ON THE COVER Pictured on this issue’s cover is Justin Clark and Christy King. Just, is the St. Francois Farm Bureau Insurance Agent here in Farmington, he loves golfing and fishing. Christy work for St. Francois Division of Family Services, and loves softball, the outdoors, and anything competitive. They live in Park Hills, have two dogs Pyper and Miller and are currently “attempting” to plan a fall 2010 wedding. Their full schedules have make planning a wedding a bit overwhelming! Justin’s parents Tom and Vicki Boatright own Diamonds and More Jewelry truly your engagement headquarters where you can find unique jewelry like pieces that Christy is wearing in our cover photo.
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JULY/AUGUST 2010
CONTENTS 4
July/August 2010
Shades of Red
Editor’s Note
Fireworks It Began with a Bang Improving on the Past
Gotta Eat Bite into a Better Burger Slobproof Sofas and More
Pet Health
Healthy Dog...Happy Family
Focus on Health
Shape up with the Banana Diet
The Art of Zen Gardening Home Entertainment
Business Tech Talk 10 Offline Ways to Promote your
New Website
July/August 2010
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Shades of Red When you think of red in summer, images of juicy strawberries, sweet raspberries and painful sunburn are probably what come to mind. There’s now evidence that those berries and other foods actually may help with the prevention of skin damage that results from that burn. That’s because both berries, along with pecans, walnuts and cranberries, contain ellagic acid, a natural antioxidant. A study conducted by researchers at Hallym University in the Republic of Korea and presented at the Experimental Biology 2009 meeting in New Orleans found that a topical application of ellagic acid prevented collagen destruction and inflammation in human skin cells as well as in the skin of hairless mice that had been exposed to UV-B rays. Apparently, the ellagic acid protected against UV damage by blocking production of the enzymes that break down collagen in damaged skin cells. It also inhibited another molecule that’s involved in swelling. Since inflammation of the skin and lack of collagen are two major contributors to wrinkles, the study offered hope that ellagic acid could smooth the way for sun worshippers everywhere. So next time you hit the pool, pack some sweet snacks along with your suntan lotion; your skin will thank you for it. -IE News Service •
Photo by Keith Weller and courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture
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EDITOR’S NOTE I spent the month of July on the road visiting friends in Chicago and then was off to South Dakota for a Mission Trip to two Native American Indian Reservations. I will be sharing the events of that trip with you in our next eZine. My travels are the primary reason that this issue is slightly skinnier and than our first and a bit late, but rest assured it will jump back up to its original size now that I have returned. I hope that everyone is enjoyed their summer, I know that I have. July and August are such wonderful months of the year. They can be busy and full of summer activity for us whether we are at home preforming our daily tasks or on a trip somewhere relaxing or sending children back to school. Please take the time and remember our soldiers who allow us the freedom we really do enjoy and sometimes take for granted. Thanks for reading,
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Annette Wolf Publisher & Managing Editor Aire Ezine Annette@airemagazine.com July/August 2010
July/August 2010
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FIREWORKS Invention of Fireworks
crackers produced later during the Song dynasty (960-1279) by a Chinese monk Many people associate fireworks with named Li Tian, who lived near the city of Independence Day, but their original Liu Yang in Hunan Province. These fireuse was in New Year’s celebrations. Do you know how fireworks were invented? crackers were bamboo shoots filled with gunpowder. They were exploded at the Legend tells of a Chinese cook who accidentally spilled saltpeter into a cooking commencement of the New Year to scare fire, producing an interesting flame. Salt- away evil spirits. Much of the modern focus of fireworks is on light and color, peter, an ingredient in gunpowder, was but loud noise (known as “gung pow” or used as a flavoring salt sometimes. The “bian pao”) was desirable in a religious other gunpowder ingredients, charcoal firework, since that was what frightened and sulfur, also were common in early fires. Though the mixture burned with a the spirits. By the 15th century, fireworks pretty flame in a fire, it exploded if it was were a traditional part of other celebrations, such as military victories and wedenclosed in a bamboo tube. dings. The Chinese story is well-known, This serendipitous invention of gunpowder appears to have occurred about though it’s possible fireworks really were invented in India or Arabia. 2000 years ago, with exploding fire10
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From Firecrackers to Rockets
In addition to exploding gunpowder for firecrackers, the Chinese used gunpowder combustion for propulsion. Hand carved wooden rockets, shaped like dragons, shot rocket-powered arrows at the Mongol invaders in 1279. Explorers took knowledge of gunpowder, fireworks, and rockets back with them when they returned home. Arabians in the 7th century referred to rockets as Chinese arrows. Marco Polo is credited with bringing gunpowder to Europe in the 13th century. The crusaders also brought the information with them.
