text:
A Jewish atheist is someone who knows exactly what the God he doesn't believe in demands of him.
A Blog for Rabbi Jason Rosenberg of Congregation Beth Am in Tampa. We'll talk about Judaism, Baseball and anything else that I want...
Friday, February 26, 2010
Jewish Atheists
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Kosher Scrolls? Sacred Scrolls!
First, some background. For those who don't know, Judaism requires that holy scrolls, such as (and especially) the Torah be written in very specific ways. For everyday use (e.g. study, reading), you don't have to worry. But, the Torah scroll from which we read on Shabbat has to be handwritten by a specially trained scribe (sofer). In addition, incredibly minor flaws in the text (such as one letter being partially erased/scratched out) invalidate the entire scroll – it's no longer usable for ritual purposes. Keeping a scroll in proper, kosher* condition is thus very difficult, and winds up being very expensive (since only trained scribes can do repairs, as well).
* "Kosher" doesn't only apply to food. It really just means "proper," and is used to more-or-less mean "conforming to Jewish law.
On one of my my Rabbinic e-lists, a question has come up about why we, as Reform Rabbis (who don't believe that we are bound by the law, only that we are to be educated and influenced by it) would care about this? Why spend large amounts of money (thousands of dollars in some cases) "repairing" scrolls which are perfectly usable? Why rely on Ultra-Orthodox Jews (since they make up the vast, vast majority of scribes) to keep our scrolls in "working order," when they don't even consider us to be true Jews, ourselves? Isn't this just elevating ancient customs, which may have made sense when they were created, to holy status? Isn't that what we, as modern, Liberal Jews, are committed to not doing – not doing something just because it's always been done that way, especially when there's a better way?
On the one hand, I find the argument compelling. I had a very hard time articulating why I should care about the kashrut (kosher-ness) of a scroll. Why not, as some colleagues suggested, just use a printed text (even in book form) for Torah reading on Shabbat? Why not use any well-written version, so long as it's correct*
* it's worth noting, as an aside, that some of the impetus behind the strict laws was probably to guarantee careful and accurate transcription, in the pre-computer, pre-printing press days.
But, even though I found that point of view intellectually sufficient, it didn't sit well with me. Could I really picture taking a mass-produced scroll out of the ark on Shabbat? Or, just breaking open a nice, easy to use, printed book, instead? The idea of it seemed so improper as to make me almost physically uncomfortable. It just seemed wrong, but I couldn't express why. There are many things that I do which are not according to tradition or Jewish law. Why did I get hung up on this one?
The best answer I've seen so far came from a colleague of mine. He fired off a quick response, so he apologizes for the somewhat rambling nature of this (I've only made minor adjustments), but I think he captures something essential in his thoughts:
What is left among our Jews, and non-Jews among us for that matter, that is sacred anymore? What is left that we take seriously? Shabbat? Not so much, by and large. And don't even start a discussion about candle lighting times. Do we use it as a way to pay attention to the natural world? No, thank you; we Reform Jews have long ago ushered in, and said goodbye to Shabbat on our own time schedule, not that of the spinning planet. Yartzeits [anniversaries of the death of a loved one]? Barely. We have the list which we read each Shabbat, but there is little urgency to come say kaddish by most of the children of those on the list. And then, when they do care, they often call in to move the date the name is read, so it can be more convenient. What then? What is truly kadosh [holy, sacred] to our people? What is left that they are willing to let take primacy in their lives? Not even shiva [the first 7 days of mourning for a loved one] holds a grip, by far. And that one is about comforting their friends! One of the few things left is the holiness of Torah and the mezuzah klaff [the small parchment which is in the mezuzah]. That is one of the few things left where people feel small in its presence. People worry over the Torah, fret over letting it touch the floor. They subsume themselves to the importance of Torah. They WANT it to be perfect, kosher, fit and proper even if they don't understand how that is accomplished. Same thing on a smaller scale for the mezuzah klaff. They care. We have Jews who CARE about something Jewish. We have a last thing that gives a sense of awe.
And yet now we might suggest that really, it doesn't matter. Yet another moment of holiness turns out to be not quite that holy. A couple letters flaked off? Eh, don't worry. You're telling me I can print a better, sharper and let us never forget cheaper v'ahavta for the mezuzah from my computer? Fantastic. Who wants something handmade anyway? I understand that we ought not make a fetish of things but respect and devotion is not the same as a fetish. Wanting something handmade from a skilled artisan that has a pleasing look and feel, what's the problem? I don't check the political stance of the woman who sells ceramics at the summer art fair, do I? Could we make our own? Sure there are liberal sofrim out there, and as soon as I no longer care about making the salary I make, as well as develop handwriting that is legible, I'll drop what I'm doing and become one. Until then, I guess I'll work with people who know how to do it. And I'll let my people have one last, final, tiny, remnant of kedusha in their lives. Because just about every thing else that gave people that sense has been debunked and reduced and dismissed.
Larry Freedman
Personally, I have never opened a Torah scroll without being affected by the moment. Sometimes only in small ways, very often in a deeper sense. There is something awe-some in this text which ties us back, on so many levels (content, form, use) to all who came before us.
Rabbi Freedman is right – there aren't many things which liberal Jews like us let have authority over us*. We change, as we have the right to, nearly everything which doesn't "work" for us. But, at some point, to some degree, religion must also be about serving something other than ourselves. It must be about obligation and (as loaded as this word is) submission, as well as being about our own needs and wants.
* Berit Milah - ritual circumcision - would be another, by the way
Maybe that's enough. Maybe having this one place where we don't get to make the rules is reason enough to not change those rules. Maybe even the most liberal of Jews among us can find a use in saying, on occasion, that it's really not up to me.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Reform Responsa
Our class on Reform Responsa has been going great, and we've got one more session – Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Even if you haven't joined us, yet, you're welcome to do so – we look at different cases each time, so you can jump in whenever you want to.
The three topics for this week (subject to change, of course) will be:
- What does Reform Judaism say about in vitro fertilization, and about the status of an embryo so created?
- Would Reform Judaism support compulsory immunization of children?
- Does Reform Judaism endorse, allow or forbid same-sex marriages?
As a prelude to the class, I want to open up a discussion on one of these. I really want to do the last one, but I'm going to avoid it, because it's often hard to have a controlled, measured discussion about topics like that in a forum like this. So, let's stick with immunization.
Speaking from your own perspective – is it right to compel parents to immunize their children? If you have any knowledge about this, what do you think Reform Judaism would/should say about that? And, what are the reasons behind your opinions? That's at least as important as the opinions themselves.
Let the games begin…
So, I just watched Tiger Woods' speech. I wasn't going to comment (I try to remind myself that I'm a Rabbi, not a pundit), but I found myself with a few thoughts, which I might as well share, especially since they do relate to Jewish teaching.
First of all, I have absolutely no opinion about Tiger's sincerity. I'm sure that many people will be chiming in, praising him for how clearly he meant what he said, and offering this and that "proof." Others will find it completely disingenuous, and believe that it was nothing more than a desperate PR attempt. As I often try to remember, acknowledging our own ignorance is often a good place to start. No one, with very few exceptions, has any idea whether Tiger really meant what he said. Certainly, no one reading this blog.
Maybe that's why I did appreciate one thing he said very early in his speech – the real apology is not contained in his words, but rather in his future deeds. Maimonides, one of the greatest teachers in Jewish history, famously taught that a sin is truly forgiven when, and only when, you have a chance to commit it again, and you choose not to.
I also very much appreciated his almost total lack of the use of the term "mistake;" he only used it once. It's an enormous pet peeve of mine when public figures issue an apology for their "mistakes." These weren't mistakes – they were transgressions. They were, if you like the term, sins. They were failings. And, he said that. Again acknowledging that I have zero idea if he meant what he said, he took complete and total responsibility for what he did. He blamed his actions entirely on his own character flaws and shortcomings.
To Maimonides, and to Jewish tradition, the last step of teshuvah (repentance) is indeed changing our behavior. But, the first step is acknowledging what we did wrong. It seems to me that that has to mean more than just saying, "I did it." To truly acknowledge our transgressions, we have to acknowledge that we alone did them, and that we are totally responsible for them. No other people, forces or factors share the blame.
In the end, Tiger will probably be the only one who ever really knows if his repentance was (actually, will be) true and sincere. But, in the mean time, my initial reaction is that his speech gives us a fairly good starting point for talking about what true teshuvah looks like.
Learning from a scandal?
The Modern Orthodox world in Israel has been somewhat rocked by a scandal. One of its most prominent leaders has been accused of having sexual relations with some of his male students.
I've been hearing various reports about this, and the details aren't clear. Obviously, unless the allegations are untrue (and, at this point, it seems unlikely that they aren't true), the actions of this Rabbi are despicable, and we don't need to add any caveats to that.
Also incredibly disturbing are reports (rumors?) that some of the higher-ups in his organization may have, initially, tried to handle the offences by simply removing him from his school position, and shuffling him around the movement, trying to keep him away from trouble, and from publicity. In other words, these Jewish leaders may have done exactly what the Catholic Church has been so rightly condemned for doing with its own pedophiles. If true, that would be, in every sense of the term, a hillul haShem – a desecration of God's name.
One interesting comment, though, came from a writer by the name of Ben Hartman who wonders if there isn't a much-needed lesson contained in this awful violation:
The downfall of such a respected rabbi could also lead to a healthier view of moral and religious leaders in the community. If found guilty of the accusations, Elon could illustrate to countless yeshiva students that every great man is still, in the end, a man, that every gadol hador [ed: a great teacher of his generation] is human and has weaknesses. This could lead many in the community to question the edicts and judgments of charismatic religious leaders, and turn instead to the Torah – and themselves – as the ultimate moral beacons.
I'm not sure that idolizing a person has ever been a good idea. People, even the best of them, are flawed, and often deeply so. To put our total faith in a person is probably always misguided. In my ongoing diatribe again fundamentalism, this is probably an important thought – if your belief or actions are based on the belief that a teacher, or any person, is perfect and infallible, then take a big step back, take a deep breath, and remind yourself that no person is perfect, and no one is infallible. Respectful skepticism, at a minimum, will lead to much greater truth than an uncritical acceptance of another person's truth.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
King Tut
OK, I'm going to take a deep breath here, and try not to sound like some kind of puritanical kill-joy. But, I've got to admit that I'm more than a little uncomfortable with the whole King Tut thing.
If you didn't see the news, scientists now think that they know what killed King Tut: malaria and complications from a broken leg (along with a lifetime of painful, genetic maladies). From a scientific point of view, I find this fascinating. The fact that we can diagnose genetic diseases in mummies, the fact that we can isolate the DNA of the Malaria-causing parasite from that human DNA, all in a 3000+ year-old mummy is simply amazing. Awe inspiring.
