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Even before the year 2006 began, word leaked out from Cambridge city councillors that a deal was in the works to grant some councillors their own personal aides in exchange for their votes to make Ken Reeves mayor. The plan at that time was for Reeves to appoint certain councillors to chair several Council committees and to use this to justify the supposed need for personal staff.
Robert Winters
Sure enough, when the committee appointments were made, new co-chairs were created where there had been none, and the councillors appointed by the mayor to chair some committees made no sense at all. Soon after, each councillor was given the option of receiving a personal aide courtesy of the newly anointed mayor.
By the end of the year, this city council had accomplished less than any in the history of the city. At year's end, there were precisely zero Council committee meetings scheduled and little for the councillors to do.
In truth, 2006 was a year during which some councillors measured their new offices, others measured their chances at getting elected to new offices, and the rest measured how many more years of incumbency they needed in order to max out their pensions.
It was a year to take care Number One, and no one did so with greater extravagance than his royal highness, the mayor, Mr. Reeves. While all other departments kept their budgets close to the levels of the previous year, Reeves submitted a budget 54% higher than the previous mayor. The main increase was the inclusion of personal "research assistants" for each councillor - all paid out of the Mayor's budget to complete the deal that made Reeves mayor.
It's important to understand several things about these "research assistants." First, they don't do any research. In fact, nobody knows what they do other than free up time for councillors to seek reelection. Second, they are, for the most part, affiliated with the political campaigns of the incumbents - just like almost everyone who works in the mayor's office. For this reason, their salaries are effectively campaign contributions paid out of city tax revenue. Third, since they're provided by the Mayor's Office, it's important that councillors make nice to the Mayor if they want to get their personal coat-holder, letter-answerer, and car-parker.
When the Mayor's Office budget was submitted last spring, only one councillor, Craig Kelley, had the gonads to pull that budget to allow discussion. Unfortunately, when it came time to ask questions, the new councillor declared that the budget was going to pass anyway, so there was no point in asking questions. Wrong, very wrong.
By the time December rolled around, we discovered that our wandering mayor had not only used up his $20,500 annual travel budget in less that half a year, but there was now an appropriation request for an additional $19,750 for travel expenses. The appropriation passed without discussion.
What this all means is that this Cambridge City Council unanimously believes in the principle that "you have to go along to get along."
In most political settings, there are two parties in play. No matter what you call them, it's basically a balance between those who are in control and those who would like to be in control. Those on the outside play a vital role in requiring those in power to justify their actions and expenditures. We really don't have that in City Hall any more. Everyone's an insider. Last term, we could always count on David Maher to point out the lack of garments on the king.
The only time anything is challenged now is when there is some political gain to be had - all in the noble cause of incumbency protection.
I've been closely following local government in Cambridge for two decades now and I've never felt as little affinity with any group of nine councillors as I do right now (with the sole exception of Michael Sullivan who was recently elected as Middlesex County Clerk of Courts). Most of them put their own self-interest well ahead of the taxpayers' interest. Half of them are focused more on their next job than their current job.
Because Cambridge can always permit another large development project to cover any added costs, this Council rarely has to be concerned about any blowback from an unnecessary expense, especially the expense of feathering their own nests.
What we could all use now are some good men and women who are willing to run for local office and to challenge the incumbents. This can be a daunting task. We don't usually get more than a few credible challengers brave enough to give it a try. The campaign finance reporting requirements are a pain (unless you fudge the numbers, like the mayor), fundraising is awkward and time-consuming, and it's likely that you'll catch some abuse from somewhere before it's all said and done.
Any new candidate has to get up to speed on a lot of issues in order to avoid embarrassment, but there are many people who will be happy to lend you a hand. Candidacy is one of the best ways to learn about local government. There's a better than even chance that you won't get elected. Nonetheless, we could really use you. Think about it! The year 2007 could be a great year to clean house at City Hall.
There are now a lot of people in Cambridge who would love to oust some incumbents. They would love nothing more than to have their choice of credible hallengers to support and to give their Number 1 vote next November. The School Committee race could also use some competition. If you have loftier goals, there are also several Massachusetts House and Senate seats that could use new occupants in 2008.
Asking someone to become a candidate for public office is a lot to ask. Consider yourself asked.


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Crisis of the day:
Three of my 5th grade girls came running back to the classroom after the start of recess. "Mr. Homework, Mr. Homework! Someone peed in the soap dispenser in the girl's bathroom!"
This was a first. While I don't know the soap situation in the girls' bathroom, I know the dispensers are mounted on the wall above the sinks in the boys' room. I couldn't even imagine, if it WAS true, just how someone could have managed to accomplish such a physical feat.
Me: How do you KNOW it's pee in the soap dispenser?
Girls: It's supposed to be pink soap and it's all orangey, yellow and icky!
Me: Maybe custodian just filled it with different color soap today.
Girls: No, no, no, come see!
Well, I'm not venturing into the girls room for soap viewing, so instead I notified the school office and reported the "pee in the soap dispenser" situation.
Result? Due to swine flu precautions, the school district is requiring all the soap dispensers to be filled with anti-bacterial (anti-viral?) soap. Why it had to be pee yellow, I don't know but…
There is NO pee in the soap dispensers!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
No Pee in the Soap Dispenser…
Labels: bathroom, G5, student interactions
3 comments:
- NYC Educator said...
Thank goodness. You are a hearty soul to tackle this job.
- 2:51 AM, May 16, 2009
- Mister Teacher said...
Now if the soap was brown and chunky, THEN we've got a problem... :)
- 12:02 PM, May 16, 2009
Guess anti-bacterial soap was a "new" thing for them, LOL!
- 9:41 PM, May 22, 2009
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subset: commoncrawl


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Leftovers. Good god. What are they good for? Absolutely everything! Say it again…
(I see Rush Hour on HBO just one time and this is how I am for a whole week!)
But really now…let's have a sit down and a chat about leftovers. I've already ready mentioned leftover recycling here, but, in my ongoing personal quest against food waste, I think it merits more air time. As the price of food is rising (along with the general cost of living…what fun), I find myself looking for more ways to cut costs every time I'm at the grocery or market. And I'd like to be able to do this without feeling totally bereft of those goodies which I feel I deserve for all my hard work.
On another front, more and more food is going to waste, which I think is a real crime considering that food is a gift from nature and from God (whichever is your persuasion…it's still a gift). More so when you consider how many of our fellow humans suffer from a painful lack of daily sustenance.
Now, I'm not going to get on a platform and tell you the same things told to me about "what happens when you don't finish your food". I am as guilty as anyone on that count. Instead, I am going to start finding ways to stretch the food I do have and give my leftovers a new lease on life.
Starting with this…
Roast Pork Belly Stir-fry
(inspired by Market Man's use of leftover porchetta)
- Canola oil
- 200-250 grams (chopped weight) roast pork belly, chopped
- 3-4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 white onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced
- Freshly cracked black pepper
- 1-2 teaspoons soy sauce
– Heat a litle oil in a skillet then add garlic, onions, and red bell pepper. Sauté until onions and pepper are soft.
– Add chopped pork belly and sauté further until edges are a little browned.
– Add freshly cracked black pepper, soy sauce, and then quickly toss. Take off the heat.
– Serves 2 with a bowl of steaming rice. Or with this.
Pork belly is a cut of meat I adore. It doesn't take a genius to know I love pork, and its belly is the start of so many beautiful things. A popular way to prepare it locally is simply sliced and grilled – inihaw na liempo. It's also my favourite cut for roasting, which I discovered when making porchetta. The layers of fat keep the meat tender and juicy during a long slow roast. And, lest we all forget, this is where bacon comes from! These leftovers came from a pork belly I slow-roasted flat. The meat was succulent and tasty but there was no way we could finish it in one sitting, so this is what I served the next day.
Another brilliant thing about pork belly is the price. The piece we got for the original roast went for less than the price of one steak! And lasted for 2.5 meals instead of 1 (more on the .5 later)! And I certainly did not feel bereft while I was eating it 🙂
So, let's recap: Using leftovers – check! Saving money – check! Still enjoying delicious food – check!
Next up, what I did with the last of the roast pork belly leftovers! Until then, happy weekend everyone! 🙂


