text:
" Type: Green Tea "
Whilst working in a tea and coffee specialist store we sold Green tea and I was pretty consistent in making sure I drunk this all day along hoping some of the many benefits might work one day.
Bear with me, this is a true story.
A Japanese lady came up to us and put down six box of leaf tea, we packed them and then obviously charged her the amount due. She kindly said 'I am a pensioner. I'd like the pensioner discount' which is what we offered on our products.
I explained she needed to be at least 65 [at the time] she, to me and another member of staff was not eligible.
She politely laughed behind her hand very sweetly and said I am pensioner age. I disagreed, she, no word of a lie, looked 49 at the latest.
She asked me what age I thought she was and told me to be honest, so I said 49. Hoping she would be mad instead she turned round and said I'd made her day!
How come? I asked.
I am 72 years old!
I gasp, my assistant nearly fainted and she laughed with such happiness.
There began a long tale from her homeland, what her mother and grandmother taught, which was exquisite to listen to and then she told us that 'you silly westerners always brew this wrong.' So here apparently is the magic formula!
You brew in a bowl or small coffee sized mug a pinch or measured teaspoon of green tea LEAVES, no bags, LEAVES.
Leave this to stew, not brew lightly for...wait for it...3 hours!! Do this 3 x a day.
The green tea needs to be cold and bitter, very strong not this week tea you have, pointing to my mug which I became embarrassed about.
This is the best way to drink the tea and hold back the years. She looked stunning and plus she said mainly due she believes to the green tea rarely went to the doctor for ailments because she didn't have any. Of course, she talked about dietary differences but overall she swears by green tea.
Of course, this was difficult to drink at such a high strength but if it's going to beat the wrinkles etc why not?
I have tried to stick to this formula, I'll get back to you in fifty years!
Sometimes referred to as "the closest thing in existence to the elixir of life", green tea is a beverage that many of us drink for its health benefits alone. I used to dislike the taste of green tea, but made myself drink it as a break from my usual highly caffeinated diet of regular tea and coffee. Nowadays I don't mind green tea's flavour, and usually have at least one cup a day. Scientists have pointed out that a compound found in green teas can inhibit the development of cancer cells and also lower cholesterol.
Originating in China, green tea comes from the same plant as regular black tea; the good 'ol Camellia sinensis - the difference is the fact that green tea goes through minimal oxidation during processing. There are hundreds and hundreds of green tea varieties available to buy - although the most common ones you'll see in the UK are the big-branded (Twinings Green, PG Tips Green) low grade teas sold in bag form. The healthiest green tea is the purest, and in the Far East buyers are willing to pay extraordinary amounts (literally hundreds of pounds) per kilo for the privilege of obtaining an especially pure batch.
Although the aficionados will tell you that drinking loose pure green tea is the way to go, my limited palate means i'm more than happy to use the supermarket's simple bagged offerings. My favourite green tea has to be the Clipper variety which has a nicely balanced flavour, is fairtrade certified, and comes in unbleached bags. Clipper's fifty tea bag pack can be picked up for £1.79 from Tesco, which I would argue is a reasonable price to pay.
I usually brew green tea for around three minutes; anymore and the taste can become too strong and a little overpowering - I also add a touch of cold water so I can drink it straight away. They said that the longer you leave green tea after brewing, the less healthy it becomes - so the quicker you get it into your mouth the better! It's also claimed that the water you use to brew your green tea should between eighty and eighty-five degrees centigrade - so wait a while after your kettle has boiled before you pour the water into your cup. I drink green tea unsweetened - sure, a touch of sugar or honey can make the drink more palatable for those who don't like the stuff, but it seems pointless to negate the beverage's healthy credentials with a big spoonful of calories.
Green tea is undoubtedly an acquired taste - and even though I've been drinking green for years, I still don't fully appreciate its qualities. What I can say is that I find it to be a relaxing beverage, which feels like it's doing you good even if it is a placebo effect. If you've tried green tea and really don't like it, you can buy it blended with a range of fruits - Twinings Green Tea with Mango (£1.26 for 20 bags) is certainly worth investigating, and Tetley's Blueberry Green Tea (£1.79 for 50 bags) is similarly appealing. At the end of the day, green tea is a drink which I would recommend to anyone - the big downside?.... well apart from the flavour, it's not especially good for dunking biscuits into :(
I have been drinking green tea for many years, and have tried many different blends over that period of time. I mainly drink green tea for the health benefits, but I also enjoy the taste. There are many green teas out on the market, and most of them have very different tastes. I try to stay away from the tea bags because I prefer loose leaf tea, as I believe that it has more flavor and freshness.
Green tea is something that can be enjoyed hot or iced. Most people used regular tea to brew their iced tea, but by using green tea, you get a lighter and more calming flavor, good to quench your thirst on those hot summer days.
Green tea is becoming more popular in the tea industry. A few years back, all you could find was regular green tea, but now I have seen many tea companies put flavored green teas. Some of the popular ones are lemon, cranberry, and pomegranate.
Twinnings and Celestial Seasonings make excellent green tea blends for being bagged tea. If you haven't ever tried green tea, expect a lighter taste than you are used to. The subtle but complex taste is what makes green tea great. Give it a try!
It is said that tea is the second most popular drink after water. The tea plant or Camellia sinensis (camillia taken from the Latin name of Rev. Georg Kamel S.J. a Czech born botanist and sinensis which means chinese in Latin)
The Camillia sinensis is native to mainland South and Southeast Asia, although today it is grown across the world in tropical and subtropical regions.
It has such a wide variety of uses from medicinal to just enjoyment of a good beverage.
The leaves have been used in Chinese medicine to treat various ailments from asthma to coronary heart disease and today is sold to us as a drink which is high in antioxidants. Green Tea, in particular has been claimed to aid dieters because it apparently speeds up the metabolism without speeding up the heart rate. A common side effect of some weight loss suplements. Speeding up the metabolism is also thought to reduce your cholesterol. Green Tea is also said to aid skincare, especially the treatment of acne. Although most of the claims are still just claims Green tea is refreshing to drink, can be drunk without milk for those that are intolerant and if only half the claims actually prove true is still a very healthy option
Made from the leaves of Camellia Sinesis, a plant native in South Asia, tea is the most consumed drink on our planet, after water. There are several types of tea that one can find all over the world today; the most popular include oolong tea, black tea, herbal tea and green tea. Green tea has become very popular in the past years, mainly due to its long-purported health benefits. In this review I will briefly discuss the major health benefits of drinking green tea, how I personally make green tea and product suggestions.
Green tea has been consumed in Asia for thousands of years. It has also been used in folk medicine to clean and help heal wounds and to ease the effects of a hangover (which many of us quite reluctantly know well!). Today, thanks to globalization, it seems that we're catching up on discovering the healthy benefits of green tea consumption! Green tea is very rich in antioxidants, especially in polyphenols and catechins. Scientific research has provided evidence that green tea drinking helps to reduce the risk of esophageal cancer. It also helps to improve the ratio between good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL). New research is also proving that green tea can help to burn fat (yeahh!) and prevent tooth decay due to its fluoride content. There are many more reported health benefits; however, it is impossible to include them all here. A word of advice that I give you is not to believe everything that you read on the Internet as it may be false information or even make-belief for marketing purposes.
Unfortunately, a lot of people do not drink green tea because they either did not like its taste or else fear that they won't enjoy drinking it. Personally, I find that green tea tastes remotely of grass, however, I managed to get used to its bitter taste, and after some time, you'll get used to it. You can really make a difference in your health by adding green tea to your diet, provided that, as all other things in life, you don't over-consume (two to three cups a day is considered enough by many). Moderation is the key to everything!
Personally, I prefer using green tea leaves, only using green teabags when I'm in a hurry. It doesn't take that long to brew a cup of green tea using leaves. All you need is a teapot and a tea strainer (they are very cheap nowadays). As soon as the kettle is boiling, take it off the burner and pour a little amount in the teapot and leave it one to two minutes so that the teapot gets warm. Empty the teapot, and then throw a teaspoon of green tea leaves - you have to experiment a bit, the stronger you like your tea, the more you have to throw as a general rule. Start with a small amount if you've never drank green tea before so that you would have the chance to get used to its taste. Pour the desired amount of boiled water in the teapot, and leave it brewing (with some regular teaspoon twirls) for around five to six minutes. Using the tea strainer, you can then proceed to pour into your mug. Excellent! I also find that re-brewing the same tea leaves does not alter the taste too much, provided that not a lot of time has passed since you've made tea! This also applies to teabags as well. As regards caffeine content, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee and other types of tea, and it is best to check with your GP if you can't take any caffeine or need to reduce caffeine intake.
I personally prefer and recommend Ahmad Tea London (http://www.ahmadtea.com) green tea leaves. As for teabags, I've tried Heath and Heather's green teabags, and I greatly recommend them. Green tea isn't that much expensive today, however, I recommend that you try different brands before settling for one.
To conclude, I'd recommend green tea to anyone interested in keeping themselves healthy and fit. If you manage to get used to its bitter taste (come on, its not that too difficult!) you'll be doing yourself a great favour and your body will thank you for this. A cup of green tea will certainly boost your body with the antioxidants found in it, and it may very well help to keep the doctor away!
The best tea in my opinion is green tea. It's amazing. The Chinese have been drinking it for centuries, knowing that it can provide hundreds of health benefits, and health and long-life are two results people of many cultures have enjoyed for centuries thanks to this miracle tea.
***Origins of Green Tea***
Green tea -according to Wiki- "was first used in China during the Song Dynasty, and brought to Japan by Myoan Eisai, a Japanese Buddhist priest".
***Benefits of Drinking Green Tea***
It can help with so many diseases/illnesses and problems.
It contains the largest amounts of potent health promoters called "polyphenols".
I've read other green tea reviews on Dooyoo which state that there is no known link between green tea and cancer prevention but the following information shows that green tea controls free radicals
(Taken from Green-tea-expert.com)
In 1987, Hasan Mukhtar, Ph.D., has presented his research on its efficacy as an anti carcinogen. He said that one probable reason is its chemo-preventive agent called polyphenols. These are well documented powerful antioxidants that help control the activity of free radicals. Free radicals are unstable compounds that can destroy cells and are implicated in a host of diseases including cancer.
