Valentine's Day is for lovers... of chocolate

Debbie Kingsbury sifted through her well-organized assortment of chocolate candy molds – letters, pops and holiday themes – and selected one to make a heart-shaped box. Her wheels were turning as she thought about ways to use it – a way to make someone's Valentine's Day extra special. The mold is similar, she said, to one that she once used to create a specially-ordered chocolate jewelry box for a gentleman in which to present a diamond engagement ring.

Kingsbury, the owner of Debbie's Specialty Cakes, runs a cozy bakery - fully-licensed and certified – that is attached to her home in Union. She is well known for her artfully-designed cakes,Soma cubepuzzle Muscle Tissue Relaxants Before proselytizing any of the plans, which she has been making for 30 years, but Kingsbury is also trying to become as well-known for her specialized chocolates. She hosts open houses at Easter and Christmas to display and sell her confections.

“Not very many people, I feel,Why does moulds grow in homes or buildings? know that I do this,” said Kingsbury, who explained that she is trying to expand her market. “I don't know how to reach people.”

Her boxed confections come in a variety of types, including sugar-free, turtles and chocolate-covered cherries. “Turtles were very big this last Christmas,” said Kingsbury.

The work station was scattered with individual chocolate edibles: chocolate-covered, crispy-rice hearts; chocolate-covered pretzels; cute candy frogs (a.k.a. “Herbie's Toadies and Midnight Croakies”); and solid chocolate hearts. The chocolate possibilities seemed endless as she demonstrated some of the other ingredients she uses. Fondant, caramel, toffee, malt, nuts, cookies, glitters, sprinkles and a hand-crafted touch make each and every chocolate unique and personal.

Using her creativity, 25 years of chocolate experience and her stock of ingredients, Kingsbury is something like a mad-scientist, cottage-industrialist who is constantly creating and defining her chocolates. “This is where we melt the chocolate down,” said Kingsbury, as she opened the door to an antique oven - as if opening the lid of a treasure chest. “This oven is at a constant 100 degrees.”

It was filled with bowls and containers of white, milk and semi-sweet chocolate. It was a chocolate-lover's dream come true. “The chocolate that we use is a gourmet chocolate,This is our brand new chickencoop we made.” said Kingsbury,Why does moulds grow in homes or buildings? who explained that she periodically travels to a bakery supplier located in Providence, R.I., to purchase chocolate and other ingredients in bulk. “I buy it in 25-pound boxes,You can find best china electronicplasticmoulds manufacturers from here!” said Kingsbury, which she said is the amount she would use for a Valentine's Day open house. By comparison, a Christmas open house would require 100 pounds of chocolate; Easter, 150 pounds.

As she spoke, Kingsbury transferred milk chocolate into the heart-box mold. She then spooned milk and white chocolate into elegant, heart-shaped lollipop molds. Once set, she carefully popped them out of the molds, and hand-decorated each one, using iridescent powders until the edibles resembled porcelain keepsakes.

“I like to create, I like pretty things,” said Kingsbury. “I like to make something attractive.”

From cute to glamorous, whimsical to traditional, each chocolate that Kingsbury creates is individually-decorated and specially-packaged. She takes special orders and works with customers to create personalized confections and cakes.

Kingsbury said that customers who call, leave a message and request a chocolate order by Feb. 12 may still obtain candies in time for Valentine's Day. She also said that she will lease cake pans to customers who would like to create their own cakes, but who do not want to buy a specialty cake pan.

Solar thermal technology seen bolstering renewable energy adoption

The quest to develop an improved renewable energy storage system is intensifying, as researchers continue to make progress in their drive to spur the adoption of green technology.

One of the biggest hurdles facing the widespread adoption of solar panel and wind turbine systems is that they are still reliant on the whims of nature. Solar panel arrays are capable of generating a substantial amount of electricity when the sun is shining, but energy storage technology has not progressed as rapidly, confounding experts.

However,Wholesale zentaisuits, engineers are growing increasingly optimistic that solar thermal power could overcome the energy storage obstacles currently facing clean technology companies. The New York Times reports that researchers are betting the energy generation scheme, which harnesses the sun's heat to boil water and create electricity, can circumvent storage issues and potentially drive clean adoption throughout the U.We provide you a big discount on Catsuits & zentai,S.

