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Help Me Throw an Amazing Christmas Dinner Party!
Good Questions
Q: I work for a small law firm (10 people), and I have offered to host our staff Christmas party at my apartment to save a little money this year. I have a month to prepare, two days off before the event, and a lot to accomplish in that time.
The gang will roll up to my door around 5pm, and for about an hour and a half to two hours I have to provide entertainment, a gift exchange, a Christmas craft (Martha's baby jar snow globes!), and whatever else I come up with — and then dinner around 7.
I like a challenge in the kitchen, so I want to really make a nice extravagant meal, with appetizers, a soup, the whole nine yards.
I have one pescatarian in the bunch, but I've only cooked fish once or twice, so would rather do more vegetables or maybe shellfish. I wanted to do a nice fillet roast for the meat eaters, but not sure what else to do.
The biggest issue is that I want to be able to do a lot of the prep work beforehand, since I will have to be entertaining for two hours before the food is served, and can only really run in and out of the kitchen to check in on things. I made a big dinner this past weekend, and by the time everyone was seated and eating, everything was getting cold already! Something I do not want to happen for my office!
I would really appreciate some tips on putting together the meal — fancy, challenging — but I can make ahead, and have hot food on the table even though the food is ready two hours prior!
Thank you so much!
Sent by Kory
Editor: Kory, wow! That is quite a tall order! Our first suggestion (really, the holy all-encompassing rule of dinner parties like these) is do NOT get too ambitious. You can make a fancy, special meal that people thoroughly enjoy while still sticking to recipes you know well.
My own personal suggestion, for something like this.
• An appetizer of runny cheese, crackers, and jam or fruit to start while you're doing the craft. Perhaps dab the crackers with jam and cheese so people have easy one-bite appetizers easily to hand. You could also do spiced nuts. All easily done ahead of time.
• If you want to get extra-fancy, try an amuse-bouche. I made this one entirely the day before.
• Start with a salad, like this Orange, Olive, and Fennel Salad. Plate up before your guests arrive and have already out on the table, along with some fresh (storebought!) bread and good butter. Thus your entire first course is done before anyone even gets there.
• For the main meal, what about a polenta bar? You could keep the polenta warm in the crock-pot, and offer a selection of meat and non-meat toppings — even roasted spiced shrimp. This is hearty and comforting, but still rather fancy, for many people! Any ragu (or short ribs, perhaps) can be made ahead of time and reheated in a slow oven that day.
• Close with a cake you've made ahead of time, like this Orange Olive Oil Cake. You could also serve small scoops of really excellent chocolate or lemon ice cream.
Finish with coffee and digestivi in small cordial glasses. (That final shot of something warming and delicious is a really stylish and civilized way to end a meal.)
OK, readers your turn! What advice and recipe suggestions would you offer to Kory?
Related: Outdoor Dining: A Pink and Yellow Birthday Party
(Image: Faith Durand)
31 Comments
Um. You need servants.
Does your oven allow space for two roasting pans? One gets the hunk of meat. The other gets bold chunks of root vegetables for your non-meat-eaters, drizzled with olive oil and spiced appropriately. Keep in fridge until time to roast, then slip into the kitchen and put them in the oven.
Alternatively, one main dish (probably the vegetarian one) needs to be crockpot-friendly, so it can happily simmer on the counter all day.
I've done salmon wrapped in puff pastry--it comes out beautifully and you don't really have to worry about overcooking the fish if that's your concern. the pastry lends itself to pretty seasonal decorative cut outs and any number of sauces. I usually do one large piece of salmon, but it would be more elegant to wrap individual portions.
I'm sure everyone will have a great time! I'll leave the recipe suggestions to others, but my main question is whether the craft idea is yours, or is something that everyone in your office is really into. I think it's going to stress you out beyond belief to be giving step-by-step snow globe instructions in that precious hour or two before dinner, when you normally would be mingling with guests and popping into the kitchen to check on things. I would scratch it, personally!
I will politely disagree about plating dressed salad two hours before service. It might be all right at room temperature that long, but you could experience some serious wilting and dressing separation. That said, you could easily make a nice pureed winter vegetable soup for a first course the day before, and simply heat it up to serve, offering croutons, sour cream, and maybe crumble bacon as toppings.
Or at the very least give someone else responsibility for running the craft and the gift exchange.
I will politely disagree about plating dressed salad two hours before service. It might be all right at room temperature that long, but you could experience some serious wilting and dressing separation. That said, you could easily make a nice pureed winter vegetable soup for a first course the day before, and simply heat it up to serve, offering croutons, sour cream, and maybe crumbled bacon as toppings.
I agree with the above--go simple on the meal! Why not do one protein and have it be shrimp so that you don't have to think about two proteins for the group. If you have a bunch of activities planned, you'll need a meal that will come together super quickly or be completely pre-prepared. Here are a few other suggestions:
-TJ's tapenade and Ajvar spread from the middle eastern store served with nice crackers or toast rounds
-pre-made soup (can be made a week in advance). Some of my favs are Carrot Ginger; or red lentil soup with coconut milk and curry spices come together quickly
-an arugula salad with shaved parm, cherry tomatoes, and pine nuts
-the polenta that is recommended above can be made in advance and topped with shrimp sauteed in a spicy tomato sauce you've made in advance
-cheese plate with nice cheeses and toasted walnuts and ripe pears (easiest dessert ever)
-port and champagne
If you do decide to go with a roast Michael Chiarello's Forever Roasted Pork is an easy go-to (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/michael-chiarello/forever-roasted-pork-recipe/index.html).
Sorry for the double-post! Technical difficulties.
I'd also suggest asking one or 2 friends (from the office?) to be your designated helpers during the party. That way you can take turns running the party and checking on the food. I like to do things on my own, too, but it will really help your stress level (and enjoyment of the party!) to have a little help.
The trick is in the planning.
Make use of your equipment. Got a crock pot? That's great for either keeping cider or chocolate hot, make a soup or stew course (cook it overnight and keep it warm until you serve it table-side)
Time the use of your oven. Most big dishes can "rest" atop the stove until you serve without damage. With the oven hot, its a great time to broil the top of mashed potatoes with cheese, or bake a quick brie with jam and nuts or puff-pastry appetizer. Or even reheat pie.
Everything that can be done before your guests arrive (mix the salad, make the vinagrette, bake or even just prepare ingredients (mise en prep)) should be done. Look for recipes that require resting after cooking, or things that taste great reheated (chili, most pasta sauces, casseroles, ...). Then make them the day (or more) before and reheat for your guests. They'll never know. :D
Do you have a slow cooker? Can you borrow any? You could do your soup, protein, and/or dessert in one very easily, and keep everything warm with minimal attention.
If you want to serve a warm dessert, I like baked fruit (it goes in the oven when dinner comes out) with yogurt and honey. Or a chocolate cake made ahead with hot fudge poured over is decadent, and all you'd need to do is heat up the sauce while you slice the cake.
A fruit parfait would make an easy appetizer. They can be assembled in the morning, and sit in the fridge until it's time to serve. A bit of whipped cream or sweet yogurt on top right before going out hardly takes any time.
Also, create 5 or 10 minutes for yourself right before the meal comes out by asking someone else at the party to open and pour the wine while people are finding their seats. This gives you time to toss and dress the salad, stir things, and get any large slabs of meat out of the oven to rest before carving.
Also: eat before people show up, so you can have smaller servings during dinner and slip away between courses while everyone else is still eating.
I agree with everyone telling you to resist being too ambitious. I once had a dinner party like the one you described and wanted to impress everyone with sushi. It worked out, but I would have been much happier with something less labor intensive.
But I disagree with some of the above comments, in that whenever I'm dealing with dietary restrictions I always (whenever possible, that is) make the same meal for everyone, so nobody feels like they got a lesser version of a meal. It means adhering to the combination of everyone's dietary restrictions, but it's also a good challenge that everyone will appreciate.
Simialar to the polenta bar, you can do a raclette party (boiled potatos with lots of different topping options for meat and no meat eaters), you can find pans here: http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=raclette&tag=googhydr-20&index=garden&hvadid=2755505545&ref=pd_sl_2b0o41un8k_b
oh i love the polenta bar idea. v cute!
also ... really easy do-ahead are shortribs. i've made this one, and it's even better the next day and is simple to reheat in the oven, chaffing dish or crock pot.
also delicious and super easy to start ahead of time (mostly ahead) is a nobu miso cod. it cooks in 15 minutes, which works out great for timing.
if you want to make salad that will last, i would recommend a red and green cabbage salad with a vinaigrette. it holds up really well on a buffet.
