Thursday, August 31, 2006
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Genius Junk Food--6 formerly forbidden snacks that are actually good for you
Did you know there are more than 15 types of saturated fat? And despite the fact that they've been damned as a whole by nutrition experts for decades, some of them are actually heart healthy. That's good news, since high-fat foods are often the tastiest.
Full Story--click here
Full Story--click here
What is wrong with Blaine's water?
Updated: 08/29/2006 07:55:15 PM
Imagine wanting to fix yourself a glass of water. You grab your ice cubes and you realize your ice cubes are green. This is happening right now to Blaine residents.
"Yeah, it looks like swamp water. that's what it looks like," said Pat Tysver, of Blaine.
And it's only getting worse.
"All of a sudden, black dirt.... in the bathtub, also in the washer," Tysver said. In fact, it stained her clothes, ruining them. She said she has to turn all of her faucets on and let them run for about 30 seconds before the water clears out.
Another Blaine man's daughter screamed when the water came out darker than this. He thinks he should be reimbursed for paying for the colored water.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS brought the dark-colored water to the city officials to try and get some answers.
It turns out, the city knows about the problem and is trying to fix it.
Blaine city officials tell 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that the color is coming from rust, made of elements, like iron and manganese, that are naturally prevalent in Blaine's aquifers. Iron manganese are not dangerous, officials tell us, and the elements are found in small amounts in most water.
So, the water is safe, but, not appetizing. That's why the city is spending millions on new treatment plants that will make the water go from brown, to clear water, virtually free of iron and manganese.
Imagine wanting to fix yourself a glass of water. You grab your ice cubes and you realize your ice cubes are green. This is happening right now to Blaine residents.
"Yeah, it looks like swamp water. that's what it looks like," said Pat Tysver, of Blaine.
And it's only getting worse.
"All of a sudden, black dirt.... in the bathtub, also in the washer," Tysver said. In fact, it stained her clothes, ruining them. She said she has to turn all of her faucets on and let them run for about 30 seconds before the water clears out.
Another Blaine man's daughter screamed when the water came out darker than this. He thinks he should be reimbursed for paying for the colored water.
5 EYEWITNESS NEWS brought the dark-colored water to the city officials to try and get some answers.
It turns out, the city knows about the problem and is trying to fix it.
Blaine city officials tell 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that the color is coming from rust, made of elements, like iron and manganese, that are naturally prevalent in Blaine's aquifers. Iron manganese are not dangerous, officials tell us, and the elements are found in small amounts in most water.
So, the water is safe, but, not appetizing. That's why the city is spending millions on new treatment plants that will make the water go from brown, to clear water, virtually free of iron and manganese.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Woman Crashes When Teaching Dog to Drive
Aug 28, 8:13 AM (ET)
BEIJING (AP) - A woman in Hohhot, the capital of north China's Inner Mongolia region, crashed her car while giving her dog a driving lesson, the official Xinhua News Agency said Monday.
No injuries were reported although both vehicles were slightly damaged, it said.
The woman, identified only be her surname, Li, said her dog "was fond of crouching on the steering wheel and often watched her drive," according to Xinhua.
"She thought she would let the dog 'have a try' while she operated the accelerator and brake," the report said. "They did not make it far before crashing into an oncoming car."
Xinhua did not say what kind of dog or vehicles were involved but Li paid for repairs.
BEIJING (AP) - A woman in Hohhot, the capital of north China's Inner Mongolia region, crashed her car while giving her dog a driving lesson, the official Xinhua News Agency said Monday.
No injuries were reported although both vehicles were slightly damaged, it said.
The woman, identified only be her surname, Li, said her dog "was fond of crouching on the steering wheel and often watched her drive," according to Xinhua.
"She thought she would let the dog 'have a try' while she operated the accelerator and brake," the report said. "They did not make it far before crashing into an oncoming car."
Xinhua did not say what kind of dog or vehicles were involved but Li paid for repairs.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Compliant and subservient: Jimmy Carter's explosive critique of Tony Blair
By John Preston and Melissa Kite
(Filed: 27/08/2006)
Tony Blair's lack of leadership and timid subservience to George W Bush lie behind the ongoing crisis in Iraq and the worldwide threat of terrorism, according to the former American president Jimmy Carter.
"I have been surprised and extremely disappointed by Tony Blair's behaviour," he told The Sunday Telegraph.
"I think that more than any other person.... in the world the Prime Minister could have had a moderating influence on Washington - and he has not. I really thought that Tony Blair, who I know personally to some degree, would be a constraint on President Bush's policies towards Iraq."
In an exclusive interview, President Carter made it plain that he sees Mr Blair's lack of leadership as being a key factor in the present crisis in Iraq, which followed the 2003 invasion - a pre-emptive move he said he would never have considered himself as president.
Mr Carter also said that the Iraq invasion had subverted the fight against terrorism and instead strengthened al-Qaeda and the recruitment of terrorists.
"In many countries where I meet with leaders and private citizens there is an equating of American policy with Great Britain - with Great Britain obviously playing the lesser role.
"We now have a situation where America is so unpopular overseas that even in countries like Egypt and Jordan our approval ratings are less than five per cent. It's a shameful and pitiful state of affairs and I hold your British Prime Minister to be substantially responsible for being so compliant and subservient."
The outspoken attack by the former Democratic president shows the extent of the alienation between the Labour Party and its traditional Democrat allies in America.
It will embarrass the Prime Minister on his return from his summer family holiday in Barbados and comes as Mr Blair prepares to make a defiant speech warning his party that it risks losing the next election if it does not unite behind him.
As friends of the Prime Minister mounted frenzied briefings in his defence yesterday, the Downing Street spin machine appeared to run out of control. A statement first put out on Friday was reissued, in which Mr Blair made a desperate defence of his Government, insisting that "after nearly a decade in office the PM is convinced that his Government has the experience and authority to meet these challenges".
Later officials at Downing Street admitted that they had simply redated the identical statement before sending it out to the press.
At 81, Mr Carter - the 39th American president, from 1977 to 1981, and the winner of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize - plainly has no intention of sitting on his porch and nodding quietly away as the sun goes down over his peanut farm. He has just published a book, Faith and Freedom, in which he savages the American administration for leading the country into insularity and intolerance.
"We've never before had an administration that would endorse pre-emptive war - that is a basic policy of going to war against another country even though our own security was not directly threatened," he said. In his book, President Carter writes: "I have been sorely tempted to launch a military attack on foreigners."
