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If your closet is messy and difficult to maneuver, you can enlist the help of a professional (like me!) or you can dig in yourself with the help of useful products and strategies for managing your wardrobe:

*Keep like items together. Categorize your pieces and group them accordingly—tops, slacks, skirts, jackets, etc. should stay together, and one step further, by color. That way, when you’re looking for a black skirt, you’ll know exactly where to find it, and you won’t waste time searching through the chaos.

*Use space saver bags (photo 1) for bulky and out-of-season clothing. They come in all shapes and sizes, and can also be used for travel, and extra bedding. Store under your bed or on a high shelf to keep those items out of sight/out of mind until the season is right. Available at Bed, Bath and Beyond.

*Velvet hangers (photo 2) are not only thin and lightweight, but they keep clothes from slipping off, unlike plastic or wire hangers. Take it one step further and color-code them for each category of clothing; pink hangers for tops, black for jackets, etc. Available at Marshall’s, Target, and Costco.

*Relocate extra clutter to a better place in the home. Luggage can be kept in the garage or under the bed; your prom dress can go in a “memory box” or something that I’m a big fan of…the costume box. When that 80’s party invitation arrives in the mail, you’ll be ready to go! This way, you’ll be free of distractions when getting dressed in the morning.

*Shelf dividers (photo 3) keep t-shirts and sweaters from toppling over, causing mess and frustration. Piles that are too high may indicate that you have too many, and perhaps a little purging is in order. Lose the t-shirts that are stained under the arms or the sweaters you haven’t worn in two years, and you may find that your stacks aren’t so stacked. Available at thestoragestore.com.

*Host a clothing swap! Share your cast-offs with friends who have been wishing they had what you’ve got. Everyone brings gently worn pieces from their closets—don’t forget shoes, bags and outerwear, too. Throw in a little wine, and POOF, it’s a party! Remember: It may not be “new”, but it’s new to you!

Share your closet organizing ideas with Carolyn at C2style.com/blog.

Did the long winter leave you yearning for energizing, vivid color? Introducing Spring 2013 with fresh eye-popping palettes borrowed from the bolder side of nature. Inspired by wild and vivid yet natural color, this springs beauty colors will invigorate the senses with a splash of fun and saturated hues that coax you out of your sweater and into the sun.

What’s Hot Now
Bold and bright lips are on the beauty radar this season. Put a little skip in your step by wearing a fresh new color of an enchanting pink to spice up those spring days ahead. Bolder is better when it comes to lips, and bright pink glosses are here to brighten your days. I encourage you to switch gears from the winter tones of burgundies and reds to an effortlessly radiant fuchsia, voluptuous cranberry or a vibrant peach tone lip.

Color-Blocking Eye Shadow Kits< Chill street-side in subtle, spring eye shadow shades that suit an outdoor weekend with friends or family. Easy and eye-catching eye kits are designed to make life a whole lot easier. Choose a brown kit for that oh-so-natural daytime look. Eye kits that have a pop of color will give the eyes an edgy uptown finish. Customize your eye kits and blend several colors together for a multi-dimensional, memorable look. Naturally pretty make-up pairs well with a bold bright lip. Modernist

“I want a smooth, even complexion that looks natural, not like I was wearing a ton of make-up.” Keeping it real with a beautiful BB Cream will look like your skin is ultra natural and smooth. Your complexion will be kept safe from the harmful rays of the sun with a strong SPF 30. Included in this amazing BB Cream is titanium dioxide, a primer and smoothing peptides that will make your skin flawless and healthy. Adding a hint of light pink shimmer blush will give your skin a timeless and youthful glow.

Spring Make-up Updates
Spring is just around the corner and now we are offering seasonal make-up updates starting February 10th. Let us help you discover and choose the right spring look just for you, from our new spring collection from Fleur Visage.

Most of us have undergone a detox (of sorts) since January 1. But between the Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day and The Year of the Snake and every other holiday-centric excuse we find for feasting, our food choices expand right along with our waistlines. Though February is nothing like the sugar-fest of December, most have us have now settled into a more realistic approach to healthy living. A few carbs here; a few fats there—all manage to keep us sated and sassy.

