Luna Grill to Open Its Sixth Restaurant at Liberty Station in Point Loma

Luna Grill has announced the addition of a sixth restaurant at Liberty Station in the Point Loma area of San Diego, bringing "The Ultimate Kabobery" fast casual Mediterranean restaurant to the former Naval Training Center.

Luna Grill was founded six years ago when Pourteymour's wife, Maria, became concerned that the couple's children weren't getting healthy nutrition when they ate out. She wanted to provide wholesome, natural, made-to-order food that is so healthy and convenient, that she would feel confident enough to feed it to her own children every day. Now the restaurant's Chief Cuisine Officer, Maria develops every menu addition, is involved in selecting all spices, produce, hormone-free meats and works closely with the staff to ensure quality controls across the Luna Grill brand.Luna Grill is owned by Premier Food Concepts, LLC, which has headquarters in San Diego. Other Luna Grill locations include Carmel Valley, Mission Valley, Carlsbad, Hillcrest, and coming soon to EastLake and Point Loma - Liberty Station. For more information about Luna Grill, visit www.lunagrill.com or become a Facebook fan .Luna Grill keeps growing at a strong pace and the anticipation builds as the grand opening at Liberty Station gets closer. The former Naval Training Center is now a community hub and is an idyllic location for Luna Grill's Near East and Mediterranean healthy cuisine . The family-centered community provides everything from golf to movies in the park.Contact: Marisa Vallbona 619-708-7990 Email Contact or Brian Williams 619-954-4276 Email Contact"We have been slowly adding to our team with locations in Carlsbad, Carmel Valley, Mission Valley, and over the past few months in Hillcrest and EastLake. The Point Loma - Liberty Station location is especially exciting because we love the community there and everything they are doing to make it a 'family first' neighborhood," said Sean Pourteymour, CEO of Luna Grill.Add to Digg Bookmark with del.icio.us Add to Newsvine

Contact: Marisa Vallbona 619-708-7990 Email Contact or Brian Williams 619-954-4276 Email Contact

UFood Grill Offers Online Ordering at Downtown Crossing Location in Boston

UFood Restaurant Group Inc. (OTCBB: UFFC) is offering customers online ordering at its UFood Grill in the Downtown Crossing area of Boston starting today.

"We believe that online ordering will be a great convenience to our busy Downtown Crossing customers who work nearby in Boston's professional and financial services industries," said UFood CEO George Naddaff. "This option should also provide economies of scale in our operations and drive sales. After an initial trial period, we hope to roll this out to our other locations."Add to Digg Bookmark with del.icio.us Add to NewsvineThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 involving known and unknown risks, delays, and uncertainties that may cause our actual results or performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, delays, and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks associated with the uncertainty of future financial results, our reliance on our sole supplier, the limited diversification of our product offerings, additional financing requirements, development of new products, government approval processes, the impact of competitive products or pricing, technological changes, the effect of economic conditions and other uncertainties detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.A button on the UFood homepage ( www.ufoodgrill.com ) takes consumers to the Downtown Crossing ordering page, where they can place an order for anything on the menu. Customers can pay online or at the store. A separate online orders pick-up register will expedite the process.According to the National Restaurant Association's 2010 Restaurant Industry Operations Report, 53 percent of people ages 18 to 34 say they would order online.The place where "delicious meets nutritious," UFood Grill is committed to offering consumers food that tastes great, is lower in calories and fat, and healthier. UFood boasts a wide-ranging menu that includes lean burgers, rice bowls, salads, wraps and smoothies.Forward-Looking StatementsAbout UFood Restaurant Group, Inc. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., UFood Restaurant Group, Inc. is a franchisor and operator of fast-casual food service restaurants. UFood Grill offers a healthy lifestyle alternative to consumers in the fast-casual restaurant space and is positioned to become a leading player in the "better-for-you" quick-serve restaurant category. The Company is led by franchise innovator George Naddaff, who founded Boston Market and led the franchising of several companies including Sylvan Learning Center and VR Business Brokers. Mr. Naddaff has assembled a veteran management team with a successful record in the franchise market. UFood is currently launching a growth plan to franchise nationwide. To learn more, visit www.ufoodgrill.com .

Contact: UFood Restaurant Group, Inc. Charles A. Cocotas COO 617-787-6000

VooDoo BBQ Franchise Signs 26-Location Expansion in Florida

VooDoo BBQ & Grill Franchise has reached an agreement to open 26 restaurants in Florida -- a move that will double the Louisiana-based company's locations and signal VooDoo's emergence as a regional brand with national aspirations.

