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Food Processors
We still recommend the Cuisinart Custom 14 Cup Food Processor—a powerful, affordable workhorse that produces steller results every time. For the past 2 years we've stocked over two dozen of these food processors in our test kitchen, where they receive extended daily use. Aside from a recall on the blade for older models (more information below), we've found this food processor to be durable, reliable, and consistent.
Cuisinart announced a recall of the older riveted S-blade of our winning food processor, which was included in models sold from 1996 through December 2015. Cuisinart will replace the blade free of charge, and the new blade will fit old machines. Anyone with this older blade should contact Cuisinart at https://recall.cuisinart.com (or call 1-877-339-2534).
How we tested
Here in the test kitchen, we demand a food processor that can handle lots of chopping, slicing, and shredding while delivering professional quality results, and we think home cooks deserve the same. It had better be able to not only puree a dip and whip up creamy mayonnaise but also cut fat into a pie crust in seconds, grind beef into hamburger, and knead heavy pizza dough. And of course we want our food processor to be simple to use and quick to clean, or why would we ever bother hauling it out?
We bought eight full-size food processors, priced from about $60.00 to $300.00, with capacities of 11 to 14 cups, a size we deemed big enough to handle most recipes. (We also tested two professional-style food processors with suggested retail prices of more than $400.00; see our review of High-End Professional-Style Food Processors.) We put each model through 21 tests, measuring their performance on a range of tasks, all while comparing construction and user-friendliness. We considered everything from the feel of the pulse button and the weight and shape of the workbowl to the capacity of the feed tube and how often we'd have to handle sharp, pokey blades. In terms of blades, some models were equipped with just the basics—a chopping blade and a shredding/slicing disk—while others arrived with sizable boxes of extra attachments. We assessed which of these were actually useful and which were just window dressing.
On the Chopping Block
While food processors are designed to do a variety of jobs, we most often call upon them for chopping. So we ran several chopping tests and weighted those results heaviest in our final ratings: prepping mirepoix (a combination of diced carrot, celery, and onion used as a foundation for many sauces, soups, and stews), grinding whole almonds, mincing fresh parsley, and grinding chunks of beef and cold butter into fresh hamburger meat. We wanted to achieve uniform pieces of food at whatever size we desired, but the reality was often a disappointment. For example, while we were aiming for 1/4-inch pieces of crisply cut mirepoix, in some cases we ended up with a crushed, juiced, or pulverized mixture that was strewn with bigger chunks. One of the biggest factors in chopping performance was the length of time the machine ran once we'd pushed the pulse button—short, powerful, jerky pulsing is essential to help toss ingredients around the bowl and into the cutting action. The best models had pulses that ran for only as long as we were still pushing the button (a fraction of a second in our top models), giving us excellent control; the worst kept running for nearly 2 seconds, processing the food too much—and, at the same time, often letting bigger pieces ride the spinning blades without getting chopped. The other important factor for even chopping was the distance of the blades from the bottom and sides of the workbowl, which ranged from 3 millimeters to more than 10 millimeters. Smaller gaps were critical to making sure that chunks of food didn't escape the blades.
Any Way You Slice It
Slicing and shredding with a food processor can be a huge timesaver, especially when you're prepping large quantities. A well-designed machine takes seconds to produce piles of carrot shreds for a salad, mounds of shredded cheese for a soufflé or pizza, or pounds of potato slices for gratin. We shredded soft blocks of cheddar cheese and crunchy carrots, and we sliced delicate ripe tomatoes and firm potatoes, considering not just the quality of the processed food but also how much was wasted, whether trapped in the machine or pretrimmed so the food would fit inside feed tubes. The best models left almost nothing behind. The worst left jagged chunks stuck atop the cutting disk or made us trim up to a third of the food off to make it fit.
Blade quality mattered, too: As we sliced potatoes and tomatoes, dull blades bruised and hacked up the food, splattering the workbowl with juices. The top-performing machines had sharp, efficient blades that made clean, dry cuts—you could barely tell the tomato or potato had been through the processor until you fanned out the slices like a deck of cards.
A few models had special slicing features, but all were not equally successful. For instance, a slice-thickness adjustment lever on the front of KitchenAid models lacks numerical markings, so we had to use trial and error to attain slices with a specific thickness. We preferred slice adjustments like the one on the Breville, which lets you simply dial up a precise setting by millimeters.
Mixing It Up
Efficient mixing is a key feature, whether you're making a quick pie crust, kneading a sticky dough, or emulsifying mayonnaise. We tried all three tasks with each machine, and we assessed the speed and thoroughness of the mixing action by processing a cup of plain yogurt with drops of yellow and blue food coloring, timing how long it took for the yogurt to turn green. The worst machine ran for over a minute while still leaving distinct streaks of color, while better models managed to create a smooth, even green hue in 25 seconds or less.
When it came to pushing the boundaries of the machines' upper limits, double batches of heavy pizza dough were a real challenge for a few models. The 11-cup KitchenAid food processor shut itself down repeatedly as we processed the dough. Another few struggled: A light flashed on the Breville's control panel, indicating distress, and the Cuisinart Elemental 11-cup model left ropy clumps of unmixed flour, which we had to finish kneading by hand. The manual of the Hamilton Beach processor said it was not meant for dough; when we gave it a try anyway, it made a lot of noise (as it did throughout testing) and jumped around the counter, but the dough actually emerged in good shape. (We wouldn't recommend processing dough in this model routinely since it could burn out the motor over time.) Another, by Black + Decker, advised us not to process more than 3 1/2 cups of dough but did just fine with 4 cups. (Again, we wouldn't recommend going over the upper limit for normal home use since it risks damaging the machine's motor.) The top performers, including our front-runner, yielded silky, bouncy dough with little apparent strain.
Mayonnaise was another failure point for several machines. Our recipe yields about 1 cup, so whenever a mini bowl was included with the food processor, we used it for this small job. Still, half the models that lacked mini bowls (including our winner) were nonetheless able to emulsify the mayonnaise. Once again, the failures seem to be caused by excessive space between the blades and the bottom of the bowl, which caused the blades to spin uselessly over unmixed oil and egg.
To test how well the machines processed chunky food into a smooth puree, we blended 28-ounce cans of whole tomatoes. While most handled this task acceptably well, it made us wonder how much liquid the workbowls could handle without leaking. We filled each with water to their maximum volume and ran them on high. A few erupted in overflowing waves, while a few more sent forth a steady trickle of liquid. Our favorite never spilled a drop, despite lacking a rubber gasket in the lid. These gaskets, which are designed to seal the workbowl from leaks, weren't always effective. Instead, they mostly made lids hard to slide on or off smoothly.
Wash 'n' Go
Cleanup was the final factor we considered. Complicated nooks and crannies inside the lid and on the pusher and feed tubes of the KitchenAid 11-cup model trapped food and were a chore to clean and dry. The same could be said for multipart shafts that held blades inside workbowls on other models. Our favorite machines had smooth, simple surfaces that were a snap to clean and dry, so they were ready for the next job. Our favorite models' workbowls are all dishwasher-safe (blades should be hand-washed to keep them sharp).
In the end, nothing beat our old favorite, the Cuisinart Custom 14 Food Processor. It may not be the cheapest food processor available, but it proves its worth in its sturdiness and performance, and it outshone fancier models costing up to three times as much. It comes with just three basic blades, for chopping, slicing, and shredding. After all of our testing, we decided that these are all you really need for most jobs (though it's worth noting that Cuisinart offers a variety of additional blades for this machine on its website), and fewer blades equals less stuff to store. With a plain, heavy base; just two simple, lever-style bars to operate; a responsive pulsing action that makes chopping efficient; sharp blades set close to the base and bottom of the workbowl that don't miss a thing; and a pared-down design that is easy to clean, handle, and store, our old winner takes the top prize again.
We tested eight food processors with capacities of 11 to 14 cups, rating them on their ability to chop, slice, shred, mince, emulsify, puree, and mix pie crust and pizza dough, as well as perform other common tasks that call for a food processor. We also rated them on ease of use and cleanup. We purchased all models online. They appear in order of preference.
CHOPPING: Testers chopped onion, carrot, and celery into mirepoix; ground whole almonds; minced fresh parsley; and ground beef chunks and butter into hamburger. This category was weighted most highly in our ratings.
SLICING: We sliced ripe plum tomatoes and russet potatoes, giving highest marks to models that cut crisply and neatly, rendering little to no juice, which would indicate that food was sliced, not crushed.
SHREDDING: We shredded carrots and cheddar cheese, rating models highest if pieces were crisp and uniform with little to no unprocessed, trapped food.
MIXING: We mixed pie dough and a double batch of heavy pizza dough, made mayonnaise (in small workbowls where available), and conducted a timed test using drops of blue and yellow food coloring in yogurt to show how efficiently machines made a uniformly green mixture.
PUREEING: We processed large cans of whole tomatoes in each machine until smooth; high-rated models made velvety puree.
EASE OF USE: We rated each machine throughout testing on its handling, intuitiveness of assembly and controls, shape of workbowl and lid, weight and stability, quality of construction, noise, and other factors relating to its design and ergonomics, including the convenience of any included accessory boxes or other extra features.
LEAKING: We filled each machine to its "maximum liquid fill" line and compared actual to stated capacity; we then ran machines on high for 1 minute, checking for leaks.


