Tuesday, November 27, 2012

11/27 RICK DUNGEY, NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE ASSOCIATION, DANNA KORN, GLUTEN FREE COOKING FOR DUMMIES, VICTORIA JUSTICE, CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER

RICK DUNGEY - DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS - NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE ASSOC.

WHITE PINE: The largest pine in the U.S., the white pine has soft, flexible needles and is bluish-green in color. Needles are 2½ - 5 inches long. White pines have good needle retention, but have little aroma. They aren't recommended for heavy ornaments.

WHITE SPRUCE: The white spruce is excellent for ornaments; its short, stiff needles are ½ to ¾ in. Long and have a blunt tip. They are bluish-green - green in color, but have a bad aroma when needles are crushed. They have excellent foliage color and have a good, natural shape. The needle retention is better in a white spruce than it is among other spruces.

FRASER FIR: The Fraser fir branches turn slightly upward. They have good form and needle-retention. They are dark blue-green in color. They have a pleasant scent, and excellent shipping characteristics as well.

COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE: Often used for stuffing pine-pillows, these sharp needles are 1 to 1 ½ in. In length. This species is bluish-gray in color. Needles have an unpleasant odor when crushed. This Christmas Tree has good symmetrical form and an attractive blue foliage. It also has good needle retention.

CONCOLOR FIR: These small, narrow needles are around 1 to 1½ in. In length and occur in rows. They have good foliage color, good needle retention, and a pleasing shape and aroma.

DOUGLAS-FIR: These soft needles are dark green to blue green in color and are approximately 1 to 1 ½ in. In length.  Douglas-fir needles radiate in all directions from the branch. When crushed, these needles have a sweet fragrance. They are one of the top major Christmas tree species in the U.S.

BALSAM FIR: These needles are ¾ to 1½ in. In length and last a very long time. This tree has a dark-green appearance and retains its pleasing fragrance throughout the Christmas season.

SCOTCH PINE: Approximately 1 in. In length, these needles don't even fall when they're dry, providing excellent needle retention. The color is a bright green. The most common Christmas tree in the U.S., the scotch pine has an excellent survival rate, is easy to replant, has great keepability and will remain fresh throughout the holiday season.

NOBLE FIR: These needles turn upward, exposing the lower branches. Known for its beauty, the noble fir has a long keepability, and its stiff branches make it a good tree for heavy ornaments, as well as providing excellent greenery for wreaths and garland.

LEYLAND CYPRESS: The most popular Christmas tree in the southeast, the Leyland cypress is dark green-gray in color and has very little aroma. Because it is not in the pine or fir family, it does not produce sap, so those with an allergy to sap can still enjoy a Leyland as their Christmas Tree.

VIRGINIA PINE: These branches are stout and woody and respond very well to trimming. The tree is small to medium in size and its foliage becomes extremely dense. Aside from being a good nesting site for woodpeckers, the Virginia pine continues to be the most popular Christmas tree in the south.


DANNA KORN - GLUTEN FREE COOKING FOR DUMMIES


If you have a wheat allergy, gluten intolerance, celiac disease, or you just want to enjoy the benefits of a diet free of wheat, barley, and rye, then this guide is for you. Trusted author Danna Korn explains the medical problems associated with gluten and shows you step by step how to make the transition to a gluten-free lifestyle - and love it!

With 25% new and revised content, this easy-to-understand reference includes coverage of the most recent testing methods, an updated section on the link between a gluten-free diet and improving behaviors in the autistic, new information about the genetics of celiac disease, expanded coverage on the gluten-free certification process, increased nutritional information, and updated recipes and resources.

•65 delicious recipes plus tips on eating out
•Guidance on how to shop and decipher food labels Advice on how to raise happy gluten-free kids
Covering the practical, medical, and emotional aspects of the lifestyle, Living Gluten-Free For Dummies, 2nd Edition offers hope and inspiration as you make the switch to a life free of gluten.


VICTORIA JUSTICE - CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER

LIGHTING UP THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS CHRISTMAS TREE -- NBC heralds the arrival of the holidays with a dazzling display of musical talent and the lighting of the world's most famous Christmas tree during the 15th annual "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" telecast on November 28th from 8-9pm ET. Co-hosted by Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie, both of NBC’s “TODAY,” the star-studded 80th annual tree lighting extravaganza will feature an array of musical guests performing current hits and holiday classics from Rockefeller Center in New York City. Prior to the network special, WNBC, NBC's New York flagship station, and other NBC stations will broadcast an additional live hour of the special (7-8 PM ET). "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" is produced by Brad Lachman Productions with Lachman serving as executive producer. Bill Bracken produces. Victoria Justice – Victoria Justice stars in the hit Nickelodeon series "Victorious" as the talented "Tori Vega," a student learning to navigate life at an elite performing arts high school. Her vocal talents are showcased on “Victorious: Music From the Hit TV Show” the first official soundtrack from the series which debuted at #5 on the Top 200 charts. To date, sales of singles from "Victorious" total 2.8 million combined digital downloads worldwide. "Victorious 3.0:Even More Music From The Hit TV Show" was released November 6. Justice has been nominated for Kids' Choice Awards, an NAACP Image Award, an ALMA award, as well as an Imagen Foundation Award. She can currently be seen in the feature film "Fun Size," alongside Chelsea Handler and Johnny Knoxville and is in the studio recording solo materials.