Wandering Down Memory Lane

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Hola y’all! A week ago Matt-Man took a little <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/02/grappling-with-nostalgia.html" target="_blank">stroll downmemory lane</a> and talked about some of the things he misses. Not family and friends who have passed away or drifted apart from, those are obvious, but some people places and things from his far and recent past that he misses for different reasons. So, I thought I would do the same this week. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iHQVdcAEmBDXHVl956NyXbzudlwFA0Xelk11RJ6WX3EEX155eHM_YsIV3SuGUuH9_PswyRDxY8sAhLDv7ya66r7otsz1WRAgesGKmO305QDiaq7QX7dX2XhwrZKF4VBlH6KpSmEPHa8/s1600/Andy+and+Opie+fishing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iHQVdcAEmBDXHVl956NyXbzudlwFA0Xelk11RJ6WX3EEX155eHM_YsIV3SuGUuH9_PswyRDxY8sAhLDv7ya66r7otsz1WRAgesGKmO305QDiaq7QX7dX2XhwrZKF4VBlH6KpSmEPHa8/s320/Andy+and+Opie+fishing.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Fishing on the White River and Playing Golf:</b> Fishing for trout on the White River and playing golf are pretty much the only things I ever did with my dad when it was just the two of us. We weren’t close and didn’t talk to each other about our lives or anything like that. Mostly we talked politics and sports when we were together. I’ll never play golf again mostly because of my back and I sold all of my fishing gear after dad died 16 years ago. Maybe someday I’ll buy some more gear and go out there to the Fisherman’s Friend (assuming it’s still there) and fish from their banks again. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>The Rocket Restaurant: </b>The Rocket was your typical greasy spoon. They served cheeseburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken sandwiches and fries and onion rings and whatever else could be deep friend. But, their food wasn’t all that memorable. What I miss is their chocolate milkshakes. They were amazing! They used real, premium chocolate ice cream that didn’t taste like the usual chocolate ice cream you could get at the store pour in some Hershey’s Syrup. Then they would mix it for the perfect length of time to make it thick yet creamy and it was pure Heaven! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>The Old HGTV shows.</b> I’ve said many times that I never and have possibly never will own a home, but I love home improvement and gardening/landscaping shows. HGTV had cool shows like “Help Around the House,” “Weekend Warriors,” “Gardening by the Yard” and “Designer’s Challenge” where they ALWAYS brought the inside out, and the outside in. They weren’t just real estate investment or house flipping shows, they actually taught us how to do things. Things like fixing door jams, replacing windows, patching hardwood floors and other small jobs that can be so annoying to do. Gardening by the Yard’s host was this goofy guy who lived over in Tulsa then moved to Nashville. He gave so much great advice on keeping your garden, shrubs, flowers and lawn in tip-top shape. Now all they do is build “water features.” <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>The old Bloggerhood.</b> Back in the day I just couldn’t wait to get on the computer and wander the Bloggerhood to see what people were up to. So many creative and funny people were blogging and we really did seem to build a community. We laughed and each other’s jokes and hilarious adventures. We got angry when someone was wronged in some way. And we cried when people lost family members or struggled with life. Then we all joined Facebook and that was that. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Glass Pepsi Bottles.</b> Pepsi (or any pop/soda/soft drink) is soooooo much better in a glass bottle than it is in the can or yucky plastic bottle. It gets colder in glass bottles and I think that’s what makes the taste better. The only place I can still find it in bottles is over at the Mexican Market in Green Forrest. Sometimes it’s worth the 20 minute drive over there just to enjoy Pepsi the way God meant it to be drunk. And maybe while I’m drinking that Pepsi I’ll sit there in the car and listen to good old 70’s and 80’s heavy metal music. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Jayman3768@gmail.com">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Jayman68" target="_blank">Facebook.com/Jayman68</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.comjayman_iws/" target="_blank">@Jayman_IWS </a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>

Wandering Down Memory Lane

Hola y’all! A week ago Matt-Man took a little stroll downmemory lane and talked about some of the things he misses. Not family and friends who have passed away or drifted apart from, those are obvious, but some people places and things from his far a…

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Alex Smith shows nice gius don't always finish last

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><h3 class="byline" style="background-color: white; color: #58595b; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 3px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">BY MATTHEW BARROWS</h3><h3 class="credit_line" style="background-color: white; color: #58595b; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 3px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">THE SACRAMENTO BEE</h3><div class="entry-content" id="storyBodyContent" style="background-color: white; color: #1a2732; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;"><span class="dateline" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><img src="http://news.google.com/news/tbn/XuXVAL14HNwqwM/1.jpg" /></span></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;"><span class="dateline" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- </span>Two and a half years after 49ers fans chanted, "We want Carr!", the NFL was saying, "We want Alex!"</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">How else to explain the richer-than-expected compensation the 49ers will receive for their backup quarterback?</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">It wasn't just that the Chiefs were interested in Alex Smith, it was that they were more interested than the other squads that came calling. At least two other teams - Arizona likely was one of them - were in the running, and the competition increased the price tag.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">That speaks to an abnormally bad year for passers at the top of the draft and in free agency (Derek Anderson or Tyler Thigpen, anyone?).</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">It also should be validation for a quarterback who has been kicked around at various times during his career but who has two rare qualities these days � dignity and patience � that have allowed him to rise above his circumstances.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">The last time Smith stepped onto the field in a 49ers uniform? It was for the coin toss at the Super Bowl, an image that underscores just how bizarre and aggravating and heartbreaking it was for Smith in his final season in San Francisco.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">Before the season, he was voted as a team captain by his peers. By its end he was relegated to a largely ceremonial role as Colin Kaepernick led the 49ers to their first Super Bowl in 18 years and captivated the nation along the way. (The Kaepernick love affair continues: On Thursday the Turlock, Calif., native was in Chicago alongside First Lady Michelle Obama and other athletes to promote exercise in schools.)</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">Smith seethed at his situation. But he did so inwardly. Pouting or protesting would have damaged a 49ers locker room as the team prepared for the playoffs.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">He told reporters he was unhappy, and he said he felt the only thing he did to lose his job was get a concussion. But that tiny bit of frustration was all he let loose. Otherwise, he acted professionally, took on the role of the No. 2 quarterback, and the teammates who supported him took their cue and went about their business as well.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">Smith is very much the antithesis of a modern athlete: He's a quiet leader.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">He doesn't have a Facebook page or a Twitter account. He's been active in the community but doesn't call attention to the fact.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">His foundation to help foster kids was cited recently in study by the Bosto</div><h3 class="byline" style="color: #58595b; font-size: 10px; line-height: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 3px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">BY MATTHEW BARROWS</h3><h3 class="credit_line" style="color: #58595b; font-size: 10px; line-height: 11px; margin: 0px 0px 3px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">THE SACRAMENTO BEE</h3><div class="entry-content" id="storyBodyContent" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;"><span class="dateline" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- </span>Two and a half years after 49ers fans chanted, "We want Carr!", the NFL was saying, "We want Alex!"</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">How else to explain the richer-than-expected compensation the 49ers will receive for their backup quarterback?</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">It wasn't just that the Chiefs were interested in Alex Smith, it was that they were more interested than the other squads that came calling. At least two other teams - Arizona likely was one of them - were in the running, and the competition increased the price tag.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">That speaks to an abnormally bad year for passers at the top of the draft and in free agency (Derek Anderson or Tyler Thigpen, anyone?).</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">It also should be validation for a quarterback who has been kicked around at various times during his career but who has two rare qualities these days � dignity and patience � that have allowed him to rise above his circumstances.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">The last time Smith stepped onto the field in a 49ers uniform? It was for the coin toss at the Super Bowl, an image that underscores just how bizarre and aggravating and heartbreaking it was for Smith in his final season in San Francisco.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">Before the season, he was voted as a team captain by his peers. By its end he was relegated to a largely ceremonial role as Colin Kaepernick led the 49ers to their first Super Bowl in 18 years and captivated the nation along the way. (The Kaepernick love affair continues: On Thursday the Turlock, Calif., native was in Chicago alongside First Lady Michelle Obama and other athletes to promote exercise in schools.)</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">Smith seethed at his situation. But he did so inwardly. Pouting or protesting would have damaged a 49ers locker room as the team prepared for the playoffs.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">He told reporters he was unhappy, and he said he felt the only thing he did to lose his job was get a concussion. But that tiny bit of frustration was all he let loose. Otherwise, he acted professionally, took on the role of the No. 2 quarterback, and the teammates who supported him took their cue and went about their business as well.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">Smith is very much the antithesis of a modern athlete: He's a quiet leader.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">He doesn't have a Facebook page or a Twitter account. He's been active in the community but doesn't call attention to the fact.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">His foundation to help foster kids was cited recently in study by the Boston Globe as the paragon of athlete-run charities.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">When 15-year-old Sierra LaMar was missing last offseason in Morgan Hill, Smith showed up unannounced at a searching station and asked how he could help.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">During the lockout, Smith organized player workouts despite the fact that he wasn't under contract at the time. He even sprung for a plane ticket for one of the incoming rookies and let him drive his car � OK, it was his wife's car � when the rookie was in town.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">There's no question Smith would rather be the 49ers' starting quarterback, lead the team to a Super Bowl victory and complete the rags-to-riches story that began when the then-moribund franchise drafted him No.1 overall in 2005.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">But the new chapter isn't a bad one.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">He'll work in Kansas City under Andy Reid, an offensive-minded head coach who knows quarterbacks. He'll operate in a passer-friendly West Coast offense. The Chiefs have a good defense, an excellent running game and a No.1 pick they'll likely use on an offensive lineman to protect Smith. And they reside in perhaps the weakest division in the NFL, meaning the turnaround won't be as daunting as it was when he arrived in San Francisco.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">Just think, 21/2 years ago, Smith was booed in his home stadium. One year ago, he was dismissed as merely a game manager. Today he's a hot commodity.</div></div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">Nice guys might wind up in Kansas City, but they don't always finish last. n Globe as the paragon of athlete-run charities.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">When 15-year-old Sierra LaMar was missing last offseason in Morgan Hill, Smith showed up unannounced at a searching station and asked how he could help.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">During the lockout, Smith organized player workouts despite the fact that he wasn't under contract at the time. He even sprung for a plane ticket for one of the incoming rookies and let him drive his car � OK, it was his wife's car � when the rookie was in town.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">There's no question Smith would rather be the 49ers' starting quarterback, lead the team to a Super Bowl victory and complete the rags-to-riches story that began when the then-moribund franchise drafted him No.1 overall in 2005.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">But the new chapter isn't a bad one.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">He'll work in Kansas City under Andy Reid, an offensive-minded head coach who knows quarterbacks. He'll operate in a passer-friendly West Coast offense. The Chiefs have a good defense, an excellent running game and a No.1 pick they'll likely use on an offensive lineman to protect Smith. And they reside in perhaps the weakest division in the NFL, meaning the turnaround won't be as daunting as it was when he arrived in San Francisco.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">Just think, 21/2 years ago, Smith was booed in his home stadium. One year ago, he was dismissed as merely a game manager. Today he's a hot commodity.</div><div style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px;">Nice guys might wind up in Kansas City, but they don't always finish last.</div><div style="color: black; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; height: 1px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; width: 1px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/28/3259813/alex-smith-shows-nice-gius-dont.html#storylink=cpy</div></div></div>

