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Big Island Candies of Hawaii
I hope you've enjoyed the past few posts about the Big Island of Hawaii. It's hard to believe I've only seen one half of the island!
Even though I didn't get over to the Hilo side, I wanted to give a salute to Big Island Candies, a company that I'd foolishly ignored because of their misleading name. Big Island Candies (BIC) isn't just a confectionary company producing sweet candy treats. They are a high-end producer of excellent Hawaiian chocolate creations that make a visit to the eastern side of the Big Island really worthwhile.
BIC produces authentic Hawaiian treats such as dried, chewy cuttlefish dipped in delicious dark chocolate. But it also makes a Hawaiian version of the turtle (one of my favourite chocolate treats) that replaces the traditional pecans with roasted Hawaiian-grown macadamia nuts. And, wow! They use really massive macadamia nuts in this creation, along with a not-too-sweet caramel encased in milk chocolate. I don't believe this comes in a dark chocolate version, but I wish it did.
As well, BIC makes an amazing Hawaiian red chili butter toffee coated with a rich dark chocolate that was totally addictive. And my favourite treat of all … the toffee coated chocolate covered massive macadamia nuts that are dusted in Hawaiian grown cocoa. So delectable. This was one treat I absolutely would not share.
BIC makes so much more, and everything that I was sent for review, passed my test. Pure homegrown ingredients, fresh flavour, and a creative assortment of chocolates, nuts, and cookies that are among the best I have ever tasted. And everything came in really colourful attractive packaging, and to us ladies, that's important. Big Island Candies is not a company to be overlooked by the chocolate connoisseur. I can assure you that on my next visit to the Big Island, I will be visiting Hilo to see firsthand how they make their creations, and I hope to meet the dynamic team that has been creating them and winning numerous awards since 1977.
Have you had the pleasure of trying some of the creations from Big Island Candies? How did you like them? Have you been to Hilo? What did I miss seeing there?
exploring the Big Island of Hawaii
I hope you enjoyed meeting the executive chef of the Fairmont Orchid in my last post. In addition to the amazing food and ambiance of the resort, the Fairmont Orchid also provides a great location for exploring the northwestern shore of the Big Island of Hawaii.
Heading north on Highway 19, we arrived at Hapuna Beach, a place to which I would love to return. We didn't have enough time to swim there, but we did enjoy an afternoon stroll along the beach. I was surprised at how crowded the parking lot was as this is a fairly remote location, but once we got to the beach we could understand why. It's a lovely swimming beach that is great for families. In the background of the photo, you can see the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. We didn't have time to explore it, but the hotel certainly has an amazing view and stunning location, doesn't it?
We then headed to the end of Highway 19 to the Pololu Valley Lookout–an overlook of one of the most scenic stretches of shoreline I've had the pleasure of visiting. It reminded me of some of the striking scenery I'd seen in Newfoundland, Canada, but much more tropical, and with a black sand beach.
The Pololu Valley is part of the Kohala Forest Reserve, and was once a prime agricultural area for growing taro (a root and leaf vegetable also known as kalo) and rice.
It was kind of neat being at what is referred to as both the end and the start of the State Highway!
We then spent some time in the tiny village of Hawi, where we had lunch, shopped, and found a fabulous fudge shop in the Kava Kafe. The passionfruit and chocolate, passionfruit and ginger, macadamia nut and chocolate, and pure dark chocolate fudges were all fantastic, and handmade of local ingredients. I'd forgotten how delicious they were until I started writing this post!
As you can see, I am a huge fan of Hawaii, and my first visit to the Big Island was as satisfying as I'd hoped it would be. Have you explored this part of Hawaii? If so, what impressed or surprised you most?
a profile of Executive Chef Hubert Des Marais IV
Every once in awhile I have the opportunity to meet a chef who is really doing something special, and that happened on my recent visit to the Big Island of Hawaii. In this post I talked about how much we loved staying at the beautiful Fairmont Orchid resort on the Kohala Coast. This man was partially responsible for the deliciously chocolate focus of our visit.
"Freedom is king," says Chef Hubert Des Marais IV of his global career
Born in Virginia, and growing up in North Carolina, Des Marais developed an early interest in fine cuisine. He worked in Mexico and studied how to make the perfect molé (savoury chocolate sauce.) He oversaw a group of properties in East Africa and got deeply interested in the world of cocoa there, and when the opportunity arose to relocate to Hawaii, he embraced it. "I really enjoy the flavours of the Banana Belt," says Des Marais. "Wherever they grow cocoa, there's always good coffee and tropical fruit."
So Des Marais made the commitment to work with what was grown locally, and find the best of what Hawaii had to offer. "My biggest challenge here has been our remoteness. It makes it very expensive to import products. When I came here two years ago, the resort was only using 30% local produce. We're now up to 80%. The Aquaculture Center provides us with our fish, and local farmers and growers provide the rest. The only thing we can't get locally is chicken, as there is no USDA slaughterhouse for poultry on the Island of Hawaii."
One of the local specialities who will find featured at the Fairmont Orchid is fish crusted with cocoa nibs. "Hebi (shortbill spearfish) and other stronger fish such as monchong and striped marlin (also called nairagi) pair very well with cocoa," says Des Marais. "We either coat the fish in cocoa-flavoured sea salt or keep it coarse with crunchy nibs." Des Marais has 50 cocoa trees of his own growing in his orchards, and is continually experimenting in combining local flavours. "Acidic fruits such as passionfruit go really well in a salsa with pieces of chocolate or cocoa nibs," he says. "And I like to blend flavours of coffee and chocolate with meats such as lamb."
The chocolate cocoa pod above shows why the Fairmont Orchid is the perfect place for chocolate connoisseurs! Des Marais and his culinary team–which includes seven sous chefs (one of which is a dedicated pastry chef and chocolatier) and 78 cooks continually stretch the boundaries of their creativity to keep the culinary offerings exotic, enticing, and satisfying. Here's hoping I'll have the opportunity to return again soon for more of their cocoa cuisine.
Chocolatouring on a virtual book tour
I'm thrilled to share news that next week will begin a virtual book tour for Chocolatour.
The exciting thing about being a blogger, and more specifically a travel blogger, is that I've met so many amazing bloggers–in person, in online groups, and at various events– who have been supportive of my work in the realm of chocolate travel. I'm forging a new niche here, and it's exciting to find fellow enthusiasts who will share different aspects of Chocolatour and chocolatouring on their blogs.
virtual book tour for Chocolatour
Let me give you a rundown on the hosts of the virtual book tour, and the dates they'll be chocolatouring with us.
We start the week off with Agness Walewinder, who will host a guest post from me on her terrific blog at http://etramping.com/best-chocolate-destinations-around-world/ on June 23rd. Stay tuned for my picks of top chocolate travel destinations to visit. Agness is originally from Poland, and has been travelling the world for the past three years with her friend Cez.
On June 24th, Carolyn Hamilton will host Chocolatour for a Q&A on her site http://www.adventuress-travel-magazine.com/Chocolatour.html. Carolyn is an "over 50 Adventuress doing fun things." Please check out her site and bookmark it to return on June 24th.
On June 25th, I'll be guest posting on The City Traveler at http://www.thecitytraveler.com/2014/06/choco-tours-five-cities-to-sample/ where I'll share some excitement for a few of my favourite chocolate-friendly cities. This site is run by JoAnn Greco and a team of talented travel writers.
On June 26th, Suzanne Stavert will host a Q&A on her site for Adventures of Empty Nesters at http://adventuresofemptynesters.com/chocolatour-quest-worlds-best-chocolate. Suzanne and her husband are enjoying life in the "empty nest" stage of life and sharing their adventures on their lively blog.
On June 27th, Suzanne Fluhr of Boomeresque will share her review of Chocolatour with travel loving baby boomers at http://www.boomeresque.com/a-boomeresque-book-review-chocolatour-a-quest-for-the-worlds-best-chocolate-volume-one-by-doreen-pendgracs/. I had the pleasure of meeting Suzanne in Hawaii in February and we are both members of the Boomer Travel Writers group on facebook.
On June 28th, there will be a post on the blog of Jenna Davis at http://giveforgranted.com/2014/06/featured-doreen-pendgracs-book-review-chocolatour/. I have only very recently 'met' Jenna online, but love her enthusiasm and dedication to her project. Please check it out and help if you can.
On June 29th, I'll be hosted by fellow Winnipegger Donna Janke, who lives in Manitoba spring thru fall, and is a snowbird in winter when she heads south to escape our winters. Donna will be posting a Q&A on her blog Destinations, Detours, and Dreams at http://destinationsdetoursdreams.blogspot.com/2014/06/chocolatour-book-tour-exploring-many.html where you'll learn about some of the chocolate events I have been hosting and attending.
On Monday, June 30th, I'm on Michele Peterson's site "A Taste for Travel" at http://michelepeterson.com/2830-q-a-with-chocolatour/. Michele and I share a common focus: travelling the world for the sake of great tastes!
And to wrap things up with a salute to the best of Canadian chocolatiers and chocolate makers, on July 1st I've got a special Canada Day Salute on Canadian author Sarah Butland's site at http://sarahbutland.com/blog/2014/06/30/a-canada-day-salute-to-some-of-canadas-finest-chocolate-makers/.
Be sure to stop into each one of the posted hosts where you'll receive a code to receive a discount on your copy of Chocolatour when you order it via my site at http://chocolatour.net between June 23-July 1st, 2014. A special thanks to D'vorah Lansky for the great information I received in her book, 21 Ways to Launch a Successful Virtual Book Tour.
See you next week on the tour …