Scientists contend that the water used in solar thermal systems can be used to heat salt, which would effectively store energy for later usage. Such a system is optimal,This billabongboardshort has the following technological features: according to experts, because it would supply energy to homes and businesses during the nighttime hours when the sun is no longer helping to drive energy generation.

More specifically, researchers and industry experts are hoping that solar thermal power plants could help meet electricity demand during peak demand hours, designated between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Renewable energy company SolarReserve is currently constructing such a power plant in the Nevada desert, and executives from the firm asserted it should be operational by next year.

Moreover, BrightSource, a company that is backed by more than $165 million in financing from California-based technology giant Google, plans to build three separate solar thermal plants in the Golden State. While BrightSource's facilities would begin generating energy in 2016 and 2017, they are projected to have a massive electricity generation capacity.

In total, the two firms' four solar thermal plants would be able to power tens of thousand of households on a typical summer evening – a feat today's solar panel systems are not capable of accomplishing.

Admittedly, there are hurdles solar thermal technology companies must overcome,Wholesale oilpaintingre, but high-profile companies besides Google, including Chevron and Good Energies, are investing in it. Engineers assert that solar thermal plants could play a crucial role in energy production by the end of the decade, and while they will not replace conventional solar panel systems, they will complement them by generating electricity at night.

It is often difficult to connect renewable energy systems to the U.S. electric grid, experts say, with the nation's power supply network plagued by power outages and other grid disruptions. Balancing the supply and demand of energy has become increasingly important and complex, and solar thermal plants could help augment electricity production during times of elevated consumption levels. This would help power providers ensure demand is met, and as a result, would reduce the frequency of power outages.

The San Jose Mercury News reports that state legislationAs a leading manufacturer of polishedtiles, in California is also helping drive the creation solar thermal technology plants. California signed into law regulations mandating power providers derive more than 33 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. With time quickly dwindling, utilities are working feverishly to comply with the stringent laws, variations of which other states have passed.

Vans Warped Tour makes Blossom Music Center debut Wednesday with Paramore

Can you really get too sentimental about a tent-covered parking lot?

Maybe not. But when the Vans Warped Tour returned Wednesday to Northeast Ohio, it was hard not to hoist an energy drink and toast Cleveland's old Time Warner Cable Amphitheater, which closed after booking its last gig in 2010.Paying for goods with your phone may soon be as simple as a device-to-device taps2010.

With its urban scenery, the grungy downtown venue on the east bank of the Cuyahoga River made a perfect setting in years past for Warped's parade of multi-colored mohawks.

The 17th annual installment of the punk-oriented roadshow made its Blossom Music Center debut Wednesday in Cuyahoga Falls. The idyllic summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra wasn't exactly an ideal backdrop. Amid the greenery,it's sad to see ledspotlight of unbelievable food left over after the crowd files green hair just didn't stand out as much.

There was a gulf between the pavilion (whose stage was awkwardly divided in half) and multiple temporary stages in the lot usually reserved for VIP parking. Gates were jammed with foot traffic. Ditto walkways where the usual array of vendors hawked the latest in indie-rock fashion and hosted band meet-and-greets.

Yet neither the change of scenery nor a stifling heat wave deterred 13,000 young music lovers from enjoying dozens of loud groups and more than eight hours of sonic mayhem, starting at noon.

Peelander-Z was a hoot. The self-described "Japanese-action-comic-book band" featured Peelander-Yellow on guitar and vocals, Peelander-Red on bass and vocals and Peelander-Green on drums, with Peelander-Pink assisting with crowd-warming duties. Fans got in on the act, too, banging on metal pans supplied by the band and getting caught up in a spontaneous limbo contest. "So Many Mike," "Ninja-High Schooool," "Mad Tiger" and other disarmingly zany Peelander-Z ditties actually drove home a valid point: Punk shouldn't take itself too seriously.

Several acts had ties to Ohio, including the Devil Wears Prada. With its Christian brand of metalcore, the Dayton group kept a huge mosh pit churning.

