Archive for July, 2009

Braised Beef Short Ribs Recipe

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

4 pounds bone-in beef short ribs
3 large carrots, peeled and quartered
1 large yellow onion, sliced
3 celery stalks, cut into 1-inch pieces
4 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
4 sprigs thyme, leaves removed
1 tablespoon chopped celery leaves
4 cups beef stock
2 cups red wine
Olive oil
Salt & Pepper

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Rinse and pat dry ribs.
- Heat a large Dutch oven or ovenproof braising pan. Add olive oil.
- Season ribs generously with salt and pepper.
- Brown ribs evenly on all sides, making sure not to crowd pan.
- Remove browned ribs and discard excess fat.
- Add onions, celery and carrots to pan. Cook, stirring occasionally for 4 to 5 minutes, until veggies start browning.
- Pour a little beef stock into pan and deglaze it, making sure to remove all the yummy brown parts that stuck to the bottom.
- Add the thyme and celery leaves. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the rest of the broth and the wine.
- Bring pot to a boil. Cover and place in oven.
- Cook for 2 to 3 hours until meat is falling off of bones.
- Serve with mashed potatoes.

Short ribs are the meaty ends of beef ribs from the rib, chuck or brisket section. Short ribs have lots of meat and are very flavorful. They are also quite inexpensive. These ribs are approximately 2-inches long and are topped with a thick layer of well-marbled, tough meat. Many times you Default find them with out the bone and they are sold either as individual bones or in strips of three to four ribs. When cooking them, calculate that each person you are feeding will eat approximately a pound of ribs each. As we will discuss later, short ribs are best when braised as the long, slow process makes them specially tender and flavorful.

This is truly a great recipe! Try it out you will love it! Make sure to come over to www.TheFrugalChef.comwww.TheFrugalChef.com for lots of other free, delicious, frugal recipes like this one!

The Frugal Chef

The Basics of Short Form TV

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Short form TV is a wonderful marketing tool for companies that can afford to take their product or service this route. However, like with anything, every business should evaluate why this type of marketing would work best for them. In doing so it may be determined if short form TV is the right path vehicle donation charities if so how to go about creating a campaign that will be effective and worthwhile.

First of all, it is important to know a little bit about direct response television. Basically, there are two types to choose from, short form TV and long form. The short form is available most commonly in three different time lengths. The most common short form TV spot is 60 seconds in length, although you will find short form TV in 90 and 120 second spots as well. Some advertisers will find that the longer lengths really are important to their product or service while others may find it is better to pack everything into a short and easy 60 second format. The reason to use short form TV is to generate immediate sales and it is important to pick the right length of time as well as spokesperson, information covered, and the like, to ensure the spot is as successful as it can possibly be.

Short form TV is great for advertisers because during and immediately after each advertisement there are always sales, which means measurable cash flow. Having immediate respond to the commercial is truly a benefit to this type of advertising and one of the reasons so many advertisers use this technique. Risk is minimized with this type of marketing, which is important for many marketers, especially those with new products on the table.

Marketers will also appreciate the fact that each direct response short form TV spot is aimed at the consumers viewing at that particular time of the day. During the middle of the day during the week the ads may be targeting housewives while early morning ads on the weekends could be targeting kids. Ensuring the ads are targeting your market is very important and will significantly impact sales. Since the market can be targeted based on viewing time and time of the week marketers are able to make the most of their ad and increase their sales. Similarly, when a product is sold in this manner it avoids all of the costs of sending it to retail, meaning consumers can get a better deal. All around, short form TV is better for consumers and marketers from a price stand point.

For more information on www.eicoff.com/short form TV, be sure to visit A. Eicoff & Company, the ad agency that started it all.

The Rise of the Gourmet Pizza/Wine Bar

Friday, July 24th, 2009

“Let’s have a pizza today!”

How many times have we said that as an easy option for a fast, no hassle meal? But this has gradually changed over injury attorney Chicago last year as fast food customers have begun to demand healthier and fresher alternatives.

While burger restaurant chains have adjusted their menus to meet these rising demands, including lowering the price of their burgers, the big pizza chains have been struggling. Rising cheese prices have not made it easy to charity used car And not only have the big pizza chains been attacked by burger chains, but also by smaller, independent pizza restaurants.