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Without new members, VFW hall to close
AuGRES — Without an injection of new blood, the AuGres Veterans of Foreign Wars post may be facing a state takeover, according to Post Quartermaster Gerald Dewald.
Membership at the VFW post has been dwindling for years, from a high number of 250 members to the current number of 107.
"Younger people don't want to join," Dewald said. "The members we have are in their 70s and 80s."
"If we can get 10-12 of these new kids coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan to join and help keep it open, we could make it go," Dewald added. "But the way of life has changed, too."
If not enough members, both new and old, show up for the election of new officers in April, Dewald said the post could be shut down and taken over by the state.
While the post is still technically open and the VFW members still meet there, Dewald said the utilities, like water, are currently shut off. Members go in early to turn the heat on before meetings — otherwise it is closed for rental. The VFW pavilion is still available for rent. Keeping the post operating costs $600 per month in electricity and gas, Dewald said.
If the AuGres VFW is unable to continue operating at the post, Dewald said members would try and find a smaller meeting place to move into. Individual members may also see about joining another post.
"If someone wanted to buy the post, we could meet somewhere else and stay afloat," Dewald said.
He said other posts, such as the one in Standish and the remaining post in Tawas, are facing similar membership difficulties. Standish's post has been able to stay afloat because it has a bar, Dewald said, but the cost of insurance to have one in the AuGres hall would be untenable.
According to Dewald, if potential VFW members have a child in school and are working, they usually have activities filling much of their available time. With more kids participating in more sports programs, veterans with children are spending time supporting those extracurricular activities.
"I can't blame an individual if they want to spend more time with their family, because that comes first," Dewald added. "When they get into their 60s or 70s and their kids have grown up and moved out, then they have nothing to do and they can take part."
Dewald added that whatever happens, the VFW would still hold its Memorial Day parade and continue to provide honor guards at veterans' funeral services, as long as they could "scrape together" enough people.
The VFW election will be held Friday, April 13 at the AuGres post hall. Dewald said anyone interested is welcome to show up.
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"West Side Story" was credited with changing the course of American musical theater when the Sharks and the Jets burst onto Broadway 55 years ago.
A national touring revival of the Broadway hit is coming to Orange County from Tuesday through Sept. 18 at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa.
The production will feature songs from the renowned Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim score, including American songbook standards like "Tonight," "America" and "I Feel Pretty."
David Saint, the associate director on Broadway, has recreated the Tony Award-winning direction by librettist Arthur Laurents. Tony nominee Joey McKneely ("The Boy from Oz" and "The Life") reproduced the original choreography by Jerome Robbins.
Robbins directed and choreographed the original production, which starred Larry Kert as "Tony," Carol Lawrence as "Maria," Chita Rivera as "Anita." The first production received six Tony Award nominations for 1957, including Best Musical.
However, the general public may be more familiar with the 1961 Academy Award-winning movie directed by Robbins and Robert Wise, starring Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer as Maria and Tony, and Rita Moreno as Anita.
After two revivals, in 1964 and 1980, the 2009 Broadway production and current national tour mark the musical's third incarnation. Yet, "West Side Story" joins a growing list of successful revivals.
On Broadway, a recurring trend is beginning to reveal itself: revivals have become the favored daughter, while original works are gaining a reputation as that awkward middle child that can never quite get their — make that their audiences' — feet off the ground.
Despite tedious efforts, this "new wave" of contemporary musical theater may have a harder time taking off than everyone expected. As it turns out, the special effects, elaborate spectacles and catchy pop tunes are only alluring to the viewer for a little while and over time, lose their luster. Shows are closing at a record rate and consequently taking to the road.
So if revenue isn't finding its way to the newer, contemporary musicals, then what shows are filling the seats?
Perhaps theater-goers still have a soft spot for the classics. No other musical defines this speculation better than "West Side Story."
On March 19, 2009, its third Broadway reincarnation opened to rave reviews and broke box office records at the Palace Theatre. The production recouped its $14 million investment nearly 30 weeks later, according to a news release from the theater company.
The production on Broadway came to a close on Jan. 2, after 27 previews and 748 regular performances, the longest run in West Side Story's Broadway history. The original production followed with 732 performances.
Stronger-than-ever attendance proves that audiences still can't get enough of star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria and street rumbles between the Sharks and the Jets.
However, before the production's Broadway debut in 1957, "West Side Story" had not yet blossomed into its final form. Six years earlier, Jerome Robbins had set the modern musical adaptation of "Romeo and Juliet" in New York's Lower East Side, where tensions rose between Jews and Catholics during the Passover and Easter religious holidays.
It wasn't until Laurents suggested switching the conflict from religion to race — Puerto Ricans and whites in the original play — that the project took off and developed into the show familiar to audiences today.
The 2010-11 "West Side Story" national tour will feature the final cast to work with the legendary writer, who was a principle contributor to numerous productions of "West Side Story."
Laurents died in May 2010, while the company was on tour.
"It was little bit of a push knowing that we're the last company of 'West Side Story' he had ever seen," said Kyle Harris, who plays Tony in the revival coming to O.C. next week. "As tired as we are and exhausting as the road is, we are doing some of the best theater that's ever been produced in all of American theater history…"
If You Go
What: "West Side Story" at Segerstrom Hall
When: Tuesday to Sept. 18.
More Information: Individual tickets start at $20, and group discounts are offered for parties of 15 or more via the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236. Tickets can be reserved in person at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts Box Office, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, or by calling (714) 556-2787. For online ticket purchases, visit SCFTA.org. The 2 p.m. performance on Sept. 17 will be sign-language interpreted.


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Garden of the Gods
1805 N 30th Street (at Gateway Rd) * Manitou / Colorado Springs, Colorado * 719.634.6666 * http://www.gardenofgods.com/ * http://www.technogypsie.com/reviews/?p=545
Originally first published May 9, 2009 by Thomas Baurley
Garden of the Gods is a unique natural geological park that is located in Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs … and is a Registered National Natural Landmark. It's open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. in the summer and 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the winter. The park boasts over a million visitors a year or more.
History and Mythology
Where the Great Plains grasslands meet the low-lying pinon-juniper woodlands of the American Southwest at the base of the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains a geological upheaval occurred along the Trans-Rocky Mountain Fault system creating these spectacular features over a million years ago. Horizontal ancient beds of sandstone, limestone, and conglomerates were pushed and tilted vertically when the tectonic plates pushed together. Glaciations, wind, and water erosion shaped the features over hundreds of thousands of years.
This geologic feature was seen as sacred grounds by the original inhabitants of the area, potentially visited and used for spirituality possibly over 3,000 years ago to present. As early as 1330 B.C.E. evidence of human occupation has been found from petroglyphs, fire rings, pottery, and stone tools have been left behind. The Ute Indians claim that their people always had lived where Garden of the Gods Park now stands and their people were created there and around Manitou.
The Kiowa, Apache, Shoshone, Pawnee, Cheyenne, and Arapaho also claim their peoples visited or lived here. It was known as a pivotal crossroads and meeting place for many indigenous peoples and nomadic tribes gathered together for peace. Rivaling tribes were said to even have laid down their weapons before entering the shadows of the sandstone features.
Two sets of petroglyphs were found here – the first hidden in a crevice on the east side of South Gateway Rock depicting a circular shield-like figure divided into four parts with a rain cloud terrace image, a Thunderbird image, zigzag lines, and image of wheat or corn and a faint flower-like image with a dozen dots forming a semi-circle over its top which some experts said was done recently in the last 100 years copying Indian designs from a book. The other petroglyph is pecking in the rock discovered in the 1980's and estimated to date to 1500 C.E. most likely an Ute Indian design potentially depicting a deer, a third of a buffalo head, and maybe a stone tool seemingly telling a story.
Alleged Native American legends of the site have been told, their authenticity unknown. Marion E. Gridley wrote in "Indian Legends of American Scenes" telling a tale about a great flood that covered all the mountains nearby Pikes Peak. As the waters receded, the Great Spirit petrified the carcasses of all animals killed by the flood into sandstone rolling them down into this valley as evidence of the Great Flood.
The second was written by Ford C. Frick saying "… in the nestling ales and on the grassy plains which lie at the foot of the Great White Mountain that points the way to heaven lived the Chosen People. Here they dwelt in happiness together. And above them on the summit of the Mighty Peak where stand the Western Gates of Heaven, dwelt the Manitou. And that the Chosen might know of his love the Manitou did stamp uon the Peak the image of his face that all might see and worship him … but one day as the storm clouds played about the Peak, the image of the Manitou was hid .. and down from the North swept a barbaric tribe of giants, taller than the spruce which grew upon the mountain side and so great that in their stamping strides they shook the earth. And with the invading host came gruesome beasts – unknown and awful in their mightiness – monstrous beasts that would devour the earth and tread it down … and as the invading hosts came on the Chosen Ones fell to the earth at the first gentle slope of mountain and prayed to Manitou to aid it. Then came to pass a wondrous miracle, the clouds broke away and sunshine smote the Peak and from the very summit, looking down, appeared the face of Manitou himself. And stern he looked upon the advancing host, and as he looked the giants and beasts turned to stone within their very steps … "
If this site was in Australia or Europe, it would be named castles and fortresses associated with Gods, Deities, Spirits, or Faeries.
Westerners first discovered the features in 1859 by two surveyors who were here to build Old Colorado City. M.S. Beach, one of the surveyors thought it would be a great location for a beer garden. The other surveyor replied to him stating "A Beer Garden? Why this is fit place for the Gods to assemble. We will call it Garden of the Gods". General William Jackson Palmer who was known for his contributions of building Colorado Springs convinced his colleague Charles Elliot Perkins to buy the 240 acres embracing the features. In 1909 his children donated the land to the city of Colorado Springs.
The original family that donated the land to the public required that it would always remain free, and that is what it remains today. Garden of the Gods stands as a great park for hiking, walking, bicycling, rock climbing, picnicking, special events, and weddings … The park has it all … protected as 1,387 scenic acres … and presents itself as a unique tourist / information center, with a theater and gift shop near the entrance. Within are 15 miles of trails ranging in various levels of difficulty from beginner to advance for hiking and exercise.
A historical video greets you at the welcome center and tells the tale that began in the 1870's when the railroads carved westward, when General William Jackson Palmer founded the city of Colorado Springs and upon discovering this natural beauty, urged his friend Charles Elliott Perkins, the head of Burlington Railroad, to make his home where the park now stands. He lived there until he finished his railway from Chicago to Colorado Springs. His railroad project wasn't a success and never made its destination in the springs.
His homestead eventually became his summer home in 1879. He purchased 480 acres and never actualized building on it, leaving the land in its natural state and for the public. When he died in 1907, he made arrangements for the land to be a public park, and this was enacted by his children in 1909 forever as the Garden of the Gods "where it shall remain free to the public, where no intoxicating liquors shall be manufactured, sold, or dispensed, where no building or structure shall be erected except those necessary to properly care for, protect, and maintain the area as a public park." That is exactly what they've done …. and its a beautiful place to be.
Continue reading Garden of the Gods (Colorado Springs, Colorado)


