Unfortunately, "A small tornado-like wind struck Beijing's suburban Shunyi County on Friday July 4. A poultry farm suffered heavy losses with about 80,000 of its ducks killed when their pen collapsed. The big image on the front page shows the devastated poultry farm.

The farm is a main supplier to Beijing's well-known Peking duck chain Quanjude. It is not yet clear if this incident will have any effect on the price of Beijing famous roast duck.- source Danwei, Front Page Of The Day.

If you are not going to Beijing, you can of course grill up your own fantastic Peking Duck (check out the recipes on allrecipes.com .


Host your own Beijing BBQ > Visit the Events Page for Quick Tips

Olympic Facts excerpt taken from the Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Every emblem of the Olympics tells a story. The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games emblem "Chinese Seal, Dancing Beijing" is filled with Beijing's hospitality and hopes, and carries the city's commitment to the world.

Milestone

"Dancing Beijing" is a milestone of the Olympics. It serves as a classic chapter of the Olympic epic inscribed by the spirit of the Chinese nation, calligraphed by the deeper import of the ancient civilization, and molded by the character of Cathay's descendents. It is concise yet deep inside, bringing forth the city's gradual changes and development. It appears dignified yet bears a tune of romance, reflecting the nation's thoughts and emotions.

In the lead up to the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the emblem will attract more and more people from around the world to Beijing and China to join the great celebration with the Chinese people.

Commitment

"Dancing Beijing" is a Chinese Seal. It is engraved with commitment made to the Olympic Movement by a country that has 56 ethnic groups and a population of 1.3 billion. While witnessing the advocacy of the Olympic Spirit by a nation with both ancient civilization and modern culture, it also unfolds a future-oriented city's pursuit of the Olympic Ideal.

Image

"Dancing Beijing" serves as the city's foremost appearance. It is an image that shows the eastern ways of thinking and the nation's lasting appeal embodied in the Chinese characters. It is an expression that conveys the unique cultural quality and elegance of Chinese civilization.

With inspiration from the traditional Chinese art form - calligraphic art, the character "Jing" (the latter of the city's name) is developed into the form of a dancing human being, reflecting the ideal of a "New Olympics". The words "Beijing 2008" also resembles the vivid shapes of Chinese characters in handwriting, voicing in concise strokes of the countless feelings Chinese people possess towards the Olympics.

Beauty

"Dancing Beijing" is a favorite color of the Chinese people. The color "red" is intensively used in the emblem, pushing the passion up to a new level. It carries Chinese people's longing for luck and happiness and their explanation of life.

Red is the color of the Sun and the Holy Fire, representing life and a new beginning. Red is mind at ease, symbol of vitality, and China's blessing and invitation to the world.

Hero

"Dancing Beijing" calls upon heroes. Olympic Games functions as the stage where heroes are made known, miracles created and glories earned, and where every participant constitutes an indispensable part of the occasion.

Spirit

"Dancing Beijing" extends the totem of the Chinese nation. The form of a running human being stands for the beauty and magnificence of life. Its graceful curves are like the body of a wriggling dragon, relating the past and future of one same civilization; they are like rivers, carrying the century-old history and the nation's pride; they are like veins, pulsing with vitality of life.

Invitation

"Dancing Beijing" is a kind invitation. The open arms in the emblem say that China is opening its arms to welcome the rest of the world to join the Olympics, a celebration of "peace, friendship and progress of mankind."

"Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar?" The idiom portrays the feelings of friendly and hospitable Chinese people and expresses the sincerity of the city.

• a. Banish the bugs – 1 hour before guests arrive, light bug bomb and citronella candles. Set out individual bug spray wipes and/or spray for guests' convenient use.
• b. It's a picnic, so while you're “roughing” it, offer your guests the opportunity to “wash up” with wipes and/or hand sanitizer – a must have at a picnic!
• c. Give your guests a place to kick back: Provide plenty of clean and comfortable seating (chairs, blankets, benches, etc.)

• a. Mark your beverages. Use ClinQ™s , these clever peel off stickers adhere your to drink (whether it's a glass, bottle, disposable cup or plastic bottle). Each has a different symbol so you can identify your drink from the rest. This avoids waste as guests inevitably forget where they set their drink – all they have to do is remember their symbol.
• b. Put out a recycling bin for empties.
• c. Use renewable dinnerware or acrylic dishware and cloth napkins (for fun you can purchase flag bandannas and use them as napkins).

• a. Ice, Ice and more Ice: There's nothing worse than lukewarm or hot beverages on a hot day. Make sure you have more than enough ice to continually replenish the supply. General rule of thumb is 2 lbs. of ice per person.
• b. Hydrate your guests: Have plenty of non alcoholic beverages on hand - make sure to consider all your guests: adults, children, elderly.
• c. If your yard offers no shade, create some with a few umbrellas. You can also purchase a fan or two that mists while it cools – now that's cool!

Music has the power to set the mood for your party and relax and inspire your guests. Take the time to create a music mix this 4th of July. If you are not hosting your own party bring a mix you created as a gift to your host.

