Thursday, July 5, 2012

Culinary Adventures with Cam: Keep it Fresh


By Camilla M. Mann

I read an article recently about keeping your brain active by doing
things a little bit differently, including cooking with a new-to-you
ingredient. Challenge yourself. You'll expand your culinary repertoire
and give your brain a workout in the meantime.

So, last week, I decided to try something new to us. I, very
uncharacteriscally, didn't cook dinner!

Instead I did a completely RAW dinner with four different dishes and
one dessert: Zucchini Pasta, Spiced Pineapple, Avocado Carpaccio,
Minted Heirloom Tomatoes, and Chocolate-Avocado Mousse. Check it out here

Monday, July 2, 2012

Veteran Paralympian Jones to lead US Paralympic cycling team


By David Gold
June 29, 2012

United States Paralympics has announced its nominations for its London 2012 cycling team, which will be led by five-times Paralympian Allison Jones.

Among the team are three US military veterans, including Beijing 2008 gold medalists Jennifer Schuble and Oz Sanchez, and former Navy recruit Steve Peace. Read more here…

Team USA loaded with Soldiers for London Olympic Games


June 26, 2012
By Tim Hipps, Army Installation Management Command 

EUGENE, Ore. (June 26, 2012) -- The U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program will send its strongest contingent of athletes and coaches to the 2012 Olympic Games in London since the program's inception in 1997.

Eleven World Class Athlete Program, or WCAP, coaches and athletes already have qualified to participate in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Several more are competing for spots on Team USA at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials in Eugene, Ore., which began June 21 and concludes July 1.

WCAP provides Soldier-athletes the support and training needed to successfully compete in Olympic sports on the national and international levels, including the winter and summer Olympics, Pan American Games, world championships and at the Conseil International du Sport Militaire.

The Soldier-athletes serve as ambassadors for the U.S. Army by promoting the service to the world and assisting with recruiting and retention efforts. Since 1948, more than 600 Soldiers have represented the U.S. as Olympic athletes and coaches. They have collected more than 140 medals in a variety of sports, including boxing, wrestling, rowing, shooting, bobsled and track and field. Read more here…

The State Of Affairs For Veterans Seeking Jobs


June 27, 2012

Unemployment rates among veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are higher that their non-veteran counterparts, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. The head of the Department of Veterans Affairs, retired Army Gen. Eric Shinseki speaks with host Melissa Block about the challenges for veterans in today's job market. Listen here...

Angela Madsen helps veterans heal through sports


By Foon Rhee, Associate editor
Sacramento Bee
July 1, 2012

Noah Bailey didn't want to say much about how he lost both his legs to a roadside bomb in Afghanistan 6 1/2 years ago, or how he's tried to cope since.
That was before Angela Madsen, a fellow veteran twice his age, patiently tutored him on the finer points of the shot put: the hip turn, the chest thrust, the push off the fingertips for a higher arc. Strapped into a padded chair anchored in a Sacramento field, with only his right prosthetic leg on the ground for leverage, Bailey threw farther and farther as Madsen, one of the world's best in her event, encouraged him. Read more here…

Bernard James, 27-year-old Air Force veteran, gets ‘U-S-A!’ chant after he’s drafted by Dallas


Bernard James, 27-year-old Air Force veteran, gets ‘U-S-A!’ chant after he’s drafted by Dallas (VIDEO)
By Dan Devine | Ball Don't Lie
June 29, 2012

Second-round picks often wind up being footnotes in the NBA draft. But Bernard James — chosen by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 33rd overall pick in Thursday night's 2012 NBA draft, then flipped to the Dallas Mavericks as part of a draft-night deal — isn't your typical second-round pick.

The 6-foot-10, 230-pound forward/center was not considered a top-flight prospect entering Thursday's draft, despite leading the Florida State Seminoles in rebounding and blocked shots during both of his seasons in Tallahassee, earning a spot on the ACC's All-Defensive Team and an honorable mention for the all-conference team in his final year, and helping FSU to its first ACC conference championship in school history. His second-round status was attributable, in large part, to the fact that he's 27 years old.

See, before turning his attention to basketball, James spent six years in the United States Air Force, rising to the rank of staff sergeant and serving tours of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and Qatar. The fans in attendance at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., recognized and celebrated James' service on Thursday night, chanting "U-S-A! U-S-A!" as the veteran strode up to the stage to shake hands with NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver, who presides over the second round of the draft. In a draft largely devoid of drama or intrigue, it was, without question, the coolest and most stirring moment of the evening. Read more here...