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No. 5 Southeastern will be aiming to keep a tight grip on its spot atop the Great American Conference standings when it heads east to Russellville, Ark., to face Arkansas tech in a four-game series March 29-30.
Friday's double-header is slated for 2 p.m., while Saturday's games are set for a noon first pitch.
The Savage Storm come into the contest at 27-6 on the season overall and 12-2 in GAC play, holding not only the top spot in the league standings by two games in the loss column, but also the No. 5 national ranking which it has held for three-straight weeks.
SE is on a six-game winning streak that included a four-game sweep of preseason GAC favorite Arkansas-Monticello and continued into a rain-shortened series against Southern Nazarene in which the teams played just two games which the Storm won 3-0 and 6-1.
Southeastern enters the weekend tied for second in the league in pitching and in third as a team in hitting.
Storm pitchers boast a 2.64 ERA which ties them with East Central, while hitters are producing at a .294 clip.
Mindy McElroy is leading the pitching staff in ERA and is second in the conference in that stat with a 1.65 mark in 24 appearances and 17 starts. She is 11-2 on the year and has four saves.
She is only overshadowed by her teammate Jacee Bennett who has earned three-GAC pitcher of the Week honors this season while posting a 2.68 ERA with a 15-3 record and six saves.
Bennett leads the GAC in wins (15), appearances (28), saves (6) and is second in the league in strikeouts (109).
Courtney Moore leads the Storm at the plate with a .402 average that ranks her fifth in the league at the dish. She is also fifth in the conference in RBI with 26 and leads all Storm hitters with four home runs.
Jessica Simmons posts a .349 average at the plate and leads the team in hits with 38, while leading the GAC in runs scored with 32 and stolen bases with 26.
SE also features three other contributors at the plate with averages better than .300 with Courtney Riddle batting .429 in 35 at bats, McElroy adding a .333 mark and Rachel Jones at .302.
ATU comes into the weekend at 18-15 overall on the year and 11-9 in the league standings, and are coming into the games on a five-game winning streak.
The Golden Suns are fifth in the conference as a team in hitting with a .276 average and fourth in pitching with a 2.71 ERA.
Whitney Robinson leads a trio of hitter who are batting better than .300, as she boasts a .384 average, while Sierra Gomez is hitting .371 but leads the team with 11 home runs and 36 RBI.
Victoria Huie leads the Suns with 18 appearances and 17 starts, but is 9-9 on the season with a 3.68 ERA.
Rachel Keeton leads the team in ERA at 1.00 in 11 appearances with six starts, compiling a 5-1 record.


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My Girl Loves Anal – Danny met the girl of his dreams, Eva Karera, while traveling in Paris, but the time has come for him to return to the States. It's his last day with the Belgian babe, and he wants to spend all of it with her and her big tits. She meets him in his hotel room to fuck away his last day's waning hours, but she's giving him something special, too: her ass!
Eva is so enthralled with Danny and his big American dick that she opens up her asshole to him. If you're not having anal sex, you're not doing it the right way in France! Merci beaucoup!
Watch big dick-loving ladies


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In 2015, we helped customers save over 10.5 trillion BTUs of energy.
Ecolab Global Headquarters
Office of Corporate Sustainability
1 Ecolab Place
St. Paul, MN 55102
Submit your comments and suggestions via the form, and our Corporate Sustainability Team, based in St. Paul, will assist.
Around the world, the demand for energy is growing — and meeting the demand is becoming more challenging. Our global specialty product portfolio helps energy companies extract more energy with fewer resources. We also help companies conserve energy through our innovative programs and technologies that identify and treat process-related problems and minimize energy use.
Nalco Champion, our Energy Services business, provides industry's most comprehensive, optimized and technically advanced solutions for process, production and water-treatment solutions to the global upstream and downstream petroleum and petrochemical industries. Our customized solutions allow energy producers to extract energy using less water, enable recycling of produced water, enable cost-effective desalination of seawater for use in energy production operations and help treat wastewater.


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Canstruction Vancouver
All Day
701 W Georgia St
vancouver, BC
Canstruction Vancouver is an annual design and build competitions that takes place in over 160 cities world wide. Teams of architects, engineers, designers and schools get together to CANstruct fantastic, giant sized sculptures made entirely out of canned food. After the structures are built and the winners declared the creations go on view to the general public as giant art exhibits. At the close of the competitions 100% of the food used in the structures is donated to our Greater Vancouver Food Banks for distribution to community emergency feeding programs. Canstruction Vancouver is the largest contributors to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Since its humble beginning in 2002, Canstruction Vancouver has raised over 1,318,000 cans of food, 100% of which is donated to those in need.


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They know about the "cow carousel" at least 60 miles out. Folks will actually say, "Hey, you want a good story? There's this guy over in Rose Bud with a big merry-go-round that cows'll ride. Rose Ark Dairy — check it out!"
If you want, you can call the dairy and chances are they'll give you a tour — they're really nice that way. It's something to see. Set atop a big hill overlooking gently rolling fields, the new dairy building sports a red roof and glass front. Put a spire on top, start ringing a bell, and you could mistake it for a new church. Ignore the cow barns out back and you can almost see the faithful filing in.
The latest in a long line of dairymen, Rick Strain — owner of Rose Ark Dairy in Rose Bud, Ark. — gets it honest. He didn't sneak up on his life's calling. That "nature-versus-nurture" question isn't going to be answered by studying Strain's history and upbringing. Too much evidence is stacked in each camp to draw a conclusion.
Strain's great-grandfather settled in Rose Bud in 1881. He bought his farm from the original homestead family. All four sets of Strain's great-grandparents lived within a mile of each other. His roots run deep on all sides of the pedigree.
"The majority of the land we own has been in one side of the family or other. We're very fortunate to still be living here. My children (Margaret, William, Daniel and Samuel) are the fifth generation to have lived on this family land," says Strain, who is married to Corinna.
Growing up, Strain's father was the farmer and his mother was the dairyman. Strain's three older sisters and brother all worked in some capacity on the farm. Being the youngest, Rick worked with his mother. The setup worked well, and the family had a very departmentalized operation that, at some level, had an aspect each of the children was responsible for.
"My dad likes to tell everyone I came as close to being raised in a dairy barn as any person could be. I was born at the end of August and my mother would carry me to the barn with her in a box. By the time I could walk, I had the run of the place. The back two cows in the old barn were right at the steps. When I was 18 months old or so, I could stand on those steps and hook up the milking units.
"My early games involved barns and pastures and cows all made up of carefully placed pebbles and rocks. Every day, I'd put the cows through their rotations and through every aspect of a dairy operation."
The early preparation of scratching plans in the dirt with stones has led to overseeing three people working the farm and about 20 working the dairy. This brings tremendous responsibility. Rose Ark Dairy, next to a feed mill/egg operation in town, is the largest employer in the community.
Strain's primary dairy breeds are Holsteins and Jerseys, but he's fulfilled another childhood ambition by having at least a few cows from the remaining four breeds. "We keep the other four breeds to help educate children and, in truth, for me. I just like them and always said I'd have a herd of each breed. I'm not at that stage, but I'm still happy."
Rose Ark Dairy is a 1,200-cow facility on 600 acres. Strain, his father and brother work about 2,000 acres that they're mostly pasturing.
"We have a sort of conventional, no-till row crop. In the summer, we prepare a seedbed, roll it down and then no-till sorghum. After we harvest the sorghum in the fall, we drill wheat into the stubble. So our rotation has aspects of conventional and no-till."
Last year they drilled about 600 acres of wheat. Some 400 acres of it was chopped for haylage with the remainder left for grazing. "This summer, we're going to plant about 400 acres of sorghum."
Rose Ark's earned an equipment on its upscale operation by building a an observation area above the carousel. The equipment company wanted a showplace to bring potential customers — something Strain provided.
"By now, I think about 250 of the rotaries are in use, but we're the only one in Arkansas using one."
The carousel (Strain prefers using the word rotary) rides on rubber rollers atop a circular railroad track. A hydraulic pump slowly turns it. The rotary is some 50 feet across. Its efficiency allows Rose Ark Dairy to produce in excess of 6,000 gallons of milk daily.
The rotary gains efficiency through two avenues, says Strain. "First, cows like it better than any other setup I've seen. They load more willingly, on their own and without prompting. That means the cow flow is better, and it takes less intervention to get them ready for milking.
"Second, in other milking parlors — say a 40-cow setup with 20 cows facing away from each other in rows — you lose a lot of time loading and unloading the cows. If you're running in 20-cow groups, you've got to set them all up at once and wait until they're all done before moving in a new set. That wastes a lot of time."
In contrast, the rotary brings in one cow while another is going off. Efficiency is gained by essentially milking one cow at a time and not worrying about the group. The continuous motion of the rotary allows this.
"The biggest advantage is the cows like the setup, and they're willing to come in on their own. I don't want to put myself in a cow's head, but I think they like the motion of the rotary, and they like being able to see other cows across the circle. And since each cow has it's own stall, there's less jostling and disturbance between cows."
In older barns, cows stand broadside to traffic. Every time someone walks past their heads, the cows are alarmed. With the rotary, operators are behind the cows, allowing the cows a certain detachment from what's going on.
The price dairymen are receiving for milk is at a 25-year low, says Strain, an Arkansas Dairy Cooperative board member. "Our marketshare of a retail dollar has diminished over the last 30 years. Our share of a retail dollar is less than 30 percent."
Dairies produce a product that requires very little in terms of manufacturing. Homogenizing and pasteurizing are relatively inexpensive — minor treatments on a food product.
Milk isn't like wheat, says Strain. Getting a loaf of bread from whole wheat is much more complicated than getting milk into a jug.
"Something needs to be done to make sure that farmers — whether beef, pork, row-crops, whatever — get a bigger share of the retail dollar. There are options for how to get that done, but we need action now before every farmer is out of business."
The new farm bill will help dairies, says Strain. "But in our case, with benefits we can receive, we'll cap out in 40 days. So if we're producing below the cost of production, 40 days of help isn't much of a safety net for an operation our size."
If the government is going to intervene, Strain sides with using some sort of humanitarian aid. "I'd have much preferred more market intervention where the government would spend money purchasing excess inventory for the needy. Get the excess off the market and let starving people have it. That would be cheaper in the long run, would build goodwill, and would likely work in many more commodities. And with less supply, farmers would have better prices."
e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Interested? Need more info?
Email us any questions you have to [email protected], or to talk/text about our snakes call our sales team (714) 900-1603 direct for more information.
Phantom is a incomplete dominant trait that has more genetic power than almost any other single gene in the retic game. A pattern mutation by itself, the homozygous form is a stunning Blue Eyed Leucistic, that's right just breed one of these with another Phantom to produce an all white Reticulated Python with blue eyes. You can also breed one of these with an Orange Ghost Stripe and make the sought after Cows ! Whether your looking for a really beautiful pet, or looking to step up your breeding game a Phantom is a perfect option !


