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Is everyone over and done with the whole Valentines day drama? After an overdose of mushy stuff on FB, posts on blogs and movies on telly, I for one am done with it. You can also say its sour grapes because my husband didn't even wish me on V day. The fact that we are not really in talking terms worked for both of us because he doesn't believe in birthdays, V days and anniversaries and I believe in them too much that I am annoyed if I'm not made to feel special on all these days. But strangely enough he remembers the day we met, the day we got engaged etc. etc. which I think is cute, but who cares about dates...show some love instead (or a Tiffany's ring would make me a happy (but shallow) woman)
Chop the chocolate as finely as possible and place in a heat proof bowl.
Bring the double cream to a boil in a sauce pan, over medium heat.
Take it off the flame and immediately pour over the chocolate.
Let it stand for a couple of minutes after which you can gently start stirring using a whisk or wooden spoon (without incorporating any air into the ganache) till you get a smooth glossy chocolate mix.
Add the caster sugar and gently stir until melted. Keep aside for 15 to 20 minutes for it to slightly harden. Not too much though.
OK so you can basically use the ganache in three different ways- Fill the cake with whichever icing you prefer, put on the other layer, place the cake on a cooling rack and just pour the ganache on top, enabling it to drop off the sides as evenly as possible. Messy, but good shiny, glazed topping would be the end result.
Second would be to whip it up like how you do a normal whipped cream frosting. Bring the ganache to room temperature and whip on high for 2 minutes or so. This could work for cupcakes.
Third, would be to let the ganache harden a wee bit and then use it like how you would do for a butter cream icing, for more thicker frosting and piping designs...which is what I did.
Place the cake on a stand/plate in which you are going to serve.
Generously douse a layer of ganache on top, evening it out with a palette knife, as much as possible.
Place the second cake on top and do a crumb coating by doing up the entire cake in a thin layer of ganache. Try and smooth it out as much as possible. If you ask me, this is the hardest part of frosting a cake.
Keep aside to set for a while and then do the final coating...go ballistic with the remaining ganache and coat the entire cake..again, try and smoothen it out as much as possible.
Decorate with chocolate balls, wafers, chocolate shavings or just grate some chocolate on top and place it in the fridge.
Two hours before serving, bring it back to room temperature and slice using a knife dipped in hot water so you get a neat slice.
Enjoy with some vanilla ice cream or on its own.
One cake had a dome, so I had to slice a bit of the top using a serrated knife.
As I mentioned before, I'd baked the cakes the previous night and once they had cooled down completely, I wrapped them in cling film and stored in the oven at room temperature. They didn't dry out and was as moist as it should be.
Plain chocolate is different from dark chocolate and milk chocolate. Dark choc. would make this more bitter, but if you prefer that, go ahead with the option.
The espresso coffee can be replaced with instant fresh coffee. I put 2 tbsp of instant espresso powder into a cup of boiling water and used that.
I didn't bake both the cakes together because I only have one pan. I also have ready made cake liners (like massive cupcake liners) which I use religiously. So once cake 1 was done, I waited for 5 minutes, and moved it on to a cooling rack (with the cake liner). Placed cake liner 2 into the same cake pan, filled with batter and baked for the exact same time. Took it out and cooled as usual. This is probably not the best way to go about baking 2 cakes, but they both turned out gorgeous.
Linking this to the chocolatelove bloghop event over at Junia's


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Where'd They Go to School?™ — U. S. First Ladies
In our first Where'd They Go To School? list, we reported on where the Presidents of the United States were educated. It wasn't long after that we began to wonder… Continue reading "Where'd They Go to School?™ — U. S. First Ladies"

subset: commoncrawl


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Green Day: Rock Band Review
Fans of Green Day's early work will be happy to see the inclusion of the band's third studio album 'Dookie' in its entirety. Even those less familiar with the band will find just about every Green Day song ever played on the radio. Song-specific band performances add a nice visual touch, with plenty of photos and live video performances to be unlocked.
Songs from albums 'American Idiot' and '21st Century Breakdown' are quite prevalent in the track list, though other albums like 'Insomniac,' 'Nimrod,' and 'Warning' only get cursory representation. Sadly, the band's first two (and edgiest) records, '1,039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours' and 'Kerplunk,' are completely neglected. In fact, the focus on too few of the band's albums, coupled with only three playable venues, are two of the game's most significant shortcomings.
With few exceptions, Billy Joe Armstrong's lead guitar tracks are quite strummy. I've always been terrible at alt-strumming, but I'm pretty sure my ability to do so improved noticeably while playing expert guitar in Green Day: Rock Band. Drummer Tre' Cool's manic percussion should offer a decent challenge for the drumming folk, and Mike Dirnt's bass grooves and vocal harmonies are a bit more varied and fun than expected.
Green Day: Rock Band mostly achieves its goals as a game, but limited track variety and awkward lyrical censorship keep the game from being a completely definitive piece of fan-service.
Green Day: Rock Band is available for the PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360.


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Coming to Grips with the Coming Spectrum Crisis in the United States
For all of you who rely on your smartphone, tablet or laptop, your elected representatives have given you something to cheer about. Mobile data traffic is projected by Cisco to grow 21 times between 2010 and 2015, from about 45 petabytes per month to over 900 petabytes per month. All those "bytes" need radio spectrum – and lots of it. More spectrum than is available today. And more spectrum than what the US government can provide based on current inventories.
The Senate Commerce Committee looked the mobile future in the face and today approved Senator Jay Rockefeller's (D-WV) and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson's (R-TX) bill to make available significant new spectrum for commercial wireless networks (both licensed and unlicensed) and for public safety. While there is likely to be a long and winding road before Congress sends a spectrum bill to the White House, a committee vote is an important milestone in moving from policy ideas to concrete legislation.
The Senate Commerce Committee's action today, if it becomes law, would open a minimum of 84 MHz, and quite possibly more, spectrum for licensed carrier use in spectrum now assigned to broadcast television. It would also require the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information Agency to consider opening an additional 120 MHz of spectrum in the 5 GHz band – now increasingly used for Wi Fi. Public safety would get more spectrum, too, from a 10 MHz piece of spectrum previously assigned to commercial uses but not auctioned.
Is all this spectrum really necessary? Yes. With demand soaring at unprecedented rate, carriers are increasingly offloading data traffic to Wi Fi. The wireless technologies that are used to deliver broadband access require broad blocks of spectrum to work efficiently. More spectrum provides a path forward for innovation – for newer, faster and better devices and applications. And the action helps each of us in our daily lives – more spectrum will be a huge help in avoiding future congestion so that we can enjoy all those powerful (and fun!) devices and applications.
Cisco joined with the tech industry to advance this legislation, and we will continue to champion the cause of more spectrum as the bill continues to wind its course through Congress.
In an effort to keep conversations fresh, Cisco Blogs closes comments after 60 days. Please visit the Cisco Blogs hub page for the latest content.


