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Oysters on Cape Cod, Part 2

Quarterdeck's Oysters

Part II Preparing and Enjoying Oysters.

C Salt's Oysters
Oyster selection at C Salt restaurant in Falmouth.

Opening the oyster shell is called shucking. Some Cape Codders believe that the correct method of shucking is to insert a shucking tool or knife into the side of the shell, however, most of us think that it is easier to go in at the hinge. In the end it is what ever works for you. All of the oyster shuckers that I have seen wear heavy leather gloves. It is easy for the sharp tool to slip.

Some diners enjoy their oysters raw while others like them fried or prepared in recipes. Whether they are consumed raw or cooked the diner will be getting the same nutritional value. That said, the raw preparation, does deliver higher levels of the nutrients. Oysters contain high levels of protein, zinc and selenium. It is a food that is known to strengthen the immune system.

There are several ways to eat raw oysters:

  • Some slowly slurp them directly from the shell while others give them a quick chew.
  • Others flavor them with cocktail sauce and lemon.
  • Still others enjoy them with a shot of vodka or tequila.
  • There are even those who savor them with a wine or champagne chaser.

These methods are all perfectly acceptable and developing your own unique style is half of the fun.

The next part of this article will tell you where to get this wonderful delicacy. The answer is, right here in Falmouth by the Sea. Some of the best restaurants for oyster dining are: La Cucina sul Mare, C Salt, Quarterdeck, TGC Grill and last but by no means least, the appropriately named Shuckers.

Quarterdeck's Oysters
This is the Quarterdeck’s presentation of “Oysters on the Half Shell”. The variety at the top of the photo is from Barnstable: it is sweet with firm meat. The larger one at the right is from Washburn Island: its meat is creamy and has a fresh finish. The oyster at the left is from Dunbury and has very briny plump meat and a sweet buttery finish. Yes, a fine oyster is very much like a fine wine. Enjoy!

When I am enjoying oysters on the half shell at home, I like to make my own sauce.

Pat’s Oyster Sauce

Yield is about 1/3 of a cup

  • 1 can of oysters
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 8 teaspoons of soy sauce

  • chop oysters
  • in a sauce pan, simmer oysters with their liquid for 20 minutes
  • strain liquid and discard oysters pieces
  • continue to simmer until the liquid is reduced to 5 teaspoons
  • combine the remainder of the ingredients, chill and enjoy with your favorite oysters.

If you enjoy oysters, an oyster lover’s heaven can be found at the “Wellfleet Oysterfest”.  In October of this year it will be on the 19th and 20th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. each day.

For more information go to  www.wellfleetoysterfest.org

Cape Cod's Stowe Room, A
Harriet Beecher Stowe room
Cape Cod's Roosevelt Room, B
Cape Cod’s Roosevelt Room, B

While all of the bedchambers at the Palmer House have their own romantic charm suitable for relaxation after the most wonderful day of adventures sampling Cape Cod’s finest seafood, we recommend the Harriet Beecher Stowe room, the Theodore Roosevelt room or the Emily Dickinson room. These rooms feature comfortable king beds, fireplaces, jacuzzi-style tubs for a relaxing stay before and after your day.

Oysters on Cape Cod, Part 1

La Cucina's Oysters

Part I: The Growing and Harvesting of Oysters on Cape Cod

Raw oysters in Falmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA.

Folks visit Cape Cod for a number of reasons. Some come because of our beautiful beaches with their warm sand and gentle waves. Others are looking for a quiet restful place to unwind. However, without a doubt one of the primary reasons for a visit to the Cape is our wonderfully fresh sea food.

Among the popular seafood choices are oysters an irregularly shaped mullusk or “crassostrea virginica”. Oysters are the most valuable crop legally grown in the US today. The oysters that are in the highest demand are grown and harvested right here on Cape Cod. It is said that, “like wine, no two oysters are the same.” Some are grown on farms while others grow in the wild and are plucked from their natural surroundings. Each oyster type has its unique flavor. The things that determine that flavor are its location, the salinity level of the water or in the case of farmed oysters, the growing methods. The temperature of the water, the water’s current and the mix of freshwater/saltwater mixture are also factors. Also, whether the oyster comes from the Cape Cod Bay side or the Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Sound side of the cape is also a factor. Even if the seed oysters come from the same hatchery, the conditions play a greater role in the flavor.

Some interesting facts about oysters are that they reduce when the water gets warmer. Also, they change gender one or more times during their lifetime.

This area has a number of oyster breeding grounds; Dennis, Osterville, Cotuit, Wellfleet Bay, Brewster and Barnstable Harbor.  Each of the oysters harvested from the above locations, has its own unique taste. In addition, the cape’s unpredictable weather can affect the crop from year to year.

When oysters are farmed, the seedlings can be purchased from a hatchery or they can be collected right on site. The growers set them up on what are called “hats”. I think that they got their name because they look like a very tall stove pipe hat. The surface of the hat is coated with a lyme and concrete mixture. The concrete is used so that the oysters will adhere to the hat and the lyme because the oysters use it to build their shells.

La Cucina's Oysters
This is E.J. one of the fine bartenders at La Cucina sul Mare. He is serving one of our favorite appetizers, Oysters Rockefeller. I always enjoy their presentation.

Many people think that the larger oysters are the best, however, one can find an oyster with a large shell with little meat inside. The goal is to have a regulation sized oyster. That is one that measures three inches at its widest point. Also, the experts seek out the ones that have a deep curve in the belly of the shell. This indicates that it will be meaty and plump.

When harvesting oysters, farmers will usually set up a bin system. One bin each for ‘ready-for-sale”, “not quite ready”  the third for “tossing” and the last is designated as “no good”. Then some farmers sort even further. They sort by restaurant because they know what each chef prefers.

In Wellfleet there is a farm that is located next to a wild bed. The oysters taste the same. The difference is that the farmed or managed oysters have a much higher yield. That is because the oysters are grown in cages, in mesh bags or on trays. thus they are protected from predators. Also, the farmers guard against over crowding.

The six month oyster growing season is from May through October. Basically there are two methods of  growing oysters. One is called, “intertidal”, which is when the oysters can sometimes sit for hours at a time out of the water when the tide goes out. The second method is said to be “sub-tidal” which means that the oyster spends its entire life submerged in water.  Sub-tidal oysters tend to grow more rapidly because of their constant flow of water and thus, a food source. Many people believe that the deeper colder water gives the oyster a more desirable briny flavor. As for the intertidal variety that grow more slowly because they do not have continuous access to food during the time that they are out of the water. However, it is believed that the strong rays of the sun and more rapid fluctuations in air temperature, bake off harmful organisms on their shells. Farmers also have easy access to the crop with the sub-tidal variety.

The oyster farms are all on areas that are designated government grants. Some are as large as 34 acres. the “Cotuit Oyster Company” is family owned and one of the oldest. The farm dates back to 1857 and has five aqua culture grants. The seedlings are placed into floating bags where they take advantage of the nutrient rich surface water. The bags protect them from predators. When they reach the desired size they are planted on the bottom where they complete their live cycle before being harvested and sorted.

Because oysters are adaptive to their environment, they are capable of thriving in both high and low salinity waters. The average seawater salinity is 35 parts per million. However, in the waters of Dennis the salinity is 32 ppm. That means that the oysters grow a little slower than those grown in Wellfleet Harbor where the salt water mixes with fresh. There the salinity level is as low as 27 ppm. In that situation there is more algae in the water. Algae is the oysters’ favored food, therefor the Wellfleet oysters grow more rapidly. The Weelfleet oysters’ sweet aftertaste is said to be due to the its saltwater/freshwater habitat.

Another interesting fact about oysters is that they are known as, “filter feeders” which means that they draw seawater in, filter out and consume the algae and expel clean filtered water. One oyster can filter as much as 50 gallons of water a day. Oysters are good for the environment.

Cape Cod's Stowe Room, A
Harriet Beecher Stowe room
Cape Cod's Roosevelt Room, B
Cape Cod’s Roosevelt Room, B

While all of the bedchambers at the Palmer House have their own romantic charm suitable for relaxation after the most wonderful day sampling Cape Cod’s oysters, we recommend the Harriet Beecher Stowe room, the Theodore Roosevelt room or the Emily Dickinson room. These rooms feature comfortable king beds, fireplaces, jacuzzi-style tubs for a relaxing stay before and after your day.

Cape Cod Mexican Cooking Class

Cape Cod Mexican Cooking Class: Chopping

“WOW, what a wonderful cooking class on the Cape!”

Cape Cod Mexican Cooking Class: Chopping
Chef Hanoka at the cutting board.

Anejo Mexican Bistro’s head chef Joshua Hanoka was wonderful. Yes, much to our delight, he has promised to return for another Cape Cod cooking class this Spring and a complete series of classes next winter. The details for these cooking classes will be listed in our spring newsletter.

