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Gardens at Casalana
Hand-Harvested Ingredients; Beautiful Lush Gardens...
We have an abundant array of culinary herbs, fruit trees and vegetables, creating an "edible landscape". The prolific herb and vegetable gardens become an integral part of the cooking class experience. Being blessed with a mild climate in Napa Valley, many plants and herbs produce year-round.
The garden's bounty is incorporated into the seasonally based menus developed for the classes. Students learn about many interesting varieties of vegetables and herbs, which often become additions to their own gardens. As we prepare the recipes, students are often able to just step outside to the garden and harvest needed ingredients.
"...we had a wonderful time at CasaLana. With the beautiful room & excellent cooking classes it was the perfect get-away for us…"
- Joyce & Julie B.
When asparagus spears begin poking through the soil, the first signs of spring in the garden are evident and we begin harvesting spring lettuces. Soon the strawberries and blackberries are covered with blossoms, proclaiming what will be a bountiful harvest. Some vegetables carry-over year to year, others are planted annually. The onions and fennel often take care of re-seeding on their own. Tomatillos, chard and hybrid squash insist on growing in random places as volunteer plants. Potatoes that may have escaped digging the past year are the beginnings of a new crop. By summer the garden is in full glory with rows of lettuces, swiss chard, eggplant and an abundance of tomatoes, squash, and peppers.
A grove of fruit trees on the property includes several fig and apple trees as well as apricot, cherry, plum, peach and pear trees. Fruits are harvested at their peak and incorporated into many recipes used in the classes. In the longer sessions students will sometimes pick the fruit from the trees and develop their own preserves, relishes or chutney to take away as a souvenir of their cooking adventure at CasaLana.
View the CasaLana Gardens (click here)
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Has anybody seen the Opera Association? Is it to be another College mushroom, come and gone in a year? Perhaps we are looking for it to crop up before its season; perhaps it is intending to surprise us some fine morning by bursting into sudden glory; perhaps it will not be as unwieldy an organization to handle as in its infancy. Al these things are conjectures. But we know that a great many men are making their yearly resolutions to take advantage of the Opera this winter and would be glad to hear the Associations awake and stretch itself. May they not be disappointed.
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text: If You Gon The 29th Ohio High School Athletic Association state softball tournament will be played today through Saturday at Brookside Park. Division I and II semifinal games will be today, Division III and IV semifinal games will be Friday and all four state championship games will be Saturday. Admission is $7 per person, and no pre-sale will be conducted.


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MacLellan, Rev. Dr. William Lloyd
Rev. Dr. William Lloyd MacLellan, 79, of Morrisburg, Ont., died Tuesday, Dec. 29 at home. Born in Pictou County, he attended Pictou Academy and graduated from McGill University in 1932, and later was awarded a BD from Presbyterian College, Montreal, Que., in 1934. He had the pastoral charges of Tatamagouche, Balfron, Earltown and The Falls; Scotsburn; First Presbyterian Church, New Glasgow. He was inducted into St. John's Church, Cornwall, in 1944, and served there until 1974, when he ministered for a short time in Nova Scotia, and then moved to the churches of Morrisburg and Dunbar, Ontario. Dr. MacLellan retired in 1980 in Morrisburg, Ont. He continued to preach almost every Sunday including a six-month appointment in Bermuda. He served on almost every board at the local and national level of the Presbyterian Church, and was also very active in community life, receiving many civic citations. He was a militia chaplain for 25 years, with the Pictou County Highlanders and the S.D. & G. Highlanders, retiring with the rank of major. He is survived by his wife, the former Elizabeth Clark; two daughters, seven grandchildren; a sister, Helen (Mrs. T. C. McConnell), Scotsburn; a brother, Donald, New Glasgow. Funeral service was held Saturday, Jan. 2 in St. John's Presbyterian Church, Cornwall, Ont. Rev. Fred Rennie officiated. Spring burial will be in Bethel Cemetery, Scotsburn. Donations may be made to the Canadian Bible Society or Winchester Memorial Hospital Building Fund.[The Pictou Advocate - Published: 01/06/88]