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Support PDX POP NOW! Make a PayPal donation today.
100% of the money you give goes to support all of our activities.
2008 Press
7/11/2008 Portland Octopus
7/11/2008 Indie Music Portland
7/11/2008 Oregon Live Blog/Pampelmoose
7/13/2008 Seattle Sound
7/14/2008 Delusions of Adequacy
7/15/2008 Oregon Live
7/15/2008 Portland Mercury
7/15/2008 Blurt
7/18/2008 MTV News
7/25/2008 Paste Magazine
9/11/2008 Portland Mercury Festival Announcement
2008 Videos
8/5/2008 Panther – Spin.com
8/12/2008 Dykeritz – Blurt
8/12/2008 White Fang, A Weather and Tu Fawning – Mercury Music Blog
2007 Press
08/06/2007 Oregonian Festival Review
08/06/2007 Local Cut: PDX Pop Now! Day 3
08/05/2007 Local Cut: PDX Pop Now! Day 2
08/04/2007 Local Cut: PDX Pop Now! Day 1
08/03/2007 Oregonian Feature
08/03/2007 Portland Tribune Feature
08/02/2007 Portland Mercury Festival Feature
08/01/2007 Willamette Week Festival Preview
08/01/2007 Daily Vanguard
07/27/2007 LC Podcast: These Are the Days: PDX Pop Now! edition
07/27/2007 Local Cut on City Hall Show Pt. 2
07/16/2007 Local Cut on City Hall Show Pt. 1
07/15/2007 Well Rounded Radio Interview
07/09/2007 Audiversity
07/03/2007 Fresh Sides
06/26/2007 Sound on the Sound
06/21/2007 KEXP (scroll down)
06/21/2007 Northwest Noise
06/20/2007 Treble Zine
06/20/2007 NewNowNext (LOGO TV Blog)
06/19/2007 Pitchfork
06/19/2007 Side One: Track One
06/19/2007 Pop Music (Oregonian) on Initial Festival Lineup
06/19/2007 Local Cut on Initial Festival Lineup
06/19/2007 Portland Mercury Blogtown on Initial Festival Lineup
06/18/2007 I Guess I'm Floating
06/16/2007 songs: illinois
06/08/2007 Oregonian Album Review
06/08/2007 Portland Tribune on CD Release (scroll down)
06/07/2007 Portland Mercury on CD Release (scroll down)
05/24/2007 KellyWatchTheStars
05/23/2007 Local Cut on Comp Tracklisting
Local Cut Parkrose Show Review
05/05/2007 Portland Mercury Blogtown on Parkrose
05/02/2007 CMJ on Parkrose Middle School
04/26/2007 Local Cut on Parkrose Middle School
Community Coverage
As is hardly surprsing, the public does a better job of documenting the PDX Pop Now! festivals than we could ever do. That being the case, we hope you enjoy the podcasts, photos, videos and bloggage that other people have made available to any and all. Thanks for making things with us!
Podcasts courtesy of Tables Turned
Blog coverage on Urban Honking
2006 Festival Press
07/31/06 Oregonian Review
07/31/06 Willamette Week Local Cut Review
07/28/06 Portland Tribune Feature
07/27/06 Portland Mercury Feature
07/26/06 Tiny Mix Tapes Story (scroll down)
07/24/06 Villains Always Blink
07/21/06 WW Local Cut on City Hall Concert
07/20/06 WW Local Cut on Festival Schedule
07/17/06 WW Local Cut on Lineup
07/13/06 Fluxblog
07/06/06 CMJ Story
07/05/06 Pitchfork Story
06/30/06 Stereogum
06/30/06 Gorilla vs. Bear
06/30/06 Largehearted Boy
05/09/06 Portland Mercury Interview
2005 Festival Press
08/15/05 Tiny Mix Tapes Recap (scroll down)
08/12/05 Oregonian Recap
08/10/05 Willamette Week Recap
08/05/05 Oregonian Mention (scroll down)
08/04/05 Portland Mercury Feature and Band-by-Band Guide
08/03/05 Oregonian Feature and Picks
08/03/05 Willamette Week 2004 Recap and 2005 Preview
07/28/05 Tiny Mix Tapes
06/23/05 Portland Mercury
05/06/05 Pitchfork
03/17/05 Portland Mercury
CD Press
CORTNEY HARDING, Portland Tribune
Several recent compilations have attempted to showcase the local music scene. While none of them fully encompasses all the styles of Portland music, the second PDX Pop compilation does a great job demonstrating that the city has a vibrant pop scene.
With two CDs and 41 songs, there is something for every taste. The first CD kicks off with Sleater-Kinney's aptly titled "Rollercoaster," and demonstrates that the band is on top of the world for a reason. Mirah slows things down a few tracks later with a home-recorded version of "While We Have the Sun," while Nice Nice speeds things up with "Uh-Oh."
Other CD-1 highlights include Glass Candy's sexy, spastic dance track "Lovin Machine," the glitchy "Just Expect" by Copy and Talkdemonic's beautiful "Mountaintops in Caves." The CD closes with "Chemical Reaction," by the Spooky Dance Band, and reminds us again what great talents were lost in a bike accident in 2003.
The second CD features more big name acts, among them the Decemberists, the Gossip and M Ward. While all provide stellar tracks, it's the farm-league contenders who'll really blow listeners away. The Snuggle Ups bounce around the room, while the Cajun Gems sit on the porch and twang. Die Monitr Batss create chaos. Norfolk and Western soothe.
This compilation is by no means a definitive guide to Portland music, but it's a good starting place for curious listeners. Give it a spin and find a new favorite band — many of which will perform at the PDX Pop Now! Festival this weekend.
KIP BERMAN, Portland Mercury
Compilations are, by their very nature, uneven affairs – meant more to showcase a variety of artists than offer a cohesive listen. That said, PDX Pop Now!'s sophomore offering is just as much a success as last year's debut. Sure, hiphop and Klezmer are equally represented (one track a piece), and yes (surprise!), there's an overabundance of whiny dudes with four tracks in their bedroom. But hey—that's Portland. The good folks who put out this comp and organize the PDX Pop Now! festival have their hearts and ears in the right place. Listening to the standout contributions from such diverse artists as Dolorean, The Gossip, Glass Candy (Miami Pop Now!?), Point Line Plane, Viva Voce, The Snuggle Ups, M. Ward, Wet Confetti, and The Helio Sequence remind me what a fantastically creative and vibrant music scene we are lucky enough to have in our own backyard.
MARK BAUMGARTEN, Willamette Week
Served on two discs, this collection offers a snapshot of a music scene that's about more than just "pop," that percussive palindrome that points to music meant to be consumed en masse. The compilation leaves out much of Portland's music community: mostly, the musicians working within the boundaries of genres like country, jazz, gospel, old time, metal and, save one song, hip-hop. Instead, the collection focuses on the city's forward-looking musicians, artists who are interested in reforming the templates of popular music, using new and old tools to create something fiercely original. These are many of the artists who are creating the framework for a scene that is uniquely Portland in both its geography and its form. But what is that form?
Well, it includes women, as the PDX Pop Now! compilation features a dozen female-fronted bands, from the angry (the Gossip, Sleater-Kinney) to the kind (Mirah) to the undeniably rad (the Blow, LKN). It also has an isolationist streak, as nearly half the acts included here opt to work the one- or two-person-band route while making music that reinvents the sound palette (Nice Nice, Talkdemonic, Y.A.C.H.T.) or reimagines tradition (Dolorean, Alan Singley, Jessica Jones).
And I have no idea what that means for the scene, except that it sounds great and, jokes aside, sounds like Portland-a sweeping geographical generalization that I'm willing to claim.