The first VooDoo restaurant will open in Miami within eight months. The territory encompasses most of Florida and will have locations in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg and Jacksonville.But most important, he said, was the food. VooDoo specializes in competition-style barbecue and serves unique, chef-designed side dishes atypical for barbecue restaurants, such as corn pudding, Gris Gris greens and sweet potato soufflé."For us, this is absolutely huge," said VooDoo CEO Tony Avila. "We're establishing a large footprint in the nation's fourth-most-populous state. I think years from now, we'll look back at this agreement with BBQ Boyz as a monumental moment for VooDoo BBQ."VooDoo was founded by a group of entrepreneurs with roots in the Ruth's Chris organization. They opened the first VooDoo BBQ & Grill on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans on Mardi Gras day 2002. Over the next nine years, the company grew steadily, proving itself in the competitive culinary arena of south Louisiana and building a huge fan base.BBQ Boyz plans to open 13 restaurants in the next five years and the full complement of 26 within a decade. The deal is the largest in VooDoo's nine-year history. Recent expansion has boosted the company's total number of scheduled openings to 41.For more information, visit www.voodoobbqfranchiseblog.comThe Florida franchisee is BBQ Boyz LLC, owned and run by friends and neighbors Jack and Ilene Flechner, Fred Burgess and Joe and Barbara Sloboda in Broward County."Now we're ready to take our New Orleans-style flavor and magic way beyond Louisiana," Avila said. "Florida has great food. We're excited and confident that Floridians will appreciate and love what VooDoo BBQ has to offer.""There are good barbecue places down in Florida," Flechner said. "VooDoo is different in that it's fast-casual rather than the kind of mom-and-pop shack or the much larger sit-down restaurants that are prevalent. I think VooDoo is really well situated to fill a niche in between."

Media Contact: Chad Tramuta 877-902-4BBQ Email Contact

High life

Gstaad

She resigned her popular TV chat show when the pig was appointed a minister, claiming it might be a conflict of interest. It was nothing of the sort. She had inside info that the show was about to be cancelled, so she bailed out.Of course, Glover is right in calling DSK a chauvinist sexual predator, untrustworthy, greedy and unscrupulous. He is all that and more. His wife's billion dollar fortune, incidentally, derives from her grandfather Rosenberg's dodgy art dealership.no one in their right mind took it seriously, not even the hacks, who 20 years ago believed me when I wrote in these here pages that Mrs Saddam Hussein had moved in for the duration. Journalists arrived and began snooping around. The owner, Ernst Scherz, a very old friend, found it amusing and refused to deny it. The hacks drank copiously at the bar and everything was hunky-dory until the powers back home froze their expense accounts.Which brings me to a Don Giovanni wannabe, the Frog DSK, newly free to seduce more good-lookers from Africa and its environs. There's not much I've found in Stephen Glover's writings to disagree with, except for his recent description of that phoney socialist pig's wife as a tolerant French woman because 'her class and background' require it. Actually, it is she who wants the top prize even more than the short fat man with bulging eyes and an oversized ego. Let's not forget that DSK's first wife got him connected with the right people in les Grandes Ecoles which landed him his first good job as a lecturer.Oh, my God, say it ain't so.Which I failed to do last week by announcing Saif Gaddafi's arrival at the Palace hotel;Nothing serious: if one went down that was the end of it. Wildenstein I never hit because he was so skinny, ugly and miserable, although if anyone deserved a knuckle sandwich it was him. There were rumours galore about his dishonesty, but the French covered things up, as they tend to do. He is now dead, and his son Guy is being investigated for a massive fraud, which obviously I cannot possibly comment upon, although I expect that he's guilty as hell on the basis of like father like son.Gildo, the greatest maitre d' ever, still talks about it when he's not singing arias from Don Giovanni, which he knows by heart.He then used his second wife to get him in tight with the civil servants, who steered him and recommended him to become minister of finance, and now, his third one, a billionaire, was and is financing his bid for the top spot. Anne Sinclair is no babe in the woods.Rosenberg's deals were as shady as Wildenstein's, but unlike the latter he never got caught. Daniel Wildenstein I knew quite well from my El Morocco nights during the Fifties in the Bagel. He was an awful man, always complaining about the waiters or not having the right table. Back then we used to get into fights quite regularly over women.It's been very sunny and hot, with the bluest of blue skies above and the greenest of green mountains around me; in fact, it does not get any better than this. The farmers have cut their grass and packed it for the winter's feed, soon the cows will be coming down from the hills, and the Swiss franc will continue going through the roof. Life is now so expensive in Switzerland that even the rich are starting to complain. Forty pounds for a grilled cheese on the terrace of a top hotel is a bit steep, unless one has access to the Gaddafi sovereign wealth fund, which some Swiss bankers I am sure do. Still, I know worse places to be, such as the Hamptons during Labor Day weekend; in Tripoli, while the mongrel dog and his eight perverted children are still on the loose; and if one's really unlucky on the Carlton Hotel terrace in Cannes, watching rich Russians guzzle warm champagne in the afternoon sun.I used to play a lot of polo with Guy Wildenstein in Paris and he was perfectly behaved and very well mounted but none of us liked him. I cannot put my finger on it, but he was extremely dislikable, just like his old man. I hope he goes down but it's ten to one against. The French protect the rich and powerful, just look at DSK. That other arch phoney, the pseudo-philosopher BernardHenri Levy, would have been laughed off the campus of a school for retarded 12-year-olds, yet he regularly appears on French TV as an adviser to Sarkozy and as a well-informed source. Source for self-promotion and bullshit, says Greece's greatest philosopher since Plato. DSK, BHL, Rosenberg, Wildenstein, what did the French people do wrong to deserve such people? Is it punishment for collapsing so quickly against the Wehrmacht? Or for collaborating so eagerly with the conquerors? (After General Weygand's collapse, a wit wrote Veni Vidi Vichy! ) It could also be that because the French have such a beautiful country, with Paris the most beautiful city on earth, God made sure the French people have DSK and BHL and Rosenberg and Wildenstein to balance things out.So, for the moment I'm sitting pretty on my lawn, trying to make some mischief.

