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What's inside? Here are the questions answered in today's reader mailbag, boiled down to five word summaries. Click on the number to jump straight down to the question.
1. Back to school dilemma
2. Precautions before romantic trip
3. Pool membership dilemma
4. Favorite vegetable garden plants
5. Telling a story to kids
6. Handling massive student loans
7. Spending and saving focus
8. Is having another child hard?
9. Useful IRA tips for education
10. To refinance or not?
When school is in session, my work day begins when the kids leave and more or less ends when they return home.
This is a good thing in that it gives me a set period of quiet time in which to work, which mostly means writing.
This is a bad thing in that it puts a cap on things when I'm in a writing groove. There are days where, if I did not have such an end cap, I'd write until midnight.
In the end, the good outweighs the bad. I'd far rather prepare a snack for my children when they get home than continue to work.
Q1: Back to school dilemma
I am in a position to go back to school for a post-graduate degree using my husband's GI bill. This could not have come at a better time for a variety of reasons, which I won't go into here. We are truly fortunate – and here is my dilemma, as I do not want to squander this opportunity:
Do I go back and get the most bang for my buck and get a law degree/MBA or something along those lines, even though neither one of those areas really float my boat (that I know of!), though I think I would be fairly good at either?
Do I totally go the other way and just go back and get say, a degree in music, or theater, or French – all of which totally excite me, but are less….practical, in terms of ROI?
I suspect the answer lies somewhere in between, but I am at a loss as to how to objectively assess my skills/interests/talents moving forward. Do you know of any online assessment tools/books/resources for 40-year old wannabe grad students looking for a subject to study? One that will both be practical with regard to longevity (what if, god forbid, I become a single parent to my son and have to support him on my own) but also tap into my talents and interests ("if you love your job, you'll never work a day in your life" type idea)?
– Augie
There are a lot of skill assessment tools online, such as this one from iSeek, that can help point you in a solid direction when it comes to pairing your skills with a worthwhile and potentially lucrative career. If you want more, the best book I've found for digging into one's career path is What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard Nelson Bolles.
I think the best option for you is, as you mentioned, somewhere between the two. I don't think it's a good idea to go into a field that you have no interest in whatsoever, because unless you're exceptionally gifted, you're not going to make a strong career out of it. From what I've seen, most people can make it in a field with natural talent or a lot of passion and drive, and people who really succeed tend to have both. If you don't have either… it can be pretty tough.
Dig into the assessments above and see if you can find a career that excites you (at least a little) and earns a good income, too. I'm a firm believer that there's something out there like this for everyone.
Q2: Precautions before romantic trip
Next month, I'm going to fly to Boston to meet a guy I met on a discussion forum. We've been talking for months and our relationship has moved to the point where we're going to meet. I'm really excited!
In that excitement, though, is a little bit of worry. In all honesty, I've never met the guy and I don't know for certain what will happen when I go. Do you know of any financial precautions I should take?
– Jill
A friend of mine did this a few years back. I'll tell you what I told her.
First and foremost, never go anywhere without your cell phone – and don't go anywhere without letting someone you know at home know where you're going. If you need a moment, go to the restroom before you leave to go anywhere and send a text to a close friend letting them know where you're going. This is a safety precaution, nothing more, nothing less. If the guy seems stressed out about this, then there's a big red flag for you. He should understand the situation you're in and, if anything, encourage you to do this. The more info you can share with people at home, the better.
Before you leave, make sure several of your friends have your flights, the address of the hotel you're staying at, the address of the person you're going to visit, and info on any other locations you're sure you're going to go to – restaurants and so on.
Also, if I were you, I'd try to live on cash as much as possible and leave my credit and debit cards in a separate secure place. If the guy is a good guy, this will work fine. If the guy is just trying to scam you or something, your cards would be a good target. I also wouldn't take any excessive pieces of personal identification. A driver's license will probably be needed for the trip, but things like a Social Security card are probably best left at home (or better yet, in a safe deposit box at a bank).
This might seem to lean toward paranoia, but the entire reason for doing it is to keep you as safe as possible. If you do this and things turn out well, it won't have a negative impact on your trip. If you do this and things go bad, you'll be incredibly glad you took these steps.
Q3: Pool membership dilemma
A couple of years ago we moved into a new house that we love and don't plan on moving. This past June our daughter was born. Recently we've discussed the community pool that is only 2-3 blocks from our house. The pool is open Labor Day to Memorial day and costs $400/year for a family membership. There is a lifetime membership that costs $4,000. It seems to us that the lifetime membership is the better option but we're unsure whether to do it now, or wait until our daughter would enjoy the pool more.
– Will
Before I spent any of that money, I'd want to know everything about the pool. Is it crowded during the times you'd want to use it? Is there always a lifeguard on duty (for that kind of money, the answer needs to be yes)? Are there times when the pool is closed? Does the fee include swimming lessons for your daughter? Would you use the pool right now, with your daughter being less than a year old?
The real question is whether that pool provides enough value for your family at a rate of $400 a year. If it does not, then I wouldn't get either membership.
Now, if you do decide that the pool has enough value for that $400 a year rate, I would buy a single year and see how it went, particularly if that $400 went toward the $4,000 lifetime membership. At the end of that year, I'd reevaluate my long-term situation as well as the value I got from the pool. I'd also look into additional issues with such a membership, such as whether lifetime memberships are transferable and whether or not the $400 invested in a year's membership can go toward an annual membership.
Will had another question.
Q4: Favorite vegetable garden plants
We just planted seedlings for our garden a few weeks ago. This got me to thinking, what are the best (cost savings or taste wise) items to plant. Here's my top 3.
Tomatoes (taste)
Green Beans (taste)
Bell Peppers (cost)
What's your top 5?
– Will
I agree with those three. They'd be in my top three for reasons much like what you name. They're all rather easy to grow, too.
On top of those three, I'd add cucumbers. They're similarly easy to grow and can be eaten in a variety of ways. Our family loves to make what we call "refrigerator pickles," where we put fresh cucumbers in a vinegar and water solution along with some dill and eat them at our convenience over the next few weeks.
If I had to pick a fifth one, I'd choose strawberries. Again, they're pretty easy to grow (if we haven't killed them, they must be easy) and they produce such wonderful fruit late in the summer.
Q5: Telling a story to kids
I read my kids a story every night before bed. Some nights, though, they ask me to tell them a story. I manage to make something up and get through it and they seem happy, but it always seems awful to me. I know you tell your children a lot of stories. Any tips?
– Alan
For starters, I usually include my children (and often myself) as some of the characters in the story. My children love tales where they are the protagonists, perhaps receiving help from a grizzled old mountain man known as Dad along the way. Doing this immediately ties the children into the story.
I also often borrow plots wholesale from movies I've seen that perhaps they haven't seen. I've reused pieces of The Princess Bride countless times as a general plot guidance, for example. I don't completely duplicate the story, but I use enough of it so that I know where the story is going when I start.
As I go along, I constantly allow them to add details. In fact, I usually prompt them for it. "The heroes are passing through the forest when they come upon a very unusual tree…. what's unusual about the tree, do you think?" They come up with some idea and then I just roll with it. It keeps them engaged throughout the story and often adds flavor I would have never considered.
The end result is usually a memorable bedtime story for the children. They often request that I do this.
Q6: Handling massive student loans
My husband of less than two years has quite a student loan bill that we are going to begin paying back now. You would think by the amount he owes, $110,000 that he was a doctor. But no, this is what happens when you have a terrible paying job for years, go into forbearance on your loans and end up paying $40K+ in capitalized interest alone. I think the original bill for his private college education was about $40K…I'm not totally sure based on the paperwork I have seen.
He went to this private school after serving 2 years active duty in the army and 4 years in the reserves. I don't really know what kind of government discount or benefit he got from that. I do know that he took every cent of his student loan and used it not just to pay for school but also to pay for books and general living expenses. His career is in communications and he was in an extremely low-paying job for at least 5 years. During that time he was outrunning creditors, car reposessors, etc. and paying back his student loan was not a priority.
Today, 15+ years later, he is finally making good money at his alma mater within the last three years. He began taking classes for a masters degree a couple years ago, which delayed the need to pay back these loans yet again, but now they have become due as he is nearly finished his degree.
We have looked into public loan forgiveness options where he would pay it back 120 times in a row and be forgiven on the loan. The trouble I have with that program is that you make 120 payments and there isn't much in the way of forgiveness…by my calculations, you pay back the entire loan. They gave him a quote of $1600 per month, which would more than cover the cost plus interest.
The loan is approximately $110,000 at 8.5% interest, and he owes $754 per month. It's certainly do-able for him/us, but slows down our cash savings. I wondered if you have any suggestions as to ways to get this loan down or if we are stuck? They didn't offer him a lower interest rate, and I don't even know where to begin to look to try to find one for a student loan. He actually thinks that there is going to be some miracle plan that will relieve him of this debt, whether that is some sort of grant, something from the military, etc. I don't know what planet he thinks that will come from, especially if he doesn't do the legwork to find it.
