text:
Grant: Ian Kinsler's slump is explainable
OAKLAND, Calif. — If you give gravity to statistics, playing Ian Kinsler in the final two games of the Rangers' series against Oakland would have been the low-percentage play.
Ron Washington is undaunted by statistics.
"I believe in Ian Kinsler," he said Tuesday afternoon.
It would not be hard, though, to have one's belief in a player shaken by recent events concerning Kinsler and the matchups he's facing in Oakland.
First, there is his recent slump, which reached 12 hitless at-bats Monday. Then there are the pitching matchups — Bartolo Colon, followed by Jarrod Parker — against whom Kinsler was a combined 4-for-31 (.129) in his career before Tuesday's game.
Add in the location, the O.co Coliseum, where Kinsler was 3-for-30 (.100) this season and where he had a .200 career batting average. It goes along with a career .559 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in Oakland, the second lowest by any player at the stadium over the last 20 years.
If that's not enough, factor in that Wednesday's game is a day game and things really get ugly. Kinsler, hitless in his last nine day-game at-bats and just 3-for-18 since the All-Star break, is hitting .173 during the day this season. It is the second-lowest average among 148 AL players with at least 100 daytime plate appearances. Kinsler's daytime on-base-plus-slugging percentage of .521 is also the second lowest, ahead of only Houston's Matt Dominguez (.513).
As ugly as the numbers are, it is fairly easy to explain most of them.
For instance, take the recent slump. Kinsler has struggled lately in the No. 3 spot, but he's dependent on the first two hitters getting on base ahead of him. Over the four games before Tuesday, the Nos. 1-2 spots had combined to reach base eight times in 35 plate appearances for a .229 on-base percentage.
"There are some things I need to stay on top of," Kinsler said of his swing. "I've got to continue to plug away. I've had a couple of opportunities and haven't done much with them. And sometimes when the other guys aren't reaching base, you have to create opportunities for the guys behind you."
Monday's game offered some examples. In his first at-bat, he came up with two out and nobody on and lined hard to third base. When opportunities did arise, Kinsler couldn't capitalize.
In the fifth, after the Rangers tied the score, he came up with Jurickson Profar on base and two outs and hit a foul pop to first baseman Nate Freiman. It was the fourth foul pop out in Oakland for Kinsler over the last two years, which explains a lot of why he's struggled so badly in the park.
He is prone to fly balls, and when he misses centering the ball, it's prone to be a foul pop. Oakland has more foul territory than any other park in the AL, and foul pops are often turned into outs.
"I don't swing and miss a lot," Kinsler said. "And so when I swing at a bad pitch here, it's very possible that it will become an out. Any other park, the count is 1-1, then and I'm still at the plate.
"I've had my share of good games here," Kinsler said. "It just hasn't happened very consistently. This is the one place in our division where I struggle. I feel good here. I don't know if it is just a coincidence or not."
Coincidence or not, Washington isn't about to shift things around again with his lineup because of a set of numbers. He's already moved Kinsler from first to third and Martin to the top of the order. There simply isn't much more shifting that can be done.
"I wish juggling was the answer," he said. "But the guys are going to have to do the job where they are."
And that means they may have to break some bad statistical cycles to do so.
Catch Evan Grant's Ranger Reports all season on The Ticket (KTCK-1310 AM) on Tuesdays at 9:35 a.m. with The Musers, Wednesdays at 4:15 p.m. with The Hardline and Thursdays at 2:15 p.m. with BaD Radio.
Follow Evan Grant on Twitter at @Evan_P_Grant
Get the latest Dallas sports news at SportsDayDFW.com


text:
Published Monday, Oct. 28, 2013 | 12:47 p.m.
Updated Monday, Oct. 28, 2013 | 2:34 p.m.
Related Content
The crowd outside UNLV's student union nearly doubled when a lecture hall-size group of students realized the Fremont Cannon was on the opposite side of the building. Chalk the confusion up to inexperience.
UNLV hasn't had a chance to celebrate with the cannon for eight years and today was the first time most students ever saw it in person. Approximately 300 students, players, faculty and coaches crowded around to take pictures with and paint UNLV's trophy for defeating rival UNR 27-22 on Saturday.
"It's good for us to be around this type of thing and know that people are behind us," senior quarterback Caleb Herring said.
The Rebels players gathered at the Lied Athletic Complex early this afternoon, loaded the cannon on a small trailer and walked it through campus to the union. The mini-parade was coach Bobby Hauck's idea.
"We could have done this at the practice facility or the locker room," Hauck told the crowd, "but we wanted to bring this out and celebrate it with all of our students and the people who have supported us."
The team brought a can of red paint and brushes, which was passed around to the seniors, who took turns applying their own brushstrokes. UNLV President Neal Smatresk, athletic director Tina Kunzer-Murphy and Hauck also applied a little red.
Their ceremonial strokes will be sanded off, along with every last trace of blue, at the university's paint center. The cannon was taken there around 1 p.m. and it should be ready for display by Friday.
The Rebels have spent a lot of quality time with the cannon since celebrating with it Saturday in the visitors locker room at Mackay Stadium. Today was about sharing that excitement with as many people as possible.
"This is the best I've felt playing in college since, ever," said senior running back Tim Cornett, who rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown in the win.
Hauck is hoping a lot of those people, plus a few thousand more, show up for UNLV's homecoming game at 1 p.m. Saturday against San Jose State (4-3, 3-1). The Spartans come in with a top-10 passing offense and a three-game winning streak.
"They have been on fire," Hauck said.
After such a big emotional victory against UNR, there's considerable risk of a hangover effect for UNLV going into this weekend. Cornett and Hauck said watching game film, both of the Rebels' mistakes last week and of SJSU quarterback David Fales, should snap them out of celebration mode pretty quick. There's also another major milestone — UNLV's first bowl game since 2000 — out there for motivation.
"We understand that there's a bigger goal here," Herring said. "If this rivalry game had been for bowl eligibility, it might have been a little harder to get refocused."
Should the Rebels make a bowl game, there would probably be another event at the union somewhere down the road. And while experience is key in football, it's also important for the UNLV campus community that now knows which side of the building to check for the party.
Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
We love our pets, and they are considered part of the family. Which is why we can't imagine leaving and having the person taking care of our pets sell or give them away. That's exactly what happened to a soldier from Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Brandon Harker returned home from an eight month deployment in Afghanistan to find his dog Oakley was missing, and possibly sold on Craigslist. The soldier had asked a friend to take care of his 2-year-old purebred yellow Labrador retriever while he was deployed. When he contacted the friend to pick him up, he was told the dog had been given away.
After reaching out to friends, local veterinarians, and shelters he discovered Oakley has been listed for sale in February on Craigslist. Now he is turning to the website and the community to help bring his dog back home to him.
To see the Craigslist ad for information and photos, click here.