Oh, my God, say it ain't so.

Change4Life top tips for top kids

Sugar swaps: swapping sugary snacks and drinks for ones that are lower in sugar can make a huge difference to kids' calorie intake and it''s better for their teeth.

60 active minutes: kids need to do at least one hour of activity a day to help them stay happy and healthy. It doesn't need to be sport - running around and having fun outside count too.Five a day: it's easier than you think to give your kids five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. For kids, one portion is roughly a handful. * Cut back fat: grilling and baking rather than frying it can reduce the fat content by as much as two-thirds. Cut down on snacks such as crisps, cakes, biscuits and pastries.Meal time: it's important for kids to have regular, proper meals as growing bodies respond better to routine. * Me size meals: even though they are growing, it's important to make sure kids get just the right amount for their age - not too little and not too much.Up and about: the way life is today means that most of us spend too long sitting down doing nothing. It might be worth setting a 'two hours max' of screen time each day.

Up and about: the way life is today means that most of us spend too long sitting down doing nothing. It might be worth setting a 'two hours max' of screen time each day.

OKC Events: August 29, 2011

Whether guests came to taste great wines or gourmet foods, their wishes were accomplished when Prevent Blindness Oklahoma presented its annual Taste for Sight. The crowd filled the Meinders Hall of Mirrors at Civic Center Music Hall to sip, dine and hear DJ Brian Smith play his music.

For tickets, call Erin McMurtrey at (405) 232-2709, ext. 141.Proceeds will benefit the Cherokee Nation Veterans Center under construction. For information, call (918) 453-5000, ext. 7691.Wineries included Wines from Constellation, California Wines, International Wines and Rodney Strong and Francis Coppola Wines, thanks to Republic National Distributing Co.On the Taste for Sight committee were Mary Blankenship Pointer, chairwoman of the board of Prevent Blindness Oklahoma; Alaina McGlothlin; Alanna O'Keefe; Charlet and Greg Sauls; Dana Coles; Deemah Ramadan; Donna Hamilton; Kyle Hayles; Tracey Burton; Julie Moore; and Dianna L. Bonfiglio, president/CEO of Prevent Blindness.Cherokee Nation runThe event will kick off the mission's annual appeal to raise $2,241,859 - half the annual operating budget that provides solution- based ministry to homeless men, women and children.Restaurants providing the delicious foods included 1492 New World Cuisine, Bourbon Street Cafe, Chica's Mexican Cafe, CocoFlow, Coolgreens, Cuppies & Joe, Gopuram Taste of India, Iguana Mexican Gill, Johnny Carino's, Kamp's 1910 Cafe, Kona Ranch, La Luna Cafe, Mediterranean Imports & Deli, Museum Cafe, Old Germany Restaurant. Opus Prime Steakhouse, Paseo Grill, Sauced on Paseo, Whole Enchilada, SugaPlump Pastries and Catering, Teaoli, the Melting Pot and VZD's Restaurant and Club.Proceeds will benefit PBO's programs to prevent blindness and preserve sight. In the 2010-2011 school year, Prevent Blindness provided free vision screenings for more than 278,000 children from more than 1,100 schools throughout the state's 77 counties.The Cherokee Nation's 59th National Holiday celebration will include a 5K run to benefit veterans on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. Start will be at the main tribal complex, 17675 S. Muskogee Ave., Tahlequah. A one-mile fun run will begin at 7:45 a.m. Registration at 6 a.m. race day is $20 per person. Prizes will be awarded."Stepping Into the Future" is the theme of the 12th annual Mission of Hope Banquet planned Thursday by the City Rescue Mission. The dinner will be at 7 p.m. at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City.

Proceeds will benefit the Cherokee Nation Veterans Center under construction. For information, call (918) 453-5000, ext. 7691.

Vicki Estes: Sayonara, summer

Break out the brats, hot dogs and hamburgers and dare to cook on a charcoal grill in your white attire --- today marks the unofficial end of summer.

