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Sludged: Amish fight agency order to install septic systems
MOUNT PLEASANT, Michigan (AP)– The Albemarle-based Rutherford Institute has an oozy case on its hands. A health agency is seeking to force six Amish families to install septic systems, something they say violates their religious beliefs.
The regional Central Michigan District Health Department in Mount Pleasant wants to bring the families' properties in line with health codes.
"We have a sanitary code," department health officer Mary Kushion said last week. "Everybody is a Michigan resident... and needs to abide by the septic code."
"We can't treat different segments of the population differently. We can't discriminate,'" she said. The department provides health services and enforces health codes in Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Osceola, and Roscommon counties.
Grand Rapids attorney Howard Van Den Heuvel, who represents the Gladwin County families, said only a small amount of water drains from each home's kitchen sink and wash house. It drains onto a tile in the yard, then seeps into the ground, he said.
Septic systems can involve electrical motors, and the Amish avoid use of electricity.
"The issue has become preserving their lifestyle," Van Den Heuvel told the Detroit Free Press. "That's really a precious thing."
The Amish families caught the attention of the Rutherford Institute, a private group that promotes religious rights, which filed a petition asking Gladwin County Circuit Court to intervene on behalf of the farmers.
Van Den Heuvel said the water that enters the ground– which the health department wants collected in 1,300-gallon septic tanks– is safe.
"They use organic soap that they make themselves," he said. "This is not a source of pollution. In places like Arizona, where it's really dry, they use this kind of water on their gardens."
The Amish, who call themselves the Plain People, generally shun modern conveniences such as electrical service, telephones, cars, indoor bathrooms and septic systems.
Between 10,000 and 20,000 Amish people live in Michigan, according to the Rutherford Institute.
The case involves Amish members Amos Beechy, Alvin Slabaugh, Daniel and John Mast, Amos Weaver and others.
"It's a classic freedom of religion case," said Rutherford President John Whitehead. "They're living the same way they lived in 1525. They believe it's an affront to their religion to modernize."
The Amish families hired a hydrogeologist to look for alternatives. The scientist recommended that they install 300-pound tanks that they could build themselves. The smaller tanks would not require electric pumps as the larger tanks might, Van Den Heuvel said.
But the health authorities still want to see the larger tanks installed.
Whitehead said the case will be bolstered by a 1972 U.S. Supreme Court decision. In Wisconsin v. Yoder, the Court ruled that Wisconsin had no right to force Amish children to attend school beyond the eighth grade because that would have conflicted with Amish beliefs.


