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Welcome to the Harvard Health Publications e-Newsletter.
This e-Newsletter is one in a series of monthly e-Newsletters. Each issue will bring you valuable information on various topics — news you can use to live a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life. We hope you enjoy this and all of the issues to come.
Regret is a powerful and potentially devastating emotion.
In 1995, a Liverpool man who regularly played one set of lottery numbers failed to renew his ticket during the week his numbers came in. Thinking (wrongly as it turned out) that he'd let a prize worth millions slip away, he committed suicide.
We can't know what he was thinking, but we can imagine that his emotional distress was compounded because he felt personally responsible for the outcome. And that is one definition of regret: recognizing the difference between how things are and how they might have turned out — if only we had made a different choice.
Since the late 1990s, the study of regret has benefited from the availability of advanced neuroimaging techniques. We have evidence that parts of the brain responsible for reasoning and emotion become active when a person experiences regret. In particular, an area known as the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), located in a region of the brain responsible for reasoning, may carry out the essential task of comparing real outcomes with imagined alternatives. Brain scans demonstrate increased OFC activity when people experience regret. And patients who have suffered injuries to that part of the brain are unable to experience or learn from regret.
Much of the literature on regret discusses its negative impact. It's considered stressful and may lead to physical illness. It may be amplified by depression, or it may be a cause of depression. Exaggerated feelings of regret are associated with a poorer quality of life in later years. If one fails to learn from experiences of regret, the outcome may be misery, self-destructive behavior, or — as in the Liverpool case — a fatal act.
But a study highlights the benefits of regret. Colleen Saffrey at the University of Victoria and colleagues at the University of Illinois, writing in the journal Motivation and Emotion, provide evidence that people actually have a high regard for regret.
In one study, subjects rated regret favorably in a survey, indicating that experiencing this emotion helped them make sense of life events and come up with a remedy for what went wrong. In a second study, the researchers asked subjects to reflect on 11 negative emotions — such as fear, anger, anxiety, and shame — in addition to regret. The subjects rated how much they agreed with statements about the value of the emotions, for example, whether an emotion "helps me know how to act in the future" or "improves my relationships with others." Across the board, regret was the most highly valued of the negative emotions studied.
Regret has an important social context, too. We learn not only from our own mistakes, but from the mistakes of others. We also learn about preferable outcomes by seeing our peers, colleagues, or neighbors make favorable or unfavorable choices. This may engender envy or relief, but — either way — it helps us figure out how to improve our lot.
The literature is persuasive on the importance of regret in decision making. The power of regret may explain why few of us are very good at objectively appraising risks and benefits. Rather than looking forward to figure out what is in our best interests, we typically look backward. We reflect on what has and has not worked out in the past. Then, whether we are deciding about a life partner, a career, a financial investment, or a medical treatment, we choose the option we are least likely to regret.
Managing regret productively may be an essential ingredient for mental health, a good quality of life, and a positive sense of well-being. If that's true, it is worth continuing to make it a focus of research and therapy.
Harvard Mental Health Letter
Volume 25 – Number 1 – July 2008
The body's metabolism is complex — and despite major scientific advances, its fine print is still a bit hard to read. That's true even for a molecule as important as cholesterol. Researchers have learned that a man's blood cholesterol profile results from the interplay of many influences, including genetics, hormones, diet, body fat, exercise, and exposure to alcohol, tobacco, supplements, and medication. And a study from England suggests that this formidable list should be expanded further by adding stress.
The subjects were 106 male and 93 female British civil servants between the ages of 45 and 59. None had coronary artery disease or hypertension, and none was taking drugs for cholesterol or blood pressure. At the beginning of the study, each volunteer was weighed and measured, and each filled out a medical questionnaire. After blood samples were obtained, each subject was asked to perform a series of mentally stressful tasks while being monitored to evaluate their psychological and chemical responses. A final blood sample was obtained at the end of each experimental session.
Although there was considerable variation among the subjects, stress did produce an increase in blood cholesterol levels. On average, the total cholesterol rose about 7 mililgrams per deciliter (mg/dl) — the LDL ("bad") cholesterol by 5 mg/dl, and the HDL ("good") cholesterol by 1.6 mg/dl.
The increase in LDL cholesterol seems small, but if sustained, it would increase a person's heart attack risk by about 3%. But the rise in cholesterol occurred over a brief exposure to stress, and the scientists did not monitor blood tests later in the day to see if the levels stayed up. However, they did come back for a second look — three years later.
In terms of cholesterol, the passage of three years took more of a toll than a morning of experimental stress: Over three years, the volunteers' average cholesterol levels rose from 209 to 225 mg/dl, and the LDL cholesterol rose from 123 to 139 mg/dl. Changes in health habits did not account for the rise, but body weight did play a role; the people who gained the most weight experienced the greatest rise in their cholesterol levels. That was certainly expected. More surprising was the observation that the people whose cholesterol levels rose the most in response to stress also experienced the greatest three-year increases, even after body weight and other variables were taken into account.
The British experiment did not explore how stress affects cholesterol levels, but several possibilities come to mind. Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system and pumps stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol into the blood. Among other functions, the stress hormones act to mobilize the body's energy reserves. That means they liberate sugar from the liver and fatty acids from adipose tissue. These hormones also appear to boost the liver's production of low-density lipoproteins, which transport "bad" cholesterol in the blood.
The study showed that relatively mild mental stress can produce a relatively small rise in blood cholesterol levels. Unfortunately, the researchers did not learn how long the increase persisted. More research is needed, both to confirm the observation and to see if the stress-induced changes last long enough to be medically important.
The follow-up results are also interesting. Life is filled with stress. The people who responded to mild mental stress with the largest increase in blood cholesterol levels also showed the largest rise over the next three years. Weight gain and lifestyle changes did not explain this association. Perhaps, then, it is due to the cumulative effects of daily stress.
The metabolism is complex, and it will take time to sort out this latest wrinkle. Until scientists complete their work, you should do everything you can to help lower your cholesterol: eat right, get enough exercise, stay lean, avoid tobacco, don't abuse alcohol — and relax.
Harvard Men's Health Watch
Volume 11 – Number 7 – February 2007
Many of us have wished for flatter stomachs, a goal that seems more frustrating and elusive the older we get. You might have been tempted by infomercials for exercise devices or breathless magazine articles promising "flat abs" and tighter tummies "in just days." Despite the hype, spot exercising abdominal muscles won't get rid of fat. The only way to do that is to expend more calories than you take in. Working these muscles has its place, but the smart money these days is on strengthening a variety of trunk muscles, collectively known as "the core."
Core conditioning improves posture, which contributes to a trimmer appearance (poor posture can give even a woman with well-toned abs a little "pot"). Moreover, developing core muscle strength can boost the effectiveness of workouts and reduce the risk of injuries that sideline our efforts to stay in shape.
If you've ever had physical therapy to treat low back pain, you're probably familiar with the concept of strengthening the core — the muscles in the abdomen, lower back, and pelvis that lie roughly between the rib cage and the hips. The strength and coordination of these muscles is important not only for sports and fitness routines but also for daily life — for example, reaching up to a shelf, lifting a child, or sponging a spot off the floor.
The current drive behind core conditioning comes in part from studies conducted in the 1990s showing that before they move an arm or leg, people with healthy backs (in contrast with those suffering from low back pain) automatically contract their core muscles, especially the transverse abdominal muscles, which wrap from the sides of the lower back around to the front. Experts concluded that well-coordinated core muscle use stabilizes the spine and helps create a firm base of support for virtually all movement. The role of the core is also central to the Pilates method, a series of exercises developed during World War I to help rehabilitate soldiers returning from the war. Its founder, Joseph Pilates, referred to the core as the "powerhouse."
These days, patients who are receiving physical therapy for chronic low back pain or injury are told to contract their core muscles before performing prescribed exercises. And Pilates exercises are increasingly incorporated into health club workouts, along with other approaches that engage the core, such as fitness (stability) balls, yoga, and tai chi.
Exercises that strengthen abdominal and other core muscles should be part of an overall fitness plan that includes regular moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, 30 minutes per day, most days of the week. Guidelines also encourage us to get 20 to 30 minutes of strength training two to three times a week, and that might be a good time to fit in a few exercises designed to work the core.
American College of Sports Medicine
American Council on Exercise
"Health and Fitness Information"
To be safe and effective, core muscle strengthening exercises require proper alignment and progression from one type of exercise to another — adjusted to your body and fitness level. So you may want to ask a physical therapist or exercise professional for help in planning a program for you. (If you haven't been physically active or have back problems or some other medical condition, consult a clinician before embarking on any fitness program.)
You'll probably start by learning how to "draw in" — the first step in performing all core exercises and a basic tool you can use in almost any physical activity you perform (including walking). Here's what you do: Sitting, standing, or lying on your back, gently but firmly tighten the abdominal muscles, drawing the navel in toward the small of the back. The tailbone should be slightly tucked. (Some trainers prefer to call it "bracing" the muscles, as if you were preparing to take a punch in the stomach.) Practice holding this position for 10 seconds at a time while breathing normally (that's the hard part!). Once you get the hang of drawing in, you can start doing some core exercises, progressing from those you do on a stable surface (the floor or a mat) to those performed on an unstable surface, like a stability ball.
Below are just a few exercises that can help strengthen core muscles. If you decide to try any of them, go slowly, work at your own pace, and don't keep doing anything that causes pain. Concentrate on performing the exercises correctly, not on the number of repetitions or how quickly you can do them. And don't forget to breathe!
Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Place your fingertips at the back of your head. Tighten your abdominal muscles; then curl your upper body forward, lifting your shoulder blades off the floor. Hold for one or two seconds. Slowly lower halfway to the floor; then repeat. Work up to 12 to 16 crunches. Note: Don't speed through the crunches!
Lie with your back pressed to the ground, your hands at your sides, your knees bent, and your feet off the floor (ankles crossed) so that your knees create a 90-degree angle. Tighten your abdominal muscles, and raise your hips toward your rib cage, curling your tailbone off the floor (see illustration). Hold for a second or two; then slowly lower your hips to the starting position. Work up to 12 to 16 repetitions. Note: Use your hands at first to help stabilize yourself, but rely on them less as you get stronger.
Lie stomach-down on a mat, resting on your forearms (like a sphinx). Tighten your abdominal muscles, and press up so you're balanced on your toes and elbows (see illustration). Don't let your hips sag or stick up: your body should be in a straight line from head to heels. Hold for 20 to 30 seconds; then lower and repeat a few more times. Work up to holding the plank position for 60 seconds.
Lie on your stomach with your arms above your head. Tighten your stomach muscles; then lift your right arm and left leg (see illustration). Hold for five seconds. Lower, and rest a moment; then repeat with the left arm and right leg. Work toward eight to 12 repetitions on each side. Note: Avoid arching your back (keep your abdominal muscles engaged and your pelvis tucked). When you're ready for more, try lifting the leg and arm on the same side.
Lie flat on the floor on your back. Place your fingertips at the back of your head. Tighten your abdominal muscles, bring your knees up to a 45-degree angle, and lift your shoulder blades off the ground. Turn your upper body to the left, bringing the right elbow toward the left knee and extending your right leg (see illustration). Switch sides, bringing the left elbow toward the right knee. Continue this pedaling motion, slowly, for a total of 12 to 16 repetitions. Rest and repeat. Note: Avoid pulling on the neck.
Because the ball is intrinsically unstable, core muscle activity is greater when you perform certain exercises on it (a crunch, for example) than when you perform the same exercises on a stable surface. Stability balls come in various sizes (35 to 85 centimeters — 14 to 34 inches — in diameter). Check the label on the box to find the correct size for your height. Start by sitting upright on the ball with your feet flat on the floor. To get a feel for remaining balanced, move your hips from side to side, then in circles.
Lie over the ball so that your hips are on top of it and your legs are straight. Toes and fingers should comfortably reach the floor. Tighten your stomach muscles, then lift your right arm and left leg (see illustration). Hold for five seconds; rest a moment; then repeat with the left arm and right leg. Do eight to 12 repetitions. When you're ready for more, try lifting the same leg and arm.
Sit on the ball with your feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart. Let the ball roll back slowly until your thighs and hips are parallel to the floor (you may need to walk your feet out a bit) and the ball is at your lower back. Place your fingertips at the back of your head. Keeping your lower body still, contract your abdominal muscles and curl your upper body forward, lifting your shoulder blades off the ball (see illustration). Hold for a second or two; then lower your upper back. Repeat a total of 12 to 16 times. Note: When you're ready for more, move your feet closer together. Exhale as you contract; inhale as you return to the starting position.
Harvard Women's Health Watch
Volume 16 – Number 2 – October 2008
Low-carb diets have done well in some head-to-head comparisons with other diets. And no matter what the diet, shedding a few pounds usually makes people happy.
But there's some research suggesting that Atkins-like diets (low in carbs, high in fat and protein) could make people's moods a little darker even if their bodies end up a little lighter. Carbohydrates promote the synthesis of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that seems to play a significant role in mood control. Some evidence suggests that avoiding carbs — and gorging on fat and protein instead — could reduce serotonin concentrations, giving some folks a case of the low-carb blues. And when diets have been tested for a short time (three weeks) in physically active people without a weight problem, low-carb eating has led to more fatigue and bad moods than high-carb eating.
Of course, those aren't the kind of people who typically set out to lose weight. So Australian researchers set out to see what sort of influence the diets would have on mood in people more inclined to do so. Their study randomly assigned 93 people who were overweight or obese (an average body mass index of 33.6) to either a low- or high-carb eating plan.
At the end of the two-month study, the low-carb dieters had lost a bit more weight (17 pounds vs. 14 pounds), and a battery of standardized tests didn't find a negative influence on their mood. In fact, the outlook of both the low- and high-carb dieters improved equally.
There's a catch, though: the low-carb dieters, on average, lagged behind the high-carb dieters in a test designed to measure the speed of mental processing.
Harvard Health Letter
Volume 33 – Number 3 – January 2008
Harvard Health Publications e-Newsletter is published monthly by the Harvard Health Publications division of the Harvard Medical School. Copyright © 2008 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved.
This information is for educational purposes only. For personal medical advice, please contact your physician.
For more information and a complete listing of Harvard Medical School publications, please visit www.health.harvard.edu.
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Medical Disclaimer
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Harvard Mental Health Letter: Michael C. Miller, M.D., Ann MacDonald
Harvard Women's Health Watch: Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D., Carolyn Schatz
All editorial board members of Harvard Health Publications are faculty members of Harvard Medical School and doctors at its affiliated hospitals.
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SHERIDAN — The Sheridan Broncs were up 50-13 at halftime, running out to a 66-25 win over Green River Friday night in their season opener in the nightcap at SHS.
Sheridan trailed 5-3 early in the first quarter, but after a Dylan Daniels 3-pointer, never again in a game that featured the 40-point blowout running-clock rule with still five minutes remaining in the third.
Head coach Gale Smith was happy with the way his squad worked through the entire game, even as they pulled way ahead for their first time together on the court in 2012-13.
"You don't want to just run the score up, and obviously we could run our transition offense and score a ton of points, but we wanted to focus on our half-court offense," he said. "And if you can do that you kind of put the reins on them a little bit and you worry about giving 100 percent.
"It's a tough game because you don't want to run the score up, but you still want to try to get better," Smith added. "Good news is we were able to rest our starters in the fourth quarter so we're fresh tomorrow."
Senior All-State returner Reed Ritterbusch led all scorers with 16, finding his groove in the second quarter.
Junior Cody Williams added 11, Dylan Daniels had nine, Tyler Kaufmann had eight and Judson White scored seven.
The Broncs lead was built by way of active hands on defense, forcing multiple second quarter turnovers as they jumped out to the massive advantage with runaway layups and putbacks.
"We want our defense to fuel our offense," Smith said. "We want stops and our goal is to hold the other team to 48 points. We want to get easy baskets, but if we don't, get our transition game going get into our offense and get Reed and Judson and everybody involved, and then crash the glass."
Last year the Broncs relied heavily on the All-Conference junior Daniels and Ritterbusch for the lion's share of their scoring, and this year, at least for Friday night, they displayed a potential depth that could cure that weakness.
"We've got some new kids off the bench and this was a great opportunity to play them some minutes," Smith said. "Down the road they're really going to pay dividends for us."
Sheridan plays at Billings Skyview today, a team that Smith said they scrimmaged three times over the summer at camps, losing in overtime twice and winning once.
"I expect a dogfight, and that will be good for us," he said.
Box Score
Broncs scoring: R. Ritterbusch 16, Cody Williams 11, Dylan Daniels 9, Tyler Kaufmann 8, Judson White 7, Blake Godwin 6, Blake Baker 4, Robert Meixsell 3, Kris Clark 2.