The glimmer of insight it gives us into the Boy King's life is also powerful. Apparently, he was almost certainly unable to walk without excruciating pain, due to a birth defect. "Boy King" sounds pretty cool, but when you picture a life of pain and confinement, which ends before 20 years due to a withering disease – well, it certainly makes me think of Tut as a sad, tragic figure, more than anything else.
So, I get the "cool!" factor which is involved here. It really is impressive stuff, and many levels.
But, let's remember, that this boy is dead.
Sorry to be a bit melodramatic, but when we talk about performing tests on "his mummy," that can be a kind of euphemism which lets us ignore that we're actually performing tests on his body. His corpse. The reason he was mummified is that his people believed that it was a sacred duty to preserve the body, in order (if I remember this properly) to help guarantee a good afterlife. I'm not saying that I buy into that – that by digging up the mummy, putting it on display and running countless tests on it, we're now disturbing his immortal soul, and he's suffering torment in the land of Anubis. Tut is gone, and his pain ended over 3000 years ago.
But, Judaism does believe that bodies are sacred, even after they are no longer alive. In fact, caring for, and respecting a body is one of the highest mitzvot in all of Judaism. And, like Judaism, Western Culture supposedly counsels us to respect other cultures and religions, in so far as we can without hurting ourselves. So, why then, I have to ask, is it ok to treat a corpse, even a very old one, this way? Why is it ok to dig it up, put it on display for a few decades, run tests on it, publish pictures of it, and generally ooh and ah over it?
I know it sounds awfully old fashioned, and I know that it's beyond Quixotic to complain about these things. But, when I eventually die, I'd like to think that I'll be treated with all of the respect demanded by my tradition. And, even though I know it won't bug me in the least if it doesn't go this way, I'd also like to think that my body, which our tradition understands as a sacred trust, on loan from God, won't be used as a tool of idle speculation and amusement a few thousand years from now.
A bit of kindness might be in order
I'm not a big Sarah Palin fan. Those who know me will recognize this as an understatement on the same order as "I'm not a big Mets fan" or "I'm not a big fan of being attacked by a hungry alligator." But, as someone who tries to see issues on their own merit, rather than as always tied to the people involved, and as someone who tries to be as non-partisan as is reasonably possible, let me side with her on one issue.
Apparently, a recent episode of The Family Guy made fun of people with Down Syndrome, and referenced Trig Palin (Sarah's 22 month old son, who has Down Syndrome) in particular. The Palin family has responded with a very emotionally honest, classy statement, authored by Trig's sister, Bristol:
When you're the son or daughter of a public figure, you have to develop thick skin," Bristol Palin said. "My siblings and I all have that, but insults directed at our youngest brother hurt too much for us to remain silent. People with special needs face challenges that many of us will never confront, and yet they are some of the kindest and most loving people you'll ever meet. Their lives are difficult enough as it is, so why would anyone want to make their lives more difficult by mocking them?
As a culture, shouldn't we be more compassionate to innocent people – especially those who are less fortunate? Shouldn't we be willing to say that some things just are not funny? Are there any limits to what some people will do or say in regards to my little brother or others in the special needs community? If the writers of a particularly pathetic cartoon show thought they were being clever in mocking my brother and my family yesterday, they failed. All they proved is that they're heartless jerks.
Look – I often find things funny that others find offensive, so I'm not going to lambaste the show for what they did; that would be hypocritical. And, I know that Todd McFarlane, the writer/creator of the show, revels in pushing boundaries and stomping on taboos; that was probably the point of the clip, more than any specific cultural/political statement. I strongly believe in Free Speech, and I'm not trying to get into an argument about whether McFarlane should have been allowed to write/air this piece.
But, I have to admit that I feel a lot of sympathy for the Palin family at this moment. Having a child with Special Needs is incredibly difficult, and the battle to keep your child, whom I'm sure they love as much as I love mine, protected from teasing and nastiness must be never-ending, and exhausting. Maybe McFarlane should be allowed to air a show such as this. I'm just not sure that the world is any better for having done so.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Tonight's Reform Responsa - cancelled
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Reform Responsa
Last week, we started a four-week course on Reform Responsa. If you don't know, Responsa are answers which rabbis give to questions they are asked. Often, these might be very specific, technical questions: am I allowed to eat this? What is the proper blessing for this? That kind of thing.
The Reform Movement has a long history of doing Responsa, although they differ in several ways from more traditional Responsa. Coming from the Reform world, they are more willing to change previous law, and they focus more on education, and less on dictating the single, proper answer. Because of all of that, they provide a unique way to learn about Reform Jewish decision-making. Essentially, they try to give us the tools which we need to make our own decisions, as Reform Jews.
I'm still sorting through the various Responsa which we might look at for tomorrow's class. But, here are two early frontrunners:
- should a synagogue superintendent, who lives on the synagogue premises, be allowed to keep a gun in his apartment?
- Should a synagogue board member, who has been accused of cheating a fellow member in a non synagogue related activity (e.g. a business matter) be allowed to remain on the board? What if the facts of the case have been established beyond dispute?
If you feel like getting the conversation rolling now, feel free to chime in with comments. But, don't go for a simple yes/no – what are your reasons? What are the factors – the categories of reasons – which go into your answer? For example, the attitude of Judaism, in general, about guns will come into play for the first question. The second question deals with, among other things, the role of a Board Member, as well as the issue of gossip/accusations.
And, of course, if you find this interesting, come join us tomorrow (Thursday) at 7:30!
Correcting God
I'm currently working on a blog post, and I'm using speech recognition software, because my wrist strain is acting up again. It's pretty neat (and it's built into Windows Vista, so you can use it for free if you have Vista or Windows7) – you just speak, and it transcribes your words. If it misunderstands something, you just say "correct XXX", and it lets you fix the error.
That means that, if, say, you're a rabbi writing blog posts, you might find yourself saying, "Correct God" quite often.
I got to admit -- that doesn't exactly feel right…
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Asking and Telling
If you're interested in the topic, Frank Rich has an Op-Ed in today's New York Times which does a much more thorough job of destroying the "letting them in will wreck the military" argument.
the most common last-ditch argument for preserving "don't ask" heard last week, largely from Southern senators, is to protect "troop morale and cohesion." Every known study says this argument is a canard, as do the real-life examples of the many armies with openly gay troops, including those of Canada, Britain and Israel. But the argument does carry a telling historical pedigree. When Harry Truman ordered the racial integration of the American military in 1948, Congressional opponents (then mainly Southern Democrats) embraced an antediluvian Army prediction from 1940 stating that such a change would threaten national defense by producing "situations destructive to morale." History will sweep this bogus argument away now as it did then.
And, as for the Rabbis who oppose inclusion on religious and moral grounds? Well, a true refutation of that view would take more time than I have at the moment (because, it's really an ongoing argument against Fundamentalism of any kind), but, for now, a bit of snark will have to do.
Friday, February 5, 2010
1000 Rabbis CAN be wrong
When Americans are suffering economically and millions need jobs, it's shocking that the Administration is focused on its ultra-liberal militantly homosexualist agenda forcing the highlighting of homosexuals and homosexuality on an unwilling military. This is the equivalent of the spiritual rape of our military to satisfy the most extreme and selfish cadre of President Obama's kooky coalition.
That's me. Extreme, selfish and kooky. And proud.
We agree with Eileen Donnelly of the Center for Military Readiness that this will hurt the cohesiveness of the military, cause many to leave the army, and dramatically lower the number of recruits, perhaps leading to the reinstatement of a compulsory draft.
You know, just like we predicted would happen with blacks. And women. Also, it's impossible to think that the military would benefit from having a larger pool from which to recruit at the exact same time that it's having trouble finding people willing to serve, right?
Thirteen months before 9/11, on the day New York City passed homosexual domestic partnership regulations, I joined a group of Rabbis at a City Hall prayer service, pleading with G-d not to visit disaster on the city of N.Y. We have seen the underground earthquake, tsunami, Katrina, and now Haiti. All this is in sync with a two thousand year old teaching in the Talmud that the practice of homosexuality is a spiritual cause of earthquakes. Once a disaster is unleashed, innocents are also victims just like in Chernobyl.
So, all of those other disasters were caused because the people in those places were too tolerant of gays, and therefore brought down God's wrath on themselves? I'm not even going to bother refuting the basic idea here, because if you do believe such things, then I don't think you're really open to rational arguments.
Let me take a deep breath, and pray that everyone remembers that you don't need to be a bigoted, backwards-thinking nincompoop to be a Rabbi. Even if 1000 Rabbis disagree with me on that one.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
1,000,000 Thanks
I am proud to let you know that today we surpassed $1,000,000 in contributions to the Union for Reform Judaism's Haiti Relief Fund! Kudos to all the clergy and congregations that have helped spread the word and made this relief effort a priority. Special praise is due our colleague Marla Feldman for her herculean efforts to coordinate the effort and assure that every dollar is well spent to help those most in need.
A few highlights:
- Nearly 9000 individual donors have contributed thus far; -60% of the total raised to date came from on-line gifts;
- To date, $140,000 has been allocated and another $350,000 worth of proposals is 'in the pipeline'. (All allocations information is and will be available at www.urj.org/haiti.)
- We have received numerous gifts from religious school students, congregations and NFTY youth - including those who raised funds from fellow passengers on their flight to a conclave!
It is at times like this that our Reform Movement lives the values we teach and preach. Thanks to all of you who helped make this wonderful effort possible.
Rabbi Elliott A. Kleinman
Chief Program Officer
Union for Reform Judaism
633 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Fax 212-650-4229
The need in Haiti has not subsided - so neither has the need for donations. Please, whether you've already made a donation, make a donation today.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Rabbinic Humor
* that applies to God's formal name - spelled yud-heh-vav-heh in Hebrew - not various other nicknames, such as "God" or "Eternal One")
So, that led someone to ask their Rabbi about computers. What, this congregant wanted to know, does it mean if you store God's name on your computer? Is your Hard Drive now sacred? Can you never delete the file? Sources were checked, and everyone agreed that there was no need to worry - God's name wasn't really on the harddrive. All that was there was a series of one's and zero's.
Which led one colleague of mine to reply, "Not true. There are no zero's. God is only One."
Rabbinic Humor. Never a good idea.
By the way, if this topic interests you, then the more difficult question is what do we do if God's name appears on our computer screen? If we scroll down, and thus "erase" God's name from the screen, does that count as an illegal destruction of God's name? If you want to know the answer, check out this Responsum (Rabbinic legal opinion). And, if you find that interesting, then think about joining us on Thursday evenings (starting at 7:30) in February for our class on Reform Responsa!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Swords and Plowshares
Don't stop after beating the swords into plowshares, don't stop! Go on beating and make musical instruments out of them.
Whoever wants to make war again will have to turn them into plowshares first.