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For the last couple of years, the Gin Blossoms have seen more of the road than Bob Hope in his prime. Since the 1992 release of the album New Miserable Experience, the Tempe, Arizona-based quintet--vocalist Robin Wilson, guitarist/vocalist Jesse Valenzuela, lead guitarist Scott Johnson, drummer Phillip Rhodes and bassist Bill Leen--has gigged almost constantly, helping to push the disc to near-double-platinum status.
Wilson isn't complaining about the hard work. "We're holding up great," he says. "Actually, we've never been healthier, physically. I mean, we've got tans and we're okay." He adds that the group's new prominence has resulted in white-glove treatment from the high-caliber production, stage and catering staffs attached to its latest tour.
Still, the band's sales breakthrough bears a bittersweet edge. That's because Doug Hopkins, a Gin Blossoms founder who wrote "Hey Jealousy," the band's biggest hit to date, and received at least partial credit on five other selections on New Miserable Experience, is not around to share in the spoils of success. He took his own life late last year.
Although Hopkins was a mainstay during the band's club-hopping phase, he is not listed among the Blossoms on the New Miserable Experience liner notes. His hard-drinking lifestyle had once defined the group: The term "gin blossoms" refers to the blotches that appear on the noses of chronic alcoholics. But his taste for the juice that fueled many of his compositions reportedly led to his ouster. An offer to contribute songs to future Gin Blossoms albums died with him.
At this point, Wilson is just plain tired of talking about the Hopkins situation. Rather than listening to questions that he says he's beginning to find offensive, he takes the conversational initiative. In so doing, he reveals more than he might have under direct interrogation.
Of his fallen comrade, Wilson says, "The band never would have gone anywhere if it hadn't been for him. A lot of the strength of the record--not exclusively, but a good deal of the strength of the record--is because of his beautiful songwriting. I think about him every day, and I'm really proud to get up there and sing his songs."
While Wilson freely admits that Hopkins was a better songwriter than he'll ever be, he confesses that the late guitarist's absence from the Gin Blossoms has actually been "a very liberating experience" and notes that "Doug was a repressive influence in the group." When pressed for details, Wilson claims that Hopkins "didn't like playing other people's songs." And although the Blossoms appeared to function democratically, Wilson suggests that Hopkins was not entirely objective when it came to evaluating the contributions of other members. "He had this superiority complex," Wilson states.
That said, Wilson continues to believe that New Miserable Experience is "a really great album." He admits, though, that he's been surprised by the recording's popularity--acceptance he never envisioned for himself or the group during the days when he worked as a record-store clerk in his hometown. "We're making money all of a sudden," he offers. "Which is an unusual development."
Equally unexpected has been the Blossoms' rapidly advancing star status, which Wilson says finally began to sink in when he heard last year from his older brother, a Peace Corps member who teaches high school in Poland. According to the vocalist, "He told me that at the Polish senior prom last year, when the DJ played `Hey Jealousy,' all the kids ran out on the dance floor and started screaming and dancing and stuff."
The students' reaction is understandable: "Hey Jealousy" is a heart-rending tale of romantic failure and boozy self-flagellation set to a relentlessly catchy guitar riff that blends equal parts Marshall-stack crunch and crystalline six-string jangle. Wilson knows the song won't change the world, but he says that when he hears reports like his brother's, "it really does make me feel like I'm not wasting my time."
This realization seems to have led to a new seriousness among the bandmembers. "We're not the same old drunken, lovable, shtick-ridden, frat-party-playing, yuck-it-up young guys that we used to be," Wilson says. "We're all around thirty years old." And thanks to nearly three years of live shows performed since the release of the group's first EP, entitled Up and Crumbling, Wilson believes that "we're really professional. We know how to write a set list now, and how a show should develop over the course of fifty minutes. We're just a better band than we ever were before."
Perhaps as a result, Wilson admits to feeling somewhat differently about his home turf. He enjoys coming home to his cats, great Mexican restaurants and his new-wave cover band, Best David Swaffords in the World (named for a former member of Seattle's Best Kissers in the World, now part of Mother May I, recently signed by Columbia Records). But Wilson confirms that he occasionally is shocked and depressed to see the same crowds that he used to play for hanging around in the same "crappy little bars" where the band got its start. Other locals seem to feel that the group's success happened overnight--as if it was "hatched on MTV," Wilson says.
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The Blossoms, then, are looking forward to silencing detractors with a new album, whenever they get around to making one. Wilson doesn't know when a follow-up to New Miserable Experience will appear; he says he would prefer to leave the road and jump right into the studio, but guitarist Valenzuela has expressed an interest in disappearing for a solid six months of rest and relaxation as soon as the band's current swing concludes.
Wilson insists that the Blossoms are "not at all worried" about the prospect of matching their last effort without the help of Hopkins. In the meantime, he thinks he's earned the right to wax a bit philosophical. "It's taken a lot of pain to get to a point to where we feel this good, and we may not forever," he says. "But for now we do, and I'm going to milk it for all it's worth."
Spin Doctors, with the Gin Blossoms, Cracker and Vinx. 6 p.m. Saturday, August 20, Red Rocks, $24, 290-


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Holiday Sale Starts Today!
Posted by: Colleen Shutt in Promotions, Seasonal
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Save on your Holiday Party Invitations, Christmas Photo Cards, Christmas Greeting Cards, Hanukkah Invitations and New Year's Eve Party Invitations during our Holiday Sale. Take 20% off through 11/25/11 with code HOLIDAY11 at checkout. (see details)


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Category Archive for: 'News'
Six Degrees of Everything Obama Eats
Food advocates are beginning to imagine just how much influence a food-focused Obama could have when he takes office: A chef who cooks local and organic food and picks some of it from a presidential garden could change things faster than any cabinet appointment, [Gourmet […]Read More →
Meet Your New Ag Secretary
Updated 12/19 And it's … Tom Vilsack. The New York Times reported on it this morning and, conspicuously, their article mentions very little about his stance on food. Instead, the piece focuses on how Vilsack shares President-Elect Obama's dedication to renewable energy and biofuel technology. […]Read More →
Department of Food? What's in a name?
You just can't escape it – the importance of food is a subject on everyone's lips. On Wednesday, in the New York Times, native-son (he's from Yamhill!) Nicholas Kristoff railed against the status-quo at the USDA. In anticipation of Obama's upcoming Secretary of Agriculture announcement, […]Read More →
Food deserts
As we get ready to launch our series of events on fair food labor, it is important to remember the other aspect of the "fair" commitment in Slow Food's mission: fair access to food. On Sunday, The Oregonian devoted an article to the disparities between […]Read More →


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Seven children, aged between 7 and 11, were killed watching and playing football in the streets in the early morning pre-Sehri dawn, today, just a couple of days before Eid. Their mothers waited for them to come home for 'Sehri,' instead they received their dead bodies.
When their fathers had the strength to ask what happened to their children, they were told by the authorities that a bomb – they don't know who planted it – had ripped through the streets. Their children were unintended victims. And yes, unfortunately, they didn't survive to tell their stories beyond Ramzan 2013.
Would you be deeply, deeply angry when you read the above? Would your heart go out to those grieving mothers and fathers, and ask how in the world could young, unsuspecting children be the target of a bomb attack?
What would you do if this child was yours?
Now let me tell you where this bomb blast occurred : In an area called Lyari in Karachi, in Pakistan's biggest city the size of Delhi (about 18 million people), where it is still safe to say that large numbers migrated from the villages and towns of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Does the quality of your anger change, now that you know these kids are Pakistani? Does it change your mind about reaching out to them, because they belong to the "enemy" country?
The real tragedy of Pakistan is that Pakistanis are unable to speak out loudly enough against the horrible and reprehensible killing of 5 Indian soldiers across the Line of Control, because they are fighting a daily battle against those very terrorists who are also killing their own, very innocent children.
The truth is that innocent civilians inside Pakistan and innocent civilians inside India are on the same side, fighting the same battle against terrorism.
The problem is that the terrorists – call them Taliban, Haqqani network, what you will – are making full use of the fact that since Pakistan was created as a homeland for Muslims, these Muslims must not only be "much more Muslim" than anybody else, they should also stop any dialogue with the "enemy" of Pakistan, that is India.
See the mirror image? The BJP says stop talking to Pakistan, and terrorists inside Pakistan say stop talking to India.
So what should India do now?
Meanwhile, there are hundreds and thousands of divided families on both sides of the border who cannot believe their eyes and ears when India, the much bigger, brighter and secular nation, says that talks must stop until terrorism ceases.
Should these families also stop talking to each other?


