Come Back Town USA | Drive THROUGH a Giant Redwood | T-birdTradeCo | St Geo. Reef Lighthouse | http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/CCGAL Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:45:46 -0600 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.squidoo.com/drive-through-a-giant-redwood Giant Redwoods are found only along a very narrow strip of land along the Pacific Northwest. There are only 3 remaining giants that the public is allowed to drive through, and no more can be made. Enjoy a virtual visit until you can see them in person. If you have never been to the pacific northwest and gazed up through the canopy of a redwood forest, you have nothing in your experience with which to understand the majesty of these prehistoric giants. There are actually 2 distinctly different species of Sequoias. The Giant Redwoods of Yosemite are Sequoiadendron aka Giant Sequoia, while the ones along the northern California coast are Sequoia sempervirens aka Coastal Redwoods. While both are large enough to actually drive a vehicle through, the last Gigantea with a passage fell down in 1969. Now only 3 left in the world, and all are located on Highway 101 in northern California quite a ways north of San Francisco. All are on private property, and are operated as tourist attraction businesses. From south to north, you'll find the Chandelier Tree in Drive-Thru Tree Park in Leggett, The Shrine Drive-Thru Tree near Myers Flat, and the Klamath Tour Thru Tree in the town of Klamath. (Klamath is only 20 miles south of Crescent City, California - Come Back Town USA.) Come, let's take a look at these amazing trees. Photo provided by Tom Simondi of Computer Knowledge Used by permission. travel-and-places Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:06:25 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/buy-ruby-birthstone-jewelry-for-your-loved-one-or-yourself Simplify Gift Giving With Ruby Birthstone Jewelry Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Christmas, and of course, a July Birthday! Most women love jewelry, or so it appears, and even women who don't care all that much for jewelry have a special place in their hearts for birthstone jewelry. July's birthstone is the Ruby. The brilliant color lends itself well to gold, white gold, silver, platinum, or even titanium settings. Plus, being the bright red that it is, a ruby in jewelry makes an excellent choice for a July birthday, Christmas, and especially Valentine's Day Gift Giving! You can't go wrong with a Ruby Birthstone Jewelry gift. This semi precious gem stone is quite affordable yet being a real gem, unlike cubic zirconium, giving a piece of Ruby Jewelry says you care enough to give the best. This photo is of a lovely 14k Yellow Gold Ruby Heart Devil Pendant with Diamond-Accent on an 18 inch chain and is available for purchase on Amazon.com - simply click the link to check the price. fashion-and-beauty Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:08:34 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/Nick-Vujicic Nick Vujicic is a young man who was born without any arms or legs. He is now a minister sharing his story and inspiring people of all faiths with his message of hope and love. Learn more about Nick here. I've never been one for "hero worship" in any form, so my self-identification as a bona-fide FAN of Nick Vujicic is a step outside of my norm. I've not met Nick in person, I don't know him personally, and I'm not even of the same faith, but I have been touched by his presence on this earth just the same. Nick is my touch-stone, my reminder that in my darkest hours of pain and suffering, I have the strength to go on. Nick is the same age (give or take a few months) as my youngest daughter, so I realize it could just as easily have been her as him who entered this world so equipped. As a mother, I wonder if I would have had the stamina and resilience to not only raise this special child, but to help him find his unique place in the world. If you've never heard or known about this amazing young man, you're in for a treat. Grab some tissues, because his life story and his testimony will touch you at a deep level, regardless of your religion (or even lack thereof). Nick Vujicic (pronounced Voy-a-chich) was born in 1982 to Dushka Vujicic, and her husband Pastor Borris Vujicic in Melbourne, Australia. After an uneventful gestation and with no family history to explain his condition, little Nicholas arrived without arms or legs. Today, Nick is a much sought after speaker through his company, Attitude is Altitude. Who could have guessed that the beautiful baby boy who entered the world limbless, would grow into an adult with such a mission to inspire and motivate that he would end up touching hearts and lives all over the world? Nick inspired me when I followed a link from a Twitter Tweet and saw him on YouTube. I was moved to tears, and want to introduce him to you. Meet Nick Vujicic, inspiration personified. Photo credit: Life without limbs culture-and-society Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:11:07 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/triumph-tr3 Triumph TR British Sports Car info and a personal story. Lots of great gift ideas for the Triumph TR British Sports Car Enthusiast, too. Long before I met my husband, Bob (aka @BobKleppin on Twitter) he had a Triumph TR3. You'd think it was made out of gold to hear him speak fondly of it. His eyes go into a soft focus, a gentle smile curls the corners of his mouth, and his voice becomes a caress as he describes "her" - the car that he regrets losing. Today he tweeted to TonyLadig on Twitter: BobKleppin @tonylaidig @ZnaTrainer I had a Triumph TR3. First wife said "It or me" sold it and then she left me. Shoulda kept the car." And TonyLadig replied: tonylaidig @BobKleppin Dude...absolutely should have kept the car...LOL cars Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:13:10 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-convert-a-jpg-file-into-a-pdf-file-free--easy Desktop publishing has never been easier, but a quick query in your favorite search engine is just as likely to bring up a sales page for software as it is to answer your question. However, I have learned that there is a free open-source application for nearly everything you need for publishing. While it may take two applications to solve the problem, if they are both free, the price is still right, especially if you are just getting started. This is a quick and easy explanation of how to convert a .jpg picture into a .pdf file using a free open source word processing program. internet Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:59:18 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/fascinating-fascinators-hot-hats-how-to You've seen them in old movies, on fashion show runways, and in dozens of bridal faires, but I'll bet you didn't know what they were called until recently. I'm talking about those almost nothing pin on hats, sometimes with netting, often with crystals and feathers, that perch to the side of a coiffed head as if they are a butterfly just landed there. Turns out this once dated fashion has come around full force and is now the hottest look for the new century! You don't have to shell out a bundle to have an entire wardrobe of these, though. They aren't all that hard to make, once you get the hang of how they are put together. You can do this - it's fun! Photo Credit: Fan Shaped Feather Fascinator with Crystals fashion-and-beauty Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:31:18 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/accordions-are-amazing-instruments I didn't realize when I was young how many people in my generation would take accordion lessons. How I wish I could go back and pay more attention to those few lessons that I was fortunate enough to recieve. I was only four years old when my parents signed me up for lessons, and I'm sad to say I did not like them at the time. It's rather ironic that now I play the accordion and several other instruments (with varying degrees of inexpertise) yet have never managed to get more than 2 or 3 lessons on anything outside of the one semester of guitar I took in high school. However, I have developed a taste for fine instruments, and while other women may collect things like jewelry, clothes, and shoes, my personal collection is musical instruments. This lens is a showcase of Accordions - because I love the sound of an accordion and gathering accordion related gear and instruments is a fun thing for me to do. I hope you find something here that you like - this will no doubt grow over time, so I hope you will bookmark it and come back again to see what new things I've found to include here. In the meantime, check out that awesome accordion in the photo. That's a Black Hohner Morino IV 120 Bass Piano Accordion and it makes my heart go pitter patter when I think of how cool it would be to play that puppy! music Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:15:34 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/wooden-heart-boxes Heart shapes are so beautiful! They signify love and tenderness. These wooden heart boxes are perfect for holding small items that you hold most dear. Whether it be a small photo, jewelry, coins, a lock of hair or other treasures that are dear to you, these boxes will hold that special item. If you are looking for a special birthday, Mother's Day, Christmas, Valentine's Day or other gift, look no further. Give her a piece of your heart with one of these special wooden heart boxes! Image Credit: Walnut Heart Shaped Jewelry Box from Amazon.com hobbies-games-toys Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:22:27 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/PurpleHeart Tired of the same old boring brown wood? Spice up your next woodworking project with a little color. Purple Heart, a rare and lovely exotic hardwood is anything but boring! No stains or paint on this wood, just work it and let it shine in your next woodworking project. Learn more about this lovely, naturally purple or lavendar wood and spice up your project design with a touch of natural color. hobbies-games-toys Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:51:36 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/20-ways-to-make-100-dollars-a-day-online This in depth personal review of Willie Crawford's Collaborative Effort eBook, from Willie's Inner Circle Marketing Group, documents not only the scope of the book, but shares my personal experience with the purchase process and the subsequent results. Read this before you buy. My experience with this book began when i saw a message on FaceBook Crawford titled: Pulling Out Of Debt In A Month - During A Recession. He made a lot of sense, unlike so many of the gurus I've listened to lately. He made so much sense, that I actually clicked the link and without even reading the sales page, I plopped down my $27 to get the digital download of the book. That's not the norm for me - I don't make online impulse purchases as a general rule, but that time I did, and thus began a journey of education which I have documented here. This is my story and my review of that product. Photo Credit: PathWay100.com business-and-work Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:34:04 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/Hickory-Wood Hickory wood comes from about 17-19 different species of trees, which are lumped together in the same category called Hickory. Most people who have ever enjoyed a good barbeque sauce or rub, have tasted a Hickory flavor. It is prized for slow smoking of meat, because it will burn slowly for a long time, while imparting a delicious and readily recognizable flavor to the foods being smoked. Hickory chips left over from Bob's woodworking are carefully gathered up -- we don't waste a bit of it -- because we can use the chips in our smoker. Hickory is used for many projects, from flooring to tool handles, but we use it as one of the top ten woods for cutting boards. Hickory is almost the same color as the hard maple, but when you oil it, the grain becomes more visible so that after oiling you can really tell the difference. The Hickory will sometimes look like tiger stripes in an end grain cutting board. hobbies-games-toys Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:12:27 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/books-about-how-to-use-squidoo While once a well kept