Around the world on Pretzel Twisters

Source: International Herald Tribune ()

Some economists predict that the U.S. economy will slide into recession next year. Others expect the nation to avoid recession, if only barely. A few even think the economy will see solid growth. But for many middle- and lower-income families, the distinction will not matter.

Whether called a recession or not, the U.S. economy seems certain to slow in 2008, pushing unemployment higher and hundreds of thousands of people out of work. Surging energy costs, falling housing prices and tightening credit will punish consumers, most analysts agree, putting the brakes on spending and undermining the six-year expansion.

“We are in the danger zone,” said Nariman Behravesh, chief economist at Global Insight, a forecasting firm. “It wouldn't take very much to push the economy over the edge.”

The outlook is the gloomiest in years, particularly for the first half of 2008. Global Insight, for example, projects that the economy will barely grow at all in the first six months, expanding at an annual rate of just over 1 percent. Many economists expect the unemployment rate, now at 4.7 percent, to climb above 5 percent, with each tenth-point increase representing 150,000 jobless workers.

Additionally, the housing market's slide is expected to continue. Home sales could hit bottom by mid-2008, some economists predict, but prices will fall at least into early 2009. And oil prices should retreat from near-record levels but stay high, keeping the pressure on low- and moderate-income families.

Despite this, most economists expect the United States to skirt a recession - roughly defined as two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth. Keeping the economy afloat: employers and exports.

U.S. companies are expected to keep hiring next year as stronger global demand requires them to add to their work forces, still lean in the aftermath the 2001 recession. Hiring, however, will be cautious and at rates insufficient to keep the unemployment …

Source: Tulsa World ()

This gingerbread house
is easy enough
to make in a day

If you never got around to making
a gingerbread house this year,
there’s still time. Yes, even on
Christmas Eve, there’s time to make
a house that’s cute as can be and
that kids and parents will have fun
decorating.

Gingerbread houses constructed
from graham crackers are easy to build, giving you
more time for the fun part— decorating.

We tested these houses on some willing kids
with a gingerbread house decorating party, and
learned a few things in the process. First, make the
houses in advance so all that’s left for the children
to do is the fun part. Also, make enough houses so
that every child has his or her own.

You might be tempted, as we were, to break out
your hot glue gun if your royal icing gives you fits.
But hang in there, because keeping the houses
entirely edible will pay when the kids are hungry
after dinner and begin tearing into them.

Decorating tips

Wilton’s cookie icing, packaged in
glue bottles, is a lifesaver. You can
find it at most discount stores and craft
stores. Store it upside down in coffee
mugs to make it easy for the kids to
squeeze out, and for quick cleanup.

Candy

bowls keep everything in place
while decorating. Fill paper bowls with
gumdrops, red hots, mini marshmallows,
pretzel sticks, peppermints,
gummy bears and M&Ms for decorating.

Paper plates are way to go with
this project. “Glue” a graham cracker
to the plate with icing to secure your
house.

Source: MiamiHerald.com ()

P.T. Barnum had Tom Thumb, and Victorian-era England had The Elephant Man. Now Miami Beach has The Green Fairy and The Gazillionaire, at least for the winter.

These colorful characters — never ‘’freaks'’ — are part of Spiegelworld, a traveling circus of sorts whose producers promise Old World entertainment with the intimacy of cabaret, the provocativeness of burlesque and the spectacle of acrobatics.

Think Cirque du Soleil on a smaller scale and with more risqué material. Sprinkle in a ribald late-night variety show with an obnoxious host, a touring comedy troupe of self-described Jewish Princesses, DJs spinning sets for dancers, a concert series of Cuban music, and a tent-side garden with roaming performers — and you begin to get the idea.

Spiegelworld, which opened its eight-week run Thursday in Collins Park, will present the variety of shows separately, with each requiring its own admission. But taken as a whole, the cavalcade of performances will create an artistic tour de force, says Spiegelworld’s producer, Ross Mollison.

‘’It’s really a touring cultural festival,'’ says Mollison, whose past credits include producing the winter circus spectacle, Slava’s Snowshow, off Broadway in New York.

The headline act of this lavish revue is Absinthe, which Mollison describes as a series of ‘’acroburlesque'’ vignettes featuring the provocative dances of The Green Fairy, the derring-do of a roller-skating knife juggler, and the pretzel twists of a contortionist, among other spectacles.

Mollison describes Absinthe as “a variety show inspired by everything from The Ed Sullivan Show to the Ziegfeld Follies.'’

To add to the experience, the Spiegelworld bar will pour the actual drink, absinthe, which patrons can take to their seats during the show. Sale of the potent liquor — romanticized by poets and artists in century Paris — was legalized in America in March.