subset: commoncrawl


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Double Your Money-Back Guarantee. No, Really!
Chat with one of our experienced professionals.
If you have a quick question, feel free to email us anytime.
What do you mean, "Name Your Price?"
What is a reasonable price? How do I know how much to offer?
Since we accept all reasonable offers, it really depends on what you feel comfortable paying. In addition, our system will let you know if the offer is too low for the market, and gives you another chance to find the right price.
Do I have to give you a credit card before I place my offer?
How are you getting me such a great price?
I live in ____________. Can you find someone for me?
Can I make offers on more than one service?
How do I know I'm getting a qualified wedding professional?
When can I speak with my photographer / videographer / DJ?
After you pay your deposit, we will send you an event planning form to fill out giving us more details about your event, along with any special requests. Once we have this info, we provide to your assigned vendor so they are fully aware of your needs.
They will then contact you no later than 3 weeks before your event to introduce themselves and go over all the details.
If I am kind of nervous about the timing of the call, can I speak to my assigned vendor earlier in the process?
Yes, you can if you make this special request, but the way our system works, we "buy" vendors unbooked time, and the closer to your event time, the less likely they will cancel for a higher paying job. We have found that vendors that are unbooked less than 4 weeks before a date have a much higher chance of following through.
What if my vendor doesn't show up?
How many weddings have you provided service for?
Do you provide service for non-wedding events?
My event is soon. Can you find someone short-term?
I've paid my deposit, or full amount. What's your cancellation policy?
In the occurrence of cancellation of the event, the retainer paid is non-refundable. In the event of postponement, there is a 10% charge of the entire amount of the event, if the postponement is within 60 days or less of the event. If 61 days or longer prior to the event, then there is no charge to re-schedule a date. Every effort will also be made to retain the original photographer/ videographer. However in the event he/she is already booked on the new date, a quality replacement will be substituted.
I'm a blogger / journalist / investor, do you have a press page?
How will I get my photos?
Can I see sample photographs from past events?
How will I get my "raw" footage?
Do your videographers edit the footage?
I like X type of music. Can the DJ accommodate?
Double Your Money-Back Guarantee. No, Really!
Chat with one of our experienced professionals.
If you have a quick question, feel free to email us anytime.


