text:
"Wilder was a gift. It was everything I dreamed it would be and then so much better. It was like breathing clean air end not realizing that you'd been in the smog so long. It proved to me that beauty and strength are in every woman, and that we are far more alike than different. It was a picture of collaboration and camaraderie the way it was meant to be, without the insecurities and competition and living in masks like we do too often. It was real. And raw. I cried A LOT. And I laughed so hard I got side stitches and Hell Yeah I jumped naked and unashamed into that freakishly cold mountain lake while the sun rose and the birds giggled with us. Amen."
"Wilder connected me to women who, like me, are searching - searching for endurance, craft, connection, and direction - and as a result the weekend was affirming and life-giving. I emerged from Wilder with a deeper sense of my voice and my strength. What magic!"
"To be free. To be wild. To be my inner child. To connect deeply. To let go. To remember. To discover and uncover. To break free pieces of me. Wilder, I thank you."
"Wilder wrapped me up in the incredible capacity of the human heart, body, and creative spirit, in a gorgeous location with cool people and delicious food. Highly recommended for any kindred spirits fascinated by the intersections of running and writing."
"Wilder was able to create an unparalleled mixture of vulnerability and peace. It fully accepted me as the person, writer, and runner that I am while challenging me to be even more of myself in each role. Wilder created an environment where women could be their best at accepting, supporting, and loving other women."
"Wilder was a great escape from reality to really focus in on getting to know myself. It afforded the time to remember what I love about running -- the freedom to explore and adventure without the confines of day-to-day responsibility. The writing gave me a chance to explore my style and understand where I need to focus and drill deeper to develop my voice. It was a gift to myself that I didn't know I needed."
"If you need any kind of inspiration for wherever you are in life, this is the place for you. Bask in the gloriousness of authenticity for days that feel like weeks but aren't nearly enough time."
"I walked away from Wilder with momentum in my writing, a refreshed love of running, precious memories of soulful moments and new friends. It was a long journey from the East Coast and one that was worth every mile. I can't recommend it enough!"
"Wilder is an amazing opportunity -- to learn, dive deep, explore -- whether you want to glean inspiration or cultivate practices of running, writing and stretching. Each session brings together a rare group of gems. The connections I've forged and awareness I've gained at Wilder have brightened my life!"
"The experience you get at Wilder is analogous to being greeted by an old friend who you've always so easily connected with. I was reunited with the friend in myself and as a result I can hear her thoughts, emotions, and desires more clearly now than ever."
"Lauren declared that Wilder would be "life-changing" and it truly was! Every detail throughout the entire weekend was taken care of, allowing participants to truly disconnect from the outside world and fully immerse themselves in the Retreat. I would highly recommend Wilder for any runner/writer looking to dig a bit deeper into the core of who they are."
"One of those life changing experiences! A wonderfully welcoming, supportive, and safe space to explore running and writing in one of the most beautiful landscapes in the country. Thank you to Lauren and the incredible Wilder team!"
"Wilder gave me a chance to be all the favorite parts of me at once and permission to just completely enjoy it."
"I signed up for this retreat as a way to stretch myself and do something outside of my comfort level. I also wanted to shake things up and get out of the routine of my life. It was everything I hoped for and more--I rediscovered parts of myself that I had forgotten were there and was able to reignite a creativity and passion for running and writing that I have brought back home with me and will continue to foster. Thanks to all of the amazing, wild women who make this retreat happen!"
"The women of Wilder arrived as strangers and left as a team with bonds forged through shared experiences in both running and writing. I am so grateful to have been a part of this retreat. (Plus, the food and lodgings were spectacular!)"
"Oh, Wilder. I don't exactly know where to start, but I will certainly try. Admitting I wanted this was the first step, but Lauren and the Wilder Team provided an environment that allowed me to dig deeper, and explore more than I thought possible. I say it's been a life changing experience, and I can assure you it's not hyperbole. I'm eternally grateful for the experience."
"I've been on a lot of retreats and Wilder was an unparalleled experience — from the logistics, accommodations and food (amazing on all accounts) to the programming to the incredible space and community that Lauren, Marianne and the Wilder crew created for us. The experience helped me find new joy and inspiration in both my running and writing practices. And the women — fierce, strong, brave women who left me filled with so much hope and support. I would highly recommend this experience."
"In a world that can so often push you to be a smaller version of yourself, what an absolute pleasure it was to spend a few days investing in being wilder, surrounded by incredibly inspirational people."
"Wilder was a chance to explore what running and writing mean to me, and to be with a wonderful group of women who were kind, inspiring and a lot of fun. The retreat leaders were fully engaged and able to share their expertise while being approachable and warm. I would do this again in a heartbeat."
"The Wilder retreat really helped me to notice the similarities of running and writing practice. The workshops laid bare the self-defeating patterns and beliefs I was harboring about writing. The parallels between writing and running are uncanny. Whether you feel stronger in running or writing, exposing your comfort zones and awkward zones is both strengthening and humbling all in one."
"I knew Wilder would be something special, but it truly exceeded all my expectations, thanks to the incredible leaders, amazing staff and spot-on organization. Both my running and my writing will never be the same!"
"The Wilder retreat completely re-opened my writing doors and also offered me new opportunities to explore myself while running. I was totally blown away by the experience and pleasantly surprised at my natural ability to just open up, be myself and be social with other like-minded women. The environment felt safe but also felt challenging, in that I felt comfortable skipping out on activities, but nothing was "dumbed down" for anyone. You either did it, or you didn't. Lauren, Marianne and Julia all did a very good job!" - Caitlyn Pilkington
"Wilder was a beautiful way for me to find clarity in many aspects of my life, not solely within running and writing. I met so many wonderful women, and that community was more important than any of the activities we did. It was through community that I was able to be present and connect with the runner and writer in me and how those selves interact with my everyday life."
"Four days at Wilder was a journey in self discovery unlike anything I have experienced. It was a physical, mental, and emotional mountain that was so worth the climb. If you want to deepen your writing and running practices, get to know people with similar passions, and understand yourself better in the process, Wilder is the place. It's only flaw is that it ends."
"Wilder exceeded my expectations. I grew as a writer, a runner, and a person. Lauren, Marianne and Julia knew just what we needed and delivered it perfectly. I can't recommend it highly enough."
"Wilder Running exceeded any and all expectations I had about what a retreat could be. It helped me hit the reset button on inspiration and exploration of running, writing and myself. I met such wonderful women and got to soak up the wisdom of Lauren, Marianne and Julia. I am so grateful for the experience, and highly recommend it."
"I entered Wilder with no expectations and left with full heart. Wilder destroys societal negative connotations and proves that women are a force to be reckoned with. In the weeks since Wilder, I have felt an ongoing ability to be present in my life."
"This retreat will transform the way you approach both writing and running—challenging you to go deeper, providing you with courage, and helping unearth the power of movement—whether legs or hand—with a special group of people and retreat leaders."


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Category Archives: NaBloPoMo2016
Well, here we are on the last day of November, the last day of NaBloPoMo and I'm presented with a wonderful prompt courtesy of Blogher: have you chosen a word for yourself for 2017? This isn't something I normally do. … Continue reading
Karen's big adventure
I went downtown earlier today. And guess what? I threw caution to the wind and decided to take public transit into the city. What? Me. A firmly entrenched suburbanite. Who drives everywhere. Who drives her kids everywhere. What is public … Continue reading
"Arrival" with the family
We went to a matinee today. All four of us, together, in the same theatre at the same time. A rarity. Most Saturdays we are scattered, the kids out with their friends, me and the husband running errands, doing stuff … Continue reading
This was me in 2016
"This is me in Grade 9 baby, this is me in grade 9" (BNL circa 1992) Yikes. Looking at this, I can only say "hang in there, just watch, in about 40 years, things will be interesting and amazing". And this … Continue reading
Home Movies
Okay rant over. As I struggle to come up with content for my NaBloPoMo challenge and wonder why it seemed so easy to write non stop all those years ago, I realize it's because the focus of this blog is … Continue reading
The art of the nag
The one thing I have always been conscious of since becoming a wife and mother, is the element of the nag. It is always my intention that the first gentle reminder should suffice. That when the reminder is for THAT … Continue reading
Mad world
It was quite unbelievable watching the unexpected, almost shocking, results of the US election unfold last night. It all goes to show, polls are just that – surveys, not the final real deal. What people tell you directly to your … Continue reading

subset: commoncrawl


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News Release: Sobriety & Driver's License Checkpoint & Roving DUI Patrol
March 16th & 17th, 2013
The Arcadia Police Department Traffic Bureau will be out in force this St. Patrick's Day weekend specifically looking for impaired drivers. Members of the Traffic Bureau will staff a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint on Saturday, March 16th and will also conduct roving DUI patrols on Sunday March 17th, St. Patrick's Day.
The goal of our collective enforcement efforts this weekend is to promote public safety and increase awareness of the dangers associated with drinking and driving. This will be accomplished by providing a highly visible enforcement and publicity campaign, in order to deter intoxicated drivers from getting behind the wheel and driving. Through these efforts, we also seek to reduce the number of injuries and deaths associated with collisions involving intoxicated drivers.
We would like to remind the public of the dangers associated with drinking and driving. It simply is not worth it to drive while impaired. Be responsible and use a sober designated driver. Remember, "Friends don't let friend's drive while impaired."
Jan's Towing provides a no cost "Don't Drive Drunk" detour program, 365 days a year, and will provide a free lift home for drivers and their vehicles up to 7 miles in their service area. Call (626) 334-1383 for more information.
Don't forget to visit the Arcadia Police Department News & Information Blog or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Nixle for other pertinent news and information. Remember, the solution begins with you!
Robert T. Guthrie, Chief of Police
By: Brett Bourgeous, Traffic Sergeant
(626) 574-5475


