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Voting along partisan lines, an Illinois House committee on Wednesday advanced a $1 billion electric rate-relief deal negotiated by utility companies and state officials.
Voting along partisan lines, an Illinois House committee on Wednesday advanced a $1 billion electric rate-relief deal negotiated by utility companies and state officials.
But Republicans who voted against the agreement said it isn't good enough.
"It's chump change," said Rep. David Leitch, R-Peoria. "I get to tell all these constituents whose bills have doubled and tripled and quadrupled that they get eight bucks a month in relief?"
The Ameren Illinois utilities, which serve much of downstate through AmerenCILCO, AmerenCIPS and AmerenIP, have said the rate-relief package would produce a minimum $100 rebate this year for all residential customers. That translates to slightly more than $8 a month.
The bulk of the relief is slated for 2007 and 2008, "so it gets in front of the election," Leitch said.
"It's just another example of what happens down here so the average ordinary person is going to take it in the ear once again," he added. "This is a purely politically driven resolution."
Electricity has been a hot-button subject this year in the General Assembly, and lawmakers have been hearing for months from constituents who were angry and surprised by dramatically higher power bills. Rates went up because of the expiration of a long-standing rate freeze, which was part of the state's 1997 electric deregulation law.
The proposed rate-relief package includes a combination of rebate checks, credits on power bills for the next few years, assistance programs for low-income customers and a new way for the state to buy electricity in the future.
It is spelled out in the latest version of Senate Bill 1592, sponsored by Rep. George Scully, D-Flossmoor. The deal targets residential customers, small- to medium-sized businesses and not-for-profit organizations that buy electricity from the Ameren Illinois utilities or Commonwealth Edison.
Scully told members of the House Electric Utility Oversight Committee that the measure has the effect of "decreasing the increase" on consumers' power bills.
House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, said the electricity legislation is to come up for a House floor vote today (Thursday).
"I am told that there are some Republicans that plan not to vote for the rate relief for electric ratepayers," said Madigan, who supports the deal. "And if there are Republicans, especially from the Ameren service territory, that are going to vote against rate relief, why, I welcome them to do it."
If the bill is to pass the House, it will need some Republican support to attract the required number of 71 yes votes. Seventy-one votes are necessary because the General Assembly has gone past its scheduled May 31 adjournment date. To become law, it must pass in the House and Senate and be signed by the governor.
The House committee vote was 5-3, with Democrats voting yes and most Republicans voting no. Rep. Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, voted "present."
Adriana Colindres can be reached at (217) 782-6292 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Wrap party for "Toot Whistle Plunk & Boom"
A few years ago, a student at Woodbury volunteered to help build out our database. He told me how much this blog, along with Eddie Fitzgerald's has opened his eyes to how great cartoons were in the 30s, 40s and 50s. He had a sketchbook full of Preston Blair drawings and enthusiasm for Fleischer, MGM and Warner Bros cartoons. So I asked him what kinds of music he listens to…
"David Bowie mostly."
My jaw hit the floor. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I gave him this advice…
Cartoons aren't the only things that were better back in the first half of the 20th century.
A friend of mine once pointed out that somebody should write a book titled "The Golden Age of Everything". Sure, there are things today that are incredibly great… computers, the internet, iPhones, frost-free refrigerators, etc… but music, dance, illustration, writing, movies and cartoons were all going through a golden age back then. Cartoonists should be aware of this, and they should absorb all of the greatness of the past. It will give them a solid foundation to build upon and make them better cartoonists.
Today, I'm going to talk about music…
I know that someone out there is going to post a comment saying that there's still great music being made, it just isn't mainstream. I'm fully aware of the fact that there are talented musicians working today. But in the 30s through the 50s, incredible talent was a given. Performers, from the top of the heap to the bottom- from most popular to least- were all capable of making you do a double take and say "wow!".
When I ask kids what kinds of music they listen to, I usually get the response, "All kinds." But "all kinds" usually turns out to mean a million shades of the same color… current rock music. There are so many names today for the same kind of music. For the life of me, I can't tell the difference between rave, techno and electronica. In the past, there really were a million kinds of music… pop vocals, hot jazz, country western, big band swing, folk, rhythm & blues, bluegrass, mambo, dixieland, rock n' roll, sweet orchestral, be bop…
I could talk for hours about this subject, but the best proof is seeing what I'm talking about…
"Four Or Five Times" (Soundie/1941)
(Quicktime 7 / 5.5 megs)
"Under The Double Eagle" (Tex Ritter's Ranch Party/1959)
(Quicktime 7 / 5 megs)
"Gray Goose" "Pick A Bale Of Cotton"(1950s)
(Quicktime 7 / 10 megs)
"The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise" "Amuka Riki" (Grand Old Opry/1959)
(Quicktime 7 / 12 megs)
If you are a student planning to be a professional cartoonist, listen to music that relates to your work- read books that inspire cartoony ideas- watch movies to learn cinematic techniques that can be applied to cartooning- LIVE THE FABULOUS LIFESTYLE OF A FAMOUS HOLLYWOOD CARTOONIST!
By the way… That animation student is a big Fats Waller fan now! And that's not all… He's a professional in the animation business working as a storyboard artist.
Stephen Worth
Animation Resources
This posting is part of a series of articles comprising an online exhibit entitled Theory.

subset: commoncrawl


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When Sir John Logan Campbell gifted Cornwall Park to the young city in 1901 he had a vision for a place everyone could enjoy.
One hundred and twelve years on, even he might be surprised by how thoroughly Aucklanders have embraced the park.
More than four million people visit it every year to enjoy its rolling lawns and paddocks (on what was once volcanic farmland), to run, cycle or play sports at one of the several clubs who call it home. It would be rare to to meet an Aucklander who has never had a picnic here. It is also home to 31 bird species.
Perhaps less widely known and understood is the way the park's founder also ensured it would be a gift that kept on giving.
To run the park costs $3.8 million a year, which includes salaries for more than 20 staff who care for the park and farm the 150 Simmental cattle and 600 sheep who live there. That's less than $1 per visitor. But not one cent has ever been paid from rates or taxes.
When he gifted the park to the city, Sir John also set aside land along its fringes from which the Cornwall Park Trust Board derives ground lease rentals.
This is a critical income stream which keeps the park running.
His foresight has served the park well. Although as Brian Rudman noted in a recent column, the park's ground leasing system also comes under periodic challenge.
The leases are fairly straightforward. For substantially less than freehold value, the lessee gains the right to live on a property in perpetuity while also paying an agreed ground rent. This rent is fixed for 21 years so does reflect increasing land values or inflation. During this time some leases are in fact bought and sold many times. People buy these leases for considerably less than what other properties in the area sell for. That's mainly due to the fact they pay for the house, not the land.
The trust board does not set the ground rent. Property values are independently assessed and as required by the lease the rents are set at the rate of 5 per cent of current land market values.
The trust is currently nearing the end of another round of 21-year renewals for some of the leases.
We are pleased to say that the great majority of leases have been renewed and rent has been set, reflecting perhaps the fact that rises over 21 years in Auckland land values have been well known. But given that rents had not previously moved for over two decades some lessees have found the jump to current values hard to manage.
We believe the leases are fair and transparent and that they can provide significant benefits to both parties. They allow people to live in one of Auckland's most sought after suburbs and buy homes at a heavily reduced price. The flipside is they have to pay a rental for the land, every year.
None of this, however, is to ignore the pressures some people face or the need to constantly review market circumstances. Wherever possible, we work with lessees who face difficulties to try to find solutions, such as payment programmes. We believe that ground leases still play a valuable role in Auckland's residential market. We also believe that the current lease format has served the trust board and the community well for over 80 years.
That said, times are changing and we are currently considering what arrangements might work best for all involved for the next 80 years or more.
While never forgetting the park's past, the trust's focus is also on its future.
The trust board is working with leading local and international landscape architects to develop an exciting 100-year master plan for Cornwall Park.
As Auckland grows by another million people over the coming 20 years, open spaces like the park will become increasingly scarce.
Our responsibility is to ensure Sir John's vision remains and the people of this great city get to keep enjoying the park without charge for generations to come.
John Clark is chairman of Cornwall Park Trust Board.


