the United States because of collectors called "debt buyers," which purchase old debts at a discount that original creditors have given up on. The debt buyers, including RFA, then try to collect them for a profit. In May 2011, Mey sued RFA for harassment and illegal collection practices. RFA's lawyer failed to show up in court in August, leaving Mey to testify unopposed. The judge called RFA's actions "malicious" and awarded $10,860,000. It later was discovered that RFA is a fictitious business name for a company called Global AG LLC -- one of several collection companies that are operated by the same people but often change names and relocate.
Web Link
Accretive Put Debt Collectors in Hospitals, State AG Says
Bloomberg (04/25/12) ; Wayne, Alex
A Minnesota official has accused a debt collection firm of pressuring payments out of patients at a hospital chain in the state, both in the emergency room and at their bedsides. Attorney General Lori Swanson said that employees of Fairview Health Services were required to use a computer system called "Blue Balls" to track whether patients paid their bills and then demand payment before they received treatment at any of the seven facilities in the company's franchise. She said the system was introduced in May 2010 when the hospital hired collection agency Accretive Health Inc. In a recently released report based on internal documents and interviews with employees, Accretive's tactics created "a high-pressure boiler-room-style sales atmosphere." Swanson has filed suit against the Chicago-based debt collector for violations of U.S. and state patient-privacy and debt-collection laws. In the report, Swanson said Accretive provided emergency room personnel with scripts for conversations with patients that "can lead a patient or her family to believe the patient will not receive treatment until payment is made." Additionally, employees were instructed to ask for credit card payments, tell patients they would wait for them to get their checkbooks, and remind them that debt-collection activities "can affect your credit score." The hospital chain recently ended a portion of its contract with Accretive. Web Link
Could Your Next Facebook Friend Be a Debt Collector?
KDVR.com (04/23/12) ; Melear, Nancy
Facebook users should be careful about which friend requests they accept, as some people may only be after their private information. An increasing number of debt collectors are using social media to track down consumers who owe money, sometimes setting up a fake profile and sending out friend requests. After receiving a first collection letter, consumers are advised to call the collection company within 30 days with a request for no contact by phone, text, or e-mail. If payment is not possible, negotiation and settlement will damage the borrower's credit score but will stop the collection. Facebook users should set their privacy settings so that their profile is visible only to friends -- not the public -- and should accept friend requests only from people they know. Users should employ common sense in their posts, avoiding details such as employment history, including current employer; e-mail; cell phone; and birth date. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act currently does not have provisions for social media, so it does not explicitly forbid collectors from posting on a consumer's Facebook unless they talk about the debt. Consumer attorney Craig Thor Kimmel recommends that social media users save any messages they receive from collectors. They can then report the sender as spam on Facebook and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Web Link
Attorney General Sues 7 Debt Collectors
Charleston Gazette (04/17/12) ;
West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw has filed a lawsuit against seven unlicensed debt collection agencies, claiming that they use unfair tactics to get money from consumers. Several consumers have complained that the agencies' collectors impersonated law enforcement and judicial officers and made threats of prosecution for failure to pay off debts. Some agencies attempted to collect nonexistent debts. The suit involves County Filing Services Inc.; Portfolio Investment Financial; Investment Management and Recoveries Inc.; Rosenthal, Stein and Associates LLC; Vision Credit Solutions LLC; National Capital Management Inc.; and Dorsey Thornton and Associates LLC. The lawsuit asks a judge to force these seven agencies to comply with an investigative subpoena.
Web Link
Chicago Woman Says She Was Ripped Off by Debt-Settlement Firm
CBS 2 Chicago (04/16/12) ;
Letitia Mika, a resident of Chicago, says she fell prey to a scam artist pretending to be a legitimate debt-collection agency. The Lincolnwood firm PN Financial offered to settle her overdue credit card balance, for which Mika paid $1,800. She later learned that PN Financial was keeping the money, not using it to pay off her debt. The Illinois attorney general's office is now suing PN Financial for fraud in four dozen cases, including Mika's. AG spokesperson Natalie Bauer says PN Financial also was threatening to sue people while it posed as a law firm. In some cases, the firm had sent out letters with fake court case numbers, dishonestly claiming to have filed suit against the letter's recipient. Consumers should be aware of their rights: debt collectors may not call at all hours, may not use threats or call a person's employer to tell them about the debt, and they must apply any payment to the actual debt.
Web Link
Debt Collectors Increasingly Using Abusive Threats, Insults, Lies: Report
Huffington Post (04/13/12) ; Eichler, Alexander
A recent report from Marketdata Enterprises points out that debt collectors have been adopting increasingly nasty tactics -- including curses, threats, insults, and even telling lies that break the law. In the current economic climate, people are more unwilling or unable to pay cash for their debts when demanded to do so. Debt collecting remains a profitable industry, with revenues at $11.74 billion in 2010. Still, many companies are experiencing shrinking profits with an increasingly crowded collection field. One firm allegedly told a debtor that they would dig up her dead daughter and hang her from a tree if she did not pay her bills. Others go on a campaign with calls early in the morning and late at night, or try to recruit relatives to apply indirect pressure. Sometimes, collection agencies call people who do not owe any money. At least one company has been accused of lying to people and threatening them with arrest, a tactic that is also against the law.
Web Link


text: L K Advani Monday said the delay in announcing Harsh Vardhan as CM candidate in Delhi cost the party a clear majority. "Had we announced Harsh Vardhan as CM candidate a bit early, we would have a BJP CM in Delhi," Advani said addressing an event organised by the Overseas Friends of BJP at the party headquarters adding "in fact, AAP would have got absolute majority if we had delayed (announcement) any further". "Not announcing the (CM) candidate at the right time was our weakness," he said. He however claimed a wave in favour of Narendra Modi in the country and expressed confidence that the BJP will emerge single largest party after 2014 elections.


