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Thursday, September 7, 2006
How many hazelnut crispy bars does Ferrero make? How many of them have wacky names? So far I've had the Happy Hippos and Kinder Bueno. This one is called Tronky.
The package says, "lo snack leggero e croccante." Which means something about it being a light snack. Which is odd, because I think it's supposed to look like a log.
Tronky is a crisp shell filled with a chocolate & hazelnut cream with chopped hazelnuts. It's pretty darn good. The shell is crunchy though a little bland, but the filling is rich with a slight chocolate flavor and a good crunchy from the fresh hazelnuts. The size is great, it's easy to eat a whole one, you don't want to eat half and save it for later, it'll get stale very quickly. Besides, it's very messy if you don't just wolf the whole bar down in three bites. Each bar is less than 100 calories, so it's a nice treat but not too much of an indulgence. (Of course you can buy them in six pack bags.)
If you're traveling in Europe and are sitting around in an airport, pick one up and give it a try.
Related Candies
Wednesday, September 6, 2006
Texas Chewy Pralines
I've blogged about regional "vacation" candies before, and here's yet another example of them: Texas Pralines. I first had Texas Pralines, which are chewy like a soft caramel instead of grainy like a fudge with pecans about three years ago when we got an assortment as a holiday gift. Since my husband was off to San Antonio for a business trip, I told him to keep an eye out for they chewy pralines.
I'm no snob, I don't mind if my candy comes from the airport. (These days, who knows if a chewy praline is considered a liquid anyway?)
These Texas Chewie Pecan Pralines are by Lamme's, which has been making candies since 1885! The history of the company is rather interesting, so if you have a sec, go read it on their website. The company uses a lamb as part of their logo to help people remember how to pronounce the name, I'm sure it doesn't help folks spell it though.
This gift box had six individually wrapped "plops" in it, each weighing about an ounce. They're darker than the usual caramels you see and have a good woodsy, sweet smell to them. The caramel is chewy and a bit salty but surprisingly not that sweet. The smoky and dark caramelized sugar flavors go well with the fresh pecans. They're a little messy, as you have to eat them either holding part of in the wrapper or get your fingers sticky. But I wouldn't want the pieces to be any smaller because that would mean that the pecans couldn't be whole and crunchy. These are definitely a winner.
The other assortment I was given were these individually wrapped ones from Monterrey Products Company. They were three different versions of a chewy praline, each with different proportions of caramel to pecans.
The first one, the "more caramel to pecan" was pretty and smelled nice, but was very grainy without a good balance of butteryness or crystallization. The pecans were fresh, but of course there were only three of them. I wasn't wild about it.
The second one was "equal caramel to pecan" - wow, this was gorgeous. The scent was like maple sugar and the nuts were crunchy and infused with the buttery goodness of the caramel. The caramel itself was grainy but in a crystallized way that made it dissolve and support the other caramelized sugar and nut flavors. Fantastic, I wish all three were this variety.
The last one was "more pecans to caramel" and was shaped more spherically than the others. For some reason this one stuck to the cellophane wrapper and I had to pull the candy apart and off the cello in order to eat it. The pecans were large and whole and sweet, but as a candy this one failed. Some nuts were nicely coated in the soft caramel, but others were untouched. I loved the nuts, but the balance was off as a sweet treat. It might be nice pulled apart and thrown in with some salty popcorn though.
I think I prefered the Lammes but the Monterrey had an impressive ingredients list: Pecans, Sugar, Evaporated Milk and Corn Syrup. Lammes had a few more ingredients, including hydrogenated oils (which meant .5 grams of trans fat per plop). But they were both a treat I'm not likely to have again, but I'm happy to recommend them.
POSTED BY Cybele AT 6:23 am
Monday, September 4, 2006
Michel Cluizel Les 1ers Crus de Plantation
One of my splurges last month with my ill-gotten-gain (payoff from a production company) was to buy some goodies from Mel & Rose's and this was the big ticket item of the day (I would have bought more but the heat lately is death to chocolate). I've only tried Michel Cluizel once before and I wasn't that impressed. But people keep telling me how good it is and I always enjoy the variety of a tasting kit.
Michel Cluizel is a French chocolatier who is not at all new to this, his company has been making gourmet chocolate since 1948. It's one of the few chocolates you'll find that has no soya lecithin in it. It's just cocoa beans, sugar and vanilla. His single origin tasting kit showcases his chocolates that are created using beans from only one plantation. Most of the chocolate that we eat is a blend of beans from all over the tropics, or perhaps one region.
It came with a nice little brochure that talked about each of the plantations that the cocoa beans came from, but I thought it would be fun to taste the chocolates first and then see how I did. So my initial tasting notes are followed with the ones from the leaflet.
Los Ancones (green) x4 - What I tasted was ultra smooth. Slightly bitter at first with some very dark smoky notes but as the buttery chocolate gives way, more acidity comes through and gives way to raisin and cherry notes.
The brochure said:
Maralumi (fuscia) x4 - quite a bit more acidic than the first, this one was kind of tart and brought to mind olives and apricots (dang, I shouldn't have read that brochure!). I was also getting some woodsy notes of cedar and balsam. The acidity gave the whole thing a dry finish with a slight bitter note that lingered far after the cocoa butter was gone.
The brochure says:
Tamarina (blue) x2 - quite tangy with some powerfully deep smoky notes and a lowgrade bitterness that was offset by some mellow sweetness. The chocolate is slick and smooth with a dry finish.
The brochure says:
Concepcion (orange) x2 - a great start with instant chocolatey roundness, the smoke and woodsy notes come out right away, and perhaps some coffee, followed by some tangy notes that might have some mango essence in it. Then a crisp, dry finish.
The brochure says:
Mangaro Noir (yellow) x4 - instant notes of raisin and fig, sweet and mellow with a pleasant tang. There are also some balsam notes, maybe juniper or sage. It reminded me of the desert, that crisp feeling.
The brochure says:
It's obvious I'm getting the general vibe of each chocolate, but not the specificity that the brochure reveals about each one. I think part of it might be the small pieces. I liked the slightly larger E. Guittard tablets that I tried earlier this year, which makes it easier to discern the more obscure notes. I was really pleased with the smooth buttery consistency of each of the tablets, they're all in the 64% - 70% cocoa solids range, so they're intense without being too dense.
If you're looking for some extensive reviews and commentary on the range of single origin from Michel Cluizel and how it compares to the rest of the world of chocolate, check out SeventyPercent.com. I was really pleased with the kit, it's fun to share or just spread out over a week as I did. I'm always disappointed when they don't do comparable numbers of squares for each variety, but it's a small kit and really only appropriate for two people at most.
See reviews of all my reviews of Single Origins to date. I think my favorite is still the Chocovic Ocumare, because of it's excellent well-rounded flavors and of course the price.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Equal Exchange: Espresso, Mint & Nibs
Equal Exchange has been at the forefront of the fair trade chocolate and coffee movement in the United States for twenty years. But I think they understand that it's great to give people a living wage and all, but the important thing is to sell something of value to the customer to keep everything in motion.
At their launch, the Equal Exchange chocolate products were rather mundane. Don't get me wrong, they were nice, but the selection wasn't very exciting. They've remedied that with the introduction of three new bars: Mint Chocolate, Espresso Bean Chocolate and Dark Chocolate with Pure Cocoa Nibs.
The Organic Chocolate with Espresso Bean is made with a 55% cocoa solid chocolate (the lightest chocolate of the three new bars) with good reason. Coffee is a powerful flavor and needs a good balance in order for both flavors to shine though.
In general I'm not fond of coffee bars that have coffee grounds (or bits, whatever) in them. The chocolate itself is infused with the coffee flavors, which are dark and pungent, a little smoky and acidic. The beans are crunchy and crisp, which is better than some fibery ones that some companies put in their bars. But still, it's just not my thing. The chocolate was wonderfully buttery but very sweet so that it can stand up to the espresso beans. Of the three bars, this is the one that I still have some left of. (7 out of 10)
Organic Mint Chocolate. This dark chocolate bar made with 67% cocoa solids was quite a surprise. I fully expected it to be dark, mint flavored chocolate. Instead, it's a mint crunch bar. It's not quite like a mint bark that has little pieces or starlight mints in it. Instead it has little sugary grains of mint in it. The grains aren't large, like big sugar crystals. The chocolate itself is not as sweet as the espresso bar, and has a strong acidic quality to it with a complex chocolate profile. Then as you chew or allow the chocolate to dissolve on your tongue you come across these little crystals of mint. It made the bar much more fun than I expected.
The acidity of the bar still got in the way of the mint, it just wasn't the ideal match for me. (8 out of 10)
Organic Dark Chocolate with Pure Cocoa Nibs. Now this is the bar for me! 68% cocoa solids make this a pretty dark bar. The acidity here doesn't bother me a bit, because it goes right along with the blissfully crunchy and rich cocoa nibs. Every nib was great, no fibery ones, no bad ones. The crunch of the nibs isn't quite like a nut, they're not quite as fatty tasting, but crisp and of course flavorful, creating a new texture without interrupting the pure chocolate density of the bar.
