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Focus Enthusiast
Been Promising to update this for a nearly the past two and a half weeks, Everything exploded into chaos with getting me back to college and getting settled in but here goes....
Thanks NBfocus!
Thanks Caleb, I try my best to keep her loved! You know when it comes to teh FocusXtreme crew I gotta reprezent!!
And keep the coil project shush shush for now, You'll see it all come together this winter hopefully.
That's Dustin for ya, everything he does to his car comes out awesome, I'm definitely gonna hit him up for tips when it comes time to mod the SAP bumper to the 00-04 body so it stays flush with the trunk.
So you're saying that since my car isn't an SVT I should get rid of my front bumper and my interior? jk
I know what ya mean. I saw a guy the other day at wall-mart with an escort that had in bright big letters across the top of the windshield saying SVT...
I had snatched up the last two or three SVT Piranha badges left over from an old group buy on here with the intent of using them once I had completed my SVT motor and everything swap, but I got impatient and threw the badge on the trunk anyway. Several months had passed and my plans for the car had changed then I just decided to keep it on the car instead of tear it up by trying to remove it.
I guess you could call me a "poser"? lmao
Haha, Yeah I remember you. Just don't Remember what we talked about at FITF. Heck I don't remember very much from FITF besides going to McDonalds with Disciplerocks, Ranger_Mclaren, Ryan, and my buddy Stephen to get some dinner for the girls then joking around about a mythical food called a "McGangBang"; Cheney and several of the focus guys "hooning" around Karl's yard; Zack wearing a dress while handing out rewards; and waking up with nobody else there but the FocusXtreme crew.
haha, Thanks. I don't update that thread anymore because it seems like for someone to give input on a thread on FJ, The car posted in the thread needs to be either scraping subframe, pushing more than10lbs of boost, snapping axles, or rattling off license plates. And I know that I'm not going to fall into any of those categories . At least not yet that is lol.
Update time!
So i got a lot done on the car since about two weeks ago. Thursday(the 17th) my best friend bought my dad's Lincoln LS as his first car and we did some work on our cars, then waxed them, then took lots of pictures of them.
I replaced my lower control arm that was cracking, rhino-lined it, cleaned up the rear sway-bar, cleaned all the mud out/off of the underside of the rear of the car, and took some rust off the Rear subframe. I plan on getting a set of DominantEngineering LCAs after seeing how adjustable and beefy they were when I put them on my buddy miragesmack's sedan. But that's going to wait until I have the money saved up.
Don't really feel like typing much so on with the pictures!!
New, Rhino-lined LCA. Thought I oughtta just do it and get it over with so I don't have to deal with rust.
I wire-wheel'd then por-15'd The sway-bar mounts which had started to show a some small signs of rust. PREVENTATIVE MAINTENCE RIGHT HEREEEE IN THIS HIZZOUHH!!!
Sway bar is new again . With a hint of awesome!! I believe that I Rhino-lined this sucker, then rattle-cann'ed it with some silver for poops and giggles.
All nice and clean! No moar mud!
And now . For the rest of this bizznitch!!
Finaily cleaned the friggin wheels.
Here, you can see where I removed all the duck-tape residue from the underside of the hood (if you saw all of it at FITF).
Moar shiny!
After cleaning up the engine bay more.
My buddy Stephen gawking and his first car(my dad's old car which has been replaced by a very nice, new, 2012 Focus hatch).
This is what I consider to be the most photogenic angle for my car.
With the Led's lit up.
Messing around with the camera to see if I can get any good looking dramatic effects.
The vent's are perfectly symmetrically spaced and the measurements are spot on, its just an optical illusion that the longer one doesn't look as far back as the short one since it's longer (trust me, I spent like three days trying to get it to look right and botched the first "Test-Hood" doing it).
And here you have the interior shot's I promised everyone!
That little red flip switch next to the steering wheel is to manually control the IMRC (and open the runners instantly for better torque/performance) or let the ECU handle the operation of the runners (so I can get better gas mileage).
If you've made it this far, Congratulations! Both your computer and FocusFanatics have not overloaded and broken down from the large amount of pictures!
Now that all that visual eye rape is over, Let's get to the engine work I performed; but first let me give you some backstory and explanation for everything so everyone is on the same page.
So my smoking problem was my valve stem seals.
Here's my rant for the week .
On my old engine, I had put my EFP (Escort-Focus Parts) Hi-RPM dual valve spring set on, Brand spank'in new. Well, when I blew the original motor back in early November 2011 by being an idiot after putting the 3k into it to "supe" it up, and running out of money before I could fix the valve seat issue All while knowing for about two-three years about it and that it can honestly happen at any time The valve-seat issue should have been the first thing I put my attention to besides the lightweight crank, flywheel, forged pistons, and all that other stuff . But I didn't . And enough moping over all that stuff.
The valve-seat went because the one radiator hose (the lower pass. side one) I didn't get to replace which had been on the car since new. Well, the hose ruptured while sitting in a parking lot waiting to meet some friends, and when I left, and I didn't notice my coolant temps rise I the engine overheated, the head warped, and the seat dropped.
With me needing my car to get around and no time to spare, Anya was towed 136 miles back home. No time to get my zetec into the car so I bite the bullet and order a brand-new SPI to just quickly swap engines over.
My dad and I attempting to get Anya on to a U-Haul hitched car dolly so it could be towed home by my mom's SUV long story short it didn't work So we used my dad's AAA and got a flatbed for Anya!
Signatures from the awesome friends who helped me get the engine replaced. (they're still there and still look perfect!)
Wonderful gigantic chunks of engine block...
Putting new engine in.
After putting the new engine, breaking it in, and things returning to normal; about late January I put back in my EFP Dual valve-springs (the original seals, shims, keepers, and retainers).
I didn't think to replace the stem seals with new seals as I had taken special care to remove the Stem Seals from the blown motor, keeping in mind that they hadn't been on the car for more than a few months.
Well, the seals didn't like being put on another motor and let oil leak into the cylinders at idle-2500 rpm and while taking off and starting.
a few days after I had I put the springs and everything on, I noticed the smoking and figured out what was going on.
So I went to EFP's website to order new seals to use with the kit and found out that they had closed up shop and disappeared I went through my email and went way back to find the email address, messaged the company seemingly billions of times hoping to get a reply from someone but nothing . I dug out the instructions and scoured every single inch to find specification and nothing Searched up the numbers on there and...once again nothing I turned to the knowledge of FEOA forums ( the Ford Escort Owners Association for those that dont know) as they've been working with and modding the SPI engine (well, the CVH but same exact thing) since the mid-late 80's. But I still had no real luck
Time was running out now and it was May 22.
I dealt with the smoking and lived with it up until May when summer break started . I couldn't let myself go to FocusRising12 spewing smoke out everywhere. AutoZone was no help to find new seals, they ordered Eldelbrock valve stem seals which had a picture that looked identical to the special seals that came wit the kit.
When I went to AutoZone to pick them up, they were the same as the stock seals
With that in mind, and my only real power-adding performance mod (on the engine at the time) on the line... I was not going to back down and swap back to a factory valve-train and loose my 8,300 redline!!
So I decided to modify the factory seals to make them work!
I'm gonna be verrryyyyy lazyy now and re-post what I had in my old build thread to show how I "Temporarily" fixed the smoke problem from way back in May before FocusRising12.
