Blogtimore, Hon

Today we "Spring ahead" by moving the clocks ahead an hour- so let's see what has happened this last week before we lost an hour in our day...

• La Scala Ristorante dining for Haiti
  
• Warm up with Tango wine tasting at Mt. Washington Tavern
• Saval Deli's St. Patrick's Day corned beef and cabbage eating contest
• For only $15 you can get $30 Groupon at The Row House Grille
• Win sushi for a year- RA Sushi hosts 2nd Annual Maki Madness sushi-eating contest
• St. Patrick's Day at The Life of Reilly Irish Pub and Restaurant
• B&O American Brasserie celebrates St. Patrick’s Day
• Check out some of things going for St. Patrick’s Day in Baltimore's dining scene- part 1
• $30 for $65 worth of fine wines and gourmet dishes at The Milton Inn Restaurant
• Maryland Science Center teams with Morton's for Pi Day
• Come have a taste of home at Red Springs Cafe and support a good cause

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1. Butch Walker and the Black Widows - I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart
Butch Walker is an interesting guy in that he’s straddled a lot of different musical worlds, and how you feel about him might depend on which one you’ve encountered him in. He fronted the alt-rock one hit wonder Mavelous Three, developed a successful gig as a songwriter/producer-for-hire for both other rock bands (Weezer, Fall Out Boy) and for pop stars (Avril Lavigne, Pink, Katy Perry), and he’s got a cultish solo career going too. I didn’t really take the time to listen to him until his new album popped up on eMusic, and I thought about how much I loved his work on the last Pink and FOB albums, and I’m glad I checked it out. This is one of the best power pop records I’ve heard in a while, big hooks and silly self-effacing lyrics and ELO-ish string arrangements, just addictively listenable. “She Likes Hair Bands” is the kind of song I might roll my eyes at if it were a big mainstream hit, but as is I just listen to it over and over wishing it was a big mainstream hit.

2. Styles P. & DJ Green Lantern - The Green Ghost Project
Styles is one of the few middle-tier NYC rappers left that’s really worth a damn and seems like he still has music in him that’s as good as anything he’s ever done, and Green Lantern is one o fthe few mixtape DJs/producers who actually has some serious skills in the latter department. I kinda almost wish Green Lantern did every beat and made it an old fasioned MC/producer duo album, but then I can’t complain about the beats by Alchemist and Scram Jones.

3. Freeway & Jake One - The Stimulus Package
Obviously, given my assembly of the top 30 Freeway tracks of 2009, I was looking forward to this album, but after hearing so much music from the guy in the last few months, and one of my least favorite of those releases being the mixtape with Jake One presumably full of leftovers from this, The Beat Made Me Do It, I have to admit I wasn’t in a rush to check this out and didn’t have super high expectations. But this is really dope and maybe his best full-length project since Free At Last, really came together well. “Never Gonna Change” is just crazy.

4. Sade - Soldier Of Love
I’d never listened to a Sade album before or really given them much thought beyond the big singles everyone knows, but “Soldier Of Love” is just so totally badass that it seemed like a good idea to check out the whole LP, and it was, even if there’s obvioulsy nothing else much like it on there. What are the best older Sade albums to check out?

5. The Superions - The Superions EP
I’m a huge fan of Fred Schneider, both with the B-52s and his solo work, so I was pretty excited recently to get thrown an opportunity to interview the guy, which will hopefully happen in a few days. But if that hadn’t come up I probably wouldn’t have even heard that he has a new band that just released a new EP. It’s kind of a synth pop thing, with Fred doing his usual weird sing-speak monologue, some tracks dancier than others (there are 3 songs plus 4 remixes of those songs on the EP), and all you really need to know is that the highlight is called “Who Threw That Ham At Me?”

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1. Rihanna - “Rude Boy”
I liked most of Rihanna’s early singles, but in my opinion she kinda fell off the moment she dropped any pretense of Caribbean-flavored tracks that made good use of her voice/accent, even if that decision coincided with her ascent to total blockbuster pop star status. I didn’t really like any of Good Girl Gone Bad’s bazillion singles besides “Don’t Stop The Music,” and Rated R seemed to be a wash with the first few songs released being horrible miserable bullshit that felt like it was done out of some vague obligation to make ‘dark’ music appopriate to the problems in her personal life, more than any legitimate inspiration to make something 'more' than pop hits. But maybe she’s done with that now, because she’s finally got a sunny sexy catchy single that actually brings back a little of that long neglected island flavor (actually, it doesn’t so much, but it’s called “Rude Boy” and the video has a very Jamaican aesthetic, so that has to count for something). This might be the best vocal performance of her entire career, so many expressive little moments of inflection that she never even seemed capable of before.

2. Cavo - “Crash”
My prediction is that Cavo are the next Three Days Grace, the band that are going to be absolutely huge on active rock stations but not remotely famous in any other sense, who nobody that doesn’t listen to those stations will know of and even some of the listeners won’t know by name. That’s just based on their first two singles being big anonymous hits, and me not bothering to find out who they were by until the 2nd, “Crash,” totally hooked me in with its big irresistible chorus. And Three Days Grace don’t have any songs this good, so that’s something.

3. Alicia Keys f/ Beyoncé - “Put It In A Love Song”
I like to think that when these two women, who are each among their generation’s most popular practitioners of the love song, got together, they got to talking about how their significant others, who are both also popular musicians, have never written them a love song. And Alicia said hey, let’s write a song about that, and see if they take the hint! I’ll even use one of my boyfriend’s beats to really get his attention! And when they heard that Jay and Swizz were going into the studio to work on a new song, they thought alright, it worked! And then they heard “Onto The Next One.”

4. Pink - “Glitter In The Air”
Funhouse is one of my favorite pop albums of the last few years, so it’s been really gratifying to see it have an incredible long commercial shelflife, with its sixth single racing up the charts 15 months after the album’s release. This is a great song and a great way to end the album, but I really didn’t think it’d ever be a single, especially after the other ballad, “I Don’t Believe You,” was released a few months ago, but then she showed up at the Grammys playing this and suddenly it was a big hit. If her label just wants to go ahead and release every song off this album as a single, “It’s All Your Fault” or “Mean” should be next, just sayin’.

5. Fat Joe f/ Young Jeezy - “Ha Ha (Slow Down Son)”
I’ve learned to never totally count out Fat Joe, but even I was starting to doubt his ability to make bangers year after year by any means necessary after his last couple albums. So it’s nice to hear him back with something this strong, and even if it’s predictably got an assist from a Southern rap star, the song still feels pretty Joe, really moreso than “Make It Rain” or whatever.

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Did you  know that today, March 14, heralds the official beginning of American Chocolate Week?

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John Carroll is hosting its first-ever student-run film festival to showcase and celebrate talent by student filmmakers. The festival will take place on March 26, 2010 in the John Carroll School Auditorium at 7:00 p.m.

Students in high school and college are eligible to submit a film for consideration by the festival judges. The film must be at least 30 seconds and no longer than 20 minutes in length. Objectionable content will not be accepted (keep the rating between G and PG-13!).