text:
|19 Mar 2013
Windows 7 Home Premium
The installed game does not appear to be flagged as malicious. It is the ISO for the game that is being flagged.
It was located in Drive E:\Torrents\Sleeping.Dogs-SKIDROW\sr-sddvd2.iso a variant of Win32/Packed.VMProtect.AAA trojan
ESET has it quarantined.
Is drive E:\ a fixed drive?
Another issue is pointed out by SAS:
Do need that RogueKiller RKreport to see what it shows.
Will be back later...
|My System Specs
|19 Mar 2013
LSASS.EXE correct folder is C:\Windows\System32
This needs to be removed
I believe E:\ is either a second HDD or 3rd partition
|My System Specs
|19 Mar 2013
Here are the two new screens. And regarding Sleeping Dogs, I just tried to uninstall it and can't, getting this error message: Runtime Error (at 175:1185):
Cannot open file C:\Users\Carl\AppData\Local\Temp\is-MQEF8.tmp\1.bmp
I kind of doubt that file is the evil virus though? I mean, thousands of people downloaded that file without incident...
@Cottonball: I appreciate the help, but I'm honestly so tired of fruitlessly running scans all (of the last three) days. I have no idea what vistaking is on to, but I wanna let him run down his theory first.
Edit: I went ahead and deleted the offending iso. When you say "this needs to be removed" you just want me to go into my directory, find that file, press delete and everything well be fixed? O.o
|My System Specs
|19 Mar 2013
Theory ? The keys I'm telling you to look at is where programs are placed to run as soon as the PC starts .
Thousands of people do if that but I guess you're the lucky one and got the virus you're trying to remove .
If you do not want my help all you have to do is say it and not speculate some type of theories that I am having you look at . Any program that anyone would tell u to scan with will look for those keys that I asked you to look at .
|My System Specs
|19 Mar 2013
I didn't mean to imply that you didn't know what you were doing Vistaking. It says you are the Windows 7 guru right under your name. I was saying that I don't know what you're doing. Just because I don't know what you're doing doesn't mean I wont follow your advice. :P
I went ahead and deleted the iso. Should I go ahead and delete that other, much longer thing? (C:\WINDOWS\SOFTWAREDISTRIBUTION\DOWNLOAD\07CCC227213AC080954CC1FC7C451E72\AMD64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-LSA_31BF3856AD364E35_6.1.7601.22099_NONE_04A88CE28CC4EB33\LSASS.EXE )
EDIT: Well, I went ahead and looked for the much longer thing, but couldn't find any such thing to delete. I have included the screen cap for your perusal.
|My System Specs
|19 Mar 2013
Your MSE is the one who discovered the virus . Do a quick scan inside MSE if possible now that you went ahead and deleted the .iso file .
|My System Specs
|19 Mar 2013
Alrighty, I'm running the scan now. I just found out I mispoke when I said it was MSE that found the virus. x.x It wasn't Microsoft Security Essentials; it was another program called Microsoft Safety Scanner. Anyway, I'm running the Microsoft Safety Scanner to see if it can find that virus again. Thanks so much for your help vistaking! I'll edit this post when the scan is finished.
|My System Specs
|19 Mar 2013
You have mentioned that you had blue screens . Follow the tutorial below
Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions
|My System Specs
|19 Mar 2013
x.x I came back to check the scan, but my computer had already blue screened again. I'll run the scan again, and try to edit this post with the bluescreen info that the other thread requested. I'm a little busy right now though, so i might not get to it until later tonight.
|My System Specs
|19 Mar 2013
Take your time . We are here to help
Noticed you also have Daemon Tools . We've came across a lot with members here having it and having blue screens. Do the steps below
Daemon Tools uses SCSI Pass Through Direct (SPTD), which is a well known BSOD causer. Uninstall Daemon Tools . Then download SPTD standalone installer
FOR 64-bit OS
FOR 32-bit OS
and execute the downloaded file as guided below :
Double click to open it.
Click this button only:
If it is grayed out, as in the picture, there is no more SPTD in your system, and you just close the window.
|My System Specs
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Trying to get rid of virtool:win32/obfuscator.xz
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Friday, February 4, 2011
Wedding Sampler & Santa Updates
I was lazy and didn't take it off the scrollbars... forgive me. It's stitching up quite quick which is nice. Here it is to date:
I have also been picking up my Mill Hill Santa when it's later at night or I'm just tired.
It's so nice to have one project that is simple, especially when I'm fighting with learning canvas.
Here is the Santa to date:
Hope everyone has a great weekend.
19 comments:
- Emily in NC said...
Adore the Mill Hill kits, they are so fun and easy. The wedding sampler is looking nice. Can't wait to see more of your canvas project either.
- February 4, 2011 at 12:00 PM
- Nancy in IL said...
The wedding sampler is already looking elegant, and I already love perforated paper and Mill Hill, so I adore the work you're doing your Santa!
- February 4, 2011 at 12:23 PM
- RuthB said...
Beautiful progress. A 12-hour stitch-in... what a dream (as long as the chairs are comfy).
- February 4, 2011 at 12:37 PM
- Pumpkin said...
Lookin' gooooood Mel :o)
- February 4, 2011 at 12:50 PM
- Kathy said...
Both projects are looking great! I have never done a Mill Hill. I love the way yours is looking. A 12 hour stitch-in. Not sure I could sit that long. :)
- February 4, 2011 at 12:58 PM
- Patches said...
Wow- 12 hours is a long time to stitch.
The mill hill is so cute.
- February 4, 2011 at 1:09 PM
- Kelly said...
Both projects look really lovely. I love Mill Hill stuff!
- February 4, 2011 at 1:11 PM
- TammyK said...
Both of the wip's are looking great :) Love the Mill Hill Santas.
- February 4, 2011 at 3:20 PM
- htimcj said...
Looks great!
- February 4, 2011 at 6:03 PM
- Nancy M said...
The wedding piece is coming right along. Sometimes it's nice to stitch in hand and not have to have hoop or scrolls to deal with. My Mill Hill RR is coming home soon!!! I have a canvas piece I just need to get the right size stretcher bars to buy.
- February 4, 2011 at 7:08 PM
- Vicky L said...
The Wedding sampler is looking lovely. The colors are very pretty. The Santa looks good too. I love Mill Hill too.
- February 4, 2011 at 9:10 PM
- Hazel said...
Lovely lovely wips! x
- February 5, 2011 at 2:37 AM
- Mary Ivancicts said...
The Wedding Sampler is going to be beautiful! I love the colors!
- February 5, 2011 at 5:16 AM
- Carolyn NC said...
Nice progress on both! I did this wedding sampler for my oldest daughter and new DH - turned out beautifully. Love the colors you're using - very elegant. :)
- February 5, 2011 at 11:24 AM
- Linda K's Creativity Works said...
Wow...you have a good progress on your WIP's...good for you.
- February 5, 2011 at 8:08 PM
- Karin said...
Great progress! I especially like the sampler.
- February 6, 2011 at 11:48 AM
- Carol's Stitching said...
The border the the wedding sampler is gorgeous! :) Love the santa piece and can't wait to see the progress on both.
- February 7, 2011 at 3:20 PM
- Debbie said...
The wedding sampler is beautiful!
You've made great progress on your Mill Hill Santa. I look forward to seeing your progress on both pieces.
- February 7, 2011 at 6:19 PM
- Katrien said...
Both pieces look great
- February 8, 2011 at 1:03 PM


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This may get confusing.
Tis the nature of the DCOE
So I had a lean pop at the transition between the idle jets and main jets
Anytime you'd power on the throttle, VS roll on the throttle, the carbs would backfire
After a bit of research I decided a change in the accelerator check valve was needed
The accelerator pump itself can be altered to tune the lean spot out...
...but a former Weber employee disapproved
You only need one check valve per carb
They are easy to take out, but the location makes them a pain to install
See item 12
Old accelerator pump check valves were 55s (.55mm bypass hole)
Changed to 35s (.35mm bypass hole)
Lean pop during transition pretty much disappears
Middle carb is still popping a little tiny bit
I think I know why
Much improved and good enough for now
So the Z runs pig rich at idle, 500rpm
Tried messing with the fuel pressure
No luck
Went from 60F9 to 55F9 on the idle jets
No luck
Messed with idle speed
No luck
What was the next logical step?
Even smaller idle jets
Package from Italia
Ohhh shiny idle jets
Scared him
New Jets in the stack
So started it up and still runs pig rich
Switched back to 55F9s
I've realized due to my high duration cam the engine does not pull enough vacuum @ idle
Therefore the fuel has trouble atomizing and burning completely
Out the exhaust it goes
I'm not sure if there is anything I personally can do about it
I may have to take a trip back out to Rebello to see if they can get it sorted
On a side note with the smaller jets the lean pop was horrible on transition
maybe I will go to 0s (no bypass hole) on the accelerator pump check valve
This will basically not allow any fuel to be put back in the float bowl during the transitional period
That should eliminate the lean pop completely
If not I've got bigger problems


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Double Bay NB Sailsports Sprint Leg now 29th August
The final leg of the NB Sailsports Sprint Series at Double Bay has been moved forward one week to 29th August.
At this event the draw for the prizes, including the new Laser upgrade, will be made. If you participate in any of the races in the series you will qualify for the draw but the more and better you sail the better your chances of winning.