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Caught up in a rush to the future, Hong Kong is a city that rarely makes room for the past, behind the bar or anywhere else. This is not surprising, really, once you consider that Hong Kong doesn't have much of a history of its own. This busy city of seven million people, which now glitters with the glass and steel towers that crowd the banks of Victoria Harbour, was ignored for centuries as a barren rock of an island. It wasn't until after World War II that the former British colony developed into a world-class city, a commercial and financial center where new developments spring up so fast there is no time to be sentimental about the past.
Its denizens, a dynamic mix of local Chinese and adventurous expats hard up for imports from the West, missed out on the best of 19th- and 20th-century cocktail culture and never established any kind of local distilling or brewing traditions. In the past few years, however, Hong Kong's drinks culture has finally begun to hit its stride. As the quality of the available tea, spirits and beer has improved, the city's unique mix of Eastern and Western cultures is starting to bear fruit for local drinkers, producing a mix of flavors and an aesthetic that is unique to this vibrant, culturally mixed city.
A City Built on Tea
If anything can be said to have a history in Hong Kong, it's tea. For centuries, teahouses were the city's social, cultural and commercial centers. When the British arrived in the 1800s, it was tea that brought them, and it was tea that fueled the colony that they established. In fact, it would not be much of a stretch to say that Hong Kong's entire modern era was built on tea and on the fusion of cultures that it gave birth to. Today tea is still the beverage of choice. "We drink tea all day," says Wing-chi Ip, founding chairman of the Hong Kong Tea Association. "We have morning tea, afternoon tea and then late tea. Even in the evening time we still have tea."
Traditionally this was dark bo lei, or pu-erh tea, as well as some delicate oolongs and green teas. But sometime after the British introduced the tradition of drinking black tea with milk and sugar, Hong Kongers began to drink what is arguably the city's signature beverage, Hong Kong–style milk tea.
Though clearly an adaptation of British tea traditions, the origins of this blend of strong black tea with sugar and creamy evaporated milk are murky—some locals tell how a British official's wife started the trend by serving afternoon tea to construction workers, while others insist that the style came out of India's chai-making tradition. But by the 1950s, it had become a popular drink, served at cha chan tans, small tea stands that proliferated around the city. Many of these stands are still in business today, using their original recipes. "We use the old method to do our tea," says Johnson So, the owner of Tak Yu, which his father opened in 1954.
This method, used by most establishments, involves brewing extremely strong black tea (using a high tea-to-water ratio) with leaves from India, mixing the tea with condensed milk, and then straining it repeatedly, as many as six or eight times, through long, thin cloth bags to give the mixture a silky texture. It can be served hot or iced, with sugar or without. It is drunk not only for breakfast and alongside lunch, but also in the afternoon, when, in a local adaptation of the British tradition of afternoon tea, workers take a break daily for a cup of the brew.
Milk tea is also the base for another Hong Kong classic, yuan yang, a mixture of milk tea and coffee. One of the best versions is made at Lan Fong Yuen, an immensely popular tea stand and lunch shop on a narrow, crowded street in the Central neighborhood. There, the sweetness of the milk tea gives the yuan yang a flavor reminiscent of coffee ice cream, and locals line up all day to grab a cup.
The original surge in milk tea's popularity in the '50s and '60s coincided with an erosion in the quality of the green teas and pu-erhs available in Hong Kong, when tea exports from China stopped due to the country's cultural and political unrest. It wasn't until after Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping loosened travel restrictions to the Chinese countryside in the 1980s that Hong Kong developed a market for high-quality, single-estate teas. Beginning in the late '80s, a handful of tea lovers began traveling to China's most famous tea regions, including Mr. Ip, who founded the tea company Lock Cha in 1991 and began selling tea acquired directly from farmers. "I started to sell some tea in single-day harvests, because I didn't want to just blend the tea into grade one, grade two and grade three," he says. "And this concept was very welcomed by some people, and it became a trend."
In 2003 he opened the Lock Cha Tea House, a sunny escape in Hong Kong Park offering more than 100 teas, mostly Chinese, from a light green tea from Anhui with a floral aroma and a sweet, hay-like flavor to a woodsy, honey-noted oolong from the mountains of Taiwan.
The city's large western expat community has also played a role in reviving interest in high-quality teas. "In Hong Kong, people always think that things from abroad are much better than local things," says Vivian Mak, owner of the tea company MingCha, which began selling single-origin teas, most of them from China, in 1999. Though the company was based in Hong Kong, Mak aimed at foreign markets when she began promoting her teas, developing a reputation in Japan, Paris and London. That reputation followed her back to Hong Kong, where she now runs the business out of a modern, loft-like shop hidden in an industrial building in the Taikoo neighborhood. While many of her customers are still westerners, her local customer base continues to grow, and in the past few years, Mak has even started to see customers from mainland China who favor Hong Kong tea companies for their trustworthiness, particularly after China's recent food contamination scandals, she says.
East Meets West
While the expatriate community has had only a small hand in the development of Hong Kong's tea market, it has been the driving force behind the city's cocktail revolution. Until recently, Hong Kong was a wasteland for cocktail lovers. "Ten years ago in Hong Kong, cocktails were very much like a fruit punch with some booze in it," says Peter Kendall, formerly a bartender at Milk & Honey in London and now one of the handful of bartenders bringing classic and well-crafted mixed drinks to Hong Kong. Fittingly for the city known as Asia's business and travel hub, the cocktail revolution began in some of the city's best hotels. Its genesis can be traced back to the Mandarin Oriental in 2006, when the hotel hired bartenders and managers formerly of the Match Bar Group in London (proprietors of Milk & Honey) to renovate the hotel's cocktail menus and to train their staffs.
These cocktails quickly caught on with the city's sophisticated drinkers, and soon other bar owners were hiring talent from overseas to teach their staffs. "Hong Kong's very much a village," says Sam Jeveons, who along with Kendall and Angus Winchester, founder of the cocktail consulting firm Alconomics, oversaw the Mandarin Oriental's program. "If one thing happens in this side of the village, it will be replicated to some degree on that side of the village. So it's very easy to affect a change."
Some bars integrated quality cocktails into Hong Kong's club scene, blending touches of speakeasy-style décor with hip hop and a boisterous see-and-be-seen atmosphere. The restaurant Lily & Bloom, located in the middle of Lan Kwai Fong, excels at this, serving a list of classics like the Clover Club and the Navy Grog. The bar embraces the neighborhood's party atmosphere, welcoming the young and the trendy who, though they might not know about the history behind the cocktails, appreciate their quality.
Meanwhile, hotel bars continue to act as a force for innovation and quality, and the best have begun to develop a style that is based in classic British and American traditions while using local ingredients and embracing the city's taste for lighter, fruitier drinks. After his stint at the Mandarin Oriental and a few years consulting in other parts of Asia, Jeveons signed on as a director at the Upper House hotel, designing the cocktail menu for Café Gray Deluxe, which boasts a swanky bar with stunning views that is patronized by the city's well-heeled businessmen and visitors. He uses local ingredients like Shanghai White (a new vodka made in Chengdu, China), Chinese ginger and even salty-sour preserved orange peels, and his cocktails exemplify Hong Kong's emerging style. Many of his drinks rely heavily on fresh fruit and juices without masking the spirits, like the Peasant's Margarita, a mix of tequila, lime juice, grapefruit juice, honey and agave syrup.
Kendall is also now at the helm of a hotel bar, Sugar, located on the top floor of East hotel in the Taikoo neighborhood, where a young, party-friendly atmosphere and large deck draw a local crowd. He too has built a menu that highlights fresh fruit with drinks like the Honey-Melon Margarita, made with fresh honeydew. "You're taking these European understandings of classic drinks, of structuring a cocktail, and making it Asian through fruitiness," says Kendall. He also uses fresh juices to make a number of creative mocktails, like a combination of fresh strawberry and orange juices and ginger beer, to cater to the many customers who don't drink or who want an alcohol-free option to turn to after their first cocktail.
For those who embrace stronger, more western-style cocktails, the newest trend in the Hong Kong drinking scene is the arrival of a handful of speakeasy-style bars. The most exclusive, 001, maintains a level of secrecy abandoned even in the modern speakeasy-style bars of New York. Those who manage to make it past its unmarked door, however, are rewarded with an elegant, dark room decorated with bevel-edged mirrors, marble tables and cerulean blue upholstered banquettes, not to mention a remarkably long list of cocktails inspired by classics—like the Pear Sidecar made with pear eau de vie and the Midnight Manhattan made with cherry- and vanilla-infused bourbon—as well as fruity originals, like the Strawberry Blond, a mix of strawberry-infused vodka, ginger liqueur, strawberry purée, lemon juice and basil syrup.
"People were waiting for something like this," says Maxence Traverse, the bar manager at another hidden spot, Le Boudoir. Since he opened his small bar, decorated to evoke 19th-century France, Traverse, a French native who trained in England, has been serving classic drinks with a twist, like a saffron-flavored Negroni and a lemongrass Mojito, to locals who return regularly to drink their way through his menu.
In addition to these classically inspired spots, a handful of bars offer cocktails made with techniques appropriated from molecular gastronomy. The city's poster boy for this movement is Antonio Lai, a Hong Kong local who uses molecular techniques to develop showy cocktails for bars like Hush, a leather-paneled spot in the city's party district; Angel's Share, a cozy whisky bar with a small cocktail menu; and his own bar, Quinary, which opened in April. Lai uses lecithin to create frothy foams and calcium chloride to make "caviar" from juices and teas. Some of his creations seem to be mostly about the showiness of the process, but others, like his Oolong Tea Gimlet, in which he uses carbon dioxide to give a blend of gin, grapefruit bitters and sweetened oolong tea a Champagne-like quality, are more toned-down in their delivery.
Something Brewing
Strangely for a largely British city, Hong Kong was also long bereft of good beer options. Due to a punishing import duty on alcohol that was only lifted in 2008, most bars served a paltry list consisting of mainly European macrobrews, despite the fact that Hong Kongers so love beer that they drink just under six gallons per capita each year. But following the abolition of the tariff, a wide variety of beers has begun to appear in a few dedicated pubs. "More and more people are aware of and are demanding better quality and more varieties," says Toby Cooper, director of the Globe, one of the most popular beer spots in town.
Cooper, who came to Hong Kong 15 years ago and began running the Globe in 2003, maintains a list of beers from around the world with an emphasis on British and Belgian offerings, including many from small breweries, like Thornbridge Brewery's Jaipur IPA and Timothy Taylor's Landlord Pale Ale. Due to the bar's limited storage space, Cooper primarily buys small amounts of these beers, but as his menu constantly changes, he's able to offer an astounding number of beers throughout the year. On special occasions he'll even air-freight in hard-to-find bottles to give his regulars a chance to try beers that would otherwise never make it to Hong Kong.
Some other pubs have begun to import their own beers, including the restaurant group El Grande Concepts, owners of East End Brewery, Inn Side Out, Cochrane's and other Hong Kong spots, which imports beer like Sierra Nevada and other American craft beers that they can't get through local distributors.
There are even the first stirrings of a local craft-brewing scene. East End Brewery works with the small Hong Kong Brewing Company to create two house beers, a Vienna Lager and a Pale Ale, and in 2009, Pierre Cadoret, a pilot for Cathay Pacific, opened Typhoon Brewery on Lantau Island, near Hong Kong International Airport. "I used to come to Hong Kong every month, and coming from England, where there's a real beer culture, I never found anything satisfactory to drink," he says.
Cadoret began with his signature T8, an English bitter, and then developed two more beers, a blond ale called Eastern Lightning, and a dark ale, Darkside. Local drinkers have embraced all, but so far, due to the constraints of his schedule as a pilot and the fact that the outlets he sells to need to invest in mechanically cooled storage containers to combat Hong Kong's heat, Cadoret has only been able to offer the beers at the Globe and at a Turkish restaurant on neighboring Lantau Island. But he's confident that once he overcomes these hurdles there will be a large domestic market for his products. He also believes the demand for quality beers will increase in the local Chinese community. "I think the hook will be the expat community, but that said, the Chinese have a strong taste for beer. They just don't know what's out there yet," he explains. "People appreciate good products. But, of course, you can't appreciate anything of quality until it's actually put in front of you. And I think that is what hasn't happened yet in Hong Kong with beer."


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HPV in Men
Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts,"
I recently entered into a relationship with a woman; we have not had intercourse yet. She told me that she has Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). I have heard of it, but never researched it. I would like as much information about it as I can get. I understand that I can contract it and there is no cure.
Christina S. Chu, MD, Assistant Professor of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, responds:
According to the American Cancer Society, about 50-75% of the people who have ever had sex will have HPV at some time in their life. HPV can be transmitted through sexual intercourse, but also through other forms of genital and oral-genital contact. Condoms can protect against transmission to some extent, but they only provide protection for the areas that are directly covered by the condom.
Most men who are already infected don't even know it and never have symptoms, and there is no approved test to check for HPV in men. Having said that, about 1% of sexually active men in the USA have genital warts, which are caused by certain types of the HPV virus. There is no treatment for HPV infection, and most HPV infections go away by themselves (because the immune system fights it off). Visible symptoms of infection, such as warts, may also go away by themselves, or be removed by medication, freezing, or surgical excision.
Certain strains of HPV have been linked to penile and anal cancers in men, but these are rare, and usually occur in men with compromised immune systems (like men infected with HIV). Penile cancers are especially rare in circumcised men.
It is important to know that men most often unknowingly transmit the virus to their female partners, and cervical pre-cancer (dysplasia) and cervical cancer (caused by HPV ) are a much more common problem for women than penile/anal cancer is for men.


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Flood Relief Fund needs replenishing
It's been seven months since heavy rains produced a flood in the area. And people are still dealing with the damage and restoration of their homes and businesses.
The local Flood Relief Fund has provided monetary help to 85 homeowners and 12 renters from donations that have been sent in. A committee of three members meets weekly to distribute the funds to those that apply.
The members of the group represent the three largest churches in Moose Lake. Cindy Carlson represents Holy Angels Catholic Church and has experience with the Mercy Foundation, Pastor Reggie Denton represents Hope Lutheran Church, and Wendy Sorvik is the pastor of Family Life at the Moose Lake Evangelical Covenant Church.
"Just because it's not front page news doesn't mean that people aren't dealing with it every single day," said Carlson at the meeting on Thursday, January 24.
"A lot of people think that it is over but for a lot of people it is not," added Pastor Denton.
Case managers have been hired by Lutheran Social Services to help the flood victims in the local region to secure funding and other assistance. Sorvik explained that the local Flood Relief group works with the case managers.
People have been generous in sending donations to the Flood Relief account at the First National Bank. The total amount in flood relief donations has been $88,000, said Pastor Denton.
He explained how the fund was started.
"The need was identified and the city got behind it, along with Jerome Bennett at the bank," said Pastor Denton. "The fund was initially set up under the city's accounts but the city didn't want the responsibility. They approached me at Hope and asked if we could have it under our accounts to keep it under a tax-free status."
That was in July last year. The flood waters had risen on June 19-20 and receded over the next few days, leaving behind water-filled basements, flooded homes and businesses and the school that had been surrounded by flood waters.
The pumping station for the sewer system in Moose Lake and Barnum also flooded and failed, resulting in sewage backing up into basements.
Appliances, including water heaters and furnaces that were in flooded basements, had to be replaced.
The newly-formed group wanted to help the flood victims and decided that they would use existing networks, such as the food shelf, to reach them.
They came up with an application process and made the applications available at places where the victims could pick one up, such as the bank and credit union, city hall and the area churches.
The group also decided that the Flood Relief Fund wasn't just for people in the Moose Lake area, it was for victims from Rutledge to Cromwell, including Sturgeon Lake, Willow River, Kettle River and Barnum.
The donations started coming in.
"We started getting donations from various sources," said Pastor Denton. "They came from all over the state and out of state. There were funds from organizations."
People could also drop donations in jars at the local businesses.
The offenders at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Moose Lake also collected $108 for the fund. And $500 was received from the correctional facility in Red Wing because there was a correctional facility in Moose Lake.
The employees at the Minnesota Sex Offender Program also collected and sent in donations.
"We received lots of donations from people who said that Moose Lake holds a special place in their hearts," said Carlson. "One woman sent $37 because she had been gone from Moose Lake for 37 years."
"It added up," said Pastor Denton. "Some only gave $5, others only gave a dollar. It added up to $88,000."
The group defined their role in distributing the funds to the flood victims: To restore function and utility to homes, to keep the maximum number of living units in the area and, therefore, help area businesses.
In reviewing the applications, the group set the maximum donation at $750 for homeowners and $500 for the renters.
"The amount of $750 was nothing," said Sorvik. "But people have been extremely grateful for that money. They say, 'Thank you so much.'"
The funds are not given directly to the applicants.
"Whenever possible the checks have gone to the vendors," said Pastor Denton. "That creates accountability for the funds and it helps the area businesses."
Gift cards to stores in the local area were also purchased with the funds, if that was what the flood victims needed.
"We didn't always give $750, we had to know the need," said Pastor Denton. "We were keenly aware that it didn't go very far."
"We talked to people as much as we could," said Sorvik. "We heard a lot of interesting stories. Some didn't want to ask for help. The people that gave wanted to help."
"People are still dealing with this a lot," said Carlson. "It's easy to forget that. We are humbled by how good people are."
The balance in the fund is low. Donations are still being accepted. Send donations to the Flood Relief Fund at the First National Bank in Moose Lake.