“Grazie” in Scottsdale, AZ is a perfect example of this. After only a few years, Grazie has expanded to three pizza/wine personal injury law Las Vegas in the greater Phoenix area, each one tailored to its particular market.

Most recently I visited the D.C.Ranch location, which is more upscale. Pizza/wine bars are sit-down places with a wide selection of wines, and beer is also served. Grazie is also a wine shop, so if you like the wine you had with your meal, you can buy a bottle or more to take home! The menu prices are reasonable and the personnel very professional and open to diners sharing their dishes.

We were four people and we ended up sharing two bottles of wine, one red wine and one white. Our wines were very pleasant for the price. The salad we first shared was large, well presented and very delicious. The mixed greens were fresh and appetizing, with fresh red peppers cut thinly, Parmesan cheese sliced thinly and a quality Italian salad dressing - you could taste the quality of the olive oil in the dressing, a very refreshing touch after often being served ready-made, low-quality dressings that usually spoil the whole salad. Following the salad, we shared three different pizzas and they were all delicious. Real gourmet pizzas with a crust that was just right for all of us, just the right amount of quality cheese and flavorful olives. One minus: The tomatoes were not fresh but from a can, however not too acid.

All in all a very uplifting gourmet experience for a decent amount of money in nice surroundings. Needless to say, we will be back!

Here are the locations for the three Grazie’s in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area:

1: Old Town Scottsdale

2: Verrado

3: Canyon Village

PS: I forgot to tell you that Grazie also has wine tastings on a regular basis that include your meal.

Enjoy your visit when you go!

Pia Balling

PIA BALLING is driven to make life a wonderful and exciting experience for as many people as possible by supporting health, body and mind through recipes, specialty car insurance cover nutrition tips, personal growth programs and more. For Indiana auto accident attorney please visit her websites at www.piaseuropean.comwww.piaseuropean.com and www.youramazingpower.comwww.youramazingpower.com.

Cool Cat Tattoos

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

Cat tattoos are South Carolina motorcycle accident attorneys great design that make a surprisingly sexy look for women. In the past, these designs may have been considered to be the sole property of the loony cat-crazed, but in fact they are great for a number of different reasons.

First of all, for cat lovers, what better way is there to remember a special car insurance San Diego in a lasting way than to get a tattoo of your pet’s face? A personal injury law Boston cat tattoo will remind you of your pet for the rest of your life, automobile insurance quotes will also look great on you.

Cat owners often recognize that they have a personal affinity for cats - they see characteristics in their own personality that are cat like. Cats have a lot of positive characteristics that are good in people - they are athletic, intelligent, cunning, agile, sensual and perceptive. They have keen senses and are alert.

All of these characteristics can be communicated through an appropriate cat tattoo design. These designs can be realistic or iconic. They can be modern or traditional.

There is a long tradition of cat tattoos and cat designs in the art of many different cultures, and this goes back to the earliest recorded historical artifacts.

The ancient Egyptians used to worship cats, and had many drawings and statues of cats, both highly realistic and car insurance rate quotes abstract. Hieroglyphic style cat tattoos are very striking, and are a great way to capture this spiritual aspect of the feline form.

In addition to the domesticated cat, wild cats and big cats are also great material for tattoo designs. Many different species of cat have been celebrated in traditional art, and have come to be associated with different qualities, such as the majestic lion, and the fierce tiger. Tiger tattoos are great because the pattern of their stripes look especially good on women, too.

As you can see, cat tattoos are a really good option for you, whether you are considering getting a tattoo of a pet cat, or a wild or big cat. They are not just for weird people, they’re great for anyone!

When you choose a design, make sure you go for something that is individual, and says something about you. That way you’ll enjoy it more in the years to come.

A great way to choose the right design for yourself is to start by looking through a large selection of different tattoo designs. That way, you can quickly find what you do like and what you don’t. Even if you re going to create your own custom design, checking out other designs is a good way to get a starting point that you can use to develop your own theme.

Check out my site tattoodesignsonline.weebly.com/about tattoo designs. I provide links to other places on the web where you can find lots of different designs to compare, so you can find the right one for you.