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Exhibitor agrees to abide by all rules and regulations promulgated by the City of Palm Springs. Neither CSTA, nor the Palm Springs Convention Center, nor the official contractors, nor their respective members, officers, directors, agents, or employees are liable for any damages or losses that may occur to the exhibitor or to the exhibitor's employees or property from any cause whatsoever. Insurance and liability are the full and sole responsibility of the exhibitor. The exhibitor, on signing the exhibit contract, agrees to obtain adequate liability insurance and agrees to protect, indemnify, defend, save, and hold forever harmless CSTA and Palm Springs Convention Center from any and all liability, claims, losses, damages, governmental charges or fines, attorney's fees, and expenses for personal injury, accident, or property damage from fire, theft, destructive causes, or loss arising out of, in, at, or in connection with the exhibitor's display.
The official show decorator is GES. GES will provide you with shipping instructions and order forms for booth furniture, carpet, electrical, and other services after your booth is confirmed and at least 6 weeks before the start of the show. All exhibitors are expected to comply with any union requirements in effect and as outlined in the "SHOW SITE WORK RULES" section of the Exhibitor Kit. Please note GES policies:
Gratuities: GES work rules prohibit the SOLICITATION OR ACCEPTANCE of tips in cash, product or gifts in kind by any employee (union or non-union). GES employees are paid appropriate wages denoting professional status, therefore tipping of any kind is not allowed.
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Union Information: To assist you in planning your participation in your Palm Springs area show, we are certain you will appreciate knowing in advance that union labor will be required for certain aspects of your exhibit handling.
Exhibit Labor: All work involved in the erection, touch-up painting, dismantling, and repair of all exhibits may fall under union jurisdiction. This work is to include wall coverings, floor coverings, pipe and drape, painting, hanging of signs, placement of all signs, and the erection of platforms used for exhibit purposes.
This does not apply to the unpacking and placement of your merchandise. Full-time employees of exhibiting companies may set up their own exhibits provided one person can accomplish the task in less than one-half (½) hour without the use of tools. If your exhibit preparation, installation, or dismantling requires more than one-half (½) hour, you must use union personnel supplied by the Official Services Contractor. However, please note that when union labor is required, exhibitors may provide one fulltime company employee to supervise work with the union crew. Any full-time company personnel involved should be prepared to produce some type of company identification when engaged in these activities.
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Full-time employees of exhibiting companies may 'hand carry' material provided they do not use material handling equipment. When exhibitors do choose to 'hand carry' material, they may not be permitted access to the loading dock/freight door areas. Global Experience Specialists, Inc. will not be responsible for any material they do not handle.
Union (IATSE) Responsibilities: Responsible for assembly, installation and dismantle of anything that uses electricity as a source of power. This includes electrical wiring, hook-ups, interconnections, etc. Handle all material in and out of the hall. Exhibitors are permitted to hand-carry small packages into the hall. Handle the hanging of all signs, drape and cloth installation and tacked fabric panels. Handle the uncrating of exhibits and display materials, installation and dismantle of exhibits including cabinet's fixtures, shelving units, furniture, etc., laying of floor tile and carpet and re-crating of exhibits and machinery. They also handle the installation and dismantling of scaffolding, bleachers and the ganging of chairs.
All exhibitors are expected to comply with any union requirements in effect and as outlined in the "SHOW SITE WORK RULES" section of the Exhibitor Kit.
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Wednesday, July 28
When Not To Roast Red Peppers
I woke up the other morning craving roasted red pepper soup. Not for breakfast -- that would be weird -- but for dinner.
Since I had recently purchased a dozen bright and shiny red bell peppers, I thought it would be a good idea to roast them first thing in the morning. So by 6:15 am, the peppers were sliced, drizzled with oil, and placed under the broiler.
Like wood-fired pizzas or chargrilled burgers, the smell of roasting peppers is utterly enticing. Except when it's not.
You see, that utterly enticing aroma becomes not-so-enticing by three o'clock in the afternoon. You can light vanilla scented candles (which I did) and spray air freshener (which I did). It won't matter. The smell will linger like an unwanted house guest.
So here's my advice: Make roasted peppers only after 12 noon. And then make this soup because it's too delicious to pass up. You could make it with jarred roasted peppers and canned corn, but don't. Roast the peppers. Cut the kernels off the sweet corn. Chop the fresh cilantro. Sure, it will take longer, but you'll be rewarded. This soup is wonderfully spicy, smoky, and sweet. Plus, it's topped with a crunchy, tangy corn salsa that's good enough to eat by the spoonful.
And if you're looking for something to sop up the last of the soup in your bowl, then make a loaf of this Jalapeno and Cheddar Cornbread. It works deliciously.
Want to learn how to roast peppers on a grill? Then check out this blog post with step-by-step photos.
Southwest Roasted Red Pepper and Corn Soup
Makes 6-8 servings
Print recipe only here.
6 large red bell peppers
3 ears of sweet corn (reserve one for the salsa)
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 yellow onion, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
5 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoons chipotle powder
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 reserved ear of roasted corn
1 scallion, thinly sliced
A pinch of salt
1 teaspoon lime juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
1. Pre-heat oven broiler. Line one large or two small rimmed baking sheets with aluminum foil. Slice peppers in half. Clean out the seeds. Place cut-side down on prepared baking sheet. Remove corn from husks, discarding all silk. Place on prepared baking sheet. Drizzle peppers and corn with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Place directly under broiler for 25-30 minutes, rotating the corn halfway through. Broil until the peppers are covered with black blisters and the corn has lightly browned kernels. Remove from oven and let corn cool. Wrap peppers tightly in aluminum foil, or place inside of a paper bag and close tightly. Place inside of a bowl to catch any juices that might spill out for about 10-15 minutes. The steam will help the skins peel off more easily. Remove one pepper at a time. Using a paper towel, rub the skins off and discard. If you have trouble removing the skins, then steam the peppers a bit longer. Chop peppers. Once corn is cooled, cut off kernels, reserving one ear for the salsa.
2. In a large, deep pot over medium-high heat, warm remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Saute onions and celery for 5-7 minutes until translucent and lightly browned. Add roasted peppers, corn kernels, vegetable broth, salt, and chipotle powder, and cook 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in cilantro. Allow to cool completely before pureeing.
3. Puree the soup in batches in a blender until smooth, or if you prefer, a little chunky. Taste it. Add more chipotle powder if you'd like some extra heat. Return soup to pot and heat on stovetop for 7-10 minutes before serving.
4. For the salsa, combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Garnish each bowl of soup with 1-2 tablespoons of salsa.
