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Archive for the 'News' Category
Monday, March 11th, 2013
Viola Di Grado is writing all the things.
With a second book under her belt, 25-year-old Viola Di Grado has taken the literary world by storm. She writes in noisy cafes in Rome and classifies herself as an exhibitionist. She speaks six languages and her first book 70% Acrylic, 30% Wool was translated into a few more. We called up Viola Di Grado in Rome to ask her about her writing process and her day-to-day life. She's funny, clever and speaks with a great Italian accent.
Read our new feature "Italian Stallion: Viola Di Grado."
Get Nailed
Friday, January 11th, 2013
Dzine make your pink heart and polka dot stick-ons seem pretty tame
Dzine's book, Nailed will have you thinking twice about the $20 manicure you got at that hole in the wall up the street. Featuring well-known contributors, commissioned photography, and Dzine's own work, this art book takes a look at nail art through history and its cultural importance today. Inspired by his childhood, Dzine created work that mirrored (and we're sure took to the next level) his mother's work in her salon in their family home.
Nail art may seem like a new movement with its Hello Kitty stick-ons and lightning bolt adornments, but it has a rich history that begins in the Ming Dynasty and Ancient Egypt. Nailed celebrates the art of body decoration with florals, jewels, feathers, color and paint and makes these hands look like beautiful weapons. The 192 page hardcover book is available at www.ShopTheStandard.com.
Get a sneak peek of Dzine's Nailed below.
Grace Coddington's Drawings
Thursday, November 1st, 2012Grace Coddington's quirky take on life in drawings
Ever since we saw The September Issue, those of us that were not yet familiar with Vogue's orange-headed Creative Director, fell in love with Grace Coddington. Her memoir Grace will be released this November (did someone say good stocking stuffer?) and the book will feature some of Coddington's wonderful illustrations. "She is well-known for sketching looks as they come down the runway from her front-row perch during fashion week," Vogue.com says. "But her drawings also take on a distinctly personal, and often humorous, tone." The illustrations will cover memories from her childhood to her work as a model and an editor to her great loves, which, of course, include her cats. Get a preview of Grace Coddington's illustrations to be featured in her new book Grace here.YAYOI KUSAMA BOOK
Thursday, September 20th, 2012
So much crazy Yayoi Kusama genius between these Louis Vuitton covers
The obsessive polka dots of contemporary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama found their place in fashion when Marc Jacobs asked her to collaborate on a Louis Vuitton collection. They also created window installations for Louis Vuitton's Manhattan stores and Selfridges in London. There's even an app where you can "imagine yourself or your friends covered with dots."
Yayoi Kusama, who's lived in a psychiatric hospital since admitting herself in 1977, was busy writing poems when Marc Jacobs approached her. In this exclusive mongraph for Louis Vuitton, she reveals previously unpublished documents, archival photographs and reproductions of original works. It's an in-depth look at the Yayoi Kusama's genius and insanity with contributions from well-known curators and authors.
Check out a sneak peek of Louis Vuitton's Yayoi Kusama monograph book below and see it in person at Louis Vuitton stores.
Karl's Paper Perfume
Monday, July 16th, 2012
Karl Lagerfeld and Wallpaper magazine want you to smell like a library
Stop rubbing vintage edition books on your neck and rolling around in printing presses! Wallpaper's new perfume will make you smell musty and inky without going all Parker Posey in Party Girl. Inspired by German publisher Gerhard Steidl and his affinity for the aroma of a "freshly printed book," the magazine employed perfume designer Geza Schoen and Karl Lagerfeld to bottle it up.
Paper Passion was created with only a handful of ingredients. "The smell of paper is dry and fatty; they are not notes you often work with," says Schoen. To compliment the unique perfume, Lagerfeld packaged the simple bottle within a book of essays about paper. From visual to sensual, Paper Passion captures any romantic notions you might have about paper, ink and books.
The Unseen Eye
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
W.M. Hunt's new book reminds us seeing is overrated
The Unseen Eye, the latest book from fine art photography collector W.M. Hunt, is sure to catch your eye. The book features images from the 19th century until the late 20th century of people whose eyes are either covered or averted. The collection includes works by Richard Avedon, Diane Arbus, Edward Steichen and William Eggleston, among many others. Whether you're a little voyeuristic or just a little silly, this book is for you. Buy it online here or go see some of W.M. Hunt's collection at the George Eastman House in New York until February 19.
See more from W.M Hunt's The Unseen Eye below.
Spotted on: NY Times Blog


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If you like your health care plan, you can keep it. Right? Well, despite President Obama's promises that under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, you could keep your health care plan, millions of Americans have discovered that is simply not true.
There's more shenanigans going on at the governor's office and this time it lands right at the feet of Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Many Democrats enjoyed watching former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell go up in flames for his actions while in office and then doubled down accusing Republicans of luring then state Sen. Phillip P. Puckett to resign with enticements of job offers for himself and family members.
Remember back when President George W. Bush invaded Iraq? Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons of mass destruction programs served as the casus belli for the invasion. It turned out that Hussein didn't have any weapons of mass destruction programs at all. Left-wingers blamed President Bush accusing him of manufacturing an excuse to invade.
"Why is it that everybody is so eager to use military force?" That was President Barack Obama in April, when the pressure to intervene militarily against the latest terrorist organization, ISIS, first began to build. His question is one that could have been posed so many times in the post-World War II era. We've become a national security state since then, one buffeted by the great powers of the military-industrial complex.
By Amanda Adams Executive Director Bedford Main Street, Inc.
On Saturday, September 27, we held our 33rd annual Centerfest. We were fortunate to have a beautiful, sunny day that brought thousands of people out into the streets of downtown Bedford.
With the days getting shorter and the air crisper, families and businesses in the Sixth District are likely starting to use a little more electricity. As folks start to see electric bills tick up during the winter months, it's hard to imagine the cost of electricity getting much higher – but consider this.
By Congressman Robert Hurt
Those who oppose the new Voter ID law have done their best to let everyone know how destructive the new law is going to be by disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of voters in Virginia. Of course, they are wrong; the impact will be minimal.

subset: commoncrawl


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Do you go all out decorating your property for the holiday season?
Have you seen a dynamic display when you were out and about in the Southland?
Then send us the address and information on what is featured.
We're putting together our annual holiday homes roundup, and we would like to share as many local sites as possible.
You can send submissions to firstname.lastname@example.com, with "Holiday Homes" in the subject line.
If you have photos of the display, please send those in .jpg format.
Then keep your eye on the Weekend magazine, which will feature a list of decorated homes in the Dec. 20 issue.


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Kings Island's latest thrill ride — the longest inverted steel roller coaster in the world — is opening next spring.
The southwest Ohio theme park announced details of the 167-foot "Banshee" coaster late Thursday. The park's 15th coaster will cover more than 4,000 feet of track and include seven inversions. It will reach speeds of up to 68 mph over the two-minute, 40-second ride.
The new coaster will occupy the area where the ill-fated Son of Beast roller coaster once stood.
The Son of Beast opened with fanfare in 2000, billed as the world's tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster with a signature loop.
Watch a point of view video of the ride in the player below


