Gerry Rigged

The State of the Orange blog says Gerry McNamara has been cut from the professional basketball team he was playing with in Greece. This move is a far cry from the buzzer beating three pointers Orange fans remember from yesteryear. Waters spoke to McNamara's agent and he says "The coach wanted him, but the owner wanted someone else, the owner fired the coach and got his way."

Since G-Mac last walked off the court for the Orange he has been logging lots of air miles. The former Orange star played summer ball in 2006 for the Orlando Magic. After not being offered a contract in O-Town he packed his bags for his first trip across the Atlantic to Greece. He suited up for Olympiacos BC and played all of one minute in his team's first five games. Then off to California he went, after reaching a contract settlement with his Greek squad he signed a deal with the Backersfield Jam of the NBDL. Then again he packed his bags.

On June 27, 2007 McNamara tried out for the Philadelphia 76ers and again no contract. Back to Greece he went. On November 7th he was cut...again. The pride of Scranton, Pennsylvania has suited up for 2 Greek teams, one NBDL team, one NBDL all-star team, two NBA summer teams and has been drafted by one team in the Continental Basketball Association.

So now what? State of the Orange is saying maybe it's going to be back in Syracuse. The Raging Bullz might not be his only option in Syracuse. Coach Boeheim may have a spot for G-Mac back on the bench, but that means hanging up the ball sneaks and picking up the clip board.
If he wants to keep playing he may have a chance to return to Bakersfield. He knows the coach and they should be able to track down an old McNamara jersey.

One of the wild things about this story is that Mateen Cleaves replaced McNamara in Greece. He's also the guy that took McNamara's spot last year in Bakersfield.

Blog idea came from State of the Orange. State of the Orange is a blog about Syracuse sports. It was linked from 3 idiots on Sports.

STDs Rise in the U.S.

A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control show that the incidence rates (PDF file) for three sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise: Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and Syphilis. With nearly two million reported cases of Chlamydia in 2006; and gonorrhea becoming resistant to most drugs, the CDC is concerned about what the future may hold.
Despite all of the progress in researching, preventing, and treating sexually transmitted diseases, the CDC estimates that about nineteen million new cases appear each year. Of these, it is estimated that fifty-percent are between the ages of fifteen twenty-four.

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and Syphilis are all treatable and curable diseases. They can however, cause permanent damage if not diagnosed immediately. Different reasons are attributed to the rise of each; therefore, a different approach must be taken to reduce the numbers.

Chlamydia
In 2006, Chlamydia was the most commonly reported infectious disease in the U.S.; being diagnosed at three times the rate of gonorrhea (the second highest). The CDC says however that many cases go unreported and in reality, the rates are much higher.
The main issue with Chlamydia is that three quarters of woman do not have any symptoms. Which not only leaves the disease untreated and likely to cause serious health problems, but can spread to their partner.
Gonorrhea
The rates for gonorrhea have been increasing and CDC researchers say this is mainly due to the disease becoming resistant to the antibiotics used to fight it.
Researchers are currently on a quest for new medicines and hope that time is on their side. Until then, the same antibiotics will be used in hopes it is still effective.
Syphilis
Even though syphilis may not be as much a threat (as far as numbers are concerned) as Chlamydia, it is a STD many doctors dread. After reaching an all time low in 2000, the rates for syphilis have increased 13.8% ( 2.9 to 3.3 cases per 100,000 cases) this past year. Doctors and researchers thought they had conquered this disease, only to find that it is again rising at an alarming rate.
Syphilis can be seen as much more dangerous because if untreated it can lead to blindness, mental problems, and even death.


In the report, the CDC also mentions the racial disparities among the figures. According to the study, racial and ethnic minorities appear to be more severely effected by STDs in the U.S. Reasons are mainly due to socio-economic status and a lack of health care access. In addition, these groups are more likely to attend a public health clinic that report STDs more fully than a private clinic.

I found this website after stumbling upon this article

Peace, Love, and Hulu

Things are getting a little more lovey-dovey in TV land.

In a recent speech to the NewTeeVee conference, Lost Remote reports that CBS Interactive President Quincy Smith said he “loves” the online TV streaming service “Hulu.”

Hulu opened to generally positive reviews in October as a service that shows full episodes of TV shows.

But here’s the kicker: Hulu is a joint venture of NBC and NewsCorp, which owns the FOX network.

“People constantly ask us at CBS Interactive about Hulu,” Smith said. “Off the record? We love Hulu, and we talk a lot with Hulu. Our objective isn’t to slam them. If we can’t work together in contract then we can work together in philosophy.”