Beyond Gunpowder
Many fireworks are made in much the same way today as they were hundreds of years ago. However, some modifications have been made. Modern fireworks may include designer colors, like salmon, pink, and aqua, that weren’t available in the past. In 2004, Disneyland in California starting launching fireworks using compressed air rather than gunpowder. Electronic timers were used to explode the shells. That was the first time the launch system was used commercially, allowing for increased accuracy in timing (so shows could be put to music) and reducing smoke and fumes from big displays.. █
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by IE News Service It’s been sitting at the back of your gun safe, making you feel guilty every time you see its rust-pitted barrel and dinged-up stock. It could be your grandfather’s favorite quail gun, that first .22 your dad taught you to shoot with, or perhaps just an assortment of old pieces and parts that you think might be most of an old flintlock if you actually knew how to put it together. No matter what the elephant in your gun safe might be, the odds are that you want to do something to get it back into shape, but you’ve heard that you’ll harm the value of the firearm if you restore it. So what should you do?
This more than 250-year-old .36 caliber Pennsylvania squirrel rifle was used in the Revolutionary War Battle of Cowans Ford. Before Stukbauer restored this family heirloom, its whole lock was missing and it was in very poor condition. A meticulous process brought it back to its former glory.
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“First, let’s be crystal clear that there’s a vast difference between a good quality restoration and substandard work,” explains Ed Stukbauer, who in 1965 founded Bauer Gunmakers Ltd. (now a division of Lake Norman Sporting Arms www.LakeNormanSportingArms.com) and has a passion for restoring treasures of the past. “There’s no doubt that a bad blue job or poor stock work is going to harm the value of any firearm, so the first thing you want to be certain of is that the gunsmith you are entrusting to do the work has the experience and the ability to do the job properly. You will pay a price for higher quality, but it’s an investment that is well worth it.” So what about harming the value? It’s generally agreed that extremely rare, one-ofa-kind pieces, or those whose value is associated with their visible wear and tear should not be touched. (No one with any sense, for example, is going to recommend buffing a rusty swastika off a WWII Luger.) Production guns, however, are generally fair game. “I always compare it to a classic car,” Stukbauer notes. “If you bought a 1955 Chevy Bel Air, never drove it, and kept it in pristine condition in your garage, it will be worth the most. If you left that same car sitting in your backyard exposed to the elements since 1955, to the point that it’s completely rusted away and has a bird’s nest in the engine, it’s not worth anything. If you take that rusted shell and
give it a flawless restoration, taking care to maintain the original parts wherever possible, you’re going to vastly improve the value of what you have. Will it ever be worth as much as one kept under lock and key for more than 50 years? Probably not, but it all depends on who is buying and how badly they want it. Keep in mind, that in the vast majority of firearms restoration cases, we’re dealing with family heirlooms that are never meant to be sold. If you’re looking to make a quick buck by reselling this gun next week, this isn’t the route you should be considering.” Which brings us to the question of intrinsic value. “At Lake Norman Sporting Arms, we excel at handling very high-end and unique restorations from manufacturers such as L.C. Smith, A.H. Fox, and Parker Brothers. At the same time, many of the firearms we work on aren’t worth nearly as much from a strictly monetary standpoint. It may be an old Sears & Roebuck rifle that cost the client’s grandfather $25 back in the day and isn’t worth much more now. But from an emotional and family history perspective, that firearm may be priceless, because it’s the rifle that the client learned to shoot with and he wants to pass on to his son, or the one his father got his first deer with, or the rifle that has been handed down through four generations of a family, etc.” However, just because the intrinsic value of a firearm isn’t as high as a collector’s piece, you need to remember that from a gunsmith’s perspective, it costs the same to work on a $100 shotgun as it does to work on a $10,000 shotgun. “The time involved in taking it down, prepping the metal and wood, and refinishing the piece is essentially the same. Now, there’s obviously more detail involved, and as a result, more hours and higher labor costs associated with checkering and engraving a high-quality firearm, but the basic blue-
ing and wood finishing costs are the same. In some cases, it actually can cost more to work on a cheap firearm, because if it’s poorly made, it’s going to take longer to take apart, put back together and ensure that everything is functioning properly. Once you open it up, you may have to remake or repair parts that just weren’t built to last.” In the end, let common sense and your personal attachment to the firearm be your guide, and stay within the bounds of good taste. “Don’t do anything off the wall to the firearm that it didn’t have initially,” Stukbauer advises.” Just like you wouldn’t put gold rims on a 1955 Chevy, you don’t want to put a pink anodized trigger on a Colt Python. Something way out of line is going to harm the value, while meticulously bringing it back to a state that is, in many cases, much better than original is going to transform the firearm from an eyesore into something you can be proud of. Tasteful additions like intricately engraved family initials will enhance the piece and make it more meaningful for future generations.” █
This 1891 Marlin .22 was beautifully restored with aesthetic changes such as a bone charcoal color case hardened action, hammer, lever and buttplate and a hand-rubbed oil finish as well as functional improvements such as a new barrel liner.