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In the final week of the legislative session, the House of Representatives passed Tennessee's annual budget with an 83–14 vote. The bill's passage was the culmination of months of tireless work crafting a fiscally responsible and balanced budget. The $32.6 billion budget cuts taxes, puts $100 million in the state's Rainy Day Fund, improves our educational system and provides an even better environment for businesses to grow and for jobs to flourish.
At the beginning of this year's legislative session, lawmakers promised Tennesseans that fiscal responsibility would be a priority. The budget they crafted holds true to that principle while ensuring Tennesseans get the services they expect.
Following passage of the budget, Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, stated, "I want to thank my colleagues for a job well done. With the help of Gov. [Bill] Haslam, the House and Senate worked seamlessly to pass a forward-thinking budget that embodies the principles and priorities of all Tennesseans."
Budget highlights include:
Tax cuts
At the beginning of this legislative session, House leaders promised they would do everything to maintain the state's strong financial record, balance the budget and return hard-earned tax dollars back to all Tennesseans. Over the last several months, they have followed through on that promise, ensuring every Tennessean across the state will realize tax savings to the tune of $43 million this year, including:
- A drop in the state sales tax on groceries from 5.25 percent to a flat 5 percent rate which will save taxpayers approximately $25 million statewide. This tax reduction builds on efforts during the last legislative session which reduced the sales tax on food from 5.5 percent to 5.25 percent. Lawmakers hope to continue this trend in years to come.
- Implementation of the second phase to eliminate Tennessee's death tax which is set to be completely phased out by 2016. Lawmakers argue the death tax breaks up family farms and small businesses, forcing families to make tough decisions during what is often the most difficult times in their lives: the passing of a loved one. In many cases, families are faced with selling off parts of farms and land or closing a small, family-owned business in order to pay the tax bill. The full repeal of the death tax will represent a $94.6 million tax cut.
- A cut in the Hall tax for seniors 65 and older. The Hall tax is imposed on income derived from interest on bonds, notes and stock dividends. Since enactment of the Hall tax in 1929, the use of investment savings has grown as a primary source of retirement income. Because of this fact, lawmakers argue the Hall tax is actually an income tax, especially for seniors living on a fixed income. The Hall tax cut approved in the budget raises the income exemption level from $26,200 to $33,000 for single filers and from $37,000 to $59,000 for joint filers. Lawmakers have promised to build on this tax cut in the future.
- And, a continuation of property tax relief efforts passed in previous years to help veterans, seniors and the disabled population of Tennessee.
Education improvements
The state's Basic Education Program (BEP) — the mechanism for funding public schools — is fully funded in this year's budget at $4 billion. In addition, the budget provides:
- Increased funding for information technology upgrades at K–12 schools statewide;
- Increased funding for need-based financial aid;
- Funding for a new building at the Tennessee School for the Deaf;
- Continued funding for the state's Science Alliance Museums, the Governor's School and Family Resource Centers, the Arts Academy and the Tennessee Holocaust Commission;
- Increased funding for statewide equipment upgrades at community and technical colleges; and,
- Over $300 million for capital outlay and maintenance projects at public colleges across the state.
Law and safety
Earlier in the year, Gov. Haslam announced his plan to address violent crime in Tennessee. Among the measures fully funded in this year's budget are laws addressing gang violence, prescription drug abuse, repeat domestic violence offenders, and synthetic drugs. These measures include:
- Funding for increased sentencing for gang-related crimes;
- Funding for the expansion of the Southeastern Tennessee Regional Correctional Facility;
- Funding to address an increase in the number of felons in local jails; and
- An array of measures designed to battle the rise of human trafficking across the state.
Workforce development
The 2013-2014 budget passed this week reflects a commitment by GOP lawmakers to foster an environment for job growth across Tennessee. Legislators understand that in order for our economy to continue improving, government must stay out of the way of job creators and ensure it is not placing unnecessary burdens on business. The budget passed this session includes multiple programs to help business owners grow and thrive, including:
- A continuation in funding of the state's FastTrack Infrastructure and Job Training program which aids businesses across the state in securing funding for expansion projects and ensuring employees are trained to their fullest potential;
- An increase in funding to Tennessee's nine regional development districts to help local governments implement important infrastructure projects and recruit new business; and
- Continued funding to recruit and develop the state's film and television industry which has steadily grown in recent years and helped bring in millions of film and tourism dollars.
Since January 2011, nearly 80,000 new jobs have been created in Tennessee and the unemployment rate is the lowest it's been since October 2008.
Public survey
Tennesseans give high marks to the governor, the Legislature and education reforms passed into law according to a recent poll commissioned by StudentsFirst, a nonprofit organization advocating reforms in public education.
The group had a well-respected polling organization, Public Opinion Strategies, conduct the statewide poll to test voter attitudes about recent education reforms and attitudes about leadership in Tennessee. The firm has a long history of accuracy in Tennessee as it has extensive experience polling for many groups across the state.
The numbers reveal a public wanting serious education reform and an electorate that believes the governor and General Assembly are moving Tennessee in the right direction.
A brief overview of the numbers:
- 54 percent believe the state is headed in the right direction.
- 73 percent approve of the governor's performance.
- 61 percent of the voters approve of the job of the Legislature.
- 93 percent of Tennesseans want change of some kind to their public education system.
To reinforce that call for desired change, Tennesseans are reacting to the positive education transformations that are already taking place. In 2012, only 39 percent of Tennesseans said that K-12 public schools are headed in the right direction. This year, that number rose to 42 percent.


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Free Entry
Within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, nestled below the rugged Bellenden Ker Range, Goldsborough Valley features lush lowland rainforest and the clear flowing waters and deep pools of the picturesque Mulgrave River. This section of Wooroonooran National Park is home to a variety of birds and butterflies, and many kinds of freshwater fish can be seen in the river.
... moreEnjoy a relaxing picnic by the river or set up camp in the spacious grassy camping area. Take a short walk through the rainforest to Kearneys Falls or embark on the 19 kilometre one-way Goldfield trail which passes between Queensland's two highest peaks (Bartle Frere and Bellenden Ker) and leads to the Boulders Scenic Reserve near Babinda. Canoe on the river (canoeing conditions are best between March and May) or ride a mountain bike along the Goldfield Trail for eight kilometres to the East Mulgrave causeway.
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Children are welcome.
There is access for guests with a disability. The toilets are wheelchair-accessible.
How To Get There
Goldsborough Valley is 46 kilometres south of Cairns. Most of the final 16 kilometres is narrow, winding gravel road unsuitable for buses and caravans.
* Please note: These rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available costs of listed products and services. To obtain a firm price from the provider, please use the contact the operator. All prices are quoted in Australian dollars.


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Select () or exclude () categories to narrow your recipe search.
As you select categories, the number of matching recipes will update.
Find exactly what you're looking for with the web's most powerful recipe filtering tool.
Sort by: Date | Rating | Most Helpful
"Super easy and yummy! I love how fast this was. My kids will be glad to know they will have their favorite treats more often now! Note: I have made these countless times since posting. I also add 1/2 cup of peanut butter with the marshmallows and butter before microwaving for added flavor. The kids love the addition."
"I was craving queso, specifically chi chi's queso, my all time favorite that I haven't had in years...went online and found this one! Loved it! I did add cumin (about 1/2 Tbs) and a splash (appr 1-2 Tbs)of fat free half and half. FYI... for individuals who can't find diced red peppers in a can, in my area of the US (Midwest) they are labeled as..."
"This was wonderful! Served it for a family gathering and everyone loved it. It is not too sweet of a cheesecake. I used frozen strawberries to make the sauce which was the perfect topping. The only problem I had was with the crust. The amount of Graham crackers were not enough to cover the bottom of a 13x9 so I added an additional 3/4 cup...."
"Love the ease of these! Very easy and super delicous! Highly recomend"
"Update: I have found that 58 seconds at full power works perfect for my eggs. Not too runny, not too hard. I realized I forgot to cover with plastic wrap on my first try, hence the "explosion". Covering makes a big difference. Also, I take the egg out of water with a slotted spoon, then "dry" it off on a paper towel so it is not too wet whe..."
"Oh my gosh these are so good. Although they did not ever make it to the freezer as planned. I love the ease of it all. My only suggestion is to make sure you spray the pan well with cooking spray. I did a light spray and had to fight to get some to turn over. Definately will make many times again. Thanks!"
"Made this for my husbands birthday cake per his his request for a chocolate bundt cake (never have made one before). I didn't eat any (not a big cake lover) he rates a cake a 3 because he did not like the frosting on the top. I give the recipe a 5 for ease....average of a 4 star rating."
"This recipe was wonderful! The key is the texas toast, it is the perfect thickness for french toast. I would never have thought of putting flour into the batter, but it really worked well. Thank you for such a great recipe"
"Really liked this chicken salad. I did leave out the celery, egg, sugar and dill pickle - just not things that I like. I did toast the walnuts, which really brought out the taste. I also used shredded chicken I made in the crock pot as per flygirlprincess. So easy and yummy!! Highly recommend!"


text: Welcome Home to Mill Valley Apartments in the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Mill Valley is a welcoming, pet-friendly apartment home community with generous amenities. Choose from spacious one- and two-bedroom homes featuring fully equipped large living areas and plenty of closet space. Also included is a refreshing swimming pool, 24-hour fitness, outdoor picnic areas, free Wi-Fi zone and residents' clubhouse. Mill Valley Apartments is ideally situated off of Interstate 30 near The Ballpark, Cowboys Stadium, Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor. Richly landscaped grounds, spacious apartment homes and superior location make it the place you'll be proud to call "home."


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BRENDAN RODGERS believes Diego Costa should have been sent off for one of two stamps made during Liverpool's League Cup semi-final defeat at Stamford Bridge tonight.
27 Jan » Daily ExpressBRENDAN RODGERS expects his Liverpool side to "dominate" Chelsea tonight and reach the League Cup final.
27 Jan » Daily ExpressBRENDAN RODGERS will try to second guess Jose Mourinho tonight when Liverpool face Chelsea in the League Cup semi-final second leg.
27 Jan » Daily ExpressFC United of Manchester will play a friendly against Portuguese giants Benfica on 29 May to mark their 10th anniversary.
27 Jan » BBC Sport• Game on 29 May to be played at new Broadhurst Park stadium • 'It is a great honour for Benfica to be present with their B team' • Read Daniel Taylor on Manchester's other United Continue reading...
27 Jan » GuardianMANCHESTER UNITED have been urged to forget trying to bring Paul Pogba back to Old Trafford.
27 Jan » Daily ExpressCHELSEA target Douglas Costa has pleaded with Shakhtar Donetsk not to stand in his way of a dream move to Stamford Bridge.
27 Jan » Daily ExpressROBIN VAN PERSIE admits he has not been pulling his weight for Manchester United this season and is in the dark over his future at Old Trafford.
26 Jan » Daily Express


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Syria's Foreign Ministry said in a letter to the UN Security Council that militants committed the Houla killings, SANA reported.
It said three soldiers were killed and 16 wounded as the army fought to protect civilians, SANA reported.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mike Millard at email@example.com


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Reviewed Spicy Vegetarian Chili
Feb 2, 2012 in Food Network Community Toolbox on FoodNetwork.com
"A bit labor intensive, but worth it! It was delicious! Very thick, chunky, with a rich, deep flavor. You don't miss the meat at all. Next time I'll cut back on the chili powder. It was definitely spicy! I used canned, chopped tomatoes in their juice to save time. I also used a combination of kidney, great northern and black beans instead of the ..."
Reviewed Foolproof Standing Rib Roast
Dec 29, 2011 in Food Network Community Toolbox on FoodNetwork.com
"My mom made this for Christmas dinner and it came out perfectly! Medium rare in the center and medium further out. The roast had a delicious crust. It was moist perfection! This recipe is a MUST. """
Reviewed Caramelized Onion, Walnut, and Goat Cheese Pizza with a Beer Crust
Nov 21, 2011 in Food Network Community Toolbox on FoodNetwork.com
"Delicious pizza! I made a few changes to the recipe. Added bacon instead of walnuts and used Humboldt Fog goat cheese for a tangier taste. Very creamy and yummy! To make the pizza a bit sweeter and faster, I used a prepackaged caramelized onion balsamic spread from Robert Rothschild Farm. My only complaint was that the dough was extremely sticky!..."


