ACET, Inc. Blog

Greetings, blog readers! My name is Mary Burns, and as of April, I have joined the ACET Inc. team as their Editor Assistant. I’m a Macalester College graduate with a background in research and editing and a personal interest in Japanese culture, and I look forward to coming up with creative ways to bring ACET’s message to you. This week on the blog, I’ve been given the opportunity to share something about myself with you, so I’d like to present five (in no order) of my favorite Twin Cities culinary experiences.

5. Tii Cup: Twin Cities bubble tea aficionados probably think of TeaGarden first for the satisfaction of their tapioca pearl fix, but this little Richfield café (about 32 blocks away from ACET!) offers some items that you can’t get at the better-known chain. Try the popping boba, the slightly smaller and flavored version of the tapioca pearl that bursts with flavor in your mouth, or consider a carefully brewed coffee beverage, for those friends of yours who can’t get over the weirdness of your salted plum slushy (hi Mom). Follow them on Facebook or at tii-cup.com.

4. Zen Box Izakaya: There are a lot of Japanese places all over the Twin Cities, and as the cuisine is a personal favorite of mine, I make a point of trying out as many as I can. Fans of the Zen Box lunch location in the downtown Minneapolis skyway will be happy to learn that the gastropub version has the same reliably good, authentic food, and the price point isn’t that much higher! Come in for the friendly service, then walk a couple of blocks up to the light rail station and head off into the sunset. Read more at zenboxizakaya.com.

3. Farmer’s Markets: If you live in the Twin Cities and have never been to a farmer’s market, you are missing out. Farmer’s markets are not only places to acquire fresh, organic ingredients, but also to eat some of those ingredients cooked in unique ways by cooks who have no other cart, truck or storefront. A few of my favorite neighborhood restaurants sell their food at farmer’s markets, sometimes with special market-only additions. Interfacing with cooks and farmers like this makes for a great learning, shopping and eating experience for the whole family. Find your local farmer’s market at www.mda.state.mn.us.

2. Lu’s Sandwiches: The newest discovery on this list, Lu’s has a simple menu of Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, French baguettes filled with great flavors including grilled pork, fried tofu and pickled vegetables. There are a lot of places to get banh mi in the Twin Cities, but Lu’s makes this list because of its good value and the fact that they deliver (by bicycle!) within 2.5 miles of their location. Brilliant! Check them out at lusandwiches.com.

1. Sebastian Joe’s: Summer is coming – in the Twin Cities, we’ve already had a taste of it – and on a warm afternoon or evening, there’s nothing quite like enjoying an ice cream cone outside. Sebastian Joe’s has dozens and dozens of rotating flavors to choose from at its two locations, in addition to sorbets, shakes, and baked goods. The people-watching is just as choice as the ice cream, and both locations are just blocks away from two of our famous lakes. Visit sebastianjoesicecream.com for more information.

Mary

Did you know that the cost of spaying and neutering a pet is less than the cost of raising a dog or cat for one year?*  My husband, Zack, and I are passionate about reducing pet overpopulation and this year we will be participating in the 4^th Annual “Pins for Pets – Bowl for the Fix.”

Pins for Pets raises money for spay and neuter initiatives across the state of Minnesota. And this year all money raised at the Pins for Pets event will go to MN-SNAP, the Minnesota Spay and Neuter Assistance Program. MN-SNAP operates a mobile veterinary clinic that provides high quality spay and neuter services to shelters, rescues, and low-income families across Minnesota.

If you are interested in reducing pet overpopulation, you can make a tax-deductible donation to our Pins for Pets fundraising page or you can learn more about Pins for Pets.

Thanks,

Kirsten, Zack, and Casey

Casey, July, 2010

*data came from ASPCA – http://www.aspca.org/about-us/faq/pet-statistics.aspx

As you may know, organic food has become a craze in our culture. Organic food has gotten a lot of attention in recent years – for good reason. Some studies, such as the 97 studies reviewed by the Nutrition Research Center, have shown that food that has been produced organically often has higher amounts of nutrients. Other studies, such as reported in Science Daily, have found little difference between organic food and non-organic foods. Mayo Clinic states that the answer remains unclear.