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MILAN - Milan designers offered a softer, sporty silhouette for men next fall and winter.
Menswear has been driving Italian luxury exports as well as global sales of luxury goods as men become more daring and discerning in their wardrobe choices. Purchases are no longer relegated to special occasion tuxes or watches, but also encompass every-day wear for home and office.
That can help explain the trend in Milan toward relaxed and athletic looks, typified by active-wear pants cinched at the waist, often in knit fabrics, paired with big, boxy sweat shirts and sweaters. There was a sense of escape, offering men an alternate reality.
Still, there was no shortage of suits and coats. One of the week's strongest trends were skinny pants, evoking the 1960s, often worn with neat, cropped jackets.
The main colour palate was darkly masculine, with a smattering of dusty pastels and contrast of eggplant, peacock and greens. Designers also flashed up garments in shiny silver and gold. Shoes were heavily soled and bags ample.
Even when loose and casual, the looks were always underpinned by Italian tailoring, craftsmanship and innovative textiles that enriched the garments — putting the focus on Made in Italy. Designers achieved fresh effects by reworking fabrics, weaving flax with cashmere to retain a masculine edge to sweaters and bonding neoprene with Tuscan wool for a turbulent surface effect on outerwear. One house, Etro, even paraded their artisans down the runway alongside the garments they helped realize.
Giorgio Armani has loosened up his silhouette for next winter.
The Milan fashion powerhouse sprang to prominence with his 1970s deconstructed jacket with big shoulders. For next winter's menswear collection, previewed Tuesday on the last day of Milan Fashion Week, Armani has reworked that jacket, taking structural cues from cardigans.
The result is a look that maintains the emblematic Armani tailoring while at the same time being relaxed with gently sloping, raglan shoulders. Then Armani does something else: he inverts his look, and beneath the easy jacket, which is almost always unbuttoned, he puts a very button-down vest, double-breasted with or without a slotted lapel for a new take on the three-piece suit.
Pants were mostly straight, often with a neat raised crease running down the front. Armani also created baggier trousers for some more athletic and Bohemian looks.
Still, the looser silhouette was almost always kept in check by more constrained elements and mood of the collection overall was sober and elegant. Colors were dark hues, blue, brown and greys, with white shirts providing contrast. Fabrics included velvet and corduroy.
Roberto Cavalli's menswear collection next fall and winter encapsulated his vision of a man who is free spirited, never dull, and always impeccably dressed.
"So many menswear collections are boring," Cavalli said before his show. "I try not to make it boring."
His womenswear collections usually revolve around sexy dresses done in animal prints, and Cavalli's men's line also heeds the call of the wild. An overcoat starts out as herringbone at the bottom and gradually transforms to zebra print at the top. A slim-cut suit was paired with rock'n'roll inspired creepers with studs around the sole or done up in leopard. The surface of leather in biker jackets is reworked with studs from within to resemble the blister-like surface of tropical lizards.
And where else but on Cavalli's runway would you see a full-length fur coat done in a patchwork of black, white and red fox?
Canadian design duo Dan and Dean Catena at DSquared2, known for their memorable runway shows, outdid themselves this time by transforming their menswear fall-winter 2014-2015 catwalk into a prison.
The show started with a model tied up in a straitjacket and being dragged off by two burly orderlies to the sound of a siren. And the soundtrack included Nurse Ratched from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."
The lights went on to reveal a cell block filled with DSquared2 "inmates," perhaps doing time for fashion crimes. The first model out worn an orange bomber jacket with "Caten Penitentiary" emblazoned across the back.
Many of the looks involved jeans cuffed above the ankle and Dr. Martens-style work boots. Leather or denim jean jackets were paired with black pants stopping above the angle. A jean jacket came with straitjacket-style buckles running down the back. For a more formal look, there was a black cloth bomber jacket with patch pockets worn over a white shirt and narrow tie.


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Gloria Jean's Coffees contributes to the communities from which we source our coffee and the communities we serve.
We look to build partnerships with non-profit organisations who build and change lives in the community. We support local, national and global community initiatives through sponsorships, goods in kind and other fundraising events.
Our Franchise Partners from around the world, are equally committed to building and changing lives in their local communities.
In the event you wish to receive sponsorship for local projects, or goods in kind for fundraising events, please contact your local coffee house.


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Guest Post by Saeed M. Originally Posted on Author's Space on Yello.Pk
Masha'Allah, there are many different pockets of people speaking out about this rising tide of insensitivity in advertising. Below is an email from a colleague (her identity is referred to as K.O. for the purpose of this post) about Hiba Magazine's efforts in rousing people towards this cause. Let's join hands and do this collectively. The whole is greater than the sum, Insha'Allah.
Assalamu'Alaikum all,
HIBA Magazine has been doing a "Raise you Voice" section in their magazine for a while now. Their initiative is to write to companies who use distasteful and inappropriate advertising to sell their products.
We are all aware of the alarming increase in obscenity and vulgarity in our media – particularly advertising. Are we not going to do anything about it?
We must wake up from our complacent slumber and raise our voice. Do we have any other choice? Please ask your circle of influence to raise their voice.
A sample email written to Gul Ahmed Textiles is at the end of this message.
May Allah help and guide us all and may He write us among those who stand up for His deen. Ameen
Raise your Voice
For this month's "Raise your Voice" we are sending the following letters:
1. Omore Icecream: We sent a letter to Engro Foods, complaining about their recent advertisement of Omore. We emphasized that ridiculous dancing does little to advertise ice-cream, but does loads to promote the wrong values. You can send a letter of protest against this advertisement to their ad agency at firstname.lastname@example.com and email@example.com. To complain to the parent company, send an email to: firstname.lastname@example.com. You can also complain at the Engro website at:
2. Gul Ahmed Textiles: We sent a letter to Gul Ahmed Textiles to protest against their billboard at Punjab Chowrangi, Clifton (among other places). You can also send in your letters / emails to:
Mr. Huzaifa Essabhai
Marketing Executive
Gul Ahmed Textile Mills Ltd
H.T/4 Landhi Industrial Area Karachi-75120
Ph: +92-21-111485485 Ext-6536
Fax: +92-21-5082625
Cell: +92-333-2361269
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
3. Master Molty Foam: It was brought to our attention that the Master Molty Foam ad is also highly vulgar and distasteful. If you have seen this advertisement, please write to
email@example.com and email@example.com to register your protest.
4. Nando's: Has anyone noticed the alarming frequency with which the Nando's advertisements and flyers have started to feature the phrase "hot chicks"? We sent them a strong letter of condemnation against this use of phrase.
5. Accessorize: This international brand apparently did not consider local values when it placed a front page advertisement in Metropolitan, Dawn. We sent them an educational letter, requesting them to revamp their advertisements in line with the values of the country, where they are advertising. Do send them this request also,
at: email@example.com
6. Pepsi Cola International: Huge, glaring billboards of Slice Mango Juice are a torture to the eyes. We are sending them a letter through their website, requesting them to emphasize more on the product than on the model. Interestingly, they wrote back to us, giving us a specific address/phone number to complain on. Here it is now. Please write to them too:
National Bank of Fujairah Bldg.
Khalid Ibn Al Waleed Road
P.O. Box 11330 Dubai
United Arab Emirates
Phone: (971 4) 3971 666
Fax: (971 4) 3972 048
7. Pakola: Last year, we wrote to Pakola Milk commending them on a billboard, which was without a single model. This year, they have re-introduced the billboards, with glaring images of models. We are sending a letter of disappointment to them. You can also get in touch with them at firstname.lastname@example.com and firstname.lastname@example.com
Sample E-Mail to Gul Ahmed Textile
To: email@example.com
Date: Mon, 31 May 2010 11:43:52 +0600
Mr Essabhai,
I am a fan and loyal customer of Gul Ahmed fabrics and products. Your name has been synonymous with good quality and value for money. However, I am disappointed at the current trend in your marketing. The use of female sexuality to sell products is a cheap gimmick – does it really add value to your product? If so, then what value? Is it worth challenging the religious and cultural sensibilities of your customers? And yes, majority of your customers do get outraged by billboards and catalogues selling NOT just lawn but sex. As a woman, I am appalled to see my kind being so unashamedly exploited to sell stuff.
Gul Ahmed has been a business leader of this country for decades. You do not need to jump on the bandwagon of distasteful and morally corrupt advertising campaigns. In fact one expects you to lead the industry with an example of ethical business practices.
You must consider this seriously.
Thank you.
(A concerned citizen and customer of Gul Ahmed)


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Windows Defender: This operation returned because the timeout period expired. (Error Code: 0x800705b4)
I recently received a new Dell laptop that has Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit as the operating system. A friend and I were discussing virus protection software as well as spyware protection software and how Windows 7 handles each. I am a big fan of Windows Defender so I was looking at the configuration on my Windows 7 computer and realized that the Windows Defender service was not starting. I hadn't even realized this because I typically turn off the Virus, Spyware, and Firewall messaging that Windows complains about if you don't have each installed the way the OS wants. So needless to say I was surprised that Windows Defender was stopped. It took me awhile to finally figure out how to resolve and I came across a bunch of issues that others may have so below I describe the error, steps I took to resolve, and final resolution.