But had he still been president, he says that he would never have considered invading Iraq in 2003.
"No," he said, "I would never have ordered it. However, I wouldn't have excluded going into Afghanistan, because I think we had to strike at al-Qaeda and its leadership. But then, to a major degree, we abandoned the anti-terrorist effort and went almost unilaterally with Great Britain into Iraq."
This, Mr Carter believes, subverted the effectiveness of anti-terrorist efforts. Far from achieving peace and stability, the result has been a disaster on all fronts. "My own personal opinion is that the Iraqi people are not better off as a result of the invasion and people in America and Great Britain are not safer."
Asked why he thinks Mr Blair has behaved in the way that he has with President Bush's belligerent regime, Mr Carter said he could only put it down to timidity. Yet he confessed that he remains baffled by the apparent contrast between Mr Blair's private remarks and his public utterances.
"I really believe the reports of former leaders who were present in conversations between Blair and Bush that Blair has expressed private opinions contrary to some of the public policies that he has adopted in subservience."
(Filed: 27/08/2006)
Tony Blair's lack of leadership and timid subservience to George W Bush lie behind the ongoing crisis in Iraq and the worldwide threat of terrorism, according to the former American president Jimmy Carter.
"I have been surprised and extremely disappointed by Tony Blair's behaviour," he told The Sunday Telegraph.
"I think that more than any other person.... in the world the Prime Minister could have had a moderating influence on Washington - and he has not. I really thought that Tony Blair, who I know personally to some degree, would be a constraint on President Bush's policies towards Iraq."
In an exclusive interview, President Carter made it plain that he sees Mr Blair's lack of leadership as being a key factor in the present crisis in Iraq, which followed the 2003 invasion - a pre-emptive move he said he would never have considered himself as president.
Mr Carter also said that the Iraq invasion had subverted the fight against terrorism and instead strengthened al-Qaeda and the recruitment of terrorists.
"In many countries where I meet with leaders and private citizens there is an equating of American policy with Great Britain - with Great Britain obviously playing the lesser role.
"We now have a situation where America is so unpopular overseas that even in countries like Egypt and Jordan our approval ratings are less than five per cent. It's a shameful and pitiful state of affairs and I hold your British Prime Minister to be substantially responsible for being so compliant and subservient."
The outspoken attack by the former Democratic president shows the extent of the alienation between the Labour Party and its traditional Democrat allies in America.
It will embarrass the Prime Minister on his return from his summer family holiday in Barbados and comes as Mr Blair prepares to make a defiant speech warning his party that it risks losing the next election if it does not unite behind him.
As friends of the Prime Minister mounted frenzied briefings in his defence yesterday, the Downing Street spin machine appeared to run out of control. A statement first put out on Friday was reissued, in which Mr Blair made a desperate defence of his Government, insisting that "after nearly a decade in office the PM is convinced that his Government has the experience and authority to meet these challenges".
Later officials at Downing Street admitted that they had simply redated the identical statement before sending it out to the press.
At 81, Mr Carter - the 39th American president, from 1977 to 1981, and the winner of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize - plainly has no intention of sitting on his porch and nodding quietly away as the sun goes down over his peanut farm. He has just published a book, Faith and Freedom, in which he savages the American administration for leading the country into insularity and intolerance.
"We've never before had an administration that would endorse pre-emptive war - that is a basic policy of going to war against another country even though our own security was not directly threatened," he said. In his book, President Carter writes: "I have been sorely tempted to launch a military attack on foreigners."
But had he still been president, he says that he would never have considered invading Iraq in 2003.
"No," he said, "I would never have ordered it. However, I wouldn't have excluded going into Afghanistan, because I think we had to strike at al-Qaeda and its leadership. But then, to a major degree, we abandoned the anti-terrorist effort and went almost unilaterally with Great Britain into Iraq."
This, Mr Carter believes, subverted the effectiveness of anti-terrorist efforts. Far from achieving peace and stability, the result has been a disaster on all fronts. "My own personal opinion is that the Iraqi people are not better off as a result of the invasion and people in America and Great Britain are not safer."
Asked why he thinks Mr Blair has behaved in the way that he has with President Bush's belligerent regime, Mr Carter said he could only put it down to timidity. Yet he confessed that he remains baffled by the apparent contrast between Mr Blair's private remarks and his public utterances.
"I really believe the reports of former leaders who were present in conversations between Blair and Bush that Blair has expressed private opinions contrary to some of the public policies that he has adopted in subservience."
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Bridesmaid Was Real Chicken
POSTED: 6:32 am CDT August 21, 2006
BISMARCK, N.D. -- Chicken was a part of the wedding of Terry Morris and Renee Biwer, but it had nothing to do with the menu or the name of a popular dance.
Henrietta the hen was a bridesmaid. She's also the pet of the groom.
Terry Morris has had Henrietta.... for 12 years, ever since the hen came into his wheel alignment shop in Olympia, Wash.
He said he kept the hen a secret from his bride-to-be at first because he didn't want her to think he was crazy. She didn't, and the couple now travel with Henrietta and keep her in hotel rooms with them.
The new Mrs. Morris said Henrietta is part of the family, and "like one of our children," it's important to include her.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
BISMARCK, N.D. -- Chicken was a part of the wedding of Terry Morris and Renee Biwer, but it had nothing to do with the menu or the name of a popular dance.
Henrietta the hen was a bridesmaid. She's also the pet of the groom.
Terry Morris has had Henrietta.... for 12 years, ever since the hen came into his wheel alignment shop in Olympia, Wash.
He said he kept the hen a secret from his bride-to-be at first because he didn't want her to think he was crazy. She didn't, and the couple now travel with Henrietta and keep her in hotel rooms with them.
The new Mrs. Morris said Henrietta is part of the family, and "like one of our children," it's important to include her.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Friday, August 18, 2006
Just-say-no campaign--didn't work
CANTON, Ohio -- An Ohio school board is expanding sex education following the revelation that 13 percent of one high school's female students were pregnant last year.
There were 490 female students at Timken High School in 2005, and.... 65 were pregnant, WEWS-TV in Cleveland reported.
The new Canton school board program promotes abstinence but also will teach students who decide to have sex how to do so responsibly, bringing the city school district's health curriculum in line with national standards.
The board made the changes in a vote at its regular meeting Monday.
The Rev. David Morgan served on a committee that developed the lesson plans. He said the new curriculum moves beyond the "Just Say No" approach.
