Mood:  incredulous

Listen to Hot Hot Hot!

If you want to access a niche of music lovers who will appreciate and recommend your music, sheet music, let us know about it. We'll give you the opportunity to get it published.

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Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 8:20 PM

Updated: Monday, 30 May 2005 7:22 PM

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If you are looking for a romantic getaway that will startle your loved one, the Ahwahnee hotel is the right kind of setting to do just that. In fact, almost every visitor, tourist who has been to this hotel nestled among Yosemite's natural wonders, remains very impressed and stays with their mouth open. They just could not believe that such two beauties could co-exist so well to complement and enhance each other's attraction and service. Such was my experience each time I go to Yosemite. Ever since the time I attended a conference at this hotel, I have remained humble in front of its rustic beauty, elegance and beauty. Living in the great Central Valley of California, I have always found it interesting to have such superb wonders in my backyard. That's the kind of jaw-dropping experience I want to introduce to my kids, family members and friends who visit me from time to time. Remember that you don't have to stay at the hotel to take in and appreciate its splendor. If costs are a concern, there are free interpretive tours that you can go on once you get there. It's worth taking part in them!

What will hit you first: The Ahwahnee's Exteriors

Where does the name come from?

Ahwahnee comes from the Miwok Indians who called Yosemite Valley "Ah wah ni." It loosely translates, "large gaping mouth." Just as I mentioned my experience above, this is the same kind of renaissance and enjoyment you will experience once you stand on the well-kept grounds of this hotel.

Exterior Facade

Even though Ahwahnee is celebrating its 75th year this Summer, it still stands and looks grand. In fact, since it was built in the 1920s, a few years after the National Park System came into existence, Ahwahnee has not ceased to exert its mystique on visitors' minds. The first things you are going to notice are its massive steep, granite stones and concrete. Until you get close to the six-story, three-wing hotel, you will tend to believe that you are looking at the exterior walls made of redwood. According to the history books, this hotel was built on the site of a large stable. There is no doubt that there is some type blending of the exteriors with the rustic environments in which it settles.

Rooms: There is no bad room in this huge hotel

Once you get inside, you will have a new appreciation for space and view. In fact, based on the tours that I have been on, I can tell you that if you choose to spend a few nights there, you won't feel disappointed at all by staying in a bad room. No such things exist. To the credit of the hotel's management team, it is said that there is no big difference between what the rooms look like before and now. In fact, the rooms on the main floor look the same as when the hotel opened on July 14, 1927.

I can easily remember the ornaments, the geometric designs, adorn borders, beams, rugs and stained glass windows of most rooms. With my group, I was standing right in the dining room looking out the windows while paying attention to the tour guide. The room that impressed me the most was the Great Lounge that truly reminds you of the 17-century era and aura of elegance and pomp. Just take a look at the oak tables, writing desks etc.

Ahwahnee attracts celebrities as well as dignitaries from near and afar

Ahwahnee continues to play its magic in the minds of many famous visitors. In the 1950s, the "I Love Lucy" stars stayed at the hotel. Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball truly had a ball at the Great Lounge. They stayed there while they were filming scenes for the movie, "The Long, Long Trailer."

Ask any tour guide or concierge or hotel employee, the list of the names of past, current celebrities who have stayed at the hotel won't seem to stop. Well, for confidentiality reasons, some of them may hesitate a while. Once they remember that most of them have volunteered to sign the hotel's register, they will start talking. On any good day, they will tell you about Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt, Humphrey Bogart, Shirley Temple, Boris Karloff, Judy Garland, Clint Eastwood, Charlie Chaplin, Bing Crosby, Mel Gibson, Charlton Heston.

In 1983, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip stayed at the hotel's sixth floor. President John F. Kennedy, his family members and his entourage stayed there. All of these people are attracted to the hotel for its great views and environments.

Service and costs

You can expect to find the kind of service offered to patrons at upscale hotels. In fact, for the type of money you are willing to pay, you can expect superb services. The employees, bellmen are very nice and helpful. They are good with children as well as elderly visitors. They will help you get to your room and make sure that you have everything you need for your stay. Keep in mind that the rooms start at $336.00. Most of them get filled out way ahead of time. At any given time, you will be sure to meet vacationers from other countries, mostly European countries. Tourists from Japan and Korea can be found there too. You can hear many languages around the 350-seat hotel dining room. You can always buy a ticket and join the crowd for this elegant dinner. Many companies organize special functions there. I attended two conferences there. If you are around Yosemite for the Christmas season, you will not want to miss the Yorkshire Christmas dinner-pageant. Tickets are hard to find if you want till the last minute though. But it would be such a treat to your partner if you could leave your tent and head out to the hotel for this high-spirited meeting.