We got a decent tax return back, about $3,500, and he used $2,000 as a payment towards the principle on the student loan. Do you suggest tossing extra money at this loan as often as possible or sticking to the outlined payments? On one statement it estimated that he'd end up paying $220,000 over the course of this loan with all the interest due!
– Shauna
If you're stuck with this loan, tossing extra money at it is always going to be a good idea. It will mostly affect you in terms of reducing the length of the loan, but every extra dollar you throw at it will trim a couple of dollars (or more) off of the last payment you make on the loan.
Now, are you stuck with this loan? Probably. I wouldn't expect a miracle out of the sky to fix it. However, you likely do have at least some options regarding the loan. The first thing I'd look at is loan consolidation. I'm unable to tell if he's eligible for loan consolidation or not from your email, but if he is, it's well worth looking into as it will significantly reduce your interest rate. Even if you're not eligible, you may want to talk to other lenders besides your current lending institution to see if they can make a better offer and take over the loan.
How do you begin looking for these types of offers? The first place I'd check is the financial aid office at his alma mater. Given that he attended there and that he currently works there, I'm pretty sure they'll be able to offer some suggestions for his situation and perhaps find you guys a better lending institution to work with.
Shauna had a second question.
Q7: Spending and saving focus
What is the best way for us to spend our money when we have some left over?
We have a mortgage that is too high to refinance, but we are looking into it anyway. $281K in a 30-year fixed at 5% that we bought in late 2009. According to Zillow, our house is now worth about $259K. The house appraised for $279K when we bought it (we got a seller's assist hence the higher mortgage). We recently did some home renovations (again, money burning a hole in the pocket plus want versus need…did we NEED to renovate half of the kitchen? no. Are we hoping that this would have added to the value and aesthetic of the home? Yes. Not sure how to find that out…) that cost about $6,000. We took a wall out between the dining room and kitchen, cut a doorway into another wall, bought a kitchen island and installed granite countertops (didn't need to redo the cabinets or appliances).
We have approx $10,000 in savings at the credit union account we opened together (less than 1% interest rate) that is going to be minus about $3,000 after these home reno bills are paid. I have an additional $4,000 in a savings account that he has equal access to, plus a $6,000 ING savings account (about 3% interest) that he doesn't know exists (until we do our SCFR worksheet). We don't have any particular goals for these savings other than having an emergency fund set up. We like to travel, but when we go to pay the bills for the renovation or the travel, my husband prefers to take it out of what he has left in his checking account rather than pulling out of savings, therefore strapping himself for the month a little bit. I prefer to pull out of savings, though it really pains me to do so.
His car has 129K miles on it and he plans to keep it forever. My car has 84K miles on it, only about $700 left on the loan (will be paid off in June), and I plan to keep it as long as I can, or until we have a child. Since I am going through infertility treatments right now (about $150 a month), that means I'll have the car a while yet (we do not plan to do IVF…if we aren't meant to have children we are perfectly ok with that.)
As for retirement accounts, I save 5% with a company match of 4% that started in January 2012. I am currently considering changing jobs even though I have only been here a little over a year. I do not know what percentage my husband saves, but I know he does make contributions.
I try to cut my expenses as much as I can. I clip coupons and bring my coffee, breakfast and lunch to work as often as is feasible. I only shop sales and never buy clothes full price. I hardly ever buy new clothes…maybe a few new pieces each season. My credit card bill is not great, however. I have about $1,500 on it and I can never seem to keep it under control. I am trying to use it less and less but sometimes I use it to pay for things I purchase over the internet (like 5K race entries or Amazon.com/paypal purchases), and I don't count it in my monthly budget as expenses…it just goes into my budget as a Visa payment of around $300 a month. I can definitely do better there.
Should we be saving more cash, investing our extra cash, making extra payments on our mortgage? When my husband's money burns that hole in his pocket, where should I tell him to put it?
– Shauna
Given your student loan situation and your mortgage, I think the best thing for you guys to do any time you have some extra money that isn't needed for anything urgent is to put it toward one of those debts, preferably the one with the highest interest rate. Every dollar you put toward such a move will save you three (or so) off of the last loan payment you'll have to make.
I don't see anything that you're doing wrong, though. You have a solid emergency fund when you consider the whole of your cash savings. You seem to have your spending largely under control and are slowly whittling down your debts rather than watching them escalate. You're doing the right things. It just takes time.
One thing that might be useful is to just sit down together one weekend afternoon and spread all of this out. Together, get a picture of how much you have (savings, retirement, home value, etc.), how much you're spending each month, how much you're bringing in each month, and how much debt you have. Talk about where you want to be in the future, and I strongly encourage you guys to really think about debt freedom (trust me, it feels fantastic). Just talk about things. You'll feel better about everything if you get it all out there on the table together, trust me.
Q8: Is having another child hard?
My husband and I are thinking of having another child. Our first one was a real life changer and our biggest worry is that our second child will bring some disharmony into our life after we finally feel like we have a good balance. Are there any things we should be thinking about?
– Andrea
The biggest change our second child brought into our life was during the first year. Since our oldest was only two at the time and still needed a lot of help with basic things (diaper changes, bedtime routines, etc.), we found ourselves pairing off, with one adult handling one child and the other adult handling the other child.
That wasn't too much different than what we did before, but with just one child, one parent found themselves free to take care of household tasks or just to relax. That vanished, particularly during the first year, and that was the biggest challenge.
Once our second child got to about nine to ten months or so, we were able to have one parent handle the routines with both of them while the other parent was able to return to housework and other tasks. (This whole pattern, of course, repeated with the third child.)
The first child was the one that caused the real life changes. The changes with the second were more subtle. The changes with the third were pretty easy.
Q9: Useful IRA tips for education
[Y]ou can pay for higher education expenses (tuition, books, fees, and even in some cases lodging) from funds in an IRA without the early withdraw penalty. If it's a Roth IRA you dont have to pay income tax on the earnings either.
The funds can be used to pay for expenses for yourself, spouse, OR children.
You can see where this will save even more money since you wouldn't have to pay extra income taxes. Obviously you would need to choose wise investments here, but you could go for some more conservative investments or just buy up some money market funds, but if you went ahead and invested it in a decent portfolio (mine is all ETFs) then you could actually make some money on it and cut that monthly savings requirement by a large amount.
Wish I had known this last year, so now I have to pay off the student loan I got, but at least this year will be much easier to afford.
– Wayne
This certainly works, and it's one approach to saving for college.
My only hesitation is that doing this shoots your annual window for IRA savings for retirement. You're only able to save about $5,000 a year in IRAs for retirement purposes and for many people, IRAs can be invaluable retirement savings tools. Using them for the education of your children is going to postpone your own retirement, no two ways about it.
For some, that might be an acceptable outcome, but why not use the IRA for your retirement and start a 529 for your children's college education? I may use my IRA for education in a pinch, but I'd far rather have it as a retirement asset. The best gift I can give my children is to not be a financial burden on them when I'm old, and my IRA will help to ensure that.
Q10: To refinance or not?
I'm looking at refinancing a condo (I rent it out) using the the new HARP 2.0 program. I'm currently owe around $73K @ 7% in year 11 of a 30 yr mortgage. The loan I've been offered is for $78K (closing costs & anticipated spring taxes) @ 4.5% for 20 years. The loan is a $5K difference, but $2K of that will be be offset by exchanging escow accounts between the 2 lenders, which I would sink the payout back into the new loan. If I do the deal, it will save me about $135 a month on my payments. So, I figure the $3K+ on the new loan would be paid off in under 2 years by saving the $135 a month. I'm not looking to keep this property as rental income forever. I'd actually like to get it to the point where I could sell it off for what I owe on the loan, which I hope to be in about 5 yrs. Currently properties in the area go for $45K-$50K. I already pay an additional $150 a month & would continue to just pay that same amount on the new loan since I've already figured that amount into my budget. Does it make sense to do this deal? Should I refinance this loan at a larger amount, even though I'm itching to get out as soon as I can? I would love to get out now, but I'm so far under water, I can't get the funds to cover the difference. What are your thoughts?
– Jim
If you're going to stay in the home, this refinancing makes sense. It lowers your interest rate, doesn't significantly extend the length of the mortgage, and reduces your monthly payment. Those are all good things.
I don't know how much you've shopped around for this deal, but depending on your credit, this is either a good offer or a great offer. You could try for a better one (and you might get one), but it won't be significantly better, as the interest rate is pretty competitive.
There is always the option to walk away. However, when you're in a fixed rate mortgage that low with that relatively low balance, it's probably not a really good option.
Got any questions? Email them to me or leave them in the comments and I'll attempt to answer them in a future mailbag (which, by way of full disclosure, may also get re-posted on other websites that pick up my blog). However, I do receive hundreds of questions per week, so I may not necessarily be able to answer yours.