Green tea is a natural source of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) an antioxidant that acts as an aid to fight disease. Research at the University of Kansas has shown that EGCG anti-oxidant is 100 times stronger than vitamin C, and 25 times better than vitamin E in protecting human body cells. EGCG it not only inhibits the growth of new cancer cells it also kills some of the existing cancer cells without harming the healthy ones.
~High Cholesterol~
Lowers "bad" cholesterol (known as LDL) and improves the ratio of "good" cholesterol (known as HDL).
~High blood pressure~
Lowers high blood pressure by repressing angiotensin II which causes
constriction of the blood vessels which cause high blood pressure
Improves symptoms
Green tea destroys free radicals that cause ageing- that's right green tea is the elixir of life! Well, kinda.
***Caffeine Content in Green Tea***
Green tea does contain caffeine but as it is a much lower amount it will not increase your heart rate the way normal tea and coffee does. It does speed up your metabolism however which is great news if you're trying to lose weight.
***Where to buy Green Tea***
I buy a box from a local Chinese supermarket, which is great as the tea bags are authentic and cheap. I usually get a box of 100 for less than £1.50.
***How to drink Green Tea***
I simply take a green tea teabag and pour boiling water over it with some sugar. I need more sugar for green tea than black as it is more bitter in taste. Some people use honey to sweeten their tea instead. The variety I use has a delicate flavour though and not as bitter or sharp as some green tea I have had in the past. As the writing on the front of the box that I buy is all in Chinese I don't have a clue what brand it is so sorry can't recommend it specifically (unless you care to venture into a Chinese supermarket and look for a green box...just be sure you pick up the box with tea bags on the front, otherwise you might end up with free-dried Labrador instead...)
The other way I drink it is to buy the tea leaves loose and brew it myself, using a technique my uncle taught me which completely prevents bitterness. Boil water in a saucepan with a crushed lychee and then drop in the tea leaves when the water is bubbling. Cover the pan with a lid and remove from the heat. Leave for a few minutes to let the leaves infuse with the water and then take out lychees using a spoon or use a tea-sieve and pour the liquid into a glass.
Milk is not used in either method.
***My Opinion***
Green tea may not taste as good as black tea but the health benefits are phenomenal. I haven't been drinking it regularly enough to proclaim specific benefits I've seen myself but enough research has proven green tea is amazing so Im confident it is a benefit.
I am also an ideal weight for my height anyway and have never had a problem with weight so am not the best person to testify to the weight-loss attributes of green tea. You may think it's all wasted on me then but I am ensuring -FROM THIS DAY FORWARD - that I drink it regularly as prevention is better than cure. I always knew it was good for you but busy lifestyle (and the temptation of black tea) has prevented me from being good...
I do sometimes miss normal tea when I have green tea instead and you cant dunk a digestive into green tea without an odd aftertaste (I imagine).
I strongly recommend that EVERYONE bar children drink at least one cup a day to protect against illnesses and to maintain a healthy digestive system. I think Chinese culture is amazing and we in the West would do well to take a (green tea) leaf out of their book and enjoy the benefits of natural medicine ourselves.
(c) TheWriter 2009
Now I am one of these people who loves green tea.
I first tried it a few years ago as I heard it was a healthy alternative to english breakfast tea and had heard that it had lots of benefits such as lowering your metabolism.
When I first tried this, I thought, well it isn't as nice as normal tea. But I thought, I'm going to keep drinking it now that I've bought the pack and I'm sure I will learn to love it.
And that is what happened. I kept drinking it and then tried some normal tea again and didn't like it with milk and just found green tea more refreshing!
Now I will only drink green tea, never have normal tea! It's more refreshing than normal tea and I never leave the tea bag in too long as the flavour can become too strong. My friends, family and boyfriend have all tried it and they seem to like it too, however they said that it doesn't have much of a taste.
As for speeding up my metabolism, I'm really not sure. I have been drinking this tea for about 3 years now and I do eat an awful lot and don't put on much weight, so maybe it has made my metabolism faster. But that could just be my body!
I would definately recommend people to try this, and if after the first sip you don't like it an awful lot then just try some more and after say 4 cups you might actually like it! It's worth a try!
Oh, one more thing to add, I've tried both Clipper Green Tea and Morrison's own and there is hardly any difference (apart from the price!)
A good quality green tea should be a natural and organic blend that produces a light fresh taste and appears as a light golden colour. Of course this is not just a tea about flavour. Green tea is marketed as having extra health benefits in comparison to normal tea.
Although there is still some debate between 'experts' as to how much extra benefit there is in green tea, it is argued that green tea is a natural source of antioxidants, the chemical compounds that inhibit oxidation and thwart free radicals. It is said to be a strong source of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) an antioxidant that acts as an aid to fight disease and general wear and tear. It essentially protects cells & DNA from damage. Related to this are several studies linking green tea to cancer prevention. Although this would seem to make sense there is no definite proof of this. For a long time many have argued that green tea is no more beneficial than your average cup of PG Tips, but as many studies continually show, there do seem to be a number of health benefits gained from drinking green tea.
It should be noted that like coffee and black tea, green tea contains caffeine. Although there is less caffeine contained in green tea, there is said to be a sufficient amount in order to provide an energy boost. Apparently it is this lower caffeine content that allows green tea to increase your metabolism without increasing your heart rate. As such, drinking green tea is unlikely to induce the twitchy, anxious after-effects that other caffeinated beverages may cause. The increase in metabolism is one reason why green tea is said to aid those trying to lose weight. A reduction in cholesterol levels is supposedly a further added benefit from green tea consumption.
The preparation of green tea is straight forward: drop a tea bag in a mug and add freshly boiled water. It should be noted however, not to over-brew the tea. The tea bag shouldn't be left in for much longer than two minutes as this can produce a very bitterly flavoured tea. In general the tea should be drunk in isolation. Adding milk is definitely not recommended. However, the slightly bitter flavour induces some people to add honey or sugar. Alternatively you can add other flavours and there are a number of infusion flavoured green teas available such as Twinings green tea flavoured tea bags. A box of Twinings green tea selection for example will contain Jasmine, Pear and Apple, Pineapple and Grapefruit, and Orange and Lotus Flower.
For many green tea remains an acquired taste. It's certainly taken me a while to get use to it, but I cannot deny that it definitely does something beneficial to the digestive system. From my experience it seems to stimulate hunger. I recommend Twinings Pure Green Tea for its health benefits as I truly do always feel cleansed after a cup of Pure Green and mean cha, it also seems to leave my mind more restful and focused.
I have recently been having a try at different types of green teas, the main reason for this is that I drink a lot of tea and have been reading how some green teas are meant to be really good for you in different ways so I figured well if I am going to be pouring gallons of tea down my throat it might as well be of a kind that can do me some good.
There are green teas out there that claim to be able to help lower your chance of getting cardiovascular disease, stabilize diabetes, fight certain kinds of cancer and much, much more. I am not sure how much of this I actually believe but knowing that too much normal tea is not that good for you and hearing that green teas can be I had to give them a go.
I have to say that of the three or four I have tried so far there is not one that I could consider keeping drinking; the taste is very strong but also very odd. You can taste that it is tea you are drinking but there is a very strong hint of herb or even vegetation in the drink too and it is not nice at all.
It is unbelievable how many types of green tea there are out there and also how many other uses there is for it other than drinking. I have heard it used for footbaths (helping to prevent hard skin), using the leafs in your cats litter tray to keep it smelling fresh, treating sun burn and also pouring the left over tea from your cup on your plants is meant to be good for them.
I am fine with trying green tea for all these things and more but I doubt I will be drinking any more of the stuff, I will have to take my chance with the rest of you when it comes to cancer and cardiovascular disease and go back to enjoying my Tetley`s cuupa`s!
There are many acknowledged benefits of green tea, and for over 5000 years these benefits of green tea have been studied, recorded, and proved effective.
Green tea fights bacteria, prevents mutation of bacteria, and the antioxidant properties of green tea help reduce harmful chemicals in the body.
The primary benefits of green tea come from its high level of antioxidants. Antioxidants help protect the body from potentially harmful substances called 'free-radicals', These free-radicals which are naturally produced by the body can damage tissue, cells, and genes.
Key Benefits of Green Tea
Green tea refreshes the body
Green tea produces a natural energizing effect, it stimulates the body
Green tea controls high blood pressure
The catechins in green tea hinder the action of angiotensin, a chemical in the blood stream which is known to cause high blood pressure.
Green tea protects against heart disease
Green tea reduces your overall cholesterol levels by lowering 'bad' cholesterol levels, while at the same time increasing 'good' cholesterol.
Green tea may help prevent cancer
Many people consider that green tea is an effective anti-cancer drink because it contains the most potent anti-oxidant ever discovered. This anti-oxidant is called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
The benefits of green tea come from it's containing EGCG, EGCG works by inhibiting the growth of an enzyme that helps to promote cancer growth. In a test at the National Cancer Center Research Institute in Tokyo, Japan researchers were able to reduce the number of tumours using EGCG by 73%.
Research at the University of Kansas has shown that EGCG anti-oxidant is 100 times stronger than vitamin C, and 25 times better than vitamin E in protecting human body cells.
Surveys of Asian tea drinkers continue to show that drinking between four and six cups of green tea each day have a reduced chance of developing breast, esophagus, liver, lung, and skin cancers, compared to those who never, or rarely drink green tea.
Green tea helps to manage proper body weight
Green tea promotes the burning of body fats by causing carbohydrates to be released slowly over time, this prevents sharp increases in blood-insulin levels.
Green tea delays ageing
Drinking sufficient quantities of green tea every day will help to lengthen your life.
I have been drinking green tea for about 5 years now, and find the health benefits fantastic. Green tea is full of antioxidants, which help to protect the body from damage caused by free radicals. I have tried numerous green teas in my time, and have found this one to be far and away the best. It has a smooth, gentle taste, is very refreshing - due perhaps to the natural lemon pieces in the tea-bags, and is not at all overpowering. It also TASTES the same as it smells, very delicate and nice. A lot of herbal teas smell amazing, then you take a sip and they taste just like fuzzy water, but this tea is lovely.
