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Friday, June 16, 2006
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Thursday, June 01, 2006
Pineapple Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing
Originally uploaded by wanderingcoyote.
Never been a huge fan of carrot cake. It's always seemed a little...weird, I guess. I mean carrots? In a cake? How fun is that? But, despite my judgements, I am, if nothing else a dessert addict, so if it was all on offer I'd indulge. This week, I had a request from my roommate's sister, who wanted to serve this to guests. Because I'm not a fan of carrot cake, I don't have many recipes for it. When this lady asked me to make the cake, I really had to search for a recipe. I have one from school that has blueberries in it, but the recipe was too big and there aren't a lot of inexpensive blueberries kicking around right now. There's a carrot sponge in one of my professional books, but it was too big, too, and had ingredients in it I didn't have on hand. I eventually found this recipe in Anna Olson's Sugar.
A few words about Anna. Anna has a show on the Food Network entitled Sugar. It was upon watching an episode of this show while on holiday in Vancouver nearly three years ago (where the Food Network is on cable; in Ottawa we needed a cable box) that I discovered there was an occupation entitled "pastry chef." I knew there were bakers, but I'd never really heard of pastry chefs. I knew, upon seeing Anna on TV, that I wanted to be a pastry chef. A couple of days later, I went to hang out on Granville Island, and there I saw the culinary school I would graduate top of my class from a year and a half later.
Unfortunately, fame has changed Anna. I think she's sold out. You can now see her pimping Pilsbury products and Starbucks in ads appearing on the Food Network, particulalry around Christmas time. I noticed also she's lost weight, which she totally didn't need to do, and gotten a new hairdo - probably because of the ads. She now looks more like a sex kitten than the pastry chef I came to love.
This is a fabulous recipe. It's rich and moist, and the cream cheese icing is to die for. Don't substitute any other kind of syrup for the maple syrup; the lady I made this for, who was buying the ingredients, wanted to put pancake syrup in it to cut down on costs, but there's so much crap in pancake syrup, and the flavour would be totally different. This is a really easy recipe to put together, too, and if you have a bored someone or other at home, get him/her to grate the carrots for you.
Pineapple Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 eggs
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
2 tsp grated fresh ginger
1 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
2 cups grated carrot (approximately 2 medium sized carrots, peeled)
1 cup pineapple diced or crushed, fresh or tinned (drained)
4 oz/125g cream cheese at room temperature (I used light, but you cannot use the fat free kind so don't bother trying; the amount is equivalent to half a brick)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups icing sugar, sifted
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
For the cake, preheat the oven to 325F and grease & flour an 8" square cake pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, eggs, sugar, maple syrup, and ginger. Sift in the dry ingredients and blend well with whisk or wooden spoon, just be sure not to over mix. Mix in the carrots and pineapple. Pour into pan and bake for 1 - 1 1/2 hours, or until tester inserted in centre comes out clean. Make sure you cool it completely before icing it.
For the icing, beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth./ Beat in the icing sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spread on top of cake and refrigerate until ready to serve.
How hard is that? Not very, and if you have carrot cake skeptics out there like me, I'm sure you can win them over with this recipe.
Bon appetit!


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subset: commoncrawl


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Born in the Dyer Hill community of Livingston County, James K. Huey was the son of Robert and Eliza (Calhoun) Huey. He was left an orphan at the age of 15. After serving as deputy sheriff in McCracken County for several years, he purchased the office of Livingston County sheriff. When the office became elective, he became a candidate and was elected in 1851 and again in 1853. During his tenure as sheriff, he read law and was admitted to practice in 1856. He also served in the state legislature in 1857 - 1858.
At the beginning of the Civil War, Huey raised a company of cavalry in the counties of Hopkins, Webster and Livingston. He was elected captain of his company and participated in many battles of the war. According to Kentucky Genealogy and Biography, Vol. IV, reprinted from Kentucky: A History of the State by Battle-Perrin-Kniffin, "He retired with the rank of colonel May 19, 1865, marching into Paducah with ninety men, surrendered to Gen. Meredith, who was then in command of the post."
When Huey returned home, he found that he was disbarred from practicing law. He went to New Orleans, where he entered into the commission business. On 14 July 1870 in Canton, Mississippi, he married Miss Alice Powell. They returned to Livingston County and Col. Huey re-entered the legal profession and became a county judge before 1880. Born to Col. and Mrs. Huey were Annie Powell, James K. Jr., Jessie and Laurin Huey.
James K. Huey passed away in Smithland in December 1891. A brief obituary in the St. Louis Republican states the following: "The report reaches here that J.K. Huey of Smithland, Ky. died this afternoon. He was an ex-County Judge, State legislator and was a Colonel in John Morgan's command and was in prison with him. He left a wife and family."
Tombstone of Col. J.K. Huey (1826-1891)
Smithland Cemetery, Smithland, Kentucky
After Col. Huey's death, his widow, Alice Powell Huey, returned to Mississippi, where she died 24 February 1918. She is buried in Mount Carmel Baptist Cemetery, Winston County.
This is a very brief biography of the life of James K. Huey. My next step is to do a little research on his activities with John Hunt Morgan and if he was confined in the Ohio State Penitentiary with Morgan.
This is a very brief biography of the life of James K. Huey. My next step is to do a little research on his activities with John Hunt Morgan and if he was confined in the Ohio State Penitentiary with Morgan.


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Join Zane Schwenk as he walks you through MasterCraft's newest surf machine, the X20.
The X20 is the first MasterCraft designed from the fins up to rip the perfect surf wave. Pair 2000 pounds of ballast with the incomparable Gen 2 Surf System and a brand new deep and beefy hull and you get a wave like no other with handling as tight as your cutbacks. Plus it's packed with features normally found in a bigger boat, including generous wraparound lounge seats, a pickle fork bow with plenty of room for your guests, storage to spare and a brand new set of convertible transom seats. This is the 20 footer that tops all expectations.
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For Rates and Packages
Michelle King, Advertising Manager
Scientists' Bookshelf
Krell Institute
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king at scientistsbookshelf dot org
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21 October 2015
Thanks, Bats
The simple message of The Secret Lives of Bats (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt): Humankind should praise these seed-spreading, pollinating, insect-pest-munching flying mammals rather than kill them. Unfortunately, we have been more successful at the latter, and in alarming numbers worldwide, as author Merlin Tuttle tells the tale, subtitled My Adventures with the World's Most Misunderstood Mammals. Tuttle, a bat researcher since boyhood who founded Bat Conservation International, has spent the past 50 years in the field (and the cave) setting the record straight. Spinning engaging stories that star moonshiners, farmers and other bat-curious, Tuttle is a personable and plainspoken guide through a world inaccessible to most.
21 September 2015
New in Paper: Stylish Writing
Steven Pinker's The Sense of Style: The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century isn't just a good writing guide. It's one of the best books published in the past year. Wise, funny, practical and, as of this writing, ranked in the top 20 of three Amazon writing-guide categories, it will find an even wider audience after its Penguin-paperback debut this week. Pinker isn't a scold who ascribes bad writing to laziness or ill will. He explains why otherwise well-intended writers fail. For example, are scientists and other jargon-drenched writers trying to shut the rest of us out? No, he says. In the subtitle of a chapter called "The Curse of Knowledge," Pinker nails it: "The main cause of incomprehensible prose is the difficulty of imagining what it's like for someone else not to know something that you know." He's also strategic, preparing readers before laying a serious but fascinating grammar lesson on them unlike anything you'll find in The Elements of Style, in print for 56 years. May Pinker's words on writing enjoy a similar run.


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The Mississippi Commission of Judicial Performance (Commission) was created in 1979 by the Mississippi Legislature and the voters of the State of Mississippi by constitutional amendment. It was created for the following purpose:
All proceedings before the Commission are of a civil nature, not criminal, as the purpose of the Commission is to be rehabilitative and educational as well as disciplinary.
Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance660 North Street, Suite 104Jackson, MS 39202Telephone: (601) 359-1273 • Fax: (601) 354-6277Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Mississippi Constitution of 1890, as amended, Section 177A; Mississippi Code Annotated, Section 9-19-1 (1972).