text:
Forks resident figures in rights group's complaint
Filed under: Uncategorized
by Paul Gottlieb, Peninsula Daily News, May 6, 2012
A Forks woman who was with Benjamin Roldan Salinas on May 14, 2011, before his fatal flight from Border Patrol agents was among six people whose interactions with the Border Patrol were cited in a complaint filed last week with the federal government.
Roldan Salinas' body was found June 5, 2011, in the Sol Duc River 3 miles east of Sappho and about 4 miles downstream from where he fled the traffic stop.
The complaint filed by the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project focuses on traffic stops that involved translation assistance that was requested of the Border Patrol by various law enforcement officers.
The woman, identified in the complaint as M.N., was the same person who was traveling as a passenger with Roldan Salinas, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Legal Director Matt Adams confirmed Friday.
After Roldan Salinas fled, the woman, who is the mother of two children who are U.S. citizens, was arrested on an immigration violation.
The immigrant advocacy group filed the complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Here's the complaint's account of the traffic stop that involved Roldan Salinas and his companion:
The woman and Roldan Salinas, of the West End, were traveling on U.S. Highway 101 when the vehicle was pulled over by a U.S. Forest Service officer who began questioning the two about permits for harvesting salal.
When a Border Patrol vehicle arrived, Roldan Salinas fled.
The woman was detained by the Border Patrol and transferred to the Tacoma Northwest Detention Center while her children were cared for by community members.
The statement from the Border Patrol said the Forest Service officer had requested translation assistance.
"However, the incident report filed by the USFS officer makes clear that the officer called a U.S. Border Patrol agent prior to making contact with the occupants of the vehicle," according to the complaint.
Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
FILED: April 14, 2010
Lane County Circuit Court
Darryl L. Larson, Judge.
Argued and submitted on March 10, 2010.
Harris S. Matarazzo argued the cause and filed the brief for appellant.
Katherine H. Waldo, Senior Assistant Attorney General, argued the cause for respondent.Ā With her on the brief were John R. Kroger, Attorney General, and Jerome Lidz, Solicitor General.
Before Schuman, Presiding Judge, and Wollheim, Judge, and Rosenblum, Judge.
Defendant appeals a judgment finding him guilty except for insanity on charges of first-degree criminal mischief and unlawful use of a weapon.Ā On appeal, he argues that the trial court erred in making that finding because he never asserted a guilty except for insanity defense.Ā Because defendant did not preserve that claim of error, and the error is not plain on this record, we affirm.
Defendant was charged with first-degree criminal mischief and unlawful use of a weapon after he smashed a club through his parents' television.Ā In a pretrial hearing in April 2007, the parties discussed defendant's competency to stand trial on those charges.Ā During the course of those discussions, the prosecutor noted that the defense of guilty except for insanity is one that can be raised only by a defendant, even though the court and counsel might think that it is in the defendant's best interest to assert it.Ā Defendant's counsel responded, "I recognize that [defendant] has a right to pursue a mental defense or not pursue one, and I would follow his wishes in that matter."
After further discussion of defendant's competency, the court found defendant fit to proceed, thereby raising, in the court's view, the question whether defendant would assert a guilty except for insanity defense:
"[I]t seems to me what we ultimately end up with here is whether there is or is not going to be posed a mental defense to the underlying facts of the case.Ā And I am not prepared to find that there's a lack of fitness to proceed on the record that I've got."
(Emphasis added.)Ā After the court's ruling, defendant's counsel moved to withdraw, but the court denied that motion.Ā Defense counsel indicated that defendant was not willing to resolve the case without a trial.Ā The parties discussed setting an arraignment date for May and agreed to schedule a trial date before mid-June.Ā The court recessed.
At that point, further discussions were held off the record.Ā Approximately an hour after recessing, the court reconvened and tried the charges based on stipulated facts.Ā No one made any mention of a guilty except for insanity defense before or during the presentation of evidence; the only evidence offered by defendant consisted of a handwritten letter, which "constitute[d] [his] defense."Ā When both sides rested, the court stated:
"The parties have arrived at this manner of proceeding this morning at my suggestion a few moments ago, after the pretrial hearing we had.Ā That was the only thing on the docket for this morning, and I am prepared to find that there is good cause for not raising a mental disease or defect defense under [ORS 161.309(3)(1)], given the fact that I suggested to the parties we resolve this this morning."
No objection was made in response to the court's comment.Ā The court then proceeded to find defendant guilty except for insanity on both counts, relying in part on the letter offered by defendant:
"Using the defendant's evidence here as part of my basis for decision, the record should reflect that he claimed to be a private investigator, and that the case involved the protection of eight police officers recruiting brutal people in his field of expertise.Ā There were statements about things that had happened in the past.Ā And in a part of that letter, on page 2, it's represented by the defendant and testified to here to be true that five New Jersey police officers appeared on a television show * * * and this brutal show was produced and directed to the defendant himself.Ā And that [a Lane County deputy sheriff] was writing code logic with illogic.Ā And then there are statements about various children who were victims of some sorts of violent or death incidents.
"I am prepared to find that the defendant is guilty but for insanity on both counts.Ā I think there is a substantial basis in this record from which the Court can find beyond a reasonable doubt that he's guilty of both offenses as alleged, but I do think that there is also a substantial basis in fact to find him guilty but insane.
"And when I say 'insane,' that word has quotes around it to some extent in this case, because I think in many ways he is a fit and capable person, but there are things that are apparently going on with him that at least in part explain why this has happened or how it came to be.Ā And that's going to be the finding of the Court.
"I assume the parties want to do a disposition this morning?"
Defendant's counsel agreed to proceed with sentencing and then interjected, "It may be unnecessary, but on [defendant's] behalf I think I need to object to that finding, and I do so object." ĀThe court responded, "Yes.Ā And I may not have been clear, but I was referring before when I talked about subsection (3) of ORS 161.309 of --so I just want the record to be clear."Ā The court then proceeded with sentencing, and defendant was placed under the jurisdiction of the Psychiatric Security Review Board pursuant to ORS 161.327.
On appeal, defendant contends that the trial court erred as a matter of law in finding him guilty except for insanity when he never asserted that defense.Ā See Pratt v. Armenakis, 199 Or App 448, 463, 112 P3d 371, adh'd to on recons, 201 Or App 217, 118 P3d 821 (2005), rev den, 340 Or 483 (2006) ("A criminal defendant cannot be found guilty but insane if he has not asserted that affirmative defense.").Ā Defendant, however, does not point us to any place in the record that demonstrates that he made that argument below--that is, where he objected on the ground that the court was entertaining a defense that had not been asserted.Ā Cf. State v. Bozman, 145 Or App 66, 69, 929 P2d 1019 (1996) (where, after the court found defendant guilty except for insanity on the counts alleged, "[d]efendant objected to that verdict on the ground that he had not raised insanity as an affirmative defense and argued that the court should enter a verdict of not guilty"); State v. Peterson, 70 Or App 333, 345, 689 P2d 985 (1984) (ĀĀĀĀ "The court erred when it imposed the defense of 'not responsible due to mental disease or defect' over the objection of defendant, who was represented by counsel, had not raised that defense and had been found competent to stand trial."Ā (Emphasis added.))
Defendant's only objection came after the trial court actually found him guilty except for insanity, an objection that referred imprecisely to "that finding."Ā On this record--where the court made multiple findings, including, most proximately to the objection, a finding that there is a "substantial basis in fact to find him guilty but insane"--we cannot say that defendant ever put the trial court on notice that it was erroneously considering a defense that had not been asserted.Ā See Peeples v. Lampert, 345 Or 209, 219, 191 P3d 637 (2008) ("'A party owes the trial court the obligation of a sound, clear and articulate motion, objection or exception, so as to permit the trial judge a chance to consider the legal contention or to correct an error already made.'"Ā (Quoting Shields v. Campbell, 277 Or 71, 77, 559 P2d 1275 (1977)).(2)
Nor are we prepared to reverse the trial court's judgment on the basis of plain error.Ā ORAP 5.45(1).Ā For an error to be considered plain error, it must (1) be an error of law; (2) be apparent, meaning the legal point is not reasonably in dispute; and (3) appear on the record, meaning the court need not go outside the record or choose between competing inferences to identify the error.Ā State v. Brown, 310 Or 347, 355, 800 P2d 259 (1990).Ā Even if the error is plain, this court must affirmatively exercise its discretion to correct the error.Ā See State ex rel Juv. Dept. v. S. P., 346 Or 592, 606, 215 P3d 847 (2009) ("This court has determined that it will not exercise its discretion to review an asserted plain error if the party seeking review encouraged commission of the error in question or made a strategic choice not to object.").
In this case, we would be required to go outside the record to determine whether the court actually considered a guilty except for insanity defense that defendant did not intend to assert.Ā It is at least possible that, following the competency hearing, the parties discussed that very issue off the record.Ā Indeed, during the competency hearing, the parties discussed the fact that only a defendant can assert the defense, and the court expressly stated that "what we ultimately end up with here is whether there is or is not going to be posed a mental defense to the underlying facts of the case."Ā Following that colloquy, the parties held a discussion off the record and, when they reconvened, tried the case on stipulated facts.Ā Defendant offered, in his defense, a handwritten letter that, on its face, had nothing to do with the events that formed the basis of the charges against him; the letter, at least arguably, could have been offered in support of a guilty except for insanity defense.Ā But see Bozman, 145 Or App at 72 ("Assuming that a defendant may raise the affirmative defense of insanity merely by offering evidence on the issue at trial, defendant did not raise that defense; he clearly indicated at trial that he was offering evidence of his mental condition pursuant to a defense of partial responsibility."Ā (Footnote and emphasis omitted.))
Moreover, after defendant offered the letter in his defense, the trial court determined that there was just cause to excuse defendant's failure to file the statutorily required notice of a guilty except for insanity defense under ORS 161.309(3).Ā While it is possible that the court considered that question on its own, it is also possible that the trial court understood defendant to have offered the letter in support of a guilty except for insanity defense, after having considered whether to assert the defense during the recess.
In sum, defendant did not preserve his claim of error that the trial court considered a guilty except for insanity defense that he had not asserted.Ā Nor is there a basis for this court to correct the asserted error as plain error under ORAP 5.45.Ā Accordingly, we must affirm.(3)
1. ORS 161.309 provides:
"(1) ĀNo evidence may be introduced by the defendant on the issue of insanity under ORS 161.295, unless the defendant gives notice of intent to do so in the manner provided in subsection (3) of this section.
"(2) ĀThe defendant may not introduce in the case in chief expert testimony regarding partial responsibility or diminished capacity under ORS 161.300 unless the defendant gives notice of intent to do so in the manner provided in subsection (3) of this section.
"(3)Ā A defendant who is required under subsection (1) or (2) of this section to give notice shall file a written notice of purpose at the time the defendant pleads not guilty.Ā The defendant may file such notice at any time after the plea but before trial when just cause for failure to file the notice at the time of making the plea is made to appear to the satisfaction of the court.Ā If the defendant fails to file notice, the defendant shall not be entitled to introduce evidence for the establishment of a defense under ORS 161.295 or 161.300 unless the court, in its discretion, permits such evidence to be introduced where just cause for failure to file the notice is made to appear."
Return to previous location.
2. Moreover, this does not appear to be a case in which the preservation requirement gives way entirely because a party has no practical ability to raise an issue, or because the right at issue is not "subject to preservation requirements due to the unique nature of the right itself."Ā Peeples, 345 Or at 220.Ā Though it is clearly the better trial practice for a defendant's assertion of a guilty except for insanity defense to appear affirmatively on the record, we are not aware of any statute or constitutional provision that expressly mandates it.Ā Cf. State v. Barber, 343 Or 525, 530, 173 P3d 827 (2007) (particular wording of constitutional requirement of written jury trial waiver precluded application of ordinary rules of preservation regarding the absence of that waiver in the record).
Return to previous location.
3. We acknowledge the potential conflict that arose when the trial court denied defense counsel's motion to withdraw--a motion predicated, at least in part, on the fact that defendant and his counsel apparently disagreed about whether defendant had a mental disorder.Ā To the extent that defense counsel acquiesced to the court considering a defense that defendant did not want to assert, that is not a basis for reversal on direct appeal.
Return to previous location.


text:
Jack J. Raisen, WWII veteran, engineer and real estate broker
Feb. 6, 1919 – Dec. 30, 2013
Jack J. Raisen, whose long and varied career took him from the navigator's seat of a World War II bomber to the real estate business in East Aurora, died Monday in the hospice unit of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Buffalo. He was 94.
Mr. Raisen, a Williamsville resident, also worked for several local engineering companies, including Westinghouse Electric Co.
He was born in Erie, Pa., but grew up on Buffalo's West Side. Sponsored by the Butler Mitchell Boys Club, he won the city table tennis championship while attending Buffalo Technical High School, from which he graduated in 1936. He attended Iowa State University.
In 1942, Mr. Raisen joined the Army Air Forces and graduated from training at Maxwell Field, Ala., as a first lieutenant.
Stationed in England, Mr. Raisen flew over the Atlantic on anti-submarine patrol and also served as the navigator of a B-24 bomber on 30 missions over Nazi Germany.
After returning home, he was stationed in Tonopah, Nev., training personnel for service in the Pacific Theater before his honorable discharge in 1945.
He completed his education at the University of Buffalo, graduating as part of the first class of the School of Engineering in 1948. Besides his degree in mechanical engineering, he later earned a New York State professional engineer's license.
Mr. Raisen worked for several local companies, with duties including electrical contracting, engineering for a heating and air conditioning firm, and nuclear energy work on a government contract.
He joined Westinghouse as a product line administrator, marketing motor control products on business trips throughout the eastern half of the country.
Westinghouse transferred him to Asheville, N.C., where he worked for nine years and then retired from the company in 1982.
He didn't stop working, though. He became a real estate broker, opening a firm called Cove Realty with several associates.
Mr. Raisen stayed in the real estate business upon returning to Western New York in 1986, working for Century 21 Gold Standard in East Aurora.
He was an avid golfer, and played nine holes at least three times a week until he was 90. "He took pride in never taking a cart," said his daughter, Jill Buerk.
He played the piano and organ, and sang with the Friends of Harmony Barbershop Chorus. He also was an active member of the Kiwanis Club.
His wife of 63 years, the former Clara P. Cavanaugh, died in 2005.
Besides his daughter, survivors include three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be private.