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GOTTA EAT
BITE INTO A BETTER BURGER Simple swaps for your next barbeque Family Features
Alpine Burger
Summertime officially ushers in grilling season. There’s no better way to celebrate the warm weather than at a backyard barbeque. Whether you’re entertaining friends or cooking for your family, it’s easy to make healthful choices at your next summer soirée. When planning for an outdoor gettogether, try better-for-you alternatives to traditional grilling fare. For example, serve fresh, seasonal grilled vegetables instead of potato chips. Once you’ve fired up the grill, try veggie burgers as an alternative to meat. MorningStar Farms Grillers Original Veggie Burgers contain 57 percent less fat than regular ground beef.*
Spicy Tex-Mex Pita Burgers Prep Time: 20 minutes Time to Table: 20 minutes Servings: 2 2 MorningStar Farms Spicy Black Bean Veggie Burgers 1 cup baby romaine lettuce or torn romaine lettuce 2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise 4 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro 14 July/August 2010
So, it’s not a burger — it’s better! Get your meatless barbeque started with an Alpine Burger. Or, if you’re looking for a burger with a bit of a twist, consider making these Garden Veggie Deluxe Burgers or Spicy Tex-Mex Pita Burgers. Once you’re finished with the main course, grill pineapple and serve it over sherbet for dessert. These simple substitutions are so delicious, your family and friends are sure to leave your next backyard party satisfied. For more recipes and fun food ideas, visit www.morningstarfarms.com. * Regular ground beef contains 14g total fat per 64g serving. Grillers Original contain 6g fat per 64g serving.
½ medium avocado, pitted, peeled, chopped 4 tablespoons tomato salsa 1 whole-wheat pita bread round 4 tablespoons shredded Cheddar cheese with jalapeño peppers or Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeño peppers 10 baked tortilla chips (optional) Cook burgers according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, toss together lettuce, mayonnaise, and cilantro
Alpine Burger
Prep Time: 25 minutes Time to Table: 25 minutes Servings: 1 ¾ cup sweet onions, sliced ½ cup fresh mushrooms, sliced ¼ teaspoon bottled minced garlic 1 MorningStar Farms Grillers Original Burger 1 teaspoon spicy brown mustard or Dijon Mustard 1 slice multigrain or whole wheat bread, toasted 1 /3 cup baby arugula 1 tablespoon Gruyere cheese or Swiss cheese, shredded In large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook onions, covered, over mediumlow heat for 16 to 20 minutes or until onions are very tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in mushrooms and garlic. Cook over medium heat, covered, for 4 to 6 minutes or until onions begin to brown and mushrooms are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Meanwhile, cook veggie burgers according to package directions. Spread mustard on one side of bread slice. Top with arugula (if desired). Place burger on arugula. Spoon onion mixture over burger. Sprinkle with cheese. Let stand for 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese melts. Serve immediately. until lettuce is evenly coated. In another bowl, stir together avocado and salsa. Cut pita bread across middle in half. Fill each half with lettuce mixture. Insert burgers. Add cheese and avocado mixture. Serve with tortilla chips, if desired.