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A few years ago, I read an article about a man interviewed on his 100th birthday. Asked if he had any regrets, he said, "Yes. My doctor made me quit smoking when I was 90."
I'm not sure why that story has stayed with me; maybe it's because I have an insatiable appetite for articles about aging, looking for clues to the fountain of youth.
Now in my 60s, I, too, want to reach my 100th birthday, although I confess my desire has conditions.
Please let me arrive there in a body that isn't too ravaged, and with a mind as alert as that old man's.
May I have his sense of humor, which I'm guessing has to account for his longevity. Well, that and a lucky roll of the genetic dice.
Oh, and one more thing: because a sense of humor seldom happens in a vacuum, please let my golf friends arrive there with me, because they make me laugh.
My husband once filled in for a friend who had to back out of a golf tournament at the last minute. He'd never played with us, and as we were coming off the 18th hole he turned to me with a grin and said, "Is this what you do every time you play? You laugh all the way around?" I said, "Of course we do. Otherwise, what would be the point?"
Laughter, as scientific studies have proven, has physiological benefits. It boosts the immune system, counteracts the negative effects of stress hormones, and increases blood flow, even to the brain - think, memory.
According to a German researcher, one minute of hearty laughter has the same health benefits as a 45-minute gym workout.
After many seasons of golf, my friends and I have a large repertoire of funny stories we tell and retell, usually when we gather for our monthly dinners. We laugh about the morning the golf cart crashed into a bench sitting next to a tee box, because my friend miscalculated the turn. We laughed then, and again the next day when the bench was gone, and yet again when it reappeared a week later, repaired or replaced, we still don't know.
We laugh about balls that land in the lake, and at our lack of finesse while trying to eat lunch between golf shots. One friend, in particular, has a knack for smearing the cart with globs of peanut butter and jelly, or mustard and relish, which usually ends up on the backside of the person riding with her. We laugh because, at our age, we've learned not to take golf, or life, too seriously.
Twenty years from now, I hope we're still playing golf. If not, I hope we're still meeting for our monthly dinners or, more likely, lunches, because we won't want to drive at night, if we can drive at all.
I suspect we'll still be laughing even if we can't remember the stories, because, really, without laughter, what is the point?
Rita Marks is a freelance writer living in Springfield. She can be reached at email@example.com.


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Only Crime have released a new song, "Contagious," which is taken from their upcoming album, Pursuance. The record will be released on May 13 via Rise Records (pre-orders are available now). Listen to the song below, and let us know what you think.
Last month, Only Crime released a music video for the song "Life Was Fair." The band are made up of Russ Rankin (Good Riddance), Aaron Dalbec (Bane/ex-Converge), Bill Stevenson (Black Flag/Descendents/ALL), Dan Kelly (ex-Tegan And Sara) and Matt Hoffman (Modern Life Is War).


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Enhanced Voice
With voice clarity as clear as a face-to-face conversation, the CD4 series puts the emotion back into a call. HD sound brings people and their feelings closer together.
You can have up to 100 contacts listed in the memory of your telephone
With a digital answering machine, you'll never miss a call or message.
Records up to 15 minutes of incoming messages
Just look at the base station to instantly know whether you have received any messages.
Enjoy high-quality conversation, with a level of clarity rarely heard before. Thanks to a high-quality speaker and to a real acoustic chamber, the audio spectrum reaches far beyond what's normally heard on a telephone.
Hands-free mode uses a built-in loudspeaker to amplify the voice of the caller, allowing you to speak and listen during a call without holding the phone to your ear. This is especially useful if you want to share the call with others or take notes during a call.
Backlit display and keypad ensures easy viewing and operation in low-light conditions


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Issue No. 02 - April-June (2013 vol. 6)
pp: 262-275
DOI Bookmark: http://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/TSC.2011.55
Aysu Betin-Can , Middle East Tehcnical University, Ankara
Sylvain Halle , University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi
Tevfik Bultan , University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara
A crucial problem in service-oriented computing is the specification and analysis of interactions among multiple peers that communicate via messages. We propose a design pattern that enables the specification of behavioral interfaces acting as communication contracts between peers. This "peer controller pattern" provides a modular, assume-guarantee style verification strategy that consists of three phases. 1) Each individual peer is statically verified for conformance to its part of the contract, using software model checking. 2) Alternately, a runtime enforcement mechanism blocks the communication events that violate the interface specification at runtime. 3) Using either of these two mechanisms, it can be assumed that the participating peers behave according to their interfaces and safety and liveness properties about the global behavior of the composite web service can then be verified directly on the communication contract. The interface verification of each peer and the behavior verification are hence handled in separate steps. A Java implementation of this pattern is developed and tested on a series of examples; we show that by working in such a modular fashion, it is possible to automatically and efficiently verify properties about service interactions that would otherwise be impossible to verify.
Web services, Contracts, Runtime, XML, Java, Monitoring, Asynchronous communication,design patterns, Web services, automated verification, runtime enforcement, asynchronous communication
Aysu Betin-Can, Sylvain Halle, Tevfik Bultan, "Modular Verification of Asynchronous Service Interactions Using Behavioral Interfaces", IEEE Transactions on Services Computing, vol. 6, no. , pp. 262-275, April-June 2013, doi:10.1109/TSC.2011.55