Long (10-20 minutes) and short (less than 10 minutes) films will be divided into three categories: comedy, drama, and animation.

All films must be submitted on a DVD along with a completed information sheet. You can download the information sheet HERE.

Mail or hand-deliver your film by March 16, 2010 to:

The John Carroll School
703 E. Churchville Rd.
Bel Air, MD 21014

Remember, submissions must be received by March 16th. All films must be between 30 seconds and 20 minutes in length and must not contain objectionable content.

Students chosen to have their films featured during the festival will be notified via e-mail by March 20th.

This will mark John Carroll’s first film festival, presented for students by students. The event will be a great opportunity for young filmmakers to express their talent and “get their feet wet” in the film business.

Judges will include Mr. William Boniface, the Harford County Council President, and Mr. George Stover, a film producer.

For more information, log on to the John Carroll Film Festival’s official site at www.jcfilmfestival.weebly.com. Further queries may be sent to jcfilmfestival@comcast.net.

The John Carroll School is a Catholic, independent, college-preparatory, co-educational school for grades 9-12, located on a 72-acre campus in Bel Air, Harford County. Named for America’s first Catholic archbishop, the school’s core values are drawn from his example as priest, patriot and scholar; the school provides a Catholic foundation of values, challenging academics and real-life experiences that prepares its students to embrace opportunities and excel as responsible participants in a global society.

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I'm not sure if East of Eden was a great choice for Seniors with about six weeks left of real high school. Heavy and long.

Or maybe that's me saying that. I'm in the throws of trying to get National Boards done (due March 31st), plus running a Lit Circles unit with the 9th graders (it's going great, but 8 books is hard to stay on top of) and, of course, coaching, which keeps me at school until late every day. This month is a rough one.

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And, it's a sound reason: Let's all head to Washington DC for a Lube Job. Lube Job is the headline used by DC's MetroWeekly for their story about an upcoming show mounted by GMCW, the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington...

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It’s been a while since I have had a moment to sit down and compose a blog post.  Thus, I am forced to update everyone in the most immediate way possible.

• Professionally, things are well yet busy.  I would not have it any other day.
• After the end of snow and the coming onslaught of rain, I spent today cleaning my house from top to bottom.  It needed it, and I actually feel like I accomplished something as a result.
• After some research, I decided to purchase a Blu-Ray DVD player.  Specifically, I ordered a Samsung BD-P3600 from TigerDirect.  TigerDirect was having a pretty good deal on the player, so I figured why not.
• Lately, there have been two songs that I have been unable to get out of my head.

• • The Filet-o-Fish Song

• • • Even with a DVR, I cannot get this stupid ad jingle out of my head.

• • Shots, LMFAO featuring Lil Jon

• • • Yet again, the music selection at my gym strikes again.  In this case, as I was wrapping up my workout on Thursday morning, this little ditty became permanently ingrained into my brain.  I have no idea who this other rap group is, but I am all too familiar with Lil Jon, thanks to Dave Chappelle. Damn you, Lil Jon!

• Opening Day 2010 for the Baltimore Orioles will soon be upon us.  I have yet to acquire a ticket, but I will begin that search soon enough.
• In the book-reading department, I finished reading The Quants.  Expect a review of that book sometime this week.  Also, I am almost finished reading SuperFreakonomics.

There you have it—a concise update.

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The BDP did somebody wrong, but how much taxpayers have to fork over to make good is a total freakin' secret.

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Our favorite Delegate Jill Carter reports that the House is scheduled to vote today on HB 962, which would make child neglect a felony: "We will vote on this today in the same amended form we passed in 2008. I believe the Senate killed the 2008 bill that passed our committee and the House."... MD is the only state that doesn't currently consider child neglect a felony.Critics say the bill will

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Okay – this was fun. It was a little tough to sew because you can’t use pins on chalkboard fabric, but it worked out well.

It’s so tempting to keep these for myself! (it’s a gift)  The fabric is Michael Miller’s Modern Family. The other side is chalkboard fabric. And there is basic double-wide bias tape sewn onto the edges.

I wanted to mitre the corners of the bias tape, but it was very tough with the chalkboard fabric, so I skipped that and just took the bias tape to the edges.

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If you don’t eat meat, you might want to skip this one.

Over the past week, my coworkers and I made four treks to BBQ Dave’s for lunch. We ate a lot of meat, so much that I didn’t need much dinner. It would have been five days, but the rain started up on Friday. Dave’s primary business is catering, but he serves lunches most days. By lunch, I mean meat. You can find Dave’s truck and trailer-mounted grill/smoker setup parked on the side of the road near the Savage MARC station, on Dorsey Run Road just south of MD-32.

On most weekdays, Dave has a single main item on the menu. There are no sides. There might be drinks, but I didn’t notice anyone buying area. There’s BBQ sauce and seasonings, napkins, utensils, and meat. When he’s out the day’s meat he packs up and leaves, so get there early (as in, before noon).

• Monday: Pulled pork sandwich $6
• Tuesday: Beef brisket $6
• Wednesday: Big boneless pork chops $6
• Thursday: Ribs - Half Rack - $9.50, Full Rack $19
• Friday: Single pieces of Chicken, $1/each. Boneless breast $6.

His menu advertises Half Smokes ($2.25) and Kielbasa ($5) daily, but now and then he’ll mix up the menu a bit. It all depends on weather and availability. If you’re in doubt or really want something particular, give him a call at 240-535-6785 before heading over.

On Monday, there was Pulled Pork and Kielbasa.

It might be served on a sub roll (as many of Dave’s lunches are), but this is not your typical shredded pork sandwich; there were huge chunks of pork that I had to pull at and tear with my teeth. The pork was tender, slightly dry around the edges, but encrusted with spices that stay with you for a while. I liked that it was dry, rather than pre-soaked in BBQ sauce; letting me put on as much or as little BBQ sauce as I wanted. Highly recommended.

On Tuesday, there was Beef Brisket.

One of the office favorites, a mess of sliced beef brisket (just shy of a quarter-inch apiece) infused with a smokey flavor. A little bit of excess fat, but nothing compared to the quantity you get. The sub roll is just a delivery device and mechanism to absorb any grease from the fat; I ate each slice with my hands, dipping in the BBQ sauce. Recommended.

On Wednesday, there were Pork Chops and Smoked Meatballs.

I didn’t have these, but they sit atop the same sized sub rolls. I couldn’t get over how large these things were.

The smoked meatballs were a change from the regular menu, so I figured I’d give ‘em a try. I wasn’t disappointed. While they’re probably just frozen meatballs, they’ve been smoked and were simmering afterward in a rich BBQ sauce made with Dave’s spice rub. Not a traditional BBQ meat per se, but the way I figure a heck of a lot better than a Subway sub, and a nice change from the raw meat lunches of Monday and Tuesday. There must have been twenty meatballs on the roll. I actually managed to eat this one like a sub, except that I still had about ten fallen meatballs in the container when I was through. The sauce completely soaked through the roll, making it all the more delicious. Highly recommended.

