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Wednesday, April 30, 2008

High-five me, someone!

I had a woohoo! moment at the gym the other day. It was actually one of the few times I've ever regretted not having a training partner.....only because there was nobody to high-five.

I've been ultra-cautious about my lower back for the last 3 years or so. I used to pump out 200kg leg presses and the like, but having had reccurring problems with my sacro-iliac joint and associated regions, I backed right off on the weights. No heavy barbell squats, no leg presses and no lunges at all when my back was a bit dicky.

Since I've been training with Liz, things have improved a lot. It's been a long road (and there's still a way to go), but I'm now at the stage where I can do most things without fear of something going "pop!". And I'm having far less frequent episodes of back pain. So I've been getting back into barbell squats, deadlifts and the like, but I've probably still been a bit conservative with weights - which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Last Friday, I was doing low-rep sets of rack-pulls and loaded up the bar with 40kg. I stood back and thought I can do better than that. So I banged on another 10kg. I completed my first set and it was hard. But it wasn't TOO hard. So I grabbed another couple of 5kg plates for a total of whatever a 7-foot standard bar weighs (10kg? Anyone know?). I got through my next 3 sets.... with much grunting and baring of teeth, and then grabbed my training diary to record my efforts.

And then it struck me: I'm lifting more than my own bodyweight! Yeah, Baby!

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

I am thankful for:

Having the foresight to train upper body early today, BEFORE I offered up my arm to the Gods of immunisation - Yes, it's flu-vax time again.

My arm hurts like a bastard. Waah!

Oh, but I did get a lollipop. :o) Oops. Better go log that in Calorie King.....

Recipe alert!

Find out what I had for lunch today .....and it's not even (very) weird.

Oh noes!

Tragedy has struck. Our beloved, shiny coffee machine is in for repairs. (Cue 2 minute's silence, perLEEZE!). We got back from our weekend away and Bike Boy made me a coffee. He then put a cup under the spout for himself, pressed the button and .....everything went black! Power blackout. Hmm. I reset the safety switch thingie and he tried again .....and we were plunged into darkness again. Uh-oh. THAT'S not a good thing. Turn off the dishwasher and give it one more try?'s definitely the coffee machine.

It's still under warranty, so I've dropped it off for repairs today. I almost choked when the guy said that the turn-around time is about 17 days. WHAAAT?? 17 days without real coffee?

Seriously, I had to stop for a minute and really think about how to make a cup of instant. It's a lot of trouble. And it was disgusting.

Things have been a little grumpy in our house.

Vale Pamela Bone

Age columnist dies, calm and clear to the end

You were an inspiration to me - never afraid to stand up for what you believed in.

I wish I'd met you.

Monday, April 28, 2008

The strangeness that was my dinner:

A serve of cooked chicken out of the freezer
60g of leftover cooked sweet potato from the fridge
About a cup of broccoli
Almost half a bag of Woolworth's rainbow salad
A couple of handfuls of spinach
A tablespoon of lemon and coriander flavoured hommus

Chuck everything in a bowl (except for the hommus), heat in the microwave.... broccoli's a bit crunchy, but oh well.... top with the hommus, grab a fork and dig in.

It's amazing what passes for a meal when you're starving and pickings are a bit slim. Bet you wish you lived at MY house!*

*Disclaimer: I do not necessarily feed my family what I eat. There would undoubtedly be a mutiny. Tonight they had pasta.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Ahh, that's better!

There's nothing quite like a weekend away to recharge the old batteries. A LONG weekend is even better, because, hey - more time to get there and back.

No weekend away is complete without some winery visits - and it was a bit of a trial (har-de-har-har), but we managed to fit in a few on Saturday. We left the kids with their grandparents and buggered off for the day.

First we called at Boynton's at Porepunkah, which had a spectacular view across the vineyards to Mount Buffalo....although the mountain was a bit smoke-shrouded, because there's some back-burning going on at the moment.

Plus there's a pretty avenue of autumn trees along the main road. .....and gee, whaddya know? They also had some nice wines.

Then we drove just up the road to Gapsted, and found more lovely wines there (not that I was tasting - someone had to drive).

We also hung out at Milawa, one of our old favourite haunts. We gave Brown Brothers a miss - They're huge, commercial and you can buy their wines anywhere in Australia, so why bother queuing behind the busloads of pissed grey-haired tourists? Instead, we stopped for lunch at one of the little cafes on the main road. We called in at Milawa Mustards and the Olive Shop for some gourmet purchases, then headed off to John Gehrig for some more wine tasting.....

We finished up at the Bright Brewery, where Bike Boy enjoyed a pint of something and I had a lovely glass of a local sauv blanc.

That was pretty close to a perfect day. *satisfied sigh*

Today we got up late-ish, ditched the kids (again) and went out for brekky. We also took our laptops and did some work over coffee. Sad, I know. But it WAS peaceful.

I had hoped to get some photos of the beautiful autumn colours around Bright yesterday. But it seemed that whenever I spotted the perfect view, the light just wasn't right, or there was nowhere to stop the car. Or something. So I thought I'd snap a few this morning..... but the weather was against me. Drat! All I managed in the end was a few shots of the in-laws' garden, in between raindrops:

Back to (boring) reality tomorrow.....

Friday, April 25, 2008

We're off for a long weekend in the country.

Be back Sunday night. See ya!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

6-word memoir

Raechelle tagged me the other day. The rules:

Write your own six word memoir;-Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you want to;-Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to the original post so we can track it as it travels through the blogosphere;-Tag at least 5 more blogs with links; and-Don't forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.

I'm not feeling particularly inspired or creative, and I'm short on time.... but if I don't do this now I may never get around to it. So here goes:

Satisfaction through health, strength and fitness

I'm going to break the rules and not tag anyone. Feel free to play if you want to though. :o)

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Phew - busy weekend!

I've been tagged by Raechelle, and given an award by Cat, and I haven't had a second to do anything with either. I've also got a recipe to post up, but it'll all have to wait till I (hopefully) get a minute during the week.

Oh, the recipe involves chocolate, but I can promise you it's almost certainly nothing like what you're thinking.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Bricks! And tiles!

Those brickies worked hard today. Four of them turned up early this morning, before I left to go to the gym. And they were still there at around 5:00pm. We figure they've done all they can now without scaffolding. And more bricks.

I haven't bothered posting a pic of the front view, since there's so much crap in front of our block you can barely see the house (portaloo, rubbish skip, piles of building materials...). But here's the side view:

And the back:

The roof tiling's more or less all done. There's still cementing to do and so on, but the tiles are all laid.

We've had minor annoying issues with the carpenter who's doing the framing - because he's a complete moron, and keeps getting things wrong. So there's still some stuff he needs to come back and complete/fix/redo. Can the man not READ a plan?

Anyway, in about another 10-12 weeks, the idea is that it will look something like this:

Different colours, but you get the idea. And for Jadey, who asked who we're building with - it's Porter Davis.

Bike Boy took this - he insists that The Middle Child and I look like twins. Personally, I think the boy is growing less like me. The Baby, however is looking MORE like me. Neither of them are thrilled to be told they look like their Mum, because hey - I'm a GIRL.

Of course!

I knew this would happen!

Yesterday I finally gave up on finding the Middle Child's birth certificate and made the pilgrimage to the city (and fork out $25) to get a new one. Today, I find the original.

We keep all our important documents in a safe custody lodgement at the bank - birth certificates, marriage certificate, life insurance policies, wills, passports, stuff like that. No worries about saving them if the house is going up in flames. No problemo for our executor, in the event of our untimely deaths. Plus I always know where they are.

Except, I got TMC's birth certificate out for something (forget what now) and meant to put it back, but didn't. And then last year when we went through that whole finding a rental property thing, we had to provide a ridiculous amount of ID to real estate agents, so I got Bike Boy's birth certificate and both our passports out for that. And then I put everything, including TMC's piece of paper, in A Safe Place. Uh-oh.

As always, when you put something in A Safe Place, you can never find it again. Not on purpose anyway.

Friday, April 18, 2008

So, did I....

....go to Koko Black? And Lorna Jane?

Duh! Is the Pope a Catholic?

I headed into town to have lunch with Bike Boy. I took the train, which is always an adventure in the middle of the day. Strangely, of all the people who are not at work on a Friday at 11:30am, and who are travelling on a train, a large proportion are complete scum. Who knew? But that's a whole other story...I'll just note that I changed carriages very early in my journey and move on.

Anyway, lunch. We had Japanese food, and a glass of wine. Nice. Then I walked to one end of town to get a birth certificate for the Middle Child (yes, I DO have one for him, but we have 5,000,000 boxes, of which 4,999,992 are not unpacked.....). The Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages contained at least 80 people, all waiting for their number to be called. *sigh* Luckily I had the newspaper sudoku to keep me occupied.... They were actually pretty efficient and the girl who served me was positively chirpy, and 30 minutes later, I got out of there.