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Business, Nuntawun Polkuamdee, Published on 02/11/2015
» Recap: Global stock markets edged down last week after the US Federal Reserve suggested that an interest-rate increase was still possible before the end of this year. The news triggered a substantial sell-off by foreign investors in emerging markets in Asia.
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Lincs Eco Energy Performance Ltd
Services: Code for Sustainable Homes Assessors | SAP Assessors | Independent Energy Specialist | Air Tightness Testing | Daylight Calculation Services
WaySearch 18 Bigby High Rd
DN20 9HD Brigg
N.Lincs UK
Contact Person: Steve Abbott
Phone: 07713237875
Domestic & commercial property energy assessors.
We will produce a full FSAP model of your premises, analyse your energy costs, offer and complete tests and remediation works.
We are also MCS accredited Solar PV suppliers.
We are OCDEA SAP assessors & CSH Assessors.
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Sad Story: French Montana's Father From Living Wealthy To Living On The Roofs! (How Family Messed Up His Life & Can't Come Back To America Because They Stole His Passport) [English Subtitles]
"French Montana's dad (Abdulah Kharbouch) tells his whole story, how rich he was before he emigrated to US with his kids, and left his brother's wife in Morocco controling all his fortune , untill Abdulah came back to Morocco for a vacation to see his ill parents(french's grandmother/father) and he found out that his brother's wife stolen all his fortune and did many bad tricks to make Abdulah stay stuck in Morocco all the time with complicated problem so he can't go back to United States," - @alarrab
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
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Inside Secure LAUNCHES HCE-BASED SOFTWARE PAYMENTS APPLICATION
The first combined product resulting from the Metaforic acquisition, enables service providers to accelerate mobile payment deployments
Las Vegas, USA, May 15, 2014 – Inside Secure, a leader in embedded security solutions for mobile and connected devices, today announces at CARTES America the launch of a white-label Android application for Host Card Emulation (HCE) based payments. The new MatrixHCE product enables mobile payment application providers to accelerate time to market by using the pre-validated HCE payment functionality. It includes the highest level of software security to defend against any attacks in the hostile mobile environment.
Introduced on Android 4.4 (KitKat), Host Card Emulation (HCE) allows for contactless payments (and other services including loyalty programs, building access and transit passes) to be made directly between the consumers' bank mobile application and the retailers point-of-sale, using NFC technology. It allows sensitive data used to facilitate transactions to be stored on, and accessed from, cloud servers rather than a mobile device and without the use of a hardware secure element. HCE therefore enables widespread deployment of mobile payments, which have previously been restricted by the limited deployment of hardware secure elements in mobile devices. However HCE adoption has been hampered by the security concerns associated with software payment applications running on open mobile platforms. MatrixHCE combines Inside Secure's long expertise in payments security with the software security expertise it gained from Metaforic, a company acquired by Inside Secure on April 5, 2014, to address these concerns and offer the highest possible level of software security.
MatrixHCE supports the HCE payment standards announced by major payment brands such as Mastercard and VISA, in preparation for the global commercial rollout later this year. It benefits from the software obfuscation and whitebox encryption security technologies developed by Metaforic. These have successfully undergone extensive penetration tests at external security labs. MatrixHCE also embeds secure networking communication technologies to protect the exchanges between the cloud server and the mobile application, thereby further protecting banking and payment data.
"The mobile payment market has tremendous potential and we are excited to bring this innovative offering to market to accelerate deployments," said Simon Blake-Wilson, executive vice president of Mobile Security division at Inside Secure. "Our solution raises the bar on software security by combining application and cloud security to solve the critical problem in delivering workable HCE based payment solutions."
With the addition of MatrixHCE, Inside Secure offers the most complete range of client security solutions for the payments market, comprising:
- Micropass, consisting of chip, OS and payments applications for traditional card-based payments
- VaultSEcure, a hardware secure element solution consisting of chip, OS and payments applications for hardware-based mobile payments
- MatrixHCE, a white-label application, building on HCE for software-based mobile payments
Inside Secure is uniquely positioned as the only company able to provide security solutions for enterprise secure access, digital entertainment and financial services markets, the three key market drivers for mobile security. Benefitting from this expertise, MatrixHCE is built upon the trusted foundation of MatrixSSE, INSIDE's software secure element, including anti-tampering and code obfuscation technologies, which allows the application to defend itself against malware, "man-in-the-app" attacks (Trojan horse) and communication spoofing attacks. MatrixSSE provides security capabilities for general applications, while MatrixHCE adds payment specific security mechanisms and transaction security capabilities on top of MatrixSSE. With this level of security, banks and financial applications providers who plan to deploy secure mobile apps can insure the highest level of protection for the payment transactions.
About Inside Secure
Inside Secure (NYSE Euronext Paris FR0010291245 – INSD) provides comprehensive embedded security solutions. World-leading companies rely on Inside Secure's mobile security and secure transaction offerings to protect critical assets including connected devices, content, services, identity and transactions. Unmatched security expertise combined with a comprehensive range of IP, semiconductors, software and associated services gives Inside Secure customers a single source for advanced solutions and superior investment protection. For more information, visit www.insidesecure.com.
Media and analyst contact:
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Carol Leslie / Juliette dos Santos
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email@example.com – email@example.com
Company contact:
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Marcom Director
+33 (0) 4 42 37 02 37


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The Official Star Wars site mentions a juicy keyword -- "Jango" -- but only offers the conclusion to Hyperspace members. What's within?
Out in Hyperspace, the latest multimedia marketing gift from being a paid subscriber to the Official Star Wars Fan Club, there may be a clue about Boba Fett's appearance in Episode III... if he's even going to be included.
If anyone wants to spread the word, send us the news. Anonymous contact optional.


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Rayquaza (Japanese: レックウザ Rekkuuza) is a Dragon/ -type Legendary Pokémon, as well as the version mascot for Pokémon Emerald.
In the anime
Rayquaza makes its debut in the 7th movie Destiny Deoxys. Like all other Legendary Pokémon, Rayquaza is a truly powerful Pokémon. Four years before the main movie, Rayquaza had fought against Deoxys because it thought the Pokémon was invading its territory when the meteorite Deoxys used for travel landed on the earth.
Rayquaza and Deoxys fought fiercely against each other and although Deoxys versatility had given it the upper hand, Rayquaza took it by surprise and defeated it with a Hyper Beam, destroying it's body completely. However, Deoxys's crystal was unharmed and it managed to regenerate it's body and set out to recover its friend, which was another Deoxys. Rayquaza senses Deoxys's presence and flew to LaRousse City to once again battle Deoxys.
Upon arriving to LaRousse City, Rayquaza and Deoxys fought. Deoxys blocked it's violent intrusion by putting a shield around the city, preventing Rayquaza from defeating Deoxys or interfering with its search. After the many attempts Rayquaza penetrated the shield and entered the city, attacking Deoxys. Meanwhile, Deoxys's friend was being revived by Ash and Tory using a large cutting laser to free its crystal. After they succeeded in doing so, the Deoxys was reunited with its fellow Deoxys. Both of them were able to defeat Rayquaza.
The security system in the city however, was sent out of control by Rayquaza's nearly uncontrolled attacks which caused damage to the city's defense system control computers locking them into emergency mode. Tory's father contacted them and explained that the system's security would unlock if an I.D. card was scanned into the security-bot leader. Ash dodged through a large tsunami of security robots to reach the security-bot leader and scanned the card. This deactivated the control lockout long enough for the system to be shut down. Rayquaza was helped out of the large pile of security bots by both of the Deoxys, then knowing they meant him no harm, returned to his habitat in the atmosphere, after that the Deoxys left the city peacefully.
Rayquaza does not evolve.
Rayquaza is a Generation III Pokémon, first appearing in the Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire games. In 2005, Rayquaza became the version mascot for the Pokémon Emerald game. In all three games, Rayquaza can only be obtained at the Sky Pillar. It can be caught after the eighth Gym, making for an easy Elite Four.
In the Hoenn region's mythology, it was said that Rayquaza stopped the fighting between Groudon and Kyogre. It lives in the ozone layer far above the clouds and cannot be seen from the ground. It is noted for protecting its territory fiercely.
Rayquaza is Level 70 when the hero faces it in Pokémon Emerald, it has starting moves Extreme Speed, Outrage, Rest, and Fly.
In Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, Rayquaza plays a key role in the story. Xatu warns all of the Pokémon in Pokémon Square that a large star is falling and is going to destroy the planet, and says that the only way to get rid of it is to ask Rayquaza to destroy it. The main character must use Xatu's teleporting stone to reach the Sky Tower, where Rayquaza dwells. When the main character meets Rayquaza, it is extremely enraged to see that Pokémon from the ground have come "where they are not supposed to be". When the player beats Rayquaza, it will realize its mistake. The star that will destroy the planet is coming near, so Rayquaza blasts it with its Hyper Beam. The blast is so overwhelming that the main character and his partner fall off of Sky Tower.
It can also be found in HeartGold and SoulSilver in Embedded Tower.
|Ruby and Sapphire
|Sky Pillar
|Sky Pillar
|FireRed and LeafGreen
|Diamond and Pearl
|Pal Park
|Pal Park
|HeartGold and SoulSilver
|Embedded Tower
|Black and White
Side Game Locations
|Pokémon Pinball Ruby & Sapphire
|Bonus Field
|Pokémon Trozei!
|Random Agent Cards, Mr. Who's Den
|Red Rescue Team & Blue Rescue Team
|Sky Tower Summit (9F)
|Explorers of Time & Explorers of Darkness
|Sky Stairway (Summit)
|Pokémon Ranger
|Fiore Temple (during mission)
|PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure
|Flower Zone
Pokédex Entries
- Ray means fish, and "quaza" comes from the word quasar meaning an extragalactic object.
- Rayquaza is the only dual type in the Weather Trio.
- Rayquaza is one of the only Pokémon bosses to be in Super Smash Bros Brawl.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl History
Rayquaza is the second main boss the player must fight in Super Smash Bros. Brawl's Adventure Mode, The Subspace Emissary. Diddy Kong runs to find help for Donkey Kong, and comes across a large lake. He notices a destroyed Arwing nearby, and goes to investigate. Rayquaza appears out of the lake, angry that Diddy trespassed into its territory. It grabs Diddy, but Fox emerges from the Arwing and uses Fox Illusion to free Diddy Kong from Rayquaza's grasp. The two quickly team up and defeat Rayquaza. Rayquaza's appearance is also notable because it is the only boss in The Subspace Emissary who is fought by a group that does not include any other characters from its own series.
It is interesting to note that Rayquaza was found within the lake as opposed to its usual dwelling, the sky.
Rayquaza appears later in the Great Maze, as one of the eight bosses the player must face before completing the adventure.
Rayquaza also appears in Brawl's stadium, in a mode called Boss Battles. Rayquaza is one of the ten bosses that the player must fight.
See also
- Pokémon.com Pokédex
- Legendary Pokémon data
- The Pokémon Database
- Pokémon Dream Pokédex data
- Psypokes Psydex data


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Injuries and ineffectiveness have force the Giants to improvise in the secondary the last couple of years, something that's led to Antrel Rolle playing a lot of cornerback when the Giants feature a nickel look in the secondary.
Rolle admits that it isn't his ideal spot on the field and that he would have been frustrated with such an arrangement earlier in his career because he feels it deflates his individual stats, but said that's no longer a big concern for him. His goals now are to make opposing coaches worry about him and for his team to be happy with his contributions.
"Safety is easier than other positions I've been required to play," Rolle said, via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. "Yeah, the level of expectation for myself is going to be through the roof. I understand that once I'm asked to play certain roles maybe my interceptions won't be as high. Honestly, at this point in time it really doesn't matter to me. As long as I get the credit from myself, as long as I get the credit from my team, as long as the credit from my coaches, that's all that really matters to me. I really don't care what outsiders say."
Rolle will be the highest-paid player on the Giants defense in 2013 and is set to make $7 million in 2014 as well, salaries that will keep expectations high for him to lead a rebound for the Giants defense in 2013. Focusing on team needs over individual goals is a step in the right direction, but finding enough cornerbacks to keep Rolle where he's best would be an even bigger one.