On Thursday, there was mixed Chicken (whole breasts, drumsticks, thighs, etc) and Half Smokes.

Having never tried a half smoke, I had to try it. It’s like a hot dog, but bigger, spicier and more coarse (like a sausage). My first thought is that it would be good topped with a sweet chili (similar to how Ben’s Chili Bowl serves it, though I’m not sure if Ben’s chili is sweet). It was good, but not so good that I’d go out of my way for it. But I’d take it over a typical hot dog any day. Worth trying.

The boneless chicken breast had to weigh at least a pound. Encrusted with rubbed seasonings, it was tender and juicy. The smoke flavor wasn’t as persistent as some of the other days, but it was noticeable (especially on the blackened skin). Delicious, but so large that I couldn’t finish it. In retrospect, I should have had Dave butterfly the thing and stick it on a roll; I could have made two sandwiches out of it. Recommended.

Additional pictures of BBQ Dave’s setup can be found on Flickr.

Similar Posts:

• Corky’s Smoke Shack is Open for Business
• Chili Dogs as Comfort Food
• Visuals of Second Chance Saloon
• A Trip to The Bangkok Oriental
• These Lights are Really Blue

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It was finally good to see Brad Bergesen back on the mound Wednesday night. Despite the young hurler being unsatisfied with his outing – where the Orioles won against the Pirates – it was a very good sign to see that he was not hurting at all.

It looks like Brad’s knee and shoulder are fine; therefore, he’s rearing to go and forge ahead into the new season.

With about a few more weeks to go before the Orioles play the Rays to start the 162 game regular season marathon, fans are hoping Bergesen can move on from his injury and get the Orioles closer to respectability.

On the other hand, Millwood’s performance the following night was a little disturbing. While it is a bit early to be concerned with the veteran pitcher, two consecutive bad starts in Florida have raised a few eyebrows.

Milwood gave up five runs in 2 2/3 innings on Thursday in a loss to the Twins and he’s not too worried with the result. Much like after his first start, his struggles may not be a big deal, but if it continues, I’d be tad concerned.

Kevin’s got a track record as a veteran in the regular season and knows his body over the years, so let’s hope the struggles end up to be just talk than reality.

Moving on…

This week, the Oriole Post along with several other prominent bloggers and writers were asked a question by the Hot Stove website about the Orioles. The question this week was centered around Josh Bell and if he’s going to make the Orioles’ 25-man roster out of camp in Florida.

>>> Read More

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Matt Wieters is going to be the cover story for this week's issue of Sports Illustrated.

According to the magazine, Wieters will be the first Oriole to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated in more then 13 years. The story was written by SI Senior Writer, Tom Verducci.

If you'd like to read the article in full, here it is: Link

>>> Read More

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My first foray into gluten-/dairy-/soy-/nut-free cooking did not turn out so well. I shared the allergen-free cake I made with that super-gritty Arrowhead Mills brown rice flour with my family. Nobody liked it, and my family LOVES cake. I also realized that another part of it is that we are just not used to the taste of brown rice flour. I mean, for people who eat things made from wheat flour all the time and aren't used to brown rice flour, it just tastes odd. That's not a fault of Cybele Pascal's recipe at all. It's just the product I purchased. And again, she warned her readers not to use the Arrowhead Mills stuff.

But I persevered, and my next recipe turned out much better, if I do say so myself. My next project took me into the wide, wonderful world of allergen-free brownies.

Yes, I admit: unlike most cakes, which I can rarely stomach from a box, I have never made a brownie from scratch. It's always been a box mix. So this bit of the food ethnography is not only my first allergen-free brownie from scratch, but it's my first brownie from scratch at all.

The dish: Allergen-Free Fudge Brownies

In her Allergen-Free Baker's Handbook, Pascal prefaces this recipe with a confession:

...allergen-free, gluten-free brownies were a bit like the Holy Grail... A chewy, moist brownie with a nice, crusty glossy top remained elusive. Until now, that is. (Pascal, p. 86)

In retrospect, she did exactly that: a perfect brownie for anyone who is allergic to just about anything that would normally go into a brownie, save chocolate and sugar. All the chocolate and sugar are real.

For this dish, the first thing I had to do was buy an edible brown rice flour. So out went any remnants of Arrowhead Mills (I HATE wasting food), and in came a much finer bag of Bob's Red Mill. Just tasting the plain flour by itself I could feel the difference. And I mis-remembered the price, because the bag of Bob's Red Mill was actually a few cents cheaper. But it was also a little smaller. As for Arrowhead Mills: I'm sure they make many good flours, but their brown rice flour is not among them.


Pascal's fudge brownie recipe (it's in the "Cookie" chapter of her handbook) uses most of the ingredients from the yellow cake, so there were very few things I needed to buy new - this alone save me a good bit of money that was not saved the last time. However, other than the flour ($3.50) I ended up completely using all or almost all of the things I bought for the brownies:

• The unsweetened baker's chocolate ($5) was fairly easy to find. I went with a box from Baker's.
  
• The soy-free chocolate chips ($5) were much, much more elusive. Pascal suggests Whole Foods for many ingredients, so I went there for the chips. There were lots of varieties of vegan chocolate chips. But every single one - I mean every single one - used soy as an emulsifier. Dejected, I headed to the Health Concern in Towson. I still had to hunt for them among the many bags of soy-filled chocolate chips, but I did find soy-free chocolate chips made by Enjoy Life. Even better, it said right on the bag that the chips were made in a facility dedicated to allergen-free products. They are a tiny little chocolate chip, and I actually found this chip to be much more intensely chocolaty than others I am used to eating. But again, I had to use almost the whole bag for this recipe.
  
• The one final ingredient I had to use was puréed prunes. Pascal specifically recommends baby food. I've never used baby food in a recipe before, but it isn't that absurd, really. All it is, is the pure, puréed ingredient. I needed about 10 ounces of baby food, and I used Gerber nifty little 2.5 ounce single-serve containers, bundled into packs of two ($1 each, for a total of $2). This is the first time I have eaten anything with the Gerber label on it since the mid 1970's.

I greased an 8" square pan - a slight problem, since the recipe calls for the pan to be 9" square - and set to melting the shortening and baker's chocolate in the microwave, a minute at a time. In went the sugar, baby food and vanilla, which created a sort of fudge that eagerly wrapped itself around my beaters, and hardly stuck to the bowl.


I was almost tempted to just eat it as is, but there were brownies to be made. Whisk together xanthan gum, baking powder and the flour mixture (again, potato starch, tapioca flour and the new brown rice flour) and add to the fudge in batches, and then add those chocolate chips before smoothing out in the pan.

Pascal recommends you leave the brownies in for 55 minutes. Again, this is for a 9" square pan. But I only have 8" square pans, and wasn't going to spend extra money on a larger one. This presented a challenge or two. For one, it made for a brownie that was much thicker than the ones in the photos in Pascal's book. For another, it increased the baking time. After the requisite 55 minutes, I had a pan of half-baked brownie goop. I am the kind of person who has to eat at least one brownie hot out of the oven. Yes, I know they are much softer when you do that, but that's just what I do. But these brownies were much goopier than most are out of the oven. So back in they went. In all, I left them in for an additional 30 minutes, after which they turned out much better when they cooled down.

