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Travel Postcard: 48 hours in little-known Amphawa, Thailand
Little known to foreigners visiting Thailand, the riverside town of Amphawa, just an hour outside of Bangkok, has long been a secret among city-dwelling Thais looking to get away from it all.
Home to a quaint floating market quite unlike those advertised in glossy tourist brochures, its canals and river showcase a striking collection of wooden shop houses set against a backdrop of lush green vegetation. It holds a UNESCO World Heritage Award for its main canal.
Reuters correspondents with local knowledge help visitors get the most out of a stay in Amphawa, a frozen-in-time gem.
5 p.m. - Leave the grime and smoke of Bangkok behind and rent a private car, take a taxi or hop on one of the many air-conditioned mini vans that take you to Amphawa in Samut Songkhram province, about 80 kilometers (49 miles) southwest of Bangkok. Mini vans leave from Victory Monument every half an hour and cost 200 baht ($6.77) for a one-way journey.
6:30 p.m. - Check into Yao In Chan Hotel, a ten minute drive from Amphawa's floating market. Nestled among greenery and situated next to the Mae Klong river, the resort offers modern rooms with traditional Thai elements. (Yao In Chan Hotel, 95 Moo 7, Banprok, Amphawa, Thailand. Tel: +66 (0)854406886).
8 p.m. - Hop on a tuk-tuk, an open-air three wheeled taxi, and head to Amphawa's floating market, to grab a cold beer and sit by the canal. Once you've worked up an appetite head to Chanchala restaurant, where you are obliged to order drinks from the restaurant but can wander out and pick your dinner from one of the many boat vendors parked along the canal. Try salted "pla nim" or white tilapia, squid, prawns or grilled crab. A must-try is the gooey "hoy tod", a type of Thai mussel omelette, served with crunchy bean sprouts.
9:30 p.m. - Head back to your hotel for a well-deserved rest or dip in the swimming pool before an early night.
6:30 a.m - Reach for your camera and head to the nearest pier along the Mae Klong river, joining local residents as they offer morning alms to Buddhist monks clad in saffron robes. Watch as the monks row gently along the river, stopping to receive food and jasmine garlands in their hammered brass alms bowls. The act is a symbolic one and a sign of respect.
8 a.m. - Fuel up on a hearty Thai breakfast at one of the many stalls along the riverfront or canal that offer cloyingly sweet traditional Thai coffee or tea served with "Patongo", a fried-dough pastry. For those who don't have a sweet tooth, another traditional breakfast is hot boiled rice with shrimp or minced pork served with condiments.
9 a.m. - Visit the King Rama II Memorial Park, a botanical park and garden with traditional Thai stilt houses. The park was built in honour of King Rama II, known in Thailand as the "Poet King", and the site is believed to be his birthplace. A teak mansion serves as a museum displaying artefacts that date back to the 18th century. Watch traditional plays and a Thai dessert cooking demonstration.(King Rama II Memorial Park, Tel: +66 (0) 34751367. Open 08:30 a.m. - 05:00 p.m. daily).
11 a.m. - Rent a bike near the floating market's main bridge at Thai Teeb (www.facebook.com/Thaiteeb) and arrange for a tailor-made tour. or venture out solo to explore nearby orchards and the riverine way of life. For those looking to work up a sweat, bike to Baen district and take in the sight of coconut, orchid and succulent pomelo plantations.
3 p.m. - As the midday heat starts to cool off, head to Bang Kung temple. Built over 200 years ago, this Buddhist temple is known for its small chapel that is literally being held up and embraced by the branches and roots of banyan trees.
4 p.m - Next stop, Bang Kae Noi temple. At this more ornate Buddhist temple built in 1868, the walls and ceiling are made of teak wood and the intricate wood carvings on them tell the story of the Buddha's birth and his Enlightenment.
6 p.m - Shower off and relax, then head back to the floating night market. Book a night river cruise on a pencil-thin personal long-tail boat ($20.32 per group for a one-hour tour) or join other visitors on a large barge ($2.03 per person for a one-hour tour).
6:30 p.m - Before embarking on your river journey, sit down for dinner with the locals at Baan Thong Boran Restaurant. Order hearty seafood dishes served with "naam jim talay", a spicy green chilli dip made with potent birds eye chillies. A live band led by Uncle Zun, the restaurant's owner, plays popular Thai and Western hits from the sixties and seventies that will have you thinking you're stuck in a time-warp. Order "Tom Yam Pla Too", a spicy Thai soup made with mackerel, and "Mee Grop", crispy rice vermicelli served with juicy prawns.
8 p.m - Grab a drink from one of the vintage-style mom and pop convenience stores along the canal and board your chosen vessel. Lean back and listen to the cicadas. Your trip will take you along the canal and out to the Mae Klong River to watch fireflies sparkling on mulberry trees along the banks of the river, making it seem as though each tree is strewn with festive fairy lights.
10 a.m. - After a leisurely breakfast, ask hotel staff to arrange for transport to Don Hoi Lot or "Razor clam" sandbar at the mouth of the Mae Klong river, famous for its shell population and mangrove trees. Nearby, Chu Chi village is packed on weekends with sea food restaurants. Watch as fishermen slide their wooden boards on the mud flats to catch local razor clams.
1 p.m. - Just off Lat Ekachai road lies a monument dedicated to Chang and Eng, conjoined twins of Chinese descent who were born in this province in 1811 and gave rise to the term "Siamese Twins." After leaving Thailand to exhibit themselves in a world tour, the twins finally settled in North Carolina in the U.S. where they married and fathered a total of 21 children.
3 p.m - Get a foot massage at Tanasin Thai Massage at the Amphawa floating market. Let your stress float away with the water while you are massaged on a boat. Prices start at $33.86 for a one and a half hour massage.
4:30 p.m - See the afternoon in with a late lunch at Pawat Som Tam Kai Yang. If the giant plastic red chicken outside the restaurant doesn't catch your attention, the smell coming off the grills will. River fish, grilled chicken and shellfish are what you'll see Thais ordering in addition to the sizzling clay plates of garlic and butter clams. Don't let the food distract you and check out the drinks served in traditional silver bowls.
5:30 p.m - Before heading back to the city, load up on souvenirs at "Hing Hoy Amphawa". Add to your shopping bag some fish crackers and Thai toffees that will be sure to tempt friends and loved-ones back home. (www.facebook.com/hinghoyamphawashop). ($1 = 29.5300 Thai baht) (Editing by Elaine Lies)


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Made from non-woven polypropylene with a clear top, these storage boxes are designed to hold a variety of garments and textiles, such as quilts, blankets, afghans, sweaters, table linens, or outfits with multiple items such as suits. We recommend lining the textiles with acid-free tissue to prevent any permanent creasing or folds and also interleaving with tissue between layers. Zipper closure keeps dust out. Carry handle on side. Available in 4 sizes.
Hollinger Metal Edge Inc
9401 Northeast Dr.
Fredericksburg, VA 22408
Phone: 800-634-0491
Phone: 540-898-7300
Fax: 800-947-8814

subset: commoncrawl


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Be a Sculptor, ages 5-10
Help children use a variety of materials to create their own sculptures. They can create soft stone for carving with paper mache, found objects or plaster of Paris. Paper tubes and toilet paper roles make sculptures that reach new heights while newspapers, jar lids and egg cartons turn trash into art.
Express Yourself, ages 7-10
Sometimes sculpture does not look familiar. Sculptors often use shape, color and texture to represent ideas or feelings. Abstract sculptures may include a variety of themes and techniques and are usually unique to the artist's experience. Encourage children to brainstorm images and ideas, then provide them with dough or clay to create sculptures that express anger, joy, frustration, spring, summer, the Fourth of July and so on.
Point of View, ages 10-12
What if outdoor sculptures could think and speak? What would they say about their world and the people who come to see them? Ask children to imagine they are sculptures. They may choose to be notable monuments or a lesser-known abstract work. Ask them to write a short story or play based on their thoughts as sculptures. Extend this activity by asking them to act out the stories they write.
These activities were developed by Save Outdoor Sculpture! (SOS!), a national project that advocates greater knowledge about outdoor sculpture and its care. For more information, visit the SOS!4Kids website.


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There is a fear of being duped by a Spiritual Teacher
Fear of being mislead by a teacher. Fear of being duped and giving away a trust in myself. What is discernment, what is judgment? When am I doing which?I find this reasoning kind of funny. A person is using their fear to guide their thought process away from taking actions. Why should we trust our fears? Isn't it usually our fears that more often mislead us in our thinking and actions? Often this kind of "fearful thinking" is called skepticism, and often by people who claim to be skeptics. However, in this case the fear is using this tool of skepticism to be fearful of something different, and keep other fears in place by preventing action. A more skillful use of skepticism would be to apply it to these fearful thoughts. Until you apply skepticism to your fears, fears will use that tool of skepticism against your own emotional well being. To balance challenging your fears of a teacher, don't go leaping in with both feet towards what any teacher tells you either. It is reasonable to be skeptical of a Spiritual teacher, or even therapist, just don't be fearful. Take your time time getting to know them and see what they are like, and if it is a good fit for you. You might find some good guidance on evaluating a Spiritual Teacher from Jack Kornfield's book, "A Path With Heart." Chapter 16 is entitled: You Can't Do It Alone: Finding and Working with a Teacher


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Pre-registration is now closed (but entry is not limited to the pre-registered sailors)
All sailors attending - please download the attached form, complete and return as instructed with payment.
Whether you previously completed the pre-registration form or not, this is the only official entry to the event and must be completed.
It is recommended that entries are submitted in groups (containers/national associations etc) to reduce bank charges.
Please note the time limits stated within.