secret, recently the free platform (which is where this page resides) of Squidoo.com has hit the radar of so many internet marketers, it's unreal. The proliferation of "how to make money on Squidoo" books and Warrior Special Offers has me scratching my head in bewilderment. Here you will find my curated list of what's available, where you can get it, and my reviews of the ones I've purchased. Yes, sometimes my curiosity gets the better of me, and I've purchased some of these just because I wanted to satisfy my curiosity. Perhaps this will help you save your money, or pique your curiosity until you open your purse. Either way, you'll not leave here having learned nothing. That's the plan, at least. As always, your mileage may vary. Photo is the cover of Mushroom a Kindle book available on Amazon. books-poetry-writing Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:24:54 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/Walnut The top 3 reasons woodworkers love Walnut: It has a fine Grain, it's very resistant to wood rot, and it is highly resilient. Walnut is a fine American hardwood with many uses. At one time, black walnut was the #1 hardwood in use in colonial America, although its lovely fine grain was seldom given the appreciation it commands today. Much of the solid walnut furniture from that era was covered with paint, as was the custom of the time. Today, however, walnut is enjoying a renewed popularity as a fine material for woodworking and can be found in products as diverse as gun stocks and coffins. Buy at AllPosters.com hobbies-games-toys Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:52:15 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/noveltycoffeemugs A Novelty Coffee Mug can be so much more than just a container for a beverage; with very little effort or money, it can become a party favor, a candy holder, a pencil jar or any number of other useful items all while displaying an interesting outside. It's no wonder that coffee mugs are near the top of everybody's gift list at one time or another. Coffee Mugs are more useful than a tie that won't get worn, or a sweater that never quite fits right, or a singing fish that only comes out when the giver is on the way over. Don't be the person giving the tie, the sweater or the singing fish - get a good novelty Coffee Mug, fill it with something useful or delicious or meaningful, and be the person who knows how to give the best gifts without breaking the bank. You might even put some coffee with it. Now that's a novel idea! Image is of Oak Barrel Mug from Amazon.com food-and-cooking Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:41:35 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/wooden-kitchen This was the first lens I ever made. At the time, my husband was creating one of a kind artistic cutting boards from exotic hardwoods, and we were selling them at art shows and on eBay and etsy. However, life has a way of handing one lemons, so in 2010 Bob retired from crafting these exquisite cutting boards. Not wanting to delete the 12 niche lenses I'd created around his work, I've begun the process of repurposing them. This was the flagship, the one that introduced Bob and his magnificent product. Original Introduction begins here: Meet Bob, the Cutting Board King. Bob is his name, Butcher Block Boards are his Game. It started out innocently enough; my husband found himself with too much time on his hands after medical retirement, so I encouraged him to finally pursue his dream of making fine wooden furniture. Little did I know he was about to discover the artist within and become a cutting board celebrity. This lens will introduce you to Bob's one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted, artistic Heritage Heirloom Cutting Boards. End Grain Butcher Block Cutting Boards made one at a time, with love and attention to detail - Bob is a master craftsman and these works of art, while beautiful, are fully functional and built to last! squidoo-community Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:12:25 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/gifts-for-a-doctor-who-fan Even if you don't know who Dr. Who is, and have no idea what a TARDIS is, if you have a Dr. Who fan you'd love to surprise with a great gift, these will help you make that special someone happy. These items have been hand selected as the best gifts for a fan of Dr. Who, so you can't go wrong with any of them. Photo Credit Doctor Who Tardis Cookie Jar Lights and Sounds Learn more about the Doctor Who Tardis Cookie Jar here. holidays-and-celebrations Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:08:30 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/portable-emergency-car-jump-starters Be prepared for every emergency with these Portable Emergency Car Jump Starters. Great for off-roading and general outdoorsing, these Portable Emergency Car Jump Starters come in handy to avoid situations where your battery dies and you're stuck in the woods. A great gift for those people with old cars. Image is of the Black & Decker VEC026BD Electromate 400 Jump-Starter with Built-In Air Compressor and is available for purchase on Amazon cars Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:04:57 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/agateware-pottery Agateware is a specific type of pottery in which the colors are intrinsic to the clay, not painted on. It is interesting and beautiful. I learned of this ancient art form when I met Richard Martin, potter, up in Brookings, Oregon in August of 2010. Normally, I'm not much of a pottery fan, because most of what I've seen in Art Fairs and Festivals hasn't been all that pretty, or has been so terribly expensive that I just couldn't see buying it. Not so with Richard's pottery - not only is it beautiful, unique, and unusual, it's also reasonably priced and his workmanship is exceptional. The photo to the left is one of the pieces I purchased that day. (You can see the other piece on my lens about Horse Hair Pottery, just look for the link below.) arts-and-design Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:30:27 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/cheap-fascinators Fascinators are extremely popular these days, and can run into hundreds of dollars if you buy from high end fancy boutiques or bridal stores. You can make your own fascinators, if you don't mind doing some work and buying some supplies, but unless you need more than one, chances are you will spend more on supplies than you would spend on buying a single cheap fascinator. Here you will find the best deals available on cheap fascinators. Whether you are buying for a single event, a costume, or for something special, you will find cheap fascinators here that are suitable for most occasions. Enjoy these cheap fascinators today! Image is of Black Feather Fabric Flower Net Fascinator Hair Clip and Cocktail Hat and is available for purchase on amazon. fashion-and-beauty Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:15:07 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/Katalox Katalox, known botanically as swartzia cubensis and sometimes called "Mexican Ebony" is hard wood with a tight grain. This is an extremely useful wood for many woodworking projects, including bowls and cutting boards. This is one of the 10 hardwoods used by Kleppin's Wooden Kitchen in the manufacture of Heritage Heirloom Butcher Block cutting boards. This wood becomes darker with exposure to the oiling process in fininshing an heirloom cutting board, becoming almost black. It makes a fine substitute for ebony in many applications. Katalox is also called Catalox and Wamara, and grows in Central and Latin America. There are many uses for this fine, dark, and strong wood, including cabinets and flooring. Decorative veneer and paneling are also common uses of Katalox. Katalox is a fine wood for most woodworking projects for the home. Buy at AllPosters.com hobbies-games-toys Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:19:03 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/white-fascinators White fascinators are a kind of hat that can range from gutsy to glamorous, but are most often associated with weddings. White fascinators can be built from a hat base, or from either a Barette or a french comb. On thing that sets the white fascinator apart from other hats is the jaunty look that comes from being worn toward the side, as opposed to ordinary hats which cover more of the head and are more often worn dead center on the the head. White fascinators come in all shapes and sizes, and can include feathers, beads, sequins, rhinestones, crystals, ribbons or lace. Many white fascinators also include netting that drapes over the eyes, although this is not a requirement for the hat to fall under the larger category of fascinator hats. Whichever white fascinator you choose, however, will make a fashion statement. Photo Credit: Fascinators Cocktail Hat available in black or white, White pictured fashion-and-beauty Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:48:55 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/the-education-of-little-tree The Education of Little Tree: A True Story is one of those rare books that each generation needs to discover, and which needs to be read, and then reread. Although I had already seen the film, I wanted to read this book to see how it differed from the "Hollywood" glamorized version. That was the right decision, I discovered. The Cherokee way of living and thinking, as seen through the eyes of a child, brought me a new perspective. Partially autobiographical, with some literary license, this is a story that is at once noble and tragic and heartwarming and uplifting. You will not be able to read this story and see the world in the same way as you did before. Seeing the world through Little Tree's eyes will change you on some level. This is much more than just a touching story set in the depression. This story speaks to the human spirit. This book is a "bucket list" must read. Although the image is my own scan of my own book, the book is also available on Amazon.com for very little money if you purchase it used. The Education of Little Tree: A True Story books-poetry-writing Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:36:17 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/federal-glass-petal-pattern-2829 You have probably seen one of these pieces at a yard or garage sale, or in an antique store on or off line, but unless you are a collector, you probably can't identify this distinctive pattern as "Petal" pattern # 2829 from the now defunct Federal Glass Company. At least, I couldn't for a very long time. I was given a very large collection of this odd pattern by my "Other-Mother" Bobbi in the early 1990's. She had been picking them up at yard sales and thrift shops for over 20 years, and prided herself on never having paid more than a dollar for any given dish. While I appreciated very much the thought that prompted her gift to me of these 300 or so pieces of glass, I wasn't really thrilled about how much room they were going to take up, especially since they are so impractical to actually make use of. Truth is, I very nearly handed the entire collection off to a thrift store. I had no idea they were collectible. My first clue was seeing one plate marked $17.95 in a small antique shop in Brookings, Oregon. At first, I thought they had to be joking - surely nobody would pay that for a single dish. I was wrong - it sold quickly at full price. That's when I got serious about learning about this pattern and why collectors would pay so much for it. It took me several visits to the library and to the book store to locate any information about this pattern. Given that it was produced up into the 1970's, it wasn't listed in any of the collectible glass books published at the time I received the collection. Now, some 15 years later, there are a couple of books that include this pattern, which is becoming more valuable as time goes by. If you've ever wanted to collect glass, "Petal" pattern #2829 by Federal Glass Co. is an easily identifiable and still relatively inexpensive glass to begin collecting. hobbies-games-toys Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:43:52 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/CCCA Crescent City, California is nestled between the majestic redwood forest and the Pacific Ocean only 21 miles south of the Oregon border. Home to the only natural