In the end, I was quite impressed both with myself, for successfully interpreting this recipe and adapting it to a different pan as needed, and with Pascal's recipe, for creating a beautiful brownie that truly mimics a glutenous brownie with butter and milk and eggs (NB: no eggs or Egg Replacer in this recipe). Two things I expected to taste strongly were the brown rice flour, which I hardly noticed, and the baby food prune purée, which I didn't taste at all. It never dawned on me how well prunes blend in with chocolate to make them somehow taste more chocolaty! My family was also much more impressed with these brownies than with that cake. I would make these brownies again, and I can digest gluten like nobody's business.


Next up: at least one more foray into the wide, wonderful world of allergen-free baking, including a most buttery recipe absent of any and all butter or butter substitutes.

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I just want to say that I can't believe that nothing has opened in the former Rocky Run location in Charles Village. Rocky Run was always busy, and it was big - cut a little fat from the operating budget, fix that horrible smell that never got fixed when it changed its name to Bert's, and you could have a cash cow. The Charles Village Pub is always crowded, too much so, and the peanuts and trivia at Rocky Run. There's a sign in the window for a pasta and pizza place, and I'm hoping it's a cool hangout bar as well.

There's also been a sign in the window of the previous Xando's location for a while, that a new Pizza Tavern was coming. I forget the name, but I've googled it, and the only information I found was old. I haven't seen any progress there recently.

So, I'm feeling nostalgic for Rocky Run (where I had several of my best Baltimore memories), and think something should hurry up and establish themselves. I know it's a recession, but still - a college campus area that has one bar? No good pizza places? Come on... these vacant storefronts are just depressing.

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This Sunday, March 14th from 11am to 3pm Red Springs Cafe will partner with the National Organization for the Advancement of Haitians (N.O.A.H.) to host a special fundraising brunch.

N.O.A.H. is sending a group on a mission trip later this month. With the rainy season fast approaching in Haiti, N.O.A.H. has a goal to send 100 tents to those who are in need of shelter as a result of the January 12th earthquake.

$20 brunch tickets will include a buffet style meal including an omelet station, French toast, southwestern home fries, fried apples, fried chicken, and more. The soul food restaurant will donate 25% of each brunch ticket sold directly to N.O.A.H. tent mission. Drink options include $3 bottomless mimosas and $1.50 homemade lemonade and sweet iced tea.

Red Springs Cafe
353 N. Calvert St.
Baltimore, MD 21202.

To make reservations call 410-637-4041

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http://twitpic.com/187p76

Pooh and Tigger caught the nod off of some really bad Baltimore heroin. Christopher Robin said he was just hustlin’. We was not lying.

Last I heard Eeyore was doing 5 – 10 up in the Cut. Shorty got caught with Piglet trying to move some weight in SoWeBo.

Kanga and Roo caught a bullet when they stepped too far from the 100 Acre Wood. They shoulda knew better.

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I’ve seen lots of angles of the harsh yet photogenic surf spots around San Francisco, but nothing like this. I won’t name the place since the photog, Quin O’Hara doesn’t, but of all the shots I’ve seen this one ranks right up there with one self-taken shot by Lewis Samuels at the same spot.

http://quinophoto.blogspot.com/2010/01/one-of-my-favorite-spots.html

But this one is something else, I’ve never seen this perspective. Probably because shooting this place from the water isn’t that fun…Currents, big sharks and big friggin boats anyone?

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Bel Air Tea Party organizer Tony Passaro has issued the following call to picket Congressman Frank Kratovil’s Bel Air office over health care reform:

Frank Kratovil, self styled “Blue Dog Democrat” (a Democrat that purportedly votes Conservative) is in reality a “Yellow Dog” (a fake Conservative that kisses Pelosi’s Butt).

Kratovil is wavering on whether or not he should vote to support Obamacare….

Let’s help him make up his mind………

Come on out with the Bel Air Tea Party Patriots as we picket Frankie’s office on Main Street in downtown Bel Air (cattycorner and south of the Green Turtle) and remind him that his re-election depends on his voting AGAINST Obama’s Health Care Bill.

See you in front of Frankie’s Office on the 16th.
Tuesday, March 16th from 4-6pm.

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I've been intrigued with this web site that tracks Harford County traffic jams since I saw it mentioned in the Aegis last week: http://pwc.harfordpublicsafety.org/publicwebcad/. The Aegis story says it was put together by Harford’s Emergency Operations Division as part of an effort to improve communication between different groups of emergency responders. It uses uses the Computer Aided Dispatch system (CAD) to compile information from Bel Air Police Department, Havre de Grace Police Department, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and the 911 Center.

The first time I tried to view the page, I didn't see any data. But then my neighbor and BANV reader (Thanks Tony!) said he saw a fire at the home of someone he knew on the site, so I checked it out again. It looks like there is data there -- just not all the time. I think the best way to use it is to subscribe to the RSS feed in the upper right hand corner of the page. I put the feed on my iGoogle homepage. That way, when an incident shows up, I see it. It's helpful when I'm heading out the door to take the kids somewhere. I give it a quick look to see if there are any traffic incidents that could hold us up on the way. Another way to track traffic jams in the county is to follow the Harford Traffic Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/harford_traffic. You can subscribe to an RSS feed of that as well so you can view all your Harford Traffic information in the same place if you like.

Click here to see the site: http://pwc.harfordpublicsafety.org/publicwebcad/
Click here to read the Aegis article: http://www.exploreharford.com/news/3694/web-site-tracks-harford-traffic-jams/

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Here is a recent study on the effects of acupuncture from Pubmed.gov

The study shows evidence that acupuncture can be a great therapy for various soft tissue injuries such as tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, sprains, strains, and other various tendonitis.

“Effects of acupuncture and heating on blood volume and oxygen saturation of human Achilles tendon in vivo.”

Eur J Appl Physiol. 2010 Feb 6.

Kubo K, et al. Department of Life Science (Sports Sciences), University of Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan, kubo@idaten.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp..

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of acupuncture (dry needling) and heating (application of hot pack) treatments on the blood volume and oxygen saturation of the human Achilles tendon in vivo. Nine healthy males participated in this study. During the treatments (acupuncture and heating; both 10 min) and recovery period (30 min), the blood volume and oxygen saturation of the Achilles tendon were measured using red laser lights. During needle insertion, the blood volume and oxygen saturation of the tendon increased significantly from the pre-treatment level and these values remained high throughout the 30-min recovery period. During heating treatment, the blood volume and oxygen saturation of the tendon also increased significantly. Although the increased blood volume was not maintained after removal of the hot pack, the oxygen saturation remained significantly elevated throughout the 30-min recovery period. These results suggested that acupuncture and heating treatments enhanced the blood flow in the tendon. The long-lasting increase, especially with acupuncture treatment, in the blood supply to the tendon implies that these treatments may have therapeutic effects on injured tendons.