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Trillions of HFT micromanipulations later, and nearly an equal number of POMOs to fuel them, prices are finally challenging SPX 1130 overhead. Of course this is occurring on no volume overnight, as if there is any volume to speak of during the day… there's not. That's because there are no REAL buyers, real people know that NOTHING has been solved. The banks are still insolvent, the sovereign default risk has not gone away, accounting FRAUD is rampant world wide, data manipulations are rampant world wide, and despite Elizabeth Warren heading out into the Wild West to "protect consumers," they are already laying there with the life blood sucked out of them – zombies at best, just like the banks that made them that way.
Futures ramped overnight, using games with RIMM and Oracle's earnings to shoot tech stocks even higher, as if 11 days of straight up isn't enough. That push ran well over 1130, but has fallen back since, leaving bonds higher, the dollar higher, oil lower, and gold higher. By the way, the Yen has gone exactly nowhere since the massive intervention Tuesday evening. When reading about earnings that "beat," just keep reading and consider things like all the "one time" write offs that are always there yet in today's world are not included in "operating earnings" which are the numbers touted. Also look long and hard at margins and what direction they're headed, if you do, you may not be so impressed.
Of course today is quadruple witching day, and as such I do not take the price action today seriously. I guess I need to add the Friday evening pump for the Monday morning ramp to the list of things that I don't take seriously. Oh wait, I guess the truth is that I don't take our markets seriously at all, they are nothing but an illusion designed to suck your productive capacity into the hands of the few who play with their HFT machines, have access to dark pools, and "make" markets. Still, what I know is that unreal markets don't last, this one won't either. I certainly make no apology for their actions, people gambling in THEIR markets need to practice extreme patience or they will be stripped bare.
The Philly Fed report yesterday was just plain awful when you look at the details. The headline was -.7%, but if that negative report weren't enough, inside the report were these not so little points:
"New orders, at minus 8.1, contracted for a third month and contracted at a deepening rate. Unfilled orders, at minus 8.5, extended their long run of contraction. Shipments, at minus 7.1, contracted for a second month as did the workweek. Delivery times, at minus 4.1, continue to shorten. Inventories, at minus 16.7, show a second month of significant destocking in a telling reading that suggests businesses are growing more defensive."
Not to worry, the people on TV, and the people who have lots of things to sell you, say there is almost no chance of a "double dip." People like Warren Buffet, who owns banks like Wells Fargo that was proven guilty of laundering drug money, who owns Gillette which produces razor blades that you MUST HAVE because they have 5 blades, as if two weren't enough. They won't even keep making only two, because they're almost finally affordable at a buck each - no, no, we must spend $4 each for 5 blades or otherwise their bottom line will suffer, and I'm sure I just look so much better with a 5 bladed shave. Poor, but man do I look better. Thanks Warren. Sure, I'll buy some of your stock from you, never been a better time. What's that, you want me to take out a loan and work the rest of my life to pay you back? Sure Warren, no problem, I'd gladly trade my soul that's making my one trip on this planet to you for a shiny new overpriced oil sucking car made by a company I bailed out with the tax portion of my productive efforts. It's a dream come true! Sure am glad to see Elizabeth come to my rescue, I'm feeling richer already, think I better go buy a house because there's never been a better time to buy.
The CPI came in on expectations, which is up .3% month to month overall, but FLAT when removing the food and energy that the hot money POMO rotation created. Year over year consumer inflation is supposedly up only 1.2% - sure, and Santa will come down your "shelter's" depreciating chimney in only a few months. Here's Econospin:
Consumer price inflation remained somewhat on the warm side, thanks to higher energy costs. However, core inflation eased further to nonexistent. The overall CPI in August posted a 0.3 percent rise, equaling the boost in July. Excluding food and energy, CPI inflation slowed to no change, coming in below analysts' expectations for a 0.1 percent rise. Playing a key role in softening the core rate was an unchanged shelter index.
By components, energy jumped 2.3 percent, following a 2.6 percent boost in July. Gasoline rose another 3.9 percent after a 4.6 percent gain the previous month. Food prices rebounded 0.2 percent after dipping 0.1 percent.
In the core, shelter costs continued to stand out-as weak. Just when you thought they could not get softer, they do. Shelter costs were flat in August after rising only 0.1 percent in each of the prior fourth months. Again, this reflects the weak housing market and also a sluggish travel market for lodging while away from home. Overall housing was flat after a 0.1 percent gain in July. Declines were actually seen in apparel and in recreation, down 0.1 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively for August. Medical care rebounded 0.2 percent after slipping 0.1 percent in July.
Year-on-year, overall CPI inflation slipped to 1.2 percent (seasonally adjusted) from 1.3 percent in July. The core rate in August was steady at 1.0 percent. On an unadjusted year-ago basis, the headline number was up 1.1 percent in August while the core was up 0.9 percent.
Overall, price pressures are nearly nonexistent outside of energy. If you believe the recent gains in energy costs are temporary, then the inflation picture currently is quite good. On the news Treasury yields nudged down while equity futures were little changed.
Hey, it's all good. Just ask the "consumers" who will tell us how warm, well shaven, and fuzzy they are this morning at 9:55 Eastern when their sentiment is released.
Yesterday's action did produce hammer candlesticks just underneath support. It's time to either do or die:
Again, if it does break out above 1131 today, it is suspect due to options expiration. If, however, it continues above that level next week then everyone and their brother will be talking about the inverted H&S pattern and how the market is going to 1220. Personally, I won't be betting on it, but I won't be betting against it either until the uptrend lines are convincingly broken. I still think the odds are high that this ramp fails anywhere in here, as we are overbought and the divergences are growing. For example, we have negative RSI divergence, we have contracting new highs, we have a VIX that is flat to higher following the VIX market sell signal, and I could go on. The count is important here, if this is wave c of 2, as I suspect, then there is very little chance that the market makes it anywhere near 1220. We are at the top of the range now, it's a time to be a seller unless it breaks out convincingly on volume. I'm not at all convinced or impressed, and at times like these it's best to sit back and play some old Guns & Roses:


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Export 12 results:
Filters: Author is Langlois, Mélanie [Clear All Filters]
The Quebec Parkinson Network: A Researcher-Patient Matching Platform and Multimodal Biorepository. J Parkinsons Dis. 2020;10(1):301-313.
Goal management training ® home-based approach for mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: a multiple baseline case report. Neurocase. 2018;24(5-6):276-286.
The influence of vascular risk factors on cognitive function in early Parkinson's disease. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2018;33(2):288-297.
Smoking history is associated to cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease. Aging Ment Health. 2017;21(3):322-326.
Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation of the Right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex to Promote Metaphor Comprehension in Parkinson Disease: A Case Study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2016;97(1):74-83.
Articulatory Changes in Vowel Production following STN DBS and Levodopa Intake in Parkinson's Disease. Parkinsons Dis. 2015;2015:382320.
Corrigendum to "Changes in Vowel Articulation with Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation in Dysarthric Speakers with Parkinson's Disease". Parkinsons Dis. 2015;2015:419294.
The effects of subthalamic deep brain stimulation on metaphor comprehension and language abilities in Parkinson's disease. Brain Lang. 2015;141:103-9.
Impact of the LSVT on vowel articulation and coarticulation in Parkinson's disease. Clin Linguist Phon. 2015;29(6):424-40.
Changes in vowel articulation with subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation in dysarthric speakers with Parkinson's disease. Parkinsons Dis. 2014;2014:487035.
[Are non-literal language comprehension deficits related to a theory of mind deficit in Parkinson's disease?]. Geriatr Psychol Neuropsychiatr Vieil. 2013;11(2):208-14.
The role of basal ganglia in language production: evidence from Parkinson's disease. J Parkinsons Dis. 2013;3(3):393-7.


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Journalist Nir Rosen managed to do the near-impossible. He published some tweets offensive enough to rise above the din of the Internet's general state of offensiveness and lost his fellowship at NYU.
Rosen's offending tweets were in response to the reports that CBS' Lara Logan had been sexually assualted near Tahrir Square on the day Hosni Mubarak stepped down. Here is a sampling of his handiwork.
"Lara Logan had to outdo Anderson [Cooper]. Where was her buddy McCrystal."
"Yes yes its wrong what happened to her. Of course. I don't support that. But, it would have been funny if it happened to Anderson too."
"Look, she was probably groped like thousands of other women, which is still wrong, but if it was worse than I'm sorry."
During an interview with Anderson Cooper, Rosen apologized for his remarks and explained that he didn't realize that Logan's assault had been sexual in nature at the time of his first tweet. He stood by this assertion even though his tweet included a link to a short statement from CBS News that clearly included that detail.
Anderson Cooper suggested that Rosen was describing an unbelievable scenario. How could he link to an article without knowing the full contents of that article?
I have no idea if Rosen was telling the truth, and I certainly have no interest in defending his latest tweets - or the many that came before. But that notion that one would link to something without fully reading its contents seems anything but unbelievable. The fact that the assault was sexual does not appear in the CBS statement until you read a full 463 characters into it. Who's got time for that kind of research? I would say tweeting about a topic - and even linking to an article - before reading the whole story is the norm, not the exception.
I used to have a junior high chemistry teacher who, in an effort to keep us moving forward on a problem or equation, constantly advised his students: "Write, Don't Think."
That could easily be the tagline for this era.
Rosen may have crossed lines of appropriateness and sensitivity. But how many times a day do you see that behavior mirrored on the web? Are Rosen's takes that much more brutal than the comments you can find in the footer of many web posts?
Even if Rosen's level of offensiveness was enough to rise above the rest and cost him his job, his underlying behavior make him a poster child for the internet age.
Just look at his own explanation:
"it was the twitter equivalent of blurting something out. i had no expectations because i just didnt think of it … in those few minutes i didnt think about it, you're lying in bed late at night … just f-ing around on the internet thoughtlessly"
He gave some incoming news his partial attention and then thoughtlessly jotted down a couple phrases and pressed the submit button. Write, don't think.
Doesn't that behavior sound just a little familiar? That's the national pastime. Hot dogs, baseball, apple pie and rattling off idiotic statements without really thinking.
We dedicate a mere 140 characters to explaining our opinions. That's often about as much thought as we're willing to give a topic before shoehorning it into our preconceived narratives.
Once Nir Rosen's tweets started to circulate the web, he deleted them. He would have had better luck trying to build a time machine. That's one of the ironies of this era. We're quicker to share half-baked opinions publicly. And now there's no way to take them back.
Write, Don't Think. Maybe that isn't the best strategy when it comes to reacting to the news or publishing opinions. For what it's worth, it didn't really work all that well in my Chemistry class either.
Dave Pell is an internet addict, early adopter, and insider. He blogs regularly at Tweetage Wasteland and has even been known to tweet.