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6000 INDIAN CREEK, Miami FL
When BSG Development Corp. partnered with The Sieger Suarez Architectural Partnership in planning one of Miami's most cutting-edge high rise developments, HJ Foundation was eager to participate in the building's construction. The building's unique location on the Intracoastal Waterway creates spectacular views for residents, but also presented a series of challenges for HJ. HJ Foundation engineered a solution to allow for the 24' deep excavation, then installed 660 wall feet of permanent sheet piling and bracing against the Intracoastal Waterway.


text:
I have not been keeping up with my reading much the last week or so and have been going to old, comfort reads such as The Thornbirds, so a new review will come once I get back into new reads. In the meantime, here are some books that comfort me and, in turn, make me crave a specific comfort food.
Craving for books = the foods I crave
1.) James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl = Peaches
This one I read back when I was about 8 years old and the description of the peach, living inside of it and drinking from it was so glorious when I was a wet kid reading this at the pool. "The walls were wet and sticky, and peach juice was dripping from the ceiling. James opened his mouth and caught some of it on his tongue. It tasted delicious." Salivating over this book was the only distraction as I read this one. Note: And yes, I could have mentioned Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, but I liked James and the Giant Peach more.
2.) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins = Roasted Pig, Hot Chocolate and Raisin-Nut Bread
Obviously, hunger is a major theme in this book and the concoctions of rich, custard-filled foods can make your tummy rumble but my cravings for honey-glazed ham grew quite strong while Katniss shocked the Gamemakers by spearing the roast pig during her private session. Similarly, the Capital-grade hot chocolate on the train had me licking my lips in the kitchen, cooking up some instant cocoa (which sucks in comparison). And who can forget the life-saving, burnt raisin and nut bread that Peeta drops for Katniss behind the bakery?
3.) The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan = Chinese food
This one might be obvious but the food brings these generations of immigrant families together every week, along with the love of the game, Mahjong. These grown women and their aging mothers not only share food but also their stories of loss, hope, fear and survival. Jing-mei says that Chinese mothers show love "not through hugs and kisses but with stern offerings of steamed dumplings, duck's gizzards, and crab." I could forgo the duck's gizzards but some Hunan Shrimp does the trick.
4.) To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee = Ham and Syrup
One of my favorite books ever, two kids grow up in the Deep South during the 30s, with the ten-year-old girl, Scout, as the narrator. The father and hero of the story is the compassionate lawyer, Atticus Finch. Obviously, the integrity of this novel feeds the soul more than it does the stomach but I can't help but get a hankering for maple syrup when Walter Cunningham (a rival of Scout's who regularly eats possum and squirrel at his parents' home) comes for dinner at the family table per Jem's invitation. To Scout's horror, Walter asks Calpurnia for the syrup and then proceeds to pour molasses over his meat and veggies, which leads to Scout askin' the question, "What in Sam hill are you doing?" Scout also takes up swearing a little later in the book and decides that using it at the dinner table will certainly get noticed as she requests Atticus to "pass the damn ham, please." This small town and its belly of characters keeps me investing in smoked ham for lunches and syrup for breakfasts. There's also Scout's school play where she is dressed up like a ham stumbling around the night Jem is attacked.
5.) Wild by Cheryl Strayer = Snapple Pink Lemonade
This young woman is a little nutty as she goes from shooting up heroin and sleeping with a ton of men to the massive feat of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. 1100 miles of trudging through the mountains, camping with snakes and bears, having to use iodine tablets for drinking water and eating only meals that fit into a backpack she calls "Monster", this woman is exhausted, often dehydrated, always hungry and hiking through the elements upwards of 20 miles a day. She only has a few dollar bills in her pocket when she arrives at some local stop but her saving grace is a Snapple Pink Lemonade. Her joy at chugging this thirst quenching, iodine-free hydration gives her the kind of power in the similar fashion of Popeye and his spinach. I started drinking lemonade more frequently while reading this book and suffered a few sugar highs. Cheryl Strayed says about the mentions of Snapple Pink Lemonade, "As you know, I was obsessing about Snapple lemonade, and it wasn't like I got off the PCT and then I was drinking Snapple Lemonade every day. But over the years I continued to occasionally have a Snapple Lemonade and I always thought of how much I hungered for it on the PCT, but what's happening is all these people on my book tour are bringing me bottles of Snapple to my readings [laughs]."
6.) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte = Tea and Danish Cookies
Ah, a cold, rainy day, some Bronte and a cup of tea with a side of those yummy Danish cookies that come in the little tins. This is really the only way to read Bronte. Thrushcross Grange and the new tenant, the moors, the blinding cold, Heathcliff, Catherine… Thornfield Hall, the cold orphanage, the even colder Mr. Rochester and of course the chilling ex wife who heats things up by playing fire starter.
7.) The Help by Kathryn Stockett = Fried Chicken (NOT chocolate pie)
This book (and the film) is about as Southern as you can get, while creating a story about the segregation and demoralization of black maids in Mississippi during the early 60s. Even though the story centers around potties, this great read also gives me something else – a huge craving for Crisco-fried chicken (well, that and an uncontrollable desire to name my kid, Mae Mobley)! The part where Minny Jackson, Celia's maid, teaches her how to fry chicken got me so tangled up in a craving that I put the book down for 15 minutes and went and got a bucket of KFC. To quote Miss Minny, "Fried chicken just tend to make you feel better about life." Amen to that. Now, the chocolate pie? I'll pass on that.
8.) Heidi by Johanna Spyri = Goat's Milk and Swiss Cheese
It's been 25 years, at least, since I read this Swiss work of fiction but I remember a couple of things. One, that it was a story set in the Swiss Alps (part of the reason for the Swiss cheese reference) and two, there was a sick little girl who was strengthened due to the consumption of goat's milk. I remember Heidi, her grandfather, the secluded home, Peter and wheelchair-bound Klara. "The he brought her a large slice of bread and a piece of golden cheese…Heidi lifted the bowl with both hands and drank…'Was the milk nice?' asked her grandfather. 'I never drank any so good before,' answered Heidi."
9.) Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss = Enough said.
Waffle House, here I come!
10.) Black Boy by Richard Wright = Knowledge, understanding, love, education
One of the finest books about physical hunger and the yearning hunger for knowledge, Richard Wright pens his autobiography with such honesty and focus, relaying his experience as a neglected black child and later, a young man in the 1920s and the near starvation he faced throughout. He goes without food but cannot go without knowledge and the hunger has a new face in the books he reads continuously, sopping up every word and savoring them. "Hunger has always been more or less at my elbow when I played, but now I began to wake up at night to find hunger standing at my bedside, staring at me gauntly." And "Reading was like a drug, a dope. The novels created moods in which I lived for days."


text:
Having played the cream of what will constitute the PlayStation 3's initial offering of games in the UK, we have not a shadow of doubt that Resistance: Fall of Man is the best game on offer. MotorStorm is a great game, and positively screams "next-gen", but its technological achievements vastly outshine its structure and coherence. Resistance, on the other hand, hangs together beautifully as a game, and while it may not innovate in everything it does, it is extremely well fettled and sports plenty of new ideas.
Structurally, Resistance: Fall of Man conforms to the fps norm, featuring 11 levels, which are punctuated by fairly frequent checkpoints plus sub-levels delineated by cut-sequences. Within that, you will find driving sequences in a variety of vehicles, notably jeeps, tanks and Chimeran crawlers - mech-type vehicles that, believe us, you'd rather drive than attempt to blow up. And, of course, there are some fearsome boss-battles that leave you with a feeling of triumph when you prevail.
No first-person shooter would be worth its salt if it didn't force you to develop new techniques and, happily, Resistance does just that. The most basic thing it encourages you to do is to select the right weapon for the task in hand. We'll take an in-depth look at the weaponry later, but there's no doubt that Resistance's finest attribute is its weaponry.
It's perhaps the first fps that doesn't have a single weak weapon (although the organic mine-layer isn't great). But it's not just about picking the right weapon - you need to make judicious use of all weapons' alternate fire (triggered using the left bumper, as opposed to right bumper for normal fire).
With the rocket-launcher, for example, holding down alt-fire slows your shell down, allowing you to guide it - a technique you must master in order to overcome some seemingly unstoppable bosses in the latter stages of the game. Perhaps the most interesting weapon is the Auger, which fires energy bursts. It has a low (20-shot) capacity, but can fire through cover, and its targeting reticule still turns red to indicate it's aimed at an enemy, even when you can't see that enemy. Its alt-fire erects a small temporary shield which stops everything bar fire from other Augers. Invaluable in big fire-fights, as long as you're not facing Auger-equipped Chimera.
Grenades are also important: there are three types: conventional frag ones, hedgehogs - which are Chimera objects resembling footballs that explode in a welter of arrow-like objects - and air-fuel grenades, which are like sticky Molotov cocktails. The latter can provide major rushes of satisfaction, if you manage to stick them to airborne enemies.
Outflanking is another technique you frequently need to employ, particularly when faced by fixed machine-guns. Resistance generally lets you take several different paths, although at times (particularly when indoors) it rail-roads you in certain directions.
The storyline is excellent. The game is set in a fictional 1950s Britain which has been overrun by the Chimera, an alien race which has built a network of tunnels under the country and is close to wiping out its human inhabitants. You play US Marine Nathan Hale. At first, he is accompanied by a squad of fellow Yanks, but they are soon wiped out by the locust-like creatures which infect humans. Hale is the only survivor - able to resist Chimeran infection, although he becomes half-Chimera. Which means he can avail himself of the Chimera's health-regeneration serum (each vial of which restores a quarter of his health; a quarter of his health will automatically regenerate if he keeps out of the way of bullets for a while).
Hale roams around the country, taking on the Chimera, more often than not, with their own weaponry. Occasionally, he comes across reinforcements, but in the latter half of the game, he hooks up with a Royal Marine called Cartwright - often, he must drive a jeep while Cartwright mans a machine-gun. As the story unfolds, the importance to the Chimera of cooling becomes clear - culminating in a climax in a snow-covered London. Naturally, it's up to Hale to single-handedly send the Chimera packing. The (excellent) cut-scenes, which always segue seamlessly into action, are augmented by Intel dotted around the levels, which Hale can pick up and read.
Resistance's weaponry is the game's strongest point. You start off with a Carbine, which is a decent all-rounder - while it doesn't have a vast amount of stopping power or a particularly big magazine, it has a decent zoom (triggered by pressing R3), which almost takes it into sniper territory. Alt-fire is an exploding, grenade-like bullet - those, however, are in pretty short supply.
The Chimeran equivalent of the Carbine is the Bullseye. It doesn't have the range of the Carbine, but has a bigger (70-shot) magazine, and the alt-fire launches a tracer bullet, which enables you to pump shots into enemies without aiming precisely. Near the end of the game, you will find an upgraded version of the Bullseye.
There's an excellent shotgun (alt-fire empties both barrels at once), the L23 FarEye - a sniper rifle with an interesting alt-fire which slows down time for a period. The XR-005 Hailstorm is a chain-gun which causes decent splash damage but swiftly runs out of ammo; its alt-fire detaches part of the gun, turning it into an auto-fire turret. The LAARK rocket-launcher we've covered - it can only take two rockets and ammo for it needs to be hunted down. Perhaps the wackiest weapon is the XR-003 Sapper, which pumps out plasticky-looking organic mines, which are then detonated using alt-fire. It's the weakest weapon on offer.
Control system
Resistance: Fall of Man's control system is pretty conventional, although it uses the bumpers rather than triggers for weapon-firing. The crucial weapon-swapping system is excellent - you hold down the right trigger and select your weapon by pointing the left joystick. X is jump, left trigger crouch, circle throws a grenade, R3 zooms your weapon if applicable, D-Pad down toggles between grenade type, square reloads and triangle is context-sensitive (for example, it triggers switches).
The sensitivity of the control system is spot-on, and its feel is perfect. Which will keep fps aficionados happy. There is minor use of the joypad's motion-sensing abilities - when the zombie-like menial's grab hold of you, you must shake it vigorously to get them off you.
The Chimera are tough and varied opponents. The storyline reveals how they incubate from humans. So at their most basic level - menials - they are unarmed zombies who will grab you and chew you to death. There are two types of scorpion-like face-huggers, reminiscent of Half-Life 2 - leapers and rollers. Several can be taken out with single shotgun blasts.
Then you have the dog-like howlers, hybrids, hardfangs, advanced hybrids, steelheads, slipskulls and greyjacks. The latter are huge, but are genetic experiments gone wrong, so are easy to take down. But some of the Chimera are seriously mean opponents, armed with rockets and so forth. At the end of the game, you come across the angels - huge, flying squid-like creatures with deadly attacks if they get in close. It's tricky to take them out with anything other than rockets or air-fuel grenades.
The different classes of Chimera have different weapons and behave differently - some, for example, can stick to walls and ceilings, and you discover that it's vital to hit them with a Bullseye tag as they flit around annoyingly. Each class demands a different technique.
You're going to love Resistance: Fall of Man. While it doesn't rip up the first-person shooter blueprint like, for example, Gears of War, it is an excellent game which stands out for the innovative nature of its weaponry, its excellent story and is chock-full of memorable gameplay moments. And it looks great, particularly in 1080p. The closest thing that he PS3 has to a Halo or Gears of War equivalent - and it's much longer and meatier than the latter.
Steve Boxer