a visit to the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory
We had the great pleasure of meeting Pam and Bob Cooper at their cocoa plantation–which also happens to be their chocolate factory! This is the only location in the world I has visited to that point in time, where the cacao/cocoa is grown on the very same piece of land on which the beans are fermented, dried, made into chocolate, packaged and sold all on the same site! And what a site!
As you pull into the driveway of the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory (OHCF), it feels like you are driving into the yard of friends–who just happen to have a beautiful hilltop piece of property with a stunning ocean view! The Coopers' cocoa plantation is located on the leeward slope of Mount Hualalai, just minutes from the community of Kailua Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii.
The Coopers left their home in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1997 and moved to Hawaii to begin a new life of island bliss. In 1998, Bob took a chocolate making course at Richardson Researches, Inc. in California, and by September, 2000, made his first batch of artisanal chocolate for sale. He now has approximately 1,450 cacao trees on his six-acre farm alongside some macadamia trees.
The OHCF presently makes 10,000 pounds of chocolate per year but has the capacity to make 80,000 pounds if they could get more Hawaiian-grown cocoa. The Coopers currently buy cocoa beans from 27 different growers, but still can't get nearly enough to make their capacity. They call themselves a 'self-restraining operation,' and limit production so that they can maintain their 100% Hawaiian grown branding. This is important, because there are several other Hawaiian chocolate makers who make excellent chocolate in Hawaii, but it is not made with Hawaii-grown cocoa due to its limited supply and significantly higher price than cocoa grown in other parts of the world such as Africa and South America.
Bob tells me that OHCF uses organic growing practices and organic fertilizer, but doesn't have formal organic certification because of the 'red tape' it involves.
On your visit to the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory, you'll learn that the cocoa beans are fermented in mahogany boxes for a week and then dried in the sun for 30 days in order to reduce the moisture content of the beans from their natural state of 22-28% down to just seven percent. The shells of the beans are then removed by winnowing and the cocoa is conched (refined) for just 18 hours—compared to the 80 or more hours I've seen done in many European establishments throughout Belgium and Switzerland. Yet, the chocolate that OHCF produces is heavenly smooth.
I particularly enjoyed the dark Forastero chocolate from OHCF and their fresh cocoa nibs. It was a very sad day for me when I finished the cocoa nibs I'd brought back with me from OHCF. I love the intensity they bring to yogurt mixed with fresh fruit, crunchiness to ice-cream sundaes, and the exotic layering of flavour they add when mixed in with granola.
You can also use cocoa nibs to enhance the flavours of sauces, gravy, chilli, and other savoury dishes. Just remember that the nibs won't melt or dissolve as chocolate does. They will add a bit of delicious crunchiness to your culinary creation. But if you want the end result to have a smooth texture, just grind the cocoa nibs in a food processor to end up with smaller granules.
Bob and Pam Cooper are founding members of the Hawaii Chocolate and Cocoa Association (HCCA) and are really committed to seeing the local industry grow. You can take a tour of their operation by getting in touch via their website or reserving by phone at (808) 322-2626. The really cool thing for chocolate travellers is that OHCF uses Fedex to courier orders to customers in the US, so that you don't have to carry your chocolate orders home with you. Something to remember for your Chocolatour to the island of Hawaii!
Have you tried the chocolate offerings of OHCF? Do you enjoy cocoa nibs as a healthy snack? Have you considered including Hawaii in your chocolate travel plans? Let's talk about it!
Fairmont Orchid is my kind of place
I wasn't certain whether to stick with more posts about our stay on Oahu or whether to venture over to the Big Island for the next post. My query was answered by news that the Big Island Film Festival is taking place this week at the Fairmont Orchid Resort and I wanted to get this post out incase anyone reading this was toying with the idea of attending the event.
I happily accepted the invitation to stay at the Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii, in February, as an opportunity to scout out the venue as the host of the Big Island Chocolate Festival which was held May 1-3, 2014. Although I wasn't able to attend this year's event, I did meet Hubert Des Marais IV, the Executive Chef at the Fairmont Orchid, and enjoyed several of his creations. I also know this venue can't help but add to the vibe of any event. It is truly magnificent, in a relaxed and understated kind of way. We loved everything about it.
We could watch the humpback whales breaching from our lanai, or be inspired by the vistas of the mountains or the beauty of the golf course. This resort far exceeded our expectations. Every member of the staff we encountered was friendly and helpful. The cuisine was creative and satisfying. The location ideal, being just 20 miles north of the Kona Airport and an easy drive to the city of Kailua Kona or the rustic solitude of Pololu Valley lookout on the northern tip of the island of Hawaii, one of the most scenic vistas I've ever seen. Stay tuned for more on that in a future post.
Want a beach-side massage? You got it. There's also a sanctuary for the endangered Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle on the beach. Just like us humans, the turtles (called Honu in Hawaiian) like to rest themselves on the beach and soak up the sun. The Fairmont Orchid has plenty for guests to do, but if you just want to chill and enjoy the peaceful serenity, it is there without loud music and noisy activities to spoil the Zen.
For us chocolate lovers, there is no better place to be. We were welcomed with an assortment of chocolate covered strawberries hand-dipped in Hawaiian-grown chocolate. Our consolation prize for not being able to attend the Chocolate Festival–which I hear was fantastic this year.
I've also heard that the 2015 Big Island Chocolate Festival will be held in late May, but at a venue with a larger banquet room. Details can be found here.
Have you been to the Big Island? Stayed at the Fairmont Orchid? Attended the Big Island Chocolate Festival? Is it on your Bucket List? Please share your thoughts and experiences. Mahalo!
growing cacao in Hawaii
We've explored the island of Oahu and some of the fabulous Hawaiian chocolate produced there in the past few posts. I'd now like to share some of what I learned while visiting cocoa farms and plantations on the island.
growing cocoa on American soil
Usually, the growing of cacao (cocoa) has been limited to a belt 20 degrees north or south of the equator. It's only in the past 10 years or so, that cocoa has been grown in Hawaii in any quantity–which is at 21-22 degrees latitude. You'll now find about 100 planted acres of cacao growing on the islands of Oahu, the Big Island of Hawaii, and lesser amounts on the islands of Maui and Kauai, with the amount of cacao grown in Hawaii increasing by 25% each year.
In 2013, there were 30,700 pounds of cocoa beans harvested in Hawaii. Of that, 24,500 was grown on Oahu, 5,600 pounds on the Big Island, 580 pounds on Maui, and 100 pounds on Kauai. It's good to know that production is on the increase, as demand for Hawaiian cocoa far exceeds the amount of beans currently grown.
I had the pleasure of being invited to participate in the 2014 field trip of the Hawaii Chocolate and Cacao Association in February that took me to several of the 16 test sites where cacao is being grown and studied with respect to grafting and fertilization techniques as well as disease control. We also visited the largest private cocoa estate on the island of Oahu. I've seen cacao growing in South America and the Caribbean and learned that each growing region has its own unique challenges when it comes to growing cacao. Hawaii is no exception, where the Chinese rose beetle is the main challenge to growers.
To combat further devastation to cocoa seedlings from the rose beetles, growers wrap the trunk in a heavy plastic to prohibit the beetles from crunching on the seedlings. As well, they use LED lights to keep the cocoa fields lit during the night. It seems the beetles only come out in the dark, so light is projected onto the young cocoa trees from dusk until dawn, discouraging the damaging vermin from eating the young tender leaves of the seedlings. I'm told that grasshoppers are a challenge on Maui.
At present, chocolate makers and chocolatiers in Hawaii have to partially rely on imported cocoa to make their chocolates as there just isn't enough cocoa grown on the islands of Hawaii to meet the demand. And due to higher production costs, the price for cocoa grown on Hawaii is considerably higher than what chocolate companies have to pay for imported beans or couverture. But it appears that is changing, and Waialua Estate (owned by Dole), now has 25 acres of cocoa planted alongside its 200 acres of coffee. They are making some excellent chocolate from those beans — most notably the Waialua Estate 55% semisweet bar adorned with Hawaiian cocoa nibs.
You'll find that cacao is often grown on the same property as coffee as they require similar growing conditions. No wonder their flavours go so nicely together!
In a future post, I'll talk more about the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory on the Big Island, the only current locale in the Hawaiian Islands where the cocoa is grown on the same site as where the chocolate is made. Their cocoa nibs are absolutely fantastic!
Kailua is King of Hawaiian Chocolate
Before we began chocolatouring around Hawaii, I hadn't previously heard of Kailua–a community located within Honolulu County and just 12 miles northeast of the metropolis of Honolulu city. But the small town of about 38,000 residents is a world away from the hustle and bustle of Honolulu and has a bit of the country feel you'd find in a Midwest town of the same size. What makes Kailua different (besides the beautiful beach) is the chocolate!
Within the course of a few blocks, we visited the three chocolate shops I mentioned in the previous post: Manoa Chocolate Hawaii, Madre Chocolate, and Kokolani Chocolates. Each of these is very different and well worth a look.