Ahwahnee hotel has Yosemite all over it

From the exteriors to the interiors of the hotel, you will be immersed in a great journey that will soothe and appeal all your senses. If you just want to enjoy the cool mountain breeze and sun, just head out to the back patio. Soak up as much sunshine as you want and feel reinvigorated and ready to head back home. More importantly, you will be in awe once you get into your rooms.

Recommendations

If you go to Yosemite National Park, Ahwahnee is a must-see place.

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 5:38 PM

Updated: Monday, 30 May 2005 7:46 PM

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Mood:  cool

With the all-new 2003 sports coupe, many observers and picky car enthusiasts and industry insiders have quietly admitted that Hyundai has arrived. The 2003 Hyundai Tiburon is a trendsetter when it comes to what types of features and value competitive automakers should bundle their cars. If any group benefits from the largesse and somewhat legendary story of the Korean automaker, it's you and me, the consumers. Also, Hyundai engineers and designers have seem to have learned from their mistakes. We spoke to them with our feet and our pockets. The first cars they rolled out in the American marketplace were not even worth the metal sheets, screws and bolts that went into their construction. So, we did not buy its earlier offerings. It's a whole new ball game now. Any serious, value-oriented car consumer can't stay away from the new, innovative designs this company has been featuring in auto showrooms and dealerships all over North America.

2003 Tiburon Coupe is sure to catch the attention of serious car owners who want performance, great looks, value, and style

Just include the names of the young men and women who can rely on its power to get a head start!

Introduced in 1997, the Tiburon brand has seen great days. What's clear is that the automaker has not been tired of improving and enhancing the brand image. It appears that each new model seems to accentuate some major areas of strength and performance in the vehicle. This year's model seems to build on the past experience of all its models. In fact, it borrows the strong, smooth, all-aluminum, dohc, 2.7-liter V6 from the Huyndai Sonata and the well-known style of the Hyundai Santa Fe SUV. It makes great sense that some observers and analysts dub it, "a pocket rocket." I remain impressed by its sheer vitality, performance on the road and aggressiveness. I could not pass the chance to test-drive the GT V6. I had a great ride. It handled superbly and relied on its features of both front and rear independent suspension. The MacPherson struts are used with offset coil springs, gas-filled hydraulic shock absorbers and an anti-roll bar mounted right to the strut to negotiate the curves better. The owners of the 2003 Tiburon who are mostly performance enthusiasts can rely on the other set of rear suspension to have a great drivability. The Tiburon also featured a strut-type multilink rear suspension, gas-filled hyrdaulic shock absorbers and anti-roll bar. All of this can be summarized as the following: Once you get behind the wheels of this car, you will have a very great driving experience. I enjoyed the fact that I heard to vibration. Hyundai engineers and designers have managed to block that cumbersome noise from under the hood.

Bold design, style, performance and affordable price are all the reasons car buyers are snapping the 2003 Tiburon

Built in Korea, the Hyundai Tiburon two-door is offered in base or the Tiburon and the Tiburon GT V6 models. That's why the prices range from $15,999 to under 20K. If anything, the Tiburon coupe is turning up the heat on other automakers in the below $20,000 coupe segment. Toyota, Honda, GM, Ford and others will have to take lessons whether they want it or not. We consumers want all the great features that a vehicle can come equipped with for much less. While the earlier version of the Tiburon was based on the Elantra, the 2003 Tiburon has a new, stiffer and refined chassis. It was made not only to look good, but also to offer security to the occupants of the car. The new chassis is dubbed the GK.

How is the interior of the car?

In terms of legroom, headroom and hiproom, the Tiburon offers lots of space. I had great visibility which allows me to enjoy the ride very well. The spacious, ergonomic cockpit made provided me with lots of comfort. I did not have to worry about side impacts because the Tiburon offers front and passenger front and high-strength steel side impact airbags. To a large extent, the interior of the Tiburon resembles that of the Honda Accord. This is a giant step for Hyundai to be able to put out a vehicle that, taken costs into account, surpasses any Honda coupe. For under 20K, the Tiburon offers leather seats and leather-clad steering wheel. Leather seating is standard on the GT V6.