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For the past 50 years, Ruth Regina has been activly involved in the film and television industry as a Motion Picture and Television Make-up Artist, Make-up Director and Wig Master for the entire run of the Jackie Gleason Show in Miami Beach. Ruth's credits also include involvement with local film productions such as Scarface starring Al Pacino and Striptease starring Demin Moore. As a local favorite for celebrity favors, she was responsible for make-up work on the set of the Miss Universe Pageant for 14 years and coverage of the National Presidential Conventions (Democrat and Republican parties). As a well-respected artist in the entertainment industry, Ruth has proudly donned her work on the likes of past Presidents of the United States, supermodels Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Heidi Klum, and big screen actresses such as Jennifer Lopez, Marisa Tomei and Rosalyn Sanchez.
Most recentlyh Ruth has undertakine Wiggles, a new venture that designs and manufactures wigs for dogs. She has received international media recognition for this novel concept and appeard on television shows including Late Night with David Letterman, a documentary created by teh Canadian Broadcast Company, German news broadcasts, as well as a host of local and national media print and broadcast outlets.
Ruth Regina is an 8th generation wig maker who combines old world craftsmanship with modern technology. The quality of her work is second to none. Within her wig shop in Bay Harbour Islands, hangs pictures of her with stars including Judy Garland (who referred to her as a "Wonder Worker") to Marisa Tomei. Regina's work is displayed on dozens of mannequin heads on the shelves of her store just blocks away from the famed Bal Harbour shops.


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This film contains scenes of nudity and/or sexuality. Viewer discretion is advised.
This feature documentary delves into the rich history of Canadian queer women's experiences in the mid-20th century. Compelling, often hilarious and always rebellious, the women interviewed in this film recount stories about their search for the places where openly gay women gathered in urban centres. Contemporary interviews, archival footage, and a stylized fictional narrative based on the pulp novels of the 1950s are woven throughout this simultaneously funny, heartbreaking, and empowering film. Forbidden Love brings an important and empowering history of lesbian sexuality in Canada out of the closet.
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Moving and revealing, I have to agree men are really fucked up and the way the world is today is largely due to this enigma.edmods, 30 Nov 2014
A wonderful record.Sand, 12 Sep 2014
It's about time this wonderful movie was available on dvd. Can't wait!Pup, 16 May 2014


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Poppy, Allegro
Short Description
Compact Oriental poppy with great garden performance.
Full Description
Product properties
Zone This refers to the USDA hardiness zone assigned to each part of the country, based on the minimum winter temperature that a region typically experiences. Hardiness zone ranges are provided for all perennial plants and you should always choose plants that fall within your range.
Sun The amount of sunlight this product needs daily in order to perform well in the garden. Full sun means 6 hours of direct sun per day; partial sun means 2-4 hours of direct sun per day; shade means little or no direct sun.
Full Sun, Part Sun
Height The typical height of this product at maturity.
20 inches
Spread The width of the plant at maturity.
20 inches
Bloom Season The time of the year when this product normally blooms.
Resistant To Adverse garden conditions, such as heat or frost, deer or rabbits, that this product can tolerate well.
Plants ship in Spring at proper planting time (Click here for Spring Shipping Schedule)
Item 22425 cannot ship to: AA, AE, AK, AP, AS, CN, FM, GU, HI, MH, MP, PR, PW, VI
See all Burpee plant shipping restrictions for your state
the burpee
since 1876
Poppy: Direct Sow, Bare Root or Potted Plant Perennial
How to Sow and Plant
Poppy may be grown from seed sown directly in the garden, or grown from bare root or potted plants.
Sowing Directly in the Garden:
- Direct sow in late spring to summer, after the soil is thoroughly warm, in full sun in deep, moist, well-drained, well amended soil.
- Remove weeds and work organic matter into the top 6-8 inches of soil; then level and smooth.
- Sow seeds evenly and thinly and barely cover with fine soil.
- Keep evenly moist.
- Seedlings will emerge in 10-20 days at 55-70 degrees F.
- Thin to about 12 inches apart when seedlings are 2 inches high.
Planting Bare Root Plants:
- Choose a location in full sun with deep, moist, well-drained, well amended soil.
- Prepare the bed by turning the soil under to a depth of 6-12, inches removing any debris, and lightly raking as level as possible.
- The addition of organic matter (leaf mold, compost, well-rotted manure) benefits all gardens and is essential in recently constructed neighborhoods.
- Dig a hole twice as deep and wide as the bare root.
- Spread the roots out in the hole. Hold the roots suspended in the hole at the proper depth. Fill in around the roots with soil until the hole is filled.
- Tamp the soil firmly to get rid of air pockets and to ensure that the plant is set at the right depth.
- Water well to fully saturate the roots and soil.
- Because poppies have tap roots, be very careful to not damage the root when planting.
Planting Potted Plants:
- Choose a location in full sun with deep, moist, well-drained, well amended soil.
- Prepare the bed by turning the soil under to a depth of 6-12 inches removing any debris, and lightly raking as level as possible.
- The addition of organic matter (leaf mold, compost, well-rotted manure) benefits all gardens and is essential in recently constructed neighborhoods.
- Plant on a cloudy day or in late afternoon to reduce transplant shock.
- Dig a hole for each plant large enough to amply accommodate the root ball.
- Unpot the plant and gently loosen the root ball with your hands to encourage good root growth.
- Place the top of the root ball even with the level of the surrounding soil. Fill with soil to the top of the root ball. Press soil down firmly with your hand. Because poppies have tap roots, be very careful to not damage the root when planting.
- Use the plant tag as a location marker.
- Thoroughly water and apply a light mulch layer on top of the soil (1-2 inches) to conserve water and reduce weeds.
How to Grow
- Keep weeds under control during the growing season. Weeds compete with plants for water, space and nutrients, so control them by either cultivating often or use a mulch to prevent their germination.
- Mulches also help retain soil moisture and maintain even soil temperatures. For perennials, an organic mulch of aged bark or shredded leaves lends a natural look to the bed and will improve the soil as it breaks down in time. Always keep mulches off a plant's stems to prevent possible rot.
- Careful watering is essential in getting perennials off to a good start. Water thoroughly at least once a week to help new roots grow down deeply. Soil should be damp at about 1 inch below the soil surface. You can check this by sticking your finger in the soil. Water early in the morning to give all leaves enough time to dry. One inch of rain or watering per week is recommended for most perennial plants. You can check to see if you need to add water by using a rain gauge.
- After new growth appears, a light fertilizer may be applied. Keep granular fertilizers away from the plant crown and foliage to avoid burn injury. Use low rates of a slow release fertilizer, as higher rates may encourage root rots.
- Remove foliage when it dies back. Oriental poppy foliage dies back after bloom in mid-summer.
- In colder regions, apply another layer of mulch (1-2 inches) after the ground freezes in fall. Evergreen boughs (from Christmas trees) provide additional protection. Remove this mulch in the spring.
Growing Tips
- Do not transplant poppies as their tap root is easily damaged.
- Poppies make great cut flowers. When cutting snip the stems just before the buds open. Seal the stems by burning the cut ends with a match before immersing them in water.
- The seed pods are great for dried arrangements as well.


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The empirical evidence in this paper is useful for state boards of accountancy that are considering adopting, revising, or rescinding the 150-hour requirements. The findings focus on a concrete economic implication, namely higher audit fees.
For more information on this study, please contact Arthur Allen.
Allen, Arthur, and Angela Woodland. 2010. Education Requirements, Audit Fees, and Audit Quality. Auditing: A Journal of Practice &Theory 29 (2): 1-25.


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The War Against Census Takers
The coroner of Clay County,
Kansas Kentucky has confirmed that the word "FED" was scrawled on the dead body of census worker and teacher Bill Sparkman, who was found asphyxiated earlier this month.
Here is a video of various popular television news show hosts and elected officials—well, Glenn Beck and Michele Bachmann (R-MN)—explaining that the census was part of a plot to round up patriotic Americans and place them in internment camps.
Also included: a fun amateur short-film in which a young man in fatigues aims an assault rifle at a census taker. The best part is when the crazy patriot holds up his handy copy of the Constitution, which explains that you only have to answer one question from the census taker and if they try to ask anymore you are free to shoot them.
Authories have not yet declared Sparkman's death a homicide, Oviously, there is a hell of a lot we don't know about the case, and we are actually leaning toward "killed by meth producers" instead of politically motivated domestic terror, but it is still worth pointing out that these people in this video are insane.


text:
Fire crews find ways to stay cool while battling flames
Fire chief: The challenge is heat
Temperatures soared into triple digits in some parts of the state, but the heat didn't slow down firefighters who battled a house fire Wednesday.
Fire crews from different agencies fought back flames that engulfed a home on Howard Hill Place in Sebastian County for nearly two hours in temperatures that soared to about 111 degrees.
"The challenge is the heat, definitely. It's already hot out here. I'm not sure what the temperature is out here, but it'll give you 15 to 20 minutes per man, and boy, you're just exhausted," said White Bluff-Rye Hill Fire Chief Jim Almond.
Almond said each firefighter carries about 80 pounds of gear into a fire, and the hot weather can take a toll on his crew.
"(There's) exhaustion, just tired. You know it just takes a lot out of you. I mean, everybody's OK, you've got fluids in the (truck), so we're doing alright," said Almond.
Paramedics said people who work outside in the heat all the time may not realize the effect it has on the body.
"The thing to keep in mind is taking your time, taking breaks often, staying hydrated, staying in the shade the best you can, staying in an environment if you can where there will be some active cooling," said Tim Goodman, a paramedic, for Fort Smith Emergency Medical Services.
Goodman said hydration is the key.
"They bring coolers and they've got water donated to our department. Everyone brings what they can -- Gatorade and whatever to keep the moisture in them, get fluids in them," said Goodman.
The chief says in addition to keeping his crews hydrated, wet towels and bags of ice are also used to make sure firefighters aren't faced with heat exhaustion.