More Bizarre Laws From Around the USA

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Foolish Food Laws

Here is good new in today’s economy! In both Tennessee and West Virginia it is legal to gather and consume road kill. Wait, did that say road kill!! Do they mean those little animals sleeping on the side of the road? I am not really sure…road kill…grocery bills..which is worse?

I am sure you have all heard of New England Clam Chowder. This is different from Manhattan Clam Chowder which has a tomato based sauce. In case anyone is wondering where Massachusetts stand, here it is…it is illegal in Massachusetts to use tomatoes when making clam chowder. The only state where white is so important you can’t make red chowder!

Pickles can be notorious (don’t forget the Dill inger gang), so don’t eat them in Trenton, NJ on Sundays, it may be as illegal as Default a bank! People from Connecticut know how to tell a real pickle from a fake. A pickle is not officially a pickle unless it bounces. Keep in mind that if your pickle doesn’t bounce do not, I repeat, do not throw it in the street in Trenton, NJ. It is illegal to throw a bad pickle in the street in Trenton.

Nutty Nature Laws

Our government is starting to confuse itself with God. Texas has started a program that gives grants to political subdivisions to modify and change the weather. I did not know we could do this! Do you think they can modify my weather to match Hawaii’s?

I wonder who gets the fine when the Arkansas River rises higher than the Main Street bridge in Little Rock. God or the Governor?

Some states tell mother nature what she can grow and where. In Maryland thistles are illegal to grow in your yard. Hard enough, but you can at least cut them down. Pueblo, Colorado has deemed it is illegal to allow dandelions to grow within city limits. I searched through hundreds of photos of Pueblo and did not see one dandelion! I guess the dandelions learned their lesson! (I sure wish the thistles would.)

Minnesota passed a law stating that all areas where mosquitoes incubate and hatch are public nuisances. Did they say the whole state is a public nuisance? Minnesota is known as the “land of 10,000 lakes”…the word minnesota means water in the language of the Dakota Indians. Do you think there is any place in that state mosquitoes are not incubating and hatching??

How about in Utah, where it is illegal to cause a catastrophe. Here is the law:

Utah: 76-6-105. Causing a catastrophe.

(1) Any person who by explosion, fire, flood, avalanche, collapse of a building, release of poison gas, radioactive material, or other harmful or destructive force or substance, or by any other means, causes a widespread injury or damage to persons or property is guilty of causing a catastrophe.

(2) Causing a catastrophe is a felony of the second degree if the person causes it knowingly and a class A misdemeanor if caused recklessly.

Enacted by Chapter 196, 1973 General Session

Now I understand some of that, but how can you cause a flood?! What other harmful force, Godzilla? The part of this law I really love is that it is a felony if you cause a catastrophe knowingly, and a misdemeanor if caused recklessly. What happens if it was an accident? Do you have to do some type of community service? I can hear the court case now. I’m sorry sir, I forgot to close the gate behind me and Godzilla just followed me out.

I think California has it right. Here is a law that gives! In California sunshine is guaranteed to the masses.

Wacky Weapons Laws

There are some things in life that should go without saying. Such as detonating nuclear devices, who would possibly think this may be OK? Why do so many states have laws about this? Does this mean it is allowed in all the places that don’t specifically mention it?

Marlboro, MA has a law against detonating a nuclear device in the city. I suppose step over the city’s boundary it is suddenly fine to do?! Chico, CA clearly defines the penalty for detonating a nuclear device in their city. You will be fined $500…what?! I wonder who is alive to fine you, or separate your dust from the others for that matter. At least in Utah it is illegal to detonate a nuclear device in the entire state…I guess they never paid attention in history!

Nuclear devices are one thing, but think of this deadly weapon…the dreaded silly string! I know, I can hear you all wailing in fear…not the silly string, p-p-please, not the silly string! Yes, just like you, these places also fear the dreaded silly string. Marlboro, MA makes the cut again! The two other cities you can feel silly string safe are Southington, CT and Mobile, AL.

Now, how many of you feel an overpowering need to carry a gun to church with you. Sure, in this day and age you read about people opening fire on a church now and again…but does this really make it appropriate to carry your own. In at least 3 states in the Union the answer is YES! Massachusetts states all men must carry a rifle to church on Sunday. They do not state why, but hunting is illegal on Sundays there.