Garden Veggie Deluxe Burgers
Prep Time: 5 minutes Time to Table: 25 minutes Servings: 2 2 MorningStar Farms Garden Veggie Patties Veggie Burgers 2 slices (1 1/2 ounces total) Provolone cheese 2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise or regular mayonnaise ¼ teaspoon curry powder 2 whole-wheat hamburger buns, split 2 slices tomato 2 slices red onion 4 rings green or red bell pepper Fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves for garnish (optional) Cook burgers according to package directions. Top hot burgers with cheese slices. Let stand until cheese melts, about 1 minute. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together mayonnaise and curry powder. Spread on bun bottoms. Top with burgers, tomato, red onion and bell pepper. Top with parsley leaves, if you like, and bun tops. █
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Can you imagine curling up on this elegant white sofa to catch a movie with a paper plate brimming over with ketchup-laden French fries precariously balanced on your lap? If you have kids, or for that matter, a husband, you’ve probably experienced the horror of a similar scenario unfolding in your very own living room. As the mother of two messy sons and the wife of an equally sloppy husband, Debbie Wiener not only shares your pain, she did something about it. The interior designer and author of Slobproof! Real-Life Design Solutions teamed with Crypton® fabrics to create a new line of Slobproof! upholstered furniture that is impervious to virtually any household mess. Visit www.slobproof.com to see videos of Wiener pouring chocolate sauce on fabric samples, budding young artists going to town with crayons, dogs making themselves at home on the sofas and more things that would make any woman cringe. You can browse the collection of sofas, chairs, sectionals and chaise lounges, order online or even order a $16.95 “Mess Kit” that includes three fabric swatches of your choice, a zippered Slobproof! cosmetic pouch and “everything you need to make a mess and clean it up - soy sauce, ketchup, crayons and Tide liquid.” So pick a pattern, and then pass that ketchup! Slobproof Sofas and More. █ -IE News Service, photos © 2010 Slobproof!
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Check Out airemagazine. com for more recipes. New courses are added weekly! Also Check out our Lawn & Garden and Home & Life Styles. New Topics added every week.
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PET HEALTH
HEALTHY DOG... HAPPY FAMILY Superfoods: Not just for humans!
A
ny pet owner will tell you, dogs are not just four-legged friends but bona- fide members of the family. Whether they are accompanying you on a walk to the park, warming your feet as you read your morning paper, or the first ones to greet you when you arrive home from a long day of work, dogs aren’t just ‘man’s best friend’ but an integral member of the family. And, just like any member of your family, your dog deserves the nutrition that will best serve his or her needs. Since keeping every member of the family healthy and active is important, NUTRO ULTRA food for dogs contains the ULTRASSENTIAL Superfood Blend. It blends a unique mix of high- quality proteins, antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy oils that deliver added performance benefits for your dog, including heart and joint health, strong eyesight and 18
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healthy brain function. The ULTRA food for dogs recipe includes well-known superfoods like pomegranates, blueberries and pumpkin while leaving out ingredients like wheat, ground yellow corn and artificial flavors or colors. “In the right combination, individual superfoods are stronger by working together, like taking a multivitamin. It’s this extra nutritional punch that makes the ULTRASSENTIAL Superfood Blend ideally suited for aiding in total dog health.” said nationally renowned veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, who has teamed up with the ULTRA brand. “Making sure your dog eats a nutritionally balanced diet is vital to his longevity and happiness.” Now that is something the whole family can get excited about.
The ULTRASSENTIAL Superfood Blend • Blueberries - Packed with antioxidants to help maintain a strong immune system, a healthy heart and sharp mind • Pomegranate - Packed with antioxidants and to help support a strong immune system • Pumpkin - A member of the squash family, pumpkin is a natural source of Beta Carotene and fiber that helps both the digestive health and vision of your dog • Avocado - Avocados are rich in Omega fatty acids for a healthy skin and coat. In ULTRA food for dogs only the fleshy part of the fruit is used, and not the skin, pit, leaves, or stems • Oatmeal - Oatmeal is a healthy grain with beneficial insoluble and soluble fiber recognized for helping promote easy digestion and heart health • Sunflower Oil - This healthy oil is rich in Linoleic Acid to help your dog have a healthy skin and coat • Tomatoes - Packed with Vitamin C and antioxidants, tomatoes help support a strong immune system and a healthy heart • Spinach - High in antioxidants and essential minerals, spinach helps support a strong immune system, strong vision and cognitive development
• Eggs - Considered one of the most perfect proteins, eggs not only help maintain your dog’s lean muscle mass, but also support cognitive development and help provide a healthy skin and coat • Alfalfa Meal - This natural grass rich in antioxidants and fiber provides the nutrients needed for a healthy immune system • Flaxseed - Flaxseed is a natural Omega-3 and 6 fatty acid source that helps maintain a healthy skin and coat, and support healthy joints for your dog • Carrots - Carrots contain one of the most concentrated sources of Beta Carotene for strong vision and a strong immune system • Brown Rice - Provides an excellent source of energy through easily digestible carbohydrates • Cranberries - This natural source of Vitamin C helps keep your dog’s immune system strong.