Recruit a back of house helper, seriously. I have huge parties (as the singular cook and server) several times a year and even I wouldn't tackle your planned activity list plus food duties by myself.
Are you doing buffet style or plate service?
Just plating and delivering 10 plates worth of food to your diners will take a while. Double that time if prep/kitchen space is an issue. Likewise clearing, resetting and getting the next courses out. And there's nothing worse than having to bring an on-the-spot helper up to speed with your game plan AFTER you are already in the weeds.
Keeping the food simple, duh.
1. self-service cocktail bar, and keep it minimal. You won't have time to be making drinks to order. A house cocktail is nice...something that can be premixed in a big batch. That said, people tend to drink whatever they always drink.
Appoint or hire a bartender if you have a big mixed drink drinking crowd.
2. A do-ahead app that is already out when your guests arrive. Hard to go wrong with cheese, nuts, pickled tidbits.
3. avoid a traditional greens salad that needs to be dressed at the last minute. Something that can be marinating in the fridge, dressed in advance and just needs to be plated is your friend and will be more popular anyway.
4. Soup--keep it super tasty and small portion with a great garnish. serve in a teacup or mug.
5. Cooking a large piece of anything is always going to be less demanding, time and technique-wise, than individual portions.
6. choose a completely make-ahead dessert, bonus points for beautiful presentation. bring it out to the table and plate/serve from there or make it self-service to encourage people to retire to the lounge
7. If you have the space and stuff, it's always fun to move to another room/table for the main or dessert courses...decorated and set completely differently. OTOH, if you are space-challenged, think carefully about where you are going to put everything, including the dirty dishes. Let the dessert station take over the appetizer station, put the drink station away from your main traffic areas, pile the dirties in a bin (a plastic laundry basket works well) somewhere vs. taking up counter space and interfering with prep of your next course.
Good luck!
What perfect timing! I am hosting a formal dinner party for 12 on Saturday, so I can share my planning process. First, since I can't take any time off work, I broke everything down into manageable tasks to do after work.
For the menu we are having short ribs (make ahead), potato and porcini gratin (assemble ahead), and broccoli with roasted garlic butter (Steamed at the last second). for dessert, food and wine's "stump de noel" for which i made the buttercream, cake, and meringue mushrooms all on different nights.
I made and froze gougeres for an hors d'oeuvre, along with olives and cornichons. I feel that this is absolutely manageable and I have been in bed by 11 every night this week!
Good Luck!!!
For the main course, I would do a nice slow-cooked French braise (personally, I find Julia Child's Boeuf a la Mode a real crowd-pleaser). You can prepare most of it the night before, pop it in the oven 2 hours before dinner. The only thing you'll need to worry about during the party is to make the gravy (very quick and easy) and to do your vegetable side-dish (which, again, can be prepared the night before).
I really like the salmon wrapped in filo idea fory our pescatarian guest, mentioned above. I've done it myself before as a way to make simple salmon look much more elegant--and it's really easy to cook.
Dessert should be simple but elegant. You can go all-out the day before and make a cheesecake or something equally impressive, or do something really simple (trifle or profiteroles stuffed with cream, perhaps). Or go really fancy (and yet really simple) and do a nice créme brulée with a little liqueur in it (I like to add a dash of cointreau).
Okay, so you can tell that I really like the French cooking. :) I just find French cuisine great for entertaining because it's usually quite easy (lots of one-pot meals) but looks very elegant and tastes really rich.
The key to success in your case is to prepare as much as you can the day before and not to try to do everything yourself. You don't need to impress anyone, you already did by taking on this big project--be sure to ask for help when you need it, and be sure to work in some time to actually enjoy yourself as well. After all, this party is for you too as an employee of the firm, right?
One thing about the polenta bar: it's a good idea, but I wouldn't want to rely on it for your meal as lots of people (including myself) absolutely hate polenta.
Great advice, splatgirl! And everyone else for that matter.
I do a couple of special dinners like this a year too, and totally agree on not getting too ambitious. The salmon in puff pastry is a great suggestion, and makes a beautiful presentation. Plus, it is really very easy to do, and you can have it ready to go ahead of time, and just pop it in the oven. I also really love the idea of the polenta bar, but keep the toppings simple. Too many toppings and you will absolutely overburden yourself. For dessert, a do-ahead is crucial, and I love the idea of a scoop of ice cream (Edy's Peppermint or Egg Nog flavors would be great) in a pretty glass, served alongside a cookie tray with 2-3 made ahead treats.
Drink wise, I would do a red wine, a regular and a light beer, and maybe a champagne punch. Also, pitchers of water.
Lastly, I totally agree with giving up the reins of the gift exchange and the craft project. The 2 hours before dinner service are when you will really need to be able to break away from the crowd, so someone else needs to be in charge of those aspects.
Spatgirl is right on. You could do a wellington for the meat eaters, and a salmon in puff pastry for the pescatarian. Or, if everyone will eat fish, make a large salmon in puff pastry and everyone gets the same dish. Much easier and doesn't make anyone feel singled out. Keep in mind that your main doesn't have to be huge or as heavy as a roast. With appetizers, salad, and a soup, a small main nicely plated with some lovely vegetables on the plate, will be more appreciated. I also think if you have the space, a buffet can feel very fancy. If you're pressed for time or cooking space, don't be afraid to get a few items from a nice local restaurant and serve them as well. You can also rent serving pieces and warmers.
Wow there are great suggestions on this topic!
I would take a lesson from the great Barefoot Contessa! Do not get so overly ambitious that you cannot mingle with the guests - there is no shame in going easy on yourself in a few areas: dessert for instance (if it's not your thing), or some spreads from TJ...no one has to know and it can free you up to put your attention where it really counts. I tend to get overly ambitious about how much time I have and what I'm going to offer. It's nice to have something you can cross off your list last minute if you are running out of time or would rather sit down to a cocktail instaed of cleaning another dish. You want this to be something you enjoy, not something that is going to make you hate life!
An appetizer that people love is bacon wrapped dates - they taste awesome and can be prepped and ready to pop in the oven well ahead of time. Nuts, cheese, bread, crakers - easy peasy.
unless you know there are a lot of vegetarians or non meat eaters, I'd go easy on yourself and only do one main dish like chicken or beef and then add the shrimp cocktail. Between appt, grilled veggies, soup, bread, cheese, dessert - no one will go hungry. It's only 10 people, not an army.
Red lentil soup is a lovely idea. I had orangett's the other night and it was fantastic.
How about skipping the salad? Do some roasted veggies instead. They are great even at room temp and you'll avoid the dreaded "wilt".
Pork or a Roast is easy enough or how about a simple roast chicken? Add some shirmp (grilled or not) cocktail on the side.
Also- don't overlook something as simple and tasty as the cocktail meatball for an appetizer as well. It can stay warm in a crockpot. You may look down on it, but they get eaten first at a parties for a reason! They are delish!
At the end of the day, all your guests want is a full belly and a free flowing bar. Don't stress yourself out about multiple courses coming out at certain times in a certain way. Family style or buffet is best to encourage mingling.
As for the bar, you can make your signature cocktail wassail (featured here the other day). It smells like the holidays and spiked with brandy, it's amazing. Plus the brandy can be inexpensive and it will still taste good.
A chocolate bourban bundt cake looks pretty and is tasty. Fresh whipped cream is a snap to make and perhaps some fresh berries on the side? Those watching their figures can opt for just berries and cream :)
Wassail is a great suggestion for the cocktail...totally forgot about the wassail!
Another soup suggestion that I forgot, and serve all the time to raves. Roasted red pepper soup topped with crab. We make this the day before, and just heat it slowly in a stockpot an hour before you are ready to serve. We ladle into cups the size that people can hold in their hands and eat while they still mingle. For 10 people a pound of jumbo lump crabmeat would be more than enough. Just make sure to pick through it the day before to get out any extra shells. Top each cup of soup with a heavy tablespoon or so of crab. Decadent and lovely. Roasted red pepper soup: http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/roasted_red_pepper_potato_soup/
In an attempt to second the people saying get helpers, if you have a trustworthy teenager who lives nearby, you may be able to recruti them to help out for pretty cheap - the teen will be looking for christmas money and you need an extra set of hands. Just an idea.
An alternate idea for your pescatarian (and more health conscious friends) would be a fish cooked in parchment. There are a ton of recipes out there for great, easy, fancy meals that all you have to do is literalyl put on a plate and bring the plate to the table.