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One of the 4 decks I have designed for multi-player is a Leadership/Spirit deck featuring Aragorn, Theodred, and Dunhere.
Whole point of the deck was to get Celebrian's stone on Aragorn really, but it had unexpected synergies.
In a recent game I managed to get the following attachments on Aragorn. Celebrian's Stone. Steward of Gondor, The Favor of the Lady, & Unexpected Bravery.
So with Theodred basically giving him a free resource each round, this bad boy was weighing in with 5 willpower and was able to act in all 3 activities, Questing, Defending, and Attacking!


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"Bella" whelped a beautiful litter of 10 on Dec. 23rd, 2012!
7 girls & 3 boys- black & yellows!
"Bella" whelped a beautiful litter of 10 on Dec. 23rd, 2012!
7 girls & 3 boys- black & yellows!
We have added a new photo to our gallery:
Kai Den's Good Karma aka, "Ouiji"
She is a full sister to our "Chilly",
so her pedigree can be seen from our dog page link
on the "Pedigrees" page.
We think she has grown up quite nicely.
It took us a long time to get a decent photo of her,
and even tho this a casual shot,
we think it shows her off very well.
It is our hopes to do well with her in the near future!
A Little Bit About Us...
Kai Den Labradors is owned by Jeannine & Greg Biddle and located at the foot of the beautiful Cumberland Mountains in Rockwood, Tn.
(just West of Knoxville, TN. and the Great Smokey Mountains)
Established in 1983 with our first Lab, BISS Ch. Kai Den Jet, CD, WC, we have continued to strive for exceptional beauty, temperament, working ability and family companions.
While black is our favorite, we do breed Labradors in yellow and chocolate as well. Each breeding is thought through with careful consideration. Pedigrees are studied in order to bring in the best of all qualities we want in the perfect Labrador.
We always breed with the goal of keeping a puppy or two to carry on our lines and lock in the type we have come to expect with every litter. All puppies are born and raised in our home and socialized on a daily basis.
We couldn't be happier with our Labradors and are so proud to share them with you!
Enjoy your visit!


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Unlisted Brand • HBMIC - EGF Extra Acne/Oily Skin 100mL • Moisturizers
(1 reviews)
Average Rating. | 5.0 |
Would buy this product again. | 100% |
Ingredients |
karen360 on 1/10/2013 10:59:00 PM more reviews by karen360
Age: 19-24 Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium Hair: Black Eyes: Brown
I purchased the entire skin care line by HBMIC EGF Acne/Oily Skin care system in Korea town and I absolutely love this line. I have acne prone skin and I break out all over my forehead and cheek sometimes. After using this skin care line for a few weeks, my skin condition improved a LOT. They market 6 products in this line: toner, moisturizing lotion, eye cream, serum, essence, and cream. I found that only the toner, lotion, essence, and cream is necessary. (Lotion for day and cream is more moisturizing for night time)
The essence is really good and I think that's the product that really helped improve my acne. It supposedly has disinfecting and anti-inflammation effects. The ingredients in this are supposedly natural, so it's good for the skin.
- easy to apply
- smells really good
- reasonably priced
- helped improve acne within a couple of weeks.
Top Rated Moisturizers
Lumene Energy Cocktail pampering drops
50 reviewsWeleda Wild Rose Face Oil Capsules
49 reviewsNo Brand (DIY or homemade) Avocado Oil
124 reviews


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Sam Treadaway
Artist, CuratorSam Treadaway is a UK-based artist, and curator, whose practice includes: scent works, book arts, sculpture and installation, and Live events. In making use of existing frictions between aesthetic form and utilitarian function, he edits and re-aligns found objects, structures, and systems thus generating new outcomes. The interplay between the arts and other fields of knowledge, such as science and philosophy, often inform these processes.
Location | UK, UK Wide |
Artforms / type of project | Curatorial project, Project, Publication, Book Works, Drawing, Installation, Intervention, Live Art, Photography, Sculpture |
Website | http://www.samtreadaway.com |


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Like the Forty Niners who worked the fields of California and exclaimed, "there's gold in dem dar hills," the multi-billion-dollar restoration service industry provides unlimited opportunity for success to persons who have the right combination of guts and business savvy to overcome identified hurdles.
To succeed, you must do more than purchase equipment, attend industry schools or subscribe to the leading industry magazines; you must have a plan and you must intelligently work that plan. In conjunction with your plan, you must establish guidelines for marketing and this includes marketing to that most important entity: the insurance professional.
The restoration industry is integrally tied to the insurance industry. For this reason you must sow seeds to develop a working relationship with insurance agents. Accepting the importance of insurance professionals in the success equation of restoration services is the first step to a successful career.
Insurance Professional + Restoration Services = Insured Risk Solution
This formula is your key to success. Working hard to develop contacts in the insurance industry is like the miners of old panning until they found that nugget to light up their eyes and imagination. You will need patience and persistence, but in time you will find your first insurance professional, and this nugget will provide you with some confidence and direction for continued success.
A discussion of insurance agent marketing requires a brief mention about preferred-vendor lists. This current hot-button topic illustrates why small players in the restoration service industry feel helpless. That some large carriers guide insureds - and not always in their best interest - toward listed restoration vendors is recognized; however, there is a movement to legislatively discontinue this practice and provide a more level field for all legitimate restoration firms to operate.
In the meantime, it is important you identify insurance agents and offer them a solution to their problems at any opportunity you are given. As long as the preferred-vendor list exists, you must be clever enough to overcome it. This is why it is important that you effectively market your services to insurance agents, starting with high-profile agents.
The high-profile agent is one who is equally influential in his community and within his company. It is this agent who has authority to assign a job to your company and to see that you are paid for your services. Insurance companies with vendor programs typically mandate their agents follow loss protocol by referring their policyholder to the call center, which then forwards the claim to their preferred vendor.
There is however, an unwritten policy within the insurance company: Never ever, under any circumstance, chastise or reprimand the high-profile insurance agent for not following loss protocol. These are the men and women who typically have large books of business and the insurance company cannot afford to ruffle their feathers. The high-profile agent must be approached in a professional way and you must sincerely present him with a "win-win" package. Ask yourself, "What can I do for this agent that will be best for him and his clients?" But first, you may ask, "How do I find the 'high-profile' agent?"
Research the Market
As business professionals, we have all been exposed to the insurance profession in some manner. We have policies for our autos and homes, and we have our business liability coverage. This is where we begin our research.For example: You enter Mutual XYZ Insurance to make a payment on your homeowners policy (I know you normally do it by mail or on the Net, but you are making an excuse to see your "favorite" agent) and while your agent looks up your account you make polite conversation about your business and your success. When the time is right, ask your agent, "Who handles your claims?" In the course of your discussion you may determine he is a person with draft authority.
Build a profile sheet for each agent you or your staff contacts. Use the profile sheets to send your insurance professional a birthday wish or some interesting information you discovered in the course of doing business. Be a useful resource for your insurance professional friend, offering your expertise with no strings attached.
Profile sheets or other methods used to gather information are useful if used correctly. It is insufficient to just place the information on the sheets and consider this "the end." The information you gather must be assimilated and categorized; recognize there are differences in agents and agencies, and categorize your findings to reflect these differences.
For example: You enter two different agencies on Wednesday. Agency A is the office of agent "X," who is dressed professionally, speaks professionally and whose office reflects her professionalism by being clean and neat. Later, you enter Agency B and find agent "Y" slovenly, his office in disarray. Note the information, but don't go by first impressions. It may very well be that the "slob" is the person with draft authority.
Research is an ongoing process, requiring your profiles be routinely updated with additional information gathered. Assess your information constantly; the profile sheet is a living document. That lazy agent who always played Pong on his computer and whose office smelled like a Category 3 loss may have had an epiphany, and is now Mr. GQ and has an immaculate office as a result of his promotion and newfound draft authority.
Continue to Research
One of the neglected methods of research in our high-tech society is the phone directory. In this ageless tool you will find an exhaustive list of potential contacts. Identify agencies you would like to approach. List those agents you know personally or believe that your insurance professional contact knows personally. Prepare referral letters and have your insurance professional contacts put a personal note on the letter for you. Get that first meeting to sow the seeds of future project referrals. For those more comfortable with the computer tools, you may access similar information by use of online directories by way of Yahoo! or Google or other Web engines.While you're researching, spend a week or two learning the language spoken by the insurance agents, words like "peril," "co-insurance," "reserves," "multi-line," etc. Being able to speak the language used within the insurance industry will dramatically increase your odds of success. A great place to start learning the basic language is with your own insurance policy.
Marketing to the insurance agent requires persistence. You must do the research, make the calls, send the letters and meet face to face, perhaps many times, before you gain the trust and eventually that first assignment. Then, when you have the first job, remember that you must do the research, make the calls, send the letters and meet face to face with the next of your insurance contacts. The process is never-ending; make your marketing efforts routine. It has been our experience that the optimum time to meet agents is between Tuesday to Thursday and on a rotation schedule between eight and 10 weeks. Do this with each agent you have researched, or with whom you have an existing relationship, and you will have a good start for your profile sheet database.
Remember, you want to make a good impression with your insurance professional, and this requires that you step out of the self-serving mentality and think about the agent's needs. Ask yourself how you can help him help his clients and you will serve yourself as well.
Do the marketing, market to the right people and your company will profit. Make certain that your insurance professional understands that you are a partner in the successful completion of a risk project. Follow the simple acronym for marketing your business, KISS (Keep It Simple and Smart), and you will achieve a high level of success.