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Product Description
Our silk top option is on it's own product page because we want customers to be fully educated about what they are purchasing. Silk top wigs have pros and cons, and we want to make sure that you fully understand what you are going for. When making a wig, there are several options that provide the ability to part the hair and have it look like scalp, silk top is one of them. It is also one of the most labor intensive, and high end construction techniques used in wig making. The cap has a layer of lace, and a layer of silk underneath the lace. The silk hides the knots so that from the top of the wig, you cannot see any knots anywhere!
You may wonder, what's the downside? Well the downside is that it's more expensive and there is a visible line where the silk begins. In some cases, we can pick a silk color that more closely matches your skin color, so that the transition is not obvious, however, people's scalps are usually lighter than their complexion. In the photos you can see the cap construction detail, we try very carefully to make you fully aware of the options for wigmaking so you can make an informed decision. If you understand the pros and cons, a silk top is a good option.
If you've ever looked at a celebrity in a lace front wig, such as Ciara, Beyonce or Tyra Banks and wonder how they get such a perfect looking part, it is because they use a sik top on the crown of their wig.
Another question you may have is can you use a silk cap construction for an entire wig? You can, however, it's incredibly cost prohibitive. It's a popular option for women who have total hair loss and are committed to wearing wigs. We never recommend this for a customer's first or second wig. It is expensive so you should be absolutely sure that you are skilled with handling your wig, and are committed to proper care, before making the additional investment.
view photo gallery Add to Wish List


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March 13, 2013
UCF Athletics Social Media Directory
By Eric DeSalvo
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF baseball team used a four-run eighth inning to erase a 2-1 deficit and earn a 5-2 win over Florida A&M Wednesday night to sweep the series. The Knights improved to 11-7 on the year and 7-3 overall in March.
After starter Eric Skoglund left the game with one out in the top of the sixth, rookie RHP Zac Favre began his assault on Rattler (1-17) hitters by striking out nine of the 13 he faced in 3 2/3 innings of work while not allowing a hit. The Jacksonville native earned his second win in three games, and now owns a 0.57 ERA in 10 appearances.
"Zac Favre has done an awesome job for us all season. For a freshman, he sure doesn't pitch like one. He pitches like a seasoned veteran," head coach Terry Rooney said about his young righty. "The thing about Zac is that he's done it in tight games and when we've needed it most. I had no intentions of pitching him as long as we did, but I also didn't intend the game to be what it was. He is certainly the star of the game from that standpoint."
UCF will continue its string of six games in seven days when it welcomes Columbia to the baseball complex beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. on "90s Night." The Lions (1-6) will be in town for a four-game set.
To start off the game, redshirt senior RF Erik Hempe (2-for-4) wasted no time extending his hit streak to 10 games with an RBI single to right field to drive home a sprinting James Vasquez (1-for-3) who smacked his sixth double of the year in the prior at-bat.
After the Rattlers tied the game at 1-all in the top of the fifth on an RBI single, they would take the lead the following frame on a strike-three wild pitch that got away from catcher Dale Irving (1-for-3). The wild-pitch strikeout would not phase Favre, however, as he got another punchout to end the top of the sixth.
Looking to lift its young reliever, the Knights' offense took advantage of two Rattlers miscues prior to LF Parker Webster (2-for-3, 1 RBI) delivering a two-strike run-scoring single to left field to tie the game. The Sandy, Utah, now has back-to-back contests with an RBI after a solo homer on Tuesday.
The Knights tacked on two more after reliever Tony Covington got wild on back-to-back pitches to plate both Austin Johnston (1-for-3) and Webster. Pinch-hitter Nick Carrillo drove home the fourth run of the inning on a grounder to second base for his first RBI of the year.
Getting the run support he needed, Favre marched back on the mound and closed out the contest by striking out the side. The rookie now owns 23 punchouts in just 15 2/3 innings of work.
Ten Voucher packages are now on sale for only $50. Select the games that you want to attend for a discounted price. Voucher packages and single-game tickets can be purchased by calling 407-UCF-1000 or visit the baseball tickets page. Stay up-to-date on all the latest news by visiting UCFAthletics.com and following the team on Twitter (@UCF_Baseball) and Facebook.


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07-10-2011 08:43 PM - edited 07-10-2011 09:00 PM
Lenovo Masters:
Good day to you all.
I would like to ask how can I install WinXP in my S10 (no DVD drive)? First, I want to share that I committed the mistake of using it without any anti-virus software installed. As a result, it bugged down. Now in my attempt to reformat it and make it as fresh as day one, I followed the steps on how to make a bootable USB drive. I was not aware that this unit is only compatible with WinXP (I tried to upgrade to Win7). And in the process, I deleted both partitions of the HDD.. Now I'm receiving the message "windows was not able to detect a hard drive.. blah.. blah.." dead end for me..
Can anyone grant me his/her generosity and enlighten me on what to do? Badly need help.. Thanks!
And may I add.. should the only solution be ordering a recovery disc(s), how can I process the purchase and where? Thanks again masters..
Hi and welcome,
could be that you miss to include Sata driver (and Service Pack 3) on your install USB drive , further info about clean install take a look here in our Knowledgebase ...
regards KalvinKlein


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There's much to talk about, so we'll get right to the good stuff. Read on for chip 'n dip madness (sans guilt, of course)!
Guiltless Gourmet Tortilla Chips - Our top tortilla-chip pick! The full lineup rocks, and there's something for everyone, from Spicy Black Bean to zesty Chipotle to sodium-savvy Unsalted Yellow Corn. Each 1-oz. serving (about 18 chips) has only 120 calories, 2 - 3g fat, and 2g fiber (PointsPlus® value 3*). Pssst... Keep an eye out for the new packaging. Special K Cracker Chips - These crispy crackers make great dip companions. There are five fun flavors to choose from, including Cheddar and Southwest Ranch. Chomp on 27 - 30 chips (WOW!) for 110 calories, 2.5 - 3g fat, and 3g fiber (PointsPlus® value 3*). If you haven't yet tried these, do it soon! Kettle Brand Real Sliced Potatoes - For authentic potato-chip taste and texture, these extra-crunchy crisps are a must-chew. Eat an ounce (about 20 chips) for 120 calories, 3 - 3.5g fat, and 2g fiber (PointsPlus® value 3*). The Sea Salt flavor is perfect for all sorts of dips. For a flavor bonanza, dip the Hickory Honey Barbeque chips in our Sweet Caramelized Onion Dip! Popchips - This longtime-favorite chip brand keeps expanding its empire, covering both potato-chip AND tortilla-chip needs. The chips are nice and sturdy for excellent dipability. With the exception of the only-in-Canada Ketchup flavor, a 1-oz. serving (about 16 - 23 chips) has 120 - 130 calories, 4g fat, and <1 - 2g fiber (PointsPlus® value 3*). We can't even imagine how good the new Katy's Kettle Corn flavor would be with our So-Good Cinnamon-Vanilla Yogurt Dip!
Crazy-Good Corn Chips - Get fancy and create your own tortilla chips! (OK, fine, making chips from tortillas isn't fancy. It is cool, though!) Baked Kale - Don't let the name fool you... When baked at a high temp, kale becomes a crispy chip-like snack!
Wholly Salsa Guacamole & Spicy Pico - This brilliant creation fuses the decadence of guac with the guilt-free nature of pico de gallo (a.k.a. chunky salsa). A 2-tbsp. serving has just 35 calories and 2.5g fat, plus a gram of fiber (PointsPlus® value 1*). If you crave straight-up guacamole, keep portions in check with Wholly Guacamole 100 Cal Snack Packs, in Classic and Spicy! Eat Well Enjoy Life Greek Yogurt Hummus - Ripping a page right out of the HG handbook, this company uses Greek yogurt in its hummus! The result is a line of spreads with 50 percent less fat than traditional hummus. Enjoy a 2-tbsp. serving for only 50 calories and 2.5 - 3g fat, plus 2g protein (PointsPlus® value 1*). Did we mention these dips are downright delicious? (We wouldn't be talking about them if they weren't!)
Sweet Caramelized Onion Dip - Onion dip is well loved. This dip is especially loveable, due to its low calorie count and intergalactic flavor. (Read: It's out of this world.) Fat-Free Plain Greek Yogurt + Ranch Dressing/Dip Seasoning Mix - This two-ingredient recipe is our cure for the common ranch dip. It's not crazy fattening or diet-y tasting! Buff Chick Hot Wing Dip - Ain't no party like an HG party 'cuz an HG party's got this dip! (If it doesn't, people complain.)
Holy Moly Guacamole - Another Hungry Girl classic! Tell no one of the secret ingredient. They'll never guess... Rockin' Roasted Corn Guac 'n Chips - This kicked-up spin on our original guac recipe has its very own chips. That rocks! Amazing ATE-Layer Dip - We spun the original fatty fave into something super tasty yet much lighter. We are literally magicians. (Okay, that is not true.) Gooey-Good Queso Dip 'n Chips - Your dreams of cheesy chips with meaty bits will come true when you make this spiced-up creation! Turkey-rific Taco Bean Dip - Maximum flavor, minimum effort. That's why we love slow cookers! Crazy-Creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip - Our restaurant-style dip puts conventional versions to shame. Did you hear that? Shame on you, fatty dips! Nice 'n Spicy Artichoke Dip - There's room in our hearts (and our mouths) for more than one artichoke dip. This one has got some heat! Hungry, Hungry Artichoke Hummus - OK, we promise this is the last artichoke dip of the day. But can you blame us? They're all SO good. Roasted Veggie Spreaddip - We put some of our favorite things in a blender, and can you guess what emerged? An incredibly creamy, bursting-with-flavor dip!
Passing around this email is like passing around chips at an ACTUAL party. (It just is. Don't argue!) Click "Send to a Friend" now, party animal...
March 22nd (today) is National Bavarian Crepes Day. As all-American gals, we'll be chowing down on Super-Simple Apple-Cinnamon Dessert Crepes instead!
SmartPoints® value not what you expected? Click here for more info on how the values are calculated, plus more FAQs about PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® values on our website.