Alex Smith Alex Smith shows nice gius don't always finish last

BY MATTHEW BARROWSTHE SACRAMENTO BEESANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Two and a half years after 49ers fans chanted, "We want Carr!", the NFL was saying, "We want Alex!"How else to explain the richer-than-expected compensation the 49ers will receive for their b…

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American pianist Van Cliburn dies at 78

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Photos of Van Cliburn, an internationally celebrated pianist, who died early Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, at his Fort Worth home following a battle with bone cancer. Cliburn had a spectacular career and enjoyed rock star status. His triumph at a 1958 Moscow competition helped thaw the Cold War and launch a spectacular career that made him the rare classical musician to enjoy rock star status.<span id="more-56999" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div><div><img alt="022813_VenCliburn_02.JPG" src="http://mediacenter.smugmug.com/photos/i-fvPTZs3/1/L/i-fvPTZs3-L.jpg" /></div><div><img alt="022813_VenCliburn_01.JPG" src="http://mediacenter.smugmug.com/photos/i-r9BPH8P/1/L/i-r9BPH8P-L.jpg" /></div><div><img alt="022813_VenCliburn_03.JPG" src="http://mediacenter.smugmug.com/photos/i-ZMkQVsg/1/L/i-ZMkQVsg-L.jpg" /></div><div><img alt="022813_VenCliburn_04.JPG" src="http://mediacenter.smugmug.com/photos/i-jPskNKL/1/L/i-jPskNKL-L.jpg" /></div><div><img alt="022813_VenCliburn_05.JPG" src="http://mediacenter.smugmug.com/photos/i-CkTmsZJ/1/L/i-CkTmsZJ-L.jpg" /></div><div><img alt="022813_VenCliburn_06.JPG" src="http://mediacenter.smugmug.com/photos/i-sM9H5sf/1/L/i-sM9H5sf-L.jpg" /></div><div><img alt="022813_VenCliburn_07.JPG" src="http://mediacenter.smugmug.com/photos/i-bwMMH5L/1/L/i-bwMMH5L-L.jpg" /></div><div><img alt="022813_VenCliburn_08.JPG" src="http://mediacenter.smugmug.com/photos/i-9xx37NQ/1/L/i-9xx37NQ-L.jpg" /></div><div><img alt="022813_VenCliburn_09.JPG" src="http://mediacenter.smugmug.com/photos/i-mcwzNwJ/1/L/i-mcwzNwJ-L.jpg" /></div><div><img alt="022813_VenCliburn_10.JPG" src="http://mediacenter.smugmug.com/photos/i-BDPpHV6/1/L/i-BDPpHV6-L.jpg" /></div><div class="p402_premium" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="contentsmug" id="gallery_smug" style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 10px 0px 12px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="slideshow-container" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"></div></div></div></div>

Van Cliburn American pianist Van Cliburn dies at 78

Photos of Van Cliburn, an internationally celebrated pianist, who died early Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, at his Fort Worth home following a battle with bone cancer. Cliburn had a spectacular career and enjoyed rock star status. His triumph at a 1958 Mo…

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After Jimmy Kimmel/Morrissey fight, ‘Duck Dynasty’ lands biggest numbers in A&E history

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img src="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2013/02/26/Style/Images/img_0088_0.jpg?uuid=4f30ToBQEeKjUEmGavq1hA" /><br /><br /><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><span class="imgfull" style="float: left; margin: 4px 10px 10px 0px; width: 454px;"><span class="blog_caption" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 14px;">Jep Robertson, John Martin, Jase Robertson, Willie Robertson on “Duck Dynasty” Season 3. ( Art Streiber - A&E)</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">A <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/jimmy-kimmel-mocks-morrissey-for-canceling-appearance/2013/02/27/7716b496-80e5-11e2-a350-49866afab584_blog.html" style="color: #0c4790;" target="_blank">Jimmy Kimmel/Morrissey catfight</a> over a show about duck-call manufacturers has handed A&E network its biggest audience ever.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Nearly 9 million people watched Wednesday night’s third-season debut of “Duck Dynasty” — one night after “DD” family members appeared on Kimmel’s ABC late-night show, getting Morrissey’s knickers in a knot.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">“Duck Dynasty” is now the No. 1-rated nonfiction series on cable this year.</div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8896966065785019252" name="pagebreak" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: underline;"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px;"></span><br /><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">The back-to-back episodes with which “Duck Dynasty” opened its third season more than doubled the franchise’s second-season launch.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">According to Blufin Labs, Trendrr.TV and Social Guide, “Duck Dynasty” also had more activity across social-media platforms Wednesday night than “American Idol.”</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">In case you’re among the uninitiated: “Duck Dynasty” follows the Robertson family, whose business making products for duck hunters (primarily a duck call) has become a multimillion-dollar deal. The Robertson men don’t like to shave; the women look like extras on a “Real Housewives” franchise.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">To put the show’s nearly 9 million fans in perspective: That’s a bigger crowd than achieved by any of NBC’s prime-time shows on any night last week. <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-09-13/entertainment/35496221_1_chicago-fire-taylor-kinney-eamonn-walker" style="color: #0c4790;" target="_blank">NBC’s most-watched series, “Chicago Fire,”</a> averaged 6.5 million viewers.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">It’s also a bigger audience than anything watched on Fox except “American Idol.”</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">It’s a crowd that only a handful of ABC shows exceeded last week — the handful being “The Bachelor,” “Castle,” “Modern Family,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and the Academy Awards.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">And it goes without saying that “Duck Dynasty” beat everything on CW.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">But wait — there’s more!</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">“Duck Dynasty’s” audience was about 3 million more people than tuned in to ABC’s “Good Morning America” last week to watch the much-ballyhooed, star-studded return of <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/robin-roberts-will-return-to-good-morning-america-on-feb-20-video/2013/02/07/d5186e14-713f-11e2-8b8d-e0b59a1b8e2a_blog.html" style="color: #0c4790;" target="_blank">co-host Robin Roberts</a>. That “GMA” featured welcome-back messages from no less than President Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Denzel Washington, Sally Field, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lopez and the cast of “Modern Family”!</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Roberts had been on medical leave from the show since August in order to undergo a bone marrow transplant after <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/robin-roberts-to-undergo-treatment-for-rare-blood-disorder-tells-gma-viewers-im-going-to-beat-this/2012/06/11/gJQAFioiUV_blog.html#comments" style="color: #0c4790;" target="_blank">being diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)</a>, a rare blood disorder that affects bone marrow; the condition likely was caused by treatment for breast cancer five years earlier.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Not only that: <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/good-morning-america-on-track-to-beat-today-again/2012/04/26/gIQAJfGQjT_blog.html" style="color: #0c4790;" target="_blank">“Good Morning America’s”</a> audience last week also was that franchise’s biggest audience in more than 19 years.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">(On Wednesday of last week, when Roberts <i>actually </i>returned, nearly 7 million viewers tuned in.)</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">And finally, the “Duck Dynasty” season-debut audience is about 6 million stronger than Kimmel’s audience last week.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Kimmel worked like a beaver this week to hype the “Duck Dynasty” debut.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">First, he invited the clan to be his guests the night before their return on A&E. That caused former Smiths frontman Morrissey, who was supposed to perform on the show that night, to cancel.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Morrissey is well-known as an animal-rights campaigner — the kind of guy who insists that Los Angeles’s Staples Center be a meat-free zone the night of his performance, and who refers to the Robertsons as “animal serial killers.”</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">That night on his show, Kimmel said he respected Morrissey’s position, but that he had not dumped the Robertsons because “they have guns and Morrissey doesn’t.”</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Morrissey, Kimmel concluded, “keeps finding ways to depress us.”</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">At which point, Kimmel’s opening blah, blah, blah was interrupted by an “ad” in which the Robertsons plugged their newest product: a carrot caller, which makes a noise that causes young carrots to jump out of the soil and into their mouths.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Morrissey was not amused, issuing another sternly worded statement that said he was disappointed to see Kimmel “ridicule depression,” “ridicule healthy eating” and ridicule “the notion that animals should be entitled to the possession of their own lives.”</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">“Furthermore, he found time to jokingly promote gun ownership — hugely amusing for the parents at Sandy Hook, no doubt,” Morrissey added for good measure.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">“None of the above issues are, of course, as important as Jimmy Kimmel himself,” Morrissey concluded, like he meant it to sting.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Before Kimmel and Morrissey began taking swipes at each other, “Jimmy Kimmel Live” said that Morrissey would be rescheduled on a non-“Duck Dynasty” night.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;">Now, don’t hold your breath.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 22px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><br /></div></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/I_XqjHv_43w?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe></div>