If you're a nib fan, you should really seek out this bar. I've tried the Endangered Species bar and the Scharffen Berger and this bar really wowed me. At about $3.50 per bar retail for a 3.5 ounce bar they're a good value for high-end chocolate. Add in the social responsibility and you're silly not to at least give this bar a try. (9 out of 10)
I've been spotting Equal Exchange at Whole Foods, so keep your eyes open. If you have a favorite store that you shop at that doesn't carry them, ask. (They don't know what you want unless you tell them!) You can order on the Equal Exchange website, but only in full boxes of 12 for the bars.
Equal Exchange bars are not only organic but Fair Trade certified ingredients are used whenever possible, including the sugar. I think the only part that isn't fair trade is the organic vanilla bean.
William at Chocolate Obsession has a large review. Siel at GreenLAGirl had a tasting party, so you can see lots more opinions on the bars there. If you're interested in anything that has to do with incorporating fair trade, social responsibility and environmentalism into your everyday life, she's your girl.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Cocoa Bon 61%
I was minding my own business, cruising the web back in the spring and I stumbled across another chocolate blog, The Chocolate Nerd. She's only been around since March, but she's got some sassy archives of chocolate products she's tried. The one that drew me in at that moment was a post about a company I'd not heard about called Cocoa Bon.
Their current market niche is this set of little tins filled with wafers of chocolate or panned chocolate candies. When I went to Mel & Rose's a couple of weekends ago I saw them there and decided to select a rather traditional item to give them a try.
The little tin is cute and seals a little fluted cup of plain, 61% cocoa solids chocolate pieces. Each has the name Cocoa Bon on them. They have a wonderful and sweet chocolate aroma. The back of the tin recommends a wine pairing, in this case a full-bodied Zinfandel.
The little disk is rather mundane looking but perfect for tasting. It melts quickly and fits into the roof of the mouth as it does. This 61% cacao version is buttery smooth and instantly sweet, taking just a few moments to release its chocolate notes. It has a slightly dry component and rather simple flavor that has only vague fruit and smoke notes. What really makes this chocolate appealing is the extra smooth melt. There are many chocolates out there that feel waxy or chalky at this level of solids, but this one is extra fine.
I'm curious to try the darker variety of 72% to see what that 11% will get me. I'm also curious to give the other panned sweets a go, with the Chai Chocolate Caramel and Dark Chocolate Gingersnap on my list at the moment.
At $3.29, these are a little more expensive than a gourmet bar (there's only 2 ounces in there), but it's the individual pieces and tin make it easy to share and even easier to keep some for later. They're more expensive on the Cocoa Bon website, so you're probably better off finding them in a store. I suspect you're going to see them in gourmet foods and upscale wine & liquor stores. They also have a line of mixed drink flavored jelly beans. However, one thing I noticed about the website is that they sell larger quantities of the chocolates in half pound tins where the price isn't bad at all (less than $20 a pound).
Cocoa Bon is having an open house in conjunction with The Mountain Winery at their Los Gatos, CA store location on Friday, August 18th & Saturday, August 19th from 5PM to 8PM. If you're in the area, the event is free, so maybe you should check it out!
I suspect these little tins of candies would make an excellent wedding favor if you've got the money and I bet if you've got a large affair they could do special labeling.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Anthon Berg Filled Chocolates
Come on, half the fun of this candy is the packaging! They're eensy-weensy liquor bottles made out of chocolate! They're even smaller than those little bottles you find in the honor bar or on airplanes.
After those awesome martini cordials I had from K Chocolatier that were so freakishly expensive, I was hoping to find something similar at a fraction of the price. While these don't quite measure up, they're still pretty good. The unique selling proposition here is that they don't have that sugar shell inside like the K Chocolatier Martinis did.
I didn't eat all of them, but I did try quite a few. The first one I started with was the Drambuie. I'm not that fond of Drambuie, I find it a tad sweet and so was this.
The second one I tried was the one I was most curious about - Ricard, which is an anise flavored liquor. I've never had straight Ricard, so again, it's hard to judge. What I found was that it was rather sweet and not at all anisey. It's definitely alcoholic, but not as strong as I'd expect for a liquer.
Next was the Stoli Oranj, but unfortunately this one ruptured somewhere along the way and there was a little bit of sugary crust at the bottom of the bottle and a smidge of the liquid missing. I ate it anyway. It was okay. The chocolate was fine, but the alcoholic bite was pretty much gone.
The Stoli Vanil was also very nice, without much of a flavorful bite, but the chocolate shines through effectively. The last one I had was Cointreau, which I think was my favorite. A little touch of orange, not quite as sweet as the others and still with a subtle alcoholic bite.
They're very nice and certainly far cheaper (and probably more widely available) than other real alcohol filled chocolates. The filling was a little syrupy, but I'm guessing you can't put true alcohol without some sugar stabilizer in there or else they'll dissolve the chocolate.
It's kind of hard to peel the little bottles sometimes and of course if you hold them in your hand for any length of time you risk softening the chocolate to the point of an accident when unwrapping.
So if the liqueur chocolates are an evening things, maybe the coffee chocolates should be considered a morning one.
These flavored coffees are cloaked in the same dark chocolate and again, have no sugar crust in them. This is a big difference over the Pocket Coffee that I reviewed before.
I tasted a few of the varieties, though I think there are more. You can only buy them in the assortments, so there's no point in wishing you could buy only one kind.
Cappuccino - a nice sweet coffee inside chocolate, but it didn't seem to have much of a dairy component to it, no milkiness at all.
Toffee Macchiato - this one confused me, but I have to admit that I've never had a macchiato. It tasted like coconut and coffee, which is not a bad thing, but it certainly doesn't seem at all like toffee.
Espresso - this is the money shot. Very much like the Pocket Coffee, not as sweet as the others. It was a bit tangy and rich.
Vanilla Frappe - that's the one pictured unwrapped and tipped out ... so you can see I didn't get to taste it completely. Sometimes I have to sacrifice for the art.
Irish Cream Coffee - this one was sweet as well and had a pretty mellow minty quality, but very little coffee flavor in the mix.
I've never seen these at the store, but I'm sure they'll be more prevalent as the holidays get closer. They're a pretty nice hostess gift for the right person and if CandyWarehouse's price is any indication, they're not even that expensive.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Villars Swiss Milk Chocolate
Candy Blog reader Karen clued me in to Villars bars. I had no idea these Swiss-style milk chocolate bars had MALT in them! I've seen them at the checkout at Trader Joe's for some time, but the old-fashioned looking packaging just didn't grab me.
Don't be misled - they're not malted milk bars or anything, must sweet, creamy Swiss milk chocolate with a little hint of malt. If I didn't know better, I would have said it was hazelnut, but it's definitely a malty quality.
The packaging is quite nice, a decorated box with a flip and tuck top for storing uneaten portions and the bar itself is cloaked in thin aluminum foil. A little thin for my taste, but it's nicely designed with large and flat with flowers inside each of the squares (I'm going to say they're edelweiss). This chocolate doesn't have that cloying dairy flavor that some other Swiss chocolates have but it is creamy and certainly melts easily.
I ate the bar pretty quickly as it was hot this weekend and for most of the time it was the consistency of fudge because it was about 90 degress in my house. Instead of breaking off small pieces (after I'd broken into big ones for the photograph while it was still cool in the morning), the bar pretty much bent or tore. Holding the pieces in the heat was dicey too, as they got very slippery.
I fear that chocolate must be put aside for the rest of the summer or reserved for the early morning cool.
But back to the chocolate bar! It's a great deal for a Swiss style chocolate with a more interesting malty hit than you might be used to. If you've got a Trader Joe's around you, pick one up. They also have a dark bar (no malt) and a hazelnut bar (which I'll be trying after it cools off).
Wednesday, July 5, 2006
Chuao Chocolatier
I first heard about Chuao Chocolatier a couple of months ago but haven't been able to visit them until this weekend. The main location is in Encinitas and they have other shops in San Diego. But they also have one at the Irvine Spectrum, so on a blazingly hot Sunday afternoon my husband and I stopped by to see what it was all about. Let me just say this, if this is the direction that upscale chocolate is going, I can fully support it.
The shop is spare and simple with lots of dark wood touches and reflects more of a wine connoisseur aesthetic than candy. I greeted the women behind the counter (I've never done this before) ... I introduced myself and gave full disclosure that I'm a candy writer and boy did I get the full treatment! But seeing how well Melissa, the manager, did her tour of the company through samples of most of their product lines, I get the sense she does it for anyone who's interested. She was knowlegable, enthusiastic and completely engaging.
First, a little about Chuao. It's one of those stories about people who follow their passions. Michael Antonoris (once a biomedical engineer and MBA before he "stopped chasing his ego and started chasing his culinary passion," and went to Paris for two years to study Pastry and Chocolaterie at the ?cole Lenotre). Born in Venezuela, he brought not only his culinary aesthetic to candymaking, but also the native cacao from the region. His chocolate source is El Rey Chocolate. You can read lots more on their website about the history of the company and other press clippings.
The first sample we tried was their flavor of the month for July, which is a beer (San Diego produced Stout) infused chocolate - with a strong wheat/yeasty flavor to the chocolate ganache, it was intriguing and brought out the best of the beer and the chocolate.