I love Manoa because it is the labour of love of a young couple in love. Hawaiian-born chocolate maker Dylan Butterbaugh and his finance Tamara Armstrong lead the creative team at Manoa. Tamara handles most of the marketing and Dylan is the chief chocolate maker. They make a super cute couple and some incredibly tasty chocolate. My favourite is the Breakfast Bars made of a 60% "dark milk" chocolate and Hawaiian-grown crushed coffee beans. Unfortunately, due to a shortage in local supply and the high price of Hawaiian-grown cocoa (as much as 4x the price of fine cocoa from any other part of the world,) Manoa uses cocoa beans from Costa Rica, Liberia, and Papua New Guinea to make most of their chocolate. I love the crunch of the Breakfast Bar with cocoa nibs and coffee beans to give your day the kickstart it deserves. (Coincidentally, Manoa used Kickstarter crowdfunding to purchase new equipment for its operation in 2012.) You can take a tour of the tiny Manoa "factory" and learn more about their operation while you taste the different products in their lineup.
Madre Chocolate is similar to Manoa in that they focus on producing excellent chocolate bars from the best quality cocoa beans they can acquire from numerous sources around the world. My favourite Madre creation is the Triple Cacao bar that features chocolate made from cocoa grown in the Dominican Republic along with pieces of cocoa nib, cacao pulp from Brazil, and vanilla bean from Mexico. It's one of the best bars I've ever had, as the tiny chunks of cacao pulp really add a new dimension to the bar. Madre had a super small chocolate workshop in Kailua at time of my visit, but I'm told they're moving to a larger location in Honolulu's China Town in May, so do check their website for details before you plan your visit. Also keep your eye open for more Madre chocolate to contain locally grown beans, as they've already begun working with beans from Hamakua and Holualoa on the Big Island and Waiahole on Oahu, and hope to continue increasing the Hawaiian component of their chocolate over time.
Kokolani Chocolates is another fabulous stop for chocolate lovers visiting Kailua. Chocolatier Virginia Douglas is a Master Chocolatier and graduate of Ecole Chocolat. She uses some chocolate couverture from Valrhona, but specializes in uniquely Hawaiian chocolate creations such as exotic truffles. Some of my favourites from Kokolani include the Blond Chocolate Caramels and the Kokolava made from Waialua Estate Hawaiian dark chocolate, pineapple, macadamia nuts, and coconut. Virginia is a true chocolate artisan with an uncanny ability to blend flavours and design chocolate delicacies that are as beautiful to look at as they are to eat.
You can visit each of these terrific chocolate makers in their shops. I also visited their booths at the Hawaii Chocolate Festival in Honolulu. Detailed profiles of each of these uniquely-Hawaiian chocolate artisans will be contained in Volume II of Chocolatour.
Have you tried any of these chocolate creations? Have you been to Kailua? Please share your thoughts here.
And by the way, for any of you lucky to be in Hawaii at the beginning of May, the lovely Fairmont Orchid Hotel near Kona is hosting the Big Island Chocolate Festival May 2-3, 2014. How I'd love to be back at that fabulous hotel for this delectable event . (I'll be showcasing the Fairmont in a future post.)
in search of Hawaiian chocolate
I went to Hawaii in search of Hawaiian chocolate. I had no idea it would be so difficult to figure out exactly what that is!
Most everyone knows (and has likely tasted) the Chocolate Covered Macadamias made by Hawaiian Host. The traditional chocolate-nut treat has been around since the 1920's, and Hawaii Host continues to add to its product line including the newly-added chocolate macadamia nut truffles. But for the most part, Hawaiian Host products are chocolate confections and not handcrafted artisanal chocolate.
The Waialua Estate Chocolate (owned by the Dole Food Company) is made from cocoa beans grown on the island of Oahu, but the finished chocolate is actually made in California by the Guittard Chocolate company and then packaged and sold as their Hawaiian Chocolate line of premium bars. I know that they do have plans to eventually process the chocolate in Hawaii, but for now, most of the beans are being shipped 2,393 miles from Honolulu to San Francisco and then distributed from there. I've also learned that some of Waialua Estate's beans are sold to Big Island Candies of Hilo and are used to coat their delicious chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, and also to Kokolani Chocolates of Kailua, Oahu, for their all-local Kokolava.
a taste of Hawaiian handcrafted chocolate
The Original Hawaiian Chocolate (OHC) Factory near Kona, Hawaii, was the first company to grow cacao trees and make Hawaiian chocolate from the cocoa produced from them. Every step of the process is done at the same location. It is a small tree to bean to bar chocolate factory run by its owners with a limited amount of help. I'll talk more about OHC when I post about our time on the Big Island.
Madre and Manoa are two excellent chocolate makers on the island of Oahu who would like to be using Hawaiian cocoa beans to make their chocolate, but can't get enough of it to meet demand. So they use beans from around the world. Manoa's labelling doesn't tell you the origin of their 60% chocolate. Madre does give you partial information on the label, but it is confusing. Its delicious award-winning Triple Cacao bar is made from cocoa grown in the Dominican Republic, cacao pulp from Brazil, and Mexican vanilla. It is "made in" Hawaii, but the ingredients are not. Same goes for Kokolani Chocolates, where excellent Hawaiian chocolate novelties are made with French-made couverture and Hawaiian flavour enhancements. (I will cover each of these companies in more detail in the next post.)
So there we have three completely different scenarios in which each is being marketed as "Hawaiian handcrafted chocolate":
1) Pure chocolate that is made from cacao/cocoa grown in Hawaii and is manufactured and processed on the same site as where the trees are grown. You can't get any more Hawaiian than that, unless the chocolate was being made by Hawaiian-born individuals. It currently is not.
2) Pure chocolate that is made from cocoa grown in Hawaii, but made into chocolate outside the state in a large factory.
3) Pure chocolate that is not made from Hawaiian-grown cocoa, but is handcrafted in Hawaii. And chocolate creations that may or may not be made from Hawaii-grown cocoa, but are made in Hawaii using exclusively Hawaii-grown flavour enhancements such as fresh pineapple, macadamia nuts, Hawaiian sea salt, lavender or the like.
Is one any more or less Hawaiian than the other? Before we get too snooty about "origin of chocolate," we've got to think back to European chocolate where the origin of the beans was not the key factor that distinguished one country's chocolate from the other as most (if not all) were using the same cocoa beans from West Africa. It was the technique and style that differentiated Belgian chocolate from Swiss, French, Dutch chocolate and others.
With consumer tastes changing, and more of us preferring pure single origin chocolate as opposed to highly-processed chocolate made from blended or bulk beans, the world of chocolate is changing, and we now demand to know where the cocoa used to make our chocolate is grown, just as we prefer to know where the grapes in the wine or beans in the coffee we drink are from.
The difference for me, was that I knew I was going to a cacao-growing region when I went to Hawaii. So I assumed that the chocolate I would be eating there was of local origin and it is not. That is expected to change over time, as the Hawaiian cacao industry is new at just 10 years old. But for now, if you go on a chocolate travel excursion to Hawaii, be sure to ask questions, read the label, and consult the next volume of Chocolatour in which Hawaii will be prominently featured.
exploring Oahu
The last couple of posts relayed how fortunate I felt to be back in Hawaii. In this post, I wanted to share some of the things I like about the island of Oahu before I get on to our delicious finds in the realm of chocolate travel.
Oahu is a very easy island to drive. No crazy roads like the memorable "Road to Hana" over on Maui. The highways are remarkably good, traffic manageable, and scenery breath-taking. The island is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands with a total land area of about 567 square miles. It's approximately 44 miles long and 30 miles across at its widest point, so easy to do a day drive away from the crowds of Waikiki or Honolulu.
Oahu off the beaten path
Most people do come to Oahu for Waikiki Beach, its most popular land mark. Waikiki is situated within the bustling city of Honolulu, the Hawaiian capital. The city and county of Honolulu boast a population of nearly one million residents and 4.5 million tourists each year. That's a lot of people! But if you want to get away from it all, and see the natural beauty for which Hawaii first became known, head to the island's North Shore, where waves can reach as high as 40 feet! They weren't nearly as high as that when we were there on this trip, but I do recall on previous visits where we witnessed surfers enjoying the thrill of riding the big ones.
While we were on the North Shore, we dropped into the charming village of Haleiwa and had lunch at the Beet Box Cafe, a cool little hideaway in the back of Celestial Natural Foods (a health food store) that offers an interesting selection of healthy local options for lunch or a light meal. My choice was the "Beet Goes On" salad adorned with fresh steamed beets, walnuts, kale or spinach, and goat cheese or feta. (I'm sure mine had kale and goat cheese, but I see that the website says spinach and feta, so I imagine they use what they have.)
We also enjoyed a tour of the Waialua Estate as part of our Chocolatour, but I'll talk about growing cocoa in the next post. Very near the Waialua Estate you'll find the Island-X Hawaii, a locally run store filled with Hawaiian specialties such as Waialua coffee and chocolate, and kukui oil (a natural oil that has been used in Hawaii for centuries to heal and nourish stressed and damaged skin.) I also picked up a CD by a local Hawaiian talent and enjoyed some freshly made shave ice flavoured with locally grown passion fruit (known as lilikoi in Hawaii.) I could definitely go on, but I think you get the idea that Oahu is not just about Waikiki and the urban amenities and density of Honolulu.
Have you enjoyed time exploring the island of Oahu? Have you tried surfing the waves on the North Shore or snorkelling at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve? Have you tried kukui oil on your skin? Please share your thoughts and experiences here.