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Last Saturday I started getting a cold. I knew it was a cold and not just an allergy. I felt miserable, everything ached, I was tired and clammy… I got on with life. On Sunday I got the car detailed (Canton Car Wash), went to the dog park, and then felt even more miserable.

All week I’ve been snuffling, blowing my nose, wanting to fall asleep every time I blinked, aching, miserable inside, and miserable to be around. My coworkers found it funny (and kept away from me). Today (Friday), I’m finally starting to feel better. My voice is still weird and I’m coughing occasionally, but I can breathe and it doesn’t feel like my sinuses are going to evict my eyeballs.

So of course that means I got an email from Kitti around lunchtime, letting me know that he’s now at the achy, dizzy, stuffy, snotty, miserable point.

I am going to have to punch someone in the butt if I get the cold back from him. Dammit, Kitti! Don’t you dare mutate that virus and send it back!

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My family is going to Arizona without me for a while this summer, so without any family obligations I have options of what I can do with them away. I can hang around the house and do some fix-up projects without being disturbed. I can veg out in front of the TV with sole ownership of the remote control for once and without worry about whether what I'm watching is appropriate for children. I can actually sleep in and go to work at a normal hour like a normal person rather than go in before daylight so I can get off in time to get my workout in before picking up the children. Or I can sneak away and run a race somewhere.

Guess what my choice is.

The problem with running races during the summer is that it's during the summer and it's hot. But there's what looks to be a great half marathon on a mostly paved trail along the Kennebec River in Augusta, Maine. I've never been to Maine, I don't know anyone in Maine and I'm not really sure how to get to Maine, but I'm in! The temperature will be in upper 70s to 80s, and I doubt I'll challenge any personal record times of mine, but it's a small race with great views in a state capital city. What's not to love?

Even better, the registration cost, which can run upwards of $75 for high profile, high attended races such as those in the Rock n Roll series of half marathons, is an affordable $35. Hotel rooms in Augusta are cheap. There's nothing there that my kids are going to miss by not going too (aside from nature). There's really no reason why not to do this. So I am.

Now the question is: do I go against my decision to not run the Baltimore 10 Miler this year, even though it'll be a perfect tune-up for the half marathon the week before I run it?

Decisions...

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Apartment 3-G, 3/12/10

Well, it’s been ten whole weeks — which is what, 48 hours of strip time? 72? — since Margo cleansed away the memory of her dead fiance in holy fire. Now it is time for her to find a new mate! This may bruise your bourgeois sense of sentimentality, but Margo has needs — needs for balding, slightly jowly dudes who are well-connected in the art world. Oh, there will be pleasure, Jack, at least for someone.

Spider-Man, 3/12/10

Ha ha, the only way Peter Parker could be a worse negotiator would be if his eyes popped out of his head and made an AH-WOO-GA noise. I look forward to the next two to four weeks of edge-of-your-seat action, in which our hero tries to cash this check without paying excessive fees, despite the fact that he doesn’t have a local bank account.

Mark Trail, 3/12/10

“That Senator Wallace, he’s a real politician! Remember that time when he campaigned for office, got elected, and then served in the Senate? Man, that’s just the sort of thing a politician would do!”

Marmaduke, 3/12/10

Marmaduke will of course serve as his own defense attorney, at the Hague.

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Comments are closed for the giveaway … And the winner is, by random # drawing …

Mama Lusco!

I’ll be emailing you soon, lucky winner.  Thanks everyone!  I have quite a few web sites to check out this weekend!

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With the spring equinox vastly approaching, our moods become a bit lighter and the urge to cleanse our mind, body and spirit increases.  In Chinese medicine, each major organ system represents itself throughout the seasons.  Spring is the time of the liver corresponding to the color green and sour taste, fresh growth and new beginnings.  Think of new shoots of plants sprouting upward toward the sun.  This is the time of cleansing and renewing our lives.  As the last piles of snow begin to melt, now is the perfect time to open the windows and spend more time outside in the fresh air.  The ritual of spring cleaning is not only beneficial for our homes but for our bodies as well.  Try adding in a warm glass of water with ½ lemon first thing in the morning and before bedtime.  It’s a great liver cleanser and may help you lose weight as well.   Happy Spring!    

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Forget the Good Humor truck, there is a grilled Caesar salad and crème brûlée truck coming. Fresh, delicious grilled Caesar salad with your options of plain or adding free-range chicken, shrimp and steak will be offered. The grilled Caesar truck remembers your sweet tooth, something beyond Tastycakes, brilliantly decadent, crème brûlées. My little gourmet heart is pounding!

Read the full story:Mobile grilled Caesar salad and crème brûlée truck

Posted using ShareThis

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As anyone who rides public transit in any city on a daily basis will tell you, part of the bus-or-train-or-whatever riding experience is being asked for money. Depending on where you’re going and what time of day, it can happen fairly frequently. But you get used to it. You develop a way to handle the situation.

Apparently some people handle it better than others. And, yes, this is the part where I pat myself on the back for being the most basic sort of human being and cast aspersions on others. It’s what I do.

This morning, on the Oak Park blue line platform, I was sitting on the bench awaiting the arrival of my vaguely smelly chariot. Staring off into space, just sort of zoning out. To my left, a little further down the platform, a commotion. Voices raised in anger. Two men doing some verbal barking. Racial epithets flew. One of the men was well dressed, well heeled, caucasian, waiting for the train. The other was dingy, dirty, messed hair and cloudy eyed, bruised and scratched, african american. He was visibly upset. And he made straight for me.

Here we go, I thought. I got ready for the ensuing confrontation. Back straight, hands free, all senses on full alert. The man approached. The man composed himself, transformed himself. “Hello, sir. How are you this morning? My name’s Erik, what’s yours? Mike, it’s nice to meet you.” He produced a clipboard. “Could I trouble you for your signature? I’m walking the AIDS walk this weekend. I have AIDS. I plan to walk at least five miles.” Not understanding, I took the clipboard and pen. “Thank you sir. As you can see, most people are pledging at least five dollars.” And then, my foggy brain woke up to the fact that I was being asked for money. That this could be on the level, but could also have been a scam designed to relieve me of five bucks. And so, I declined. Handed the clipboard back. Was polite. Told Erik I didn’t have any cash on me. (A lie.) I expected a repeat of the earlier witnessed unpleasantness. “Well, that’s ok, Mike. Thanks for talking with me. Have yourself a great weekend.” He walked off. Down the platform, he approached a woman. I assume he gave her the same speech. She ignored him, stared straight ahead as if he didn’t exist. The next person’s words were drowned out by the approaching train, but they were short and if I am a lip reading expert (note: I am not) it looked for all the world to me like they said “Get lost.”

For me, what it came down to was that I lied to Erik. I told him I didn’t have money. I did it because I generally don’t give money to people on the street. Because in the uncontrolled world of the modern city, I don’t like to whip out my wallet on the street. Because you never know what’s going to happen. The best way to avoid getting into such situations is to not put yourself into them. I don’t claim to be a good person. I have no moral high ground. We all make our way in the world the best we can, we all compromise.