text:
Jihadists in northern Syria have kidnapped more than 50 Kurds in the past three days, [2] in the second such case of mass hostage-taking since July, a monitoring group said Thursday.
The kidnappings come months into major battles for control of several parts of northern Syria that have pitted Kurdish fighters against jihadists, chiefly the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). [3]
"In the past three days, ISIL has kidnapped at least 51 Kurds in the towns of Minbej and Jarablus," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Among the hostages were nine children and a woman, said the Britain-based group, adding that there was no information on where they had been taken.
Minbej and Jarablus are located in Aleppo province, which is home to a Kurdish minority. [4]
The kidnappings come weeks after Kurdish fighters further east, in majority Kurdish areas, expelled jihadists after battles that lasted several months.
In response, the jihadists have imposed a siege on Kurdish areas of Aleppo [5], where Kurdish fighters are weaker, said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.
In July, ISIL kidnapped some 200 Kurdish civilians from the Kurdish towns of Tal Aran and Tal Hassel also in Aleppo province. Only a few of those hostages have since been released, the Observatory says.
[1] http://www.syndigate.info
[2] http://www.google.jo/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&ved=0CEAQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.albawaba.com%2Fnews%2Fsyria-kurds-533528&ei=yWCgUs6kH-WL7AbXnoCgAg&usg=AFQjCNF0Sj3Ou24nJuWdKWS6biK-BNE44A&bvm=bv.57155469,d.ZGU
[3] http://www.google.jo/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&ved=0CDwQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.albawaba.com%2Fnews%2Fsyria-turkey-jihad-530396&ei=omCgUuaYE4iJ7Aao04DAAw&usg=AFQjCNE0g7TfDQayKoRCLEu2DozGtib1Bw&bvm=bv.57155469,d.ZGU
[4] http://www.google.jo/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CCwQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.albawaba.com%2Fnews%2Fsyria-kurds-533214&ei=yWCgUs6kH-WL7AbXnoCgAg&usg=AFQjCNEE-lXa37fHBexz8P8BCOfVe_Cbhw&bvm=bv.57155469,d.ZGU
[5] http://www.google.jo/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&ved=0CDcQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fworld.time.com%2F2013%2F09%2F26%2Fsyrias-many-battlefields-islamist-rebels-wage-war-against-the-kurds%2F&ei=EGGgUrPVJumN7Qb1n4G4Aw&usg=AFQjCNE8SytFWIBENyq_bQNe4p248MT3sw&bvm=bv.57155469,d.ZGU
[6] http://www.dailystar.com.lb/


text:
Holidays are ending; need is not
The gifts have been opened, Christmas dinner consumed, and exhausted revelers may feel ready for that long winter's nap.
We're the lucky ones.
For some, the holidays are more struggle than celebration, especially the struggle to put food on the table.
And that struggle doesn't end with the holidays.
Ever since the start of the recession five years ago, the number of people needing food assistance has steadily climbed.
Over the past two months, the Edmonds Food Bank (The Carol Rowe Memorial Edmonds Food Bank) has served more than 400 families each week – about 1,800 people – double the number they assisted just a couple of years ago.
Volunteer John Becker estimated they would supply as many as 550 families for Christmas.
Fortunately, at this time of year, people are very generous. The food bank's shelves were well-stocked, and more than 40 volunteers were on hand last week to assist clients (There was no distribution this week.).
Food bank Director Peggy Kennedy, a volunteer for 31 years, praised the outpouring of support.
"People have been extremely generous this year," she said. "They have gone all-out."
Volunteers like Al Rutledge, who headed up two food drives in the past two months at Top Food, helped bring in hundreds of pounds of food and supplies.
Boy and Girl Scout troops also stepped up, as well as numerous individuals who wrote checks.
"One lady handed me a check for $500," Becker said. "Another lady handed me a check for $3,000!
"She said they had been very blessed and wanted to contribute to the food bank."
Unfortunately, when the holidays end, people get back to their busy lives, forgetting that those who are less fortunate still need help. The shelves are empty; the volunteers drift away.
"In January, everything comes to a screeching halt," Becker said.
Not only does the food bank still need donations, it needs motivated volunteers – particularly on non-distribution days.
"I need volunteers who want to take on something steady," Becker said.
For example, the food bank has 42 pickups every week, from government and social service agencies to grocery stores.
Each food bank has to adhere to a specific schedule or risk losing out on receiving needed supplies.
Retirees looking to make a contribution are always welcome. Likewise, young people, perhaps students looking to burnish their resumes, are encouraged.
But Becker said those volunteers must be dependable.
"We need someone who is available every Thursday, or every Saturday," he said, "and be dedicated to it."
To learn more about how you can help, contact the food bank at 425-778-5833 or email email@example.com.
If you can't volunteer, but still want to help, consider making regular donations a part of your weekly grocery shopping list.
In particular, protein is always needed, such as tuna fish or peanut butter. In addition, items for babies and toddlers are in regular demand, including baby food, apple juice, and baby wipes. Of course, you can never go wrong donating money.
Finally, if you need help, don't hesitate to ask.
Kennedy said they are well aware of how hard it can be to take that step.
"People feel like they're a failure," she said, "so we try to make it as pleasant as possible."
The food bank operates out of the Edmonds United Methodist Church, 828 Caspers St., Edmonds.
It is open 50 weeks a year, serving Edmonds residents from 9:30-11 a.m. Tuesdays and then anyone in need beginning at 11 a.m.
For more information, visit the Edmonds Food Bank website at www.edmondsumc.org.


text:
missing my step kids
well here go's im a mom of 3 bio kids and a step mom of 3 also,my husband and i have not see our doughter in a year because her mom dose not like me just because her kids love me and not her boyfriend i have tried to be nice and it works for a while but she is always useing the kids to get to my husband he is heartbroken over not seeing his kids i dont know what else to do we have tryed court and she called cps on us a week before and told a huge lie that her doughter was raped witch she wasent but the court took all my husbands rights away and now we have no contact unless she sneaks to call us we resintly moved out of the state they live in and all of a sudden she wants to talk to him her kids are 18,16,12 and all have cell phones the 12 year old is the one she keeps from us she took her phone from her because she was calling her dad its so frustrateing,sorry for the spelling not so good at it.thanks for letting me vent.
That sounds really tough. Especially for the 12 year old. How sad for her.
Did the daughter say that what her mom said was a lie? I would hope that at her age the court would listen to her.
Sounds like a tough situation. Its always the kids I feel sorry fo


text:
Author has written 3 stories for Rurouni Kenshin, Demon Hunter, and Carpathian Series.
I could give you an outline of my life story, or tell you what I think I am or am not. But I think I'll give an answer as to how I ended up here, with an account on this website, posting stories about other people's works.
Back in kindergarten we were asked to pick a favorite book character and to dress up as that character and bring to book to class one day. I chose to create my own charter and write a book around that so that I could dress how I wanted to dress. The funny thing is that it took me until the beginning of high school to figure out that I wanted to write. What can I say, some times I miss what's sitting right there under my nose.
What I had figured out before that was the fact that my mind will chew things over and come up with it's own ideas of how that episode should end, what the character should do next, how I would have wrapped up that scene. There are practically no TV shows, books, or anything like that, which I have been exposed to and haven't come up with my own idea for.
As far as writing goes, I have ideas for dozens of books running through my head. But I am not going to school to be a writer. I have been asked by several people why and it comes down to a couple of simple things. One being that most people who go to school for writing do so to become journalists. I have not interest in doing that for a living, so that was out. The other reason is that I don't think I could support myself with my writing. That reason is both logic and a lack of confidence speaking. But both of those contribute to why I have this account.
Why would a writing spend time working on projects that they could never (legally) use to further their career? Again, there are a few factors. One is the basic fact that practice makes perfect, and I want to keep improving, thus, I need to keep writing. Also, this is a way for me to put work out there for feedback and not have to worry about losing my own ideas for later use. Finally, there is a kind of confidence/pride/joy that comes from knowing that people are reading my work and find it interesting enough to keep going. Which in turn helps me to keep going, with the story that is. And who knows, maybe, just maybe, this may be a stepping stone to get where I dream of being; a well known and prolific author.
What ever happens though, this allows me to do what I love and to find out what other people think in a way that I couldn't get any where else. I hope you enjoy my writing, and thank you for stopping by.


