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Mukasey presents priorities for remaining term as attorney general

[JURIST] US Attorney General Michael Mukasey [official website; JURIST news archive] announced [prepared statement, PDF; press release] to the House Judiciary Committee [official website] Wednesday that during his remaining time in office he will focus primarily on addressing the legal rights of US-held enemy combatants and ensuring that voting rights [JURIST news archives] laws are adhered to in upcoming elections. He also told the Committee that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is working to address concerns that its employment decisions have been politically influenced [JURIST news archive] in recent years. Reiterating his belief [statement; JURIST report] that it is inappropriate for the judicial branch to outline the process for trying terrorism suspects, Mukasey said:

Congress and the Executive Branch are in a better position than the courts to create practical procedures and rules to govern the habeas corpus hearings required by the Supreme Court, procedures and rules that would both give the detainees what process they are due and accommodate the grave national security concerns involved. In my speech earlier this week, I outlined six principles that should guide such legislation, and I look forward to working with you and your colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both houses of Congress to address these important issues promptly.
Mukasey informed the Committee of his plans to monitor the legality [Voting Rights Act backgrounder] of the upcoming presidential elections:
The Department will maintain a significant presence throughout the election season through both outreach and monitoring. We will work closely with civil rights groups and state and local elections officials to identify and solve problems. We will publicize telephone numbers and websites through which people can bring potential issues to our attention. And, on Election Day, we will deploy hundreds of observers and monitors around the country.

These steps will supplement our ongoing efforts both to enforce laws, including the Voting Rights Act, designed to guarantee access of all Americans to the ballot and to enforce laws, including those prohibiting voter fraud and campaign finance abuse, intended to safeguard the integrity of the voting process. All these efforts are essential in ensuring that elections reflect the will of the people, and in maintaining the confidence of all Americans in our system of government.
Mukasey also defended the Bush administration's invocation of executive privilege [JURIST report] in refusing to produce documents related to the Valerie Plame CIA leak investigation. UPI has more.

The issues Mukasey discussed in his statement have garnered a great deal of media attention in recent weeks. In June, the Supreme Court ruled [opinion, PDF; JURIST report] that federal courts have jurisdiction to review habeas corpus petitions filed by Guantanamo Bay detainees, and that the Military Commissions Act of 2006 [PDF text; JURIST news archive] did not limit detainees' right to federal judicial review. Also that month, political bias in DOJ hiring practices was made public in a report [PDF text; JURIST report] by the DOJ Office of the Inspector General [official website], a revelation which has already resulted in a lawsuit and ethics complaints [JURIST reports] against the department.

About Paper Chase

Paper Chase is JURIST's real-time legal news service, powered by a team of 30 law student reporters and editors led by law professor Bernard Hibbitts at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. As an educational service, Paper Chase is dedicated to presenting important legal news and materials rapidly, objectively and intelligibly in an accessible format.

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Saturday, 23 February 2013

Fasting for Lent

Prompted by Sue's post over at The Quince Tree I have decided to give the 5:2 Fast Diet a go this Lent.

Lent crept up on me this year and caught me unprepared.  A weekend in Scotland and my defection to the Quakers, who do not observe the Christian calendar, meant no pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and  no conclusion on what to 'give up' or 'take up' in preparation for the great feast of Easter.

So thanks, Sue.

For those of you who have not heard of the Fast Diet, click here for all the details.

This week I fasted on Monday and Friday.  It should have been Monday and Wednesday, but I swapped Wednesday for Friday when I decided to go out on Wednesday evening.  That's one of the advantages of this diet.  Provided they're not consecutive, fast days can be observed on any day of the week.

Another advantage is the freedom to eat pretty much what you want, even on fast days.  There are no expensive ingredients, no 'diet' foods, no 'sins', no 'red/green' days to choose between and very little in the way of calorie counting.

Dieters can not only decide what to eat, but when to eat it.  So far I've chosen to skip breakfast, lunch on a bowl of soup and save the bulk of my calories for an evening meal.  Vegetable soups are not only quick and easy to prepare and delicious to eat, but they also help stave off hunger pangs.  Eating normally at the end of the day saves me from having to cook a separate meal for the rest of the family or having to watch them tuck in while I nibble on a stick of celery!

There is a book to accompany the documentary but I've found as much as I need to know from the website. I'm indebted to a variety of bloggers who have posted calorie counted recipes for fast days (London Unattached, The Frugal Cook and Tinned Tomatoes).  I've collected my favourites on my Pinterest board (link to the left) and can recommend the One Pot Southern Style Rice we ate last night.

  1. Good luck with this - I tired it but it made me feel really lethargic and yucky, so have stopped. I'm sure you'll have more success :)

  2. We're doing something similar - the 2 day diet which is basically high protein and no/low carb, low cal for 2 days then a healthy diet for the remaining 5. We are feeling well, and not hungry, and half a stone lighter already! I liked this one as it's directly aimed at reducing the risk of breast cancer and insulin resistance. Really hope the claims are right!

  3. @ Nic Sorry to hear it didn't work for you. I've been fine so far. I wasn't even as hungry as I'd expected - though I should try not to watch cookery programmes on fast days!

    @dottycookie Although I haven't ruled out carbs I have been avoiding them on fast days on account of their high calorie value. I can't say that I've noticed any improvement in my weight or general well being but it's early days yet.

  4. We sort of unintentionally ended up cutting out carbs on fast days too, just because they are so high in calories for so little to eat.

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Analysis: Legal Framework for Peace

News from Colombia | on: Wednesday, 18 July 2012

By Hasan Dodwell

A temporary reform was made to the Colombian Constitution last month with the passing of a bill that could have significant implications for both peace and justice in Colombia. The so called Legal Framework for Peace has the overt aim of facilitating a negotiated solution to the armed conflict and the government has presented its ratification as an important step towards peace in Colombia. There is however widespread concern that the reform could lead to systematic and institutionalised impunity.

The Legal Framework for Peace writes transitional justice into the constitution, as part of a potential peace agreement which brings an end to the armed conflict. The adoption of transitional justice would allow for the prioritisation of certain crimes and the later selection, by Congress, of the crimes and individuals that are to be investigated. All other crimes could face reduced or alternative sentences or a suspension of legal proceedings altogether. This modification of normal legal practice would be applied to members of armed groups that have agreed to demobilise and to Colombian state officials who have committed crimes in the context of the armed conflict. The idea of transitional justice is based on the logic that no armed group will abandon its armed struggle if the vast majority if not all of its members are to spend the rest of their lives behind bars. At the same time it recognises that the opposing side in the conflict will have to be provided with similar benefits as part of the give-and-take nature of any negotiation.

The passing of the law has indeed triggered a classic debate between those who consider flexibility in the area of legal justice as a pragmatic necessity of peace negotiations and those who believe that in order to guarantee a lasting and stable peace all actors and all crimes should be tried according to recognised international laws. Outside the perimeters of this debate however there is concern as to the true objective of the law and whether it is in fact another attempt by Colombia’s political class to provide impunity for crimes committed by state actors.

The passing of the Legal Framework for Peace takes place in a context in which on the one hand the Colombian government has been declaring its dedication to peace and on the other it has supported a series of reforms that have increased the likelihood of impunity for state crimes. The Legal Framework for Peace, alongside the now overturned Justice Reform Bill and efforts to expand the reach of military courts, form part of what Armando Novoa García, the Director at the Centre for Constitutional Studies, calls a ‘coherent project’ with the aim of providing ‘immunities and privileges to ex-members of illegal armed groups, congressmen, members of the military, and high level public servants’.

Indeed it will be Congress that decides what crimes and what individuals are offered the legal benefits provided by the adoption of transitional justice. This is extremely concerning when one considers the recent scandals that have rocked the two legislative chambers. The Justice Reform Bill passed in June caused national outrage when it was revealed that it included articles that would make it increasingly difficult for state officials with connections to paramilitary groups to be prosecuted. The legitimacy of Colombia’s political structures needs to be increased before constitutional amendments such as those sanctioned by the Legal Framework for Peace can be viewed with anything but considerable scepticism. Current and ex-members of Congress continue to be investigated for their involvement in paramilitary crimes. According to the Colombian conflict observatory Verdad Abierta, 53 members of Congress have thus far been charged in what is known as the ‘parapolitica’ scandal and a further 100 processes have been initiated with hundreds more in preliminary stages. In order to advance peace in Colombia measures need to be taken that put an end to state corruption and to dismantle the networks that continue to connect paramilitary groups to state officials. Providing possible amnesties to those officials involved will do little to push Colombia down this path.

Further concerns have been expressed by Human Rights Watch regarding the possibility that the law could be used to provide immunity to military officials involved in the ‘false positive’ scandal in which Colombian soldiers stand accused of killing thousands of civilians before presenting them as guerrillas shot in combat.

Although the constitutional reform states that only crimes committed in the context of the armed conflict can be considered for transitional justice, there is no clear definition of where the line is drawn and concern has been expressed that a liberal interpretation will allow Congress to manipulate the legislation in order to provide judicial benefits to state officials who stand accused of crimes.

