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Here are the winners of the 84th annual Academy Awards.
Here are the winners of the 84th annual Academy Awards.
Best Picture: "The Artist"
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"
Best Actress: Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady"
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, "The Help"
Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"
Best Animated Short: "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore"
Best Short Documentary: "Saving Face"
Best Live Action Short: "The Shore"
Best Original Screenplay: "Midnight In Paris"
Best Adapted Screenplay: "The Descendants"
Best Original Song: Bret McKenzie, "Man Or Muppet," "The Muppets"
Best Original Score: "The Artist"
Best Visual Effects: "Hugo"
Best Animated Feature: "Rango"
Best Documentary Feature: "Undefeated"
Best Sound Mixing: "Hugo"
Best Sound Editing: "Hugo"
Best Film Editing: "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"
Best Makeup: "The Iron Lady"
Best Costume Design: "The Artist"
Best Art Direction: "Hugo"
Best Cinematography: "Hugo"


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Rtube 1.3
Rtube is a application/webbrowser designed and specialised in quick access to online video-sites.
With Rtube you can:
* Search video sites and scroll trough thumbnails without having to click "next page" * Watch the movies immediately in fullscreen modus or resize the window to fit the video. * Download online video site movies! * A few video websites we support: o YouTube.com (in HD) o LiveLeak.com o video.Google.com o Metacafe.com o Break.com o DailyMotion.com o vids.MySpace.com o Guba.com o Veoh.com o Google Web (Video+games) o Sporza.be - Videozone o DeRedactie.be o RvrtRip (Save as mp3 and listen to the belgium public radio station) (Known as Rsolution.be - Firefox plugin) o NRJ.fr LIVE (no recording) o ... more support is in development.

subset: commoncrawl


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U.S. Senator Ashley Judd? Actress/activist being touted
- U.S. Senator Ashley Judd?
- Actress/activist being touted for office in Kentucky
- She's busy celebrating Obama win
U.S. Sen. Ashley Judd? Some Democrats are wondering.
In all the pundit chatter leading up to and in the aftermath of Tuesday's re-election of President Obama, the most intriguing talk was about actress and Obama activist Judd as a potential U.S. Senate candidate in her former home, Kentucky, or even her current home of Tennessee.
Judd, who campaigned vigorously for Obama, has hinted before she might run for public office but never said anything about the U.S. Senate. But that hasn't stopped wishful Dems from dreaming.
On MSNBC Wednesday evening, NBC's political honcho Chuck Todd reported "serious speculation" about Judd being recruited to run in Kentucky against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who's up for re-election in 2014 and might be in trouble with his own party thanks to the GOP's sorry showing Tuesday, especially the failure to re-take the Senate.
Meanwhile, the Louisville Courier-Journal interviewed U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., who said a Judd-McConnell match-up would be a "premier race" and the money would "pour in" for her.
Even before the election, Huffington Post political analyst Howard Fineman said on MSNBC that Democrats in Kentucky would love to draft the 44-year-old TV/movie star, the sister and daughter to best-selling country stars Wynonna Judd and Naomi Judd.
"They want her. I know they want her," Fineman said. "The money people in Kentucky want Ashley Judd."
Judd grew up in Kentucky and went to college there but lives in Tennessee with her husband, race car driver and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti. She attended the Democratic National Convention this summer as a delegate from the Volunteer State.
Judd told The Tennessean in August that Democrats had not approached her about running against Tennessee's U.S. Sen. Bob Corker in Tuesday's election and she wouldn't have said yes even if they had.
"The way I'm doing my service right now is the best use of me," she said.


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In the Southern section Aldershot beat Oxford 2-0, Charlton beat Dagenham 1-0, Swindon won 3-0 at Southampton, and Exeter won 3-1 at Yeovil. Brentford won 1-0 at Stevenage, Torquay beat Bournemouth 3-0 on penalties, and Southend beat Gillingham on penalties - both after goalless draws.
In the Northern section Hartlepool beat Northampton 4-0, Shrewsbury won 1-0 at Oldham, Macclesfield beat Morecambe 1-0, Port Vale beat Rochdale 2-1, and Rotherham beat Lincoln 1-0. Accrington beat Tranmere 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, and Chesterfield won 2-1 at Walsall.
Two more matches take place on Wednesday, with Brighton taking on Leyton Orient in the Southern section and Sheff Weds facing Notts County in the Northern.
Of the ex-Bulls on show, Matt Done scored Rochdale's goal after starting his first game for the club.


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DOT dings Southwest $200,000 for sale ad violations
The Department of Transportation has fined Southwest Airlines $200,000 for violating the agency's fare advertising rules. The agency says Southwest did not extend advertised fares to enough seats during two recent sales.
"Consumers should be able to trust that the price they see advertised is the price they'll pay for a seat," Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx says in a statement. "DOT will continue to take enforcement action against carriers and ticket agents when our price advertising rules are violated."
The DOT says one Southwest violation came during a Valentine's Day "Luv a Fare Sale" promotion in which the carrier advertised one-way, nonstop fares "for $100 or less." However, the DOT asserts that Southwest "failed to include a reasonable number of seats available in a significant number of city-pair markets in the fare sale."
The DOT says fares offered in sale were offered only on 1%-2% of the available seats on some routes, according to the Los Angeles Times.
For Southwest's part, The Dallas Morning News says the airline, in its formal response to the DOT, notes its Feb. 14 sale fares were available in about 80% of the markets it served at the time and that the sale fares sold out in fewer than 10% of the available city pairings.
The DOT also cited a Jan. 30 incident in which the DOT says no seats were available for an advertised fare of $66 each way. The advertised price for flights between Dallas Love Field and Branson, Mo., was made through Southwest's DING! app for special fares.
"These were temporary and unintentional circumstances that were aggravated by a technical glitch in our inventory and sales systems," Southwest spokesman Brad Hawkins is quoted as saying by the News-Leader of Springfield, Mo. "We've worked with the DOT to address their concerns and have corrected the issues internally to prevent this from happening again."
"By advertising fares for which a reasonable number of seats were not available and advertising fares that were not available at all, Southwest violated the full fare advertising rule and engaged in prohibited unfair and deceptive practices," the DOT says in its statement.
The Southwest fine comes as the DOT has become increasingly aggressive in enforcing its consumer protection rules.
Among other recent DOT fines:
- A $375,000 fine against Delta in June for bumping violations.
- A $130,000 fine against United for a tarmac delay violation.
- A $200,000 fine against American affiliate American Eagle for tarmac delay violations.
As for the latest fine against Southwest, the Chicago Tribune says it "is fairly significant compared with similar violations of price advertising. Chicago-based Orbitz was fined $60,000 in 2011 under the same rule."


text: These beautiful, 100% cotton t-shirts feature full-color photos of native New Jersey species taken by New Jersey wildlife rehabilitators and volunteers. This t-shirt is one of six t-shirts belonging to the "Where the wild things still are… New Jersey" series. The flying squirrel t-shirt is printed on burgundy and is available in the sizes listed below.


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Stonedance is a castle in the Crownlands, the region controlled directly by the Iron Throne in King's Landing. The castle is located south of Sharp Point, on the peninsula south of Blackwater Bay.[1]
In the books
In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels Stonedance is the seat of House Massey, which gives the peninsula its name of Massey's Hook.
See also
|Regional Capital:
King's Landing (Red Keep · Great Sept of Baelor · Guildhall of the Alchemists · Flea Bottom · Dragonpit · Mud Gate · King's Gate · Littlefinger's brothel)
Antlers · Rosby · Castle Stokeworth · Duskendale · The Whispers · Claw Isle · Dragonstone · Driftmark · Sharp Point · Stonedance · Rook's Rest · Sow's Horn
|Geographic Features:
Blackwater Rush · Blackwater Bay · Crackclaw Point · Claw Isle · Dragonstone · Driftmark · Spears of the Merling King · The Kingswood · Bay of Crabs


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Tamil Nadu Poompuhar is a part of the Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd and it aims to uplift and showcase the talents of Indian craftsmen.
What do Poompuhar offer?
Their collections include a lot of designs and statues made from a variety of materials like Bronze, Brass, Copper, White Metal, Black Metal, Wood Carvings, Stone Carvings, Cloth, Leather, Jute and Clay.
They also offer paintings, Icons, Kondapalli toys, Meenakari, Kalamkari Purse, Garlands, Thanjavur Art Plate as well.
But apart from commonly known materials they also have products using coconut shells, papier mache, oxidized metal and more.
How can you get these?
You have to sign up to their website and from then on you will be able to view and choose your choice of gifts from our various products in stock.
After selecting any product you will simply have to fill in the personal details and make the necessary payments for shipment to be made at your desired location.
Why should you choose this site?
- Great selection: They offer curated and hard-to-find products made from the finest materials by the local craftsmen. From this great range, you can search through till you find what you need as they offer something for every preference.
- Price: The price range from the INR 120 to the highest in lakhs for the life size sculptures and you can choose the one which you think fits best in your budget.
- More options: As stated above, they offer a wide range of materials to choose from. You can simply click on the type of product and in just a moment you will have a good many options to choose from.
- Newsletter: You can sign up for their newsletter to keep yourself notified on new arrivals.
- Easy payment procedure: There are three simple steps for procuring the item you want- Select, Pay and Ship. There is no hassle or hidden taxes. As an added benefit you can pay from the acceptable currencies listed and not just with Indian currency.
- Search bar: Not only will you get pictures and descriptions, complete with the price tag of new arrivals once you log in to your account but also there will be the option of searching on your own for items that you specifically want. This can be done through the Search Bar positioned at the top of the website.
- Privacy: All your private information will be kept safe and secure due to the technology used in our website.
- Questions: Poompuhar believes in customer service and to make the process easier for you, by offering an Inquiry section. Here you will be able to ask any question regarding the product and other issues like shipment and payment. There is also a Feedback section where they would like to hear your reviews as well as complaints so that they can grow better.
While many websites just talk of delivering quality, Poompuhar actually does so through the materials in their stock. Their aim is not just to promote the Indian art but also to provide customer satisfaction.