"I think the grass is going to catch on fire," he announced. He didn't have to elaborate. The worried look on his face had "spontaneous combustion" written all over it.Vicki Estes is a Topeka freelance writer. She can be reached at vaestes@sbcglobal.net.We stopped watering the grass in July so we could keep the leaking backyard pool filled with enough water to make us salivate for relief. Any rain forecast that month brought us intermittent raindrops that dusted the newly washed car, falling far short of saving the turf, flowers and other plant life. By Aug. 10, my husband surveyed the damage from the upstairs bedroom window- -- with binoculars -- and declared a code brown.The scorching heat is the only aspect of summer I will miss. The car repairs are a close second, especially the window that won't close. When I admit I prefer winter to summer people shake their heads, laugh at me and utter something like, "Hardly anyone likes winter, especially me. I love summer!"Usually by August, kids are bored and parents anticipate -- sometimes beg for -- the beginning of the new school year. Not this year. Every mom I encountered couldn't believe it was time to relinquish the kids back to the classroom. Time together this summer was simply too short. Perhaps it's a sign of the simple times returning. Or maybe we are so overscheduled we don't notice how quickly the days are slipping past us.No more lazy river rides at the Shawnee County North pool. No more ice cream trucks circling neighborhoods, enticing us with Eskimo Pies. No more white shoes, shorts, pants or skirts for the fashion-conscious. My daughter, on the other hand, can't stand artificially imposed fashion rules and plans to wear white socks with white shoes, white shorts and a white shirt after Labor Day. "I'm gonna rock the white," she rebelliously claims. Where does she get that attitude?I attempted to save a cactus from the chill of our air- conditioned house and moved it to the front porch so it could thrive in the heat. Who knew it would be too hot for a cactus? Its condition is terminal and it may not make it through today's celebratory cookout. We will toast to its full, yet prickly life with ice-cold drinks and grilled Polish sausage, and be thankful that fall, football and cooler weather will arrive about the time I fix my car window.If that describes you, you must have been feeling the love Aug. 2. The temperature reached 112 degrees, which, I believe, was recorded by a thermometer positioned in the shade of a sycamore tree and fastened to a block of ice. No one should be outside in that kind of heat, unless the reason is to sear mouthwatering steaks on a barbecue grill. You can always add layers of clothes to keep warm, but when it's 100-plus degrees nakedness is the only option, and it's not a good one. That's why I prefer to attend NFL games played in the winter.

Vicki Estes is a Topeka freelance writer. She can be reached at vaestes@sbcglobal.net.

Different Types of BBQ Grills

Summer is here and the steaks are ready to grill, the only problem is that you don't know exactly what type of barbeque grill to buy. There are many questions that need to be asked when buying a grill. Things such as cost, ease of use, other uses besides grilling, flavor and portability should be considered. The most important item in this list depends on what you want. This article looks in detail at the different categories and makes a judgment on which grills would be best in that category, charcoal, propane, natural gas or smokers.

Natural gas or propane grills can offer additional cook spaces that a charcoal or smoker unit cannot. If you plan to cook full meals on your grill, gas burners and a warming tray come in handy. A rotisserie option may also be important to you depending on what you want to grill.FlavorWhen portability is the most important requirement, propane is the way to go. Charcoal grills run a close second. Small propane tanks make it easy to take your grill camping or to a tailgate party and you aren't left wondering where to put the smoldering coals. Charcoal can work and there are several small portable units available; just make sure you have a plan for what to do with the used briquettes.PortabilityThe easiest grill to use is probably the natural gas grill. It is hooked to your homes natural gas line and therefore doesn't require you to buy large propane tanks on a regular basis. Getting a grill that has a battery powered or electric starter makes things even easier. Propane is probably the next easiest to use since there are no charcoal briquettes or wood chips to worry about. While it seems that a larger grill is a better grill, remember that larger also means a larger area to clean.Ease of UseAdditional FeaturesCostIf cost is the main factor, the grill to go for is charcoal. They start at $15.00 for a small, basic unit and only $30.00 for a standard 22" kettle grill. Propane grills are the next lowest in price, starting at around $100.00 for a basic unit. A small smoker starts at around $130.00. Since natural gas grills are supposed to be hooked to a home's gas line, they tend to be larger units, and more expensive starting around $300.00. They now have dual fuel grills as well that use natural gas most of the time but can also use propane; these are the most expensive with an asking price of $450.00 up.

When portability is the most important requirement, propane is the way to go. Charcoal grills run a close second. Small propane tanks make it easy to take your grill camping or to a tailgate party and you aren't left wondering where to put the smoldering coals. Charcoal can work and there are several small portable units available; just make sure you have a plan for what to do with the used briquettes.

No check, please: Dine-and-dash customers give restaurants in

Wade Starr learned the hard way to be wary of diners who ask to be seated near the restaurant's front door.