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This Grade II listed building was Harrogate's first hotel and enjoys a peaceful location in landscaped grounds, close to the town centre. It provides spacious, well-equipped accommodation. Public area...More about BEST WESTERN PLUS Cedar Court Hotel
Set in the heart of Harrogate's antiques quarter, this fine Georgian hotel has free WiFi and luxurious rooms, just a few minutes stroll from the town centre, Harrogate International Centre and the fam...More about White Hart Hotel
This double fronted Victorian villa is beautifully maintained. It is located in a residential area a short distance from the conference centre, shops and attractions and is ideal for both business and...More about Wynnstay House
Sitting just a few miles from St Andrews, overlooking the rugged Fife coastline and the championship golf courses, The Fairmont is situated on a 520-acre estate. There are spacious bedrooms and bathro...More about Thorpe Park Hotel & Spa
High quality, budget accommodation ideal for both families and business travellers. Spacious, en suite bedrooms feature tea and coffee making facilities, and Freeview TV in most hotels. Internet acces...More about Premier Inn Leeds/Bradford Airport
The Windmill is a beautiful, traditional country inn tucked away in a charming village. Food is locally sourced and the two rooms are converted out buildings that are just across the car park. They ar...More about The Windmill Inn
High quality, budget accommodation ideal for both families and business travellers. Spacious, en suite bedrooms feature tea and coffee making facilities, and Freeview TV in most hotels. Internet acces...More about Premier Inn Leeds East
This striking gothic style mansion house is set in landscaped gardens and is a short walk from the River Aire. The rural setting is peaceful yet the hotel is also convenient for Bradford and Leeds. Th...More about Mercure Bradford, Bankfield Hotel
This country pub and lodge is convenient for Harrogate, with its tourist attractions, shops and tearooms as well as the Conference Centre. It is also well located for visiting picturesque Knaresboroug...More about Innkeeper's Lodge Harrogate (East)
Modern, budget hotel offering comfortable accommodation in bright and practical bedrooms. Breakfast is self-service and dinner is available in the restaurant. ...More about Ibis Bradford Shipley


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Zoo Atlanta
Zoo Atlanta's panda twins celebrate their first birthday
Our adorable year with Mei Lun and Mei Huan
Happy birthday, Mei Lun and Mei Huan! One year ago today, pandemonium began when Zoo Atlanta's giant panda Lun Lun gave birth to a set of tiny pink cubs, the first giant panda twins born in the U.S. since 1987. Through the zoo's blog, eager Atlantans (and the rest of the world) watched the twins transform from four-ounce newborns to the 60-pound adorable balls of fluff they are today, along the way hitting classic milestones such as opening their eyes for the first time and getting their baby teeth. Today, the zoo celebrates the girls' birthday with a set of ice cakes, but let's first go back in time and look at how far these cuties have come.Read more
The American Cancer Society celebrates centennial in style
The black tie evening offered everything from painting with pachyderms to poignant stories of survival
There were opportunities to ride in a NASCAR pace car, getaway to wine country and dine in style at master chef Franck Steigerwald's private table Saturday night at the American Cancer Society's Birthdays Ball at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead. But dollar for dollar, nothing beat the rare opportunity to paint with the African elephants at Zoo Atlanta during the evening's spirited live auction. The private painting session for you and five of your closest animal and art aficionados ended up pulling in $5,000 for the charity, retaining 100 percent of the experience's estimated value (given that the pricey pachyderms each eat about 300 pounds of food a day, the five grand should just about cover the painting session's catering bill). The black tie fundraiser, presented by Delta, Georgia Power and Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia was an evening dedicated to raising money and to raising awareness about the iconic cancer nonprofit celebrating its centennial birthday in 2013.Read more
35. Sleep with the fishes—or the felines
Overnight adventures at Zoo Atlanta and the Georgia Aquarium
If you've got small kids, we don't need to sell you on the marvels of Zoo Atlanta and the Georgia Aquarium.Read more
Save these pandas!
You see that little guy to the right? That's Xi Lan, the newest addition to Zoo Atlanta's panda family who was born in August of last year. Doesn't Xi Lan look sad? It's because he's just been informed that unless Zoo Atlanta meets its fundraising goal of $500,000, he, his big sister, Mei Lan, and their parents, Lun Lun and Yang Yang, are going to be saying zai jian (goodbye) to the Peach State.
As I wrote in last year's paRead more


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Alternatively make a simple batch of little gingerbread men –wrapped in cellophane bags they make great edible gifts, stocking fillers or hang on your Christmas tree!
These gingerbread men can be baked and decorated now all ready for Christmas-or cut out snowflakes, stars or Christmas trees-whatever takes your fancy!
TIP. If making tree decorations, make a hole at the top of the biscuit(you can use a straw or skewer), and on removal from oven re form, as the holes may have closed slightly. Once cold, thread a narrow ribbon through and form a loop. Alternatively, make the dough, cut out and layer the unbaked biscuits in freezer containers-layered up with baking parchment. Bake fresh as required.
Your home will be filled with the wonderful scent of Christmas!
Happy Baking and Happy Christmas!
Next Month. –a simple Lemon Drizzle Crunch cake. Just the thing after all the excesses of the Festive season.
A great classic Christmas cake for all the family; there's always someone who doesn't like fruit cake, so they can eat the gingerbread men!