Josh started the class by teaching us a few interesting facts about knives. He brought his own “rocking knife” for this demonstration. This is a truly beautiful instrument that was made in Japan by the same company that makes samurai swords. The steel in the knife was formed by using the same technique of folding the steel back upon itself many times as is used in the making of the swords. This technique not only produces high quality metal but also a unique almost iridescent pattern forms on the surface of the blade.

Josh began by teaching us the distinguishing characteristics of several of the peppers that are used in Mexican cooking. We also learned that most of the heat of a pepper is found in the seeds and inside membrane. Therefore, if one prefers a milder version of a dish he/she can filet the membrane out of the pepper, leaving only the sweet outer skin. Josh demonstrated this technique.

Cooking Class: Making margaritas
J. Kersey, owner of Anejo restaurant, preparing limes.

Jesse Kersey, one of Anajo’s owners, served a Spanish version of champagne for tasting as class started. We were happy to use our new engraved champagne glasses.  The engraving was done by Maine Coast Stone Engraving of Bar Harbor, Maine. They not only engrave stone but also commemorative bricks and glass. For more information go to: www.mainecoaststone.com

All of the food that is made for Anejo is made freshly in their kitchen by Josh and his team. He mentioned that some diners have commented on some of the sauces varying in flavor and intensity from one visit to another.  His explanation is that the fresh vegetables that are used are not always the same flavor and intensity, thus giving the dish a slight variation.

About half way through the class Josh took a break to reorganize, and Jesse stepped in to instruct us in the proper method of making a margarita. All of the lime juice that is used for the margaritas and in the cooking  at Anejo is hand squeezed. The margaritas were delicious.

During the second half of the class we learned to make: Fire roasted Tomato Salsa, Pork Pabil, Caramelized Onion and Roasted Garlic Refried Beans, Pico de Gallo, Hot Salsa, Salsa Verde Cruda, Salsa Verde (cooking sauce), Salsa Rojas, Mexican Red Rice, Mole Sauce and last but by no means least guacamole. No one went home from this Cape Cod cooking class hungry.

At Anejo, diners can have their guacamole prepared to their liking at table side.

Cape Cod Cooking Class: Mexican cuisine
Cape Cod Cooking Class Mexican cuisine

During Anejo’s first summer in Falmouth, we had three lovely students from Romania working at the Palmer House. They would work for us during the mornings and at 4:00 PM they would walk to Anejo to bus tables. It was not long before Jesse and Jamie Surprenant, his partner, realized that these charming young women were an asset to their establishment. They taught the girls to wheel the carts from table to table and to make the guacamole. Many of our guests were surprised to find that the same person who served them their breakfast at the Palmer House also made their guacamole that evening. As the students were headed home at the end of the season, their only regret was that when they returned to Romania they would not have the ingredients to show off their new-found skills.

Anejo Mexican Bistro & Tequila Bar has been a wonderful asset to Falmouth and Cape Cod. We at the Palmer House are pleased that we have formed this cooking partnership, and are looking forward to future classes. This Cape Cod Mexican Cooking Class was held on March 10, 2012.


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Marie Claire France publishes photo story about Artsakh

Marie Claire France publishes photo story about Artsakh

PanARMENIAN.Net - Italian photographer Karl Mancini's photo project about the women of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) was featured in the magazine Marie Claire France.

The project is titled Dreaming Independence and Peace and first published on Maptia.

“I believe the women of Artsakh have a lot to say. They support the men on the frontline, suffering in silence and sustaining families alone,” he said once.

“One day, I spent several hours with a female friend of mine in a wonderful place in Artsakh in the middle of nature just telling each other stories. I'll never forget that moment, those simple emotions that should serve as a basis for every kind of relationship,” Mancini added.

According to the photographer, Armenians are very instinctive and emotional, straightforward in expressing their true feelings and quite honest if they have anything to tell you.

 Top stories
Irene Sharaff is the creative mind behind costumes that graced more than sixty shows and more than forty films.
He was unable to get a Turkish official to go on camera, as the government refuses to recognize the 1915 atrocities as genocide.
Robert Guédiguian, has a totally different manner of handling serious issues and humor, The People's World said.
Two U.S. states are yet to recognize the Armenian Genocide after Indiana joined the 47 states that have already done so.
Partner news

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If you're a gay lady who loves the girl group sound of the '60s, there's a new Sunday night party coming that's just for you. Downtown superstars Miss Guy and Michael Economy are doing Girls! Girls! Girls! starting Sunday, June 1st and promising the Shangri-Las, the Ronettes, the Marvelettes and bonus nuggets by the likes of Mae West and Carol Burnett. Sign me up!!!

Girls! Girls! Girls!
Bowery Electric
327 Bowery
Starts 9 p.m.


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Trouble with love? Work problems? Mercury retrograde? Don't worry. Rapper, author and expert astrological navigator, Kool A.D. will safely guide you through the coming month.

Buy some purple shoes in memory of Prince. Watch gleaming the cube. Start a drone delivery service. Train pigeons to sit on them so the pigeon feels what it's like to sit shotty for once. One time I said that culture was a network of excuses. Not sure if that, or anything, is true. Bless up mane love is everything. Cop that new KOOL A.D. it's wild philosophical.

Privacy is a myth so u might as well publish all drafts. The Notebook, furl meh? Ain't no rehearsals mane it's all the show. Get a oil change. If ur lite skint but still "of color" ur allowed to go one shade darker on ur prayer hands emoji for effect/cultural reasons. The new Beyoncé was OK. Last Beyoncé album was better. I didn't like the Jack White song and I actually do dig his other music but they sounded pretty corny together on this one. There was another one that was kinda country that I wasn't feeling for whatever reasons. Feel like that's prob the one the Dixie Chix covered. Kendrick joint on there was decent. New Kendrick go hard. Last Rihanna album was most fire tho actually. Feel like next Jay-Z album might be his first hitter in years, and I say that as a Jay-Z fan. Need some new Solange too tho. New Iamsu and Ferg joints are p tite. Consider The World Fair as a broad concept. Also cop that new KOOL A.D. over at

Shelter is a universal human right. Occasionally the greater nature of the ecosystem impinges on the subjectivity of human nature, tho the one springs from the other. Flux is push and pull at once. Plus also yap up that new KOOL A.D.

Afford urself moments to go off grid, off radar. Save some of ur juice for u, ur liable to give it all away on the sample tray if u don't check urself. Simplicity is always available on ur demand, it just requires pause. Go straight thru the fields of ur mind to the river's edge, feel me? Also cop that new KOOL A.D.

Beauty is essential to travel. Sometimes travel is languorous and lush. And that's what's known as life. Pursue happiness at ur own pace but don't be afraid to arrive too early. Everything really is everything. If u think the phrase "everything is everything" is corny then it is in fact YOU who is corny. Let go of emotions that distract u from ur ability to perform ur personally meaningful labors. Hit the Doja and handle ur fears. Sweeten up like an apple in the sun. Bless up, u a truly cherishable soul. If u a female Gemini, get sassy this month. If u a male Gemini just turn up in general I guess. Plus cop that new KOOL A.D.

The World Is A Vampire, word to Smashing Pumps. Naw jk the world is the world, everything is everything. Literature is an invisible architecture. Do a solo show of ur paintings in an airplane hangar. COP DAT NEW KOOL A.D. Also cop the whole discography on iTunes, Apple, Tidal, Spotify, etc.

Context is an element of style. Time is a medium. 'Is' as 'As.' The graphic natures of language. The poetics of font. How many bullet factories on earth? Read some Neruda. Laughter is a positive violence. Dance is evolved laughter. Joy is devolved desire, revolved back into positivity. Every problem is its own solution refusing to believe in itself. These are some extractions and elaborations from that new KOOL A.D.

Be kind and courteous mane, everybody got they own lil skruggle. Bless up, peace is reality. Do ur thing. The intrinsicality of love is natural. Love is a shimmering diamond, prismatic. Love is a sweet fruit tree, baby. Cop that new KOOL A.D.

U ever feeling low just go to the rich part of town, find the most expensive car and steal it. Love is a yin yang. Watch Finding Nemo while listening to Fela Kuti. Peace to the Purple One, listen to Prince all month. I think the last Prince show on this realm was in Atlanta at The Fox Theater? Just him on a piano, it was lit, find that recording, listen to that. Oh also cop that new KOOL A.D. over here.

Human labor is ceaseless. It nearly outpaces itself. Parables, bars, the bars of the of the cell, cold, smooth, almost comfortable. Human language is constant. The patterns evolve and change. Extralinguistic communication mane. Truth temporal. These are lyrical extractions from that fire new KOOL A.D.

First off cop that new KOOL A.D. Also those last two Party Animal albums, give those another listen: Also take some Adderall and draw a 24 page comic book in 24 hours. Read Frantz Fanon's The Wretched of the Earth one mo' 'gain. This is a good month for fasting and meditation. Smoke some weed, drink some tea.