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20 June 2012
Rio+20 And Beyond: Together For A Sustainable Future
Rio+20 must result in a change of mind-set. We can no longer afford to ignore the interdependencies between natural resources, the environment, hunger and malnutrition. Sustainable agricultural and food systems that make efficient use of our natural resources must become the basis of tomorrow's economy. And with sufficient political will and vision, agriculture can help us achieve the sustainable future we want: a world without hunger.

subset: commoncrawl


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Starting in January, smoking will be banned on the Pearl Street Mall. The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a ban on smoking on the four blocks of the mall and the lawn of the Boulder County Courthouse. The University of Colorado is also exploring a ban on smoking on its campus. What do you think?
Banning a product or a practice that imposes proven health impacts on individuals and society should not require the political courage that seems absent or a long time in coming. The City Council has finally acted on an outdoor smoking ban along four blocks of the Pearl Street Mall. Kudos to the downtown merchants for their endorsement. Why not make the entire length of Pearl Street smoke free?
The University of Colorado should jump on board for a tobacco-free campus. Probably tough to enforce but so is the open container ban. There are 774 college campuses that have smoking bans; 126 were added this year and the number is growing. According to the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation 81.3 percent of the U.S. population enjoys a smoking ban.
Why has it taken so long to snuff out the tobacco lobby in Boulder? I can remember when we first banned smoking in Boulder restaurants. Anti-government types predicted the eateries would lose business. The opposite happened. The freedom to pollute should be condemned.
If the motivation for the bans above is to promote healthy living and a cleaner environment, the bans or reduction of pesticides, sugar consumption, red meat, preservative-laced foods and fatty foods should be goals to consider. The big grocery chains should label these foods "hazardous to your health" as is the practice with tobacco products.
Spense Havlick
Having cigarette smoke blown in your face while walking on the Pearl Street Mall is like having somebody spit on you. Being out in public exposes us to all manner of rude and sometimes disgusting behavior; that's life. Thankfully, the Boulder City Council has drawn a line at the injustice of having to breathe somebody else's toxic fumes. The university should follow suit and ban smoking on all CU campuses.
Society pays an enormous price for cigarette smokers. According to the CDC, in 2004 alone cigarette smoking cost the United States $96 billion in direct medical costs and another $97 billion in lost productivity. This price is paid by all of us.
The smokers pay the ultimate price. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death. Almost 400,000 people in the United States die every year from smoking. The American Lung Association reports that cigarette smoke contains at least 69 known cancer-causing chemicals. In addition to cancer, smoking causes emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and then death. These are not new discoveries.
Smokers choose to smoke. It is a terrible choice, but it is theirs to make. The rest of us get stuck with their health care bill. Let them smoke in their own homes, yards and cars. The social contract doesn't include getting to kill yourself slowly while the rest of us watch.
Judy Amabile
I have two concerns. First, how will the ban be enforced? Second, where will it all end?
I see a raft of 911 calls coming in from cellphones on Pearl Street. "I see a guy smoking in front of the Courthouse!" A uniformed officer will be dispatched. That officer will explain to a Ukrainian tourist that she can't smoke on Pearl Street. But walk over to Walnut or Spruce, and it's OK.
The bicycle, skateboard, and dog bans don't seem to be such a problem, and eventually, the smoking ban might become a matter of routine civil obedience. However, bikes, skateboards, and dogs are a visible nuisance and a danger. I can't recall the last time I noticed a cigarette smoker on Pearl Street, or even noticed tobacco smoke. I do recall dodging skateboards, bikes, and dogs. I recall smelling marijuana smoke, but yes, we just legalized that, even though marijuana smoke is carcinogenic. "In fact, marijuana smoke contains 50-70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke." (National Institute on Drug Abuse.) I can't square-up this contradiction.
Where will it all end? I predict it will end in one of two places. 1. A utopian nanny state that is perfectly free of harm, risk, ill health, and failure. 2. A utopian Unabomber state (I actually read the "Manifesto" ) full of self-sufficient peasant anti-social farmers.
That is, unless we cease to define utopia as a place where we forever protect ourselves from ourselves.
Steve Fisher
Boulder's new smoking ban on the mall makes me think, how far we have come!
Ahh, the memories of being trapped daily as a small child in a car with my mother as she smoked heavily. Sixty years later she died in a quick, violently ill process due to lung cancer and an anaerobic infection. Sixth months after that I was surprised by my own need for lung surgery, with a disorder for which the doctors found no cause. Intense childhood exposure to second hand smoke seems most likely.
This outdoor smoking ban is a trifling protection from second hand smoke. And folks who are offended by others' fumes should give a sniff to their own car exhaust — and empathize with Boulder's thousands of cyclists and pedestrians for what they inhale on our streets. I invite people to join me in sending pictures of vehicles' sooty exhaust to the Smoking Vehicle Hotline at email@example.com.
For the city to ban outdoor smoking — having put bike lanes in major streets rather than in a network of quiet roads — is so disproportionate.
My mother tried valiantly to quit and might like to stroll the mall where she would not smell smoke to tempt her to light up. So this ban might help a few struggling addicts. But for cyclists and walkers who are doing much to clean Boulder's air, I ask City Council to turn their nanny-gaze toward a much worse offender — exhaust fumes.
Anne B. Butterfield
Why has it taken the Boulder City Council this long to conclude that outdoor smoking is bad for our citizens and should be banned, if only for a few blocks on the Pearl Street Mall?
Compare Boulder with the more than 350 jurisdictions in this country that have already prohibited smoking in outdoor areas. These areas have successfully withstood the legal onslaught of those who claim that such banning is a violation of their civil rights and will result in a significant drop in tax revenues.
We have come to a point where people have the right not to be involuntarily exposed to known carcinogenic substances.
What is happening elsewhere will happen here after January 2013. Boulderites will find their health improve as they become accustomed to air unpolluted with tobacco smoke.
The public in this country thinks of Boulder as a liberal and progressive enclave, but it seems that our City Council is a laggard when it comes to protecting the health of its citizenry.
Studies have shown that banning smoking has encouraged some smokers to quit. The result has been many lives saved and health care costs reduced. Most of these costs are borne by non-smokers who are forced to pay higher taxes and buy inflated health insurance premiums.
Among Colorado adults, 35 years and older, 4,400 die annually from smoke related causes. For this type of morbidity, Colorado ranks 9th among the 50 states.
Marc Raizman
(The Camera's editorial advisory board members are: Judy Amabile, Anne B. Butterfield, Ed Byrne, Jimmy Calano, Dave Ensign, Clay Evans, Steve Fisher, Spense Havlick, Cinda Kochen, Marc Raizman, and Brian T. Schwartz.)


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Please join us in prayer by using these in your church or in your personal devotions.
A collection of prayers for children seeking refuge
A prayer for children caught in the debt trap
A prayer to see poverty through young eyes
A prayer for children living in poverty to flourish
A prayer of blessing on all children who experience neglect
A prayer for children who run away from home
A prayer for children with disabilities
A prayer for children seeking refuge and asylum
A prayer for looked after children and young people
A prayer for children being christened
A prayer for adolescents facing abuse or neglect
A prayer for children caught in the debt trap
Help us, Loving God, to see
beyond the smile of the child
who misses weeks at school,
to the embarrassment of the parent
who cannot afford their child's uniform.
Beyond the apology of the child
who misses a friend's birthday party,
to the parent who can't afford a gift
as they try to clear off a payday loan.
Beyond the bullying in the dinner hall
of the child with too little for lunch,
to the ache in the parent who
goes hungry for the sake of their child.
Help us, Loving God, to see
beyond the stereotypes and statistics
and inspire us to work to ease the burden
on children and their families
trapped in seemingly never-ending debt.
A prayer to see poverty through young eyes
A prayer for the work of the Children's Commission on Poverty.
All-loving God,
Through young eyes
you see the pain of lives
immersed in poverty,
the ache of wondering
whether there will be
food, or clothes
or warmth.
May we see through
unclouded eyes
how we can bring relief
to those struggling
in the pain of poverty,
joy to those
longing for security,
and hope to the lives
of all children.
We make this prayer
in the name of your
Son, Jesus, who
was made incarnate
to a life of poverty
and insecurity.
A prayer for children living in poverty to flourish
Based on Psalm 107:9 and Hosea 11:4.
Ever loving God,
if you would lead a nation with cords of human kindness,
and bands of love,
how much more do you long to lead each little one living in poverty
to a new and spacious life of plenty?
Lead them now ever loving God -
to new circumstances we pray;
where needs can be expressed – and met.
Where fear and stigma fall away – and equality comes.
And where childhood feels safe again.
Lead us, ever loving God -
to pray and live in a new way
which looks beyond the surface,
and gives beyond our comfort zone,
until each child's childhood is safe again.
A prayer of blessing on all children who experience neglect
Based on Jeremiah 1:4-10.
All seeing God,
we thank you that your loving gaze penetrates everywhere.
and that no child, however neglected, is hidden from you.
You saw them in their mother's womb
and you formed them there – attentively.
And still you watch over them now – diligently.
All seeing God,
lead parents, carers, professionals and each one of us
to watch and listen and act.
So every child currently lacking the attention they need
may be seen and heard and helped.
And above all know just how much they are loved.
A prayer for children who run away from home
Based around Mark 10.13-16, written by Janet Morley.
We pray for our society
where children are not always kept safe,
and teenagers are feared and ignored;
where many are lured into danger,
and do not escape abuse.
We pray for all children who run away:
those who feel unloved and worthless,
who believe they can cope alone,
who do not know whom to trust.
Give them your strong protection and comfort.
We pray for those who work to keep children safe:
social workers and police,
The Children's Society who offer counselling and support,
and persist even in the hardest cases.
Give them courage and hope in their demanding work.
A prayer for children with disabilities
Gracious God,
In our multi-faceted world of variety we pray for those, who through being different, experience our world in sometimes richer and sometimes harder ways.
Help us to be eyes for those who don't see
and ears for those who don't hear.
We pray for those whose bodies restrict their freedom,
that we might help in ways that are sensitive and appropriate for their needs.
And in our service of others, may we be eager to receive their gifts of service to us,
that we might deepen our love, joy, peace, grace and understanding.
Thank you for our mutual inter-dependence.
May our belonging to you be reflected in our belonging to each other.
Release us all from our circles of isolation.
A prayer for children seeking refuge and asylum
See also our collection of prayers for children seeking refuge
God of compassion,
we have seen the harrowing images,
of children fleeing danger and desperately seeking safety;
of families risking everything without the assurance of anything in return;
of young people whose only hope depends on finding refuge in an unknown country.
Lord, may we offer a welcome as warm as the one we would offer the Child who once fled to Egypt.
God of hospitality,
we are thankful for the current media coverage,
for the immediate sanctuary provided by our nation.
But when the cameras stop rolling,
may our welcome be ever-flowing and our compassion unceasing.
Lord, may our love for those seeking refuge be steadfast, no matter the political climate.
We make this our prayer, in the name of your Son,
who offers hope to the weary, respite to the traveller and peace to all your children.
A prayer for young carers
Healing Lord,
We pray for all who are sick
and for all who care for them.
We pray for medical staff,
For support services,
For researchers and scientists.
And we remember those who society does not see -
Those who care for loved ones.
Be with all who care for parents, for siblings,
For all who carry a burden of care beyond their years.
Be with us so that we do not forget,
And we may be all made whole.
A prayer for looked after children and young people
Loving God,
We pray for children and young people who are in the care of local authorities, foster and adoptive carers.
We pray they would know and feel the security that is their right.
We pray that they would know and feel the love that is theirs through you.
We pray for those who are missing from care, that they might be kept safe from exploitation, neglect and suffering.
Guide all who are a voice for children and young people to speak loudly and clearly, particularly in parliamentary settings and on our streets, so that security and safety, love and hope might be the experience of all children and young people.
A prayer for children being christened
We pray for all children who are being welcomed into their church communities this month, especially through baptism and confirmation.
May they grow in secure knowledge that they belong to a community of love and support where all are valued and treasured.
A prayer for adolescents facing abuse or neglect
Based on Zephaniah 8.4-5,8
Loving God, who promises to be faithful and righteous,
Help us to make real your vision for all young people,
so that they are valued for who they are,
not who they will be,
so that they are encouraged and supported,
not abused or neglected,
listened to and challenged,
not ignored or stifled,
free to play safely
not forced to grow up before their time.
Loving God, wise parent to us all,
Inspire us to be people who
let the young play,
encourage them to grow,
and enable them to flourish,
in communities of faithful people,
sharing wisdom and joy.