Makes 40 slices
1 x Rich Tamarind Fruit Cake
1/ 2 x batch Gingerbread dough (see below)
4 tbsp apricot jam, warmed and sieved
1kg marzipan (see below)
1 tbsp brandy or boiled water
icing sugar, to dust
1kg sugarpaste
6cm gingerbread man cutter
9cm gingerbread man cutter
6 cocktail sticks
30g bag black royal icing
30g bag red royal icing
60g bag white royal icing
bag of mini chocolate beans
Turn the cake upside down on to a cake stand. A dab of apricot jam will stop it moving around. If there are any holes or the cake is a dodgy shape, correct it now with little bits of marzipan. Once you are happy, brush all over with jam. Knead the marzipan until pliable. Dust a work surface with icing sugar and, using a little more on the rolling pin, roll the marzipan into a rough circle slightly larger than the top and sides of the cake and about 5mm thick. Lift on to the cake, smoothing all over, and cut off any excess. Leave overnight to firm up.
Brush the marzipan with the brandy and, on a clean, flat surface, knead the sugarpaste until pliable. Dust the work surface and rolling pin with icing sugar and roll out the sugarpaste in a rough circle about 5mm thick and slightly larger than the diameter of the cake and sides. Lift the sugarpaste with your hands (or loosely wrap it around the rolling pin) and place it over the cake. Gently smooth with your hands and cut away any excess. Leave overnight to harden.
Preheat the oven to 180.C/fan 170.C/350.F/gas mark 4. Roll the gingerbread dough out to 4mm thick and cut out 12 large and 12 small men. Line 2 baking sheets with baking parchment and lay out the
shapes; smaller on 1 tray (they take less time to bake) and larger on the other. Press 2 cocktail sticks on to the backs of the legs of 3 smaller men so they will stand up later. Bake for 8–15 minutes, depending on size. The gingerbread will darken. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Pipe black eyes and red mouths on the large men and stick on red mini bean noses.
Pipe black eyes and red noses and mouths on the small. Stick 3 buttons on the large men and 2 on the small. Surround the cake with the larger men, propped against it, dabbing their heads with a little royal icing to adhere. Carefully position the 3 men on sticks on the top of the cake. You will have 9 little men left over to serve separately.
Once you have wrapped the dough in clingfilm to chill, you can store it in the refrigerator for a couple of days or freeze for up to a month so they are ready to bake at any time.
Makes about 40
350g plain flour, plus more
to dust
4 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/ 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
130g salted butter, very
slightly softened
1 egg yolk
150g light muscovado sugar
3 tbsp golden syrup
2 tbsp black treacle
zest of 1 orange, finely grated
Sift the flour, spices and bicarbonate of soda into a large bowl and add the butter, cut into small chunks. Gently rub together with your fingertips – or pulse in a food processor – until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs
Add the egg yolk, sugar, syrup, treacle and zest and mix together until you have a firm dough. If it's too sticky, mix in a little more flour. Wrap in clingfilm and chill for at least 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 180.C/fan 170.C/350.F/gas mark 4. Line 2 baking sheets with baking parchment. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to 4mm thick, and cut out with a 6.5cm round cutter. Bake for 10–15 minutes. The gingerbreads will have darkened a little.
Remove from the oven and leave to firm up a little for a few minutes, then gently transfer to a wire rack to cool. They will become crisp.
makes about 600g, enough to cover a 20cm cake
190g icing sugar
380g ground almonds
3 tsp lemon juice
3 egg yolks
4 drops almond essence
In a bowl, mix the icing sugar and almonds. In another bowl, mix the lemon juice, egg yolks and almond essence. Add the egg mixture gradually to the icing sugar and almonds and knead everything just until it forms a stiff paste. (It will become oily if overworked.) Store in a polythene bag in the refrigerator (use within a week).]]>
Maybe you are super organised-presents wrapped, cards written, meals planned, decorations and festivities all organised weeks in advance -or maybe it is a bit last minute. Possibly, like most of us it is a bit of both.
November can be a bit bleak-the nights are getting longer, trees are bare and we are fast descending into winter. I can think of nothing I would rather do than retreat to the warmth of my kitchen and spend many happy hours baking. I would say that wouldn't I…..
Here is my fail safe luxury Christmas cake recipe- I started the cake business making this from my kitchen table almost 30 years ago! We even made the little cakes using baked bean cans in those days (well washed out of course). Now we make literally 1000's of Christmas cakes in the bakery using very similar recipes. It is quite delicious- packed with moist fruits, spices nuts and laced with brandy. If you have never made a fruit cake-I urge you to follow my step by step instructions. Make it now and store it away and the cake will mature and the flavours will mellow and mingle.
At least you can tick one thing off that list!
How to decorate the fruit cake, and how to make gingerbread men in December's blog.
Bake & Decorate by Fiona Cairns (Quadrille, £12.99)
Rich tamarind fruit cake
Photography by Laura Hynd
makes 25–30 slices
200g dark glacé cherries
280g sultanas
280g raisins, preferably lexia or
100g currants
170g mixed peel
110g glacé ginger, chopped
1 tsp tamarind paste
3 tbsp black treacle
40g bitter marmalade
zest of 1 unwaxed lemon, finely grated
zest of 1 orange, finely grated
1 heaped tbsp mixed spice
100ml brandy, plus 3 tbsp to feed the cake
250g unsalted butter, softened, plus more for the tin
120g walnuts
40g blanched almonds
180g self-raising flour
1 tsp salt
250g dark muscovado sugar
160g ground almonds
5 eggs, lightly beaten
The day before, rinse the cherries, then dry them well with kitchen towel and cut each in half. Place the sultanas, raisins, currants, mixed peel, glac. ginger, cherries, tamarind paste, black treacle, marmalade, zests and mixed spice into a large bowl. Pour over the brandy, give it a stir, cover with clingfilm and leave overnight.
