Don’t give me something delicious and then tell me it’s a secret family recipe. Years ago, an acquaintance did that with her pumpkin cream cheese bread, and I took it as a personal challenge. What I discovered after many late nights in the kitchen was that I still had no clue what her recipe was, […]

One could say that Brendon Levengood is getting his kicks out of college. But it’s nothing that he hasn’t put into it. Acquiring a very good college education at a great institution in exchange for kicking a football sounds like a pretty good deal. And it is. But it hasn’t been all perfect holds and […]

There are those who enjoy the Bed & Breakfast experience as a matter of habit and lifestyle, while there are those rather new to this style of accommodations. Luckily, both of these demographics will find plenty to enjoy during their stay at 202 and Cottage, located within the lovely town of Fredericksburg, Texas. This picturesque […]

The cottages at the Bungalow Beach Resort on Anna Maria Island on the west coast of Florida are special for several reasons. Here’s what we found one rainy day on the fabulous Gulf Coast of Florida. Seeking Old Florida It was raining when we made a left turn off Highway 64 in Bradenton and onto […]

When I had my first period, my mother baked me brownies. We didn’t tell the men in my family (my father and brother) or my two much younger sisters. They could tell something was happening from my mom’s excitement, but it was our secret. We repeated the ritual, brownies, secrecy, and all, for both of […]

It’s pizza time! My kids and I love pizza, so I always try to make some healthy alternate out of it. But today I was planning to go for some Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip pizza. I believe this dip is a best way to make your kids eat spinach. One good thing about it […]

The following is a list of Rajon Rondo’s career highs in the NBA for points scored, rebounds, assists, and steals in a game. I’ve also listed how many triple-doubles Rajon Rondo has had in the NBA. All stats are for the regular season, unless otherwise noted. Rajon Rondo was born in Louisville, Kentucky on February […]

Rating: PG-13Length: 110 minutesRelease date: June 16, 1978Directed by: Randal KleiserGenre: Musical, Romance Stars: 3.5 out of 5 Something funny happens when movies tackle the past. As the decades pass, these movies become time capsules of both eras. They celebrate the era in which the story takes place, but at the same time, they showcase […]

I have wrestled with Christianity for many years. At one time I thought I was part of a very small group of people that questioned it. However, once I started the long process of critical thinking on the subject, I found many others just like myself. People who have asked far too many questions, and […]

I have had the HTC Evo 4g for about two years now, and I must say that it is quite awesome. I got it after needing to upgrade from the Net10 service that I previously had, and I figured that it was time to own a smart phone. Though this phone is extremely expensive, I […]

In our small town of Thurso we have one cinema with few films and few times. However when I realized that Wreck it Ralph was on I knew I had to go, being a big Disney fan I was looking forward to seeing this title. So I went to watch it. I was right to […]

If you’ve seen actor Dane DeHaan in any movie, then you know how much he physically resembles Leonardo DiCaprio. But, most of all, he clearly has the dramatic acting skills that DiCaprio had in his early years before superstardom brought more pretentious roles arguably beyond his scope. For DeHaan, he’s already following the usual track […]

If you are thinking about buying a toy for your child, there are thousands of options to choose from. For Christmas time or any other gift giving holiday, the best gift may be a classic Tyco remote controlled car or truck. Tyco has made many different versions of this remote control operated toy throughout the […]

Kids always get excited when Spring season comes. For them, it means they can go outside and play, do their favorite activities and enjoy the sunshine. After the cold Winter, the warmer weather gives them the opportunity to do things outdoor. There are many activities that kids will enjoy doing. Whether you’re thinking of taking […]

If you haven’t figured it out already, I love movies. Movies can be timeless or they can be huge flops that you make fun of. I’m more of a comedy type of person. Not too keen on the chick flicks, love fantasy films, but my go to is comedy films. They say that laughter is […]

While you may recognize some of them, I’d wager that the greater majority of these artists will be completely new to your ears, and if you enjoy the song presented or any of the artist’s other works upon looking into them, make absolutely certain that you purchase their music over iTunes, Amazon, or whatever outlet […]

Why is public speaking so hard and so terrifying? We’ve ventured out in public a long time and we’ve been speaking a long time. We’ve done both as long as we can remember. Intentionally combining the two has been a life long education of occasional hard knocks for me. I fearlessly staged plays when very […]

Since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is best known for his creation of Sherlock Holmes, it is not surprising that some of his tales of horror deal with clever crimes. In The New Catacomb, the murderer leads his victim into a labyrinth and leaves him there. When his body is found, everyone assumes that he wandered […]

Most people hold one job. They get up in the morning, get their coffee, slip into their work attire and head off to the workplace. For those of you who have this routine, consider yourself lucky. While working out of the home seems logical to me, I didn’t choose that route. It was a tough […]

Teddy Getty Gaston, age 100, has lived a courageous, outrageous life. But her spirit, her sense of the absurd, is missing in Alone Together: My Life with J. Paul Getty published September 3 by Ecco Press. She did not need the celebrity walker biographer Digby Diehl to cover her breathe with saran wrap. Alone Together […]

