text:
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From 0 ratings
Plant type
Deciduous shrub
Flower colour
Flowers, Attractive to wildlife
Skill level
Buddleja davidii has earned the common name of the butterfly bush thanks to its scented flowers which attract horders of hungry butterflies. 'Pink Beauty' has large pink flowers which cover the plant in summer. Buddlejas are very easy to grow, surviving in the harshest of conditions. They can be left unpruned but to encourage the best display of flowers and to keep the size of the plant in check, they are best cut back hard in early spring.
Family: Buddlejaceae
Genus: Buddleja
Species: davidii
Cultivar: Pink Beauty
Plant type: Deciduous shrub
Flower colour: Pink
Foliage colour: Mid-green
Feature: Flowers, Attractive to wildlife
Sun exposure: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil: Well-drained/light, Clay/heavy, Chalky/alkaline, Moist
Hardiness: Hardy
Skill level: Beginner
Height: 500cm
Spread: 300cm
Time to take cuttings: November to February
Be the first reader to review the Buddleja davidii 'Pink Beauty' Butterfly bush!


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Most folks are a bit on edge about the economy right now, what with slowing GDP and stagnant job growth at home and the continued trouble in China and Europe.
But "100% bearish" on stocks?
In a recent interview with Chuck Jaffe of MoneyLife , that's the outlook Charles Biderman , chief executive officer at TrimTabs Investment Research. Biderman told the institutional clients who get TrimTabs that he is "100% bearish" on U.S. stocks.
Even after a roughly 18% run for the S&P 500 since January 1.
"A perfect storm appears to be in the offing, where Europe, the United States China, everything is going to implode … all going to hit by the fall or maybe late summer," Biderman told Jaffe in an interview.
He went on to say data indicates there has been a "less than 1% gain in after-tax, after-inflation take-home pay" and that's the most important metric to pay attention to in regards to consumer spending or the broader economy. The fact that companies are simply hoarding cash and buying back stock is proof that trouble is on the horizon.
So where should you invest? Biderman is focusing on gold, short-side investments and inflation-protected bonds.
"I definitely want to be short and safe," he said.
Now, Biderman did admit to starting the year bullish so I will give him the benefit of the doubt and not assume he's sitting on an 18% loss in his short positions or a 21% loss in his gold position year-to-date.
But it's important to note that the bears have been dead wrong all the way up for the market as gold has collapsed and U.S. stocks have soared.
And as for that inflation bet? It's running at a 0.5% seasonally adjusted annualized rate according to June figures from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
Hardly hyperinflation, guys, and continued highs for the markets could continue to prove the bears wrong.
Related Reading:
- Inflation data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. (BLS.gov)
- More on TrimTabs and Biderman. (TrimTabs.com)
- More on Chuck Jaffe and Moneylife. (Moneylifeshow.com)
Jeff Reeves is the editor of InvestorPlace.com and the author of The Frugal Investor's Guide to Finding Great Stocks. Write him at firstname.lastname@example.com or follow him on Twitter via @JeffReevesIP. As of this writing, he did not own a position in any of the stocks named here.

subset: commoncrawl


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Opening Statement
We accomplished what we wanted to accomplish, we've got the momentum going now that we hoped we could get from those two games. The
I thought Saturday also gave us an opportunity to use Marcus Williams at the point a little bit and have Daniel (Dillon) come in at a position that he feels more comfortable (two-guard). Daniel had probably his best game as a Wildcat. With Fendi Onobun in practice situations, (we're) trying to work on him in the three as much as we can because eventually it's going to be a case of where he will be a swing forward. But in games he feels more comfortable, and we feel more comfortable, with him in the four position, but when the game got totally in hand we did use him at the three and gave him some experience there.
In looking back we feel good about it. The tapes, I think, certainly showed what we saw in the game situation. There were more live minutes in the
"Now, going up to
We have been so busy with our situation that I haven't kept up a lot, but Ayinde Ubaka is at 39%, Richard Midgley is at 43% Omar Wilkes is at 48%, Theo Roberston, off the bench is at 33%. That's an outstanding array of three-point shooters and when you've got the inside presence that they have it is hard to do the double teaming that you have to do against a guy like Powe, as to whether or not we do that this time we will see. If we come along well enough on the inside that we can handle things individually we'll look at doing that in effort to keep three-point shots out of the perimeter guys. When we played them here we did a really good job on the perimeter in terms of cutting down on the three-point opportunities.
Just in going a step further as far as Stanford is concerned, I think it's a break for us that we have two days in between that game, where we have a chance to do a lot of work and preparation for Stanford, they require a lot of work because of the way they play. Matt Haryasz is the best big guy in the league, all you have to do is look at his stats and you'll see that. He, like Powe, can score inside, can score facing up, and can put it on then floor. (Chris) Hernandez has always been a problem, for everyone that plays Stanford and I am sure that their home crowd is going to be just like it has. They'll be a tremendous inspiration for them as a team. It looks to me that Dan Grunfeld is feeling much more comfortable now after the new surgery last year, he is more active and more of a factor on the boards. So that game will certainly be a challenge, too.
I was a little concerned when I heard things about the (NCAA Tournament) bubble, and there is one fact that has been left out of that. Stanford is up somewhere in the 50's and
Talk about
I think Poe's presence has a lot to do with that, but I think Ubaka has had a big influence on how they have done down this stretch. He has done really well and he has been an excellent under-pressure point guard. Midgley is a very experienced player, Wilkes had a year at
Comment on the recent play of Kirk Walters:
Oh, he is playing great, compared to when we went into those games, however many weeks ago. Kirk is a very different player right now than he was when we played them the first time.
You are taking the team to two difficult places to play...:
Well they are tough places to play, but I think that if you look at the history at Haas Pavilion, I think at one point a couple years ago
I know our guys really feel good about Saturday's (
Talk about the play of Fendi Onobun:
It depends on the game. If it's a game where the other team is changing defenses and stepped up things, he's not quote ready for that. I say he wants to be a three man but he is much more (essential) to us as a staff that he is in that four position in the game situation as much as possible. In the practice situations, other than today, he'll take the part of Powe because we need some body that can shoot the perimeter shot, and also Fendi needs a lot of work on his right hand, he's fired up about being in that position.
On the number of shots for the big men:
I had said 20-25 shots from the inside people, and we have iced down Ivan's (Radenovic) right arm so I think he'll be ok. After so much activity you need to use ice on it (smiles). Including Fendi's shots and Bret Brielmaier's shots we actually got 35 shots out of the inside guys and that is miraculous I guess. The good thing is the perimeter guys loved it, loved getting the great assists, and now we have a presence inside and out that people are going to have to worry about, I'm not sure now that teams can let Kirk get the ball without doubling and I am not sure they can let Ivan get the ball without doubling, and as soon as that happens the perimeter shots end up being much less challenged.
Yeah I am just shocked, Eddie has been a friend for a lot of years and a great guy. Sean Sutton has a contract that once Eddie gives it up, Sean would become the head coach, and I know there were people who said that would be the case at the end of the year. I know Eddie's concern was that he didn't want to leave him with an inexperienced team otherwise I think he might have turned it over. But I am sorry to hear about him. He is a great person and has done a great job in coaching. I don't think there is anyone who has done a better job of coaching the talent that he has had over the years.
On the Return of Chris Rodgers:
The other thing that I was going to say is that Chris Rogers will practice with us today, as to whether he'll play this weekend or not I don't know. But he will be back on the court with us today. He has fulfilled the various responsibilities that have been set up for him to get back. I visited with all the guys individually today to discuss that situation and they are all very much in favor of him being back on the floor.
When will the decision be made about Chris playing on Thursday?
When do I decide when anyone is going to play? Once I see the practices and see how things go.
He has stopped by the office a number of times and said he just wants to do anything to help the team in whatever capacity. He's maintained a very positive approach to things all through this.
With some of these incidences I think the good thing is (that) Chris has recognized, that, yes, this has been a hard time. But I think that five years from now he is going to look back and feel this is part of his growing experience. His teammates felt that it would be a good idea to have him back.
Will his role with the team change?
"I can't tell you that. I'll see what happens in practice.


text:
ketoconazole shampoo - topical, Nizoral (cont.)
HOW TO USE: Wet hair and scalp completely with water. Apply enough shampoo to produce enough lather to clean hair and scalp. Massage gently over entire scalp. Rinse hair with warm water. Repeat this process if directed to do so by your doctor. Dry hair thoroughly after the final rinse.If using the over-the-counter strength of the shampoo (1%), apply the shampoo, lather, and rinse thoroughly. Repeat this process. Dry hair thoroughly after the second rinse.If treating skin other than the scalp, wet the skin and apply the shampoo to affected area and the surrounding healthy skin. Lather and leave in place for 5 minutes, then rinse off with water.Dosage, number of applications, and the length of treatment depends on the strength of the shampoo (2% or 1%) and the condition being treated. Carefully follow your doctor's instructions or the package directions.Avoid contact with the eyes. If the shampoo gets into the eyes, rinse thoroughly with water.Do not begin using the shampoo if your scalp/skin is broken or swollen.Inform your doctor if your condition persists after 2-4 weeks of treatment or worsens at any time.
SIDE EFFECTS: This medication may cause abnormal hair texture, discoloration, irritation, or pimple-like bumps on the scalp. There may also be oiliness or dryness of the hair and scalp. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: hair loss.A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.In the US -Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Need help identifying pills and medications?
Back to Medications Index