Next day, preheat the oven to 140°C/fan 130°C/275°F/gas mark 1. Lightly butter a 23cm diameter, 7.5cm deep, round tin and line with baking parchment. Wrap the outside of the tin with brown paper and tie with string, to protect the edges from scorching in the oven.
Scatter the whole nuts on a baking sheet and roast for 10 minutes in the oven, shaking once and watching so they don't burn. Cool slightly, chop and set aside.
Sift the flour and salt into a bowl. In an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar for at least 5 minutes until paler and fluffy. Add the ground almonds, then very gradually the eggs, mixing well between each addition. Fold in the flour with a large metal spoon and, lastly, all the fruits (and any liquid) and nuts.
Scrape the batter into the tin and bake on a low shelf for about 23/4 –3 hours. Start to check it after 21/2 hours: if a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean, it is ready. If it browns too much before it is fully cooked, make a circle of foil a bit larger than the cake, pierce a hole in the centre and open it up, then place it over the tin.
Remove from the oven and cool in the tin. When cold, prick all over with a fine skewer and evenly sprinkle over the extra brandy. Wrap in baking parchment, then foil, and leave to mature for a week or up to 3 months. Unwrap and feed it with 1 tbsp more brandy every other week, if you like, for extra succulence and booziness!
Our clocks go back at the end of the month as we descend into winter, and we are constantly reminded Christmas is fast approaching!
Halloween, Trick or Treat and all things spooky and creepy , closely followed by Bonfire Night seems to have become more and more commercial over the years, but can be fun.
These little monster cakes are more frightful than frightening I would say, but perfect for the kids to while away a few hours at half term maybe? Great to take along to any Halloween gathering, Trick or Treat or maybe a Bonfire gathering.
Each year I always make a quite delicious Parkin Cake. The recipe comes originally from the North of England and is traditionally served on Bonfire Night. A dark moist, slightly sticky cake made with black treacle, ginger oatmeal , this would be my personal preference! Served slightly warmed with a salted caramel or vanilla ice cream it is a delicious autumnal pudding. My recipe for it is in my latest book Seasonal Baking. So – two very different autumnal ideas to bake at home for October .
Little Monsters
All-in-one orange cake
The more revolting and gruesome the better! Thank you
to Molly and Jacob Eardley (aged 11 and 8) for designing
the originals for me to copy. I have listed the colours and
quantities of icing I used, but this is only a rough guide.
A great way to get children involved: just give them the
icing, colours, a piping bag or two (and this photo to
spark their imaginations) and leave them for an hour or
two! You could use food colouring pens too (although the
sugarpaste will need to have dried overnight first).
Makes 16
16 cupcake cases
For the cupcakes
250g unsalted butter, softened, diced, plus more for the tins
250g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
finely grated zest of 2 large oranges and juice of ½ large orange
250g golden caster sugar
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
For the syrup (optional)
juice of 1 orange
5 tbsp caster sugar
For the icing
500g icing sugar, sifted
5–6 tbsp orange or lemon juice
To make the monsters
500g white sugarpaste (or ready mixed colours of your choice)
The colours I used were:
pink food colour paste
green food colour paste
red food colour paste
yellow food colour paste
blue food colour paste
violet food colour paste
orange food colour paste
black food colour paste
60g piping bag white royal icing, no. 1 nozzle
To bake
Set the oven temperature to 180C/fan 170C/350F/gas mark 4.
Line two cupcake tins with paper cases. For this batter, I use an electric mixer and beater attachment, but do use a food processor, or a bowl and an electric
whisk, if you prefer.
Sift the flour and baking powder into the bowl, then add the orange zest, sugar, butter and eggs. Beat together and lastly add the orange juice. Do not over-mix.
Divide the batter between the cases. Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until
the cakes spring back to the touch.
Meanwhile, if you are making the syrup, mix the orange juice and sugar in a bowl. As soon as the cakes come from the oven, prick holes all over each with a cocktail stick and douse with syrup. (Only do this after they are defrosted, if
the cakes have been frozen.) Leave to cool completely in the tins.
When ready to ice, place the icing sugar in a bowl and gradually add
just enough orange juice to make a pourable consistency which coats
the back of a spoon. Pour a spoonful or so of the icing over each cake,
gently easing it over the cake with a spoon so it spreads to the edges.
Allow to set for an hour or so.
To decorate
Divide the white sugarpaste into however many colours you wish to
use (each of my monsters took 20–30g) and colour it, keeping back a little white for the eyes and teeth. Make your monsters!
Stick the monster parts together with royal icing, and decorate each
cake with a monster, adhering with a blob of royal icing, if necessary.
To colour sugarpaste
Place a piece of sugarpaste on a work surface. Dip a cocktail stick into a pot of food colour and knead in. It is much better to add the colour little by little and mix different colours. If it is sticky, add a little icing sugar. Knead until the sugarpaste is an even colour you like. Seal in a polythene bag and leave overnight, if possible, to firm up.
It is "back to school" for many – new beginnings. I remember that feeling well – rows of brand new pencils, pristine exercise books and squeaky clean shiny shoes. Translated, these days – September is still about new beginnings and when I most want to replace my entire winter wardrobe – no doubt a hangover from those days!
Anyway, a much cheaper option is to whiz up a batch of these cookies – a perfect addition to any lunchbox, late summer picnic, a September country ramble or with a weekend cuppa. The saltiness of the peanuts and the sweet/sour cherries makes them a hit with everyone.
TIP: Replace the cherries with chocolate chips or small pieces of chocolate. Remember cookies and biscuits will harden and continue to slightly cook off when removed from the oven.