text:
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
October = Racing
It was brisk! The digital thermometer I have in my kitchen showed my a cold 33F. I switched out my inov8 hat for my fleece and I was glad that I did. Long sleeves and pants for the first time as well.
October brings a full race calendar for me. This Sunday is Twin Cities Marathon. I am looking forward to it very much. It is the only marathon I usually enter each year, other than the Northwoods Snowshoe Marathon in January. I like to support the local marathon by entering it each year. I don't really have a time goal. I've changed my thoughts since the last time I posted. I have been having such great track workouts that I thought I should go for a 330 or 335 but TCM really isn't a goal race for me, it is more of a support the local running community race and a fun run. I'm going to run hills on Saturday, as Javelina Jundred is only a few weeks out. I can use some more hill training. I imagine I'll have tired legs on Sunday due to the hills, which will be good training for the 100 mile race on the 31st!
October 17 brings the Wild Duluth 50K and 100K. This race is on the Superior Hiking Trail, a section that runs through Duluth. I haven't run this part in its entirety so I am really looking forward to the race. Because the race begins/ends in Duluth I don't need to spend a night, take vacation time or anything else. A nice drive up north in the early morning, a nice run and a drive back home before evening. No problem. No time goal for this either..just a nice long run in preparation for Javelina.
October 31 brings Javelina Jundred 100 Mile Halloween Party! I love this race. Held in beautiful Scottsdale Arizona, I can't wait to go back. 80 degrees, sun, fabulous! At this point I'm going to try PRing at 100 mile distance. I may change my mind, but I'm thinking a 22:35 would do nicely.
I'll be coming home November 1...then I suppose winter begins. I may plan a trip to TX in February for Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile Trail Run. I think I may need something to look forward to in the dead of the winter.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Green Burrito
Kale Salad, Sweet Beet, Hummus Plate
The Ecopolitan
On Saturday Bonnie, Marie and I met at The Ecopolitan, located on Lyndale Avenue South in Minneapolis. I found The Ecopolitan by doing a search of raw restaurants in the area. The Ecopolitan is the only restaurant that the search engine located. I was anxiously awaiting Saturday so that I could finally check it out. In printing the menu I couldn't believe that every item on the menu was something that I would want to try-this has never happened to me before.
The Ecopolitan is a restaurant, juice bar, wine bar and eco-shop. It is a non-profit organization and is a component of the eco-health network which promotes eco-raw living.
The restaurant offers healthy and sustainable dining by creating 100% uncooked, plant-based meals with 100% organically grown ingredients and no additives, GMOs or toxic processing. The menu is completely vegan, contains no refined sugars or flours, and is free of most common allergens-no wheat, corn, soy, dairy, eggs or peanuts. The fruits and vegetables are locally grown when available; they arrive fresh and are cleansed with purified water and food grade hydrogen peroxide.
I parked a few blocks up Lyndale and walked toward the restaurant, spotting Bonnie and Marie on the front step. The restaurant is in a converted older home. Thankfully there are no older upholstered pieces of furniture covered with dust as that for some reason sends me away ( think Hot Springs South Dakota bas restaurant) as does a restaurant without a lawn. That's right. Restaurants with concrete pads only, without grass are a no no for me. OCD? Probably.
The Ecopolitan seating area is the size of a living room; hard wood floors, wooden chairs, either a wooden or glass disk table. There are a few tables out on the front porch for patio seating. In back of the seating area is a very small juice bar with a few food items for sale as well as a closet area that has juicers, blenders, raw/vegan cookbooks and such for sale.
We sat down and our waitress was with us immediately. We looked at the menus and looked at the menus, so much to choose from! Because I had closely inspected the menu earlier online I knew that I wanted to try the Purple Kale Salad with the Sweet Beet juice. Kale is my new favorite food and I wanted to see how they prepared their tahini garlic dressing. I'm happy to say I have replicated it quite successfully! Bonnie decided on the same with the Hummus Plate and Marie decided on the Green Burrito with additional Flax Crackers.
Oh My God. Delicious. Fabulous. Awesome.
The Purple Kale Salad: kale, red cabbage, tomato, kiwi, basil, sprouted quinoa, raisins and the tahini-garlic dressing. As good as I make at home, which is saying a lot. Not that I am bragging about my culinary skills but so often I go to restaurants and leave thinking "what a waste or money, I make better at home". This was as good as mine and I was so thrilled and so satisfied and so happy and so anxious to go back!
The Sweet Beet: beet, carrot, apple, kale & ginger. It was so good! The first time I juiced the beet at home it was a little too much for me. A bit too starchy, too thick but tasty. I am now used to the taste and enjoy it greatly.
Marie's Green Burrito was amazing. She received three collard wraps stuffed with curried humus, lentil "taco meat", fresh veggies, sunflower seeds, sprouts and hot sauce. It was served with a large scoop of salsa and guacamole. I had a bite of her burrito and I may pick it out next visit.
Both Marie and Bonnie loved and raved about the flax crackers. Bonnie ordered another batch to bring home with which to eat her leftover hummus plate. The hummus plate was a huge scoop of humus, tomato, cucumber, olives, sprouts and dates. Served on dressed greens and flax crackers.
Our service was very good; there were probably 4 other tables filled during our stay and a few carry outs.
As we were enjoying our fabulous meal a man approached us. I knew who it was right away. THE Dr. Tel-Oren who is the creator/owner of Ecopolitan restaurant and Eco Shop.
He introduced himself, we introduced ourselves. I told him it was our first time at his restaurant and how happy I was with it. I told him I enjoyed his website as there was so much information available. I spoke of his weekends foraging in Wisconsin, his un-cooking classes and Sunday lectures. I can't wait to take part in these events.
We all enjoyed our meals very very much. I was 100% satisfied with the food. The service was good, the mirror in the bathroom was dirty..oh well. The food is what this place is all about. The surroundings..not so much. It is not a plush posh heavily polished dark wood, leather and chrome area. It's grandmothers living room.
As we were leaving I told the waitress that we usually choose a different restaurant each time we meet. I told her we no longer need to shop restaurants. We now know where to meet and my goal is to try each item on the fabulous menu. We normally meet in Maple Grove, half way for all of us. I don't mind driving an additional 20 miles each way for The Ecopolitan. Not at all. I'll have a blast eating my way through the menu. I think I'll stop by after Twin City Marathon packet pickup this week.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Mongo's Grill
The other night I met my friends Bonnie and Marie at Mongo's Grill in Maple Grove. We try to get together once a month for lunch or dinner but sometimes life gets in the way and before we know it we have missed a month.
Bonnie and Marie were the first people that I met as I stepped into the world of ultra-running. We've been friends since.
I had been looking for a running group in Minnesota, looking for longer distances to run and looking for someone to run with. I found an online community called Minnesota Dead Runners Society. I had been reading the emails from the group for quite some time when someone (I think Bonnie) mentioned she would like to have a meeting for beginning ultra-runners. I didn't even know that ultras existed nor did I realize that people ran upon trails. Bonnie posted the meeting place as Lake Como on a weeknight. At the time I worked for Berkley, downtown Minneapolis, so I figured I'd just work late and meet this new group of people at 630 at Lake Como. I was nervous! I had never met a group of people via online before.
When I walked into the coffee shop there were about a dozen people in attendance, as well as Bonnie and Marie. We listened to Don Clark, Larry Pederson and Tom Andrews speak about ultra-running. I couldn't get my head around it. Really. I thought they were crazy, but crazy in a good, inspiring way. At the end of the meeting Bonnie invited me to spend the weekend with she and Marie as Bonnie ran the Ice Age 50 Mile and Marie ran the 50K. I committed myself to the Ice Age 50 Mile and that is where the ultra-running began for me!
So, the Mongo Grill: I was very pleased! It was vegetarian and vegan friendly. It could even be raw friendly as you wouldn't HAVE to have your dish grilled as I chose to.
This is how it went down: I took a bowl and proceeded over to the huge buffet lined with a zillion different vegetables. I could choose from mushrooms, broccoli, baby corn, water chestnuts, spinach, pea pods, boy choy, red and green peppers, bamboo shoots, red chilies, bean sprouts, red onions, green onions, yellow onions, tomatoes, celery, peas, cabbage, potatoes, beans, carrots, jalapenos, zucchini and squash, to name a (not) few. For protein there was beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, salmon, calamari, crab, scallops, sausage and tofu. There was brown rice, white rice, shanghai noodles, steamed noodles and wraps to pick from. For sauces you could add thai peanut, orange pineapple, teriyaki, honey mustard, Mongolian, sweet and sour, red wine, spicy szechuan, lemon, garlic, red pepper, curry, BBQ, black bean or chili garlic. Isn't that amazing! I couldn't believe all of the options and I certainly couldn't believe how fresh everything was.
After I filled my bowl with all that it could possible handle I brought it up to the cook for grilling. He poured the contents of my bowl onto the hot grill and in about 3 minutes it was all ready and plated for me. Fabulous!
I must say, when I first looked at the bowl that was going to hold my bevy of luciousness I didn't think it was large enough. I thought I could eat 6 of the bowls and I said so. In all honesty, after I finished my plate I was full and couldn't eat any more.
The prices weren't too bad: $12 for the meal or $14 if you want to add all you can eat salad bar.
I will certainly go back at another time. We all enjoyed it.
Tomorrow I'm meeting up an ALL RAW restaurant. I'm so excited! I'll have to post about that experience on Sunday. I really can not wait. It isn't often – I should say it has never happened - that I have visited a restaurant and happily wanted to chose every item upon the menu. What a concept! Most of the time I look up the menu online and can't find a thing that I want to eat. This usually happens when I meet my book club or when I am meeting others who don't eat the same way as I. I am enjoying picking out new restaurants and eating with others who are open to another way of eating. I am really, really digging this.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Zucchini "Pasta"
Romaine Wraps
A Few Raw Foods
The zucchini 'pasta' is light and crunch, so delicious. I have a spiralizer that I had purchased years ago to make fancy appetizers with different fruits and vegetables. More recently I am spiralizing zucchini, cucumber, apples and eggplant, then creating a dipping sauce or dressing to place on top.
The sauce atop the zucchini is a tomato/basil pesto which I made by blending sundried tomato, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice and basil. It's so fresh, so full of flavor and so satiating..I just can't believe it!
The romaine wraps are simple as well and oh so tasty! You could fill them with anything. I have used garbanzo beans, hummus, strawberries and lime sauce, all kinds of items. Pictured is chopped tomato, avocado, red onion, a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon. Really, it is fabulous!
On this healthful eating note, tonight Michael Pollen of In Defense of Food and The Omnivore's Dilemma is speaking at Winona State. He's sold out. I would have liked to listen to him. Next time.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Fitting It All In
Shelly posted a question asking for some guidance as to scheduling real life with running. This is a question that I am asked frequently so I will try to offer some tips.
When I first began to run Troy was 1 and Tyler was 5. I bought a treadmill and placed it right in front of the living room TV so that I could run on it when the boys were up or when they were napping. When I wanted to run outside it had to be very early in the morning, on weekends, when Steve was home. I wanted to be home by the time the boys woke up and I didn't want any resentment while I was gone by giving all of the morning parenting duties to Steve. I would leave by 4 AM and run with a flashlight/headlamp, returning in time for them to awake. I didn't have Topaz at this time and I didn't know people ran on trails. All of my running was treadmill or asphalt. Mostly treadmill.
Now the boys are 13 and 17 and I just love to be home in the morning when they wake and I like to fix them breakfast, so I always leave early. When they were little my long run was probably 2-3 hours, not the 5-8 I am doing now.
With my much longer weekend runs that I am now completing I usually leave by 4 and return about 9, which is about the time they wake up these days. When I have a full day of hills I am usually not home until lunch and I let them know this the night before when we go to bed.
As for scheduling my regular week work days, well…it has become a smooth oiled machine over the years. Although, I must say that the change from AM runs to PM runs is not a change I have enjoyed. I truly love my summer vacation and my morning runs for that 10 week period. I am definitely more of a morning runner and I find my afternoon runs after work to be more difficult than running first thing in the morning.
Here is how I plan out my day currently:
Because it has been in the 80's the last two weeks and that is too warm for Topaz to run in the afternoon with me, I've been getting up at 4 AM so that I can run 5 miles with him in the cool darkness of 50F where he can enjoy himself and not overheat. We get home by 515 and I can jump in the shower, I'm dressed, made up and downstairs by 600. I quickly put together my juice breakfast by juicing kale, spinach, lemons, apples, celery and ginger. I pull out the salad I made the night before for my lunch and put it into my cooler along with a couple pieces of fruit, some mixed nuts and dried fruits. This goes into the car along with my gym bag that I packed the night before with shorts, run shoes, run bra, hair tie and top.