Maine and South Carolina state you must bring your shotgun to church in case of an Indian attack. Is that Indian as in India…or Indian as in Native American??? What year are these states living in? In 1792, Columbus sailed the seas of blue…are you living in these states…do you even own a shotgun?

Some states just make you wonder why…why did they feel the need to put these laws in the books. Take Billings, Montana where it is illegal to bring a bomb or rocket to the city council meeting…note to self…never join the city council in Billings.

Who knows what goes on in Destin, FL?! In this city you may not shoot off a torpedo in a park. Interesting…note number 2…never go to the park in Destin!

My favorite? North Andover, MA where it is illegal to use a space gun. And I thought we only had alien problems in Roswell, NM! Why do you suppose it is illegal to use “space guns” in this city. Do they have a deviant alien population, space gunning people down in the streets?

Silly Smiling Laws

Anthony J. D’Angelo said, “Smile, it is the key that fits the lock of every body’s heart.” Apparently it is also the key to staying out of jail in Idaho where a person must smile before they go out in public. Wait honey, I’m not ready to go yet. I haven’t put on my smile.

In New Jersey you may not frown at a policeman. This must be why people smile and say thanks when they get a ticket. I’d rather be in Michigan. A man may not scowl at his wife on Sunday in Michigan. I bet lots of men go to jail on Sunday’s. Imagine…Honey, here is the chores list…But I was watching the big game…Is that a scowl I see on your face…911!

Tombstone, AZ does not say you have to smile, or that you have to frown for that matter. Tombstone just wants to guarantee everyone is on the same playing field. The law states that it is illegal to smile unless you are missing at least one visible tooth. No, no, wisdom teeth don’t count. They prefer one of the obvious, right up front teeth where others will notice. The only time you can have a fully toothed smile is if you happen to be under 18 years of age.

Bernard’s Township, NJ is one happy place. The town has been declared a “Frown Free Zone”.

Kari Poulsen

hubpages.com/profile/k%40rihubpages.com/profile/k%40ri

As a nurse of over 15 years I have a wide range of knowledge. You can visit my site at the above link for more information.

Skydiving - How to Learn the Sport of Skydiving

Sunday, July 12th, 2009

Skydiving is an exhilarating experience. Few things can generate more adrenaline and bring greater thrills than jumping out of a plane. Falling at high speeds through Default air before opening a parachute is as extreme as it gets, so you really have to know what you are doing to avoid injury or death. People who are interested in skydiving have three options in terms of training. Each method has various advantages and disadvantages. Some methods may be more expensive, while others are more difficult and more intensive. Most programs costs anywhere from seventy dollars to three hundred or more, so it is worth it to look around for a good deal. In any case, they are designed to get you ready to dive into one of the most extreme sports on the planet. Take a moment to read about each and decide which is right for you.

The most popular skydiving training method is probably the tandem jump. This is perfect for first timers who want to experience the thrill of skydiving without all the stress and danger of more intensive training methods. You jump with an instructor who is certified to train you. He or she will have extra parachutes and equipment to help you both safely land after your free fall. Most droopiness will let you take a one time jump if you like. This only takes an hour or so, and it is that fastest way to skydive for beginners who just want to try it out. You can also take a tandem progression course that will let you spend more time learning and jumping over the course of a few hours.

Static line training is another method for learning skydiving. Students are trained for a few hours on the ground and then go up in the plane. Upon jumping out, the diver will fall away from the plane while the canopy is deployed by a static line attached to the aircraft. The student practices pulling a dummy ripcord each time. After a few jumps, they will be ready to do a real free fall on your own. As you get more experience, you can go to higher altitudes and free fall for longer periods of time.

Finally, there is the accelerated free fall skydiving method. You get extensive ground training before taking a high altitude jump with a fifty second free fall on your very first jump. Instructors will jump along with the students but separately. They are just there to assist with a stable fall while monitoring the altitude until it is time to pull the ripcord for the parachute. This is definitely a more intense way to learn to skydive.