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Sunday, March 15, 2009
Curious chickadee
We have a most curious looking Black-Capped Chickadee. It's got a deformed beak. Its beak is very long and curves down in a graceful arc. Before any of you soft-hearted folks like me start wailing and gnashing your teeth, let me assure you that it seems to be doing just fine. This chickadee has been a regular visitor to our feeding station all winter, and it survived the unusually extended cold, the -50s, the wild winds, and all of the other... >cough cough<... interesting weather events this year. I have watched it pick up seeds on the ground, and also watched it pick seeds out of the seed hopper. Two days ago, I shoveled snow off the deck and it came and watched me work for several minutes. It hopped along the logs and seemed to be hunting for bugs. Our neighbor, the ornithologist, says that there are several reports of chickadees in the area with deformed beaks. Actually, I have seen this chickadee so many times and have so many photos of it, that I suspect there are more than one. Could be several who are regular feeder visitors, which is why I have so many sightings.
We have over 4 dozen Redpolls, both Common and Hoary, a Hairy Woodpecker pair, a female and male Downy Woodpecker who may or may not be a mated pair, one Boreal Chickadee, and three Grey Jays who are regular feeder visitors. We installed a new tray feeder this week, along with the suet and the mixed feed hopper and the sunflower feeder. The tray hopper was an immediate success, especially with the Hairy Woodpeckers and the Redpolls. One Red Squirrel visits, who seems to nest west of the house somewhere in the woods. We don't have any house nesters this year, thanks, I suspect, to the efforts of foxes and the ever butch Borealys.
One more interesting noteworthy ornithological event... After I shoveled the deck two days ago, I was pooped. There was four feet of snow to shovel, and I've been rather sedentary this winter, so after I scooped all but the last 1/2 inch of ice off the deck, I collapsed in a chair next to the wall and basked in the sun. I was in heaven. It was warm and bright, in the 20s, and the sun reflecting off the wall of the house and the snow felt glorious. All of a sudden, 14 Redpolls swarmed down and surrounded me! I did not dare move, and I watched them out of the corner of my eyes. They were pecking tiny bits of ice, probably October's sleet storm, gobbling them greedily. One was so close to me, I measured about 4 feet away from me, and pecking ever closer and closer. Then I glanced down and saw that two of them were under my legs! They were just inches from my body, and were happily snatching up tiny ice balls. Even when I shifted my legs a bit, causing them to fly away, the entire flock returned in seconds to continue to peck and munch. I felt like I had melded into the Alaska wilderness and was just part of the background for the birds. I used their enjoyment of the tiny ice balls to call it quits on shoveling the deck. After all, I had uncovered a layer of October sleet that they really appreciated. Who am I, a mere mortal, to deny these lovely birds what they want? :)
Posted by Sine Anahita at 10:05 PM
2 comments:
- AnonymousMarch 15, 2009 at 11:43 PM
St. Francis of Ester! Delightful to be surrounded by birds.ReplyDelete
Did your neighbor have any ideas why the chickadee beaks might be deformed?
MP--we didn't talk about causation. I think I'll email him and ask him what he thinks. I'll let you know what he says. Thanks for your note. I'm coming to visit your place later tonight.ReplyDelete
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|Redondo Beach Homes for Sale
Redondo Beach is one of the hottest Real Estate markets in coastal LA County right now and if you are considering buying a home in Redondo Beach you are most likely making a great decision. But there are choices to be made for sure.
First is whether you should be looking in North or South Redondo Beach. For many people South Redondo is just too far from freeways for the daily commute. Add about 10-15 minutes to most locations if you are going to the 405, 105, or 90 Freeway. On the other hand South Redondo Beach has many homes closer to the beach, charming Riviera Village, ocean views, and is poised for substantial price appreciation once the plans for the Redondo Beach Pier revitalization are finalized.
North Redondo Beach on the other hand offers about 85% of the same amenities as living in Hermosa Beach or Manhattan Beach at less than 50% of the cost. And a lot closer to the Freeways. Really.
Because 90277 and 90278 are so different in many aspects, I sometimes think of Redondo Beach as two cities with one name.
In both zips you will find a mix of Single Family Residences, townhomes, and flat condominiums. South Redondo has a few large condo communities, The Village and Brookside Village but in general the density in North Redondo may be greater.
When you are looking at townhomes remember that from the lender perspective these are condominiums and may carry a higher rate than SFRs. Some may be attached to the other units while others are detached and free standing.
Speaking of SFRs, we have traditional single level tract homes on 5000 SqFt lots, Tall & Skinny SFRs, and MacMansions. If you are looking in the Redondo Beach Golden Hills or at attached 3 on a lots, it is very common to find "Reverse Floorplans" meaning the living room and dining room are upstairs with a few bedrooms located downstairs.
So, without further ado, here's everything currently for sale in Redondo Beach. The map will update in real time whenever you visit this page. Good luck on your House Hunt. Call me with any questions.