text:
While a resident at the Northwest Center, I was able to continue my college studies, while provide a safe upbringing for my son. We came into the home when my son was just six weeks old and we left when he was about 14 months old, two months after I graduated college and was leaving for my first corporate job. The NWC helped make sure I was prepared with a safe place to live, great daycare, easily accessible public transportation, it aligned me with professional and career mentors from Georgetown University, helped me learn the importance of being very disciplined with healthy eating and cooking habits, while also making sure that I used every resource that was available to me. The NWC linked me up with scholarships, stipends and any other resource that could give me any kind of competitive edge towards succeeding against the odds. I thank God that I was able to get into that program and I don't even want to imagine if it did not exist for me and my son. This is an incredible place and home for women and children who are in a stage of transition and need additional help and guidance through life's adversities from making poor life choices. The Northwest Center gives a woman hope and helps her feel like there is a new day coming.
I am a single father and when my son was a week old I found myself in a situation I never imagined being in. I developed several mental health disorders, had lost my job, and my son's mother left him in my care. With no family to ask for help, I was referred to the Northwest Center by some friends who told me I could get free diapers there. What my son and I received ended up being far more significant and life-changing. The friendship and compassion the center offered us helped me so much during this difficult time. They helped me navigate my way through the complicated social service system. I had no income and they were able to provide my son with books, toys, clothing, a playpen, diapers...there was even food there, and chairs and shelves for his things at home. They provided me with instructional videos and pamphlets, parenting and safety class information and were able to answer any questions I had about parenting or anything I needed from the city. The staff at the center were always there to just talk and share in my enjoyment during each milestone in our lives. Today, our situation has greatly improved and I can honestly say that we wouldn't be where we are today had it not been for the Northwest Center. I think for the rest of my life, even when my son is grown up, I'll always remember the difficulties that we overcame the first few years of his life and those who helped us. I'll remember that I looked for help in virtually every available place in DC...churches, unemployment services, fatherhood organizations/websites, other centers claiming to offer what the Northwest Center does, disability services, food banks, diaper banks and clothing drives, DC Council-members, Latino organizations, even the Mayor's office. Nobody provided what they claimed to offer except the Northwest Center. Anybody affiliated with government services just went through the motions and provided the bare minimum of what they legally had to...but the Northwest Center genuinely cared about us and I think that's what made the biggest difference. I'm forever grateful to them for all they've done for us and we still visit them often to say hi and now we donate our things for their other clients in need.


text: Risks By Mayo Clinic Staff Print There's no medical risk associated with being tested for a BRCA gene mutation other than the slight risks — including lightheadedness, bleeding or bruising — of having your blood drawn. Other consequences surrounding genetic testing include the emotional, financial, medical and social implications of your test results. If you test positive for a BRCA gene mutation, you may face: Feelings of anxiety, anger, sadness or depression Concerns over possible insurance discrimination Strained family relationships over learning of a familial genetic mutation Difficult decisions about preventive measures that have long-term consequences Feelings of inevitability that you'll get cancer On the other hand, if you test negative for a BRCA mutation or your results aren't clear-cut — for example, you have a genetic variation, but one that hasn't been associated with cancer in other people — you may experience: "Survivor guilt" if your family has a known gene mutation that may affect your loved ones (if you receive a negative result) Uncertainty and concern that your result may not be a true negative result (if your results show you have a gene variant of uncertain significance) Your genetic counselor can help you work through your feelings and provide you and your family support throughout this process. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Why it's doneHow you prepare Sept. 01, 2016 Print Share on: FacebookTwitter References BRCA1 and BRCA2: Cancer risk and genetic testing. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/brca-fact-sheet. Accessed June 3, 2016. Peshkin BN, et al. Genetic counseling and testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed June 3, 2016. AskMayoExpert. Genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2014. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer in women: Recommendation statement. American Family Physician. 2015;91:118A. Peshkin BN, et al. BRCA1 and BRCA2-associated hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed June 3, 2016. Niederhuber JE, et al., eds. Genetic factors: Hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes. In: Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2014. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed June 3, 2016. Raby BA, et al. Genetic counseling and testing. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed June 3, 2016. Isaacs C, et al. Management of patients at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed June 3, 2016. Stan DL, et al. Challenging and complex decisions in the management of the BRCA mutation carrier. Journal of Women's Health. 2013;22:825. Pruthi S (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. July 20, 2016. Brendish KH (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Phoenix/Scottsdale, Ariz. July 20, 2016. Genetic/familial high-risk assessment: Breast and ovarian. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/f_guidelines.asp. Accessed July 20, 2016. Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., have been recognized among the top Cancer hospitals in the nation for 2017-2018 by U.S. News & World Report. Learn more about this top honor BRCA gene test for breast and ovarian cancer riskOverviewProcedure detailsWhy it's doneRisksHow you prepareWhat you can expectResultsClinical trialsMore aboutResources Advertisement Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Advertising & Sponsorship Policy Opportunities Ad Choices Mayo Clinic Store Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. 4 Simple Steps to a Joy-Filled LifeNEW! Mayo Clinic Guide to Integrative MedicineStop Osteoporosis in its TracksMayo Clinic on Healthy AgingThe Mayo Clinic Diet Online Procedure detailsRequest an AppointmentClinical trials PRC-20198299 Patient Care & Health Information Tests & Procedures BRCA gene test


text:
The SWA 156th Annual Exhibition Awards Results
Patron: HRH Princess Michael of KentPresident: Soraya French Exec. Secretary: Rebecca Cotton Click here to email
Patsy Whiting SWA Roses on a Socket Set Jackson's Visitors Award.
HRH Princess Michael of Kent Award Maureen Davies 'Glimpse of the Abbey'
President and Vice-Presidents choice Award Gill Brown ASWA 'Body of work'
The Barbara Tate Award Christine Southworth 'Body of Work'
The Caron Keating Art Award Debby Faulkner-Stevens 'Body of Work'
St. Cuthberts Mill Award 'Curioso' by Cathy Spearing
Winsor & Newton Fine Art Award Cath Inglis 'Robin, Artist, Poet and Writer'
President and Vice-Presidents Choice Gill Brown 'Body of Work'
The Frank Herring & Sons Easel AwardMary St. George 'James Whistler'
Premium Art Brands Special Award For a Young Artist Kate Morgan 'Chameleon'
Rosemary & Co. Art Prize Sarah Kayci Curtis 'Anna Pavlova'
London Art Co Uk Prize Angela Gordon Webb 'Life Is'
London Art Co Uk Special Sculpture Prize Dee Stanford 'Sovereignty of Women'
The Great Art Award Henrietta Abel Smith 'Dodger'
'The Artist' Editor's Choice Award Anne Blankson Hemans 'The Tomato Seller;
The Derwent Award Vanessa Jayne 'The Power of Imagination'
Artifolk Award Sarah Ball 'Nature Morte'


