text:
Exemplary embodiments provide notification information of a telephone voicemail message over a computer and/or hybrid communications network. A table of updated voicemail subscriber message information is generated that includes voicemail subscriber identifier information and voice mailbox message status for each respective subscriber. Web-based requests (or alternate communications standards communicating the requests) are received from subscribers for voice mailbox status information. For each request from a subscriber, subscriber-specific data is retrieved from the table and a data communications notification that incorporates the retrieved information is communicated to a voice/data communications device to provide an updated voice mailbox message status.
1. A method for providing an indication of a telephone voicemail message over a data communications network, comprising
generating a table of updated voicemail subscriber message information comprising subscriber identifier information and voice mailbox message status for at least one subscriber;
receiving a first web-based request from a subscriber for voice mailbox status information;
deactivating the subscriber when a subsequent request from the subscriber is not received within a period of time from the first request;
for each request from the subscriber, retrieving subscriber-specific data from the table and providing the voice mailbox status information to a proxy server to generate a web frame incorporating the retrieved subscriber-specific data when the subscriber is active, the proxy server including a web server to dynamically generate http web frames by retrieving and receiving subscriber-specific information from the table comprising a login identification;
receiving the login identification when entering a web site providing the voice mailbox message status;
searching the table of updated voicemail subscriber message information for the subscriber identifier information; and
notifying the proxy server to discontinue sending the voice mailbox status information when the subscriber is deactivated.
2. A method for providing an indication of a telephone voicemail message over a data communications network, comprising
generating a table of updated voicemail subscriber message information comprising subscriber identifier information and voice mailbox message status for at least one subscriber;
receiving a first web-based request from a subscriber for voice mailbox status information;
deactivating the subscriber when a subsequent request from the subscriber is not received within a period of time from the first request;
for each request from the subscriber, retrieving subscriber-specific data from the table and providing the voice mailbox status information to a proxy server to generate a web frame incorporating the retrieved subscriber-specific data when the subscriber is active, the proxy server including a web server to dynamically generate http web frames by retrieving and receiving subscriber-specific information from the table comprising an Internet cookie;
receiving the subscriber identification information when providing the voice mailbox message status;
searching the table of updated voicemail subscriber message information for the subscriber identifier information; and
notifying the proxy server to discontinue sending the voice mailbox status information when the subscriber is deactivated.
3. The method of
4. The method of
5. The method of
6. The method of
7. Processor readable memory storing instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:
maintaining a table of updated voicemail subscriber message information;
maintaining a voice mailbox message status in the table;
providing the voice mailbox status information to a proxy server to generate a web frame incorporating the updated message waiting indicator notification and subscriber-specific information;
periodically receiving a request to refresh the web frame;
receiving a first request and a subsequent request over a data network from a subscriber's communications device for an updated message waiting indicator notification from a server;
storing message waiting indicator information for the subscriber in the proxy server as it is received from a voicemail server;
deactivating the subscriber when the subsequent request is not received within an acceptable range of time from the first request;
discontinuing to send the updated message waiting indicator notification when the subscriber is deactivated;
creating the updated message waiting indicator notification using the message waiting indication information when the subscriber is active;
communicating the updated message waiting indicator notification to the subscriber's communications device.
This application is a continuation of commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/202,005, entitled "System and Method for Efficient Provision of a Voicemail Message Indicator Signal Over a Computer Data Network," filed Jul. 25, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,940,952, of which is incorporated herein by reference.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its figures contain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.
The exemplary embodiments relate to the field of telephony network voicemail messaging systems, and more particularly to the provision of voicemail message waiting indicator signals.
Voice messaging services generally fall into two categories. First, answering machines or other customer premises equipment ("equipment") may be connected directly to a telephone subscriber's telephone line. Such devices record messages from callers if a call has not been answered after a pre-determined number of ring-intervals. Typically, the equipment provides a visual and/or audible message waiting indicator to alert the subscriber that a message has been received. However, a drawback to such equipment-based systems is that calls must be received by the subscriber's equipment before callers can leave a message. Accordingly, such equipment is not useful for recording messages when a caller receives a busy signal. To overcome this problem, among others, telephone service providers have implemented the second category of voice messaging service: telephony network-based voicemail messaging server ("VMS") systems.
In a telephony-based VMS system, when a call is not answered or cannot be connected to a subscriber's telephone line, intelligence within the telephone network routes the call to a centralized VMS system. The advantages of such centralized telephony-based VMS services are well-known in the art. For example, the subscriber may receive voicemail messages while he is using his telephone line to speak to another person or for a connection to an online data service. Moreover, because of the centralized nature of the VMS system, the telephone service provider may provide power and data system backups to increase reliability and availability of the VMS system. However, such telephony-based VMS systems have difficulty notifying the subscriber when he has new messages waiting to be heard on the server.
Because the conventional MWI system as shown in
The conventional system of
In this system, a message waiting indicator may be sent from VMS system 204 to server system 206 for transmission over network 202 to client 200, as shown in
In a conventional TCP/IP socket-based system, this can be accomplished by the client opening a TCP connection to a predefined port on the server 206 and waiting for data to arrive via that connection. The server responds with a record of a predefined format, with content indicating whether a message is waiting. The client computer 200 continues to monitor the connection for additional records, in case that a message is received subsequent to a request.
The specialized client software may operate in any suitable manner to display the alert message to the subscriber via display area 208 on client 200. For example, in
In the above-described conventional systems, a subscriber's client computer has specialized software installed to directly retrieve information over a network from voicemail system 204 through server 206. While this may allow for a direct connection, there are also disadvantages associated with requiring special software to be installed to receive MWI messages over a network to a client computer. Particularly, many computing devices do not support installed client applications. For example, Internet Appliances that operate almost exclusively for browsing the Internet may not allow users to load client programs for persistent memory. As another example, computers located behind corporate firewalls may not permit traffic flow other than HTTP. Although it is possible that a Java applet or similar code module could be downloaded across a network as necessary, Java applets will not run unless the client computer has other software installed, such as a Java Virtual Machine or a Macromedia Flash runtime system. In any event, Java applets are known to be slow to execute and slow to download via limited bandwidth connections. Accordingly, a need exists for a system and method for providing a voicemail message waiting indicator to subscribers without the need for special software on the client's computer.
Systems and methods for providing a voicemail message indicator to client devices are disclosed herein. In a disclosed embodiment, a server system, referred to herein as a MWI proxy server, is operable to communicate with client devices such as computers behind a firewall, PDA's, or a mobile phone, any of which may not have persistent IM client software thereon. A client device may receive MWI information by contacting the MWI proxy server, which acts as a go-between with a MWI server and voicemail system. The MWI proxy server forwards requests for MWI information originating from the client to the MWI server. Likewise, the MWI proxy server receives MWI information from the MWI server and makes it available to the client device.
In a disclosed embodiment, a client device, which may be any computing device such as, for example, a general purpose computer, a personal digital assistant, or a mobile telephone, transmits a request to the MWI proxy server to receive MWI information. The MWI proxy server responds to the device by transmitting HTML code for creating a frame in the web browser. The frame is defined such that it repeatedly and at a defined periodicity requests that the displayed frame be refreshed. Thus, the frame periodically transmits requests to the MWI proxy server for refreshed frames with updated MWI information.
According to an aspect of the disclosed system, the functionality of the MWI proxy server may be provided via a plurality of distributed servers. For example, a plurality of servers, referred to herein as cache servers, may be established for fielding requests to update MWI information in a frame in a web browser. Requests from client devices for recently received MWI information may be re-routed according to network routing rules to an appropriate cache server.
It is an object of this invention to provide a method for providing an indication of a telephone voicemail message over a computer network. A table of updated voicemail subscriber message information is generated that includes voicemail subscriber identifier information and voice mailbox message status for each respective subscriber. Web-based requests are received from an MWI proxy server for voice mailbox status information. For each request subscriber-specific data is retrieved from the table and an Internet web page incorporating the retrieved information is then generated for the subscriber and downloaded over the subscriber's web browser to provide an updated voice mailbox message status.
It is also an object of this invention to provide a method for accessing an indication of a telephone voicemail message over a computer network. A request is transmitted to a web server for voice mailbox status information. A table is accessed that contains updated voicemail subscriber message information, having subscriber identifier information and voice mailbox message status for each respective subscriber. Subscriber-specific data is retrieved from the table and provided in an Internet web page incorporating the retrieved information.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an indication of a telephone voicemail message over a computer network upon receiving a request from a subscriber's browser for the subscriber's voicemail message indicator in a router of a network. A database check is performed in a cache connected to the router to search for the requested subscriber information. If the requested subscriber information is included in the cache, the voicemail message indicator is provided to the subscriber. Otherwise a connection is routed to a web server that maintains a database of subscriber-specific voicemail message indicators.
The above and other embodiments, objects, uses, advantages, and novel features are more clearly understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying figures, wherein:
The exemplary embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The exemplary embodiments may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure).
Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the diagrams, flowcharts, illustrations, and the like represent conceptual views or processes illustrating systems, methods and computer program products embodying this invention. The functions of the various elements shown in the figures may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing associated software. Those of ordinary skill in the art further understand that the exemplary hardware, software, processes, methods, and/or operating systems described herein are for illustrative purposes and, thus, are not intended to be limited to any particular named manufacturer.
The exemplary embodiments include methods, systems, computer programs, and/or computer program products for providing a web-based voicemail message waiting indicator to a subscriber's voice/data communications device (e.g., any communications device having a digital signal processor and communicating voice and/or data communications signals) without the need for specialized software. Using the exemplary methods and systems described herein, a voicemail subscriber who can access the Internet can receive notifications of when voicemail messages are left in the subscriber's voicemail box. This can be useful if the subscriber is currently occupying the telephone line, perhaps to access the Internet. Additionally, this invention can be utilized to provide such information to the subscriber's PDA or wireless telephone, which may be useful to the subscriber even if the user is not using the telephone line to access the Internet. Therefore, if a voicemail subscriber is waiting to receive a voicemail message, but is away from the telephone line, the voicemail subscriber can receive notification of incoming voicemail messages on the subscriber's voice/data communications device. The voice/data communications device may include a wireless phone, a cellular phone, an interactive pager, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a Voice over Internet Telephony (VoIP) phone, a computer system, a global positioning system (GPS), a control panel integrated into a piece of furniture such as a couch, chair, or table, and any device having a digital signal processor (DSP). Alternate multimedia devices may further include a watch, a radio, vehicle electronics, a clock, a printer, a gateway, and/or another apparatus and system having hardware and equipment for voice/data communications.
According to an exemplary embodiment, a system and method are described for providing a voicemail message waiting indicator to a subscriber via a conventional web browser. By configuring the system to provide MWI messages to conventional browsers, such as Internet Explorer or Netscape, difficulties associated with configuring special software can be obviated.
As shown in
Generally, devices 300 a-f have web browsing software thereon and can be used to traverse or "Surf" the World-Wide-Web (i.e., "the web"). MWI proxy server 310 is equipped as a web server and therefore can be accessed using conventional web browsing software on devices 300 a-f. Devices 300 a-f are operable to browse to MWI proxy server 310 and navigate a log-in procedure. Specifically, the devices may be used to navigate to an initial HTML sign-in web page on MWI proxy server 310. The operator of devices 300 a-f enter identification information into the sign-in screen and forward the same to MWI proxy server 310, which verifies the information by transmitting the request to MWI server 306. Once the device is signed-in, communications with that device occur through MWI proxy server 310.
Assuming that the user is a valid voicemail subscriber, MWI proxy server 310 communicates instructions to the browser software, which may be in the form of HTML code, instructing the device to create a frame 311 on a client display area 312 of a client display 308, as shown in
The frame is programmed to periodically request a refreshed web frame from MWI proxy server 310 so as to alert the user of any new incoming voicemail messages since the last refresh. The frame may be programmed to refresh about every few seconds or minutes, depending upon whether it is critical to be notified immediately of an incoming message. As an alternative embodiment, a user can be prompted upon sign-in to indicate how often to refresh the MWI message frame, or to opt for high, medium, or low priority. Depending upon the speed of the user's connection to the Internet, choosing to receive refreshes as a high priority at every few seconds may delay downloads of other web pages while browsing the Web. Therefore, users may wish to elect "low" or "medium" priority if they are not expecting to receive an urgent call.
MWI proxy server 310 tracks refresh requests received from client devices 300 a-f. This tracking information is used to determine whether the user has browsed away or discontinued an Internet connection. For example, if the refresh interval is every 2 minutes, after 5 minutes of no requests, the MWI proxy server 310 determines that the user has ended the session and informs the MWI server 310 that the user has signed-off. MWI server 306 may then terminate the session.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that the functionality described herein provided by MWI proxy server 310 may in fact be distributed to a plurality of physical machines. For example, servicing requests for updated web frames may be performed by a plurality of server machines. As previously noted, devices 300 a-f receive MWI alerts when web browser frame 311 thereon requests an updated web page from MWI proxy server 310. Under circumstances where only a few devices communicate with MWI proxy server 310 to receive voicemail alerts, it is reasonable that MWI proxy server 310 service all requests to refresh web frames.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that while the requests from devices 300 a-f for updated web frames may be addressed to MWI server 306, they may be re-routed to an appropriate cache server 400-403 according to networking rules. For example, router tables located in routers throughout the network may define rules identifying a particular cache server 400-403 for servicing requests from a particular set of client devices, e.g., clients with an IP address within a particular range. These rules have the effect of routing requests that may originally be directed to MWI proxy server 310 to cache servers 400-403.
MWI proxy server 310 may also comprise web server 503. Web server 503 is operable to receive and respond to requests for web frames. Web server functionality is necessary for interfacing with clients that use the proxy functionality of MWI proxy server 310.
Device interface 502 provides an interface to devices such as PDA 300 e, Wireless Telephone 300 f, Internet appliance 300 d, laptop 300 a, Workstation 300 b, and computing system 300 c that initiate sessions through MWI proxy server 310. Device interface 502 operates to receive requests to establish sessions and forward corresponding requests to MWI server 306. More particularly, proxy device interface 502 is operable to format received requests for web frames and upon receiving requests for such frames, transmit it to the requesting device via web server 503, based upon updates received from MWI server 306.
Once a subscriber is authorized, the MWI proxy server transmits codes to the device for generating frames, in step 610. The codes that are transferred by the proxy server enables the device to receive frames without having specialized software installed thereon.
In step 612, the MWI proxy server waits to receive requests from the authorized device. Depending how the frame is configured, requests for updates may occur several times a minute, once a minute, or at any other periodicity. A timer runs to detect whether requests are received within an acceptable range of times. If it is determined in step 614 the time has expired, the session is terminated in step 616. Since the Internet is a connectionless system, a system can only determine if a subscriber is still receiving information based upon the frequency of requests for updates. Although this could be determined by requesting that the user "sign-off," this rarely occurs.
Once a request is received in step 618 from a web browser on a subscriber's device, the proxy server retrieves the latest update information received from the MWI server 306. The update information, along with other information to be displayed in the frame, is then transmitted to the browser in step 620. The proxy server then continues waiting for the next request from the browser, in step 612.
Once the information is received by the MWI proxy server, it is temporarily stored, in step 712, until a request is received by the respective client, in step 714. The information is stored such that it is associated with a particular identification code for the respective client. The request includes a particular IP address and the identification code, which triggers the proxy server to transmit information in step 716 to enable the client device to generate the web page frame containing the respective update information.
The above-described steps in
The present invention provides a web-based voicemail message waiting indicator to a subscriber's client computer without the need for specialized software on the client computer. The invention further reduces the load on the service provider's network by moving the data to distributed systems on the network.
While several exemplary implementations of embodiments of this invention are described herein, various modifications and alternate embodiments will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, other protocol requests for an updated voicemail message or a voicemail message waiting indicator notification, such as Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and/or other protocols utilizing various formats, such as URL formats, Extensible Style Sheet (XSL) formats, Real Simple Syndication (RSS) that uses XML structures, and others may be similarly used to communicate information with the voice/data communications device. Accordingly, this invention is intended to include those other variations, modifications, and alternate embodiments that adhere to the spirit and scope of this invention.
Further, in describing exemplary embodiments of this invention, the specification may have presented the method and/or process of this invention as a particular sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth herein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described. As one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate, other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps set forth in the specification should not be construed as limitations on the claims. In addition, the claims directed to the method and/or process of the exemplary embodiments should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written, and one skilled in the art can readily appreciate that the sequences may be varied and still remain within the spirit and scope of this invention.
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Chris L.London, GB
Project was turned around quickly and to a high standard, Mike's Wordpress experience added a lot of value to the project.
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Really great to work with, adds value all the time and we are ordering more work with Mike which speaks for itself
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V. good.
All work to the highest standard.
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Great work Mike, highly reccomend!
Mandy S.London, GB
Very glad to have given this work to Mike he has been brillian in setting up my site as I wanted and am giving him extra work, he is patient and accomadating
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I can't thank Mike enough for his work. Mike was the first person to respond to my post and then he talked me through how things would be done. Even though i payed a very low price Mikes work was top notch delivered at lightning speed and i was kept up to date with the progress all the way. I cannot praise him enough - Great job Mike :)
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The Magazine
The Worst of Times
According to the New York Times, the NSA is currently to be feared because the NSA currently takes its orders from George W. Bush.
Jan 16, 2006, Vol. 11, No. 17 • By DAVID TELL, FOR THE EDITORS
It was, of course, through a superabundance of caution about what "might" be a violation in such circumstances that American counterterrorism investigators notoriously failed to monitor certain phone calls and email traffic exchanged by the 9/11 conspirators. And it was to clarify that American counterterrorism investigators should never make such a mistake again that President Bush seems to have signed the NSA surveillance order that's now got everybody's underwear in such a wringer.
James Risen repeatedly calls the program "illegal," but offers not a single word of serious statutory or constitutional analysis to sustain the conclusion. He complains that, "for the first time since the Watergate-era abuses, the NSA is spying on Americans again, and on a large scale"--a reference, once more, to those 500 al Qaeda email buddies he's mentioned, who together represent 1.7 ten-thousandths of one percent of the U.S. population. Shifting gears, Risen next raises alarm over the possibility that NSA could begin domestic spying on a large scale if it wanted to; "there seems to be no physical or logistical obstacle" preventing it at present. Neither does there seem to be any physical or logistical obstacle preventing NSA from sneaking into James Risen's bathroom and stealing his toothbrush, of course. The question remains: Why on earth would they want to?
And the answer seems to remain, as it always ultimately does, that the NSA is currently to be feared because the NSA currently takes its orders from George W. Bush and the "neocons" whom Bush is "controlled by." And these people are demonic.
Among the "most worrisome aspects" of the NSA program, Risen writes, is its place in a much "broader series of policies and procedures" that now "threaten to erode civil liberties in the United States." He mentions but a single example: "In 2002, the U.S. military expanded its role inside the country with the creation of the new Northern Command, the first military command in recent history that is designed to protect the U.S. homeland. The creation of Northern Command has already raised the specter of military intelligence agents operating on U.S. soil, permanently developing new links with local law enforcement agencies, particularly near large military bases."
Imagine: Our military now has a specific assignment to guard and defend the territorial United States, and certain of its base-command officers might eventually establish cordial relations with the police departments in neighboring communities.
God help us all.
- David Tell, for the Editors