What are some of the features that exist on the GT V6?

Many of features that are standard on the Tiburon are not on other sport coupes. They don't even have some of them as options. For example, you will find the basic standard such as air conditioning, keyless remote entry system, cruise control, fog lamps, power windows and door locks, four-wheel disc brakes, P205/55-16 Michelin tires mounted on 16 by 6.5-inch alloy wheels. It also offers all the equipments found on the Tiburon plus others such as a better Infinity stereo for great entertainment, shift knob, rear spoiler etc.

Warranty: Who can turn down the Hyundai Advantage? It's, by far, the best warranty anybody can get out there. It gives you 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain protection and five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage. If you are really interested in buying the Tiburon, you will benefit from the 24-hour roadside assistance at no extra charge for five full years. There is no mileage limit. There are also some freebies.

The Tiburon is a great coupe that any car lovers will appreciate. In addition, it's affordable and bundled with great features that many other car makers would make you pay steep prices for.

Go with Huyndai, go with the 2003 Tiburon coupe!

Updated on 6-27-2003

Long gone are the days when car buyers were worried about buying a Huyndai vehicle. So long gone are also the times when some consumers would rather purchase a good used car from one of the higher-end vehicles instead of purchasing a Huyndai. Others had two choices: purchase a brand new Hyundai vehicle or a used Huyndai. Huyndai Motor America has been on a long campaign to change the face of the company. Poised to be the leader in the entry-level market, consumers, encouraged by gains of quality and less flaws in the Huyndai brand, start showing interest. [Please read about Santa Fe SUV]. All this turnaround has been made possible under the aegis and discipline of Finbarr O'Neill. He can start seeing the signs of the company's success by taking a look at the group of consumers who are most likely to buy the six-speed sports transmission, V-6 engine 2003 Tiburon. Loaded with enough power to hit 180 horses, this is a car that will gain consumers' confidence in the company.

At a recent high school graduation, when most of us were driving vehicles of the Japanese car industry, I could clearly see a lot of young people arriving in their Tiburon, equipped with 17-inch wheels. Some of my closest friends commented, "For sure, this company is now turning heads on the road." They are the same young kids whose pals drive a tricked, retrofit Acura RSX or Honda Civic. When we saw some females driving down the freeway in their Tiburon, we quickly realized that the car was a 'hot.' Hyundai is now reeking the benefits of their quality-based programs launched since the 1990s. They have long gone from the phase of just giving a car, a reliable car to the consumer, Huyndai wants its potential car buyers to feel inspired by the wide range of products it has put on the market. From the entry-level Accent, Elantra to the [Santa Fe], Hyundai wants to give the consumer a great driving experience.

What needed to be done: Dispel the fear; Get consumers to trust the vehicles

Under O'Neill, Hyundai Motor America decides to provide satisfaction to the customers. If they are happy with the products they offer, then they are in business. The way they have done this is to offer a very strategic marketing campaign that automatically removes any fear that a Huyndai buyer might have. The launching of a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty on all Hyundais became the catalyst and launching pad of the success and recognition that Hyundai vehicles are now enjoying in the regular consumers' mind. With the advent of the Santa Fe and Tiburon, it has now become hip to be seen driving a Huyndai. The fear of having to deal with a broken-down vehicle every mile on the freeway is long gone. At the same time, Huyndai Motor America had to convince the South Korean executives that improving the overall quality of the vehicles was necessary. In a sense, they had gotten the messages that became overt and well-known. From disgruntled users and comedians, the jokes about the unreliability of the Hyundai got to the ears of the North American branch. They wanted to do something about it. They wanted to change the car. They wanted to bring the consumers back to the auto-rooms. This time, they did with "America's Best Warranty", 6 years of bumper to bumper coverage and 10 years of coverage on the cr's engine and transmission. According to the J.D. Power quality study in 1999, Hyundai averaged 229 flaws per 100 vehicles. The company has improved to 143 flaws pwer 100 vehicles as compared with an industry average of 133. Once the brand's problems and image issues were corrected, it was time to focus on something else: fashion. The brand was ready to go from mere function to outstanding fashion. In fact, the 2003 Tiburon shows what the Huyndai company can do in terms of competing on the market.