harbor in California north of San Francisco, Crescent City has a long and colorful history. This lens will explore what makes Crescent City unique and why it earned the name "Come Back Town, USA" This tiny seaport village is my home town, and although I don't live there any longer, I still love a nice long summer visit there every year or two. The new photo (Feb 2012) is of a couple of Dungeness Crab that have been cooked and backed and are chilling on ice, waiting for a hungry human to devour them. Photo was taken by my friend Erin, and I thank her for graciously allowing me to use the image here. Dungeness crab is one of the harvests that we look forward to every year, for the delicious tender sweet crab meat, and for the economic upsurge in our coastal economy. Crescent City is small, and has been through a lot of hard times over the years. Surrounded by redwoods and ocean, with only one road in from the south, and only two ways out to the north, to say it is isolated doesn't really give a good mental image of how isolated this little spot of heaven is. Oh, just like any other place, it has its share of bad stuff, but you will never see redwoods or ocean, unspoiled by humans as you will up in this neck of the woods. Don't let the drab appearance from the highway fool you - Crescent City has one of the most beautiful shorelines you'll ever see. When you visit (as I hope you will) be sure to ask for some Dungeness Crab. It's mouth wateringly delicious. travel-and-places Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:58:12 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/st-george-reef-lighthouse The iconic St. George Reef Lighthouse sits off the coast of northern California, near Crescent City, CA and Brookings, Or. Find information, gifts, and history here. The stormy seas of the Pacific Northwest were made a little safer after the wreck of the Brother Jonathan near Crescent City, California, because the St. George Reef Lighthouse was built. Because this site is so rich in historical value, the St. George Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society was formed to save it from ruin after it was decommissioned in 1975. The last entry in the station's old logbook by Chief Petty Officer James Sebastian reads, "It is with much sentiment that I pen this final entry, 13 May 1975. After four score and three years, St. George Reef Light is dark. No longer will your brilliant beams of light be seen, nor your bellowing fog signal be heard by the mariner. Gone are your keepers. Only by your faithful service has many a disaster been prevented on the treacherous St. George Reef. You stand today, as you have down through the years, a tribute to humanity and worthy of our highest respect. Cut from the soul of our country, you have valiantly earned your place in American history. In your passing, the era of the lonely sea sentinel has truly ended. May Mother Nature show you mercy. You have been abandoned, but never will you be forgotten. Farewell, St. George Reef Light." travel-and-places Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:20:57 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/Maple Maple is one of the most often used hard woods for woodworking because it is abundant, relatively inexpensive, and beautiful. Maple trees provide much more than just lumber, however. Certain types of Maple also provide delicious Maple Syrup. Maple is the wood of choice for floors such as roller rinks, although they are becoming harder to find. The Maple leaf is the most readily recognized leaf, immortalized on Canada's flag. Maple is also a fine choice for hand crafted musical instruments: the tops of Gibson's Les Paul guitars are made from carved maple. There are several forms or varieties of maple, but hard maple is the wood of choice for cutting boards, and was the foundation wood for all of the boards hand crafted by Bob Kleppin of Kleppin's Wooden Kitchen. (Bob has retired from board making.) Maple is the workhorse of hardwood end grain, butcher block cutting boards and chopping blocks not only for the tight grain and lovely honey color, but also because it's a relatively inexpensive hard wood that is also food safe. Maple wood can be fashioned into any number of useful and ornamental items, from floors to chopping blocks to furniture. arts-and-design Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:41:54 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-knit-socks-using-two-circular-needles Socks are an almost perfect project for a knitter: they are small enough to complete quickly, intricate enough to maintain interest, and beloved by all who get to wear them. However, using four to five double point needles to knit in the round is very hard, especially for the novice knitter. Enter Cat Bordhi with an easy to follow way to create spectacular socks using two circular needles. I would never have been able to knit socks without discovering Cat Bordhi and her book: Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles: a Manual of Elegant Knitting Techniques and Patterns arts-and-design Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:44:11 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/great-garnish-tools Foodies tend to be creative people, for the most part, and have a huge curiosity about things related to food. So making garnishes is one of those subjects that attracts a foodie's attention. Therefore, Garnish Tools and How To books on the subject are sure to please a foodie. Being a foodie myself, I know a lot about this subject so I've picked out some really cool gadgets and terrific books to show you. I've put my very favorite item right up here at the top - it's a professional quality, 22 piece Culinary Carving Set that makes me absolutely drool. Oh, yeah, I've got a lot of other gadgets, but this one ... well, let's just say it's one of those foodie bliss things. If you've got a foodie to find something fabulous for, this is a kit that foodies like me dream of owning. Make your foodie happy - it's on Amazon and is very affordable this year. International Culinary Carving Set 22 Piece, Wood Case food-and-cooking Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:24:02 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/doctor-who-tardis-cookie-jar Here's an exceptional gift for a Dr. Who fan, especially one who loves cookies. Who doesn't love the time lord Dr. Who and his amazing Tardis stuck in the shape of a British Call Box? Fans know that the chameleon circuit in Dr. Who's combination space craft and time machine (TARDIS stands for Time and Relative Dimension in Space) is supposed to make the craft fit in to the surroundings of where ever it lands ... only this particular one has never worked too well. Thus, the good Dr.'s time-space craft has been shaped like an early 1960's London police box. As a long time Dr. Who fan, I know that this TARDIS Cookie Jar is something every Dr. Who fan would enjoy. This Cookie Jar makes the sound of the TARDIS as it enters a space/time location. This runs on a battery, and features light and sound effects activated by either pushing down on the lamp or closing the lid. Pretty clever way of catching somebody with his or her fingers in the cookie jar, eh? Photo Credit: Doctor Who Tardis Cookie Jar Lights and Sounds DEC 2011 UPDATE: This item has been sold out and is no longer available. However, there are other wonderful Dr. Who Themed Gift Items Still Available, such as the Doctor Who Tardis Talking Ice Bucket And Ice Cube Tray. home-and-garden Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:37:44 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/Fur-Elise I was showing my keyboard to a young friend of my daughter's the other day, because he had mentioned that he wanted to learn to play the piano. I love to encourage people to take up an instrument, any instrument, and so I was in the process of giving him a basics-only overview of how to teach himself to play when he announced that the song he most wanted to learn to play he didn't know the name of but it went like ... and he hummed the opening notes for me. I recognized it, of course, as Beethoven's "Fur Elise". One of the qustions that comes up in every "teach yourself music" course I've studied is "What Song Would Thrill You To Be Able To Play?" - the idea being, of course, that if you focus on learning to play one song that you love, you'll stick with it and you can learn a LOT from the process, and then song #2 is easier, and with each song you learn to play you build your skills. I was just about to ask him "the question" to see if I could help him get started, when he stunned me with his announcement. Fur Elise is not in my repertoire, and it was difficult not to show my disappointment that what he was wanting would take far more effort than what I would be able to help him with. I had to tell him that he would probably need to take piano lessons and learn to read music in order to play classical pieces like Fur Elise. However, the more I thought about it, the more I wondered about the song. Noodling around online, I discovered that this piece of music has a life of its own, and thus this lens was born. Come with me on a journey of sound and search to find the very best of Fur Elise ... and perhaps a laugh or two along the way. music Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:44:43 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/Ted-Mack-Amateur-Hour It's time for the Ted Mack Amateur Hour! One of my family's favorite TV shows in the 60's was the Ted Mack Amateur Hour. Once each week we'd gather around the old Black & White TV and watch eight talented people put on a variety show, then we'd pick our favorite and send in that post card to Box 191, Radio City Station, New York. Oh, how my siblings and I wanted to be on that show! I can remember the three of us with imaginary instruments pretending that we were singing on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour. In a time when television was still a youthful invention and not everybody owned one, this was a glimpse out of our tiny rural world into the "big city" we imagined New York to be, and we longed to be a part of it. If you're anywhere close to my age, chances are good that you watched this show at one time or another. Perhaps you, too, have fond memories of good times around the TV with good, clean entertainment like this. Come, take a walk with me back through time and let's enjoy a few memories together. entertainment Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:27:05 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/eat-more-weigh-less-by-dr-terry-shintani Dr. Terry Shintani wrote the best diet book I've ever read. He studied at Harvard, and designed his book so everybody could understand and use it. Although Dr. Ornish wrote a book with the same name, the book by Dr. Shintani is far more useful and relevant to every day cooking. The techniques Dr. Shintani teaches are simple, logical, and most importantly, do-able by the average person living in America. Dr. Shintani explains why each technique works, and how it affects your body. Plus the recipes he uses are things you would actually eat if you're an ordinary person. Nothing weird or exotic here, just good food prepared in a way that makes sense. Photo Credit: Dr. Shintani's Eat More, Weigh Less Diet healthy-living Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:27:16 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/Monterillo Learn about this rare and exotic hardwood - here you will find information and links to help you learn about Monterillo. Monterillo is considered to be both Exotic and Rare, because the tree seldom grows large enough to produce lumber sized boards. This limits the availability for large projects. Bob Kleppin, of Kleppin's Wooden Kitchen, was fond of using Monterillo in his hand made butcher block cutting boards. He also used Monterillo for kitchen implements such as saute tools. arts-and-design Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:30:07 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/amazonian-profit-plan-by-wanda-and-paula Whether you are a website owner, a blogger, or a Squidoo lensmaster, you have probably realized that promoting physical products is much less "slimy" than selling e-books chosen at random from ClickBank. Well, I have, anyway. Your mileage may vary. However, if you are looking for an instruction manual to help you learn how to set up review sites for