She also let us try last month's (after all, it was only July 2nd) intriguing little egg which was filled with chocolate, olive oil and sun-dried tomato filling. I really liked the olive essence in there, but I'm not a huge fan of sun-dried tomatoes, but they seem to work in there. I could see those going really well with a wine and cheese assortment.
Other wonderful morsels she gave us to try included:
Chocolate Covered Orange Peel - lovely dark chocolate surrounding soft and intense orange zest. Not too syrupy sweet and not the least bit bitter.
Chocolate Covered Ginger - this is no ordinary candied ginger, the pieces are plump and juicy and have no fibery bits. Sweet and with a gentle burn that lasts long after the chocolate is gone.
Coco Nib Snack - fine little nibs a little smaller than peppercorns and caramelized/tossed with a little salt and chili. Fascinating little morsels, not too sweet but also doesn't have any of that bitter/acrid flavor that some plain nibs have. No fibery bits either. I'm not sure if I'd eat them straight, but I'd love them tossed on a salad or maybe some ice cream.
Even though it was insanely hot, we still tried a little bit of their hot chocolate. They have two varieties, the traditional Abuela and Spicy Maya. They weren't as thick and milky as many that I had on my last NY trip, but the flavors were really great. I enjoyed the Maya best, as the spice wasn't too overwhelming, but supported the floral and wine notes of the chocolate.
But the time eventually came to pick out some things to take home.
I picked out a box of 9 pieces:
Melao - salt butter caramel - this one was quite reminiscent of the Sahgun salt caramel I had earlier this year. Quite soft, almost juicy, with a slight grain to the caramezlied sugar and a round sweet flavor dosed with salt to bring out the flavors.
Candela - spicy macadamia praline - very strange - it's grainy, but not in an unpleasant way. Salty, crispy and with a soft spicy finish, the center is more like eating a cookie dough than a chocolate. For the record, I love cookie dough.
Cardamom - cardamom infused ganache - fresh and lightly infused with that cardamom note that I love about Indian food. Buttery smooth and rich. I would have liked more cardamom, like the Vosges one I tried in NYC.
Modena - strawberry caramel with balsamic vinegar from Modena - this was just plain strawberry as far as I could tell. Nicely fruity and aromatic, smooth and refreshing with a good balance of notes for the dark chocolate, but I wasn't really getting the balsamic notes.
Chevre - goat cheese, pear Williams and crushed black buttercream - fascinating and probably addictive. At first the dark chocolate ganache is tangy, like a goat cheese. Then the black pepper infusion coming to the surface. The pear played a minor note, but the black pepper pieces were incredible, as they were softened by the chocolate and more like small, spicy raisins.
Zen - green tea infused ginger ganache - wonderful plump pieces of crystalized ginger in a dark chocolate ganache with only a hint of tea. Not too sweet - a good subtle balance.
Gran Cacao - bittersweet ganache with 73% cocoa - a lovely and rich ganache with a good buttery start and some good floral and berry notes.
Cambur - soft banana and brown sugar caramel - imagine a fried banana, drenched in caramelized sugar and then drizzled with chocolate. Mmmm. Intensely banana, but thoroughly authentic tasting. Rich and sweet. By far my favorite of them all.
Picante - California raisin fondue and Napa Valley cabernet caramel, spiced with pasilla chili and cayenne pepper - tart and with fruity/jammy qualities but with an immediate burn in my throat from some fresh tasting chilis. There are some wine notes, but mostly a grape and chili flavor mixed with the dark chocolate but the caramelized sugar is completely lost. I wouldn't have minded a little hit of molasses or brown sugar in there.
On the whole, I'd say that the line of uncommon flavor combinations is much like Vosges and of similar quality. Where Vosges seems to angle itself towards women, Chuao seems incredibly masculine. The flavors are bold and uncommon and assertive. Flavors are borrowed from outside the candy realm with excellent results. But when they're inside the sweets oveure, they're really at their best. The spiced flavors are wonderful but I really enjoyed the caramelized items like the Cambur.
I'm definitely planning on stopping there again, it's exceptionally convenient when I'm down in Orange County visiting with my husband's family and it looks like they will continue to develop new flavor combinations that will keep my tongue occupied. They also offer classes, which I would love to take (but only at the Carlsbad location), so maybe someday I'll become a master chocolatier, too. If you're a wine or beer lover, they also have tips and product lines for serving them together.
Meticulously photographed and documented reviews of candy from around the world. And the occasional other sweet adventures. Open your mouth, expand your mind.


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Giants Season Review: Huge Leap Possible In 2016?The first casualty of the New York Giants fourth straight playoff miss occurred on Monday, when veteran head coach Tom Coughlin officially stepped down from his position.
Team Grades: Giants Likely End Coughlin Era With 35-30 Loss To EaglesPrior to this game, the Philadelphia Eagles knew the fate of their head coach, Chip Kelly, who was fired earlier in the week. While there were not many tears shed for Kelly's demise, emotions ran high for the New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, who has guided Big Blue since 2004 with his probable swan song in the 35-30 loss to the Eagles at MetLife Stadium.
Upon Further Review, What Can NFL Do To Prevent Future Melees?With social media as the jury, Odell Beckham was already, by Sunday night, tried, convicted and sentenced for crimes against Josh Norman and the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
High School Football Player, Born Without Left Hand, Gets To Meet GiantsKris Silbaugh, of Cambridge Springs High School, recently traveled to New Jersey for an inspiring meet-and-greet with the New York Giants.
Team Grades: Newton's Knockout Punch Drops Giants 38-35The New York Giants roared back from a 35-7 third quarter deficit to tie their contest with the Carolina Panthers at 35-35, but Carolina fought back and got a 43-yard field goal from Graham Gano to beat the G-men at the final gun.
Team Grades: Manning, Beckham Lead Giants Over Dolphins 31-24In this season of mediocrity, perhaps Eli Manning and Odell Beckham alone can carry the G-men over the finish line into the NFL playoffs.
Beckham, Manning Shine In 31-24 Win Over Miami, Giants Forge 3-Way NFC East TieOdell Beckham made two touchdown catches, including an 84-yard reception to break a fourth-quarter tie.
Team Grades: Giants' Playoff Chances On Life Support After Falling To JetsBoth teams needed a win to keep their floundering playoff hopes alive, regardless of who they played, and key figures like Darrelle Revis and Victor Cruz were only present in street clothes.
Team Grades: Giants Play Poorly In 20-14 Loss To RedskinsEven though the game would decide surpremacy in the the beleagured NFC east division, the New York Giants (5-6) treated this contest like the fourth preseason game of the summer.
Report Cards Are Out, Who Are The Giants' Studs And Duds Right Now?Fresh off their bye week, the New York Football head into preparations for the Washington Redskins to start the second half of their campaign. Who are the players that have risen to the occasion? And who needs to step up his game?
Who Is To Blame In Giants' Close Loss To Patriots?All close games in the NFL have pivot points, plays or lack thereof, that seal a team's fate. The Giants have tempted fate several times this season, and they seemingly have come out a loser each time.
Giants' Odell Beckham Posting Big Numbers Again In Second SeasonWhile the wow factor might be missing from Odell Beckham's game in his second season in the NFL, the New York Giants' receiver is quietly having another big year.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Exergen Temporal Scanner Infrared Thermometer is a safety-first must-have fever thermometer for kids and adults. You get super-accurate readings for newborns, infants, children and adults by capturing naturally emitted heat from the skin over the temporal artery. A soft-glow display shows easy reading in any light—perfect for checking the temperature of a sleeping infant or adult in a darkened room. 8-temperature memory automatically retains the last 8 temperature readings for instant recall to check on fever progression. A programmable beeping sound indicating scanning can be turned off or on to avoid waking a sleeping child or adult. The flashing LED facing the forehead while scanning turns off when the beeper is turned off. Safe. Convenient. Accurate. Easy.
Convenient one-handed operation
Perfect for use with newborns, infants, children or adults
Precision Infrared System captures naturally emitted heat from the skin over the temporal artery
Audible indicator - Gentle audible sound indicates as higher temperature has been detected
LED scan indicator - indicates temperature is being scanned and flashes when a higher measurment is detected, indicating the location of the temporal artery
Health Concern: Fever
Health Facts: Mercury-free
For Use On: Forehead
Features: Instant On, Automatic Shut-Off, Results in Fahrenheit, Results in Celsius, LCD Display, Digital
Display Indicators: Temperature
Includes: Protective cover, Batteries, Instruction manual
Material: Plastic
Manufacturer: 5 Years and Up
Battery: required, included: 1 9 volt
other Info.
Warranty Information
To obtain a copy of the manufacturer's warranty for this item, please call Target Guest Services at 1-800-591-3869.
- Online Item #: 13009184
- Store Item Number (DPCI): 094-06-0011
- Item can be gift wrapped.
- Made in the USA and Imported
Content on this site is for reference purposes only. Target does not represent or warrant that the nutrition, ingredient, allergen and other product information on our Web or Mobile sites are accurate or complete, since this information comes from the product manufacturers. On occasion, manufacturers may improve or change their product formulas and update their labels. We recommend that you do not rely solely on the information presented on our Web or Mobile sites and that you review the product?s label or contact the manufacturer directly if you have specific product concerns or questions. If you have specific healthcare concerns or questions about the products displayed, please contact your licensed healthcare professional for advice or answers.


