Robbie Cano, New York Yankees' Slugger

New York Yankee second baseman Robinson Cano got his name from his father, who admired how Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier.
On Nov. 13, 2012, Cano got another layer to identity: American citizen.

Early Life in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic:

Robinson Jose Cano Mercedes was born Oct. 22, 1982 in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, the birthplace of so many outstanding baseball players, close to 100 of them making it to the majors. The city is often called “The Cradle of Shortstops” because so many of them have come out of this city of about 200,000 people
His father, Jose Cano, had played briefly with the Houston Astros as pitcher in the 1980s and quickly introduced his son to the game. Cano spent most of this childhood in the Dominican Republic, though he spent several years in New Jersey and played baseball at Barringer High School for one season. As a teen, he played for the Estrellas Orientales in the Dominican Winter League.
Cano has said his father taught him not to take his mistakes too hard: “He said just keep your head up and keep playing.”

The Yankees Sign Him, New York Embraces Him:

The Yankees signed Cano out of high school in 2001 and gave him a $100,000 bonus. By 2003, he had worked his way from Class A to Triple-A and was regarded the top prospect in the New York organization. Cano began the 2005 season with Columbus and was called up by the Yankees in May and has ranked among the top American League infielders since.
By the end of the 2012 season, he had been selected to four AL All-Star teams, won four Silver Slugger awards, two Golden Gloves and helped lead the Yankees to a world championship in 2009. He also won the 2011 Home Run Derby.
His career batting average, through eight seasons, is .308 with 177 home runs and 715 RBI, hitting a career-high 33 homers and 94 RBI in 2012. He was a finalist for the league’s most valuable player award.
In October 2012, the Yankees signed him to a one-year contract worth $15 million for the 2013 season. Many expect him to test free agency after that, though he is exceptionally popular in New York, where immigrants and Dominicans are uncommonly appreciated.

Becoming a U.S. Citizen and Telling the World:

Cano wears No. 24, which is Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 transposed. His charity foundation, called RC24, “exists to provide a lasting and sustainably positive contribution to our communities for generations to come,” according to its website. Cano’s charity work has gone to hospitals, the Red Cross and cancer patients in New York and underprivileged children in his Dominican homeland, among other causes. He has been nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award, given annually to a major league player for humanitarian service.
“I play here, I work here, so why not become a citizen?” Cano told the New York Daily News.”He said he started studying for the naturalization test before spring training in 2012.
After passing the test and taking his citizenship oath, Cano tweeted this message with a smiling photo of himself holding a U.S. flag: Very proud day for me, I just became a US citizen, God bless America! — Robinson Cano (@RobinsonCano) November 13, 2012.

Help Your Kids Find Their Own Personal Style

Kids begin to develop personal style in early childhood. As soon as children start showing other signs of individuality, they’ll demonstrate preferences for particular colors, patterns and motifs. Give kids some room to engage with those natural affinities, and their style will further evolve.
Don’t worry if your kids are already past the point of self-sufficiency when you first set out to help them develop a sense of style; just start where they are.

Give Kids Confidence in Their Abilities

Kids allowed to dress themselves will develop a sense of accomplishment that will encourage them to keep at it. Before long they’ll have mastered the basics. The physical process of getting dressed will also build motor skills. Set the stage for success with easy pull-ons for everyday, and give plenty of time to practice when there’s less pressure to get out the door. Encourage dress-up play, and stay hands-off when it comes to all those wardrobe changes. Your kids will develop creative methods of securing sashes and capes early on, and the bridge to tying shoelaces won’t be so shaky.

Talk About the Art of Fashion

As your son grows more aware of how colors play off each other, begin pointing out complementary colors and values. Recognize his successes, and be specific with your praise. For lessons that last, integrate fashion advice with other learning. If your daughter is studying symmetry in art, talk about balance and proportion in dressing. Note how a full skirt looks great with a fitted top, but less pleasing with a bulky sweater. This early education could prevent her from falling into the teen trap of pairing tight with tighter.