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Saved? From What!?
Carey Sherill
To: "Positive Atheism List" <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Subject: From What?
Date: Saturday, March 10, 2001 12:39 AM
I just peeked at Pastor Jeff's web page. There is a link called "Not Saved? Upgrade Now" via which you can save your soul. (Boy, the web is amazing, ain't it?) Because you were briefly a Christian, I'm hoping you can answer a question for me. Saved from what? This is not a flippant question. I was raised atheist and I honestly don't know what it is these people are trying to "save" me from. My only guess is "hell." I am, by any objective standard, a decent, honest, and hard working person, but they seem to be saying that if I don't agree with them, they believe I'm going to "hell"? That's just plain mean.
-- Carey
From: "Positive Atheism" <firstname.lastname@example.com>
To: "Carey Sherrill"
Subject: Re: From What?
Date: Saturday, March 10, 2001 7:14 AM
A full 6005 years ago (give or take), God formed Man from the dust of the ground, asked him to find a "helpmeet" from amongst the animals, and when none was found, God anesthetized the man and pulled out one of his ribs, and formed Woman -- according to one account. According to the other, he created them both on the same day, and then created the animals later. Go figure.
Anyways, according to one account, God told Man that all the herbs were for him to eat. The other account says that God (actually, "the gods") said that we don't want you to eat from this one particular tree, lest ye "become as one of us." (It really says that! In order to get around this, Mohammed came up with what is called the majestic plural pronoun, and even though Islam is viciously monotheistic, the Koran only refers to its deity as if they were a bunch of deities.)
So, this god -- or these gods -- whatever -- believed in animism, wherein something as simple as an apple has magical powers. In His (or Their) infinite wisdom and foresight (not to mention Parental responsibility), God (or the gods) placed a smooth-talking snake (yup!) in the garden, for the express purpose of trying to talk not the man, but his wife, into eating the forbidden fruit! Nowadays, in our post-Enlightenment society, which is based in humanistic ideals, He'd be thrown right in the crap house for child endangerment!
So, they ate the apple and their eyes were opened and they knew right from wrong because of the magical powers contained in the apple. I say "apple" but purists will point out that it doesn't say "apple" but that the "apple" part is just a myth -- just like the rest of the story.
Now, for 4000 years, this whole thing was just a myth: it was never really taken literally, but was seen mostly as an allegory to show that we ought to obey even if we don't understand. It was also used to explain death to the youngsters, until they grew up and could face the brutal reality of death.
About 2000 years ago, this Roman fellow named Saul tried to marry a cute young Jewess, but her father wouldn't let him unless he went to Pharisee school. The Pharisees were the nationalists, whereas the Sadducees were quislings to the Roman occupation. The Sadducees were a small but powerful sect, whose power and influence were inherited through bloodlines. They didn't need to work for anything they got, so they didn't -- and that's why they lost everything, particularly their respect amongst Jews.
The Pharisees were a general school of thought, like Democrats, with various subdivisions within this general group. Some of the Pharisees were militant nationalists, very humanistic and very materialistic; these were called the Zealots. It was from this group that Jesus is said to have chosen his followers. We know Jesus himself wasn't a Zealot because if we know anything at all about Jesus, it is that he believed in the supernatural to the point of thinking one is better off accomplishing a goal through supernatural means than by working for it. The Zealots were on the opposite end of the spectrum, thinking that even if there is a God, He's not going to help us out of our mess -- so we'd better get hopping, because if we don't do it, it won't get done. The Zealots were men after my own heart.
Meanwhile, Saul bombed out of Pharisee school, which is shown by comparing his style of thinking with that of the Pharisees, who were quite advanced for their day -- more so than even the best Roman thinkers of the time. However, Saul would later brag that he was one of the top Pharisaic achievers of his day. We know a lot about this era, and Saul is the only one who said this about himself; nobody else in the world of Hebrew scholarship had ever heard of him until long after the sect he founded started causing grief for the Hebrews. One of the earliest independent records of Saul is from the Ebionites, alleged followers of the nationalistic human messiah named Jesus. The Ebionites said that Saul was an opportunist and a charlatan and a whole litany of other synonyms for carnival barker.
To get revenge, Saul started working for the Sadducees, and focused heavily on this one sect which was causing quite a stir by saying that the Hebrew Messiah had already arrived, been killed, was raised from the dead, and was soon to return and shake off the yoke of Rome. Saul knew all about this because in the Roman world, everybody who was anybody had not only been raised from the dead, but had been born of a virgin, to boot! So this guy must be at least as important as all the others, since they were saying he had been raised from the dead and all -- he must likewise have been born of a virgin.
Saul studied their ways, and also those of a sect called the Gnostics, who believed that the world was evil, created and ruled by an evil god, and so they lived in this godforsaken retreat and ate locust and refused to fuck and everything. They taught that Gnosis, a form of enlightenment, came down into this darkness and transformed the enlightened. They had a teacher who was dead, but was revered as a great spirit of some kind, a light in the darkness.
The other group, later called the Ebionites, were trying to shake the yoke of the Roman occupation. They had a leader named Jesus who thought that the prophesies of the Hebrew Scriptures referred to himself, which said that he would stand upon the Mount of Olives and it would cleave in two and the Romans would be defeated. He had one of his followers pretend to betray him, just to get the Roman armies up onto the mount. On the eve of the Feast of Booths (autumn) he brought his disciples together, had them grab a few swords (just for show -- they wouldn't need any swords because he had supernatural powers), and he laid his trap for the Romans.
There's no such thing as the supernatural, is there? So the Romans grabbed him, and he languished in prison for a while and was later put to death as an example. Everyone caught in an act of sedition against Rome was crucified, and nobody was crucified for any crime other than sedition. This was to be a very vivid example, indeed, because they'd tie you to a cross and leave you there, letting you die slowly over the course of several days. Special people (read: rich people whose families bribed the officials) were put to death mercifully by having nails pounded into their bodies in addition to the ropes.
So, anyways, Saul gets this idea that would end up wreaking havoc on the Jews for the rest of history (though he probably didn't realize that this would happen, he just wanted to inflict as much collateral damage as he could, and he was quite clever and understandably angry).
Here's what Saul does: he changes his name to Paul and infiltrates one sect of the followers of Jesus, and tries to gain their endorsement. He does this by following their understanding of God's will, which is to follow the Hebrew Torah and teach that Jesus was not a failed Messiah, but would return just like Elijah.
Then he has this Epiphany: He had grown up as a Pagan and believed that the various gods (formerly important men) died and were raised from the dead. By identifying with that death and resurrection, your life would likewise be renewed -- in a "spiritual" sense (whatever that means). He also heard about the Gnostics who taught this pure light coming down upon select people in this dark, evil world, and transforming them literally into heavenly empowered beings who still had bodies of flesh. In the Epiphany, he puts two and two together, and hangs all this upon the life story of that poor bloke who was crucified for sedition.
Of course, the original followers of Jesus didn't buy this, and sternly denounced Paul amongst themselves -- at least until Paul brought a huge donation from the Gentile churches. But the rest of the Gentile world didn't know anything about what the original followers of Jesus taught or what they thought about Paul. They had to take Paul's word for it because he was the "apostle to the Gentiles" whereas the others stayed in Jerusalem and vicinity. So he told Jesus's followers that he was teaching the Law (he even ritualistically shaved his head to "prove" his loyalty to the law), but when he went to the other countries, he taught this new religion he'd invented: Jesus was the Jewish god. He was born of a virgin (there's that virgin birth again) and came to this evil world to save mankind from the effects of having eaten the apple in the Jewish mythology.
But here's where Paul had his coup: Instead of just being an allegory, instead of the apple causing literal death as an explanation for the kids, Paul's apple caused spiritual death (whatever that means). The original apple symbolized the price we pay for even having an opportunity to live and think and breathe and love: we all gotta die, and that's just the fact of life. But Paul changed all this and said that death means "separation from God" and that physical death is but a manifestation of real (or "spiritual") death. (This he derived from the Gnostic angle.)
So, Paul's god retroactively gets all pissed off at the first man for eating the apple, and takes it out on every human who has ever lived and who ever will live. He is forced to be this way because of something Paul calls Justice: Paul's god has no choice in the matter, and must inflict Justice upon the poor hapless humans even if He does not really want to do this because He is merciful.
I would never have guessed any of this in a million years, but Paul says that we all instinctively realize all this by nature.
So, since Paul set the stage for this sin and misery that we all wallow in, he has to come up with a solution: since the first man sinned unto death, the second man, Jesus, obeyed unto righteousness. You see? It makes perfect sense if you don't think about it! And what was Jesus's act of obedience? He pretended to be the Jewish political Messiah so that the Romans would sentence him to death on the cross for political sedition (the only way one can earn that penalty, remember). If the Romans thought he was a political Messiah, then that meant they knew that he was planning to usher in a new era of Hebrew self-rule, and that constituted sedition.
And just like America's drug laws, all they needed was a conspiracy rap and they had him: he didn't actually have to do anything; all he needed was for them to think he was up to something. So, unlike the historical Jesus, Paul's Jesus only put on the appearance of being the Hebrew political Messiah: he spoke of a "Kingdom" which was later understood (by Paul) to be "not of this world" -- or so say the followers of Paul. But at the time, nobody knew this -- not even Jesus. Only later did Paul realize that Jesus was not really talking about a literal political kingdom.
And you can be sure that Paul's people retroactively placed words into Jesus's mouth to this effect when they wrote his life story. Paul's followers compiled the Gospel accounts long after Paul had died, long after Jerusalem and vicinity had been leveled by Titus and his armies. By the time the Pauline version of the myth of Christ reached the bookstores, there was nobody left to dispute what they said. This is just like the many biographies of parental Hollywood stars that we often see turned into made-for-TV movies -- nobody is there to defend the truth; nobody is left to set the record straight. And Paul's followers knew this, of course! They broadcast their message only to those who would never know the difference: as Porphyry (circa C.E. 280) explained, the original Christian groups were composed mostly of the unlearned, and the Christian message was carried almost exclusively to Gentiles.
Paul's Jesus, now having undergone the Pagan Roman dying and resurrection, now qualified to host that form of sympathetic magick wherein one identifies oneself with the god to the point where one actually dies ("spiritually" -- whatever that means) and then is raised from the "dead" a new creature. Unique to Paul's Paganism is the notion that this Earth is a deadly wicked and dark place, and that by being "saved," we become creatures of the light, who are now merely "sojourning" among the living "dead" but our citizenship is now in the Realm of Light.
Paul's religion is essentially pagan except for this added gnostic element of Earth being dark and wicked and the realm of The Evil One. The other big difference from regular Paganism is that Paul expected his followers to take his myths literally, whereas before, the myths were admittedly allegorical and did not mean much.
There you have it. If you are confused, don't feel alone. The Jesus upon whose life story this myth was erected wouldn't understand it either. He was just thinking about his country and his people. He figured that his God would act only if his people straightened up their act religiously and morally, so he was a bit of a moralist, to boot. He also knew some parlor magic, as did most wandering preachers of those times, and this was not seen as unethical because it drew support for the cause (sound familiar?).
So, if the tree in the garden was the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and eating this tree of knowledge (in a sympathetic magic sort of way) was our downfall -- our curse, if you will -- then being saved can mean only one thing:
Jesus died to save you from
the curse of thinking for yourself.
In Christianity, thinking for yourself is the ultimate act of wickedness. This is why they will set aside their sectarian differences and unite to wipe out atheism and humanism and other philosophies which celebrate the marvelous abilities of the human mind. They will sternly denounce and viciously oppose any system which would vow "eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." (Thomas Jefferson was speaking about the Christian clergy when he said this, in case you forgot -- or in case they never taught that in the public schools.)
Frank Zappa put the same idea into the modern vernacular:
"So, just be a dumb fuck and you'll all go to heaven. That's the subtext of Christianity."
To: "Positive Atheism List"
Subject: Re: From What?
Date: Saturday, March 10, 2001 1:43 PM
"If two men agree on everything, you may be sure that one of them is doing the thinking."
Thank you! That is the the most complete (and funniest) explanation of what it means to be "saved" I've ever received. Asking "savers" got me nowhere. I should never ask someone to explain themselves; always go to an outside observer. Paul (Saul) was obviously thinking when he came up with this tidy scheme. So, is he "unsaved" or is there some retroactive exemption? If you want to subjugate a bunch of people, what better way than teach them they'll be rewarded for keeping themselves stupid. It works on so many levels: It's easy; it takes very little effort to be stupid. You get a treat at the end; everyone loves getting treats. Most importantly, it prevents those annoying probing questions.
If thinking is a curse then damn me baby! I'd rather roast in the light of the flames of hell than stumble through life without the light of reason.
I hope someday soon you can get some of your writings published in book form. With five or six years of essays and correspondence from which to draw, there is bound (bad pun) to be enough material for an organized collection. Your knowledge and experience with both camps certainly gives you credibility enough. There is great value in the responses you prepare. The one you just gave me is a prime example. In book form they might reach a broader audience.
-- Carey
From: "Positive Atheism Magazine" <email@example.com>
Subject: Re: From What?
Date: Saturday, March 10, 2001 5:22 PM
"If two men agree on everything, you may be sure that one of them is doing the thinking." -- Lyndon B. Johnson
Ah! So that's who said that! I've been using that one for years!
I hope someday soon you can get some of your writings published in book form.
Yeah, but editing the thing would be a nightmare.
Cliff Walker
"Positive Atheism" Magazine
Five years of service to
people with no reason to believe
Material by Cliff Walker (including unsigned editorial commentary) is copyright ©1995-2006 by Cliff Walker. Each submission is copyrighted by its writer, who retains control of the work except that by submitting it to Positive Atheism, permission has been granted to use the material or an edited version: (1) on the Positive Atheism web site; (2) in Positive Atheism Magazine; (3) in subsequent works controlled by Cliff Walker or Positive Atheism Magazine (including published or posted compilations). Excerpts not exceeding 500 words are allowed provided the proper copyright notice is affixed. Other use requires permission; Positive Atheism will work to protect the rights of all who submit their writings to us.