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Reds win wild one as Votto homers twice
Reds win wild one as Votto homers twice
NEW YORK -- If Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd were around the Reds these days, they would go on about their "wild and crazy" innings. Since this 11-game road trip started in Chicago, there has been a few of those like the nine-run seventh inning on Friday and the eight-run, four-homer seventh on Sunday. And in another nutty time at the yard on Monday, the Reds held off the Mets with an 8-6 win as they were helped by a six-run fifth inning in a game that was anything but smooth. Two home runs by Joey Votto also proved important one day after he was snubbed for a bid to the All-Star Game.
"My home runs wouldn't have meant anything unless we got the win," said Votto, who had a 3-for-4 night. "We held them off after they made a pretty good push to match our six runs." First-place Cincinnati, now a season-high 12 games over .500 at 48-36, has won five of its past six games and 11 of 14. It moved to two full games over the idle Cardinals in the National League Central standings -- the largest lead the Reds have had since May 29. It was a 1-1 game in the Reds' fifth with the bases loaded and no outs, when Scott Rolen was called out by hone-plate umpire Jerry Meals on a foul-tip strike three. Rolen, who thought the pitch hit him on the right forearm, had already trotted toward first base and asked Meals to reconsider. After a chat with his crew for several moments, Meals reversed his call, which allowed Brandon Phillips to score. Mets manager Jerry Manuel was ejected after a lengthy argument. "I knew something wasn't right. People weren't advancing," Rolen said. "I thought he maybe thought I swung. He said he thought I fouled the ball off. If you saw the replays, he got the call right, which was helpful for us obviously. Good for them, they got the call right." "There's no way it hit his forearm. I don't even think it was close," Mets starter Mike Pelfrey countered. Pelfrey, who entered the night 6-0 with a 1.98 ERA this season at home, picked up two outs after the disputed play before the Reds pounced. Drew Stubbs hit a two-run single into left field and Corky Miller sliced an RBI double inside right-field foul line. Even starting pitcher Travis Wood got into the act by launching a RBI triple over the head of center fielder Angel Pagan. Then the Reds had to hold on tight. Wood, originally the Reds starter for Tuesday, was pressed into service for his second big league start when Aaron Harang was scratched with a sore back. The rookie pitched 4 2/3 innings. Wood nearly qualified for a win until he was roughed up in a five-run Mets fifth. It started with Pagan's leadoff homer and a one-out triple by David Wright. Ike Davis hit a squib toward the mound. As Wright scored, Wood couldn't grab the ball and was charged with an error. That led to a two-out walk to Jeff Francoeur and Rod Barajas' flared RBI single to left field finished Wood. Jordan Smith gave up Alex Cora's two-run double, as the Mets pulled within a run at 7-6. "We were fortunate to get out of that inning with only five," said Reds manager Dusty Baker, whose club is 4-1 on the road trip so far. "We were trying to give Wood a chance to win his first game in the big leagues." With Baker short from the right side in his bullpen because Nick Masset was unavailable, he stuck with Smith (2-1) for the sixth and seventh. Other than an infield single by Pagan, the rookie reliever shut down New York for the victory. Arthur Rhodes pitched a perfect eighth and Francisco Cordero had a one-walk ninth for his 23rd save. Votto, one of the five All-Star Final Vote candidates from the National League, had already hit his first homer of the game into the housing of the giant apple in center field in the top of the first inning. Votto's second blast, a shot to right field off Fernando Nieve in the sixth, gave the Reds insurance. It also gave Votto 21 long balls for the season -- good for the top mark in the National League. While it would be natural to connect the dots, Votto said he wasn't taking his frustration about being overlooked for the NL All-Star team out on the Mets. "I've honestly moved past it," Votto said. "I'm hopeful for Thursday, and hopefully people give me a second chance and pick me for the All-Star Game."
Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Oh, come on. Does this paper look like the work of people who fly business class?: Let's be honest: The Da Vinci Code is fervent trash. Dan Brown has made millions with his ramshackle conspiracy tale of pervert priests and masturbating knights. At this point, he could buy the Mona Lisa and decode it in between novels.
So what's missing? Intellectual buttressing, apparently, as Ms. Zuercher seems to argue in her article, "The Condescension Club" [April 26]. The case I believe she was making went something like this: People who read Great Lit should be wary of their exclusivity as it might alienate them from their fellow man. Unfortunately, this sort of polite populism is often espoused by people who should know better. Some mega book is published, millions read it, the media bleeds the phenomenon to death, and those who don't participate in the mass-cult are looked upon as misanthropic sociopaths.
This analysis is mistaken. Those of us who read Great Lit do so because we enjoy the art, voice, style, and (if the writer is any good) humor of a great book. The Da Vinci Code provides none of these things.
Ms. Zuercher should read books because they bring her intellectual pleasure, not because they help her make friends in business class.
Geoffery Berney
San Francisco
Corporate neglect, journalists on the take, and baby daddies: Let's see ... the last two "scoops" that crusading journalist Matt Smith has produced concern a nominal ethical violation by a New York Times writer (extended to two issues for maximum self-righteous effect!) ["The Free Press," March 15; "Bogus Pogue," April 5]; an ethical violation that, worst-case scenario, the writer gained no personal advantage from other than not having to claim it on their expense account, and the tragic case of Kathy Brown ["Bank of Indifference," April 26], abused by her bank for her ill-advised decision to let her caretaker use her ATM card and by the police for applying the laws as they exist to the extent of their resources. Although acknowledging to myself that Smith was correct in his analysis of the ethical violation, I also thought that it was something of a tempest in a teapot given that the Pogue had obtained no personal advantage.
The story concerning Kathy Brown, however, slanted to maximum effect on behalf of the victim, is ludicrous. Whether the bank "forced" the ATM card on Ms. Brown or not, it is clear that at some point she had decided it could be useful for her to have her caretaker run errands with it. No one made her give her caretaker her card and code, and her caretaker did not steal them surreptitiously (although the caretaker used them to surreptitiously steal!). To thereupon blame the bank for not giving Ms. Brown her money back and to present this as crusading journalism is self-serving and has all the journalistic quality of Maury Povich's paternity tests.
Don Brownell
Matt Smith responds: Regarding the contention that Pogue received "no personal advantage," Pogue went to Drivesavers to service his personal computer after his hard drive crashed and the company waived its $2,000 service fee. The New York Times, CBS, and NPR each stated this transaction violated policies prohibiting journalists from accepting items of significant personal benefit from a source.
And you make statements we can only attribute to your being a credulous Fox News fan: Bill Gallo ["All Gave Some," April 4] is an idiot! NO ONE WAS KILLED OR INJURED at Abu Ghraib. Well, not since Saddam was removed from power. You make stupid statements I can only attribute to your being a left-wing liberal jack-monkey. What have you ever done in your miserable life to earn your right to put down our country and servicemen and women. My guess is nothing!
Chuck TK
Maumee, OH
Emo makes us want to barf, too: Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I'll do my best to respect said opinion no matter how much I disagree. Dir en grey [Reviews, March 5] classified as "hip hop" and "rock?" Now that is something I never thought I'd see. Dir en grey should be classified as "metal" and "rock." And emo?! Not to sound extremely immature, even though it will make me sound so, but that made me want to go and throw up. Dir en grey are as far from emo as the Backstreet Boys are from rock. Yes, Kyo has cut himself on stage. But from what I've heard from emo bands, they're on total opposite sides of the spectrum. Also, you probably read some of the English translations of the lyrics one will never fully be able to appreciate them, because it is impossible to truly translate from Japanese to English, as they have words we don't and vice versa. In Japan, and by many who speak the Japanese language, Kyo is considered a poetic genius. Admittedly, Kyo's English is unintelligible. Also, he's from the Kansai area, which explains his Japanese. Kansai dialect is shortened, with more slang, and is often used in Yakuza films. Also, there are things one is not meant to understand, but rather to feel. Dir en grey, to me, is far better than any American band I've heard (they all sound alike now; American music has gone down the drain); their talent, and their passion, is what will make them successful.
via e-mail
In last week's Let's Get Killed, we inadvertently left out the date of the German Eyebrows party with Laco$te. It is May 6.
And in last week's story about Bus Station John, "Let's Get Physical," we incorrectly stated the schedule of "Double Dutch Disco" at the Transfer. It happens on the last Sunday of every month.
SF Weekly regrets the errors.
To writer Nate Cavalieri, who was recently awarded the National Council on Crime and Delinquency's PASS award. He was given this award for his feature story "The Lifesaver," which appeared in this newspaper on Feb. 2, 2005.