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Standards of Learning (SOL) and Testing
The Standards of Learning (SOL) for Virginia Public Schools establish minimum expectations for what students should know and be able to do at the end of each grade or course in English, mathematics, science, history/social science and other subjects. SOL tests in reading, writing, mathematics, science and history/social science measure the success of students in meeting the Board of Education's expectations for learning and achievement. All items on SOL tests are reviewed by Virginia classroom teachers for accuracy and fairness and teachers also assist the state Board of Education in setting proficiency standards for the tests.
Frequently Asked Questions about SOL Testing
This document from the Virginia Department of Education Includes information on reduction in the number of tests, computer adaptive testing and other changes in the state assessment system.
NNPS Division Accreditation Tables:
Accreditation and Federal Reports from VDOE
Standards of Learning currently in effect are listed on the Virginia Department of Education website.
August 16, 2016: Newport News students progress on all SOL tests
August 11, 2015: Newport News students make notable gains on SOL tests
Sept. 30, 2015: NNPS graduation rate reaches all-time high
October 27, 2015: More Newport News schools earn accreditation
|View SOL Pass Rates on Virginia School Report Cards from VDOE:


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What you need to know about Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth offers a rich tapestry of affordable neighborhoods, an enviable cultural scene and a world-class school system and a Top 10 Downtown. Visitors enjoy shopping and dining in downtown's Sundance Square. City attractions include the Fort Worth Zoo, major sports, and the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens, enhancing the city's reputation as one of the premier travel destinations in the nation.
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Up by 12.78%
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Nearby Cities
Interested in learning more about the business climate in the Fort Worth, Texas area? Visit BusinessClimate.com
Kids Aren't the Only Ones Playing in Fort Worth, TX. Check out the Adult Sports Scene.Escape the fitness grind with these sporting options
Tarrant County School District Enrollment and Average SAT Scores, 2013Tarrant County School District Enrollment and Average SAT Scores, 2013 as a resource for people relocating to Fort Worth
Homes Owned 57.74%
57.74% Complete
Homes Rented 42.26%
42.26% Complete
Real Estate
In Fort Worth, Texas
Ready to move to Fort Worth? There are a variety of housing options in the area. Click below to learn about the recent trends, average home values and even a few current real estate listings in Fort Worth.
Median Home Price
Lower than the state average
Lower than the state average
Spurs Meet Sophistication at Stock ShowStock Show and Rodeo keeps this cultured city connected to its roots – and boots
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We want the young professionals to be involved in Fort Worth as early as possible, and hopefully for a lifetime. They are the future, and we want their input now.
Brianna Broussard, program manager, Vision Fort Worth
Brianna Broussard, program manager, Vision Fort Worth
In Fort Worth, Texas
The quality of a school district is often a top factor for parents considering where to live. Strong school systems attract new residents and help their cities prosper. See how Fort Worth rates.
Median Household Income
Lower than the national average
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In Fort Worth, Texas
Being a great place to live and being a great place to work often go hand-in-hand. Here's what the business and employment climate is like in Fort Worth.
Forth Worth's Cultural DistrictCultural District makes magnificent art, architecture easily accessible
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Access to quality hospitals, doctors and health-care providers is just part of what makes a healthy community. Here's how to get and stay healthy in Fort Worth.
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Area industries support students with scholarship funds
The East Harris County Manufacturers Association (EHCMA) has a strong connection with San Jacinto College. As the training hub for future workers, a partnership between the two entities is critical. That's why the organization, which represents 90 member companies, donates funds raised from its annual golf tournament to San Jacinto College and Lee College.
This year, EHCMA donated more than $75,000 in support of student scholarships.
Craig Beskid, EHCMA executive director, says area companies get a solid return on investment by supporting San Jacinto College and Lee College. "The greatest benefit is the increase in educated and trained workers available for employment for the specific needs of the region," he noted. "EHCMA member companies have seen an increase in enrollment in education and training programs and increases in applications from graduates of the two colleges."
Workforce training is one of the most pressing needs of East Harris County. It is estimated that by 2019, nearly 11,500 employees will be needed in the areas of operations, maintenance, and engineering. Some of these openings are due to a retiring workforce, but others stem from the nearly
$40 billion in announced projects across the region, making the training offered at San Jacinto College imperative and critical to the economic growth along the Texas Gulf Coast.
Funds raised in the EHCMA golf tournament will open doors of opportunity for students and will bring lasting rewards for the community. Many students have financial barriers that prevent them from pursuing a college credential, and this generous donation from EHCMA will help to alleviate that burden for many students. It is an important partnership, and one that will help more individuals acquire the skills they need to enter meaningful and lucrative careers, and in doing so, meet the industry demands for a well-trained workforce.
Scholarships help STEM students pursue degrees
Skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (more commonly known as STEM) are essential for student success across a variety of disciplines. These fields and skills are deeply embedded in the real world, and at San Jacinto College, we encourage students to explore STEM.
That exploration paid off for four of our students when they were rewarded with scholarships from the Houston Chemical Association to help them along their path.
Quyen Vu, Altovely Uriostegui, Yaimari Argueta, and Oscar Charria each received $500 scholarships to use toward their studies in STEM fields. Quyen, Altovely, and Oscar plan to pursue chemical engineering degrees after they graduate from San Jacinto College, while Yaimari is on a path toward a chemistry degree. She is also the first in her family to attend college.
One of the purposes of the Houston Chemical Association, according to the organization's website, is to foster and promote the education of
its members and the public by gathering and distributing information of general interest within the field of chemical manufacture and distribution.
Partnerships like this with the Houston Chemical Association are one of the many reasons our students are successful. These donations help to alleviate some of the financial burden, so that our San Jac Certified graduates can be on their way to greatness.
To find out more about STEM at San Jacinto College, visit sanjac.edu/stem.-


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Hi, I'm new to wordpress and I was wondering if anyone could tell me how to customise a category with a specific header image using the yoko theme.
I understand that it is not possible to do this on the dashboard and it requires an update to the .php files somewhere. I've tried a few fixes from other discussions for other templates with terrible results, heh!
I'm very new to writing code and really just need an idiots version. What code do i use, where do I put it and where do i ammend the code to put the details of my image in?
Any help would be greatly appreciated :)


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Volunteer Deputy Registrar Program
Effective January 1, 2016: To become a volunteer deputy registrar online you must successfully pass the state's VDR training examination. You can review the VDR training online (by clicking the link below) or attend one of our in-person training classes (by clicking the link below). This exam may only be taken at our office during our normal business hours Monday – Friday 8am – 4:30pm.
Volunteer Deputy Registrars are entrusted with the responsibility of officially registering voters in the State of Texas. They are appointed by county voter registrars and charged with helping increase voter registration in the state.
Acceptance of the duties of volunteer deputy registrar places you in a position of trust and responsibility to the citizens you will register to vote.
Click on the options below for further information about a Volunteer Deputy Registrar.
Volunteer Deputy Registrar Training Schedule
Volunteer Deputy Registrar Training Presentation
Volunteer Deputy Registrar Exam
Click this link to visit the State's website for more information about the Program
Revised on January 15, 2013


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Kochadaiyaan Is Not A Cartoon: Soundarya Rajinikanth
Rajinikanth starrer Kochadaiyaan's teaser, which was launched by the crew recently, got a mixed response from the audience and Rajini's fans. Few people were also disappointed for featuring the actor in cartoonist manner.
In response to this, Soundarya Rajinikanth Ashwin, who is directing Kochadaiyaan, has cleared that it is an animation movie but, not a cartoon, and explained the differences between cartoon and animation.
Talking to a leading daily, Soundarya said, "In India, people think animation is cartoon. Avatar was animation, but is not a cartoon. Tintin is completely cartoonistic. I am creating Rajinikanth, where he has actually performed, it's captured on a camera and then put into a 3D version."
Kochadaiyaan is based on the life of Pandiyan king Kochadaiyaan Ranadhiran. The movie is made using the 3D motion capturing technology.
Director Soudarya also expressed her happiness for completing the project soon and said that they have taken a road, which was never taken in India before and completed the film in just a year and a half.
In Kochadaiyaan, Rajinikanth will be playing the dual role of father and son. Shobana, Deepika Padukone, Sarath Kumar and Jackie Shroff will also be seen as main leads. While Shobana is paired opposite Rajinikanth senior, Bollywood Diva Deepika Padukone plays the love interest role of Rajinikanth junior in the movie.
Soundarya, the younger daughter of Rajinikanth, shared her experience working with her dad. Continue reading the story on slides...


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I was thinking short squeeze when I saw the price, but volume is waaay too low, so the squeeze has not even started, but it may soon. Someone may be getting a call soon, ring ring, ah my shorty, we can no longer lend the shares, you will have to cover NOW.
Shorts will get killed here....................sooner than later!
Sentiment: Strong Buy
Alexion is up a bit over $3 billion in market cap on the Roche rumor. This brings them north of a $20 billion market cap. Their lead drug brought in $1.3 billion in sales last year. I don't see Roche paying that much for a billion dollar drug. Their pipeline has some conjugated antibodies in it, but then why not just by IMGN who is one of the recognized leaders in that space. Might have to look at some ALXN puts because that take over does not make much sense to me.
