| Topping a tree isn't pruning, it's 'torture and mutilation'
They're everywhere; trees disfigured and dying from years of abuse. Specifically, I'm referring to the misguided practice of tree topping. Also known as pollarding, stubbing, dehorning, heading and several other terms, it has risen to crisis proportions nationally over the past decade. Topping is considered the most harmful tree-pruning practice known. In fact, it's regarded as such a serious crime against nature that one organization's major efforts over the past two decades have been to stop this "torture and mutilation." That group, PlantAmnesty, was founded in Seattle in 1987 by Cass Turnbull. This non-profit group uses a unique blend of humor and controversy to raise public awareness of these "crimes against nature" committed in our own backyards. Yet despite more than 20 years of spoken and written information by them and countless other like-minded professionals, it remains a common practice.
End of the Month Horror Comic Cavalcade by c zuga
It's the second half of the month and the start of the new, the stack to review is thick with scary monsters and those that stand against 'em. Time is short, the review is long, so let's go… If there's one thing you have to know going into a Garth Ennis story it's this: there is a better than average chance you'll be offended at some point. The man holds nothing sacred, nothing! This makes for some fun and funny reading if you're up for it. Now, I like to think of myself as nigh inoffendable…it's one of my groovy but useless superpowers. Unfortunately, the average person seems to find any unorthodox interpretations of religion, sex, or behavior in general offensive these days. Ah, the legacies of the post politically correct society we have fashioned for ourselves. Well, with that said I can now give you my thoughts on the debut issue of "The Chronicles of Wormwood" from Avatar Press, who continue to improve the quality of their books with each new title.
23 students hit by food poisoning
Twenty-three students from a primary school suffered from bouts of vomiting after consuming drinks that was provided to their school in a case of suspected food poisoning. The incident happened at Sekolah Rendah Pengkalan Batu yesterday morning during break time soon after the school's National Day celebration. According to the headmaster, Hj Umar bin Hj Mohammad, the school rushed the affected students to RIPAS Hospital for treatment. The students became weak following frequent vomiting. Most of the students started throwing up after consuming the drinks that were supplied to the school. The headmaster added that the drinks did not have any expiry date on its labels. The Ministry of Health is investigating the suspected food poisoning case. All the affected students were allowed to return home after receiving treatment from medical officers at the hospital.
This garden's gone to the dogs
Nobody speaks for Fido when it comes to the backyard landscape. Yet he spends more time there than anyone else in the family. What I call a canine-conscious garden design blends amenities for you and your dog. It also addresses the most common safety problems that can hurt your pooch and send your vet bill into the stratosphere. Dogs are naturally mobile creatures, forever on the hunt for food or fun. When they are cooped up with nothing interesting or mysterious to explore, they adopt undesirable behaviors out of frustration and boredom. Planting a tall grass meadow with flowers is not only a beautiful, wildlife-friendly form of gardening, it also gives your dog hours of investigatory pleasure every day. Sure, manicured lawns are great for playing Frisbee, but when you're at work, that meadow becomes a primal bit of heaven for a human's best friend.
Right recipes make for healthier habits
One of the great tools coming from Dietitians of Canada in time for Nutrition Month in March is a new cookbook entitled Simply Great Food (Robert Rose). The book was compiled by dietitians Patricia Chuey, Mary Sue Waisman and chef Eileen Campbell. Dietitians from across the country contributed recipes for delicious and nutritious home-cooked meals for every day of the week -- not only because healthy eating is good for you, but also because it has been proven that families who prepare and eat meals together have healthier eating habits. More Body & Health news Here's a sample recipe: Tandoori Haddock Most supermarkets now carry tandoori paste. Find it in the ethnic food aisle where Indian and Asian sauces are displayed.
Ionia: Cupboard's bare for food pantry
IONIA -- For the needy, Zion United Methodist Church is a place to get food for the soul and body. But unless the fortunate loosen their purse strings, those hungry folks might have to find somewhere else to go. "Our donations are way down, and demand is way up," Pastor Don Graham said. "It's a tough spot to be in. If we don't start bringing in more money, we may have to shut down." The church's Ionia Community Food Pantry has been providing food since 1988. In the past five years, Graham said, he has seen the number of people needing the pantry increase from 20 a month to more than 200, making it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. With operating costs running about $3,900 a month and revenue at $3,700, Zion UMC is looking to fill the gap by partnering with 13 other area churches.
Friday Night is Thai Night
Seattlest and Mrs. Seattlest have been getting take out on Friday nights at Chantanee Family Thai Restaurant in Bellevue for almost 3 years and have found no better Thai restaurant on the Eastside. From time to time, we eschew the styrofoam containers and eat our meal in the gold and purple themed interior. The service? Efficient and friendly. Mrs. Seattlest is the more adventurous of our duo and has eaten her way around most of the menu, finding some new favorites such as Heavenly Beef or the asparagus and prawns special. When I pressed her on her favorite dish, she reluctantly admitted that it was Chantanee Fried Rice. This dish combines just about every protein on the menu: pork, beef, chicken, prawns and calamari. For us, it's always old reliable – Chicken Panang Curry with 3 stars of spice (#12 at lunch and #39 at dinner).
Ahimsa is TrimSpa for vegans
I've always imagined the invention of cuisine following the invention of fire in close succession. A caveman experimenting with sticks creates the first blaze, unto which his wife immediately throws a chunk of boar and voila — a culinary trajectory you can trace right to pot roast! But Ahimsa, New Haven's new raw-food vegetarian restaurant, seemed like an interesting detour, and, open-minded, New-Age vegetarian that I am, it appeared to be a welcome reprieve from the carnivorous world of Yale Dining Services. However, veggie friendly is not necessarily hunger abating, and as Ahimsa proves, hippy food politics can only go so far in terms of flavor. Ahimsa is located in a large ground floor space on the corner of Chapel and Howe streets. With sexy candle lighting and silk scarves partitioning the tables, Ahimsa seems the perfect date setting for an enlightened hipster love affair.
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