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What really makes or breaks a trip? The food? The weather? The landscapes? I'd argue the people. From the immigration officers to the taxi drivers, the shopkeepers, tour guides, hosts, fellow diners and passersby, it's the locals you encounter that have the most power to influence your love – or hate – for a place.
My answer would be Malawi, with some of the smaller Caribbean islands (Tortola, Dominica, Antigua) coming second. When I visited in 2011 the 'warm heart of Africa' was brimming with friendly – and genuine – smiles from enthusiastic residents and several friendships were formed. Costa Rica, on the other hand, which had been hyped up as a warm, laid-back stretch of Central America high on pura vida (their unofficial catchphrase meaning, literally, 'warm life'), was less so.
A recent online top ten numbered Fiji, Australia, Soctland and Ireland among its friendliest places while a poll cited on Forbes.com last year proclaimed New Zealand as the kindest place to ex pats living abroad, with the United Arab Emirates deemed the least welcoming.
So let us know, what's the friendliest place on earth?
We've created a gallery featuring the top ten friendliest countries as voted by you - see the winners online here.
Tweets about "#worldsfriendliestcountry"


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Tagged: Ron Davis
Fear becomes Reality…
During the off-season, when Robinson Cano walked for the cash in Seattle, I was worried about first base when the other holes popped up at second and third base. The Yankees weakly filled the other holes with injury-prone Brian Roberts and utility-man Kelly Johnson while spending millions elsewhere on the roster.
Shortstop has been a concern as an aging Derek Jeter attempts to make his comeback from a serious ankle injury.
Catcher was truly the only infield position of strength with newcomer Brian McCann backed superbly by Francisco Cervelli, Austin Romine and John Ryan Murphy.
But first base was and still is my primary concern. The Yankees did nothing to bring a solid backup to the team as a hedge against Mark Teixeira's health. So, when Teixeira went to the DL this week due to a muscle strain in his leg, the Yankees had no legitimate first baseman on the roster. As it stands, Kelly Johnson has become the team's first baseman. When Johnson signed, Cano was still a possible return so Johnson was viewed as the team's super-sub. Then, Cano left and Alex Rodriguez was suspended for the season, and Johnson found himself as the starting third baseman. Now Teixeira's gone, and Johnson stands at first. It is great that he's so versatile, but the Yankees are so vulnerable with its current infield.
Yangervis Solarte has been a godsend but realistically I do not expect the guy to continue to play all season like he has in its first few games. He is an aging minor leaguer who had never gotten a major league shot and there's reasons for why that happened. Yes, late bloomers can happen, but I am too much of a realist to believe that the Yankees have struck gold with the minor league free agent. I like him in a bench role, but now he's the apparent starting third baseman along with another career minor leaguer, Dean Anna.
Mark Teixeira has always concerned me with his notorious slow starts and now he has other issues for us to worry about. I really thought that the Yankees needed to bring in a strong first baseman to help cover for Teixeira. This is where someone like Nick Swisher is really missed. An outfielder who can easily step in to play first.
When I heard that the Mets were dangling Ike Davis, I thought he'd be the perfect guy for the Yanks to pursue despite his underwhelming performance and injuries with the Mets. Son of a former Yankee (former Goose Gossage setup man, Ron Davis), I thought that Davis might benefit from a change in scenery. In a supporting role for Tex, Davis would be in a good spot to resurrect his career. The cost to acquire Davis would be less than acquiring a more frontline first baseman, but of course, on the day Teixeira was placed on the DL, Davis hit a grand slam to win a game for the Mets. It should be noted that on the same day, the Yanks did not score any runs in a 4-0 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Right now, I think that Ichiro Suzuki's presence on the roster is hurting the team. For the Yankees to call-up Scranton/Wilkes Barre first baseman Russ Canzler, the Yankees would have to free up a spot on the 40-man roster. The Yankees need more help for the infield than they do with the outfield. Alfonso Soriano provide good relief as the fourth outfielder/DH, and the ever-versatile Johnson can play there as well.
The Yankees need to go out and get Plan B for first base, and perhaps move Ichiro along the way.


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Lonely Guy (dubbed "Lonely guy" in-game) is an unseen character in Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars. His only appearence in the game is when he sends an email to protagonist Huang Lee.
In his email, Lonely Guy shares his experience and suggests that Huang visits three "love sites".
"Lonely guy
(SPAM?) Find love, real Love
For so long I was alone. Everyone was finding love, getting married and having kids. But, for me, there was only emptiness. I wondered if I would ever find someone special to share my life with. I felt like a freak.
Then I received an email, like this one, and found love online. I can't believe how happy I am now I've found my soul-mate.
You too can find the one for you - and remember, you're not alone , you're not a freak.
Join us at:
- Curiously enough, the names of the sites sound rather pornographic, which wouldn't be strange to Rockstar's sexual humour.


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Clipart around light switch
You can get acquainted with the presented collection of Clipart around light switch to choose suitable ideas for your business or design interface.
Today we have 23 cliparts and vectors for this category.
Advice on how to make a good presentation
Collect and learn facts and figures
There are a few must-dos when it comes to effectively present something. Let's enlistz some of the most important factors:
- You actually need to really and fully know about what you are talking about. Unlike at school there is nowhere to hide, when an expert asks you and you happen to have no idea what he means and how you should reply.
- This also means to be very responsible when wantintg to do a presentation. If you need more time to learn about your topic let your management be aware of it.
- Never be in a situation when you try to talk about something which you have no clue about. Because nothing is more revealing of your knowledge than a presentation.
Light Switch Mascot Cartoon Character Waving And Standing By A Decorated Christmas Tree by Toons4Biz
1000+ ideas about Light Switch Covers on Pinterest | Decorative light switch covers, Switch plates and Diy bathroom decor
I literally jumped out of my chair and ran around the apartment checking our light switches after discovering these ADORABLE light switch stickers by ...
2016 Kitty Cat light switch sticker Cartoon Decor Decals Children Baby Nursery Room doorknot light Stickers


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Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | eBay | Etsy
Pure and Simple. Planning and tracking your workout is essential to gauge your progress. How many lunges could you do last workout? How many reps did you do? From beginners to seasoned, our books are small, durable, easy to use, and most importantly effective for your transformation. Even better, you won't need to buy a new phone or tablet if you drop a dumbbell on it.
The TrainRite Exercise and Fitness Journal logs all of your daily fitness and cardio activities. Each durable book lasts for 90 workouts and includes a workout planning sticker that allows you to create a 2-week fitness regimen that will last for months when planned with a wide variety of exercises. Use it to look back and see what was effective, and what wasn't working for you. See how many reps of what weight you could do 2 months ago to ensure you're making progress and reaching that goal.
This journal is great for creating and adhering to a well-planned fitness regimen. Workout twice a week? 6 times a week? Either way, make sure you're getting the most out of it by creating variation and planning for success.
What you get:
- Small, durable coil bound journal with waterproof covers (3.5 x 8.5")
- 90 workouts worth of weight lifting logging
- Each workout tracks 10+1 exercises per workout, and 1 cardio
- 4 sets per exercise with variable weight
- Rotating 2–week workout schedule sticker forces you to plan your schedule far in advance
Remember: to achieve your goals you must create a plan and be consistent with it. TrainRite Journals are an essential tool to help you reach your fitness goals.
Buy it here: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | eBay | Etsy
Need help? Want a large or custom order? Please contact firstname.lastname@example.com


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ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) When Mike Stoops got fired as Arizona's head coach last season, he had several opportunities for his next employment.
The one that made the most sense was returning to Oklahoma as part of brother Bob's staff again.
``It's a great program, it's working with your brother, it's familiarity, and you get to coach some awfully talented players,'' Mike Stoops said. ``There were a lot of other enticing opportunities. When everything started adding up, I felt Oklahoma was the best opportunity for me.''
Stoops is Oklahoma's associate head coach and defensive coordinator, and also coaches defensive backs.
The 12th-ranked Sooners earned a share of their eighth Big 12 title this season, going 10-2 in the regular season. They played No. 10 Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night.
Stoops led Arizona to three consecutive bowl games, and his 2010 team reached No. 9 in the polls. The Wildcats had lost 10 of 11 games when he was fired midway through the 2011 season, finishing 41-50 in his seven-plus seasons.
Before that, Stoops was co-defensive coordinator for the Sooners from 1999-2004, and helped the Sooners win the 2000 national championship.
``It's been fun being at Oklahoma. I think being with Bob is certainly, it's been a unique experience again,'' he said. ``After eight years, it's a little different getting back into it. ... Nothing has really changed, but everything has changed.''
There is one really big difference after being a head coach, and now being an assistant again.
``I like giving orders better than I like taking them,'' he said, smiling.
ONE MORE YEAR?: Texas A&M leading tackler Damontre Moore played his final college game Friday night in the Cotton Bowl. The defensive end announced earlier this week that he was bypassing his senior year for early entry in the NFL draft.
Many projections have Moore being among the top NFL draft picks.
That could also be the case for Aggies junior offensive tackles Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews, though neither beforehand if they expected to the Cotton Bowl to be their last game at Texas A&M.
``I love the school, I love A&M. It was the best decision of my life just coming here,'' Joeckel said. ``It's going to be hard to leave all the people, no matter what happens, it's going to be hard.''
There are a few Oklahoma juniors that could have played their finales.
Safety Tony Jefferson, the Sooners' leading tackler, wouldn't talk this week about the grade he received from the NFL Draft advisory board.
Other Oklahoma underclassmen who could consider bypassing their senior seasons are cornerback Aaron Colvin, fullback Trey Millard and receiver Kenny Stills.
EXTRA POINTS: Texas A&M and Oklahoma were both 6-0 away from home during the regular season. ... The date for next year's Cotton Bowl hasn't been announced yet. This was the third consecutive season when the Cotton Bowl was played in prime time on a Friday night in the days before the BCS national title game. In that slot next January, the Orange Bowl is already set. ... The National Anthem was performed by the Gatlin Brothers, who also had that honor at the Cotton Bowl in 1979 and 1991. ... Former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer and former Texas A&M coach Jackie Sherrill both attended the game.