Chinese Hamsters
Did you get those ALXN puts? They look fairly expensive, if you bought some in the money puts the other day, you might want to sell some lower priced puts today. I was a little early with the DIA and SPY puts. I bought them to hedge in an overbought market, but I still hate to see them decline even knowing I bought them for hedging risk.
I noticed an artice on CRIS this morning that makes an interesting case based on the early stage products. I am not a fan of CRIS management, but maybe they have some good new people that will move the company forward and stop making stupid financial decisions. I am ONLY going to buy this dog again on weakness, I will not pay high $3's.
Bio, I think the move on low volume relates to the fact that we're in a confirmed breakout above all resistance. I would not want to be a short going into this weekend.
I just noticed there's a rumor about Roche buying ALXN, so that's likely the reason for the rally. If they buy ALXN, they probably will not buy IMGN any time soon, so not sure why we are up on that other than more sector acquisitions are a +. ALXN seems wildly overvalued to me, they should buy IMGN instead. Shorts should be spooked.


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Brian Wilson, Jeff Beck co-headlining Riverside Theater
The full-scale Beach Boys reunion may have been a short-lived occassion, but Boys' co-founder Brian Wilson is still keeping part of the old band together--and roping in a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.
Wilson, and guitar master Jeff Beck, famous for his work with the Yardbirds as well as his own accomplished solo career, are co-headlining a fall tour that will stop at the Riverside Theater Oct. 30, a venue spokesman announced Monday morning. »Read Full Article
P!nk, her voice ailing, postpones Bradley Center show
Pop singer P!nk has postponed her Nov. 3 show at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, citing doctors' orders to rest her voice after recovering from inflamed vocal chords and laryngitis.
The show has been rescheduled for Jan. 9. According to a statement Wednesday from promoter Live Nation, all tickets for the Nov. 3 show will be honored on the new date. »Read Full Article(5)
Stephen King, John Mellencamp, T Bone Burnett's 13 years of collaboration brings ghost story to stage
Stephen King fans can enjoy new content across multiple mediums this Halloween season, whether it's a book ("Doctor Sleep," his sequel to "The Shining"), a movie (the remake of "Carrie") or a musical.
Yeah, that's right, a musical. »Read Full Article
2Cellos rock expectations, Pabst Theater
Putting together a rock band? Don't forget the cellos.
There's never been a clear, tried-and-true career path for those who want to "make it" in the pop/rock world. But it's safe to say that playing the cello was never on the to-do list. »Read Full Article
Reading the John Updike stories: 'The Kid's Whistling'
The Library of America recently published 'John Updike: The Collected Stories,' a two-volume boxed set of 186 stories arranged in chronological order. I'm reading one or more a week and commenting on them each Wednesday until I finish the collection or fall apart.
"The Kid's Whistling" could have been subtitled, or even titled, "Man at Work." »Read Full Blog Post
William Rudolph to leave the Milwaukee Art Museum
William Keyse Rudolph, the Milwaukee Art Museum's director of exhibitions and the curator of American art and decorative arts, has accepted a position as chief curator and curator of American art at the San Antonio Museum of Art.
Rudolph, who has been with the museum for about 2 years and 8 months, has elevated the American art collection at the museum and co-curated the museum's recently opened exhibit "Thomas Sully: Painted Performance," described as the first in-depth retrospective for the 19th-century portraitist and a show eight years in the making. »Read Full Blog Post
On Tap Today: Kites, pumpkins, Updike and some pre-season Bucks
Brisk fall weather will soon give way to winter, and what does that mean? Kite Flying Club days are numbered, people! (However, the group is working on a kite-sledding option.) Milwaukee artist Sarah Luther organizes the weekly kite-flying walks as a way to explore the urban landscape with others. This week, you can meet Luther and her kite-flying contingent in a parking lot 35th St. and Juneau Ave. at 7:45 p.m.
What else to do on this Wednesday? Well, it's also time for the Great Pumpkin Fetstival up in Whitefish Bay. It starts tonight (and runs through Sunday). The pumpkin display will be in Old Schoolhoues Park, across the street from the public library, at 5420 N. Marlborough Dr. Pick a pumpkin and carve it in the carving tent. The pumpkins are free. Design a jack-o-lantern, and it will be glowing and on display every night. And there will be live music and nibbles from Pandl's, too. »Read Full Blog Post


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Sharing is caring
Thursday, March 15, 2012
The point is that I've recently been reflecting on exactly how long I've been blogging (since January 1st, 2008), how many posts I've written (this is #924) and how my audience (and my writing) has evolved over the years.
More specifically how the things I wrote in 2008, I'm guessing 95% of you haven't read, so I'm going to share some random ass things about myself because I can - it's my blog after all. It's like a online getting to know you exercise...
Things you may or may not have known about me:
1. I have three 6 inch pins in my left hip holding it in place from a surgery I had in the 6th grade. This surgery also gave me a 7 inch scar down the length of my hip, sexy.
2. Less than five short years ago I was a pack a day smoker. Parliament Ultra Lights, mmm, I still get the cravings, but I'm so happy I quit. Full disclosure: I still may bum a smoke here or there when I have some cocktails in me.
3. I love Phish. I first came in contact with the band in high school, got heavier into them in college but was terrified of seeing a show or really getting into "the scene" as I always thought I was too preppy to like Phish. I just like the music, man. That being said, I'll be seeing Phish for the second time this summer and I may wear Tory Burch just to weird out the phans.
4. I can eat an entire box of cereal in one sitting. No description needed for this one, I just really like cereal.
5. I played Mrs. Banks in a version of Mary Poppins in elementary school. I also was in Bye Bye Birdie, Godspell, and Once Upon a Mattress in high school - your general choir/drama kid, I was awesome. I also may or may not have sung the Star Spangled Banner before my high school's boys basketball games.
That's it for now - anyone else feel like sharing?
Happy Thursday, kids!
22 comments:
hmmmm I like some of my old posts better than others. I still laugh when I look at how I was tagging them and I still don't realy have any organization with that.ReplyDelete
Tory Birch at a Phish concert? Hahahah. Please share video of that (more specifically, the reactions of others). =)ReplyDelete
My blog has evolved from "Drinking With & Dating of Strange Men" to "Here, Have Another Cat Photo" across (almost) 10 years of blogging. Seesh. I'm so boring. lolReplyDelete
The old stories are still the most read -- and most searchable -- on my blog. And it still cracks me up that I essentially have a Timeline of Assholes. :)
I can't drink NESQUIK strawberry or really any pink milk. Why? When I was like 10 I drank a ton and then started a long drive and threw it up but caught it with my hands/mouthReplyDelete
I didn't know what to do so just sat there holding throw up in my mouth with my hands until finally I threw up more and it went everywhere.
you're welcome.
Cereal. CEREAL. I wantttt.ReplyDelete
I never had a bowl of cereal until about 3 years ago. Now I'm obsessed. Carbalicious.ReplyDelete
Fun! As a long time reader of your blog I didnt know some of these things about you. I never would have guessed you sang the star spangled banner before basketball games. Good for you for giving up smoking. And cereal for dinner after a hectic workday trumps basically everything else.ReplyDelete
Woops sorry, the above comment is mine. I was helping a friend with something in google and forgot I was still signed in as her.ReplyDelete
cereal, is the bomb! whether its bran flakes, or cinnamon toast crunch, I got your back on this one sister!!!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 16, 2012 at 4:42 AM
From 2000 through 2004, the senator and his wife never gave more than $3,500 a year in charitable donations -- about 1 percent of their annual earnings.ReplyDelete
there only 2 charities were Rev Wright and the United N E G R O S fund.
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oh man, i love reading my old entries (and cringing frequently!). and seeing as how they go back to May 2005 (!!!) i have plenty of cringe-worthy posts available anytime i get nostalgic :)ReplyDelete
isn't it crazy how long we've been blogging!? in may i'll hit five years and that's just insane to me.ReplyDelete
also, i love cereal too. like whoa. like ohmygosh i love cereal, haha.
- AnonymousMarch 19, 2012 at 4:44 AM
I know this isn't politics ?, but I needed responses and no one looking in the teaching section.ReplyDelete
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- Kerry WMarch 20, 2012 at 10:09 PM
You totally rocked every single one of those parts in 5. So happy I was present for all of them, even Mary Poppins!! xoxoReplyDelete
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This is cross posted from Donna Benjamin's request for the candidates to post responses from the questions fielded during the phone call.
I bring 17 years from the technology world, 13 years in Opensource, 6 years of highly active participation in the Drupal community, 8 years of nonprofit management in a US based Technology focused nonprofit, two VP board positions in nonprofits including policy development, and two university qualifications - one a Masters - focused on organizational management for nonprofits.
I'm passionate about Drupal and adore the Drupal Community.
You can read more about my candidacy as I continue to write about it here: At Large Election 2012 - The Drupal Association.
1) stevepurkiss: If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about the Drupal Association, what would it be and why?