Duck Dynasty After Jimmy Kimmel/Morrissey fight, ‘Duck Dynasty’ lands biggest numbers in A&E history

Jep Robertson, John Martin, Jase Robertson, Willie Robertson on “Duck Dynasty” Season 3. ( Art Streiber - A&E)A Jimmy Kimmel/Morrissey catfight over a show about duck-call manufacturers has handed A&E network its biggest audience ever.Nearly 9 millio…

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Parents react to possible school closings and teacher cutbacks

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="Story" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div class="KonaBody"><div class="StoryBody"><div class="StoryBlockFirst"><div class="StoryText">BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)- "I think that it's ridiculous and I don't know what happening to this school system and it seems like it's deteriorating minute by minute," said Emily Walker.<br /><br />Emily Walker has two children who attend Center Street Middle School. It is on the list for possible closure. Walker wants the school to stay open.<br /><br />"Both of my girls are honor roll students, they're active in sports and I went here also so I know the learning process is extravagant," mentioned Walker.<br /><br />The Birmingham School Board plans to bus Center Street students to Richard Arrington Jr. Middle School as well as Carver High School. Transportation to and from school will become an nightmare for Walker.<br /><br />"It's kind of heartbreaking because right now I'm a nursing student. I don't know how the bus system is going to run or anything like that," mentioned Walker.<br /><br />As of right now, from Emily Walker's home to Center Street Middle School, it takes her children two and half miles to get there. But if that school closes, the amount of time and mileage it takes to get Arrington Middle school will change.<br /><br />She will have to add at least another mile and a half onto her trip.<br /><br />Parents at Arrington Middle are also unhappy with the consolidation plans.<br /><br />"The teachers, they also have a whole lot on them now, and I'm kind of worried if they don't have the one on one classroom time with the children that are here, what are the possibilities of them getting that," mentioned Angela Walton.<br /><br />If the plan goes through, there will be a need for more buses. The school board plans to purchase more.<br /><br />The Birmingham City Schools released the following information:<br /><br />The plan calls for consolidating and reconfiguring schools across the district:<br /><br />•Carver and Woodlawn high schools would add seventh and eighth grades in a school-with-a-school model. Students in the seventh and eighth grades would be in separate areas of the schools with separate staffs and administrations.<br /><br />•Center Street Middle School would close, with students moving to Arrington Middle School and Carver.<br /><br />•Councill Elementary School would consolidate with Bush Middle School to create a K-8 school.<br /><br />•Daniel Payne Middle School would close, with sixth-graders moving to South Hampton Elementary School and seventh- and eighth-graders going to Carver.<br /><br />•Hemphill Elementary School would close, with students moving to Jackson Elementary School and West End Academy.<br /><br />•Norwood Elementary School would close, and students would attend Phillips Academy.<br /><br />•Putnam Middle School would close, and students would move to Ossie Ware Mitchell Middle School and Woodlawn.<br /><br />•North Roebuck Elementary School would close and relocate to the Martha Gaskins Middle School building. Martha Gaskins students would go to Smith and Ossie Ware Mitchell middle schools.<br /><br />•Avondale Elementary School, Barrett Elementary School, Hayes K-8 School, Hudson K-8 School, Inglenook K-8 School, Oliver Elementary School and South Hampton Elementary School would become K-6 schools.<br /><br />•The new Oxmoor K-8 School would open this summer as a K-5 school.<br /><br />•Kennedy Alternative School would be closed and the program would be moved to the Daniel Payne Middle School building.<br /><br />The proposal also includes a reduction in force, which would result in the loss of 133 positions across the district, 108 in schools and 30 in central offices. Those positions in schools would include 15 Child Nutrition Program workers, 10 teacher assistants, 17 clerical workers, two bookkeepers, 13 custodians, 15 teachers, seven principals, 15 assistant principals, seven counselors and seven library media personnel.<br /><br />Central office positions that would be eliminated would include four program specialists, three clerical workers, one bookkeeper, five custodians, three data entry technicians, one director/assistant director and eight maintenance employees.<br /><br />The total savings projection from the plan totals $8,018,786.21.</div></div></div></div><div class="Copyright" style="float: left;">Copyright 2013 WIAT-TV CBS 42</div></div><div class="StoryOptions" style="background-color: white; border-top-color: rgb(136, 136, 136); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: inline-block; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; height: 38px; margin: 8px 0px 40px; padding-bottom: 50px; width: 675px;"><div class="StoryTags StoryTagsEnhanced" style="clear: right; margin: 1em 0px 25px; padding-bottom: 50px;"></div></div></div>

school closings Parents react to possible school closings and teacher cutbacks

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)- "I think that it's ridiculous and I don't know what happening to this school system and it seems like it's deteriorating minute by minute," said Emily Walker.Emily Walker has two children who attend Center Street Middle Schoo…

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Rick Barry on Stephen Curry: 'He shot the hell out of the ball'

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="articleByline" id="articleByline" style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="author vcard" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="fn" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="bylinejb" style="padding: 0px;">By Marcus Thompson II</div><div class="bylineaffiliation" style="padding: 0px;"><a href="mailto:mthomps2@bayareanewsgroup.com" style="color: #003399; text-decoration: none;">mthomps2@bayareanewsgroup.com</a><span class="source-org vcard" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></div></span></span></div><div class="articleDate" id="articleDate" style="background-color: white; color: #848080; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Posted:   02/28/2013 02:24:48 PM PST</div><div class="articleSecondaryDate" id="articleDate" style="background-color: white; color: #000088; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Updated:   02/28/2013 03:32:07 PM PST</div><div class="articleSecondaryDate" id="articleDate" style="background-color: white; color: #000088; font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="articleByline" id="articleByline" style="color: #555555; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="author vcard" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="fn" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="bylinejb" style="padding: 0px;"></div><div class="bodytext" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 15px; padding: 0px;">NEW YORK -- Warriors legend Rick Barry didn't watch Stephen Curry go for 54 points at Madison Square Garden. But the highlights were enough to earn a tip of the cap from one of the 50 greatest players of all time.</div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 15px; padding: 0px;">"Any time you can score 54 points, it's pretty impressive," Barry said in a phone interview. "He did it a lot of different ways -- going to the basket, floaters, 3s, creating his own shot, coming down in transition and pulling up. He shot the hell out of the ball."</div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 15px; padding: 0px;">Curry snatched the attention of the basketball world, even though the Warriors lost 109-105 to the host Knicks on Tuesday. Curry was 18 of 28 shooting and only missed two of his 13 attempts from 3-point range. <span style="font-size: 10px;">Barry, who scored 58</span></div><div class="articlePosition2" style="color: black; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin: 10px 10px 10px 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;"><div class="articleImageBox" style="border-style: none; color: #888888; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;"><span class="articleImage" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/portlet/article/html/imageDisplay.jsp?contentItemRelationshipId=4974057" style="color: rgb(92, 92, 92) !important;" target="_new"><img alt="" border="0" height="223" src="http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site568/2013/0228/20130228_042742_stephencurry_300.JPG" title="" width="300" /></a></span><div class="articleImageCaption" style="font-family: verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 300px;">Stephen Curry #30 of the Warriors is greeted by Draymond Green #23 after breaking the 50 point mark en route to a total of 54 in the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 27, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)</div></div></div><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">at the Garden on Dec. 14, 1965, said he liked how Curry mixed it up. But he also liked how he set up his teammates when the defense called for it.</span><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 15px; padding: 0px;"></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 15px; padding: 0px;">The Hall of Famer said he knew Curry had that kind of game. He said he hopes the performance reveals to Curry the kind of player he can be when he is aggressive.</div><div style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 15px; padding: 0px;">"That's the way he needs to play all the time," Barry said. "You've got to play with that aggressive mentality. As unselfish as he is, and with the vision he has, it opens up so much more when he plays that way. The entire team benefits when he plays that aggressively. I don't know how Mark (Jackson) feels, but I'd be mad if he doesn't take 20 shots per game."</div><div><br /></div></span></span></div></div></div>