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Enjoy the new D-Drink experience:
Dissolve one packet (7g/0.25 oz.) in 150 ml (5.1 oz.) still water.
Rice Fiber, Thickner (Guar Gum), Nettle Extract (Nettle Extract, Maltodextrin), Broccoli Powder, Choline Bitartrate, Flavor, Artichoke Powder (Artichoke Powder, Maltodextrin), Milk Thistle Extract, Acid (Citric Acid), Wild Garlic leaves Powder, Zinc Gluconate, Seaweed Powder (Spirulina platensis, Chlorella), Curcuma Extract with y-Cyclodextrin, Sweetner (Steviol Glycosides (Steviol Glycosides, Flavor)), Selenium Enriched Yeast, Apple Fiber, Ginger Extract Powder, Chromium Picolinate, Sodium Molybdate.

subset: commoncrawl


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Femal Condoms
Are female condoms as safe and effective in preventing HIV as traditional male condoms? The ones I have seen are the "FC" female condoms and are made of polyurethane.
Female condoms are made of polyurethane. HIV cannot permeate intact polyurethane. No way. No how. Consequently, if the female (or male) condom is used properly and doesn't fail, the HIV-transmission risk would be essentially nonexistent. However, please note female condoms are even trickier to use correctly than male condoms. See below.
Dr. Bob
female condoms Aug 26, 2005
Hi Dr Bob, I was just reading a question from July 23rd from an HIV+ lady who couldn't use condoms with her boyfriend because he couldn't keep it up. I had a similar problem with a boyfriend and found that the female condom (marketed as Femidom over here in the UK) offers much more sensation for the guy, enabling him to keep it up! They're a bit more expensive than ordinary condoms, but I found they were definitely worth it. If, in your opinion, they are as effective as latex condoms for preventing HIV transmission, I would highly recommend them to anyone in similar circumstances :)
Love your forum by the way. You are sooooo handsome swoon!
Response from Dr. Frascino
Thanks for the tip! I'll post this response in the Safe Sex/HIV Prevention Forum as well.
For those readers unfamiliar with female condoms, they are made of two flexible polyurethane rings and a loose-fitting polyurethane sheath. They are approved for contraception and HIV prevention in heterosexual sex. In studies of acceptability, between 50% and 73% of women liked them as much or better than male condoms. Acceptance was somewhat less among their male partners, with only 44% reporting they liked the female condom as much or better than male condoms. However, they are certainly worth a try, and there is no doubt they represent an important advance in HIV prevention as a female-controlled HIV-prevention method.
Regarding the swoon . . . I'll be right over to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
Dr. Bob
Female condoms...yes or no ? Jul 4, 2007
I have recently tried the female condom to help my neg. partner feel more natural during sex. Although the directions say it is an excellent preventer of HIV/Aids and other STD's, I heard through non professionals that it is not recommended for male to male intercourse...can you shed some light as to why...since this really helped boost our sex life..
Response from Dr. Frascino
Female condoms for guy-on-guy backdoor action . . . yes or no? I'd say maybe! Female condoms are made from polyurethane. HIV cannot permeate intact polyurethane. No way, no how. However, proper use of this device can be a bit tricky. I've addressed this topic a number of times before. I'll reprint one of those questions from the archives.
Good luck. Stay safe.
Dr. Bob
Giant Members Jul 14, 2006
I just want to offer up something that some of my clients have found very useful. It is true that all condoms will fit all sized penises and it is also true that men who are very thick often times find condoms tight. This sometimes leads to a person not being able to maintain an erection. Anyways a creative solution that two of my clients and their partners were very satisfied with is using a "Female" condom or as I call them an insertive or internal condom. Internal condoms can be a bit tricky the first time so some "practice" is useful. For a women the directions on the package are pretty explanatory. For a man it is a little trickier and one has to find what they like, many men like to remove the inner ring before inserting it, some don't. One thing for sure is put some lube on the outside and the inside of the condom. The easiest way for a man to insert the condom is to have the insertive partner (top) use his penis to put it in. One can also use a dildo to insert the condom. Internal condoms are polyurethane and are therefore much less likely to break then latex condoms so this is very useful to folks like the man with the 11 inch 8 around penis who said that he often broke condoms. Polyurethane also transfers heat and some men like that a lot, in fact my clients report that the sex with internal condoms is very close to the sensation of not wearing a condom. I know that internal condoms are not approved for use by men and that some men experience discomfort due to the seam, but it is another method of staying safe while having fun, and to quote the one and only Dr. Bob, HIV cannot pass intact polyurethane no way, no how!
DC Health Educator
Response from Dr. Frascino
Hi DC Health Educator,
I agree they are worth a try, keeping in mind the caveats you mentioned. I have addressed the topic of female condoms several times in this forum and will print several of those posts from the archives below for additional information.
Thanks for your input!
Be well.
Dr. Bob
My new boyfriend is Positve Feb 16, 2006
The guy I am dating for the past two months is HIV pos. He is a great guy and dropped a hint the let me know on the first date. He has been very open about his life before and after HIV. We both come from backgrounds of loosing lovers in the past. We have not discussed circumstances around his loss but he is aware of mine (NON HIV loss). We have dated for 2 months and yet to have sex (yeah I know we are gay men that are almost trying to hetro). I am sooo very ready to have sex but know that he may not be ready. He says he does not have a problem with me being negative. I don't have a problem with his being positive, though I am sure I will have many questions for awhile. My question is two fold. One how safe is using a female condom for gay men during anal sex. Two.... am I out of my mind telling him that I will not use condoms for oral sex?
I used to teach AIDS education for a non profit. I know the risks but I have a couple of friends screaming that I am crazy for not wanting to use condoms for oral sex. As far as the female condom goes I have heard that it creates a bit more non condom feeling but have not tried one and want to know if there is risk in using one.
Response from Dr. Frascino
Hi Darrin,
The female condom is made of two flexible polyurethane rings and a loose-fitting sheath. It is approved for contraception and HIV prevention during heterosexual vaginal sex. Its safety and efficacy for anal sex has not been proven. Consequently it cannot be formally recommended for this use. That said, certainly MSM (men who have sex with men) have nonetheless begun to use them for anal sex. Anecdotally it has been reported that they increase sensitivity for the insertive partner compared to latex male condoms. This is presumably due to the large size and polyurethane composition. I do know of one study that's a couple of years old now that found about 50% of men using female condoms for anal sex reporting problems, including rectal bleeding. Anecdotal evidence suggests that removing the inner ring, lubricating the inside, placing the condom over the throbbing woody, lubricating the outside and then entering the receptive partner eliminates some of the discomfort and trauma. Also one must take care that the outer ring of the condom doesn't enter the rectum during the backdoor action.
Regarding your second question, unprotected oral sex carries a low risk for HIV transmission. Each of us must determine what level of risk we are comfortable taking. One thing to keep in mind is that when you are part of a magnetic couple, you both need to agree on what level of risk you are willing to accept, based both on individual comfort level and medical facts. So even if you know the facts and are comfortable having unprotected oral sex, your partner may not agree. Communication is the key to a successful and healthy sex life. I suggest you read through the information on magnetic couples (serodiscordant couples) in the archives of this forum. Share the information with your new boyfriend. Write back if you have additional concerns. I do have personal experience in this arena, as I have been part of a magnetic couple for over 12 years. I am HIV positive and my partner Steve (Dr. Steve, the expert in The Body's Tratamientos Forum) is HIV negative. We continue to have a romance that others only dream about. And yes, it includes toe-curling, wake-the-neighbors passion. Certainly in our case, opposites do indeed attract.
Good luck.
Dr. Bob