Mollison swears the show will be as intoxicating …

Source: BloggingStocks ()

It’s been a long time since that snowy day in 1973 when OJ Simpson became the first running back ever to rush for 200 yards in three games in one season. With that performance against the New York Jets, Simpson handily crushed the total yardage record held until then by Jim Brown and he peeled away the 2000 yard season barrier, which had stood mocking pro football running backs ever since they began keeping statistics for the game.
The man became an icon, excelling in every endeavor he pursued. In my opinion he strode right past wearing the label of legend because his accomplishments were so timely and tangible. So what happened to this meteoric star who wore the hats of athlete, spokes person, broadcaster, actor, producer, and family man? Did he burn out and slip into drugs? Did he get arrogant and stupid? Perhaps he sold his soul to the devil?
To me it makes no difference what the reasons are for the rapid decline into destruction that has become the life of Orenthal James Simpson. What has happened to him cannot in any way be shrouded in the filmy faux veil called victim. He’s lived his life, made his mistakes, and bent into an ugly pretzel the golden scepter of opportunity that the world had placed at his talented feet. By my figuring OJ Simpson is now in debt approximately $34,969,162.17, not including interest and penalties on back taxes.

Worse yet is the fact that after cheating the devil and escaping the life in prison that most of the world would have chosen he serve, the man had to show the world that he had a few more stupid cards left in his hand to play. On September 16, 2007, Simpson was arrested by Las Vegas police and was charged with 12 counts, including robbery using a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery, burglary with a deadly weapon, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and coercion.
I’m sorry to inform OJ Simpson that a 2000 yard season 1973 will only get you so far. When you’re already on police radar due to ill-fitting …

Source: Washington Post ()

WHERE: Fredericksburg.

WHY: The gingerbread man comes home for the holidays, a very sweet castle and a honey of a ham.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer ()

After so many disappointing takeoffs on Philly's beloved soft pretzels - chocolate, sweet, stuffed, etc. - we're happy to report that someone finally got it right.
James Barrett's blend of sourdough and whole wheat with fennel seed and anise flavors gives Metropolitan's savory soft pretzels the take-me-home, serve-to-guests quality our favorite street food never quite achieved.
Sourdough Fennel Pretzels, $1.50 each. At Metropolitan Bakery, 262 S.19th St. and Reading Terminal Market locations.
- Marilynn Marter
Scoop of the year
A 7-inch handle lets you dip easily into those slim coffee bags. No more plastic scoops buried in beans.
The 11/2-tablespoon measure is just right for whole bean or ground coffee, bulk tea and more. And the bonus spring jaw clip on the handle secures folded bags or keeps the scoop in easy reach. Heavy gauge stainless steel guarantees a lifetime of use.
Coffee Scoop and Clip, $7. At Fante's, 1006 S. 9th St.; 215-922-5557 or www.tribbleshomeandgarden.com.
- M.M.
Finely aged cloves Those aren't olives being served as a side dish at Lafayette Hill's Persian Grill. Those are "seer," aged garlic cloves turned to a deep mahogany over years of marinating in balsamic and cider vinegar.
About five years in vinegar is the average for most cloves served here (they're also sold for take-out), and they've mellowed to a deeply zesty tang. The 23-year-old Grill, however, also has a reserve of 20-year-old cloves so soft, says owner Bimal Moktan, "they melt on the tongue." They cost significantly more, about $20 for a side, but make a popular holiday gift.
aged garlic "seer" costs $3.95 at the Persian Grill, 637 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill, 610-825-2705.
- Craig LaBan

Source: Bizjournals.com ()

VJ & O'Neal Enterprises LLC, the partnership between Milwaukee's V&J Foods and the soft-pretzel business of NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal, said Wednesday that it has opened its second new Auntie Anne's Soft Pretzels location and expects to open another 30 by the end of 2008.

The partnership said sales at the new location at a kiosk in the Fashion Square Mall in Saginaw, Mich., has exceeded expectations. The location has 15 employees.

V&J, a Milwaukee Burger King franchisee, formed a partnership earlier this year with O'Neal Franchise Group of Miami to run Auntie Anne's soft pretzel shops in Michigan, New York state, the Caribbean and possibly South Africa. The company was expected to open six locations in the Detroit area and buy eight existing Auntie Anne's in the Buffalo, N.Y., area by the end of the year.

The next two locations will open within the first 10 days of 2008 based on construction projections. These two snack kiosks will be at the Midland Mall in Midland, Mich., and at Bay City Mall in Bay City, Mich. By February 2008, VJ & O'Neal Enterprises will have the first five of their anticipated locations opening in southern Michigan. By next year, V&J O'Neal expect to have 30 new Auntie Anne's locations internationally.