THEN I had to walk to the opposite end of town to lodge a tax file number application for the kid. I decided to hop on a tram. I don't travel on trams much and when I do, they always amaze me with how jolty they are. Here's a tip for non-Melburnians: if you visit our city and get on a tram and there are no vacant seats, HOLD ONTO SOMETHING. Unless you like being thrown on your arse every 200m or so. A useful life lesson that my dear grandmother taught me when I was about 5 years old.

Incredibly, when I got to the ATO to do the TFN thingie, there was nobody waiting. NOBODY. I went straight to the counter. And I was served by people with personalities. They made chit-chat. And eye contact. They can't be real ATO staff..... imposters!

Anyway, after all that, time was marching on, so I trammed it back down Bourke St, hopping off halfway to walk through to Royal Arcade to pick up some vital supplies at Koko Black. I grabbed a 45g bar of dark chocolate for me, some nougat for Bike Boy and some gifts..... and THEN I found treasure! A tiny bar of imported French chocolate that is 99% cocoa. Man, how bitter is THAT going to be? I'm saving it. (and I know I've got Sara's attention now)

Then I jumped back on a tram to Spencer St, to get the train home. Of course, since DFO is right there at the station, I had to pop in to Lorna Jane. Yes, I picked up a couple of things, but honestly, when you think about it logically, I was saving money! I mean, today is the first day of the Aus Fitness Expo (to which I am not going *sulks*), so under normal circumstances, by now Selina and I would have bought one of everything at the Lorna Jane stand.

So since I only bought a couple of things - see? Saving! Sheer brilliance. Oh, and (I'm forever grateful to Selina for telling me this), as a fitness professional, I get 20% off all LJ stuff anyway. BAAAAAAARGAIN!

Chocolate, new workout gear, lunch with husband. *satisfied sigh* Me happy.

Updatey stuff

Today has turned out to be an unscheduled rest day. I meant to get up at 5:30 and head to the gym, so I'd be back in time to get kids organised for school. I'm sure I hit snooze when the alarm went off, but apparently not....since when I woke next it was 6:15. That was my only window of opportunity in the day for training, and I missed it. Drat!

Not a big deal - I had a rest day planned on Sunday, so I'll just reshuffle things (again). Obviously, I needed the sleep - and I have a niggly left calf that can probably do with an extra day off anyway.

I have a list of things to do today that stretches on and on..... and a couple of them involve dealing with various bureaucrats in government departments in the city. Yuk. I hate going to the city. Unless it's for shopping. Hmm, might have to make a stop for some essentials at Lorna Jane. And Koko Black. :p

Our house now has roof tiles! And bricks! (well, some) And the rest of the windows!

Things are moving fast this week. I'm sure it'll all grind to a halt again soon. It seems to go that way. Meanwhile, we go over every night and play "ooh, what have they done today?"

Training's been extremely varied lately. I'm working on my running, so that I can do the MDC without embarrassing myself. With weight training, I've also switched to lower reps and higher weights, which I always enjoy. But there's lots of other fun stuff too....

For example, yesterday I did a lactate threshold test on the spin bike. That was interesting. A near-death experience, sure, but interesting. If you want to know about lactate threshold testing, it was kind of similar to the test described here.

I also realised that I hadn't updated personal settings on my heart rate monitor since I bought it 6 months ago. So I'm slack, what can I say? I found the manual, changed my weight stats, then decided I was well overdue to run the pre-programmed fitness test. When I last did it, back in October, my score ranked my fitness as "good" for a woman aged 45-49. THIS time, I'm ranked as "elite". Yeah, right. I'm right up there with Olympic athletes and Tour de France cyclists and so on .....not!

Anyway, the point was that I've made enormous improvements over 6 months - but I didn't need a mini computer to tell me that. The bit that I loved was that my score still holds at the "elite" level for a 35-39 year old. And I'm ONE measly point off that ranking for a 30-34 year old.

I know that the main thing is to compare your scores to previous results and (hopefully) get evidence of improvement. But I always enjoy discovering that I'm stronger or fitter than an average 'someone' much younger than me. :o) There's that competitive streak again!

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Still cooking.....

I needed something to eat this afternoon that had a reasonable amount of protein in it, without too many calories, since I've had a bit of a snacky morning, and I still want to have a decent dinner tonight. I love my pancakes, but the ones I usually make are a bit high in calories and carbs. Hmm, what to do?

THEN I vaguely recalled Sara making pancakes from sweet potato a while back, so I got all inspired.

Voila! Banana-sweet potato pancakes!

What WAS that?

I got really, really excited during this morning's training. Only someone who's been working hard to retrain certain parts of their body to DAMN WELL WORK THE WAY THEY WERE DESIGNED TO will understand my excitement.

So I was doing what may just be the hardest Spinervals workout in existence (probably not, but hey, allow me my delusions) - Ultra Conditioning Leg Strength Builder. Seriously, I want to puke every time I just think about it. Anyway, back to my point....

The first 'real' set (cos warmup sets don't count) consists of nasty, NASTY 2 minute intervals at leg-breaking resistance, supersetted with 1-minute squats. That's one squat that takes one minute. So 30 seconds to go down to below parallel, then 30 seconds to come back up again. Try it, you'll love it. Nah, I'm messing with you - they're gruelling.

The exciting part? As I started the upward phase of the first squat, I thought "Hmm, that feels odd...something's different. What is that?" Then I realised - the unfamiliar sensation was my glutes kicking in and actually doing some of the work.....without me consciously thinking about it! My lazy arse is lazy no longer!

More proof that I'm on the right track with training. :o)

I love how the Spinervals series includes so many fun titles, like:

Sweating Buckets
Have Mercy
(and Have Mercy, the sequel)
Mental Toughness
No Slackers Allowed

Makes you want to rush out and buy them all, doesn't it? Or is that just my insanity?

I feel a shopping urge coming on

Thanks to LBTEPA for posting the link to gymskinz, where I almost fell off my chair laughing at this t-shirt:

(Just a little immature training joke there.....)

And THEN I found this one for Selina:

Yes, it's a little small, but it says www.I Will Not

Personally, I may go for this one:

("My husband trains harder than your husband")

I also quite fancy FAST PEOPLE SUCK!

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Dinner was good.

Sticky! Yum!

Sticky date muffins anyone?

Cooking with Kek

Go check out the new and improved veggie "fritters".

I also have banana bread in the works, or perhaps sticky date muffins....I haven't decided yet, it'll depend on what's in the pantry.

Plus Bike Boy's cooking up a storm, so lamb shanks may just be forthcoming too.

Got the cooking bug

I've taken advantage of a sudden cooking urge, so if you need some new ideas, check out spicy crisp chick peas for a start.

I have some others happening too, but I've gotta go pick up a child. Back with more later.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

So when are you too old?

A little inspiration for anyone who thinks they're too old to do *insert challenging activity here*

I have the pleasure of knowing an amazing 65-year-old lady, named Deana Langham. I've written about Deana's Body for LIFE achievements before, and this gal never, ever quits pushing towards new goals. Last year she bought herself a bike and discovered a new sport she loved. A nasty tumble off the bike and a broken leg requiring surgery and a long and painful rehabilitation slowed her down, but didn't deter her, and she was soon back out in all weather, achieving times and distances that some 30-year-olds would struggle to match.

Today Deana is heading off as a participant in the two-day MS-150 Houston to Austin event. That's a 150 mile ride. (Actually, it's 170-something miles, but 150 apparently sounds better, so they've stuck with it). She's spent months preparing for this, putting in hours of dedicated training each week and I have no doubt that she'll cross the finish line triumphant, with a huge smile....and with a sore 'tush', as she would say.

So, as I said.....if you've been thinking that you're TOO OLD to do something, maybe you need to think again.

Miss D, you're a HUGE inspiration to me. Hope you and "The Kid" have a ball!

Love ya!

Friday, April 11, 2008

A little more progress

We now have some windows, the roof trusses are finished, and various other bits and pieces have been done that aren't all that obvious. Plus there's a pile of bricks and now more windows all waiting for the tradies to turn up and do something with them.

The garage WILL have a door, by the way - that frame wall at the front is temporary, just to hold up the roof until the brickwork is done.

Back view. The big hole on the left will be a glass sliding door, opening from my studio.

One of our favourite features - glass bi-fold doors (there are two sets of these). Lovely. Horrendously expensive, but lovely.

The remnants of tropical cyclone whatsisname the other day only managed to tear some of the wall wrap to shreds. We're very lucky nothing important was damaged.

Our 'al fresco room' (you have to imagine it with timber decking, barbeque, outdoor furniture and me with a glass of wine in hand):

It's coming along nicely. Things seem to happen at a cracking pace for a couple of weeks, then nothing for a long period. Meh. That's the way it goes....

Why can't it be finished NOW? *pouts*

Just when you need it

I love it when a song comes on my MP3 player at just the right moment.

Today I was running on the treadmill, going along at my usual plodding pace when I had an impulse to push the speed up a little. Huh - not bad. I'll speed it up just a little more then. Ohhh-kay. Maybe a bit more. Or not...I'm supposed to be doing steady-state here, don't want to burn out.