Modified Valve-Stem Seals for EFP Dual Valve-Springs
I was/am determined to not enter that show-field billowing smoke like a fog machine so I had to take care of that issue promptly!
EFP(Escort-Focus Parts went out of business, I blew my original motor, and Thought it was a good idea to transfer the special made valve-stem seals from my blown motor to the new one with the valve-springs. After I did, the engine smoked like no tomorrow due to the worn valve-seats. I searched and searched and even compared seats but had no luck so I almost gave up... Until I realized that stock valve seats would work when modified!! And now Anya doesn't smoke like a fog machine every time I start her up!
I took the stock Stem Seals and cut them as small as I could removing the large shim at the bottom of the molded valve stem seal so that just the tip of the seal with the rubber inner section remained.
All in all, I solved my smoking problems. I didn't have the time to cut them all out so I only did tow of them on Cylinder-4 as that was the one with the worst oil leak/ had the most burnt oil on the spark-plug when I changed them.
When I pulled off the Valve Cover and took off one of the valve-springs, I found that the Metal band around the EFP valve-stem seal had actually come completely off the seal and the seal was just floating halfway up the valve stem not even sealing the stem to the head which is what probably caused most if not all of my oil burning problems.
That fixed my issue for about four or five days then, the long trip to Carlisle for FocusRising12 un-did my work and the smoking returned I Had been deemed "smoky" at FocusRising12. maybe it was the long periods of 7k+ RPM while going through Maryland's wondrously fun mountainous roads in a lower gear at a higher rate of speed (wink wink) and upon getting to the hotel the car had been smoking worse than before.
I had began to believe that the rings could have been done but that wouldn't explain why the smoking went away after putting the modded seats on.
After FocusRising12, I had given up and my more work towards other projects.
Many of you, If you were at FocusRising12,FITF12, or part of FocusXtreme You've probably seen me throw out a smokescreen or two when starting up my car Well . THAT HAS NOW CHANGED!!!!
It's hard to talk big game or show off the mods you've done to your engine and look like you know what you're doing when people ask you to start her up and it blows out a gigantic plume of smoke . You look like a jack@$$ who doesn't know what he's doing.
Well, I have been in contact with Harland Sharp for a few weeks . And I have sent them my ported head(the race-ported one with the valve job(race-ported as in hell of a lot more porting than the current head I have on right now lol)) for them to brototype something very nice for Anya while making a custom set of valve stem seals (okay two sets lol) for the high-rev spring kit I have.
I'm currently driving around on my stock valve train and reverted back to the stock camshaft (Escort one is in the head I sent off) and even though I'm lacking in a large amount of power I'm enjoying not smoking up the world. Only thing I miss is smoke-housing people in Priuses who sit behind me at a stoplight but I can learn to live without that in my life.
Here's the stock and the EFP spring kits side by side.(EFP left and Stock right)
And these are the stem seals.
EFP spring fully assembled
Disassembly/assembly (took four flippin days due to me bending/snapping a couple compressor bars!!!!)
That's it for now, I plan on throwing up the pics from FX's end of summer bash sometime next week and whatever shenanigans occur!
Das Boostenhimen!
Sedan Revolution #231 || FocusXtreme
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Wow. VERY thorough write up. Very nice man. Pictures make my world go round! I'm glad you were able to fix this all yourself, my Duratec 2.0 had bad valves somehow (I dont think the previous owner knew that oil changes were required, or maybe they drove at 6k RPM's for 63,000 miles, who knows) and I bit the bullet and had a mechanic do it.
Unrelated to the rebuild, but what suspension kit do you have? Looks like the perfect amount of low.
ROTM June '13, PNW Crew #42, SR #245, Rally Rev #02
Nice build, I've had the pleasure of meeting her. Did your bottom end go out? I see part of a ring in there? I miss the sticker bombed center console.
If you don't mind I'll post up a few pics of our ladies together.
The last time our SPI's will be together.
Do one thing every day that scares you. -Eleanor Roosevelt
Focus Fanatic
not to bad
I like the hood, whees are to busy
Hatch Nation #81
Mid-west Crew
2003 zx5 twilight blue
ɔᴉʇɐuɐℲ snɔoℲ
Sorry to see your engine go, other than that great progress!
Hatch Nation #8
September 2012 Ride of the Month
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Focus Enthusiast
ok i gotta ask, where are the hood vents from? looks like they are from an 80s car, like a 280z or something
I have to say, I'm starting to like your car. I didn't at first but it's starting to grow on me. Not a fan of the spoiler though. It would look good with no spoiler or maybe a small lip spoiler but that's just my opinion.
February 2005 ROTM
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Focus Enthusiast
I always really liked the SAP spoiler looks good in black too.
I`m Rob.
2014 Focus Sedan|2009 Focus SES Coupe(SOLD)|2012 SGM Focus Ti Hatch. (Written off.
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)|2000 Cloud 9 White Focus sedan (SOLD).
Focus Enthusiast
My suspension setup is pretty basic, AGX Adjustible shocks, FRPP springs, Prothane Isolators, Moog replacement ball joints, and a Steeda 28mm rear sway bar.
A few special thing's I've noticed:
1. Without the steeda rear bar, and keeping everything else exactly the same, my rear ride height goes down by about 9/16ths of an inch. My only guess as to why it dropped it lower after removing the bar is because when the suspension is loaded, the bar has a pretty good ammount of tension and tries to pull the LCAs towards each other which keeps the car raised up that small ammount.
2. Replacing a steering rack/front sway bar for the first time is an evil B#!%h of a job Especially when you don't know wth you're doing.
3. The stock Ford rear coil Isolators give much more than the prothane Isolators (it's a given with it being foam vs. polyurethane lol). Factory isolators when car is on the ground and the suspension is settled will drop the rear just a very slight amount from the rubber/foam compressing. It's barely noticeable, I don't remember the measurement off the top of my head but I think it was something like 5/64ths of an inch. I guess you could also say that the prothane isolators will raise the rear 5/64th of an inch too lol.
And I think I do see a chunk of ring in there?? lmao
I took out the Sticker-Bomb'd console a lot sooner than I had planned as I thought I was gonna sell it to Dustin but I haven't heard back from him on the console since like summer.
I took all the stickers off so I could send him pics of what the part looked like stock and I regret not waiting until I knew whether he wanted it or not. But t's all good.
It's gonna be lonely now in FocusXtreme being the only SPI,
It's really sad to see your engine go, but thankfully you're stepping up to a Zetec rather than doing what I did and sticking with another SPI.
Btw... totally unrelated but the background on my computer this week is your car. It looks clean man!
I need to look into getting a new driver side vent soon as mine is beginning to crack in half from being 40 years old. Hopefully I can find a remanufactured brand new vent ( probably just gonna get both vents anyway) from somewhere that makes Datsun restoration parts .
Real nice guy, just can't think of his name anyway, he had it on his car and I was originally gonna Color-match it but after throwing it on, it ended up looking much better than I thought it would.
Once I get back to Louisville after classes today I might try out (if time permits) doing the center section of the wing flat-black/satin black. (more than likely I'm going to indulge in the evils of plastidip lmao)
So, what are people's thoughts on turbos? I've already have a "top-Secret" forced induction system planned out, but the more work that gets done on it, the likelihood of it working and being reliable keeps getting slimmer .
so I'm gonna keep an open mind and consider going turbo.