Amazon products, this one might be what you are looking for: Amazonian Profit Plan. This is one of the more expensive eBooks on the market, but it covers a lot of ground and has excellent reviews. business-and-work Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:34:31 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/horse-hair-pottery When you hear the words "horse hair" and "pottery" together, you might wonder how they could possibly go together. I was amazed by the delicate and intricate designs on the Horse Hair Pottery of Richard Martin, potter. Allow me to introduce you to his exquisite work! This image is of a pot I purchased from him - the design is created during the process, and is actually carbonized horse hair. I was very intrigued by these designs, and had to ask many questions to satisfy my curiosity. If this piques your interest, keep reading and I'll tell you everything he told me! arts-and-design Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:34:21 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/myjerky We love jerky and we eat a lot of it. It's great for snacks, dieting, and makes a wonderful addition to the survival pantry. Jerky Direct is my family's favorite brand for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that we can buy it wholesale for a substantial savings. I've been a member of Jerky Direct since early in 2006, and although I don't promote the business end of the company all that much (OK, this Squidoo lens is about the only way I promote it these days) I have a small downline, and I'm still loving the autoship function that makes it all work. So despite the MLM biz plan, I still think Jerky Direct is a great company shipping a delicious product at a fair price. This is my personal story about this company and my experience with it. business-and-work Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:34:09 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/christmas-yard-art-plans Looking for plans to build your own Christmas Yard Art? Get Your Plans Here. Tired of same old, same old Holiday Decorations? Want to make YOUR HOME stand out this year? (And make your neighbor jealous?) You will be amazed at how easy making these vintage Holiday yard art displays are. Take on a new project this year - and get the whole family involved. Build your own yard art. Snowman Image is from Amazon - Click to view price: Snowman Snowy Hug Christmas Yard Art Woodworking Pattern holidays-and-celebrations Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:29:02 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/decorative-giraffe-posters-and-prints When you are very attracted to something, it's normal to want to have it all around you. People who love Giraffes are nearly always going to enjoy seeing them in one form or another on the walls and in themed objects. This is a collection of Giraffe Posters and Giraffe Prints that make wonderful decorating accents and great gift ideas. Mix and match the posters here with the Stuffed Plush Toy Giraffes or the Giraffe Themed Gift Ideas, and make somebody (you perhaps?) a very happy Giraffe Lover. Photo Credit: First Kiss Poster available from Allposters.- Click here to see price and availability home-and-garden Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:26:29 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/a-tale-of-swallowtails-may-2009 This is a lovely story of how one family was blessed by an unexpected invasion of caterpillars, resulting in the birth of a Swallowtail butterfly. Once upon a time, I noticed that my potted parsley was being purloined by perpetrators unperceived. Thus began this family's investigation and discovery of the three Black Swallowtail Caterpillars responsible for pillaging the potted parsley. Read on to discover the rest of this story pets-and-animals Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:31:14 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/trivets-and-hotpads A trivet, also known as a 'hot plate,' is an object placed between a serving dish or bowl, and a dining table, usually to protect the table from heat damage. Trivet also refers to tripods used to elevate pots from the coals of an open fire. (The word trivet itself ultimately comes from Latin tripes meaning "tripod".) Metal trivets are often tripod-like structures with three legs to support the trivet horizontal in order to hold the dish or pot above the table surface. A trivet may often contain a receptacle for a candle that can be lighted to keep food warm. Modern trivets are made from metal, wood, ceramic, fabric, silicone or cork. from Wikipedia home-and-garden Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:41:34 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/mosey-over-to-the-minion-factory Humor meets Art in the Zazzle Gallery and Minion Making Mayhem ensues, much to the delight of all who visit! Want to find a gift that uniquely suits your special Minion? Look no further ... the Minion Factory is simply marvelous, and you must visit to truly appreciate the skill and humor of the artist, Abie Davis. Photo Credit: The Minion Factory arts-and-design Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:31:24 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/all-things-angry-birds Angry Birds is a game which has become so popular that there are now over 51 different product lines, each line having multiple items. Building a niche store and blog is one way a marketer can cash in on the Angry Birds trend. By offering useful reviews, as well as grouping items by category, the marketer can offer real value to the customer who is looking for something in that theme. However, this is a much larger task than one might imagine. Here, then, is information about Angry Birds and the process involved in developing a theme store and blog. Image Credit: Angry Birds on Amazon hobbies-games-toys Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:37:18 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/coffee-bean-direct-chocolate-raspberry-flavored-whole-bean-coffee Who doesn't love chocolate coffee? Next to hazelnut, Chocolate flavored coffees are one of the most popular flavors in the USA. While chocolate coffee itself can lean towards the bitter side, when you combine the bitterness of chocolate with the sweet tang of raspberry and place them with a mild yet full bodied non acidic coffee, you have the makings of bliss, cup after cup after cup. Coffee Bean Direct now has their Chocolate Raspberry Flavored Whole Bean Coffee available in cost cutting 5 lb. bags, delivered to your door via Amazon.com - now there's a reason to celebrate with another cuppa! Photo Credit: Coffee Bean Direct Chocolate Raspberry Flavored, Whole Bean Coffee, 5-Pound Bag food-and-cooking Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:37:55 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/Bamboo-wood Bamboo isn't what most woodworkers think of when they think of working with wood, but it is an amazing natural resource and is tough enough and hard enough to use for a cutting board. Kleppin's Wooden Kitchen uses bamboo as an accent color to add flair to the Heritage Heirloom butcher block cutting boards they manufacture one at a time in Pflugerville, Texas. Learn more about this amazing resource, Bamboo, here. Photo Credit: Brussel's Lucky Bamboo hobbies-games-toys Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:30:29 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/goofy-gag-gifts Gifts, Gags, and Gadgets are always interesting, but sometimes I wonder what WERE they THINKING? Like that Kitty Litter Cake recipe that uses tootsie rolls for poo, these gift ideas made me laugh, but there's no way I'd use any of them. I sure know some people I'd like to give them to, though, and maybe you will, too. Some of these are silly gag gifts, others are stupid gadgets that really have no use, and then there are gifts that just make me want to gag. Enjoy the show! Get your toilet mug here. holidays-and-celebrations Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:29:56 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/Wonder-Stump There was a natural wonder here in Del Norte County called "the Wonder Stump" and 50 years it was well known in the area. I knew about it in high school, and I am pretty sure it was somewhere on Wonder Stump Road or near by, because the road obtained its name from the one time famous stump. Numerous post cards were made of the stump, some were drawn, others were actual photos, and can still be found on eBay and in Antique stores. Today, however, I can't find the Wonder Stump and worse, I can't find anybody who remembers where it was! I suspect it's on private property and has either been removed or fenced off, and the people probably would prefer that nobody remember it. I, however, think it ought to be well remembered, whether we can visit it or not, and so I am building this lens as a place to pull together everything I can find on the Wonder Stump. travel-and-places Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:36:45 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/vegan-diet-for-diabetes If something as simple as eating an all plant based diet could cure diabetes, wouldn't you expect it to be in the news and being prescribed by every doctor on the planet? I would. It seems, however, that despite many testimonials and a lot of scientific evidence stacking up in favor of vegetarian and vegan diets as a method of controlling or even eliminating diabetes, the information is not getting out into the public awareness. It seems people just aren't getting the message. Perhaps the millions of dollars spent every year to entice us into eating sugary, fatty, and salty mass produced and over processed foods might have something to do with it? Or the fact that there's a lot of money to be made from illness if your business is medications for chronic conditions? Or maybe the money that pays for lobbyists to persuade lawmakers to pass laws in support of the meat and dairy industries? I don't have that answer and I can't speculate. Here's what I do know: more and more doctors are speaking out and writing books about how much our lifestyle affects our health, and how important good diet is to our overall health. Today I am focusing on how a vegetarian or vegan diet can improve overall health and perhaps reverse type II diabetes. Photo Credit: Flickr: debh2u's Photostream healthy-living Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:44:12 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/coffee-bean-direct-jamaican-me-crazy-flavored-whole-bean-coffee When you find a flavor you love, it just makes sense to get the best deal possible on it, and the Jamaican Me Crazy Flavored Whole Bean Coffee Five Pound Bargain Bag From Coffee Bean Direct is a steal of a deal. Split a bag with some friends if you aren't sure you're going to love it; chances are good you'll all want a five pound bag of your own. Imagine, if you will, a tropical blend of vanilla, caramel, and Cafe Maria Liqueur flavors on light roast coffee beans that are mellow and well suited to the Jamaican inspired flavors. Makes your mouth want more. Photo Credit: Coffee Bean Direct Jamaican Me Crazy Flavored, Whole Bean Coffee, 5-Pound Bag food-and-cooking Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:40:53 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/doctor-who-tardis-coffee-mug Who doesn't love the time lord Dr. Who and his amazing Tardis stuck in the shape of a British Call Box? Fans know that the chameleon circuit in Dr. Who's combination space craft and time machine (TARDIS stands for Time and Relative Dimension in Space) is supposed to make the craft fit in to the surroundings of where ever it lands ... only this particular one has never worked too well. Thus, the good Dr.'s time-space craft has been shaped like an early 1960's London police box. As a long time Dr. Who fan, I know that this TARDIS mug with lid is something every Dr. Who fan would enjoy. Photo Credit: TARDIS Figural Mug food-and-cooking Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:41:13 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/the-horror-of-head-lice Head lice have probably been around as long as humans have walked the earth; dried lice and nits have been found on Egyptian mummies. Yet as common and long existing as they are, the problem of head Lice remains something nobody wants to talk about, but everybody needs accurate information