The Legal Framework for Peace passed by Congress last month does contain certain positive elements that could contribute to an environment more favourable to possible peace negotiations with the guerrilla groups, it is also however open to considerable manipulation that could allow state officials to provide themselves with a self-mandated amnesty. There is still much to be defined as the legislation is, as its name suggests, a framework and new laws will have to be passed to determine who and what will benefit from the transitional justice measures. It is essential therefore, in the interests of peace, that the transitional justice that is applied is focused on achieving a successful negotiation with the armed guerrilla groups and not on providing an amnesty that allows state officials to continue to avoid justice whilst the network of corruption and connections with paramilitary groups remain in place. If, as many critics fear, the latter proves to be case, the constitutional reform will not just fail to realise its potential contribution to peace, it will actively push a negotiated solution further into the distance.

You can read more about the balance of abuses committed by the state, paramilitaries and guerrillas here.

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“Zvi Har’El’s Jules Verne Collection is hosted (since November 2006) by ibiblio. Home to one of the largest “collections of collections” on the Internet, is a conservancy of freely available information, including software, music, literature, art, history, science, politics, and cultural studies. is a collaboration of the Center for the Public Domain and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I wish to thank the good people at ibiblio for their great hospitality, help and support, and hope to have many years of fruitful cooperation.

I am thankful to Ariel Pérez for his tireless work in promoting Jules Verne in the Spanish speaking world, for all the Spanish translations he sent me. I wish to thank him, and his collaborators Garmt de Vries and Jean-Michel Margot, for the Frequently asked Questions (and answers, of course) they prepared and donated to this site. I also wish to use this opportunity to thank the many translators of the FAQ: Ralf Tuchmann, Lejf Rasmussen, Jean-Pierre Boutin, Nejat Bayramoğlu, Dima Aksutin, Pasqual Bernat, Tomáš Bílek, Marko Obradović, Fredrico Jácome.

I am grateful to my friend in Brazil, Waldemar de Almeida, for the stamps he sent me to help making my collection complete. I am still excited when I think how he even went out of his way to replace one stamp out of a complete series which was torn when I showed it around! Thank you Waldemar!

Thanks are also due to Mark Mikolon, my friend in collecting from Indiana, for his help and support. The silver foil he sent me really shines in the collection!

More help in organizing my stamp collection and completing the Michel catalog data was given generously by my friend in Germany, Bernhard Krauth, and I am very grateful to him.

Many thanks to Christian Sánchez, for sending me his Spanish translations to Jules Verne’s short stories “La Journée d’un journaliste américain en 2889” and “A propos du Géant”, and his electronic rendering of “Un drame au Mexique” and allowing me to post them here.

A complete, unabridged English translation Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas is now available in an illustrated hypertext edition in this collection. I warmly thank Rick (F. P.) Walter for sending me the original WordPerfect diskettes and the original color plates. We are all very grateful to you, Rick, for putting your excellent translation in the public domain and letting all of us finally freely enjoy a good JV English translation. I hope more translators will follow your example.

Speaking about good translations, I am grateful to Norman Wolcott, who made his electronic rendition of Frederick Amadeus Malleson’s faithful translation to Verne’s Journey to the Interior of the Earth available to us, after almost getting used to the horrible “Hardwigg” version.

My warm thanks to Sidney Kravitz for making his unabridged 200,000 word English translation of Jules Verne’s The Mysterious Island available to the readers of this page. This careful translation is the fruits of 14 years labor of love, and I am sure you will enjoy reading it the way I did. Sidney will send a free 3½″ disk containing the ASCII version of his translation to the first 100 people who request it. Free postage is included. You can contact him by email or write him at his home address: Sidney Kravitz, 592 Herrick Drive, Dover, New Jersey, 07801-2013 USA.

I also wish to thank René Paul for his great help in supplying about one third of the illustrations accompanying The Mysterious Island, after four years they were missing because I was too busy or impatient to scan them... René also contributed all the illusrations for the Illustrated Jules Verne section of this site, and I am grateful to him and Nikky for their magnificent work.

Many thanks to Jean-Michel Margot for making Jules Verne’s youth novella, Le Mariage de Mr Anselme des Tilleuls, available in this collection.

I am very thankful to Frank J. Morlock, the playwright and translator, for allowing me to present here his English translations and adaptations of Jules Verne plays: The Adoptive Son, The Knights of the Daffodil, Mr. Chimpanzee, Michael Strogoff and Children of Captain Grant.

More thanks are due to Art Evans who broke the ground, and to Bill Butcher and Brian Taves who followed his lead, for sending me their essays and permitting me to present them here.

I wish to thank Nejat Bayramoğlu, for sending me the electronic version of the single chapter of Joyeuses Misères de trois voyageurs en Scandinavie, short time after it was unveiled to the public in GEO. I also thank him for sending me the first Turkish Jules Verne novel on the Internet, L'Étoile du sud. This is a great addition to the univerality of the Jules Verne Virtual library.

Many thanks to Dima Aksutin, who introduced my to the Russian Jules Verne electronic texts, and sent me his electronic versions of Voyage au centre de la Terre, Cinq semains en ballon, and the short story Gil Braltar, which appears here for the first time in the internet.

The Vice-President of the Polish Jules Verne Society, Andrzej Zydorczak, has sent me the beautifully illustrated electronic rendition of the novel Une ville flottante in French and in Polish. This is the first Polish work in my collection, and it is quite exciting. I am very grateful, Andrzej! This was not enough: Andrej sent me many many more texts, both Polish and French, and made the Virtual Library richer than ever!

I am thankful to Jean-François Buisson for sending me his electronic rendering of Edgar Poe et ses œuvres and permitting me to post it here.

My thanks to Gilles Roger-Naudin for supplying the missing Livre de Poche original publication dates.

Toda Raba (a big thank you, in Hebrew) to Eli Eshed, for his invaluable help to keep the list of Jules Verne’s Hebrew translations up to date.

Many thanks to Ralf Tuchmann for sending me his electronic version of Robur-le-Conqérent and allowing me to post it here.

I am grateful to Christophe Bægert for allowing me to post here Le Château des Carpathes, originally digitized for the Bibliothèque Bagé by Phillipe Bægert.

My thanks to Garmt de Vries for sending me his electronic version of Jules Verne’s essays Les méridiens et le calendrier and Souvenirs d’enfance et de jeunesse so that I can post them here.

Grand merci to Thierry Selva for sending me his electronic version of La Jangada and allowing me to post it here.

I am thankful to John Stevens for sending me his Gutenberg based PDF versions of Robur the Conqueror and Master of the world and allowing me to post them here.

I wish to thank Peter Sippel of Warminster, Pennsylvania, for sending me his electronic rendition of The Narrative of A. Gordon Pym by Edgar Allan Poe and its sequel, An Antarctic Mystery, by Jules Verne, and allowing me to post here edited versions of them.

I am grateful to Kim N. Jensen for sending me his Danish electronic rendition of Le Châtau des Carpathes. More Danish translations of Jules Verne novels may be found in his website, Bibliotek 1800.

I would like to thak Michel, A.K.A. Coolmicro, for allowing me to post here the Jules Verne texts from his website, Ebooks Libres & Gratuits. He has done a great job for of transforming these texts to verious electronic format, and if you are interested in formats I don't keep, please look at his site.

All the flags which are flying over this site (since 1997) originate at the World Flags Database. I wish to thank its creator, maintainer and director, Graham Bartram, for allowing me to use his copyrighted flag images here.

I would also like to thank the anonymous creator of the background of these pages, paper4.gif. I would like to learn about the origin of this texture.

I couldn’t make my site the way it is without the friendly people around the world, who fight every day to promote free software, and are busy in developing it: AIcons, Apache, GIMP, Groff, Highslide JS, ht://Dig, Hypermail, Ibiblio, ImageMagick, Majordomo, Mozilla, Open Journal Systems,, Unicode, Vim, World Wide Web Consortium, Writer2LaTeX, and many others I might have forgotten. Thanks.

Finally, many thanks to all those sites who metion this collection, often favorably.

Zvi Har’El

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I have created this blog to offer ideas and hopefully some motivation as well as to inform those who may be interested in the diet. I would love comments about your successes, frustrations,ideas, or recipes. If anyone would like to share their story or recipes I would love to add you as an author to this blog.

Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Weight Loss Tools

Veggie Recipes

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Peel turnips and cut into strips to resemble shoe string potatoes. Sometimes I even use a crinkle cutter and they really resemble french fries. Make a LOT.

Spray a cookie sheet covered with aluminum foil with of non-stick cooking spray. Lay the “fries” on the foil. Spray further with cooking spray.

Season with spices of your choice. French fry seasoning. Garlic and onion powders, salt & pepper. Chili powder, garlic and onion powder, cumin, salt, pepper.

Bake for about 20 minutes and turn. Bake another 10 minutes or so.

Baked Cauliflower

Cut cauliflower into bite size pieces.  Mist with Olive oil.  Add seasonings of your choice.  Bake @ 400 degrees for about 20 min.

Baked Asparagus

Spread asparagus on cookie sheet in single layer.  Mist with olive oil.  Salt & pepper.  Bake @ 400 for about 15 minutes.