Capricorns gota dine and dash this month. Truth elaborate. If u tip with a 100 dollar bill it's a bet that u'll deserve a free meal next time. Karma is an energy older and stronger than human consciousness, beyond the suppositions of our mathematics. Skip the coffee, hit the tea, then end of the month, switch back. Love is a yin yang bruh. Plus also cop that new KOOL A.D. over here.


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Why Moms Worry

When my first child, Gus, was 9 weeks old, I found I'd entered the big leagues. Of worrying. Of course, I naively thought I already knew something about worry. As if the arc of my career, the sag of my buttocks muscles, or even my husband's safety while traveling could compare to the nausea-inducing, heart-thumping fear I felt when I received that phone call from my friend who'd so generously babysat my son the day before. Desperately apologetic, she shattered an afternoon get-together with two neighbors by giving me the news she was in the hospital with meningitis and that I needed to watch Gus for symptoms. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that I fell to my knees. I have witnesses.

Meningitis! Babies die of meningitis, I cried to myself as I clutched my tiny son and envisioned his writhing body in a plastic hospital bassinet, poked full of needles and tubes, while I sat vigil beside him, all bug-eyed, pale, and with splotches of gray hair where the color had been scared out of my strands. For the next week, during the incubation period, I slept (when I slept) with Gus on my chest so that I could feel every stirring. At the end of the week, he was fine, but I was as wrung-out as a cloth diaper and fully aware that I had only just begun to worry.

Worry is part of the dark underbelly of parenthood, the flip side of joy, pride, and fulfillment. The part they never really warn you about  -- that you'll discover a fate worse than your own death. From the day you find out you're pregnant and remember the vodka martini you had two nights earlier, worry will be a piece of you, like the way you part your hair and your irrational fondness for Little Debbie oatmeal cakes. In the job description for a parent, worrying is right up there with providing food and buying cute dinosaur pajamas.

More isn't better
The challenge lies in finding the optimal degree of worry, a level that will let you protect your child without relieving you of your sanity. Constructive worrying acts like an alarm system, helping you identify dangers before they arise so you can lessen risks, says Edward Hallowell, M.D., author of Worry: Hope and Help for a Common Condition. But excessive worrying is akin to a car alarm that won't shut off  -- you get stuck on dangers long past any chance you have to take preventive action. If your child's about to go on a school field trip and you're wary of her riding the bus, the time to fret is beforehand. Then you may decide to drive yourself. But once she's gotten on the bus, worrying won't do any good at all.

Other signs of inappropriate worrying include avoiding any situation that may put your child at risk (like not letting your 5-year-old play T-ball because you're afraid he'll get hurt) and catastrophic thinking  -- always jumping to the worst conclusion. I plead guilty to this. Pains in my son's legs are the first sign of leukemia (instead of the growing pains I never knew were an actual condition). A friend is 20 minutes late dropping my two boys off and I've already got them on the way to the hospital in a life-flight helicopter.

Toxic worriers also tend to be overly global in their thinking. "They assign a little glitch more significance than it deserves or think the whole experience is a total failure," says Catherine Chambliss, Ph.D., chairman of the psychology department at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. For instance, a problem worrier might decide to give up on preschool because of her child's separation anxiety on the first day.

What makes a parent's job so difficult is that in addition to anticipating risks, we're supposed to nurture our child and help him cope with life in the outside world. In the very beginning, our roles as protector and nurturer are the same, but as kids gets older, there's a greater gap between the two. Even if you were to pad every room in your house, someday your child's going to have to walk outside on his own.

So, if you're hoping that your anxieties will fade as your child gets older, you're out of luck. The only thing that changes is what we lose sleep over. "When my now six-year-old son began to talk, a lot of my worry was relieved because then he could tell me what was wrong," says Judith Falci Massengale of Austin, Texas. But when they're talking, they're walking, which also means they're falling, pulling the cat's ear, and developing an oral relationship with the button that fell off your sweater. At each stage of your child's development, a whole new world of worry opens up  -- just in case you were getting bored with the same-old same-old.

Jeannie Ralston, a mom of two, is a contributing editor to Parenting.

Realistic or risky?

Are the risks real?
The maddening irony of worry is that, whatever we're anxious about, chances are we're freaked out about the wrong thing. My mom, who raised six children and therefore considers herself an expert on worry, has always said that. Scientists have proved her right; we do this, researchers say, because when it comes to fears, we're a bit irrational. "We tend to rely on emotions more than facts when we decide what to be afraid of," says David Ropeik, director of risk communication at the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis in Boston. There seem to be common themes to our worries:

* We lose more sleep over man-made risks (radiation from nuclear waste) than natural risks (radiation from the sun)

* We're more terrified when we're not in control (such as when we're flying) than when we are (driving our families in the car)

* Risks that are new are more frightening than those we've lived with for a while (SARS versus food poisoning)

* Whenever a threat gets a whirl through the media machine  -- last winter's flu epidemic, for instance  -- it moves to the top of almost every parent's panic list, even though it was just as dangerous the year before.

Lori Verni, mom of two daughters, ages 6 and 4, in Holly Springs, North Carolina, says she often worried about the risk of abductions by strangers until she learned the actual number of such cases each year. (Of the 1.3 million children abducted annually, all but 2,000 are taken by people they know.) "Of course, I still teach my girls about stranger awareness," says Verni, "but now I'm able to let go a little and let them be more independent."

A troubled mind is a terrible thing to waste, but perversely, because of our emotionally charged overreactions to certain threats, we may not be concerned enough about true dangers. One response to a perceived high risk of child abduction is to keep kids from playing outside. So they stay inside, play video games, and gain weight. But in the end, obesity is more likely to harm a child than an unshaven man proffering gummy bears.

Inheriting worry

Hand-me-down worries
Maturing as a mom means being able to tolerate a certain inevitable amount of risk. The amount you can handle depends to some extent on your genetic makeup; in fact, scientists have recently discovered a "worry" gene that predisposes people to anxiety, pessimism, and negative thinking. The gene in question is the human serotonin transporter, and researchers say that those who have a shortened version of it receive less serotonin, a brain chemical that regulates mood.

But why lay all the blame for our skittish selves on nature when we can blame nurture  -- in other words, our parents? Our worry thermostat is often set by how they reacted to life's problems. Martha Outlaw, mom of two young daughters in Wilton, Connecticut, says she can trace her disquiet to her early years. "Because of their own childhood experiences, my mom and dad carried around a constant dread that our family's fortunes could suddenly change for the worse," she says. Such a strong influence from childhood can create a deep-seated state of worry that's hard to shake off.

A friend of mine, who's fairly laid-back otherwise, is afraid of the dark, and now that she has a young daughter, it's grown worse  -- to the point where she can't stay in the house when her husband travels. She tracks this anxiety back to her father, who was an alcoholic and used to wake up his kids at night when he came home after a bender. "My demons come out at night," she says. "I can't stop worrying that someone will break into my house and take my daughter. How would I protect her? For me, the late hours have always been a chaotic time when I don't feel safe."

Your maternal worry threshold may also be influenced by other factors, such as your age when your kids were born. Janyce Dudney, mom of four from Kingsport, Tennessee, started having kids at 23. "I was so young I didn't know all the things I should be afraid of," she says. As we get older, we become more savvy about risks and start to lose any feelings of invincibility.

Birth order may also play a role in how high you're strung. Parents tend to hover over first-borns, often implanting unnecessary fear and caution. Later-born kids have buffers between them and their moms and dads.

Given the influence of our own parents and childhood experiences, it's imperative to try to prevent passing on the worry bug to our kids. This means: Try not to let them see you fret (or at least, over-fret). Protecting your child from adult concerns gives him a chance to build up hope, optimism, and resiliency. Obsessive worrying is particularly damaging. "If you over-emphasize dangers, you may be conveying to your child that the world's a dangerous place," when it's actually not, according to statistics, says Susan Heitler, Ph.D., a psychologist in private practice in Denver. A baby born today has a one-third better chance of surviving its first year of life than one born in 1960, and a child born now will live almost twice as long as one born 100 years ago.

And children can sense when you're stirred up about something. The other day I was agitated (and tried to hide it) because I couldn't find my way on the Houston highways while visiting my brother who lives there. "Are we lost? Are we lost?" my son Gus, now 7, asked urgently as I searched for the right exit. I tried to reassure him, but his anxious face didn't relax. "I hate Houston," he finally said.

Taming the anxiety

Seeking reassuranceThe good news is that our propensity for superhuman worry often lessens with subsequent children. "You only have so much worry to go around," says my sister-in-law Lisa Ralston, mom of three in Newport News, Virginia. "And with each child, you've got more experience."