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Keeping You and Your Dog Happy and Healthy
Dr. Marty Becker shares tips to stay active with your dog • Stay fit. Nutrition and exercise are vital to the well-being of your dog. Dogs need a well balanced diet just like people, and you can greatly improve the longevity of your dog’s life by paying close attention to his eating and exercise habits. Exercise, besides helping keep a pet near its ideal body weight, greatly reduces bad behaviors like excessive barking, digging and chewing. • Clean teeth. Daily oral care is so important for their health, but it is often overlooked. While brushing your dog’s teeth at least weekly is the gold standard, any steps you take to help clean their teeth can prevent illness and help them live a longer life. An added benefit: No more “doggy breath!” • Have fun. Dog parks and dog- friendly beaches are great ways for you and your dog to get out, exercise and socialize. Just as it helps to have a fitness buddy at the gym, your dog can be your walking or jogging buddy and they never forsake you for a better offer. When you’re having fun together, it won’t feel like exercise! █ Got a Chemically Toxic Employee?
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FOCUS ON HEALTH Forget fad diets and trendy supplements. The banana diet is a natural way to shape up. The diet plan was created in Japan by an Osaka pharmacist to help her husband lose weight. By following the simple plan he dropped 38 pounds. Word spread like wildfire and soon stores across Japan couldn’t keep bananas on the shelves. HOW IT WORKS: The diet hinges upon eating two bananas for breakfast with an 8 oz. glass of room temperature water. Follow with a sensible lunch and dinner. Alcohol, sugary drinks and desserts are off limits but you can select a sweet for an afternoon snack. Eat until you are full and finish your evening meal by 8 p.m.
some carbohydrates into fuel. • Banana fiber “bulks up in your stomach so you feel full longer,” says Nicholas Gillitt, Ph.D., of the Dole Nutrition Institute. “And fiber pulls some of the fat you eat through your digestive system before it can be absorbed.” • The 40% of daily vitamin C provided WHY IT WORKS: by two bananas may also support weight Decades of nutrition research validate the loss. Arizona State University researchers idea that increasing consumption of fruit and showed that upping vitamin C intake could vegetables in general, and bananas in parboost the body’s ability to burn fat. ticular, can help support healthy, sustainable • “Research shows that breakfast eaters weight loss, for example: burn an extra 200 to 300 calories a day.” • Bananas contain resistant starch, which notes Gillitt. A banana breakfast has fewer ferments in your large intestine, creating by- calories and more nutrition than many products (butyrates) that block conversion of alternatives. 22
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Grilled Salmon with Citrus Salsa and Baby Greens Prep: 35 min. • Makes: 4 servings 2 oranges, peeled, cored and chopped ¼ cup finely chopped red onion 5 basil leaves, thinly sliced 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice 1 teaspoon seasoned rice-wine vinegar 1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 4 (5 to 6 oz.) salmon filets 1 pkg. (5 oz.) DOLE® Sweet Baby Lettuces or other DOLE salad variety ½ bulb fennel, thinly sliced Combine oranges, onion, basil and oil in medium bowl; season with salt and pepper. Mix orange juice, vinegar, and mustard in small bowl. Whisk in oil; season with salt and pepper. Season salmon fillets with salt and pepper. Lightly brush grill with oil. Grill salmon, turning once, until just cooked through, about 10 to12 minutes, depending on thickness. Combine salad blend and fennel in large bowl; add vinaigrette and gently toss to coat. Arrange salad on plates with salmon fillets. Spoon orange salsa over top of salmon. Per Serving: 400 calories, 23g fat (3g sat.), 94mg cholesterol, 691mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (3g dietary fiber, 6g sugars), 35g protein, 47% Vit A, 76% Vit C, 8% calcium, 12% iron, 34% potassium, 32% folate.