Any suggestions on what I should use? I'm hoping to have it spool by the power-band (4,200-7,400) and run a max of 14PSI.
Sedan Revolution #231 || FocusXtreme
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Composing Conversations
Composing Conversations is an ongoing discussions series featuring some of the most noteworthy international composers. TDO believes in bringing their talents to Dallas whenever possible. Composing Conversations is designed to showcase all types of opera composers, from grand opera to chamber. This series will not only introduce you to some of these great talents, but hopefully ignite your interest in new operatic works.
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text: I would just like to say win/lose, that early 4th line-up is probably one of the worst defensive line-ups i have ever seen in the history of basketball. AI/Stuck/Bynum/Dice/Max. MC is taking small ball to a whole new level. I don't know how anyone thinks that that is a line-up to play at any point in a professional basketball game. Also, AI doesn't need to play the whole game. And we are getting out rebounded again. Surprise, Surprise. Small ball is not going to work and the sooner anyone who has the power to do something notices the better. Prince and Sheed both look out of sorts at in their "new" positions.


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German tuning house CDC International is serious about adding flair to already wild exotics like the Audi R8, Bentley Continental GT and Lamborghini Gallardo. Wheels, body kits, high performance exhausts, engine upgrades…they do it all. Their latest and greatest product draws inspiration from Lamborghini's Reventón, the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show stunner that featured a fighter jet-inspired carbon fiber body atop a "base" Murcielago LP640. The production run was limited to just 20 examples costing a cool $1.5mm each and the batch sold out before show models could even unveil the damn thing. For those of you who were too poor or too slow to grab one, CDC has designed this Reventon-look body kit (front bumper, rear bumper, side skirts, and diffuser) for the Murcielago's baby bro, the Gallardo. They appropriately refer to it as "a little Reventón". Interested? The package will run you a cool $25K. Nothing little about that. CDC was good enough to photograph the final product for us, seen here posed against a randomly colorful recycling depot in the Town of Bad Staffelstein.
Thanks Mike!
Source: CDC International GmbH (photos used with permission)
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Western and American political leaders are focused on dealing with the Israel-Palestinian conflict but to the north, it is very likely that Hizbullah will gain a majority in the Lebanon Parliament in the election to be held on June 7. Hassan Nasrallah, the dynamic leader of Hizbullah would not win any popularity contests in western nations, but he is a charismatic leader who is widely admired among Muslims in the Middle East. There are 20 parties competing in the election while Hizbullah will be united behind their candidates. Of course in the topsy turvy world of Lebanon politics, power has to be divided between Christians and Muslims so the outcome is still unclear as to which group will have effective power in governing the nation.
However, Nasrallah supporters are excited about what they view as the coming victory. One supporter, Hussein Alloush, told a reporter: "We are the party of God, God is going to help Nasrallah win." Funny, I thought God was on the side of George Bush. Does this mean God is a turncoat who is switching sides and abandoning Christianity for some Muslim leader?


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This is a D4 5man Race to 2 event that allows 1 D3 player per roster.
The registration dead line for the series (discounted registration) is the Friday January 4 by 5pm before the first event. The deadline for individual event registration is the Friday before each event by 5pm.
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Custom Leather
wat would be the frist upgrade someone should buy for a P220 Carry Model sig? any suggestions?
i have night sights already on it, wat do u mean by custom leather?
IMHO - not much you can do to a SIG.
If it is a CCW firearm I was thinking Holsters
Del Fatti Leather
Kramer Leather
Milt Sparks Holsters
Lightning Arms Sports
If you want to change the gun a new finish might be the ticket.
New grips? I like the nice rubber finger groove grips I have on my P226. I think it makes a world of difference for the gun. Granted, it isn't going to have SIG real big on the side anymore, but who cares?


text: Survival Football 2009 Can you Survive? PistonsForum.com has a group set up at Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Survival Football Rules PM me for for the group ID and password. The Strike count (can be set to 1, 2 or 3) may be changed up until the start of the regular season. I'd appreciate your input on this topic


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Religious Workers: (R1 Visa, R2 Visa)
R1 Visa – Eligible Applicants
R1 Visa is for a foreign national with a religious profession, occupation or vocation. These visas are available to a foreign national who:
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Spouses and Minor Children under the age of 21 of R1 Visa Holders are eligible for R2 Visas.
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text:
'Peca asked for a trade last October when contract talks with the Sabres went nowhere. Peca reportedly was looking for a four-year deal worth $14 million US. The Sabres' best offer was said to be a four-year pact for roughly $11.5 million.'
Sabres cut Peca no slack
March 14, 2001 Submitted by
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TAMPA, Fla. So, about Mitt Romney.
The Republicans have been holding a convention to nominate him for president! I am telling you this on the off chance that you haven't been paying attention. Perhaps you feel as if you've already met Mitt Romney and don't require another introduction. Perhaps you feel as if you've met him a lot. But this is entirely different because the party's mission this week is to construct an entirely new, improved, warmer, more lovable version.
They built this Romney!
"We built it" is one of the themes here, at the government-underwritten convention in a government-subsidized convention center in a city that rose on the sturdy foundation of government-subsidized flood insurance. But no taxpayer dollars were expended in the attempt to put together a New Mitt.
None. Really, it was just private corporations and rich people.
Even before the speeches began, before Tim Pawlenty compared the president to a tattoo or the governor of Ohio, John Kasich, accused Joe Biden of being a bad golfer, the magnitude of the Romney renovation challenge was clear. This wasn't going to be one of those quickie home makeovers you see on TV, where a couple goes away for the weekend and comes back to discover that they have a large, new picture window and a totally open kitchen floor plan.
The folks who spoke during the first two days of the convention were supposed to do foundation work, preparing the public to regard the presidential candidate who emerged on Thursday night as a kindly dad or a favored sibling who's always such great company when you're feeling down.
They failed completely. It was if, instead of fixing up the house, the renovators decided to do some engine work on a recreational vehicle parked three blocks down the road.
Some of the speakers tried to divert the crowd with fancy rhetoric. Who will ever forget the way Paul Ryan said America was getting the runaround and needs a turnaround?
Some tried being counterintuitive. Mike Huckabee, in an interview before his speech, compared Mitt to a nasty doctor. "If you've just been diagnosed with a brain tumor, you honestly don't care if your neurosurgeon is a jerk," he told Howard Kurtz of The Daily Beast.
The challenge of giving their presidential candidate a heartwarming back story was apparently too much for many of the speakers, who decided to describe their own humble roots instead. Gov. Chris Christie talked about his mother. Ryan brought up his father, mother and grandmother. Rick Santorum told the story about his coal miner grandfather's hands again. Huckabee dropped the names of his grandchildren.
We may never figure out the inner life of the Republican presidential candidate. But we are going into the fall campaign knowing a whole lot more about the relatives of major Republican officeholders.
Ann Romney, poor woman, was left stuck with the entire burden of the convention's yearning for a candidate remake.
It turns out that her grandfather was a coal miner, too! It is possible that the only person in the entire city of Tampa this week who does not have a coal miner in the family tree is Mitt.
"Tonight I want to talk to you about love," she said. The critical point was that Ann loves Mitt and Mitt loves America. What could be better? Then, half an hour later, Christie decreed that respect trumps love. If these people can't even decide where love ranks on their to-do list, you can appreciate why they found it impossible to get together to build a new presidential candidate.