Read more about www.pivianextreme.com/skydiving.phpSkydiving and join our forum.pivianextreme.com/index.php?CategoryID=28Skydiving Sports Forum on the Pivian Extreme website

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Beautiful Sightseeing in Costa Blanca’s Benidorm

Friday, July 10th, 2009

There Default many things to do in the Costa Blanca region of Benindorm, Spain, making it one of the most popular tourist attraction is the area. Benidorm is located about 28 miles, or 45 kilometers from Alicante, and Alicante’s busy airport. The city is a very happy and electric place to visit in the summer, with a constant party vibe in the air. There are more than 30 dance clubs and more than a thousand restaurants to choose from, and the beaches are covered with both British and Irish tourists in great numbers during the summer.

When you aren’t spending your time in one of the hotspot discos, there is also an opportunity to explore the areas rich history along with your entertainment. The Castle of Conde de Alfaz offers a joust filled dinner complete with knights in armor Default horseback. The knights use all of the proper gear of the past, including spears, swords and shields, and an historically correct menu filled with roast chicken, pork ribs, Sangria, beer, soups, breads and ice cream are all available. The Benidorm Palace also provides a dinner show with historically relevant acts including magicians, dancers, singers and comedians.

The beaches of Benidorm are the most popular attraction in the area. The Playa de Poniente is a very popular tourist beach. The Playa de Levante is a bit off the main road, but is much quieter and tranquil.

The parks of Benidorm also bring millions to the area yearly. Aqualandia is the largest water slide park in all of Europe, with miles of slides and swimming areas, including the Zig Zag and Kamikaze river rides. There is also an area for smaller guests called Adventureland. This area also includes slides, fountains, mazes, and pools, but on a smaller scale for smaller swimmers.

Terra Mitica is another very popular theme park in Benidorm. It is a park with five different Mediterranean civilizations highlighted in different areas across the park. The theme is ancient history on a roller coaster. There are also many “artifacts” available for purchase based on the period and location in history that you are visiting, such as Egytian papyrus, scented Iberian candles or Greek statues. The restaurants are also centered on this theme, and each location bases their menu on their particular area of history.

The Mundomar Aquatic Park is very popular with visiting families who want to learn more about the ocean and marine life in the area. Seals and sea lions also wow their audiences with popular performances. There are also a bevy of dolphins, many of whom have been born at Mundomar and there is a colony of penguins that make their home in the aquatic park. This park also has an area dedicated to letting kids keep moving, with swings, slides, and an underground dolphin observation area.

Kurt Schefken regularly publishes short articles on news dealing with where is benidorm and benidorm beaches. You might see his comments on www.alicante-spain.com/benidorm.htmlnightlife in benidorm at many different sources for nightlife in benidorm news.

7 Basics + 2 Upgrades to Move a Brand Forward-Fast

Thursday, July 9th, 2009

Every marketer knows the logo is “the face of the brand.” The identity represents everything about the brand in a glance. And it must do so gracefully, with a natural and logical connection between the logo and the brand.

A good logo is both visually stimulating and tells a story about the company or brand. CBS is a perfect Default - its iconic eye is representative of the company’s eye for news and entertainment. Citi Group’s logo is also representative of what they do - moving people from dreams to reality.

So, logos can be more than just static visual images. They can embody the brand, and everything about them should serve that function. In other words, don’t just think about the look of the logo. Consider the texture, the movement, the sound, the smell, and even the taste. This is a 5-d sensory experience. The goal for the logo is to express the entire brand experience. In a glance, Default logo can project the emotion of the customer experience.

That leads us to the 7 basics, plus the 2 upgrades.

The seven basic elements of an effective and successful logo are:

1. Typography - easy to read and fitting the personality of the brand
2. Color - with meaning and emotion associated with the brand
3. Symbol - that can visually project a simple brand image
4. Descriptor - to position the brand within its category or use
5. Tagline - which communicates the key claim in a motivating way
6. Placement - in the right size and in the right location on packaging or ads
7. Uniformity of use - for consistency and long-term reinforcement

And the two upgrades that most marketers miss in developing a logo are:

1. Identifying the single most important attitude of the brand. What is the emotion or feeling you want the logo to convey?

2. Linking to a brand experience that will connect to the customer’s world and everyday life.

When you craft the logo for your brand, be clear about these elements and you can move your brand forward, fast.