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After nearly 120 days (113 to be exact) of the lockout the NHL and NHLPA have reached a tentative agreement to salvage what's left of the 2013 hockey season. Nothing is official just yet but all the experts have reason to believe the latest deal that was proposed to the players by the owners will be accepted as of this coming Wednesday. Depending on when they decide the season will start it will be either a 50 or 48 game regular season and because of the late start, that means that the Stanley Cup Playoffs will last until the end of June.
The deal is still considered tentative at this point because the board of governors still has to give the approval, they are scheduled to meet with all 30 owners on Wednesday. According to Scott Burnside of espn.com, this is the language of the proposed CBA.
"The tentative agreement is a 10-year deal with a mutual opt-out clause after eight years and includes contract term limits at seven years (eight years for a team to re-sign its own players). For the first year, the salary cap is $60 million, but teams can spend up to $70.2 million in the transition period, while the floor is $44 million.
Sources said the 2013-14 salary cap, a very divisive issue, will be $64.3 million, while the floor will remain at $44 million. Revenue sharing will spread $200 million, with a $60 million NHLPA-initiated growth fund included."
As all of you know I have a passion for this sport like no other and although I am still very sour about the strike in the first place and do not approve of Gary Bettman being the NHL Commissioner, I am ecstatic that I can begin watching games again when football is over. I know for a fact the die-hard fans like myself will be back on Day 1, however I firmly believe that the rest of the sports' fans will not come back for quite some time and after a major market team like the Los Angeles Kings won the Cup last season, I personally felt like this year's work stoppage could not have come at a worse time for the game.
In the end I am relieved there will be a season and just hope other hockey fans can forgive the league for what it did to its fans over the last 113 days. At least we've had high school hockey in Lorain County to help us get our hockey fix. Just a reminder, we've got games on Wednesday (Elyria Catholic vs. Westlake) and Sunday (Avon vs. Midview) click here for details.


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National Register of Historic Places Program:
Archeology Month 2012
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archeological resources.
Introduction to Archeology
2012 Feature: Archeology and Climate Change
Past Hightlights
Learn More
National Park Service Archeology Month Portal
2012 Archeology Month Feature: Archeology and Climate Change
Our aim with this feature is to promote understanding of how archeological data provides new and useful insight into the relationship between society and the environment, to introduce the concept of how human groups have adapted to the threat of environmental changes and how they have responded to environment changes that have occurred, and finally, to encourage the public's awareness of climate changes that are happening today. These changes in the world's climate impact protected archeological sites, districts, and cultural resources at a national and global scale. Read more . . .
Introduction to Archeology
What is Archeology? Archeology is the study of the past ways of life through material remains. Archeology is often combined with oral history and ethnography to generate multi-disciplinary or interdisciplinary studies of past lifeways. The National Register defines an archeological property as the place or places where the remnants of a past culture survive in a physical context that allows for the interpretation of these remains. When people think of archeology they usually think of excavated sites or artifacts in a museum, certainly these are part of archeology, but they are only a part of what archeologists actually do.
Archeologists have at least 3 connected over-arching goals: 1) reconstruct sequences of societies and events in chronological order in local and regional contexts, 2) reconstruct past lifeways – all aspects of life, and 3) achieve some understanding of how and why human societies have changed through time.
While many people may consider archeology to be a past-time, or "treasure hunting", archeology is a discipline that is very often crucial for understanding and representing the past of all Americans. Archeology provides the opportunity to look at the past from a previously unexplored point of view, to represent the past of those that have no written records or for which the documentary record is biased or incomplete, to understand the "deep past" or precontact history over many thousands of years. Archeology can represent the everyday life of ordinary individuals, families, or groups, or it can honor the material traces of those Americans who were subjected to terrible adversities but through individual or cultural accomplishments or perseverance were able to overcome those circumstances. An archeological property can be anything from the wreckage of a World War II aircraft, a Civil War battlefield, or a simple rural farmstead, to a Mound that was built thousands of years ago through a spectacular feat of engineering, or a place where Native Americans made tools.
>> 2012 Feature: Archeology and Climate Change >>


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white acrylic craft paint
sponge brush
round ornaments (i used glass ones from Target)
egg carton for drying
This is wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
Would you mind sharing what type of paint you used?
Love this! Thank you for sharing.
Would you mind telling what type of paint you used?
Too gosh darn cute! I love them!
Super cute! I don't know if I'll have time to get around to it this year, but if not, we're going to do it next year!
I made these this weekend with my kids and they LOVED them! Such a fun and easy craft that make great presents for the grandparents and our Christmas tree!!!
These are just the sweetest things! I love them! My girl is only 2, but I might try this with her anyway. Thanks!
such a cute idea!!
Okay, I am totally doing this on Wednesday when my niece is here. They will love it! This is so, so cute!
Wow! They're fantastic! So cute and a great gift idea for grandparents too.
the best idea ever Crystal! thanks so much (as usual) for sharing!
Merry Christmas too, by the way!
This is a really lovely idea and a nice keepsake. Also a perfect gift for Grandma and Grandpa! GREAT!
Those are ADORABLE!!!
LOVE this idea! I am going to do it with my school kids and at home for a fun activity with my 2 year old! thanks for the great idea!
Aren't those just the cutest? My youngest made one of those last year at school (1st grade) and wrapped it up and gave it to me for Christmas. I just love it!
This is adorable. I definitely have time to try this with my kids:)
these are aaaaadorable!
These are adorable! I've got my boys home from school today because it's too cold to go out. We'll be making some of these
I am so going to do this with my grandson next year. Love, love, love this idea.
this is such a fabulous idea. thanks forsharingit.
I made these last year, only slightly different. I'm a sucker for handprint crafts! Here's a link to my post about them http://happybrownhouse.com/2009/12/19/handprint-snowmen-ornament/
Thanks so much for sharing!!!! Love it!
These turned out SO well! I wrote about it too:
So cute! Tucking this idea away for next year with my little grandchildren.
i made these last year after seeing them either here or on meg's blog. so cute! the grandparents loved them!
These are absolutely CUTE CUTE CUTE!! Love the keepsake element to it, but its so fun too! I shared it in a roundup of homemade ornaments - http://www.handsonaswegrow.com/2011/11/30-homemade-ornaments-for-kids.html -- thanks for the inspiration!
We made these a few years' back, and it's still one of our favorite keepsake ornaments. I'm so glad you've posted such wonderful step-by-step instructions with photos. I hope you don't mind me sharing this on www.juliecantrell.com where I'm blogging all month about Christmas activities/crafts/fun. I'll be sure to credit you and link folks to your great site. Thanks! j
These are way cute! I plan on linking to them on craftfail.com (NOT as a fail! As an inspiration image).
I did this with my children tonight and they absolutely LOVED it!! I have a 7 month old and instead of doing her hand, I did her foot. I used her little toes to make the snowmen and it turned out fabulous! Thank you for sharing this wonderful idea!
If you're giving as a gift you can write a little tag to include:
"These aren't just five little snowmen
As anyone can see
I made them with my hand
Which is a part of me
Now each year when you trim the tree
You'll look back and recall
Christmas of _____(2011)
When my hand was just this small"
Hi, I absolutely love these snowmen keepsake ornaments. I just did this activity with my own and posted it on my blog too... I loved it that much. Since I found it here I featured yours and your blog too- really they are so wonderful! thanks and heres the link
I just finished making some of these adorable snowmen ornaments for my son's teachers and grandparents. He had a blast and they came out so cute! Thanks so much for sharing the idea!! I'm making them next with my 16-month-old daughter, but I might have to find smaller glass balls for her little fingers. Merry Christmas!!
You are so creative!! I love this idea and just posted about it today (along with your reindeer ornament):
Merry Christmas! : )
Thanks so much! I am planning to do this with my 3 year old song tomorrow. He LOVES paint. God bless you and your family this Christmas!
Hi there! I thought that this was so great that I featured it in my "100 Jolly Christmas Crafts & Decorations"! Have a great day! http://www.aspectacledowl.com/100-christmas-crafts-decorations/
I made these snowman ornaments with my daughter this year. SOOO difficult to get a 14 month old to cooperate and keep her palm open and not make a big white blur, but the ornaments washed right up so we could try again as many times as we needed. Plus, she loved patting herself on the belly and turning it all white. There are so few crafts that a young child like her can do, so I really appreciate you posting this idea. We're going to make one of these for all her grandparents and uncles and aunts. Thanks!
We just made these, too! Thanks so so much for sharing this, it really is an adorable craft! Blogged here!: http://emmyloubeedoo.blogspot.com/2012/12/snowman-hand-print-ornaments-how-not-to.html
I did this with my Sunday school class and used acrylic craft paint n sealed with clear spray paint turned out awwsome! Loved this idea!!
I used acrylic paint and sealed with clear... turned out great! Awesome idea!!!
So fun! We did this this year from Pinterest and my 4 and 6 year old loved it so much we had to buy more ornaments. Giving you a nod on my site about some inexpensive Christmas gifts we made this year. Cheaper Nuggets: My $10 White Christmas
How have these stood the test of time? Paint flaking at all?
How cute! With so many things on Pinterest you tend to see the same stuff over and over and this is one of the first super cute, easy and totally unique ideas I've seen in a long time for a hand print craft! Well done! This will be one of our family gifts for sure! Thanks for posting. I'll probably blog about our own on my blog and I will for sure link back to you for full credit. ;-) -Coco Cana from My Tales From The Crib
Did anyone ever get an answer as to what kind of paint
What kind of paint is best
Did anyone ever get an answer as to what kind of paint
It says at the top acrylic craft paint, I just made them using this paint and they turned out great :)
I'm making these with my grandchildren -- on plastic ornaments. The snowmen came out great, but the sharpies are not working at all. Can you suggest another medium I could use? Help -- fast. Thx
Super cute
#Handprint, #HandprintSnowman
I am including your post in a roundup of Frugal Fun Fast Homemade gifts on my site HopeJoyinChrist dot com. May I use one of your pictures to link back to the article?
I know this post is eight years old, but I just made these with my 3.5 year old son as Xmas gifts for his grandparents and they are ADORABLE! Thanks for this post and Happy Holidays!