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Triple-Layer Pretzel Brownies RecipeRead Reviews Be the first to add a review
- 3 cups crushed pretzels
- 3/4 cup butter, melted
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 package fudge brownie mix (13x9-inch pan size)
- 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- Preheat oven to 400°. In a small bowl, combine pretzels, butter and sugar. Press into an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake 8 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
- Reduce heat to 350°. Prepare brownie mix batter according to package directions. Pour over prepared crust. Bake 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist crumbs (do not overbake). Cool completely on a wire rack.
- In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter; stir until smooth. Spread over top. Refrigerate 30 minutes or until firm. Cut into bars. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 2 dozen.
Reviews for Triple-Layer Pretzel Brownies
"I have made these too many times to count and everyone loves them. Anything worthwhile takes a little time and effort. I will continue making these."
"These were way too much of a hassle. Messy crust that wouldn't stay together and I will never make these again!"
"Crust is too crumbly to serve nicely. Flavors are great together! Next time I'll make the brownies and frost with the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Maybe at serving I'll sprinkle with broken pretzels to add the crunchy-salty factor. . . or perhaps I'll melt the butter with additonal sugar and get a caramel going. . . maybe that would hold the pretzel layer together. It's worth another try."
"I think I will flip it over as well and drizzle the chocolate over the pretzel.....they were awesome !!!"
"After reading the reviews with the difficulty of the bottom crust I made it in the morning and let it set all day before I finished the brownies. I also lined my pan with parchment paper which I let hang out of the pan by an inch and a half. I then followed the recipes according to the directions except I baked them according to the instructions on the box of brownies -not the recipe. . I was able to easily remove the brownies because of the parchment paper. I just grabbed both ends and pulled it out of the pan. The combination of sweet and salty is addicting."


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Brenda Wooten
Age: 47
Hometown: Humboldt, IA
Starting weight: 208
Current weight: 203
From the moment her son Dylan was born 15 years ago, Brenda Wooten immediately started putting his needs first—and she continued to do so when she divorced his dad a few years later. When she came across MORE's contest, the grocery store employee was ready to start dating again, but really wanted to lose some weight first. "I've been heavy most of my life, and have tried every diet out there—some of them twice," Wooten explains. "I have a love-hate relationship with food." Taking the weekly classes, and being able to chat with other dieters in the program, made a difference for her. "It's nice knowing that there are other people out there in the same boat as you, with the same struggles," she says. "We encourage each other. Whenever I am having a rough day, or a rough week, they give me a pat on the back. I finally have a support system."
Best lesson learned: Life is not The Biggest Loser. Seek progress—not perfection.