So why is this love coming from CBS, a Big Three competitor? It’s hard to know for sure. Perhaps CBS wants to get in line to join the Hulu crowd. Or maybe they’re working on a similar service.

Whatever the reason, CNET blogger Greg Sandoval seems to think Hulu may be the first big step toward the network dinosaurs getting a more firm plant in the realm of online content.

Hulu, he says, “…nails the basics. The images are clear, free of any of the aggravations that sometimes plague streaming video, such as stalled pictures or pixilated images….[Watching Hulu] is a far superior viewing experience than watching grainy, five-minute clips at YouTube or other video-sharing sites.”

Even if Hulu isn’t yet a “YouTube Killer”, the positive response to its debut raises some interesting ideas about what the future of television can and will be online and how its fans will consume it.

And who knows, maybe CBS’s flirt with Hulu will break down the collaborative walls between the networks. Who’s ready to see the cast of Heroes on Survivor?

(Story inspired by a post on LostRemote.com)

Rock Paper... Success

From the “we-can’t-make-this-stuff-up” department comes the story of Syracuse University senior Andrea Farina. Farina is a world champion… in rock paper scissors. Yes, that rock paper scissors. The coin-flipping alternative used to decide who will take out the trash or carry the groceries.

Farina won the 2007 International Rock Papers Scissors Championships in Toronto last month, beating a field of 512 participants. And more important than the name Farina made for herself in the RPS community, is the $7,000 champion’s check she brought back to Syracuse. According to The Toronto Sun, Farina will use most of the money to pay student loans. Not bad for a girl who told me through e-mail that she went to Toronto without any expectations, and was just hoping not to embarrass herself.

Instead Farina made history. With the win she became the first woman, and the first American to win the RPS tournament that dates back to 2002.

Competitors travel from as far away as Australia and New Zealand for the chance to compete in Rock Paper Scissors’ most prestigious event, which, Farina told the Daily Orange, consists of plenty of alcohol and gamesmanship. Many of the participants even give themselves nicknames, and wear costumes.

Farina told me that she hasn’t played much RPS since her big win, but that she is challenged everyday. She also admits that she is getting a little taste of celebrity life, with media requests ranging from local papers like the Post Standard to national outlets like Sports Illustrated.

The attention Farina has received is just the latest example of Rock Paper Scissors’ growing popularity. According to SI.com, similar tournaments have aired on ESPN, and if the success of the World RPS Society is any indication, more attention to the ‘sport’ could be on the way.

This post was inspired from this article, available at www.sportsillustrated.com

Celebs Turn to Public Office

Govenor Bon Jovi? It could happen.

Extra reports that Jon Bon Jovi hasn't sold his New Jersey home, even after moving his family to New York City. Rumor has it that the star might be considering running for Govenor of the Garden State.

There was fuelled speculation that the rocker was thinking of a career change when he hired new personal, Ken Sunshine, who was once chief of staff for former New York mayor David Dinkins. However, Sunshine has denied that Jon plans to run.

According to Extra, "Jon has been approached many times about running for office," Ken Sunshine said. "His day job is going too well, and this way he can keep the house (in New Jersey) ."

The rocker has also performed at Democratic fundraisers for John Kerry and Al Gore. Will he headline his concert tour on the next campaign trail? We will have to wait and see.

It's not something new, there is a long list of celebrities involved in politics. Ronald Reagan was an actor before becoming President and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was once the "Terminator", is now California's Governor.

Not every celebrity is ready for the political realm. Others use their star power to advocate for a particular cause. Tour de France champion, Lance Armstrong testified before the Texas legislature asking for more cancer research funds. He got it! The state passed a bill for 3 billion dollars worth of funding.

Unlike Bon Jovi, Armstrong hasn't denied his interest in politics. According to ABC News, "(Armstrong) feels he's much more effective as an advocate and someone who can draw attention to cancer and help make it a national priority," said Katherine McLane, communications director for the Lance Armstrong Foundation. "But he's also said that when it comes to running for office, never say never."

Blog idea came from ABCNews.

Medical Malpractice vs. Patient Responsibility

The sudden death of hip-hop star Kanye West’s mother Donda West, may have caught fans by surprise, but was not an unexpected one according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Ms. West died after undergoing a cosmetic surgery procedure in Los Angeles last Saturday.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons says that plastic and cosmetic surgery should be treated like any other surgical procedure. ASPS reminds people that with all surgeries there is risk and recommends preliminary actions be taken by patients before undergoing any procedure. This includes informing oneself about the procedure, their health and the doctor’s previous history.