On our way to Independence...

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.- John Adams, in a letter to his wife, Abigail

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Culinary Adventures with Cam: Summer Salads


By Camilla M. Mann

Though June gloom seems to have descended - right on schedule by the way! - on the central coast of California, summer salads are my go-to for a tasty, nutritious dinner after an evening stroll on the beach or a jaunt through a park.

Here are two salads that are not so much recipes as inspiration for you to mix things up in your kitchen for colorful, tasty salads. Chop. Toss. Devour.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Program Teaches Vets How To Survive The Classroom


By Daniel Zwerdling
June 11, 2012
kqed.org

Most American troops have left Iraq, and many have left Afghanistan. Now more than half a million of them have left the service — and they're going to college. Some vets say the transition is like landing on another planet, but they aren't the only ones struggling: The college staffs are, too.
At Sierra Community College, about an hour from Sacramento in Rocklin, Calif., there are hundreds of new kinds of students mixed in with the 18-year-olds fresh out of high school. Like James Reimers, who just turned 25. He was running patrols in Baghdad when many of his classmates were in the fifth grade.

"Some people walking around, they have like, Mohawks, and a nose ring, and like, a chain coming out of their ear," Reimers says. "It makes you feel like you don't fit in here. Just, like, what's going on?"
Or 37-year-old Jay Blake. He has short hair and his arm is covered with warrior tattoos. He says he is struggling at Sierra. Read more here…

San Francisco Mayor Lee Highlights SF Homes for Heroes Campaign: City Initiative to House 50 Veterans in 100 Days


Edited by Valerie Gotten
California Newswire
June 11, 2012

San Francisco, CA — This past week, S.F. Mayor Edwin M. Lee urged San Francisco landlords to join the City’s SF Homes for Heroes campaign and help house 50 homeless veterans in 100 days. The campaign provides help to homeless veterans with federal supportive housing vouchers who cannot find an apartment to rent in San Francisco.

“San Francisco remains steadfastly committed to supporting our veterans and giving them a second chance,” said Mayor Lee. “This unprecedented initiative will help us serve the men and women who have proudly served us in our armed services. While we have a long road ahead to care for our nation’s heroes, we can make a big difference beginning today. I am encouraging property owners to join this effort.” Read more here...


Wednesday, June 6, 2012

2012 VSSA Scholarship: accepting applications now

2012 Veterans Supportive Services Agency, Inc. Scholarship
Deadline: September 8, 2012
Award Value: $500

Veterans Supportive Services Agency, Inc. (VSSA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization solely dedicated to providing life enhancing supportive services to US Armed Forces Veterans and their families.

To be considered eligible for the Veterans Supportive Services Agency, Inc. Scholarship, please:
- Be a resident of Santa Clara County
- Be between the ages of 16 and 20 on September 8, 2012
- Be a child, grandchild or relative of a US Armed Forces Veteran
- Be willing to provide applicant’s relationship to US Armed Forces Veteran, include the Veteran’s Branch of Military Service (*DD214) and years of service with applicant’s contact information (*When sending a copy of the Veteran’s DD214, please black out private information, i.e., Social Security Number.)
- Have at least one full year of post secondary studies remaining at the time of the award
- Have a GPA of 2.5 or greater
- Provide a copy of official school transcripts
- Provide a resume including extracurricular work or community service (strongly recommended). You can also create a LinkedIn profile and connect with Tito A. Cortez, Executive Director of VSSA.
- Provide a letter of recommendation from a teacher, professor, employer who can testify to your aptitude for academic scholarship
- Find our Facebook page and ‘like’ us

Finalists will be interviewed by the VSSA Scholarship Selection Committee the week of September 10, 2012. The scholarship recipient will be announced at the Second Annual Silicon Valley Veterans Ball on Saturday, September 15, 2012. Recipient’s submission and photographs (if present at the Ball) will be posted on-line after the event. All applications must be postmarked and/or received by 11:59 p.m. PDT on September 8, 2012. No late applications will be accepted.

"Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." – John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States

Essay Question #1:
Explain in 500 words or less what President Kennedy's quote means to you. Note this should not just be stated. You must provide an argument supporting this statement.