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AGGSH - Arbeitsgruppe Genealogie Schleswig-Holstein / Genealogy Work Group Schleswig-Holstein
Informal association of historians and genealogists for transcribing the Schleswig-Holstein census & research of emigration.
AKuFF-Arbeitskreis ungarndeutscher Familienforscher e.V. / German Family Tree Researchers' Society in Hungary
The AKuFF above all is an organization of German family tree researchers in Hungary, but it doesn't preclude the possibility of researching Hungarian or other nationalities. The main purpose of the society is to organize the researchers in this organization, promote the exchange of information by getting to know each other's research work, provide scientific background for the members and giving professional assistance necessary for research.
Anglo German Family History Society
United Kingdom. Genealogy or family history of people from the German-speaking parts of Europe who have emigrated over the centuries and settled in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland (North and South), and the neighbouring islands.
Anglo-German Family History Society
For those who are interested in researching the genealogy or family history of people from the German-speaking parts of Europe.
Arbeitsgemeinschaft Familienforschung Westerwald / Westerwald Familyresearch Workgroup
Genealogical Society for the Westerwald Region of Germany - ArGeWe. The Westerwald Region is between the Rhine, Sieg and Lahn rivers not far from Koblenz/Rhine. mostly located in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate; some parts belong to Hessia and North-Rhine-Westphalia.
Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Mitteldeutsche Familienforschung e.V.
Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia
Bukovina Society of the Americas
This website covers the migration of Germans from Rhine-Palatinate, Württemberg and the Bohemian Forest in the late 1700's and early 1800's when they were recruited/motivated to settle Bukovina (land of beech trees), then a sparsely populated crown land of the Austrian Hungarian Empire. After one or two generations in Bukovina, scarcity of land and the attraction of the new world countries again motivated a migration in the late 1800's to early 1900's. Kansas, Washington, Colorado, Illinois and New York were their main destinations in North America and Brazil was the major destination in South America. This website has rich content on the history, culture and genealogy of the Bukovina Germans.
Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International
Promoting genealogical research and creating an interest in ancestry and heritage among descendants of ethnic groups who comprised the former nation of Czechoslovakia, including Bohemian (Czech), German-Bohemian (Bohmisch), Hungarian, Moravian, Ruthenian (Rusyn), Silesian, Slovakian, and those of Jewish ancestry. Headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Deutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft genealogischer Verbände e. V. / German Association of genealogical associations Association (DAGV)
DAGV is the umbrella organization of genealogical and heraldic associations in Germany.
Deutsche Hugenotten-Gesellschaft e.V.
Bad Karlshafen.
Die Bessarabiendeutschen Landsmannschaft - Heimatmuseum - Hilfskomitee.
Die Maus e. V. - Gesellschaft fuer Familienforschung in Bremen
Die Maus e. V. - Family History and genealogical society of Bremen.
Düsseldorfer Verein für Familienkunde e.V. / Duesseldorf Society for Family History
Aktuelles aus dem Duesseldorfer Verein, Veranstaltungen, Ahnenlisten, Software, FOKO-Datenbank usw.; Activities of the society, ancestor-lists, software, FOKO-database etc.
East European Genealogical Society
Winnipeg, Canada.
For ALL those interested in the genealogies and histories of the people and towns of the area of Germany-bordering Netherlands>upper north west>North sea> Ems Canal. Towns include: Papenburg, Sögel, Werlte, Hüven, Stavern, Lähn, Spelle and others.
[The original link is broken. This link points to an archived copy on the Wayback Machine]
Genealogical Association of English Speaking Researchers in Europe (GAESRE)
Dedicated to supporting genealogy research in Europe through direct member support, monthly meetings, a monthly newsletter, an annual conference, and maintenance of a genealogy library located near Mannheim, Germany.
Genealogische Gesellschaft Hamburg e.V.
Genealogical Society of Hamburg, Germany.
Germany / Deutschland » Societies & Groups
54 Links


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Sure, you can go abroad to study, work, volunteer or just to have fun. But what about just immersing yourself in the culture with the Lions Clubs International youth exchange and youth camp programme?
Ever thought of linking your NGO with a partner in North Africa, Turkey or the Middle East? The Euro-Med platform will help you find partners for youth projects and exchange experiences.
Thinking of helping out not just in Europe, but also further afield? Love people and discovering new cultures? These websites will open your eyes to the many international opportunities for volunteer work around the world.


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Seriously?? Where does the time go? We're almost 1/4 of the way to Christmas again!! HOLY COW! I just wanted to let you know that All Year Round Feb and March are now in the store! Jump on over and grab them to keep up on your year of scrapping! ALSO watch for coordinating Daily Downloads for FREE!
Click on images to go to the store! Happy scrapping!