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The Easy Chair Store
Experience - Exceptional Value
Our staff has over 54 years combined experience in the furniture industry making
the Easy Chair Store a definitive authority on furniture products. We thoroughly
understand furniture construction principles, styles, designs, as well as pricing to
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Visual Acuity Test
The visual acuity (VA) test is most often utilized to measure a patient's vision. A "self-test" eye chart is found on this site which allows you to check your vision. It's important to keep in mind the variables that may effect the test results, such as room illumination, computer graphics card, monitor type, etc.
How to use the eye chart
1. Check each eye's VA separately by covering the other eye.2. Check VA's with and without glasses on.
3. Maximize your browser window so you can see the images most naturally!
4. Place yourself at a distance of about 10 to 12 feet or 3 to 4 meters.
5. Read the eye chart line of letters from large to small. At the top left of each line you will find the approximate VA, expressed in tenths, that would be necessary to read the letters.
6. To conduct a quicker and more accurate exam, have a second person cover and uncover the line of letters.
This test is a courtesy of Drs. Robert Volpe and Timothy Albert from EyeWeb.


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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 12,215
I did the first med cruise and the west-bound trans-atlantic.
they were both amazing but the trans-atlantic was my fave! 8 sea days and 6 of them in a row!! it was the best holiday of my life! |
DIS Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: North Florida
Posts: 5,795
We never got around to posting a trip report, but sailed the 7/18/2007 Med (10-night) with our family - two adults, two boys ages just-turned-11 and 9 3/4. We did all DCL excursions to take away the anxiety of "missing the ship" for our older son (and me).
We arrived in Barcelona the day before sailing, but by the time we got to the hotel and did our pre-registration with DCL, we only had a few hours to explore Barcelona. We did the hop-on-hop-off bus tour which was actually worth the time and a good way to get an overview without having to figure it out by yourself. DCL was fabulous with the transfer from the hotel to the port (we did DCL for air, pre-cruise-hotel, and transfers). Our first sea day was a catch-up-on-sleep-get-over-jet-lag day. Because DCL will not go to all the same ports, I'll only write now about the ones that are common between 2007 and 2010. Naples: We chose to do the Capri, Sorrento, Pompeii for Families tour which started with a rocky hydrofoil boat ride across from Naples to the Isle of Capri. The hydrofoil was set up similar to airplane seats. There was a restroom onboard. It took a while to get over there so it was great for the boys to sleep a bit more as we had an early departure and a full day ahead. At the Isle of Capri, we boarded a tour boat which took us about half-way around the island, pointing out coral, and going through that famous rock formation Faraglioni. Then we had some free time in the harbor area - about an hour or so, and we were given a voucher for a gelato (try the lemon-strawberry - mmmmm). There were restrooms to use in one of the gift shops but it was definitely an adventure. We was the funicular that takes people up but didn't go up. We would not have had time to do anything at the top by the time we figured out what to do, so we just did some shopping and took some pictures. From the Isle of Capri, we took the hydrofoil over to Sorrento where we then took a shuttle up the cliff to the town. As a previous poster wrote, we were taken on a "tour" of a shop where we saw a demonstration of inlaid wood techniques and then allowed free use of their clean and air-conditioned restrooms. We had a nice lunch at a restaurant that was really delicious and also free use of their restroom. We didn't have long in Sorrento beyond the lunch but there wasn't a lot to see in the immediate area where we were. We then had a bus ride to Pompeii where we were taken in a shop where they make cameos, and allowed to use their free and clean restrooms before going into the site. We were all interested in seeing Pompeii as the children had heard about it at school from time-to-time and we had talked about it before going. It was phenomenal. The only thing I would say is that doing it with children, I would have thought they would do that part in the morning rather than the end -- my guys were tired and it was blazin' hot - while we enjoyed Pompeii portion, I think we would've enjoyed doing our tour that day in reverse. Then we had a bus ride back to Naples where we didn't see anything of Naples itself... but the kids had a great nap on the way back. (more in following posts)
Cindy D.
Ending the holidays ~ January 3 - 6 ~ Saratoga Springs Girlfriends Trip ~ February 25 - 27 ~ Grand Floridian Spring Break ~ March 16 - 23 ~ Animal Kingdom Kidani Villas Hawaiian Vacation ~ June 9 - 15 ~ Aulani Blogged our B2B Mediterranean Cruises 2013 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: North Florida
Posts: 5,795
Choosing an excursion for Rome was the most difficult thing for us. We knew it would be a super-long day, and by having the 10-night cruise, we didn't have a sea day between any of the ports. We had some specific things we wanted to see in Rome and some specific things we didn't want to spend the whole day doing, so we used that to pick our excursion.
We wanted our excursion to include the Colosseium, but not just the outside - we wanted to go in. We wanted to see the Trevi Fountain. And we wanted to see the Vatican but not spend the whole day there. Our excursion started early in the morning on the Roma Express. Peter Pan rode with us. That's one thing I wanted to mention, too -- DCL did a great job of getting their photographers out in the various ports as well as the characters. We had an escort from the Port to the train station in Rome where we met our guide. Our escort also stayed with us for the whole trip, too. Our tour guide in Rome was the best we had - she was fabulous - very knowledgeable, her English was excellent, and while we didn't dilly-dally anywhere, she certainly didn't rush us through. We had lunch at a restaurant with several other excursion groups and we had use of their restroom From there, we went to the Vatican where it was hot as blazes during our wait to enter. We had the obligatory souvenir store stop for restrooms and shopping before reboarding the bus to return to the Port. We nearly missed the train and would've had to wait thirty minutes if we hadn't all run through the train station. Whew. The following day was La Spezia. We were exhausted and because we were on the 10-night, we didn't have the sea-day to rest between Rome and La Spezia (Florence/Pisa). We chose an afternoon excursion that took us to Pisa and included the climb to the top of the tower. This was our favorite excursion in terms of fun. I think getting to sleep in that morning was what the boys enjoyed the most. This was a tender-port, so we didn't head over to La Spezia until closer to time to meet our excursion. Again, we had an escort to Pisa (and one other thing - there was usually at least one DCL cast member accompanying the various tour groups on "non-official duty" although some went "officially") and took a bus to Pisa where we boarded a "choo-choo" which is an open-air tram/train that took us to the town. We got to climb the tower: and then had some "free time" while waiting on the rest of our group to finish - they only let so many up at a time - and if you don't do an excursion that includes climbing the tower, or if you do it on your own, make sure to find out ahead of time how to get tix because otherwise you won't get to go. We did a little souvenir shopping and got gelato. Here's my souvenir from Pisa: We then had a walk through the town and ended up at a restaurant for pastries. We took the choo-choo back to the bus. On the way back, the DCL guy who was with us noticed that our guide had miscounted and we had left someone behind at the pastry shop. So we waited while our escort went back to get her. The confusion resulted from some non-excursion tourists hopping onto our choo-choo and the escort got discombobulated when counting and having them get off. Anyway, that took about 30- minutes for the guest to be fetched -- she was on the excursion alone but no one knew she was alone so none of the rest of us were looking out for her (you know, like if your mom is in the restroom, you'd say hey, wait a minute, mom isn't here?). Anyway, all was well, but we made it back to get the last tender back to the ship for the night. Whew. Again, that's why we chose DCL excursions. (more to come)
Cindy D.
Ending the holidays ~ January 3 - 6 ~ Saratoga Springs Girlfriends Trip ~ February 25 - 27 ~ Grand Floridian Spring Break ~ March 16 - 23 ~ Animal Kingdom Kidani Villas Hawaiian Vacation ~ June 9 - 15 ~ Aulani Blogged our B2B Mediterranean Cruises 2013 |
DIS Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: North Florida
Posts: 5,795
The other port that is the same between summer 2007 and summer 2010 in the Med is Villefranche:
We again did an excursion through DCL and went to Nice. Our tour guide met us at the port and we boarded a bus for the short drive to Nice. We chose the shorter excursion because of the children. We did an open-air "choo choo" again in Nice, and had a great overview of the area which was absolutely breathtaking. There was an opportunity for a carousel ride which our boys passed on in favor of walking down to the non-sand beach. This was a short excursion (about 3 1/2 hours) and very relaxing after the busier days in Italy. In the afternoon, we left the boys onboard the ship (again, it was a tender port) and DH and I explored the shops in the immediate area. We thought this was the most beautiful of the ports. I'd be happy to answer any questions about our experiences - it was truly a memorable trip. We still talk about it. And the boys get to say "hey, I saw that with my own eyes" when they have pictures of the colosseium or the leaning tower of Pisa or the ruins of Pompeii in their school books. Or when watching the Amazing Race on t.v. and seeing some of the places we have actually been....
Cindy D.
Ending the holidays ~ January 3 - 6 ~ Saratoga Springs Girlfriends Trip ~ February 25 - 27 ~ Grand Floridian Spring Break ~ March 16 - 23 ~ Animal Kingdom Kidani Villas Hawaiian Vacation ~ June 9 - 15 ~ Aulani Blogged our B2B Mediterranean Cruises 2013 |
DIS Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Clarks Summit PA
Posts: 4,113
I'm doing private tours in Italy because I've been burned too many times racing back to a bus only to sit there wasting my precious vaction time fuming because not every one is considerate about being on time. If we get off the ship at all in Tunisia I'm thinking of using DCL for a 1/2 day excursion. Same thing for Malta. |
Earning My Ears
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Independence, Missouri
Posts: 1
Cool. I love the details. I would love to go on a Trans-Atlantic someday. How did the kids like it. I am afraid it would be to long for mine.
Carnival Victory - Canadian - 09/18/04
Costa Magica - Western Caribbean - 04/29/07 [img]http://www.********************/timers/tickers/qs9fb5h8z57x6lt4.png[/img] |
DIS Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: New York
Posts: 5,073
Do you think we should add the 2010 blogs and reports here now? I know it may help the 2011 people.
Too many times to count |
Earning My Ears
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 17
I am looking forward to this years EBTA aboard the Magic.
Mickey for Me!
Likes surprises Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Too far from the Magic!!
Posts: 27,728
31 DCL Cruises and Counting!
Disney Magic - 19 times - Official Maiden Voyage July 30, 1998, Re-imagined Magic October 27, 2013 Disney Wonder - 5 times Disney Dream - 5 times - Official Maiden Voyage January 26, 2011 Disney Fantasy - 2 times |
DIS Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Neverland!
Posts: 1,465
Some More Links...
Here are some more links that we have posted on our 7/13/13 meet thread. It is a work in progress....
Port Links Barcelona ~ http://www.spain.info/?l=en_US [Tourist Office of Spain's official site.] http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...hotel-map.html [tourist guide info on hotels] http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...-airport-hotel [Marriott airport hotel in Barcelona] http://www.sagradafamilia.cat/sf-eng/index.php [Sagrada Familia] http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.c...rat-spain.html [tourist guide info on Montserrat] http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/ [Barcelona's official tourism site] http://www.fcbarcelona.com/camp-nou [for soccer fans] Villefranche, France ~ http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1...portation.html [article about using the bus in Nice] http://en.nicetourisme.com/ [Nice official tourism website] http://www.europeportreviews.com/Villefranche.htm [port of Villefranche] http://www.monte-carlo.mc/en/ [Monaco Monte-Carlo official website] La Spezia, Italy ~ http://www.tomsportguides.com/Livorno-04-20-2011.pdf [port of La Spezia] http://www.cinqueterre.com/eng/information/card/ [the Cinque Terre card] Civitavecchia, Italy ~ http://www.europeportreviews.com/Rome2.htm [how to get to Rome by train] http://www.europeportreviews.com/Rome.htm [port of Civitavecchia] Piraeus, Greece (Athens) ~ http://www.europeportreviews.com/Athens.htm [port of Piraeus] Kusadasi, Turkey (Ephesus) ~ http://www.europeportreviews.com/Kusadasi.htm [port of Kusadasi] http://www.mediterranean-cruise-port...asi-tours.html [port of Kusadasi] Mykonos, Greece ~ http://www.europeportreviews.com/Mykonos.htm [port of Mykonos] Valletta, Malta ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-flYdtqBxA [video of the Magic welcomed into the Port!] http://cruise-international.com/malta-port-guide/ {port of Valletta, Malta] DISthread Links: (Trip Reports, Threads on the Main Cruise Board, etc) http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2870617 [Thread: Barcelona Hotels Precruise] http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2868221 [Thread: If you have done the Med Cruise before with Disney] http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2868499 [Thread: Questions for past Med cruisers] http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2663068 [Thread: Med planning in 2011] http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2288346 [Thread: lots of great planning links] http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2653459 [Thread: Villefranche on your own] http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2653459 [Thread: Cinque Terre on your own] http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2663068 [Thread: Med Ports on your own] http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2485312 [Trip Report: DisneyFalcon's First Med Cruise - Our Excellent Adventure] http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2435876 [Trip Report: Magic in the Med: Dicecatt and Dicedawg's April 24th Voyage] http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2487593 [Trip Report: Sayhello's ABD Trip Report for the Med 2011] http://thewhitehouseblog.weebly.com/index.html [Trip Blog: Anal Annie's trip report/blog of Med cruise and trip beforehand to Paris] http://thefairygodblogger.blogspot.com/ [Trip Blog: Bibbidibobbidibecky's DCL blog which has her Med cruise in it] http://www.disboards.com/showthread....&highlight=med [Video Trip Report: Phil, Emma and Ben's Med Cruise] http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2746104 [Trip Report: Janey2000's Magical Med Cuise June 2011] http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2761025 [Trip Report: Lornak's Med Cruise 2011] http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-cruise...iterranean.htm [Magic in the Med: Disunplugged in the Med 2010]
Disney Magic: Western Caribbean Halloween 10/30/10; NY to Nowhere 6/15/12; Southern Caribbean 10/11/14; Repo from San Juan to PC, 10/18/14; Magic in the Med 8/29/15 Disney Dream: Bahamas Birthday 5/19/11; Bahamas Double-Dip 8/16/11 Disney Wonder: Alaska 8/13/12 Disney Fantasy: Eastern Caribbean Thanksgiving 11/17/12; Eastern Caribbean 8/23/14 |
Earning My Ears
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 15
Med Cruise
Wow these cruises look so wonderful!! Have to put them on my list of cruises to book.
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Cabins in Texas Hill Country
Hours: 8:30-9:30 Mon-Fri 8:00-9:30 Sat-Sun
A full breakfast is normally served each morning buffet style in the historic 1880's Gast Haus. Enjoy your meal while admiring what nature has to offer, as our dining room and outside deck overlooks the flowing Cypress Creek. Hear the birds' singing, watch squirrels playing, and admire a herd of Whitetail deer feeding across the creek, and maybe catch a view of a fish or two swimming. This all adds to a relaxing atmosphere.
A sausage and egg casserole, ham and cheese quiche or a taste of a Tex-Mex egg dish is just an example of some of the entrees served. Belgium waffles with accompanied toppings, or freshly baked biscuits & sausage gravy just like Grandma used to make will satisfy even the heartiest of appetites. You may even find some homemade bread pudding with Bourbon sauce or assorted cakes and cereals to remedy that sweet tooth. Always served daily are fresh fruit in season, hot brewed coffee, and an assortment of herbal teas, milk, and orange juice.
**Please notify us of special dietary needs at the time you make a reservation to see if we can try to accommodate your requests.
Let us do the cooking, so enjoy your meal while away from home!!!