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Title: Vengeance of an Assassin
AKA: Rew thalu rew
Genre: Action
Release Date: 13 November 2014 (Thailand)
Runtime: 1h 29mn
Director: Panna Rittikrai
Rating: 5.6/10 from 21 users
Country: Thailand
Language: Thai
Subtitles: English
Nantawooti Boonrapsap, Dan Chupong
Being an assassin has its rules – always keep your eyes on your target, be strict on your mission, execute without any hesitation and there is no room for negotiation. Each killer has his own background, but all of them have trade in their blood and losses. For Natee, his only reason in becoming an assassin and leaving behind his brother and his uncle is to find the truth about his parents' death. It is the issue that he has always doubted and felt that uncle Thanom was hiding something from him. While protecting Ploy, a niece of a local business man from a group of assassins, he was asked to kill the girl instead.
Torrent Download

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Gareth Gates has been voted off in tonight's Dancing On Ice 2014 results.
This evening's live show saw the remaining seven skaters all perform live for the fifth time as they were marked and critiqued by the judges as usual.
Kyran Brackan, Ray Quinn, Hayley Tamaddon, Gareth Gates, Sam Attwater, Suzanne Shaw and Beth Tweddle all skated for the panel in a bid to get the marks to avoid the skate off.
At the top of the leaderboard was – to no one's real surprise – Ray once more who only narrowly avoided matching his previously perfect with 39.5 points. Gareth was unfortunately trailing behind at the bottom of the scoreboard despite scoring his best marks of the series after getting 29 points from the judges.
But the judges' points were only half the story with the marks being combined with the results of the public vote.
In this evening's second live show, hosts Christine Bleakley and Phillip Schofield revealed that with the fewest combined votes, Gareth and Sam would have to skate again.
It was the first time for Gareth in the skate-off but it was the third time for Sam, and the second time in as many weeks.
Sam went first skating to Newton Faulkner's Dream Catch Me before Gareth took to the ice again skating to U2 hit Beautiful Day.
It was then over to the judges to decide which of the pair would go home and who would stay in the competition.
Nicky Slater – who was standing in for an absent Robin Cousins – voted first, deciding to save Sam saying he gave a "stronger" performance.
Ashley Roberts agreed and also voted to save Sam, saying the soap star "killed it" in the skate off.
Jason Gardiner confirmed the result by also saving Sam, although said it was Gareth's "best night" so far.
Karen Barber, who had been made head judge while Robin is away, concluded: "I am proud of you. I'm sad to see Gareth go but I'm saving Sam."
Speaking after her exit, Gareth said: "It's been amazing. I just want to thank this lady [Brianne]. Bless you all, thank you."
Who was your favourite on Dancing On Ice tonight? Are you happy with the results – did the judges make the right choice? Add your thoughts in the comments!
The latest episode of Dancing On ice airs next Sunday night on ITV.
Browse pictures of the live performances below…