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If you miss spending your summer days with nothing but time to kill and a packet of Pop Rocks, then you'll be happy to find these Effervescent Breath Crystals, which attack halitosis with the ferocity of that sweet, crackling candy. The science rests on a mix of bacteria-fighting ingredients that, when in contact with germ-filled teeth and gums, erases the effects of embarrassing odors caused by things like coffee, onions, and garlic with a series of mini-mouth explosions.
These are tasty and fun, like the pop rocks I enjoyed as a kid. I'm not sure how breath-freshening they actually were, but they did leave my mouth feeling fresh at least temporarily. They were a conversation piece, if nothing else. Packaging was impressive. Will not re-purchase due to price.3
I received either as a sample and then went back and ordered the large box of them that came with six different flavors. I waited forever for the sample box to come back into stock with the different flavors. As soon as it said I ordered it and was so excited for my purchase. Everything started off fine and I had no issues with the product whatsoever. But literally within a month of it being in my home under no duress or overheated conditions the product just stopped working. It took on a strange taste and the rocks just stopped popping in my mouth like they used to. The effervescence was gone. In the end it was a complete and utter waste of money because I didn't even have a chance to use half of the box before they seem to of spoiled. So yes I initially loved the product but in the end was proven to be disappointed. Next time if I choose to order again I will definitely order a much smaller sized box.3
...fun, minty, effervescent. How bad could they be? Well, it's all fun and games until you realize that most of the box has lost its fizz after a couple of weeks, and the sorbitol gives you gas, so any gains you might make with fresh breath are negated by the aromas (and sounds) erupting from your back end. Not pretty. Good idea, but not at all pretty.1


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Eugenie Bouchard through to Wimbledon quarter-finals with win over Alize Cornet
LONDON — Eugenie Bouchard has been here before, and it shows.
Playing at the humid, covered Centre Court at the All England Club and trailing her opponent 5-3 in the second set, Bouchard won four straight games Monday to beat France's Alize Cornet 7-6 (5), 7-5 and advance to the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.
With Cornet serving for the set, Bouchard didn't panic and broke her opponent twice, including on match point. Though only 20 years old, the experience from making the semifinals of both the Australian Open and French Open earlier this year is paying dividends.
"I'm proud that I stayed in it even though I was kind of playing catch-up," Bouchard said after the match. "I always felt right there, trying to put pressure (on) all the time."
Bouchard, the No. 13 seed from Westmount, Que., will next play the winner of a match between fifth seed Maria Sharapova and ninth seed Angelique Kerber of Germany.
Sharapova defeated Bouchard in the French Open semifinal before going on to win the tournament.
Bouchard has been a winner at the All England Club before, taking the 2012 junior women's title. Conditions were different for Monday's match, which was interrupted by rain before the movable roof over Centre Court closed.
The 20-year-old Canadian made the most of her return when play resumed, coming back from a 3-2 deficit to win the first set. A bigger comeback in the second allowed her to improve her Grand Slam record to 14-2.
"I'm really proud of how I fought," Bouchard said. "It was not an easy match. She's a good player and gets a lot of balls back.
"I tried to finish off the points, which I managed. It was my first time under the famous roof. It's quite humid, not a lot of air circulating.
"Conditions were tough but they were the same for both of us."
Bouchard won the opening set after nearly an hour of play with a backhand winner in the tiebreaker.
She went down 4-2 and later 5-3 in the second set, but calmly levelled for 5-all, breaking when Cornet fired a forehand wide.
"We had some tough points, she has good wheels," Bouchard said. "I had to really try and finish off the point. That made for some really tough, physical points. It's definitely the most physical match I've played I think this tournament.
"She's a good fighter, too. We were really just battling."
Bouchard held serve to go up 6-5 and won the tight concluding game with another break of Cornet, advancing on the first match point when Cornet hit her forehand long.
"I'm very excited, but I need to stay focused," said Bouchard, who is the first Canadian in the Open era to reach the quarter-finals at Wimbledon in singles play. "It can only be one match at a time. I need to keep from being distracted.
"This what I've world so hard for. I want to take another step, I want to keep going."
Men's eighth seed Milos Raonic, Thornhill, Ont, will play for the quarter-finals on Tuesday against Japan's 10th seed Kei Nishikori, who defeated Simone Bolelli of 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4.


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>Divers who wish to wear contact lenses while diving should ask their ophthalmologists or optometrists to prescribe "soft" contact lenses. "Hard" lenses or rigid gas-permeable lenses, the other two commonly prescribed types of lenses, have been found to sometimes cause symptoms of eye pain and blurred vision during and after dives, in which the diver accumulates a significant inert gas load. These symptoms occur as a result of gas bubbles forming between the cornea and the contact lens.
>For more information on vision issues, see the complete article by Frank K. Butler Jr., Captain, Medical Corps, United States Navy on High-Pressure Ophthalmology from Alert Diver.


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The silver price dipped to $27.07/oz, though it too remained firmly within its range for the last fortnight.
Based on Friday afternoon London Fix prices, the gold price has alternated between up and down weeks since the week ended May 11. A gold fix below $1,595.50/oz this afternoon would see this pattern extended for a tenth week.
"The [daily trading] range is contracting these days," says Standard Bank's Yuichi Ikemizu, head of commodity trading, Japan.
"I don't see much encouragement for people to have a big position."
"Daily momentum is flat," agrees Tim Riddell, head of global markets research, Asia, at ANZ Bank "Gold appears to have lost its glimmer. . .as it languishes in the lower reaches of a $1,5551,635/oz range. The near-term inability to regain levels above $1,600 will keep the bias towards retesting the base of this range."
For both dollar and sterling investors, the gold price is at the same level it was two months ago. In New York, the volume of gold held to back SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) shares fell to a six-month low yesterday, falling nine tonnes to just over 1257 tonnes.
Over in Europe, Germany's Bundestag yesterday voted in favor of Spain's banking bailoutwhich would see the Spanish government borrow up to 100 billion (B) to finance banking sector restructuring. The aid may in time be converted so it takes the form of direct loans to banks, subject to conditions such as the creation of a single European banking supervisor. The vote passed by 473 votes to 97.
"Any problems in the Spanish banking sector are a problem for the financial stability of the Eurozone," said German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble ahead of the vote.
"Spain is the fourth biggest economy in the Eurozone," added Andrea Nahles, deputy leader of the main opposition party the Social Democrats.
"A couple of its banks need to be stabilized. If we don't do it, the country that suffers most is Germany, so it is in Germany's interests to help Spain."
Finland's parliament meantime voted 109 votes to 73 in favor of the bailout on Friday.
Spain's parliament meantime voted in favor of a 65B austerity package on Thursday. The vote, which was not attended by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, was passed with 180 votes out of 350 seats, newswire Bloomberg reports, suggesting no opposition members supported the package.
Yields on 10-year Spanish government bonds remained above 7% this morning, having risen back above that level yesterday for the third time in just over a month.
"[Spain's government] can't survive for long with this sort of pressure," reckons Jose Carlos Diez, chief economist at brokerage Intermoney in Madrid.
"There is still more fear than anger on the streets but the demonstrations are increasing and as unemployment increases, it will get worse."
"They are wrecking the future of a generation," said actor Javier Bardem, quoted by Spanish newspaper El Pais as he attended a demonstration in the Spanish capital.
"It's an injustice to take responsibility away from the banking industry and attack the unemployed, the sick and the poor."
German producer price inflation meantime fell to 1.6% last month, its lowest level since May 2010. On the currency markets, the euro ticked lower against the dollar. Since this time last year, the euro has fallen around 15% against the dollar, while the euro gold price has risen by a similar amount.
"At first sight, this should boost output," says a note from UBS.
"But the exchange rate response is simply part of the bigger, well-known picture of economic stress in the common currency region. . .although the weaker currency will help the troubled economies rebalance [towards more exports], the weakness is not a trigger for [economic growth] forecast revisions."
UBS also notes that the European Central Bank (ECB) has expanded the size of its balance sheet much faster than the Federal Reserve over the past 12 months, "simply because the Eurozone economy and its banks remain troubled."
The ECB cut its main policy interest rate to a new record low of 0.75% earlier this month, while on the same day China also cut rates and the Bank of England announced more quantitative easing.
"The apparent dependency on central bank support for an ailing global economy highlights its chronic weakness," says the latest economic commentary from the World Gold Council.
"This challenging environment tends to be conducive to gold investment."
Here in the UK, government borrowing last month was larger than forecast at just over £12B, official figures published Friday show.
"It is clear that the recession is leading to a worsening of the UK's underlying fiscal position," says London-based ING economist James Knightley.
"[This] raises more question marks over the effectiveness of the government's austerity measures."
Ben Traynor
Gold value calculator | Buy gold online at live prices
Editor of Gold News, the analysis and investment research site from world-leading gold ownership service BullionVault, Ben Traynor was formerly editor of the Fleet Street Letter, the UK's longest-running investment letter. A Cambridge economics graduate, he is a professional writer and editor with a specialist interest in monetary economics.
(c) BullionVault 2011
Please Note: This article is to inform your thinking, not lead it. Only you can decide the best place for your money, and any decision you make will put your money at risk. Information or data included here may have already been overtaken by eventsand must be verified elsewhereshould you choose to act on it.