Everyone makes such choices, and everyone has their own rationale. It’s hard to judge such personal decisions. But here’s what we all need to remember, here’s what disgusted me about my fellow commuters this morning. From what I saw, they didn’t treat Erik like a person. I can’t exactly say what any of the Erik-and-others interactions were like. I can only say that when I spoke to him, he was lucid, polite, and non-intrusive. If he was like that with the others and if they answered him with angry words, dismissal, or just ignored him, then there was some basic aspect of humanity missing this morning at 7:30am on the Oak Park blue line platform.

No, Erik is not entitled to your money. What he is entitled to, what we’re all entitled to, is the expectation that personal interactions will be conducted on the assumption that we are all people. That we all have dignity. Even if one of us is dingy and dirty, with messed hair and cloudy eyes, bruised and scratched.

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Veer is always bringing us cool new merchandise. After all, that is how we discovered Shrapnel Design, who ended up designing our custom portfolio box. Check out Veer’s new seriously cool serif idea below. The tote retails for $22.

ande
www.orange-element.com

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–>

Photo credit: Greg Szeto

Note: Some tracks not posted by artist request.

MP3: 1. Elder Days (3:28)
MP3: 2. Ohhhhh pt 1 (6:45)
MP3: 3. Ohhhhh pt 2 (3:00)
MP3: 4. Sea Stones (4:48)

Total time: 18:02

Lineage:

AKG 414 mid/side pair -> Zoom h4n 48/24 -> Nuendo (stereo encoding, limiting) -> MP3

Recorded by:

David Carter (carteriffic@gmail.com)

Related posts:

1. Livewire: Melissa Moore @ The Windup Space (2010.01.14)
2. Livewire: The Multiphonic Choir @ The Windup Space (2010.01.14)
3. Livewire: Lake Trout @ the Ottobar (2010.01.16)

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Jeff Ginsberg from The Email Guide, did an interview with me at the most recent Marketing Sherpa Email Summit in Miami. I touch on the intersection of social and email, some of the challenges in the industry, and a little bit of the future. Check it out:

Click here to view the embedded video.

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It’s been a long time since SurfRhythm has breathed with life, but many of you continue to visit. Hopefully you have gone back into some of the earlier material, . With 2009 unforgettably in the rear-view mirror, it’s time to throw together some items in no real order or relative importance outside of the SurfRhythm frame.

For starters:

-Perry Hatchett gets sacked as Head Judge of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP). Credited for bringing new judging criteria into the fold, he has no shortage of backing from former pros and current pros alike. Perhaps the ASP didn’t trust Perry to properly administer the new criteria. Or maybe it was a case of nebulous judging decisions thrown down by Hatchett. Whatever the case, no professional sporting event should be satisfied with defending their judges by saying, “In any case, the best surfer usually won.”

-Lewis Samuels shows us all how to follow with great intent, leading many loyal readers from Surfline, where his Power Rankings column whipped the only froth available from US-based surf writers, to PostSurf. upon his

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WBAL.com

The online search giant launched a project called Google Fiber for Communities, where it plans to develop ultra-high speed broadband networks in one or more locations across the United States. Google has said that its new fiber-optic network would deliver Internet speeds “more than 100 times faster” than what most people have access to today.

[Mayor] Rawlings-Blake picked Tom Loveland, chief executive officer of technology company Mind Over Machines, to be the volunteer “Google Czar.” Loveland will be working with the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and Neighborhoods to complete and submit details on Baltimore’s proposal to Google by the March 26 deadline.

Loveland said the Baltimore region has world-class resources in its universities, hospitals and private industries, and “a growing population of entrepreneurs who are trying to make a difference in the community.”

Technology advocates in Baltimore have also launched their own Website – BmoreFiber.com – which is documenting the support for bringing the project to Baltimore. So far, more than 1,600 people have expressed their support through the site, which also features supporting videos by Gov. Martin O’Malley and Dr. Andres Alonso, chief executive officer of Baltimore’s public schools.

Topeka, Kansas changed the city name to Google for the month in an attempt to get Google Fiber. Greenville, South Carolina is planning an event March 20 with what some are calling a “flashmob” with glow sticks spelling out a message for Google that will be photographed from the sky.

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Everyone knows about low-flow showerheads. They’re better for the environment because they use less water. They’re better for your energy bill because your water heater works less. At a glance, it seems like a win-win situation. The problem is that not all low-flow showerheads are built equal.

Delta is back in the spotlight with a new proprietary technology called H2Okinetic. This is a new feature for low-flow showerheads that really gives you a better shower experience.

What is H₂Okinetic Technology?

Delta’s claim is that showerheads equiped with H2Okinetic technology result in a warmer shower with drenching coverage, all while complying with low-flow standards. This is achieved by utilizing larger water droplets that retain heat longer and completely envelope the user.

H2Okinetic technology is built into the showerhead- there’s no additional installation. It doesn’t feature any moving parts, resulting in a very quiet showerhead. All these attributes combine to create a water-saving showerhead that doesn’t feel like one.

Delta recently shipped us the Addison Monitor 17 series to review and I installed it last week. Read on for a comprehensive review and my overall conclussions.

Delta Addison Monitor 17 Showerhead Review (Model T17292-RB)

• The Good: H₂Okinetic technology, excellent water-pressure, good “drenching coverage”.
• The Bad: The Addison retails for $282.75 but is available at greatly discounted prices from other online retailers.
• Overall: This is an exceptional showerhead. Beautiful styling and the 2 gpm flow rate feels more like 3.

Features and Performance

The design was the first thing I noticed about this showerhead. It’s amazing style is inspired by “scallops of a sea shell” and features graceful curves. It’s available in chrome, Aged Pewter, Brilliance® Stainless or Venetian Bronze®.

Water pressure is an important aspect of a good showerhead and the Addison had excellent pressure. Water was delivered in a strong, steady stream.

The controls incorporate a dual function, pressure balance cartridge. One dial controls the temperature while the other adjusts water volume. This is important because it allows you to set the temperature and leave it- no more water temperature guess work.

This showerhead mounts to a standard size shower arm. It’s a water-efficient, H2Okinetic Technology raincan showerhead that outputs 2.0 gpm @ 60 psi- using 36% less water than standard showerheads. It also has ScaldGuard®, which protects against sudden temperature or pressure changes

Price and Where to Buy

This product (Venetian Bronze finish) has a MSRP of $240.00- a fair amount. Fortunately, this same showerhead and controls is available from Amazon at about a 90% discount! Here’s the link:

• Delta Addison Monitor 17 Series Showerhead and Controls

Also, keep in mind that different finishes carry different price tags.

Note: Delta Faucet provided us the Addison Monitor 17 Series as part of a test kit. Our reviews are objective and we are not compensated for a positive review.
Image courtesy of Delta

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From time to time, I lose touch with the people who use my server. People change email addresses, get jobs in faraway cities, move on to new social circles, etc. No worries there. Yet their digital resources remain, taking up disk space and bandwidth that others could be using.