Through thick and thin, the farmers’ market remains the portal to healthy living. Along with juicy citrus fruits, apples, pears and other sweet reminders of winter, this month — with early crops like sugar snap peas and strawberries — offers a sneak-peak of what’s in store. And as we wait for spring to get into full swing, it’s the perfect opportunity to explore less common vegetables at the market.

Unless you grew up in an Italian household, chances are your mom never served fennel. And if you still haven’t tried it as an adult, you’ve got a lot of catching up to do. If you’ve been scared off by descriptions that compare its taste to licorice, read on.

Florence fennel — also called finocchioor bulb fennel — has a delicate, sweet flavor vaguely reminiscent of anise. (In fact, supermarkets often mislabel it as such—though anise has a far more pronounced licorice flavor.) Fennel is sweet and mild in its natural state; and even more so when cooked. If you’ve been on the fence, now is the time to take the plunge: its prime growing season in California is October through April, when we are likely to find the most tender “baby fennel.”

In addition to its delicate flavor, there are a couple more selling points: Fennel’s texture is crisp when raw, yet meltingly tender when cooked. And these odd-looking veggies are completely edible: the bulb itself, the celery-like stalks that rise from the bulb, and the feathery green fronds on top.

Asiago-Fennel Gratin

• 2 medium-size fennel bulbs, rinsed and trimmed
• 1/2 cup chicken stock or reduced-sodium broth
• 2 1/2 tablespoons California extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Asiago or Parmesan cheese

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Refrigerate or freeze the fennel stalks for another use, and reserve a few fennel fronds for garnish. Cut each fennel bulb in half lengthwise; then cut each half into 2 or 3 wedges. Arrange the wedges, cut-side up, in a 9-inch-square or other shallow 2-quart baking dish.
2. Gently pour the stock over the fennel wedges; then drizzle with the oil. Season with salt and pepper. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and sprinkle evenly with the cheese. Continue baking, uncovered, until cheese is lightly browned and the fennel is tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, 30 to 40 minutes. Serve warm, or let cool to room temperature. Just before serving, finely chop the reserved fennel fronds and scatter over the top. Serves 4.

 

Getting Familiar with Fennel

• The seeds used to flavor Italian sausage — as well as many other foods — come from a very different, bulb-less variety known simply as Common fennel.
• Look for firm, pale bulbs of Florence fennel with a pearly sheen and no blemishes. The dill-like green fronds on top should appear bright and fresh.
• Refrigerate whole, unwashed fennel in a plastic bag. Stalks and fronds are best used within a couple of days. (Or freeze the stalks to add Mediterranean flair to future soups and stews.) Fennel bulbs remain fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• To prepare fennel, rinse with cold water and pat dry. Cut off the green fronds and use as you would any fresh herb — as a garnish or flavor enhancer. Cut off the celery-like stalks, peel with a vegetable peeler, and add to dishes as you would celery. Using a small, sharp knife, trim the base of the bulb, removing any browned or tough spots. To slice, use a chef’s knife to cut the bulb in half lengthwise; then crosswise into strips. (Use a mandoline or V-slicer for paper-thin strips.) Alternatively, cut the bulb halves lengthwise into halves or quarters.
• If fennel becomes limp, refresh it in ice water for about 30 minutes.
• Add thin slices of raw fennel to salads; or include small wedges on a crudité platter.
• 1 cup of raw sliced fennel is less than 30 calories. It is a significant source of vitamin C, with 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of carbohydrate.

The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad and Prospect, is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For specific crop information call the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at 1-800-949-FARM or visit their web site at www.pcfma.com.This market is made possible through the generous support of the Town of Danville. Please show your appreciation by patronizing the many fine shops and restaurants located in downtown Danville. Buy fresh. Buy local. Live well.

 

 

Whether you enjoy the warm extravagance of a traditional style bath and dressing room or the more modern, clean look of a contemporary style, luxury is always attainable. Decorative stone flooring with a beautifully designed tile pattern can distinguish the vanity area from the bath area. Radiant heated tile floors, the heat lamp/vent in the shower, and a heated towel rack are accessories that cannot be overlooked.