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Yellowstone Area Map
Getting To & Around Yellowstone
Yellowstone Neighborhoods
Yellowstone National Park's roughly 3,500 square miles seep slightly over state borders into Montana and Idaho, but its major attractions are contained in the northwest corner of Wyoming. The major (Wyoming) portion of Yellowstone is divided into five regions: Mammoth Country, Geyser Country, Lake Country, Canyon Country and Roosevelt Country. Montana's North and Northeast entrances lead directly into Mammoth and Roosevelt Countries. From Wyoming, Lake Country is easily accessible from the East and South Entrances, while those traveling through Idaho can head straight through the West Entrance into Geyser Country.
Keep in mind that Yellowstone is massive, and the best way to get around is by car.
Mammoth Country
The area near the park's North Entrance is known as Mammoth Country and contains the majestic Mammoth Hot Springs. The springs are created when heat, water and limestone interact to make tiered terraced stone formations. The result is a multicolored and nature-made sculpture. This location is also distinguished for its abundant elk population. From the springs, continue driving about 20 miles south, and you'll run into Norris. And if you venture 18 miles east, you'll stumble upon the Tower-Roosevelt Junction.
Geyser Country
Surrounding the West Entrance, Geyser Country is home to Old Faithful, Yellowstone's most famous attraction. Old Faithful is known for spewing thousands of gallons of steaming water into the air approximately every 60 to 110 minutes. Other popular attractions in Geyser Country are the Norris and Firehole River Geyser Basins, the Grand Prismatic Spring and the Morning Glory Pool, a hot spring in the Upper Geyser Basin. Surrounding the Old Faithful area, you'll also find plenty of facilities, including lodging, shops and gas stations.
Lake Country
Lake Country is defined by the area that surrounds Yellowstone Lake and is located near the park's East Entrance. The lake and the adjacent dense forests make this region ideal for spotting some of the park's wildlife, which include bald eagles, bears, bison and moose, among other critters. Lake Country is also home to the West Thumb Geyser Basin, which offers a unique combination of lakeshore geysers, hot springs and paint pots. In the Lake Village area, you'll find features such as a campground and picnic area, a gas station and a medical clinic.
Canyon Country
Just north of Lake Country, Canyon Country includes both the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and Hayden Valley, which were shaped and defined by the Yellowstone River. The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone is known for golden cliffs and two major waterfalls, while Hayden Valley, a former lake bed, offers a marshy habitat that's perfect for waterfowl, as well as numerous bears, bison, elk, moose and wolves. Canyon Country cannot be accessed directly from one of the park's entrances; instead, visitors will have to travel within the park to reach this area. Here, you'll also numerous camp sites, the Canyon Visitor Education Center and the Canyon Lodge, which features a cafeteria, a small snack shop a lounge and a dining room.
Roosevelt Country
Roosevelt Country — occupying the area near the Northeast Entrance — captures the spirit of the Old West better than any other part of Yellowstone. There you can walk among the fossilized remains of ancient plants and standing trees in the Petrified Forests (trees turned into stone) or view Tower Fall's 132-foot drop. You should also consider swinging by the Roosevelt Lodge, a 1920 property, which features scenic trails behind its grounds as well as historic Roosevelt cabins.
Cody, Wyo.
Sitting just east of the park, this small town offers several lodging and dining alternatives as well as several enjoyable things to do. Attractions like the allegedly haunted Old Trail Town, the educational Buffalo Bill Museum and the lively Cody Nite Rodeo make Cody an enjoyable daytrip for Yellowstone visitors.
West Yellowstone, Mont.
Like its name suggests, the small town of West Yellowstone sits just west of the park in southwestern Montana. West Yellowstone offers several opportunities to kayak, bike and hike, as well as numerous children's nature programs. Those who are interested in the area's wildlife may enjoy a trip to the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center — where you can get up close and personal with local four-legged friends — or daily presentations given by park rangers on a variety of nature-related topics. If you're looking for a bit of entertainment, West Yellowstone features an IMAX theater and a summer time rodeo. West Yellowstone is also home to several shops, hotels and dining options that are generally more affordable than those found within the park.
Safety hazards in Yellowstone range from trifling headaches to severe hazards, such as animal attacks. But the more prominent threat is altitude sickness. Symptoms include headache, fatigue, nausea and muscle pain. Remember to drink lots of water, eat light meals and stay away from caffeine and alcohol.
When sightseeing in the park, keep in mind that many of the geothermic attractions, such as the geysers and the mud pots, can be dangerous. It is best to keep your distance. Also, look out for snags, or dead trees, scattering Yellowstone, and if you plan to camp, pick a site that's isolated from dead trees.
Animal attacks are uncommon in Yellowstone, but visitors should still take precautions. If you are camping in the park, the established campsites are usually not at risk. Campers in the wilderness should avoid sleeping near any animal carcasses, since they generally attract meat-eaters. Keep all food and garbage out of reach from bears and other critters as well. No matter where you set up camp, make sure not to leave any food within the vicinity of your tent; instead, suspend any food from a tree branch high above the ground.
If you can help it, avoid wandering off on your own. But if you are by yourself, make plenty of noise (talking, shuffling branches) when hiking to warn animals of your presence, and keep pepper spray handy. While they may seem docile from afar, getting too close to herds of buffalo — which can often be spotted along the road — is not a good idea. If you're hiking, avoid exploring areas where visibility is low, since bears have limited eyesight. The National Park Service recommends maintaining a 100-yard distance from bears and wolves and a 25-yard distance from other large residents, like elk, deer and coyotes.
If you do encounter a bear on the trails, you should not run. Instead, avoid eye contact and back away slowly while making noise, and most of the time, the bear will move along. Do not fight back if you are attacked; the best way to fend off a bear is to drop face down to the ground, cover the back of your neck with your hands, tuck your knees to your stomach and play dead. The bear will more than likely lose interest.
The best way to get around Yellowstone is by car, especially as there is no public transportation system. You can rent a car at any of the nearby airports, including the Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD) in Cody, Wyoming, and the Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) in Jackson, Wyoming, as well as the Gallatin Field Airport (BZN) in Bozeman, Montana. However, that doesn't mean that you should spend your entire vacation behind the wheel. Each of Yellowstone's five regions has an area to park, allowing you to leave the car behind and explore by bike or on foot. Guided tours are also available.Getting To & Around Yellowstone»
Best Things to Do in Yellowstone
See all Top Things to Do in Yellowstone»
Best Hotels in Yellowstone
See the Best Hotels in Yellowstone»


text: Welcome to my suggestion thread on Enhanced Statues! In Terraria there are a variety of statues you can find scattered throughout the world, yet very few of them (15 to be exact) have any uses. Most of these statues are just decorative and useless, which is very disappointing because there is a lot of potential for the statues. Weather a modder or anyone else decides to use these ideas or not they are open for tweaking and use. Statues not in game:In this section of the thread I will discuss possible statues that do not exist currently in the game. Some of these are probably more reasonable then others, but I'll just throw all my ideas out there. Mob Spawners:One thing that really disappoints me is the lack of mob spawners, we only have ten statues that act as ways of spawning enemies and it's really lacking. Personally I would like to see a spawner for basically every single mob in the game, this would make builds so much more interesting at least for adventure maps. Yes I do realize that the spawners we have as of right now are mostly for all the mobs that actually provide resources such as glow sticks and gel, but there are still many mobs that it would be useful to spawn. Mob Spawning Statues (& uses for them): (Keep in mind that you would have to find these like any other statue, so in turn it isn't too cheap to use them for your own benefit.) -Eater of soul: could be used to grind rotten chunks of meat -Devourer: Possibly used for grinding worm teeth -Harpy: would be great for alchemists needing feathers for potions -Shark: Again to help alchemists easily grind for shark fins. -Dark mummy: Use to grind for dark shards (may not want this because it would make getting dhow of pow to easy.) -Light mummy: Use to grind for light shards (may not want this because it would make getting dhow of pow to easy.) -Fairy: to get the ingredients needed for holy water -Demons: may have a chance to spawn a demon with voodoo doll (1/15) and could also be used to try and find demon scythes. -Dungeon Skeleton: To farm bones (If I missed any mobs that drop specific items and are not already existing statues please tell me so.) All the other mobs may also be given spawner statues even if they serve no specific use, besides to just spawn the mob. This would mostly help out map makers, by letting them have spawners for any enemy they wish. Other new statues:This will just be my list of ideas for statues that do not already exist in the game, this means that there is no sprite for it yet and it won't be mentioned later on in the thread for a use for a decretive in game statue. Random Potion Spawning Statue: This statue when activated would drop a random potion (not including health or mana pots). It would have a cool down of around one minute to make it reasonable enough to where it isn't cheap to use. Question mark statue: This statue would just spawn a random mob every time it is activated, not much of a use besides for map makers, but it may be interesting to activate a bunch of them and have 30 different time of mobs attack you. Ore statues: These statues would spawn ores; there would be four different statues, each one spawning a different ore. One for copper, one for iron, one for silver, and one for gold, I wouldn't believe any of the statues should go any higher in ore tiers or else if you found a cobalt spawner at the beginning of the game it wouldn't be OP. Even if you found one of these at the begging of the game you still wouldn't be able to use it, because before you're able to wire you must rescue the mechanic and to be able to access her you must have access to the dungeon, which mostly likely at that point you are past gold tier equipment. Cool down could probably take place between thirty seconds to a minute. More uses for Statues already in game: In this section I will discuss uses for currently useless decorative statues, not all statues will be given a use, mostly just for my inability to conjure an idea for how it would be used, but some statues may suggest multiple uses. Goblin Statue: Spawns goblin, 25% chance of being a scout, 25% chance of being a warrior, 25% chance of being archer, and 25% chance of being a mage. When killed goblin will have a chance to drop spike balls or a rare chance to drop a harpoon. Eyeball Statue: used to spawn demon eyes which then could be used to farm lenses, and have a rare chance for getting a black lenses. Hornet Statue: Spawns hornets which you could farm for stingers. Tree Statue: Spawns acorns to plant trees. Mushroom Statue: Could use to spawn mushrooms or maybe glowing mushrooms. Alternatively it could work in a way in which it had a 33% chance to drop a normal mushroom, 33% chance to drop a glowing mushroom, and 33% chance to drop a vile mushroom. Imp Statue: Spawns fire imp Sunflower Statue: Used to spawn sunflowers but once hard-mode is activated it will spawn hallow seeds instead. Pillar Statue: I think there could be an interesting use for the pillar statue, this is my opinion and it may not be plausible. You could place a weapon on the pillar statue and use it as a display case and when you activate it with wire glass will go up around the weapon in the display case making it impossible to pick up the weapon again until the glass is lowered. Boot Statue: When activated anything in the area around the statue will be given a buff making them move 30% faster. This buff is removed when out of the radius of the statue. Potion Statue: 50% chance of giving HP potion, 50% chance of giving MP potion, should have approximately twenty to thirty second cool down time. Pickaxe Statue: When in the radius of this statue Pickaxe power is increased by 20%, this buff is removed when outside the radius of the statue. Axe Statue: When in the radius of this statue axe power is increased by 20%, this buff is removed when outside the radius of the statue. Hammer Statue: When in the radius of this statue hammer power is increased by 20%, this buff is removed when outside the radius of the statue. Reaper Statue: Would spawn a wraith. Gloom Statue: Does twenty damage to the player who activates it (the amount of damage is subject to change). Cross Statue: Once activated blocks around it would slowly become hallowed, note this would only work once the WoF has been defeated. Corrupt Statue: Once activated blocks around it would slowly become corrupted, note this would only work once the WoF has been defeated Shield Statue: When in the radius of this statue Defense is increased by 5, this buff wil be removed when outside of the radius of the Statue More Statue Mechanics:Crafting Statues: It is an obvious pain if you are legitimately building something in Terraria and you really want a specific statue ('s) but are unable to find it, it is even worse when you need multiple of the same statue. So I would propose a way to craft statues, this may be done at a special statue crafting station. At this statue crafting station it'll cost one hundred stone to craft a statue, but you can't just craft any statue, you first must have the statue you want and then put it in the crafting station to receive a blue print of that statue to craft more of them. Statue Rarity: As of right now all statues in Terraria are equally hard to find, but what if certain statues where more rare then others. For instances the Ore Statues I proposed earlier would be much rarer then a Bat Statue. Rarity may work like this, useless decorative statues would be most common, then there would be mob spawners that don't drop anything, and the statue progression would work as followed. Statue locations: Finding specific statues may be easier if each statue is assigned a specific biome in which it can be found, mob statues could be found in there biomes (hornet statues could be found in the jungle). Rarer statues could be found in the dungeon or deeper underground, even in hell. Many of these statues would make adventure maps and builds much more interesting and players who want to make factories/farms would have much more to work with and farm. As long as you could imagine the possibilities with what you could do these statues, then you can understand how they'll bring the game to life. Personally I would love t have massive farms and factories full of statues performing process, also with tons of mob spawners you could build a zoo with different exhibits each for a different enemy or biome. My next Suggestion threads will be: -Enhanced Farming -Enhanced Wiring/mechanics (Links will be imputed when threads are completed) If you have any comments on my suggestions, or any other ideas I would love to hear them, and please tell me what you think, much appreciated.


