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We go every October because it is the best time of the year to dive one of the best destinations on earth. You know, we've been a lot of places, and there are several we favor. But usually we have to travel a long, long way to get there. And those trips are expensive. Only the Sea of Cortez offers an amazing dive adventure so close to home. Big animals. Big schools. Big time fun! Whale sharks in your face. Mantas close enough to touch. Sea lions dive bombing and nipping at your fins. Morays, morays, morays. Jacks and barracudas schooling. Dolphins in the wake. Giant jawfish found nowhere else. 100+ vis. 85ª water. blue skies and calm blue seas. Exotic. Exciting. Jacques Cousteau called it "The World's Greatest Aquarium." And a mere two-hour flight from Los Angeles! We love La Paz!
We love it so much that our son Evan married Niccole there. And come October 2009 we will celebrate Joe's 80th birthday there!
La Paz is the state's capital and the largest city south of Tijuana on the Baja Peninsula. Surrounded by barren desert, the city is set amid ancient laurel trees and coconut and date palms. Its waterfront promenade is one of Mexico's prettiest. A few blocks inland is the city's main square, the Jardín Velasco with its pink quartz gazebo, tile walkways and 19th century cathedral. La Paz is unspoiled, unhurried, charming. You can indulge in delicious local cuisine and dance until the wee hours, shop for authentic Mexican arts and crafts, kayak alongside friendly whales, and, of course, scuba dive.
Our host in La Paz is James Curtis, owner of The Cortez Club. The Cortez Club is everything a dive operation should be. The unsurpassed service is geared toward a hassle-free and relaxing dive experience. You will find all your equipment waiting for you on the boat in the morning, which will be moored at the private jetty. During the day, all your equipment will be set up for you, unless you wish to do it yourself. At the end of the day, just stroll up to our Sunset Bar to order your favorite drink, while your equipment is unloaded, rinsed in fresh water and stored, ready for the next day of spectacular diving.
The Cortez Club fleet includes 36-foot motor yacht, a custom-built rigid inflatable, and motorboats designed specifically for divers. More about the Cortez Club. More about the Cortez Club
The divemasters are courteous, considerate, and quite knowledgeable about the area and the marine life. They ensure that every dive is a great experience.
We will be staying at La Concha Beach Resort. La Concha a seaside hotel located on a secluded beach along La Paz Bay, a short five-minute drive from the picturesque city of La Paz. It's a laid-back, mellow spot, with a true warm and colorful Mexican ambience. The hotel's rooms are equipped with air conditioning, of course, a mini bar, cable TV, balcony and gorgeous ocean and sunset views. The on-site health spa is a good place to work out, get a facial or a massage. The restaurant, La Palmas, is one of the best in La Paz. The Cortez Club is on the premises, down the path a piece at the pier.
The CORTEZ CLUB Dive Centers Features:
5 Nights, 6 Days, 4 Days of Diving
5 Nights, 6 Days, 3 Days of Diving
7 nights, 8 Days, 5 Days of Diving
Accommodations at the La Concha Beach Resort
Ocean view room, double occupancy
American breakfast
3-tank diving, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Whale Shark Spotter plane
Box lunch, snacks and beverages on dive days
Boat guides, tanks, weights, belts
La Paz Airport transfers
Hotel & DivingTaxes
Gift and Prizes
Per person double occupancy
Land package only. Does not include airfare
Single supplement ad $56/night
Gratuities not included
Price subject to change
What to do with the day? Explore historic museums and shop for authentic Mexican arts and crafts. Try your luck and experience in the legendary sportfishing for marlin, wahoo, tuna, dorado and more! Kayak alongside friendly dolphins and whales or beach comb in the tranquil bays of Espiritu Santo Island. Discover ancient cave paintings in distant canyons or venture into challenging mountain bike terrain. Go scuba diving again! Go ATVing. Or just relax and do nothing at all.
Hang up your reg and put on a helmet and enjoy a different thrilling experience. La Paz ATV's Adventure will take you on a guided three-hour ride along the beaches and dunes with beautiful views of desert and bay. The fee includes training, use of a new ATV Honda Rancher 350, helmet, goggles, insurance, and incredible fun.
Enjoy on-the-water sports at the Cortez Club. Choose from kayaking (singles, doubles and full ocean-going kayaks), sailing (Hobies and Prindles), windsurfing (Craft, Hi-fly and Pacific Wind), waverunners (Yamahas 750cc), and waterskiing (Mono, Wake board and standard). Instruction for sailing, windsurfing and waterskiing available
The Mosquito Fleet is the oldest sportfishing fleet in La Paz, serving Sea of Cortez fishermen since 1984. October is a great time to fish for dorado, marlin, yellow fin tuna and wahoo.


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National Post ·
It was back in October that the flame was relit, whether ceremonially or not. The return of a once-Canadian hockey franchise to its much-romanticized roots; the repatriation of one of this country's crown jewels, such as they are. Toronto and Edmonton and even Calgary might be rather cloudy jewels at the moment, but they're still ours.
Still, the notion that one of our lost teams could find its way home remains a powerful one. In the fall, it was chatter surrounding the Quebec Nordiques. Currently, it's the Winnipeg Jets. Close your eyes, and you can probably picture their uniforms, all these years after they were boxed up and carted away.
Well, open your eyes, and keep your eye on the ball. This smells suspicious. And, it should be said, familiar.
The latest and most credible-sounding report surfaced yesterday, when the Phoenix Business Journal cited two sources that said the National Hockey League has a deal in principle to sell the Phoenix Coyotes to Canadian mega-billionaire David Thomson, who would then spirit the Coyotes back to Winnipeg, which they left in 1996.
And oh, what patriotic Canadian wouldn't love to see that?
By the way, funny story: today Glendale city council will debate the new lease renegotiation offers from the parties who purport to want to buy the Coyotes and keep them in Phoenix--the Ice Edge group, which appears to be on its way to being unmasked as a shallow-pocketed facade, and sports impresario Jerry Reinsdorf, who has been lurking in and out of the shadows all along.
Oh, and when ol' Jerry was trying to buy the team last year, during the third war of Jim Balsillie, he was asking the city of Glendale for approximately US$23-million per year in lease concessions, in addition to an escape clause.
So the timing of all this Winnipeg talk is probably a coincidence, right?
Unless, of course, it isn't. Maybe David Thomson, who has never shown one iota of interest in sports in the course of his relatively underpublicized life, has suddenly decided that he would like to lose a minuscule slice of the estimated US$19-billion worth of his family fortune on a hockey team in Winnipeg. Perhaps in addition to being a patron of the arts, he has decided to helm, or help fund, a charity case far from his Toronto home.
Well, we'll believe it when we see it.
"There is no truth to that story this morning that there was an agreement in principle," said Scott Brown, spokesman for True North Sports and Entertainment. "And David Thomson at no point, and at no point will, be leading the effort to acquire a franchise to Winnipeg. That will be done by True North Sports and Entertainment, in which he is an equal partner."
"He is an investor in True North Sports and Entertainment, and we've made no secret of the fact that we do have ongoing conversations with the NHL on a regular basis. Now these rumours picking up that we've purchased the Thrashers or we've purchased the Coyotes--there's no truth to those rumours at all."
Now, there's nothing to disqualify Thomson from being an investor in an NHL team, since he's one right now -- Thomsen already owns 15% of the Toronto Maple Leafs, via the stake held by Bell GlobeMedia in Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.
But that investment is about making money. Winnipeg, with its dearth of corporate support, would not. And Thomson seems unlikely to be terribly interested, anyway. As someone who knows business put it yesterday, "If the Coyotes were Rembrandts on skates, then I might buy [the story]."
Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Free Press reported yesterday that Winnipeg is "Plan C at best" for the Coyotes, which I'm guessing would put the plans in this order:
1. Leverage Glendale to give away the store to Reinsdorf, which, given Glendale's budgetary woes -- Glendale is projecting at least a US$10-million shortfall in the new budget, after painstakingly negotiating spending cuts of nearly US$10-million in the past year--seems unlikely.
2. Somehow escape Glendale's seemingly bulletproof lease, and move the team to, say, Kansas City, where an NHL-ready arena awaits.
3. Shutter the franchise, and start figuring out how to spend some expansion money. Or just move the thing to Winnipeg, or Quebec City.
"With respect to Winnipeg and Messrs. [True North Sports and Entertainment chairman Mark] Chipman and Thomson, we have had ongoing discussions over time regarding their potential interest in owning an NHL franchise (as we have had with a number of other individuals and cities around North America) and potentially bringing an NHL franchise back to Winnipeg," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement that strongly denied any deal was in place. "It remains an intriguing possibility and one we would consider given appropriate circumstances, but there is nothing new to report on that front at this time."
Here's what we stand: Unless Glendale is interested in going bankrupt, the Coyotes are going to leave Phoenix. They're slated to lose about US$20-million this season with a team that's challenging for the top spot in the West, with attendance at an NHL-low average of 11,725, even after a recent surge. They're cooked.
But until it happens, the belief here is that this is the hockey equivalent of the NFL's use of Los Angeles to goose stadium negotiations in other cities. Better play by our rules, or we'll take your team to Canada. We'll say it again: After Balsillie tried to hijack the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Nashville Predators, the former got a new arena, and the latter extracted lease concessions from the city.
I believe eventually market forces will probably reshape the NHL, and drive one or more failing U.S.-based teams back to Canada. And if I'm wrong about this latest feint towards Canada, I'll be thrilled.
But when it does, it will be a deathbed conversion, to be sure. Until then, remember that core principle of fans of Toronto and Edmonton and various other Canadian chasers of the Stanley Cup: For goodness sake, don't get your hopes up. You're bound to be disappointed.