There are other ways to tame your anxieties. Dr. Hallowell likens worry to blood pressure: "You need a certain level to live, but too high a level can hurt you. And worry, like blood pressure, can be regulated." How to take the edge off:

Don't worry alone. Fretting by yourself intensifies your fears. Other parents can be the reality check you need to keep your brain from launching into melodrama mode. "I get together with my mom friends weekly, and talking to them helps me realize that I'm not the only one with these feelings, and that helps alleviate them," says Courtenay Wells, mom of a 2-year-old in Lafayette, Indiana. The bonus is that some of the dearest mom friendships are formed over mutual concern about poop color.
The best sounding board may often be your husband  -- as long as he doesn't automatically file your concerns under "N" for neurotic  -- since he shares an equal interest in your child's well-being. I was worried recently about my son's playdate near a river with a friend whose mom doesn't seem very attentive. I didn't say anything because I suspected I was overreacting. Finally, my husband asked me, pointedly, if I felt all right about the plan. It turned out that he was as concerned as I was. We decided I would stay with them during the playdate. If you work as a team, you can decide what's really worth worrying about.

Filter, filter, filter. Research shows that the more TV news or violent programs you watch, the more you believe the world's a dangerous place. And you're more afraid when you see a face in the news that personifies your fear. I'm very careful about what I watch on TV, which movies I see, and what I read, since my imagination doesn't need any assistance from the media. I never watch newsmagazine shows because they tend to find the one child who developed purple pustules after eating a hot dog. (The earnest anchorwoman inevitably asks, "Could this happen to your child?")

Get information. In the absence of facts, your imagination amplifies the danger into a catastrophe. If you're worried about your baby dying in his sleep, read up on the latest SIDS studies. If you're worried about your child choking, take an infant CPR class.

Make a plan. You'll feel less vulnerable and more in control. My friend who's scared of being alone at night has taken action to make her house feel safer so she needn't stay with her mom when her husband travels. She installed an alarm system and more outdoor lights. "I've actually stayed the whole night in the house alone," she says. "I didn't sleep well, but I didn't panic."

Take care of yourself. Exercise. Eat well. Try to get enough sleep (though worrying itself can be a sleep inhibitor). If you're stressed out, it's hard to be sensible about things, and if you're run down, you're more liable to feel anxious. This is when even pebbles begin to look like Everests.

Set aside a time for worrying so you can contain its virulent spread. My sister-in-law gives herself permission to mull over her worries for a few minutes each morning. "Then I tell myself I'm not going to think about them for the rest of the day," she says. Write your troubles down if it helps, but don't do it right before bedtime, since that will only churn you up when you need to be slowing down.

Get spiritual, whether it's through organized religion or some other higher power. I joined a church when I had kids, and there have been times when only a bit of faith has sustained me. Faith helps us realize we're part of a bigger whole and emphasizes the general goodness of the world. You can also direct your energies toward prayer rather than worrying. "The difference between the two is that worrying is a fear of the negative," says Michael Miller, Ph.D., professor of practical theology at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Texas. "Praying is envisioning a positive result. It has the element of hope that's missing in worrying."

Go for the positive. As absurd as it sounds, worrying can create sensations we like. "Part of why we imagine disasters  -- something terrible happening to our kids  -- is that it's an unconscious tool to get at some good feelings; it helps us appreciate what we have," says Chambliss.

But there are other ways to experience that. You might say to yourself, "I like to feel how important my kids are to me; it fills my life to recognize what they've taught me about love and devotion." Says Chambliss, "What you really want is to savor what they mean to you. Fast forward past the negative  -- the disaster scenarios  -- and get to the positive."

The one positive I took away from the Great Meningitis Scare is a sense of perspective: I can now grasp that a 5-year-old who may have the flu is much lower down on the scale than the all-out, blaring alarm of a 9-week-old with possible meningitis. Luckily, I've had only one visit to the land of heart-stopping panic, and remembering that helps keep my worry in check. I figure it's better to store it up for when I really need it.


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Below-the-Belt Body Part Talk

Erin Zammett Ruddy

Nora, my two and half year old, is beyond her years in many ways which, when it comes to certain topics, can be disturbing. This PG-13 conversation took place at bedtime the other night as I was trying to leave her room. I’m not sure I handled it properly—would love to hear your thoughts. Here goes:

Nora: Can you give me Gnomeo, I want to touch his penis.

Me: Nora, we don’t touch private parts, right? We keep our hands to ourselves and we never touch other people’s private parts.

Nora: But he’s not real mom, so it’s OK, I can touch his penis.

Me: Um, well…

Nora: Mom, can you put batteries in Gnomeo so I can see his penis.

Me: Nor, he’s a stuffed gnome, he doesn’t take batteries. And he doesn’t even have a penis. And can we stop saying penis?

Nora: Yes he does mom, look (spreading Gnomeo’s stuffed legs) it’s really teeny teeny teeny tiny and it’s right there.

Me: OK, Nora, but I need you to know that it’s not OK to touch anyone else’s private parts and no one should touch yours. Do you understand?

Nora: I understand. But I can touch my private parts and you can touch yours and Ali can touch his and Daddy can touch his, right? His penis?

Me: Yes, sure Nor. But let’s not talk about penises anymore, OK? I’m going to leave now—sleep tight, I love you and I’ll see you in the morning.

Nora: I love you and I like you, mom!

Never a dull moment with that one. The only thing I could think to do here was to turn all this penis talk into one of those teaching moments we're supposed to have as parents. To reiterate the hands-to-yourself rule we preach. I know she's just curious and she likes to point out who has what in terms of body parts so it's not like I'm worried about her being penis-obsessed or anything (she actually hasn't mentioned genitalia again since this night, thankfully). But I'm curious how would you have handled this. Do your kids like to talk about body parts? Have you ever had a conversation like this? Fun times!


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Seven days of PIRATE and Tree::Pattern hacking

Last week, I generalized PAST::Pattern to Tree::Pattern. This week, I put that to use.

Green Threads and Sleeping

I've spent my Parrot time for the last week working on something I call Alarms. Alarms are like Timers, except instead of specifying a delay the user specifies when they want the Alarm to fire. This is a pretty simple concept. If the Scheduler did what I wanted, I'd be done long ago.

A report from the (NFG) front lines.

After taking some time off GSoC work to pay the parrot Upgrade Tax that plumage had accumulated in the months since 2.3 shipped, and watching the World Cup this hasn't been an awfully productive week, code-wise. However, there's been quite a bit of work and planing done anyway.

Generalization: Tree::Pattern, Tree::Transformer, and Tree::Walker

Earlier this summer, when I was considering what sort of interface would be best for the PAST pattern matching and transformation I've been building, Bacek suggested an XPath-like syntax. XPath is, nominally, a language for pattern matching on XML, but it is applicable to any tree-like data structure where each node may have both attributes and children. It's a general-purpose tree-matching language.

Cleaning up the Scheduler

In my work on Timers, I've concluded that the scheduler really is the right place for scheduling things (who would have guessed?). How the scheduler *should* work is described in pdd25. How the scheduler actually works is a bit different, and how I want the scheduler to work to implement green threads is a bit different from that...

A first optimization with PAST::Pattern, in detail

In my previous post, I described in tutorial form how to implement a very simple constant folding optimization for Integer addition. In this very brief post, I describe in greater detail how that optimization works.

A New Design for Timers

The next step in green threads is to make them preemptive: after one thread has run for a while, it needs to be stopped so a waiting thread can have a turn. Parrot has a mechanism for doing things after a set time called Timers which would be perfect for this. Unfortunately, they don't really work.

Progress, refactorings and tests.

Since my last post I haven't spent as much time as I'd like coding, since getting a win32 development environment setup was a bigger time sink than I expected, but I've still managed to stay pretty close to the schedule. The main feature for the next week, once I'm done with the charset-level stuff will be Iterators, which will finally enable NFG 'literals' in PIR source, for which I have added, failing, tests the past week.

GSOC NCI Updates

The NCI updates using the libffi are coming along. I ran into a bit of an annoyance when I found out that there are places internally where signatures are not specified for some functions, but luckily it was easy to remedy once I had figured out the problem. All of those cases used the same signature ("vJP"), it was only hard to find the right place to add that.

Adding Optimizations to HLL Compilers with PAST::Pattern

Parrot Abstract Syntax Trees(PASTs) are one of the forms code being compiled in a PCT-based compiler takes before being evaluated or compiled to bytecode. With PAST::Pattern, you can find all the sub-trees of a PAST that match a certain pattern and transform them. This can be used to perform optimizations at the PAST level.

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Thoughts for Thanksgiving

As the holiday season approaches, we wanted to first and foremost give thanks - for all of the parents and adults out there making a positive impact on the lives of our youth. They are our future and therefore we are thankful for all of the positive influences and role models out there, making our world a better place by shaping our kids.

The holiday season often brings many fun, family traditions but sometimes they also provide a dose of stress and chaos. We wish you and yours a happy and healthy holiday!

Here are a few things we're thinking about this Thanksgiving...

Signs & Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), specifically during the Fall and/or Winter seasons:

  • Feeling sad, down or blue most of the time
  • Low energy
  • Loss of sexual drive and/or interest in things that once brought you joy
  • Oversleeping
  • Feeling sluggish, agitated or uncharacteristically irritable
  • Weight gain
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Feeling hopeless and/or unworthy or worthless
  • Thoughts of death or suicide

SAD is just like any medical condition - diabetes and cancer for example - it is out of your control and can require intervention to overcome. Please seek help from a medical professional if you are experiences SAD symptoms. A couple common treatments for SAD include therapy, light therapy and medication. If you are feeling suicidal, please seek immediate help.