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October 27: Cherry Bombe University, NYC, I'll be teaching a workshop on all things homemade. More info here.
October 13, 1:00 pm Boston Book Festival: I'll be speaking at Eataly Boston about how to turn your food dreams into writing! Book signing to follow. More info here.
December 9, 4:00 pm: Spotty Dog Cafe, Hudson, NY, I'll be in contact with my dear friend Janet Reich Elsbach about her new book, Extra Helping.
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There is a candle dynasty around here, and its main headquarters is about an hour away in the Pioneer Valley. The sign, outstandingly visible from the highway, claims the location as "the scenter of the universe." I drove by the place on my way to a wedding this past summer; it was a ...
On second thought, (as I do have my own ways of dancing around the issue) and although yes, yes, spinach is entirely conversation worthy on these crisp cuspy equinitox-ical days, really I'm just thinking about Laurie Colwin.Oh Laurie Colwin, the voice that whispers between my heart and my belly. ...
I feel like you either know about popovers or you don't.
I guess, like most of this stuff, it could be a bit more complex. Maybe your mom made them when you were little, but they feel like a mystery to you now. Or maybe you've had them and loved them, but you've never made them, and they seem like ...
Yogurt and Herb Breadadapted from Mollie Katzen, The Enchanted Broccoli Forest1 cup all-purpos
e flour1 cup whole wheat or spelt flour1 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon baking soda1/2 teaspoon salt4 tablespoons butter, melted2 large beaten eggs1 cup firm yogurt1/3 cup honey1/2 cup mixed fresh ...
I like pizza- I always have. I like greasy pizza and healthy pizza. I can't really argue with bread and cheese. But when Joey was growing up eating pizza all day long, I had my own limited diet. I was a picky kid, and for years, my mother made me noodles, with broccoli and cheese on the side. ...
I have been working on a graham cracker recipe.
It's almost there.
But I've never been one for perfection, so I'm going to tell you about it now.
Let me just say right off the bat that I love a good graham cracker. In fact, I love them so much that the boxed ones do it for me too. But ...
I'm lamenting the fact that I have no radishes. I'm hoping that maybe you have some radishes.
If you do, will you help me out here?
Will you cut a few slices of bread and slather them with a little too much butter? Will you slice up those radishes and spread them on top, and then give them just a ...
Maple Cornbreadadapted from the King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion1 cup (4 1/4 ounces) all-purpose flour1 cup (4 3/4 ounces) yellow cornmeal1 tablespoon baking powder1 teaspoon salt1 cup buttermilk1/4 cup maple syrup4 tablespoons butter, melted2 large eggsPreheat the oven to 425 degrees. Lightly ...
I teach cheesemaking, preserving and other workshops. Get the schedule.
Learn more about my new book, Eating from the Ground Up, due out February 2018.