Health textbooks, older than some students, will be replaced.
"If we had math books from 1988, reading books from 1988, as a parent, I would be furious," said Patty Rafailedes, a physical education teacher.
The Ohio Department of Education doesn't require schools to provide sex education, particularly when it comes to using contraceptives. The state curriculum calls for venereal disease education, which often is taught along with nutrition and the effects of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
"Sex is more complex than the information about drugs and alcohol," said Bill Albert, a spokesman for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. "It is not a not-now, not-ever message."
According to the Canton Health Department, statistics through July 2005 showed that 104 of the 586 babies born to Canton residents in Aultman Hospital and Mercy Medical Center had mothers between the ages of 11 and 19.
This, from the "can't make it up" file: the school's team nickname is (drum roll)......Trojans! (BBlebowski)
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.
There were 490 female students at Timken High School in 2005, and.... 65 were pregnant, WEWS-TV in Cleveland reported.
The new Canton school board program promotes abstinence but also will teach students who decide to have sex how to do so responsibly, bringing the city school district's health curriculum in line with national standards.
The board made the changes in a vote at its regular meeting Monday.
The Rev. David Morgan served on a committee that developed the lesson plans. He said the new curriculum moves beyond the "Just Say No" approach.
Health textbooks, older than some students, will be replaced.
"If we had math books from 1988, reading books from 1988, as a parent, I would be furious," said Patty Rafailedes, a physical education teacher.
The Ohio Department of Education doesn't require schools to provide sex education, particularly when it comes to using contraceptives. The state curriculum calls for venereal disease education, which often is taught along with nutrition and the effects of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
"Sex is more complex than the information about drugs and alcohol," said Bill Albert, a spokesman for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. "It is not a not-now, not-ever message."
According to the Canton Health Department, statistics through July 2005 showed that 104 of the 586 babies born to Canton residents in Aultman Hospital and Mercy Medical Center had mothers between the ages of 11 and 19.
This, from the "can't make it up" file: the school's team nickname is (drum roll)......Trojans! (BBlebowski)
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.
Lost at sea since November
MEXICO CITY -- Lost at sea since November, the three fishermen from a tiny hamlet outside San Blas had been given up for dead long ago.On Tuesday, news of a miracle came from 5,000 miles away. After more than eight months adrift, Ordonez and his companions had been found alive north of Baker Island in the central Pacific.
Click here for full article
Click here for full article
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Northwest advised workers to see treasure in trash
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bankrupt Northwest Airlines Corp. advised workers to fish in the trash for things they like or take their dates for a walk in the woods in a move to help workers facing the ax to save money.
The No. 5 U.S. carrier, which has slashed most employees' pay and.... is looking to cut jobs as it prepares to exit bankruptcy, put the tips in a booklet handed out to about 50 workers and posted for a time on its employee Web site. The section, entitled "101 ways to save money", does not feature in new versions of the booklet or the Web site. Northwest spokesman Roman Blahoski said some employees who received the handbook had taken issue with a couple of the items. "We agree that some of these suggestions and tips ... were a bit insensitive," Blahoski told Reuters.
The four-page booklet, "Preparing for a Financial Setback" contained suggestions such as shopping in thrift stores, taking "a date for a walk along the beach or in the woods" and not being "shy about pulling something you like out of the trash. "The booklet was part of a 150-page packet to ground workers, such as baggage handlers, whose jobs will likely be cut after their union agreed to allow the airline to outsource some of their work, Blahoski said.
Prepared with the help of an outside company, the booklet encourages employees to manage their money better and prepare for financial emergencies." If you have saved some money, pat yourself on the back -- you deserve it," the booklet reads. "Take out only what you need and spend prudently."
The No. 5 U.S. carrier, which has slashed most employees' pay and.... is looking to cut jobs as it prepares to exit bankruptcy, put the tips in a booklet handed out to about 50 workers and posted for a time on its employee Web site. The section, entitled "101 ways to save money", does not feature in new versions of the booklet or the Web site. Northwest spokesman Roman Blahoski said some employees who received the handbook had taken issue with a couple of the items. "We agree that some of these suggestions and tips ... were a bit insensitive," Blahoski told Reuters.
The four-page booklet, "Preparing for a Financial Setback" contained suggestions such as shopping in thrift stores, taking "a date for a walk along the beach or in the woods" and not being "shy about pulling something you like out of the trash. "The booklet was part of a 150-page packet to ground workers, such as baggage handlers, whose jobs will likely be cut after their union agreed to allow the airline to outsource some of their work, Blahoski said.
Prepared with the help of an outside company, the booklet encourages employees to manage their money better and prepare for financial emergencies." If you have saved some money, pat yourself on the back -- you deserve it," the booklet reads. "Take out only what you need and spend prudently."
Passport photograph of girl's bare shoulders rejected 'as it may offend
By Paul Stokes
(Filed: 14/08/2006)
A five-year-old girl's passport application was rejected because her photograph showed her bare shoulders.
Hannah Edwards
The contentious passport photo
Hannah Edwards's mother, Jane, was told that the exposed skin might be considered offensive in a Muslim country.
The photograph was taken at a photo-booth at a local post office for a family trip to the south of France.
Because of the way the camera....Click here for full article
(Filed: 14/08/2006)
A five-year-old girl's passport application was rejected because her photograph showed her bare shoulders.
Hannah Edwards
The contentious passport photo
Hannah Edwards's mother, Jane, was told that the exposed skin might be considered offensive in a Muslim country.
The photograph was taken at a photo-booth at a local post office for a family trip to the south of France.
Because of the way the camera....Click here for full article
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
ABC News: EXCLUSIVE: Clinton on Politics of Terror
Aug. 15, 2006. TORONTO — Taking a break from his work at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto on Monday, former President Clinton warned Republicans not to politicize the London terror arrests, slammed Sen. Joe Lieberman, whom he campaigned for just a couple weeks ago, and tackled some of the controversies surrounding his work to fight AIDS.
ABC News: EXCLUSIVE: Click here for full article
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Monday, August 14, 2006
9-1-1 Calls
*Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is your emergency?
Caller: I heard what sounded like gunshots coming from the brown house on the corner.
Dispatcher: Do you have an address?
Caller: No, I have on a blouse and slacks, why?
*Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is your emergency?
Caller : Someone broke into my house and took a bite out of my ham and cheese sandwich.
Dispatcher: Excuse me?