text:
Beck and Palin understand our desire for cushy sentimentality.
So who decided to levy an excise tax on the cushy world of rejuvenation and self-improvement?
If she wins, she gets both the platform and dignity of office and a cushy life.
[1915+ British; perhaps fr Hindi khush, ''pleasure,'' or Romany kushto, ''good,'' or perhaps fr a shortening of cushiony]


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Originally written on The Last Angry Fan | Last updated 3/23/13
I know this is way off topic, but this video of Miley Cyrus twerking in a unicorn onesie is blowing up the Internet, and the whole thing has me confused beyond belief. First off, what is up with the unicorn footed pajamas? Rather odd fashion choice for twerking, in my humble opinion. Having never twerked before, I can only assume that Miley's outfit would be constricting when it came to the shaking of the booty aspect of twerking. But most importantly, am I the only person who finds this sexy? I can't be…I just can't be. I've never found Miley to be all that hot—she's cute, but in a redneck, can't do any better after a night of drinking sort of way—but this time out she nails it, even in that wholly unflattering outfit. The wiggling, the jiggling, the twerking, it all works for some strange reason. It's quite hypnotic, like a lava lamp, to the point where I can't stop watching even if I wanted to. [via everywhere] The post This video of Miley Cyrus twerking in unicorn outfit is mildly confusing appeared first on Last Angry Fan.
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Whether you've got plans to hit the beach or host BBQ in the backyard, the 4th of July is the perfect opportunity to hang out with friends & family. Nothing gets a party started quite like an epic playlist of #American hits, which is why we decided to create one for you! Check out our Spotify playlist below for the ultimate 4th of July playlist.
Whether you're out of town for the 4th of July festivities, or staying home for a little holiday staycation, it is officially time to kick off this Independence Day weekend, and we have the perfect weekend menu to help you get started. Take a peek below at some of our favorite all-American cocktails, paired with some classic eats and sweets, for good measure.
All-American Cocktails
If you're imbibing this weekend, you have absolutely no excuse not to have something frosty and patriotically-hued in your hands at all times. Our top pick for some patriotic boozing? This all-too-delicious Summer Sea Breeze Cocktail. Yum!
Other red, white and blue cocktails to try:
All-American Eats
While sipping on something pretty and patriotic, may we recommend indulging in an all-American classic like a delicious, summer-in-a-buttered-bun, Connecticut-style lobster roll? Prefer yours with mayo, a la Maine? Yup, we've got that recipe right here, too.
Other true blue American eats to try:
Fully Loaded Smashed Potato Skins
Mini Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches
All-American Sweets
C'mon, seriously, what's more all-American than some pie? These adorable heart-shaped strawberry hand pies are made in single-serving that's perfect for standing room only backyard BBQs.
Other true blue American eats to try:
Easiest Ice Cream Sandwiches Ever
Classic Apple Pie With A Twist
Recipe Styling: Cocktail and Lobster Rolls: Abby Capalbo Styling | Hand Pies: Waiting on Martha
Heading to the beach for a mega 4th of July party? This toes-in-the-sand inspiration crafted by Virtuous Events and Two Birds Photography brings the essence of a bohemian picnic and a traditional independence day bbq together for one very cool seaside party. From a scrumptious family style meal to a cozy bonfire and a front-row seat to fireworks, it has all the fixin's for a 4th of July done so, so right.
For Jake and Jennifer Moreland of Two Birds Photography, working with this dream-team of vendors for this Independence Day Boho Beach Shoot, was nothing short of perfection! What could be more amazing than summer fun, delicious food and sunsets on Lake Michigan?
Tasha Raylene, the incredible stylist for this shoot, was inspired to create a simple Independence Day dinner setting that anyone could achieve! For the table, she utilized a wood pallet that was picked up from a local warehouse. Since we were eating on the beach, a few cushions from some old club chairs that were stored away, which happened to be in the color scheme we were going for. Cushions were paired with comfy pillows and warm throw blankets, which came in handy once the sun began to set.
At this party, the food spoke for itself! Once the menu was designed, it was easy to tie in neutral tones and natural accents for dinnerware and glassware. For guest napkins, kitchen towels with a cute fringe edge were used, and an oversized copper paperclip as a napkin ring. Mixed and matched burnt orange glass charger plates with different textures, patterns and sizes of salad, appetizer and bread plates created a casual and comfortable tablescape. Some of our party guests drank wine or cocktails; others preferred beer. They brought their drink of choice to the dinner table and kept the place settings simple.
Chef Nicole Bissonnette, owner of Bartlett's Gourmet Grill in Beverly Shores, prepared an amazing menu of brightly colored summer salads and spreads, oysters on the half shell, steamed mussels in a rich garlic and white wine broth, along with grill marked farm fresh vegetables, crusty artisan breads and wood-fired pizzas.
As the evening progressed, we strolled the lakefront, cuddled up by a roaring fire and capped off the night by watching a dazzling firework display. Let freedom ring!
Photography: Jake and Jennifer Moreland of Two Birds Photography | Styling: Tasha Raylene, Virtuous Events | Food: Chef Nicole Bissonnette, Bartlett's Gourmet Grill and Tavern | Makeup: FOXY by Alex Garcia | Hair: Erica Berger, Center of Attention | Clothing and Accessories: Chelle's | Clothing and Accessories: Indie Indie Bang Bang | Original print publication : Inspired Living Magazine
Holidays are always an appropriate time for a little indulgence – especially if the indulgences in question are both holiday-hued and as all-American as the 4th of July- and Americana-themed sweet treats in the slideshow below. Don't believe me? Take a peek and try to resist these desserts' sweet temptations this coming weekend.
More Summer Sweet Treats to Try:
29 Amazing Popsicle Recipes | 20 Finger-Licking Summer Desserts | 15 Recipes For The 4th of July |
Modern Dame is taking the beach party indoors for an elegant twist to a Fourth of July bash. The traditional red, white and blue palette is still present but it's been transformed into gorgeous all white florals by Holly Flora, a table full of cobalt dinnerware and little moments of red woven into the delicious spread by Taste Of Pace and Cocktail Academy. Grab inspiration to pull off your own 4th of July dinner party with even more gorgeous imagery by Steve Steinhardt right here.
The bold blue and white striped rug perfectly complimented the white stars of varying sizes I hung from the ceiling to immediately draw in the eye in our spacious DTLA loft. Gorgeous, romantic white arrangements from Holly Flora dotted the table in brass vases, while the blue and white detailed dishes and vintage smokey blue and clear glassware from Dishwish worked together to create a subtle patriotic place setting. On each plate we placed a vegan raspberry tart from Bramble Bakeshop, really completing our red, white, and blue look.
The menu was expertly crafted by Pace Webb from Taste of Pace, a renowned celebrity chef and TV host who is known for her monthly underground, invite-only Supper Club, and drew on summer themes in a new and super delicious way. Guests munched on aged grilled cheddar cheese sandwiches, cherry tomato confit, shrimp and grits, BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado and tomato) sandwiches, and tarts with tomato, eggplant, squash, and homemade ricotta.
July 4th is such a nostalgic time for so many. Most everyone has cherished memories of barbecues with friends and family, fireworks shows lighting up the night sky. So, when planning a July 4th-inspired day for friends, I knew I wanted to pay homage to all the things that make Independence Day so great – simplicity of celebration, time with loved ones, and lots of tasty food and drinks. It was important to me to create a fresh, unexpected twist through the use of a bold, but muted, palette that recalled the stars and stripes while also remaining chic and stylish. My goal was to achieve a timeless look for a time-honored tradition, and I think, I, along with my vendors, did just that with this grown-up July 4th themed luncheon.
As for the drinks, I left those up to Brandyn Tepper from Cocktail Academy. Showing his true skill and mastery, he created the most fun and patriotic drinks — the Americano (Campari, sweet vermouth, and sparkling water, shown here bottled), Amber Waves (bourbon, lemon, strawberry, and honey, shown here in a mason jar), and From Sea to Shining Sea (bourbon, lime, blue curaçao, mint, and peychaud bitters).
This gorgeous, grown-up July 4th event wouldn't have been possible without the help of my friends at Taste of Pace, Cocktail Academy, Holly Flora, Dishwish, Found Rentals, Steve Steinhart Photography, and Hudson Loft. A truly amazing team for a one-of-a-kind event!
Photography: Steve Steinhardt Photography | Floral Design: Holly Flora | Caterer: Taste Of Pace | Venue: Hudson Loft | Cocktails: Cocktail Academy | Dessert: Bramble Bakeshop | Furniture Rentals: Found Rentals | Host & Event Design: Modern Dame | Loft: Hudson Loft | Tabletop & Glassware Rentals: Dish Wish Events


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Spicy Lamb And Apricot Burgers
22 Sep 2010
|Dried apricots
|3⁄4 Cup (12 tbs)
|Orange juice
|2 Tablespoon
|1⁄2 Cup (8 tbs)
|Curry powder
|1 Teaspoon
|Garam masala
|1⁄2 Teaspoon
|Chili powder
|1 Teaspoon
|Ground lamb
|1 1⁄2 Pound
|Dry bread crumbs
|1⁄2 Cup (8 tbs)
|Chopped parsley
|1⁄4 Cup (4 tbs)
|1⁄2 , finely chopped
|To Taste
Soak apricots in water for 12 hours.
Drain and place in a blender or food processor.
Add orange juice and puree.
In a bowl, place apricot puree, catsup, curry powder, garam masala and chili powder.
Mix well.
Add lamb and mix again.
Add breadcrumbs, parsley, onion and salt.
Mix, then shape into 6 patties.
Place patties in a hinged wire grill on barbecue over medium-hot coals.
Cook for about 6 minutes on each side, turning once.
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Spicy Lamb And Apricot Burgers Recipe


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practice exam questionShow transcribed image text
practice exam questionShow transcribed image text A 50 kg student is holding a 2.0 kg mass in each hand and is sitting on a stool that can rotate freely about a vertical axis. With the masses held at arm's length the student is set spinning at 1 revolution per second. While spinning, the student draws their arms in, holding the masses to their chest. Using the principles of rotational motion that you learned in PHYS140, explain what happens to their rotation. During this motion, does the student's kinetic energy increase, decrease, or stay the same? Justify your answer.