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"If I am a prince and you are a prince, then who will lead the donkeys?" - Saudi Proverb We sat in the middle of the tight, woolen rug, cross legged, our toes bumping the edge of the soft cotton table cloth. Without a table to drape upon, the cloth looked like a slack sail, hungry for the wind. Sunlight streamed through the windows, massaging our backs. It felt good. If I shut my eyes, the windy, freezing day that clattered against our window almost disappeared. In fact, if it weren't … [Read more...]
Recipe: Saudi Lamb "Pizza" | Aysh abu Laham
In Saudi Arabia, there's an old saying "A friend is known when needed." In other words, when you need help, true friends show up. They might ask "Can I do anything?", but more than likely they'll simply roll up their sleeves and get to work. Because the answer is clear, yes, you need them. A true friend quietly brings over a covered casserole after you've given birth to your first child. They take your child to the park so you can sleep off a fever. They silence their phone and hold your … [Read more...]
Recipe: Sweet Semolina Cake with Lemon & Rosewater | Basboosa
Love's every whimsy can be found in the tender, fragile curve of a rose. Arab cooks must know this in their hearts, as they imbue many of their desserts with the essence of this great flower. Rose water is made from hundreds (thousands!) of rose petals and I'm convinced there is magic in every drop. Today's cake, called Basboosa, is heavy with such magic. This incredibly moist cake is conjured up with durum semolina, then soaked in a pool of syrup made with sweetened rose water and fresh … [Read more...]
About the food of Saudi Arabia
Let's rub the glitter of the New Year out of our eyes and spend this week feasting on Saudi Arabia. If, perhaps, you over-indulged during the evening's festivities, this alcohol-free country will be apropos. Dotted along her sandy slopes and rubble-tumble mountains, from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf, we find groups of people sipping on hot tea, enjoying richly spiced lamb stews, and riding camels. But let's not stop there... My friends, we also find groups of people zooming along in cars, … [Read more...]