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Fabric and color of this item may vary in our showroom.
Belfort Furniture offers White Glove in-home delivery and set-up by professionally trained personnel who will unwrap, place, and assemble your furniture in the appropriate room. Delivery is available Tuesday - Saturday. Once your delivery date is scheduled, you will receive a three hour delivery timeframe the day prior to your delivery.
Furniture may be picked up at our warehouse Monday-Saturday from 10AM to 6PM or Sunday from Noon to 5PM. Furniture that is picked-up may require assembly.
For delivery outside of our local metropolitan area, please contact us with your item(s) of interest for a delivery quote! 703-406-7600 or email@example.com
Make entertaining a breeze and style impeccably yours with this customizable sectional. The Modern Sectional is fashionable simplicity at its best with no-welt, boxed cushions and crisp track arms. Ask in store for more customization options like custom fabrics and pillow colors, leather options, and stain-resistant performance fabrics.
The Harper Modern Four Piece Sectional Sofa by Huntington House from Belfort Furniture. We proudly serve the Washington DC, Northern Virginia, Maryland and Fairfax VA area. Product availability may vary. Contact us for the most current availability on this product.
Shop for a sectional that fits your room with the correct dimensions and amount of seating for you and your home. Combine different pieces from this collection to build a sectional that fit your style and space. This flexibility while picking out a piece can be fun and allows you to design a room you are proud of while meeting all of your needs.
As you sit for hours, cushions can start to wear and flatten. With fully upholstered seat cushions you can rotate them any which way to make sure the best side is always facing up. Flip the cushion over or move it if it's starting to look squashed or deflated.
The clean silhouette and plush, Down Blend cushions form the basis of this collection, but its available in five styles to best match your taste. For an understated and cozy look, choose the Casual model with rolled panel arms. For a sharp, modern vibe, this group is available with weltless track arms. The most classic face of this collection is the model with traditional, English-style arms and t-front seat cushions. Every home can have the craftsmen-quality pieces they crave with this versatile and stylish group.
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text: With the huge hype surrounding the recent Sneaker Freaker x Puma Blaze of Glory release/content, an interesting accompaniment of products have released to compliment the sneakers. Seen here are some wool products including scarves and beanies with a distinct geometric pattern. Despite summer being the dominant theme around the world, winter has recently entered the picture in certain places of the world such as Australia. Available now at Provider.


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Discover Guangxi 1 Go through the Sino-Vietnamese border Author:agang
Last updated by agang at 2008/11/26; Destinations:
Guangxi 1 Go through the Sino-Vietnamese border
"Long road, far from its repair"—— This is a border road mainly for military use. Tortuous and zigzagging,it extends to the distant end. When I first saw the road,I was touched by its beauty and marveled by its abruptness.
Border road:The precipitous border road is quiet,Here people and vehicles are scarce.
Steep mountains:I can only use this phrase to describe the mountains here. And in the air there is full of enchanting smell of grass,making me feel fresh and delightful!
Puzhai Borders in the wholesale market were seized abandoned garlics. The elder,the vulnerable women and children were working together. What hard lives!
Puzhai Fried chicken with beans is more delicious. The beans are green and cheap,
farmers in Vietnam may never use chemical fertilizer during growing them.
Puzhai The selling carbon Vietnamese was staring at the girl in our team with strange expression,I don't know what they are thinking.
Three-track railway in Sino-Vietnamese border Three-track railway in Sino-Vietnamese border——the outside two tracks are for our country's trains while the inside two are for Vietnam's. The trains of Vietnam are small and very few,and their tracks are narrow and outdated.
The dancing sunset The sunset here is beautiful and special. The scene makes someone linger on it.
About sunshine This kind of sunshine is my favorite one,which can bring the good mood to everyone. Look,starting again!
Hard-going road This road makes me scared but I will never yield to it.
Hard-going road After struggling,we backed to the main road,happy!
Rainy day The roadside hawkers smiled to us,wishing us to buy their products.
Detian cross-border great fall On the way to Detian great fall,there is a place called Guichun river. Opposite it,there is one of the Vietnamese schools with its flag flapping in the wind.It is very quiet.
Detian cross-border great fall Located on the upstream of Guichun river in Daxin county. The whole waterfall is 100 meters broad and 60 meters depth with 70 meters fall. Together with the Vietnam Banyue waterfall as a whole,it will be 208 meters broad,which is the biggest natural waterfall in Asia and the second one in the world.
Golden time I seem to have forgotten whether I was as happy as these children,but today I would like to share happiness with them.
Dear chinaguy .
I do not know where you are back, this can only reply, Ha ha
Thank you for your support! I am not a reporter. Ha ha. I wish you a happy family, happy and healthy!


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Icicles snow cotton woolItem #: 8800939
Fitting for this:
Add the product directly to your basket by clicking the checkbox
Add the product directly to your basket by clicking the checkbox
Icicles snow cotton wool
White snow cotton wool in the form of icicles as Christmas decoration
If Christmas is coming up, lights colorful lights everywhere and everything is beautifully decorated.Since the icicle is made of snow cotton wool the perfect accessory for the Christmas decorations, whether at home or in business.In shop windows adds the ideal Dekofilz the Advent.
The icicles of snow cotton wool is a great Christmas with winter motif.With a width of just under 1 meter a lot of space can be decorated if that home sweet home or public buildings.Snow wool can be hung, glued or fastened with tacks, making it a practical decoration all-rounder for the Advent season.The Frohes Fest Polyester Wadding and the Santa Claus Polyester Wadding provide varied Christmas motifs.
Product information:
- Scope of supply: Icicles snow cotton wool
- Material: 100% polyester fleece
- Color White
- Size: Length about95 cm, width ca.34 cm, thickness ca.2 cm


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Vans presents a first look into the Howell, a new model from the brand's OTW line for Spring 2012. A contemporary and cleaner take to the omnipresent desert boot style, the Howell features minimal upper construction, detailed by tonal stitching and laces. Crafted of a premium leather material, the shoe is finished off with a faux-heeled slim and narrow cupsole that complements a rather refined aesthetic.
Source: FRESHNGOOD.COM


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I refuse to reopen the can of worms that is "will Blossoms be reprinted?"
I ask instead "can it be acquired, anywhere, for love or money?" I can't find it: new, used, or being sold on Ebay. That's a good sign, though frustrating: people are holding onto it.
So barring that, is there a place that I could send money to and then just use one of the illegal PDF copies floating around, considering it "paid for?"
The upshot here is I want to give you money for product received, but I can't find a way to add myself to your revenue stream. So can we do an end-run around The System and work something out?
I'm certain I'm not the only person who wants to pay for Blossoms somehow but can't find the damn book.