According to TMZ.com, an online news website, Ms. West was given specific instructions by the doctor who was supposed to perform the procedure. The doctor recommended that she consult another physician for other health problems before the surgery. According to CNN Ms. West dismissed these recommendations and had the procedure done by another doctor. The ASPS says there is standard information that should be discussed and understood by all patients. These details include potential risks, benefits, consequences and side effects to a surgery.

According to Medical News Today complications and deaths are rare in plastic and cosmetic surgery. However, several facilities have reported an increase in wrong site surgeries.This is accidently removing the wrong limbs, organs and performing surgeries on the wrong person. Some facilities are not required to report these accidents so many of the instances are unaccounted for. The Archives of Surgery show the likelihood of wrong site surgery occurring can be even twenty times more than what has been reported. In 2004, the Joint Commission has required doctors to mark spots that they plan to cut and verify it with the patient beforehand. However, this still causes discrepancies. Some doctors don’t mark the incision sites or make small marks that are hard to decipher. Although nurses are required to take time out in the operating room to prepare the correct site for surgery this is often ignored by doctors.


One company is trying to prevent the frequent occurrence of wrong site surgeries by marketing “Medtoos”, which are temporary tattoos used to mark patients before surgeries. Errors can occur in both intrusive and non-intrusive surgeries but who is to blame is often hard to determine.

Not the World Cup...not even close

American sports fans seem to be about the big game. The championship game for any sport usually draws the most viewers because fans want to know which team is the best at every sport. In the U.S., none is bigger than the NFL Super Bowl, which draws millions of viewers and many more millions of dollars for the network that airs the ad space. People are already talking about their team's chances to win a ring at a sporting event that's months away. The NBA Finals, MLB World Series, and NHL Stanley Cup all garner a similar type of attention from sports fans, and a similar increase in ratings.

The world's most popular sport, soccer, has the World Cup, but only comes around every four years. The FIFA World Cup champion gives the winning country the right to say, "My country could beat up your country...in soccer," or football, as it called in most other countries. The Italian team won the last World Cup in 2006, but that game will always be synonymous with Zinedine Zidane's headbutt.

In the U.S., we have Major League Soccer (MLS), which features this country's best soccer talent and a few top players from around the world. Martin Rogers of Yahoo! Sports ranks the MLS as the top world league for the future, and says it can be largely successful in the next decade. Despite hope from supporters, the MLS still has not fully caught on with American sports fans. This is highlighted by the lack of buzz around the MLS Cup Finals, which kicks off November 18th at Noon EST. I would consider myself a soccer fan, but I had no idea the MLS playoffs had already started. The league isn't even trying to put the game on primetime to reach the most viewers. People on the West Coast have to wake up at 9 AM on Sunday just to watch the game.

Almost every American has played soccer or at least watched their kid play it, but few people seem interested in the MLS Cup. Even if someone has heard of the two teams in the finals (New England Revolution and Houston Dynamo), it's unlikely that person could name any player on either team. Maybe the lack of hype is because the game is simply a rematch of last year's MLS Cup Finals, which the Dynamo won. If Major League Soccer's biggest star, British import David Beckham, was playing, there would probably be a lot more interest in the game. He is so popular that ESPN has Beckham Watch on it's soccer homepage. According to a soccer blog, Beckham has increased the popularity of the league for fans, and attendance is up to the highest it has been since its inaugural season.

But without Beckham in the MLS Cup, there is much less media coverage of the game. Sports anchor Dan Patrick says most of the people who watch soccer in the United States are actually illegal immigrants from countries where soccer is very popular. If that's the case, then maybe people will tune in this Sunday to watch the game...even if they aren't American.

Inspiration for my blog came from this Sports Illustrated story.

An Icy Adventure: Ice Hotel Quebec

A hotel made out of ice acutally exists. The Discovery Travel Channel reported the Ice Hotel Quebec is one of four ice hotels in the world.

This architectural masterpiece, Ice Hotel Québec, is not for the average tourist. Paying money to be surrounded by ice is definitely for the adventure seeker. The Ice Hotel is entirely made of snow and ice. Besides 36 rooms to sleep in, the hotel also has a N'Ice club, Ice Lounge, Wedding Chapel, and a Grand Hall for banquets.