Although she was assigned to paint a picture of the Mitt Romney we have never seen and suspect does not exist, his wife's remarks were remarkably short on specifics. She did have a story about their humble early married life, which involved a brief period in college when they were forced to consume "a lot of pasta and tuna fish."
Ann assured the crowd that her husband had spent "countless hours helping others," and although that was pretty vague, we do have other accounts of his good deeds, mainly for fellow parishioners at church. She also seemed intent on telling us that he's a fun guy, full of Mittwit, but she failed to provide any examples of fun that were actually funny. The take-away image of Mitt Romney, Neighbor, was less George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life" than Ned Flanders in "The Simpsons."
The best humanizing story about a robotic presidential candidate I can remember was the one John Kerry's daughters told about how Kerry had saved their hamster Licorice from a "watery doom" by diving off a dock, retrieving the animal and administering CPR. And, actually, that didn't work out so well.
They'll make do with what they've got. One thing's for sure: Nobody in Tampa is all that interested in talking about Mitt Romney interacting with pets.


text: Hey guys we are putting on a raffle to benefit First Candle/SIDS Awareness. 3 yrs ago we lost our 4 mo old nephew to SIDS we are doing this in his honor. In his honor foro teh last 3 yrs we have been putting on a 100 mile motorcycle/poker run the 2nd weekend in OCT. To beef up our event this yr we are raffling off a FNH FNS-9 semi auto 9mm handgun. This weapon won the 2013 Golden Bullseye award for handgun of the yr. We are asking for a $5 donation per ticket recieved. If you live out of town and are not able to attend the event we will ship the weapon to your FFL free of charge. If you have any ?'s or would like to buy some tickets please pm me. If you need any more info there are a few links below that might help answer your question about the gun or event. Thanks for your support. Also for those that might be interested in rding in the event it is OCT 12th there will be more info on it to come.


text:
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Atlantic Canada
Posts: 13,366
Contest #4 - "A Product That Sucked" - Sponsored by ASUS
It's our birthday, so we are celebrating with some contests. This is the fourth and final birthday contest, sponsored by ASUS!
We want your dirty laundry for this one. The contest is simple, because just about everyone has been in this situation at one time or another. The task is an easy one -- write 200 - 500 words describing your experiences with a tech product that you purchased and wound up hating. Whether it was a product that simply didn't work, worked poorly or burst into flames, we want to hear about it. (Especially if it's funny.)
Write in a professional style; no cursing allowed. Spelling and grammar count here, just as they do in the professional world. Style and flair count for a lot as do good use of the English language and good grammar. Remember, the best work wins, so get writing and good luck!
The winner of this contest has a choice! ASUS was kind enough to donate a motherboard to the contest, but it's up to the winner to decide which one they want. If you have an AM2 machine in your upgrade sights, you can choose the Crosshair board. For Intel Core, you can go with the new Commando. Both are incredibly solid for enthusiasts thanks to their overclocking ability. This is really the biggest of all our birthday contests this year, so if you've been holding out, now's your chance. (Rest assured -- these prizes don't suck.)
Contest Details
Intel Core i7-3960X, GIGABYTE G1.Assassin 2, Kingston 16GB DDR3-2133, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 2GB
Kingston HyperX 3K 240GB SSD (OS, Apps), WD VR 1TB (Games), Corsair 1000HX, Corsair H70 Cooler
Corsair 800D, Dell 2408WFP 24", ASUS Xonar Essence STX, Gentoo (KDE 4.11. 3.12 Kernel)
"Take care to get what you like, or you will be forced to like what you get!" - H.P. Baxxter
<Toad772> I don't always drink alcohol, but when I do, I take it too far.
Last edited by Rob Williams; 04-02-2007 at 11:36 AM.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Atlantic Canada
Posts: 13,366
Here is an example of what your submission should look like, but a true story:
In the summer of 2005, I purchased what I believed to be the best "bang for buck" card at the time, BFGs smokin' 6800GT. Not only was the card blazing fast, it cost significantly less than the 6800 Ultra which offered only a pinch of extra performance. As it stands, I would be only using 1280x1024 resolution, so there was no need to go any higher.
Intel Core i7-3960X, GIGABYTE G1.Assassin 2, Kingston 16GB DDR3-2133, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 2GB
Kingston HyperX 3K 240GB SSD (OS, Apps), WD VR 1TB (Games), Corsair 1000HX, Corsair H70 Cooler
Corsair 800D, Dell 2408WFP 24", ASUS Xonar Essence STX, Gentoo (KDE 4.11. 3.12 Kernel)
"Take care to get what you like, or you will be forced to like what you get!" - H.P. Baxxter
<Toad772> I don't always drink alcohol, but when I do, I take it too far.
Last edited by Rory Buszka; 04-02-2007 at 03:58 PM.
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Posts: 19
Walking the "Razer's" Edge...
Well, my issue here is not with a product that sucks (per se), but with technical support that really blows. A few years ago - back when the earth was green, and no one had thought of optical mice yet, there were ball mice. Each mouse was essentially the same as the next - until Razer came along, with their BoomSlang series of mice. At the time, these things had UNHEARD of resolutions of 1000, or (gasp!) 2000 dpi, and were the most accurate, precise, smoothest mice on the planet. The fact that I live in Canada precluded me from getting these mice anywhere near me, so I turned to Ebay. I was able to get a BoomSlang 1000 dpi for a decent price, and was happy with it - for a year or so. I started having problems then with the scroll wheel which worked intermittently if at all. Having tried to do the usual sorts of things (updating drivers, reinstalling software, CLEANING the mouse), I was still stuck with a wheel that turned, but got me nowhere.
Coincidentally, this was the same problem I was having with Razer's tech support. In a string of emails (10+), I tried in vain to have this issue resolved. I didn't expect that they would replace the thing for me (nor did I WANT them to), but I did think they should at least point me in the direction as to how to fix it on my own. It turned out that they didn't support the BoomSlang any longer, as they had gone through a "restructuring" (ie bankruptcy), and they claimed that the new company had nothing to do with the old products (other than A - still selling them, and B - offering drivers on the same site they had up when I originally bought the mouse - I'm not at all sarcastic here am I?? )
Did I MENTION that I wasn't looking for a replacement? I wasn't even looking for warranty work, as the mouse had surely surpassed the warranty period. I just wanted to be pointed in the direction so I could fix it myself. Did I also mention, that when I originally bought this mouse that I bought it from "Razerguy" on Ebay.. I believe, though I may be mistaken - that this is the SAME Razerguy who is the proud spokesperson on the Razer website. How very convenient for them - and completely inconvenient for us poor schlubs who weren't able to get ANY sort of technical support from them during this time. I was eventually able (through searching of my own - no help from them, and no GOOGLE at that time) to find a website that posted how to's on how to disassemble, clean and repair the BoomSlang..
Thanks Razer! You really know how to treat your customers! I loved my Razer for a long time, and it's one of the most comfortable mice I've ever used - but I won't be buying another anytime soon.
'Sic vis pacem para bellum' - Latin
'If you want peace, prepare for war.'