The tea comes in white boxes of 20, with the Jacksons logo on the front, the name (Green Tea) in green script, and 2 paintings of a lemon. Each teabag is wrapped in a small sachet, which makes it easy to carry in your handbag or packed lunch box if you're going to take some to work. The bag has a string, and a small paper flap at the end of the string for you to hang over the side of your cup or mug.
To enjoy this tea, I leave the tea-bag in the cup with just-boiled water, and let it infuse for about a minute. I find I can get 2/3 cups of tea from one tea bag. I sweeten my tea with 1/2 teaspoon of honey, though it tastes good without sweetener too. As an additional treat, I sometimes add a slice of lemon for a couple of minutes to give it a bit of a kick. This is particularly good first thing in the morning to kick-start your metabolic rate.
There are no additives or preservatives in the teabags, and the boxes/labels are made from recycled card.
I can thoroughly recommend Jacksons Green Tea to everyone, for the taste, the ease of use, and for the health benefits.
The number to call to find your nearest stockist:
0800 328 5971
(If you are in Newcastle, the Co-op Food Stores by The Gate, and Fenwicks both stock this tea.)
The web address is:
and the website is well worth a look, even if you don't like tea - its beautiful - unlike any website I've ever seen!
Thankyou for reading
Kate x
Im still on this health kick of mine, and this must be the longest i have ever stuck to a New Years Resolution in my lifetime. I am still on the Kellogs special K diet and only have 1 week left to go and then i will switch to a low carbs diet because the results have had an amazing impact - but thats another review. My health kick has brought me to Green Tea and in particular to Jacksons of Piccadilly and their own brand of Green Tea. ***Origins*** Pure Green Tea originates from a province in China called Zhejiang (i had to look this spelling up) and Green Tea and its originc can be traced back to ancient China, where it is grown. The history of ancient China claims that Green Tea was one of the first teas ever drunk and here in Britain we can trace the origns of Green Tea as far back as the 17th Century. ***Is it Green*** Green Tea is really Green, due to the way in which the tea leaf is preserved, the original colour of the tea leaf remains when the tea is made using hot water. Although dont be put off already it isn't a mushy pea colour green, it is a light tea green colour which looks very fresh. ***What is Green Tea and why should i drink it*** Green Tea is naturally rich in antioxidants which im told help protect the body from damage caused by harmful free radicals (see packet for explanation). Green Tea is a good alternative to those awful smelling herbal teas which people insist on drinking. It is Low in calories (less than 5 calories per 100ml) which means you wont get fat by drinking it, and it fits alongside most calorie controlled diets nicely. Being naturally low in caffeine this stuff wont keep you awake at night like 'normal' tea which is actually higher in caffine than coffee. *** How do i make it *** Like any other tea drink, this requires hot water, a mug and a spoon. Within a box of Jackson'
;s Pure Green Tea, there are 20 individually wrapped sachet's which include one tea bag. Once unwrapped you will notice that the tea bag is on a string to make it easier to use. Add the hot water and leave the water to infuse the tea bag for apporximately 2-3 minutes and then squeeze excess water from the tea bag. This tea doesnt need milk adding to it and i have never added anything to it at all, if you have a sweet tooth then sugar can be added. ***The smell*** One thing you will notice about this Green Tea is that there is an instant refreshing aroma when you add hot water to it. If you have ever had Chinese Tea in any Chinese restaurant then the aroma is remarkably similar but tastes just as good. *** Extra ingedients*** Now before someone screams at me that i cant add the list of ingedients, fear not the only ingredient is Green Tea. However, if you are willing to add other ingredients to your cuppa then it is suggested to use a slice of Lemon, orange or grapefruit and if you are really daring, to try adding fresh ginger (i wont because im allergic to it) ***The cost *** Okay for those of you who like your bagain basement tea bags then dont read anymore. These tea's are not cheap and are considerably more expensive than your average box of PG Tips or Yorkshire Tea. Each box, which contains 20 individually wrapped tea bags costs £1.19 in Tesco and Safeway and £1.20 in Sainsbury's. Prices may vary around the country or you may be lucky like i was and get them on a BOGOFF. ***Where can i get them*** Having not been put off by the price, as i have already mentioned, these tea's are avaliable in most supermarket stores and i guess they are also avaliable in most health stores and chinese herbal tea shops if you have them. ***My own Opinion*** I totally love this tea. I dont drink it all the time, so dont think you ar
e soon going to be bankrupt over a box of tea bags because your not. I drink after my lunch and then my dinner in the evening because a Chinese friend of mine told me it was good for the digestion system. To be honest i have never had any problems with digesting food but am quite prepared to believe that it is the best thing i can drink after eating. ***Extra Information*** Jacksons of Piccadilly do have a website and they can be found at www.jacksons0of-piccadilly.com To find your nearest retailer if you dont have the internet (which obviously you do) then feel free to telephone them on 0800 328 5971 and ask them where your nearest store is. Its worth nothing that they are open Mon-Fri from 9.30am-4.30pm only. Always check the *use by* date.
I enjoy trying different types of herbal teas and recently I was given a box of Korean green tea bags and Japanese green tea leaves as a gift from my son's girlfriend; green tea actually comes from the same tea plant as the more common black tea. This tea plant, called Camellia Sinensis, is a fragrant evergreen shrub found in abundance in China and India. The differences in taste and aroma between black tea and green tea are created due to the way the leaves from the tea plant are processed. Leaves for black tea are fermented and then fired black in an oven, the leaves used to make green tea are steamed and dried and this process gives green tea a lighter, grassier taste. Many people believe that through regularly drinking green tea you are less likely to develop certain types of cancers such as bladder, pancreatic and breast cancer however research is still ongoing so we can not be sure if green tea really does help reduce the risk of cancer. Green tea has a high quantity of antioxidants called polyphenols and these antioxidants do help protect skin cells from oxidation, which is a chemical reaction that can lead to cancer and the hardened arteries that cause heart disease. Both black and green tea have the same amount of antioxidants but because of the way the leaves are processed green tea has twice the amount of one antioxidant called EGCG, tests carried out in America show that this antioxidant is twenty-five times more effective than natural vitamin E at helping cells resist the damage caused by oxidation and helping damaged cells repair themselves. The antioxidants found in green tea are also said to help improve dental health, help combat hair loss, reduce cholesterol levels and strengthen capillaries, again none of these claims are proven fact and tests are still ongoing in the western world but the Chinese, Korean and Japanese have believed in the benefits of green tea for centuries. The properties found in green tea act as
a natural diuretic and all warm drinks can help you breathe easier if you are slightly congested because of the steam and green tea is no exception to this, it is believed drinking green tea can help fight off flu symptoms, other viral diseases and prevent infection. Green tea also contains caffeine just as black tea does, the caffeine is called theophylline and this is a mild stimulant that helps dilate the bronchial tubes in the lungs; theophylline is also an ingredient in many drugs used by asthma sufferers but having said that drinking green tea will not help if you are having an asthma attack, the caffeine content also helps you focus and stimulates the mind. A very effective soothing lotion can be made from green tea, place a tea bag or teaspoon of leaves in a tea pot and add about half a pint of boiling water, leave the tea to go cold and then pour into a sterilized bottle and store in the fridge. The cold tea acts as an astringent and antibacterial solution and can be used as a mouth wash to combat ulcers and bad breath, a refreshing anti-fungal foot soak, use a cotton wool pad soaked in the solution to treat rashes, grazes and minor cuts or as a compress for puffy, tired eyes, soak a face cloth in the solution to sooth sunburn. If you make more green tea than required give your houseplants a drink and if you keep the tealeaves and dry them out they make a great deodorizer once crushed and sprinkled inside shoes, this also helps prevent fungal infections. Since being given the Korean and Japanese green teas as a gift I have bought a box of Tetley green tea bags, you can buy them from most supermarket chains and they cost around £2 for a box of forty, the box I bought also had ten bags free; the tea bags have a drawstring top which is very convenient when making tea in the cup. Other brands of green tea I have noticed in supermarkets include Twinings and Typhoo. Green tea is best drunk without milk allowing the tea to in
fuse for about four or five minutes. I found very little difference between the taste and colour of the Korean and Tetley tea bags they were both a very light, uplifting drink with an aroma of freshly cut grass, fairly clear in colour and a really pleasant cup of tea, the Japanese green tealeaves made a cup of transparent pea-green tea which was both stronger in flavour and aroma but still very palatable.
Fancy a cuppa? "Yes please" you say, expecting a warming dark brew with a splash of milk, maybe a spoonful of sugar or four. Instead, you are presented with a mug of milk-less liquid, a putrid-green insipid looking concoction so unfamiliar and featureless that you are inclined to throw it over your host. The mug looks more attractive than its contents. You think, 'you don't want me to drink this do you? What, are you mad?' Most of us have heard of green tea. It's been in health news for years and there have been numerous articles written on its properties and benefits. But still most of us haven't bought any, or even tasted it just to prove to ourselves that it really isn't nice and that only barmy people drink it. The fact is of the 2.5 million tons of dried tea produced each year, only 20 percent is green tea. In other words, nearly four times as much black tea is produced and consumed as compared to green tea. Why? What is the big thing against it? IT'S..IT'S..GREEN!! Is it because it's green? Come on now; admit it - 'green' is not the most alluring colour when it comes to anything that goes in our mouths (although I can think of worse). Green conjures up certain images in our minds that for some of us equal unpleasant and tasteless. It must be a terrible thing to have hated your greens as a child, still do as an adult, only to be presented with yet another green thing that you 'really ought to have'. And more to the point, this is a drink. This can't be consumed in a bite like a hateful sprout and then quickly recovered from. It has to be sipped, swallowed and digested, and you have to make the usual tea-conversation whilst peering painfully over your mug. You can't escape. You've made your drink and now you have to swallow it. It might take at least 5 minutes to get through, each minute made less enjoyable by the knowledge that there are more to come. No