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Savoury Chickpea Crumbles
Hourray! Our stuff from Houston arrived! Six weeks after we left and a week later than expected. Our scheduling goof-up was that the Canadian Customs will not let your unaccompanied goods enter Canada until you do. So since we went straight to South Africa from Houston, our stuff could only enter Canada after we had returned. The extra delay was due to paperwork problems, out of our control. Anyways, it is here now.
As Eileen said, the worst part is knowing stuff is going to arrive and putting off buying duplicates. So I have been cooking without spices and exotic ingredients. Oddly enough, this was also how I was cooking towards my final days in Houston.
Just to show you exactly what we were cooking down to the wire, this was a delicious concoction we threw together with fridge remnants the day we moved. Rob and I still had a day at work before we took off for 2 overnight flights. I knew I needed some fuel, so my Mom helped at the stovetop as I suggested combinations of ingredients.
Towards to end of my stint in Houston, all of a sudden, I wanted to try.all.the.things, aka all the faux meats at Trader Joe's. Even though I don't normally eat them, my positive experience with Beyond Meat told me to branch out a bit and try them while I still could.
The next on deck were TJ's beefless crumbles and my limited kitchen conferred a surprisingly tasty meal. The crumbles didn't have too much flavour on their own but this worked really well. I am accustomed to the traditional onion and garlic aromatics but the simple addition of roasted green chiles (has anyone found these in Toronto???) and sun-dried tomatoes made that unnecessary. This was a quickie and delicious meal.
I just ate this as is, but this could easily be added as a filling for a taco or burrito and topped with extra veggies.
Do you cook without aromatics? What do you replace them with?
I am sharing this with No Waste Food Challenge.
Quick & Easy Salsa Chickpea Tacos
Did you know that Trader Joe's is not in Canada? The closest thing we have (well, those who live in Vancouver) is Pirate Joe's. They temporarily renamed themselves Irate Joe's as they were being sued by TJ's. TJ's lost but is continuing to appeal. In any case, we're getting our fair use of TJ's while still in Houston.
Sadly, though, it took me 10 months to locate their perfect salsa. Their chunky salsa is totally my favourite. Perfectly spiced with a robust tomato flavour, I love it. I also managed to go through a container in less than a week. I started adding it to everything.
In fact, this is such an easy recipe, it is almost non-recipe. I envision this as the perfect travelling meal – mix and eat. Until then, it will have a happy place in my kitchen.
Mix some salsa with chickpeas and chopped bell pepper. Throw it overtop some shredded broccoli and carrots for more crunch on a taco shell, and you've got a meal. I topped mine with a healthy dose of nutritional yeast which became creamy and gooey with the extra salsa. Totally not optional for those who love nooch.
I may go into salsa withdrawal. Can anyone recommend a good recipe? I cannot imagine it being hard to make. ;)
PS. I am sharing this with Souper Sundays and this month's My Legume Love Affair hosted by Susan. (more…)
Indian Chickpea and Spinach Curry (Chana Saag)
It is all about the greens, lately.
After a week or so of salads and wraps, I turn the rest of my fresh greens into a soup, stew, or in this case curry.
I am sharing an Indian Chickpea and Spinach Curry (Chana Saag) at Laura's blog, The Gluten-Free Treadmill. Please pop on over to check it out!
PS. And when I said I would be sharing another giveaway with you yesterday, I meant tomorrow. So stay tuned! ;)
Thai Chickpea & Kale Salad Rolls with Peanut Dressing
My lovely friend, Dawn, recently asked me to share my tips for food blogging.
As you know, I have a demanding full-time job and this is my hobby. After a few years, I think I have a great balance between managing the blog and the rest of my life. Mainly, the blog does not take over my life.
Some people wonder how I make and share so many different recipes without losing my mind.
I try to keep things low-key. I only take photos once. New recipe, snap a photo. If I come back and the photos suck, oh well… I will still post the subpar photos if the recipe is good.
This also means that I may make a recipe one way but find a better use for it afterwards as leftovers. Then my photos might not look like my recipe!
That is how this recipe evolved. It started out as a Thai Kale Salad with Chickpeas and a Peanut Dressing. I made it, I ate it. However, the next day, I thought rice paper rolls would be better. So I wrapped them up… and decided I didn't want to bother with new photographs and munched away. Of course, the wrap was better. There is something sensational when all the components of the dish hit your palate at the exact same time: the lemony kale, the sweet red pepper, the crunchy carrots and the chickpeas are not rolling around everywhere…. and how could I forget the delicious peanut sauce? It is light, thinned with vinegar but flavourful with the ginger and orange. Drizzled into the salad roll, it was delicious. So delicious, I gobbled up the rest of the salad before rethinking about a new photo shoot.
Want more advice on how to be an awesome food blogger? Check out Dawn's round-up with tips from Joanne at Eats Well With Others, Alissa from Connoisseurus Veg, Susan Voisin from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen, Cara Lyons from Cara's Cravings and Alyssa from Queen of Quinoa.
PS. I am sharing this with Deb for this week's Souper Sundays, No Croutons Required and Bookmarked Recipes.
Quickie Balsamic Miso Chickpeas and Baby Bok Choy
Guys, I am loving ALL your ideas for quickie meals – both your suggestions for your easiest cooked and raw meals.
Are some recipes too simple to share?
How about stir fries? Rob's go-to stirfry is tofu and broccoli (precut frozen veggies work well for those who don't want to chop veggies), smothered in sweet chili sauce. Easy peasy.
But sometimes, simple wins. I don't need lots of colourful veggies. One will do. I don't need lots of spices. Simple can work too and it does not need to be bland.
I originally spotted this recipe in High Protein Vegan (see my review earlier) but it had me scurrying to a new-to-me blog The Stone Soup. Jules focuses on meals with minimal ingredients and minimal prep. While the blog is not vegan, Jules nearly always includes ways to make each meal vegan-friendly with lots of possible substitutions.
This recipe stems from Jules' quickie method of cooking vegetables: shallow steam cooking in a frypan along with balsamic vinegar and miso. Do I know how to steam veggies in a frypan? Yes! But I never would have thought to combine it with a simple dressing of balsamic vinegar and miso. I really liked the idea of pairing the dressing with baby bok choy and chickpeas, so I went with it.
I didn't sear my veggies as Jules' recommended in her video, but I do not feel like it detracted from my version as the dressing pulled it all in together nicely. Sweet and tangy balsamic vinegar juxtaposed against the salty miso and earthy beans and greens. I preferred this fresh but only because my leftovers were quite watery. I have been more likely to eat more beans instead of making an additional side of grains, but grains are nice to sop up delicious juices.
Do you think some recipes are just too simple to share?
PS. I am sharing this with Bookmarked Recipes.
Manchurian Chickpea Bowl & More Quick-Fix Vegan Review + Giveaway
I have another great cookbook to share with you.
Quick, healthy, vegan meals. What's not to like?
Like The Oh She Glows Cookbook, I have been madly cooking out of Robin Robertson's latest cookbook: More Quick-Fix Vegan.
She promises simple, delicious meals in under 30 minutes. Provided you have cooked brown rice (which takes 45 minutes to cook), she's right! Delicious vegan cuisine need not be elaborate nor time consuming.
Take this exotic-sounding vegetable bowl: Manchurian chickpea bowl.
Manchurian cuisine is a subtype of Chinese cooking that heralds from the North-East region of China. While I am not sure how authentic it is, Gobi Manchurian may be a well-known dish. A spicy tomato sauce infused with ginger and garlic typically smother deep-fried cauliflower. In this inspired dish, cauliflower (roasted, not fried, in my case) is joined by potatoes, peas and chickpeas. I was worried the chickpeas would seem out-of-place, but they were actually very good. It seems more Indo-Chinese (or Hakka-inspired) rather than Manchurian. In any case, I can whole heartedly recommend it. Delicious. Even without choice leftovers (hello leftover roasted cauliflower), this could be pulled together within a half-hour.
I have been slowly cooking my way through the cookbook and again, had the same difficult: which recipe to share. My full reviews can be seen here, but I also highly recommend the uncanningly simple "Roasted brussels sprouts and chickpeas" which reminds me of my Easy Cheezy Chickpeas and Kale. The cookbook includes many one-dish meals including soups/stews. bowls, stir-fries, pasta, sandwiches, pantry-friendly, oven-cooked meals and even quickie desserts. I appreciate that most meals are based on whole foods and not vegan substitutes (mostly. dessert section exempted). Robin does supply recipes for some of the convenience foods including a cashew-based vegan cream cheese and tofu-based vegan mayonnaise. Having these staples pre-made expedite getting dinner to the table. Of note, Robin calls for ketchup a few times (like in this recipe), although I substituted my own convenience food: mild Turkish red pepper paste. Booyah!
Recipes from More Quick Fix Vegan shared elsewhere:
Chipotle-Sweet Potato Bisque
Chickpeas Nicoise
Kale and Black-Eyed Peas With Smoky Grits
Three-Bean Pantry Chili
Sweet Potato Barbecue Bowls
Veracruz Tacos
Banh Mi Inspired Noodles
Banh Mi Bowls
Avocado Mousse with Raspberries
Date-Pecan Bars
Mango Fried Rice Pudding
Peanut Butter and Banana Ice Cream
Blueberry Chocolate Trail Mix Bark
Thankfully, the publisher allowed me to share the recipe and giveaway the cookbook to a reader living anywhere in the world (YAYAYA!). To be entered in the random draw for the cookbook, please leave a comment below telling me about your quickest and/or easiest vegan meal. The winner will be selected at random on May 16, 2014. Good luck!
Note: I was given a copy of the cookbook from the publisher. I was under no obligation to share a review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.
PS. I am sharing this with My Legume Love Affair, hosted by Sowmya.