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Brian Leatart
To create a basket-weave design, follow the instructions at the bottom of the recipe.
- Yield
- Serves 10
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 12-ounce baskets strawberries
- 1/3 cup strawberry preserves
- Whipped Crème Fraîche
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper. Sift first 4 ingredients into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and 1 cup sugar in large bowl until well blended. Beat in sour cream, orange juice, orange peel and vanilla. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add dry ingredients and beat until well blended. Divide batter between prepared pans; smooth tops.
- Bake cakes until light golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 28 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on rack 30 minutes. Turn cakes out onto racks and cool completely.
- Meanwhile, hull and slice 1 basket strawberries. Place in medium bowl. Add preserves and 2 tablespoons sugar; toss to blend. Let stand at room temperature until juices form, about 2 hours.
- Place 1 cake layer, flat side up, on platter. Top with sliced berry mixture in even layer. Spread 1 3/4 cups Whipped Crème Fraîche over berry mixture. Top with second cake layer, flat side down, pressing slightly. To make basket weave, spread 1 1/4 cups Whipped Crème Fraîche over top and sides of cake; then follow directions in the box at right. Or to frost simply, spread all of Whipped Crème Fraîche over top and sides of cake. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate.) Mound remaining whole berries in center of cake.
- How to Pipe a Basket Weave
- 1. Using a ruler to measure and a skewer to mark, draw vertical lines at 3/4-inch intervals on sides of frosted cake. Fit a pastry bag with a plain round tip; fill with 1 cup frosting. Pipe a vertical cord of frosting from top to bottom of cake over one drawn line.
- 2. Using another pastry bag fitted with a basket-weave tip and filled with 2 cups frosting, pipe a short horizontal ribbon across cord, extending ribbon from the drawn line to the left of the cord to the drawn line on the right. Repeat, piping horizontal ribbons down the length of the cord, leaving a space between ribbons that is the same width as the ribbons.
- 3. Pipe another vertical cord over the next drawn line. The cord should touch the end of the adjacent ribbons.
- 4. Pipe short horizontal ribbons over second cord to fill the spaces between ribbons on the first cord. (Start each ribbon at the edge of—but don't cover—the first vertical cord. Pipe ribbon over second cord, ending at next drawn vertical line.) Repeat, alternating between piping ribbons and cords to finish basket weave.
- 5. Fit another pastry bag with star tip; fill with 1 cup frosting. Pipe frosting around top edge of cake.


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Sean Bean is absolutely the best (I love himmmm). Spoiler: Click to Show/HideToo bad he, you know.. D:
Spoiler: Click to Show/HideTo be fair, is there anyone in Game of Thrones you don't end up saying that about?
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On 18 June 2020 the Electoral and Other Legislation (Accountability, Integrity and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2020 was passed by the Queensland Legislative Assembly, with changes coming into effect on 12 October. Read more about the rolling reform agenda for the local government sector.
Councillor responsibilities
Elected Councillors in Queensland have roles and responsibilities under the Local Government Act 2009. An overview of best practice information is available to assist councillors and council staff to develop this knowledge, skills and understanding to meet responsibilities and deliver good governance.
Employee support for councillors
To ensure accountability and transparency, new legislation which will commence in October 2020 introduces requirements for councils that wish to employ councillor advisors and councillor administrative support staff to help councillors complete their duties.
Councillors' accountability for ethical and legal behaviour
Councillors must always act with integrity and conduct themselves in an appropriate, professional and ethical way that meets the obligations set out in the Local Government Act 2009 and the City of Brisbane Act 2010 as well as their supporting regulations.
Registers of interest forms
Councillors, chief executive officers, and senior executive employees of councils are required to disclose their financial and non-financial interests and those of persons closely related to them, using these forms. The registers of interest forms can be accessed under Statutory forms.
Statutory forms and checklists
To meet statutory requirements, Local Governments need to complete statutory forms in accordance with the Local Government Act 2009 and the City of Brisbane Act 2010 as well as associated regulations.
Checklists have been developed to assist Local Governments comply with a range of statutory requirements.
Fraud management in local government
Under the Local Government Regulation 2012 and the City of Brisbane Regulation 2012, local governments are required to report fraud losses, to keep written records of alleged and proven fraud-related losses to both the Auditor-General and the Minister for Local Government.
An overview of statutory requirements has been provided in order to assist local governments to effectively manage fraud management for its council.
Legal assistance and associated expenses for councillors and employees of local governments
As a result of the increasing risk of potential legal action being taken or threatened against individual council members or employees, local governments are encouraged to develop a policy covering legal assistance and associated eligible expenses for a councillor within its councillor expenses reimbursement policy. In addition, it is also recommended that local governments adopt a similar policy for council employees to cover circumstances where legal assistance is to be provided by the council.
See what local governments should take into consideration when developing an appropriate policy covering legal assistance and associated eligible expenses.


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Gear up now for the big summer movie...
It's less than a month until Iron Man 2 hits the big screen, but you can go ahead and stock up on all your Iron Man 2 figures early at PastGenerationToys.com! Find all the great new armors like the Mark VI, Mark V Suitcase Armor, and War Machine in our huge Iron Man 2 section.
We've also got new preorders on the site for Star Wars and Marvel Universe figures, so guarantee that you don't miss these great figures by preordering today!
PastGenerationToys.com continues to carry the newest waves and figures from your favorite toy lines. Figures & collectibles available to order now include:
* Star Wars
* GI Joe
* DC Universe
* Disney/Pixar CARS
* Halo
* Transformers
* Power Rangers
* Masters of the Universe
Stay updated with PastGenerationToys.com via the PGT Blog or by following them on Twitter.Do you like to shop on your iPhone or mobile device? Check out their mobile site - HERE.
Be sure to check out all these great products and more at PastGenerationToys.com!


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Vaccination has achieved huge success in controlling many devastating infectious diseases. However, there are still many such diseases, or 'pathogens', against which we cannot generate life-long protective immunity. On the eve of Croatia's accession to the EU, Professor Stipan Jonjic's ERC-funded research into new vaccines to offer better protection– is already underway. Prof Jonjic is the first Croatian ERC grantee to base his project in Croatia.
As well as our innate immune system, our bodies have the ability to acquire immunity to specific pathogens – and this is what vaccines are designed to achieve. Prof. Jonjic and his research team are investigating the potential of a weakened, or 'attenuated', version of cytomegalovirus (CMV), as a new delivery mechanism, or 'vector' for vaccines.
Prof. Jonjic's STADVINN project, launched after winning an ERC Advanced Grant in 2012, aims to engineer the virus so that it can still replicate in its host and induce a strong immune response against specific infections – one that the immune system will remember – in spite of being weakened enough to render it harmless, or 'non-pathogenic'.
"The idea is based on my long-lasting interest in immune response to viral pathogens – namely CMV – and particularly in the mechanisms used by such 'immuno-subversive' viruses to avoid immune control and persist in their host despite a fully primed immune response," says Prof. Jonjic, who is based in the School of Medicine, Rijeka University in Croatia.
Viruses for vaccines
The project's approach centres around a receptor called NKG2D expressed by so called 'natural killer' (NK) cells – part of the body's innate immune system – and also by CD8+ T-cells, another type of white blood cell that is part of acquired immune response. These T-cells can memorise the contact with foreign 'antigens' from an infection so that any subsequent reinfection with the same pathogen is quickly brought under control.
"Induction of specific CD8+ T-cells has been widely recognised as a possible method of choice for vaccine development, particularly for those pathogens for which antibody-based vaccines are insufficiently protective. Attenuated herpes viruses, which include CMVs, are therefore attractive candidates for use as vaccine vectors against a number of clinically relevant infections," Prof. Jonjic explains.
"We have characterised several CMV genes involved in the subversion of the NKG2D-dependent immune response, indicating the importance of this receptor in immune control," he says. "So the main idea behind this project stems from our data suggesting that a CMV vector expressing NKG2D, while simultaneously lacking its viral inhibitors, has tremendous potential for boosting the efficiency of CD8+ T-cell response."
One of the dangers of using live attenuated viruses as vectors is that the immune system controls them so effectively that the vaccines cannot induce sufficient immunity against future infections. "However, the vaccine vector developed by my group, despite being efficiently controlled, still manages to trigger very efficient immune response and confer protection against infections from the non-attenuated viruses found in nature," continues Prof. Jonjic.
"We now intend to test this vaccine-vector approach against various microbial and tumour antigens," he says, "and we are already working on the transfer of data obtained from the mouse CMV system to a vector based on human CMV."
Getting a 'booster shot'
Prof. Jonjic hopes that this research, and that of other researchers in Croatia, will be boosted by their country joining the EU this year. "I am very optimistic and am looking forward to it," he says. "Communicating freely and passing borders are vital parts of science. Personal links are very important for such international collaboration. I have received a lot of help in the past from my German colleagues when I started my career there, and currently I am co-operating with scientists in neighbouring countries including Serbia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina."
"Croatian science has great potential and the country has already been successful in winning EU research funding, but you cannot develop science without mobility. As Europe is made of diverse yet shared identities – each country is unique but also European – joining the EU will help students and young researchers to travel and exchange ideas," he concludes.


