text:
Instituto Nacional de Biodeverisdad--INBio, Spanish Version
Enrique Ogliastri, Juliano Flores, Andrea Prado
Publication Date:Nov 01, 2008
Discipline:General Management
Source:Social Enterprise Knowledge Network
Product number:
Spanish Hardcopy Black & White
Also Available in:
|Spanish Hardcopy Black & White
$ 6.93
The Biodiversity National Institute (Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, hence INBio) was created in 1989 to develop and promote a greater knowledge of Costa Rica's biodiversity, as well as to encourage its sustainable utilization. INBio's activities began with an inventory of Costa Rican biodiversity and, later, expanded to other endeavors associated with bioprospecting, conservation, and the INBio-park, among others. Since inception, the organization had been managed by its founding leader, Rodrigo Gámez. In 2002, the organization designed and launched a four-year strategic plan called "Towards a Sustainable INBio," which sought to introduce several changes, such as organizational structure variations, human resources management improvements, and a planned succession process. The core issue presented by this case revolves around its leader's succession. For 14 years, INBio had been run by Rodrigo Gámez, its leader and founder. As some of the measures outlined in the "Towards a Sustainable INBio" plan were launched in August 2003, Rodrigo Gámez had a heart attack. Piva and a group of Theme Directors took over provisionally. Gámez's health condition forced INBio to accelerate its planned succession process. Piva was asked to conduct an analysis and to present replacement options to the organization's Board. Piva would analyze and submit his findings on the following options: a) hiring an outside candidate, or b) empowering theme directors to manage the organization within a flat and participative structure, led and coordinated by one of them. Based on Piva's analysis and presentation, the Board would then make a decision.
learning objective:
To gain a deeper understanding of notions associated with leadership, leadership succession, and nonprofit organizations' sustainability; to develop students' ability to weigh the convenience of several leadership styles and organizational structures based on ventures' evolution; and to raise students' awareness on leadership succession and nonprofits' sustainability issues.
subjects covered:
Biodiversity; Leadership; Nongovernmental organizations; Nonprofit organizations; Organizational change; Organizational design; Organizational development; Small & medium-sized enterprises; Strategy; Succession planning; Sustainability
- Geographic: Costa Rica


text:
Email email@example.com to register.
Click here for the event flyer.
Fred Brown, Director of Marketing & Member Development, Northeast Family FCU
Join marketing professionals from credit unions in Connecticut as they discuss some of their marketing strategies, campaigns, best practices, and some of the misses too! Participants are encouraged to bring sample marketing materials to share. This Network is open to marketing professionals and those who count marketing as one of the many hats they wear.
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Anyone interested in Marketing!
Register by Friday, January 23.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Fax: 203-294-4882
Mail: 1064 E. Main St., Ste. 201 | Meriden, CT 0645
Click here to see the Chapter Notice.
Click here to view the chapter notice.
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Checks should be postmarked by Feb. 18th. Please mail payment to Workers Federal Credit Union, ATTN: Joan Posocco at 70 W. Stafford Rd., Stafford Springs, CT 06076 Please reference "Elections".

subset: commoncrawl


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4/2/2015 6:15:52 AM. For Customer Service, please call 800.933.9904
For being chunky, these chess pieces are pretty hard-bodied. Each chunky chessman is made of maple or cherry hardwood and has its own individual design laser engraved onto the wood's surface for easy distinction
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the shots-fired call in altoona about 4:30 this morning involved a city police officer.
police say the officer encountered a male suspect in the alley between 4th and 3rd streets. he fired one round into the suspect's upper body and the injury did not appear to be life-threatening.
the officer was not injured.
state police from the lewistown barracks have been called in to assist in the investigation.
more details will be released later.


text: To actually test some possible fixes, I'd need a tester who knows how to compile, install, and patch the alsa kernel modules. If you do and want to test some stuff, you can contact me via email (again, firstname.lastname@example.com). I have some ideas, though I fear they are not very likely to work. We may ultimately need some documentation from ATI.


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Why are we featuring this dull looking tube of glue from Germany? Because it doesn't suffer from the design flaw of every other household adhesive: toxicity. It is one of the few glues in the world that are derived solely from natural materials. How is this possible? This transparent glue's main ingredients are dammar, latex, […][Read More]
You are here: Home / Archives for orange oil


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Regular meetings with an academic advisor will assist you in choosing courses, designing a manageable schedule, meeting your degree requirements and expediting your degree completion. Advisors can also help you in deciding on a major and by providing suggestions and referrals if you are having trouble in a class. Academic advisors are prepared to help you make the most of your educational experience and reach your goals in the most successful and timely manner.
All freshmen and sophomore students admitted for Summer or Fall 2012 and beyond are required to meet with an advisor once per semester. Students at junior standing and beyond will be required to meet at least once per year.
· Freshman 1-29 earned hours
· Sophomore 30-59 earned hours
· Junior 60-89 earned hours
· Senior + 90+ earned hours
To determine your assigned advisor, visit the Student Tools tab of your FlashLine account. In the Academic Profile section, you should see the name of your advisor. Find your advisor in the list below to see where his/her office is located, how to reach him/her and how to schedule an appointment with him/her.
Advisors are typcially assigned as follows:
- Accounting Technology students:
Laurie Donley
- Applied Communication students:
Laurie Donley
Sally Fadorsen
- Bachelor of Technical & Applied Studies students:
Laurie Donley
- Bachelor of Integrative Studies students:
Sally Fadorsen
- Business students:
Sally Fadorsen
Jennifer Greer
Ed Newman (Associate degree in Business Management Technology)
- Computer Technology students:
Susan Hoffman
- Criminology & Justice Studies students:
Jennifer Greer
- Early Childhood Education students:
Lisa Brindley (Associate degree in Early Childhood Education Technology)
Dr. Sandra Pech (Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education)
- Education students (except Early Childhood):
Melissa Crites
- Engineering Technologies students:
Mrs. Beth Franz
- English students:
Melissa Crites
- Honors Program students:
Melissa Crites
- Information Technology for Administrative Professionals and Medical Billing students:
John Baker
- Post-Secondary students:
Melissa Crites
- Psychology students:
Melissa Crites
Sally Fadorsen
- Nursing students:
Charity Waugh (pre-nursing students)
Joan Lappin
- Veterinary Technology students:
Dr. Ronald Southerland
- General Advisors:
Rob Brindley
Melissa Crites
Sally Fadorsen
Jennifer Greer


text:
The Torah
Five books of story, law, and poetry.
For Jews, the concept of "Torah" is much broader than the books themselves, the delimited concept of the Torah. "Torah" can refer to all of traditional Jewish learning, but "the Torah" usually refers to the Torah she'bi'ktav, the written Torah, also known as the Humash (the five volumes or Pentateuch, sometimes referred to as the Five Books of Moses). Readings from the Torah, which are divided into 54 weekly portions (parshiyot), have always been the centerpiece of the Sabbath morning service, and as such, its stories, laws, and poetry stand at the center of Jewish culture.
The Torah retells God's creation of the world, the selection and growth of the family of Abraham and Sarah in relationship to God in the land of Canaan, the exile and redemption from Egypt of that "family-become-nation" known as Israel, and their travels through the desert until they return to the land of Canaan. Along the way, Israel enters into a covenanted relationship with God, and God reveals many of the rules for governing a just society and for establishing appropriate worship.
Traditionally, the Torah has been seen either as a document that was entirely revealed to Moses by God on Mount Sinai (along with the whole of the Oral Torah, i.e. the Mishnah and other works of Rabbinic literature which build upon the written Torah) or that Moses completed the Torah during the trek through the wilderness (including what was revealed on Mount Sinai). Historians and literary critics, noting historical inaccuracies and duplications that indicate a composite text have suggested that the Torah includes sources from the period of King David and King Solomon (around 1000 BCE), from the seventh century BCE during the reign of King Josiah, and from the sixth century BCE during the Babylonian exile.
- 1 |
- 2 |
- 3 |
Did you like this article? MyJewishLearning is a not-for-profit organization.


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Traditional, 18th Century and West Indies design elements are very evident in this collection. Beautifully figured mahogany veneers are used throughout the collection. Shaped post turnings, many with ringed shapes and turned legs provide exciting detail. Case on case construction is used for the dresser and side posts flank the drawers. Mahogany Solids: US poplar Veneers: Figured mahogany Ring hardware in burnished brass with accent key holes Poster Bed - Dramatic turned posts begin with an egg-shaped finial at the top and descend to the foot with a series of concave and convex soft shapes separated by series of ringed turnings. The feet descend from a bulb-shaped turning that tapers as it moves to the floor. Fan-matched/V-matched veneer adorns the headboard and footboard.