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Whisk together Edensoy, barley malt syrup, maple syrup, ginger and salt. Place in a heavy saucepan over high heat. Bring almost to a boil. Reduce heat to medium. Sprinkle in polenta while whisking constantly to avoid lumping. Cook over low heat, whisking frequently, until cornmeal tastes cooked and mixture thickens to porridge consistency, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in additional maple syrup, if more sweetener is desired. Ladle mixture into individual ramekins or small dessert bowls and set a walnut half in the center. Serve warm or at room temperature. Taste best the day it's made.
Per serving - 358 calories, 5 g fat (12% calories from fat), 11 g protein, 71 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 0 mg cholesterol, 173 mg sodium


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SONOMA, Calif. — Jimmie Johnson and teammate Jeff Gordon had an unexpected and unwanted day off Friday.
SONOMA, Calif. — Jimmie Johnson and teammate Jeff Gordon had an unexpected and unwanted day off Friday.
The cars of defending NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Johnson and series points leader Gordon failed inspection and were barred from all activity for the day at Infineon Raceway, including qualifying.
NASCAR said the No. 24 and No. 48 Chevrolets, both owned by Hendrick Motorsports, had modifications to the front fenders that were deemed illegal during morning inspection.
The Hendrick crews were allowed to repair them and they can race in Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350, although starting from the rear of the 43-car field. Gordon, the four-time series champion, is the defending race winner.
"The cars have been repaired and I'm under the impression they will not receive an inspection sticker until tomorrow morning, which will allow the cars onto the racetrack," said Chad Knaus, Johnson's crew chief. "The guys on both teams have done a good job getting the cars repaired. They are race-ready now."
But the damage was already done.
Doug Duchardt, vice president of development for Hendrick, called the modifications an honest mistake.
"We've been evolving and this was just the latest evolution of what we've been doing," he said. "Our understanding is that our cars fit the templates but that they were outside of what they would like to see within the templates."
Gordon came to Sonoma after his wife gave birth to the couple's first child, a daughter, on Wednesday.
"Well, obviously, nothing's going to ruin my day or weekend," Gordon said. "I'm on cloud nine. This has obviously been pretty devastating news at the race track. ... This definitely puts us in a box and we're going to have to work our way out of it."
The five-time Sonoma winner said pit strategy is going to be "extremely important."
"We're one of the best teams out there," he said. "I love the road courses and I know these guys have brought a great race car and I'm looking forward to getting out there, hopefully sometime tomorrow, and seeing what we've got for them on Sunday.
Johnson echoed his teammate and the co-owner of his car.
"We're going to start at the back and work our way forward," he said. "A lot of road course racing really falls into the strategy of the race and we'll just have to make the most of our poor track position to find the strategy and work our way up for a solid finish."
This is the first road race for NASCAR's new Car of Tomorrow, a bigger, bulkier and reputedly safer car that's been in development for seven years. It has run in six races this season, all on ovals.
"It's important to know that this is a Car of Tomorrow penalty," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said. "The inspection process and NASCAR's reaction to the Car of Tomorrow violations are going to be more severe. We're going to keep this car in check.
"It's important to know that all cars in the field are starting out equal and all have the same opportunity to win as the other."
Dale Earnhardt Jr. was docked 100 points and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. was fined $100,000 and suspended six races after NASCAR discovered illegal brackets on the rear wing of the No. 8 COT Chevrolet last month at Darlington Raceway.
Last year, Knaus, was suspended for four races when he was caught cheating in qualifying before the Daytona 500. Johnson won the race without Knaus, who rejoined the team in March and helped Johnson win the Nextel Cup title.
Asked why the cars could still be allowed to pass inspection and race this weekend, Poston said: "That's been our practice in the past that we've given teams an opportunity to repair cars that have failed inspection, and we'll do the same here."
Poston said NASCAR would determine any further penalties assessed to the two Hendrick cars after officials return to their Daytona Beach, Fla., headquarters following the race.
Kurt Busch, who drives for Penske Racing, said he understands what NASCAR is trying to accomplish with the COT.
"If NASCAR's intentions are to create an equal playing field for everybody with the COT and you step out of line like this, you need to have your hands smacked, I guess," Busch said. "DEI did it with their rear spoiler and now you've got two Hendrick cars that are out of code."
But Busch said he doesn't expect missing a day of on-track action to slow down the Hendrick cars.
"You lose a little bit of practice time, but it's only an hour and a half today," he said. "It's not much. It's going to be bad though with those two cars starting in the back because guys up front aren't going to get any TV time."
Duchardt noted his team has won five of the first six COT races and each of those winning cars was sent to NASCAR's Research and Development Center and encountered no problems.
Hendrick has won 10 of 15 races overall this season, with both Gordon and Johnson winning four times. Their teammates, Kyle Busch and Casey Mears, whose cars passed the initial inspection Friday, have each won once.