no nooooo!! It's too awful a thing to consider. You are meant to enjoy it for crying out loud! What is going on with the world? Everything's sodding green nowadays. Green tea, like a thin cordial of runner beans, peas and spinach, simply cannot, will not be enjoyed by most of us. But it's not that painful in practice, only in the imagination. Remember, it may be green but it's not a dragon, nor a frog, snake, mould or algae. And it's not a bogey either. The Chinese have been drinking it for more than four thousand years and they're fine, as far as I know. In fact, it may help to know that green tea is from exactly the same tea plant as black tea, the differences being a result of processing methods.. Black tea is made by withering, rolling, fermenting, and drying the leaves. Green tea is made by steaming and drying. The leaves aren't permitted to ferment and oxidize as in black tea, thereby preserving many more nutrients - particularly the polyphenols (I have written more about these little rascals later on). THE REASON TO GO GREEN - (there's only one) As I sit here with my cup of green tea, I have the occasional sip whilst I pause for thought. Green is good I say. Mmmmm, nice and warm and HEALTHY. Yes, healthy. Here is the reason. Do you care about your health? Want to combat disease, lessen risks of cancer, cardiovascular disorders? Then here is your reason. The health grounds are the absolutely only reason I would advise you to drink green tea. Ok, it's nice and warm as I said above, but you can get nice and warm in so many other more enjoyable and indulgent ways. Remember, only drink green tea for health; any other reasons are sheer foolishness. MEET YOUR GREENS There are some cunning little scamps that lurk in green tea which kindly give us extraordinary health benefits. These are called polyphenols and there are loads of 'em. Green tea is absolutely drowning in th
em, begging some of them to leaf (forgive). Polyphenols have a strong taste, and as green tea has about double the polyphenol content of black tea, it also has a stronger flavour. This known, it is easy to understand that taste, rather than nutrient content, is credited for the higher demand for black tea than green tea. You may have heard of polyphenols more famously as flavonoids. They are everywhere in the world giving plants colour and taste. They are so hard at work to give us fabulous health benefits I feel kind of humble. I even have a picture of them in my mind with their little faces?no, let's leaf it there (sorry, can't help it). There are four main green tea polyphenols. Shall we meet them? They're very friendly. Firstly, the leader of the gang is Pierre (whom researchers call EGCG). 'Hi', says Pierre. He would like to tell you about how he and his chums fight cancer. "Well, wot it is, is this. We are all very powerful antioxidants. This means we fight our enemies called free radicals which we sometimes find in the human body when we are drunk. I mean, when we are consumed, not when we are inebriated. We also fight any tumours that we find. We do this by building a wall between the tumour and anything that wants to help the tumour grow, like hormones. So we sort of seal off the tumour from its friends so it dies 'cos it ain't happy any more. 1 out of 3 of you humans will get cancer so we'll try to help you out here. Some top-notch person studied us and he found out that we also slow down the growth of breast cancer cell lines. And someone else found out that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. Yep, we're pretty damn clever!" Thank you Pierre. Now we have the second member of the polyphenol family. She is a quiet, peace-loving girl called Odette. "Hi. My fa
vourite pastime is lowering cholesterol levels. Over a thousand Japanese men once drank three cups of us a day and we lowered their cholesterol significantly. It's all in a day's work really. Hard work, but worthwhile". Odette, you should have a medal for your effort and modesty. Here comes polyphenol number three. Put your hands together please for Lavinia. "Hello. I love doing what I do, particularly when we intrigue all those medical researchers. Years ago there was this thing called the 'French Paradox' when researchers were puzzled by the French having less heart disease than Americans, despite a fattier diet. They found the answer was red wine, which contains resveratrol, one of our fellow polyphenols that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. But we are even better than our fellows in red wine. In 1997, the University of Kansas determined that Pierre, the leader of our gang is twice as powerful as resveratrol. We are so powerful! And this may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers. (More hard work for us to mop up after?) Thank you Lavinia. And finally, the most mischievous of them all, the young Yves. "Eat my shorts!" Now Yves, behave yourself. You are in public now. "Hmmph". Silence. "Yves?" "Oh alright then. Give us the mike. Hi everyone, I am here to tell you of our other good deeds. But I ain't feeling so good at the moment so I can't be bothered to be funny or nothin' so I'm just gonna read you a list of stuff I had to learn at school. Here goes. We polyphenols have to: - Fight cardiovascular disease and heart disease (a worthy task) - Help to control high blood pressure (that's a very pressurising job) - Lower the blood s
ugar level (We, and other things in green tea, cause carbohydrates to be released slowly, preventing a sharp increases in blood-insulin levels, helping to prevent disorders like diabetes. We also promote the burning of fat. Anyone interested yet?!) - Suppress effects of ageing on the body (This is one of our most trying tasks) "That's the main stuff we do when you drink us. Can I go now?" Ok Yves, thank you for your time. We've met the magic polyphenols. Hopefully they've convinced you to drink green tea so now I can tell you how best to do that. The advice is to use water that's not too hot. After you have brought the kettle to a boil allow the water to cool for about 3 minutes. The water should be hot, but not boiling, about 79 to 87 degrees Centigrade. Steep this for 1-2 minutes, doing a little yoga while you are waiting. This is not necessary but I find it adds to the whole ambience of the occasion. Expert green tea brewers suggest not steeping for longer than 2 minutes or the tea will become overly astringent. However, I often leave mine for longer to get the full benefit, and I can bear the flavour. One good tip I can pass on is to reuse your tea bags to save money. I put mine on the kitchen top in a saucer to rest and use them again later on. Green tea is more expensive than black tea and therefore it makes sense to be as economical as possible. You can do this up to five times. Ordinary green tea will usually have lost most of its flavour after being brewed three times, but very good tea may be used to make four or five rounds WHAT SHOULD I BUY? Green tea is found everywhere nowadays, in supermarkets as well as health food shops. When I first bought it I tried natural green tea which, to be honest, was pretty unpleasant stuff. Pungent in the extreme! So I experimented with others until I found one I could keep down. The one I drink now is Jackson of Pic
cadily Green Tea with Mint which includes about 15% mint flavouring. Much more palatable. Twinings also do a good range, offering organic, lemon and grapefruit varieties. Not scrummy, but drinkable. Well, that's lot really. I am off to make myself another cuppa and to let Pierre, Odette, Lavinia and Yves in to rejuvenate my body. I shall let them roam, investigate and help repair any weird goings on. My little green friends are friends forever and green is here to stay. Fancy a cuppa now?
Tea to many is just an everyday drink; something to wash down a meal or relax with after a tiring day, but in reality it is much more than this. Tea is good for bones and teeth, and its vital chemical compounds have been found to fight against cancer, help stabilize diabetes and help prevent cardiovascular disease. It can even make your skin look healthier. You can drink it, medicate with it, cook with it, water your plants with it, and even keep your cat's litter tray smelling fresh and pleasant with it. The most beneficial and healthful tea though, is one which is barely processed and comes from the Camellia sinensis bush.......Green Tea. Tea is man's second most popular beverage after water, and one fifth of all tea drunk in the world is green tea. Today, there is not just one green tea, but hundreds, and many varieties with several grades of qualities. this group of choices is further enhanced by the changes, season to season, of the quality of teas. Like wine, a particular harvest may be spectacular one year and mediocre the next, but unlike wine, green tea has a very short life span and must be consumed quickly or it will lose colour, aroma and flavour. There is much more I could write here on history, countries of origin, types etc., but for most of us the most important thing is what it can do for us, so lets skip straight to the benefits. Studies of tea's value in maintaining good health have been conducted and reported in medical journals throughout the world. All of these studies agree on one point: Green tea is an inexpensive, healthy drink with possible long-range benefits, especially if taken daily throughout a lifetime. The studies suggest that green tea may help lower the risk of cancer, inhibit aging (I like that one), reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, help lower blood sugar levels, fight viral infections, and even prevent cavities, bad breath and gum disease. While drinking green tea will certainly cause
no harm, the best reason to drink it is because it does have time-tested benefits such as antioxidation of fats and possible anti-cancer properties. One cup does all disorders cure, With two your troubles will be fewer, Three to the bones more vigour give With four forever you will live, as young as on your day of birth, A true immemorial on the earth. Chinese Poet. Some articles written have indicated that green tea can be a protective, preventitive drink. It is well known that green tea contains enough flouride to help prevent tooth decay. It is also rich in polyphenols, which acts as antioxidants, as well as vitamins C and E and beta carotene. Japan is a country noted for its excessive cigarette smoking, but ironically has a relatively low lung-cancer rate, in fact smokers in Japan have a 45 per cent lower risk factor than say, America. It has also been found that typical consumption of green tea by the Japanese is four to five cups per day. The Japanese have also maintained for years the nutritional value and alkaline properties of green tea which are known to counteract the acids contained in fish and meat. The Japanese people also have lower rates of cancer of the liver, pancreas, breast and skin, and researchers believe green tea may play a large role in preventing these forms of cancer. The Japanese people also have a different diet from us, and this may also be a factor in the results, but reasearch is continuing world-wide on the properties of green tea. SOME OTHER USES FOR GREEN TEA. Green Tea Soother. This is an all-purpose astringent and antibacterial solution. Using spring water, brew up some green tea, end leave till cool. Strain, or remove tea bags and pour into a sterilized bottle and refrigerate. You now have your soother. Uses. Use as a mouthwash. An antifungal or refreshing foot bath. For minor cuts, grazes
or rashes, soak a cotton pad in the soother and apply directly on to the affected area for at least five minutes.This can be done up to four times daily. To sooth sunburn, soak a flannel in the solution and place over the area for about fifteen minutes. For puffy, red or tired eyes, soak cotton pads in the soother, squeeze out, and let the pads rest gently on your lids for about ten minutes. Repeat if necessary. OTHER USES. To keep shoes and feet fresh; allow spent leaves to dry, crush them and sprinkle in you socks or shoes. They not only deodorize, but help ward off fungal infections You can also use the spent, dried leaves in your cat's litter tray to help with odours and deter fleas. Leftover tea and leaves are also great for plants both indoor and out as it is rich in nitrogen. Like other teas, green tea in also a great dye, making white or cream fabrics a pastel sage. I could go on forever here, but I think you understand the versatility of green tea now, and some of its properties. It is also very easy to buy; some supermarkets now stock it, but if no joy there, your local healthfood shop will have it. It can be bought loose or in tea bags, and is relatively inexpensive. I personally drink it straight, but it is entirely up to the individual whether you want to add honey, sugar or milk. So the next time you go to a Chinese restaurant and see green tea, hopefully you won't see it as just something to wash down your chop suey with, but as a whole new adventure.
"The beverage green tea (Simplified Chinese: 绿茶; Traditional Chinese: 綠茶; Hanyu Pinyin: lǜchá) is a true tea (i.e., Camellia sinensis) that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea is popular in China, Morocco, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and the Middle East. Recently it has become more widespread in the West, where traditionally black tea is consumed."