Cauliflower Rice

•1 head cauliflower (or however much you want)

To make this dish the most easily and to have it come out the best, three pieces of equipment are very helpful:

- A food processor

- A microwave

- A covered (or fairly tightly coverable) microwave-safe dish

1) Process fresh cauliflower until it is the size of rice, either using the plain steel blade or the shredder blade. Alternatively, you can shred it with a hand-held grater, or even use a knife, if you have the dexterity to chop it up VERY finely.

2) Microwave it in a covered dish for about 6 minutes. DO NOT ADD WATER. Cauliflower absorbs water like crazy, and the "granules" will become gummy. To keep it fluffy, just let the moisture in the cauliflower do its work.

Add whatever seasonings you would normally use for rice or see fried rice recipe under main courses.


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Language: The Main Vehicle Of Contemplation

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

by Malik Badri

Despite the complexity of this problem, research in cognitive psychology has become familiar with many secrets of human internal intellectual and mental activities and their precise relation with language. With the help of modern computer, it has been possible to set up simplified programs to clarify some of the methods followed by the human mind in classifying information. It has been found, for instance, that language is not only a human being's means of address and communication, but also the basic system used in thinking. Without the laws that control the way in which tangible and abstract meanings are conveyed through word symbols, human beings cannot develop abstract concepts. They cannot use either their sensory perception or their ability to imagine and remember in dealing with various types of experiences they underwent in the past, so that they can relate them to the present and deduce from them possible solutions to p.roblems they are facing. Thinking, in fact, is using such symbols through cognitive processes.

Some researchers, like Whorf who formulated the 'linguistic relativity' hypothesis, consider the characteristics of the language spoken by a certain group of people to be the factor that denoted how they think and how they visualize the realities they live. The structure and other aspects of language are therefore considered to be basic factors in the way a given society visualizes the world.

Let us take a closer look at this idea of the importance of language. If it were wholly or even partly true, it would be most appropriate for us to consider the characteristics of the Arabic language, its impact on the Arabs and the reasons for the divine choice of this language as the means to reveal the Qur'an and convey the message of Islam to the whole of humanity. God says in the Qur'an: "We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and we will assuredly guard it" (15:9). This means that He guards Revelation and, consequently, also the Arabic language. In this connection, the Egyptian scholar, `Abbas Mahmud al-`Aqqad, discusses some aspects of the Arabic language: its vocabulary, phonetic and phonemic aspects:

The human speech system is a superb musical instrument which no ancient or modern nation has used as perfectly as the Arab nation, as they have used the entire phonetic range in the distribution of its alphabet. Therefore, it is these qualities of the Arabic language that made Arabic poetry a perfect art, independent of other arts. [`Abbas Muhammad al-`Aqqad, al-Lughah Al-Sha`irah (Cairo: Maktabat Gharib, n.d.)]

According to al-`Aqqad, these qualities are not found in any other language, for "Arabic eloquence has taken the human speech organs to the highest point ever reached by man in expressing himself by letters and words." [Ibid., p. 70.]

In Al-Fusha: Lughat a/-Qur'an (Classical Arabic: The Language of the Qur'an), Anwar al-Jundi mentions the qualities of the Arabic language and its importance in propagating Islam:

It is most astonishing to see this robust language (Arabic) growing and reaching a stage of perfection in the midst of the desert, and in a nation of nomads. The language has superseded other languages by its wealth of vocabulary, precise meanings and perfect structure. This language was unknown to other nations. But when it came to be known, it appeared to us in such perfection that it hardly underwent any change ever since. Of the stages of life, that language had neither childhood nor old age. We hardly know anything about that language beyond its unmatched conquests and victories. We cannot find any similar language that appeared to scholars so complete, and without gradation, keeping a structure so pure and flawless. The spread of the Arabic language covered the largest areas and remotest countries. [Anwar al Jundi, Al-Fusha:Lughat a/-Qur'an (Beirut: Dar Al-Kitab Al-Lubnani, 1982), p.27]

Courtesy Of: Islaam.com

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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Finely Foliaged Fernleaf

A few years back, I was fortunate to have a friend who offered to trade some starts of his treasured fernleaf peony, the species peony Paeonia tenuifolia, for something in my garden.  I had seen and lusted after these peonies in several catalogues, but each time had recoiled against the listed price, often at $50 for a single start.  In contrast, my friend presented me with an enormous clump that I divided immediately and planted as three plants in my own garden and I also gave two away to others.  All three of the ones I kept are expanding and growing in my garden, now three years after planting. Thank God for the beneficence of gardeners!

The fernleaf peony is a fairly short (1-2 feet tall) herbaceous peony that is by far, the earliest peony to bloom in my garden.  It is blooming today, as seen in the picture above, at a time of year when most of my other peony varieties have not formed buds and some are just barely breaking ground.  Paeonia tenuifolia has crimson flowers (to 3" across) with yellow stamens that rise above some of the most attractive and unusual foliage in the garden.  The foliage is deeply divided and lobed into needle-like, ferny segments, hence the tenuifolia name, which means "slender leaved."  Several varieties and cultivars are on the market, from the single-form of the species that I grow, to a double form known as Paeonia tenuifolia 'Rubra Flora Plena', to a beautiful pink double form not yet commercially available.  The species and associated cultivars seem to be popular peonies in rock gardens.

Paeonia tenuifolia has been known in Europe since at least the 1500's and was described by Linnaeus in 1759.  In reading about this peony, I was interested to see that most sources describe this peony as needing extra water during the year, one source even recommending continually-wet soil, while it seems to be doing well without any extra water in my own garden.  Paeonia tenuifolia is native to the Caucasus Mountains of Russia, as well as areas north of the Black Sea and westward into Romania and Serbia, an area with cold winters and hot, dry summers, so it is actually should be no surprise that it does well here in Kansas.  A description at the Heartland Peony Society website suggested that the usual culprit in this peony's demise is too much humidity, which causes it to succumb to "fungus," so I suspect the recommendation for extra-water is a myth handed down from writer to writer, none of whom actually have attempted themselves to grow the plant in a dry garden.  As a mentor used to tell me, "If I wrote the sky is green in a book chapter, soon the whole world would be repeating that the sky is green."

I did learn from my reading that Paeonia tenuifolia is supposed to be well-scented, and I'm ashamed to admit that I've never checked it for scent before.  However, after sniffing over my own peony last evening, I can confirm that it has a pleasant light scent, but I wouldn't consider it the assault to my nose that many herbaceous peonies seem to be.

1 comment:

  1. I'm always astounded by the prices nurseries charge for peonies! The foliage on this one is especially lovely...I'm such a sucker for finely dissected foliage.

Thank you for your interest in my blog. I like to meet friends via my blog, so I try to respond if you comment from a valid email address rather than the anonymous "". And thanks again for reading!

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Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Shockingly Clever Reading in 2012

A great deal of my reading in 2012 was work-related. Fascinating stuff, but not necessarily rattling good yarns, as C.S. Lewis called page-turners. Still, I managed to dig in to some good stuff in the off-hours, and here are a few favorites:

My Favorite Non-fiction last year:

Quiet: The Power of Introverts In a World That Can't Stop Talking, by Susan Cain
If I invited you over for coffee and tried to explain to you how much I love this book, I'd end up sputtering, and sounding incoherent and inept, because as an introvert I'd spend too much time analyzing what I was saying and how I was saying it. I adore Susan Cain for understanding that and for attempting to help the world better understand introverts, too.

The Year of Learning Dangerously by Quinn Cummings

My Favorite Fiction last year:

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
The more I think about this book, the more I love it. It is delicate, but raw ... eloquent but real ... deeply touching but not saccharine. It is simply beautiful, brimming with what is best in humanity.

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

Favorite Books I Read to Ramona last year:

The Prairie Thief
Little Women
Charlotte's Web (with this cover, not the movie cover)

Favorite Book I Read Because Betsy and Anne-with-an-e Couldn't Believe I'd Never Read It:

Meet the Austins by Madeleine L'Engle

And finally, perhaps the most important category:

Favorite Book Written by One of My Daughters in November:

Bront, by Betsy (her NaNoWriMo novel)

Melanie Bettinelli said...

I have to say thank you for Quiet and The Language of Flowers, two books I read and loved because of you.

Daria Sockey said...

I Captured the Castle is hilarious. I discovered it years ago. And Charlotte's Web goes without saying! On your recommendation I'm going to order the Introvert book as soon as the paperback is out (I'm hoping that will make the Kindle edition go even lower). I'm thinking about Language of Flowers.

Faith said...

I got the Quiet book from my 17 yo introvert for Christmas, but secretly because I plan to read it myself one of these days.

Karen Edmisten said...

Melanie, I have to thank my friend Danae for The Language of Flowers. It wasn't on my radar screen at all when she mentioned it, and I'm so glad I read it. My daughter loved it, too.

Daria, looks like the Quiet paperback is coming soon.

And Faith, I like the way you think. :)

Sara said...

I don't have time for more books on my reading list! But it looks like I'm adding a bunch anyway.

Karen Edmisten said...

I know the feeling, Sara. :)

Haley @ Carrots for Michaelmas said...

I love seeing what other folks are reading. Looks like you read some beautiful ones in 2012. I tried to be more intentional about making a list for 2013 because my 2012 reading for improvement :)

Karen Edmisten said...

Karen Edmisten said...
I thought your 2012 reading list was great, Haley! (Esp. that thing by that Edmisten woman....)