subset: commoncrawl


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Lesson 4: The Circulation of Masquerades
Throughout the Lower (and Middle Benue) regions, masquerades are performed to incarnate ancestors, enforce social codes, support royal and chiefly authority, celebrate warriors, or to entertain.Among those on view in the Lower Benue section of the Central Nigeria Unmasked exhibition are videos of "tall ghost" masks, as well as an impressive elephant mask, crest masks worn on the top of the head, and three imposing helmet masks that are used in masquerades to honor royalty among the Igala peoples.
The circumstances of war, migration, and resettlement since the nineteenth century have meant that masks were and continue to be highly mobile. They could be taken as war booty, bought and sold, adopted with or without accompanying rituals, and altered to suit aesthetic or social requirements of a new community. Reinterpreted by new owners, their meanings changed in response to different contexts and needs.
As cultural boundary crossers, masquerade traditions also retain some traces of where they have been. Their names, origin stories, accompanying musical instrumentation, idiosyncratic dance steps, or special adornments are all clues to their historical path.
The following curriculum connections explore masks familiar to the peoples in the Lower Benue region.


text:
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Alumacraft MV 1648 Description
Boat for Sale Details
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Confusion Eruption and Dishonesty
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Part One: My feelings (a.k.a. confusion)
I don't know what to do with myself. I'm having a good trip to visit friends, but I feel like I'm not living MY life, I'm living theirs. Or HIS, more particularly. Which is intensely weird, to say the least.
My best friend and usual gym buddy (although we've stopped going because school's out and that's the only free gym available to us) loved a girl once. He still cares deeply about her, but she has always rejected his more tender feelings for her. I am also very good friends with her, and through a quirk of circumstance, I am staying in a house with the two of them. She recently admitted to him that one of the most compelling reasons for being friendly to him was her realization that he's a big part of MY life, and that if he comes with the Kat package, she's willing to be civil. It's all very complicated and it's been taking over my life from day one last December (when he first divulged the tale). How did I get in so deep?
How do I feel about this? How do I feel about him, really? And her?
Part Two: Eruption, or the story of how 'she' got herself a maybe boyfriend.
She's met a guy, someone who fell out of the sky and into her life who she might never have met without my arrival in New Jersey on the Fourth of July. And now my friend, my best friend, is distraught and can't show it or share it to anyone but me. She might be giving up her life in California for some time, or she might not ever come back at all. I have faith that she will get out of N.J. if anyone can, but she has very little tying her to the West Coast. Faced with the thought of never seeing again the woman he's loved for so long, the man who, besides my family, I hold dearest in all the world, is living in fear that he will lose her forever and never again feel the same depth of love that he had for her. Unreasonable, I know, but how many of us are reasonable when it comes to real love?
Part Three: Dishonesty, or, Everything is Fine
She's happy now. She'll be able to let go if she needs to in order to get out of Jersey and get on with her life. I think.
He'll love someone else sometime, right? I'm not sure I want it to be me (but is that honest?), but it's bound to happen that he'll be able to move on. Right?
I'm sighing over someone else's problems when I have compelling enough issues of my own to deal with. Once again, I am not living my own life.
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Wow!!! Very high school you need to move on. They need to grow up. You do not need this kind of emotional baggage.
2169 days ago
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Sale'aumua celebrates new Church beginning
The 117-year-old Sale'aumua Catholic Church building has been given a new lease of life thanks to a $750,000 facelift which was officially opened yesterday.
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Tiavea Methodist's new house of worship
Members of the Ti'avea-tai Methodist Church had all the reasons to rejoice yesterday.
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North America leaders urge against Trump's isolationism
President Barack Obama and the leaders of Mexico and Canada pushed back forcefully on Wednesday against the isolationist and anti-immigrant sentiments that have roiled Britain and been championed by GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump.
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Attackers kill 42 in scenes of chaos at Istanbul airport
Suicide attackers armed with guns and bombs killed 42 people and wounded hundreds at Istanbul's busy Ataturk Airport, apparently targeting Turkey's crucial tourism industry.
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Maradona urges Argentines to leave Messi alone over quitting
Soccer great Diego Maradona is urging fellow Argentines to leave Lionel Messi alone over the current star's decision to retire from Argentina's national team following its loss to Chile in the Copa America championship match.
66 Hits
Super Rugby resumes after four week break with match in Fiji
Super Rugby competition will resume Friday after a four-week break for June tests, kicking off with an historic match in Fiji between two of the leaders in the race for the title, the Crusaders and Chiefs.
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New "The Real Housewives of New York City" star Kristen Taekman is good friends with Brandi Glanville, a veteran of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." So it's not surprising that Kristen received some advice from Brandi before her "Real Housewives" experience. In an interview with OK! Magazine, Kristen revealed what Brandi told her.
Brandi gave her practical advice on how to manage things as a mother and new reality TV star.
"The only real advice that she could really give, I think you know 'Beverly Hills' is so different to 'New York' so, her only real advice was, um, you know just sort of how to manage filming in general. Like the schedule with the kids and, um, stuff like that. That was kind of it. I'm not really big on advice. I don't know if that's good or bad. We'll see," she said.
In an interview with OK! Magazine in February, Brandi said that she and Kristen are very similar in some ways, especially when it comes to their lack of filter.
"We're very similar in some ways. We just kind of say things and we're like, 'Oh shoot, did we just say that?'" Brandi said of Kristen, who got the attention of Andy Cohen went she went to a Bravo event with Brandi last year.
What do you think of new housewife Kristen Taekman so far? Do you find her anything like her friend Brandi Glanville?
Follow @celebgossipstat for the latest celebrity and entertainment news.
Suggested Links
- Brandi Glanville, Kenya Moore and Kate Gosselin film 'Celebrity Apprentice'
- Brandi Glanville gets revenge on LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian
- Lisa Vanderpump tweets image showing her as Brandi Glanville's puppet master
- Carole confronts Andy about Aviva's claim that Jill and Bethenny are coming back
- 'RHONY' LuAnn de Lesseps wants her own dating show


text: For the Albertson's summer coupon booklet, all of the coupons are manufacturer coupons that don't double unless you have the twice the value coupons but that ended yesterday. I was wondering since it's a manufacturer coupon that starts with a 9 and some that don't say albertson's, I was wondering if I could use those coupons to shop at other places like winco or something. There's a coupon for ranch dressing that saves $1 and I wanted to use that at winco to get the ranch cheaper. Is that possible?