Enhance Features and Boost Self Esteem

Teaching kids to accentuate assets when they’re young will help set the stage for later discussions. Also point out differences, like colors that complement your daughter’s complexion but wash out your own. These conversations will make it easier to one day discuss how best to dress for body proportions, and consider any shape as a feature to be flattered instead of a flaw to work around.

A girl expresses her personal style.

© Whitney Ferrall

Establish Boundaries

Make it clear that there are times when you will be the deciding factor on what is worn outside the house. Consider giving kids free rein most of the time, as long as the clothing is age and weather appropriate. You may cringe to see them walk out the door looking short of your style ideal, but those are often the outfits they’re most proud of. For occasions when you have something in mind for your daughter to wear, try presenting a few acceptable options. She makes the final call, but you would be happy with any of them.

Take Note of Fashion Trends

Get a feel for current styles the kids in your area are wearing. Sampling trends is a fun way to explore the boundaries of personal style. If your daughter doesn’t have a strong sense of style yet, being aware of what's in fashion may help her feel more comfortable in her social environment, whether she chooses to blend in or stand out.

Seek Style Inspiration

Pick a few magazine pages, catalogs or websites with clothes you approve of and share them with your kids. Sit down one-on-one, so there’s no swaying of opinions. See what they’re drawn to. You may discover that your four-year-old has a penchant for ‘80s punk, or that your tween’s fashion muse is Grace Kelly.

Hybrid Central

Here’s your starting point for learning the basics about hybrid vehicles. Wondering how they work? Whether or not you have to plug them in every day? From mild and full hybrids to regenerative braking, begin with the basics for a solid foundation of understanding.

Hybrid Buying Guide

Get the low-down on the hybrid models currently available, plus the new releases. Whether you’re looking for an SUV or sporty sedan, this is where you can read our reviews and test drives, plus find hybrid pictures and photo galleries of current models.

Hybrid Maintenance and Safety Issues

Wondering what it takes to keep a hybrid running its best? We’ve pulled together maintenance schedules to help you keep that set of wheels in top running order. From batteries and oil changes to safety issues, here’s what you need to know about day-to-day and year-in and year-out hybrid ownership.

Hybrid Tax Credits & Rebates

After all, it’s where the rubber meets the road. How much money will that hybrid save you? It’s not only the fuel savings that add up when you’re crunching the numbers on a hybrid. The Hybrid Motor Vehicle Credit provides for a tax credit that will directly slash those taxes due on April 15. Find out which hybrid vehicles are eligible and how much—to help make the most of your hard-earned cash.

2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid is Family-Friendly Sedan

Having shopped for, and purchased, a new car recently it's difficult not to compare every vehicle I test-drive to my current ride. When that current ride consisted primarily of a 200,000-mile-plus bucket of bolts, any car I reviewed started out looking pretty well. But now that I'm the happy new owner of a 2012 Ford Focus, decked out sharp with sport trim, it gets a whole lot harder to get my attention. Happily, the Ford Fusion Hybrid still managed to do just that.

The 2012 Ford Fusion Hybrid is a stylish sedan offering plenty of room and excellent handling.

Photo: Lori Weaver

When I told my contact out at Paul Miller Ford here in Lexington that I wanted to test drive a new Ford Fusion Hybrid, I'm sure their first thought was that they'd had quite enough of me after going through the car buying process with me only a week or so earlier. But they're good sports and soon I was back in their parking lot, ready to take the Fusion Hybrid though its paces.
 
Roomy Interior
My very first impression of the Fusion was that it was much larger from the inside than an exterior view would predict. I'm sure part of my impression about Fusion's roomy interior were colored by the fact that I drive a smaller car, but I always feel I have plenty of room in my own vehicle and so when I experienced Fusion Hybrid's roomy interior, my first impression was that this was a car a family could take over the road for a long spring break vacation together without any complaints that one sibling was "touching" the other.