At 615 I wake up Troy and Tyler and ask for their breakfast choices. Troy will usually say pancakes and Tyler will say bagel and peanut butter. Now, I realize they are old enough to wake themselves up and old enough to make their own breakfasts. They know this too but I am home and I enjoy doing it so I do. I won't always be able to do this, they will be out of the home before I know it. I begin their breakfast and my coffee. Both are ready by 640 which is when they are showered, dressed and downstairs. Boys don't take very long to get ready! They eat, I drink and we talk about the day.
I usually prepare a few days worth of pancakes on evenings and then I can just reheat in the morning. No sweat.
Troy and I leave at 710 for the school and Tyler leaves a bit after us for his classes and work.
I work from 730-3. With my workday ending at 3 I have quite a bit of afternoon/evening time available. With the hot afternoons lately and with Troy playing football until 430 I have been changing into run clothes after work and running 5 miles around the lake in town since it has been too hot on the trail for Topaz. I then go to the gym for 30 minutes of lifting before I pick up Troy at 430.
At 500 we are eating dinner. Sometimes it is something that I placed into the crock pot at breakfast time, sometimes it is leftovers from the night before. I ALWAYS cook enough for two meals. ALWAYS. Maybe enough for three meals. The other night I made burritos. I browned 3 pounds of hamburger and a pound of refried beans. I was able to make 21 burritos. They ate them for two days. When I make lasagna or manicotti I prepare 3 pans. They usually eat a pan and a half during one meal and I have enough for another meal the next day. I add a fresh salad and homemade bread and everyone is happy. Nobody in my home ever complains about leftovers. They love leftovers as they warm up quickly and they are able eat right away. Steve doesn't get home until near 7 so he has to eat alone. There is no way we could wait that long to eat dinner. We'd be snacking until dinner and that would not be good.
My evenings are pretty open. If I don't have a meeting or if I'm not coaching a running class I am getting my house work finished, laundry, preparing tomorrow's lunches and dinner, hanging out. I don't mind 2 or 3 evenings without anything going on, but more than that, and I am looking for something to do.
I always have tomorrow's work outfit, shoes and jewelry ready the night before. Everything is ironed and ready to wear. I always have my gym bag packed and ready to go. I may be able to fit in a run or a workout at the gym on the way to the grocery store, Troy may have a late practice so I can run a wide block around the schools while waiting for him. Before Tyler bought a car I was driving him back and forth to work, I would leave home 90 minutes early to pick him up so I could work out at the gym beforehand.
I go to bed early. I am in bed by 9 and I read until 930. Yes, weekends too as I get up at 4 on weekends as well.
Sunday I woke up at 4, ran 15 miles with Topaz, came home by 730, cleaned house. The boys woke up at 9 so I made them French toast. Steve and the roofing crew were working hard and I wanted to feed them dinner. I made sloppy joes and put them in the crock pot. I and the boys ate breakfast, I then went grocery shopping, hitting the gym on the way to the store. I had to buy ice cream and didn't want it melting in the car. After grocery shopping I did our laundry. I was back home at 2 and really didn't have anything else to do. I went outside to ask Steve if I could help out by picking up shingles/tar paper that was all around the house. Of course I could. I got out the wheelbarrow and hauled over 20 loads of shingles and paper to the roll off container. The guys were impressed. I didn't have anything to do Sunday afternoon so I was able to help out. It was beautiful outside, I couldn't swim at the pool as it is closed, I had already run enough and Troy didn't want to play croquett or bocce ball. By 730 they guys were done, the boys were doing their homework and Steve and I were relaxing on the couch…I was having my sore calves rubbed. Plenty of time for everything! We were all in bed by 9.
Some days get busy…I sit on the Orrock Township Board, the Sherburne Planning and Zoning Board, I'm a member of book club, I coach running classes, I work,, I go to the boys games..I just schedule everything out. It works. There is time enough for everything.
If the boys have a practice before their game I will drop them off and run during the practice, return for the game, and if it is cool I'll bring a change of clothes while I sit and watch the game. I bring spare clothes everywhere.
Many times I grocery shop during my lunch hour. I only have 30 minutes, but the store is only a few minutes away. My sister and Mom are amazed at how quickly I can get through the grocery store. Even when I have more time I fly through because that is what I am used to and I really despise grocery shopping but I do it often. I have two growing teenage boys who are starving all of the time and I seem to need fresh fruits and veggies every three days!
I write my grocery list so that the items that I am going to purchase are in order as I get into the store. This helps for a quick shopping. Sometimes I may have to shop two days in a row if I need a lot of food, but if I don't have time on the weekend then this is how I get it done. It works!
I run errands to the post office, the pharmacy, etc. during my lunch hour as well. I don't like to sit at work during my lunch break, I like to get outside to feel the sunshine and air plus it is a good break from the office. If I have time I will then shovel my salad down my throat in my car after my errands or I will just eat at my desk but most of the time I am not running errands..I'm sitting at a picnic table enjoying the sun and fresh air..unless it is winter. Blech.
I do suffer during the winter months. I am going to look for one of those lamps before the days are dark at 5 PM.
In the winter I run on my treadmill for 3-4 miles each morning and then after work I snowshoe with Topaz from 330-5 or so. I don't have any coaching classes during the winter months and only a few meetings; the boys don't play winter sports so it is very boring for me on week night evenings. I am not gardening, I am not swimming in the pool. I get so tired of darkness at 5 PM and feeling like I should put on my pajamas and go to bed at 7 as there is nothing else going on. In fact, I am now negotiating with a retailer for a position within their 'floater pool'. I will be able to schedule myself when I am available and will be on call when others call in sick. I would like to work a few evenings here and there and obtain a nice discount as well. I really don't like having free nights upon free nights..I really do become bored and a girl can only run, bake and clean so much.
I do love a good portion of the weekend at home, however. We are all relaxed, low key, just enjoying home.
This is how I schedule my days and it seems to work. I never feel stressed or like I can't get everything in that I want to. I feel as though I have plenty of time to do all that I want to do.
Monday, September 21, 2009
The Cake Slice: Pistachio Petit Four Cake
The Cake Slice: Pistachio Petit Four Cake
The Cake Slice: Pistachio Petit Four Cake
I just realized that I have never posted my August cake as I was out running Lean Horse. This Pistachio Petit Four Cake is probably the one I have had the most fun with. There were many different steps and instructions for this cake, it was so much fun! I have never made a marzipan before and really wasn't sure what to expect. It was fabulous.
Pistachio butter cake, rolled marzipan, raspberry jam (I subbed for apricot) and a chocolate glazed made for one hell of a delicious and beautiful cake. I even made marzipan balls for decoration out of my extra. I know, balls are not much for decoration but for me...yeah, they are!
This was Troy's favorite of all of the cakes from Sky High: Irresistible Triple Layer Cakes
Here is the recipe:
August Cake: Pistachio Petit Four Cake
Marzipan, apricot preserves and a dark chocolate glaze turn a pistachio butter cake into an irresistible dessert reminiscent of European petit fours glaces.
Makes an 8inch triple layer cake; serves 12 to 16
Augusts Cake: Pistachio Petit Four Cake
(Recipe from Sky High Irresistible Layer Cakes by Alisa Huntsman and Peter Wynne)
¾ cup skinned pistachio nuts
1 & 2/3 cups sugar
2 cups cake flour
1 tbsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
½ cup milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
5 eggs, lightly beaten
¾ cup apricot preserves
Marzipan (below)
Dark chocolate glaze (below)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter three 8 inch round cake pans. Line the bottom of each pan with a round of parchment or waxed paper and butter the paper.
Spread out the pistachios in a baking tray and toast in the oven for 7 to 10 minutes, until lightly coloured. Transfer to a dish and let cool completely. Finely chop the pistachios and set ¼ cup aside for decoration.
Put the remaining ½ cup pistachios in a food processor. Add the sugar and pulse just enough to grind them finely. Pour into a large mixing bowl and add the flour, baking powder and salt. Blend with the mixer on low for 30 seconds.
Add the butter, milk and vanilla and wit the mixer on low, beat until completely incorporated. Raise the speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the beaten eggs in 2 or 3 additions, scraping down the sides of the bowl well and mixing only long enough to blend after each addition. Divide the batter among the 3 prepared pans.
Bake for about 25 minutes or until a cake tester or wooden toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Allow the layers to cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Turn out onto wire racks, carefully peel off the paper liners and let cool completely.
8 ounces almond paste
1 ½ cups confectioners sugar
¼ cup light corn syrup
Crumble the almond paste into a large mixing bowl. Use an electric mixer on low speed to soften the almond paste. Add the confectioners sugar and corn syrup and beat until smooth. Wrap well in plastic so it doesn't fry out and allow to rest at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours before rolling.
Dark Ganache Glaze
1 pound extra bittersweet chocolate
1 ¼ cups heavy cream
Chop the chocolate coarsely and out it in a heatproof bowl. Bring the cream to a bare simmer. Pour immediately over the chocolate and let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth and use the glaze soon after making before it starts to set. Allow to cool and thicken slightly before use.
To Assemble
Roll out a third of the marzipan on a work surface dusted with a little confectioners sugar to about 1/8th inch thick. Set one of the cake pans upside down on the marzipan and trim around it with a small knife to make an 8 inch round. Repeat twice more with the remaining marzipan. Save your scraps to make roses for decoration if desired.
Place one cake layer on a cake board, flat side up. Spread ¼ cup of the apricot preserves evenly over the top, leaving a ¼ inch margin all round to allow for spreading. Place one marzipan round on top of the preserves and spread 1/3 cup ganache glaze over the top of the marzipan so that it is completely covered. Repeat with the second cake layer, adding more preserves, marzipan and glaze.
Add the final cake layer and top with preserves and marzipan as before. Place the whole cake on a wire rack set over a baking pan. Pour the remaining dark ganache glaze over the cake, spreading it as evenly as possible over the top and sides of the cake. Allow the ganache to set before transferring to a plate. It should be smooth and glossy.
Garnish the top with the reserves chopped pistachios.
Optional: Make some marzipan roses with any leftover marzipan scraps if desired.
Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake
The Cake Slice Final: Triple Chocolate Fudge Cake
Needless to say, I have already baked this cake two times and have posted pictures twice. I'll post again just for good measure!
It's a fabulous cake. You may read my earlier poster here for ingredient list and review.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Steve G asked about the construction at Hyland; it wasn't too bad. Big machinery at the bottom of the hill but easy to walk under the yellow warning tape. The loud arm flagging man is at the bottom of the hill with his pole people. If you click on the picture it will enlarge.
Back to Hyland's Ski Hills
I decided to head for the hills. Javelina is 6 weeks out and I haven't been to the hill since I ran Lean Horse 4 weeks ago. Time to get back at it!
I reached Hyland in the early dark morning. I strapped on my headlamp and looked for the hill I wanted. I actually saw another headlamp in the dark. I found an open gate and headed for the ski hill. Cooler with three gallons of heed, my iPod, iPhone a few gels and I was all set.
Warmed up running the hilly path for a few miles and then planted myself at the hill. My plan was to run 20 hill repeats, run a few miles on the hilly path, repeat, repeat again. I was looking for at least 18 miles.
Eventually the sun came up, a spectacular sunrise and I took off my headlamp and replaced it with my sunglasses. It was going to be a beautiful, warm day. We've had a stretch of 80's for the past two weeks. Amazing.
After 20 repeats I ran a few miles on the path to stretch my legs and noticed a half dozen of other runners out on the hills.
As I continued my repeats I noticed a man coming toward me and flailing his arms back and forth. I took out an ear but and listened to him. "BE SURE YOU DON'T RUN THE WORN PATH, THEY WON'T LET US OUT HERE IF WE ERODE IT" I explained that I had in fact read the sign that stated just what he said and showed him that I was not running on the worn path. Hello. I continued on.
He continued to let everyone know upon the hill that they should not run on the worn path..as though they could not read the sign that said exactly that. About an hour later he came up to me AGAIN, flailing arms in the air and told me again "YOU BETTER STAY OFF THE WORN PATH OR THEY WON'T LET US USE IT ANYMORE" I looked at him and nodded. Yeah, whatever. See, I'm on the grass, dude.
Finally, the third time that he approached me I took out my ear buds and said DUDE. I GET IT. YOU'VE TOLD ME THREE TIMES. HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT? I AM WEARING THE SAME CLOTHES, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 4 HOURS SO FAR AND YOU TELL ME EVERY HOUR" Oh, he said..and walked off..
Pretty soon I notice the man with the flailing arms and loud yelling voice with a group of 30 people with poles. He is instructing them, guiding them up a less steep hill, over and over again. I don't think he needs to worry about the single runners out there eroding the path..he needs to worry about his own class and the fact that IT may be cancelled if they continue to erode the path. Sheesh.
By the time I finished all my repeats and hilly runs in between I had 25 miles in. I ran a 2 mile cool down, finished the last of my three gallons of heed and called it a day.
Until I arrived home and saw it was 75 degrees, cool enough to take Topaz for a short run! We went out for 8 miles and my calves let me know that they had enough of this business.