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AND THE NEWS HAS BROKEN! Jeff Tedford has been let go.
BERKELEY – Jeff Tedford, who has overseen the Golden Bear football program for the past 11 seasons, has been relieved of his duties as head football coach at the University of California, Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour announced Tuesday.
"This was an extraordinarily difficult decision, one that required a thorough and thoughtful analysis of a complex set of factors," Barbour said. "Ultimately, I believed that we needed a change in direction to get our program back on the right track. Cal football is integral to our department and our university, and its influence can be felt well beyond the walls of Memorial Stadium. The program clearly serves as an important part of the connective tissue that binds our community together, and it is imperative that Cal football be recognized as a leader in competitive success, academic achievement and community engagement.
Jeff Tedford 2002-2012. Head Coach of California Football Team.
For many fans, the decision to let go of Tedford has been a long time coming, but for others they cling on to those wonder years. The years that brought Cal out of the dark ages, brought us Aaron Rodgers, 3 more bowls games than all the years between our last Rose Bowl appearance to 2002, and even a Co-Pac 10 Championship. So long, to the man with the most wins in Cal history with 82. He brought light to many current NFL players (40+ players) who could not be where they are at without him. Oh and did I mention all those Big Game wins that we pretty much never had a chance before Tedford?
He has always been considered a caring man. He took care of as many players as he could and brought a family atmosphere to those who didn't have one. He found one of the greatest football players ever in Aaron Rodgers, while recruiting a TE at the same community college. He developed Kyle Boller and even Nate Longshore (before he broke his ankle); everyone called him the Quarterback Guru. Cal was even #2 in the nation in 2007. However, his momentous ship hit an iceberg.
After the 2007 debacle against Oregon State, the Cal team wasn't the same. 2007-2009, Cal was ranked at least once but never fulfilled its potential. Tedford had lost many of his former assistant coaches and he started to bring in offensive coordinator after offensive coordinator. However, nothing worked for him. From 2008-2012, he went on to take the team to two bowl games, but did not win either. Throughout that bad run from '08-'12 he kept changing things around like assistant coaches, administrative workers, and even practice times. He just failed to realize that he needed to change to a game that changed beyond him.
The biggest blow, of course, was the year 2012. He lost his best recruiter and Defensive Line coach Tosh Lupoi to Washington. Though it could be easily argued that Lupoi backstabbed all of us including Tedford, it was crazy how players were dedicated to a single assistant coach and not a program. He was about to pull in a top 10 recruiting class, but that immediately fell apart with the departure of Lupoi. Lupoi took the money and many have said he disliked Tedford for throwing him under the bus for Injury-Gate.
In the fall, Tedford welcomed back Cal fans to Memorial Stadium with a shocking loss to Nevada and then fell apart to end the season at 3-9. The painful decline of Cal football could not continue while other teams like UCLA, Oregon State, ASU, Arizona, and of course of rival Stanfurd was thriving. Athletic Director Sandy Barbour had to do something and she did. She relieved Tedford of his head coaching duties November 20, 2012.
But we will never forget his legacy. His major turn around of the program and the high expectations he brought forth. Unfortunately, these high expectations were a major factor to his release.
Let's thank Tedford for everything he has done for us and what his legacy will mean for the future of Cal Football. Go Bears.


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Wildwood Crest, NJ 08260
Stanton & Farragut on the Beach
Wildwood Crest, NJ 08260
717 Washington St.
Cape May, NJ 08204
300 J. F. Kennedy Beach Dr.
North Wildwood, NJ 08260


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- Process plants
- Air separation plants
- LNG and natural gas processing plants
- Hydrogen and synthesis gas plants
- Petrochemical plants
- Adsorption and membrane plants
- Cryogenic plants
- CO₂ plants
Furnaces, fired heaters and incinerators
- Steam reformer furnaces
- Cracking furnaces for ethylene production
- Cryogenic vaporiser
- Fired heaters and waste heat recovery units
- DRI heaters & special crackers
- Incinerators and thermal oxidisers
- Linde Hydrogen
Incinerating waste streams comprising salt brines, aqueous liquids with organic contaminates, inorganic salts or metals pose many challenges. The most important consideration is that organic components have to be completely destroyed.
If inorganic metals (mainly alkalis) are present, designers must factor in the reactions in the gas phase as well as the reactions between the salts that have formed and the refractory linings.
Typical applications include:
Spent caustic from ethylene plants
Refinery waste
Pharmaceutical plant waste
Agricultural chemical plant waste
Bio-diesel plant waste
During the incineration process, most of the alkaline metals form salts with melting points lower than those required for the complete combustion of organics. These molten salts are corrosive to and reactive with common refractory materials. Selecting the correct operating temperature and lining material is crucial to ensuring that a plant maintains high availability.
Linde Engineering meets the application challenges of these complex wastes by down firing the incinerator into our proprietary Sub-X® vertical quench design to continuously remove salts from the incinerator walls. Our design is particularly efficient for this process as it rapidly cools the gases. The high level of agitation dissolves most of the salt into the quench liquor, thus ensuring that the gases undergo initial cleaning. Residual salts suspended within the gas stream at the quench outlet are scrubbed, meeting the most stringent air quality standards.


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- First 2012 Ford Focus Electric delivered on Long Island
- Initially only available in select New York/New Jersey and California regions
When the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt hit the market in late 2010, they were the first plug-in vehicles of the modern era to reach consumer hands. Both automakers rolled them out with fanfare and adulation. Perhaps it's a sign of the growing acceptance of electric cars as a normal part of life, as well as an indicator of different strategies by different automakers, but when the first Ford Focus Electrics reached consumer hands last week, there was barely a whisper.
In fact, the only indication that anything of the sort had happened was a post to a Ford Focus Electric owners' forum by a man who was ostensibly the world's first Focus Electric owner. Although Ford representatives have officially told us the company doesn't keep track of delivery order, it appears that Whit Gallman, a mechanical engineer from Charlotte, North Carolina, became the first private owner of a Focus Electric when he took delivery on May 26.
In a testament to how much Gallman wanted his new vehicle, he drove 650 miles from North Carolina to take delivery at Hassett Ford in Wantagh, New York. He then trailered his new car and towed it all the way back. Given that Ford is only selling the Focus Electric in the New York/New Jersey and California regions right now, Gallman didn't have any other choice if he wanted to be one of the first to buy the car. Ford does plan to expand sales to the rest of the country but hasn't released a rollout schedule.
"I really don't want to use any more petroleum products than needed in my daily life," said Gallman in an interview with AutoTrader.com when explaining why he decided to buy an electric car. "I also have a girlfriend [who] has a Prius, so of course I had to one-up her."
Gallman told us a fully electric car fits with his longtime interest in cars that are differently powered. Big motivators for him, he indicated, are national security and the desire to save some money on fuel. "I've been a fan of diesel for quite a while," he says, "but small, efficient diesel passenger cars just never caught on in the U.S. like they have in Europe, but now I feel like the oil companies are doing some shady business and they don't deserve for us to be paying into their racket."
As to why he chose the approximately $40,000 Focus Electric over a less expensive Nissan Leaf, Gallman said: "I did test drive a Leaf, but mainly I didn't like the styling of it. The Focus Electric looks much sharper. Also, Ford is an American company, and I like that I can support them."
Gallman also said his decision was shaped by the difference in batteries and charge time. As an engineer, Gallman was more comfortable with the longevity of the battery pack in the Focus, which has lithium-ion batteries that are liquid heated and cooled, as opposed to the Leaf's, which are air cooled. The Focus also has a faster charge time than the Leaf when plugged into an appropriate charging station, he noted. Gallman installed an SPX charging station, rated at 240 volts and 32 amps, at his house with the help of a few electrical engineer friends. The station plus installation cost him $1,069, Gallman said, which is about $400 less than what Ford quotes for the installation of its Ford branded station. Gallman said he wants his new car to last him at least eight to 10 years to "pay itself off."
His new Focus Electric has become his daily driver, taking him on a commute that lasts 25 miles each way. The commute used to cost $8 per day and is now down to $1.60. When Gallman wakes up every morning ,his car is fully charged with more than enough range for the trip to work. Although the Focus Electric's EPA certified range is 76 miles, Gallman said he believes it could do as many as 90 miles on a full charge given that he's an efficient driver. In any event, he has access to a 120-volt outlet at work and has the Focus fully charged by lunchtime each day, so he hasn't even worried about his range to this point.
Gallman referred to one minor problem-he has trouble getting the universal garage door opener on the car to work with his particular garage door-but other than that, he pronounced himself satisfied with the Focus and praised its driving and handling. Even though others have complained about severely limited cargo space because of the placement of the batteries in the trunk, Gallman said he doesn't worry about that. He drives to work alone, can use the rear seats for stowage, and won't be using the car for long trips.
What it means to you: The Focus Electric is finally reaching the first consumers.