"It isn't the bullet with his name on it that a professional soldier has to fear; it's all those that are addressed 'To Whom It May Concern'"
Last edited by PapaMambo; 04-03-2007 at 01:18 PM. Reason: Error Correction
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 45
Putting the Cat Down is Not Always a Sad Occasion
Some time ago, in the very early years of this millennium, I became the delighted recipient of an unusual device that resembled a miniature polar bear in repose, attached to a long wire with a ps2 connection on the end. My mother gave it to me while I was visiting home, and said that it had appeared at her office at some point, though she really wasn't sure what it was. She did say that she had heard it was a miraculous little device that could read books. This sounded quite intriguing at the time, so I happily stowed this mysterious little creature in my duffle bag and brought it with me when I left.
As an exceedingly lazy person, I never completely unpack when I return from a trip, and so my hitch hiker remained forgotten in the bottom of that duffle bag for months. When I did finally stumble upon it, my interest was rekindled and I eagerly began exploring the mysteries of the literate polar bear.
My first major discovery, as I inspected the underside of the device, was that it was not a polar bear but a cat, according to the label. The label also verified that it was, in fact, an infra-red reader (or something like that). Satisfied that I had identified my specimen to species, I proceeded to attach it to my computer and began to poke its little infrared nose into books and magazines, imagining that it would be greatly relieved to be pursuing its true calling once again. However, there were no satisfied purrs or anything, for that matter. It seemed to have completely lost its sense of smell. After about an hour of fiddling with it, I decided a little internet research would be in order.
It took all of fifteen minutes of surfing to completely open my eyes to the true nature of my white cat. The first thing I discovered was its name: CueCat. The second was that it was not a useful device, but a reader for some sort of defunct system of barcodes used to represent internet addresses, and that it did not know how to read anything but these useless barcodes. The third thing I discovered was that my cat was not only useless, it was malicious, and conspired to collect and share all of my surfing and purchasing habits with some malevolent corporation. Bad Kitty!!
Needless to say, I took some pleasure in putting that particular cat down, and might have even taken pains to neuter it first if I had actually fallen prey to its nefarious machinations before ditching it. Today I decided to revisit the CueCat online to see what kind of legacy it had left. Apparently by 2005, after lawsuits and an almost complete lack of demand, this useless product was being sold off by liquidators for $0.30 each in lots of 500,000. There are still jerks out there trying to peddle them to unsuspecting techno-dummies as something that they need.
Last edited by Babrbarossa; 04-04-2007 at 07:31 AM.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Missouri, US
Posts: 124
I once bought two 4-pin to 6-pin power adapters for my video cards. After hooking everything together I gave power to the board and hit the on button. Instantaneously, the connection to the main card began smoking. I reacted quickly and cut power, but smoke had completely filled the case during the second or two that it was live and the adapter wires were melted and tattered while the plastic connector heads were browned. Was this a faulty adapter cable or did I fail to ground something? Near as I could tell only the cable was destroyed, and only that up to the 4-pin connector it was plugged into.
I re-checked all connections, got up some nerve to try again, and ended up destroying adapter cable #2 exactly like before. It's a sobering prospect to witness that silky smoke steam out of one's computer, especially when accompanied by that wonderful smell of things burning
The odds of me getting two faulty adapter cables in a row was very slim so I naturally worried about either the video card or the PSU, though the PSU had worked flawlessly for the past year (not to mention just two days prior when I replaced my old system with some new stuff) and I had used the same connector which powered the old video card.
In any event, the problem did turn out to be the adapter cable -- or rather, the entire line of adapter cables! Others had been running into difficulties with this as well, having to actually cut one of the wires to make it work properly. What I did was simply not connect the faulty wire to the PSU, and it now hangs shriveled and listless off the side of my video card to this day, working like a charm. See here for information on how to get around this mischievous product should you happen to come across it yourself (this was the only such adapter sold at Fry's Electronics locations for a while as well -- and may still be -- so be careful). It's rather pathetic how I eventually had to ring up "tech support" from comment reviews on Newegg
E6300 | Gigabyte EP35-DS3R | 2GB OCZ PC2-6400 | BLT | ASUS 4850 512MB
Antec 550 TrueControl | Tater tots | Gateway FHD2400 | Chipotle
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1
A product that sucked
I recieved a new product that really,really,really sucks, itis the new ADSL modem I recieved from Telus. The new 2wire ADSL 2770 HG-E modem is a pain in the butt. I had one heck of a time trying to find out how to access this modem to set it up the way that I wanted to.Even then I was having problems with it. I called some tech friends and we scoured the net for a couple of days and found out you had to go to tech support to get the required information and even they were very vague. Throughout our search we found out that this modem had hidden wireless access, so to the common user thier computer is running wide open to the net.This modem is definetly more pain than it is worth and I am going to stick with my D-Link DSL-300G which has given excellent service with no problems at all.
Last edited by sixgun; 04-03-2007 at 04:05 PM. Reason: spelling errors
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 4
An Exciting Journey on Northbridge Avenue .
A long long time ago, just before the age of dual core processors was a generation of gamers who were preparing their rigs for Battlefield 2 and beyond. I was such a gamer and the motherboard I had chosen to be the backbone of my system was the MSI K8N Neo4-SLI Platinum. It had state of the art SLI technology and an incredible design that would help to create a gaming euphoria unlike any conceived before. This thing was truly state of the art. It had SATA drive support, optical interfaces, on board 7.1 sound systems and most importantly a Northbridge fan which spun at a mind blowing 7000 RPM! Mind-blowing not because of the speed but because of what I wanted to do after dealing with MSI support when trying to replace it! I'll get back to that….
The location of the Northbridge on this motherboard is directly underneath the video card slots. In fact its location is so amazing that only a handful of video cards will fit and in my case – I like so many before me, I picked up a 6800 GT SLI which fit snug right above the Northbridge fan. What I didn't know when I conceptualized this setup was that normal fans spin at about 4000 – 5000 RPMs and that 7000 was on the high side. I also didn't think that the Northbridge fan would have an aneurysm after 5 months thus creating my computer to sound like a can opener had been kidnapped and strapped to the inside of my case. Let's visualize that for a moment. Picture the use of a can opener and now hear the sound of the shrieking motor as it tears open solid aluminum. That sound… Yes – THAT was my Northbridge fan!!
This experience was only the half of it. I purchased the motherboard in June 2005 and have replaced 2 Northbridge fans so far. Each fan gives a random timeframe before the evil can opener comes back. What's also fun is that with the loss of air-flow from the evil shrieking scream, my video card's own heat dissipaters send the heat to the Northbridge causing a system shutdown. This means!!! More mind-blowing tendencies, and I begin to sound like the evil can opener from hell!
MSI customer support was the other part of the fun. It seems that in California, MSI has no problem sending out replacement Northbridge fans for their clients. It's the MSI support in Canada that ideally should follow suit. Well maybe after they learn to read. It took me about 20 emails in correspondence and 10 phone calls to explain to them that all I need is a Northbridge fan, that I'm quite capable of replacing it myself. They kept insisting that I needed to RMA the whole board. See I moved from Las Vegas to Toronto – Back to Canada where I'm originally from. This should be a moot issue when it comes to RMA processes but it seems to be quite the dilemma. Not just for MSI but for WD and BFG as well and many companies.
After many headaches and frustrations and 2 weeks of correspondence with MSI-Canada, I FINALLY got a fan shipped to me. It's running nicely now. I've also ordered 5 more from MSI-USA which Mom will be sending me soon.