So while I was finding excuses NOT to go faster, who should start singing but the Black Eyed Peas. THAT'S what I need - someone telling me to turn it up, turn it up, turn it up....come on Baby, just PUMP IT!

What could I do? I turned it up. The volume AND the tready speed.

If I keep this up, I might even manage that 4kms in a not-too-embarrassing time after all.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

A bit of balance, please

As anyone who reads this blog regularly would know, I aim to live a healthy lifestyle, eating well and training hard to achieve my goals. So in case you’re wondering how a weekend in Tassie, chock-full of restaurant meals and winery visits fits into that picture, let me enlighten you.

I was prepared to get up on Saturday and go do something exercise-y outdoors, but Coach instructed me to relaaaaaax. I didn’t need telling twice. :o) It wouldn’t have happened anyway as it turned out, since we had rooms overlooking the Hobart waterfront, and apparently this is a place for every drunken yobbo in Tassie to congregate on a Friday night, making as much noise as they possibly can. Until 5:00am. Yeesh. Sleep was lacking and it’s entirely unlikely that I’d have arisen at 6:30am, ready to do laps of the nearby park or whatever.

We did a bit of walking – nothing strenuous enough to break a sweat, but we walked around the docks on Friday night, around the market on Saturday morning, and around the township of Ross Saturday evening, with a bit more walking on Sunday morning. That was it – the extent of my exercise for the weekend.

Food though – ah, lovely, lovely food! I did not look at a menu once and think “Oh, I mustn’t have that”. I did not calculate calories. I did not log a single meal. I DID look for something that I’d really enjoy at each meal, not some ho-hum thing that I could have at home any old time.

I used a few little strategies to minimise the chance of stuffing myself silly though. Sometimes I ordered an entrée-sized serve, other times we ordered a serve to share between two of us (fish and chips…..mmm!). Mostly though, I tried to be aware of that little feeling that I often miss – the one that tries to get your attention during a meal, saying in a very quiet voice “Hey - I’ve had enough”. I left almost a third of my breakfast one day – delicious scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and dill, served with toasted Turkish bread - because I really didn’t need any more. Bike Boy valiantly finished that for me. I also left a good-sized chunk of chocolate mousse cake at morning tea. I realised part-way through it that it actually wasn’t all that great AND I wasn’t hungry, so why continue shovelling it in? It’s not like there’d be a shortage of food the rest of the day…..

I tried to do the same with wine. Sure, I wasn’t driving, so I made a point of tasting the entire range at most of the wineries we visited. Good thing their ranges were small and the amounts poured were wa-a-ay on the stingy side. But when we shared a bottle (or two) with a meal, I alternated with plenty of water and cut myself off when I began to get my mucking words fuddled….. which these days, is after about two glasses. What can I say? I'm a cheap drunk. On Sunday afternoon when we visited our last winery for the weekend, I tasted two wines, then decided that I really didn’t need to try the others – after all, Bike Boy can be trusted to pick a good drop of vino.

So, the upshot is, I didn’t deny myself a single thing I really wanted. But I also didn’t make it a no-holds barred all-you-can-eat frenzy. Hang on, did I actually manage some balance while on holiday? Three cheers for me!

By the way, this was worth every single delicious calorie:

Ooh, and look - it's not a stupidly oversized chunk!

The expected fluid bloat was reflected on the scales on Monday morning, with a 1.6kg increase over the weekend (Good thing the airlines don’t weigh passengers and charge excess baggage on THAT surplus!). By this morning, 1.2kg of that had already vanished, as I knew it would.

Oh – the carry-on luggage experiment? No, I didn’t leave my toothbrush or anything vital at home, and I actually could have done without a couple of items. But next time I’m taking an empty suitcase for the purpose of bringing back the wine we buy.

In order to get everything home this trip, we had to do some clever re-packing of our bags to cram a few bottles in, then check those bags so we could lug boxes and bags with yet more wine on board as our carry-on baggage.

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Who's with me?

I've just registered for my 3rd Mothers Day Classic. So on Sunday 11th May, instead of acting like all the sane mothers, who'll be sleeping in and getting presents and burnt toast in bed, I'll be lining up with thousands of other people in Melbourne to run the 4km circuit of the Tan.

This event is a major fundraiser for breast cancer research and it's held in every capital city in Australia, plus a few regional centres. Join me and run or walk to help raise money for this important cause.

Or if you're not able to participate, you can always sponsor me.

Tales from Tassie part IV

We stopped briefly at Bicheno on Saturday afternoon, in between winery visits and our drive inland to our accommodation at Ross. We were actually in search of crayfish, but nope - no luck. So we detoured to take a look at the Blowhole.....which turned out to be spectacularly unspectacular.

I think the tide was too far out anyway, but somehow I think there are plenty of other blowholes around Australia's coast with a lot more WOW! factor.

Missed it, darnit! that it?

At least the scenery was OK.....

Monday, April 07, 2008

I see dead people

The Church of St John the Baptist, in the tiny town of Buckland, was definitely something out of another century. The door was unlocked, the church unattended and we were welcome to wander in and admire the beautiful stained glass windows and breathe in that mustiness that only little old churches have.

The surrounding graveyard was pretty interesting. Old headstones always fascinate me - although the large number of babies' and small children's graves are horribly sad. This one, belonging to a baby only 9 months old, had me blinking back tears:

It reads:

Here lies the grief
Of a fond mother
And blasted expectations
Of an indulgent father

THIS one made us laugh though:

I took a close-up shot - you can see one of the cans of Cascade left by "Slug's" mates. They obviously felt that he needed a traveller on his journey to the afterlife. The inscription on the wooden cross simply reads:

Adam-Jon Montgomery
9-1-1969 14-3-2007

There were a lot more dead people at Ross. There were the Anglican and Catholic cemetaries -separated by a wall of course. After all, you wouldn't want to mix with people not of your kind, even in death.

And then there was the original burial ground, on the hill just above. This one contained a few headstones, carved out of local sandstone by the convict stonemasons who built the famous Ross bridge. Unfortunately, many of the stones have crumbled and disappeared and those that are left are mostly unreadable.

Tales from Tassie, part II

The Salamanca Market was a lot like every other market I've ever been to, in terms of the sort of goods that were for sale. I could probably find the same things (or local versions) at the Queen Vic market here in Melbourne. But I'd be jammed in amongst 20 times as many people.

I much prefer my crowds Tassie-style.

We didn't waste much time here..... up the coast, there were wineries to visit and restaurants and cafes to try out.

Tales from Tassie

I'm a bit flat out, but here's a quick review of our weekend. In a word: FANTASTIC

Even if the company had been crap (it wasn't), the weather terrible (it wasn't), the scenery boring (nup, it wasn't either), the wineries a waste of time (er....hardly)...... with food like this, how could you possibly have a bad time?

Be back later with more food porn and maybe even some travel pics.

Friday, April 04, 2008

Yes, yes, I'm going....

We're all packed and ready to go.

I don't travel light. Even just for a weekend, I never manage to take less than a small suitcase. You never know when you might need those extra changes of clothes.... and what if the weather forecast is wrong? Or what if you decide to go somewhere posh and you only have casual gear? Or somewhere casual and all you have is a ball gown?

This time though, I'm doing it differently. I've packed one overnight bag ONLY, so there's no luggage to check - it's carry-on only. Anything I don't have, I'll have to do without. I'm trying hard not to hyperventilate at that thought.

Be back in a couple of days. With photos.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

City gridlocked, bridges closed, trains cancelled, cars crushed by trees, power out all over the place, brick walls blown over, thick dust everywhere..... and all because of a bit of wind.

It was scary out on the roads.

At least I wasn't flying.

Hey! You're not listening.

I played switcharoo with my training last week - swapping workouts around all over the place so that I didn't have to go to the gym on this day or that for various reasons. In the end, I fitted everything in, so no big deal. Until this week.

Tuesday's workout plan included upper body. If I'd followed my program, I'd have last trained upper body on Friday. But I played switch and ended up doing that one on Sunday. Late on Sunday. So on Tuesday, I was still suffering some pretty severe DOMS and yeesh! I had to front up for some more upper body torture.

I contemplated switching again...but then I'd probably end up in the same boat at some point. So I decided that I'd just have to do it, but I'd make it a light workout. In my mind, I'd already decided to head into the women's gym, where I could wave my 'little' weights around unnoticed. I drove to the gym, paid my money at reception, and found myself walking into the main gym. Uh..... What the...?? I was actually thinking No, no - you're training in the other gym today... but my feet apparently weren't listening and just kept right on going.

So what could I do? I grabbed a bench, loaded up the bar with my normal weights and just did it.

The moral of this story? I have no idea.... except that obviously my body doesn't always listen to my brain and sometimes that's a good thing because my brain is being a wuss.

Or perhaps I just have one of those split-personality things going on, a la Sybil.

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

A well-earned break

As I may have mentioned in passing, Bike Boy and I are off this coming weekend for some fun and frivolity in lovely, lovely Tasmania. We have a long-standing love affair with Tassie, having spent a fun weekend there looooong ago in our early 20s, and we enjoyed it so much, we went back there for our honeymoon. Back in prehistoric times, y'know.

