Nina's Ukraine Homecoming: 'Seventeen Years... Everything Has Changed.'
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Nina's Ukraine Homecoming: 'Seventeen Years... Everything Has Changed.'
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Mangia! Mangia! @ La Pomodori Ristorante of Florence Oregon
A Review: La Pomodori Ristorante in Florence, Oregon
A Review
By Steven Masone
Normally I do not review Italian restaurants.The reason being I have owned one and was trained
by the five star chef we imported from Italy. So even in
San Francisco, I have been disappointed more often than not.
So I took a leap of faith having lunch
at La Pomodori Ristorante in Florence Oregon
and was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the 'Sweet Chile Pesce'.
.. Pacific Snapper encrusted with panko breading,
finished with a sweet chile bruschetta over linguini.
The restaurant is small and intimate with a clean minimalist decor
and no pretentious Italian art or the usual overdone attempts
at trying to create a "little Italy." I ordered the salad instead of soup, which was european
greens , tomatoes,
red onions and a great raspberry vinaigrette.
(I saved half for desert!)
The snapper was better than I had hoped for as I had tried another
recommended spot in Florence and their Pesce dish was very disappointing.
The flavor was excellent! The sweet & spicy chile did not overpower the fish
and the breading was perfect. Large slivers
of fresh shaved Parmesan with
the garlic and other spices made a great
marriage.
The linguine was done
to my liking (medium-well al dente)
and at $11 I was pleased to make dinner
reservations so I can bring our readers an
in-depth review on their traditional
Veal and Pasta dishes, and their Cioppino. So far, it looks like I have found
a first class Italian Ristorante in Florence, Oregon.
La Pomodori Ristorante website http://www.lapomodori.com/4601.html
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
PTSD Veterans Discriminated Against
The Army is launching a "Hire a Veteran" campaign aimed at debunking the myth that all combat veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are somehow emotionally damaged.
Military leaders and veterans' advocates worry about hidden hiring discrimination against Iraq and Afghanistan war vets by employers who see the veterans perhaps as emotionally damaged.
A key fear is how this could be contributing to stubbornly higher joblessness among the generation that volunteered to serve in the military after the 9/11 attacks. Because employers are barred by law from asking job applicants about mental health conditions, many assume that any veteran can be afflicted with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) although the vast majority returned from war without emotional problems, researchers and veterans advocates say.
"There is a need to be concerned about this issue and this stigma," says Kevin Schmiegel, a retired Marine lieutenant colonel and executive director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Hiring our Heroes program.
The Army is launching a "Hire a Veteran" campaign aimed partly at "debunking some of the myths around hiring disabled veterans," says Nancy Adams, Army transition manager. "This should not be an issue."
Leading corporate hiring managers have told researchers they fear these veterans might fly into a rage or "go postal." As a consequence, veterans say they've seen blatant discrimination.
"They didn't even hide it," says Timothy "Rhino" Paige, a former Air Force pilot who developed PTSD in 2005 when he transported the remains of slain Americans on his C-130 in Iraq.
When Paige sought federal work in Colorado in 2010 under laws offering disabled veterans preferential hiring consideration, he says he didn't even get an interview. Paige, 49, today a civilian employee with the Navy, said that federal employers back in 2010 "were straight out, 'We don't want disabled veterans and the problems that come with them.'"
Research published last year suggests that misconceptions about PTSD and veterans are a factor in hiring decisions.
Researchers from the Center for New American Security, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, interviewed executives of 69 leading corporations, including Bank of America, Target, Wal-Mart, Procter and Gamble, and Raytheon. All said hiring veterans can be good for business, but more than half acknowledged harboring a negative image of veterans because of how popular media — from news coverage to films — portray PTSD.
Margaret Harrell, a co-author of the June study, says she's seen no evidence of changing attitudes.
Her findings mirror those of the Society for Human Resource Management, the nation's largest association of personnel managers, which published survey results early last year showing that about one in three employers see PTSD as an impediment to hiring any veteran.
Government and private researchers estimate that PTSD is present in 5%-20% of the 1.6 million veterans who served since 9/11. The Department of Veterans Affairs, which has treated about 56% of those veterans, reports 117,000 diagnosed cases.
Even among those who have the disorder, their conditions are no better or worse than the estimated 7.7 million Americans suffering from the illness as the result of non-combat trauma, such as car accidents or sexual assault, Adams says.
In job settings, PTSD can be easily accommodated by steps such as allowing time for therapy or avoiding confining work environments, according to the Labor Department.
Advocates worry this message is not getting through to employers.