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Therese A. Stukel, PhD
Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology
Adjunct Professor of The Dartmouth Institute
The Dartmouth Institute
University of Toronto, Ph.D., 1983
Universites de Paris VI et XI, DEA Statistiques, 1975
Universite de Grenoble, Maitrise MAF, 1974
University of Ottawa, BSc, 1973
The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice
Contact Information:
Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences
2075 Bayview Avenue, G106
Toronto, ON M4N 3M5
Office: Same as Above
Phone: 416-480-6100, ext 3928
Fax: 416-480-6048
Email: email@example.com
Assistant: Marilu Joffe
Asst. Phone: 416-480-6047
Asst. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Professional Interests:
- Methods for observational studies (propensity scores, instrumental variables)
- Health system resources, utilization and outcomes
- Methods for clustered data (longitudinal models, multi-level models)
- Longitudinal data analysis methods
- Volume-outcome studies
Grant Information:
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
National Institute of Aging
National Cancer Institute
Courses Taught:
ECS 240/MATH 30, Introduction to Linear Models
ECS 440, Beyond Linear Models
Selected Publications:
Stukel TA, Fisher ES, Wennberg DE, Alter DA, Gottlieb DJ, Vermeulen MJ. Analysis of observational studies in the presence of treatment selection bias: effects of invasive cardiac management on AMI survival using propensity score and instrumental variable methods. JAMA 2007; 297(3):278-85. [Accompanying editorial, JAMA 2007;297(3):314-6.]
Park-Wyllie LY, Juurlink DN, Kopp A, Shah BR, Stukel TA, Stumpo C, Dresser L, Low DE, Mamdani MM Outpatient gatifloxacin therapy and dysglycemia in older adults. N Engl J Med 2006;354(13):1352-61. [Resulted in antibiotic Tequin being taken off the market by Bristol-Myers Squibb, May 2006.]
Mamdani M, Juurlink DN, Lee DS, Rochon PA, Kopp A, Naglie G, Austin PC, Laupacis A, Stukel TA Cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors versus non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and congestive heart failure outcomes in elderly patients: a population-based cohort study. Lancet 2004;363:1751-6
Birkmeyer JD, Stukel TA, Siewers AE, Goodney PP, Wennberg DE, Lucas FL Surgeon volume and operative mortality in the United States. N Engl J Med 2003; 349:2117-27
Fisher ES, Wennberg DE, Stukel TA, Gottlieb DJ, Lucas FL, Pinder EL. The implications of regional variations in Medicare spending. Part 1: The content, quality, and accessibility of care. Ann Intern Med 2003;138:273-87.


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Denise Richards will star as an exotic dancer in indie drama feature "A Beautiful Life."
Playing against type, Denise Richards is moving from broader mainstream features to an edgy indie flick entitled "A Beautiful Life" in which she will portray an exotic dancer, Variety has learned.
Based on an original play written by Wendy Hammond, the drama has also rounded out names like Michael Madsen, Jesse Garcia, Dana Delany, and Debi Mazar in the cast besides Richards. Shooting is due to begin in L.A. this summer under the direction of Argentine filmmaker Alejandro Chomski who is set to helm from script by Hammond and producer Deborah Calla.
Pic reportedly will be made under a budget that is less than $5 million under New Films Intl. banner. NFI prexy Nesim Hason and indie producer Bob Holof both are serving as executive producers with NFI to sell domestic and international rights to the flick.


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Entries in 'interview' (161)
Xbox One S, Windows 10 and FIFA: Microsoft's battle for Europe
Aaron Greenberg, head of Xbox Games Marketing, talks new hardware, FIFA 17, eSports and Pokémon Go.
Eidos Montreal on living up to Human Revolution with Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Since it started working on the Deus Ex franchise, developer Eidos Montreal has been under a great deal of pressure.
Does eSports need regulation?
More people are watching eSports, and for longer periods of time.
EA's mission to drive eSports into the mainstream
20 minutes into our interview with Todd Sitrin, the senior VP of EA's new Competitive Gaming Division, and we realise that he hasn't used the word 'eSports' once.
History Lesson: The story of Deus Ex
Before Deus Ex, there were games about stealth and titles about shooting but rarely did these styles cross over.
We Happy Few developer Compulsion on E3 hype, drugs and Early Access
Xbox showed off a lot of products during its E3 briefing this year.
Gem Box: the micro-console that wants to be the 'Netflix for games'
French company Emtec wants to succeed where nearly everybody else has failed.
What we can learn from Fable Fortune's Kickstarter
There were a few reasons for thinking that the Kickstarter campaign for Fable Fortune would do pretty well.
Capcom Europe on the future of Resident Evil
MCV has been a regular visitor to Capcom's E3 booth down the years, and it's not always been the most spectacular showcase.
Capcom: 'We should have better communicated what Street Fighter V was going to be'
Publisher Capcom has admitted it had failed to properly inform consumers exactly what they were getting with Street Fighter V.
How Dying Light took Techland to the big leagues
Before its launch, you'd be forgiven for having muted expectations for Dying Light.
How NPD persuaded Activision, EA and Ubisoft to share their digital sales data
US research firm NPD has revealed it's done what many thought was impossible – getting publishers to share their digital sales data as well as their physical information.
Carmageddon developer: 'If anything, we get more criticism for our crappy jokes than the violence'
After a 15 year absence, original developer Stainless brought the Carmageddon series back in 2015 with PC release, Reincarnation.
Burnout creator Fiona Sperry on leaving EA, going indie and Dangerous Golf
In 1999, PC-focused Criterion Studios asked Fiona Sperry to set up a new development arm within the company.
Why System 3 is rebuilding Constructor
19 years ago, System 3 partnered up with publisher Acclaim to release city-building title Constructor.
PlayStation: 'VR uncertainty is liberating for developers'
PlayStation surprised us this year.
CEO Michiel Bakker on Ginx's eSports bet
At the start of June, popular video games show VGN was dropped by broadcaster Challenge and production firm Ginx.
Shelf Life: Excite Games
Retail Previews in UK RETAIL Sponsored by PDP
Paul Whitfield from Excite Games in Guisborough discusses why he decided to hold back on selling merchandise – apart from Minecraft products – and why the Xbox One S won't ...
The Big Game: Battlefield 1
If you ever needed a solid indication that consumers weren't exactly satisfied with the state of the shooter genre, you need only look at the reaction to Battlefield 1 and ...
Interview: Xbox sets sights on the next great platform war
When Microsoft said it was taking gaming seriously with Windows 10, we weren't the only ones that didn't believe it.
Sega: 'We are turning Sonic into an entertainment icon'
Late last year, Sega made a number of changes to its US business that has made a big impact on the future of its famous blue mascot.
Shelf Life: Playnation Games
Retail Previews in UK RETAIL Sponsored by PDP
Daniel Grossett from Playnation Games in Croydon tells MCV about why retailers need to diversify their range of products and shares his thoughts on VR.
Lovable Hat Cult talks about sex and Apple
Denmark's Lovable Hat Cult has always made experiences that deal with taboo subjects.
History Lesson: The story of Burnout
Back in the late '90s, Gran Turismo was the No.1 racing game.
Paradox's Wester on Cities: Skylines, Stellaris and a record-breaking 2015
Paradox has been around since 1999 but it's only recently that the Swedish firm has reached mainstream attention.


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Shonen Knife, Japan's best-known alternative-rock band, are celebrating their 30th birthday. In honor of this occasion, the influential Osaka trio have a number of anniversary releases planned, the first being "Osaka Ramones," a tribute disc to the iconic American punk group the Ramones.
The album was recorded in Osaka and New York and co-produced by Goo Goo Dolls bassist Robby Takac. The Japanese cover art (top picture) pays homage to the classic 1977 Ramones LP "Rocket to Russia," while the international version is a take on 1978's equally revered "Road to Ruin."
"Osaka Ramones" fittingly starts with the Ramones' debut single, "Blitzkrieg Bop." Played with Shonen Knife's trademark power-pop gusto, their spin is more polished than the original but still retains the cut's energetic edge. It's pretty hard not to want to excitedly shout along as all three women belt out the track's universally adored "Hey! Ho! Let's go!" opening lyrics. Naoko Yamano's vocals and the band's melodic, cleaner sound work really well on "She's the One," adding a much stronger doo-wop feel to the song.
The act's playful pop-punk renditions of hits such as "Rock 'n' Roll High School," "Rockaway Beach" and "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker" are all catchy, fun listens that longtime Shonen Knife followers and casual fans will enjoy. Expect a sea of pumping fists and cheers from both groups of supporters if Yamano breaks out Johnny Ramone's "Gabba gabba we accept you/we accept you/one of us" rallying cry from "Osaka Ramones" closer "Pinhead" during Shonen Knife's Fuji Rock performance.
Shonen Knife play Apollo Theater in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, on July 16 (6:30 p.m., ¥3,000 in adv. [052] 936-6041); Shindaita Fever in Tokyo on July 17 (6 p.m., ¥3,000 in adv., [03] 3444-6751); and the White Stage at the Fuji Rock Festival in Naeba, Niigata Prefecture, on July 30 (11:30 a.m., ticket prices vary). For more information, visit www.shonenknife.net.


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For Testing New Promoters via Golden Gate Assembly
This part works, but it has been superseded by J119137 (pClone Red Part:BBa_J119137) and (pClone Blue Part:BBa_J119313).
J100091 (also called pClone Basic) was built by Todd Eckdahl and Malcolm Campbell. This part allows users to clone and test new promoters without gel purification or other preparation of DNA - it is ideal for teaching labs. It is a destination vector for Golden Gate Assembly (GGA) using BsaI and Ligase. A new promoter can be derived from synthetic oligos, PCR, or a plasmid clone. The new promoter must be flanked by BsaI sites that produce the 4 nt overhangs required for assembly (see Part:BBa_J119022 as an example, or the picture below). Successful GGA assembly replaces the double terminator in J100091 with the new promoter. Upon assembly, a functional new promoter should cause RFP expression. J100091 and its sister part Part:BBa_J119044 incorporate the BD18 bicistronic translational junction (see Part:BBa_J119024) engineered by Vivek Mutalik and The BIOFAB Team at biofab.org. Related parts are pClone Red and pClone Blue .
Below is a picture of the portion that pops out when digested with Bsa I. TT represents the transcriptional terminator Part:BBa_B0014. J100091 is designed to be used for Golden Gate Assembly to swap out the TT for a promoter of your choosing. This can be done by simply mixing J100091 with oligos that self-assemble into dsDNA with compatible sticky ends. J100091 and its sister part Part:BBa_J119044 are ideal for undergraduates in a teaching lab to discover and characterize new promoters for use in synthetic biology.
- The only difference between J100091 and Part:BBa_J119044 is the codons used to encode RFP. J100091 uses RFP as encoded in Part:BBa_E1010. Part:BBa_J119044 uses codons optimized for E. coli as designed by GeneArt.
Sequence and Features
J100091 contains BBa biobrick prefix + 4 base overhang + BsaI site cutting to the left + transcriptional terminator Part:BBa_B0014 + BsaI site that cuts to the right + 4 base overhang + BD18 bicistronic RBS for more reliable translation (Part:BBa_J119024) + mRFP Part:BBa_E1010 + BBa biobrick suffix.
Sequence and Features
- 10INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[10]Illegal prefix found in sequence at 1
Illegal suffix found in sequence at 906
- 12INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[12]Illegal EcoRI site found at 1
Illegal SpeI site found at 907
Illegal PstI site found at 921
Illegal NotI site found at 7
Illegal NotI site found at 914
- 21INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[21]Illegal EcoRI site found at 1
- 23INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[23]Illegal prefix found in sequence at 1
Illegal suffix found in sequence at 907
- 25INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[25]Illegal prefix found in sequence at 1
Illegal XbaI site found at 16
Illegal SpeI site found at 907
Illegal PstI site found at 921
Illegal AgeI site found at 779
Illegal AgeI site found at 891
- 1000INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[1000]Illegal BsaI site found at 129
Illegal BsaI.rc site found at 28
Illegal EcoRI site found at 1
Illegal XbaI site found at 16
Illegal SpeI site found at 907
Illegal PstI site found at 921