Stephen Curry Rick Barry on Stephen Curry: 'He shot the hell out of the ball'

By Marcus Thompson IImthomps2@bayareanewsgroup.comPosted:   02/28/2013 02:24:48 PM PSTUpdated:   02/28/2013 03:32:07 PM PSTNEW YORK -- Warriors legend Rick Barry didn't watch Stephen Curry go for 54 points at Madison Square Garden. But the highlights…

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Mariah Carey joins wardrobe malfunction club

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img alt="Mariah Carey" src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/02/28/mariahcslip-3_4_r536_c534.jpg?1b79b3da202957124496e3768cfb7b67cdb10c81" /><br /><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">This one may barely qualify.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">But if you enlarge, enlarge, enlarge, you'll be able to see what we're talking about. Or maybe you can see the shadowy offending bit of skin just fine.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Mariah Carey, whose breasts were bulging on last night's <i>American Idol</i> show in a strapless dress, was presenting at the So So Def 20th Anniversary Concert in Atlanta over the weekend in another strapless dress, helping celebrate with pal Jermaine Dupri. She <a href="http://twitter.com/MariahCarey/status/305536770345414656/photo/1" style="color: #1990e5; text-decoration: none;" title="http://twitter.com/MariahCarey/status/305536770345414656/photo/1">tweeted some backstage photos</a>, along with her best wishes to "JD."</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 60px;">Onstage, at the Saturday night event, she raised her hands up a little bit, and her strapless dress slipped down just enough. And now the photo is making the rounds. As <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/392479/mariah-carey-nip-slip-at-so-so-def-anniversary-concert" style="color: #1990e5; text-decoration: none;" title="http://www.eonline.com/news/392479/mariah-carey-nip-slip-at-so-so-def-anniversary-concert">E! put it</a>: It was the emancipation of Mariah's little Mimi.</div></div>

Mariah Carey Mariah Carey joins wardrobe malfunction club

This one may barely qualify.But if you enlarge, enlarge, enlarge, you'll be able to see what we're talking about. Or maybe you can see the shadowy offending bit of skin just fine.Mariah Carey, whose breasts were bulging on last night's American Idol …

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Castel Gandolfo: The Colorful History of the Pope's Summer Home

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img alt="Photo Gallery: The Storied Papal Summer Residence" src="http://www.spiegel.de/images/image-466106-breitwandaufmacher-kfvh.jpg" /><br /><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.483333587646484px;">Pope Benedict has withdrawn to Castel Gandolfo while his successor is chosen. But few know that the papal summer residence of almost 400 years has a curious history, serving as a hideout for Jews, delivery ward and target for paparazzi.</strong><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;">In the late evening of Aug. 6, 1978, a heavy iron chain was pulled across the door of the papal summer palace. All the lights in the area were turned off, and the flag was set at half-mast. The fountain on the village square in front of the palace ran dry, and the bells of the nearby church began to ring. These symbolic signs marked the end of Pope Paul VI's term in office. He had died at his summer residence at 9:40 p.m., a few hours after having a massive heart attack.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;">Just like his predecessors, Pope Paul had withdrawn from the Vatican when the hot summer months began, heading to Castel Gandolfo to enjoy the cool climate and relax during long strolls through the gardens at the almost 400-year-old papal palace.</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;"></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;">At 8 p.m. on Feb. 28, 2013, the third papacy in the history of the <a class="spTextlinkInt" href="http://www.spiegel.de/international/topic/catholic_church/" style="color: #990000;" title="Catholic Church">Catholic Church</a> will come to an end at this history-rich location in the Alban Hills, where <a class="spTextlinkInt" href="http://www.spiegel.de/international/topic/pope_benedict_xvi/" style="color: #990000;" title="Pope Benedict XVI">Pope Benedict XVI</a> will go while a conclave is held to choose his successor. It's a striking place, and not just because of its long history. It was here that Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96) once ordered the bloody persecution of early Christians. Roman emperors had come to appreciate the climate it offered at 426 meters (1,400 feet) above sea level, and Domitian had a palace erected here. Around 1200, the Gandolfi family from Genoa, which Castel Gandolfi would later be named after, built a villa here. Since 1596, the main part of what is now the papal summer residence has been owned by the Vatican.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;"><b>Italian Occupiers</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;">Urban VIII (1623-1649) had the massive summer palace built and was the first pope to vacation here. German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe visited the palace in 1787, while on his famous Italian journey, and gushingly praised its idyllic location on the deep-blue Lake Albano. The popes held it in equal esteem, and almost all of them would make annual pilgrimages to the site.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;">This tradition came to a sudden end in 1870, when Italian soldiers took control of the Papal State and declared then-Pope Pius IX a "prisoner in the Vatican." Legend holds that the pope lived out the last eight years of his life without setting foot outside Rome's Apostolic Palace, the residence of modern-day popes. The same fate awaited his successors, leaving Castel Gandolfo to fall into a type of hibernation for several decades.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;">This all ended in 1929, when the Lateran Treaty, signed with what was then the Kingdom of Italy, guaranteed the Holy See its summer residence in perpetuity. Castel Gandolfo was designated part of the territory of the Vatican City State and would enjoy extraterritorial status from then on.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;"><b>Secret Refuge for Jews</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;">In 1934, Pius XI became the first 20th-century pope to visit the palace. He had the old masonry repaired and outfitted the residence with radios, telephones, heating, electric lights and an elevator. A year later, he celebrated the establishment of a new telescope for the Vatican Observatory on the palace's roof. The astronomers of the Papal See migrated from the Vatican Gardens to Castel Gandolfo because all the electric lights in the Eternal City had made things too bright. Along with them came the Vatican's meteorite collection, one of the most significant collections of cosmic rocks in the world.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;">Pius XI also had greenhouses and cattle barns set up so that the Vatican could provide itself with food -- a far-sighted decision. In May 1938, when Hitler made an official state visit to Rome to meet with Mussolini and the entire city was decked with Nazi flags, Pius XI and Cardinal Secretary of State Pacelli, the later Pope Pius XII, demonstrably withdrew to Castel Gandolfo. The pope was intent on avoiding having to meet with the German dictator, whom he had sharply criticized -- without naming Hitler directly -- as a "prophet of delusion" a year earlier in his "Mit brennender Sorge" ("With burning concern") encyclical. Pius XI remained at Castel Gandolfo for six months before returning to Rome in late October 1938, where he died shortly thereafter.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;">In August 1939, the new pope, Pius XII, made a global appeal to the world from Castel Gandolfo: "Nothing is lost with peace, everything may be lost in a war." But his warnings were ignored and, within a few years, both war and Nazi terror would also reach Rome and its surroundings. In 1943, German soldiers would occupy the Eternal City and began deporting Roman Jews. Pius XII initially didn't react to the persecution of Jews taking place outside his windows. Later, he would order churches, cloisters and other Vatican properties -- including Castel Gandolfo -- to be used to shelter for those being targeted.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;">Several hundred Jews were supposedly kept hidden and provided with kosher food at the summer residence. Gaining more precise information about this matter is difficult because the related Vatican files are still sealed. What is certain, however, is that in October 1943, the Vatican dispatched a contingent of papal Palatine Guards to stand guard at Castel Gandolfo. This unit was then gradually strengthened by volunteers until the Vatican exclave was protected by thousands.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;"><b>Papal Bedroom as Birthing Chamber</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;">In the spring of 1944, thousands of people from nearby took advantage of the special legal status of Castel Gandolfo to seek refuge from Allied bombing raids. The territory of the neutral Vatican was considered inviolable and safe from attack. Even so, on the morning of February 10, a bomb dropped from a plane fell on the summer residence right when a crowd of people was gathering for the distribution of the daily milk ration. Over the following days, more than 500 corpses were dug out from beneath the wreckage.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;">At roughly the same time, the papal chambers had come to resemble a maternity ward. Pregnant refugees had sought safety there, and the screams of newborn babies were heard in the papal bedroom. The Vatican says that some 40 children were born at Castel Gandolfo during this period. In thanks, many mothers even named their children after Pius XII, christening them Pio, the Italian version of Pius, or Eugenio, the pope's given first name.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;">Pius XII himself didn't return to Castel Gandolfo until 1946, and his last visit was on July 24, 1958. By that point, he only had two months to live. In early October, he suffered two strokes in the papal summer residence, which left him in agony for several days. For the first time, the eyes of the world were directed not on Rome, but on Castel Gandolfo, some 25 kilometers away.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;"><b>'I Want the Dead Pope Live!'</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;">The TV crews arrived, Vatican Radio set up a makeshift radio studio in the summer palace, and newspapers dispatched special correspondents, who were forced to sit outside its doors around the clock. In the competition to be the first to report the pope's death, there were a number of premature announcements. The news coordinator in Brussels of Eurovision, the pan-European television network that was launched in 1950 to share content (and that organizes the annual song contest), reportedly exhorted his counterparts at Rai, the Italian public broadcaster, to stay vigilant with the words "I want the dead pope live!" He finally died early on the morning of Oct. 9, 1958.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;">John Paul II precipitated a media event of a completely different sort, as the first pope to use the papal summer residence for athletic activities. He played tennis, kicked around a ball with the sons of the gardeners and swam laps in a pool specially built for him. To those who criticized the pool's construction, he countered that electing a new pope would be even more expensive. Paparazzi took advantage of the opportunity and snapped photographs of the pope in his swimming trunks.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;">In the mid-1980s, the Polish pope once again made his summer residence a topic of conversation by inviting prominent philosophers and theologians for visits. During the so-called Castel Gandolfo Talks, held in the Swiss Hall, the pope would sit in his armchair in the corner listening in silence. If he was interested in or disagreed with something in one of the lectures, he would invite the person who delivered it to eat lunch with him in his dining room.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;"><b>A Place</b> <b>for Decisions</b></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;"></div><div class="spMInline" style="background-color: white; float: right; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;"></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;">Benedict XVI, the professor pope, continued this tradition of inviting prominent figures to the summer residence. In addition to former Ph.D. students and classmates, he would host others at Castel Gandolfo, including church critic Hans Küng, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Bernand Fellay, the superior general of the ultraconservative Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), and the ambassadors of several Muslim countries. The latter were quickly summoned to Gandolfo in September 2006 to smooth things over after he had sparked an uproar with an address he delivered in the German city of Regensburg that leading figures in Islam criticized as "hate speech."</span><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;"></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;">The elderly pope is now withdrawing to Castel Gandolfo while his successor is being chosen in Rome. But there he will also be confronted with the dark sides of his papacy. This residence in the Alban Hills might have also been the place where he reached his decision to step down. It was here that he withdrew to in early April 2012, after an exhausting trip to Mexico and Cuba and the energy-sapping Easter celebrations.</div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.5px;">Less than a year later, he is returning here from Rome as a pope emeritus. Once his successor is installed, he will return to the Vatican and reside in the Mater Ecclesiae monastery.</div></div>