Call the National Suicide Prevention 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255.

Medicine Disposal Sites by County

  • Click here for medicine disposal sites in Hennepin County.
  • Click here for medicine disposal sites in Anoka County.
  • Click here for medicine disposal sites in Carver County.
  • Click here for medicine disposal sites in Dakota County.
  • Click here for medicine disposal sites in Wright County.

He’s Coming Out of Hibernation

After a year-long hibernation, students at Wayzata High School will be happy to hear that the bear is making a comeback in the Fall of 2017 for the Uncover the Truth campaign. We never could have anticipated how much students enjoyed the bear series and we are excited he is coming out of hibernation.

Partners in Prevention forged a new partnership last year in Wayzata High School with the Compass Program, an experiential professional career studies program for highly motivated juniors and seniors. Three students served as marketing and communications ambassadors for the campaign, developing survey tools, uncovering what communications preferences their fellow students share, and assisting in the integration of the campaign. We are excited to continue our partnership in the Fall of 2017 as reintegrate the bear into the Wayzata High School Community!

We are looking for sponsorship for the 2017 Bear Series. For more information, please contact Director Alison Wobschall at or 612.412.8202.

Drugs & the Developing Brain

Parenting is hard. There is no manual for this gig and it can be overwhelming to navigate difficult stretches with your child. Let me revise can be overwhelming to navigate any stretch with your child - even the good ones! If you are like most parents, you are doing the best you can and are building the plane as you fly it, so to speak. Because every kid (and family) is different, there's no singular formula to raise a healthy adult. Instead, research (and a lot of other peoples' experiences) has given us different methods and procedures that have been proven to be effective when used collectively with other strategies. Love, unconditional positive regard, open communication and attention are just a few of those 'other' strategies that happen to be some of the most powerful ones. But as you raise your child and approach the preteen years, it's time to introduce more formal strategies of prevention as well. I think one of the most helpful things for parents is to have a bit of background knowledge about the developing brain, which may inform your rules and expectations around substance use.

In terms of brain science, the developing brain is a HUGE factor when we talk about alcohol and drug use and all things related to teenage exploration. As you may remember from 10th grade Biology, the brain develops from the back to the front, leaving the prefrontal cortex as the last to fully wire. The prefrontal cortex is where the brain houses reasoning, inhibition, decision-making, delayed gratification, and control.  For girls, it's not fully developed until around 22 years of age and for boys around 25. This is a big deal. For one, it means that science is working against teenagers when it comes to risky decision-making because they physically don’t have the same "resources" adults do. But also, when we add substances to the developing brain, it can have long-lasting impacts on their development.

For example, drinking and drug use changes the reward circuits that underlie lifelong problems with addition. When you drink or use drugs, the reward circuitry of the brain becomes active. This area is responsible for the pleasurable feelings associated with substance use, but it also underlies cravings and drug-seeking behaviors. Taking drugs as an adolescent makes long-lasting changes to this reward system, making it much more likely that you will struggle with addiction later in life. Research has also proven a link between drug and alcohol use with damage to memory and logical reasoning. Teenage users tend to have poorer memory, lower attention, and slower processing abilities. Marijuana use in particular has been shown to reduce working memory and cognitive flexibility.

These drug related changes can be permanent. And they’ve also been linked to serious mental health issues in early adulthood – from major depression and bipolar disorder to schizophrenia and some of the more serious diagnoses.

So, as a parent, we need to BE the prefrontal cortex for our teenagers. If you have young kids, you’re probably already doing this. Whether it’s teaching them how to look both ways in the parking lot or guiding them on their bike as they learn how to do it, you are guiding them through some of those activities to keep them safe because they wouldn’t know the appropriate boundaries on their own. As it is with teenagers, we need to be their reasoning and judgment until they’re ready to do that on their own.

TIMEOUT! I'm not suggesting we all act as helicopter parents and make every decision for our teens. They need to explore their autonomy and independence, too. It's a delicate balance. But we can be their prefrontal cortex by giving them the information they need to know and by making your expectations of zero-use known. They need to understand all of the risks associated with use during their prime development. By the way, here is a great article on why not to be a helicopter parents. Researchers are seeing links to anxiety and other issues later in early adulthood. Land those helicopters, folks. Back to brain development...

HOW do we do this? Make your ideas and expectations around drug use known. Research shows that kids are less likely to engage in risky behaviors if they think their parents would disapprove. Also, this is where access comes into the picture. Over half of people who have abused prescription pain medications, for example, got them from friends or family. Think about where you store your medications (even over-the-counter medications can be abused, by the way). Many people store meds by the coffee maker or in plain sight in the bathroom. Easy access to medications, alcohol, drugs, privacy, alone time, etc. is a proven risk factor for engaging in risky behaviors so by eliminating access, you are protecting your child. Examples include:

  • Locking up medications and alcohol
  • Disposing of extras properly (here is a list of drop-off boxes in Hennepin County)
  • Take a look around their bedroom for signs of any problems
  • Communicate your strong stance against substance use of any kind
  • Control prescription medications after an injury or procedure *this is an absolute MUST

It’s going to look different for each family but understanding the culture of your teen is a huge piece to this puzzle. It’s often a reality that if your child has their wisdom teeth out, chances are someone is going to ask them for any extra pain meds when they return to school. Just knowing that can prevent abuse from happening if you control those meds. Because again, their brains aren’t wired to protect them from risky decisions. WE need to be their prefrontal cortex until they can protect themselves. We can do that by removing easy access to those meds, in this example.

(Alison Wobschall, M.A.)

Diamond, A. (2002). Normal development of prefrontal cortex from birth to young adulthood: cognitive functions, anatomy, and biochemistry. In Principles of Frontal Lobe Function, Stuss, D.T. & Knight, R.T. (Eds.), 466-503. New York, NY: Oxford University Press

Squeglia, L.M., Jacobus, J., & Tapert, S.F. (2009). The influence of substance use on adolescent brain development. Clinical EEG and Neuroscience, 40(1): 31-38.

In 2016, there were 144 opioid-related deaths in Hennepin County, a 31 percent increase from the year before, according to county officials. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office has launched a year-long campaign to raise awareness about the Opioid Crisis and to get people involved in the solution. It is a NO BLAME, NO SHAME campaign, designed to bring people together.

On March 20th, 2017, in collaboration with the Sheriff's Office, PARTNERS for Healthy Kids, Parenting with Vision, and Partners in Prevention, Wayzata Public Schools hosted the #NOverdose kick-off town hall meeting. A panel of experts gathered to share information with community members and to engage people in all aspects of the epidemic, from prevention and education to intervention, treatment and recovery.

6 Things You Can Do to be a Part of the Solution

  1. Lock up and monitor prescription medications: most abusers get their prescription drugs from friends and family. Don't leave prescription medications in an accessible place for your loved ones and guests.
  2. Properly dispose of unused prescriptions: most of the time, you will not need the entire prescription as you've been prescribed. Find a drop-off location to safely dispose of unused meds. Click here to find the closest drop-off location to you.
  3. Look for symptoms of abuse: trust your instinct. If it seems like your loved one's behavior has changed, it probably has. A few initial signs of a problem include: lying/being secretive, changes in personality/mood, sleeping more than normal, needing money/missing money/stealing, and physical changes in appearance and/or weight.
  4. Intervene EARLY: Try not to wait until the problem hits rock bottom to get help. Part of the #NOverdose campaign encourages NO SHAME. Addition is a disease and needs to be treated as one. Click here and follow instructions to receive a wonderful, electronic Intervention Handbook for parents.
  5. Take a strong stand against alcohol, marijuana and drug use: Parents remain one of the strongest influences in teenagers' decisions NOT to use alcohol or drugs. Kids are more likely to refrain from use if their parents make their expectations clear.
  6. Join a coalition: We are all affected by drugs and alcohol in one way, shape or form. We encourage you to get involved with a local coalition, attend a meeting and see how you can promote prevention and be a part of the solution.

The Top Secret Project: Decoding the Mysteries of the Teen Domain

On Monday night, nearly 250 community members filed into Wayzata Central Middle School to see the launch of a state-wide collaborative project called The Top Secret Project: Decoding the Mysteries of the Teen Domain. It was a joint effort among a variety of community agencies but was hosted by Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation in collaboration with Partners in Prevention.

The Top Secret Project was designed to be an eye-opening exhibit for parents and guardians to walk through a simulated teenager's bedroom with over one hundred hidden hazards relating to warning signs of alcohol and chemical use, mental health concerns, bullying, criminal activity, etc. followed by an educational presentation about each of those topics. The mission of the project is to help adults uncover the mysteries in the lives of teens, provide tools and resources to foster safe environments, and encourage ongoing dialogue.