Here is an excerpt from the Partybluprints Americana Patriotic Picnic Eparty Plan:
Come see the full 17 page plan - it's FREE> Go

Music
Appeal to your guests’ Americana spirit. Enjoy some traditional patriotic music with this mostly instrumental mix. Before you know it, your guests will be humming, marching and connecting with their American pride. This is great music for the kid’s parade!
Artist: Patriotic Fathers/Album: 4^th of July

Once you’ve had your fun with the traditional patriotic music, let loose and put your twist on your own “American” mix – here are some suggestions:

Born in the USA – Bruce Springsteen

American Girl – Tom Petty

All American Man – Kiss

R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. - John Mellencamp

All American Girl – Carrie Underwood

American Baby – Dave Mathews

God Bless the U.S.A. – Lee Greenwood

Surfin’ USA – The Beach Boys

Back in the U.S.A. – Chuck Berry

American Pie – Don McLean

America – Simon & Garfunkel

Living in the U.S.A. – Steve Miller Band

We’re an American Band – Grand Funk Railroad

American Land – Bruce Springsteen

Bon Jovi – Miss Fourth of July

American Made – George Thorogood

Freedom – The Isley Brothers

America the Beautiful – Ray Charles

Did you ever wish you could do something about global warming?

You can - Eat Chocolate!
Specifically you can eat Climate Change Chocolate

From Bloomsbury & Co., a designer chocolate bar company in New Zealand.

Cacao Trees flourish in the hot tropical temperatures in New Zealand and these chocolatiers loving tend to their own trees, harvest the cacao and create a superior quality chocolate that "comes to you in first class condition ready to tantalize your taste buds and seduce your senses." - from Bloomsberry.com

Climate Change Chocolate bars come in Milk and Dark chocolate and the green goal of this candy is to reduce carbon emissions. Each bar comes with a verified Terrapass Offset of 133 pounds of carbon dioxide reductions, the average American's daily carbon impact. In addition, the carbon emissions associated with the production and distribution of the chocolate bar has been balanced out.

To learn more or purchase GO>

You can order these bars online through the link above, they're also available at participating Whole Food Markets.

We think they make great favors for parties of any kind. They definitely send a delicious message to you guests!

Note:
What is Terra Pass? Learn more Go>

Use TerraPass to balance the emissions you can't reduce.
The proceeds of Terra Pass fund clean energy and efficiency projects such as wind farms. These projects result in verified reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

The school year is coming to an end so it's time to start buying teachers and coaches gifts. These are important people in our children's lives and they deserve a proper thank you. A personal note is always the most sincere way to show appreciation for these special individuals. Involve your child by asking them to draw a picture or write a sentence or two about what this person has taught them. It's not necessary to spend a lot of money on your 'end of school year gifts'. Heartfelt thank yous are free and are sure to put a smile on the face of their recipients.

• School Teacher
• School Nurse
• Principle
• Teacher's Aide
• Music Teacher
• Sports Team Coaches
• Religion class Teachers
• PE Teacher
• Art Teacher
  

Another great gift that many teachers and coaches appreciate are gift cards - you can only display so many "#1 Teacher Mugs". Let them buy want they want or need and enjoy the treat.
A great website where you can shop online and buy with the click of your finger is Gifts.com. Pick from over one hundred top merchants, including Macys, Gap, Brookstone, and Barnes and Noble.

It's easy as pick, click and print. No shopping, driving or going crazy trying to find the right thing!


View all merchant gift cards Go >

Another great gift is the iTunes gift card.



To Purchase Online Go>

• Keep Pests Away: Use a bug bomb before your party and lite citronellas 1 hour before guests arrive. As an added touch offer individual bug spray wipes and/or spray for guests' convenient use.

• Keep It Cool: Ice, ice baby - general rule of thumb is 2 lbs. of ice per person.

• Keep Guests Hydrated: Have plenty of beverages on hand - make sure to consider all your guests: adults, children, elderly. Always offer cold water as a refreshing alternate beverage.

• Keep it Fresh: Use Vinaigrettes, not Mayonnaise to dress salad - mayo can spoil quickly on a hot, sunny day.

• Keep it Healthy: Reduce exposure to carcinogens when grilling by following these easy rules from the American Cancer Society.
  

1. Choose lean cuts of meat and trim excess fat from meat;
2. Line the grill with foil and poke small holes in the foil so some fat can drain down but not all the smoke can come back onto the meat;
3. Avoid charring meat and don't eat any part that is especially burned and black;
4. Pre-cook meat a bit inside the house then drain away the juices before putting the meat on the grill; and
5. Watch portion size; aim for a three-ounce portion. Kebabs are a perfect size.
   

One of summers' favorite foods is corn on the cob. But when you and the temps are boiling and the last thing you want to do is boil a big pot of water, we've got a tasty and easy alternative!

Tip No 4

Grill your Corn on the Cob
(Tastes Great - Less Work)

· Completely cover the ears of corn with cold water and soak for a good hour - you want to thoroughly saturate the husks to keep them from catching on fire.

· Grill the corn on medium heat for about 20 minutes, turning and rotating the ears as needed to to keep it from burning.

· If your ears start burning, place the them on indirect heat, like the top shelf of your grill or an unlit side of the grill and close the cover.

· Grilling your corn on the cob will produce a different (we think superior) end result. This combination of "steaming" the corn in the husks and grilling it actually causes some of the sugar from the kernels to carmelize producing one of the sweetest ears of corn you'll ever enjoy - you don't even need butter and salt (although some will insist it's part of the ritual).

· Remove ears from grill and allow to cool. Since they're insulated by the husks they'll stay warm until they're not "too hot to handle". (FYI - if you're unsure if corn is completely cooked, pierce a kernel, if it shoots out liquid it's done.

· For safety and sanitary purposes, use a clean kitchen towel to hold the ear while you husk the ears. You'll be surprised at how easy it is remove.Season as you like and enjoy!