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Some activities have reopened and some locations are ready to welcome you. Please get in touch! Our experts are on hand to advise you free of charge online, by phone or by chat. Please note that all of the photos and videos on this site were taken before the pandemic. The reopening schedule for tourist activities is available at Quebec.ca/coronavirus.
The St. Lawrence
Québec's southern latitudes are bisected by one of the world's longest rivers:
the St. Lawrence, gateway to the Great Lakes and the North American heartland since time immemorial.
From its 16th-century charting by Jacques Cartier to the present day, the mighty river has been a veritable lifeline for the Québecers who made their homes on its shores.
Open and welcoming, ever-present but forever on
the move—just like Québec—the St. Lawrence is your invitation to fascinating discoveries.
Riverside rambles
The roadways running along both shores of the St. Lawrence showcase a coastline that's by turns rural, mountainous and breathtakingly wild, from Montréal right up to the very tip of the Gaspé peninsula or the edges of Labrador. Whether you travel by car, motorcycle or even bike, the road hugs the waterfront first on one side, then the other, for hundreds of miles. An unforgettable odyssey between sea and sky!
Meandering routes along the water
The river is dotted with ancestral villages whose origins often date back to New France. Five scenic routes let you explore the river for much of its impressive length: the King's Road (Chemin du Roy), the New France Route (Route de la Nouvelle-France), the St. Lawrence Route (Route du Fleuve), the Whale Route (Route des Baleines) and the Navigator's Route (Route des Navigateurs). Fishing ports, quiet hamlets, industrial towns, choice vacation spots: each area along the way offers a wealth of cultural or natural heritage.
The train léger de Charlevoix travels the waterfront from Québec City to Baie-Saint-Paul and La Malbaie.
A steady stream of parks
The banks of the St. Lawrence also offer an array of splendid national parks, including Le Bic, Forillon, Miguasha and the Mingan Archipelago. A section of the Fjord du Saguenay—a colossal gash in the rock face of this St. Lawrence tributary—is encompassed by a national park prized by outdoor enthusiasts. Nearby, the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park is a 1,100-km2 conservation zone created to protect the marine life that flourishes at the confluence of these two great rivers. Closer to Québec City, the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Reserve welcomes snow geese by the thousand on their migratory journeys each spring and fall.
The banks of the St. Lawrence are punctuated with lighthouses, including the impressive Pointe-des-Monts on the north shore and Pointe-au-Père on the south. Take time out from your travels to stop in at one of the many museums showcasing maritime heritage, like the Site historique maritime de la Pointe-au-Père or the maritime museums of Charlevoix and Phare de Matane.
At the time of their construction, the awe-inspiring Pont de Québec (1917) and Pont Victoria (1859) bridges in Québec City and Montréal respectively were considered masterpieces of engineering.
Borne by the waves
If cruise ships continue to sail up the St. Lawrence, it's partly because Québec seen from the river is a spectacle of unsurpassed power and magnificence! Climb on board yourself and fall in love with the endless pageant of vistas.
Welcome aboard
The St. Lawrence River, estuary and gulf are really three worlds in one, leaving you spoiled for choice! If you're driving through the province, take a break from the highway on board one of the ferries linking both shores of the St. Lawrence, or join a guided tour of some of its many isles. Montréal and Québec City also offer up port tours, dinner cruises and romantic evening excursions on the water, with great views of the city—and sometimes of the fireworks.
The St. Lawrence is home to over a dozen species of whale, from the beluga to the largest rorquals on the planet. Why not get a closer look from an inflatable raft or the comfort of a cruise ship? These great sea mammals, protected by the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park, can generally be relied on to make an appearance, delighting onlookers with their antics, which can be quite acrobatic!
The open sea air
The St. Lawrence is also ideal for pleasure boating, sailing or kayaking. All along the river, you'll find tour operators who specialize in guided sea kayaking excursions. If you've got experience and a taste for adventure, explore the "blue routes" of the Sentier maritime du Saint-Laurent (St. Lawrence water trail): a few hours or a few days spent breaking the waves will make you feel truly alive! Other coastline companies offer scuba-diving rentals and excursions.
In winter, the river lends itself to all sorts of original diversions. Fancy a little ice fishing on Lac Saint-Pierre or the Fjord du Saguenay? How about taking in an ice canoe race at the Québec Winter Carnival? You'll see that good times and cold weather aren't mutually exclusive—in fact, quite the opposite!
The ferry trip between Québec City and Lévis takes only 15 minutes, while the one between Matane (Gaspésie) and Godbout (Duplessis) takes a full two hours and 10 minutes to cover the 55-km span!
Our islands
From Montréal to Anticosti and the Îles de la Madeleine, innumerable islands and archipelagos, lushly verdant or rocky outposts, lie scattered along the St. Lawrence. Discover their fauna, flora and the customs of the farmers, sailors or fishermen who once called them home—and in some cases still do.
A string of discoveries
Right next to Montréal, Parc national des Îles-de-Boucherville offsets urban congestion with a little fresh-air fun: cycling, kayaking or, in winter, cross-country skiing. Midway between Montréal and Trois-Rivières, you'll find a major bird sanctuary on the Lac Saint-Pierre archipelago, where more than a hundred islands teeming with life are separated by narrow channels and begging to be explored by boat.
Historic Île d'Orléans, visible from the ramparts of Vieux-Québec, is cherished by poets and artists and renowned for its local products. Continuing east along the river, Grosse Île takes visitors back into the 19th century, when the Irish immigrants fleeing the ravages of famine were quarantined here. Neighbouring Île aux Grues is a destination of choice for summer visitors seeking a quiet spot to recharge. Further downstream, Île aux Coudres with its picturesque windmills sits at the foot of the rugged Charlevoix massifs. Eastwards still, the lovely isles scattered across from Rivière-du-Loup—including the charmingly named Îles du Pot à l'Eau-de-Vie ("brandy pot islands")—are a treat for nature lovers.
En-gulfed with delights
The astounding monoliths of the Mingan Archipelago (Duplessis) are a dazzling display of nature's artistry. Nearby Anticosti, almost the size of Corsica, has fewer than 300 residents but over 100,000 white-tailed deer! The island's national park preserves some of the loveliest (and least-known) natural settings on the river. Île Bonaventure at the extreme tip of the Gaspé peninsula is home to the largest colony of northern gannets in North America. Together with the celebrated Rocher Percé, the island is part of a national park renowned among vacationers the world over. Right in the middle of the Gulf, the Îles-de-la-Madeleine unfurl their gracious lagoons fringed with fine sand beaches and their famous red sandstone cliffs. Fishing and tourism coexist here in perfect harmony. As winter draws to a close, you can witness the touching spectacle of the seals giving birth on the ice floes.
The St. Lawrence has literally hundreds of isles and islands, including the 200 that dot the river between Lac Saint-Pierre and Sept-Îles (Duplessis). The Hochelaga archipelago accounts for no less than 325, the largest of which is the island of Montréal.
Québec by the Sea
Québec by the Sea is made up of five tourist regions: Manicouagan and Duplessis on the north shore, Bas-Saint-Laurent on the south, Gaspésie and the Îles-de-la-Madeleine to the east. Each offers a different angle on this world of shifting skies that's bathed by the mighty river, caressed by the sea breeze and home to countless seabirds, seals and whales. Maritime Québec also boasts a number of coastal parks that are among the most beautiful in the province.
Each year, Exploramer draws up a list of fish to be promoted on the menu, thereby decreasing overfishing of certain species. Its "Smarter seafood" program certifies restaurants and fish stores that encourage the sound management of marine resources in the St. Lawrence.