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Your Cancun vacation
It's true that tourists fill Cancun and its happening Hotel Zone, but for good reason. Flights are cheap, the beaches are the best this close to U.S. soil and there is plenty of outdoor action. While partying is synonymous with this spring break hot-spot, plenty of quiet, couples-only resorts claim a strip of sand. Families take to the Mayan ruins, water parks and dolphin swims.
With the comforts and commercial temptations of home, Cancun is a good place to get your international feet wet, and between sunning all day and dancing all night, you can sleep on the plane back home.
Orbitz reveals the best of Cancun travel with the best time to go, top 10 attractions and insider gems.
If you find a great deal and can snag a few days off, pack a carry-on and boogie down to Cancun any time. Weather-wise, Cancun has a monopoly on warm sunshine year round. June through November is hurricane season, which peaks in September and October.
You'll find flocks of sun-worshippers at Christmas and Easter, and spring break crowds each March. It's wet and hot from May to November, but prices dip and crowds are few. Cancun regulars swear by January and February for ideal weather.
Mayan ruins in the city
Kids love to climb the remains of a small Mayan settlement at the El Rey ruins, oblivious to its age, dating back to 10th century A.D. Bring fruit and feed the hundreds of sunning iguanas. El Meco is quiet, naturally shaded and tranquil enough for a picnic among the 14 structures or at nearby Isla Blanca, a local beach. Both are a reasonable drive from the Hotel Zone.
El Café
Local journalists relax over breakfast or lunch on the simple terrace at this hideout behind city hall. The coffee is good and strong and the dinner menu is authentic.
Market 23
Practice your Spanish … and your haggling skills. Pottery, blankets, hats, jewelry, clothing and local crafts mix with fresh meat, fish shops and fruit stands at this very local market. Bring cash, preferably pesos.
Grab a taxi for a taste of Paris in residential Cancun. The small, family-owned restaurant in a converted house oozes romance over an array of French classics. A tri-lingual staff provides formal service. Dress to the nines and reserve a seat on the terrace.
Neighborhood watering holes with live music
Slip into Roots Jazz Club for late-night beats or El Capucino for live local reggae on Margaritas near Azucenas. Despite its location in Hotel Plaza Kokai, Bar Bohemio El Camarote is a cozy haunt that feels lesser-known with its small stage and decent bands.
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The Hotel Suites Las Gaviotas is a beautiful 4 story Mediterranean style hotel in Cancun overlooking the Nichupte Lagoon, Cancun hotel zone and Pok Ta Pok golf course. the hotel has 39 exclusive suites and penthouses, with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, spacious living room,... More
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Family friendly, all-inclusive Cancun beach resort with many amenitiesPosh yet family-friendly, this 502-room beachfront property spans three eight-story wings awash in peach, yellow and earth tones. The largest palapa (thatched hut) in Mexico shades its stunning lobby.... More
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All-inclusive property with luxurious accommodations and eye-catching sea viewsSecrets The Vine Cancun - Adults Only Luxury All Inclusive is a beachfront resort that caters to adults-only holidaymakers seeking a beach getaway in this side of Cancun, Mexico. Visitors... More
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The Ocean Spa Hotel is a 4 stars resort, located on the beach, 20 minutes from the airport and 10 minutes from downtown Cancun. Close to shopping malls, restaurants and the main tourist attractions. This Non Smoking Hotel offers 127 comfortable standard and 27 Spa Deluxe... More
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Sun-soaked Cancun all-inclusive with luxury amenities, two poolsThe Riu Palace Las Americas is situated on Cancun's Yucatan peninsula and offers endless ocean views. The property is dotted with palms and fringed by the vibrant waters of the Caribbean Sea. All-inclusive... More
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Celeb-chef restaurants at exclusive beachfront getaway in Cancun The Live Aqua Cancun is a 371-room, nine-floor oasis on the Yucatan Peninsula. The resort has Mayan-inspired architecture with modern touches. The haute regional cuisine, exotic dining venues, posh... More
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Beachfront hotel in Cancun with private golf courseIberostar Cancun - All inclusive invites travelers and beach holidaymakers to luxurious beachfront accommodations while in a beach vacation in the tourist area of Cancun, southeastern Mexico. Guests at this... More
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Swim or interact with some of the most brilliant mammals on the planet that happen to look like big, friendly fish. Kids of all ages love dolphin kisses, hugs and handshakes. Dolphinaris and Dolphin Discovery are among the top-ranked venues.
Mayan ruins
Take a day trip to see a few pages out of the history books. Drive 80 miles south to Tulum where cliff-top ruins overlook the blue sea. Head inland to scale Mayan pyramids in the middle of the jungle at Coba. At Chichen Itza, get lost in a mix of pre-Columbian architecture, from temples to the Great Ball Court.
All-inclusive resorts
Keep your wallet north of the border. All-inclusive resorts serve up a hassle-free Cancun vacation and most include food, snacks, drinks and non-motorized water sports. Check out the nightlife scene and choose one that will satisfy after the sun goes down. Resorts range from family-friendly to couples-only to dens for the single-and-looking.
Coco Bongo
It's Vegas gone wild at Coco Bongo, where throngs of nightlife thrill-seekers pile in for club music, aerial shows and confetti showers. A younger crowd goes dancing and drinking at Senor Frog's. For dinner with your dance moves, try Carlos and Charlie's.
Mexican cooking classes
One day with Chef Claudia of Can Cook in Cancun and you'll be dangerous with the habaneros for life. Part hands-on cooking class, part history and gastronomy lesson, plus sangria-infused lunch with new friends, the class sends participants off with recipes, an apron and serious know-how for whipping up home-style Mexican cuisine.
Xel-ha, Xplor and Xcaret
Not to worry: This triplet of X-named theme parks are completely family-friendly. An hour south of Cancun, fill up on adventure from snorkeling to zip lines between three outdoor ecological parks. Or, keep it local on the water slides at Wet'N Wild.
Playa del Carmen
Sample a fresh scene an hour south of town. No longer a sleepy little fishing village, PDC (or "Playa") rivals Cancun with shopping, dining and nightlife on a smaller scale with more local flavor, all set along car-free 5th Avenue.
La Habichuela restaurant
Since 1977, this family-owned restaurant with a Mayan theme has charmed guests with a romantic walled garden and Caribbean-style seafood.
Set on a lagoon, La Isla Shopping Mall combines a trendy, chain mall with local establishments and an aquarium. Canals and small bridges top off the Venetian-inspired setting. Downtown flea market Mercado 28 brims with silver jewelry, Mexican handcrafts and souvenirs on the cheap.
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Out of Congress, but still in the power game
Blog Entry:
March 26, 2013 2:11 PM | Author: SCOTT SUTTELL
USA Today
takes a look
at 16 lawmakers who left Congress recently, including former Rep. Steve LaTourette, and have "landed posts with groups that seek to influence policy — despite rules aimed at slowing the revolving door between Capitol Hill and lobbying firms."
The story notes that former House members are barred from lobbying their former colleagues for a year; for former senators, it's two years. There are no restrictions, however, "on providing behind-the-scenes advice to corporations and others seeking to shape federal legislation,"
USA Today
says. Ex-lawmakers "can immediately lobby the executive branch and officials in state and local governments."
Mr. LaTourette "cannot register as a federal lobbyist nor talk to his former colleagues on Capitol Hill," according to the newspaper. But the Republican heads a new Washington lobbying branch of Cleveland law firm
McDonald Hopkins
"My job is to fashion strategies and give advice," he quips. (Mr. LaTourette's wife, Jennifer, is a veteran lobbyist and serves as vice president of
McDonald Hopkins Government Strategies
USA Today
says the lobbying operation, which launched in January, "already has nine clients — including the
Cleveland Clinic Foundation
and the Association of Public Television Stations, as public television girds for congressional budget battles over its funding."
Mr. LaTourette and 15 others of the 98 lawmakers who have retired or were ousted by voters since January 2011 hold lobbying-related jobs, according to the
USA Today
The Congress-to-K Street connection has been institutionalized," Sheila Krumholz of the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks lobbying and political money, tells the newspaper. "It's Plan A for former members of Congress."
All's well (Ohio hopes)
Reuters runs a somewhat
mixed analysis
of the prospects for the Utica shale formation in Ohio.