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American Physical Society Sites|APS|Journals|PhysicsCentral|Physics Magazine
- American Physical Society Sites
- Publications
- Meetings & Events
- Programs
- Membership
- Policy & Advocacy
- Careers In Physics
- Newsroom
- About APS
- Become a Member
Gabriel Popkin, Consultant, American Physical Society
In the past few years, physics departments have been closed or threatened with closure in states including Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Maine, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Idaho. Most of these departments have been targeted because of the low numbers of undergraduate physics majors they graduate each year.
In response, APS has put together a set of resources to help physics faculty demonstrate value to their institutions and make the case for their departments. These resources include case studies of physics departments that have taken proactive steps to increase the number of students they graduate. The case study below and others can be found on APS website.
The University of Arkansas has made spectacular gains in its physics major graduation rates—from less than two majors per year in the mid-1990s to nearly 20 per year today. The program's success rests on its reformed introductory University Physics sequence, careful advising practices, and early teaching and research opportunities. The department also has a nationally recognized physics teacher preparation program, which is closely integrated with the overall undergraduate program.
Overview: Present and Past
The University of Arkansas is the flagship public university in the state of Arkansas, and serves over 20,000 students. The physics department comprises 20 faculty members, up from 14 in the mid-1990s, and grants around three PhDs and three master's degrees each year. The department now has a thriving undergraduate program, but this was not always the case.
In the mid-90s, the physics department graduated only a few majors per year, and students in an introductory physics course had actually gone on strike to express their dissatisfaction with the instruction. Recognizing a crisis and acknowledging that changes in their program were necessary, the department decided to hire Gay Stewart, a faculty member with a strong interest in physics education.
Starting with Course Reform
Gay Stewart and her husband John, also a physics education researcher, began by reforming University Physics II, the introductory electricity and magnetism course for both physics majors and engineers, which had been the source of many of the student complaints. The course was modified to tie theory and practice together more closely, and to make sure students were aware of the relevance of what they were learning. The Stewarts also developed a preparation program for teaching assistants, which quickly grew to include a program for undergraduate Learning Assistants. This ensured that the TAs and Learning Assistants were using good inquiry-based practices, and resulted in much higher student satisfaction, better student conceptual learning, and improved attitudes toward science by the end of the course.
After University Physics II, the Stewarts went on to reform University Physics I, the introductory mechanics course. They helped make modifications to other courses as well, and those course reforms are sustained with different instructors, although Gay emphasizes the importance of assigning these courses to full-time faculty members who care about good teaching, and can convey enthusiasm about physics. As a result of reforms and instructor selection, the University Physics sequence began functioning as a powerful recruiting tool, getting students excited about physics and drawing them into the department.
The physics program is now so highly regarded that some departments like Chemical Engineering actually recommend that some of their best students also major in physics. University Physics I has become a cornerstone course for the Freshman Engineering program, and many physics courses are recommended as technical electives across the College of Engineering.
Advising, Flexible Major Tracks, and Research Opportunities
Once an Arkansas student expresses interest in physics, that interest is carefully nurtured through proactive and personalized advising. The department tries to begin advising declared majors in their freshman year or sometimes before they reach campus, even though the university only requires students to have a department-specific advisor starting in the junior year. This allows advisors to identify students' interests early, and get them started on an appropriate course of study.
The Arkansas undergraduate physics programs includes a variety of major tracks, including a standard professional track, and ones focusing on optics, electronics, computational physics, biophysics, and astronomy. Beyond the defined tracks, however, advisors often work with individual students to develop a course of study tailored to that student's particular interests and needs. For instance, an advisor might help a non-traditional student pick up needed math courses, or work with a student to develop a "special emphasis area" to prepare for med school, law school, a teaching career, or other post-graduate options.
Early and proactive advising also enables students to get involved in research opportunities as early as their sophomore year. This in turn leads to more students gaining access to Research Experiences for Undergraduate (REU) programs, winning awards and fellowships, and being better prepared for graduate school. Equally important, it gives students who discover they don't like a particular area of research enough time to find a different course.
Arkansas Physics Becomes a Teacher Preparation Leader
In 2001, the University of Arkansas became one of the first funded sites of the Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC) project, a teacher preparation project led by APS and the American Association of Physics Teachers. In 2001 the department had graduated one teacher in the previous decade; it now graduates five or more per year. The cornerstones of the program's success are the same as those that have been instrumental in boosting the department's majors: careful advising, flexible course requirements, and recruiting through good teaching. As Gay Stewart puts it:
"University of Arkansas' philosophy has been that you never know who is going to be a future teacher, so you should treat all students as if they might be, modeling good pedagogy in introductory physics classes. This has the beautiful side effect that if all students experience an intro class taught the way we would like future teachers to teach, you end up with more MAJORS! Further, the new teachers you have sent out start sending you new, well-prepared prospective majors."
Arkansas' physics teacher education program is now one of the top in the country in terms of physics teacher graduation rates, and it has been recognized as exemplary by the National Task Force on Teacher Education in Physics and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities' (APLU's) Science and Mathematics Teacher Imperative (SMTI). Much more information about Arkansas' physics teacher preparation program is available at www.PhysTEC.org/institutions/arkansas
Support from the Administration and other Departments
The Arkansas physics program now has strong support from the university administration, and is often touted as one of the university's "model programs." Stewart notes that when administrative posts change, it can be a challenge to make sure the new people are informed about the program, and that visits from national groups like the Task Force and SMTI representatives have "helped new administrators appreciate the quality of our programs."
Other campus units have also recognized Physics' success, and are hoping to learn from it. The Department of Mathematical Sciences is now working on a project to emulate the physics program's course reform and teacher preparation activities through Learning Assistants and other activities. Engineering school faculty and administrators have also expressed appreciation for the service the physics department provides in educating their students, and chose to continue having their majors go through University Physics, even when they were given the option to teach introductory physics themselves. Stewart notes that her department's service to other programs on campus allows Physics to justify asking for more resources, such as faculty positions and TA lines for their courses.
The Present and Future: a Thriving Community, and Continued Growth
A final piece of the puzzle, says Stewart, is ensuring a healthy undergraduate climate. Arkansas students have their own space where they can study or socialize, as well as a vibrant SPS chapter, which recently put on a Saturday afternoon physics demo show that drew over 300 people. Department picnics and social events further build community among students and faculty. "The students are the inspiration for everything we do," says Stewart.
Thanks to its thriving undergraduate program, the department's future looks bright. John Stewart has been hired in a tenure-track position, giving the department a second full-time faculty member specializing in education, with several others taking a side interest in educational issues. The department has also brought in more faculty in biophysics and astrophysics, hot topics for many students. Gay Stewart has been recently elected vice president of the American Association of Physics Teachers, and serves on the APS Executive Board, giving her program added recognition.
Further Reading
1. http://www.aps.org/units/fed/newsletters/summer2006/stewart.html
2. http://www.aps.org/units/fed/newsletters/fall2000/index.html#growth
Gabriel Popkin is a freelance writer and a consultant for APS. He lives in Madison, Wisconsin.


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Grace and Ronald welcomed their first son Gordon who was born on the 3rd of May, 1904 in Grand Rapids, Itasca Co., Minnesota. He followed Vivian.
I always knew him as Uncle Gordy! Miriam, his sister, wrote about her brother…
"Gordon was bright. Good in math and learned his Geometry…Gordon had the same genius mechanical ability as other McDonalds and so did Keith. We have pictures of him campaigning for his father…."
As I remember him, Gordon was a quiet man but very intense. He would visit his younger brother Keith in the years to follow and they would talk for hours in the basement of our house while my dad worked on his engines or fixed the car.
I love this photo of my Uncle! The frown and the suspenders holding up his pants! The location is International Falls and the building behind might be a school or the courthouse. The Alexander Baker school was not built-in 1913 and this building is much earlier.
I can just see Gordy running freely about International Falls. I wish I had thought to ask him questions about the family but I was too young and shy. I will talk about what I do know of my Uncle Gordy in future posts. I have a few very interesting stories about him, unfortunately not enough.
The photos of Gordon campaigning for Ronald, his father, have gone missing. I am assuming the campaigning was for Ronald's position as commissioner? I suppose I could try the newspaper to see if I could find anything in International Falls but that would be slogging work! It is a thought?


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Patently Apple discovered a recently published Apple patent detailing an "Add Contact" workflow and "Social Networking" workflow that specifically uses Facebook as it's main example. Now that does not mean this patent will not work with other social networks, but Facebook is the current king of the mountain and it makes sense considering that it was just last week heard Apple was looking to integrate Facebook into iPhone OS 4.
With the deep integration of social networking sites on various Android-based devices Apple does have some catching up to do. We all know, when Apple takes their time the final product usually tops all other implementations out there. Cut/Copy/Paste ring a bell? Good things come to those who wait.