Caller: I made a ham and cheese sandwich and left it on the.... kitchen table and when I came back from the bathroom, someone had taken a bite out of it.
Dispatcher: Was anything else taken?
Caller: No, but this has happened to me before and I'm sick and tired of it!
*Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is the nature of your emergency?
Caller: I'm trying to reach nine eleven but my phone doesn't have an eleven on it.
Dispatcher: This is nine eleven.
Caller: I thought you just said it was nine-one-one
> Dispatcher: Yes, ma'am nine-one-one and nine-eleven are the same thing.
Caller: Honey, I may be old, but I'm not stupid.
*Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What's the nature of your emergency?
Caller: My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart.
Dispatcher: Is this her first child?
Caller: No, you idiot! This is her husband!
And the winner is..........
*Dispatcher: 9-1-1
Caller: Yeah, I'm having trouble breathing. I'm all out of breath.
Darn....I think I'm going to pass out.
Dispatcher: Sir, where are you calling from?
Caller: I'm at a pay phone. North and Foster.
Dispatcher: Sir, an ambulance is on the way. Are you an asthmatic?
Caller: No
Dispatcher: What were you doing before you started having trouble
breathing?
Caller: Running from the Police.
Caller: I heard what sounded like gunshots coming from the brown house on the corner.
Dispatcher: Do you have an address?
Caller: No, I have on a blouse and slacks, why?
*Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is your emergency?
Caller : Someone broke into my house and took a bite out of my ham and cheese sandwich.
Dispatcher: Excuse me?
Caller: I made a ham and cheese sandwich and left it on the.... kitchen table and when I came back from the bathroom, someone had taken a bite out of it.
Dispatcher: Was anything else taken?
Caller: No, but this has happened to me before and I'm sick and tired of it!
*Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is the nature of your emergency?
Caller: I'm trying to reach nine eleven but my phone doesn't have an eleven on it.
Dispatcher: This is nine eleven.
Caller: I thought you just said it was nine-one-one
> Dispatcher: Yes, ma'am nine-one-one and nine-eleven are the same thing.
Caller: Honey, I may be old, but I'm not stupid.
*Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What's the nature of your emergency?
Caller: My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart.
Dispatcher: Is this her first child?
Caller: No, you idiot! This is her husband!
And the winner is..........
*Dispatcher: 9-1-1
Caller: Yeah, I'm having trouble breathing. I'm all out of breath.
Darn....I think I'm going to pass out.
Dispatcher: Sir, where are you calling from?
Caller: I'm at a pay phone. North and Foster.
Dispatcher: Sir, an ambulance is on the way. Are you an asthmatic?
Caller: No
Dispatcher: What were you doing before you started having trouble
breathing?
Caller: Running from the Police.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
I love these things
Tips & Hints
* A copper scouring pad in your humidifier will prevent lime buildup.
* A tsp. or 2 of vinegar can help keep eggs from cracking while boiling.
* Add 1/4 tsp. Soda to Cranberries while cooking them and they will not require as much sugar.
* Add 1/4 tsp. of baking powder per quart of potatoes while mashing them and they will be.... fluffy, smooth, and more tasty.
* Add about 7 drops of lemon juice to 2 cups of whipping cream. It will make the cream beat up firm in about half the time.
* Adding a pinch of sugar to the water when boiling corn on the cob helps bring out the corn's natural sweetness.
* Adding lemon juice to gravy that is too greasy, will make the grease disappear and add flavor to your gravy. A small amount of baking soda will also work.
* Bring Lemons to room temperature and roll them under your palm on top of the kitchen counter before squeezing to get the most juice from them.
* Brushing beaten egg whites over a pie crust before baking gives it a beautiful glossy finish.
* Chunks of charcoal placed in the refrigerator will help absorb any bad odors.
* Cindy writes that when she makes deviled eggs - she hates a mess, so she puts the cooled hard boiled egg yolks, mayo, mustard, salt, pepper and onion into a ziplock plastic bag. Mush it altogether in ther, snip the corner of the bag and fill your egg white halves. Then just pitch the bag. Hope you like this idea - it works for her!
* Cream that is whipped ahead of time, will not separate if you add a touch of dissolved unflavored gelatin (1/4 tsp. per cup of cream).
* Do Not use Iodized Salt in making pickles, it causes them to become soft.
* During winter months when the kitchen is cold, it can be a slow process or nearly impossible to get yeast breads to rise. Try placing the dough in an oven-safe container and setting it in the oven on warm (200 degrees F) for 2-3 minutes. Don't let it bake, just enough to warm the bowl. It can really speed the rising process.
* Eleanor says she likes to make up a pan of buttered bread crumbs and store in refrigerator (you guessed it) in a glass jar. That way she uses up all the old bread plus she doesn't have to stop to make buttered crumbs whenever she needs them. She uses these crumbs for toppings on many different dishes.
* Eleanor suggests storing your sour cream or cottage cheese upside down in your refrigerator to make it keep longer!
* For a new taste in potato salad dressing, use onion soup mix instead of fresh onions or chives. Two Tablespoons are enough to season a family-sized salad. It's easy and saves the tears and fuss of chopping onions.
* For burnt-on food in a skillet, just add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover the bottom of the skillet, bring to a boil on top of the stove for easier cleaning.
* For hardened brown sugar: try keeping a bag of prunes with the top cut off laying on top of your container of brown sugar. The brown sugar never gets hard and when the prunes start drying out, just put them in a saucepan and cook for whatever time it takes for them to soften. Having been in with the sugar they are usually sweet enough without adding more sugar.
* For the burnt-on food in skillet shake a little baking soda in along with the soap and water.
* Gina writes to suggest - when hard boiling eggs, boil the water and slowly put the eggs into the water so they dont crack or break open, let the water come to a harsh boil and then put the cover onto the pot. Take the pot off the heat and let the eggs sit in the water for 20-30 minutes and the eggs should be hard-boiled!
* Green peppers may be frozen without blanching in an airtight container for later use in hot dishes or casseroles.
* Have just a small amount of leftover wine? Don't throw it away, try freezing it into cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
* If the refrigerator is stale or full of bad odors, crumble up newspapers and fill the fridge. Let it run for a day or two. Remove the newspapers and discard them. You may need to repeat this procedure, but it does work very well. It also works on a stale cooler.
* If you accidently over-salt a recipe while its still cooking, put in a peeled potato to help absorb some of the excess salt.
* Jennifer says that if you get gum in your hair try freezing it with an ice cube. It should glide right off!