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Big news, music lovers! The Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival opens May 2.
And already Lah dee dah and blah blah blah!
Before you put Your Examiner on hold, listen up.
GreaterJax™ makes the Top 20 again
Like the Concors d'Elegance, the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival is a big damn deal.
Among the largest music festivals in the southeast, Amelia Island has been named a Top 20 event many times.
That's right, music lovers from all over the country and the world come to Greater Jacksonville just for the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival.
Get your feet wet for free
So what's this got to do with me, GJE? I know less than nothing about chamber music.
Here's the beautiful thing – you don't have to.
The Chamber Music Festival offers several free, family-friendly concerts so that you can sample the wares for basically the price of has money to get to Amelia Island:
- May 2 – 11:00 a.m.: McDuffie Center Showcase – Students and faculty
- May 8 – 4:30 p.m.: Free Family Concert – Brooklyn Rider. Post concert repast, 6:00 p.m.at Lulu's at the Thompson House
- May 10 – 2:00 p.m.: Free Concert in Amelia Park – Classic and folk
- May 13 – 1:00 p.m.: Beth Newdome Fellowship Artists
- May 17 – 1:00 p.m.: Beth Newdome Fellowship Artists
When you hear something you like, tickets for paid concerts are available on the festival's website.
So what exactly is chamber music?
Simply put, chamber music is very polite conversation among instruments, usually very small ensembles (3-8 players) of woodwinds (flute, clarinet, etc.) and strings (violin, viola, cello).
Musical questions are asked and answered, jokes told, witty asides applauded, etc.
With the exception of certain "big" pieces like Hadyn's 'Surprise' symphony (No. 94 in G), which is in itself a joke about art farts with short attention spans, chamber music isn't meant to the center of attention.
Usually written to be an accompaniment to conversation over drinks and dinner or as ambience at fashionable parties, the really lovely thing about most chamber music is that it's soft, lyrical and very relaxing to listen to.
In fact, you've already heard so much, that you know many pieces by heart.
Because chamber music works so well in the background, it's used very often in movies and on television to illustrate scenes and plot points.
In fact, some of the most famous chamber music ever written, Johann Sebastian Bach's Goldberg Variations (part of Lecter's soundrtrack in 'The Silence of the Lambs') and Mozart's 'A Little Night Music' have been used in soundtracks so often that you've whistled them without thinking about.
Don't believe it?
Check out copies from your local library and give a listen. You'll be amazed at how much chamber music you already know.
Enter the conversation
The Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival works to promote public appreciation of and education about chamber music.
Festival organizers strive to appeal to a wide range of musical tastes – from traditional string quartets to larger chamber ensembles and even American folk music.
There are even special discounts on ticket packages:
- 20% off on tickets for six or more concerts
- 50% off tickets when you book an overnight stay on Amelia Island.
2014 Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival
- Fri., May 2-Sun., June 1
- Admission: $25-$50 per paid concert. Check schedule.
- Contact: Christopher Rex, General & Artistic Director
Phone: 904-261-1779
- Fax: 904-261-1995


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text:
WHEN Barack Obama was still campaigning for the presidency first time around, he was unsettled to receive his first top-secret security briefing from US intelligence chiefs.
"You know, I've been worried about losing this election," he told his briefers after learning of the crises waiting on the desk for the incoming president. "After talking to you guys, I'm worried about winning this election," he half-joked, according to the author Bob Woodward.
Now that he has won a second term, the weight of presidential responsibility again presses on him, and the most urgent threat he confronts is not terrorists from afar but the terrorists who sit two kilometres down the road.
Obama: The best is yet to come
President Barack Obama has won a second term in the White House, defeating Republican nominee Mitt Romney.PT0M0S 620 349
It's a dangerous cell called the US Congress, and it threatens to blow up the US economy, and its credibility and its status as a strong and responsible power. Obama has 54 days to strike a budget deal with Congress and if he can't, the US will topple over the "fiscal cliff" into a new recession, dragging the world after it.
The cliff is a legislated bundle of government spending cuts and tax increases totalling $US608 billion that are due to take effect automatically on January 1.
Wayne Swan in Washington yesterday said it would have a "dramatic impact and flow-on effect to the global economy", including Australia's. A group of 15 of America's biggest financial institutions has warned it would be "very grave".
US Presidential Election Day
America heads to the polls to decide between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney Photo: The New York Times
Because while the Democrats have recaptured the White House and the Senate, the Republicans have held onto their majority in the House of Representatives.
The divided Congress has long proved incapable of negotiating in good faith on the budget. And the election will not solve the problem: "It doesn't mean everyone will sing Kumbayah together," says the political commentator Charlie Cook.
But won't the Republicans be chastened by Mitt Romney's defeat? Perhaps. But in the civil war that will now unfold in the Republican Party, it's equally possible it will conclude that Romney failed because he was not radical enough, and become even more intransigent.
If the US goes over the "fiscal cliff", it will leave a weaker America confronting the rising great power, China: "Obama has a big problem [with China],'' says Mike Green of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies and formerly the top Asia official under George W. Bush.
"The key task for Obama is to reassure China that the US is not trying to block China's rise, but do it without appearing weak."
The US "pivot" to Asia, embodied by the permanent new marines deployment to Darwin, will continue to be central to that task, but with a shrinking US military budget. And without Hillary Clinton, who is stepping down next year as Secretary of State.
"The energy and commitment to Asia might change," says Green, "because a lot of people can't see who could replace her that'd bring the same level of energy and discipline" to the Asia 'pivot'.
US primacy is under greater challenge than at any time since the Soviet Union threatened it with nuclear annihilation. Welcome back to work, Mr President.


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To move or not to move...
Monday, May 10, 2010
Had a late start packing up and heading out to Central Oregon... approximately a five hour trip. With kids, make it six. Surprised the heck out of my mom. First time we have seen each other and talked to each other for five months. Our last parting was not friendly.
Early Sunday morning, me and hubby took the baby into town while the other two stayed with Grandma and Grandpa. Got to see my two best friends. We've been friends since senior year in high school and do our absolute best to stay in touch. Thank you Facebook!
While I was visiting one of them... the thought of moving to Central Oregon came up. Don't get me wrong, but I would love to move to Central Oregon and be closer to my best friends. Just that.... I grew up here. I graduated here. I met my husband here. I got married here. Had a daughter here. Buried my husband here. The first two is Central Oregon and the rest is Eastern Oregon but still.... it's Oregon. I wanted to leave it behind.
Our lease is coming to an end next month. The expenses would be cheaper but the job market is no different than here. The way I see it, you'd be lucky to get a job at McDonald's. That is where our garage cleaning business comes in.
I'm weighing the pros and cons and thinking how much it would mean to my mom if we moved to Central Oregon. She could see the kids whenever (with my prior approval of course and letting me know ahead of time she is coming so I can clean house like crazy!) and it's something new for my family. Thanks to Craigslist, I can browse around the rental listings and do a comparison.
My landlord is coming to do a walk through on Thursday so I better get cracking. He knows I am preparing for the yard sale this weekend. This place just needs to be cleaned up; clothes laundered and put away, floors swept and mopped, vacuumed. Nothing serious like garbage strewn all over the place and where is that stink coming from?! It's not that bad at all. Just too much clutter to get rid of.
I hate moving. But in a way, I kinda like it because it's an excuse to downsize and sell your stuff and make it their junk, not yours. If we move, we could save even more money for a down payment on a house and my van. Isn't Bend one of the 50 best places to raise a family??
What are your moving dilemmas?
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I love to move. I think it's a fun new adventure - new friends to make, new jobs to find, new places to explore. My biggest moving dilemma would probably be finding something affordable in a good area. I have a good home now that is in my budget, and I know it'll be hard to find no matter where I move. I'm sticking here for now! :)
2238 days ago
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MT: I think no matter how attractive a couple is, how perfect they seem, the dailyness of life, the sharing of space, makes things seem ordinary. It dulls the sheen. People don't stray just because they don't find their partner attractive; it's much more emotional and mental. There's a large physical component, but it's multilayered.
The beginning of anything is more exciting. That sense of discovery. The beginning of a relationship, a connection, is very addictive and satisfying, and one of the most exhilarating things we can experience. "To crave the newness," as Joanna says. Her old boyfriend is somebody she knows, but she was with him for less than 100 days, so they were not burdened by the dailyness.
More: Along that line, in the movie, Griffin Dunne, who plays Alex's friend, is sort of like the Greek chorus.
MT: Except he's so much more fun!
More: Eva's character, Laura, reminded me of the Black Swan.
MT: We tried to make her understated. But no matter how we made her up, she's beautiful. Her physicality is very different from Keira's, by design, to complicate the story—Michael's not going for a different version of his wife, a younger version.
More: What do you think is tempting Keira's character?
MT: She's longing for someone from her past. With Alex, she could visualize a different life. She was living in Paris with an artist, which is so different from her life today, like her night with Alex's friends is so different from her night with her husband's friends.
More: Which movies about relationships, do you admire?
MT: Mike Nichol's Closer. And I love Ingmar Bergman's Scenes from a Marriage, Stanley Donan's Two for the Road. It grapples with the business of marriage. David Lean's Brief Encounter is always very emotional to watch. Husband and Wives, Woody Allen's movie.
More: What's your next project?
MT: I'm writing it now. It's a suspense story. I can't wait to do it again, to direct. You have to really love it.
More: I gather your husband is very supportive of your work.
MT: My husband is a retina surgeon. He's very supportive and like my reality check.