I love going all out for dinner parties, too, but remember that elegant doesn't have to mean complicated. Remind yourself, too, of what your priorities are. Sometimes I forget that my goal is not to impress people with my mad cooking/hosting skills, but for everyone to have a good time, enjoy their food, and for me to enjoy the evening as well.
I'll add my vote for soup as a starter. It's elegant, easily made ahead (way ahead and frozen if you want), and easily kept warm on the stove until time to serve.
For mains, I do think it will make a tremendous difference to your work load if you just make one for everybody--and since not everyone likes seafood, I'd just go with a good vegetarian dish. Check out Ottolenghi's new cookbook, Plenty, for ideas. Vegetarian mains can be every bit as sumptuous as meat-based dishes. I also recommend choosing a one-pot dish, if possible.
Desserts should absolutely be made ahead. Tarts, cheesecakes, the chocolate bundt cake someone mentioned above, homemade cookies--all can be prepared well in advance, and a small assortment makes a nice presentation.
**One more piece of advice that I often find hard to follow from some famous chef or food blogger: choose just one dish to be your WOW dish.
The first thing you should do is check if anyone has allergies. So many people forget to do this.
Try this elegant Roasted Chestnut Bisque as a starter, or pass it in shot glasses. It is so Christmas-y! http://therunawayspoon.com/blog/2010/12/chestnut-bisque/
I would either steer clear of shrimp for the main dish or offer two main dishes. Shellfish allergic people (myself included) wouldn't be able to eat the main dish if you were only serving shrimp. Unless you can 100% guarantee that no one coming is allergic to shrimp, choose something else! Good luck!!!
jdens is right. Elegant doesn't have to mean complicated! I've recently started making a DELICIOUS root vegetable casserole with rosemary buttermilk biscuit topping from epicurious.com. It's always a hit, looks impressive (especially in a beautiful baking dish) and can be made ahead of time. It even satisifies the most adamant of meat eaters. Any dessert on a cake pedestal looks striking when you dress up the plate.
Here's an idea, too. What if you incorporated the gift exchange into the craft? People could pick names before and then craft for whomever's name they pulled? Make your own ornaments (ornaments, glue, glitter and imagination) would be a nice takeaway and doesn't require step-by-step instructions.
Keep the wine (or wassail or whatever) flowing, the music playing and enjoy your company! No matter what you serve or what activity you provide, it will be a holiday to remember and one that everyone will surely appreciate.
I have 1 word for you....DELEGATION!!!!! Learn it. Live it!
Next time you have to cook fish, salmon steaks, individually wrapped in sealed foil with drizzled olive oil, salt and pepper and a little garlic salt like Melissa's. completely sealed, foil folded, bake 350 20 min. Amazing!
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Gag order lifted, documents unsealed in USA v. Barrett Brown
Today district court judge Sam Lindsay issued an order unsealing documents and vacating the September 4, 2013 gag order in Barrett Brown's case. A veil of unnecessary secrecy that loomed over this case has finally been lifted. Here are some critical previously sealed documents:
Plea agreement
Factual resume
Government's opposition to defense motion to dismiss (CR-317)
Government's opposition to defense motion to dismiss (CR-030)
Brown only pleaded to three counts: transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, accessory after the fact to unauthorized access to a protected computer, and interfering with the execution of a search warrant. Statutorily, he faces a maximum sentence of 102 months imprisonment (8.5 years) but will likely serve considerably less.
This order was eagerly anticipated, as for some time the prosecution has been abusing its power to request the sealing of documents, simply in order to block media scrutiny. While we welcome the sunshine, some aspects of this case, such as the detention hearing, still remain sealed for no justifiable reason.
If you're curious about the circumstances that originally gave rise to the gag order, read this transcript of the hearing.

subset: commoncrawl


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EOBF Mandate?
House plan ties electronic onboard recorders to reauthorization bill – by Jill Dunn
Although the U.S. Department of Transportation wants immediate approval of a short-term surface transportation reauthorization bill, which would allow more congressional deliberation on long-term transportation policy, House leaders released their funding plan requiring electronic on-board recorders on trucks.
On June 18, Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure chairman, released the committee's plans for the next authorization bill. Joining him were John Mica (R-Fla.), Pete DeFazio (D-Ore.), Subcommittee on Highways and Transit chairman, and John J. Duncan Jr. (R-Tenn.).
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood briefed Congress on the Highway Trust Fund, which will be broke by late August, he said. "Beyond keeping the Highway Trust Fund solvent, an immediate 18-month reauthorization provides Congress the time it needs to fully deliberate the direction of America's transportation priorities."
In 2007, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's proposed rule only required EOBRs by companies with HOS violation patterns. More than 99 percent of carriers would continue to use paper logbooks under the rule, which has not been finalized.
The American Trucking Associations conditionally supports an EOBR mandate, including requiring evidence that it improves compliance and safety. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, however, opposes it. Public Citizen endorses EOBR mandates and asks that the legislation protect highways against heavier and bigger trucks.
The proposed act "embraces many of ATA's priorities," the ATA said. "It requires recipients of federal funds to meet performance standards related to safety, infrastructure condition, congestion reduction and emissions, and recognizes the economic role of freight transportation by establishing a Freight Improvement Program that dedicates money to the National Highway System."
The Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program provides federal funding to states for motor carrier safety enforcement activities.
From fiscal year 2001 through 2007, MCSAP funding increased 30 percent. "However, over this same period, little progress has been made in addressing the number of deaths and injuries in large truck and bus crashes in the United States; only a 4 percent reduction in fatalities has occurred," the report said.
In response, the act would also institute new performance measures to focus state efforts on reducing the number of crashes and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. It noted the average cost of a fatal crash involving a large truck is more than $3.6 million, but did not elaborate on what's included in those costs.
The act also would establish a dedicated source of funding for freight-related highway projects and reauthorize the capital grant program for short-line and regional railroads. It would provide states with funding for projects that will improve freight mobility on the National Highway System and secondary freight routes.
The act also:
·Strengthens carrier oversight by FMCSA and its state partners;
·Amends the compliance review process to focus on vehicles and drivers;
·Requires additional review to identify and prevent "reincarnated" carriers;
·Ensures states will comply with federal commercial driver license requirements by the end of the authorization period;
·Institutes training requirements for drivers before obtaining a CDL;
·Establishes a drug and alcohol testing clearinghouse for commercial drivers.
Safety Belt Usage Increases -by Staff Reports
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced that safety belt use by drivers of medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles increased to 72 percent in 2008. That figure is up 7 percentage points from 65 percent the previous year.
FMCSA's safety belt statistics are part of its 2008 Seat Belt Usage Study, which the agency uses to measure the effectiveness of its Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Belt Program. The federal program assists states in executing their own safety belt awareness campaigns. Safety belt usage among commercial drivers has increased from just 54 percent since 2005, when the program began.
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QUINCY, Ill. (WGEM) -- Summer school usually means back to school and more homework from heavy textbooks, but not anymore.
Quincy Senior High school now offers summer classes online. The "APEX" classes are held at Quincy Junior High and are offered for a variety of the "common core" courses.
Students only have to be in the school for 2 hours a day, and teachers say it's not only good for the students to be able to learn online, but it's good for the teachers too.
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Eat In and Save Cash!
Eating while on vacation doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg -- check out these secrets.
Recession Mama Michele Ashamalla: I like to travel -- and a lot of the costs associated with travel have gone down. Eating out with several children, however, one of whom is too old to order off the kids' menu and another that is going through a growth spurt, can get pricey.
The last time we went on vacation, we spent part of the time in a rental house. We arrived about dinnertime. We hadn't seen any restaurants in miles, so my husband went off in search of a grocery store. He came back with what I thought was a crazy amount of food, probably because he was shopping hungry, which can be dangerous. He spent about $68.00. Turns out, he actually chose pretty well, since those groceries made seven meals. Seven meals for five people, so each meal was less than $2.00 per person. It was a little extra effort to cook, but we were making some pretty basic stuff -- spaghetti and meatballs, grilling chicken or burgers, and steaming vegetables. The cleanup wasn't so bad either.
If we took a day trip, we packed a picnic, because I couldn't stand the idea of not using the food he had already bought. I knew we were saving money, but I didn't really realize how much until I got back and figured it out. If we'd had to eat out all those meals, I estimate we would have spent about $350, and definitely wouldn't have been as healthy. Next trip, I'm going to plan ahead and stop at the grocery store on the way there. Maybe I'll even bring some coupons!