text:
More Information About Diet to Shape Up Your Heart
If you think genetics have your heart-health doomed, there's hope. New and emerging research published in the July 2010 issue of The American Heart Association's Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes found that among middle-aged male twins, those who consumed a diet that most closely resembled a Mediterranean-style way of eating had a higher heart-rate variability. That's an indication that the heart is more flexible in keeping up with all of life's everyday physical trials. Conversely, low heart-rate variability is associated with an elevated risk for coronary-artery disease.
Need a refresher on what, exactly, makes up a Mediterranean diet? Here's the gist: You fill your day with whole grains, fresh produce, nuts, seeds and fish, and add in small amounts of dairy and red wine (keeping an eye on portion sizes, as with any healthy eating plan). Generally, you have red meat only a few times a month. The Mediterranean diet is also marked by using unsaturated fats like olive oil instead of using animal fats, such as butter. If you're used to buttering your pasta, vegetables or bread, try instead using a dash of olive oil. Or to replace some of the saturated fat in your diet, experiment with going meatless one day of the week. Relying on Smart Balance® Rich Roast Chunky or Creamy Peanut Butter or other meatless protein-packed staples like beans can help you feel full and satisfied.
Some people can't get over that the Mediterranean diet encourages using fats like olive oil instead of skimping like other diets suggest. But olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fat, which of all the fats has the least negative impact on your cholesterol levels. The truth is, fats—the right combination of fats, that is—are important to your overall health. They provide the second-highest level of satiety after protein.
Some Bad Effects Of Smoking
It's no news that smoking is the number one preventable cause of heart disease. And everyone knows quitting is crucial. You even know what to do. Thing is, it's hard. Really hard. And it's all too easy to give up. That's why we asked former smokers to share how they quit for good—so you might, too. Good luck!
– "Break the day into small increments," suggests Susan G., from Washington, DC. "It feels more manageable and helps build momentum." So instead of focusing on how you have to go cigarette-free the entire day, focus on getting through the next three hours, or even hour by hour. At the end of the day, give yourself a little reward.
– "I smoked a pack a day for 10 years. Then I quit cold turkey the day the pregnancy test came up positive," says Oakland, California, resident Leah H., who says she was too sick to miss it. "That was 16 years ago." No one's suggesting you get pregnant for the sole purpose of quitting (please!). The takeaway here is this: Sometimes focusing on how the other people in your life will benefit—along with you, of course—can provide that extra motivation.
– Do an inventory of your life and decide if smoking will allow you to continue the things you enjoy, says L. P., a teacher from Berkeley, California, who'd been an on-and-off smoker for years. She enjoyed hiking and spending time outdoors with family, and when smoking left her breathless, she says, "It needed to go."
– "Bury yourself in facts about how smoking can kill you," says Peter S., a sound engineer who quit 10 years ago with the help of a month-long smoking cessation program in San Francisco. The class provided the risks in an unadorned, straightforward fashion, and every time he felt like reaching for a smoke, he ran down the list. "It was a scared-straight tactic." (One fact that felled him was this message from a doctor: "By the time we detect lung cancer, it's usually too late.")
– "I didn't use patches or gum. Instead, I just swam or biked when I felt the urge to smoke," says journalist M. Shapiro, who found it most challenging attending parties where others were smoking. "But I just decided to quit and stuck to it."
The Best 10 Superfoods for Heart Health
While many factors affect heart disease, the FDA recommends eating foods that are high in fiber and low in fat, sodium and cholesterol to reduce the risk of this disease. Make these 10 foods a regular part of your diet to keep your ticker happily ticking:
1. Almonds. These nuts have heart-healthy nutrients and unsaturated fatty acids. Studies show that almonds may help improve the lining of the arteries and maintain cholesterol levels already within normal limits. Stick to a small handful, though. Almonds are calorie-dense and can lead to weight gain if you overdo it. If almonds aren't your thing, you can get similar benefits from Smart Balance® Rich Roast Peanut Butters, which contain excellent levels of ALA Omega-3.
2. Avocado. This fruit has plenty of healthy fats. Avocados have monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, vitamin E, fiber and folic acid, and avocados contribute nearly 20 vitamins, minerals and nutrients to the diet. Avocados are high in calories, though, so keep an eye on your portions here as well.
3. Blueberries. Blueberries have an abundance of plant chemicals called anthocyanins that can help maintain a healthy heart. Blueberries are a good source of fiber and rank as one of the best sources of antioxidants.
4. Broccoli. This cruciferous veggie helps support a healthy cardiovascular system. Rich in vitamins C and K, broccoli is also one of the green vegetables that also help maintain a healthy immune system.
5. Cantaloupe. Cantaloupe is a good source of potassium, which helps regulate the body's hydration level and is essential to proper functioning of the cells and organs. What's more, potassium plays an important role in regulating blood pressure already within normal limits.
6. Carrots. Known as a great source of beta-carotene, carrots are also a source of fiber. Raw carrots have Potassium, Vitamin K, Manganese and Vitamin C, giving the body a healthy dose of nutrition.
7. Ground flaxseed. Freshly ground flaxseed is a wonderful plant source of ALA Omega-3 fatty acids, healthy fats that can only be obtained from food, as the body cannot produce them on its own. Omega-3 fatty acids work to support normal blood clotting, and they help build cell membranes in the brain. Many Smart Balance® products contain ALA Omega-3, including our buttery spreads, cooking oils, peanut butters and mayo.
8. Oatmeal. A bowl of oatmeal goes a long way in helping maintain cholesterol levels already within normal limits, which in turn helps support a healthy heart and cardiovascular system. A neutral base, oats can be healthied-up even more by tossing in fruit or nuts.
9. Brown rice. When brown rice is stripped and polished to produce "white rice," many of its nutrients are stripped away in the process. Brown rice is only missing its outermost layer and is a more nutritious option than white rice. High in manganese, brown rice provides cell protection, and the bran oil in the grain works to maintain cholesterol and blood pressure levels already within normal limits.
10. Salmon. This cold-water fish is one of the best sources of Omega-3 fatty acids around, those wonder fats that help maintain blood pressure levels already within normal limits. Eat at least two servings a week and you're covered. If you can, opt for wild salmon over farmed, as they typically have fewer contaminants, including PCBs.
Let's Learn About Healthy Eating Around the Clock
Go ahead and have a slice of (turkey) bacon with your eggs at breakfast in exchange for higher-fat items later in the day. This simple switch, as part of a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may actually help support heart health. In a new study published in the International Journal of Obesity, mice that ate a high-fat breakfast weighed less and had lower body fat than mice that ate similarly high-fat meals later in the day. Plus, the mice that nibbled high-fat meals close to bedtime had abnormal blood-sugar levels and high triglycerides, both of which work against maintaining heart health. Yes they're mice, and what works in mice doesn't always apply to humans, but this study provides food for thought.
"The enzymes your body needs to break down fat are most active after you wake up," says Molly Bray, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health and author of the study. "And the ones needed to store fat are most active at the end of the day." So take advantage of your body's natural fat-burning cycle: Front load your day with higher healthy-fat foods and shift to lower-fat foods as the hours wear on.
Here is a sample healthy meal plan to help you eat healthier all day long—and using Smart Balance® products can make it even easier:
Breakfast: Two Omega-3 Grade A Natural Large Eggs; 1 slice of whole-wheat toast with a tablespoon Rich Roast Peanut Butter; half-cup of orange juice.
Lunch: Turkey and cheese sub with a tablespoon Light Mayonnaise Dressing, lettuce and tomato; 1 package of light potato chips; apple slices (3 ounces); 1 can diet soda.
Snack: try vegetables with yogurt dip (half-cup each of celery, cucumber, broccoli and cherry tomatoes, plus half-cup low-fat yogurt).
Dinner: Roasted skinless chicken breast (3 ounces); mixed salad with low-fat dressing; 1-cup broccoli; 1 orange. Skinless light-meat chicken or turkey; many species of fish are ideal for lunch or dinner, since they're typically low in fat.
Know More About B Vitamins and Your Heart
It turns out that Popeye was right all along…it can really pay to load up on B vitamin- rich spinach. New and emerging research based on a recent Japanese study published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association found that Japanese women who ate the most dietary folate and B6 were less likely to die from stroke, heart disease or heart failure. And the Japanese men who ate the most were significantly less likely to die from heart failure. The evidence for an association between dietary intakes of folate and B vitamins and the risk of cardiovascular disease in Asian populations remains limited and further studies are needed. That being said, my take-home from this study? Instead of thinking only about the foods we shouldn't eat for our heart, let's starting focusing on all the great foods we should.
Since folate and vitamin B6 are found in a variety of foods, the best way to add them to your day is to simply consume a well-rounded diet brimming with a few healthy specifics. Leafy-green vegetables, broccoli, beans and lentils, orange juice and avocados are great ways to get more natural sources of folate in your diet. And meats, fish, nuts, legumes, whole grains and some fruits and vegetables (such as bananas, spinach, potatoes and avocados) are great sources of vitamin B6.
Luckily, those aren't obscure foods, and you can easily find them in just about any grocery store year-round. But why not add a little fun to your quest to improve the nutrition quality of your diet? This time of year, local farm markets are bursting with vitamin-rich greens and veggies; and often local suppliers are also there peddling freshly caught fish, just-baked whole-grain breads, and other meats to help you get your B6 fix. And since local produce has more vitamins (the nutritional integrity begins to deteriorate the moment food is harvested), it's a perfect way to stock up your diet with the healthiest possible picks.
If there's no time to go to the market, do a little research to see if your community has a local-produce delivery. This summer, for the first time, I've signed up to have my veggies dropped right at my door, and it's always fresh, seasonal produce that comes from a collection of farms no more than a 100-mile radius from my city. No kidding, I anticipate the box on delivery day as much as I do a birthday gift—and it's not because I'm a dietitian, either. What's not to love about a big crate loaded with beautifully green superstars? So far it's been packed with the most tender broccoli I've ever eaten, an unusual variety of leafy green kale and mild baby spinach, just to name a few. Even my mustard-greens-wary husband happily is enjoying the bounty, and last night, my veggie-discriminating toddler ate Napa cabbage! There's no question that we're eating more veggies—and definitely trying (and enjoying) new things. But best of all, if you're eating local produce, you're not only helping your ticker, you're also gaining the satisfaction of supporting proud community farmers. So, what's good for the heart can be good for the soul!
The Best 6 Heart Healthier Tips
Rich in bone-strengthening calcium and containing potassium, dairy helps maintain healthy blood pressure levels already within normal limits. Combined with a low-sodium diet and muscle-building protein, dairy products are important to a balanced diet. The USDA, in fact, recommends children get at least two cups' worth each day; adults need three cups. But not all types of dairy are created equal: Some are laden with fats and calories. So when to indulge and when to go fat-free? We've got the answers. Just use our stress-free guide to navigating the dairy aisle:
It does a body good, yes—it's even fortified with Vitamin D—but an 8-ounce cup of whole milk has 149 calories and 8 grams of fat, 5 grams of which are saturated. That's roughly a quarter of your daily saturated fat requirement. 2% milk doesn't fare that much better: One cup has 3 grams of saturated fat, which is about 15 percent of your daily total. That's probably more than you thought, right? So as much as you can, pour fat-free varieties. For those who miss the creaminess of whole or 2% milk, Smart Balance® milks are infused with dry milk solids so they taste like their fuller-bodied counterpart. Plus, they contain essential Omega-3s. If you really can't live without your full-fat milk, try the Smart Balance® Low Fat Milk and Omega-3s, which tastes like whole milk, or just try to use your fuller-fat milks sparingly, counsels Smart Balance dietitian Tammi Hancock, R.D. Add a splash in your coffee, or in healthy recipes that call for a tablespoon or two of milk.
A little goes a long way toward your USDA recommended daily dairy requirements: A tablespoon of regular hard cheese—parmesan, for instance—equals a quarter-cup serving of dairy, while a half-cup of cottage cheese amounts to about a quarter-cup serving. Delicious as it is, cheese does tend to be higher in fat and calories than many other dairy products, so do keep an eye on your portions overall.
With so many options, experts often recommend going the nonfat or lower-fat route when it comes to yogurt. It's important to make sure your preferred brand's not excessively sweetened; if the ingredients include fructose, sucrose or corn syrup, that means extra sugar has been added, which may be great for the taste buds but not for the waistline. Another tip: Greek yogurt's higher in protein than traditional yogurts, which makes it more satisfying.
You can take some nutritional pressure off by skipping old-fashioned (fat-laden) butter and choosing butter alternatives such as Smart Balance® Buttery Spreads, which have a patented blend of vegetable oils that provide a rich, buttery taste with less fat and fewer calories. Or Smart Balance® Spreadable Butters and Smart Balance® Blended Butter Sticks, both made with naturally sourced plant sterols which helps to block the absorption of the cholesterol in the butter.
They're not exactly dairy, but they do live in the dairy aisle. Eggs are high in dietary cholesterol, but eating up to 1 egg per day is unlikely to have a substantial overall impact on heart health among healthy men and women, according to a landmark study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Want a bigger serving? Scramble a batch of egg whites with one whole egg.
Freezer aisle detour: Ice cream, frozen yogurt and other treats
No question: There's nothing like a scoop of these cold, sweet treats on a hot day. Frozen yogurts tend to be lower in fat, but sometimes, nothing else but the real deal will do. If so, go for single-serving cups and popsicles that will limit portions, suggests New Orleans sports and lifestyle nutritionist Molly Kimball, R.D. Puddings and other similar milk-based desserts are better in low- or nonfat incarnations, but they're often chock-full of sugar, so let the nutrition labels be your guide.
Should You Know About Trans Fat and Heart Health
I've heard I should stay away from trans fat because I have high cholesterol. What foods have trans fat? And are they really that bad?
A: What you've heard is true—trans fat really are that bad. Eliminating as many sources of trans fat from your diet as possible is an important part of taking care of your heart and health. In fact, everyone should avoid them, even people who don't have high cholesterol. Here's what you need to know about these fats and why they're so unhealthy for your heart:
Trans fat are created when a liquid fat is chemically altered to become a solid. Some food companies and restaurants use trans fat in products because they offer an inexpensive way to add flavor and texture to foods and increase shelf life. You'll most often find man-made trans fat in baked goods, including pastries, pie crusts, biscuits, crackers; certain stick margarines (all Smart Balance® products are trans-fat free); and shortening. They can also be present in fried foods like French fries and fried chicken.
Research shows that consuming trans fat has a double-whammy effect on your heart health by raising your LDL (bad) cholesterol while lowering your HDL (good) cholesterol. According to the American Heart Association, trans fat can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke, and possibly type-2 diabetes.
You can spot trans fat in foods by religiously reading labels on packaged foods. It's especially important to carefully scan the labels of the foods listed above, but keep in mind that many unsuspecting foods, like breakfast cereal and coffee creamer, can also contain trans fat. First check the nutrition facts panel; the FDA now requires all food manufactures to list trans fat. But even if the trans fat line reads "0 grams", the food's not necessarily in the clear yet. There's a loophole in labeling that allows manufacturers to label a product as having 0 grams of trans fat as long as it has fewer than 0.5 grams per serving. It seems like a small amount, but considering that the American Heart Association recommends getting less than 2 grams of trans fat a day, you could easily surpass it. If you eat two or three servings of a product with .49 grams of trans fat, you're almost at that daily limit. Plus, there are some naturally occurring trans fat in foods like meat and dairy, and while experts are not sure if they have the same negative impact on your cholesterol, they do count towards the total daily intake. So along with looking at the Nutrition Facts, always remember to check the ingredients list. If you see "partially hydrogenated oil," the product contains trans fat—and is worth reconsidering.
Tips For Healthier Heart in 10 Minutes
You already know that living an active life is critical for a healthy heart. In fact, it lowers your heart disease risk from head to toe. The good news is that it doesn't take much to reap the benefits of regular cardio. The American Heart Association and American College of Sports Medicine recommend getting at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (the equivalent of a brisk walk) five days of each week—or vigorous aerobic activity (jogging, for instance) for at least 20 minutes on three days. Even better, you can meet that 30-minute goal by breaking up your activity into 10-minute bouts. Rev up your activity level with the following 10-minute exercise suggestions from Larysa DiDio, a personal trainer and owner of PFX Gym in Pleasantville, New York. They all count toward your daily goal, and you'll get a calorie-burning boost as well:
– Dance to your favorite songs (54 calories)
– Go for a walk with a friend or your spouse after dinner (38 calories)
– Play a game of of tag with your kids or grandkids (46 calories)
– Challenge your spouse to a game of badminton (52 calories)
– Work in the garden with a shovel (46 calories)
– Sit on a physioball instead of a chair when working at your computer (28 calories)
– Walk your dog (32 calories)
– Push your child or grandchild in a stroller (28 calories)
– Jump on a mini trampoline (such as the Bosu) in front of the TV (40 calories)
The Reasons Why Working Too Much Really is Bad for Your Heart
If you've been burning the midnight oil at work, you might want to forward this blog to your boss. New and emerging research published recently in the European Heart Journal found that British civil service employees who worked 11 to 12 hours per day had a significantly higher risk of heart attack, angina or coronary death than those who clocked a normal eight-hour workday. The link between heart disease and overtime work, researchers suggested, could be explained by "type A" behavior (such as aggressive, competitive and perfectionist tendencies), stress (like depression and anxiety) and possibly not enough sleep—or enough time to unwind before hitting the hay.
Studies like these serve as a good reminder that controlling your heart health isn't just about nutrition and fitness. These days, the (relative!) convenience of smartphones, laptops and other work-from-home tools, make it all too easy to blur the lines between business hours and downtime. If you regularly find yourself working overtime, then maybe it's time to reevaluate your work-life balance and make some changes. After all, if you're trying to improve upon your diet and level of physical activity in order to manage your heart-disease risk, improving your work-life balance should take equal priority. Easier said than done, I know.
A good way to start is to simply designate one day per week that you'll work reasonable hours. When you've got that routine under your belt, try for more days during the week, if you can. But if an eight-hour day just isn't possible for you, the good news is that the study found working a just a few (one or two) overtime hours won't come at an expense to your health. Just as you keep a careful eye on the food you eat, make it your mission to be conscious of the hours you work, too.
So, on that note, I think I'll close my laptop and sign off. It's quittin' time.
Some Ways Being Active Helps Your Heart
Sure, you know that living an active life is good for your ticker. But do you really know why exercise is such a powerful heart-disease protector? Be active, and see all that you'll reap:
1. Better blood-sugar control. People with diabetes have a significantly higher risk of heart problems, so anything that keeps that disease in check protects the heart, too.
2. Improved circulation. Your heart is a muscle, and exercise helps make it stronger. A strong heart pumps blood more efficiently, and delivers more oxygen and nutrients to every inch of your body. This improvement in circulation increases energy levels so you can do more activities without getting tired.
3. Lower blood pressure. Being active helps reduce the risk of developing high-blood pressure, and it helps control it if it sets in.
4. Healthier cholesterol levels. Physical activity increases HDL (good) cholesterol, decreases LDL (bad) cholesterol and decreases triglycerides.
5. Reduced stress. Exercise triggers biochemical changes in your brain that temper feelings of anxiety and depression, a condition that has been linked to heart disease.
6. Weight loss. Sweating it out forces the body to burn more calories, which means there are fewer available that can be stored as fat.
7. Sounder sleep. Living actively can help improve the quality of your sleep as well as help you fall asleep faster. And that's good new for your heart: Research has linked chronic sleep deprivation to heart disease.
8. Appetite control. Working it may help curb your appetite, which can make it easier to lose and control your weight.
9. More efficient fat metabolism. Exercising after a high-fat meal can help reverse some of the damage that fat does to your arteries.
10. Improved symptoms. If you already have heart disease, exercise may decrease symptoms of angina (chest discomfort) and heart failure. Ready to get moving? Get the all clear from your doctor and check out these resources for starting an exercise program.