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Verizon Wireless Enhances 4G LTE Network Coverage In Windsor Locks, Connecticut
WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation's largest 4G LTE wireless network, recently activated new 4G LTE coverage in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. This private investment further expands 4G LTE coverage in the vicinity of Bradley Airport and along Interstate 91, Routes 159, 5 and 401/20 in Windsor Locks.
Within Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE service area, Verizon customers with 4G LTE-enabled devices can post status updates and photos, surf the Web, share music, and download files at speeds up to 10 times faster than customers on 3G networks.
In real-world, fully loaded network environments, Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE customers in the coverage area should experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.
Verizon Wireless has invested more than $3 billion into its New England network since 2000, including more than $297 million in 2011 alone, to increase coverage and capacity on behalf of customers.
"We've always believed that the best wireless devices deserve the best wireless networks," said executive director for Network for Verizon Wireless, Richard Enright. "People across Connecticut are increasingly relying on tablets, smartphones and apps to stay organized, connected and entertained. Our investment in Hartford County - and across New England - has kept us ahead of these consumer trends and underscores our belief that 4G LTE delivers the best value to customers by maximizing the performance of their wireless devices."
As of May 17, Verizon's 4G LTE network covers more than two-thirds of the U.S. population - allowing consumers in 258 markets to take advantage of blazingly fast speeds with a wide variety of 4G LTE devices, including the DROID 4 and the DROID RAZR™ MAXX™ by Motorola. By the end of 2012, the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network will be in more than 400 markets, spanning 49 states.
When customers travel outside of a 4G LTE coverage area, the devices automatically connect to Verizon Wireless' 3G network, enabling customers to stay connected from coast to coast. Verizon Wireless' 3G network is the largest, most reliable high-speed data network in the country and allows customers in 3G coverage areas who purchase 4G LTE devices today to take advantage of 4G LTE speeds when the faster network becomes available in their areas.
The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network was named "Fastest 4G Network Yet" by Popular Science's 2011 Best of What's New Awards, and was ranked No. 1 on PC World's 100 Best Products of 2011. For more information about Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network, please visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 93.0 million retail customers, including 88.0 million retail postpaid customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 80,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.


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April 2019
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April 2019
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Cleveland OH
Cleveland, Ohio City Page
Situated on the southern shore of Lake Erie, Cleveland offers dog parks, trails for hiking and a beautiful arboretum for many opportunities for outdoor exploring. In fact, Holden Arboretum has more than 20 miles of hiking trails for pets and their owners to explore. Whether they're searching for dog boarding facility, pet grooming services or another offering, pet owners in Cleveland can select from a wealth of pet service professionals. PetSitting.com has a large citywide network of Cleveland's best pet professionals who offer full pet services and we will work with you to find the perfect Cleveland-based pet professional who will lovingly care for your four-legged friend.
Cleveland Pet Sitters
Leaving a beloved pet for any amount of time can be difficult, but owners who choose a loving and reputable pet sitting company or professional can leave their pet with confidence. Many Cleveland dog sitting professionals and cat sitters in the city will take care of your pet in your home or theirs. But not all Cleveland pet sitters are created equal, nor are they all qualified. Through PetSitting.com's network of Cleveland pet sitters, owners are referred to only the most professional and reputable dog and cat sitters in the city.
Dog Training in Cleveland
To maximize the bond between you and your dog, you need to ensure that he's learned the proper manners and skills to live agreeably with you. A dog obedience training professional can help. The Cleveland dog trainers in PetSitting.com's comprehensive network use a variety of dog training tools and techniques to develop your dog's obedience and improve his life and yours.
Cleveland Pet Boarding
Pet owners may occasionally need to leave their pet for an extended period of time. Fortunately, for owners that choose to leave their pet in a pet boarding facility, there is an abundance of high-quality Cleveland pet boarding companies that can make the time away much less stressful. By choosing a dog boarding or pet boarding company through PetSitting.com, you can leave feeling assured that your pet will be cared for properly and thoroughly. Let us work for you to find a trusted and reputable Cleveland pet daycare or boarding provider near you.
Dog Walkers in Cleveland
Exercise is important to the maintenance of a dog's healthy lifestyle, but is oftentimes neglected when owners do not have time to follow their pet's daily routine. PetSitting.com's online match service makes finding a professional dog walker in Cleveland an easy process. Each Cleveland dog walking business in our network offers a variety of fitness services for your beloved pet. Whether you're looking for part time dog walking services, an uptown dog walker or a multiple-dog walker, we can assist you in finding the ideal provider.
Cleveland Pet Grooming
At PetSitting.com, we have built a top-notch network of Cleveland pet grooming professionals who represent the best in the dog grooming and pet grooming industries. Whether your pet needs more general services such as a shampoo and condition or a cut and blow dry, or more specialized full-service grooming, our contracted Cleveland pet grooming companies will leave your pet looking and smelling his best.
Cleveland Pet Waste Removal
Whether through a routine bath or full-service grooming, pets should be groomed periodically to maintain their health and beauty. At PetSitting.com, we have built a top-notch network of Cleveland's best pet grooming professionals who have solid references and are well established in the dog grooming and pet grooming industries. Our contracted Cleveland pet grooming companies provide various general services such as a shampoo and condition, cut and blow dry, and cuticle and dental services, as well as some specialized services for grooming your dog or other beloved pet.
Doggie Daycare in Cleveland
Through the many Cleveland dog daycare centers, your pup can receive the attention, exercise and protection that she needs while you're at work. Many of Cleveland's most outstanding doggie daycare facilities are represented through PetSitting.com, and we're able to help you find the perfect local doggie daycare so that each day you can leave your pet with confidence that she'll be cared for appropriately.
Find Help Now!
To find a professional pet care company in Cleveland, please fill out the pet services form on the top right of this page. It takes just a few minutes and is always completely free of charge.