Castel Gandolfo Castel Gandolfo: The Colorful History of the Pope's Summer Home

Pope Benedict has withdrawn to Castel Gandolfo while his successor is chosen. But few know that the papal summer residence of almost 400 years has a curious history, serving as a hideout for Jews, delivery ward and target for paparazzi.In the late ev…

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NEWS/American Idol Recap: 5 More Guys Kicked Off—Who Hit Nicki Minaj "Somewhere"?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="entry_container clear" style="background-color: white; clear: both; float: left; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: -1px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="entry_content clear" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.7em; margin: 0px; min-height: 250px; padding: 10px 0px 0px;"><div class="entry_img_left" style="float: left; margin: 10px 10px 10px 0px; padding: 0px; width: 295px;"><img alt="Vincent Powell, American Idol" border="0" height="473" src="http://www.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2013128/reg_634.ai.cm.22813_copy.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); display: block;" title="Vincent Powell, American Idol" width="293" /><span class="photo_credit" style="clear: both; color: grey; display: block; font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 5px 0px 0px;">Michael Becker / FOX</span></div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;"><em>American Idol</em> has a new top 20.</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">The final 10 male semifinalists took the floor in Las Vegas tonight, to varying degrees of success, and the judges picked five of them to round out the field for next week's first live round.</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">So, who managed to impress just enough to make the main stage?</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;"><a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/392812/american-idol-recap-5-ladies-survive-sudden-death-nicki-minaj-cries" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank"><strong>Miss the last 10 girls performing last night? Read our recap!</strong></a></div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;"><strong>Mathenee Treco </strong>kicked the night off with<strong>Elvis Presley</strong>'s "A Little Less Conversation,"<em>Ocean's Eleven</em>-style, which didn't challenge his voice nearly enough. Snooze.</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">"It didn't feel current, it felt very cheesy and karaoke—but that's just me," offered <strong><a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/nicki_minaj" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none !important;">Nicki Minaj</a></strong>, her British accent out in full force. "The song choice was so wrong for you,"<strong><a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/randy_jackson" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none !important;">Randy Jackson</a></strong> added, "it makes me question what kind of artist you want to be."</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">Enter the self-proclaimed Turbanator, <strong>Gurpreet Singh Sarin</strong>, who pretty much horrified the judges by his rendition of <strong>James Morrison</strong>'s "Nothing Ever Hurt Like You."</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;"><a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/392970/kimberly-caldwell-s-american-idol-blog-why-zoanette-deserved-to-stay-and-why-nicki-minaj-is-the-best-new-judge" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank"><strong>Get the real <em>Idol</em> inside scoop from Kimberly Caldwell's blog</strong></a></div><div class="entry_img_right" style="float: right; margin: 10px 0px 15px 10px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; width: 302px;"><img alt="Gurpreet Singh Sarin, American Idol" border="0" height="300" src="http://www.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2013128/reg_600.ai2.cm.22813.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); display: block;" title="Gurpreet Singh Sarin, American Idol" width="300" /><span class="photo_credit" style="clear: both; color: grey; display: block; font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 5px 0px 0px;">Michael Becker / FOX</span></div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">"Honey child, hell no," Nicki warned him, telling the usually very impressive singer that he should have brought his guitar on tonight of all nights. "Honestly? That was terrible," Randy agreed, while <strong><a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/mariah_carey" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none !important;">Mariah Carey</a></strong> asked Gurpreet, "Do you also play other instruments, like the sitar or anything?"</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">Lucky for her, Gurprett promised some classical Indian influences should he stay in the competition. </div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;"><strong>Vincent Powell </strong>woke the place up moments later, however, with "Cause I Love You" by <strong>Lenny Williams</strong>.</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;"><a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/392536/nicki-minaj-god-bless-mariah-carey-but-i-ll-never-perform-with-her-on-american-idol" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank"><strong>Nicki Minaj says she'll "never" perform with Mariah Carey on <em>American Idol</em></strong></a></div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">"Preach on, Brother Vincent!" <strong><a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/keith_urban" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none !important;">Keith Urban</a></strong> praised the 29-year-old worship leader. "I loved it."</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">Sure enough, Randy agreed that the night <em>really</em> began with this performance. Nicki purred, "It was a good old-fashioned. It was a sexy old-fashioned...I could picture a bunch of 30-year-olds and 40-year-olds throwing their panties at you. That hit me <em>somewhere</em>."</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">"All I can say is, finally," Mariah concluded.</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;"><strong><a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/390712/latin-american-idol-winner-martha-heredia-arrested-for-allegedly-smuggling-heroin" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank">Times are tough for <em>Latin American Idol</em> winner Martha Heredia, charged with drug smuggling</a></strong></div><div class="clear" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></div><div class="expandable-blog-video-players" id="expandable-blog-video-player-9" style="float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="video-engine-players newsExpandableBlog clear" data-player-id="EXPANDABLE_INBLOG" data-player-type="newsExpandableBlog" id="video-engine-player-0" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="video-thumbnails-groups" id="video-thumbnails-group-0" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="video-thumbnail-roots" id="video-thumbnail-root-203117" style="background-color: transparent; clear: left; float: left; font-weight: bold; height: 110px; margin: 12px 25px 13px 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 196px;"><span class="evp-thumbnails" id="evp-thumbnail-203117" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><img a="" again="" alt="Video Thumbnail: " alum="" american="" border="0" class="images" dad="" height="110" id="image-203117" idol="" is="" src="http://thumbnails.eonline.com/p/newsnow_20130228_i_203117_196x110_2339581857.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); display: block; float: left; margin-left: 0px !important;" title="Video Thumbnail: " width="196" /></span><span class="play-btns" id="play-btn-203117" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://images.eonline.com/static/uberblog/images/play-btn.png); background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; height: 56px; margin: 27px 0px 0px -126px; position: absolute; width: 56px;"></span><span class="titles" id="title-203117" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://images.eonline.com/static/photogallery/images/thumb_overlay.png); background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; bottom: 0px; color: white; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; height: 16px; left: 0px; line-height: 13pt; padding: 5px; position: absolute; top: 86px; width: 187px;">”American Idol” Alum Is a Dad Again</span></div><div class="video-thumbnail-roots" id="video-thumbnail-root-203119" style="background-color: transparent; clear: left; float: left; font-weight: bold; height: 110px; margin: 12px 25px 13px 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 196px;"><span class="evp-thumbnails" id="evp-thumbnail-203119" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><img alt="Video Thumbnail: Honey Boo Boo Shut Down By Girl Scouts" border="0" class="images" height="110" id="image-203119" src="http://thumbnails.eonline.com/p/newsnow_20130301_b_203119_196x110_2339577902.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); display: block; float: left; margin-left: 0px !important;" title="Video Thumbnail: Honey Boo Boo Shut Down By Girl Scouts" width="196" /></span><span class="play-btns" id="play-btn-203119" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://images.eonline.com/static/uberblog/images/play-btn.png); background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; height: 56px; margin: 27px 0px 0px -126px; position: absolute; width: 56px;"></span><span class="titles" id="title-203119" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://images.eonline.com/static/photogallery/images/thumb_overlay.png); background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; bottom: 0px; color: white; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; height: 16px; left: 0px; line-height: 13pt; padding: 5px; position: absolute; top: 86px; width: 187px;">Honey Boo Boo Shut Down By Girl Scouts</span></div><div class="video-thumbnail-roots" id="video-thumbnail-root-203061" style="background-color: transparent; clear: left; float: left; font-weight: bold; height: 110px; margin: 12px 25px 13px 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 196px;"><span class="overlays" id="overlay-203061" style="border: 3px solid red; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 106px; position: absolute; width: 192px; z-index: 2;"></span><span class="evp-thumbnails" id="evp-thumbnail-203061" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><img alt="Video Thumbnail: Backstage Exclusive With " border="0" class="images" height="110" id="image-203061" idol="" judges="" src="http://thumbnails.eonline.com/p/enews_20130228_highlight_b_203061_thumb_196x110_2339569700.