Another of my September occupations is to ramble across the fields in search of sun ripened blackberries. Turn it into to crumbles, cakes and jellies or simply enjoy a bowlful with a dollop of yoghurt for breakfast. If you aren't near a blackberry bush or don't have the time then they are, of course, available in the supermarket. For a 5 minute delicious pudding make a white chocolate sauce – break up a bar of good white chocolate with an equal amount of double cream into a small bowl. Melt over gently simmering water (ensuring bowl doesn't touch the water). Pour into a jug and serve warm with a bowl of blackberries and maybe a few shortbreads. Sublime!
Recipe for peanut butter and sour cherry cookies
One of the best biscuit recipes I know to pack up and take on a picnic, as the salty peanut butter combined with the sweet cherries makes them a hit with all ages. Substitute the same amount of chocolate chips for the cherries, if you prefer.
Makes 18–20
100g unsalted butter, softened, in pieces, plus more for the trays (optional)
170g light muscovado sugar
200g crunchy peanut butter
1 egg, lightly beaten
200g plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
100g dried sour cherries, roughly chopped
Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/350°F/gas mark 4 and lightly butter two baking trays, or line with baking parchment.
Using a food mixer (or a large bowl and a hand-held electric whisk), whisk together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the peanut butter and egg. Sift in the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt, then add the vanilla and cherries. Mix together (but do not over-mix), until just combined to a soft dough.
Using a tablespoon, divide the mixture between the baking trays and flatten each biscuit with the tines of a fork. The mixture will spread a little, so space them out well. Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, or until just colouring around the edges. The cookies will continue to harden as they cool, so it is really important not to over-bake.
Leave on the trays for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. These will keep in an airtight container for a few days.
Recipe from SEASONAL BAKING by Fiona Cairns, published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson £25
© Fiona Cairns]]>
The tradition of using flowers in the kitchen is nothing new; interestingly the Romans sometimes flavoured their wine with roses and violets. There are many interesting floral recipes from medieval times and flowers were used in the kitchen for centuries.
Seemingly the tradition rather went out of favour during Victorian times… and then in came artificial flavours and colours. (It is wonderful these days to see the return of natural food colourings, widely used now in baking and confectionery and in our cakes in the bakery.)
Many of the flowers we grow in our gardens are edible: roses, lavender, pansies, violets, primroses, pinks, sweet geraniums, borage and even the humble garden daisy. Little packets of fresh edible blooms can be found in some supermarkets, as can rose and orange blossom water and lavender sugar (though the latter is easy to make at home).
They are all there to transform your summer baking, puds and salads, too. However, do remember that shop-bought flowers intended for general display are not suitable for cooking, as they have been sprayed with pesticide. And remember that some flowers are poisonous, so please stick to those specified!
In this recipe I have crystallised several roses from my garden and even a few daisies from the lawn! Tumbling over the cake, with a selection of summer berries, I hope you will agree it is fairly stunning and so simple to do.
Bring your summer salads, puddings and salads alive with a sprinkling of rose petals, marigold petals and pansies.
Do look out for a book to be published in September by Frances Bissell called The Floral Baker. Not only are the recipes easy to follow, but Frances explores the use of flowers as flavourings in her cakes, pastries and breads in an original way.
To crystallise flowers
1 egg white
caster sugar
paint brush
a selection of dry edible flowers and leaves (see above)
Lightly paint each flower, petal or leaf with egg white, covering every surface. Sprinkle over the sugar with a teaspoon, again covering every surface, then shake off excess, place gently on baking parchment and leave to dry for 12-24 hours.
Summer extravaganza
Maximum impact with just a bit of effort and a wonderful centrepiece for any special occasion, even a small wedding. Everything on the cake is edible: crystallised roses, dog roses from the hedgerow, daisies, cherries and currants. For children, cover with sweets or biscuits. Just use your imagination!
Serves 30
175g (225g; 550g) unsalted butter, really soft, in pieces, plus more for the tins
175g (225g; 550g) self-raising flour
1 tsp (1; 2) baking powder
3 eggs (4; 8), lightly beaten
1 tsp (1; 2) vanilla extract (or seeds of ½/½/1 vanilla pod)
175g (225g; 550g) golden caster sugar
100ml (200ml; 300ml) clotted cream, whipped
4 tbsp (8; 8) jam of your choice, plus more to stick
icing sugar, to dust
crystallised flowers (see below)
200g cherries with stalks
150g redcurrants with stalks
3 round thin cakes boards: 15cm; 20cm; 25cm
8 dowelling sticks
30cm cake stand or serving plate
Follow the instructions for Classic Victoria Sandwich, filling, in turn, a 15cm deep round cake tin, two 20cm sandwich tins and two 25cm sandwich tins with the batter. It's best to make the batter and bake the cakes one batch at a time.
The batter in the 15cm tin needs to be twice as deep as that in the other tins. Bake the 15cm cake for 50–55 minutes (because it is very deep), the 20cm cake for 25–30 minutes, and the 25cm cake for 30–35 minutes. Cool, turn all the cakes upside down and fill (see below), cutting the small cake in half horizontally to do so.
Attach each cake to the right-sized cake board with a blob of jam. Check they are all level and, if not, trim them level with a serrated knife. At this stage they can be stored in the fridge for quite a number of hours, ready to be assembled a few hours before required. Dust all three cakes with icing sugar.
Insert four dowelling sticks vertically into the largest cake, spacing them apart to form a square sitting just within where the middle cake will rest. Push each stick down on the board until it will go no further, then mark with a pen about 1mm above the surface. Remove each stick, score where it is marked with a knife and snap. Replace the sticks into the holes. Repeat for the middle tier.
To stack the three cakes, simply place the largest cake, still on its board, on to a cake stand or serving plate. Place the middle tier on top, checking it is exactly in the centre, then add the top tier.
