Thursday, November 22, 2007

Discount Codes

More Holiday Deals

050107_18_lnew_2

HUGE sale going on this weekend at ModCloth. Shoes starting at $10, tops at $5, and accessories as low as $1. The sale ends at Midnight EST on Monday the 26th.

Save 15% off your order at Miss Misa when you enter the coupon code "misaholiday" at checkout

Save 20% at Stunning Details. Use the coupon code 'holiday' in the coupon box at the bottom of the left menu bar on my site for 20% off everything on the site through 12/31/07, and there is free shipping on all orders over $50 (after discount)

Save 15% off through Dec 15th by using the code birdsale at Erthe Fae Designs. All orders of $50 or more will also receive a bonus beaded ornament, just say "Ornament Me!" in the comments section of the shopping cart!

Save 25% off of $40 or more with the code "holiday07" through November 30th at One Little Monkey

15% off for Rare Bird Readers at Fat Finch - November 26-December 15. Mention "RareBird" in checkout instructions and we will adjust final total when we charge your credit card. If paying through Paypal, wait for us to send you an adjusted invoice. Remember free shipping on orders over $100!!

If you are a retailer and you would like us to post your sale, either leave a comment or email us the details!

Info From:
http://rarebirdfinds.typepad.com/rare_bird_finds/2007/11/more-holiday-de.html




Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Thanksgiving eCards

It's Thanksgiving! Rejoice in the loving company of your family/friends/loved ones and enjoy turkey roast and pumpkin pies with them. Send a bright Thanksgiving ecard to renew the ties that bind you with your near and dear ones. Say ‘Happy Thanksgiving’ with our warm Thanksgiving ecards.

Send Free Online Greeting Cards to your friends & loved ones. ALL cards are absolutely FREE !!!
Find Here:

http://www.123greetings.com/events/thanksgiving/

Scott McClellan


Scott McClellan

Scott McClellan in the press room of the White House


In office
July 17, 2003April 26, 2006
Preceded by Ari Fleischer
Succeeded by Tony Snow

Born February 14, 1968 (1968-02-14) (age 39)
Flag of the United States Austin, Texas, U.S.
Political party Republican

Scott McClellan (born February 14, 1968) is a former White House Press Secretary (2003-2006) for President George W. Bush.

On April 19, 2006, McClellan announced that he would be leaving the Administration but that he would remain in the position of Press Secretary until a replacement was selected. Tony Snow was announced as McClellan's replacement on April 26, 2006.


Family

Born in Austin, Texas, McClellan is the youngest son of Carole Keeton Strayhorn, former Texas state comptroller and former 2006 independent Texas gubernatorial candidate, and attorney Barr McClellan. McClellan's brother Mark McClellan headed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and formerly was Commissioner for the Food and Drug Administration. McClellan is the grandson of the late W. Page Keeton, longtime Dean of the University of Texas School of Law and renowned expert in tort law.

Career

McClellan with President Bush as he announced his resignation as White House Press Secretary.
McClellan with President Bush as he announced his resignation as White House Press Secretary.

After graduating from The University of Texas at Austin, where he was president of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Texas Alpha Chapter, McClellan was the three-time campaign manager for his mother, former Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn. In addition, he worked on political grassroots efforts and was the Chief of Staff to a Texas State Senator.

McClellan waves farewell following his final press conference, May 5, 2006.
McClellan waves farewell following his final press conference, May 5, 2006.

Karen Hughes, Governor Bush's communications director, hired him to be Bush's deputy press secretary. McClellan served as Governor Bush's traveling press secretary during the 2000 Presidential election. McClellan became White House Deputy Press Secretary in 2003. McClellan replaced Ari Fleischer, who stepped down as White House Press Secretary on July 15, 2003. McClellan announced his resignation as Press Secretary on April 19, 2006; on April 26, it was announced that Fox News pundit Tony Snow would succeed him in the position.

Involvement in cover up of Valerie Plame Affair

At a press briefing on October 10th, 2003, McClellan asserted that the allegations of Karl Rove's and Scooter Libby's involvment in the leak of CIA Valerie Plame's identity were false.[1] However, in excerpts from his book "What Happened" to be published in the spring of 2008 by Public Affairs Books, McClellan reveals that the statements were untrue.[2] From the excerpt:

"The most powerful leader in the world had called upon me to speak on his behalf and help restore credibility he lost amid the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. So I stood at the White house briefing room podium in front of the glare of the klieg lights for the better part of two weeks and publicly exonerated two of the senior-most aides in the White House: Karl Rove and Scooter Libby.