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Optimistic by nature, I have loaded this RFE:
Description: User folders within the TM1 Data folder create a lot of clutter and there should be a way to separate these in a similar manner to the Logs / RawStore directories.
Use Case: Administrator would configure TM1S.CFG to set UserDirectories for example to a location other than the data directory. All user folders and related private views/subsets would then be written there.
Business Case: Removes clutter, more easily managed source code/system objects, allow better disk management and maintenance, allows anti-virus to be configured less explicitly etc. etc.
Please vote if you see the benefit of this. If you have further justification that I can add, please tell me.
Thanks, George.
RFE 78672-TM1 User Directories to be configurable in TM1S.CFG
Suggest and discuss enhancements for TM1
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Charles Emdy, a master metal worker, made his first central vacuum prototype out
of a wooden box to prove his concept. Finding success, he purchased 12 motors from
Ametek and started M.D. Manufacturing in his garage in North Hollywood.
Marketing materials developed and dealerships grew:
Growth and expansion - First distribution to nationwide distributors:
New Beginnings:
Internal Growth:


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This orphaned walrus really likes to cuddle, which is good new s for him because that trait will make him extra attractive to a family looking to adopt a walrus from the walrus store. Oh, who am I kidding — there's no such thing as a walrus store...yet. Lovable as this particular sea mammal seems, Alice in Wonderland has forever ruined walruses for me, so I can't really enjoy this latest wave of animal videos, but don't let that stop you or anything.
via Buzzfeed


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If you've ever been to one of those all-you-can-eat steak houses, then I'm sure you're very familiar with those giant vats of dessert they put out on the dessert bar - usually some sort of chocolate and whipped cream cake, a pan of strawberry shortcake with yellow sponge cake, whipped cream and strawberries, and of course, banana cream pudding. I think all kids love being served a great big dollop of creamy pudding with whipped cream, bananas and those little wafer cookies. For that matter, adults love it, too.
Caramelized bananas and apples were one of the few desserts available in restaurants in China - they came to the table piping hot and super sticky, so you had to eat them fast before the caramel hardened. One of the other desserts we sometimes ordered was just a simple fried bread, dipped in nothing more than sweetened condensed milk. Delicious.
When making dessert for two, there's always the challenge of trying to not overdo the portions. If we have company, then I can have a lot of fun making a layer cake, tart or pie. But we don't need a huge dessert sitting around for just the two of us to eat.
So I really like making little individual desserts that are eaten fresh, with no tempting leftovers. This Caramelized Banana Bourbon Ricotta Trifle is an all-grown-up version of that familiar banana cream pudding.
Freshly made ricotta, slightly sweetened with honey and nutmeg, replaces the pudding and whipped cream. Bananas are caramelized in brown sugar and bourbon until they're golden brown outside with soft gooey centers. A sprinkling of crushed cookies, any kind you like, adds just the right amount of crunch. And a touch of crystallized ginger on top adds a surprising element of sweetness with a tiny bit of heat.
I like to make my own ricotta, but the store-bought kind will work just fine, too. This dessert comes together in about 10 minutes, and can easily be doubled or tripled for more people. And even if you don't like bourbon on its own (I don't - the taste of it makes me think I'm being forced to take some medicine), it's completely delicious in desserts.
Caramelized Banana Bourbon Ricotta Trifle
printable recipe
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced into 1-inch thick slices
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons good-quality Bourbon
- 1/2 cup part-skim ricotta (homemade or store-bought)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon light cream or fat-free half 'n' half
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 cup crumbled cookies (wafer cookies, graham crackers, lady fingers, etc)
- pinch of crystallized ginger
Melt the butter in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Place the bananas in the butter in a single layer and sprinkle with the brown sugar. Cook bananas for 4 minutes on each side. Add the bourbon to the skillet and cook for about a minute to cook off the alcohol, swirling the pan around.
Meanwhile, combine the ricotta, honey, cream and nutmeg in a bowl until smooth and creamy and set aside.
Set out two martini glasses or individual glass trifle dishes. Spoon half of the ricotta mixture into the bottom of each glass. Top with half of the crushed cookies. Add half of the bananas. Add another layer with the rest of the ricotta mixture, the crushed cookies and the bananas. Drizzle with any remaining caramelized bourbon liquid in the skillet, or with a teaspoon of honey. Sprinkle the crystallized ginger on top.
Serve immediately.
Yields 2 servings.


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Electronic Arts is predicting that the New York Giants will defeat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, by a single field goal.
For the past several years, the videogame publisher has been using its hit title Madden NFL to simulate the outcome of the Super Bowl — and in six out of the past eight matchups, it has guessed correctly.
But unlike the camel in the New Jersey zoo that has picked the winner of five of the last six Super Bowls, EA breaks down the score quarter by quarter.
EA simulates the Super Bowl by using artificial intelligence and real data from each team. It even includes variables such as injuries. The simulation is powered by Madden NFL and Xbox 360, the official console sponsor of the NFL.
EA replays the game's highlights in a video, including Giants quarterback Eli Manning being named MVP for completing 25 of 39 passes with two touchdowns, and the Patriots' Tom Brady throwing for 327 yards and three touchdowns.
Spoiler Alert: To win the game, Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes will make a 40-yard field goal, with the final score 27-24.


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Is this the trouble with girlfriends? They tell us what we want to hear?
That's what controversial writer Lori Gottlieb (she of "Marry Him: The case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough" fame) suggests in a piece in the July issue of Marie Claire that I came across the other day. She's writing mainly about bad boyfriends and dating dilemmas (that is, after all, her shtick), but some of what she says applies to other issues, too. Such as what to do with our lives. (Full disclosure: Gottlieb was gracious enough to give us an insightful interview for our book.)
She starts the piece by referencing SATC, not at all favorably. But if you can get beyond the dig at Samantha, head down to the boldface (mine) at the end of the graf. That's where the truth hangs out:
Remember the scene at the end of the first Sex and the City movie, when the fabulous foursome was sitting down to cocktails? Samantha had just left Smith, her gorgeous, adoring boyfriend — whom she loved and who had lovingly supported her through breast cancer — because "I love myself more." That's right: She dumped a keeper using what was arguably the most idiotic grrrl-power proclamation in the history of chick flicks (and there's some formidable competition there). And how did the gals react? They toasted her! As always, the bobble-headed brunch mates unquestioningly took her side. And something dawned on me: This is exactly how I am with my friends (minus, perhaps, the four-figure handbags). Just like the girls did in every episode of SATC — and in the new film, currently luring Miatas-ful of women to theaters like well-shod moths to a flame — we cheer each other on, thinking we're being supportive, when often we're just enabling bad choices. To put it plainly, we're one another's yes women.
One another's yes women? Enablers? Ouch. But there it is. In our efforts to be supportive, sympathetic and sugar-and-spice-and-everything-nice to our girlfriends, do we get caught up telling our besties only what we think they want to hear? Are we reluctant to tell the truth if it means we might lose a friend? And do we seek out friends who will serve as our personal echo chambers, who cross over that thin line that divides support from enabling?
This may be a silly example, but when was the last time you told a friend that, um, she looks bad in green? Or continued to hang out with someone who would say as much to you? Even if you really do, you know, look like shit in green. But let's get back to Gottlieb, who puts herself in the picture:
I've always enjoyed the unconditional support of my female friends. Life can be a rough ride, and I count on that cheerleading squad when things get me down. But for women, a bit of consolation can balloon into a complex system of chronic ego-inflation. Was the lawyer boyfriend who didn't call me for a daily check-in when in court "too into his career," even though he was really attentive the rest of the time? Probably not. But I heard a round of hurrahs from my friends when I broke it off. And the next guy I dated, who never responded to my e-mails, was he secretly gay? "Yes!" shouted my book group, practically in unison. Look at you, they said, successful, smart, and cute! He must be gay. We "yes" our friends into false presumptions and bad decisions — tell your demanding boss off! Buy the $700 Alexander Wang stilettos; you'll wear them everywhere! — convincing one another that anyone who disagrees with us is wrong because, according to those who know us best, we're always right. But instead of a frenzied pack of enablers nurturing our self-delusion, what we need is someone brave enough to give us the truth.
Clearly, this girlfriend stuff goes beyond shoes or boyfriends, and that's where it all gets truly dicey. Because with larger decisions this echo chamber business can do some significant damage to our ability to choose for ourselves — and feel comfortable with our decisions when we do. If we surround ourselves with friends who tell us what we want to hear, who validate our every choice, what then? Do we ever learn to think critically about our own decisions? Trust our own guts? Decide what to do with our lives without looking outside for someone to say, "You go, girl!" And do we automatically disregard anyone brave enough to play the devil's advocate? It's like faux-empowerment. We tend to believe what we hear — and yeah, it might be what we really need to hear to pull our chin off the ground — but what we're left with if we don't watch out is the idea that we are so goddamn fabulous, so absolutely right, that we deserve nothing short of perfect. And that, dear reader, is something that almost never ends well.
Not coincidentally, I keep thinking of that classic Jack Nicholson snarl from "A Few Good Men": "You can't handle the truth!" Well, you know what? Maybe we could, if we got used to hearing it more often.
In other words, tell us what you think. As opposed to what you think we want to hear.


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Quad Biking Ireland - Ground gripping driving adventures!
Get your pulse racing with a wild journey through woodlands, rivers, rolling hills or any obstacle that gets in your way.
Quad bikes are 4 wheeled all terrain vehicles capable of tackling almost any rough landscape and one of the top driving experiences in Ireland.
Master the skills required to drive these super-agile ATV's with confidence.
No experience is necessary for quad biking in Ireland as driving skills are easily acquired with full training provided on the day. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro there's a trail to suit your ability.
Choose a gentle trek in the rugged outdoors and guide your quad through the countryside trail or take on an action packed quad bike racing adventure.
Looking for an alternative 4x4 experience? Check out off road driving in Ireland.
For those of you looking for extreme, there are some demanding quading tracks full of hairpin bends, tunnels, bridges, water obstacles and lots of mud!
You will be spinning wheels and manoeuvring these versatile machines at speed in no time.
Revel in the power and torque of these cross-country beasts!