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March 11, 2011
TUCSON, Ariz. - University of Arizona men's basketball player Derrick Williams received all-district honors, as the United States Basketball Writers Association announced its all-district honors Thursday.
Williams was named the district Player of the Year and was a first-team all-District IX selection in voting done by the national membership. He was joined on the district team by Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Washington; Jorge Gutierrez, California; Kawhi Leonard, San Diego State; Mickey McConnell, Saint Mary's; Reeves Nelson, UCLA; Isaiah Thomas, Washington; Klay Thompson, Washington State; Nikola Vucevic, USC; and Casper Ware, Long Beach State. San Diego State's Steve Fisher was District IX Coach of the Year.
A 6-foot-8, 241-pound sophomore forward from La Mirada, Calif., Williams leads Arizona with per-game averages of 18.9 points and 8.1 rebounds, to go with a .615 (185-of-301) field goal percentage through 32 appearances (all starts). He has scored in double figures 31 times, posted 10 double-doubles and has the two highest single-game rebounding totals in the Pac-10 this season (19 at Washington State on Jan. 22 and 18 at California on Feb. 5).
The 2011 Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Year, Williams leads the conference in field goal percentage, has connected on 63.0 percent (34-of-54) of his three-point field goal attempts and ranks in the top 10 in four other statistical categories within the conference: scoring (2nd), rebounding (5th), offensive rebounds (2.8 orpg/5th) and defensive rebounds (5.4 drpg/5th).
Williams' selection as district Player of the Year makes him the fifth Arizona to earn the honor (accomplished six times) since 1988 and the first since Salim Stoudamire in 2005. It is the 45the time that a Wildcat was so honored by the USBWA.
Arizona (26-6, 14-4 Pac-10) will next be in action on Friday, March 11, at the 2011 Pacific Life Pac-10 Men's Basketball Tournament. The top-seeded Wildcats face No. 4 seed USC in the semifinals at 6 p.m. PST. The game will be televised nationally by FSN.


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Registration is open for auditions for this year's Sing Fourth Teen Vocal Competition on July 4. Auditions will be held for the first 45 Clark County high school students who contact the Fort Vancouver National Trust at 360-992-1804 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Auditions begin at 1:30 p.m, Saturday, May 18. Information, including the registration form, is at Independence Day at Fort Vancouver.
Judges will select 10 finalists to compete on July 4 on the Vancouver Toyota main stage at the Fort Vancouver National Site. The competition begins at noon.
It is open to residents of Clark County who have been enrolled in public school or private school or home-schooled during the 2012-2013 academic year, including high school graduates from the class of 2013.
Contestants must bring a karaoke-style CD of their musical accompaniment to the audition. Songs must be three minutes or shorter; the disc must be playable on a standard CD player.
Finalists will be expected to perform the same number in front of a panel of celebrity judges on July 4. They will be judged on originality, skill, poise, likely audience appeal and family-friendly content.
The winner will receive a $1,000 college scholarship. Second place earns a $500 scholarship, and third place earns a $250 scholarship.


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China: Not about to attack Australia
Author: Paul Dibb, ANU
The debate in Australia about the rise of China's military power continues to rage. It is as if China is already knocking on our door and about to pose a direct threat to us.
But the reality is quite different.
While it is true that China is beginning to develop some significant elements of military power it will be a long time before it is a peer competitor of the US.
It is quite premature to advise that Australia should encourage the US to accommodate to the realities of Chinese power, as my colleague Hugh White insists. It is downright dangerous to suggest that Australia must develop the military capability to tear an arm off China, and even provoke revolt inside China, as Ross Babbage argues. It is also incorrect, as Greg Sheridan would have us believe, that historically no country has ever developed a navy the size of China's without going to war.
Let us look at how long it has taken China to develop what are, in fact, rather modest military capabilities. Since its first nuclear explosion in 1964, Beijing has struggled to develop a minimum nuclear deterrent force. Unlike the US and Russia, it has no credible nuclear war-fighting capability.
China's land-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force was, until quite recently, vulnerable to a disarming first strike. It has about 66 ICBMs, some of which are solid fuelled and road-mobile and therefore more difficult to target. Only about 24 of these ICBMs are truly intercontinental in range and China's only ballistic missile-firing submarine has no experience in attacking long-range, covert patrols.
By comparison, the US has the world's most advanced nuclear war-fighting capabilities. Compared with China's 200 nuclear warheads, the US has 2,150 operational strategic nuclear warheads together with 2,850 warheads in reserve that are relatively quickly deployable.
It is true that China is modernising its force and we should expect it in the next few years to deploy more ICBMs capable of targeting the US. It has one new JIN-class nuclear submarine that has entered service. However, its associated JL-2 ballistic missile has encountered difficulty, failing several final test flights.
What about China's much vaunted navy and its ability to project serious military power in our part of the world?
According to the Pentagon, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has only a limited capacity to communicate with submarines at sea, and the Chinese navy has no experience in managing a ballistic missile submarine fleet that performs long-range patrols with live nuclear warheads mated to missiles. China's land-based mobile missiles may also face similar command and control challenges in wartime.
There is no doubt that Beijing is developing the capacity to make life very difficult for US naval forces operating in the approaches to China, including defending Taiwan. It is also developing a ballistic missile capable of targeting US aircraft carriers. But China's real-time tracking radars and intelligence satellites are highly vulnerable and the US has the capability, with prompt global conventional strikes, to seriously damage China's command and control.
As to China's navy, it is weak in both anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-air warfare. Chinese ASW capabilities, while slowly improving, are not able to provide a reasonable degree of security in open waters. Chinese attack submarines possess little ASW capability, which is the primary mission of the US attack submarine force.
The Chinese navy remains untested in modern combat and has no experience of operating in a joint battle environment. According to the Pentagon, China's ability to sustain military power at a distance remains limited. And it is unlikely China will be able to project and sustain large forces in high-intensity combat operations far from China until well into the 2020s.
As to the claim that historically no country has developed a navy the size of China's without using it in armed conflict, the Soviet Union had an infinitely larger and more capable navy than that of China and it never once fired a shot in anger.
China has 68 tactical submarines (28 of which are obsolete) whereas the USSR had 280 at the height of its military power. China has 78 principal surface combatants in its navy compared with 264 for the former Soviet Union. The Pentagon classifies only 25 per cent of China's naval surface combatants (and fighter aircraft) as modern.
Many of China's most advanced weapons are still based heavily on foreign designs (mostly Russian) copied through reverse engineering. This highlights a persistent weakness in China's capability for innovation and a reliance on foreign suppliers for some propulsion units, fire control systems, cruise missiles, torpedoes, sensors and advanced electronics.
By all means we need to keep a close eye on the development of China's military forces. China is undoubtedly an ambitious power seeking to claim its historical place in the sun.
But let's not succumb to the fatal assumption that China's rise will be a simple straight-line extrapolation.
China is a power with very substantial weaknesses. It has been described as a fragile superpower. Some experts argue the most potent threats to the communist leadership lie within China and that political survival is as important as national survival abroad.
As John Lee from the Centre for Independent Studies argues, relatively little attention in Australian foreign and security policy circles is given to the consequences of a Chinese economy with deep structural problems and a society suffering profound governance and social deficiencies.
Let us not frighten ourselves to death by drumming up the next military threat to Australia and basing our defence policy on the likelihood that we are going to be attacked by China.
Paul Dibb is Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at The Australian National University.
An earlier version of this piece was published here in The Australian.
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Paul Dibb is missing parts of the story. No one in defence planning has ever seriously expected China to attack Australia directly. The issue has always been some fool Chinese captain causing an incident in the South China Sea, with Australia getting dragged into it.
In regional terms, China still has formidable presence outweighing all the other navies bordering the South China Sea which it claims in its entirety. No ASEAN nation, other than Singapore, has any modern fixed wing maritime patrol aircraft or respectable anti-submarine warships. So even an obsolete submarine is dangerous to regional navies and shipping.
China builds all its own ballistic and cruise missiles and regardless where China gets its missile and fire control systems from, they are at sea. Professor Dibb further fails to mention that Japan's, South Korea's and Australia's navies similarly depend on US made AEGIS radar systems, Mk41 vertical missile launching systems, and Standard surface-to-air missile systems.
I still fail to see where Australian Defence planners are basing their confirmed equipment purchases on a China threat. Two LPHs, one LPD, three air warfare destroyers and eight upgraded ANZAC frigates along with six Collins class submarines are barely sufficient for a regional contingency like East Timor let alone the South China Sea.