"They'll make a complaint about almost anything, whether it's the food or the server's attitude or whatever," Hung said. "And because we care about our reputation, we will respect the customer and try to find a way to make them happy about their meal, maybe by offering a different plate. They take advantage of the restaurant business because they know the manager will take care of them."The most brazen scam involves emotional manipulation, Hung said - rather than running away, the offenders stand and argue about faulty service."But one really stands out in my mind: A party of four scheduled a party; we brought out a birthday cake; we even took a picture for them. And then walked out on the tab," Hung said. "I even still have that photo."Starr said that over the years he's seen a wide range of dine- and-dash ploys, including the classic, "I left my wallet in my car," and leaving behind an insufficiently loaded gift card. One of the more creative approaches involves placing a to-go order with the bartender and disappearing into the bathroom while a confederate walks off with the bag. And if the would-be thieves are caught in the act, they can claim it was an honest mistake and try to talk their way out of it.Ditto for gift card users and people at patio tables, he and other metro area restaurateurs said. Even birthday parties have their risks.Lest it seem that restaurants are powerless to fight back, Starr said some are starting to increase their security by putting valets at the door and equipping staff with radio earplugs for quick communication."Once in a while you have those kinds of customers," Hung said. "The other 99.9 percent are very, very good.""Usually it's the sort of crime we see reported at restaurants like IHOP," Stewart said. "And it's not the sort of thing we would turn over to an investigative unit."Higher-priced restaurants also see their own share of the criminal element. But reflecting Stewart's observations, managers of some restaurants such as the Coach House and Rococo said they've never served diners who flouted the law. And those who were willing to discuss their experiences were cautious about somehow implicating the rest of their upstanding clientele."Like that one case where they were sitting by the front door, if we would have had key people in place they wouldn't have been able to skip out on the bill," Starr said.Hung and others said the local dine-out industry has been strong enough in Oklahoma for them to make it through the recession in good shape. That any of their customers would feel the need to steal confounds restaurant managers. And even worse, so many thefts are premeditated with huge bills for the best dishes - more of a major heist than a simple crime of opportunity.Brittany Leemaster, director of private events and marketing at Mickey Mantle's Steakhouse, said cases of running from the check occur only once or twice a year at her operation. Drinks are preferred targets for theft because bars tend to be more crowded and distracting than dining room areas, she said."Dine and dash" is shorthand for what police refer to as theft of service in many cities across the country or defrauding an innkeeper locally, Oklahoma City Police Capt. Patrick Stewart said. Stewart said the crime of skipping out on a restaurant bill is rarely reported because the restaurant operator doesn't want to make a big fuss in front of the other diners. And in the few cases where a suspect could be easily identified, only 27 tickets were issued and filed in the court system over the last 12 months, Municipal Courts Director Stacey Davis said."Just recently a party of six insisted on sitting by the front door," said Starr, manager of the Deep Fork Grill. "All six of them ordered, ate, waited until the restaurant got full and no one was paying attention, and then they ran out."

"Like that one case where they were sitting by the front door, if we would have had key people in place they wouldn't have been able to skip out on the bill," Starr said.

Four businesses get popped in undercover liquor stings

Two local businesses agreed to pay $200 in fines for allegedly serving alcohol to confidential underage informants, and two other establishments will have their liquor licenses suspended for one day, as a result of hearings at Thursday's El Paso County commissioners' meeting.

Shots Tavern, 1831 Main St. in Security, and Spirit Keeper, 11627 Black Forest Road in Black Forest, requested to pay the minimum fine of $200 for allegedly serving an undercover informant instead of having their licenses suspended. Fines are 20 percent of estimated gross alcohol sales for that day, but the legal minimum that can be paid is $200.Owners of La Mission Grill, 7634 McLaughlin Road in Peyton, and The Inn in Black Forest, 12185 Black Forest Road, each will have their liquor licenses suspended, on Sept. 22 and Sept. 23 respectively.All four owners said they had disciplined or terminated the employees who allegedly served alcohol to minors and also are requiring employees to take an alcohol training and certification program.

All four owners said they had disciplined or terminated the employees who allegedly served alcohol to minors and also are requiring employees to take an alcohol training and certification program.

OUR VIEW: Hick and Suthers value our freedom (poll)

Gov. John Hickenlooper and Attorney General John Suthers do their jobs with sincere and honest concern for the people they work for. That's why they received The Gazette's enthusiastic endorsements after each survived a grilling by The Gazette's editorial board last fall.