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Hoyer Delivers Speech on Deficit Reduction
Katie Grant, 202-225-3130
WASHINGTON, DC - Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) delivered a speech today on the need to continue working on a comprehensive deficit reduction plan, hosted by Third Way. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:
"Good morning. I want to thank Third Way for hosting this event and for continuing to be a leading voice for responsible fiscal policy in Washington.
"Our economy is in recovery: we've seen 10 quarters of growth in GDP; 3.6 million private sector jobs added in the past 23 months; the Dow, Nasdaq, and S&P all up at least 90% since March of 2009, and unemployment down from a high of 10% in 2009 to 8.3% today. We should be proud of the progress we've made so far, but we still have a long way to go.
"Our number one priority must continue to be creating jobs and setting our economy back on a course toward sustainable growth that creates opportunities for our middle class. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told the House Budget Committee earlier this month that growth must take precedence over deficit reduction. I agree. However, putting our fiscal house in order by reining in deficits and getting our debt under control is a critical part of ensuring sustainable economic growth, and so it is essential for us to have a plan to reduce deficits once the economy has further recovered.
"Our deficits and debt present us with a clear and present challenge. We've seen the record surpluses of the late 1990's disappear, replaced by record deficits and a debt that has become – in the words of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen – 'the most significant threat to our national security.'
"Today I want to discuss the critical objective of returning our nation to a sound fiscal path and why I believe we ought to be working on it now and not waiting until later. Contrary to what some believe, we cannot afford to set this work aside. I'm here to give urgency to the pursuit now of an agreement designed to achieve fiscal sustainability over the long term. We can't wait, and I will lay out my reasons why.
"As I said two years ago: 'our problem is structural – the product of a generation's worth of easy decisions. Our problem is not about the short term. …It's an excellent measure of someone's seriousness to see whether they …face the real danger to our future – the structural deficit.' I noted then that deficit reduction will not come from sound bites and gimmicks; we will need serious action that rejects dogma and embraces compromise. Two years and several missed opportunities later, my view hasn't changed – our need to act has only become more urgent.
"The CBO's long-term fiscal outlook presents an alarming future. Under the more realistic but entirely unacceptable scenario, Congress makes permanent the Bush tax cuts, Medicare physician payment rates remain flat, and politically-easy policies remain unchanged. Should that occur, our external debt-to-GDP ratio would rise from 70% today to 190% by 2035. If internal debt is taken into account, we're already at 100% of debt-to-GDP today.
"Even accounting for the economy recovering and continued belt-tightening as directed by the Budget Control Act, our debt will still begin to crowd out everything else in the budget.
"That's why President Obama's budget seeks to stabilize our debt through a combination of revenue increases and careful spending cuts. It is projected to save $5 trillion over ten years. Nevertheless, House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan was critical of it on Meet the Press recently, claiming it to be full of gimmicks that wouldn't substantially lower the debt. In fact, the gimmicks he points to are contained in his own budget, which allows debt to rise 60% over the next decade - largely because it refuses to acknowledge what Bowles-Simpson and others made clear: revenue must be part, though not all, of a balanced solution to our debt.
"There is, I believe, a fundamental difference in philosophy between the parties when it comes to how we view revenues. The Republican position holds that we don't have to pay for tax cuts. Democrats believe that tax cuts have to be paid for, with the exception of temporary measures designed to stimulate the economy.
"This same Republican attitude is evident in the budget proposals of their presidential candidates. According to a new study last week by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, three out of the four would increase the deficit substantially over the next ten years. Only Ron Paul's budget wouldn't do so, and that's only because his plan virtually eliminates much of the federal government. Despite their calls for severe reductions to spending, the other three candidates' unfunded tax cuts would outweigh their savings by trillions.
"We ought to be honest about the costs of cutting taxes, and we must do better than just taking the politically easy route. For deficit reduction, we need something bold – and yes, something that will be difficult but worthwhile to achieve.
"I am not the only one in Congress who shares this view. Last year, while the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction was meeting, I helped lead – along with a Republican, Mike Simpson, and a Democrat, Heath Shuler – a bipartisan letter from a hundred House members – sixty Democrats and forty Republicans. We told the members of that Committee to 'go big' and that – and I quote: 'To succeed, all options for mandatory and discretionary spending and revenues must be on the table.'
"Many of us looked to the findings of the Bowles-Simpson and Domenici-Rivlin Commissions, along with the Senate Gang of Six, as a framework, and I believe there is still broad consensus that, ultimately, any comprehensive plan will resemble these proposals, which called for a balance of cutting spending and raising revenue.
"Our tax code is complicated, contradictory, and extraordinarily inefficient. We need comprehensive reform. Such reform should greatly simplify filing, facilitate ease of compliance, eliminate disparities in treatment, and – yes – raise additional revenues while bringing down rates and reducing preferences.
"A willingness to reach a comprehensive deficit reduction solution will also mean taking a serious look at the sustainability of our entitlements while ensuring that the most vulnerable among us are protected.
"I was deeply disappointed that the Joint Select Committee could not reach an agreement, even knowing that there were large groups in each party and each chamber ready to support what it produced. I worked behind the scenes to urge an extension of its mandate so discussions could continue. Unfortunately, another opportunity was wasted. Now, we are facing the prospect of a painful sequestration.
"Simply walking away from sequestration would be waving the white flag in the face of CBO's projection of a dismal fiscal future. However, sequestration remains an irrational response. It was the blunt instrument established to force both sides to the table and keep them there. It is not a solution in itself. Sequestration should have provoked compromise and fiscal common sense. Unfortunately, it did not.
"It should be replaced – but replaced only by the kind of big, balanced solution the Joint Select Committee was supposed to have produced.
"A number of Republicans have launched a campaign to repeal the defense sequester but leave non-defense cuts intact. This means relying only on cuts to domestic spending – which will unfairly burden the middle class and working families. Simply eliminating any part of the sequester is an idea that ignores the point of having created it in the first place. At the same time, this is a perfect example of why sequestration was established: it ought to remain a painful reminder of our failure to compromise and a powerful incentive to do so. We must see it for what it is – a mutually assured deterrent to inaction.
"The sequestration also reflects the reality that deficit reduction will require contributions from everyone. Many Americans have already tightened their belts. Federal employees have received freezes in cost of living adjustments that contributed $60 billion toward bringing down our deficits, and new employees will now have to contribute more to their pensions, reducing the deficit by another $15 billion. No single group of individuals, though, should be asked to contribute without everyone being asked to do so.
"Recognizing the seriousness of our debt challenge, Democrats have reached out to work with Republicans on a comprehensive deficit reduction package. In 2010 the President convened the Bowles-Simpson Commission, and 2011 continued with talks led by the Vice President that brought House and Senate leaders – Democrats and Republicans - and the Administration to the table to flesh out what we hoped would be a workable solution. Efforts continued into the Summer with discussions led by the President during the debt ceiling and default crisis and into the Fall with the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction. The fact that none of these efforts led to a comprehensive agreement is further evidence of the difficulty of this challenge.
"That's why we all must be committed to continuing this dialogue and working toward agreement. All options must remain on the table. There is no alternative, and we must do what's right for our country, even when it requires hard choices.
"We have a constitutional duty and a moral duty to the American people not to walk away. We must refuse to play the politics of delay when action is urgently required.
"As I said earlier, we must not wait for the next election, and we must not wait for things to get worse for our budget, for American businesses, and for American families.
"There is never a time when the next election is not looming before us – never a moment when we are free from the constraints of our politics. It is not going to get easier to reach an agreement. In fact, it will only get more difficult as time passes and our debt grows.
"That's one reason why I will keep pushing to reach an agreement before November – and why everyone concerned about our debt ought to do so as well. The conventional wisdom in Washington is that our window for reaching a solution is after the election, during a lame-duck session. By then, we'll know the shape of the 113th Congress, feel the pressure of the looming sequester, and once again confront the expiration of the '01 and '03 tax cuts. That's where people – including many in this room – see a leverage point for making progress.
"But the action necessary to reaching a solution requires bipartisan support and a sharing of responsibility for the tough decisions that must be made. The shared power that now exists provides a unique opportunity to build on the dialogue both sides began last year.
"We are also aware that we can't always choose our own calendar. All too often, it chooses us. In a speech to the Committee for Economic Development last year, Honeywell CEO Dave Cote, who served on the Bowles-Simpson Commission, made this point well. He said – and I quote: 'Something will happen here, and it will be one of two ways. The first is to do it thoughtfully and proactively the way a great nation should. The second is to wait until the bond market forces us to do it, like Greece did. …The faster we act, the less painful it will be for everyone.'
"That's why the debt crisis facing Europe right now should serve as both a lesson and a warning. The real issue facing us is whether we can avoid being caught off guard in April or September should the effects of Europe's crisis wash across the Atlantic. It's whether we can start working on a solution now so we're not unprepared should that occur.
"That's why we can't wait until after the election. We must continue working on a big, bold, and balanced deficit solution now.
"We need to look seriously to the framework of Bowles-Simpson and others as a guide and make sure talks take place. It is incumbent upon us to build on the efforts of the bipartisan group of one hundred House members I spoke of earlier.
"There are ongoing efforts as a result of having formed that group in the fall. Members of both parties and on both sides of the Capitol are working to ensure that the next time we find ourselves at an impasse, we will be ready – with a legislative package in hand – to address our debt and deficits in a comprehensive, long-term way.
"These Members understand that a comprehensive deficit reduction agreement would restore faith in our credit and in our institutions of government. It would show the American public that our country is on the right track again. Internationally, it would demonstrate that America can lead not only on issues of global security but also lead by example in exercising much-needed fiscal responsibility.
"Furthermore, I believe it would also provide the biggest single stimulus to the economy we could achieve. Setting our economy back on a sustainable, predictable fiscal path will help us create jobs by restoring certainty for businesses and enabling them to plan for a future without the brinksmanship that has characterized this Congress. Without certainty, businesses can only focus on the short-term, which leads to missed opportunities for growth and fewer investments that have wider economic benefits. There is over $2 trillion in cash being held on corporate balance sheets just waiting for the right time – just waiting for a restoration of confidence – to put that money back to use growing the American economy. A comprehensive agreement on our fiscal future would, I believe, restore the atmosphere of fiscal calm needed for businesses to unleash their capital to great effect.
"Democrats must be ready to do our part. But those of us who are still pushing Congress to 'go big' can't do it alone. There needs to be pressure from all sides on those who have the power to make a deal. They need to feel it. They need to know they'll be supported.
"We need opinion-makers from both sides to add to the sense of urgency everyone in Washington ought to feel, much like Andy Stern and David Stockman did when they wrote the following in a recent op-ed: 'This country needs a deal. We need to fix our busted budget system, revamp our broken tax code and reform our Social Security and health care programs so that citizens who depend on them can count on them.'
"An old proverb says: 'good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment.' We've learned hard lessons over the past thirty years. We've gained much experience, and we ought to translate that into good judgment when it comes to fiscal policy. And good judgment tells us that our challenges are too great to be faced with division or pushed off until tomorrow. One party isn't going to get us out of this, and it won't be done by waiting for another election to pass. It will require compromise by both political parties – and contributions from all Americans.
"Turning our deficits around and getting America back on the right track won't be easy, but – then again – important steps are never easy. I pray that we can summon the political courage and will and wisdom this challenge requires of us. America's future and the quality of life for our children and future generations depends on it."