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Using these destroyed instances after they have been disposed of might result in an error, but that's not much different than circumstances under the classic Delphi compilers, where freeing an instance and using other references to it results in an error. What is significantly different is that under the classic Delphi compilers, when you have two references to an object and free the object using one of them, there is no way to know if the other reference is still valid. Instead, using
DisposeOf, you can query an object about its status:
myObj := TMyClass.Create; // an object reference myObj.SomeData := 10; myObj2 := myObj; // another reference to the same object myobj.DisposeOf; // force cleanup if myobj2.Disposed then // check statusof other reference Button1.Text := 'disposed';
As I mentioned earlier, the
try-finally blocks used on the classic Delphi compilers still work fine under the new compiler, even if they are not required. In specific cases in which you want to force the execution of the destructor code as soon as possible and regardless of other references, you might want to use the dispose pattern instead:
var MyObj: TMySimpleClass; begin MyObj := TMySimpleClass.Create; try MyObj.DoSomething; finally MyObj.DisposeOf; end; end;
In the classic compilers, the effect remains the same, as
DisposeOf calls
Free. With ARC, however, the code executes the destructor when expected (that is, at the same time as with the classic compiler), but the memory is managed by the ARC mechanism. This is handy, but you cannot use this same code for compatibility with older versions of Delphi. For that purpose, you might want to call
FreeAndNil, redefining this procedure as a call to either
Free or
DisposeOf. You can also just stick with a standard call to
Free, which does the trick most of the time.
One way to look at the difference between
Free and
DisposeOf is to consider the intent of the two operations under ARC (as opposed to what happens under classic Delphi compilers). When using
Free, the intent is that the specific reference should simply detach from the instance. It does not imply any kind of disposal or memory deallocation. It's merely that a specific block of code doesn't need that reference anymore. Usually, this will happen automatically upon exiting the scope, but you can force it by calling
Free explicitly.
By contrast,
DisposeOf is the programmer's way of explicitly telling the instance that it needs to clean itself up.
DisposeOf never necessarily implies memory deallocation; it merely does an explicit clean up of the instance (executing any specific destructor code). The instance still relies on the normal reference count semantics to eventually deallocate the memory it uses.
Under ARC,
Free is an "instance reference-centric" operation, whereas
DisposeOf is an "instance-centric" operation.
Free means, "I don't care what happens to the instance, I just don't need it anymore."
DisposeOf means, "I need this instance to internally clean itself up since it may be holding a non-memory resource that needs to be released (such as a file handle, database handle, a socket, and so on)".
We are particularly pleased with this approach because it not only delivers ARC on mobile, but maintains code compatibility on desktop operating systems. Ultimately, our goal is to bring ARC across all platforms, but this new language feature really shines on mobile.
This is very exciting time to be a Delphi developer. Not only can iOS on ARM be targeted now, but Android is coming soon. And just like the code compatibility we've accomplished with ARC, the code between iOS and Android (and Windows and Mac OS X) will be fully compatible so developers can deliver apps on all of these operating systems and associated devices with a single, natively compiled source code base.
John Ray Thomas is the Director of Project Management, Marco Cantu is the Delphi Product Manager, and Allen Bauer is Chief Scientist at Embarcadero.