Waugh, Gaskill, Chesterton ... you've got me beat for quality reads in 2012.

Jennifer said...

OK! I thought I read about The Language of Flowers here and I was right. Thank you. I'm enjoying it.

Karen Edmisten said...

Oh, good, Jenn! I thought it was a beautiful book. My daughters loved it, too.


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Free Movie on the Beach

The Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District hosts five Movies on the Beach events at Swim Beach on Big Bear Lake, located at 41220 Park Avenue in the City of Big Bear Lake. Admission to each movie is free, thanks to the Kiwanis Club of Big Bear Valley. Gates open at 7pm, and movie begins at sunset. Attendees are welcome to bring coolers to the outdoor theater, though no glass or alcohol; snack bar will also be available. Movie line-up includes: animated features “Planet 51″ on June 26, “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” on July 10, “Monsters vs. Aliens” on July 24, live-action film “Imagine That” starring Eddie Murphy on July 31 and animated pic “How to Train Your Dragon” on August 14. For more information, call 866-9700.


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FACT: 64% of KCBS members own three or more grills/smokers
FACT: 70% of our members grill-out/cook BBQ more than 25 times per year
FACT: 56% of Americans report having a smartphone, 77% of KCBS members do
FACT: 70% of KCBS members use Facebook
FACT: 55% of members choose charcoal when cooking for leisure
FACT: 23% of KCBS members work in the food service industry as a restauranteur or caterer
FACT: Learning from friends, family and at competitions is the best way to improve cooking skills
Joining KCBS has its privileges!
  • The official KCBS monthly newsletter, "The Bullsheet"
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  • 15% off your total order from Papa Tony's seasonings and ribs.
  • One-day shopping pass at any Restaurant Depot location when you present your KCBS membership card.
  • 20% off your total order from Sadler's Smokehouse online store.
  • $0.50 off TABASCO Chipotle or any pepper sauce flavor!
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Moonswiners take home Sam's title in Hendersonville

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September 16, 2013

Thank you to all the teams, judges, members and supporters that came out and helped make the Hendersonville, TN, contest and Sam’s Club National BBQ Tour a blazing success!

Scoring major bragging rights, Moonswiners took home Grand Champion and a check for $5,000. Swamp Boys was named Reserve Grand Champion, earning $3,500.

Congratulations to the following teams for finishing first in specific categories:

  • Chicken – TNT Southern BBQ
  • Brisket – Moyers Competition Bar-B-Que Team
  • Pork – Ash Kickers BBQ
  • Ribs – Moonswiners

The following teams earned a spot at the Final in Bentonville, AR on Oct. 19.

  • Moonswiners
  • Swamp Boys
  • Que'n Stew'n & Brew'n
  • Uncultured Swine
  • 3 Eyz BBQ
  • Southern Thunder BBQ
  • Killer B's BBQ
  • Rocky Top Barbeque
  • Chatham Artillery BBQ
  • Major Q BBQ

For a complete list of results, click here.

The next event in the Sam’s Club National BBQ Tour is in Kansas City, MO on Sept. 28.

Our Best of the Best 700 180 100+


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- KCII Radio - http://kciiradio.com -

Craft and Bake Sale

Posted By adminknia On @ 5:28 pm In Calendar | Comments Disabled

Title: Craft and Bake Sale
Description: Sunrise Terrace Care Center will hold a craft and bake sale Saturday, November 14 from 9-noon at the Winfield Methodist Church. There will be more than 25 tables of baked goods and crafts available, and cinnamon rolls, funnel cakes, and drinks served from 9-11.
Date: 2009-11-14

Article printed from KCII Radio: http://kciiradio.com

URL to article: http://kciiradio.com/2009/11/craft-and-bake-sale/

Copyright © 2005-2013 KCII Radio


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Posts With Keyword ‘Lolo Gay Jones’

Lolo Gay Jones

Posted: Tuesday, April 5th, 2011 at 6:57 am

A gathering/visitation service for 48 year old Lolo Gay Jones of rural Wayland will be Saturday from 5:00 pm to7:00 pm at the OC Community Church south of Wayland. Beatty Funeral Home is assisting with the arrangements.


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Saint Luke's Plans To Build 60-Bed Rehabilitation Hospital

Jun 17, 2014

Saint Luke’s Health System says it plans to build a 60-bed rehabilitation hospital in the Kansas City area in partnership with Nashville, Tenn.-based Centerre Healthcare Corp.

The hospital network says it has not selected a site for the proposed 60,000-square-foot facility, which is expected to open in 2016.

The rehab hospital will offer programs for stroke, brain and spinal cord injuries, amputations and other major medical conditions, Saint Luke’s said in a news release.

The hospital will be Centerre’s 14th inpatient rehab hospital in the United States, according to the release.

Saint Luke’s operates 10 hospitals in Missouri and Kansas as well as primary and specialty care practices.


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Terminal 5

Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Joan Jett Joins Laura Jane Grace Of Against Me! To Cover The Replacements’ “Androgynous” At Terminal 5

The “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” made an appearance in New York City over the weekend when she hopped on stage at Terminal 5 during Against Me!‘s set Friday night. Joan Jett and frontwoman Laura […]


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Located Southeast of Kansas City and just West of Sedalia, Warrensburg is home to just over 18,000 residents and one of the best places to live in Missouri.

New Development

We have several quality builders that are available to help you with all your building needs. We can help you build your dream home in any subdivision.


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lady gaga2 Little Girls Born This Way YouTube Video Makes Lady Gaga Cry

Lady Gaga (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images For The Recording Academy)

10-year-old Maria Aragon can sing and play the piano pretty well for her age. While she doesn’t have a record deal or a hit single she does have a huge fan who just happens to be one of the biggest popstars in the world: Lady Gaga. Maria’s “Born This Way” cover video on YouTube was up less than 24 hours before it caught Gaga’s attention and brought the superstar to tears.

“Can’t stop crying watching this,” tweeted the singer early this morning. “This is why I make music.” Just like that Gaga’s eight million plus followers caught wind of the tiny tot’s video. It has since skyrocketed to over 60,000 views. Of course, it’s only a matter of time until that number grows and the next viral video sensation is born. Lady Gaga has definitely had that effect in the past.

lady gaga tweet Little Girls Born This Way YouTube Video Makes Lady Gaga Cry

In April 2010, a boy from Texas named Greyson Michael Chance took the internet by storm with a video of himself performing Gaga’s “Paparazzi” at his sixth grade music festival. The YouTube clip has since garnered over 37 million views and it landed Greyson a record deal after Gaga and Ellen DeGeneres took note of his talent. He was the first artist signed to DeGeneres’ record label eleveneleven. He is currently on tour with Miranda Cosgrove and recording his debut album.

There’s no telling where you’ll end up after Lady Gaga points out your talent. If Greyson is any indication, this simple tweet could mean big things for Maria Aragon. We might have the next YouTube/singing sensation on our hands!

Watch Maria Aragon’s cover of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” below:

Check out more news on Lady Gaga >>

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Latest Archive

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 18:  Actress Mila Kunis attends the "Friends with Benefits" premiere at the Ziegfeld Theater on July 18, 2011 in New York City.  (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

Look Out People! Celebrity With A Bun In The Oven!

It’s official!! Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis are indeed engaged AND they have a baby on the way!

102.5 KEZK–03/24/2014

(Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Supermarket Mind Control? Believe It, Baby!!

So sit back and be ready to shout, “no WAY!!” along with me….won’t you? :) Here’s the list of “21 Ways Supermarkets Control Your Mind” off of buzzfeed.

102.5 KEZK–03/05/2014

(Photo credit: Jason Todd/Getty Images)

Here Is The EASIEST Way To Find The Cheapest Gas In Your Zip Code

There is now a site, or an app, if you want to put it on your smartphone, that can not only show you the cheapest gas in town…but it can go, oh, ’bout 4 or 5 better than that.

102.5 KEZK–02/25/2014

(Credit: CBS Radio)

I Just Had 8 Inches of Ombre Hair Chopped Off…& It Felt GOOOOD!!

Around the end of November, I got the itch to do something wild with my hair.

102.5 KEZK–01/17/2014

(Matt Stroshane/Getty Images)

Shamu May Not Be So Much Fun After You Read This….

You have to see this documentary about Orcas called “Blackfish”. You just do.

102.5 KEZK–01/13/2014

(SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images)

Best Fan Theories for TV & Movies for 2013

I’ve always loved the ‘theories’ behind movies’ ‘real’ meanings… Remember when “The Matrix” came out and the going theory was that Neo was Jesus Christ, along with accompanying proof? Loved that!

102.5 KEZK–12/03/2013

(Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Internet Dating…..Oh, The Humanity!!!!!!

So….even though I am VERY single….and, I’ll be honest and say, sometimes it is painfully so….I just don’t know if I have the guts to go and put myself out the on a website… I really admire those of you who do…that takes some guts, baby!!

102.5 KEZK–11/07/2013

(Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

Guess Who’s House Is Definitely Getting TP’d This Halloween??

There is a woman named Cheryl in Fargo, North Dakota, who called in to a radio station there this week and explained why she is going to pass judgement on children and ruin their Halloween.