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Portuguese Chicken With Peas (Frango Com Ervilhas)
Recipe by TxGriffLover
This may not be the official national dish or Portugal, but it could be. Fragrant with the sweet aroma of Portugal's best wines, it's a dish you won't soon forget. Adapted from Worldwide Recipes.
Top Review by Dr. Jenny
DH and I made this chicken last night for dinner and thought it was excellent. First, it requires very little prep (always nice); second, it was really easy to make; third, I loved the flavor of the sauce! I served the chicken over mashed potatoes to really soak up all the sauce (there is quite a bit). I used fresh oregano from my garden. I would definitely make this dish again! Thanks!
See Discussion:2 Reviews
Ingredients Nutrition
- 3 -4 lbs chicken pieces
- salt & freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 onions, finely chopped
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1⁄2 cup dry port wine or 1⁄2 cup madeira wine
- 1⁄2 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano (or 1/4 tsp dried)
- 1 -2 cup fresh green peas (or frozen)
Directions See How It's Made
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the oil and butter in a large heavy baking dish over moderate heat and brown the chicken on all sides.
- Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside. Saute the onions in the same baking dish until tender but not brown, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in the stock, wine, and oregano and return the chicken to the skillet. Cover and simmer over low heat until the chicken is tender, 45 to 60 minutes.
- Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper and add the peas about 15 minutes before serving.


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This game is why Frank makes the big bucks and we don't. All us jr coaches made suggestions for fixing the rotation. Don't remember any of us suggesting sitting Lance and playing Chris at the 3. What a nice move. Open up the court and suddenly the bench looks and plays like a real NBA team. Kudos to Frank.
Love our bench production off the bench. Scola has 19 pts and 6 rebounds, Turner gets 6 pts and 7 assists, and 5 pts in only 10 minutes is pretty good for Copeland
Copeland looked really good defensively as well. He had no problem staying with Snell and Dunleavy and that's something that I didn't really expect. He seemed a little bit quicker than I remember.
Tonight, all flags must burn, in place of steeples.
Autonomy must return into the hands of the people.
Some quick thoughts...
1. I missed the first 2.5 quarters. First part of any game I missed all year. So I'll take credit for anything good that happened.
2. Biggest thing I noticed, besides Scola hitting again, was Roy Hibbert owning the damn ball. He and Mahinmi were both brilliant in rim defense, but just noticed a lot more aerial aggression and "that's mine" rebounding efforts. When the Pacers tally those kind of extra possessions, good things happen.
3. Thought this might have been closer to a 20-point win were it not for some truly godawful officiating in the late 3rd, early 4th. They made up for it by fouling Gibson out on a pansy call, but still, the missed kick ball and missing PG24's block were just brutal, brutal calls.
4. That said, related to point 3, this team still gets WAY too attached to officiating. I sit the fence here tonight because I don't blame PG24 for getting T'd up at all. I'd have the same reaction. But it still does worry me, given Joey Crawford Specials (not that I'd want anyone else officiating IND-MIA if that series happens anyway), that this team is so dependent on neutral/positive officiating mojo. Anything negative throws the brakes on way too much.
5. Wish they would have closed out the game being a bit more aggressive in going to the rim. Were it not for Scola's jumper falling, this would have been a much more uncomfortable finish.
6. Turner looked brutal minus his dish to Scola in the time I saw him, so maybe I just caught the wrong stretch?
7. Remember when fans were rushing to figure out ways to get Mahinmi off the team? The man has reinvented himself, and there has been a big enough sample size to make that claim now. Good for him. Proud of him. I love that he looks to be the no-nonsense power guy now. He's not going to let you finish at the rim unless you get a step on him, and he goes for at least one power dunk each game that at the very least results in a foul. Good for him. I hope the attitude is contagious. Love to see his teammates playing with equal confidence and dictation at the rim.
8. I've conceded ever trying to figure out George Hill on offense, but defensively, few guys I'd rather have at that position.
9. When this team dominates, it stems from defense. I was grinning like Christmas morning watching these guys D up tonight. Took away Noah and gave Chicago a bunch of Boozer mid-range jumpers. You couldn't script the game better if you had an invisible Wayans brother sitting on the rim. They dictated what Chicago could do and forced them into relying on low-percentage shots and predictably mediocre players. I also just love something about daring Boozer to beat you. It amuses me. I dislike Boozer, a lot.
Whats with the final play of the 3rd quarter where Lance came over and demanded the Ball from Turner. Then Turner back pedals to the corner with his hands out in frustration while Lance proceeded to go into Bad Lance mode for the final shot. Lance bricks the shot and then starts shooting stink eyes all around as he moses over the bench looking back at his teammates.
You can't get champagne from a garden hose.
PG got a triple double but shot 3 for 13. I am glad Copeland finally got playing time. I still think LaVoy should be playing instead of Ian.
Because he (Lance) can be a serious idiot....has a lot of growing up to do (still)!! I prefer turner if only for his character.....
What you own is your own kingdom
What you do is your own glory
What you love is your own power
What you live is your own story
Ian has been playing fantastic ball for months and you want LaVoy to play over him, out of position, because of one game against the worst team in the league? No way.
I still can't get over Frank sitting Lance to play Chris though. Very 'outside the box' thinking. Adds a shooter and forces more passing. Clever.
Copeland has not looked like a bad defender at the 3 or 4. I never thought he was, certainly not worse than Scola. He should continue to get playing time IMO, but I thought he should have for most of the season.
"Just look at the flowers ........ BANG"
Also, good to see Scola got the mid range jumper back at least for tonight. He was slowly recovering as the year has gone by, and he blew up with it tonight it seems
See you and raise you.
This space for rent.
I'm assuming we're using the term fantastic veeeeeeeeeeeeeery loosely, right? He has played better, but he set the bar so low that it didn't really matter. I'd rather see LaVoy Allen at the 5 then Mahimi because Allen does the small things like boxing out for rebounds, can protect the rim on par with Mahimi and he's actually a threat offensively. If we did that, kept playing Copeland(why does Frank sit him after he looked good?), and got CJ Watson healthy our bench should look pretty darn good.
Dear P_George,
You have received an infraction at Pacers Digest.
Reason: Unacceptable Comment and/or Content
Our 3rd quarter defense was championship level. It's good to see that switch flipped.
Last edited by imawhat; 03-22-2014 at 12:12 AM.
LaVoy can shoot, along with do everything Ian can. That's why. He's a threat from midrange. Ian is shooting, they WANT HIM to shoot. When LaVoy is on the floor you have to account for him. I hope we see more Copeland though. This is the second game where he's gotten non-garbage-time action. Second straight game.
In retrospect, it recreates the bench as it was supposed to be at the beginning of the season. Using Chris to take the Danny Granger role, using Evan to take the Lance role and it keeps Lance's minutes down to a reasonable amount. Lance played 30 min tonight instead of the 35 to 40 he's been playing. Lance is the energizer bunny, but getting to play less minutes has to make it easier to play harder when he is on the court.
Lance and Evan do have trouble playing together, especially without CJ. Just not enough shooters. This puts a shooter back without taking Luis out. Evan does a nice job of taking Lance's ballhandling role. Making the bench a strong point of the team even with CJ out. Genius move.
Copeland had 2 blocks tonight by the way.
Yea, we need to continue with the
lline-up when healthy
I'm not a huge Copeland fan, and I generally don't want to see him on the floor at all, but if you can stick him on somebody that won't score like Tony Snell (tonight), then his defensive liabilities aren't as important. Maybe he can guard Battier when we play the Heat. It's possible there's an opportunity there.


