TRECeratops

Last week, I went to the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at the entrance to Presque Isle in Erie, Pennsylvania.

I checked out the Dinosaur Exhibit. Little did I know that it was one of the last days to see the exhibit sponsored by Mercyhurst College's Archaeological Institute, Geology Department.

The exhibit wrapped up on September 23. It was pretty cool.

Check out some BlackBerry pics of the fossils.

(I think I like this the best - actual preserved (unhatched) dinosaur eggs. I wonder if we ever will be able to clone dinosaurs like Jurassic Park.)

Up next Insect and Native Plant Photography and Specimen Exhibit, which opens September 30. I might not rush over to view that exhibit right away - or ever.

Ravine Flyer II

Fun video for all of those Waldameer fans who haven't been to the amusement park and taken a ride on the Ravine Flyer II.

Corelle

Finally after two years of using my chipped plates and bowls, I bought some Corelle. Spefically, the Corelle Square Pure White 16-piece Dinnerware Set.

Pure White brings the simplicity and elegance of basic white on a modern, square shape--ideal for matching with any other pattern.

•Service for 4, includes 4-each 10-1/4-inch Dinner Plates, 8-3/4-inch Lunch Plates, 22-oz Soup/Cereal Bowl, 12-oz Porcelain Mugs
•Dishwasher safe for long lasting patterns
•Microwave and oven use for versatility
•Patterns won’t wash, wear or scratch off
•Break and chip resistance for carefree durability
•Stackability for cupboard space efficiency

I'm super excited to receive these in the mail. I plan to get another set of square Corelle service when I decide on a pattern. But the white will go with whatever I choose. And I don't need 8 place settings anytime soon, so I can really take my time and pick the right pattern.

Premiere Week

As the leaves change colors, the new fall television season begins as well.

Here are a list of my faves beginning new seasons this week:

House - Monday, Sept. 20, 8 pm, FOX
How I Met Your Mother - Monday, Sept. 20, 8 pm, CBS
Glee - Tuesday, Sept. 21, 8 pm, FOX
NCIS - Tuesday, Sept. 21, 8 pm, FOX
The Middle - Wednesday, Sept. 22, 8 pm, ABC
Modern Family - Wednesday, Sept. 22, 9 pm, ABC
Law & Order, SVU - Wednesday, Sept. 22, 10 pm, NBC
Community - Thursday, Sept. 23 8 pm, NBC
Grey's Anatomy - Thursday, Sept. 23 9 pm, ABC
Project Runway - Thursdays, 9 pm, Lifetime (season is halfway through)
Desperate Housewives - Sunday, Sept. 26, 9 pm, ABC
Brothers and Sisters - Sunday, Sept, 26, 10 pm, ABC
Mad Men - Sundays, 10 pm, AMC (season is halfway through)

I think I need a DVR. Too many of my shows are overlapping their times now.

What shows are you looking forward too?

no one was left to speak up

I have always been very supportive the separation of church and state. Mainly because I don't believe in church.

I understand why especially close-minded individuals are afraid of any Islamic Cultural Center, and I understand why some radicals are upset about one that might be built "two blocks" away from Ground Zero.

But fear, anger, and distress are not emotions that should dictate our political policies or religious rights.

Our country was founded with this as the first amendment. The first. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

It's a right our country's ancestors risked their life to travel to this budding nation for.
It's a right our founders believed so strongly, in they wrote it first in our Constitution.
It's a right of all citizens of our nation.
It's a right we believe in we invaded Iraq to help that country overcome tyranny.
It's a right.

Some scared individuals who are opposing the construction of the Cultural Center are completely against it. These radicals believe mosques are breeding grounds for terrorism. Others believe it's a fine idea, but a bad location; they believe the cultural center is insensitive to the solemn ground where the World Trade Towers once stood.

Keith Olbermann combats those two positions and so much more in his special comment.