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2007 GMC Yukon XL
The GMC Yukon XL is all new for 2007, and you can't find an SUV that works better as a tow vehicle. It has all the right stuff. The ride is better than ever, handling is steady and light. These are benefits of a new boxed frame for rigidity, a redesigned suspension, a new ring-and-pinion steering system, and other changes.
The driver sits way up high and feels like he or she is master or mistress of his or her domain. The optional leather seats are wonderfully comfortable for long distances. The pedals adjust for long or short legs. The instruments and gauges are finally stylish. There are new halogen headlamps that are bigger for improved visibility at night. Storage space is intelligently designed and all over, including a huge center console.
Those in the second row will find a lot of leg room. Bucket seats with a center console between them are available for the second row, turning them into first-class accommodations; and there is an optional power folding option, making it easier for third-row passengers to climb in. There's even decent legroom and good headroom in the third row, something few SUVs can claim.
The Yukon XL seats six to nine people, depending on the seating configuration. Essentially GMC's version of the Chevy Suburban, the Yukon XL stretches the already long wheelbase of the Yukon another 20 inches. There are many vehicles that seat seven people without taking up so much space to do it, but not quite so comfortably, nor with so much room left over for cargo.
Towing is the other area where the Yukon XL excels. It's a great vehicle for drivers who want an SUV that can tow cars, boats, horses, and travel trailers. A Yukon XL 1500 is rated to tow up to 8200 pounds, while the heavy-duty 2500 version can tow up to 9700 pounds.
The standard 5.3-liter V8 represents a new generation of engines, and it offers excellent horsepower and torque. An optional 6.0-liter V8 for the Yukon delivers more towing power.
And at the top of the line is the Yukon XL Denali. The Denali is almost a separate breed. It has its own engine, a 6.2-liter V8 based on the Corvette's 7.0-liter, making 380 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque. It also has its own transmission, a six-speed automatic with manual mode and its own all-wheel-drive system. The Denali comes standard with the AutoRide active electronic suspension, which is optional on the regular Yukon XL.
Deluxe options include a liftgate that raises and lowers under power, a DVD entertainment system, a Bose sound system, a navigation system, and a rearview monitor that improves safety and makes it easier to hook up trailers.
Model Lineup
The 2007 GMC Yukon XL comes in basic SLE ($37,665) or SLT ($41,800) trim. It's available as a 1500 (half-ton), 2500 (three-quarter ton, with truck tires and a heavier suspension using leaf springs), and in two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
A choice of V8 engines is available, two of which are versions of the Vortec 5.3-liter V8, and which can run on E85 ethanol. The new generation 5.3 with an aluminum block, the engine in our test SLT, makes 310 horsepower and 335 pound-feet of torque. The more powerful optional engine ($1095) is an all-aluminum 6.0-liter V8 with variable valve timing, making 366 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque.
The Yukon XL Denali ($49,970) comes with a 6.2-liter V8 making 380 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque, a six-speed automatic with manual mode, all-wheel drive system, and the AutoRide active electronic suspension.
All other Yukon XLs use a four-speed automatic transmission, available in three strengths, depending on whether the XL is 2WD, 4WD, or 2500. They all have a Tow/Haul mode, which reduces upshifting and downshifting, and also shifts quicker, so the transmission doesn't work so hard when pulling a big load. Transmission oil temperature is part of the instrumentation (along with a tire pressure monitor).
The SLE comes standard equipment with cloth interior, six-way power driver's seat, 60/40 second row bench seat, two-passenger third row seat, three-zone climate control, AM/FM/6CD/MP3, rear seat audio and climate controls, power windows and locks with remote entry, cruise control, heated sideview mirrors, 17-inch aluminum wheels, roof rack rails, deep tinted glass, foglamps, and last but definitely not least, a tow package including heavy hitch, seven-pin wiring harness, two-inch receiver and electric brake control harness. Also standard is GM's OnStar system, which, among other things, notifies headquarters if there has been a crash, and someone calls the vehicle and sends help if necessary.
The SLT package ($4135) includes leather interior, 12-way power heated bucket seats in front, power adjustable pedals, remote starter, Bose sound system, XM satellite radio, garage door opener, power folding sideview mirrors, rear parking assist beeper, and roof rack crossbars.
Safety equipment on all models includes dual frontal airbags, four-wheel-disc anti-lock brakes with electronic proportioning, and StabiliTrak, GM's electronic stability program with anti-rollover mitigation and traction control. Full length airbag curtains are optional (standard with SLT), but front side airbags are not available, which is surprising, given the competition and price. The XL earned the maximum five stars in the government's head-on crash tests.
Options include a navigation system ($2145), rear-seat entertainment system ($1295), power sunroof ($995), second-row bucket seats ($490), power release for those seats ($425), power liftgate ($350), rearview camera monitor ($195), three-passenger third-row seat ($100), heated washer fluid system ($85), and 20-inch polished aluminum wheels ($1795).
The 2007 GMC Yukon XL should not be confused with the Yukon. The XL stands for Extra Long. Though the same width, the Yukon XL is about 20 inches longer than the Yukon; it's the same length as its near twin, the Chevy Suburban, measuring 18 1/2 feet.
The Suburban and Yukon XL are among the most familiar vehicles on the road. They share styling although not the details. For example, the Yukon has a cleaner air intake below the bumper than the Suburban, a different shape to the headlights, and the grille is not split.
The 2007 redesign makes subtle but effective changes to the exterior, and GM has done an excellent job with the Yukon XL, making this huge vehicle look smooth, if not sleek. The contours are gently shaped. There's nothing in-your-face or edgy about it. Body-colored side moldings and door handles help a lot. Finally, they got rid of the chrome!
The running board is integrated and unobtrusive, extending no farther than necessary, with a black grippy coating. The tinted glass behind the C-pillar is expansive, and looks nice. The front end has been cleaned up, with beefy block-like headlamps over a front bumper fascia that has vastly tighter tolerances with the body. In fact, all the panels are a tighter fit. It's nice to see that GM can produce this kind of quality.
The windshield is more sloped than before, although the tailgate remains vertical. The rear window opens separately, which is convenient. Our SLT had the optional power liftgate, and we're not sure what we would have done without it. At least the liftgate is aluminum, which would reduce the grunting, if not the stretching way up to reach it. The split barn-style doors, handy when trailers are attached, are ancient history, no longer available.
Interior Features
The Yukon XL is comfortable for long tows or major outings. It's a wonderful feeling to drive down the highway in one of these, sitting up high with all the comforts, including the optional Bose sound system.
Completely redesigned for the 2007 model year, the dashboard has been lowered by six inches, and the seats redesigned and raised, with a more convenient and secure seatbelt mounting on the B pillar. They are very comfortable, in leather.
We especially like the touch-screen radio/navigation system, much easier to operate than in so many cars, Mercedes, for example. We set the programs we liked, and could switch from favorite XM to AM to FM stations with one finger push; many vehicles require switching bands, then switching stations.
The switchgear is simple, and the instrumentation is clean. The console is huge (20.1 liters says GM, although we couldn't see 5.3 gallons being poured in there), with a deep storage box and a tray on top. The glovebox is 25 percent larger than the one in pre-2007 models. Two cupholders are provided in a removable tray forward of the console and they work very well. There's another cupholder in each door pocket. A slot in the dash just left of the turn signal is perfect for coins or toll-road tickets. The pedals are adjustable, to accommodate short wives and tall husbands or vice versa.
The rearview camera and monitor is quite useful, although it might take some new skills to fully use. One night we had to back up a narrow winding driveway squeezed by trees, and it could only be done by using the monitor. It was tricky. The backup lights did a great job of lighting the road for the camera; looking over our shoulder, our naked eye couldn't see the road nearly as well. Without this device, we would have been backing-up blind. It's also quite useful for spotting a child playing behind the truck after shifting into reverse or maybe a short, unseen pole. With a little practice, the camera makes parallel parking easier and quicker. It can also be used to help position the tow ball under a trailer hitch, reducing the number of times the driver has to jump out to check distance and alignment.
The Yukon XL can seat six, seven, eight or nine passengers, depending on the seats selected. Our SLT had the second-row bucket seats, with room for seven, in a two/two/three configuration.
The second row offers good legroom, at least with the two bucket seats: 39.4 inches, nearly as much as in the front. Second-row passengers have their own console, with an elbow tray and two cupholders each. They have their own audio controls too, and a front-row seat for the DVD screen that drops down from the headliner, and uses wireless headphones. The second-row bucket seats come with a console between them.
An optional power feature allows folding the second-row seats with the touch of a button on the instrument panel or C-pillar. It's slick: the seatbacks fold flat against the sitting part, and then the seats flip up against the back of the front seats.
The third row seats two or three, depending on the package. Split 60/40, the third-row seats fold and tumble, but don't fold flat into the floor like some competitors. The third-row seats flip up against the back of the second row. This fold-and-tumble feature sacrifices some quick cargo space because the seats don't fold flat, although there's still a lot compared to other SUVs. The third-row seats are also removable.
The third-row seats offer good head room and okay leg room (34.9 inches), and a great view through the wraparound glass, so it's not cramped or claustrophobic as it is in the GMC Envoy XL. But with the optional center seat, all you'll ever fit in the third row are three small kids. The kids on the end have their own cupholders. Their climate control vents are inconveniently located in the headliner over the necks of the second-row passengers, but they can be aimed rearward toward the third-
Driving Impressions
Another reason we wished we owned a race car (and others might wish for a travel trailer, a boat, or horses): The Yukon XL is the perfect tow vehicle for buyers who want the security and people capacity of a full-size SUV rather than a pickup.
GM's trusty 5.3-liter Vortec V8, making 310 horsepower and 335 pound-feet of torque, is one of the best V8s around, and when you floor it, it actually feels like it has more horsepower than that, considering the weight of our test vehicle was 5757 pounds. There's a smooth four-speed automatic transmission to go with it, and with all that torque, a fifth speed in the transmission might not be needed, although the big Japanese V8 SUVs all have five-speed automatic transmissions.
If you need more power for towing, you can upgrade to the 2500 (three-quarter ton) chassis and/or the 6.0-liter engine, to get 380 pound-feet of torque. Or the Denali XL, with that Corvette-based 6.2-liter engine making 380 hp and 417 pound-feet.
There's a badge on the rear of the vehicle that says "FlexFuel," meaning the engine can run on either unleaded regular fuel, or E85 (85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline), which burns cleaner and reduces oil consumption.
Active Fuel Management shuts down four of the eight cylinders when they're not needed to save fuel. But there's one big catch: all the cylinders are needed virtually all time, unless you're totally off the throttle, in which case they all basically shut down anyhow. So the amount of fuel saved is questionable and debatable.
Fuel economy is an EPA City/Highway-rated 15/21 miles per gallon. We drove nearly 300 miles in a 2WD Yukon XL in an even split between around town and running 75 mph on the freeway, and averaged 15.8 mpg.
Ride quality is excellent, overall. The suspension seems much improved over undulating roads; wallowing under duress has been a weakness of Yukons and Suburbans in the past. The new fully boxed frame is 49 percent stiffer and 35 percent more resistant to twisting. The front track has been widened by three inches, and the rear by one inch. A new coil-over-shock front suspension, and revised and strengthened five-link rear suspension around a solid rear axle (better for towing) work well with new rack-and-pinion steering.
AutoRide, the optional self-leveling suspension, is a high-tech, active suspension, meaning it electronically adjusts to the road, as read by sensors. It reduces body lean in corners and nose dive under hard braking.
Driving in an estimated 25-mph crosswind on the freeway at 75 miles per hour, our Yukon XL swayed all over the road, because of the billboard-like surface area of the side of the vehicle.
The brakes have gotten a much-needed upgrade. The vented rotors are bigger (13 inches in front and 13.5 inches rear) and the dual piston calipers are stiffer. This adds up to security and safety when you're trying to get stopped with a boat or trailer pushing you from behind. Brakes on these new GM trucks are far better than they were a decade or so ago.
The Yukon XL/Suburban has long been the tow vehicle of choice, and this redesign enables it to maintain its position on top. The latest version 5.3-liter Vortec V8 makes plenty of horsepower and torque for towing, and two more powerful engines are available. The suspension and brakes are considerably improved, the instrumentation is finally worthy, and it's hard to fault the SLT's leather interior, especially the comfort of the seating in all three rows. We do wonder why there are no available side-impact airbags in front, however.
Sam Moses filed this report to NewCarTestDrive.com from the Pacific Northwest's Columbia River Valley.
|Model Line Overview
|Model lineup:
|GMC Yukon XL SLE 2WD ($37,270), 4WD ($40,070); SLT 2WD ($38,055), 4WD ($40,845); Denali ($49,970); 2500 SLE ($38,470), 2500 SLE 4WD ($41,270); 2500 SLT ($39,215), 2500 SLT 4WD ($42,015)
|310-hp 5.3-liter V8; 320-hp 5.3-liter V8; 366-hp 6.0-liter V8; 380-hp 6.2-liter V8 (Denali)
|4-speed automatic; 6-speed automatic (Denali)
|Safety equipment (standard):
|dual frontal airbags, ABS with electronic proportioning, electronic stability program with anti-rollover mitigation and traction control (StabiliTrak)
|Safety equipment (optional):
|full-length curtain airbags; rearview camera
|Basic warranty:
|3 years/36,000 miles
|Assembled in:
|Janesville, Wisconsin; Silao, Mexico
|Specifications As Tested
|Model tested (MSPR):
|GMC Yukon XL 1500 2WD ($37,665)
|Standard equipment:
|tri-zone climate control, power windows, power locks, cruise control, message center, trip computer, deep tinted glass, foglamps, heated mirrors, tow package, 17-inch aluminum wheels
|Options as tested (MSPR):
|SLT-2 package ($4135) including leather interior, front power heated seats, adjustable pedals, full length curtain airbags, remote starting, 6-disc CD changer; XM satellite radio; Bose premium sound system; universal home remote; rear parking assist; roof rack crossbars; navigation radio with CD/DVD/MP3 ($2145); 20-inch polished aluminum wheels ($1795); DVD entertainment system ($1295); power sliding sunroof ($995); second-row bucket seats ($490); power control to fold second-row seats ($4250); power liftgate with lift glass ($350); rearview camera system ($195); third-row center seat ($100); heated washer fluid ($85); package discount (-$400)
|Destination charge:
|Gas guzzler tax:
|Price as tested (MSPR):
|rear-wheel drive
|5.3-liter 16-valve V8
|Horsepower (lb.-ft @ rpm):
|310 @ 5200
|Torque (lb.-ft @ rpm):
|335 @ 4400
|4-speed automatic
|EPA fuel economy, city/hwy:
|15/21 mpg
|130.0 in.
|222.4/79.1/76.8 in.
|Track, f/r:
|68.2/67.0 in.
|Turning circle:
|43.0 ft.
|Seating Capacity:
|Head/hip/leg room, f:
|41.1/64.4/41.3 in.
|Head/hip/leg room, m:
|38.5/61.8/39.5 in.
|Head/hip/leg room, r:
|38.1/49.4/34.9 in.
|Cargo volume:
|137.4 cu. ft.
|Towing capacity:
|8200 Lbs.
|Suspension, f:
|Suspension, r:
|solid axle, five-link, coil springs
|Ground clearance:
|8.9 in.
|Curb weigth:
|5757 lbs.
|Brakes, f/r:
|vented disc/disc with ABS and electronic brake proportioning
|Fuel capacity:
|31.5 gal.
|Unless otherwise indicated, specifications refer to test vehicle. All prices are manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSPR) effective as of December 27, 2006.Prices do not include manufacturer's destination and delivery charges. N/A: Information not available or not applicable. Manufacturer Info Sources: 800-462-8782 - www.gmc.com
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Are two heads better than one? That's what one of Michigan's largest law firms is thinking.
On Tuesday, Dickinson Wright PLLC announced that Edward H. Pappas and James A. Samborn were elected co-chairmen of the firm, succeeding Dennis W. Acher.
Both Pappas and Samborn come to the table with a fairly recent canon of leadership — the former was the 2008-09 president of the State Bar of Michigan, while the latter capped 10 years as Dickinson Wright's CEO.
We can't help but notice that both of them specialize in commercial litigation and ADR –meaning that they could, if they wanted to, sue each other over office space, then hire one another as mediators.


