text:
Chris Davidson (AUS), 31, won the prestigious ASP WQS 6-Star Prime Rip Curl Pro pres. by Sprite today in clean three foot (one meter) waves at Les Bourdaines, main venue of the 2008 edition.
Davidson, who defeated an impressive Jihad Khodr (BRA) in the final where he posted the highest heat score of the week, secured his second ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) win this season and confirms his No. 2 rank on the international ratings.
"I cannot believe it, it is more than I could ever hope for," Davidson said. "I felt like it was my day because these conditions usually fit my surfing so well and there was all the potential to surf at my best. I was so amped I got those two big scores straight away and just felt like I was free surfing with Jihad (Khodr)."
Davidson, who posted an impressive 19.27 point heat tally (out of a possible 20) to clinch the crown, has had an amazing year with several finals and two ASP WQS 6-Star wins, enough to make his ASP World Tour qualification dream get closer to reality.
"It has been a tough time for me since I got back on the WQS," Davidson said. "I was injured last year and with very few sponsorship so it has been a struggle but I am already looking forward to competing against the ASP Top 45 next year. So stoked, I cannot believe I have won it."
Davidson, who showed great surfing and radicality all week, was the only one to stop an outstanding Jihad Khodr (BRA), currently No. 42 on the ASP World Tour.
Khodr, who was seen as the potential champion after busting some of the most impressive airs and turns of the event this morning, missed the title not getting the better waves during the final battle.
"It was Davo's day and there was not much I could do in the final," Khodr said. "I am stoked to get this second place and I had a great time in France, had a lot of fun competing in the good conditions today so it is all good for me."
Khodr, who has had a tough year as a rookie among the ASP Top 45, jumps back to rank No. 11 and will have the possibility to requalify through the WQS if he keeps up the good work in the upcoming events.
"It has been tough this year learning against the world's best surfers," Khodr said. "I am trying to improve on every part of my surfing and it seems like I found some answers in this event. It is a great confidence boost for the upcoming events and I hope I can keep the good roll going."
Marlon Lipke (DEU), 23, former ASP European Junior champion, made his way through to the semifinals today getting an equal 3rd in the ASP WQS 6-Star Prime rated event for the best result of his career to date. Lipke, who defeated fellow Europeans and friends Aritz Aranburu (EUK) and Tim Boal (FRA) en route to Semifinal No. 1, clinched 2250 points today and now stands No. 7 on the international ratings.
"I never expected I could make a semifinal here, in such a big event with a Prime status," Lipke said. "I am not really into ratings and points but I was hoping for a 9th at least and I end up with a 3rd so I am really stoked."
Lipke, who now totals 10300 points, has gone one step further towards next year's ASP top 45 and could become the first German ever to join the world's elite.
"It has been a crazy year for Europeans with so many of us reaching finals at most main events," Lipke said. "Miky (Picon), Tiago (Pires), Aritz (Aranburu) and Jeremy (Flores) have been a great motivation for us all and it seems like things are paying off."
The Rip Curl Pro witnessed some of the most progressive surfing ever seen in an ASP event with Josh Kerr (AUS) taking his custom-made revolutionnary surfing to another level.
Kerr, who was stopped in Semifinal No. 2 in a wave-starved heat, posted two of the best heat results of the event today, an impressive 19.17 including a perfect 10.00 point ride and an 18.17 (both out of a possible 20).
"I had a lot of fun today but I am still bumped with that 3rd, the second one in two weeks," Kerr said. "I will have to work on that last heat and victory because I want to win. I have had several finals including one here three years ago but I want to win."
Kerr, who has been pushing his competitive surfing towards aerial maneuvers for years, was rewarded a perfect 10.00 point score (out of a possible 10) for pulling one of the highest grabrail frontside air seen in a heat.
"I believe that professional surfing has really gone the right way and I am stoked to see that kind of moves rewarded," Kerr said. "I usually paddle out with no plan except going for the best wave and then I just surf it the way I see it."
Kerr, who surfed among the ASP Top 45 in 2007, has only surfed seven events this year but stands No. 3 on the international ratings, very promissing towards a possible Dream Tour requalification.
Miky Picon (FRA) and Tim Boal (FRA) were the two other European surfers to make the quarterfinals today, missing out the win at home that would have been a huge thing as no French surfer has ever won the Rip Curl Pro.
Tim Boal (Anglet, FRA), 24, placed equal 5th in the Rip Curl Pro today keeping his ASP World Tour hopes alive with another great result that puts him No. 8 on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) ratings. Boal, who placed 2nd in the US Open and 9th in Lacanau, struck once again in the Prime rated event and will go to Portugal confidently.
"I am happy I made it this far but it is disappointing to be so close and miss the final," Boal said. "It would have been great to win here, twenty minutes from home, in such a major event. You want to win when you get that far so I am pretty bumped."
Boal, who remains one of the best European chances to make it through to next year's ASP Top 45, will be looking forward to gaining ground in the upcoming events.
"There is a good feeling inbetween us Europeans and it is good for our region to see that many guys at the top level," Boal said. "But when it comes to competing, you are out there for yourself and you have to get the waves. I have had some good results in Ericeira so I am looking forward to the next event."
Heat: Chris Davidson (AUS) 19.24 pts Def. Jihad Khodr (BRA) 15.60 pts


text:
Welcome to Flowing Wells Resort & Marina
Relaxing at Flowing Wells quickly becomes second nature as you enjoy the pristine lake views from the resort's nearly 2 miles of shoreline. Take in a little boating or waterskiing. Walk or bike while watching for wildlife along the wooded and paved 2-mile roadway inside the resort's gated entrance, then later sip your favorite beverage in front of the fireplace.
The most well-appointed cabins of all Lake Texoma Resorts
Nestled along the shores of other neighboring Lake Texoma Resorts, our spacious yet cozy interior spaces are feature vaulted ceilings, wide-plank flooring, and generous woodwork. All cabins are lakefront with breathtaking views of the spectacular sunsets and stunning wildlife just outside. Relax with your family on our furnished lake-view exterior decks while grilling and watching the most beautiful sunsets of all Lake Texoma Resorts.
Flowing Wells Resort & Marina also boasts having the closest marina on Lake Texoma to the Dallas Fort Worth area. Our covered boat slips will comfortably accommodate your yacht up to 60 feet.
If permanent ownership at our beautiful resort interests you, please check out our many options of home ownership.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
7:00 pm
The Lawrence Welk Show "Roses" The band and singers open this show and set the theme with "Everything's Comin' Up Roses." Ken Delo sings "Red Roses for a Blue Lady," and Guy and Ralna stroll on "Primrose Lane."G
8:00 pm
Last of the Summer Wine "Bicycle Bonanza" Compo, Clegg and Foggy hire bikes from Auntie Wainwright for off-the-road bicycle trekking.G
8:30 pm
Keeping Up Appearances - The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket "The New Vicar" Hyacinth has asked the new vicar to tea and has organized the event down to the last lump of sugar. But events conspire against her.G
9:00 pm
As Time Goes By "Misunderstandings" Jean and Lionel hide their history when faced with Jean's sister-in-law Penny.G
9:30 pm
The Cafe "There Were Three in the Bed" Sarah, Chloe and Mary all have plans for the evening on this Saturday morning. Meanwhile the ice seems to be thawing a bit between Carol and Phil, but not so much that she and Stan want to share their evening with him.G
10:00 pm
The Red Green Show "The Big Thing" A big mysterious machine creates big excitement at Possum Lake. Red builds an elevated observation chair. Bill plays with ladders.G
10:30 pm
My Family "The Guru" Ben is mentioned in a book dedication by a successful and wealthy celebrity dentist, whom Ben cannot remember having met. Susan reveals a romantic encounter in Albania.G
11:00 pm
Doctor Who Series "The Power of Three" The Doctor and the Ponds puzzle over an unlikely invasion of Earth - millions of sinister black cubes that arrive overnight, almost like presents falling from the sky. There is no indication of what might be inside them or who sent them. The international community is at a loss. It is left to The Doctor to unearth who is behind the mystery.G


text:
50th anniversary Scuderia Ferrari suede shoes
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of their most popular sneakers, Puma has produced the new red SF Suede 50. In the essential and already iconic shape.
These special edition Suede 50 street style sneakers combine winning elements like performance, passion and attention to detail: A winning formula that couples comfort and looks. The design of the new SF Suede 50 builds exclusively on the captivating suede fabric of the upper in a Ferrari red shade, and features the Puma Formstrip inspired by the carbon fiber used in the world of F1. The gold-colored Scudetto Ferrari printed on the back of the model stands out on the color block background.The laces used to fasten the shoe ensure a perfect fit and maximum comfort, and the non-slip rubber sole ensures each step is safe.
- Gold details
- Composition: 81% Soft Leather, 19% Textile fibers
We offer both Standard and Express shipping: choose the service that best meets your needs at checkout.
We provide an easy return service: just ship your items back to us with a shipping service of your choice within 30 days of delivery.


text:
Hey .net, long time lurker, first time poster here. Just would like to start by saying how much i love this forum. Over the last two years it has become easily my most visited site. Anyway getting to the point:
On Jaws' radio show on epsn philly, he posed a question to Chris Mortensen about who were top of the list candidates for Head Coaching jobs next year. He started off with the usual suspects, talking about Gruden, Chip Kelly, Josh McDaniels possibly giving it another shot, Pat Shurmur if the new regime in Clevelend decides to give him the boot, Andy Reid if the Eagles fire him as everyone here expects. But then he said something that almost made me choke on my wawa green tea as i was driving down 206 in Jersey. He said a name that was under the radar was Gus Bradly, defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks. Now i have no idea if he was implying that he had heard of him as being a possibility from others, or if its just his own personal opinion, but it got me wondering.
With the amount of HC vacancies that are possible next year, is it conceivable that we could lose Gus as early as next year, especially if our defense plays lights out in the playoffs? I would hate to have our coaches poached away right at the beginning of something that i believe could potentially be a dynasty. I figured we'd have at least a couple years of success first. Anyway i would love your thoughts on this and look forward to contributing more in the future instead of just lurking.
Go Hawks.