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THRIVE BLOG CONFERENCE: Let's get down to businessTuesday, March 15, 2016
Never start a full day of learning on an empty stomach! I raided the complimentary hotel breakfast. Everything about Embassy suites was fabulous, from the new hotel staff to the food. You'll get to see what we had for lunch later in this post. After breakfast, we made our want to pick up our seating assignments. One thing I like about Thrive is how they handle the seating. Instead of sitting bloggers with a bunch of bloggers that they already know, they try and mix up the seating so that you're interacting with new people, or people you need to get to know a little more. Once again, I really enjoyed my table. It was at my table last year that I met Michelle and Lura!
|Everyone had a cute placeholder and a quote card at their seat.
|Chcek out our beautiful centerpiece for Table 10! I'm still obsessed with all things mason jars. My grandmother would love this. We drank out mason jars all the time at her house before they became a "thing".
|Can we say, "Photo Op"? I loved this wood and floral backdrop!
|Hey looks it's me!
|Francesca's also had a great area for photos. They even provided real flower crowns for us to wear! They were the title sponsor this year for Thrive.
|I think I want a pink couch in my future house, and not any pink couch, this one!
|There was no shortage of treats throughout the conference. Sweet Marie's was on the scene with meringue treats and shortbread cookies! I loved the containers they used to display their food! And even thought I ate breakfast, I managed to get a few of these bad boys down! #NoShame.
|Thrive Founders, Bree Pair and Whitney Hough welcoming bloggers to day 2 of Thrive!
Tuki, with Francesca's opened up the morning by providing tips on how bloggers can work with their brand, and Nicole Seligmen of Writes Like A Girl blog was the Emcee.
|The keynot speaker for Thrive was Alissa Circle. Alissa is the blogger behind Diary of an Addict. She spoke on finding your voice, creating balance and pursuing your passion. She's also the co-founder of Pollinate Media Group and Weave Media!
|The second speaker was Kristina Braly of Pretty Shiny Sparkly. Kristina has mostly converted her blogging work to vlogging and does more YouTube videos now than writing. She spoke about staying authentic in a YouTube world.
|We hear from blogging duo, Jessica Bailey and Sarah Skaggs on working with brands. They blog and the uber popular blog, Pretty Providence.
|And just before lunch we heard from Ashley Rose, who blogs at Sugar and Cloth! Ashley gave us tips for how to grow our social media following!
|At lunchtime I sat with Emily and Jillian! The chicken alfredo pastas were sooo yummy!
|Even the ladies from Visit The Woodlands took the time to speak to our group over lunch about everything we could do in the area.
|After lunch we heard from Mallory Whitfield of Miss Malaprop with tips on how to finally, fully understand our google analytics!
|Megan Weaver gave excellent tips on shooting better photography! She even gave us ideas for installing our own light box to shoot products!
|Kristyn Merkley is an expert at Pinterest. She does so well on the program that Pinterest invited HER to their headquarters. She's the uber successful blogger behind the site Lil' Luna.
|There was one final speaker that talked about Media kits and advertising rates!
Thrive, once again, was an amazing success. I enjoyed networking with my blogger gal pals and making new ones while learning even more ways to grow my blog! I can't wait for next year! In the meantime, enjoy some more amazing photos from Meg Cady Photography.
The majority of the photos in this post were taken by Meg Cady Photography with permission to use.
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Library >> Browse Articles >> Digestive Diseases and Disorders
Functional (Nonulcer) Dyspepsia
Definition and Clinical Picture
The term "dyspepsia" is derived from the Greek term for "bad digestion". Used broadly and in a general sense, it may be used to describe a number of upper gastrointestinal disorders of known or unknown etiology. The most common disorders in the group of dyspeptic syndromes with a known cause are peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and biliary colic.
Functional dyspepsia, often referred to as nonulcer dyspepsia, is the term used to describe the upper gastrointestinal syndrome in which no demonstrable cause can be detected. It is one of the most common problems encountered by the physician. It is characterized by an episodic, recurrent, or persistent symptom complex of the upper gastrointestinal tract that includes epigastric discomfort or pain, nausea, vomiting, early satiety, bloating, distension, anorexia, and indigestion. The symptoms usually occur postprandially and in the absence of identifiable organic or systemic disease1. Although the symptoms may resemble those of peptic ulcer disease, functional nonulcer dyspepsia occurs without demonstrable objective findings. The symptom history serves to distinguish it from the retrosternal burning discomfort of heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease and from biliary colic. Similarly, the irritable bowel syndrome may be differentiated by its predominance of lower abdominal symptoms, an alteration in bowel habits, and symptoms associated with defecation.
The "Rome" criteria have been utilized as a basis for the diagnosis of functional dyspepsia. They consist of: (1) chronic or recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen, the duration of which is less than one month, with symptoms present more than 25% of the time; (2) no clinical, biochemical, endoscopic or ultrasonographic evidence of any known disease likely to explain the symptoms; and, (3) subcriteria for ulcer-, reflux-, or dysmotility-like dyspepsia. In its definition of discomfort, the international panel authoring the criteria included nausea, vomiting, early satiety and bloating, as well as actual pain.
The inclusion of pain as a necessary component of the clinical picture of functional dyspepsia has led to problems. One large clinic-based database of several thousand patients revealed that up to 34% of patients with functional dyspepsia had no pain. Moreover, several studies on the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying functional dyspepsia have not necessitated that pain be an entry criterion and have focused primarily on patients with nausea, vomiting, early satiety, or bloating. The inclusion of pain as an integral component of the Rome criteria also interfered with the concept of separating the complex into three subgroups of ulcer-like, reflux-like, or dysmotility symptomatology. However, other investigators argue that prominent reflux-like symptoms should be considered a manifestation of gastroesophageal reflux disease, not functional dyspepsia. Moreover, in a recent study from Sweden, the investigators claimed that 87% of patients with the irritable bowel syndrome fulfilled the Rome criteria.
Pathogenesis of Functional Dyspepsia
At least five major factors have been advanced as possible etiological factors in the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia:
1. Gastric acid hypersecretion
2. Gastric motor abnormalities (possibly associated with vagal efferent dysfunction and abnormal intestinal reflexes)
3. Altered gastric sensation (possibly associated with psychosocial or mechanosensory factors or both)
4. Helicobacter pylori infection
5. Psychosocial factors
Gastric Acid Hypersecretion
Measurements of basal and peak gastric acid output have revealed no evidence of hypersecretion in functional dyspepsia. However, on meta-analysis, a 20% mean therapeutic advantage of H2receptor antagonists over placebo in the control of the symptoms associated with functional dyspepsia has been reported. Typically, antacids are the first line of empiric therapy utilized in these patients. This suggests that, at least in some cases of functional dyspepsia, acid plays a role as a mechanism for symptomatology.
Gastric Motor Abnormalities
A number of parameters of gastrointestinal motility have been assessed in the investigation of the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia. These include assessment of interdigestive motor complexes, gastric emptying, gastric antral motility, small bowel transit, and assessment of myoelectric activity in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
Antral hypomotility and/or impaired gastric emptying of solids has been noted in about 40% to 50% of patients with functional dyspepsia. Additionally, studies suggest that the intragastric distribution of a solid meal is abnormal in these patients23,24. Perhaps the strongest argument favoring impaired motor function as an important factor in the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia is that treatment aimed at correcting the abnormal motor function has been shown to decrease symptomatology.
The mechanism(s) responsible for impaired gastrointestinal motor function is/are unknown. Greydanus et al reported a reduced response of pancreatic polypeptide to sham feeding in seven of nine patients, suggesting an efferent vagal dysfunction. The defect was present in patients with abnormal upper gut transit as well as in those with normal transit but with increased visceral perception. Haug et al28 confirmed the presence of low vagal tone, antral hypomotility, and epigastric discomfort in patients with functional dyspepsia. Impaired gastric emptying in these patients was also associated with increased responsiveness of central serotonergic 1A receptors.
Altered Gastric Sensation
Gastric sensation is usually evaluated by the response to gastric distension. In comparison with normal healthy subjects, patients with functional dyspepsia have similar fasting gastric compliance but lower thresholds for the induction of pain and bloating by distension with latex barostat balloons. These sensory deficits were independent of delayed gastric emptying8. Balloon distension of the duodenum and jejunum has been reported to reveal intestinal hypersensitivity. These visceral abnormalities do not extend to the somatic sensory system; several studies have demonstrated that somatic sensitivity is normal in patients with functional dyspepsia.
Using a gastric barostat, Moragas et al measured postcibal gastric tone and sensory perception at various pressure distensions. In 16 healthy normal volunteers, they showed that the stomach relaxed following a meal and the intragastric pressure clearly altered gastric perception. Holtmann et al34 tested intestinal perception thresholds by a randomized distension procedure performed by a barostat device. On a separate day an insulin hypoglycemic test was performed to assess the response of plasma levels of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) to hypoglycemia as an indication of efferent vagal function. First perception of intestinal balloon distension occurred at significantly lower pressures in patients with functional dyspepsia compared to normal controls. In healthy controls, hypoglycemia significantly elevated levels of PP more than two-fold, but only two of seven patients with functional dyspepsia had as much as a two-fold rise in plasma PP levels.
If altered gastric sensation is a mechanism responsible for the symptoms of functional dyspepsia, agents that alter visceral afferent function, such as K-opioid agonists or 5-hydroxytrytamine type 3 antagonists, might be useful therapeutic agents. Although initial data from preliminary studies were unconvincing, subsequent studies have been encouraging. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of fifty patients with irritable bowel syndrome, some of whom had upper gastrointestinal symptoms of functional dyspepsia, ondansetron, a 5 HT3-receptor antagonist, not only improved the symptoms of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, but also the dyspeptic symptoms of post-prandial epigastric discomfort (p = 0.008), flatulence (p = 0.22), and heartburn (p = 0.003).
Helicobacter pylori Infection
Although the association of H. pylori and gastritis is well established, its association with functional dyspepsia is controversial. Although the incidence of H. pylori in functional dyspepsia has been reported as high as 87%, there is a similarity in the prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with dyspepsia and age-matched control subjects without dyspepsia. The effect of H. pylori infection on upper gastrointestinal motility has yielded conflicting results. Whereas Goh et al reported no significant difference in gastric emptying between patients with functional dyspepsia and H. pylori infection, and normal controls, others have reported an effect of H. pylori infection on antroduodenal motility patterns43 and on migrating motor complexes. The data suggest that H. pylori may be a factor in some, but certainly not all cases of functional dyspepsia. Tucci et al provided evidence of the existence of two groups of patients who could be classified as having dyspepsia: those with H. pylori infection and a normal gastric emptying time who have predominantly epigastric pain or burning symptoms, and those without H pylori who have delayed gastric emptying and symptoms predominantly related to dysmotility such as postprandial fullness and discomfort.
The possibility also exists that the infection load of H. pylori may play a role in the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia by altering duodenal mechanosensory thresholds that are known to play a role in the disorder. Holtmann et al reported that in patients with defined high H. pylori titers (>50 units/ml) thresholds for first sensory perception of balloon distension were significantly lower compared to patients with H. pylori titers below this level.
The identification of specific H. pylori adherence and virulence factors may be important in identifying various sub-populations of infected individuals and differentiating those in whom the organism is pathogenic from those in whom it is nonpathogenic. The gene CagA is present in 60% of H. pylori strains but is present in all patients with H. pylori-associated peptic ulcerations46. Heikkinen et al studied the association of H. pylori serological classifications with nonorganic upper gastrointestinal symptoms in 193 patients with functional dyspepsia47. Of these, 87 (45%) were H. pylori negative, 70 (36%) were H. pylori and CagA positive, and 36 (19%) were H. pylori positive but CagA negative. There were no differences between the three groups in clinical symptomatology.
Although no unique personality profile has been identified in patients with functional dyspepsia, studies have revealed that these patients have more anxiety, neuroticism, and depression than do healthy subjects. Moreover, factors such as advanced age, male gender and unmarried status are associated with greater frequency and severity of symptoms. Environmental factors such as smoking, alcohol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often mentioned as contributory factors in the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia, but in a controlled study, Talley et al recently noted that these factors were not associated with an increased risk of functional dyspepsia in outpatients presenting for endoscopy. Similarly, Halter and Brignoli recently reported that the frequency of smoking and a positive H. pylori status did not differ from controls in patients with functional dyspepsia in contrast to their frequency in patients with esophagitis and duodenal ulcer (16% vs. 46% respectively).
An increased need for sick leave from work has been reported for patients with functional dyspepsia, a mean 2.6 times that for a control population. he dyspeptic complaints are often accompanied, or even overshadowed, by complaints of a psychosomatic nature. Efforts have been made to link these psychosocial factors with the biological characteristics of functional dyspepsia. Psychological factors have been associated with variances in vagal activity and antral tone. It has been demonstrated that visceral perception of distension and tone in the colon can be influenced by arousal and autonomic stimuli, and it is postulated that a similar process may occur in the upper gastrointestinal tract. In 28 patients with functional dyspepsia, gastric emptying was prolonged by attempts to control and suppress anger and to adopt a "fighting" spirit when dealing with stress factors.
Management of the Patient with Functional Dyspepsia
Diagnostic Work-up
The heterogenecity in the pathophysiology of functional non-ulcer dyspepsia confronts and frequently confounds the physician when faced with such a patient. Patients seeking medical attention for their dyspepsia do so for a variety of reasons. They generally want reassurance that their complaints are not related to a serious underlying disease. Furthermore, they want an adequate explanation of the etiology of their problems. Finally, they want treatment to alleviate their symptoms. The dyspeptic patient warrants a complete history and physical examination; first, in an attempt to exclude the possibility of severe underlying disease, and second, to attempt to discover which one or more of the potential pathogenetic factors may be operative in that particular patient.
In 1985 the Health and Public Policy Committee of the American College of Physicians recommended that in patients with dyspepsia under the age of 45 (without alarm symptoms such as loss of weight, hematemesis or melena, anemia, and without a family history of gastric cancer,) there is no emergent need for endoscopy. The patient should undergo an empiric therapeutic trial based on the most likely pathogenetic factor responsible for his/her symptoms.
Treatment Plan
The ready availability of finger-stick serological and sensitive C-urea breath testing for Helicobacter pylori will enable this procedure to be an initial, efficient and inexpensive diagnostic test in these patients. Patients who are H. pylori positive should receive eradicative antibiotic therapy. This will be curative in those patients with peptic ulcer disease and that subset of functional dyspeptic patients (probably 20 to 25%) who are also positive and will respond to anti H. pylori therapy.
In those patients who are H. pylori positive, but whose symptoms do not respond to H. pylori eradication, or in those who are H. pylori negative but have symptoms suggestive of ulcer or reflux, referral for endoscopy or an empirical trial with H2-receptor antagonists or proton pump inhibitors should be the next step. In the presence of a normal esophagogastroduodenoscopy and failure of acid suppression to control symptoms, the physician should turn to the alternative therapies of prokinetic agents (for example, cisapride), antidepressants, and/or K-opioid agonists with visceral analgesic properties (for example, amitriptyline or fedotozine, respectively) such as are being used in large-scale studies at the present time. As reported in a recent Japanese study, psychiatric assessment and treatment may be a necessary adjunctive measure. The investigators reported that in a group of patients with "serious" nonulcer dyspepsia, those who received psychiatric therapy in addition to drug therapy (n=86), showed significant improvement compared to controls (n=42) who were treated with drug therapy alone (p<0.0001). Clearly, there is a need for outcome-based studies, including cost-effectiveness, that have been based on the rough algorithm outlined above.