Multiple showerheads help make cleaning a snap and give a nice variety. A hand-held shower head is a must for tough to reach corners, and a rain shower head will give the effect of standing under a waterfall in Hawaii! A tile niche for soaps and shower accessories provide a decorative ledge and keep these items off of the floor.

Framing the windows with decorative curtains hides the hardware and opaque or semi-opaque shades behind that provide much needed privacy. Bulky head rails can be neatly tucked away under valances and the remote controlled shades come down with ease when needed and can be hidden to maximize the beautiful view.
Custom vanities can be designed with your needs in mind and finished off with decorative feet at the bottom or a base built to the floor. Countertop options are never ending, to name a few: marble or quartz can give a clean, contemporary feel, or pick granite for the warm, traditional effect. A lower built-in vanity for make-up with a small, comfortable bench will make getting ready in the mornings much more enjoyable.

A lovely chandelier over the Whirlpool tub will make the space feel romantic and well lit. Just the right amount of light over the vanities using decorative wall sconces, bath bars with three downward shining lights, or pendants will complete the room and make it shine! Tying all of the elements together in coordinating colors and sheen options will make the room come to life.

If you have Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), you know the feeling even though you may not know the name. It may start with indigestion, bloating and gas and then progress to heartburn, reflux, GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease), abdominal pain and cramping, diarrhea, constipation or both, abnormal frequency or urgency, vomiting, hemorrhoids or any other gut symptom that you experience and causes you dismay.

You’ve probably traveled the disheartening journey from over-the-counter medications like Tagamet, Pepcid or Tums to your primary doctor for Prilosec, Nexium or possibly Propulsid and then to the gastroenderologist for colonoscopy, barium enemas, MRI’s and CT scans. Along the way, you have probably realized that some foods increase your symptoms and so now you may be afraid to eat. In the end, you continue to suffer and are now considering antidepressants.

The most effective approach is much simpler than you think, but it does require a plan. The first thing to consider is that the cause of gut problems is probably not a recent event. It is likely that this has been developing for quite some time and so it may be difficult to precisely put your finger on the exact cause, but the only way to expect a lasting solution is to get at what is the CAUSE of your problem. IBS is a problem of three fundamental conditions: bacteria, chemistry and inflammation. Each slowly leads to the next until the symptoms are out of control. This may take years to fully develop but you won’t realize it because the digestive tract has no pain receptors to let you know that troubles are on the way.

Drugs (with their predictable consequences and side effects) may temporarily decrease your pain or nausea but your system is not improved in any way and may actually result in decreased absorption of nutrients allowing your underlying condition to worsen. I’m sure you know that something is wrong but you don’t have to live with it.

GOOD BACTERIA

A healthy environment in the digestive tract is maintained by bacteria balance and dominance of good bacteria over the bad. The good bacteria set up an environment that properly digests food, maintains proper acid/base relationships, and produces and absorbs vitamins and minerals. Unfortunately, this balance is quite easily destroyed by antibiotics. Any dose will kill bacteria, and each time they are used it becomes more difficult to get the proper bacteria to come up to the right levels. This balance can also be destroyed by poor diet, alcohol, micronutrient deficiency, decreased digestive enzymes, prescription and self-medications (Advil, Motrin, etc.) or an autoimmune condition like thyroid disease.

Without the proper balance of good to bad bacteria the chemistry of the gut begins to change. Digestive enzymes decrease in the stomach and small intestine, which then prevents proper digestion of protein and fat, leading to malnutrition and severe inflammation that spreads through the entire body causing joint pain, skin problems and brain fog.

Other Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

1. H. pylori infection. A bacteria that causes almost all stomach ulcers.
2. Stress which decreases stomach acid production, which then leads to decreased digestive enzymes.
3. Slow transit time (low thyroid conditions
4. Alcohol consumption.
5. The Western diet – highly processed, refined and cooked foods contain no enzymes.
6. Intestinal inflammation and auto-immune response (Gut associated lymphoid tissue)
7. Age – Evidence suggests that increased age is accompanied with decreased digestive enzyme production.

There is good news.