* Jennifer suggests storing your brown sugar in plastic containers such as a coffee creamer container and says you'll never have to soften your brown sugar again!
* Jennifer suggests that if you want extra fudgy brownies, try adding 1/4 cup corn syrup!
* One reader said her all-time favorite hint is to store things in glass jars. When she buys buttermilk, she brings it home and puts it in a glass jar. It keeps for months that way. In fact any leftovers she has she keeps in a glass jar. She suggested storing onions in a glass jar leaving the root intact and they should keep for weeks. Another use is to clean and skin grapefruit and keep the sections in a glass jar. They keep for weeks and you don't have the mess each time you want some.
* Placing a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar helps to soften it again.
* Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice it and rub the raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.
* Put a little butter in a kettle of potatoes to keep them from boiling over.
* Remove the burnt taste from scorched milk by putting the pan in cold water and adding a pinch of salt to the milk.
* Salted cold water will cool a hot dish more rapidly than plain cold water.
* Spraying tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before putting in a tomato-based sauce will help prevent stains to the tupperware.
* Steve writes to us and suggests...for a great way to proof dough take a large bowl of water and put it in the microwave for a few minutes until the oven gets warm and moist. Take the bowl out and put in the dough. Its a nice warm, moist environment. You can leave the dough in there for however long you need to while it rises!
* Stuffing a miniature marshmellow into the bottom of a sugar cone will help prevent ice cream drips.
* To allow salt to pour easily, put a few uncooked grains of rice in your shakers to absorb moisture.
* To clean a thermos bottle, fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets and let soak for an hour or more, if needed.
* To cook hamburgers in a hurry, poke a hole in the center when shaping. The centers will cook more quickly and when the hamburgers are done, the holes are gone.
* To cut very fresh bread and cake without crumbling, use a thin-bladed knife heated in hot water and then dried.
* To determine whether an egg is fresh or not, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh. If it rises to the surface, throw it away.
* To freshen a microwave, combine 1 cup water, the juice of 1/2 lemon and the rind, and 5-6 cloves. Microwave on high for 5 minutes.
* To help prevent hard-boiled eggs from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling them.
* To keep Confectioner's sugar frostings moist, add a dash of baking powder.
* To keep your potatoes from budding out, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
* To maintain the flavor of freshly ground coffee, store it in the refrigerator.
* To prevent Rice Krispie bars from sticking to your fingers, run your hands under cold water before pressing them into the pan.
* To remove a stain from inside a glass vase, fill it with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets.
* To remove gum from hair, rub it with peanut butter or cooking oil. This will release it.
* To remove paint from hands, use lard.
* To toast blanched almonds, arrange the nuts in one layer on a shallow pan and bake in a moderate oven until golden, stirring often.
* To wipe crayon marks off a wall, apply toothpaste and let set about 15 minutes, and wipe off with a damp cloth.
* Try freezing half and half or other cream in an ice cube tray and then store the cubes in a Ziploc bag in the freezer. Then when you make something like a soup or sauce, you can just take out a cube or two. This works great if you live alone too and never need a big batch of anything. These cubes can be used to add flavor to anything!
* Try using milk instead of water when making pie crusts to make a more tender crust and to have it brown nicely.
* Use a meat baster to squeeze your pancake batter onto the hot griddle for perfect-shaped pancakes every time.
* Wash hands in cold water and rub with salt to get rid of onion odor.
* When instructed in a cake recipe to flour the baking pan, try using a little of the dry cake mix instead of flour for a no-white-mess on the outside of the cake.
* Wrapping celery in aluminum foil when storing it in the refrigerator will help to keep it fresher for weeks.
* A copper scouring pad in your humidifier will prevent lime buildup.
* A tsp. or 2 of vinegar can help keep eggs from cracking while boiling.
* Add 1/4 tsp. Soda to Cranberries while cooking them and they will not require as much sugar.
* Add 1/4 tsp. of baking powder per quart of potatoes while mashing them and they will be.... fluffy, smooth, and more tasty.
* Add about 7 drops of lemon juice to 2 cups of whipping cream. It will make the cream beat up firm in about half the time.
* Adding a pinch of sugar to the water when boiling corn on the cob helps bring out the corn's natural sweetness.
* Adding lemon juice to gravy that is too greasy, will make the grease disappear and add flavor to your gravy. A small amount of baking soda will also work.
* Bring Lemons to room temperature and roll them under your palm on top of the kitchen counter before squeezing to get the most juice from them.
* Brushing beaten egg whites over a pie crust before baking gives it a beautiful glossy finish.
* Chunks of charcoal placed in the refrigerator will help absorb any bad odors.
* Cindy writes that when she makes deviled eggs - she hates a mess, so she puts the cooled hard boiled egg yolks, mayo, mustard, salt, pepper and onion into a ziplock plastic bag. Mush it altogether in ther, snip the corner of the bag and fill your egg white halves. Then just pitch the bag. Hope you like this idea - it works for her!
* Cream that is whipped ahead of time, will not separate if you add a touch of dissolved unflavored gelatin (1/4 tsp. per cup of cream).
* Do Not use Iodized Salt in making pickles, it causes them to become soft.
* During winter months when the kitchen is cold, it can be a slow process or nearly impossible to get yeast breads to rise. Try placing the dough in an oven-safe container and setting it in the oven on warm (200 degrees F) for 2-3 minutes. Don't let it bake, just enough to warm the bowl. It can really speed the rising process.
* Eleanor says she likes to make up a pan of buttered bread crumbs and store in refrigerator (you guessed it) in a glass jar. That way she uses up all the old bread plus she doesn't have to stop to make buttered crumbs whenever she needs them. She uses these crumbs for toppings on many different dishes.
* Eleanor suggests storing your sour cream or cottage cheese upside down in your refrigerator to make it keep longer!
* For a new taste in potato salad dressing, use onion soup mix instead of fresh onions or chives. Two Tablespoons are enough to season a family-sized salad. It's easy and saves the tears and fuss of chopping onions.
* For burnt-on food in a skillet, just add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover the bottom of the skillet, bring to a boil on top of the stove for easier cleaning.
* For hardened brown sugar: try keeping a bag of prunes with the top cut off laying on top of your container of brown sugar. The brown sugar never gets hard and when the prunes start drying out, just put them in a saucepan and cook for whatever time it takes for them to soften. Having been in with the sugar they are usually sweet enough without adding more sugar.