"There was one problem. It was not true.

"I had unknowingly passed along false information. And five of the highest ranking officials in the administration were involved in my doing so: Rove, Libby, the vice President, the President's chief of staff, and the president himself."[3]

Info From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_McClellan

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Roast Turkey Recipes

Mom's Roast Turkey Recipe

LisaWithTurkey.jpg
Turkey ready to go in the oven

My mom's turkey is unlike others. The breast meat isn't dried out, requiring cupfuls of gravy to taste good, but moist and flavorful. I've been watching her make our family turkey for years. Finally a few years ago she let me make it, giving instructions the entire time. Here I am, ready to put it in the oven. Mom's method is to buy the best quality turkey available (organic, free-range, etc.) and cook it breast-side down. She also cooks the turkey stuffing separately, not in the cavity, which makes it easier to cook the turkey more evenly.

Preparation time: About 5 hours.

  • 1 turkey, approx. 15 lbs.*
  • Juice of a lemon
  • Salt and pepper
  • Olive oil or melted butter
  • 1/2 yellow onion, peeled and quartered
  • Tops and bottoms of a bunch of celery
  • 2 carrots
  • Parsley
  • Sprigs of fresh rosemary, thyme

* Need help figuring out how big a turkey to get? Butterball has a turkey calculator that helps you figure out just how many pounds you need. In general, plan for:

12-15 lb turkey for 10-12 people
15-18 lb turkey for 14-16 people
18-22 lb turkey for 20-22 people

1 To start, if the turkey has been refrigerated, bring it to room temperature before cooking. Keep it in its plastic wrapping until you are ready to cook it. While in the refrigerator, and or while you are bringing it to room temp, have the bird resting in a pan, so that if the plastic covering leaks for any reason, you are confining the juices to the pan. If you get a frozen turkey, you will need to defrost it in the refrigerator for several days first. Allow approximately 5 hours of defrosting for every pound. So, if you have a 15 pound turkey, it will take about 75 hours to defrost it in the refrigerator, or around 3 days.

Handle a raw turkey with the same amount of caution as when you handle raw chicken - use a separate cutting board and utensils to avoid contaminating other foods. Wash you hands with soap before touching anything else in the kitchen. Use paper towels to clean up.

turkey-giblets-2.jpg
Remove the neck and giblets (heart, gizzard, liver). Use the heart and gizzard for making stock for the stuffing. The neck can be cooked along side the turkey or saved for turkey soup.

turkey-plastic-ties.jpg
Note that if your turkey comes with a plastic piece holding the legs together, check the instructions on the turkey's package. Most likely you do not need to remove those plastic ties for cooking (unless you plan to cook your turkey at a very high temperature). If you remove the plastic ties, you will need to use kitchen string to tie the legs together.

2 Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

3 Wash out the turkey with water. Pull out any remaining feather stubs in the turkey skin. Pat the turkey dry with paper towels. Lather the inside of the cavity with the juice of half a lemon. Take a small handful of salt and rub all over the inside of the turkey.

turkey-prepare-1.jpg turkey-prepare-2.jpg
turkey-prepare-3.jpg turkey-prepare-4.jpg

4 In this method of cooking a turkey, we don't make the stuffing in the turkey because doing so adds too much to the cooking time. For flavor, put in inside the turkey a half a yellow onion, peeled and quartered, a bunch of parsley, a couple of carrots, and some tops and bottoms of celery. You may need to cap the body cavity with some aluminum foil so that the stuffing doesn't easily fall out. Close up the turkey cavity with either string (not nylon string!) or metal skewers. Make sure that the turkey's legs are tied together, held close to the body, and tie a string around the turkey body to hold the wings in close.

turkey-prepare-5.jpg turkey-prepare-6.jpg

The neck cavity can be stuffed with parsley and tied closed with thin skewers and string.

5 Rub either melted butter or olive oil all over the outside of the turkey. Sprinkle salt generously all over the outside of the turkey (or have had it soaking in salt-water brine before starting this process). Sprinkle pepper over the turkey.

breast-down-turkey.jpg
6 Place turkey BREAST DOWN on the bottom of a rack over a sturdy roasting pan big enough to catch all the drippings. This is the main difference between the way mom makes turkey and everyone else. Cooking the turkey breast down means the skin over the breast will not get so brown. However, all of the juices from the cooking turkey will fall down into the breast while cooking. And the resulting bird will have the most succulent turkey breast imaginable.