While joblessness among post-9/11 veterans declined from 12.1% in 2011 to 9.9% last year, it remained well above a labor force rate of 7.8% or 7% among all veterans last year. About one in nine veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan were without work late last summer, government statistics show.
During the first quarter of this year, an estimated 220,000 Iraq- and Afghanistan-era veterans were without work, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday. That is an increase from the first quarter of 2012, when an estimated 185,000 were jobless.
An initiative led by first lady Michelle Obama last year enlisted 2,000 American companies to promise they would hire or train 125,000 veterans or their spouses.
But advocates say that despite good corporate intentions, bias can lurk at lower company levels where hiring decisions are made.
"Middle manager ... is where the problem lies," says Robert Turner, who recently co-founded veteran recruitment firm KCK with Carlton Kent, a former sergeant major of the Marine Corps. "You have to convince the middle of the company how to accept these folks and how to work with them and how to make them successful."
Shannon Williams last year became program director of a recruitment effort at health care giant UPMC, one of Pennsylvania's largest employers. Part of her work is recruiting disabled veterans. She says a key challenge was educating middle managers that veterans with PTSD can be easily accommodated and productive hires.
Williams says directors of nursing units or other medical offices openly expressed concern about the safety of patients if veterans with PTSD were hired. One worry, for example, was that the sound of a monitoring device when a patient flat-lines might trigger a worker with PTSD to shut down during the emergency, putting a patient's life at risk, Williams says.
"With the managers, we just talk them through the situation," she says, "explain to them differences between the reality of PTSD and what is fabricated (by popular culture) out there."
Discriminatory attitudes left Paige, the Air Force pilot, dispirited. "I got angry and kind of lost faith in the whole system," he says.
He and other veterans turn to non-profit organizations such as the Wounded Warrior Project, which continually shop their résumés to prospective employers until offers come through.
A few months ago, Paige, who has a master's degree in logistics and 25 years as a pilot, took a job in acquisitions for the Naval Air Systems Command at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in southern Maryland.
Between assistance from Wounded Warrior Project and being embraced by his current employer, Paige says his world has turned around.
"The guy that helps you get a job is powerful," he says of those who helped him find a path around discrimination against veterans with PTSD.
"As a former combat veteran, there is a frustration among us combat vets that desk Jockey condescending attitudes from non-combat employees has been embedded in the VA bureaucracy as well as it was in active service. And that is unacceptable!" he said.
Masone also is President of AMERICARE INTERNATIONAL, an advocacy rights organization for Americans with disabilities. Mr. Masone formed AMERICARE INTERNATIONAL while fighting for his daughters disability. The first legal case AMERICARE won was a landmark case related to second hand smoke and custody issues.
His was the first case where a Judge ruled the asthmatic child's right to be free from exposure to second hand smoke, warranted custody removed from the smoking parent who continued to smoke around the child. see Time Magazine article http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,979461,00.html
Many other cases involving ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) violations have been successfully won by AMERICARE... several are in litigation at this time. Steven Masone says, "AMERICARE will begin working with more Veterans cases soon."
Monday, August 12, 2013
'Hole In The Wall Barbecue' Eugene-Springfield Oregon
Grown up on southern cooking with Louisianan, Tennessean, and Texas influences, I love Barbecue! From the Mississippi Delta to California's Delta, there are many styles of Barbecue. In Texas alone, it's regionally diverse. On the border of course you find a Tex -Mex style of citrus marinated meats with Mexican chile, jalapeno salsa, mole, ect... back up north to Texarkana, pulled pork, brisket, chicken & ribs can be found with hundreds of recipes and thousands of twists in the marinades and sauce.
But the important thing is the cooking of the meat and Hole In The Wall Barbecue nailed that art! I was late to the Three Rivers Casino annual Barbecue State Championship Cook-Off in Florence, Oregon, and could not sample the top winners. I had heard though that "Hole In The Wall Barbecue" in Eugene and Springfield was the best in the area.
Getting ready to leave, I noticed their tent across the way behind the crowd that was gathered for announcement of winners. I stopped to see if they had any left for me to sample, and there was one plate of ribs left. Well. I'll say this...They were great! I talked with one of the owners. Gary Rodgers, who said they did not enter the competition...too busy selling! I found out every Friday is Catfish & Hush Puppy Night. This Delta boy will be there soon to give the full report on what I can sample for review. The menu is laden with many choices. They have five catering trucks and that tells you how popular they must be.
