Sudokuaholics Anonymous 8

The judge had told us to be there. No excuses. He told everyone what would happen. I wouldn't have expected him to do less. A judge's order is law.
There hasn't actually been a trial with jury in this county in 3 or 4 years. Maybe more.

That sounds like a spectacular sight, Suzy.

Heidi, that's probably what the people who didn't show up thought... what's that expression, 'you know what thought did?' or something weird like that?

Forgot to mention, I paid out the megabucks and Ally got her TaeKwonDo uniform. She is so jazzed by it! We talked about the belts on the way home... and now I've forgotten the terms they used. She said so it would take years to get a black belt, I can commit years to something...

1. Popcorn May Help Prevent Cancer

Eating popcorn is good for you and may even help prevent cancer.

Scientists have long known that whole grains are heart-healthy, but a first-of-its-kind study from the University of Scranton found that popcorn, breakfast cereals, and other grain-based snack foods are packed with antioxidants called polyphenols.

Polyphenols in foods such as fruits, vegetables, wine, coffee, tea, berries, olives, and chocolate are thought to help reduce the risk of many diseases. They remove free radicals — the chemicals that can cause damage to cells and tissues — from the body.

Until now, no one knew that commercial cold and hot whole-wheat cereals and snack foods also were a good source of polyphenols. This is important for health because the average American diet consists of a high percentage of these foods.

“Cereals, pasta, crackers and salty snacks constitute over 66 percent of whole grain intake in the U.S.” said Joe Vinson, a chemistry professor at the University of Scranton.

“Early researchers thought the fiber was the active ingredient for these benefits in whole grains — the reason why they may reduce the risk of cancer and coronary artery disease,” he said. “But recently, polyphenols emerged as potentially more important.”

“This is the first study to examine total phenol antioxidants in breakfast cereals and snacks,” Vinson said. “We found that, in fact, whole-grain products have comparable antioxidants per gram to fruits and vegetables.”

The study found that whole grains are very high in antioxidants, with the most antioxidants in cereals made with wheat, corn, oats, and rice, in descending order. Whole grain snacks have slightly lower levels than cereals.

Popcorn has the highest antioxidant level of all whole grain snack foods — more than five times higher than its nearest rival. Tortilla chips, for example, lagged far behind popcorn, with 10 times less antioxidants than popcorn.

Suzy... my next door neighbor's son is a TaeKwonDo black belt. He started taking it when he was under 10 years old, and really stuck to it, to everyone's amazement. Sean has a serious speech impediment and the TaeKwonDo gave him a lot of self confidence.

BTW.... Until I get a good photo of my new finch, I can at least show a diagram of the color.

Heidi, the club had a grading last weekend. Ally's friends went from white to yellow belts. One girl got her black tip for her red belt - which I think means she goes for her black belt next time. She celebrated her 10th birthday at class last night... I just about fell off my chair!

Heidi, How are the baby finches? I have not heard about them since I got back online. Hope they are growing like little baby finches should. Interesting article about whole grains and polyphenols, thanks for posting it.

It is good that Ally can commit to something for years, at her age, that is really good. Wish her luck for me.

Now I gotta go into that room and fling food, I made a meat loaf this morning but we need vegetables now.

Good morning lovely SA people.
Heidi - I'm pleased the judge did what he did about the ones who didn't show. The one and only time I was on jury duty, I got the flu but they accepted a Doctor's certificate explaining my absence. Interesting about the popcorn - was reading that in one of the weekend papers here.
Vici - glad to hear you are on the mend.
Mariana - Happy birthday. Enjoy your day.
Suzy - Apart from learning the discipline of Tae Kwon Do, Ally will also now know how to defend herself which is a good thing in these times.
MizT - so nice to see you around again.
Hello to everyone else and my brain is too useless to remember who was around - Nola, Suzanne (good to see you posting again). Oh who else was there? I probably wanted to comment but that was the previous page and I can't scroll up. Darn!!!!

Good Morning everyone.

arggg forgot what I was going to say.. CRAFT!!!

Happy Birthday to Mariana.
Shares the birthday with my Mum, her actual birthday is today.

Happy 90th Birthday to Mum

Happy 88th Birthday to Tante Annie ( mum's sister in Holland)

Still no flinging for me.

This eve we are all out for dinner at a nearby Restaurant with Mum, the Sydney Family (5), Sister and Husband, Aunt and Uncle, Hubby and Son #2 and I.

Empty House

the boys, Son #2 and Cousin's Son (from Sydney staying at my abode) are joining the other Sydney Family (2 Girl Cousins, Eldery Aunt, and Eldery Uncle), they are off to Rottnest Island for the Day.

MizT... all the baby finches are doing great. They're about the size of their parents already!!! Three will be red heads for sure and the other three will be either red or yellow headed. All I really want are females from these breedings. I'll sell the males.

to you Mother, Rolanda

Rolanda - to your Mum and Aunt.
Hope the Rottnest trippers have a smooth trip over and back.