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Zebra mussels and other species can cause environment and economic damage
PRATT -- The water resources of Kansas are being invaded by non-native plants, animals, and fish that could damage the environment and disrupt the economy. Called "aquatic nuisance species," they include any fish, animal, or plant that has been introduced into the wild and has a harmful impact on natural resources and the human use of these resources. Newly introduced species can harm the environment by out-competing native species for food, crowding native species out of their habitat, and making habitat unsuitable for native species.
Aquatic nuisance species not only represent a threat to the environment, they threaten industry and the economy by decreasing property values, recreational opportunities, and water quality. They often foul water intakes, increasing cost for power generation, and impede water flow and efficiency of water delivery systems. It has been estimated that damage due to nuisance species costs almost $120 billion a year in the United States.
The New Zealand mudsnail is a nuisance species on the state's watch list although it has not yet been found. The white perch is an aquatic nuisance species that has shown up in Kansas waters, but perhaps the most notorious species is the zebra mussel. Zebra mussels have been found in El Dorado Reservoir and the Walnut River below the lake. Zebra mussels cause problems by competing for food with young fish and native mussels. Although zebra mussels tend to make water clearer, the clear water can lead to conditions that create toxic algae blooms. Such algae blooms can kill fish and cause taste and odor problems in human drinking water.
Once zebra mussels become established, they are nearly impossible to eradicate. To prevent spreading these dime-sized, striped mussels to other waters, lake users must take a few simple precautions such as washing all equipment that comes into contact with zebra mussel-infested water with hot water or a 10-percent bleach solution.
To prevent the spread of nuisance species, take the following precautions:
- learn to identify aquatic nuisance species;
- do not release aquarium pets. Do not release anything from the aquarium (water, plants, fish, or animals) into or near a body of water or storm drain. If your family gets tired of its aquarium or aquatic pets, give them to another aquarium enthusiast or bury them. Dump the water into the toilet or yard, far away from storm drains;
- never move fish from one body of water to another;
- empty bait buckets on dry land, not into lakes;
- inspect boats, trailers, skis, anchors, and all other equipment and remove any visible organisms and vegetation; and
- wash equipment with 140-degree water, a 10-percent chlorine and water solution, or dry for at least five days to remove or kill species that are not visible.
Contact the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks at 620-342-0658 if any nuisance species are found


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Serena Williams takes your breath away.
Williams was in devastating form, defeating Angelique Kerber, 63 61, in their opening round match of the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships in Istanbul and looks well positioned to repeat as champion at the end of the week.
Consider the honesty of Kerber's post match comments. "Today she was playing unbelievable, and I had actually no chance," she said. "It's tough to play against Serena like this. I think I served good, but she was returning unbelievable. Actually, she didn't give me a small chance to breathe, and I had, in the whole match, I had actually the feeling that she gives me pressure all the time."
Hard to play tennis when you can't breathe.
Williams looked devastating from the stands, felt unbeatable from the other side of the court and is redefining what's possible with post-match statistics.
Hawkeye visualization and SAP analytics produce various graphs and reports to help explain what we see but Williams consistently creates reports that, well, only she can produce. Her domination can be seen with the eye but even more so with the rich data that's now streaming into the sport.
The first mind-bending piece of information is Hawkeye's heat map, which tracks player movement. Serena's is small and centered right in the middle of the court with a sizeable percentage inside the baseline. Most importantly it doesn't stretch outside the singles lines. Kerber's on the other hand stretches well outside the doubles line on both sides and is twice as big.
Hard to breathe when you run so much.
That has a direct result in court position where Williams once again dominated. She hit 62% of all rally balls behind the baseline and 38% inside the baseline. That's aggressive enough to draw blood in most matches and has a direct relationship in pushing the opponent back further where they can't hurt you. Kerber hit 81% of her rally shots behind the baseline and 19% inside it. Generally it does not matter exactly what the numbers are - only that they are better than the person standing on the other side of the court. Advantage, Williams.
Williams' obsession with standing up in the court starts with the return of serve, where most players are just happy to neutralize the serve and get into the point. For Williams it's a golden opportunity to win the point before it even starts. Kerber was only able to force Williams to have her return contact point fully behind the baseline on three first serves for the match. The rest were either on or well inside the baseline and second serve return contact points were further forward still. Kerber by comparison only hit nine total inside the baseline. It's so tough to beat Serena when she is all over your serve and you can't pounce on hers.
Both players were pretty equal with rally direction with Williams hitting 51% of her shots to Kerber's backhand and Kerber hitting 52% to Williams' backhand. The only problem was that Williams had the upper hand in ball speed, depth, direction and court position in the majority of those points.
Lastly is serve direction. The scatter graphs in the service boxes are very well defined for Williams and move haphazard for Kerber. Hitting your spots has always been a good thing to do in tennis. Williams looked good from all angles of the sport and while she is breathing easy with a great start to the event, the pulse just quickened a little for seven other players.
Craig O'Shannessy is an Australian tour coach who studies matches to uncover the patterns and percentages that dominate the game. He runs a tennis academy in Austin, Texas and a website called www.braingametennis.com.


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CE Image Provides Extensive Image Manipulation for ExpressionEngine
CE Image is a pretty amazing plugin that lets you do an extensive amount of image manipulation directly from the plugin tag. Not only can you crop and resize the image, but you can apply water marks, use filters, rotate, flip, reflect images, and a whole lot more.
Here are a couple examples of some of the cool stuff you can do: Want to make your image greyscale? Just add the parameter
filter="grayscale". Want rounded corners? Try:
rounded_corners="all,10". Turn your image into colorful ASCII art? Why not:
ascii_art="yes". I'm barely scratching the surface here.
The possibilities for a plugin like this are myriad. For instance, I could see having a custom field or two in publish form to let authors upload a photo and choose which filter, size, or other parameters. Then, on the template side, you have CE Image take the results from those fields to give you customized photos on a per-entry basis.
CE Image looks very handy. Not only is it a powerful plugin but the documentation looks top notch, and the price is crazy cheap: Just $8, either from Causing Effect or Devot:ee.