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California Kabob Prep: 20 min. • Marinate: 15 min. • Grill: 15 min. Makes: 4 servings 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes or jumbo shrimp, shelled and deveined ½ cup lemon juice ¼ cup olive or vegetable oil 2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper 2 cups DOLE® Tropical Gold® Pineapple, cut into chunks 1 zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices 2 red or green bell peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces 1 teaspoon cornstarch Combine chicken or shrimp, lemon juice, oil, mustard, thyme and red pepper in shallow, non-metallic dish. Cover; marinate 15 minutes in refrigerator. Drain chicken; reserve marinade. Thread chicken, pineapple, bell peppers onto skewers. Grill or broil kabobs 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until desired doneness and bell peppers are tender-crisp. Stir reserved marinade and cornstarch in small saucepan until blended. Cook and stir until sauce boils and thickens. Serve sauce with kabobs. Per Serving: 331 calories, 16g fat (2g sat.), 172mg cholesterol, 240mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (2g dietary fiber, 16g sugars), 24g protein, 28% Vit A, 186% Vit C, 7% calcium, 21% iron, 11% potassium, 5% folate
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BANANAS ARE A SUPERFOOD! • One medium banana is an excellent source of vitamins B6 and C and a good source of potassium and fiber. • Studies show that vitamin B6 helps reduce the levels of homocysteine, which at high levels can lead to artery blockage. • Fiber reduces levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol; in fact an analysis of 10 studies showed that for each 10g/day increase in fiber intake (a banana gives 4g) the risk of death from Chronic Heart Disease drops by 24%. • Vitamin C prevents oxidation of LDL “bad” cholesterol. • Adequate dietary potassium intake is associated with reductions in blood pressure. In fact, doctors in India discovered eating just 2 bananas a day can reduce blood pressure by 10% in just one week. BREAKFAST: • Two DOLE® Bananas • 8 oz. glass of water at room temperature LUNCH choose one daily • 1 cup roasted white turkey, 3 oz. black beans, tangerine and 1 cup fruit salad • 6 oz. steamed or poached salmon and 2½ cups tossed salad • Steamed chicken breast strips, 6 oz. baby spinach, reduced fat feta cheese and 1 cup raspberries • One bowl soup (200 calories) with 1 cup steamed or boiled shrimp • 4 oz. sautéed bay scallops, 2 cups baby lettuce, ½ cup each cucumber slices and green bell pepper strips • 10 oz. garden salad topped with apple, walnuts, blue cheese and roasted chicken breast strips • 1 cup steamed or boiled shrimp, asparagus and arugula salad with mandarin oranges SNACK choose one daily • Eight mini cut carrots • 1 cup mushrooms • Large red bell pepper and broccoli florets • 1/4 cup almonds • 1 cup watermelon • 1 (4 oz.) DOLE Fruit Bowls® • 1 grapefruit
DINNER choose one daily • 1 cup cooked wheat pasta tossed with 1 cup steamed veggies and lean turkey breast strips • 6 oz. broiled salmon, ½ cup sweet potatoes or yams and ½ cup steamed rice • 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, 1½ cups steamed broccoli and 1 cup shredded red cabbage • Barbecued chicken or shrimp kabobs with zucchini, pineapple chunks, red bell peppers and 1½ cups snow peas • 6 oz. grilled cod, fruit salad and 1 large red bell pepper • Wheat tortilla wrap with turkey, avocado, lettuce and fat free cheese • Roasted chicken breast, 2 boiled baby potatoes and steamed asparagus For more delicious healthy recipes go to: WWW.DOLEBANANADIET.COM Recipes and photos courtesy of Dole. █
the art of ZEN GARDENING By Jeff Halper
Zen
gardens are very unique landscaping designs that are also known as “Japanese Rock Gardens.” The word “Zen” means “dry” and the Japanese word for this type of garden is “karesansui,” meaning dry landscape. Consisting almost exclusively of stones and sand, this type of garden became very popular in Japan during the Shogun era (1185-1573AD), when feudal lords sought to landscape their estates in emulation of Buddhist temples. Monks frequently used such gardens to represent complex Universal truths in simple forms, and they frequently used them as places of meditation to calm and clear their minds. Although American popular culture commonly refers to anything that looks Japanese or Eastern as a “Zen garden,” a true karesansui never contains water. Instead, it uses gravel and sand to symbolize water. Usually the gravel is white or near white in coloration, although this is not a hard-fast rule in landscaping. The reason that sand and gravel are used as water substitutes is because they can be intricately sculpted in ways that water cannot. Using only a rake, a landscaper can depict ripples, sea waves, rushing rivers, or still, quiet lakes. Every so often, the gardener will alter these patterns to reflect the Buddhism belief that the only thing constant in the Universe is change itself. Even those things that appear to be the most fixed of forms are slowly being altered by unseen forces all around us. In many Buddhist temples even to this day, monks remind themselves of this truth by raking the sand in their Zen gardens while they 26