text:
Quick Details
- Use: Credit Card
- Material: Aluminum, Aluminum and ABS
- Brand Name: CHINWE
- Model Number: MX105-S
- aluminum card holder: 109x72x20MM
- Color: According to customer needs
- Size: 109x72x20MM
- Packing: 1/opp/white box
- Printing method: Laser printing/silk-screen/thermal transfer
Packaging & Delivery
|Packaging Details
|1PCS/Polybag/White box 20PCS/Ineer box 200PCS/Strong Carton
|Delivery Time
|Within 20 days after receipt of deposit
Specificationsaluminum card holder
Slim, Lightweight to fit in pocket or purse
Protects credit cards from privacy RFID scanning thieves
Aluminum card holder
Slim, Lightweight to fit in pocket or purse
Protects credit cards from privacy Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) scanning thieves
Organizes and fits your credit cards, ID card, membership cards and photos in just a 3/4" profile!
How to Use
Push in the black tab to open the wallet.
Fan open the cover of the wallet to access the 7 separate slots.
Close the wallet until you hear a 'click' to indicate that the wallet is securely closed.
Note: Do not open the Aluminium Wallet whilst the black tab is pointing towards the ground.
Measures: 4-1/4" x 2-3/4"
Aluminum card holder
1.Item No.MX105-S
2.Material of wallet: Aluminum and ABS
4. Logo brand printing by Silk-screen or laser engrave is available
5.7 Layers inside
6.Sample time with logo 2 days is ok.
7.Supply Ability 250000PCS/Each Month
8.OEM design of aluminum wallet is welcome
9.High quality and competitive price for Aluminum card holder are ensured.
10.Delivery on time for pocket mirror is respected.
11.Always punctual and professional reply about Aluminum card holder
12.Please feel free to contact us for more detailed information of Aluminum card holder
B:The color you can choose
C:The Packing you can choose
1.White box
2.Small blister
3.Dou blister
D:Other styles
2.MX118- Pattern
E:New Items Arrivals
1.Aluminum coin dispenser.Euro Coin Wallet.
Item No.CD301
2.Big size aluminum wallet
F:If your order less than 1000PCS.You can buy from our aliexpress store.
All price is free shipping charge by Fedex or DHL.


text:
Snack Attack: Craving Salt?
So often when I want a pick-me-up snack, I'm craving something quick and salty. But reaching for a high-carb snack such as crackers or pretzels, often leaves me feeling even more tired.
Why not make a high-protein salty treat ahead of time that you can stick in the fridge and reach for anytime you need to satisfy that craving?
Baked Tofu doesn't take much time to make.
1 block of extra firm tofu (press it between 2 plates to get all the extra water out)
Tamari or soy sauce
Thyme, Dill and Cumin
Pre-heat the oven to 350°F. Slice the tofu in 1/4 inch slabs, then cut those in half, so each piece is about as big as 2 quarters. Place all the pieces flat on an oiled cookie sheet. Pour tamari on every piece to "stain" them tan. Drop a dab of honey on every piece. Then sprinkle each piece with thyme, dill, and cumin. Bake for 30-40 min, or until the tofu looks firm and dry.
Why we love it:
Tofu is a great source of protein.
Honey is a much better option than sugar because it contains vitamins and minerals.
Fit's Tip: It's delicious eaten alone, but why not put it in a sandwich, or top it on your salad.


text:
Residents in Stobhill will be sprouting green fingers as they dig into free gardening sessions.
Groundwork is offering the weekly activities to help plant up new raised beds at Stobhill Community Centre in Ninth Avenue.
Participants will learn all about composting, caring for plants and growing their own, and there will be plenty of take-home seeds and plants to get them started on their own gardens.
Project Officer James Stafford said: "We have put these raised beds in and the idea is that we will get them planted up at the same time as people learn a little bit more about growing their own vegetables and flowers.
"The sessions are open to everybody, but we would like children to come with an adult.
"This is part of ongoing improvements we are making in Stobhill, working with the community."
Local county councillor Ian Lindley said: "We are very pleased that James is leading these fun sessions in Stobhill. I have learned loads just preparing for them.
"I hope that plenty of people come along and help improve the area, grow some vegetables or plants to take away and learn from Groundwork's expertise."
The sessions take place at the community centre every Monday, from 3.30pm to 4.30pm. No booking is required and people can attend as many as they like.
For more information contact James Stafford on 01670 514876 or email email@example.com


text:
STARmeterSEE RANK
Up 75 this week
Brit Morgan
Brit Morgan was born on September 24, 1987 in Marlton, New Jersey, USA as Brittany Morgan Dengler. She is an actress, known for Friend Request (2016), She Wants Me (2012) and Brotherly Love (2014). See full bio »
Born:in Marlton, New Jersey, USA
More at IMDbPro » Contact Info: View agent, manager and legal
Represent Brit Morgan? Add contact information


text: My daughter is turning 7 next month and I would really like to throw her a tea party kind of birthday. I want the whole thing, the chairs, table, and cups/saucers, kind of an English vibe. You get the picture. She likes that kind of things. Where can I go to have it done? We live in La Mirada, close to Knott's Berry Farm. I would like cookies, pastries, maybe sandwiches. It will probably be for 4-5 girls around that age.