We can easily establish the bacterial balance and normal chemistry by supplying the nutrients and bacteria that have been destroyed. This can really been done! Gut testing can direct our approach so we don’t have to waist time hunting for the right combination of targeted supplementation, diet change, and lifestyle modification.

Digestion can also be improved by adding digestive enzymes to adjust the proper acid/base relationships to control indigestion, bloating and gas, again improving the chemistry where the bacteria live. Slowly, the environment begins to improve and the inflammation in the walls of the gut begins to decrease leading to an improved immune picture.

Dr. Don Davis, D.C., DACNB is a BOARD CERTIFIED CHIROPRACTIC NEUROLOGIST in Walnut Creek. He has been serving individuals with chronic pain for 30 years. For information about how you can get a free consultation with Dr. Davis, call (925) 279-4324 (HEAL). Visit us at WalnutCreekThyroidInstitute.com

A little history reminder before I get into my story. After World War II, Germany was divided into two countries. For simplicity, they were generally referred to as East and West Germany. The West prospered under Allied control, while the East floundered under Soviet rule.

Migration from east to west reached two and a half million people and to stop this flow, a wall was built between the two countries, being completed in August 1961. The wall stood until November, 1989 when it was finally torn down.

A gate existed in this wall through which foot and vehicle traffic could pass under supervision of United States troops in the West, and German guards known as VOLPO in the East. At this site in October 1961 United States tanks lined up on the west side and Soviet tanks lined up on the east. The notoriety of this gate excited the imagination of generations in spy novels, as well as in reality. Its name conjured up intrigue, mystery, and suspense.

We first visited Checkpoint Charlie in early 1990. The wall was being demolished, kids were jumping over the huge blocks which were tumbling down, and tourists from all around the world were chipping pieces off the fallen wall for souvenirs. I must admit I joined the chippers.

Generally, the houses on the east side were quite close to the wall, but a patch – I would estimate it to be about fifty meters in width – lay to the west. Signs were posted by the East Germans that anyone traversing this field would be shot. The area was called “the killing field” for apparently if a person did manage to scale the wall, he/she was shot before reaching the other side.

We walked peacefully along the avenue known as Unter den Linden, through the famous Brandenburg Gate, and around the Reichstag. We were very fortunate as one of the days of our visit included the last “changing of the guard” of the Soviet troops in East Berlin.

At Checkpoint Charlie, I spoke in my childish German to a VOPO soldier. He told me that he would soon be relieved of his duties. As a hat collector I bought one of his fore-and-aft caps for five US dollars. It was his hope that he would be employed as a police officer in the United German Republic, but he was skeptical. He pointed out a number of spray-painted signs on and near the wall which read “Keine Stasi amnesty” which basically lobbied against amnesty for those soldiers who tried to stop migration into the west.

It is now twenty-two years later and once again we visited Berlin and found ourselves drawn to that intersection where Checkpoint Charlie existed. My, my – what a change!

In the center of the Friedrichstadt neighborhood a rough copy of the little hut used by the United States troops was located. On either side of the hut stood several “actors” in military uniforms waving the flags of the various countries they supposedly represented. All around it stood small kiosks offering fake military outfits, hunks of stones, various badges, and other miscellaneous souvenirs for sale. There were crowds snapping photos, buying junk, and doing what tourists are expected to do. It was a far cry from our previous visit.

To my mind, the major difference was the vast amount of buildings that had been erected. The “killing field” was now fully covered by brick multi-story buildings, going up some ten to twelve stories. The old Café Adler – which had been the place where agents, double agents, and triple agents waited and watched – was now a large restaurant serving beer and sausage at outdoor tables.

We enjoyed our visit to the new Berlin. We visited the standard historic places and added the recently-built ones, which included the eerie, claustrophobic, narrow walkways of the Holocaust Memorial. We marveled at the sections of the wall which have been left standing and into which has been incorporated an excellent history of this period.

But, I wish we had not seen Checkpoint Charlie. All the romance and intrigue that John Le Carré and other novelists had built is now gone. I much prefer my memory.

It has been argued that the 4-door SUV market was launched by the Jeep Cherokee; however, it was the Ford Explorer that ignited America’s infatuation. Over the years as the market and feature requirements have changed, Ford has been the leader in driving the technology and design movement. With the introduction of the redesigned 2012 Explorer, Ford has taken the segment to a new level and the 2013 Ford Explorer has raised it another notch.