Explains George Will, in a column on this page, Hickenlooper is "immune to the progressive delusion that citizens cannot function for even a few minutes without guidance" from government.Plaintiffs argue that forcing public servants to ask permission of the governed burdens politicians who should be protected by Article IV, Section 4. Voting on taxes, they claim, is not Republican governance. Rather, it is direct democracy.Friend editorial page editor Wayne Laugesen on Facebook, follow him on Twitter"Several Founders expressed reservations about the wisdom of direct citizen lawmaking and suggested that a purely representative republic might yield superior results," states the brief. "Much of their concern arose from the fact that in prior republics, citizens had voted in mass assemblies subject to sudden mob-like behavior - conditions quite different from those of modern initiative and referendum, in which voting in disparate locations follows lengthy campaigns. But whatever their views on its wisdom, none of the Founders suggested that direct citizen lawmaking was inconsistent with the republican form. On the contrary, they repeatedly labeled governments with direct lawmaking as 'republics.'"They are confused, and the courts will almost certainly teach them a lesson they don't care to learn. Runaway democracy is gruesome, and that's why the founders protected us from it with Article IV, Section 4. In direct or pure democracies, a majority of voters would have authority to forbid churches or mosques in Colorado. They could vote to take guns away from blacks, Latinos or white, middle-aged fat guys. They could vote to silence overbearing editorialists. In a republic, voters cannot violate the legally protected rights of individuals. That's why all states are constitutional republics, that incorporate some democratic process, and not pure democracies.Nothing in the Constitution protects governments, which are agencies of force, from the will of majorities. If Colorado voters want no more funding for roads and bridges, so be it. If they want fewer public school teachers and larger classrooms, so be it. Governments are supposed to have little authority beyond that which is granted by the governed.The plaintiffs claim that TABOR violates Article IV, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution. It says, in part: The United States shall guarantee to every State in this union a Republican Form of Government..."(Does TABOR violate the federal Constitution? Vote to the right. Must vote to see results. Thanks!)Republican governments have gone to the people for permission throughout history, as is masterfully detailed in a 15-page amicus brief filed in federal court in support of Suthers' dismissal motion (see: http://tinyurl.com/4xn49qh).It comes as no surprise to see the Democratic governor and Republican attorney general taking on a radical lawsuit that seeks to cleanse the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights from Colorado's Constitution. Hickenlooper and Suthers believe taxpayers have rights; proponents of the lawsuit would rather see taxpayers live as subjects of politicians, rather than constituents to whom they answer.That's because limitations on citizen lawmaking, in societies served by republican governments, limit the authority of majorities to disenfranchise individuals but not to define the size and scope of their governments.Suthers, on Hickenlooper's behalf, filed a motion in federal court last month asking for dismissal of the suit.The El Paso Board of County Commissioners voted in May to join a long and distinguished list of opponents to the suit, which also includes Colorado's pro-individual Independence Institute.This disgraceful lawsuit insults Coloradans who have voted on taxes or petitioned their government. Sen. Morse thinks it will wind its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. We hope it gets laughed out of federal district court in Denver.The attack on TABOR - spearheaded by a handful of intrusive liberal politicians including our own state Sen. John Morse, D- Colorado Springs, and former State Rep. Michael Merrifield, D- Colorado Springs - argues that TABOR violates the United States Constitution.

Friend editorial page editor Wayne Laugesen on Facebook, follow him on Twitter

Group meets $5,000 goal for tornado relief

Fundraising goal met

Topeka and Midwest Music Scene has met its $5,000 goal of donations to assist the victims of tornadoes in Joplin, Mo., and the Kansas town of Reading.More than two dozen bands donated their time, and concessionaires gave their proceeds to the cause.Music promoter and musician Les Roediger, founder of the Topeka and Midwest Music Scene and organizer of its storm benefit concerts at the 39th Street Bar & Grill, Celtic Fox and Throttleback Bar, said the Salvation Army collected $5,005.76 to assist with relief in the two storm-ravaged cities. A final concert Sunday at Throttleback put the effort over the top.

The Capital-Journal

25 Top Gas Grills Compared

All too often consumers seeking a high end stainless steel gas grill are won over by a manufacturer's reputation, the look of the grill or other factors such as recommendations from friends or family. Now, this is a fairly large investment, as appliances go, and consulting an expert in the field could help in making an informed decision. A reliable gas grill specialist can help you evaluate the various features found in these high end grills and quide you to the best choice for the features you prefer. The simplest way to compare the manufacturers objectively, of course, is with a chart! Our chart at www.gasgrillsnow.com/mfgcompare.asp compares Fire Magic, Alfresco, Kenmore Elite, Viking, DCS, Dacor, Lynx, Vintage, Weber Summit Gold D, Wolf, Altima, Turbo, ProFire, Phoenix, Tec, Solaire Infrared, Vieluxe, Lazy Man, Jenn Air, Holland, FrontGate, Capitol, Crown Verity, Ducane and Dynasty.