Relient K, a band with Canton roots, was led by wild-eyed, even-wilder-haired Matthew Thiessen on vocals and guitar.

"This next song is about Ohio," he announced by way of introducing "High of 75," a joyful tune about meteorological whims and being happy to be alive.

An uplifting quality also permeated the rest of Relient K's intensely catchy set, which included a pummeling cover of Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun.it has downgraded price targets for David Jones honeycombpanelsbest,"

Singer-guitarist Chris Marinin, a tattoo artist's dream who fronts Cleveland's the Missing, announced that playing Warped was a dream come true. He and his bandmates made the most of the opportunity, to the tune of "Rough Seas" and other concise bursts of punk spirit.

Other groups embraced a range of other styles, from the chiming rock grandeur of Moving Mountains to the Southern-fried soul of Lucero, featuring Todd Beene on pedal steel guitar.

Among the most buzzed-about acts on the bill were Black Veil Brides. With their ghoulish face paint and black leather costumes, frontman Andy Biersack and friends owed a huge debt of gratitude to Kiss. The adolescent females who pressed up against barricades to catch Black Veil Brides probably never heard of Gene Simmons or Paul Stanley. But fans knew every word to "Fallen Angels" and other hard-rocking anthems served with a dollop of glam.

Paramore, the de facto headliner, drew a massive throng for an energetic pop-punk set.

Singer Hayley Williams was a blur of fluorescent orange hair as she belted out a new song, "Monster," and older favorites such as "That's What You Get" and "Ignorance." She worked the crowd-surfing masses like an aerobics instructor on a candy rush.

Williams thanked fans for sticking with Paramore through recent drama, including personnel changes.

"We love you just as much," she said. "Probably more."

Playing simultaneously in front of a much smaller audience on a nearby stage, singer Joe Heafy of Shut Up and Deal looked on as Paramore brought its performance to a spectacular close with a spirited rendition of "Misery Business," complete with a confetti blizzard.In the class of aluminumhoneycombpanels with architectures.Critical Mass is a three-dimensional match-four magiccubes game.

"We don't have any confetti!" Heafy groaned sarcastically.

Last-minute shopping for dad? Here's what I'd buy

The X100 packs a fixed f/2 lens (dad can get into shape by being the telephoto); 12-megapixel APS-C sensor -- like the one in dSLRs but in compact body (X100 measures 26.5mm wide by 74.4mm high by 53.9mm deep and weighs 445 grams -- that's 5  x 2.9  x 2.1 inches and 15.7 ounces); external controls; a real viewfinder (no squinting at a LCD panel in bright sunlight); near silent shutter; 720p video recording and more.

The X100 is no cheap purchase at $1,199.99 -- if you can find it. DigitalRev in Hong Kong has the X100 in stock, you'll pay more -- $1,385 -- but shipping is fast. I ordered the matching LC-X 100 leather case late Wednesday afternoon, and it arrived yesterday. That's right, just two days. Just tell dad you've got a special present coming from Asia and it was delayed in shipping.

Samsung Series 9. This beautiful, svelte laptop is one fine-looking Windows 7 machine -- and it puts down Apple's MacBook Air with better features. But you will pay dearly for them. The Series 9 comes in two screen sizes, 11.6-inches and 13.3 inches (not coincidently like MacBook Air). Quick specs:

Samsung Series 911.6-inch model: 1.33GHz Intel Core i3-380UM processor; 11.6-inch LED backlit display with 1366 x 768 resolution, 2GB DDR3 memory, 64GB solid-state drive, webcam, Bluetooth, WiFi "n", one USB 3.0 port, two USB 2 ports, mini-HDMI port, MicroSD reader, 4-cell battery, and Windows 7 Home Premium. The laptop measures 297.18 x 198.12 x 16.51 mm (11.7 x 7.8 x 0.65 inches) and weighs 1.04kg (2.88 pounds). Price: $1,149.

13.3-inch model: 1.4GHz Intel Core i5-2537M processor; 13.3-inch LED backlit display with 1366 x 768 resolution, 4GB DDR3 memory, 128GB solid-state drive, webcam, Bluetooth, WiFi "n", two each USB 3 and USB 2 ports, mini-HDMI port, MicroSD reader, 6-cell battery and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. The laptop measures 327.66 x 226.06 x 16.25 mm (12.9 x 8.9 x 0.64 inches) and weighs 1.3kg (2.88pounds). Price: $1,499.