Just how does a product become classified as “organic?” Organic products have some strict agricultural requirements that must be met. To meet organic requirements for crops, products be grown in safe soil and have no modifications. Farmers cannot use any synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes (GMOs), petroleum-based fertilizers, or sewage sludge-based fertilizers to help the crops grow or sustain. For organic livestock, the animals must have access to the outdoors and be fed with organic feed. As with the crops, the animals cannot be given antibiotics, growth hormones, or any animal-by-products. Bear in mind, however, that “organic” means that the product only has to be 95% organic, whereas “100% organic” requires all products to be made by natural means alone.

I’m a budget-conscious shopper, but there are certain items that I prefer to spend the extra money and buy organic. For example, I buy organic milk, which is at least double the price of non-organic milk. I choose to spend more on this because organic milk is one of the foods that has been found to have significant health benefits. In 2008, Newcastle University released a study that found that organic milk had higher amounts of beneficial fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins. In fact, one beneficial fatty acid was found to be 60% higher in organic milk than in non-organic milk. I also find that I prefer the taste of organic milk.

Not all products, however, are worth buying organic. You may have heard of the “Dirty Dozen” and the “Clean Fifteen.” According to the Environmental Working Group, there are certain foods that contain higher amounts of pesticides than others. Certainly it is worth taking the time to investigate which foods would be better for you to purchase organically and which foods are not worth the extra effort. Check out the list here: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/health/the-dirty-dozen-and-clean-15-of-produce/616/

What’s your take on organic foods?

Cassie

Although we focus on research and evaluation tips or grant leads on this blog, we also understand the need for some lighthearted posts – that’s why we occasionally have staff book reviews. Many of you may know that I majored in English in college, which would lead you to the obvious assumption that I like to read. You may not know, however, that one of my all-time favorite authors is Dr. Seuss. My parents introduced me to Dr. Seuss when I was a very young child – I even taught myself to read using Dr. Seuss’ books when I was 3! His works stuck with me as I grew up. To this day, my favorite Dr. Seuss book is “The Sneetches” and I would give anything to own a one-piece Sneetch pajamas!

You can imagine my interest when I discovered “The Seuss, the Whole Seuss, and Nothing But the Seuss,” by Charles D. Cohen. By reading the book, I learned how Theodor Seuss Geisel gradually adapted his pen name to Dr. Seuss after he began publishing in “Judge” magazine (he was adding mock authority to a cartoon he drafted). I learned that Dr. Seuss had many varying explanations for his odd characters, so one rarely knew the accurate story of how he created them. Dr. Seuss was well-known among his schoolmates and peers as a clever and witty person – in fact, he was penning whole pieces of parody when he was only 14 years old. Although I knew that Dr. Seuss had done far more than authoring children’s books, I found that he also created adult books, publications, illustrations, paintings, sculptures, screenplays, and more! And, of course, I learned the history of “The Sneetches.” Dr. Seuss created the characters to promote equality in a world of intolerance after seeing multiple court cases involving racial segregation.

Cohen’s detailed biography of Dr. Seuss proved to be an interesting, and informative read for any Seuss bibliophile curious about the life and ideas of the popular author. The book is also filled with pictures and illustrations – some of which were nearly lost and required much research and dedication on the behalf of Cohen. Cohen’s book is particularly useful because much of the information out there is cursory or even incorrect. I appreciate that I now have a deeper understanding of a man who has influenced my entire life through his works.