text:
Tagged: background, excerpt
This is probably a really obvious question, but despite trying I can't find out how to do it… I want to posts to display only excerpts and "read more", instead of the whole post. Where is the setting for this?
Also, I have changed the background colour in the CSS, but a banner of #f4f4f4, about 300 pixels high, remains at the top, directly below the banner image. Where in the CSS do I get rid of this?
To show only an excerpt of the post you need to make use of the "read more" button. When writing a post or page the button is located above the textarea, right beside the add/remove link buttons.
This is located in style.css. its the background image applied to the body tag
Hi Kriesi
Thanks very much! But just re the background colour: I changed it in style.css, which gives me my preferred colour on most of the screen, but just not that top area directly below the banenr. This is the code:
font: normal 0.75em Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;
background-position:top left;
…is there somewhere else that sets the background colour for that section? Or is something else interfering there?
Thanks in advance!
Aha! Great, thanks!
The topic 'Communizine – excerpts and background colour' is closed to new replies.


text:
GigaOM Structure 2013
by: QuickMobile • 1
All Android applications categories
by: QuickMobile • 1
This application is intended for use by attendees of the GigaOM Structure conference being held June 19-20, 2013. The application enables users to view the event schedule, read speaker bios, see sponsor information, exchange contact information and instant message with attendees.
You must be a registered attendee of GigaOM Structure 2013 to use this application.
from 1 reviews
Download GigaOM Structure 2013
Free - 1.0 - 8M
Share this app


text:
New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire, who has claimed for years that he has "Hebrew roots," was invited by the president of Israel on Thursday to play for the country's national basketball team, according to a report from the Associated Press.
The oft-injured NBA player is currently in Israel to coach the Canadian basketball team in an annual sports competition of Jewish athletes known as the Maccabiah Games. Israel's president, Shimon Peres, met with the six-time All-Star on Thursday and reportedly urged him to play for the national team. Stoudemire has traveled to Israel during the offseason in the past and was recently involved in talks with a group looking to possibly purchase Israeli basketball team Hapoel Jerusalem.
The 30-year-old former NBA Rookie of the Year signed a five-year, $99 million contract with the Knicks in 2010 but because of various injuries has played in only 76 games in the last two seasons. Since coming into the league out of high school in 2002, he has averaged 21.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.
SI WIRE: Report: Lakers eye LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony for 2014


text:
Bemidji Garden Club members tend to library plantings
Members of the Bemidji Garden Club spent Monday evening pruning and pulling weeds at the planters in front of Bemidji Public Library. From left, Linda Autry, Dot Thompson, Liz Nichols and Phyllis Williams begin by pruning the shrubs. Monte Draper | Bemidji Pioneer


text:
By Public Relations |
February 15, 2006
The Diary of Anne Frank, one of the most widely acclaimed plays to ever grace the theatrical stage, will be presented by the Bethel College theatre arts department on February 2, 3 and 4 in the Everest-Rohrer Chapel/Fine Arts Center Auditorium. Each performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. The February 3rd performance will be interpreted for the d/Deaf community.
This story of eight people hiding in a concealed storage attic won the 1956 Pulitzer Prize, the Tony Award and the Critics Circle Award. It is highlighted by the bright and charming exploits of the young Jewish girl Anne Frank. The New York Times wrote it is "strange how the shining spirit of a young girl now dead can filter down through the years and inspire a group of theatrical professionals in a foreign land." Freshman Jenni Festa from Hobart, Indiana, will play Anne, while senior Josh Boyer from Bay City, Michigan, will play Mr. Otto Frank. Diana Morford, a freshman from Medicine Lodge, Kansas, will play Mrs. Frank, Andrew Fisher, a freshman from Westland, Michigan, will play Peter Van Daan and the play will be directed by Derrick Null of Bethel's theatre arts department.
Tickets are on sale Monday through Friday from 1-5 p.m. All seats are reserved and may be obtained at the Everest-Rohrer ticket office or by calling 574-257-7633. Admission is $12 for adults, and $10 for seniors, students or groups of 15 or more.
Bethel College is an accredited Christian college of the arts and sciences offering associates, bachelor's and master's degrees in more than 50 areas of study. The current enrollment of 1,964 includes students from 34 states, 17 countries, more than 20 denominational affiliations and 16 percent from culturally diverse backgrounds. Scholarships are available based upon a variety of factors including academic achievement, talent in the arts or athletics, ethnicity and church affiliation. Bethel offers classes at four satellite locations, as well as its Elkhart campus. The main Bethel campus is situated on 75 wooded acres in Mishawaka, Ind.


text:
|Politicians; Deaths -- Simon, Paul (senator)
|Long, Ray
|Dec 10, 2003
|Start Page:
PHOTOS 7 The ex-senator died of heart surgery complications Tuesday. [Paul Martin Simon] (shown before he announced his 1988 presidential run) and first wife Jeanne--who died in February 2000--were the first husband- wife team in the Illinois legislature when they married in 1960. Tribune file photo. Simon (shown in the 1988 South Side St. Patrick's parade) steadfastly held to the notion that government offered the best solution to the country's social problems. Paul Simon and Mayor Harold Washington rallied supporters while waiting for election returns in 1984. That race against incumbent Republican [Charles Percy] was especially bitter. Simon thanks campaign workers in 1972. Tribune file photos. Supporters display signs in Manchester, N.H., in 1988. Simon with Sens. Sam Nunn and John Kerry in 1995.


text:
Outdoor Furniture
We carry a broad selection of outdoor patio furniture made from cedar, FSC "green" hardwoods, recycled plastic, all weather wicker and cast steel.
All Weather Wicker
Each piece is made from premier quality materials such as all-weather wicker, sturdy hardwood, and durable fabric-covered cushions.
Variety of tropical hardwood and wicker chairs - folding arm chairs as well as armless folding chairs, suspended all season wicker swinging chairs
Bamboo Tiki Bars
Our Island style bamboo Tiki Bar can become the center of your entertaining and a perfect complement to your patio, outdoor kitchen or backyard
We have a fun selection of hanging and non-hanging outdoor lounge chairs for you to select from - made from both durable tropical hardwood or wicker


text:
Pre-dawn at Curbar
A fantastic morning at Curbar Edge, As I arrived at Curbar Gap, the thick mist looked like it may obscure the edge. Although it cleared from the edge and sat in the valley, cloud obscured the sunrise, meaning that the best colours were at dawn. Once the sun rose high enough to clear the cloud, it allowed some nice, if a bit harsh, light to hit the land.
Return to: Latest Images or Gallery


text:
Khloe Kardashian, meet Steve Jones.
Kardashian has been booted off "The X Factor" as a co-host of Simon Cowell's talent show. Her predecessor, Jones, was fired as host after the first season.
The Post reported Kardashian, 28, was a goner back in February, but the news has now been confirmed.
"We really enjoyed working with her and wish her all the best in her future endeavors," an "X Factor" spokesperson said of Kardashian in a statement.
Mario Lopez, who co-hosted last season with Kardashian, will return for a third season. Demi Lovato will also return as a judge, Cowell confirmed.
Kardashian's exit is another in a long line of shakeups on "The X Factor."
In addition to Jones, Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger were also canned after the first season.
Original judge LA Reid is now gone, while Britney Spears was axed after the end of last season.


text:
Tina Fey Changes Bodies With Alec Baldwin, Tells Paparazzo To Go F*ck Himself
Well I guess it's a Freaky Friday after all. The usually calm and collected Tina Fey allegedly responded to a paparazzi's question about Taylor Swift yesterday by telling him to go fuck himself. I say allegedly for two reasons. E! Online's link to the video no longer works. And it's Tina Fey. While I'm sure many thing get her upset, I highly doubt Taylor Swift is one of them.
Then again she did spend several years working with Alec Baldwin, a man who's well known for having squabbles with paparazzi. Physical squabbles. Perhaps she channeled him for a few brief moments in an attempt to deal with the photographer's question. Or perhaps she really Freaky-Fridayed with him. I heard that once, on an episode of Bill Nye: The Science Guy I believe, that when two celebrities work together for longer than 90 days they're capable of changing bodies. At their will, of course. This isn't like the movies where you need to find a magical fortune cookie to undo it.
So maybe Tines saw the paps lurking outside and switched bodies with Alec for a hot sec. Or maybe she really did use the F-word. But I just can't picture her doing that. Then again, it is possible that she's preparing for her special place in Hell by being more openly hostile to people. Either way, I'm on Team Tina!
(GIF: Tumblr)


text:
ACParadise Network: American Cosplay Paradise American Cosplay Experience American Cosplay Snapshots
Cosplayer Ashley > Costume of Juri Arisugawa (Revolutionary Girl Utena)
- Most Recent Photo
- 11-06-2012
- Series
- Revolutionary Girl Utena
- Character
- Juri Arisugawa
- Year Completed:
- 2012
- Construction Difficulty:
About this Costume
- Construction Details:
Juri was one of the very first characters I ever cosplayed, and making this costume really helped me to appreciate how much my skillset has improved over the last ten years. For this costume I learned to do my first functional welt pocket. I also branched out into mould making and resin casting so that I could sculpt the epaulets and make matching hardware for all of the people in our group. We wanted all of our accessories to be removable, so that the jackets themselves could be dry cleaned. I reworked the wig on this costume several times, trying to find a happy medium between Juri's distinctive hairstyle and something that would be flattering in real life.
Ali and I have talked about making these for years, I'm so glad it finally happened!
Add a Comment