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Big Brother All Stars
Such a good episode although I wanted to see Erica out way more than chicken george. But man Will is soo smooth. If he makes it to the finals and doesnt win that will be stupid. He deserves the money just for the fact that he has made it this far being a previous winner.
They have released four or five dvd's of the series, but no true season boxed sets.
Maybe, we'll get the season boxed set releases when Spiderman 3 hits theaters.
Yes, Dear!
Speaking of The Wire, Sports Guy raves about it below. Never seen it, and I know I probably should give it a try, but honestly, I haven't liked an HBO series since 1st and Ten.
17. "The Wire"
Readers kept telling me to watch this show. They implored me. They kept e-mailing me. They badgered me. I didn't listen. As I've described multiple times in this space, I hate being told that I should watch a show; I like discovering them at my own speed. And if it made me three or four years late for the party with classics like "The Sopranos" and "24," so be it. It's just that I can't willingly jump onto a show; it needs to happen organically.
For instance, here's what happened with "The Wire:" On a Tuesday night in mid-August, the Sports Gal and I were home with nothing to watch and ending up stumbling onto "The Wire Re-Up" button on HBO On Demand. I'd been avoiding this show for four years because the Baltimore drug scene didn't appeal to me unless Raffie Palmeiro and Miggy Tejada were involved. But the Sports Gal was the one who said, "Let's watch the first show of 'The Wire' and see if we like it."
Within 10 minutes, we were hooked. We ended up banging out three episodes the first night and another three the second night. Then our cable system switched to a new provider ... and all the Season 1 episodes disappeared into thin air. Now we were scrambling. None of the video stores around us had Season 1 in stock. I ended up ordering Season 1 online (two-day delivery courtesy of Amazon Prime), but we were so hooked on the show that when someone returned Season 1 to our video store, we rented the last three discs that same night. We banged out the last seven episodes in two nights before the DVD was even delivered. That's how hooked we were.
I'll go this far: I'd put Season 1 of "The Wire" against anything. The first three seasons of "The Sopranos." Seasons 1 or 2 of "24." The first seasons of "NYPD Blue," "ER" or "Miami Vice." You name it. I have never seen a show like it. Season 2 wasn't as good (if Season 1 was an A-plus-plus-plus, then Season 2 was a B-plus), and we're just about to dive into Season 3, so I don't have an opinion on that yet. Everyone seems to agree that they outdid themselves with Season 4 and that it's a legitimate masterpiece. Just know that you can absolutely start watching Season 4 without having seen the other three seasons. It's not an ideal way to break into the show, but you can do it.
Without giving too much away, four more things you need to know:
A. Before I started watching "The Wire," my four favorite TV/movie detectives of all-time were Sonny Crockett ("Miami Vice"); Jack Cates ("48 Hrs."); Johnny Kelly ("NYPD Blue"); and Nick Curran (Michael Douglas' character in "Basic Instinct"), who couldn't break away from Sharon Stone even though he knew that every time she climbed on top during sex, there was a 50 percent chance she might ram an ice pick into his chest. But Jimmy McNulty in "The Wire" (played by Dominic West) ... he might end up beating them all before everything's said and done. He might have even moved to No. 1 during the scene in Season 2 when they raid a brothel and he ends up in a threesome before the rest of the cops arrive. Not even Sonny Crockett would have done that.
B. I love any show with a slew of mostly no-name actors that bang their roles out of the park, although it was weird to see one of the leads from "Remember the Titans" playing drug lord Avon Barksdale. With that said, Alonzo Mourning gives an inspired performance as Stringer Bell (Avon's manipulative consigliere). Maybe the best athlete/Hollywood crossover since Kareem in "Airplane."
(Wait, that's not Alonzo Mourning? Are we positive?)
C. In an attempt to be gritty, they didn't cast any of those Angie Harmon/Jill Hennessey types who always seem unrealistically cute for a drug/crime show set in a place like Baltimore. And since the actresses on the show are average-looking down the line, guess what happens? It's like the Lambeau parking lot, any press box or any NESCAC keg party ... the females who do appear on this show end up seeming disproportionately hot by about the fifth episode. Absolutely bizarre. I love when this happens.
D. Omar might be my favorite HBO villain since Adebici. And that's saying something.
Anyway, I can't believe I didn't watch this show sooner. It enrages me. I'm not doing the "YOU NEED TO WATCH THIS SHOW OR YOUR WHOLE LIFE WILL BE INCOMPLETE!" routine, because that might scare you away. Just know that it's one of the five greatest shows I've ever seen. And I hope you stumble across it some day.
Organically, of course.
No duh, it is a great show. The best way to describe it is to say it is like a great novel. No, not a book that is made into a movie or TV show, but a great novel that is a TV show to begin with. In fact all the writers on the show write novels.
Kegboy, if you are interested in watching the show, I'd highly recommend you start with season one (I believe you have to watch at least two episodes to get into it, surprised it took the sports guy 10 minutes). I have the DVD for season one if you are interested I'd loan them to you.
Holmes on Homes
Does watching the first webisode of Battlestar Galactica count? Season 2.5.........5?
Dead Like Me
Another science fiction/fantasy show killed before its time.
"The Wire" starts Sunday night at 10:00. There was a review in Friday's Indystar saying it is the best season yet, wow that is really saying a lot.
I cannot recommend this series enough, but if you decide to give it a try, you must give it two full episodes (it is like reading the first two chapters of a new book) and be prepared to be lost, bored, confused and almost ready to turn the channel, but slowly the show will pull you in and once it does you will never leave.
'The Wire' weaves its own world
Newsday Staff Writer
September 7, 2006
A critic for this paper once declared "The Wire" "the greatest dramatic series ever produced for television" and as the fourth season gets under way Sunday night, there's no reason to quibble with that assessment. Maybe a word here or there could stand a trim - "ever" does seem awfully generous while there are nights, and seasons, when "The Sopranos" is superior - but "The Wire" was and indisputably remains one of TV's very finest creations.
What "The Wire" doesn't have, and never has, is "approachability," proving yet again that all the magnificent acting, writing, editing and directing in the world might put critics into a swoon but not necessarily viewers. Their fault? Hardly: "The Wire" seems to revel in its impermeability, its plot loop-de-loops, its street talk that's so sharp it cuts. What are poor viewers to do? Embrace this porcupine?
In fact, they should, and the fourth season is as good a place as any to start. Here's why: Several new doors open Sunday, revealing fresh dimensions in the Baltimore created by David Simon and Ed Burns - the former cop, now "Wire" writer, upon whose experiences this series is broadly based. Burns became an inner-city high school teacher after his tour in blue ended. Former Det. Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski inaugurates his first day at a West Side school by scraping gum off the bottom of seats. "Prez" (Jim True-Frost) was a wiz at wiretapping - for which the series is named - but had (shall we say) personal control issues. As a teacher, he's calm, gentle, and generous though utterly ineffectual in the chaos of the classroom. Prezbo, as the kids take to calling him, desperately wants to sow his idealism, but this season reasonably asks, will he be able to?
Then there are the kids, four newcomers to "The Wire" who are absolutely terrific. In the allegory of "The Wire," Simon and Burns are clearly fascinated by this foursome because they are perfectly poised between two worlds - of "the corner" and of a legit life outside of crime. Which way will they go? Namond Brice (Julito McCullum) already appears consigned to the corner, the innermost circle of hell in "The Wire," but not Duquan Weems (Jermaine Crawford), Randy Wagstaff (Maestro Harrell) or Michael Lee (Tristan Wilds). School as much as character will determine their fate but in the tightly interlocked world of Baltimore, the school itself is as impotent as anyone or anything else.
Meanwhile, councilman Tommy Carcetti - brilliantly played by Aiden Gillen - is making a run for mayor. Carcetti is a glorious condensation of the whole world of "The Wire" in one human frame: Smart, grim, realistic, funny, romantic, and utterly soaked in a cynicism that nearly incapacitates him. He knows he can beat Mayor Clarence Royce's (Glynn Turman) butt in a televised debate but will still wake up the next morning a white man in a city that's almost all black. Royce? You wonder if this corrupt political hack ever had a scintilla of the idealism of Carcetti, or if he is perhaps a mirror image of Carcetti's own future?
Quickly, catching up with some of the other characters from seasons past: Det. "Herc" Hauk (Domenick Lombardozzi) gets cushy duty as the mayor's chauffeur and later witnesses his boss in a compromising position, which (naturally) leads to a big promotion. Det. Lester Freamon (Clarke Peters) of Major Crimes fast-tracks some investigations of Royce cronies, which (naturally) leads to a big demotion. Det. Shakima Greggs (Sonja Sohn) gets busted down to Homicide where she must endure the endless razing of "Bunk" Moreland (Wendell Pierce), another one of "Wire's" classic characters.
On the street, Marlo Stanfield (Jamie Hector) is a growing kingpin, and may be TV's most menacing hood, unless you prefer Omar (Michael K. Williams), "The Wire's" gay street cowboy, or Marlo triggerman Chris Partlow (Gbenga Akinnagbe).
Finally, let's talk about difficulty. It's the common rap on "The Wire" - that the street talk can be indecipherable, or the cop talk just as knotted, or the plot lines too twisted. For you newbies, here's some advice: Just stick with it. "Wire" demands that you enter its world, unlike other TV series, which try to insinuate themselves into yours. There's not much exposition here but everything is revealed drop by drop, like a leaky faucet. Clarity finally emerges, and the view is splendid.
THE WIRE. Returns for a fourth season as good as ever. Sunday at 10 p.m. on HBO.
Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.
Stargate SG1, and Stargate Atlantis
Seinfeld - The one where George parks in the handicap parking space and his fathers car gets destroyed.
Anyone watch "The Wire" Sunday night. I didn't as I'm still working my way through season 3. But many of the reviews I've read about season 4 indicate that season 4 is the best season yet.
Finished rewatching season 4 of Smallville last night, I've got Season 5 in hand right now (came out today on DVD) and season 6 is out near the end of Sept.
Cosby Show. Same old same old
However there are some major changes in the character makeup of the show. No new B.P.D. officers but some of them have new weird job assignments. (see Hurk).
Overall though episode 1 gets two thumbs up from me.
I would say at least through the first 5 episodes, season three is weaker than 1 or 2. Of course it is all relative, even at its worst the Wire is highly additive and highly watchable.
The decision to focus season four on 4 school kids and the school system is a brilliant decision. Ed Burns who is one of the executive producers, and really second in command behind David Simon, is a former Baltimore school teacher, so he knows of what he speaks, and writes.
Big Brother 7: All-Stars Finale.
Glad to see that Mike won over Erika. Will deserved to win but stupid Janelle kicked him out last week like a fool that she is. Diane was right in saying that Janelle and Will deserved to be the final two. At least one of the Chill Town members won.
Some kid had some brain problems and house was trying to fix it. I had to tape it and i missed the first 10 minutes cause I forgot about it but I was glad to see the rest of it.
The Sopranos
Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Watched The Wire season 3 episode 6 and 7 . Wow just when I thought season 3 was a little lackluster, Avon gets out of prison and things pick up. Looks like the last 5 eps are going to be excellent
The Wire will end after season 5. I wish it would go on forever. The fact that only 1.5 million people watched the season 4 premiere is troubling to me, what do people want to watch on TV.
The media will be the focus of season 5, that should be interesting
HBO Stays Up on 'The Wire'
Acclaimed series gets a fifth and final season
September 13 2006
Following mountains of critical praise that have called it perhaps the best work ever produced for television, HBO has renewed "The Wire" for a fifth season.
The novelistic drama about cops, drug dealers and the people caught in between in Baltimore began its fourth season on Sunday. Only about 1.5 million people watched the episode, down some from the 1.8 million who saw the third-season premiere in 2004. Still, HBO, which is less beholden to ratings than ad-driven networks, opted for quality over quantity.
The audience numbers for the show also don't include people who watched the premiere on demand. HBO is making each episode this season available on demand six days before its scheduled Sunday airing on the network.
"We are delighted -- though not surprised -- at the initial critical response to the new season of 'The Wire,'" says Carolyn Strauss, president of HBO Entertainment. "[Series creator] David Simon and his remarkable team have created a riveting and thought-provoking series that's unlike anything else on TV."
The current season of "The Wire" examines the education system, focusing on four West Baltimore boys (new cast members Julito McCullum, Maestro Harrell, Tristan Wilds and Jermaine Crawford) who may have a chance to escape the drug culture that surrounds them, though the odds are not in their favor.
Season five -- which will be the show's last -- will deal with the role of the media within the city.
"The last question we want to ask is this: For four seasons, we have depicted that part of urban America that has been left behind by the economy and by the greater society, and chronicled entrenched problems that have gone without solution for generations now," Simon says. "Why? What is it that we see and sense about these problems? To what are we giving attention, and what is it that we consistently ignore? How do we actually see ourselves?"
King Of The Hill
Cosby Show
The season finale of Blade, The Series
All in all, highly enjoyable, though I fear they spent half their budget on this last episode. I heartily recommend the show to anyone who even remotely enjoyed the movies.