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quirky + green = earth cadets
Grounded and responsible. An apt tagline for eco-committed company Earth Cadets, and yet somehow insanely midguided. Sure, the company's mission is "to provide every Earth Cadet with their own uniquely designed and hand screen printed tote bag." And sure the tote bags are hand-screen printed and made from 80% Ecotec™[Read more]

subset: commoncrawl


text: My name is Eric and I am a speed addict. I am also the proud owner of an Aspen White 2004 STi. I have had it since late August and have loved every minute ... Show moreof owning it. I had originally planned on not doing anything to the car other than mild bolt ons. That plan quickly changed. I have since installed a complete exhaust, aftermarket computer, a massive GReddy T-67 turbocharger, and a Turbo XS Front Mount Intercooler. Speed and power are like crack, once you've had some, you want more, and not the cheap shit either.My quarter mile time is old. The track is not open yet so I have not been able to update it. I have done a lot of work since the last time I ran it, and plan to do some more before the next time I run it. So if anyone doubts that I have as much power as I do because of my quarter mile time, you are wrong.This is how my STi started out when I first got it. Even with a few bolt ons it was fast, but still simple.This is it now. Not only is it a lot faster than it was a few months ago, but it looks a whole lot better too.I just put on some 19" x 8" Bronze G-Games. It took 3 1/2 months to get them here from Japan, but it was worth the wait. I have them wrapped in 225/35/19 Falkens. They make the car look a lot better. I was kind of in a pickle for a while because I sold the stock gold BBSs before I had anything to replace them with. The stock Brembo calipers are so big that I couldn't use any of my friends' rims while I waited because they were all a hair too close."When people look under your hood, you've got to have something to take their breff away." With that being said, my asfixiator is the massive GReddy T-67 turbocharger. This is how it looked like when it was mocked up outside of the car. We were like kids in a candy store and couldn't wait to see what it would look like.The engine bay on the 2004 STi is pretty much the same as the standard WRX. The only noticeable differences are the intake manifold and the stock intercooler. In addition to installing a T-67, I also have a GReddy Type R External Wastegate, a custom re-worked Turbo XS Hyperflow Front Mount Intercooler, GReddy Airinx intake, re-worked STi injectors to 815cc, oil catch can, Turbo XS RFL-H Blow Off Valve, Turbo XS High Performance Manual Boost Controller, a Tanabe/Sustec Strut Tower Bar, and a GT-Spec header and up-pipe. I also have a Walbro fuel pump to feed the large 815cc injectors.This is what the engine bay looked like before we started the installation.These pictures were taken during the install, I apologize for the ones that are slightly out of focus.After a few hours of polishing, the nasty looking GReddy intercooler pipes that came with the kit looked a lot better. While I was at it I also repolished all of the other intercooler pipes. I am planning on welding up a heat shield for the turbo's exhaust housing help prevent anything around it from getting melted. The yellow air filter will probably also be replaced with a blue one because the yellow doesn't match anything other than the oil cap, dipstick and all of the other reservoir caps.We recently got back from AMS in Chicago where I had a GReddy e-Manage installed prior to having it tuned on a dyno. I have 368 horse power to the wheels right now at around 17-18 psi, but will get more after I finish working on it. I can't boost any higher than that until I remove the fuel cut, which should allow me to up the boost to around 22-27 psi, maybe more. My friend also had his 2002 WRX with a Turbo XS Stage 4 tuned. He is pushing about 310 horse power to the wheels.As for the interior you can see the carbon fiber trim kit and my Autometer boost gauge that is mounted to the steering wheel. There is nothing that I would change about the interior of this car, unless it was to make it all carbon fiber. I am working with Seibon to get most of the interior pieces made out of carbon. It should look sweet as hell when it is all done and installed. I had the GReddy e-Manage installed in the glove box to make it easier for tuning.I am considering changing the tail lights out with some 2002 WRX lights so that I can put a C-Wings carbon fiber rear bumper on. I just added a Seibon carbon fiber trunk, which got rid of the heavy wing and also makes it look very nice. You can see the tip of the Turbo XS Titanium exhaust, it is as big and as loud as it looks. It is a full 3 inches all of the way back, which helps decrease the amount of back pressure and turbo lag. This is the end that everyone is going to see on the street and the strip, so they had better get to liking it.One of Seibon's new carbon fiber hoods also found its way to my doorstep. I am considering painting the mesh inserts so that they do not stand out as much. I might also stencil STi, in red, on the mesh in the scoop. Also on the "might do list" is clearing the headlights, and possibly painting them black. I am not sure if I want to run the risk of damaging them.I know that most people are too lazy to read and/or are just plain illiterate. To make it easier on me I have listed all of the major performance upgrades below to hopefully eliminate any stupid questions.- GReddy T-67 Turbocharger- GReddy Type R External Wastegate- GReddy e-Manage- GReddy Airinx Air Intake- STi injectors re-worked to 815cc- Walbro 255 lph Fuel Pump- Turbo XS / Hyperflow Front Mount Intercooler- Blitz SS Blow Off Valve- Turbo XS High Performance Manual Boost Controller- Turbo XS 3" Titanium Cat-back Exhaust- Tein Type Flex Coilovers w/ Adjustable Camber Plates- Tanabe/Sustec Front Strut Tower Bar- Top Speed Rear Strut Tower Bar- Oil Catch CanCheck out my buddy's 2002 World Rally Blue WRX here. Show Less


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RALEIGH, NC (NEWS RELEASE) — Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin today announced that the Department has received the annual auto insurance rate filing from the North Carolina Rate Bureau. The Rate Bureau, which is separate from the Department of Insurance and represents the auto insurance companies writing business in the state, filed for a rate review indicating no change in rates for private passenger cars and motorcycle insurance policies for 2011.
"This represents another victory for North Carolina drivers," said Commissioner Goodwin. "We already pay the 8th lowest auto insurance rates in the country—and we have a higher population than any other state in the top ten for lowest rates. I remain committed to making sure that people aren't overcharged for their auto insurance needs."*
In 2009, Goodwin signed a settlement that denied the Rate Bureau's request for a 1.4 percent auto rate increase, did away with a 9.4 percent increase that had been implemented by the Rate Bureau the previous year, and ordered an additional .5% decrease on top of that. The settlement rolled rates back to just under 2006 levels, and approximately one million North Carolinians received refunds from the insurance companies totaling more than $50 million.
"The industry's zero-change filing this year further affirms that I was correct in my decision to settle the 2008-2009 filings on the terms we did, which allowed for a savings potential of $545 million over a three year period for drivers statewide," Goodwin added.
The current filing was received on Feb. 1 and will be reviewed by Department of Insurance staff members.
To view the auto rate filing, go to http://pserff.ncdoi.net/pc.html, and use SERFF tracking number NCRI-127001210.


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Our deficit and debt dirty bomb
Global warming, declines in education and manufacturing, a rogue nation developing a nuclear weapon — these are all very real, well-known threats to the future of the United States and its citizens. So it tells you something when voters rate another threat to our future as even more serious: our growing budget deficits and debts.
New public opinion research conducted by Peter Hart and Bill McInturff shows that 66 percent of registered voters surveyed see our deficit and debt as a "very big threat to our country and its future," compared with 58 percent who say the same about an unfriendly nation developing nuclear weapon capabilities; 57 percent and 52 percent saying the same about declines in manufacturing and American schools, respectively; and 24 percent saying the same about global climate change.
Story Continued Below
By well over two to one, Americans rate our growing deficit and debt as a greater threat than global warming. Indeed, the former may do us in before the latter.
As usual, the electorate is way ahead of Washington policymakers who don't yet realize that we cannot spend and borrow our way to prosperity, no matter how well-intentioned the proposals. The omnibus spending bill making its way through Congress includes $410 billion in discretionary spending for fiscal 2009 — an 8.3 percent increase over fiscal 2008, with thousands of earmarks. That can hardly be called fiscally responsible.
President Barack Obama's first budget blueprint contains many commendable provisions but also contains too much new spending and debt. His pledge to cut the deficit over the course of his first term is encouraging, and he is right to target health care as our toughest fiscal challenge. But spending more money to expand access to health care without first pausing to gain control of costs or lower our already huge, unfunded obligations could negate any near-term reductions in the deficit.
Comprehensive health care reform should save money, not cost money. The government already has overpromised on this issue.