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Westhaven Bed Breakfast Grantown-on-Spey
Westhaven is situated in a quiet location close to Grantown on Spey town centre, With scenic views across the Cromdale Hills and Anagach Woods.
With its central location, Westhaven is within easy reach of most tourist attractions and business addresses in Grantown On Spey.All hotel's guestrooms have all the conveniences expected in a hotel in its class to suit guests' utmost comforts.In-room facilities include non smoking rooms, bathrobes, desk, hair dryer, ironing board.This Grantown On Spey accommodation features on-site facilities such as laundry service/dry cleaning, hotel/airport transfer, business center, bicycle rental, pets allowed.For guests to unwind, the hotel offers a variety of facilities and services including pool indoor, jacuzzi, golf course (on site), gym/fitness facilities, tennis courts, water sports (non-motorized), garden.With elegant facilities and hospitality, guests at this hotel will surely have an impressive stay.To reserve a room at the Westhaven, simply select your dates of stay and fill in our secure online booking form.
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"AWESOME! These are great cookies. I used the Ghirardelli double chocolate and would recommend a dark chocolate as a substitue for semi-sweet (if you like dark choc. that is). I also dipped the bottom of these in chocolate...YUM!!"
"These sounded so good, but when I made them, they spread out so flat and came out so soft and extremely thin. I think maybe b/c I used white chocolate and not white chocolate chips...because it looked like the white chocolate chunks melted right away. Perhaps the chips would have held up better thus not letting the cookie get paper thin."
"Really wanted this to work out. I made it for St. Patrick's Day party 2007 and no one seemed to enjoy it. Everyone called it the stinky cheese dip - I kind of felt sorry for it. I liked it but could only give it 2 stars because everyone else did not like it (probably b/c of the strong types of cheeses used)."
"YUM! and definetly easy to make. I ended up making two of these in no time at all! The taste of the bread is nice and has a denseness to it which is great! A slice with butter is a perfect addition to any dinner! The only difference I did was used powdered buttermilk I found in the bakery aisle in the grocery store. Just add water and it is gr..."
"FANTASTIC! I made this for the first time this St. Patrick's Day 2007 and it turned out great. I used about 2 - 2.5 lbs. Yukon Gold Potatoes and only 1 parsnip. I used everything else listed in the ingredients and maybe a bit more butter (to taste!). These are amazing and I could eat them just about every day. My Irish family-in-laws LOVED th..."
"FUN!!! Making this dough was a lot of fun - especially when it bubbled up. Made enough for one gingerbread house with 5x5 walls and roof. Tastes great too!! I also would cut out a window and before baking would add crushed candies such as jolly ranchers and then bake - came out as stained glass windows!! Thanks!"
"Very good!! These turned out great and freeze easily!! These were so good and addicting. I just put a chocolate drizzle on them, but they would probably be just as good with some sort of rum or eggnog glaze too."


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I wanted to love this, especially since I used fresh pineapple and orange juice. BUT you really have to like campari to like this drink. apparently I hate the stuff, because just the 3tbs were overpowering the drink for me. we ended up taking the extra pineapple juice and mixing it with rum for a tasty drink.


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fresh fruit tart with citrus banana cashew cream on a buckwheat crumble crust
today, i loved colors. well, more than usual, and in my food. i am fully aware that it is much hotter and muggier in other parts of the world than it is here in minnesota, but today was our first really hot day. my one-block walk to work left me uncomfortably hot and sweaty, which was an unfortunate follow-up to the morning of fun food-making.
i had some soaked cashews waiting to be used in the fridge and a bunch of bananas on the counter, which i thought would pair well together to make a rich and creamy topping for the buckwheat crumble (again, from living cuisine) crust i'd made over the weekend. and though i love bananas and have been adding them to smoothies and eating them plain, i thought they might work well with some citrus flavors for variety. at work i have to bake these (unfortunately not vegan) citrus pistachio shortbread cookies that smell SO good. until i feel inspired to turn my oven on and veganize them, i thought i'd borrow the intoxicating trio of lemon, orange, and lime for this little creation.
most of my raw eating has been from cookbooks because i am far less familiar with the concepts and i wanted to learn new ideas and techniques. this time, however, you're in luck if you're jonesing for a homemade recipe! i'm going to go out on a limb and say you could probably make this with all bananas and no cashews if you can't eat nuts, as well as subbing avocado for bananas if you'd like to keep the creaminess but skip the banana flavor. it works equally well as a pudding with granola and fresh fruit. or you can do it like i did.
citrus banana cashew cream filling (makes enough for a 10″ deep pie crust, maybe more):
1 ½ cups cashews, soaked 6-8 hours
2 bananas, peeled and broken into chunks
8 dates, pitted*
1 whole orange, zest and juice
½-1 lemon, zest and juice (start with 1/2)
½-1 lime, zest and juice (start with 1/2)
2 teaspoons vanilla, or vanilla bean
water, as needed
Place soaked and drained cashews in a food processor or blender and process into a meal. Add remaining ingredients (except water), and blend thoroughly, scraping down the sides as needed, until as creamy and smooth as possible. Add water as needed to adjust thickness (how much juice you get out of your fruits will affect this too). This may take 5 minutes depending on the strength of the processor/blender (but if you choose the no-nuts route, far less time). Taste and add more zest if desired. Use as a pudding or pie/tart filling with fresh fruit, eat, and pass out from creamy deliciousness.
*the dates do darken the cream up a bit, so you can use agave to taste if you prefer, or leave it out if you just want to rock the banana.
why yes, i did have a piece for breakfast!
after a quick rinse in the sink, the bowl went back on the food processor to whip up some pea mole (that's the guacamole kind of mole) for a "torta" i was planning to bring to a dinner party later. however, that's when i had to get creative. the "torta" crust i had made the day before out of sprouted wild rice and some other things didn't smell quite right. i noticed this about the wild rice the last time i rinsed it – it smelled off in a way that made me worry it had gone bad. i rinsed it really really well and the smell seemed to go away, but after dehydrating it the smell was back and i just couldn't risk sacrificing perfectly good fillings on a crust that might make me (not to mention my friends) sick. painful as it was, i tossed it and hoped i could come up with some sort of elaborate new dish. but i had no good ideas, and not much time. luckily my eyes landed on the massive container of rosemary crisps sitting innocently on the kitchen table, and i found my purpose. the summer manitok torta from living cuisine became, instead, spicy pea mole with avocado and tomato on rosemary crisps:
i actually added garlic (and some cayenne for kick) to the mole, since that flavor was meant to be in the wild rice crust, but otherwise kept it the same. instead of a torta, i had individual servings with a slice each of avocado and tomato, and parsley for garnish. despite a slightly less crispy cracker from being prepped in the morning, these were well received as my somewhat self-conscious contribution of raw. since i sadly couldn't partake in the delicious-looking quinoa and garbanzo salad, i had three mini tortas!
i don't know what tomorrow will bring, but i do have a small bowl of leftover mole, tomatoes, and avocado, so they will likely end up in something. that, and i have half of the fruit tart left (yep, it was all me). perhaps i'll conjure up an appropriate vehicle during my haircut after work tomorrow?
oooooooooooooooooooh my goooooooooooodness! your fruit tart is a work of art! i would have eaten all of that for breakfast!
that stinks that you had to toss the wild rice, but it IS better to the safe than sorry. especially since the rice was still smelling a little funky. rosemary crisps with spicy pea mole sound (and look) heavenly!!
all of the raw yummies are making me hungry! it looks divine! and thanks for sharing this process with us – i'm really enjoying everything, and i'm learning a lot, too!
Just stunning! The colors are gorgeous–and they must taste just as good. (Sorry about the rice, though–better safe than sorry).
That tart is just beautiful! I was thinking to myself today that a raw tart might be in order. And those mini-tortas are just so beautiful looking! I love that you were able to come up with a plan "B" after having to ditch the rice, but you're right, better safe than sorry.
Oh wow–that tart is gorgeous! I hope it was as delicious as it is beautiful )
Oh and I agree, fall is my favorite time of year! If only it were a little closer to fall…
It's so colourful! Looks like all your meals are packed with vitamins. Everything looks delicious!
Your presentation is beautiful for both dishes! And I've been known to show up for haircuts with a cookbook for my reading pleasure. Hope your haircut time helps you percolate some ideas!
that food looks so delicious. if i had the time and was a better chef, i would love to try i raw diet. and i would REALLY love to try that tart.
[...] seeds for the week. most of the nut-inclusive recipes were actually the crackers and later the tart topping. after that the bulk of the food was fresh fruits and veggies which is what i had to shop for [...]
This is just breathtaking – I love raw food and this has to be one of the most lovely raw food items I've seen. It's like its out of Charlie Trotter's Raw. I cannot wait to try it.
the tart was finished in two days! kind of sick, but healthy really! i should make one every week. and i'm really glad i ditched the wild rice crust, though it would have been interesting. the rosemary crisps worked out great!
What a gorgeous tart!!! Desserts like these make me think I might could do the raw thing….
oh my god. stunning is right!
Beautifully done!
[...] been getting a lot of requests for the Rosemary Crisps recipe since posting this. I've posted about them before, and while I wish I could take credit for their ultra-delicious existence, they are from Rene [...]
So colorful and delicious!!


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Anchroage man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Health Care Fraud Scheme
Anchorage, Alaska – United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced that on January 21, 2010, Stephen M. Young of Anchorage, Alaska, was sentenced to serve nine months in federal prison following his convictions for health care fraud and for obtaining narcotic controlled substances by misrepresentation and forgery.
Young pled guilty in November 2009, to carrying out a lengthy fraudulent scheme to obtain prescription narcotic pain killing medication from numerous physicians, dentists, and nurse practitioners in Anchorage and Wasilla. According to Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Bottini, as part of a plea agreement with the United States, Young admitted that on over 100 occasions from 2005 to 2009, he lied to numerous health care professionals in order to obtain the medication. As part of the plea agreement, Young also admitted that he had fraudulently obtained at least $69,416.40 in federal employee health insurance benefits stemming from his scheme and agreed to make restitution to the United States Office of Personnel Management for the fraudulently obtained insurance benefits.
In imposing sentence on Young, Chief United States District Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline noted that there was no indication that Young was distributing any of the medication and that his fraud scheme was motivated to feed his own addiction to the narcotic painkilling medication. Nevertheless, in sentencing Young to prison, Judge Beistline referenced the length and nature of Young's scheme, as well as the fact that Young had previously been charged and convicted of criminal offenses related to similar conduct.
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Office of Personnel Management, Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the criminal charges in this case.