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A Thankyou to Internet Genealogy Magazine
I'm a little behind on my genealogy magazine reading (I always seem to be), however I did pick up the latest issue of Internet Genealogy (August/September 2014 issue) and started flipping through it today, and found an article titled "Top Genealogy Blogs: 2014 Edition". And guess who made the list? Continue reading →


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Edit: After half day, my wife's Mac started having the same problem. I have then applied the solution that I found in the Apple
Short cut to keys: The difference of Mac OS and the Windows OS
The Mac computers and the operating system are the new technological advancement. This has therefore some difference from the Windows operating system. One of the basic differences is the difference in the short cuts. The short cuts in the key used in the windows OS are so much different from the Mac operating system. Here are some of these:
First and foremost is the forward delete. As one may have observed it, once you will use the Windows Operating system, the forward delete is just done with the usage of the backspace key. However, on the Mac operating system, there is a difference. There is no delete key on the Mac OS. The only solution to this is to click the Fn +F9. That is the only way to delete.
The second thing is that in the Windows operating system, one can use the right click of the mouse. There one will find some choices for the actions to be dome in the page. In the case of the Mac operating system, there are no right clicks. This sounds very unique but this is true. There are no right clicks on the Mac OS.
There is only a contextual menu which can be evoked by control clicking. In this case, there are two things that you can do. The first one is simply to work this with fire fox. All you have to do is click and hold and soon the contextual menu will emerge. You can therefore do the process at this point. The second way to do the right click is to go to the system preference. And then from there, choose the keyboards and mouse. In there, go to the track pad tab and then click the "Tap track pad" with the usage of both fingers for the secondary clicking of the mouse. This will surely do the trick.
These two are just the basic ideas of the different shortcuts and the differences of the Windows and the Mac OS.
Related Articles
News and Articles


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Two injured in motorcycle crash
Two people were injured Saturday evening when the motorcycle they were riding on crashed, Pierce County Sheriff's Department reported.
Daniel Hanken, 51, Prescott, was driving the vehicle southbound on Highway 35 in Oak Grove Township when he lost control and entered the west ditch. Both Hanken and his passenger — Barbara Arntzen, 55, Hastings — were ejected.
The sheriff's office and emergency crews were dispatched to the scene at 9:45 p.m. Hanken was airlifted from the scene by North Air Care. Artzen was transported by ambulance. Both were taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul with undetermined injuries.
Red Wing Ambulance, Prescott Police and Prescott Fire and Ambulance assisted at the scene. The crash is still under investigation.


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Bottle Top Lock
Chris and Chris Enterprise is a locally-owned company in eastern North Carolina. The Bottle Top Lock® is a simple device designed for security and safety. You open, and then close, the lock over the existing cap of most bottles, including most medicine bottles, household chemical bottles, soda bottles, alcoholic beverage bottles and many other containers around your home and/or business. Each set, which sells for $4.75 plus shipping, comes with one mini brass lock and a small and large Bottle Top Lock®. Sets come in three colors — red, white or blue. Visit our website for further information.
Chris and Chris Enterprise
3661 Battleboro -Leggett Road
Battleboro, NC 27809
(252) 813-5749


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CIA celebrates their one-month Twitter anniversary by answering their followers' top questions, writing, 'No, we don't know where Tupac is.'
The Central Intelligence Agency celebrated their one-month Twitter anniversary on Monday, July 7 by answering some followers' top questions. In the Monday session, which featured hashtag #Twitterversary, CIA responded to the questions with humorous replies including one which mentioned Tupac Shakur, a rapper whose death eighteen years ago sparked conspiracy theories.
"Thanks for making our first month on @Twitter great! Today we take 10 mins to answer 5 of the top questions you've asked. #twitterversary," they wrote. The agency then tweeted to their 669,000 followers, "No, we don't know your password, so we can't send it to you. #sorrynotsorry #twitterversary."
"Sorry for not following you back @TheEllenShow. But if you visit us maybe we can take a selfie?" another funny tweet read, referring to Ellen DeGeneres who made headlines after taking a selfie with a bunch of A-list actors at the Oscars earlier this year. They also shared a link to job vacancy and talked about an A-12 OXCART plane in other posts. Their last post for the session read, "No, we don't know where Tupac is."
Shakur was fatally shot in Las Vegas in 1996. He passed away on September 13, two weeks after the shooting incident, at the age of 25.


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I'm Trina Cardamone, a senior Fashion Merchandising major at Marist College, originally from Nashua, NH. Aside from my obsession with fashion, I compulsively keep up to date with all things pop culture. I have a huge affinity for movies, television, music, art, travel and dance. I spent a semester studying in London and still miss the markets, bookstores and exploring the nooks and crannies. I have obsessions with flannel, sweaters and boots. Patti Smith, Dorothy Parker, Tina Fey and Emma Thompson are my idols, as they're all incredibly intelligent, artistic wordsmiths with unique perspectives and voices. My goals for 2015 include starting a record collection and listening to David Bowie every morning.
Trina Cardamone
my bio


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Wonder Bread Announces Partnership with NASCAR driver Kurt Busch
THOMASVILLE, GA--Sept. 25, 2013: After announcing Wonder bread's return to grocery store shelves across the country starting this week, Flowers Foods , a leading producer and marketer of packaged bakery foods in the U.S., is unveiling a partnership with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race car driver Kurt Busch who currently drives the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet SS. Reminiscent of Wonder bread's memorable appearance in the 2006 movie "Talladega Nights," the Wonder car will make its colorful debut at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Race at Talladega Superspeedway – NASCAR's most competitive track - on October 20.
"There is nothing more American than Wonder bread and NASCAR," said Keith Aldredge, Flowers Foods' vice president of marketing. "We're thrilled to be partnering with Kurt Busch and the Furniture Row Racing team to debut the Wonder car at the Talladega Superspeedway. Having such an incredible driver wear the bright colors of Wonder will make for a truly memorable all-American race experience."
Along with the Wonder car, the Wonder hot air balloon will be showcased at Talladega, kicking off race day.
"This motorsports partnership definitely carries a special feeling with two American icons coming together – Wonder bread and NASCAR – at one of America's legendary racetracks," said Kurt Busch. "And the sponsorship also has a nostalgic feel for me since Wonder bread was a household staple while growing up in Las Vegas."
Busch added, "Talladega is a track that we can win at and a celebration with the Wonder car in Victory Lane will make this partnership even more special."
Wonder is back in grocery stores throughout Flowers' fresh delivery market area, in cities and towns in the East, South, Southwest, and California where it was sold before. This includes: Baltimore, Boston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Richmond, St. Louis, San Diego, San Francisco and Tulsa. Consumers should check with their local grocery stores to find out when Wonder will be available.
The Wonder re-launch includes Wonder Classic White, Wonder Whole Grain White, and Wonder 100% Whole Wheat breads. Also returning are Wonder hamburger and hot dog buns, and rolls.
To celebrate its return, Wonder Bread is partnering with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, which raises funds and awareness for 170 children's hospitals in local communities across North America. For every loaf of Wonder Classic White and Wonder Whole Grain White bread sold between October 1 and December 31, 2013, Wonder will donate five cents to CMN Hospitals to make a difference in the lives of hospitalized children (up to a maximum donation of $250,000).


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Adelaide United coach Josep Gombau says it's too early to declare his A-League giant-killers are genuine championship contenders.
But he can't see any reason why the Reds can't take the title after claiming another big scalp on Sunday with a 1-0 home win against Western Sydney Wanderers.
Adelaide have toppled league leaders Brisbane Roar and the second-placed Wanderers in consecutive games.
Gombau's outfit on Sunday rose from ninth to fifth on a cluttered A-League ladder, stretching their unbeaten run to six games - but the Spaniard said it was premature to talk of United as a legitimate title chance.
"It is early to say this. Honestly, it's not in our plan or our mind," Gombau said after his gifted Argentine Marcelo Carrusca scored the match-winner against the Wanderers.
"It is more to build this project and, in the long-term, fight for this (title).
"What we need to is go game by game."
Even so, Gombau said a title was possible.
"Why not?," he said.
"The teams are very equal, why not ... you never know.
"But honestly, our philosophy is to create this club in the long-term.
"Of course we want to win every single game and we will fight for every single game and if, in the end, we are in the finals - perfect.
"But not now, to win two games and think to be the champions, because there are a lot of very good teams in the league."
In other round 15 action, Wellington Phoenix continued their form surge with Saturday's stunning 5-0 defeat of Melbourne Victory.
"We have threatened to do it several times but we dominated the game from end to end ... it all came together and now the challenge is to repeat that," Phoenix boss Ernie Merrick said.
Also Saturday, Central Coast Mariners downed Sydney FC 1-0 to leave the Sky Blues' coach Frank Farina seething.
"I expected a better reaction after the goal. If I'm not going to get that then I'll try players that hopefully will," said Farina.
On Friday night, Melbourne Heart ended its 19-game winless stretch with a 3-1 triumph against a lacklustre Newcastle Jets, while Perth Glory played a scoreless draw with Brisbane Roar.