Facing the competition without any fear:

The Japenese have long been reigning as the kings of the entry-level, mid-sedan s. Toyota and Honda, whichever order they come, are fierce competitors that are very territorial of their gains in the North American market. We should say that they have worked to be where they are at for many years. It's a long time coming for them.

The South Korea's largest automaker is ready to enjoy a place in the hearts and minds of most Noth American consumers. Style, refinement, quality, value packages and customer satisfaction are all the areas of interest for Hyundai. They want to accentuate things. This way, we, consumers, won't find it hard to choose between a Nissan Altima, Honda Accord, Subaru Forrestier, Chevrolet Impala, Toyota Avalon, Toyota Camry and a Sonata. Let it be known that thanks to the comparatively cheap labor (cars are manufactured in South Korea), the consumers will come out on top. That's something that anybody who is out there on the car market needs to keep in mind. In terms of value, Hyundai is not worried about putting a lot of features in its cars. Its current success stories are the Santa Fe and Tiburon. These vehicles sport a trendier design, leather seats and side air bags. It all depends on the options you want and what you are willing to pay.

Safety and consumer satisfaction are two of the great points of the Hyundai Motor America.

Would you like to save and be worry-free when it comes to maintenance?

Try a Hyundai vehicle. After test-driving the Santa Fe, Tiburon and Sonata, I can attest to the improvements that this company has brought on.

The bottom line is that you will end up saving money.

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 5:16 PM

Updated: Wednesday, 25 January 2006 8:48 PM

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Mood:  hungry

If hot dogs, sodas, ice cream and sandwiches are well-known foods and beverages found in the American culinary landscape, Summer grilling and feasting on traditional, time-proven meals are synonymous with a good time. In my mind, there is no Summer without back yard BBQ, not far away from the swimming. Barbecuing the right food items is a very important element in the Summer decor. Grilling tuna steak or any other type of fish, preparing kebabs and preparing corn on the cob are truly important parts of the Summer meals. When my wife bought this book last May, I did not care about opening it until I started hanging out more around the pool. There is something very peculiar about tasting chlorine and knowing that this taste can be erased with the piece of fruits and barbecued food items located right on the deck.

BBQ USA by Steve Raichlen is the right Summer Book to get your barbecue season started

Each time I drive into the countryside, I get to see huge, vast green fields of corn. I just can't wait to buy some firm, full ears to grill at home. In fact, buying ears of corn is one of the pleasures of Summer that most people in this country and particularly this state enjoy. With year-round great outdoors weather, we tend to take advantage of what nature has to offer. So grilling becomes second nature to us. Steve wants to share his secret recipe with us. "Strip the husk back like you'd peel a banana, tying it below the corn to form a sort of handle. Then splash some light olive oil on it. You can also use melted butter. To season, sprinkle some salt and pepper. Then, grill it over a hot fire for 2 to 3 minutes per side. This can go for a grand total of 12 minutes."

What do you want? What do you want here? Roasted or Steamed Corn? Take a pick

Most people just like their corn grilled with the husk on. As for me, I like it off. This way, the kernels tend to get roasted. The sugars get caramelized. That's what I like about the details given by Steve in his book. You can have steamed corn whenever you leave the husk on. On many occasions, I tend to steam my corn. When I don't have time to roast them, I tend to steam them in the microwave. My father has no use for these grilling techniques. He can eat his corn raw. He picks the best corn out and starts eating the kernels with all their juice.

The tradition of bonfire in the great American camp sites

If you are out on the beach or in a remote area in the mountains, you will undoubtedly have access to natural elements. I have participated in camp activities all over the state and many overseas countries. There's no greater feeling than that of gathering around a camp fire while your corn is being grilled in the embers. The husk can be removed if you want to roast it. Most of the times, you can just place in the embers with the husk on. The taste will be superb.

The enjoyment of the sweet corn starts right in the fields. The fresh scent that emanates from the purple, gold silk of a multitude of ears of corn is very special. It conjures memories of years past when as a kid I used to go to my grandparents' fields with them. All I did was to select the best ears of corn to eat.

A Grand Total of 425 recipes about various fish products, vegetable, fruits and ordinary food items

BBQ USA gives great information about how to prepare practically anything under the sun. If it can be grilled, you will find it in this book. I plan on using it from now on. I have already read quite a few recipes I would like to use in my cooking.