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Home Access to UDLib/SEARCH Databases
The UDLib/SEARCH program provides access to online magazines, newspapers, and encyclopedias via the Internet to all Delaware K-12 public and charter schools. All of the UDLib/SEARCH databases are also currently available at home to students, teachers, administrators, and parents of Delaware public K-12 students through a username and password that can be obtained from the librarian at each school. To access the databases at home, complete the following steps:
1. Contact the school librarian and request the username and password for home access to the UDLib/SEARCH databases. The e-mail address for the librarian at each school can be found on the following pages:
2. Use the appropriate grade level Website:
3. Choose a database.
4. Enter the username and password when prompted.
5. Search the databases to conduct research at home. UDLib/SEARCH Databases contain information on a variety of topics. Search several databases individually to gather the maximum results.
To obtain additional information about the UDLib/SEARCH Program, parents and educators should refer to the following web pages:
This page is maintained by Erin Daix, UDLib/SEARCH Training Coordinator, University of Delaware Library
Questions or comments to email@example.com


text:
Lone Star State of Mind (2002)
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King of the Road.
Lone Star State of Mind would have you believe that all Texans are collection of nutjobs, whose greatest ambitions in life are to win the lottery of rob the pizza delivery guy (more for the pizza than the money.) It is just such a crime that is the spark that sets this fun, but not terribly well-written small town farce into motion.
The narrator of the tale is Earl Crest (Joshua Jackson) who is the rock of this community, kind of the self-proclaimed savior of the various wing-nuts that come into daily contact with his life. And all of these wingnuts, feel exactly the same as Earl. He's the bastion of sanity standing among a world of wackiness. Josh heads a fun cast that includes his fiancee Jamie King, his gay best friend Matthew Davis, his cousin in law Junior (DJ Qualls, Road Trip) and to round it out John Mellencamp as his good-for-nothing step-father.
When Junior and the recently paroled Jimbo (Earl was somewhat responsible for Jimbo's 2 year Irish Vacation) rob the Pizza man, they unwittingly end up with a duffel bag full of 20 Grand and a fortune in cocaine. After Junior starts sporting around a bunch of fancy boots an duds, Earl takes him aside and squeezes the truth out of him and (as is his calling) takes it upon himself to help extricate his fiancee's cousin and Jimbo from a world of trouble that they soon find themselves in.
Not only do the ruthless drug-lords want their money and merchandise back, but the fellows that Jimbo promised to sell the merchandise to, show up and just decide to take it without the courtesy of remuneration. The plot pretty much ping pongs back and forth between who has possession of the goodies and who comes strapped and ready to reclaim comprise the majority of the plot and though there are some fun and comical moments it wears thin.
Jaime King just wants to get the hell out of Texas and move to LA an become a soap opera actress and Earl sees this as a good way to get out of Dodge and out from under the responsibility of being the shepherd of the entire town. Problems arise when Earl is forced to spend the couple's LA money to save Junior's butt - but in the end it all shakes out about the way you'd figure and though this is not a great film, it makes for a kooky little diversion.
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Main Content
Every driver brings his own special brand of racing prowess to the speedway. Celebrate your favorite superstar's unique skills with this Joey Logano garden flag from B.S.I. Products. It features a durable polyester construction and includes a 1" pole sleeve for easy hanging. Vivid, full-color graphics boldly adorn both sides.
- 100% Polyester fabric
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- Officially licensed
- Pole not included
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Special event items are produced by manufacturers only after the outcome of a game or event. These are advanced sale items and will ship immediately after they are received in our warehouse.
Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items are not available for international or expedited shipping.
Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.


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This profile for Msd Construction Co is located in Paramount, CA. Msd Construction Co industry is listed as General Contractor.
Gerrell Salaam serves as the President
Key roles for Msd Construction Co
Gerrell A. Salaam
President Manager
Comprehensive Insight Plus Report
|Learn More
|The D&B Comprehensive Insight Plus Report for Msd Construction Co combines D&B's proprietary statistical scoring with business, payment and financial information all in one report.
US Company Profile Report
|Learn More
|The D&B U.S. Company Profile contains basic information such as address and telephone number, executive names and titles, line of business and SIC codes, D-U-N-S Numbers, organization status, and year and location of incorporation for Msd Construction Co.


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New Leather Saddle Accessories....
Water/Wine Bottle Holder
Buckaroo Leather Products has been hard at work in their tack shop creating these HOT new American made Leather horse tack Saddle accessories...
Ever been riding the dusty trail and wished you had a place for a water bottle???...Well Buckaroo Leather has a solution. They have created a genuine American made leather water bottle holder for your saddle. Just like their leather horse tack, this leather water bottle holder is made from quality leather tanned here in the USA!
Buckaroo Leather will also have all their quality leather horse tack on display including their new line of leather dog collar and leash sets. They will also have an exciting new line of "up-cycled" jean jackets for your dog from Bow WOW Bling.
To See all these exciting new leather products come
to the Horse Expo Pomona on
February 7th-9th 2014
in Pomona California
Booth #7115 in Building 7
Forward this e-mail to a friend
© 2009 Buckaroo Leather Inc - All Rights Reserved • Site Design by JNSDesignz


text: Gadgets Push the boundaries with the Skytex Imagine 7 Android Tablet [VB Store] March 26, 2013 6:00 AM StackSocial 0 This sponsored post is produced by StackSocial. This VentureBeat offer is one of the biggest and best to date. We often offer software solutions or training resources, but this time around we have a great deal on a 7″ tablet that boasts the fastest and smoothest Android OS on the market. And we've got it at a discount price. For a limited time you can get the Skytex Imagine 7 Android tablet for 25% off the regular price – just $159 – a price that includes both a protective case and free shipping to the continental US! (Note: This offer is available to continental US customers only.) Here are just some of the features that this tablet sports: HD IPS Display Screen: Boasts a powerful 1.6GHz dual core processor + Mali 400MP graphics card for superior gaming and smooth media performance that offers 2D and 3D acceleration performance and is scalable up to 1080p. Bluetooth 3.0: Use Bluetooth compatible devices (speakers, keyboard, etc.) and operate them wirelessly up to 30 feet away! Bluetooth compatible devices can also send Apps, photos, and music to another paired Bluetooth device. Front Facing Camera: A high-resolution front-facing 2MP camera and internal microphone are included allowing for high-quality video chat with friends, family or business associates on a moment's notice. Apps Galore: Access popular App stores such as the SKYTEX App Store, Amazon App Store, and 1Mobile with over 300,000 free and premium Android Apps for everything from the latest e-Books and magazines to the most popular graphic-intensive games. 5GB Free Cloud Storage: Get 5GB of free cloud storage using the CloudLinkTM Toolbox along with productivity Apps for your everyday use. Applications include Sugarsync, Catch Notes, Office Suite, F-Secure anti-virus & many more. 16GB of Internal Storage: With 16GB of internal storage you have plenty of available space at your disposal for thousands of files. If you are a power user and require additional storage, simply insert an optional Micro SD card (up to 32GB) into the card slot. To see all of the product specifications and details of this offer, head over to the VB Store page. This sleek white mini-tablet comes pre-installed with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, making it blazing fast and has an HD display that will leave you feeling refreshed each time you use it. With a responsive interface and long battery life, it is everything one could ever want in a highly portable tablet. However, this deal won't last for long! Get the Skytex Imagine 7 tablet while you can for only $159 at the VB Store page – and save big today! Sponsored posts are content that has been produced by a company, which is either paying for the post or has a business relationship with VentureBeat, and they're always clearly marked. The content of news stories produced by our editorial team is never influenced by advertisers or sponsors in any way. For more information, contact firstname.lastname@example.com. VB's research team is studying mobile user acquisition... Chime in here, and we'll share the results.


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Parent & Child for Ages 11-13
Parent & Child for Ages 11-13
Bring these children's books to life with fun games and activities!
We've put together 20 amazing destinations that'll give you your yearly dose of sunshine, fresh air, and a whole lot more!
Keep our list of great tunes and apps on hand for those rainy days.
Celebrate Independence Day with easy crafts, treats, and games.
Follow our lead to turn your yard into an outdoor wonderland.
Moms share the bedtime reads that hook the whole family.
by Kiera Coffee
Explore science and art with these science experiment crafts.
Use stuff you already have in creative new ways!
Your complete guide to exploring—and expanding!—your child's imagination
We've rounded up the best DIY crafts to make Easter egg-cellent.
These sweet ideas for Easter eggs will have your kids hoppin'!
These books help kids understand differences and diversity.
Every one of these birthday gift ideas is $20 or less!
Five reads that will introduce your child to black history.