Source: TCPalm ()

A few years ago, 82-year-old Pat McConnell had such severe arthritis he could barely hold a pencil or open jars. That was before he developed a morning ritual of practicing qigong in South Beach Park in Vero Beach.

“I was hooked from the moment I started my classes,” McConnell said. ” After practicing for two years I can now write letters again.”

Qigong, also known as Chinese Yoga, is a 5,000-year-old Chinese health practice that attempts to balance mind body and spirit. It comes from the Chinese words qi (chi), which means life force or energy, and gong, which means work or skill. The focus is on healing, increasing energy and maintaining health through breathing and physical postures.

“In qigong, generally, we use the breath and still postures,”said private instructor Kate Hoffman. It’s like yoga but without making yourself into a pretzel.”

Sometimes confused with tai chi, qigong has less movement and is more oriented toward holding poses, meditating and breathing.

“Qigong can reduce stress, by unblocking energy pathways through deep breathing exercises,”Hoffman said. “This also enhances the immune system.”.

There are several types of qigong specialized for cardiovascular WHAT, respiratory WHAT, circulatory WHAT, digestive maintenance and recovery FROM WHAT.

Bruce Brown, cardio pulmonary rehabilitation manager and respiratory therapist at Indian River Memorial Hospital, encourages pulmonary patients to practice qigong.

“It decreases the patients’ shortness of breath and does a lot for relaxation,”he said. “Improving flexibility and muscle strength are important. Qigong allows for adaptation in the exercises. The patients like being able to modify the exercises to what they can do.”

John Walcott, founder of The CloudWalker Dojo and qigong workshop instructor for Indian River Memorial, said anyone can practice benefit from practicing qigong, but that it tends to attract those wanting to slow down the …

Source: Blogcritics.org ()

I've never quite understood why it is that science fiction and fantasy writers ever feel the need to create brand new worlds from scratch. It seems like such a waste of time considering the wealth of material that's at their fingertips if they were only to look into the stories of the various people of this planet. Even staying within our own culture you can find some pretty amazing stuff.

How much more fantastic can you get than a guy dying and then coming back from the dead three days later? And that's just for starters. Of course people have mined the tale of King Arthur until its been bled white, but what about the Vikings, the Greeks, and the Romans? The gods and goddesses alone could supply enough material for who knows how many books.

Of course if you wanted something a little more exotic there's always Asia and the far East. Incorporate a few figures from their stories into your books and believe me you'd have something that's as fantastical as anything that came from the most fevered imagination. Of course you'd have to make sure and do proper research so that you don't use someone else's stories inappropriately or disrespectfully.

One of the best examples of an author who's been able to incorporate bits and pieces of other cultures into his work without it feeling like appropriation or cheap exploitation is the British author Jon Courtenay Grimwood. So far I've read works of his that have integrated Islam, Japanese, and Norse mythology into his stories. (No, not all at the same time) Therefore, it didn't come as too much of a surprise that in his novel 9 Tail Fox, published in North America by Night Shade Books, he'd been able to accomplish the same feat successfully with Chinese culture.

Set in contemporary San Francisco, the protagonist is initially Sgt. Bobby Zha, a second generation Chinese immigrant on his father's side and very British via his mother. When …

Source: News & Observer ()

By Michelle Higgins, The New York Times Doug Fesler, an executive at a medical research group in Washington, D.C., wasn’t expecting much in the way of amenities on his American Airlines flight to Honolulu in September. Knowing that the airline no longer served free meals, he had packed his own lunch for the second leg of his flight from Dallas to Honolulu. But he was shocked at the lack of basic services and the overall condition of the cabin.The audio for the movie was broken. The light that indicated when the bathroom was occupied was squirrely, causing confusion and, in some cases, embarrassingly long waits for passengers in need of the lavatory. And though food was available for purchase, it ran out before the flight attendants could serve the entire cabin.His return flight was just as disappointing. This time the audio for the movie worked — but only in Spanish — and his seat refused to stay in the upright position. “I was just appalled,” Fesler said. “You pay $500 or $600 for a seat, and you expect it to be functional.” Flying in coach has become an increasingly miserable experience over the past few years. Legroom is practically nonexistent. Passengers are more tightly packed together. Pillows and blankets have disappeared along with the hot food.The fact is that airlines have realized that they really don’t have to cater to economy passengers — most of whom are booking on price alone — because the cost of doing so would never be worth it in pure bottom-line terms.Does that sound harsh? Well, this past summer, B. Ben Baldanza, chief executive of the aggressively bare-bones Spirit Airlines, hit “reply all” to an e-mail message from a passenger who wished to be compensated for a delayed flight that caused him to miss a concert he was planning to attend. Baldanza’s response, which seemed to be intended only for a Spirit Airlines employee but appeared on multiple travel blogs, said:”Please respond, Pasquale, but we owe him nothing as far as …