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Douglases: Good as Gold
Heralded by the blowing of shofars, Kirk Douglas and his wife, Anne, stood under the chuppah Sunday afternoon and reaffirmed the marriage vows they first recited 50 years ago.
The first time around the couple eloped to Las Vegas, when Kirk managed a day off from shooting "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," with one witness present.
This time there were three generations of Douglases on hand, an A-list of 300 guests, and an actual rabbi, David Wolpe of Sinai Temple, said Kirk's longtime publicist, Warren Cowan.
During the celebration at the historic Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills, the 87-year-old groom serenaded the 74-year-old bride with his own composition, "Please Stay in Love with Me."
The impressive guest list of veteran civic and Hollywood celebrities included former first lady Nancy Reagan, Lauren Bacall, Theodore Bikel, Tony Curtis, Anjelica Houston, Vidal Sassoon, Barbara Sinatra and Jack Valenti.
The religious ceremony chosen by Kirk and his German-born, Belgian-raised wife was one more marker on the movie star's long road back to his Jewish roots, which included a second bar mitzvah observance at age 83.
Notorious, even in Hollywood, for his ego and womanizing during a career of 85 movies, the legendary tough guy returned to his faith after a helicopter crash left him in constant pain and a stroke left him speechless.
Born Issur Danielovitch, the son of an illiterate Russian immigrant, Douglas reevaluated his life after the 1991 helicopter accident, which killed two young companions.
"I came to believe that I was spared because I had not yet come to terms with my Judaism, that I had never come to grips with what it means to be Jewish," he told this reporter some years ago.
Douglas embarked on an extensive course of Torah study with Orthodox and Conservative rabbis, has endowed children's playgrounds in Los Angeles and Jerusalem and, after his stroke, taught himself to speak again.
He has also written a best-selling autobiography, "The Ragman's Son," the introspective "Climbing the Mountain: My Search for Meaning" and a Holocaust-themed story for children, "The Broken Mirror."


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OVERVIEW AND CLIMBING INFORMATION: The Seclusion face is the upstream-facing wall that marks the upstream end of the Seclusion crag. The face holds the 5.7 Seclusion route plus three variations ranging from 5.4-5.10. I free soloed three routes here, including the 5.4 and the 5.7, and I have toproped and led them as well.
Here is what the face offers. The climbs are all about 50 vertical feet and are single-pitch routes--
•Seclusion (5.7)—From my guidebook: "Ascend the crack in the lower left corner of the upstream face for 15 feet, then traverse right to climb the flaring crack in the middle of the face."
•5.4 Variation—Start at the center of the face and climb the crack.
•5.8 Variation—Climb the face to the right of the center crack.
•5.10 Variation—The smooth face left of the center crack.
NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR: Suitable as a descent route or just for some extra fun, the corner formed by the Seclusion face and the river-facing wall adjacent to it is a decent objective. The very upper part has some easy Class 5 moves, and the rest is Class 4. There is a photo here showing the climb.
Getting There: To reach the base of the climb, park at the climbers parking lot, accessed by a right turn immediately after the park entrance station. Walk toward the river for a couple minutes and then turn right on the River Trail. Pass signs for the Sandbox and Dihedrals climbing areas, descend wooden steps, make a bridged crossing of Dike Creek, ascend some steps, and keep hiking to some wooden planks crossing a flat stretch. A few steps past these planks, the upstream face of the Seclusion crag, which is the Seclusion face, comes into view. Start looking for an easy way down-- you can face anything from Class 3 to 5.2 conditions depending on the exact way you go. As mentioned above, you can use the "Next-door Neighbor as a harder, but cleaner (lots of brush elsewhere, and watch for poison ivy) descent.
Essential Gear: If you're free soloing, just have rock shoes and a helmet. If you're toproping, you'll find good natural anchors above. However, this is a popular area, so bring your own setup gear in case. If you're leading, a set of nuts and some small/medium cams will do. I usually sling the tree as well, but it has started to rot out on the cliff-facing side, so its trustworthiness is dubious.
Red tape: The park is open from 7 A.M. until dark every day except Christmas. There is an admission fee, good for three days, of $5 per vehicle or $3 per person entering on foot or by bicycle. Annual and interagency passes are also available (the latter costs $80).
Climbers are required to register (free). There is a registration box at the climbers' parking area, and there is also one at the visitor center.
Drilling to place bolts is prohibited. If you use chalk, try to use colors that blend with the rock here.
The area is popular and can be quite crowded, especially on weekends spring through fall. Also, some of the people there, skilled as they may be, are less the sanctity-of-nature types and more the types who see mountains and crags as a climbing gym with cool views. Don't be surprised to see a climber smoking a cigarette or yakking on a cell phone about his new BMW or his stock portfolio as he waits his turn. So if you prefer a little peace and quiet with your climbing, try going on a weekday or in winter (but be aware that mornings, when the Virginia side of the Great Falls area gets plenty of sun, are often in the 20's F or lower in winter, not great for climbing).
The park is home to copperheads. It's unlikely that they hang out in holds on the cliffs themselves, but be aware. The danger, though slim, is greatest near the clifftops, where there are more places for snakes to be.
Poison ivy is abundant. The humid period from late spring through early fall features gnats, mosquitoes, and other biting insects.
Camping: None
Link for More Information: Great Falls NPS site


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Carrefour – the world's second largest retailer after Walmart – is finally coming to Karachi, two years after its first Pakistani store opened in Lahore. Company executives say the store could open later this month, though they refused to provide a specific date.
The store will be part of the Hyperstar brand name used by Carrefour in several locations around the world. The French giant's presence in Pakistan is part of its joint venture with Dubai-based Emirati conglomerate Abdul Majid al-Futtaim Group.
"The work at our Karachi store is in its final stages," said Mubashir Jalili, Hyperstar Pakistan's vice president for business development. "We want to launch it soon after Eid," he added – without giving a specific date.
Spread over 100,000 plus square feet in Dolmen Mall Clifton, the hypermarket – a bigger version of supermarket – will have the capacity to display 30,000 products. With its state-of-the-art receiving yard and 35 exit cash counters, Jalili said, the hypermarket, much larger than existing competitors, will operate at a scale previously unheard of in Pakistan.
In 2009, the company launched its first store in Lahore where it achieved remarkable results – achieving Rs1 billion in revenues in its first year and set to cross Rs3 billion ($35 million) this year, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Jalili, a 32-year veteran of the MAF Group, did not confirm nor deny the revenue number nor did he disclose any other financial data. He, however, said that the average growth rate for packaging companies that work with Carrefour is over 30%, hinting that the growth rate of the retail business is much higher.
The company has already invested $25 million for their Lahore store and $15 million for Karachi. They have identified four more locations for Karachi and three for Lahore. The two stores employ more than 700 people, Jalili said, and every new store will add at least 350 jobs.
The Lahore store attracts an average of about 1 million visitors a month. The average number of people visiting every weekday is around 40,000 people, with weekend traffic often exceeding 80,000 people. "Karachi's population depth can support at least five hyper markets," Jalili said.
MAF group's second hypermarket in Karachi is under construction at Lucky One Mall near UBL Sports Complex – the site previously housed the now defunct Fazal Mill. They have identified three more locations in Karachi but Jalili did not disclose the names saying the deal is not finalized yet. The company also wants to open at least three more stores in Lahore, he said.
"We want to launch these stores as soon as possible. It depends on how fast the developers can construct these sites," he said. "We want our presence in every metropolitan city in Pakistan."
At a time when many businesses, including several European and Middle Eastern ones, are looking to exit the Pakistani market, the MAF Group and Carrefour found Pakistan's large, dense population – coupled with its rising middle class – an appealing prospect.
"We gauged Pakistan's population strength by travelling road to road and street to street in both Karachi and Lahore when we first entered the market in 2005," Jalili said.
Yet the size of the population alone was not what attracted the company. The relative youth of the market – with over 55% of the population under 30 years of age – means that the average Pakistani middle class household is rapidly gaining new earning members, increasing their income. Simultaneously, those making buying decisions are more willing to try new products.
"Whatever quantity a manufacturer produces and a retailer displays gets sold out, a unique attribute of the Pakistani market," said Jalili.
MAF group owns 75% shares of Hyperstar while the France-based Carrefour Group holds the remaining 25% shares. Starting from Dubai in 1995, Hyperstar now has 50 stores in the Middle East region.
Carrefour and MAF plan on utilising the globe-spanning muscle power of the group to be able to offer lower prices to consumers. "We are talking with consumer goods companies to directly provide us with supplies at lower prices because we are such a huge buyer," said Hyperstar executives.
The Clifton location can accommodate 3,000 cars and a higher number of motorcycles (for the entire mall). It has a selling area spread over 65,000 square feet while its warehouse is spread over 20,000 square feet giving them leverage for piling up stocks and putting a huge number of goods on display.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 10th, 2011.


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|Dec. 12, 2011
Free Winter Break Activities Planned
The Honeywell Center and Eagles Theatre will host Winter Bash, a week's worth of free activities.
• Free roller skating in the Honeywell Center Rink on Tues., Dec. 27 and Thurs., Dec. 29. Both days will feature Family Skating (slow paced for beginners), which takes place from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and Intermediate Skating (faster paced) taking place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kids should be accompanied by an adult.
• A free art project at the Honeywell Center on Wed., Dec. 28 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Kids will be making Winter Bookmarks with Educational Outreach Manager Teresa Galley
In addition to the free activities at the Honeywell Center, the Eagles Theatre will show free movies at 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. all week.
Events like these are made possible through the generosity of donors to the Honeywell Foundation, which owns and operates the Honeywell Center and Eagles Theatre.