This Hotel is all about themes. From themed bedrooms to the Absolut bar, there's an adventure around every block of ice. The hotel offers four packages that vary in price: Enchanting Discovery, Winter Adventure, Night of Winter Romance, and Crystal Ice. Not to mention three different packages for the wedding chapel.

For sleeping, a padded bed is put on ice and for warmth you wrap yourself in a sleeping bag. The room temperature remains between -3 o C (26,6 o F) and -5 o C (23 o F). Prices for rooms run between $199 for a single or double room to $299 for a suite.

Within five minutes of the hotel, there are plenty of activities to get your blood warm such as Helicopter Tours of Quebec, Dogsledding, Snowmobile Rides, Ice Fishing, Mutil-Day packages with Cross-Country skiing and other activities, and an Igloo Workshop.

The Ice Hotel is at 143, route Duchesnay Pavillon Regie Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-CartierQC, CanadaG0A 3M0. The Aeroport International Jean-Lesage (YQB) is the closest airport. It would take an additional 34 minutes by car to reach the hotel. From Syracuse it should be more or less 6 hours. The Ice Hotel Quebec has driving directions on the website, but for a more precise time and directions to this ice wonderland check out Google maps.

I selected this article from Disovery Travel Channel because I am always looking for a new thrill and an exotic adventure. I figured there have to be people like me who always want to experience different avenues in life, and what better way then spicing up a traditional hotel stay with a visit to an ice hotel.

Its so much more than sheep lung

What is the definition of haggis? Well. Merriam-Webster defines it as "a traditionally Scottish dish that consists of the heart, liver, and lungs of a sheep or a calf minced with suet, onions, oatmeal, and seasonings and boiled in the stomach of the animal ." Now I've heard that it actually tastes quite delicious but the only haggis I ever want to hear about is a band from Toronto named Enter The Haggis.

As I was looking at one of my favorite band's (Gaelic Storm) myspace page, I saw ETH in bright lights. I thought, " What the heck gotta find something to blog about anyway" , clicked on the link and found a group that turned out to be a class project and band to add to the repertoire.

The band's website says the piper of the band formed them in the late nineties in an effort to try to make some money after Craig Downie's, the piper, fledgling acting career. The website says at the time of the band's inception Downie was listening to a lot of Celtic-rock infused sounds and thus, the base of the band's sound was found. But the line isn't drawn there, ETH loves to mix in bluegrass, jazz and even some Latin flavor to their sound. I think a great example of this is the song One Last Drink. To me, after the a capella intro the drums come in with an almost calypsoesque rhythm . The fiddle and pipes keeps the group grounded in their Celtic roots, but are able to expand out to other styles. By the way, please don't get confused while watching the video. Yes, that is Kelly Rippa, not a leprechaun.

So if the heart, liver and lungs of sheep aren't your thing, that's alright. But don't confuse them with Enter The Haggis. Try them out and see if one of their many different styles suits your fancy.

I found this site by visiting Gaelic Storm's myspace page.

Can I Get You More Zebra, Sir?

Like sampling exotic cuisines? While Central New York has its fair share of restaurants, nothing in the area is quite as unique as what is offered at Nairobi, Kenya's Carnivore. The Carnivore is an open-air restaurant, specializing in safari game meats. According to African Mecca, a travel website, the meat is roasted on traditional Maasai swords over a charcoal pit. The waiters carry the swords around the restaurant, carving the zebra - or meat of your choice - directly onto your plate at your request. While there are of course side dishes and desserts, game meats are the real draw. A review of the restaurant by h2g2, part of the BBC, explains the variety of meats available at the Carnivore. They say the giraffe is succulent, much like pork. Zebra is tough and gamey. Waterbuck is moist and tender. The menu includes more common meats such as chicken and lamb, also served at your table off a Maasai sword. The restaurant charges a flat rate of around $50, but the food is unlimited as are alcoholic beverages.

The Carnivore might sound strange to you, but it's no hole-in-the-wall joint. In fact, the London-based Restaurant Magazine rated the Carnivore to be one of the fifty best places to eat in the world in 2003. It was the only restaurant in Africa to be chosen for the list that year.

And in case your conscience might be bugging you, you can rest assured that all of the Carnivore's meat is bought from suppliers of game licensed by Kenya Wildlife Services.

(I came across this restaurant by browsing through the BBC's website, looking specifically at African travel pieces. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A517132)

The Year of Champions?