Add several sprigs of fresh (if possible) thyme and rosemary to the outside of the turkey.

7 Chop up the turkey giblets (gizzard, heart, liver). Put into a small saucepan, cover with water, add salt. Bring to simmer for an hour or so to help make stock for the stuffing (see stuffing recipe).

8 Put the turkey in the oven. Check the cooking directions on the turkey packaging. Gourmet turkeys often don't take as long to cook. With the turkeys mom gets, she recommends cooking time of about 15 minutes for every pound. For the 15 lb turkey, start the cooking at 400 F for the first 1/2 hour. Then reduce the heat to 350 F for the next 2 hours. Then reduce the heat further to 225 F for the next hour to hour and a half.

If you want the breast to be browned as well, you can turn over the bird for the last 15-20 minutes of cooking, at an oven temp of 300°F. (Oven must be at least 250°F for browning to occur.) Note that if you do this, you will have a higher risk of overcooking the turkey breast. We never worry about browning the breast.

Start taking temperature readings with a meat thermometer, inserted deep into the thickest part of the turkey breast and thigh, a half hour before the turkey should be done. The dark meat in the thigh should be about 175 F. The white meat in the breast should be 160 F to 165 F. If you don't have a meat thermometer, spear the breast with a knife. The turkey juices should be clear, not pink.

9 Once you remove the turkey from the oven, let it rest for 15-20 minutes. Turn the turkey breast side up to carve it. (See Chow video on carving a turkey and Bon Appetit's instructions on how to carve a turkey.)

Making Turkey Gravy

Scrape all the drippings off of the bottom of the roasting pan. Pour drippings into a smaller skillet. Ladle off excess fat with a gravy spoon and save for possible use later. In a separate small bowl take a quarter cup of corn starch and add just enough water to dissolve the corn starch. Beat cornstarch with a spoon to remove lumps. Slowly add the cornstarch mixture to the drippings, stirring constantly. You may not end up using all of the cornstarch mixture. Only add as much as you need to get the desired thickness. Allow time for the cornstarch to thicken the gravy. Add salt, pepper, sage, thyme, or other seasonings to taste.

Save Bones for Stock

When you are finished with your turkey, save the bones from the carcass to make a delicious turkey soup.

Info From:
http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/000037moms_roast_turkey.php

Monday, November 19, 2007

Brad Womack

Meet Brad Womack, The Next Bachelor

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 08, 2007 04:00 PM EDT

Brad Womack Photo by: EDWARD HERRERA / ABC
Meet Brad Womack, The Next Bachelor
Southern gentleman Brad Womack is ABC's newest Bachelor, the network has announced.

Starring in a reality series about romance – the 11th edition of the matchmaking show – is a drastic change for the Atlanta-born, Texas-reared 34-year-old, who spent his 20s working in the oil fields of Louisiana, North Dakota and California.

But perhaps it's not so different from tending bar, which is how he began his rise to success. Working with his brothers Wesley and Chad (his twin), Womack saved enough money to purchase his first drinking establishment in 2001. He now co-owns four bars with his brothers – both of whom are married – and resides in Austin. (He and the brothers are featured on the MySpace page for one of their bars, The Chuggin' Monkey.)

Already, the show has dubbed him "The Bachelor's own McSteamy" and claims he is "sincere" and "optimistic" about finding his wife.

Womack is set to wrangle his perfect match among 25 eager women he'll meet in the Monday, Sept. 24, premiere (9:30 p.m. ET).

Info From:
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20050538,00.html

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Dennis Quaid

Dennis William Quaid (born April 9, 1954) is an American actor. Raised in Texas, he became known during the 1980s after appearing in several successful films, and has since established a career as a leading Hollywood actor.

Biography

Early life

Quaid was born in Houston, Texas to Juanita Bonniedale "Nita" (née Jordan), a real estate agent, and William Rudy Quaid, an electrician.[1] Quaid has Irish and Cajun ancestry.[2] He attended Pershing Middle School (Houston). He studied drama at Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas and later in college, at the University of Houston, under drama coach Cecil Pickett.