Now, if dad is a Mac guy, then you'll have to consider the Air instead, which ranges in price from $999 to 1,599.

Samsung-Galaxy-Tab-101-first-impression-review/1307596973" target="_blank">Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi. Dad doesn't want an iPad. He needs Android 3.1 glory. The Tab 10.1 is for men who like to tinker. That's because there aren't lots of native apps for v3.1, aka Honeycomb; the desktops support live content (via widgets); and the operating system is more customizable than Apple's iOS. Honeycomb's appearance is masculine, swathed in black, dark grey and blue. It's a black-tie event. The hardware has style, too, with dimensions that are different from iPad 2. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is taller and narrower in portrait mode.

Quick specs: 10.1-inch capacitive touchscreen with 1280 x 800 resolution; 1GHz dual-core processor; 16GB storage; microSD slot expands storage up to 32GB; 3-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash and 2-megapixel front-facing camera; 720p video recording; 1080p video playback (at 30 frames per second); WiFi N; Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR; accelerometer; ambient light sensor; digital compass; gyroscope; and Android 3.1.

However, as I will explain in my forthcoming "second impressions" review, Tab 10.1 falls short on video. If you're dad is a video junkie, the Samsung tablet isn't for him. Adobe Flash is supported, but video options are skimpy. The hardware is plenty capable, but not the software. Hulu and Netflix don't work, nor do the Google Videos or Samsung Media Hub apps. Amazon Instant Videos play nicely, but there are some rendering issues for accessing full-screen and other controls in landscape mode.

Citiz espresso makerGalaxy Tab 10.1 is perfect for anyone using Google services, like Gmail, Calendar or Contacts. But if your dad is an Apple junkie or metrosexual, he might prefer iPad more. Prices are nearly identical  -- just 99 cents more for Tab 10.1, based on storage and wireless options: $499.99 (16GB); 599.99 (32GB). Like the FinePix X100, you may not be able to get the Tab 10.1 for dad's day, ordering from Amazon or Best Buy.

Nespresso CitiZ Automatic Espresso Maker (and Milk Frother). You don't spend enough time with dear old dad. Why not meet him for coffee -- at home! You'll want to come over every day to drink his espresso. The Nepresso CitiZ espresso maker is highly rated on Amazon and elsewhere. It makes one cup at a time, which gives you more time to catch up with dad while you both await your brew.

The machine comes in black, red and silver -- and you'll pay more for silver or red (that's the one I like). This is a cheaper gift than the others (but still plenty pricey for a coffee maker), and you're more likely to walk into a store and walk out with one. The espresso machine's street price is $349.99 but is available for less, particularly the black model.

Google Gives Away Tons of Goodies, Tries to Buys Love

Google gave away tablets and smartphones at its I/O conference to help drive developer interest in Android.

Every one of the 5,000 developers attending the yearly event received a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet a month before the devices go on sale, an exciting gift even by the standards of the annual conference famous for the quality swag disbursed by the search giant.

But that wasn't all: attendees of a game developer panel at the conference also received the Xperia Play, Sony's "PlayStation phone" with a slide-out game controller. One can only imagine the squeals of delight.

A bit less exciting but more geek-tastic was the Android Open Accessory Development Kit that some attendees received. Based on the Arduino chipset, a kind of all-purpose tech tinkerer's prototyping tool, the kit makes it easier to create Android accessories.

Google's Christmas-in-May act buys more than good vibes: it's a shrewd way to get developers interested in making apps and gadgets for the latest and greatest Android devices.

While Android phones have stormed the market -- it's now the number one smartphone platform in the U.S. -- Android tablets have been slower to catch on. Getting developers rolling on the Honeycomb-powered Samsung tablet could help nudge adoption.

Sony may be footing the bill for the Xperia Play giveaway to ensure that game makers include support for its special controls. Without wider developer support, only Sony titles will be compatible, leaving buyers wondering why they sacrificed a slide-out keyboard for a couple of directional controllers and buttons.