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meditate, seeking a still mind in the perfection of linear form, and creative insight in curved patterns of motion that wrap harmoniously around alternating forms. In most Zen gardens, rocks take the place of vegetation. This is another aspect of their design that makes these landscapes highly unique. Stones carefully placed in the sand create focal points in the endless fluidity that surrounds them, allowing an infinite variety of wave forms to accent their structure and positioning. Buddhist monks, long before Einstein, understood the relationship between matter and energy. The interplay of sand and stone directly reflects this relativistic relationship with a set of simple, natural symbols that are easy to work with and peaceful to behold. The relationship between light sand and dark stone is another important symbolic element, and directly correlates to the concepts of yin and yang. It must be emphasized that black is NOT a symbol of evil in the Eastern World, but instead represents the receptive elements of the mind. In a similar way, white has nothing at all to do with our moral concept of good. It symbolizes the mind’s ability to express itself through intentional action. The careful placement of darker stones in lighter sand (or vice versa) is therefore never intended to represent a clash of opposites. Instead, it is meant to represent the dual nature of the mind as it perceives reality through contemplation, then acts upon it through intention. One famous Japanese text even goes so far as to state that the most important element of Zen gardening is the placement of stones. The text goes on to say that rocks should always be positioned where the most attractive side faces the viewer. It also states emphatically that there should be a greater number of horizontal stones (or “chasing stones” as they are called in Japan) than there are vertical stones (called “running stones” in the text). Again, this helps
emphasize the rising force of intent coming up from the depths of the mind. Intent is mystery in Buddhism, but its effects are clearly evidenced by action. The philosophical function of rocks is complimented on the practical level practical level by decoratively arranging them to represent objects that are commonly found in Nature. Ancient Japanese texts on the subject recommend creating such features as mountains, lakes, seashores, rivers, and cliffs out of rocks of varying sizes. The only vegetation typically found in an authentic Zen garden is moss, which is trained to grow over rocks in emulation of forests growing along river banks, lakeshores, and mountainsides covered in forests. Very small shrubs are used at times to frame a Zen garden, but only as a perimeter element, and seldom, if ever, as a central one. █
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HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Home Entertainment Highlights By C. E. Morgan
Invictus (2009)
With so many world teams competing this summer, it is a great time to watch a classic rugby game as dramatized by the celebrated director Clint Eastwood. The 1995, battle for the World (Rugby) Cup became a match that would go down in history. The ousted South African leader Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) is freed from a 27 year imprisonment that resulted from his fight against apartheid. Upon his release, Mandela is quickly elected president and goes to a most unusual source to find a common ground that will inspire some national unity in his racially divided nation. Fear and mistrust were potential enemies of Mandela’s new government as South Africa came to grips with the election of their first black leader. In his wisdom, President Mandela sought help from the nation’s beleaguered rugby team, the Springboks. He appealed to the team’s captain, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), to help him raise national morale by building the white dominated, underdog team to new heights and creating a true showcase for national pride. The project worked and the 1995, South African team captured the hearts of not only the nation but the entire world. Not a history of South Africa or an in-depth biography of Nelson Mandela, but a wonderful, inspiring story of one man’s plan to bring people together and instill national pride via sports. ★★★★
Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightening Thief (2010)
Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) is just an ordinary high school student with normal teen issues until one day a group of angry Greek gods descend upon him. It seems that Zeus’ lightening bolt is missing and Percy is at the top of the list of suspects. To make matters worse Percy’s mom, Sally Jackson (Catherine Keener), has vanished and his life is simply turned upside-down. But maybe that’s not so bad since things haven’t been going well for him lately. 28 A little tracing of Percy’s July/August 2010 lineage uncover that his real
father is actually the god Poseidon and his demigod status has empowered him with some pretty cool abilities, especially when it comes to water. He’s going to need all of his powers to clear his name with Zeus and his minions and rescue his mother. Battles with the gods are always tough, so young Percy has his work cut out for him. Students of Greek mythology will feel right at home with the characters in this adventure. Director Chris Columbus creates an action packed fantasy based on a novel by Rick Riordan. The result is a good family movie that should be a comfortable watch for all PG13 eligible viewers. ★★★
Girl by the Lake (2007)
Originally released in Italy, this detective story is sure to please avid fans of the mystery genre. Winning 10 prizes at the David di Donatella Awards ® (the Italian Oscars) including Best Film and Best Actor, this film marks the first appearance of mystery writer Karin Fossum’s (Don’t Look Back) detective hero, Inspector Sanzio (Toni Servillo), on the big screen. A quiet Italian village in the Alps is in turmoil when the disappearance of young six-year-old Marta is reported by her mother. Inspector Sanzio is called in to lead the search and in the process of finding the girl, a homicide emerges when a corpse is found by a local lake. The victim is a young, athletic village woman named Anna. The investigation uncovers many underlying currents that are not apparent on the surface of the peaceful small valley town. Many have much to hide,
including the respected Inspector Sanzio. A careful, sometimes slow-moving mystery evolves as the secrets of those involved come to light. If the brilliant Inspector lives up to his reputation, the crime’s solution will be another feather in his cap. ★★★★