text: If you dream of becoming the latest Picasso or fancy brushing up on your artistic skills, nows your chance as the Nintendo DS Touch Screen transforms into your very own canvas. Art Academy alloqws you to learn painting and drawing techniques with step-by-step training gives both budding and experienced artists simple and creative tips and tricks to improve, enhance and even learn how to draw and paint.Whatever your ability, youll find the step-by-step approach to lessons easy to follow. Art Academy offers lessons and art materials to get you started on your initial artistic journey, as well as more advanced art courses for those more adventurous artists wanting to take their art to the next level.The helpful tutor, Vince, is on hand to show you how to use the art materials and what to draw, as well as teaching you art theory and techniques to explore independently. Some lessons are inspired by work from famous artists such as Albrecht Drer (German), Paul Czanne (French), Leonardo da Vinci (Italian), Jan van Huysum (Dutch), John Constable (English) and many more to get your creative juices flowing. Discover creative and fun ways to improve and enhance your artistic skills and even learn how to draw and paint Accessible portable art course for everyone, each lesson has a step by step approach Use the Touch Screen to paint or draw with realistic behaving paints and pencils Save creations on to the cartridge and use the slide show feature to view them Enter Free Paint mode to create original pieces and take pictures using Nintendo DSi cameras to use as referenceCheck stock and price


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TPWD Print-Friendly Page: http://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/print.phtml?req=20051205cMedia Contact: TPWD News, firstname.lastname@example.com, 512-389-8030 [SL]
TPWD Website: http://tpwd.texas.gov
TPWD News Release — Dec. 5, 2005
AUSTIN, Texas — For 25 years, Texas hunters have played a major role in successful waterfowl conservation efforts through the Texas Duck Stamp program.
Through the purchase of about 2 million state duck stamps, hunters and collectors have helped fund the lion's share of waterfowl habitat management, research and acquisition since 1981.
The Texas Duck Stamp has from its inception been a favorite of stamp and wildlife art collectors. In 1981, the Texas Duck Stamp Print was the largest single signed and numbered print of any kind ever in history, including the federal duck stamp print. That year, the state's royalties generated from the program exceeded the annual licensing income for the waterfowl stamp.
Much of the credit for the success of the stamp art program goes to Collectors Covey, who was instrumental in the creation of the Texas Duck Stamp. After the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stopped issuing actual stamps a decade ago with the advent of the electronic licensing system, Collectors Covey continued to facilitate and promote the stamp art program and make the annual stamp available to collectors.
Of the $15 million-plus raised through the Texas Duck Stamp program, more than $5 million has been derived from sales of the stamps and art. These funds have helped major conservation initiatives in Texas, including:
Texas is one of 11 states to receive the prestigious Gold State Grant Award from Ducks Unlimited for contribution of Waterfowl Stamp Funds to Habitat Projects.
Wildlife art and stamp collectors may purchase Texas Duck Stamp prints and stamps through Collector's Covey Wildlife and Sporting Art at (800) 521-2403.


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December 1, 2010, 12:56 AM
I was wondering what you all prefered and why when it came to your shotgun ammo? I have always used 3" 15 pellet 00buck for my 12 gauge, so I have always stayed with that. I just wanted to see which ammo people think is better: 3", 2.75", or something different 00 buck(or something different altogether). I have seen other shotgun debates on this forum before.


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I'm trying to comprehend how NULL values interact with unique indexes. It seems like I can insert two rows with NULL values in a column with a unique constraint just fine. Is there something special about NULL? Can anyone post some links to explain what is going on? Here's the example that stumped me: I created an organization table and a category table: matt=# \d organization Table "public.organization" Column | Type | Modifiers --------+---------+---------------------------------- id | integer | not null default nextval('organization_id_seq'::regclass) name | text | Indexes: "organization_pkey" PRIMARY KEY, btree (id) matt=# \d category Table "public.category" Column | Type | Modifiers --------------------+---------+------------------------------------------------------- organization_id | integer | id | integer | not null default nextval('category_id_seq'::regclass) name | text | parent_category_id | integer | Indexes: "category_pkey" PRIMARY KEY, btree (id) "nodup_categories" UNIQUE, btree (organization_id, name, parent_category_id) Foreign-key constraints: "category_organization_id_fkey" FOREIGN KEY (organization_id) REFERENCES organization(id) "category_parent_category_id_fkey" FOREIGN KEY (parent_category_id) REFERENCES category(id) I thought that nodup_categories index would prevent me from putting in these values, but I was wrong: matt=# insert into category (organization_id, name) values (1, 'bogus'); INSERT 0 1 matt=# insert into category (organization_id, name) values (1, 'bogus'); INSERT 0 1 matt=# insert into category (organization_id, name) values (1, 'bogus'); INSERT 0 1 matt=# select * from category; organization_id | id | name | parent_category_id -----------------+----+-------+-------------------- 1 | 1 | bogus | 1 | 2 | bogus | 1 | 3 | bogus | (3 rows) So, obviously there's something I'm missing. Clearly an index exists. What's the deal with NULL? I think I'll use some other value besides NULL to indicate categories with parents. Then I would need to figure out how to handle the FK constraint on the parent_category_id column. Matt
Next: From: Chris Date: 2008-09-29 02:59:59 Subject: Re: NULL values seem to short-circuit my unique index Previous: From: Seb Date: 2008-09-29 00:31:52 Subject: Re: inserting to a multi-table view


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It seems like just when her fans get used to her latest hair look Rihanna makes yet another dramatic change.
The "We Found Love" singer, who turns 24 on Monday, loves to experiment with her 'do and the result impacts more than her appearance.
"When I cut my hair, the whole sound changed, my style changed," she told Vogue magazine of chopping her hair into an edgy bob back in 2008.
And since then, she's done everything from shave the sides to dyeing it platinum blonde.
"I can't think of a shade she won't try," says celebrity stylist Ursula Stephen, who cuts and colors the singer's hair.


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Search from over 10 Million Auto Parts
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1979-1983 Ford Fairmont Air Pump Check Valve - Standard Motor Products AV1T
Review Fitment Notes to Ensure Proper Fit
Click to Enlarge (Read reviews)
Availability: (1) In Stock
Condition: New
Shipping Options: Ground
Part Number: AV1T
Brand: Standard Motor Products
Notes: Secondary Air Injection Pump Check Valve -- Without Tube; With External Thread
|Description: Ford Fairmont Air Pump Check Valve. Brand: Standard Motor Products. Fits Years: 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83. Secondary Air Injection Pump Check Valve -- Without Tube; With External Thread - AV1T
Some of our Customer Reviews
Very Satisfied
Reviewer: insame1
They have been awesome. I had one order not get a sale recipet and they sent it over night when i said somehing about it. all parts have fit well and work good. over all very happy.