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Close calls in the Kansas City area draw attention to lifeguard shortage
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Just this week, at least two people in the metro area had to be rushed from the pool to the hospital. Each time a lifeguard jumped into action.
However, this year, pools across the country faced a shortage of lifeguards leaving everyone vulnerable.
Seven-year-old Charlie Forrester finally achieved the green bracelet Thursday at the YMCA at the Northern Platte pool. He beamed with pride.
"I was so proud of Charlie because he has had a really tough time because he's been scared of swimming and deep water for, I don't know, three, four years," Charlie's mom Gretchen explained.
The green means Charlie passed the swim test and can swim without an adult in the water.
But Charlie's mom is glad lifeguards will still be watching.
"If you look at what happened last week at the Vivion Road YMCA how a couple of lifeguards pulled the 19-year-old out of the deep end which is 12 feet of water, I don't think I could do that but they saved a life that day," Forrester said.
In St. Joe, however, two out of three pools couldn't open this summer because of a shortage of lifeguards.
The city even raised hourly wages from $7.50 to $9 an hour to try and lure workers. Still, some certification classes cost $200.
The YMCA of Greater Kansas City said it's well staffed, but pools that aren't can be risky.
"You're going to run the risk of possibly requiring the lifeguards that you do have work longer hours which can lead to fatigue, especially if they are outside in the sun, possibly not staying hydrated," Amanda Mitchell, Sr. Aquatics Director YMCA Greater Kansas City, said.
The YMCA doesn't have the same problem in part because it waives the certification fee for lifeguards who will work at its facility and because it offers courses year round.
"With two of our facilities under expansion about to open in our Parkville and Platte facilities, we're very much in a hiring phase for lifeguards right now. Just in the month of May we did offer ten lifeguard classes across the metro," Mitchell said.
On one job posting website there were 58 area pools looking for lifeguards.


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Frameless Ducati Panigale a Sales Success
The Ducati 1199 Panigale may have cast aside much of what was traditionally considered de rigeur for the Bologna brand but it hasn't exactly impeded sales.
Ducati reports they have sold over 7,500 Panigales, despite initial commentator fears that the failure of the monocoque chassis concept in MotoGP may have rubbed off on the V-twin Superbike.
Despite a motorcycle market in downward trend, the 1199 Panigale has performed as well in the showroom as it has on the road and track, with a total of over 7,500 motorcycles sold during 2012.
The difficult market and depressed world economy has done little to slow Ducati as it continues to expand and improve in terms of market share and output and sales volumes, confirming the security of the company and providing an improved structure and organisation ready to face the coming years with more confidence than ever before.
For 2013, the new 1199 Panigale R will extend the family of models even further, the exclusive flagship of the range representing the machine specially developed with enhanced technical specification by Ducati Corse for World Superbike competition.
Source: Edited Ducati Corse
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'This Week In Space' – June 6, 2010
Hello and Welcome to a special edition of "This Week In Space." I am talking about what might very well be the beginning of a new era in space – the door might have opened with the successful inaugural test flight of the Falcon 9 rocket – built by SpaceX. It happened on Friday at Cape Canaveral. The nine Merlin engines fired as designed – produced more than a million pounds of thrust – sending Falcon 9 on its way to space. The first stage separated as it was supposed to – and the second stage rocket fired on schedule as well. The only apparent fly in the ointment – second stage – along with mockup up of the Dragon Capsule – began a slow roll. No word on why just yet. SpaceX is leading the charge to open up low earth orbit to private ventures seeking to create a new industry in space. It is a lynch pin of the Obama space vision – and it remains the subject of a lot of controversy – even after this successful first flight. I caught up with SpaceX founder Elon Musk about 24 hours after the launch.
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Tianfei Business Hotel
- Location: Guangxi University
- Address: No.238 Mingxiu East Road, Nanning
- Tel: 0771-2080888 (Book this hotel, call 800-2682918)
- Hotel Name in Chinese: 南宁天妃商务酒店
- Lowest Price: $32
Opened in 2005 and redecorated in 2006, the Tianfei Business Hotel is located at the East Mingxiu Road of Nanning city. It is a comprehensive hotel combining the functions of accommodation, catering, entertainment and business.
The Tianfei Business Hotel offers 178 guest rooms with the availabilities of DDD and IDD. For dining, the hotel features a Chinese restaurant and a café, both of which serve a variety cuisine, delicacies and beverage. The recreation center of the hotel provides karaoke, gymnasium, sauna, massage room and dancing hall. Some other facilities and services including meeting rooms, business center, parking lot, ticket service and laundry service are available.
- Prices not include 18% service fee and tax.
- Payment Method: pay using our secure online payment service or pay at the hotel at some hotels.
- Triple/quad occupancy may require an extra bed at extra cost.
Hotel Amenities
|Hotel Services
|Car rentals, Laundry service, Child care, Room service, Wake Up Call, Parking Service, 24hr Reception, Permanent English-speaking staff, Business Centre, Copy Service, E-mail, Fax Service
|Room Amenities
|AM/FM radio, Alarm clock, Cable/satellite TV, Telephone, Hair dryer, Electronic Lock, Iron and ironing board, Bath and Shower
Hotel Amenities: Parking, Air-Conditioned Facilities, Sauna, Business Center, Gymnasium , Suitable for wheelchairs, Meeting Room, Ballroom, Deposit Box at Front Desk, Fire Detector, KTV
Dining Facilities: Chinese Restaurant, Cafe, Bar
Print the Taxi Directions
- Please drive me to Tianfei Business Hotel, thank you!
- 请送我到南宁天妃商务酒店,谢谢
- Address: No.238 Mingxiu East Road, Nanning
- 地址: 南宁 兴宁区 明秀东路238号
- Tel: 0771-2080888
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From: $ 32
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From: $ 32
Shengbaoluo Hotel
Location: International Conference and Exhibition Center,Wuxiang Square
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Check out the list of all 73 hotels in Nanning


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A Navy memo was sent to a reporter by mistake and it was regarding the tactics they will use to try and dodge his request under the Freedom of Information Act. The NBC reporter Scott MacFarlane took to Twitter with the memo that was about him, but never meant for his eyes to see, according to NewsMax.com on Jan. 10.
Apparently MacFarlane had sent in a request under the Freedom of Information Act for details on the Navy yard shooting that left 12 people dead in September. According to how the memo reads, this was seen as a daunting task for the person who sent it, Robin Patterson, the Navy's FOIA public liaison.
She called the Freedom of Information Act requests "fishing expeditions." Here is what Patterson emailed MacFarlane by mistake, as it was really meant for the Navy personal that the information was requested from:
"Recommend that you provide the requester with an estimate, as I can see the search and review, possible redactions, will be very costly. This may encourage the requester to 'narrow the scope.' Again another 'fishing expedition' — just because they are media doesn't mean that the memos would shed light on specific government activities."
The Navy apologized to MacFarland and tweeted an apology for the rest of the folks to see. Considering that Patterson's title is Freedom of Information Act Public Liaison, you would think that this was her job. Instead it seems as if she put more effort in trying to dodge the request.
You could understand if an Admiral was bothered by the request. After all, an Admiral would probably be busy doing Navy activities. The person who was asked for this information has a title suggesting that is all she does. She is designated for these requests, so it was not as if she was interrupted guiding a ship into port!