102.5 KEZK–10/30/2013

This Is GREAT!! We, As A City, Are Getting An Apology From LOS ANGELES!!

LA Weekly has this INCREDIBLE article:
“10 Reasons Why St. Louis Is Actually Great” & along with the list (which is pretty comprehensive), St Louis gets what I am almost positive is an apology, LA-style.

102.5 KEZK–10/21/2013


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Filling the need for trusted information on national health issues…

Trending on kff Medicare & Medicaid at 50 Individual Market Medicaid Expansion

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Recent Releases In Global Health

Under Shah’s Leadership, USAID Poised ‘To Regain Its Prominence’ In Global Nutrition, Lancet Opinion SaysÂ  Rajiv Shah’s appointment as USAID administrator “comes at a crucial time of challenge and opportunity for the Agency to improve the nutritional well-being of impoverished societies,” write the authors of a Lancet Comment that examines…

WHO, CDC Issue H1N1 Updates

Though H1N1 (swine flu) activity worldwide has slowed, the potential of a new wave of infections in the northern hemisphere in late winter or early spring remains viable, Keiji Fukuda, the WHO’s top flu expert, said Monday at the start of the WHO’s weeklong Executive Board meeting, Reuters reports. The H1N1 pandemic “initially sparked widespread concern about antiviral and vaccine supplies, especially in developing countries, but many nations have cut back their vaccine orders recently because the pandemic has not turned out as deadly as originally feared,” the news service writes (Nebehay, 1/18).

Rescue, Relief Efforts Continue In Haiti, 200,000 People Estimated To Have Perished In Quake

Rescue efforts continue in Haiti after a major earthquake hit the country last week, CNN reports (1/18). While teams still search for survivors under the rubble, the priority is shifting to relief for those who survived the quake, Nicholas Reader, spokesperson for the U.N.Offices for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, TIME reports (Newton-Small,1/18).

UNICEF Program Aimed At Curbing Deaths In West Africa Falls Short Of Goals, Study Finds

A $27 million UNICEF program that aims to decrease disease-related child deaths in West Africa did not meet its goal of reducing death rates by at least 25 percent at the conclusion of 2006, according to a Lancet study published on Tuesday, the Associated Press reports. “The U.N. children’s agency pursued strategies like vaccinating children, giving them vitamin A pills and distributing bednets to protect against malaria from 2001 to 2005 in parts of 11 countries,” according to the article.

UNAIDS Chief Calls For Reducing MTCT Of HIV In Africa

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe on Monday during a five-day trip in Kenya, called for a drastic reduction in mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, Capital News reports. “In our continent we still have 400,000 babies born every year with HIV and we know if we are capable of making sure that testing will become available universally to all our pregnant women, (and) that pregnant women also have access to treatment, we will prevent the transmission,” Sidibe said (Karong’o, 1/11).

Atlantic Examines Drug-Resistant TB Control Worldwide

The Atlantic examines the emergence of drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis around the world, with a look at the situation in South Africa. “[T]he resurgence of tuberculosis is not limited to South Africa. India and China have the largest numbers of tuberculosis cases, and multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has been found in nearly every country, with XDR [extensively drug resistant]-TB in at least 57 countries,” according to the article.

Also In Global Health News: Family Planning In Philippines; Drug Pricing In Africa

Government Releases Family Planning Survey In Philippines A government survey in the Philippines “found 73 percent of married women would use birth control if it were available, 22 percentage points higher than the 51 percent that did use such methods,” Agence France-Presse reports. The country is facing a rapid population…

Opinions: Haiti Aid Efforts

Former Pres. Clinton: ‘We Will Create Better Tomorrows By Building Haiti Back Better’ Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, U.N. special envoy for Haiti, writes in a Washington Post opinion pieceÂ that “early estimates indicate that nearly 3 million peopleÂ â€“ almost a third of Haiti’s population â€“Â may need aid, making this one…


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Contact Us
Question of the Day

Question of the Day

#QOTD: Are Swimsuits For Dogs Going Overboard?

Would You Let Your Kids Watch ‘Game of Thrones’? [VIDEO]

"Game of Thrones" is a very popular TV show, but the other day, we found out that a friend of Baby Joel's lets his 12-year-old son watch the show.

"Game of Thrones" has adult content, situations, violence, nudity and just all-around raunchiness!

Would you let your kids watch it? Tell us in the comments below

Read More

QOTD: What Is The Worst Way Someone Broke Up With You?

It is always SO embarrassing and humilating to have somebody dump you, but alas, such is an inevitable part of life.

Here's the worst ways we had somebody break up with us. (Totally embarrassing!)

Tell us your story, too!

Question of the Day: How Long Should You Wait Before You Start Dating Your Best Friend’s Ex?

Inquiring minds want to know:

How long should you wait until you start dating your best friend's ex?

Reesha says NEVER. Baby Joel says wait until you fall in love with somebody else!

Let us know what you think in the comments!

DASHing Baby Shower Invitations

Well aren't these invitations just DASHing? Kimye's mother and current co-star Kris Jenner is throwing a baby shower and this invitations are unique to say the least!

I remember having a jewelry box like this as a child, I loved finding them for my own kids; but I love seeing this invitation!

What is the most creative or unique invitation for an event you have seen?

Cheryl Gerber/NOAA/Scott Olson, Getty Images
Cheryl Gerber/NOAA/Scott Olson, Getty Images

Have You Been In A Natural Disaster?

I think that living in Washington, we are pretty lucky in not dealing with too many natural disasters. So we ask what natural disasters have you been in?

Read More

What Do You Need First Thing in the Morning? Maddhouse’s Top Five

We asked you what you need first thing in the morning. Not what you want, but what you must have in the morning to get you going. Here were the top five answers. Do you need these, too?

Read More

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RADAR: Follow storms on live radar

Great State: Special Effect or Real Ghost on Video?

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA — Walking through a haunted house, a ‘house of horrors’, or some other Halloween theme attraction, you’ll find the same types of scary things.

The Sanctuary haunted house has 4 floors of spooky madness to explore, and it’s a lot less scary when creator Tino Pascuzzi and his wife Cathleen take us through it during daylight hours.

The ideas, says Tino, “Pretty much came from me.”

Then he smiles and says, “I think she had a little influence.”

It’s hard to scare this couple in here any more, hard to get them to see the spooky decor upstairs or downstairs in their nightclub, the Voodoo Lounge, as anything more than paint and props.

“I hate to say that we’re desensitized,” says Tino, “But you know…”

But go a little deeper than the meat tunnel or the bloody surgical theaters and the Pascuzzis, or anyone else who works here, might mention the ‘special effects’ they didn’t design, very special effects like the ones an artist recorded on his cell phone last year before the Sanctuary opened.

Cathleen recalls, “He was saying he was hearing things all the time and we were like ‘yeah, yeah.”

It was 4:00am that September night.

He started hearing noises first. All this is recorded on his cell phone and subsequently published on YouTube.

A little while later he observed an old cooler moving across the floor by itself.

A piece of styrofoam appears to fall by itself too.

Doors seem to open by themselves, and finally this set designer decided to communicate with whatever it was.

“Do you want me to leave you alone,” he asks?

A few seconds later a long two-by-four falls to the floor.

The sceptics among us say this is all pretty good publicity for two people well versed in Hollywood special effects, who moved to Oklahoma to start a business.

“We actually love it here,” says Cathleen.

It’s LA traffic that scares the Pascuzzis, as well as old buildings that seem to come with their own special effects.

For tours and a closer look at the video one of their set designers captured go to http://www.thesanctuaryokc.com


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  • You must need any of the torrent clients in order to open the torrent and download the file.

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  • But downloading copyrighted content is illegal.So please Make sure you download the content that is not copyrighted.


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Splurge - Ferm Living Music Mobiles

Splurge - Ferm Living Music Mobiles

The standard collection of stroller/car seat toys out there isn’t exactly filled with gems. They are bright, they are bulky, and they are…well, ugly. These Music Mobiles by Ferm Living are so delightful. The sweet animals play Brahm’s Lullaby, to lull you baby off to dreamland during daily strolls, rides and other sleepy times.

Via: smallforbig.com

More: Toys , ,

Want More Kid Crave?

Sign up for the Kid Crave daily email. All the cool kids are doing it.


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Make Your Own Marshmallow Shooter

Homemade Marshmallow Shooters are such a fun activity to get your kids outside.

DIY Marshmallow Shooters

They are very easy to make with some basic supplies.  Here is all that you need to make two shooters:

  • Plastic cup – I used a Glad disposable food storage cup. The tops had cracked but I couldn’t bear to throw away the little cups because I just knew a fun project like this would come along. I like these cups because they are sturdy. I’ve also used regular disposable drinking cups for this and that is fine but they aren’t as sturdy.
  • Balloon
  • Marshmallows (mini works best)
  • Scissors

Step 1: Cut off the bottom of your cup.  This was the hardest part of the whole project because I had to stab the bottom of the cup with my scissors to get a hole started so I could make the cut.  This step is for adults only.

cutting plastic cup

Step 2: Cut about 1/2 inch off the top of the balloon.  Tie a knot as you usually would.

cutting balloon

Step 3: Slide the open end of the balloon over the open end of the cup.

Step 4: Put some marshmallows in the opening.