Cassie

Tears in the Darkness: The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath
by Michael Norman and Elizabeth M. Norman

Both of my grandfathers served with the American armed forces during World War II: one was a sergeant for the Army in the Pacific and the other was an Army Air Corps co-pilot of a bomber based out of England. Although neither of my grandfathers spoke of their experiences during that time, lately I’ve found myself drawn to a wide collection of works regarding World War II, including my latest read, Tears in the Darkness: The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath by Michael and Elizabeth M. Norman.

Although the title suggests the book is primarily about the Bataan Death March, I found it to be slightly misleading. In reality, the book follows the experiences of Ben Steele, a Battle of Bataan survivor, from his arrival in the Philippines in late fall of 1941, the battle for the Bataan peninsula, the ‘death march’ to the POW camps, transportation to Japan to work in a mine, and Steele’s return to the United States in 1945. Several stories of others who fought on Bataan, including members of the Japanese Imperial Army, are also interwoven with Steele’s story.

Tears in the Darkness is not a book for everyone. Parts of the story, especially descriptions of how POWs were treated, both soldiers and civilians, are difficult to read. But the Normans also include descriptions of what happened in Japan’s politics and milieu of the army that allowed war crimes in the Pacific during WWII to occur. As a result, I feel I have a much better understanding of what cultural events and context led to the horrors in the Pacific. (Sadly, I see many of those cultural events being repeated today in other parts of the world.) The authors also describe Ben’s life after returning to the U.S. and, as a result, I think I better understand why my grandfathers never shared their experiences with their grandchildren.

Summer may have the reputation of being lazy and relaxing, but between kids, beach parties, and vacations, everyone knows that summer is a crazy time! As fall arrives, we at ACET wanted to share a few highlights from our sunny and warm-filled summer.

Kirsten: Like most summers, my husband (Zack) and I were very busy! We had another family wedding this summer up on the North Shore (near Gooseberry Falls). We started driving in the heat of a lazy August afternoon (after visiting two more of Minnesota’s excellent vineyards!) but by the time we got to Duluth, we were driving through fog. Zack thought it was excellent – the cool fog reminded him of Britain! In July, we adopted a dog from a local rescue group. Casey is a one-year-old Siberian Husky/Border Collie mix. Casey’s been a great addition to the family – he loves the other dogs in the family and adores going up to the cabin to swim in the lake. And, if that weren’t enough, we’ve recently started some painting projects at home!

Joseph: My summer was spent catching up on some projects I have been dying to complete, as well as enjoying the outdoors. I was able to polish off a few books I was reading (I’m always in the middle of several books!) as well as spend some time listening to podcast lectures from UC-Berkeley to supplement some of my more challenging reading material. I also worked on some writing projects: a screenplay, a bit of a standup routine, and some film character analysis. And, as always, my dog Zelda demanded my attention; luckily Minnesota has a plethora of dog-friendly trails. We discovered a brand new one where dogs and horses can cross paths – that was an adventure!

Cassie: I work two jobs, so I spent a good portion of my summer indoors, unfortunately. However, I did give myself a few necessary diversions! In May, my partner, Doug, and I went on vacation in California. Although it was unseasonably cool, we spent a week enjoying the ocean, visiting old friends, and experiencing the culture of the San Francisco bay area. In July, I also spent a long weekend with Doug in Winona, MN. If you’ve ever in town, definitely check out Bloedow’s Bakery for some tasty (and addictive!) treats. Lastly, I picked up a new summer pastime – tossing Frisbee!

Stella: My husband, Jason, and I like to spend our summers on Lake Minnetonka. Our favorite places to frequent on the lake are Maynards and Lord Fletchers. We also spent a lot of time this summer working on our lawn and going to Home Depot – we’ve been having difficulty getting grass to grow in certain spots in our front yard! Although I’m sad that summer ended so quickly, I’m looking forward to catching up on my reading over the fall and winter.

How did you spend your “lazy” summer days? We’d love to hear all about it!