Career

After his brother, actor Randy Quaid, was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in The Last Detail, he dropped out of the University of Houston before graduating and moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue an acting career of his own.[2] He initially had trouble finding work but began to gain notice when he appeared in Breaking Away (1979) and earned good reviews for his role in The Right Stuff (1983).[2] Known for his famous grin, Quaid is a versatile actor, performing in both comedic and dramatic roles.[2] Quaid had starring roles in the 1980s films Enemy Mine and Innerspace. He also achieved acclaim for his portrayal of Jerry Lee Lewis in Great Balls of Fire! (1989).[2]

Quaid's career lost steam in late 1980s/early 1990s, after he fought and kicked a painful cocaine addiction.[2] However, he continued to prove his worth in a variety of films such as a memorable performance as Doc Holliday in Wyatt Earp (1994) and has experienced a resurgence in popularity since the late nineties.[2] Some of Quaid's most recent film credits include Traffic (2000) as a lowlife attorney, Frequency (2000) as a fireman, Far From Heaven (2002) as a closeted husband, In Good Company (2004), as an aging advertising executive whose new boss is much younger and The Day After Tomorrow (2004) as the protagonist (which later fall to Emmy Rossum), paleoclimatologist at the center of the story whose son Jake Gyllenhaal is trapped at the 42nd St. Public Library in New York City. Quaid then starred in remake of Yours, Mine and Ours in 2005.

Personal life

Quaid was raised in the Baptist religion and is still a practicing Christian.[3][4] Quaid is married to Kimberly Buffington of Austin, Texas. The couple welcomed twins born via a gestational carrier on November 8, 2007 in Santa Monica, California. Son Thomas Boone was born first at 8:26 a.m. and weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces. Daughter Zoe Grace made her appearance two minutes later weighing in at 5 pounds, 9 ounces.[5]

Quaid has chosen a holiday for each of his weddings (Independence Day, Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving Day): July 4, 2004 – present; Kimberly Buffington (real estate agent); February 14, 1991 – June 16, 2001; Meg Ryan (actress, with whom he has a son, Jack Henry (born April 24, 1992); November 25, 1978 – January 23, 1983; P.J. Soles (actress). Quaid was also engaged for three years to actress Lea Thompson (Back to the Future, Caroline in the City), whom he met on the movie set of Jaws 3-D in 1983.

Quaid golfing
Quaid golfing


Aside from acting, Quaid is a musician and plays with his band the Sharks. Quaid also has a pilot's license and is a scratch golfer and, in 2005, was named as the top golfer among the "Hollywood set" by Golf Digest. He lends his name to the annual "Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend" (formerly the "Jiffy Lube/Dennis Quaid Charity Classic") in Austin, Texas. The golf tournament attracts numerous celebrities with the proceeds split among local children's charities. He is a member of the Bel-Air Country Club in Bel-Air and tries to stay at homes on private courses when he is on the road.

Quaid works with the charity "International Hospital for Children in New Orleans." He makes trips to Central America to help build medical clinics and transport sick children back to the United States for treatment they cannot get locally.

In a 2006 interview with Best Life magazine, Quaid said that in the mid-1990s he suffered from anorexia nervosa, saying, "I'd look in the mirror and still see a 180 lb. guy, even though I was 138 pounds," and "for many years, I was obsessed about what I was eating, how many calories it had, and how much exercise I'd have to do".

On November 20, 2007, Quaid's twelve-day-old twins were mistakenly given 1,000 times the proper dosage of heparin.[6] [7]

Info From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Quaid

Friday, November 16, 2007

Turducken FAQ's


The Turducken




Q. What is a turducken and how much does it weigh?

A. We now offer 2 different sizes of turduckens - a smaller 10 pound bird and our regular 15 pound bird.

The 15 pound version is a semi-boneless turkey stuffed with duck and chicken with layers of our delicious stuffing between each bird. You have the choice of either our traditional cajun sausage or a cornbread stuffing.

The 10 pound version is a semi-boneless turkey similar to the 15 pound version. For the 10 pound version, you have the choice of our traditional cajun sausage, a cornbread stuffing or a delicious breading mix.

Q. Is the turducken frozen and if so how do I defrost it?
A. The turducken is frozen in a vacuum sealed bag to retain it’s freshness. To defrost simply thaw in refrigerator for 2 days or for rapid thawing place in sink with cool water for 6-9 hours.