When Ford introduced the all-new Explorer last year it just wasn’t a refresh of the previous year’s model, it was a completely new creation. Not only did they re-skin the Explorer, they also exchanged the truck-based frame with a modified Taurus architecture, which also improves the ride control and fuel mileage. They also added cutting-edge technology and new fuel efficient engine choices.

The 2013 Ford Explorer comes in four trim styles: Base ($29,995), XLT ($33,575), Limited ($38,995), and the all-new Sport ($41,675). All models except the Sport are priced as 2WD and are available with 4WD for an additional cost. The Sport comes standard with 4WD and a terrain management system that offers settings for sand, snow, mud, and hill descent.

New for 2013 includes heated steering wheels, smart HID headlamp beams that dim automatically when oncoming traffic is detected, Lane-Keeping Assist, and enhanced Ford SYNC® system with MyFord Touch®.

The 2013 Explorer is available with three engine types: 2.0-liter EcoBoost® 240 hp 4-cylinder, 3.5-liter 290hp V6, and 3.5-liter EcoBoost® 365 hp V6 (Sport model only). The first two engines are mated to a 6-speed SelectShift Automatic with overdrive and the Sport engine grouped with a 6-speed SelectShift Automatic with paddle activation. It is notable to mention that the Sport with its 3.5-liter EcoBoost® motor has the best fuel economy of any performance SUV.

The interior is impressive with excellent material quality, design, and features. The Explorer can be ordered to seat 6 or 7 passengers. The 2013 Explorer is loaded with technology attributes that keep it cutting edge. The dash feels soft to the touch versus hard plastics, and creates an upscale look and feel. There’s a deep center console in the front between the seats with a second 12-volt outlet and a change tray. The second row of seats offers decent leg room but doesn’t adjust forward or backwards; however, tilts forward to provide access to the third row of seats. The second row also has a 110-volt AC power outlet and adjustable heat and fan controls. The third row of seats fold flat and stow into the floor and is available with a Power-fold option that at a push of a button will fold and stow the seats.

The new redesigned Explorer has smoother lines and a muscular presence. The front has a bold grille with the logo bordered by chrome bars and perforated trim. The large headlights wrap around into the fenders.

Room for improvement:

• MyFord Touch is hard to use while keeping your eyes on the road

Cool Features:

• Inflatable outboard rear seat belts
• Lane-Keeping Assist
• 20-inch wheels on the Sport Model
• Possesses 2 EcoBoost® engine options

The standard safety equipment for all of the 2013 Ford Explorers are AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™), Safety Canopy® System, a side air curtain technology offering protection for the first and second seating rows, SOS Post-Crash Alert System™, MyKey® programmable vehicle key allows parental controls on driving speed, Hill Start Assist for more confidence on uphill grades, and Curve Control, which can slow the vehicle by up to 10 mph if it senses a curve is being taken too fast.

 

In Summary – The 2013 Ford Explorer is both a stylish and capable vehicle. It has been a consistent market leader and innovator. The new 2013 Sport model adds flare and a certain excitement to drive. The EcoBoost® engines provide explosive power with economical fuel consumption. The Ford Explorer has earned a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and having a 5-out-of-5-stars rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – it’s the complete package.

Specifications

2013 Ford Explorer Limited 4WD

Base price: $39,855 as driven: $47,710 (including destination)

Engine: 3.5-Liter 6 cylinder

Horsepower: 290 @ 6500

Torque: 255 foot pounds @ 4000

Transmission: 6-Speed Auto

Drive:  4 Wheel-Drive

Seating: 7-passenger

Turning circle: 39.2 feet

Cargo space: 80.7 cubic feet

Curb weight:  4697 pounds

Fuel capacity: 18.6 gallons

EPA mileage: City 17 / Highway 23

Wheel Base:  112.6 inches

Warranty:  3 years/36,000 miles bumper to bumper

While reading some of my recent columns you might have wondered why a TMJ and Sleep Apnea dentist/orthodontist is straying from his practice by talking about such things as telomeres, which as you may remember, are pieces of DNA that form a protection to the chromosome allowing it to replicate itself and divide.