* An adjustable smoker box is perfect for those who enjoy the added flavor of hickory, mesquite or other wood to your meats. It makes smoking easy. Adjustable vents allow you to control the amount of smoke flavor to provide just the right taste.* A Triple Gourmet Grill allows you to use gas, infra-red AND charcoal cooking! How versatile can you get!!* BTU Output: How many burners, and how many BTUs are standard? You'll need to do some math to determine the actual heat your food will receive. Ideally, you want to have over 95 BTU's per square inch of cooking surface. How will you know? Take your total BTU's and divide it by the primary cooking surface. So.... if your cooking surface is 660 square inches and the total BTU's are 104,000 then 104,000 BTU's divided by 660 square inches = 157 BTU's per square inch. That would be a winner!!!* Side burners provide versatility giving you separate controls for each burner. Side burners offer you additional cooking options and come with single or double burners. You can fry up some french fries or treat the team to sweet corn. The BTUs range from 12-17,000, but be sure to look for cast brass or cast stainless burners.* Cooking Grids: Stainless steel cooking surfaces won't rust or chip. Porcelain cooking surfaces tend to chip and could flake off into food. No N.S.F. (National Sanitation Federation) affiliates use porcelain cooking grids.* Add a griddle to your side burner and enjoy breakfast alfresco!* Adding a warming rack will keep food warm and away from direct heat and also give you extra cooking space.* Burner material can consist of cast stainless steel, stainless steel sheet metal, cast iron, infra-red and even cast brass, which is used in commercial settings. Dual burners allow for indirect cooking and better heat control. Cast brass or cast stainless burners are your best bet. They will last longer and are more durable. Grease tends to burn through sheet metal easily.Armed with this information, you should be able to define your needs and choose a grill that will give you many years of great food and good times. Enjoy!* Temperature Range: This is a very important characteristic if you like to do a variety of cooking. You'll be able to do everything from searing steaks to baking pizza with a large temperature range.* Does the grill you are considering offer a countertop model? These types of gas grills can be dropped into an outdoor kitchen which can be customized with your choice of tile, stucco or other solid surfaces, doors, drawers and other accessories like refrigerators or sinks.* Stainless Steel Flavor Grids: This heat distribution system should be stainless steel for long life and durability. Flavor grids reflect all the heat up toward the grilling surface and vaporizes drippings. You can add wood chips and other flavor enhancers to your flavor grids to add some zest to your choice of meat.* Rotisserie backburners are a popular option. Used to cook large pieces of meat evenly, rotisseries use a lot less heat than normal grilling. BTU ranges generally range in the 13-15,000 category but the best grills offer 18-28,000 BTUs. Meats cooked using a rotisserie are generally juicier, self-basted and slow roasted. Tip - look for a model with a drip tray to make cleanup easier. Be sure to compare available rotisserie space, especially if you want to roast a turkey or two.* A power/wok burner will give you even more cooking diversity. Saute onions or boil lobsters! Brown butter or deep fry a turkey! Having a party? A power burner can accommodate a 26" wok! With a range of 3,000 - 60,000 Btu's, the power burner is a definite advantage for any cook!* Fuel Conversion: Will your grill easily convert from natural gas to propane if you want to move it from the back yard to the street for a block party?* Inner Liner: This accessory radiates heat more evenly to grill, directs dripping to tray and separates the valve and manifold from combustion chamber. This will prolong the life of your burners and reduce the chances of a grease fire. The grill hood covers the cooking surface and assists in trapping the heated air inside. Look for a double insulated wall hood. If you're buying a stainless steel model, with a double insulated wall hood, it won't turn a brown or blue hue. It will keep it's shine.* Cooking Grid Size: How many people do you regularly feed? The size of your crowd will determine how big your grill should be. Tip � make sure you can convert infra-red burners back to standard for large parties.* A full sear plate or briquette tray (which can also be filled with lava rocks or wood chips) under the cooking surface protects burners and allows for drippings to smolder which gives foods more flavor. Look for a model that will quickly flash the drippings eliminating flare-ups.Some of the features on the chart are:* Warranty is one of the most important features to consider. Only the best grills offer a warranty against a condition called burn through which affects the burners.* Infra-Red Burners are an option for those who demand a well seared steak. Thinking of an infra-red cooking system? Temperatures on an infra-red cooking system can reach up to 1600 degrees on some grills. Infra-red cooking allows for quick, high temperatures, which cuts cooking time and helps seal in juices -- perfect for searing a steak. If blackened food or steaks are your taste preference � infra-red cooking is the way to go. If you plan on conventional cooking -- go with a hybrid that offers infra-red and standard burners. Tip � make sure you can convert infra-red burners back to standard for large parties.

Armed with this information, you should be able to define your needs and choose a grill that will give you many years of great food and good times. Enjoy!

Carl Edwards Sports New Dental-Themed Paint Scheme on the No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion

Carl Edwards Will Attempt to Brush Away Competition With New 'Aflac Dental' Design in Bristol NASCAR Race

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110523/CL07435LOGO )Media Contact: Aflac Media Relations 706.243.5543 mediarelations@aflac.comWhen a policyholder gets sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For 55 years, Aflac insurance policies have helped provide a safety net and given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress. In the United States, Aflac is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance. In Japan, Aflac is the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force. Aflac insurance products provide protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. For five consecutive years, Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere Magazine as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies and by Forbes magazine as one of America's Best-Managed Companies in the Insurance category. In 2011, Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the 13th consecutive year. Also, Fortune magazine has included Aflac on its list of Most Admired Companies 10 times. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com or aflacenespanol.com.The new design will feature an entirely new Aflac-branded and dental-themed paint scheme showcasing an over-sized toothbrush on the rear and a bright, shiny set of pearly whites as part of the race car's grill.With a history of no rate increases, Aflac is the third largest provider of voluntary dental insurance in the U.S. For more information about Aflac dental, call 1-800-99-AFLAC or visit aflac.com.SOURCE Aflac"It is always great to run a new paint scheme and this one certainly looks awesome. I can't wait to run it under the lights at Bristol and share with everyone the importance of a healthy smile like the one on No. 99," said Carl Edwards. "Having those pearly whites on the front of my Ford Fusion is making me think I need to brush up and knowing Bristol, the car will be glad she's got the Aflac dental plan.""Aflac dental helps to keep our NASCAR friends and their families smiling by reminding them that routine dental care is essential to one's overall health," said Tom Giddens, senior vice president and director of sales at Aflac. "Employers are able to enhance their benefits package at no direct cost to the company while providing valuable dental benefits."(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110826/CL58496 )Aflac dental insurance makes it easier for employers to administer benefits because there are no participation requirements, network restrictions, deductibles, or annual premium reviews. Aflac's insurance policies help provide a safety net so policyholders can focus on recovery, not financial stress.About Aflac