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This outlines an easy method to modify the behavior of select launchers so that when clicked, they open the program if no instance of the program is already running, but restore focus to the program if an instance is already running. It also allows for the ability to hide the window from the taskbar, so that some launchers become their own icons. In other words, you can create a custom "icon box" for some programs (which double as launchers), while other programs use the task list.
Current version: 0.52
UPDATE (25 Dec 2007): Posted version 0.52, which should resolve problems with certain programs not responding correctly to arguments.
The current version, allows for minimizing windows, multiple windows, and a few other goodies. This is still somewhat beta, but should be stable. Moreover, I hope to much more tightly integrate this into the gnome interface at some point, which would make it much easier to use.
Limitations compared to full-blown dock programs:
1) You must manually apply to all launchers.
2) It does not trap instances launched via some other means (e.g., unmodified launcher, browser link in another program, etc.); however, you can still trigger them to hide by clicking on the launcher if it has the -h option (it will now hide all matching windows, not just those launched from the panel initially).
3) Minimization is dependent on a keyboard shortcut (due to a wmctrl bug), so must be set using the -k option if it is not Alt+F9 (the default for Metacity).
On the other hand, launch-restore integrates into your existing panel (of any type), so does not require a commitment to a full-blown dock.
Installation is simple: just install the attached .deb file, which just installs launch-restore into /usr/local/bin, and downloads wmctrl & xautomation if they are not on your system (needed for window handling). If you later want to remove the script, just use synpatic or apt-get to remove "launch-restore" and it will undo everything.
In the simplest case, all you need to do is modify the launcher (I only do this to the icons I put on my panel, but you could also modify the menu entries) by insertingin front of the program name (and any parameters) already in the launcher. MATCH is a string specific to each program that wmctrl will use to determine if the program is already running. MATCH is tested against either the "name" of a window (i.e., the title you see in the title bar) or the "class" (usually something related to the name of the actual executable). By default, "class" is used, as that is more reliable, but for some programs that won't work. Note that all matching is case-sensitive.Code:launch-restore MATCH
If you wish to just match against the name, you use the "-n" option. For example, to match Firefox, your launcher should look like:(The %u is there so you can drag & drop a file onto the Firefox icon and have it open in Firefox.)Code:7.04 and earlier: launch-restore -n Firefox firefox %u 7.10: launch-restore -n Firefox-bin firefox %u
To determine the class of a program, run this in a terminal with the application(s) running:
Which will produce an output something like this (from my system at the moment, running 7.04):Code:wmctrl -lx
The first 2 columns are the window ID and desktop, and can be ignored. The 3rd column is the "class" - you can choose any fragment of it to match against (e.g., "Firefox" for firefox, "thunderbird" for Thunderbird, "OpenOffice" for OpenOffice). 4th column is computer, and can be ignored. Final column is the "name" (i.e., the title on the titlebar) for each window. The "class" will be constant for every instance of a particular program, while the "name" frequently changes for most programs, and so "class" is the easier target. Also, if you happen to be browsing a website with "Thunderbird" in the title, you may end up restoring focus to Firefox instead of Thunderbird if you match on Thunderbird by name instead of class (and for many other cases).Code:0x01800003 -1 panel.fbpanel desktop panel 0x00c00003 -1 gnome-panel.Gnome-panel desktop Left Expanded Edge Panel 0x00c00031 -1 gnome-panel.Gnome-panel desktop Bottom Expanded Edge Panel 0x01000021 -1 desktop_window.Nautilus desktop Desktop 0x0260007c 0 Gecko.Firefox-bin desktop Ubuntu Forums - Post New Thread - Firefox 0x02800003 0 mousepad.Mousepad desktop launch-restore 0x02a00003 1 mousepad.Mousepad desktop to do.txt 0x03000073 1 Gecko.Mozilla-thunderbird-bin desktop Inbox for firstname.lastname@example.com - Thunderbird 0x03400062 0 VCLSalFrame.DocumentWindow.OpenOffice.org 2.0 desktop file.ods - OpenOffice.org Calc 0x02c0001f 0 gnome-terminal.Gnome-terminal desktop user@desktop: ~ user@desktop:~$
You can pass additional parameters to launch-restore, here are the most interesting (run it in a terminal to see all parameters):
-x : prevents passing of program arguments to program if an instance of program is already running (I use this for shortcuts to files on my panel, as otherwise the running version receive focus, but then a second copy starts anyway).
-h : hides the program from the taskbar (and alt+tab switching - at least in Gnome). Note that it may very briefly appear before vanishing.
-m: prevents minimization by clicking on the launcher again.
-a & -d: affects how the program deals with multiple windows.
-k to change the minimize key shortcut.
-f to restore focus even when passing arguments (e.g., when dropping a link onto the Firefox launcher).
Use "launch-restore --help" in a terminal for full details of all options.
1 & 2) launches Thunderbird and hides it from the taskbar.Code:launch-restore -h thunderbird-bin mozilla-thunderbird [in 7.04 and ealier] launch-restore -h Thunderbird-bin thunderbird [in 7.10] launch-restore Firefox firefox %u [in 7.04 and earlier] launch-restore Firefox-bin firefox %u [in 7.10] launch-restore Toplevel /usr/bin/idle launch-restore -n -k R_Alt,F5 Audacious audacious launch-restore --a -m -x nautilus.Nautilus /home/user/
3 & 4) launches Firefox, matching on class (although using "-n" and matching on name would also work with no further changes).
5) launches the python IDLE IDE, and is an example of a program that is difficult to match (the title contains no fixed information at all, and the class is bizarre, but at least "Toplevel" appears to be unqiue on my system).
6) launches audacious, and like Firefox works exactly the same with or without "-n". The -k option resets the "minimize" keyboard shortcut to the Right Alt + F5; this is just an example, it should match the shortcut for your window manager (Metacity's default shortcut is automatic).
7) launches/restores a Nautilus window to your home folder (only starting 1 instance), prevents it from being minimized when the launcher is clicked again, and will match all windows on the current desktop if multiple windows exist.
Additionally, you could combine this with the "easy" gnome dock approach to enhance the dock behavior for some launchers: http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=333322.
Note that if used with firefox when a window list is still on your panel, you will get a "starting firefox" message in your panel each time you click the launcher; this is due to a bug ("feature") in Gnome, and I cannot make it go away. In 7.10, this bug also affects Thunderbird.
I'd hoped to integrate this into X better, including replacing the need for wmctrl and xautomation (to execute the keyboard shortcut to minimize windows), and creating a background daemon that would simplify application. However, upon examining the available tools to do this tasks, I've concluded that it would be a tremendous amount of effort (weeks of full-time effort) for very little gain, as X simply does not allow for some of what I'd like to accomplish, and I'd spend most of my effort on very low-level code to ensure things don't get too slow. While I may revisit this program over time, and will still make an effort to fix bugs that anyone finds in the current version, I don't anticipate any major updates, as I simply do not have the time required. The script is released under the GPL, so anyone who wants to spend the time is free to do so.
Please post if you encounter any problems and I will modify the script accordingly.


text:
My column about Stan "The Man" Musial, the St. Louis Cardinals greatest baseball player who died last weekend, struck a chord with many readers, several of whom told me in person or by e-mail about their own experiences. Like so many others, they affirm that "The Man" was a great inspiration, more so in life even than in the sport he played so well.
Jonesboro native Jim Pardew, who now lives in Fairfax Station, Va., recalled that going to St. Louis to see the Cardinals play was also one of the thrills of his childhood. Once each summer he went with youth league coaches, who would load a bunch of boys in their car and drive to St. Louis and back, all in a day, to take in a Sunday doubleheader. They would leave at midnight and hang around at Sportsman's Park till the first game started, staying for the last out before heading back.
On those trips he and the other boys were able to see baseball greats like Musial and Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
"Harry Caray and the Cards were a part of summer life," said Pardew, who went on to become U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria. "The games were on in barber shops and stores and radios everywhere, and kids played the game in vacant lots with balls covered in electrical tape and bats sometimes nailed and taped together."
Even though he didn't make it as a baseball player in college at Arkansas State, baseball has been a lifelong passion, and each year he attends about 20 Washington Nationals games (who, I might add, lost to the Cardinals in the playoffs last fall).
Curtis Hitt, a Paragould attorney, seconded my comments about Musial's character: "Nice tribute to such a deserving character. A rare thing — indeed, as rare as it is admirable — for one so transcendent in performance to be so humble in character."
Jimmy Dill, a Pine Bluff lawyer, went a bit further.
"You bring out many valid points about the goodness that was a part of Stan Musial [but] not a part of the athletes today, both professional and amateur," Dill wrote. "It makes my stomach churn when I see a basketball player scream in the face of an opposing player when they score over them or when a football player pounds his chest when he knocks another player to the ground.
"This type of total disrespect and lack of sportsmanship has made the games less enjoyable for me. Sportsmanship used to be one of the main lessons learned from participation in sports. Not any more."
A Hot Springs classmate of mine, Shelta McWilliams Banks, who now lives in Cordova, Tenn., passed along two experiences of family members that illustrate what a great man we've lost.
When her future husband Bob was 12, the Cardinals and Chicago White Sox played an exhibition game in Little Rock, and Bob's dad took him. Before the game Musial was signing autographs and posing for pictures with young fans, as he so often did, and an Arkansas Democrat photographer took pictures.
The one used in the paper the next day featured the boy right in front of Bob, so his mother called the newspaper and asked for a copy of the next picture on the roll. When the picture came, it became a family treasure.
Shelta's cousin, who lives in Chesterfield, Mo., was a next-door neighbor to Joe Cunningham, a former Cardinal who worked for the organization for many years. On Sundays the families often had brunch together before church, and once a picture was taken. To surprise her husband, Shelta asked her cousin to see if Cunningham would get a copy autographed by Musial. He did.
That wasn't unusual. Musial was quick to sign his autograph to any item presented to him. In fact, during his playing days and afterward he carried around copies of a photo card that he would sign and give to anyone who asked. During his years as a Cardinals executive, his secretary told a St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter, she was instructed to keep a supply of baseballs on hand. When someone came to his office to visit, he'd pull one out and sign it.
"I suppose that Stan Musial was the only athlete that I ever had for a hero," Shelta wrote. "I still cry each time I think of his passing."
That reminded me of the great Tom Hanks line in the 1992 women's baseball movie, "A League of Their Own." After "Coach" Hanks loudly castigated one of his players in front of the team, she started crying. When he noticed, he yelled, "Are you crying? There's no crying in baseball! …"
During Thursday's public visitation for Musial at the Cathedral Basilica in downtown St. Louis, thousands of baseball fans, many dressed in Cardinals regalia, paid their last respects.
According to a Post-Dispatch account, one man turned to his wife, who was crying and repeated the Hanks line; "You know, there's no crying in baseball."
His wife had the perfect answer: "There is when it comes to Stan Musial."
Roy Ockert is editor emeritus of The Jonesboro Sun. He may be reached by e-mail at email@example.com.