A former state deputy attorney general and current stay-at-home mom, Recession Mama Michele Ashamalla has three kids and ten years of experience stretching one salary to cover the necessities and more. She's all about saving money whenever you can, so you have it to spend on whatever you want!
my family and i took a mini vacation a couple weeks ago we did the exact same thing…we stopped at the supermarket and did a little smart grocery shoppind and it turned out great!!..just make sure u book a room with a fridge and stove or at least a microwave!….but it deffinatley worked for us!
Another tip if you are eating out is to share meals. My 9 year old doesn't like to order off the kids menu anymore so him and I often share a meal. It saves money and means that we eat less calories while we are out.
Also, we have started a "only water" rule while we are out. It was hard at first, but everyone is used to it now. And no appetizers.
Many times for our family four we order two meals (one mostly for dad and sis and one for son and I) and only water. It really cuts down the cost.
Our daughters actually asked us to prepare meals in our room the last 2 times we were at Disney World. We did grab an occasional snack but mostly took our own in a small backpack. It made us feel better when we did eat at a couple of restaurants.


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w/ Shaun Evaristo!
Saw him at WOD LA 2012!
It was a great experience to meet one of my biggest inspirations to dance! And especially at WOD where you meet many great dancers, the community just keeps getting bigger! And mL is of course part of this big family! When he gave me the shirt he was wearing, I was speechless and it was one of the best moments of my life. Watching videos of him felt like nothing when I finally got to meet him. The way he pursues dance is just amazing. He brings about a much deeper meaning behind it. At first I started off dancing because it looked cool and fun. But as I got more into dancing and started joining not only my all-male at school but also MarvelsDanceCompany, I began to truly have a passion for dance. And watching Shaun helped me realize that dance is more than just entertaining but another way of speaking to the community and showing the significance it has on our lives. Thank you Shaun for being such an inspiration to me and hopefully the same to others as well!
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And people have to ask me why I love him so much.
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Hey it's Patrick! :D
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All posts tagged kenya
Kenya's Tana River Delta Designated as newest Ramsar Site in Africa
Ramsar is a convention "that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and to plan for the "wise use", or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories" [Ramsar website]. What Ramsar is not is a Treaty that can legally enforce its members to protect designated sites. Were Ramsar able to do that there would be no question of building an airport anywhere near the Thames Estuary and Marshes SPA and Ramsar site, or buildig a barrage that would irrevocably change the character of the Severn Estuary.
An update from Dominic Kimani and Kinangop: Quarterly report May – July 2012.
One of the most rewarding conservation initiatives I've been involved with in recent years is supporting the efforts of members of the 'Friends of Kinangop Plateau' (FOKP) to
Update from Samuel Bakari: May 2012
Update from Samuel Bakari: May 2012
As the rains impound in Kinangop, as it is happening in other parts of Kenya, the farmers are consecutively trying to earn a
Dominic Kimani and FOKP: Quarterly Report January- April 2012
Quarterly Report January- April 2012
Dominic Kimani
National Museums of Kenya, Zoology Department and Friends of Kinangop Plateau (FOKP)
email@example.com www.talking-naturally.co.uk
David Fox, Luca Borghesio Dr.
Death threats received by opponent of a Jatropha project in Tana Delta
Yesterday I posted an update on the massive development threats to Kenya's Tana River Delta, often described as Africa's second Okavango. One of the most important wetlands in
The fight for the Tana River Delta: Update
Back in mid-June I uploaded a podcast with Helen Byron, the RSPB's Senior International Site Casework Officer about the hugely important campaign to protect the Tana River
TN46 RSPB's Helen Byron on the Tana River Delta
A conversation with Helen Byron, the RSPB's Senior International Site Casework Officer about the hugely important campaign to protect the Tana River Delta in Kenya (feature photo of
TN38 Keith Betton and the African Bird Club
The Cisticolas of Admiral Lynes
Talking Naturally is delighted to post an article by renowned birder, conservationist, and writer James Wolstencroft (see http://birds.intanzania.com/) on Africa's cisticolas. James is a consistently interesting voice,


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I feel your pain!!! The steel metal was poorly prepared or it was from China!! Please file a case with Dodge!!
I have been saving for a challenger since the concept car I loved it, I am planning on buying a new SRT next February, but after seeing all of the dent issues so many of you are having it makes me nervous about making a purchase. I wonder If I should start over and figure out something different to buy. Love the Challenger but don't want to spend 50k for a car that is going to dent on its own, that sucks!!!!!!!
I've never seen their tits before. I use the OEM ones and they don't flutter that much.
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Emergency authorities said Tuesday that they will install more than a dozen new tornado sirens around Franklin County. Now, neighborhoods that could once barely hear a siren will be able to hear that warning.
As we steamroll towards another tornado season, the City of Columbus is also moving to be ready.
The city will appropriate up to $120,000 for 14 new sirens throughout the city.
That money, along with grants totaling more than $136,000, will help cover more areas with tornado sirens.
"There is a methodology to it, a science. It doesn't mean there isn't experience and judgment, but it helps to be backed up and bullet proof to do this," said Mike Pannell, director of the Franklin County Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security.
The agency teams up with local municipalities to find the best locations for new sirens.
They work from a process that looks at coverage, population, and other factors to get a gameplan moving forward on location.
One of those new spots will be along Lindora Drive, the site of Kidz Nation Childcare Center.
"Awesome, that will help us in advance. We can prepare, seek shelter. It is peace of mind," said teacher Shermaine Cortham.
Pannell tells NBC4 that in a recent survey, 85 percent of people said that sirens are their No. 1 way to know what is coming.
"Shocked us, 85 percent, kind of amazing," Pannell said.
The construction of the sirens should begin by late April or early May.
The locations of the new sirens are:
Get the updated forecast from Storm Team 4's Harrison Hove.
3165 Olentangy River RoadColumbus, OH 43202
Telephone: 614.263.4444
Fax: 614.263.0166
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Awesome poster for my live comedy album recording at Union Hall September 3 by the great dannyhellman.
Yes. But it has to be in separate beds in separate buildings.
Read my man @mrdavehill's book "Tasteful Nudes" if you wanna know how great the next fifteen minutes of my life will be on this Japanese toilet. (at Okomusu Paris)
This is my favorite Danzig song and- believe me- it wasn't easy to pick just one. Sometimes I will listen to it while doing crunches. Other times I will listen to it while getting to second base with a goth chick I met outside the Sunglass Hut. In short, it is great to listen to pretty much all the time. I hope you like it so much.
There are a lot of great clips from the Dick Cavett Show (the greatest talk show of all-time) on YouTube. This legendary clip with Gore Vidal and Normal Mailer being total pricks to each other is especially entertaining and a reminder of how television actually used to be interesting.
Today I got to take over Triple J, a big Australian radio station, for a full hour, playing hot jams and telling stories and stuff. You can listen above. I hope you like so much. Okay, great, thanks.
Here- watch an entire BBC documentary about Glen Campbell. So angry with Tanya Tucker right now but otherwise this is the best.
Chet Atkins melting faces with "Mr. Sandman" here in 1954 makes me want to both practice and quit the guitar altogether. But mostly it reminds me of the infinite possibilities of this sweet, sweet instrument.


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Children's Health
Precocious Puberty
This information is provided as a resource and does not constitute an endorsement for any group. It is the responsibility of the reader to decide whether a group is appropriate for his/her needs. For evidence-based information on diseases, conditions, symptoms, treatment and wellness issues, continue searching this site.
National network. Founded 1989. Network and exchange of information for children who are experiencing precocious puberty and their families. Information and referrals, phone support, pen pals, annual convention, conferences and literature. Newsletter. Yearly membership $35 (US); $40 (Canada); $45 (overseas).
Precocious Puberty Support Network
c/o MAGIC Foundation
6645 W. North Ave.
Oak Park, IL 60302
Voice: 1-800-362-4423
Fax: 708-383-0899
Website: http://www.magicfoundation.org
E-mail: email@example.com
Verified: 7/17/2012
WebMD Medical Reference from the American Self-Help Clearinghouse


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Session Laws of Colorado 2003
HOUSE BILL 03-1108 [Digest]
BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Paccione, Borodkin, Boyd, Carroll, Cerbo, Cloer, Coleman, Frangas, Garcia, Hefley, Hoppe, Jahn, Johnson R., King, Madden, Marshall, McFadyen, Merrifield, Miller, Plant, Pommer, Ragsdale, Romanoff, Rose, Salazar, Veiga, Vigil, Weddig, Weissmann, Wiens, and Williams S.;
also SENATOR(S) Tupa, Arnold, Fitz-Gerald, Groff, Grossman, Hanna, Phillips, Sandoval, and Windels.