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Renaissance Orlando Hotel - Airport
At the Renaissance Orlando Hotel-Airport, we create a one-of-a-kind vacation experience, matched by unbelievable value and alluring perks. We invite you to discover our re-imagined lobby with 24 hour check in, daily maid service, onsite restaurant, lounge, outdoor heated pool, cabanas, whirlpool and fitness center. Each room offers, 55 ' flat screen TV, plug and play panel, microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker, in-room safe, 2 phones, and hair dryer. This hotel is a 100% non-smoking hotel. Complimentary 24 hour shuttle service to and from Orlando International Airport. Our central location allows easy access to the Orlando attractions and the local beaches.


text: I just thought I'd throw it out there. I found that the display was sorta stuck between gallons/miles to empty and the stopwatch feature. I normally just leave it in the temperature mode and somehow it ended up in the miles to empty mode. It wasn't easy to detect but the info button was/seems to be the culprit. A clean-out and a shot of Tri-Flow and back running as normal.


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Wine, Beer & Spirits Tours
Visitors ride a horse-drawn carriage on a tour of Carlos Creek Winery in Alexandria
Tours for what ales you.
The quality and abundance of locally produced wines and craft beers have opened a new dimension in Minnesota tourism. Many wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries throughout the state offer tours of their facilities chock full of information on the production process, and often include samples.
Visit the Drink & Eat section for a full list of brewpubs/taprooms and wineries, and search for culinary events in the Festivals & Events calendar.
Find Wine, Beer & Spirits Tours
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Take a break from your skyscraper heels and embrace the latest shoes trends in the shape of the kitten heels that were turned by great designers into must have pieces of the season. Though some might be reluctant to give up their sky-high shoes for these cuties there's always an alternative to sport more comfortable and at the same time uber-stylish footwear. If you decide to try it make sure you consider some of the basic style tips that would perk up your appearance with a fashionable twist and would keep your look up-to-date w... Read More


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Advocate for Future Generations and Climate Change Policy to Speak at Yale Law School
The state of the world is at a crossroads, and according Rajendra Pachauri, Chairman if the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), "in view of [the current] impacts [described by the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report], and those that we have projected for the future, nobody on this planet is going to be untouched by the impacts of climate change." Related, the United Nations World Meteorological Organization said that 2013 was the sixth-warmest year on record. Thirteen of the fourteen warmest years were in the 21st century alone, showing how human activities have warmed the planet.
U.N. scientists that met last week in Japan to discuss these findings underscored how humans are vulnerable to a changing climate, which can mean more extreme weather events and spiral into related disasters. They cited that without anthropogenic emissions of fossil fuels, it would have been "virtually impossible for Australia's record hot calendar year of 2013…illustrating that some extreme events are becoming much more likely due to climate change." And it's likely to get worse, which does not bode well for future generations who will have to deal with the impacts as emissions continue to increase.
That is why I'm pleased that someone who has tirelessly advocated for future generations and a new way of thinking on climate change policy will be coming to Yale Law School on Thursday April 3rd. Mary Christina Wood is the Philip H. Knight Professor of Law at the University of Oregon as well as Founder and Faculty Director of the nationally acclaimed Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program at the University of Oregon School of Law. She will be discussing her recent book, Nature's Trust: Environmental Law for a New Ecological Age, which defines the frontiers of public trust law and maps out a full paradigm shift for the way government agencies around the world manage public resources. It reveals the dysfunction of current statutory law and calls upon citizens, government employees, legislators, and judges to protect the natural inheritance belonging to future generations as part of the public trust. Professor Wood's talk begins at 6:10 PM on Thursday, April 3rdin Yale Law School's Room 128 (127 Wall Street); it is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served.
The talk, co-sponsored by the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy and Yale Climate and Energy Institute, is part of the Climate and Energy Bookshelf speaker series featuring new publications by renowned environmental policy thinkers including Brian Keane, Todd Wilkinson, and Tom Kizzia.
Verner Wilson, III, is a first-year Master of Environmental Management candidate at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. He is originally from Bristol Bay, Alaska, and obtained a bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies in 2008 from Brown University. He previously worked for the World Wildlife Fund, as well as a coalition of Alaska Native tribes, on issues related to sustainable wild salmon fisheries, environmental justice, mining, oil and gas, and climate change.