My desire in doing so was to get you to understand that almost all ailments are best treated with a holistic approach. Not just an approach by medicine, but by biology which includes genetics, physiology, nutrition, and the environment, taking in all of the possible factors.

Medicine, for too long, has become a group of specialties, many of which do not understand, to the extent they should, the other specialties.

A cardiologist probably does not realize that the most prescribed statin drug in America can cause low testosterone and all the problems that go along with it, plus several other side effects. The psychiatrist, when prescribing an antidepressant, may be unaware of the many side effects that relate to other fields if medicine.

The overuse of ibuprofen, (Motrin, Advil), for pain makes it sometimes totally ineffective and all you get is the side effects. Ibuprofen is generally effective for just three months. To be most effective this class of non steroidal pain medicine should be changed every three months. Hopefully, if the cause of the pain can be dealt with rather than just the symptom, it would not be necessary to remain on medicine for more than three months.

Again, I want to emphasize a holistic approach. I don’t want to just cover the symptom, I want to find the cause and eliminate it. For example, due to the fact that I hate the side effects of pain killers, I have found that acupuncture is incredibly effective and have studied the subject at UCLA. I have found that problems in one area of the body can cause dysfunction and pain in another. A condition diagnosed as a migraine could be caused by an irritated colon. A simple test in which acupuncture spot “C1” is chilled with ethyl chloride, can eliminate the headache within seconds. Then we can deal with the cause.

Instead of months of unsuccessful drugs and splint therapy, professionals can study what is irritating the colon. Sometimes it is a food allergy or sensitivity which, when dealt with, can eliminate a host of other medical problems, including the migraine.

There is no question that, if you have a medical problem, it should be diagnosed and treated by the proper professional. The purpose of my writing is that all of us, including the professional, need to understand the whole picture.

The reason your body is failing could be damage to your telomeres. This could be due to early childhood trauma, horrible diet, pollution, severe stress or drug and chemical abuse. Who knows? It could be something else. Our job is to find out the cause of the health problem and return the patient to the most optimal health and vitality possible.

Treating telomere damage is an entirely different field than treating a disease. This field is very new to medicine and foreign to most with traditional medical training. The fact is, if you are just treating symptoms, and not the problems causing them, the disease could be exacerbated by the treatment.

It might sometimes seem that everything is getting so complex that there cannot be an answer. Actually, the opposite is true. Taking into account that new research has uncovered some of the underlying factors that cause our health to fail gives us new hope. It will soon be possible to not only cure the disease, but reverse the damage, establishing new, vital tissue in what was the diseased area.

Robert Brown, DDS has a TMJ, orthodontia, and sleep apnea practice in Danville and thoroughly enjoys discussing holistic medicine. You can contact him at 925-837-8048, at info@aodtc.com, or visit his web site at www.aodtc.com.

I know, for any faithful readers you are going to think, “Hasn’t she done this one before?” The answer is yes but I thought, what the hay, it’s Valentine’s Day, so we need a need romance. It’s crunch time with our government budget (again) so we need a little common sense and with this economy, we need a little humor. So, here it is, all three wrapped up in one movie—Dave.

Dave was released in 1993. I loved it then and I loved it even more the second time around. With all the “stuff” hitting the proverbial fan right now, Dave Kovic would be a refreshing change.

Bill Mitchell is the philandering and out of touch President of the United States. Dave Kovic is a sweet-natured and caring Temp Agency owner, who by a staggering coincidence, looks exactly like the President. As such, when Mitchell wants to escape an official luncheon, the Secret Service hires Dave to stand in for him. Unfortunately, Mitchell suffers a severe stroke while having sex with a staffer and Dave finds himself stuck in the role indefinitely. Corrupt and manipulative Chief of Staff, Bob Alexander (Frank Langella) has Oval Office aspirations and conspires to sit in the big seat! He even creates lies about the Vice President (Ben Kingsley) to discredit him and leave the path clear. The First Lady (Sigourney Weaver) who had been barely tolerating her husband, the President, starts to see little differences in her husband. As Dave starts to get a feel for what being President should be, he starts having a few ideas of his own.