Step 5: Pull back the balloon by the knot and release.

boy playing with marshmallow shooter

Step 6: Watch the marshmallows go flying!

shooting marshmallows

Both of my kids had so much fun with this.  It was easy to load and easy to launch.  My son experimented with different size marshmallows and different numbers of marshmallows.  He says that the jumbo marshmallows are too heavy to travel very far.  The mini marshmallows travel the farthest.  While it is fun to load up the cup with lots of mini marshmallows, they won’t travel very far.

He says that 2 mini marshmallows at a time is his favorite way to shoot it.

boy with marshmallow shooter

You can adjust the height and distance that the marshmallows travel by where you aim the cup and how far back you pull the balloon.  Here is the farthest that my son was able to shoot a marshmallow.  Impressive!

Look how far it went

We also tried shooting little craft pom poms instead of marshmallows.  They are lighter and seemed to travel a little farther.

But marshmallows are just fun and much tastier than pom poms!

4 days later teeth whitening

About Kim

Kim is a homeschooling mom of two children. When she isn't on a nature hike with her kids, she can be found scrapbooking about their adventures and possibly sneaking a bite of chocolate. She writes about motherhood and family fun at Savor the Days.


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Veggie Mac & Cheese

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Tue. Sports Aug 17, 2010

Written by on August 17, 2010 in Sports

The Mt. Pleasant Athletic Booster Club will host the annual “Meet The Players Night” on Friday, August 20th at the Maple Leaf Community Complex. The Athletic Boosters will be serving meals beginning at 6:30pm. Players, cheerleaders and coaches of the Mt. Pleasant Community High School fall sports teams will be introduced beginning at 7:15pm, followed by a scrimmage of the 9th – 12th grade football teams. This is a great opportunity to show your support for our teams and get involved in another exciting year of athletics in Mt. Pleasant. Booster Club memberships will also be available for purchase. Everyone is invited to attend.

MP 7th & 8th graders planning to play football this fall that did not make it to Panther Football Camp should report to the west locker room at Maple Leaf at 3:30 p.m. Thursday or Friday (Aug. 19th or 20th) to get their equipment. There will be coaches present to assist you. Middle School practice will begin on Monday, August 23rd and will be at Maple Leaf from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Any 5th or 6th grader that wishes to play tackle football in the Mt. Pleasant Youth Football League this fall, needs to be at Mt. Pleasant Community High School on Saturday, August 21st at 9:00 a.m. for tryouts. Registration materials will be available if you have not already sent in your registration. Equipment will be handed out Saturday morning as well. Please direct any questions to Bob Jensen at 385-7704, ext. 111.

The Kansas City Royals start a series with Cleveland tonight. KILJ AM 1130 has all the action live, at 6:35 tonight.

Other area baseball:

The Padres topped the Cubs 9-5

Tigers won over the Yankees 3-1

And the Braves beat the Dodgers 4-3

Leave a Comment


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Omaha area businessmen offer their take on financial crisis

Omaha, NE – Three Omaha-area businessmen are providing their unique perspectives on the financial crisis.

Patrick Miner of Mutual of Omaha, Mike Gallagher of Harrah's Council Bluffs, and Eric Bunderson of American National Bank were the featured speakers at a business discussion last week. Bellevue University hosted the financial crisis discussion.

Miner says the financial crisis built over several years and was triggered by subprime mortgages. He says it's now a global issue, and the markets will take a while to recover. Miner identifies four waves of the crisis, with the last, and most severe, happening in September.

Gallagher says when financial crises happen, businesses have one of three reactions. The first is to do nothing. The second, according to Gallagher, is to take a tactical, short-term approach to reduce expenses. The third reaction is for a business to do things simultaneously and re-invent themselves long-term. He says that's what Harrah's is doing.

Bunderson says the financial crisis began in late 2006 and early 2007. He says banks are no longer comfortable lending to each other. Both Bunderson and Miner believe it'll become difficult for potential homeowners to get loans, even with good jobs and good credit.


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    Spike Lee

    Spike is one of the biggest little haters out there. He hates everything Tyler Perry does and, well…he just hates everything. After slinging his hate toward “Django,” Jamie Foxx just had to tell is like it was and called him “shady.” Doesn’t Spike just LOOK like a hug would change his life?

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Ammonia Leak Sends Seven To Hospital

May 24, 2013

Seven people have been released from an Emporia hospital after an ammonia leak at the city's Tyson Foods plant.

Emergency workers were sent to the plant on Thursday.

KVOE News in Emporia reports that levels of ammonia at the site were registering at 10 parts per million, which is well below the lethal limit of 300 parts per million.

OSHA says workers can be exposed to a leak of 50 parts per million during an 8-hour shift.

Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson says the leak temporarily disrupted production in part of the processing plant before it was found and stopped.

About six weeks ago Tyson Foods agreed to pay a nearly $4 million dollars civil penalty to settle alleged violations of the Clean Air Act, largely because of ammonia issues.

And in April 2009, an accidental release left one person injured.


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Living It Up In Space

Apr 13, 2012

How do astronauts take a bath in space? What happens to their sense of smell in a weightless environment? Two NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station discuss the challenges of life in low Earth orbit and how their research is a stepping stone for future space exploration.


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The One to Count On...

Melcher-Dallas Boys Can Fill All Events In Track And Field

Posted: Monday, April 12th, 2010 at 5:52 am

For the first time in a quite a while Melcher-Dallas has enough on its boys track and field squad to fill all of the events and not have to make anyone run in three or four events. Coach Chris Peterson says that is a big deal in the fact that they now have a chance to score points in every event and have a chance to win a meet or two. Peterson says filling all of the events will help rest some runners to who may run in the 1600 and 3200 meter races. He says filling the distance races was the hardest because the Saints do not have a cross country team. Peterson adds five seniors are on this year’s team.


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- KNIA / KRLS - http://kniakrls.com -

Chariton Invitational Provides Good Final Meet of the Season for Pella Christian XC Teams

Posted By Sports On October 14, 2011 @ 6:01 am In Today’s Local Sports | Comments Disabled

Another solid display of “pack running” helped the Pella Christian cross country teams to finish the regular season in fine fashion at yesterday’s Chariton Invitational.

Ryen Van Vark had the highest individual finish, claiming 11th place in the boys race to lead the Eagles to a third place finish in the team standings. Teammates Jake Lensing, Matt Spoelstra, and Craig Wilson also finished in the top 20.

In the girls’ race, Pella Christian performed well – despite the absence of Sarah Brandsen – as Marina Shannon’s 12th-place finish led a pack of five Lady Eagle runners that finished in 25th place or better.

Up next for the Pella Christian cross country teams is the District/Regional Meet in Ames next Thursday.

Article printed from KNIA / KRLS: http://kniakrls.com

URL to article: http://kniakrls.com/2011/10/chariton-invitational-provides-good-final-meet-of-the-season-for-pella-christian-xc-teams/

Copyright © 2009 KNIA/KRLS. All rights reserved.


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agnesgooch Posted - 12/11/2011 : 4:38:43 PM
I bought a couple of balls of this from Hobby Lobby. I made an earflap hat out of one of the balls and was not impressed. I can't really put my finger on the exact reason why I don't like it. I used all except for a few inches of one ball of yarn. The other ball I returned to Hobby Lobby. I never return yarn. Does anyone else have any opinions on this, too?
10   L A T E S T    R E P L I E S    (Newest First)
Margie Posted - 09/03/2012 : 5:55:44 PM
I'll have to look into Amazing. I like making hats.

Greyling, what a compliment to be called another WZ!

Margie and Mimi (my hearing dog who doesn't knit -- yet)

Greyling Posted - 01/08/2012 : 04:13:22 AM
Holy cow, Agnes-batman, is right!

You are another Elizabeth Zimmerman. I hope you record all your patterns and make them available someday soon.

The accountant in me says you should make these available in the souvenir shops in zoos and art museums, and give yourself a big mark-up for your artisanship.

Thanks so much for sharing
knitgray Posted - 12/21/2011 : 10:06:10 AM
Your hats are wonderful. I'm envious of your co-workers! I'm sorry to hear that the zoo may be putting dress code in place. I would love it if at my local zoo, the workers could wear such beautiful hats.

Thanks for the heads up on the Amazing yarn. I've had mixed luck with the newer Lion brand yarns. I'lcross this one off my list
Panhandle Jane Posted - 12/15/2011 : 6:34:48 PM
I don't know anything about Amazing either, but the hats are wonderful!

knittenkitten612 Posted - 12/15/2011 : 12:19:19 PM
Agnes, I can't comment on Lion Brand Amazing ~ but your hats are absolutely incredible! Your co-workers are lucky indeed!
lella Posted - 12/12/2011 : 6:51:19 PM
Those are so gorgeous! You have definitely got a loveable bunch of hats for your co-workers. Lol about your not having an animal-themed hat for yourself at the Christimas do..

I love that Mother/Baby Elephant hat, but they are all just so great!