We returned about 5 years ago for a relaxing week sans children, and once again had a memorable holiday. If you've never been out on a boat and eaten crayfish that were crawling around on the ocean floor only half an hour before, you haven't lived. (Let's just gloss over the bit where I was horribly, horribly seasick.... OK, so it was actually a combination of the hangover from hell AND the motion of the ocean... moving on....)

So a couple of months ago, we were out to dinner with some friends and I think that just maybe rather a lot of wine had been drunk and someone had the brilliant idea that the four of us should go to Tassie for a weekend. Amazingly, it all came together - airfares, accommodation and a hire car are all booked and we're off on Friday arvo.

It's always the right time for dessert!

I've sampled the ice cream ....yes, it IS perfectly acceptable to have ice cream for morning tea (I did think about having it for breakfast...) and it's not bad.

Find out all about it, including what flavour I made.


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January, 2016

"Gray Divorce" in Queens, New York

Saturday, January 9th, 2016

While divorce in younger age groups have dropped or plateaued, late-life divorce rates are growing. There comes a certain point in an unhappy relationship that staying together doesn’t make sense, especially as children begin starting lives of their own and aging couples become less busy. If you are considering going through a “gray divorce,” here...  read more

FK Law Group

104-40 Queens Blvd #1D, Forest Hills, NY 11375

Office: (800) 631-1757

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Game: Crash Town

Homepage / Brain Games / Traffic Light Games / Crash Town Game (Crash Town)

 - Free Games for Girls!

Game Info

Total 106 votes.  86.79% like it.
Total 106 votes. 86.79% like it.
Description Crash Town:
Traffic in Crash Town is out of control! It's up to you to save the day and bring everybody safe back home. Drag and drop traffic signs to solve the problems at each puzzle. Prevent as many crashes and jams as you can to get good scores and advance through the levels.

How to play:
Play this game with your mouse.

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Walkthrough van Crash Town

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Header International Pilot Network

A website of this scope is like a big puzzle and sometimes help is needed to find the right place for a piece. This website would not have been possible with the help and support of many people.

Special thanks go to

A heartfelt thanks goes to my partner Carol. Without her patience, support and ideas this project would have never been such a positive experience.


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Monthly Archives: February 2011

New Hire at Flint Technology

We are continually adding to the team here at Flint – and have just hired a new senior developer. Filip Moravcik has worked for some blue chip organisations, including IBM, and adds a wealth of expertise to the Flint Technology development team. We hope many of you will benefit from Filip’s knowledge and experience in


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The Bureau of Labor Market Statistics offers customized Labor Market Information (LMI) training for Regional Workforce Boards, One-Stop Career Centers and economic development organizations. Training sessions range from one-half day to multiple days and include the following:

  • traditional LMI tools
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All training sessions highlight products and services that assist businesses with hiring needs and help the workforce board’s customers with reemployment.  Hands on training is a key part of the sessions. Several online tools are used to explore:

  • current local and state economic conditions
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To schedule customized LMI training, please contact us at

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An equal opportunity employer/program.  Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
All voice telephone numbers on this website may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.
You have selected a link to a website that is outside of the domain. Control of the content of this website belongs to the website's owner and not to the Department of Economic Opportunity.


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This Corixa pattern, originated by Paul Slaney, will do the damage on lakes around the world - be it fished as a single pattern, or in a team of flies where the rules allow multi-fly rigs.

Hook: Tiemco 2499SP #14 (or equivalent scud hook)
Thread: Gudebrod 8/0, white
Flash 1: Krystal Flash, black
Flash 2: Mylar, silver #14
Underbody: Tying thread
Body: Hare's ear, pale
Hackle: Starling

Video here - please view in HD, if able:

Hans W


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Well I was fed up of several nights of waking up from 2-3 hours of sleep feeling like I was gasping for air and feeling generally tired.So last Sunday morning I told the wife enough is enough and went in.I knew I had a heart problem with enlargement that toprol was being taken for.After blood work and all the test I have a fib(irregular heartbeat)but nothing else found with blood work.I have been changed to a fast acting toprol,a blood thinner to reduce clots because of the heartbeat,fluid pill when needed for conjestion
and blouting.Have to keep check on blood pressure and pulse and all else NO STRESS.Hope the meds works or they are going to shock me to see if normal rhythm will return!Keep me in your thoughts and have a good holiday.


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When you plan a vacation, the most important decision you have to take is to decide whether to fill up your trip with zeal and enthusiasm and explore things on your own or go with an escorted group travel to avoid any sort of inconvenience which might occur if you travel alone to a place you have never been before.

So out of the two, which is better? The answer is it depends on personal preferences and on a lot more things.

A very important determinant is whether you enjoy moments of solace alone and are willing to put in a lot more effort in planning and booking. For adventurous people, the good news is the widespread use of online booking services and the presence of informative travel blogs make the choice easier. This is especially effective because travel blogs provide first-hand experience and recommendations of people and the dos and don’ts of that particular city.

Some tourist-attracted places, such as places in Europe or Southeastern Asia, are more prone to tourists and developed accordingly. Going to such places alone is possible. However, if you plan on going to a totally new location about which you have got no clue, then an organized group will work better for you.

An escorted group travel is always the easier choice. Somebody does the research and choose the hotel location, correspond in different languages, look out for tourist spots, etc. A tour guide helps you become more informed about the place that you are visiting. Whereas, individual travelling gives you more sense of freedom and flexibility. You decide everything from food, lodging, visiting places for yourself at your own discretion, etc.

Any one way of travel isn’t better than the other. If you prefer making choices for yourself and are willing to put in exceeded effort and thought process into planning, then travelling alone is your thing. However, if you prefer to have everything already planned and done for you by somebody else, not putting in much effort, then escorted travel is likely to turn out better in your interest.

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Foley Hoag Associate Alexandra Kerr Meise to Speak at ASIL’s Future of Arbitration in Africa Conference

March 11, 2016

Foley Hoag LLP attorney Alexandra Kerr Meise will speak at “The Future of International Arbitration in Africa” conference in Washington, D.C. on March 11, 2016. The conference’s co-sponsors include ASIL and Penn State University.

Meise will address South Africa’s termination of its investment agreements and related investment reforms, plus wider State-based pushes for investment dispute reforms. On her panel, titled “Foreign Investment and Investment Arbitration in Africa,” she will be joined by Deborah Brautigam of Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies; Uché Ewelukwa of the University of Arkansas School of Law; and Perry Bechky of International Trade & Investment Law PLLC.

As a member of Foley Hoag’s International Litigation and Arbitration and Corporate Social Responsibility practices, Meise’s practice includes preventing and resolving international disputes. She has significant experience in international investment and human rights disputes, particularly those related to economic and natural resource development.

Founded in 1906, ASIL is an educational membership organization holding Special Consultative Status to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Through its events, publications, information resources, research initiatives, and educational programs, ASIL advances international law scholarship and education for international law professionals, policymakers, and the general public.

About Foley Hoag LLP

Foley Hoag provides innovative, strategic legal services to public, private and government clients across the globe. We have premier capabilities in the life sciences, healthcare, technology, energy, professional services and private funds fields, and in cross-border disputes. The diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences of our lawyers and staff contribute to the exceptional senior level service we deliver to clients ranging from startups to multinational companies to sovereign states. For more information, visit or follow @FoleyHoag on Twitter.


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Fulfilling flavor

by Eric Schroeder
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The flavored bottled water market accounted for only about 3% of the total single-serve water wholesale revenue generated in 2004. By the end of this decade, however, flavored water sales could approach $1 billion. Getting there is going to require new participants, new flavors, and, perhaps most importantly, new target audiences.

Forecasts from the Beverage Marketing Corp. (B.M.C.), a New York-based research and consulting service specializing in the global beverage industry, suggest flavored water could grow to more than $800 million in sales by 2009, on the high side of estimates, with medium-range forecasts in the ballpark of $600 million. Looking pessimistically, B.M.C. said the flavored water market could spike for a couple of years and then decline.

In contrast to some categories or trends that get their jump start from a new diet craze or rely on uniqueness to spur interest, the flavored water segment revolves around a beverage that has been around forever: water.

From tap water was spawned bottled water, and from bottled water has been birthed flavored and fortified bottled water. Still in its infancy, the flavored water category is showing signs of rapid growth. Strawberry, raspberry and lemon-lime, flavors that dominated the category in its early stages, have been joined by orange, black cherry and grape. But more interesting for the category, and perhaps a sign of what lies ahead if growth is to be sustained, has been the launch of flavored water products geared toward specific segments of the population.

Make room for mom
In June, Silver Spring, Md.-based Saphia Lifestyle Beverages debuted what it claims is the first beverage targeting the dietary needs of expectant and nursing mothers. The low-calorie, naturally flavored, nutrient-enriched water beverages, called Saphia Water, were developed specifically to respond to obstetricians’ recommendations that expectant, nursing and hopeful mothers drink the equivalent of at least eight, 8-oz glasses of water daily, and increase their intake of vitamins and minerals. The product’s tag line is "Saphia. Water for smart women expecting more."