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This Hurricane Season Energy Traders Have New Forecast Tool
The Department of Energy has just released a nifty new tool energy-market watchers may find useful this hurricane season.
It contains real-time information on tropical storms from the National Hurricane Center overlaid on a map of major U.S. energy infrastructure sites, including oil and gas rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, oil import sites, oil refineries, power plants and other facilities.
Oil and gas traders usually have their collective eye on severe weather around the Gulf of Mexico because of the potential for disruption to the region's oil and gas production and delivery infrastructure. The Gulf accounts for about 20% of all U.S. oil production and 6% of gas output. The Gulf also home to more than 40% of U.S. refining capacity.
Already the map displays the current and projected path of Tropical Storm Chantal—the third named storm of the season—which is headed toward the eastern Caribbean and could reach Florida by Saturday. Landfall is looking unlikely, though.
Still, three tropical storms so far this season is noteworthy. Private forecaster MDA Information Services says in a typical year, August is the time of where when three named storms have shown up. That means there's still plenty of time for more storms to make an appearance.


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On Saturday, January 18, 2014, our day began with a leisurely drive from the Hofsas House in Carmel-by-the-Sea. It was a gorgeous day with comfortable temperature and the sun shining brightly. The drive was along PCH with beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean with rolling rocky cliffs and sea arches carved by years of crashing waves. Another interesting sight was seeing cattle along the hillsides. The only other place I have seen this mix is the Big Island of Hawaii. The cattle had a great vantage point while they munched away or relaxed in the sun.
The small town of Big Sur is encompassed by carved rock and deep green forests of redwood trees. The Ventana Inn is perched above the forest with vistas overlooking the ocean and hosted the "Fungus Faceoff" on the patio of The Restaurant at Ventana. The setup was done perfectly with a nice flow through the line and food & wine interspersed throughout. There was an array of mushrooms on display, probably picked during the "Foraging Hike in the Forest" earlier that day. The friendly competition featured chanterelles and other fabulous fungi dishes prepared by Big Sur Roadhouse, Hyatt Carmel Highlands, Esalen, Big Sur Bakery, Fernwood Resort, Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley Ranch, The Restaurant at Ventana, and Ripplewood Resort. Let's take a look at what they made:
Ripplewood Resort presented Russian Boar and Truffled Wild Mushroom Rillettes served with red onion quince marmalade, horseradish crème fraîche, and apple on rye toast. Beautifully presented, it had just the right balance of flavors and textures – rich pork rillette, sweetness from the onion marmalade, stunning yet creamy crème fraîche, crisp yet tart apple, and nutty flavor from the rye bread. It was a great bite but the mushroom flavor was lost. While this was my second favorite dish of the event, it went on to win the "Most Complex Flavors Dish" award.
Big Sur Taphouse presented Prosciutto-Wrapped Wild Pacific Shrimp and Cold Mushroom Tapenade Crostini. The shrimp was perfectly cooked with a nice snap. The prosciutto added a slight saltiness and smokiness which accentuated the natural sweetness of the shrimp. The mushrooms were good, but were not incorporated into the dish enough. Since the shrimp was pretty big, it would have been better butterflied, then combine the mushrooms and baguette into a stuffing, and finally wrap it in the prosciutto. But big points for beautiful presentation! This won "Best Cooking Technique" award.
Carmel Valley Ranch presented Porcini, Crimini, Oyster, Hedgehog, Trumpet and Chanterelle Crostini with radish and mustard greens. It looked like pulled pork but was screaming with mushroom and garlic flavor. This won "Most Local Ingredients" award.
The Restaurant at Ventana presented Yellow Chantrelle Mushroom and Black Truffle Gel "Explosion" with a Dried Black Trumpet, Crimini and Panko Crust and a Mushroom Macaroon. The "Explosion" was my favorite of the Faceoff as it was one bite literally exploding with mushroom and truffle flavors. The outside was fried to golden brown perfection. The best way to eat this was to put the whole thing in your mouth. If you bit into it, it would have "exploded" all over your clothes. The inside was very viscous but I loved every savory second of it. I wanted to eat more, but wanted others to experience it too. This won "Most Inventive Use of Ingredients". The mushroom macaroons were delicious as well. It reminded me of a salted caramel macaroon with a slight savory flavor. I went back for seconds on this one. The Restaurant at Ventana also was the Judges' Pick for Celebrity Chef of Show.
Hyatt Carmel Highland presented Wild Mushroom Cannelloni Pasta with Herbs. The filling had black trumpet, chanterelles, and hedgehog mushrooms, spinach, and mascarpone. My husband absolutely loved this dish; might be because he's Italian. I thought it needed a little more seasoning with the filling, but overall it was good. This won the "Best Vegetarian Dish" award.
Big Sur Bakery presented Everything Carrots with roasted carrots dusted with seeds, shallots and nutritional yeast and served with a dollop of wood sorrel cream cheese. Due to my allergies, I was unable to taste this but my husband said that the carrots were roasted to perfection but he didn't care for the cream cheese dollop. This won the "Most Unique Dish" award.
Big Sur Roadhouse presented Lemon Pepper Chowder with pulled pork, hedgehog mushrooms, black trumpets, yellow chanterelles, and South Coast Meyer lemons. The chowder was chalked full of mushrooms. I loved the added pork flavor but the lemon flavor didn't match with this dish; maybe if the soup were more broth-based and chicken was used instead of pork. This won the "Best Hot/ Spicy Dish" award.
Esalen Institute presented the retreat's staple rye bread, made with wild yeast, toasted and topped with herb salad, wild fennel aioli, pickled beets, and a smoked mussel. The mussel was beautifully smoked and tender as could be. The salad tasted like it was freshly picked from the field. The rye bread was chewy and flexible, very different texture to rye bread that you're used to. It was very hearty with a nutty flavor. This won the "Most Artistic Presentation of Dish" award.
Fernwood Grill presented a dish of couscous, nuts, seeds, house-cured bacon drizzled with hibiscus syrup. This reminded me of a hearty trail mix with chunks of bacon. It was a hearty, yet fun dish. Love the bright green spoons! This won the "Best Table Display" award.
Bernardus Lodge presented Goat Cheese Polenta with maitake and yellowfoot mushrooms with garlic brioche croutons. I loved the goat cheese polenta. It was so creamy with just the right consistency. The mushrooms were fantastically sautéed to bring all the sweet mushroom flavor to the forefront. This won the "Most Easily Adapted to Home Cooking" and the highly coveted "People's Choice" awards.
The event also served as a fundraiser for the Big Sur Health Center. The community's non-profit health center will receive the proceeds from the foraging events to support the continued presence of local health care services. This year's Big Sur Foragers Festival raised more than $20,000!
We ended our afternoon with a leisurely drive back to Carmel-by-the-Sea. This was a wonderful event to celebrate delicious, edible fungi! Can't wait to see what they do next year!
For more information:
Big Sur Foragers Festival
46896 Highway One
Big Sur, CA 93920
Like them on Facebook
Suggested Links
- The 10th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival: The Grand Tasting, Part 2
- The 10th Annual San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival: The Grand Tasting, Part 1
- Part 1: 5th Annual Taste of Venice's VIP Reception
- The Annual Los Angeles Times' The TASTE "Labor Day Block Party" event sizzled
- The Annual Los Angeles Times' The TASTE "Field to Fork" event was a hot success