Shutter Island (2010)
Mystery awaits anyone brave enough to visit “Shutter Island.” Located on that remote island is Ashecliffe Hospital, an asylum for the criminally insane. Marshall Ted Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his new side-kick (Mark Ruffalo) are investigating a mysterious disappearance case involving an inmate. With only one point of access to the island, escape seems impossible. It soon becomes apparent that all is not as it seems at Ashecliffe; the question is, what is real and what is a well crafted illusion? Working the case proves to be more than a study in crime, but a complicated foray into the intricate workings of a twisted, criminal mind. Just when you think the evil asylum theme has been done to the hilt, you will think again when you watch this gem from director Martin Scorsese. Thanks to the ability to replay scenes, watching this psychological crime drama at home should prove to be an advantage to catching and understanding the clever nuances of the ingenious tale. ★★★★ C. E. Morgan is a member of St. Louis Film Critics.. █
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BUSINESS TECH TALK
W
hether you are looking for ways to promote a new, small business website or a major web development project, it is important to find ways to promote the site. Although search engines and targeted PPC advertising help drive traffic, it is very important, especially for local small businesses, to promote their sites on a daily basis as their storefront on the Internet. Too many times, business owners have talked about not having any traffic to their website. This usually results from two things: 1) no search engine optimization; and 2) they are not promoting the website. In other words, they bought the site, because it was “neat” to have, with no plan for actually making it work as their office space on the Internet. Your website should be viewed as your way to connect with customers when you are not there or when they are looking for a service or product online that you are looking to provide to them. • Take Out Menus - If you own a restaurant, Here are a few ways to promote your do not miss the chance to promote your webonline presence with offline methods: • Business Cards - Plain and simple, the stan- site on your take home menus or even on your table menus. If you own a business in the area dard business card is a standard in business. If you do not have your website listed on the of a restaurant that has take home menus, ask if you can buy space on their take home business card, you are missing one of the most effective ways to promote your site. Too menus for your logo and website. It works. People take the menus home, stick them on many times, someone has a website but you their fridge and see it every day. look at their business card and sure enough • T-Shirts - If you happen to own a business it is not there. Including your domain name in your email address is not enough; make it where a uniform is used, or have had T-shirts clear where to go to find your business online. printed for various reasons, make sure you 30
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include your website on it. People include basically everything you can think of except for their website name. Large numbers of people focus on remembering the website name these days and not the phone number. The contact info can be found on the website. • Billboards - More people are looking for the website to go to more so than a phone number, Recently, a very non-tech person said he even realized that the website is now the FIRST thing he looks for and never pays attention to a phone number any more on a billboard. If you have a website and have bought billboard advertising, do not miss the chance to promote your online billboard (website). • Newspaper and Radio Ads – Let’s face it, newsprint is dying a slow (but quickly turning to fast) death. Why miss the chance to promote your online presence if you are still advertising in print media. You know people are heading online, make sure they know where to find you. If you are advertising on radio, include your website name so listeners know where to find your online presence; they are more likely to remember that than just about anything else that might be said.. • Magnets - Want to keep your logo and site name in front of people, hand out refrigerator magnets in your place of business. People use these to hold up pictures, menus, etc., so it is a constant reminder when they go to the fridge.
• Letterhead - Many small businesses still use letterhead to send business or promotional letters on a daily basis. Take advantage of this to get your website in front of the customers or partners you are promoting your message to with your offline paper mailings. • Car Stickers -Window stickers are a great way to get a site and logo in front of people. These are seen daily and are very cost effective to have printed . Why not get your site name in front of everyone while you are running to get groceries or heading out on a sales call. • Banners - Many small businesses place banners in front of their place of business or in targeted, highly visible locations in their area. Most are missing this chance to promote the place people can go to find out more about them, their website. • Team Sponsorships - For years, one of the ways local businesses have shown their support for a community has been to sponsor a little league team or maybe the all star soccer team in their area. Think of the value if you give more than just your business name on the jersey and instead put your site name. People are watching their children run around the field for hours at a time, why not keep your site name in front of them. If you are looking for more creative ways to promote your website, call your Localtek. com sales representative at 800-647-2909 or email info@localtek.com. █
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