subset: commoncrawl


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Celebrity Vegans:
Here's a little lighthearted info to break up the relentless professionalism of this website… ahem.
Want to know which slebs are supporting the vegan cause? Here's a quick run-down of those out and proud vegelebrities:Want carbon-neutral webhosting with great customer service? Try DreamHost and use code 'Vegans' for a third off!


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Molly Spencer, Ph.D.
Food Science and Technology
Degree Pursuing:
BS, Food Science (NC State)
Molly Spencer is a second-year Ph.D. student in the UC-Davis Food Science graduate group working in Dr. Jean-Xavier Guinard's sensory science laboratory. She grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, then attended North Carolina State University (NC State) to obtain a B.S. in Food Science in May 2013. At NC State, Molly completed two senior design projects, one with the purpose of reducing the sodium waste stream from pickle processing and the other involving development of a lower-sodium frankfurter formulation for school lunches. She then took a year off from school, working in the pharmaceutical industry in an analytical chromatography lab, before beginning her studies in Sensory Science at UC-Davis in Fall of 2014. In the Summer and Fall of 2015, Molly was involved in a project with the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) to update the Coffee Tasters Flavor Wheel. She is still involved in the coffee community, but she is currently more involved in her thesis work: a project in which world flavor and cooking strategies are being explored as options to reduce meat consumption and increasing vegetable consumption in the United States. In her free time, Molly enjoys running, playing soccer, biking, traveling to new places, reading, and spending time with friends.


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Directions to The Civil War Drill Hall Theatre
The Players Guild of Leonia performs at the historic Civil War Drill Hall Theatre, 130 Grand Avenue, Leonia New Jersey (at the foot of Oakdene Avenue and near the municipal pool, where evening parking is available) near the George Washington Bridge, south of Englewood, north of Palisades Park, east of Teaneck and west of Fort Lee.
To reach us by car:
- From Route 46 East / New Jersey Turnpike: Go north (left) on Grand Avenue (Route 93) one mile. Theatre is on the left
- From Route 4 East: Go south (right) on Grand Avenue (Route 93) for 1.5 miles. Theatre is on the right.
- From Fort Lee Road Intersection: Go south on Grand Avenue (Route 93) 0.6 miles. Theatre is on the right.
NYC Port Authority Bus Terminal: A short ride from Manhattan, Red & Tan Lines (Coach USA), Local 11A passes our theater at the corner at Grand Avenue and Oakdene Avenue in Leonia, New Jersey. Purchase tickets at windows 11-15 before boarding (accurate as of 07/22/13).
NJ Transit: Buses provide mass transit for the residents of Leonia. The following NJ Transit buses make stops in Leonia:
#166, #751, and #756 (download pdf bus schedules).
Contact us for more information.


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Capital Chatter: Don't drink the water - maybe
I'm feeling queasy as I write this. I don't know whether that's the power of suggestion or the real effects of Salem's tainted water. More about that in a moment.
Astute readers of this column have asked why it is named "Capital Chatter" instead of "Capitol" spelled with an "o."
Excellent question. "Capitol" refers to the statehouse, which is the building that is the seat of government. That, by the way, is why it's redundant (and repetitious!) to say, "Capitol building." Of course, "Capitol" also can be used to describe an adjacent area, such as the Capitol Mall.
"Capital" with an "a" means the city where that seat of government is located. Again, it would be redundant to refer to Salem as Oregon's "capital city."
Anyway, this column primarily covers Oregon state government and politics. Some of that transpires in the Capitol but not all. Much happens in and around other state buildings — and bars, etc. — in the Salem area. Thus, the broader word — capital — fits this column.
That also is why this column, along with the excellent reporting by the Capital Bureau staff, is published online at OregonCapitalInsider.com — again, capital spelled with an "a."
All this is a way of explaining why this week's column focuses on the capital. The city of Salem, with an assist from state government, gave Oregon a series of unfortunate lessons in how not to handle crisis management.
• Lesson No. 1: After the Oregon Health Authority issued a health advisory for Detroit Lake, through which the city's water supply flows, the city issued a press release, "City of Salem Drinking Water Remains Safe to Drink."
That turned out to be wrong, even though city officials didn't know at the time. There were no caveats in the May 23 statement, such as that test results show the water is safe "as of [date]."
With that unilateral declaration of water purity, Salem officials looked silly, or worse, when they had to issue a water warning a few days later. It turned out that algae blooms in Detroit Lake had created in cyanotoxins in the North Santiam River, which is Salem's water supply.
• Lesson No. 2: Salem was slow to inform the public.
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the health dangers of cyanotoxins created by algae blooms are not completely understood. Potential effects range from gastroenteritis and allergic responses to life-threatening liver damage in patients exposed to the tainted water through dialysis.
Last Saturday and Sunday, May 26-27, the city learned from its out-of-state water-testing lab that cyanotoxins were in the water. Vulnerable individuals, such as young children or persons with compromised immune systems, could be at risk. Yet city officials did not alert the public until late Tuesday afternoon, after meeting that morning to discuss what to do.
I asked why that meeting wasn't on Monday, even though it was Memorial Day, and why the water alert was not issued that day. It was disturbing and disheartening to hear officials respond that it was difficult to get hold of people on the holiday weekend.
That is scary. It implies the community's disaster-response plan and processes are inadequate. Unless landlines, cellphones, the internet, roads and all other communication networks are down, there is no excuse for being unable to know and reach the key people for any type of disaster response.
Natural- or human-caused disasters — wildfires, disease outbreaks, flooding, the Big One and others — don't take holidays. In fact, one lesson from last year's deadly wildfires in the California wine country is that catastrophes can erupt quickly and when most people are sleeping.
There might have been good reasons for city officials to announce the water advisory on Tuesday. They would have had to weigh the potential chaos of a holiday announcement versus the public benefit. If that were the case, city officials did not say so. Instead, they said the Oregon Health Authority encouraged them to wait. If so, why?
• Lesson No. 3: The warnings malfunctioned.
As the Capital Bureau's Claire Withycombe wrote on OregonCapitalInsider.com, the state Office of Emergency Management sent an incorrect "Civil Emergency" message to telephones and televisions, and it was distributed far beyond the Salem-area water systems that were impacted. As a result, concerned residents in several counties overwhelmed their 911 emergency dispatch centers with calls.
The Office of Emergency Management, which was acting on Salem's behalf, did send a corrected message. (Side note: On my home TV in West Salem, which is Polk County, the message was difficult to read.)
The city's telephone-alert system called people who have registered alerts, but the message was unintelligible. A city press release distributed regionally also was nearly unintelligible, apparently because of its formatting. Fortunately, Marion County posted the press release in a readable format.
The city was trying to direct people to the city website – cityofsalem.net – for more information. But the website crashed. And some residents and businesses, although a minority, lack internet access.
• Lesson No. 4: City officials underestimated residents' concerns.
The alerts were confusing, saying both that Salem's water was safe for most people and warning people and pets not to drink the water. (Pets are at even greater danger, according to the Marion County health officer. I was grateful that West Salem Animal Clinic, where our dog was undergoing a dental procedure on Wednesday while I was at the city's press conference, brought in bottled water to use.)
In any crisis, some confusion is understandable. But city officials were reluctant to call this a crisis or emergency, even though residents and businesses felt it was. Without clean water to make beverages, Starbucks stores in Salem were closed on Wednesdays. McDonald's restaurants did not serve any water-based beverages. Pregnant women and their families worried about the exposure to toxins.
Meanwhile, city officials pointed out that they were not required to test the water for cyanotoxins or to announce the results. Such self-praise might be warranted privately, but it comes across as dismissive of the public's concerns.
Salem has much to correct. The good news is that this was a minor crisis compared with the eventual Big One.
• Lesson No. 5: People step up. On Thursday, Gov. Kate Brown stepped in. She declared an emergency in Marion and Polk counties and ordered the Oregon Military Department to help. Free water stations were being set up in Stayton and Salem. (I'd asked Salem officials on Wednesday whether they had contacted the Oregon National Guard for help and didn't get a clear answer.)
Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum warned of price gouging in water supplies and urged residents to report such instances to the Oregon Department of Justice.
Folks in Keizer and other areas served by well water encouraged Salemites to fill up there. Those helpful businesses and neighbors will be fondly remembered. But I wonder, will they get a break on their bigger water bills?
In any case, other cities have much to learn from Salem's missteps and Keizer's good heart.
Dick Hughes, who writes the weekly Capital Chatter column, has been covering the Oregon political scene since 1976. Contact him at email@example.com, Hughesisms.com/Facebook, YouTube.com/c/DickHughes or @DickHughes on Twitter.