about. I didn't realize how important this topic was until a relative (who shall remain nameless) spent $27 on a really crappy e-book about head lice that didn't solve the problem. It was cobbled together from at least three different sources, and was, in my opinion, worthless. This lens is intended to provide all the information and resources anybody could ever need on the subject in hopes that nobody will ever need to waste their money on that crappy e-book again. Photo Credit: AllPosters.com healthy-living Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:36:34 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/wool-animal-mittens These mittens serve two purposes. The first: to keep your hands warm on cold days or when playing in the snow. The second: to make others admire their cuteness. You can't go wrong with animals! Most people like animals at least a little, and many love them a lot! So who wouldn't love a pair of these cuties for Christmas or a Winter birthday gift?! From bunnies, to zebras, you'll find a wide variety of animals to help keep you or your loved ones warm this Winter, and for many Winters to come. These are made of durable, warm wool! fashion-and-beauty Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:40:51 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/CherryWood Cherry wood, while not an exotic wood, is a lovely accent colored hard wood that is also food safe, and used to manufacture many items. The popularity of black cherry as a furniture and panel wood stems from its beauty and ease of use. It is uniform in texture, has fine grain and machines well. It is moderately heavy, stiff and very strong. The color will change from a light brown to a rich deep golden brown with age and exposure to daylight. hobbies-games-toys Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:31:26 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/doctor-who-tardis-talking-ice-bucket-and-ice-cube-tray I thought I had seen it all when I found theDoctor Who Tardis USB Hub, the Doctor Who Tardis Coffee Mug and the Doctor Who Tardis Cookie Jar that lights up and "growls" ... but that was before I found this nifty Dr Who Talking Ice Bucket and Ice Cube Tray. What's next? Dr. Who Toilet Tissue? (Haven't found it yet, but there are over 10 thousand Dr. Who items ... I haven't seen them all yet.) I have to wonder if this is a bit over the top ... but apparently there are some fans who just can't get enough Dr. Who stuff, so if you've got one of those super fans in your gift giving world, this could be the niftiest thing you've ever stumbled upon. Photo Credit: Underground Toys Doctor Who Tardis Talking Ice Bucket And Ice Cube Tray hobbies-games-toys Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:37:49 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/sacred-path-divination My Great-Grandmother was a Native American. My Grandmother related to me many times the story of how her Mother died in her arms when she was only seven. That story is almost the only connection I have with my Native American heritage. Little is known about the woman who gave life to my Grandmother, not even which tribe she came from. I've narrowed down the possibilities based on where my Grandmother was born, but I will never know for certain. Blame it on the romanticism of youth, or pin it on more mysterious forces at play in the universe, I have been drawn to the stories and writings of and about Native Americans my entire life, as is one of my cousins. So when she started using Medicine Cards as a tool to access her inner wisdom and guidance, it was inevitable that eventually I'd find them in my life, too. The Sacred Path Cards are not a daily tool for me, although many people do make a practice of using them in that manner. There are certainly numerous spreads possible, and I have at various times been drawn to different spreads as the circumstances of my life have changed. I find that I am drawn to my cards and to the spread appropriate for that particular time and place, by mental images of a Native American woman I like to think of as my Great-Grandmother. When she begins appearing in my random thoughts or in my dreams, I have learned to take out my cards and look for the lesson I need at that time. Perhaps you have an inner urge to look to the wisdom of our collective Great-Grandmothers and Great-Grandfathers. If so, you may discover, as I did, that the Sacred Path cards are a tangible, hands-on experience to help you focus your thoughts and access the inner wisdom you already possess. culture-and-society Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:26:46 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/rube-goldberg-machines In Wessington Springs, South Dakota, there is a wonderfully interesting community built Ski Lift Gadget which fascinated me when I saw it. I was not able to be there when the snow was on the ground, so I did not get to see it work, but it looked to be a lot of fun to use. They called it the Rube Goldberg Ski Lift Gadget, and it was built in 1956. Amazingly enough, it is still used today when there's enough snow to sled and ski down the hill! The more I thought about this Rube Goldberg Ski Lift Gadget, the more I wanted to share the photos and collect videos and information about Rube Goldberg. This lens is that effort. I enjoyed building it, and I sincerely hope you enjoy reading it and viewing the videos I've selected. Oh, and if you ever visit South Dakota, stop in at Wessington Springs and go see this gadget. it's way better in person than in the photo. travel-and-places Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:26:55 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/austin-artist-bryan-arnett Here you will find images of art projects created by Austin Artist Bryan Arnett. Some pieces are for sale, others have been commissioned and are on private property. Bryan Arnett is extremely talented and creates exquisite tile work with superb attention to detail. Bryan works in mosaic and tile, and can add a brilliant artistic touch to what would otherwise be an ordinary tile job. Mosics are Bryan's medium for pieces that can be hung or embedded. There are never two pieces exactly alike. Enjoy these images of Bryan's art. All images are copyrighted by Bryan Arnett and are used here with permission. Bryan Arnett retains all rights to these images. Ordering instructions and locations of some pieces on display in the Austin area will be listed below. arts-and-design Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:34:14 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/spin-sugar-into-gold Everyone's favorite concessions or carnival food, "floss" as it's known in the industry, is one hot selling item with a huge profit margin. No wonder so many non-profit agencies are discovering that food concessions with professional "carnie" equipment make a lot of sense ... and not just cents, but lots of dollars, too. Who doesn't remember their first taste of cotton candy? Remember how it felt sort of crackly, was super sweet, and then just disappeared? Remember how soft and fluffy it looked, like a cloud on a stick? Cotton Candy, or Floss, is a candy that's formed when finely granulated flavored and colored sugar is quickly heated to a melting point, and then extruded in thousands of tiny sugar threads that are gathered onto a paper cone. Sounds pretty simple, and it is, except that it takes some practice to get the floss to stay on the cone, and also to learn to create a standard size floss on each stick. If you buy a floss machine, plan on spending some time practicing - you might be well served to provide floss to a non-profit or charity at an event for the exposure and the practice. It would be time and money well spent. Photo Credit: AllPosters.com food-and-cooking Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:35:53 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/crocheted-pomegranates I bought a crochet pomegranate pattern on Etsy, and made three sets of pomegranates, all different, and never did manage to duplicate the photos in the pattern. It was excruciatingly frustrating. When I searched for photos of other crocheted pomegranates, the only ones that showed up were made from the same etsy pattern I had purchased, and none of them were of the pomegranate half, so while I'm not pleased with what I produced, I'm putting up the pictures anyway, hoping that it will help another adventurous crocheter who attempts the pattern and begins to doubt his or her skills with the hook. Photo Credit: Allposters.com arts-and-design Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:37:44 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/quantum-enigma Want to read a book that might leave you stunned? I thought so - Quantum Enigma will do just that. This book examines the fundamental nature of consciousness and how it reacts with reality. Quantum theory shows that the minute building blocks of matter behave in very strange ways, and suggests that the act of observation affects whether those teensy subatomic bits behave like waves or like particles, and how they seem to exist in two places at once. But ... how does that relate to our consciousness? Unlike some of the popular quantum books by non-scientific authors, or the videos that go along with them, this book doesn't make incredible assertions relating quantum theory to spirituality, but it does go out there beyond where traditional textbooks venture. The authors examine what they call the "physicists' skeleton in the closet" - and they use a very bright light. However, they also do not claim to know the answers, nor do they try to spoon feed you with what they, themselves, may believe. They ask some compelling questions, and leave it to you to make up your own mind about what you will or will not believe. culture-and-society Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:26:12 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/cat-toys-and-beds Are you looking for cat gifts? Or perhaps it is just time for some new cat beds, toys and scratching posts. This page features some great cat beds, cat toys and scratching posts that will suit any cat and any budget. Scroll down to see a selection of the best selling cat products. Be sure to leave a message when you visit - it is always nice to meet other cat people! I've also include some fun and funny cat pictures for some fun. Photo Credit: Fabulous Felines: Health and Beauty Secrets for the Pampered Cat pets-and-animals Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:23:17 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/thunderbird-mountain-trading-company Captain Shon and Lee Nickel have traveled to many exotic places, bringing back the highest quality furs, skins, hides, leather goods, and much more. Now they have established a gift shop in northern California, near Garberville, where they share their amazingly beautiful turquoise jewelry and Peruvian textiles along with the superb collection of furs. In addition to the furs, Peruvian Textiles, and leather goods, they also have a line of wonderful jams and jellies, and wild Alaskan smoked salmon. A local candy maker provides fresh delicious fudge, and the Captain has his own line of smoked salmon jerky and smoked trout jerky. All of these items plus more are waiting for you in the gift shop at Thunderbird Mountain Trading Company, near Garberville, California. The store is nestled among the redwoods, just a bit south of Richardson Grove, a popular State Park located near Garberville, California. Thunderbird Mountain Trading Company is a must see if you're traveling Highway 101 in the Pacific northwest. Located next door to the famous One Log House and across the road from the Richardson Grove RV Park, you'll want to allow plenty of time to shop There is so much to see, you'll want to stop by going both directions! travel-and-places Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:31:52 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/Jatoba Jatoba, also known as Brazilian Cherry, is an extremely hard and durable wood, which why it's one of the TOP TEN hard woods favored by Bob Kleppin, of Kleppin's Wooden Kitchen, as he hand crafts elegant, one-of-a-kind and amazingly beautiful kitchen cutting (and serving) end grain butcher block cutting boards. Jatoba has a lovely rich color, similar to teak, and can be substituted for teak in applications which do not require the specific characteristics of