* For the burnt-on food in skillet shake a little baking soda in along with the soap and water.
* Gina writes to suggest - when hard boiling eggs, boil the water and slowly put the eggs into the water so they dont crack or break open, let the water come to a harsh boil and then put the cover onto the pot. Take the pot off the heat and let the eggs sit in the water for 20-30 minutes and the eggs should be hard-boiled!
* Green peppers may be frozen without blanching in an airtight container for later use in hot dishes or casseroles.
* Have just a small amount of leftover wine? Don't throw it away, try freezing it into cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
* If the refrigerator is stale or full of bad odors, crumble up newspapers and fill the fridge. Let it run for a day or two. Remove the newspapers and discard them. You may need to repeat this procedure, but it does work very well. It also works on a stale cooler.
* If you accidently over-salt a recipe while its still cooking, put in a peeled potato to help absorb some of the excess salt.
* Jennifer says that if you get gum in your hair try freezing it with an ice cube. It should glide right off!
* Jennifer suggests storing your brown sugar in plastic containers such as a coffee creamer container and says you'll never have to soften your brown sugar again!
* Jennifer suggests that if you want extra fudgy brownies, try adding 1/4 cup corn syrup!
* One reader said her all-time favorite hint is to store things in glass jars. When she buys buttermilk, she brings it home and puts it in a glass jar. It keeps for months that way. In fact any leftovers she has she keeps in a glass jar. She suggested storing onions in a glass jar leaving the root intact and they should keep for weeks. Another use is to clean and skin grapefruit and keep the sections in a glass jar. They keep for weeks and you don't have the mess each time you want some.
* Placing a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar helps to soften it again.
* Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice it and rub the raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.
* Put a little butter in a kettle of potatoes to keep them from boiling over.
* Remove the burnt taste from scorched milk by putting the pan in cold water and adding a pinch of salt to the milk.
* Salted cold water will cool a hot dish more rapidly than plain cold water.
* Spraying tupperware with nonstick cooking spray before putting in a tomato-based sauce will help prevent stains to the tupperware.
* Steve writes to us and suggests...for a great way to proof dough take a large bowl of water and put it in the microwave for a few minutes until the oven gets warm and moist. Take the bowl out and put in the dough. Its a nice warm, moist environment. You can leave the dough in there for however long you need to while it rises!
* Stuffing a miniature marshmellow into the bottom of a sugar cone will help prevent ice cream drips.
* To allow salt to pour easily, put a few uncooked grains of rice in your shakers to absorb moisture.
* To clean a thermos bottle, fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets and let soak for an hour or more, if needed.
* To cook hamburgers in a hurry, poke a hole in the center when shaping. The centers will cook more quickly and when the hamburgers are done, the holes are gone.
* To cut very fresh bread and cake without crumbling, use a thin-bladed knife heated in hot water and then dried.
* To determine whether an egg is fresh or not, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh. If it rises to the surface, throw it away.
* To freshen a microwave, combine 1 cup water, the juice of 1/2 lemon and the rind, and 5-6 cloves. Microwave on high for 5 minutes.
* To help prevent hard-boiled eggs from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling them.
* To keep Confectioner's sugar frostings moist, add a dash of baking powder.
* To keep your potatoes from budding out, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
* To maintain the flavor of freshly ground coffee, store it in the refrigerator.
* To prevent Rice Krispie bars from sticking to your fingers, run your hands under cold water before pressing them into the pan.
* To remove a stain from inside a glass vase, fill it with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets.
* To remove gum from hair, rub it with peanut butter or cooking oil. This will release it.
* To remove paint from hands, use lard.
* To toast blanched almonds, arrange the nuts in one layer on a shallow pan and bake in a moderate oven until golden, stirring often.
* To wipe crayon marks off a wall, apply toothpaste and let set about 15 minutes, and wipe off with a damp cloth.
* Try freezing half and half or other cream in an ice cube tray and then store the cubes in a Ziploc bag in the freezer. Then when you make something like a soup or sauce, you can just take out a cube or two. This works great if you live alone too and never need a big batch of anything. These cubes can be used to add flavor to anything!
* Try using milk instead of water when making pie crusts to make a more tender crust and to have it brown nicely.
* Use a meat baster to squeeze your pancake batter onto the hot griddle for perfect-shaped pancakes every time.
* Wash hands in cold water and rub with salt to get rid of onion odor.
* When instructed in a cake recipe to flour the baking pan, try using a little of the dry cake mix instead of flour for a no-white-mess on the outside of the cake.
* Wrapping celery in aluminum foil when storing it in the refrigerator will help to keep it fresher for weeks.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Monday, August 07, 2006
Why Americans Should Never Be Allowed To Travel
The following are actual stories provided by travel agents:
I had someone ask for an aisle seats so that his or her hair wouldn't get messed up by being near the window.
A client called in inquiring about a package to Hawaii. After going over all the cost info, she asked, "Would it be cheaper to fly to California and then take the train to Hawaii?"
I got a call from a woman who wanted to go to Capetown. I started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information when she interrupted me with "I'm not trying to make you look stupid, but Capetown is in Massachusetts. "Without trying to make her look like the stupid one, I calmly explained, "Capecod is in Massachusetts, Capetown is in Africa." Her response ... click.
A man called, furious about a Florida package.... we did. I asked what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando. He said he was expecting an ocean-view room. I tried to explain that is not possible, since Orlando is in the middle of the state. He replied, "Don't lie to me. I looked on the map and Florida is a very thin state."
I got a call from a man who asked, "Is it possible to see England from Canada?" I said, "No." He said "But they look so close on the map."
Another man called and asked if he could rent a car in Dallas. When I pulled up the reservation, I noticed he had a 1-hour lay over in Dallas. When I asked him why he wanted to rent a car, he said, "I heard Dallas was a big airport, and I need a car to drive between the gates to save time."
A nice lady just called. She needed to know how it was possible that her flight from Detroit left at 8:20am and got into Chicago at 8:33am. I tried to explain that Michigan was an hour ahead of llinois, but she could not understand the concept of time zones. Finally I told her the plane went very fast, and she bought that!
A woman called and asked, "Do airlines put your physical description on your bag so they know who's luggage belongs to who?" I said, "No, why do you ask?" She replied, "Well, when I checked in with the airline, they put a tag on my luggage that said FAT, and I'm overweight, is there any connection?" After putting her on hold for a minute while I "looked into it" (I was actually laughing) I came back and explained the city code for Fresno is FAT, and that the airline was just putting a destination tag on her luggage.