The piece starts with a look at
Gulfport Energy
, a company that in spring 2012 had seen in shares fall 55% in four months, until the oil and gas producer announced it had drilled its first three wells in the Utica.
"The Oklahoma-based company's value has since more than doubled, bolstered by a series of company production updates on those and a handful of other new wells located in what many believe to be the next frontier in America's oil and gas revolution," Reuters reports. It says the share-price gain "represents perhaps the clearest example of how investors, giddy about an expected boom in Ohio's energy production, have been betting on companies based on some optimistic, but preliminary, production data."
But things get a little less rosy from there. From the story:
But next month a more comprehensive state report will publish new data from Ohio's oil and gas wells that will offer the most insight yet about whether the Utica is the next big thing or a potentially fizzling bust for companies operating there.
Energy producers in the Buckeye State have compared the Utica to the giant Eagle Ford shale play in Texas and declared it a boon for a state still weathering an economic downturn. However, enthusiasm has cooled somewhat since drilling began in 2011, after wells produced more cheap natural gas than the more lucrative oil.
On March 31, Reuters says, data from between 50 and 60 wells drilled in 2012 will be given to the state. It then will be made available on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' website in April.
"It is a meaningful sample of wells that will go a long way toward giving investors a sense of whether the Utica is the next big thing," Morningstar analyst Mark Hanson, who covers companies operating in the state, tells Reuters.
Dream teams
It's too bad this year's Rock and Rock Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is being held in Los Angeles, because
this lineup
looks pretty great.
The Rock Hall announced today that the event, at the Nokia Theatre on April 18, will feature appearances by Usher, who will perform for Quincy Jones; Pearl Jam's Mike McCready and Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains, who will perform with Heart; Spike Lee and Harry Belafonte, who will pay tribute to Public Enemy; Carole King, who will perform for Lou Adler; Chris Cornell, who will induct Heart; Cheech & Chong, who will present Mr. Adler with his award; and Jackson Browne and John Fogerty, who will perform with Randy Newman.
As previously announced, John Mayer and Gary Clark Jr. will perform for Albert King, with Mr. Mayer giving the induction speech. Don Henley will induct Randy Newman. Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Hudson will perform in honor of Donna Summer. And Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters will present Rush.
HBO will televise the induction ceremony on Saturday, May 18.
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Nasi Ulam (Malaysian Mixed Herb Rice)
I started Rasa Malaysia in 2006 with the mission to promote Malaysian cuisine to the world. Today, I am so thrilled to announce that I am working with Malaysia Kitchen New York City to celebrate and evangelize the rich legacy of Malaysian food. I will be sharing two classic Malaysian recipes with Rasa Malaysia readers, and would like to kick off the Malaysia Kitchen for the World program with nasi ulam, or Malaysian mixed herb rice, a much celebrated traditional recipe for many Malaysians.
Nasi ulam is a Malay dish, and a staple to many people in Malaysia, especially for the Malays and Nyonya/Peranakan (or Straits-born Chinese). As a multi-ethnic country makes up of Malays, Chinese, Indians, and Eurasians, nasi ulam is much loved by many denizens of Malaysia, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or origin. The reason is very simple: there is nothing not to like about nasi ulam. It is utterly delicious, aromatic, healthy, and extremely appetizing, and great with a side dish of meat or fish. What's more, it can be a complete meal on its own.
Nasi means rice in Malay, while ulam means the assortment of herbs served during meal times. In general terms, the ulam is equivalent to "salad" and they are usually eaten with sambal belacan, which is the national condiment of Malaysia. However, in nasi ulam, the herbs are sliced finely and mixed with rice and other ingredients. The exotic, earthy, and aromatic nuance of the different herbs, paired with rice and dry-toasted shredded coconut or kerisik yield a richly fragrant and scrumptious concoction that is uniquely Malaysian.
In my childhood days, I used to watch my Nyonya grandmother preparing this dish. My mother and aunt would help her slicing the many different types of herbs: daun kadok (wild betel leaf), daun kesom (polygonum leaf or Vietnamese mint leaf), daun kunyit (turmeric leaf), bunga kantan (torch ginger flower), kaffir lime leaf, mint, etc. Many of these herbs are grown in our family's garden, so it was just a matter of harvesting them from the garden. However, some of these exotic herbs are almost impossible to find out of Malaysia, so I have improvised my recipe to make it more accessible to you. A trip to your local Asian stores (try Vietnamese or Thai grocery stores) will enable you to gather all the ingredients needed for the dish.
Making nasi ulam is not hard, but it does take some time. I can assure you that the end result is rewarding, as once you have tried this, especially toying with the interplay of the different herbs in this mixed herb rice, you will be instantly converted. Enjoy!
About Malaysia Kitchen for the World
Malaysia Kitchen for the World is a global initiative of the Malaysian government that aims to educate and inform consumers about Malaysian cuisine and Malaysian restaurants throughout the world. The New York campaign seeks to boost interest among American food lovers to try Malaysian cuisine and visit Malaysian restaurants in the New York metropolitan area as well as in other locations in the United States. The program also seeks to facilitate local chefs and restaurateurs to introduce Malaysian cuisine at their establishments.
About MATRADE
The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) is Malaysia's national trade promotion agency. Established in March 1993 as a statutory agency under the Ministry of International Trade Industry (MITI), MATRADE is responsible for assisting Malaysian companies to succeed in the international market by developing and promoting Malaysia's exports to the world. MATRADE is the lead agency for the Malaysia Kitchen campaign.
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32 comments... read them below or add one
What an interesting dish. I've never seen so many herbs in a mixed rice salad!
Where can I join the Malaysian kitchen program?
Last time I had this wonderful rice and herb concoction was years ago, back in college at a Malay's friends home. Thanks for including this simple, delicious, yet authentic Malaysian recipe that I almost forgotten.
This is a great dish I could really use this. I love to cook.
Thanks for posting the recipe for this dish. It brings back memory of my childhood. Back then, I didn't know how to appreciate the flavor in this dish but now I can't wait to try making this for myself. Missing Malaysian food a lot.
Missing this dish. Reminded me of home. Thank you Rasa Malaysia for bring back a childhood dish. Will be making it home away from home.
I have always wondered why you are not working with Malaysia Kitchen. Great partnership! This nasi ulam recipe looks like a great Malaysian comfort food. From your recipe and pictures, it reminded me the only time I had this was at a nyonya restaurtant. But I think the owner called it nasi kerabu? Got to get to grocery store this weekend and pick up some ingredients. Nasi ulam party coming up!
Great job, Bee. I know more people from around the world now recognize some quintessential Malaysian and Nyonya dishes because of you. I love the herby mixture in this rice. To be honest, I've never tried this either, being in Malaysia all my life. Now I must either make it or seek it out to satisfy my curiosity.
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Beautiful dish.
Thanks for sharing the link to Malaysia Kitchen. Found out they are having a street market event in Bryant Park! Let's hope it's not going to be freezing cold to enjoy the open market experience.
I didn't know you can find fpdaun kadok in the US. What is it called in the shop?
Also, what is the Daun kesom called in Vietnamese? Is it Rao Ram?
very informatinve, educative, delicious post! love it!!!
Looks good. Never had nasi ulam before but I'm keen to try one day. I didn't know the rice is served cold :)
Wow! Interesting combination of ingredients! Looks great
I tried it and it taste great
Great post Bee – been looking for a good recipe for this.
Hi! Thank you for your recipes, especially other than Malay's, I do find them easy to understand and almost all of what I've tried (cooked) do taste what I've imagined. I do like to ask a question actually, do you have any substitute for Shaoxing wine or rice wine for the cooking? If there is/are substitute for it (non-alcohol type), I would really like to know. Thank you.
Hi Ms. Bee,
Thank you for sharing a wealth of information on Malaysian cuisine and culture. I am a culinary enthusiast and I am from Malaysia. Late last year was my first time back to Malaysia and I finally got to reunite with my family after 20 years of absence. Meanwhile, I have been living vicariously through your blog, reconnecting with Malaysian recipes and absorbing the most I can, your delicious recipes, to help recreate my lost Malaysian feel, here in New York.
I am deeply grateful for your contributions and look forward to reading more from you.
HI Bee,
I like to have my rice warm so when you mix it with the herbs, you can really smell the herbs. Love this dish. Always get it when we go back for a holiday in Penang.