teak. Jatoba adds a rich lusterous accent to the custom boards made by Bob Kleppin of Kleppin's Wooden Kitchen. Get to know Jatoba, a fine hardwood to use for kitchen items, here. arts-and-design Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:30:22 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/Paul-Winchell Paul Winchell was best known to television audiences in the 50's & 60's with his ventriloquist dummies Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff, but he was also the voice of Tigger in the Disney film Winnie the Pooh. In a career that spanned six decades, his voice was heard as Gargamel in "The Smurfs," Dick Dastardly in Hanna Barbera cartoons, including "Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines," and as Boomer in Disney's "The Fox and the Hound," to name a few. He was an amazing man with great talent and will remain one of ventriloquism's legends forever. entertainment Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:34:57 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/The-Tooth-Fairy-Legend-How-The-Custom-Came-To-Be Once upon a time (after all, don't the best fairy tales begin this way?) there was a dentist who loved children. He and his wife wrote lots of lovely stories for their two boys, and for other children, too. One story in particular was very popular, for after all, he WAS a dentist, so he had his son draw pictures to go with the story of The Tooth Fairy - How the Legend Came To Be, and he published it under the pen name of Dr. Mac. That was quite some time ago, and now Dr. Mac has gone to where-ever good dentists go when they leave this playground we call life, but his story about the Tooth Fairy Legend lives on. Dr. Mac's sons are about to bring this story book back to life, and they've asked me to help them tell the world about the book. The illustrator even signed a copy especially for me! books-poetry-writing Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:37:26 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/2011-tsunami-destroyed-crescent-city-harbor Crescent City, California, a sleepy little seaport village on the coast near the Oregon border suffered yet another disaster in the wake of the Japanese earthquake in early 2011. This was not the first time the harbor had been destroyed, nor was it the worst tidal wave the city suffered, but the economic impact will continue to be felt long after the clean-up has been completed. Crescent City is my home town and although I live far away, most of my family still resides there. This lens is intended to be a place for me to gather all the information I can find that's relevant to this situation, and as such, will grow and develop over time. If you experienced this tragedy, I encourage you to share your story below. If you have information I've overlooked, there is a place for you to share that, and if you would like to share greetings and cheer the good people of Crescent City on, there's a place for that, as well. travel-and-places Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:36:29 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/fabulous-fruitcake-the-gift-that-keeps-on-giving- I'm nuts about fruitcake. I know there are other nuts out there like me who look forward to this traditional confection all year long. Although we are often ridiculed and subjected to scorn for our faithful consumption of this holiday fare, I think it's time the truth about fruitcake came out. Flaunt Your Fabulous Fruitcake! Go ahead and give 'em as gifts. You just don't know how many fruitcake nuts like me are out there, consuming fruitcake in secret, trying not to wince when people make those bad jokes about using it for a Doorstop or regifting it for years and years. Forget the Ugly Neck Tie or the Sweater With Three Arms ... go for the fruitcake, you nut, you. Photo is of The Ya-Hoo! Baking Co Texas Manor Fruitcake Ring holidays-and-celebrations Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:40:40 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/salvation-mountain-slab-city-niland-california Out in the desert about an hour and a half from Palm Springs, on an abandoned military site, stands the most colorful tribute to Christianity I think you'll ever see. Leonard Knight has spent over 20 years building this amazing monument at Slab City, near Niland, California. No visit to the desert is complete without at least a drive by to see this man made mountain. Whether you are a Christian or not, this is one of those "once in a lifetime" places that belongs on your bucket list. Leonard has been an iconic figure at Salvation Mountain, but age and infirmity have taken their toll, and now he has been moved into a nursing home. Volunteers are now working together to save this amazing piece of folk art. Here you will find the best videos, images, and links to Salvation Mountain. travel-and-places Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:18:55 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/the-americas-test-kitchen-family-cookbook Are you, or someone you love, learning to cook? Have you realized how hard it is to cook from a computer recipe? Do you wish you had a one-stop-shopping do-it-all kind of cookbook that would teach you as you go, without being too hard or too simple? America's Test Kitchen to the Rescue!!! If you only buy ONE cookbook this year, for yourself or for someone you love, this one is worth taking a long look at. But don't take MY word for it ... read on and see for yourself why The America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook belongs in YOUR kitchen. Photo Credit: The America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook food-and-cooking Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:36:23 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/stones-with-an-attitude What do you call a person who cuts gemstones? I used to think it was lapidarian, because the definition is one who cuts, polishes, or engraves stones other than diamonds. I also had heard the term "gemologist" used, and discovered it means one who specializes and can appraise gems. Then I met Mike Edwards, of "Stones With An Attitude" at the Brookings Farmer's Market and discovered a new word for my vocabulary: Facetor. A facetor is one who practices the art of faceting, which includes cutting a wider variety of stones. A skilled facetor can turn any pretty rock into a lovely stone for use in jewelry. Mike Edwards is truly an artist in this field. I asked him how he got into this artistic field, and he told me he started out as an optician, where he worked grinding the lenses for eyeglasses. After taking a break and going out mining for saphires, he learned to cut the stones and discovered his life's work. Now, some thirty years later, in addition to cutting all manner of gems and other stones, he designs jewelry and creates unique settings for the stones he facets. He was kind enough to show me his cutting set up - and I must say it's an absolutely fascinating experience to see his work and ask him questions. His self-deprecating sense of humor belies the fact that he's won many awards and has written articles for the faceting industry. I'm pleased to be able to point you in his direction for all your stone cutting and jewelry gift-giving needs. arts-and-design Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:33:44 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-grow-asparagus Asparagus is a delicious springtime vegetable that has been grown as a food for over 2000 years. In fact, and ancient Roman author named Cato the Elder wrote detailed directions in 200 BC that are very close to what we know to do in the year 2009! While there are a lot of asparagus species, including an asparagus fern that makes a lovely houseplant, only Asparagus officinalis L. is cultivated for food. Asparagus is low in calories, but is an excellent source of vitamin C, riboflavin, phosphorus, and calcium. Asparagus beds take awhile to produce edible stalks, but once your beds are established they can continue to produce delicious and nutritious food for you and your family for years and years! It's worth the effort to get them started, so here's how you do it! home-and-garden Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:41:50 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/CCGAL CCGAL, an acronym for Crescent City Gal, is the brand, nickname, and social media personality of Janelle Kleppin. This is a dynamic (as in ever changing) reflection of who she is, and what she stands for. Included are links to her online activities including eBay, and places to connect with her. You'll also find some history and opinion pieces here, as well as a collection of her other Squidoo Web Pages (known as Lenses in Squidoo Speak). If you're curious about who Janelle the CCGAL is ... you have come to the right place. The photo is from 1978; it was pulled from a 35mm film that wasn't developed until 2005, and is owned by Janelle the CCGAL with all rights reserved. squidoo-community Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:12:17 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/Fishtail-Oak Strong and durable, Fishtail Oak is a wood of choice for building shipping crates used for heavy equipment and steel ingots, but its distinctive appearance makes it ideal for woodworking projects that will not be painted or stained. The wood has a mottled, almost iridescent pattern with distinctive black marbling. Color tones vary from piece to piece, but generally you will see a golden tan to copper color with occasional silver, rose or burgandy overtones. This combination of hardiness and beauty makes it an ideal accent wood for butcher block, end grain cutting boards. Fishtail Oak, while bearing the name Oak, is not of the same botanical family as the Oak known and beloved in America. This is a renewable, sustainable harvest wood that grows in several areas including Asia and Australia. It does not grow in North America as far as I know, and because it's only an imported wood, it falls into our category of "exotic hardwoods". arts-and-design Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:44:08 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/affordable-gifts-of-coffee-mugs Cheap, Easy, Affordable Gifts for Mom, Dad, Grads, or co-workers. Candy and a Novelty Coffee Mug makes a cheap and easy yet memorable gift for just about anybody. Need a Gift Idea? Check out these Novelty Coffee Mugs for Great Cheap Gift Ideas! When money is tight, a well selected Coffee Mug can be a wallet saver and a great gift, too. A mug can be so much more than just a container for a beverage. It doesn't take a lot of effort or money to make a mug into a party favor, a candy holder, a pencil jar or any number of other useful items. So it's really not hard to see why coffee mugs are near the top of everybody's gift list at one time or another. Coffee Mugs are more useful than a sweater that never fits right, a tie that won't get worn, or a singing fish that only comes out when the giver is on the way over. Don't be the person giving the tie, the sweater or the singing fish - get a good novelty Coffee Mug, fill it with something useful or delicious or meaningful, and be the person who knows how to give the best gifts without breaking the bank. You might even put some Flavored Whole Bean Coffee in it. Now that's a novel idea! Photo Credit: "You Sexy Thing" Mug food-and-cooking Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:34:14 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/cash-in-on-trends There are literally a million ways to make money in this world, but one size does NOT fit all. When evaluating any business opportunity, you absolutely must take into consideration your own abilities, capacity for risk, and viability of the offer for your unique situation. In other words, just because somebody else did it doesn't mean it's a sure thing for you. That said, there is a huge opportunity for people to earn money as affiliate marketers by simply tapping into trends they see developing in the market place. This is an example of one idea, as implemented by Barbara Ling, Lingstar on Squidoo, who is one of the extremely few marketers I will recommend. Her topic is Angry Birds, but that's only one out of a hundred or so different trends that you could do this with, so don't get hung up on Angry Birds but look at the hows and whats and then run with your own ideas. business-and-work Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:36:54 