It's a very interesting book that will take your breath off thanks to its wide range of information it provides.

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 4:58 PM

Updated: Saturday, 23 October 2004 6:31 AM

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It's not too often that I read a book in just one seating. After devouring all its 272 pages, I was ready for more. Cultivating Delight: A Natural History of My Garden by Diane Ackerman is now featured among some of the best books that all readers should have on their bookshelves. She pays such attention to details that some critics are led to say that she approaches her subject matter not only with a poet's intensity but also with a naturalist's curiosity. Others are saying that she is a true sensualist. After receiving a recommendation from a friend of mine to read this book, so far, it's one of the best things that could have happened to me this month. In fact, it's such an uplifting book that even in matters of leaves decaying, falling and death, Diane has managed to show the beauty of life.

A Challenge To Discover Her Senses

It's my opinion that reading this book will set the mood to be able to appreciate the small things of life. Once you do that, you will open the door to happiness. Happiness is what Diane found among her possession of more than five hundred plants. As you read the pages of this book, you will realize that once Diane enters her garden, she finds serenity and tranquility. It's as if she had stepped into some sort of trance-like metamorphosis. Her senses become brighter. She becomes enlightened. For about three years, she dedicated her time to working in her garden while documenting every aspect of growth, transformation and death among her living organisms. At some point in the book, you will realize that she enters into communication with the plants. She talks to them and calls them by name. Diane Ackerman's garden appears to be very interactive. It's a garden that is teeming with life and activities. "In the garden, I leave all the mind theater behind, all the worries (of the world), all the expectations, all the conversations that get replayed endlessly. I just bliss out," she once said. That's what most of us should feel as you enter her garden through the reading of her book. Transitions From Gardening To Life Situations Are Excellent

It's clear that while reading this book you won't be able to ask questions about the author's interest in both nature itself and human nature. Every lesson she finds, Diane tries to see what's in it for us, human beings. While she introduces the reader to her garden weeds (The marvelous is weed species that grows everywhere even in your own backyard," she once said), she also makes it a point to show the connection between plants and people. She shows the impact of gardening on the human soul in various passages. "For children, flurring leaves are just one of the older figments of nature, like hailstones and snowflakes. They love to plunge into soft, unruly mattresses of leaves, tunnel through leaf mounds and hurl leaves into the air. Walking down a lane overhung with trees in the paint-splatter of autumn, one forgets about time and death, lost in the sheer delicious spill of color."

Diane Ackerman is a writer who has done her research. You will be able to tell that she is a Science book reader. She is as comfortable describing the fine points of biology and botany as resourceful about her use of the English language. Let's take a look at her description. "Dawn frost sits heavily on the grass and turns metal fencing into a string of stars...Seasoned trackers, we stand still and squint heard, looking for signs....Autumn is stealing into town, on schedule, with its entourage of chilly nights, macabre holidays and spectacular, heart-stoppingly beautiful trees. Soon the leaves will start cringing and roll up in clenched fists before they actually fall off."

Lots of symbolisms and simili given to make her points

Vivid memory, sense of smell and attraction of the sites in the book

Cultivating Delight is truly a gem in that it's book that plays on your senses. There is no falling asleep when reading this book. You will stay awake with the various appeals to your five senses. For example, find out how she describes the transition to the Fall season. "The vast green leaf-castles of Summer will vanish like a mirage. But first there will be weeks of hypnotic colors so sensuous, shrieking and confettilike that people will travel for many miles just to stare at them--a whole season of gemlike leaves." To me, reading this book is like reading a long poem. It's true poetic measures can enhance the prose of fictions and non-fiction.

Who said it is not sexy to talk, write about trees?

Diane writes about colors in a way that shows her education and preparation. "Why do the colors form? They don't, they undress. Soon after the Summer soltice (june 21), when days begin to shorten, a tree reconsiders its leaves. All Summer it fed them and they processed sunlight, but as the days shorten, the tree gradually chokes off its leaves by pulling nutrients down to the trunk and roots, storing them there for winter. Spongy cells form at the leaves' slender petioles, then scar over. With little nourishment, the leaves stop manufacturing the green pigment, chlorophyll, and photosynthesis stops...Camouflage gone, reds and oranges seem to arrive from somewhere, but they were always present, a vivid secret hidden beneath the green plasma of summer..."