Nice Recipe! Amazing photos! I like short grain rice over long grain rice. Will to let the rice stay in fridge overnight to dry (seems like many fried rice technique can apply here as well)
Congrats on your appointment. I stumbled on your website a few years ago and when I want to verify recipes, I would come to your website. I am a Penangite living in Singapore and I don't cook very much but love to look at your recipes. It reminds me of my past and of some ingredients I may have missed out or some dish I may hope to try, when I have the time.
Congratulations on the expansion of Rasa Malaysia into Malaysia Kitchen for the World. Your success is proof that more and more people are learning how wonderful Malay cuisine really is, and how well-presented your site is.
My mum does a superversion of this with addition of sambal belachan. She also substitutes the dried shrimps with salted fish(ikan kurau).
I really love the taste.
Interesting. We have a very similar dish here in south India with peanuts instead of the shrimp, coriander and curry leaves instead of ur picks – just plain coconut rice. The satvik version has ginger and asafoetida but no shallots/garlic


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World Mental Health Day 2012 Message From Dr. Beverley Barnett, PAHO/WHO Guyana Country Office Representative
Every year, World Mental Health Day, an initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) since 1992, is commemorated on 10 October. World Mental Health Day is a global campaign inviting everyone –from global leaders to the public in all countries - to focus on a mental health challenge with global impact. It provides an opportunity for everyone to recognize the challenges that individuals, families, and communities experience due to mental disorders; discuss these disorders more openly; and support investments in prevention and treatment services.
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On this World Mental Health Day 2012, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) emphasizes the importance of good mental health to prevent and alleviate pain and depression throughout the life-course in order to save lives, promote and protect health, and foster well-being. Regular physical activity, a healthy diet, relaxation techniques, healthy sleeping habits, and avoidance of stress, drug use, and the harmful use of alcohol, are all important in the maintenance of mental health.
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Lie Down in the Darkness, Rise up from the Ash
20. Dust to Dust
Cold wind swept over the plains, bearing with it dark clouds. Chill, humid air, wet with the promise of rain, brought out the scent of churned earth and sweet grass, mixing with the dust of the ages. The land lay still under a pregnant silence, save for the creak and groan of wood and the rustle of leafy hair. Pippin shivered in his cloak but leaned forward from his perch on Bregalad's shoulders, braving the cold and breezy currents. Pointless to ask how soon they would arrive, for the Ent's answer had not varied since their abrupt departure from Fangorn: "Soon enough, my hobbits, quite soon enough!" Soon, the young Took thought, wondering once again whether they did right. Two days ago, Bregalad had predicted that tonight they would move for Isengard, and he and Merry had been prepared to wait out the delay. But no sooner had he spoken, it seemed, than a great uproar had sounded, as if every Ent at the Entmoot had howled.
"What is it? What does that mean?" Merry had asked, alarmed, but Bregalad had simply laughed again, though Pippin had thought he detected a note of surprise in that trumpeted amusement.
"'Tis a sign that even Ents grow hasty! Come, my little ones, we go now! To Isengard!" And so they had. All that afternoon the Ents had marched ceaselessly, and if either hobbit had wondered how so few Ents could possibly assault the tower that had held even Gandalf captive, they soon realized that the Ents were not alone. In droves—Or rather, groves! Pippin thought—the trees of Fangorn forest followed, uprooting themselves casually to shake the earth from their roots and march along behind in a seemingly endless line. Hoots and calls, songs sung in the voices of woodwinds had spurred them on at first, but as they had approached the Isen, the Ents had grown silent… grimly silent. And as they had drawn nigh to the circle of Isengard, the forest's march had halted quite suddenly on some unspoken signal. It took little wit to understand why, as masses of orcs and Men had marched by in a long, winding column.
"Where do they go, do you think?" Pippin had whispered to Bregalad, and then had had to clutch tightly at the Ent's hair as Bregalad shrugged, nearly dislodging Merry and Pippin in the process.
"I know not. It shall not matter, though, for I shall follow them whithersoever they go. I, and my flocks for the memory of lost trees and springs!"
"What about Saruman?"
"That is our business tonight, but fear not! We had spoken of this earlier, in the Entmoot. Once Isengard is finished, we shall move south again."
Pippin shivered again, but this time not because of the wind, but at the memory of the destruction of that stony circle. Old Man Willow was terrifying enough! he thought. But he never moved. I wonder whether he might not be one those sleeping Ents—a Huorn, like these others. It was not a pleasant thought, if it were so, but for the moment, it helped to keep his mind from the coming confrontation. For Isengard was drowned, and the Watchwood stood guard under Treebeard's tireless old eyes, and so Bregalad and a number of the younger Ents, whose flocks stood nearest the borders of the forest and so had suffered the worst depredations of the orcs, moved now to collect their proper revenge.
And we go with them, Merry and I! Pippin drew a deep breath, feeling a spark of wrath cut through his dread. Though we may not be much use at all, we go, for we, too, have a grievance with the orcs! And because we may not linger with Treebeard forever. It was an odd feeling, that certainty that they must move on—at once urgent, so that it suffused Pippin's very being, and yet it was a wrench as well, for of all races, hobbits were a most settled sort of folk. I could never be like Strider, Pippin decided. Yet I think what I feel now must be a little like what he feels. You can see it in him. I saw it when we first set out together, but I never understood it 'til now. That was enough to draw yet a third shiver from the young hobbit, who had never looked to understand what stirred the heart and soul of a Man like Aragorn.
"Look Pip!" Merry, too, leaned forward, pointing to a reddish glow on the horizon. "Fire!"
"I see it!" Pippin replied, glancing up at Bregalad's face. In the darkness, it was difficult to see much, but he thought that the Ent seemed eager, which was a most unusual expression on one of that deliberate and patient species.
"Aye, fire. The fires of war," Bregalad rumbled. "There lie the homes of the Men of this land, who are named "Rohirrim," and thither are we bound. We shall reach them soon."
Merry and Pippin exchanged another look, but this time, Merry's face showed pale and grim, without any of the wry skepticism that had previously greeted such remarks. Soon. What sort of Men are they, I wonder? Vaguely, he recalled that Boromir had thought highly of the Rohirrim, and Aragorn as well, apparently. But Rivendell seemed so very distant, a tale out of another lifetime, even, and Pippin felt a thrill of anxious concern run through him once more. Boromir and Strider, Legolas and Gimli… Sam and Frodo! Where are they now? Or are they dead?
The Ent-host marched onward, and soon indeed, Edoras's ruined gates loomed before them.***
Aragorn swore softly as the hinges on the door rattled in their casings, and the casings themselves bent. "Retreat!" he hollered up into the stairwell, and then wisely stood back as men came clattering down, sprinting with near reckless haste to abandon the tower. In truth, he had expected to be forced back far earlier, but some of the men had had nearly full quivers, having been in the vanguard most of the long way back from the gates, and the door had proved more resistant than foreseen. Still, it would be very close indeed, as another blow actually dented the metal of the door, and several of the archers flinched at the noise. "Keep moving!" Aragorn snapped at them, half-shoving a cluster of men out the other side of the tower. "Go! Draw your swords!" That, as he drew Andúril by way of example. Another blow, and one of the hinge casings broke, just as the last few men darted down the stairs.
"Last man down!" cried one of them, giving Aragorn a sharp nod. Together, the two dashed after the rest of the company, the line of archers sprinting for their lives towards the southern walls. One more flight of stairs awaited them, and then an empty cross-street, carefully cordoned off, that would intersect the main road along which the ground forces would eventually retreat, assuming that they survived so long. To judge by the lines of burning neighborhoods, Aragorn suspected that few would make it so far. And those few may not have the strength to withdraw to the keep! In fact, he could make out but one, beleaguered circle of defenders, perhaps a quarter mile from the gates. The flames showed them up, and Aragorn grimaced as he realized that they were surrounded. Which means that we know not what might wait for us before those gates! And if we know not…
A Ranger learned the meaning of haste early on, and Aragorn made use of it now, slipping between men to reach the head of the line just as they began to take the stairs. "Eorlingas to me! Be ready!" Down they went, hurrying along the cross-street, and the Ranger gripped Andúril hard. If the enemy were wise, there would be a small company waiting just out of bow-shot, waiting to warn of the approach of anyone from the keep. And beyond them …***
"What is that?" Legolas's voice sounded sharply, and Théoden, Háma, and Éowyn all turned to stare at the Elf. Théoden had joined them some time ago, the old king standing sad and silent as he watched his city burn. Éowyn stood beside him, and to his credit, he had taken but a look at his niece and said nothing, only laid a hand upon her shoulder and squeezed tightly. Then he, like the other three, had turned his attention to the fight below, watching it wind closer and closer as time and Saruman's treachery wore away at their defenses. Now though, he stared at the Elf, and his blue eyes were intent in the torch-light.