"Life is good if you don't weaken." Calvin Coolidge
agnesgooch Posted - 12/12/2011 : 6:38:57 PM
Thank you all for your kind comments. I give most of the away to co-workers. I work at a zoo, hence the animals theme. I have a rule: if you are an employee I will make you a hat, but if you want a hat for a relative, friend, non-zoo employee, etc. you have to pay. It takes about a full ball's worth of worsted weight yarn (Cascade 220, Paton's Classic Wool) to make a hat. I usually wait until Michael's has a sale on the Paton's and buy about 10 balls. I figure the money made on the sold hats pays for the free hats. I figure that comes to about $5.00 to make a hat and a few hours of my time, which I'm going to spend knitting anyway. People seem to really enjoy the hats (I guess the free part has something to do with that) and I enjoy seeing people wearing my hats, so it's win-win.

We're getting new uniforms in January with new appearance standards and the scuttlebutt was that they wouldn't be able to wear my hats. A bunch a the zookeepers were supposedly up in arms about that. I have heard rumors that they will be allowed to keep on wearing them.
We had our annual Christmas cookout last week and I showed up wearing the new uniform beanie. Someone asked what the hell that was on my head. Surprisingly enough, I do not have an animal-themed hat myself.
Ditzy Girl Posted - 12/12/2011 : 09:22:07 AM
I agree with purl and dot. The hats are amazing.

Zola, Seattle, Wash.

dothead Posted - 12/11/2011 : 6:52:06 PM
I know you asked a question, Agnesgooch, but I also have to comment on your hats. They are fabulous.

Vicki, the Constant Lurker(who sometimes stops lurking and actually posts)
purlthis Posted - 12/11/2011 : 4:52:38 PM
Holy cow, Agnes! Those hats are aaaaaamazing! What do you do with them all?

As I get older, I prefer to knit. Tracey Ullman UPDATED! WITH PICS!

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Best Trips For Your Graduate – Amy’s Top Picks

It’s graduation season and some  seniors are wanting to ‘stretch’ their new found freedom, and take a trip. HighSchool GraduationNothing wrong with that right? But some graduates are  set on an unsupervised trips and out of the country trips too!  The last few days we have asked your take on it, and we got some very interesting comments. This got me thinking, since in 3 years I will be in the same so-called dilemma.

Well I thought I would try to come up with some one day trips that would still be fun and take away some of the stress for parents!  (My Top pick’s after the jump!)

Six Flags – Arlington, Texas

Six Flags

Everybody loves an amusement park! This is close to home, economical, doesn’t include boarding a plane and the kids can have freedom, (but be home the same day!) Check the website for discounted tickets, especially for groups!

Rangers Ballpark – Arlington, Texas

Ranger Ballpark

America’s favorite past time! What could more perfect! The ballpark has tons of restaurants, shops and activities to keep your Grad amused and feel that sense of freedom they long for!

I’ll have a hotdog and peanuts please!

Hurricane Harbor – Arlington, Texas

Hurricane Harbor

It’s summer, and what goes better with summer then WATER! A fun water park  that has tons of rides, food and a shady pool to rest when they get worn out! There are always discount tickets available. Just check on line!

Lake Party – Lake Tyler, Lake O’ The Pines, Lake Palestine

lake tyler

Lake parties are always a blast! You can cookout, fish, swim and even camp out! Some marinas have barges you can rent for the day! Don’t worry parents, the lake patrol is out in numbers!

River Run ATV Park – Jacksonville, Texas

atv park

For the more adventurous Grads, may I suggest an ATV park! Mud is always fun! The park also has great outdoor concerts!

My pick’s are in no way original, but I thought I would give you parents some ideas that you may have forgotten about. Whatever your Grad plans to do, just let them know how proud you are of them and have fun!

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New Oregon Laws in Effect Now

, Posted: Mon, July 2 2012 at 8:04 AM, Updated: Mon, July 2 2012 at 8:51 AM

As of Sunday, Oregon gained 6 new state laws.

The new laws were written in the 2012 Legislature session. Officials this morning say the laws are intended to make schools more safe, textbooks cheaper, and stop discrimination against Veterans.

School Districts are required to post school's seismic ratings in the event of an earthquake.

Another school-related law requires teachers to report cyber-bullying, and for school to have bullying policies.

Textbooks will be cheaper for college students. Students will be able to receive college credits through different avenues, such as work experience or military training.

The final new law protects veterans from discrimination, the law requires the bureau of labor and industries to notify the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs of the discrimination.

These new laws are in effect as of July first.

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Ever Hot Rice Warmer
List Price: $
Price per Item: $499.00 – $589.00
Product Reviews
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Ever Hot Rice Warmer
Item #: TK-102-V
Size: 20Cups or 30Cups (1cup=180mL)

Model Numbers

20 cups : TK-102-V-25
30 cups : TK-102-V-35

Electricity Rating

Temperature Control

Includes one rice net and a wooden frame to bathe in water and warm the cooked rice from the outside in.

98.6°F / 37°C

20 cups or 30 cups

- Cedar wood frame and bottom absorbs any unwanted extra moisture.
- High quality rice warming system

- 1 rice net (Please only use the rice net specifically for the Ever Hot Rice Warmer)
- 1 cedar wood frame
- 1 cedar wood bottom

Recommended Accessories

- Extra Ever Hot rice net
- Extra Ever Hot frame & bottom

20 cups : TK-102-V-25
Outside 14"dia. x 8"H
Inside 12"dia. x 7.25"H

30 cups : TK-102-V-35
Outside 16"dia. x 12"H
Inside 14.5"dia. x 8"H

Internal Container

20 cups : Aluminum
30 cups : Stainless Steel

Instructions & Manual found here

Replacement Parts:

The Ever Hot Rice Warmer is a high quality rice warmer perfect for use in any restaurant that serves sushi. Every sushi chef knows that it is essential for sushi rice to be kept at body temperature, and the most reliable way to do achieve the perfect temperature is by using the Ever Hot Rice Warmer. The 20 cup version is aluminum and 30 cup version is stainless steel. The Momi Fir wooden frame warms the rice while providing an ideal humidity-controlled environment. The antibacterial properties of Momi Fir make it idea for food service. The Ever Hot Rice Warmer includes one rice net and one wooden frame, but we also carry nets, frames and bottoms separately. We recommend that you purchase a few extra nets so you always have a clean net ready for your next service.

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Item #: TK-102-07
Size: 9.84" (25cm) or 13.77" (35cm)
List Price: $
Price per Item: $11.95 – $12.95
Item #: TK-102-11
List Price: $
Price per Item: $105.00 – $121.00
Item #: TK-619-02
Size: 6.25"L x 1.5"W x 1.20"H
List Price: $199.50
Price: $199.50


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Korin Membership Program

Thanks to wonderful customers such as yourself, Korin has been in business for over 30 years. To celebrate this grand anniversary and show our gratitude for your support, we have begun a rewards program for our culinary professional customers. To receive membership benefits please fill out and submit the Korin Membership Form.

Membership Perks

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If the price shown online does not differ once logged into an account with membership applied, please contact customer service via phone (212-587-7021) or email at custserv@korin.com


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{Expired} Amazon | Cottonelle Clean Care Toilet Paper – 32 Rolls for As Low As $12.95

Update: Sorry folks. It looks like this one sold out fast. Hope some of you managed to get it!

More shop-from-home deals from Amazon today! This is an AWESOME price on Cottonelle toilet paper, so if this is your preferred brand, grab this now.

Grab the Cottonelle Clean Care Double Roll Toilet Paper, 32 Count for as low as $12.95 when you do the following:

1. Add the Cottonelle Clean Care Double Roll Toilet Paper, 32 Count to your cart thru Subscribe & Save – $18.92 (5% savings with Subscribe & Save)

2. Use the promo code KCTMOBIL at checkout to save an additional 20% – $14.94. That works out to be $.23 per single roll (these are double rolls) – and my target price is $.25 per roll. I.e. this is a GOOD deal!

3. If you have a Mastercard and pay with that, you can also use the promo code MSTRCRD1 at checkout to save an additional 10% – bringing your total down to $12.95. Or just $.20 per roll!

The Mastercard code can only be used one, so if you’ve already used it, you are out of luck on this deal. Still – $14.94 is a great price.

Remember: All Subscribe & Save orders ship for free and you can cancel your subscription anytime after your order ships. Read my Subscribe & Save tutorial if you need more information.

Amazon pricing can change on a dime, so always confirm prices before you check-out.

This post contains affiliate links, which help to support Kosher on a Budget. For more information, see my disclosure policy.

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EA Snags "Napster"-Founded Social Net?

Remember Shawn "Napster" Fanning? TechCrunch is reporting that Electronic Arts is about to plunk down $30 million on Rupture, a social network for gamers that Fanning started up with co-founder Jon Baudanza, who'd both become EA employees in the deal.

According to TechCrunch, the draw for EA is Rupture's technology infrastructure, not its userbase, because as to the latter there apparently ain't much to speak of yet. The service apparently stalled in beta and never launched a second version. In other words, Rupture's not good for much - except as a ground on which EA could build a social network around multiplayer online games.

From TechCrunch:

Presumably, creating social networks around massively multiplayer video games is a key component of its online strategy. The company has not yet officially announced the acquisition, but it is expected to do so soon. [Update: The closing of the deal is imminent, but there are still some papers to sign].

EA declined to comment on the report.