The simple design and overall sturdiness of wooden crates make them a natural for holiday decorating. While normally utilized as an attractive storage option, a little bit of ingenuity can easily turn them into eye catching Christmas displays. Present Stacking Gaily wrapped holiday presents are just too pretty to keep hidden until Christmas morning. After […]

When Sondra Mayer shipped the art I had purchased from her, the piece came so sturdily wrapped, it likely would have survived even Hurricane Sandy. Mayer is a private art dealer just outside of New York City. Over the past thirty years, she has been an artist, printmaker, appraiser, magazine contributor, and associate director of […]

Have you heard about the absurd controversy surrounding the Cheerios commercial with the mixed race family? The mother is white, the father is black, and the child is a beautiful dark skinned girl. For reasons that are still completed unfathomable to me this actually caused drama on the Internet. My family is biracial so I […]

My kids are obsessed with watching Minecraft videos on YouTube and when we had to go on a trip recently they wanted me to find a way to download YouTube movies and put their YouTube videos on their Kindle Fires so they can watch them in the car without any Wi-Fi access on the long […]

COMMENTARY | Although the real estate market is beginning to make a comeback, the mess left behind from the economic recession will undoubtedly take much longer to clean up. Problems associated with foreclosures and short sales continue to mount as new ones continue to pop up. The latest example: A glitch in the credit reporting […]

“For the sense of smell, almost more than any other, has the power to recall memories and it is a pity that we use it so little.” – Rachel Carson Smell is arguably one of our most important senses, allowing us to detect dangerous situations (such as spoiled food, chemicals, even strangers), lending a sense […]

As a vocal proponent of the use of statistics in sports prediction and analysis for all sports — but particularly college basketball, considering the ridiculous number of teams (347) to keep tabs on throughout the year — I’m naturally a loyal supporter of the easily digestible statistical analysis Ken Pomeroy produces for his college basketball […]

On a ship’s cruise in the western islands of Northern Norway, our ship’s captain steered the ship into one of the region’s many fjords. We were thus surrounded on three sides with high mountains, pristine waterfalls, soaring eagles, and other magnificent scenery. Mesmerized by the beauty, it didn’t immediately occur to me to wonder how […]

While Dungeons and Dragons is something of a niche game, one aspect that has spread to mass pop culture is the magic missile, one of the basic attacks used by the wizard. This can largely be attributed to the “I fire my magic missile at the darkness” meme that has gained some notoriety. One of […]

I got the 2013 movie “Adore” because it was based on a novella (The Grandmothers, published in 2003) by the just-deceased (17 November) Nobel Prize in Literature winner Doris Lessing (1919-2013, the prize was awarded in 2007). If I had just stumbled upon it, despite its Australian location, I would have thought it is a […]

This is all about good parents. The husband works hard at a regular job and the woman, as a homemaker, steps out 3-4 times a week to help out at the neighborhood bank or the grocery store. Times are hard and every little bit matters. But happiness is plentiful when most evenings both parents spend […]

Previously published in Bubblews I am sure many of you have seen the medallions which are half black and half white with two dots. The symbol is circular and represents all that the universe which is called the Tao. The colors represent the yin and yang which are polar opposites like hot and cold, night […]

As stated recently, the Big 12 Conference appears happy and is not looking to expand past 10 teams right now. However, since Bob Bowlsby doesn’t seem to be in a rush to change the name of his Heartland-based organization, it appears safe to assume that the Big 12 will eventually get back to at least […]

Researching genealogy fascinates some and bores others. Much like figuring out the connection of who begat whom in the bible, it’s a lengthy process. For every root on the tree, there is a root hair…a distant cousin you’ve never known. As each of the cousins marry, the root system lengthens, connecting us to the world. […]

People like myself that live in Oklahoma City take a lot of pride in our restaurants. Some of the top places for catfish are no exception to this rule. There are actually many people who fish for catfish in the local lakes and rivers here. This allows our restaurants to serve up some fresh first […]

How can this pain turn positive? When does it end? How can I make things better? Can I just be your friend? All these questions I ask myself Day in and out I’m stuck in the Kourt system Wondering if I will ever break even If what I do and say will ever matter I […]

Some NFL teams last week had their playoff hopes dashed from losses last week. Some other teams have nothing to lose except their pride and are starting to cause even more chaos in this years playoff race. My predictions this week will give some of you football fans hope, and it will deny some of […]

My daughters and I recently spent a summer day at the amusement park. Some of the roller coasters were intimidating, I’ll admit, but not nearly as scary as some of the people or the seemingly endless lines. In hindsight, I should have packed my MP3 player to while away the time I spent waiting in […]

The Chicago Bears have been in existence for nearly a century (94 years to be exact) and, as one would expect, there are a plethora of players worthy of consideration for any list of all-time greats. In fact no other NFL franchise has more members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame than the Bears. […]

Please don’t ask me what “Eraserhead” is about because I’m still trying to make sense of it. Even David Lynch refuses to tell anyone what it means as he prefers to let audiences come to their own interpretations. I finally got to see it for the very first time at New Beverly Cinema on May […]