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); display: block; float: left; margin-left: 0px !important;" title="Video Thumbnail: Backstage Exclusive With " width="196" /></span><span class="play-btns" id="play-btn-203061" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://images.eonline.com/static/uberblog/images/play-btn-over.png); background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; height: 56px; margin: 27px 0px 0px -126px; position: absolute; width: 56px;"></span><span class="titles" id="title-203061" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://images.eonline.com/static/photogallery/images/thumb_overlay.png); background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; bottom: 0px; color: white; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; height: 16px; left: 0px; line-height: 13pt; padding: 5px; position: absolute; top: 86px; width: 187px;">Backstage Exclusive With “Idol” Judges</span></div></div></div></div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">Alas, <strong>Nick Boddington</strong> disappointed, picking the wrong tune in James Morrison's "Say Something Now." (Damn that James Morrison!)</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">"I kept waiting for that connection to happen," Keith lamented. Meanwhile, Mariah heard a moment, "the third to last ad lib you did," but Randy heard none.</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;"><strong>Josh Holliday</strong>, he of the <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/388634/american-idol-ladies-go-solo-and-one-guy-splits-his-pants" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank">split pants</a> in Hollywood, took a huge risk by singing an original ballad that was full of falsetto, but not enough familiarity.</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;"><a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/390700/american-idol-5-guys-eliminated-nicki-minaj-wants-to-have-elijah-liu-s-babies" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank"><strong>Which five guys and five girls made it last week?</strong></a></div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">"I just don't know if I was wowed by it in this moment," Randy explained.</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;"><strong>David Willis </strong>wowed <em>us</em>, meanwhile, by strumming out a really interesting rendition of "Fever," but while we thought it showed a great deal of artistic creativity, the judges quibbled over the vocal.</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">At least Randy, grizzled veteran that he is, was "a little intrigued" by it at least. "I don't really know what I was expecting," mused Mariah. "I feel like the crowd enjoyed it and I've heard you go vocally a bit more...but the crowd seemed to love it."</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;"><a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/388432/didi-benami-s-american-idol-blog-the-real-scoop-on-hollywood-week" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank"><strong><em>Idol</em> alum Didi Benami fills us in on Hollywood Week</strong></a></div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;"><strong>Bryant Tadeo</strong> of Hawaii surprised by choosing the East Coastiest song of all to sing, <strong><a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/billy_joel" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none !important;">Billy Joel</a></strong>'s "New York State of Mind," but he sang with conviction and his voice was rock-solid.</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">"I think that was a really good song for you and you handled it really well," Keith sweetly agreed with us. Nicki, however, didn't like <em>anything </em>but one riff! Mariah thought that the standing ovation he received may have stemmed from him sounding "professional."</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">The judges were unanimous, however, when it came to <strong>Burnell Taylor</strong>' performance of<strong><a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/john_legend" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none !important;">John Legend</a></strong>'s "This Time."</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;"><a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/393161/the-bachelorette-ladies-where-are-they-now" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank"><strong><em>The Bachelorette</em>: Where are they now? And do we care?!</strong></a></div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">"Literally, today, I would pay to see you sing," raved Nicki. "The best by <em>far</em> tonight...Nobody else was even in your lane tonight, period!"</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;"><strong>Lazaro Arbos</strong> covered Keith's "Tonight I Wanna Cry," and although Keith thought "the song was just ahead of you and you were trying to catch up," the other judges really enjoyed. "You played it safe, but in a good way," observed Nicki. "It's very truthful to you."</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;"><strong>Cortez Shaw</strong> closed the show with the very ballsy choice of <strong>David Guetta</strong>'s "Titanium." He was no <strong>Sia</strong>, but he did enough.</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">"That was a really bold and brave move," praised Keith. And, despite some big misses, "it hit the mark in a big, big way."</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">Then, it was time to halve the field.</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;"><a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/391943/the-bachelor-recap-sean-lowe-picks-his-final-2-ladies-reveals-he-s-ready-to-propose" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank"><strong>Find out who's got a 50-50 shot at Sean Lowe's proposal on <em>The Bachelor</em> finale</strong></a></div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">In the end, Cortez, Lazaro, Burnell, Nick and, of course, Vincent joined the top 20, meaning it was the end of the road for all the rest.</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">Here's the complete <em>American Idol</em> top 20:</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">Lazaro Arbos, 20<br />Charlie Askew, 17<br />Nick Boddington, 27<br />Curtis Finch Jr., 24<br />Paul Jolley, 22<br />Elijah Liu, 18<br />Vincent Powell, 29<br />Cortez Shaw, 21<br />Burnell Taylor, 19<br />Devin Velez, 18</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;">Janelle Arthur, 23<br />Aubrey Cleland, 19<br />Candice Glover, 23<br />Kree Harrison, 22<br />Amber Holcomb, 18<br />Zoanette Johnson, 20<br />Adriana Latonio, 17<br />Angela Miller, 18<br />Breanna Steer, 18<br />Teena Torres, 28</div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;"><strong>Do you think the judges sent the right guys through? How about the whole top 20? Sound off in the comments!</strong></div><div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4em; max-width: 600px; padding: 0.5em 0px;"><a href="http://www.eonline.com/photos/4756/american-idol-all-time-greatest-hits" style="color: #336699; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank"><strong>Check out <em>American Idol</em>'s all-time greatest hits</strong></a></div><ul class="blog_gallery clear" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; clear: both; list-style: none; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; width: 590px;"><li style="float: left; height: 102px; list-style: none inside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 110px;"><a data-omniture="news_detail:gallery_id_4756" href="http://www.eonline.com/photos/4756/american-idol-all-time-greatest-hits/192192" style="color: #336699; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none !important;" target=""><img alt="Phillip Phillips, American Idol" border="0" height="100" src="http://www.eonline.com/resize/100/100/0-0-293-293/eol_images/Entire_Site/2012417/reg_634.idol.ls.51712.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); display: inline; height: 100px; width: 100px;" title="Phillip Phillips, American Idol" width="100" /></a></li><li style="float: left; height: 102px; list-style: none inside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 110px;"><a data-omniture="news_detail:gallery_id_4756" href="http://www.eonline.com/photos/4756/american-idol-all-time-greatest-hits/175729" style="color: #336699; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none !important;" target=""><img alt="Jennifer Hudson, American Idol" border="0" height="100" src="http://www.eonline.com/resize/100/100/0-0-293-293/eol_images/Entire_Site/2012212/293.hudson.ls.31212.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); display: inline; height: 100px; width: 100px;" title="Jennifer Hudson, American Idol" width="100" /></a></li><li style="float: left; height: 102px; list-style: none inside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 110px;"><a data-omniture="news_detail:gallery_id_4756" href="http://www.eonline.com/photos/4756/american-idol-all-time-greatest-hits/175737" style="color: #336699; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none !important;" target=""><img alt="American Idol, Adam Lambert" border="0" height="100" src="http://www.eonline.com/resize/100/100/0-0-293-293/eol_images/Entire_Site/20090226/293.adam.idol.lr.022609.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); display: inline; height: 100px; width: 100px;" title="American Idol, Adam Lambert" width="100" /></a></li><li style="float: left; height: 102px; list-style: none inside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 110px;"><a data-omniture="news_detail:gallery_id_4756" href="http://www.eonline.com/photos/4756/american-idol-all-time-greatest-hits/175785" style="color: #336699; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none !important;" target=""><img alt="Jessica Sanchez, American Idol" border="0" height="100" src="http://www.eonline.com/resize/100/100/0-0-293-293/eol_images/Entire_Site/2012212/reg_634.2idol.ls.31212.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); display: inline; height: 100px; width: 100px;" title="Jessica Sanchez, American Idol" width="100" /></a></li><li style="float: left; height: 102px; list-style: none inside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 110px;"><a data-omniture="news_detail:gallery_id_4756" href="http://www.eonline.com/photos/4756/american-idol-all-time-greatest-hits/175726" style="color: #336699; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none !important;" target=""><img alt="Clay Aiken, American Idol" border="0" height="100" src="http://www.eonline.com/resize/100/100/55-0-370-315/eol_images/Entire_Site/2012212/425.aiken.ls.31212.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(153, 153, 153); display: inline; height: 100px; width: 100px;" title="Clay Aiken, American Idol" width="100" /></a></li></ul><div style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></div></div></div><div class="entry_footer clear" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; text-align: right;"></div></div>

Nicki Minaj NEWS/American Idol Recap: 5 More Guys Kicked Off—Who Hit Nicki Minaj "Somewhere"?