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Nitro Rook
Your chariot de shred. The Rook is built with a flat camber profile that's easy to press, float, pop, and still hold an edge when you have to dig in. Those edges are also 50 percent thicker than the standard, so they can take hits without cracking. New this year is thinner core profiling between the feet for better board feel and flex, and thicker zones outside the feet for ollie and landing power. Another additive for 2013 is a tip-to-tail slab of fiberglass for added pop.
Price: $500
Category: All-mountain
Sizes: 152, 154, 156, 158
Tester Feedback: "Super fun all-around board. I like the flat camber, it's the best of camber and reverse camber; stable yet forgiving."


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I have a bronze male (who appears to have some blackshoulder in him and I think has a white flight feather) was bred with bronze females, a blue female, and an India blue pied female.
Now, in addition to bronze and pied split to bronze, I've ended up with two solid white chicks. It doesn't look like they're going to be blackshoulder hens (don't see any darkening in the feathers and they're about 6-8 weeks old). Anyway, the question is, if they remain white, how do I refer to the white chicks? White split to bronze . . . ?
Okay, I'm quite confident the white peachicks are going to remain white. Father is definitely a bronze male . . . mom, like I said, could be from an India blue hen, pied hen, or one of two bronze hens. So, it would seem right to call them white split to bronze . . . am I right?
I am now quite curious . . . although I probably won't be able to tell what the white chicks are for awhile (if they're hens or cocks), it would SEEM that if they're bred to a bronze bird that I could possibly get bronze chicks? Or would it be pied bronze or white-eyed pied (or regular) bronze or . . . ?
If the peachicks really are white I would think that they are homozygous (meaning having both genes for color the same)
If I am right you can just consider them to be like any other white peachicks.
Or I could be wrong
Okay, I'm kind of confused with the whole genetics thing with peafowl -- typically I always am. So, when breeding bronze, are the birds EVER split to bronze? I have two pied chicks that came out of this hatch, but I've noticed these pied birds seem to have brown/bronze on their heads . . . or maybe that's normal? Or is that a sign of bronze in them? I also have a couple obviously bronze and one that's has an India Blue look in addition to what seems to be white. Do all those birds carry the bronze gene or do some do, some don't? In particular, back to the original question, do the white not carry the bronze gene, even though their father was a bronze male?
I have NO experience at breeding bronze peafowl. Since purebred breeding stock is hard to find there can be surprises hidden in many peafowl. This is what makes hatching the eggs so interesting
The origional poster said he had a Bronze male with multiple hens. The male showed signes of black shoulder and white feathers. Out of this breeding he got two white chicks and was wondering what the are. I would think that they are out of the pied hen. The white feathers on the cock is a sign of him being split white, The pied hen carries white as well, These chicks got a white gene from each parent so they look white, but are split bronze because the cock is bronze. If he is really split for blackshouler they might be split for that as well. You won't see signs of that in a white bird, only why to tell is to test breed with a blackshouldered bird.


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Shipping & Handling
We generally ship our packages Monday-Friday via the US Postal Service and FedEx. Please use the information below to determine what delivery schedule and cost is best for you. If you have any questions, please call us at 800-488-8437.
First-Class Mail - including deliveries to APO addresses:
Priority Mail – Delivers in 3 – 5 business days, US only
Add $3.00
*Canadian residents please use International Shipping for priority delivery. The U.S. Post Office does not guarantee a time frame for priority mail delivery to Canada.
Expedited – Guaranteed to ship within 24 hours of receipt of your order, and shipped via 2-day Federal Express, US only. Please note: Orders placed on weekend days are processed on Mondays for Wednesday delivery. If you need your package more quickly, please call us at 800-488-8437, and we'll see what we can do!
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We ship international orders via United Parcel Service - $39.95 per package.
When Will Your Item Be Shipped? When you place an order for one of our standard ties our goal is to have your package on its way to you within two business days. Sometimes it takes a little longer than that, but you should still receive your order in 5-10 business days.
Custom ties, Beau Ties' accessories, Clip-on, Pre-Tied, Longer Neck Bow Ties and Neckties are made to order. Please allow up to two weeks for your special item to be carefully handmade for you, and another week or so for it to be delivered (if you choose First Class Mail). We always try to create and ship your custom orders promptly, but doing the job right trumps everything else!
If you need your order by a specific date, please call us at 800-488-8437 and tell us what you'd like to accomplish. We'll bend over backwards to meet your deadline, and let you know if there will be any extra charges.
**Regarding Duties and Taxes on Canadian and International Orders
Our shipping costs are for shipment only, and do not include any Duty or Value Added Taxes that may be applied upon the arrival of your package.


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Blueberry Pomegranate Smoothie - Easy
Welcome back to another installment of the Secret Recipe Club, where members select and make a recipe from an assigned blog. The blog chosen for me is The Spiffy Cookie. Isn't that a cute name? If you think the name is adorable, you should check out Erin's logo. I almost want to hug it!
Erin and I have several things in common (besides being carbon-based life forms). We both think there is no such thing as too much education (she is a grad student working towards a PhD in Biomedical Sciences, and I have a couple of masters degrees). But more importantly, we both believe dessert is the best part of a meal.
Speaking of dessert, the recipe I selected is dessert disguised as breakfast. I posted a similar smoothie recipe a while back, but Erin's contains three different fruits. Her version is health in a glass. And if you choose your yogurt wisely, it's even gluten-free!
Instead of ice cubes, Erin's recipe uses frozen berries. She suggests that if you only have fresh in the fridge, pop a cup of the berries into the freezer the night before. That was a great suggestion, because sometimes I have blinders on my brain and would have thought, gee, I only have fresh blueberries, I better head over to the Try-N-Save and pick up a bag o'frozen.
Blueberry Pomegranate Smoothie - Easy
Slightly adapted from The Spiffy Cookie
Yield: 1 large serving
1 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 banana, cut up
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (low-fat or fat-free)
1/4 cup pomegranate molasses
3/4 cup water
1 Tbl. honey (optional)
Pour into a tall glass and pop in a wide straw.
Serve immediately.
Disclaimer - because this recipe is part of an online cooking group, the linked recipes below might not be kosher.