Shawn Fanning Finally Gets A Real Payday: Electronic Arts Buys Rupture For $30 Million [TechCrunch]


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Report: New Zelda Out By End of 2010, First DS Successor Details

In an interview with Japanese newspaper the Asahi Shimbun, Nintendo Co., Ltd. president Satoru Iwata discussed some of this year's goals, which include releasing the newest Legend of Zelda game.

High on the Japanese exec's list was increasing the number of DS WiFi spots across the country. In Japan, the company has a deal with McDonalds to provide a "Mac de DS" service. Customers who bring their DS units to McDonalds can download items and original content as well as play others via WiFi. Besides Pokémon mini-games and character downloads, there are also McDonalds quizzes and even a McDonalds manga service.

(Nintendo of America teamed up with McDonalds in 2005 for a similar WiFi service.)

Nintendo, it seems, is looking beyond the current partnership with McDonalds. "To proactively increase the number of hotspots, we are talking with a number of businesses," Iwata told the paper.

When asked if Nintendo is planning on giving DS an iPhone-like cellular functions with the ability to connect to the internet, Iwata dismissed the idea of a monthly service plan for playing games and noted that the company is not thinking of adding such functions in future models of the Nintendo DS.

A Nintendo DS successor? Up to now, Nintendo has released several variations of the Nintendo DS — however, it has not released a completely new handheld. Regarding a DS successor, Iwata offered this: "[It will have] highly detailed graphics, and it will be necessary to have a sensor with the ability to read the movements of people playing." In the past, motion peripherals have been released for the Nintendo DS.

But with the Nintendo DS posting record sales in America during 2009, the exec said this was not the time to discuss when this successor will hit the market.

Iwata also touched on Nintendo's home console, the Nintendo Wii, admitting that sales stalled in Japan last fall, but pointing out that the console has been the biggest seller in both Japan and America during the past three years. He stressed the importance of software.

According to the Asahi Shimbun, there will be a press conference this July for the new pulse Vitality Sensor controller with the intention of putting it on sale as soon as possible. The paper also noted that the newest Legend of Zelda sequel will go on sale before the end of 2010 with no note whether this refers only to Japan. The game was first announced at the E3 game expo in Los Angeles back in 2009.（朝日新聞社）：ＤＳ接続サービス拡大へ　任天堂社長「Ｗｉｉは再加速」 - ＰＣ・ゲーム - デジタル [Asahi Shimbun]


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All Your "Villes" Belong To FarmVille

Game developer Zynga built an empire on social networking games like FarmVille, FrontierVille and CityVille. Notice what all those games have in common?

They all have a "ville" suffix, which is why Zynga is readying legal action against Facebook game Blingville, from developers Overtime Apps, claiming that the use of "ville" infringes on its copyright.

As Facebook games become increasingly popular, an inevitable slush of similarly title games ensue. But was registered as a domain name way back in 2004, way before Facebook (which was founded the same year) even entered the social game arena.

Zynga is only threatening to sue at this point, but Blingville is asking the court to declare its use of "ville" doesn't break the law and to have Zynga shell out for the legal costs.

In a similar move, the studio behind vastly popular game Doodle Jump was attempting to lock down the use of "doodle" in iPhone and iPad games.

If Zynga can claim (or attempt to claim) it owns "ville" in gaming, why can't the developers who came up with the Harvest Moon farming sims go after FarmVille? Or whomever made farming games before that?

Also, producers of the television series Smallville, don't try to make a social networking game. The FarmVille developers will be totally pissed off!

Zynga Threatening To Sue Blingville Over Trademark Infringement [Gamasutra]


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How the Wii U One Ups Television

The master controller for Nintendo's Wii U was born not of a desire to replace television, but to fix one of television's very small problems.

Those few second between when a person presses the power button on a remote control and when a television blinks to life prevents gaming consoles from becoming the sort of pervasive gadget that Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto thinks they should be.

The Wii U's special touchscreen controller is meant to solve that.

I sat down with Miyamoto, Nintendo's general manager of entertainment, analysis and development, shortly after he and several other Nintendo leaders took to the stage of downtown Los Angeles' Nokia Theater to unveil the company's next big thing.

Set for a release sometime next year at a still undisclosed price, the Wii U features all of the motion-gaming bells and whistles of the Wii but in higher definition graphics. The console is also rumored to be a much more powerful device than the Wii. But the main thing that sets it apart is its magazine-sized controller.

The Wii U's special controller looks like a tablet device (think iPad or Xoom) with a white frame peppered with buttons, triggers, thumbsticks and directional pads. The touch-sensitive controller also includes cameras, a microphone, speakers and even a sensor bar for detecting motion.

It it so packed with functionality that my first question of Miyamoto when I sat down with him in the balcony of the Nokia Theater was whether the device was meant to essentially replace the console, becoming a sort of at-home portable device meant to allow gamers to wander but not stray too far from the television.

Miyamoto was quick to say that wasn't the case. The controller is just that a controller. Even though it has a 6.2-inch screen capable of displaying not just things like maps or information relevant to a game, but the game itself, it's not meant to completely replace the white console it wirelessly connects to or the television that the Wii U will display high definition graphics on.

The controller's screen is not actually able to process information, it just relays it, he said.

Could you take this master controller into a bedroom and play from there, I asked.

How the Wii U One Ups Television

"Without going into the whether or not it is physically possible to use the device throughout your house, the device is designed for you to have your Wii U controller and television in the same room. They are designed to interact with one another."

When the Wii was first unveiled by Nintendo, the company said the small, sleek white console was meant to solve a problem they had identified in gaming. Video games, Nintendo felt, had become too complex. Controllers too unwieldy for the average person to understand and master. So with the Wii Nintendo created a device that allowed people to use straight-forward body motion to play games. They also included a game controller that looked an awful lot like a television remote.

What was the problem they were trying to solve with the Wii U, I asked Miyamoto. Was it that gamers and non-gamers get into power struggles for the television?

"That played into it a little bit," he said, but that's not the main problem. The main problem is an issue that all consoles face.

"When you look at most TVs in home nowadays it takes awhile for them to turn on," he said. "That becomes a barrier for people."

It was something Nintendo noticed with their Wii which was designed not just for gaming, but to serve as a sort of central hub of information for the family. The Wii can be used to browse the Internet. It has channels dedicated to mainstream news and local weather. But to access any of that a person needs to turn on the television and then wait. That short delay, Miyamoto seemed to be saying, kept some people from using the Wii as something more than a gaming console.

With the Wii U, Miyamoto pointed out, "you have a screen available at any time that you can check."

This dedicated second screen, and the ways people may use it not just for gaming, but to do things like browse the Internet is the Wii U's single biggest design accomplishment , Miyamoto said.

Miyamoto envisions a device that you leave resting in a cradle by your couch, picking it up whenever you want to surf the Internet or check the weather. That cradle will presumably charge the controller as well, though Miyamoto declined to go into specifics about the battery or the life a single charge will net you.

"You should be able to play with it for the period of time you would need for something like an action game," he said by way of answering my question.

How the Wii U One Ups Television

This is a device that Miyamoto seemed more interested in discussing in terms of how it will be used outside of gaming.

You could, he told me, use the controller to browse the web in your living room. You could use it, he suggested, to find something of interest on the Internet and "set it up" so that when the television was turned on to the console people could enjoy your discovery without needing to wait for any loading screens or on television web surfing.

Of course, a big draw, likely the biggest draw for the Wii U will still be gaming. Miyamoto pointed out that the secondary screen of the Wii U's controller will open up a world of possibilities to game makers.

"It is going to be up to the developers to decide how they are going to take advantage of it," he said.

A video shown during the Wii U press conference in LA showed the controller's screen being used as a map, as a way to throw ninja stars at enemies, as the tee resting on the floor of a living room in a game of online golf.

Entire games can also be played on that controller. And then there's the Wii U's ability to display high definition graphics, a first for a Nintendo console.

"This is an HD system, our first HD system, and we want to create a real HD Zelda game for it," he said. "You will see a lot of these in-depth and deep experiences in terms of visual style. You will also see some play styles that are fun and interesting because of the play structure."

While the system is rumored to be at least as powerful as rivals Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, that doesn't mean that every game that comes to it will be an HD game.

"We are not planning on putting any restrictions in terms of requiring developers to leverage HD in a particular ways," Miyamoto said. "Even if you are using a simplier visual style it will still look very beautiful."


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Reboot Could Make Soul Reaver Rise From the Grave

For a while there, it certainly seemed like consoles and PCs were rife with video game vampires and vampire slayers, didn't it? And the Legacy of Kain series in particular stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Released on PS1/PC, Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain won praise for its deep, sophisticated storyline, which introduced the vicious titular vampire and his quest for vengeance against the people who killed him. Two Soul Reaver games followed, starring a wraith called Raziel who wanted to kill Kain for siring him and then killing him. Of course. It was all very angsty, bloody and fondly remembered.

Those memories may be getting a modern-day resurrection, according to VG247. Citing "anorexic" sources, the website's reporting that dev studio Crystal Dynamics is working on an all-new iteration of its nocturnal action property. It's not clear if this will be a reboot like Tomb Raider's getting with a new version of those Kain or Raziel characters or something entirely different. The report loosely speculates on that a reveal might happen this year.

[VG24/7, via Game Informer]