I just got off the phone with a man who asked, "How do I know which plane to get on?" I asked him what exactly he meant, which he replied, "I was told my flight number is 823, but none of these darn planes have numbers on them."
A woman called and said, "I need to fly to Pepsi-cola on one of those computer planes." I asked if she meant to fly to Pensacola on a commuter plane. She said, "Yeah, whatever."
A businessman called and had a question about the documents he needed in order to fly to China. After a lengthy discussion about passports, I reminded him he needed a visa. "Oh no I don't, I've been to China many times and never had to have one of those." I double checked and sure enough, his stay required a visa. When I told him this he said, "Look, I've been to China four times and every time they have accepted my American Express."
A woman called to make reservations, "I want to go from Chicago to Hippopotamus, New York" The agent was at a loss for words. Finally, the agent: "Are you sure that's the name of the town?" "Yes, what flights do you have?" replied the customer. After some searching, the agent came back with, "I'm sorry, ma'am, I've looked up every airport code in the country and can't find a Hippopotamus anywhere." The customer retorted, "Oh don't be silly. Everyone knows where it is. Check your map!" The agent scoured a map of the state of New York and finally offered, "You don't mean Buffalo, do you?" "That's it! I knew it was a big animal!"
I had someone ask for an aisle seats so that his or her hair wouldn't get messed up by being near the window.
A client called in inquiring about a package to Hawaii. After going over all the cost info, she asked, "Would it be cheaper to fly to California and then take the train to Hawaii?"
I got a call from a woman who wanted to go to Capetown. I started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information when she interrupted me with "I'm not trying to make you look stupid, but Capetown is in Massachusetts. "Without trying to make her look like the stupid one, I calmly explained, "Capecod is in Massachusetts, Capetown is in Africa." Her response ... click.
A man called, furious about a Florida package.... we did. I asked what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando. He said he was expecting an ocean-view room. I tried to explain that is not possible, since Orlando is in the middle of the state. He replied, "Don't lie to me. I looked on the map and Florida is a very thin state."
I got a call from a man who asked, "Is it possible to see England from Canada?" I said, "No." He said "But they look so close on the map."
Another man called and asked if he could rent a car in Dallas. When I pulled up the reservation, I noticed he had a 1-hour lay over in Dallas. When I asked him why he wanted to rent a car, he said, "I heard Dallas was a big airport, and I need a car to drive between the gates to save time."
A nice lady just called. She needed to know how it was possible that her flight from Detroit left at 8:20am and got into Chicago at 8:33am. I tried to explain that Michigan was an hour ahead of llinois, but she could not understand the concept of time zones. Finally I told her the plane went very fast, and she bought that!
A woman called and asked, "Do airlines put your physical description on your bag so they know who's luggage belongs to who?" I said, "No, why do you ask?" She replied, "Well, when I checked in with the airline, they put a tag on my luggage that said FAT, and I'm overweight, is there any connection?" After putting her on hold for a minute while I "looked into it" (I was actually laughing) I came back and explained the city code for Fresno is FAT, and that the airline was just putting a destination tag on her luggage.
I just got off the phone with a man who asked, "How do I know which plane to get on?" I asked him what exactly he meant, which he replied, "I was told my flight number is 823, but none of these darn planes have numbers on them."
A woman called and said, "I need to fly to Pepsi-cola on one of those computer planes." I asked if she meant to fly to Pensacola on a commuter plane. She said, "Yeah, whatever."
A businessman called and had a question about the documents he needed in order to fly to China. After a lengthy discussion about passports, I reminded him he needed a visa. "Oh no I don't, I've been to China many times and never had to have one of those." I double checked and sure enough, his stay required a visa. When I told him this he said, "Look, I've been to China four times and every time they have accepted my American Express."
A woman called to make reservations, "I want to go from Chicago to Hippopotamus, New York" The agent was at a loss for words. Finally, the agent: "Are you sure that's the name of the town?" "Yes, what flights do you have?" replied the customer. After some searching, the agent came back with, "I'm sorry, ma'am, I've looked up every airport code in the country and can't find a Hippopotamus anywhere." The customer retorted, "Oh don't be silly. Everyone knows where it is. Check your map!" The agent scoured a map of the state of New York and finally offered, "You don't mean Buffalo, do you?" "That's it! I knew it was a big animal!"
Popular Kyrgyz imam shot dead
By Natalia Antelava
BBC News, Kyrgyzstan
A prominent and popular imam has been killed in the south of Kyrgyzstan, in the town of Korasuv in the Ferghana Valley near the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border.
According to his family and local police, the imam - Rafik Kamalov - was shot dead by Kyrgyz special forces.
But security officials have not confirmed.... his death.
The Ferghana Valley lies in the south of Kyrgyzstan - the very heart of Muslim Central Asia.
Authorities have been cracking down on what they call Islamic fundamentalism.
Outcry
In an interview with the BBC, Kyrgyz security officials confirmed that they had killed three men during a special operation on Thursday night and that all of them were members of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan - a banned radical organisation.
The officials neither confirmed nor denied that Rafik Kamalov, the Imam of the biggest mosque along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border, was among them.
But family members, who are preparing for the funeral, deny that he belonged to any Islamic group.
For the past month, Kyrgyz security services, often with the help of their Uzbek colleagues, have launched a massive operation aimed at eradicating what the government here calls the serious threat of Islamic fundamentalism.
But human rights groups have voiced concern that this label is often used to silence political dissent.
The death of this hugely popular Imam could provoke a major public outcry among the deeply Islamic population of the Ferghana Valley.
BBC News, Kyrgyzstan
A prominent and popular imam has been killed in the south of Kyrgyzstan, in the town of Korasuv in the Ferghana Valley near the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border.
According to his family and local police, the imam - Rafik Kamalov - was shot dead by Kyrgyz special forces.
But security officials have not confirmed.... his death.
The Ferghana Valley lies in the south of Kyrgyzstan - the very heart of Muslim Central Asia.
Authorities have been cracking down on what they call Islamic fundamentalism.
Outcry
In an interview with the BBC, Kyrgyz security officials confirmed that they had killed three men during a special operation on Thursday night and that all of them were members of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan - a banned radical organisation.
The officials neither confirmed nor denied that Rafik Kamalov, the Imam of the biggest mosque along the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border, was among them.