Being a sports fan in Boston these days is heady stuff. As CNN/SI’s Peter King notes: “Since October18, the Hub’s baseball, basketball and football teams ( Sox, Celts, Pats ) are 15 – 0.” This has since been extended to 17 – 0.

The Red Sox just garnered their second championship in the past four years, and now the Patriots and the Celtics are white hot. The Pats are so good that Buffalo head coach, Dick Jauron, marvels: "It's hard to find a flaw." New England is favored to win the Super Bowl, and may well go undefeated.

Mike Kahn, of Fox Sports, says that Kevin Garnett and the Celtics are making everything look easy during their hot start. He talks about how Boston is outscoring opponents by seventeen points a game, exceeding expectations. It is the Celtics best start in thirty-five years. Back in the 80's, the "Big Three" consisted of Bird, McHale, and Parrish. Now Boston has a different "Big Three:" Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce, who are scoring sixty-five points per game collectively. Kahn says that Celtics Coach, Doc Rivers, has done a great job in dealing with the three stars, but it'll take more than seven games to decide whether or not this team is for real.

Odds are, either the Celtics or Patriots will eventually lose a game, but for the time being, it’s sports nirvana in Beantown.

I was reading Mike Kahn's article on Fox Sports, and I thought back to Peter King's comment, and it made me think this would be an interesting blog topic.

Local Small College Basketball Exhibitions

The NCAA ruled in 2004 that colleges can only play on international tours and small college basketball teams, not elite club teams. Small schools like Grand Valley State and Findlay are starting to make "BCS" Conference Schools take note that Division II, III and NAIA schools come to play these games seriously, even if it's counted as an exhibition.Playing as a walk-on at a small college (Loyola New Orleans) next to big school neighbor (Tulane), I know how it feels to get the opportunity to challenge NCAA Division I players.


Its happening locally as well. Imagine the Carrier Dome packed and raucous during a sold-out game against Georgetown. Now imagine being the school with a chance of a lifetime to knock of a big name school with little name talent with the same crowd. College Exhibition basketball features many small college teams facing that challenge around this time of year. LeMoyne and College of St. Rose from Albany from NCAA Division II Northeast-10 Conference took on one of the biggest traditional powers in New York, the Syracuse Orange.


Locally, LeMoyne College faced two large obstacles, size and ball control. A cross-city trip for a team ranked 8th in the preseason conference poll against Syracuse resulted in 50-point loss. The team did leave with a valuable experience. Players that never got a look from Coach Jim Boeheim and a big time program got the chance to play in the Carrier Dome. The link from the Syracuse website mainly presents a view of the game, but LeMoyne's recap talked about how a player made a memorable dunk and how they stayed close halfway through the first half. LeMoyne gave their best effort for much ofthe first half, but Syracuse depth and athletes were superior to the Dolphins.



College of St. Rose came in with a lot of confidence from last season. Even though they lost by 9 they showed that they have the poise to compete for a championship in the Northeast-10 conference. At one point they held a lead in the second-half! A basketball preview from the Sport Information Office at College of St. Rose describes the team's talent and senior leadership returning from last year. They also did a great job exploiting Syracuse highly touted freshman class first game in the Carrier Dome.


Thanks to this relatively recent NCAA ruling we will see more games like this in the future. Although they do not present the same challenges to powerhouses like Syracuse that a touring team like the Harlem Globetrotters or EA Sports who take on tough competition with close results, they are solid organized teams with players determined to make lifelong memories of defeating the good teams. Always remember, the mighty can fall to a small school.

Blog Idea from play-by-play of CSR vs. Syr. Game

Holiday Drinks: Paying the Price in Pounds

'Tis the season of giving, especially when it comes to passing out the calories. Whether you're being invited out to the Glenn Loch or "celebrating" at an office holiday party, it can be hard to keep away from holiday drinks and keep off the extra pounds.

December can also be an especially stressful time of year, catching up on work before end-of-the-year deadlines, preparing to visit families, or sending out annual greeting cards. To deal with the added stress, many restaurants and stores are pushing a wide range of comfort products, many of which add padding to the stress.

According to one guide to holiday calories, drinks like eggnog, buttered rum, and peppermint hot chocolate can contain up to 300 calories. They're part of a health category MSNBC calls DDD — decadent desserts in disguise. A Starbucks 16-ounce eggnog latte may not look much different from a typical cup of coffee, but it packs twice as many calories (500!) as a regular Snickers bar,

according to Eating Well Magazine, which says a cup of rich hot chocolate is the calorie equivalent of 13 Hershey’s Kisses.