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Kool Aid macaroon
Diary of a Mad Haus Frau
OK, we have to admit it — we're obsessed with macaroons! They're like the ultimate treat: light, fluffy, and they come in tons of delicious flavors. Since today is National Macaroon Day, M is celebrating with 15 weird macaroon flavors we bet you never knew existed!
From cheeseburger — yes, you read that right, CHEESEBURGER — to Kool Aid, these cray cray macaroon flavors will totally have you falling out of your seat!
Click through to see them all then tell us in the comments: Which flavor would you totally try?


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Bantry Bay, long inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, southwestern County Cork, Ireland. The bay has a maximum length of 30 miles (48 km) and is 10 miles (16 km) wide at its broadest point; it separates the Beara peninsula to the north from the Sheep's Head peninsula to the south and is surrounded by mountains. Bantry Bay was entered in 1689 and 1796 by French fleets attempting invasions of Ireland. On Whiddy Island, at the east end of the bay near the mainland, there are 19th-century relics of a British naval station and a large oil terminal, which closed in 1979 following a tanker explosion but reopened in the late 1990s. The town of Bantry is located near the head of the bay.
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With only a little over two weeks until pitchers and catchers report, there are still a handful of big name free agents left on the market.
Here is a look at where they might end up:
Yoenis Cespedes
Cespedes is the best free agent available at this time and there are a number of teams interested in him. The two biggest suitors for his services are the Miami Marlins and the Chicago Cubs. However, the Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers are also involved.
The Marlins would love to add Cespedes to their roster and, with the large Cuban community in Miami, he would be a great draw for their team. They are moving into a new stadium and have spent big this offseason, signing Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Heath Bell. Cespedes could be the final piece to their puzzle.
The Cubs are in rebuilding mode, but see Cespedes as a building block for the future. They have some money to spend, but probably won't go overboard, perhaps turning their attention to fellow Cuban Jorge Soler if the bidding on Cespedes gets too high.
As for the other teams, the White Sox may appeal to Cespedes, as they have Cubans Alexi Ramirez and Dayan Viciedo on their roster. The question is whether they have the money to compete with the other teams.
My guess is the Marlins will overspend to get Cespedes.
Prediction: Marlins – 6 Years, $45 million
Roy Oswalt
According to Ken Rosenthal, Oswalt appears intent on pitching for either the St. Louis Cardinals or the Texas Rangers. Problem is, neither team has an opening in their rotation.
The Cardinals are attempting to trade Kyle McClellan in an attempt to clear salary space for Oswalt. Meanwhile Texas met with Oswalt on Monday, but have not made an offer and, according to Jeff Wilson of the Texas Star-Telegram, are not likely to sign him.
The Red Sox have expressed interest and reportedly made an offer to Oswalt last week, but seem to have moved on.
Given Oswalt's preferences, it seems that the Cardinals may be the only possibility.
Prediction: Cardinals – 1 Year, $5 million plus incentives
Johnny Damon
Damon probably will not sign anywhere until his price comes down. He is currently seeking $5 million or more for a one-year deal and has received very little interest at that price.
The Mets could be a suitor, if his price drops, as they are looking for a left-handed outfielder. However, they are looking at other options as well.
The Tigers were a possibility, but after signing Prince Fielder, they probably are out of the mix.
The Yankees have also been mentioned as a possibility and could use him as a DH. But they are looking at other options too.
Prediction: Mets – 1 Year, $2.5 million plus incentives
Vlad Guerrero
Like Damon, Guerrero is also looking for a deal north of $5 million and he also has received little interest.
Guerrero's agent has been in contact with the Yankees, but otherwise his market has been pretty quiet. The Yankees need a DH to replace Posada, so Guerrero could be a fit.
Prediction: Yankees – 1 Year, $2.5 million plus incentives
Manny Ramirez
One of the most intriguing names on the market, Ramirez sat out all of 2011 after testing positive a second time for using performance enhancing drugs. He will need to serve a 50-game suspension no matter who he signs with. Thus, he should come cheap.
According to Ken Rosenthal, the A's and Orioles have shown the most interst, however it is unclear if either team has made an offer. The rumors linking him to the A's have been swirling around for a while now and that is where he will probably end up.
Prediction: A's – 1 Year, $1 million plus incentives


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A serious drought in at least eight Chinese provinces is threatening large crop-growing areas and leaving nearly 4 million people without proper drinking water, the government said Thursday.
The Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters posted a notice on its Web site calling it a drought "rarely seen in history." President Hu Jintao had called on provincial officials to fight the drought and ensure that there is a summer grain harvest, the notice said.
China suffers from an uneven distribution of its water resources. Weather patterns in the arid north and flood-prone south cost the government tens of millions of dollars in lost productivity each year.
The latest drought began in November and has affected 24 million acres (9.73 million hectares) of crops, one-third of them seriously, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Most of the hardest-hit provinces were in northern China, with several in the east.
In recent days, news broadcasts have shown dry, cracked farm fields and crops withering in the ground.
Almost half of the wheat-growing areas in the eight provinces – Hebei, Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi and Gansu – were threatened, Xinhua said, while nearly 4 million people lacked proper drinking water.
The official China Daily newspaper said this was the worst drought in Henan since 1951 and that the province, a major supplier of winter wheat, had gone 105 consecutive days without rain.
But some relief may be in sight. Weather forecasts calls for rain and snow in some of the stricken areas beginning Saturday.


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I was fortunate to find sadiemae threw the board, who took on the project of finishing up my 4 patch posey , because I personally could not stand it any longer! I never liked it although I liked the pattern the fabric made, perhaps it was just not challenging enough or just to simple whatever it was I could not stand working on it till finish, so i had started the Labrynth working between the two and a few other things, Its very rare for me to dislike something i'm working on so much.
So with that said, a huge thank you to sadiemae! and now something i enjoyed!
Thank you for your compliments and viewing this project,
when I get the posey back i'll post the photo after its had a very heavy quilting with the LAQ


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Alexandria cruises past Garretson in State B tourney
PLATTE -- If Wednesday's first game at the Class B state Legion tournament in Platte was a marathon, the second game of the day was a sprint.
After a three hour and 45 minute tournament opener, Alexandria took advantage of solid pitching and two big innings to beat Garretson 10-0 in five innings by virtue of the 10-run rule.
The Angels used a five-hit, six-run fifth inning to end the game early and earn a spot in the winner's bracket for today's second round.
"It's big to get that (first-round win)," Alexandria coach Jerry Smith said. "It's huge."
Besides pitcher Tyson Gau, Peyton Smith played perhaps the biggest role in the Angels' first-round win. He scored the eventual winning run in the first inning when he reached on a walk and moved over to second when Gau walked, stole third on a wild pitch and made it home on the same play when Garretson catcher Spencer Paulsen was a little too slow in getting the ball back to pitcher James Howe.
In the fourth inning, Smith started the first of two big innings for Alexandria with a three-run homer over the left field fence for a 4-0 lead for the Angels.
"He's a spark plug for us," Jerry Smith said of Peyton. "That's his first home run ever. He had a huge day for us. I like to see that."
Added Peyton Smith: "(The pitch) was right down the plate and I guess I just hit it good."
Alexandria scored six runs in the fifth inning to end the game early.
Gau singled to start the inning, Pierce Smith was hit by a pitch and Tad DeRouchey walked to load the bases. Brett Vondra hit into a fielder's choice and Gau was tagged out at home for the first out, but Camron Kerkhove hit a two-run single, Tracy Hofer drove in a run with a single and Trevor Doyle had a two-run double for Alexandria's final run.
"(The win) is huge," Peyton Smith said. "We 10-runned them, too, so it keeps Tyson as (an option) for pitching."
While Alexandria was busy racking up hits, Gau, the Angels' ace, was busy keeping Garretson off the scoreboard. He finished the game with 11 strikeouts, one walk and three hits.
"Whenever Tyson throws, the kids always play well behind him," Jerry Smith said. "When you've got a pitcher like Tyson, that first game is easy."
Peyton Smith finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs to lead Alexandria and Doyle and Kerkhove were 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
The Angels play Platte-Geddes tonight at about 7:30 p.m.
"Our kids are here to play; they know what they've got to do," Jerry Smith said. "Camron will probably throw for us. When you get those first two victories it's big. Our kids will feed off this and be ready to play again."


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Economist in Steamboat: Funding water projects will be challenging
August 15, 2012
Steamboat Springs — An overall demand for water will continue to rise, but securing the funding to increase water supplies will be difficult, a respected economist said Wednesday.
"The real issue here with water is, 'What are we going to do about it?'" Carl Steidtmann said. "The problem is our government entities are deeply in debt."
Steidtmann, a Steamboat Springs resident who is chief economist for Deloitte, was the lunchtime speaker during the 2012 Summer Water and Energy Conference at the Sheraton Steamboat Resort on Wednesday. The three-day conference goes through Friday and is put on by the Colorado Water Congress. There are 240 people registered for the conference, and attendees include local politicians, state legislators and representatives from water conservancy districts, water departments and municipalities across the state.
Steidtmann's keynote Wednesday was titled "The Regional Impact of the National Economy: Letting Go of the Status Quo for Water and Energy."
Among the state's water experts at the talk were representatives from energy companies.
"They're very intertwined," Mike Gibson, president of the Colorado Water Congress, said about energy interests and water interests. "As we all know, one cannot exist without the other."
Recommended Stories For You
Steidtmann, who consults with Fortune 500 companies, said water is becoming an increasingly important issue for energy companies because of its increasing scarcity. To illustrate this point, he showed a map forecasting water availability in 2025.
"The western part of the U.S. becomes one of those areas of critical water shortages," Steidtmann said.
In an era of a contracting government where more money is being spent to pay off debt, Steidtmann said infrastructure projects are the ones that are easy to delay.
"The money available for infrastructure projects, especially for water, is going to be very challenging," he said.
More positive news comes from the energy sector, which Steidtmann said is undergoing the most dramatic transformation since the 1850s. Domestic oil production is increasing along with renewable energy, and a natural gas boom is creating a place for capital investment and more opportunities for blue-collar jobs.
"We will see energy prices come down," Steidtmann said.
Looking at the economic forecast for the country, Steidtmann said there are some things to worry about, specifically the economy in Europe, which is retracting and burdened by banking, debt and trade problems.
But there also are reasons for optimism.
The country is experiencing what he called the fourth wave of technology, composed of high-speed wireless networking, cloud computing and social networking, which will be used by businesses to create jobs and increase productivity. The technology also will help fuel what he sees as a transformation in education.
Steidtmann also pointed to the slow recovery of the housing market as a reason for optimism.
"Every strong recovery in post-World War II … has been led by housing," Steidtmann said.
To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247 or email email@example.com