PPS. Do you like my purple slippers in the last photo? They were so colourful I had to keep them in. Can you tell I just blindly lift my camera to take shots from overhead? Sometimes I am way off-target. ;)
Roasted Cauliflower and Leek Soup with Vegan Bacon Chickpea Croutons
I love when it is going to be a delicious week.
I am too lazy/tired to cook during the week, so I make everything on the weekend. A new batch of oatmeal. I create 3-4 different dishes, with possibly some fresh rice mid-week. Rob helps with the rice. His rice always seems to taste better even if we use the same rice cooker.
Anyways. I digress.
I love delicious surprises in the kitchen.
I was wooed by Tess' creamy cauliflower soup in her latest cookbook. However, I knew cauliflower and leeks, alone, would not be a filling meal. Beans. I need some beans. Where are the beans? I could have easily blended white beans into the soup, but I don't like pureed soups.
Keeping things a bit more texturally complex, I ran with bacon-flavoured roasted chickpea croutons! Because I was going to use the oven to roast my chickpeas, I roasted my vegetables, too. It helped to free up a coveted soup pot and oven burner, too.
I guess I get surprised by some of my successes. Light and fluffy yet still filling, the soup was as easy as blending together roasted vegetables with some spices. The bacon chickpeas added a salty-savoury topping that contrasted the soup wonderfully.
And somewhat off-topic. Not soup-related, but related by all things delicious. You know what else we recently discovered that was glorious? Trader Joe's Soy Creamy Cherry Chocolate Ice Cream. GAH! Annie clued me in early on that their coconut-based ice creams were delicious and they helped tame the Texan heat in the summer. Now that we're cycling in the heat, this has become our new way to cool off.
What have you been enjoying lately?
I am sharing this with Souper Sundays and Vegan Potluck.
Tunisian Chickpea & Cabbage Shakshouka
One reason Easter snuck up on me this year is because I do not get a statutory holiday this weekend. In Canada, I usually get Good Friday off. (In Quebec, I think they get the Monday off instead). Here in Texas, nothing. Although I think stores may be closed on Sunday.
The second reason, of course, is that we will not be celebrating it with family or friends.
I have even less knowledge of Passover but it passed my mind as I made this quintessential Arabic-Jewish dish: Shakshouka.
I first encountered shakshouka (also known as shakshuka or chakchoukah) in Morocco. At its roots, it is a mildly spiced tomato dish in which eggs are poached directly in the tomatoes. Like most dishes, every city had its own variation: more vegetables, less vegetables, more spice, less spice.
I was drawn to this version due to the overabundance of vegetables. Tomatoes, bell peppers and cabbage. Shakshouka's country of origin may lie in Morocco's neighbouring country of Tunisia, known for its hot and spicy harissa pepper paste. While I have made my own (not-too-spicy) harissa before, I opted for something quasi-similar I had in my kitchen: pat-chi. Aka, kale and collard kimchi spiced with Thai chiles. Aka, related to kimchi with a yaya-twist. A little bit goes a long way to flavour our vegetable ragout.
To keep this vegan, I swapped the eggs (perhaps totally losing the essence of shakshouka) for chickpeas. I loved it. But sadly, upon investigation found that with this swap, this would no longer be appropriate for passover. No chickpeas for Passover. Perhaps you could serve the ragout with some quinoa: now kosher approved for Passover.
Will you be celebrating Easter or Passover this weekend?
Mango Chana Masala
It is the most wonderful time of the year….
Not because the spring weather in Houston is positively happiness (it is!) or it is the beginning of a cycling season (it is!)…. but it is the beginning of mango season and now we live closer to the mangoes!
Nearly every year, Rob will hunt down Alphonso mangoes. The fancy mangoes flown in from India. I am not sure whether they will be coming to Houston, but it does not matter. There are cheap and plentiful Mexican Ataulfos to be found. Last week, we picked up a whole case for $5. (We split it with a friend to keep our eating crop fresh. I know we'll be replenishing a few times, no worries)
We tend to keep the mangoes plain and unadorned (at least I do, Rob adds it to his breakfast granola) but used some frozen mangoes for this fun twist on chana masala. It kind of a combination of my Mango BBQ Beans combined with Indian flavours. While I have used amchoor powder (raw mango powder) to make a nice chana masala, this was a fun twist since it was hot and sweet, too. The heat came from our newest infatuation: roasted hatch chiles. The flavours complemented each other nicely, especially with the tang from the tomatoes and the earthy tones from the cumin, mustard seeds and garam masala, too. Not too overly spiced.
Rob actually made a double batch of this and we shared it with friends. We told them to give an honest opinion of the dish. It was the first time we tried it, so we could handle their feedback. Like us, they loved it! And I hope you do, too.
Here's to a prosperous mango season!
This is my submission to this month's Bookmarked Recipes and this week's Souper Sundays.
Kale Ribbons and Chickpeas with Curried Spaghetti Squash
I am sorry but not sorry, Canada.
I am sorry that this was one really long and cold winter. But I am not sorry I missed it.
Last week, I returned to Canada. In Montreal, I was greeted by mountains of snow banks that still had to melt away. However, by the end of my stay, a fresh blanket of snow covered the city in near white-out conditions. My flight home was cancelled but Air Canada thoughtfully put us on a later flight, skirting the worst of the storm.
(People poo-poo Air Canada but I like flying with them, especially compared to any airline based in the US. I can catch up on my movie watching (no additional charge!) and sometimes they even give me pretzels (HA!)).
Knowing full well that warm meals are still in season (even Houston's weather has tamed somewhat), I am unashamedly sharing yet another winter squash recipe. In March. Because, yes, they are still on my counter and based on my last post with kabocha squash, still in your kitchens, too. Plus, this dish was too good to hide until next year.
It is a deceivingly simple recipe: spaghetti squash, kale, chickpeas, sun-dried tomatoes, smoked paprika and curry powder. In fact, it sounded downright weird. However, after I tasted it, it made sense. A lot of curries are tomato-based and while I don't use tomato, sun-dried tomatoes deliver intense bursts of tomato flavour without sauciness. Smoked paprika adds a different twist so this isn't a boring, bland curry. Chickpeas add protein and bulk. The kale is more earthy but a barely noticeable way to eat some greenery. The spaghetti squash is merely a backdrop but sops up the flavours deliciously. This dish made fabulous leftovers, allowing the flavours to meld even further.
Did you get walloped with more snow this weekend, too?
Chickpea & Kabocha Squash Lemongrass Curry
Recently, Rob and I have been flip-flopping. One weekend Rob is home alone. The next, I am home alone as Rob is out. Travelling separately. Although I probably received the brunt of the solo travels as I ventured to the cold Canadian winter alone. Rob, however, is travelling without me but visiting and meeting friends throughout the US.
This weekend, he also left me without a car. My bike gets me to and from work but on the weekends, the car brings me to groceries. Our loot is too big to bring home on a bike. Oftentimes, Rob will also pick up random missing ingredients throughout the week… so I lost that convenience, too. Although, we planned for this: a double grocery haul last weekend. This week, I get to eat through the fridge and pantry. And tackle my languishing winter squashes.
I am sure I am not the only one with winter squashes on my counter (right?). It happens every year to me. Houston-time, included.
Winter squash may not still be on your radar but with the last winter blast, a warming stew is hard to turn down. (I am not playing with you, Houston does get cold. I had pants on last week).
I finally decided to tackle Hannah's Chickpea and Pumpkin Lemongrass Curry. Unlike most curries, this one has NO CUMIN. Blasted! A bit more sweet with the kabocha squash which worked well with the aromatics like cardamom and coriander, but still tempered by ginger, mustard and chile with a luscious coconut-infused broth spiked with lemongrass.
Do you still have winter squashes looming around? Heck, it is still winter, right? I shouldn't feel too guilty, right? :)
This is my submission to Deb for this week's Souper Sundays, Meatless Mondays for squash and to this month's Spice Trail.
PS. The winner of High Protein Vegan is Miss Polkadot. Congratulations! (more…)
Lemon-Mustard Glazed Carrots and Chickpeas (aka Yassa Chickpeas)
Based on my review of vegan nutrition books, you can tell why I always try to eat a lot of beans. So much so, that when I travel and people want to know what I eat, I tell them that something as simple as vegetables and a can of chickpeas would suffice. My family is actually really good about making sure there is food for me, but I still have fun cooking in the kitchen while travelling.
During our trip back home during the holidays, not only did I make a delicious dark chocolate peanut butter pie (delicious, definitely check it out), but I made this dish a few times. Basically, it is a simple dish of mustard/lemon-glazed root vegetables and chickpeas but I experimented each time I made it. While I could count on everyone having mustard available, every time was a bit different depending on what was in the kitchen. I learned that this is definitely better with garlic, tamari/soy sauce is preferred and while this is nice with carrots, the addition of parsnip is a fun twist. This is a great comforting dish for anyone looking to warm their kitchen with your oven. ;)
What did you think of the nutritional recommendations from the review? Do you feel like you eat enough of the different areas?
This is my submission to this month's Bookmarked Recipes.
PS. The winners for the nutrition books are: Rachel with Vegan For Her and Moo with Becoming Vegan Express. Congratulations!
Vegan Cheesy Chickpea Dip with Coconut Bacon
I tried a little bit harder with this dip.
You had great suggestions for sprucing up my Mexican Black Bean Dip. It was all about the garnishes: salsa, chopped tomatoes, cilantro, and tortillas were all great ideas.