Among the presenters were Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's Cendee Palmer and Jessica Wong as well as Partner in Prevention's Alison Wobschall. The presentation was followed by Q & A from the attendees. A heavy focus of questions centered around ways to prevent kids from using in the first place. Here are a few ideas that were shared:

  • Investigate! If your gut tells you something has changed with your son or daughter, chances are it probably has. Parental instincts are one of the best tools we have to identify when something seems off. Don't be afraid to investigate - ask questions, gather your intel by looking through their belongings to see if something doesn't seem right.
  • Model healthy behavior: We all have an equal opportunity here to model healthy behaviors. This starts a lot earlier than you’d probably expect. Kids notice our habits. They soak up what they see. For example, if you think about your own family events and holidays growing up, most people can think back and describe how adults used alcohol. Some of us might remember pretty early on noticing an uncle or grandparent have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. We develop our understanding of what’s the norm around substance use and relationships very early on. Use your familial experiences as examples your child can relate to.
  • Set clear expectations: Parents remain one of the heaviest influences in a teenager's decision to engage in risky behavior. Many students prove that students are less likely to use alcohol and/or drugs if they know their parents disapprove.
  • Eat together as a family! According to The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, kids and teens who share family dinners 3 or more times per week are less likely to be overweight, are more likely to eat healthy food, perform better academically, are less likely to engage in risky behaviors (drugs, alcohol, sexual activity), and have better relationships with their parents.
  • Educate yourself: Take time to learn about the latest research. Many parents fear having conversations with their kids about tough subjects because they don't have the baseline knowledge to have a meaningful conversation about it. Prepare to be peppered with questions. Do your research and understand what might mean something to your child. Make it personal.
  • Eliminate access: Easy access to alcohol, drugs, privacy or too much alone time, etc. is a risk factor to engaging in negative or destructive behaviors so to lessen the risk, you can eliminate the access. One quick example of this is where you store prescription drugs. It is so common to keep them in places where you’d see them daily – by the plates or coffee, in the bathroom, etc. – but keeping them away from public access is so important. Most kids who access prescription drugs that aren’t their own, get them from family or family of friends.
  • Ask for help! Parenting is hard. Especially when you face a difficult situation. Don't be afraid to ask for help or information from others. You are not alone.

For more information about the Top Secret Project, visit

PIP Names New Director

Partners in Prevention is pleased to introduce Alison Wobschall as our new Director. Alison has been with the coalition for three years, coordinating and implementing our various prevention efforts throughout our community and we are excited she will lead the coalition going forward.

Alison will oversee the development and management of the coalition, including the implementation and management of the Federal Drug Free Communities Grant. Partners in Prevention is preparing to begin year 4 of the 5-year grant and will be working hard to secure ongoing funding to continue our tremendously important prevention efforts. Alison also coordinates the statewide prevention group, Minnesota Prevention Alliance, which is a group of incredible people across the state working together to prevent alcohol and substance use in their communities.

Alison received her Masters in Psychology from University of St. Thomas after completing her Bachelors degrees in Communication Studies & Religion from Gustavus Adolphus College. She spent seven years in higher education at Gustavus, Bethel & St. Olaf in a variety of roles working in areas of health and wellness, drug and alcohol prevention, mental health counseling, and student life. She is passionate about living healthily and maintains a private practice in counseling as well.

What’s On Your Counter?

October marks National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month and we'd like to share a few of our favorite resources we've found about this relevant and trendy topic that has swept the nation. Links to our top five favorites are below.

  1. Medicine Abuse Fact Sheet
  2. Conversation Starters with your Teen about Medicine Abuse
  3. What is DXM? Chances are, it is in your medicine cabinet.
  4. What does medicine abuse look like?
  5. Slang Terms Every Parent Should Know

5 Tips for Encouraging a Healthy Homecoming

As Homecoming approaches, here are 5 tips to consider when encouraging a safe and healthy celebration!

  1. Clearly communicate your rules, expectations and hopes for having a fun and healthy Homecoming.
  2. Trust your instincts! If something doesn't feel right or sound right, it probably isn't.
  3. Talk to your teen about his/her plans for after the game, dance, etc. Consider personally connecting with the parents hosting the gathering.
  4. Did you know you are legally responsible and liable for the actions of teens in your residence? For more information about the Social Host Ordinance, go to
  5. Be present. Get to know your child's friends. Knowledge is power.

HomecomingINSTINCTS Homecoming5 Homecoming4 Homecoming3 Homecoming2

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Boys Kylo Ren Costume Classic - Star Wars 7 The Force Awakens

SKU: P631752  |  Costume #241
Was: $24.99
Now: $18.74

Boys Star Wars 7 The Force Awakens Kylo Ren Costume Classic includes:

  • Robe
  • Mask
  • Hood

Officially licensed ©Lucasfilm Ltd. costume.

More on Kylo Ren Costume Classic: Your little one will be victorious in this Kylo Ren costume inspired by Star Wars 7: The Force Awakens. The front of the full-length robe and its matching hood feature unique textured printing. The robe has slits on either side as well as one in the front. This kids' Star Wars costume also features an elasticized full-face mask with black mesh covering the eye holes. All your pint-sized Kylo Ren needs is a broadsaber and he's the deadliest assassin of the Knights of Ren!

  • 100% polyester (exclusive of decorations)

Care instructions:

  • Hand wash cold with like colors, line dry
  • Do not iron

WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD - Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.


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The Top Spanish Voice Talent Jobs and Job Skills

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012 American Community SurveySpanish is the primary language of the home for over 38 million U.S. residents–a figure about double the number of the 1990 survey. Spanish is easily the second-most spoken language in the United States after English, and there are more Spanish speakers in the U.S. than in any other country except Mexico.

Given the place of Spanish in the U.S., its continuing growth, and its worldwide language community of 400 million native speakers and 500 million total speakers, it is not surprising that Spanish voice talent is in high demand. Below, we will look at some of the main job opportunities that demand Spanish voice talent, and then we will examine several qualities and skills that producers are looking for in Spanish voice-overs.

In-Demand Spanish Voice Talent Jobs

In both the entertainment and advertising industries, there is a growing demand to supply the 12% of U.S. households where Spanish is spoken with regular Spanish-language programming. As there are many dialects of Spanish and as about half of U.S. Spanish-speakers speak English very well, there is much diversity and complexity involved in meeting this challenge.

Some of the most important in-demand Spanish voice jobs, which are communicated through various media, including t.v., radio, Internet, and in-person, are as follows:

1. Dubbing English to Spanish

One major boom, across every dialect of Spanish, is in “dubbing” English T.V. shows, movies, training videos, e-learning tools, and even mobile apps into Spanish. The dialogue is systematically replaced, and there is often a desire for “localization” using specific dialects, cultural comments, and genre-specific devices.

2. Doing Spanish Commercials

Companies seeking to market their products on Spanish television and radio stations are in constant need of Spanish voice talent to effectively communicate with their audience. When you consider that such ads are running on a 24/7 basis and must be frequently replaced with new material, it is easy to see why the demand is high.

3. Narrating Spanish Productions

Narration parts in T.V. shows, novellas, documentaries, and movies are crucial to the success of these productions. Finding a talented Spanish narrator who matches the style and mood you wish to project is not always easy, but it can greatly enhance the entertainment and educational value of your productions.

4. Original Broadcasting in Spanish

There is great value in making original broadcasts in Spanish rather than always translating from English. T.V. show hosts, radio DJs, live sports announcers, news reporters, and more are among the many jobs available.

5. Voice-Acting Spanish Characters

Voice-acting for Spanish cartoons and animated films is another major area of demand. Many who enter this type of career have not only a natural voice talent but also have developed their voice through training and education at acting schools or while pursuing a dramatic arts or communications degree.

In-Demand Spanish Voice Talent Skills

For any and all of the above-listed jobs, studios are looking for specific skills that set voice artists apart and that meet the demands of the tasks to be performed. Some of the most important skills that are in demand and increase your chances of a successful Spanish voice-over include:

1. Fluency in Native Spanish

It is essential that your Spanish voice talent be fully fluent, but even when someone masters Spanish as a second language, native speakers will still almost always have the advantage. Words, phrases, and diction will come more naturally to them, allowing them to focus more on the message and the tone.

2. Perfect Pronunciation

The Spanish trilled “r” and “ñ” are phonemes not found in English, which is why it is difficult for non-native speakers to pronounce perfectly. Other sounds also, even if more subtly, vary from their English equivalents. Correct diction and solid enunciation are crucial, and word-stress, emphasis, and variation must also be mastered to create a truly “authentic” Spanish voice-over.

3. Good Voice Control

The ability to control one’s voice in order to deliver the exact sound desired in regard to tone, pitch, rate, style, and other factors is only acquired after years of practice. This is one of the main elements that sets professionals apart from amateur performers.

4. Neutral Spanish Accent

There are many dialects of Spanish, but one of the most highly marketable varieties of Spanish voice is simply a “neutral Spanish accent.” This means that, while the sound is authentic Spanish, it does not mark itself much toward dialectical extremities and thus works well across a wide and diverse audience.