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Javelin Strategy and Research, it appears that fees and customer service continue to be the primary reasons a person leaves their bank (in addition to moving). What may be surprising to some, however, is that many millennial (ages 18-24) leave their bank due to the lack of ATMs while there is a growing percentage of households moving to a new bank to get mobile banking services. In fact, according to the study, 'ATM availability' edged out 'online features' as a factor that can predict customer attrition.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Don't Forget Small Businesses With Your Reg E Communication
Not only do many smaller businesses use consumer checking accounts for their small business transactions (with the potential for debit card rejected transactions), but with the potential for so many customers of small businesses having payments for goods and services rejected after the implementation of Reg E, banks are communicating details around this consumer legislation and options as to how to deal with transactions that are rejected.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Large Banks Not Adequately Serving Small Businesses
Aite Group (Small Business Opportunities: Are Large Banks Missing the Boat?). And with the continuing financial crisis, availability of sophisticated cash management products to smaller banks and the significant negative press around large banks, this gap in expectations is widening. In fact, the percentage of large bank small business customers describing themselves as 'extremely satisfied' with their primary institution has dropped from 50% in 2007 to 33% in 2009. This has led to a shift of small businesses considering a community bank to be their primary financial institution from 24% in April 2006 to 35% in April 2009.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Chase Card Innovation Gives More Control to Customers
Chase Bank introduced Chase Blueprint, an innovative set of features that improves the way customers can manage their credit cards with tools to pay down balances, manage spending and pay off major purchases. Available at no charge to more than 20 million consumer and small business Chase credit card customers, Blueprint is fully integrated into the account and consists of four unique features that Chase calls Full Pay, Split, Finish It, and Track It.
The components of Blueprint provide the following benefits:
The components of Blueprint provide the following benefits:
Labels: blog, credit cards, customer experience, financial reform, innovation, Reg E, retention, statements
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Checking 2.0 Executive Forum to Discuss Reg E Strategies and Economics
Novantas, the Federal Reserve and others at BAI's Checking 2.0 Executive Forum. This one day session in two cities will allow senior banking executives to receive proprietary research and interact with peers in discussions around the best ways to respond to changing legislation impacting checking accounts. My lunchtime presentation will leverage the findings of research presented by BAI and Novantas, discussing ways banks are approaching the communication of Reg E changes with their customers and how future marketing initiatives will be impacted by this new legislation.
Labels: checking, financial reform, Novantas, Reg E
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Bank of America's Overdraft Announcement is Great PR
The problem is, Bank of America isn't doing anything that isn't already required by the Federal Reserve. They are just avoiding the cost of communicating with all of its customers to ask them to opt-in (at least for now). Excuse me if I don't believe that they will just walk away from millions of dollars in OD fee income.
Posted by Unknown
Labels: ATM, debit cards, financial reform, opt-in, opt-out, overdraft, overdraft protection, PR, Reg E
Monday, March 8, 2010
It's Time to Require Email Addresses as Part of Account Opening Process
While it is doubtful that the government will ever mandate the collection of email addresses, now is the time to add this to the information your bank requires as part of the new account opening process. While some people won't have an email address to provide, this communication option is beneficial for both the customer and the bank.
Labels: email, fraud, identity theft, mergers and acquisition, offer, opt-out
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Free Checking Obituary
While many may claim to be the father of this service, paternity tests will most likely point to Ralph Haberfeld as the individual who most nurtured this service during the formative years and who was the strongest proponent of the benefits of the fee income associated with Free Checking. Ten years ago, when some banks (and consultants) began "pushing" free checking, there was concern about losing the meaningful income of monthly fees associated with traditional checking accounts.
Labels: ATM, channel, checking, direct deposit, fee income, financial reform, Free Checking, OD, opt-in, Reg E
Monday, March 1, 2010
Reg E Provides Opportunity for Enhanced Relationships
The benefit of communicating to a broader audience with alternative options is that the linking of accounts or the opening of a reserve line of credit can extend the life of a checking customer relationship by 2-3 years, thereby eliminating the replacement cost of the customer which can be between $200-$250 based on industry research. The value of this extended relationship far outweighs the potential for fee income for the mass market customer.
In addition, with media attention on Reg E, there is the opportunity to leverage this coverage and enhance the customer experience by educating the mass majority about overdraft coverage options available.
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text:
Elsewhere: A Solid New Dinner Option Near Times Square
403 West 43rd Street, New York NY 10036 (at Ninth Avenue; map); 212-315-2121; elsewherenyc.com
Service: Friendly and well-trained, if not quite polished
Setting: Airy, light-filled, exceedingly pleasant space that feels miles away from Times Square
Must-Haves: Bacon popcorn, octopus salad, Dutch Baby
Cost: Apps $8-15, entrees $17-30
Grade: B; some outstanding dishes, some less so. (At least an A-, as a Theater District option.)
As many times as I'm asked where to eat a pre-theater dinner that won't cost a fortune, a good answer often eludes me. There's Esca, say, Dave Pasternack's superlative seafood restaurant; but I can't pretend it's a particularly affordable dinner, remarkable though it may be. There are any number of Thai or Afghan or, well, Druse Israeli places up and down Ninth Avenue, but they're often more casual than an out-of-town visitor wants before a Broadway show. The holy grail is a comfortable, neighborhood-y restaurant that won't empty your wallet; not cramped or tacky, with a menu broad enough to please anyone but interesting enough to please those looking for something exciting from their one city meal.
And while Elsewhere, the new restaurant from the folks behind excellent Hell's Kitchen wine-and-cheese bar Casellula, isn't perfect, it's more than good enough to become my new recommendation. That's not a blanket endorsement of its menu, which ranges from excellent to confusing, though a quite a bit is genuinely delicious. But an enjoyable menu combined with friendly service, an extensive wine list, and a sunny, spacious interior that feels light years from Times Square—that's a restaurant worth remembering.
Earlier this year, Brian Keyser, owner of Casellula, took over the 43rd Street space from the former Le Madeleine, bringing Casellula chef Megan Johnson with him. Elsewhere's menu has the same sense of whimsy as their wine bar, though, as a full-fledged restaurant, a much more expansive scope. Casellula has a great sense of what a limited menu can do; it's tightly focused around dishes that are craveable, the kind of thing a person comes back for. And several of Elsewhere's plates hit exactly that mark.
It's little surprise, then, that some of the best dishes are in the "Snacks" section of the menu. Bacon Butter Popcorn ($5) was a no-brainer of an order, and was as good as it sounded; every bite was laced in bacon flavor, amped up by a crumble of Maldon sea salt; yet despite the bacon drenching, it didn't seem greasy in the slightest. Lavender is a tricky ingredient to work with, but Lavender-Rosemary Popcorn ($5) had enough of the latter to play up the flower's herbal aspects; it was elusively floral, predominantly herbal, not soapy or perfumey. Both in generous bowls, we'd order either again in a minute.
The cheese selection is put together by Casellula fromager Dimitri Saad, so it's little surprise that its service is taken very seriously—presented with obvious detail to style, temperature, and condiment pairing. From their entirely domestic (and largely local) list, we particularly enjoyed the appealingly funky, scoopable raw cow's milk Winnemere (with a beer-washed bark) from Vermont's Jasper Hill Cellars, paired with wine cherries; and the Ascutney Mountain from the same state's Cobb Hill Cheese, whose sweet, nutty notes were a brilliant pairing with pecan brittle.
Biscuits with Brown Butter and Crushed Black Pepper ($5) weren't the flaky, crumbly-edged sort of biscuits we expected; nonetheless, as a bready starter, no complaints. They were yeasty and buttery, but in the best of ways, the bottoms almost saturated in brown butter—and that's a good thing. And while we spent awhile trying to decide just what they meant by Ménage-à-Trois ($10; is it because there are three dates? three elements in them?), there was nothing we doubted about how good the stuffed dates were, with a salty pancetta and an aggressively funky Roaring Forties Blue that countered the jammy stickiness of the dates. Make sure you get it all in one bite.
The appetizer menu read equally well, though the results varied wildly. The Grilled Octopus Salad with fennel, spinach, avocado, orange, and a dill mustard vinaigrette ($13) nailed the hardest part of a good octopus dish; namely, the octopus. Here, it's both tender and charred in a way that many versions don't achieve. And it's an enormous salad; a small meal in itself. We loved the fennel and the buttery avocado, but in the end, there may have been a few too many elements here; we wanted a little more acid in the dressing, rather than from the lonely-looking orange slices on the side.
Still, we'd order it again, unlike the Bay Scallops with celery root puree and fava beans ($13). Yes, bay scallops are an expensive ingredient, but four tiny dots on the plate border on silly; moreover, with so few of them, one expects them to be perfectly prepared, and these were a bit chewy—not the tender, delicate creatures they can be. We enjoyed the other elements on the plate, particularly an earthy, smooth celery root puree, but when the scallops didn't go right, the dish didn't do it for us. We also wanted a little more from the Duck Confit Rillette with Pickled Miso Eggs and Toast ($11); which was a bit dry, without the silky, indulgent fattiness we want from our duck.
Of the entrees, we enjoyed the Chorizo-Encrusted Pork Chop ($24), particularly given the Flinstonian portion; the edges were the best, where fat meets meat; the vinegary sauce livens up the less exciting interior. It's a much better bet than the Large Raviolo with ricotta, ramp pesto and pistachio oil ($22), which sounded excellent on the menu but didn't come together; pasta not quite delicate, ricotta undersalted, pesto almost inedibly salted.
Then there's the Roasted Bone Marrow with French fries ($17), a dish that's already gotten a lot of talk. The slippery-soft marrow itself is as good as it should be, particularly the edges; we were dying for some bread to spread it on, though. The skin-on fries themselves were excellent, deliciously crisp and salty, but add another salty, fatty element and it's all a bit overwhelming. (It's also impossible to imagine eating the whole plate.) If anything, we'd recommend getting it as an appetizer for four or more to share; bone marrow is a good thing, but this level is daunting—unless you are of much stronger resolution than we.
The 5-Spoke Tumbleweed Poutine ($14) also featured those fries, though poutine seemed a bit of a stretch; they weren't as gravy-soaked or melty-curded as that name would imply. They're great as cheese fries, and the Tumbleweed from New York's 5 Spoke Creamery is excellent, somewhere between a Cheddar and something softer, certainly creamy when melted; that said, any subtlety in its flavor is somewhat lost in the (delicious) savory mass of gravy and fries. Get a particularly cheesey bite, though, and you'll be quite happy.
Pastry Chef Leigh Friend's desserts were a highlight as they are Casellula, and they're similarly enticing at Elsewhere, walking a nice line of homey and sophisticated. We loved a Chocolate Bourbon Icebox Cake ($8); its lightness is remarkable, the fork sliding right through layers of cake and icing, pairing nicely with a bourbon vanilla ice cream and a swipe of intense chocolate ganache across the plate. It's not quite Casellula's cream-drenched chocolate cake, but nothing is, really. The star of this dessert menu would have to be the Dutch Baby ($10), a skillet-baked pancake that's eggy and delicate with a great outside crisp, served so hot it's steaming in the middle, melting the freshly whipped cream so that it soakes into every squishy pour; with an apple compote, it's somewhat autumnal, somewhat breakfast-reminiscient, but absolutely good enough to enjoy any time of day or year.
And as good as some of the snacks and desserts, in particular, are, it'd be unfair to discount the place itself—the central enclosed sunlit garden, a tree stretching up through it; the airy, light-filled interior; the affable, charming servers. There's certainly enough we liked on the menu to recommend Elsewhere as a restaurant. But as a pleasant place to dine in the often exceedingly unpleasant world of Times Square, we'd recommend it ten times over.
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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Conservative pundits are offering various postmortem reports following yesterday's election, some of them appearing even before the patient was officially pronounced dead. My own analysis really isn't worth a hill of beans, but the beauty of the blogosphere is that it doesn't have to be to justify my sharing it.
As I see it, there's a very simple explanation why the Republicans lost. Broadly speaking, the Republican Party represents conservatism (both socially and economically) and the Democratic Party represents liberalism. (If you don't agree with this generalization, you might as well stop reading now.) Looking at the big picture of all the ballots held yesterday, not just the presidential election, it's clear that America as a nation opted for moral relativism over economic realism. Over the last month I've closely followed the Twitter feeds of the Obama team and the Romney team, which gave a good indication of their core strategy to win over uncommitted voters. The Romney campaign (and Republicans in general) bet heavily on economic conservatism, and they lost. The Obama campaign (and Democrats in general) bet heavily on social liberalism, and they won. That pretty much tells you all you need to know.