Essay Question #2:
Explain in 500 words or less why you think you should be granted the Veterans Supportive Services Agency, Inc. Scholarship.

Every essay must contain three essential elements:
1. The essay must provide a summary statement (in the introductory paragraph). The summary statement must encapsulate the main argument for the paper. It must be clear and coherent, and it must answer the question put forth on the application. 2. The essay must offer supporting evidence. The writer must provide the supporting evidence in paragraph (not “bullet” or list) form. Each paragraph must contain evidence that supports one idea or concept that proves the summary statement. The writer must provide citations (in footnote, endnote, or parenthetical form) for all evidence presented. 3. Every essay must follow basic rules of format and grammar. Every paper must contain a beginning (introductory paragraph), a middle (several supporting paragraphs that comprise the body of the paper), and an end (concluding paragraph). Grammar is vital for essay composition. Sentence fragments, misspellings, and improper punctuation denote a carelessly-written and poorly-conceived paper.

APPLICANT’S CONTACT INFORMATION
Name
Address City, State, Zip Code
Phone number
Email Address

SCHOOL CONTACT INFORMATION
Current School School Address and Phone Number

Please submit your application by September 8, 2012 to:
2012 VSSA Scholarship
Noble House
14630 Noble Ave
San Jose, CA 95132

Questions? Please contact info@vssainc.org. For more information about VSSA, please visit vssainc.org for more information

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Culinary Adventures with Cam: Rhubarb

by Camilla M. Mann

Another great thing you'll see at farmers' markets in the springtime - something that looks like red celery on steroids. Don't be frightened. It's rhubarb! Ever since I first saw those bright ruby stalks pop up at the market last month, I have been buying them up by the armload and making everything from desserts to savory sauces and more desserts to cocktail fixings.

Nutritionally rhubarb, which is technically a vegetable but considered a fruit because of how it is typically used, contains a fair amount of potassium, vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, and dietary fiber.

The season for these is fairly short on the central coast of California, so I hope that these recipes will inspire you to go out, grab some rhubarb, and get cooking.

As a main dish...

As a condiment...

To start your day...

To end a meal...

If you do experiment with rhubarb, I'd love to hear what you make. I'm always on the lookout for new ways to use seasonal fruits and vegetables. Feel free to email me at constantmotioncamilla at gmail dot com.

Happy cooking!

$5 million in new grants will assist California veterans to qualify for high-demand jobs and careers with a future


June 1, 2012 - SACRAMENTO – The state Employment Development Department (EDD) announced today the award of new grants totaling $5 million to assist over 1,200 veterans to move quickly from military life into high-wage jobs and civilian careers with a future. Read more here…

Thursday, May 31, 2012

California bowler gives back to veterans


Wendy Clem
USBC Communications
May 26, 2012
Bowl.com 

RENO, Nev. - Mary Cortani of Gilroy, Calif., missed bowling in what would have been her seventh consecutive United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships this year, but it's because she was busy being filmed by a television crew as part of CNN's Heroes, a program that honors extraordinary people.

Cortani, 55, is founder and executive director of the non-profit Operation Freedoms Paws, an organization that unites rescued shelter dogs with veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other physical or emotional problems.

Veterans returning from combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan often isolate themselves or have difficulty returning to normal day-to-day life. Dogs help alleviate that problem and integrate humans into society faster, experts say. Read more here…

50 Years Later, Honoring Vietnam Veterans


By Allison Keyes
Npr.org
May 28, 2012

Vietnam veterans never got the homecoming many feel they deserved. On Monday, a group of veterans, the Department of Defense and others will begin the first of many ceremonies to honor those who served and commemorate the 50th anniversary of the start of the Vietnam War. Events will be planned over the next 13 years, concluding with the fall of Saigon. Many will gather Monday at the Vietnam Memorial Wall for a wreath ceremony, including President Obama. Listen here...

'Not At Ease:' Art Inspired By Women Veterans


By Erin Toner
Npr.org
May 28, 2012

The military experiences of thousands of women veterans often go untold or are misunderstood. Sometimes it's hard for them to relay their experiences even in the most intimate settings. A new art exhibit in Wisconsin shows some of the most private memories of twenty female veterans. Each one shared their experiences with an artist who tried to capture their stories on canvas. Listen here...