text: Kalco Lighting Customize your look with the distinctive and unique finishes offered by Kalco Lighting. These thrilling options will help you take your house to the next level, and bring an edgy excitement to your current home design. Enjoy the power of modern light fixtures that will accent your home in beautiful and unique ways. A wonderful way to transition from indoors to out, these beautiful pieces are perfect where ever you go. Showing all 2 results Default sorting Sort by popularity Sort by latest Sort by price: low to high Sort by price: high to low Ronan Small Hanging Lantern NV2170 $356.00 Product Details Shelby Medium Hanging Lantern NV2169 $468.00 Product Details


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Happy to say I am lead producer on the upcoming Madness — October 30th at the Kraine Theatre! It's a terrific group of writers: Dennis A. Allen II, Maggie Bofill, Nat Cassidy, Shaun B. Fauntleroy, Gina Femia, Julienne Hairston, Judith Leora, Nilsa Reyna, and Deborah Yarchun.
TICKETS HERE (use code nymfriends for $5 tickets!)


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About Bare BonesArtist Enquiry
Since their formation in 2013, Sydney's Bare Bones have been all party and recklessness, a suspenseful maelstrom of off-kilter guitars and razor sharp vocals. This is sweaty, visceral, and feisty rock music that bears shades of The Bronx at their most relentless.
With the release of their two EP's, 'Villains' and 'Cut Throat Living', Bare Bones wasted no time in establishing themselves as a moving force within the Australian Punk scene, garnering sterling reviews from Australian music press, and turning heads of industry insiders.
Recently Bare Bones joined the ranks of iconic heavy label Resist Records, with the band stating ""Each one of us cut our teeth in a scene that was pioneered by punk and hardcore bands under the Resist banner, so in that regard Resist has been held in such high esteem by all of us for more than a decade. Being asked to be part of the Resist family was extremely humbling, and feels like the perfect label for what Bare Bones is about.""
With this signing came Bare Bones long awaited debut full length record, 'Bad Habits', a natural progression from Bare Bones' two EP releases 'Villians' and 'Cut Throat Living'. There's more melodic dynamics in these songs, but they're balanced by tones and riffs more crushing than ever. The result is inspiring, stated by Rolling Stone Magazine as "a hit record of the genre. "
Bare Bones have more than held their own on-stage supporting high-profile heavy acts from Every Time I Die to Northlane, Black Label Society to Cancer Bats, and opened the main stage at Sydney's 2015 Soundwave installment alongside Slipknot and Marilyn Manson. A fearsome set at UNIFY 2017 grabbed attention from wasted punters and admiring industry folks alike. More recently, the band completed a national tour with Stone Sour as main and only support, playing to around 15,000 across one week. They also scored another main support slot with the notorious The Bronx for their Australian side shows while on tour with Pennywise. The crowds go nuts for 'em, because you never know exactly what kind of wild shit you're going to get. There's something damn sexy about it.
Bare Bones News
After being main touring support for Rise Against, Bare Bones have announced their own Australian headline tour, which will see them playing venues all through Australia. Joining them in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane is MAVERICK. Since their formation in 2013, Sydney's Bare Bones have been all party and recklessness, a suspenseful maelstrom of off-kilter guitars and razor sharp vocals. This is […]


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#TimeToGetTough presents bold solutions on taxes, national security, the debt, dealing with OPEC and China and defeating @BarackObama.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 9, 2011
Twitter Analysis
- Posted using TweetDeck.
- Deep-learning probability that Mr. Trump wrote this: 3.1%
- This tweet was probably written by staff.
This model really predicts the probability that this tweet is consistent with those posted with Android devices and inconsistent with those posted with iPhones up until Mr. Trump's inauguration. The assumption in assigning authorship is that only Mr. Trump wrote those Android tweets and his staff wrote the others. Click here to learn how this all works.


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Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger
Published by Touchstone on June 7, 2016
Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger so surpassed my expectations. I was thinking it would be a sort of twisty read with a little psychic juju thrown in. But man, I was not expecting to read a dark thriller steeped in hauntings and the pull of a small town to a young woman with true psychic powers. Finley is the granddaughter of Eloise Montgomery a renowned psychic. Finley has had apparitions surrounding her as long as she can remember. Raised by a mother who does not want to believe, when she is twenty, Finley moves to The Hollows, a small town in New York to live with her grandmother. There she meets a mother searching for her abducted daughter and she begins the hunt. What follows is a heart pounding search that may leave more than just the child missing.
I really loved the plot of Ink and Bone. It was different and really kept me guessing. At times I got the sense that I was missing bits of the story and wondered if it was a series. I found that the grandmother has been featured in books before, but never Finley. Lisa Unger's writing is vibrant and conveys a sense of dread and hope equally in a fantastic blend. The pacing was spot-on and kept speeding towards the end at a rapid pace. The world had a few tiny issues for me, but that is down to it having been created in previous books that I have not read (yet). Damn, the emotions were off the chart at times. Love, hate, fear, longing and pure terror all mixed to an almost perfect blend. I loved Finley and Eloise as the main characters. There was a kindof love interest mixed in that I didn't think fit with the rest of the tone of the book, but that's just me.
Ink and Bone is just my kind of thriller. A touch of the supernatural, with a pulse pounding ending and a huge surprise at the very end. I can usually guess the "twist" end of a book, but not here and I loved that. While I could have done without the sort-of romance element thrown in, it did not make me dislike the read at all. I have not read anything by Lisa Unger before, but will be sure to snap up her others. I hope she continues to write Finley tales, as I am not done living in her world.
I received this book for free from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


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Learn more
Crafted in Italy, the Beau Coops, Empson Heels feature a snake stamped leather upper, Ggold metallic leather toe insert, self covered block heel (slightly flared) and a leather sole. We love the contrast metallic leather covered heel.
- Heel Height: 6cm
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- Made in Italy


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According to the Data Protection Act all employee data need to be processed fairly and lawfully and no employee information can be retained beyond the stipulated duration. With electronic document management solutions from DCS, this can be achieved automatically. FileStore - Data Capture Solutions's award winning document management software forms a secure digital repository for all your HR documents and gives managers the power to tightly control and monitor information access.
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Manatees (Trichechus manatus)
Although it is hard to imagine upon seeing these large, clumsy-appearing sea mammals, the manatee was once believed to be the legendary mermaid. With its rough, leathery head, split bristly upper lip and torpedo-like body, this greyish-brown, 3000-pound animal bears little resemblance to the captivating siren. The mermaid is only revealed when we look at the manatees' inner beauty, peacefulness and grace, as well as their loving and playful nature.
The West Indian Manatee belongs to a group known as the Sirenians. The Florida Manatee is a large subspecies of the West Indian Manatee and has been on the endangered species list since 1973. The African and Amazonian Manatees as well as the dugong are also Sirenians; all are endangered. The Steller's Sea Cow, a former member of this group, has been extinct since 1768, a victim of severe hunting pressure.
Manatees have no territories, but roam the warm, shallow waters of Florida, grazing underwater pastures in lakes, rivers and along coastlines. They spend 6-8 hours a day eating 100-200 pounds of underwater grasses and plants, thus their nickname "sea cows". Although they look similar to whales and seals, manatees actually evolved from the same grass-eating land mammal as the elephant.
Female manatees mate every 3 to 5 years and have no fixed breeding season. After a 13-month gestation, one, or sometimes two, baby manatees are born. The 70-pound newborns can see and hear and are excellent swimmers. Mother and calf are quite close and remain together for two years.
Sadly, there are scarcely 1000 of these gentle creatures left today. Years of habitat destruction, pollution and hunting have put manatees on the endangered species list. Collisions with motor boats and jet skis kill hundreds of manatees each year. We humans must protect their habitat from development, dumping, filling and dredging if these gentle creatures are to avoid extinction.
artwork by Jim Lawrence ©1998
text by Beth Bannister