Neutral accent also makes it practical for studios to hire a single artist to handle multiple scripts and/or characters. While U.S. Spanish used to vary more by region–Mexican accents dominating California, Puerto Rican New York City, and Cuban much of Miami–this is less so today. The huge influx of Spanish-speakers from all across Latin America in recent years has led to greater uniformity in U.S. Spanish, which further increases the value of a neutral accent. Finally, those from Colombia have an advantage on neutral accent since their native dialect is already very close to the “neutral” or “general” accent.

5. Specific Spanish Dialects

There are also many situation wherein the script calls for different characters to exhibit a particular Spanish dialect, and when targeting a particular community, using the local dialect is often more effective. Accent, rhythm, word choices, and special idioms will all factor into this adaptation. The Spanish voice artist who can supply Castilian, Latin American, Puerto Rican, Mexican, or Argentinian Spanish instead of only neutral accent will have an advantage in many situations.

6. Translation Abilities

While voice artists need not be translators, in many cases it is very helpful if they are. Many productions are needed in both English and Spanish, and those who are fluent in both and able to move freely and naturally between the two languages are a major asset to studios. Spanish is usually about 25% longer than the corresponding English, which will turn a 60-second commercial into a 75-second one. To avoid this, the translation may have to condense things and/or be spoken at faster rate.

There are many careers available for skilled Spanish voice talent, but there is also much competition. Those who deliver such Spanish voice skills as noted above are in a good position to compete for the best Spanish voice jobs.


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Call of Cthulhu 30th Anniversary Edition

Nav:Home > Puzzles & Games > Call of Cthulhu 30th Anniversary Edition

Press:ESDEVIUM GAMES LTD Chaosium Inc.; 6th edition (July 7, 2011)

2011 MARKS THE THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY of the release of Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game.
To celebrate this important and rare occasion in our Adventure Gaming industry, Chaosium is proud to offer a special binding of the current edition (6th edition) of the Call of Cthulhu rulebook.
This 320-page book features thick (3 mm) leatherette hard-covers with the front cover and spine stamped with luxurious gold foil.
The interior pages are printed in black ink, on 90 gsm matte art paper, and each book is individually numbered on the title page.
The binding is thread sewn, square backed.
Each book is individually shrink-wrapped, with the barcode stickered onto the wrapping so as to not mar the book cover.
Chaosium offers a one-time printing of this Collector's Edition.
It will not be reprinted.</span>

Humor & Entertainment,Puzzles & Games

 PDF Download And Online Read: Call of Cthulhu 30th Anniversary Edition

Relation Books

Pop Culture,Television,Sheet Music & Scores,Trivia & Fun Facts,Humor,Movies,Radio,Puzzles & Games Book,。 Humor & Entertainment Book

Humor & Entertainment Book @ 2017


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Topic: Decoding a Device's Informational Sticker

I've been re-inventorying a number of our media matrix breakout devices and I was wondering what sort of information we are able to get off the tag...

We have a mix of 8o's and 4n's. Both types of devices have an item number and serial number and most of both have a tag with the following information:

Item # XXXXXXXXXXXX             Mfg. Loc.     XX
Serial # XXXXXXXXXXXXX             XXXX XX

The item number and serial number are obvious. For the other information, I am wondering if the four digit number under "Mfg" is supposed to be the year of manufacturer? If it is, do the two digits to right of and under "Loc." have any meaning?

For some of the 4n's, they only have the item and serial number listed. Also, item numbers have been the same for all like items so far, though some of the 4n's are listed as "CAB 4n V1" and others as "CAB 4n CM2". Are these just differentiating a CM1 vs CM2 module and the rest of the hardware is identical?

Thank you.

Re: Decoding a Device's Informational Sticker

Hi Michael,

Yes, all the hardware inside the CAB 4n CM-1 and CAB 4n CM-2 are identical except for the actual CM-1 (or CM-2) card and the EPROM that fits in the U22 socket on the main board of the CAB 4n. All other I/O cards, main board, GPIO board, Mezzanine board, and power supply are all the same.

I can't really speak to the information that is on the tag on the bottom of the equipment as I don't have a tag in front of or anywhere around me. Though I think your analysis is correct.

Josh Millward
Burnt Orange Studios


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Meadowhill Cattery

Pedigree Pens provided a facility of Penthouse Pens for Gary Waterall and David McDonald, owners of Meadowhill Cattery, Midlothian, Scotland.

The cattery provides a secure home for your cat and is located in a quiet rural setting in Midlothian, Scotland. They offer accommodation and a service of the highest standard for your cat.

Meadowhill Cattery
2 Brewer’s Bush
Cockpen Road
EH19 3JH

Tel: (01875) 821 406

Find their cattery listing in our online UK Cattery Directory


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Category Archives: Technology

Flexible schedules for working

This has been one of the main discussion not only at the headquarters but also in politics. The way families are able to adapt their work to their family role.

The truth is that there have been some changes in all the schedules to help with this issue but, are they enough?

... read more - click title

Bits Blog: American Workers Say Internet Makes Them More Productive

A new survey by the Pew Research Center finds that e-mail is very important to three-fifths of American workers, while social media is a blip on the charts.

Link to article:

... read more - click title


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About Us

American Grocery Restaurant strives to serve the finest in refined American Seasonal Cuisine, featuring products sourced from local and regional farms and from artisan producers from within the United States. Our menu changes frequently based on the freshest products we can procure from our local purveyors and the bounty of the seasons.

We believe it is a restaurants responsibility to understand where their products come from, how they came to be, and the love with which those products were raised; to us there is no other way.

Our Hours


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3 Benefits of Outsourcing Lab Services

Outsourcing is becoming the new normal in many companies operating in different sectors. People are finding it to be quite cost friendly and as a result, many companies are opting to outsource instead of doing things in-house. The latest recipient of outsourcing is the laboratory sector. Lab outsourcing involves the use of an independent contractor who handles everything to do with quality control testing, R&D and other services that are performed by an in-house laboratory. The million dollar question is why hospitals and other companies are opting to outsource their lab services.

Benefits of Outsourcing Lab Services
Cost– In-house lab services are costly. Statistics show that outsourcing lab services help reduce lab cost by 20%. In-house lab services have high capital investment, and the hospital or company also incurs an overhead cost. However, if a company outsources these services, they are spared the extra expenses, and they do not have to worry about hiring a medical profession in case the results come out with an anomaly.
Higher levels of capability– In-house laboratories are at times limited in the scope of work they can perform. This limitation is as a result of their high levels of specialization in one area which as a result may limit them from conducting certain tests. However, outsourced labs are not limited to this. They have a wide range of laboratory equipment and specialists who come from different fields.
Higher laboratory productivity– Outsourcing lab services help increase productivity and improve services offered. The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in Dallas, Texas can attest to this. According to the Executive Director of this center, outsourcing has helped improve the center’s lab performance, and they have been able to gain revenue as a result of leasing.

Types of Lab Testing that are Outsourced
Outsourcing lab services are not limited to hospitals. Several industries outsource lab services, and they include; consumer product, chemical industries, production industries, petroleum refining and the pharmaceutical sector which is the most common one.

The types of testing outsourced include; research development, troubleshooting, technical support, quality control and science services. Companies across the globe are considering this option of outsourcing laboratory services. Whatever reason each company may have for outsourcing, it is clear that the greatest reason is the cost reduction this service offers.

The process of Outsourcing Lab Services
The first step is to make the decision. Once you officially decide to outsource, then you can evaluate whether you want to outsource just one specific test or the entire lab service. Making this decision will help you reduce the size of your in-house laboratory and hence reduce cost. The next step is to start hunting for a reputable company that provides laboratory services.


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Perlan Pilots in the News

On October 8th, the Online Competition (OLC) season finished for 2011-12 with Jim Payne declared the winner for the year. This is a worldwide competition with more than a hundred thousand flights by thousands of glider pilots. At the top level, it gets very competitive.

View the OLC Champion 2012 Results here.

What isn’t obvious from the results is that Jim was accompanied on every flight by Dennis Tito, who is also one of the Perlan 2 pilots. They worked together as a team to put Jim’s name at the top of the rankings. Jim has also won the speed category called OLC-League as well as the USA-specific trophies for both speed and distance.

Morgan Sandercock has been competing in the Australian Club Class Nationals, winning Day 7 of the competition. This is the first time a SparrowHawk has flown in competition in Australia, so it looks like it will do well in the future.

View the Club Class Day 7 Results here.

As a side benefit from the new OLC season starting at the same time as the Australian Nationals, Morgan was the first pilot to post 6 completed flights to the OLC and is currently showing as the leader in the 2013 race. This won’t last long, as the truly competitive pilots will accumulate better flights over the year.

View the OLC 2013 Championship results here.

All of the other pilots in the top 10 are also flying in the same Nationals but the OLC handicap puts Morgan and the SparrowHawk first.