text:
SAN JOSE, Calif.—Chase Hallam and Chris Udofia scored 13 points each as Denver defeated San Jose State 62-41 on Saturday night.
Royce O'Neale added 11 points for the Pioneers (17-8, 13-2 Western Athletic), who have won six straight games and 13 of 14.
With eight points—all in the final five minutes—LaVanne Pennington was the top scorer for the Spartans (9-16, 3-11), who lost their 10th in a row. Chris Cunningham had 12 rebounds.
Denver used a 13-1 run to take control of the game with a 28-12 advantage with 2:20 remaining before halftime.
San Jose State, which trailed 28-14 at intermission, got no closer than 12 points in the second half.
The Pioneers shot 53.3 percent (24 of 45) from the floor.


text:
Oregon-based designer Will C. Smith looked toward retro Air Jordan Cards on his new illustrated type. The RISD-trained illustrator has worked on other pop culture designs in the past and has included the Jordan 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, and 13 in his newest creation.
Check out the gallery above and stay tuned for more exceptional creations from the world of design.
- Source: Mash Kulture


text:
Twitter has released a less-than-optimal fix for a well-known text-messaging bug that enables an attacker with the mobile phone number associated with an account to impersonate the user.
The flaw, disclosed on Monday by security consultant Jonathan Rudenberg, enables someone to use text messaging to send tweets under the name of the mobile phone user. In addition, an attacker can change profile information, follow and unfollow other Twitter users and send direct messages.
Twitter partially fixed the bug by preventing account holders from using their phone numbers to send tweets when a so-called short code is available. Short codes are shortened telephone numbers used in a variety of services, such as TV program voting and making charity donations. Unlike regular telephone numbers, short codes are not susceptible to impersonation attacks.
[See also: Twitter users delt malicious links via direct messages]
The fix leaves out a significant number of Twitter users, because the social network does not have short codes available for many mobile operators. For example, Twitter has no short codes available with U.S. carriers.
Those users will have to continue to use their phone numbers, leaving them open to attack. The workaround is to use their account settings to require a PIN each time a text message is sent.
The problem stems from a flaw in the short messaging service (SMS) gateways used by carriers. Like email, SMS allows the originating address of a message to be set to an arbitrary identifier, including someone else's phone number, Rudenberg said.
Facebook and Venmo, a mobile payment service, were also open to the same type of spoofing attacks. They recently fixed the bug, Rudenberg said..
The SMS flaw is well known among security researchers, said Timothy Whitman, spokesman for Kaspersky Lab. "[Nevertheless,] it's something that should be addressed, even if it's not a highly critical issue," he said.
Another way to fix the problem is for Twitter to have text messaging through its app, rather than relying on SMS. "It's generally best to steer clear from using text messages for these types of functionality," Whitman said.
Rudenberg claimed he notified Twitter about the bug via a Web form on Aug. 17. On Sept. 6, Twitter asked him not to disclose the vulnerability until after it was fixed. After an Oct. 15 request for an update went unanswered, Rudenberg notified Twitter he would be going public.
A hijacked Twitter account can be humiliating. Early this year, actor Ashton Kutcher's Twitter account was hacked and embarrassing tweets posted in his name. Kutcher has 9 million followers.
Like all social media, Twitter battles attacks constantly. In September, cybercriminals were using compromised accounts to distribute messages disguised as coming from friends. The messages contained a link to a Website that tried to install malware on to a PC. (http://www.csoonline.com/article/717327/twitter-users-delt-malicious-links-via-direct-messages)
Among the major reasons accounts are hijacked on social networks is weak password security, Sophos said. Users are too often allowed to use weak passwords in opening accounts.
Read more about social networking security in CSOonline's Social Networking Security section.


text:
- Home
- News
- Sports
- Opinion
- Obituaries
- Features
- Special Sections
- Classifieds
- Public Notices
Counting chickens
This is funny. I know people that work in the food business but there is a restaurant owner who makes his people count every piece of chicken at night and put it up and freeze it and then turn around and re-sell it the next day. They are supposed to get rid of it. Boy, ain't he greedy.
Bought off
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the The Gazette, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
|ZIP Code:


text:
We've asked this before: do iPhone WebApps have a future? Sure, Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft, Facebook, Amazon, and even Apple to some degree are all racing to own what many think will be the next paradigm shift in platforms: the cloud.
But when Steve Jobs announced WebApps as the first iPhone development environment back at WWDC 2007, the silence was deafening. Sure, many innovative games, utilities, and optimized RIA (rich internet applications) emerged -- and Apple keeps track of them on a completely non-iPhone optimized directory, but the moment the iPhone SDK was released, the momentum shifted near-instantaneously. (Even the Facebook 2.0 App managed to trump their previously dominant iPhone WebApp).
TiPb uses the WPtouch iPhone Theme to present a better experience to iPhone browsers. After all, even in light of Apple's "just the internet", they have encouraged these types of sites through their developer guidelines, and have snuck in code into iPhone OS 2.1 to allow full screen WebApps that hide the "chrome" (interface, including URL and search boxes, buttons, progress bars, etc.)
One of our readers, Christopher, also sent in word of his iWebKit tools, which seek to make it faster, simpler, and easier to develop and deploy iPhone websites.
So is there's still a time and a place for both? Is that time shortening and the place getting smaller for WebApps on the iPhone? Or will they ride the same tide as Microsoft Office for the Web 2009 (or whenever it ships) and surge ahead again, allowing native Apps to enjoy only transient dominance?


text:
LeviLaFonte needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 36 designs submitted by 10 freelance designers.
Face to Face Awareness
I do Bully awareness presentatiions in schools for kids aged 13 and up. As well as Workshops for parents and teacher on how they can help the youth in their lives overcome bullying. I focuse on faceing your fears and getting rid of the victim mindset, remeber most bullys are victims too. before we can change the behavuour we need to change the Mindset.
I am targeting a niche marekt of those who are effected by bullying and want to change that in their lives or in other peoples lives.
perferably Round, must only have 2 colours maximmum, simple, can be put onto a hat, other clothing on to a bussiness card ect. Must contain the words (face to face Awareness) do not have to be with in the circle. I would Like the dark blue or purple as one of the colours (it can be black and white if it looks good)
Some how incorperate the "Eye of Horus" which is a symbol of protection and restoring harmony and unrightful doings.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
We provide distance learning education on over 100 exciting career and lifestyle focused courses; from business and event to design and health.
This course provides an opportunity to interact with and learn from very successful, highly qualified and experienced professionals and master...moreFrom £498
Visit our website for a full class breakdown and introduction video. Join our Food & Drink Community for free: Share your passion, grow your...moreFrom £79
Informing and detailed, but only in text and a bit outdated.
The first thing I want to portray is that this course is very informing and deta...more
How to Build a Successful Cake Making Business from Home What is the most preferred birthday gift for a colleague, friend or family member? What...moreFrom
Master the art of cupcake baking and decorating with this Cup Cake Academy course. Delicious, practical and beautiful, the course is a complete...moreFrom £90
the oil and gas the life in oil rig is very good and very aenjeypol how to work...more
Early Bird Special discount offer for first 500 Students. Then price will go up to $199....moreFrom £144.99
Head over to Udemy for the final price
Overview Cooking is not only an essential life skill, it is also a relaxing and enjoyable hobby, and with Study365 you could become a pro! With...moreFrom
Very useful course, and suite various numbered of people such as students and se...more
After taking this course you will be able to make an informed choice as to whether you want to be vegan, semi-vegetarian or something in between and...moreFrom
I didn't think that such much knowledge can be enclosed in a short training cour...more
This badge shows that the course provider you are looking at has scored on average 4 or more out of 5 stars from at least 30 other users who have taken the time to post a review on Hotcourses
Course Overview Healthy Cooking with Vegetables Become a skilled vegetable gourmet chef By gaining a recognised qualification...moreFrom


text:
Candy Crush Saga Gets An Honest Game Trailer
With an estimated 46 million monthly users, Candy Crush Saga is an unmitigated triumph of commercialism over quality. Essentially a simple color-matching game, Candy Crush Saga has become a phenomenon, garnering the attention of both casual gamers and hardcores alike, though the latter may not readily admit it. It has also caught the attention of Smosh Games, makers of the Honest Trailers series, who have skewered the time-wasting sensation with an Honest Trailer that's as funny as it is accurate.
Smosh spends three solid minutes detailing the reality of the game, calling it "mindless, shallow piece of entertainment that makes you dumber just for being exposed to it," and, perhaps more insulting, "the Kardashian of video games." Candy Crush's insidious pay-to-play-more model is also blasted, referred to as "as addictive as crack, but far less rewarding." They even call out the game's publishers, King Digital, calling them out for "stealing games from other developers," "suing the same developers they stole from," and "applying to trademark the words 'Candy' and 'Saga'." They even go so far as to call them the "EA of casual gaming." Ouch.
The trailer is not kind, but it's funny and it lives up to its name. Smosh has done over a half-dozen Honest Game Trailers, as well as a ton of Honest Movie Trailers, and they're all well worth checking out. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go to the bathroom for about 45 minutes; that dragon ain't gonna free himself from that lake of piss.


text:
The National Film Board Of Canada (NFB) has got behind an initiative to launch a new international multiplatform destination for viewing and engaging with auteur documentary creators and subjects.
The subscription service will include new forms of interactive documentary and feature curated bilingual content and eventually branch out to multilingual content. The service will launch in 2014 in North America and Europe.
"As one of the most important world centres for documentary, we have a responsibility to audiences here and around the world, and to the documentary community, to respond to those needs," said Tom Perlmutter, government film commissioner and chairperson at the NFB.
"Based on our success with NFB.ca, we are taking advantage of our technological infrastructure, our unique expertise in documentary content and our network of international partners to offer this innovative experience for documentary creators and audiences."