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They didn't go door-to-door hawking cookies. The Girl Scouts hadn't thought of that yet, and most of them didn't actually wear the green uniform of the organization. But a group of women at Stockton's Bayside Atria Landing retirement home recently celebrated the 101st anniversary of the organization, because, they noted, "Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl Scout."
They didn't go door-to-door hawking cookies. The Girl Scouts hadn't thought of that yet, and most of them didn't actually wear the green uniform of the organization. But a group of women at Stockton's Bayside Atria Landing retirement home recently celebrated the 101st anniversary of the organization, because, they noted, "Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl Scout."
"I enjoyed my Girl Scout experience in Charleston, S.C.," said Elizabeth Martin, 81, a member of the group in the 1930s. "The people who were leading us, helping us, made it all seem very important, and it was very, very fun. They took us on excursions. We went to different businesses in our town and saw how they worked. It was educational without seeming educational. If you tell kids 'This will be good for you,' they're not going to come. Tell them it will be fun, and it will happen."
Fun was the operative word for the women who joined their local scouts in the 1930s and '40s.
Ryoko Leona Inamasu, who lived in Santa Maria until her family was evacuated to an internment camp during World War II, recalled those scouting days with great fondness.
"Everybody liked each other," she remembered.
In South Pasadena, the Girl Scouts taught Dorothy Palmer, now 91, to cook.
"We made s'mores, and meat loaf," she said. "They'd take a piece of dried bread and soak it in milk and mix it with the meat. I'd never heard of doing it that way. It was very good."
She also make camper's stew, a staple of Girl Scout camping into the 1960s, where meat, potatoes and carrots were wrapped in foil and cooked over a fire.
Palmer's camping trips, she said, were out under the stars. Tents were either not available, not needed, or were for wimps, because she recalls sleeping out in the open.
Leah Wahler, who was a Southern California Girl Scout later, in the 1940s, also camped out. She also earned badges during her days as a Girl Scout in West Los Angeles.
"It taught me to be a good citizen and to be kind to others and do good deeds," Wahler said. "I still get upset when I see people being ignored."
Scouting offered a different kind of lesson to Vivian Boettger.
"It seemed like there wasn't anything for girls," Boettger said of her childhood in Sedalia, Mo. "I was kind of feeling that way. One day we had a meeting at school and that's when they said, 'OK, we're going to have a group for the girls.' "
That was probably around 1930, Boettger said.
"We went out on picnics and would have meetings, which was kind of fun, too," Boettger said. "It was something girls really liked, because we always felt boys had things and we didn't have much. We'd walk around saying, 'Ha ha, we have a club, too.' "
Call it the first shot for women's equality in Sedalia.
The enduring effect of being a scout, Boettger said, was confidence. When she got to high school, she eagerly joined clubs, including the speech and debate club.
Girl Scouts promises to develop girls into young women who have courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place, according to the mission read to the group by Muna Haddad, Bayside's engage life director, who organized the celebration.
"So many of you have all those traits," Haddad said.
Some grew up to see their own daughters become Girl Scouts or sons become Boy Scouts.
"It was a lot different," said Boettger, who had a daughter become a Girl Scout in the 1950s. "They sold cookies. That was the only thing they did."
Wahler, too, had a daughter who became a Girl Scout.
"All I can remember is her selling cookies. I think I was (cookie chairman)," Wahler said. "We had a girl up the street and her mom or dad worked at a hospital and she sold dozens of cookies there."
Wahler's husband was a Boy Scout den leader.
"He was much better than I was (as a leader)," Wahler said. "They went on camping trips, and he had them doing other things you wouldn't believe."
Wahler didn't recall any of that boy talk loudly enough for Boettger to hear.
Boettger was watching some current Girl Scouts who'd been invited for the afternoon help make cookie and brownie dough, then set up a sales table for their Girl Scout cookies.
The organization is still going strong, still striving to pass on values to girls, and still best known for those Thin Mints.
Contact columnist Lori Gilbert at (209) 546-8284 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


text: Thanks for that response, the first two names came back to me when I read them, but my memory of McLeans is very hazy. I think I was only in the shop a few times before it closed, and I never knew the name and as far as I know it closed early on in my school career. I think the whole terrace may have been renovated round about that time?


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WARNING: Video contains graphic hand gestures
TAMPA, Fla. – We have all experienced the joy of the "road rage" drivers riding your bumper.
But one Florida driver got a taste of instant karma after once such act.
A woman, who goes by "Florida Driver" on YouTube, posted this video of the three-minute tailgating cruise.
"After about a minute and me shaking my head, I pulled out my phone and started recording," she wrote on YouTube." I couldn't move over because there were trucks in the right lane and I sure as heck wasn't going to speed on a rainy day with the roads being as slick as they were. I was turning left in about a half-mile when this happened."
And "Florida Driver" was right about the road conditions.
She said just after the man in the pickup truck changed lanes and sped past her, he lost control, fish-tailed and spun out in the opposite median.
MORE: See the full story from The Blaze
WATCH: See more video videos here


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When I first heard about the new TSA body scanners (they debuted in 2009), I read quite a bit about how they worked and what some of the objections were, as well as why some thought they were necessary. And after all that research, I decided that I fundamentally disagreed with their use. So I'm really happy that the TSA is now removing the machines, because the agency can't address certain privacy issues inherent to the machine's design and use.
As a frequent-ish flier (my trips tend to be long-haul a few times a year, not several times a month to a local city) from a family whose second home was away from home, I've literally been flying since I was born. So I have watched how security is maintained (or not) over a span of 30 years, and from many non-American airports and perspectives. I've flown from airports so small there was no "airport" building, and landed in countries that Americans were advised away from visiting. So naturally, security has been on my mind. (Though it has never, ever been as front-and-center as the cause of most fatalities having to do with flying: pilot, or some other human error).
I didn't get upset about taking my shoes off, or taking my laptop out of my bag, or the general idea of letting whoever wanted to rifle through my stuff. I'm in the "ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" camp, and reasonable security measures were OK by me. But when the body scanners were introduced, I reached my limit. To me, they were unreasonable, for two reasons. First, nobody has the right to see under my clothes, period. Even if they are in another room, and even if they can't see my face. This is my body, and I get to make the call about who sees me naked.
For people who know me, they might be surprised; I'm not a super-modest puritan, by any means. But what I wear is my choice, and I'm making that choice for me on that day, for that time. And so I thought it was excellent for travelers to have the choice to opt out of the TSA's body scanners, which I always did. Was I gently bullied into using them? Was I left standing, once for 10 minutes, waiting for a female TSA agent to give me a pat down? Yes, on both accounts, but I am used to inconveniences for sticking to my guns (I've been a vegetarian for 20 years!). The agents who did the physical pat-down were always polite and respectful. I've read stories in which this was not the case, but I have been given at least seven different pat-downs over the last few years and I've never had a problem. (Though I would play a game with myself to see if I could get them to smile at something funny I might say while they were doing their job.)
I also refused the body scanners because of the low-dose of X-rays that the body receives. I'm perfectly aware that it is equivalent to the radiation that one receives while flying, but the thing about radiation is that it is cumulative; one's lifetime exposure matters. I also refuse dental X-rays. (I've had a few in the past, and that will have to be sufficient for my dentist moving forward) Again, this is about my body — my body, my call. There is a line for me when it comes to security — my stuff is fair game; after all, it is only stuff. But invading the privacy of my physical self, that is not a step I am comfortable with. I know for some people that it's not a big deal, but it matters to me.
For both these reasons, I'm glad that the scanners are being done away with. Because at the end of the day, we all have to make compromises and decisions. How much is security worth to us? It seems like that's a question we are sorting out now; trying some tactics, rejecting them because they are onerous, and working through how we achieve what human beings have tried to since (probably) before we were even modern humans. How do we stay safe in a dangerous world? With the retirement of a technology that enough people saw as problematic, I see hope that we are actually, genuinely figuring this question out.
Related post on MNN: What some TSA-approved toiletries?


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Jackson was driving an eastbound blue 1996 Chevy Lumina shortly before 10:00 a.m. back in October of last year, when she ran the stop sign at the intersection of Highway 52 and 10. Minchey was operating a 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle, when he attempted to cross the busy intersection, heading down Highway 10 South. He was tragically struck and killed when the 4-door automobile pulled directly into his path.
"A witness at the intersection stated that Jackson ran the stop sign and pulled into Minchey's path last fall," reported Investigating Officer Jeff Hix, of the Lafayette Police Department.
Minchey was pronounced dead at Macon County General Hospital and Danielle Jackson was not injured.
Danielle Jackson's bond is set at $15,000 and a General Sessions court date is scheduled for March 25, 2013.