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Those of you that follow the 1A Auto Blog may remember the 2006 Subaru Legacy GT project car that I bought a few months ago. If not, you may want to start off by reading Part 1 and Part 2 of the project before jumping head first into today's post. Then again, maybe you just want to dig right into the meat and potatoes. For that, I can't blame you. In fact, that makes you a straight shooter, and that's what I've always liked about you.
Okay. Here goes…
The new-ish VF40 turbo on the 2006 Legacy GT destroyed itself in hellacious fashion recently. Yes. It was quite an experience that I won't soon forget. Raining, muddy, on a steep hill, on a high speed road, and then shrouded in disappointment from my "towing service" who shall remain nameless. If I had only known a month ago what I know now, this horrible event would have definitely been avoided. So now, I want to inform turbocharged Subaru owners far and wide of this absolutely simple maintenance that can make a destroyed turbo totally preventable. For me, I can only blame myself for not researching this car & EJ25 engine more, because this info is already out there if you just search for it. Sadly, I just didn't realize that I needed to. Research, research, research when you buy a car that you are unfamiliar with. Hit the car forums. Ask the people that drive them. Be your own automotive advocate. It WILL save you cash and stress.
Now let's get to the good stuff! Once the red beauty was towed home and placed in the dry, loving surroundings of the garage, I found that the shaft inside the VF40 turbo had been completely starved of oil, and it broke in half at the center bearing. This left the turbine wheel dancing around inside the turbine housing, which is never optimal for peak performance. With the engine running, the sound could have been mistaken for somebody feeding steel chains into a wood chipper. I immediately asked myself "how the heck did this happen?!" The car had brand new oil in it, only about 2000 miles on the oil that I got it with a couple of months ago, and I knew that the previous owner took amazing care of this car because she loved it. I hit the internet in search for the answer.
Much to my surprise, there was 350+ page thread on Legacygt.com that discussed this exact problem in detail, because hundreds of other Subaru owners have had the same exact problem as me. The cause – the banjo bolt (also known as a "union" bolt) that is part of the oil feed line to the turbo. Inside this banjo bolt is a tiny little (stupid) filter. Over time, this tiny little filter does its job and filters contaminates from going into the turbo. Great, right? No. Not so much. Because most people rarely, if ever, replace them. Left untouched for too long, the filter becomes clogged, and your turbo is starved of oil, which quickly leads it to an early death.
Needless to say, I am no longer a fan of this bolt or the filter that lives inside it, and I decided that there was no way that I was replacing it with the same style system. There just had to be something better out there, like maybe an oil feed line with a washable filter, and more oil volume? ALAS! The internet saved the day again! A company called "Infamous Performance" in California created an oil feed kit that appears to be far superior to the factory system. The kit that they sell completely eliminates the factory oil feed, and grabs engine oil from a "better" location. It also has a terrific looking, larger oil filter than can be cleaned out easily at your leisure. Since I also needed a new turbo, I went with a hybrid 16G VF40 from BNRSupercars. Both parts got to me fast, and worked perfectly without any drama whatsoever. The car now is now fixed, the birds are singing, and a beautiful red 2006 Subaru Legacy GT is back on the streets again.
Now, for those of you with turbocharged Subarus, don't freak out yet. The first step is to find out if your car even had this banjo (union) bolt with the filter inside it (Not all Subarus do. In fact, the majority don't.). For the cars that do have it though, it is located on the back of the passenger side cylinder head, and it holds down the turbo oil feed line. A super helpful Subaru owner known as "niemkij" on iwsti.com did a fantastic write-up of how to replace one of these bolts yourself. Currently, a new "union" bolt is around $17 new from a Subaru dealer, and probably take between 15 minutes and an hour to replace, depending on your level of expertise.
For all intents and purposes, replacing this banjo bolt with a new one from the dealer is all you really need to do. I go overboard on everything that I do, so I went with the whole new feed line & fancier turbo instead of the OEM stuff. The moral is, this tiny little turbo oil feed filter needs to be replaced on a regular basis. If you don't replace it, or don't know when the last time yours was replaced, you may be risking the life of your turbo. Check it out, and report back your findings. I want to hear about your Subaru.