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NORTH LOGAN — Police say crooks use card skimmers that steal your credit card information as you swipe your card right at the gas pump, and they have found one in Cache Valley.
The trouble is as consumers, you can't really look for these skimming devices. They're usually somewhere inside the pump, and they quickly grab your credit card information and your PIN, giving crooks a chance to use them as their own.
Sergeant John Seamons, with the North Park Police, says an employee at a Chevron near 1800 North and Main Street was changing the receipt paper on the machine when he noticed something attached to the top of the credit card reader.
"We believe this may have been in the machine possibly for a week," Seamons said. "This is a homemade device. It's not anything that's bought in a store."
Thieves with the know-how can build them and leave them to grab your personal information. With the help of a few fake cards, they're in business.
"There are several programs on the Internet to download devices and to make credit cards themselves," Seamons said. "Just put this information on the back of those strips and use them as credit cards."
Seamons says the only thing consumers can do is keep an eye on their credit card balance.
Now police are trying to track down the owner and hopefully keep any unsuspecting drivers from becoming victims.
"I kind of thought if we found one, we might find more," Seamons said. "As of now, we have not found any more."
The information on the North Logan skimmer will not be used; it's been intercepted. The crook would have to pick it up and plug this port into a computer to pull it off. In the meantime, police are warning gas stations in the area to look out for those devices.


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Linda Vista Long Distance Cross Country Movers
Long Distance Cross Country Movers
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McCarthy Transfer & Storage provides local, long distance and international moving services in Linda Vista, CA
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It is important to find great Linda Vista cross country moving services for any long distance move that you are planning. We are movers that specialize in long distance and cross country moving services.
The cross country movers at McCarthy Transfer & Storage are the kind of cross country movers who also specialize in residential cross country moving. Our cross country movers offer FREE ESTIMATES on Linda Vista cross country moving jobs.
FREE In-home Linda Vista Long Distance Moving Estimates Available. 619-596-2594
Moving cross country is definitely the toughest move that family can make, so that makes it one of the best times to hire cross country movers to take care of it for you. Getting long distance moving services can take such a large strain off you and your family, it makes every dollar spent worth it.
Customer service and satisfaction is a top priority for our Linda Vista cross country moving company. Leave the cross country moving of your household goods to our trained Linda Vista out of state moving professionals. We offer long distance movers who with their Linda Vista moving experience can handle all of your cross country moving and safely transport your possessions from coast to coast and to any other place in-between.
Our Linda Vista cross country moving specialists are reliable, affordable and professional, when it comes to out of state moving.
Our cross country movers in Linda Vista are fully licensed and insured giving you the the peace of mind that comes of knowing your property is safe in the hands of our cross country movers.
You cannot lose with our Linda Vista cross country movers! We strive to provide our customers with the best Linda Vista long distance moving services to make sure that their move can be simple and stress-free.
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The Best Theme Songs From Nighttime Soaps
Fans of big hair and even bigger drama rejoice — 'Dallas' is back! TNT's continuation of the classic '80s primetime soap that had the nation asking "Who Shot J.R.?" premieres tonight, catching us up on the doings of Bobby, Sue Ellen and the seemingly unkill-able bad guy J.R. Ewing. In addition to its memorable characters, the show's iconic theme song is one of the best remembered TV themes of the 1980s.
But 'Dallas' wasn't the only nighttime soap with a catchy opening theme. Take a trip down memory lane with some of the best primetime soap opera theme songs in TV history.
The epic swelling strings, the split-screen aerial shots of the titular city and the colorful cast of characters…the 'Dallas' theme set the template for future soap opera themes to come.
'Dynasty' was always the glitzier answer to 'Dallas,' and its theme song ups the ridiculous quotient with more strings, more helicopters, more fashion, more lavish houses and more shots of smooth John Forsythe straight up getting it done.
'Knots Landing'
The 'Dallas' spin-off added a nifty side-scrolling effect to introduce its cast and a jazzy theme song that seems more appropriate for the 'Bob Newhart Show' than for a dramatic nighttime soap. Still, it's pretty catchy nonetheless.
'Falcon Crest'
'Falcon Crest' was basically 'Dallas' in the California wine country, and its theme song followed a similar model only with more Lorenzo Lamas on horseback.
'Paper Dolls'
This short-lived soap about the fashion industry starred Nicollette Sheridan, Mimi Rogers, Morgan Fairchild and the wonderfully named Dack Rambo of 'Dallas' fame.
The opening theme to this yuppies in love series is so '80s, it might as well come with a case of Tab.
'The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd'
This wry, critically-acclaimed NBC dramedy about life and love in the Big Apple was a precursor to 'Ally McBeal' and 'Sex & the City.' It also featured one of the catchiest theme songs in TV history, courtesy of composer Paul Williams.
'Twin Peaks'
David Lynch's twisted series brought back the nighttime soap in the strangest way possible. The haunting theme by Angelo Badalamenti still induces chills today.
'Beverly Hills, 90210′
While the season one theme is slightly different (and cheesier), season two cemented the iconic theme song we know and love.
'Models Inc.'
Supermodels were hot in the '90s, which explains this short-lived Aaron Spelling soap which spun off from 'Melrose Place.' 'Dallas' star Linda Gray returned to primetime soaps in a show that also launched the careers of Carrie Anne Moss and Garcelle Beauvais. The chunky, synth-heavy theme song goes down like a nice Crystal Pepsi.
'My So-Called Life'
For anyone who came of age during the '90s, the opening strains of W.G. Snuffy Walden's theme is enough to transport you to a simpler (and much more awkward) time.
'Central Park West'
Before he struck gold with 'Sex and the City,' producer Darren Star attempted another series which looked at the lives and loves of wealthy New Yorkers. Despite featuring a cast that included Mariel Hemingway and Raquel Welch, 'CPW' failed to catch on with viewers. But its sultry, Enigma-esque theme composed by Michael Gore still lingers in the memories of '90s TV fans.
'Once & Again'
The critically-acclaimed show from the producers of 'Thirtysomething' and 'My So-Called Life' featured another lilting, gorgeous theme from W.G. Snuffy Walden and Joey Newman.
'Desperate Housewives'
Tim Burton regular Danny Elfman penned the bouncy theme for the recently departed 'Desperate Housewives.' (Fun fact: Elfman also composed 'The Simpsons' theme.)