You might also enjoy these roasted red pepper recipes:
Farro with Grilled Vegetables Salad recipe from Food Blogga
Roasted Pepper, Olive, and Brie Bruschetta recipe from Food Blogga
Fennel Spiked Roasted Red Bell Pepper Soup recipe from Food Blogga
White Bean and Roasted Red Pepper Salad recipe from Kalyn's Kitchen
Chickpea Salad with Roasted Pepper Puree recipe from Sunday Nite Dinner
Pizza with Eggs, Roasted Peppers, Olives, and Arugula recipe from Love and Olive Oil
27 comments:
- Jessica @ How Sweet said...
That is so true. I can never get the smell out of my house. I often roast them with sweet onions and it makes the smell even worse!
- July 28, 2010 at 6:02 AM
- T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...
This looks fantastic, and of course, now I'm craving roasted red pepper soup for breakfast. Unfortunately, I won't be able to do any roasting today, since I won't be home until late tonight!
- July 28, 2010 at 6:42 AM
- Janelle said...
Your picture actually looks like hominy on top of the soup, not corn. I love both, but I see hominy so infrequently in recipes that I was really excited for a minute. Then I read the recipe and it sounds sooooo good that I'm even more excited. I'm definitely going to have to try this. One question, though -- it calls for chipotle powder. I don't have that, but I do have some canned chipotles in adobo sauce. For 3/4 tsp, could I just use one pepper instead? I like heat, so I'd be likely to end up adding a little more anyway.
- July 28, 2010 at 6:50 AM
- nikki said...
I have a few poblano peppers on hand that I've been thinking about roasting and now considering them as an addition to this soup. The cornbread is a must as well!
- July 28, 2010 at 7:22 AM
- Peter M said...
Anytime of the day is fine for me to roast red peppers...they are the staple food for Greeks where my parents are from. Gangway...I'm diving in!
- July 28, 2010 at 7:26 AM
- Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...
Roasted pepper soup would be so welcome right now. Why am I in need of comfort food at 7:30 AM:D
- July 28, 2010 at 7:37 AM
- Cooking with Michele said...
While I love roasted peppers I no longer can stand the lingering smell in the house so now I only roast mine on the grill. Simply slice into flat pieces and lay skin side down on a smoking hot grill until they are blackened. Great results - no smell!
- July 28, 2010 at 8:20 AM
- Rosa's Yummy Yums said...
That soup looks delicious! I love red peppers. I could really eat that dish for breakfast
- July 28, 2010 at 8:25 AM
- Simona Carini said...
Very nice soup, Susan. I have not yet started roasting red peppers this year, as they are not yet at our market, but they should come in soon.
- July 28, 2010 at 8:31 AM
- Jacqueline Meldrum said...
What a wonderul soup. I tend to char peppers over a gas flame these days, but you do get a softer flavour when they are cooked in the oven.
- July 28, 2010 at 8:55 AM
- The Food Hunter said...
Now I'm craving this soup.
- July 28, 2010 at 9:57 AM
- Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...
Great advice, Susan, and what a gorgeous soup! At this time of year I love to blacken my red peppers outside, on the grill. Takes care of that lingering aroma.
- July 28, 2010 at 10:10 AM
- Ciao Chow Linda said...
I roast mine outdoors on the grill, but still the aroma lingers when you bring them indoors. Never did roast them early in the morning, but I can imagine it's not what you want first things when you are half awake. But that soup, on the other hand, looks divine. It reminds me of a yellow pepper soup I used to eat in Florence at Cibreo.
- July 28, 2010 at 10:18 AM
- Kalyn Denny said...
That soup sounds just wonderful, what a combination of summer flavors! Those roasted veggie smells are hard to ignore!
- July 28, 2010 at 10:19 AM
- Joanne said...
Noted. The same goes for cooking fish that early in the morning, I imagine.
The soup has such a gorgeous color!
- July 28, 2010 at 10:55 AM
- Cara said...
This soup looks so deliciously creamy that I had to scan the ingredients 3 times to make sure I wasn't missing something!
- July 28, 2010 at 1:08 PM
- Jessie said...
This looks so good! And you're right, roasting the pepper yourself makes all the difference in the world.
- July 28, 2010 at 9:35 PM
- Jayne @WiseEats said...
I totally agree that taking the slow way is rewarding! The soup looks fantastic. Tonight, the corn bread is tickling my appetite. I recently moved from the South and have been craving cornbread! I never thought that would happen. Thanks for the roasting tips and recipes!
- July 28, 2010 at 10:07 PM
- Deeba PAB said...
Yes, will remember to roast after noon. I love this Susan ... it's fantastic! Love the flavour combination!
- July 29, 2010 at 6:24 AM
- Lynda said...
This recipe sounds lovely. I like how you use the corn in the puree and also in the salsa.
(6:15?! I thought I was an earlybird :))
- July 29, 2010 at 1:22 PM
- Elise said...
Hah! We roasted a red pepper today and the whole house smelled like pot. ;-)
- July 29, 2010 at 4:00 PM
- Monica said...
Here is a handy tip: for those that complaint about the smells.. here is a simple, inexpensive and sure way to make that smell go-away, you can use it when you fry anything as well - it's that effective
Mix equal parts white vinegar with bleach in a container and place in your kitchen. (and a little goes a long way)
That's it... the smell will disappear in less than you can say "it's .... like magic!" And instead a fresh lingering smell will stay.
PS: and no, the mixture will NOT BLOW Up that will only happen if you mix bleach with ammonia!
- July 29, 2010 at 4:02 PM
- lisaiscooking said...
The soup sounds great with the chipotle powder, and the corn salsa looks fanstastic!
- July 30, 2010 at 6:06 AM
- Tasty Eats At Home said...
You are too funny. This sounds delicious!
- July 31, 2010 at 10:46 AM
- Katie Zeller said...
I just found some corn meal (a French - American internet store) so now I can make cornbread.... And my sweet corn is starting to ripen. I see this soup in my future! (after 12:00)
- August 1, 2010 at 3:29 AM
- Homemade Heaven said...
Wonderfully healthy and utterly moreish. I love roasted peppers and sweetcorn, so this is a winning on all accounts.
- August 4, 2010 at 3:14 AM
- Unknown said...
If you want to reduce the time it takes to roast peppers, try a really good torch. The technique works very well for bell peppers and poblanos and jalapenos, and Seranos, and with a good torch it is fast enough that one person can char while somebody else washes the char off. There is a demo at:
- August 12, 2010 at 8:50 PM


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Soon you'll be able to watch your favorite 3D horror flick in all its blood-and-guts-glory right from the comfort of your couch.
The Blu-ray Disc Association announced plans to develop a standard for movies allowing consumers to see feature films in 3D at home similar to what they would experience on the big screen. Movie studios would use the high definition capabilities of Blu-ray DVDs to deliver the experience. Geeky glasses still required; microwave popcorn and significant other optional.
"The 3D theatrical market has been very successful this year. We are just now seeing all of the true capabilities of 3D and with Blu-ray Disc's superior technical characteristics, as well as the broad industry support of the format, it makes it the ideal packaged media platform for 3D home entertainment," said Bob Chapek, President, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.
U.S. & World
3D, a staple of scary movies in the 1980s, seems to be making a comeback. Sony announced plans to introduce a 3D television by the end of 2010, according to the Wall Street Journal. Panasonic has committed to developing a 3D television, too.
ESPN announced last week that it will broadcast the USC-Ohio State college football game on Sept. 12 in 3D in select locations. NBC broadcast an episode of "Chuck" in 3D in February, and SoBe Lifewater aired a 3D commercial during the Super Bowl.