"Legolas?" he asked.
"There, by the gates… I had not looked there before, but now I see it! Something large moves in the night," the prince of Mirkwood replied, leaning forward on a parapet. "I know not what it is, though. I should say trolls of some sort, and yet… " He shook his head.
"Trolls?" Háma demanded with weary incredulity, squinting into the night, cursing the smoke and darkness.
"I should be flattered Saruman thinks so much of us!" Théoden sighed softly.
"Are you certain of this?" Éowyn asked sharply from beyond her uncle.
"Nay, my lady, I am not. The reason of my mind tells me it must be trolls, for I know of nothing else that they could be, yet my heart says otherwise. There is… a darkness there… yet 'tis different from Saruman's spells. I can say no more, however," Legolas added, sounding disappointed. "It moves swiftly though. Look!" As the four watched, the large, shadowy line approached, moving at an incredible pace and advancing on the hindmost ranks of the Isengarders. If they are trolls, then the Isengarders shall move aside to let them pass, the Elf thought. And yet… why would trolls come so late? In but a few hours, the sun shall rise, and unless Saruman has found a way to do for trolls what he has done for his orcs, they shall perish!
The rear lines of the enemy were turning towards the approaching host, and as the prince watched, the entire formation seemed to ripple, as the hindmost ranks surged forward. The Elf could pick out Dunlendings and orcs scrambling desperately, shoving at their comrades… and then it was as if a cloud passed over them, one that even an Elf's eyes could not pierce. "Elbereth Gilthoniel…" he murmured, awe-struck. Even as he gazed, something else caught his attention, though from much closer at hand. "Aragorn!"
"What say you now?" Théoden demanded.
"Aragorn! Look, his company comes not to the keep but turns! He must have realized that the enemy had passed the last unit. I think he goes now to try to join the others, rather than retreat with the enemy on his heels. Yes, he makes for the ring of defenders." Beside him, Háma uttered an oath, while Éowyn's eyes turned once more back to the flame-lit square. In the mean time, the shadowy host was pressing forward in earnest, and Legolas closed his eyes, tasting of that veiling darkness, wondering at it. 'Tis not Saruman's work… nay, 'Tis no wizard's crafting, I think, but the rage of a wounded creature… "Such hate…"
He was scarcely aware of having spoken aloud until Théoden's words startled him. "Such hate indeed! But it seems to me that it is for the orcs and our enemies more than for us," the old man replied, and there was a measure of new life to his voice as resolution entered it.
"Come!" he cried then, and all along the battlements, men looked up towards their king. "Let us take such chances as fortune offers! Forth, Eorlingas!" Háma followed immediately, and all around the heights, the cry was taken up. Soon, it echoed all about the keep, but Legolas remained where he was an instant, held in place by the confusing events below. And then his eyes went to Éowyn, who, but for her recent question, had stood silently by for so long. No word she spoke, but she returned that look briefly, defiantly, and then followed her king and uncle down the steps. With a shake of his head, Legolas went swiftly after her, feeling hope flicker, ghost-like, in his heart.***
"Help comes! Lord Ælric to us!" The cry went up from the southern arc of their circle, and Éomer, glancing back, was in time to see the collision as a roar of Rohirrim voices broke out on that side. Éomer's men staggered back as the orcs and Dunlendings were fairly thrust into their midst by the newcomers. There was a moment of shock but it was quickly covered over as the reinforcements swarmed over their displaced enemies, dispatching them with all the fervor of the walking dead. In the mean time, the northern arc was steadily being pushed back, bending as pikes were broken and their foes moved in closer. At least he could move the line back a bit, now…
"Éomer!" The Third Marshal cursed softly as he turned his attention to the newcomers once more and saw Aragorn standing there. "Hold your line!"
"If we move now, we may be able to come a little closer to the walls!" Éomer replied, gesturing to the struggling shield-wall. Aragorn shook his head, glanced about, and his mouth tightened.
"We cannot retreat!" the Ranger replied, and then quickly turned his attention to the men he had brought with him. "Spread out! Wythláf, take the north arc. Spread out!" Men hastened to obey, distributing themselves about the four quarters of the circle, though the north and south claimed more men than the east and west, which faced much narrower alleyways. And then, ere Éomer could question why, Aragorn added, "They are on our heels! And the others who wait for those in the keep to emerge come now in our wake!" Even as he spoke, fierce cries from the south indicated the arrival of the enemy, and Éomer cursed, coughing as he inhaled a lungful of smoke. "Where is Gimli?" the Dúnadan demanded.
"At your service," the Dwarf's voice sounded as he stepped suddenly from behind Éomer, and the Marshal startled badly. Gimli and Aragorn shared a significant look, but it was too brief for Éomer to fathom its meaning. Nevertheless, it inspired a nod as the Ranger laid a hand on the Dwarf's shoulder as if in gratitude. "Where is Legolas?" Gimli asked, voicing the question that Éomer had been about to submit.
"I sent him and the vanguard back to the keep, as planned. But I could not lead the rest back with the enemy waiting for the gates to open," Aragorn replied, shifting his gaze from the Dwarf to the Marshal. "From a standing start, we could not break through again, not with these on our backs," the Ranger nodded at the howling masses attacking the northern line.
"Well then," Éomer replied, and that was all. What else is there to say? the Third Marshal thought bitterly, turning back to watch as the line, even with Aragorn's reinforcements, began once more to bend… to buckle, really. The other did not question his silence, and on unspoken agreement, the two captains split up once more, going back to their respective posts: Éomer to the northern circuit, and Aragorn to the southern, there to urge the men on, determined to hold out as long as possible. To Éomer's surprise, the Dwarf stayed at his side rather than joining his friend, but the Third Marshal had no chance to question that decision.
A knot of Uruk-hai clawed their way over two of the guard, and even as Éomer stepped into the breach, another group of orcs brought down the man beside him, overwhelming him even as those behind him struggled to plug the gap with their bodies, to drag their comrade out from under the murderous knives of their enemies even while holding the line intact. Gimli joined the fray with a guttural shout in his own strange tongue, but the ranks before them surged, like a wave striking the shore. Éomer staggered back and cried out in pain when an orcish fist struck the gash on his cheek as the orc in question was bodily propelled over the Marshal's shoulder.
Unable to resist the sudden crush of bodies, the north arc of the circle was driven back. Men tripped on corpses, friend and foe alike, and were thrust back despite all efforts to resist. But those who were forced to retreat were fortunate: their fellows were simply buried under the writhing masses of orcs and Dunlendings, who, not content to overbear the Rohirrim, were climbing over each other. Some part of Éomer's mind found time to wonder at that, for it seemed almost as if they themselves sought escape….
An orc leapt for him, springing from the backs of two faltering comrades, and Éomer slashed blindly, but retreated nonetheless 'til he collided with someone else. Friend or foe, he could not tell, but the other seemed just as hard-pressed, for neither spared the time to strike back with a dagger or even an elbow. For a moment, he braced himself against the other's back and raised his sword, but it was as if he fought the sea. Through the haze of smoke and ash, the orcs and Dunlendings came rushing over the piles of their own dead, rising like a wave, screaming incoherently as they came.
One of them hit Éomer squarely in the chest, and the weight and shock were irresistible. With a cry, the Third Marshal went down as others landed atop him, crushing the air from his lungs. Pain lanced through him as he shoved desperately at the others, but his arms were pinned almost immediately. Sound dwindled, and a feeling of numbness spread throughout his body even as he vainly gasped for air. This is what it is to die… The thought occurred, and was torn away from him in a faltering heartbeat.
And then something happened. A jolt or a spasm seemed to pass through him, and Éomer twitched as a second blow seemed to land. Then a third, as sound seemed to return with such intensity that he winced and automatically made as if to cover his ears. To his surprise, he found that he could… just as he was flung aside like a rag doll, along with a number of others. The Third Marshal landed hard, but the shock of it started him breathing again, at least, and he gasped painfully as he lurched to all fours like a stricken beast. Muzzily, he wiped strands of hair from his face and tried to focus his eyes. Am I blind? he wondered, feeling a sudden thrill of panic at the thought, for he could not see. There was blood smeared on his face, but though he knew his eyes were open, all seemed dark about him.