"Our bodies don't register liquids in terms of fullness," says Elizabeth Somer, R.D., a nutritionist and author of The Origin Diet (Henry Holt, 2001), quoted in an article from Shape Magazine in January of 2002. "The reason you gain weight from alcohol is that you don't compensate by eating less later. You still eat the same amount, regardless of whether you had the drink."

Here's a summary of Shape Magazine's calorie breakdown of the typical drinks you can find at the bar during any celebration.

• 6-ounce glass of white has 1.4 carb grams and 120 calories
• 6-ounce glass of red wine has 3 carb grams and 128 calories
• 6.5-ounce flute of champagne has 6.5 carb grams and 163 calories
• one Vodka Cranberry has 18 carb grams and 172 calories
• one Rum and Coke has 13 carb grams and 182 calories
• one Long Island Iced Tea has 4 carb grams and 275 calories
• one Gin and Tonic has 21 carb grams and 178 calories
• one Whiskey Sour has 17 carb grams and 175 calories
• 12-ounce beer has 13 carb grams 150 calories
• 12-ounce light beer has 5 carb grams and 100 calories

One thing to keep in mind is that the darker the beer or alcohol, the higher the calorie count because of additives. The same goes for mixed drinks which contain juices that have high amounts of corn syrup, rich in calories. But even if you have a low calorie drink, the alcohol itself has a negative effect on the body.

"Alcohol is not an essential nutrient," says Somer. "It has a diuretic effect on the body. Even if you mix it with orange or cranberry juice, you are more likely to flush the nutrients out of your system."

While out celebrating the holidays, you can take a few steps to prepare yourself by making some smart choices to cut down the calories and still feel good about yourself:

1. If you know you're going out for a drink later on, you can cut out on a snack or dessert during lunch to save on calories earlier in the day. (But don't drink an alcoholic beverage on an empty stomach.)


2. While out at a holiday happy hour, people often feel like they have to have a glass in hand. Instead of giving in to peer pressure, come prepared with an alternative game plan:

• Start with club soda or water to quench your thirst.
• Set a number of drinks you plan to consume.
• Ask for low-calorie chasers or diet sodas.

Since there are many versions of the same drink that taste similar, try a recipe that has fewer frills. Remember: the fewer rich ingredients, the fewer nutritional complications later on.

Does Red Meat Indicate Fresh Meat?

The safety of using carbon monoxide when packaging meat was debated in Congress on Tuesday. Meat producers began treating meat with the gas in 2004 to maintain its red color, after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved its use.

The Cattlenetwork argues that the practice is both safe and widely accepted by consumers. It also contends that without carbon treatment, meat would turn brown and lose its fresh flavor. On the other side of the issue are consumer advocates, who argue that the practice isn't safe. Food and Water Watch says on its website that use of the gas makes it difficult for consumers to determine how fresh the meat is, since it is constantly red. The group argues that the gas masks spoilage even after the meat has been improperly kept on shelves past sell dates. It wants meat treated with carbon to be labeled as such, or not sold at all. Tyson Foods, Giant Foods, Stop & Shop, and Safeway have all agreed to stop using the gas when packaging meat, according to the consumer advocacy group. Target Corp., Hormel Foods Corp and Cargill Inc announced they plan to add lables indicating when meat is treated with carbon.

Hormel Foods CEO Jeffrey Ettinger told lawmakers that Hormel has had 48 customers complain about bad taste or ordor, out of 23 million packages of meat treated with the gas. He said that number was very low. Ettinger and the CEO of Cargill Inc both said that they had identified zero instances of illnesses associated with the meat packaging practice.

Website that inspired this post: The Consumerist

Orange Seeking Volleyball Championship

The Big East Women's Volleyball Championship kicks off today and the Syracuse Orange will be there. After missing out on the tournament last year, the Orange were able to secure the eighth and final sede and a matchup with nationally-ranked Louisville in 2007. The tournament goes through the weekend and will be hosted by Marquette University at the Al McGuire Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Orange won their last three regular season games, including victories over Big East foes Villanova and Seton Hall. Even then, it came down to a third tie-breaker to put Syracuse into the final spot in the tournament over Pittsburgh. They finished with a record of 21-12-0 overall and an 8-6-0 mark in conference play.

The team was led this year by seniors Cheryl Cobbina and Joscie Kaup. Cobbina, an outside hitter from Toronto, Ontario, ranked sixth in the Big East in kills, averaging 4.00 per game. Kaup, a defensive specialist from Ft. Recovery, Ohio, was third in the conference in digs, with 4.66 per game. Both were named to the All-Big East Second Team Thursday night, at the annual tournament banquet.