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TGIF everyone! I write a blog about saving money but still living a good life, using quality products and services! I've saved over 11k last year alone by shopping smart and using coupons. Help me get to 500 follower by the end of the year!
I will always follow back too. :)
Views: 37
Hi Rachel,
I'm now following your blog. You can find my blog at - http://www.mommyisgreen.net/
I hope you get to 100 followers soon! :)
I'm following! I love a good deal! check me out at http://www.mamaknowsitall.com I have a cool giveaway of the book, "Operation Beautiful" that ends on Sunday. Thank you!
Following you girl!
Can you do the same for me?
Thanks so much! :)


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LA Fitness, Irvine, CA, has completed the purchase of 32 of 33 Lifestyle Family Fitness clubs, the two companies announced. One of those 32 clubs will close. The deal on the remaining club, which is in Tampa, is expected to be closed in the near future.
A purchase price was not disclosed.
Many Lifestyle Family Fitness employees have accepted positions with LA Fitness, including Senior Vice President Frank Palmeri, Regional Vice President Michael Chaffin and District Manager Troy Nealey, the companies announced. LA Fitness has been meeting with all interested Lifestyle employees to discuss employment opportunities.
Since the initial announcement of the sale on June 14, both parties have been working to complete the deal and prepare for the transition of the existing Lifestyle Family Fitness member base and staff.
LA Fitness will honor all of the active membership agreements that it purchased from Lifestyle Family Fitness, St. Petersburg, FL. All active Lifestyle multi-club memberships will be honored at their current rate, and these multi-club members will have access to all Lifestyle Family Fitness locations acquired by LA Fitness, according to the announcement. Similarly, all active single club members will be honored at their current rate with the same access they have now to the Lifestyle location where they joined.
Lifestyle Family Fitness is closing its 31,000-square-foot location at 2349 Vanderbilt Beach Rd. in Naples, FL, as of July 9, and those members will be relocated to the 50,000-square-foot LA Fitness club located nearby at 871 Vanderbilt Beach Rd. These relocated members will have use of certain additional amenities at the LA Fitness club, such as a pool and basketball court, at no additional charge.


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eMIR, We Have a Problem
Worksharing – U.S. Postal Service program of reduced postage rates to mailers that take on mail preparation or distribution tasks it would otherwise have to do – was once an innovative idea; but it is now the norm in postal operations. Indeed, 85 percent of the market-dominant mail volume the Postal Service processes is workshared mail. Mailers perform everything from applying barcodes to entering mail closer to the destination in return for lower rates.


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It's been a long time since my last post but i hope the wait was worth it. This project was a design that came to me for a high school student. My student wanted to make this to take to college, so i designed it for easy construction, cheapness and great design. I also had four high school students make one each during summer camp, they were so happy to take it home. The whole thing is based around a super cheap 8 watt stereo amplifier and an empty CD container used for the speaker stands. It looks and sounds fantastic.
Posts Tagged 'CD container'
8 watt stereo amplifier (popsicle design) with CD case LED speakers
Posted in electronic, wood, tagged 12V, 8 Watt amplifier, CD container, LED, loudspeakers, popsicle sticks, speaker stand on 07/09/2012| 3 Comments »


text: ASUS GeForce GTX 780 Ti DirectCU II deliver 6% faster game performance than reference design DirectCU IIoffers 20% cooler and 3X quieter performanceExclusive CoolTech Fandrives wider airflow to keep critical components cool1020 MHz boost clock for better performance and outstanding gaming experienceDIGI+ VRM with 10 phase Super Alloy Powerdelivers precise digital power for superior efficiency, reliability, and performanceGPU Tweakhelps you modify clock speeds, voltages, fan performance and more, all via an intuitive interface6% faster game performance than reference GeForce GTX 780 Ti inBattleField 4™ Shop Modal header ASUS Exclusive Innovation Game Faster. Quieter. Cooler. *For demonstration only I/O Ports Highlight 1x Native Dual-link DVI-I1x Native Dual-link DVI-D1x Native HDMI1x Native DisplayPort ASUS today announced GTX 780 Ti DirectCU II, a graphics card powered by the new GeForce® GTX 780 Ti graphics-processing unit (GPU) and fitted with exclusive DirectCU II technology for cooler, quieter and faster performance. The GeForce GTX 780 Ti GPU is powered by 25% more CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture) cores and benefits from a boosted clock speed of 1020 MHz — both significant increases on its predecessor that enable ASUS GTX 780 Ti to deliver astonishing gaming performance. With exclusive ASUS DirectCU II on board, GTX 780 Ti DirectCU II runs up to 20% cooler, three times (3X) quieter and 6% faster than reference cards. 6% Faster Game Performance System ConfigurationMB: RAMPAGE IV EXTREMECPU : Intel Core i7Memory : 16GB( DDR3)OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64 SP1 Ultimate Cooling DirectCU II20% cooler and 3X* quieter For Ultimate cooling, ASUS thermal engineers developed the exclusive DirectCU thermal technology. Applying the exclusively designed heatpipes directly on GPU core for faster heat dissipation. Exclusive DirectCU II thermal design includes a direct-GPU contact 10mm copper heatpipe and 220% larger dissipation area to boost heat removal efficiency. It performs 20% cooler and 3X quieter than reference. *Equivalent to 14dB and performance varies depending on system configuration CoolTech Fan Proprietary CoolTech fan consists of a hybrid blade and bearing design, with inner radial blower and outer flower-type blades. These provide multi-directional airflow to accelerate heat removal and enable highly stable graphics performance. Ultimate Stability DIGI+ VRM with Super Alloy Power30% less power noise and 2.5X greater durability Acclaimed DIGI+ VRM has been applied via a 10-phase power design that uses digital voltage regulators to minimize power noise by 30%, enhance power efficiency by 15%, widen voltage modulation tolerance, and improve overall stability and longevity by 2.5 times over reference. POSCAPs to lower power noise, enhance overclocking, and improve stability far beyond standard analog designs. Ultimate Graphics Tuning GPU TweakReal-time intuitive graphics tuning Shows detailed specs and actual card status with GPU-ZMonitoring widget provides real-time detailed multi-parameter infoAutomatically checks and updates drivers and BIOS versions Stream online instantly GPU Tweak streaming tool that lets you share on-screen action in real time – so others can watch live as games are played. It's even possible to add to the streaming window scrolling text, pictures and webcam images. Color Match Kit Customize your card Red or gold – the choice is yours! ASUS includes easy-to-apply metallic stickers so you can choose the color to match your motherboard. With Red Stickers With Gold Stickers *for demonstration only Graphics GPU Features Powered by NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 780 Ti NVIDIA® GPU Boost 2.0Technology for intelligent monitoring of clock speed, ensuring that the GPU runs at its peak and the game is at its highest frame rate possible. It offers new levels of customization, including GPU temperature target, overclocking, and unlocked voltage. NVIDIA® Adaptive V-SyncGet more than just faster frame rates. Get ultra-smooth gaming every time with NVIDIA® gaming innovation Adaptive Vertical Sync. This technology dynamically adjusts vsync to current frame rates for maximum playability. NVIDIA® PhysX™Play games with advanced effects such as blazing explosions and lifelike characters with 10X faster switching between graphics and physics processing, enabling more complex effects to be rendered in real time. SLI Support Multi-GPU technology for extreme performance. NVIDIA® 3D Vision™Transform hunreds of PC games into stereoscopic 3D and enjoy immersive full HD 3D gaming across three displays at an incredible 5760 x 1080 resolution. PCI Express 3.0Delivers double the bandwidth per lane of PCIe 2.0 for faster GPU-CPU communication. Microsoft DirectX 11.2 API (feature level 11_0)Brings new levels of visual realism to gaming on the PC and get top-notch performance.