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It's time for some fun! Who likes drawings? Who likes FREE items? I will make this really easy!
For the rest of February I am giving away 2 free handmade wooden sign.
Chaotic Country living…kiddos, gardening, Faith, marriage…a litttle bit of everything is what you will find here
It's time for some fun! Who likes drawings? Who likes FREE items? I will make this really easy!
For the rest of February I am giving away 2 free handmade wooden sign.
If you are a procrastinator like me you probably looked at the calendar today and thought "Holy cow, Valentine's Day is in 3 days! What am I going to get _____________ for Valentine's Day?"
There are lot of things you can buy but Amazon has some nice gifts you can give your little loved one.
If you need a last minute gift check out these nice ideas from Amazon.
You can also see my previous post to make some nice gifts.
I don't get all wrapped up in Valentine's Day and the big deal the world makes it out to be. It has become a day to spend a lot of money and as a mother of four I don't like spending a lot of money. But I do like making special gifts for others and expressing my affection towards the ones I love. Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike Valentine's Day. I just don't understand why only one day should be allotted for showing our love to others.
With that said, there are so many resources and great DIY projects out there but how do you pick which ones to do. I have been on the look out for some really easy, inexpensive ideas for the big day. As Valentine's Day is fast approaching I want to share some of my favorite new finds.
1. First and foremost, Who loves Big Hero 6?? Baymax is a huge hit especially at my house. My younger three kiddos LOVED the movie! We don't go to the movie theatre very often but my husband and I thought the kids would like it.
Guess what?
They did and so did Mom and Dad!!
One of my new favorite blogs, Shortcut Saver, has a very cool idea for a Baymax valentine to share with others. Check it out here!
2. What do you do when sending just one valentine message to your loved ones just doesn't feel like enough?
Then you create some very special "Open When…" letters. This is such a cool idea. I think I am going to try and do this for each of my children in their birth month. I am really loving how you can change it up to fit your personality! A big thanks goes to the very awesome blog, Bravely!!!
3. Valentine's Day appears to be mostly geared toward the female gender. But we don't want to forget the men in our lives, whether that be our dad, brother, boyfriend, husband, best bud or any other guy in your life!! Here are some practical ideas for the boys for valentine's day from Bravely!
4. Since having children and being a mother for the past 15 years I know how much kids love valentine's day. My kids like making gifts for others instead of buying the pre-made cards to hand out. We have purchased them in the past to use but they enjoy making things for others much more than just buying for others. I really like these Valentine's Day Magnets from The Life You Live!
5. How about a gift the kids can make all by them selves and you only need two inexpensive ingredients? That is right up my alley. Check out the Glue Valentine Cards from Sarah Titus at Saving Money Never Goes Out of Style! These are very cute and you can let your creative side come out to make them your own.
So there you go. When you don't know what to get that special valentine and you want to something different check these out. I want to thank all the creative folks that came up with these ideas!!!! Happy Valentine's Day!
God Bless,


text: This is my Indesign assignment. My topic is about Neon lighting. Overall, I used a dark color to make a background tone, therefore, to create that feeling. For all the text, I use bright colors, also the outline of pictures. For both sides of this flyer, on the front side, I list some of Neon Artworks from Museum of Neon Art (MONA). On the back side, I wrote about the history of neon light from the early 19th century to now. For complete the whole thing, I also use Adobe Photoshop to edit pictures.


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Originally published in Homer.
How men earn a living and how hard we work often forms a core part of our self-identity. From modern-day corporate overtime culture to the Protestant work ethic of the 17th century, the connection between the breadwinner model and masculinity endures. Founding director of the Center of WorkLife Law at the University of California, Hastings, Joan C Williams, wrote in her article Why Men Work So Many Hours, "Not only is work devotion a 'class act' — a way of enacting class status — it's also a certain way of being a 'real' man. Working long hours is seen as a 'heroic activity'."
This overriding focus on work can be a serious problem for men. An extreme example can be found in Japan, where hundreds of deaths each year are attributed to 'karoshi,' or death from overwork. A culture of overwork isn't only problematic for men, though. Closer to home, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported in 2009 that men are still doing half as much domestic work as women. Which means that the masculine ethos of commitment to work outside the home could be coming at the expense of other family labour.


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Discover the Real Value of Oracle Health ChecksBy: Morgan Sherlock on Jan 12, 2017
Discover the Real Value of Oracle Health Checks
Featured Speaker: Megan Elphingstone, Senior Oracle DBA, Datavail
There's no such thing as a self-driving database. If you expect your Oracle databases to perform consistently at high levels, you need to have a maintenance program. The first part of that program is an assessment.
Presenter Megan Elphingstone, Senior Oracle DBA for Datavail will show the audience how Datavail has developed a proven method of running Oracle Health Checks. Participants in this webinar will:
- Learn how assessments will help keep their environment stable, ahead of problems before they start, and prepare them for upgrades
- Learn how often to run an assessment and how to interpret the results
Register now for the "Real Value of Oracle Health Checks" webinar and join us on January 19 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. CT.
Released: January 12, 2017, 8:31 am
Keywords: Announcements | IOUGenius
Keywords: Announcements | IOUGenius
0 Comment(s) — Latest:None


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Fuengirola is about to hold its first Jazz festival on Saturday, 9th July at Sohail Castle. The Fuengirola Jazz Festival has been created with the intention of becoming an essential part of Fuengirola´s summer cultural offerings.
The concert will bring together the best national Jazz performers at Sohail Castle. While this is not the first time that Fuengirola has moved to the sounds of Jazz, never before has a whole night been dedicated to such Jazz greats as Ways Group, Carlos Pino Jazz Quartet or the Jorge Pardo Trio.
The festival will close with three internationally recognised Jazz figures – Jorge Pardo, Carles Benavent and Tino de Geraldo – who form the Jorge Padro Trio and are considered by experts to be one of the best trios in history.
The festival will be held at Sohail Castle and will start at 10.30pm. Tickets are priced between €15 and €22 and can be bought from canalticket.es, travel agencies and post offices throughout Spain.
Without doubt, this is a great opportunity for guests staying at CLC Club La Costa World. Sohail Castle is so close that, even if you decide not to go, the sounds of Jazz could gently slip through your windows.
Picture credit: Martin Addison.