text: AUSTIN, Texas, March 11, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Superconductor Technologies Inc. (STI) (Nasdaq:SCON), a world leader in the development and production of high temperature superconducting (HTS) materials and associated technologies, today announced that it is effecting a one-for-twelve (1:12) reverse split of its common stock, effective at the close of business today. The reverse stock split, which was authorized by its Board of Directors, was approved by STI's stockholders on March 11, 2013 at a Special Meeting of the Stockholders. Upon tomorrow's (March 12) market open, STI's common stock will continue trading on a split-adjusted basis under the symbol SCON with a new CUSIP number. STI has implemented the reverse stock split in order to meet the Nasdaq Capital Market's maintenance standard that requires STI to maintain at least a $1.00 per share minimum bid price. STI anticipates that following the reverse stock split, its common stock will trade at a price higher than the $1.00 per share minimum bid price. However, there can be no assurance that, after the consummation of the reverse stock split, the common stock will trade at twelve (12) times the market price prior to the reverse stock split or above the $1.00 per share minimum bid price. In the reverse split, each twelve shares of issued and outstanding common stock will be converted automatically into one share of common stock. No fractional shares will be issued in connection with the reverse stock split, and stockholders who would be entitled to fractional shares will receive cash in lieu of fractional shares. The number of shares of STI common stock issued and outstanding will be reduced from approximately 50,533,875 shares as of March 11, 2013, to approximately 4,211,156 shares outstanding post split. The reverse split will also have a proportionate effect on all stock options and warrants outstanding as of March 11, 2013.


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This easy, yet delectable crockpot chicken recipe is the brainchild of my 12 year old who always requests my Sweet-n-Spicy BBQ Chicken anytime I ask, "what should be on next week's meal plan?" When I told him I was getting ready to post some of our favorite crockpot recipes, he asked if I would create a new one by finding a way to make his favorite chicken in the crockpot. Brilliant idea! Yet again, proving that kids belong in the kitchen!
What's equally brilliant is this recipe allows you to prep the ingredients ahead of time and place them into the freezer. Then when you know you're going to have one of those days where there's just no time to cook, you can simply toss the frozen ingredients right into the crockpot and enjoy a super-easy and delicious home-cooked healthy meal! (See note in recipe below for details.)
Whenever I make this, my boys can hardly stop themselves from shoveling it in – LOL! I have to admit this recipe is a new favorite of mine too and I'm not usually one for dinners on the sweet side. But this dish has a nice spicy flavor that balances out the sweetness of the apricot. And the flavorful sauce is especially delicious over cauliflower rice and steamed veggies. Enjoy!
And yes, fellow grain-free friends, I know I've got to update the photo now that I'm grain-free, but for those of you friends who are living gluten-free, my boys highly recommend serving this over white rice!
- 1 1/2 pounds of boneless, skinless organic chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
- 1 cup organic apricot preserves (or homemade peach jam)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp Coconut Secret soy-free sauce (I use this in place of soy sauce)
- 1 tbsp dry mustard
- 1 tsp dried minced onion
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp crushed red chili pepper flakes
- Optional: 1 tbsp arrowroot powder to thicken the sauce
- Cut chicken breasts into 2x2-inch chunks and place into a 6-quart slow cooker. Top with a half-cup of diced red pepper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together all remaining ingredients, except the arrowroot powder, and pour over chicken and peppers.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours. (Since crockpots vary in temperature, it's best to check this at the 4-hour mark. If the chicken is cooked through, it's ready to serve.)
- When ready to serve, use tongs to remove chicken from crockpot and place in a serving dish. Whisk in the arrowroot powder to thicken the sauce, if desired. Once thickened, ladle the sauce over the chicken and serve with cauli-rice and your favorite green veggie.
Freezer Recipe: This sweet-n-spicy chicken dish makes a great freezer recipe. Simply place the diced chicken and red pepper into a freezer-safe container. Whisk together the sauce and add it to the container and freeze. (Make sure to use a container that is smaller than the size of your crockpot base so it freezes in a shape that will easily fit into your crockpot.) When ready to make this meal, just place the frozen ingredients into your crockpot and cook on low for approximately 5 to 5 1/2 hours. Easy and delicious!
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post include affiliate links, providing The Nourishing Home a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. Of course, you are not obligated to use these links to make a purchase, but if you do, it helps to support this site and ministry. Thank you!


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Throwing a committee at the request
A sub-committee is being formed to study whether the water and sewer authority in Hart County, Georgia should allow Oconee County-based Pioneer Rural Water District to draw water from Lake Hartwell, using Hart County's easement. Pioneer wants to build a treatment plant, but lacks a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers to draw raw water from the lake. On Monday, Pioneer officials formally asked the Hart County authority to piggyback on that county's permit. The request was tabled for further study. WLHR Lake Hartwell Radio reports that, at a meeting yesterday, Hart County Commission Chairman Joey Dorsey asked for the subcommittee to include other stakeholders. Dorsey fears there could be competition for water with Hart's planned expansion of the Gateway Industrial Park. While it waits for corps' approval of withdrawal permit, Pioneer seeks a three-year arrangement with Hart County and would pay $30 thousand a year for the privilege of using that county's permit.


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By Ryan Ekvall | Wisconsin Reporter
MADISON – Your dog is sick. Quick, what do you do?
Get her to the veterinarian, of course.
But when you arrive, be prepared to provide your pooch's birth date, middle name and Medicare identification numbers.
Yep, under the state's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, or PDMP, veterinarians this year will be required to report such information electronically.
Chalk it up to yet another unintended consequence of state law.
'Massive obstacle'
In 2009, then-Gov. Jim Doyle signed Act 362, requiring pharmacists to record an array of information when dispensing drugs. The idea is to crack down on "doctor shopping," where a junkie, unable to renew a prescription from his current provider, shops around for a doctor who will write a prescription, usually unaware of the patient's drug history.
The law includes veterinarians.
"The way the bill was written it included 'pharmacist or practitioners' who dispense prescription drugs. So when it got to the pharmacy board, the way it was defined, veterinarians were going to be part of the law," said Rep. Dean Knudson, R-Hudson, a practicing veterinarian. "That wasn't the original intent of the law."
The word "practitioner" opened the door to the inclusion of veterinarians in the law.
"The pharmacy board recognized this was an issue, but without statutory change they couldn't make an exemption," Knudson said.
The Wisconsin Pharmacy Examining Board delayed veterinarians from reporting for 90 days after the program launched on Jan.1.
Knudson since has introduced a bill that has gained rare bipartisan support to exempt veterinarians from the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. It passed the Assembly Committee on Agriculture earlier this week. The Assembly is expected to take up the bill Tuesday.
If the Legislature doesn't act, it could cost the roughly 3,000 licensed veterinarians in Wisconsin a combined$7 million or more per year to comply with the letter of the law, according to the Wisconsin Veterinarian's Medical Association.
Kim Brown Pokorny, executive director of the WVMA, said veterinarians don't have a uniform health care record system for veterinary medicine. Because vets don't typically deal with insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid, most don't keep electronic records.
For the vets that do, Pokorny said the computer software doesn't collect the fields required by the law.
"They have to run like three or four different reports and manually enter it in the Excel sheets. It's a massive obstacle," she said.
The WMVA asked some of its members to test how long it would take to comply with the law and found it took at least an hour a day to record the information and more time to upload it to software. At $24 an hour for staff, the costs pile up quickly, taking time away from money-making activities, like, say treating patients, dwindles.
Rover madness
The National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws, a nonprofit, bipartisan organization funded by congressional appropriations each year, takes a different stance. Veterinarians should report dispensing information to the PDMP in order to close a potential loophole for diversion, a representative of the organization told Wisconsin Reporter.
The WMVA, however, contends those instances are rarer than a three-legged cat.
"Indeed, in all the years of my practicing in a very large veterinary hospital, I can count on one hand, with fingers to spare, the number of situations where a client attempted to obtain controlled substances inappropriately," said Dr. K.C. Brooks, testifying at the committee hearing.
Drugs with street names such as Special K — ketamine — are administered by vets, but as an anesthetic, not prescription. Other drugs, the WMVA contends, may let a 10-pound cat catch a buzz if administered improperly, but have no effect on a 200-pound man.
Another vet testified he identified two abusers during his 30 year career in the field – one a person, one a cat.
An animal's owner looking to abuse the system must go through the trouble of presenting an injured or ailing pet before getting painkillers. Knudson said it raises eyebrows if a pet owner comes in asking for specific medication for an animal's ailment.
Veterinarians also are required to keep logs of the drug prescriptions they write for potentially unannounced Drug Enforcement Agency audits.
'Reform poster child'
Eighteen other states require veterinarians to report at least some of the data requirements under the PDMP as of July 2012. South Carolina, Kentucky and Arizona have indicated they may move to exempt vets in the future, according to a study by the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy. The study also found most states were unable to point to a case of diversion of controlled substances the National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws is worried about.
At the beginning of Wisconsin's legislative session, Republicans introduced an ambitious initiative they called "Right the Rules," aimed at reviewing all the state's regulations and altering or eliminating the onerous ones.
Veterinarians responded overwhelmingly to Gov. Scott Walker's separate Small Business Regulatory Review Board about what they say are undue burdens the drug monitoring program law creates. The review board agreed and suggested that portion of the law be repealed.
"This could be the poster child for regulatory reform," Knudson said. "A well-meaning Legislature wrote a law and well-meaning regulators make sure it's being followed, but it just doesn't do what it was intended to do."
Contact Ryan Ekvall at [email protected]


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text: Tell everyone you're a hunter and proud of it with our handsomely designed short sleeve T-shirts. All our shirts are made with the coon hunter in mind. Comfortable and ready to wear, each of our shirts will withstand many washings and last for years. Please Order By Number, Design And Size. Adult Sizes: SM, MD, LG, XL, XXLShirt Color: White