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Lee Teng-hui
Lee Teng-hui (Simplified Chinese: 李登辉; Traditional Chinese: 李登輝; Pinyin:Lǐ Dēnghuī; born 15 January 1923) is a politician in Taiwan (Republic of China). He was the President of the Republic of China and Chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) from 1988 to 2000. His tenure was marked with major extensions to the democratic reforms initiated by Chiang Ching-kuo. He also promoted the Taiwan localization movement and led an aggressive foreign policy to gain diplomatic allies. His critics accused him of black gold politics and being a secret supporter of Taiwan independence who was trying to undermine the party he headed. After leaving office, Lee has confirmed some of these accusations by emerging as a radical Taiwan independence activist, and currently serves as the "spiritual leader" of the pro-independence Taiwan Solidarity Union.
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- I am more than seventy years old. Having lived under different regimes, from Japanese colonialism to Taiwan's recovery, I have greatly experienced the miseries of the Taiwanese people. In the period of Japanese colonialism, a Taiwanese would be punished by being forced to kneel out in the sun for speaking Tai-yü. The situation was the same when Taiwan was recovered: my son, Hsien-wen, and my daughter-in-law, Yüeh-yün, often wore a dunce board around their necks in the school as punishment for speaking Tai-yü... [Taiwanese peoples'] lives are influenced by history. I think the most miserable people are Taiwanese, who have always tried in vain to get their heads above the water. This was the Taiwanese situation during the period of colonialism; it was not any different after Taiwan's recovery [that is, the rule of the Chiang-era KMT]. I have deep feelings about this.
- Chung-yang jih-pao (Central Daily News), International Edition, 1994-04-16), as quoted in Hsiau, A-chin, "Language Ideology in Taiwan: The KMT's language policy, the Tai-yü language movement, and ethnic politics," Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development (1997), 18.4, p. 302
- Don't think that because many Taiwanese came from China, Taiwan is a part of China.
- Lee Teng-hui (2013) cited in "Ex-president Lee rejects Ma's comments on nature of China ties" on Focus Taiwan, 23 October 2013
External links[edit]
- Office of the President - Republic of China
- "Lee Teng-hui -- Former President", taiwan.com
- "Why Beijing fears Taiwan's Lee Teng-hui," CNN Visions
- "Lee Teng-hui: A Man of the Country", Cornell University Profile


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DeBary family may sue to keep autistic boy's chickens
Family tells Local 6 they believe someone killed chickens
DeBARY, Fla. – A DeBary family whose autistic son's pet chickens were decapitated over the weekend say they plan to fight the city council to keep the chickens.
The Hart family and their attorney, Mark Nation told Local 6 at a news conference on Wednesday that they do not believe that the four chickens may have been decapitated by an animal, as police reported.
The Hart family built a chicken coop in the spring after a doctor suggested the animals would be therapeutic for their son, JJ. According to Joe Hart, 2-year-old JJ's father, JJ's vocabulary and social skills both improved after bringing home the chickens. And after nearly two years of not talking, JJ began crowing, imitating the birds.
The Harts said they believe an animal couldn't get in the coop and they would have eaten more. They say they think it was someone trying to hurt the family and JJ. They have asked neighbors to check their surveillance cameras to see if anyone can be seen entering the property and beheading the chickens.
The Harts told Local 6 they had to keep JJ out of the coop to keep him from realizing the chickens were gone.
"He would get upset and would scream and cry wanting to go outside to see them," said JJ's mother, Ashleigh Hart.
The family and attorney will be at the Nov. 7 city council meeting arguing why they believe they haven't violated the code and will ask the council to allow the chickens under one of the exemptions provided by the ordinance. The Harts are allowed to keep the chickens in the meantime.
"There is no violation of their city code at all," Nation said. "There is no rule in the city of DeBary that prohibits people from having pet chickens if that's what these were-they're therapeutic chickens."
They are also appealing the code enforcement board's finding of violation. If those two avenues fail, the family says they plan to sue the city under both Florida and the Federal Fair Housing Act that requires municipalities to make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities.
Watch Local 6 for more on this story.
Copyright 2012 by ClickOrlando.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Pittsburgh-based Calgon Carbon Corporation announced it has been awarded a contract from West View Water Authority to provide a Sentinel UV system for the disinfection of drinking water. Calgon Carbon produces, supplies and designs products, services and technologies for cleaning air and water.
The contract includes a ten-year service agreement under which Calgon Carbon will provide complete service and maintenance of the Sentinel system. This will be the largest UV disinfection system in the United States for municipal drinking water treatment and the first of its kind in Pennsylvania for surface water
The new Sentinel system will treat up to 40 million gallons per day, protecting approximately 200,000 people in Western Pennsylvania from cryptosporidium. The system is designed to provide a cost-effective barrier against viruses, bacteria, and parasites. This environmentally safe technology does not produce disinfection by-products.
Cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite found in almost all surface waters, is highly resistant to traditional treatment methods such as chlorination. When ingested, it can cause cryptosporidiosis, an illness characterized by severe abdominal cramps and diarrhea. In individuals with suppressed immune systems, cryptosporidiosis can be fatal.
Commenting on the contract, Dan Daugherty, executive director of West View Water Authority said his board of directors "has taken a leadership role in Pennsylvania by choosing to provide its customers with an additional water treatment method that is not mandated by law."
Bob O'Brien, senior vice president of Calgon Carbon Corporation, commented, "Since Calgon Carbon is headquartered in Pittsburgh, we take particular pride in having been selected by West View Water to provide a water treatment system that will protect our neighbors in 28 communities."
SOURCE: Calgon Carbon Corporation


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Ocean City police arrest 6 after fight outside restaurant
Police: Restaurant employee retrieves knife
Police breaking up a large fight outside an Ocean City restaurant discovered a knife and drugs, police said.
According to Ocean City police, six men got involved in a fight at about 6 p.m. on Sept. 2 outside the Davey Jones Locker Room restaurant on South Atlantic Avenue, and that one of the men tried to flee.
Restaurant employees tried to restrain one of the men who identified himself as an employee of the restaurant. Police identified that man as Carl Ross Perry, 47, of Berlin. Police said Perry fought against four officers before he was taken into custody.
Police found five others who fled the scene: Jermaine Lacorey Phillips, 24; William Sherman Freeman, 33; and Michael Fitzgerald Smith, 45, of Fort Meade, Fla.; Deve St. Fleur, 24, from Immokalee, Fla.; and Valen Joseph, 23, Legigh Acres, Fla.
Police said officers found several bags of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia in a backpack belonging to St. Fleur. Officers said they also received marijuana on Perry's person, saying it was packed in bags similar to those found in the backpack.
Witnesses told police Perry was outside with the five others when, at some point, he went back inside the restaurant and returned with a knife.
The men were charged with varying drug and disorderly conduct counts.