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23" Drueke Chess Board w/ 2 1/4" Squares
23" Walnut Drueke Chess Board with 2 1/4" SquaresFew chess boards in America have the history of the Drueke chess boards. These boards are neither veneers nor inlays - they are actual solid blocks of wood made from American Walnut and Maple. Additionally, they can be recognized by the signature grooved edging around the playing surface.
Sadly, Drueke has stopped making these chess boards. However, we have been able to comission a limited number of the boards - now completely hand-made, from Bill Drueke himself, grandson of the original. These boards are lovingly hand-crafted in Michigan with the same source materials as the classics.
This Drueke Chess board is 23" x 23" with 2 1/4" squares and is tournament size. This is the same size of the Drueke board used in the famous Kasparov - Deep Blue chess match.
Made in Michigan, USA


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Over time I have viewed thousands of wonderful photographs from a variety of genres. I have been awed by what talent I have seen and the beauty captured that I have show some of those who have moved and inspired me. This is just the tip of a colossal iceberg of passionate photography and I hope they will inspire you, as they did me. ENJOY!!!
:thumb278012394: :thumb278216305:
:thumb271438430: :thumb276141690: :thumb264409977:
:thumb266384962: :thumb266403019: :thumb264702262:


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POLITICIANS are always suspicious of opinion polls and that is a mistake. Mitt Romney thought the polls were lying when they said Barrack Obama was leading in the presidential race. He commissioned his personal polls that told him he was ahead.
Mitt got a big shock on election day when he lost heavily. The same applies to Kenya. Uhuru Kenyatta and the G7 group have given Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka the cold shoulder, seemingly preferring Water minister Charity Ngilu to represent the Kamba vote in the coalition.
But according to the Infotrak survey released on Friday, Kalonzo commands 8.8 percent of the national vote, compared to Charity's 0.5 percent.
To make matters worse, Infotrak found that a Raila/Kalonzo combination would beat Uhuru/Ruto by 52 percent to 48 percent in a second round run-off. By not relying on research, the Uhuru camp has picked the wrong figurehead for Ukambani.
By the same token, Raila should be rushing to Kalonzo to secure him as his running mate for March 2013. Apart from Musalia Mudavadi who is presumably ruled out, other lesser running mates would make him lose in the second round to an Uhuru/ Ruto combo. Politicians ignore opinion polls at their peril.
Quote of the day: "An actress can only play a woman. I'm an actor, I can play anything." American actress Whoopi Goldberg was born on November 13, 1949


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Poems About LifeSeveral Deep, Inspirational Poems About Life
Inspirational Poem #1: Hidden Mystery — Fred Burks
Inspirational Poem #2: Look Well to This Day — Kalidasa
Inspirational Poem #3: The Invitation — Oriah Mountain Dreamer
Inspirational Poem #4: The Serenity Prayer — Reinhold Neibuhr
Inspirational Poem #5: Our Deepest Fear — Marianne Williamson
Inspirational Poem #6: Compassion — WingMakers
Inspirational Poem #7: Embracing All — Unknown
These are some of the deepest inspirational poems about life ever written. The powerful poems here will to move your heart and inspire you to open to your deeper potential in life.
Read these short, inspirational poems slowly to savor the rich wisdom shared. Once you've enjoyed these, you might also enjoy exploring a treasure trove of other highly inspirational and powerful stories, videos, news articles, and life resources available at this link.
Inspirational Poem About Life #1
Hidden MysteryBy Fred Burks
In the deepest depths of you and me
In the deepest depths of we
Lies the most beautiful jewel
Shining forth eternally
Within that precious jewel
Within that priceless piece of we
Lies a time beyond all time
Lies a place beyond all space
Within that sacred source of radiance
Lies a love beyond all love
Ever so patiently
for you, waiting for me
Waiting patiently for all to see
The beauty that is you inside of me
The beauty that is me inside of thee
In the
deepest depths of you and me
In the deepest depths of we
Lies the love and wisdom
Of all Eternity
For other inspirational poems about life by Fred Burks, click here. To welcome more love into your life in a most inspiring way, see the Web of Love website created by Fred at this link. For a treasure trove of highly inspirational stories, videos, news articles, and life resources, click here.
Inspirational Poem About Life #2
Look Well to This Day
By Kalidasa, Indian Poet, Fifth Century A.D.
Look well to this day,
For it and it alone is life.
In its brief course
Lie all the essence of your existence:
The Glory of Growth
The Satisfaction of Achievement
The Splendor of Beauty
For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is but a vision.
But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Inspirational Poem About Life #3
The Invitation
By Oriah Mountain Dreamer
It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for,
And if you dare to dream of meeting
Your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
For love, for your dream,
For the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow,
If you have been opened by life's betrayals,
Or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain,
Mine or your own,
Without moving
To hide it or fade it or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy,
Mine or your own,
If you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of
your fingers and toes
Without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic,
or to remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself,
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.
I want to know if you can be faithless and therefore be trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see beauty
Even when it is not pretty every day,
And if you can source your life
From its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure,
Yours and mine,
And still stand on the edge of a lake and shout to the silver of the full moon,
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair,
Weary and bruised to the bone,
And do what needs to be done for the children.
It doesn't interest me who you are, how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
In the center of the fire with me
And not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
From the inside
When all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone
With yourself,
And if you truly like the company you keep
In the empty moments.
Note: For more on the origin and writer of this short, inspirational poem about life, click here. For a treasure trove of highly inspirational stories, videos, news articles, and life resources, click here.
Inspirational Poem About Life #4
The Serenity Prayer
By Reinhold Neibuhr
God grant that I might have
The courage to change the things I can,
The serenity to accept the things I cannot,
And the wisdom to know the difference
For a treasure trove of other highly inspirational and powerful stories, videos, news articles, and life resources, click here.
Inspirational Poem About Life #5
Our Deepest Fear
By Marianne Williamson
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.
We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.
are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us;
It's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
Note: This short, inspirational poem about life is taken from Marianne Williamson's book A Return to Love. Though often quoted as part of Nelson Mandela's moving inaugural
speech, "Our Deepest Fear" does not appear in the speech. Marianne Williamson herself has commented on this mistaken attribution. For Marianne's website, click here.
Inspirational Poem About Life #6
By WingMakers
Angels must be confused by war.
Both sides praying for protection,
yet someone always gets hurt.
Someone dies.
Someone cries so deep
they lose their watery state.
Angels must be confused by war.
Who can they help?
Who can they clarify?
Whose mercy do they cast to the merciless?
No modest scream can be heard.
No stainless pain can be felt.
All is clear to angels
except in war.
When I awoke to this truth,
it was from a dream I had last night.
I saw two angels conversing in a field
of children's spirits rising like silver smoke.
The angels were fighting among themselves
about which side was right,
and which was wrong.
Who started the conflict?
Suddenly, the angels stilled themselves
like a stalled pendulum,
and they shed their compassion
to the rising smoke
of souls who bore the watermark of war.
They turned to me with those eyes
from God's library,
and all the pieces fallen
were raised in unison,
intertwined like the breath
of flames in a holy furnace.
Nothing in war comes to destruction,
but the illusion of separateness.
I heard this spoken so clearly I could only
write it down like a forged signature.
I remember the compassion,
mountainous, proportioned for the universe.
I think a tiny fleck still sticks to me,
like gossamer threads
from a spider's web.
And now, when I think of war,
I flick these threads to all the universe,
hoping they stick on others as they did me.
Knitting angels and animals
to the filamental grace of compassion.
The reticulum of our skyward home.
For more heart-opening, inspirational poems about life by the WingMakers, click here. For the intriguing website of the enigmatic WingMakers as it originally appeared, click here. And for a treasure trove of other inspirational stories, videos, news articles, and life resources, click here.
Inspirational Poem About Life #7
Embracing AllAuthor Unknown
Light that lies deep inside of me
Come forth in all thy majesty
Show me thy gaze
Teach me thy ways
That I a better person may be
Darkness that lies deep inside of me
Come forth in all thy mystery
Show me thy gaze
Teach me thy ways
That I a better person may be
Love that lies deep inside of me
Come forth in all thy unity
Let me be thy gaze
Let me teach thy ways
That I a better person may be
To welcome more love into your life in a most inspiring way, see the the Web of Love home page at this link.
All the darkness of the world cannot put out the light of a single candle.
Kindly support this important work.
Click here to make a donation.
Subscribe to or unsubscribe from the PEERS email list of inspiration and education (one email per week). Or subscribe to the list of news and research on deep politics (one email every few days).
Kindly donate here to support this inspiring work of love.Subscribe to one of our free email lists of inspiration and education.
The Web of Love is a PEERS empowerment website"Dedicated to the greatest good of all who share our beautiful world"