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How Right Whale Photoidentification Works
Individual right whales are identified by the pattern of callosity on their heads, along with a host of other natural and anthropogenic scars. See How to Identify a Right Whale for terms and details on right whales features.
- Examine callosity patterns
- Compare other identifying marks
- Learn from examples of right whale matching
- Search the Right Whale Catalog
- Review feature identification codes
- Use the DIGITS: Digital Image Gathering and Information Tracking System
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By Cortney Ofstad
Hurley school holds Christmas decor contest
December 14, 2013 | Vol. 94, No. 293
Cortney Ofstad/Daily Globe
SECOND GRADERS, from left, Serena Tauer, Jaana Aukee and Wyatt Baron, help decorate teacher Nicole Giancola's Peanuts-themed door at the Hurley K-12 School Friday. Faculty and staff throughout the school decorated the doors for a Christmas-themed contest.
HURLEY - Faculty and staff at the Hurley K-12 School got into the holiday spirit Friday with a friendly competition using decorated doors.
Doors in the elementary, middle and high school hallways have been decorated by teachers, staff and students to celebrate the Christmas season.
Decorations included wrapping paper, construction paper, bows, ribbons, ornaments and lights.
Some grades used themes from movies, showing off characters like the Grinch, Snoopy and Woodstock, Jack Skellington from "The Nightmare Before Christmas," and the conductor from "The Polar Express."
Frosty the Snowman smiles from Melanie Erspamer's third grade classroom door at the Hurley K-12 School Friday. Faculty and staff decorated doors as part of a Christmas-themed competition.
Students on the elementary, middle and high school student councils will vote Tuesday to see which door will be named the winner.
In addition to the door decorating contest, students pre-kindergarten through 12th grade donated items to be put under three Christmas trees in the cafeteria.
According to elementary guidance counselor Marcy Kusz, the donations go to HOPE Animal Shelter and Domestic Violence Escape in Ironwood and the "Take Time to Be Kind" event at the school.
The trees were donated from staff members and groups in the community, and according to Kusz, the amount of donations has been "overwhelming."
"We have done 'Take Time to Be Kind' in the past, and this year we wanted to open this up to all three groups," Kusz said. "The kids and families have been so generous. It's overwhelming how generous everyone is."
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Snuffles is a 4-month-old Belgian shepherd dog that appears to have two noses, and the birth defect has the puppy him from being adopted from the Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, according to People on Saturday.
The manager of Dogs Trust Rehoming Center, Sandra Lawton, spoke with the Daily Mail and said it is such a shame to think that this sweet-natured lad may not find the loving home he deserves. She said that the dog adoption business takes in hundreds of dogs of all shapes and sizes, but she has never seen anything quite like Snuffles.
The unique-looking dog was acquired by the shelter about a month ago. It is reported that Snuffles has four nostrils and can more each side of his snout independently. Regardless of the way Snuffles looks, he only has one nose, according to an examining veterinarian. When it comes to the nose area, there is a split there rather than his nostrils having been fused together.
Snuffles is described as a typical, fun, bouncy puppy, and is very keen to learn.
Click here to see Snuffle's profile.


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Canada Business Network Blog
Strengthen customer loyalty with rewards programs
Learn about strategies you can use to establish a successful customer rewards program for your business.
The advantages of buying a business
Do you want to run your own business? Find out the advantages of buying an existing one over starting one up.
Funding for workplace accessibility — Apply by January 20, 2014
Find out how your small business or social enterprise can receive funding to make your workplace accessible and create job opportunities for people with disabilities.
Making money make sense: Building the skills you need to manage your finances
Learn how building your essential skills can help you tackle financial business tasks with greater confidence and ease.
Minimizing market research mishaps
A business plan, including market research, is key to a successful start-up or expansion. Avoid market research roadblocks by following these hints.
5 ways to make your business accessible
Make your business an inclusive business in honour of International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Get time on your side
If you struggle to find time to do everything and are often overwhelmed, you may want to re-evaluate some of your work strategies.
FYI Canadian businesses: what you need to know about government payments
By April 2016, the Government will issue payments only by direct deposit. Learn how you can set your business up before the deadline.
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Can browse by author, series, coming soon, or awards. Great for suspense, romantic suspense and mystery lovers.
Author interviews, blogs, reviews.
List of Read-alikes, information for starting a book club, reviews, and fun activities.
For ravenous readers. Annotated lists of non-fiction and fiction, reviews and author information.
Find poems, short stories, essays, speeches and plays by searching nearly a million full-text documents, literary excerpts and citations. Part of Badgerlink and available only to Wisconsin residents.
Do a search for an author and a "tag cloud" comes up. Authors that float nearest to the author that you searched are most likely to be similar.
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Walking on Roses with
A Sardinian Saint
He was born in Jerusalem, but ask any Sardinian and you'll learn that today, nearly 2000 years after his death, Saint Efisio is the most revered, celebrated and loved saint on the island. He is their saint.
He was beheaded by the Romans in 303 A.D., and in 1656 was implored to protect the island's residents from the plague ravaging all of Europe.
He complied, and Sardinians honor him the first four days of May with the Festa of Saint Efisio held in the island's capital of Cagliari.
We observed the procession in May 2008. It was an opportunity to understand and get to know today's Sardinia.
Its location, removed from Italy's mainland, has allowed Sardinia to retain the authenticity of traditions such as the Festa of Saint Efisio.
Considered both a religious and a folk festival, the day begins with a mass in the church of Saint Efisio where the saint is said to have been imprisoned and tortured.
Following the mass, at noon sharp, bells toll as the saint's statue leaves the church to join more than three thousand participants from every part of Sardinia gathered to march through Cagliari.
Viewing stands along Via Roma offer the best view for a modest seven euros. It is here in front of the town hall that the locals watch the action.
The excitement is palpable as the first maidens in traditional dress round the corner. They are followed by colorful carts called "traccas" pulled by flower-covered oxen.
Flowers and handmade rugs cover the carts representing more than thirty communities throughout Sardinia. Each one displays produce and crafts local to its region and woven baskets overflow with colorful flowers. Entire families in traditional dress ride on the traccas.
An Honor to be in the Parade
It is a great honor for a village to be chosen and each year communities around the island vie for the coveted spots. Faces of the riders reflect the many populations that have influenced this island in the middle of the Mediterranean... Phoenicians, Romans, Pisans, Catalans, Greeks... such is the mix of Sardinia.
The traccas are followed by Sardinians on foot, all in outfits unique to the wearer's village. The clothing belongs to the families participating in the procession and are a brilliant display of colorful fabrics, laces, and embroideries; spectacular jewelry completes each outfit, everything authentic including the undergarments and footwear.
In remote parts of Sardinia, especially inland, it is possible to see older men and women wearing the traditional clothing on Sundays.
The fisherman from Cabras on Sardinia's west coast, always march barefoot; women from Quarto wear lace bridal veils, the men wear hats in different shapes and colors.
As they pass by, some groups are singing, chanting, and praying songs from their villages
Marching musicians play Sardinia's national musical instrument, the launeddas, made of hollowed reeds. It has a delicate sound somewhat like a bagpipe. As they play, the men's cheeks puff out like squirrels transporting acorns.
The Horses. The Horses
Next come the horses -- not parade horses that travel from town to town. It appears that they are owned by the families riding them. Somewhat unruly, they are masterfully controlled by their riders. They come four abreast, five abreast, or in twos for as far down Via Roma as the eye can see.
The horses are adorned with the same careful and artful detail as are their riders.
The Knights of Campidano arrive on horseback; they are followed by members of the Saint's militia dressed in orange jackets and cylindrical hats dating from the sixth century.
Each carries a rifle reflecting their role as armed guards who escorted the saint on his fateful journey to Nora.
They are closely followed by the Brotherhood of the Saint carrying the white crucifix. This is the organization responsible for organizing the religious aspect of the Festival.
The Crowd Grows Restless
After nearly two hours of the parade, there is a break in the action as the most moving and religious part is about to begin. The crowd grows restless in anticipation of the saint's arrival.
To prepare his way, maidens carrying baskets of rose petals appear. The petals are strewn on the wide avenue and their scent fills the air. Thousands of red, orange and yellows petals are tossed on the pavement.
More maidens and more flower petals follow. It is a sight to see a wide avenue an inch deep in rose petals. Red robed cardinals round the corner and are followed by the "Alter Nos" on his white stallion.
The crowd of locals goes wild yelling, waving, clapping at the appearance of this handsome man in top hat given a position of honor by the mayor; he represents the community for the day.
The large crucifix passes by, followed by black clad women praying the rosary. They are followed by more launeddas; in the distance is the gold carriage containing the statue of Saint Efisio dressed as a roman soldier.
All rise as the carriage arrives in front of the town hall; the bishop approaches and places flowers inside. As the procession winds down, the journey for this statue has just begun.
Cannon blasts are heard in the distance; now the statue will travel 30 km to Nora and returns to Cagliari on the evening of March 4th when the skies will be lit with fireworks.
As our world continues to become more and more global and homogeneous, festivals such as this are important reminders of a time when people belonged to a place identifiable by dress, habits, and customs.
The event will unfold again next year, just as it has for the last 352 years.
The faces might be different, but the intensity and emotion will be the same, allowing us a glimpse into Sardinia's past and helping us understand the rugged and beautiful island of today.
Italian Tourism Sardinia section
Italian Travel Promotion Council
Festa di Sant'Efisio
Cagliari Tourism
Sardegna Tourism
Read more GoNOMAD stories about Italy
as the capital of the Alps, and capital of the Piedmonte region, the fourth-largest city in Italy. It's
Watch Travel Videos on GoNOMAD Italy Tips And Tricks: Rome Watch more Rome videos
Edwards photos. A Bologna, Italy: Seven of the City's Secrets By Catherine Edwards Bologna
Kids on the beach in Portovenere, Italy. Photo by Alexandra Regan. Click on photo to return
A Kids enjoy playing on the beach in Portovenere, Italy, on the Ligurian coast. photos
An ancient shield at a feast parade in Tarquinia, Italy. photos by Daniel Foster
A House Museums in Italy: Visting where Artists, Writers and Royalty once lived
Kids enjoy playing on the beach in Portovenere, Italy, on the Ligurian coast. photos
A Gelato Revelation in Southern Italy By Layne Mosler I was nearing the end of a multi-course
was underway. A Artisans from every province of Italy had arrived for a high end ceramics fair.A All
in Traviso, Italy. Paul Shoul photos. By Paul Shoul GoNOMAD StaffA Treviso, near Venice in northern
Italy: A Week on a Tuscan Farm By John Blanchette Flying into Florence, my
Church of St. Pietro, Portovenere. Photo by Alexandra Reagan. Italy. click to return
Mom and Dad check out the local vehicles in Le Marche, Italy. photo by Max Hartshorne
, Florence, or Milan because of its strategic location at the junction between northern and southern Italy