This time I topped the dip with coconut bacon. (I will tell you about the delicious dip in a moment, but first: COCONUT BACON). This was not my first encounter with coconut bacon. I have tried it in many different iterations: lovingly inside a BLT at Aux Vivres, as a snack I brought to Burning Man courtesy of Phoney Baloney, and even a slippery, thick raw coconut bacon made from fresh coconut inside The Naked Sprout's BLT.
While I have made raw eggplant bacon before, coconut bacon had been on my hitlist for awhile. I even captured a picture of their ingredient list when I was at Aux Vivres. Definitely one of the benefits of them selling items to go. However, instead of using their ingredient list, I ran with Julie's recommendation to add smoked paprika to the recipes floating around the web. It worked for the raw eggplant bacon so I was quickly sold on her smoked paprika pitch. It did not disappoint and I liked it better than anything else I had tried. The fact that it made so much is great because we are going to enjoy this for awhile.
But don't let me distract you from this dip. A cheesy chickpea spread with smoky undertones, it was a fun salty snack I served at our tamalada. We had some delicious chips that needed a dip and this was a great choice. Everyone approved and Rob is adamant about bringing it back into our dip repertoire. I won't stop him.. and to give him due credit, I only crafted the recipes, Rob executed them with finesse… and then I cobbled together some photographs. :)
With the Superbowl, Academy Awards and the Olympics on the horizon, this may be the dip-friendly part of the year. If you would like other delicious dips, consider these, too:
Green Velvet Guacamole (aka Guacamame or Edamame Guacamole)
Ginger Lime Wasabi Edamame Hummus
Hillbilly Hummus (Black Eyed Pea and Peanut Butter Hummus)
This is my submission to this month's Four Seasons Food Challenge, this month's Cheese Please, this month's Spice Trail for paprika, and to this month's Bookmarked Recipes.
Holy Moley Veggie and Rice Soup
I am no stranger to mole, but our recent trip to Mexico City, gave me an appreciation for Mexican food like no other. Fresh, soft and supple corn tortillas that blew my mind. An assortment of flavourful vegetables. Spicy salsa on the side, to add as much or as little heat as I could tolerate. Vegan eats were a bit hard to find, but after scoping out the right restaurants, we had unearthed some gems. My two favourite restaurants served an abundance of tacos. One of them served a delicious chocolate-infused mole sauce. Rob did a double-take after I ordered another taco and did not share. I had to savour another one!
Chocolate in savoury meals can be a bit tricky. A bit heavy handed, and it can sink in your tummy. A good balance of sweet, spicy and salty are necessary to balance the flavours well. This is an unusual spin on mole, in soup form, bulked up with vegetables and brown rice. The tomato-chocolate backdrop was a delicious spin without being heavy (and the initial puree prior to adding the stock would be a delicious sauce on its own). While this wasn't in a taco, we served this with tortillas on the side.
Like mole, tamales are also a Mexican comfort food. Our next Mexican culinary adventures will be tamales. We were planning to have a tamalada (a tamale-making party) prior to Christmas, as tamales are usually eaten around holidays, such as Christmas and New Year's. However, it is harder to schedule a large gathering of fellows than you might think. It means the tamalada will happen in the new year. With my recent chocolate themed eats, I will likely be proposing chocolate tamales for dessert.
What is your favourite Mexican comfort food?
This is my submission to Deb for this week's Souper Sundays, to this week's Weekend Wellness, to this month's We Should Cocoa, to this month's No Croutons Required and to this month's My Legume Love Affair.
Moroccan Harira with Eggplant and Chickpeas & Isa Does It Giveaway!
See below for the giveaway for Isa Does It!
If I had to pick a vegan rockstar, it would be Isa Chandra Moskowitz. Long ago, we was rocking it out on television, but now mostly vegan chef, author and blogger. She has penned 7 vegan cookbooks and her eighth book has been eagerly anticipated. As she explains in her newest cookbook, Isa Does It, her title makes more sense once you know her first name is pronounced Ee-sa. Thus, her title is a play on Easy Does It. ;)
As such, Isa Does It highlights mostly simple, quicker recipes (under 30 minutes!) that are foremost tasty. This is a cookbook for the beginner chef as well as those who want to reinvigorate their kitchens with new scents and textures, without breaking the bank or spending hours on top of the stove. Isa explains how she stocks her pantry, her kitchen cabinets and then details specific beginner techniques (with step-by-step photos), such as how to butcher tofu and tempeh.
With 11 recipe chapters that span the gamut from quick soups, salads, handheld, bowls, curries and stir fries, there is a lot of variety. Furthermore, not much is left untouched as Isa also includes fancier "Sunday night suppers" and breakfast/brunch ideas, too. Rest assured, complete meals are encouraged as desserts are included, too.
I admire Isa for a fabulously tantalizing blog, sharing her delicious creations. I guess it should be no surprise that some of my favourite recipes from her blog appear in the cookbook (see below). In addition, of the 150 recipes in the cookbook, the majority are brand-spanking new.
Beefy asparagus stir-fry with fresh herbs. Okra gumbo with chickpeas and kidney beans. Quinoa Caesar salad. Cucumber Ranch bowl with breaded tofu. Edamame hummus and tofu wraps. Belgian beer and seitan stew. Baked garlic-curry fries. Chickpea-Rice soup with cabbage. Coconut chana saag. Chandra Malai kofta. Goddess noodles with tempeh and broccoli. My Thai overnight scramble, breakfast scrambled chickpeas, oh please.
If you have tried Isa's recipe before, you know the name of each dish never gives you the full picture. They are very descriptive of the ingredients, but something so simple may be more than the sum of its parts. I am eagerly waiting to pounce through this cookbook, page-by-page. Chocolate gingerbread cookies, anyone? I can already vouch for the ancho lentil tacos, tempeh orzilla, Jerk Sloppy Joes, lemon-garlic fava beans and mushrooms, chana masala (not my favourite but Rob liked it well enough), cucumber avocado tea sandwiches, chai spiced snickerdoodles, and now her delicious Moroccan harira with eggplant and chickpeas.
Harira is a Moroccan soup/stew that I have been meaning to recreate since I travelled to Morocco. Let's just say it has been on my to-make list for many years. It wasn't until I saw Isa's recipe that I jumped at the chance to try it out. Harira is a very forgiving recipe. As I travelled through Morocco, nearly every restaurant had a different version of harira. Some with chickpeas, some with lentils, sometimes both beans, some with tomatoes, others with ginger, some with herbs, others not. I cannot say that I saw any with eggplant, but that is Isa's slant.
First, I made a few tweaks to Isa's recipe… mainly because I had no vegetable broth, so I used my impromptu nooch plus random spice blend. This time, I threw in dried parsley, lemon pepper and the 21-spice seasoning from Trader Joe's. I also substituted spiralized zucchini for the noodles. Ingenious, if I may say so myself. Anyways, less about me, more about Isa. This soup was great. Bulky and satisfying with chickpeas and lentils in a flavourful tomato broth spiced with ginger, cinnamon, smoked paprika and saffron. Fresh mint and cilantro add a lightness, along with the finishing lemon juice. I use saffron so sparingly I am glad I finally found a great use for it! The textural foil of the noodles with the beans was perfect.
For someone new to veganism, the ingredient lists in her recipes may still seem a tad overwhelming (vital wheat gluten, nutritional yeast, chickpea flour, cashews, wine and fresh herbs) but these are rather commonplace in a vegan's kitchen. Except the saffron, because well, that's not a regular ingredient. Once you have access to fresh herbs, it is hard to return to the dried ones, so I understand the recent push for quality ingredients.
I really want to share this cookbook with you. Thankfully the publisher is letting me give a cookbook to one reader living in the US or Canada. To be entered, please leave a comment here, telling me about your favourite Isa recipe. If you haven't made anything by Isa yet, have a look through the table of contents of Isa Does It on amazon (or my list below) and tell me what you want to cook the most. I will randomly select a winner on October 31, 2013. Good luck!
PS. Today is also the last day to enter my giveaway for The Ayurvedic Vegan Kitchen. Enter here.
PPS. If you pre-ordered your cookbook already, don't forget to get your free Isa Does It tote bag.
PPPS. Versions of Isa's dishes made previously, not all from Isa Does It (more recommended dishes can be found listed here):
Ancho Lentil Salad Wraps
Black Bean and Kabocha Squash Rancheros
Roasted Beet Salad with Warm Maple Mustard Dressing and Tempeh Croutons
White Bean, Quinoa and Kale Stew with Fennel
Asparagus, Nectarine and Baby Lima Bean Lettuce Wrap
Naked Oats with Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Crumbled Tempeh
Tomato-Basil Zucchini Noodle Salad
Chickpea Piccata
Brown Sugar Cardamom Snickerdoodles
PPPPS. Isa's recipes in Isa Does It that she has already shared on her blog, Post Punk Kitchen, and elsewhere:
Everyday Pad Thai
Seitan & Broccoli with Pantry BBQ Sauce
Cucumber Avocado Tea Sandwiches with Dill & Mint
Roasted Potato & Fennel Soup
Chickpea-Rice Soup with Cabbage
Alphabet Soup
New England Glam Chowder
Quarter Pounder Beet Burger
Olive Lentil Burgers
Jerk Sloppy Joes with Coconut Creamed Spinach
Sunflower Mac (and Cheese)
Roasted Butternut Alfredo
Ancho Lentil Tacos
Dragon Noodle Salad
Bestest Pesto
Pesto Risotto with Roasted Zucchini
Chili Pumpkin Cranberry Risotto with Spicy Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
Red Lentil Thai Chili
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Penne with Broccoli
Chana Masala
Dilly Stew with Rosemary Dumplings
Meaty Beany Chili with Corn Muffins
Okra Gumbo with Chickpeas & Kidney Beans
Lemon Garlic Fava Beans & Mushrooms
Summer Seitan Saute with Cilantro and Lime
Tamale Shepherd's Pie
Nirvana Enchilada Casserole
Tempeh Orzilla
Garlicky Thyme Tempeh
Puffy Pillow Pancakes
Carrot Cake Pancakes
Marbled Banana Bread
Chai Spice Snickerdoodles
Rosemary Chocolate Chip Cookies
This is my submission to Deb for this week's Souper Sundays and to next month's Veg Cookbook Club.
Note: I was given a complimentary copy of this book to review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own. You know I would have loved this book and would have bought my own copy. :)