I think it is critical to not cycle onto the Drupal Association board with a strong personal agenda. The point should be about serving the Drupal community as a whole and not seek to disrupt the DA because of an axe to grind. It is a natural progression, when working with experience board members, to direct the overall mission of a nonprofit in a 10,000 foot view. So, my first job would be to observe and absorb. I do think that the Drupal Association needs to continue to focus on outreach with a goal of strengthening membership in underserved populations. This includes untapped markets with potential and culturally diverse populations who can add their uniqueness to our own. The magic wand is hard work continuing to push forward the DA's mission and expand.
2) Senpai: QUESTION: How much money should the DA spend each year on furthering Drupal? Followup Q: How much of that money should come from the users of Drupal vs sponsorships or advertising?
This question is a bit like asking "How long is a piece of string". The amount that the DA should spend ought to be budget driven, so we really should be looking at percentages rather than how much. Some of the other candidates expressed that "The DA should spend it all!". This is naive at best and reckless at worst. All non-profits should have 3-4 months worth of operating budget at hand to weather bad times or needed expenditures such as new servers. This is just simple math. The exception to this rule is if the nonprofit has a desire to build an endowment for scholarships, grants programs, etc. In this case, the goal is to build up enough of a reserve, for this fund, to pay out scholarships/grants/program cash largely through interest. Outside of remaining fiscally viable and being a responsible 501(c)3, every last available dollar should go towards supporting the Drupal community.
How much of the money should come from different sources? Well, the fact is - the more diverse the funding pool, the more likely the DA will not end up having money problems in the future. We should be looking beyond users/sponsorships/advertising to diversify our income streams. This may extend to applying for grant funds ourselves to having some kind service model. When I was with the Western States Arts Federation, I was central in defining new revenue streams through designing software as a service models and service based systems like:
- ArtistsRegister.com
- Artjob.org
- CultureGrants Online
- CallForEntry.org
- ZAPPlication.org
- WritersRegister
These are just a few. My point here is that I have extensive experience in the nonprofit world designing and implementing diversification of revenues to provide organizational stability.
3) KatteKrab: QUESTION: How would you help make the Drupal Association reach out to parts of the world that aren't yet active in our community? Be more International?
The Drupal Association IS international. The biggest challenge here revolves around participation. How do we engage other communities? Well - first of all, we need to understand what the needs of those communities are. Is it as simple as providing money to help a local community run a camp? Do they need organizational advice on best practices for setting up regular meet ups? Do they need help figuring out how to generate an audience to attend events. Each local set of constituents will have different challenges that need to be met to efficiently grow. We need to have an overall goal of continued "Internationalization" with eyes towards tactics that make sense in each different cultural context.
4) dstol: What is your biggest annoyance with Drupal.Org currently? [the website]
My personal pet peeve is that d.o is separate from g.d.o so you can't search across both at the same time. However, I don't think that personal annoyances should fall into the pervue of the association board. The D.A. could have an overall goal of "Improving the User Experience on the Drupal.org Website to increase engagement and drive usage of Drupal", but then the strategy and tactics and execution of that goal should fall to the association staff.
5) steveoliver: Q: What role do you see for the DA in developing and/or certifying formalized Drupal training/testing?
The association should not be the owner/arbiter for certifications. I think the DA is doing a good job providing opportunities for community trainers to offer services at Camps and Cons. As a member of the local organizers of Drupalcon Denver, I was struck by the thoughtfulness of the DA in choosing excellent training opportunities that were well balanced to the needs of new members of our community.
As for testing, that is part of development of the software itself. That should be a community activity. I do think that the DA could/should fund usability studies and provide the results, but without trying to direct how those results impact the software itself.
6) beeradb_: QUESTION: What community leadership have you show that you think positions you well to be a community representative on the board?
I covered a good chunk of that in a blog post. This can be covered in a few numbers to begin with:
I have:
- 17 years in the technology space
- 13 years in the open source space
- 8 years of nonprofit management including grant making and board management
- 6 years in the Drupal community
- 2 University programs in non-profit management
- 2 VP positions on other Boards, including a Charter School in the Adams 50 School District in Colorado
- 1 Committee position as a policy maker/drafter for the Charter School
- 1 Drupalcon as Volunteer Wrangler and Customer Service Manager
- Helping in numerous Drupalcamp in Denver
I am a community leader through camps and Drupalcon. I have tremendous experience in the nonprofit space - particularly in the United States. I have board experience in similar sized organizations. I have policy experience. When folks are thinking about where to cast their ballots, I urge them to not approach the election as a popularity contest but look at the qualifications of the candidates and ask - who would do the best job..
I'm the complete package for the DA.
7) j_matthew_s: My question is related to Governance VS Operations at the DA. Where are the lines between what the Board should do vs Staff? For example - who should be directing mission vs strategic planning vs program management?
This was my own question and I didn't answer it during the session. There were a variety of answers, but I think this chart lines up my expectations of proper governance vs operations activities.
8) joebachana: What is the greatest threat to the Drupal project today and what should the DA's role be in ameliorating/resolving that threat?
I wrote a little bit about HR attrition a few days ago. I believe that the community, as a whole, is getting older. We need to be bringing in larger numbers of young people into the community in order to refresh our ranks. This extends to helping more experienced developers move up the ranks into core developer roles. One of our challenges has been core dev burnout. So, in short, our biggest threat today is ensuring we have an adequate population of appropriately talented people.
9) starl3n: Q: how do candidates define the Drupal 'community'? And, developers Vs users...
This is a super easy question to answer. The "community" are all people who interact with the Drupal project even at the most simple of levels. This would include Developers, Themers, Project Managers, and End Users, Companies who use Drupal. All members of the community are users, but there is a subset of the community that are developers.
10) beeradb_: QUESTION: If you weren't running, which of the other candidates do you think would be great for the board?
I honestly punted on this question and said, "I want a pony" in relation to Morten's blog post. The truth is, that the field we have to choose from is incredibly talented all around. Some individuals have more experience than others in the nonprofit sphere and others have some board experience as well. I won't be discounting popularity of candidates, but that will not be my number one priority in making my decision. In the end, I honestly have not decided who I might vote for - I need to hear what everybody has to say about the position first.
I would be honoured to represent the Community as an At Large Board Member if the Community would like to place that trust in me. My love and respect of our "Team" transcends just a job and extends to some of my deepest friendships. If you want to talk to me about my candidacy - please find me on IRC j_matthew_s or in Skype jmatthewsaunders or you could even call me 00+1 (720) 254-1546.


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|Homelessness/Housing||Economy||Raise The Rates||Cops||Government||Solidarity||Casework||Action||Support OCAP||Archive|
MARCH ON CITY HALL! OPEN NEW EMERGENCY SHELTERS NOW! Wednesday, February 17, 11AM, Queen & Sherbourne
March on City Hall
Wednesday, February 17
Assemble: Queen and Sherbourne, 11.00 AM
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Anyone who tries to find a bed within the Toronto homeless shelter system is fully aware that it is in a crisis of overcrowding. During the week of January 18, OCAP members and allies visited the City warming centres and interfaith Out of the Cold shelters that function as a back up for the overloaded system. We spoke to people using these places and volunteers in them. What we found more than confirmed our worst fears.
People are being packed into spaces that, despite the best efforts of those running them, are unable to meet the need. The facilities are inadequate, the demand for them is too great, and people are being turned away.
OCAP will soon release a report on its findings. Drawing from first hand accounts and empirical evidence, the report aims to challenge the ongoing assault on the health and dignity of those who access the shelter system, and challenge the City to provide desperately needed measures to address the situation. Significantly, the report will provide readers with crucial details as to the grave reality of the shelter crisis in Toronto. Space must be opened and the City's policy of keeping shelter occupancy at a maximum of 90% enforced. The federal government armouries that have been opened in the past to the homeless must again be made available an emergency measure.
On February 17, we will deliver our report to the politicians at City Hall. Please come out and join us on that day.
Download outreach materials here:
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"One size fits all" would be wonderful for me. All of my Dockers slacks would be a 36-inch waist forever instead of my keeping multiple ...
In my previous article I discussed the benefits of tax-free exchanges under Section 1035 of the revenue code. Over the years, I have completed more ...
Blair on the Square Boutique, an upscale women's apparel boutique, will open on the Covington Square, 1115 Church Street, in September.
A new boutique featuring apparel for both men and women will open its doors on the Covington Square in late August.
The regional headquarters of Bodycote, a thermal processing service provider, is now located in Covington.
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Municipal bonds are considered the foundation for conservative investors looking for steady income. These bonds are issued by local and state governments and pay investors income that may be substantially exempt from Federal and possibly State income tax.
Pratt Industries, America's fifth largest paper and packaging company, celebrated the opening today of its newest recycling Material Recovery Facility (MRF), the final phase of its "eco-campus" expansion in Conyers.
My plans for the year included a series of articles on investing starting in September. Given the market volatility during the past few weeks these might start at a good time.
Nia Wellman, a recent graduate of Alcovy High School, spent five weeks this summer discovering the responsibilities and benefits that come with being employed. This opportunity was made possible by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) In-School Youth Program. Nia worked as an office aide at the City of Porterdale, giving her experience in interacting with the public and co-workers. She developed valuable organizational skills, a general knowledge of office procedures, as well as an understanding of what it means to be employed.