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Avenged Sevenfold will be releasing their sixth studio album, Hail To The King, on August 27, 2013. The album will be produced by Mike Elizondo, and is the follow up to the band's 2010 release, Nightmare, which debuted at Number One on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart, Hard Rock Chart and Digital Chart.
On August 26th, one day before the release of Hail To The King, Avenged Sevenfold will play a free show for their fans at the Hollywood Palladium. The show is a special thank you to their fans and for fans to celebrate the release of the new album with the band.
For more info on Avenged Sevenfold visit www.avengedsevenfold.com.


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College Hockey:Michigan Tops Alabama-Huntsville
Hensick Scores Twice
ANN ARBOR, Mich — T.J. Hensick didn't waste anytime hitting the score sheet in his senior season.
The Michigan forward sandwiched two nearly identical early first period goals around a power play marker by freshman Brian Lebler to lead Michigan to an 8-1 season-opening win over Alabama-Huntsville Friday night at Yost Arena.
In just the first minute of the game, senior David Rohlfs found Hensick breaking open between two Alabama-Huntsville defenders. Hensick took Rohlfs' pass, skated in alone and slipped the puck under the glove of Charger goaltender Marc Narduzzi.
After Lebler tipped a pass from junior Chad Kolarik between the legs of Narduzzi at the 6:33 mark of the period causing Alabama-Huntsville coach Doug Ross to make a change in goal to sophomore Jordan Erickson, Rohlfs and Hensick again teamed up for a near-instant replay of their opening goal collaboration.
On the second Hensick tally, Rohlfs' pass came from a little deeper in the neutral zone, but found Hensick alone again and he skated in again slipping the puck between Erickson's legs to extend the Wolverine lead to 3-0 at the end of the first period.
"It was huge for the confidence for the first game of the season," said Hensick of the quick start. "We wanted to set the tone. No matter where you're playing, you want to
get on the board early to get some confidence and get things going in the right direction."
"It was exactly the same play," said Rohlfs of the two early Hensick goals. "It was like dj vu."
Wolverine coach Red Berenson noted the play of Hensick, pointing out that "one of T.J.'s goals is to be an every shift, every game player this year. He's working harder for it and you can see the difference. He's dangerous every time he's on the ice and around the net. It's not a surprise that he's more consistent."
Michigan came out just as quickly in the second period with junior Kolarik and
sophomore Andrew Cogliano teaming up on a nifty passing play. Only 52 seconds into the period, Kolarik faked a circling move behind the net and centered the puck to Cogliano, who buried his shot after racing in on the right side of goaltender Erickson.
Rohlfs added a goal of his own only a few minutes later, sliding a backhand past Erickson off a scramble in front of the net to make the Wolverine lead 5-0.
Sophomore goaltender Billy Sauer held the Michigan lead through the first two periods despite the fact that the Wolverines incurred eight minor penalties over that span.
"I thought Billy played well," said Berenson. "He kept them from getting a life. They had some good scoring chances in the first two periods."
Alabama-Huntsville nearly converted only four minutes into the second stanza but Sauer managed to thwart senior forward Dominik Rozman on a clear break from the blueline.
The penalties finally caught up with the Wolverine midway through the second period.
With Wolverine Jason Bailey off for checking from behind, senior Steve Canter got the Chargers on the board, directing a pass from senior Grant Sellinger between Sauer's legs at 10:13 of the period.
Michigan added a pair of power play goals of their own by freshman defenseman Steve Kampfer and junior Chad Kolarik in the third period.
Kampfer drove a shot from the center of the blue line on a feed from sophomore Mark Mitera. Kolarik's marker came on a blast from the slot with assists from Jack Johnson and Cogliano.
Johnson finished the night's scoring with a blast past Erickson from the goalie's right side with only 21 seconds left in the game.
Even though he gave up six goals after replacing Narduzzi, Erickson made 27 stops for Alabama-Huntsville.
Sauer stopped 24 of the 25 Charger shots he faced before yielding to freshman Steve Jakiel for the final 15 minutes of the third period.
Michigan gets right back into action Saturday night hosting Connecticut while Alabama-Huntsville will take Saturday off before heading an hour south of Ann Arbor on Sunday to take on Bowling Green in an afternoon contest.
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Perimenopause is like puberty in reverse. For the second time in your life, your body is riding a hormonal roller coaster that features highly irregular periods and huge mood swings. But during this particular stretch, instead of cranking up so you can have babies, your ovaries are gearing down for the retirement called menopause (which technically arrives one year after your final period).
Perimenopause, aka the menopausal transition, can last anywhere from four years to 10 and is unnervingly unpredictable. "Some women have normal periods all the way through to their last one, and then that's it. Others—and this is the classic pattern—have periods that come a week early or a week late for a while, then skip an entire month altogether," says Margery Gass, MD, executive director of the North American Menopause Society and a consultant at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Specialized Women's Health. "It's normal to reach menopause between the ages of 41 and 55, with 51 being the average." Smokers tend to experience menopause a year sooner than other women; a few heavy-duty exercisers are also on the early side.
The roller-coaster ride to menopause is divided into several passages, and women experience them differently in terms of when each phase starts, how long it lasts and what kinds of symptoms appear. If you're lucky, symptoms—such as hot flashes, tender breasts, insomnia and headaches—are only a minor bother; if you're further down the spectrum, you may have days when you feel smacked by a hormonal two-by-four. "Some women are just much more sensitive to the hormonal changes than others are," notes Nanette Santoro, MD, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver.
In other words, perimenopause is uncharted territory, one that this guide is designed to help you navigate. The tools: a map showing where you are now and where you're heading, plus advice on handling the roller coaster's curves and dips along the way.
If you're in the midst of perimenopause, you may wonder how much longer this transition is likely to last. Why getting a heads-up is important: "If you know you're close to the end and the relief of menopause is coming soon, you may be better able to tolerate symptoms," explains Santoro. And the opposite is true: "When you realize you're in the early stages and your symptoms are really unpleasant, you may want to be more aggressive about seeking treatment."
Now, for the first time, identifying how far you've come in the menopausal transition is easy, thanks to a new set of criteria established by an international panel of women's-health experts. Their findings, published last fall, are called the STRAW + 10 Staging System, with STRAW standing for Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop. See if you can locate yourself in the following STRAW stages; then you'll know how much longer you'll probably be in perimenopause, and you can consult the informational boxes for help with whatever symptoms you're experiencing.
Stage 1: Late Reproductive Years
A transition before perimenopause, this is the final stage of the baby-making years—a time when your ability to have a child declines rapidly.
Possible symptoms
•Lighter or heavier menstrual bleeding.
•More frequent (that is, shorter) cycles.
Hormonal changes: During days two to five of your cycle (day one is the first day of your period), there's a larger-than-before jump in your levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which stimulates an egg follicle to grow each month. Extremely elevated FSH, which your doctor can determine via a blood test, indicates your ovaries are aging. (See "Can I Still Have a Baby?")
How long this stage lasts: Quite variable from woman to woman but can continue for up to 9 years.
STAGE 2: Early Menopausal Transition
This is the official beginning of perimenopause.