The road will not be easy for the Orange. Their opening round matchup pits them against a Louisville team that went 13-1 in the Big East and were conference co-champions. The Cardinals were ranked in the top two for virtually every team statistical category this year. The two teams met September 29, in the first week of conference play, with Louisville winning 3-0. But Syracuse is not intimidated and is not satisfied simply to have made the tourney. Sophomore outside hitter Kacie MacTavish told The Daily Orange, "We're not going to come out scared or expecting to lose. We're going to do our best to beat them, no matter who's on the other side."

Blog idea came from SU Athletics.

Absinthe is Back and Barely Legal

Green leaves are disappearing, but green worms are starting to appear in bottles all over the Mid-Atlantic. Following a recent European trend, the United States approved the sale of Absinthe this summer.

Why now? A recent New York Times article found that The New Yorker discovered that a controversial ingredient called thujone, which was thought to cause hallucinogenic effects, did not "show up in significnant quanities in analyses of historical absinthe."

Absinthe varieties approved to sell in the United States contain real wormwood-drived thujones, but in a regulated amount by The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

Absinthe had been banned for so long, it's hallucinogenic effects have become legendary. Nineteeth century Western artists and writers like Van Gogh, Toulouse Lautrec, Paul Verlaine, Oscar Wilde and Hemingway, are fabled to have exhibited bizarre behavior, all documented in the online Absinthe Museum.

Two brands of Absinthe are available in select markets in the United States for about $60 a bottle, including Lucid, produced in Manhasset, New York, and Kübler, a Swiss bestseller distilled using a 1863 family formula. You can also try to make your own Absinthe, with instructions found at Greendevil.

The assistant manager of Pascale's Liquor Square in Syracuse says his store does not carry the green juice yet because the New York State Liquor Authority has only approved Absinthe retail sales in the New York City area. But you can order Lucid online from Shoppers Vineyard and have it delivered in time for the holidays to inspire a little green envy.

(inspiration for this entry: The Liquid Muse)

5 Food websites

http://candyaddict.com/blog/index.php
http://www.foodnetwork.com/
http://www.passionateaboutfood.net/index.shtml
http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/01/wafer-wonderland
http://www.weightwatchers.com/food/index.aspx

CNY Children's Mental Health

According to a screening done earlier this year, children in Syracuse (CNY) with mental problems are going through
difficulties in getting sufficient mental health services. Because the number of staff and clinics is not enough, sometimes children in need of mental help have to wait for more than 70 days.

Parents and families naturally have to suffer the situation together. On a public hearing of the New York Office of Mental Health of
2006-2010 Statewide Comprehensive Plan for Mental Health Services, Mary Jane O'Connor testified of her child's
urgent need of mental care. She and her daughter went through difficulty when the Four Winds Hospital closed
suddenly, and she had to have her girl treated in Rochester because there are not enough beds in Syracuse.
Even so, the former Four Winds hospital site has been purchased by SUNY Upstate Medical University, when Michael F.
Modzelewski, a Syracuse native and Florida businessman had also made a purchase offer earlier to build a mental health center on the site and help some youths being referred to out-of-town facilities.

While Upstate plans to use part of the building as a child-care center, it does not offer mental care for children, and Modzelewski is said to be looking at another site in the area for his proposed center.

It's a Landmark Theater of a Landmark.

One of the landmarks in downtown Syracuse aptly is named the Landmark Theater. It is one of the last of its kinds. It used to be one of the many theaters of its kind that tried to lure people to the downtwon area with the magic of a movie or stage show. When it was first opened it was called Loew's State theater, in honor of its owner Marcus Loew. When opened in 1927 it was billed as "the last word in theatrical ornateness and luxuriousness. With nothing but the best marble, extrodinary and grand staircases, it was almost like a little bit of Hollywood right here in Syracuse. Fast forward seventy years and the face of Downtown Syracuse has drastically changed but the inside of the Landmark theater has stood the tests of time. One can travel right back into the 1920's with a walk under the marquee and into the theaters doors. Now it always makes me laugh to see the variety of shows that come perform at the Landmark. It can go from the, lets just say more than colorful comediene Lisa Lampanelli to the pomp and circumstance of the President's Own Marine Corps band. Just this week the Landmark managed to cover almost the entire North American continent. On Monday the former president of Mexico, Vicente Fox, spoke about US-Mexican relations. Fast forward to Thursday night's performance of The Tragically Hip, a canadian band that has been producing music and putting on a killer of a show for more than twenty years. I think the great thing about the Landmark is that it's a center where whatever may be going on; musically, politically or whatever the case maybe, it will always have a great venue where they can be performed. So for everyone that hasn't made a trip to see it, just hop on a bus, get off at the Downtown bus exchange and take a trip back in time.