Vice Chairman of the Newton County Hospital Authority, Billy Fortson, told the Rotary Club of Covington Tuesday that Piedmont Healthcare System was the only one of the nine organizations looked at to merge with Newton Medical Center that fulfilled all of the local hospital's requirements.
Downtown Covington is putting a round pizza in a Square.
There are multiple concerns to think about as you head for retirement. Some are very legitimate while others, although important are very inaccurate. Here are a few to think about:
The Covington Newton Chamber went On the Clock this month with Bridgestone Golf. Everyone knows Bridgestone for their rubber products, however their production of golf balls is making its way to the top with all production and marketing for them headquartered right here in Covington. All of their premium golf balls are produced here including their B-330 series for the professional golfer as well as the E-series for the recreational golfer. Bridgestone is now the No. 2 golf ball manufacturer in the United States and also No. 2 in sales.
From the outside, it looks a bit like a cross between a barn and a roadhouse. A verandah wraps around the front, and leads to the 1,900 square foot covered deck. Inside, there are tables and chairs, booths, a bar and two pool tables.
L. Jackson McConnell Jr., president and CEO of Pinnacle Financial Corporation and its subsidiary bank, Pinnacle Bank, Elberton, was installed as the 126th chairman of the Georgia Bankers Association (GBA) during the GBA Annual Meeting June 23. McConnell was elected to the position by his peers throughout Georgia.
Today, let's take a break from Bruce Jenner, the Confederate flag, Kim Kardashian's swim suit pictures and other related matters vital to our national security. Instead, let me address something that could be of great relevance to you in your retirement planning, which is the Greek financial crisis and could it work its way across the Atlantic to us.
Two new businesses are coming to Covington, expanding local options for food and edible gifts.
GUARANTEED – That's a key word in qualified retirement plans and there are many flavors that an employer can choose from.
Throughout my career I have seen ongoing recommendations to ladder your investments and savings to generate consistent, long term income. Just envision each step on the ladder being an asset and you've got the laddering idea.
The Headless Horseman will soon join vampires on Conyers film sets, as Fox's popular supernatural TV series "Sleepy Hollow" moves its production here.
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KICKS is a multi-faceted, multi-media church in Central Ohio, reaching people through services, creative arts classes, media events, and more. In addition, we have removed the four walls of the traditional church and are reaching a worldwide community through our media outreaches including movies through KICKS Flicks, books through KICKS Books, music through KICKS Music, and television through KICKS TV. Whatever the method, the message is the same: Reach people with the good news of Jesus Christ.
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eric raymond
Did Eric Raymond's The Cathedral and the Bazaar accurately predict the future of software development? That's the wrong question, writes Bryan Behrenshausen.
Earlier this month, Facebook officially announced its implementation of hashtags, prompting both celebration and outcry from users. But the event also sparked a spate of critical analyses addressing the nature of conversations today, as well as the ways technologies facilitate and organize even the... Read more
The scientific method: it all starts with a simple, essential question. How can you "know" something? How can we gather knowledge and have confidence in the correctness of such knowledge? The lucubration of many smart minds over the centuries came to refine the following:
"Release early, release often. And listen to your customers." Eric S. Raymond (esr) wrote those words in his 1997 essay "The Cathedral and the Bazaar," and, for a lot of people, they have become the mantra of the open source software movement. While this advice might seem obvious to many, that... Read more


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Complaint Review: kevin ryder
kevin ryder1400 16th street suite 400 denver, Colorado United States of America
kevin ryder kevin m ryder Con Artist, Tulsa, Kevin Ryder, Assurity financial solutions denver, Colorado
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If you will check out the website for the Oklahoma Court Systems at www.oscn.net you will find many cases filed against Kevin Ryder. Kevin worked with a man who did mortgages fraudulently named Sam Treat. Kevin also swindled hundreds of thousands of dollars from people in Tulsa. I know them but won't list their names. Their names are in oscn.net.
Kevin also worked with Brian Bales. Brian was a real estate investor and would introduce him to other investors.
Once lawsuits started to be filed against Kevin in Tulsa, he fled. At one point in time he was offering to do loan modifications in Tulsa and I know that he wrote at least one check, totaling $20,000.00 to someone I personally know.
Kevin is fast to turn in checks to the DA and actually prosecute people and involves girlfriends in his scams.
They will come across as professional and promise you the world. Do not let your greed get the best of you. This guy wears a suit, has a briefcase and can steal more than a thousand thieves.
Another person who was an associate of Kevin Ryders in Tulsa was Justin Lewis. When things with Kevin started to heat up, Just changed the name of his real estate company to Brookside Realty. This was to throw people off. Justin helped bring in the buyers and helped drive up the prices of homes and helped commit mortgage fraud. Justin then in turn gave Kevin Ryder a portion of the proceeds.
Kevin Ryder also had several real estate appraisers in his back pocket. One that I will name was Kyle Collins. Kyle would appraise homes at the highest value and help Sam Treat close these loans. Kyle's girlfriend was Sam's assistant and would handle all of the files.
Are you seeing the picture yet?
It's big. The FBI did have a copy of the $20,000.00 check from Kevin Ryder when the person I know went to meet with them about it.
At one point, the FBI was and might still be investigating Kevin Ryder.
So let's get to the mortgage scam. Kevin would find some lonely investor who would want to make Money. Kevin would promise to do a build out on a home and promise that he could sell it for a lot of money and he would help them. Kevin's company would do the buildout and usually get funded at the time of closing on the home he directs the lonely investor to buy. Guess who handled the real estate transaction? Yep, Justin Lewis. Guess who usually handled the appraisal? Guess who handled the mortgage? Finally, guess who got screwed? The lonely investor.
Now, one more thing I heard over and over from Kevin Ryder. He would promise to make the mortgage payments for investors if he could not get the home sold in a certain amount of time. Guess what... by the time it came time for that, he was usually gone.
He is very good at avoiding process servers which in turn avoid the suits.
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 04/27/2011 08:20 PM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/kevin-ryder/denver-Colorado-80202/kevin-ryder-kevin-m-ryder-Con-Artist-Tulsa-Kevin-Ryder-Assurity-financial-solutions-den-722971. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.
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Evergreen Health Care Center in Stafford Springs, CT
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Evergreen Health Care Center is a larger-sized nursing home facility in STAFFORD SPRINGS, Connecticut ( Tolland county ). They have 180 beds and 143 residents. Evergreen Health Care Center participates in Medicare and Medicaid and are classified as a Non profit - Corporation ownership. They offer both family and residential councils. They are not located inside of a hospital. They do not belong to a continuing care community. Additional information about Evergreen Health Care Center can be viewed by clicking one of the links above for directions and maps, inspection / survey results, and resident reviews.
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Quality of care and other service information can be reviewed below.
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Evergreen Health Care Center provides an average of 0.78 registered nurse hours, 1.04 Licensed practical nurse / LVN hours, and 2.91 CNA hours per day per resident.
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Medicare and Medicaid participation for Evergreen Health Care Center began on Oct 26, 1989.
Special care beds for patients with AIDS are available.
The average length of stay at Evergreen Health Care Center is approximately 106 days. (this may include both short and long-term care (LTC) visits).
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Overall Rating: 4 stars
Health Inspection Rating: 4 stars
Staff Rating: 4 stars
Quality Measures Rating: 4 stars
Registered Nurses Rating: 4 stars
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Evergreen Health Care Center in STAFFORD SPRINGS, Connecticut has 180 beds compared to a Connecticut average of 120.75 and a National average of 106.41. As of the last update they had 143 residents compared to a CT average of 105.57 and a National average of 88.66. This results in a 79.44% occupancy rate compared to a Connecticut average of 87.43% and a national average of 81.98%.
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It's long been a truism that, of the major streams of American Judaism, the Conservative movement is the one with the largest gap between bima and pew.
Where Conservative rabbis often resemble Modern Orthodox ones in their personal ritual observance — Shabbat, kashrut and so on — the movement's rank and file tend to behave more like their peers at Reform congregations.
And while the movement's national voices, many of which come from New York — the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism — hold fast to traditional norms, their mandates are often respectfully ignored by the nation's Conservative congregants.
So it should come as no surprise that when it comes to intermarriage, the Conservative movement is ambivalent if not outright schizophrenic. Its rabbis are forbidden even from being guests at interfaith weddings, let alone officiating at them. On the other hand, well aware that most Conservative synagogue members (not to mention the rabbis themselves) have many intermarried friends and family members — and that intermarried families will soon outnumber in-married ones in the larger Jewish community — most Conservative rabbis seek to welcome intermarried couples after the wedding.
Two books out this year highlight the movement's split personality: "The Observant Life," a compendium of "Conservative Jewish wisdom" published in April by the Rabbinical Assembly, and "Intermarriage: Concepts and Strategies for Families and Synagogue Leaders," to be released later this month by the movement's Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs.
"The Observant Jewish Life" addresses a range of contemporary topics, each chapter penned by a Conservative rabbi. It is scholarly and just a bit forbidding, with nary a picture adorning its more than 900 pages, save for the stern dust-jacket portraits of its editors — two middle-aged male rabbis from Nassau County. When it comes to intermarriage, the book cites a range of opinions; however, it clings to the view that intermarriage should be discouraged, even if it cannot be prevented.