Photo archives are a big culprit, mostly because the Internet doesn’t forget. Just because there aren’t new pictures being uploaded doesn’t mean that the old pictures aren’t being accessed. In many cases, images are hot-linked from various web forum posts. Unfortunately, I have no way of knowing if the user is still active on those forums or if they’re MIA there too.

Some people suggested that I just remove the photos entirely. That results in a lot of broken images, and it doesn’t help me determine if the user is alive or not. I was thinking of using mod_rewrite to redirect requests for images to an image of my choosing, perhaps a graphic with “MIA” in text. Nothing flashy or ugly. Or perhaps just redirect them to this page.

How would you deal with this situation? Tough 404 love? Patience? Technically savvy image manipulation?

Similar Posts:

• They Aren’t Really Arabs, But Who Could Tell?
• NowPublic Trolling Flickr
• Simple Changes to Increase Page Impressions
• Dell BIG-IP PowerEdge
• Saying No to Image-Based Ads

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Hey, everyone! As I may have mentioned here in the past, I’m going to be at the South by Southwest Interactive festival for the next few days (I’m actually typing these very words on a plane winging its way from Baltimore to Austin)! I’ll be on a panel about the future of blogging (if such a thing exists) on Saturday morning, and generally going to dorky panels and bumming around town. So if you want get together and talk about, I dunno, new media, or money-making schemes, or what not, shoot me a line maybe we can meet up! I’ll also be documenting my experiences in a show diary for ITworld.com, if for whatever reason you can’t enough of that sort of thing. I will be doing my darndest to fit my normal comics-mocking into my busy schedule; apologies in advance if posts are late, or if more of them than usual have titles that include the words “quickies” or “one-liners.”

And now, to justify the existence of this post for the vast majority of you don’t care about anything in that last paragraph, here are some awesome vintage They’ll Do It Every Time panels sent in by faithful reader Rachel! (And those of you who have started reading this blog in the last few years, after the death of the feature’s final artist — well, check the archives, for awesomeness.) We begin in 1943, with the feature’s core creative mission — savage complaints about minor inconveniences, often tinged with sexism — was already well established. From a historical/anthropological viewpoint, we also learn that butter used to have its own counter at stores, and it took a long time to buy butter, for some reason?

Also of note is the mysterious Chinese take-out box on the counter labelled “oysters.”

Here’s another one from 1943 that offers a more interesting historical look at World War II than the last six months of 9 Chickweed Lane. Apparently it was common for serving GIs to hear drunken tales of exploits from World War I? Irritating, but the bowler-hatted fellow’s advice to drug the man’s drink seems a bit excessive.

Now let’s jump ahead to 1956. Here we’ve arrived at the two-panel ironic whiplash we know so well from the Scaduto era, though the subject is at this point rather quaint. Also familiar to longtime TDIET will be the “Howcum?” interrogative that starts the thing off.

Here’s another 1956 installment with a lot of features that would be right at home in the panels from the ’00s: the wacky, on-the-nose names (“Pothooks” and “Bigdome”), the generic white-collar office setting (though again the specific gripe is now thoroughly outdated), and, tucked away in the thanks-to note at the lower right, an (imagined?) act of savage violence.

And finally, a top ten list of gripes, again ranging from the familiar (bosses suck!), the familiar but probably no longer considered suitable for the comics (your husband spends the household budget on booze for his buddies!), and the archaic (burning trash befouls your line-dried laundry!). Not sure if the numbers are meant to be tongue-in-cheek; if not, they say a lot about the readership the trip once had — and the everlasting pettiness of the American people.

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It’s fitting that Nick Markakis patrols right field a few steps away from Adam Jones. I see them as two sides of the same valuable coin. Complementary. Different in many significant ways but aligned to the same purpose. Two talented young players that, in their own ways, represent the mixed bag of personalities and approaches necessary in assembling a winning team.

I highly doubt you’ll ever find Nick Markakis on Twitter. I doubt anyone would think of him as a “vocal” leader. I’m always happy to hear what he has to say, but he’s not a great interview. In other words, he’s all baseball. And to the extent that he’s not he’d rather keep it quiet.

No problem. In fact, I love it. We need guys like that every bit as much as we need Jones. Markakis is a great teammate by all accounts and the fact that he makes his yearlong home in Maryland speaks volumes. He’s a credit to the team, and I couldn’t be happier to know that he’ll be here for years to come.

On the field I’m expecting an uptick. There’s been talk around the Orionet about how he had a lot on his mind last year (new contract, new family, new charitable foundation, new home) and how it might have caused him to press and/or scuffle a little bit. That sounds right. It’s a little weird to think of .293 with 18 HR and 101 RBI (along with a .453 SLG and .347 OBP) as a “down” year, but that’s the kind of player he is. He’s better than “better than average”.

Beyond just the expectations, I have one wish: I’d like to see him make the All-Star team. That he’ll deserve it I have no doubt, but deserving it and getting there are entirely separate things. Here’s hoping.

An aside: I’ve been holding on to this giddy YouTube video of his first home run for a few years now, waiting for the right time to post it. Listen closely, because it includes a discussion of underwear.

I was actually at that game but not, alas, with the chicks who filmed the clip.

(photo via Keith Allison)

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WBAL.com

ACORN has voluntarily dropped a lawsuit stemming from a hidden-camera video that showed its employees giving advice to a pair dressed as a pimp and a prostitute.

The multimillion-dollar lawsuit was filed last year in Baltimore. It contends the audio portion of the video was obtained illegally because Maryland law requires the consent of both parties to record private conversations.

ACORN attorney Andrew Freeman says the activist organization is still plotting its legal strategy, and he will likely refile the lawsuit. It was withdrawn before a deadline for serving it on the defendants.

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The last time I posted, I explained what I am no longer doing…

I figured it might me time to talk a little bit about what I am doing, here we go. I recently joined an organization called PS20. PS20 exists to free up churches, non-profits, and small businesses to do what it is that they are called to do by taking accounting off of their plates. In short, we outsource the accounting for churches, non-profits, and small businesses… allowing the leaders of these organizations to pursue what they are called to.

So… many people that know me are scratching their heads and saying “accounting, REALLY??? How are YOU doing accounting?” Well, I am not. The truth is that if I do someone’s books, everyone is going to jail. But… if I sell the services that PS20 offers, clients get a great product, and we all stay out of prison. So, how did I get connected with this bunch?

I initially met Ben Habeck while serving with The Garden. We needed help with our accounting and Ben was more than happy to take it off of our plate. Over the course of the next year I developed an appreciation for what Ben does, but more importantly I was struck by the heart with which he does it. The people that I connected with throughout the company approach this as a ministry… a way to strengthen the church, and allow it to do what the church is called to do.

As Theresa and I began to sense that we were being called elsewhere, it became more and more evident to me that I wanted to do just that… come alongside churches, and help them focus on what they are called to do.

Since leaving The Garden at the end of January, I have been settling into my new role. I have gotten to connect with a bunch of church leaders in the area, and across the country… I get to hear stories about what God is up to all over the country, and I get to resource these leaders and the bodies that they lead. I have been having a blast.