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I am a Title IX baby.
The law was passed in 1972 and I was born in 1973. Just as important, I am the daughter of a woman who was very aware of Title IX. She was a teacher and the Title IX compliance coordinator at her school. She was a woman who cared about what was fair and right for her daughters and all girls. And she was armed with the power of Title IX.
When I was in the fourth grade in Southwick, Mass., I signed up to play basketball for my town's Park and Rec team. When the head of Park and Rec called to tell my mother that only two girls signed up to play, she replied : "That's OK. You'll just have to let Rebecca play on the boy's team."
And they did.
On the first day of practice, my mother told the coach, "I realize Rebecca is the only girl on the team but I want you to treat her exactly the same as the boys. When they run sprints, she runs sprints. When you yell at them, you yell at her. Everything needs to be the same. Except when you scrimmage shirts and skins. Then I want her on the shirts team."
In the fifth grade, I was a tomboy who dressed in jeans and sneakers so I could play sports with the boys at recess. I was the only girl to do so. One day my teacher told me she was "very concerned" about me. She said I needed to "act more like a girl" and "dress more like a girl."
My mother flipped her lid. After hearing what my teacher had said, my mom immediately drove me to the school. I was terrified — for the teacher.
Fortunately (for the teacher), she was not there. The principal incurred my mother's wrath and promised a remedy. I was removed from the class. My mother wasn't satisfied. She wanted the teacher — and me — to know that it was her behavior and not mine that was wrong and needed to be changed. I got the message loud and clear.
I started paying attention to the women's basketball team at the University of Connecticut after Geno Auriemma and Chris Dailey began recruiting me. Even before I decided to play at UConn, I liked attending games and learning about the team. I distinctly remember watching the evening news on WFSB one night and waiting for the sports report. There were highlights and interviews from a UConn men's game. After that the anchor said, "And we should congratulate the UConn women's team. They won the Big East title tonight." End of report. On to the weather…
Earlier that year, I listened to a rare interview of Coach Auriemma on WTIC 1080 Sports Talk. Gampel Pavilion had recently opened and all of the men's games were sold out. The host kept encouraging people to come to a women's game not to see elite athletes competing but so they could get a glimpse of the shiny new basketball palace in Storrs.
Fortunately, that palace had locker rooms and offices and other facilities that were equal for the men and women that it housed. As a UConn athlete, I had the same opportunities and support that Ray Allen, Kevin Ollie and Donyell Marshall were given. Title IX made it illegal to do otherwise.
Countless times during my career and since my retirement, I have listened to women from an earlier generation tell me how lucky I am to have had the opportunities I had. They too loved sports but didn't have the opportunity or encouragement to play. Their mothers weren't armed with Title IX.
Now I am a mother of four children — three of them girls. It is my responsibility to teach each of them about Title IX and help them understand its importance.
Three years ago, when my eldest was 4, she walked into a room where my husband, Steve, was watching the UConn men's team play basketball on TV. She looked at the television and said to her father, "Are those boys playing basketball?" Steve said, "yes." My daughter replied, "I didn't know boys played basketball too."
That is the power of Title IX.
Rebecca Lobo of Granby is a television basketball analyst and played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 to 2003.


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Sabbath Day
31243, Hymns, Sabbath Day, no. 148
1. In sweet remembrance of thy Son,
We gather in thy house as one
To join in prayer, to sing thy praise,
To worship thee and learn thy ways.
Father, on this the Sabbath day,
Be with us gathered here, we pray.
2. And may our thoughts still turn to thee,
With loved ones, friends, and family.
In all we do till day is gone,
May worship still continue on.
Father, on this the Sabbath day,
Be with us in our homes, we pray.
3. Help each to seek a quiet hour
To read thy word and feel thy pow'r,
To hear thy voice, though small and still,
Renew our strength to do thy will.
Father, on this the Sabbath day,
Be with us in our hearts, we pray.
Text: Paul L. Anderson, b. 1946
Music: Lynn R. Carson, b. 1942. © 1983 by Lynn R. Carson and Paul L. Anderson. This hymn may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use.


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Sonia Tan is an LLM student at the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law in Asia, where she also studied as an undergraduate. She is the recipient of the Kwa Geok Choo Graduate Scholarship.
Prior to starting her postgraduate studies in August 2012, Ms Tan worked as a corporate lawyer for four years, specialising in mergers and acquisitions.
In her spare time, Ms Tan enjoys studying languages: Bahasa Melayu (Malay), which is part of her heritage, and Japanese and Korean, which she was inspired to learn after working with her Japanese/Korean counterparts in corporate transactions. She also enjoys travelling and photography.
Why did you choose to study for an LLM?
I hope to broaden my knowledge and further my professional development. A law degree is quite versatile – even if you don't go on to practise law, you can use it in a government or business role, for example.
Why did you choose to study at NUS?
As I enjoyed my undergraduate studies at NUS, I had always considered pursuing postgraduate studies there, after spending some years in practice. NUS is ranked highly among the world's top law universities and it offers an extensive range of law electives taught by top academics from Singapore and other countries. The university also provides a variety of scholarships for local and foreign postgraduate students.
What are you enjoying the most on your course?
I most enjoy attending classes on comparative law where I have met classmates from all over the world. Getting to interact with and learn from international students has helped to broaden my perspectives and I hope the camaraderie forged between classmates will continue into practice.
What has been the biggest challenge so far?
As an alumna, it has certainly been easier for me to adapt to the university environment, though it did take me some time to get adjusted to student life. In private practice, you focus a lot on getting immediate results and delivering to clients. At school, you have a different mindset and time management is your own issue – something you do for yourself and not someone else.
What have you found the most surprising?
I was surprised that there are very few Singapore postgraduate students in comparison with international postgraduate students – at orientation day it seemed like every continent was represented! For maritime law, in particular, there are a lot of students from the US. However, there is always a good mix of local and international students in classes shared by undergraduates and postgraduates.
What would you say makes you different from other LLM students?
My four years' work experience. I can share this with everyone in debates, explaining what developments are good and bad.
What is your biggest lesson learnt?
To be an effective student (or practitioner), you need to make continuous efforts to keep abreast of legal developments.
What advice would you give to others?
Spend a few years in practice before considering postgraduate studies in law, especially if you have a strong interest in research. Your practical experience will help you in approaching legal issues from different angles. Then you can take advantage of having the luxury of time to explore these interests and look at the academic perspective.
Do you have a studying routine?
While I do not have a specific studying routine, I think it is helpful to participate in study groups and engage in group discussions for the exchange of ideas and alternative points of view.
How do you deal with pressure?
Family and friends are my greatest source of moral support.
What has been the best advice given to you with regard to your studies?
In order to practise as a lawyer in a globalised economy, it is not enough to be proficient in only your own jurisdiction's laws. It is also important to foster a good understanding of foreign and international laws.
What is your biggest lesson learnt?
The biggest lesson that I've learnt is that to be an effective student (or practitioner), you need to make continuous efforts to keep abreast of legal developments.
What would you do if you were dean for the day?
I would probably send all final-year undergraduates out on a week-long internship to assist in pro bono legal work. While pro bono initiatives are currently available on a volunteer basis, I think that it is worthwhile encouraging all students to gain an understanding of pro bono legal work before they go into practice. As an undergrad, I helped advise juvenile delinquents and charitable organisations.
Who is your ideal professor?
In the realm of international law, it would have to be Professor Tommy Koh, who is currently Singapore's Ambassador-At-Large and, formerly, the dean of NUS, because he is a legal eagle with a wealth of academic and practical experience. He will be able to inspire students to achieve greater heights of academic and professional excellence.
What do you plan to do after the course?
I intend to return to private practice.
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Despite the claims by advocates that lower taxes entice business, a new survey finds it's actually professional licensing requirements, and not taxes, that take the top spot when considering where to set up shop.
The survey, in partnership with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, was released by Thumbtack.com, a website that provides recommendations about local vendors for services ranging from planning a wedding to remodeling a home. In addition to ranking each state by the business atmosphere, it found that licensing requirements were 30% more important than taxes in determining a state's overall business friendliness. Its research also found that 40% of U.S. small businesses are subject to licensing regulations by multiple jurisdictions or levels of government.
"Small businesses are top-of-mind for lawmakers nationwide, but too often their needs are more a matter of conjecture rather than actual evidence," Sander Daniels, the website's co-founder, said in a statement. "Some 7,000 businesses owners across the country have told us that they care about a lot more than just taxes—for most businesses, simple licensing regulations and helpful training programs are even more important to their success."
Other key findings include:
• Utah was the top-rated state, and Austin, Texas, was the top rated city. At the other end of the spectrum, Rhode Island and Newark, N.J., were the lowest-rated state and city.
• The ease of obtaining health insurance was an important factor for many businesses. One-third of small business owners rated obtaining and keeping health insurance as "very difficult," versus only 6% who rated it "very easy."
• Small businesses were relatively unconcerned with tax rates—more than half of small business owners felt they pay about the right share of taxes.
"It is critical to the economic health of every city and state to create an entrepreneur-friendly environment," added Dane Stangler, director of Research and Policy at the Kauffman Foundation, who co-produced the survey. "Policymakers put themselves in the best position to encourage sustainable growth and long-term prosperity by listening to the voices of small-business owners themselves."
—-More on AdvisorOne:


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I've recently discovered a solution to all of your problems. Now, you might be thinking: Doug, I don't have any problems, except on the days when Jalopnik posts articles written by you!
If you're thinking this, you're probably one of the people who was offended by my recent Tail of the Dragon story. Yes, it's true: one or two folks took my remarks on rural Southern culture as a personal attack, and they typed out long, angry responses, presumably from the passenger seat of their cousin's 1986 IROC-Z. I assume these were the same people who called the FCC during the 2004 Super Bowl Halftime Show and said: HOW DARE YOU SHOW JANET JACKSON'S NIPPLE ON TELEVISION?! MY CHILD WILL NEVER BE PURE AGAIN!!!
And, really, that's the trouble with writing these articles. It doesn't seem to matter what subject I choose: someone will always get pissed off. I could write a story about cookies, and some guy would write to me and say "I'm allergic to cookies, and you should really be more sensitive to those of us with cookie allergies, you asshole."
So that's why I've decided to devote today's article to solving all of your problems. But before we get there, I need to say a few words about my Nissan Cube.
Yes, I have a Nissan Cube. Regular readers will know this, because the first mention of my Cube is right about the time they click on something else.
Really, though, the Cube isn't so bad. Sure, I've occasionally used it as the butt of jokes in my articles (I believe I once said the best part about driving it is that, when you're inside, you can no longer see it). But I'm not going there today, because I don't want to piss anyone off. Instead, I've prepared a comprehensive list of nice things I can say about the Cube, which are:
1. I've never lost it in a parking lot.
2. It's a massive middle-aged woman magnet.
That's about it. Yeah, so maybe it isn't the best car in the world. Why then, you might ask, do I keep it around? Why don't I just sell it to one of those middle-aged women, who can then brag to everyone at book club that she did something "kooky?" Well, I have a reason. And that reason is: parking privileges.
The Cube, you see, is a beater car. It isn't worth much. In fact, I once tried to sell it, and after it spent more than three weeks on AutoTrader and Craigslist, the only interest I got was one call from a wholesaler and about 90 spam e-mails for penis enlargement pills. (Note that I've said "nipple," "asshole," and "penis" all in one post. If this offends you, I strongly urge you to become less of a weenie.)
Anyway: the Cube's status as a beater car means that it can be assigned beater tasks. Hauling dirt, for example. Or transporting large quantities of flour. Or sugar. Or all that stuff you never actually transport, but you might if only you didn't have a nice car with supple carpeting. In other words, the Cube is sort of like an illegal immigrant: it performs the jobs my other cars don't want to do.
But the best thing you can do with a beater car is park wherever you want.
Here's what I mean: car enthusiasts take really good care of our cars. We're always washing, and waxing, and polishing, and nervously looking on while the neighbor kid jumps in and pretends to shift the gears. But most importantly, we're always parking very far away from everyone else.
Of course, we have a reason for this, namely that we car enthusiasts believe all other drivers are complete idiots who are actively trying to damage our property. We see a scratch on our car and we say "Of course!" as in: "Of course someone in a minivan backed into my car, probably while dealing with four children and simultaneously screaming on the phone to the FCC about how last night's SpongeBob contained a vague reference to pubic hair!"
But when you have a beater car, you don't have to worry about parking. Instead, you can park anywhere you want, which I believe is the single most liberating feeling in the world for a car enthusiast. Seriously: imagine pulling up to a store, and not having to find an end spot next to a pillar where you have to cheat ever so slightly to the right so you won't get dented.
Instead, you can just park in any space, next to any vehicle, and do your shopping without a care in the world. Think about it: no more long walks into the store. No more searching for a spot. No more worrying.
This, I assure you, will solve all of your problems. And so, I urge you to get a beater. Maybe if we all had beaters, we'd be less fearful. Maybe we'd be more trusting. Maybe we'd be less angry. Maybe, just maybe, we'd stop complaining about articles on the Internet.
Yeah, right.
@DougDeMuro is the author of Plays With Cars. He operates PlaysWithCars.com and writes for The Truth About Cars. He owned an E63 AMG wagon and once tried to evade police at the Tail of the Dragon using a pontoon boat. (It didn't work.) He worked as a manager for Porsche Cars North America before quitting to become a writer, largely because it meant he no longer had to wear pants. Also, he wrote this entire bio himself in the third person.


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CALGARY — Former Alberta premier Alison Redford is resigning her seat in the provincial legislature, effective immediately.
In an opinion article written for Postmedia newspapers, Redford, who has been sitting as a backbencher since the spring, acknowledges mistakes were made during her time as leader of the governing Progressive Conservatives.
"In hindsight, there were many things I would have done differently," she wrote. "That said, I accept responsibility for all the decisions I have made."
Jim McCormick, president of the PC party in Alberta, issued a statement that said Redford's premiership "started off with such promise" but he added "it was her own personal choices that led to her demise."
"She is alleged to have broken government rules, and taxpayer dollars were not treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. She has paid a personal and political price for her mistakes and we appreciate her decision to take responsibility for her actions," he wrote.
"This circumstance won't happen again."
McCormick said the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta "is more than one person."
Redford resigned as premier in March after facing increased unrest within her caucus, fuelled by concerns over her leadership style and a $45,000 trip to South Africa for Nelson Mandela's funeral.
Redford and her aide flew to Ottawa, where the premier joined the prime minister's entourage. Her aide, however, took a commercial flight to South Africa. He and Redford returned to Alberta first class on another commercial flight so she could attend the swearing-in of her new cabinet.
She eventually paid back the money, but only after weeks of pressure and her repeated declarations that she would not.
Since she left office, she has faced increased criticism over her travel habits.
Last week, the CBC reported that a leaked review from Alberta auditor general Merwan Saher found that passenger lists on government aircraft were altered so that Redford could fly alone.
Redford issued a denial via Twitter. She said she had fully co-operated with Saher's investigation and "would be surprised if these allegations are true."
She also said "there was never any directive preventing others from flying on government aircraft when I was a passenger. In fact, on most occasions that I can recall, when I was on government flights, I travelled with other elected officials, public servants and staff."
It's expected that Saher's full report will be released to members of the legislature and the public on Thursday.
"I will leave it to others to analyze and comment on the past. I am sure that I will be asked to weigh in, but I will respectfully decline," Redford wrote in her opinion piece Wednesday. "It is time to move forward."
Trained as a lawyer, Redford indicated she will teach and resume work in international development and public policy.
There had been calls from within her own party to give up her Calgary-Elbow seat.
Thomas Lukaszuk, one of the men vying to become the next leader of Alberta's Conservatives, had called for an emergency caucus meeting to discuss Redford's continued membership in the party.
He said it is now time to move forward.
"It's a new chapter for Alberta. I wish everyone involved all the best on future journeys. Now is time to focus on tomorrow in Alberta," Lukaszuk said on Twitter.
Redford said in the letter that she will not accept a transition allowance given to members of the legislature who leave their seats.
She concluded by thanking her friends and family.
"My family stood by me throughout and in the course of my political career there are some truly unique friends who have been volunteers and who have worked in my office," she says.
"I thank each and every one of them for their friendship and loyalty in the face of some very difficult circumstances."
There have been suggestions that there should be an RCMP investigation into Redford's use of government aircraft. Opposition Wildrose finance critic, Rob Anderson, was the most definitive when he said the public has an expectation that politicians who may have broken the law should be investigated.
Flight records from last spring showed Redford also took her daughter, Sarah, on 50 flights on government aircraft, including for two weekends in Jasper. The records simply list "meetings with government officials."
Shortly before her resignation as premier, Redford admitted to flying her daughter and her daughter's friend around on a handful of flights and paid back the equivalent air fares. She also admitted taking a government plane to a family funeral in Vancouver and bringing a plane in to fly her back from a Palm Springs vacation.
Then, within days of her resignation, it was revealed her office had intervened with the Infrastructure Department to make changes to the top floor of the Federal Building.
The building, a block north of the legislature, is being renovated to house politicians, political staff and civil servants. In July 2012, Redford's office ordered changes to the top floor to accommodate a "premier's suite" complete with changing and grooming areas, a fireplace, separate temperature controls, a butler's pantry and dining and study areas.
Documents revealed $173,000 was spent on design work for what became known as "sky palace," before the plans were scrapped.
A Mount Royal University political scientist questioned the timing of Redford's resignation as a member of the legislature Wednesday.
"Redford made the right decision, but at the wrong time," Duane Bratt said in a Tweet. "She should have resigned as MLA at the same time as she resigned as premier."


