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Pantone Color Institute, the world's leading color authority, recently named radiant orchid - which it described as “a captivating, magical, enigmatic purple” - as the color for 2014.

We now explore an interesting hand that is a little short on high card points (HCP's), but holds a valuable asset called “dummy points,” which is shortness in a side-suit. Dummy should value a side-suit doubleton at one extra point, a singleton at three extra points and a void at five extra points. The reason shortness in a side-suit is important is that dummy is able to convert some of declarer's losing tricks into winners by trumping them in dummy - a pretty good feature to have.

When I was a kid, our family took a road trip every summer from our home in Colorado to visit my grandparents in Phoenix.

It’s almost too easy to drive a car these days. Everybody used to have to drive a manual transmission, coordinating the clutch, gas, and brake pedals in addition to the gear shift: you had to pay attention. And before power steering became a standard feature, drivers were forced to keep their hands at “10” and “2” because you had to actually steer the car and hold on with an iron grip or the lousy shocks and bumpy roads would tear the steering wheel out of your hand. But today, it’s child’s play to handle thousands of pounds of steel and horsepower with a single hand—even no hands at all if you prop your elbows just right so that your fingers can manipulate the keyboard on your cell phone. Once you get it down, driving a car is super easy; the hardest thing these days is learning how far you need to reach to hit the cup holder without looking. These days there aren’t enough distractions involved with driving the car; therefore, many people occupy their free time at the wheel by manipulating their own distractions.

Of all the wonderful things waiting for us at Henry W. Coe State Park, easy access to level going is a rare commodity. The park entrance at Hunting Hollow is the only exception. Three and a half miles beyond Coyote Reservoir on the Gilroy Hot Springs Road, Hunting Hollow is a crease between two ridges that rise quickly on each side. As long as you stay in the hollow, the trail barely crosses a single map contour line over its first two miles.

Eleven days are left of the carnival season and Mardi Gras is quickly approaching. Although much of the religious importance of Mardi Gras has given way to secular celebration, the spirit of the season is alive and well. This week, I share the personal importance of this holiday and a family recipe to celebrate with.

It’s Wednesday morning as I write, and it’s my middle daughter’s birthday. Her nickname is perfect for the day. Cayla Marie’s “other” name is “Cakes.” I’m really not sure how all that worked out – my oldest, Shannon, is “Pie” and Mariah, the youngest, is “Root Beer.” Nobody else uses those nicknames, it’s a Dad’s special, and the why and how – who knows? So, Happy Birthday across the miles Cakes Marie, your proud Father loves you and wishes every happiness today and always.

Disney on Ice does it again, bringing its usual cacophony of color, imagination and creativity that children and adults have come to expect. All the favorite Disney heroines and heroes are here, presented with spectacular special effects and the usual Disney sparkle.

Easter is the most important day of the year for Christians, and it arrives relatively late this year: April 20. However, it is preceded by the preparatory season of Lent, which begins on March 5 for most Christians (and March 3 for those following the traditional Eastern Orthodox calendar).

Lisa Faria and Peter Fleming of Intero Real Estate Earns Real Estate’s Premier Residential Construction Certification