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Rapes, killings and tortures were all in a day's work for Uday Hussein, one of the most sadistic monsters the world has ever seen.
His acts sickened even his murderous father Saddam and, for five years, Latif Yahia was his "fiday" – his double, catching bullets meant for Iraq's most despised man.
While Uday satisfied his perverted lusts behind heavily fortified palace walls, Latif would pretend to be him at official functions around the country, surviving 11 assassination attempts.
His disturbing story is told in new movie The Devil's Double, starring English actor Dominic Cooper – but sitting across from me in a London hotel, he tells me the full story would be far too horrific to commit to film.
Latif, 46, says: "The movie is only 20% of the truth. The director wasn't going to put everything in because we don't want to make a horror movie. They edited a lot of horrible stuff out because it was too much.
"The first time I watched it, for three or four full days I really didn't sleep. It brought it all back, and all the years of counselling and therapy I had to cope with it all."
And his memories are truly horrific.
"I saw the rapes, many many rapes," he says softly. "He once brutally raped a pregnant woman. You could hear the screams, you could hear everything. Then with an iron bar he hit her.
"After that I saw a lot of killing and cutting. Even now I don't sleep at night because of everything I have seen. He would rape and kill women then kill their parents if they complained. He would torture them."
Uday even fell out of favour briefly with his father when, at a party in honour of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's wife, he murdered Saddam's personal valet and food taster in front of horrified guests, bludgeoning his victim with a cane before cutting his throat with an electric carving knife.
Latif and Uday's paths first crossed when they were teenagers in the same class at school, the best in Baghdad. Saddam had just become president and Latif's millionaire businessman father warned his son to steer clear of his powerful classmate.
"We weren't friends. We said hello but that was it," says Latif in a passionless voice.
"People around him were scared of him and he would choose the people to be around. I studied a lot and I didn't want to be involved. But even when we were kids we looked similar. We both had afro hairstyles which was the fashion then."
But the power that came with being Saddam's son allowed the young Uday to become untouchable, even among his terrified teachers at the segregated school.
Latif remembers: "He would bring his girlfriend into school. In an Arab nation this wasn't done to have a girl there. One teacher told him no, it shouldn't be done and we didn't see him any more – the teacher simply disappeared.
"He would drive to school in his Porsche and would park it on the basketball court. He was very loud, he didn't care what anyone thought if him."
Latif went on to study engineering at Baghdad University but even there he could not escape Uday, who appeared on the same course. Terrified of four years of "friendship" with the despot's son, he switched to a law course to avoid him.
But while serving in the Army in 1983 during the Iran-Iraq war, he received an order summoning him to Uday's palace and was given a terrible choice.
He recalls: "Uday said 'What do you say to becoming Saddam's son?' I said we are all Saddam's sons, which is what we used to say then. 'No I want you to be my fiday,' he said. I played stupid and asked whether he meant be his bodyguard. He said, 'No, you will become Uday.
"I asked if I had any choice and he said, 'Yeah of course. It is a free country you can do what you want.'" But when Latif declined, he was bundled into the boot of a car and locked in a cell for seven days.
Again, he was summoned before Uday. "He told me, 'Do this or I will rape your sisters.' They were kids, just seven or eight years old. This was typical Uday.
"I told him to just leave my family alone and I would do anything he wanted."
Latif then moved into an opulent palace where everything was laid on for him, and the long training process began to turn him into the perfect replica of the Butcher of Baghdad's son.
He even had extensive dental and plastic surgery to replicate Uday's features. For months, he studied how he smoked, wrote and spoke, and his posture, plus he also had to start drinking and smoking to be like his boss.
Then the next stage of training – far more monstrous – began. To understand the president's son, and to desensitise him to what was to come, he had to watch videos of tortures and rapes committed by Uday and his friends. The barbarous acts, coupled with Uday's glee at committing them, sickened Latif.
"Seven or eight hours a day I had to watch Uday torture his people," he says. "How he punished them. It was a way of preparing me psychologically for what was going to happen to me. I was sick when I was seeing it. Then I would see the live torture later."
Graduating from this sick course, Latif was given access to all life's luxuries. But he would be sent out to perform Uday's civic duties, everything from inspecting troops to handing out medals to the Iraqi football team.
He says he never participated in Uday's atrocities but felt powerless to stop him. He explains: "There was no way I could leave or my family would pay the price. I didn't want to see my mother be raped, my sisters be raped, my father tortured.
"He once asked me to kill someone but I couldn't so I cut myself. Uday had raped the winner of Miss Baghdad and her father had complained to Saddam. Uday was angry with him and brought him into his office and ordered me to kill him. I refused and instead, I cut my wrists."
Many of Latif's bodyguards died in the assassination attempts on him around the country by angry husbands or brothers.
And he reveals: "I went to Kuwait after the invasion and there was an assassination attempt. The western media said Uday had been killed but it was me, not him. I was shot through the hand and in the chest and head."
Latif was later spirited out of the country by the CIA and now travels between Belgium and France with his Irish wife Karen and nine-year-old daughter Dina, with no country prepared to give him permanent residence.
He felt robbed of a chance to stand in court and testify against Uday after he was killed, aged 39, by US special forces during a shoot out in 2003.
Latif adds: "I can't stay anywhere too long. I still fear for my life, especially after this movie comes out. There are still Saddam supporters around the world.
"The west made Saddam and Uday martyrs. I wanted them in court so I could tell them what I saw."
- The Devil's Double, from Once Were Warriors and Die Another Day director Lee Tamahori, is released next Wednesday.