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2010 Four Wheeler Of The Year - 2010 Toyota 4RunnerPosted in Vehicle Reviews on April 1, 2010
Entering its fifth generation with a redesign for 2010, the 4Runner has been a Toyota staple ever since its introduction way back in 1984. Since then, 1.5 million of the popular SUVs have been sold. Part of the popularity of the 4Runner is due to the rugged body-on-frame construction, which it continues despite an industry trend toward more car-like vehicles. With truck-based toughness and car-like comfort, the latest 4Runner remains true to what a 4Runner should be.
Fifth-generation styling gets decidedly more aggressive, with a more upright windshield and a sportier interior. The new model is slightly larger and has a bigger interior, but still retains the previous model's 109.8-inch wheelbase. For 2010, the 4Runner is available in three trim levels: SR5, Limited, and the dedicated Trail model for enthusiasts. The V-8 option has been dropped, but 4x4s get the familiar 4.0L DOHC V-6, which has been upgraded and now puts out 270hp and 278 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard on 4x4 models. On 4x2 models, a 2.7L DOHC I-4 is available. An optional third row with the ability to seat seven is also new.
Maintaining body-on-frame construction was key in preserving the 4Runner's robust foundation. The 2010 4Runner shares the same basic platform as the FJ Cruiser, and gets a double wishbone front suspension and solid rear axle with coil springs over gas shocks at all four corners. That rear axle is also stronger than before, now sporting an 8.18-inch ring gear, up from the 7.87-inch ring gear of the previous model. Body reinforcements that are unique to the 4Runner add to the stiffness of the structure.
On the 4x4 front, Toyota offers a suite of technologies to help the 4Runner excel on the trail. While both the SR5 and Trail models include a lever-actuated transfer case, the Trail-grade 4Runner takes it a step further with more aggressive 32-inch tires and a rear locker. A-TRAC is now standard equipment on all 4x4 4Runners and can distribute power to just one wheel with traction, ensuring that the 4Runner can keep going.
Trickling down from the Land Cruiser is the optional Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS). KDSS improves suspension articulation by automatically disconnecting the stabilizer bars in slow, uneven terrain. Another Land Cruiser technology that benefits the 4Runner is Crawl Control (CRAWL). CRAWL is an electro-mechanical system that controls the speed of the vehicle while minimizing the load on drivetrain components in technical, low range situations. Think of it as cruise control for rock crawling.
In addition to CRAWL, the 4Runner Trail also gets a Multi-Terrain Select system which is similar to Land Rover's Terrain Response and allows the driver to fine-tune vehicle performance to match the terrain. In mud or sand, wheel slip is allowed to work in the vehicle's favor. On rocks or in bumpy terrain, the system operates more like a limited slip, minimizing wheel slip for maximum traction.
Standard to all 4Runner 4x4s is Downhill Assist Control (DAC), which increases the ability of low range to hold a driver-determined downhill speed without any driver intervention. And lastly, all V-6 4Runners come equipped with Hill-start Assist Control (HAC). HAC keeps the vehicle stopped when the engine needs to be restarted on steep inclines or slippery surfaces.
Specific to our testing was the Trail grade model, which has increased approach and departure angles, higher ground clearance, and a unique wheel and tire package targeted at those who intend to use their 4Runner in the dirt.
Our Trail-grade tester came to us with a base price of $35,700. Options included KDSS ($1,750), Navigation and upgraded stereo ($2,420), and carpet floor mats and cargo mat ($204.00), bringing our as-tested price to $40,874, including an $800 delivery and processing charge.
Trail-grade models can be distinguished from other 4Runners by a hood scoop, different front and rear fascia styling, and smoked lenses on the headlight and tail lamps.
Track Testing We tested our 4Runner at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, where it clicked off an 8.92 second 0-60 run, while crossing the quarter mile threshold in 16.8 seconds at 85.46 mph. The 4.0L DOHC V-6, which makes 34 more horsepower more than last year's model, felt strong and worked well with the five-speed automatic transmission, although we wished that the exhaust note was a little more assertive.
From 60 mph, the 4,750-pound 4Runner came to a stop in just 126.76 feet. Pedal feel was firm and confidence inspiring. We noted very little brake fade.
Overall Impressions On the road, the 4Runner is fairly unremarkable. It rides and handles more like a crossover than a truck and has a comfortable, smooth ride. The steering feels isolated and the driving position offers excellent visibility from all sides. It does feel more substantial than the previous model, and isn't unlike its Land Cruiser big brother in many respects.
The larger interior does feel roomier than before, just as advertised. The second row seats fold flat without necessitating the removal of the headrests, and the rear cargo area has a slide-out tray that can hold up to 400-pounds and makes the process of loading and removing cargo a breeze. The 4Runner interior is well laid out, with only the four-wheel drive controls remaining hidden initially.
The interior materials in our preproduction model lacked the Land Cruiser touches. At this price point, almost all of our staffers were unanimous in wondering why there was a mouse fur headliner instead of the generally accepted woven style, and why the front seats looked like they came out of a base model Tacoma. The seats do offer more adjustments than before, but could benefit from a bit more padding.
That aside, the navigation system offers a large, bright screen and the stereo was judged to be one of the best available in the class. We especially liked the USB iPod integration. Our tester also offered "Party Mode," which when activated by a button on the dash, directs the music to the rear for tailgating enjoyment.
Our 4Runner was rated at 17mpg in the city and 22mpg in the highway, but we observed an impressive 17.62mpg average during our test.
Trail Testing The point of all this scrutiny, of course, is to see how well a vehicle performs in the dirt. So off we went to our favorite desert test venues, where we put the 4Runner through its paces in sand, dirt, rocks, and washes. At the end of the trail portion of our test, we came away impressed. Clearly, the 2010 4Runner can be mentioned in the same breath as such segment stalwarts as the Jeep Wrangler, Hummer H3, Nissan Xterra, and FJ Cruiser.
Whether on fast dirt roads or in deep rutted sand, we found the body structure to be solid, with no squeaks or rattles. The chassis, which is appliance-like on the highway, really comes to life in the dirt, with supple suspension that enjoys slow or fast trails.
The placement of the controls for the trail functions, which are mounted overhead, took some time to get used to. Once we figured out how everything worked, we aimed the 4Runner at our favorite hill climb and let the vehicle drive us right up. We found that the Multi-Terrain select allows for the appropriate amount of wheel slip in deep sand to keep the 4Runner moving forward, and worked well on rocks with CRAWL to prevent wheel slip and the loss of forward progress. We did not get a chance to test the 4Runner in mud, but we expect that function to work just as well there.
In our experience, the Toyota technologies worked as advertised, and allowed our testers to dial in just how much involvement they wanted from the vehicle. Unlike other Toyota products, we didn't feel that the 4Runner's electronics were overly intrusive. The learning curve can be a little steep at first, but in an afternoon, even a newbie wheeler can traverse tough trails like a pro.
The 4Runner has sturdy underbody protection and 9.6-inches of ground clearance, but a low hanging front crossmember met its share of rocks during our test. If we could make any changes to the Trail package, we'd add a front locker and some sort of rocker protection. Otherwise, the Trail package is well thought out, solid, and clearly aimed at enthusiasts. Whether you are an offroad novice or a seasoned pro, the 4Runner suits drivers from both ends of the experience spectrum.
Overall While other manufacturers are shying away from capable body-on-frame SUVs, we applaud Toyota for continuing the 4Runner tradition and offering a truly trailable rig right out of the box. The Trail version, which is one of the most comprehensive offroad packages in the segment, deserves special mention for bringing Land Cruiser technology to a more affordable price point. The 4Runner is a multi-purpose SUV that is even better in its fifth generation. For that, we are awarding it our 2010 Four Wheeler of the Year award.
What's Hot: Potent V-6, flexy suspension, well-sorted chassis, Trail package is solid What's Not: Down market interior materials, controversial styling Our Take: The best IFS 4Runner to date, and our 2010 Four Wheeler of the Year
From the Logbook: "The doors sure are tinny sounding when you shut them." "The 4Runner practically drives itself over the rocks!" "Structure is solid as a rock." "Driving position feels almost aircraft like with all the overhead controls." "Crawl control rules, now where is that button?" "Ten grand less than the Lex GX but just as wheelable. Nice!" "Active-Trac, Schmactive-Trac-there's just no substitute for that rear locker." "Needs a better tire for such a capable trail machine." "Overall, the most trailworthy IFS 4Runner ever, with a few strange design quirks."
|Toyota 4Runner Trail
|Base price
|Price as tested
|Options as tested
|Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System ($1,750); Voice-activated touch-screen navigation system with JBL AM/FM/MP3 4-disc CD changer with 15 speakers in 9 locations ($2,420); carpet floor mats & cargo mat ($204); destination ($800)
|Displacement (ci/liter)
|Bore x stroke (in)
|3.70 x 3.74
|Compression ratio
|Mfg.'s power/torque rating @ rpm
|270 @ 5,600/ 278 @ 4,400
|Mfg.'s suggested fuel type
|Regular unleaded
|Aisin A750F 5-spd ECT automatic
|Axle ratio
|Transfer case
|VF2A part-time 2-spd
|Low-range ratio
|Crawl ratio
|Independent, double-wishbone, stabilizer bar/S20BD 8.2-inch
|Four-link rigid-type with coil springs/BD21BN 8.2-inch, Toyota electric locking
|Power variable gear rack-and-pinion
|Turns (lock-to-lock)
|13.3-in vented disc, four-piston fixed-type calipers
|12.3-in solid discs, single-piston floating-type calipers
|Wheels (in)
|17 x 7.5
|P265/70R17 Dunlop Grandtrec AT20
|EPA city/highway
|Observed city/highway/trail
|Weight (lb)
|Wheelbase (in)
|Overall length (in)
|Overall width (in)
|Height (in)
|Track f/r (in)
|Minimum ground clearance (in)
|Turning diameter, curb-to-curb (ft)
|Approach/departure angles (deg)
|Breakover angle (deg)
|GVWR (lb)
|Payload (lb)
|Maximum towing capacity (lb)
|5 (7 optional)
|Fuel capacity (gal)
|0-60 mph (sec)
|Quarter-mile (sec @ mph)
|16.80 @ 85.46
|Braking 60-0 mph (ft)
|Ramp Travel Index