About the Author

Blog List


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Statistics for occurrence #1 of “Asia” in card 746 of Euripides, The Trojan Women:

...our father's nobility; to you your father's valiancy has proved no gift. O my unlucky bed and marriage, that brought me once to Hector's home, hoping to be the mother of a son that should rule over Asia 's fruitful fields instead of serving as a victim to the Danaids! Do you weep, my child? do you know your hapless fate? Why clutch me with your hands and to my garment cling, nestling like a tender ...
Max. Freq. Min. Freq.
Entity Corpus Doc Corpus Doc
Asia 1,397 6 1 0 0 user votes
Asia (Tennessee, United States) 32 0 0 0 0 user votes

† This entity has been selected by the automated classifier as the most likely match in this context. It may or may not be the correct match.


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Browsing named entities in An English Combatant, Lieutenant of Artillery of the Field Staff., Battlefields of the South from Bull Run to Fredericksburgh; with sketches of Confederate commanders, and gossip of the camps.. You can also browse the collection for Scott or search for Scott in all documents.

Your search returned 25 results in 14 document sections:

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t, and boastful. His self-conceit is boundless: any one who disputes his ideas is a fool. The peculiarities of Yankee character displayed during the present war are very amusing, but sometimes, it must be confessed, very offensive. When General Scott was in chief command at Washington, and promised to disperse the rebels within thirty days, the Northern editors were lavish and servile in praise of the great chief Columns upon columns of editorial flattery daily issued from their journals.ell, his talented lieutenant, came in also for his share of praise, although thousands asked: Who is McDowell? When the reports of the Washington Administration claimed a victory at Manassas, the whole nation vociferously chaunted the praises of Scott and McDowell; but when the truth leaked out the day following, not a newspaper in the whole country but vilified them both, calling the first a stupid, ignorant old blockhead, and the latter a traitor. Butler had appeared upon the scene some
nly a colonel of dragoons in the old United States service. It is true that several officers (among them Van Dorn, Longstreet, Ewell, and Evans) in the Indian countries, or on the Border, immediately threw up their commands, and joined the fortunes of their respective States; but little was expected of them, since they could only be regarded as men of theory, with but little experience in warfare. Common expectation, however, was most agreeably disappointed in these officers. While General Scott and a host of officers were drilling and marshalling their men at Washington, the State of Virginia seceded. Her arsenals and naval works were, as a consequence, blown up or fired by the enemy, and evacuated; the only spoil that fell to our lot, at Norfolk and other places, being charred and broken hulls, empty dockyards, spiked cannon, and damaged ammunition. The seizure of Harper's Ferry secured to Virginia several thousand stand of arms; but beyond these, little fell to the Confede
ws troops ordered to Virginia Rejoicings in the camp Hospitalities on the road patriotism of the women Northern sympathies in east Tennessee camp at Lynchburgh by rail to Manassas station. April having passed, and the intentions of General Scott not being as yet developed, it was conjectured that operations might commence simultaneously at different points. Troops were therefore sent to Union City, (Kentucky,) near Cairo, on the Mississippi, and to Columbus, (Kentucky,) on the same ound a thousand and one excuses for not bearing arms for the country that had enriched them, and in which perchance they had been born. This is true of Hollanders generally, and of Dutch Jews almost universally. It becoming apparent that General Scott's main line of advance and attack would be from Washington towards the Confederate capital of Richmond, the majority of our forces were directed to a point mid-way between both places. From our camp ground we daily saw trains passing onwards
eral Joe Johnston is at the Ferry with a small force guarding the passage; for if General Patterson and his forty thousand men pour across from Maryland and Pennsylvania into the Shenandoah Valley, they can march on this place by the flank, while Scott moves down from Washington in our front. 'Tis fully sixty miles, however, from the Ferry here, and if we hadn't so many traitors and spies around at all points, night and day, our boys wouldn't be obliged to guard the Gap yonder this cold night,t. Pegram had been surprised and defeated by McClellan, at Rich Mountain in Western Virginia, (July twelfth,) and from reports of killed and wounded, it was very evident the Federals had no idea of amusing themselves by throwing snowballs at us. Scott began to push his outposts towards Fairfax Court-House, and sharp skirmishing was of daily occurrence; but with little damage to either side. We learned that our independent scouts around Alexandria caused much annoyance and loss by their unerri
y to the front, that news was brought of Patterson's retreat from the Shenandoah Valley into Maryland, his object being to effect a junction with the forces of General Scott around Washington in time for the great struggle. At the same time, telegrams informed us of Johnston's retreat to Winchester and Strasburgh; and he himself hngagement. This was excellent news, and Johnston's manoeuvres raised him high in the opinion of the men. During the night we picked up several stragglers from Scott's army, and learned from them that McDowell was in chief command, and had seventy-five thousand men. These prisoners did not wish to be sent far from Manassas, and for peculiar reasons. Don't send us to Richmond, they said; our army will be in Manassas before Sunday, and therefore we wish to save trouble. Lincoln and Scott both promise to be in Richmond within a week, and as the thing will be over so soon, we don't wish to be sent far off, etc. We could not help laughing at the simplicity
er than the left in position and numbers, even without considering the two reserve brigades of Holmes and Early, which were stationed with the former for emergencies. At which of these points the meditated blow might fall none could foresee. Scott was said to be a crafty general, and there can be no doubt that he taxed his little genius rather heavily on this occasion to assist McDowell, who, as our prisoners assured us, held the chief command. I had scarcely returned to camp, about five heir knives and rushed to close quarters, the Yankees screamed with horror. It is only fair to state that the Federal Colonels Hunter, Heintzelman, and others, nobly did their duty, and handled their troops with great precision and judgment. Scott's idea of attracting our attention on the right, and at Stone Bridge, while columns were marching through the woods to cross at Sudley and Red House Fords, was an excellent one, and it was carried out to the letter by his scientific subordinates.
ison Warren, some poor relation of the English blacking-maker, had lived in some out-of-the-way swamp in the Carolinas; he came to Richmond to have a private talk with the President, to let him know what he thought about General McClellan and old Scott. Not getting an audience, he offered himself for the vacancy of quartermaster-general, and not being accepted, was sure that Jefferson Davis was a despot, and that the Southern Confederacy was fast going to the devil. Smith had a self-loadinas made his name famous. Major-General Magruder is about forty years of age, thick-set, voluptuous in appearance, very dressy and dandified, showy in his style and bearing, and nearly always mounted. He was an artillery officer in Mexico, under Scott, and gained an enviable name for efficiency in that branch, as also in engineering. He looks like a man too much given to dissipation, and is incapable of planning a battle, although very vigorous in fighting one. If appointed to fortify a plac
es and liquors found; yet still the gunboats continued their bombardment; and Buell's Major-General Don Carlos Buell is from the State of Ohio, and, previous to this present war, was Captain, Assistant Adjutant-General at Washington. He served during the Mexican campaign, and with distinction, having been twice breveted for gallantry. He was always looked upon as a quiet, methodical, and safe officer; and when McClellan selected leaders from the regular service for the volunteers on General Scott's retirement, Captain Buell was appointed Brigadier-General in Kentucky, and soon after rose to the rank of Major-General. His deportment is gentle and soldierly; he thoroughly understands his business, and despises that coarse vulgarity so common among Federal leaders of the present day. forces arriving in haste, crossed the river and formed line of battle for the morrow. It could not be denied that we had gained a great victory-thousands of prisoners were in our hands, including many
to be the first engineer in the service. lie had greatly distinguished himself in Mexico, and shared with Beauregard the highest honors of that campaign. It was Scott's practice never to patronize subordinate talent, although all his renown was achieved by it; so that while he continually thrust himself upon popular favor, and obtained the highest rank possible in the service, he never spoke q word in favor of those to whom he was undoubtedly indebted for his greatness. For all that Scott and the War Office cared, Lee might have lived and died a lieutenant-colonel, while others infinitely inferior to him were promoted for political reasons. Virginia most southern point of the peninsula,) and greatly annoyed General Butler, who then commanded the fortress. Butler was tempted to open the campaign of 1861 before Scott, by marching upon Magruder in the hope of overwhelming him. Having made his preparations, he found the Confederates posted at the village of Little Bethel, and was
there was nothing I could purchase for their comfort that I failed to do. Had fortune thrown in my way such men as Seward, Lincoln, Blair, Sumner, or Hale, I should have been tempted to use some of the handcuffs out of the wagon-loads which old Scott had sent to Manassas for very different individuals. In such a case it would have been a good joke; but in the present instance, a cruel one. When we hailed a steamboat above Berkeley, I learned the following facts. Huger, I was informed, h of his own men actually engaged; made prisoners of twice as many, and drowned the rest. I hear he came from Fife before entering the Northern army. Yes, dear old Scotland has given a good many men in this war-there's McClellan from Argyle, and Scott from Dumfries, and- Johnstone might have gone on claiming Southern celebrities for natives of Scotia, but Moore, becoming indignant, swore roundly that Beauregard was from Limerick, and Lee from Cork, so that those of us who had not gone beyo
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