Since my first impression had to do with the interior, let me talk a little bit more about the inside before going further. While roominess is a definite plus and the Fusion's unique gauge cluster, named SmartGauge, does the job with a pair of color display screens anchoring each side of a more-traditional speedometer. As with most of today's cars, the driver can flip through a number of displays to gain all sorts of information. One of the features that is particularly green is a graphic of a plant with animated leaves and branches that grows right along with your ability to economically drive the car. The greener you are, the greener this animated little plant becomes. It's a cute visual and a quick way to get a read on how various driving techniques or maneuvers may be impacting your fuel economy.

The interior itself appears to be well-built with quality materials. My only reservation, which is truly a matter of taste, was that I found the interior dash and surrounding area in particular, to be just a bit bland. I'd had about a week or so to enjoy the very European, very sporty dash and interior of my Focus and moving to the Fusion actually seemed a bit of a letdown. But then again, the two cars are targeted at different consumers and it's hard to be too critical of the Fusion's clean lines and excellent functionality. In addition, the Fusion Hybrid I drove had the optional rear view video camera, an excellent safety feature that is also fun to utilize. Rear leg room is more than adequate, even for a couple of adults. Interior storage is adequate.
One more word about Fusion's interior: for those who find the MyFordTouch system found in the Focus, Edge and Explorer, you might prefer to get the available Sync system in the Fusion which integrates audio and Bluetooth functionality with voice-recognition technology to provide hands-free operation of cell phones and portable MP3 players. The navigation system is optional but some consumers have found its touchscreen easier to use than the MyFordTouch system. 

Style and Trim The 2012 Fusion Hybrid is equipped very much like the Fusion SEL which adds to the standard equipment offering with different 17-inch wheels, keyless entry pad, heated mirrors, automatic dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable driver seat lumbar, a four-way power passenger seat, heated front seats, ambient interior lighting and Sync. However, the Hybrid brings its specialized gauge cluster and adds leather seating as an option.
 
Turning to Performance
A 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine delivers 156 hp and 136 lb-ft of torque. It is buddied up with an electric motor that helps boost power output up to 191 hp. A specialized continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) sends power forward and acceleration to 60 mph from a standstill in 8.7 seconds can be realized, which is fairly impressive for a hybrid.
The Ford Fusion Hybrid can be commended for its excellent handling. Don't let the roominess fool you, this is a car that holds the road and does what you ask.
The trunk has plenty of room, even though the Fusion Hybrid's truck area is 11.8 cubic feet compared with the non-hybrid's 16.5 cubic feet. They Hybrid version still give you plenty of room for groceries or luggage for the entire family.

Pros: Roominess, fuel economy, handling

Cons: A bit dull in its interior styling

Fuel economy: EPA-estimated 41 mpg city/36 mpg highway and 39 mpg combined.

10 Easy Ways to Help Marine Life

The ocean is downstream of everything, so all of our actions, no matter where we live, effect the ocean and the marine life it holds. Those who live right on the coastline will have the most direct impact on the ocean, but even if you live far inland, there are many things you can do that will help marine life.

Eat Eco-Friendly Fish

Our food choices have a huge impact on the environment - from the actual items we eat to the way they are harvested, processed, and shipped. Going vegan is better for the environment, but you can take small steps in the right direction by eating eco-friendly fish and eating local as much as possible. If you eat seafood, eat fish that is harvested in a sustainable way, which means eating species that that have a healthy population, and whose harvest minimizes bycatch and impacts on the environment.

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Limit Your Use of Plastics, Disposables and Single-Use Projects

Blue Ocean Society

Have you heard of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? That is a name coined to describe the huge amounts of plastic bits and other marine debris floating in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, one of five major ocean gyres in the world. Sadly, all the gyres seem to have their own garbage patch.
What is the problem? Plastic stays around for hundreds of years, can be a hazard to wildlife and leaches toxins into the environment.  The solution?  Stop using so much plastic. Buy things with less packaging, don't use disposable items and use reusable bags instead of plastic ones wherever possible.