Concerning a standard policy for accepting international baccalaureate diploma students in Colorado institutions of higher education.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. Article 1 of title 23, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW SECTION to read:
23-1-113.2. Commission directive - admission standards for students holding international baccalaureate diplomas. (1) (a) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:
(I) It is in the best interests of the state to encourage the development and adoption of innovative and effective curricula for high school students;
(II) The international baccalaureate diploma program is an established and well-respected program designed to provide innovative curricula world-wide;
(III) In most other Western educational systems, secondary education includes the equivalent of a thirteenth grade, and the international baccalaureate diploma program conforms to this approach with its rigorous course of study over two years;
(IV) A student who has successfully completed the international baccalaureate diploma program is viewed as a highly attractive student by institutions of higher education due to the student's ambition, work habits, and scholarship;
(V) Nationwide, institutions of higher education recognize the high level of academic sophistication of international baccalaureate students and many offer considerable college credit as an inducement for those students to attend their institutions;
(VI) Many Colorado international baccalaureate students leave the state to attend institutions of higher education that provide attractive offers of credit; and
(VII) It is in the best interests of Colorado to retain the state's best and brightest students who can establish permanent residency and subsequently contribute to the intellectual and economic vitality of the state.
(b) It is therefore the intent of the general assembly in enacting this section that Colorado institutions of higher education be required to adopt comprehensive and reasonable policies to offer credit to international baccalaureate students.
(2) (a) On or before January 1, 2004, the commission shall ensure that each governing board of a state-supported baccalaureate and graduate institution of higher education in the state adopt and implement, for each of the institutions under its control, a policy for the acceptance of first-time freshman students who have successfully completed an international baccalaureate diploma program.
(b) Each governing board shall report the policy adopted and implemented pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) to the commission and shall make the policy available to the public in an electronic format.
(c) Each governing board shall set the number of credits the institution may grant to a student who has successfully completed an international baccalaureate diploma program. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (d) of this subsection (2), the number of credits granted by an institution shall be, at a minimum, twenty-four semester credits or their equivalent. Each governing board shall identify the specific general education or elective requirements that the student satisfies by having successfully completed the international baccalaureate diploma program and shall outline the conditions necessary to award the credits.
(d) Each institution may determine the level of student performance necessary to grant the credits, as measured by a student's exam performance in the specific courses constituting the international baccalaureate diploma program. An institution may only grant less than twenty-four semester credits or their equivalent if the student has received a score of less than four on an exam administered as part of the international baccalaureate diploma program, in which case the number of semester credits or their equivalent granted by the institution shall be reduced accordingly.
(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any institution of higher education that has entered into a performance contract with the commission as an exemplary institution of higher education.
SECTION 2. Effective date. This act shall take effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly that is allowed for submitting a referendum petition pursuant to article V, section 1 (3) of the state constitution; except that, if a referendum petition is filed against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part, if approved by the people, shall take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by proclamation of the governor.
Approved: April 18, 2003
Capital letters indicate new material added to existing statutes; dashes through words indicate deletions from existing statutes and such material not part of act.
The information on this page is presented as an informational service only and should not be relied upon as an official record of action or legal position of the State of Colorado, the Colorado General Assembly, or the Office of Legislative Legal Services.


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There is a famous saying that states "There Are No Free Lunches". I choose to disagree. For the next two Sundays we will be giving away concert tickets to see Greater Vision. Greater Vision is a southern gospel group that has been amazing and ministering to audiences for over 20 years. The location will be at Chenery Auditorium in Kalamazoo, which has been renovated, and is now a beautiful place to listen to music. The date and time are October 3rd, starting at 7pm.
We will give away one pair of tickets tomorrow (September 22nd), and two pairs on September 29th (one pair during the radio show, one pair on-line with Facebook). If you don't listen, or look at our Facebook page, you won't have a chance to win! And that would be very bad.
Also, make sure you check this blog on a regular basis for concert updates, and other exciting happenings. Let your friends and family know about it too!
Till next time...Jim


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An Estimation of CPI Biases in Argentina 1985-2005, and its Implications on Real Income Growth and Income Distribution
AbstractWe use the shifts in Engel curves estimated from household surveys to estimate CPI biases in Argentina between 1985 and 2005. We find that real earning levels increased during this period between 4.3 and 5.7% faster per year than previously estimated. More surprisingly, relative to conventional wisdom, that income distribution has improved throughout this period.
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Bibliographic InfoPaper provided by University Library of Munich, Germany in its series MPRA Paper with number 42930.
Date of creation: May 2009
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:42930
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Postal: Schackstr. 4, D-80539 Munich, Germany
Phone: +49-(0)89-2180-2219
Fax: +49-(0)89-2180-3900
Web page: http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de
More information through EDIRC
Related researchKeywords: CPI Biases; Argentina; Income; Growth; Distribution;
Other versions of this item:
- Pablo Gluzmann & Federico Sturzenegger, 2009. "An Estimation of CPI Biases in Argentina 1985-2005, and its Implications on Real Income Growth and Income Distribution," CEDLAS, Working Papers, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata 0087, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
- Gluzmann, Pablo & Sturzenegger, Federico, 2010. "An Estimation of CPI Biases in Argentina 1985-2005, and its Implications on Real Income Growth and Income Distribution," MPRA Paper 42950, University Library of Munich, Germany.
- I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
- E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
- I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty
- I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
ReferencesReferences listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
- Dora L. Costa, 2001. "Estimating Real Income in the United States from 1888 to 1994: Correcting CPI Bias Using Engel Curves," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, University of Chicago Press, vol. 109(6), pages 1288-1310, December.
- Irineu E. Carvalho Filho & Marcos Chamon, 2006. "The Myth of Post-Reform Income Stagnation in Brazil," IMF Working Papers 06/275, International Monetary Fund.
- Yatchew, A., 1997. "An elementary estimator of the partial linear model," Economics Letters, Elsevier, Elsevier, vol. 57(2), pages 135-143, December.
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Country artists Luke Bryan of Leesburg, Mark Wills of Blue Ridge and The Kinchafoonee Cowboys, a Georgia band with roots in the Albany area, all will perform during inaugural festivities, the office of Gov.-elect Nathan Deal announced.
"We are so pleased to have Georgia's own Luke Bryan performing at the Inaugural Celebration," said Tricia Pridemore, co-chair of the Inaugural Committee. "Luke is a rising star in country music and is making Georgia proud."
Bryan will perform at a Jan. 10 event at Philips Arena. It's invitation-only.
Wills and Kinchafoonee Cowboys will perform at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8 at a "Day of Service" concert for volunteers who participate in "With a Servant's Heart," a statewide day of service that kicks off the inaugural weekend. Sign up to volunteer and they'll give you a ticket to the show.
December 27th, 2010
11:51 am
Just like the diversity that he promises to celebrate and symbolize in his administration, Nathan Deal will ensure that there will be diversity in the music at his inauguration (Sarcasm font)


text: Busty milf loves the taste of cock so much that she spends most of her time thinking about when she will get her next fix. Watch as this busty mature drops to her knees and sucks cock like she hasn't eaten for a week. With her still big tits and tight round ass she is every inch the milf hottie we'd all like to fuck. See her spread her wet pussy for a big thick cock as this milf gets rammed from behind. She clearly loves every inch of her deep drilling as she moans loudly, soon swapping to cowgirl for some riders action.


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By Wil Longbottom
Last updated at 5:56 PM on 8th January 2011
Blue stain believed to be sign of poisoning or hypoxia - lack of oxygen that is precursor to altitude sickness
Thousands of dead turtle doves rained down on roofs and cars in an Italian town in the latest in a growing spate of mass animal deaths across the globe.
Residents in Faenza described the birds falling to the ground like 'little Christmas balls' with strange blue stains on their beaks.
Initial tests on up to 8,000 of the doves indicated that the blue stain could have been caused by poisoning or hypoxia.
Mystery: 8,000 turtle doves fell to the ground dead in Faenza, Italy, and were found to have a blue stain around their beaks
Shock: Residents described seeing individual doves fall from the sky, before groups of 10 or 20 began hitting roofs and cars
A witness told www.examiner.com: 'We have no idea why this happened all of a sudden.
'The doves just started falling one-by-one then in groups of 10s and 20s.'