This mind numbing experience has taught me a great deal about the components one decides to get and the consequences and run-around one faces should one want to replace or repair one's component. My advice: Get a US address! It helps to keep your mind intact! Oh and get a motherboard that doesn't use a Northbridge fan or have one in place RIGHT underneath the exhaust for a high performance video card!
Last edited by aeromaestro; 04-03-2007 at 06:52 PM. Reason: img addon
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 4
Its called an AHS-515. It will make you scream AHS!!!!!
This is the Altec Lansing AHS-515 headset. Heres a review I wrote for it from where I purchased it:
The sound quality is nice; the gold connectors are a bonus. The ear muffs are great because they don't hurt my ears. But the reason for a worst review is because it's made of very flimsy plastic and is extremely fragile. I've been a long customer of Altec Lansing and have owned several 502 and 602 headsets and they are by far better than this.
I've now gone through 2, yes 2 AHS515s because the right muff broke from the speaker portion. There are 3 small and extremely delicate tabs holding the speaker to the muff. Don't drop this headset, don't even pick it up. It's badly made. Don't get a flimsy headset. Get something made with rigid plastic.
The Altec Lansing customer support is atrocious. Its not nearly as bad as Linksys though! Is there a contest for the company that provides the lousiest customer support? AT is terrible. They could care less that Ive spent hundreds of dollars on Altec components and surely dont care about keeping me as a customer.
After I get this thing replaced, I will not be spending my money with Altec Lansing again. Very disappointing.
This is what the headset looks like online:
And this is what mine looks like now that it broke and is useless:
PS: Thank you for running this contest. Good luck to everyone. I really enjoyed writing my two entries. Thanks.
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 12
In my first entry I want to describe you how miserable the service was when
i bought my HP Photosmart 850 camera.
When i bought it at first,everything seemed ok,but after a while,the camera's
defect started to be obvious.The thing was when I made photos in natural light,on the pictures appeared a dirt,always in the same place.After i figured this out,i went to the shop where i bought the photo camera and after waiting a week and a half,they brought me back a SECOND HAND camera,which was scratched all over the place and the protective cap the camera lens was falling off.Also the camera lens were moving left and right instead of standing still.I went mad and went again to that shop to get the camera back.
After waiting TWO Weeks! they gave me another SECOND HAND camera but this was already at the end of the guaranty.After a week of using it i realised that this camera too had a big scratch on the camera lens,but fortunately this is not seen in the photos i make.I also realised that the camera i last received was 2 year older than my first camera.Shame on you HP!
This is what i got after buying this 700$ photo camera!
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 12
In my second entry i want to tell you a story about the problems i had with my Western Digital 80GB JB hard drive.After buying a new computer that contained this drive,9 months passed,and after a reboot,Windows Xp was not loading at all and was missing some files.
I went to the service and i told the guys there that i have checked and rechecked the hard drive and it was developing more and more bad sectors and lost more data.They had formatted it in one hour with a program that put zeros on the drive and after this SURPRISE!The drive had zero bad sectors.I went home very confused,because i lost a LOT of data from this process,i reinstalled all the programs BUT,after 2 months,the thing happened again.I was again loosing files and went again to that shop.They said if the drive develops software bad sectors,they cannot change the drive with a new one,so i must remain with the damaged one.
So,when i went home i decided to CRACK THEIR HEADS by damaging myself the drive,so the shop could change the drive.At home,i took a little screw driver and made a short between the hard drive's motor contacts.The drive went up in smoke,and the second day i went to the shop,gave the drive to them,and i luckily managed this way to get a new drive.
Partition Master
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 266
After months and months of saving, I finally was ready to upgrade from my Via C3 / Biostar MB system. At the same time, I got a chance to write a review on a SuperFlower PSU. Shipped from the other side of the planet, I received a beautiful looking unit. Took it out and a screw fell out. Nothing looked damaged so I hooked it up in my new system. Immediately it sounded like a electric motor that won't turn over. Now having to reset the motherboard didn't seem that abnormal after what it had been through, but my OS was toast as well.
After contacting SuperFlower, they sent me another unit which to this day is working perfectly.
Partition Master
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 266
One of the reason's I chose Intel was because GlobalWin asked if I'd like to review their new Super Conductor heatsink. Would I ever!!! Well the unit I ended up receiving had a little sticker on it, with the #1 on it. With the exact same mounting system as the stock Intel cooler, I tried to mount it. But the pressure I was applying was extreme. In fact, when the slotted screwdriver slipped and hit my motherboard, I almost cried. Thankfully it survived. Maybe it would be safer hooking it up with the motherboard out? Well I finally got it on, but my new motherboard was warped so bad it looked like it was smiling. I contacted GlobalWin and found out I was shipped a prototype by mistake. Hmmm... #1 maybe?
So after being electrified, gouged with a screwdriver, and even bent, never mind a few unsuccessful over-clocking attempts, my ASUS motherboard has never let me down.
Partition Master
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 336
OMG my motherboard blew up!
A few years ago when socket 478 was the shiznit, I decided to buy a new Gigabyte 8KNXP motherboard and build my dream PC. Everything ran fine for a while until one day I began experiencing a massive amount of windows errors etc. I tried a fresh install and swapping different parts to uncover the problem but was unsuccessful.
I applied for an RMA and removed the board to ready it for shipping. While I was waiting for the RMA to be authorized I decided to try one last thing. I reinstalled the motherboard in the tower and connected everything once again. I pressed the power button and the motherboard suddenly blew up in a puff of acrid choking smoke.
After the smoke cleared I took everything apart once again to find out what had happened. That's when I discovered I had accidentally mixed up the front panel firewire and usb port connections. The motherboard tray had a quarter sized scorch mark where a circuit had blown. Luckily Most of the other components survived my screwup.
Once I got the RMA number I decided I'd send it in anyway and see what happened. They told me the motherboard was not repairable and unfortunately they had no more available. I was offered a credit which I used to get a different motherboard and a Geforce 6200TC video card.
Suffice to say I haven't made that mistake since
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Ny
Posts: 2
Think twice about saving money!
Two years ago I was building a pc from scratch for my sister. Since I upgrade every year and a half or so I build computers for my family out of the old parts. So I decided to buy a Linkworld 32302-C2222U Case which came with a 300 watt power supply for a whopping 22 dollars, a dinner cost more than that!
I set everything in the case up with an Epox and AMD Athlon 3000+ setup. The moment I turned it on it was roaring with its delta fan on it (those 37dba tornados, you know the one!). 30 minutes into the XP install the fan suddenly gets louder than a Honda civic with a fart can exhaust. It made little poof sound and the smell which did not leave my apartment was terrible.
The psu ended up overpowering itself somehow and burnt not only the Motherboard, Power supply and the RAM but upon putting the case aside the faceplate of the case broke off. After trying to RMA the motherboard and the ram which ended up with a run around and me not receiving anything back this quickly became a lesson which I will not forget and neither will my apartment. From that moment forward my cases were never made of anything but aluminum and I never purchased any psu which didn't have at least 10 positive expert reviews. Funny how 22 dollars destroyed 400+ dollars worth of computer?
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 2
Hi! First of all wanted to congratulate techagage with their 2 year birthday and of course with the fabulous competitions, that simply made me to write something!