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/coffee-bean-direct-whole-bean-coffee Bulk Coffee Beans Save You Money, and Coffee Bean Direct Provides Home Sized Bags at Wholesale Bargain Prices so you can stock your coffee bar with Great Coffee Beans Cheap! Coffee Lovers know the best coffee is ground fresh right before brewing, so they've made Bean Direct Whole Bean Coffee an Amazon Best Selling coffee. There are many varieties of Coffee Bean Direct Whole Bean Coffee to choose from, but how do you know which one is best for your tastes? This comparison will help you find exactly the right whole bean coffee for yourself or for someone you love. In these times of economic belt tightening, it makes good sense to buy in bulk and save, and there's nothing more practical as a gift than something you know they'll use up, like good whole bean coffee from Coffee Bean Direct. Photo Credit: Coffee Bean Direct Hawaiian Kona Blend, Whole Bean Coffee, 5-Pound Bag food-and-cooking Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:42:13 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/niche-lens-promotion-bookmarks This is a personally curated dynamic link list of tools, services, and places used by CCGAL for promotion of Niche Lenses on Squidoo. It is by no means all inclusive, but will reflect in one easy to locate spot all of the places CCGAL needs to find quickly in order to promote the niche product lenses she is producing using Erica Stone's Niche Blaster products. This is intended to be a personal use lens - please don't promote it for me. While I appreciate your kindness, I would prefer it not get a huge amount of traffic at least until it's something truly useful. Thanks for understanding. Feel free to promote any of my other lenses, though! **grin** Especially my niche blaster lenses: squidoo-community Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:42:04 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/claw-game I'm going to let you in on a little secret. My husband is a Claw freak. I mean, he really loves carnival type games, and he loves playing the claw games. I guess it's the closest thing we have in our lives today that compares to a man going out and hunting and bringing home a critter for supper. Or maybe it's just fun. At any rate, he's gotten rather good at it over the years, and he seldom tries a game without bringing home a stuffed toy. We've been talking about filming it for a lens, so I finally remembered to grab the camera before we went to the Wal-Mart this evening. We sure got some strange looks when we started filming him playing! Since this is something that we will no doubt continue to do in the future, I thought this would be a cool way to share the fun. This is just the beginning - there will be more toys featured in the future, 'cause I don't see him stopping anytime soon. hobbies-games-toys Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:39:42 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/fast-track-to-power-solo-affiliate-marketing Internet Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, and Earning Money Online are topics covered in Barbara Ling's book titled The Fast Track To Power Solo Affiliate Marketing. This is a Review by CCGAL. The number of rubbish how-to ebooks online increases daily, so finding good information at an honest price point can be a hit or miss proposition. I've spent hundreds of hours reading ebooks and other marketing materials, and have found very few that I could promote in good conscience. I'm really pleased to have uncovered another gem, and from a fellow squidoo lensmaster, as well. Barbara Ling, of http://barbaraling.com is known on Squidoo as RocketMom Lingstar, and she has one of the best marketing ebooks I've seen in a long time. This is my review of Barbara Ling's Fast Track to Power Solo Affiliate Marketing Photo Credit: Barbara Ling of BarbaraLing.com internet Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:41:45 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/Halloween-Harvest-Festival The 3rd Annual Halloween Harvest Festival at the Redwood Acres Fairgrounds, October 18 & 19th almost wasn't - but we are glad that it was, despite the problems encountered this year. Kleppin's Wooden Kitchen was one of the vendors for 2008 - it was our first participation in this event. Many thanks to the organizer of this event, Alice Krause of Eureka, who also organizes another event in the spring at this location. I hope you enjoy meeting the vendors through this lens - although they are all Pacific Northwest based, I am certain they would ALL welcome contact if you have questions or would like to place an order. Many of these vendors do not have a web presence, and some don't even have e-mail, so unless you were to come to an event, chances are you'd never get to see what they can do. holidays-and-celebrations Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:23:42 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/Rustiques My husband and I participated in the 3rd annual Halloween Harvest Arts & Crafts Festival held at the Redwood Acres Fairgrounds in Eureka, California. Among the many wonderful people we met were Al and Alice Krause of Eureka, California. They have been making Rustiques Yard Art Since 1993. All Rustiques are hand-drawn on 14 gauge steel using original templates, then hand-cut using an air-plasma cutting torch. As each piece is cut individually, they are all slightly different, adding to their unique character. These designs are not stamp-cut or produced by machine, and are NOT made in China, Mexico, or India. Each hand-crafted piece of exquisite Yard Art is pre-rusted before shipping - the rust is REAL, and is NOT a painted on finish. Rustiques are appealing indoors as well as out. Customers can see the difference in their handmade product and love it! Rustiques are 14 gauge steel, high quality, finely detailed, handmade in the USA, original designs by award winning artists! There have been many similar metal companies that have come on the market since they began. Their customers all agree that for quality of craftsmanship, uniqueness, and price, Rustiques are the best! Other items come in several sizes from 4" to 4'. They can be on stakes, made for the wall or have hooks added for functionality. If you can't get to the Pacific Northwest to select your Yard Art in person, Rustiques offers a few of their designs on eBay. You can access their eBay store below, but first, get to know the artists. They are very interesting people! home-and-garden Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:33:52 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/coffee-bean-direct-hazelnut-flavored-whole-bean-coffee Hazelnut is one of the oldest flavors added to coffee, and is one of the most popular, ranking only slightly less than chocolate as a favorite coffee flavor. Whole bean flavored coffee in a bulk bag is the most economical way to enjoy your favorite coffee without price guilt. If you can't imagine using up a five pound bag of coffee, consider splitting it with a friend so you both save money while enjoying the deliciousness of hazelnut flavored coffee. That is a win-win situation. Photo Credit: Coffee Bean Direct Hazelnut Flavored, Whole Bean Coffee, 5-Pound Bag food-and-cooking Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:41:32 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/threads-for-heads-sewing-guide One of the most highly regarded sewing guides dedicated to the patch-work clothing alteration methods used by the Dead Heads who followed the Grateful Dead from concert to concert was written by Laren Clay and titled: Threads for Heads, A clothing guide for the creative Brother and Sister By the time I discovered that I would like to have a copy for my own sewing library, she had sold out and the only copies I saw for sale were fetching darned close to $200 on eBay. Sure do wish I had managed to snag a copy. Photo Credit: Amazon.com - Threads for Heads, A clothing guide for the creative Brother and Sister books-poetry-writing Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:34:48 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/workamping Traveling in an RV is often listed as the number 1 dream of many Americans, yet most never figure out how they can afford it. That's because they don't know about Workamping. Workamping, or Work Camping, is basically taking temporary jobs that provide you with a place to "camp" or park your RV as part of the compensation. There is a world of opportunity that most people don't know about. Many of these jobs are not advertised locally. I lived in a tourist town for many years and never saw a single one of the dozens of opportunities advertised in our local paper. Where there's a will, there's a way. Don't put your dreams on hold any longer - determine what you want to do, and then get 'er done! Photo Credit: Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road This book has already become "The Bible" of working Rvers and can help you, too, turn your dreams into reality. travel-and-places Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:22:41 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/coffee-bean-direct-poor-mans-blend-whole-bean-coffee Why the Five lb. Bag of Poor Man's Blend Whole Bean Coffee from Coffee Bean Direct is Best Value Ever. Poor Man's Blend got its name from being the least expensive of the many whole bean coffees available to the public from Coffee Bean Direct. This coffee is a blend of many varieties of South American beans, and maintains the Coffee Bean Direct standard of excellence. The unique balance between acidity and flavor is complemented by perfect balance in the body. Because of the lower price point, this coffee is also affordable for projects that don't involve grinding and brewing. See the awesome YouTube video we found to illustrate that! Photo Credit: Coffee Bean Direct Poor Man's Blend, Whole Bean Coffee, 5-Pound Bag food-and-cooking Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:41:48 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/mongolian-sheepskin Sheepskin is the tanned hide of a sheep which retains the wool. There are, however, many varieties of sheepskin available. Mongolian Sheep Skins are more delicate than some others, being smaller and with long curly hair, generally between 3 and 6 inches in length. They are used extensively in high end products, such as satin backed sheepskin blankets, and fur pillow cases. Also known as "fat tail" sheep, the animals are used for food, and the hides are a useful byproduct. Image credit: Thunderbird Mountain Trading Company home-and-garden Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:44:17 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/cookwise If you have ever followed a recipe exactly only to find it flopped, and wondered why, this is the book you need to read! Shirley is the best teacher of kitchen chemistry I've ever encountered. Despite my having cooked for over 40 years, reading this book was an education, albeit an interesting one. I learned something in every section of the book, and couldn't put it down at times. The recipes included are delicious, and perfectly illustrate the principles involved. Shirley O. Corriher is featured on one of my favorite cooking shows, Good Eats, starring Chef Alton Brown, another great cooking teacher I admire. However, as much as I enjoy Alton Brown and the many cookbooks I've bought of his, I have to say Shirley Corriher is still my favorite when it comes to cookbooks, and Alton runs a close second. Alibris is my personal favorite way to find books online: food-and-cooking Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:41:45 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/Great-cookie-jars They say a collection is three or more of a similar item, so it's pretty safe to say if your friend has three or more Cookie Jars, he or she is a collector and you're safe giving him or her one more. The great thing about cookie jars is that there is such a WIDE variety to choose from, and they can be functional as well as decorative. Cookie jars don't have to be filled with cookies to be useful; they can hold all sorts of things. I have a cookie jar that holds cookie cutters for example. Another holds sewing notions, and another holds my juggling bags. (Can't juggle, but sure have fun trying!) My point is, a cookie jar makes a great gift for any number of reasons, so