text:
It seems like forever ago that R.E.M emerged from Athens, Georgia, looking like art-school students who drove pickups to class (except for Michael Stipe, who probably rode his bike). What has it been now--17 years since the first single? How time flies when you're having no fun at all. That R.E.M. even exists now seems almost incomprehensible, especially when so many of their contemporaries have died on the roadside, abandoned by their fans like Paul Westerberg's discarded beer cans. Pylon, the dB's, the Replacements, HYsker DY--all gone, mostly forgotten by all save the most ardent diehards who went to college before college radio meant The Edge without commercials. They're symbols now and not much else--vestiges of a time when music fans existed as a collective, before being different meant being just like everyone else. They were alternative before the word meant "alternative to good music"; they spoke to the audience because they were the audience, guys who stepped out of the crowd and onto the stage and shared their insides (and beers) with everyone. Here comes a regular--and there he goes.
Now, Paul Westerberg is nothing but a plugged-in James Taylor, bouncing between labels and producers until his passion becomes product; never has a hero so let down his faithful. And Bob Mould is out there on last legs, swearing this record will be his final rock record, as though anyone's left to pay much attention. Which leaves only R.E.M. as the last band standing, the final vestige of a time when rock and roll seemed to belong to anyone who had the temerity to plug in, turn it down, and let the world in. They were an indie band for only one single, 17 so-long-ago years back, yet they birthed the movement known as "indie rock," even more so than the Replacements or HYsker DY. The bastardized term doesn't really mean music released without major-label ties; it has more to do with a sound--one that's homemade, crafted in a bedroom, done when the rest of the world is off to work or sound asleep. It means music for its creator; the audience is secondary to the process, though if you happen to identify with it, feel it in your bones, then welcome to the club. We feel your pain. In Michael Stipe's case, even when you can't quite understand it.
Yet Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Bill Berry were not so revolutionary as rock-crit history would portray them; they didn't change the world, not even when they went platinum with 1987's Document. Their earliest records were Southern rock of a melancholy variety, the Byrds as played by young men raised on punk rock's promise; Chronic Town and Murmur and the masterful Reckoning were beautiful, lush but never opulent, beckoning even if Stipe mumbled his tenebrous poetry beneath Peter Buck's learn-as-you-go guitar playing. They turned pedestrian rock and roll into the stuff of art; never before had anything so pretentious sounded so fragile, rough-hewn. Their rock and roll was almost like folk music. It belonged on a front porch. Too bad it didn't stay there.
As soon as R.E.M. hit the arenas a decade ago, in support of Green (a record coated in gold plate before it ever left the warehouse), they began believing they needed to turn it up in order to make themselves heard in the back row. There were a few steps back toward home along the way (1992's Automatic for the People remains this decade's masterpiece, offering proof you can whisper and rock all at once), but 1994's Monster and '96's New Adventures in Hi-Fi proved they had lingered too long in the sheds. Their music, once so delicate and approachable, began to crumble beneath all those Pete Buck guitar solos and all those Michael Stipe poses. Suddenly, it all felt like noise and affectation. They had become an R.E.M. tribute band.
So perhaps the abrupt departure of drummer Bill Berry last year is indeed the best thing that could have happened to R.E.M. this far into the game. Instead of just making one more record to fulfill its $80 million deal with Warner Bros. Records, R.E.M. was forced to reconsider its position, to face its future--or its demise. (The band had long promised to break up if one of its members left. Liars.) And so Up, its 11th full-length record, becomes the truly new adventure in hi-fi for a band of veterans. It is where they pick up and move on, where they pare down the sound until Up sounds like New Adventures cut not on the road or during sound-checks (as 1996's debacle was) but, yes, in the bedroom. It's the most intimate record made by a superstar act since Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska.
Berry has been replaced, in only the most rudimentary sense of the word, by Buck's Tuatara bandmate Barrett Martin and Beck's drummer Joey Waronker; also fleshing things out are ex-Young Fresh Fellow Scott McCaughey and veteran indie-rock producer John Keane. But the sound they make is not a completely unfamiliar one, something that will alienate those true believers who still pine for "Driver 8" and "Gardening at Night" during concerts. The songs are simply expanded and contracted in the right parts; keyboards murmur in the background until they sound like a heartbeat--imagine "Man in the Moon" merged with "Country Feedback" and the ground in between, the sound made when Southerners discover the world is theirs. When Stipe beckons you to "sing along" on "Diminished," finally he sounds like a man wanting you to join in.
If you like this story, consider signing up for our email newsletters.
You have successfully signed up for your selected newsletter(s) - please keep an eye on your mailbox, we're movin' in!
Sometimes Up rocks; "Sad Professor" sounds almost like a Who demo, down to fall-down-drunk imagery and the windmill guitar chimes. Sometimes it howls: "Hope," the disc's fourth song, literally mutates into an overwhelming drone at its climax, unleashing unsettling white noise until it's almost unbearable. Imagine standing behind an airplane when it takes off; you can almost feel the heat on your face. It's a perfect song for Stipe's more-audible-than-normal lyrics (included in a lyric sheet for the very first time): "I'm lost in the confusion," he sings, his timbre flat yet so gorgeous. "And it doesn't seem to matter."
But there is no way R.E.M. could have toured in support of Up. To have performed a record this intimate in an arena would be like dropping a pebble in the Grand Canyon; it would get lost, make no sound, reduce an event into insignificance. Even its more uplifting moments are sad, quiet, unabashed: The strings that wash through "You're in the Air" are the sound a tear might make as it streams down a cheek; when Stipe sings, "I remember standing alone trying to forget you," you can almost hear his loneliness.
"At My Most Beautiful" perhaps offers the record's most revealing moment: It sounds as though lifted straight from Pet Sounds, down to the pretty doo-doo-doo-waaaah harmonies, the piano-and-timpani-and-bass-harmonica intro. But it's more than a pretty respite, following the climactic howl of "Hope." It's also a love song that sits between sentiment and obsession: "I found a way to make you smile," he sings, almost through a grin. "At my most beautiful I'll count your eyelashes / Secretly." It's such a wonderful image, and not a little creepy; here's a man who finds love in the details--and who pens a love song and says "at my most beautiful," not someone else's.
It will likely be written that Up is R.E.M.'s most accessible record; it has space enough to let anyone in, even if it's not so shiny and happy as some of its more recent forerunners. Those who wish to can dissect Stipe's lyrics and ponder his dissatisfaction with religion, his belief that spirituality is in here and not out there; the man almost begs for it now, putting his words out front for the first time. But never has this band made more celebratory music; never has R.E.M. made a record that begs to be listened to over and over again because it just feels good to have it playing in the background or through headphones. It's a reassuring record, somehow, proof that every now and then, a band doesn't grow old. It just grows up.


text:
Play free online games!
Robot Factory
Robot Factory
Play with your own profile by registering yourself for this fun game. You can also play as guest, but your scores and account will not be saved then.
User name / E-mail address...Password...
Forgot password?
Not all required fields were filled in
User unknown
User name...E-mail address...Password...Password (Once more)...
Username is too short or too long (between 3 and 12 characters)
Passwords too short (minimum of 5 characters) or do not reconcile
No avatar selected
No valid email address
Username or email address already in use
The username is invalid
Robot Factory
What do you think of this game?
Score: - (0 votes)
DescriptionPut together your own robots to defeat the attacking robots. Make sure you choose the right parts and no double parts!
|mouse = selecting parts


text:
by Ben Haworth
Related Posts
7 responses
nickc said on October 11, 2009
You missed a picture of the best of those Spokeshirt tees. You know the only that says "His bike…"
Toombsy said on October 11, 2009
I was surprised that there weren't more mountain bike companies – no Orange, Trek , Gary Fisher, Kona, Norco, Commencal, Mongoose, GT
Gephaudio said on October 11, 2009
also no Rapha either, how ever a good event all round, thanks Matt for feeling your award
chakaping said on October 11, 2009
That Transition Bottlerocket has an amazing paintjob. Please tell me that it's sparkly in real life.
soma_rich said on October 12, 2009
The Bottle Rocket looks amazing!!!
Ben_Haworth said on October 12, 2009
Norco were there but it was easy to miss them.
edoverheels said on October 12, 2009
I was there yesterday but managed to miss DMR and Transition. What a duffer! but good show anyway


text:
It was a very good year for many Weston students who took the SAT Reasoning Tests. Average scores, announced this week by the College Board, are up in Weston from last year. The district also averaged highest in the state in writing.
Out of a possible "perfect" score of 800 on each of the three sections of the college entrance exam, Weston students averaged 589 in critical reading, 597 in math, and 608 in writing.
Compared with 2011 averages, this year's test takers averaged 14 points higher in reading, two points higher in math, and 14 points higher in writing.
Weston was across the board on average scores compared with other students in DRG-A (District Reference Group A, which includes Darien, New Canaan, Region 9 [Redding and Easton], Ridgefield, Weston, Westport and Wilton). Weston ranked third in reading (tied with Westport), fifth in math, and first in writing (tied with Wilton).
With an average score of 608 in writing, Weston and Wilton not only had the highest score in the DRG, they were also two of only three Connecticut public schools with a writing average in the 600s.
The three-part SAT is administered by the College Board and is used by colleges across the country in their admissions process.
This year, 156 Weston students, 10 fewer than in 2011, took the SATs.
Weston's averages were significantly higher than both state and national averages. Statewide averages were 506 for reading, 512 for math, and 510 for writing.
Nationwide, the average reading score was 496, 514 for math, and 481 for writing.
College Board officials said those results showed that only 43% of SAT takers in the Class of 2012 are academically ready for college.
College Board President Gaston Caperton said the report should serve as a call to action. "Our nation's future depends on the strength of our education system. When less than half of kids who want to go to college are prepared to do so, that system is failing," he said in a prepared statement.


text:
Norwood 6 - Corporate Housing in Summit, N.J.
Monday, December 22, 2014
Norwood 6 - Furnished Corporate Housing in Summit, N.J.
Furnished, one-bedroom apartment available for rent in Summit, N.J.. The unit is fully furnished and the kitchen is equipped for cooking. All utilities are turned on. The apartment is wonderful. The location is great. Living in the City of Summit is the best. The apartment is one block away from the downtown restaurants and shopping and a couple of blocks away from the train station. It is professionally decorated and comfortable. One parking spot is included. It has a washer and dryer in the apartment. All you need to do is go to the grocery store and bring your luggage. Call Jeff Cebula with questions at 908-277-1803 or his cell at 973-699-7675. Visit our website at http://www.therelocationexchange.com/.
Posted by Jeff at 5:32 PM
Labels: Corporate Housing, Furnished Apartments Summit New Jersey, Intern Housing, Short Term Furnished Housing, Temporary Housing
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)