So, about the happening! 2 years ago I was building my first PC, of course had some help, as I knew a few IT specialists. I was really confident about my knowledge when building the system, I had checked out the connectivity and the parts, everything seemed fine, also the guys claimed that everything would work fine.
Well got everything in place, everything checked, connected everything, even all the plugs in the wall socket! With everything done finally managed to press the power button -
At first I thought - Wow!!! What a quiet PC!!! No sounds at all!!! Note that the case had no lights or LED's what so ever!! But after 2 minutes, steering at the monitor I understood somethings wrong!! Pressed the monitors power button a few times, so did with the PC!! But nothing! Checked the PC again, yeah everything is fine!
Told the problem to my specialists, and asked to come, so that they could tell me the problem! And they said that everything is connected, but it still wont work!
Finally told my problem to my mate, he said have you really plugged everything in the socket?? I said: "Come and see for yourself!!" And he did, while he was checking the PC, I washed the dishes in the kitchen. While I was doing that, I heard him asking me:"Are you sure, you connected everything correctly ??" I said - Yes! , the specialists also said that everything is OK!! My friend: "Oh, I guess then, that the specialists and especially you are so stupid to not connect the power supply to the socket!!"
P.S. The system worked by the way!! Although after one year my PSU broke!!! It seems that I have been cursed from the very beginning !!!
But Till that the product that sucked - was me!!!
Last edited by Gvidix; 04-08-2007 at 07:56 AM.
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Are Lawn Chemicals Safe for Kids & Pets?
This is the time of year when yards and gardens are getting our full attention. A lush green lawn can be a beauty to behold and seems like a natural playground for toddlers and children. But how many people who add environmental chemicals to treat their lawns really know what they're spreading or spraying?
Pesticides are often thought of as only insecticides, but herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers with weed killer (Think "Weed and Feed") are all pesticides.
Stores are currently packed with bags and liquids containing all of the above and are marketed as necessary for a beautiful lawn.
However, not promoted are the safety hazards of these products where children and pets are concerned. Bags and sprays typically carry the obligatory warnings about keeping the product out of the hands and mouths of children or pets – but let's face it; that's a given.
Children, with their smaller bodies and still developing brain, liver and immune system are at a much greater risk of developing serious pesticide related health problems. They also spend more time in direct contact with grass and dirt – and with younger children, putting both in their mouths.
Researchers have shown an association between certain environmental chemicals and childhood cancers such as leukemia and neuroblastoma (the most common brain cancer), the latest research shows that exposure to these toxic chemicals may contribute to the rise in childhood disorders such as autism and ADHD. A recent study shows that kids with ADHD have more pesticide metabolites in their urine.
Think about what pesticides are designed to do. They eliminate weeds, insects, molds and fungus. They kill stuff. This means they are poisonous to many living organisms that include plants, wildlife and humans.
While playing or crawling on a grassy lawn may not provide enough pesticide to actually kill someone, chemicals can be absorbed through the skin, nose and mouth and settle in various organs. Children and pets are at a higher risk for health effects from exposure to pesticides than adults.
Are chemically treated lawns safe once they've had a chance to dry or sit for a couple of days? Many chemicals are designed to remain active anywhere from a month to over a year.
Can you still have a verdant lawn without using pesticides? Yes. There are alternative methods available; agricultural corn gluten and organic compost are a couple of options that work in tandem with plants and soils.
Not all organic treatments are 100 percent safe after being directly applied to the soil or plants. But they do tend to breakdown faster and are less harmful when spread. Using a mask and gloves are recommended when applying just about anything to your yard.
Children are simply more susceptible to harmful chemicals than adults because of their developing bodies and immune systems.
Next time the conversation rolls around about adding chemicals to treat the yard or garden – think about your child's health before you make a decision.
Sources: Clare Gervais, MD, http://blogs.uwhealth.org/kids/2012/06/lawn-chemicals-and-kids-should-parents-be-concerned/
Greg Seaman, http://eartheasy.com/blog/2009/01/lawn-care-chemicals-how-toxic-are-they/


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This 8-Piece Natural Nonstick Wok Set includes a preseasoned 14" flat bottom single handle wok, dome cover, 12" bamboo steamer with cover, 11.5" round cutting board, cleaver, bamboo spatula and a pair of bamboo chopsticks; and how-to-care wok/recipe booklet. This wok will cook enough food for a large group. This is a complete set for all your cooking needs. Carbon Steel. Hand wash and dry. Made in Taiwan.


text:
Before every Arsenal fixture, we'll bring you a Scouting Report on the Gunners' next opponents.
Arsène Wenger's side travel to Berkshire to take on Reading in the Premier League on Monday, so to find out more we asked tactical expert Michael Cox and local journalist Jonathan Low for their views.
Brian McDermott started the season playing a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Danny Guthrie operating just behind Pavel Pogrebnyak in an attempt to adapt Reading's strategy to suit the Premier League.
But he has returned to a straightforward 4-4-2 system, and neither of the aforementioned are players likely to start on Monday evening. Instead, two of Noel Hunt, Jason Roberts and Adam Le Fondre will spearhead Reading's attack, and they all specialise in working the channels, drifting wide to draw opposition centre backs out of position.
They will primarily be a threat on the counter-attack, especially when Arsenal's full backs advance high up the pitch. Reading average just 41 per cent of possession this season, the lowest of any Premier League side, and will sit back in two banks of four, before transferring the ball forward quickly through their speedy wingers.
Reading's defensive shape has improved since the start of the season, but they have still struggled against sides playing three central midfielders. Jay Tabb and Mikele Leigertwood are both mobile and have performed well in recent weeks, but Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla should be confident in their ability to pass and rotate around them. McDermott might ask one of his forwards to drop deep into midfield when Arsenal have to the ball, to help out in this zone.
At both ends, Nicky Shorey is likely to be a key player. The left back is vulnerable to pace - Theo Walcott had plenty of joy against him when hitting a hat-trick in the incredible 7-5 win in October - and Arsenal must attack him directly.
However, Shorey is excellent at delivering set-pieces. Only fellow left back Leighton Baines has created more chances in the Premier League this season, and Shorey's corners are aimed towards centre back Sean Morrison, a perennial threat in the opposition box.
The pressure will be on Arsenal to get three points. Reading really need a win but they won't be under pressure on Monday night. Reading only have nine points and have won just one game so far this season. They'll be hoping they can produce a performance like the one in the first half the last time the sides met, when they were 4-0 up at one stage.
I think it will be quite a high-scoring game. Reading are looking a bit shaky defensively at the moment. Adam Federici is back in the side after being dropped at the start of the season. He hasn't made any clangers but was arguably at fault for the first goal against Sunderland on Tuesday night.
They have lost four of their last five league games by just one goal. They have played well in patches though. It's a case of putting in a 90-minute performance which they haven't done so far this season.
Sean Morrison was injured against Southampton. He's looked to be Reading's best defender so far this season, so it was a shame he got injured. Nicky Shorey has probably been Reading's best player this season. He's good from set-pieces and has impressed.
It could be a good time for Reading to play Arsenal. They look to be on a bit of a downward spiral at the moment, though that will change at some stage. The Reading players will be really up for it. I think it's going to be 2-2. I can see there being goals. Hopefully it will be an entertaining game.Copyright 2017 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source


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Association for Computing Machinery Student Chapter
Welcome to Excelsior College's Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Student chapter. As the world's largest educational and scientific computing society, ACM provides the most comprehensive resources, conferences, and seminars to both professionals in the field and to all students studying in any of the computing related programs.