Available in three flavors, Bliss-Berry, PacifyinglyPeach and LovinglyLemon, the new beverages are fortified with folic acid, calcium, dietary fiber, zinc, niacin, magnesium, selenium, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin A, taurine electrolytes potassium and sodium. The water may be purchased in 24-bottle cases for $42.99 (shipping included) through the company’s web site, www.saphiawater.com .

Gretchen Cook-Anderson, who, along with Angela Patterson, a double board-certified neonatologist/perinatologist, founded Saphia Water, said the new water is a "product of personal experience." Ms. Cook-Anderson said a pregnancy with complications in 2001 forced her to abandon some of the flavored beverages she had been drinking and to heed her doctor’s advice to drink more water. Several years later, while on a business trip, Ms. Cook-Anderson noticed a group of pregnant women sitting around drinking different brands of water. This "moment of epiphany," she said, led her to wonder if there was bottled water made specifically for pregnant women.

In introducing Saphia Water, Ms. Cook-Anderson said the primary objective is to get women to drink more water, regardless of what brand, to help stave off dehydration. She said the company worked with beverage chemists, as well as obstetricians, lacticians and other medical personnel to develop a health first product.

"Our purpose is two-fold: Educating and highlighting the health issue; and developing a product to address those issues," she said.

Ms. Cook-Anderson said she views Saphia Water not only as a specialty beverage, but also as a dietary supplement. Currently, she said the product is being offered in obstetricians’ offices and hospitals, with plans to hit the retail market this fall. Ideally, the company hopes the product will be marketed in the baby aisle in supermarkets.

Saphia is not the only water geared specifically toward women, though. Double A Beverage, L.L.C., Boca Raton, Fla., last year introduced W2O, a vitamin enriched product the company says is a "uniquely designed water for women."

A 16-oz bottle of W2O contains 14 vitamins and minerals, including 100% of the recommended daily allowance of folic acid, 10% of the R.D.A. of iron and 10% of the R.D.A. of calcium.

The product is available in Tropical Samba, Cran-Apple Waltz and Orange Tango.

Another bottled water product geared toward women will hit store shelves in November under the Special K label, the largest global brand of The Kellogg Co., Battle Creek, Mich. The world’s largest cereal maker, Kellogg believes the new Special K2O Protein Waters may help consumers maintain shape-management programs. The product — along with Special K Protein Snack Bars and Special K Protein Meal Bars — is one of the first products to be introduced as part of Kellogg’s new Health and Wellness Division.

"As we spoke to consumers about their shape management needs, it was clear that waters — like snacks — play an important role throughout the day," said Jill Saletta, director of communications, Kellogg. "Because we’re focused on providing a variety of alternatives to help consumers meet shape management goals, water was a logical place for us to explore.

"New K2O Protein Waters, like the new Special K Protein Meal and Protein Snack Bars, are fortified with protein. So, K2O and the other new products are keeping with the Special K promise to help you to stay on track with your shape management goals."

Ms. Saletta said the new waters are targeted toward "weight-conscious women who are looking for simple and easy ways to manage their shapes."

Each 16-oz bottle of Special K2O Protein Water will have 50 calories and 5 grams of protein. The water will be available in three flavors: strawberry kiwi, lemon twist, and tropical blend.

Cool for kids
Seen as a refreshing drink, beverage manufacturers are doing their best to make water "cool" for children.

In June, Toronto-based Cott Corp. signed a deal with the Walt Disney Co. under which the former would market a line of Disney-branded beverages, including Finding Nemo purified drinking water and The Incredibles fortified flavored water.

The Incredibles water contains five added vitamins and is packaged in a child-size 8-oz bottle.

"Mom’s are looking for ‘better for you’ solutions in food and beverages to address concerns about their children’s health," said Steve LeVeau, director of marketing and category management, Cott. "Many mom’s have started serving their children plain water, but kids still prefer fun, interactive products that deliver great taste. That’s why Cott beverages partnered with the Disney Co. to create Disney-Pixar branded The Incredibles flavored water. The Incredibles flavored water has all the goodness of plain water but is naturally flavored and fortified with five vitamins. That way mom’s can feel good about what they serve their children while kids love the characters and the great taste."

Mr. LeVeau added that plenty of opportunity exists to make children a viable market for flavored water products.

"Currently, there is a small presence of flavored waters that have the right package size and properties that appeal to kids, but the segment is showing strong growth," he said. "We conducted research with kids and received rave reviews on our flavored water products. We are confident that our great tasting flavored water, in the right package, at the right price, with the powerful Disney equity will be a huge success with mom’s and kids."

Then in July, San Francisco-based Maddie’s Beverage Co. launched two new flavored beverages to its Wateroos line of all-natural children’s water-filled drink boxes: all-natural berry flavored and all-natural grape flavored waters.

According to Maddie’s, Wateroos is the only children’s water beverage packaged in drink boxes complete with straw. In addition, each box features a different water-loving character with educational games and puzzles on the back of each box.

"They’re easier than a bottle for small hands to hold and sip, and are a convenient and portable way for busy families to bring water on the go," the company said. "Best of all, the colorful and playful drink boxes make Wateroos fun for kids so they are more likely to ask for it again and again."

Wateroos contain no sugar, calories or artificial ingredients or sweeteners. They are packaged in six packs of 8-oz boxes with a suggested retail price of $3.29.

The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, is no stranger when it comes to the bottled water market. In 1999, Coca-Cola introduced Dasani, eventually adding several flavors to the line last year, including lemon, grape, raspberry and strawberry. In March, Coca-Cola launched Dasani Sensations, a flavored water beverage sweetened with Splenda brand sweetener, mixed with natural fruit flavors and absent of calories. Dasani is the second largest bottled water brand, trailing only Aquafina, which is manufactured by PepsiCo, Inc.

Continuing its innovation, Coca-Cola last month launched Minute Maid Fruit Falls, a five calorie flavored water beverage for children. The beverage, which is available in Berry and Tropical flavors, comes in a transparent front pouch and contains pure filtered water, a splash of real fruit juice, 100% of the R.D.A. of vitamin C and a good source of calcium.

"We know parents are always seeking beverages for kids that are healthful and refreshing, as well as more convenient and fun," said Bill Kelly, vice-president of juices and emerging brands, Coca-Cola North America. "Minute Maid Fruit Falls answers this need with a fun, flavorful water beverage that kids like and parents appreciate."

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Afternoon Snacks

For my birthday we had a lovely lady like afternoon tea, the cocktails began to flow and we gossip all afternoon soon we were ready for more food. I prepared most of the food for my guests and made a bake along vlog of day, I did take a few shortcuts one of which was using Walkers Sunbites,
I also opted for frozen éclairs. I've made éclairs before but they are very labour intensive when you have got a lot of food to prepare it's nice to have a good shortcut at the ready.

Sunbite Pitta Bakes

I'm not sure how I'd go about recreating the Sunbite snacks, fortunately they come ready to eat and no preparation is needed. There are three kinds of snacks in the new range, pita chips and crackers which come it small bags and mini pots of chutney with crackers.

The pitta bakes are pieces of broken pitta bread coated with flavouring, each bag is only 24g. In the picture above the cereal bowl has 4 bags in it, they don't go very far when your feeding cocktail fuelled ladies and I wasn't very keen on the very strong vintage cheddar flavour which was disappointing as I love the Cornish Cheddar Deli chips which are also from Walkers.
The crispy crackers were a better flavour and I polished off a bag of the onion and rosemary ones while I was filling up the bowls of snacks but they

The crackers and dip combo pots were the only ones I'd buy myself, they reminded me of the type of snack that you get in the Graze boxes only a much better portion size with 36g of crackers and 40g of dip there is plenty of dip for all of the crackers and you aren't left wanting more, it's just the right amount to satisfy a pang of hunger. The novelty of having an individual portion of chutney was also quite fun.

*This is a sponsored post. As always all opinions are my own.


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Monday, May 12, 2014

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue (Hawaii)

Not surprisingly, there are several L&L Hawaiian Barbecue spots in Hawaii. This blog post only covers the location on Waialae Avenue, not far from St. Louis School.

Again, a place I regularly stopped at when I was growing up. I'd remember buying Loco Mocos, Hamburger Steaks, and Chicken Katsu plates until fluffy panda mode set in. Then I'd keep eating anyway to show my awesome logic.

I returned because I had heard so much about the Saimin Burger being sold here. It's basically Hawaii's version of the Ramen Burger that had gained so much attention since its debut last summer. I remember when people in Hawaii started promoting the Saimin Burger and a lawsuit sparked -- not because of the burger, but for using a person's likeness (brother of the Ramen Burger creator) without consent. Eventually, any legal buzz died down.

Basically the Saimin Burger is a beef patty, lettuce, and probably some teriyaki glaze. I felt it needed something more to really bring everything together, like a sriracha mayo. The ramen "patties" were like cake noodles: hard and crunchy on the outside, an al dente cooked noodle touch on the inside.