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Telluride at Dartmouth 2017
We hope you enjoyed the SHOW!
Thanks to you, this year's Telluride at Dartmouth was a joy from start to finish.
It is such a treat to see these six advance screenings with our dedicated, insightful audience; the highlight of the fest was the spontaneous applause at the end of both shows of Hostiles.
We hope to see you at the Hop Film screenings throughout the rest of the year—several of which we saw at the Telluride Film Festival and are excited to bring to the Hop.
Mark your calendars for 2018: Telluride at Dartmouth returns to campus September 14-20.
See you at the movies!
Sydney and Johanna
Hopkins Center Film
A.O. Scott perfectly captures the feeling of being at the Telluride Film Festival:
TELLURIDE, Colo.—Spending time at a film festival is like living inside an accordion. Time expands and contracts—months are compressed into a few hours of screen time, and a day of screenings lasts a week—and you can't always extract the music from the noise. The Telluride Film Festival, which spans each Labor Day weekend in this high-altitude former mining town, is an old-time squeeze box wired up to a Dolby sound system.
Literally: Dolby is a sponsor, with a booming promo that plays at the start of many screenings here. And this festival, which prides itself on its low-key, locavore vibe—movie stars mingle with tourists and students on Colorado Avenue; critical buzz takes shape in lines rather than online—transmits a loud and resonant signal to the movie world below. Read The New York Times Article
IndieWire: The 6 Things We Learned at Telluride
Vanity Fair slide show: The Stars in the Mountains
Films Announced
Thu • Aug 31
On-Sale Dates
Members: Tue • Sep 5
General Public & Dartmouth Students:
Wed • Sep 6
General Public Prices
Single Tickets: $15
Telluride Pass*: $75
Dartmouth Student Prices**
Single Tickets: $6
Telluride Pass*: $30
*Admission to all six films, choice of screening times and priority seating. Passholders are admitted 10 minutes before single-ticket buyers
**Dartmouth students must log in to their accounts in order to access this special pricing
The Telluride Film Festival, occurring each Labor Day weekend in Colorado, is considered one of the premier arts events in the country. Each year, hundreds of cinema lovers flock to a tiny mountain town to immerse themselves in a three-day celebration of film. Telluride consistently presents a remarkable and diverse slate: the rare and unknown, restored gems, retrospectives and the latest (and greatest) from the upcoming season. The New York Times calls Telluride "the smallest, most original, and most stimulating of the major festivals."
Telluride at Dartmouth was born 32 years ago through a long-standing relationship between the Festival and College. Each year, six films come directly from Colorado for special advance screenings at the Hopkins Center. This is a unique opportunity for the Dartmouth community to get a sneak peek at the latest international films—often months before they're released.
The 32nd Telluride at Dartmouth plays in Spaulding Auditorium. The "Telluride Pass" provides admission to all six films with your choice of screening times and priority seating.
Enjoy the SHOW!


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I think it is time for me to get back to posting more frugal dinners for Frugal Fridays. I have been cooking a lot of unexpensive dinners lately, but either the pictures didn't turn out good, the batteries were dead or I just kept forgetting to take pictures. But now I won't be able to use the bad pictures excuse. Well, at least the bad lighting excuse. This week I received a new toy I found on eBay. For only 20 some bucks plus shipping costs I got these two very helpful guys:
It is so hard to get good natural light in the winter in this house so I decided to get the extra little help. They really make a difference and the best part is that they were really not that expensive and are very versatile. I really recommend the investment if you are looking for ways to get better food pics. It's all about lighting!
Anyway, for this edition of Frugal Fridays I made a very simple yet delicious Mexican dish, Flautas de papa or fried potato tacos. It is frugal because all you need for them is corn tortillas, mashed potatoes for the filling, some cheese (grated queso fresco works great), sour cream, shredded lettuce (I added some cabbage, too) and avocado.
The preparation is not at all complicated. First, you have to prepare your mashed potatoes. I boiled some potatoes and garlic cloves togeter with salt. Mashed them, added butter, ground pepper and a little bit of milk. It needs to remain somehow dry.
Before stuffing and rolling the corn tortillas make sure they are warm. If they are cold they will break making it impossible to roll them. I don't like warming them up in the microwave because the become mushy, but if you do it that way, make sure to wrap them in a kitchen cloth. Once they are warm just stuffed them with the mashed potatoes and fry them. Then top them with the lettuce, grated queso fresco, cream and avocado. That's it. You've got a tasty, frugal dinner.
Remember that Frugal Fridays is all about cooking a dinner for 4 with around $10 US dollars. Right now that the economy is in the verge of collapse we all can use some frugality.
¡Buen provecho!


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CO and WA US Senate: Both Appear To Lean Blue
Posted Nov 03, 2010 at 3:31 AM
Maurice Berger, Political Director, PollTrack
According to polling analysis this morning, it appears that Democrat Bennet in Colorado and Democrat Murray in Washington have won their respective US Senate contests.
Final US Senate Distribution of Power, as of this morning: Democrats 53 seats, Republicans 47 seats.
In the Florida Governor's Race, it appears that Republic Scott has won.


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War & Locale: World War II -- European Theater
Date of Birth:
Interviewed by:
Ernest Eguia
Military Unit:
By Christopher Trout
At home in Houston in the 1940s, Johnnie Martinez was a well-known entertainer. He eventually would own a nightclub, lead his own big band, the Johnnie Martinez Band, and even own his own record label, Alameda.
But during World War II, circumstances were different.
In the Army, Martinez was somewhat of an unknown. He delivered medical supplies and messages in a standard-issue jeep across the front lines from Luxemburg to Belgium for the Headquarters Company, 765th Shop Battalion, which was a quartermaster unit of the Army made up of technicians who included electricians and carpenters. He, however, had no specialty.
"They never did know who I was or what I do," said Martinez of the other soldiers. "They would just send me from one place to another."
Before he volunteered for service in the Army, Martinez made his living as a musician and supported his wife, Gloria Sepolio Martinez, and two daughters, Alice and Irene. As a band leader and trumpet player, he toured the United States, playing swing in large orchestras with some of the best-known players of the time.
While his life may have resembled that of a celebrity, he came from more humble beginnings. For the first eight years of his life, Martinez lived in Rosebud, Texas, with his parents, Anastacio Martinez and Teresa Jaime Martinez, as well as his five siblings. His father had learned music in Mexico and could play several instruments. Anastacio came to the U.S. to pursue his own music career, turning to field labor when he realized it was impossible to support a family from the occasional job at a baptism or wedding. Teresa stayed at home taking care of the children.
"I lived my young life through a Depression," Martinez said. "My father had a hard, hard time. But, we survived. It was something we fought to get out of. Now that I look back on it, I'm proud that I was there."
In 1926 the Martinez family left for Waco, where young Martinez continued his education until the eighth grade. (He later would attend the Southern College of Fine Arts for three years.)
By that time, his father had taught him how to play the trumpet and was in the habit of taking him along on gigs. However, father and son never performed together on stage.
"I never did get to play with my dad because by the time I started playing professional music, my father was already up in age and didn't play anymore," Martinez said.
While in Waco, Martinez met and married Gloria Sepolio. They eventually moved to Houston, where Martinez's career and role as a family man blossomed. He began playing gigs in nightclubs all over town and lent his talent to many area dances.
Martinez says he became very popular. On one occasion, he and Gloria went out to see jazz great Tommy Dorsey play at the Tidelands and by the end of the night, were sipping drinks with Dorsey and surrounded by fans asking both Dorsey and him for autographs.
While in Houston, Gloria gave birth to the first two of six daughters the couple would eventually have. Unfortunately, there was also tragedy: Both Alice, 2, and Irene, 4 months, died.
"In two days we lost both of them," Martinez said. "We lost the first one [Irene] on a Tuesday and buried her on a Wednesday. We came home and lost the other one that night.
"In those days there were a lot of children dying of some infection in their stomachs."
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Martinez answered the call to support the country while troops were away.
"During the war they wanted everybody to work to help the cause," he said. "Tony Martin [a famous vocalist who also appeared in films] was made chief expediter for the Navy, and he saw my name in the list of professional musicians and called me to be employed by the Navy at Brown Shipyard."
Martinez worked building submarine chasers with the other men at the shipyard. On occasion, he'd play with a band when a new ship was launched.
On April 10, 1944, he enlisted in the Army and was promptly sent to Kelly Field in San Antonio. He worked there as an interpreter for a couple of weeks; several of the inductees coming from South Texas were Mexican Americans who spoke no English. He was then sent to Ohio for basic training.
There, Martinez formed a band with a few other men and eventually made a formal request to be placed in a unit that had some other musicians in it. After two weeks of pushing his commander to transfer him, he was attached to the Headquarters Company and was soon traveling to France, via New Jersey and New York.
"We had to turn in at 10 that night," he said. "The next morning I felt the boat rocking and I went up to the main deck and there was no New York or nothing left."
Along with familiar shores, Martinez was leaving behind his family, his music and a whole way of life.
When his unit finally arrived in France, the commander called Martinez into his office and asked him what his trade was.
"I told him I was a musician," he said. "He said; 'A musician? What in the world am I going to do with you?'"
The Army gave him a jeep and made him a courier a couple of days later. From then until the end of the war, Martinez would spend his days running messages and supplies along the front lines.
At the time of his Nov. 3, 1945, discharge, he'd risen to the rank of Technician 5th Class, after 17 months in the Army. Among other honors, he earned the European, African and Middle Eastern Ribbon and the Good Conduct Medal.
Martinez returned to Houston with no more than a small wound on his forehead from jumping off his jeep. Shortly after returning, he began to look for work.
"I came back to Houston and there were no jobs available," he said. "So, I went back to the music business -- and that's what I did."
After his return, Martinez started his own band, the Johnnie Martinez Band, and became the owner and operator of the Palladium in downtown Houston, where he booked such musicians as Henry James and Elvis Presley. Unfortunately, despite his popularity, he says the press often ignored him.
"I did open doors with my music, but it was sad," he said. "I played many occasions that were something big. A reporter would be there to report the event and he would pick one Anglo from the group and talk about how great he was, but he'd never mention my name. I was the leader. I was the conductor. I did a lot of things, but I never did get credit for them."
Eventually, Martinez says he got sick of only playing music and went out looking for a job again. This time he found one with a beer company. The position was only supposed to be part-time, but Martinez made a career of it and ended up working as a representative for beer companies for 30 years.
Martinez may not have received all the recognition he deserved in his musical career, and he may have gone through great hardships, but in the end, he did what he wanted.
"In my life, I finally came around and accomplished what I had in mind: to have something when I retire, because I knew the time was coming. I own six houses, and that's what I wanted for retirement. My children deserve the best that I can give them, and I've given them one house each," Martinez said. "That is what I wanted."
Mr. Martinez was interviewed in Houston, Texas, on March 19, 2003, by Ernest Eguia.