text:
Lane Closures Scheduled for Wednesday Morning
On Wednesday morning, September 19, 2012, the eastbound thru lane on 26th Street at Grange Avenue will be closed.
Xcel Energy will be moving power poles. The work is anticipated to be finished by the evening of September 19, 2012.
Motorists are urged to use caution when traveling in this area.
In addition, West Maple Street, approximately 900' west of Marion Road, will be closed to all traffic as construction crews begin bridge replacement work. The intersections of Marion Road and La Mesa Drive will remain open.
Traffic will be detoured along Marion Road, 60th Street North and Tea/Ellis Road.
Maple Street is scheduled to be open to through traffic by October 13, 2012.
Finally, beginning Tuesday, September 18, 2012, street improvements will be made at the BNSF railroad crossings on 14th Street between 4th Avenue and 7th Avenue.
During the operation, lanes will be closed where repairs are being made. Traffic will be maintained in both directions at all times. Traffic delays may be encountered.
Motorists are urged to use caution in the construction areas and may wish to consider alternate routes.
Work is expected to be complete on Thursday, September 20, 2012.
Courtesy of the City of Sioux Falls


text:
Wabash Men 'Knock, knock' for MUFFYby Kim Johnson • October 3, 2007 Share:
More than 100 Wabash men went door-to-door, Thursday, Sept. 27 in Crawfordsville asking community members to donate whatever they could to assist MUFFY. MUFFY (Montgomery United Fund For You) is similar to United Way in that it raises funds for not-for-profit social service organizations in Montgomery County.
For the thirty-second consecutive year, the men of Wabash have partnered with the Montgomery United Fund to complete the residential drive portion of the campaign. "The students' work has brought us closer to the wider Crawfordsville community," said Wabash College Professor Rick Warner who serves as the MUFFY Residential Drive Chair, "Their service has given light to our mission statement that speaks to 'living humanely'."
Professor Warner explained a map of Crawfordsville is divided up and each group of two student volunteers gets a section of town to visit. After visiting all of the houses in their designated area, they brought the funds they collected to the home of Wabash President Dr. Patrick White and his wife Chris. There they enjoyed refreshments and shared stories of their visits with the Whites, Warner, MUFFY Executive Director David Johnson and other students while they kept a running tally of the total funds collected throughout the evening.
Since it came into existence in 1970, Montgomery United Fund has raised $9,000,000 through its annual fundraising campaigns. It raised $520,000 last year and hopes to raise $565,000 through this year's efforts. Johnson explained that the residential drive typically raises between $8,000 and $10,000 annually. During the first night of the residential drive last week, the student volunteers collected over $3,500.
"The partnership between Wabash College and Montgomery United Fund is a significant one for our community. Typically one would not expect the students to be as vested in the community where they 'just go to school'," said Johnson. "However, at Wabash they have demonstrated by their willingness to volunteer and participate in the campaign themselves, the importance for all of us to make our community better – regardless of where we are in our lives, be it geographically or otherwise."
Last year Montgomery United Fund funds served approximately 25,000 people in Montgomery County through the efforts of 18 social service organizations. To see a list of agencies supported by last year's MUFFY campaign, visit www.muffy.org. For information on the campaign at Wabash College contact Professor Rick Warner or Cathy Metz.


text:
On the premiere episode, co-hosts Corey Griffin and Brian Bassett welcome guests, former Jets FB Tony Richardson and Mike Chappell (AKA "The Dean") of the Indianapolis Star, to talk about the state of the Jets and their Week 6 matchup with the Colts.
We will be on iTunes soon, check back with TJB in the coming days for subscription info!
E-Mail us with feedback, comments, or questions for a future show:
Intro with hosts Corey Griffin and Brian Bassett
A look back at Jets/Texans
Where do the Jets stand now?
Woody's comments on Tebow's future
Colts Insider Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star calls in
Colts Comeback against the Pack
Colts Scouting Report
Jets/Colts Preview and Predictions
Injury Update
Former Jets fullback Tony Richardson calls inAll the latest on the Jets offense
What's working / what's not / what needs to happen?
A look ahead at Jets/Colts
Tony's prediction
Fan and Reader E-Mails
The ForecastCorey and Brian lay down their predictions for this week