Hypoxia, a lack of oxygen, is known to cause confusion and illness in animals. It is also a common precursor to altitude sickness.
Experts said results from tests on the doves will not be available for at least a week.
They said that cold weather could have caused the birds' deaths as the flock was swept into a high-altitude wind storm before falling to the earth.
It comes after two million dead fish were found to have washed up on shores in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland.
The alarming find is being blamed by authorities in Maryland on the stress caused by unusually cold water and overbreeding among spot fish.
Mystery: Experts said they believed the blue colouration around the doves' beaks may indicate poisoning or lack of oxygen
Littering the beach: The bodies of two million spot fish have washed up on the shores of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, after unusually cold weather
Carnage: Thousands of dead fish have washed up on the shores of Spruce Creek, Florida
That investigation comes just days after the deaths of an estimated 100,000 fish in northwest Arkansas, which is being blamed on disease.
A statement by the Maryland Department of the Environment said: 'Natural causes appear to be the reason.
'Cold water stress exacerbated by a large population of the affected species (juvenile spot fish) appears to be the cause of the kill.'
Preliminary tests of the water in Chesapeake Bay have showed the quality was acceptable, officials said.
The statement added: 'The affected fish are almost exclusively juvenile spot fish, three to six inches in length.
'A recent survey showed a very strong population of spot in the bay this year. An increased juvenile population and limited deep water habitat would likely compound the effects of cold water stress.'
Gruesome: New Year revellers watched in horror as the birds rained down on houses and cars in Beebe
Mystery: Officials initially blamed high-altitude hail or lightning hitting the birds. Then preliminary lab tests concluded they had died from multiple blunt force trauma
Mystery: A starling lies along the Morganza Highway in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana. Experts said hundreds of birds may have died after hitting power lines
Mass winter deaths among spot fish have occurred twice before in the Maryland area - in 1976 and 1980.
The incident is the latest mass animal death to hit the headlines in the last two weeks.
These include:
Experts have speculated that New Year fireworks, thunderstorms, cold weather, parasites and even poisoning may be behind the deaths.
But conspiracy theorists have also speculated on the internet that secret government experiments could be behind them, with some even claiming it was a sign of a looming Armageddon at the end of the Mayan calendar next year.
Another theory is that the rapid movement of the Magnetic North Pole towards Russia may have affected the birds' innate navigation systems.
The plot thickens: Rescue chief Christer Olofsson holds a dead bird in Falkoping, Sweden. Dozens of jackdaws were found dead on the street
Creepy: Thousands of dead drum fish were also discovered just miles away lining the shores of the Arkansas River
Inbuilt navigation systems in birds and fish is believed to be affected by magnetism.
Scientists have said the Magnetic North Pole is shifting at an average of around 25 miles a year.
With birds and fish relying on it to travel to breeding grounds and warmed climes, there are fears that the shifting pole could be confusing the animals which means they do not migrate in time to avoid cold weather.
Tests are being carried out on the dead birds and fish, but results are not expected for several weeks.
Scientists have been baffled by the sudden deaths of hundreds of birds which have plummeted to the ground seemingly simultaneously in several locations.
Two hundred American Coots were found dead on a highway bridge crossing Lake O' the Pines in Big Cypress Creek, Texas.
They are believed to have been hit by passing vehicles while walking or apparently trying to roost on the bridge.
Swedish experts blamed the shock of New Year fireworks for the unexplained deaths of 50 jackdaws found on a street in Falkoping, Sweden.
Many of the birds are believed to have died from stress or as a result of being run over while disoriented.
The largest incident took place in Beebe, Arkansas, were horrified revellers witnessed around 3,000 blackbirds crashing to their deaths into homes, cars and each other as they celebrated New Year.
Another 450 birds were found strewn along a highway in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after apparently hitting overhead power lines.
In both cases, the birds are believed to have become confused and were flying at a lower height than usual.
The deaths of tons of fish across the globe is being attributed to unusually cold water.
Thousands of Brazilian fishermen have been left struggling to make ends meet after the sale of seafood was temporarily suspended when masses of fish were discovered in Paranaguá, Antonina and Guaraqueçaba Pontal do Paraná.
Fish were also discovered rotting and floating in Spruce Creek, Florida, after another period of cold weather.
100,000 drum fish were found strewn along the shore of the Arkansas River.
And the cold snap has been blamed for the deaths of 40,000 Velvet swimming crabs - known as 'devil crabs - found littering beaches in Thanet, Kent.
Thousands of them: Crabs washed up at Palm Bay, Margate, are thought to have died of hypothermia
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1344913/Animal-death-mystery-8k-turtle-doves-fall-dead-Italy-blue-stain-beaks.html#ixzz1ATc9o4Js


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It will get worse. What caused the problem is when fox came into the sport. They demanded payment from sponsors over and above what they were paying to the teams or tracks.
Before this, NASCAR was a great marketing tool. Remember the panoramic (probably mispelled) views of the field and you could clearly see the sponsor on the car? Go back and watch TNT, CBS, or ESPN's old broadcasts. Announcers would mention the sponsor. Companies could get a little bang for their buck.
Not now. Even ESPN did not mention Allstate as the sponsor of the Brickyard. I guess Allstate felt the money it spent to name the race was sufficient, and it should have been, to be mentioned.
One reason we don't see as many driver interviews after a wreck is the fear one will mention a sponsor that hasn't ponied up to the network.
The camera angles prevent you from seeing the number or sponsor on a car. If I were a company, NASCAR would not earn a penny of my marketing dollars. It's not good business. $20 million to sponsor and then prostitute myself to the network for a mention, or even a glimpse of my car?
Blame the goobers at Fox for this decline. It's a shame and a sham.
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Sponsors jumping off the NASCAR ship in a hurry
By admin | August 10, 2009
By Richard Allen
At the rate sponsors are leaving, NASCAR looks almost as if it would be better named the NASTANIC. Apparently, just like in 1912, everyone wants to get off a sinking ship and several major sponsors within the sport have either announced their intentions to jump ship or are rumored to be jumping ship as soon as possible.
There is always going to be sponsor attrition, even in the best of times. Companies will fall into financial trouble, decide they want to go in another direction or simply not be able to keep up with the rate of growth. However, even the most vociferous of NASCAR apologists must be alarmed by the fact that within a space of less than three weeks four major sponsors appear to be moving on.
At least two tracks and two teams appear to be on the verge of losing partners going forward.
2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Matt Kenseth and his Roush Fenway Racing team have been notified by long time sponsor DeWalt Tools that the company will not return in 2010 as the sponsor of the #17 Ford. On the surface, this situation looks to have an easy fix. Crown Royal, backer of the #26 RFR car driven by Jamie McMurray, will be moved over to the #17. However, this still leaves RFR down one source of funds.
At the end of the season, RFR has to cut down from its current five teams to four per NASCAR mandate. Had DeWalt renewed its deal, this would have meant the #26 team and driver would have simply moved across the street and raced out of the Yates Racing shops. Now, it looks as if the #26 team will be shut down altogether and McMurray sent on his way.
Another team, Richard Childress Racing, may also find itself in the same predicament as RFR. Jack Daniel's, which funds RCR's #07 car for Casey Mears, is rumored to be on the way out. If this indeed occurs, RCR could find itself preparing three cars next year rather than its current four.
Aside from teams, tracks have also lost the backing of major companies in this recent round of cutbacks.
Lowe's, the company that broke somewhat new ground when it bought the naming rights to the track in Charlotte, has decided to depart from that long time relationship. This story came out several days ago but Speedway Motosports, Inc., owners of the track in Charlotte, quickly attempted to dispel the rumors as false and declared that negotiations between the two sides were ongoing. Lowe's wasted little time in affirming that they were indeed leaving.
Even the most historic of racing facilities has found that it is not immune from the departure disease sweeping the sport. After this year's running of the NASCAR race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, race sponsor Allstate made it known they would not return in that role.
Worse, there does not seem to be a mass of new companies looking to throw money at NASCAR. In the past, there has always seemed to be some new corporation that wanted the exposure stock car racing offered and were willing to pay for it. The rumor mill does not look so promising this time around.
Declining television ratings and empty grandstand seats do not seem to be the stuff potential advertisers are looking for. NASCAR wants to blame the economy for its current woes. What this means is, the ship is going down and all they are doing is describing the water.
There is more that needs fixing than the economy. If so much fan discontent is not soon addressed, there will be more sponsors leaving and few sponsors coming in.
Richard Allen is a member of the National Motorsports Press Association. His weekly column appears in The Mountain Press every Wednesday.