Q. How much does it cost to ship a turducken?
A. Please check the website or call for the latest pricing.

Q. How do I cook a turducken?
A. There are 3 options in cooking a turducken:

1. From Frozen Method
You may cook it from frozen solid. Remove from package, then place in deep baking pan covered tightly on the outer pan edges with foil, bake approximately 8 to 10 hours at 250°F or until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Before slicing remove cotton string and begin slicing then serve.

2. Thawing Method
Defrost instructions: Thaw in refrigerator for 3 Days, Remove from package, then place in deep baking pan covered tightly on the outer edges with foil, bake approximately 4 hours covered, then an additional hour , totaling ( 5 ) hours cooking time @ 350°F, or until internal temp reaches 165°F.

3. Quick thaw Method
Place Turducken left inside package submerge in cool water for approximately 6 hours. Then Remove from package, place in deep baking pan covered tightly on outer edges with foil, bake approximately 4 hours covered, then an additional hour, totaling ( 5 ) hours cooking time @ 350°F, or until internal temp reaches 165°F

Q. How many people will a turducken feed?
A. On the average a 15 pound Turducken will feed about 20 people ( non cajuns ).

On the average a 10 pound Turducken will feed 12-14 people ( non cajuns ).

Q. Does the turducken contain any MSG or preservatives?
A. No the Turducken does not contain any MSG or preservatives.

Q. How do I order a turducken?
A. You may order on our secure fully automated website, if you have any questions not covered on this page, then you may call us @ 1 800 994-7883.

Q. How much does it costs to ship a Turducken ?
A. Please check the website or call for the latest pricing.
NOTE : After the Turducken is cooked, you may pour off the gravy drippings, place in pot and slowly render down the gravy to desired thickness using a tablespoon or 2 of either corn starch or flour.

Info From:
http://www.cajunstuff.com/store/turducken_faqs.php

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Caroline Kennedy

Caroline Bouvier Kennedy (born November 27, 1957) is the daughter and only surviving child of U.S. President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Her brother John F. Kennedy, Jr. died in a plane crash in 1999.

Early life

Kennedy was born in New York, New York and lived in Washington, DC in Georgetown until just after her third birthday, when her family moved to the White House. After the assassination of her father in November 1963, she moved with her mother and brother in mid 1964 to New York City, in the penthouse apartment at 1040 Fifth Avenue, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

In 1967, she christened the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy, which was in active service until March 23, 2007.

A photo of a young Caroline with her pony in a news article inspired singer-songwriter Neil Diamond to write his hit song "Sweet Caroline", a fact he revealed only when performing it for her 50th birthday in November 2007.[1]

Education

She graduated from Radcliffe College/Harvard University and Columbia Law School, after completing her education at The Brearley School and Convent of the Sacred Heart, and Concord Academy in Massachusetts.

Children

They have two daughters and one son:

Kennedy lives in New York City, New York with her husband and family. Her husband is president of Edwin Schlossberg Inc., a multi-disciplinary design company that specializes in interactive exhibit design and museum master-planning.

Death of her mother

Upon her mother Jacqueline's death in 1994, Kennedy was instrumental in planning a private funeral service, when there were plans in progress for a more public event. The funeral was instead an invitation-only event, attended by mostly family and close friends.

Work

Kennedy is an attorney, editor, and writer. She is one of the founders of the Profiles in Courage Award, given annually to a person who exemplifies the type of courage examined in her father's Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same name. The award is generally given to elected officials who, acting in accord with their conscience, risk their careers by pursuing a larger vision of the national, state or local interest in opposition to popular opinion or powerful pressures from their constituents. In May 2002, she presented an unprecedented Profiles in Courage Award to representatives of the NYPD, the New York City Fire Department, and the military as representatives of all of the people who acted to save the lives of others during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.[3]

Kennedy is currently President of the Kennedy Library Foundation, a Director of both the Commission on Presidential Debates and of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and Honorary Chairman of the American Ballet Theatre. Kennedy is also an adviser to the Harvard Institute of Politics, a living memorial to her father.

In addition, Kennedy has represented her family at the funeral services of former Presidents Ronald Reagan in 2004 and Gerald Ford in 2007, and at the funeral service of former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson in 2007.