text:
Tops of the Town
Reader and editor choices of the best around New Orleans
(page 1 of 3)
Though it was a statewide election year, 2011 wasn't very exciting; there were too many one-sided contests. Fortunately, to provide some suspense, there was our annual Tops of the Town voting in which our readers could make their picks in a multitude of categories, some tightly contested.
Instead of having to trek to old-fashioned voting precincts, our readers had the luxury of voting on a postage-paid ballot that was included in our October issue and on our website. Here are the results.
Note to the federal government: If you want us to handle the voting for the presidential election, we're willing to talk.
New Orleanian of the Year:
Mayor Mitch Landrieu
Finding the full spotlight was difficult at first. On the day in February 2010 when Mitch Landrieu was elected mayor of New Orleans, most of his constituents had their minds on the Super Bowl the next day. Three days later the mayor-elect rode in a victory parade, but the real cheering was for the Lombardi Trophy.
Then there was the day in May when Landrieu was inaugurated. Ordinarily that's a big news story, but not when the world's attention was on a shut-off valve being installed with hopes of stopping an oil gusher in the Gulf of Mexico.
There have been enough days since then for Landrieu to get his own attention, and our readers seem to like what they're seeing.
A cynic might say that predecessor Ray Nagin was an easy act to follow, but cynics, being what they are, don't know that being a mayor of a big city, especially one undergoing recovery, is a tough job no matter who was there before.
Landrieu's very election was a tonic for the city in that he received overwhelming support from both black and white voters. By winning he helped relieve some of the polarization that others in political life had stoked.
Having a father who was a successful former two-term mayor as well as a Secretary of Housing and Urban Development isn't a bad background, but beyond his pedigree Landrieu brought a world of governmental experience to the office, having served both as a legislator and as lieutenant governor.
To date, Landrieu has made good on his promise to rebuild the city's recreation department. His administration has thus far been scandal-free. (A couple of early appointees, about whom it was discovered that they carried questionable baggage, were quickly discharged.)
Crime, particularly black-on-black, drug-related homicides among young males, continues to be the one unsolvable crisis. Landrieu's choice for police chief, Ronal Serpas, has an extensive background in police management both locally and elsewhere. There have been some groups in the community who, for their own agendas, seem out to get Serpas, but Landrieu has been steadfast in standing by his man, a sentiment that registers with the public that wants less police politics and more police action.
Beyond it all, Landrieu has cut a good figure. He is young, articulate and knows how to play the crowd. He also knows how to play tennis. On the day last March when the new City Park tennis faculty opened, Landrieu made it official by swatting balls with one of the tennis pros. He showed good form that's indicative of his term so far: It's his serve and he has love.
Favorite Antique Store:
M.S. Rau Antiques
Enter the doors of M.S. Rau and you're immediately transported to a place filled with treasures from around the world. Turn the corner and you'll find one of the world's first cash registers. Walk a little farther and you'll spot a 12-and-a-half-foot-long billiard table that once resided in Buckingham Palace.
"One thing you can count on when you visit our website or our gallery is that you will always see something you never thought would be available for sale," says Bill Rau, third-generation owner.
Founded in 1912 on Royal Street, M.S. Rau has since expanded into the largest antique and fine art gallery in North America, earning the trust of discerning antiques collectors worldwide. This year the store is celebrating its 100th anniversary, with the main activities in March and a bevy of events throughout the year.
(Activities include the book launch of Rau's From Barbizon to Belle Époque on 19th-century art scheduled for this summer and a fine art exhibition at its gallery scheduled for this winter entitled "Plein Air.") The exhibit will showcase museum-quality original paintings by the 19th century Plein Air masters including Monet, Renoir, Pissarro and van Gogh.
As part of its 100th anniversary, the company has created the Rau for Art Foundation, a nonprofit that supports arts appreciation and education in the schools of Greater New Orleans. RFA will host an art contest where the winners and their schools will receive up to $17,000 in scholarship and prizes.
For more information visit RauForArt.com.
"Our goal is to continue to seek the finest treasures available on the market today by offering our clients the finest 18th and 19th century antiques, fine art and jewelry." Rau says. "And for the next 100 years, we will continue to find the rarest and best."
Favorite Museum:
New Orleans Museum of Art
The Isaac Delgado Museum of Art opened its doors on Dec. 16, 1911, owning just nine works of art. Today it's known as the New Orleans Museum of Art, and has over 35,000 art objects in its permanent collection. The permanent collection and the five-acre Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden are some of the museum's greatest assets. NOMA celebrated the museum's 100th anniversary in 2011 with the addition of more than 650 new memberships.
"Introducing new technology, partnering with peer institutions to bring the very best work to NOMA, and creating an inviting, accessible museum experience are among my top priorities for the coming year," Susan Taylor, Director of the NOMA says.
NOMA is the city's oldest fine arts institution, and it's quickly becoming a citywide gathering spot for the arts. Their partnerships with New Orleans' Film Society, The NOLA Project, YA/YA, Young Audiences and Kid SmART have brought new programming and new audiences to the museum. Their full calendar of programming, the popular Friday night Where Y'Art?! programs and Café NOMA by Ralph Brennan help make NOMA the "Favorite Museum" in New Orleans.
NOMA continues to exhibit, interpret and preserve works of art from ancient to modern times. As it has for a century, the museum continues to be a gathering place for all those seeking to share the beauty of their extraordinary collection or world art and learn from it. NOMA engages, educates and enriches the diverse populations within, and drawn to, the New Orleans area.
"In the future, look for more exhibitions and "spotlights" to give even frequent visitors the opportunity to appreciate our holdings anew," Taylor says. "As we continue to work to engage our audiences, we remain grateful for their enthusiasm and overwhelming support."
Favorite Sushi:
Sake Cafe
It wasn't that long ago that eating sushi was considered an exotic delicacy. Now ordering sushi is practically as common as ordering a hamburger, but there are only a certain few who know how to do it right.
Since the late 1990s, Sake Café has been sweeping the New Orleans sushi scene like a tsunami. Its menu incorporates traditional Japanese cuisine with New Orleans flavors that can be seen in its Jazz Roll, Uptown Roll and New Orleans Roll. Although many come to gorge themselves on the long list of sushi and rolls, the cooked dishes aren't to be forgotten, such as the Teriyaki and Nabeyaki Udon. Joey Ledet, general manager of Sake Café Uptown, says that the "high quality food, service and drink specials," are key to making the Japanese restaurant chain a local favorite.
The sushi chefs create unique fusion dishes, which are as beautiful as they are delicious. Some of their signature dishes include the Sushi Bar Sampler, Jalapeño Salsa and Tuna Cake and Yellowtail.
There are seven locations in the New Orleans metro area, Baton Rouge and Covington. The Uptown location is available for private events, and the upstairs portion of the restaurant can seat up to 40. Ledet says that customers keep coming back because of the "consistent food quality and fun atmosphere."
Favorite Place for Breakfast or Lunch:
The Ruby Slipper
If you find yourself waiting for a table at The Ruby Slipper, order their housemade Bloody Mary or mimosa or both! New Orleanians have voted it "Favorite Place for Breakfast or Brunch," deeming the food well worth the wait.
After Hurricane Katrina, owners Erich and Jennifer Weishaupt renovated an eyesore former neighborhood grocery in the Mid-City neighborhood, and they quickly turned it into a go-to spot. Erich says The Ruby Slipper is a local favorite because of the "combination of our casual neighborhood atmosphere and our consistent quality food items."
The kitchen serves dishes including basic breakfast items and weekend brunch specials using locally made products and locally based purveyors. Some of the signature dishes include Ruby's Crabcake (made only when fresh, local crabmeat is available), BBQ Shrimp & Grits (featured in Williams-Sonoma's Breakfast Comforts cookbook) and Bananas Foster Pain Perdu.
The Ruby Slipper not only dishes out some of the best breakfast foods in town but it is also dedicated to preserving the environment. The Mid-City location participates in two composting programs: Little Sparrow Farms uses discarded coffee grounds to grow vegetables, herbs and flowers; the NOLA Green Roots program, a Mid-City based nonprofit, helps restaurants compost appropriate food wastes and distribute them to community backyard gardens. The Mid-City location also participates in a recycling program.
Although their Mid-City location is closed on Mondays, the business district location is opened for business everyday of the week and available for private events after 3 p.m. Erich Weishaupt says people keep coming back rain or shine because of "the friendly warm atmosphere."
Best Place to Stir it up for over a Century:
Cafe Du Monde celebrates 150 years - and globalism
Remember as a kid when you had a face full of white powder (which in those days had only one meaning: you had powdered sugar on your beignet) and you felt particularly naughty when your mom let you sip her café au lait?
Here is a uniquely New Orleans quiz to go along with those memories:
Q. What country has the most Café Du Monde coffee houses serving up that classic café-au-lait-and-beignets combo?
A. "Easy," you say, "New Orleans. And last time I checked that was still in America!"
The correct answer is "Japan."