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heavy sigh
Friday, October 18, 2013
Today, my head is in the right frame of mind and I am eating healthy food, but I'm not feeling any 'thinner', even though some of my clothes are starting to loosen up a bit. My frustration stems from an annoyance because I have let myself gain back weight and I feel terrible and look worse So...shoulders back and snap out of it. But how? I'm going to try a modification of BradMill2922 blog from last week that really resonated with me. It was called Remember. I hope that these feelings will be something that I can recall this time next year -- because that will mean that I have succeeded and reached my goals of a healthy mind and body. Here goes...
How I felt a month ago:
Physically exhausted, no energy at all, couldn't really lift my legs well to walk, massive headaches, lack of sleep, body systems out of whack. Emotionally tortured, irritable, embarrassed, and lackluster. I dreaded the thoughts of going out socially (although I had to go to work every day), and I was wearing the same clothes repeatedly because that's what fit. I postponed doctor appointments because I did not want to get on a scale. It seemed like I was in a trance. I was eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, and I took no responsibility in my actions with regard to my physical well being.
How I feel today:
Hopeful. Resolved to do well today, and committed to staying the course. I have had many instances where I was not perfect in my food choices but I have been able to treat these 'variances' as a standard deviation, and not a licence to retreat. Tomorrow will be a new day, and I intend to do more of the same. I understand that I am still in the honeymoon phase of my journey, and that tougher days will be upon me, but perhaps I'll cheat a little and remember my past before the year is up... and that will help me get past the next roadblock.
September 2014...here I come!
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We didn't gain the weight and the self-realization that comes with it overnight and we will not lose the weight and change the self-realization that comes that overnight.
We have good days, great days, bad days, sad days, and days when we wanna throw in the towel.
It's a process, a journey, and you will get there.
Every day you get a little closer whether you see it or realize it.
Just keep going.
You can do this!
986 days ago
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Hang in there and keep thinking positive. We're all in this together.
986 days ago
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I read that same blog the other day when in the dumps. It moved me to get back on track.
Keep moving forward. Have a great weekend!
986 days ago
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Disclaimer: Weight loss results will vary from person to person. No individual result should be seen as a typical result of following the SparkPeople program.
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A Trek Into Bhutan's Magic Mountains
By Mary Tannen
Published: May 14, 2000
We stood fidgeting at the edge of the trail, acting more like schoolchildren than seasoned travelers. The advance man for the royal party came bouncing down the path carrying a walkie-talkie. A redstart -- a crimson and black bird with white cap -- landed on a farmhouse roof, gave three flicks of its tail and, as if on cue, the king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, rounded the bend, nattily turned out in a silver gray gho -- a traditional belted knee-length robe -- long socks and white sneakers. He stopped to shake each of our hands and, in perfect English, inquired where we were from and where we were going. He had been camped at the base of Mount Jumolhari on a fishing vacation with three of his four wives, one of whom also stopped to say hello. The other two, on tiny horses with red saddles, smiled their greetings.
Of course, not every visitor to Bhutan meets the king, as we did, but it's the kind of thing that can happen in this small country (about the size of Switzerland) that occupies the southeastern slopes of the Himalayas. To Western eyes Bhutan can seem like a precious relic from a lost century. It is underpopulated -- some estimates are as low as 600,000 people -- and heavily forested. Most Bhutanese own and work small farms.
Automobiles are rare; much of the country is connected only by walking trails. As in medieval Europe, religion permeates Bhutan, the last remaining independent Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayas. Twelve-foot-tall prayer flags flutter on lonely ridges. Small temples called chortens squat beside trails and settlements. Austere dzongs, fortress-monasteries, preside over deep valleys.
In our group there were three besides my husband, Mike, and me: our friends Marilyn and Leigh Stowell of Jackson Hole, Wyo., and John Van Dyke, from Seattle. We chose to travel by foot where no roads go. Our mission, undertaken in late September, right after the official end of the monsoon season, was to explore the northwest area of Bhutan, much of it covered by Jigme Dorji National Park, home to such endangered species as blue sheep, red panda, snow leopard and takin -- a large-bodied, short-legged ruminant with a bulbous nose. Starting from Paro, the town where the international airport is located, we would walk 13 days and rest 3, crossing high mountain passes near the Tibetan border and descending to a spot where a van would pick us up and take us to Thimphu, the capital, then back to Paro. Guides and a cook would make camp for us; mules, horses -- and in high altitude, yaks -- would carry baggage.
Marilyn and Leigh, who had been to Bhutan twice before, made arrangements through their Bhutanese friend and tour operator, Passang Tshering. Passang, a tall man in his early 40's, met Mike and me at the airport with a driver and late-model Toyota van. On the short trip to our hotel, the Olathang, above Paro, I was charmed by the landscape. Cosmos in every shade of pink bordered fields of red rice. Pagodalike roofs appeared to float over timber-and-white farmhouses decorated with Buddhist motifs.
Red chilies were spread on roofs to dry, foretelling the fiery sauce we would soon come to crave, even on eggs in the morning.
Marilyn and Leigh joined us later that day; John would fly in the next.
While we were waiting, we had our first fortunate encounter. Passang took us to a ruined dzong outside town. On the path we passed a farmhouse. Through open windows we could hear low horns, drums and chanting. Before I knew it we were climbing a ladder to the second story (the first floor was reserved for animals). Women were cooking at a large wood stove in washtub-size pots. Like most Bhutanese farmhouses, this one had no chimney.
Smoke wafted through the room and out open windows. Sitting on the floor in a corner, a man was hacking raw meat from a bone.
We took off our shoes and filed into the next room. One wall was devoted to a colorful Buddhist shrine with yak-butter lamps and copper bowls of water as offerings. Another was filled with narrow books of scripture that had been rescued from the dzong when it burned years before. Seated on the floor, a monk in red robes and four men were chanting from Sanskrit texts.
Two would blow the seven-foot-long metal horns. One kept time on cymbals and a pedestal drum. Another picked up a horn made from a human thighbone and blew a harsh wild note.
The men took a break for tea. Passang said they would chant for two days as part of a harvest festival. We sat on the floor, drank cups of salty tea with yak butter and nibbled the flaky uncooked newly harvested rice.
It was our first farmhouse but by no means our last. We would sometimes take shelter in houses to eat our packed lunch. The guides would offer our hosts small gratuities, but on the trail, where there are no inns, it is accepted that a traveler can join a household for a meal, or even overnight.
The day we began our trek, it was raining. We ransacked the small general stores of Paro for folding umbrellas, which would turn out to be valuable purchases. Our van took us out of town, where 14 little mules were looking damp and dismal as they received the burdens of our packs. Passang, who had an injured knee, was entrusting us to his nephews: 23-year-old Phub (pronounced Pope) Tshering, a veteran of seven years of trekking, and 18-year-old Namgay Tshering, who had been pulled out of computer school for this, his first trek. Also along was a cook, Palden Dorjee, a slight, quiet man of 30, and Jigme, a short, stalwart 53-year-old, whose steady strength we would call on in some dark days to come.


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Last Sentence (Dom over dod man) Showtimes and Tickets
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Release Date: 2014-06-20 (Limited)
Genre: Drama,
Rating: NR
Duration: 2hrs 06min
During WW2, Torgny Segerstedt was a crusading journalist, editor-in-chief of one of Sweden's leading newspapers, and deeply against Nazism and his country's policy of appeasement to Hitler. With Sweden caught between Nazi Germany and Stalin's Russia, the country's elites chose a policy of neutrality and compliance, with few daring to speak up against the evil around them. Among those who did, nobody was as loud and as uncompromising as Segerstedt, one of the most prominent Swedish journalists of the 20th century. In the eyes of many of his countrymen, his pen was far more dangerous than the Nazi sword. The film is a gripping tale of a man who risked his life for his beliefs and refused to be silenced.
Cast and Crew
- Starring
Pernilla August, Jesper Christensen, Björn Granath, Ulla Skoog
- Directed by Jan Troell
- Produced by Francy Suntinger
- Written by Jan Troell, Klaus Rifbjerg
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A number of cryptographic functions have constants built in. For example, the constants used in RFC 2104 for HMAC, or the constants used in s-boxes (e.g., DES and AES), or MD5. In general, how are constants such as these generated so as not to arouse suspicion of tampering or weakening?
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Whether your birds are still producing eggs for you or not, this cold weather can be tiring on their bodies. Not only can they develop frostbite on their combs and wattles, but the stress of trying to keep warm in wet, drafty conditions can cause weight loss and respiratory issues.
Try some of these ideas to treat your chickens and help them through the winter until the world begins to warm up and green over again in spring:
- Warm water - while it does freeze faster than cold (it's been scientifically proven!), your birds will enjoy a warm drink on a cold day. Indulge them! ACV (apple cider vinegar) with the mother culture (Braggs makes a really good one) can be added as a natural probiotic.
- Hot oatmeal - mix your hens up a mash of warm oatmeal made with water or milk; add a little mashed garlic and a generous sprinkling of cayenne powder for a natural de-wormer.
- Let them free range! On a dry day, let your birds out, supervised if you have a predator problem, and let them dig around for bugs and grubs, and maybe even sunbathe and dust bathe in a patch of sun.
- Put them down a bug board - lay a piece of OSB or similar down on the ground and leave it there for a week or so. When you pick it up, all kinds of beetles and worms will have made their way under the board, leaving a delicious buffet for your birds! Simply flip the board over and next week they will have a fresh patch to scratch up.
- Corn - candy for chickens! While they probably shouldn't have it as the greater part of their diet, as it is lacking in protein, fat and other essentials, it is a great long term filler. Perfect for cold evenings, it will sit in their crops and digest slowly overnight, helping them to keep warm.
Don't forget to ensure that all your birds have ample shelter from the elements - wind, rain, snow - and that they always have access to fresh water.
Katy Light has a 44 acre homestead in North GA, where she raises goats, bunnies and chickens. Find her blog at www.poppycreekfarm.com. She can be reached at email@example.com.