I returned home, showered, took the boys to play miniature golf..I won..and cooked up the roof crew a nice dinner.
Today Topaz and I ran 15 miles on the trail and by mile 11 my calves were again letting me know that they were just about finished. We walked over to the river so a good soak and jogged back to the car.
Today the guys are getting a less fussy meal..sloppy joes that I just placed into the crock pot.
Now I need to get off to the grocery store to restock my kitchen.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Bear Water Run
I looked at Raceberryjam.com to see what road races were in town this weekend for a training run for Twin Cities Marathon. I haven't run distance on asphalt forever so figured I might as well. I found the Bear Lake Run 10 and 20 mile as well as City of Lakes 25K. I know I've run the City of Lakes before and I think I may have run Bear Lake 20 but I haven't looked in my old log books yet to see for sure.
Twin Cities Marathon is just three weeks away so I decided I'd get some asphalt training in for it. I decided to run 20 at Bear Lake and then an additional loop of 12, making it an ultra distance training run. Maybe TCM will seem easier that way!
People that aren't runners ask me if marathons seem effortless now that I run 100 mile races. No, they don't seem effortless. It's a matter of frame of mind. When the mind knows it is 26 miles it hurts and becomes difficult at 20 miles. It's all in the mind.
Today was just a beautiful day. Warm and sunny, humid. Just how I like it. I can't believe it is 83 degrees right now. I love it!
I was worried about race day registration. The race fills at 1200 so I didn't know if I'd make the cut. I decided I'd give it a try and if I didn't make it I'd head out to run the 50K course at Afton, forgetting the asphalt. I didn't want to run a 50K on asphalt alone. I'd be bored silly. As TCM isn't a goal race for me, it really didn't matter.
I made the registration cut off with a number in high 900s. I was about an hour early so I don't know if they reached the max or not. Lots of people for this road race.
We began at a beach, on a skinny asphalt path. The 10 and 20 milers began together so it was quite crowded but there was Championship Timing so nobody was pushing to the start too quickly.
The race was very nicely done; well organized, great water stops, a picturesque course, actually. There were aid stations every 2..yes, every 2 miles so I didn't carry liquids the first 20 miles. I wore my Nathan vest for gels. I used every aid station! It was real warm so I drank a couple of glasses of Gatorade and a couple of glasses of water at each stop. The two mile aid stations came up quickly. Each station had a theme; there was the White Bear Lake Dance Line and others. I recall the Dance Line because they were cheering madly and were very encouraging.
As I listened to conversations around me it became apparent that many were running their first 10 mile race as well as first timers at 20 miles. How inspiring! It was really fun to listen in on the worries, the experiences, the races they were training for.
One thing that was kind of cool: many of the homes around White Bear Lake have statues of white bears in their yards and hanging from their mailboxes.
The course went around the lake and before I knew it 10 miles were up and I was off for another 10. My first lap was 130. I made a note to now slow it down a bit so that I was up for an additional 22 miles.
When I came around to 20 miles the clock was at 311 I believe. I wasn't wearing a watch so I congratulated myself on being able to hold an accurate pace. I'll take all of the congratulations I can give myself!
As I crossed the finish line I removed my chip and had a couple of orange slices. I picked up my finishers bag and began to head to my car. As I was leaving the race I heard my name called. There was Dave Just, who I haven't even seen this summer. It was nice to see him. He was the only person I recognized at the race!
I walked to my car, dropped off my bag, filled two bottles with Heed, replaced the gels in my vest and headed out for another loop.
At aid station 1 they began to cheer for me, I said "oh, I'm done" then realized I had my number on. I took it off and threw it into the garbage, then noticed that there were still runners out there beginning their second loop.
I decided to put on my iPod and just enjoy the next 12, slow and steady.
When I finished my 30 miles there were still quite a few runners milling about the beach. I hung out for a few minutes and went out and back another mile, calling it a 50K.
I must say, when I first decided to run this race I had toyed with the idea of running it as a time trial for Twin Cities Marathon. I then decided against it and run it as a training run. I was tired at the finish and happy it was a slow training run!
The Bear Lake Run is a good one, I enjoyed it very much :)
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Tempo Run
After having such a great track workout yesterday I was anxious to see what a tempo run would look like today. Normally I have an easier recovery day right after track, but Troy had football practice right after school, only giving me 1.5 hours. I didn't have time to come home, get Topaz and head out for the trail. I just ran 10 miles around the lake two times and then was on schedule to pick up Troy.
The tempo run was awesome! After a day of having my senses assaulted by the noise in the school office on the first day of students back to school I was certainly ready for a good long hard run. I warmed up slowly the first mile..then hit the next 4 miles at a 7:37 minute mile pace. I felt so good that I looked down at my watch and decided I could push it harder. I ran the next 4 miles at a 715 mile pace. What? I don't know. Whatever it is, it is good. GOOD I say. I have never run this fast. It just amazes me as to what the body can do with training. I began what, 12 weeks ago, on this speed schedule. It's made a big difference..was the Lean Horse 100 PR of 22:36 partly because of my tempo and track workouts? I'm beginning to think so. Maybe it was the hard training and not just good luck. Wow. How does a few hours of fast running each week equate to running a 100 mile ultra faster, though? To run faster you need to run faster. Is that it?
Matt Patten: you left a comment that you hear this comment: I remember when Julie Berg was slow. I smiled at that comment. Thanks. It made me feel good.
This just goes to show you dear readers that if you are struggling and feeling slow, you can get faster! You don't have to be genetically gifted, you don't have to be lucky, you can work hard and get results! Isn't that fantastic? It makes us equal. We can work hard and get faster. I love it. I truly love it.
Raw Corn Salad Wraps: My Meal
Cooking for the Family
For many years I've been cooking separately meals for my family and I. Steve, Tyler and Troy like to have a meat, a veggie, a bread and fruit for dessert. This is a very balanced way of eating the Standard American Diet. It isn't fast food, it isn't high sugar or high carb; this SAD is quite healthy in most circles.
I usually grill them a meat-lean beef or chicken. I usually foil potato, carrot and onion and grill along side the meat. I bake bread every weekend so there is always sliced bread upon the table and a dessert of fruit salad (just chopped apple, kiwi, pineapple, peach...whatever I have in the fruit basket) and a squirt of fresh lemon. I would then create a huge salad for myself and place one of the lean meats upon it, joining them in the fruit dessert. No big deal.
I would never eat what they are eating just because I didn't want to cook another meal for myself. There is absolutely no way I would ever eat something that I didn't want to. Ever. I have a difficult time understanding when a reader writes "I am eating pork and potato salad because that is what my husband wants for dinner" "My husband wanted BLT sandwiches and tomato soup tonight." "My mom made lasagna and garlic bread" WHAT? Take a few extra minutes and fix something to fuel YOUR body. Take care of yourself and eat what you want to eat. My goodness. I have a hard time with this one. I receive this 'excuse' all of the time.
Today I wanted to try a raw corn/avocado/red onion/lemon juice combination upon collard wraps. I grilled sirloin for the guys, made my salad above for the collard wraps, placed the remaining corn salad on the table with blue corn chips, boiled corn on the cob for the guys and made fruit salad. No problem. I then don't 'have' to eat sirloin and boiled corn on the cob. See? Simple!
If I ask the guys what they want for dinner (I normally just fix them dinner..no suggestions unless I am out of ideas) and they say fajitas and I am fine with fixing them, I will make them a pot of fried sirloin and have a ton of stir fry veggies separate from the beef. I'll then take a collard wrap and have stir fry veggies and maybe if I feel like it, some brown rice. No problem. Would I eat a beef fajita? I can't think of a time that I have. I think of fajita and think of beef, cheese, sour cream. Ew.
You really can cook for yourself and the family and it really isn't that difficult. It just takes a bit of change and you are worth that bit of change! Let me know how it goes for you.
Monday, September 07, 2009
The End of Summer
Labor Day weekend marks the last hurrah for summer in my book. Steve and Troy went up north to the lake, I stayed home with Tyler as he was scheduled to work all weekend. My Mom came down for the weekend and my Dad stayed up north with Steve and Troy at the lake.
This weather this weekend was as good as it gets. 80's, humid, a slight breeze, awesome. I was left to make recommendations as to what Mom, my sister and I would do on Saturday. Our day began at the Blue Hill Trail. Topaz and I ran a few loops and then mom and sister joined me. Mom walked sis's dog and I and sis ran a loop together. She's running 6 miles now each day! Gotta like that. I suggested we walk Lake Calhoun and Harriet, then have lunch at French Meadow,-where there were vegan and raw items on the menu to choose from - with a Macy's run to Southdale for work clothes. We enjoyed ourselves immensely.
Sunday was morning running at the trail and more shopping. This time off to Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove, where we parted after a few hours. I went off to The Dock in Stillwater (no non meat entrees..she wouldn't even change 'make to order an item for me) to meet my best ultra friends and sis and Mom headed back home. Another delightful day.
Today they met up with me at the trail again-I'm getting spoiled! Mom then headed back up north, I dropped off Topaz and headed for the track.
I haven't completed a track session since the week before Lean Horse. I feel totally recovered so back I went today. Man, I like my numbers! I hit PRs for every 800! Amazing. I ran 12 of them and felt as strong for the last one as for the second one. The first one is always my slowest. I'm wondering if I could pull off a 330 or 335 at Twin Cities Marathon. I'm thinking I might try it. Still 3 weeks away, we'll see how I feel as the weeks go on. Tomorrow after work it will be too hot to run with Topaz on the trail so I'll get in my tempo run before picking up Troy from football practice. Ah, another new schedule to get used to.
I'm not going up for the Fall Superior Races. I've been privileged the past three years to run the Sawtooth 100, I've fully enjoyed the race. Last year the family went with me to Leadville a few weeks prior to Sawtooth so it didn't seem like I had been away much, now this year I was just away for 5 days off to Lean Horse, I just don't want to be away again already for three more nights. Troy has a football scrimmage on Friday and I'll be cheering him on. I may run the 20 mile White Bear Lake run on Sunday. No commitments at this time.
Steve is closing up the pool tonight. Truly the end of summer. Get out and enjoy tonight! It's glorious.
Friday, September 04, 2009
Breakfast Of Champions
This is one of my new favorite breakfast items. I can't believe that I enjoy this shake or smoothie or whatever it is more than my past favorite breakfast item of oats. I loved oats! I am now choosing a green drink each morning instead because I love it more than the oats! No one is more surprised than I at this change in breakfast love.
The drink above is 1 frozen banana, 1 peach, 1 handful of baby lettuces, 1 handful of spinach, 5 leaves of kale and a tablespoon of ground flax. It tastes light, fresh and amazing. Really. I feel fabulous drinking this. I can't believe it. It's a great pre run drink-chock full of good carbohydrates and vitamins.
Yesterday I had an avocado, kale, collards, spinach, mango and pineapple with flax seeds blended to perfection. Yum. It's quick and easy. If it is too thick to drink I add a cup of water and blend.
I'm no longer afraid of fats. I might eat 1 or 2 avocado a day as well as using olive oil in my salads and I am eating plenty of nuts and seeds. This rocks.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Thank You!
When I first began running I didn't have a blog to follow or another 'real' live person to inspire me. I didn't know any runners. I read all that I could about running and eventually began to plan a race a month, a 5K or 10K, so that I would have a reason to run every day.
Now there are many many runners who have blogs out in cyberspace, and I'm sure, many to draw inspiration from. I'm grateful that I am able to inspire some of you.
My recovery from Lean Horse has been absolutely amazing. For two days following the race I was absolutely sick to my stomach. On Sunday all that I could get down was a piece of dry toast. On Monday was able to get down some trail mix but that is it. I did drink a ton of water. My brain told me to eat or drink a good recovery meal but my stomach said no, no! I went with my stomach.
Because I ate next to nothing I thought that my recovery would suffer. This didn't happen at all. I didn't have any muscle soreness, I had absolutely NO swelling, NO bloat. Amazing! I am normally a good 10 pounds heavier post 100 but not this time. I weighed exactly what I weighed before the race as after the race. Amazing again. I walked on Tuesday but on Wednesday I was running again.
Normally after a 100 I suffer from an intense, itchy, dry skin. My skin begins to flake on my face, eventually covering my whole body. I imagine this is due to dehydration. After this race I only suffered a bit of flaking upon my face, otherwise I was clear. I did a dry brush to cleanse the toxins for my sking but there was hardly any dry skin from the post race recovery. Amazing.
I wonder if all of the nutrients/moisture in the high raw/all vegan diet are making this difference in my skin..or if my body has just adapted to the 100 mile runs, making recovery easier.
I'm looking forward to Javelina Jundred! This year the race is held on Halloween. I see Caballo Blanco (Born to Run) is listed. In communicating with Jamil (RD JJ), I learned that Jamil has run with the Tarahumara Indians in Copper Canyon. Now Micah True is coming to run Javelina Jundred.
Have a great day!