But family members, who are preparing for the funeral, deny that he belonged to any Islamic group.
For the past month, Kyrgyz security services, often with the help of their Uzbek colleagues, have launched a massive operation aimed at eradicating what the government here calls the serious threat of Islamic fundamentalism.
But human rights groups have voiced concern that this label is often used to silence political dissent.
The death of this hugely popular Imam could provoke a major public outcry among the deeply Islamic population of the Ferghana Valley.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Thursday, August 03, 2006
We Fest: the hottest seats in country
Jon Bream, Star Tribune
Last update: August 03, 2006 – 12:27 AM
DETROIT LAKES, MINN. - Close the corral. The We Fest -- the country-music-and-camping festival that starts its 24th year today at the Soo Pass Ranch -- is sold-out for the first time.
"They're packing 'em in," said Dianne Matthews of St. Paul, a 13-time We Fester who arrived Tuesday at her site at the VIP campgrounds. "People started coming on Saturday."
The unprecedented sellout of.... 45,000 tickets can be attributed to two factors: the strongest music lineup ever and a reconfiguring of the seating that slightly reduced capacity.
First, the three-day lineup -- it's hotter than July was.
Through Saturday, the $5 million We Fest will present four of country's biggest acts. Rascal Flatts, tonight's headliner, is the most popular country group since Alabama. Their "Me and My Gang" is the second-best-selling album of the year -- in any genre.
Brooks & Dunn, who top Friday's bill, have been named vocal duo of the year by the Country Music Association (CMA) in 13 of the past 14 years.
In 1996, Brooks & Dunn also were chosen entertainer of the year.
And, to top it off on Saturday night, it's the CMA's two most recent entertainers of the year -- Keith Urban (Mr. Nicole Kidman) and Kenny Chesney (the former Mr. Renée Zellweger). That's the country equivalent of Prince and Michael Jackson on the same bill in the "Purple Rain"/"Thriller" days of 1984.
"They've hit it out of the park -- it's the best lineup they've ever had," said Clear Channel Radio executive Mick Anselmo, who oversees nine Midwest country stations, some of which are We Fest sponsors.
Tickets sold faster than ever in all categories -- from $80 three-day general admission to $600 VIP with meals and drinks, said We Fest co-owner Randy Levy.
He said that some $60 one-day-only tickets will still be available but that all 8,000 campsites are taken.
"If somebody shows up in a car with four people who have tickets and one who doesn't, we'll certainly sell them one ticket and not send them back to Minot," Levy said. "But I don't have any camping to sell them."
More seats and services
The promoter said his staff listened to festivalgoers and added more reserved seats, thus reducing capacity by 5,000.
We Fest also added one campground, 10 ice stations, four gates to the music area and 60 permanent toilets, with 43 designated for women.
Despite the unprecedented sellout, Becker County Sheriff Tim Gordon does not expect this We Fest to be different from its predecessors -- save for some road construction in Detroit Lakes that his force has never encountered during the event.
"The majority of what we're doing is the same," said Gordon, who has witnessed every We Fest.
As of late Wednesday afternoon, he estimated that at least 30,000 people had already arrived in the 10 campgrounds.
Some of the fans might want to plan ahead for next year's 25th anniversary We Fest and buy an early-bird special three-day general-admission ticket for $80 this weekend at the Soo Pass Ranch.
Last update: August 03, 2006 – 12:27 AM
DETROIT LAKES, MINN. - Close the corral. The We Fest -- the country-music-and-camping festival that starts its 24th year today at the Soo Pass Ranch -- is sold-out for the first time.
"They're packing 'em in," said Dianne Matthews of St. Paul, a 13-time We Fester who arrived Tuesday at her site at the VIP campgrounds. "People started coming on Saturday."
The unprecedented sellout of.... 45,000 tickets can be attributed to two factors: the strongest music lineup ever and a reconfiguring of the seating that slightly reduced capacity.
First, the three-day lineup -- it's hotter than July was.
Through Saturday, the $5 million We Fest will present four of country's biggest acts. Rascal Flatts, tonight's headliner, is the most popular country group since Alabama. Their "Me and My Gang" is the second-best-selling album of the year -- in any genre.
Brooks & Dunn, who top Friday's bill, have been named vocal duo of the year by the Country Music Association (CMA) in 13 of the past 14 years.
In 1996, Brooks & Dunn also were chosen entertainer of the year.
And, to top it off on Saturday night, it's the CMA's two most recent entertainers of the year -- Keith Urban (Mr. Nicole Kidman) and Kenny Chesney (the former Mr. Renée Zellweger). That's the country equivalent of Prince and Michael Jackson on the same bill in the "Purple Rain"/"Thriller" days of 1984.
"They've hit it out of the park -- it's the best lineup they've ever had," said Clear Channel Radio executive Mick Anselmo, who oversees nine Midwest country stations, some of which are We Fest sponsors.
Tickets sold faster than ever in all categories -- from $80 three-day general admission to $600 VIP with meals and drinks, said We Fest co-owner Randy Levy.
He said that some $60 one-day-only tickets will still be available but that all 8,000 campsites are taken.
"If somebody shows up in a car with four people who have tickets and one who doesn't, we'll certainly sell them one ticket and not send them back to Minot," Levy said. "But I don't have any camping to sell them."
More seats and services
The promoter said his staff listened to festivalgoers and added more reserved seats, thus reducing capacity by 5,000.
We Fest also added one campground, 10 ice stations, four gates to the music area and 60 permanent toilets, with 43 designated for women.
Despite the unprecedented sellout, Becker County Sheriff Tim Gordon does not expect this We Fest to be different from its predecessors -- save for some road construction in Detroit Lakes that his force has never encountered during the event.
"The majority of what we're doing is the same," said Gordon, who has witnessed every We Fest.
As of late Wednesday afternoon, he estimated that at least 30,000 people had already arrived in the 10 campgrounds.
Some of the fans might want to plan ahead for next year's 25th anniversary We Fest and buy an early-bird special three-day general-admission ticket for $80 this weekend at the Soo Pass Ranch.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Corkamama's Birthday Dinner Details
- Who: Corkamama
- What: Her birthday
- When: August 9th, 6:45pm
- Where: Buca di Beppo, 12650 Elm Creek Boulevard
- How: 763.494.3466 for Directions
We have made a reservation for 16 people so, please let me know if you
plan to come by Monday August 7th.
Regards,
Sara
Sara Jorde Photography
612-338-6923
www.jorde.com
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
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