Screams of terror punctuated the darkness, and there sounded now a creaking and groaning, as of tortured ships at harbor in a storm. Dust and earth scent filled his nostrils, mingling suffocatingly with the acrid stench of smoke, and Éomer sneezed violently at the same time that a coughing fit took him. A blood-curdling shriek came from somewhere to his left, seeming quite close, and the Third Marshal jerked, crawling forward now in search of a weapon. For 'twas no Man that made that sound, but an orc. Or something worse! Éomer thought, seeking blindly in the shadows. When he found naught, he cursed, staggering to his feet though every bone and muscle seemed to scream protest.
"Éomer!" A voice in the darkness, sharp and distorted with constrained fear, reached him, and he heard now other cries in Rohirric. A few Dunlending voices stole through the thickened air, and others that were clearly orcish filled the air. "Éomer!"
"Ara…gorn?" the Third Marshal wheezed painfully, swearing to himself as his voice failed in the end.
"Éomer?" Dazedly, Éomer began to make his way towards that voice, hoping at least to find one other who might have some better sense of what was happening. At least I begin to be able to see somewhat in this shadow! Nevertheless, he had not gone far ere he stumbled against something hard and tall, rough… wooden … A tree? Éomer blinked and squinted up uncertainly into the shadows. Just then, hoarse, guttural cries sounded behind him, and Éomer, cursing, turned as three or four vaguely orcish shapes moved towards him. And for the first time in his life, he simply froze. Still stunned and confused, he did not think to reach for the daggers at his belt, nor even to move; perhaps a part of him could not quite accept that he yet lived. But whatever the reasons, Éomer stared as the orcs flew towards him… and then the tree at his back lurched. At the same time, a fourth shape appeared from his right, and despite the darkness, he saw the glitter of firelight play off of a scything blade. And a hoarse voice bellowed:
"Move, you fool of a Man!" Gimli, Glóin's son, snapped with no patience whatsoever as he took the first orc. That tone cut through the confusion clouding his mind, and Éomer's hand went swiftly for the dagger he suddenly remembered that he had. But ere ever he could use it, the tree seemed to sway, and long, leafy branches dipped. Éomer ducked under one, but felt sharp-edged leaves rake across his face and the back of the hand he flung up to shield himself. A moan, like timber about to crack beneath a strong wind, filled the air, and an orc landed dead at his feet. Other moans and hoots sounded, and there was more creaking as several of the trees shifted, and of a sudden, Éomer could taste free air again. Still laden with smoke and blood it was, but lighter nonetheless as reddish light illuminated what had been an enclosed space.
The Third Marshal snarled then as more orcs appeared, apparently having been driven to this point by the shifting of the trees. Flinging out an arm, he let the edge of his blade scrape along an orc's throat, then spun to ram the dagger into a the chest of a second. That gave him double-vision and such a splitting headache that he missed the next orc completely, collapsing to his knees with his back to his enemy. It likely saved his life, for he felt the wind of his foe's swift passage, and as he looked up once more, he saw the orc stumble past him and into range of Gimli the Dwarf. But even as the Dwarf whirled to strike at the foul creature, the tree moved once more, and Éomer cried out in wordless warning.
The orc shrieked, leaping left and ducking as Gimli, cursing, tried to follow. Mayhap had he not been so weary already, it would not have happened. But the Dwarf had been overwhelmed by the same wave of bodies that Éomer had, and earlier at that. Only his smaller stature had let him find space enough to breathe 'til he had been unexpectedly rescued. Still, though formidable enough against the orcs, his control was fraying, and he swung too wide, unable to fight the momentum. The blade glanced off of the orc's armor and buried itself instead in the tree's trunk. A horrible blast of sound—like the shrill of a flute, yet far louder, deeper, and overlaid with an incredible dissonance that might otherwise have been harmony—went up, and Gimli was swept off of his feet by an arm-like branch. The Dwarf hit a second tree, bounced off of it, and landed with a thud on the ground, there to lie motionless as Éomer clambered to his feet and staggered towards him.
Falling to his knees once more, he laid a hand over the Dwarf's heart, but it is difficult to feel anything through a corselet. "Gimli! Gimli? Speak if you can!" Éomer felt a shiver run through him as something rumbled behind him, like a drum, almost, and he turned to stare up at the tree that stood over him. At the trees, rather, for he realized that he was surrounded of a sudden. "Béma… " Awe-struck, incredulous, he stared up, slack-jawed, and waited for the blow to come.
Yet it never did. A deep-voiced trumpeting sounded insistently close at hand, and the trees seemed to shudder, swaying back like reeds in a storm. For no reason that he could comprehend, they retreated, leaving him alone with Gimli as, at last, the rain began to fall.***
When he had felt the shield wall break, felt someone driven against his back, Aragorn had known he had but one choice: to move forward or perish, though the way forward was a gauntlet of grim swords and knives, all thirsting for his blood. But wonder of wonders, even as he plunged ahead into the ranks of the enemy with such men as had wits enough to follow, the orcs and Dunlendings retreated, crying out in terror. Whatever they saw, the Ranger wasted no time turning to stare, but pressed forward swiftly in an effort to out-race the masses at his back. Friend and foe alike had run, seeking to avoid whatever new terror stalked their ranks, or else to avoid being crushed.
And so they had met Théoden's forces, streaming out of the keep on an Elf's hope and desperation. The Isengarders, caught between the hammer and anvil, had not known which way to turn, and for the first time that night, Aragorn had found himself in control of the battle. Turning once more, he and his ragged band of survivors had met the rest of Saruman's army as it streamed towards the Rohirrim ranks. And behind them had come the tall-standing shadows, their creaking advance punctuated by screams. Aragorn had seen bodies flung aside with reckless abandon, and what happened to those who fell under the shadow, he knew not. For a time, he dared not distract himself with the riddle, for there were still orcs and Dunlendings aplenty to subdue.
But in the end, he and the others stood at the edge of the square where he and Éomer had thought to die, and stared at the woods. Beside him, Théoden murmured something under his breath ere he managed, "How is this possible? What are they?"
"Is it some trickery? Some elvish spell?" asked another rider.
"Nay," Legolas had replied, stepping forward to gaze intently at the trees. "Nay, this is no work of elvish craft! They are real… real, and they speak of ages uncounted. Can you not hear it? Do you not smell it?" the elven prince demanded, turning to let his green gaze sweep over the ranks of stunned, fearful Men. "Aragorn?"
"Valar… " The Ranger's eyes narrowed as he stalked forward then, struck suddenly by the musty, earthen scent, and memory found a swift match. That smell, and the creaking and wailing… A dark and bewildering night it had been beneath the boughs of… "Fangorn!" he breathed, and shot Legolas a look of sudden comprehension. "Did not Celeborn warn us?"
"So he did," Legolas replied, a note of awe in his voice.
"Ents," Aragorn murmured.
"Ents are naught but children's tales!" Háma exclaimed, frowning.
"Indeed, for Men are naught but children to Elves, and so we say not Ents, but Onodrim," Legolas replied as he began to drift towards the trees despite the horrible cries that still sounded from beneath the eaves. But in amidst the cries of orcs and Dunlendings, there were Rohirric cries as well, and slowly, the foremost ranks of Théoden's host began to follow the Elf.
"Is it wise to dare this copse?" Aragorn asked quietly.
"I know not," the Elf replied softly, but did not slow his advance. "But many are the Men trapped there, though it seems to me that their voices remain constant, whereas the orcish cries diminish in strength and number. Yet surely we may not abandon them! Many may be hurt, or confused…" And although all of this was quite true, Aragorn knew that it was not Men that concerned one Legolas son of Thranduil. Nevertheless, he said only:
"True enough. But I think not all need enter these woods. Go ahead, I shall find you in a moment." Pausing, then, he turned and went quickly to Théoden.
"What news?" the king asked.
"None, save that I think it best that most of the men remain here, and only those with some experience of a forest enter. We cannot afford panic beneath these eaves."
"Then your numbers shall be few, for ours is not a forested land," the king replied, frowning as he signaled a halt to the Rohirrim. Staring at the trees a moment, Théoden seemed to consider somewhat ere he turned to cock a snowy brow at the Ranger. "What know you of this wood?"
"Little, but that it is not wise to injure it in any way. There is a great power in Fangorn, and if these are Ents, as seems the only explanation, then even Legolas is out of his depth, sire, for he is young among his kind," Aragorn said, and refrained from adding that even Celeborn of Doriath might not have met an Ent since the fall of Beleriand.