There are L&L spots on the mainland these days, generally up and down the West coast. There's even one in Portland.

The Saimin Burger is fine for what it is, but probably too much of a novelty for me to get more than once. Frankly, I'll stick with the regular plate lunches. 6.5/10

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Cundy: Questions still surround Chelsea ahead of PL kickoff

GettyImages-587919216_masterWest Ham will provide a tough test for Chelsea, there’s nothing better than a London derby under the lights at night. West Ham, as we saw last year are efficient, work hard and work well always turning up with a game plan.

So if we know what West Ham will bring to the table, what about Chelsea?

With a new manager and new signings as well as a seemingly resurgent Eden Hazard we expect a better showing than last year but the fact is we don’t know what to expect from Chelsea.

It’s the same back four as last season; Jose tried to rectify this with John Stones whilst Chelsea have tried to sign Koulibaly from Napoli yet to no avail this summer.

Many expected that with Conte, Chelsea would tighten up at the back, after a season where the side uncharacteristically leaked goals. Italy were solid defensively at the Euros yet Chelsea haven’t really looked like this, keeping just 2 clean sheets in 6 games.

Terry isn’t getting any younger, Cahill and Ivanovic need to improve after last term too. The bright lights remain Zouma who should be returning, and Azpilicueta who has impressed at full back since joining from Marseille in 2012.

This means that new boy N’Golo Kante’s workload will increase as he will have to work harder to shield a shaky defence – especially important with Dimitri Payet coming to town tonight!

Further forward, Hazard needs a big season. His drop off was astounding,  I don’t think I have seen a bigger drop off from a top level player in his prime as the difference between 2014/2015 Hazard and 2015/2016 Hazard was huge. We know what he is capable of, and when he is at it, he is one of the best but the best players do it week in and week out rather than one season on then taking the next off.

After all the talk, I think Costa will stay, we’ve got to the point where Chelsea will want to be bringing people in rather than letting them go. We’ve already seen Bertrand Traore head to Ajax, so there is a space for a new striker – possibly old boy Romelu Lukaku.

Michy Batshuayi will be learning the ropes this season, so Chelsea are pretty light up top. If Costa gets injured, the goal scoring onus falls on a young, inexperienced Batshuayi, which isn’t ideal.

I think the team needs 3 additions; a centre back, a left back and a striker. If and when they come in then we will be better poised to discuss just what this side can do.

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Fosjoas Intelligent Self-Balancing Electric Scooters Bring Great Convenience to People and Green to the World

Source:Fosjoas begin Time: 2016-08-15

Fosjoas has several series intelligent electric self-balancing scooter, such as electric unicycle, twin-wheeled electric scooter or two-wheeled electric scooter and so on. Different electric scooter type enjoys different application. Some people choose them as travel transports, while some others choose them as exercise tools. Besides, they are also excellent tools for weekend trip. Besides Fosjoas K2 and K5, other Fosjoas intelligent self-balancing electric scooters are based on aerospace attitude control theory, fuzzy software algorithm and gyroscope system to keep balance. In other words, riders realize all controls by adjusting body gravity. For example, slightly leaning forward will speed up, while lean backward will slow down. Therefore, it is very easy to ride Fosjoas electric scooters.

When it comes to Fosjoas K2 and K5 two-wheeled electric scooters, they adopt front-standing riding mode and replaceable battery unit. Thus, they offer not only comfortable riding experience, but also unlimited range. Most people would like to choose it for long-distance travel. Simple travel transport makes journey enjoyable and people can get fully relaxed from it. Above all, Fosjoas electric scooters really bring great convenience to people. They ride them to go to work smoothly. They ride them to take exercise happily. Fosjoas electric scooters can help people to do a lot and life becomes much better.

unicycle electric scooter

In the meantime, the power of all of Fosjoas electric scooters comes from imported lithium-ion battery. Such a battery enjoys the advantages of long service life and high work efficiency. What is more, lithium-ion battery won’t generate any harmful exhaust into the air. After all, the living environment has been seriously polluted by automobile exhausts for many years. If more and more people are willing to apply Fosjoas self-balancing electric unicycle in daily life, the environmental quality will be obviously increased. They bring green to the living environment.


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March 20, 1986

pix # 1 - Photo is of No. 92 of the LE&W, probably around 1900. Judging from the diameter of the drive wheels, Don Kinnaman, former Fostorian now residing in Phoenix, Ariz., believes this engine was probably a passenger engine and built for speed. Although equipped with an acetylene headlight, it was more than likely a coal burner or a combination wood and coal burner, he believes. The photo should have been included in the 125th Anniversary edition of The Review Times. Kinnaman is a long-time enthusiast of railroads and interurbans.

From Charles Walters, Mesa, Arizona, came a letter to Potluck chock full of things he recalled after reading thoroughly a copy of The Review Times 125th Anniversary edition, sent to him by Dale Mills, 436 Elm Street, a classmate of Walters.

The recollections of Walters included in his letter reminded me of events I had completely forgotten, but to which he attached significance...overlooked by all of us who contributed to that edition.

Here's Walters' contribution to "Potluck" readers, just the same as he wrote to me, excepting a few introductory remarks:

Recollecting some of 'firsts' in Fostoria brought to mind that perhaps the first elevator for public use was in the Keibel and Wilson department store which later was purchased by the H.O. Ahlenius family. The store also featured the big city cash transaction metal cars that followed their tracks to the mezzanine cashier.

Other firsts were: Dawn Doughnuts on East Center Street in the former F.A. Copley bicycle store, operated by William and Walfred Anderson, 1927-28; Ohio Most Beautiful Woman, Dorothy Gerlinger, in a contest conducted by the Cleveland Plain Dealer; Ohio's most Perfect Back.

Fostoria's first self-service grocery store on the southwest corner of Tiffin and Main Street using galvanized pipe at hip level to guide the customer past all shelves and counters and back to the cash register before leaving the store, and admonition by the proprietor for ducking under the pipe to take a short cut. Featured food products were Monarch and Richelieu labels.

Also first: the gasoline station erected by Standard Oil at the northeast corner of Tiffin and Poplar streets easing motorists of getting to the bulk station on West Tiffin before it closed. Carl Herbert was one of the first to operate the station and suffered the first gas station robbery.

Establishing four firsts by himself and his wife, Bess, was Donald Dillon. He held first dealership of the new Chrysler with "balloon" tires, 19 by 6.00 hydraulic brakes, in the garage behind his East Center street home; first dealership of the Pontiac, selling 17 cars in 15 days, one of which was instrumental in naming a new young men's club because the trip to Columbus for organization was made in one driven by one Paul Krupp; first dealer for the new DeSoto made by Chrysler; and the first auto parts store he moved from his home to the former Carl Smith Livery Stable on East Tiffin street, Buckeye Auto Parts.

Memory holds for the Post Office south of the alley next to J.C. Penny, before moving to the Kingseed Hardware location on West Tiffin; Wade, Wagner and Peter Clothing stores for men; the 'picture shows' of Unique, Strand Luna, Majestic and Colonial. Bob Doke Basket Market opened in the Unique space next to the Citizen Telephone office where Chet Klinepeter had a print shop beside the Masonic Temple before moving to Doke area when Doke moved across the street to space behind Peter Clothing. The Book Shop occupied the Strand space and the name 'Strand' could be seen in tile entrance to the store. Burger Shoe located near the Luna area. Majestic and Colonial continued for years later.

How about the $1 for once-a-week summer swimming at the YMCA for teenage boys to learn to swim? And the F.P. Lindsay cement block plant behind his home that he conducted by hand-plunger operation before mechanization, and age, forced his retirement. Also Algy Strouse Fisk Tire Store, next to the Unique Theater. Could he and Milton Book have been the Elk's Minstrels endmen when Sammy Croft was the basso profundo interlocutor? And how about the "Biggest Little Jewelry Store" that O.C. Harding owned behind the Commercial Bank? Or the late-night, early-morning city-wide cruising in an open touring car ( a Pierce-Arrow or Franklin) by Elmer Pfeil and Tony Kiefer on any nice summer evening.

The Huss family, living on East Tiffin, was invited to provide the music to sing the Star Spangled Banner by the children in the neighborhood, which very likely included Mary Noble, Elmer Kellems, Curtis Strouse and myself, as Sam Cadwallader erected a flag pole at the point of the triangle of the Cadwallader property on East Tiffin-Columbus Avenue.

The Huss children had the benefit of an equipped gymnasium on the second floor of the barn-garage behind their home. The H.O.Ahlenius family took over the ownership later.

Oh, yes, another first was air delivery by the Toledo News-Bee of a special edition newspaper after the Dempsey-Willard world heavyweight championship fight in Toledo.

Utility payments were easier for most with the telephone, gas and water offices located on North Street within a half-block either side of Main Street. A number of doctor offices were also located in the same area, but I think that had little to do with meeting the established utility rates at that time.