Final words

Cultivating Delight is a very sensuous book that you will read with great satisfaction. At least, that's what I felt when I read it a few months ago. I hope you have the same pleasure. I just want to leave you with these fine points and observations recorded by Diane in her book. "We've always called the season fall from the Old English faellan, to fall down, which leads back through time to the Indo-European, phol, to fall. The word hasn't really changed since the first of our kind needed a name for its metamorphosis. Then there is that other fall, the one in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve concealed their nakedness with fig leaves, remember? Leaves have always hidden our awkward secrets. Fall is the time when leaves fall from the trees, just as spring is when flowers spring up, summer is when we simmer, and winter is when we whine from the cold."

Enjoy your reading of this excellent book.

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 4:47 PM

Updated: Monday, 30 May 2005 7:22 PM

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Mood:  happy

Prayer, faith and healing. By faith but not by sight.

Prayer and medicine save many people's lives. They once saved mine. That's why I am a true believer in the combined power of these practices. That's one of the reasons I was attracted to the cover of this book at my local Christian bookstore. I wanted to go beyond the cover. What I found inside ended up pinning me to a chair for a good two hours among various cups of mocha. I have learned the hidden power of these words told years ago, "If ye shall ask anything in my name, that will I do." John 14:14

Written by Larry Dossey, Healing Words: The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine is one of these books that most people should read. He adds that medical schools across the nation now teach students to treat whole patients, their bodies and their souls. The question to ask is whether prayers can heal. Just think for an instant about the power of words, just negative words to inflict pain and wound others. Now apply that same energy to say a prayer for others. In this book, I found out that those who pray for others tend to have their own prayers answered.

Oh,how beautiful it is to pray and pray for others: Pray to heal thyself!

My parents pray for me everyday. Prayers can relieve stress

Is the feeling or the knowledge that someone somewhere cares about you? The very act of praying has a calming effect. Whether you are saying the rosary in the case of catholics, prayer-rocking in the case of the Jews or dancing to the rythm of drum-based rich music in the case of aborigenes, Native Americans, Sharmanism, Voodoo, Santeria, Candomble etc, and breathing "om" in the case of the buddhists, you will be reaping the benefits. Research has shown that prayer can cure certain stress-related ailments. Pray to heal thyself. Prayers reduce blood pressure, lower the heart rate and give you a feeling of well-being. Just think for a moment of the effect of The Spirituals on the slaves of the New World during the slavery era and various succeeding movements?

As I was reading this book, I could not help but thinking about the story of a young man who was suffering from leukemia. As his mother was telling me the story, she could not stop crying and showing me the true power of prayers. When all the attending physicians told her to contact other family members because there was no more chance for her son, she did not listen to them. She cried out to God asking for a miracle. She prayed for a sign. Then, tired of staying up with the son the whole night, she fell asleep. She woke up about 1 hour later and felt hungry. She left the hospital to buy some food at a nearby restaurant. While she was there, she called her husband to inform him that their son was going to be fine. In her sleep, she had received the sign she wanted. She saw that God laid his hands on her son and healed. When she returned to the hospital, her son was sitting up in bed eating and drinking. In two months, that was the first time he ever did anything like that!

Just experience the healing powers of prayer to feel empowered. Find purpose and meaning in your life. Pray! Whether you get on your knees, whether you rock or walk around, whether you close your eyes and postrate in front of something, whether you meditate, experience the power of healing. That's what I found out when I fell sick with Valley Fever which I caught while in college. Thanks to prayer and good medicine, I beat the odds. Another student from Japan died from the complications of the same airborne, soil-based disease two years earlier.

A few instances of miraculous prayers

The prayer of Jabez

Jesus prayed and bread and fish multiplied

Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife. She bore him a son

King David prayed and God gave him wisdom to render justice in the case of two mother etc

If you want to tap into that secret weapon, start praying today. Buy a copy of Healing Words to get started.

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 4:44 PM

Updated: Monday, 30 May 2005 7:47 PM

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Mood:  cool

Life's Affirming Cycle

Right on the other side of the bridge, a well-lighted motel 6 sign beckons tired visitors "We'll leave the light on for you!" We are in barn country. Owl boxes are at full occupancy this time of the year The are as many visitors as there are different types of raptors around here: snowy barn, screech, great horned, great gray owls In this part of the great California country, the rhythm of life continues uninterrupted. Planting seasons are followed by harvesting ones. The Summer heat that makes raisins out of grapes is a constant long after the Spring breeze is snuffed out.