Now the cake is all ready for decorating. And this couldn't be simpler. Once you have crystallised your flowers (see below), simply arrange them on the cake with the cherries and currants. (A few carefully placed cocktail sticks can be useful to drape the fruit from.) You will have to decorate the cake on site, as it cannot be moved once the flowers and fruits have been arranged.]]>
So, whatever our unpredictable British summer throws at us this year – a stunning heat wave or just grey drizzle – ice-creams just have to make an appearance on the kitchen menu.
Any little treats that don't require hours of slaving in the kitchen are perfect, especially during the summer months when appetites may be smaller.
You might need to look twice at these… are they freshly churned? Flake 99? Raspberry ripple and mint-choc chip? No, these are in fact cakes!
Dead simple, quite quick to bak e and ideal for all that summer entertaining. They are great at impromptu barbecues, picnics and kids' parties and will even keep children occupied in the kitchen for an hour or so during the interminable summer break, if you don't mind the mess… Oh, and they won't melt! Surprisingly the cakes are actually baked in the cones, which form an edible cupcake case.
In the hot weather, buttercream can easily become too soft to pipe. If this happens to you, place the bowl of buttercream in the fridge for a short spell – 15–20 minutes should do it – to firm up a little. If it becomes too hard, beat it again, adding 1 tbsp of boiling water; it will soon become creamy and easy to pipe once more.
Bake the cakes, if you can, on the day they are to be eaten or, if necessary, the day before, but no longer as they tend to dry out inside the cones. The buttercream can be made ahead and even frozen, but will need to be beaten again, as above.
If you don't have the time or inclination to bake these ice-cream cones, pop along to Waitrose patisserie counter, where you will find an array of individual summer treats. We have created a cute summer box of fairy cakes, decorated with little ice creams, bunting and bumblebees, and even a summer tea party box of fairy cakes decorated with a tiny tea pot, cup and strawberries.
The simple and quite delicious British summer classic dessert, Eton Mess, is made with strawberries, meringues and cream. One of the many stories behind its creation has it that a perfectly constructed meringue dessert was mangled during the car journey to a picnic at Eton College… Luckily, however you combine British summer berries, meringues and cream, it will taste delicious.
Look out for our Raspberry Eton Mess cupcake in Waitrose, or make the dessert yourself with home-made or ready-made meringues.
In the summer, it would be criminal not to make the most of our delicious home-grown berries and fruits. And remember that, during the summer months, individual portions of dessert can be much easier to serve, especially for picnics, barbecues and other moveable feasts, so try meringues, individual pavlovas, tartlets, summer puddings… I could go on!
Ice-cream cones
Ice-creams that won't melt! A perfect addition to any children's party or picnic, especially during the summer. These are decorated as the real things – flake 99, raspberry ripple or mint choc chip – but use your imagination and get the children to give you a hand. These cakes are baked in ice-cream cones, so eat them quickly as they will start to dry out after a day or so. That shouldn't prove difficult!
Makes 20-25
1 x Orange Drizzle Cake batter
250g unsalted butter, softened
250g caster sugar
grated zest of 2 large oranges, plus 75ml orange juice
4 eggs, lightly beaten
250g self-raising flour, sifted
20-25 flat-based ice-cream cones
1 x recipe Buttercream
300g unsalted butter, softened
400g icing sugar, sifted
few drops of peppermint extract
green food colour
1 tsp vanilla extract
pink (or red) food colour
nylon piping bag
large star nozzle
7-8 chocolate flakes
7 tsp tiny chocolate buttons
5 tsp coloured sugar sprinkles
Preheat the oven to 170C/fan 160C/340F/gas mark 3 ½. Cream the butter, sugar and zest until very pale, light and fluffy (it will take at least 5 minutes in an electric mixer). Add the eggs gradually, beating between each addition, along with 1 tbsp of the flour to prevent curdling. Fold in the remaining flour and, lastly, slowly mix in the orange juice.
Place all the ice-cream cones on a baking sheet. Divide the cake batter evenly between them and bake for 15-17 minutes, or until they spring back to the touch. Leave to cool on a wire rack.
To make the buttercream, beat the butter in an electric mixer until really pale and fluffy. Add the icing sugar and beat for at least 5 minutes, until light and creamy.
Divide the buttercream between 3 bowls. Add a little peppermint extract to the first, to taste, then a dash of green food colour, and mix until you achieve the desired shade. Add the vanilla to the second bowl and mix well. To the third bowl, swirl in a little pink food colour; do not blend it in as you are aiming for the marbled effect of raspberry ripple ice-cream.
Spoon the vanilla buttercream into the piping bag and swirl on to a third of the ice-cream cones. Finish each with a chocolate flake. Wash the bag and nozzle and repeat with the green buttercream; sprinkling with chocolate buttons. Wash the bag and nozzle again. Finally pipe the raspberry ripple buttercream into the remaining cones and decorate with sprinkles.
Arrange on a serving dish or cake stand.]]>
I caught the baking and cake decorating bug (dare I say) almost 30 years ago. My husband Kishore saw potential at the kitchen table and we grew the company from there. If I'd had a crystal ball back then I would never have believed that my business would have started and grown over the years to have almost 100 employees. I still love baking as much as ever, which if I am honest surprises even me!
So, for all you bakers (and aspiring bakers) out there, I will be giving a recipe each month that I hope you will enjoy. I do try to follow the seasons in my kitchen, as many of us do, and this includes in my baking, as you will see.
I wouldn't dream of buying asparagus at Christmas, flown many air miles to reach the shelves of our supermarkets. The thrill and expectation of savouring fresh-picked British asparagus throughout May never fades. Each season has its own moods and wonderful produce to offer, which I reflect in my cakes.