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About XOpenDisplay in libvdpau
Hi all,
I have two machine now.
A(192.168.0.1) Intel Graphic card
B(172.16.1.1) NVIDIA Graphic card
On host A, I use "X :1 -query 172.16.1.1" connect to host B. I want to use libvdpau on B which is a NVIDIA card.
vdpau_create_device_X11 need pass a Display to it. So I use "XOpenDisplay" to get it. But I found that "Display" point to A(server). So I can use GPU on host B.
How can I use GPU on hot B? start X server on host B or other? Any suggestion is appreciated.
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Vote for prize-winning mothers in our Mother's Day contest
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CORRECTED VERSION — UPDATE: Clallam County woman's death by measles is first in nation in 12 years and first in state since 1990
Forks officials cancel Saturday fireworks display due to dry conditions; sole vendor of consumer products closes up shop
State Patrol: Sleep causes two separate wrecks in East Jefferson County; drivers taken to Harborview Medical Center
Peninsula leaders seek way to ban fireworks during emergency conditions; measures could go into effect no earlier than 2017
Want more top stories? Sign up here for daily or weekly newsletters with our top news.
Simply go to www.peninsuladailynews.com, click on the button and make your choice for the photo and essay you like.
The top three mothers who achieve the most votes will win prizes from these contest sponsors:
Peaceful Kneads Massage, Elwha River Casino, Atma Massage, Extendicare, Port Angeles Anytime Fitness and Woodfire Grill.
Voting concludes Friday at noon.
Last modified: May 04. 2013 6:32PM