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"Better fuel economy, more power."
Sports Cars
Editor: Sam Moses
$23,200 Base Price MSRP
$37,725 As Tested MSRP
Model Lineup: "Chevrolet Camaro LS ($23,200); LT Coupe (425,200), LT Convertible ($30,100); SS Coupe ($31,850), SS Convertible ($37,900); ZL1"
Standard Engine: 6.2-liter V8
Engine Options: 3.6-liter V6; 6.2-liter V8; supercharged 6.2-liter V8
Standard Transmission: 6-speed manual
Transmission Options: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic with manual shifting
Basic Warranty: "3 years/36,000 miles"
Assembled In: "Oshawa, Ontario"
Model Tested MSRP: "Chevrolet Camaro 2SS Coupe ($35,450)"
Standard Equipment: "heated leather seats, heated mirrors, Boston Acoustics 9-speaker 245-watt audio system, Bluetooth and USB port, remote starting, console mounted gauges, Head-Up display, rearview camera, OnStar Directions and Connections for 6 months, foglamps, halogen headlamps"
Options As Tested: "45th Anniversary package including stripes, HID headlamps with LED halo rings, 20-inch aluminum wheels painted Midnight Silver, interior with accent stitching ($1375)"
Standard Safety Equipment: "dual-stage frontal airbags, side-impact airbags in front, airbag curtains, tire pressure monitor, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control with traction control"
Optional Safety Equipment: rearview cameraDestination Charge: $900
Camaro convertibles are equipped like the coupes but feature a soft top fitted with acoustical foam in the headliner to minimize noise with the top up. This latest-generation Camaro was designed from the outset to include convertible models, and reinforcements were added in four key areas to increase rigidity.
2012 Camaro LS and Camaro LT models come with a 3.6-liter V6 engine that's been revamped with many improvements. For 2012, there's a new cylinder head design with integrated exhaust manifolds, improved intake ports, larger intake valves, longer-duration camshafts, a composite intake manifold, new fuel pump, optimized-flow fuel injectors, cylinder block enhancements, stronger and lighter connecting rods, and finally a cleaned up camshaft cap and throttle body. This new engine makes 323 horsepower, 11 more than before, and it weighs 20.5 pounds less.
The revised V6 delivers better fuel mileage for the 2012 Camaro LS; the 2LS model, which uses a tall 2.92 rear axle ratio, gets an EPA-estimated 19/30 miles per gallon City/Highway. In terms of power, the V6 can pretty much pass for a V8, a bonus for the price. The V6 on 2012 models revs to 7200 rpm, which is 200 rpm sweeter than before. The V6 offers a choice between 6-speed manual transmission and 6-speed automatic (with semi-manual shifting).
Camaro SS uses the 6.2-liter Corvette V8, making 400 horsepower with a 6-speed automatic or 426 horsepower with a Tremec 6-speed manual gearbox (same as Corvette). The SS uses firmer shocks, springs and anti-roll bars than the V6 models, but the ride doesn't suffer for it. A limited-slip rear differential is included to reduce wheel spin when trying to put all that power down. With the optional 6-speed TAPshift manual automatic transmission, the SS uses a slightly different 6.2-liter V8, with Active Fuel Management. It makes only 400 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque.
The 2012 Camaro SS 45th Anniversary edition comes in black (Carbon Flash Metallic), with retro reddish-orange stripes on the bulging hood and deck, new 20-inch painted aluminum wheels, and special interior trim with 45th anniversary badging.
Stealing the headlines is the uber high-performance 2012 Camaro ZL1, making 580 horsepower by adding a supercharger to its 6.2-liter V8. It can accelerate from zero to 60 in 3.0 seconds and hit 184 mph, according to Chevrolet. While testing at the Nurburgring, the Camaro ZL1 set a lap record, beating the Porsche 911 GT3. At $55k the ZL1 is cheap, given its level of performance. GM is proving something to the likes of Porsche, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and Maserati.
We found the handling, ride and brakes to be excellent in both the Camaro LT with the V6 and the Camaro SS with the big V8, although the SS suspension is stiffer and its 20-inch tires are firmer. The chassis structure is rigid, helping make turn-in precise for a car this size; grip is secure, and damping is solid and supple. We never encountered a harsh moment with the ride, in either model, during a full day of hard driving east of San Diego in both of them, and later a full week in the Pacific Northwest with a 426 horsepower Camaro SS with the 6-speed. We found the handling balance of the Camaro SS excellent.
As for the brakes, the Camaro LT stops superbly. The Camaro SS uses four-piston Brembo brakes, but because it's 200 pounds heavier, the stopping distance isn't much shorter. However, the Brembos with four-piston calipers make the brakes on the SS more resistant to fade, important on race tracks and mountain roads where the brakes are being used repeatedly.
The automatic transmission does what you tell it to do when using the TAPshift manual feature, nothing more. We love that. But the 6-speed manual transmission with the V6 is the most all-around usable sporty combination. We like the manual with the V6 because 426 horsepower is overkill on the street. The gearbox is solid but not quite slick, and the throws are shorter than some. The 6-speed shifts nicely, including easily down into first gear for hairpin turns.
Inside, the cabin is quiet, so 80 mph feels more like 70. Interior materials are good, but the instrumentation is disappointing, with GM still trying to be retro rather than clean with gauges. The bucket seats are comfortable, with decent bolstering. The front seat slides 8.5 inches and the steering wheel tilts and telescopes, so drivers of all sizes will fit, most notably Camaro's many female buyers. The standard cloth upholstery is good, with excellent leather available in black, gray, beige, and two-tone Inferno Orange. The windows are small, with high doorsills for safety, and the A-pillars wide, so it makes the cockpit feel a bit like a cave. Visibility through the windshield is compromised by the long hood and raked windshield, although careful location of the driver's seat helps. Rear visibility over the driver's shoulder isn't very good, but then it's impossible to make it good with a roofline this sporty. Rear seat legroom measures a meager 29.9 inches, so you'll want to avoid sitting back there."
"Camaro LS ($23,200) comes with the 3.6-liter V6 and 6-speed manual transmission. Not a bare-bones model, the Camaro LS comes with cloth upholstery, manually operated air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, cruise control, telescopic steering wheel, six-speaker AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 sound system, Bluetooth, OnStar with turn-by-turn route guidance for six months, limited slip differential, 18-inch steel wheels. (Prices are Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices and do not include the destination charge.) The 2LS ($1,200) comes with the 6-speed automatic transmission with TapShift manual controls on the steering wheel and a 2.92:1 axle ratio and rear spoiler.
Camaro LT ($25,200) upgrades with sport cloth seats, six-way power front seats, foglamps and integral front fascia, and 18-inch painted aluminum wheels. The 2LT ($28,350) includes leather upholstery and 9-speaker Boston Acoustics sound system, Head Up display, rearview camera, 19-inch aluminum wheels, and the gauge cluster with oil temp, oil pressure, volts, and transmission fluid temperature.
Camaro SS ($31,850) features the 6.2-liter V8, a Tremec 6-speed manual gearbox (same as Corvette) with limited slip differential, and the Sport cloth seats. The SS has special exterior trim, a beefier suspension, 20-inch painted aluminum wheels, and four-piston Brembo disc brakes. The 2SS ($3,600) upgrades to leather-appointed seats, heated front seats, rearview camera, multi-function auxiliary gauges, head-up display, Bluetooth, PDIM wireless auxiliary device control, Universal home remote, steering wheel-mounted controls, auto-dimming mirror, heated mirrors. There's a new optional suspension package for the SS models, called FE4. The 45th Anniversary package ($1,375) includes the retro hood and deck stripes, HID headlamps with integrated LED halo rings, 20-inch aluminum wheels, and interior trim with accent stitching and anniversary logos.
Camaro ZL1 adds a supercharger to the 6.2-liter V8 to get a mind-bending 580 horsepower and 556 foot-pounds of torque, with traction control and magnetic ride control.
Camaro LT Convertible ($30,100) and Camaro SS Convertible ($37,900) are equipped similarly to the coupes. Nine production exterior colors are available, with tops in black or tan.
Safety equipment on all Camaros includes electronic stability control with traction control, anti-lock brakes, frontal airbags, front side airbags, airbag curtains, and tire pressure monitor. A rearview camera is optional."
Walk Around
"This latest-generation Camaro, completely redesigned for 2010, captures the look of the original '67, though it's bigger in every dimension: longer, wider and taller.
Viewed head-on, classic 1969 Camaro headlights appear. Behind the shark nose with black mesh grille, up on the long aluminum hood, there is a suggestive power bulge for the V8 engine. It's the long hood and shark nose that catch your eye and trigger your longing. The SS has an additional wide and thin black simulated intake on the nose.