Watkins Glen was tough on Hendrick teammates Gordon and Earnhardt. Click the link below:
NASCAR isn't the only sport with failed drug tests and twisted tales. Click the link below:
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29 Responses to "Sponsors jumping off the NASCAR ship in a hurry"
Charlie Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 6:22 am
It will get worse. What caused the problem is when fox came into the sport. They demanded payment from sponsors over and above what they were paying to the teams or tracks.
Charles Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 7:06 am
If the ratings keep falling, I can forsee problems with Nascars TV contract when its time for renew!
Eddie D'Hondt Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 7:13 am
Interesting article…. filled with junk.
NASCAR is right in pointing to the downward economy. Due to the length of most contracts and the time frames they run to, the downward turn of the economy is just now moving into full swing in affecting these sponsors relationships with the teams, NASCAR itself and the race tracks. Most deals are mutli year deals and if a sponsor was struggling financially, most these companies couldn't get out of a contract until now.
The racing we are seeing now, especially with the brilliant insertion of the double file restarts, is some of the most competitive and entertaining racing we have seen in years, maybe ever.
Do us all a favor and do some homework when you write an article like this instead of just writing what we already know as far as sponsors that are opting out. Any Jayski reader knew this stuff weeks ago Captain Obvious.
Some homework would have found that all three of the U.S.A.'s major sports i.e. NFL, MLB and the NBA are all struggling and in most cases, worse than NASCAR for the advertising dollar and fans in the stands.
The sky is not falling dude and in a short period of time our sport will rise again and we certainly won't have people like you to thank as we all work our butts off to secure sponsorship for 2010 and beyond only to have a bean brain like you post an article like this. Thanks for nothing !
Do your homework as we rate you on it and you failed here !!
Ken Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Eddie, what fantasy world are you living in? Charlie is pretty close regarding sponsorship spending. Sponsors want to associate themselves with honest operations with high integrity. NA$CAR is not even though many of the teams are. Why pay for sponsorship and be ignored? Sponsorship doesn't make me buy products but it sometimes causes me to not buy products. If other people are like me, not sponsoring a team would be a wiser move than sponsoring one.
Rick Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 8:15 am
I totally agree with the article. I work for one of the biggest teams in NASCAR. I have to deal with sponsors as well as the fans. Although their are still times when the racing is very good, in general, people don't like the COT. The sport has become such a money machine that the racing has become secondary. Everything all the way down to the grass in the infield has a sponsor. Its so saturated its hard for the sponsors to get any bang for their buck anymore. They still have advertising money to spend, economy or not, they are just getting tighter with it. The teams have just priced themselves out of too many companies budgets. Will the sport survive? I'm sure it will. But until NASCAR realizes that the true bottom line is the fans, then they will continue to fall. If the product they were selling was good enough, people would always come see it. If the problem was only the economy, attendance would be down, but TV ratings would be through the roof. I'm pretty sure thats not the case. I appreciate articles like this one. The truth hurts sometimes.
Charles Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 9:03 am
TO Eddie D'Hondt
After reading your comments I can truly see how the "inside the oval" crowd are getting from the fans!
You dont tell fans and give lectures about the state of Nascar when it use to have a 'grassroots"fan base that would go in a bad economy, I am thinking 1973, 1979 to 80, and 1990 to 1992 and 2001 wtc recessions and the sport still grew!
Yes some of us fans for 45 years see a ship sinking and are trying to upright it, "not the status quo'"you seem to
Where is all the competition between the brand of cars, this spec car series has never worked, just look at IROC, IRL, CART, etc!
Having to pay 6 dollars for a drink at Darlington, 30 dollars to park, then after going to the Labor Day race form 1963 to 2003 in a row and then take it, Rockingham, North Wilkesboros away from us to go to tracks like Somona, and Glen for lesser attendence and more cost for the teams to build special cars for two races a year, Yes I will complain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I use to borrow money, stay out of work to go to a Nascar race and a lot of my freinds did, now I can afford and dont wont to go!!!!!!!!
I have given to this sport my whole life and most of the fans of Richards Columns are trying to help not hurt and just because you are looking for a sponsor dont take your grief or look for any apologys from us!!!!!!!!
Mark Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 9:05 am
Look…we can all come up with an excuse to validate the ecomomic woes of NASCAR. This sport has become a leagalized form of GREED. Sponsored by this…, presented by that…, brought to you by…., 2 hr pre race shows. Scarcity is what make GOLD worth its price. Pull back a little on the corporate influence! The empty seats, that is plain and simple due to $4.00 hot dogs, out of line price tags on the tickets, the on-slought of t-shirt vendors(not to mention buying one, then have a sponsorship change, just after you put it on). Don't pay $25.00 for a t-shirt, they cost about $1.00 to make. WISE up NASCAR fans, take a break step back, relax for a bit, let the value slip, let the France family sweat so they appreciate the FAN a little more.
Pat Gorman Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 9:27 am
As the article states It's a sinking ship and Eddie is a good example of what is wrong with the sport…I mean busines now. Eddie is a prime example of a corporate drone…just like king "Brain" If you say it often enough…"everything is OK" or it's the economy, you start to believe it. First generation, Think of it and build it, Second generation Watch it grow and prosper, and third generation screw it up. Look out the window Eddie….we aren't so ignorant as you think. Our sports is controlled only by money…the fans and the racing are secondary…..Top 35 …Lucky Dog…you name it. The COT is boring and so are the vanilla drivers that are scared to really say what they think….the passion left along with the good racing. I've been a fan since the 60's and to be honest I haven't watched an entire race yet this year and most of last. Blame it on the economy if you must but I don't see the same reactions from the fans on baebal and football websites. somebody need to stand up and tell the "KING" he has no clothes on…..if you remember the story
Sadly…. a Fan no more
Richard Allen Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 9:45 am
As I have said before, I rarely comment in this section unless I have been asked to clarify a point made in the piece in question. This is a place for reader comments and as long as they are kept clean the readers say will always be heard here.
With that said, I feel compelled to respond to Mr. D'Hondt's comments, especially since he challenged my "homework". As a teacher, I can't let that go.
The article is filled with facts, not emotional rhetoric.
DeWalt Tools leaving a NASCAR champion's team is a fact.
Allstate leaving The Brickyard, the most historic track in racing, is a fact.
Lowe's leaving the track in Charlotte is a fact.
Jack Daniel's is rumored to be leaving, as was stated in the column.
Attendance is down significantly at almost every track. The statement "Tickets available for the night race in Bristol" is all that needs to be said.
Television ratings are indeed down.
There has not even been so much as a rumor of a new company coming in any significant way.
And as for the homework, here's some: NFL attendance was down last year…by 1%. Yes, 1%.
MLB attendance is down this season by just over…3%, and that is with the steroid scandal.
I'm no 'NASCAR Insider' and I never said the sky is falling, but as one of the responses above states, if someone doesn't attempt to send a wake up call it will be soon.
Thanks for your comments, everyone.
Carl Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Actually, try closer to 6% decline for MLB, according to the SBJ.
As far as the NFL, I consider that to be a bit of a different animal. First, it's BY FAR the most popular sport in America. It stands to reason it would not suffer the decline that NASCAR has seen.
Secondly, an NFL team plays at the same venue for every home game, whereas NASCAR travels the country, which results in higher travel costs for attendees (gas, airfare, hotels, etc.).
I think it's a little bit of an apples to oranges to compare the NFL to NASCAR.
Having said that, you are accurate about companies not flooding into the sport. I do think NASCAR has done its best to kill the golden goose, so to speak, by selling too many sponsorships, teams driving the prices of sponsoring a car up too much, etc.
steven Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
I personally am especially tired of hearing BOOGETY BOOGETY etc. If I never hear that again it will be toooo soon.
Bobber Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I was a HUGE fan of CART/IRL. Then all the cars had to follow stringent specs. No more innovation. Remember how exciting it was when Parnelli Jones showed up with the rotary engine? NASCAR has done the same thing. Taken away innovation. I like the fact the the COT is safer but the races are boring. The track owners are also culpable in this by not realizing they need to lower prices to fill seats. It was sad to see so many empty seats at Indy as well as other tracks.
Richard Allen Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
I stand corrected on the MLB numbers as I went back and realized the stats I saw were from the first three weeks of the season.
At the All Star break attendance was down 5.5%.
Like NASCAR, the economy excuse may not be well suited to the MLB as it may be the one sport run more poorly than NASCAR.
Jake the Snake Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Wow Eddie D'hont. interesting view of reality you've got there.