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The Global Intelligence Files
On Monday February 27th, 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files, over five million e-mails from the Texas headquartered "global intelligence" company Stratfor. The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal's Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfor's web of informers, pay-off structure, payment laundering techniques and psychological methods.
Stephen Meiners
Released on 2013-02-13 00:00 GMT
Email-ID | 3466932 |
Date | 2009-03-02 16:49:31 |
From | firstname.lastname@example.com |
To | firstname.lastname@example.com |
It is my distinct pleasure to announce that Stephen Meiners has decided to
leave his job as the intelligence director for Los Zetas to accept a
position at Stratfor as our senior tactical analyst for Latin America.
Stephen has been a long-term intern with us and has done a great job
helping us grow and shape our tactical coverage of Mexico.
For those of you in Austin, please abuse him while he is in the office
today so that he feels welcomed. (Fred, it is now OK to teach him the
secret handshake.)
Scott Stewart
Office: 814 967 4046
Cell: 814 573 8297


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My Profile
Poulsbo, Washington
Member since Nov 2010
Flag This ProfileFlag as Inappropriate
Reviewed Bourbon Glazed Pork Chops
May 25, 2011 in Food Network Community Toolbox on FoodNetwork.com
"Oh please....these chops were average and I did turn the channel because I could not tolerate hearing one more "yes Mam" in that squeeky, chipmunk-like voice. She came across as sincere and genuine as Giada. Blechhhhh.""


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Trevor Tondro
Sea-Grass Green Living Room
For the living room of her East Hampton, New York cottage, House Beautiful contributing editor Frances Schultz chose a palette of sea-grass greens. Tom Samet, a decorator and friend, suggested adding an extra inner panel to beef up the curtains. Sofa in striped cotton by Kravet.


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Click here to view the virologic outcomes at week 48 (primary endpoint) and weeks 96 and 144 (secondary endpoints) using FDA snapshot analysis
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Got a minute?
What's the best way to help minimum wage workers manage their finances? If you said, "design a financial planning site that presumes they work a second job and don't need groceries," you have a bright future ahead of you designing financial planning sites for McDonald's employees.
According to our 2012-2013 study on How Tips Impact Incomes, waiters and waitresses earn the lowest base salaries in the service industry. The average base is $5.10 an hour and in some states, it may be lower. Employees in the service industry are often underpaid and rely quite heavily on the tips they receive for basic living expenses. Although rare, once in a while we hear of waitresses and waiters who have received larger than normal tips from customers.
Want to enroll in "Hamburger University?" Get a job at McDonald's, and you can! The fast food giant and several other major corporations offer training that can eventually lead to a college degree.
CNN Money reports that summer hiring is expected to rise more than usual.
During 1998-2000, author Barbara Ehrenreich went undercover as low-wage, unskilled laborer in three different types of jobs. She wanted to experience first-hand just how difficult it is to support oneself as a low-wage laborer.
We know that level of education increases income earning potential. For example, Payscale reports that even fast food workers with a bachelor's degree have the potential to earn $2 to $3 more dollars per hour than other fast food workers. In Massachusetts, however, the situation is getting ridiculous.
Name: Kortni ButtertonJob Title: Restaurant HostessWhere: Seattle, WACurrent Employer: 50 NorthYears of Experience: 3.5Education: Issaquah High School, Diploma; Bellevue College, Associate of Arts and Sciences; University of Washington, Communications and Sociology majorSalary: Research the median salary scale for restaurants, including restaurant hostess jobs.
A restaurant hostess works on the front lines. As the first point of contact for customers, a hostess has the important task of creating an excellent first impression. It's not always easy, especially after a long shift or when dealing with difficult customers. In addition to representing the restaurant, a hostess often does a ton of behind-the-scenes work in order to keep things running smoothly. If you're wondering what it takes to make it in this job, don't miss this Salary Story from Kortni Butterton. She shares a detailed restaurant hostess job description and describes the ups and downs of working in the food service industry.
Name: Craig HysellJob Title: BartenderWhere: Hilton Head Island, SCEmployer: Riders Lounge Years of Experience: 12Education: BA in Communications from Bowling Green State UniversitySalary: See the PayScale Research Center for the median bartender salary.
Recently Britney Spears made the news, again, by inquiring about bartender jobs at a California hotel. Britney, or anyone who is interested in becoming a bartender, should read this Salary Story. We spoke to bartender Craig Hysell about bartender jobs, a bartender salary, bartending school and more. Many people wonder if they need to attend school to become a bartender. This interview provides the answer, plus insider info on what it takes to succeed as a career bartender. So pour yourself a cold one and keep reading!
Name: Tyler Zimmerman Job Title: Fast Food Worker (Cashier)Where: Carbondale, Illinois Employer: Arby's Years of Experience: 1 and a half yearsEducation: GEDSalary: According to PayScale's Research Center, the median salary of fast food workers ranges from $5.91 to $8.86 per hour in different U.S. cities.
Fast food jobs vary as much as the people who work them. For some, fast food jobs are a part-time gig, for others, an entry into the job market, temporary position or a full-time career. Tyler Zimmerman is a teen who has worked for Arby's for almost two years; that's a veteran in fast food jobs.
In this Salary Story, Tyler gave us his fast food cashier job description, plus a behind-the-scenes look into the salary of fast food workers, things that annoy fast food workers, challenges of fast food restaurant jobs, factors that affect the salary of a fast food worker and current trends in fast foods. This is one super-sized combo you don't want to miss!
Name: David Benton Job Title: Pastry ChefWhere: Oakland, California Employer: Self-Employed - SugarSweet Pastries Years of Experience: 3Education: California Culinary Academy, San Francisco, CaliforniaSalary: See PayScale's Research Center for the median pastry chef salary.
Looking for a delicious career? For readers interested in pastry chef salaries, the qualifications to become a pastry chef and other career information, our interview with chef David Benton has all the right ingredients.
In this Salary Story, David told us about the outlook for pastry chef jobs in America, the education needed for a pastry chef, and different jobs for a pastry chef, including hotel and restaurant positions. David discussed how jobs for a pastry chef can be competitive and come with certain expectations, plus lessons learned in culinary school and on the job. He also explained how education and experience impact pastry chef jobs and gave insight into how different employers can affect the working conditions and salary of a pastry chef.
If you're interested in becoming a pastry chef, then take few moments to learn more about this creative career. Bon Appetit!
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I thought long and hard on what I could call today's article. Do I call it, "2013 Detroit Lions Stat Predictions"? How about "Where I see the Lions in 2013″? When it came down to it, I remembered that I don't normally do predictions because they always come with the assumption that they are based on actual evidence and understanding of the game. When it comes to the NFL, no such understanding will actually help you predict the record of any teams on a consistent basis. Injuries, sudden breakout stars, and fluke bad or good days make it impossible to predict a team's record. Even harder to predict are individual stats. Sure, you can give a ballpark figure based on where a player has performed in the past and using my favorite tool, trend analysis, predict where they may end up this season. But even then, sudden emergence of one player can drastically affect the career arc of an aging player. Just look at Carolina's Steve Smith or Indianapolis' Reggie Wayne. After looking at what this article was going to be about, I finally settled on a name that clearly reflects what it is. While I always use as much evidence and fact to back up my articles as I can, as mentioned that doesn't mean a whole lot when trying to make an actual "prediction". So here are the mostly baseless predictions and guesswork I could come up with for the Detroit Lions' 2013 Season!
Matthew Stafford Will Return to Form
We've all complained about Matthew Stafford's notably terrible mechanics. When you reduce it to its base form, however, the only reason his mechanics deserve a mention (While someone who ALSO throws sidearm on a regular like Colin Kaepernick does not) is because of the win/loss columns. Winning tends to make people overlook poor form. The Lions face a brutal schedule, but with a defense that looks improved and an offense whose individual parts look promising, the team ought to look like an improved version of the 2011 squad. Stafford, of course, is included. Much was made of Calvin Johnson being downed inside the 5 near the goal line, but the Lions receivers as a whole were plagued with this issue, being tackled within the 5 a league-high 23 times! That trend is likely an anomaly, and should reverse leading to more TDs and an improved Stafford. With the addition of Bush, the Lions will have a larger number of high percentage passes, leading to an uptick in completion percentage as well.
Attempts: 635
Completions: 400
Yards: 4,400
TDs: 39
Ints: 11
Reggie Bush will have more YAC than Rushing Yards
This one should be pretty apparent based on how he was utilized in the preseason. The Lions plan on using Bush to make teams pay for their coverage of Calvin Johnson. If Patrick Edwards breaks out like the team thinks he will, he'll stretch the field even further back. While on most teams, that would mean an increase in rushing yards, yada yada, with the Lions' Oline being as poor of run blockers as they've shown we are likely looking at an increase in screens and dump offs. In 2012, those dump passes would go to Brandon Pettigrew for a short gain, or to Joique Bell for about 10 yards a pop. Bush brings speed, however, so those 5-10 yard dumps now have the potential to break the game. Pettigrew often made his catches in traffic with a defender already draped on him, while Bell simply lacked the speed to break long runs even when he broke tackles. Bush may not break as many tackles as Bell, but he can make teams PAY when he does, something this team has been lacking.
Attempts: 175
Yards: 450
Receptions: 80
Yards: 850
Patrick Edwards will have the highest YPC of any Lions player
I'm assuming in this instance that Matthew Stafford and Patrick Edwards gel with the quickness. Edwards showed in several games this preseason that he has the speed to break defenses apart. If Stafford and Edwards can get on the same page, it will lead to a lot of designed plays where he will be targeted downfield. He hasn't shown us much, yet, and it's possible he won't at all this year. But the catches he DOES make will likely be long catches, leading to the highest YPC on the team. Even with Calvin Johnson getting a majority of targets, the team likes to use Johnson in the slot enough that his YPC will come down.
Edwards YPC: 18.3
Johnson YPC: 17.7
Nobody Breaks Double Digit Sacks, Except Maybe a DT
The Lions have the best Defensive Tackle tandem in the NFL. If we assume health, it's likely the pair of newly voted Team Captain Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley will make life hell for every QB the Lions face. On the outside? Not so much. The career high for all Lions DEs is 8 (Israel Idonije). Three of the Lions' remaining DEs (Ansah, Taylor, Young) combine for less than that in their careers. Jason Jones, the declared starter at LDE, has never played a 16 game season, and has a career high of only 5 sacks. Most of the sacks he DID get were while rushing from the DT position, not DE. Needless to say, this group gets a lot more hype than it has shown itself worthy of. Rookie DE Ziggy Ansah made some strides in the preseason, but his most promising skill is that of run defender, not pass rusher. Yes, a DE's job is easier when there are disruptive DTs on the interior. That doesn't make the DEs magically gain the ability to beat Offensive Tackles when matched up one on one, and that is an area all five of the Lions DEs can improve upon.
Most Sacks, in order: Fairley, Suh, Ansah, Jones, Idonije, Young, Taylor, Mosley, Bannan
Lions Turn around their Toxic Differential, Turn around their Record
For those unfamiliar with Toxic Differential, it is a statistic that has fairly accurately reflected team record for several years now. At its most basic, it is essentially: (big plays for minus big plays against) plus (takeaways minus giveaways). A good explanation with data is here. It's a simple stat, but it is now considered a good method of taking a lot of the guesswork out of team records. Sadly, there's no way to predict toxic differential with only a historical note that the teams that lead in turnovers (Less than half of toxic differential) are often tilted towards the other end of the scale the following season. The Lions had an ugly, ugly -37 Toxic Differential in 2012. The 8 they received in 2011 is hardly world-beating, but a drop-off of 45 like the Lions saw over those two years is not common. Is it possible to turn over Toxic Differential that quickly, though? Absolutely. Look no further than the Washington Redskins, who were near the bottom of the league in 2011 but 2nd in 2012. Granted, the Lions don't have a read option run by RGIII to make big plays, but they still have Calvin Johnson and added Reggie Bush. Throw in an improved secondary and the likelihood that the Lions mount a turnaround looks pretty good right about now.
2011 Toxic Differential: 8 good for a winning record2012 Toxic Differential: -36 good for the 5th overall pick
2013 Toxic Differential: 20, good for a winning record?
Tony Scheffler and Joseph Fauria both have Similar Seasons Statistically
If the offense works how it is supposed to, I would expect a similar season from Scheffler to what we saw back in 2011, though I doubt he gets as many TDs. With the relative health of the team (And I'm assuming health for this exercise), Scheffler should see his targets go back to the 40 range, when he was his most productive. What's interesting is how I think the Lions will use Fauria. In camp, they rarely used him as a Hback, with Michael Williams getting that role. That role, in turn, was inherited from Will Heller. Heller hardly set the world on fire, but he wasn't used as an Hback until after the Lions abandoned the FB position in 2010. Prior to that, Heller was used traditionally and managed a respectable 29 catches on 50 targets for 3 TDs. Yes, he was the #2 that year, but the Lions also weren't throwing the ball 700 times a season. Fauria still isn't a traditional FB, and I doubt he gets looks only in that role. As it is, I feel he and Scheffler will move around a lot, and we will see them both get some interesting looks in an offense that likes to spread the ball around. Both should get close to Heller's 2009 stats, which I feel would be a win for the team.
2013 Guess at Stats for Fauria and Scheffler: 25 receptions on 45 targets for 3 TDs each.
My First and Likely Only Season Prediction for 2013
Wo, wo, wo, wo, wo, wo, wo, you say. I thought you don't make record predictions! You scoff, snarkily. Yes, it's true I don't make record predictions. As I said in the first paragraph, there are simply too many variables to make an accurate prediction on a season's success. As someone who goes where the evidence and trends takes me, I understand that there is too much fluctuation in the NFL, the teams get better or tank suddenly, so predicting a record is a futile affair. However, if I make a few assumptions, I can put it within a range. I don't mean my normal 8-8 +/-8 prediction, either. Like an actual, normal person range. So here goes. There's some math involved (Sorry, I'm still me). If we look at the Lions' 4-12 record and compare it to the teams finishing in the bottom 5 of the past, say five seasons(2007-2011), then we look at their sustained record over the following season, we get some basic trends. Teams average a gain of +3.56 wins the season after a 4-12 or less season, and that is including the teams that actually got worse. The range is pretty wide (-2 to +9), though, so the Lions are looking at anywhere between a 2 and 13 win season using that trend. It puts the Lions at 8-8, but also leaves a lot of room. Going back to Toxic Differential, I'm sticking to my +20 prediction, which when compared to previous years (2008-2012) and giving a +/-4, we end up with an average of 9.46 wins. Okay, so we've got an 8-8 based on W/L trend, and a 9-7 based on my Toxic Differential prediction and record vs. TD. How about the QB? Well, if Stafford stays true to the prediction I gave him earlier, let's look at average record for QBs with 4,000+ yards and 30+ TDs. We end up with an average of 10.9 wins. Rounded up to 11, our three methods of predicting with trend nets us 8, 9, and 11 wins. Averaging it out, it's somewhere just above 9 wins, so I'm going to go with that. Yes, I'm making a season prediction, utilizing solely trend, and it's a 9-7 season for the Detroit Lions!