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Carroll & ODea Lawyers Address - 110 Crowns St, Wollongong
Sydney Lawyers
About Carroll & ODea Lawyers
Carroll & ODea Lawyers
110 Crowns St , Suite 9, Wollongong
Sydney, NSW, 2500
Website: www.codea.com.au
Carroll & O'Dea is based in the Sydney CBD with offices in Parramatta, Wollongong, Newcastle and Canberra ACT. Their firm has a rich history, having been established over a hundred years ago. At Carroll & O'Dea they take pride in providing their clients with a rare combination of traditional, personal service and contemporary thinking. Each client enjoys a level of personal service that is
at the core of the firm's tradition.
they are committed to utilizing the latest technological developments in office support systems to
complement the expertise of the Carroll & O'Dea team and to enhance the efficient delivery of service
to their clients.
* Disclaimer: While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the data, This site does not represent or guarantee the accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability of its content for any particular purpose. Please contact us if you discover an error.
Carroll & ODea Lawyers map


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1. I like it. Its a bit of a creative outlet, and I like to think that the people I wished would read it actually do read it. (And it is WAY easier than email).
2. It is a good break from work. I can think about my own life for 15-20 minutes, and then feel like not ALL of me is work.
3. It is HISTORY! Family history to be exact, our family history to be exacter. Doesn't this look like an amazing addition to my library? So I will write until I have a books worth, and publish my very own book.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Why I update the blog so often...
1. I like it. Its a bit of a creative outlet, and I like to think that the people I wished would read it actually do read it. (And it is WAY easier than email).
Posted by breckster at 5:21 PM
3 comments:
- JoJo &/or Bob said...
Hey I love that you update a lot. You may have noticed that I "segregated" my blog links on my blog according to average frequency of update. You made the "Frequent Blogger" list because you update at least a few times every week, if not every day, which I love! I hate checking blogs that never update... it is frustrating!
Anyway, thanks for blogging. I at least love it.
- September 15, 2007 at 9:40 AM
- Jessica said...
No complaints here. I'd update mine more, but my life hasn't exactly been interesting lately, and I can't complain about work because I keep hearing horror stories about people getting fired because their bosses found their blogs. I do have a date tonight (setup) though, so perhaps that will give me some good writing material.
- September 15, 2007 at 11:52 AM
- Tammy said...
Brecken, the 4th reason you update your blog so often (even if you don't realise it) is that I love to read it, and it makes me happy :) It's Monday morning, and I just got to work, and it's really exciting because I have a whole weekend of Brecken's Blog Updates to catch up on :)
xo t.
- September 16, 2007 at 6:18 PM


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Trash and Tragedy: The Anna Nicole Saga
Anna Nicole Smith is dead. So what?
By Mary Beth Crain
She rose from poor white trash to rich white trash. She was the typical misguided non-entity with an unstoppable appetite for fame and recognition, an appetite that took her to the heights and depths of notoriety. There was nothing she wouldn't do for celebrity; from stripper in a Texas dive; to Playboy bunny; to marrying an ancient billionaire gargoyle 63 years her senior; to battling his apoplectic family over his fortune for years in court after he croaked; to finagling her own reality show that consisted of weekly displays of unfathomable tastelessness; to sleeping with anything and anyone, preferably famous but if not, oh well; to giving birth to a baby whose father is still a mystery at the same time her 20-year-old son collapses and dies of a drug overdose; to collapsing and dying herself, just yesterday, in a Hollywood, Florida, hotel room, at the age of 39…Who could make it up? Who would want to?
Anna Nicole Smith was, to put it politely, pathetic. A Marilyn Monroe wannabe with neither the talent nor the brains of her idol, all she had going for her was her chutzpah. She was Amazonian in size and Lilliputian in intelligence. Last night they re-ran an interview she did with Larry King, and when she opened her big red mouth, she was about as fascinating as George W. Bush on a bender. Narcissistic, whiny, speaking in an inarticulate Texas drawl, she was an embarrassment to herself and everybody else who thought she was worth the air time.
And now that she's dead—Lordy! The media can't let go of her. CNN and Fox News dropped everything to cover the story 24-7 on Thursday, and as we speak, are interrupting the regular news with "Just In" and "Breaking News" updates on Anna, her mom, her sister, her friends, her fellow models, her tenth cousin thrice removed, and all the guys who've suddenly popped out of the bushes to claim that they're the father of her five-month-old infant.
Reporters parked themselves outside the morgue, waiting with bated breath for the arrival of the body, endlessly speculating on the cause of death. An overhead shot of the now notorious hotel has been flashed more often than those nonstop images of the Twin Towers that were seared into our psyches after 9/11. An utterly unexemplary life is being re-hashed, and re-hashed, and re-hashed, from A to Z. Anybody who's ever had anything to do with Smith is being hauled out for an interview. Nothing else in the world matters. Iraq? Where's that? A dying Castro? Who's he? Upstate New York buried under 110 inches of snow? Later. The latest Pentagon secrets and lies? Ho hum.
Now, I've known for quite some time that the TV news media is beyond insane. That they go after tragedy like wild animals tearing apart their prey, gnawing on every morsel until there's nothing left, has been a sad fact of life for years. But even I have been amazed at the shameless, brainless feeding frenzy over Anna Nicole Smith. Her death is getting as much, if not more, attention than Princess Di's. President Ford's recent expiration was a back-page tidbit compared to this. The way things are going, this poor, messed-up bimbo, who we all know OD'd, will rate a state funeral. Will flags be flying at half-mast? Will schools, banks, and post offices close? Will there be an Anna Nicole commemorative stamp, with her winking and pursing those fire engine red lips and flashing those humongous boobs? Nothing would surprise me.
What nobody at CNN and Fox and MSNBC seems to get is that they are creating the most astounding self-parody ever seen on TV. As breathless anchors try desperately to dredge up fascinating information about a boring life, and an even more boring death, video clips of Anna Nicole at various sizes and in various states of sensual and mental disarray roll by.
It goes on and on and on. You'd swear you were watching opChristopher Guest mockumentary. It's no coincidence that in Guest's hilarious mockumentary hit, "Best in Show," the Wards—a big, crafty thirtysomething blonde and her senile 90-something multi-millionaire husband—bear an unmistakable resemblance to that happy couple, 26-year-old Anna Nicole and 89-year-old J. Howard Marshall. Who can forget that gut buster scene where Sherri Ward, played by the incomparable Jennifer Coolidge, muses about what attracted her to her living corpse of a husband? "Oh, we have so much in common. We share a lot of interests. Like, um, soup…"
But even Guest couldn't top what went on tonight. FNC's Shepard Smith announced segment after segment about Anna Nicole as if it were the most earth-shattering news that ever broke. "Coming up: Anna Nicole's Roots: A Long Road to Fame and Fortune…And later: Inside the Family: The Questions and Concerns Surrounding Anna Nicole's Death…And stay tuned for A Sister's Sadness…Just moments away!"
The "Long Road to Fame and Fortune" included a ridiculous interview with a fellow stripper at a backwater Texas bar named the Pink something or other. "Inside the Family" featured an interview with Anna's hefty mom, who delivered profound reflections like "Ah told her, 'You know ah'll always loBu you. But you better watch who you hang around with." Best of all was the segment with Anna's half-sister Donna Hogan.
"She was larger than life, the toast of the tabloids," intoned Shepard Smith. "But there was another side to Anna Nicole Smith…"
On comes sis, who admits that "Well, we weren't particularly close. In fact, we hadn't talked in years." Then it's revealed that Hogan is writing a book about Anna Nicole, compassionately titled "Train Wreck." Why? Oh, surely not for the money. "I want people to know she was a real person," Hogan insists, in that annoying Texas drawl that runs in the family. "She wasn't just entertainment, a side show." Right. From the sister who hadn't talked to her in years. I mean, the body's still warm and this bitch is making the book deal. Can we go any lower?
Of course. A few channels away, over at CNN, that most intrepid of dirt diggers, Nancy Grace, was interviewing none other than Prince Frederick von Anhalt, husband of Zsa Zsa Gabor, an old Austrian degenerate in a red golf cap who proudly proclaimed that he was the father of Anna Nicole's baby. "I'm a bad boy sometimes!" he slyly admitted, pleased as punch to be in the limelight. As if that weren't bad enough, it turns out that Prince Frederick isn't really a prince—he bought the title! Poor Anna. Tackiness begets tackiness.
Surf over to the other CNN channel, where Wolf Blitzer is interviewing blowhard promoter Don King about Anna. King had the distinction of having been with Anna at the function where she made her last public appearance.
"What was that like, Don?" Wolf asks.
"Oh, my heart rejoiced!" gurgles King. "She was such a beautiful person. I just loved her." Then he really takes off into the stratosphere. "She was…Americana! You know? She had a dream, and the dream came true. She was like, Marilyn Monroe, you know. They marched to the beat of a different drummer, in the words of Henry David Thoreau…"
Somehow I don't think Anna Nicole Smith was exactly what Henry David Thoreau had in mind when he penned those famous words.
"Anna was a giant in her own right," King blathers on.
"Well, Don King, thank you," says Wolf.
"Thank you, Wolf. God bless America, and God bless my President, George W. Bush!"
No, Christopher Guest definitely couldn't do better than that.
Anna Nicole, a former lover noted, had predicted that she would "die like Marilyn Monroe." She made herself look like Marilyn; she tried to be Marilyn, right down to the dramatic suicidal exit. But juth like that ersatz royal, Prince Frederick, Anna Nicole was ersatz Marilyn, and ersatz everything else. Monroe was a wonderful actress and a highly intelligent woman—a great artist who earned her celebrity through talent, hard work and perseverance. Anna Nicole was a great nothing, a dull, self-absorbed woman on a shameless quest for fame at any price—including death. If she died like Marilyn—and autopsy results are, at this moment, inconclusive, although the Valium was at her bedside—it wasn't destiny, just stupidity. Sad, yes. But not the biggest story since the Hindenburg.
One of the best observations about Smith came from a former friend and lover. "She was a sweetheart," he sighed. "When she was sober."
Now that's an epitaph.
Comment on this article here.
Senior editor Mary Beth Crain's last piece for SoMA was Roger and Me.
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The New, Updated Gospel of Mark
July 16, 2009
Why Is a Spiritual Advisor Like a Lay's Potato Chip?
December 24, 2008
Christmas Eve Blues
December 23, 2008
Christmas Gifts of Long Ago
November 25, 2008
Giving Thanks in Thankless Times
November 16, 2008
Seeing Red
October 29, 2008
Ghost Writer
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The Poison Seeds Spread by Dying Congregations
October 11, 2008
Palin Watch V: Troopergate, Poopergate!
October 4, 2008
Palin Watch IV: Post-Debate Musings
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News>Quick Service Tropical Smoothie Café: Menu innovation, financing drives expansion CEO Mike Rotondo discusses the quick-service operator's aggressive growth plans. Mark Brandau | Jun 03, 2014 Register to view the full article Register to view this article Become a member for free Member Log In TAGS: Finance Operations Franchising News Beverage Trends 0 comments Hide comments Comment * Switch to plain text editorMore information about text formats Text format CommentsPlain text CommentsAllowed HTML tags:

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The availability of, and access to, clean growth financing and risk management is inevitably guided by overall international and domestic policy and the regulatory environment. The G20's Financial Stability Board (FSB) created a task force in 2015 on climate-related reporting by business. In 2016, the FSB provided detailed recommendations on four areas of action to improve the climate-related reporting for firms across many sectors. This briefing outlines these areas and also examines the European Union's "sustainable finance" package. Further, the briefing discusses the Canadian expert panel on sustainable finance, created in spring 2018. The regulatory environment will be an important factor in determining the future shape of financing and its influence on the pathway toward lower GHG emissions. The policy ground is steadily shifting toward increased transparency and disclosure, with the goal of mitigating firm-level climate change risk and possible systemic financial risk.
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I absolutely LOVE Cassey's message at the beginning of this workout. She talks about the comparison game and how it is better for each of us to focus our energy on ourselves. Check it out then get a quick workout in!
I want to carry this message with me into my everyday life. I know that I personally struggle with lack of confidence and I compare myself to others more than I should. I love the idea of putting that energy into bettering myself.
This morning I drove back from my visit with my boyfriend. It was a beautifully gorgeous sunny day and I really enjoyed rolling my windows down, hair blowing in the wind, and turning up my music! There was some ongoing anxiety and nervousness looming over my head because I had a presentation to give in my Statistics class. I worked on it and practiced it, but the article I chose was really short so as a result my presentation was short. I was so nervous about it all day long. Another stress that was weighing heavily on my mind was the worry that I was behind. I have an older edition of the book on my kindle AND I still haven't fully adjusted to reading electronic books yet. Luckily, when I got home, my textbook was waiting for me at the front door.
My sister is probably the best workout buddy that I could have because she holds me accountable and does not let us skip our workouts. I could tell that today could have easily become a skip day especially with how stressed I was about Stats class. I was pretty much a nervous wreck all day long…
We both decided that we would do our workout at home because we needed a break from the gym.
Workout of the Day: Back Day!!!
- 4 x 10 Dumbell Rows
- 4 x 10 Upright Rows
- 4 x 10 Renegade Rows (these Always kick my butt!!!)
I had my heart set on doing some blogilates video workouts. The first one we did is featured above. I will post the 2nd workout below:
These were both killer workouts and it felt so great once they were done! Shortly after our back workouts we took Ruby for a walk in the sunshine. I am ashamed to say that lately going for walks with Ruby has felt like such a chore. I think because I have so much on my plate right now. It is easy for me to want to skip the walks and just let her run around the house or in the backyard, but I know that the walks are good for both of us. I am going to try to think more positively about those walks.
Word of the Day:
- serving as a substitute; synthetic; artificial
Of course our statistics professor saved class presentations for the 4th and last hour of class so I was a nervous wreck throughout class. Also, I didn't feel as prepared as I would have liked to be so I am going to work on that. I know that I can do better. Thankfully my presentation went better than I thought it would. Now I feel motivated and inspired to come to class fully prepared next week.
All in all, today was a good day. I feel like I earned tomorrow which is my off day. No work. No workout. and no classes at school. I will be working. I am also thinking about moving my computer/desk into the office downstairs. I have been fighting it all this time because I absolutely love my current set up in the upstairs loft with the couch and my window. I do have to admit that this spot lends itself to easy distractions. Putting myself in a quiet office space may possibly help with my mindset and help me to not get so distracted.
I really want to spend this spring quarter figuring out how I study and in what setting I operate at my optimum. I feel so good about the fact that I have solidified my schedule and I am enrolled in classes. It is not my full-credit load, but 8 credits is enough for me to get my financial aid and keep me busy. I really like the fact that I feel a lot more goal oriented. I can make it to June!
I hope you are doing well. what is the best thing that has happened to you this week?!
Love, Joy, and Blessings Always,
Alana Xoxoxo


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Independent restaurants in St. Louis are slowly starting to shutter due to the "economic downturn."
The latest one is the Pitted Olive on Hampton.
The Pitted Olive was damn good, and I'm sad to see it close. Obviously, we didn't eat there enough (apparently, thinking about their food doesn't cut it...I was just recently thinking about their yummy pommes frites).
So much sadness for these independent restaurant owners...
Monday, December 01, 2008
1 comment:
- Alison Inaz said...
Just please do your part to make sure Jillian's doesn't go out of business, ok?
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When it comes to nail polish in the colder months, I try not to worry too much about sticking with darker colours on my nails. I still wear nude shades and even wear the odd brighter polish.
Without a top coat they are still really glossy and have a perfect, opaque finish to them on the nails.
Bikini So Teeny is a beautiful cornflower blue, which just so happens to be my favourite colour, so the fact that I can wear it on my nails is great - it's a colour I have looked for, for years, always finding similar shades which have never been quite what I was looking for, but this is perfect.
On different skin tones this comes across as slightly different shades, on me it's a little lighter than it shows on the swatch, whereas on darker skin it can appear brighter.
This is a little more Summery than Naughty Nautical but I've still been rocking it, just because I love it so much!
These polishes are available individually or in a cute little twin set, perfect for a present (or just a treat to yourself!)
Are you a fan of Essie?
7 comments:
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Not a colour I'd normally go for but I love that green! Big fan of Essie nailpolishes! XxReplyDelete
Love my essie polishes. Some of them are hard to work with but to me the shades are worth the extra time they take to perfect..!! I don't have either one of thReplyDelete
such beautiful colours! I have only ever owned one essie colour so I will add more to my collectionReplyDelete
Eilidh from Velvet-Winter
These colours are so nice and work so well together! :) xoxoReplyDelete
Such gorgeous shades!! xReplyDelete
Emma | Emmys Blog
I love Essie nail polishes and own both of these shades. Out of the two, I love Bikini So Teeny the most, as it really complements any outfit.ReplyDelete
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.
I'd love to hear your thoughts... Leave a comment below!


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