Michael Becker / FOXAmerican Idol has a new top 20.The final 10 male semifinalists took the floor in Las Vegas tonight, to varying degrees of success, and the judges picked five of them to round out the field for next week's first live round.So, who …

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Christian, You Have Been Released from Servitude to God

Readers - below is a repeat of my 2nd post from July 2011 based on Wade Burleson's January 2, 2011 sermon. <br /><br />These four posts - with the third and fourth coming in the next week, are some of my favorites.<br /><br />I hope you enjoy!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">-------------------------------------------------------------</div><br /> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="263" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/26791730?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="351"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 130%; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"You and I are released from servitude TO God. In other words I rest from my efforts to produce for God...because I have been released from my servitude to God....'I thought when I became a Christian I became a servant OF God.' No, No....you became a SON of God" Wade Burleson</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">----------------------</div>In part 2 of our look at Wade Burleson's January 2, 2011 sermon, we see above Wade tell us that we have been saved and been made sons and daughters of God, and we are not slaves or servants to God. Our debt has been paid and we can rest.<br /><br />In Part 3, we will look at the concept of a "bond slave", and in Part 4 Wade explains his view on the tithing doctrine as an example of how Christians have been released from having to perform FOR God. What Wade says in Part 4 is so simple yet profound, and something that you just won't hear in most pulpits regarding the truth on Christian stewardship.<br /><br />Stay tuned....<br /><div style="text-align: center;">-----------------------</div>Part 1: <a href="http://fbcjaxwatchdog.blogspot.com/2011/07/christian-jesus-is-your-jubilee-and-you.html">"Christian, Jesus is Your Jubilee, and You Can Rest"</a> - July 21, 2011

Christian, You Have Been Released from Servitude to God

Readers - below is a repeat of my 2nd post from July 2011 based on Wade Burleson's January 2, 2011 sermon. These four posts - with the third and fourth coming in the next week, are some of my favorites.I hope you enjoy!-------------------------------…

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Mount Sinai rethinks medical school admissions | Inside Higher Ed

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; color: black; text-align: left; "><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">In a major policy shift, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Wednesday announced that it will fill half of its entering class going forward by admitting college sophomores -- three years before they would enroll in medical school -- and will do so without requiring traditional pre-med course requirements and the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">In what a press release called the beginning of a "fundamental shift," sophomores will be admitted to<a href="http://icahn.mssm.edu/static_files/MSSM/Files/Education/Medical%20Education/Programs/FlexMed/IcahnAdmissions_Brochure.pdf" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">"FlexMed,"</a> <span class="print-footnote">[1]</span> a new program in which they will spend the rest of their undergraduate time in tracks such as  computational science/engineering, biomedical sciences and humanities/social sciences. Students will be encouraged to take courses in biostatistics, ethics, health policy and public health.  These courses would replace the <a href="https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/requirements/" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">traditional pre-med science requirements</a> <span class="print-footnote">[2]</span>.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Students will also be encouraged, but not required, to become proficient in Spanish or Mandarin.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">David Muller, Mount Sinai's dean of medical education, said in an interview that although requirements issues had been "written about for years and years... there's been either an inertia or a reluctance to take a first step and break down the model and try something new. What I hope will happen is that this program will prove very successful and prove decisively that it's a viable alternative."</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Mount Sinai has had a <a href="http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2010/07/30/nontraditional-route-med-school-success" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">similar program</a> <span class="print-footnote">[3]</span> on a much smaller scale in the past, and says it has been a success.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Explaining the rationale behind the decision to take a small program and apply it to half of the class, Muller said that pre-med science requirements tend to be "science that is not the most applicable to current clinical or translational research; it's not unimportant science, but it's kind of outdated."</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">The announcement comes at a time that the MCAT itself is changing in ways that reflect some of the concerns raised by Mount Sinai; <a href="http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/02/17/mcat-changing-how-it-tests-would-be-physicians" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">last year</a> <span class="print-footnote">[4]</span> saw the first major amendments made to the exam since 1991, with a plan to add sections on critical thinking and social sciences.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"I don't think of the MCAT as something that should be eliminated; I think the efforts to rethink the MCAT are admirable," Muller said. "[The revision] was a very thoughtful process, and yet the MCAT didn't eliminate some things that are really not that relevant to medical school. It really just sort of begins to scrape away at the iceberg of what we really need to do." Muller added that he thinks an over-reliance on the exams has developed. "The use of the MCAT, I think has really been warped over the course of time," he said. </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Muller also said that the current medical education model fails to take into account changes in the medical and technological landscape. "All of science has changed, even if you went back 50 years," Muller said. "The science that has had the most impact… is completely different." For example, Muller said, when he was attending medical school, "the whole concept of information technology didn't exist… we trained at a time that there was no such thing as a computer that you had [personal] access to."</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Robert Schaeffer, public education director of the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, which has been a frequent critic of the MCAT, and of standardized testing in general, called the move "definitely a step in the right direction." Schaeffer said that the alteration of requirements "moves Mount Sinai into the national leadership of medical school admissions reform. [The decision] indicates that they recognize the importance of multiple measures to assess for medical school."</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Although he said it was hard to predict the best course of action before any data on the program was in, Muller said that "if we get to the point where we see that there is equivalence between the two groups… we might actually consider increasing it to a larger proportion of the class or the whole class."</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"Medical schools can change their requirements at any time based on their environment and the mission of the institution," said Geoffrey Young of the Association of American Medical Colleges, which is responsible for the composition and administration of the MCAT. "The AAMC commends innovation in the medical school admissions process."</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: static; z-index: auto; ">"Our hope is that this proves to be a viable alternative to the traditional path," Muller said. "It'll really all depend on the data."</p></div><a href="http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/02/28/mount-sinai-rethinks-medical-school-admissions">http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/02/28/mount-sinai-rethinks-medical-school-admissions</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

Mount Sinai rethinks medical school admissions | Inside Higher Ed

In a major policy shift, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Wednesday announced that it will fill half of its entering class going forward by admitting college sophomores -- three years before they would enroll in medical school -- and will …

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So You Spot A Coyote. What Should You Do?

<br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">Ohio wildlife biologists are frequently contacted by concerned residents who spot coyotes. Yes, frequently, but this is not cause for alarm. Coyotes are highly adaptable animals that are regularly viewed by humans throughout the state. Here are a few steps to keep in mind when you encounter a coyote in the Buckeye State. <o:p></o:p></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><ol style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Understand that coyotes are common throughout Ohio’s 88 counties and are even regularly seen within city limits. Read more about coyotes at <a href="http://www.wildohio.com/">www.wildohio.com</a> </span></div></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are no wolves living in the wild in Ohio.</span></div></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><div style="text-align: left;">If you spot a coyote on your property, make sure to remove all “attractants” to deter the coyote from returning. This includes removing garbage and pet food before nightfall and cleaning up around the grill. </div></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><div style="text-align: left;">Coyotes prey primarily on small mammals such as rabbits and mice. However, interactions with domestic pets do occur sometimes.  Keep small dogs and cats inside or leash them when outside. </div></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><div style="text-align: left;">Occasionally, an inquisitive coyote will stay put and watch you curiously. Clap your hands and shout; the coyote will likely move on at this point.  </div></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><div style="text-align: left;">If the coyote visiting your yard does not respond to harassment techniques such as loud noises or is presenting a conflict even after removing attractants from your yard, contact a nuisance trapper. You can locate a trapper on our website at <a href="http://www.wildohio.com/">www.wildohio.com</a>  For a fee, these nuisance trappers use highly regulated techniques to reduce urban wildlife conflicts. Coyote populations in rural areas can be managed through legal hunting and trapping methods. Consult the yearly <em><a href="http://www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/dow/regulations/hunting.aspx" target="_blank">Ohio Hunting andTrapping Regulations</a></em> digest for more information. </div></li></ol><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPkJwN-Lox6Nc89J_a1f8N9VnVA9UY-mA3S59wKRaM1NyIFFReCW3szH4rRVwXWG-cB0NDBO-geqV7I9litZusJRVE89ySX3KmEoq6ybM-3ysOIKBLb6B4nLNX2tZWmhcSTwr5163FiQJ/s1600/coyote62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPkJwN-Lox6Nc89J_a1f8N9VnVA9UY-mA3S59wKRaM1NyIFFReCW3szH4rRVwXWG-cB0NDBO-geqV7I9litZusJRVE89ySX3KmEoq6ybM-3ysOIKBLb6B4nLNX2tZWmhcSTwr5163FiQJ/s320/coyote62.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">coyote<br /><br />Thank you to Jamey Emmert for this post. Jamey is the Wildlife Communications Specialist in our District Three office.</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>

So You Spot A Coyote. What Should You Do?