Slight twin humps on the roof are visible at the top of the steeply raked 67-degree windshield that helps produce a 0.37 Cd in the LS and LT, and 0.35 Cd in the SS.
Viewed from the rear, and especially from above, the lines suggest the 1963 fastback split-window Corvette. That classic Corvette made a strong impression on the Camaro's young designer, Sang Yup Lee, who came to the U.S. from Korea as a boy and grew up in the California car culture.
Styling gills located just forward of the rear wheels add a nice touch to the Camaro. Even though the power dome hood and cooling gills are not functional, they all work as touches of style and don't come across as phony.
The shapely strong hips stand out, like the long hood, an edgy element the designer is most proud of, because they took so much work. He said it took 113 tries to get the one-piece sheetmetal right, from the doors and pinched beltline rearward. There's no indifferent craftsmanship with this car, that's for sure.
The rigid B-pillar is blacked-out, thus creating a clean outline for the side glass, blending into a handsome hardtop roofline. The short rear deck climbs upward and looks hot. The twin taillights look like blinking red sunglasses in each corner, under the small lip of a rear spoiler.
The convertible chassis is reinforced to stiffen the body structure, with a cross brace under the hood to connect the front shock towers, a transmission brace, an underbody tunnel brace, and underbody V-shaped braces front and rear. This helps the convertible ride and handle more like the coupe. Chevrolet says the convertible chassis is rigid enough that the suspension didn't need to be changed from the coupe, and that the Camaro convertible has more torsional stiffness than the BMW 3 Series convertible.
Designers and engineers erased the appearance of ribs in the convertible top, by using composite rather than aluminum knuckles, extending the material below the beltline, and revising the stitch lines. The result is a top that appears smooth, taut and carefully tailored, while retaining the sleek roofline of the coupe."
"The cabin is oriented more around style than function.
The standard cloth bucket seats are good, although the bolstering isn't fully there for hard cornering. It's a tough compromise to make, given the spectrum of Camaro buyers. The low bolsters make getting in and out of the Camaro easier. Excellent leather upholstery is available in black, gray, beige and two-tone Inferno Orange, and interior materials are good. The front seat slides 8.5 inches and the steering wheel tilts and telescopes, so drivers of all sizes will fit. The stitched leather wrap on the steering wheel is nice, and the wheel itself has been changed for 2012.
The instrumentation graphics have been revised for 2012, and the new instruments are better. A recessed speedometer and tachometer are set in square housings, a nod to the classic Camaro interior. Between those two big gauges is a driver information center controlled via a stalk on the steering column.
The climate control buttons on the center stack appear to have been designed for looks, and thus aren't as functional as they could or should be. An optional console-mounted gauge package includes oil pressure, oil temperature, volts and transmission fluid temperature. The information is good, although the location down by the driver's knee makes it difficult to see while driving.
The windows are small and the A-pillars are wide, so it makes the cabin feel a bit cave-like. Visibility through the windshield is compromised by the long hood and raked windshield, although careful location of the driver's seat helps. Rear visibility over the driver's shoulder isn't very good, but then it's impossible to make it good with a roofline this sporty.
The trunk is deep but the opening isn't large and it's almost flat. This compromise is worth it for the handsome rear deck. There's a pass-through to the trunk behind the rear seat, which isn't easy to crawl into, and feels like a pit.
Rear-seat legroom measures 29.9 inches, a distinction, as few cars today break below that 30-inch mark. You'll want to avoid riding in the back seat.
The convertible top is made of thick, durable canvas. An acoustical headliner material is designed to provide a quiet, coupe-like ride when the top is up, and the soft top incorporates a glass rear window and rear window defogger. The power folding convertible top retracts in about 20 seconds. It folds in a simple Z-pattern and latches with a single handle located at the center of the windshield header. The transmission doesn't have to be in Park for the top to be activated, allowing fast lowering while stopped at a red light, or when it starts raining in a dead-stop traffic jam."
Driving Impressions
"The Camaro chassis is engineered well. The rigid structure makes the turn-in precise for a car this size; the grip is secure, and the damping is solid and supple, with both the V6 (FE2 suspension) and firmer V8 (FE3). The front suspension uses struts, and the rear is an independent multi-link that's rubber isolated.
The Camaro is a hefty car, 3860 pounds for the V8 and 3800 for the V6, so the handling couldn't be called nimble, just secure and satisfying. The new Mustang is nearly 300 pounds lighter, and feels it.
We never encountered a harsh moment with the ride, in either the LT or the SS. We spent week in a 426-hp SS in the Pacific Northwest, and before that one day driving east of San Diego, where we had the chief designer, Canadian Gene Stafanyshyn, riding shotgun and giving us the backstory. He's the guy you can thank for the true programming of the TAPshift manual automatic transmission. It does what you tell it to do, nothing more. We love that. Stafanyshyn said he too hates manual automatic transmissions that shift on their own.
One especially nice thing about the transmission is that when you're in sixth gear on the freeway and lightly accelerate, it won't kick down when it doesn't need to. It uses its sufficient torque.
The Camaro LT with its 3.6-liter V6 shines. We said it was the future in 2010, and we must have been right because now, two years later, other manufacturers (most notably Ford) have powerful and efficient new V6 engines. The Chevy V6 sounds sweet and gets 30 miles per gallon highway with the 6-speed automatic and optional 2.92 rear axle ratio. With the standard 3.27 gear, it accelerates from 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds, and will do the quarter mile in 14.4 seconds, which is quick in anyone's book.
The LT will also stop from 60 mph in a superb 106 feet, as measured by Motor Trend magazine, or 128 feet according to GM. Surprisingly, the SS with its four-piston Brembo brakes doesn't do much better, but the Brembos can be used harder without fade. And the vented rotors are huge, 14 inches front and 14.4 inches rear on the SS, compared to the LT's matching fronts and 11.8-inch rears.
The V6 LT with a 6-speed manual gearbox is the most versatile sporty engine-transmission matchup. The gearbox is smooth if not buttery, and easily shifts down into first gear for hairpin turns. Chevrolet says the throws are short, yet there's a Hurst short-throw shifter available as a dealer option. We'll take it. We tested it in the Shelby Mustang, and it made a world of difference.
Two 6.2-liter V8 engines are offered in Camaro SS models: the 426-horsepower LS3 is paired with manual gearboxes, while the 400-horsepower L99 comes in cars with automatics. Both engines are derived from the engine that debuted on the 2008 Corvette, with an aluminum block with cast iron cylinder liners, and aluminum heads. The L99 features the Active Fuel Management System, which saves fuel by shutting down half of the engine's cylinders during certain light-load driving conditions, such as highway cruising.
The Camaro SS is humongous fast, so if you're driving it hard, you're deep into the danger zone with the law or you're on a race track. Its throaty exhaust turns heads. The SS with the manual transmission and 426-horsepower engine revs to 6600 rpm, while the automatic with its 400 horsepower only revs to an underachieving 6000.
It's hard to say who wins the perennial muscle-car battle between the Camaro, Mustang GT, and Dodge Challenger; those with a favorite aren't likely to change their minds. But a battle of the stats gives the Mustang the edge, with its beautiful new 32-valve 5.0-liter engine. We think it's more enjoyable to drive, too. The Mustang wins the pounds-per-horsepower battle, 8.7 to 9.1 (412/3580 vs. 426/3860), but the Camaro SS still wins in the quarter-mile, 13.0 to 13.2. Not that two tenths of a second makes any difference in how much you enjoy your car."
"The Chevrolet Camaro offers all the classic benefits of a Camaro: striking lines, powerful engines, great transmissions, superb handling and ride, good V6 gas mileage, great prices. Interior visibility is limited, pinched because of the car's shape. And the back seats are not for adults. The front seats are good, but the retro-wannabe instrumentation will leave you flat if you're looking for function. In short, drivers who have wanted a Camaro will not be disappointed.
NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Sam Moses drove the Camaro coupe and convertible models near San Diego and in the Pacific Northwest."
Top Cars