As a carrier of the Times 1922-23, I'm not sure that I would be the oldest living carrier. I began in September 1924 tutelage of printing under the care of Ray Hartsook, his brother, Roy, the newspaper pressman, Harry Brubaker, Bill Atha, the venerable J.H. (Josh) Williams, managing editor and Roscoe Carle. The editor was John Lockhart who led me to read several books of Republican leaders of the U.S. I still have the press card signed by Roscoe Carle in his fluent Spencerian hand. After 19 years at the Fostoria Times, two years with Orangeburg (S.C.) Observer, 17 years with the Upper Sandusky Chief-Union and 13 years at the Temple (Ariz.) Daily News, 51 years at newspapers, folded up the apron, picked up the line-gauge, the make-up rule and the 6- and 12- point tape rule Oct. 1, 1975, I retired. Assisting three years later when another had surgery, I picked up my linotype prowess as if I'd never left but was convinced retirement is more fun.

(Author's Note: If you like what Walters contributed, why not drop him a note and tell him. He'd be glad. Address: Charles Walters, 2528 East McKellips, Apt. 64, Mesa, Arizona 85203. Since receiving the above interesting memorabilia, Walters has acknowledged my "thank you" note and responded with another collection of interesting things from the past, which will be in next week's column.)

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give away and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. Be still, and know, I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress" (Psalm 46)

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Algerian independence film reopens French war wounds

Text by FRANCE 24

Latest update : 2010-05-22

France’s post-colonial war in Algeria left such a bitter legacy that remarkably few films have been made on the subject. In a rare foray, "Outside of the Law" by Rachid Bouchareb, has drawn angry accusations of "falsifying history".

Riot police were mobilised Friday to the glitzy Cannes waterfront after a film dealing with France’s war in Algeria drew crowds of angry demonstrators.

“Outside of the Law”, which explores this painful chapter of France’s post-war history, has led to claims by some French groups that director Rachid Bouchareb “falsified history”.
Outside of the Law - Trailer
Bouchareb also directed the 2006 film “Days of Glory” (Indigènes), which deals with the (often shameful) treatment of Algerian soldiers fighting for France during the Second World War. The film prompted then-president Jacques Chirac to order that such soldiers get the same pensions as French ones.
“Outside of the Law”, part-financed by France, tells the story of Algerian brothers who are driven from their home as children by colonialists and grow up to fight in mainland France for the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN).

The film has provoked huge controversy particularly because of its opening scene, which depicts a massacre in the town of Setif in 1945.
French historians estimate that some 15,000 Algerians were killed in Setif when French troops opened fire on a pro-independence rally. Their Algerian counterparts put the figure as high as 45,000. More than 100 Europeans also died.
‘Compared the French to the Nazis’
Historian Benjamin Stora's point of view
Ahead of the festival, right-wing politicians criticised the film's treatment of France's role in Algeria during the colonial period and the war that led to independence in 1962.
Lawmaker Lionel Luca, of the ruling UMP party, said after watching the film on Friday that it was "a partisan, militant, pro-FLN film" which "compared the French to the (Nazi) SS and the French police to the Gestapo."
Police said 1,200 people joined the Cannes protest which involved the far-right National Front party, but no incidents were reported.
Army veterans and groups representing former colonists and "harkis" (Algerians who fought for France) joined the protest, with demonstrators waving French flags and singing the French national anthem.
"It is a falsification of history," said Frederic Bruno, a 62-year-old pensioner who travelled from Nice to join the rally. In Setif, "the army kept order" after Algerians killed French people, he said.
Hitting a raw nerve
Compared with the Second World War and France’s colonial wars in Indo China, very few films have been made about the Algerian independence struggle and “Outside of the Law” is one of the very few cinematic treatments of the conflict. Stories about independence fighters in mainland France are especially rare.
Bouchareb insisted after the screening that the controversy was not so much in his handling of history - but more in the deep-rooted French reluctance to deal with the Algerian issue objectively.
"The film isn't a battlefield,” he said. “The film is not there to provoke confrontation. It is there to launch a calm debate."
He added: "It is for sociologists or other experts to say why in France people find it difficult to journey into the past."

Date created : 2010-05-22


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Progress Seen in Draft Tanzanian FOI Bill

25 August 2016

By Deus Kibamba

The author is trained in political science and international law. His column first appeared Aug. 24 in The Citizen. The government issued a new draft FOI bill in June. (See report.)

In less than two weeks, the Right to Information Bill will be presented in Parliament for its second reading and passing by the august House. The Bill’s presentation is a culmination of ten years of debate and consultations among information stakeholders.

Initially, a document dubbed the “Freedom of Information Bill” was released by the Directorate of Information Services (Maelezo) in 2006. A decade down the line, some of us still have memories of the excitement that ensued from hope that Tanzania was about to get an RTI law.

However, the joy was short-lived after the government came up with a draconian and poorly drafted proposed law that same year. Predictably, the bulky Bill was shot down by media and information stakeholders for obvious reasons and the effort has been worthwhile.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge in the last ten years. Several ministers and directors of information have come and gone, but we still don’t have and RTI law in place. From minister Muhammad Seif Khatib and George Mkuchika in 2006/7 to Emmanuel Nchimbi, Fenella Mukangara and Nape Nnauye today, the Bill has indeed passed through many hands. At Maelezo, the process has dragged on during the eras of Kassim Mpenda in 2006 to Clement Mshana, Assah Mwambene and now Hassan Abbas. All along, the Bill has remained an important priority for the government and stakeholders alike.

Today, Parliament can claim credit for comprehensive consultations that have gone into the process. It is a satisfying development that at long last, stakeholders are convening in Dodoma this week to give their final views on the Right to Information Bill, 2016 at the invitation of Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee. The outcome of these sessions notwithstanding, I wish to commend the move. One hopes that the committee will make use of stakeholders’ inputs in fine-tuning the Bill.

Significant Progress, But…

Having looked at the final Bill, I hold the view that significant progress has been made in terms of its content. For instance, the proposed law separates itself from the Media Services context. Furthermore, the Right to Information Bill makes it a right for everyone to access, receive and disseminate information from public offices. Additionally, the draft legislation compels selected private offices, whose activity has the potential of touching on the public interest, to provide information to the public upon request or proactively. This also deserves praise.

However, there is still room for improvement of the Bill even at this advanced stage.

First, given the importance and urgency of the framework to guide the information provision, it should come out clearly from the preliminary provisions that the envisaged Act shall come into operation on a date stated in the body of the law itself. Leaving room for the date to be determined by the minister may be too much of a loophole that is likely to lead to further delays in enacting the law. Unfortunately, Section 1 lacks an express provision that fixes the actual date on which the law will come into effect.

In addition, the Bill is still weak in as far as the scope of the origin of information is concerned. At a time when democracies obligate governmental offices to provide the right of access to information without regard to national frontiers, the Bill limits access to citizens only.

International best practice has it that information is a right for every person regardless of nationality. Luckily, the Constitution of Tanzania adopted this gist through amendment of Article 18 in 2005. Today, the right of access to information in Tanzania is a constitutional guarantee for every person race, citizenship and nationality notwithstanding, according to Article 18b. We must not go below this constitutionally set threshold.

Finally, there are two more areas of the Bill that call for adjustment. The recognition of the right to seek and be given information for natural persons is a half guarantee. Modern legislation on RTI requires that information becomes a right for both natural and legal personalities. It goes without saying that more often than not, organisations seek information from public or other offices than perhaps individual requests by natural persons.

The Bill remains prohibitive in recognising information requests from human persons only. It also still unnecessarily retains a long list of classified items of information, posing a high risk of undue ambiguity ensuing from such provisions.

Save these and a few other points calling for corrective action, the Bill has greatly evolved from its original version in 2006. Ten years of consultations have paid off. Hoping for the best out of the Dodoma processes this week.

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Argentina's Christina Fernandez de Kirchner's UN Address

Written by Subject: Philosophy: Fascism

Argentina's Christina Fernandez de Kirchner's UN Address

by Stephen Lendman

Note: This article was intended for September 29. Illness intervened. It remains timely. As much now as then.

Most UN addresses are bland. Few stand out. Fewer are remembered. Fewer still matter.

Argentina's President de Kirchner shook things up and then some. Enough to get media scoundrels to bury her comments.

They ignored her harsh criticism of US-led Western policies. Her address was wide ranging.

She questioned Washington's motives for waging war. Targeted countries. Takfiri terrorists it supports.

"Where do ISIS and Al Qaeda (get) their guns from," she asked? "Yesterday's freedom fighters are today's terrorists."

Today's terrorists are US allies. They're trained to fight America's enemies.

She called financial predators "economic terroris(ts)." She urged multi-lateral cooperation to regulate sovereign debt.

"The vulture funds threaten and attack with actions against our country's economy, causing rumors, mistruths and outright lies," she said.

"It is almost a type of economic and financial terrorism," she added.

"We have also claimed the need to reform the UN security organisms and the International Monetary Fund based on what has happened in Argentina."

She referred financial predators strip-mining countries of material wealth and resources. Shifting them from public to private hands.

Compromising democratic values. Transforming nations into dystopian backwaters.

Destroying middle class societies. Exploiting workers. Establishing permanent debt bondage. Eliminating core freedoms at the same time.