Ohio wildlife biologists are frequently contacted by concerned residents who spot coyotes. Yes, frequently, but this is not cause for alarm. Coyotes are highly adaptable animals that are regularly viewed by humans throughout the state. Here are a f…

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Newman's Own Organics Review and Giveaway

<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the winner is.....</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Robin Davidman! </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was sent a wonderful assortment of delicious foods for review from <a href="http://www.newmansownorganics.com/index.php">Newman's Own Organics</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If anyone has ever heard of their products I know your mouths are watering, but before I get started let me tell you about their company.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Newman's Own Organics was established as a division of Newman's Own in 1993, then in the late 2001 became their own individualized company.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Did you know since 1982 Paul Newman and the Newman's Own foundation have donated more than a whopping $350 million dollars to charitable and educational organizations world wide!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The ingredients to these tasty treats and snacks have grown on farms that are free of pesticides and artificial fertilizers.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am amazed at how much snacks came in the package for review!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I haven't tried them all yet though.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They also have a wide selection from pretzels to dog food!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgMGmscXZTCUK3SKRTBw2Whttrk7DfCvLgRR0Jp5wzc-fv-Lc1UtmSpVk8nnN0OSNqAVLqP1GGiqghIFIqld1h1mqOMZ9d002P3ooKodS7UDzS_-WzFLfOEd2AGbux9FWfVJPe5VQaVA/s1600/Newman's+Own+Display.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgMGmscXZTCUK3SKRTBw2Whttrk7DfCvLgRR0Jp5wzc-fv-Lc1UtmSpVk8nnN0OSNqAVLqP1GGiqghIFIqld1h1mqOMZ9d002P3ooKodS7UDzS_-WzFLfOEd2AGbux9FWfVJPe5VQaVA/s200/Newman's+Own+Display.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Products I received:</span></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">pretzels</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">candy bars</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">chocolate cups</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">mints</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">alphabet cookies</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Newman O's cookies</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">licorice</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dried fruits</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hermit cookies</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They also have coffee, popcorn, dog food, salad dressings and more!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">*Facts*</span></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">certified organic</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">pretzels:</span></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Honey Wheat mini salted thins- I am a huge fan of salty and crunchy snacks, especially when it tastes great and is healthy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I loved these pretzel minis they were great!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The honey taste was right on, not too much salt taste and worked great with hummus or salsa!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><u>Mints:</u></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u>peppermint-</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />freshens breath with a cool minty taste!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><u>Cookies:</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Oatmeal Chocolate Chip-</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoK5Fhb9Ets4uRqR2LqynEm1MqWL3rwyT8lQQbDJB6dFdaA36EkQ0xEgh_EGQrnC7asL-rskjYOJS_VmQQezPSHajtyW4rAxrMVaab8omZ8N8PR11_IL06IG0E9ubRD0kYX2q17rfyGo/s1600/oatmeal+chocolate+chip+newmans+own.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoK5Fhb9Ets4uRqR2LqynEm1MqWL3rwyT8lQQbDJB6dFdaA36EkQ0xEgh_EGQrnC7asL-rskjYOJS_VmQQezPSHajtyW4rAxrMVaab8omZ8N8PR11_IL06IG0E9ubRD0kYX2q17rfyGo/s200/oatmeal+chocolate+chip+newmans+own.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Small bite sized cookie with oatmeal and sweet chocolate chips!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />These were amazing!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />You could not even really taste the oatmeal at all!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u><u>Chocolate Bars:</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Orange Dark Chocolate- </span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I didn't take a picture oops, it was too good!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />All I have got to say is wow!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can't believe the sweet taste of chocolate and the citrus from oranges were so great together!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Loved the taste of the chocolate and just the scent of it alone was intoxicating!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I mean seriously whoa, talk about mouth watering!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mocha Milk Chocolate-</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love coffee,it's even better when it's with the sweet taste of chocolate!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5T7z0CaZXuQHdja4t1ogU1G16SUS3ylBkD9sMWYREZ8nYgW3bfrdQ_RDtACxsI7UcgBg0R8mfrUz1Cod-sjY4L-O5ULJtfZ9Y1YYZKd9qkE9gMrni5MpKeQs-NNAPD5clp44AcMxD1X4/s1600/newmans+own+mocha+milk+chocolate+bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5T7z0CaZXuQHdja4t1ogU1G16SUS3ylBkD9sMWYREZ8nYgW3bfrdQ_RDtACxsI7UcgBg0R8mfrUz1Cod-sjY4L-O5ULJtfZ9Y1YYZKd9qkE9gMrni5MpKeQs-NNAPD5clp44AcMxD1X4/s200/newmans+own+mocha+milk+chocolate+bar.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So good, a bit strong but amazingly delicious!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Chocolate Cups:</u></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Peanut Butter-</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PXTCAmra395yWfnuL_E8pYuGQHH7wik4LMxJKLXDovaLW5zxtUzvcryXGxo55iN_wc1FjaNqsMShl_LNKiWEqCW8W2VJDQABSyEwikqyrFZ9VaaCnKT63l-o0DBPRkzQSmjsI8moowc/s1600/newmans+own+peanut+butter+cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PXTCAmra395yWfnuL_E8pYuGQHH7wik4LMxJKLXDovaLW5zxtUzvcryXGxo55iN_wc1FjaNqsMShl_LNKiWEqCW8W2VJDQABSyEwikqyrFZ9VaaCnKT63l-o0DBPRkzQSmjsI8moowc/s200/newmans+own+peanut+butter+cup.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Better than your average peanut butter cup!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">creamy organic peanut butter in the center bathed in milk chocolate!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Worked great with a glass of milk!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Caramel Cups-</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_M1h3JFdoBYwLkGeOevxgzmM7n68fjbwNqhDM9Fi9wwjji1AQ59hk1oTwY5cjrjdhM8huuqRvr8KsRAh8VTHahPYLHR4mbdWZq_zulicqPVDnJmx3ngliplVGw4X5agj4DJPkP-4gp3w/s1600/newmans+own+caramel+cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_M1h3JFdoBYwLkGeOevxgzmM7n68fjbwNqhDM9Fi9wwjji1AQ59hk1oTwY5cjrjdhM8huuqRvr8KsRAh8VTHahPYLHR4mbdWZq_zulicqPVDnJmx3ngliplVGw4X5agj4DJPkP-4gp3w/s200/newmans+own+caramel+cup.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The wow factor was sent when I first bit into this delicious cup.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">First bite you get is the sweet chocolate taste and then the gooey caramel.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Mint Chocolate cups:</u></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Loved the refreshingly cool minty flavor with the sweet chocolaty taste!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tasted like an Ande's mint!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u><u>Newman O's:</u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Chocolate-</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love chocolate, especially when it's double the chocolate!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What's not to love?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Chocolate creamy center sandwiched between 2 chocolate cookies!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Mint O's:</u></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These taste just like Thin Mint's Girl Scout cookies but way better with the creamy cool center!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They are amazing!!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So delicious!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">OK, let's get down to business shall we!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have to pick four of my favorite items and host a giveaway!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tough choice.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have to say from what I have tried so far I loved the caramel cups, orange chocolate bar, honey wheat pretzels and the peanut butter cups!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Truth is though I love all of the products I've tried!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">OK, so for the giveaway I will pick one winner!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">1.What are four products of Newman's Own would you like to try?</span></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Want an extra entry? </span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">2.  Must Follow my blog.</span><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">3.Then also follow me via Twitter, here. https://twitter.com/kelli_bliss </span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">4. then Re tweet my post about the giveaway and if you tweet on your own make sure you use #NewmansOwnOrganics</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">5. leave me a link here to your tweet.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like their face book page as well please! </span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Newmans-Own-Organics/219994593191?fref=ts">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Newmans-Own-Organics/219994593191?fref=ts</a></span><br /><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Be sure to check out their products online here!</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.newmansownorganics.com/index.php"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://www.newmansownorganics.com/index.php</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Connect with them on their social networking sites as well!</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Newmans-Own-Organics/219994593191?fref=ts"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Newmans-Own-Organics/219994593191?fref=ts</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">*Disclosure*</span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Received items for reviewing purposes only all thoughts about these products I have tried are my own.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sold at:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />Whole Foods</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Shaw's Supermarkets</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and much more!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>

Newman's Own Organics Review and Giveaway

And the winner is.....Robin Davidman! I was sent a wonderful assortment of delicious foods for review from Newman's Own Organics.If anyone has ever heard of their products I know your mouths are watering, but before I get started let me tell you abou…

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