text:
Your Shopping Cart is empty.
Give it purpose - fill it with water filters, air filters, refrigerator filters, and more.
The Trane 21x26x5 Perfect Fit BAYFTAH26M Air Filter is an economical compatible alternative for the genuine OEM 21x26x5 Trane Perfect Fit BAYFTAH26M Filter. This money saving Trane air filter comes in a convenient 2-pack value set. This 100% synthetic gradient filter reduces unpleasant odor through the fine carbon powder bonded to lofted polyester media. The Perfect Fit 21x26x5 Furnace Filter is designed with 5" deep pleated Quality Pleats which captures more dust than ordinary panel fiberglass air filters. This residential air cleaner replacement filter is part of the Trane Perfect Fit Series.
It captures airborne allergens like dust, pet dander, pollen and spores. The frame is made with moisture resistant 28 point beverage board and is supported with a 30 gauge galvanized expanded metal grid. The media assembly pack is completely bonded to the frame for durability. This Trane Air Filter Cartridge fits the Trane/American Standard Air Cleaner model number TFM260A0AH1 and air cleaner systems requiring a 21x26x5 media.
Trane BAYFTAH26M Perfect Fit Replacement Filter specifications:
With continuous service, the Trane 21x26x5 Furnace Replacement Filter has a maximum temperature capacity of 180 degrees Fahrenheit (82 degrees Celsius). Upgrade your MERV 8 Trane 21x26x5 Perfect Fit BAYFTAH26M Air Filter to the MERV 11 Trane Perfect Fit BAYFTAH26M Compatible 21x26x5 or the MERV 13 Trane 21x26x5 Perfect Fit BAYFTAH26M Filter. This pre-assembled all-in-one furnace filter makes installation quick and easy.


text:
July 5, 2015
Lawyers for Roman Polanski have asked an appeals court to overturn a Los Angeles judge's refusal to throw out a decades-old sex case against the fugitive director.
Attorney Chad Hummel told the California Second District Court
of Appeal on Tuesday that the judge refused to consider Polanski's
case because the director had fled the country 31 years ago and has
been living in France since then.
Hummel urged the court to dismiss the case or assign it to another court.
Polanski pleaded guilty in 1977 to unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl and then fled. He recently sought dismissal on grounds of misconduct by the now-deceased judge who had arranged a plea bargain and then reneged on it.
Copyright 2015 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or email@example.com.


text:
15:55 02-07-2015
|MAIN АКИpress CA-News
|About us On-line subscription
Bishkek (AKIpress) - Uzbek authorities obliged TV and radio stations to undermine their equipment, in order to blow it in case of emergency or military intervention in the country, RFE/RL Uzbek service reported...
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You may also pay for one-month access to the website content by ordering subscription here.


text:
WEBSITE OF THE DAY - deliaonline.com
Today's website of the day is deliaonline.com a website devoted to that culinary goddess and celebrated Norwich City fan, Delia Smith.
Delia is, without a doubt, a legend. She is the mother of all celebrity chefs and her books have guided generations through that most hazardous of environments – the domestic kitchen. Her "How to Cook" series of books has been instrumental in getting those of us blessed/cursed* (delete as applicable) with a Y chromosome into the unfamiliar territory governed by weights, measures and sharp implements.
This site has a recipe of the day as well, as a full back catalogue of ideas for any occasion, as wells as wine tips and advice on what equipment to use.
Absolutely essential surfing for anybody keen, or for that matter, not so keen on cooking.
All hail Delia!
If you have a website that you want to tell us about email us via the feedback form.


text:
Graduate Student Orientation
Bowling Green State University's Graduate Student Orientation ( GSO ) program is here to provide graduate assistants professional development and to assist all graduate students in reaching higher skill levels in technology, research, and teaching competence, as well as personal development and academic proficiency. GSO is required for graduate students receiving their first assistantship contract from BGSU.
The mission of Bowling Green State University's Graduate Orientation program is to enable all graduate assistants and non-funded graduate students to acquire advanced skills in the areas of professional development, instructional competencies and techniques, and technology and research. Additionally, we will provide them with internal campus resources and external community resources. Finally, we will aid students in gaining an understanding of academic policies and procedures, in order to promote their academic and professional success.
The vision of the Graduate Student Orientation program is to provide support of teaching, research, and administrative skills for Bowling Green State University's incoming graduate assistants, as they seek to fulfill their academic and assistantship contractual responsibilities


text:
Time to play some good 'ol UFC Undisputed 3 on 360. I'm gonna use my CAF Braddahmatt.
There are many paths to freedom, not all are peaceful
"I'll throw you in that armbar with a quickness/ either you're with me, or bitch you're on the shit list" - Action Bronson
Got a lot of soul searching to do. Sorry to everyone I've let down
Link to this vid Bradda?
Frankie is the working class hero. Never finished, fought numerous champs...
Heart of a lion, dog
Last edited by Cat--Smasher; 02-03-2013 at 07:33 AM.
And if you want beef, then bring the ruckus
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)


text:
Fueng Fah restaurant
- Thai cuisine is well-known internationally but Chiang Mai retains her own specialties many of which can be sampled in the much talked-about Fueng Fah restaurant. The all-day dining venue hosts an ever-popular breakfast buffet and in the evening, the lights dim to showcase the preparation of local fare and international favourites.
Le Bistrot & Le Terrace
- If you fancy an aperitif, the bar's extensive drinks list should whet your appetite for the treats to come. It is also the most relaxing place in town to share a bottle of wine, while looking out over the frantic bargaining in the Night Bazaar. A taste of Tuscany with a Thai twist, the Italian restaurant specialises in communal dining and its hearty, trattoria-style. Food includes all of your favourite pizzas and pastas.


text:
The New Jersey Devils are currently in last place in the entire NHL. Last night, they entered a shootout with the Buffalo Sabres, and down by one goal, they called on Ilya Kovalcuk — the star winger who they re-signed this summer to a 15-year, $100 million contract — needing a shootout goal to keep the game alive.
Here's how the game ended:


text:
Samsung BlackJack SGH-i607
Info Photos Reviews 100+ News Forum
How to move phone numbers?
How can I move my contact list over to the SIM card? I have windows vista and the phone doesn't sync properly. I was looking to find the contact list file on the phone then copy it to the SIM card. What is the best way to move all my contacts? Everything worked well in XP now vista doesn't sync. I have updated all software that had anything to do with windows mobile.
- Re: How to move phone numbers? by ballisticbanana
- Re: How to move phone numbers? by PWRobbins


text:
Cando, N.D., hog producer Jim Gibbens, checks a field of corn that will help feed his 6,000 pigs at Hexagon Farms, background. Gibbens and other pork producers are in an extreme financial downturn after high feed prices and other inputs were followed by the H1N1 flu scare, sometimes referred to as "swine flu," even though the CDC states "you cannot get infested with novel H1N1 virus from eating pork or pork products." (Eric Hylden/Herald)
Read the article: H1N1 flu scare hits pork industry hard


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The Island Reading The Island Reading http://www.haverford.edu/calendar/details/260653Skating Pavilion Lounge2014-03-22T16:00:002014-03-22T18:00:00
March 22,2014 4:00PM–6:00PM
Skating Pavilion Lounge
The actors who will be performing in thi s semester's production of The Island by Athol Fugard will give a public reading of the play, after which the director will hold a discussion about it. It is a beautiful play about 2 cell-mates in apartheid.
For More Info
Anna Russell


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Thrift stores in Valley featuring post-holiday deals for shopping, donations
PHOENIX -- As people all across the Valley need places to put all their new holiday gifts, many are going through their closets and tidying up.
This time of year, nonprofit thrift stores such as Goodwill Industries and The Salvation Army receive an influx of donations, especially as many look to get last minute tax write-offs for their donations.
KTAR's wallet watcher Alicia Markham, who runs the website DealsInAZ.com, said many thrift stores have upcoming specials before the year's end.
"Goodwill has an amazing offer this Saturday: You're going to be able to get 50 percent off almost everything," she said. "So you're going to get these new buys in store, and then you're going to get an extra 50 percent off that."
Markham said The Salvation Army and the Arizona Humane Society are also good places to look for deals leading up to the New Year.
Many thrift shops around the Valley have websites that let shoppers know about upcoming specials and new items they've received, Markham said. She said a brief online search for her yielded a remodeled, working oven for $15.
"You'll be amazed at what you can find," she said. "There's clothing, there's appliances, there's toys, there's all kinds of things that, you know, one man's trash is another man's treasure."
Markham said many nonprofit organizations run thrift shops, and that they are a great way to support charities.
"If there's a cause that you really feel strongly about, it's a great idea to see if you can find out if they run a thrift shop," she said.
For those not looking to thin their wallet any more than the holidays already did, Markham said it is still a great time to contribute or donate to second hand stores.
"This is also a great deal if you want to get rid of some of your stuff, because you do get that write-off and you know that the money goes to a cause that you really care about," she said.
The deadline to donate and receive a tax write-off ends Dec. 31.