A Rising Star Actor Michael Fassbender is mainly known for his co-starring roles in the sci-fi hits X-Men: First Class and Prometheus and his breakout performances in the indie films Hunger and Shame. Will he be able to attain leading man status with his starring role in Ridley Scott’s The Counselor? Or will it be […]

I’m a self-proclaimed Facebook addict. No, I’m not afraid to admit that; plus they say the first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day soon Facebook offers a Support Group for members, as yet another offering within the plethora of things the site has to […]

I love exploring different movie genres. Over the past ten years or so, an interesting genre has gained attention as more “found” footage has been turned into movies with story lines. Some make sense while others, well, you have to see for yourself. Sometimes I have to remind myself that this is the best the […]

“Skinny Bitch in Love” by Kim Barnouin, is frothy chick-lit with every requirement. Heroine Clementine has a suitably bizarre family, a gay best friend and a fat best friend. Her fat best friend is actually an aspiring actress, hoping to play the Fat Friend in movies. (That means she is probably Los Angeles fat, which […]

Weather records have been kept in Chicago, Illinois since 1872. These are the all-time record hottest and coldest temperatures ever recorded in Chicago since 1872. Chicago’s weather is greatly effected by its location along the shores of Lake Michigan. Cities located next to large bodies of water tend to have more moderate temperatures compared to […]

Much has been made of the Republican Party “autopsy” done in the wake of its poor showing in the 2012 national elections. Some party watchers and activists blamed its nominee, Mitt Romney, for their failure to overcome a beatable President Barack Obama, takeover the Senate, or expand its majority in the House of Representatives. As […]

The cost of prescription drugs prevents many people from taking the medication that they need. For the unemployed, the cost of health insurance is usually too expensive to afford. Health plans can cost thousands of dollars per family, but prescription drugs can be too expensive to buy without insurance. How can you get affordable prescription […]

It wasn’t intentional. Our elder’s home needs some repairs, a few of them quite badly. The original plan had been to get them done while she was recovering in a board and care facility. That didn’t work out, so now we’re getting ready to do them. The problem is that we didn’t consult her. The […]

Everyone knows that French women don’t get fat. On the contrary, people admire French women for their sense of style, confident outlook and downright laissez-faire attitude regarding what they eat. French woman tend to believe in spa treatments, detoxification methods and drinking healing teas. French women also walk to where they are going, in high […]

One of the clinic’s technicians came in this morning and asked me about a mouse she had found in her garden. The poor thing was not moving very rapidly and therefore was very easy to catch. After capturing the mouse she noticed that there was a “worm” underneath the skin, which was nearly as big […]

As a college instructor who teaches online classes, I often see students start out strong, then fall behind after a week or two. Usually it’s not the difficulty of the work, but rather poor time management skills. Once a student starts missing assignments, they add up fast. Then it feels too overwhelming to get caught […]

Transform a small closet quickly, easily, and inexpensively by installing a modular closet system. Such a system works its organizing magic just as well in hall or linen closets. The instructions here show how to organize a 6-foot-wide closet using wire shelves and rods. You will need a day or two to plan, purchase, and […]

A journalist is about as popular as a lawyer or Congressman. People need to blame something or someone, the media and its practitioners-journalists-are usually first targets. But, what can one learn from that reality? Being in a maligned industry and profession teaches people many things. It certainly taught this daily newspaper reporter-turned-freelance writer some things […]

The last two NBA seasons have come to an end with a party on South Beach. The Miami Heat, led by reigning league and Finals MVP LeBron James, have won the NBA championship two years in a row with victories at American Airlines Arena. The two titles have served as justification as for why James […]

So many people own cell phones these days, but many do not know basic etiquette. Learn cell phone etiquette here with a few chosen tips and basic courtesy. Remember, if it feels wrong, it probably is! The people around you take precedence over cell phone calls: Do not answer your cell phone at the cash […]

Fruit is easy, Vegetables are harder Canning Green Beans: Notes to Self 1. It takes hours to process anything in a pressure canner. Heat up, time, pressure cook, cool down. 2. The jars are not covered with water in a pressure canner. 3. Inspect the canner and read it’s direction before use. I still have […]

What is your dream job? Where do you see yourself professionally in 3-5 years? Do you have a plan for your career and what does it entail? What are your strengths; skills, talents and abilities? As a Career Coach, I’ve posed these questions countless times and I’m typically not surprised when clients, friends and relatives […]

Take a clue from the sky overhead and the oceans covering 71 percent of the earth’s surface; blue is the world’s most popular color. Consider branding from the boardroom including IBM (nicknamed Big Blue), Intel, GE, Dell, VISA, Ford, Samsung, and Tiffany & Co. Look at the social media logos of the big three, Facebook, […]

Like many men, I have been a little slow in paying much attention to my health. If it’s not broken, don’t try and fix it kind of attitude! Prostate cancer was brought to my attention when a young professional rugby player joined my local team back in England, Bedford Blues. He was involved in awareness […]

Now the music industry has added yet another major awards program to its growing list that includes not only the Grammys, also the AMAs, VMAs, and BMAs (Billboard Music Awards). Welcome the First Annual YouTube Music Awards with their inaugural announcement of nominees Monday night. Not surprisingly the nominees comprise of Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, […]