think about who in your life would love a cookie jar this Christmas. Love this Practical Cookie Jar? Me Too! Oggi Jumbo 9-1/2-Inch Ceramic Cookie Jar, White food-and-cooking Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:43:38 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/charlie-girls-artistic-creations Need a no-sew blanket but don't have the time, energy, or creative juices to make one yourself? Charlie Girl to the rescue! A regular vendor at the Del Norte County Farmer's Market sponsored by Rural Human Services, as well as the annual Christmas Bazaar, Charlie Girl offers no sew blankets along with polar fleece ponchos and warm designer throws. Walk by her booth and you'll be delighted with the variety of polar fleece designs to keep you or a loved one cozy. Charlie Girl also offers jewelry from Peru and other places, as well as some of her own hand-crafted original pieces. But Wait! There's More! Charlie Girl also has hand made ceramics unlike any you'll find elsewhere. At this moment, you'll have to visit one of her venues to find her products, but all that is about to change. Stay tuned and soon you'll be able to obtain her one-of-a-kind items online. In the meantime, get to know Charlie Girl and her Artistic Creations here. squidoo-community Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:41:35 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/dr-gabe-mirkin I admire Dr. Gabe Mirkin more than any other Dr. online, bar none. I've never met him, he's not my personal physician, but I've learned more from him and his books than from any other information source. What I like about Dr. Mirkin is that he doesn't use hype or half truth to get you to buy a supplement or a machine. In fact, what he has been preaching for years and years is no nonsense, this is what we know and this is what we don't know, pure information without drama. If you want pure medical information, without any new age slant, then Dr. Mirkin is going to surprise and delight you. Photo Credit: Fitness & Health with Dr. Gabe Mirkin healthy-living Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:23:00 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/cashing-in-on-angry-birds In December of 2011, I was given the opportunity to review a Warrior Special Offer created by Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach - 14 Year Veteran of Making Money and Creating Personal Success Online, who is also Lingstar on Squidoo. This is to be a documentary for 2012 of what I did with the information, and what my results were. I anticipate this lens to be updated frequently during 2012 as this journey unfolds. Photo Credit: Walk Through Angry Birds, a Clickbank eBook! business-and-work Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:36:43 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/eat-more-weigh-less Eat More, Weigh Less: It's every dieter's dream, the holy grail of the obese, and the most frustrating experience to realize it doesn't mean more burgers, shakes, and french fries. It's also the title of at least 2 different books on the subject of weight control, which I just happen to own both of, and will tell about here. Book #1 is by Dean Ornish, and Book #2 is by Dr. Terry Shintani. They were both published in the 1990's, so they've been around awhile, but are still highly relevant and contain accurate information that has the potential to be life altering if lifestyles are changed as a result of reading them. It should come as no surprise that the principles of eating more and weighing less as a result is going to involve lots of water-rich, fiber-rich food choices. The two approaches are very similar from that respect - where they differ is in the approaches to cooking that they take, and the target audiences they seek to influence. Dr. Ornish uses chefs like Wolfgang Puck and has a lot of recipes that are geared towards an affluent and college educated market. Dr Shintani's books and videos are easier to read and understand, and are directed to a wider audience, including those of us who are less educated and have fewer discretionary dollars to spend on designer foods. While both are good books, they are absolutely aimed at different user groups, so use the one that fits YOUR lifestyle - the information is very much the same, only the recipes and the presentation styles are different. healthy-living Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:37:18 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/focus-on-what-makes-you-money Make your business life easy - use a platform that supports what you are doing, handles all of the engineering and tech support, and lets you focus on creating content that makes you money. Nanacast lets you schedule podcasts, manage memberships, print on demand materials, handle member databases, multiple autoresponders, protect your downloads, manage affiliate programs and much more. If you are planning on doing any internet marketing, especially information products, you owe it to yourself to look at Nanacast to grow your business. Nanacast handles things in one place, securely, and takes the stress out of your business. business-and-work Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:37:14 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/the-hidden-reality-parallel-universes-and-the-deep-laws-of-the-cosmos According to Brian Greene, author of The Elegant Universe and The Fabric of the Cosmos, recent discoveries in physics & astronomy point to the idea that our universe may be one of many universes populating a grander multiverse. In his latest book, The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos, he tackles the existence of multiple universes. He says: "You almost can't avoid having some version of the multiverse in your studies if you push deeply enough in the mathematical descriptions of the physical universe. There are many of us thinking of one version of parallel universe theory or another. If it's all a lot of nonsense, then it's a lot of wasted effort going into this far-out idea. But if this idea is correct, it is a fantastic upheaval in our understanding." This is no ordinary new-age fluffy writer. His undergraduate degree is from famed Harvard University, while his doctorate is from Oxford. He was a Rhodes scholar, and is now a professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia University. If anybody knows about this stuff, he does. books-poetry-writing Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:22:38 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/dreams-do-come-true For over 15 years now, my husband and I have wanted to live in an RV and travel, earning our living doing something that is portable. Faced with my husband's health issues, and the realization of how little time we might have left to get out there and "get 'er done" we have made the decision to focus every ounce of our energy and every penny we own into making this happen while he is still physically able to enjoy it. If you've ever had a dream that has been pushed onto the back burner over the years, maybe now is the time to drag it out, dust it off, and get creative about making it happen. Life is just too short to keep putting off things until tomorrow, for as I've become all too aware of recently, tomorrow doesn't always come. squidoo-community Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:35:29 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/catnip-toys-for-the-discerning-cat Are you looking for the ideal gift for your cat? Or perhaps you are looking for a gift for a friend who is a cat lover. This page is designed to showcase the best selling cat toys with catnip that every cat will be mad about. If you have ever watched a cat playing with a catnip toy, you will see sheer bliss. Try planting some in your garden or grow it on a windowsill and see how popular you become. You can even make yourself a cup of soothing tea - but not if the cats get there first! Click here to see price of Yeowww! 100% Organic Catnip Toy, Rainbow pets-and-animals Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:22:38 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/coffee-bean-direct-italian-roast-espresso-whole-bean-coffee To make great espresso takes some skill and talent, but it all has to start with a great bean and a perfect roast, which is why Italian Roast Espresso Whole Bean Coffee from Coffee Bean Direct is so popular. Starting with hand picked beans, the roast masters at Coffee Bean Direct slow roast these beans to a perfect Italian Roast and then package them immediately so the beans stay nice and oily, packed full of aroma and flavor. Popular not only as an expresso, this coffee is also an excellent drip or pressed coffee, delivering the bold dark roast flavor without the acid or bitterness that is sometimes associated with a dark roast. Photo Credit: Coffee Bean Direct Italian Roast Espresso, Whole Bean Coffee, 5-Pound Bag food-and-cooking Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:41:20 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/rolling-pins If you aren't a foodie, you probably are thinking I'm being pretty silly about now, suggesting that a rolling pin might be a good gift. However, you would be wrong, because a foodie knows that just like one pair of shoes won't do for all occasions, neither will a rolling pin. Just as you wouldn't wear your dress shoes to play golf or your golf shoes to a formal dance, your foodie wants to use the right rolling pin for the job at hand. YOU might not appreciate how wonderful a great rolling pin is as a gift, but if you notice your favorite foodie is missing one or two, you have a great opportunity to make a gift statement. Check these out, then sneak a peek at what your Favorite Fabulous Foodie has; try not to duplicate what's already there. Think of rolling pins as stocking stuffers or part of a great Foodie Basket of Bounty. Don't worry - I'll explain what each one is for and why your foodie needs one. While I love kitchen stores, I know you probably don't, so I'll make this as easy on you as I can. Let's get started. Photo Credit: Amazon.com's J.K. Adams FRP-1 Maple French Rolling Pin food-and-cooking Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:33:33 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/cowboy-christmas If your heroes have always been cowboys, you probably love cowboy stuff like I do. These are some of my favorite Cowboy Christmas Cards, Cowboy Christmas Ornaments, Country-Western Songs by, for, and about cowboys and Christmas, and everything you need to have a horsey good Cowboy Christmas Photo Credit: Christmas the Cowboy Way holidays-and-celebrations Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:37:53 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/doctor-who-dvd Find Your Favorite Doctor Who DVD - Collect the entire series! Doctor Who is a British science fiction television program produced by the BBC from 1963 through 1989. It ceased production in 1989, but was started up again in 2005. Each story in the original series (1963-1989) is a multi-episode serial, with two exceptions: the 1965 cutaway episode "Mission to the Unknown"; and the 20th anniversary story The Five Doctors. As of this writing, there are 779 individual episodes plus one TV Movie. Not all are available on DVD, and sadly many of the stories from the 1960s have been lost forever in video format, although there are some audios that survive and have been remastered on CD. Photo Credit: Wikipedia entertainment Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:41:39 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/live-cheap-and-love-what-you-do Retirement isn't all about money - sometimes it's about making a decision to change the way you live. Discover what you can do to change your life, see the USA and enjoy every day while living a very inexpensive life. There are two ways to "get ahead" in this world. You can either earn more money, or you can spend less. Ideally, if you can do both, you have the chance of becoming wealthy, if that's your goal and dream. Or, you can learn how to live better for less money, freeing your time and energy for things you value, such as travel and new experiences. That's what my husband and I are doing, and I'll be sharing all my tips, tools, and secrets with you right here. Photo Credit: 365 Ways to Live Cheap: Your Everyday Guide to Saving Money travel-and-places Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:41:40 -0600