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So there we were, huddled in an alley with two bags of booze, attempting to escape the howling wind on a random street in Wicker Park. We were supposed to be eating at Schwa, said by many as one of Chicago's best restaurants, only to find its doors locked with a scribbled handwritten note apologizing for the closure. Sure, I had read all of the cancellation stories (let me guess, burst pipe?), but never did I think it would actually happen to us! But sure enough, there I was, simultaneously trying to hail a cab while scrambling on my phone to make alternative dinner plans. Fortunately, with some quick thinking on my part and a
Located in the posh Eylsian Hotel, RIA is a relative newcomer to Chicago's fine dining scene and turned a few heads after it was awarded two Michelin Stars in its inaugural year. But even in the wake of the departure of former Executive Chef, Jason McLeod, RIA earned a glowing four star review by the Chicago Tribune praising the talents of the current Executive Chef, Danny Grant, ensuring MW and I that we were in capable hands for the evening. Greeted by the hostess who graciously checked our coats and booze, we were whisked through the lounge into the dining room. Simple yet elegant, the dining room was calm and comfortable.
Only a minute had passed from the time we were seated until we were greeted by our server who was willing to go over options from the nearby champagne cart. We enjoyed two glasses of the Raventos I Blanc, Brut Grand Reserve, "de La Finca," Penedès, Spain (2005). It was fruit forward but had a dry finish.
While we examined the menu, we were given a dish of Gougères to share. Eggy and cheesy, these were excellent with our glasses of Cava.
After ordering, we were brought the first amuse bouche of the evening, a Cucumber Gelée with Cucumber, Radish, Green Almond and was finished table side with a Hendrick's Gin Foam. Usually not a huge fan of foams, here, the cucumber and gin combination worked well together and resembled a refreshing cocktail.
The second amuse of our meal, a Smoked Halibut Mousse with American Sturgeon Caviar, Pan de Mie Crisp, Chive and Spinach Purèe was even better. The halibut mousse was formed into a perfect quenelle and contained just the right amount of smokiness, while the caviar and remaining components helped round out the dish.
To drink, we ordered a wonderful Kabinett Riesling, Blees Ferber, "Trittenhelm Apotheke" Trocken, Mosel (2007). Fruity but with a great amount of acidity to help cleanse the palate, the wine was versatile enough through the majority of our meal.
Bread service was done in house. A home made French Baguette was accompanied by a Cultured Salted Cow's Milk Butter from Wisconsin. While the butter was excellent, the bread lacked a crisp exterior and was disappointing from a restaurant of this caliber.
Our first course, Sea Scallops with Caviar, Octopus and a Fumet Blanc, was a promising start to our meal. Poached in milk, the sweetness of the sea scallops was beautifully offset by the salinity of the caviar and earthy octopus, but it was the stunning fumet blanc that really tied the dish together.
Wanting something a bit lighter, MW substituted the next course for the Sheep's Milk Ricotta with Fine Herbs, Radish and Sable Breton. What appeared as little more than an ordinary salad tasted anything but ordinary. The creamy ricotta was a luscious foil to the various herbs, crunchy radish and bits of crumbled sable breton.
I received the original dish described as Rabbit with Verjus, Pumpernickel and Radish. Formed into a terrine which included foie gras and a mosaic of carrot, celery and potato, the rabbit was amazingly light and full of flavor. The pickled radishes and golden raisins were juxtaposed on a rectangular piece of pumpernickel, and the acidity and sweetness of the fruit and vegetable were the perfect accompaniments to what was, in my opinion, the meal's most impressive dish.
The following course was a terrine of Foie Gras with Apricot, Onion and Poppy. Covered by a thin layer of an assertive chicken consommé, the flavor of the foie was a bit muted in comparison. However, the richness of the foie remained, and as a whole, was much better when paired with the pickled onion and apricot jam on a piece of the provided brioche.
The Oyster with Green Garlic Pastis and Pain de Mie was an awesome display of Grant's culinary prowess. Three supple butter-poached oysters sat atop a decedent garlic panna cotta. Shards of pan de mie provided a much needed textural component to the dish and an oyster foam helped reinforce the natural brininess of the impeccable bivalves.
Our fish course was Turbot with Asparagus, Pasta and Razor Clams and was sauced table side with a Fumet Blanc. Almost a celebration of asparagus as much as the turbot, the fish was served poached, raw and as a gelée. For such a firm fish, we were both impressed with how tender the turbot appeared. Last but not least were the agnolotti that were perfectly al dente, and had been stuffed with turbot. Eaten in tandem with the razor clams and the velvety fumet blanc, this dish was as successful as anyone could have imagined.
Moving on, our next course was the Milk Fed Veal Loin with Sweetbreads, Morels and Fava Beans. The veal loin was as tender as one would expect, but the more compelling aspect of the dish was the sauce, which contained chocolate. Similarly sporting a number of seasonal ingredients, the morels and favas were a welcome sight, especially the morels, which had been split and stuffed with sweetbreads.
After the usual lull between courses, our server appeared with a whole Peking Duck. Dramatic presentations aside, the Peking Duck with Blood Orange, Potato, Fennel and Cumin was impressive and was finished table side with a rich Duck Velouté. While not as unique as the aged duck at Roberta's, the strip of duck breast tasted very ducky and contained a cracker-crisp skin. In addition to the duck were some coins of potato, braised fennel and segments of blood orange which provided both sweetness and acidity.
Acting as a creative twist on an intermezzo was an Apricot Sorbet with Dehydrated Apricot and Basil. The crunchy texture of the dehydrated apricot with the smooth sorbet and refreshing basil was a nice segue into desserts.
Our first dessert was described as Yogurt with Rhubarb, Hibiscus and Elderflower. In reality, the dish was a bit more complex. Consisting of a yogurt panna cotta with a hibiscus liquid center, the dessert was topped with a mint gelèe, braised rhubarb, lychee-elderflower sorbet and a hibiscus meringue. Tart and tangy from yogurt and rhubarb, with a herbaceous accent coming from the mint and hibiscus, this was beautiful and a delicious display of Pastry Chef, Stephanie Prida's skill with pastry.
Our final dessert was Chocolate with Puffed Rice, Banana and a Maldon Sea Sherbet. A brick of rich chocolate ganache was fine, but more interesting when paired with the banana and salty elements in the forms of the puffed rice and sherbet. To compliment the dessert we were treated to a glass of Vinedos de los Vientos, "Alcone," Atlantida, Uruguay NV that smelt of chocolate and paired wonderfully.
To finish the meal we were each given a tray of petits fours that included a Grapefruit Pâtes de Fruit, a Praline Chocolate Truffle and a Mint Macaron as well as a final parting gift of Almond Dragées.
While we would have undoubtedly enjoyed our meal at Schwa, in hindsight, it seems that the cancellation was a blessing in disguise, as we then wouldn't have had the opportunity to experience this great meal. A big thanks go out to Chefs Grant and Prida, as well as the entire staff at RIA for helping make the most of a bad situation and more than salvaging our first dinner in Chicago.
11 East Walton Street
Chicago, IL 60611-1408
(312) 880-4400
To see all the pictures from this meal click HERE.


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Short hairstyles, long hairstyles, hairstyles for women and men. It's all about the hair and creating a hairstyle that suits you. We love it! Working with hair is more than a profession. It is a passion and we hope that this will be seen when we work. Here you can browse through photos of the hairstyles we have done on the customers. Let yourself be inspired!
A haircut is an important part of the look and personality. Finding the right is not always easy. You may want to renew you, but you do not really know what would suit you. We will help you find the hairstyle that feels right, that fits your head / face shape, personality and fashion style. Everything must work together for the result to be perfect.