text: Shea and Derek are back with their February manga episode. This month they look at two titles that, in many ways, are diametrically opposite in terms of style and audience. They begin with Seiichi Hayashi's Red Colored Elegy, the softcover edition of which has just been released from Drawn and Quarterly. This is the story of two young artists cohabiting and the struggles they endure with their families, they work, and their relationship with one another. But there's much more going on in this narrative, as the guys abundantly point out. This is an experimental work that was originally serialized in Garo during the early 1970s, and Hayashi's variations in visual style, along with his employment of nonconventional storytelling techniques, are what make this such an intriguing and significant work.


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Thinktank calls for tax system reform
The tax system in Britain should be replaced with a single rate on all forms of income, according to a thinktank.
A report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has outlined its recommendations to improve the British tax system.
In order to make the system more "progressive and efficient", the proposed reforms would involve 2 elements.
Firstly, it would combine all rates and allowances for employee national insurance contributions and income tax in a single tax schedule and would apply to all incomes on an annual basis.
Secondly, it would abolish tax bands in favour of a formula-based system where the marginal rate would rise according to each taxpayer's precise level of income.
If these recommendations were to be implemented, the IPPR believes work incentives could be improved and tax avoidance could be reduced as tax would not vary based on different sources of income.
It could also allow the government to raise taxes without as much political opposition, the institute claims.
The report stated:
"This variable treatment of different sources of incomes, combined with sharp 'cliffs' in the marginal rate between tax bands, creates perverse economic incentives, makes tax avoidance more likely and is far from transparent.
"Overall, the UK's tax system is not progressive. On average, the poorest 20% of households pay 35% of their gross income in tax, far more than the average for all other households."
Contact us to discuss your current tax liability.


text:
Jaime Boler: Thank you, Melanie, for letting me ask you these questions. Hand Me Down is so incredibly powerful and provocative.
Melanie Thorne: Thank you, Jaime, for taking the time to ask such insightful questions!
JB: Did you always want to be a writer?
MT: It didn't even occur to me that I could make a career as a writer until I was in my early twenties and Pam Houston suggested I apply to creative writing graduate programs. For most of my youth, I wanted to be a rock star or an actress/singer.
JB: How would you describe Hand Me Down in ten words or less?
MT: OMG, this is so hard! Here goes: A tough, tender novel about sisters searching for home.
JB: Hand Me Down is semi-autobiographical. Can you explain?
MT: The basic outline of events in the novel—Liz's mother choosing her sex-offender husband over her daughters, the sisters' separation and subsequent journey—is based on my childhood experience. But in writing and revising this book over the years, real people turned into characters, timelines and places and exact details were altered and adjusted to better serve the story, so the result is a mix of truth and fiction.
JB: Why did you want to write a novel instead of a memoir?
MT: When I first started writing Hand Me Down, I had images of a "based on a true story" line on the eventual cover. There was a part of me that wanted the world to know that these events had really happened, but as I got deeper into the project, there was a bigger part of me that wanted the freedom to shape the truth of what happened in order to tell the truth of the story. In a novel, I could make stuff up without worrying about the limitations of "what really happened" so I could get at the larger emotional truths more easily. There is also an aspect of protection in writing a novel. No one knows which parts are pulled directly from my teenage journals and which parts I made up completely, and I appreciate that little bit of shelter.
JB: The title Hand Me Down has so many meanings to me in this story: sisters Liz and Jaime are passed from relative to relative almost like an old garment yet abuse is also passed down like eye color and diabetes in your story. What does the title mean to you?
MT: Very close to what you said, actually, which is great to hear. I tried so hard to come up with a title that would encompass the idea of Liz and Jaime literally moving from place to place, and also the idea of qualities and behaviors—both genetic and learned traits—being passed down through generations. I had pages and pages of possible title lists in my journals and then one morning I woke up and Hand Me Down had appeared in my brain like a little present from the writing fairy.
JB: Hand Me Down is told from the perspective of fourteen-year-old Liz. Why did you choose to tell the story in this way? Do you think the story would have the same deeply moving effect on the reader if you had not used the first-person point of view?
MT: Part of the motivation for writing this story was hearing my angry and hurt teenage self in my head, begging at first, and then demanding that I let her tell her story. She needed to be heard, that part of me needed to be heard, so I thought I'd give her a voice retroactively, on the page. First person was the only way for me to truly let Liz tell this story, and I'm not sure it would have been as powerful without access to Liz's emotions and inner thoughts. There is so much she doesn't say for so long that having insight into her mind allows readers to connect with her more.
JB: I know you have a younger sister. Is the character of Jaime based on her? What has been her reaction to your novel? What has been the reaction of other family members?
MT: Jaime is indeed based on my sister, and much of Liz and Jaime's dynamic is the same as my and my sister's. The first thing she said after she read Hand Me Down was, "I forgot what a jerk Dad was." The book brought up a lot of memories for her, but it was also gratifying to hear that the one other person who'd lived some of these experiences felt I'd gotten them right. My sister has been incredibly supportive, as have the rest of my family members. I think it's been difficult to have so much of this stuff stirred up and put out in the public, and they have been so understanding and supportive, and best of all, proud of me for this accomplishment. I'm so lucky to have them.
JB: Liz is based on you. How are you alike and how are you different?
MT: Liz and I were both fighters; both of us skeptical and cautious, slow to trust but fiercely loyal. We were both independent, but acted tougher than we felt; both driven and determined to succeed beyond what the world expected given our circumstances. But Liz is braver than I was at fourteen, says the things I wish I'd said, takes action when I would have retreated. I like to think of her as a stronger version of my teenage self; me with the benefit of ten years of hindsight.
JB: How does Hand Me Down differ from what really happened to you?
MT: It's hard to separate out all the little exaggerations or adjustments I made in the process of fictionalizing my experiences. I can tell you that one of the few entirely made-up scenes in the novel is the big climax scene with all involved parties near the end. There wasn't a big blow out fight like that in real life, but the book needed to hit a peak, and I thought bringing everyone together would cause sparks to fly.
JB: What was the most difficult part about writing Hand Me Down? Was it hard recalling painful events and issues? Did you ever just stop writing and leave it for a while? Or even cry and rage at the past?
MT: There were definitely issues that were difficult to confront and moments that hurt to relive, but it was worth the uncomfortable trips down memory lane. The initial planning and research—which mainly involved reading old journals from when I was fourteen—made me cry a lot. I did rage some, too, but most of that was in the early stages of the project, the personal steps I needed to take towards healing that made it possible for me to write a three-dimensional story that was bigger than just me.
I did take long breaks while working on it because I was too busy working the jobs that paid the bills to write much, but I think those pockets of time away really helped me to process the events and gave me (and the book) a better perspective.
JB: The paperback version of Hand Me Down, published March 26, has an epilogue. Why did you choose to add an epilogue to the paperback edition?
MT: The epilogue, "Word Association" was originally a story I wrote in grad school that features Liz and Jaime about ten years after the events in Hand Me Down. My agent and editor thought it would be a nice addition to the paperback as a glimpse into the futures of the characters, and I agreed. Many readers have written to me asking for a sequel, so I think they are really going to like this extra bonus material. I also love the way we've added it: as an essay Liz writes for a creative writing class in school, just like I did in real life.
JB: Hand Me Down was originally your thesis. Writing it, did you have any idea that one day it would be a successful and compelling novel?
MT: I hoped that it would be both those things, but at that point, mostly just enough for me to satisfy my degree requirements and not make a fool of myself at my thesis defense. I never really thought it would become a real book until it did, and sometimes it still seems unreal.
JB: How has writing this book helped you overcome your own neglect and abuse?
MT: One of the biggest things I realized while writing Liz's journey was that the mistakes her parents made—the mistakes my parents made—were not about her or me, but rather results of their own childhood traumas. For a long time I wondered what I had done wrong, as so many kids in these situations do, and I beat myself up over the ways I could have tried harder to be good enough to keep.
Writing Hand Me Down helped me see that my parents' choices were influenced by their own abusive childhoods, and I learned to accept that their errors were not my burden or responsibility. What is my responsibility is how I choose to move forward.
JB: Have you heard from readers who shared a similar childhood as you did? Is the novel helping them come to terms with their own pasts?
MT: Yes, many readers have written or told me their stories of abuse and family betrayals, of separation from parents and siblings, of being forced to move out at young ages, or bouncing between friends' couches and guest beds to avoid unsafe households.
A woman in her late sixties wrote to me and told me she'd been abused as a child and had never told anyone until now. My book had given her the strength to say out loud the unspeakable things she'd experienced. It made me cry. There seems to be a sense of freedom in these readers in finally expressing their private tragedies, and it's amazing for me to be able to witness their first steps toward recovering.
JB: What was it like working with Pam Houston and Lynn Freed at UC Davis? What advice did they give you?
MT: Pam and Lynn are tremendously talented writers and teachers, and I learned so much from both of them. I think the greatest advice I got from Pam was to resist the urge to write the lines that say, "Look, reader, at how bad it was." She taught me to earn the emotions, to show them by focusing on the concrete physical world. From Lynn, "Smother your darlings" and "Less is more" are the two bits of advice that stand out the most. I am so grateful to have been able to work with such amazing women.
JB: What advice do you have for anyone writing a debut novel? Or for anyone writing about trauma in his or her own life?
MT: In writing about a personal trauma, I think it's important to try to look at the events from multiple angles. That might not happen in the first draft, and it's normal to write your side first. But in revisions, shift your perspective and do your best to see through the eyes of multiple people involved. Don't be afraid to admit the hardest thing about your characters, especially if one of them is you. Writing the difficult truths makes the best stories.
For all writers, I'd say just keep going. That is the only thing you can do.
JB: What do you like to do when you aren't writing?
MT: Reading, of course, gardening, watching smart TV, going to the beach, walking in pretty places, crafting, singing, cooking, and having good conversations with friends.
JB: What are some of your favorite books and who are some of your favorite authors?
MT: Oh, boy. There are so many, and so many ways to classify favorites. But here are a few off the top of my head in no particular order. Books: Kindred, Animal Dreams, The Beach, Good in Bed, Alice in Wonderland, The God of Animals. Authors: Pam Houston, Christopher Pike, Barbara Kingsolver, Dorothy Allison, Amy Bloom.
JB: What are you currently reading?
MT: I just finished The Fault in Our Stars. Talk about heart-breaking.
JB: Who has influenced your writing the most?
MT: Nancy Drew and Christopher Pike books were my earliest major influences, and then when I began to study the craft of writing, Pam Houston, Toni Morrison, and Dorothy Allison inspired me with the strength of their writing and the power of their stories.
JB: What do you hope readers take with them after reading Hand Me Down?
MT: I think the biggest lesson Liz learns is to speak up, which is a lesson I also learned in writing this story, and something I hope anyone else who has caged a secret in their chest will take away from the book. It's so important to unearth the betrayals and abuse that often get buried in embarrassment or fear or shame. It's necessary to discuss those uncomfortable truths, to release the pent-up emotions in order to begin to heal. I hope that's another take-away: hardship doesn't have to mean destruction; getting the truth out in the open is the first step in moving on.
JB: What's next for you? Are you working on anything new?
MT: I'm currently in the early stages of writing my next novel. I'm fascinated by family dynamics and, like Hand Me Down, this next book will ask questions about what it means to be a family. I love the contradictions in people, the complexities of what people try to hide and why. The dysfunctional family I'm brewing in my head should be interesting to live with for the foreseeable future and fun to introduce to the world when I'm ready.
JB: Thanks for a wonderful interview, Melanie, and best of luck.
MT: Thank you, Jaime! It's been a pleasure.