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Say hello to Variety Magazine's D.C. reporter Bill Triplett.
How many suits do you own? Four, if you count the two I can no longer wear but am deluded enough to think i'll be able to again one day.
What word do you routinely misspell? You don't know how embarrassed I was to learn that there's nobody named Miss
Did you see Brokeback Mountain? Yes. Unfortunately.
Did you see The Da Vinci Code? Nope.
What's the name of your cell phone ring? "Annoying, loud."
What time did you get up this morning? Middle of the night, around 7:15 (doctor's appointment)
When did you last cry and why? Last month; death.
Which of the seven deadly sins are you? Let's see, today's Wednesday? Sloth? Or maybe greed. Lemme get back on that.
Beach, city or country? Depends on the weather.
Would you say you're cute? Pretty? Hot? Beautiful? Somewhere between Fabio and "doesn't frighten children (too often)."
Read the rest when you click below…(and see previous FishbowlDC interviews: Julie Mason, David Shuster, Joe Curl, Alex Pareene, Peter Beinart, Jonah Goldberg, Megyn Kendall, Ana Marie Cox, Jim Brady, Howard Mortman, Amy Argetsinger, Jose Antonio Vargas, Chuck Todd, Tom Gottlieb, Kelly Ann Collins, David von Drehle, David Lat, Mark Leibovich, Zain Verjee, David Plotz, Paul Kane, Karen Travers, Mark Halperin, Hugo Gurdon, Greg Kelly,Ken Rudin, John Dickerson, Anne Schroeder, Spencer Ackerman, Bret Baier, Bob Sellers, Greta van Susteren, Danielle Jones, Jonathan Salant, John McCalla, Pam Hess, Ryan Grim, Marc Ambinder, Marty Kady, Jack Shafer, Annie Lou Bayly, Jerry Zremski, Charlie Cook, Dave Hughes, Howard Fineman, Katie Tarbox, Mark Segraves, Chris Cillizza, Tom Sietsema)
What color is your bathroom? Still trying to decide (renovating, ugh!)
How many emails do you receive a day, roughly? 20? 30? if a story i do gets linked on a certain web site, double that.
What's your opinion of New York City? The only place I love to arrive and love to leave.
What's your favorite letter? Y — it's so versatile.
What single person played the biggest role / had the biggest influence on your journalism career? Too many to list. And they're still influencing!
Have you ever downloaded a podcast? If so, which one? Not yet, but I know it's coming…
Who's your all-time favorite American Idol candidate? The loser who claimed Paula Adbul coached and diddled him. Proof again that in this country, shame is a liability.
When's the last time you volunteered? Where? Oh, you would have to ask that…. I think I was in high school, helping clean up after dinosaurs.
Who is your favorite active journalist? Bob Woodward or Mary Hart, depending on the weather.
What did you have for breakfast? A podcast. No, no…um… this is so confusing!!
What's your favorite item of clothing? Anything stylish and expensive and paid for by someone else.
What one toiletry item could you not live without? Dental floss.
If you could have one superpower, which one would it be? Spel-chek
Better role model: GIJoe? Barbie? Whoever has the better press agent.


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Stefan Olander eBooks
eBooks found: 1
Velocity: The Seven New Laws for a World Gone Digital
Ajaz Ahmed & Stefan Olander
Ebury Digital, May 2012
Format: ePub
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A couple of weeks ago, I posted a piece asking the question, "Does SNAP have an image problem?" Are there a lot of people out there who sincerely believe SNAP is rife with abuse and fraud, ala the "Welfare Queen" myth? Do they have influence? If so, how might that influence be affecting Farm Bill votes? Can minds be changed?
I don't know. Didn't get a lot of feedback on that one. It's something the hunger relief community has been hesitant to talk about in the past. My guess is that most hunger advocates want to minimize any discussion on SNAP abuse for fear of giving detractors a platform. The problem is, in a digital world where everyone is a publisher, and everyone's opinion can be freely expressed and virally spread, detractors already have a platform. Perhaps it's time to stop trying to avoid the discussion and debate the issue on its merits.
There's one thing for certain: It's not going to get any easier to protect appropriations for social safety net programs such as SNAP, no matter what happens on November 6. The way I see it, if hunger advocates truly believe SNAP is the first and most effective line of defense against food insecurity, we have two major tasks in front of us:
• If there is widespread concern, channeling all of our energy to mobilizing the faithful to raise their voices isn't going to win the day. We need to win the hearts and minds of those who aren't with us now, not the already-converted.
• With fewer dollars allocated, that 1-2% attributed to fraud or abuse becomes more significant. We need to make certain that money is getting into the hands of those who need it and aren't getting it now, rather than those who are getting it and don't need it. We should be elevating the discussion of SNAP effectiveness, rather than ignoring it. We should be talking about USDA programs that have drastically reduced fraud in recent years. We should be the first to the table (well, maybe second behind USDA), to discuss new ways in which the program can be made more efficient.
I believe we need some solid research to determine public perception of SNAP. If indeed it does indicate significant numbers of people who believe there's widespread abuse (and I might be wrong, it might not), then there's a solid basis for applying resources to changing that perception. I love my friends in the hunger movement, but most research to-date, has been carefully crafted to illustrate public support of nutrition programs (and there's no doubt, plenty of that support out there), not to delve into concerns that might exist. If indeed there is a perception problem, everyone who has a stake in hunger relief, should be willing to contribute resources: beginning with USDA, since they own the program. Major hunger non-profits, which are currently promoting SNAP as a solution should pitch in. Finally, those of us with communications resources who use them for more than marketing purposes should get involved.


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Be heard: Community Needs Assessment survey now open
Thursday, Apr 17, 2014 11:48 am
What does Airdrie need most?
City staff is inviting all residents to have their answers to this question heard in the 2014 Community Needs Assessment survey.
The survey became live online on April 15 and will remain open until June 1.
It is open to all residents, as there is no screening for age or gender.
This marks the third time the City has conducted this survey, that is done once every three years. It does share some similarities with the City�s Citizen Satisfaction survey, which is conducted annually.
�The Citizen Satisfaction survey is more of a city-wide assessment or report card of the services provided,� said Clay Aragon, Social Planning coordinator.
�This survey looks more specifically at what residents would like to see in the community.�
Aragon explained that these surveys have an influence on the services and facilities the City offers.
�For example, the Community Needs Assessment from 2008 and 2011 clearly showed that residents were concerned about the effectiveness of our arenas, the splash park, and arts and cultural facilities in Airdrie,� said Aragon.
�This was a driving force behind the $24 million invested in arena upgrades and the development of the Genesis Place twin arenas, $4.8 million invested in the Chinook Winds Regional Park to include a new skate park and spray park, and $3.9 million invested to expand Bert Church Theatre.�
The Community Services Advisory Board, council and staff utilize the information gathered from these surveys to determine the future direction of planning, budgeting, as well as providing insight for funding allocations.
Aragon is hopeful for a high number of participants in the survey to top the turnout of nearly 1,900 the City saw in 2011.
�The more people that fill out the survey the better,� said Aragon.
�We want to be able to get a broad scope of where we can improve, a lot has changed in three years and we want to gather as much information as possible.�
Questions relating to infrastructure, arts, culture, and recreation facilities and social services are all included on the survey, as well as community services, volunteerism, and development or improvement funding.
The survey is available online at www.banister.ab.ca/2014CNA


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He's a cool guy but man is he unorganized. Give the messy guy a sleek way to keep his bathroom essentials in their place with this camouflage themed hanging organizer that can be personalized with his name.


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I LOVE salads, but really prefer all of the toppings more than the lettuce. So… I've decided to start experimenting with salad "alternatives".
One of my experiments was the bread salad, and today I made a really simple salad out of avocados, heirloom tomatoes, olive oil, dill, parsley, lemon juice, salt and pepper! The ingredients were actually very similar to guacamole – but not mashed, just left chopped in the bowl. Yum!
It was such a nice summer dish – fresh, earthy, simple, and no mayo or other ingredients that would go bad being left outside for a while on a grill-out of picnic.


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The German based automaker Opel is planning to release a Corsa based SUV at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show which will be named the Mokka.
According to the German automotive journalists at autobild.de, Opel will develop a small SUV based on the popular Corsa hatchback, which will wear the Mokka name and it will be officially presented at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Opel isn't actually the first automaker to develop an SUV on the same platform as a small hatchback in its lineup and not too long ago, Ford has teased the EcoSport SUV, which is based on the Fiesta model. Ford says that the EcoSport will be officially presented to the public at the 2012 Delhi Auto Show, so the North American carmaker is moving faster than Opel.
The Opel Mokka Corsa based SUV will be 4.30 meters long and it will come with an all-wheel drive system at an extra cost. The Opel Corsa SUV will be rounder than the Skoda Yeti SUV and it's aimed at the cheap VW offshoot. Our source is also telling us that the Opel Mokka will be priced at around 18.000 EUR for the entry-level version, which actually undercuts the Skoda model by around 1.000 EUR.