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A recent report by the Associated Press indicated that the last one of the original Navajo 'Code Talkers,' Chester Nez, passed away just before the anniversary of D-Day. Nez was one of the original 29 Navajo Indians known as code talkers who developed the unbreakable code that the United States employed successfully against the Japanese military during WWII. Hundreds of other Navajo men also joined such an effort later in the war. Their story has been well documented, and even a popular movie recently dramatized the experiences of the particular dangers these men faced while in the midst of combat. Unfortunately, when most Americans think of the 'Greatest Generation,' they would not normally imagine American Indians as part of that bunch, but these brave men belong in such honored company.
Chester Nez once explained that when he enlisted into the 382nd Platoon of the U.S. Marines, he lied about his age in order to join and serve. He enlisted in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he had been recruited from a reservation school. Nez served the nation in a devastating war, returned home, then received the Congressional Gold Medal (the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress) from President George W. Bush during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in 2001, and then he died at the ripe old age of 93 on June 4, 2014. He like many others of different races fought in the U.S. military so that the nation could endure, so that freedom could endure. Now, while D-Day now is but a memory and commemorated each year, the memories of heroic efforts of WWII should not be forgotten.
Essentially, it would seem to contain deeper significance for those who were willing to go off to war and serve the nation which was their people's former enemy. One of the more impressive memories to be conjured up would be of the Navajo, or other American Indians, who fought for this nation in both world wars. Ironically, at one time the Navajo were the enemy of the U.S. military. They were forcibly dislocated from their homelands through a combination of force from U.S. Cavalry and neighboring enemy Ute tribes. The Navajo fought back like many other tribes before them in U.S. history. Finally, at the time of the American Civil War, they were forcibly removed from their land when the New Mexico volunteers, led by Colonel Kit Carson, drove the Navajo onto the 'Long Walk' and into forced captivity.
The Long Walk is comparable in U.S. history to the more well-known 'Trail of Tears,' which primarily refers to the time of the forced relocation of the Cherokee and other American Indians of the Southeast. Prior to the time of the Long Walk, the Navajo fought back to keep their homelands like many other tribes before them in U.S. history, but they too were defeated like many other tribes before them. Once defeated, between 8,000 – 9,000 (reports vary) of the Navajo peoples were forced to march approximately 300 – 450 miles across the desert, the mountains, and the Rio Grande River to Fort Sumner in eastern New Mexico. This was the start of the forced internment in the Bosque Redondo (or Hweeldi by the Navajo) Redondo located in the Pecos River Valley..
This dark period was noted most for the "Long Walk," but it was actually about 50 different treks by various groups herded along by the U.S. Army. Only after several years of suffering, were the Navajo allowed to return to their homelands. As they returned, it is said that as they formed onto one road, the mass of people stretched for 10 miles along the trail. But when returned, the people were limited to the confines of a reservation within the Four Corners area.
For the Navajo, their love for the land and the view that it is sacred is central to their continued existence. The Navajo and their ancestors may have lived in this region of North America for close to 5,000 or 6,000 years. They had survived the dry sun-parched climate; they had survived despite being threatened by Indian enemies; they had survived the Spanish Conquistadors as they pushed up from Central America, and had survived despite being threatened by the Americans during westward expansion. However by all measures, their survival had been most seriously threatened by the U.S. Cavalry. Today, the hard core Navajo would never again want to be separated from their beloved land, and it is their religious ways and customs that bind them to their sacred homeland.
"All of our sacred songs and prayers are here within our four sacred mountains. The teachings of our ancestors are here in our songs and prayers. These songs and prayers are part of the ceremonies; they are our teaching and our way of life. This is our religion. This is what connects us to the land… Our Creator placed us here on this land; we are part of Mother Earth's heart…"
Mae Tso, Navajo elder
The ordeal related to the Long Walk is somewhat similar to what the Hebrew peoples' experience when they were forcibly relocated to a foreign land by King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon from 597 BCE to around 520 BCE. During this nearly 80 year period of forced relocation, the Jewish people also longed for their homeland. Many of their own religious leaders felt it was God's punishment for their disunity and their transgressions against the Almighty. During that time, many Jewish people became more pious and it is believed that the Torah was re-written into its more present form during this period of the Babylonian Captivity. Such suffering inevitably shaped the deeper beliefs of both of these spiritual peoples and helped to transform the common practices of each of the peoples.
One traditional belief of the Navajo similar to Jewish faith is that there are serious consequences for transgression against God, and that illness or misfortune is a consequence of transgressions against the higher powers or deities. To counter such misfortunes, the practice of medicine developed over time and that involved varieties of ceremonial practice. It can be understood from the viewpoint that healing involves treating an illness by dealing with the cause being an individual's transgressions, or some sort of accident, or the result of witchcraft. The ancient ones originated important ceremonies dealing with warfare, hunting, and with farming later on in their history. However, after the Long Walk, and since the time of reservations, most major public ceremonies have focused on healing in a much broader sense with the concern to maintain harmony with the supernatural powers or the deities.
For those of the old religion, the deeper purpose of Navajo life is to maintain harmony between the Holy People (supernatural ones) and the Earth Surface People (human beings). The Navajo believe that the Holy People created the original human ancestors, and had provided the Earth Surface People with the necessary practical knowledge to survive and the ceremonial knowledge to continue to live on the land. Navajo religion can be understood as 'life itself, the land, and well-being.' All living things - people, plants, animals, mountains, and the Earth itself - are relatives. Each entity is infused with its own spirit, or 'inner form', enabling each part of creation with life and purpose in an orderly and interconnected universe.
The spiritually oriented Navajo recognize the interrelatedness of all creation through their daily prayer offerings and a quite elaborate ritual and ceremony system. The sincere practice of their ceremonies and rituals create the harmony that ensures this. The Navajo believe that the deities can be helpful or harmful to humans or "the Earth Surface People" depending on their whim or how people relate to the deities. So, the basic purpose of Navajo life in this regard is to maintain a balance between individuals and the universe and to live in harmony with the Creator and the rest of creation (nature). In order to achieve this sacred responsibility, Navajos must perform their religious practices on the specific, time honored areas which they inhabit.
The Navajo are still a strong and proud people even though they have assimilated into the dominant culture and society. They are one of the most numerous of the American Indian tribes. If the Navajo had descended from restless, nomadic peoples, the primary characteristic that shows up in their history in the Four Corners area was their love of the land and the creatures around them – all living things. They were the original owners of the uninhabited lands of the southwest, yet had to suffer incredibly to hold onto it, and their stewardship would be undeniable. Despite all of their hardships, their culture still could move beyond their defeat and forced relocation. They could rise to fight again for their adopted country. It says much about their depth of character. They are an amazingly resilient and spiritual people!


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Fabric: Organza with Heavily Beaded Netting Overlay
Silhouette: Sheath
Neckline: V-neck Halter
Train: Court
Gorgeous hand beading adorns this entire sheath gown. The sheath silhouette and deep v-neck make it both glamorous and sexy. A gown that will make everyone say "wow".
Condition: EBI inspected and in very good condition. Has been gently worn. The hem is slightly frayed but easily fixable with hemming. Professionally cleaned there are a few tiny tiny marks on the back – which aren't readily noticeable given the amount of detail. For photos please see Encore Bridal's e-Boutique at www.encorebridal.com.
- Label Size: 8
- Street Size: 8
- Bust: 36"
- Waist: 29"
- Hips: 38"
- Height with Shoes: 5'10"
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The Kentucky House and Senate have approved a bill that allows the posting of the 10 Commandments in local government buildings and schools.
In 2002, Grayson County officials were forced to remove the 10 Commandments from their courthouse walls after the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit and won, claiming such documents violate the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Now Governor Fletcher must sign the bill.
Supporters say this is a major victory for the community and religious leaders who have posted nearly 200 copies of the 10 Commandments in Grayson County business windows and alongside major highways.


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All things Mother Earth Living
by Robyn Griggs Lawrence, Editor at Large
On a wintry Sunday morning, I can't think of much I'd rather do than settle in at the kitchen table with a cup of fresh coffee and read the big, fat Sunday New York Times. I don't actually get to do this all that often; it's a sad fact of my life that getting through all those sections is a luxury. But on New Year's Day, all was quiet. And I was able to read all of that newspaper (or, at least, all of it that I cared to read).
I was especially struck by two items in the "Year Ahead: What in the World We'll Do in 2006" article in the "Week in Review" section. The first was 'Ready for Everything Under the Solar Panel,' in which business writer Daniel Gross suggested that renewable energy had "vaulted the highly fortified border separating the cottage industry and big business." He also suggested that the industry was showing eerie similarities to the dot-com boom, with hot initial public offerings, gold-digging venture capitalists and "old-line companies talking the talk."
To which, with my best New Year's cheer, I said, "humbug." There may be similarities, in that American business and financial sectors are waking up to the true need to step into the future (just as they couldn't ignore the huge potential in the Internet's vast reach). But while the dot-com bubble saw some glorious excess based on speculation and promise, renewable energy is a solid—and increasingly necessary—solution to a crisis. Of course alternative energy is the next big thing. We're all paying more for traditional energy, and we can no longer ignore the effects of the planet's warming. Natural Home & Garden readers (who are decidedly above average in intelligence) have seen this one coming for years. The good news in this prognostication is that the rest of the world is catching on.
I was much less grumpy (if just as smug) when I came to Kim Severson's predictions about the coming year in food, 'Ordering Up a Side of Healthy.'"American consumers increasingly want products that are perceived as natural, authentic and healthy," she wrote. Again, this isn't likely to be news to anyone reading this blog (or Natural Home & Garden).
As 2006 dawns, I'm looking forward to opportunities such as these, to say to more and more Americans, "Welcome to our world." And welcome they all are. For what a wonderful world it is.
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Let Q ≤ P be finite p-groups, H ≤ Aut(Q).
Is it really true that there is at most one p-solvable group G such that $Q \unlhd G$, $C_G(Q) \leq Q$, P is a Sylow p-subgroup of G, and the map from G to Aut(Q) surjects onto H?
I think this is true (up to an isomorphism of G restricting to the identity on Q), but I am worried about a consequence:$\newcommand{\Aut}{\operatorname{Aut}}\newcommand{\Fit}{\operatorname{Fit}}$
Let F be a finite nilpotent group, let H be a subgroup of Aut(F), and for each prime p dividing the order of F, let Fp ≤ Ep be a Sylow p-subgroup of F contained in some finite p-group.
Say that G is a model of $(H,E)$ if G is solvable, $F \unlhd G$, $C_G(F) \leq F$, the homomorphism from G to $\Aut(F)$ is surjective onto H, and each Ep is a Sylow p-subgroup of G.
Is it really true that given F, H, and E there is at most one (up to an isomorphism restricting to the identity on F) model of $(H,E)$?
In such a model, F is the largest nilpotent normal subgroup of G, and a theorem of Fitting guarantees that $G/Z(F) \cong H$, so of course $G/Z(F)$ is uniquely determined by H. I had no idea G itself could be uniquely recovered if only ones knows the Sylow subgroups (assuming I am not wrong).
If it is false, I would appreciate an example where F = Q is a p-group.
If it is true, I would appreciate an older reference than 21st century topology, as surely this is "Fitting's other theorem."
A special case is clear: if F has vanishing second cohomology as an H-module, then G must be the semi-direct product. In particular, if the orders of F and H are coprime, then of course G is uniquely determined.
On the other hand, if the second cohomology does not vanish, then while multiple extensions can arise, in the examples I've seen, each extension is uniquely identified by its Sylow subgroups that intersect the Fitting subgroup non-trivially.
I am not sure I understand how knowing the Sylows, but not knowing how they interact is sufficient to know the group. A good answer (if it is true) might begin "but Jack we do know how they interact, because…".