"Yet some, perhaps many, of my people remain caught in it," the king shook his head. "We may not leave them to wander lost. Forest-craft we lack, but there are those here who can keep a clear head and know their direction even in a blind night on the plains. These I shall take, and be cautious of the trees!"
"As you will it, my king," Aragorn bowed his acquiescence.
"Go then, and see whom you may find while we follow more slowly."
"Aye, my lord." As the Ranger hurried away, he heard Théoden raise his voice to address the Rohirrim, though he heeded the speech but little, mind already focused on the trees, and on Éomer. Legolas was already gone ahead of him, and to track an Elf was a nearly impossible task, so he dismissed the notion. Surely I can trust the prince of Mirkwood to find his own way in a forest! Éomer, though… if he lives, he shall be only little less lost than I! So he thought, and hoped indeed that the Third Marshal lived, for if he did not… Then the House of Eorl is fallen, and we shall have lost another to this Darkness. It was a grim thought, and it spurred him onward, propelling him into the woods.
The moment he crossed the line of shadow beneath the trees, the world of Edoras seemed to fade, to recede before the memory of wilder times and places. Aragorn paused a moment, letting the feel of this space wash over him 'til senses overwhelmed with the novelty of it all ceased to tingle and cringe with every new stimulus. Nevertheless, he made certain to grip the hilt of a dagger rather than of Andúril, for fear that he might hit something unintentionally with the sword's greater reach.
"Éomer? Gimli?" he called into the darkness, then moved quickly aside as a tree drifted past. Out of curiosity, he knelt and picked up one of the displaced cobblestones, turning it in his hands. It was too dark for even a Ranger's eyes to make out much detail, but his fingers found the grooves, and he shook his head. "Trees," he muttered, tossing the rock aside as he rose once more. "Gimli? Éomer, hierest thu mé?"
No answer but the groan of stressed wood and rain on the treetops… and the cries and calls of the lost. Still, he pressed on, aiming northwest, guessing that Éomer might be near their last position ere the circle had collapsed. He tried calling to the others that he could hear, but it seemed that they could not hear him. Cursing softly, he was about to turn his course due west after what seemed to him a larger group of Rohirrim when suddenly he heard his name called. Or rather, one of his names:
"Who calls…?" His voice trailed off as he turned to behold two small figures dashing towards him in the gloom. Impossible! So said reason, even as wonder deeper than the wells of time struck him to the core. Standing stiff as a tree himself, unable to move, he watched as Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took came hurtling towards him, laughing with relief at the sight of him. And then just as they reached him, he felt his knees unlock. Sinking to the ground, he swayed slightly as an armful of hobbit crashed into him, and he felt his breath catch hard.
"You're safe!" Merry kept saying over and over into his ear, and Pippin clutched him tight.
"Safe? We thought you were dead!" he finally managed, easing back out of their embrace a bit so he could look at each of them. "Gimli and Legolas and I… we believed you were dead!"
"We did, too, for awhile," Pippin admitted, and then gave Strider an oddly solemn stare. "What about Sam and Frodo? And Boromir?"
Which brought them round again to painful memories, and Aragorn shook his head in swift decision. "No time for news yet. We must find the others and see them safely out of this place," said he as he rose.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry too much. Bregalad says that the trees only care about the orcs and others of Saruman's foul brood. If the men stay where they are, or at least don't hurt the trees, the Huorns will move on and leave them alone ere the night is done," Merry replied.
"These here," Pippin gestured about to the swaying trees. "Not really Ents, but not asleep either. Bregalad and some of the others are keeping watch, and they're doing all they can to make certain that nothing happens to the Men of Rohan. These are Rohirrim, I take it?"
"They are. I fear, though, that they are not familiar with forests at all. Best we seek them, for I would not have anyone, Ent or Man or Huorn, hurt over a mistake," Aragorn replied, feeling a sense of grim foreboding pulse through him. Glancing down once more at the hobbits, he added, "I fear I left Pippin's dagger in an orc earlier, but here is yours, Merry. You may need it yet."
Merry accepted his Barrow-blade with a soft snort, as if of amazement, and he nodded his thanks up at the tall Man. "Thank you. I never did think to see this again. Well, shall we?"
"Let us go!"
Legolas ducked gracefully beneath a low-hanging branch, trailing his fingers along the bark of the tree. Sensuous, the feel of that wood beneath his palm, and the Elf sighed softly. Were it not for their wrath, their pain and hatred, he could have listened to their voices for an eternity without ever tiring of them. Even Mirkwood is not thus! There, the trees dream diffusely, glad with the passing of seasons. Like children they are, but these… Ah, now I begin to understand the grief of the Sindar of Doriath!
But he could not tarry long in such thoughts, for he had a task to attend to and a friend to find. For of one thing he was certain: Gimli would not appreciate Fangorn's wonders, not without an interpreter. And Legolas began to grow once more uneasy, for now that he felt he had the measure of the shadow of Fangorn, he grew more conscious of the pulse of Darkness once more. Once more… or has it ever truly withdrawn? Saruman's crafting, I thought it, and that seems to me still correct. Yet… yet at the same time, ought it not to lighten, now that his army and puppet are defeated? The bad moments he had had on the heights, as he and Aragorn had retreated in the face of their enemies came back to him, and he wondered at that sudden resurgence of weakness. Even now, he could feel it hunting him, and only an effort of will and the need to find Gimli and Éomer kept it at bay. Once he had the opportunity, he knew he would need to rest. Yet faced with such Darkness, I fear to dream too deeply, for I remember well my nightmares!
Pausing a moment, the prince of Mirkwood considered his surroundings. As he had charged with Théoden and the forces of the inner keep, he had not known where Gimli and Éomer might have been in all of the confusion. Aragorn, though, would have a better idea of where to look, and so Legolas closed his eyes, listening. Elvish ears soon picked through the competing voices of trees, orcs, Dunlendings, Rohirrim, and the steady beat of rain to distinguish a familiar voice…
West! Blinking his eyes open once more, he called out, "Aragorn!" And after a moment, a sharp, high-pitched whistle came back at him, causing the Elf to smile slightly for the other's sense of the moment. Pursing his lips, he whistled the appropriate call back and headed towards the sound.
It took perhaps ten minutes and quite a few whistle-calls for the pair to find each other, but when at last Legolas caught sight of the Ranger, he called out once more, "Aragorn! Where—" And then stopped dead as Merry and Pippin smiled up at him. "But… you…" he stammered in a most un-elvish manner, staring wide-eyed. Neither Aragorn nor Gimli had said aught of the hobbits since their return from Fangorn. In all fairness, there had been little time for tales, but the Elf had sensed a deliberate avoidance of the issue, and the hobbits' conspicuous absence had been answer enough to any question that he might have asked. Now though…
"You thought we were dead, yes, we know. 'Twas not as if we didn't fear the same of you!" Pippin replied, filling in the awkward pauses. Beyond them, Legolas sensed the glow of Aragorn's almost painful relief and he knew that the Dúnadan was smiling as the prince knelt down to stare (almost) at eye-level at the two hobbits.
Aragorn, indeed, was smiling as he watched this latest reunion, but his quick ears caught sound of yet another call, one that seemed oddly close at hand. Cocking his head, he listened intently, and after but a moment, it came again. "Aragorn?"
"Éomer?" Glancing back once at the Elf and hobbits, the Ranger decided that they would do well enough alone for a short time, and left them to themselves as he hurried off towards the sound of his name. And indeed, the other was quite close, although the trees about him seemed unusually active, shifting about and forcing Aragorn to turn out of his way several times to avoid them.
At last, though, he ducked around a stand of them and came to a small clearing of sorts, lit but dimly by fire light. We must be close to the edge of the forest… or to an edge, I suppose! Huddled at the center was Éomer, the Third Marshal looking dazed and in pain, and Aragorn's eyes narrowed at the bleary look that Éomund's son cast up at him. Concussion, perhaps… or just a bad blow to the head… And then his eyes went to the figure that lay at his side.
"Valar!" he fairly spat as he came quickly to kneel across from Éomer. "Has he moved?" Does he even breathe? Gimli…
"Nay… nay, Aragorn," Éomer caught his wrist as the Ranger reached to examine the Dwarf, and his second 'nay' was less an answer than a command. Haggard, exhausted blue eyes met his, and Aragorn felt something in him cringe before the certainty in them. For Éomer was a warrior, and he had seen friends and comrades fall to the enemy: he knew death when he looked upon it.