Pellets around owl boxes

The breeze from the nearby river is infectious today It invites us to enjoy the newly-built backyard porch The kids are playing in the grass and sand box by the barbecue pit. No bees come to the flower bed Not far from the main house lie the vineyards and orchards The gorge of the two mountains lying in the background looks like the cleavage of a tall, vain and self-conscious tourist met on this tour We'll eat breakfast before we head out to commune with Mother Nature First we'll stop to visit the orphaned barn owls that are being cared for then we'll be guided to a few strategic owl boxes along the trail This is the rumble to the Summit, the hike to hell! Long live the burgeoning agribusiness of the Valley!

Farmers get unlikely help Lavoisier's Rule: "Nothing is lost." Farm Recycling The pellets prove that the resident owls have been working hard From the top of their boxes, they hiss and speed-dive in at the sight of their prey. They swallow them whole but can't digest their fur and bones. The compact pellets are produced by the owls' gizzards, a sophisticated and refined chemical plant We come face to face with the destructive works of gophers "Watch out for holes," yelled the tour guide. "This is gopher zone here!" These farmers have not used the cheapest gopher control method Barn owls work 365 nights a year. They are low maintenance too. Growers will soon be tired of baiting, trapping, fumigating and flooding Their fields are being torn up. Their crops are eaten right from the trees Owls use is at the basis of certified farming. No more polluting and use of expensive chemicals whose drift may sicken residents! No more infected carcasses for coyotes and birds of prey to feast on! Piles of dead gophers around the boxes will be convincing and show the new management tactics and ecological awareness.

The continuum of life and death takes its toll Great horned owls prey on barn owls too Like Spring flowers, these precious farming aides may disappear.

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 4:37 PM

Updated: Wednesday, 25 January 2006 8:50 PM

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Pfizer's vice president of Marketing,
Peter Rost's Views on Drug Reimportation

First things first, we must define what we mean by "ethics." Ethics, a set of principles of right conduct or a system of moral values, is often summarized by this phrase, "doing what is right." It's Gardner and Burns (1978) who have stressed the centrality and importance of the moral dimension of leadership. Gardner said that leaders ultimately must be judged on the basis of a framework of values. (Values are defined as "constructs representing generalized behaviors or states of affairs that are considered by the individual to be important." A good example of the demonstration of ethical values would be the recent action by Pfizer vice president who broke ranks with the drug companies. He made his views known about the issues of drug reimportation at a lower cost to the consumer. In a letter to lawmakers, Charles Hardwick, senior vice president of governmental affairs at Pfizer, blasted Peter Rost, vice president for marketing at Pfizer. Mr. Rost had the courage to come forward with this information. He said that U.S. drug industry has misled the public by exaggerating the danger of imported drugs. Rost is a lone ranger who is taking on his own company, Pfizer, the manufacturer of Viagra, Zoloft and Lipitor. The drug makers quickly counter that reimportation would not lower prices and that consumers could be exposed to dangerous ineffective counterfeit drugs. If he wants to create a marketing buzz for Pfizer, Mr. Peter Rost has done just that. However, his days may be numbered at the giant pharmaceutical firm. Is it ethical to mislead the public about the "danger" of reimported drugs which tend to be cheaper and more affordable?

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 10:08 AM

Updated: Tuesday, 16 November 2004 4:51 PM

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Mood:  loud

South Beach and Atkins Dump on Twinkies

Which other companies are next to file for bankruptcy? Interstate Bakeries Corporation is the maker of lunchbox stables wonder Bread and Twinkies. The corporation has been going through a lot of hardship since U.S. consumers have been informed and aware of the consequences of a diet rich in low-protein and high carb. By filing chapter 11, the company hopes to restructure and continue to make more of those twinkies and breads. As long as the high-protein, low-carb diets are popular, Interstate Bakeries may not stand a chance.

Is it time that companies that create junk food come to the judgement table? Many of these companies did not realize what they were putting into the body of their favorite consumers. They were getting them so fat that they die of clogged arteries and other diseases. Twinkies, who is going to regret them? Now these companies are taking a second look at their line of products because their bottom line is suffering. A dark hole is being dug in the books. The comapny said it's going to continue to operate its bakeries, stores and distribution centers. Now if they change to a constant line of products that promotes health over profit, they'll see the profits. It's unfortunate that many of the employers who labored for many years may go without a job if there's a layoff.