text: Love this place. We have been there three times and will come back every year. Cute and clean cabins, awesome dining room and free breakfast, hiking, fishing, and relaxing are the orders of the day. The owners treat you like family. Really neat cowboy bar, pool table and fireplace lounge. Miles of dirt road to get there but worth it... More


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You can now invite anyone to meet at your favorite Starbucks.
Limited-time feature
31 year old man | Orlando, FL, USA | Seeking women 21-32 within 15 miles of Kissimmee, FL
Active within 24 hours
Looking for a girl with good family values.
I'm a very laid back guy, who enjoys goin out now and then, but also enjoys relaxing at home by the pool or just watching a movie. My family is everything to me so having someone who is very family oriented in my life is a big thing for me. I'm big into cooking so I'm not looking for the type of girl who thinks she needs to be the typical "housewife". Other than that I'm kind of old fashioned, thats most likely thanks to my dad who was in the navy for 22 years so he instilled certain values in me. I won't give out anymore info, I would hate to actually go on a date and have nothing to talk about.
Camping , Coffee and conversation , Cooking , Dining out , Movies/Videos , Music and concerts , Exploring new areas , Nightclubs/Dancing , Playing cards , Playing sports , Travel/Sightseeing , Video games , Watching sports
Baseball, Basketball, Billiards / Pool, Bowling, Football, Golf, Skiing, Swimming, Tennis / Racquet sports, Walking / Hiking
I exercise 1-2 times per week.
I like Cats, Dogs, Gerbils / Guinea Pigs / Etc.
Middle of the Road
Not sure yet, I just moved to Florida so I am still learning the area.
I love movies. I like the epics mostly (Braveheart, LOTR, The Matrix). I also like the outdoors, just walking sometimes and occasionaly a camping trip.
I like to watch anykind of sporting event, go skiing, go out to the bar and sometimes just go for ride in my car and relax.
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|What he is looking for
|5'10" (177cms)
|3'0" (91cms) to 5'9" (175cms)
|Body type:
|No preference
|No preference
|Light brown
|Black, Light brown, Dark brown, Blonde, Dark blonde, Platinum
|Yes, but trying to quit
|No Way, Occasionally, Daily, Yes, but trying to quit
|Social Drinker
|Social Drinker
|Executive / Management
|No preference
I work at a Lowes Distribution center.
|$35,001 to $50,000
|No preference
|Never Married
|Never Married
|Have kids:
|No preference
|Wants kids:
|Definitely, Someday, Not sure
|White / Caucasian
|No preference
|Christian / Catholic
|No preference
|No preference
|Some college
|No preference


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Description of the Walign.exe and Winalign.exe Tools
Article ID: 191655
This article describes the Winalign.exe and Walign.exe tools.
More information
The Winalign.exe and Walign.exe tools optimize the performance of programs by optimizing a program's executable code (binaries). Windows 98 Setup installs the Walign.exe tool, and this tool is used to optimize Microsoft Office version 7.0 for Windows 95 or Microsoft Office 97 programs. The Winalign.exe tool is included in the Windows 98 Resource Kit, and is used to optimize other programs.
Winalign.exe and Walign.exe optimize programs by rewriting a program's file headers, creating a new section table, and then writing file sections, each of which starts on a 4-kilobyte (KB) boundary. The new section table is then updated with this information, and the file headers are also updated to denote the file is now aligned to a 4-KB boundary. By aligning files in this manner, the Windows 98 CacheMap feature can map directly to sections in the cache memory. This can result in significant performance increases by freeing memory.
Winalign.exe maintains a record in the registry to track all of the files it has aligned. Note that files that were not aligned are not noted in this record. This log is stored in the following registry key:
If needed, Winalign.exe uses these entries in the registry to restore realigned binaries to their unaligned state, although these entries are not used for any subsequent realignments. If you run Winalign.exe on a drive that has already been realigned, Winalign.exe only realigns the files that need updating.
You can add the following registry key to have Winalign.exe log file errors in the realignment process:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Winalign\ LogForErrorCase
The allowable data values are: 1=On, 0=Off.
Article ID: 191655 - Last Review: June 22, 2014 - Revision: 3.0


text:
Current Articles
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By Andrew Messier NetSim 10.2 is released. It's a minor update for NetSim's routing and switching engine. The team added support for manual Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) bindings and improved support for Routing Information Protocol next-generation (RIPng). The update addresses bugs for DHCP and RIP. This release also includes 5 new CCNP labs which are listed below:
Read More
By Josh E. Being able to implement first hop router redundancy protocols is one of the objectives listed for Cisco's 642-813 SWITCH exam. Cisco supports three first hop redundancy protocols: Gateway Load Balancing Protocol (GLBP), Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP), and Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP). This article provides an overview of each of these protocols.
GLBP is a router redundancy protocol that also provides load balancing. GLBP enables you to configure multiple routers as a GLBP group; the routers in the group receive traffic sent to a virtual IP address that is configured for the group. Each GLBP group contains an active virtual gateway (AVG) that is elected based on which router is configured with the highest priority value, or with the highest IP address if multiple routers are configured with the highest priority value. The other routers in the GLBP group are configured as primary or secondary active virtual forwarders (AVFs). Up to four primary AVFs can be configured in a GLBP group, and the primary AVFs can participate in forwarding traffic. Consequently, multiple routers can be used simultaneously to provide load balancing for the GLBP group.
By Bryan Baize, CCIE #16139 Cisco has recently announced a revamp of the CCNP program. To begin this process, Cisco ordered a Job Task Analysis (JTA) to discover what the marketplace really expects from a CCNP certified professional. The participants in the JTA included subject matter experts from all over the world.The results of the JTA indicate that it is time for the CCNP to get back to the basics of routing and switching and also bring back troubleshooting. Overall, the marketplace would like the CCNP professional to be a more a self-sufficient and freethinking network engineer. The IT professionals surveyed indicated that the CCNP job role would include three items:
Cisco developed the new program around several goals, including:
© 2015 Boson Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.


text:
This SEBO Upholstery Nozzle is available separately although it is normally packaged with the SEBO canisters and uprights. It is constructed of rigid but slightly flexable light grey ABS Plastics, making it quite durable. A brush strip near the nozzle's front edge aids in picking up lint, pet hair and threads.
Rating: (0 Review)


text: A UFO group in Taiwan is trying to authenticate a photo of what appears to be a transparent figure walking along a country road. The unusual image, snapped by a policeman in Taiwan's Taitung County in early December 2012, shows an extremely tall, human-shaped being that appears to be nearly invisible. "(I)t does not appear to be an edited photo," says image processing expert Chien Jung-tai. More info, including video news footage, at Unexplained Mysteries.


text:
easy craft tutorials for kids and adults
Filed Under: Wearable Crafts for Kids Tagged With: apron, cookie cutter, cookie cutters, wearable
Filed Under: Animal Crafts for Kids, Father's Day Crafts, Featured, Other Kid's Crafts Tagged With: cookie cutter, cookie cutters, dad, father's day, kid's crafts, salt dough
Filed Under: Father's Day Crafts, Featured, Other Kid's Crafts Tagged With: cookie cutter, cookie cutters, father's day, kid's crafts, magnets, paint, salt dough
Filed Under: Back to School Crafts, Fall Crafts Tagged With: back to school, cookie cutter, cookie cutters, kid's crafts, salt dough
Filed Under: Christmas Crafts, Home Decor Projects Tagged With: adult, cabin, cookie cutter, cookie cutters, holidays, kid's crafts, nature crafts, north woods, ornaments, rustic
Amanda is a well-known craft expert and craft book author. She loves to create on a daily basis. Find out more here..
All images and text copyright Amanda Formaro 2014. For the purposes of featuring a post from Crafts by Amanda, you may use one photo that must be credited and linked back to the appropriate post on this blog. Please do NOT copy and paste anything from this website as it constitutes a violation of the AF/AC copyright.
Home | About Amanda | Media Inquiries | Privacy Policy | CBA on G+ | Subscribe || AmandaFormaro.com | Fun Family Crafts | Amanda's Cookin'


text:
Originally Posted by aluncrockford
It is going to be impossible to get hold of 5x7 colour film,
Shall I just accept the fact that the format is dead?
I might as well stick with 8X10 and learn to live with 4x5 as the lighter portable alternative.
You've answered your own question, stick with 4x5 and 8x10.