After Dave spends a day with the First Lady at a homeless shelter, Bob Alexander forges the President’s signature on a bill to cut the funding for the homeless shelter. The First Lady lashes out at Dave thinking that her husband had wielded the pen that slashed the much-needed program and Dave insists that the Chief of Staff makes it right. Alexander flippantly tells him that if he can figure out how to cut 650 million dollars out of the budget he can keep his “lousy shelter,” so Dave goes to work. He calls his accountant buddy, Murray Blum (Charles Grodin) to the White House to give him some advice. Murray says, “Who does these books? If I ran my business like this, I’d be out of business.” At the next Cabinet meeting, with some “simple changes in our cash management,” Dave gets it done and gets the shelters back.

If you haven’t figured out by now, Ellen Mitchell, the First Lady starts to see something in Dave that she hasn’t seen in her husband, the President, in a very long time and the relationship starts to build.

Dave is light and sweet and terribly thought provoking. In a speech of his own, he says, “This government’s responsibility is to find a job for every American who wants one. Getting a job when you so desperately need one makes you feel like you can fly!”

Is Dave Oscar material? No, but I’ve seen a lot worse take home the gold statue. Dave makes you think about what the government’s role is in our lives. Government is a tight rope — if it’s too big or too little, it fails. This little movie has a great cast and an incredible heart. I invite your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.

Q. As a kid, my grandmother would always plant potatoes by the moon. Is that still done today; and if so, when is the right time to do it?

A. ‘Gardening by the Moon’ is still alive today, but on a limited basis. It’s being rediscovered by a new generation of gardeners who are using an old school approach to gardening. They’re into organic cultural practices; such as composting, compost teas, cultivating for weed control, organic disease and pest controls, etc. The moon dictates what and when to do almost all fundamental gardening activities. The influence of the moon and its different phases is twofold. One, the pull of the lunar gravity along with the increasing and decreasing light of the moon affects plant roots and leaves. Second, gardening activities, when to weed, what to plant, etc., is determined by which of the Zodiac signs the moon is traveling through. From a scientific standpoint, the ‘Gardening by the Moon’ methodology hasn’t been proven or disapproves, so you’ll find supporters and those that think otherwise. That being said I do publish a weekly ‘ToDo’ based on the moon at www.dirtgardener.com. Personally, I’m not a strict follower of the activities. Concerning planning potatoes by the moon, this is not the weekend to plant. Your best and only opportunity is month is March 9-14 under the sign of Scorpio, Libra and Sagittarius and just before the beginning of the four-quarter on March 14, which is a resting period. Potatoes are one of the easiest short-term crops for a home vegetable garden and are great to involve kids with. They can be planted in traditional raised beds and containers. Some of the more unorthodox planters include spare tires, a bed of straw or a bag of commercial potting soil or planting mix. Besides the usual amendments and fertilizer, it’s recommended to add Sulfate of Potash for the extra Potassium. Seed potatoes are recommended to plant over those found at the supermarket. The yield from the supermarket purchased potatoes is unpredictable, as they have been treated with a growth inhibitor to limit the new shoots. That is not the case with seed potatoes so you get a guaranteed yield. You should cut the potatoes in half or quarters depending on the size. The freshly cut ends should be dipped into Soil Sulfur to prevent rotting and let to air dry for twenty-four hours. Your favorite garden center now has red, white and the large russet seed potatoes available for planting. Last year and again this year, I used the Gardman Potato Tubs grew them on my deck all summer long. They’re the perfect compliment to an Earthbox for home grown vegetables in containers on decks, patios and balconies. I planted around the first of February and harvested fifteen pounds of potatoes in August. You can follow their progress on my facebook page, facebook/Buzz Bertolero.

Buzz Bertolero is Executive Vice President of Navlet’s Garden Centers and a California Certified Nursery Professional. His web address is www.dirtgardener.com and you can send questions by email at dirtgarden@aol.com or to 360 Civic Drive Ste. ‘D’, Pleasant Hill, Calif. 94523 and on Facebook at Facebook.com/BuzzBertolero