text:
Hi all,
It is known that the non-edible bananas such as Basjoo,
Through the experiences and experiments in this extra-
From my understanding of the posts to the forum etc., it
1. Dwarf Brazilian
My understanding might be wrong, so your own opinion shall
Stan |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by pitangadiego San Diego, CA (My Page) on Tue, Mar 27, 07 at 0:44
From Joe Real: I have basjoo and California Gold growing in pots and left them outside for the winter about three years ago. Potted plants are more susceptible to cold than when planted inground. Musa Basjoo died to the ground level and never came back while California Gold's stem remained intact and was among the first ones to sprout leaves during the late winter. Non-scientific tests. I bought about 85 known cultivars of bananas, spent around $2000 to collect them all, and when my wife booted me out of the third car garage, I left them all out in the cold winter, still potted. Only 24 plants survived that single non-replicated episode of non-scientific experiment. So without much ado, here's the result of my $2,000.00 worth of information: Here's the listing of cold hardy bananas at their pseudostem during the winter. Arranged from the most reliable producer or cold hardiest to the milder ones, but all should be cold hardy at their pseudostems in most winters in zone 9. WARNING: Your mileage could vary depending on your microclimate arrangement in your yard. •California Gold •Manzano |
- Posted by red_sea_me CA9b (My Page) on Tue, Mar 27, 07 at 12:01
thanks Pitangadiego (and Joe Real) for the list, I was glad to see 4 out of 5 of my "planted" bananas on the list. I was disappointed to not see pitogo on there. I wonder if it did poorly or just was not part of the experiment? Thanks again for the answers (and the ?), -Ethan |
Thanks for coming up with the list, Pitangadiego. So, how cold was that winter that killed your plants? Kru is a beautiful plant, but after the last cold spell of mid 30's, it really didn't like it at all. Most of my bananas are planted along the north end of my yard as that is where it's most spacious. It would have been better if I planted them on the south side, but my storage sheds are all over there. I'm going to have to try to get the more sensitive ones somehow over to the south end just to keep them out of trouble the next cold season. |
- Posted by pitangadiego San Diego, CA (My Page) on Wed, Mar 28, 07 at 1:19
Those were Joe's bananas, not mine. My coldest temp in 20+ years is 38. Kru, as with all reds, does not take well to cold. Below 40 (maybe even 45) it will barely survive a winter. |
Your info about Kru helps. I'll move its pup it to the south end where there's more protection there. Will have to leave the mother plant there because she's too big now. |
- Posted by braveheartfcf 7 (My Page) on Thu, Mar 29, 07 at 14:38
I live in Central Alabama. I was born and raised in Central Florida and one of the things that I greatly miss is being able to go out and pick my own ripe banana's off of my trees. Is there any good edible banana's that will grow here in central AL.? Also, where is a good reputable place to purchase them. I have a sandy clay loom here by Lay Lake. I use compost extensively, and I grow all my fruits and vegatables organically. I just miss those banana's. When it is stated a heavy mulch for winterization, how thick should the mulch be. I have truck loads of rotted horse manure. I also miss my citrus fruit, but thats another story. |
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