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Refine your search
The town of Henley grew up along the line of Feldon Street, the main road out of the Forest of Arden. It is a fine example of a mediaeval 'street' village and has a number of places of interest as well as a great variety of places to eat and drink.
Henley's High Street is one of the best known in England with its great variety of architectural styles and medley of red brick and black and white half-timbered buildings. The street runs north to south but variations in its width and slight curves offer the visitor a number of pleasant views.
The Henley-in-Arden Heritage and Visitor Centre, on the High Street, offers fascinating displays charting the development of this classic mediaeval market town. Exhibits include the 1449 charter that granted privileges to Henley, the recent work of TV's Time Team, tales from town life and the story of Henley's famous ice cream. Whether it's the height of summer or a brisk winter's day you're almost guaranteed to spot people browsing the streets eating ice cream!
Today there are many reminders that Henley was once two distinct settlements - Henley and Beaudesert.
The site of Beaudesert Castle and St Nicholas Church Beaudesert date from the end of the 11th century while the church of St John the Baptist and Guild Hall date from the 15th century (open on Sunday afternoons from April to October). The latter has a collection of relics including furniture, pewter plate and manorial rolls.
Henley has a good number of small, quality shops and many excellent pubs and restaurants.
For more information go to: www.henley-in-arden.org


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Hi All! I'm Heather and I blog at here. I hope Santa left you some candy (Moda Candy, that is!) in your stocking, because we're going to make some pillows today.
To make 2 pillows, you'll need 2 Moda Candy packs, 2 fat quarters background fabric and 2 fat quarters pillow backing fabric.
2 Moda Candy Mini Charm Packs (From Outside In by Malka Dubrawsky)
2 Fat Quarters Background Fabric (Seed Grey)
2 Fat Quarters Print Fabric (one for each pillow back)
2 20″ squares of batting (optional)
For each pillow, one 18″ zipper (Longer is fine! I used a 20″ and trimmed down.)
Glue stick
2 18″ pillow forms
Let's start with Candy Bars.
On you design space (wall, floor, table, whatever you have) refer to the picture and arrange your candy pieces into groups of three. Move them around until you're happy with your arrangement. These will make your pieced "bars." (See that piece in the top right corner ~ the one that's the same as the background fabric? If that bugs you, see *** below.)
From the background fabric, cut five 2.5" x 22" wide strips. Sub cut these strips into 2.5" x 6.5" long pieces. You'll use 13 for this pillow top. Reserve the extra 2 for the Candy Boxes pillow.
Place the background candy bars into place on your design space. Your layout should look like this:
***Take your backing fat quarter of fabric. Cut it down to 18"x 19". Set aside. See that nice little remaining strip? Cut yourself one extra 2.5" square for the Candy Bar Pillow.
Whew, crisis averted.
Using a ¼" seam allowance, sew the three piece units into candy bars. (Chain piecing makes this go super fast!)
Sew the rows together. Press seams away from the background fabric.
Sew your rows together, matching seams.
Your pillow top should look something like this:
Candy Boxes
From the background fabric, cut four 2.5" x 22" strips. Sub cut these strips into six 2.5"x 6.5" bars and thirteen 2.5" x 2.5″ squares.
Take your candy pieces and background bars and squares and arrange as below (use your reserved two background bars from the Candy Bars Pillow.) Or, if you're only making the Candy Boxes pillow, cut an additional 2.5" x 22" background strip and sub cut into 2.5" x.6.5" bars.
Uh oh, wait a minute. You're two candy pieces short of a full candy box. (Or three, if you count that one background piece of candy.)
Okay, nobody panic. Here's what we're going to do. Take your second piece of backing fabric. Trim as in *** above, and cut a two additional 2.5″ square candy pieces (also cut one from the other backing fabric for more variety.)
Okay, go back to arranging the blocks. You should have five 9 patch blocks with a seed grey center. You should have four alternating grey seed blocks with a patterned center. Sew the nine patch blocks together in rows. Press. Sew the rows together. Press. For the alternating blocks, sew a background square to each side of a patterned square. Press. Sew the rows together. You should now have nice 6.5" blocks.
Sew your blocks together in rows. Press. Sew rows together. Press.Your pillow top should look similar to this:
And here's both pillow tops together.
Decision time. To quilt, or not to quilt. Your choice. I decided to do some simple straight line quilting. I like the added structure and texture it adds. However, if you're in a time crunch or just not feeling it, skip the quilting.
Time to make the pillow backs. We're making a hidden zippered back with awesome flap/flange back. Complicated title, simple to make.
From your background fabric, for each pillow cut a piece 4" x 18". Fold in half, length wise, wrong sides together and press. This is your flap/flange.
Take your backing fabric. Cut in half, to make two pieces 9.5" x 18". (Or, cut into two pieces 6″ x 18″ and 13″ x 18″ or wherever you want your flap/flange to be!)
Take your zipper and run a small line of glue from your glue stick on the top side of the zipper. Flip the zipper over on top of the flap fabric. The zipper will now be right side facing the flap with the glued edge meeting the raw edges of the back and flap. The glue stick gives the whole unit a little more stability, a little less "wiggle room." I use Wonder Clips to hold the layers together.
Your zipper should be face down, aligned at the left.
At you sewing machine, switch to your zipper foot. Sew the length of the zipper. When you get close to the zipper head, leave your needle down and raise your presser foot. Wiggle that zipper head down a bit, past where you've already sewn to get it out of the way. Continue sewing the zipper.
Press well.
Use your glue stick and glue the remaining top side of the zipper. Lay the top half of the pillow back on the bottom half of the pillow back, right side together, and matching the edge of the zipper with the cut edge of the backing. Sew as above. Press well. You now have a pillow back with hidden zipper and awesome flap/flange! Yeah you!
Finishing: Trim your pillow top and pillow back to 18″ square. Lay your pillow top, right side up. Lay your pillow back on top of pillow top, right side down. Make sure your flap/flange is laying down nicely to cover your zipper. Unzip your zipper 3/4 of the way (this is your turning/escape hatch!) Pin all the way around. Stitch around all four sides. Clip the corner of your pillow to reduce bulk. Turn right side out. Press. Stuff with pillow 18″ pillow form (it should be nice and snug!)
Zip up your zipper and admire your handiness. Go show the rest of the family how clever you are!
2 Deliciously Easy Pillows!
Thanks for sewing along with me. I'd love for you to stop by my blog and say "hi"!
Heather Kojan


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We've been trying to piece together the fight in the parking lot at baseball's winter meetings in Orlando. Threats of arson? Yes. Gary Sheffield and Dave Stewart? No. Grown men twirling and clapping and slapping? My goodness yes!
Jeb Lund was on the scene, and saw the very beginning of the fight. Two men striding out of the hotel, already exchanging words and vague promises of violence. What happened next will shock and horrify.
You know the University of Florida Gator Chomp? Well, he sort of did that. He stuck his left arm out, palm upturned and rigid, and he started just slapping it with his right palm with almost Pete Townshend-esque levels of arm windmilling. Hard. If you'd told me this guy was the front half of a two-man horse costume and thought he was counting by clopping down his hooves, I would have believed you.
Then he screamed at the first man, "THIS IS HOW IT'S GONNA BE."
And, I mean, I don't know, but, like, the first guy looked at him and said, "NO, THIS IS HOW IT'S GONNA BE," and then started doing the exact same thing back at the second guy. What is the sound of two morons clapping?
True to form, they started slapping at each other. That effete elbows-out, bent slapping, like two levers coming down–two T-Rex's waving their useless little upper appendages at each other. WATCHMEWIGGLEMYBABYARMS.
When baseball agents fight: an eyewitness account [SB Nation]


text: bee-nuts; everyone has an opinion on the "correct" way to make up nucs. I can only tell you what I use and that it works for me! We take 3 frames of capped brood with the covering bees, 1 frame of honey/pollen, 1 empty but drawn frame. If the frames are light on bees we shake in more nurse bees, from a couple hives if necessary. We queen them with ripe cells due to emerge the same or following day. We are real happy when they build up as fast as you have experienced and the nucs do a lot better; I like to be moving them into 8 frame boxes in 2-3 weeks, but some of them will slack off and take 4-5 weeks to build. BTW, we replace the brood frames we take with drawn frames, when available, to keep the donor hives as strong as possible. We rarely have to feed the nucs and we split at least 3 times during spring and summer as we can get mated queens as late as November in FL. If I were selling them, I'd do it exactly the same and give my customers nucs that are busting at the seams and ready for a bigger home immediately! Unless you're going to sell your nuc boxes with them just have the customers bring 8 or 10 framers to move them into. :-D


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Due to variances in monitors, the colors and patterns displayed may vary slightly from the actual product. Physical samples should be ordered prior to specifying.
To continue with the rich Spanish influence, is Bolta's Malta Linen. The Mediterranean resort life is full of breezy, sunny days on the beach and lush retreats adorned with beautiful linens at night. Created spaces are light and airy, but at the same time sophisticated and timeless. Malta Linen's large range of 18 everlasting colors coordinate with Bolta's mid-scale design, Malta.


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Splashing your name across a game's title is a rarely defensible act of hubris. If the game rocks, you've got a plate full of whuffie to eat. But if it sucks rocks, you'll be fed rotten tomatoes from angry critics. Sid Meier's CIVILIZATION (and Civilization Revolution) is perhaps the best example of defensible hubris, and Reiner Knizia's SAMURAI, while loads simpler in scope than Civilization, is another high flying strategy game worthy of pawn-pushing iDevice strategy fans. Of course, as one of Reiner Knizia's genius games, Samurai's biggest selling point is its point of hubris.
Feel free to discuss Reiner Knizia's Samurai in our forums.


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Press Releases
Hardee's Introduces Grilled Pork Chop Biscuit as Newest Breakfast Item
Jul 25, 2005
Hearty Biscuit Sandwich Adds New Treat to Popular Breakfast Menu
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – July 25, 2005 – Making a good thing even better, Hardee's® announced a new addition to its already popular line of Made From Scratch™ Buttermilk Biscuit sandwiches, the Grilled Pork Chop Biscuit™, starting today at participating locations.
"Hardee's has long been known as a breakfast innovator in the fast-food industry, and the Grilled Pork Chop Biscuit is yet another testament to that," said Brad Haley, Hardee's executive vice president of marketing. "Our Made From Scratch™ Buttermilk Biscuits have always anchored our breakfast menu, and by combining them with a great-tasting, boneless grilled pork chop, we've created a new breakfast sandwich that we think people will love. No other major fast-food chain has ever been able to offer a high-quality, real pork chop fillet to its guests, and serving them on a famous Hardee's biscuit is like a slice of 'breakfast heaven.'"
The Grilled Pork Chop Biscuit features a grilled, basted pork chop on a Hardee's Made From Scratch™ Biscuit, and is available for a limited time at participating Hardee's restaurants.
Suggested retail price is $2.69 by itself, or $4.09 for a small combo including hash rounds and coffee. Prices may vary at some restaurants.
Hardee's Food Systems, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of CKE Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: CKR) of Carpinteria, Calif. As of the first fiscal quarter ended May 23, 2005, CKE Restaurants, Inc., through its subsidiaries, had a total of 3,165 franchised or company-owned restaurants in 44 states and in 11 countries, including 1,020 Carl's Jr.® restaurants, 2,029 Hardee's restaurants and 100 La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill® restaurants. For more information, or to find a Hardee's near you, go to www.ckr.com or www.hardees.com.