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11 NYC Cooking Classes to Take This Week
We're teaming up with CourseHorse, a new free service that aggregates classes to take in your spare time. Each Monday we'll round up some food-centric courses to take this week.
Jam & Cheese Pairings w/ Anarchy in a Jar
Tuesday, December 11th, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Brooklyn-based Anarchy in a Jar opens up the world of jam-making for you as you learn about and sample their creations like Chipotle-cinnamon-pear jam with cheese pairings from the much-loved Murray's Cheese. $60 for one session. Murray's Cheese, 254 Bleecker Street, New York, NY; sign up here
Gingerbread House Decorating / BYOB
Tuesday, December 11th, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. If you love making the world a more beautiful place, then this is the class for you. Come, create a gingerbread masterpiece (that you get to take home) to best all other gingerbread houses, and win a free class at Taste Buds Kitchen. $80 for one session. Taste Buds Kitchen, 109 West 27th Street, 10th Floor, New York NY; sign up here
Pickling with Rick's Picks
Wednesday, December 12th, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Still scratching your head on what to do with that big pile of produce from your CSA? Pickle it! Rick Field will walk you through the basics as you munch on pickles and sip on beer. Take home the jar of pickles you make. $55 for one session. The Brooklyn Kitchen, 100 Frost Street, Brooklyn, NY; sign up here
Gelato/Sorbet Workshops
Thursday, December 13th, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Be a gelato chef for a couple of hours. Don't worry about being sad when it's over—you'll have your pint of creamy gelato to console you. $120 for one session. Mia Chef Gelateria, 379 3rd Avenue, New York, NY; sign up here
Northern Italian Classics
Thursday, December 13th, 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Italian never goes out of style. In this class, get your hands dirty with and feast on pasta, bolognese sauce, tiramisu and more. $100 for one session. Home Cooking New York, 236 West 26th Street, New York, NY; sign up here
Micro Brews: Artisanal Beers & Cheeses
Friday, December 14th, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Start the weekend off right with two hours of small-batch beers and cheeses. $75 for one session. Artisanal Premium Cheese, 483 10th Avenue, Suite 200, New York NY; sign up here
Holiday Cheese Pairing Cruise
Saturday, December 15th, 2 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Cheese + ___? Answer this age-old question while taking in the Manhattan skyline from a yacht cruising along the Hudson River. Jams, chutneys and other accompaniments will be present. $95 for one session. Classic Harbor Line, 12th Avenue, Pier 62, Chelsea Piers, New York NY; sign up here
Canal House Cooks Lunch
Sunday, December 16th, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. This Sunday afternoon, get away from all the hullabaloo of holiday shopping with a stunning 5-course meal paired with wines, prepared by the authors of the beautiful Canal House cooking guides, Christopher Hirsheimer and Melissa Hamilton. They will be making seasonal dishes based on their newest cookbook (such as Escarole Salad with Lemon and Parmigano and Braised Chicken with Capers and Pancetta). $95 for one session (includes a copy of "Canal House Cooks Every Day"). The Brooklyn Kitchen, 100 Frost Street, Brooklyn, NY; sign up here
Holiday Bread Making Class
Sunday, December 16th, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. If you're anything like us, you're a sucker for the pillow-y soft, high-butter holiday breads studded with dried fruits or nuts. This year, learn how to pull one of these out of your very own oven from Roberta's head baker. $60 for one session. The Brooklyn Kitchen, 100 Frost Street, Brooklyn, NY; sign up here
Knife Skills
Monday, December 17th, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. A must-have for anyone who loves to cook, knife skills will make you a leaner, meaner force in the kitchen. Learn from a professional chef; then, sit down to enjoy the gazpacho and fruit salad you prepared. $75 for one session. Camaje, 85 MacDougal Street, New York NY; sign up here
Mixology: Create Tea-infused Cocktails
Monday, December 17th, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Earn some serious cred at your next shindig by learning how to make tea cocktails in this class headed by Santuary T's mixologists. $60 for one session. Sanctuary T, 337 West Broadway, New York, NY; sign up here
See more cooking classes over on CourseHorse »
This post may contain links to Amazon or other partners; your purchases via these links can benefit Serious Eats. Read more about our affiliate linking policy.


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John Shaft Jr. may be an FBI cyber security expert, but to uncover the truth behind his best friend's untimely death, he needs an education that on... read more
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A late-night talk show host's world is turned upside down when she hires her first and only female staff writer. Originally intended to smooth over... read more
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The X-Men face their most formidable and powerful foe when one of their own, Jean Grey, starts to spiral out of control. During a rescue mission in... read more
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Behind the people who brought down Toronto Mayor Rob Ford
Though the notion of a "left-wing conspiracy" has a certain appeal, the truth about the people who brought down Toronto Mayor Rob Ford – at least temporarily – is that they are, rather, cut from the earnest, activist, gentle cloth of the committed urban dweller and correct Canadian thinker.
In short, they are the very antithesis of the combative, football-loving, Don Cherry-embracing, plain-spoken mayor from the wilds of Etobicoke.
And the public record shows they share such an affinity for the same sort of causes that they don't need to conspire.
Clay Ruby, of course, was the lawyer who, working pro bono, brought the case to court and got the decision which saw Ford ordered from office.
Ruby is a famous Canadian defence lawyer and a bencher with the Law Society of Upper Canada with a long history of taking on activist causes, particularly those with environmental bent (he's a former honorary director of the Sierra Legal Defence Fund and Greenpeace Canada) and free expression (PEN Canada).
His client was Paul Magder, not the furrier of the same name who once fought against Sunday shopping laws, but Paul Magder the certified electronics technologist who works for Iris Power LP in Mississauga, Ont.
Magder, in turn, was drawn into being the face of the case by Adam Chaleff-Freudenthaler, a 28-year-old activist virtually since birth who now works in labour relations for the Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees Ontario.
Chaleff-Freudenthaler went to school with the children of Magder and his wife Fern Mosoff – Nat and Robin — and according to a recent Toronto Star story, it was Chaleff-Freudenthaler who contacted Ruby about taking on the case.
Chaleff-Freudenthaler had already filed his own successful challenge (with a friend named Max Reed) to Mayor Ford's campaign practices in the 2010 election, persuading the city's compliance audit committee in May of last year to order an audit. The results are pending.
In the May 2011 edition of Spacing magazine, Chaleff-Freudenthaler acknowledged his animus for Mayor Ford and his policies, but mounted an articulate defence of his motives – the defence of rules, which he and Reed allege the Mayor broke, that keep the financial playing field relatively level for candidates.
Chaleff-Freudenthaler also took the Mayor's brother, Doug Ford, to task after the councillor spotted him at a council meeting and accosted him with a "Hey, you're the guy with the audits" greeting. At some point, Councillor Ford said "What goes around, comes around," at which point Chaleff-Freudenthaler asked if Ford was threatening him.
Chaleff-Freudenthaler said later he felt bullied.
He then brought a complaint to the city's Integrity Commissioner, Janet Leiper, who in the result had Councillor Ford apologize. His apology was deemed unacceptable.
Magder, meantime, generally keeps a low profile.
At what was essentially a victory press conference at City Hall just hours after the decision came down Monday morning, both he and Ruby adopted a sober mien.
Ruby pronounced the result "tragic," tragic that the Mayor of such a great city could "bring himself to this."
Standing beside him, the bespectacled Magder, wearing a sweater vest, called it a "sad day for Torontonians, sad because we've spent so much time and money on this matter instead of nurturing our city and growing it into a wonderful place to live." He pleaded for leaders who would "work together to build a nurturing city."
(Since Ruby is working for free, and Ford is paying his own legal costs, it's unclear to what money Magder was referring. In fact, non-downtowners could be forgiven for not having a clue what Magder meant, period, but as one who lives in the core, I can assure you this is how such folks speak and they know what they mean.)
Aside from working on a couple of school board campaigns, including Chaleff-Freudenthaler's in the 2010 election, Magder has been uninvolved in city politics.
But though he has mostly flown below the radar, he and his wife Mosoff, who is a federal civil servant with Human Resources Development Canada, are hardly unengaged with civic life.
Through her job, she was a member of ICE, the Intergovernmental Committee for Economic and Labour Force Development in Toronto, a tripartite group funded jointly by the three levels of government whose members meet frequently, sometimes at Metro Hall, to brainstorm.
As a couple, they have signed their fair share of petitions, among them, the Put Food in The Budget petition (which asked Queen's Park to implement a $100 Health Food Supplement for adults on social assistance) and a petition to Support the Campaign for a Responsible Energy Plan (an initiative of the Ontario Clean Air Alliance, it was against nuclear generating stations).
In 2001, they wrote the Canadian government to express their "grave concern" about the "extreme intellectual property provisions" of a consultation paper on digital copyright issues. They have sent joint emails to city committees.
Mosoff, who was awarded a Queen's Jubilee medal as a "Caring Canadian," also appears to have signed online petitions on her own, perhaps most controversially, a petition of the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade, which sought to stop Canadian Pension Plan investments "in Israeli Apartheid."
In April of 2010, Toronto Star food writer Corey Mintz wrote a piece headlined "My dinner with Clayton Ruby."
At it were some of Mintz's friends, Ruby and his wife, Ontario Superior Court Judge Harriet Sachs.
Mintz was doing the cooking. As his friends discussed the "polarizing allegiance to the left or right," Ruby cut through the verbal red tape, Mintz wrote.
"I think it's all abstractly meaningless," Ruby said. "There are people who do good in the world. And there are people who do not. And we make judgments."
And that, I suspect, has much more to do with the efforts to fell Rob Ford than anything else: They do good; Ford, in their eyes, does not.