"Concepts and Strategies," by contrast, starts from the assumption that, in the words of journalist (and Conservative synagogue member) Jeffrey Goldberg, "The war against intermarriage is over and intermarriage won." Goldberg is quoted in the book's preface, by Harvey Braunstein and Stephen Lachter, the founding lay leaders of FJMC's Keruv [outreach] Initiative. Braunstein and Lachter argue that "our Conservative movement has not moved forward quickly enough and is now faced with a critical need to adapt to the changing world or become irrelevant."
In essays written by Conservative rabbis, lay leaders and some voices from outside (although not to the right of) the movement, "Concepts and Strategies" (107 pages) offers suggestions ranging from "shifting the conversation from marrying Jewish to raising Jewish children," to explicitly welcoming interfaith families on synagogue websites and publications, to offering alternative aufruf ceremonies for interfaith newlyweds and a "non-Jewish gentleman's drinking club" to enable supportive gentile husbands to bond with the rabbi.
Meanwhile, the RA's "The Observant Life" — with chapters by more than 30 rabbis, many of them from the New York area (only one rabbi, RA Law Committee Chair and American Jewish University Rector Rabbi Elliot Dorff, appears in both books) — urges a more cautious tightrope walk. Membership, notes Rabbi Craig T. Scheff (Orangetown Jewish Center in Rockland County) in a chapter on "synagogue life," should be "restricted to the Jewish spouse," while at the same time, the non-Jewish spouse should be "welcomed warmly and made to feel like part of the larger synagogue community."
Elsewhere in the volume, contributors voice their opposition to intermarriage, while at the same time discouraging people from antagonizing the intermarried. In a chapter on marriage, Rabbi David J. Fine (Temple Israel in Ridgewood, N.J.) writes that "studies have shown conclusively that intermarried couples overwhelmingly do not raise Jewishly committed children," and notes that "Conservative Judaism endorses the ancient Jewish prohibition of intermarriage."
Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky (Manhattan's Ansche Chesed) writes that "we must lovingly invite" interfaith families that maintain a strong commitment to Judaism "into our communities and not ignore them, but their example does not negate the overwhelming evidence that intermarriage correlates with weak Jewish commitment."
Rabbi Scheff cites papers and responsa from the 1960s through 1980s forbidding intermarried Jews from leadership roles, key staff positions or "special honors" at synagogue, but notes that in recent years "dissenting views" have been heard. "Today most synagogues value above all other concerns the need and wish to draw all Jews to synagogue life without subjecting an individual's desire to serve the community to harsh or exclusionary standards," he writes.
As for hot-button issues like non-Jewish spouses participating in lifecycle rituals or synagogue newsletters acknowledging intermarriages, Rabbi Scheff writes that Conservative opinion on the former "ranges from absolute permission of such involvement to absolute prohibition," while practices on the latter "vary from synagogue to synagogue."
A survey conducted recently by the FJMC confirms the diversity on these hot-button matters — and finds that, in yet another indicator of Conservative ambivalence vis-à-vis intermarriage, even congregations that are inclusive and flexible on ritual matters do not advertise this fact in their newsletters and websites.
The survey got 100 Conservative synagogues to report whether they allow non-Jewish spouses on the bima during b'nai mitzvah and baby-naming ceremonies — an issue that, FJMC Executive Director Rabbi Charles Simon says, has been something of an obsession in Conservative circles, since it is not dictated by the movement or Jewish law and is left to the rabbi's discretion.
The FJMC found that the majority of congregations are relatively lenient about allowing non-Jewish spouses to stand on the bima: during a child's bar/bat mitzvah, 79 percent allowed the non-Jewish spouse to stand next to the Jewish spouse on the bima during an aliyah, 59 percent permitted both parents to stand on the bima during the bestowing of a blessing and 52 percent had both parents participate in their child's tallit ceremony on the bima. And for baby-naming ceremonies, "congregations were much more liberal," Rabbi Simon writes, adding that "79 of the 86 congregations that responded to this question permitted babies to be named in a ceremony that involved both parents standing on the bima."
"Almost all of the congregations are more welcoming to the non-Jewish spouse and intermarrieds when it comes to bima choreography than they communicate through their websites," Rabbi Simon notes in an article (not in the book) about the survey.
Studying the websites of the 100 responding congregations, Rabbi Simon discovered "the significant omission of the word 'intermarried' on a majority of the congregational websites and the lack of a description of how intermarrieds are welcomed and perhaps most importantly, what the congregation offers an intermarried family that wishes to create a Jewish home..." And the findings are consistent with analyses he's done of other Conservative congregational websites.
"People don't realize they have to walk the walk and talk the talk in publications, including the website," Rabbi Simon told The Jewish Week, noting that many potential members visit a synagogue website before deciding whether or not to visit it in real life.
"There should be a whole section [on the synagogue website] that explains what you can expect if you're intermarried or not Jewish," he said. "And it shouldn't be done in a legal format — you don't want it to say the rabbi will be available for counseling but you're not allowed on the bima. It has to be warm, embracing, inclusive language: we value you, we want to support you in your journey." Or, we think we do, but we're not entirely sure.
Julie Wiener writes "In the Mix," a Jewish Week blog about intermarriage where part of this essay appeared recently in a somewhat different form. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
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Conservative Jews do not immerse them selves in Torah study.
The only thing that scares me more than the review of the "The Observant Life" is the tone of some of the comments on the article. People fall in love, sometimes to Jews and sometimes not. It is the duty of our congregations to make all feel welcome and comfortable, encourage the keeping of Jewish homes and the raising of Jewish children. Those of you spending your time arguing over "who is a Jew" are missing the opportunity to welcome non-Jews into our fold and help them to raise the next generation of Jews.
The purpose of a movement is to enable people to fulfill a mutual shared ideology. If it cannot, it should cease to exist. Since the data on the destructive impact of intermarriage is pretty compelling, there cannot be any justification for providing public acknowledgement or recognition to intermarried families. There must be some red lines beyond which one ceases to be a Conservative Jew. If the cost is the loss of dues paying members, so be it. The alternative is to conclude that whatever these congregations do may be wonderful, necessary and even enriching, but it is not Conservative Judaism.
It is sridiculous to say no one in the Conservative movement cares about intermarriage. Many of us do- and many caredeedply about their children marrying Jews.
When an intermarried person says the children wil lbe raised Jewish, most have no idea of what that means and the statistics show most of those kids will not be Jewishly affiliated or Jewish in some sense. Ther are some who do and do a terrific job with their kids, but most do not.
Also more observance and commitment makes smore "Jewish" kids and day schools and Jewish camps produce resuslts. A large part of intermarriage is our fault-- failure to have Jewish homes and to educate our kids beyond Bar?Bt Mitzvah.
What this article does not simply state is that intermarriage is a primary reason for the departure of thousands of Jews from the Conservative tent. My wife and I are part of that exodus. Our son is married to a non-Jewish woman, and the children will be raised in a Reform environment. Our daughter-in-law is terrific. Her parents are active in their Catholic community. But our daughter-in-law is not. Our son has made it clear that the possibility of conversion by his wife is not going to happen. However, she is supportive of her children being raised Jewish. Which do I support more--the Conservative movement or our family? The latter is our clear answer.
"of her children being raised Jewish". By Halacha- Jewish Law, her children are not Jewish. There is no point in raising non Jews to practice Judaism. Furthermore, blurring the boundaries between Jew and non-Jew, further divides the Jewish people. Whereas 50years ago, an Orthodox Jew could marry a non Othodox Jew, secure in the knowledge that the potential spouse was really Jewish. Now because of the blurring of Jewish identity, marrying a person from a non Orthodox background,is almost impossible, as no one knows if the person is Jewish.
Intermarriage is a natural outcome of the conservative movement's sorry and self destructive efforts at cultural assimilation. Its refusal to take a stand would lead one to think that in order to pay the bills, they'll accommodate anyone,(and they do ultimately) principles be damned . The joke is on them. Reform does it better, and probably more honestly.It reminds me of the story of the ,unobservant, "cultural" Jewish parents who are heartbroken when their son brings home a shiksa....what did they expect?
Don't forget - we're talking here about books not real world policies. In the real world, no one in the Conservative movement gives a flip about intermarriage and very few in the rabbinate are willing to take a stand on it. They pay lip service to the idea of fighting it but there's no real support for it in the movement. Remember priority #1 is to fill the pews. All else is secondary.
The Federation of Jewish Men's Club's new book of essay's "Intermarriage: Concepts and Strategies" provides an in depth look at Intermarriage and suggests methods for synagogue leaders to make their Masorti community more welcoming.
The book is available at modest cost on both Kindle at www.amazon.com and Nook at www.barnesandnoble.com as well as in paperback.
You can find out more about the FJMC's Keruv Initiative on our website at www.fjmc.org


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Katice Williams scored all 15 of her points after halftime as Laney (29-1) rallied and advanced to the Class AA state semifinals.
The Lady Wildcats controlled the glass in key moments and forced turnovers late as they held the Lady Bulldogs without a point in the extra period.
"The kids were relentless," Lady Wildcats coach Otis Smart said with a smile.