"'Twas an accident… he tried to help me, but struck one of the trees and it…" The younger man closed his eyes, gritting his teeth as if against pain. "He could not have felt much: the impact broke his back in two places. There was naught to be done for him. There is naught you can do for him now," Éomer concluded, opening his eyes once more to gaze pityingly at Aragorn. The Ranger lowered his eyes, feeling the darkness press close about him as his relief evaporated in a heartbeat, to be replaced with grief. "I am sorry beyond words, my friend. If I could have prevented it… if I had had my wits about me… I am sorry!"
A Sindarin curse startled him, but Aragorn could not muster more than a resigned look over his shoulder to see Legolas standing there, apparently having followed him. The hobbits trailed after him, and he saw the dread question in their faces. Desperately, the Ranger wished he could reassure them, but he could say nothing, only stare. Legolas, though, had no need to question, for he knew: it was written in his face and a horror filled those green eyes such as Aragorn had never thought to see.
The Elf came slowly forward, eyes fixed on the body, and he dropped to his knees beside the Dúnadan. Deft fingers reached out to trace the contours of the still face, then withdrew as the prince set his hands precisely upon his thighs and bowed his head. "Legolas," Aragorn murmured softly, aching for the other's loss even as he mourned his own. No response came, and the Ranger gently touched the Elf's shoulder. "Legolas…"
A shiver ran through the other's frame, and with a suddenness that shocked them all, the Elf threw his head back and keened. Of all the races of Arda, no others had voices to match an Elf's, and the Men flinched back from the sound. In after years, it would be remembered, for some friendships are not forgetten though hope fade to ashes. High, yet not shrill, Legolas's lament pierced the night, and the haunting beauty of a prince's grief was the more powerful for the agony that inspired that awful descant. Above the trees it floated, and Men stood still, fearful, wondering; even the few surviving orcs cowered, and the Huorns rocked in concert. All Edoras heard that cry, and the rain fell down like tears.
And into the Silence, there came a Note. One Note…
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.


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Foods for February
February may bring cold winds, little sunshine, and snow showers, but there's a bright spot in all of this—Valentine's Day. Through the centuries, many cultures coveted certain foods believed to spark romance. Some are simply part of folklore legend, but for other foods, the science is catching up. Today we know that it's true: There are foods with aphrodisiac powers. Read on and learn which romance-boosting foods to incorporate into your February food plan.
Asparagus has been considered an aphrodisiac for hundreds of years, thanks to medieval folklore. Turns out, our ancestors were probably right. Asparagus is one of the richest vegetable sources of folate, a nutrient that helps promote healthy nitric oxide functioning, an important aspect for men.
Read More: 5 Herbs for Your Immune System
Egg Yolks
Eggs are an important component of sexual health, since they are a dependable source of L-arginine, an amino acid that can help eradicate erectile dysfunction. Egg yolks from hens raised on pasture also provide ample amounts of vitamin B12, one of the necessary building blocks for serotonin, a feel-good neurotransmitter that directly affects libido.
Read More: Are Those Eggs Really Organic?
Gingerroot is best known as a natural remedy for morning or motion sickness, but it's been used for centuries as an aphrodisiac, too, because it purportedly increases blood flow to erogenous zones.
Read More: 6 Healthy Fats You Should Be Eating
Often mistakenly believed to lack nutrients, celery stalks are actually loaded with pheromones that spark attraction between people. In fact, when a men chews on celery, the compounds travel to his nose and cause his body to send off scents and signals that attract women.
Read More: The 13 Best Food Pairings
Chile Peppers
Hot peppers excite more than just your taste buds. They quite literally make your body heat up, sometimes even resulting in sweaty palms. Capsaicin, the compound that gives peppers their kick, is also known to fire up your libido and unleash feel-good endorphins.
Read More: Which Hot Pepper Is Right for You?
Just like chile peppers, garlic can help improve blood flow to all parts of your body, which creates a warming effect. (You have organosulfur compounds to thank for that.) Worried that garlic breath could ruin the mood? Make sure you have a sprig of fennel on hand: The herb's active compound, anethol, helps neutralize garlic breath.
Read More: 11 Foods That Make You Smarter
Pumpkin & Lavender
This food pairing helps set a romantic mood. Scientists at the Smell and Taste Treatment Research Foundation in Chicago found that the intermingled scents of pumpkin pie and lavender resulted in more stimulated men and women. Avoid the temptation to grab scented candles advertising these sexy scents, though. Many contain toxic chemicals, such as benzene, and are linked to diabetes and obesity. Instead, pop a homemade pumpkin pie in the oven and hang some dried lavender in your home to optimize attraction!
Like what you see here? Sign up for the FREE Organic Gardening Newsletter.
[1] http://www.organicgardening.com/living/stay-healthy-5-essential-herbs
[2] http://www.organicgardening.com/cook/how-organic-are-those-eggs
[3] http://www.organicgardening.com/cook/6-healthy-fats-you-should-be-eating
[4] http://www.organicgardening.com/cook/13-best-food-combos-planet
[5] http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/peppers-mild-to-wild
[6] http://www.organicgardening.com/cook/11-foods-that-make-you-smarter
[7] http://www.organicgardening.com/free-organic-gardening-newsletters-sign


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And then there were four. Eleven teams set off from Los Angeles, CA at the start of this 22nd season of The Amazing Race and now, ten episodes later, we're down to eight remaining racers. I say this like it's some remarkable new development, teams being sent home, but this season has felt especially long. Was it that extended batch of tropical episodes? Or maybe Chuck & Wynona being saved from elimination what felt like five times? "Good" or "bad" seasons are predicated almost entirely on casting, but while this one has fallen somewhere in the middle on that count, editorial decisions feel like they've contributed just as much to a disjointed run of episodes. There have been no…surprises. Finishes and eliminations have been totally predictable. Really, each episode has felt over by about the 30 minute mark.
I'd never suggest that Race is somehow "starting to show its age" or there's no magic left in a very tried-and-true formula. It's international travel! It will always be magical and exciting! Just maybe that there's not much oomph left in this season, one stocked for two more weeks with some nice guys (Bates & Anthony) some cute girls (Caroline & Jennifer) some tough but forgettable moms (Mona & Beth) and a young couple that's caustic, but only sort of (Max & Katie). Even Meghan and Joey's shtick, so grating in early episodes, eventually subsided into mild whimpering and a stray "yay!" or two. There is no one to love or hate!
Last night's leg moved in predictable beats across Edinburgh, Scotland, where teams 1) played bagpipes 2) rolled barrels of whiskey and 3) prepared haggis, all in the name of cultural awareness. It should be said, though, that flights out of Berlin really set the stage for the competitive breakdown to follow. Hockey players, singers, and newlyweds all made it out on a 6:45am flight; Roller Derby and YouTube were left to struggle with a 2 hour delay, all but insuring they'd both land on the U-Turn board. And they did! True to their promise, the top three teams left each other alone and concentrated their U-Turn firepower on the two stragglers.
By the time Mona & Beth and Meghan & Joey even got to the U-Turn board to see their sad faces staring back, they were already at least a few hours behind the other teams. All they could do, really, was attempt to eke out a small lead in their last Detour: pushing eight big whiskey barrels up a cobblestone street. So brute strength is what it came down to, and brute strength is what Mona & Beth definitely had over their comparably weak competitors. In all likelihood, Meghan and Joey would have finished last regardless of the final challenge of the day. Meghan struggled through the bagpipe Road Block, for starters, and the way they were moving through the haggis challenge -- just slowly, without the urgency needed throughout the race but especially this late in the game. Editing tried to suggest it would be a race to the Pit Stop, but we're educated viewers. We knew how things would end.
What else can we talk about? Caroline and Jennifer had a ball cracking double entendres during the bagpipe challenge. Caroline, on Jennifer's professional advantage: "she's a singer, so she knows how to blow." Jennifer, on the importance of moisturizing: "my lips are so dry I can't keep them wrapped around this thing." Jennifer, en route to the haggis challenge: "I blew something hard all day; now let's just eat it." And so on, each That's What She Said more overt than the last. A man imitating 18th century Scottish poet Robert Burns hung out at the haggis road block to recite some verse, which offered a deep well of translation problems. A man dressed as Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde awaited teams at the Pit Stop. No man dressed as Sean Connery -- or even just Sean Connery -- showed up, but then we can't have everything.
All in all: it was an episode of The Amazing Race. Two more to go! Here's hoping the producers kick things up as we near the finish line.
Follow Henning on Twitter @HenningFog
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