Light airy fruit-filled sponges and pavlovas in the summer months; comforting, richer cakes in the autumn; and, in winter, sticky gingerbreads, decadent chocolate cakes and spiced fruit cakes… it just makes sense.
No surprise at all then, that for my first HELLO! recipe in June I have chosen to include another all-time British classic, our home-grown strawberries. It is well worth searching out sweet, sun-kissed strawberries as there are so many varieties available right through our summer months and some are much better than others.
Try a few varieties out until you find one you prefer… you do not have to settle for the widely available Elsanta. It is fun to go and pick your own if you can, or even try growing them. Just please don't buy them out of season again!
Strawberries and cream is a marriage made in heaven and I've combined the flavours into a cake (basically a simple all-in-one Victoria sponge).
Elderflowers appear in June too and there is something deeply satisfying about foraging for them in the hedgerow (though do find one away from traffic fumes). I've also given my recipe for elderflower cordial, which is in both the sponge cake and its cream filling.
Elderflower cordial is available commercially, but do try to make it; the home-made version is out of this world. Dilute with water for a refreshing drink, drizzle over summer berries, or pour into a glass of Prosecco or even a gin and tonic. It freezes well in plastic bottles (not glass, which will shatter in the freezer!) so it's well worth making a large batch.
My Strawberry and Elderflower Cake is perfect for any summer party or gathering, a cake with a real WOW factor. If you follow my clear instructions you'll find it isn't as difficult as you might think. My friend Fi first made it a year or so ago, having never baked before in her life. She took it along to a birthday party and it was such a huge success that it has become her regular party piece! I'm rather proud of her.
Happy Baking!
Strawberry and elderflower cake
Serves 24 (halve the recipe to serve 12)
For the cake
450g unsalted butter, really soft,
diced, plus more for the tins
450g self-raising flour
2 tsp baking powder
8 eggs, lightly beaten
finely grated zest of 2 large
unwaxed lemons
450g golden caster sugar
4 tbsp elderflower cordial
For the Elderflower cream
1.2kg ripe, even-sized
strawberries, cleaned, dried
and hulled
2 tbsp golden caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
600ml double cream
8 tbsp elderflower cordial
As I write, the hedgerows are filled with creamy, lacy elderflower heads, crying out to be turned into a fragrant cordial. Elderflowers have an extraordinary affinity with strawberries, and make a perfect summer birthday cake. Assemble only a couple of hours before the event (and chill, if you can) as the cake won't keep, especially in the heat. A summer celebration on a plate!
To Bake
Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 170°C/350°F/gas mark 4. To make the three-tiered cake, take three 20cm round sandwich tins. Butter the tins and line the bases with baking parchment. If you have only two tins, then make the cake mixture and divide it evenly into three batches, baking the third as soon as a tin becomes free.
For this cake, I use an electric mixer and beater attachment, but you can use a food processor, or a bowl and electric whisk, if you prefer. Sift the flour and baking powder into the bowl, add the butter, eggs, lemon zest and sugar, and beat well, adding the cordial towards the end. Be careful not to over-mix, as you want a light cake.
Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a skewer emerges clean. (To halve the recipe, bake in two 20cm tins for 20–25 minutes.) Remove from the oven, leave for a couple of minutes, run a knife around the rim to loosen the cakes from the tins and turn out on to a wire rack. Remove the papers and leave to cool completely. Trim the cakes flat.
For the Filling and Decoration
Slice 400g of the strawberries and toss in a bowl with the sugar and vanilla. Leave all the flavours to mingle together for 30 minutes.
Whip the cream until soft peaks form, adding the cordial slowly just as it begins to thicken. Place one cake on a cake stand and spread with a layer of cream and half the sliced strawberries. Repeat with another cake, a layer of cream and the remaining sliced strawberries. Top with the last cake. Spread the remaining cream all over the top and sides.
Take the best-shaped 20 strawberries and cut 10–12 in half. Place the halved strawberries, cut side up, in a circle around the edge of the cake, and pile up the rest in the centre. Cut the remaining strawberries into slices – or in half – and press into the cream all around the sides.
Make a jar of vanilla sugar: fill a jar with caster sugar, add a couple of empty vanilla pods, seal and leave it for a couple of weeks to infuse. Sprinkle over bowls of strawberries and other delicious British berries all summer long and serve with a jug of thick yellow cream.
For more information visit: www.fionacairns.com
Next Month: Ice Cream Cakes]]>


text:
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text:
|Name: _________________________
|Period: ___________________
This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. In the beginning of "Boule de Suif," who do the members of the National Guard occasionally shoot?
(a) Members of their own sentinels.
(b) Members of the German army.
(c) Members of the Russian army.
(d) Members of their own family.
2. What does the rumor about the Prussians concern in the beginning of "Boule de Suif"?
(a) That they were about to enter Paris.
(b) That they were about to leave Rouen.
(c) That they were about to enter Rouen.
(d) That they were about to leave Paris.
3. In the beginning of "Boule de Suif," what happens to the National Guards' arms, uniforms, and death dealing paraphernalia?
(a) It was slowly buried.
(b) It suddenly disappeared.
(c) It appeared intermittently.
(d) It was quickly burned.
4. What do the men search for in the farmhouses beside the road that they cannot find in "Boule de Suif"?
(a) Food.
(b) Water.
(c) Blankets.
(d) Toilets.
5. What is the name of the card game the men propose to play after dinner the first day in Totes?
(a) Eleusis.
(b) Eighty-three.
(c) Escarte.
(d) Euchre.
6. What kind of soldiers wander through the town in the beginning of "Boule de Suif"?
(a) Joyful.
(b) Intelligent.
(c) Triumphant.
(d) Defeated.