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i. Meeting called to order
ii. Roll Call
iii. Approval of minutes
iv. Presentations on issues relating to the REAL ID Act and its impact on the state and residents of West Virginia, featuring:
Mr. Steve Dale, Deputy Commissioner, West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles; Ms. Christy Morris, Deputy Secretary, West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Homeland Security
Ms. Angela Vance, Associate State Director, AARP
v. Miscellaneous business
vi. Adjournment


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Awards/Notable Lists | Book Lists | Library/Literacy Awareness Campaigns | Other FAQs
Awards/Notable Lists
How should I submit media (books, recordings, videos, software) for ALSC's awards and notable lists?
To submit works for consideration for ALSC awards and notable lists:
Review the terms and criteria for the award on the award's page, then review the submission process there.
Mail one copy of the work to the award committee chair.
Only if submitting for Notable Children's Books, mail one copy of the work to the ALSC office (225 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60601).
Standards are in place for the committee members to review and share submissions.
Neither the ALSC office nor the committee chair can confirm receipt of submissions. If you would like to confirm receipt of your submission please use a mailing service with delivery confirmation. Submissions that are dropped off in- person to the ALSC office will not be accepted.
The deadline for submitting works is December 31 of the publication year for ALSC awards and children's notables except the Odyssey Award and Notable Recordings which is October 31.
What books are in contention for the upcoming Newbery/Caldecott, etc. Awards?
The discussions and deliberations of ALSC's Award Committees are confidential. Therefore, these committees do not share information about which titles they are discussing and do not make public the books that are in contention.
The one exception to the above rule is the Notable Children's Books Committee. Their discussions at conference are open meetings and they announce the list of books that constitute their "discussion list" before each conference. Upcoming discussion lists are posted before each conference on our Web site. Click here to visit the ALSC Notables site.
When are the Newbery and Caldecott awards announced?
The Newbery and Caldecott awards are announced with the other ALSC and ALA youth media awards during a press conference held during the ALA Midwinter Meeting each year. The Midwinter Meeting typically takes place in mid or late January and the press conference always falls on the Monday morning of the Meeting.
When is the Newbery/Caldecott Banquet?
The Newbery Caldecott awards banquet is scheduled annually during the ALA Annual Conference on Sunday evening from approximately 6:00 – 10:00 PM at a hotel. It is open to all Annual Conference attendees. Tickets for the banquet may be purchased through the Annual Conference pre-registration system, or on site at the Registration Desk located in the convention center. There is a physical limit to the banquet room, so tickets are not always available on site. Also, for those wishing to hear the award speeches and not attend the banquet, they may do so by arriving at the banquet at approximately 8:45 PM. Chairs are provided at the back of the banquet room.
How are the Newbery and Caldecott Awards chosen? What is the process?
The Newbery and Caldecott Awards are chosen by committees of the Association for Library Service to Children. During the year, each committee member reads as many of the eligible books as possible, including all books suggested by other committee members and by other members of ALSC. Twice in the autumn, committee members cast preliminary ballots to begin to focus attention on the books likely to be of most interest in the selection discussions. No eligible book that has been suggested before the midwinter selection meetings is excluded from consideration, even if it was not nominated on a preliminary ballot.
During the selection meetings, the committee discusses all nominated and suggested books before beginning balloting. Each committee member votes for three books, with four points assigned to first choice, three points to second choice, and two points to third choice. To win, a book must receive at least eight first place choices and at least eight points more than any other book. Once a winner is chosen, the committee decides whether to name honor books and how many.
Can I listen to the Newbery/Caldecott Award speeches?
The Newbery, Caldecott, Legacy Banquet is held in conjunction with the ALA Annual Meeting each year. At this special event medal winning authors and illustrators are honored and make an acceptance speech for their winning titles. Recordings of the Newbery and Caldecott acceptance speeches given from 1977 to present are available for download using the links on the Newbery, Caldecott, Legacy Recordings page. You will find links for any speech where a recording was created. The Children's Literature Legacy Award acceptance speech is also included for years in which that award is given. Please note: 2018 is the first year of the CLLA speech. 2017-1989 were recorded as Wilder acceptance speeches along with the Newbery and Caldecott speeches. Wilder speeches prior to 1989 are not available as taped recordings. The recordings are housed in ALA's institutional repository with all other past speeches.
Where can I get a paper copy of the Newbery/Caldecott Award speeches?
The Newbery and Caldecott speeches are published each year in the Summer/Fall issue of Children and Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children and in the July/August issue of The Horn Book Magazine. Check your local library for copies of these publications.
How can someone participate on the Newbery and Caldecott awards committee?
Newbery and Caldecott Award Selection Committee members must be members of the American Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children. Each Newbery and Caldecott committee is made up of fifteen members. ALSC members elect eight members to each committee on the ALA spring ballot. The ALSC President appoints the chair and six members to each Newbery and Caldecott committee.
How can I purchase award/notable seals?
Foil seals depicting the ALA/ALSC Newbery, Caldecott, Sibert, Belpré, and Children's Notable Media medals are available in packages of 24 seals (gold or silver) through the ALA Store. For more information on the seals, visit the ALA Store. Seals are also available in bulk; they are pressure sensitive, packaged 1,000 to a roll, and sold only in multiple units of one thousand (1,000). For more information on bulk seal orders, visit the ALA seals sales and permissions page.
Where can I get a poster that has all of the Newbery or Caldecott awards listed?
ALSC does not offer a poster with all of the Newbery or Caldecott award winners listed. Baker & Taylor has generously produced posters of this kind. You may contact firstname.lastname@example.com directly for more information. The ALA online store does offer posters that feature the awards click here to order posters featuring the awards in general.
Who are Randolph Caldecott and John Newbery?
John Newbery was an eighteenth-century English publisher and bookseller. He is credited with establishing children's literature as an important branch of book publishing. To learn about the history of the John Newbery Award visit ALSC's Newbery Web page. Randolph Caldecott was a nineteenth-century English illustrator, known best for his contributions to children's literature. To learn about the history of the Randoplh Caldecott Award visit ALSC's Caldecott Web page.
Pura Belpré was the first Latina librarian from the New York Public Library. As a children's librarian, storyteller, and author, she enriched the lives of Puerto Rican children in the U.S.A. through her pioneering work of preserving and disseminating Puerto Rican folklore.
The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking (REFORMA), an ALA Affiliate.
Book Lists
Do you have a list of recommended books for children?
ALSC offers many different lists of recommended books for children. Each year ALSC committees choose deserving books for the Newbery, Caldecott, Batchelder, Belpré, Geisel, and Sibert Awards, along with a list of Notable Children's Books. Current and past winners for each of these awards can be found on ALSC's Awards Web pages (use the links in the left-hand navigation menu to find past winner lists for each individual award) and Notable Children's Book Web pages.
To find other ALSC recommended book lists based on specific themes or topics, visit the Recommended Book Lists page of our website.
What do you mean when you list books as "younger" "middle" and "older" readers?
According to the ALSC Notable Children's Books Committee manual, these categories loosely represent the following:
Younger Readers – Preschool-grade 2 (age 7), including easy-to-read books
Middle Readers – Grades 3-5, ages 8-10
Older Readers – Grades 6-8, ages 11-14
All Ages – Has appeal and interest for children in all of the above ages ranges
Library/Literacy Awareness Campaigns
Does ALSC offer any support to me in promoting my library locally?
Yes! Visit Kids! @ your library pages for free, fun resources.
Also, please click here to find out more about Children's Day/Book Day (El día de los niños/El día de los libros).
When is National Library Week?
National Library Week is held in April each year. To learn more, visit ALA's National Library Week Web site.
When is Library Card Sign up Month?
September is Library Card Sign up Month. To learn more, visit ALA's fact sheet on Library Card Sign Up Month.
When is National KidsDay?
National KidsDay (NKD) is annually scheduled for the first Sunday in August. It is sponsored by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. ALSC works with its members to promote the day by distributing an NKD Making Memories Guide to those members willing to distribute the Guide in their library. Also, several members conduct an NKD celebration in their libraries. The list of participating members varies each year, so it is best to check the ALSC Web site for a current list of libraries.
When is Children's Book Week?
Children's Book Week is held annually in May and is sponsored by the Children's Book Council (CBC). Prior to 2008, it has traditionally been held in November. To learn more, visit the CBC website.
What is National "Drop Everything and Read" Day?
April 12 has been proclaimed National "Drop Everything and Read" (D.E.A.R.) Day. It is an initiative to encourage families to designate at least 30 minutes to put aside all distractions and enjoy books together…to make it a special time to "drop everything and read." The birthday of Newbery Award-winning author Beverly Clearly is the official national D.E.A.R. day, and Cleary's most popular book character, Ramona Quimby, is the program's official spokesperson.
What is Children's Day/Book Day (El día de los niños/El día de los libros)?
Children's Day/Book Day (Día) brings together children, books, languages, and cultures. Día's vision is to spread "bookjoy" every day by linking children from all languages and cultures with books, and celebrating together across the country on April 30. The Día mission is for every community to celebrate El día de los niños/El día de los libros. Its goals are to honor children, their languages and culture; to encourage reading and literacy; and to promote library collections and programs that reflect our plurality. For more information, visit the Dia website.
How can I apply for ALSC Scholarships?
There are two ALSC scholarships for which you may apply: the Bound to Stay Bound Books scholarship ($6,500 for each of four awards), and the Frederic G. Melcher scholarship ($6,000 for each of two awards). These scholarships are for individuals pursuing a master's or advanced degree in children's librarianship. Each year, the application is made available around October 1 at ALA's Scholarship Web site. The application is online only, with a March 1 deadline for submission, no exceptions. For further information, visit ALSC's Scholarships Web page.
Other FAQs
I'm interested in becoming a children's librarian. Where can I find more information?
For more information on becoming a librarian who serves youth, visit ALA's Human Resource Development and Recruitment Office Web site.
When is the next ALA conference?
Future ALA Annual Conference and Midwinter Meeting dates are available on the ALA website under "Conferences and Events."
I'm doing a research project and need information about ALA and/or ALSC. Who should I contact?
ALSC is not a research library. The best (and most efficient!) way of obtaining this type of information is to contact the ALA Library or ALA archives.
When are the ALA elections held?
The election polls open in mid-March and close around the third week in April. Election results are announced the first week in May. For more ALA election information, visit ALA's Election website.
How can I order a READ poster?
READ posters are available through the ALA Store. For more information, visit the ALA Store.