As New Orleans' favorite coffee-drinking place celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2012, dust that powdered sugar off your chin and stand corrected.
Almost heresy, but it's a fact, New Orleans' oldest coffee-drinking place – which boasts nine coffee and beignet stands and two merchandise stores spread over the north and south shores of Lake Pontchartain – has 30 stands in the Land of the Rising Sun.
"Make no mistake about it," says Jay Roman IV, vice president of H.N. Fernandez, Inc, which owns Café Du Monde. "We're rooted in New Orleans. We're as conservative as they come. So when we introduce a new product, like our iced café au lait as we did in the early 1990s, it takes a lot of thought. We don't just jump into it."
Roman is a member of the third of four generations of the Fernandez family that bought Café Du Monde from its former-owners in 1942. At the time, the iconic coffee shop had one location at St. Ann and Decatur streets across from Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral, the shop that's still the cornerstone of the coffee-and-beignet empire.
That mega-jump across the Pacific to Japan began after the 1984 New Orleans World's Fair. With international trade representatives and business folk in town, it was only natural that some group from a foreign land would gambol over to the Café Du Monde on Decatur Street after a night out in the French Quarter, get a taste of the quintessential New Orleans pastry and start thinking, "Hmmmmm, you know …"
In 1990, Japan hosted the World's Fair in Osaka. After six years, the New Orleans memory of "a cawfee and an' awdah!" was still ringing in the ears of members of a Japanese business consortium. Within a short time after the Japanese Expo closed, Café Du Monde had come to Japan.
While the New Orleans-based corporation that owns Café Du Monde doesn't franchise out their business, they do have an agreement with the Japanese consortium that licenses the right to the Café Du Monde name in Japan and keeps an uncompromising eye on recipe and quality.
"They're different in that they've expanded into sandwiches and a few other items we don't have," Roman says. "Of course we've long had our coffee and chicory and French roast in a can and beignet mix that you can purchase at supermarkets. Those products account for about 35 percent of our overall sales. We have various gift baskets that we ship all over the world. We have great souvenir mugs and travel mugs, koozies, T-shirts, kitchen towels, pot holders, travel bags, stuffed animals, posters, neckties. We even have Café Du Monde monogrammed golf balls. Can you believe it?"
In addition, Café Du Monde stores also sell products of other companies such as Aunt Sally's Pralines, Pat O'Brien's Hurricane Mix and books about New Orleans for adults and kids.
"But it's all uniquely New Orleans," Roman says. "And that says it all! People love this city. It's a passionate thing. They want to take some of it home. Even if they're not here they want it. They want that little piece of New Orleans. And they can order it."
When asked about all the competition from espresso joints and the frappe latte mocha mist outlets like Starbucks that seem to be popping up everywhere, Roman looks around at a packed-with-customers Café Du Monde on Veterans Boulevard.
"This isn't Seattle," he says. "This is New Orleans. Our customers know what New Orleans is all about and what it isn't. We make sure they get it. You know Starbucks opened a store on Williams Boulevard. It closed down. Know what stands on that very spot where that Starbucks was? A Café Du Monde. That was especially gratifying."
A guy dressed in a faded "Who Dat" T-shirt stands at the counter, holds up two fingers and barks out, "Two cawfees, two awdahs!"
"See what I mean?" Roman asks, as a broad smile crosses his face. "Nowhere else!"


text:
Thanks for the advice CoversLane, 45 yr old drunk guys passing out in the 3rd quarter will never match the time at a Washington Redskins preseason game when i saw a drunk woman piss herself on the way out of the stadium. There is a good chance im going to make the trip to Mosaic stadium to catch a game this season. I was thinking about going to Hamilton for the opener this year as it's only an 8 hour drive from Maryland but i decided i wanted to go see a home game.
Im a fan of mixed martial arts and i listen to a radio show at sherdog.com called the Jordan Breen show, he is a canadian from Halifax and anytime Regina is mentioned he goes on for a minute or two about how much of a hell hole it is, looking forward to seeing it for myself. I once had to spend a few days in West Virginia and i cant imagine any place being as depressing as that. If Regina is as bad as people say i guess that would explain why the Riders get such good fan support at road games, so many natives couldn;t take it there anymore so they had to move to other parts of Canada but still show up to represent their hometown when the Riders come to town.
Part of the problem is that the regular season games aren't as important as they should be. In an 8 team league where 6 teams qualify for the playoffs, there is a lot more margin for error especially when the regular season is 18 games. It gets tiresome watching the same teams play each other week after week.
This is what I like about the NFL - the regular season games are more meaningful and if you don't get your garbage sorted out you will be SOL.
Every game in Rider nation is just like Friday Night Lights!! Great fans, great atmosphere, and great football. Gotta love the CFL!!


text:
Securing Public Sector Networks in 2010
In my last post on the top security challenges for Borderless Networks, I focused on several issues facing businesses in 2010. Trends like an increasingly dynamic and distributed workforce, the growth of cloud computing and virtualization, and IT consumerization which are driving an evolution of the network bring not only great opportunities, but also new security threats. Outside the private sector, organizations are facing security issues that stem similarly from the ubiquity of the network as well as specific regulatory requirements.
Here, I focus on three areas that are coping with changing security threats in a borderless world: government, healthcare and education.
1. Government. In recent years, the world has seen how cyber attacks can cripple critical network infrastructure. A well known example was the 2007 Estonian cyberspace attack that affected the government, financial institutions, service providers, and even news organizations. A similar attack in 2008 affected the nation of Georgia. Recognizing the full spectrum of threats to national security, commerce, and infrastructure, the U.S. government and the private sector has strengthened their partnership to develop a full spectrum of defense.
For instance Melissa Hathaway, previously acting senior director for Cyberspace within the National Security Council for President Barack Obama, has become a senior adviser to Cisco's security team to help promote such private-public sector partnership. Watch her discussion with Marie Hattar, VP of Cisco Borderless Networks Security, and John Stewart, Cisco VP and CSO on her role at Cisco and a broad range of cybersecurity issues. Another example is the joint federal and civilian development of the "Consensus Audit Guidelines" that provides concrete steps for government departments and agencies to address principally technical control areas. In addition to processes and methods for monitoring and responding to attacks, advancements in network security technologies including 802.1X requirements will be important in combating both external and internal threats to network security.
On February 24th, Cisco will host a 2010 Government Solutions Forum to discuss national cybersecurity and other issues.
2. Healthcare. The health industry's movement to electronic health records and network-based applications is driving advancements in efficient communications and collaboration, ultimately leading to cost savings and improvements in patient care. But moving confidential information and critical data to the network also invites security threats from hackers and viruses. Awareness, policy compliance, best practices and use of the latest technologies will all help safeguard patient records and sensitive information.
Recently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has increased their effort to enforce compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Two recent HIPAA violations have resulted in substantial penalties and detailed corrective action plans. Going forward, Healthcare providers will look to bolster their efforts to establish appropriate security policies, meet compliance requirements and integrate security technologies in 2010.
3. Education. Educational institutions are becoming increasingly networked as well. Just as businesses are dealing with IT consumerization, or the transfer of consumer technologies and applications onto the network, educational institutions must manage a diversity of student laptops, smartphones, and other consumer devices connecting to the Internet. In addition, information sharing via the Internet on campuses provides more entry points for malicious software and attacks. To ensure healthy networks where students, teachers, private information and research assets are protected in 2010, educational institutions will look to develop smart policies for how their communities access the Web and the infrastructure to combat new threats. Check out Cisco's Cyberspace Action for Education for helpful tips and recommendations on cybersecurity.
There are a number of other areas beyond the enterprise that are met with new network security challenges. The promise of Borderless Networks is not limited to businesses – everyone from consumers to government agencies to medical patients will benefit from the decline of location, application, and device borders. The risks of this transformation are real, but can be addressed in a number of concrete steps that utilize people, process, and technology.
In an effort to keep conversations fresh, Cisco Blogs closes comments after 60 days. Please visit the Cisco Blogs hub page for the latest content.
3 Comments
This is such an interesting topic. Thanks for sharing. This might be helpful for people seeking their career.
I think this is a good example of IT that the joint federal and civilian development of the "Consensus Audit Guidelines†that provides concrete steps for government departments and agencies to address principle.
I would like to inquire about grants education networksSincerely