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Freshmen step up to lift Quinnipiac hockey
BRIDGEPORT -- There's a core that returned for Quinnipiac men's hockey from last year's national runner-up, a few key scorers and a couple of defensemen.
But there's plenty different about the Bobcats going into Friday's NCAA East Regional semifinals at Webster Bank Arena, most notably a class of 10 freshmen that stepped into key spots from Day 1.
"That's a big credit to our coaches and the upperclassmen," said freshman forward Sam Anas, who leads the Bobcats with 43 points and 22 goals. "They've done a good job making us feel like part of the group right away. We do everything together, on and off the ice."
Eight freshmen have played 19 games or more for Quinnipiac (24-9-6), which faces Providence (21-10-6) on Friday at 5:30 p.m. as one of the last 16 college hockey teams playing.
They include Anas, the ECAC's co-rookie of the year, and four defensemen, including Phoenix Coyotes draft pick Connor Clifton of New Jersey.
The defense corps has just one senior, Zach Tolkinen, at a position where experience is invaluable.
"It's definitely been a process," Clifton said. "At the beginning of the year, defense was really important. The coaches stressed that very much."
A season-opening loss at Anchorage helped get that message across. The team has been one of the tops in the country in offense and defense, on the penalty kill, and in assorted other categories that helped them to seventh place in both polls going into the playoffs.
Seven forwards scored 20 or more points, including seniors Kellen and Connor Jones, Anas' linemates, and Jordan Samuels-Thomas; juniors Matthew Peca and Bryce Van Brabant; and sophomore Travis St. Denis.
That core was the No. 1 team in the nation last year until Yale won the national final 4-0 in Pittsburgh.
"Clearly (the returning players) are never going to forget it," Clifton said. "It's definitely not how anyone wanted things to end."
Senior captain Cory Hibbeler said they think about it, have talked about it, getting back for another chance at a title. They know they've got three games to get there, starting with Providence, which won't be easy.
The teams played a 3-3 tie in Hamden in November as Providence goalie Jon Gillies made 45 saves.
Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold said Gillies looked sharp that night. Gillies said the shot total was less indicative of his team's performance, more indicative of sloppy rebounds he left, forcing the Friars to come back.
"Two freshmen made mistakes," Pecknold said. "It was early in the year. They're better players now."
firstname.lastname@example.com; http://twitter.com/fornabaioctp; http://blog.connpost.com/fornabaio


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Tempura batter and technique
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Jim Cooley
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
Posts: 377
Location: Seattle
Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 9:10 pm
Post subject: Tempura batter and technique
Okay, I'll confess -- I eat frozen food sometimes. Safeway has this Orange-Peel Chicken I just love and I tried recreating the recipe last night with limited success.
It's basically just tempura chicken pieces smothered in an orange-peel sauce, with a bit of chili and green onion. Sauce came out fine, but the chicken didn't.
So instead of looking up the recipe, I thought I'd hit you guys up for a tempura batter recipe and technique. Lazy, I know, but the discussion is fun.
I threw together
2/3 cup AP flour
1 egg
1/2 cup milk (or so)
1 tsp baking powder.
I dusted the bite-sized pieces of raw chicken breast in flour, then quickly dragged them through the batter and put in a frypan 1 inch deep with hot oil. They fried up fine. But the batter was lousy. Not fluffy, and not enough of it.
I learned that you dust and batter in one step, or the batter doesn't adhere. Each batch is done separately.
I learned (well, I knew it all along) that to properly fry one needs HOT oil, and you don't overcrowd the pan or the oil temp drops too much. BTW, this means that the chicken and batter were at room temp, too.
Come to think of it, I have trouble with fritters (corn, apple), too.
Any suggestions? Is there a fundamental mistake I'm making somewhere in the process?
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Joined: 19 Oct 2007
Posts: 1207
Location: central PA
Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 2:33 am
Post subject:
not sure one could count the number of tempura batter recipes . . .
cornstarch is often used
rice flour is another twist
a trick often mentioned is ice cold water - milk is a new one on me
or ice cold beer....
tonic water is another fizzy I've read
some folk only use the egg yolk - others use frothed egg white to lighten
I guess ya' gotta play around until you find one that you like.
the dredge in flour / shake is spot on - if the item has a wet surface, the batter just slides off.
thickness of the cooked batter I find is usually a function of the batter viscosity - which can be over and can be under 'done' - (don't ask....)
I do a beer battered butterfly shrimp dish - it's a family fav. the original recipe dates to the mid-70's from The Frugal Gourmet tv show.
curiously, that and multiple similar recipes call for using flat beer - well, I like it better with freshly opened beer - I think the carbonation adds to the fluff.
I like the whipped egg white approach especially for fish dishes.
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Jim Cooley
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
Posts: 377
Location: Seattle
Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 6:03 am
Post subject:
Ahh! I'm wondering if it's the milk? I always use whole milk, and maybe the fat coats the flour particles or something?
I'll try beer or water next time.
I'm a big fan of egg whites, too. My waffles come out especially good, and I think that's the reason.
I bet it's the milk -- the fat in the milk. That would explain why my fritters don't turn out so good, either. I use beaten egg whites in them, too.
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A wintry storm dropped heavy rain and snow on the US Northeast, bringing winds and knocking out power in a region where hundreds of thousands were still in the dark after Superstorm Sandy.
The nor'easter storm meant fresh misery for thousands of people whose homes were destroyed by Sandy, which killed 79 people in the New York-New Jersey area alone.
Super storm Sandy smashed ashore on 29 October swallowing entire neighbourhoods with rising seawater and blowing homes from their foundations.
Some 13,000 homes and businesses from the Carolinas to New York lost power today.
This is on top of the 650,000 customers who still lacked electricity from one of the biggest and costliest storms ever to hit the US.
New York and New Jersey evacuated the most vulnerable coastal areas ahead of the nor'easter, whose rain, strong winds and snow were hitting a large portion of the region.
The low-pressure weather system was forecast to strengthen as it moved north on Wednesday with wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour(97 kph).
Ice pellets hit Long Island and the storm lifted wave heights to nearly 20 feet (6 metres) off Nantucket Island, Massachusetts.
School districts in Connecticut sent students home early as a precaution, and the New York Stock Exchange removed the giant US flag from its facade to protect it from high winds.
Snowflakes or a mix of rain and snow fell on parts of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, causing airport delays.
Airlines canceled more than 1,500 flights, with Newark Airport facing the most cancellations.
American Airlines suspended operations in Philadelphia and at the major New York-area airports today.
It said it expected flights to resume tomorrow.
The AMR Corp unit said 365 flights were cancelled for today and tomorrow.
United Continental cancelled about 500 flights today and tomorrow because of the storm.
Delta Air Lines said it had about 200 cancellations at Northeast airports.
After effects of Super storm Sandy
Cold and snow was particularly bad news to residents who lost heat.
Many petrol stations remained shut around the region, complicating efforts for people to flee the new storm.
Of five petrol stations along a stretch of road near Cedarhurst just south of John F.Kennedy International Airport, none had petrol last night and one, a Shell station, received a delivery this morning.
The lines there were more than two hours long.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg closed parks and beaches and temporarily halted outdoor construction ahead of the storm.
On the devastated New Jersey shore, the town of Brick issued a mandatory evacuation order for waterfront neighbourhoods ahead of today's storm. Middletown also ordered evacuations.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it was working with state and local authorities and was "ready to deploy additional resources if needed to respond to the nor'easter."
President Barack Obama won wide praise for the US government's response to Sandy, which may have helped him win re-election yesterday against Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
Mayor Bloomberg endorsed Obama for a second term after Sandy struck, citing his record on climate change.
Regardless of whether climate change was to blame for a rise in severe weather events, it should compel leaders to act on the issue, the mayor said.


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sfsfsfgiants wrote:PAWNOGRAFFITI wrote:yeah sfsfsfgiant... it's pretty pathetic that you won't back the confidence of your team and just come plain out and have a sigbet!
You don't need to watch the game.. yo just need to BELIEVE in your team. and quite frankly i think your having 2nd thoughts about that.
If your keen on the sigbet. just write the one i will be rocking before the match and the winner gets to choose what is agrred upon for all the sore losers dressed in red/gold or silver/black
I'm leaning towards Bill Walsh is O.G from the Oakland Raiders
Don't be a big wet ***** Sfsfsfgiant... lets see how much you really believe in your team.
I'm not betting on a game where the starters only play for a couple series and call it a day. What is the point in that? It shows nothing.
it shows the Raiders have great depth..
hey man check the link