Are the beverage companies going to go the Twinkies maker's way? Insterstate Bakeries suffers because more and more Americans are tired of the obesity epidemic. Too many fat kids are eating and drinking to . Too many calories in these "Big gulp" drinks. Too many large containers and French Fries are around. It's time for a return to home-cooked meals. It's time to eat simple and organic. It may be time we care about what goes inside our bodies. We tend to care more about what we wear, drive than what goes into our belly. U.S. consumers, scared by South Beach and Atkins are indicating their priority with their wallet. They are saying, "let's take a break with Twinkies and Wonder Breads." Insterstate Bakeries shareholders are seeing the values of their stock go down. It's an eye opener for all businesses.

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 2:29 PM

Updated: Wednesday, 25 January 2006 8:51 PM

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Greece's Hotel Greca

Here are a few thoughts about this country and its people: HOTEL GRECA is continuing to give great service to folks who visit Athena. The morning manager and bookeeper is Yiannis. Every morning when I come down to the reception lobby he is playing card games on the computer (that is the only program that this computer has!) and he, of course is smoking. He can speak at least 5 languages-Greek, English, French, German, Spanish. He is a very kind person but has an intention tremour that makes his writing a bit difficult to read.

The afternoon manager is Spiro-a very happy fellow and a very expressive personality who is married and has one daughter, accountant, who was married for 2 years-no children. Spiro is very worried about her because she has indicated that she is afraid to attempt marriage again. He is very concerned about Thea Maria's health and advises her when he thinks she is too tired togo some place she is considering. Thoma is the night manager and he is married man with 3 children from 12-19. He spends lots of time with them when he is not playing tennis. He is a soft spoken man who hasan easy way about him.

Athena is the maid who cleans all of the room in HOTEL GRECA! She is Roumanian and her husband who is Russian was arrested yesterday because he was born in Russia and doesn't have the proper "papers." She has been making and receiving many phone calls trying to find an attorney who specializes in these affairs.

All 3 of the managers work 7 days per week and are all retired from previous jobs. Many people here retire at age 55to release their jobs for the youth. Most of the young people in their 20s have finished the University but there are no jobs available for them. Some of the people here are abupt in their manner because I believe that they suffer from sleep deprivation. Athens is a night city. People don't go to sleep until 2-3 am but they take an afternoon nap of about 2 hours.This would really be compatible with my body clock. I am able to stay up until midnight but not much later.

Last night was my first shift with the Paralympics. I worked from 4 until 8:30 welcoming people at the gate and then watch the dress rehearsal for the Opening Ceremonies-beautiful. I highly recommend watching it on TV. I hope it is carried in the U.S. There are 120 countries represented-the most that have ever attended the Parolympics which has been in existence for about 12 years. To make it more accessible to more people they did not ask for an entrance fee. The opening ceremonies are sold out! Because of the success of the Olympics I believe that more people will attend the Paralympics than they expected. Hopefully this will make up for some of the debt incurred because so many people didn't attend because of the fear propaganda especially in England and the USA.

Santorini was everything we had expected and then some. Our hotel with breakfast included was centrally located in the capitol city of Fira. Chris and I took a a 7 hour archeological tour of the island which is a volcano. There are hotels on the side of the volcano with magnificent views. The sunset into the sea is beautiful. The fresh fish is delicious. We met an iconographer working in the large church. He paints beautiful images of the saints. I took a dip into the sea at the red (iron causes the redness) beach. Wines are delicious. Many grapes and fig trees. Rai sins were drying on the ground. We attended a concert featuring a quartet from Prague. Flute, violin, cello and piano-many nice selections and they ended with excerts from Bernstein's WEST SIDE STORY." What a treat!!!

This was part of a series of summer concerts created by Athena Capodistriou, pianist.She was there and introduced the quartet. During intermission we were treated to cheese, wine and bread cubes. The catamaran ride was 5 hours to Santorini. Movies on board, gift shop and snack bar with crunchy delicious spanakopita (spinach & feta pie.) It is like a plane ride with stewardesses who are very helpful and polite.

More later.
Me polli agapi, Eleni

Posted by Fashionista Shopping Analyst at 8:36 PM

Updated: Saturday, 23 October 2004 6:34 AM

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