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Items which are considered "oversize" are noted on horizonhobby.com. Oversize packages will not ship 2 Day, Overnight or Saturday Delivery. For shipments to Puerto Rico, please call for a shipping quote.
Oversized 1 items are not eligible for Gift Wrapping.
Nothing, everything is included.
Looking to learn to fly? With the assistance of a club instructor, the E-flite® Apprentice™ 15e RTF is the perfect trainer for learning the basics and beyond. The Apprentice is a 15-size high-wing trainer that comes with everything you need to go from buy to fly. This one-box purchase includes the full range DX5e Spektrum radio with the 2.4GHz interference-free technology, AR600 receiver, and a 3S 3200mAh 15C Li-Po battery and charger. There is no building required—just charge and install the included battery, mount the wing and tail, and fly.
The Apprentice is powered with a 15-size brushless outrunner providing excellent power and performance. This trainer has a flat-bottom wing and produces gentle flight characteristics. The Apprentice is made from durable, lightweight Z-Foam™, making it great for training and sport flying. Every beginner pilot experiences their share of bumps and bruises, so the Apprentice's durable build and easily repairable construction ensures more opportunities for success. The Apprentice is the perfect training aircraft thanks to its gentle flight characteristics. This model is equipped with tricycle landing gear allowing better ground handling over tail-dragger aircraft. This landing gear setup is durable and will also allow takeoffs and landings on maintained grass runways. This is a high quality trainer with an excellent setup, taking the pilot from beginner to basic aerobatics all from this one-box purchase. Go from buy to fly with the Apprentice.
|Approximate Flight Time:
|15 minutes
|CG (Center of Gravity):
|3.25 in (83mm) back from the leading edge
|3S Balancing Li-Po Battery Charger (EFLC3010) (included)
|Flying Weight:
|40â45 oz (1135â1275g)
|Motor Size:
|15-size brushless outrunner (installed)
|Recommended Fuel:
|Speed Control:
|30A Brushless Pro SB Brushless ESC (EFLA1030) (installed)
|Wing Loading:
|12 oz/sq ft
|58 in (1475mm)
Warranty Period:
What this Warranty Covers
Horizon Hobby, Inc., (Horizon) warrants to the original purchaser that the product purchased (the "Product") will be free from defects in materials and workmanship at the date of purchase.
Limited Warranty:
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This warranty is not transferable and does not cover (i) cosmetic damage, (ii) damage due to acts of God, accident, misuse, abuse, negligence, commercial use, or due to improper use, installation, operation or maintenance, (iii) modification of or to any part of the Product, (iv) attempted service by anyone other than a Horizon Hobby authorized service center, or (v) Products not purchased from an authorized Horizon dealer.
Purchaser's Remedy
Horizon's sole obligation and purchaser's sole and exclusive remedy shall be that Horizon will, at its option, either (i) service, or (ii) replace, any Product determined by Horizon to be defective. Horizon reserves the right to inspect any and all Product(s) involved in a warranty claim. Service or replacement decisions are at the sole discretion of Horizon. Proof of purchase is required for all warranty claims. SERVICE OR REPLACEMENT AS PROVIDED UNDER THIS WARRANTY IS THE PURCHASER'S SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY.
Limitation of Liability
HORIZON SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSS OF PROFITS OR PRODUCTION OR COMMERCIAL LOSS IN ANY WAY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH CLAIM IS BASED IN CONTRACT, WARRANTY, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR ANY OTHER THEORY OF LIABILITY, EVEN IF HORIZON HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. Further, in no event shall the liability of Horizon exceed the individual price of the Product on which liability is asserted. As Horizon has no control over use, setup, final assembly, modification or misuse, no liability shall be assumed nor accepted for any resulting damage or injury. By the act of use, setup or assembly, the user accepts all resulting liability. If you as the purchaser or user are not prepared to accept the liability associated with the use of the Product, purchaser is advised to return the Product immediately in new and unused condition to the place of purchase.
These terms are governed by Illinois law (without regard to conflict of law principals). This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state. Horizon reserves the right to change or modify this warranty at any time without notice.
Questions, Assistance, and Services
Your local hobby store and/or place of purchase cannot provide warranty support or service. Once assembly, setup or use of the Product has been started, you must contact your local distributor or Horizon directly. This will enable Horizon to better answer your questions and service you in the event that you may need any assistance. For questions or assistance, please fill out our inquiry form or call 877.504.0233 toll free to speak to a Product Support representative. You may also find information on our website at www.horizonhobby.com.
Inspection or Services
If this Product needs to be inspected or serviced, please use the Horizon Online Service Request submission process found on our website or call Horizon to obtain a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number. Pack the Product securely using a shipping carton. Please note that original boxes may be included, but are not designed to withstand the rigors of shipping without additional protection. Ship via a carrier that provides tracking and insurance for lost or damaged parcels, as Horizon is not responsible for merchandise until it arrives and is accepted at our facility. An Online Service Request is available at https://www.horizonhobby.com under the Support tab. If you do not have internet access, please contact Horizon Product Support to obtain a RMA number along with instructions for submitting your product for service. When calling Horizon, you will be asked to provide your complete name, street address, email address and phone number where you can be reached during business hours. When sending product into Horizon, please include your RMA number, a list of the included items, and a brief summary of the problem. A copy of your original sales receipt must be included for warranty consideration. Be sure your name, address, and RMA number are clearly written on the outside of the shipping carton.
NOTICE: Do not ship LiPo batteries to Horizon. If you have any issue with a LiPo battery, please contact the appropriate Horizon Product Support office.
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For Warranty consideration, you must include your original sales receipt verifying the proof-of-purchase date. Provided warranty conditions have been met, your Product will be serviced or replaced free of charge. Service or replacement decisions are at the sole discretion of Horizon.
Non-Warranty Service
Should your service not be covered by warranty service will be completed and payment will be required without notification or estimate of the expense unless the expense exceeds 50% of the retail purchase cost. By submitting the item for service you are agreeing to payment of the service without notification. Service estimates are available upon request. You must include this request with your item submitted for service. Non-warranty service estimates will be billed a minimum of ½ hour of labor. In addition you will be billed for return freight. Horizon accepts money orders and cashiers checks, as well as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover cards. By submitting any item to Horizon for service, you are agreeing to Horizon's Terms and Conditions found on our website https://www.horizonhobby.com/Service/Request.
United States:
Electronics and engines requiring inspection or repair should be shipped to the following address:
Horizon Service Center
4105 Fieldstone Road
Champaign, Illinois 61822
All other Products requiring warranty inspection or repair should be shipped to the following address:
Horizon Product Support
2904 Research Road
Champaign, Illinois 61822
Please call 877-504-0233 or For questions or assistance, please fill out our inquiry form with any questions or concerns regarding this product or warranty.
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Horizon Hobby Limited
Units 1-4 Ployters Rd
Staple Tye
Harlow, Essex
United Kingdom
Please call +44 (0) 1279 641 097 or e-mail us at firstname.lastname@example.com with any questions or concerns regarding this product or warranty.
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Technical questions about this E-flite product should be directed to Horizon Hobby's Product Support Department:
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To Contact Product Support please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com
If you would like to purchase this product, please go to the Store Locator or contact the Horizon Hobby Consumer Sales Department:
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Today is one of those wonderful days where we have nowhere that we have to go, nothing we have to do - other than grocery shop for the week - and we can simply relax and enjoy a quiet day at home, listening to the gusty fall wind outside, reading my new Better Homes and Gardens magazine, drinking coffee... and eating these cookies for breakfast.
Well, we might eat some real food, too, at some point, since we have lots of leftovers. These cookies are dangerously delicious, and I'm glad they got mostly eaten last night, although I'm also glad there are still a few left for me.
Last night was a UFC fight night, which is always at our place since we get the channel for free. Of course, with 12 guys about to show up at our condo, I decided to make myself scarce for the evening and headed off for a girls night of my own at a friend's house. But not without leaving them with a few treats (with plenty to take to the girls, too).
You know I love any excuse to cook and bake, especially when other people can enjoy it. Since they were going to order pizza, I left them with a pan of cheesy garlic knots, ready to pop into the oven until they were puffy and golden, a crock pot of kielbasa sausage and sweet cherry peppers, swimming in a sauce of brown sugar, whole grain mustard and horseradish, and lots and lots of cookies. I'll have another post for the pumpkin cookies that I made, so let's talk about these chocolate chip shortbread cookies.
Last Father's Day, I made a lemon cream tart for my dad - the first tart I had ever made. I ended up having to make the crust twice, because the first time I didn't ration the dough very well when pressing it into the pan, and after it came out of the oven, I realized that the sides were not nearly high enough to hold all the filling. So on my second try, I distributed the dough more carefully, making sure I had enough to come all the way up the sides of the tart pan. The second crust worked beautifully, and when it was filled with sweetened whipped cream cheese and lemon custard and topped with candied lemon slices, it was one of the best desserts I've ever made. Jamie and I ended up breaking the first crust into pieces, and eating it like cookies with the leftover filling.
I started thinking what a wonderful cookie that tart dough recipe would make, and it's been in the back of my mind ever since. When it comes to cookies, I'm a big fan of soft, chewy cookies that are slightly under-baked. But I would choose this cookie over a gooey chocolate chip cookie. Although these are not soft and gooey, neither are they hard and crunchy. The buttery, crumbly shortbread practically melts in your mouth when you bite into one, leaving you with the slightly sweet taste of bittersweet chocolate and butter on your tongue. After dipping them in chocolate, I added a little sprinkling of crushed toffee to make them look a little fancy, and I think crushed almonds or hazelnuts, either sprinkled on top, or mixed into the dough, would also be amazing.
This is a delicate cookie, so I used mini chocolate chips so as not to overwhelm the cookies with big chunks of chocolate. And just as the tart dough should be kept very cold and handled as little as possible, the same goes for these cookies. Keep your ingredients very cold, and once the dough is assembled, it will need to be refrigerated or frozen for a while before slicing. The cold will prevent the butter from melting into the dough - you want those chunks of butter in the dough, so that as the water evaporates from the butter while the cookies bake, little pockets of steam create that crumbly flaky texture that makes them so good. The cold temperature will also help the cookies to hold their shape while baking, instead of spreading out.
I ended up freezing mine overnight, since after I mixed up the dough, it was too late at night to bake the cookies, decorate and photograph them, so I finished everything up the next morning. I actually sliced and baked mine while they were frozen solid, and they came out quite nicely, although the dough was a little difficult to slice through while it was that frozen. My recommendation would be to refrigerate it overnight, slice them the next morning, and then freeze the slices on the baking sheet for 30 minutes or so, before baking.
You could also try rolling the dough out and cutting it with cookie cutters if you want them shaped something other than round, but because this dough is so crumbly, it could be tricky to roll, which is why I decided on the slice and bake method.
And although I've given a lot of instructions for handling the dough and such, this is actually a very easy cookie to make. The dough comes together in about 10 minutes, and then you just need a lot of patience waiting for it to chill. Slice them up, bake, cool, and decorate. It's as simple as that. And don't be afraid of the amount of butter called for - shortbread wouldn't be shortbread without butter! And you'll only eat one or two of these yourself, right? :)
These would make a lovely addition to anyone's holiday baking, and would be so pretty stacked in clear treat bags and tied with a ribbon to give away as gifts.
Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies
printable recipe
- 2 sticks, plus 2 tablespoons (18 tablespoons total), very cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts or almonds (optional)
- 2 egg yolks, cold
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon, plus 1 teaspoon, ice water
- 4 ounces high-quality, bittersweet chocolate, chopped (or use semi-sweet chocolate if you want it slightly sweeter)
- 1/4 cup toffee bits
Cut the butter into pieces, place in a bowl, and freeze for 30 minutes. In a large bowl, combine the flour, powdered sugar and salt. Sprinkle the frozen butter pieces over the flour, and cut the butter into the flour with a pastry cutter until mixture is crumbly. You don't need to incorporate the butter too much - you should have some pieces that are slightly bigger than peas, and the mixture should still be very dry and floury.
At this point, stir the chocolate chips and nuts, if using them, into the flour butter mixture. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and vanilla. Add the egg vanilla mixture, a little at a time, to the flour mixture, stirring with a fork to moisten. Now, get your hands in there, working quickly, so that the heat of your hands does not warm the butter too much, and work the egg yolk into the dough for 1 minute.
Sprinkle the ice water, a teaspoon at a time, over the dough, working it in with your fingers as you would with pie dough, just until you are able to gather the dough together. You may need slightly more or less ice water.
Divide the dough into two equal balls. On sheets of waxed paper, shape the dough into 2 logs, about 2 inches in diameter, trying to keep them uniform in width the whole length. (Make sure the dough is pressed together firmly, so that you don't have any pockets of air trapped inside, which will cause cracks in the cookies.) Roll the logs up in the waxed paper, then roll those up in foil. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
When the cookie dough is very cold and firm, unwrap, and slice into 1/4 inch thick slices. Freeze the cookie slices for 30 minutes.
While the cookie slices are chilling in the freezer, preheat the oven to 350 F. Bake the cookies on a Silpat baking mat (or on parchment paper) for 12 minutes. Since they will still appear very pale in color, and they do not rise or spread, you may have a hard time telling if they're done, but you'll see the bottom edges just starting to turn golden brown, which means they're ready. Cool the cookies for 2 minutes on the silpat, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Melt the bittersweet chocolate according to the directions on the package. Before dipping the cookies, place the wire cooling racks over a baking sheet to catch any drips. Dip the cooled cookies in the melted chocolate, so that just one half of the cookie is coated in chocolate, shake off the excess, and place on the wire rack. Sprinkle with the toffee bits before the chocolate sets. When you no longer have enough chocolate to dip the cookies in, scrape the remainder of the melted chocolate into a zip-lock bag, snip off the corner, and drizzle the remainder of the cookies with the chocolate. Place the cookies in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to completely set the chocolate. Once set, they can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container.
Yields 3 dozen cookies.
Shortbread cookie dough inspired by Dorie Greenspan's recipe for Sweet Tart Dough.