One question. If the double file restart is so brilliant why did they wait 50 years to start using it?
Looks more like an act of desperation than brilliance.
By the way Dr. Punch: we get it. the restarts are "Shootout style"
Randy Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Just one other thing that has run me away for NASCAR is when was the last time you bought any NASCAR product that was MADE IN AMERICA!!! Everything from keychains to t-shirts to $150 jackets are not MADE IN THE USA. Why would I spend my hard earned money on the CHEAPEST made products they can purchase. Their fun is about OVER……
banzaibonnie Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
When the chase was instituted,I expected problems. Little did I realize how bad it could get.Now,all we hear is the top twelve-even in the first week,as tho the other 31 drivers have no fans,much less sponsors.Then along comes the top 35 rule,adding insult to injury.If your favorite is not yet a superstar,dont expect the media to notice him untill he attains that status.Unless his name is Dale!Mrn radio still reports on everyone,as tv used to.
midasmicah Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Hey Eddie. Get a reality check. I don't know what bubble you've been living in, but the only person you have any business calling out is yourself. NAS$CAR HAS DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS TO DRIVE BOTH VIEWERS AND SPONSORS AWAY. Any sport that would drive At&t out of the business needs to get their ducks in a row. I've been following this sport for 25+ years and the last 5 have been painful. To put it bluntly I'm restating the same things I've been saying for those same five years. Lowe's leaving is a huge blow. All these sponsors leaving should be setting off alarms amongst the heirarchy of the sport, but like Nero, Mr. France continues to fiddle away while the empire his betters built is slowly crumbling. I used the be a fanatic. Now I'm barely a fan. Good article, Rich
midasmicah Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
One last thing. I don't need to see all these percentages to know what the truth is. Three things tell it all. HALF-FILLED GRANDSTANDS, FREE-FALLING TV RATINGS, AND SPONSORS LEAVING IN DROVES.
Hambone Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
How to fix NA$CAR:
1. Hang Brian France from the tallest tree in Rockingham.
2. Return Rockingham and THE Southern 500 to thier rightful places on the schedule.
3. can the stupid & insulting chase for the chumps points scam.
4. can toyoya. (They make a fine car/truck but have NO place in NASCAR(.
5. Hang Brian France from the tallest tree in Rockingham.
As a former fan of 45+ years, these are what must happen before I'll ever give NA$CAR the time of day again. Brian France has taken what was the best racing in the world and turned it into just another insignificant TV sitcom. Good riddance to it.
keith Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
If you were a sponsor would you pay 20 million to be on a car then get extorted every week by TV to be seen or would you sponsor a race or track and have them not say your name or worse yet have the race called by another name from the TV network. These greedy fools are killing themselves.
Chuck Allen Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
After reading the comments posted before me, I can see that I'm not the only fan who is sick and tired of what NASCAR has become. I have been a fan for 20 years, spent thousands of dollars I couldn't really afford, driven thousands of miles, and spent even more hard earned cash on merchandise. I haven't bought a NASCAR item in over three years. I could care less about the races. I still enjoy the truck series. It is the only thing that remotely resembles the sport I once loved. As for NASCAR caring about the fans, all we have to do is look around to see that's not their primary concern. Good luck rebuilding what little Brian France has so BRILLIANTLY destroyed. At this rate, it will be dead in a couple of years. Great article, Rich. I'm with you all the way!
RAEckart Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Not every article written on the web is for media experts or NASCAR insiders. Some are harmless blogs that convey information that the experts already know. So give this guy a break. He's doing this for the love of the sport; not to take your job. You're a pretty big fish to be knocking all the water out of this pond.
- RAEckart -
Joe in Pittsburgh Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Wow,all I have to say is I agree with everyone here except Mr D'hondt. If that is what the people involved in NASCAR actually think,then we should not be surprised as to the direction the sport has taken in the last 5 or so years. Hope you racing guys enjoy running around with your sponsors in front of empty tracks and maybe being broadcast on Versus—because that is where you are heading if you do not change that naive attitude. I'm with the one guy who said he spent thousands he didnt have on NASCAR but now if there is a NASCAR logo on it,I DONT buy it. Is that what the sponsors wanted–turning fans like me away? Someone better wise up before it's too late (although it already is in my opnion).
Marybeth Wallick Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Jake the Snake,
"By the way Dr. Punch: we get it. the restarts are "Shootout style†"
According to Kenny Wallace, who every now and then gets it right, they are all required by Nascar to call it "shoot-out style". They have no choice.
Ed Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
The fans spoke their mind this year at the Chicago race when 20,000 seats were not sold because you had to buy season tickets for all the races instead of the races you wanted to see. This is where the state of the economy really reared its ugly head. The fans had to make a choice and they said NASCAR and the tracks cannot dictate these things anymore. Good for them !
Robert Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Sometimes the truth is really hard to accept.Look at the focus Ford is starting to place on their dragracing programs.Probably will continue with NASCAR,but placing a lot more money around the other motorsports.GREED has been the ruin of many great beings,NASCAR is not immune.Brian France needs to come down from his ivory tower and listen to the fans.
Al Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
So the only person here who thinks NASCAR is in fine shape is a NASCAR insider who takes it upon himself to try to kill the messenger instead of seeing the message, which is supported strongly by the actual fans who post here.
Like most here I have been a NASCAR fans for many years (more than 30 years now that I count it) but I really can't be bothered much with the sport any longer. I vaguely keep track of who wins races and where Ryan Newman is in the standings but we rarely watch races any more — and this is coming from a family who used to plan our Sundays around NASCAR races (well, back in the day when races were reliably held at a regular time on Sunday). I think for me the biggest problem is that NASCAR has come to see itself as the star, whereas it used to be that the drivers and even the tracks were the stars. NASCAR now squelches nearly every ounce of individuality out of the drivers, and as a previous poster mentioned, the idea of innovation in cars and engines has been killed and buried. Everything, EVERYTHING, is cookie-cutter — the cars, the tracks, and saddest of all, the drivers. A sport that once thrilled me now bores me to tears most of the time.
I don't see how anyone could look objectively at the sport and say it'll be okay as soon as the economy turns around. Even before the worst of the recession hit, races weren't selling out and TV ratings were down. We used to attend at least five races per year (including the All-Star Race), and this year the All-Star race might be the only one we attend and it has nothing to do with the economy. We're simply not thrilled with the racing any longer and going to races is so ridiculously expensive that even the fun of tailgating with our friends before and after races isn't enough to draw us in.
NASCAR had better wake up fast. It's on the verge of completely losing us as fans and if it can lose us, I'm guessing a lot of the newer fans will jump ship even more easily.
djones Says:
August 11th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
The main thing wrong with NASCAR is the way the Emperor France is ruining (oops, running) it.
Too bad the France family doesn't copy the folks over at the George family and kick him to the curb.
He's killing their goose. His so called leadership is going to affect all of them in their checkbooks.
Chuck in Knoxville Says:
August 12th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Come on Eddie. You sound like Jimmy Spencer. You will hurt your back carrying all that water. You know, just like everyone else here, the sport is in decline. The economy, combined with years of bad decisions have the sport struggling.


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Categories > Celebrities > My Chemical Romance > 22 Acacia Avenue
And if I fall I just hope that you'll catch me5 Reviews
22 Acacia Avenue
(#) MCR_dynamite 2008-06-15 01:27:09 PMOh my God, that chapter was so sad. I felt really bad for Frank, especially since he didn't even have a clue what was going to happen to him until it was too late. And how Gerard didn't do anything, I was close to yelling at my laptop screen at him to save Frankie.
Ah that chapter made me feel so much. I'm gonna rate it moving.
22 Acacia Avenue
(#) ferardxXxgerarnk_tc 2008-06-15 03:53:24 PMthat was so horrible! not your writing though your writing is great what was horrible was that disgusting pic touching frankie like that and merl giving him permission. i'm glad i didn't eat much today cause my stomach was churning as i was reading :( aawww gee you were supposed to save him wow
that was a really good/sad update
22 Acacia Avenue
(#) GhostOfYouMW 2008-06-17 07:40:41 AMomg, poor frankie! gerard sooo should have saved him. Lol. but you write really welll, and i really enjoyed this chap, so im gonna rate it moving. update soon!! xoj jayyyy~
22 Acacia Avenue
(#) pan-z 2008-07-05 11:48:52 AMyou just made me cry, this is heartbreaking stuff!
22 Acacia Avenue
(#) Mcrfan789 2011-08-25 11:33:24 PMThis actually made me cry. I seriously want to kill merl right now. How could she do that to frank?


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