I realize 12 minutes is a long video so I'll summarize some of his most poignant statements:

• It isn't a mosque. It is a community center and will have a basketball court and a culinary school and a prayer space.
• Muslims are a far greater risk of being victims of terrorism than non-Muslims in the United States. The only terrorism linked to a mosque in this country was May 10th in Northeast Florida when a mosque was bombed. Luckily, no one was injured. Unluckily, the bomber/terrorist was not caught/arrested.
• The location of the Community Center (Park 45, New York, NY) is not at Ground Zero and it's actually 4 or 5 blocks away from the 9/11 memorial.
• Currently there is a mosque operating four blocks away from Ground Zero and was opened before there was the World Trade Center and for the nine years since Sept. 11 it has been running without controversy.
• If we stop this cultural and community center from being built where does it end? No more building permits for any mosques in this country? By denying this building from being built we reject our birthright of religious freedom.

"From the beginning of this nation we have fought prejudice and religious intolerance and our greatest enemy: stupidity exploited by politicians."

"In America, when somebody comes for your neighbor, or his Bible, or his Torah, or his atheist manifesto, or his Koran, you and I do what our fathers did and our grandmothers did and our founders did... you and I speak up!"

Linens and More

Erie, Pa is one of only a handful of towns chosen to be one of the flagship cities to have a Lines & More For Less store.

The other towns include Howland, OH; Dayton, OH; Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Barboursville, WV; and Paducah, KY.

According to The Business Journal of Youngstown (where the first store in Howland, OH opened in July) President and CEO Frederick Mershad said he noticed a void in the market for home furnishings.

Rather than create the 30,000-square-foot store to be a general “everything that goes inside a home” retailer, Mershad wants Linens & More to focus on the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom while maintaining an assortment of items related to fashion based on quality and price. While customers won’t find lamps, area rugs or food, they will have more than 150 patterns of bedding to choose from, he said, compared to the 50 or 60 in other departments stores.

I went this weekend to the grand opening. Erie's store (located in the old Lines and Things, near DSW), is large and bright with a lot of great merchandise - Tommy Hilfiger linens, Egyptian towels, Serta mattresses, Bissell vacuums, Rachel Ray pots.

However, in my opinion, the prices are not at all "for less." This is not a discount store. The prices are comparable to Bed Bath and Beyond. The shopping experience is very nice - the isles are large, the selection is great, and the lighting is bright.

If you are looking for new bed linens or a new shower curtain or a specific brand cooking pot, this is a place to check out. But don't be fooled by the name, you will not get anything "for less." You will pay exactly the same price for it at Bed Bath and Beyond (if that store carried it and if you could find it in the cramped store), but, unfortanately, there is not coupon associated with it.

Emmy's 2010

The 2010 Emmy's were very entertaining to watch. Glee performed with some additional cast member, Betty White and John Ham flirted, and Jimmy Fallon hosted. Also, celebrities made missteps in fashion.

I really only had two dresses I liked.

Clare Danes

Danes wore a stunning, bronze Armani Privé gown encrusted with Swarovski drop crystals and iridescent sequin beading. This $100K dress sparkled like it was a star and looked gorgeous with her hair.

Lea Michele

Michele rocked the navy trend in this Oscar de la Renta mermaid dress and sweatheart neckline. But my favorite part of her ensemble was the Lorraine Schwartz jewels. I love, love, love the bib necklace trend.

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On to the worst of the night.

January Jones

Jones always tries to rock right-off-the-runway dresses. But this fashion-forward, bold blue, ruffled Versace gown with asymmetrical hemline did not translate to the red carpet.

Anna Paquin

Paquin came prepared to fight gladiators in this embellished, black satin Alexander McQueen gown with golden shoulders.


Christina Hendricks

Hendricks hugged her curves and embraced what God gave her, but in a hideous dusty lilac Zac Posen gown embellished with feather detailing. She looked like a muppet.

What are your thoughts? Are there others you hated more? Others you liked?