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Orgasmic Meditation Gets/Rips You Off
Hey, remember how we told you about that orgasmic meditation center in San Francisco called OneTaste, where practitioners gave each other orgasms in between breakfast and yoga? The New York Times merely profiled the ambiance and mission of the San Francisco chapter, but The New York Post attempted to one up them by sending writer Justin Rocket Silverman to try it out with a lady friend (named "Layla"). Oh, and then share the details of his finger banging lesson with all of us, which he does with gusto and a laundry list of creative words for vagina. Fun! After the jump, a breakdown of exactly what goes on during an orgasmic medication, or OMing, session.1. Inventory: "…in which I'm supposed to tell Layla exactly what her honey pot looks like."
2. The Stroke: "ONE finger. The left index, to be exact…. he guides my digit directly onto the sweet spot…a subtle finger movement that would make Buddha himself blush."
3. OMing: "I feel a most unusual sensation. Not the kind of excitement you'd feel if Adriana Lima and Bar Refaeli invited you to share a hot tub, but more like throwing back five shots of bourbon and then going for a fast run around the block. It's a heady buzz, mixed with equal parts wooziness and intensity of focus…. Layla tells me later that she felt the same thing, and was left 'shaking like I just touched a live wire.'"
So OMing is when a dude tickles a woman's clit with one finger until she almost, or does, climax? "You are dealing with the most potent energy there is," OneTaste co-founder Nicole Daedone. "OMing is the most the direct, clean access we have to that energy."
If all that sounds exceedingly complicated, yet intriguing, the next OMing course in New York begins April 25 and is included in a OneTaste membership that costs $300. Or you could take that $300 and buy a really effing awesome vibrator and get off without the aid of a random, skeezy, hippie named Starhawk (no seriously). [NY Post]


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Piedmont Players Theatre Hosts HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL Youth Audition Workshop Today
Piedmont Players Theatre (PPT) announces YOUTH THEATRE AUDITION WORKSHOP - HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL Youth Audition Workshop today, May 10, 2014 from 9am-1pm.
This workshop will focus on preparing students to audition for a musical, specifically geared toward PPT's upcoming production of High School Musical. Skills developed will be in dance, singing, and acting. If your child has ever wanted to audition but just didn't know how, has auditioned many times and just can't seem to get that role, or just wants to fine tune their audition skills, this workshop is for you!
Instructor: Gwen Matthews
Location: Norvell Theater Rehearsal Hall
Ages: Elementary-High School
Cost: $40
Call 704-633-5471 to sign up


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Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)
Saigon - Ben Tre
Arrived in Saigon from Bangkok @ around 10pm – luckily booked hotel & airport transfer to eliminate the room/taxi hassles that time of night. The visa which I already had in passport from Bangkok worked just fine. The immigration official (who looked 16) looked up at me & 10secs later I was in Vietnam legally as a tourist. Found my driver with a sign Mr. Robert (Kim Hotel) and we were off. The traffic chaos of Saigon (in my mind anyways) was well upon us driving to Kim Hotel – motorbike mania. Transit system is non-existent so motor bikes are a way of life. Dropped off @ Kim's by Pham Ngu Lao (travellers hub) shown my room up on the top floor; the penthouse – or so I called it. It was just a single room but on the top floor with the communal terrace two steps away with great views of the city. I tucked in for the night after a well-deserved cold beer to celebrate my arrival – Vietnam man.
Next day; my ritual city walk to get the bearings of a new place. One thing about Saigon is that almost all the main sights are accessible by foot, a short xe om (motor bike taxi) or metered taxi. Walking Saigon is an event all on its own, crossing the street - a rite of passage. Limited amount of traffic lights (mostly traffic circles) so must move into oncoming traffic - do not stop - breathe - focus on the other side. Found a back alley serving up Vietnamese Subs or should I say baguettes eaten in Vietnam - first 'real' baguette & was goooooood. Enter the Cho Benh Thanh Market - huge with anything & everything to buy - all same and constantly being asked @ every stall. I never did buy but think the trick is to pick one and haggle. Back to area and find a street side local food 'restaurant' with a welcoming lady ushering me to her small table & chairs. Menu in english with pics - sometimes a bonus. Still no clue what to eat so just picked one and ended up being very tastey; so good went back the following night.
Next day was tourist day and chose a couple places I wanted to visit. No lollygagging -get it done. I walked the long walk to the Jade Emperor Pagoda first. Built in it 1900, exquisite wood carvings. Then stopped off @ the War Remnants Museum. Everyone should visit - tear in eye. The American presence; agent orange and how it affected the Vietnamese people (as well as American soldiers) for several generations even after the war, the brutality inflicted - how war can change a man's soul. Hundreds of pictures from American war photographers depicting a war that should never have been. And just what the Vietnamese people endured for so many years - war, really, what is it good for. Felt drained as I always do after visiting these 'memorials' and headed back to sit on my terrace with a beer. Went out for supper; met French & American guy and we continued to a small nightspot down the street for beers and laughs. They continued after 1am, while I had a tour in morning and needed beauty rest.
Booked a trip out to My Tho & Ben Tre (Mekong Delta) for the day. Ended up being a big bus which I usually don't like (+30 people) but actually turned out okay - met some nice folk and the company had many activities for our day out. Bus to where traditional music was played & explained. Walk to canal boat area then off for short ride to area where they make & sell (of course) coconut candy, honey bee hives, and tea consumption. Then on big boat down the Mekong Delta River to where we had our lunch. Back to bus - a Pagoda - huge Buddha's statues ( past, present & future) and back to Saigon. All for $11 - good value.
Saigon's good for a couple of days though very busy and all tourist attractions can be done (mostly) in this time. Mekong Delta could be worth more time if you have it. Many 1-3 day trips are easily arranged @ many of the hotels. I bought an open bus ticket for Saigon - Nha Trang with a stop in Mui Ne. Beach towns - why not? Next morning, got picked up...but that's another story.
Posted by jollyrobbie 03:46 Archived in Vietnam Comments (0)


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Producing the most nutritious food in the world doesn't count for much if you don't have any buyers. Luckily for cattlemen who target high-quality beef, that's clearly not an issue.
Those who purchase meat for foodservice and retail outlets say they want the highly marbled beef, because that's what their customers want.
"We sell to people who are going to cook product and please guests—they're not buying for themselves and they're not shopping for price," says Mort Kent, U.S. Foods of Denver, Colo. "They have a reputation to uphold and their customers expect consistency and quality, and they're willing to pay for it."
A recent analysis of Urner Barry wholesale beef pricing data supports that claim. During the two years from July 2010 to July 2012, the value difference between USDA Choice and Select grade beef was $62.31 on an average 830-pound (lb.) carcass.
The wholesale price for the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB®) brand over Select was more than double that at $127.10 (see chart 1). That's $15.31 per hundredweight (cwt.). The analysis is part of an updated "Black Ink Basics" technical report from CAB.
"I look at it that I am the purchasing agent for my customers, and so how can I do the best job for my accounts? Because I am really representing them," says Franklin Hall, the third generation to operate Lone Star Foodservice, in Austin, Texas.
Just as a cattle buyer fills orders for a certain type and class of cattle, Hall acts on requests from his high-end restaurant clientele.
"My job as a processor and distributor is to make sure I am purchasing the best product at a fair price and when I receive that product the systems in our company are set up to respect that product—to properly age that product, to artfully cut that product and package and deliver it in a way that helps our customers and makes them look good."
"Our goal is to have their guests have a wonderful eating experience," he says.
If that means paying more for better beef, they'll do it.
"We need to be able to have everyone in the chain of distribution make a little bit more on CAB than on a commodity product, otherwise it becomes a commodity product," says Mark Polzer, vice president of business development for the brand.
That's why distributors typically pass along that higher price they've paid to their customers.
"The foodservice market that we're in is much more quality driven than it is price driven," Kent says. "So producing the highest quality, most consistent beef with the best genetics is critically important."
If farmers and ranchers answer that call, they'll be rewarded, says Ted Schroeder, Kansas State University ag economist.
"Producers who sell fed cattle on a grid most directly and immediately benefit from added premiums associated with high-quality cattle," he says.
Schroeder tracks USDA's published "branded boxed-beef premium," which is not as specific as the Urner Barry-reported number but shows a similar pattern (see chart 2). That number compared to the Choice weighted-average grid premium shows, "the two are highly positively correlated."
"That means, as the wholesale premium for CAB increases, so does the producer's premium for CAB fed cattle," he says.
Schroeder estimates 64% of the wholesale premium for branded beef over Choice is passed back to the producer. Of course, he points out, those bonuses vary greatly from one grid to another.
Can that trend continue as beef prices inch higher?
"Generally higher beef and fed cattle prices tend to result in larger premiums for CAB cattle and beef," Schroeder says. "If the recent pattern is an indicator of the probable future—and I think it likely is—then higher beef and fed cattle prices will translate into greater premiums for high-quality branded wholesale beef and CAB grid cattle."
Meat buyers have already implemented creative solutions as a way to deal with higher prices. Kent says many chefs are lowering quantity, not quality.
"If you cut the portion size down by a couple of ounces and have a great starch and great vegetable to go with it, people will have been well fed, and they will leave with the memory of a great meal." he says.
The fear that high-priced beef leads people to trade down while pinching-pennies is unfounded when the beef is good enough.
"To my knowledge, our beef packers do not have beef backing up in their coolers and warehouses. They are selling every single pound they produce, and so are we," Kent says. "The customer demand is for higher quality, better marbled young cattle with consistent flavor, juiciness and tenderness."
That helps explain CAB's sixth consecutive record sales year in 2012, which Polzer also attributes to an "insurance policy" effect.
"CAB gives them the best chance to make money," he says, "because of the additional quality assurance, the consistency that the product provides and ultimately the customer retention."
Numbers at every level prove that marketing high-quality beef, whether on the hoof or on the plate, leads toward more profit.
For more information on this analysis, look for the Black Ink Basics technical summary, "Premium Prices Send Clear Signals," at www.cabpartners.com/educators/index.php.
Source: Miranda Reiman


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