text:
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text:
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, April 8, 2013, 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Note to journalists: Please report that this research was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Newswise — NEW ORLEANS, April 8, 2013 — The Gulf of Mexico may have a much greater natural ability to self-clean oil spills than previously believed, an expert in bioremediation said here today at the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society.
Terry C. Hazen, Ph.D., said that conclusion has emerged from research following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, which by some estimates spilled 4.9 million barrels (210 million gallons) of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. His research team used a powerful new approach for identifying microbes in the environment to discover previously unknown bacteria, naturally present in the Gulf water, that consume and break down crude oil.
"The Deepwater Horizon oil provided a new source of nutrients in the deepest waters," explained Hazen, who is with the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. "With more food present in the water, there was a population explosion among those bacteria already adapted to using oil as a food source. It was surprising how fast they consumed the oil. In some locations, it took only one day for them to reduce a gallon of oil to a half gallon. In others, the half-life for a given quantity of spilled oil was 6 days. This data suggests that a great potential for intrinsic bioremediation of oil plumes exists in the deep sea and other environs in the Gulf of Mexico."
Hazen spoke at a symposium, "Environmental Fate of Petroleum Oils and Dispersants in the Marine Environment," that included other reports relating to the Deepwater Horizon spill. They were among 12,000 reports being presented at the ACS meeting, which continues through Thursday. Abstracts of the oil spill symposium appear at the end of this press release.
Oil-eating bacteria are natural inhabitants of the Gulf because of the constant supply of food. Scientists know that there are more than 600 different areas where oil oozes from rocks underlying the Gulf of Mexico. These oil seeps, much like underwater springs, release 560,000-1.4 million barrels of oil annually, according to the National Research Council.
Hazen's team used a powerful new approach for identifying previously recognized kinds of oil-eating bacteria that contributed to the natural clean-up of the Deepwater Horizon spill. In the past, scientists identified microbes by putting samples of water into laboratory culture dishes, waiting for microbes to grow and then using a microscope to identify the microbes. The new approach, called "ecogenomics," uses genetic and other analyses of the DNA, proteins and other footprints of bacteria to provide a more detailed picture of microbial life in the water.
"The bottom line from this research may be that the Gulf of Mexico is more resilient and better able to recover from oil spills than anyone thought," Hazen said. "It shows that we may not need the kinds of heroic measures proposed after the Deepwater Horizon spill, like adding nutrients to speed up the growth of bacteria that breakdown oil, or using genetically engineered bacteria. The Gulf has a broad base of natural bacteria, and they respond to the presence of oil by multiplying quite rapidly."
The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 163,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Below are abstracts of presentations in the symposium:
Deepwater Horizon oil spill: A systems biology approach to an ecological disaster
The explosion on April 20, 2010 at Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in oil and gas rising to the surface and the oil coming ashore in many parts of the Gulf, and in the dispersment of an oil plume 4,000 feet below the surface of the water. Despite spanning more than 600 feet in the water column and extending more than 10 miles from the wellhead, the dispersed oil plume was gone within weeks after the wellhead was capped – degraded and diluted to undetectable levels. Furthermore, this degradation took place without significant oxygen depletion. Ecogenomics enabled discovery of new and unclassified species of oil-eating bacteria that apparently lives in the deep Gulf where oil seeps are common. The results provide information about the key players and processes involved in degradation of oil, with and without COREXIT, in different impacted environments in The Gulf of Mexico.
Corexit 9500® substantially increases the biodegradation of otherwise undispersed oil
Dispersants are an important tool for responding to major oil spills. They are essentially a bioremediation tool, allowing oil to disperse into tiny droplets (<70um) that diffuse apart from each other so that they cannot (re-)agglomerate to (re-)form a floating slick. The energy for the dispersion usually comes from surface waves, but can also come from turbulence if oil is released at depth. The tiny droplets are so small that they become entrained in the water column, and the dramatically increased surface area allows microbial access to much more of the oil. Furthermore, diffusion and dilution lead to oil concentrations where natural background levels of biologically available oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus are sufficient for microbial growth. Dispersants are typically only used on substantial spills in relatively deep water (usually >30m), which are impossible to replicate in the laboratory. Laboratory experiments aimed at following the biodegradation of dispersed oil usually show minimal stimulation of the rate of biodegradation, but this can be attributed to the fact that small quantities of oil disperse quite well even in the absence of chemical dispersant. We show here that when the experiments are conducted so that the comparison is between a slick and a dispersed oil, the rate of biodegradation is dramatically stimulated by effective application of the dispersant Corexit 9500.
Biodegradation of crude oil in the Louisiana salt marshes following the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Following the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, biodegradation of crude oil in the ecologically sensitive salt marshes was studied. Soil samples were collected from heavily-oiled and lightly-oiled shores of the tidal marshes dominated by Spartina alterniflora to monitor the natural recovery of the oiled salt marshes. Chemical analysis revealed concentration of n-alkanes on the first sampling ranging from 843 to 6810 and 49 to 256 mg kg-1 dry wt in the sites 3m and 15m from the shores, respectively while in the lightly-oiled sites they ranged from 8 to 49 and 15 to 54 mg kg-1 dry wt, in the sites 3m and 15m from the shores, respectively. The concentration for total PAHs in the oiled sites ranged from 6.8 to 99.4 and 0.7 to 2.6 mg kg-1 dry wt in the sites 3m and 15m from the shores, respectively while in the lightly-oiled sites they ranged from 0.4 to 1.4 and 0.5 to 1.1 mg kg-1 dry wt, in the sites 3m and 15m from the shores, respectively. The PAHs data from the second sampling regime indicated a possible inflow of oil or an increase in bioavailable PAHs upon weathering of the oil. In addition, the rates of dissipation PAHs seemed higher as concentration increased, suggesting a potential increase in the population of site specific oil-degrading micro-organisms associated with higher content of total organic carbon. The degradation followed first order reaction kinetics and half-lives were 72 and 100 days for n-alkanes and PAHs, respectively. Data from n-alkanes and PAHs degradation indicates almost complete recovery with 363 of the study. With the evident onset of grass recovery even in the worst hit sites, we posit that complete intrinsic recovery for the Louisiana salt marshes will be possible in three years.
Effects of oil dispersants on sorption capacity and hysteresis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with Gulf Coast marine sediments
Effects of dispersant Corexit EC9500A on sediment sorption/desorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated with two sediments. Batch sorption kinetic tests showed that the dispersant (10-18 mg/L) enhanced PAH uptake by ~7%. Two scenarios were simulated to test effects of the dispersant on PAH desorption: (a) PAHs were pre-sorbed to sediments without dispersant, and then subjected to desorption in the presence of the dispersant (b) PAHs were pre-sorbed with the dispersant, and then subjected to desorption without dispersant. Desorption kinetic tests indicated that the dispersant (18 mg/L) hindered PAH desorption by 4-5% in both scenarios compared to the control when the dispersant was absent. Sorption isotherm tests revealed that PAH uptake increases with increasing dispersant concentration. While the sorption was reversible in scenario (b), sorption hysteresis was observed under scenario (a). The effects of dispersants should be taken into account in evaluating fate and transport of oil compounds.
Indigenous arctic micro-organisms degrade oil in Arctic seawater
As oil exploration expands in offshore Arctic regions, it is important to assess the potential rate and extent of oil biodegradation by indigenous micro-organisms under environmentally relevant temperatures. A respirometry experiment validated with chemical analysis was conducted to determine the potential for indigenous arctic marine microorganisms to biodegrade Alaskan North Slope (ANS) crude oil in the presence or absence of a dispersant (COREXIT 9500). In February 2010, near shore seawater was collected from the Chukchi Sea (Barrow, Alaska). Incubations were conducted with fresh seawater at an on-site laboratory, at -1° C, with minimal nutrient addition for 10, 28 and 60 days. The addition of COREXIT 9500 enhanced the degradation of both fresh and weathered oil during early stages of the incubations. This research revealed that micro-organisms indigenous to arctic seawater are able to biodegrade oil at very low, environmentally relevant temperatures.
Industry-sponsored subsea dispersant injection research
Subsea dispersant injection was a key response tool initiated during the 2010 Macondo incident. The API believes it played an important role protecting the environment and health and safety of workers attempting to contain the well. Industry plans to incorporate this tool in response strategies for future offshore drilling operations where appropriate. The novelty of the concept did not allow it to be fully evaluated prior to the spill. For this reason, API initiated the subsea dispersant injection research program to conduct studies and controlled experiments on 1) effectiveness of subsea injection; 2) fate and effects of dispersed oil in deepwater; 3) upgrades to numerical modeling to better predict the fate of dispersed oil in deepwater; and 4) monitoring tools to determine the effectiveness of subsea injection. The presentation provides evidence of the effectiveness of dispersants during the Macondo incident and an overview of the API subsea dispersant injection research program.
Selectively wetting surfaces: A new approach to oil spill remediation
Recent advances in surface chemistry have enabled the fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces which selectively pass oil without the concomitant passage of water. Such materials represent a promising new oil spill countermeasure: in situ separation and recovery of spilled oil. Unfortunately, the practicality of these materials under oceanic conditions has not been investigated. Herein, we report the development and characterization of a durable, low cost, hydrophobic mesh, and quantify its performance. The meshes are fabricated by dip-coating steel mesh in a solution of xylene and low-density polyethylene. Bench-scale testing of a prototype has led to the development of a predictive model of two competing metrics: oil percolation flux versus water breakthrough depth. By altering the pore size, roughness, and coating thickness, meshes can be tailored to maximize oil flux for expected water depths. Adept implementation of selectively wetting surfaces can achieve oil spill remediation goals with minimal environmental impact.
Iron oxide nanoparticles stabilized by p-amino benzoic acid terminated carbon black particles for oil spill remediation
Functionalized nanoparticles have recently gained significant attention for their application in environmental remediation due to their ability to adsorb irreversibly at the oil-water interface. We specifically focus on para-amino benzoic acid (PABA) functionalized carbon black (CB) particles due to their tunable interfacial properties and their ability to absorb environmentally toxic polycyclic aromatic compounds. We hypothesize that the carboxyl groups of the PABA attached to CB particles can conjugate with iron salts and can be reduced to synthesize magnetite nanoparticles. We investigate the ability of the composite iron-carbon particles to form oil-in-water emulsions of these particles under varying conditions of pH and ionic strength of the continuous phase. We propose that the magnetic properties imparted by magnetite and tunable surface properties due to PABA functionalized CB particles make these composite particles attractive agents for oil emulsification and ground water remediation.
Enhanced dispersed oil droplet stability using modified natural biopolymer
Dispersants such as COREXIT 9500A are used in oil spill remediation with the objective of reducing the oil-water interfacial tension and breaking the slick into small oil droplets that are entrained in the water column for microbial degradation. However, the dispersants do not provide an effective barrier against coalescence of the droplets. The objective of this research is to enhance the stability of the dispersed oil droplet through the application of environmentally benign biopolymers. We specifically focus on hydrophobically modified polysaccharides where alkyl groups are attached to the polymer backbone. We hypothesize that the hydrophobic side chains preferentially anchor themselves in the oil phase resulting in the formation of a protective polymer layer around the droplet. The enhanced stability of the emulsion can be attributed to increased electrostatic repulsions as well as presence of polymer layer as a barrier to coalescence. Increase in the molecular weight of the polymer results in the biopolymer spanning the drops resulting in a gel-like phase. We propose that sequential application of dispersant followed by the application of the biopolymer can potential minimize the use of the chemical dispersant.
Gulf of Mexico oil spill ketone transformation products revealed by increased acid/analyte concentration positive ion ESI FT-ICR MS
Recent studies have shown extensive oxidative modification to the Macondo wellhead oil upon release into the Northern Gulf of Mexico as a result of various biotic and abiotic processes. Here, we show enhanced detection of ketone transformation products and an up to threefold increase in instrumental sensitivity through optimized positive ion electrospray conditions in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Preliminary comparisons suggest that the results may be unique to the Gulf of Mexico. Also, an as of yet unexplained increased hydrocarbon (HC class) ionization occurs with spray-condition optimization. The high mass accuracy FT-ICR results are confirmed by a similar relative increase in ketone detection by positive ion electrospray time-of-flight analysis of model compounds. The work was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Materials Research through DMR-06-54118 and the State of Florida, NSF grants OCE-1044939 and OCE-1057417, and BP/The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative.
Molecular dynamics simulations of oil hydrocarbons and surfactants at atmospheric air/salt water interfaces
A significant fraction of the oil released during the 2010 DWH accident accumulated at the sea surface. According to recent studies, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as well as some intermediate volatiles (IVOCs) evaporated into the atmosphere and formed aerosols. However, the fate of other organics, such as heavier IVOCs (C17-C18) and semi-volatiles (SVOCs, C19-C31) has not been addressed so far. We hypothesize that these compounds didn't evaporate but remained in the sea surface, and phenomena such as bubble-bursting and white caps carried these compounds, as well as part of the dispersants released to combat the spill, into the atmosphere. We report molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of chain alkanes, e.g., pentadecane (C15) and icosane (C20), at atmospheric air/salt water interfaces. The effects of varying concentrations of these alkanes, as well as varying amounts of a standard surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), on the interfacial properties of these systems is investigated.
Photochemical degradation and bacterial growth response crude oil
Crude oil from Jay, FL was examined to determine the effect of varied light exposure on the degradation and resulting toxicity to bacterial growth. Samples containing 2% oil in sterile seawater were incubated at constant temperature for 15 days with treatments of full sun, PAR only and dark. The resulting water accommodated fraction was removed and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and alkane concentrations determined. Chrysenes peaked at day 6 under full sun. Napthalenes were constant over time and independent of light. A portion of the WAF was incubated with seawater to determine the extent of bacterial growth inhibition determined by 3H-leucine incorporation. WAFs developed in the dark inhibited growth at approximately 40%. The no UVR WAF had the highest level of inhibition to bacterial growth. These results have implications for how photochemical weathering may alter the impact of spilled oil on microbial communities in surface waters.
Photodegradation and salinity effects on crude oil PAH partitioning kinetics
The partitioning kinetics of various PAHs in crude oil was examined in response to a variety of environmental factors such as salinity and light exposure. Crude oil from Jay, FL was added to water and exposed to various treatments. Water and remaining oil fractions were extracted to quantify total PAH (primarily naphthalene, phenanthrene and chrysene) partitioning within the samples. Samples exposed over a 3-day interval showed increasing naphthalene concentration in the water fraction while chrysene showed a decrease. Concentrations of phenanthrene in the residual oil showed a steady decrease over time. The total concentration of naphthalene and phenanthrene extracted from both the oil and water fractions did not significantly change compared to the original unaltered oil. Total chrysene showed a slight loss over time. The effects of longer and varied wavelength light exposure as well as salinity effects on partitioning kinetics will also be discussed.
Organic matter in ocean water as a proxy for indirect photochemical degradation of the dispersants used in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Following the explosion of the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig in the Gulf of Mexico, the company utilized COREXIT 9500 and 9527A at the ocean's surface. Two compounds (bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate surfactant and 1-(2-butoxy-1-methylethoxy)-2-propanol), were chosen to act as surrogates for the COREXIT mixture. To determine the role of indirect photolysis, the hydroxyl radical reaction rates were taken. Hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen are important reactive oxygen species and are produced in ocean waters at varying levels corresponding to the type of organic matter (OM) present. A series of ocean water samples were collected from the shoreline out into the open ocean nearby to Grand Isle, LA. From these samples, the quantum yields for singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radical were determined. These values were correlated with the source of the OM and the highest reactivity was closest to shoreline, proving the most degradation would occur in regions impacted by terrestrial sources.
Effects of oil dispersants and sediment sorption on photodegradation and ozonation of persistent oil compounds in the Gulf Coast ecosystems
We investigated the effects of an oil dispersant (COREXIT® EC9500A) and sediment sorption on photodegradation and ozonation of two oil polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs) under simulated Gulf Coast ground level conditions. Batch sorption/desorption tests showed that increasing dispersant concentration from 0 to 1360 mg/L progressively decreased physicochemical availability of PAHs sorbed on sediments, resulting in prolonged weathering rates of the PAHs. Ozone oxidation kinetic tests showed that the dispersant at 18 mg/L inhibited degradation of the PAHs by up to 21%. Increasing the dispersant concentration to 180 mg/L further decreased the ozone oxidation rates by up to 44%. The presence of the dispersant at 18 and 180 mg/L retarded photodegradation of the PAHs by ~5% and remarkably decreased the evaporation losses of phenanthrene and pyrene, resulting in elevated persistence of the PAHs in the seawater. Effects of salinity, pH, and dissolved organic matter on the weathering rates are also investigated.