Founded in 1947, ACM has more than 100 affiliated chapters representing more than 100,000 members in over 100 countries. ACM has more than 500 student chapters in the United States and abroad which offer opportunities to enhance learning through the exchange of ideas among students and professionals in addition to providing career development and professional growth. Student membership in the ACM is open to all Excelsior College information technology students.
Because of this partnership with ACM, Excelsior College students can interact with other computing professionals, and make contacts that can help them find a job. ACM has proven to be an incredible resource for students in terms of its continuing education, networking, and professional connections for career advancement. Please consider taking advantage of the countless opportunities provided by this exceptional organization, as you continue to take positive steps towards reaching your educational and career successes.
A few of the benefits of joining the ACM as a student:
- Complimentary Subscription - Chapter Members are eligible for a three-month complimentary electronic subscription to ACM's flagship publication Communications of the ACM.
- Receipt of ACM's Popular E-Newsletters:
- TechNews, the latest news in computing, 3x weekly.
- CareerNews, the latest career and industry news, bi-monthly.
- MemberNet, all about ACM people and events, monthly.
- A full-year electronic subscription to:
- Crossroads (XRDS), a quarterly magazine to stimulate, inform, and educate students of computing, along with helpful information about calls for papers, fellowships, grants, and other opportunities.
- ACM Student Quick Takes (SQT), a quarterly email newsletter with each issue highlighting ACM activities, programs, and offerings of interest.
Chapter members are eligible for an "acm.org" email forwarding address with Google Postini filtering.
Please review all the benefits ACM provides students.
Recent ACM Webinars of 2014
Date - May 21, 2014
Mobile Communications: The Underlying Risks of Infected Smart Devices and BYOD
Presenter- Din Cox, PhD
Date - October 22, 2014
Cybersecurity Trends and Future Directions
Presenter- Ken Desforges, CISSP
Faculty Advisor
Kuang Yuan-Huang, PhD
ACM Student Chapter Officers
Vice President
More Information
If you are a student interested in becoming a member of the Excelsior College Association for Computing Machinery Student Chapter, email us at email@example.com


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Well, got drawn in, took stake 5 due to the 40 acre field going first. I decided who ever hunted stake 1 works for PETA and did not want anyone killing birds. Every bird that flew over the 40 acre field they shot at it. The 3 guys maybe shot 2 boxes of shells and I only saw them kill 3 maybe 4 birds.
I just don't understand why jerks feel it necessary to shoot high birds. To every hunter, BIRDS WILL FINISH IF YOU LET THEM!!!!
Don't get me wrong I will pass shoot, but they are flying over the decoys well in killing range. These guys all emptied their guns at a flock of geese flying over and 100 yards plus.


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DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowans have a chance to brush up on money management skills during the 10th annual Money Smart Week April 21-28. Financial institutions, government agencies, not-for-profit organizations and community groups throughout the state have teamed up to offer a full week of events designed to help Iowans of all ages better manage their finances. Money Smart Week includes activities in Council Bluffs, Creston, Harlan, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque and the Quad Cities.
Money Smart Investor Conferences serve as the cornerstone events for Money Smart Week across the country. The Iowa conference will take place Saturday, April 21, in Des Moines at Drake University Olmstead Center.
"A new event that will take place in Des Moines this year is the Money Smart Fair," said Margaret VanGinkel, a family finance program specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and chair of the Money Smart Fair. "Following the conference, the fair will begin at 12:30 pm and include a panel of experts, demonstrations every 20 minutes, vendors with lots of information about saving money and prizes."
Those giving demonstrations include the Coupon Lady from Grimes, Dress for Success, Des Moines, Travel and Transport, Traveling on a Budget, and Spend Smart, Eat Smart from ISU Extension and Outreach. Both the conference and fair are free to attend, but seating is limited. More information about the conferences and fair is available at www.moneysmartweek.org/iowa.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and nearly 140 Iowa Money Smart Week partners are offering at least 136 free financial seminars in communities across the state, including Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, the Council Bluffs area, Des Moines/central Iowa, Waterloo/Cedar Falls and the Quad Cities. Topics range from home-buying basics and financial literacy for youth to retirement planning and investment options for senior citizens. The events – which are provided at no charge and do not include sales pitches – will take place at banks, credit unions, libraries, ISU Extension and Outreach offices and local businesses throughout the week. A full calendar of events is available at www.moneysmartweek.org/iowa.
"There has never been a better time for Iowans to enhance their personal money management skills," said Joanne Kuster, Money Smart Week Chairperson. "Plenty of information exists, but many consumers don't know where to turn or who to believe. Money Smart Week points them in the right direction, offering education without the pressure of product sales pitches."
Since 2002, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago has sponsored Money Smart Week. "Money Smart Week Iowa's statewide and community-based efforts, as well as its partners' commitment, will make this event a success again this year," Chicago Federal Reserve President and CEO Charles Evans said. "We hope consumers of all ages, including children, will take part in this week's diverse personal finance offerings."
Contact: Joanne Kuster, Money Smart Week Chairperson, 515-991-5632


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Ok, I will be installing some new packages in about two weeks or so. All of the new packages will be installed on previously drawn comb. My question is about feeding. Are there any recommendations on how much I should feed the new packages since they are going in on drawn comb? I figure that since they will not be using so much energy to build comb, that the feeding may be something less than if it were new foundation. I know I have heard some say to feed until the bees stop taking the syrup and others that say i should feed them no more than one gallon per hive. I am interested in hearing any opinions that anybody has on what I should do. I am also interested in hearing if there are any ideas on how long before i release the queen in the new packages since I am not having to wait on the bees to build comb for her to lay in. Should I release her any earlier than I would if it were new foundation?
If you continuous feed, you will need to make sure they do not fill the brood nest with syrup leaving the queen no place to lay.
Ok, after several delays, i finally got my packages installed this week. I need some advice on what to do next. I installed the packages on Tuesday afternoon this week and have been feeding since then. The queens are still in there cages. It looks like the next several days are going to be kinda messy as far as the weather goes so i am wondering if i should go ahead and direct release the queens today or just expose the candy. This afternoon may be the only day i can get in the hives until at least next week because they are forecasting rain.


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source: residential architect Magazine
publication date: June 1, 2007
By Nigel F. Maynard
Finding worthy products for price-conscious custom homes is a tough gig. But if you love the hunt like we do, it's bound to reward everyone involved. Yes, your products must prove penny-wise, but they can't look cheap or perform poorly. They must withstand the rigors of everyday life at least as well as their more precious counterparts.
Admittedly, cheap is in the eye of the budget holder, but we think the collection on the following pages is a bargain at twice the price.
flor score
FLOR modular carpet tiles are easy to install, easy on the wallet, and easy on the environment. The 19.7-inch-square tiles come in a variety of colors, textures, and patterns and install over wood, tile, or unsealed concrete. Crafted from recycled or renewable resources, the chic tiles sell for roughly $4 to $6 per square foot. An added plus: the manufacturer will take back customers' used tiles for recycling. InterfaceFLOR, 866.281.3567; www.flor.com.