Caroline Kennedy also represented her family at the dedication of the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park in Little Rock, Arkansas in November 2004.

Works published

Kennedy and Ellen Alderman have written two books together on civil liberties:

  • In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights In Action (1990) and
  • The Right to Privacy (1995)

On her own, she has edited these New York Times best-selling volumes:

  • A Patriot’s Handbook
  • The Best-Loved Poems of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
  • A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children
  • Profiles in Courage for Our Time

Portrayals of Caroline Kennedy

Info From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Kennedy

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) is a children's novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W.W. Denslow. It was originally published by the George M. Hill Company in Chicago in 1900,[1] and has since been reprinted countless times, sometimes under the name The Wizard of Oz. The story chronicles the adventures of a girl named Dorothy in the Land of Oz. It is one of the best-known stories in American popular culture and has been widely translated. Its initial success led to Baum's writing and having published thirteen more Oz books.

Baum dedicated the book "to my good friend & comrade, My Wife," Maud Gage Baum. In January 1901 the publisher, the George M. Hill Company, completed printing the first edition, which probably totaled around 35,000 copies. Records indicate that 21,000 copies were sold through 1900.[2]

The original book has been in public domain in the United States since 1956. Baum's thirteen sequels entered public domain in the United States in 1986. The rights to these books were held by the Walt Disney Company, and their impending expiration was a prime motivator for the production of the 1985 film Return to Oz, based on Baum's second and third Oz books.

Historians, economists and literary scholars have examined and developed possible political interpretations of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.


Original title page.

Info From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wonderful_Wizard_of_Oz



Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Flight Delays

When you are booking your flight:

When booking your next trip, here are a few tips for how to find the best flights to avoid those pesky delays:

  • Whenever possible, book non-stop flights. A flight listed as “di­rect” is not a non-stop. It will stop en route, but continue on with the same flight number. In the event of severe travel disruptions, even a direct flight may have a portion of the route cancelled.
  • Take flights early in the day. Delays tend to ripple through the sys­tem, getting worse as the day goes on. “Originators” are flights on planes that begin the day at the specific airport. You are least likely to see a delay on these flights, because you will not have to wait for a plane to arrive from another location.
  • Avoid peak travel times and full flights.
  • Check the on time performance for your flights before you buy the ticket. Some flights are notoriously delayed. Your airline is required to provide you with this information.
  • Avoid major hub airports in most cases. If your destination is served by multiple airports, using a secondary airport can provide a less hectic or congested experience.
What about Connections?

Tips to Make Your Connection
If you couldn't get the direct flight to your destination and have to make connections, here are some tips on how to make of running down a terminal never happen to you again.

  • Avoid tight connections. Load factors are very high, making it more difficult for airlines to accommodate passengers with missed connections on later flights. Remember airlines are NOT required to have any consistent policy on holding planes, so do not EVER count a plane being held for you and your fellow passengers.
  • Consider the size of the airport when accepting minimal connec­tion times. It takes a long time to get across some airports and airlines do not assign gates based on the needs of connecting passengers.
  • Check the on time performance for your flights before you buy the ticket. Some flights are notoriously delayed. Your airline is required to provide you with this information.
  • Avoid major hub airports in most cases. If your destination is served by multiple airports, using a secondary airport can provide a less hectic or congested experience.
I am already at the airport. What can I do?

When you get to the airport, sometimes you are still going to be in for some delays, but these tips will help with the stress.

  • Respect the carry on limits. Having to gate check baggage may delay a flight unnecessarily, especially if the airline is trying to turn the flight around quickly.
  • Bring snacks and a good book to help pass the time.
  • Remember, the airline employees are there to help you, but are frequently inundated with distraught passengers. Your travel disruption is not their fault and dealing with them in a respectful, polite or friendly manner will go a long way to improving the situation for everyone.
Info From:
http://www.avoiddelays.com/check-your-flight/default.asp

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Oprah's Favorite Things 2007

The following is a list of Oprah's 2007 Favorite Things, featured on the Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007, broadcast of her show.

AC asked CPs to publish short informational reviews of the items in hopes of featuring CPs' efforts. They'll be added as they're published.

1. The Samsung SC-HMX10C

FromRae Lynne Morvay: "The main feature which is one that I really love, and which sets this camcorder apart from others is that you can print right from the cam corder." Read more.