text: John Garland Tyson is a 3rd generation artist whose talent features: exotic, aquatic, tropical and other natural environments, along with the life that inhabits those special places. Tyson's work utilizes mixed medium on wrapped canvas. Commissioned paintings are available form commercial spaces as well as private residences. His work as been featured in Laguna Beach first Thursday art walks as well as the Artist's Haven gallery in Fort Lauderdale, FL. One of his paintings recently was in the top 45 in the international art competition hosted by the Artist Haven Gallery. He is an elected member of the Laguna Art Group in Laguna Beach Ca.


text:
Zoko double keeps Cumbrians hoping
A double from Ivorian striker Francois Zoko helped Carlisle keep their play-off hopes alive as the 4-1 scoreline at Brunton Park condemned Exeter to relegation.
Jordan Cook and Liam Noble were also on target for the home side with Liam Sercombe replying for the Grecians, who went down to their ninth successive away defeat.
Exeter's Daniel Nardiello and Nooble both his the woodwork before two goals inside 60 seconds. First Zoko grabbed his 13th of the season for Carlisle, drilling the ball past Exeter goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley after working a neat one-two with Cook on the edge of the area.
Sercombe forced home Billy Jones's cross from the left from close range a minute later, but their lead only lasted six minutes before Cook scored with a clever lob from a difficult angle in the 42nd minute.
Carlisle added to their lead in the 51st minute when Jon-Paul McGovern's cross from the right was shielded by Zoko, who laid the ball back to Noble who drove his shot home from 12 yards.
The action came thick and fast. Two minutes later Exeter won a penalty after Collin had impeded Alan Gow, but Nardiello fired his spot kick against the crossbar before Zoko beat two defenders and slammed a shot past Pidgeley from 18 yards in the 77th minute.
Source: DSG
Source: DSG


text:
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- Description: FlexFix bracket for 2 devices (e.g. sender and receiver), can be aligned ± 15°, including M5 screw
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text:
The improvised indie drama Your Sister's Sister, from filmmaker Lynn Shelton, is a human story of grief and romance, and finding humor in unlikely places. Jack (Mark Duplass) is an emotionally unstable slacker, still reeling from the death of his brother Tom, a year later. When Tom's ex-girlfriend Iris (Emily Blunt) offers up her family cabin on an island in the Pacific Northwest, Jack runs into Iris' sister Hannah (Rosemarie DeWitt), who herself is reeling from the abrupt end of a long-term relationship and looking for solace.
At the film's press day, actor Mark Duplass spoke to Collider for this exclusive interview about how he came up with the idea for the film which he brought to Lynn Shelton, what he was looking to do with this character, improvising with Emily Blunt and Rosemarie DeWitt, the easiest and hardest scenes to improvise, and what he likes about collaborating with Shelton, as a filmmaker. He also talked about working with Kathryn Bigelow on her Osama Bin Laden film (tentatively titled Zero Dark Thirty), what he looks for in acting roles, what he enjoys about doing the FX series The League, and what he's looking to do next. Check out what he had to say after the jump:
Collider: How did Your Sister's Sister come about? You came up with the initial idea and brought it to Lynn Shelton?
MARK DUPLASS: It was something I had hanging around on my computer. I have a document of a bunch of movie ideas, some good and some terrible. I was thinking, "What could be a good fit for me and Lynn?," 'cause I just loved making Humpday. I wanted to do it again and try to make a little bit of a bigger movie that could reach out further and incorporate some incredible movie stars, and this seemed like the right fit. So, I pitched it to Lynn, and she had a hole in her schedule and I had a hole in mine, and it just worked out.
Was there something specific that sparked this idea for you?
DUPLASS: Yes. I wanted to do something different, as an actor. I wanted to do something that was 50% different, in particular. I didn't want to change it drastically. To me, with this film, I play a character that I've played before, to a certain degree. He's a down-on-his-luck everyman. But, I also wanted to play someone who had just had something terrible happen to him, so there's this really dark emotional root to him. This guy has just lost his brother. It was the concept of, "What would it feel like to make a movie that, at its core, is a Shakespearian bed-switching love triangle with hijinks and buffoonery, and all that stuff that Three's Company did so well, but with a real emotional core to it, and that comedy-drama blend?" When the initial idea came up, it was going to be between a guy, his best friend who's a girl, and her mother. Lynn was immediately like, "No, let's do it as sisters," and I was like, "Sure." I learned just a shit-ton about sisters through doing this movie. My brother, Jay, and I are very close and very intimate, but there's something about these sisters – and I don't know if it's all sisters – that was just really cool for me to watch.
Was it difficult for you to relate to being the guy who didn't have a relationship with his brother?
DUPLASS: Yes, but the feeling of regret and the feeling of how lost I would be, if I didn't have Jay, was enough to care me through that, basically. That was an anchor for me to connect to. That, in many ways, is the same emotion as playing someone who's lost a brother who was close to them and they miss them. Someone who's lost a brother who they weren't close enough with and wishes they had been closer to is a similar sadness, I think.
What was it like to work with Emily Blunt and Rosemarie DeWitt?
DUPLASS: They're fantastic, and I'm not just saying that in a press way that you have to say. They are fantastic people, and they're really sensitive and loving. That's what makes them great actors, I believe. They loved these characters, and their attention to human nature and the odd personal interactions of life make them great. We were all really co-collaborators on this movie. When you're improvising a film like this, you're taking part in creating the story, every minute. We would talk about it after work, at dinner together, and rework scenes. They both said they were worried about their ability to improvise, but you wouldn't have known it.
When you work with people who aren't used to improvising in that way, do you learn things about acting from that experience?
DUPLASS: Yes, 100%. I call it, "Their movie star shit that I learned." I'm a narrative-minded actor. I'm thinking of the story. I'm not worried about whether the camera is on the right side of my face, or where the camera is. I'm just going for the story. And Rose and Emily, in particular, have this way of employing naturalism, but also knowing how to turn the right way so that the light catches them and the camera is there. I was like, "Oh, shit! This is a whole new ball game." I learned a lot from them.
In developing this character and talking about who he was beforehand, were there things that you specifically wanted to bring to him, as a person?
DUPLASS: Yes. I like the idea of someone who makes a lot of jokes when they're dealing with death, and doesn't know how to deal with it, so you downplay it and cast it off. I like the idea that this guy was once really charming, and he could win people over. I do win over Rose, in that first big drinking scene. Part of that is Jack winning over Hannah, but that was the first night that Rose and I ever hung out and my job was to charm her and win her over, which is hard. I like the idea that this guy who seemingly has very few life skill sets, at the moment, and very little going for him, has this promise of this person that he either was or could be. He's not totally dumb. He's got some charm and can win them over. He's this raw, undeveloped thing. I like the idea that you could watch him go from that critical point where he's either going to be depressed for the rest of his life over the death of his brother and go down the bad wormhole, or he's going to turn it around a little bit.
Was it important for you to find the balance between this guy being lost, but having audiences still want to root for him?
DUPLASS: Yeah. He's not very likeable, on the surface. Granted, a large part of that is due to Lynn and the editor, Nat Sanders, who craft that performance in the edit room. It was just towing that line between this guy being fucking hopeless and him maybe getting it together.
Was there a scene that was easiest for you to improvise, and one that was the most difficult?
DUPLASS: The easy one was that first scene with Rosemarie. That was easier than I thought it was going to be. It's the type of scene that I feel like I'm good at. I had five things I needed to hit, story wise. It was the perfect combination of my skills as a writer and as an actor. I had to concurrently improvise the scene, as an actor, but also write it, as we were going. That was a really fun scene. The harder scene for me was the big blow-up scene between me and the girls, towards the end of the film. It was really interesting because the plot points in that scene – and we had discussed it early on – were like soap opera plot points. The form of this film is, in many ways, like a soap opera. So, it was about finding a way to underplay that and make it feel natural and human while, at the same time, honoring the big things that were happening. I struggled with that a little bit, at the front. Luckily, the girls were dead on in it, and they carried me through that one.
What is it about your collaboration with Lynn Shelton that you like so much, that makes you think about ideas for projects that you can do together?
DUPLASS: There's an alchemy with people that's hard to understand. I don't think she and I can intellectually ferret it out, exactly. We really like each other. We laugh at the same things. We both bring very specific skill sets to the table. I know that Lynn is open enough not to be challenged by me, as a collaborator. I know that I can trust Lynn with any of the content that's happening. I can walk off this movie after we shoot and know that she and (editor) Nat Sanders are going to put together a great movie. It just really works.
With all of the projects you have on your plate, what was it about the Kathryn Bigelow movie about Osama Bin Laden that made you want to do that?
DUPLASS: I want to work with great directors, and that's just it. I am obsessed with The Hurt Locker and her. What she is doing is employing naturalism to these big high-concept political movies. If you look at the performances in this movie, they feel like the performances in my movies. That made me feel like, "Okay, I can take what I do, to a certain degree, and be additive to her process. It won't be diametrically opposed to what I do, on a daily basis." And it turned out to be a great fit.
Who are you playing in the film?
DUPLASS: I can't talk about that. I am contractually signed to be quiet.
Especially when you're doing projects that are other people's, what do you look for?
DUPLASS: A lot of it is as much life experience as it is creative fulfillment. Doing Darling Companion with Lawrence Kasdan and all those actors was about being with them for six weeks. I would have shot any script. It didn't matter. I wanted to go be with my heroes and milk them for information during dinner and hang out with them. People Like Us was a fantastic script. They only needed me for two weeks time and I was in town, so I got to know some new people and be a part of a great movie and walk away with a little time commitment. It was the same thing with when I did Greenberg with Noah Baumbach. It was a week's worth of work, for me to be with some people that I really admire, who are my peers. It's all different kinds of reasons. Some of it is practical like, "I have two weeks off between shooting The League and when I have to start a writing job. Here's something. I can do this." Some of it is just this desire to make stuff. I'm just deeply compelled. We could go to a therapist and try to figure it out. I don't know what it is. I just have the compulsion.
Is it fun to have the diversion of The League, where you can develop a character over a longer period of time?
DUPLASS: That's fun. The most fun thing about The League, for me, is that I'm like the dad in that group. I'm actually not as good at slam-dunking the big jokes, but I'm really good at keeping everybody corralled and organized. I can take the ball down the field, and then pass it off to Nick Kroll and know that he will deliver a joke in a way that I'll never know how to do. It's this fun, collaborative teamwork thing. It's fun working on something that has very little emotional content. A lot of the stuff I work on is very complex and taxing, and that's a fun joke bag. It's like being in an acting class. It's really loose and easy. I like that, as a counterpoint to some of the other stuff I do.
Do you know which thing you'll do next?
DUPLASS: Once I get through this big stretch of promotion, I'll go into The League in August. I'm writing a bunch of scripts right now, for me and Jay to direct, but also some scripts for other people to direct. That's a little bit of our bread and butter, too. And then, I'm looking for the right, really interesting acting role for the early part of next year. I don't know what that's going to be yet. I've definitely realized now, through these movies this summer, I can get better jobs, so I'm going to try to figure out how far I can take that.
Is there a dream role that you'd love to do, or a script that you'd love to make, at some point?
DUPLASS: I have a couple of things, none of which I can really talk about because they're in development, at the moment. I love Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. That was a really special movie to me. Safety Not Guaranteed has some similarities to that. I love the humanness side to genre films, whether that's a thriller or an action movie or a sci-fi movie. When you can take a really awesome, classic Steven Spielberg story and inject a serious dose of humanity and feelings into it, that's my favorite combination.
Wearing so many hats, in front of and behind the camera, is there one that you feel like you most identify with?
DUPLASS: That's a really good question. I don't know. I love doing them all, right now. I feel like, if I'm being honest with myself, my biggest skill set is as a writer 'cause I can do that quickly and I'm really grounded in story structure. Part of my success as an actor, is that I know story well. Part of my success as a director, is how well I know story. Same thing, as a producer. It all begins and ends with me as a story creator. But, I love doing it all, right now.