Looking forward to Friday... Stay tuned and check out their website or just go try these ribs first like I did. The flavor is awesome, and done just right! Many choices of sauces. http://www.holeinthewallbbq.com/
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Oregon Coast "A Taste Of Hawaii"
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On The Road Again
By Steven Masone
The Pacific Coast Highway, from San Diego to Seattle has a thousand eateries and mediocrity is the norm for most of them. Southern California of course has a majority of the best because of the wealthy demographics. So far on the northern California and Oregon coast I have been disappointed more times than not. The problem is that many people who become restaurant owners, do so when they retire from some other career. But then there are those who are passionate about excellent food and see it as an art form rather than the daily grind. With the foody explosion of the nineties and beyond, the average palette has become more sophisticated because fans have learned how to cook and experience culinary adventures at home in their own kitchens with competitive pricing in the down economy making it affordable to eat out more. The Food Channels showcasing international cuisine, and creating Chef Rock Stars has fueled this renaissance sweeping our nation. However, because of hobbyist owners who retired to beach cities and other tourist areas, average fare with average service and overpriced menus is mostly what you will find unless your palette demands more. "Seek and you shall find!"
Exploring the Oregon coast, I have found in Florence Oregon another Restaurant on wheels that has risen above mediocrity to excellence . Aloha Sushi (aka) Taste Of Hawaii, has passionate and friendly owner operators who have successfully taken American, Hawaiian, Japanese, Seafood, Sushi,Vegetarian & Vietnamese styles creating a fusion concept that is delicious and unique.
Located on Highway 101 in the Old School Furniture center, you will find Chef Christian Jakobsen and wife Natasha very serious about their passion. I had heard time and time again I needed to try their cuisine. I finally gave in and am very pleased I tried them out. I would have gone sooner, but I had been given glowing reports on other eateries in the area, and they were disappointing. Their menu looked great with many options to choose from. (see link below)
I ordered the "Sweet & Spicy Mango Chicken" ...This dish is quick fried chicken (boneless) glazed with their unique chili mango sauce, fresh mango, garlic, sweet red pepper, raisins, peanuts, sesame seeds, asian spices, in a bed of fresh tossed garlic sauteed cabbage. The chicken was moist inside and crispy on the outside even though it was smothered in the chili sauce glaze. The batter did not lose the fresh fried crunchy texture. Most of the chicken was hidden underneath so as you brought a piece up, you could decide what part of the medly you wanted in each bite. I experimented with one of each and then mixed the combinations up. The raisins fused great with the peanuts and spicy chili.The cabbage was fresh and crisp. A mound of steamed rice was set next to the entree, which I prefer rather than the dish on top of the rice. The other side was a delicious macaroni salad with very subtle but tasty seasoning.
The main dish was both Tropical and Asian at the same time with undertones of Caribbean influence in layers of contrasting flavors and juxtaposed textures that made the fusion work perfectly. It was excellent! I ordered the small plate which was only $7.00 and had it not been so delicious I would have ordered something else to write about, but alas I was too full, the small order was more than enough. I look forward to going back soon and update this very cool experience...stay tuned!
see link...http://tasteofhawaii.net
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Karen Lovely To Play Isleton Cajun & Blues Festival
Karen Lovely shot onto the blues scene from the Pacific Northwest like Stack O' Lee's .44 capturing 2nd Place Band Prize at the 2010 International Blues Challengefollowed by 2011 BMA Nominations for BEST CONTEMPORARY BLUES FEMALE ARTIST, BEST CONTEMPORARY BLUES ALBUM and BEST SONG for her sophomore release "Still The Rain."
Backed by a stellar band, this powerhouse vocalist delivers a blistering mix of contemporary & old school blues. Lovely's standout performances have garnered awards, critical acclaim and standing ovations at festivals and venues throughout the US, Canada and Europe.
2011 BLUES MUSIC AWARD NOMINEE
"BEST CONTEMPORARY BLUES FEMALE ARTIST"
"BEST CONTEMPORARY BLUES ALBUM" - 'STILL THE RAIN'
"BEST SONG" - 'STILL THE RAIN'
2011 BLUES BLAST MUSIC AWARD NOMINEE
"BEST FEMALE VOCALIST"
"BEST SONG"
2010 INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE
WINNER 2nd Place Band
WINNER 2nd Place Band
7x MUDDY AWARD WINNER"PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR"
"BEST FEMALE VOCALIST"
"BEST NEW ACT"
"BEST REGIONAL ACT"
"BEST FEMALE VOCALIST"
"BEST NEW ACT"
"BEST REGIONAL ACT"
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
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