text:
BOARD APPROVES RENOVATIONS — The "1939" Decatur ISD school building will be renovated and turned into the administration building after the school board approved the project last night. After a detailed look at the project's scope, options and prices, the board approved spending $2.3 million with Mart, Inc. That cost also factors in the move of the technology department into the current administration building. In addition to the base bid of nearly $1.9 million, the board approved four of the six alternates which include a remodeling of the old auditorium into a board room, replacing the roof, replacing exterior windows and waterproofing the exterior to reach the total $2.3 million price. The work will be funded from money available in the local construction fund and a transfer of $250,000 from the general fund. The measure passed by a 3-2 vote with Kevin Haney, Gary Clayton and Jeff Elder voting in favor and Diana Mosley and Marsha Hafer voting against. Alan White and Jeff Alling were absent.
WIND ADVISORY — A cold front that moved into the area overnight brought strong winds. Local fire departments were kept busy responding to reports of downed power lines and trees down in roadways. A wind advisory is in effect for Wise County and points west through noon today. Strong and gusty winds in the 25 to 35 miles per hour range with some gusts up to 45 miles per hour are expected. It will be much cooler today compared to yesterday when temperatures topped out at 87 in Decatur. Today's high is expected to be 54.
SPECIAL NEEDS BASEBALL — Registration for the Wise County Special Needs Baseball spring season is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays, March 9 and 16, at Bridgeport and Decatur public libraries. The registration form can be downloaded from www.wcspecialneeds.com. For information, email firstname.lastname@example.com or call (940) 577-1848. Games are 9 a.m. to noon April 6 to May 25 at Renshaw Park in Decatur.
CLAY SHOOT — The sixth annual Barnett Shale Sporting Clay Shoot benefiting the Bridgeport Visitor Center is Thursday, April 25, at Northwest OHV Park (2914 Texas 101 in Bridgeport). There will be a morning flight at 9 a.m. and afternoon at 1:30 p.m., and lunch will be served at noon. Fee is $100 a person or $500 for a five-man team. To sign up, call the Bridgeport Area Chamber of Commerce at (940) 683-2076.
PECAN FIELD DAY — Wise County Texas A&M AgriLIfe Extension is hosting Pecan Field Day 9 a.m. Thursday at Decatur Garden Center, 1551 Preskitt Rd. Cost is $15, which includes three CEUs, two integrated pest management and one general. Speakers are Monte Nesbitt and Bill Ree, both program specialists with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, and Charles Rohla, PH.D., pecan specialist with the Noble Foundation. They will discuss native and improved pecan orchard management, including young pecan orchard development, integrated pest management, training and pruning demonstrations, orchard floor renovations and maintenance, and fertility management. Call the Extension office to sign up at (940) 627-3341 or come by 206 S. State St. in Decatur. A chili lunch will be sponsored by Decatur Garden Center, Texas Pecan Nursery and BWI Companies.
OPEN HOUSE — Decatur's McCarroll Middle School will hold an open house 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday.
CHICO CITY COUNCIL — The Chico City Council meets at 7 tonight at Chico City Hall. The agenda includes approving last fiscal year's audit, renewing a franchise agreement with Oncor, consideration and action on KSA Engineers general service agreement, adding a part-time position with the water and sewer department, acting on recommendations from the parks board and planning and zoning commission and regular monthly reports. The city's planning and zoning commission will meet at 6:30.
FUNERALS — Memorial service for Linda Louise Kirk, 66, of Boyd will be held at a later date. Christian-Hawkins Funeral Home in Boyd.
SERVICE for Sandra B. Cagle, 69, of Wichita Falls is pending at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur.
MEMORIAL for Barry Dale Bentley, 55, of Decatur is 10:30 a.m. Friday at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home Chapel.
FUNERAL for Karen Griffith, 69, of Plano is 2 p.m. today at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home Chapel with burial at Oaklawn Cemetery. Family visitation is 12:30-1:30 p.m. prior to the service. She was the mother of Wise County Messenger production manager Todd Griffith.
FUNERAL for Inez White Bewley, 88, of Decatur is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home Chapel with burial at Bethel Cemetery near Weatherford. Family visitation is 6-8 tonight at the funeral home.


text:
The Joy of X
Steven Strogatz
Houghton Miffli Harcourt, 2012 ($27)
Strogatz, an applied mathematician at Cornell University and author of Sync, has compiled his immensely popular series of New York Times columns and added new material. The Joy of X's six parts, each divided into several short chapters, move from number basics through algebra, geometry, calculus and statistics to the frontiers of math, where conjectures about prime numbers are still floating around unsolved. The goal is a second chance at learning the math that might have passed you by—this time from an adult perspective. The tone is light and conversational, with delightful narratives about lonely numbers and the Tony Soprano psyche of math itself—outwardly tough but inwardly wracked with insecurity. The easily digestible chapters include plenty of helpful examples and illustrations. You'll never forget the Pythagorean theorem again! —Evelyn Lamb


text:
1935-36 Van Horn Basketball Team, District Champs
Description: Photograph of coaches and basketball team. Photograph of the Van Horn Basketball Team, 1935-36. District Champions. Front Row-Bob Hurt, Roy Johnson, D.L. Moore, James Mayfield; Second Row-Horace Oiver (Superintendent), Baylus Wagnon, Bart Knight, Dutch Walters, Ben Medley, Raymond Wheat (Assistant Coach), Back-Jimmy Terrell (coach)
Date: 1935~/1936~
Item Type: Refine your search to only Photograph
Partner: Clark Hotel Museum


text:
I was asked to do a mix for the 400th issue of The Wire:
It's good - quite noisy and echoey. Also features some mad 80s pop b-sides.
Write up includes a photo of me taken by my daughter.
Track list:
Spatial "Walking Off"
Raymond Dijkstra "Dadaphon (Part One)"
Death Dub "23 (Version)"
Kostis Kilymis "Crystal Drops"
I-LP-O In Dub "Paradise Capital"
Maurizio Bianchi "Surgical Flagellation"
Arv & Miljö "Svulsmen I Skyn"
Ekoplekz "Meek Street"
Jay Glass Dubs "Compound Dub"
Jean Michel Jarre "Wooloomooloo"
Brilliant "It's A Man's Man's World (Mad Professor's It's A Dub Dub Dub World Mix)"
Art Of Noise "A Time To Hear (Who's Listening)"
Fish From Tahiti "Decal Baby"
Ichimanjaku "Radio Babylon"
Sabres of Paradise "Ysaedub"
Phantom "Rockabilly Vampires"
Crass "Walls"
Terminal Cheesecake "Coils: Chapter II"
Flying Lizards "Money B"
Tones On Tail "Shakes"
Blue Zoo "Off To Market (Dub)"
Libbe Matz Gang "Toluene Blues"
Seekers International "CheryLinn"
Jah Excretion "Kaze Wo Atsumete (Happy End)"


text:
Because of each country's product availability, the selection on this site may not be the same as the one you were previously on.Cancel
The item you've selected is exceptional and deserves special attention. Please phone a diamond and jewellery expert and they will help you complete your order.
Pure sophistication, these petite diamond hoop earrings in 18k rose gold will always be the perfect look, accented with a signature blush pink sapphire on the back of each closure.
Inspired by her romantic couture bridal creations, Monique Lhuillier's fine jewellery collection reflects the sophistication and innovative spirit that defines her style. Each piece is designed to mirror the uniqueness of every bride, by capturing the essence of the moment and displaying a distinctively whimsical look.


text:
Why We Must Engage the Private Sector in Climate Change Adaptation Efforts
Late last month, I retired after spending more than 30 years in the climate arena, the last decade as a principal climate change specialist at the International Finance Corporation.
During the span of my career, climate change has moved from the sidelines to be recognized as a serious development challenge. And while we're still far from achieving the international commitments needed to avoid potentially dangerous and even catastrophic climate events, much has been accomplished.
Scientists have reached near-consensus about climate change and its impacts. We've also seen the creation of several significant donor-supported climate funds, as well as a steady increase in policy and financial support for climate-friendly technologies.
In one critical respect, however, we need more progress: making the private sector a partner in helping nations build resilience and adapt to climate change.