SOURCE Aflac

How to Cook Turkey on Natural Gas Grills

The holidays bring with them thoughts of carving and serving delicious turkey dinners to your family and friends. Tradition has its fans, but perhaps this year you'd like to try a twist to your turkey recipe. If you have a gas grill and enjoy the smoky flavor of grilled meats, why not try grilling your turkey this year? It's not only possible, it is rather simple. And it delivers a delicious flavored bird to your table. Plus, having the turkey on the grill instead of the oven leaves you with all the room you need to prepare the rest of your dinner in less time.

Next, close the lid fully if possible. If not possible, prop the lid up just enough to keep it from touching the turkey. Then cover the remainder of the opening with aluminum foil. If heat gets out you will probably have to cook the turkey longer. However, the foil creates enough of a barrier so the smoke is kept circulating inside the grill and flavoring the turkey.When you are ready to buy your turkey, the first thing to consider is the size of your grill. You don't want a bird that is so enormous that it can't fit on the grill rack. Ideally, the turkey you select should sit on the grill and the lid should close without touching the bird. If this isn't possible, don't worry, you can still grill your turkey. You'll need some heavy duty aluminum foil and either a V shaped grill stand or another metal cooking instrument that you can safely use to prop open the lid of the grill.As with any method of cooking poultry, it's important to make sure that the internal temperature of the meat reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideally you should use a meat thermometer to monitor the temperature as you cook. If you don't have one, then you'll have to check the readiness by poking the thigh with a fork or skewer. If the juices that run out are clear and the turkey has turned a nice golden-brown color, then you are ready to remove it from the grill. Consider glazing the turkey with a sauce you use on other meats, or possibly adding barbecue sauce to the traditional cranberry sauce as a condiment. Don't be afraid to experiment - enjoy the new twist you're putting on an old family tradition.Prepare and stuff the turkey as you normally would. Place it on the grill so that it is positioned over one burner that you can turn off. Turn that burner off and the other burner or burners on. Since you can't really "flip" a turkey, you want the turkey to cook by indirect heat, not by a direct flame underneath it.The time required to cook the turkey will vary depending on whether or not you were able to close your grill completely. If you can, it will take less time. If you can't, you might want to increase the heat on the other burner or burners to try to make up for the lost heat by having to prop open the grill. After a couple of hours, rotate the turkey 180 degrees to help ensure even cooking.

As with any method of cooking poultry, it's important to make sure that the internal temperature of the meat reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideally you should use a meat thermometer to monitor the temperature as you cook. If you don't have one, then you'll have to check the readiness by poking the thigh with a fork or skewer. If the juices that run out are clear and the turkey has turned a nice golden-brown color, then you are ready to remove it from the grill. Consider glazing the turkey with a sauce you use on other meats, or possibly adding barbecue sauce to the traditional cranberry sauce as a condiment. Don't be afraid to experiment - enjoy the new twist you're putting on an old family tradition.

Strength in single police force

In recent weeks, I have read several complaints about suggested police reorganisation within Scotland (Scotland's new top cop will face annual grilling at Holyrood, News, August 21). I recall the very same consternation was evident among my colleagues when the City of Glasgow Police became Strathclyde in 1975.

GlasgowI'm confident that John Mason's support of a modest rise in the income tax rate is supported by the overwhelming majority of SNP members, not least because it is party policy (MSP's call to raise top rate of tax slapped down by Alex Salmond, News, August 21). Technically, of course, the party spokesperson is also correct as the actual policy motion from 2005, quite rightly, focuses on the principle of progressive taxation and is silent on the actual level.BuckieAt present the total number of police in Strathclyde exceeds 8000 while the other seven Scottish constabularies combined have a force of approximately 8600 officers. It is not surprising that Chief Constable Stephen House (Strathclyde) believes that a national police force for Scotland would be better equipped to deal with any major incidents.Donald J MorrisonSuggestions that a single police force would centalise resources towards the central belt are hypothetical scaremongering. A Scottish single force would be more robust and indeed respond quicker with the necessary expertise. Furthermore, those delegated at present to office administration in all the constabularies could find themselves doing more rewarding community involvement work.

Glasgow