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One-third (34%) of weekly Port Mann Bridge users say they will actively seek new routes in order to avoid paying the introductory $1.50 toll, according to an Insights West poll released yesterday.
When the toll increases on March 1 to $3.50 for everyone except those who buy special decals, 46% of those polled said that they would seek new routes and 33% said that they would drive over the bridge less often.
"The issue of tolling seems to have divided Metro Vancouver into two camps – those who are in favour since they don't drive over the bridge, with the opposition camp being firmly entrenched among drivers who are impacted," said Steve Mossop, president of Insights West.
"Residents south of the Fraser remain bitterly opposed to the toll, despite being satisfied with the new bridge overall."
Mossop speculated that the Port Mann Bridge could become as underused as the Golden Ears Bridge with congestion moving to free routes as drivers avoid tolls.
The online survey of 583 Metro Vancouver residents was conducted the week following the opening of the new Port Mann Bridge, between December 1 and 5.


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Check out our pick of the best ski deals to tempt you to the slopes this winter.
Our choice of deals includes short budget breaks, longer family holidays and even themed ski trips, like ski and spa or ski and wine tasting.
Top 10 ski deals for 2011-12:
Les Sybelles, France
Free accommodation with ski pass
Jan. 7, 14, 21 and March 17, 24 and 31
€190 in Les Sybelles, €117 per person in Les Albiez
Buy a ski pass for Les Sybelles or les Albiez, and get your accommodation free of charge. The offer includes seven nights' accommodation, and a six-day ski pass for Les Sybelles or Les Albiez. Based on maximum occupancy and valid at certain periods.
Val Thorens, France
Ski and Boarderweek
Dec. 10-17
From €222
Seven nights' accommodation, six-day Val Thorens-Orelle ski pass and access to the Ski & Boarderweek featuring pro-rider freestyle competitions, equipment demos, and live gigs. Rates are based on a four-person occupancy.
Les Menuires, France
Skiing and French Wine Week
Dec. 31-Jan. 7
From €270
Seven nights' accommodation in a four-person studio, a six-day ski pass for Les Menuires/St. Marting and free admission to the evening wine tasting Mon-Thurs.
Chamonix, France
First Snow
Dec. 3-23
From €234
Three night's accommodation plus a three-day ski pass from €234 in a two-star hotel; €273 in a three-star; or €450 in a four-star. Rates are per person in a double room including breakfast.
St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria
Ladies First
Jan. 7-28
From €380
A six-day ski pass, seven nights' accommodation, half-board meals with hotel stays, and a Ladies First Book with gifts to redeem, including free drinks, shop discounts, and vouchers for the spa. Prices are per person in a double room.
Innsbruck, Austria
OlympiaWorld Ski Package
Dec .8 - April 15
From €357
Five to seven nights' accommodation with half-board (breakfast and dinner), an OlympiaWorld ski pass for nine resorts including the glacier, and free use of the ski bus.
Schladming, Austria
January skiing & wellness
Jan. 7-28
From €445
A six/seven-night stay at the Wellness-Pension Jagahutt, buffet breakfast, a five/six-day Elite Amade ski pass, a welcome drink, and free use of the 75-square-metre relaxation area with steam sauna, bio sauna and treatment rooms. Prices are per person and start at €445 in an apartment, €467 in a family suite or €497 in a double room.
Pal/Arinsal, Andorra
STAR deal for New Year
Dec. 27 - Jan. 5
From €673
A five-night stay in a four-star hotel with a five-day ski pass. A variation of accommodation (starts 2-4) and lengths of stay possible.
Bardonecchia, Italy
First Snow
Dec. 4-24
From €168
A three/four-night stay with three/four-day ski pass. For Dec. 4-11 a three-night stay starts from €168; a four-night stay starts from €205. For Dec. 12-24 a three-night stay starts from €125; a four-night stay starts from €167. Rates are per person in a double room or two/three-bed apartment.
Samnaun, Switzerland
Winter Sun
Nov. 25 - Dec. 23/April 7 - May 1
Hotel CHF214, apartment CHF161
A two/three-night stay in a hotel or holiday apartment, a two/three-day ski pass for Samnaun/Ischgl and one reduced admission price to the Alpenquell baths.


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Annual fluid-milk consumption among kids has reached 28 gallons per capita in 2001 — the highest level in 10 years.
According to a recent beverage consumption report, more than 90 percent of all kids (ages 6 through 12) drank at least one serving of milk as a beverage during an average two-week period.
"This data reinforces that producer–funded checkoff marketing efforts in fluid milk are right on track," said Donna Sharp, a South Dakota dairy producer and chair of the dairy checkoff committee that oversees fluid milk marketing.
"In the past few years, fluid milk program efforts have specifically targeted kids and their moms. This important audience is key to increasing fluid milk consumption long term," said Sharp. Market research indicates that kids ages 6 to 12 represent 20 percent of the total milk beverage consumption.
The study shows that both white, and flavored milk consumption is growing. White milk consumption by kids increased to 24.1 gallons per capita in 2001 — an increase of 1.3 gallons from 2000 data. And, flavored milk increased to 3.6 gallons in 2001 — an increase of 0.5 gallons.
The study was conducted by the National Family Opinion's WorldGroup, which monitors individual beverage consumption both at home and away from home through a national panel of 12,000 individuals per year. The study did not include non-beverage use of milk — such as milk with cereal, which accounts for nearly 25 percent of total fluid milk consumption among kids.
This study is good news for dairy producers. "This research helps confirm that if you give kids milk the way they want it, they'll drink more," said Steve Fauntleroy, vice president of milk marketing with Dairy Management Inc., which manages the national dairy checkoff. Significant changes, such as more colorful packaging, plastic single-serve containers, more variety in milk flavors and more kid-focused promotions have helped drive the consumption increase.
"Dairy checkoff marketing efforts position milk as 'hip' and 'cool'" said Fauntleroy. "We reinforce this message with specific advertising and promotion efforts targeting kids through TV and print advertising, retail and school cafeteria promotion, product publicity and special events. And we're reaching moms with relevant programs that underscore milk's role as a vital part of raising a healthy child."
Dairy Management Inc.
Annual fluid-milk consumption among kids has reached 28 gallons per capita in 2001 — the highest level in 10 years.


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If you're among the few who didn't get a chance to discover the joys and anguish of playing the iPhone/Android game Flappy Bird before its creator deleted the app for good, Sesame Street has you covered with its new parody game, aptly titled Flappy Bert.
Much like the original game, players must make Bert (who flies with the help of a little blue bird that's attached to his head) soar through the air while avoiding Sesame Street's own colorful versions of the bright green pipes that are the bane of every Flappy Bird addict's existence.
Play Sesame Street's Flappy Bert game online here.