text:
A remarkable number of agencies seem to have conveniently forgotten accounts that slipped out of their doors. One of the biggest of these was the Army business that left Publicis for JWT London (but given the length of the pitch, perhaps some charitable absolution for this handy oversight might be appropriate). Equally, it is not alone in experiencing some mild amnesia; full marks, however, are due to Lean Mean Fighting Machine for its remarkably candid and enjoyable romp through its year.
With remarkable prescience, a mere ten years ago I remember writing a piece predicting a great future for live advertising. The hook was London Pride using graphic overlays displaying half-time scores as Jonny Wilkinson hoofed England to a stunning victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
The eagerness of my then callow youth may have got the better of me as subsequent history proved – in fact, aside from Honda and its "skydive" in 2008, there have been hardly any examples of live advertising. This seemed to prove that Wieden & Kennedy's "difficult is worth doing" line that accompanied the Honda stunt didn't really seem to apply to live advertising.
In comparison to watching some skydivers jump out of a plane, the risk involved in the campaign is immense
Looking back, the digital overlay of a score on a still in an ad looks almost as quaint as a notion that this would create a television revolution. Equally, four years later, Felix Baumgartner's live leap from the edge of space makes Honda's skydivers look rather tame.
A decade on and I feel some sort of lame vindication with the breathtaking ambition of JWT's first work for the Territorial Army. Historically sniggered at as "the SAS" ("Saturdays And Sundays") by some regular soldiers and "weekend warriors" by the public at large, the frontline role that the TA has taken on as government defence cutbacks bite has become very real.
The importance and need for these volunteers is graphically displayed in the live ads, direct from Afghanistan, that follow real soldiers in theatre and on operation. The logistical efforts involved in the campaign, which will continue this weekend, are impressive. In comparison to watching some skydivers jump out of a plane, the risk involved (both technical risk for JWT and ITV and, more importantly, real risk for the soldiers on the ground) is immense, and the outcome more vital than ever.
JWT deserves real credit for conceiving and executing a campaign whose difficulty in accomplishing is truly more crucial than flogging some Japanese cars.


text:
Smart Business Systems, the parent company of Smartjobs.com, has been in business since 1988 and has been providing custom solutions and support services to a wide variety of customers thru out United States.
Our services include development of custom applications using Microsoft technologies, Database design and support services, Data translation and migration and database administration services.
Our customers include law enforcement agencies, local governments, small to medium size businesses. For more information on the products and services, please email to email@example.com


text:
Four myths that keep government from delivering a better customer experience.
A decade ago, a fellow by the name of Reed Hastings got slapped with $40 in late fees for not returning the copy of Apollo 13 he rented for $3 from his local Blockbuster. That hurt. But it also got Hastings thinking. There must be a better way ...
There was. And he called it Netflix.
Netflix changed the movie rental experience in three important ways. It did away with late fees. It eliminated the hassle of making a trip to the local video store (only to learn the movie you'd been dying to see wasn't in stock). And instead of leaving us aimlessly wandering the video store aisles wondering which movie we'd actually enjoy, Netflix provides subscribers with customized recommendations from friends, family and the company's proprietary movie match program.
In short, Netflix analyzed the video renting experience from beginning to end and eliminated the pain points for customers. By doing so, it became a billion-dollar company.
Of course, Netflix isn't the only company to revolutionize the customer experience. Amazon.com transformed the way buyers and sellers come together - simplifying, standardizing and personalizing the way you buy everything, from books to DVD players. eBay turned the way consumers dispose of products upside down - bringing auctions to the masses and at the same time fostering thousands of communities of buyers and sellers. Nordstrom proved that a profitable business model could be built on the proposition that the customer is always right.
These and other innovations have raised the bar for government performance. It's a bar many government agencies are having a hard time clearing.
A surprising 71 percent of Canadians, for example, say that public services should be even better than the private sector, but only 41 percent actually believe existing public services are better. Meanwhile, a recent Pew Research Center poll found that the majority of Americans agree "when something is run by the government, it is usually inefficient and wasteful."
In short, governments worldwide face a growing gap between the level of service citizens expect from government and what they believe they're actually getting. As former British Prime Minister Tony Blair noted: "Expectations are higher. This is a consumer age. People don't take what they're given. They demand more."
Governments have been asking taxpayers for more revenues but continue to provide what is perceived as the same old product. According to Runzheimer International,
local property tax burdens went up an average of 21 percent from 2000 to 2004 (leading taxpayers to openly revolt in some jurisdictions) . This flies in the face of everything they've grown accustomed to in the private sector.
"In retail, consumers are continually getting things bigger and cheaper than before," observed Ontario's Secretary of Cabinet, Tony Dean. "But for public services, we just keep asking citizens for more money for the same product. That's no longer credible. People feel as though they're paying enough."
The problem isn't due to a shortage of efforts aimed at improving the citizen experience. On the contrary, many governments have invested significant amounts of time and money trying to bolster customer satisfaction. Instead, many governments are going about improving customer service the wrong way. Four misperceptions in particular often thwart the best-intentioned improvement initiatives.
Myth 1: Technology is the solution
If one were so inclined, it wouldn't be hard to attend a conference on customer relationship management (CRM) almost every day of the year. The discussions inevitably revolve around the technology component. That's because many government agencies and private companies have invested heavily in state-of-the-art technology to give them a single, integrated view of their customers and to maintain a mutually beneficial dialog with them. Forrester estimates the market for CRM solutions will grow to nearly $11 billion by 2010.
But these investments have had mixed results. Success rates with private-sector CRM projects range from 30 percent to 70 percent. A Forrester survey of business and IT executives reveals about 47 percent of those surveyed were satisfied with their CRM systems (which had managed to meet their business objectives) - odds slightly worse than a coin toss.
The reality is that you can have the best CRM system on the market and still have the worst customer service. Think about the last late or canceled flight you took. If you're like most, you don't count yourself a beneficiary of the airline industry's CRM investments.
The problem is that many organizations have tended to view good CRM as solely a technology issue and assign it to the IT group. In most cases, however, the real issue is getting people to change their behavior. Technology can enable this change but cannot, by itself, instigate and sustain it.
A big obstacle the public sector faces in improving customer service is a work force unaccustomed to customer-centric behavior. Having come into government after spending most of his career in the private sector focused on improving customer service, ServiceOntario CEO Bob Stark told Canadian Government Executive in May 2007, "A service-oriented mindset is crucial. ... Staff must be energized to customer service at every level of the organization."
Recognizing that customer service would falter if his employees weren't onboard and engaged, Stark created the ServiceOntario YOU program. The program provides rewards for service excellence and serves as a safe place for employees to discuss what it means to deliver a high standard of service, and share their concerns and suggestions. According to Stark, "80 percent of staff 'get it' and desire to be onboard."
Given the human dimension inherent in the majority of service interactions, technology investments alone are almost always insufficient for bolstering customer satisfaction. Therefore, cultural and behavioral changes become key components for large-scale service-improvement efforts.
Myth 2: We know what customers want
In the middle of the late 1990s dot-com boom, banks were racing to satisfy customers' demands for 24/7 services. As management gurus Ranjay Gulati and James Oldroyd have observed,
There was only one problem with RBC's strategy. It didn't really know what its customers wanted.
While convenience was important, most banking customers considered it mere table stakes for what they looked for in a 21st-century bank. What they really wanted was for banks to see them as valuable customers, not simply transactions, and to recognize them as individuals across the entire banking enterprise - from savings accounts to mortgage and auto loans - irrespective of which door they turned up at.
RBC responded to the wake-up call by reorganizing itself around its customers (all 12 million of them), devoting the better part of a decade to understanding and serving the needs of each one of them. As a result, shareholder dividends more than doubled and sales of highly profitable bundled products and services jumped from 35 percent to 70 percent.
This disconnect between what customers want and what companies think they want is pervasive
. A Bain & Company survey of nearly 400 firms found that 80 percent of them believe they deliver a "superior experience" to their customers. Unfortunately just 8 percent of their customers agreed.
This problem extends to the public sector. If you ask most government department heads whether they know what their customers want, they'll say they do. After all, they conduct surveys. They hold town hall meetings. They might even do focus groups (though this is actually rare in the public sector). The problem is that while each of these tools has some value, they don't really provide an accurate view of the customer's experience and satisfaction with public services.
Surveys, for example, fail to uncover problems that you don't think to ask about in the survey. Customers may be satisfied with the issues you query them about, but remain dissatisfied overall. At their best, surveys uncover "how satisfied customers are with the things we think they think are important," explained Ken Miller, author of We Don't Make Widgets.
While public hearings and town hall meetings serve as important forums for citizens to share their opinions and air grievances, they also tend to draw out the fringe groups and the loudest complainers (after all, the squeaky wheel gets the oil). The self-selection bias complicates how public officials should interpret and act on the information generated from these forums. Therefore, it's important to complement these perspectives with other measures of customer satisfaction and then to engage with citizens in the context of actual service delivery in order to better understand the challenges they face.
To their credit, leading jurisdictions have acknowledged the gap and are stepping up their efforts to close it. Dallas, for example, developed a mystery shopper program as a way of gauging customer satisfaction with the city's 311 system. Volunteers who enlist as mystery shoppers phone their requests for services or information to 311 operators and report back on the quality of the service they received once their request has been fulfilled. (It's important to note that while a voluntary program is imperfect - suffering from the same self-selection problems as public hearings and town hall meetings - it adds another piece of information to the puzzle and may indirectly improve customer-service levels since city employees are aware they're being monitored.)
After investing a significant amount of time understanding its customers' needs and expectations, Service Canada put a "voice of the customer" team in place to continuously monitor the pulse of citizens to make sure that what its doing is consistent with what customers expect. The team's findings are used to inform the organization's strategy and the development of new initiatives aimed at bringing service offerings into line with its customers' needs and expectations.
Also important, but often overlooked, is what's dubbed the "noncore" dimension of the customer's experience. That is, what affects customer satisfaction isn't always what we think of as core to the service in question. Take health care, for example. If patients see peeling paint on the walls of their doctor's office or the quality of the meals they receive in the hospital is poor, they may associate these shortcomings with poor health-care service and rate their overall experience lower as a result - despite the fact that the quality of care they receive from their health-care professionals is considered to be world-class.
Failing to acknowledge their own blind spots can impede an organization's efforts to improve customer-service levels (not to mention the waste of resources spent doing things that don't actually bolster customer satisfaction). Many tools are available to help mine user experience information from customers. Using them provides a more complete view of the customer experience and helps to identify prime targets for improvement.
Myth 3: If you build it, they will come
Convincing citizens to complete their government transactions online, which was supposed to be the easy part of e-government transformation, has been a tough sell for many governments. Policymakers have discovered that even if they build it, citizens often won't come - at least not without a lot of creative marketing and even some economic incentives.
While citizens happily browse, bank and shop online, this behavior just hasn't carried over to their interactions with government. According to Forrester's latest e-government benchmark, only 63 percent of U.S. adults who go online have visited a government Web site in the last year. A much smaller percentage completed a government transaction online - fewer than 20 percent renew their license or register their vehicle online, and just 5 percent apply for federal services or benefits programs online.
There's no shortage of reasons for such low turnout - privacy, security, ease of use, lack of Internet access, insufficient marketing to generate awareness - but it comes down to the fact that few governments have really figured out how to enthuse citizens toward conducting their business online.
Getting customers to switch to more efficient and effective channels requires persuasive tactics to encourage people to move online. A combination of advertising, channel partnerships, incentives, "cross-selling" and mandatory requirements can significantly affect the uptake of electronic channels.
Myth 4: Government should treat everyone the same
Too often, "equal treatment under the law" translates into meaning government should treat everyone the same. But treating everyone the same is more likely to reduce, not improve, customer satisfaction.
Customers - whether public or private - typically have very different needs and preferences. While individually appealing to each customer generally isn't feasible, customer segmentation, which breaks down the larger customer population into sub-groups that share similar characteristics, allows organizations to service the unique needs of each group more efficiently and effectively.
Consider a company like Staples. Basically "everybody" purchases pens and paper. But serving everybody is difficult. The process of dividing everybody into "somebody" allows you to disaggregate everyone into smaller user groups with distinct needs. For example, take the Fortune 500 company that wants volume price discounts and a monthly statement. Or small businesses that want to order from a catalog using a credit card. Then, you've got students who want to be able to buy a single stapler and would really prefer if it came in a cool color. Rather than trying to build sales channels, marketing materials and billing systems that work for everybody, segmenting different types of customers into homogenous groups allows companies to focus on the needs of these distinct customer segments. Doing so is far more manageable than trying to develop an umbrella that coherently encompasses everybody (at the expense of being relevant to nobody).
The same strategy can be applied to government. Consider the IRS: One is hard-pressed to find a more diverse customer group than the entire American taxpaying population. Each taxpayer group needs IRS customer service, and as Paul Jones, chairman of the IRS Oversight Board, observed in 2006, "All would benefit from tailored strategies given the substantially different challenges and opportunities each represents."
The IRS conducted an extensive analysis of its customers to better understand their needs and expectations and how they prefer to interact with the tax agency. From this analysis, several distinct groups emerged.
First, there are the self-proclaimed experts who exude enormous confidence in navigating the tax code maze. This group tends to file the old-fashioned way - by paper - prefers self-service and is likely to benefit from expanded do-it-yourself offerings.
On the flip side, there are the taxpayers intimidated by the process of filing taxes. They're more likely to use tax preparers and less likely to seek assistance because they don't know how to query the IRS directly. This customer segment can be helped by targeting tax preparers and through improved marketing for the direct-service channels available to them.
Lastly there are the tech adopters who shudder at the thought of manually completing their 1040s and snail-mailing them. Based on calculations using IRS figures, tech adopters make up nearly one-fifth of the taxpaying population. However, only around 60 percent of them file online, making them a prime target for increasing e-file adoption. Focusing on strategies to boost e-filing among the tech adopters could save around $22 million annually.
The bottom line: Different groups have different needs. Clustering users into like-minded groups breaks everyone into manageable segments that align to the organization's business objectives and addresses the distinct needs of each group.
Becoming a Citizen-Centric Organization
Overcoming these common misconceptions is a first step toward improving customer experiences with the public sector. Closing the expectations gap requires first returning to the basics. In the customer service realm, that means answering the age-old question: Who are our customers and what do they want?
Answering this question goes well beyond investments in fancy new technology. It requires a complete mind shift in the way governments approach service delivery.
William D. Eggers, a regular contributor to Public CIO, is Deloitte's Global Public Sector Research Director and the author of numerous books on government reform, including Governing by Network, Government 2.0 and States of Transition.
Tiffany Dovey is a research associate at Deloitte Research of Deloitte Services and the author of an upcoming study on customer strategy in government.