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Running Time: 129 minutes
Studio Name: Porndoe Premium
Series: Casting Francais
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Description: Tattooed Canadian amateur Madison intense casting fuck outdoors on terrace Sexy French Canadian amateur Leila gets fucked hard in first time porn Steamy first time porn casting with French Canadian newbie Yasmine Diaz Sexy PAWG chokes on dick in hardcore audition
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Men's Basketball: Monarchs Fall in Overtime, 67-78
By ODU Athletics
BLACKSBURG, VA. (Feb. 7)(AP) -- Brendan Dunlop scored 12 of the Hokies final 17 points, including 7 of 8 from the free throw line, to give Virginia Tech a 78-67 overtime victory Monday night over Old Dominion.
The final deadlock came at the 30-second mark in regulation when Dunlop hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 64. In the next possession, Dunlop forced a five-second violation on Old Dominion's Michael Williams, who was trying to hold the ball and make the last shot at the buzzer.
Dunlop, who finished with 17 points, was one of five Virginia Tech players to score in double figures. Dennis Mims also had 17, Rolan Roberts had 16, Brian Chase 14 and Andre Ray 10.
The Hokies (11-11) outrebounded the Monarchs (10-14) 33-29 and had eight fewer turnovers than Old Dominion. Virginia Tech scored 27 points off of 19 Monarchs turnovers.
Old Dominion's Skipper Youngblood led all scorers with 19 points.


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Treatment for Brain Metastasis
My brother is 43 years old and had a non-small cell tumor removed from his lung. There was no follow-up treatment because they "got it all." Six months later, he was found to have a tumor in the brain that was thought to have spread there from his lung cancer. When he had a "stroke," they removed the tumor from the brain surgically. They now are recommending Gamma Knife to that site. However, pre-radiation tests show recurrence of cancer in lung. Our question is given the poor prognosis, and his wish to avoid pain, should he have the Gamma Knife to the brain site? Should he have surgery on the new lung tumor? Should he have follow-up treatment for the lung with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy?
Mitchell Machtay, MD, Radiation Oncologist, responds:
It is uncertain why lung cancer tends to spread to the brain (metastases), but it is an increasingly common problem. Perhaps the rich supply of blood vessels and nutrients within the brain make it an attractive breeding ground for aggressive cancer cells (the "seed and soil" hypothesis). It is also likely that brain metastases are more obvious to us than they used to be, given improvements in imaging tests (CT and MRI scans). Brain metastases often cause symptoms, which can be mild (forgetfulness, tiredness) or very severe, like a stroke, severe headaches, problems with vision, or seizures. Thus, even though it is extremely unlikely that anyone with brain metastases from lung cancer can be "cured," most oncologists believe it is important to treat this condition, even if there are signs of cancer in other parts of the body. The goal of treatment is to prevent any further tumor growth or spread within the brain, and thus hopefully preserve a reasonably good quality of life. At this time, the only effective treatments against brain metastases are surgery and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy and most of the new "targeted" anti-cancer drugs continue to show promise against cancer in the lung and other parts of the body, but they do not appear to work well in the brain.
There are several different ways to deliver radiation therapy for cancer in the brain. The most common method is to administer a series of 10 to 20 daily radiation treatments to the entire brain. This can treat the known lesions in the brain that are seen on imaging and has been shown to significantly reduce and/or delay the growth and appearance of new areas of brain metastases. However, the radiation dose that can be safely given to the entire brain is modest and often insufficient for long-term eradication of brain metastases. Also, radiation therapy to the entire brain can cause significant side effects, including fatigue, decreased memory ability, and wobbliness. These symptoms are usually not miserable (not as severe as uncontrolled cancer in the brain), but they can last for months to years and sometimes even for the remainder of a person's lifetime. Thus, some patients with extensive brain metastases and very short life expectancy choose not to have radiation therapy in favor of using pain medications and steroids to help ease the symptoms of the disease.
For healthier patients who have a very limited amount of cancer in the brain, there is a great deal of interest in using a type of radiation called "radiosurgery." Radiosurgery can be delivered by a modified Linear Accelerator (Linac-based SRS) or by a specialized radiation machine called a Gamma Knife. Radiosurgery is a complex technique of radiation therapy in which massive doses of radiation are meticulously pinpointed to a small area within the brain (the site of the cancer). Usually, this is sufficient to effectively destroy a small brain tumor, similar to surgical removal. Radiosurgery can have fewer cognitive side effects than whole brain radiation, BUT this must be weighed against the fact that it can only treat a small area (about an inch or less in size) of the brain. Unfortunately, for patients with lung cancer that has spread to the brain, there is a high risk of many other areas in the brain containing cancer, even if nothing else is visible on scans. Thus, for most patients with lung cancer that has spread to the brain, I usually recommend whole brain radiation before or after radiosurgery for otherwise healthy patients. While these treatments do have side effects, they rarely cause any pain or severe discomfort. You should discuss the various radiation therapy options in detail with your radiation oncologist and neurosurgeon or neurologist. I would also recommend getting a new an up-to-date MRI scan of the brain as soon before starting radiation therapy.
The other big problem that you raised is the "recurrence of cancer in the lung." When someone is diagnosed with brain metastases it is important to check (restage) the rest of the body for signs of cancer. This typically includes a CT scan of the chest and abdomen with contrast or a PET/CT scan. After surgery and/or radiation therapy to the lung, it can be very difficult to distinguish recurrence of cancer from other disorders such as post-treatment scarring or infections caused by a lowered immune system. I would recommend obtaining consultations with a medical oncologist (chemotherapy specialist) and pulmonologist (lung specialist) to discuss what to do about the cancer outside of the brain. Your radiation oncologist should also be part of this difficult discussion. However, this process does not have to interfere with your decision regarding treatment to the brain. I can understand the reluctance to go ahead with brain radiation therapy in light of the overall poor long-term prognosis, but sometimes I think it is best to take a huge and terrible mega-problem and divide it into several smaller and hopefully more manageable problems. I sincerely wish you and your brother the best in this difficult time


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RightsLine API
The service builds a catalog of media assets, especially video clips and features, and makes them available, within the requirements of rights specified by the owner. It manages content files and metadata for tracking and accessing them, including specification of rights to access and copy the content. It also manages payment to rightsholders and calculates royalties to performers and others. API methods support management of media properties, including retrieval of metadata structure and specifications and updating values for specific properties. Methods also manage user access accounts and enforce and restrictions stated in rights metadata for a particular user's access to a property.