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A Gender Reversal On Career Aspirations
Young Women Now Top Young Men in Valuing a High-Paying Career
In a reversal of traditional gender roles, young women now surpass young men in the importance they place on having a high-paying career or profession, according to survey findings from the Pew Research Center. Two-thirds (66%) of young women ages 18 to 34 rate career high on their list of life priorities, compared with 59% of young men.1 In 1997, 56% of young women and 58% of young men felt the same way.
The past 15 years have also seen an increase in the share of middle-aged and older women who say being successful in a high-paying career or profession is "one of the most important things" or "very important" in their lives. Today about the same share of women (42%) and men (43%) ages 35 to 64 say this. In 1997, more middle-aged and older men than women felt this way (41% vs. 26%).
The survey question about career success is part of a battery that asks respondents to weigh the importance of key aspects of life. For men and women of all ages, being a good parent and having a successful marriage continue to rank significantly higher on their list of priorities than being successful in a high-paying job or career. Thus, the increased importance women are now placing on their careers has not come at the expense of the importance they place on marriage and family.
Background: Women, Work and Education
Over the course of the past four decades, women have been making significant gains in their labor force participation and educational attainment.
In 2010, women made up almost half of the labor force (46.7%). In 1997, women made up 46.2% of the labor force, and back in 1970 women made up only 38.1% of the labor force.2
There was some speculation that women's share of employment could surpass men's during the 2007-2009 Great Recession—often referred to as the "Mancession" because of disproportionate job losses in male-dominated fields such as construction and manufacturing. However, women have fared worse than men in the recovery that began in mid-2009.3
On the education front, women have made substantial strides in recent decades and now surpass men in both college enrollment and completion. Some 44% of women ages 18 to 24 were enrolled in college or graduate programs as of October 2010, compared with just 38% of men in the same age group.4 In addition, 36% of women ages 25 to 29 had a bachelor's degree, compared with only 28% of men in the same age group—a record-high divergence. Women first surpassed men in these realms in the early 1990s, and the gap has been growing wider ever since.5
In spite of their educational advantage and increased presence in the workplace, women continue to lag behind men in terms of earning power. In 2010, women who were full-time or salaried workers had median weekly earnings of $669, compared with $824 for their male counterparts. Still, women have made big strides in attaining equal pay. In 1979, when data of this sort began being collected, women earned on average 62% of what men earned. After steadily rising for the past two and a half decades, the growth in the women's-to-men's earnings ratio settled around 2004 and has remained in the 80-81% range since then.6
Today's wage gap is smaller among young workers than among their older counterparts. Among all workers ages 16 to 34, women's earnings are more than 90% of men's; this ratio drops for women ages 35 to 64, who earn 80% or less of what men earn across the board. While this could signal a changing workplace, women have tended to fall behind men as their careers progress, so it remains to be seen whether this is an age or generational phenomenon.7
As all of these long-term trend lines attest, there have been significant changes over the decades in the experiences of women and men in the labor force. Attitudes have changed as well. A 1978 Gallup survey asked respondents to rate how much they agree with the following statement: "Commitment to a meaningful career is very important to me." Back then, 67% of young men ages 18 to 34 agreed strongly, while only 53% of young women said the same.8 The latest Pew Research survey question, while worded somewhat differently, shows young women valuing career success more than young men.
Family Still Trumps Career
Though women are increasingly focused on college and career, the share who place marriage and parenthood high on the list of priorities is undiminished. For both men and women, being a good parent and having a successful marriage remain much more important than career success.
The shares of working-age women and men who say having a successful marriage is "one of the most important things" or a "very important" thing in their lives exceed 80% now, just as they did in 1997. And the shares who place a high priority on being a good parent exceed 90% in both years. In comparison, only about half of women or men place the same level of importance on professional success.
However, when the analysis is limited to the share saying marriage and parenting are "one of the most important things," some changes emerge over time. At the same time that young women are focusing more than young men on their career, they also are placing a higher value than young men on both marriage and parenthood.
The share of women ages 18 to 34 who say that having a successful marriage is one of the most important things in their lives has risen nine percentage points since 1997, from 28% to 37%.
On the other hand, the share of young men ages 18 to 34 who say that having a successful marriage is one of the most important things has dropped from 35% in 1997 to 29% now. Today a significantly smaller share of young men (29%) than young women (37%) list marriage as one of their highest priorities; this represents a change from 1997, when men and women were statistically equal on this measure.
Among middle-aged and older women, the share placing the highest priority on marriage has risen only marginally during this time (32% to 37%). The share of middle-aged and older men who now say that a successful marriage is one of the most important things in their life has increased nine percentage points since 1997 and is nearly equal (36%) to the share of middle-aged and older women who say this today.
Parenting ranks even higher on the list of priorities for both women and men. The share of young women who rate parenting as a top priority has increased dramatically in recent years: up 17 percentage points. Today, nearly six-in-ten (59%) women ages 18 to 34 say being a good parent is one of the most important things in their life. The share of young men who feel this way is 47% now, up from 39% in 1997.
Both middle-aged and older women and men are significantly more likely to place parenting at the top of their priorities today than in 1997. More than half (56%) of women and nearly half (49%) of men ages 35 to 64 say being a good parent is one of the most important things, with increases of 13 and 11 percentage points, respectively.
The increased value placed on marriage and family does not necessarily reflect the broader societal trends in these areas. Young adults today are marrying at lower rates and later ages than ever before—only a third (33%) of 18- to 34-year-old women are now married, compared with nearly three quarters (73%) of women this age in 1960.9 The median age for first marriage is now 27 for women, up from 20 in 1960.10 And the median age for first-time mothers is now 24, up from 22 in 1960. So while marriage and family still remain among women's top priorities, many are delaying these milestones when compared with earlier generations.
But women in today's workforce who do marry and have children are not necessarily leaving their careers to do so. Today's woman often balances her career with her husband and children. Fully 48% of married couples in 2010 consisted of two breadwinners.11 The share of dual-employed couples was slightly higher in 1997 (53%).12 Back in 1975, however, the share of families with both a husband and wife in the labor force was only 34%.13
Today more than seven-in-ten mothers with children at home are in the labor force. The labor force participation rate of mothers with children younger than 18 has risen from 47% in 1975 to 71% in 2010, a 24-percentage-point increase. For mothers with children younger than six the share in the labor force is slightly lower (64%) than for mothers whose children are ages six to 17 (77%).14
Generally, the public is supportive of more active roles for women in the workplace. A September 2011 Pew Research poll found that 73% of Americans feel that the trend toward more women in the workforce has been a change for the better in our society.15 Furthermore, an October 2010 Pew Research poll found that a majority (62%) of the general public feels that a marriage where the husband and wife share the responsibilities of work and children is more satisfying than a more traditional marriage with a male breadwinner. However, the public remains conflicted about the impact these changes have had on young children. When asked whether the trend toward more mothers of young children working outside the home is a good thing or a bad thing for society, only 21% of Americans said it is a good thing. Some 37% said this is a bad thing for society, and roughly the same share (38%) said it hasn't made a difference.16
- Current numbers are based on combined responses from two Pew Research Center surveys, one conducted Jan. 14-27, 2010 and one conducted Dec. 6-19, 2011. Data were compared and results were similar. They were combined in order to increase sample size and reliability. ↩
- See U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Women in the Labor Force: A Databook," Report 1034, Dec. 2011. ↩
- See Rakesh Kochhar, "The Demographics of the Job Recovery," Pew Hispanic Center, March 21, 2012. ↩
- See the U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, published tables. ↩
- See Pew Research Center Social & Demographic Trends project, "Women See Value and Benefits of College; Men Lag on Both Fronts, Survey Finds," Aug. 17, 2011. ↩
- See U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Highlights of Women's Earnings in 2010," Report 1031, July 2011. ↩
- There are several explanations for women's lower earnings. One contributing factor is that professional women are not as well represented in higher paying job groups, such as computer and engineering fields, and are overrepresented in lower paying job groups, such as education and health care (See U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Highlights of Women's Earnings in 2010," Report 1031, July 2011). Also among the reasons is that women who have children earn less than men of a similar age and less than their childless counterparts (See Bryce Covert, "One Mancession Later, Are Women Really Victors in the New Economy?" The Nation, Feb. 27, 2012). ↩
- Based on a survey conducted through in-person interviews by the Gallup Organization, April 14-17, 1978, N=1,523. Question wording: "Now I would like to read you thirteen statements. Would you tell me after each whether you strongly agree, moderately agree, are uncertain, moderately disagree, or strongly disagree? … Commitment to a meaningful career is very important to me." ↩
- Data based on Pew Research Center analysis of the 2010 American Community Survey and D'Vera Cohn et al., "Barely Half of U.S. Adults Are Married — A Record Low," Pew Research Center Social & Demographic Trends project, Dec. 14, 2011. ↩
- See Wendy Wang and Paul Taylor, "For Millennials, Parenthood Trumps Marriage," Pew Research Center Social & Demographic Trends project, March 9, 2011. ↩
- See "Employment Characteristics of Families, 2010," Bureau of Labor Statistics News Release, March 24, 2011. ↩
- See "Employment Characteristics of Families, 1997," Bureau of Labor Statistics News Release, May 21, 1998. ↩
- See Stella Potter Cromartie, "Labor Force Status of Families: A Visual Essay," Monthly Labor Review, July/Aug. 2007. ↩
- See "Employment Characteristics of Families, 2010," Bureau of Labor Statistics News Release, March 24, 2011. ↩
- See "The Generation Gap and the 2012 Election," Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, Nov. 3, 2011. ↩
- See "The Decline of Marriage and Rise of New Families," Pew Research Center Social & Demographic Trends project, Nov. 18, 2010. ↩