text:
50 Ways To Lighten Your JeepPosted in Project Vehicles on October 1, 2011
Whether it's that spare tire you're carrying around behind your belt buckle or a bunch of unnecessary trinkets and doo dads on, in, or around your Jeep, extra weight kills performance, increases the likelihood of breakage, and requires more energy and effort to move around. Shedding unnecessary poundage from your Jeep will make your engine feel more powerful, help your drivetrain components live longer, and allow your suspension to react more quickly. We came up with fifty things you can do to lighten your Jeep. Some may not be applicable or realistic for everybody. And some may not seem like they'd make a ton of difference. But as we demonstrated in "Skinny-Time!" on page 84 of this issue, the cumulative result of just a few of these mods can really make a difference.
Stock Bumpers
Stock bumpers are light. If you want a bit more beef, you can use some 1/8-inch or even 14- or 16-gauge steel to box your factory channel bumper to better resist twisting and damage.
Rear Bumperless
Rear-end collisions aside, most Wranglers can get by without a rear bumper on the trail. Or, for older Wranglers and CJs, keep the factory bumperettes. They're much lighter than a full factory or aftermarket rear bumper.
Ford Light
Thanks to its strong presence in motorsports for decades, there are several really cool aftermarket lightweight components for the Ford 9-inch such as aluminum centersections, bearing retainers, and even spools. Adding disc brakes to these parts and using 31-spline alloy axleshafts can get you a really strong rear end that weighs in at only a couple hundred pounds.
Aluminum Wheels
Steel wheels are cheap, but aluminum wheels are much lighter. Not only will they decrease the overall weight of your Jeep, but your acceleration and braking performance will increase because it takes less energy to start and stop them spinning.
Ditched Dana
For its weight, the Ford 9-inch trounces any comparable Dana 35 or Dana 44 axle in strength. And upgrading the 31-spline shafts to aftermarket 35-spline units puts it in the same ilk as the burly (and heavy) Dana 60.
If you have a patch kit and a source of onboard air, leaving the spare tire at home can save up to or over 100 pounds depending on your tire size. If you have beadlocks or rims that can be dismantled in the field, a tire tube is also a great alternative.
Ditching the factory steel full- or half-doors from your Wrangler or CJ saves a lot of weight. If you must have protection from the wind and elements, a set of aftermarket soft doors will get the job done at a fraction of the weight.
Dinky Danas
Dana 60 and Dana 70 1-ton axles are super strong, but they're heavy as sin. If your tire size and wheeling style allow it, retaining your stock axles (Dana 30, Dana 35, or Dana 44) can save you several hundred pounds, even if you bolster them with larger, slightly heavier axleshafts.
If you don't carry rear-seat passengers then why do you need a rear seat? They're pretty heavy. Even if you're not wheeling a Wrangler or CJ, full-size, Cherokee, and others can ditch the rear seat and belts for a big bump in weight saving.
Smart Tools
Carry only those tools and spares you need. Why bother shedding ounces here and there if you're just gonna bring along 50 pounds in spare parts and unnecessary tools. If you don't have any 5⁄8-inch bolts on your vehicle, why bring a 5⁄8-inch socket or wrench? Pack smarter, not heavier.
Improvised Armor
This is something we suggested in "Skid-Free" (May '09) where you create laminate armor by welding lighter-gauge material to your existing skid plates. It's an effective alternative if extreme use is not in your vehicle's repertoire. In our story, we used two factory 14-gauge Wrangler fuel tank skids to create a lightweight 1⁄8-inch skid that will support the weight of the vehicle.
Bumper Material
Who says your bumpers need to be heavy steel. There are several companies making Jeep bumpers in aluminum and even fiberglass. These offer a surprising deal of strength in a bantam-weight package.
A Wrangler or CJ hard top weighs a bunch. Even the factory soft top and the associated hardware isn't exactly featherweight. What is featherweight is a simple bikini top. It'll keep the sun off your head and won't tip the scales against you.
Other-World Armor
Aluminum armor is roughly half the weight of its steel counterpart with very few drawbacks. If you're a hardcore basher and don't want to go full-aluminum armor, consider strategic use of aluminum armor for less-vulnerable places like your rear corner guards or even tube fenders. Or for even lighter protection, HDPE plastic can be utilized in strategic locations.
Glass is heavy and breakable. Polycarbonate is light and flexible. To us it's a win-win: lighter weight in a pliable package that won't shatter with any rock hits or tree impact. Higher-end units like this PolyShield windshield (polyshields.com) resists scratching as well as any glass windshield.
Light Tires
Almost all tires for 16-, 17-, and 20-inch rims are Load Range D or E. These higher load capacity tires not only weigh more than Load Range C tires, their heavier sidewalls don't flex as well or ride as smoothly on a lightweight Jeep. Making sure you're running a Load Range C tire will not only give you're a softer on-road ride, but will generally get you a lighter tire in the bargain.
Rockin' the Four
If you "settled" on a four-cylinder Jeep rather than swapping in a heavy six- or eight-cylinder, consider keeping your lightweight four-popper and gaining performance through gearing and weight shedding. With proper gearing and careful attention paid to weight, a four-cylinder Jeep can give more than adequate performance without dramatically tipping the scales.
No Steel
Replacing your steel hood or fenders with lighter fiberglass parts will free up a lot of weight over the front tires. Or, if you're building a more extreme vehicle, consider a high-clearance one-piece fiberglass hood with integrated fenders like this one from Chris Durham Motorsports (chrisdurham.wordpress.com).
Flyweight Flywheel
For vehicles with manual transmissions, a heavy flywheel can impart a lot of inertia that will keep your engine chugging at low rpms, but with modern computer-controlled injection systems, it's not always necessary. Going to a lighter flywheel will not only shed 10-30 pounds from your vehicle, but will make your engine rev quicker.
Carpet only gets wet and dirty and if you're going topless you're not worried about sound levels. Ditching your factory carpet and sound deadening not only frees up weight, but makes messy mud and dirt cleanup quick and easy. Spray-on liner material is popular, but heavy and impossible to weld on or under. Keep it paint for the minimum in weight and maximum in versatility.
Spring Seating
Most aftermarket suspension seats are not only more comfortable than stock seats during severe off-roading, they're usually much lighter as well. This is especially true when compared with factory power leather seats, but even pedestrian vinyl buckets can be swapped out for a decent weight savings.
Winch Plate Weight
Using a winch plate rather than a full winch bumper will get your recovery gear mounted to your framerails at a fraction of the heft. And if there isn't a dedicated part number for your application, you can usually modify a universal mount to work in several applications. Or, better yet, use a removable hitch mount and leave the winch behind when you don't foresee a need for it.
Heat No More
For most dedicated trail rigs, the factory heater/defroster ducting is dead weight that takes up space. This is especially true if you drop down or remove your windshield. Removing your electric blower motor, heater core, ducting, and related components can shed enough to offset the weight of some extra spares and tools.
NP to the NV
Back in the day everybody thought you needed a honkin' NP205 or other huge iron-case, all-gear T-case to get the job done. But the reality is that most aluminum- or magnesium-case chain-drive T-cases can be built just as strong at a fraction of the weight.
Compressor Ejection
Most older A/C systems work inefficiently or not at all. And what are you anyway; a wuss? Chuck that A/C system in the recycling and you'll save as much as 100 pounds in compressor, brackets, hoses, condenser, and other related components.
Wheel Weight
Not those wheels; your steering wheel. It's a bit compulsive, but in a worst-case scenario, switching to a lightweight aftermarket steering wheel can see a 10 pound-or-better drop in weight compared with the bulky factory offering.
Synthetic Winching
Swapping your steel cable out for a synthetic winch rope and going from a steel roller to an aluminum Hawse fairlead can drop between 20-30 pounds (depending on cable and rope length).
Plastic Fantastic
Okay, this is taking things a bit far, but even your headlights can be fodder for weight weenies. If you need new headlights anyway, swapping from factory-type all-glass headlamps to aftermarket units with polycarbonate lenses and plastic bodies will waste some weight away.
Transmission Temptations
Sure, adding a 3/4- or 1-ton cast-iron four-speed or heavy NV4500 five-speed may be tempting, but is it really necessary? Often, the flyweight cast-iron three-speed or a medium-duty aluminum-case five-speed will get the job done at about half the weight of the bigger stuff.
Dimpled Holes
Drilling holes in mounting brackets, framerails, and other components throughout your vehicle can drop a bit of weight, but the holes could possibly affect strength. However, running a dimple die over the hole after it is cut will add a contoured flare that not only looks good, but increases strength and rigidity in the bargain.
Head Games
Upgrading to aluminum cylinder head(s) on your I-6 or V-8 engine is an all-around great upgrade. Not only will you get better performance, but you'll cut the weight of your head(s) in half, generally saving between 20-50 pounds.
Flow Go
Factory muffler and exhaust pipe systems are not only restrictive, but are usually insanely heavy. You won't save a ton of weight in free-flowing aftermarket exhaust pipes, but you will save considerable weight in swapping to an aftermarket crimped-case or fully-welded muffler.
Manifold Monsters
Almost all V-8s and most inline four- and six-cylinder engines came factory-equipped with heavy cast-iron exhaust manifolds. Swapping to aftermarket tubular headers can not only free up power, but sheds a ton of weight from the front of your vehicle.
If you're wheeling you should have everything strapped down tightly and securely. So, if that's the case why would you need a heavy tailgate? Wrangler tailgates are kinda heavy, but FSJ SUV and pickup tailgates are downright porky. Either way, ditch it for a big boost in lightness.
Radiator Roundup
Aside from the weight savings to be had by using an all-aluminum radiator over an all-copper/brass radiator, you can lighten other cooling system components. Swapping from a bulky clutch-activated mechanical fan to electric and going from a cast iron to aluminum water pump will shed a few crucial pounds from your equation.
Battery Basics
Factory-spec wet-cell batteries are inexpensive and can offer an attractive life span. However, most aren't exactly compact and almost none are lightweight. Upgrading to a dry-cell race battery like an Odyssey (odysseybattery.com) can get you more power in a smaller, lighter package. Lithium-ion batteries are even smaller, lighter, and more powerful, but at this point in time they are cost prohibitive for all but the deepest pockets.
This is most true for YJs, but applies to some FSJ Wagoneers and other models as well. If you have a properly set up leaf-spring suspension and don't drive like a total moron, there's really no need for front or rear track bars. Ditch 'em, along with their mounting brackets. Factory track bars aren't exactly light.
Chromoly Countdown
Using HREW (hot rolled electrically welded) tubing may be cost-effective, but chromoly tubing has a much higher tensile strength. That means you can run thinner, lighter chromoly tubing with no penalty in weight. Chromoly does present some special issues when working with it, though. Careful attention must be paid to heat-affecting during welding, and ideally the cage should be heat treated after construction.
We've already mentioned using fiberglass hoods and fenders, but a complete replacement fiberglass body tub will shed some weight over an all-steel stock tub. Considering most vintage tubs are full of Bondo, which gets really heavy, ditching a poorly-patched stock steel tub can make the weight savings even more dramatic.
Groovy Tires
It's something the monster truck and mud bogging community has long known about, but cutting and grooving heavy mud tires not only increases bite in certain off-road terrain, but can offer a massive weight savings. As an added bonus, the lightened tires will spin up to speed faster and flex better at lower pressures.
We mentioned the weight savings in going with aluminum cylinder heads, but if you're doing a whole engine swap, using an all-aluminum V-8 engine such as the GM 5.7L LS1, 6.0L LS2, 6.2L LS3, or even 5.3L LC9 can save you around 100 pounds compared with an iron block/aluminum head engine. Other contenders are all-aluminum V-6 or even old-school Rover or Buick 215 V-8 engines.
Holy Bolts!
Ever held a box of bolts in your hand? Not exactly light, is it? You can order special hollow chromoly or titanium bolts through McMaster-Carr (mcmastercarr.com) and other racing-specific vendors you can find on the Internet. They may not shed a lot of pounds from your vehicle, but they certainly will shed dollars from your wallet!
Take the Intake
Got an AMC or other brand V-8 in your Jeep? Still got that boat anchor cast-iron intake? Swapping to an aftermarket aluminum intake manifold will not only free up horsepower and torque, but can improve mileage and shed 25-30 pounds from the front of your vehicle.
Again, with careful driving there's not much reason to retain the factory sway bar(s) on a leaf-sprung vehicle. And even if you're running coils or coilovers, you can probably get by with only one sway bar in the front or rear of your vehicle.
Tractor Steering
Most hardcore off-road rigs spend most of the time on the trail and little, if any, on the street. Going to a full-hydro steering system will replace the heavy steering box with a relatively light orbital valve and will do away the need for a heavy drag link and track bar. Be warned, on-road steering may be twitchy and even scary, so keep it in the dirt.
Brake the Bank
When looking for performance from weight savings, any pound dropped off your rotating components, especially at the wheels, will have a much more dramatic effect than elsewhere. Lightweight aluminum calipers are svelter than cast-iron factory parts and almost always weight less. The drilled and vented rotor with lightweight aluminum hat will not only run cooler, but have much less rotational weight than the stock parts.
Bump the Booster
We see a lot of people adding complicated hydroboost setups or converting to power brake applications. For Jeeps running automatic transmissions with low-stall converters and extreme low-range gearsets it's sometimes necessary. But for most other applications, a properly set up manual brake system will perform more than adequately. Even running twin 7⁄8-inch bore master cylinders, this Wilwood braking system (wilwood.com) is lighter than a single factory cast-iron master cylinder.
Lightened Gears
From our drag racing days, we remember a certain factory alloy diff cover all the GM 12-bolt guys were clamoring for 'cause it was a couple ounces lighter than the factory cover. So, it shouldn't be surprising that you can buy highly lightened gearsets, such as this circle-track Ford 9-inch. We've beaten these Richmond gears off-road for years with no failure.
Unhated Unitbearing
Building a custom axle assembly for a lightweight Jeep? Using Ford unitbearing knuckles and hubs can net you a considerable weight savings over a standard Dana-style hub/spindle setup without giving up the ability to run locking hubs. You can take it a step further by replacing the factory F-350/F-450 Dana 60 knuckle with an all-aluminum version from Currie Enterprises (currieenterprises.com).
Factory Frame
Most factory Jeep frames are constructed from 1⁄8-inch channel steel. If left open cracks can form, so most builders tend to go straight to a thick 3⁄16-inch custom-built or aftermarket frame. For some cost and weight savings at the expense of a lot of work, you can plate in your stock frame with 1⁄8-inch steel to really bump the strength and survivability. Adding dimple-died holes to the plate will lighten it even more.


text:
Bonnet Shores Beach Club in Narragansett is the site of the VNA of Care New England Foundation's 2nd Annual "An Evening at the Shore" Wednesday, July 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. The public is invited to attend and support VNA of Care New England's Community Outreach Programs. Each year, thousands of adults across Rhode Island benefit from these programs that include health screenings, influenza and pneumonia clinics, bereavement support groups and community education sessions.
Dimeo Construction, Taco/The White Family Foundation, Greenwood Credit Union, Claflin Medical Equipment, Centreville Bank, Alex & Ani, and the VNA of Care New England Foundation are sponsoring this special evening of food, fun and entertainment. Bonnet Shores Beach Club Chef David Field will prepare a small-plated buffet. Tony Cerbo, Rhode Island's own version of Michael Bublé, will entertain guests with his rendition of songs from Bublé, Elvis Presley, Billy Joel and the legendary "Rat Pack."
Bonnet Shores Beach Club is located at 175 Bonnet Point Rd, Narragansett. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Tickets are $50 per person and reservations are required. For more information or to purchase a ticket, contact the Philanthropy Office at 737-6050 ext. 1214 or email email@example.com.