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Alex Gigeroff: One Oro!
A Celebration of Life
Zaedno Alex …One More Time!
John Evans, the MC for the Celebration, which was organized by the Canadian Macedonian Historical Society with the support of the Canadian Macedonian Place, had assembled an array of old photographs of Alex's childhood, as a young man, high school at Western Tech, and proud graduate of University of Toronto.
John talked about their conversation regarding Alex's rendition of our 2000 year history presented at Oro Makedonsko, and how overwhelming Alex thought it was. "Our history has so much suffering, so much tragedy; I'm finding it hard to express the story. Do you know what happened after Ilinden? The carnage, the burning… How much sorrow and suffering the Macedonian people have endured over the years, 500 years under the Ottomans, and having the geography which was always designated Macedonia being divided like a pie". After some thought, Alex knew what he had to say, and he wrote his piece. We saw it again.
Chris Stoyanovich donned Alex's Red Hat, as he spoke about Alex his uncle. Vera and her brother Alex were not just siblings, but lifelong best friends. Chris spoke about his family photos, and how Alex affected him, not only as an example by his accomplishments but also his involvement with the family.
Alex went from school President of Western Tech High School to University of Toronto and specializing in criminal psychology, on to a Masters and then, with his growing family moving to London, England and finishing his PhD at the London School of Economics. But Chris never saw him as deskbound, nor limited in any way. Alex was philosopher, historian, and criminal lawyer with a bundle of energy. He wanted to open our eyes to all of life's possibilities. Chris said that talking to Alex was like an Olympic event – intellectually. It was the high jump. He also felt that Alex had probably convinced God by now that it was the Macedonians that were the chosen people.
Alex persuaded Ginny Evans to join the Historical Society. And then challenged her to consider going to university. Which she did, and found she was not only capable, but she loved it. He was a great influence in her life by encouraging her, as she would tell him about the great subjects she was taking. She was a single mom of a couple of teenagers, with a part time job, so by taking one or two courses a year, year after year, she finally graduated in 2001. He celebrated her graduation by coming to the party, decorating all the tables with Zdravets, and leading the oro.
Dr. Chris Stefanovich became a close friend. Chris was one of the initiators of the Macedonian Canadian Health Professionals Association (MCHPA) and a board member of CMP. The Health Professionals even made Alex an honourary member of the Association and gave a lecture about Baba Was a Doctor for the health professionals and the historical society. Some of the members of the Association rallied together to pay for re-printing the book, Baba's Macedonian Socks, so that we have plenty of copies for a generation or two.
The CMP were thrilled with Alex's portrayal of food (as it is a very important aspect of our culture). His paintings graced the walls of the Macedonian nursing floor in a nursing home until recently. Alex's view of painting was that "life is colour and is the music of painting, and so I wish painting to play on the grand piano. This is what I feel that life is all about."
Andre Haines, an accomplished artist and Alex's son took the stage, as only a son of Alex can. He sang, and as he painted, was accompanied by Cheski Neceski on his accordion. Andre drew a face with a hand holding a Zdravets, and Alex's signature bird, taught to Alex by his father. Andre spoke about his relationship with his dad, how he was encouraged to strike out into the world by attending the American Musical Academy in New York. He has become a well known artist in the Eastern provinces, as well as a performer, writer and playwright. He was thrilled with the reception he received from the many Macedonian friends Alex had in Toronto.
Tony Markovski, speaking in Macedonian, talked about Alex's ability to spread Macedonianism wherever he happened to be. Tony felt that Alex and his activism about being a Macedonian mirrored the goals and aspirations of the Historical Society.
Georgi Danevski, an artist who has painted the murals and icons in several Macedonian churches, spoke about Alex as one professional artist to another. He had a great deal of respect and appreciation for Alex's altruism and heartfelt love of Macedonia.
Shawn Saulniere, a very old and faithful friend of 40 years, arrived at this Celebration from Yarmouth not only with his family which included his four adult children, but also his mother and father. They were devoted to Alex. Shawn was keen to learn, and Alex was hungry to teach, and teach he did with the following "rules".
1. Be humble and understated.
2. Be a voice for those who have no voice.
3. Eat, drink, love, dance play (never trust anyone who doesn't like food)
4. Learn how to listen how to keep people's attention
5. Do not be paralyzed by perfection.
6. Dig your well before you are thirsty
7. Make a great day
8. Don't take care – live dangerously
9. How you say "hello" and "goodbye" are life's most important things.
10. Don't lose hope in justice.
Alex taught Shawn that we all matter in everything we do. Reverberations bounce ahead, and are magnified and multiplied.
Judge Barry Stuart (Ret.) felt it important that he attend Alex's Celebration of Life by travelling from Paradise Valley, B.C. He met Alex in 1967, in 2nd year law. Queen's Law school was a sedate school, which probably had never met anyone like bushy-browed Alex. He taught Barry something very important… how to cry! This became even more important, once Stuart became a judge in later life.
Olga Sandolowich recalled when Alex was on the youth committee of St. Cyril's Macedono-Bulgarian Church in 1957 when she first met him. She had applied to teach folk dancing at the church. She learned from Alex that the Church considered her "unacceptable" because of her peace activism. In the end, she was able to teach at St. Cyril's, but was not about to give up trying to save the world! The combination of Alex and his friend Jim Vasoff along with Len Doncheff were a powerful triumvirate at the time in the Youth group.
The afternoon ended with Olga leading a number of the audience in an oro into the area where there were some refreshments.
Alex had the ability to cut through cultural boundaries, intellectual disciplines, and the social caste system. When it gets down to it, all we leave are memories, good ones or bad ones. Alex cut a swath wherever he was because he actually did "make a great day!" He was also passionate about Zaedno oro. Not separate. Others have separated us. Let us not do it to ourselves.
A philosophy to remember Alex by.
Virginia Andreoff Evans


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We're told this photo of Jesse wearing a Waffen SS visor and striking the infamous Hilter "sieg heil" salute was taken roughly two years ago.
It's unclear where the photo was taken -- but there appears to be a replica of a Fokker Dr.1 triplane -- the same one used by legendary German World War One pilot Manfred von Richthofen ... better known as The Red Baron.
UPDATE: A rep for James tells TMZ the photo was taken five years ago, before he met Sandra.


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It's that time of year, fall in the Northern Hemisphere; the farmers around my house are out cutting their soybeans, while I've started to pick the last of my tarragon and oregano. My house smells lovely.
A month ago I brought in vast quantities of tarragon, mostly out of self-defense; the tarragon plant is huge this year, sprawling over everything else in the herb garden, and even though I have stepping stones out there I couldn't make my way to the back, where a tomato plant had some ripe fruit I wanted. So I chopped tarragon, rinsed it off and piled it on my dining room table to dry. There's still plenty more of it out in the garden, but I got four jars of the famous French herb packed up, the last of it cleared away just in time to have a friend over for dinner last week. Julia Child would say I'm rich in tarragon – too rich.
Yesterday I picked a smaller quantity of oregano, especially where it had started to go to flower. First I laid it out on my kitchen counter, but that's working space, so I moved it onto a cookie sheet and then to the dining room.
If you look online about how to dry oregano you get advice that isn't very practical; bunch it up, then hang it upside down, put it in paper bags with holes cut out, then hang the bags upside down, which would put the oregano back rightside up; huh? Then let it dry for a month, hanging somewhere. Or you can freeze it with a little olive oil; tastes good when you're ready to use it, but doesn't look appealing because the freezing wilts it. Obviously drying it is the most practical thing, which is how most cooks use it. Some people dry it in the oven or even the microwave, which saves time but halfway cooks the herb. So I asked my foodie friend Ed what to do, and I liked his answer: "Throw it on top of the refrigerator and forget about it for a couple of weeks." Now that's the Hoosier way!
I have two favorites among the herbs I grow, thyme and chives. Thyme is small and delicate, and last winter I actually ran out of dried thyme, so this year I bought two plants instead of one; thyme's an annual so you have to replace it every year. I'm eager to get going on the thyme once this batch of oregano is done. Chives, meanwhile, fresh-snipped from the garden, are too fabulous, whether you put them on a baked potato with sour cream, in soups and salads or any other way you use them. They add that extra zing that makes herb gardening so worthwhile.
Last year I grew cilantro, which I really enjoyed; this year I switched to flat-leaf parsley, and it's good too. I've used it fresh a bunch of times, whenever an extra taste of "green" seems to help. And of course when you're decorating a plate, any bunch of leaves adds visual interest.
Here's a simple recipe for a vinegrette that uses several of my ingredients. I just made a batch of this, and as I type I'm enjoying a salad. The recipe calls for tarragon vinegar, but the stuff you buy at the store ($3 for 12 oz.) is a waste of money, with almost no tarragon flavor. So make your own. I buy vinegar by the gallon ($2), and the dollar you'll spend for one tarragon plant (which is perennial, year after year) means just a cup of homemade vinegrette has already paid for itself – no artificial flavors, no preservatives, no xanthan gum, no polysorbate 80.
Josh's Tarragon Vinegrette
2/3 C olive oil*
1/3 C white vinegar
24 fresh tarragon leaves, chopped
1 1/2 t fresh oregano, chopped (1/2 t dry)
1 1/2 t fresh parsley, chopped (1/2 t dry)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 t salt
1 t dry mustard
1 t paprika
1/4 t fresh-ground pepper
Dump everything into a cruet or lidded glass jar, shake well and let it sit for an hour to blend flavors.
* Soybean oil ("vegetable oil") is good too, but olive oil tastes better and is three times higher in monounsatured fat – the good kind.
If you're making a green salad or some soup, whip up a batch of croutons while you're at it. I guarantee you'll never waste your cash on those store-bought things again.
Herb-Garlic Croutons
1 T margarine or butter
1 T olive oil
1 slice of bread
1 clove garlic, cut in half
pinch of basil, oregano, thyme or whatever
Heat a small, non-stick frypan on medium-low, melt butter and add olive oil. Sauté garlic for a couple of minutes to release flavor, then discard. (Or substitute a little garlic powder or garlic salt.) Cut up a slice of bread into inch or half-inch cubes. Toast 8-10 minutes, stirring once or twice, sprinkling herbs. Dry croutons on a paper towel. Leftovers will keep for a few days in a plastic bag.
* * *
I'm pleased to report that my composting experiment is turning out well. Both bins have gorgeous-looking black stuff on the bottom, which I occasionally turn with a half-size pitchfork. If everything looks dry I'll add a cup or two of water. But the holes I drilled in the lids (large plastic bins, 5 bucks each at the discount store) let in the rainwater, so I've only watered once. Now that it's autumn, I'll fill the bins with fallen leaves and evergreen trimmings, then bring them into the garage for the winter, continuing to add vegetable scraps and coffee grounds from the kitchen. After the spring thaw, I'll dump one bin into the other and start a fresh round of composting in the empty bin. The finished compost I'll work into the soil in my back garden, reclaiming that former wasteland so it will grow tomatoes, peppers, strawberries and flowers next year.
Food cooked from scratch tastes better. Cooking with ingredients you grew yourself tastes best of all.++
UPDATES: It seems the oregano doesn't take long at all to dry; after just two days I've already stripped all but the youngest leaves and filled two jars. Plus I picked all of the thyme yesterday, filled a whole shopping bag and now have a gorgeous mound of this very versatile herb on my kitchen table. No running out of thyme this year.
Now I'm off to make some pumpkin raisin muffins, an ideal breakfast food when you're on the run. Surely there's a man out there somewhere who'd beat a path to my door if he knew about my muffins…
Filed under: cooking, gardening | Tagged: cooking, gardening | 7 Comments »


text: Albert Eugene Allmon, 43, 8 Brandy Lane, Merritt Island, died Monday. Born in Salem, Ohio, he moved to Merritt Island from Rome, N.Y., in 1966. He was an insurance underwriter and a member of Divine Mercy Catholic Church. He was a member of the Merritt Island Moose Lodge No. 2073. Survivors: wife, Sharon, Merritt Island; son, David, Merritt Island; daughter, Kristine, Daytona Beach; father, Russell, New Port Richey; sisters, Eva Wickline, New Port Richey, Adonia Rodgers, Brooksville, Lois Gleckler, Joann Blythe, both of Salem, Ohio. Visiting hours: 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Funeral with military graveside service: 2 p.m. Thursday, chapel of Wylie-Baxley Merritt Island Funeral Home.