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Kent, United Kingdom – July 14, 2017 – It's not hard to imagine it being a difficult decision, trying to figure out which afro hair stylist in Gillingham delivers the best combination of services and prices. One choice that shouldn't be overlooked is the recently opened new salon Golden Essence Hair.
Owned and operated by Gold Balogun, who has not only over 15 years of professional experience specializing in cornrows, braids and general styling for both Afro Caribbean, European and Asian hair, but also highly skilled in areas like micro weaving, the new salon can handle nearly any customer need with a smile. Not to mention has some of the best afro hair salon in Gillingham price points.
"We are always trying to exceed even high expectations," commented the owner of the salon. "Our business is built around the return customer. We hope everyone who comes to us decides to continue using us as their salon of choice in the area."
According to Golden Essence Hair, other services they offer include highlights like, Relaxer; Curly Perms; Hair Cuts and Style; Hair Colouring; Braids and Eaves; Brazilian Keratin Blow Drys; and much more. All first time customers are eligible for a special 30% discount as a thank you for exploring the afro hair salon that offers premium services to customers in Gillingham, Sittingbourne, Chatham, Rochester, Strood, Maidstone and areas in Kent.
The salon is proudly located at: Golden Essence Hair, 162 High Street, Rainham, Gillingham, ME8 8AT. Phone number: 07958638362.
Feedback for the new salon has been very positive across the board.
Dave W., recently said in a five star review, "Had Brazilian Keratin blow dry. Fantastic results. Hairdresser showed passion and expertise throughout. One to one service. Felt comfortable, extremely friendly and welcoming. We will definitely be returning to golden essence. Thank you. Keep up the great service. Highly appreciated."
For more information be sure to visit http://goldenessencehair.co.uk
Media Contact
Company Name: Golden Essence Hair
Contact Person: Gold Balogun
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: 07958638362
Address:162 High Street, Rainham
City: Gillingham, ME8 8AT
State: Kent
Country: United Kingdom
Website: http://goldenessencehair.co.uk/