Oh, and Rolanda, enjoy your dinner out tonight.

A good day today.. weather wise, sunny, a tad nippy this morning though.
The crossing to Rottnest should be good.

Vici has surfaced for long enough to write in the blog so that is good... good that she was well enough to be up for a bit and REALLY good that she got her priorities right! LOL..

She has 58 days to whip herself into shape and get on that plane!! [not that I am counting...]

Suzy what a wonderful evocative description of dawn. I could picture it all...
I know what you mean about 'easy'... I can go for days [weeks] without reading or posting over there... but I agree... there are some wonderful folks on this site and I tend to dilly dally here with the 'family' and forget about them.
Before the day is out I will make amends...

Every time I see the name Rottnest, I think about a gorgeous Cowrie found there. Cypraea rottnestensis. It's one I want to add to my collection.

Bean.... did Vici say how she's feeling?

Heidi... you learn something new all the time.
I didnt know that Rottnest Island had Cowrie Shells.
Sent you a PM.

The full name of it is Cypraea cribraria exmouthensis rottnestensis. It's quite a mouthful. It's also a GORGEOUS shell. And it's unique to Rottnest Island.

Rottnest Island : http://www.rottnestisland.com/en/Pages/Home.aspx

ROLANDA!!!!! That place looks fabulous!!! I have fallen in love.

Off to feed dogs, then to bed. I'm back to coughing a lot.

You will have to visit Heidi.. you can do snorkeling there too.

I am off to have some (early) lunch.

Rottnest Island is a beautiful and unusual place, Heidi. When we went last year I was worried about the crossing because I heard it can be quite rough. The day we went the (Indian)ocean was like a mirror both ways. That peacock pic on my page and one of a small cove (ideal for snorkelling) were taken there - two of your favoutites - peacocks and snorkelling.

Heidi... Vici said she was still coughing but feeling heaps better than she has for the previous three days...

Thanks for the update, Bean.

had to stop in and say a huge thank you for all the birthday wishes! you gals are awesome. last summer you got me through one of the worst times in my life. i really don't think i would have made it without sa8. thanks for all you do!

Hello, Everyone! Just popping in for the first time today. Got here before midnight!

Hi, Rolanda, CynB, Bean, Heidi & Mariana!

hi heidi! i see you in my box. looks like you are up to your same shennannigans. (i know i spelled that wrong...who cares!) what is the bird count at your house these days?

heidi left, and julie appeared. what's up julie?

a darn slow computer and a serious need for a shower are forcing me to go. i was working out and running. now i am gross and super tired. will check in some other time. buona notte!

Good Night, Mariana. I was just reading some posts on the previous page. It's hard to keep up-to-date. Almost every load of gnihsaw I did today had to be dehsawer due to brown spots on things. I don't know what is going on. Had to hsaw 7 loads to get 4 clean. I should have been gnikcap most of that time. WAY too much to get done in the time allotted.

Hi Julie - I thought you'd gone already and I hadn't told you to have a lovely time while you're away. We'll miss you on here with your helpful updates and amazing avatars.

Warm winter day in Port and Brissie according to reporters - Viv and CynB.

June, was the dinner lovely - or the neighbors - or both? Hoping you hear from Ken today or tomorrow. Seems he's quite busy when not getting stuck in tunnels.

Oh, dear, Viv! What is Timbertown coming to? A helmet on the guy riding the penny farthing bike? No wood turning or black smithing or train running or bullock walking to the oval? Aggressive sellers of jewelry? No, say it isn't so! Our governments can go crazy making everything "safe" for people. But safe isn't authentic or historic - or sometimes even interesting. I'm so sorry to hear of your dilemma.

Stella, does Ian have lots of practices (as in more than one a day or one per weekend)? I remember our days of running the girls here and there - usually 30 to 45 minutes away. I was wishing for a car with washer, dryer and microwave to try to keep up with everything. Some things just MUST be done at home.

CynB, I love your Latin. I didn't know you were multilingual.

Heidi, you weren't kidding about the hard-nosed judge, were you? I'm so glad you were well enough to get to court on time. We wouldn't want you jailed for contempt.

Hooray! We had back-to-back comments from MizT and Mamacita. Well, actually, it was a sandwich with Heidi as the filling. What a way to make a day great!

Suzanne, we're glad you stopped in with a comment or two. How are things going in Utah? Have there been any changes with the situation in Washington. We're keeping our fingers crossed.

Suzy, what a wonderful description of the view from your window! I could just picture what you were seeing. Thank you for sharing!

Bean, thank you for keeping us up-to-date on Vici! Keeping positive thoughts for her to continue feeling better & better! We are looking forward to her visit to Oz almost as much as she is!