The Animal Humane Society’s annual Walk for Animals took place this past weekend on Saturday, May 1^st. The walk raised funds to help animals in need (e.g. finding homes for homeless dog and cats and/or rescuing animals from abusive/neglectful situations). The 5-mile walk took place in Golden Valley with over 10,000 people who raised approximately one million dollars to help animals in need. We would like to extend a special word of thanks to all supporters and contributors.

Several ACET staff participated in the walk this year, and we managed to finish 5^th among corporate teams in fundraising. The walk itself went smoothly and all humans and paws completed all five miles. We brought along our four-legged companions on the walk: Heather and her husband brought Bocephus, her 85-lb. chocolate lab, and Julep, a lab mix foster dog from Secondhand Hounds (www.secondhandhound.org). Joseph followed Zelda, his medium-sized mixed breed (some mix of fluffy, cold-weather dogs). Kirsten and her husband Zack decided to leave their cats at home. Highlights included Bocephus attempting to “bathe” himself in the watering stations, Julep being a bit overanxious to speed up the walk (she wanted to “win the race”), and Zelda needing to investigate several smells. We spotted all kinds of dogs, as well as goats, ferrets, and the occasional pet bird on the walk.

It was great to see so many people involved this year and we hope to participate again next year and continue to support this great cause. In addition to the pictures posted here, you can view other pictures from the walk through this link: https://secure2.convio.net/ahs/site/SPageServer?pagename=Walk

We don’t often get a chance to share our personal interests and passions with our clients, so you may not know how crazy we all are about animals (both domesticated and wild). Many of us have pets and are always swapping stories about them and their antics. Our desks and computer desktops are littered with pictures of our happy critters. The office itself even houses 3 Betta fish (Junior, Thor, and Snidely) and one Red-Eared Slider turtle (Pee Wee, or “PW”).

In an effort to engage our passion for animals outside of the office and in the community, ACET, Inc. has formed a local corporate team to participate in the Animal Humane Society’s Walk for Animals. We have titled the team “HAWT” (Helping All Wagging Tails). Kirsten’s husband, Zack, is designing t-shirts for us to wear on the five-mile walk on May 1.

Please consider joining team HAWT on the walk or making a tax-deductible donation for this cause. All proceeds go to the Animal Humane Society to help animals in need. For example, $50 in donations will pay for two stray cats to receive full vaccinations or $500 in donations can help three dogs through the Adoption Preparation program, which readies shy or fearful dogs for adoption.

To learn more about the Walk for Animals, join the team and raise funds, or make a tax-deductible donation, simply follow this link: http://events.animalhumanesociety.org/site/TR/Walk/General?team_id=9840&pg=team&fr_id=1110

If you can’t be directly involved, you can still help out by forwarding our team’s link onto anyone who might be interested in helping a great cause.

Thank you in advance for your support of this very worthy cause.

Heather

P.S. Stay tuned for a blog report on the walk and pictures from the event!

At ACET, we love to pass good reads amongst each other and decided we want to share them with you! Below are our top reads of the year thus far:

Cassie’s pick:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

You may have heard of this bestselling novel from Stieg Larsson’s “Millenium Trilogy” – and for good reason! We read this for my book club and I instantly loved it. It’s a crime mystery dealing with financial fraud and a cold case murder. Throughout the novel, Mikael Blomkvist, a besmirched journalist, takes on a 40-year old cold case with the help of Lisbeth Salander, an asocial hacker/researcher. They soon find, however, that delving into past secrets could get themselves killed. I particularly loved Salander’s character for her social deviance and extreme intelligence. I even skipped my book club meeting so I could finish the book without having the end spoiled!

Joseph’s pick:
The Plague by Albert Camus

Camus won the Noble Prize for literature in 1957. He is known for his highly existential works and his works gave rise to what become known as absurdism. In The Plague, a small French city finds itself in the midst of a resurrection of the Black Plague, and characters are forced to reconcile their lives with this seemingly absurd event while facing death. The story delves into the ways in which characters must “make sense” of a life directly confronted with death and isolation, and they must question their beliefs that had been used to create meaning in their life before the plague.