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Ryan's words
March 1, 2013
Below I am posting the second guest blog, written by Ryan Holle, that gives a little insight into the basics of prison life.
<———————-> <———————->
Thinking about what next to write about is not easy. Being raised by my mom, having my grandparents and other relatives around me, the one thing that they taught me – especially my mom – is what it means to be independent. Can you imagine a woman practically raising two children by herself and trying not to be dependent on others? She did awesome and I will always be grateful for her and my family in my life.
When I graduated high school, I left home at 17 and began my independence. I maintained that and prided myself on the fact that I was able to do so. When I got locked up I lost that. In prison there are no paying jobs – not to any great extent in Florida anyway. At the prison I was last at, on a compound of over 1,200 people, there were a handful of paying jobs. If you were lucky enough to be one of the five canteen operators or the one staff barber then you were able to make something. If you don't have anyone out on the street to help you, you are out of luck.
Some people steal to make it by. Some tattoo, some deal in drugs, etc. That is just the nature of prison. In prison they give you three pairs of blues (that's your uniform), three shirts, three boxers, three socks, two towels, two wash clothes, and a pair of what everyone nicknames "Bo-Bo's". They are the flat bottom slip-ons with elastic on both sides. Besides that, they give you two rolls of toilet paper a week, one bar of soap, one toothbrush, and one toothpaste once a month. Everything else in on you. If you want shampoo, deoderant, shower slides, toenail clippers, food items, shoes, etc. – then it is on you to find a way to purchase them.
A lot of people out there would say, "He doesn't need to buy food items because they give him three meals a day". But anyone familiar with prison food would find that statement very untrue. Being an independent person and calling home and asking for help is never easy. I am always grateful for the help I do get because like I tell my family, "You help me survive."
Ryan Holle


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(My Clovis News Journal column for December 9, 2011. Yes, it begins with the same H. L. Mencken quote that begins my current Liberty Lines column, but the columns are completely different, even if inspired by the same incident.)
"The trouble with fighting for human freedom is that one spends most of one's time defending scoundrels. For it is against scoundrels that oppressive laws are first aimed, and oppression must be stopped at the beginning if it is to be stopped at all." – H.L. Mencken
Rarely have I read a quote that contained more truth. It is the story of my life. In so many cases my energy is spent defending the rights of people I probably wouldn't like, who are doing things I don't necessarily approve of, simply because I am able to see how their rights are mine. And yours.
This often puts me in the position of defending scoundrels who are having their liberty violated by people with "good intentions", which puts me at odds with those who only see the good intentions and the scoundrels, but not the unintended consequences, or how those consequences could eventually harm us all.
Freedom means doing what you want to do, regardless of whether it is within your rights or not. Liberty is the freedom to do what you have a right to do. While it is sometimes proper to constrain freedom, it is never right to limit anyone's liberty.
As long as those scoundrels are within their rights- they are not attacking, stealing, or trespassing- it doesn't matter if I like them or approve of what they are doing. They still have a right to be doing it and no one has a right, or the authority, to interfere. No matter how noble the interference might seem or how much I might agree with the general objection to what is being done.
If you are willing to violate the scoundrel's rights then you shouldn't be surprised when you discover that you are someone else's scoundrel, facing the torch-bearing villagers who are anxious to storm your castle for the "common good". And, as long as you are not violating anyone else's rights, I'll be right there beside you, whether I like you or approve of your actions or not.
You only have the liberty you respect in others. I am willing to fight against the violation of the liberties of others because it is the right thing to do, and my expectation is that no one will call for my liberty to be violated in any way. I'll hold up my end even if others don't reciprocate.


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Time sure flies. I was intending to blog about Masterchef as it happened but as always, the blogs got fewer and further apart as I never find time to blog. From where we left off in my last post, Tom had just been eliminated in the Top 10. From that point, more contestants left, and then came back, in a reality TV twist that we've come to expect.
Tom, Poh and Justine were lucky enough to come back. I must say that Justine's exits (both times) were a huge shock. The beauty (and drawback) of the show is that each pressure test is judged on that test alone. Past performances did not count. That led to the demise of contestants like Justine, Julie and Chris, some of the strongest consistent performers in the show. However, it also shows that you have to be at the top of your game every time and they failed to do so.
The celebrity cook-offs have been very interesting, seeing how the pros deal with the pressure. The masterclasses have been amazing. I've learnt so much from them and can see how much more food knowledge Gary and George have compared to the contestants and myself. The week in Hong Kong has been some of my favourite episodes in the whole season. Just seeing them in a different environment and having to do unfamiliar things was great.
While the pace of the show was a bit slow in the audition and Top 50 stage, it has picked up more and more. I still hate the endless recaps but the rest of the show makes up for it. They eventually phased out the part of the show where the contestants voted each other out and I loved that. Each person stayed on their own merit in th end. The lack of nastiness and constant bitching has also been a massive drawcard of the show that has seen the whole family enjoy it each night.
I still haven't warmed to host Sarah Wilson, but have grown to really like Gary and George as a combo, and in particular Matt Preston. Somebody give that man his own shows. His descriptions of food have been both insightful and hilarious at the same time. "This isn't wind, this is dragon's breath...Today we are those pirate kings and you are our pirates. We're sending you out there into the dragon's den." He has so much personality that there are Youtube videos devoted to how he eats. And lets not forget "The Cravats".
From the last post, I had picked that Poh would be a dark horse. She has made the final and relished her second chance. I would never have picked Julie would make it in a million years but she's shown herself to be a fighter. Whoever wins, I think they would both be deserving. For the record, I think that if Poh can control her mind and not get all scatter-brained, her inventiveness should see her win.
For the funniest wrap up of the show so far, go and read Helen's post.


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Thursday, January 27, 2011
JONAH HEX0 comments Posted by EdWood at 03:13
Directed by Jimmy Hayward
Starring Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, Megan Fox, Michael Fassbender, Will Arnett, Wes Bentley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Rance Howard, Michael Shannon, Tom Wopat, Aidan Quinn
I'd heard from everywhere what a horrible piece of shit Jonah Hex was and thus it was almost impossible to go into this film without any expectations. As it turns out, this wasn't the Wild Wild West (1999) I expected it to be and here also lies one of my pet peeves.
Jonah Hex (Brolin) is a bounty hunter with a warrant on his own head and he seeks revenge on his archenemy Turnbull (Malkovich) who is responsible for the murder of Hex' family. Now Turnbull is in possession of a modernised weapon with which he is going after the whole of mankind and Hex is recruited by the President of The United States to stop him in exchange for a full pardon.
Back to my pet peeve. Every time a film is singled out by the internet trash talkers, it seems they do so without any real objective input and I'll bet my dashing good looks that also often without actually seeing the fucking thing. Hey, because everyone else is saying it, they don't wanna be singled out for going "umm, shouldn't we see the film first and not judge it only by the previous work of an actor or the director involved?". Sure, I might have had negative expectations based on the same criteria, but where these dicks blindly judge the work all the way, I've stayed ready for a positive surprise and most importantly, I've had the balls to admit when I was wrong. I hate those douchebags and only really have one thing to say to such assholes: grow up. I strongly believe this to be the case when discussing about Jonah Hex. Look, the film clearly has it's flaws. Malkovich is bored all the way and does only his routine, phoned-in baddie thing while the excessively modernized gimmicks still do not fit to the western setting at all. You'd think they would've learned that from previously mentioned Wild Wild West but I guess not. Still, at the end of the day, Brolin isn't bad as the titular antihero and while Fox does her usual flirt with the camera she doesn't come even close to being the worst leading actress of the year as the recently announced Razzie-nominations would lead you to believe. Jonah Hex is as basic as action films come but is it as bad as the hype around it? Hell no. Uninspired at times but far from the worst picture of the year.
Mistään mestariteoksesta ei Jonah Hexin tapauksessa voi puhua, mutta ottaen huomioon että leffa floppasi lippuluukuilla ja tuomittiin melko sokeasti netissä jo ennen julkaisuaan, on se silti ihan pirteä perus krapulaleffa. Brolin vetää nimikkoroolin kivasti läpi. Mikä helvetti muuten saa aina liikkeelle nuo saatanan roskasäkit, jotka arvostelevat rinta rottingilla leffat ennen kuin ovat edes nähneet niitä?! Vastaus on ärsyttävän yksinkertainen: heillä ei ole mitään elämää ja kaatavat sen turhautumisen nettiin haukkumalla näyttelijöitä ja ohjaajia usein ilman minkäänlaista objektiivista näkemystä, käyttäen pelkkää sokeaa dissausta joka perustuu korkeintaan tekijöiden aiempiin töihin. Turhuuksien roviot palavat kun nuo mäntit pääsevät näppiksen ääreen.
Jonah Hex at IMDb