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It's time to name a few of my favorite toys from the 80's: Strawberry Shortcake, Cabbage Patch Kids, Care Bears, Barbie and the Rockers and ... My Little Pony. Over my childhood years I collected several of the colorful, chunky ponies and even a few baby ponies. My mom kept them tucked safely away and now my daughter enjoys playing make believe with my original ponies and a few of her own newer models. First introduced in 1983, the My Little Pony line has stood the test of time.
Yesterday, Oct. 13th, Twinkle Wish Adventure, a new winter-themed My Little Pony DVD released in stores and online. In this adventure, the Ponyville ponies are making preparations for the upcoming Winter Wishes Festival. The pony friends participate in an ornament making contest. The winner of the contest gets the honor of placing Twinkle Wish, a wishing star, on top of the ever forevergreen tree. But due to a jealous act, the wishing star ends up in the hands of a dragon named Whimsy that lives on Willy Nilly Mountain. The seven ponies -- Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Toola-Roola, Cheerilee, Sweetie Belle and Starsong -- work together to recover the star in time for the festival and end up learning an important lesson about friendship.
I don't recall watching any of the My Little Pony animated shows as a kid, but apparently several have been produced. Even though it is a new production, the movie has that same enduring/a little bit cheesy 1980's classic animated feel. This is definitely a girly movie. My preschool daughter intently watched the adventure unfold and especially liked all the cute, catchy songs. The DVD sparked her imagination and she now takes her own ponies on their own adventures. I imagine Santa will put at least one of the pony characters from the show in her Christmas stocking this year. She remarked after watching the movie that "all the ponies have lovely hair." My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure received the Dove "Family-Approved" seal for all ages and includes messages about friendship, making the right choices and sibling rivalry.
The bonus features include:
• Six Sing-along songs
• "Waiting For The Winter Wishes Festival" - A Prequel
• "Elefun and Friends" - A New Animated Short
• Downloadable Activities: Coloring Sheet, Pony Note to Santa, How to Make a Snowman and Cut-out Pony Ornaments
I also just learned that from October 23rd through November 12th McDonalds will feature My Little Pony characters in Happy Meals.
Related links:
Wikipedia - My Little Pony
Hasbro My Little Pony: Meet the ponies
Coupon for $5 off $20 My Little Pony Purchase Expires 12/31/09
Shout! Factory has sent me an extra My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure DVD to give away to a Brimful Curiosities reader.
To enter, leave a comment relevant to this post.
• For contact purposes, if you are a non-blogger or your email is not accessible in your blog profile, please leave a valid email address within the comment section.Four ways to gain extra entries (Maximum total entries is 5 - leave a separate comment for each entry):
• Contest is open to US
• Contest ends on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST.
• Winner will be chosen at random
1st extra entry: Visit Hasbro (Meet the Ponies) and leave a comment with the name of your favorite pony.
2nd extra entry: Follow Me! or subscribe by email or RSS reader
3rd extra entry: Blog about this contest then post your link in the comment section.
4th extra entry: Follow me on twitter (iambrimful) and tweet about the contest.
Thanks to Shout! Factory for this review opportunity and for providing a free Twinkle Wish Adventure DVD for my family to review. (View my full disclosure statement for more information about my reviews.)


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Seth Benjamin Gesshel Green (born February 8, 1974) is an American actor, comedian, voice actor, and television producer. He is well known for his role as Daniel "Oz" Osbourne in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as Dr. Evil's son Scott in the Austin Powers series of comedy films and Mitch Miller in That '70s Show. He also voices the characters of Chris Griffin on Family Guy, Lieutenant Gibbs in Titan Maximum, Systems Alliance Flight Lieutenant Jeff "Joker" Moreau in the 2007 video game Mass Effect and its 2010 sequel Mass Effect 2, and is one of the creators and producers of the stop motion comedy series Robot Chicken, where he voices many characters as well. Green appeared in many other movies, such as Rat Race, The Italian Job, Can't Hardly Wait, as a child in Stephen King's It and as Dan in the 2004 movie Without a Paddle.
Green was born and raised in West Philadelphia, a section of the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents are Barbara (née Gesshel), an artist, and Herb Green, a math teacher. His parents divorced when Seth was 15, causing havoc in his personal life. However, he found refuge in URJ Camp Harlam in Kunkletown, Pennsylvania, where he had been going since he was five years old. His mother worked there for a couple of years as the art director. There he discovered that performing was his true calling. After his parents' divorce, he said that camp was a place where he could reinvent himself and be good at anything he wanted. Green was raised Jewish and played a 1940s Jewish boy in Woody Allen's movie Radio Days; his ancestors were from Poland, Russia and Scotland. In this regard, he said:
Green's first movie role was in the 1984 film A Billion for Boris. At eight, Green landed his first film assignment, a co-starring role in the 1984 film The Hotel New Hampshire with Jodie Foster and Rob Lowe. He appeared in the 1987 film Can't Buy Me Love, playing the part of Patrick Dempsey's little brother, Chuckie Miller. He also starred in Woody Allen's Radio Days (1987) as Joe, and appeared in Big Business (1988) and, in the same year, in My Stepmother Is an Alien. Green appeared in the miniseries It (as Richie Tozier, age 12), all three Austin Powers movies as Dr. Evil's son, Scott, and Enemy of the State and The Italian Job as a computer specialist. He was also in the films Can't Hardly Wait, Rat Race, Without a Paddle, Idle Hands and Sex Drive. Green also had a role in the 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but the scene he was in was subsequently cut. In 1994, he starred alongside Jennifer Love Hewitt in the short-lived series The Byrds of Paradise. He worked with Hewitt again in 1998's Can't Hardly Wait, which also featured Paige Moss, who would later play with him in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Amber Benson (Tara Maclay, Buffy) was also in this film, but her scenes were cut in order to get a PG-13 rating.


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Moon Dot Premium Burpees
When it comes to spit-ups, spills & messes, our contoured, double-layer Burpees are coming out on top! Why are they our newborn MUST HAVE? If we had to pick one reason, we'd say it's the thick, towel backing that puts our Nixi Burpees above any other cloth you've tried.
Made from a soft snuggle flannel top layer and absorbent towel terry, our cloths feature double top-stitched edges for durability, and an ergonomic shape for parents and babies alike.
Choose from a single rolled cloth tied with a bow, or a pack of two cloths, packaged and ready to gift.
• Beautiful gender neutral color
• Contoured design curves & hugs neck while draped over your shoulder
• Double-sided & reversible
• Soft & super-absorbent
• Curved shape is perfect for laying the cloth under baby's chin like a bib when bottle or breastfeeding
• Use later as a soft shoulder surface for nap times or to clean up messy faces after meal time
• Easy care: 100% Cotton [machine wash with like colors, tumble dry low]
• Individual cloth measures 21" in length, 7" wide at center, and 9" at widest point
• This item is handmade to order. Please allow at least 10 business days for production + 3-5 days for shipping.