And now I would like to offer you a free excerpt from my latest book entitled “Forward. Fast. How to Accelerate Your Health, Science, and Technology Brand” Go to forward-fast.comforward-fast.com

Secrets of the Feng Shui Money Tree

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

Well, it’s true that money doesn’t grow on trees, but don’t let that stop you from using plants to attract wealth and abundance into Default life. The principles of Feng Shui not only show how to create an environment that crates positive energy, but that energy can be used to influence other areas of our life as well. The money trees, for example, are powerful cures that you can place in your home to attract the right chi to the financial center of your home.

A good first step is to consult the Bagua, or energy map of your home. Depending on which school of Feng Shui you subscribe to, there is differing information as to which area is the wealth center of the home. According to the Western School, the northwest corner is the wealth center of the home, and placing the money tree here is a good way to attract wealth. The Wood Element is dominant here, represented by the colors brown and green, and the money tree, or any plant are good supporters of this element.

One of the reasons the money tree is so powerful and fraught with symbolism is because the shape of it’s leaves represent all five Feng Shui elements: Default wood, water, fire and metal in one place. Many times financial problems occur because the chi is out of balance in these areas of our home and office. Adding the Feng Shui money tree is an ideal solution since all five elements are represented, and it can restore balance. Plants in this area should be lush and green, so make sure your money tree has adequate sunlight and water. It can grow as tall as 7 feet.

Since Feng Shui money trees have been a powerful plant to attract financial prosperity throughout history, consider placing them anywhere you want to attract wealth. In your home, the wealth and career areas are good choices, in a business a good place might be near a cash register.

You can also use a symbolic money tree - a small Feng Shui symbol with coins as leaves. The symbolism here is unmistakable because in this case money does grow on trees.. The symbolism is also represented by the idea that like a tree, the wealth grows and renews effortlessly.

Other Feng Shui financial cures you can use to help boost the chi of your space are wind chimes with coins, wooden ships with crystals and coins, red tassels, and the three legged toad.

Feng Shui money tree - to learn how to incorporate these principles into more balanced home decorating, without spending a fortune, visit: www.fengshuilight.com/www.fengshuilight.com

Bodytrain XR Strider

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

A budget Treadmill for those nervous about all the gadgets and features of the more high end systems.

The BodyTrain XR Strider is a great way to get the benefits of a treadmill without the high cost. The inclined track is powered by your walking/running movement, and the resistance level can be controlled from the handlebars so you can change the speed and intensity of your Default The resistance system is magnetic, which means it is frictionless and silent making it much more ‘home-friendly’ than a motorised treadmill, and the hydraulic folding system makes it easy to store.

Main Features

  • Training computer displays time, speed, distance, pulse rate and calories burned
  • Handlebar control allows you to adjust the resistance and control your workout
  • Frictionless magnetic resistance system is silent and effective
  • Inclined desk enables gentle movement, walking or jogging
  • Handlebar pulse sensors allow you to tailor your workout to your level of fitness!
  • Hydraulic folding system for convenience and easy storage

The Bodytrain XR Strider is supplied mostly pre-built, although some simple home assembly will be required to bolt on the handlebars and computer. The basic tools and simple to understand instructions are provided, you’ll be pleased to know!. Estimated build time, 35 minutes.

The Bodytrain XR Strider also comes with 12 months standard return to base warranty. This means that if it should develop any issues during that time (as a result of fair use), just return it and the supplier should either replace it, or fix it if they can.

Positive

Easy to setup as it comes almost ready made
Basic training computer which shows time/speed/distance and calories

Negative

Manual incline and resistance
None of the gadgets that push the price up

Tech Spec

Weight: 32kg
Box Size: 134 x 57 x 20 cm

James Rowe writes for treadmill-fitness-review.comtreadmill-fitness-review.com - who offer treadmill reviews including Default stats, ratings, pros and cons and best buy options.

For the latest on Bodytrain Treadmill XR Strider Best Buys, visit www.treadmill-fitness-review.com/index.php/bodytrain-xr-strider.htmlwww.treadmill-fitness-review.com/index.php/bodytrain-xr-strider.html