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Bernanke defends Fed rate policies, cautions Congress
WASHINGTON Chairman Ben Bernanke offered a sharp defense Monday of the Federal Reserve's bold policies to stimulate the weak economy, while cautioning Congress to respect its private discussions.
The Fed needs to drive down borrowing rates because the economy isn't growing fast enough to reduce high unemployment, Bernanke said in a speech to the Economic Club of Indiana. The unemployment rate is 8.1 percent.
Low rates could also help lower the federal budget deficit by reducing the government's borrowing costs and generating more tax revenue through stronger growth, Bernanke said.
- 4 tax moves to gird for the "fiscal cliff"
- U.S. economy grew 1.3 percent in second quarter
- Calculate the best way to pay off credit card debt
Bernanke cautioned Congress against changing the law so it could review the Fed's interest-rate policy discussions. Such a step would improperly inject political pressure into those talks and make Fed policymakers less likely to act, Bernanke warns.
The speech comes just weeks after the Fed voted at its Sept. 12-13 meeting to purchase mortgage bonds to help boost the housing market. The Fed left the program open ended, saying that it would keep buying the bonds until the job market showed substantial improvement.
The Fed also said at the September meeting it plans to keep its benchmark short-term interest rate near zero through at least mid-2015.
In his speech, Bernanke reassured investors that the timetable for keeping rates low "doesn't mean we expect the economy to be weak through 2015." Instead, he said the Fed expects to keep rates low well after the economy strengthens.
Bernanke spoke two days before President Barack Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney will hold a debate in which the economy is a central theme. And his speech comes four days before the government releases its September job figures. Economists expect just modest hiring gains and continued unemployment above 8 percent.
The U.S. economy is struggling more than three years after the Great Recession ended. High unemployment and weak pay growth has made consumers more cautious about spending, which has hurt manufacturing and slowed broader growth.
The Fed is hoping to make home buying more attractive to help the broader economy. When home prices rise, people typically feel wealthier and spend more. Consumer spending drives nearly 70 percent of economic activity.


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Other Condos
Celebrating Our 10th Year of Fabulous Family Vacations in Daytona Beach, Florida!
Call Us for Daytona Vacation Rentals Information: Renata @ 630-927-6669 • Gene @ 630-927-6666
Or Email Us at firstname.lastname@example.com
When researching where to stay for your Daytona Beach vacation, condos are a great choice. When comparing a condo to a hotel, you will find that your travel dollar goes farther you will have more space, a kitchen and a better stocked condos at resort locations, at a much better price than you would pay at the same resort. We own condos at resort locations -- check their condo prices and then check ours -- you will be pleasantly surprised.
You will not sacrifice quality, as all of our condos are at resort locations, this means that you will find better amenities, such as pools and oceanfront patios. We offer oceanfront condos and can tell you exactly what condo you will be staying in, you will also find those little extras that make the condo feel like home.
Most condos have private oceanfront balconies for your enjoyment. You will also find our condos stocked with those little touches that make a BIG difference with fully stocked kitchens, coolers, and video games, table games, pool toys are a few of the extras you will find available for your use.
We also have a portable crib and highchair available upon request.
Our Daytona Beach Condo Rentals are at resorts that cater to travelers and you will find great settings for your upcoming vacation. These locations also offer condos thru the front desks --we invite you to compare the cost savings you will get from renting with us::""
2 large outdoor pools, indoor heated pool - 2 indoor hot tubs, fitness area - on site restaurant and Tiki Bar - parking garage - laundry facilities. Learn more...
Tropical themed resort offers large oceanfront pool and patio, wading pool, indoor heated pool, arcade games, souvenir shop, tiki bar, & laundry facilities. Learn more...
An oceanfront resort location with beachside pools, patio and tiki bar. Lazy River, 3 more outdoor pools with water gym and water slide is a perfect spot for families to enjoy days in the sun. Learn more...


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About Us
Are you passionate about music? If you have a high level of musical competence in either instrumental or vocal performance, our music program is the place for you. Lynchburg College is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
We offer two majors (BA) and four minors in music.
Music major emphases:
- Instrumental performance
- Vocal performance
Music Education major emphases:
- Instrumental education
- Vocal education
- Music for children
- Music history
- Music performance
- Music media
What Will I Study?
The music major offers emphases (concentrated study) in instrumental and vocal performance. The music education major offers emphases in instrumental education and vocal education.
You will have the chance to perform in a variety of student musical groups, as well as in off-campus productions, including with a local opera company and symphony.
What Kind of Job Can I Get?
Whether they choose to further their education in graduate school or not (40% do), our graduates get jobs in areas like professional performance, theatre, and teaching.
What Are Some of Our Graduates Doing?
Find out what our graduates are doing.
Master of Arts in Music
Our Master of Arts in Music provides advanced and in-depth training opportunities for both choral and instrumental conducting professionals in schools, churches, and community organizations.


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Girls I have prepared a new Giveaway for you. Because I saw that you loved the blouse in the picture that you saw in this post, I decided together with Vessos to prepare for you a wonderful contest where you can win not one, but two prizes that you`re able to see also on their website Here & Here. This means that we will have 2 winners!
The context will be available for one week, this means that you have the chance to enter until next Monday and after that on the following days we will also announce the winners :D
Because they are way too awesome, they have organized a big celebration for the coming independence day, meaning that by using the following code: IND20 you will get a 20% discount. And take a look to see their attractive prices without discount!!!! And also check their international giveaway HERE where you have other amazing prizes ♥
The discount is available until the 4th of July, and if you don`t know this date, represents also the day when I was born. So this week is my birthday ♥ Can`t wait ♥
Anyway, now I will tell you the rules for the Giveaway :
1. Like Manuela from Let`s talk about fashion and Vessos on Facebook
2. Share the contest pictures, available HERE
3. Leave a comment with your email address under this post and with the items ( the blouse or the jumpsuit) you want to win ♥
I hope you like it and good luck loves
Kisses, Manuella ♥