Kirsten’s pick:
Imperfect Justice: Looted Assets, Slave Labor, and the Unfinished Business of World War II by Stuart E. Eizenstat

Stuart Eizenstat served in a number of government positions for both President Jimmy Carter and President Bill Clinton. While serving as an official in the State Department for President Clinton, Eizenstat helped negotiate several major agreements to bring some measure of closure to those who survived Nazi persecution during World War II. Eizenstat was on the forefront of encouraging museums to return stolen or looted art to their original owners (or their heirs), negotiating with Swiss banks to reveal accounts belonging to victims of the Nazis and return their money, and, after the fall of European communism, providing financial compensation to Eastern European victims who did not receive any compensation from settlements arranged shortly after the end of the war. I found Eizenstat’s window into this period of history particularly revealing, especially the negotiations that took place in Berlin. A very interesting read for history or World War II aficionados.

Emily’s pick:
The Help by Kathryn Stockett

This book came highly recommended to me by both a close friend of mine who is an English graduate student at Baylor, as well as from my mom – and rightfully so! The book is set in Jackson, Mississippi during the 1960s amidst the civil rights movement, and follows Skeeter, an Ole Miss graduate, as she sets out to collect the stories of the black women, “the help,” in her community. The story shows life on both sides of the racial divide, highlighting the fact that “the help” were essentially trusted with raising Southern children, yet were not trusted to clean the family’s silver. I loved this book – the characters are deep and the story moves quickly – it’s a fast read that I’d highly recommend – I’ve also heard that a movie version is coming soon!

Heather’s pick:
Paul Wellstone: The Life of a Passionate Progressive by Bill Lofy

As a bleeding heart liberal and macro practice social worker, I have been continually moved by stories of the Great Paul Wellstone. I, however, had little knowledge of his life or his work because I moved to Minnesota after his tragic death. This book has provided a great introduction to Wellstone, why he stood out from other legislators, and how he was able to have such a lasting impact on the lives of so many. What I have enjoyed most is learning about Wellstone’s use of grassroots community organizing; quite similar to our President Obama. Next on my reading list is Wellstone’s autobiography, The Conscience of a Liberal: Reclaiming the Compassionate Agenda.

Stella’s pick:
China Wakes: The Struggle for the Soul of a Rising Power by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn

This book discusses the experiences of two journalists, a husband and wife team, who travel extensively through China and report their interviews and observations. It was an enlightening look at China’s history and past culture and how those factors have influenced current day China. I learned a great deal of various historical events and political views of China through this book; events that were not described or taught in World History classes growing up. The two journalists have written extensively on China and were honored with a Pulitzer Prize for covering the 1989 Tiananmen protest in China.

StrengthsFinder 2.0
By Tom Rath

A friend of mine referred me to the StrengthsFinder 2.0. The idea behind this resource is that individuals spend more time in their professional careers focusing on addressing their weaknesses rather than enhancing their strengths; however, by focusing on their natural strengths instead, people have higher job satisfaction and increased quality of life. In an effort to help people discover their strengths Gallup studied human strengths for 40 years. The latest version, StrengthsFinder 2.0 includes 34 of the world’s most common talents and how they can be applied to a wide variety of roles. The 34 themes represent Gallups best attempt at creating a common language or classification on talents. (Of course there are hundreds of additional themes but they wanted to keep the list manageable so that it can be easily applied.)

The resource works like this: First, take the online assessment. (www.strengthsfinder.com) It’s a timed assessment; you have 20 seconds to respond to each question. The assessment takes about 30 minutes to complete. The analysis of your assessment will reveal your top five talents. The book offers descriptions of each theme, ideas for action, and suggestions for working with others who have the same theme.

For those of you that are interested my top themes are: Learner, Responsibility, Input, Empathy, and Arranger.

Heather