So, outsourced accounting… what is that all about? Basically every church has to do a budget, write checks, pay bills, pay staff, and resource the ministry that they do. Most churches handle all of this financial stuff one of two ways: they either have a volunteer do it, or they pay someone to do it. There are strengths and weaknesses to both models, but what I have come to recognize are two major things. First, Ps20 can provide high quality accounting services for less than most local churches spend on a staff bookkeeper. Second, in most smaller churches, ones without a staff bookkeeper, the person who ultimately does the bookkeeping, bank reconciliations, reporting, donor tracking, and check writing is not doing it because they get excited about accounting, but because they believe in the vision of the church so much that they are willing to do any job that needs doing.

The beauty of what we are doing, in both cases, is that we are freeing up valuable resources for the church to use in a better way. The church that would hire a bookkeeper can invest the cost savings into her ministry budgets. The volunteer who has bought into the vision of the church so much that they will do the books is now freed up to pursue a ministry that is life giving, both to themselves and those they care for.

Granted, I have WAAAAAY over simplified everything, but I am excited to be able to serve churches in this way… This has been fun!

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OVERLAND PARK, KS – Members of the Creative Hands group at Tallgrass Creek in Overland Park have donated more than a dozen hand-crafted red scarves to women living with cardiac disease through WomenHeart of Kansas City, a local support network that is part of the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease.

Several members in the group of 15 needle-workers began knitting and crocheting their scarves just before last Christmas to have them ready to donate to WomenHeart during the annual club and committee fair at the independent living retirement community on Feb. 26.

Creative Hands member Dorcas Doering recalls the group embracing the project after hearing a presentation on heart disease, its prevalence and its impact on women and their families. 

“We’re a group that knits and crochets a lot and we’re not unused to knitting for good causes, so we jumped into this project very excitedly,” Doering said. 

According to Doering and others at Tallgrass Creek, many positive outcomes came from this project, including a hall tree at the group’s display at the fair resplendent with one-of-a-kind scarves and the good feeling among Creative Hands members at being able to bring comfort and support to so many women coping with heart disease with a few clicks of needles and skeins of yarn.

Plus, the group may be growing in number. Doering notes that with so many red scarves being made at the same time, people were taking extra notice of the project. “We’ve really inspired people to get involved,” she said.

Cathy Porter with WomenHeart of Kansas City was equally inspired by the group’s effort. “I was so touched to see the scarves and to meet the women who embraced the project,” she said. “Groups like Creative Hands are so important to the life of this program and the women who are so touched by the gift. Each red scarf is meant to offer comfort, support, and encouragement for women with heart disease and become a part of her healing journey. As a heart survivor, I know what it means to have the support of others and I can’t begin to tell you what these scarves will do for the women who will be receiving them.”

Porter has been a part of WomenHeart in the Kansas City area for three years. The group, which commemorated its three-year anniversary in April, now includes 21 hospitals in the Kansas City area, and WomenHeart volunteers have delivered more than 1,900 HeartScarves gift bags since its inception.

About Tallgrass Creek: More than 200 people live at Tallgrass Creek, an Erickson full-service retirement community that promotes a vibrant lifestyle. Erickson Retirement Communities is one of the leading national developers of full-service retirement communities.  Headquartered near Baltimore, Md., Erickson has built an innovative network of 20 communities that combine a maintenance-free active lifestyle with an ever-expanding host of amenities, social activities, and wellness and medical centers, proven to improve both physical and mental health. Erickson was named by FORTUNE as being one of the Top 100 “2009 Best Companies to Work For®.”

For more information about this story, please contact Lorraine Willmot, public relations manager, 443-604-6337.

###

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HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO — More than two years ago, a group of ROMEOs, short for Retired Old Men Eating Out, from Wind Crest Retirement Community in Highlands Ranch started a monthly tradition of gathering at a pre-determined local restaurant for lunch and a little guy time – no Juliets allowed.

“Only the men can go,” said Herb Schaffer, a Wind Crest resident and defacto leader of ROMEO. “Some of the guys have asked about bringing their wives, but they were voted down. It’s a very democratic process.”

The women did not take the exclusion lightly. They banded together and formed their own club.

“JULIET — Jolly Upbeat Ladies Into Eating Together — is our answer to ROMEO,” Wind Crest resident Grace Breffle said with a laugh. “We even meet on the third Friday of the month like they do.”

ROMEOS
On average, 10 ROMEOs gather at the restaurant of the month to eat and enjoy social conversation.

“We talk about everything — interesting things we’ve seen, movies we watch at Wind Crest, and politics,” said Bill Kamsler, a member of ROMEO almost since its inception. “It keeps us younger and mingling with other people. Last month, there was one person at the restaurant who had been living at Wind Crest for some time, but I don’t remember seeing him. We look forward to it. For me, the most enjoyable part of each lunch is seeing people and the exchange of ideas.”

Schaffer agrees that the camaraderie is enjoyable, but his driving motivation is appetite.

“The best part for me is culinary,” Schaffer said. “I’ve always enjoyed food. My favorite is Asian food, Thai, but it’s nice to be able to get out and try different restaurants. The conversation is also good. We talk about news of the day, Wind Crest activities — where we’re going to eat next.”

JULIETs
Like ROMEO, JULIET is a social club that meets at pre-determined restaurants on the third Friday of each month for good food and socializing.

“The idea is just to go out, have a good time and gossip,” Breffle said. “In order for someone to join a JULIET lunch, they have to belong to Wind Crest’s Woman’s Club or be a guest. We’ve also taken husbands with us on some of the things we’ve done. We’re not too restrictive.”

When it comes to the food, Breffle agrees with Schaffer that it’s key to the group.

“The food is very important,” she said. “We’re fortunate. We have had very good food at all of the meetings so far.”

ROMEO and JULIET?
With the two groups meeting on the same day, the law of averages dictates that occasionally both will decide to meet at the same restaurant.

“That happened one time — last summer,” Breffle said. “We did by accident, but it went over fine. It was a riot, really. They arrived at the restaurant before we did, so they were finished before us. When they were leaving, they came over to serenade us. They sang ‘I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.’ It was the only song they knew.”

With that much fun, Breffle said the JULIETs are tempted to deliberately stage a meeting next time to cross paths with the ROMEOs.

“I’ve thought about arranging the JULIETs at the same restaurant as them,” she said. “The ROMEOs have their sign up sheet in Wind Crest’s library now, so we know where they will be. We could always do that.”

The next meeting for both groups is Friday, March 19. Whether ROMEO and JULIET will meet again at the same restaurant is a fate that William Shakespeare himself could not have foretold.

About Wind Crest: Wind Crest is an Erickson full-service retirement community. Erickson Retirement Communities is one of the leading national developers of full-service retirement communities. Headquartered near Baltimore, Md., Erickson has built an innovative network of communities that combine a maintenance-free, active lifestyle with an ever-expanding host of amenities, social activities, and wellness and medical centers, proven to improve both physical and mental health. FORTUNE named Erickson a Top 100 “2009 Best Companies to Work For®.”

For more information about this story, please contact Jason Connors, public relations manager, at (703) 923-4690.

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