Bartolina checks in from China (Hammond Daily Star)

Editor's Note: Hammond resident Erica Bartolina, who is in China with her coach/husband Mike to compete in the Summer Olympics, has been sending email updates to her fans from time to time. Here is a synopsis of her recent activities as she prepares for the Opening Ceremonies on Thursday and the pole vault competition a week from Friday.)

Travel briefs (San Jose Mercury News)

Travel news in brief

The year in food (SouthtownStar)

2008 was a food-focused year, one that saw the rise of the locavore, the elevation of the cupcake and the fall from grace of bottled water. Foodies formed, or reaffirmed, new social strata: the health-conscious, the environment-friendly and the wallet-wise.

Review: Flip Video MinoHD (Geek.com)

We previously reviewed both the Flip Video Mino and Ultra and since that time the Mino has been part of my travel gear anytime I leave the house where I think a moment of video may be needed. Since it weighs practically nothing and you can record 60 minutes of video by simply powering it [...]

Merenda Restaurant in downtown Bend also closing (KTVZ Bend)

Another Bend business closes its doors in these tough economic times: the Japanese-style restaurant 'Deep.'