text:
Status: Closed
Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
We specialize in Laptop Repair including screen repair, power jack repair, virus / spyware removal, motherboard repair, walk-ins welcome, quick repairs, power jack replacement while you wait.
;Computer Technical Assistance & Support Services
Be the first Burbank 91502 user to add photos or videos of A K Laptop Repair
1 star
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Laptoprepair.com is located at 3200 W Burbank Blvd, Burbank, CA. This business specializes in Tool & Die Makers Equipment & Supplies.
LaptopRepair.com provides component-level repair services including motherboard repair, LCD replacement, DC jack repair and more.
If you don't see your business listed on Burbank 91502, please add your business listing.
Burbank 91502 wants to get your input! If you have a comment, find a bug or think of something neat we should do, let us know by emailing us.
© 2007-2015 Solfo, Inc. – All rights reserved


text:
Sporting Event Planning
The Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau can assist you with many aspects of planning and event execution. Below is an overview of the assistance we provide:
|For personalized help contact Debi Schultz, Director of Sales
Request for Proposal
Please submit your Request for Proposal. You may either upload a PDF or DOC detailing your request, or complete the form below. Either way, our representatives will be in contact with you shortly.
Hosting the many sporting events that we do allows us the opportunity to meet and help extraordinary people and ensure them a memorable experience. It is the reason we are here, to make every visitor to Abilene feel at home. Below are a few testimonials sent to us in order to express thanks for the many great memories made here:
"I cannot thank you enough for hosting the Regional Athletic Directors Winter Meeting. ALL of the participants thought it was a great place to host the meeting and really appreciated you providing lunch. Each one asked me to give you a big thank you for all you did and they will be back in the future. Personally I want to thank you for all the support you provide for all of the coaches and sports in AISD. The athletic directors said they could tell how appreciative AISD should be to have the relationship with you and the ACVB."
- Jerry Gayden
-Abilene ISD, Director of Athletics
"Thank you sooooo much for everything you and your team did for the JTT Fall Section Championships. I didn't get a chance to talk with you before we left, but I wanted you to know how much I appreciated everything you did for us. When working with big events like this, you always have multiple personalities, but the important thing is that your consumers and visitors have a great experience, and that they did!"
Some of the things I heard throughout the weekend ....
- "I didn't know Abilene had such a cute downtown."
- "I loved driving down Sayles and getting to the facility."
- "They've treated us better here than they ever did at Newks." (John Newcombe Tennis Ranch)
- "Dallas put in a bid for next year, but I don't know how we can compete."
- "The kids are loving the player party!"
- "I love doing the social media scavenger hunts because it makes you see things you might not have."
- "The CVB really went all out and we're so appreciative."
- "With the Abilene hospitality and the great facilities, this is the perfect place to host big events."
Please share these comments with your team. Also, any feedback you have for us, I'll gladly pass it along. I hope the event was as successful for you as it was for us! Thanks again for everything,
- Amanda Friday
-West Texas TSR, USTA Texas
"Abilene did a fantastic job and made every team feel special even if they were only playing for 11th place. This was easily the best the tournament ever been run."
-Jack Gregory
-Texas Tennis Coaches Association 3A State Team Tennis Tournament
Kudos to Debi Schultz, Sports Sales Director:
"First of all I want to tell you Thank-you for being such a Great Person when it comes to helping me and the Texas High School Powerlifting Association. You made my two years as president very easy and words can't describe the magnitude of help that you and Abilene provided. Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!
Thank you for being a great business partner these past two years and becoming a great friend of mine as well!"
Thanks Again,
-Tim Mynarcik, President 2011-2012
-Texas High School Powerlifting Association State Championship
"Just wanted you to know that we greatly appreciate your hospitality and the opportunity to participate in your "Champions Classic"! It was a great experience for our student athletes and they thoroughly enjoyed it. Winning didn't hurt any either! Coach Spitzer reported to me that everything was nothing but "first class". The boys especially appreciated their tags hanging on the lockers. Nice touch! These young men dream of playing in the high school football finals and this trip to Abilene; playing in big P.E. Shotwell Stadium; and the wonderful way they were treated might be as close as they come to fulfillment of that dream. Thank you so much for giving them this experience of a lifetime. Please express our appreciation to all of the corporate sponsors who make these games possible. It was great and I hope to be back in Abilene soon to attend a game with my son-in-law, Daniel Jones! We look forward to another opportunity in the future to share in the Champions Classic! "
-Gordon H. Grubbs, Superintendent, Newcastle ISD
PS – Our fans also appreciated representatives of your organization for coming over to the visitor's side just to say thanks for coming and giving them a fan! Thanks also for the shirt. I can hardly wait to wear it and have folks ask me about it! I will tell them about our game and the welcome we were made to feel in Abilene.
Again, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for everything you did and all the time you spent at the Conference Meet this weekend. It was a big success according to the meet referee and the officials. Most of them told me personally that they loved their notebook and that they would really use it. Many of the regular officials said that they would love to come back any time.
Many Thanks,
-Jerry Johnson, Assistant Track Coach
-Hardin-Simmons University
"Thank you so much for hosting our playoff game. The stadium, the workers, and Abilene were great! Thanks for all of your help."
-E. Ariel Elliot
-Principal, Greenwood High School
"Thank you for hosting our playoff game. What a thrill it was for our kids and our fans to play at Shotwell. I appreciate the hospitality and Mr. Gayden being a part of the game with us because I know how busy and hectic this time of year is."
-Walter Hargrove
-Jim Ned Indians
"Once again, we want to thank you for your hospitality in welcoming the Southwest Region Bowlers of the Professional Bowlers Association to Abilene this past week-end. For the past three years, the city of Abilene has made the PBA feel like special visitors and this year was no different. The residents of Abilene, the press coverage, the employees at Abilene Bowling Lanes and the Visitors Bureau all help in making this one of the most anticipated events on the schedule and we are all appreciative and grateful for your efforts!
Thank you for a job very well done!"
-Pete McCordic
"Thank you so much for your work and tireless effort in making the TASO-Football state meeting such a success! Having coordinated a number of these meetings in cities both big and small throughout the state, I can unequivocally say that your cooperation, assistance and hands-on participation before and during the event were far beyond the normal assistance provided by convention and visitors bureau personnel. Should there be an opportunity for one of our other sports to have a meeting in a non-metropolitan area, I will certainly encourage them to consider Abilene."
-Steve Ellinger
-Executive Director, Texas Association of Sports Officials
"I want to take this opportunity and thank you for your support of the Mesquite Grove Invitational - Retired Military Golf Tournament. We appreciate our very important and generous sponsors, which made our tournament a huge success. Your support of Retired Military and Veterans, that served and defended our Great Nation, is very commendable. God Bless America."
-Bill Harner
-Tournament Chair
Shotwell Stadium
Action Zone Champions Classic Football Weekend
High school football season is kicked off West Texas style with this multi game weekend featuring some of the best teams in Texas. Proceeds from the event fund college scholarships for Abilene's graduating student athletes.
Starting lineup for 2015: Abilene High vs. San Antonio Warren and Cooper High vs. Austin Vandegrift
Tickets can be purchased at the gate. All games are played at Shotwell Stadium, 1525 E.S. 11th St.
If you would like personalized help, please contact Debi Schultz, Sales Director.
Top 10 Things To Do
Explore more great things to do and see in Abilene!
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Ben Affleck Named Entertainment Weekly's 'Entertainer of the Year'
Entertainment Weekly has named Ben Affleck its 'Entertainer of the Year.' The actor recently starred and directed the hit film 'Argo,' a political thriller which follows the covert CIA operation that freed six diplomats from Tehran during the 1970's Iran hostage crisis.
Commenting on Argo's success, Affleck shared, "I had very low expectations for Argo's performance. I just hoped that over time people would find the movie. Also, being at a place in my life and my career where I know what I'm trying to do, it's different than being 26. When you're younger and have the early success that I had — it sounds like the worst Hallmark cliche — but I didn't have anyone to share it with. I don't mean I wanted someone to sit by the fire with. But when you have a family and children, you kind of see yourself reflected in them. I want to make the kinds of movies that my kids are proud of. I have higher standards, in a way, for them."
Affleck became known with his performances in such Kevin Smith films as Mallrats (1995), Chasing Amy (1997) and Dogma (1999). He won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for the screenplay for Good Will Hunting (1997), which he co-wrote with Matt Damon, and has appeared in lead roles in such popular hits as Armageddon (1998), Pearl Harbor (2001), Changing Lanes (2002), The Sum of All Fears (2002), Daredevil (2003), Hollywoodland (2007), State of Play (2009) and The Town (2010).
The critically acclaimed director has helmed Gone Baby Gone (2007), The Town (2010) and Argo (2012),playing the lead in the latter two films. He has worked with his younger brother, actor Casey Affleck, on several projects, including Good Will Hunting and Gone Baby Gone.
About Author
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- Kirk Cameron, Kelsey Grammer, ANNIE and More Top 2015 RAZZIE AWARDS; Full List!
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- Rebecca Wang Supports 68th BAFTA Film Awards Ceremony
- Gay Men's Health Crisis to Honor THE NORMAL HEART's Larry Kramer with Lifetime Achievement Award


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Learn how MacUpdate Desktop can install apps on MacUpdate with the simple click of the icon. Plus, keep all your apps updated.
Apple iTunes lets you organize and play digital music and video on your computer. It can automatically download new music, app, and book purchases across all your devices and computers. And it's a store that has everything you need to be entertained. Anywhere. Anytime.
What's New
- This update improves support for syncing photos to your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch from the new Photos app for OS X.
- This update also adds several refinements to the Get Info window and improves overall stability.
- OS X 10.7.5 or later
- iTunes Extras requires OS X 10.9.3 or later


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Thank you to everybody who participated in our #StrymonLights Deco giveaway contest! We really enjoyed checking out your pedalboards as well as your photography skills. You gave us some of the most creative entries we've ever seen, and we had an extremely difficult time picking just a few winners. So, again, a big thanks to everybody who shared their #StrymonLights with us.
» Click here to read the rest of the article »