A race to the bottom benefits monied interests at the expense of most others. Neoliberal harshness is neo-Malthusianism writ large.

Its holy trinity mandates no public sphere, unrestrained corporate empowerment, and repressive control for phony national security reasons.

For monied interests, it's the best of all possible worlds. For most others, the worst by far.

Economies are financialized into debt bondage. Ordinary people suffer most. They endure increasing poverty, unemployment, underemployment, homelessness, hunger, depravation and despair.

Governments collude lawlessly with financial crooks. Other corporate predators cash in. Pillaging for profit matters most. So does unchallenged control.

In the 1980s, 187 IMF loans caused horrific poverty, hunger, malnutrition, disease and death for many independent developing countries.

Their growth on average declined 2.2% annually. Per capita income dropped below independence levels.

Debt service required cutting health expenditures by 50%. Education by 25%.

During Mexico's 1982 debt crisis, wages as well as spending for health, education, and basic infrastructure dropped by half.

Infant mortality tripled. Vital human needs were unmet. Paying bankers matters most.

By 1990, developing nations were worse off, not better. Deeper in debt. It burgeoned. Devaluations followed. Growth declined.

From 1976 to 1982, Latin American borrowing doubled. About 70% of new loans were needed to service old ones.

Yet Article I of the IMF's Articles of Agreement says it lends:

"to give confidence to members by making the general resources of the Fund temporarily available to them under adequate safeguards, thus providing them with opportunity to correct maladjustments in their balance of payments without resorting to measures destructive of national or international prosperity."

Its web site says it provides loans to reduce poverty and increase economic development. It lied claiming "(i)n difficult economic times, (it) helps countries protect (their) most vulnerable in a crisis."

Its mandate is polar opposite. It entraps nations in debt, poverty and depravation. It's the loan shark of last resort.

Chile under Augusto Pinochet was a model of unfairness. Unfettered capitalism was official policy.

Chileans experienced brave new world harshness. State terror enforced it.

Hardline shock therapy was instituted. It transformed South America's most vibrant democracy into laissez faire hell.

Coup d'etat viciousness ruled. Technocrats ran economic policy. Inflation exploded. In the first year, it hit 375%.

Mass layoffs cost thousands of jobs. Social safety net protections disappeared.

Economic contraction caused mass suffering. Cheap imports flooded the country. Local businesses died.

Free market paradise meant unemployment, poverty, hunger, homelessness, and brutal crackdowns on nonbelievers.

By the late 1980s, nearly half of Chilean households were impoverished. Privileged elites benefitted hugely.

Inequality remains extreme. Chile is one of Latin America's most unequal societies. Longstanding policies shifted wealth upward.

One percent of the population benefitted greatly. It has over one-third of Chile's wealth. Inflation adjusted pay for 90% of society declined. It rose 150% for its 1% and 300% for its 0.1%.

Predatory capitalism creates wastelands. Chile remains a model of economic unfairness.

Crony capitalism reflects out-of-control corruption, inequality and injustice. It exploits ordinary people for profit. It robs them of futures.

It works the same way everywhere. Kirshner spoke truth to power. Disturbing ones explained publicly aren't welcomed.

In the 1980s, ordinary Bolivians suffered hugely under Victor Paz Estenssoro.

Force-fed austerity included wage freezes, lost food subsidies and price controls, oil prices hiked 300%, deep social spending cuts, unrestricted imports, downsized state enterprises, mass privatizations, and sharply higher unemployment.

The decade through the early 1990s saw Latin American debt rise from $110 billion in 1980 to $473 in 1992.

Interest payments tripled. It grew from $6.4 billion to $18.3 billion. Worker livelihoods, health and welfare suffered enormously.

Millions lucky enough to have work endured sub-poverty wages. Corporate predators profited hugely on human misery.

Things replicated globally. From sub-Saharan Africa to Latin America to Russia and Asian Tiger countries in 1997/98.

Looting them turned Asia's miracle into disaster. The International Labor Organization estimated 24 million lost jobs.

State enterprises were sold at fire sale prices. Western brands replaced local ones. Corporate predators benefitted from what The New York Times called "the world's biggest going-out-of-business sale."

Asian workers became human wreckage. IMF scoundrels perpetuate the myth about offering troubled economies help.

Their mandate is plunder for profit. The more the better. No matter the human wreckage caused.

Today's Greece is a model example. Legitimate rule is absent. Western banker interests come first.

Governance combines travesty, tragedy and shame. Democracy's birth place spurns it.

Unprincipled disregard for human need continues. It does so at a time of horrific depravation, rampant corruption, prioritized military spending, and paying bankers first.

Transparency International earlier said "Greek people live in a state of 'corrupt legality.' " It's endemic. It thrives in a culture of impunity.

Oversight is entirely absent. Privileged elites benefit hugely. They hide stolen wealth in offshore tax havens.

Unaccountability lets them get away with what no one should tolerate. Especially at a time of economic crisis and appalling human deprivation.

Force-feeding more pain exacerbates deplorable conditions. Greece is a failed state. A zombie country. Only its obituary remains to be written.

Eurozone membership comes with strings. No country should accept them. They include forgoing rights to:

• to devalue currencies to make exports more competitive;

• sovereignty over members' own money; and

• expansive fiscal policies to stimulate growth.

Mandated bondage prevents effective counter-cyclical fiscal policies. Growth, stability and human welfare suffer.

Structural adjustment harshness exacerbates conditions. It makes bad situations worse.

It requires new loans to service old ones. Social injustice writ large follows. In December 2001, Argentina bucked systemic unfairness.

It halted all debt payments to domestic and foreign creditors. Months earlier, an IMF loan didn't help.

Nearly $100 billion in debt was restructured. It was completed in 2005. It was on a take it or leave it basis.

Bondholders had to accept stiff haircuts. Recovering about one-third of invested capital was better than nothing.

In 2010, most holdouts capitulated. They did so on similar terms. From 2003 - 2007, sustained growth followed.

Restructured debt and devaluated currency turned things around. Other troubled economies can recover the same way.

Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece can do it. Troika EU/ECB/IMF power decides things. Euro straightjacket policy rules. Banker-imposed diktats.

Member countries have no say. Combining 17 dissimilar ones under one monetary/fiscal system assured disaster.

One size fits all rules don't work. So does paying bankers first. Michael Hudson calls predatory finance "war by non-military means."

"It's objective is the same as military conquest." It's mainly though privatizations. Selling off state enterprises at fire sale prices.

Eliminating social benefits at the same time. Neoliberal harshness works this way. Predatory bankers run things.

Strip-mining countries for profit is official policy. Ordinary people suffer most.

So-called free market fundamentalism is everywhere. Margaret Thatcher's dictum applies. "There is no alternative," she said.

Anti-New World Order ones aren't tolerated. People are sacrificed for profits. It's the US-led Western way. It's the wrong way.

Inside the bubble it's paradise. Outside it's neoliberal hell. Kirchner calls it "financial terrorism."

She urged IMF reform. Vulture funds reigned in. Who are they, she asked? Defaulted bond buyers, she said. For exorbitant profits.

They're blocking payments to other Argentinian sovereign debt holders. She called them the 92% who accepted restructuring.

"I thus celebrate that the UN General Assembly has faced the issue and hopefully by the next assembly we should have concluded a regulatory framework for sovereign debts, so that no other country has to go through what Argentina" experienced, she said.

"(W)e are going to pay despite the harassment from the vulture funds," she added.

"Terrorists are not only those putting bombs. (They're) those who cause misery, poverty and hunger."

"The great powers change the concept of friend and enemy far too easily."

She called for independent UN leadership. It's "the only way we can leave a better world to our children," she said.

It's not what Western governments wanted to hear. Or supportive scoundrel media.

They silenced her through non-coverage. Her message is too important to ignore.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

Visit his blog site at

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  • Karnataka Assembly elections 2018: JD(S) key in Karnataka

    Even as the Congress and the BJP are fighting it out to snatch victory in the impending high-prestige Assembly elections in Karnataka, there is a third force which could play a crucial role in the event of a hung assembly. It is indeed not inconceivable at all that neither party may get an absolute majority. The balancing force could well be the Janata Dal (Secular) led by former prime minister Deve Gowda

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    The death of J Jayalalithaa encouraged the two matinee idols of Tamil cinema, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, to give vent to their political ambitions. On Wednesday, Haasan finally floated his party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (Peoples’ Justice Centre). Rajinikanth is still waiting. Both actors seem to believe that in the post-Jayalalithaa period there is a vacuum in Tamil Nadu politics, with the ruling AIADMK certain to suffer from the lack of a popular

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  • Social media: Hard nut for Election body

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  • India’s GDP growth isn’t as good as it seems

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  • Trudeau trumps votes over ties with India

    At one level, it is rude not to acknowledge the presence of an honoured guest amidst you with the customary welcome, And when the visitor happens to be a head of a government of an important foreign country, it is expected that the usual protocols of diplomacy would come into play. Oddly enough, India has given a stiff cold shoulder to the visiting Canadian prime minister.