Stop the Problem of Ocean Acidification

Global warming has been a hot topic in the ocean world, and it is because of ocean acidification, known as 'the other global warming problem.' As the acidity of the oceans increases, it will have devastating impacts on marine life, including plankton, corals and shellfish, and the animals that eat them.
But you can do something about this problem right now - reduce global warming by taking simple steps that will likely save money in the long run - drive less, walk more, use less electricity and water - you know the drill. Lessening your "carbon footprint" will help marine life miles from your home. The idea of an acidic ocean is scary, but we can bring the oceans to a more healthy state with some easy changes in our behavior.

Be Energy-Efficient

Along with the tip above, reduce your energy consumption and carbon output wherever possible. This includes simple things like turning off the lights or TV when you're not in a room, and driving in a way that increases your fuel efficiency. As Amy, one of our 11-year old readers said, "It might sound strange, but being energy efficient helps the Arctic marine mammals and fish because the less energy you use the less our climate heats up - then the ice won't melt."

Participate in a Cleanup

© Jennifer Kennedy / Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation

Trash in the environment can be hazardous to marine life, and people too! Help clean up a local beach, park or roadway and pick up that litter before it gets into the marine environment. Even trash hundreds of miles from the ocean can eventually float or blow into the ocean.  The International Coastal Cleanup is one way to get involved - that is a cleanup that occurs each September. You can also contact your local coastal zone management office or department of environmental protection to see if they organize any cleanups.

Never Release Balloons

Balloons may look pretty when you release them, but they are a danger to wildlife, who can swallow them accidentally, mistake them for food, or get tangled up in their strings. After your party, pop the balloons and throw them in the trash instead of releasing them.

Dispose of Fishing Line Responsibly

Monofilament fishing line takes about 600 years to degrade. If left in the ocean, it can provide an entangling web that threatens whales, pinnipeds and fish (including the fish people like to catch and eat). Never discard your fishing line into the water - dispose of it responsibly by recycling it if you can, or into the garbage.

View Marine Life Responsibly

If you're going to be viewing marine life, take steps to do so responsibly. Watch marine life from the shore by going tide pooling. Take steps to plan a whale watch, diving trip or other excursion with a responsible operator. Think twice about "swim with dolphins" programs, which may not be good for dolphins and could even be harmful to people.

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Volunteer or Work With Marine Life

Maybe you work with marine life already, or are studying to become a marine biologist. Even if working with marine life isn't your career path, you can volunteer. If you live near the coast, volunteer opportunities may be easy to find. If not, you can volunteer on field expeditions such as those offered by Earthwatch as Debbie, our guide to insects, has done, where she learned about sea turtles, wetlands and giant clams!

Buy Ocean-Friendly Gifts

Give a gift that will help marine life. Memberships and honorary donations to non-profit organizations that protect marine life can be a great gift. How about a basket of environmentally-friendly bath or cleaning products, or a gift certificate for a whale watch or snorkeling trip? And when you wrap your gift - be creative and use something that can be re-used, like a beach towel, dish towel, basket or gift bag.

How Do You Protect Marine Life? Share Your Tips!

Are there things you do to protect marine life, either from your home or while visiting the coast, on a boat, or out volunteering? Please share your tips and opinions with others who appreciate marine life.

Copycat Twinkies Recipe

With a little patience and creativity, you can make a reasonable facsimile of those beloved Twinkies® at home. They won't be quite the same, but close. You might even like these little filled cakes better than the popular commercial brand. This would make a great supervised project for the kids.