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Andy Sixx Mexico 2012
Andy Sixx Sixx Sixx, also known as Andy Beersack, is scheduled to make an appearance in Oaxaco, Mexico, on December 1st, 2012.
This is significant because Mexicans believe Earth is going to blow up and end in 2012. Several years ago, they made trinket calendars that predicted the day of doom would come to the world in 2012 and they are holding true to their nonsense scientific predictions. Apparently, they predicted 'a pale faced effiminate male of Satanic black clothing' would be the harbringer of destruction. And apparently, Andy Sixx Sixx Sixx thinks he fits the bill.
We will have more on this story as it develops.
- Excited
- Fascinated
- Amused
- Shocked
- Sad
- Angry


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Oct 4, 2012 8:55 AM
We had just about given up on the idea of being able to get our fancy pans out of the cabinet and up where they'd be both displayed to advantage and easier to grab. Limited space and low ceilings meant that classic hanging pot racks weren't an option. But this Half Circle Wall Mount Pot Rack ($180) is Goldilocks-just-right for a small kitchen.
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- Kona Submarine tour and Island Breeze Luau and Show combo
- 50-minute Atlantis Kona submarine tour
- Unique underwater views of Hawaii's diverse marine life and coral reefs
- Spectacular Island Breeze Luau and show
- Lei greeting
- Traditional polynesian arts and crafts
- Imu ceremony and all-you-can-eat Polynesian buffet dinner
- Entertaining songs and dances from across Polynesia
- Exciting Samoan Fire Knife dance
What You Can Expect
Your adventure begins with an unforgettable 50-minute Big Island submarine journey aboard an Atlantis 48-passenger submarine, as featured in National Geographic television specials. You'll explore a huge natural coral reef and its marine inhabitants! A new adventure awaits you at depths up to 100 feet (30 meters). Enjoy the view in air-conditioned comfort and safety during your Kona submarine tour.
Your evening festivities commence as the sun begins to set at King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel. A traditional Lei greeting welcomes you to the spectacular Island Breeze Luau. The evening continues with photos, an open bar, Polynesian arts and crafts, and a traditional Imu ceremony.
After the all-you-can-eat buffet luau, the Island Breeze show is filled with excitement, aloha and 'ohana, (love and family). From the Fijian and Maori dances of war to the gracefulness of the Hawaiian hula hands, it's a fun-filled evening for you and your family. The daring Samoan Fire Knife dancers are a real highlight, featuring an astonishing demonstration of bravery and skill!
Special Note:
You may choose to take the Atlantis Kona Submarine and the Island Breeze Luau on the same day or separately. If you select transportation with your tour, please complete the two tours on the same day. If you do not need transportation to the two activities, you can complete the tours on separate days. The Atlantis Kona Submarine operates daily, and the Island Breeze Luau operates on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. At checkout, select the date of your submarine adventure and then fill in the date you want to see the Island Breeze Luau in the special requirements box.
Customer Reviews
November 2015
June 2015
I guess I was just hoping to see more volcanic activity on the helicopter tour .
April 2014
Great exciting undersea adventure, the crew and captain were great very knowledgeable and fun!
Fun for the whole family.
August 2008
September 2014
This tour was amazing!
September 2014
Submarine was fun and saw many fish and a white tip reef shark. Looking out of the ports was hard on the neck and shoulders, but otherwise fun.
August 2014
This tour offered a variety of activities. The submarine was very entertaining and educational and good for someone who does not swim or snorkel. The luau was also good, but the show was too long to be sitting in those uncomfortable chairs.
April 2014
The staff were very gracious and provided a lot of good information. We were somewhat disappointed we didn't see more big fish, but that is just luck and has nothing to do with the tour.
The Luau was outstanding! We really enjoyed the King's arrival, tattoos and beverages. The performance by the dancers was great.
August 2011
Atlantis sub trip was very good, saw some amazing coral reef fish and dived over 2 wrecks which was very spooky! Also visitted the fish nursery where locals are trying to restock some of the more beautiful of the reef fish - Yellow Tang were everywhere! Very informative guide.
The Island Breeze Luau was also quite good. The food was excellent, but drinks expensive after your free Mohito. If its a cultural experience you're after, the Celebration of The Kings at the Fairmont Orchid is a much better and more exciting show. Overall, a good combi-tour.
Corrine B Canada
August 2012
Split my review into two:
Honestly as an adult that spent most of my trip snorkeling the reefs this was not the most entertaining experience. I am unable to scuba anymore for health reasons so it was cool to get lower and see some wreaks but it's not a LOT different than a simple snorkel if your ok diving down. The kids seemed to love it. My fiance is the reason we took the sub and he was amoung the excited kids because he'd never been in a sub (I have... so it's not as novel)
The luau:
The luau is entertaining for sure and you will need to see one from some location. I choose island breeze because of the vegetarian dish they offer in addition to the buffet. The pasta dish I got was alright but not special but with that along with some menu items I was fairly satisfied. Most traditional hawaii food is not vegetarian, so from that perspective it's not a buffet of cool things for a veggie but it is for a meat lover. They do lift the pig out of the pit at this one (I guess not all do). Drink are alcoholic but don't taste good.
There is another tier of seating at the luau that allow you to get vip access, more entertainment and the best seats. Buying from viator will not get you this access or allow for an upgrade - you'll have to buy your luau elsewhere or some the hotel or something. I'm not sure the cost of that, but I would have liked to have better seats as we were way in the back corner and that made it hard to see the dancing or get any pictures.


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Keena Mays
Nov. 11, 2013
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (SMU) - Keena Mays was named the first American Athletic Conference women's basketball Player of the Week after leading the Mustangs to a third straight season-opening win, conference officials announced.
The senior, who missed the first eight games of last season due to NCAA transfer rules, scored 22 points, eclipsing 20 for the 10th time in 24 games at SMU, shooting 40 percent on 3-point attempts. She also had eight rebounds, five assists and four steals in SMU's 87-65 win against Grambling State.
She had 14 of her 22 points in the first half of Sunday's win, going 4-for-9 from the field and 3-for-4 at the free throw line in the first 20 minutes. As a junior, Mays was named Conference USA Player of the Year, and was a finalist for All-America, averaging 18.4 points per game.
SMU went 21-10 last season, winning the regular-season conference championship with a 12-4 mark. It was the ninth 20-win season, and the fourth in the last six seasons. SMU also advanced to the WNIT, making its 12th postseason appearance during head coach Rhonda Rompola's tenure.
The Mustangs host rival TCU Wednesday in the Curtis Culwell Center at 7 p.m. For ticket information, visit SMUMustangs.com/tickets, or call 214-SMU-GAME (214-768-4263).


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Cave Aged
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Fourme d'AmbertThis cheese is in rare Fourme. Time in our caves yields a sweet, super-creamy bite that will convert even the staunchest blue cheese hater. Read More
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GruyereIt's been around since the 13th century—one taste and you'll join its ranks of admirers. While traditional Gruyere may age anywhere from six months to three years, Murray's carefully selects special wheels with incredible aging potential that we finish in our own caves for a full twelve-month maturation. Read More
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Comte Saint AntoineThis Saint is sent from on high. Murray's selects the fruitiere and age profile for a reliable flavor balance between mellow fruity notes and cooked cream. Read More