2. UGG Australia Classic Crochet Tall Boot

From Josienita Borlongan: "The UGG Australia Classic Crochet Tall Boot has a soft sheepskin foot lining, also known as a sockliner, and cushioning signature sheepskin topped insole which gives extreme comfort and coziness." Read more.

3. Toywatch Watches

From jcorn: "Along with Oprah, such stars as Kathy Griffin and Allison Janney are fans of the Toywatch crystal collection. Madonna and Al Gore are also fans of this brand. " Read more.

4. Perfect Endings Cupcakes from Williams-Sonoma

From Danielle Nicole: These are already-made cupcakes in an assortment of three delicious flavors: Red Velvet, Vanilla, and Chocolate. Each is frosted and topped with cake crumbs, coconut, or sprinkles. Read more.

5. Melamine Bowls, Measuring Cups and Spoons from Williams-Sonoma

6. The Artisan Stand Mixer from KitchenAid Home Appliances

From Patty Oh: "The bowl and mixing heads are designed to work as one, providing the best mixing you could ask for in a stand mixer." Read more.

7. The Discovery Channels' Planet Earth DVD Set

From B.Ware: "The series is similar to Blue Planet; Alistair Fothergill produced both series. The Planet Earth series took over 5 years to film. The series was shot in 62 countries with a budget of about $25 million." Read more.

8. Kai Body Butter and Body Buffer

From Dali: "Kai Body Butter and Body Buffer made this esteemed list and for very good reasons. These products provide users with a way to feel refreshed and invigorated each and every time that they use the products." Read more.

9. Clarisonic Skin Care System

From Patty Oh: "Oprah loves her Clarisonic Skin Care System, and so will you. Most people, particularly women, are always looking for a better way to clean their skin and keep it clean." Read more.

10. Claus Porto Soaps from Lafco New York

From Shana Box: "This company has been around since 1887, creating these wonderful products in Portugal. These extra large bars of soap are available in packs of 3, and come in 18 different scents." Read more.

11. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

From Share Bear: "Oprah added this to her book club in November of 2007 and more recently she has added it to Oprah's favorite things list for 2007." Read more.

12. Breville Ikon Panini Press from Williams-Sonoma

From Dali: "The Breville Ikon Panini Press from Williams-Sonoma has many wonderful characteristics. It is a panini maker which can make a wide array of delicious sandwiches such as Italian panini creations to quesadillas." Read more.

13. HDTV Refrigerator with Weather and Info Center from LG Electronics

From Tamee: "Your favorite cook book collection doesn't have to take up space on top of the fridge or in the book case. Thinking of all possible uses for this fridge, LG electronics has included a recipe bank in the LSC27991." Read more.

14. Ciao Bella Blood Orange Sorbetto

From Tamee: "Ciao Bella Gelato is made in New York's Little Italy. Ciao Bella offers 22 flavors of gelato using traditional recipes for classic and contemporary flavors of gelati and sorbetti." Read more.

15. Rachel Polly Swing Turtleneck and Sailor Pants

Share Bear: "Oprah says that her most comfortable clothes are the Rachel Polly swing Turtleneck and Sailor Pants. These are made from a material that breathes and is stretchy, soft and loose." Read more.

16. Scrabble Premiere Edition from Hasbro

From Patty Oh: "Oprah fell in love with the Scrabble Premier Edition, and it's become one of her favorite things for 2007. If you and your family like to play games, the Scrabble Premier Edition is the game to have!" Read more.

17. United Artists 90th Anniversary Prestige Collection

From jcorn: "Films from the 1940s and 50s include Moby Dick, Twelve Angry Men and the original Fugitive (later made into a movie with Tommy Lee Jones and Harrison Ford)." Read more.

18. Shaklee Get Clean Starter Kit

From Tsu Dho Nimh: "The suggested retail price is $134.50, but if you join Shaklee, it's a mere $89.60 plus the cost of the membership. Good grief! It's just cleaning supplies. For that price, I expect them to dust the bookcase for me." Read more.

19. O's Guide to Life

From Tamee: "This book is great for anyone who enjoys self help and self discovery type of writing." Read more.

20. Josh Groban's Noel CD

From mcstylin: "Noel launches with the classic Silent Night and Groban's amazing voice carries the tune magnificently over a soothing easy background by the London Symphony Orchestra." Read more.

Info From:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/454780/oprahs_2007_list_of_her_favorite_things.html