ESPN-eh?! Canada's Dan Shulman signs extension at ESPN

Kudos to Canadian Sportscaster Dan Shulman, who recently signed a five-year deal to remain with ESPN. Shulman has quietly become one of the industry's best sportscasters, serving among ESPN’s top play-by-play voices for College Basketball and Major League Baseball. The signing of his new deal means Shulman can now add NBA play-by-play to his resume.

Shulman replaces Mike Breen as ESPN’s top-voice for professional basketball, and will work alongside analyst Hubie Brown. Syracuse University alum Mike Tirico (SU ’88) will also call his fair share of NBA games this season for the ESPN family of networks. ESPN's 2007-08 NBA schedule includes game coverage every Wednesday and Friday.

Shulman meanwhile is just the latest Canadian addition to ESPN’s NBA coverage joining studio host John Saunders and sideline reporter Mark Jones. Shulman lives in Toronto, making him among the highest paid Canadian-based Sports broadcasters.

Despite the increased workload, Shulman will continue to call College Basketball, including the Big East Tournament in March. Shulman told me through e-mail, that he has received his preliminary schedule for the upcoming season and it does not include a visit to Syracuse.

His new deal however does mean a reduced workload on the baseball front. Shulman will remain the voice of “Wednesday Night Baseball” on ESPN-TV, but he will no longer be the radio voice of “Sunday Night Baseball.”

Dracula is calling you!

AAHHH! Halloween is over. But don’t freak out. There’s always next year. Are you tired of the typical cliche door-to-door, trick-or-treat, American Halloween? Well here’s a really spooky way to celebrate an ancient holiday. Travel to Transylvania. Scared yet?

Transylvania is a town located in Romania’s central region. The town is famous for the legend of Dracula. Of course, “Dracula” didn’t really exist. For the character is based on Romania’s fifteenth-century prince Vlad Tepes. It’s understandable how a brutal prince can acquire the name “Dracula” which has come to mean the devil in Romania. After all, the prince’s favorite version of the death penalty was to impale enemies on wooden stakes as he watched them die in misery.

On the flip side, his cruelty created a great tourist market for future Romanians. Introducing Dracula Land, a spooky theme park built in Sighisoara, Romania, the birthplace of Vlad Tepes.

The myth of the blood sucking Dracula was actually created by author Bram Stoker. He researched Vlad Tepes’ cruel empire and added some fangs here and there, and then Dracula was created. But besides the fact that Dracula is fictional and Transylvania isn’t really invaded with vampires, Transylvania is still a fascinating place.

Transylvania has beautiful landscapes, interesting history, and lots and lots of scary things to make tourists’ blood run cold. So for next Halloween don’t be afraid to try something new.

For more information on Dracula tours and Transylvania, click on the highlighted links. These tours will definitely give you a shiver.

Think PINK

How Do You Show Your Pink? Last month was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and people are still finding creative ways to raise awareness about the illness. Campbell's created pink soup can labels to commemorate the month and Kitchen Aide sold pink household appliances. Eventhough stores are selling more pink items, people are still creating new and inventive ways to show off their PINK PRIDE.

Kim Goebel is just one of many business owners who is doing this. Goebel teamed up with Partners For a Cure Foundation to reach a different demographic. Goebel is the creator of the Kimmie Cares Doll and book that are being used to teach girls about breast cancer. She created the product when she was going through chemotherapy. Goebel says women battling cancer find it hard to cope but it is even more difficult to break the news to young girls. She says her products help people explain their illness and sudden hair loss to children when battling the disease. The dolls go from long hair to wearing a scarf, which is commonly seen in women undergoing chemotherapy. The dolls are being used as instruction tools to help young girls undersatnd the changes women go throughwith cancer. They come in five different ethnicities including Asian-American, African American, Native-American, Latin American and Caucasian.

Now, if you're looking for a way to show your support for Breast Cancer and a pink t-shirt or ribbon isn't enough, a local full service salon will extend your locs with some color. Andrea Kowalczyk is the owner of the Art of You Salon in Syracuse will apply pink extension to your hair.