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These are some of the top names available - If we keep Wallace we will need one of them.
Carl Nicks (NO) - OG - After signing Jahri Evans to a 7-year, $56.7 million deal in 2010, the Saints will have to contemplate doling out a similar contract if they wish to keep Carl Nicks, one of the premier guards in the league. Committing that type of money to a pair of guards would be unheard of in league history. Though Nicks has said he would love to return, if he doesn't put a hometown discount on the table, there's a good chance the market shows him more love than the Saints can afford.
Chris Myers (HOU) - OC - Myers has found himself in one of the best possible situations in the league with the Texans. After years of searching, the Texans have been able to replicate some of the success HC Gary Kubiak had in Denver. Meyers is an outstanding system fit and will probably stay in Houston. For the past two seasons, no center has been a better in a zone fit than Myers.
Demetrius Bell (BUF) - OT - Bell is another under-the-radar player capable of protecting the blindside and is a vital piece to the Bills' offense. After suffering a season-ending injury midway through the year, the Bills struggled to protect Fitzpatrick. Coupled with the loss of Eric Wood in the middle, the line quickly deteriorated as did the team's chances for the playoffs. Bell is solid and dependable in all facets of the game and will most likely be back with the organization next year.
Evan Mathis (PHI) - OG - Playing in Howard Mudd's scheme, Evan Mathis appears to have found the perfect place for himself in Philadelphia. He put together and exceptional season keeping Michael Vick free from pressure and teaming with Jason Peters to open up ridiculous holes for LeSean McCoy. After a season like that, it would be shocking to see the Eagles not put forth their best effort to bring him back.
Jared Gaither (SD) - OT - Gaither joined the Chargers in Week 13 from Kansas City and picked up a quick five starts to close the season. In that time, he played exceptionally well as a pass protector for Philip Rivers. As a replacement for another oft-injured left tackle, Marcus McNeill, that the team committed big money to two years back, the Chargers will have to think long and hard about both of their futures and lack of dependability.
Ben Grubbs (BAL) - OG - Grubbs has been an above average lineman on one of the better units in the league over the past few years. He's proven to be an effective run blocker, especially on the move. The team is at its best when the offense can move defenders off the line and establish a run game, of which Grubbs is a big part of. Still, with Ray Rice a priority, it will bump Grubbs down just a notch, allowing room for his departure.
Scott Wells (GB) - OC - Like Meyers, Wells is an ideal system fit. The Packers have sought to get bigger and stronger at the position in the post-Sherman days, but there's no doubt that Wells has consistently outperformed all others. He's a heady center with little flash that could play well into his 30s. Though the Packers won't offer a lucrative deal, he's also unlikely to find that elsewhere as an undersized center. With Finley also a free agent though, money could take him to greener pastures.


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Train Morlaix → Paris
Duration 3h59 - From $38
- Arrival station : Paris montparnasse (17, Boulevard de Vaugiraud 75741 Paris cedex 15)
Morlaix, three hills, and so much more! Morlaix is a little city if Brittany, in the North-western part of France. Known as the town of three hills, Morlaix provides beautiful and colored half timbered houses and picturesque cobblestone streets. Let yourself be tempted by this lovely place. Learn more about Morlaix
An effortlessly chic moveable feast
An effortlessly chic moveable feast Effortlessly chic. An effusion of culture, couture and cuisine. A place whose name alone conjures up images of whirlwind romances and infamous scribes: This is Paris. Whether you're arriving to or departing from Paris by train, you'll get to travel through one of the seven train stations currently in use. Paris' train stations are spectacular buildings, which have been immortalized by generations of artists such as famed French painter and impressionist pioneer Claude Monet. Gare De Lyon, built for the World Exposition of 1900 is a classic study in architecture for that time period. But don't be fooled by the façade. Inside you'll find the high-speed TGV terminal that whisks travelers throughout France at record speeds. Walk with your head toward the sky, under its massive glass roof or have dinner in the legendary Train Bleu restaurant. This is a unique traveler experience - inside a train station. However, the real excitement is where the train can take you. With France's dense railway network, you can reach most French – and European – cities within a few hours. On the world-class Eurostar, get to London in just 2 hours and 15 minutes. Or board the Thalys train for a quick getaway to Brussels in just 90 minutes or Amsterdam in just over 3 hours. The record-breaking TGV can whisk you to Geneva (3h20) or Zurich (4h30) via its TGV Lyria service, or Frankfurt (4h), via the recently inaugurated TGV East line. Learn more about Paris
Book your journey from Morlaix to Paris From $38 $129
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Great Odin's raven! The rumors are true: "Anchorman 2" is casting locals while the film is shot in San Diego this month.
So bust out your jazz flute and polyester suits because on Saturday, May 11 will be your chance to shine. Central Casting confirmed to NBC 7 San Diego that they will need hundreds of San Diegans to work as background actors for the sequel to 2004 comedy hit.
"Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" has already filmed a few scenes in Atlanta, but thankfully will come to America's Finest City this month to continue production. The script has been pretty hush-hush, but actors Kristen Wiig and Harrison Ford will make appearances alongside stars Will Ferrell, Steve Carell and Christina Applegate.
Casting will be from noon to 4 p.m. on May 11 at DoubleTree San Diego Mission Valley on 7450 Hazard Center Dr. Candidates must be San Diego residents and need to bring documentation required for an I-9. If selected, background actors will be paid.
No word if Ron Burgundy will be on Panda Watch this time around, but surely he will make an appearance at various San Diego landmarks throughout the month.
So suit up and we'll see you on the 11th. In the meantime, you stay classy.
'Anchorman 2' Casting in San Diego
Ron Burgundy and the Channel Four News Team needs YOU
Great Odin's raven! The rumors are true: "Anchorman 2" is casting locals while the film is shot in San Diego this month.


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Cloud Computing Patterns: Using Data Transaction Commitment Models for Design
There are multiple ways to store data in a cloud provider, specifically around Windows and SQL Azure. As part of a "Data First" architecture design, one decision vector – assuming you've already done a data classification of the elements you want to store – is to decide the transaction level you need for that datum. Once you've decided on what level of transactional commitment you need, you can make intelligent decisions about the storage engine, method of access and storage, speed and other requirements.
Although the list below is neither original nor exhaustive, these are the general considerations I use for a given data set. It's important to note that in many on premises systems the engine choice at hand overrides these concerns. If you have a large Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) for instance, you might simply place all data there without further consideration. In a Platform as a Service (PaaS) like Windows and SQL Azure, however, selection of the proper engine for a particular dataset has implications ranging from cost to performance, and selecting the right engine is critical when you want to leverage the data across "Bid Data" analysis like Hadoop or other constructs.
Monolithic Consistent Transactional
The first selection is analogous to a local RDBMS system. The dataset is retrieved in a functionally single, monolithic transaction, i.e. kept together with ACID properties in mind. This is the most reliable type of data design for datasets that require a high degree of safety in the read/write pattern. As an example, a bank ATM transaction should be modeled in a monolithic way. If I make a transfer of funds from one account to another, I want the money to be subtracted from one account if and only if it is successfully added to the other. The bank, on the other hand, wants the money added to the second account if and only if it is subtracted from the first. This is a prime example of a monolithic (single atomic transaction), Consistent (if and only if) and Transactional (as a unit, with provision for roll-back and reporting if unsuccessful) data requirement.
The primary engine used for this type of data is often SQL Azure – an RDMBS in the same datacenters as Windows Azure. Placing both the calling application, whether that is a Data Access Layer-based code widget or a direct call from a Web or Worker Role, means that data is retrieved quickly and in a monolithic way. The costs for this method is based on overall database size. A consideration is how much data you can store this way. Database sizes have limits, although there are ways of overcoming size issues using technologies such as Sharding or SQL Azure Federations. There is also the consideration of performance. In an RDBMs that conforms to ACID properties, locking and other overhead for safety is at conflict with the highest possible read performance. But in some cases the ACID properties are worth the cost, as in the banking example.
You are not limited to SQL Azure in this model. Windows Azure Table storage, while similar to NoSQL offerings is different in that it is immediately consistent across all three replicated copies of data, offering a higher degree of safety. And while Table storage does not offer built-in support for transactions, there are ways to achieve certain transaction levels.
Monolithic Realtime
If consistency can be relaxed – meaning that a guaranteed read/write patter is not essential – then more options arise in Windows and SQL Azure. You can still use SQL Azure for this type of storage, with either automatic or programmatic hints allowing for "dirty reads". Windows Azure Table storage is still consistent, but the selection of the method for querying the data such as separate copies of read and write data can be employed. Because of the relaxed transaction nature, higher speeds are possible by querying cached or separate datasets.
An example here is that same transaction from the bank, but a statement inquiry. Just after the money is deposited, the user wishes to query the current balance. The current balance – minus the transaction that just occurred – is retrieved and shown to the user, perhaps even combining the amount with the latest transaction, perhaps saved as a local cached object, with a caveat to the user.
Distributed Realtime
At some point, the data becomes too large to fit inside a single processing session, and parallelism is used. In this case, either separate databases in SQL Azure or Windows Azure Tables, local data storage on the Web or Worker Role, or a combination of all with Caches is the right approach for the data design.
The biggest implication in this type of system is speed – a higher degree of data separation is essential, and so the dataset selection must fit the pattern. It is unacceptable to force an ACID-properties type workload into this environment. Typical examples here are the actual data asset payload for streaming video or music, read-only documents and so on. This pattern is often separated from the meta-data, which is kept in more of a transactional model.
As an example, assume you log on to a website to watch a movie or listen to music. The provider needs to verify your identity and account balance, which are transactional data loads. After that process is complete, the workload shifts to a copy – perhaps one of several – of the asset to stream to your location.
In this case, Windows Azure Blob storage, along with the Content Delivery Network (CDN – a series of servers closer to the user) is employed along with the transactional realtime requirements for the metadata.
Distributed Eventual
At the furthest end of the data scale are large datasets that need deeper analysis, but not necessarily in realtime. Examples here are terrabytes of data requiring a Business Intelligence view, but with a tolerance of a few seconds to minutes or hours. In this case, Storage, Processing and Query methods, such as the Hadoop offering in Windows Azure, or perhaps the High Performance Computing (HPC) Windows Server in Windows Azure fit well. Here, the design of the data is often dictated by the source, and more emphasis is placed on the algorithms around processing and re-assembling the data.
There are, of course, other patterns. In many cases a single dataset may have needs in one or more of these categories – in fact, sitting at 30,000 feet typing this entry, I'm having that very design discussion with a gentleman sitting next to me. The key is to design data-first, and fit the technology to the requirement for each datum. Allow each function and engine to handle the data in the most efficient, effective way for cost, performance and utility.