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I love to knit and crochet. If I'm sitting, I'm yarning with something. My grandmother taught me crochet and I've found love in it and have branched out to knitting.
I have big yarn dreams and I've never loved anything the same way I love creating with yarn and color and patterns. I'm always excited to see what I'll create next. Sharing with others completes the fulfillment.
I hope you enjoy my patterns as much as I do!
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NYC noise pop duo Sleigh Bells already have a few festival appearances lined up this summer. Why not make a small tour out of it?
The duo have announced a handful of North American dates surrounding their appearances at NYC's Governor's Ball Festival, Toronto's NXNE Festival and Delaware's Firefly Music Festival. Brooklyn noise group Yvette, who recently released their latest album Process on Godmode, will be joining them on their brief trek. Sleigh Bells will make their way to Asbury Park's Stone Pony on Thursday, June 12. Tickets go on sale this Friday at noon. Vocalist Alexis Krauss grew up eight miles away in the town of Manasquan.
Sleigh Bells have been on the move since releasing their third album Bitter Rivals, which was inspired by the music of Janet Jackson, on Mom+Pop Music last October. The band trekked across North America with rapper Danny Brown and Canadian artist Doldrums last fall and even made late night appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Bitter Rivals debuted at number 49 on the Billboard Top 200 and reached number nine on the US Independent Albums Charts. The album received grand reviews from Spin, The A.V. Club, and Rolling Stone.
Following this trek, Sleigh Bells will head overseas for England's Blissfields Festival and Denmark's Roskilde Festival before coming back to the States for two stops on the Mad Decent Block Party performing with acts like Diplo, Dillon Francis, and Flux Pavilion You can take a look at all of their upcoming tour dates below.
Tickets for the Governor's Ball Festival, their other tri-state area appearance, are still on sale, but they're moving very fast. The band will be performing on Saturday, June 7th with Jack White, The Strokes, and Skrillex. The Governor's Ball Festival will take place at Randall's Island.
Sleigh Bells summer 2014 tour dates
04-30 Charleston, SC - The Music Farm
05-02 Tampa, FL - Big Guava Music Festival
06-07 New York, NY - Governors Ball Music Festival
06-09 Portland, ME - Port City Music Hall *
06-10 Providence, RI - Fete Ballroom *
06-12 Asbury Park, NJ - Stone Pony *
06-13 Louisville, KY - Mercury Ballroom *
06-14 Indianapolis, IN - Vogue *
06-17 Cincinnati, OH - Bogarts *
06-19 Toronto, Ontario - NXNE Festival
06-21 Dover, DE - Firefly Music Festival
07-04 Winchester, England - Blissfields Festival
07-05 Roskilde, Denmark - Roskilde Festival
08-01 Washington, DC - Mad Decent Block Party
08-02 Norfolk, VA - Mad Decent Block Party
* with Yvette


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13 January 2013, by Harriet Jarlett
Scientists have been able to document the exact structure of the backbone of the earliest four-legged animals, known as tetrapods, in an effort to understand how animals changed from moving in water, to moving on land.
Dr Stephanie Pierce from the Royal Veterinary College and Professor Jennifer Clack from the University of Cambridge, who led the international team in the NERC-funded investigation, have been studying a 360 million year old extinct animal, Ichthyostega; thought to be the first species to have made brief excursions onto land. They had previously built up a 3D digital model of Ichthyostega's skeleton but on examination of the vertebral column, it became clear that something strange was happening. The researchers then scanned three fossil specimens using high-energy X-rays, produced by the ESRF synchrotron in Grenoble, in order to build extremely detailed 3D images of the spine. What they found was unexpected. Until now, it was thought that early tetrapod's vertebrae were made up of four separate bones – one at the front, one above and a pair at the back. But, the images showed that in Ichthyostega's vertebrae the bones at the back have become fused to the one in front. This discovery meant that what was previously thought to be the first bone in the series of each vertebra was, in reality, the last. 'In evolutionary terms this discovery is extremely important. Imagine putting the forelimb of an animal where the hindlimb should be; this mistaken arrangement would completely change how the animal would move. The same principle holds true for bones in the spine,' says Pierce.
Pierce et al Vertebral Architecture
The finding follows more than a century of misunderstanding. Where early tetrapod fossils had become broken over time, the vertebrae were often reconstructed based on the assumption that the animals would look similar to those from much later in the fossil record. But the researchers have now shown that this interpretation is incorrect. Pierce explains: ' Ichthyostega made us open our minds, stand back and reassess the anatomy of other early tetrapod fossils. When we did this, it was obvious that the bones of their spines were also in the reverse order than what had previously been described.' Finding a similar structure in many early tetrapods means that scientists may need to re-examine other key fossils to ensure that the evolution of the backbone is properly documented.
' Ichthyostega made us open our minds, stand back and reassess the anatomy of other early tetrapod fossils.' Dr Stephanie Pierce, Royal Veterinary College
On top of this potentially revolutionary discovery, the team also found the first evidence of a prehistoric sternum – a series of bones extending down the middle of the Ichthyostega's chest. This unexpected find adds weight to the group's previous work, which suggested that instead of walking on all four limbs, Ichthyostega preferred to drag its body along by its front legs, like a seal or a mudskipper. 'A sternum provides extra support along the ribcage, and is further evidence that the animal may have put a lot of weight on its chest while it moved,' says Clack. The scientists hope to take this new information and, by combining it with earlier data about the animal's limbs, use it to build a picture of how the spinal column affected Ichthyostega's movement.
Pierce, S.E., Ahlberg, P.E., Hutchinson, J.R., Molnar, J.L., Sanchez, S., Tafforeau, P., Clack, J.A. 2013. Vertebral architecture in the earliest stem tetrapods. Nature
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Aphrodisiacs have always been associated with love, romance, sex, and Valentine's Day. Their historical significance goes back thousands of years to biblical times, and many of them, like cardamom, are still used today.
Cardamom is a warming and pungent spice in Ayurvedic medicine, and increases blood flow to the tissues (hence its classification as an aphrodisiac). This spice was mentioned in ancient Arabian texts for use in sultans' private harems, so a little bit of cardamom in your sweetheart's morning coffee cake might prove beneficial to you both. What better way to start the day than with this rich, aromatic, and delicious cake.
Cardamom Coffee Cake (from Mollie Katzen's Moosewood Cookbook - 350 degree oven, serves 16)
- 4 sticks butter
- 2 cups packed light brown sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 4 cups flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 2 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 Tbsp. cardamom powder
- 2 cups sour cream, buttermilk, or plain yogurt
- For nut crumbles: 1 Tbsp. cinnamon, 1/2 cup walnuts (chopped fine), 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- Lightly grease a 10 inch bundt pan, and preheat your oven to 350 degrees
- Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, then add eggs one at a time. Add vanilla after batter is smooth.
- Sift together the dry cake ingredients in a separate bowl. Alternate adding the flour and sour cream/buttermilk/yogurt gradually to the creamed butter and sugar mixture. Stir these in by hand, just enough to blend everything (if you mix it too much, the cake will be tough).
- Combine the nut mixture in a small bowl. Spoon 1/3 of the batter into the pan evenly. Sprinkle half of the nut mixture over the batter, and cover with another 1/3 of the batter. Finally, sprinkle the last of the nut mixture and cover with the last of the batter. Even out the top of the batter with the back of a spoon or spatula.
- Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the center is cooked (when a skewer inserted in the center comes out dry). Rest cake for 20 minutes in the pan, then invert onto a plate. Allow 30 minutes before slicing.
In addition to being an aphrodisiac, cardamom also helps to alleviate depression, detoxify the body, and aids in digestion. Because of all those fine benefits, this coffee cake is worth making for yourself, especially if you are single. After all, it's best to love yourself first; and besides, there might not be any of this decadent cake left to share with anyone else!
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A client from Atlanta, GA, recently asked the following question: "What exactly is a fetish? I'm afraid I may have a fetish for women's underwear."
For anyone who has the same question, simply put, a fetish is an object or a situation that creates an obsessive sexual desire or arousal in an individual. Now, to be clear, finding something such as women's underwear erotic is does not necessarily mean that a person is suffering from sexual fetishism. An object of arousal or a fantasy can be a perfectly normal part of a healthy sex life.
Such a fascination can be defined as fetishism when it crosses the line into obsession or dependence, or when it creates dysfunction in other areas such as your social life or your work. Additionally, a fetish becomes troublesome when you can no longer become aroused in the absence of that object; so if you are unable to become aroused without using or thinking about, for instance, women's underwear, you may have a problem.
Finally, if the fetish causes you distress, causes feelings of anxiety, guilt, shame, depression, if it infringes on other people's rights, or it is associated with illegal activities -- such as stealing women's underwear – you definitely need to seek treatment. A sex therapist can help you sort out your feelings and detach you from your dependence on that one sexual object, so that you can explore and experience a diverse sexual life.