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The Rasmussen Alterna Ventless FireBall Set - Black will bring popular modern design to your single sided fireplace. This set comes complete with FireBalls and a Ventless burner that has been specially assemble with it's own chassis, burner and control assembly.
- Set sizes: 20", 24" and 30"
- Ceramic bonded refractory concrete
- 4" diameter uniform FireBalls
- Ceramic stain coloring
With three sizes to choose from, burner finishes and ignition options you can customize this set to meet your needs and match your decor! You can also choose your control system: manual, remote ready or a variable control. With a manual control you just turn the valve knob to light the burner and to control the flame height. The remote ready control has five wireless control options; an on/off control, thermostat control, wall thermostat control, wall timer or a wall switch. The variable flame control uses a remote to control a motor drive system that turns it on/off and manages the flame height.
The black finish burner pan will fade into the background while accentuating the objects and the flame and the stainless steel will provide a contract to a darkened fireplace, giving a more contemporary look. Each set is colored with a ceramic stain that produces a transparent, non-uniform appearance as it absorbs into the material's pores, thus enhancing the uniqueness of this set. The ceramic stain will not burn away and will age gracefully.
Please Note: Color options other than natural are custom made and not returnable.


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SUNY Canton Air Conditioning Engineering Technology Students Awarded ScholarshipsMonday, November 26th, 2007
Students in SUNY Canton's highly-regarded Air Conditioning Engineering Technology program brought home four scholarships from a recent American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) conference.
The group of students recently traveled to the professional conference as one of their activities through HAC'KERS, their curriculum club.
"The students each wrote an application for the scholarships earlier this year," said Charles A. Stead, an Air Conditioning Engineering Technology Instructor. "They were all very excited and even a little surprised when they received their scholarships."
ASHRAE scholarship recipients included:
- Mike Lowe from Kingston received a $3,000 national ASHRAE Scholarship, which was previously won by a SUNY Canton student in 2004.
- William Benoit of Deerfield received a $750 Harry King scholarship through the Central New York ASHRAE Chapter. Benoit's scholarship is named for SUNY Canton's own Professor Emeritus and Innovative Air Conditioning Engineering leader.
- Avery Denney of Potsdam received a $500 ASHRAE scholarship through the Central New York ASHRAE Chapter.
- Benjamin Larose of Potsdam received a $500 ASHRAE Scholarship through the Central New York ASHRAE Chapter.
The Air Conditioning Engineering Technology program is one of the most widely respected programs in the Canino School of Engineering Technology. The program was founded by Professor Emeritus Harry King in 1946. Nearly 100 percent of the program's graduates are hired immediately upon graduation.
Successful SUNY Canton alumni including longstanding college supporters Joel Canino, John Halford, Ronald Woodcock, and Professor Emeritus Arthur Hurlbut, all graduated from the program.
Earlier this year, Canino implemented the program's first fully comprehensive scholarship which allows for two students from Baldwinsville High School to enroll in the program.


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Stingray 240LR: Performance Test
Stingray 240LR impresses with features, speed and a smooth ride.
August 26, 2003
Anyone looking for a fast and feature-laden large runabout would do well to visit their local Stingray dealer for a gander at the 2003 Stingray 240LR. Here's a 24-foot boat that impresses with amenities and performance that will please the most discriminating boating enthusiast.
We had an occasion to spend time with the 240LR on a dark and stormy day in Southern Alabama. With skies clouded by storms producing tornados to our north, we set out to run the 240LR through its paces in Orange Beach, Alabama.
Impressions of Quality
First impressions count a lot when reviewing a boat, and that was the case here, as well. The Stingray 240LR is sleekly styled, with a deep cockpit and the flowing design of the interior made this already large boat feel roomier than others.
The 240LR's stern is a large swim platform complete with a built-in step that frames a built-in storage bin. Just inboard of the transom is full-width seat with a center cushion that can be removed to reveal a step area with a slip-resistant surface. The step provides an easy way to get on board from the stern without having to walk on the cushions.
Once you're on board, there's room to move easily about the boat. A large engine cover and hatches on the deck on both the port and starboard sides of the engine bay allow easy access for service. While access to the boat's guts is excellent, we would recommend that Stingray place the battery a bit farther forward, as it is a reach at its current location.
The built-in cooler just behind the captain's chair is drained, and it features a lid that has space to set an optional stove when flipped upside down. To port, a portable 25-quart cooler has its own space designed to keep it from moving.
Seating is plentiful forward and aft, with a wrap-around bench along the stern and sculpted lounges in the bow that have comfortable forward-facing cushions. At the control console, dark woodgrain trim outlines a full array of gauges that wrap around the console, and custom molded seats provide plenty of comfort.
The freshwater sink on the port side of the main cabin is pressurized, with its own electric pump. When not in use, the boat's standard table stores belowdecks, inside the starboard rear hatch near the engine.
Although the 240LR is an open-bow boat, its designers included a roomy head compartment just in front of the port passenger seat, under the windshield. The compartment includes a portable head, a light and a window.
A large storage area for gear is located on the opposite side of the walk-through, forward of the control console. This area allows access for servicing everything on the console.
At speed
Our test boat was powered by a smooth-running Mercury MerCruiser Bravo I 5.7L stern drive. With 300 hp on tap, the MerCruiser moved this large runabout with authority.
Standard power steering made controlling the 240LR a breeze, though we felt the throttle was a bit notchy going out of neutral. However, we won't hold this against Stingray; it may have been the result of the boat just coming out of the factory.
Water conditions at Orange Beach were ideal for our tests, choppy and windblown from the thunderstorms to our north. It gave us a good opportunity to see how the 240LR rode the waves.
We can tell you it did just fine, thank you. The boat's high freeboard means passengers ride deep inside, protected from splashes and wind. The deep freeboard will particularly appeal to young passengers nervous about being on the water.
The 240LR rides smoothly over rough chop, and the hull slices through larger waves like a Ginsu knife through a tomato. The boat steers crisply with good control.
Acceleration is swift, but we felt that a dual prop setup from the MerCruiser Bravo III would be a benefit here. Pushing the throttle forward brings about an initial rush as the bow rises slightly; then the boat takes off like a scalded dog.
With the throttle maxed out, we saw just over 50 mph. The factory says the 240LR can reach 55 mph, and we think it can, with a bit of fine-tuning at the dealer.
Then, there is Stingray's patented Z-Plane hull, which is up to 30 percent more efficient than other hull designs. The hull has a racing derived notched transom, which lowers drag, improves fuel efficiency and provides a higher top speed.
A Step Up
Options include such things as cockpit and bow covers, a remote tilt and trim switch, an upgraded 19-inch Lazer SS propeller, a built-in digital depth finder and snap-in carpet. Out tester was equipped with the remote trim tilt switch, and we think most owners who trailer their boat would want that option for the convenience it offers.
Stingray officials say their 240LR is targeted for families looking to step up into a larger bowrider after owning an 18- or 19-footer. With all the standard features, style and performance, the Stingray 240LR is a very good value and would make an excellent choice for those looking for such a boat. While our 240LR stickered at $43,055, significant dealer incentives are available and can save you several thousand dollars.
To most people, luxury is often associated with size and features. The Stingray 240LR meets the luxury definition with ease, and is a boat that will provide most families with years of fun on the water.
Stingray 240LR Specifications
|Dry weight
|3,993 pounds
|Fuel capacity
|68 gallons
|Maximum power
|320 hp
|Base price (w/5.0L MerCruiser 220 hp stern drive)
|Base price (w/5.7L MerCruiser 300 hp stern drive)
|Price as tested
Test Engine
|5.7L MerCruiser Bravo I stern drive
|Propshaft horsepower
|350 c.i.d.
|Gear ratio
|Compression ratio
|Maximum engine speed
|5,000 rpm
|1,025 pounds
|Cruising speed
|30 mph at 3,000 rpm
|Top speed
|50.4 mph at 4,500 rpm
|Miles per gallon at 30-mph cruising speed
|Gallons per hour at 30-mph cruising speed
|Range at 30-mph cruising speed
|377 miles
Standard Features
Bimini top and boot, pressurized water w/transom shower, windshield side vents, Dino steering wheel, 25-quart removable cooler, cockpit table, Kenwood high-power CD player w/remote, magnetic compass, indirect cockpit lighting, freshwater sink, Porta-potty w/self-contained holding tank, remote oil change system, power steering, stainless steel fittings.
Snap-in carpet ($412), digital depth finder w/depth alarm ($304), portable head w/tank and dockside pumpout ($283), automatic fire extinguishing system ($585), remote trim and tilt switch ($106), full canvas set ($942), two-tone hull color stripe ($385).
For More Information
Stingray Powerboats
625 Railroad Ave.
Hartsville, SC 29551
(843) 383-4507
Related Boats for SaleSee more boats like this


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ok ok ok...so we the best...maybe i sound a little like khalid, but we ARE. I have noticed that everyone has a blog now even though everyone had a blog like ten years ago. But now !EVERYONE has a blog about nothing. Even Hoogiebob from 'round the way has a blog. Geesh. competition competition...but we been doin' this for a while my friends and that is why we are the best amatuers. Yay! First place? yes? yes!
ive been thinking about investing my time in twitter. what do you think? so first I had to ask myself what in the hell is twitter and how do i get to it? well i go to twitter.com of course and then twitter told me that what it does is it asks me what im doing-at all times. Then I asked it why? and it said "people may give a fuck about what im doing at all times" and i said "cool". then the twitter asked me to ask it "how?" and it said "just sign up"...so i did. I tried to get kimmie e, but that was taken. The I tried to get Queenie V but that was taken...wtf? Then I tried multiple variations of Kimmie E and it did not work so I took an alter ego of mine (which I just realized was an alter ego) Andrea 3thou...so thats my name andrea3thou. I've decided to follow 50 cent, al gore, ashton kutcher and some guy named will...and some how I've ran into Radio Rose. This might be better than portable aim!
so uh Twitter me...maybe we can party or sumthin lol


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