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|Type of Engine
|Number of Cylinders
|4 Cylinders
|Weight (lbs/kg)
|390.00 lbs / 176.90 kg
|Fuel Delivery
|Fuel Injected
|Shaft Length Options
|20'' // 508 mm
|Steering Control
|Power Assist
|Recommended Fuel
|87 Octane
|Alternator Output
|133 amps
Mission Statement for the Evinrude 90 H.O.
The mission of the Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. is to be the fastest 90-hp engine off the starting line. It's optimal when strapped on the stern of a flats, bass, multispecies or even a sportboat. Anglers will be impressed by its remarkable time to plane as its 106 cubic inches displacement engine delivers considerably more torque to its prop than competitive engines.
Sportboat owners will appreciate the raw pulling power of this engine as it jumps on plane, pulling even the heaviest skier or wakeboarder up to the surface of the water with alacrity. Even in a boat full of passengers, the Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. will perform better than any other 90-hp engine on the market -- by definition -- in this crucial towing task.
• Seven Little Engines. Ironically, there were until recently seven 90-hp outboard engines on the market and all to one degree or another had the same problem for some boat owners: They needed more power but had hit the boat's designed max horsepower limit. By thinking out of the box, the folks at Evinrude have come up with a solution and in the process have created competition for its own standard Evinrude E-TEC 90-hp engine that has been offered for a number of years.
• One Big Little Engine. Now there are eight 90-hp outboards on the market. But one is very different than all of the others.
• De-Tuned for Low-End Power. The new Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. outboard is a de-tuned 115-hp E-TEC engine with four cylinders (not 3 as in the standard 90), with 105.4 cu. in. (1726 cc) of displacement (not 79 cu. in. as in the 90). At low rpms -- where more power is needed -- the new Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. has the torque that an E-TEC 115-hp produces. But at the top rpm levels where horsepower is measured -- in accordance with SAE standards -- the engine's EMM software makes sure it can produce no more than 90-hp. Thus, the Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. meets ABYC/NMMA standards for this class of boat.
Evinrude E-TEC 90 vs. Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O.
Obviously the Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. engine costs more than the standard Evinrude E-TEC 90 (but not nearly as much as the 115-hp Evinrude), so it is important to understand the difference between the two engines. When we compare the new E-TEC 90 H.O. with the standard Evinrude E-TEC 90 engine we discover that it is a completely different platform.
• Displacement Matters. First, the 90 H.O. has 4 cylinders in a 60°V configuration instead of being an in-line 3-cylinder engine. Not surprisingly, the HO's displacement is larger -- 105.4 cu.in (1726 cc) compared to 79.1 cu. in. (1295 cc) for the standard E-TEC 90 outboard. That works out to be 33% more displacement for the H.O. version -- no wonder it's called "High Output."
• More Juice, Too. The magneto on the 90 H.O. puts out 133 amps, and 50 amps are dedicated exclusively for boat usage. The standard Evinrude 90 puts out 81 amps, of which 25 are dedicated for the boat -- so, amperage is another area where the 90 H.O. has higher output.
• The lower unit gear case on the 25" Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. the same beefy gear case used on the company's V6 engines is used to handle the greater torque. This change provides not only a far greater prop selection, but it also protects the drive train from abuse. (More below).
• Digital Control is Optional. The Evinrude drive-by-wire control digital system is available on the 90 HO, but not on the standard 90. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities. (See below.)
• Weight. The 4-cylinder Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. with the V6 gear case weighs 390 lbs. (177 kgs.) compared with 320 lbs. (145 kgs.) for the standard 3-cylinder 90-hp engine.
Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. vs. All Other 90-hp Outboard Engines
• Displacement. There are six other 2-stroke and 4-stroke 90-hp outboards on the market beyond the two that Evinrude makes. Four of them have 4 cylinders and two have 3 cylinders; displacements vary accordingly. Among the six non-Evinrudes in the 90-hp class, the E-TEC 90 H.O. and one other model have the greatest displacements at about 105 cu. in. (1726 cc). The other five 90-hp outboards have from 7% to 34% less cu. in. of displacement.
• Amp Output. When it comes to electrical output, at 133 amps, no other model comes close in class and the Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. which has from twice to over 10 times more amp output than others on the market.
• Low-End Torque. When it comes to the important issue of low-end torque among 90-hp outboards, the new Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. has a compelling story to tell --
First, because it is a 2-stroke engine every stroke is a power stroke and that means from 0-to-planing speed it can provide more low-rpm torque than even large displacement 4-stroke engines.
Second, because it has 4 cylinders it has much more power than 3-cylinder 2-stroke competitors at the low and mid rpm ranges.
Third, because its "long stroke" engine architecture (the stroke length is greater than the bore width) it develops peak torque at low speeds, unlike short stroke or "square" configurations.
Fourth, Evinrude's electrically activated and variable-control fuel injection system can "punch up" the fuel mixture at low RPMs by means of the engine's pre-programmed EMM software, thus maximizing power like no other unit.
• Weight. The Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. is the heaviest of all engines in class at 390 lbs. (177 kgs.). At that weight the other engines are from 3% to 13% lighter.
• General Evinrude Features. All of the above attributes are in addition to those of the generic Evinrude E-TEC architecture that is described below.
Distinguishing Features of the Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O.
Coming up with distinguishing features for any of the Evinrude E-TEC models is fairly easy as they offer some distinct advantages not found in their 4-stroke counterparts. There are features such as…• No Dealer Scheduled Maintenance. For three years or 300 hours, whichever comes first.
Ultra Low Emissions. These are among the cleanest running engines available. It's approved to meet emissions standards for both the European Union (EU) as well as having a 3-star CARB rating, without having to make any adjustments or calibrations in the field.
Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. Performance
We tested the Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. on a bay boat with an LOA of 19' (5.79 m) and a beam of 8'6" (2.59 m). With an empty weight of 2,250 lbs. (1,021 kg), 26 gallons (98.4 L) of fuel and two people on board we had a test weight of 2,665 lbs (2,111 kg).
With the Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. turning a 14 3/4'' x 17 '' x 3 SSP propeller we reached a top speed at 5700 rpm of 42.1 mph. At that speed fuel burn was 11.0 gph. Best cruise came in at 4000 rpm and 27.9 mph which reduced the fuel burn to 5.7 gph.
Hole Shot Times. We recorded a time from 0-to-plane of 2.8 seconds. Our time to 20 mph was 5.3 seconds and we reached 30 mph in 7.8 seconds.
A Good Test of Low-End Torque. As we look over past tests we have done with both 90-hp and 115-hp outboards we find the in other cases the boats were considerably lighter and most carried less beam. That indicates to us that our test boat was a good one for the purpose of getting a real-world feel for what the Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. can do.
Getting on Plane Fast in All Conditions. The strong suit of the new Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. is low-end power for getting on plane fast, getting the bow down quickly when alone, and getting on plane fast, not wallowing onto plane when the boat is heavily loaded.
Likewise, when towing, particularly someone overweight, or a neophyte, or when the boat is loaded with spectators, it is important to have the muscle to be able to get the skier up on top of the water fast without dragging him or her interminably.
Comparison with Other Engines
When a new product comes out we can't help but compare it to other boats and engines we have previously tested to see how it stacks up. We compared our test with 12 others we have done over the years on 6 boats with 90-hp engines and 6 boats with 115-hp engines. The engines were from all major brands except one and included both 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines; the boats were made of aluminum and fiberglass. All were monohulls.
Weight Comparison. The average dry weight of the 6 boats powered by 90-hp engines was 1,223 lbs. (555.9 kgs), which is 1,027 lbs. (466 kgs.), or 45% lighter than our test boat. Nevertheless our test boat with the Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. performed about the same as boats half the weight. The 6 boats powered by 115-hp engines averaged 1,725 lbs. (784 kgs.), or 23% lighter than our test boat. Again, the Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. test boat far exceeded numbers we got with 115-hp engines.
Significant Evinrude Features While the technological features are numerous, they do little to impress most end-users. Boaters don't care about injector droplet size or EMM controls in milliseconds. Thankfully the folks at Evinrude do, and it's thanks to these technological advances that the engines are so reliable, but let's focus on the advances that directly affect the end-user and the boating experience.
Digital Gauges. The Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. can take advantage of the optional use of a system called I-COMMAND. These gauges offer complete, accurate information on water pressure, fuel, battery, engine hours and engine trim. Plus, you can change the format at the touch of a button – digital or analog with single, dual or quad viewing.
The digital world that this engine lives in also comes into play with the I-Command gauges. They're multi-function and totally customizable.
The Sound of an Evinrude. Evinrude engines make a very distinct sound, and a lot of engineering goes into generating that sound. The upper and lower shrouds work together to form soundproofing based on the power needs. Instead of having air and sound flow directly into, and out of the enclosed engine, Evinrude engineers a complex route, and by bending the sound waves are able to produce that trademark Evinrude sound.
Take for example the upper shroud. Air travels in from the back of the shroud and makes a 90-degree bend to travel down, and then up again. This brings air in but reduces the sound getting out, producing a quieter engine. It also prevents water from entering the engine shroud.
The lower exhaust port is in the shape of a "V" causing the exiting sound to make a series of 180-degree bends which again, serve to tune the sound. It's a small feature to be sure, but one that makes the Evinrude E-TEC produce a very distinctive sound as the boat flies across the lake.
Approved for Saltwater. While nothing can eliminate corrosion in metal parts when combined with warm salt water, Evinrude has gotten on the stick to slow it to a crawl so that it takes a longer time to show itself. The company's engineers tell us that their anti-corrosion approach is a four-part process --
Sacrificial anodes (zincs) are added and their job is to deteriorate before any other metal components. They literally sacrifice themselves and are easily replaceable by the end-user. Lastly, all of the fittings are stainless steel, there's no nickel plated steel anywhere on the engine. Walk up to a competitor's engine with a small magnet and count the number of fittings the magnet has to cling to. Worse, in some cases these fittings are simply painted over.
Electric Trim. Electric trim is not new on outboards but it's a convenient feature to have. Recognizing that boats come in different shapes and sizes, the Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O. comes with a trim limiter switch that is easily adjustable by the owner. This limiter switch will automatically stop the trim function once it reaches a customer preset limit.
Well Grounded Design. In addition to using Iridium spark plugs which provide a longer and more efficient spark Evinrude E-TEC spark plug wires are covered with a metallic shroud with wires leading to a common ground. In this manner, ignition noise is prevented from reaching the electronics at the helm, a pivotal consideration for reducing noise in high-end fishfinders.
Efficient Direct Injection Fuel. The injectors are electronically controlled and distribute precise amounts of fuel into the cylinders for better performance, and better fuel economy, whether idling for extended periods or operating at cruise or maximum speeds. They work by pulsating, much like a stereo speaker, to provide exact fuel amounts based on signals sent from the EMM.
The "IDI" or fast rise inductive ignition works in conjunction with the injectors to provide better economy and smoother running engines. It also causes the spark plugs to ignite longer rather than more often, greatly extending the life of the plugs, and insuring more complete combustion.
Pinpoint Oil Injection System
With Evinrude E-TEC, boaters simply fill an oil reservoir and let the engine manage its own oil supply. With Evinrude E-TEC the engine management system automatically recognizes that the engine has been operating for a lower amount of hours and correctly adds the additional amounts of oil to the cylinder sleeves. Once the proper break-in period has past, the oil distribution reverts to its normal levels all without the operator having to take any action, thanks to the EMM.
Additionally, because the system puts precise amounts of oil where it needs to be and when it needs to be, the Evinrude E-TEC burns significantly less oil.
Engine Management Module.
The EMM or Engine Management Module is basically the brain of the Evinrude E-TEC system. It controls the oil distribution, which in turn controls the no break-in period and winterization features that we've just discussed. Also, should the engine inadvertently run completely out of oil, the EMM will kick into a fail-safe mode allowing only a reduced power setting for up to five hours enabling you to still get home.
Further, the EMM controls the electronic fuel injectors for precise fuel measurements and is also the connection point for the electronic helm gauges and easy diagnostic connections.
On the side of the EMM are the LED lights. These indicator lights work in conjunction with a label at the top of the EMM to diagnose the engine in both start up and running modes. Being able to diagnose problems at home is a significant improvement as boaters don't have to go to a dealer to pay an hourly charge just to hook up a component to tell them what they now already know.
Other Features
Fuel Protection. Evinrude E-TEC engines have one of the easiest to change filters in the industry. They come with a 10 micron fuel filter/water separator that simply unscrews much like an oil filter. This is a significant advantage for boaters that tend to be plagued with bad fuel.
Beltless Magneto Charging System. At the top of the engine is a flywheel with magnets underneath. Beneath the magnets are coils of wire. As the magnets pass over the coils they generate electricity. In this manner, the Evinrude E-TEC generates 133 amps of electricity, 50 amps dedicated to charging the batteries alone. It's the highest output alternator in its class.
More importantly, this is done without belts or pulleys. And with 50 amps dedicated to the batteries alone, boaters are able to operate a significant amount of electronics at the helm without worry. Additionally, if the batteries go bad the engine will still run completely free of any connection to the batteries. As long as the engine can be started, it will run on its own.
Our comparisons seem to strongly indicate that if our test had been conducted on a boat weighing 23% to 45% less our comparisons would by necessity be even better.. This is certainly a strong affirmation of Evinrude's concept, showing remarkable low-end torque and speed.
The Evinrude E-TEC 90 H.O.'s performance at WOT speed is also noteworthy even though the engine was not bred for that characteristic. Again, that engine on a lighter boat could well be expected to go even faster.
Finally, de-tuned engines generally have far greater durability since the stresses they endure are less than what the engine is designed for to handle over a normal lifetime.
|Carolina Skiff DLV 198 (2014-)


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TORONTO, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- A snowstorm in southern Ontario closed schools and disrupted transportation, with numerous collisions on highways, police said.
Over 260 flights from Toronto's Pearson International Airport have been canceled since snow began falling Thursday, with 39 more at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, the newspaper The Globe and Mail reported Friday.
Since midnight Friday more than 100 vehicle accidents have been reported on southern Ontario highways, Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Dave Woodford said.
On the Queen Elizabeth Way, a highway from the U.S. border at Buffalo to Toronto, a snowplow fell into a ditch and a salting truck rolled over, the newspaper said.
A Toronto bus line was diverted due to fallen power wires, and schools, including Toronto's major universities, were closed.
The newspaper said as much as centimeters (9.8 inches) of snow were expected.