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

• Supplies:
• 1 round spice bottle, the size of a Twinkie
• 12 (12 x 14-inches each) pieces non-stick aluminum foil
• Pastry bag
• Toothpick
• Vegetable oil spray
• .
• Cake:
• 16-ounce box golden pound cake mix
• 4 egg whites, beaten until stiff
• 2/3 cup water
• .
• Filling:
• 1/3 cup vegetable shortening
• 2 teaspoons butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated white sugar
• 1/3 cup evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 drops lemon extract

Preparation:

Faux twinkie cakes: Fold each piece of foil in half with the nonstick side out. Then fold in half again. Roll foil pieces around the spice bottle to form a tube. Fold down edges to seal, leaving one end of the tube open to be filled with the batter. Remove the spice bottle. Spray the insides with vegetable oil and set each tube open-end-up in a muffin tray.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Beat cake mix, whipped egg whites, and water on medium speed until completely blended, about 2 minutes. Carefully fill the foil tubes, leaving 3/4-inch headspace. Bake about 30 minutes until golden and toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Let cakes cool, then remove foil. Use a toothpick to make 3 holes along the length of each cake. Wiggle the toothpick around the center to make room for the filling, taking care not to poke through to the other side.

Filling: Cream shortening and butter together in a medium bowl. With mixer running on medium speed, add powdered sugar and granulated sugar, a little at a time, until smooth. Add evaporated milk, vanilla, and lemon extract. Continue mixing until fluffy.

Spoon filling into a pastry bag with a No. 5 tip. Inject filling into each of the 3 holes in each faux twinkie cake and place hole-side-down on a serving platter or store in a covered container.

Yield: 12 faux twinkie cakes 

Facial Masks for Your Skin Type

If you're looking to add a beneficial step in your skin care regime, a weekly facial mask is a great addition. No matter your skin type, there is a facial mask suited for you. Usually used once or twice a week, facial masks can deep down clean your face, tighten your pores, or brighten and exfoliate your face. Masks are not a "one size fits all" product though. There are clay masks, fruit extract masks, yogurt masks, and gel masks, just to name a few in a long lineup. Before you buy a facial mask, you must recognize your skin type and buy accordingly.

Oily or Combination Skin

Image Courtesy PriceGrabber

People with oily or combination skin do best with regular use of a clay mask. Clay is great for removing excess oil, deep cleaning your pores and preventing and clearing up blackheads. Natural clay is a great detoxifying treatment for your face without leaving your skin extra dry. Most clay masks work fine with sensitive skin.
Freeman Superfruits Detoxifying Clay Facial Mask is a great example of a natural based clay mask that will deep clean your skin and leave it smooth and soft.

Dry Skin

Image courtesy PriceGrabber

People with dry skin use a mask for a very different reason than those with oily skin. You are not looking to reduce oil, but add moisture. Using a moisture mask will rejuvenate and plump your skin. Many masks for dry skin include at least a bit of “sink-in” effect. You leave the mask on your skin for up to 10 minute and then rub it in a bit more before wiping off the excess. You’ll notice immediately smoother, softer skin.
Get immediately noticeable results with Dermalogica: Intensive Moisture Masque.

Dull Skin

Image courtesy PriceGrabber

If you’re looking for a boost of radiance, exfoliating masks will certainly help you. Look for a peel off mask which will exfoliate your skin leaving it smooth and fresh. Many exfoliating masks use fruit extracts to naturally exfoliate and usually smell fantastic.
When peeling off some exfoliating masks, your mind will wander back to peeling off Elmer’s glue in elementary school. But not all exfoliating mask are uncomfortable. You'll be so glad you tried it when you see how happy you are with the noticeable results. Try Zia ZIA: Pumpkin Exfoliating Mask.

Normal Skin

Image provided by Sephora

If dryness or breakouts are of no real concern for you, you have many options when it comes to masks. You can use one that will give you radiance, one for deep cleaning or a gentle one for sensitive skin. Regardless of how “normal” your skin may be; you’ll see benefits from using a weekly mask.
Try the Yogurt Velvety Moisturizing Mask from Korres to get a boost of hydration with a cooling sensation.

Mature Skin

Photo provided by Nordstroms

If you’re looking to firm up the skin on your face and neck, chances are good you have dry skin. You can either use a mask meant for dry skin or a mask specified “firming”. A firming mask will boost your skins moisture content which will reduce fine lines caused by your skins dehydration. This will give the appearance of a more youthful, firmer face. Massage onto your face and leave for about 10 minutes before you rinse off.