7. Who declares at dinner the first day in Totes that the Prussians behaved liked "ancient barbarians"?
(a) Boule de Suif.
(b) Loiseau.
(c) Comte de Breville.
(d) Madame Carre-Lamadon.
8. In the beginning of "Boule de Suif," what are the "Avengers of Defeat," "Citizens of the Tomb," and "Brethren in Death."
(a) Reformist campaigners.
(b) Legions of irregulars.
(c) Enlisted men.
(d) British dragoon.
9. When they arrive at Totes, the mood at supper after Boule de Suif returns from her meeting with the Prussian officer is characterized as what?
(a) Tense.
(b) Mournful.
(c) Cheerful.
(d) Gloomy.
10. In the morning of their first day in Totes, where do the male passengers find the coach driver?
(a) In the stable.
(b) In the village cafe.
(c) In the church.
(d) In the hotel lobby.
11. In "Boule de Suif," who is a king in the cotton trade with a much younger wife?
(a) Comte Hubert de Breville.
(b) Monsieur Carre-Lamadon.
(c) Monsieur de Suif.
(d) Cornudet.
12. At three o'clock, what does Boule de Suif remove from an enormous dish in the story?
(a) One duck.
(b) Two chickens.
(c) Two hams.
(d) A half of turkey.
13. When the coach lights the lantern, what hovers over the sweating flanks of the horses and roadside?
(a) A shadow of moonlight.
(b) A dense fog.
(c) A light mist.
(d) A cloud of vapor.
14. Why does Cornudet follow Boule de Suif to her room their first night in Totes?
(a) To make sexual advances toward her.
(b) To ask her to speak to the Prussian officer.
(c) To invite her for a late night supper.
(d) To request she spy on their passengers.
15. According to the coach driver, who gave him command the morning of the first day in Totes?
(a) Madame Follenvie.
(b) Loiseau.
(c) Cornudet.
(d) Monsieur Follenvie.
Short Answer Questions
1. What do boat-men and fishermen often haul to the surface in "Boule de Suif"?
2. Where is the Prussian officer staying in the inn in Totes?
3. Who breaks their jug on the table in indignation at the Prussian officer's request regarding Boule de Suif?
4. In Totes, who appeared only at meals and said nothing about the Prussian officer's request regarding Boule de Suif?
5. How does Boule de Suif respond to the matrons loud whispers of "hussy" and "public scandal" about her?
This section contains 592 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page)


text:
LaSalle Hotel Properties Announces The Sale Of 400,000 Additional Series I Preferred Shares Pursuant To The Underwriters' Option
LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE:LHO) today announced that the underwriters of its recent public offering of 6.375% Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares have exercised their option to purchase an additional 400,000 Series I Preferred Shares, bringing the total number of shares issued in this offering to 4,400,000 Series I Preferred Shares.
Wells Fargo Securities, BofA Merrill Lynch and Citigroup acted as joint book-running managers for the offering, RBC Capital Markets acted as lead manager, Barclays, BMO Capital Markets, Deutsche Bank Securities and Raymond James acted as senior co-managers, and Baird, MLV & Co and US Bancorp acted as co-managers.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for one or more of the following purposes: to redeem a portion of its outstanding Series G Preferred Shares, to reduce amounts outstanding under its senior unsecured credit facility, and for acquisitions, working capital and other general corporate purposes.
A registration statement relating to the securities became effective upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering will be made only by means of a preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus forming part of the registration statement. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and prospectus relating to these securities may be obtained by contacting (a) Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 1525 West W.T. Harris Blvd., NC0675, Charlotte, North Carolina 28262, Attention: Capital Markets Support, email: firstname.lastname@example.com, or by calling toll-free at 1-800-326-5897; (b) Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, 222 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York, New York 10038, Attn: Prospectus Department; email: email@example.com; (c) Citigroup Global Markets Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by calling 1-800-831-9146; or (d) the Internet site of the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov.This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any state.
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Pray for Me, Barack Obama
Barack Obama is looking for a church, but what's his religion?
Through the campaign, he was dogged by the rumor that he's secretly a Muslim, a sleeper-believer in the West. His purported bow to the Saudi King on his recent trip, categorically denied by the White House, got the conspiracists going again (the more the conspiracists fulminate, the more his virtue and reasonableness seem evident). The "dip," or perhaps the canny appearance of a dip, did, however, certainly win him (and the US) points in the Arab world.
Of course, then there was the first Seder in the White House, in which the president no doubt would have liked to be the one asking the four questions. (It's rather amazing no previous president has thought of a White House Seder—especially with Passover becoming such a sought-after invitation among non-Jews.)
Before he went to Chicago, there was his period of non-belief, which he writes about in his memoir. He was, when it came to religion, a normally dismissive Ivy League Man.
But soon enough he shows up in Chicago and joins Trinity United Church of Christ. A great deal of analysis has been spent on his conversion to churchgoing-ness and God-fearing-ness—with most commentators seeming to go out of their way not to call it opportunism. (God, of course, takes them however he can get them.)


text:
The maximum number of products that can be compared is 4. Please refine your selection.
Beaphar Anti-Ringworm Spray for Small Animals 50ml
Product Code: 18882P
Beaphar Anti-Ringworm Spray for Small Animals 50ml
Suitable for the following breeds: Giant Rabbits, Rabbits and Guinea Pigs.
Anti-Ringworm Spray for Small Animals by Beaphar contains miconazole, and has been designed for topical application.
The product is for use against fungal skin infections, which include symptoms such as hair loss, skin thickening and discolouration and rough, itchy patches.
Approximate Dimensions (Product): H16 x W4.5 x D4.5cm
Delivery Options
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- Free Collect in Store Available