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Sakae's $3,000 offer: Is there a catch?
Never before has a single job offer generated so much debate, but Sakae Sushi's $3,000 salary for dishwashers really seems to have struck a nerve.
The overwhelming question of everyone's mind has been: What is the catch here?
Correspondents Aaron Low and Toh Yong Chuan do the math on the offer to try and make sense of it, but they come to rather different conclusions.
What is your take on this? Who do you agree with? Is the Sakae offer an example of the free market at work? Or is there something there that just doesn't add up for you?
Click on the links below to see what they have to say.
Next story: Build ahead of demand to raise birth rate


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Great offerings include things like restaurant gift certificates, massage and spa, wine and spirits, jewelry, a week at a vacation home, and tickets to events.
The 2014 Auction was a huge success! Thank you to all who donated items and to all who bid.
Let's do it again:
2015 Auction: April 11 in Boulder & April 12 in Denver


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Upon publication of her novel Die Klavierspielerin [The Piano Player, 1983, English translation 1988], Elfriede Jelinek became an overnight sensation and star of the literary feuilletons in Austria. Perhaps her best known work still today and certainly her most autobiographical one, the novel catapulted the 2004 Nobel Prize for Literature laureate into the limelight of controversy and notoriety in her home country, with the glare of that publicity helping to create an ever-widening circle of national and international critical attention. In 2001, the film version of the novel, directed by Michael Haneke and starring Isabelle Huppert, was shown at the Cannes Film Festival where it won three major …
Please log in to consult the article in its entirety. If you are not a subscriber, please click here to read about membership. All our articles have been written recently by experts in their field, more than 95% of them university professors.
DeMeritt, Linda C.. "Die Klavierspielerin". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 15 October 2006
[http://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=19697, accessed 30 June 2015.]


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EPA's Report on the Environment: External Review Draft
Infant Mortality
Note to reviewers of this draft revised ROE: This indicator reflects data through 2009. EPA anticipates updating this indicator in 2014.
Infant mortality is a particularly useful measure of health status because it both indicates current health status of the population and predicts the health of the next generation (NCHS, 2001). Infant mortality in the U.S. is defined as the death of an infant from time of live birth to the age of 1 year. It does not include still births. Overall infant mortality is composed of neonatal (less than 28 days after birth) and postneonatal (28 days to 11 months after birth) deaths.
This indicator presents infant mortality for the U.S. based on mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) based on death certificate data. The NVSS registers virtually all deaths and births nationwide, with data coverage from 1933 to 2009 and from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
What the Data Show
In 2009, a total of 26,412 deaths occurred in children under 1 year of age, 1,647 fewer deaths than were recorded in 2008. Exhibit 1 presents the national trends in infant mortality between 1940 and 2009 for all infant deaths as well as infant deaths by sex and race (black and white). A striking decline has occurred during this time period, with overall infant mortality rates dropping from nearly 50 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1940 to under seven deaths per 1,000 live births in 2009. Beginning around 1960, the infant mortality rate has decreased or remained generally level each successive year through 2009.
Infant mortality rates ranged from 6.8-7.0 from 2000 to 2005, were 6.7-6.8 from 2006-2007, and then decreased to 6.6 in 2008 and 6.4 in 2009. Infant mortality rates continue to be highest among males and highest among blacks. The infant mortality rate for blacks decreased from 14.1 per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 12.6 per 1,000 live births in 2009. However, this is still more than twice the rate compared to white infants, which ranged from 5.7 to 5.3 per 1,000 live births between 2000 and 2009.
Infant mortality rates among Hispanic infants have changed little since 2000. In 2009, the infant mortality rate was 5.4 per 1,000 live births for Hispanic infants, a decrease compared to 5.7 in 2008. Additionally, there was a decrease in the infant mortality rate for non-Hispanic white infants, with 5.3 per 1,000 live births in 2009 compared to 5.6 in 2008. No change in rate occurred for non-Hispanic blacks, with a rate of 13.1 per 1,000 live births in 2008 and 2009 (NCHS, 2011, 2012). (Data not shown.)
In 2009, the 10 leading causes of infant mortality in the U.S. accounted for about 69 percent of all infant deaths, with the subgroup consisting of congenital anomalies (i.e., congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities) having the highest rate at 1.3 per 1,000 live births. This category alone accounts for 20 percent of all infant deaths in 2009 (Exhibit 2). In 2009, the top 10 leading causes and their ranks remained the same as those in 2008 (NCHS, 2011, 2012).
Congenital anomalies were generally ranked highest among the different racial and ethnic groups. However, the leading cause of infant mortality among blacks was short gestation and low birthweight, followed by congenital anomalies. There were small differences in the leading causes of infant mortality between Hispanics and non-Hispanic infants. For example, unintentional injuries and placenta cord membranes were the fifth and sixth leading cause of infant death among non-Hispanic infants, respectively; whereas these two causes of infant death were reversed (i.e., placenta cord membranes was fifth and unintentional injuries was sixth) among Hispanic infants.
In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a substantial difference in the leading causes of death during the neonatal versus the postneonatal periods. Disorders related to short gestation and low birthweight were the leading cause of death for neonates and sudden infant death syndrome was the leading cause of death for postneonates, based on 2009 data (NCHS, 2012). (Data not shown.)
- Cause of death rankings denote the most frequently occurring causes of death among those causes eligible to be ranked. The rankings do not necessarily denote the causes of death of greatest public health importance. Further, rankings of cause-specific mortality could change depending on the defined list of causes that are considered and, more specifically, the types of categories and subcategories that are used for such rankings (NCHS, 2005).
- Mortality rates are based on the underlying cause of death as entered on a death certificate by a physician. Incorrect coding and low rates of autopsies that confirm the cause of death may occur. Additionally, some individuals may have had competing causes of death. When more than one cause or condition is entered by the physician, the underlying cause is determined by the sequence of conditions on the certificate, provisions of the ICD [International Classification of Diseases], and associated selection rules and modifications (CDC, n.d.). Consequently, some misclassification of reported mortality might occur as a result of these uncertainties, as well as the underreporting of some causes of death.
Data Sources
Infant mortality data were obtained from a published report by CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS, 2010), which provides annual natality data from 1975 to 2007 and decadal data for 1940, 1950, 1960, and 1970, as well as 2008 and 2009 data from NCHS's annually published "deaths reports" (NCHS 2011, 2012). Data in the NCHS reports are based in part on unpublished work tables, available on the NCHS website at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/deaths.htm. Leading cause of infant death data were extracted from CDC's Web-Based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) (CDC, 2012) (http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars/), with supporting documentation from NVSS reports (NCHS, 2010, 2011, 2012). The underlying data in WISQARS come from CDC/NCHS annual mortality data files.
For More Information
- CDC Mortality Data (National Vital Statistics System)
- CDC Leading Causes of Death Information
- CDC Health, United States, 2010 (PDF) (563 pp, 9.3MB)
- This indicator relates to: Health Status
This page provides links to non-EPA websites that provide additional information about this topic. You will leave the EPA.gov domain, and EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of information on that non-EPA page. Providing links to a non-EPA website is not an endorsement of the other site or the information it contains by EPA or any of its employees. Also, be aware that the privacy protection provided on the EPA.gov domain (see Privacy and Security Notice) may not be available at the external link.
You will need the free Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.


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Rubinstein, Father of WebOS, Leaves HP
Article Comments
Top message: Statement from Hewlett Packard by bluecoyote
Replying to: So let me get this straight... by bluecoyote
Re: So let me get this straight...
The man is right for once. Motorola and LG do make garbage phones. However I didnt see WebOS going anywhere specially since Apple and Android have all the attention. It is like the Dream cast when it was released at the wrong time. xD
No replies to this message


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